Characterization of Dismissed Landfills Via Geophysical Techniques

In the context of waste landfill management, geophysical methods are a powerful tool for evaluating their impact on public health and environment. Noninvasive and cost-effective geophysical techniques rapidly investigate large areas with no impact on the system. This is essential for the characterization of the waste body and the evaluation of the liner integrity at the bottom of the landfill and leakage localization. Three case studies are described with the purpose of highlighting the potentiality of such techniques in landfill studies. The case studies show different site conditions (capped landfills, controlled closed systems, and unconfined systems) that limit the applicability of any other kind of investigation and, at the same time, highlight the versatility of the geophysical techniques to adapt to several field situations. Electrical and electromagnetic techniques proved to be the most efficient geophysical techniques for providing useful information to develop an accurate site conceptual model

Colorectal Cancer Stage at Diagnosis Before vs During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Italy

IMPORTANCE Delays in screening programs and the reluctance of patients to seek medical attention because of the outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 could be associated with the risk of more advanced colorectal cancers at diagnosis. OBJECTIVE To evaluate whether the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic was associated with more advanced oncologic stage and change in clinical presentation for patients with colorectal cancer. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This retrospective, multicenter cohort study included all 17 938 adult patients who underwent surgery for colorectal cancer from March 1, 2020, to December 31, 2021 (pandemic period), and from January 1, 2018, to February 29, 2020 (prepandemic period), in 81 participating centers in Italy, including tertiary centers and community hospitals. Follow-up was 30 days from surgery. EXPOSURES Any type of surgical procedure for colorectal cancer, including explorative surgery, palliative procedures, and atypical or segmental resections. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES The primary outcome was advanced stage of colorectal cancer at diagnosis. Secondary outcomes were distant metastasis, T4 stage, aggressive biology (defined as cancer with at least 1 of the following characteristics: signet ring cells, mucinous tumor, budding, lymphovascular invasion, perineural invasion, and lymphangitis), stenotic lesion, emergency surgery, and palliative surgery. The independent association between the pandemic period and the outcomes was assessed using multivariate random-effects logistic regression, with hospital as the cluster variable. RESULTS A total of 17 938 patients (10 007 men [55.8%]; mean [SD] age, 70.6 [12.2] years) underwent surgery for colorectal cancer: 7796 (43.5%) during the pandemic period and 10 142 (56.5%) during the prepandemic period. Logistic regression indicated that the pandemic period was significantly associated with an increased rate of advanced-stage colorectal cancer (odds ratio [OR], 1.07; 95%CI, 1.01-1.13; P = .03), aggressive biology (OR, 1.32; 95%CI, 1.15-1.53; P < .001), and stenotic lesions (OR, 1.15; 95%CI, 1.01-1.31; P = .03). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE This cohort study suggests a significant association between the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and the risk of a more advanced oncologic stage at diagnosis among patients undergoing surgery for colorectal cancer and might indicate a potential reduction of survival for these patients

Frequency domain electromagnetic induction imaging: an effective method to see inside a capped landfill

The frequency-domain electromagnetic (FDEM) methods are a powerful tool for evaluating the impact caused on natural environments by anthropic facilities such as landfills. Noninvasive FDEM rapidly investigates large areas with no impact on the system. This is essential in case of capped landfills, as the impermeable liner represents a strong limitation for the use of all others direct and indirect investigation methods. This technique allows the propagation of the EM fields and collection of subsurface response below the liner thus representing the only effective solution both for static imaging and time-lapse monitoring of the processes that take place into the waste deposits. Traditionally, electromagnetic data are visualized as apparent electrical conductivity (ECa) maps that give practically no information about the variation of the conductivity with depth because ECa is only the equivalent conductivity of a homogeneous soil that would give the same measured response along depth. More recent approaches allow for an inversion of data thus providing clear information on the thickness of the investigated subsurface layers. The need for building a 3D electromagnetic model is crucial in the context of the urban waste landfill characterization, where leachate induces strong anomalies in electrical conductivity, which in turn causes a nonlinear model of the EMI response. A rigorous EMI inversion approach has been tested at a closed landfill in Southern Italy. The inverted model provided detailed information unattainable with other methods, by corroborating the assumption that electromagnetic measurements represent the best technique to characterize closed systems such as capped landfills

Effects of pulsed e.m.field on yeast and dough

Effects of pulsed e.m.field on yeast and doug

Targetoid Skin Lesions in a Child: Acute Hemorrhagic Oedema of Infancy and Its Differential Diagnosis

Acute hemorrhagic oedema of infancy (AHEI) is a cutaneous leukocytoclastic small-vessel vasculitis presenting with localized purpuric large skin plaques that are frequently associated with fever and oedema. It must be promptly differentiated from a number of diseases with similar dermatologic manifestations with potentially severe clinical courses that require adequate monitoring and prompt therapy to avoid the risk of a negative evolution. A 15-month-old girl with a negative personal medical clinical history was admitted for the sudden appearance of petechiae on the soft palate. The patient was moderately febrile during the following two days, with a maximum ear temperature of 38.3 °C. The fever disappeared on the third day, whereas the hemorrhagic rash progressively increased and extended to the limbs, face and auricles associated with a strong oedematous component. Moreover, on the second day of hospitalization, bilateral oedema of the metacarpophalangeal joints with joint pain appeared. The blood and serological tests showed an increase in C-reactive protein concentration (3.58 mg/dL) in the absence of leukocytosis and with a normal platelet count (180,000/mm3). The examination of the peripheral smear showed the presence of some large mononuclear elements with hyperbasophile cytoplasm. No alterations in platelet morphology were evidenced. The skin manifestations progressively diminished and disappeared spontaneously within 3 weeks, leaving no sequelae. Conclusion: This case shows the classic skin lesions of AHEI that require differentiation from those of more severe diseases that need prompt recognition and therapy. In this case, the age of the patient, the lack of systemic involvement and the favorable clinical course without therapy were typical. However, as these patients may present to the emergency department with an impressive clinical picture, the condition must be promptly diagnosed to avoid unnecessary diagnostic procedures and to reassure parents