Secondary minerals in minothems at Fragnè Mine (Turin, Italy)

The Fragnè mine, Chialamberto (TO), is located in the Lanzo valley. The study area is part of the structural complex historically indicated as "area of calcschists and greenstones" or "Piedmont area" formed by mesozoic ophiolitic units of the Piedmontese Ligurian Basin by the tectonic-metamorphic evolution related to the alpine orogenesis (Falletti et al., 2009). The mineralizations are characterized by massive pyrite and Cu-rich pyrite that occurs in greenschist (prasinite) and amphibolite schist. The underground works development is around 5 km, tunnels that branch off into different levels. In this work, we describe secondary minerals of minothems (Carbone et al., 2016) not yet described in the Fragnè mine and found usually inside natural caves characterized by different mineralogical associations. The results show that all samples are characterized by secondary Fe-rich minerals typical of acid mine drainage areas. Blisters are composed only by schwertmannite, war-clubs by schwertmannite and goethite with low crystallinity, and hair by epsomite and hexahydrite minerals. Jelly stalactites and jelly stalagmites are characterized by schwertmannite in association with bacterial masses, instead stalactites and stalagmites by jarosite and goethite. The results shows that a mineralogical transformation occurs from soft to hard minothems: schwertmannite tends to transform into goethite, probably due to ageing processes of schwertmannite or local pH variations, related to bacterial activity, since schwertmannite is a metastable phase which over time tends to turn into goethite (Jönsson et al., 2005)

Secondary minerals in minothem environments

Secondary minerals forming speleothems are called “cave minerals” and are the results of complex interactions between bedrock, circulating water, and sediments of various sources. A "speleothem" is a secondary mineral deposit formed in a cave by a chemical reaction from a primary mineral in bedrock or detritus because of a unique set of conditions therein. In Carbone et al. (2016) the term “minothems” was defined, for the first time, considering the secondary mineral concretions forming in an artificial underground void, such as a mine or any other kind of tunnel (i.e. roman aqueduct, catacomb, highway tunnel, etc.). These voids can be carved in carbonate rocks, but can also be hosted in different geological materials, such as volcanic rocks, ophiolites or granites. Minothems are the counterpart of speleothems in natural caves, and generally show the same morphologies. However, the petrographical and geological differences of the host rock can cause significant distinctions in mineralogy, colour and shape of the minothems respect to speleothems. In this work we describe minothems and secondary minerals forming in three abandoned sulphide mines from the Ligurian (Libiola anche Reppia mine) and Piemonte region (Fragnè mine). All studied sites are abandoned and are characterised by active and intense Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) processes triggered by the supergenic interaction between sulphide-rich mineralisations and atmospheric agents. Acid Sulfate Waters (ASW) percolating inside the galleries drip through the mine roof and form numerous decorative dripstone features that coat the walls, ceilings, and floors of the mine, and grow out of muck piles creating a colourful array of white, yellow, orange, green, blue, brown and black minothems. Mine adits host soda straws, stalactites, draperies, stalagmites, columns, flowstones, gours, but can also contain pearls, rafts, coralloids (popcorn), moonmilk, and helictites. These are often composed of exotic minerals, mainly sulphates (melanterite, langite, brochantite, gypsum, felsöbányaite) silicates (allophane and crisocolla) cuprite and native copper some of which are rather uncommon because of the very special conditions that allowed for their formation in this environment

Secondary Minerals from Minothem Environments in Fragnè Mine (Turin, Italy): Preliminary Results

The Fragnè mine, located in the Lanzo valley in the municipality of Chialamberto (Turin, Piedmont Region), represented the most important regional site for Fe–Cu sulfide exploitation over a period of more than eighty years (1884–1965). The entire mining area is part of a structural complex in the Lower Piedmont Unit of the Western Alps, characterized by the presence of amphibolite, metabasite (“prasinite”), and metagabbroic rocks. In particular, the pyrite ore deposit occurs as massive mineralizations within interlayered metabasites and amphibolites. In this work, we describe secondary minerals and morphologies of minothems from the Fragnè mine that are found only in abandoned underground works, such as soda straws, normal and jelly stalactites and stalagmites, jellystones, columns, crusts, blisters, war-clubs, and hair, characterized by different mineralogical associations. All minothems were characterized by minerals formed during acid mine drainage (AMD) processes. Blisters are composed only of schwertmannite, war-clubs by schwertmannite, and goethite with low crystallinity and hair by epsomite and hexahydrite minerals. Jelly stalactites and stalagmites are characterized by schwertmannite often in association with bacteria, while solid stalactites and stalagmites are characterized by jarosite and goethite. The results indicate that the mineralogical transformation from schwertmannite to goethite observed in some minothems is probably due to aging processes of schwertmannite or local pH variations due to bacterial activity. On the basis of these results, we hypothesize that all the jelly samples, in association with strong bacterial activity, are slowly transformed into more solid goethite, and are thus precursors of goethite stalactites

ZnAl-SO4 Layered Double Hydroxide and Allophane for Cr(VI), Cu(II) and Fe(III) Adsorption in Wastewater: Structure Comparison and Synergistic Effects

Owing to their structure, layered double hydroxides (LDHs) and allophane are nowadays considered as promising materials for application in different fields. The goal of this work is to compare the efficacy of allophane and ZnAl-SO4 LDH to remove, by adsorption, some cationic and anionic pollutants from industrial wastewater. Both compounds were synthesized via the coprecipitation route (direct method) followed by hydrothermal treatment, obtaining nanoscopic crystallites with a partially disordered turbostratic (ZnAl-SO4 LDH) or amorphous (allophane) structure. The characterization of the obtained compounds was performed by means of powder xray diffraction (PXRD), thermal gravimetry analysis (TGA), field emission scanning electron microscopy analysis (FESEM), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The sorbents were tested using wastewater produced by a real metalworking plant and containing ionic species such as Cu(II), Fe(III) and Cr(VI), whose concentration was measured by means of inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). This investigation represents an alternative procedure with respect to standard protocols based on customarily made and artificially lab-produced wastewaters. Both sorbents and their combination proved to be efficient in Cr(VI) removal, irrespective of the presence of cations like Cu(II) and Fe(III). A synergistic effect was detected for Cu(II) adsorption in a mixed allophane/LDH sorbent, leading to a Cu(II) removal rate of 89.5%

Don’t forget the vertical dimension: assessment of distributional dynamics of cave-dwelling invertebrates in both ground and parietal microhabitats

Biological studies on factors shaping underground communities are poor, especially those considering simultaneously organisms with different degrees of adaptation to cave life. In this study, we assessed the annual dynamics and use of both horizontal and vertical microhabitats of a whole community with the aim of understanding whether cave-dwelling organisms have a similar distribution among vertical and ground-level microhabitats and to find out which microhabitat features influence such distribution. We monthly assessed from 2017 to 2018, by direct observation combined with quadrat sampling method on the ground and transects on the walls, richness and abundance of 62 cave-dwelling species in a cave of Northern Italy. Environmental factors such as light intensity, temperature, relative humidity and mineralogical composition of the substrates were measured during each monitoring session, influencing the dynamics of the whole community and revealing significant differences between ground and wall microhabitats. A gradient of variation of the species assemblages occurred from the entrance toward inner areas, however, evidence that the dynamics of the walls are very different from those occurring at the ground independent from the distance from the surface are shown. Biodiversity indices highlighted sampling area diversity and a discrete total cave fauna biodiversity with the highest values found near the entrance and the lowest in the inner part of the cave

Quality of life aspects of a low protein diet using GMP in patients with phenylketonuria

Objective: To assess some quality of life (QOL) aspects of a low protein diet, using glycomacropeptide (GMP) as a protein substitute in patients with phenylketonuria (PKU). Methods: This was a multicentre, prospective observational cohort, study. Metabolic control, nutritional parameters, and dietary adherence were assessed in patients with PKU before (T0), and six months after (T6) starting a low protein diet using GMP. Selected items from the PKUQOL questionnaire were used to assess patients’ acceptance of their modified diet. Results: 18 patients from three Italian Centres, completed the study. With the exception of LDL-cholesterol and vitamin 25OH-D concentrations, there were no differences between T0 and T6 in metabolic or nutritional parameters. Data suggested that patients have a good acceptance of protein substitutes containing GMP, probably because of their improved palatability. Conclusions: According to our patients’ responses to items related to dietary regimen, GMP based protein substitutes do not appear to significantly affect QOL

Experimental tests in human-robot collision evaluation and characterization of a new safety index for robot operation

This paper describes an experimental procedure consisting of impact tests that simulate a collision of a human head with an industrial robot with the aim to validate a safety index named as New Index for Robots (NIR) and its outputs. The experiments in this paper are based on lab tests. It is an attempt to characterize the NIR index underlying the main parameters that are involved in crash interaction and to highlight limitations and weakness of suggested impact tests

Inclusão escolar de estudantes com transtorno do espectro autista (TEA) no ensino fundamental II

This paper presents a reflection about the school inclusion of students with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD), that are the target public of special education, discussing this reality at Secondary Level Education II. Provides an overview about the ASD and the analyses of an interview semi structured with a teacher that had a student with ASD, verifying what is his vision about his role and how the student is seen and dealt with at school. We utilized a qualitative approach of research and as methodological procedure the Case Study. We aimed to verify how the inclusion has been occurring in this reality. After the analysis of the data it was perceptible that there are still lots of aspects that must be changed for an effective inclusion, especially at the formation of the managing group, the teachers, and governmental measures, so that inclusion can be a synonym of development e meaningful learning.Este estudio presenta una reflexión acerca de la inclusión de alumnos con Trastorno del Espectro Autista TEA, clientela perteneciente al público objetivo de la Educación Especial, discutiendo esta realidad en la Enseñanza Fundamental II. Presenta una visión general acerca de lo TEA y la analice de una entrevista semiestructurada realizada con un profesor que poseía un alumno con TEA, verificando cuál su visión acerca de su papel y como el alumno es mirado y trabajado en la escuela. Utilizamos un abordaje cualitativo de investigación y como procedimiento metodológico el Estudio de caso. Buscamos verificar como ha ocurrido la inclusión en esta realidad. Después de la análisis de los dados se constató que aun hay muchos aspectos que deben ser cambiados para que ocurra una inclusión efectiva, principalmente en la formación del grupo gestor, de los docentes, y iniciativas gubernamentales, afín de que la inclusión sea sinónimo de desarrollo y aprendizaje significativos. Este estudo apresenta uma reflexão sobre a inclusão escolar de alunos com Transtorno do Espectro Autista TEA, clientela pertencente ao público alvo da Educação Especial, discutindo essa realidade no Ensino Fundamental II. Apresenta uma visão geral sobre o TEA e a análise de uma entrevista semiestruturada realizada com um professor que possuía um aluno com TEA, verificando qual sua visão sobre seu papel e como o aluno é visto e trabalhado na escola.  Utilizamos uma abordagem qualitativa de pesquisa e como procedimento metodológico o Estudo de Caso. Buscamos verificar como tem se dado a inclusão nesta realidade. Após a análise dos dados constatou-se que ainda há muitos aspectos que devem ser mudados para que ocorra uma inclusão efetiva, principalmente na formação do grupo gestor, dos docentes, e inciativas governamentais, a fim de que a inclusão seja sinônimo de desenvolvimento e aprendizagem significativos

Usefulness of Ultrasound Imaging in Detecting Psoriatic Arthritis of Fingers and Toes in Patients with Psoriasis

Background. Given that clinical evaluation may underestimate the joint damage and that early treatment can slow down psoriatic arthritis (PsA) progression, screening psoriasis patients with imaging tools that can depict early PsA changes would entail clear benefits. Objective. To compare the ability of X-ray and ultrasound (US) examination in detecting morphological abnormalities consistent with early PsA in patients with psoriasis, using rheumatological evaluation as the gold standard for diagnosis. Methods. Patients with chronic plaque psoriasis and no previous PsA diagnosis attending our outpatient dermatology clinic and reporting finger/toe joint and/or tendon pain underwent X-ray and US evaluation; they were subsequently referred to a rheumatologist for clinical examination and review of imaging findings. Results. Abnormal US and/or X-ray findings involving at least one finger and/or toe (joints and/or tendons) were seen in 36/52 patients: 11 had one or more X-ray abnormalities, including erosion, joint space narrowing, new bone formation, periarticular soft tissue swelling, and periarticular osteoporosis; 36 had suspicious changes on US. Conclusion. US proved valuable in detecting joint and/or tendon abnormalities in the fingers and toes of patients with suspicious changes. The dermatologist should consider US to obtain an accurate assessment of suspicious findings