Electromagnetic fields: principles of exposure mitigation.

Basic principles of reducing exposure to electromagnetic fields are reviewed in this article. Measures to reduce exposure can be divided into organisational/administrative and technical/engineering actions. Both strategies are briefly analysed and the basic principles of the theory of shielding are presented. A definition of shielding effectiveness (SE) is given, and the results from the general Transmission Lines Theory are presented. Practical situations of shielding static and time-varying electric and magnetic fields are discussed on the basis of the physical properties of the fields and of the shield.     

Computer-assisted analysis of fetal behavioural states

A computerized system which simultaneously acquires and quantifies several ultrasonically detected fetal activities, including gross body movements, breathing movements, and eye movements, was developed in order to obtain additional quantitative data on fetal behaviour. Movements were automatically related to fetal heart rate allowing computation of their mean incidence, duration, lag time and percentage time spent moving during different heart rate patterns. The incidence of various behavioural states was also calculated. The study of 15 healthy fetuses near term revealed the existence of statistically significant differences in these parameters between low and high variability patterns of fetal heart rate suggesting a quantitative modulation of fetal movements by behavioural states.     

“Measuring Sustainability”: A Multi-Criterion Framework

So far, the elementary question of whether one country’s or region’s economy is moving towards sustainability or away from it cannot be answered with unanimous consensus on the ‘measuring rod(s)’ to be employed. The main assumption of this article is that sustainability assessment needs a set of multi-dimensional indicators. From this assumption a question arises: how could such indicators be aggregated? Often, some indicators improve while others deteriorate. For instance, when incomes grow, SO₂ might go down while CO₂ increases. It has to be noted that this is the classical conflictual situation studied in multi-criteria decision theory. The use of a multi-criterion framework for making operational the ‘measuring of sustainability’ is discussed here by means of illustrative examples and more formal arguments.     

Canopy profiles of photosynthetic parameters under elevated CO2 and N fertilization in a poplar plantation

A poplar plantation has been exposed to an elevated CO2 concentration for 5 years using the free air CO2 enrichment (FACE) technique. Even after such a long period of exposure, leaves of Populus x euramericana have not shown clear signs of photosynthetic acclimation. Only at the end of the growing season for shade leaves was a decrease of maximum velocity of carboxylation (Vcmax) observed. Maximum electron transport rate (Jmax) was increased by FACE treatment in July. Assimilation rates at CO2 partial pressure of 400 (A400) and 600 (A600) micromol mol(-1) were not significantly different under FACE treatment. Most notably FACE significantly decreased stomatal conductance (g(s)) both on upper and lower canopy leaves. N fertilization increased N content in the leaves on mass basis (Nm) and specific leaf area (SLA) in both CO2 treatments but did not influence the photosynthetic parameters. These data show that in poplar plantations the long-term effects of elevated CO2 on photosynthesis do not differ considerably from the short-term ones even with N deposition.     

Mesoscale variability related to iron speciation in a coastal Ross Sea area (Antarctica) during summer 2014

Dissolved iron (Fe) distribution and speciation was determined in water samples (0–200?m) collected in a coastal area near Terra Nova Bay during the austral summer of 2014. Nutrients, dissolved oxygen, chlorophyll-a, phytoplankton composition and prokaryotic biomass distribution were investigated in combination with measurements of the physical properties of the water columns and its dynamics. The dFe value was above the limiting growth concentration, ranging from 0.52 to 4.51?nM, and it showed a spatial variability with a horizontal length scale of about 10?km, according to the variability of the water column physical properties and to iron sources. The organic ligands (L) maintained the concentrations of dFe at levels much higher than the inorganic solubility of Fe, keeping it available for phytoplankton and the log K’_FeL values found (from 22.1 to 23.6) highlighted the presence of complexes of differing stabilities.     

Assessment of noise level and noise propagation generated by light-lift helicopters in mountain natural environments

The use of helicopter rises discussion about environmental noise propagation especially when it operates in proximity of environmentally sensitive areas (ESAs) for an extended period because of its potential implications in wildlife behaviours. In order to support decisions on helicopter logging operation management in proximity of ESAs, this study focused on (i) analysing the noise spectrum of a light-lift helicopter during logging operations and on (ii) assessing the noise propagation in the surrounding environments. This study investigated a helicopter logging operation for wood fuel extraction in the eastern part of the Italian Alps. The potential disturbance area covered for the entire helicopter logging operation was evaluated by a specific GIS application according to hearing sensitivity of the most sensitive wildlife species in the study area (different strigiform species). The noise level at the ground appeared to be affected by the location regardless both the use of equivalent continuous sound pressures level dB(A) (LAeq) and the single-event level (SEL) noise metrics. The lowest values were recorded when the helicopter was flown over the sound meter level located under the forest canopy, while the highest was recorded when the helicopter was unhooking the loads at the landing. The GIS application highlighted the consistent of the exceeded noise area (weighted to strigiform hearing range and sensitivity) for the lower frequency bands (0.016–0.250 kHz). A more restricted exceeded noise area concerned instead the most sensitive frequency bands" for the strigiform (1–2 kHz).

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Characterization of the bioaerosol in a natural thermal cave and assessment of the risk of transmission of SARS-CoV-2 virus

Environmental Geochemistry and Health - Thermal caves represent an environment characterized by unique chemical/physical properties, often used for treatment and care of musculoskeletal,...     

Prenatal karyotyping in malformed fetuses

Experience with prenatal karyotyping of 237 fetuses with sonographic evidence of malformation is reported. Abnormal karyotype was found in 40 cases (16-8 per cent): chromosomal aberrations were found in 19 of the 178 fetuses with an isolated structural anomaly (10-6 per cent) and in 21 of the 59 fetuses with multiple malformations (35-6 per cent). Detailed cytogenetic and morphological information concerning fetuses affected by omphalocele, duodenal atresia, hydrocephalus, multicystic kidney, unilateral hydronephrosis and cystic hygroma is reported. The need for a very careful ultrasound evaluation of fetal anatomy in these pregnancies is stressed, as the risk of a chromosomal anomaly depends mainly on the existence of more than one ultrasonically diagnosed structural defect.     

Effect of sewage amendment on the dissipation of terbuthylazine,its degradation compound desethyl-terbuthylazine,and S-metolachlor in a field study

This study evaluates the effect of sewage amendment (SA) on the dissipation of terbuthylazine, its degradation compound desethyl-terbuthylazine, and S-metolachlor in the soil. The experiment was conducted at Padua Experimental Farm (Italy). Herbicides dissipation was evaluated in soils differently fertilized for three years: with inorganic fertilizer, with sewage sludge, and with a combination of them. Terbuthylazine and S-metolachlor were applied on sorghum as a formulated product at a dose of 2.8?L ha^?1, and their dissipation was followed for 2.5 months. The concentrations of herbicides and one metabolite in soil were analyzed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. The dissipation of terbuthylazine and S-metolachlor followed a pseudo first order kinetics; they dissipated faster in soil amended only with inorganic fertilizer than in soils amended with sewage or sewage?+?inorganic fertilizer. The reduction in mineralization of the herbicides after sewage addition can be attributed to the reduced herbicide availability to microorganisms. The degradation of terbuthylazine led to the formation of desethyl-terbuthylazine. SA slowed down the formation and the degradation of desethyl-terbuthylazine, leading to a higher amount measured at the end of the incubation. These findings have practical implications for the assessment of the environmental fate of terbuthylazine and S-metolachlor in agricultural areas.