The fingerprint of the 2018 drought in Europe on ground-based atmospheric CO2 measurements.

During the summer of 2018, a widespread drought developed over Northern and Central Europe. The increase in temperature and the reduction of soil moisture have influenced carbon dioxide (CO2) exchange between the atmosphere and terrestrial ecosystems in various ways, such as a reduction of photosynthesis, changes in ecosystem respiration, or allowing more frequent fires. In this study, we characterize the resulting perturbation of the atmospheric CO2 seasonal cycles. 2018 has a good coverage of European regions affected by drought, allowing the investigation of how ecosystem flux anomalies impacted spatial CO2 gradients between stations. This density of stations is unprecedented compared to previous drought events in 2003 and 2015, particularly thanks to the deployment of the Integrated Carbon Observation System (ICOS) network of atmospheric greenhouse gas monitoring stations in recent years. Seasonal CO2 cycles from 48 European stations were available for 2017 and 2018. Earlier data were retrieved for comparison from international databases or national networks. Here, we show that the usual summer minimum in CO2 due to the surface carbon uptake was reduced by 1.4 ppm in 2018 for the 10 stations located in the area most affected by the temperature anomaly, mostly in Northern Europe. Notwithstanding, the CO2 transition phases before and after July were slower in 2018 compared to 2017, suggesting an extension of the growing season, with either continued CO2 uptake by photosynthesis and/or a reduction in respiration driven by the depletion of substrate for respiration inherited from the previous months due to the drought. For stations with sufficiently long time series, the CO2 anomaly observed in 2018 was compared to previous European droughts in 2003 and 2015. Considering the areas most affected by the temperature anomalies, we found a higher CO2 anomaly in 2003 (+3 ppm averaged over 4 sites), and a smaller anomaly in 2015 (+1 ppm averaged over 11 sites) compared to 2018. This article is part of the theme issue 'Impacts of the 2018 severe drought and heatwave in Europe: from site to continental scale'.

Heavy metals accumulation from sewage sludge in the Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus (Trewavas, 1983) during a sludge-earthworm-fish short-term cycling.

Municipal sewage sludge from waste-water treatment is an important nutritional source for sustainable agriculture. Here, we report on the assessment of the accumulation of heavy metals in Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus (Trewavas 1983) fed on earthworms Eisenia fetida reared on soil treated with different concentrations of sewage sludge (25% and 100%) during sludge-earthworm-fish short-term cycling. In this short-term cycling the Nile tilapia collected from the White Nile were chosen as final consumers, whereas the earthworms reared on loam soil mixed with different ratios of sludge were used as a feed for the final consumers. Our results indicate that the concentrations of Cd2+, Cr2+, Pb2+ and Zn2+ in the sludge treated soil are proportional to the sludge content in the soil. Importantly, the accumulation of these heavy metals was significantly low in the earthworms and the Nile tilapia in comparison with the treated soil and that these concentrations in the Nile tilapia were below the international limits recommended by the US Environmental Protection Agency (2014). Moreover, the growth and overall flesh quality of the fish were improved as indicated by the growth increase up to 146% when fed on earthworm reared in 100% sludge. Additionally, our physico-chemical properties (i.e. pH, soil moisture, electric conductivity and organic matters) evaluation on the soil indicates an improvement of the soil quality when mixed with sewage sludge. These results suggest a sustainable application of sewage sludge in fish culture owing to its high nutritional values, low cost, and low risk of hazardous heavy metals when using primary consumers with heavy metals bioaccumulation capability such as E. fetida.

Orofacial granulomatosis as early manifestation of Crohn's disease: report of a case in a paediatric patient.

BACKGROUND: Orofacial granulomatosis (OFG) is a controversial entity mainly characterised by recurrent or permanent soft tissue swelling of sudden onset in the orofacial area with a histologic appearance of granulomatous inflammation. Differential diagnosis includes local diseases and systemic conditions, such as Crohn's disease (CD). A case of OFG in a paediatric patient is reported here, focusing on the clinical features, diagnostic procedures, treatment and long-term outcome. CASE REPORT: A 7 year-old boy presented with persistent and prominent lip swelling and painful oral mucosa lesions of six months duration. A biopsy of the lower labial mucosa revealed granulomatous inflammation consistent with OFG. The oral manifestations were managed with topical and intralesional corticosteroids. His medical history included gastrointestinal disturbances, perianal skin folds and bloody stools that raised the suspicion of CD. Colonoscopy showed inflammation without clear evidence of CD. One year later, repeated bowel investigation provided evidence suggestive of CD and the patient was placed under systemic treatment. Two years after the initial diagnosis the patient is free of oral or other pathological findings. CONCLUSION: The differential diagnosis in cases of orofacial swellings with histological granulomatous inflammation includes a variety of local and systemic diseases, diagnosis and management of which require full investigation and cooperation by a team of healthcare providers.

Optical properties of tropospheric aerosols determined by lidar and spectrophotometric measurements (Photochemical Activity and Solar Ultraviolet Radiation campaign).

We present the results of the aerosol measurements carried out over the Aegean Sea during the Photochemical Activity and Solar Ultraviolet Radiation campaign held in Greece during June 1996. Simultaneous observations performed with a lidar and a double-monochromator spectrophotometer allowed us to retrieve the optical depth, the Angström coefficient, and the backscatter-to-extinction ratio. The Sun photometric data can be used to improve quantitative aerosol measurements by lidar in the Planetary Boundary Layer. Systematic errors could arise otherwise, because the value of the backscatter-to-extinction ratio has to be supplied. Instead this ratio can be retrieved experimentally by use of an iterative solution of the lidar equation.

1H spin-lattice relaxation parameters in the length of human intestine resected for cancer.

1H spin-lattice relaxation curves were acquired for samples of intestinal adenocarcinoma (B) and of uninvolved tissue at the upper (A) and lower (C) resection margin of lengths of intestine taken at surgery from 20 patients. Each sample showed a wide distribution of relaxation times with the order of 90% of the signal in a single peak at long times. Several different single-parameter relaxation times computed from discrete-exponential analysis showed that most of the relaxation times for C and B are in the upper two-thirds of the range of times for A. The mean time for the tumor is about 10% longer (with p < 0.01) than for the upper resection margin. The difference between the tumor and the lower resection margin is not significant. Distribution width parameters associated with A and C were significantly larger than those associated with the tumors. Two-exponential fits indicate that the fast-relaxing component represents a smaller signal fraction for the tumor B than for A or C.

Computerized system for nuclear emergency response in the ENEA Nuclear Research Center of Frascati.

At the National Committee for Research and Development of Nuclear Energy and Alternate Energy Sources (ENEA) Center of Frascati, there are several radiation-producing machines: two tokamaks and three electron accelerators; moreover, a neutron generator will begin to operate in a short time. A completely automatic monitoring system has been developed. Radiation control is performed by means of classical active and passive detectors. An automatic acquisition system has been developed: Measured quantities are acquired and stored in a specific data base; information regarding radioactivity levels, machines status, personnel dosimetry and meteorological parameters are available in real time. If any of the radiometric quantities exceeds appropriate reference levels, the following operations automatically activate: An automatic switch turns off the machines and an alarm signal is broadcast to the Health Physics group. In addition, the "Nuclear Emergency" software module starts if a radionuclide emission is detected. This module has been implemented to provide response to radiological emergencies in the ENEA nuclear research centers. The modularity of the computer-based system allows its utilization also in other nuclear centers, such as at nuclear power plants. When activated, the "Nuclear Emergency" displays an alarm signal and informs the Health Physics group about the monitor's location and characteristics and the measured data exceeding the reference level. If emission of radionuclides occurs, a preliminary evaluation of their diffusion in the atmosphere and an estimation of the population dose are performed. Statistical analysis of the event is also possible.

Adrenal hemorrhage in the newborn.

Massive adrenal hemorrhage of the newborn is a rare phenomenon. The pathogenesis is still unclear; massive hemorrhage has been observed in newborns after difficult and prolonged deliveries or placental bleeding, and in small prematures with intrapartum anoxia. The authors report a newborn operated on the fifth day of life after its general condition had deteriorated progressively. A retroperitoneal hematoma had formed subsequent to rupture of one suprarenal gland. After surgical removal of the hematoma, the child recovered fully.