A Bayesian approach for the assessment of shallow and deep aquifers susceptibility to point sources contamination in the Province of Milan, Italy

In densely populated areas, urban and industrial activities are responsible for groundwater quality deterioration due to point sources contamination (Kuroda and Fukushi, 2008). In the Province of Milan (Northern Italy), the available water-quality data indicate the occurrence of high PCE+TCE and chromium concentrations in the unconfined shallow as well as in the confined deep aquifers. To cope with this problem, statistical methods can represent reliable tools to provide key information for groundwater management and protection

A Bayesian approach for the assessment of shallow and deep aquifers susceptibility to point sources contamination in the Province of Milan, Italy

In densely populated areas, urban and industrial activities are responsible for groundwater quality deterioration due to point sources contamination (Kuroda and Fukushi, 2008). In the Province of Milan (Northern Italy), the available water-quality data indicate the occurrence of high PCE+TCE and chromium concentrations in the unconfined shallow as well as in the confined deep aquifers. To cope with this problem, statistical methods can represent reliable tools to provide key information for groundwater management and protection

Characteristics and patterns of care of endometrial cancer before and during COVID-19 pandemic

Objective: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak has correlated with the disruption of screening activities and diagnostic assessments. Endometrial cancer (EC) is one of the most common gynecological malignancies and it is often detected at an early stage, because it frequently produces symptoms. Here, we aim to investigate the impact of COVID-19 outbreak on patterns of presentation and treatment of EC patients. Methods: This is a retrospective study involving 54 centers in Italy. We evaluated patterns of presentation and treatment of EC patients before (period 1: March 1, 2019 to February 29, 2020) and during (period 2: April 1, 2020 to March 31, 2021) the COVID-19 outbreak. Results: Medical records of 5,164 EC patients have been retrieved: 2,718 and 2,446 women treated in period 1 and period 2, respectively. Surgery was the mainstay of treatment in both periods (p=0.356). Nodal assessment was omitted in 689 (27.3%) and 484 (21.2%) patients treated in period 1 and 2, respectively (p<0.001). While, the prevalence of patients undergoing sentinel node mapping (with or without backup lymphadenectomy) has increased during the COVID-19 pandemic (46.7% in period 1 vs. 52.8% in period 2; p<0.001). Overall, 1,280 (50.4%) and 1,021 (44.7%) patients had no adjuvant therapy in period 1 and 2, respectively (p<0.001). Adjuvant therapy use has increased during COVID-19 pandemic (p<0.001). Conclusion: Our data suggest that the COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the characteristics and patterns of care of EC patients. These findings highlight the need to implement healthcare services during the pandemic

Practice patterns and 90-day treatment-related morbidity in early-stage cervical cancer

To evaluate the impact of the Laparoscopic Approach to Cervical Cancer (LACC) Trial on patterns of care and surgery-related morbidity in early-stage cervical cancer

Effects of urban changes on groundwater vulnerability, a case study in Lombardy (Italy)

Urban sprawl is one of the most important types of land-use changes currently affecting Europe with important impacts on groundwater quality. The area of the Po Plain in northern Italy is one of the most populated areas in Europe and can be considered as a representative area to study urban sprawl impacts on groundwater quality. The identification of areas where groundwater is characterized by a degradation of the water quality is required by two European Union Directives (2000/60/EC and 2006/118/EC). Here, we present a time-dependent groundwater vulnerability assessment of the Po Plain area of Lombardy region, concerning the period 2001\u20132011. Three different variables have been selected, and compared to each other, in order to investigate the evolution of urban nitrate non-point sources: urbanization derived from satellite scatterometer data (QuikSCAT-DSM data), population density changes calculated using two successive national censuses (database ISTAT) and land-use changes derived from photo-interpretation of aerial imageries (database DUSAF). Four other variables, considered not being time-dependent for the purpose of this study, have been identified to represent the geological and hydrogeological conditions of the study area: soil protective capacity, groundwater depth, groundwater velocity and hydraulic conductivity of the vadose zone. Groundwater vulnerability is assessed through the spatial statistical method Weights of Evidence (WofE). WofE enables observations of the individual role and the combined effect of both urban change and geological factors considered in the analysis in relation to the change of nitrate concentration in the decade 2001\u20132011. Time-dependent groundwater vulnerability maps for the study area have been produced and compared

Groundwater vulnerability maps derived from a time-dependent method using satellite scatterometer data

Introducing the time variable in groundwater vulnerability assessment is an innovative approach to study the evolution of contamination by non-point sources and to forecast future trends. This requires a determination of the relationship between temporal changes in groundwater contamination and in land use. Such effort will enable breakthrough advances in mapping hazardous areas, and in assessing the efficacy of land-use planning for groundwater protection. Through a Bayesian spatial statistical approach, time-dependent vulnerability maps are derived by using hydrogeological variables together with three different time-dependent datasets: population density, high-resolution urban survey, and satellite QuikSCAT (QSCAT) data processed with the innovative dense sampling method (DSM). This approach is demonstrated extensively over the Po Plain in Lombardy region (northern Italy). Calibrated and validated maps show physically consistent relations between the hydrogeological variables and nitrate trends. The results indicate that changes of urban nitrate sources are strongly related to groundwater deterioration. Among the different datasets, QSCAT-DSM is proven to be the most efficient dataset to represent urban nitrate sources of contamination, with major advantages: a worldwide coverage, a continuous decadal data collection, and an adequate resolution without spatial gaps. This study presents a successful approach that, for the first time, allows the inclusion of the time dimension in groundwater vulnerability assessment by using innovative satellite remote sensing data for quantitative statistical analyses of groundwater quality changes

Halogen bonding driven self-assembly of fluorocarbons and hydrocarbons

none4P. Metrangolo; T. Pilati; G. Resnati; A. StevenazziMetrangolo, Pierangelo; T., Pilati; Resnati, Giuseppe; A., Stevenazz