A simple non-separable,non-stationary spatiotemporal model for ozone

The past two decades have witnessed an increasing interest in the use of space-time models for a wide range of environmental problems. The fundamental tool used to embody both the temporal and spatial components of the phenomenon in question is the covariance model. The empirical estimation of space-time covariance models can prove highly complex if simplifying assumptions are not employed. For this reason, many studies assume both spatiotemporal stationarity, and the separability of spatial and temporal components. This second assumption is often unrealistic from the empirical point of view. This paper proposes the use of a model in which non-separability arises from temporal non-stationarity. The model is used to analyze tropospheric ozone data from the Emilia-Romagna Region of Italy.     

Characterization of a low-sulfated chondroitin sulfate isolated from the hemolymph of the freshwater snail <Emphasis Type="Italic">Planorbarius corneus</Emphasis>

Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) from the hemolymph of the freshwater snail Planorbarius corneus were recovered at about 0.9 μg/mL, being composed of a unique species characterized as chondroitin sulfate (CS) with a molecular mass of approximately 31,000 and having glucuronic acid as hexuronic acid. This macromolecule was determined to be composed of a low-sulfated polysaccharide made up of approximately 25% of the nonsulfated disaccharide, 17% of the 6-sulfated disaccharide, and about 58% of the 4-sulfated disaccharide, with a charge density value of 0.75 and a 4-sulfated/6-sulfated ratio of approximately 3.4. The data obtained suggest that the CS recovered in the Planorbarius corneus hemolymph is similar to the main human plasma polysaccharide and it may be generated as a main product of the catabolic processes.     

Pregnancy-related pharmacokinetics and antimicrobial prophylaxis during fetal surgery,cefazolin and clindamycin as examples

Antimicrobial prophylaxis during surgery aims to prevent post-operative site infections. For fetal surgery, this includes the fetal and amniotic compartments. Both are deep compartments as drug equilibrium with maternal blood is achieved relatively late. Despite prophylaxis, chorio-amnionitis or endometritis following ex utero intrapartum treatment or fetoscopy occur in 4.13% and 1.45% respectively of the interventions. This review summarizes the observations on two commonly administered antimicrobials (cefazolin, clindamycin) for surgical prophylaxis during pregnancy, with emphasis on the deep compartments. For both compounds, antimicrobial exposure is on target when we consider the maternal and fetal plasma compartment. In contrast, amniotic fluid concentrations-time profiles display a delayed and much more blunted pattern, behaving as deep compartment. For cefazolin, there are data that document further dilution in the setting of polyhydramnios. Along this deep compartment concept, there is some accumulation during repeated administration, modeled for cefazolin and observed for clindamycin. The relative underexposure to antimicrobials in amniotic fluid may be reflected in the pattern of maternal-fetal complications after fetal surgery, and suggest that antimicrobial prophylaxis practices for fetal surgery should be reconsidered. Further studies should be designed by a multidisciplinary team (fetal surgeons, clinical pharmacologists and microbiologists) to facilitate efficient evaluation of antimicrobial prophylaxis.     

Ozone differentially affects physiological and biochemical responses of two clover species; Trifolium repens and Trifolium pratense

The effect of acute ozone exposure (150 ppb for 3 h) on two clover species, white clover (Trifolium repens L.) and red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) was investigated through the analysis of 10 different physiological and biochemical parameters. Twenty-four hours after fumigation, visible symptoms of injury on leaves were observed only in red clover, but from the biochemical point of view, both species revealed significant ozone-induced modifications. A decrease in the photosynthetic efficiency as well as an increase in the de-epoxidation index and a decrease in the redox state of ascorbate were detected only in T. pratense leaves; no significant change in pigment content was found in either of the two species. On the other hand, both white and red clover showed, although to different extents, significant decreases in the activities of the antioxidant enzymes peroxidase and ascorbate peroxidase. Multivariate statistical analysis revealed not only that ozone affects both species, but also that they differentially respond to the pollutant, confirming the higher sensitivity of Trifolium pratense to ozone exposure.     

Urban air pollution monitoring and correlation properties between fixed-site stations

The rich regional air-monitoring network of the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy has been used to quantify the spatial variability of the main pollutants within urban environments and to analyze the correlations between stations. The spatial variability of the concentrations of the majority of pollutants within the city was very high, making it difficult to differentiate and characterize the urban environments and to apply legal limits with uniform criteria. On the other hand, the correlations between the fixed-site monitoring stations were high enough for their data to be retained generally very appropriately for controlling temporal trends. Starting from the high correlation level, a procedure was proposed and tested to derive pollution levels, using short-term measurements, such as passive samplers and mobile-station data. The importance of long-term statistics in urban air pollution mapping was emphasized. Treatment of missing data in time series and quality assurance were indicated as possible fields for applications for the correlation properties.     

Safety Assurance of Foods: Risk Management Depends on Good Science but it is not a Scientific Activity

We make many decisions in our livesand we weigh the benefits against thedrawbacks. Our decisions are based on whatbenefits are most important to us and whatdrawbacks we are willing to accept. Decisionsabout what we eat are made in the same way; butwhen it comes to safety, our decisions areusually made more carefully. Food containsnatural chemicals and it can come into contactwith many natural and artificial substancesduring harvest, production, processing, andpreparation. They include microorganisms,chemicals, either naturally present or producedby cooking, environmental contaminants, andpesticides. Since the chance of being harmed bythese potential hazards is called risk, riskanalysis might be better termed as the scienceof safety, because risk management is anessential part of it. It would, however, bedifficult and shortsighted to maintain thatquestions about risk and safety can have nomoral dimension. Risk and safety become mattersof moral concern when they raise furtherquestions about responsibility, accountability,and justifiability. The question of risk cannotbe ignored in any ethical investigation ofgenetic engineering, novel foods, animalwelfare, and individual choices. However, foodis more than metabolic fuel. It hasphysiological, psychological, social, cultural,and aesthetic associations that merge to form agestalt that people endanger and maintain. Thecontribution of any food towards anindividual's well being is as complex as theindividual himself. In this context, thebenefits of consuming food that containshazards may outweigh the risk.     

Historical and Geological Evidence for Seismic Origin of Newly Recognized Landslides in Southeastern Sicily, and Its Significance inTerms of Hazard

Old, large, and dormant landslides were unexpectedly found in southeastern Sicily, a territory of known seismicity but commonly considered as landslide-free or almost so. Purposely undertaken investigations revealed that: (1) these landslides are scarcely compatible with the local geoclimatic environment; (2) they usually show low-angle basal shear surfaces, despite the fact that the properties of the forming material are generally good; (3) they fulfill the known relationships between earthquake magnitude and epicenter–landslide distance; (4) sources coeval with high-energy historical earthquakes occurred in 1169, 1542 and 1693 testify to the occurrence of earthquake-triggered landsliding; and (5) documentary material (presented here for the first time) correlates with certainty a specific landslide to the 1693 earthquake. This geological and historical evidence, accompanied by the absence of contrasting elements, leads us to conclude that these landslides are earthquake-triggered. Because of their typological and geometrical characteristics, nearly all landslides can be reactivated, which has serious implications in terms of hazard, particularly with respect to lines of communication. Obviously, every action aimed at preventing or mitigating risks must start from the awareness of the causative processes, a condition substantially unsatisfied at the moment in SE Sicily. The paper concludes by emphasizing the opportunity not to trust excessively beliefs that, although shared, have never been really checked.