Ecohydraulics-based environmental flow assessment in two arid North African rivers.

North Africa is among the most water-stressed regions in the world; still, the habitat requirements of its freshwater biota are largely unknown. In this study, (i) we developed habitat suitability curves (HSCs) for freshwater macroinvertebrates in two poorly studied, regulated North African rivers (Ziz and Oum Er-Rbia), and (ii) assessed environmental flows downstream of each river dam by incorporating the HSCs in two-dimensional ecohydraulic models. We demonstrate a low-cost sampling methodology combined with freely distributed ecohydraulic modeling software. The results showed that macroinvertebrates in the arid-desert Ziz River could tolerate a wide range of habitats in terms of flow velocity and water depth compared to the arid-steppe Oum Er-Rbia River, probably due to their adaptation to extreme (arid-desert) environmental conditions. Optimal environmental flows downstream of the Al Hassan Addakhil (Ziz River) and the Al Massira (Oum Er-Rbia River) dams were 1 m3/s and 2 m3/s, respectively. However, environmental flows at 0.5 m3/s and 1 m3/s, respectively, could still maintain sustainable freshwater biota downstream of the dams. The results further highlight the critical status of the Ziz River, which was completely dry, and the alarming status of the Oum Er-Rbia River due to the significant reduction in the water levels of the Al Massira Dam. In a continuously changing climate, we suggest that the proposed environmental flows should be immediately delivered to prevent droughts and ensure healthy freshwater communities downstream of the dams, within a basin-wide freshwater management framework. In this water scarce region, more research is necessary to increase ecological awareness about these understudied freshwater systems and achieve a balance between human needs and ecosystem requirements.

Determination of environmental flows in rivers using an integrated hydrological-hydrodynamic-habitat modelling approach.

We propose the novel integrated modelling procedure 3H-EMC for the determination of the environmental flow in rivers and streams; 3H-EMC combines Hydrological, Hydrodynamic and Habitat modelling with the use of the Environmental Management Classes (EMCs) that are defined by the Global Environmental Flow Calculator. We apply 3H-EMC in the Sperchios River in Central Greece, in which water abstractions for irrigation cause significant environmental impacts. Calculations of the hydrodynamic-habitat model, in which the large and the small chub are the main fish species, suggest discharge values that range from 1.0 m3/s to 4.0 m3/s. However, hydrological modelling indicates that it is practically difficult to achieve discharges that are higher than approximately 1.0-1.5 m3/s. Furthermore, legislation suggests significantly lower values (0.4-0.5 m3/s) that are unacceptable from the ecological point of view. This behaviour shows that a non-integrated approach, which is based only on hydrodynamic-habitat modelling does not necessarily result in realistic environmental flows, and thus an integrated approach is required. We propose the value of 1.0 m3/s as the "optimum" environmental flow for Sperchios River, because (a) it satisfies the habitat requirements, as expressed by the values of weighted useable area that are equal to 2180 and 1964 m2 for the large and small chub, respectively, and correspond to 82 and 95% of their respective maximum values, (b) it is consistent with the requirements of Environmental Classes A and B, whose percentiles are higher than 75% for discharge (77.2%) and for habitat availability (>83.5% for the large chub and >85.0% for the small chub), (c) it is practically achievable from the hydrological point of view, and (d) it is higher than the value proposed by the Greek legislation. The proposed modelling approach can be applied to any river or stream using the same or similar modelling tools, which should be linked via suitable coupling algorithms.

Synthetic investigation, physicochemical characterization and antibacterial evaluation of ternary Bi(III) systems with hydroxycarboxylic acid and aromatic chelator substrates.

Due to its physical and chemical properties, bismuth (Bi(III)) is widely used in the treatment of several gastrointestinal and skin diseases, and infections caused by bacteria. Herein, its known antimicrobial potential was taken into consideration in the synthesis of two new hybrid ternary materials of Bi(III) with the physiological α-hydroxycarboxylic glycolic acid and 1,10-phenanthroline (phen), [Bi2(C2H2O3)2(C2H3O3)(NO3)]n. nH2O (1) and [Bi(C12H8N2)(NO3)4](C10H8N4) (2), aiming at improving its antibacterial properties. Their physicochemical characterization was carried out through elemental analysis, FT-IR, atomic absorption spectroscopy, single crystal X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), photoluminescence, and 13C MAS-NMR techniques. The antimicrobial activity of the title complexes was directly linked to Bi(III) coordination environment and the incipient aqueous chemistry. For their antibacterial assessment, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), zone of inhibition (ZOI), and bacteriostatic-bacteriocidal activity were determined in various Gram positive (Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus cereus) and Gram negative (Escherichia coli and Xanthomonas campestris) bacterial cultures, in reference to a positive control (ampicillin), encompassing further comparisons with literature data. The findings reveal that the new hybrid bismuth materials have significant antimicrobial effects against the employed bacteria. Specifically, 2 exhibits better antimicrobial properties than free Bi(NO3)3 and phen. On the other hand, 1 is bacteriostatic toward four microorganisms except X. campestris, with 2 being bacteriocidal toward four microorganisms except B. cereus. Collectively, the new hybrid, well-defined, and two of the rarely crystallographically characterized Bi(III) materials a) exhibit properties reflecting their physicochemical nature and reactivity, and b) are expected to contribute to the development of efficient metallodrugs against drug-resistant bacterial infections.

Quantifying the bystander-effect of 2.5G mobile telephones on the speech perception of digital hearing aid users.

OBJECTIVE: To quantify the bystander-effect of 2.5G mobile telephones (2.5G-MTs) on the speech perception of digital hearing-aid (dHA) users. Differences in the susceptibility of behind-the-ear (BTE) compared to in-to-the-ear (ITE) dHAs were also assessed. MATERIALS/METHODS: Prospective-comparative study conducted at a tertiary referral centre (ENT Department) and a HA-fitting laboratory. Key-word recognition scores from open-sentence lists were calculated. Power-analysis determined that a minimum of 60 subjects with SNHL (30 in each group), using either BTE or ITE dHAs, were required for reliable study outcomes. Sixty-four adults were tested with a functioning 2.5G-MT at almost physical contact with their ear; thirty subjects used BTE and 34 ITE dHAs. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Aided word recognition score differences between studied groups and within each group, while a 2.5G-MT was activated. Cut-off inclusion criterion regarding baseline aided word recognition score was 75%. RESULTS: Baseline aided word recognition scores for ITE dHAs were better compared to BTE ones (p < 0.01). Following the 2.5G-MT activation, this difference disappeared. No statistically significant difference in word recognition was observed between the examined groups, or within the BTE group, from the bystander-effect of the 2.5G-MT. ITE dHAs proved more susceptible to electromagnetic interference (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The bystander-effect of 2.5G-MTs on the speech perception of dHA users is either minimal, or not significant. The observed compatibility has a positive impact on the lives of millions of people worldwide. The long-standing theory of more interference in BTE compared to ITE HAs is not confirmed by the results of the present study. EBM level of evidence: 2c.

Effect of operational cycle time length on nitrogen removal in an alternating oxidation ditch system.

This paper refers to nitrogen removal optimization of an alternating oxidation ditch system through the use of a mathematical model and pilot testing. The pilot system where measurements have been made has a total volume of 120 m(3) and consists of two ditches operating in four phases during one cycle and performs carbon oxidation, nitrification, denitrification and settling. The mathematical model consists of one-dimensional mass balance (convection-dispersion) equations based on the IAWPRC ASM 1 model. After the calibration and verification of the model, simulation system performance was made. Optimization is achieved by testing operational cycles and phases with different time lengths. The limits of EU directive 91/271 for nitrogen removal have been used for comparison. The findings show that operational cycles with smaller time lengths can achieve higher nitrogen removals and that an "equilibrium" between phase time percentages in the whole cycle, for a given inflow, must be achieved.

Increased frequency of rhinitis medicamentosa due to media advertising for nasal topical decongestants.

AIM: The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency of rhinitis medicamentosa (RM) in patients attending the ENT outpatient clinic of the General Hospital of Rethymnon (Crete, Greece) before and after the launch of an intensive nasal decongestant advertising campaign in Greece. METHODS: We reviewed the medical records of the patients with RM seen at the ENT outpatient clinic in May, June and July of 2003 and 2006. We analyzed and recorded the gender, age, and related clinical information of the patients with RM. RESULTS: In May, June and July of 2003, 41 patients out of a total of 1780 patients attending the ENT outpatient clinic were diagnosed with RM (2.3%). In the same months in 2006, 161 patients out a total of 1898 patients were diagnosed with RM (8.5%). The frequency of RM in these groups was therefore found to have increased significantly between 2003 and 2006. In 2006, 8 out of 10 patients with RM reported that they had made their purchasing decision solely on the basis of the information supplied by the drug advertisement without consulting their doctor or pharmacist. CONCLUSION: We suggest that the intensive media advertising campaign for nasal topical decongestants (particularly on TV) which started in 2004 is probably the main reason for this "endemic" RM.

Psychometric properties of the QLQ-C30 (version 3.0) in a sample of ambulatory Cretan cancer patients.

The aim of the present study was to test the psychometric properties of the Quality of Life Questionnaire (QLQ-C30, version 3.0) in a sample of ambulatory cancer patients, mostly low educated and coming from rural areas of the island of Crete. The sample consisted of 188 lung, breast and colorectal cancer patients. Their quality of life (QoL) has been evaluated twice: before and after the first therapeutic intervention. Alpha coefficients ranged from 0.88 to 0.98. Inter-scale correlations were more substantial between the physical, role and fatigue scales. Mean score differences between groups of patients with different performance status (PS) were statistically significant for most of the sub-scales. Instead the patients with stable PS after treatment showed worse functioning in five from the nine sub-scales. For those whose PS has deteriorated, their subjective evaluation indicated deterioration only for physical, role and social functioning. In this sample of mainly ambulatory cancer patients, the instrument has high coefficients of reliability and good clinical validity. However, the results related to its sensitivity are not very consistent. It has proven able to detect clinically significant changes after the therapeutic intervention only for the patients who deteriorated over time and for three specific dimensions of QoL: physical, role and social functioning.

Intraparotid lymph node tuberculosis.

PROBLEM: Parotid gland Mycobacterial infection is a rare disease that causes parotid swelling without disease-specific manifestations. CASE REPORT: We present a case of intraparotid lymph node tuberculosis that mimicked a tumour. Computed tomography of the head and neck indicated a left parotid enlargement involving two intraparotid lymph nodes. The cervical lymph nodes of the ipsilateral posterior triangle and the submandibular and jugulodigastric areas were also enlarged. Contrast enhancement indicated homogenous tissue with no necrotic areas. A biopsy revealed a caseating granuloma most likely due to tuberculosis. A purified protein derivative test gave strong positive results (35 mm). After one month of antituberculous treatment, the cervical lymphadenopathy and left parotid lumpiness disappeared. CONCLUSIONS: Tuberculous parotitis and neoplasms have similar clinical manifestations. In patients with a mass in the parotid gland, a high clinical suspicion of underlying tuberculosis is crucial for establishing an accurate diagnosis and the proper management.

Cavernous haemangioma of the left nasal cavity.

Cavernous haemangioma of the nose is a rare lesion but it has to be added to the differential diagnosis of an intra-nasal bleeding mass. A high index of suspicion, upon computed tomography delineation of the extent of the mass, including the presence of bone remodelling plus histological evaluation can be usefully employed to define an accurate diagnosis. In the present case of an adult female with a huge cavernous haemangioma arising from the mucosa of the left middle nasal meatus, the two most interesting points were the rarity as a site of occurrence of this tumour and the successful extirpation of this lesion with the minimally invasive trans-nasal endoscopic technique. We recommend the minimal invasive trans-nasal endoscopic technique for adequate exposure, sufficient control of bleeding and for complete removal of a nasal haemangioma reaching the nasopharynx and paranasal sinuses.

Ocular involvement of transmissible venereal tumor in a dog.

A case of metastatic transmissible venereal tumor (TVT), with lesions on the penis, conjunctiva, buccal mucosa and skin (lips and trunk), is presented in this case report. The clinical picture is described along with the cytological and histopathological features of the tumor leading to definitive diagnosis of TVT. Possible reasons for the unusual metastatic behavior of TVT and full recovery of the dog after chemotherapy are discussed.