bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Kingship and Carpe Diem, Between Gilgamesh and Qoheleth
Authors: Suriano Matthew J.
Published: January 2017

The comparison of Qoheleth and Gilgamesh begins with the so-called carpe diem advice of Siduri and Eccl 9:7-9. Additionally, the rhetoric of kingship evoked through Gilgamesh’s narû (“stele”) at the beginning of the epic parallels the royal voice of Qoheleth beginning in Eccl 1:12. Yet these similarities raise several historical issues. First, Siduri’s speech is only found in an Old Babylonian fragment of the epic. The redaction of this advice was part of a process of adapting kingship motifs in the Standard Babylonian Epic. This process appears to bring Gilgamesh closer to Qoheleth, particularly in its reference to narû literature. But in reality the message of later versions of the Mesopotamian epic diverges from that of Ecclesiastes. Furthermore, Qoheleth’s royal voice finds a closer parallel in Northwest Semitic memorial inscriptions. A careful reconsideration of these factors will show that the similarities and differences reflect how both works interact with kingship.
Is long-distance dispersal of talitrids (Amphipoda) in the North Atlantic feasible?
Authors: Wildish David J. , Chang Blythe D.
Published: January 2017

Three talitrid species were found on both northwestern and northeastern Atlantic coastal regions: Orchestia gammarellus, Platorchestia platensis and P. monodi. We used the predictive surface drifter model Adrift.org.au to determine the feasibility of long-distance dispersal in either direction across the North Atlantic. Driftwood was the only rafting platform which could support talitrids, such as Platorchestia but not Orchestia, for long enough to survive a North Atlantic crossing. It is feasible that both Platorchestia platensis and P. monodi, physiologically adapted to a driftwood dispersal platform, could undertake rafting from west to east, but not from east to west. We cannot exclude the possibility of synanthropic dispersal for Platorchestia sp., which remains a viable alternative hypothesis.
Eimeria atlapetesi nom. nov., a replacement name for Eimeria pileata Soriano-Vargas et al., 2015 (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae), preoccupied by Eimeria pileata Straneva and Kelley, 1979 (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae), with observations on histopathology and phylogenetic analysis
Authors: SORIANO-VARGAS EDGARDO , SALGADO-MIRANDA CELENE , ZEPEDA-VELÁZQUEZ ANDREA PALOMA , MEDINA JUAN PABLO , JANCZUR MARIUSZ KRZYSZTOF , GONZÁLEZ-GÓMEZ MARICRUZ , FLORES-VALLE IZANAMI TEREIRA , BERTO BRUNO PEREIRA , LOPES CARLOS WILSON GOMES
Published: January 2017

Eimeria pileata Soriano-Vargas, Medina, Salgado-Miranda, García-Conejo, Galindo-Sánchez, Janczur, Berto and Lopes, 2015 is a junior homonym of Eimeria pileata Straneva and Kelley, 1979 and needs to be replaced. This coccidium was described from a rufous-capped brush finch Atlapetes pileatus Wagler in the Nevado de Toluca Natural Protected Area, Mexico. Thus, to maintain the original intent of the specific epithet derived from the scientific name of the type-host, the name Eimeria atlapetesi nom. nov. is proposed as a replacement name. Additionally, the current work reports another rufous-capped brush finch A. pileatus parasitized by E. atlapetesi in co-infection with an Isospora sp., providing observations of histopathology and phylogenetic analysis of 18S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene from E. atlapetesi. Endogenous forms of E. atlapetesi and Isospora sp. were observed in intestinal sections. Few oocysts of Isospora sp. were observed; therefore they were not morphologically or molecularly identified. In return, E. atlapetesi was identified and it was phylogenetically close to Eimeria dispersa Tyzzer, 1929 from the domestic turkey Meleagris gallopavo Linnaeus.
A new species of Phanerotoma Wesmael (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Cheloninae) parasitoid of the carob moth in South Africa
Authors: ACHTERBERG CORNELIS VAN , THACKERAY SEAN R. , HILL MARTIN P.
Published: January 2017

A new species, Phanerotoma carobivora van Achterberg & Thackeray, sp. nov. is described from South Africa. It is a common endoparasitoid of the carob moth (Ectomyelois ceratoniae Zeller (Pyralidae) on pecan (Carya illinoinensis (Wangenh.) K. Koch) and citrus fruits in South Africa. Mean percentage of parasitism varied 2-30% between host plants and sampled localities.
Description of a new genus of Euliina with unique coupling adaptations of the male and female (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae: Tortricinae: Cochylini)
Authors: SANTA-RITA JOSE V. PÉREZ , BAIXERAS JOAQUIN
Published: January 2017

Ancoruncus langeri, new genus and new species, is described and illustrated from the Neotropics (Bolivia). It is assigned to the tribe Cochylini (subtribe Euliina) in the family Tortricidae. Ancoruncus langeri is characterized by an unusual, strongly developed uncus, distally expanded into an anchor-like, bilobed apical process and a complex gnathos in male genitalia, as well as an unusual configuration of the anterior lobes of the papillae anales, and tergum 8 with the anterior area bearing a double pocket in the female genitalia. The hypothetical dorsal coupling mechanism of the male and female genitalia is discussed.
A Performance Comparison between Multiphysics and Stochastic Approaches within a North American RAP Ensemble
Authors: Jankov Isidora , Berner Judith , Beck Jeffrey , Jiang Hongli , Olson Joseph B. , Grell Georg , Smirnova Tatiana G. , Benjamin Stanley G. , Brown John M.
Published: January 2017

A stochastic parameter perturbation (SPP) scheme consisting of spatially and temporally varying perturbations of uncertain parameters in the Grell–Freitas convective scheme and the Mellor–Yamada–Nakanishi–Niino planetary boundary scheme was developed within the Rapid Refresh ensemble system based on the Weather Research and Forecasting Model. Alone the stochastic parameter perturbations generate insufficient spread to be an alternative to the operational configuration that utilizes combinations of multiple parameterization schemes. However, when combined with other stochastic parameterization schemes, such as the stochastic kinetic energy backscatter (SKEB) scheme or the stochastic perturbation of physics tendencies (SPPT) scheme, the stochastic ensemble system has comparable forecast performance. An additional analysis quantifies the added value of combining SPP and SPPT over an ensemble that uses SPPT only, which is generally beneficial, especially for surface variables. The ensemble combining all three stochastic methods consistently produces the best spread–skill ratio and generally outperforms the multiphysics ensemble. The results of this study indicate that using a single-physics suite ensemble together with stochastic methods is an attractive alternative to multiphysics ensembles and should be considered in the design of future high-resolution regional and global ensembles.
Circulation Response to Fast and Slow MJO Episodes
Authors: Yadav Priyanka , Straus David M.
Published: January 2017

Fast and slow Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO) episodes have been identified from 850- and 200-hPa zonal wind and outgoing longwave radiation (OLR) for 32 winters (16 October–17 March) 1980/81–2011/12. For 26 fast cases the OLR took no more than 10 days to propagate from phase 3 (convection over the Indian Ocean) to phase 6 (convection over the western Pacific). For 8 slow cases the propagation took at least 20 days. Fast episode composite anomalies of 500-hPa height (Z500) show a developing Rossby wave in the mid-Pacific with downstream propagation through MJO phases 2–4. Changes in the frequency of occurrence of the NAO+ weather regime are modest. This Rossby wave is forced by anomalous cooling over the Maritime Continent during phases 2 and 3 (seen in phase-independent wave activity flux). The upper-level anticyclonic response to phase-3 heating is a secondary source of wave activity. The Z500 slow episode composite response to MJO phases 1 and 2 is an enhanced Aleutian low followed by a North American continental high. Following phase 4 the development of an NAO+ like pattern is seen over the Atlantic, transitioning to a strong NAO− pattern by phase 8. A dramatic increase in frequency of the NAO+ weather regime follows phases 4 and 5, while a strong increase in NAO− regime follows phases 6 and 7. The responses to MJO-related heating and cooling over the Indian and western Pacific Oceans in phases 1–4 provide a source for wave activity propagating to North America, augmented by storm-track anomalies.
Plasma volume status predicts prognosis in patients with acute heart failure syndromes
Authors: Yoshihisa Akiomi , Abe Satoshi , Sato Yu , Watanabe Shunsuke , Yokokawa Tetsuro , Miura Shunsuke , Misaka Tomofumi , Sato Takamasa , Suzuki Satoshi , Oikawa Masayoshi , Kobayashi Atsushi , Yamaki Takayoshi , Kunii Hiroyuki , Saitoh Shu-ichi , Takeishi Yasuchika
Published: January 2017

Background:

The intravascular compartment is known as the plasma volume, and the extravascular compartment represents fluid within the interstitial space. Plasma volume expansion is a major symptom of heart failure. The aim of the current study was to investigate the impact of plasma volume status on the prognosis of acute heart failure syndromes.

Methods and results:

We analyzed 1115 patients with acute heart failure syndromes who were admitted to our hospital. These patients were divided into three groups based on their plasma volume status at admission: first tertile (plasma volume status <41.9%, n = 371), second tertile (41.9%⩽ plasma volume status <49.0%, n = 372), and third tertile (49.0%⩽ plasma volume status, n = 372). Plasma volume status was defined as follows: actual plasma volume = (1 − hematocrit) × [ a + ( b × body weight)] ( a=1530 in males and a=864 in females, b=41.0 in males and b=47.9 in females); ideal plasma volume = c × body weight ( c=39 in males and c=40 in females); and plasma volume status = [(actual plasma volume − ideal plasma volume)/ideal plasma volume] × 100 (%). In the Kaplan–Meier analysis, all-cause mortality, cardiac mortality and cardiac events increased progressively from the first to third tertile ( p <0.001, respectively). In the Cox proportional hazard analysis, after adjusting for potential confounding factors, plasma volume status was an independent predictor of all-cause mortality (hazard ratio 1.429, p < 0.001), cardiac mortality (hazard ratio 1.416, p = 0.001) and cardiac events (hazard ratio 1.207, p = 0.004).

Conclusion:

Increased congestion is associated with increased morbidity and mortality in heart failure patients. Plasma volume status, which represents intravascular compartment and congestion, can identify poor prognosis in patients with acute heart failure syndromes.
Feeding difficulties are not associated with higher rates of iron deficiency anemia in Brazilian children and adolescents—cross-sectional study
Authors: Soares Jéssica S. , Maximino Priscilla , Machado Rachel H. V. , Bozzini Ana Beatriz , Tosatti Abykeyla Mellisse , Ramos Cláudia C. , Fisberg Mauro
Published: January 2017

Background

Iron deficiency anemia and feeding difficulties (FD) are common issues in childhood, reinforcing the concern about the risk of micronutrient deficiencies. FD do not necessarily reflect nutritional deficiencies, since they may or may not relate to specific nutrient sources. The objective of the study is to describe the prevalence of iron depletion and iron deficiency anemia in children with FD and to seek associations with diagnosis and its markers.

Methods

This is a cross-sectional study with 68 patients (convenience sample). The following data were assessed through medical records: age (months), gender, exclusive breastfeeding duration (months), birth weight (kg), iron supplementation, hemoglobin (Hb), ferritin, and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, repertory of foods consumed (food inventory and 3-day food record analysis), and diagnosis of FD. Data were classified according to references for age and were analyzed using correlation tests, Student’s t test, ANOVA and chi-square test, or its nonparametric equivalents. A significance level of 5% was considered.

Results

Iron depletion and anemia were identified in 10.1 and 6% of children, respectively. Picky eating was diagnosed in 35.3%. Food repertory consisted on average of 21 foods, with null correlation to Hb and ferritin. The average fortified milk intake was 517 ml/day, with null correlation to Hb. There was no effect of diagnosis of FD on Hb (p = 0.18) or ferritin (p = 0.52). The same was verified in the children without supplementation, to both Hb (p = 0.54) and ferritin (p = 0.08).

Conclusions

No evidence of association between diagnosis of FD or repertory of foods to anemia or iron depletion was found, which could be a reassuring factor for caregivers. Reproduction in large scale as well as inclusion of dietary intake variables is suggested for further research.
The Intriguing Madame de Rosemain and the Economy of Deal Making at Louis Xiv's Versailles
Authors: Goldner Erik
Published: January 2017

The case of Philippe Pochon de Rosemain illuminates the informal and often illicit markets in royal contracts, posts, and largesse that flourished at Louis XIV's Versailles. Marginal deal makers like Rosemain played useful roles in what this article calls the economy of deal making. Nonetheless such lowborn operators—especially the women among them—were particularly vulnerable to scrutiny by royal officials. This article throws light on a fascinating but little-understood group of people from modest backgrounds who operated in the interstices of Versailles, furthering our knowledge of the possibilities they exploited and the challenges they faced. It advances our understanding of the interplay of individual favor seeking with the worsening financial troubles of, and intensifying surveillance and discipline within, Louis XIV's regime. It also deepens our appreciation of the intertwined histories of women, society, and the state in France in the decades around 1700.

L'exemple de Philippe Pochon de Rosemain éclaire les réseaux informels et souvent illicites du négoce des contrats, postes, et faveurs royaux à Versailles sous Louis XIV. De naissance inférieure, dépourvus de rôles officiels, les agents de ces réseaux tels que Rosemain étaient à ces égards des marginaux ; toutefois leurs activités étaient essentielles à ce qu'on appelle le négoce d'affaires. Cet article présente un groupe méconnu d'individus qui opéraient officieusement au sein de Versailles. Il expose les possibilités qu'ils ont exploitées et les dangers auxquels ils étaient confrontés, offrant une perspective insolite sur l'Etat et la société—et particulièrement les femmes—en France aux alentours de 1700.
“To Spread the French Language Is to Extend thePatrie”
Authors: Horne Janet
Published: January 2017

The Alliance Française was founded in 1883 to reinforce France's colonial ambitions in Tunisia and throughout the Mediterranean basin. Its focus on language as a tool of empire was unprecedented among the colonial powers. This article revisits that colonial past and examines the Alliance's role as a purveyor of colonial education during the early years of the Third Republic. Its founders envisioned modern France as an imperial republic that would consolidate a republican polity while simultaneously asserting its mounting stature as a world empire. Quickly spreading beyond its colonial matrix, the Alliance Française grew to build a vast cultural network abroad. This article examines the complex and often contradictory processes that led from colonial strategies of dominance to the development of modern French cultural relations abroad. It argues, too, for a more comprehensive inclusion of nineteenth-century imperial expansion within the historical narrative of the rise of modern French cultural diplomacy.

L'Alliance française a été fondée en 1883 pour renforcer les ambitions coloniales de la France en Tunisie et à travers le bassin méditerranéen. L'accent mis sur la langue en tant qu'outil impérial était sans précédent parmi les puissances coloniales. Cet article se penche sur ce passé colonial pour examiner le rôle de l'Alliance en tant que fournisseur d'éducation. Ses fondateurs envisageaient la France moderne comme une république impériale qui consoliderait les bases d'un système politique républicain tout en affirmant son statut d'empire mondial. Au-delà de sa matrice coloniale, l'Alliance française s'est rapidement étendue, créant un vaste réseau culturel à l'étranger. Cet article analyse les processus complexes et souvent contradictoires qui, à partir de stratégies coloniales de domination, ont abouti au développement des relations culturelles françaises modernes. Il fait valoir aussi l'importance d'une intégration plus complète de l'expansion impériale du dix-neuvième siècle au récit historique de la diplomatie culturelle française moderne.
Fighting Corruption in Education: What Works and Who Benefits?
Authors: Borcan Oana , Lindahl Mikael , Mitrut Andreea
Published: January 2017

We investigate the distributional consequences of a corruption-fighting initiative in Romania targeting the endemic fraud in a high-stakes high school exit exam, which introduced CCTV monitoring of the exam and credible punishment threats for teachers and students. We find that the campaign was effective in reducing corruption and, in particular, that monitoring increased the effectiveness of the punishment threats. Estimating the heterogeneous impact for students of different poverty status we show that curbing corruption led to a worrisome score gap increase between poor and nonpoor students. Consequently, the poor students have reduced chances to enter an elite university. (JEL I21, I24, I28, I32)
Does It Pay to Know Prices in Health Care?
Authors: Lieber Ethan M.J.
Published: January 2017

Consumers rarely know the price of medical care before they consume it. I use variation in the timing of access to a new source of price information to show how access to and search for price information leads consumers to pay significantly less for care. I provide suggestive evidence that insurance coverage inhibits the use of price information, rationalizing the relatively low rates of search. The results indicate that availability of price information could have large impacts on prices even in the absence of general equilibrium effects. (JEL D82, D83, G22, I11, I13)
Housing Supply Elasticity and Rent Extraction by State and Local Governments
Authors: Diamond Rebecca
Published: January 2017

Governments may extract rent from private citizens by inflating taxes and spending on projects benefiting special interests. Using a spatial equilibrium model, I show that less elastic housing supplies increase governments’ abilities to extract rents. Inelastic housing supply, driven by exogenous variation in local topography, raises local governments’ tax revenues and causes citizens to combat rent seeking by enacting laws limiting the power of elected officials. I find that public sector workers, one of the largest government special interests, capture a share of these rents through increased compensation when collective bargaining is legal or through corruption when collective bargaining is outlawed. (JEL H71, H72, J45, J52, R31, R51)
Influence of geological and geotechnical conditions to design a water reservoir in karst area
Authors: Steiakakis E. , Vafidis A. , Manoutsoglou E. , Vavadakis D.
Published: January 2017

The design of a water reservoir in a site underlain by karstified carbonate rocks, encounters many difficulties mainly due to unpredictable location, dimensions and geometry of the karst structure and voids.The objective of this work is to present part of the investigation work that was carried out in Omalos plateau (W. Crete) where a water reservoir is going to be constructed.The survey was based on geological mapping, geophysical exploration, boreholes drilling, sampling and laboratory testing for the geotechnical parameters determination.The soil thickness that is required to provide stability against soil collapse into voids and the subsequent formation of sinkholes was estimated.The evaluations represent a useful decision-support tool in the management of the investigation results for the design purposes of the water reservoir in Omalos plateau.
Magnetic susceptibility as a tool for the discrimination of anthropogenic and lithogenic history of topsoils: preliminary results from the broader area of Thessaloniki city.
Authors: Aidona E. , Kazakis N. , Mavroidaki K. , Voudouris K.
Published: January 2017

In the recent years the measure of the magnetic susceptibility has been proved to be a reliable tool for the monitoring of pollution in topsoils. However the increase of magnetic susceptibility is not always correlated with polluted sources but it is possible to reflect the geological background of the area. In the present study a broad area in the southeast part of Thessaloniki city has been investigated by means of magnetic susceptibility measurements. In total 77 profiles up to 70 cm depth have been sampled. Magnetic susceptibility was measured in two different frequencies (0.47 and 4.7 KHz) and the percentage of frequency dependence was calculated. The spatial distribution of the magnetic susceptibility values was performed using GIS techniques. The results revealed the presence of two areas with high susceptibility values. These areas are investigated in details in order to distinguish the anthropogenic or the lithogenic influence.
Flood reconstruction using botanical evidence in Rapentosa catchment, in Marathon, Greece.
Authors: Diakakis N.
Published: January 2017

Botanical evidence has been used in the past  for flash flood analysis, especially when instrumental data were scarce. This work focuses on the use of such evidence as a tool to study flash flood phenomena in Rapentosa torrent, in Marathon, Greece. To this aim, impact scars induced during past flood events    on trees along the torrent  , were  considered water stage indicators and were used   to determine discharge magnitude of these flow episodes. Samples extracted from the scarred specimens with the aid  of an increment borer, were used to date these impacts wounds. 1-D h y-draulic  modeling  was  used  to  provide  a  reconstruction  of  the  highest-discharge event, while results were cross-examined with    historical damages to verify the out-come of the analysis. Analysis showed a total of 22 impact wounds along the torrent indicating discharge values between 17.1 m3/s and 84.9 m3/s during past flow episodes. Three flash flood events were identified in 1996, 1998 and 2001. Hydraulic modeling of the 2001 event, which presented the highest flow values, illustrated its extent    and water depth across    the  flood  plain, presenting good correlation with the available documentary evidence.
Ground penetrating radar and electrical resistivity tomography for locating buried building foundations: A case study in the city centre of Thessaloniki, Greece
Authors: Vargemezis G. , Diamanti N. , Fikos I. , Stampolidis A. , Makedon Th. , Chatzigogos N.
Published: January 2017

Ground penetrating radar (GPR) and electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) surveys have been carried out in the city centre of Thessaloniki (N. Greece), for investigating possible locations of buried building foundations. Geophysical survey has been chosen as a non-destructive investigation method since the area is currently used as a car parking and it is covered by asphalt. The geoelectrical sections derived from ERT data in combination with the GPR profiles provided a broad view of the  subsurface.  Regarding  ERT,  high  resistivity  values  can  be  related  to  buried building remains, while lower resistivity values are more related to the surrounding geological materials. GPR surveying can also indicate man-made structures buried in the ground. Even though the two geophysical methods are affected in different ways by the subsurface conditions, the processed underground images from both techniques revealed great similarity. High resistivity anomalies and distinct GPR signals were observed in certain locations of the area under investigation, which are attributed to buried building foundations as well as the geological structure of the area.
Microtremor HVSR study of site effects in the urban area of the town of Mytilene, Lesvos (Greece) - Preliminary results.
Authors: Bouranta E. , Vallianatos F. , Hatzopoulos N. J. , Papadopoulos I. , Gaganis P.
Published: January 2017

Mytilene is the capital of Lesvos, the eighth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea and the largest in the North Aegean. The region of North Aegean is a geotectonically complex area, because its geodynamic status is directly affected by the North Anatolian Fault Zone. In the present paper, microtremor data have been analyzedfor the city of Mytilene using Nakamura technique of Horizontal to Vertical Spectral Ratio (HVSR) to ascertain the structure in terms of the predominant frequency. 100 microtremor measurements have been performed in the city of Mytilene. At each point of microtremor measurement, the natural frequency and amplification factor have been determined. The predominant frequency varies from 0.4 Hz to 6.6 Hz. The amplification factor in 0.4-8.07 range has been obtained from the HVSR analysis. The results are presented in terms of maps, including the spatial variability of the predominant frequency and developed GIS database. The results of this study make it clear that the characteristics of microtremors depend on the type of soil deposits.
The 10 June 2012 MW 6.0 earthquake sequence in the easternmost end of the Hellenic arc.
Authors: Kiratzi A. , Aktar M. , Svigkas N.
Published: January 2017

The 10 June 2012 (UTC 12:44:17.3; lat. 36.441°N, long. 28.904°E, Mw6.0) earthquake sequence, 60 km to the west of Rodos Island, is studied, in an attempt to shed light to the obscure deformation pattern at the easternmost end of the Hellenic Arc. Moment tensor solutions for the mainshock and the strongest aftershocks revealed the operation of WNW-ESE dextral strike-slip faulting, with slip vector at~N295°E, approximately orthogonal to the GPS velocity vectors. The strike of the activated structure generally aligns with bathymetric linear escarpments observed in the region, bordering the eastern section of the Rodos basin. The best constrained focal depths are in the range 10 to 25 km, with the mainshock at the depth of 24 km.The slip model for the mainshock, obtained through a finite-fault inversion scheme, showed that slip was mainly concentrated in a single patch, with the locus of peak slip (~125 cm) located ~ 4km to the NW of the hypocenter. The sequence which lies in the western continuation of the Fethiye – Burdur sinistral strike-slip zone into theAegean Sea and Rodos basin, is not connected with activation of this zone. Its characteristics comply with the activation of a dextral strike-slip structure, oblique to this zone, which accommodates along – arc NE-SW extension.
Earthquake clusters in NW Peloponnese.
Authors: Mesimeri M. , Papadimitriou E. , Karakostas V. , Tsaklidis G.
Published: January 2017

Clusters commonly occur as main shock – aftershock (MS-AS) sequences but also as earthquake swarms, which are empirically defined as an increase in seismicity rate above the background rate without a clear main shock. A delcustering algorithm is employed to identify clusters from a complete catalog of earthquakes that occurred in the area of NW Peloponnese (Greece) during 1980-2007. In order to distinguish these clusters we calculate the skewness and kurtosis of seismic moment release for each cluster, since swarm-like sequences generally have lower skew value of moment release history than MS-AS. The spatial distribution of b-value was calculated for the entire catalog as for the declustered one, in order to correlate them with seismicity behavior of the region. Finally, the pre-stress field of Achaia 2008 earthquake was calculated aiming to associate the stress accumulation with the occurrence of the identified clusters
Improved earthquake location in the area of North Euboean Gulf after the implementation of a 3D non-linear location method in combination with a 3D velocity model.
Authors: Mouzakiotis E. , Karastathis K. V.
Published: January 2017

Considerably improved hypocentral locations of the 274 earthquakes, with magnitudes between 1.5 to 4.1 Ml recorded during the period from 2009 to 2010 by the Hellenic Unified Seismographic Network (HUSN), have been obtained for the area of North Euboean Gulf after the implementation of a 3D non-linear location algorithm and a previously calculated local 3D velocity model for both P and S wavephases. To assess the effectiveness of the 3D locations we compared the results with the solutions obtained with alternative 1D velocity models such as the minimum 1D model calculated with the VELEST algorithm and the 1D model used by the National Observatory of Athens (NOA) for daily earthquake analysis. We were further ableto assess the location accuracy of each model by comparing the location results for a number of quarry blasts that occurred in the area in that period. The use of the local 3D velocity model provides considerably more accurate than the minimum 1D model which in turn provides more constrained locations from the 1D model of NOA. The epicentral locations calculated by each model are almost similar; however the depth distribution of the events varies, with depth differences of up to 12 km for some earthquakes. The results prove that accurate, local models are necessary in order to achieve more accurate locations for the events in a local area.
Local magnitude estimation in Greece, based on recordings of the Hellenic Unified Seismic Network (HUSN).
Authors: Scordilis E. , Kementzetzidou D. , Papazachos B.
Published: January 2017

A new relation is proposed for calculation of local magnitudes in Greece. For this purpose, there were used synthetic Wood-Anderson (SWA) recordings of 98 digital broad-band stations operating between 2007 and 2011. These stations are installed at the sites of the seismological networks of: a) the National Observatory of Athens(HL), b) the Department of Geophysics of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (HT), c) the Seismological Laboratory of the University of Athens (HA) and d) the Seismological Laboratory of the University of Patras (HP). All these institutions constitute the recently (2004) established Hellenic Unified Seismic Network (HUSN). These recordings are used to calculate a refined geometrical spreading factor and an anelastic attenuation coefficient, representative for Greece and surrounding area, proper for estimating local magnitudes in this region. Individual station corrections are also calculated in order to further ameliorate magnitude estimation accuracy. Comparison of such calculated local magnitudes with corresponding original moment magnitudes revealed that these two scales are equivalent for awide range of values (2.9≤MW≤6.4).
Carbonate and organic carbon content in the recent sediments of Elefsis bay as indicators for the paleoenviromental evolution of the system.
Authors: Petropoulos A. , Androni A. , Ntamkarelou T. , Anagnostou Ch.
Published: January 2017

During the Holocene period Elefsis bay acted as a semi-enclosed system obstructing water circulation. In some areas, sampling has revealed the problems of anoxia that prevails in the bay, which has been worse during the summer months. Analyses undertaken in a core from the bay of Elefsis showed notable changes in carbonate and organic material, which prove the paleo-environmental evolution of the bay. Such changes of carbonate are due to the different deposition of calcium carbonate from  biogenic  source  (probably  and  from  inorganic  source).  The  variation  of organic carbon is still a factor of limited water circulation in the bay.
Multi-stage history of compound mantle xenoliths from Western USA: Implications for metasomatic processes in the deep mantle.
Authors: Baziotis I. , Asimow P. D. , Koroneos A. , Poli G. , Ntaflos T.
Published: January 2017

The compound mantle xenoliths from Cima Volcanic Field and Chino Valley (Western U.S.A.) represent outstanding candidates to illustrate the processes that occur prior to their delivery to the surface by alkali-basaltic volcanism. The xenoliths share characteristics like pyroxene zonation, amphibole breakdown and formation of glass and armalcolite. Their petrogenetic evolution involved partial melting of the silicate minerals, infiltration of reactive melts and dissociation of minerals en route to the surface, suggesting that these rocks followed multi-stage histories that initiated deep in the mantle (>1.0 GPa) and proceeded during a very short period of time.
Origin of the High-K Tertiary magmatism in Northern Greece: Implications for mantle geochemistry and geotectonic setting.
Authors: Pipera K. , Koroneos A. , Soldatos T. , Poli G. , Christofides G.
Published: January 2017

Tertiary plutonic and volcanic rocks cropping out in the Rhodope Massif (N. Greece) are studied using existing and new geochemical and isotopic data. Most of these rocks belong to the post-collisional magmatism formed as part of the prolonged extensional tectonics of the Rhodope region in Late Cretaceous– Paleogene time. This magmatism is considered to be of mantle origin; however, the character of the mantle source is controversial. Rock bulk chemistry and compositional variations show magmas with calc-alkaline to high-K calc-alkaline and shoshonitic features associated with magmatism at convergent margins. Initial 87Sr/86Sr, 143Nd/144Nd ratios, Pb isotopes and REE composition of the mafic rocks indicate mainly an enriched mantle source, even if some rocks indicate a depleted mantle source. Low- and High-K mafic members of these rocks coexist indicating a strongly heterogeneous mantle source. The High-K character of some of the mafic rocks is primarily strongly related to mantle enrichment by subduction-related components, rather than crustal contamination. The geochemical characteristics of the studied rocks (e.g Ba/Th,Th/Yb,Ba/La, U/Th, Ce/Pb) indicate that primarily sediments and/or sediment melts, rather than fluid released by the subducted oceanic crust controlled the source enrichment under the Rhodope Massif.
Use of mine planning software for the evaluation of resources and reserves of a sedimentary nickel deposit
Authors: Kapageridis I. , Apostolikas A. , Pappas S. , Zevgolis I.
Published: January 2017

The use of mine planning software in the evaluation of deposits and estimation of mineral resources and reserves has become widespread and is considered a prerequisite for the reporting of reserves according to international reporting standards and codes. The main principles of operation and application of these codes are transparency of reported material, the relevance of reported information (materiality) and the competence of people involved in producing the reports. The application of specialised mine planning software described in this paper currently takes place at operational mines of sedimentary nickel deposits in Central Evia, Greece. It involves all stages of processing of exploration data including entry, analysis, processing and modelling of data, geostatistical estimation of quantities and qualities of mineral resources and mineral reserves, and the design, optimisation and scheduling of mining operations.
Testudo cf. graeca from the new Late Miocene locality of Platania (Drama basin, N. Greece) and a reappraisal of previously published specimens
Authors: Vlachos E. , Tsoukala E.
Published: January 2017

In this paper we describe a new Neogene mammalian site and one of the latest discoveries of a fossil tortoise in Greece, from Platania locality, in Drama basin, Northern Greece. The preliminary study of the numerous fossil mammal remains shows that the recovered fauna is of Late Miocene age. The tortoise material consists of a partial shell and a limb bone that belong to the same individual. They are attributed to the Testudo cf. graeca, and are members of the Testudo s.s. lineage, characterized by the presence of a hypo–xiphiplastral hinge. This new material indicates that the presence of T. graeca in Greece could expand into the Late Miocene. Comparisons with other fossils of the genus Testudo s.s. from Greece, allowed the revision of previously published specimens of T. graeca.
An implementation of rock engineering system (RES) for ranking the instability potential of slopes in Greek territory. An application in Tsakona area (Peloponnese - prefecture of Arcadia)
Authors: Tavoularis N. , Koumantakis I. , Rozos D. , Koukis G.
Published: January 2017

This paper presents an application of the Rock Engineering system (RES) in an attempt to assess the inherent instability potential of Tsakona landslide in the region of SW Arcadia, Peloponnese, Greece which happened on February 2003. The RESystem has been considered to fulfill the basic requirements to deal with landslide phenomena, as it combines objectivity and efficiency. The main scope of RES application to landslide studying is to define the important causative and triggering factors responsible for the slope failures, quantify their interactions, obtain their weighted coefficients and calculate the instability index, which refers to the potential instability of the examined natural slope. In this study, the final implementation of the RES method is achieved through an interaction matrix, where ten principal parameters were selected as controlling factors for the landslide occurrence. It is concluded that RES could be a simple and efficient tool in calculating the instability index and as a consequence getting a prognosis of a potential slope failure regarding the land use and development planning processes in landslide susceptible areas.
Reduction of rockfall risk of the Teleferik area of Santorini-Greece.
Authors: Lekkas E. , Alexoudi V. , Lialiaris I.
Published: January 2017

The Teleferik area of Santorini Volcanic Complex, is characterized by rockfall risk due to existing morphological, geological, geotechnical and geodynamic conditions. It is therefore considered a high risk area because of the huge number, in annual  base, of its visitors. The objects of the research are: (i) To identify areas with increased risk of boulders’ detachment, ii) The mapping of rockmasses for direct intervention projects,( iii)To suggest scenarios of rockfall events, (iv) To recommend the urgent works required upslope of the lower lift station of the Teleferik in order to reduce the existing risks to an utmost minimum. The calculations for the above assessments were mostly based on back analysis method, processing data of the recent rockfall events. The proposed interventions belong to the general context of large-scale projects, while top priority is given to works upslope of the lower lift station, which will work as an extra last line of defense in case of large-scale geodynamic events in the future.
The engineering geological behaviour of disturbed and weatherd gneiss in slopes. The case of the "vertical axis" of Egnatia motorway, Komotini - Nymfea, Northern Greece.
Authors: Marinos V. , Goricki A.
Published: January 2017

Sound gneiss forms evidently very competent rock masses with minor problems in geotechnical works. However, poor rock masses and problematic behaviour can be encountered in engineering projects in a geological environment characterized by intensive and sequent tectonic disturbance, where, weathering may be strongly favoured. Case studies with slope instability problems are analysed from the Egnatia Motorway along the vertical axis from Komotini to Nymfea, in Northern Greece. The basic engineering geological consideration focuses on the weathering degree, the tectonic disturbance, the foliated structure and the presence of shear zones. In the paper the gneissic rock masses are categorized in a number of specific rock mass types according to key engineering geological characteristics that define the rock mass behaviour in slopes. Subsequently, the slope behaviour of each rock mass type is discussed. The geotechnical properties of such failure surfaces are very difficult to be estimated due to the heterogeneous nature of these planes and back analysis is the best method to obtain reliable parameters. Back analysis results from two case studies showed significant differences to the laboratory test results. Finally, the concepts of the appropriate support measures based on the mechanism of failure of two case studies are presented in the paper.
Palaeotectonic environment and landslide phenomena in the area of Malakasa, Greece.
Authors: Mourtzas N. D. , Sotiropoulos E.
Published: January 2017

The extended landslide of Malakasa area, located 35km to the North of Athens, occurred in a neopalaeozoic schist-sandstone klippe, a complex Palaeotectonic environment in the northern roots of Parnitha Mt. Due to this failure, railway line and highway connection between Athens and central and North Greece were cut off. In this paper, it is attempted to approach the landslide mechanism based on: (i) the kinematic data on the failure surface, (ii) the morphological features of the surface, (iii) the movement vectors, and (iv) the lithostratigraphy and hydro-geological features of the sliding mass. According to the above criteria, three soil blocks can be identified in the landslide mass, which are differentiated by their lithological structure, kinematic features, type of deformation and hydro-geological behavior. The causal factor of the extended landslide was the gradual loss of support of these three blocks and their slide on a pre-sheared surface of low strength that has been caused by the extended excavation in the slope toe. The palaeotectonic structure and the development and geometry of the geological formations in the landslide area were not taken into account during the construction of the drainage works, for slope stabilization and the increasing of safety factor, something which led to the over-designing of the remedial measures.
Assessing areas of slope instability through a spatial decision support system.
Authors: Rozos D. , Tsangaratos P. , Loupasakis C. , Koumantakis I. , Markantonis K.
Published: January 2017

The purpose of this study was to highlight the analytic power of a Spatial Decision Support System (SDSS) in slope stability problems and to present the process followed during the systematic study of the landslide phenomena manifested in the Chalki village, Korinthos Prefecture, Greece. The mass movements affected the residential area of Chalki village making urgent the need of immediate mitigation measures. The two main objectives of the developed Spatial Decision Support System (SDSS) were to evaluate the landslide susceptibility of the research area and to locate the most suitable areas for addressing investigation schemes and installing landslide monitoring systems.
Continuous magnetotelluric observations in Western Crete as a tool for the study of the Hellenic subduction Zone
Authors: Kalisperi D. , Rigakis I. , Makris J.P. , Romano G. , Vallianatos F.
Published: January 2017

In the frame of the “MagnetoTellurics in studying Geodynamics of the hEllenic ARc (MT-GEAR)” project, a new continuous monitoring Magnetotelluric (MT) station has been installed in Western Crete. The new permanent MT-station, designed and constructed incorporating contemporary technology, is solar powered, fully telemetric, and the data transfer can be performed alternatively through 3G network or a satellite link. The selected site for the installation resulted from an exploratory MT survey, among other prospective sites aggregating MT qualifications. The purpose of the operation of a permanent MT observatory is twofold. The primary objective is to act as remote reference station to the ongoing MT survey (at selected Islands of southern Aegean) of the geodynamics of the Hellenic Subduction Zone. In addition, possible apparent resistivity variations as well as electric and/or magnetic field transient anomalies are investigated, while it would be attempted to associate these variations with seismic activity.
Thrust tectonics in the central part of the External Hellenides, the case of the Gavrovo thrust
Authors: Kamberis E. , Sotiropoulos S. , Marnelis F. , Rigakis N.
Published: January 2017

Thrust faulting plays an important role in the structural deformation of Gavrovo and Ionian zones in the central part of the ‘External Hellenides’ fold-and-thrust belt. The Skolis mountain in NW Peloponnese as well as the Varassova and Klokova mountains in Etoloakarnania are representative cases of ramp anticlines associated with the Gavrovo thrust. Surface geology, stratigraphic data and interpretation of seismic profiles indicate that it is a crustal-scale thrust acted throughout the Oligocene time. It is characterized by a ramp-flat geometry and significant displacement (greater than 10 km). Out of sequence thrust segmentation is inferred in south Etoloakarnania area. Down flexure and extensional faulting in the Ionian zone facilitated the thrust propagation to the west. The thrust emplacement triggered halokenetic movement of the Triassic evaporites in the Ionian zone as well as diapirisms that were developed in a later stage in the vicinity of the Skolis mountain.
The Mesohellenic trough and the Thrace Basin. Two Tertiary molassic Basins in Hellenides: do they really correlate?
Authors: Kilias Ad. , Vamvaka A. , Falalakis G. , Sfeikos A. , Papadimitriou E. , Gkarlaouni Ch. , Karakostas B.
Published: January 2017

Based on lithostratigraphic and structural data, as well as geological mapping, the mollasic Thrace Basin (ThB) in NE Greece (including the Paleogene deposits of the Axios Basin) was compared with the Mesohellenic Trough (MHT) in NW Greece. Both basins are characterized by a thick sedimentary sequence of molassic-type strata (3-5km thickness) of Tertiary age, overlain unconformably by Miocene- Pliocene and Quaternary deposits. Molassic sedimentation started almost simultaneously in both areas during the Mid-Upper Eocene but it finished in different time, in the Mid-Upper Miocene for the MHT and the Upper Oligocene for the ThB, respectively. Sedimentation in ThB was also linked with an important calc-alkaline and locally shoshonitic magmatism of Eocene-Oligocene age. We interpreted the MHT as a polyhistory strike-slip and piggy-back basin, above westward-emplacing ophiolites and Pelagonian units on the cold Hellenic accretionary prism. In contrast to MHT, the ThB evolved as a Paleogene supra-detachment basin above the strongly extended during the Eocene-Oligocene Hellenic Hinterland. The syn-depositional magmatic products, linked possibly with subduction processes in Pindos or Axios ocean(s). In any case, MHT and ThB are related to inferred oblique convergence of the Apulia plate and the internal Hellenic units.
Suitability assessment of carbonate rocks from the Kataraktis Passage Member of the Olonos-Pindos Zone (Ileia Prefecture, Western Greece) for industrial applications
Authors: Tseni X. , Tsikouras B. , Hatzipanagiotou K.
Published: January 2017

The potential industrial uses of Maastrictian-Paleocene carbonate rocks from the Kataraktis Passage Member of Olonos-Pindos Zone from Ileia Prefecture are evaluated based on their petrographic and geochemical characteristics, as well as their physical properties. Moreover, inter-relationships of the physical properties and geochemical composition were determined using simple linear regression analysis, in order to establish their mutual interactions. Investigation of the petrographic and geochemical characteristics of carbonate rocks may contribute to their quality assessment for their use in industrial applications.