Liming of Acid Soils. I. Influence on Wheat Yield and Availability of Soil Nutrients

With a two year field experiment the influence of liming of strongly acid soils on wheat yield and on the availability of soil nutrients were studied. The results showed that liming increased soil pH and decreased exchangeable Al and available Fe and Zn. Wheat uptake of Mn was decreased, while P and Cu uptake were increased. Wheat biomass (hay plus seed) production and grain yield were also significantly increased

CONTRIBUTION OF LIGNITE IN THE GREEK ECONOMY

The objective of the present work is the assessment of the lignite contribution to the energy balance of Greece, according to the creation processes and the chronological classification. The lignite deposits known so far in Greece have been discovered and researched from the scientists of IGME in the course of evolution since 1948 (Greek Geological Survey), 1950 (Institute of Geology and Surface Research), 1973 (National Institute of Geological and Mineral Exploration) and finally in its current form in 1976 (Institute of Geology and Mineral Exploration) and are divided into (a) “productive”, (b) future “productive” and (c) no financial interest in power generation. A project, co-financed by the Greek Government and the European Union, is currently implemented, aiming at the recovery of the latter in non-electrical purposes with very good results in the first stage of research. According to the works carried out so far it has been observed that lignite formation started in Greece during Eocene and continued to date. From 1950 until today there is an upward trend in lignite reserves. Lignite generates electricity at a rate 63% today with higher rates 79.3%, during 1994. In Greece 41% of lignite deposits were created during Miocene. However, only 13% of these deposits that contribute to electricity generation derive from economically exploitable reserves. In Greece, due mainly to use of lignite for electricity production, the cost of Kw/h for both domestic use and for industrial is below the European Union average

GEOLOGICAL EVOLUTION - STRATIGRAPHY OF FLORINA, PTOLEMAIDA, KOZANI AND SARADAPORO GRABEN

Μετά το πέρας του Αλπικού ορογενετικού κύκλου και κατά τη διάρκεια του Κατώτερου Μειόκαινου, στην περιοχή της ΒΑ Μακεδονίας -όπως και σε όλο τον Ελλαδικό χώρο- αρχίζει ένας έντονος ρηγματογόνος τεκτονισμός. Aπoτέλεσμα αυτού και εξαιτίας της δράσης μεγάλων και βαθιών ρηγμάτων, κύριας διεύθυνσης ΒΔ-ΝΑ, δημιουργείται η Τάφρος Φλώρινας, Πτολεμαΐδας - Αμυνταίου, Κοζάνης-Σερβίων και Νοτιότερα η λεκάvη Σαρανταπόρου. Η τεκτονική αυτή Τάφρος επεκτείνεται πέραν των Ελληνικών συνόρων προς Βορρά και έχει μήκος μεγαλύτερο των 150 Km. Ένα μεγάλο πλήθος δειγμάτων για την εξέταση παλαιοχλωρίδας, διατομών, παλυνολογικών εξετάσεων και απολιθωμάτων, με σκοπό τον ακριβή προσδιορισμό της ηλικίας των διαφόρων σχηματισμών, λήφθηκε από τους πυρήνες των γεωτρήσεων. Το υπόβαθρο και τα περιθώρια του βυθίσματος αυτού, γεωτεκτονικά ανήκουν στην Πελαγονική ζώνη. Ακολουθεί η απόθεση της κατώτερης Νεογενούς σειράς. Κατά τη διάρκεια του ανώτερου Πλειόκαινου, η παραπάνω σειρά εξελίσσεται σε ένα λιμναίο - ελώδες σύστημα, με αποτέλεσμα την απόθεση των σχηματισμών της ανώτερης Νεογενούς σειράς. Στο Τεταρτογενές αποτίθενται οι παρακάτω σχηματισμοί: Σχηματισμός Προαστείου, Σχηματισμός Πέρδικα, Χερσαίοι, Ποταμό - χερσαίοι σχηματισμοί, πρόσφατοι σχηματισμοί. Τέσσερις (4) φάσεις λιγνιτογένεσης έχουν παρατηρηθεί, κύρια στην λεκάνη Πτολεμαΐδας - Αμυνταίου. Σε αυτή την τεκτονική τάφρο έχουν εντοπισθεί τα κυριότερα Ελληνικά λιγνιτικά κοιτάσματα.The purpose of this research is to comprehend the geological and stratigraphical evolution of Fiorina, Ptolemaida, Kozani and Sarandaporo graben. This graben extends North of the Greek borders and is more than 150 Km long. The activity of big and profound faults ofNW-SE direction, in NW Macedonia, after the end of the Alpine orogenesis cycle and during the Early Miocene was related to the formations ' deposition. A large number of samples were collected from drill cores for the examination of palynology, paleoflora, fossils, and diatoms in order to determine the formations ' sequence and age. The basement and the borders of the depression, belong to the Pelagonian geotectonic zone. The deposition of the Early Neogene 's series is following. During the Late Pliocene the previous series, is developing into a lacustrine-marshland system, resulting to the deposition of Late Neogene's series formations. In the Quartenary the following formations are deposited: Proastion formation, Perdika formation, terrestrial, fluvial-terrestrial formation, recent formation. Four (4) phases of lignitogenesis have been specified, mainly in the Ptolemaida - Amynteo basin. In this graben they have been deposited the most important lignite deposits of Greece

Metabolomics improves the histopathological diagnosis of asphyxial deaths: an animal proof-of-concept model

The diagnosis of mechanical asphyxia remains one of the most difficult issues in forensic pathology. Asphyxia ultimately results in cardiac arrest (CA) and, as there are no specific markers, the differential diagnosis of primitive CA and CA secondary to asphyxiation relies on circumstantial details and on the pathologist experience, lacking objective evidence. Histological examination is currently considered the gold standard for CA post-mortem diagnosis. Here we present the comparative results of histopathology versus those previously obtained by 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) metabolomics in a swine model, originally designed for clinical purposes, exposed to two different CA causes, namely ventricular fibrillation and asphyxia. While heart and brain microscopical analysis could identify the damage induced by CA without providing any additional information on the CA cause, metabolomics allowed the identification of clearly different profiles between the two groups and showed major differences between asphyxiated animals with good and poor outcomes. Minute-by-minute plasma sampling allowed to associate these modifications to the pre-arrest asphyxial phase showing a clear correlation to the cellular effect of mechanical asphyxia reproduced in the experiment. The results suggest that metabolomics provides additional evidence beyond that obtained by histology and immunohistochemistry in the differential diagnosis of CA

[Case Report] Stress induced (Takotsubo) cardiomyopathy triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Stress induced (Takotsubo) cardiomyopathy (TC) represents an acute heart failure syndrome triggered by physical or emotional stressors. COVID-19 pandemic has caused an unprecedented health crisis resulting in fear, distress and anxiety, with emerging cardiovascular implications. COVID-19 related stress can act as potential trigger for TC. We present a case of an elderly female who developed TC due to stress surrounding COVID-19

The pathophysiologies of asphyxial vs dysrhythmic cardiac arrest: Implications for resuscitation and post-event management

Background Cardiac arrest is not a uniform condition and significant heterogeneity exists within all victims with regard to the cause of cardiac arrest. Primary cardiac (dysrhythmic) and asphyxial causes together are responsible for most cases of cardiac arrest at all age groups. The purpose of this article is to review the pathophysiologic differences between dysrhythmic and asphyxial cardiac arrest in the prearrest period, during the no-flow state, and after successful cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Methods The electronic databases of PubMed/Medline, Scopus, and Cochrane were searched for relevant literature and studies. Results/Discussion Significant differences exist between dysrhythmic and asphyxial cardiac arrest regarding their pathophysiologic pathways and affect consequently the postresuscitation period. Laboratory data indicate that asphyxial cardiac arrest leads to more widespread postresuscitation brain damage compared with dysrhythmic cardiac arrest. Regarding postresuscitation myocardial dysfunction, few studies have addressed a comparison of the 2 conditions with controversial results. Conclusions Asphyxial cardiac arrest differs significantly from dysrhythmic cardiac arrest with regard to pathophysiologic mechanisms, neuropathologic damage, postresuscitation organ dysfunction, and response to therapy. Both conditions should be considered and treated in a different manner. © 2015 Elsevier Inc

Stress ECHO beyond coronary artery disease. Is it the holy grail of cardiovascular imaging?

Stress echocardiography (SE) is a very useful method in clinical practice, because it offers important information of both the patient's functional status and hemodynamic changes during stress. Therefore, SE provides strong diagnostic and prognostic data in a wide spectrum of cardiovascular diseases. This review summarizes the clinical applications of SE in conditions beyond coronary artery disease (CAD) and highlights practical recommendations and key issues for each condition that need further investigation. SE is an established method for the evaluation of symptomatic and asymptomatic patients with valvular heart disease (VHD) and cardiomyopathies, and provides important information regarding prognosis and management of patients with congenital heart disease, pulmonary hypertension or diastolic dysfunction. Moreover, when one or multiple VHD and cardiomyopathy or CAD coexist in one patient, SE is a very useful clinical tool for the evaluation of etiology and symptomatology. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc

The role of thyroid hormones in acute coronary syndromes: Prognostic value of alterations in thyroid hormones

The prognosis of acute coronary syndromes (ACS) is affected by many factors. Normal thyroid homeostasis is known to alter during various critical illnesses, a condition that has been shown to correlate with the severity of the disease and increased mortality. The purpose of this article is to review literature to emphasize the considerable association of thyroid function with the cardiovascular system and summarize all existing evidence with regard to the role of thyroid hormones alterations during ACS. The electronic databases of PubMed, Medline, Scopus, and Cochrane were searched for relevant literature and studies. Alterations in thyroid hormone plasma concentrations, especially low triiodothyronine (T3) levels, represent a hormonal imbalance that is not uncommon among patients suffering an acute coronary event. Many studies have identified this abnormal thyroid hormonal status to be related to worse prognosis. Although further large-scale clinical trials are needed, the low T3 syndrome manifesting in patients during ACS might be useful in prognostic stratification. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc