Distribuzione dei metalli pesanti nei suoli agricoli ferraresi: analisi geochimica e cartografia tematica su base G.I.S.

The Ferrara province, as most of the River Po plain, is characterized for more than 70% of its territory by agricultural soil. An environmental concern is the elevated concentration of heavy metals in the agricultural soils that can determine a potential toxicity for the plants and for their consumers. In this framework, the Department of Sciences of the Earth of the University of Ferrara realized a study on the heavy metals concentration in the agricultural soils surrounding the town of Vigarano Mainarda in which the two principal sediment types characterizing the Ferrara alluvial plain (related to the Po River and Reno River respectively) are represented. The sampling has been done including all the principal geological characteristics representative of the area. Two different samples were collected at each sampling site: a) within depths of 90-100 cm to determine the “background values” of heavy metals in the soil and b) at depths of 20-30 cm to determine the Top Enrichment Factor of heavy metals in the soil. The chemical analysis by X-ray fluorescence (XRF) for the determination of bulk rock major (wt%) and trace elements, discriminates two well-delineated populations of samples, respectively characterized by high values of Cr (> 150 ppm) and Ni (> 100 ppm) representing the Po alluvial sediments and low values of Cr (< 150 ppm) and Ni (< 100 ppm) representing the Reno alluvial sediments. The statistic and graphic elaboration of the chemical data show a positive correlation among the distributions of Cr and Ni (R2 > 0,6). Cr and Ni are also positively correlated with MgO (wt.%), Al2O3 (wt.%) and V (ppm), as well with the clay content determined through grain size analysis . Specific thematic cartography highlighted relationships among the sedimentary facies of the area and the concentration of heavy metals. Cr and Ni show maximum concentration in the Po Floodplain organic clays, while lower concentration is found in in Reno channel-levee sands and silt. Coherently, the analysis of the fine-grained fraction of the samples (< 63 μ m) show higher (20-60%) concentration of Cr and Ni respect to the coarse fraction. The ratios Cr/V and Cr/Al2O3 are good geochemical indicators of sediment provenance of the Ferrara alluvial plain: Cr / V > 1,4 and Cr / Al2O3 > 10,7 correspond to the sediments of the Po river, Cr / V < 1,4 and Cr / Al2O3 < 10,7 correspond to the sediments of the Reno river. The values of the TEF (Top Enrichment Factor), determined by the ratio between the concentrations of the Cr and Ni of the superficial samples and those recorded at the depths of 90-100 cm, are nearly equal to 1 for Cr and smaller of 1 indicating absence of heavy metals pollution of the examined agricultural soils. The agricultural soils that are found in the alluvial sediments of the Po are characterized by elevated background values of Cr and Ni that represent a natural geochemical anomaly originated from a peculiar mineralogical composition of the fine-grained fraction, probably constituted by Cr-Ni-rich clay minerals such as chlorite and serpentine. This hypothesis was confirmed by “in situ” electron microprobe analyses of these minerals. Further investigation of these samples has been performed with leaching tests. These tests of heavy metals extraction, done with HNO3 and HCl 1:3 (according to the Italian official methods of analysis of soil) and analysed by ICP-MS, indicate the potential mobility of metals under the different chemical-physics conditions and therefore are useful to determine a potential geochemical risk to cultivations and natural waters. These tests highlighted for all the investigated samples concentration lower than the tolerance limits of the Italian legislation

A consistent interpretation of recent CR nuclei and electron spectra

We try to interpret the recently updated measurement of the cosmic ray electron (CRE) spectrum observed by Fermi-LAT, together with PAMELA data on positron fraction, in a single-component scenario adopting different propagation setups; we find that the model is not adequate to reproduce the two datasets, so the evidence of an extra primary component of electrons and positrons is strengthened. Instead, a double component scenario computed in a Kraichnan-like diffusion setup (which is suggested by B/C and $\bar{p}$ data) gives a satisfactory fit of all exisiting measurements. We confirm that nearby pulsars are good source candidates for the required $e^\pm$ extra-component and we show that the predicted CRE anisotropy in our scenario is compatible with Fermi-LAT recently published constraints.Comment: Accepted for the publication in the proceedings of the ICATPP Conference on Cosmic Rays for Particle and Astroparticle Physics, Villa Olmo (Como), Oct. 201

User-centered approach for design and development of industrial workplace

AbstractIn this paper, we propose a user-centered approach for the design of ergonomic workplaces. The method is based on the evaluation of subjective opinions and objective measures from the worker, while performing the industrial tasks. The ergonomic design of industrial workplaces will have impact in reducing the musculoskeletal disorders of workers

Erectile dysfunction and its management in patients with diabetes mellitus

Diabetes can be described as a syndrome of multiple closely related conditions induced by a chronic state of hyperglycaemia resulting from defective insulin secretion, insulin action or both. Chronic complications associated with diabetes (including neuropathy, vascular disease, nephropathy and retinopathy) are common, and of these, erectile dysfunction (ED) deserves special attention. ED and its correlation with cardiovascular disease require careful evaluation and appropriate treatment. PDE5 inhibitors (PDE5is) are an important tool for the treatment of ED, with new drugs coming onto the market since the late 90s. This review offers an overview of PDE5is and their use in treating ED in diabetes. We underline the differences between different types of PDE5i, focusing on available doses, duration of action, T ½, side effects and selectivity profiles in relation to patients with diabetes. We also discuss the link between diabetes and ED in presence of various associated cofactors (obesity, hypertension and its pharmacological treatments, atherosclerosis, hyperhomocysteinaemia, neuropathy, nephropathy, hypogonadism and depression). Finally a number of past and ongoing clinical trials on the use of PDE5is in patients with diabetes are presented to offer an overview of the appropriate treatment of ED in this condition