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The occurrence of trace elements, REE and iAs was investigated in macroalgae collected from Giglio Island (Grosseto, Italy), 3 years after the Costa Concordia shipwreck recovery operations. There was a high variability of metals and REE between species, even those belonging to the same phylum. Arsenic level was found within the range of the Tuscany marine environment; the inorganic fraction was from 9% to 31%. Al, Be, Pb and Zn levels in seaweeds from Giglio Island were found to be significantly higher than in macroalgae from other islands of the Tuscany archipelago. REE were double the values found in the Tuscan islands of Elba and Capraia. We suggest that concentrations of metals and REE were influenced by the 3-year-long naval operations carried out for the Costa Concordia shipwreck rescue, and that macroalgae could be suitable bioindicators of perturbations in metal concentrations in the marine environment. Capsule Inorganic contaminants in seaweeds for Giglio Island. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We analyzed the concentrations of 20 trace elements in Eurydice spinigera (Isopoda) and Flaccisagitta enflata (Chaetognatha), which represent a hyperbenthic and a zooplanktonic marine species respectively, sharing the same predaceous feeding strategy, from a highly productive coastal region (Ligurian Sea, Northwestern Mediterranean). The same elements were also quantified in marine sediments, where geological anomalies were found for arsenic, chromium and nickel. Metal transfer seems to be deeply influenced by different habitats. The carnivorous isopod E. spinigera, which spends most of its lifetime on the seabed, was found to have the highest concentrations of most trace elements, such as Al, As, Cd, Ce, Cr, Fe, La, Mn, Ni, Pb, Se, V and Zn, and consequently have the highest bioaccumulation factors (BAFs). Moreover, the estimation of biota sediment accumulation factors (BSAFs) revealed that cadmium, copper and zinc concentrations were higher in the isopod than in the sediment. Conversely, in the carnivorous chaetognath F. enflata, which is not a benthonic species, the highest levels of copper and tin were found. Moreover, arsenic speciation analysis confirmed the presence of inorganic As (III + V) in E. spinigera. In the context of utilizing a marine organism as a bio-indicator of metal transfer, it is crucial to consider both feeding behavior and feeding habitat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concentrations of rare earth elements (REE) were determined by ICP-MS in dominant seaweed species, collected from three locations of the northwestern Mediterranean Sea. This is the first study to define levels and patterns of REE in macro algae from these coastal areas. Rare elements are becoming emerging inorganic contaminants in marine ecosystems, due to their worldwide increasing applications in industry, technology, medicine and agriculture. Significant inter-site and interspecies differences were registered, with higher levels of REE in brown and green macro algae than in red seaweeds. Levels of light REE were also observed to be greater compared to heavy REE in all samples. One of the investigated locations (Bergeggi, SV) had higher REE and ΣREE concentrations, probably due to its proximity to an important commercial and touristic harbor, while the other two sites were less affected by anthropogenic contaminations, and showed comparable REE patterns and lower concentrations. Capsule Rare earth elements in seaweeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copepods are the most numerous taxonomic group in marine mesozooplankton communities. These planktonic organisms have an essential role in the function of marine trophic webs, as they are the link between phytoplankton and secondary consumers. The concentrations of 20 essential and non-essential trace elements were investigated by Inductively Coupled Plasma – Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) in calanoid copepods with different feeding behaviors. The sampling was performed in the Northwestern Mediterranean Sea, at the border between the Northern Tyrrhenian Sea and the Ligurian Sea (Italy). Aluminum, iron, zinc and copper were present in the highest concentrations in herbivorous calanoids ( Temora stylifera, Nannocalanus minor, Neocalanus gracilis) . Conversely, the nonessential element – arsenic – and the essential elements selenium and molybdenum – were present in the highest levels in carnivores ( Pontella mediterranea, Candacia ethiopica). In the omnivorous copepod Centropages typicus, metal concentrations were found at an intermediate level between herbivores and carnivores, reflecting the importance of dietary pathways in metal intake and bioaccumulation. Finally, the bioaccumulation factors (BAFs), expressed as a ratio of the total metal levels in copepods compared to the seawater metal levels, were as follows: herbivores (83699) > omnivores (47855) > carnivores (41648). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We monitored the concentration of 21 trace elements in zooplankton samples collected in a Northwestern Mediterranean coastal ecosystem (Italy). In the last 20 years, this area has been the target of important anthropogenic impacts including maritime traffic and substantial industrial activities. Zooplankton contributes to the transfer of trace metals to higher trophic levels and constitute one of the recommended groups for the baseline studies of metals in the marine environment. The essential trace elements (As, Cu, Mn, Zn, Fe, Mo, Co, Cr, Se, Ni) and the nonessential trace elements (Al, Be, Cd, Pb, Sb, Sn, V) were generally found at concentrations of no concern in the analyzed zooplankton samples, but showed important variations between seasons and different water depths. The zooplankton was found to be a significant accumulator of metals, and bioaccumulation factors were in the range of 28 (Co) to 10,9015 (Fe) in marine surficial waters, with increasing values at increasing water depth. Zooplankton is a useful bioindicator to assess metal contamination and its impact in the marine environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the framework of the HiTeMS project of the European Metrology Research Pogramme (EMRP) a new multi-wavelength device for measurement of high temperatures in industrial applications was developed at INRIM. The apparatus takes advantage of the ultra-violet operation with working wavelengths from 350 nm up, which reduces the possible errors connected with the multi-wavelength approach. The instrument has been characterised in terms of optical and electronic behaviour and some laboratory trials were carried out to verify the reliability of the multi-wavelength approach. The true temperature of a blackbody source at 1300 °C with optical windows of unknown spectral transmittance interposed has been defined. By applying an approach that allows a result to be accepted when a threshold limit is reached, it was found that, when an acceptable result can be obtained, errors are comprised within less than 1% of the temperature of the source. Three others single-band thermometers, at 508 nm, 650 nm and an IR broadband 0.8–1.1 μm, were also used to the purpose of a comparison. It has been found that, when the multi-wavelength approach is applicable, it provides generally better or in few cases, at worst similar results of corrected single-wavelength thermometers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Temperaments in completed suicides have never been assessed whereas there is substantial research on temperaments in attempted suicides and psychiatric patients. Methods: The significant others of 18 completed suicides participated in this study in order to provide an assessment of temperaments, hopelessness, depression and the suicide risk of their loved ones. The data were compared with data from 244 psychiatric patients of whom 83 had attempted suicide in the previous month. The following instruments were used: the Temperament Evaluation of Memphis, Pisa, Paris and San Diego-auto questionnaire (TEMPS-A), the Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS), the Gotland Scale for Male Depression (GSMD), and the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) module for assessing suicide risk. Results: Individuals who died by suicide more frequently had scores of 9 or higher on the BHS and higher MINI suicide risk scores compared with patients with mood disorders who had not attempted suicide in the previous month. Completed suicides also had lower scores on the TEMPS-A Cyclothymia and Anxiety scales and on the MINI suicide risk scale than mood disorder patients with a recent suicide attempt. Limitations: Proxy assessment of variables through survivors can result in underestimation of psychiatric morbidity and other parameters investigated, and limits the generalization of our results. Conclusions: Our study adds information about temperamental subtypes and other variables in completed suicides and points to their difference from attempted suicides and non-suicidal psychiatric patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High temperature measurement in industry is subject to large uncertainties due to the non-ideal measurement conditions; for example unknown emissivity and window transmission for radiation thermometry, sensor contamination and ageing causing unpredictable drift in contact thermometry. This paper gives an overview of a European Metrology Research Programme (EMRP) project “High Temperature Metrology for Industrial Applications” (HiTeMS) whose objective was to address, on a broad front, a number of unsolved measurement challenges in the domain of high temperatures (above 1000 °C) both in non-contact and contact thermometry. It brought together a total of 15 partner organisations; National Metrology Institutes (NMIs) (10), industrial companies (4) and a Fraunhofer Institute. The project started in September 2011 and was completed August 2014. Significant progress has been made in all the temperature measurement challenges tackled. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Treatment-naïve patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are characterized by diffuse abnormalities of resting-state cortical electroencephalographic (EEG) rhythms (Babiloni et al., 2012a). Here, we tested the hypothesis that these EEG rhythms vary as a function of the systemic immune activity and antiretroviral therapy (ART) in HIV patients. Methods Resting-state eyes-closed EEG data were recorded in 68 ART-HIV patients (mini mental state evaluation (MMSE) of 27.5 ± 0.3 SEM), in 60 treatment-naïve HIV subjects (MMSE of 27.5 ± 0.4 SEM) and in 75 age-matched cognitively normal subjects (MMSE of 29.3 ± 0.1 SEM). Based on the CD4 lymphocytes’ count, we divided ART-HIV subjects into two subgroups: those with CD4 > 500 cells/μl (ART-HIV+) and those with CD4 < 500 cells/μl (ART-HIV−). EEG rhythms of interest were delta (2–4 Hz), theta (4–8 Hz), alpha 1 (8–10.5 Hz), alpha 2 (10.5–12 Hz), beta 1 (13–20 Hz), and beta 2 (20–30 Hz). Cortical EEG sources were estimated by LORETA software. Results Widespread theta, alpha, and beta sources were lower in ART-HIV subjects than in control subjects. Furthermore, occipital and temporal alpha 1 sources were lower in treatment-naïve HIV than in ART-HIV subjects. Moreover, the opposite was true for widespread pathological delta sources. Finally, parietal, occipital, and temporal alpha 1 sources were lower in ART-HIV− than in ART-HIV+ subjects. Conclusions In ART-HIV subjects, cortical sources of resting-state alpha rhythms are related to systemic immune activity and cART. Significance This EEG procedure may produce biomarkers of treatment response in patients’ brain compartments for longitudinal clinical studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Objective: The aim of the study was to test the hypothesis that cortical sources of resting-state electroencephalographic (EEG) rhythms show peculiar frequency/spatial features in naïve human subjects with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) compared to healthy control subjects. Methods: Resting-state eyes-closed EEG data were recorded in 18 naïve HIV subjects (15 males; mean age 39years±2.0 standard error of mean, SEM) and in 18 age-matched cognitively normal subjects (15 males; 38.7years±2.2 SEM). EEG rhythms of interest were delta (2–4Hz), theta (4–8Hz), alpha1 (8–10Hz), alpha2 (10–12Hz), beta1 (13–20Hz) and beta2 (20–30Hz). Cortical EEG sources were estimated by normalised, low-resolution electromagnetic tomography (LORETA). Results: Mini Mental State Evaluation (MMSE) score was lower in HIV (26.5±0.7 SEM) than in healthy (29.2±0.5 SEM) subjects (p <0.05). Central and parietal delta sources showed higher amplitude in the HIV than in control subjects. Furthermore, topographically widespread, cortical sources of resting-state alpha rhythms were lower in amplitude in HIV subjects than in control subjects. Conclusions: The present results suggest that topography and frequency of the cortical sources of resting-state EEG rhythms can distinguish groups of HIV and control subjects. Significance: These results encourage future studies in an enlarged cohort of HIV subjects to test the hypothesis that the present methodological approach provides clinically useful information for an early detection of the effect of HIV infection on brain and cognitive functions. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]