On Local Congruence of Immersions in Homogeneous or Nonhomogeneous Spaces

We show how to find a complete set of necessary and sufficient conditions that solve the fixed-parameter local congruence problem of immersions in $G$-spaces, whether homogeneous or not, provided that a certain $k^{\rm th}$ order jet bundle over the $G$-space admits a $G$-invariant local coframe field of constant structure. As a corollary, we note that the differential order of a minimal complete set of congruence invariants is bounded by $k+1$. We demonstrate the method by rediscovering the speed and curvature invariants of Euclidean planar curves, the Schwarzian derivative of holomorphic immersions in the complex projective line, and equivalents of the first and second fundamental forms of surfaces in ${\mathbb R}^3$ subject to rotation

Combining hydrogeochemistry, statistics and explorative mapping to estimate regional threshold values of trace elements in groundwater (Sardinia, Italy)

Assessing geochemical baseline and threshold values of potentially toxic elements at adequate scales is fundamental for distinguishing geogenic contamination from anthropogenic pollution in groundwater. This study was aimed to estimate the regional threshold values of Li, Be, B, Al, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Rb, Sr, Mo, Ag, Cd, Sb, Te, Ba, Hg, Tl, Pb, Bi, and U (elements listed according to atomic numbers) in groundwater, compare results to guidelines established for drinking water and the protection of groundwater from contamination, investigate the geographical distribution of trace elements, and assess the potential influence of water-rock interaction. A pre-selection aimed at excluding groundwater samples affected by known anthropogenic activities was carefully carried out based on hydrogeochemical characteristics of waters and considering the potential sources of contamination. The resulting dataset was comprised of 1227 groundwater sampling sites located in Sardinia (Italy). Undetected values were treated using the Regression on Order Statistics method. For elements containing >75 % of undetected values and/or a limited number of samples in the dataset (Li, Rb, Sr, Mo, Ag, Te, Tl, Sb, Hg and Bi), the threshold values were estimated using either the 95th or 97.7th percentiles. For the other elements the mean + 2SD (Standard Deviation), the median + 2MAD (Median Absolute Deviation), and the TIF (Tukey Inner Fence) estimators were also calculated. Geochemical maps allowed to recognize the threshold value of each element at different scales. Regional threshold values of the regulated elements B, Al, V, Cr, Cu and Cd in groundwater were below the Italian and World Health Organization drinking water guidelines, whereas Mn and As were above them. Regional threshold values estimated with TIF exceeded the drinking water guidelines for Ni, Se, Pb and U. Results of this study showed that high concentrations of trace elements in groundwater were primarily dependent on the corresponding amount in parent materials with which the groundwater came into contact. Physical-chemical parameters and geochemical characteristics may contribute to enhancing concentrations of some trace elements in groundwater, e.g. As via reductive dissolution of Fe(III)-Mn(IV) hydroxides/oxides, Pb via formation of stable aqueous complexes, and other elements via adsorption onto fine particles with size below 0.4 μm (i.e. the pore size of filters used). Maps drawn on the centered log-ratio (clr) transformation of hydrogeochemical data, following the CoDA (Compositional Data Analysis) approach, allowed to pinpoint critical areas to be investigated in more detail. For each geological complex, groundwater samples likely representing nearly pristine conditions were identified. The monitoring of these representative groundwater samples may help to pinpoint eventual changes in environmental conditions

Field Evaluation of Solvent-Free Sampling with Di-n-butylamine for the Determination of Airborne Monomeric and Oligomeric 1,6-Hexamethylene Diisocyanate

During this study, a field evaluation of a new sampling method using di-n-butylamine for the determination of airborne monomeric and oligomeric 1,6-hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI) was performed. The Supelco ASSET EZ4-NCO Dry Sampler was compared to the Omega Specialty Instrument Co. ISO-CHEK sampler. Three specific questions were addressed: 1) can HDI oligomers be quantified using HPLC-MS; 2) do ASSET and ISO-CHEK samplers collect equivalent HDI monomer & oligomer concentrations; and 3) what is the relative cost of ASSET samplers verse ISO-CHEK. Side-by-side HDI air sampling was conducted during polyurethane spray painting operations. ASSET samplers were analyzed by HPLC-MS for HDI monomer and oligomers, including biuret and isocyanurate. The ASSET sampler collected significantly higher levels of HDI monomers, indicating ISO-CHEK samplers potentially underestimate true monomer exposures. HDI oligomer results were inconclusive. Finally, the analytical cost for the ASSET sampler was determined to be 50 percent less than ISO-CHEK resulting in a cost savings of $32 K over 5 years

Exploring the Time Domain With Synoptic Sky Surveys

Synoptic sky surveys are becoming the largest data generators in astronomy, and they are opening a new research frontier, that touches essentially every field of astronomy. Opening of the time domain to a systematic exploration will strengthen our understanding of a number of interesting known phenomena, and may lead to the discoveries of as yet unknown ones. We describe some lessons learned over the past decade, and offer some ideas that may guide strategic considerations in planning and execution of the future synoptic sky surveys.Comment: Invited talk, to appear in proc. IAU SYmp. 285, "New Horizons in Time Domain Astronomy", eds. E. Griffin et al., Cambridge Univ. Press (2012). Latex file, 6 pages, style files include

A two-step pH control method to remove divalent metals from near-neutral mining and metallurgical waste drainages by inducing the formation of layered double hydroxide

A neutral M2+-rich and M3+-poor (M = metal) metallurgical waste drainage was used to test a metal removal method based on the precipitation of layered double hydroxide (LDH). The LDH precipitation was induced by adding a salt of Al3+ (trivalent metal missing in the drainage) and maintaining or restoring the pH to a circum-neutral value. The precipitates were characterized by chemical analysis, XRD, ESEM, HRTEM and XAS. The main parameter controlling the removal of metals and the type of precipitate appeared to be the pH. As a function of pH variation during the experiments, analyses of precipitates and solutions showed either the formation of poor crystalline LDH combined with very high removal of Zn, Ni and Pb (92–100%), more variable removal of Mn (46–98%) and less Cd (33–40%), or the formation of more crystalline LDH combined with lower removal of Zn (62%), Mn (43%), Ni (88%), Pb (64%) and especially Cd (1%). The different metal removal efficiency in the two cases is only indirectly due to the different LDH crystallinity, and it is clearly affected by the following factors: 1) the two pH steps of the method; 2) the direction of pH variation within each step. In particular, the highest removal of metals is obtained when the first pH step goes towards acidic conditions, as a consequence of Al salt addition, and precipitation of a quasi-amorphous hydrated hydroxysulfate of Al (probably a precursor of felsӧbányaite Al4(SO4)(OH)10 · 4H2O) occurs. This first acidic pH step removes little or no metals (just 0–3%) but it is essential so that the second pH step towards slightly alkaline conditions, as a consequence of NaOH addition, can be highly efficient in removing divalent metals as the quasi-amorphous hydrated hydroxysulfate of Al gradually turns into an LDH incorporating Zn, Mg and other metals. On the contrary, when both pH steps remain in the neutral-alkaline range, only LDH precipitation occurs and a lower metal removal is observed. These results encourage further investigations on the removal of metals by inducing LDH precipitation as a simple and effective method for the treatment of circum-neutral polluted drainages

Mobility and fate of Thallium and other potentially harmful elements in drainage waters from a decommissioned Zn-Pb mine (North-Eastern Italian Alps)

The potential impact of decommissioned mining areas on the quality of water resources is an issue of major concern for local communities. Acid mine drainage resulting from hydrolysis and oxidation of metal sulphides associated with mineral veins or mining wastes is often responsible for leaching large amounts of potentially harmful elements (PHEs) in solution, which can be dispersed into the surrounding environment and affect the quality of the recipient water bodies. The aim of the present study was to investigate the geochemical properties of the mine drainage waters at the decommissioned Salafossa mine (North-Eastern Italian Alps), to highlight anomalous concentrations of PHEs outflowing from the currently flooded galleries and to elucidate their speciation. In spite of the Zn-Pb sulphides still present in the body ore, there is no evidence of acid drainage waters from the mine galleries as a result of the buffering effect produced by carbonate host rocks. Due to their high mobility, however, Zn and Tl are present in solution mostly in ionic form. Conversely, the less mobile Pb, is referably partitioned in the solid phase. Additionally, the oxidising conditions of the drainage waters also allow the precipitation of some PHEs (As, Cd, Pb, Tl, Zn) in the form of Fe-Mn oxy-hydroxides and carbonates, which accumulate at the bottom of the mine galleries as fine \u201csediments\u201d or concretions. Drainage waters inside the mine were found to be highly enriched in Zn (up to 16 mg L\u20101), Fe (up to 5 mg L\u20101) and Tl (up to 260 \u3bcg L\u20101). Their concentrations, however, are partially diluted in the mine due to a mixing with less mineralised waters before being discharged into the Piave River, the major tributary downstream from the mining area. Although drainage waters are still characterised by high concentrations of Tl (about 30 \u3bcg L\u20101) at their outflow, dilution in the Piave River seems to be the only natural process mitigating the impact of PHEs within the drainage basin

Soil contamination by heavy metals at Libiola abandoned copper mine, Italy

Exploitation of ores has surely represented a risk for contamination of environmental matrices for a long time. This paper reports the results of a study concerning soil contamination by heavy metals at Libiola abandoned copper mine (Italy). This deposit has surely got special importance in Italy because of its historical, environmental and mining features. From a historical viewpoint, Libiola deposit was known since Copper Age, with maximum exploitation at the end of the 19th century. Our investigation plan was elaborated in order to characterize the environmental matrices there, and it provided for inspection of the zones (included in the valley of Gromolo stream) which, according to our preliminary studies and according to literature, could be most affected by past mining activity. Within our selected zones, some soils (even cultivated) were collected in order to check their contamination by heavy metals. Results from the analysis of the collected soil samples showed that the content of heavy metals often exceeds limits provided by the Italian Law 152/06. The knowledge of situation concerning pollution can give useful indications about the influence of mining activities on the surrounding environment, and it can also be valid support in order to organize an optimal future use of the studied mining area, which has been abandoned since its closure (1962).Web of Science23334533

The arduous path towards a National Human Rights Institution for Italy - A public policy analysis of the Italian Human Rights Protection System

The thesis examines the lack of a National Human Rights Institution (NHRI) in Italy, and aims at providing answers to the following research question: Which elements play a role in the public policy process of establishing a National Human Rights Institution and how do they affect the process? Therefore, the thesis first presents the history of National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs), their current role, and their impact to protect and promote human rights domestically. Subsequently, the current situation of human rights in Italy will be analysed by providing an overview of the ratified international human rights treaties and relevant national law. Furthermore, the institutional human rights landscape in Italy is examined, focusing on the fact that Italy remains one of the last two EU countries which has not yet established an NHRI. Building upon this exceptional situation, in the next sub-chapter, all the past developments leading to the establishment of an NHRI are presented in a chronological order. Among such developments are the extraordinarily high number of failed draft bills to establish an NHRI (since 1989 until 2022, ending with the latest draft bill), the recommendations to Italy by civil society, various treaty bodies and national, regional, and international human rights organisations, as well other countries (UPR), and the pledges and commitments in various forms made by the Italian State. Subsequently, the Multiple Streams Approach (MSA) is explained as the theoretical framework applied to explore this exceptional situation. The MSA is used to analyse policy making and agenda setting and conceptualises decision-making situations as three mutually independent streams: The Problem-Stream, which consists of issues that are perceived as problems; the Politics-Stream, which is characterised by public opinion, interest groups, and elements from the political-administrative system (the parliament, the government and the administration); and the Policy-Stream, which consists of different policy alternatives. Additionally, the three ripe streams must be coupled by a Policy-Entrepreneur during a window of opportunity in order for agenda change to occur. In the proposed analysis, the MSA is adapted in two aspects in order to apply it to the Italian political system: The first adaptation concerns the application to parliamentary systems and the related more important role of parties and their ideologies. The second adaptation concerns the part of the policy making process on which the case-study focuses on – policy formulation. The methodology used for the present analysis consists of a content analysis of the protocols of the sessions during which the latest draft bill to establish an NHRI was discussed. In the analysis itself, the adapted version of the MSA is applied to the policy formulation of the latest draft law on the establishment of an NHRI and the related relevant events and indicators. The three streams (Problem, Politics, Policy), the activity of policy entrepreneurs and the existence of policy windows are examined. The analysis shows that the problem stream (the lack of an NHRI) and the policy stream (a chosen alternative to solve the problem meaning the latest draft bill) were ripe, whereas the politics stream (the composition and behaviour of the First Commission in the Chamber of Deputies) was not ripe. Therefore, the efforts of the identified policy entrepreneurs failed to produce any effects, and the latest draft law failed to materialise before the government crisis and the elections in September 2022. Concluding, the analysis confirmed the following two hypotheses: A) Policy formulation in a parliamentary system fails if the policy stream contradicts the basic ideology of influential members of the politics stream. B) Both the problem and the politics stream must be ripe already at the previous stage of agenda setting in order to enable policy formulation.The thesis examines the lack of a National Human Rights Institution (NHRI) in Italy, and aims at providing answers to the following research question: Which elements play a role in the public policy process of establishing a National Human Rights Institution and how do they affect the process? Therefore, the thesis first presents the history of National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs), their current role, and their impact to protect and promote human rights domestically. Subsequently, the current situation of human rights in Italy will be analysed by providing an overview of the ratified international human rights treaties and relevant national law. Furthermore, the institutional human rights landscape in Italy is examined, focusing on the fact that Italy remains one of the last two EU countries which has not yet established an NHRI. Building upon this exceptional situation, in the next sub-chapter, all the past developments leading to the establishment of an NHRI are presented in a chronological order. Among such developments are the extraordinarily high number of failed draft bills to establish an NHRI (since 1989 until 2022, ending with the latest draft bill), the recommendations to Italy by civil society, various treaty bodies and national, regional, and international human rights organisations, as well other countries (UPR), and the pledges and commitments in various forms made by the Italian State. Subsequently, the Multiple Streams Approach (MSA) is explained as the theoretical framework applied to explore this exceptional situation. The MSA is used to analyse policy making and agenda setting and conceptualises decision-making situations as three mutually independent streams: The Problem-Stream, which consists of issues that are perceived as problems; the Politics-Stream, which is characterised by public opinion, interest groups, and elements from the political-administrative system (the parliament, the government and the administration); and the Policy-Stream, which consists of different policy alternatives. Additionally, the three ripe streams must be coupled by a Policy-Entrepreneur during a window of opportunity in order for agenda change to occur. In the proposed analysis, the MSA is adapted in two aspects in order to apply it to the Italian political system: The first adaptation concerns the application to parliamentary systems and the related more important role of parties and their ideologies. The second adaptation concerns the part of the policy making process on which the case-study focuses on – policy formulation. The methodology used for the present analysis consists of a content analysis of the protocols of the sessions during which the latest draft bill to establish an NHRI was discussed. In the analysis itself, the adapted version of the MSA is applied to the policy formulation of the latest draft law on the establishment of an NHRI and the related relevant events and indicators. The three streams (Problem, Politics, Policy), the activity of policy entrepreneurs and the existence of policy windows are examined. The analysis shows that the problem stream (the lack of an NHRI) and the policy stream (a chosen alternative to solve the problem meaning the latest draft bill) were ripe, whereas the politics stream (the composition and behaviour of the First Commission in the Chamber of Deputies) was not ripe. Therefore, the efforts of the identified policy entrepreneurs failed to produce any effects, and the latest draft law failed to materialise before the government crisis and the elections in September 2022. Concluding, the analysis confirmed the following two hypotheses: A) Policy formulation in a parliamentary system fails if the policy stream contradicts the basic ideology of influential members of the politics stream. B) Both the problem and the politics stream must be ripe already at the previous stage of agenda setting in order to enable policy formulation