Sampling, testing and modeling particle size distribution in urban catch basins.

The study analyzed the particle size distribution of particulate matter (PM) retained in two catch basins located, respectively, near a parking lot and a traffic intersection with common high levels of traffic activity. Also, the treatment performance of a filter medium was evaluated by laboratory testing. The experimental treatment results and the field data were then used as inputs to a numerical model which described on a qualitative basis the hydrological response of the two catchments draining into each catch basin, respectively, and the quality of treatment provided by the filter during the measured rainfall. The results show that PM concentrations were on average around 300 mg/L (parking lot site) and 400 mg/L (road site) for the 10 rainfall-runoff events observed. PM with a particle diameter of <45 µm represented 40-50% of the total PM mass. The numerical model showed that a catch basin with a filter unit can remove 30 to 40% of the PM load depending on the storm characteristics.

Evaluation of gingival microcirculation in patients undergoing fixed orthodontic treatment: a pilot study.

AIM: Among the many biological effects which occur during orthodontic movement, we decided to investigate gingival microcirculation. The aim of the study was to evaluate the biological microvascular response to the application of orthodontic force in vivo. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty patients (case group) between 9-22 years of age (average± DS 12±3.01) were selected for the study (M/F ratio: 20/20). They needed fixed orthodontic treatment due to several types of malocclusion. Forty healthy subjects (control group) were also recruited (M/F ratio 20/20; average age 12 years ± 4.01; Mean±SD =10.04±1.7). A videocapillaroscopic examination was performed on each patient on the buccal alveolar mucosa at the pre- treatment time (t0), 1 month after the beginning of the treatment (t1), after 2 months (t2), after 6 months (t3), and after 12 months (t4). RESULTS: Capillary density increases significantly from t0 to t1. Between t1 to t2, t2 to t3 the density underwent another increase. Between t3 and t4 (69.22 ± 3.63) the density showed no increase. In the control group no statistical differences were observed. CONCLUSION: Videocapillaroscopy allows the in vivo evaluation and quantification of the microcirculatory changes consequent to the application of orthodontic force, managing to detect subclinical changes in angiogenesis. In fact, the study revealed an increase in the density of the capillaries which is directly proportionate to the application time of the orthodontic device, i.e. the exogenous mechanical force. This research offers new perspectives for the future of monitoring fixed orthodontic therapy.

Comparison of self-reported and observed prevalence of safety belt and helmet use in Florence.

METHODS: Safety belt and helmet use was estimated from PASSI data and measured through Ulisse observations. Between 2008 and 2012 a total of 2,081 cars and motorcycle users were interviewed in the LHU of Florence and a total of 59,787 drivers (11,870 front passengers, 1,129 rear passengers and 16,816 motorcyclists) were observed. The comparison between self-reported and observed prevalences was performed by calculating the over-reporting factor (ORF), defined as the ratio of the self-reported to the observed prevalence of seat belt or helmet use. The time trend of the prevalence (both from self-reported and observed data) and of the ORF was assessed by using linear regression and Poisson's regression, respectively. RESULTS: The correlation between self-reported and observed prevalence is high, with a Pearson's correlation coefficient of 0.95 (p <0.05). Regarding front seat belt use rates, the difference between self-reported and observed data increases over time and the ORF range varies from 1.12 to 1.32. Rear seat belt data show a great variability, and the ORF varies from 0.67 to 1.37. In 2011 and 2012, the observed prevalence was higher than the self-reported one (ORF <1). Helmet use rates are very high, close to 100% with both methods; ORF has very small oscillations and ranges from 0.98 to 1, showing a good correlation between self-reported and observational data. There are no significant temporal variations both for the prevalences of use and for the ORF. CONCLUSIONS: The reasonable accuracy of self-reported data makes this method fit in the routinary assessment of safety belts and helmet usage, in order to limit the observations of the Ulisse system at predetermined time intervals. However, self-reported estimates need to be adjusted using an appropriate over-reporting factor.

Goya's artwork imaging with Terahertz waves.

In this paper we use a Terahertz (THz) time-domain system to image and analyze the structure of an artwork attributed to the Spanish artist Goya painted in 1771. The THz images show features that cannot be seen with optical inspection and complement data obtained with X-ray imaging that provide evidence of its authenticity, which is validated by other independent studies. For instance, a feature with a strong resemblance with one of Goya's known signatures is seen in the THz images. In particular, this paper demonstrates the potential of THz imaging as a complementary technique along with X-ray for the verification and authentication of artwork pieces through the detection of features that remain hidden to optical inspection.

Music-listening habits with MP3 player in a group of adolescents: a descriptive survey.

BACKGROUND: Listening to music through portable MP3 players has become a very popular mode among young people and adolescents. The aim of this study is to investigate the behaviors of adolescents engaged in listening to music with MP3 player and the attendance at clubs (pubs, discotheques) where music is played at high volume. METHODS: Among the 1470 students attending a secondary school in Scandicci (FI) during the school year 2009/2010, 1278 (86.9%) were at school the day of the examination and 1276 completely filled in the questionnaire. Descriptive analysis and univariate and multivariate logistic regression were performed to calculate the degree of association (OR) among the sociodemographic characteristics, listening habits and some factors identified as risky or protective as regards the possibility of developing health disorders. RESULTS: MP3 player users are 88.2% of the sample. Among these, a high proportion engaged behaviours that increase the risk of presenting disorders, including the exposure to high-volume (27.4%). Furthermore, 44.6% use the MP3 while driving. From the regression analysis it emerges that MP3 users showed a sort of addiction: by increasing the time and the occasions of exposure to music, they increased the volume, used maximum or medium-high volume, did not take breaks and did not decrease the volume. CONCLUSIONS: The study points out the spread of risky behavior in music listening, so it is necessary to better inform especially the youngsters and achieve specific preventive interventions.

Revealing environmental synchronicity that enhances anchovy recruitment in the Mediterranean Sea.

Small pelagic fishes in the Mediterranean Sea constitute about half of the total landings, of which almost one-third is European anchovy. Anchovy abundance mainly depends on early life stage and juvenile survival and growth, which are susceptible to shifts in environmental processes. Due to the commercial importance of this species, it is necessary to elucidate the processes affecting recruitment strength for effective fishery management, using environmental indices to set more appropriate harvesting limits. Here, we constructed a simple index to capture synchronicity between enrichment and retention/concentration processes, which are known to affect anchovy abundance, during the first year of life. Three ecosystems in the Mediterranean were examined: Gulf of Lions, Adriatic Sea, and Strait of Sicily. The synchronicity index (SI) represented the synergic evolution over time of the chlorophyll-a concentration (CHL, enrichment process) and mixed layer depth (MLD, concentration/retention processes), and was related with the abundance of anchovy recruits obtained from published survey reports. Considering different ecosystems, when the SI was significantly higher, anchovy recruitment was promoted. This result indicated SI is consistent across ecosystems in explaining anchovy abundance fluctuations and thus could be used to enhance fisheries management and extended to assess the impact of projected environmental changes.

Rapidly controlled outbreak of Serratia marcescens infection/colonisations in a neonatal intensive care unit, Pescara General Hospital, Pescara, Italy, April 2011.

In April 2011, an outbreak of Serratia marcescens infection/ colonisations occurred in the neonatal intensive care unit of Pescara General Hospital. Rapid microbiological investigations lead to identification of five cases of likely cross-transmission from a neonate hospitalised for S. marcescens sepsis: four infections and one neonate colonised post-mortem. Two low birth weight neonates died. The environmental investigation detected S. marcescens from two soap dispensers. Strict hygiene measures lead to early interruption of the outbreak, without recurrences to date.

Management of combined sewer overflows based on observations from the urbanized Liguori catchment of Cosenza, Italy.

This paper examines an urbanized catchment in Cosenza, Italy where an off-line basin intercepting CSOs was studied to illustrate reduction in CSO discharges to the Crati River. While the hydrologic transport of pollutant mass is never known a-priori and can be flow-limited, the volumetric requirements of the basin were modeled based on the classic assumption that wet weather flows transport urban and sewer loads in a mass-limited (first-flush) delivery. The volumetric capacity of the basin was varied from 10 to 50 m(3)/ha. Operational basin control was simulated with historical datasets from the Liguori catchment, event-based loading data, and continuous simulation modelling with SWMM. Utilizing data from the catchment, the SWMM simulations were conducted considering the storage basin with or without sedimentation treatment. Results illustrate the potential benefits of the off-line operation for the system with respect to the volume and mass reduction of CSOs into the Crati River. Results demonstrate the importance of particle size distribution (PSD) as an index of basin efficiency, coupled with analysis of the hydrodynamic response of the basin. The basin model attenuated influent PSDs, separating the coarser fraction of the PSD, and reduced the load of influent particulate matter (PM).

What is in our seas? Assessing anthropogenic litter on the seafloor of the central Mediterranean Sea.

Abundance, composition, and distribution of macro-litter found on the seafloor of the Strait of Sicily between 10 and 800 m depth has been studied using data collected by bottom trawl surveys MEDITS from 2015 to 2019. Three waste categories based on the items use were considered: single-use, fishing-related and generic-use. Over 600 sampling sites, just 14% of these were litter-free. The five-years average density of seafloor litter was 79.6 items/km2 and ranged between 46.8 in 2019 and 118.1 items/km2 in 2015. The predominant waste type was plastic (58% of all items). Regardless of material type, single-use items were a dominant (60% of items) and widespread (79% of hauls) fraction of litter with a mean density of 48.4 items/km2. Fishing-related items accounted for 12% of total litter items. Percentage of dirty hauls and litter density increased with depth. Analysis of the relation density-depth indicates a progressive increase of litter density beyond depth values situated within the interval 234-477 m depending on the litter category. A significant decrease in litter density by categories was observed over the period. Patterns of spatial distribution at the higher depths (200-80 0m) resulted stable over the years. Density hotspots of fishing-related items were found where the fishing activity that uses fish aggregating devices (FADs) is practised and in the proximity of rocky banks. Single-use and generic-use objects densities were greater on the seafloor along main maritime routes than other areas. Comparisons between the percentage of hauls littered with anthropic waste from the mid-1990s against those in 2018-19 highlighted an increase of about 10.8% and 15.3% for single-use items and fishing-related items respectively, and a decrease of 18.6% for generic-use items. This study provides a snapshot of the current situation of littering in the central Mediterranean Sea and represents a solid baseline against which the effectiveness of current and future mitigation strategies of the litter impact on marine environment can be measured.

Clinical application of lung ultrasound in patients with acute dyspnea: differential diagnosis between cardiogenic and pulmonary causes.

This review discusses the usefulness of bedside lung ultrasound in the diagnostic distinction between the various causes of acute dyspnoea in the emergency department, with special attention to the differential diagnosis of pulmonary oedema and exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This is made possible by using mid- to low-end scanners and simple acquisition techniques accessible to both radiologists and clinicians. Major advantages include ready availability at the bedside, the absence of ionising radiation, high reproducibility and cost efficiency. The technique is based on the recognition and analysis of sonographic artefacts rather than direct visualisation of the pulmonary structures. These artefacts are caused by the interaction of water-rich structures and air, called comet tails or B-lines. When such artefacts are widely detected on anterolateral transthoracic lung scans, diffuse alveolar-interstitial syndrome can be diagnosed, which is often a sign of acute pulmonary oedema. This condition rules out exacerbation of COPD as the main cause of acute dyspnoea.

Rummaging through the bin: Modelling marine litter distribution using Artificial Neural Networks.

Marine litter has significant ecological, social and economic impacts, ultimately raising welfare and conservation concerns. Assessing marine litter hotspots or inferring potential areas of accumulation are challenging topics of marine research. Nevertheless, models able to predict the distribution of marine litter on the seabed are still limited. In this work, a set of Artificial Neural Networks were trained to both model the effect of environmental descriptors on litter distribution and estimate the amount of marine litter in the Central Mediterranean Sea. The first goal involved the use of self-organizing maps in order to highlight the importance of environmental descriptors in affecting marine litter density. The second goal was achieved by developing a multilayer perceptron model, which proved to be an efficient method to estimate the regional quantity of seabed marine litter. Results demonstrated that machine learning could be a suitable approach in the assessment of the marine litter issues.

Visual similarity modulates visual size contrast.

Perception is relational: object properties are perceived in comparison to the spatiotemporal context rather than absolutely. This principle predicts well known contrast effects: For instance, the same sphere will feel smaller after feeling a larger sphere and larger after feeling a smaller sphere (the Uznadze effect). In a series of experiments, we used a visual version of the Uznadze effect to test whether such contrast effects can be modulated by organizational factors, such as the similarity between the contrasting inducer stimulus and the contrasted induced stimulus. We report that this is indeed the case: size contrast is attenuated for inducer-inducing pairs having different 3D shapes, orientations, and even - surprisingly - color and lightness, in comparison to equivalent conditions where these features are the same. These findings complement related work in revealing basic mechanisms for fine-tuning local interactions in space-time in accord to the global stimulus context.

Radiological scoring methods for ankylosing spondylitis: a comparison between the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Radiology Index and the modified Stoke Ankylosing Spondylitis Spine Score.

OBJECTIVE: The main objective of the present study was to test the interobserver reliability, truth, discrimination and feasibility of two scoring methods available in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) over a follow-up period of 3 years. METHODS: Two blinded trained observers scored 95 AS radiographs from a cohort of AS patients. Each radiograph was scored by two scoring methods, the modified Stoke Ankylosing Spondylitis Spine Score (mSASSS), and the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Radiology Index--spine (BASRI-spine). Interobserver agreement was analyzed by intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC). The construct validity was assessed by examining the correlation of the scoring methods with measures of spinal mobility (Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metronomy Index--BASMI), functional limitation (Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index--BASFI) and disease duration. Bland and Altman's 95% limits of agreement method and effect size (ES) analysis were used to estimate the smallest detectable difference (SDD) of radiological progression and responsiveness. RESULTS: The BASRI-spine reached intra- and interobserver ICC of 0.755 and 0.831, respectively. The mSASSS scores were more reliable, with ICC of 0.874 and 0.941, respectively. Both scoring systems correlated significantly with BASMI (p = 0.01), while only the mSASSS showed a significant correlation (p = 0.02) with BASFI. With regards to sensitivity to change, it was found that mSASSS classified the highest percentage of patients with more changes than the BASRI-spine (mSASSS: 35.8% vs. BASRI-spine: 15.8%). The ES analysis also suggested that the mSASSS was more responsive than BASRI-spine. Concerning feasibility, the BASRI-spine takes less time for scoring. CONCLUSION: We have shown that the mSASSS offers advantages in measurement properties and is the most appropriate method by which to assess progression of structural damage in AS.

CSO treatment strategy based on constituent index relationships in a highly urbanised catchment.

In urbanising catchments the variability of particulate matter (solids) and oxygen demanding constituents of wet weather and dry weather characteristics result in variable treatment effectiveness from physical unit operations and biological unit processes. Higher organic concentrations during dry weather flow are more amenable to biological unit processes while the higher inorganic loads generated largely by urban wet weather constituents and much larger flows can be more effectively treated or conditioned by physical unit operations, including ideally preceded by hydrologic controls. This study examines the relationships between total chemical oxygen demand (COD)(t), dissolved chemical oxygen demand (COD)(d), particulate chemical oxygen demand (COD)(p) and solids, measured as total suspended solids (TSS). Results also provide an index for selection and optimisation of treatment operations for combined sewer overflow (CSO) loads.

Autogenous, allogenetic and xenogenetic grafts for maxillary sinus elevation: literature review, current status and prospects.

UNLABELLED: Increasing patient requests for more valid prosthetic solutions usefully and aesthetically guide today's implantology to search for more reliable techniques with predictable RESULTS: Developed in the early 1980s, maxillary sinus floor elevation is a surgical technique for restoring bone tissue loss at sites for implant insertion; a variety of methods and materials are used. This article offers a review of the literature on autogenous, allogenetic and xenogenetic grafts for bone regeneration and maxillary sinus floor elevation; the focus is on the osteoconductive, osteoinductive and osteogen characteristics of the various grafts and their clinical and biological aspects. Maxillary sinus elevation with filling materials (biomaterials) is a safe oral surgery technique. Bone regeneration is an ongoing complex process leading to anatomical and functional restoration. Many events take place when biomaterials come into contact with a biological environment; molecular and cellular interactions influence tissue characteristics around biomaterials. In the presence of biomaterials, growth factors are adsorbed or wet the surface of bone substitutes, promoting graft integration with the bone. The function of biomaterials is to promote rapid bone formation; when the bone substitute is fully integrated, a gradual substitution by new bone tissue takes place.

Species distribution models of two critically endangered deep-sea octocorals reveal fishing impacts on vulnerable marine ecosystems in central Mediterranean Sea.

Deep-sea coral assemblages are key components of marine ecosystems that generate habitats for fish and invertebrate communities and act as marine biodiversity hot spots. Because of their life history traits, deep-sea corals are highly vulnerable to human impacts such as fishing. They are an indicator of vulnerable marine ecosystems (VMEs), therefore their conservation is essential to preserve marine biodiversity. In the Mediterranean Sea deep-sea coral habitats are associated with commercially important crustaceans, consequently their abundance has dramatically declined due to the effects of trawling. Marine spatial planning is required to ensure that the conservation of these habitats is achieved. Species distribution models were used to investigate the distribution of two critically endangered octocorals (Funiculina quadrangularis and Isidella elongata) in the central Mediterranean as a function of environmental and fisheries variables. Results show that both species exhibit species-specific habitat preferences and spatial patterns in response to environmental variables, but the impact of trawling on their distribution differed. In particular F. quadrangularis can overlap with fishing activities, whereas I. elongata occurs exclusively where fishing is low or absent. This study represents the first attempt to identify key areas for the protection of soft and compact mud VMEs in the central Mediterranean Sea.

Contrasting habitat selection amongst cephalopods in the Mediterranean Sea: When the environment makes the difference.

Conservation of fish habitat requires a deeper knowledge of how species distribution patterns are related to environmental factors. Habitat suitability modelling is an essential tool to quantify species' realised niches and understand species-environment relationships. Cephalopods are important players in the marine food web and a significant resource for fisheries; they are also very sensitive to environmental changes. Here a time series of fishery-independent data (1998-2011) was used to construct habitat suitability models and investigate the influence of environmental variables on four commercial cephalopods: Todaropsis eblanae, Illex coindetii, Eledone moschata and Eledone cirrhosa, in the central Mediterranean Sea. The main environmental predictors of cephalopod habitat suitability were depth, seafloor morphology, chlorophyll-a concentration, sea surface temperature and surface salinity. Predictive maps highlighted contrasting habitat selection amongst species. This study identifies areas where the important commercial species of cephalopods are concentrated and provides significant information for a future spatial based approach to fisheries management in the Mediterranean Sea.

Predictive habitat suitability models to aid conservation of elasmobranch diversity in the central Mediterranean Sea.

Commercial fisheries have dramatically impacted elasmobranch populations worldwide. With high capture and bycatch rates, the abundance of many species is rapidly declining and around a quarter of the world's sharks and rays are threatened with extinction. At a regional scale this negative trend has also been evidenced in the central Mediterranean Sea, where bottom-trawl fisheries have affected the biomass of certain rays (e.g. Raja clavata) and sharks (e.g. Mustelus spp.). Detailed knowledge of elasmobranch habitat requirements is essential for biodiversity conservation and fisheries management, but this is often hampered by a poor understanding of their spatial ecology. Habitat suitability models were used to investigate the habitat preference of nine elasmobranch species and their overall diversity (number of species) in relation to five environmental predictors (i.e. depth, sea surface temperature, surface salinity, slope and rugosity) in the central Mediterranean Sea. Results showed that depth, seafloor morphology and sea surface temperature were the main drivers for elasmobranch habitat suitability. Predictive distribution maps revealed different species-specific patterns of suitable habitat while high assemblage diversity was predicted in deeper offshore waters (400-800 m depth). This study helps to identify priority conservation areas and diversity hot-spots for rare and endangered elasmobranchs in the Mediterranean Sea.

A split hand-split foot (SHFM3) gene is located at 10q24-->25.

The split hand-split foot (SHSF) malformation affects the central rays of the upper and lower limbs. It presents either as an isolated defect or in association with other skeletal or non-skeletal abnormalities. An autosomal SHSF locus (SHFM1) was previously mapped to 7q22.1. We report the mapping of a second autosomal SHSF locus to 10q24-->25. A panel of families was tested with 17 marker loci mapped to the 10q24-->25 region. Maximum lod scores of 3.73, 4.33 and 4.33 at a recombination fraction of zero were obtained for the loci D10S198, PAX2 and D10S1239, respectively. An 19 cM critical region could be defined by haplotype analysis and several genes with a potential role in limb morphogenesis are located in this region. Heterogeneity testing indicates the existence of at least one additional autosomal SHSF locus.

A novel method for measuring membrane-water partition coefficients of hydrophobic organic chemicals: comparison with 1-octanol-water partitioning.

A novel method of measuring membrane-water partitioning characteristics of very hydrophobic organic chemicals is described. Partition coefficients are reported for a series of halogenated aromatic hydrocarbons of varying molar volume between water and L-a-phosphatidylcholine dimyristoyl (DMPC) membrane vesicles and two solvents, n-hexane and 1-octanol. The results indicate that n-hexane and 1-octanol are satisfactory surrogates for DMPC membranes for chemicals with 1-octanol-water partition coefficients (log KOW) less than 5.5 or molar volumes less than 230 cm3/mol. Chemicals with higher log KOW or molar volume values display marked differences in membrane-water, 1-octanol-water, and n-hexane-water partitioning. Implications for lipid- and organism-water partitioning of hydrophobic chemicals are discussed.