EPR Methods Applied on Food Analysis

An overview of the different methodologies developed so far for the investigation of paramagnetic species in foods is presented. Electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy (EPR), also known as electron spin resonance spectroscopy (ESR), is the primary technique toward the development of methods for the exploration of EPR-sensitive species, such as free radicals, reactive oxygen species (ROS), nitrogen reactive species (NRS), and C-centered radicals and metal ions. These methods aim for: (a) quantification of radical species, (b) exploration of redox chemical reaction mechanisms in foods, (c) assessment of the antioxidant capacity of food, and (d) food quality, stability, and food shelf life. For these purposes, different radical initiations and detections have been used in foods depending on both the chemistry of the target system and the kind of information required, listed in: the induction of radicals by (a) microwave, UV, or γ-radiation; (b) heating; (c) addition of metals; and (d) use of oxidants

GEOTECHNICAL INVESTIGATION OF THE ROCK SLOPE STABILITY PROBLEMS OCCURRED AT THE FOUNDATIONS OF THE COASTAL BYZANTINE WALL OF KAVALA CITY, GREECE

The coastal Byzantine wall of Kavala is located at the Panagia peninsula and it is founded on the Simvolou granite. The granite rock mass appears to be fractured by joint sets with very high persistence (>20m) and very wide spacing (60cm – 2m), forming large rock blocks. Further more, the Panagia peninsula is intersected by numerous parallel normal faults, forming extended zones of intensively fractured rock mass. Along the coastline the granite appear to be eroded by the sea waves, forming small gulfs around the faults. The Byzantine wall is founded along the edge of the fractured slopes forming the coast line of the peninsula, arising issues about the safety of the historical construction. The joint sets form numerous rock wedges with unfavourable orientation, many sections of the slopes are undercut by the wave erosion and in the majority of the fault zones the rock mass presents intensive fragmentation. The above described condition of the rock mass was recorded in detail along the entire coast line and all unstable sections were located. A full set of support measures was proposed for all unfavourable sections aiming to the improvement of the geotechnical behaviour of the rock mass, constituting the foundation formation of the Byzantine wall

Towards Canonical Quantum Gravity for G1 Geometries in 2+1 Dimensions with a Lambda--Term

The canonical analysis and subsequent quantization of the (2+1)-dimensional action of pure gravity plus a cosmological constant term is considered, under the assumption of the existence of one spacelike Killing vector field. The proper imposition of the quantum analogues of the two linear (momentum) constraints reduces an initial collection of state vectors, consisting of all smooth functionals of the components (and/or their derivatives) of the spatial metric, to particular scalar smooth functionals. The demand that the midi-superspace metric (inferred from the kinetic part of the quadratic (Hamiltonian) constraint) must define on the space of these states an induced metric whose components are given in terms of the same states, which is made possible through an appropriate re-normalization assumption, severely reduces the possible state vectors to three unique (up to general coordinate transformations) smooth scalar functionals. The quantum analogue of the Hamiltonian constraint produces a Wheeler-DeWitt equation based on this reduced manifold of states, which is completely integrated.Comment: Latex 2e source file, 25 pages, no figures, final version (accepted in CQG

TRANSFORMING GEOLOGICAL AND LANDISLIDE SUSCEPTIBILITY MAPPING DATA TO LINKED (OPEN) DATA FOR HAZARD MANAGEMENT

Η έλλειψη ενημέρωσης για τους πληθυσμούς που είναι εκτεθειμένοι σε κατολισθητικούς κινδύνους είναι μια κοινωνικο-οικονομική συνιστώσα της τρωτότητας του κοινωνικού ιστού και μπορεί να αυξήσει τον κίνδυνο απώλειας ζωών και υποδομών. Οι χρήστες αυτών των πληροφοριών χρειάζονται πολλά δεδομένα από κατολισθητικές περιοχές έτσι ώστε να καταστήσουν τις υπάρχουσες υποδομές πιο ανθεκτικές σε πιθανό καταστροφικό συμβάν. Πιο συγκεκριμένα, οι ιδιωτικοί και δημόσιοι οργανισμοί θα έχουν πχ τη δυνατότητα να επιλέξουν μεταξύ διαφορετικών χρήσεων γης για να ελαχιστοποιηθεί ο κίνδυνος υπαρχόντων υποδομών ή για τη μείωση του ίδιου του κινδύνου (μέσω μέτρων άμβλυνσης του). Από την άλλη πλευρά, οι χωροτάκτες μπορούν να πάρουν πιο ρεαλιστικές αποφάσεις πριν να προγραμματίσουν νέες υποδομές, σε 1684 περιοχές με υψηλό κατολισθητικό κίνδυνο. Έχουμε εφαρμόσει νέα εργαλεία για να αναπτύξουμε υπηρεσίες που είναι διαθέσιμες σε κάθε ενδιαφερόμενο, για τον εντοπισμό περιοχών επιδεκτικών σε κατολισθήσεις και που βασίζονται σε διαδικτυακές υπηρεσίες προκειμένου να παράσχουμε στους ενδιαφερόμενους φορείς πολύτιμες πληροφορίες σχετικά με την παλιότερη κατανομή των κατολισθήσεων σε μια περιοχή, τον τύπο των πετρωμάτων, τις βροχοπτώσεις κλπ με σκοπό να διαμορφώσουν πολιτικές χρήσης και να αξιολογήσουν μια επικείμενη κατολίσθηση.The frequent lack of information to populations exposed to landslides is a component of the social vulnerability and can strongly increase the risk on lives and infrastructures. Determining the extent of the landslide hazard requires identifying those areas which could be affected by a damaging landslide. The users need to integrate different landslide data in order to first understand and then possibly become resilient to any potential catastrophic event. More precisely, public and private organizations can choose between different land use options to minimize the risk on the already existing infrastructures or to reduce the hazard itself through mitigation measures. From the other hand, the land use planners can also take best decisions before planning new infrastructures in high risk landslides’ areas. Based on these data we have also implemented new tools, available every day and reusable by anyone interested, to identify land areas susceptible for landslides. The tools are based on cloud web services, especially for the management and presentation of these datasets in order to provide stakeholders with valuable information about past distribution of the landslides, type of bed rock, rainfall etc. in order to focus on land use policies and assess an impending landslide.

TRANSFORMING GEOLOGICAL AND LANDISLIDE SUSCEPTIBILITY MAPPING DATA TO LINKED (OPEN) DATA FOR HAZARD MANAGEMENT

Η έλλειψη ενημέρωσης για τους πληθυσμούς που είναι εκτεθειμένοι σε κατολισθητικούς κινδύνους είναι μια κοινωνικο-οικονομική συνιστώσα της τρωτότητας του κοινωνικού ιστού και μπορεί να αυξήσει τον κίνδυνο απώλειας ζωών και υποδομών. Οι χρήστες αυτών των πληροφοριών χρειάζονται πολλά δεδομένα από κατολισθητικές περιοχές έτσι ώστε να καταστήσουν τις υπάρχουσες υποδομές πιο ανθεκτικές σε πιθανό καταστροφικό συμβάν. Πιο συγκεκριμένα, οι ιδιωτικοί και δημόσιοι οργανισμοί θα έχουν πχ τη δυνατότητα να επιλέξουν μεταξύ διαφορετικών χρήσεων γης για να ελαχιστοποιηθεί ο κίνδυνος υπαρχόντων υποδομών ή για τη μείωση του ίδιου του κινδύνου (μέσω μέτρων άμβλυνσης του). Από την άλλη πλευρά, οι χωροτάκτες μπορούν να πάρουν πιο ρεαλιστικές αποφάσεις πριν να προγραμματίσουν νέες υποδομές, σε 1684 περιοχές με υψηλό κατολισθητικό κίνδυνο. Έχουμε εφαρμόσει νέα εργαλεία για να αναπτύξουμε υπηρεσίες που είναι διαθέσιμες σε κάθε ενδιαφερόμενο, για τον εντοπισμό περιοχών επιδεκτικών σε κατολισθήσεις και που βασίζονται σε διαδικτυακές υπηρεσίες προκειμένου να παράσχουμε στους ενδιαφερόμενους φορείς πολύτιμες πληροφορίες σχετικά με την παλιότερη κατανομή των κατολισθήσεων σε μια περιοχή, τον τύπο των πετρωμάτων, τις βροχοπτώσεις κλπ με σκοπό να διαμορφώσουν πολιτικές χρήσης και να αξιολογήσουν μια επικείμενη κατολίσθηση.The frequent lack of information to populations exposed to landslides is a component of the social vulnerability and can strongly increase the risk on lives and infrastructures. Determining the extent of the landslide hazard requires identifying those areas which could be affected by a damaging landslide. The users need to integrate different landslide data in order to first understand and then possibly become resilient to any potential catastrophic event. More precisely, public and private organizations can choose between different land use options to minimize the risk on the already existing infrastructures or to reduce the hazard itself through mitigation measures. From the other hand, the land use planners can also take best decisions before planning new infrastructures in high risk landslides’ areas. Based on these data we have also implemented new tools, available every day and reusable by anyone interested, to identify land areas susceptible for landslides. The tools are based on cloud web services, especially for the management and presentation of these datasets in order to provide stakeholders with valuable information about past distribution of the landslides, type of bed rock, rainfall etc. in order to focus on land use policies and assess an impending landslide.

Continuous glucose monitoring in critically ill adult patients: results of a pilot study in Greece

Background: Continuous glucose monitoring has emerged as a promising tool in managing glycemic control for patients with type 2 diabetes admitted to the intensive care unit. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the potential benefits, challenges, and implications associated with continuous glucose monitoring utilization in intensive care unit settings for type 2 diabetic patients. Methods: In a prospective observational study continuous glucose monitoring systems were applied in adult intensive care unit patients in two centers. Eighty patients were randomly assigned into 2 groups: one with continuous glucose monitoring system one with standard glucose monitoring, previous medical history, reason for intensive care unit admission, demographic characteristics and laboratory parameters were recorded. Results: Recordings from six patients were excluded from analysis. Patients on home insulin and tablet combination therapy had worse glycemic control than subjects on insulin monotherapy or oral tablets alone.  There was no difference in the glycemic profile of patients before and within the unit between those who were Covid-19 positive and those who had different reasons for admission to the unit. However, obese subjects had significantly worse glycemic control. Glucose measurements with continuous glucose monitoring and standard method were in almost total agreement. Conclusions: While continuous glucose monitoring benefits may allow a more personalized therapeutic strategy, further research is necessary to evaluate the cost-effectiveness and long-term implications of continuous glucose monitoring implementation in the intensive care unit setting

Eligibility for interventions, co-occurrence and risk factors for unhealthy behaviours in patients consulting for routine primary care: results from the Pre-Empt study

Smoking, excessive drinking, lack of exercise and a poor diet remain key causes of premature morbidity and mortality globally, yet it is not clear what proportion of patients attending for routine primary care are eligible for interventions about these behaviours, the extent to which they co-occur within individuals, and which individuals are at greatest risk for multiple unhealthy behaviours. The aim of the trial was to examine 'intervention eligibility' and co-occurrence of the 'big four' risky health behaviours - lack of exercise, smoking, an unhealthy diet and excessive drinking - in a primary care population. Data were collected from adult patients consulting routinely in general practice across South Wales as part of the Pre-Empt study; a cluster randomised controlled trial. After giving consent, participants completed screening instruments, which included the following to assess eligibility for an intervention based on set thresholds: AUDIT-C (for alcohol), HSI (for smoking), IPAQ (for exercise) and a subset of DINE (for diet). The intervention following screening was based on which combination of risky behaviours the patient had. Descriptive statistics, χ2 tests for association and ordinal regressions were undertaken. Two thousand sixty seven patients were screened: mean age of 48.6 years, 61.9 % female and 42.8 % in a managerial or professional occupation. In terms of numbers of risky behaviours screened eligible for, two was the most common (43.6 %), with diet and exercise (27.2 %) being the most common combination. Insufficient exercise was the most common single risky behaviour (12.0 %). 21.8 % of patients would have been eligible for an intervention for three behaviours and 5.9 % for all four behaviours. Just 4.5 % of patients did not identify any risky behaviours. Women, older age groups and those in managerial or professional occupations were more likely to exhibit all four risky behaviours. Very few patients consulting for routine primary care screen ineligible for interventions about common unhealthy behaviours, and most engage in more than one of the major common unhealthy behaviours. Clinicians should be particularly alert to opportunities to engaging younger, non professional men and those with multi-morbidity about risky health behaviour. ISRCTN22495456. BACKGROUND METHODS RESULTS CONCLUSION TRIAL REGISTRATIO

Towards Canonical Quantum Gravity for Geometries Admitting Maximally Symmetric Two-dimensional Surfaces

The 3+1 (canonical) decomposition of all geometries admitting two-dimensional space-like surfaces is exhibited. A proposal consisting of a specific re-normalization {\bf Assumption} and an accompanying {\bf Requirement} is put forward, which enables the canonical quantization of these geometries. The resulting Wheeler-deWitt equation is based on a re-normalized manifold parameterized by three smooth scalar functionals. The entire space of solutions to this equation is analytically given, exploiting the freedom left by the imposition of the {\bf Requirement} and contained in the third functional.Comment: 27 pages, no figures, LaTex2e source fil