Impact on streams and sea water of a near-neutral drainage from a flooded mine in Sardinia, Italy

After mine closure and subsequent shutdown of the dewatering system, groundwater rebound led to drainage outflow from the Casargiu gallery (Montevecchio mine, SW Sardinia, Italy) since 1997. As compared with the first discharge, a very high contamination level still persists after almost 20 years of flushing. Mine drainage (20-70 L s-1; pH 6.0±0.2; Zn-Mg-Ca-SO4 composition) flows into the Rio Irvi. Abundant precipitation of amorphous Fe(III)-(oxy)hydroxides occurs. Moreover, sulfate-bearing green rust is observed to flocculate in the reach of the Rio Irvi where pH is still circumneutral. Water sampling along this stream shows a pH decrease from 6.0 to 4.0 and a significant removal of Fe (46%) and As (96%), while sulfate, Zn, Mn, Co, Ni and Cd show small variations downstream. Lead is initially adsorbed onto Fe(III)-(oxy)hydroxides, then desorbed as pH drops below 5.4. A conservative estimation of dissolved metals discharged into the Mediterranean Sea is significant (e.g. 900 kg day-1 Zn, 1.4 kg day-1 Cd, 5 kg day-1 Ni)

Arsenic in mining environments: evidences from Sardinia (Italy)

In Sardinia, the dispersion of arsenic in the environment appears strictly linked with mineralised bodies and mining activities. Currently, the areas of main concern are the active gold mine at Furtei, and the abandoned Pb- As mine at Baccu Locci. At Furtei, the main sources of arsenic are enargite, and arsenian pyrite; an ongoing monitoring program of water quality in the area around the mine documented so far no major changes with respect to pre-mine conditions, except for the formation of extremely acid, As-rich pit lakes. At Baccu Locci, the main primary source is arsenopyrite; arsenic dispersion is essentially due to the past unwise practice of discarding mine tailings into the nearby creek. Arsenic is slowly released from residual arsenopyrite and temporary secondary mineral traps such as Fe-oxyhydroxides, causing contamination of soils and waters as far as 10 km downstream of the mine

Hydrogeological and multi-isotopic approach to define nitrate pollution and denitrification processes in a coastal aquifer (Sardinia, Italy)

Agricultural coastal areas are frequently affected by the superimposition of various processes, with a combination of anthropogenic and natural sources, which degrade groundwater quality. In the coastal multi-aquifer system of Arborea (Italy)¿a reclaimed morass area identified as a nitrate vulnerable zone, according to Nitrate Directive 91/676/EEC¿intensive agricultural and livestock activities contribute to substantial nitrate contamination. For this reason, the area can be considered a bench test for tuning an appropriate methodology aiming to trace the nitrate contamination in different conditions. An approach combining environmental isotopes, water quality and hydrogeological indicators was therefore used to understand the origins and attenuation mechanisms of nitrate pollution and to define the relationship between contaminant and groundwater flow dynamics through the multi-aquifer characterized by sandy (SHU), alluvial (AHU), and volcanic hydrogeological (VHU) units. Various groundwater chemical pathways were consistent with both different nitrogen sources and groundwater dynamics. Isotope composition suggests a mixed source for nitrate (organic and synthetic fertilizer), especially for the AHU and SHU groundwater. Moreover, marked heterotrophic denitrification and sulfate reduction processes were detected; although, for the contamination related to synthetic fertilizer, the attenuation was inefficient at removing NO3− to less than the human consumption threshold of 50 mg/L. Various factors contributed to control the distribution of the redox processes, such as the availability of carbon sources (organic fertilizer and the presence of lagoon-deposited aquitards), well depth, and groundwater flow paths. The characterization of these processes supports water-resource management plans, future actions, and regulations, particularly in nitrate vulnerable zones

Using Large Databases of Groundwater Chemistry in the Northern Midwest USA: The Effects of Geologic and Anthropogenic Factors

Regional geochemical databases for the northern Midwest USA are being compiled to examine the various geogenic and anthropogenic factors that control the chemistry of groundwater. At the regional scale, variations are seen that are attributable to agricultural and urban effects, or to geologic factors. Examples of the former include enrichments of nitrate in groundwater, while examples of the latter mainly highlight geochemical differences between carbonate rocks and all other rock types in the region. This paper examines a few of these regional effects and the spatial scales at which they can be observe

НАУКОВЕ ОБҐРУНТУВАННЯ ОСВІТНЬО-ПРОФЕСІЙНИХ ПРОГРАМ ПІДГОТОВКИ БАКАЛАВРІВ ТА МАГІСТРІВ ГРОМАДСЬКОГО ЗДОРОВ’Я

Purpose: to substantiate the goals, objectives, content of educational and professional programs for training bachelors and masters of public health. Materials and Methods. Bibliographic, information-analytical methods and content analysis were used. Results. Medical and social research revealed the imperfection of the modern system of training specialists for public health services. Insufficient compliance of the training system with modern strategies for the development of human resources for health care has been revealed. Analysis of strategic and programmatic documents at the global, regional and national levels, the provisions of the European Program of Key Competencies of Public Health Professionals, ASPHER, the experience of training public health professionals in leading universities in the world and Europe identified priority areas for the formation of human resources for public health, requirements for theoretical and practical training of specialists. Taking into account the provisions of educational standards and on the basis of data from our own research, educational and professional training programs for bachelors and masters of public health have been substantiated and developed. Conclusions. Educational and professional training programs for bachelors and masters of public health ensure the assimilation of a wide range of knowledge, the acquisition of skills and competencies for the implementation of the main operational functions of public health and the provision of relevant services within the framework of interdisciplinary cooperation and intersectoral interaction.Мета: обґрунтувати цілі, завдання, змістове наповнення освітньо-професійних програм підготовки бакалаврів та магістрів громадського здоров’я. Матеріали і методи. Використано бібліографічний, інформаційно-аналітичний методи та контент-аналізу. Результати. Медико-соціальним дослідженням встановлено недосконалість сучасної системи підготовки фахівців для служби громадського здоров’я, її недостатню відповідність сучасним стратегіям розвитку кадрових ресурсів охорони здоров’я. У результаті аналізу стратегічних та програмних документів глобального, регіонального та національного рівнів, положень Європейської програми ключових компетенцій фахівців громадського здоров’я ASPHER, досвіду підготовки фахівців громадського здоров’я в провідних університетах Європи і світу з урахуванням положень освітніх стандартів та на основі даних власних досліджень, виявлено пріоритетні напрями формування кадрових ресурсів громадського здоров’я, вимоги до теоретичної і практичної підготовки фахівців, обґрунтовано та розроблено освітньо-професійні програми підготовки бакалаврів та магістрів громадського здоров’я. Висновки. Освітньо-професійні програми підготовки бакалаврів та магістрів громадського здоров’я забезпечують засвоєння широкого переліку знань, набуття вмінь та компетентностей для реалізації основних оперативних функцій громадського здоров’я, надання відповідних послуг у рамках міждисциплінарної співпраці та міжгалузевої взаємодії

An infrared thermography approach to evaluate the strength of a rock cliff

The mechanical strength is a fundamental characteristic of rock masses that can be empirically related to a number of properties and to the likelihood of instability phenomena. Direct field acquisition of mechanical information on tall cliffs, however, is challenging, particularly in coastal and alpine environments. Here, we propose a method to evaluate the compressive strength of rock blocks by monitoring their thermal behaviour over a 24-h period by infrared thermography. Using a drone-mounted thermal camera and a Schmidt (rebound) hammer, we surveyed granitoid and aphanitic blocks in a coastal cliff in south-east Sardinia, Italy. We observed a strong correlation between a simple cooling index, evaluated in the hours succeeding the temperature peak, and strength values estimated from rebound hammer test results. We also noticed different heatingcooling patterns in relation to the nature and structure of the rock blocks and to the size of the fractures. Although further validation is warranted in different morpho-lithological settings, we believe the proposed method may prove a valid tool for the characterisation of non-directly accessible rock faces, and may serve as a basis for the formulation, calibration, and validation of thermo-hydro-mechanical constitutive models

Il lembo libero osteoperiosteo di Fibula come opzione ricostruttiva preprotesica nelle atrofie severe e nei difetti post oncologici dei mascellari

Il gold standard nella ricostruzione dei mascellari nelle atrofie severe, siano esse di natura idiopatica o iatrogena, come nei casi di chirurgia resettiva oncologica, deve essere incentrato verso tecniche di ricostruzione immediata che consentano un veloce recupero funzionale ed estetico. I pazienti considerati in questo studio sono stati trattati durante un periodo di 5 anni (2010-2014) con ricostruzione immediata del deficit dei mascellari, eseguito per mezzo di lembo libero di fibula osteo-periosteo. Sono stati pertanto selezionati 14 pazienti sottoposti a ricostruzione con tale tecnica, senza riportare complicanze a medio e lungo termine. Il principale vantaggio di questo tipo di ricostruzione va ricercato nella formazione di gengiva cheratinizzata sovrastante il lembo libero che consente la migliori condizione possibile per una ricostruzione implantoprotesica. L’unico svantaggio di questa tecnica è da imputare alla necessità di lasciare che la ferita chirurgica intraorale guarisca per seconda intenzione in modo da promuovere la formazione di gengiva cheratinizzata dai bordi della ferita stessa, per tale ragione però il pazente necessita di un rigido follow up per il primo mese dopo l’intervento. Lo scopo di questo lavoro è valutare l’efficacia di tale tecnica nelle ricostruzioni ossee dei mascellari

Approccio multi-scala per la definizione delle caratteristiche idrogeologiche degli acquiferi fessurati

This works aims at applying a methodology to characterize the fracture network in granitic rocks in a pilot area on the South of Sardinia. The fracture network has been characterized through a multiscale approach using digital photogrammetry and field measurements of fracture parameters. The digital photogrammetry allowed to generate a digital elevation model (DEM) of high resolution (5m), orthophotos and then the digitalization of over 900 lineaments. The orientation and the length were calculated for the lineaments. The fractures field survey provided complementary information regarding to the orientation, the aperture, the spacing and the roughness of the fractures

Concepts, protocol, variations and current trends in surgery first orthognathic approach: A literature review

In the current era of expedited orthodontics, among many clinicians, tertiary care hospitals and patients, surgery first orthognathic approach (SFOA) has gained popularity. The advantages of SFOA (face first approach) are the reduced overall treatment duration and the early improvement in facial esthetics. In SFOA, the absence of a presurgical phase allows surgery to be performed first, followed by comprehensive orthodontic treatment to achieve the desired occlusion. The basic concepts of surgery early, surgery last, SFOA and Sendai SFOA technique along with its variations are reviewed in the present article. The recent advancement in SFOA in the context of preoperative preparation, surgical procedures and post-surgical orthodontics with pertinent literature survey are also discussed