Effect of Electro-kinetic Consolidation on Fine Grained Dredged Sediments

Abstract The management of the huge amount of dredged sediments is an important issue to be solved worldwide, and dewatering is by far the most critical step when fine grained sediments are involved. Different technologies have been proposed in time to speed up the process. Even though electro-kinetic treatment is in principle one of them, it has not been implemented yet at an industrial scale, and only few trial applications are known. For such a reason, a multidisciplinary research activity is ongoing at the University of Napoli Federico II in the framework of the EU commitment ROSE with the aim to analyse the effectiveness and feasibility of such a technology from the lab to the site scale. In this paper, some evidences stemming from lab tests are presented. The results indicate that the application of low voltages improves the mechanical behaviour of the tested soil. In this case, however, the improvement is due more to a change in microstructure than to a decrease in void ratio

Effect of the pore fluid salinities on the behaviour of an electrokinetic treated soft clayey soil

Dredging activities of harbours and rivers are becoming very important in many countries all over the world and, as a consequence, the disposal of dredged sediments is a critical concern from an environmental point of view. In order to facilitate the disposal or the reuse of large volume of dredged soils, usually under-consolidated and with a high water content, an electrokinetic treatment can be adopted with the goal to dewater and strengthen the sediments. This paper presents the results of some electrokinetic tests performed on reconstituted clayey specimens at different pore fluid salinities (0.2 < sc < 30 g/l) treated with electrokinetic (EK) technique. The results indicate that the presence of small quantities of salts in the pore fluid enhances the electro-osmotic consolidation. On the contrary, for high salt concentrations of the pore fluid the electro-osmotic dewatering is significantly reduced. The mechanical behaviour of treated specimens has been investigated at the micro (SEM) and macro scale (triaxial and oedometer tests). The experimental results highlighted the relevant and expected contribution of the pore fluid characteristic on the effectiveness of the treatment as ground improvement technique

Anthropometric analysis of the evolution of the physiological Genu Varus and Valgus in childhood by measuring the medial femoral intercondylar and the medial intermalleolar distances

Los cambios morfológicos del eje de miembros inferiores se expresan por un genu varo y valgo fisiológico en la niñez. La evolución de los ángulos, torsiones y rotaciones del esqueleto son determinantes en este proceso. Se podrían estimar a través de la medición de la distancia intermaleolar (DIM), comprendida entre los maléolos tibiales y la distancia intercondílea femoral medial (DICFM), extendida entre ambos cóndilos femorales mediales. Se propone analizar la evolución del genu varo y valgo fisiológico, a través de la medición de la DIM y la DICFM en función de la edad y su relación con estándares de peso y talla. Las unidades de análisis fueron niños, 113 niños y 113 niñas, sanos a nivel del aparato osteo-mio-articular. Se determinó: DIM, DICFM y talla en centímetros y peso en kilogramos. Los datos se dividieron en tres grupos por edad en meses. Grupo (G) N°1: 12 a 36; GN°2: 37 a 84 y GN°3: 85 y 120. Se expresaron el Promedio (P) y Desvió estándar (±) de DIM, DICFM y el Promedio de talla y peso. Niños: GN°1: DIM: P.2,81 ± 2,04; DICFM: P. 2,34 ±1,53; talla: P.87,17; peso: P. 12,86. GN°2: DIM: P.2,61 ± 2,13; DICFM: P.1,33 ± 1,01; talla: P.111,67; peso: P.21,56. GN°3: DIM: P.1,56 ± 1,54; DICFM: P. 2.09 ± 1,78; talla: P. 130,95; peso: P. 32,24. Niñas: GN°1: DIM: P.3,27 ± 1,43; DICFM: P. 1,75 ± 1,49; talla: P. 87,24; peso: P. 13,01 ± GN°2: DIM P.2,25 ±1,56; DICFM: P.1,27± 1,02; talla: P.105,55 ; peso: P. 18,51. GN°3: DIM:P.2,45 ±1,69; DICFM: P. 1,51±0,84; talla: P. 125,02 ; peso: P. 27,64. En la actualidad no existen estimaciones de una distribución de frecuencias de la DIM y la DICFM. Esto impide analizar longitudinalmente su evolución. Ante esta situación emerge la intensión de crear tablas de curvas (percentiles) representativas de la evolución de estas medidas que podríamos considerar antropométricas, para detectar precozmente alteraciones ortopédicas. La DIM presenta en el GN°1 sus valores máximos por el aumento de la base de sustentación y decrece posteriormente. La DICFM es mayor en el GN°1, (genu varo), luego disminuye significativamente (genu valgo) y finalmente aumenta para estabilizarse. Podríamos considerar a la DICFM una medida antropométrica que estima fielmente el genu varo y valgo fisiológico. La DIM y la DICFM decrecen mientras la talla y peso aumentan progresivamente acorde con la edad.The morphological changes of the lower limb axis are expressed by a physiologic genu varus and valgus in childhood. The evolution of the angles, twists and rotations of the skeleton are crucial in this process. It could be estimated by measuring the medial intermalleolar distance (MID) - the distance between the tibial malleolus-, and the medial femoral intercondylar distance (MFICD) - the distance between both internal condyles-. The goal of this paper is To analyze the physiological evolution of the genu varus and genu valgus, by measuring the MFICD and the MID at different ages and its relationship with height and weight standards. The units of analysis were children: 113 boys and 113 girls, all with healthy osteo-myoarticular structure. MID, MFICD, height (in centimeters) and weight (in kilograms) were determined. Results: Data was divided into three groups by age (in months): GN1: 12 to 36; GN2: 37-84 and GN3: 85 and 120. MID, MFICD, height and weight average (A) and standard deviation ( ± ) were determined. The following results were obtained: Children: GN 1: MID: A.2, 81 ± 2.04, MFICD: A. 2.34 ± 1.53, height: A.87 , 17 , weight : A. 12.86 . GN 2: MID: A.2, 61 ± 2.13, MFICD: A.1, 33 ± 1.01, height: A.111, 67 , weight : A.21 , 56. GN 3: MID: A.1, 56 ± 1.54, MFICD: A. 2.09 ± 1.78 , height : A. 130.95 , weight : A. 32.24 . Girls : GN 1 : MID: A.3 , 27 ± 1.43, MFICD: A. 1.75 ± 1.49, height: A. 87,24 , weight : A. 13.01 ± GN 2: MID A.2, 25 ± 1.56, MFICD: A.1, 27 ± 1.02, height: A.105 , 55 , weight : A. 18.51 . GN 3: MID: A.2, 45 ± 1.69, MFICD: A. 1.51 ± 0.84 , height : A. 125.02 , weight : A. 27.64. There are currently no estimates of a frequency distribution of MID and MFICD. This prevents analyzing their longitudinal evolution. It is then important to create curve tables (percentiles) representing these anthropometric measures to early orthopedic disorders detection. MID exhibits a maximum value in GN1 due to the increasing support base and declines thereafter. The MFICD is greater in GN1, (genu varum), then decreases significatively (genu valgus) and finally rises to stabilize. MFICD can be considered an anthropometric measure that accurately estimates the physiological genu varus and valgus. The MID and MFICD decrease while the size and weight gradually increase according to age.Fil: Facciuto, Franco. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas; ArgentinaFil: Gargano, Santiago Guillermo. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas; ArgentinaFil: Cabral, Maria Eugenia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Feldman, Sara. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin

A case of massive subcutaneous emphysema and transient ischemic attack due to argon plasma coagulation following endoscopic pilonidal sinus treatment

Pilonidalsinusisasmallholeaffectingtheskinandsubcutaneoustissue,whichusuallycontainshairandskindebris,resultinginthecreationoftheso-calledpilonidalcyst.Theendoscopicpilonidalsinustreatment(EPSiT)isaminimallyinvasiveprocedureconsistingoftheremovalofhairsandcauterizationofthecavityunderdirectendoscopicvision.Inourinstitution,weusedtoendthisprocedurewithargonplasmacoagulation(APC).Here,wediscussacaseof22-year-oldmanaffectedbypilonidaldisease,whodevelopedamassivesubcutaneousemphysemaandsuspectedtransientischemicattacksecondarytogasreabsorptionafteranEPSiTinwhichAPCwassedforthecoagulation

Pelvic Health Assessment in Adult Females Following Pediatric Appendicitis: A Monocentric Retrospective Case—Control Study

open10noAbstract: Background: The anatomical location of the appendix in females determines its close contact with the internal genitalia, involving the latter in case of acute appendicitis (AA). The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence of pelvic health impairment in adult women who underwent appendicectomy during childhood. Materials and Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted including all female patients who underwent appendicectomy for acute appendicitis at our Center between January 1985 and December 1995. The patients were divided into two groups, i.e., complicated AA (Group A) and not complicated AA (Group B), and were asked to respond to a questionnaire investigating their general health status, fertility impairment, ectopic pregnancies, miscarriages, endometriosis, and chronic pelvic pain. The same questionnaire was administered to female volunteers with past medical history (PMH) negative for AA. The data were compared using chi-square test and Fisher exact test (a p value &lt; 0.05 was considered for statistical significance). Results: In total, 75 patients operated for AA during childhood (22 in Group A and 53 in group B) and 44 female volunteers with PMH negative for AA (group C) were enrolled in the study. Seventeen patients (77.3%) in group A, 40 (75.4%) in group B, and 29 (65.9%) in group C (p &gt; 0.05) had pregnancies. The number of miscarriages among women who became pregnant in their life was 5 in group A, 13 in group B, and 12 in group C (p &gt; 0.05). Chronic pelvic pain was reported by 7 out of 22 (31.8%) patients in group A, 7 out of 53 (13.2%) in group B, and 5 out of 44 (11.4%) in group C (A vs. C: p = 0.04, OR = 3.64; A vs. B: p = 0.06 and B vs. C: p = 0.52). Conclusions: In our series, AA, complicated or not, neither determined repercussions on fertility, risk of miscarriages, and ectopic pregnancies nor increased the risk of developing endometriosis. However, women who experienced complicated AA showed a higher prevalence of chronic pelvic pain onset in adulthood compared to healthy women.openParente, Giovanni; Di Mitri, Marco; D’Antonio, Simone; Cravano, Sara; Thomas, Eduje; Vastano, Marzia; Lunca, Robert; Gargano, Tommaso; Libri, Michele; Lima, MarioParente, Giovanni; Di Mitri, Marco; D’Antonio, Simone; Cravano, Sara; Thomas, Eduje; Vastano, Marzia; Lunca, Robert; Gargano, Tommaso; Libri, Michele; Lima, Mari

Dirofilaria repens testicular infection in child, Italy

Testicular Dirofilaria repens infection was identified and confirmed by sequence analysis in a child in northeastern Italy. Because human dirofilariasis is emerging in southern and eastern Europe, this parasitic infection should be considered in the differential diagnosis of scrotal swelling in disease-endemic countries to avoid unnecessary interventions, such as orchiectomy

A unique case of foreign body aspiration and recurrent pneumothorax

Paediatric foreign body aspiration can be related to a high morbidity/mortality rate, especially in young children, and pneumothorax can be a severe associated issue. We describe a case of a 13-year-old girl with recurrent pneumothorax in bilateral bullous lung, twice previously treated at our institution by robotassisted bullectomy, and once again showing same signs and symptoms. At conventional thoracoscopy an inorganic foreign body was found to be located pointing upwards the apex. We believe this may have acted as a contributory cause in the persistence of the clinical picture, despite the surgical removal of the underlying pathology

Ask Doctor Smartphone! An App to Help Physicians Manage Foreign Body Ingestions in Children

Abstract: Background: Foreign body ingestion (FBI) represents the most common cause of emergent gastrointestinal endoscopy in children. FBI’s management can be quite challenging for physicians because of the variability of the clinical presentation, and the decision tree becomes even more intricate because of patient-specific variables that must be considered in the pediatric age range (e.g., age of patients and neuropsychiatric disorders) in addition to the mere characteristics of the foreign body. We present an application for smartphones designed for pediatricians and pediatric surgeons based on the latest guidelines from the official pediatric societies. The app aims to help physicians manage FBI quickly and properly in children. Materials and methods: The latest pediatric FBI management guidelines were reviewed and summarized. The flow chart we obtained guided the development of a smartphone application. A questionnaire was administered to all pediatric surgeon trainees at our institute to test the feasibility and helpfulness of the application. Results: An app for smartphones was obtained and shared for free on the Google Play Store and Apple Store. The app guides the physician step by step in the diagnostic process, analyzing all patient- and foreign body-specific characteristics. The app consultation ends with a suggestion of the most proper decision to make in terms of further radiological investigations and the indication and timing of endoscopy. A questionnaire administered to trainees proved the app to be useful and easy to use. Conclusion: We developed an app able to help pediatricians and pediatric surgeons manage FBI in children, providing standardized and updated recommendations in a smart and easily available way

A population of gamma-ray emitting globular clusters seen with the Fermi Large Area Telescope

Globular clusters with their large populations of millisecond pulsars (MSPs) are believed to be potential emitters of high-energy gamma-ray emission. Our goal is to constrain the millisecond pulsar populations in globular clusters from analysis of gamma-ray observations. We use 546 days of continuous sky-survey observations obtained with the Large Area Telescope aboard the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope to study the gamma-ray emission towards 13 globular clusters. Steady point-like high-energy gamma-ray emission has been significantly detected towards 8 globular clusters. Five of them (47 Tucanae, Omega Cen, NGC 6388, Terzan 5, and M 28) show hard spectral power indices $(0.7 < \Gamma <1.4)$ and clear evidence for an exponential cut-off in the range 1.0-2.6 GeV, which is the characteristic signature of magnetospheric emission from MSPs. Three of them (M 62, NGC 6440 and NGC 6652) also show hard spectral indices $(1.0 < \Gamma < 1.7)$, however the presence of an exponential cut-off can not be unambiguously established. Three of them (Omega Cen, NGC 6388, NGC 6652) have no known radio or X-ray MSPs yet still exhibit MSP spectral properties. From the observed gamma-ray luminosities, we estimate the total number of MSPs that is expected to be present in these globular clusters. We show that our estimates of the MSP population correlate with the stellar encounter rate and we estimate 2600-4700 MSPs in Galactic globular clusters, commensurate with previous estimates. The observation of high-energy gamma-ray emission from a globular cluster thus provides a reliable independent method to assess their millisecond pulsar populations that can be used to make constraints on the original neutron star X-ray binary population, essential for understanding the importance of binary systems in slowing the inevitable core collapse of globular clusters.Comment: Accepted for publication in A&A. Corresponding authors: J. Kn\"odlseder, N. Webb, B. Pancraz

Red Listing plants under full national responsibility: Extinction risk and threats in the vascular flora endemic to Italy

Taxa endemic to a country are key elements for setting national conservation priorities and for driving conservation strategies, since their persistence is entirely dependent on national policy. We applied the IUCN Red List categories to all Italian endemic vascular plants (1340 taxa) to assess their current risk of extinction and to highlight their major threats. Our results revealed that six taxa are already extinct and that 22.4% (300 taxa) are threatened with extinction, while 18.4% (247; especially belonging to apomictic groups) have been categorized as Data Deficient. Italian endemic vascular plants are primarily threatened by natural habitat modification due to agriculture, residential and tourism development. Taxa occurring in coastal areas and lowlands, where anthropogenic impacts and habitat destruction are concentrated, display the greatest population decline and extinction. The national network of protected areas could be considered effective in protecting endemic-rich areas (ERAs) and endemic taxa, but ineffective in protecting narrow endemic-rich areas (NERAs), accordingly changes to the existing network may increase the effectiveness of protection. For the first time in the Mediterranean Basin biodiversity hotspot, we present a comprehensive extinction assessment for endemic plants under the full responsibility of a single country. This would provide an important step towards the prioritization and conservation of threatened endemic flora at Italian, European, and Mediterranean level. A successful conservation strategy of the Italian endemic vascular flora should implement the protected area system, solve some taxonomical criticism in poorly known genera, and should rely on monitoring threatened species, and on developing species-specific action plans