Northwestern Greece Research Articles

Pseudorabies Virus Prevalence in Lung Samples of Hunted Wild Boars in Northwestern Greece

Aujeszky’s Disease, caused by the pseudorabies virus (PRV), is an acute, often fatal disease affecting mainly pigs and incidentally other animals. While eradicated in several countries, PRV persists in wild boar populations, posing a risk to domestic pigs. This study investigates PRV prevalence in wild boars in the region of Epirus, located in the northwest of Greece. During the 2021–2022 hunting season, 110 lung samples from hunted wild boars were collected and analyzed for PRV DNA and cytopathic effects in cell cultures. PRV DNA was detected in 19 samples (17.3%), 18 of which exhibiting cytopathic effects, allowing for virus titer determination. Notably, in one sample, PRV DNA was detected without a cytopathic effect. These findings underscore the continued presence of PRV in Greek wild boars, highlighting the need for ongoing monitoring to prevent transmission to domestic pigs and other animals.

Towards the new primary care reform in Greece: a focus on patients' expectations, views and perceptions from rural healthcare centres.

Patient perception of quality of care is an essential component in evaluating healthcare delivery. This article reports data from primary health care (PHC) centers before Greece's most recent PHC reform. The study was undertaken to offer some baseline information about patient experience, support the decision-making processes taking place, and provide valuable input for future policy-making comparisons in Greece. The research was conducted across the 16 PHC centers of Epirus, a region of north-western Greece, from June to September 2017, with 532 patients rating the importance of different aspects of three main healthcare domains (clinical behavior, support and services, and organization of care) of PHC provision. The Greek version of the European Task Force on Patient Evaluations of General Practice (EUROPEP) questionnaire was implemented for research purposes. Univariate comparisons were performed for patients with and without chronic disease, using Pearson's χ2 test for categorical data. Study findings support that the organization of care domain is of highest importance and priority, with clinical behavior and support and services following closely. Among recruited patients, on average, only 2.1% of patients with a chronic disease were satisfied (rated 4 or 5 on the Likert scale) with the organization of care aspects under consideration, compared to 18.4% of patients without a chronic disease. Furthermore, only 4% of patients with a chronic disease were satisfied with the aspects examined in the clinical behavior domain, compared to 27% of patients without a chronic disease. Finally, 18% of sampled patients with a chronic disease reported being satisfied with the quality of support and services provided, compared to 38% of patients without a chronic disease. It is necessary to back up available past information to afterwards estimate reform imprinting on expectations and perceptions. The items and aspects of EUROPEP, in line with the new tasks of the personal doctor within the PHC system that patients perceive as most essential, can be used to prioritize quality improvement activities to strengthen PHC delivery in Greece. Communication skills, practices, and behavioral change skills seem to need more attention for an efficient PHC model.

Length of hospital stay in involuntary admissions in Greece: a 10-year retrospective observational study

PurposeThe treatment of mental disorders has shifted from inpatient wards to community-based settings in recent years, but some patients may still have to be admitted to inpatient wards, sometimes involuntarily. It is important to maintain the length of hospital stay (LoS) as short as possible while still providing adequate care. The present study aimed to explore the factors associated with the LoS in involuntarily admitted psychiatric patients.MethodsA ten-year retrospective chart review of 332 patients admitted involuntarily to the inpatient psychiatric ward of the General University Hospital of Ioannina, Northwestern Greece, between 2008 and 2017 was conducted.ResultsThe mean LoS was 23.8 (SD = 33.7) days and was relatively stable over the years. Longer-stay hospitalization was associated with schizophrenia-spectrum disorder diagnosis, previous hospitalizations and the use of mechanical restraint, whereas patients in residential care experienced significantly longer LoS (52.6 days) than those living with a caregiver (23.5 days) or alone (19.4 days). Older age at disease onset was associated with shorter LoS, whereas no statistically significant differences were observed with regard to gender.ConclusionWhile some of our findings were in line with recent findings from other countries, others could not be replicated. It seems that multiple factors influence LoS and the identification of these factors could help clinicians and policy makers to design more targeted and cost-effective interventions. The optimization of LoS in involuntary admissions could improve patients’ outcomes and lead to more efficient use of resources.

The impact of phosphate fertilizer factory on the chemical and radiological pollution of the surrounding marine area (seawater and sediments) in northwestern Greece

Phosphogypsum, a waste of phosphate fertilizers production, contains heavy metals and especially radionuclides as 238U, 226Ra and 232Th. It is usually deposited in stacks close to coastal zones and the leachates with seawater result in chemical and radiological pollution. In this work the pollution in the coastal environment surrounding a phosphate fertilizer factory in northwestern Greece was investigated by measuring the activity of radionuclides (238U, 226Ra and 232Th) and the concentrations of heavy metals (Pb, Zn, Cu, Ni, Cd and As) in seawater and sediments samples. The measurements were performed by nuclear spectrometry and chemical techniques in two seasons and radiation risks were estimated, by determination of indexes asRaeq, Hin, Hex and Iγ as well as absorbed dose rate D. The values were in the range of worldwide indicating low hazard. Moreover, several environmental indicators (HPI, MPI, CF, Cd and EF) were applied to evaluate the water and sediment quality for heavy metal contamination and the average concentrations of the investigated heavy metals, showed that there is no danger for humans.

Coping with marsh floods and fires: Resilience at the pile‐dwelling site of Dispilio, Northwestern Greece

AbstractLacustrine environments are considered favorable locations for Neolithic settlements, constituting a reliable year‐round water resource, which contributes to fertile arable land, rich biodiversity, and natural protection. Living by the wetlands, however, is characterized by intensive ecological vulnerabilities, that is, floods and fire events. These recurrent episodes are difficult to trace in the occupation layers since natural processes combined with human activities can form variable mixed microenvironments. Consequently, the direct impact of these events on the biography of the settlement and the decision‐making of its inhabitants is understudied. This paper presents a high‐resolution, microstratigraphic analysis at the Neolithic pile‐dwelling settlement of Dispilio (Kastoria, northern Greece) to trace past ecological threats and unravel the resilience strategies of the lake‐dwellers against the continuously altered microenvironments. By correlating the results with regional environmental and cultural events, this paper questions the role of environmental changes as triggers for cultural modifications and considers a wide range of strategies for coping with wetland hazards.

The agronomist to trust as my advisor: a Greek case study

ABSTRACT Purpose Given the absence of (structured) advisory services in Greece and the CAP requirements, we aim at exploring which would be the characteristics of agronomists whom farmers might trust as advisors. Design/Methodology/Approach The field research addressed professional farmers who are in contact with agronomist(s)-as-advisors. Based on an aide memoire, 51 farmers were interviewed following a snowball technique in each of the 5 municipalities of Ioannina Prefecture, North-Western Greece, which comprised our research area. Findings The antecedents of trust (ability, benevolence and integrity) were systematically addressed and analysed thus leading to the identifications of the characteristics of an agronomist-as-advisor that shape the farmer’s determination to trust him/her. Additionally, mediators related to the antecedents were identified. Practical Implications This piece of work allows for a better understanding of the degree farmers trust various actors-as-advisors and thus of their role(s) in farmers’ micro-AKIS. Theoretical Implications This piece of work is a contribution towards as well as an effort to trigger a more systematic and nuanced approach on the topic of trust in advisory relationships through farmer-centric research. Originality/Value Τhe paper points to the characteristic of actors, notably agronomists, with whom farmers would prefer to build advisory relationships.

Contrasting Styles of Salt‐Tectonic Processes in the Ionian Zone (Greece and Albania): Integrating Surface Geology, Subsurface Data, and Experimental Models

AbstractThe Ionian Zone (IZ) is one of the key elements of the fold and thrust belt (FTB) of the Albanian and Hellenides orogen and contains large outcrops of Triassic evaporites. The IZ consists of various thrust sheets with a general westward vergence, stacking over the Apulian and Pre‐Apulian zones, and repeating a thick carbonate sequence of Upper Triassic to Eocene age. Thrusting becomes younger toward the west with a piggyback sequence, starting during the latest Oligocene Epoch in the Internal Ionian and ending in the Pliocene in the External Ionian. We have studied the IZ in southern Albania and northwestern Greece using field observations and borehole data and by fully interpreting a recently acquired 2D seismic data set. Our objectives are to establish the geometry and nature of the contacts associated with the major Triassic outcrops, to unravel precursor salt diapirs, and to assess their role during the Alpine contraction. Salt structures include gentle salt pillows, isolated salt plugs and diapirs, thrust welds, and salt walls. Combining these observations with experimental modeling results, we show how these structures control the geometry and kinematics of the Alpine thrusts or the location and kinematics of recent strike‐slip faults. Salt minibasins have also been identified, demonstrating salt mobility conditioned Mesozoic sedimentation in the Ionian Basin. The use of salt‐tectonics principles to evaluate the structural style and evolution of the IZ FTB also opens new directions for interpreting the subsurface structure and evolution of the region.

Community-level differentiation of Grime's CSR strategies along a post-abandonment secondary successional gradient

Understanding the ecological processes and the mechanisms of community assembly during secondary succession of vegetation has been a central topic of ecological research. In the last decades, it has also been rendered as a necessity for wildlife management due to the ongoing vegetation succession caused by land abandonment in many parts of the world. Here, we investigated the taxonomic and life strategies diversity patterns among vegetation communities representing a large part of a natural succession gradient, in a (sub-) mountainous area of northwestern Greece (northern Pindus). Sampling of grassland and forest vegetation plots was conducted across an area submitted to high levels of land abandonment during the last 70 years, accompanied with sampling of new functional trait data. The Grime's CSR model of plant strategies was employed to investigate functional diversity of communities, while climatic, edaphic and topographic factors were employed to identify potential drivers of alternative life strategies diversity. Additionally, alpha and beta taxonomic and life strategies diversity of communities were calculated. Variation partitioning analyses attributed functional and taxonomic differentiation of communities mainly to the legacy of land use cover. Overall, grasslands and forests were functionally differentiated, with forest communities having higher levels of the competitive strategy, and grasslands having higher levels of the ruderal strategy. Nevertheless, parallel trends of occurrence of plant life strategies were found for both grasslands and forests. Community level competitive and stress-tolerating plant life strategies were found to be strongly and negatively correlated with soil organic content, soil nitrogen, soil pH and slope, while ruderalism was largely related to the disturbance regime of each community. The derived information of functional strategies diversity can provide valuable data that can guide management actions and contribute to the optimization of systematic conservation planning in such high nature value and threatened ecosystems.

Mapping and Exploring the Conditions and Purpose of Using Trail Paths in a Medium-Sized Suburban Environment

The current paper presents the results of a questionnaire survey which examines the trail path usage conditions on Peranthi Hill in Arta, a medium-sized city in northwestern Greece. The key element of the survey is the detailed mapping of the suburban trail path network of the city, and it focuses on questions about the types of activities of people who walk or bike on the trail paths and the day, time, duration and distance of their trips, as well as their equipment (bicycles, clothes, shoes, etc.). Further questions focus on maintenance and safety issues (e.g., security, guarding, cleanliness) and infrastructures which are considered necessary in order to improve the trail paths’ environment and their use. Taking into consideration that several routes are being developed on Peranthi Hill, with distinct differences in their layouts, the preferred layout is explored in relation to each activity selected by the users. The results of the questionnaire survey, and the cluster analysis specifically, aim to address these issues and assist stakeholders and policymakers in improving the trail paths in terms of their utility and usability level.

Late Pleistocene to Early Holocene Technological Traditions at Boila Rockshelter in Epirus, Northwestern Greece

Late Pleistocene to Early Holocene Technological Traditions at Boila Rockshelter in Epirus, Northwestern Greece

Dispersion of radionuclides and heavy metals from phosphogypsum stacks in soil and plants at Northwestern Greece

AbstractPhosphogypsum is classified into naturally occurring radioactive materials containing radionuclides such as 238U, 226Ra and 232Th, and heavy metals which are dispersed in different form and concentrations and can be dangerous for humans. Determination of the concentration of radionuclides in soils and plants near a phosphate fertilizer production unit and phosphogypsum stacks was carried out by γ- and α-spectroscopy while trace elements were determined by Neutron Activation Analysis and Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy. Transfer and enrichment factors were estimated as well as radiation risks and the results led to the conclusion that the radiation hazard in the investigated region was below than the recommended level.

Taxonomic Identification and Molecular DNA Barcoding of Collected Wild-Growing Orchids Used Traditionally for Salep Production.

Molecular DNA barcoding combined with botanical taxonomy can be used for the identification and conservation of collected Greek orchids used for salep production as well as in the regulation of fair salep trade. A modified CTAB protocol was used for DNA extraction, amplification of barcoding regions (ITS, matK, rbcL, trnH-psbA), and sequencing. Sequencing data were assembled using Bioedit software, and the BLAST algorithm was used on the NCBI database for species identification at the genus level. Molecular barcoding data based on genetic similarity identification was in full coherence with taxonomic classification based on morphological data. The combination of ITS and matK exhibited a greater capacity to identify a species among the Greek salep samples. Out of the 53 samples examined, 52.9% were classified as Dactylorhiza spp. and 33.3% as Anacamptis spp., whereas only 6 samples were identified as Orchis spp. (11.8%). Given that a superior-quality salep beverage comes from tubers of the latter, the number of samples classified as such in northwestern Greece is unexpectedly low. A database of 53 original reference sequences from wild-growing samples of Greek origin was generated, providing a valuable resource for the identification of other salep samples from different regions. The DNA barcoding results unveiled that salep samples from northwestern Greece are related to nine members of four different genera of Orchidaceae. All species are nationally protected and covered by the CITES convention, while many of these orchids are included in the EU Directive 92/43/EEC appendix as "Other Important Species". Thus, expedited coordinated management actions are needed to ensure their survival in the future.

Notes on the Summer Life History Traits of the Non-Native Pumpkinseed (Lepomis gibbosus) (Linnaeus, 1758) in a High-Altitude Artificial Lake

In the present study, the biology of the pumpkinseed Lepomis gibbosus in the artificial lake of Aoos, located in northwestern Greece, was investigated. The samplings of the pumpkinseed were conducted from the shore using a portable electrofishing device over a 4-month period (July 2021–October 2021). A total of 581 specimens were caught, with an average length of 62 mm. The sex ratio of female to male was estimated to be 1.0:1.7, and the percentage of mature specimens was estimated for all of the months to be above 52%, matching the highest percentage in July (57.4%). The b value of the length–weight relationship ranged from 3.16 in September to 3.31 in July. The value of the L∞ and K was estimated to be equal to 119 mm and 0.36 years−1, respectively, and the value of φ′ was equal to 3.707. The total mortality was estimated to be equal to 1.63 ± 0.48 y−1 (R2 = 0.96), and the natural and fishing mortalities were 0.83 and 0.80, respectively. The maximum age was 6 years, and the theoretical maximum age was 8 years. In the current study, the value of the L∞ was estimated to be near the European average but significantly lower than the North American one, whereas the value of the K was slightly higher than the European average. The small size of the specimens obtained in Aoos Springs was most likely owed to the combined impact of the investigated lake’s high altitude and low food availability, resulting in a limited factor for species expansion.

Impact of ALS Herbicide-Resistant Perennial Ryegrass (Lolium perenne) Population on Growth Rate and Competitive Ability against Wheat

Three perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) populations (R1, R2, and R3) with suspected resistance (R) to acetolactate synthase (ALS) or acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACCase) herbicides were collected from wheat (Triticum aestivum) fields in northwestern Greece to study the underlying mechanisms of resistance and their impact on growth rate and competitive ability against wheat. Preemergence and postemergence plant dose–response assays showed that the R1 population was cross-resistant to the ALS inhibitors chlorsulfuron, mesosulfuron + iodosulfuron, and pyroxsulam, but susceptible (S) to imazamox. However, all populations were susceptible to the ACCase inhibitors clodinafop-propargyl, clethodim, diclofop-methyl, and pinoxaden. The analysis of the ALS gene sequence revealed a substitution of Pro197 by His or Leu in the ALS enzyme in L. perenne, which is reported for the first time in this weed and indicates a potential mechanism of target site-mediated resistance. The R1 population grown in the absence or presence of wheat competition displayed similar aboveground biomass and tiller number trends, and therefore similar estimated growth rates. In addition, the aboveground biomass of wheat was similarly reduced by both the R1 and S populations, supporting the evidence of their similar competitive ability against wheat. In general, these findings indicate that there is no clear evidence for the fitness advantage of R1 over the S population.

FRI-189 - Occult hepatitis B virus infection among blood donors in northwestern Greece

FRI-189 - Occult hepatitis B virus infection among blood donors in northwestern Greece

Use of Long-Acting Injectable Antipsychotics in a Clinical Sample of Community-Dwelling Patients with Schizophrenia-Spectrum Disorders in Rural Greece.

Data on the use of long-acting injectable antipsychotics (LAIs) in rural community mental healthcare settings are scarce. This study aimed to investigate the prescription patterns of LAIs in a clinical sample of patients with schizophrenia-spectrum disorders in rural Greece. All patients with schizophrenia-spectrum disorders who regularly attend the Mobile Mental Health Unit of the prefectures of Ioannina and Thesprotia (MMHU I-T) in northwestern Greece were included in the study. The sample consists of 87 patients (59 males and 28 females) with a mean age of 54.4 years and a mean illness duration of 28 years. Most patients (72.4%) received antipsychotic monotherapy, and nearly 30% received an LAI formulation, mostly a second-generation LAI (20 of 26 patients, 76.9%). The treatment regimen comprised benzodiazepines in one-third of the patients and antidepressants in one-quarter. There was no statistically significant association between treatment regimen and the clinical and demographic variables studied, except for biological sex (female). The percentage of patients treated with LAIs in this study was almost three times higher than the rate previously reported in Greece and is higher than the rates reported in other countries. Patients with schizophrenia-spectrum disorders in rural Greece may have adequate access to innovative treatment with second-generation LAIs. Further research is needed to demonstrate the cost-effectiveness of LAI treatment in rural communities and to elucidate the factors associated with such treatment.

Visual Analogue Scale for the Evaluation of Olfactory and Gustatory Dysfunction of COVID-19 Patients in Northwestern Greece.

Background The visual analogue scale (VAS) has been used as a diagnostic tool for the evaluation of the severity of olfactory and gustatory dysfunction (OGD) caused by SARS-CoV2 infection. The main objective of the present study was the evaluation of OGD with VASin COVID-19-positive patients in Northwestern Greece and its possible association with the patients' self-reported symptoms of olfactory and gustatory dysfunction. Methods The presence of olfactory and gustatory symptoms and their severity were assessed by questionnaire along with the use of specific odorants and tastant ingredients, in three time periods: prior to COVID-19, during COVID-19 (initial diagnosis) and post-COVID-19 disease (at four weeks from disease onset). Three hundredCOVID-19-positive patients(home-quarantined and hospitalized)tested with RT-PCR test in the University Hospital of Ioannina Greecewere included in this study. Statistical analysis was performed on SPSS Statistics 26.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY) Results Out of a total of 300 patients,146 and 190patients hadmild hyposmia and hypogeusia respectively, followed by patients with severe hyposmia or hypogeusia (118 and 88 respectively), at the time of COVID-19 onset (initial diagnosis). An increase in the number of patients with recovery of symptoms was observed during the follow-up period, during which only eight patients hadnon-resolving severesymptoms (six patients with hyposmiaand two with hypogeusia). On further analysis, a statistically significant association was found between the severity of symptoms (assessed by VAS score) and the self-reported symptoms of sensory dysfunction by the patients. There was a significant association between the groups of patients with mild hyposmia and patients that reported no loss of smell; between the patients with moderate hyposmia and the patients who reported "loss of smell"; and between the patients with severe hyposmiaand the group of patients who reported a loss of smell,at the COVID-19 onset period. Similarly, patients with mild hyposmia were associated with those that reported a loss of smellat the same time. The severity of hyposmia was also associated with the reported symptom of "loss of taste" at the time of COVID-19 diagnosis. Similar findings were observed regarding the severity of hypogeusia and the reported symptom of "loss of taste" among the groups of patients. Finally, the severity of hypogeusia was associated with smell loss at the time of initial diagnosis of the infection. Conclusion Similar to the literature data, our findings indicate that hyposmia and hypogeusia are common symptoms of COVID-19 disease with varying severity. In our study, most of the patients exerted a complete recovery of these OGD symptoms. In addition, we found an association between olfactory dysfunction and self-reported sensory of taste as well as gustatory dysfunction and sensory of smell. Finally, we found that the VAS score was a reliable diagnostic tool in the estimation of OGD in this cohort of patients. However, our results need to be confirmed by larger-scale trials.

Pathways to Know and Sidetracks to Forget: Walking and the Montane Cultural Landscape of Zagori (Northwestern Greece)

ABSTRACTThe present essay addresses the different ways of walking in a cultural landscape as a tool to interpret its heritage. From the nineteenth-century travelers to the contemporary regional archaeological surveys, walking plays a crucial role in shaping our understanding of place. Past ways of walking archived in primary sources, contemporary interpretations of montane cultural landscapes, and the ways of walking in the present reveal different attitudes to heritage. This article investigates the region of Zagori in northwestern Greece as a case study to approach different walks, past and present, related both to remembering and forgetting, through the perspectives of dwelling, inhabiting, and gazing at the cultural landscape of Zagori.

From the Editors

From the Editors

Spatiotemporal Patterns of Wolves, and Sympatric Predators and Prey Relative to Human Disturbance in Northwestern Greece

In an era of increasing human pressure on nature, understanding the spatiotemporal patterns of wildlife relative to human disturbance can inform conservation efforts, especially for large carnivores. We examined the temporal activity and spatial patterns of wolves and eight sympatric mammals at 71 camera trap stations in Greece. Grey wolves temporally overlapped the most with wild boars (Δ = 0.84) and medium-sized mammals (Δ > 0.75), moderately with brown bears (Δ = 0.70), and least with roe deer (Δ = 0.46). All wild mammals were mainly nocturnal and exhibited low temporal overlap with human disturbance (humans, vehicles, livestock, and dogs; Δ = 0.18–0.36), apart from roe deer, which were more diurnal (Δ = 0.80). Six out of nine species increased their nocturnality at sites of high human disturbance, particularly roe deer and wolves. The detection of wolves was negatively associated with paved roads, the detection of roe deer was negatively associated with human disturbance, and the detection of wild boars was negatively associated with dogs. The detection of bears, boars, and foxes increased closer to settlements. Our study has applied implications for wolf conservation and human–wildlife coexistence.