Social and geographical inequalities in prenatal care in Italy

The purpose of this study was to find out possible differences in prenatal diagnosis (PD) by amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling and ultrasound examination before 16 weeks' gestation (early ultrasound examination, EUE), according to area of residence and level of education of the mothers. Data come from a multicentre study in Italy involving 43 maternity hospitals (Mercurio project) and were collected through structured interviews a few days after delivery. Study subjects were 1541 mothers of single non-malformed infants born between April 1992 and March 1994. Overall, the incidence of PD and EUE was 5.8 and 80 per cent, respectively. After adjustment for maternal age and other possible confounders, the odds ratios for PD were 2.19 (95 per cent confidence interval (CI)=1.26–3.81) when women residing in the northern regions were compared with those residing in the southern regions, and 2.06 (95 per cent CI=1.12–3.79) and 4.08 (95 per cent CI=1.97–8.42) when women with medium and high levels of education were compared with those with low level. For EUE, the odds ratios were 1.77 (95 per cent CI=1.32–2.36) and 2.88 (95 per cent CI=1.56–5.29) when comparing women with medium and high levels of education with those with low level. No relationship was found between area of residence and EUE. These geographical and social inequalities in prenatal care in Italy should be taken into account for the organization, delivery, and evaluation of pregnancy services in the coming years.     

Temporal and spatial distribution of three supralittoral amphipod species on a sandy beach of central Italy

The distribution of three talitrid species—Talitrus saltator (Montagu, 1808), Orchestia gammarella (Pallas, 1766), Platorchestia platensis (Kroyer, 1845)—in the beach-dune system at the mouth of the Mignone River (central Italy) was analysed. It was related to the variations of the following abiotic factors: temperature, penetrability, pH, conductivity and moisture of the sediment. The beach-dune system is influenced by human impact and natural erosion. All species showed a maximum capture frequency in November, while the abundance decreased to a minimum in July. T. saltator was dominant on the beach, the other two along the riverbank. Juveniles were abundant along the riverbank; they were most abundant in November and almost disappeared in summer. T. saltator was more abundant near the waterline during the hottest months and occupied the inner beach in winter, with occasional presences on the dune. Regression analysis between the abiotic factors and species abundance showed a positive relationship with pH and temperature for T. saltator, while O. gammarella was negatively related to pH. Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) showed that penetrability, moisture and temperature had the greatest influence on the species. T. saltator was almost entirely confined to the beach transects and strongly associated with penetrability, temperature and pH values. O. gammarella was mostly associated with the riverbank and P. platensis only found there and on a nearby pool. The two species were mainly influenced by moisture and variations in grain sizes of the sediment.     

Assessment of nitrogen leaching from arable land in large river basins: Part I. Simulation experiments using a process-based model

A two-step procedure for analysing nitrogen leaching from arable land in large river basins is suggested: (1) application of a process-based dynamic model for a set of representative conditions in a large river basin to simulate water and nitrogen fluxes and (2) development of a fuzzy-rule based metamodel using the simulated nitrogen fluxes in Step 1 as a training set. After that the metamodel can be used for rapid assessment of water quality inside the considered ranges of parameters, describing natural conditions and management practices. This paper describes Step 1 of the procedure. Step 2 is described in an accompanying paper (Haberlandt et al., Ecological Modelling 150 (3) (2002) 277–294). The advantage of this approach is that it combines the ‘process-based foundation’ with the resulting simplicity of the metamodel. Simulation experiments for analysing nitrogen (N) leaching from arable land were performed using the Soil and Water Integrated Model (SWIM) for a set of representative conditions in the Saale basin (23 687 km²) in Central Europe. The Saale River is one of the main tributaries of the Elbe. In advance, hydrological validation of the model was done for the whole Saale basin and validation of nitrogen dynamics was fulfilled in two mesoscale sub-basins of the Elbe. For the simulation experiments the drainage basin area was sub-divided into five climate zones and nine representative soil classes were chosen. The basic rotation and fertilisation schemes were established using regional information obtained from literature. In addition, the effects of changing the basic rotation to more/less intensive ones and changing fertilisation rates by 50% increase/decrease were studied. The ranges of simulated nitrogen fluxes for the basic rotation and fertilisation schemes are comparable to available regional estimates and differences between sub-regions and soils are plausible. The relative importance of natural and anthropogenic factors affecting nitrogen leaching for the Saale River basin was as follows: (1) soil, (2) climate, (3) fertilisation rate and (4) crop rotation. The simulation experiments provide a basis for a fuzzy-rule based metamodel approach, which aims at rapid water quality assessment of large regions.     

Air Quality Assessment And Control Of Emission Rates

Mathematical methods based on the adjoint model approach are given for the air-pollution estimation and control in an urban region. A simple advection–diffusion-reaction model and its adjoint are used to illustrate the application of the methods. Dual pollution concentration estimates in ecologically important zones are derived and used to develop two non-optimal strategies and one optimal strategy for controlling the emission rates of enterprises. A linear convex combination of these strategies represents a new sufficient strategy. A method for detecting the enterprises, which violate the emission rates prescribed by a control, is given. A method for determining an optimal position for a new enterprise in the region is also described.     

Application of biopreparation "Rhoder" for remediation of oil polluted polar marshy wetlands in Komi Republic

This paper describes the testing and corresponding results of the preparation "Rhoder" in comparison with several other bioremediation variants during the field trials in Komi Republic throughout 2002-2003. All bioremediation trials were performed on one vast polar marshy wetland polluted by accidental crude oil spill and uncovered by grass. After application of the "Rhoder" at the site, with an area of approximately 2000 m(2), during the cold and rainy summer of 2002 (1.5 months), the level of oil contamination decreased by 20-51%, depending on initial oil pollution (458-738 g/kg dry weight of soil). In the middle of September 2002, the treated site was covered by 70-85% with green grass. Though, during 2003, the "Rhoder" treatment was not practiced, at the end of August 2003, the site was already covered by 85-95% with green grass and the level of oil contamination further decreased by 54-79% from the initial level of oil pollution at the beginning of 2002. These results were much better compared to those from other bioremediation variants applied at this spill.     

Density-dependent effects control the reproductive strategy and population growth of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aurelia</Emphasis><Emphasis Type="Italic">aurita</Emphasis> s.l. scyphistomae

Aureliaaurita s.l. scyphistomae are capable of developing different asexual modes for propagation and thus present a multi-mode reproductive strategy. The reproduction rates and the reproductive strategy they adopt depend on a combination of various environmental parameters. We investigated the A.aurita s.l. polyp-to-polyp reproduction strategy and population growth in relation to polyp density. Our results confirmed that density-dependent factors control population growth of A. aurita s.l. scyphistomae in three different ways: (1) decreasing the polyp reproduction rate, (2) triggering the production of motile bud-like tissue particles and (3) inducing the detachment of developed scyphistomae. Whereas the decrease in the reproduction rate reduces the number of recruits, the motile particles and the detachment of scyphistomae contribute to minimizing density-dependent effects by allowing reproductive products and scyphistomae to drift away. Thus, not only are the negative effects of intraspecific competition for space and food diminished but also the potential colonization of new substrates, and further increase in scyphistoma density is favoured on larger spatial scales. The potential capability to switch its polyp-to-polyp reproduction strategy in response to environmental clues and population density may give Aurelia high adaptability in the temperate coastal waters where they commonly live and where they may be exposed to wide-ranging and fluctuating environmental variables that affect their survival and longevity. Considering these features, as well as the wide tolerance of Aurelia scyphistomae (and medusae) to environmental parameters, it is not surprising that the species/lineages of Aurelia are cosmopolitan and exhibit the most frequent bloom events worldwide.     

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...     

Old growth forests and large old trees as critical organisms connecting ecosystems and human health. A review

Old forests containing ancient trees are essential ecosystems for life on earth. Mechanisms that happen both deep in the root systems and in the highest canopies ensure the viability of our planet. Old forests fix large quantities of atmospheric CO₂, produce oxygen, create micro-climates and irreplaceable habitats, in sharp contrast to young forests and monoculture forests. The current intense logging activities induce rapid, adverse effects on our ecosystems and climate. Here we review large old trees with a focus on ecosystem preservation, climate issues, and therapeutic potential. We found that old forests continue to sequester carbon and fix nitrogen. Old trees control below-ground conditions that are essential for tree regeneration. Old forests create micro-climates that slow global warming and are irreplaceable habitats for many endangered species. Old trees produce phytochemicals with many biomedical properties. Old trees also host particular fungi with untapped medicinal potential, including the Agarikon, Fomitopsis officinalis, which is currently being tested against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Large old trees are an important part of our combined cultural heritage, providing people with aesthetic, symbolic, religious, and historical cues. Bringing their numerous environmental, oceanic, ecological, therapeutic, and socio-cultural benefits to the fore, and learning to appreciate old trees in a holistic manner could contribute to halting the worldwide decline of old-growth forests.