A new experimental snow avalanche test site at Seehore peak in Aosta Valley (NW Italian Alps) - Part II: Engineering aspects

The estimate of the effects produced by the impact of a snow avalanche against an obstacle is of the utmost importance in designing safe mountain constructions. For this purpose, an ad-hoc instrumented obstacle was designed and built in order to measure impact forces of small and medium snow avalanches at Seehore peak (NW Italian Alps). The structural design had to consider several specific and unusual demands dictated by the difficult environment. In this article, the new test facility is described from the engineering point of view, discussing the most important aspects of the analyzed problems which were solved before and after the construction. The performance of the instrumented obstacle in the first two operating seasons, and some proposals for future upgrading are eventually illustrate

Harmonizing methods for wildlife abundance estimation and pathogen detection in Europe-a questionnaire survey on three selected host-pathogen combinations

__Background:__ The need for wildlife health surveillance as part of disease control in wildlife, domestic animals and humans on the global level is widely recognized. However, the objectives, methods and intensity of existing wildlife health surveillance programs vary greatly among European countries, resulting in a patchwork of data that are difficult to merge and compare. This survey aimed at evaluating the need and potential for data harmonization in wildlife health in Europe. The specific objective was to collect information on methods currently used to estimate host abundance and pathogen prevalence. Questionnaires were designed t

Freshwater - the basis of an economic development and democracy plan: a case study for Merka (Somalia)

The aim of this paper is to describe a development project carried out in Somalia in the early 1980s, which was based on hydrogeological research. This research tested an original method and sound technology to locate and exploit groundwater resources. The project was implemented by the not-for-profit association Water For Life (founded in Trento in 1987) and recognized by both the Italian and Somali governments. The studies were made in the low Shabeelle River plain before the outbreak of the civil war and led to the important result that under the recent fluvial deposits, in which groundwater is frequently salty or brackish, there are ancient alluvial formations, constructed by a former river system. The reconstruction of the geological and geomorphological sequence in the area allowed us to assume that the groundwater of the ancient system was fresh. Three pilot wells that were drilled yielded freshwater, confirming the hypothesis. In 1992 the project was greatly enlarged to cope with the tragic situation in the agricultural district of the lower course of the Shabeelle River, which was created by civil war and exceptional drought. The field of the activities was extended from freshwater research to irrigation, to orphan assistance (about 1000 children), primary education (6500–7000 boys and girls), secondary education (an agricultural college with 200 students) and to vocational training (mechanics, metal work, joinery, masonry, women’s crafts, with a total of 180 apprentices). More recently, two new projects have started, which are supported financially by the European Union, the Italian Government and the Administration of Trento Province. Their aims are to train teachers and to help the communities to construct new school premises and furniture in all the villages. A well will be dug for every school. The location and depth of the wells will result from research carried out by installing piezometers. This methodology allows rapid testing for the presence, depth and salinity of groundwater. Where the test is unsuccessful, casing and pipes can be recovered and used for another piezometer

Corneal diabetic neuropathy: A confocal microscopy study

Abstract PURPOSE: To evaluate the role of corneal confocal microscopy in the diagnosis of morphologic damage of the corneal sub-basal nerve plexus in diabetic patients and to correlate corneal confocal microscopy findings with peripheral diabetic neuropathy. METHODS: Corneal sub-basal nerve plexus parameters were quantified by corneal confocal microscopy in 42 diabetic patients and 27 age-matched controls. The parameters quantified were the number of fibers, the tortuosity of fibers, the number of beadings, and the branching pattern of the fibers. Peripheral neuropathy was also quantified using the Michigan Neuropathy Screening Instrument. RESULTS: The number of fibers, number of beadings, and branching pattern of fibers significantly decreases in diabetic patients versus control subjects (P<.0001; P<.0001; P=.0006, respectively), whereas nerve tortuosity significantly increases (P<.0001). The same corneal sub-basal nerve plexus parameters show a statistical trend, suggesting progression of corneal neuropathy with peripheral diabetic neuropathy. CONCLUSIONS: Corneal confocal microscopy represents a new tool in the diagnosis, clinical evaluation, and follow-up of peripheral diabetic neuropathy. This study found that diabetes damages corneal nerves, particularly the corneal sub-basal nerve plexus. This damage may be easily and accurately documented using corneal confocal microscopy. PMID: 17444092 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE

Ambulatory oxygen: why do COPD patients not use their portable systems as prescribed? A qualitative study

Background: patients with COPD on long term oxygen therapy frequently do not adhere to their prescription, and they frequently do not use their ambulatory oxygen systems as intended. Reasons for this lack of adherence are not known. The aim of this study was to obtain in-depth information about perceptions and use of prescribed ambulatory oxygen systems from patients with COPD to inform ambulatory oxygen design, prescription and management.Methods: a qualitative design was used, involving semi-structured face-to-face interviews informed by a grounded theory approach. Twenty-seven UK community-dwelling COPD patients using NHS prescribed ambulatory systems were recruited. Ambulatory oxygen systems comprised cylinders weighing 3.4 kg, a shoulder bag and nasal cannulae.Results: participants reported that they: received no instruction on how to use ambulatory oxygen; were uncertain of the benefits; were afraid the system would run out while they were using it (due to lack of confidence in the cylinder gauge); were embarrassed at being seen with the system in public; and were unable to carry the system because of the cylinder weight. The essential role of carers was also highlighted, as participants with no immediate carers did not use ambulatory oxygen outside the house.Conclusions: these participants highlighted previously unreported problems that prevented them from using ambulatory oxygen as prescribed. Our novel findings point to: concerns with the lack of specific information provision; the perceived unreliability of the oxygen system; important carer issues surrounding managing and using ambulatory oxygen equipment. All of these issues, as well as previously reported problems with system weight and patient embarrassment, should be addressed to improve adherence to ambulatory oxygen prescription and enhance the physical and social benefits of maintaining mobility in this patient group. Increased user involvement in both system development and service provision planning, could have avoided many of the difficulties highlighted by this stud

Geologia della Conca di Arabba

Guide Geologiche Regionali, Società Geologica Italian

Magmatismo e tettonica nelle Dolomiti

Guide Geologiche Regionali, Società Geologica Italian