SCIENTIFICALLY SUBSTANTIATED GUIDELINES FOR PHYSICO-MATHEMATICAL MODELLING OF LASER SURFACE-TREATMENT OF WEAR-RESISTANT IMPLANTS FOR HUMAN JOINT REPLACEMENTS

This paper presents the main results from a set of guidelines on the physico-mathematical modelling of laser surface-treatment of wear-resistant implants for human joint replacements. These guidelines contain synthesized and documented procedure, theoretical and practical recommendations, which are provided by researchers in the Nanomaterials Laboratory under the Institute of Fundamental Science and Innovative Technologies, Liepaja University. The present paper does not attempt to cover all aspects of physical and mathematical modelling, but draws together many key aspects concerning theoretical and practical difficulties, in the overcoming of what researchers of the Nanomaterials Laboratory, in particular, the authors of the present paper, have sufficient skills

THERAPEUTIC MUD OCCURRENCES IN GREECE: MINERALOGICAL AND GEOCHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF THE SAGIADA MUD (THESPROTIA PREFECTURE)

Η παρούσα εργασία αποτελεί μία πρώτη προσπάθεια χαρακτηρισμού των ορυκτολογικών και γεωχημικών χαρακτηριστικών του πηλού της Σαγιάδας (Νομός Θεσπρωτίας), όπου εντοπίζεται μία από τις πιο αντιπροσωπευτικές εμφανίσεις ιαματικού πηλού στην Ελλάδα. Η μελέτη αυτή αποτελεί τμήμα ενός ευρύτερου ερευνητικού προγράμματος που υλοποιείται από το Ι.Γ.Μ.Ε. για το χαρακτηρισμό των ελληνικών ιαματικών πηλών. Όπως προέκυψε από τα αποτελέσματα της περιθλασιμετρίας ακτίνων–X (XRD), διαφορικής θερμικής ανάλυσης (DTA), οπτικής μικροσκοπίας και ηλεκτρονικής μικροσκοπίας σάρωσης (SEM), ο πηλός της Σαγιάδας συνίσταται από χαλαζία, αστρίους, αργιλικά ορυκτά, όπως ιλλίτης, καολινίτης, χλωρίτης και βερμικουλίτης, και ασβεστίτη, καθώς και από δευτερεύοντα ορυκτά, όπως αλίτης και σιδηροπυρίτης. Επίσης εντοπίστηκαν ίχνη από μοσχοβίτη και γύψο. Οι χημικές αναλύσεις πραγματοποιήθηκαν με τη χρήση φασματομετρίας ακτίνων–X (XRF) και φασματομετρίας μάζας επαγωγικά συζευγμένου πλάσματος (ICP-MS), για τον προσδιορισμό των συγκεντρώσεων των πηλών σε κύρια στοιχεία και ιχνοστοιχεία, αντίστοιχα. Σε σύγκριση με πηλοειδή από την Ισπανία και το εύρος τιμών των πλημμυρικών ιζημάτων από την Ευρώπη, ο φυσικός πηλός της Σαγιάδας παρουσιάζει ανάλογη σύσταση.The current study presents the preliminary results of the mineralogical and geochemical characterization of the Sagiada mud (Prefecture of Thesprotia), which is considered as one of the most representative therapeutic mud occurrences in Greece. This work is part of a bigger project, conducted by IGME (Athens, Greece), for the characterization of the Greek therapeutic mud deposits. The mineralogical composition was determined using X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Differential Thermal Analysis (DTA), optical microscopy and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The main mineral phases of the Sagiada mud are quartz, feldspars, clay minerals such as illite, kaolinite, chlorite and vermiculite, and calcite accompanied by minor phases such as halite and pyrite. Traces of muscovite and gypsum were also identified. Geochemical analyses were performed using X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) and Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) for the determination of major and trace element content, respectively. Compared to Spanish peloids and European floodplain sediments, the Sagiada mud reveals an analogue chemical composition

Modelación de la trayectoria y dispersión de emisiones producidas por incendios forestales de los Pantanos de Centla, Tabasco periodo 2016-2019

"Los modelos atmosféricos son herramientas de utilidad en la ingeniería ambiental que permiten analizar y predecir el transporte y dispersión, así como la concentración y deposición de contaminantes atmosféricos. En esta investigación se analiza el transporte de material particulado menor de 2.5 micrómetros (PM2.5) que se liberó en la Reserva de la Biosfera Pantanos de Centla (RBPC) en el periodo 2016-2019 durante los incendios forestales detectados por medio de satélites, denominados puntos de calor, utilizando HYSPLIT (Hybrid Single-Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory), un software desarrollado por READY (Real-time Environmental Applications and Display sYstem) que permite modelar y visualizar datos meteorológicos obtenidos de manera satelital. Con el análisis de la trayectoria del material particulado liberado más allá de identificar el alcance de los contaminantes, se logró relacionar problemas de salud que la población con frecuencia presenta a causa de la contaminación atmosférica y al mismo tiempo identificar otras problemáticas ambientales como son las causas de los incendios"

MINERALOGICAL AND GEOCHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF THE OLYMPIAS MINE TAILINGS, NE CHALKIDIKI, GREECE

Τα τέλματα της Ολυμπιάδας στην ΒΑ Χαλκιδική, αποτελούν τα κατάλοιπα του εμπλουτισμού του κοιτάσματος Pb-Zn-Au-Ag που εντοπίζεται στα ανθρακικά πετρώματα της Ενότητας Κερδυλίων. Στην παρούσα εργασία, η ορυκτολογική σύσταση των τελμάτων προσδιορίστηκε με τη χρήση περιθλασιμετρίας ακτίνων-Χ (XRD), ηλεκτρονικής μικροσκοπίας σάρωσης (SEM) και οπτικής μικροσκοπίας, ενώ επιπλέον πραγματοποιήθηκαν χημικές αναλύσεις και μετρήσεις pH. Τα αποτελέσματα έδειξαν πως τα τέλματα συνίστανται από σύνδρομα ορυκτά (χαλαζίας, ροδοχρωσίτης, ασβεστίτης, άστριοι, μαρμαρυγίες, καολινίτης και ακτινόλιθος) και σουλφίδια (σιδηροπυρίτης, αρσενοπυρίτης, σφαλερίτης, χαλκοπυρίτης και γαληνίτης), κάτι που δείχνει ότι υπάρχει σχέση με την ορυκτολογική σύσταση της μεταλλοφορίας και των 2089 μητρικών πετρωμάτων. Επίσης, τα τέλματα αποτελούνται από ίχνη οξειδίων Fe (μαγνητίτης, αιματίτης), οξείδια-υδροξείδια Fe (γκαιτίτης) και οξείδια Mn, συχνά εμπλουτισμένα σε Zn και Pb και σε ορισμένες περιπτώσεις Fe, Sb και As. Επιπλέον εντοπίστηκαν δευτερογενή θειικά άλατα (γύψος, ιαροσίτης) και επανθίσματα θειικών αλάτων (σιδηροεξαϋδρίτης, εξαϋδρίτης, αλοτριχίτης). Τα τέλματα της Ολυμπιάδας είναι γενικά μη οξειδωμένα, δημιουργώντας ένα αλκαλικό περιβάλλον. Παρόλα αυτά, λόγω μεταβολών στη σύσταση, σχηματίζονται ξεχωριστές φάσεις περιορισμένης έκτασης, όπως λεπτές στρώσεις και φακοί οξειδωμένου υλικού, οι οποίες δημιουργούν όξινο περιβάλλον. Από την άποψη της περιεκτικότητας σε πολύτιμα μέταλλα, τα τέλματα της Ολυμπιάδας είναι εμπλουτισμένα σε Au (έως 12 g/t) και Ag (έως 20 g/t).The Olympias tailings of NE Chalkidiki, Greece represent the mine wastes produced by the beneficiation of the Pb-Zn-Au-Ag ore deposit, which is hosted within the carbonate rocks of the Kerdylia Unit. In the present study X-Ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), optical microscopy, chemical analyses and pH measurements were conducted to determine the tailings mineralogy and chemical composition. The results indicated that they consist of gangue (quartz, rhodochrosite, calcite, dolomite, feldspars, micas, kaolinite and actinolite) and sulfide minerals (pyrite, arsenopyrite, sphalerite, chalcopyrite and galena), reflecting the source ore and its host rock composition, accompanied by traces of Fe-oxides (magnetite, hematite), Fe oxyhydroxides (goethite) and Mn-oxides, often enriched in Zn and Pb and in some cases Fe, Sb and As. Secondary sulfates (gypsum, jarosite) and surface efflorescent salts (ferrohexahydrite, hexahydrite, halotrichite) have also been recognized. The Olympias tailings are generally unoxidized, generating an alkaline environment. However, variations in composition result in the formation of restricted separate phases, such as thin layers and lenses of oxidized material that generates an acidic environment. In terms of precious metals content, the Olympias tailings are enriched in Au (up to 12 g/t) and Ag (up to 20 g/t)

Bisquaternary ammonium compounds as potential tumor imaging agents

Reports of rapid accumulation of 3H- or 14C-labelled hexamethonium in cartilaginous tissues after intravenous administration to rats and mice and of binding of hexamethonium to chondroitin sulfate in vitro prompted synthesis of radioiodinated analogs of hexamethonium. Tissue distribution studies in rats performed at 0.5 and 2 h after intravenous administration of 14C-hexamethonium confirmed the propensity of this drug to accumulate in cartilaginous tissues. Tissue distribution studies were performed in both normal and chondrosarcoma tumor-bearing rats at 0.5 and 2 h after intravenous administration of the radioiodinated analogs. The radioiodinated analogs showed profiles of distribution of radioactivity comparable to that of hexamethonium. Levels of uptake were highest in kidney and urine at all time periods studied. High levels of activity were seen in trachea, intervertebral discs and, when present, tumor. A rapid dispersal of a relatively low level of radioactivity was seen in most other tissues and was followed by rapid clearance in all tissues except meninges which continued to accumulate radioactivity for as long as 2 h. A chondrosarcoma tumor was successfully imaged in a rat 15 min following intravenous administration of a radioiodinated analog of hexamethonium.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/23684/1/0000653.pd

International Trade Under the Rule of Law Conference

The central focus of the conference was the dispute settlement system of the World Trade Organization (WTO), with a view toward exploring the need for a superstructure of international law governing trade and economic cooperation between countries

No. 5 - International Trade under the Rule of Law: An American Society of International Law Centennial Regional Meeting

Organized and sponsored by the Dean Rusk Center and designated an American Society of International Law Centennial Regional Meeting, this conference focused on the Dispute Settlement System (DSS) of the World Trade Organization (WTO) with a view toward discussing the need for a superstructure of international law governing trade and economic cooperation between states

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Abstract Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries