The use of a combined bipedicled axial perforator based fasciocutaneous flap for the treatment of a traumatic diabetic foot wound: a case report

The axial and perforator vascularised fasciocutaneous flaps are reliable and effective treatment methods for covering lower limb post-traumatic, septic, Charcot, and diabetic foot wounds. The authors describe the unique utilisation of a hybrid flap as an axial-perforator flap combination for the treatment of a traumatic diabetic foot wound

Slag and ash chemistry after high-calcium lignite combustion in a pulverized coal-fired power plant

6 páginas, 1 figura, 1 tabla.-- En: : Proceedings of the 9th International Conference on Environmental Science and Technology, Rhodes island, Greece (1,3-Sept.-05).More than 73% of the electrical power requirements of Greece are generated in lignite-fired power plants. Greece is the thirteenth largest coal and the fifth largest lignite producer in the world. The lack of domestic high-rank coals makes necessary to use low quality lignite for power generation in Greece. These lignites are characterized by a high water and ash content and a low calorific value. The low quality of such lignites generates important technical and environmental problems during combustion. Slagging and fouling are common inside the power units and affect with particular severity the power plants performance. Slagging deposits take place in the high temperature radiant sections of the boiler, and are usually associated with some degree of melting of the ash. Fouling deposits are produced in the lower temperature convective sections of the boiler, and are generally related to condensation on the low temperature tube surfaces. Problems in boilers associated with ash deposits include modification of the heat transfer in different sections of the furnace, physical distortion of metal pieces due to the weight of the deposit, clogging of burners, and corrosion and erosion of metal walls. Feed lignite always carries more than 20% of inorganic matter, and its mineralogy and chemistry are originally related to geological factors. Five representative samples were collected from the inner surfaces of Unit 1 of the Agios Dimitrios Power Plant, Northern Greece, reflecting the main types of ash deposits occurring in the combustion facility. The chemistry of these high-calcium ash deposits has been investigated. Moreover, a fly ash and a bottom ash samples were taken and analyzed in order to investigate their possible impact on the environment after land-filling. All samples were digested by using 2.5 ml HNO3, 5ml HF and 2.5 ml HClO4 (1:2:1). Sixty element concentrations were determined in all samples by inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (ICP–MS) and inductively coupled plasma – optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). Calcium is the most abundant element in all samples due to the dominance of calcium phases. The chemical composition of the bottom ash, fly ash, slag and fouling deposits, is mainly influenced by the chemical composition of the feed lignite and the co-excavated sterile materials, which are marly limestones containing, on average, 93% of calcite.Peer reviewe

A correlation study of major and trace elements in sediments of River Nestos, Northern Greece and comparison with other fluvial systems

8 páginas, 1 figura, 2 tablas.-- Trabajo presentado en: 9th International Scientific Conference of Modern Management of Mine Producing, Geology and Environmental Protection SGEM 2009, 14-19 june 2009, Albena, Bulgaria.Fourteen sediment samples from the banks of River Nestos, Northern Greece, were collected, extracted with HNO3 and analyzed for their content in 10 major and 32 trace elements. The analytical techniques used were ICP-OES and ICP-MS. The calculation of the Pearson Correlation Coefficient amongst the analyzed elements has revealed that among the majority of the elements exist positive correlations, which explains why most of them have a similar distribution along the river course. A comparison between the results acquired for the River Nestos and other fluvial systems, national and international, has shown the similarity of the geochemical identity of the River Nestos sediments with these systems.This work was partially carried out in the framework of PEGEFA 2005SGR-795 Research Consolidated Group, funded by AGAUR-DURSI, Generalitat de Catalunya.Peer reviewe

Ash Deposition in a Pulverized Coal-Fired Power Plant after High-Calcium Lignite Combustion

7 páginas, 5 figuras, 2 tablas.The fabric, mineralogy, and chemistry of high-calcium ash deposits from the Agios Dimitrios pulverized-lignite power plant in northern Greece have been investigated as a key to the ability to improve the performance of the power plant. All inner surfaces in the boiler are covered with a layer of particulate matter showing various degrees of agglomeration or with fouling deposits. Agglomerated fabric occurs in the lower and upper furnace sections, whereas sintered textures are mainly observed in the air heater sections. Particles in the size range of 10−50 μm with no sign of large agglomeration constitute the fly ash. Calcium mineral phases are dominant in deposits (anhydrite (CaSO4), calcite (CaCO3), portlandite (Ca(OH)2), and lime (CaO)); however, there are also significant amounts of silicon-containing minerals in bottom ash and fly ash (quartz (SiO2), gehlenite (Ca2Al2SiO7), and anorthite (CaAl2Si2O8)). Gas−solid reactions control deposition, without the participation of alkaline element compounds in the buildup of deposits. Technological modifications in the facility cannot improve the situation significantly, because of the fact that these effects are the consequence of the thermal decomposition of the high content of calcite (CaCO3) in the feed lignite, coming from the lignite seams and the intermediate sterile layers co-excavated with the lignite. Only through improvement of the quality of the lignite during mining can the power plant improve its operations.The authors would like to thank the assistance provided by the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, the University of Barcelona (especially, the Scientific-Technical Survey), and the Institute of Earth Sciences, Jaume Almera-CSIC.Peer reviewe

Natural and anthropogenic effects on the sediment geochemistry of Nestos river, Northern Greece

10 páginas.Fourteen sediment samples from the banks of river Nestos, Northern Greece, were collected, extracted with HNO3 and analyzed for their content in 10 major and 32 trace elements. The analytical methods used were ICP-OES and ICP-MS. The results indicate that the sediments in the northern Greek part of the river have the highest elemental concentrations partly because of human activities, but mainly due to natural processes. The two dams that have been constructed in the middle course play a buffering role on the elemental content, for all the elements analyzed, of the river sediments, decreasing downstream concentrations and sediment load. An increase of concentrations is newly observed in the low course and delta because of the mobilization of fine sediments by natural processes and agricultural practices. The comparison of the river sediment contents with contaminated land guidelines has not revealed any potentially dangerous concentrations for the elements analyzed.Peer reviewe

Heavy metals and toxic trace elements contents in soils of selected areas of the Kavala prefecture, Northern Greece

10 páginas, 3 figuras, 2 tablas.-- En: Proceedings of the 10th International Congress, Thessaloniki, April 2004.In the present study a total of sixteen samples (3 surrounding rocks and 13 uncultivated topsoils) from the industrial zone east of the city of Kavala, Northern Greece, was collected and analyzed for their content in 41 elements. The extraction of the elements was based on the digestion of 0.1 g of each sample with 2 ml HNO3 and the soil fraction used was the < 200μm. The analytical methods used were ICP-OES for the elements Ca, Mg, K, B, Sr, Fe, Na, Si, S, P, and Al and ICPMS for the elements Mn, Zn, Cu, Ti, V, Cr, Rb, Ba, Th, La, Ce, As, Sn, Co, Se, Y, Zr, Mo, Cd, Cs, W, Sb, Li, U, Ag, Ni, Hg, Ga, Ge and Pb. The mean element concentrations of the thirteen topsoil samples were compared with the mean values for soil types Fluvisols and Leptosols. The results showed that they are enriched for the elements Ag, As and Pb by 21, 15 and 3 times, respectively. Moreover, the topsoils were compared with the three surrounding rock samples. The results showed that the concentrations of Ca, Mg, K, Fe, Si, S, Al, P Na, B, Ce, Co, Cs, Ga, Ge, Hg, La, Li, Mo, Ni, Rb, Se, Sn, Sr, Th, U and W in the topsoils are mainly influenced by their concentrations in the surrounding rocks. The elements Ag, As, Ba, Cd, Cr, Cu, Mn, Pb, Sb, Ti, Y, V, Zn, and Zr are enriched in the topsoils. The enrichment of Ag, As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Mn, Pb, Sb, and Zn is mainly due to the widespread presence of PBG sulphides, Mn, Cd, and As in the surrounding mineralizations. The enrichment took place, quite possibly, during the formation of Drama and Nestos basins, during Tertiary, and is possibly being continued until today. However, the human activities that take place in the area are also, at least partially, responsible for this enrichment.Peer reviewe

Arsenic Background Concentrations in Surface Soils of Kavala Area, Northern Greece

9 páginas, 6 figuras, 2 tablas.A total of 65 surface (0–20 cm) soil samples were collected in an effort to estimate the arsenic background values in Kavala area, Northern Greece. Arsenic was extracted by HNO3 from the <200 µm grain size fraction, and its concentrations were determined in all samples by inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry. Arsenic concentrations were log-transformed, and log-normal probability plots (Q–Q plots) were generated. The geochemical background was calculated as the values that lie between g/d and g × d (g, geometric mean; d, geometric standard deviation), which are 3.5 and 25.8 mg kg−1, respectively. The baseline value (g) was 9.5 mg kg−1. With the aid of GIS software, arsenic geochemical maps of the study area were created. The majority of the arsenic elevated concentrations were found in the proximity of the industrialized zone of Kavala.Georgios Papastergios, during this research, was under a scholarship from the Greek State Scholarships Foundation (IKY). This work was partially carried out in the framework of PEGEFA 2005SGR-00795 Research Consolidated Group, funded by AGAUR-DURSI, Generalitat de Catalunya.Peer reviewe