134 research outputs found
Nitrogen fertilization and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi do not mitigate the adverse effects of soil contamination with polypropylene microfibers on maize growth
Soil contamination with microplastics may adversely affect soil properties and functions and consequently crop productivity. In this study, we wanted to verify whether the adverse effects of microplastics in the soil on maize plants (Zea mays L.) are due to a reduction in nitrogen (N) availability and a reduced capacity to establish symbiotic relationships with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. To do this, we performed a pot experiment in which a clayey soil was exposed to two environmentally relevant concentrations of polypropylene (PP; one of the most used plastic materials) microfibers (0.4% and 0.8% w/w) with or without the addition of N fertilizer and with or without inoculation with AM fungi. The experiment began after the soil had been incubated at 23 °C for 5 months. Soil contamination with PP considerably reduced maize root and shoot biomass, leaf area, N uptake, and N content in tissue. The adverse effects increased with the concentration of PP in the soil. Adding N to the soil did not alleviate the detrimental effects of PP on plant growth, which suggests that other factors besides N availability played a major role. Similarly, although the presence of PP did not inhibit root colonization by AM fungi (no differences were observed for this trait between the uncontaminated and PP-contaminated soils), the addition of the fungal inoculum to the soil failed to mitigate the negative impact of PP on maize growth. Quite the opposite: mycorrhization further reduced maize root biomass accumulation. Undoubtedly, much research remains to be done to shed light on the mechanisms involved in determining plant behavior in microplastic-contaminated soils, which are most likely complex. This research is a priority given the magnitude of this contamination and its potential implications for human and environmental health
Vertically-resolved particle size distribution within and above the mixing layer over the Milan metropolitan area
Vertical aerosol profiles were directly measured over the city of Milan during three years (2005–2008) of field campaigns. An optical particle counter, a portable meteorological station and a miniaturized cascade impactor were deployed on a tethered balloon. More than 300 vertical profiles were measured, both in winter and summer, mainly in conditions of clear, dry skies. <br><br> The mixing height was determined from the observed vertical aerosol concentration gradient, and from potential temperature and relative humidity profiles. Results show that inter-consistent mixing heights can be retrieved highlighting good correlations between particle dispersion in the atmosphere and meteorological parameters. Mixing height growth speed was calculated for both winter and summer showing the low potential atmospheric dispersion in winter. <br><br> Aerosol number size distribution and chemical composition profiles allowed us to investigate particle behaviour along height. Aerosol measurements showed changes in size distribution according to mixing height. Coarse particle profiles (<i>d</i><sub><i>p</i></sub>>1.6 &mu;m) were distributed differently than the fine ones (<i>d</i><sub><i>p</i></sub><1.6 &mu;m) were, at different heights of the mixing layer. The sedimentation process influenced the coarse particle profiles, and led to a reduction in mean particle diameter for those particles observed by comparing data above the mixing height with ground data (&minus;14.9&plusmn;0.6% in winter and &minus;10.7&plusmn;1.0% in summer). Conversely, the mean particle diameter of fine particles increased above the mixing height under stable atmospheric conditions; the average increase, observed by comparing data above the mixing height with ground data, was +2.1&plusmn;0.1% in winter and +3.9&plusmn;0.3% in summer. A hierarchical statistical model was created to describe the changes in the size distribution of fine particles along height. The proposed model can be used to estimate the typical vertical profile characterising launches within pre-specified groups starting from: aerosol size and meteorological conditions measured at ground-level, and a mixing height estimation. The average increase of fine particle diameter, estimated on the basis of the model, was +1.9&plusmn;0.5% in winter and +6.1&plusmn;1.2% in summer, in keeping with experimental findings
Multifragmentation threshold in ^{93}Nb+{nat}Mg collisions at 30 MeV/nucleon
We analyzed the on reaction at 30 MeV/nucleon in the aim
of disentangling binary sequential decay and multifragmentation decay close to
the energy threshold, i.e. MeV/nucleon. Using the backtracing
technique applied to the statistical models GEMINI and SMM we reconstruct
simulated charge, mass and excitation energy distributions and compare them to
the experimental ones. We show that data are better described by SMM than by
GEMINI in agreement with the fact that multifragmentation is responsible for
fragment production at excitation energies around 3 MeV/nucleon.Comment: 16 pages, 12 figures, 5 tables Soumis \`a Nuclear Physics
Isotope correlations as a probe for freeze-out characterization: central 124Sn+64Ni, 112Sn+58Ni collisions
124Sn+64Ni and 112Sn+58Ni reactions at 35 AMeV incident energy were studied
with the forward part of CHIMERA multi-detector. The most central collisions
were selected by means of a multidimensional analysis. The characteristics of
the source formed in the central collisions, as size, temperature and volume,
were inspected. The measured isotopes of light fragments (3 <= Z <=8) were used
to examine isotope yield ratios that provide information on the free neutron to
proton densities.Comment: 4 pages, Contribution to 8th International Conference on
Nucleus-Nucleus Collisions, Moscow 200
Mass and charge identification of fragments detected with the Chimera Silicon-CsI(Tl) telescopes
Mass and charge identification of charged products detected with
Silicon-CsI(Tl) telescopes of the Chimera apparatus is presented. An
identification function, based on the Bethe-Bloch formula, is used to fit
empirical correlation between Delta E and E ADC readings, in order to
determine, event by event, the atomic and mass numbers of the detected charged
reaction products prior to energy calibration.Comment: 24 pages, 7 .jpg figures, submitted to Nucl.Instr.
Isoscaling in dissipative projectile breakup
Dynamical breakup of projectile-like fragments (PLF) following dissipative reactions of Ca-48 projectiles with Sn-112 and Sn-124 is shown to exhibit "isoscaling" regularities that can be understood in terms of phase space governed by ground state masses. Ambiguities in isoscaling parameters obscure information on nuclear symmetry energy at subnormal densities
Adherence issues related to sublingual immunotherapy as perceived by allergists
Objectives: Sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) is a viable alternative to subcutaneous immunotherapy to treat allergic rhinitis and asthma, and is widely used in clinical practice in many European countries. The clinical efficacy of SLIT has been established in a number of clinical trials and meta-analyses. However, because SLIT is self-administered by patients without medical supervision, the degree of patient adherence with treatment is still a concern. The objective of this study was to evaluate the perception by allergists of issues related to SLIT adherence. Methods: We performed a questionnaire-based survey of 296 Italian allergists, based on the adherence issues known from previous studies. The perception of importance of each item was assessed by a VAS scale ranging from 0 to 10. Results: Patient perception of clinical efficacy was considered the most important factor (ranked 1 by 54% of allergists), followed by the possibility of reimbursement (ranked 1 by 34%), and by the absence of side effects (ranked 1 by 21%). Patient education, regular follow-up, and ease of use of SLIT were ranked first by less than 20% of allergists. Conclusion: These findings indicate that clinical efficacy, cost, and side effects are perceived as the major issues influencing patient adherence to SLIT, and that further improvement of adherence is likely to be achieved by improving the patient information provided by prescribers. © 2010 Scurati et al, publisher and licensee Dove Medical Press Ltd
Indoor airborne particle sources and semi-volatile partitioning effect of outdoor fine PM in offices
To date, few studies have focused on PM air quality in offices, despite the fact that a lot of people spend
many working hours a day in such offices. The aim of the present study is to investigate PM1 and PM2.5
in offices in Milan (Northern Italy) and in the air outside those offices. The PM samples were analyzed to
determine the entity of certain compounds with possible direct or indirect adverse effects on human
health: PAHs, BpA, and water soluble inorganic ions.
A good correlation between outdoor and indoor PM mass concentrations emerged (R2 w0.87). The
maximum I/O concentration ratiowas 0.92, suggesting that the indoor PM levelwas always lower than the
outdoor level. The average infiltration factor, FINF,was 0.55, showing that about a half of the outdoor PMhad
come indoors. The indoor-generated particles, Cig, had values ranging from 0 to 4.4 mg m3 (<25% of the
indoor PM), showing that PM indoor sources had only made a limited contribution to total indoor PM.
The results of the indoor-to-outdoor comparisons for the aforementioned chemical compounds
demonstrate that the offices were characterized by the absence of effective indoor sources of particulatebound
PAHs and inorganic ions, whereas Cig was around 58% of the indoor concentration for BpA. Our
analysis of the FINF data pointed to the presence of a volatilization effect from PM for semi-volatile
compounds like ammonium nitrate and 4- or 5-ring PAHs, which affected the measurement of their
FINF. We propose the introduction of a new and simple parameter, called volatilization correction, to take
account of this effect
Global patient outcomes after elective surgery: prospective cohort study in 27 low-, middle- and high-income countries.
BACKGROUND: As global initiatives increase patient access to surgical treatments, there remains a need to understand the adverse effects of surgery and define appropriate levels of perioperative care. METHODS: We designed a prospective international 7-day cohort study of outcomes following elective adult inpatient surgery in 27 countries. The primary outcome was in-hospital complications. Secondary outcomes were death following a complication (failure to rescue) and death in hospital. Process measures were admission to critical care immediately after surgery or to treat a complication and duration of hospital stay. A single definition of critical care was used for all countries. RESULTS: A total of 474 hospitals in 19 high-, 7 middle- and 1 low-income country were included in the primary analysis. Data included 44 814 patients with a median hospital stay of 4 (range 2-7) days. A total of 7508 patients (16.8%) developed one or more postoperative complication and 207 died (0.5%). The overall mortality among patients who developed complications was 2.8%. Mortality following complications ranged from 2.4% for pulmonary embolism to 43.9% for cardiac arrest. A total of 4360 (9.7%) patients were admitted to a critical care unit as routine immediately after surgery, of whom 2198 (50.4%) developed a complication, with 105 (2.4%) deaths. A total of 1233 patients (16.4%) were admitted to a critical care unit to treat complications, with 119 (9.7%) deaths. Despite lower baseline risk, outcomes were similar in low- and middle-income compared with high-income countries. CONCLUSIONS: Poor patient outcomes are common after inpatient surgery. Global initiatives to increase access to surgical treatments should also address the need for safe perioperative care. STUDY REGISTRATION: ISRCTN5181700
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