A Stochastic Texture-based Approach for Evaluating Solute Travel Times to Groundwater at Regional Scale by Coupling GIS and Transfer Function

AbstractInterpreting and predicting the evolution of non-point source (NPS) pollution of soil and surface and subsurface water from agricultural chemicals and pathogens, as well as overexploitation of groundwater resources at regional scale are continuing challenges for natural scientists. The presence and build up of NPS pollutants may be harmful for both soil and groundwater resources. Accordingly, this study mainly aims to developing a regional-scale simulation methodology for groundwater vulnerability that use real soil profiles data. A stochastic approach will be applied to account for the effect of vertical heterogeneity on variability of solute transport in the vadose zone. The approach relies on available datasets and offers quantitative answers to soil and groundwater vulnerability to non-point source of chemicals at regional scale within a defined confidence interval. The study area is located in the Metaponto agricultural site, Basilicata Region-South Italy, covering approximately 12000 hectares. Chloride will be considered as a generic pollutant for simulation purposes. The methodology is based on three sequential steps: 1) designing and building of a spatial database containing environmental and physical information regarding the study area, 2) developing travel time distributions for specific textural sequences in the soil profile, coming from texture-based transfer functions, 3) final representation of results through digital mapping. Distributed output of soil pollutant leaching behavior, with corresponding statistical uncertainties, will be visualized in GIS maps. Of course, this regional-scale methodology may be extended to any specific pollutants for any soil, climatic and land use conditions

Localized nodular tenosynovitis: a case description

Se describe una afección dolorosa localizada en la zona del carpo del miembro torácico izquierdo. Con características físicas peculiares, habiéndose llegado al diagnóstico definitivo mediante estudios complementarios, siendo el histopatológico el que determino que se trataba de una tenosinovitis nodular localizada (TNL) de los tendones de los músculos extensor carpo radial y flexor digital común.It describes a painful affection localized on the area of the carpus of the left forelimb with peculiar physical characteristics, having arrived to a definite diagnosis through out to the complementary studies being the histopathologic which determined that it was a localized nodular tenosynovitis on the tendons of the extensor radial carpus and common digital flexor muscles.Facultad de Ciencias Veterinaria

Neutral N^C^N terdentate luminescent Pt(ii) complexes: their synthesis, photophysical properties, and bio-imaging applications

An emerging field regarding N^C^N terdentate Pt(II) complexes is their application as luminescent labels for bio-imaging. In fact, phosphorescent Pt complexes possess many advantages such as a wide emission color tunability, a better stability towards photo- and chemical degradation, a very large Stokes shift, and long-lived luminescent excited states with lifetimes typically two to three orders of magnitude longer than those of classic organic fluorophores. Here, we describe the synthesis and photophysical characterization of three new neutral N^C^N terdentate cyclometallated Pt complexes as long-lived bio-imaging probes. The novel molecular probes bear hydrophilic (oligo-)ethyleneglycol chains of various lengths to increase their water solubility and bio-compatibility and to impart amphiphilic nature to the molecules. The complexes are characterized by a high cell permeability and a low cytotoxicity, with an internalization kinetics that depends on both the length of the ethyleneglycol chain and the ancillary ligand

Novel N^C^N-cyclometallated platinum complexes with acetylide co-ligands as efficient phosphors for OLEDs

Two new cyclometallated platinum(ii) complexes have been prepared that incorporate a terdentate N^C^N-coordinating ligand and a monodentate acetylide co-ligand. The complexes, namely [PtL 3-CC-C 6H 3F 2] and [PtL 6-CC-C 6H 3F 2] (where HL 3 = 5-methyl-1,3-di(2-pyridyl) benzene; HL 6 = 5-mesityl-1,3-di(2-pyridyl)benzene; H-CC-C 6H 3F 2 = 3,5-difluorophenylacetylene), were prepared by ligand metathesis from the corresponding chloro complex PtL nCl. Both of the new complexes are intensely luminescent in solution, displaying quantum yields superior to PtL nCl. OLEDs have been prepared using the new compounds as phosphorescent emitters. Although both lead to efficient devices, the best electroluminescence quantum efficiencies are obtained with the derivative of HL 6, having the mesityl group on the cyclometallated phenyl ring. The superior performance with this complex can be rationalised in terms of the greater steric hindrance that serves to reduce aggregate-induced quenching

COVID-19 infection in adult patients with hematological malignancies: a European Hematology Association Survey (EPICOVIDEHA)

Background: Patients with hematological malignancies (HM) are at high risk of mortality from SARS-CoV-2 disease 2019 (COVID-19). A better understanding of risk factors for adverse outcomes may improve clinical management in these patients. We therefore studied baseline characteristics of HM patients developing COVID-19 and analyzed predictors of mortality. Methods: The survey was supported by the Scientific Working Group Infection in Hematology of the European Hematology Association (EHA). Eligible for the analysis were adult patients with HM and laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 observed between March and December 2020. Results: The study sample includes 3801 cases, represented by lymphoproliferative (mainly non-Hodgkin lymphoma n = 1084, myeloma n = 684 and chronic lymphoid leukemia n = 474) and myeloproliferative malignancies (mainly acute myeloid leukemia n = 497 and myelodysplastic syndromes n = 279). Severe/critical COVID-19 was observed in 63.8% of patients (n = 2425). Overall, 2778 (73.1%) of the patients were hospitalized, 689 (18.1%) of whom were admitted to intensive care units (ICUs). Overall, 1185 patients (31.2%) died. The primary cause of death was COVID-19 in 688 patients (58.1%), HM in 173 patients (14.6%), and a combination of both COVID-19 and progressing HM in 155 patients (13.1%). Highest mortality was observed in acute myeloid leukemia (199/497, 40%) and myelodysplastic syndromes (118/279, 42.3%). The mortality rate significantly decreased between the first COVID-19 wave (March–May 2020) and the second wave (October–December 2020) (581/1427, 40.7% vs. 439/1773, 24.8%, p value < 0.0001). In the multivariable analysis, age, active malignancy, chronic cardiac disease, liver disease, renal impairment, smoking history, and ICU stay correlated with mortality. Acute myeloid leukemia was a higher mortality risk than lymphoproliferative diseases. Conclusions: This survey confirms that COVID-19 patients with HM are at high risk of lethal complications. However, improved COVID-19 prevention has reduced mortality despite an increase in the number of reported cases.EPICOVIDEHA has received funds from Optics COMMITTM (COVID-19 Unmet Medical Needs and Associated Research Extension) COVID-19 RFP program by GILEAD Science, United States (Project 2020-8223)