Molecular signatures of organic particulates as tracers of emission sources

Chemical signature of airborne particulates and deposition dusts is subject of study since decades. Usually, three complementary composition markers are investigated, namely, (i) specific organic compounds; (ii) concentration ratios between congeners, and (iii) percent distributions of homologs. Due to its intrinsic limits (e.g., variability depending on decomposition and gas/particle equilibrium), the identification of pollution sources based on molecular signatures results overall restricted to qualitative purposes. Nevertheless, chemical fingerprints allow drawing preliminary information, suitable for successfully approaching multivariate analysis and valuing the relative importance of sources. Here, the state-of-the-art is presented about the molecular fingerprints of non-polar aliphatic, polyaromatic (PAHs, nitro-PAHs), and polar (fatty acids, organic halides, polysaccharides) compounds in emissions. Special concern was addressed to alkenes and alkanes with carbon numbers ranging from 12 to 23 and?≥?24, which displayed distinct relative abundances in petrol-derived spills and exhausts, emissions from microorganisms, high vegetation, and sediments. Long-chain alkanes associated with tobacco smoke were characterized by a peculiar iso/anteiso/normal homolog fingerprint and by n-hentriacontane percentages higher than elsewhere. Several concentration ratios of PAHs were identified as diagnostic of the type of emission, and the sources of uncertainty were elucidated. Despite extensive investigations conducted so far, the origin of uncommon molecular fingerprints, e.g., alkane/alkene relationships in deposition dusts and airborne particles, remains quite unclear. Polar organics resulted scarcely investigated for pollution apportioning purposes, though they looked as indicative of the nature of sources. Finally, the role of humans and living organisms as actual emitters of chemicals seems to need concern in the future.

     

Sources and trends of trace elements and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in a shallow lake in the Mediterranean area from sediment archives of the Anthropocene

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - In this study, the anthropogenic contamination in Trasimeno lake (Central Italy) was investigated using three sediment cores spanning over the last...     

Ancient settlement dynamics and predictive archaeological models for the Metapontum coastal area in Basilicata,southern Italy: from geomorphological survey to spatial analysis

In the ancient territory of the Greek settlement of Metaponto and its Chora (Ionian sector of Basilicata, southern Italy) geomorphological mapping, GIS-supported statistics, and landform topographic features were investigated and combined to extract settlement rules and site dynamics. Analyses of environmental dynamics as well as of spatial and temporal settlement evolution were carried through an integrated approach that, starting from a detailed geomorphological analysis, tried to extract the spatial relationships between archaeological site locations and landform/landscape features. Spatial analysis was used to investigate the relationships between environmental parameters and archaeological sites. The advantages to develop a predictive model using Archeological Spatial Evaluation (ASE) analysis lay in the possibility to deeply study the relationships between man and the environment. In the present study, the analysis was carried out in a pioneering way in the ~400 km² Metaponto territory in order to robustly validate - in the aftermath data - human and territorial dynamics. A model describing interactions between sites and parameters such as elevation, slope, aspect, landforms, land use, and distances from rivers was constructed. Sensibility maps were produced, which will help archaeologists to know how many and which are the parameters increasing the probability to find new archaeological sites as well as how the main geomorphological features of the study area, contextualized within the most likely paleoclimate scenario, affect ancient site arrangement though time. The preferential occupation of mid-altitude marine terraces, and the consequence spreading of agriculture on these territories, is likely due to the existence of well-developed soil profiles on them. Clearly colonists recognized that on these landform units there were the better conditions for the development of massive agricultural practices: since the SP age (4,1 to 2,0 Kyr B.P.) the settlers expands inland looking for most fertile territories as well as for areas sufficiently protected (being far away from the coast). The increase in farmhouses on the top of marine terraces from the FC up to EC-EE periods and the modifications of settlement distribution (gradual abandonment of alluvial) in the Metaponto area is likely related to the acceleration of alluvial processes. The progressive decrease of human occupation during the Hellenistic up to the Roman Age is clearly consequence of the Roman conquest. However, a role played by the increase in flooding occurrence in the coastal plain/floodplains of the main rivers in triggering the abandonment of these territories and marking the beginning of the decadent phases should not be neglected. Productive areas (locally associated to farmhouses) are preferential set along the fluvial incisions (sometime associated to farmhouses), thus implying that productive area setting is strongly linked to the presence of rivers, and of their lower rank tributaries, both as an intrinsic need of manufacturing and to facilitate the spreading of products. From the Classical to the Hellenistic Age until the Roman Age, Necropolis are spread in the entire area, from marine terraces to alluvial plain. On the other hand, Sacred areas - which appearance is recorded starting from the Colony Foundation Age - exhibits a settlement continuity in the study area starting from this time up to the entire Roman period, and the sacred areas setting is strictly associated to the category of Settlement.     

Brain cortical assessment by MRI in fetuses with left congenital diaphragmatic hernia

Objective

To evaluate fetal brain development using MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) in CDH (congenital diaphragmatic hernia).

Methods

52 isolated left CDH and 104 control fetuses were imaged using MRI. Brain morphometry (Biparietal diameter—BPD, brain fronto-occipital diameter—BFOD, third ventricle, posterior ventricles, transcerebellar diameter—TCD, anteroposterior and craniocaudal cerebellar vermis diameter—AP and CC) and cortical structures (bilateral cingulate fissure—CF, insular fissure—IF, insular depth - ID) were compared with controls using Mann–Whitney test.

Results

Median gestational age at MRI (p = 0.95)and the median biparietal diameter (p = 0.737) were comparable. Among morphometric parameters, only the brain fronto-occipital diameter was significantly smaller in CDH (p = 0.001) and the third ventricle was significantly greater in CDH (<0.0001). Among cortical structures, the cingulate and insular fissures were significantly deeper in CDH fetuses (p < 0.0001) as the insular depth ID was smaller in CDH (p < 0.03).

Conclusions

CDH fetuses have a smaller fronto-occipital diameter, reduced insular depth, deeper cingulate and insular fissure, and greater third ventricle width as compared to controls. These findings suggest that left CDH may have an impact on fetal brain development with an overall reduction in brain volume.     

Multitechnique diagnostic analysis and 3D surveying prior to the restoration of St. Michael defeating Evil painting by Mattia Preti

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - In this study, a multimethodological analysis involving optical and physical/chemical diagnostic techniques and 3D photogrammetric survey was...     

The potential of animal manure management pathways toward a circular economy: a bibliometric analysis

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Improper disposal of animal waste is responsible for several environmental problems, causing eutrophication of lakes and rivers, nutrient overload in...     

The interaction between environmental pollution and cultural heritage: from outdoor to indoor “MetroArcheo2020”

Environmental Science and Pollution Research -     

The combined use of SEM-EDX,Raman, ATR-FTIR and visible reflectance techniques for the characterisation of Roman wall painting pigments from Monte d’Oro area (Rome): an insight into red,yellow and pink shades

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The aim of this work has been the identification of the painter’s materials employed in the wall decoration of some destroyed buildings dating...     

Socioeconomic development and ecological traits as predictors of human–bird conflicts

Because of the significant impacts on both human interests and bird conservation, it is imperative to identify patterns and anticipate drivers of human–bird conflicts (HBCs) worldwide. Through a global systematic review, following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines, we analyzed the socioeconomic factors and bird ecological traits driving the degree of knowledge and extent of HBCs. We included 166 articles published from 1971 to 2020 in our analyses through which we built a profile of the socioeconomic conditions of 52 countries with reported conflicts and the ecological traits of the 161 bird species involved in HBCs. Although HBC expanded worldwide, it had the greatest impact in less-developed countries (estimate 0. 66 [SE 0.13], p< 0.05), where agriculture is critical for rural livelihoods. Species with a relatively greater conflict extent had a relatively broader diet (estimate 0.80 [SE 0.22], p<0.05) and an increasing population trend (estimate 0.58 [SE 0.15], p<0.05) and affected human interests, such as agriculture and livestock raising. In countries with greater biodiversity, HBCs caused greater socioeconomic impacts than in more developed countries. Our results highlight the importance of understanding and addressing HBCs from multiple perspectives (ecological, sociocultural, and political) to effectively protect both biodiversity and local livelihoods.     

Response of atmospheric deposition and surface water chemistry to the COVID-19 lockdown in an alpine area

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The effects of the COVID-19 lockdown on deposition and surface water chemistry were investigated in an area south of the Alps. Long-term data provided...