Variation of total alpha and beta activities and Rn-222 concentrations in the water supply system of an Italian volcanic region: How safe is tap water for human consumption?

Total alpha and beta activities and Rn-222 concentrations were determined in water from different sections of seven aqueducts belonging to the water supply system of Campania region (Italy), known worldwide for its volcanism. Statistical analysis was performed on data to account for their variability across the aqueduct sections, and results were discussed considering the geology of reservoirs, the potential mixing processes occurring along the pipe network, the building/constituting materials of the aqueduct sections, and the integrity of the infrastructure. Guidelines proposed by Italian and international regulation entities were considered to determine if total alpha and beta activities and Rn-222 concentrations found at the taps of the different aqueducts should be considered detrimental to public health. Based on a deterministic and a stochastic approach, a health risk assessment was also tested for Rn-222, assuming direct ingestion and showering as potential exposure pathways. Results showed that applying guidelines returned an absence of hazard, whereas risk assessment returned a high probability of exposure to unacceptable Rn-222 doses for some aqueducts. Beyond the usefulness of obtained results to plan actions to improve the safety of drinking water in Campania, our outcomes represent a warning for bodies dealing with public health at any level: the use of guidelines can bring an underestimation of the risks exerted by the exposure to Rn-222 on human health. Further, using a probabilistic approach in risk assessment accounting for uncertainty can favor risk forecasts based on more "realistic" scenarios.

Nesting biology and nest structure of the exotic bee Megachile sculpturalis.

From the 1990s, the Southeast Asia native giant resin bee Megachile sculpturalis (Smith, 1853) was introduced first to North America, and then to many countries in Europe. Despite increasing studies on its invasive potential and geographical expansion, information on nesting behaviour of this species is still extremely scarce. To increase knowledge on the nesting biology of M. sculpturalis, we studied multiple aspects of nesting and pollen provisioning in three consecutive years in artificial nests in Bologna, Italy. We observed 166 bees visiting nests, and followed individual nesting behaviour and success of 41 adult females. We measured cavity diameter in 552 nests and characterised the structure in 100 of them. More than 95% of nest diameters ranged between 0.6 and 1.2 cm, overlapping with several sympatric species of cavity-nesting hymenopterans in the study area. Most nests had a first chamber from the entrance of variable length without brood, followed by an average of about two brood cells with a mean length of 2.85 ± 0.13 cm each. The pollen stored in brood cells was almost monofloral, belonging to the ornamental plant Styphnolobium japonicum (L.) Schott. We estimated that a single female should visit ≈180 flowers to collect enough pollen for a single brood cell. These results fill knowledge gaps on the nesting biology and nest structure of the exotic M. sculpturalis, and they are discussed in relation to possible competition with native bees for nesting sites and foraging resources.

Development and Use of Assistive Technologies in Spinal Cord Injury: A Narrative Review of Reviews on the Evolution, Opportunities, and Bottlenecks of Their Integration in the Health Domain.

Assistive technologies are increasingly taking a leading role in supporting people with spinal cord injury (SCI). This narrative review of reviews intends to contribute by making a map point investigating the integration of ATs in SCI. The methodology of the review was based on: (I) a search of PubMed and Scopus and (II) an eligibility assessment using specific parameters. The outcome highlighted the following: -The evolution of ATs considered in the context of SCI, considering ATs as both products and/or services in standalone and/or networked devices, and as processes of delivery. -Innovative technologies could play an important role in improving the quality of life and in minimizing costs in healthcare. -The international scientific community has identified ATs as one of the six strategic development areas in SCI. The overview also allowed the detection of some problems: (I) The ethical and regulatory aspects have been addressed in a weak way and only in specific and limited cases. (II) There is a lack of studies on the use and applications of ATs in SCI with a focus in multiple domains (e.g., costs, acceptance, dissemination, problems, regulatory aspects, ethical aspects, and other issues important for integration into the health domain). This review highlights the need for further studies and activities focused on integrating consensus in multiple domains, including ethics and regulations, to aid researchers and decision-makers in the field.

Wildfires as a Source of Potentially Toxic Elements (PTEs) in Soil: A Case Study from Campania Region (Italy).

The worldwide increase in fire events has attracted global attention, as potentially toxic elements (PTEs) have been widely recognised within the produced ash. Ash is transported, dispersed by wind, and deposited into the soil and surficial waters even far from fires. Considering that their composition can be enriched in PTEs, they represent a potential hazard for humans and other animals exposed to airborne particles and, afterwards, to resuspended matter, even at a considerable distance from the source. This study aimed to assess the environmental impact of fire events that occurred during the 2017 summer season at two different sites in the Campania region (Southern Italy). One of the fires affected a waste disposal site west of Caserta, and one involved a forest on the slopes of Mt. Somma-Vesuvius, a few kilometres southeast of Naples, the regional capital. Changes to the PTE concentration in the topsoil in the surroundings of both sites, after the fire events, were investigated. Enrichment factors (EFs) of a selection of PTEs were determined by comparing geochemical data from two sampling campaigns, one completed before and one after the fire events. A combined application of multivariate statistics (based on robust principal component analysis; RPCA) and geospatial analysis was used to determine the materials affected by the fire on the slopes of Mt. Somma-Vesuvius, and roughly locate their place. Specifically, a statistically significant enrichment of Hg was identified in the topsoil of both study areas. In addition, in soil samples collected at Mt. Somma-Vesuvius, more PTEs showed significant changes in their concentration. For both areas, Hg enrichments were related to the deposition of ash proceeding from waste burning; furthermore, as regards the soil of the Vesuvian area, Cr and Cd enrichments were associated with the fallout of ash generated during biomass combustion, and the increase in Cu and Zn concentrations was linked to the burning of crops on cultivated lands. Apart from the specific results obtained, concerning the examined case studies, the methods applied can be seen as a reliable option to determine the compositional characteristics of materials burned during a fire event, even with the prospect of improving the eventual assessment process of the related environmental hazards.

Breaking Barriers-The Intersection of AI and Assistive Technology in Autism Care: A Narrative Review.

(Background) Autism increasingly requires a multidisciplinary approach that can effectively harmonize the realms of diagnosis and therapy, tailoring both to the individual. Assistive technologies (ATs) play an important role in this context and hold significant potential when integrated with artificial intelligence (AI). (Objective) The objective of this study is to analyze the state of integration of AI with ATs in autism through a review. (Methods) A review was conducted on PubMed and Scopus, applying a standard checklist and a qualification process. The outcome reported 22 studies, including 7 reviews. (Key Content and Findings) The results reveal an early yet promising interest in integrating AI into autism assistive technologies. Exciting developments are currently underway at the intersection of AI and robotics, as well as in the creation of wearable automated devices like smart glasses. These innovations offer substantial potential for enhancing communication, interaction, and social engagement for individuals with autism. Presently, researchers are prioritizing innovation over establishing a solid presence within the healthcare domain, where issues such as regulation and acceptance demand increased attention. (Conclusions) As the field continues to evolve, it becomes increasingly clear that AI will play a pivotal role in bridging various domains, and integrated ATs with AI are positioned to act as crucial connectors.