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The article from T3 magazine provides a comprehensive list of Christmas gadget gifts across various categories, including coffee machines, retro-inspired tech, hi-tech kitchen gadgets, audiophile equipment, travel accessories, tech tools, and luxury items. The gifts range from coffee machines for coffee enthusiasts to high-end watches and VR headsets. The list caters to diverse interests and budgets, making it a valuable resource for finding unique and thoughtful gifts for the holiday season. [Extracted from the article]

Background:Despite its high overall accuracy in predicting ABVD outcome in advanced stage Hodgkin Lymphoma (HL), interim PET performed after 2 chemotherapy cycles (PET-2) showed a sub-optimal negative predictive value (PV) on treatment response. In fact, PET-2 negative patients (p.) treated with six ABVD cycles in four prospective trials (RATHL, GITIL/FIL HD 0607, SWOG 0816 and Echelon-1), showed a 3-Y PFS ranging between 79% to 87%, even declining to 74% after a 5-year follow-up (Stephens 2019). A high Total Metabolic Tumor Volume (TMTV) calculated in baseline PET (cutoff value 471 ml.) , along with a high IPS (≥2) proved able to identify a small p. subset (7%) of PET-2 neg. p. with a 3-Y PFS of only 56% (Gallamini 16° ICML, 2021). A new TMTV-derived parameter aimed to image tumor spread, the tumor distance (DMAX), proved able to predict ABVD outcome in a retrospective series of HL p. from a single center (Durmo, 16° ICML 2021). We report here the PV on ABVD outcome of DMAX combined with IPS in a large cohort of PET-2 negative p. prospectively enrolled in the HD0607 clinical trial. Methods:Out of 783 p. with advanced HL (IIB-IVB) included in the HD0607 clinical trial (NCT00795613), 630 (81%) of them with both negative PET-2 and end-of therapy PET, were randomly assigned to no further therapy or consolidation radiotherapy over the area of a large nodal mass detected at baseline. A single experienced nuclear medicine physician calculated DMAX and TMTV in 331 out of 630 (52%) PET-2 negative p. in which the baseline PET images were available for review. Three different tumor segmentation methods for TMTV computing were chosen, with (1) a relative threshold of 41% of SUVmax in each lesion, (2) a fixed threshold of SUV=2.5 or (3) of SUV=4. DMAX was calculated as the maximum distance among any pixel of the tumor belonging to any lesions in the body. Results:The demographics of the 331 p. included in the present study and of the overall cohort of 630 PET-2 negative p. were: median age 31 (14-60) Vs. 31 (14-60), M/F ratio 0.86 Vs. 0.89; WHO Performance Status 0-1 91.5% Vs. 91.4%; B-symptoms 81.8 Vs. 81.1%; Stage IIB, III and IV 35.0, 35.0, 29.9, Vs.36.3, 33.0 and 30.0%; IPS 0-1 39.3 Vs. 39.8%, IPS 2-3 48.3 Vs. 49.4%, IPS >3 12.4 Vs. 10.6%, Bulky 18.1 Vs. 17.9%. No difference in 6-y PFS was found for p. randomized to NFT or cRT (p=.48; Gallamini JCO 2020). After a median follow-up of 40.6 (4.8-87.2) months, the 3-Y PFS for the 331 p. included in the present analysis and for all the 630 PET-2 negative p. was 84% (95% CI 81% to 87%) and 87% (95% CI, 84% to 89%), respectively. Treatment failure was recorded in 51/331 (15.4%) and 81/627 (12.9%), respectively. Based on a ROC analysis the three different segmentation methods for MTV computing proved to be equivalent (AUC values 0.620-0.525) and hence the 41% threshold was chosen for consistency with previous works. Median and average DMAX values were 12.5 cm. and 15.3 cm. The most accurate cutoff value for DMAX to predict treatment outcome (3-Y PFS) was 16.2 cm., with an AUC of 0.62 (95% CI 0.53-0.70). With this cutoff value DMAX was able to identify two cohorts of patients with a statistically different 3y-PFS: 90% (CI 85-93%) and 76% (95% CI 69-85%), p < 0.001. In multivariate analysis (Cox regression model) including all the above demographics and clinical parameters, as well as TMTV and DMX, only DMAX turned out significant in predicting relapse, with a HR of 1.46 (95% CI1.06-2.01), p=0.02. Upon combining DMAX (higher or lower than 16.2 cm.) and IPS (0-1 Vs. ≥2) in a two-factor predictive model, three categories of p. with a statistically different treatment outcome (P < 0.0001) have been identified: (1) both low DMAX and low IPS, N =30 (9%), 3-Y PFS 100% (95% CI 96-100); (2) either high DMAX and low IPS or high IPS and low DMAX, N= 198 (60%); 3-Y PFS 88% (95% CI 83-93), and (3) both high DMAX and IPS, N= 103 (31%); 3-Y PFS 72% (95% CI 65-82), p<0.0001. Conclusions:DMAX and IPS combined in a predictive model were able to single out three classes of PET-2 negative p. with a statistically different ABVD outcome. P. with a high MTV and a high DMAX, accounting for nearly one-third of p. included in the study, showed the highest risk of failing ABVD, with only 72% of them sustaining a long-term disease control at three years, thus deserving a more aggressive or innovative treatment. The remaining two-thirds had a very good outcome, with a 3-y PFS of 90%, thus stressing that ABVD could remain the standard of care for most PET-2 negative p.

The amending characteristics and effectiveness as fertiliser of a compost obtained from park and yard trimmings, sludge and food residuals (mostly from municipal solid wastes), have been tested. Differences in fertility and other parameters occurring among compost amended soil, soil treated with chemical nutrients and untreated soil were tested. The compost progressively provided the soil with organic matter and assimilable nutrients, while not increasing soil salinity. Concentrations of some heavy metals, however increased in the compost treated soil, suggesting the need for long‐term monitoring of soils treated with composts.

Investigations were performed to examine the possibility of carrying out functional dynamic tests of the human adrenal by means of counts following i.v. administration of radiocholesterol.

A presentation is made of equipment based on the principle of excitation of X fluorescence by means of radioisotope sources. The technique has been used to study the evolution of stable iodine concentration (127I) in the human thyroid in vivo with a minimum variation in weight of ~50 parts per million.

Summary: In a previous study, we observed an impairment of the theophylline-induced suppressive system in recent onset IDDM patients, and demonstrated also a correlation with metabolic derangement. The aim of this study was to better investigate the relationship between theophylline sensitivity (ThS) and blood glucose/plasma insulin levels in recent onset IDDM patients subjected to preprogrammed variations by an insulin/glucose clamp with artificial pancreas. Eight patients were studied within 8 weeks from the onset of IDDM. ThS was evaluated as the ability of theophylline to inhibit blastogenic response of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) to Concanavalin A (ConA), after 120 min preincubation of the cells. All patients were connected to an artificial pancreas. Through i.v. continuous insulin infusion (0.02 U/kg/h) and/or i.v. continuous glucose and saline infusion, the following experimental conditions, lasting at least 1h, were obtained: T1: relative euglycemia and normal insulinemia; T2: relative euglycemia and hyperinsulinemia; T3: hyperglycemia and normal insulinemia; T4: hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia. ThS was maintained in 6/8 patients at T1 and in 8/8 patients at T4. ThS was lost in 4/8 patients at T2 and T3. These data suggest that the loss of ThS induced by hyperglycemia can be corrected by hyperinsulinemia, and that it is maintained when euglycemia is accompained by hypoinsulinemia. It is lost when these two parameters lose their interrelationship.

Bronchogenic and esophageal duplication cysts are congenital anomalies of the tracheobronchial tree and foregut that are often asymptomatic at initial presentation in adults. Surgery is always recommended, even for patients with asymptomatic disease, because of the possible development of symptoms and complications during the natural course of the disease and because definitive diagnosis can be established only on surgical specimen.

A tensional stress regime has governed the tectonic evolution of most of the African continent. The long history of crustal extension is documented by the widespread occurrence of continued intraplate rifting and volcanism since Triassic times and by the large-scale plate movements following the break-up of Pangaea. A remarkable result of the present investigation is the recognition that the extension displays a continent-wide and plate-wide radial pattern, centred in equatorial Africa near 10°E/0°N, the African Centre A. The radial pattern is evident from the diverging block movements, documented by the intra-continental rifting in Africa, by the break-up of Pangaea and the subsequent, diverging drift of North America and the Gondwana fragments away from Africa, entailing a radial growth of the African plate. All these phenomena are manifestations of what may be referred to as the 'African lithospheric divergence'.
The African plate is surrounded, to 85%, by active oceanic ridges. Ridge-push forces exerted on the African plate have to be balanced by some other forces in order to explain the tensional stress regime which, even at present, dominates large parts of the African continent. Shear traction exerted by the convecting asthenosphere on the base of the African lithosphere offers an explanation for the observed phenomena. It is proposed that relatively warm and less dense mantle material rises from the deep mantle below the African plate. In the upper mantle and at the base of the African lithosphere, the ascending material diverges and flows radially away from the centre of ascent. Upper mantle flow below the sea-floor spreading axes is unidirectional and horizontal and is directed away from the African centre A.
It is proposed that the ascending flow beneath Africa forms part of a very large, bicellular circulation system in the Earth's mantle. The origin of geotectonic cycles is probably interrelated with the onset, build-up, main phase and decay of such large-scale convection systems.

For selecting possible hot dry rock extraction sites for geothermal energy applications, the following criteria have been considered: (i) depth to the crystalline basement, (ii) temperatures at depth, (iii) pattern of regional stress field and (iv) natural permeability (=degree of fracturing) of basement rocks. A contour map of the basement topography is presented. From outcrops at the nothern border of Switzerland (crystalline rocks of the Black Forest massif, mainly granites and gneisses of Hercynian age) the basement dips gently toward the SE under the Mesozoic and Tertiary sediments of the Molasse Basin and reaches its maximum depth (~7 km) underneath the front of the Alps. Some 30 km further SE the basement rocks appear at the surface (Aar- and Gotthard-massif, Penninic units), where they are deformed and fractured to a great extent. Temperature-depth profiles have been obtained by model calculations. Locally increased heat product on (in granite batholiths) at the base of the Molasse Basin, combined with the blanketing effect of the overlying sediments, could raise the temperatures to 150–170°C at a depth of 5 km. According to earthquake fault-plane solutions (P-axes) the regional stress field in the area of the Swiss Alps and in its northern Foreland is characterized by the maximum horizontal compression oriented N(150±20)°E in the upper crust.In situ stress determinations (overcoring experiments) show that considerable excess horizontal compressive stress is present in the Alpine crust (up to 200 bar). The deep Alpine tunnels exhibited considerable fracturing of crystalline rocks at depths greater than 1–2 km. Information about the degree of fracturing has also been obtained by refraction profiles. The velocitydepth functions show lower than normal velocities in the uppermost 1.5 km, indicating that the rocks there are fractured. A 30–40 km wide region, running along the axis of the Molasse Basin (which coincides with the majority of the population and most of the industry of Switzerland) would provide the best hot dry rock sites.

Abstract: Genes (x-type) corresponding to different high-molecular-weight glutenin subunits encoded at the Glu-A1 locus present in bread- and durum-wheat cultivars have been selectively amplified by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). DNA fragments corresponding to an unexpressed x-type gene were also amplified. As unexpressed y-type genes may or may not contain an 8-kb transposon-like insertion, two different sets of primers were designed to obtain amplification of DNA fragments corresponding to these genes. Amplified DNA fragments were also digested with restriction enzymes. The digestion patterns of amplified fragments corresponding to unusual x-type subunits showed similarities with genes encoding the most common subunits 2* and 1. The unexpressed amplified x-type gene showed a restriction pattern similar to the one obtained with the allelic gene encoding high-molecular-weight glutenin subunit 1; homologies were also found within the repetitive region of the linked y-type genes. On the basis of these observations it is postulated that an ancestral active x-type gene, most likely corresponding to subunit 1, was silenced following the insertion of the 8-kb transposon-like fragment into the linked y-type gene.

Sludge lagoons have proved to be an effective type of disposal system in many parts of the world. Ideal as it may saem, lagooning of sludge is not cheap, nor is it a simple process. The brevity of the usable life span of a sludge lagoon—and its cost—should be seriously considered beforehand.

A number of procedures were tested to set up a reliable method for determining macroalgal standing crops in the shallow waters of the Venice Lagoon, populated by macroalgae with different densities and variously distributed over the bottom. Accurate and precise measures of biomass were obtained using a box of 1m2 and a grid sampling scheme. Three areas (15 × 15 m2) characterized by high (5-20 kg m-2), low (0.1-1.0 kg m-2) and intermediate (1-10 kg m-2) biomass densities were studied. Twenty sub-samples were taken in each area and the results obtained were considered as the best estimate of the true mean of the population in the area. The difference between the best estimate of the total macroalgal population mean (BEM) and the mean of different sets of sub-samples (SM) divided by the best estimate of the mean: | BEM-SM |/BEM was proved the most efficient parameter to attain a value which differs by a given percentage -at 95% probability-from the true macroalgal biomass, considering all the possible sampling sequences. This difference was below 10% after only 3 sub-samplings. To obtain an accuracy within 5%, 4-14 sub-samplings, according to the different area tested, were needed. In the field, during the sampling campaigns, the per cent ratio (HL-SM)/SM, (HL = 95% higher confidence interval limit) was routinely used as a guide for establishing the number of sub-samples needed to obtain a certain precision. It was demostrated that, when the per cent ratio (HL-SM)/SM was within the predetermined value of 30% or 15-20%, the accuracy of the obtained sub-sample mean was also differing less than 10% or 5%, respectively, from the best estimated population mean. Finally, a very rapid procedure is suggested for classifying macroalgal biomass into pre-established ranges and/or for mapping wide areas.

Abstract: We propose spectral Chebyshev collocation algorithms for the approximation of the initial and boundary value problem for the Korteweg-de Vries equation. Both single and multidomain approaches are discussed. Different methods for the treatment of the boundary conditions are considered. The numerical analysis of the eigenvalues' behaviour of the spectral differentiation operators involved in the approximation suggests appropriate finite difference methods for time-marching. Several numerical experiments have been performed, which prove spectral convergence and stability of the proposed schemes.

Summary: Worldwide investigation of the epidemiology of epilepsy has suggested wide variations in the frequency of convulsive disorders. However, descriptive studies in general populations cannot be completely comparable because of a remarkable methodological dishomogeneity in definition of epilepsy, classification of seizures, and ascertainment, collection, and selection of the cases. The position with regard to the Mediterranean people was still little known, and the few studies presently available from Italy offer underestimates of epilepsy frequency owing to incompleteness in case‐collection practices and lack of information about the incidence of the disease. Therefore, to verify the true frequency of epilepsy in our country, we performed a community‐based epidemiologic study of convulsive disorders in the district of Copparo (population 45,153) in northern Italy. Based on 278 accepted cases with “active” epilepsy, the prevalence per 1,000 population on December 31, 1978, was 6.2 (6.4 if standardized to the Italian population). The average annual incidence for the period 1964 through 1978 was 33.1 per 100,000 (38.3 if standardized). These results, similar to those found in other Western countries, support the view that the frequency of epilepsy in Italy as a whole is higher than that indicated by the Italian studies previously published, and suggest that epilepsy is evenly distributed in Europe and the United States. Antecedents which could be considered potential causes of epilepsy were found in 39.6%, and in 39.1% of the prevalence and incidence cases, respectively; for both prevalence and incidence groups, perinatal brain injuries were the most frequent event. This high proportion of epileptic cases with underlying causes emphasizes the urgency of planning precautionary measures in Italy to improve prenatal and perinatal medical care. Les investigations faites dans le monde sur 1‘épidémiologic de L'épilepsie ont suggéré L'éxistence de variations importantes dans la fréquence des manifestations convulsives. Cependant les etudes descriptives dans les populations générates ne peuvent pas être réellement comparables en raison de la grande variabilityé méthodologique à la fois dans la définition de L'épilepsie, la classification des crises, L'appréciation, la collection et la sélection des cas. La situation à cet égard des peuples méditerranéens était encore peu connue, et les quelques tentatives actuellement dis‐ponibles en Italie sousestiment la fréquence de L'épilepsie à cause des lacunes dans le systéme de collection des cas et du manque D'information sur L'incidence de la maladie. Ainsi, pour vérifier la fréquence réelle de L'épilepsie dans notre pays, nous avons efféctue une étude épidémiologique des manifestations convulsives dans le district de Copparo (45153 habitants), dans L'ltalie du Nord. Sur la base de 278 cas ayant une épilepsie “active”, la prévalence pour 1000 habitants, le 31 décembre 1978, était de 6,2 (6,4 en la rapportant à la population italienne). L'incidence an‐nuelle moyenne pour la période de 1964 à 1978 était de 33,1 pour 100 000 (38,3 en la rapportant à la population italienne). Ces résultats, semblables à ceux trouves dans D'autrés pays occidentaux, confirment L'hypothése que la fréquence de L'épilepsie en Italie est plus élevée que celle indiqueé par les études ital‐iennes antérieurement publicées, et suggérent que L'epilepsie a une distribution réguliere en Europe et aux Etats‐Unis. Des antecedents considéréd comme causes possibles D'épilepsie ont été trouvés dans 39,6% de la prévalence et 39,1% de L'incidence des cas; dans les deux groupes les agressions cérébrales péri‐natales étaient le facteur le plus fréquent. Cette grande proportion de cas avec étiologie souligne L'urgence D'établir un plan de mesures préventives en Italie pour améliorer la prise en charge médicate prénatale et périnatale. Estudios mundiales sobre la epidemiologic de la epilepsia sugieren la existencía de amplias variaciones en la frecuencia de los desórdenes convulsivos. Sin embargo, los estudios descriptivos en la población general no pueden ser totalmente comparables debido a la notoria falta de homogeneidad en la definición de la epilepsyía, la clasificación de las crisis, la indagación, el reclutamiento y la selectión de los casos. La situatión, con respecto a la población mediterránea, era poco conocida y los escasos intentos realizados en Italia ofrecen subestimaciones en la frecuencia de la epilepsyía debido a lo incompleto de las técnicas en la colección de casos y la falta de información acerca de la incidencia de la enfermedad. Para verificar la ver‐dadera frecuencia de la epilepsyía en nuestro pais hemos realizado un estudio epidemiológico, basado en la co‐munidad, de los trastornos comiciales en el distrito de Copparo (45.153 habitantes) en el norte de Italia. Basándose en 278 casos aceptados de epilepsyía “activa”, la prevalencia por 1.000 habitantes en el 31 de Diciembre de 1.978, resultó ser de 6.2 (6.4 si se estandariza para la población italiana). El promedio de incidencia anual para el periodo 1.964 a 1.978 fué 33.1 por 100.000 (38.3 si se estandariza). Estos resultados, semejantes a los que se encuentran en otros paises occidentales, apoyan la opinión de que la frecuencia de la epilepsyía en Italia, en total, es mayor que la que se indica en los estudios italianos previamente publi‐cados y sugieren que la epilepsia se distribuye uni‐formemente en Europa y USA. Se encontraron antecedentes, potencialmente etiológicos, en el 39.6 y 39.1 por ciento de la prevalencia e incidencia, respectiva‐mente; para los grupos de prevalencia e incidencia de las lesiones perinatales fueron el acontecimiento más frecuente. Esta alta proportion de casos de epilepsyía con causas subyacentes subrayan la urgencia de plan‐ificar las medidas preventivas en Italia, para mejorar la atención médica pre y perinatal. Weltweite Untersuchungen über die Epidemiologie der Epilepsie lassen große Unterschiede in der Häufigkeit der Krampfleiden vermuten. Allerdings können deskriptive Studien in der Allgemeinbevölkerung nicht völlig miteinander verglichen werden, denn es bestehen bemerkenswerte methodologische Unterschiede in der Definition der Epilepsie, in der Anfallsklassifikation, in der Sicherheit, mit der Anfälle akzeptiert werden, in der Datensammlung und Selektion der Fälle. Die Situation hinsichtlich der Mittelmeerbevölkerung war wenig bekannt und die wenigen zur Zeit verfügbaren Versuche aus Italien unterschätzen die Epilepsie‐Häufigkeit. Das liegt daran, daß die Praktiken der Fallerfassung inkomplett sind und eine Informationslucke über die Inzidenz der Erkrankung besteht. Um die wirkliche Häufigkeit der Epilepsie in Italien zu bestimmen, wurde eine epidemiologische Studie der Krampfleiden im Distrikt von Copparo in Norditalien durchgefuhrt. Sie beruht auf den Daten einer Gemeinde mit einer Bevölkerung von 45.153 Menschen. Bei 278 verifizierten Fällen einer “aktiven” Epilepsie betrug die Prävalenz pro 1000 der Bevölkerung am 31.12.78 6,2 (6,4 nach Standardisierung für die italien‐ische Bevölkerung). Die durchschnittliche jährliche Inzidenz für den Zeitraum von 1964 bis einschließlich 1978 betrug 33,1 pro 100.000 (38,3 nach Standardisierung). Diese Ergebnisse entsprechen denen anderer westlicher Länder. Sie unterstützen die Auffassung, daß die Frequenz der Epilepsie in Italien als Ganzes höher ist als in den italienischen Studien, die bisher publiziert wurden, angenommen; sie zeigen ferner, daß die Epilepsie gleich verteilt ist in Europa und in den USA. Begebenheiten, die als mögliche Ursachen der Epilepsie angesehen werden können, wurden bei 39,6% der Prävalenzund bei 39,1% der Inzidenzfalle gefunden. Für beide, Pravälenzund Inzidenz‐Gruppen waren perinatale Hirnverletzungen das häufigste Ereignis. Dieser hohe Anteil an Epilepsiefällen mit bekannter Ursache betont die Dringlichkeit, in Italien Vorsorgemaßnahmen zu treffen, um die pränatale und perinatale ärztliche Versorgung zu verbessern.

Over the last few years several interesting applications of the X-ray fluorescence induced by radioisotopic sources have been developed. In the medical and biological fields these concern primarily “in vitro” analyses [1-4] and more recently “in vivo” measurements in animals [5].

The study is based on some 1200 fault-plane solutions derived from local, low-magnitude earthquakes which occurred during 1969–1971 in the Hollister area (Fig. 1). The procedure of analysis was as follows: (1) to use a solution with two orthogonal vertical nodal planes (VNP solution) i.e. a pure strike-slip solution, if it would satisfy the distribution of compressions and dilatations; (2) if not, to use a more general solution with inclined nodal planes (INP solution). Emphasis is given to the orientation of P-axes. According to the orientation of P-axes the events are classified into nine classes (Fig. 2). The general reliability of the solutions is demonstrated independently in events associated directly with the Calaveras and the San Andreas fault zones (Fig. 3). Some remarkable regularities in the regional orientation of P-axes are observed: NNE—SSW to NE—SW orientation of P-axes is predominant in the Diablo block, east of the Calaveras—Paicines fault zone, as well as in the San Benito wedge, located between the San Andreas and Paicines fault zones. NE—SW orientation of P-axes is observed within the Gabilan block SW of the San Andreas fault zone. On the other hand, a regime of N—S orientation of P-axes characterizes the Sargent wedge, located between the Calaveras and San Andreas fault zones.

Recent research trends in sediment quality assessment have demonstrated the need for an integrated approach which combines chemical characterisation with biological effects evaluation, both in the laboratory (toxicity bioassays) and in situ (macrobenthic community structure investigations). The Sediment Quality Triad organises these three aspects of sediment quality assessment in a single approach, where each component is complementary to the others. Considering the lack of previous studies, this preliminary work aimed to verify the potential of an integrated approach in a complex ecosystem, the Venetian lagoon. Five sampling stations along a presumed quality gradient were chosen. The chemical analyses of heavy metals and organic pollutants have been compared with the results of the toxicity bioassays (Microtox® solid phase, saline extracts and pore water, and sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus sperm cell bioassay performed with saline extracts) and with the characterisation of the infaunal community structure. The results of this first application pointed out the complementarity of the three approaches and the ability of the integrated approach in discriminating different levels of environmental stress. Nevertheless, deeper investigations both on the response of the macrobenthic community to natural variability and on the environmental toxicity of several sulphur compounds (i.e. elemental sulphur) will be necessary.

A sample preparation procedure was set up that allows simultaneous gas chromotographic determination of chlorinated hydrocarbons (CH, pesticides, PCBs), aliphatic (AH) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH).Contamitants are extracted from lyophilised samples with n-hexane/dichloromethane in a sonication bath. The extract, after concentration, is eluted through a multilayer clean-up - separation column, packed with sodium sulphate, activated copper, Florisil, neutral alumina and silica. By eluting two times with <<-hexane, and once with n-hexane/dichloromethane (3:2), three fractions are obtained that contain mixtures of compounds that are quantifiable with GC-ECD (CH), GC-FID (AH, PAH) and GC-MS-SIM. Samples of sediment, paniculate matter, macroalgae, and zoobenthos from the lagoon of Venice and industrial samples have been analysed by this procedure.

Adrenal uptake of 131I-19 cholesterol, administered intravenously, was studied in five normal volunteers and in five patients with various adrenal diseases. Daily counts over the adrenal area and over the lumbar column area (assumed to be representative of blood activity) were performed for 15–20 days after administration of the tracer. Data obtained were analyzed with a three-pool model (two blood pools and one adrenal pool) which enabled us to take into account the influence of extraadrenal cholesterol metabolism on adrenal uptake and to correct the blood activity in the adrenal area more accurately. The dynamic study of adrenal function with the compartmental analysis proposed in the present study provides information not only on the plasma cholesterol metabolic parameters, but also on the adrenal cholesterol uptake and adrenal cholesterol output. Information on plasma cholesterol metabolic parameters is extremely useful because adrenal cholesterol metabolism can be studied in an observation period of less than 30 days, i.e., before commencement of the true clearance curves of cholesterol from the adrenals. From the results obtained it was found that the adrenal output rates give information on the physiology and on the physiopathology of each adrenal. The relative turnover rate, in fact, in all cases of hyper-adrenocorticism examined was about 2 to 100 times higher than the maximum value observed in normal subjects. The study proposed seems more specific than those based on the qualitative evaluation of adrenal images or on the simple determination of the maximum percent uptake.

Vibrio fisheritest has been used to evaluate the toxicity of contaminated sediment of the Venice lagoon. The following classes of organic microcontaminants were considered in this study: aliphatic hydrocarbons (AHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and chlorinated pesticides. Contaminants were extracted from samples with n‐hexane/dichloromethane in a sonication bath. Extracts were then purified and fractionated with column chromatography. A solvent exchange into ethanol was made before testing, to reduce toxicity.Preliminary tests were performed to set up the procedure to apply Vibrio fisherito organic extracts. The application of the test with organic extracts was made at different steps of clean‐up and fractionation into classes of compounds.The purpose of the study was to set up a procedure to comparatively assess sediment contamination with chemical analyses and toxicity bioassays.

A hexaploid wheat landrace collected from the Baluchistan province of Pakistan was found to possess a novel high-molecular-weight glutenin subunit (HMW-GS). The subunit has a very slow electrophoretic mobility as revealed by SDS-PAGE, and its molecular weight is comparable to that of the highest molecular weight glutenin subunit (“2.2” encoded in the D-genome) reported so far in hexaploid wheat varieties and landraces of Japanese origin. Evidence obtained from (PCR) gene amplification studies using the primers specific for Glu-1 loci proved that the gene coding for this novel subunit belongs to the Glu-A1 locus located on the long arm of chromosome 1A. Digestion of the amplified gene (PCR product) with restriction enzymes indicated that the novel gene differs from prevailing Glu-A1 alleles (null, 1 and 2*) by an extra DNA fragment of approximately 600 base pairs. The results also indicated that the novel subunit is most probably a derivative of subunit 2* that has very likely incorporated the 600-bp fragment following a process of unequal crossing over. The present findings were further substantiated by reserved phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) analysis.

Isoseismal maps, derived from macroseismic observations in the epicentral region and in Switzerland for the Friuli earthquake of 6 May 1976, are presented. From these maps a focal depth ofh=8 km and a related attenuation factor of a=0.001 can be estimated. An analysis of aftershocks reveals a slope ofp=0.85 for the logarithmic relationship between number of events and time. A firstmotion study for a preceding earthquake in Friuli on 24 March 1975, gives two possible fault plane solutions, both indicating a North-South direction of the axis of maximum shortening of the earth's crust.

Objective: To determine survival and changes in quality of life (QOL) after hospital discharge in patients who had stayed in an intensive care unit (ICU). Design: Prospective study by direct interviews during ICU stay and 6?months after hospital discharge. Setting: Surgical-medical ICU. Patients and methods: We interviewed cooperative, adult patients admitted consecutively to the ICU for more than 24?h, living near the hospital, who gave informed consent. The following QOL domains were investigated: residence, physical activity, social life, perceived QOL, oral communication and functional limitation. Results: One-year survival was 82.4% (predicted 84%). Mortality was 36.3% after urgent neoplastic surgery, 19.4% for medical admissions and 4.9% after non-neoplastic surgery. Of 160 patients studied, eight cases, older and already deteriorated at the first interview, could not respond to the perceived QOL item after ICU discharge. In the other 152 patients, physical activity was reduced in 31% (usually slightly), social life had worsened in 32% and functional limitation increased in 30%. The perceived QOL did not change. Conclusions: After hospital discharge, the survival of ICU-admitted patients is comparable to that of the general population and not related to ICU treatments. Most patients maintain their physical activity and social status at the preadmission level. Any worsening, if present, is slight and does not influence perceived QOL.

The Lagoon of Venice is a wide, shallow coastal basin that extends for about 50 km along the northwest coast of the Adriatic Sea. The lagoon has been substantially modified through the actions of man over the last century through the artificial control of the hydraulic dynamics of the laggon including the construction of channels to facilitate navigation. The lagoon is subjected to considerable pollutant loading through the drainage of land under cultivation, municipal sewage, and industrial effluents. In this paper are reported the results of observations designed to document recent changes in macroalgal species composition, seasonal cycles of primary producers and nutrient levels, and the effects of the macroalgal community on concentrations of organic and inorganic pollutants. The dominant macroalgae in the lagoon wasUlva rigida, and the levels of plant nutrients and pollutants were influenced by the seasonal cycles of the macroalgal community.

One of the most striking features revealed by a regional study of seismic activity in the eastern part of the Swiss Alps, conducted with a dense network of seismic stations between 1986 and 1988, is the restricted, around 13 km vertical extension of the seismogenic zone (defined by approximately 300 located earthquakes) compared with the earthquake distribution down to the Moho, both north and south of the Alpine body. Studies of focal mechanisms, station diagrams and very precise relative locations of clustered earthquakes all reveal a consistent picture of the stress field in this region: σHmaxand σHminare oriented northwest-southeast and northeast-southwest, respectively. All three types of focal mechanisms are present. Because of an increase in seismic activity following an exceptionally long period of intense precipitation, the possibility was investigated whether under some circumstances, as in the well known cases of reservoir-induced seismicity, very intense precipitation coupled with seasonal snow melt could trigger shallow seismic activity. Some weak indications supporting this hypothesis were found.

The concentrations of ?DDT and PCBs in surface sediments collected in the Gulf of Venice are reported. The contribution of the lagoon and of the rivers to sea sediment contamination is discussed. Fresh waters reaching the sea through the lagoon or directly from rivers are responsible for relatively high ?DDT concentrations. The Porto Marghera industrial zone located in the inner border of the lagoon is probably the main PCB source. Two transport mechanisms have been identified: mobilization of suspended solids by tidal movements and direct dumping of industrial tailing and/or dredged materials from the lagoon canals.

Octadecylsilica was employed as reversed-phase HPLC packing material for the simultaneous separation and determination of linear alkylbenzenesulphonates (LAS) and nonylphenol polyethoxylates (NPEO). The role of NaClO4 dissolved in the mobile phase on the separation of LAS and NPEO was investigated: it turned out to affect only the elution volumes of LAS. Alkylphenol polyethoxylates were exhaustively extracted from liquid commercial cleaning products with hexane-acetone mixtures. A procedure for the determination of all the NPEO oligomers enriched from marine waters is presented.

The Mesozoic and Cenozoic tectonic setting of the African continent is characterized by an extensional stress regime, as is evident from the evolution of the West, Central and East African rift systems, the opening of the Indian and Atlantic oceans and the development of Tethys domain, as well as from the results of geophysical investigations.

ABSTRACTNew Delhi metallo-β-lactamase 1 (NDM-1) was first identified in Brazil in Enterobacter hormaecheiand Providencia rettgeriin 2013. Here, we describe the first case of NDM-1-producing Acinetobacter baumanniisequence type 25 isolated from the urinary tract of a 71-year-old man who died of multiple complications, including A. baumanniiinfection. The NDM-1 gene was detected by quantitative PCR, and its sequence confirmed its presence in an ∼100-kb plasmid.

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Zusammenfassung: Im Zusammenhang mit der Verbesserung der Stickstoffmethode nach Kjeldahl durchSchmid [18] wurde die Übereinstimmung des partikulär gebundenen Stickstoffs (p.N) mit der aus Individuenzahl und Zellvolumen berechneten Biomasse (B) des Phytoplanktons Überprüft. Ausser p. N undB wurde zum Teil auch die Trockensubstanz bzw. die aschenfreie Trockensubstanz gleichsam als Kontroll-und Bezugsgrösse bestimmt. Untersucht wurde das Phytoplankton aus Netzproben und Schöpfproben des Vierwaldstättersees im Ablauf eines Jahres; ferner das Kulturmaterial der PlanktonalgenOscillatoria rubescens undSynedra acus.

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A tectonic interpretation of the magnetic anomalies off the coast of California, Oregon and Washington between 40° and 52° north latitude shows that in the area surveyed the oceanic crust is cut by seven major dislocation zones which divide the region in eight areas. For five of these areas the original connection can be reconstructed. The existence of a ‘window’ of young crust surrounded by older crust and of a short, isolated length of active oceanic ridge southwest of Vancouver Island as proposed recently by different authors is not confirmed.

The feasibility of removing algae from water and wastewater by chemical flocculation techniques was investigated. Mixed cultures of algae were obtained from both continuous- and batch-fed laboratory reactors. Representative cationic, anionic, and nonionic synthetic organic polyelectrolytes were used as flocculants. Under the experimental conditions, chemically induced algal flocculation occurred with the addition of cationic polyelectrolyte, but not with anionic or nonionic polymers, although attachment of all polyelectrolyte species to the algal surface is shown. The mechanism of chemically induced algal flocculation is interpreted in terms of bridging phenomena between the discrete algal cells and the linearly extended polymer chains, forming a three-dimensional matrix that is capable of subsiding under quiescent conditions. The degree of flocculation is shown to be a direct function of the extent of polymer coverage of the active sites on the algal surface, although to induce flocculation by this method requires that the algal surface charge must concurrently be reduced to a level at which the extended polymers can bridge the minimal distance of separation imposed by electrostatic repulsion. The influence of pH, algal concentration, and algal growth phase on the requisite cationic flocculant dose is also reported.

Co-processing renewable feedstock in existing refineries could be a prompt and ready-to-use approach to decarbonize the transportation sector, without large modifications to current processing infrastructures. In this study, we explore the possibility of codistilling a blend of fossil crude with hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) biocrude from primary sewage sludge. HTL biocrude is indeed gaining an increasingly relevant role, because it can be produced from a huge variety of biomass feedstock, including wet byproducts, with no competition with food or feed applications. Despite the highly valuable properties of HTL in comparison with other bio-oils (high heating value, relatively low heteroatoms content, etc.), its introduction in a refinery distillation unit can still be problematic, because of its high acidity and inorganics content. Therefore, partial hydrotreatment was performed prior to blending with a low-sulfur fossil oil, which allowed a blending ratio of 1:4. Codistillation tests were compared with an analogous test with pure fossil oil, in order to assess the contribution of the biomass feed. The obtained distilled cuts were fully analyzed, and a petroleomic approach employing FTICR mass spectrometry was used for a more-detailed characterization at the molecular level. Results showed that biocrude mostly contributes to the high boiling point fractions, especially diesel and residue, although a significant contribution can be also observed to the kerosene range. However, significant amounts of nitrogen were found in the distilled fractions, corresponding to compounds recalcitrant to hydrotreating, resulting in a different carbon number and double-bond equivalent (DBE) distribution. This issue could be controlled by reducing the blending ratio or with specific upgrading treatments. Therefore, codistillation of HTL biocrude with fossil oil is a promising route for the introduction of renewables in the existing refineries.

Nanoemulsions represent one of the most promising colloidal systems for the vehiculation and delivery of hydrophobic molecules, exploitable in several fields such as pharmaceutical, cosmetic, food and agricultural.