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The results presented in this work are related to an anoxic event occurred in Lesina lagoon (SE Italy) in summer 2008. The main aim is to describe the temporal dynamics of physicochemical characteristics of both sediment and overlaying water inside and outside the critical area. Nine sampling campaigns were carried out on a weekly basis. At each occasion T, S, pH, DO, nutrients and chl a were measured in water and TOC, TN, TP, TFe and ORP were performed on superficial sediments. Multivariate analysis was used in order to evaluate differences between inner and outer sites and assess the relationships between sediments and overlaying water. The factor "location" was significant for the observed physicochemical differences, as also tested by Anosim test one-way which supported evident differences in sediments (R = 0.599, p = 0.01%) and water (R = 0.381, p = 0.01%) between inner and outer sites. Wide fluctuations of oxygen and chlorophyll a were observed in the sites located within the anoxic area, with a peak of biomass of 180 µg.L-1 followed by saturation of oxygen higher than 100%. PCA analysis on sediment variables indicated a clear separation between inner and outer sites along the first axis (PC1) strongly associated with TOC, TN and ORP. A relationship between the content of TP in sediments and TP in water, followed by a phytoplanktonic bloom, was observed and confirmed by statistical correlation methods based on Spearman rank (Rho = 0,569, significance level of 0.01%).

In transitional ecosystems, both the distribution and the association of macrophytes could be used as indices of the ecological level. In the Orbetello lagoon we evaluated the macrophytes distribution and the relative dominances of major species relating observed trends to the harvesting boat activities and to the management strategies adopted to improve general circulation. In summer 2003 and 2009 we performed samplings in above 50 geo-referenced stations widespread inside both lagoon basins. Field activities were performed according to the methodological procedures proposed by Blanquet (1964) and modified by Pignatti (1953). Collected data were statistically analysed performing geo-referenced distribution maps of each specie applying the ordinary kriging techniques using the software Surfer 7.0. Obtained results evidenced a general expansion of the Phanerogams meadows and in particular of the specie Cymodocea nodosa throughout the lagoon basin with significant changes also in the macroalgae assessments. Observed changes were also significantly related to the harvesting activities

The seasonal variability of physico-chemical and biological parameters was observed from October 2012 to October 2013 inside and outside a farming area in the Southern Adriatic sea (Italy), to assess the impact of the mussel farming on ecology and biology of the area. Temperature showed a typical seasonal trend from 7°C to 27°C, while the salinity range was 34-39 psu. Oxygen saturation was close to 100% at the surface layers and decreased up to 60% near the bottom during the spring, suggesting its consumption by organic matter mineralization processes, which affected ammonia and phosphorous, with the highest concentrations measured outside area (4.73 ?M and 2.12 ?M, respectively). Increased values of oxidative nitrogen in winter (12.01 ± 3.67 ?M) were highlighted. A typical seasonal trend was observed for silicates from 5.59 ± 2.36 ?M in winter to 0.45 ± 0.28 ?M in spring. Chlorophyll a values reflected mixing and upwelling processes, with a peak of 6.70 ?g.l-1 in March, characteristic of the maximum phytoplankton production (1.53 x 106 cell.l-1). Diatoms represented the predominant taxonomic group (52%) in abundance and number of species for all the period, suggesting constant eutrophic conditions in both sites. The temporal trend of diatoms is roughly similar for both the sites, except for the spring-summer period, when a decrease of 50% of diatoms abundance was observed outside and a greater deviation of 80% was found inside the farming area.

Lo scopo del lavoro è stato quello di descrivere lo stato ecologico della Sacca Orientale della laguna di Lesina (FG), considerando la comunità macrobentonica e la vegetazione sommersa. Sono stati fatti campionamenti stagionali (2010) in 13 stazioni. In ogni stazione sono state misurate T°C, Salinità e O% dell'acqua e prelevato mediante box-corer (0.0225m2) la macrofauna bentonica e la vegetazione. Il campione, separato dalla vegetazione è stato setacciato in situ, con setaccio di 1 mm. Per ogni stazione è stata rilevata la biomassa umida (gr/m2) e le specie vegetali, l'abbondanza (ind/m2), la biomassa umida (gr/m2) e calcolato gli indici strutturali della comunità bentonica. Per la vegetazione sono state identificate 8 categorie, 7 determinate a livello di specie e 1 a livello di genere. Della macrofauna bentonica sono stati identificati 16 taxa, 15 a livello di specie e 1 a livello di genere, raggruppati in 13 famiglie. Il numero maggiore di famiglie apparteneva ai crostacei (4). Il gruppo più abbondante sono stati i gasteropodi (50%), seguito dai bivalvi (21%) e crostacei (11%). I bivalvi e i crostacei sono stati i più ricchi di specie (4). L'abbondanza media non ha mostrato differenze significative sia tra i campionamenti che tra le stazioni (Anova, p non significativo). Differenze significative tra i mesi sono state osservate per l'indice di Shannon (p

Soft bottom macrozoobenthic distribution, as well as its composition, biomass and diversity were studied at 9 stations in the Gulf of Manfredonia. Polychaeta were numerically the dominant component (71%), followed by Crustacea (21%) and Bivalvia (2%). The highest biodiversity was observed at the stations in near-shore of the study area.

In Varano lagoon (Puglia, Italy) the bivalve Loripes lacteus (Linnaeus, 1758) constitutes the most abundant species among the organisms of the benthic macrofauna. This work presents the results of five years (from 2001 at 2006) of observations on the abundance, size/age population structure and spatial distribution of this species within the basin (6500 ha). L. lacteus is one of the most common and frequent bivalve species in Mediterranean lagoons. It typically occurs in reduced sediments where it is able to live at low oxygen concentration due to a particular respiratory pigment haemoglobin. Lucinid bivalves house symbiotic, sulphur-oxydizing chemoautotrophic bacterias in their gills, which contribute substantially to their nutrition. 2 - The design was to perform two sampling campaignes on yearly basis during the intermediate seasons (Spring and Autumn), when possible. Each sampling was realized collecting 53 sampling units taken from 53 stations distributed regularly over the lagoon surface. Each sampling unit consisted in all the individuals contained in a solid 15 x 15 x 20 cm of sediment and held on 1 mm mesh. 3 - Growth patterns were determined with the Bhattacharya method which uses modal progression analysis from size frequency distribution. 4 - The results showed a spatial distribution of L. lacteus which occurred in patches and changed among samples. The population analysis showed two modal classes for each sampling time. 5 - L. lacteus is an “r” strategy species with small size, brief life cycle, with great capacity of recovery after environmental crises.

The management of coastal lagoons is of particular interest due to their high economical importance. In spite of their great productivity, coastal lagoons are often impacted by human pressure which produces water eutrophication. The aim of this paper is to assess the trophic state of the two Mediterranean lagoons taking into account chemical-physical parameters, nutrient concentrations and biological parameters. Two Italian lagoons, Orbetello and Varano (respectively located in Tyrrhenian and Adriatic coast, Italy) were studied between May 2003 and April 2005. Both these systems receive treated urban outflows, agricultural effluents and rivers freshwater inputs. Field collected data showed that studied lagoons were characterized by different human and natural pressures. Orbetello showed the highest water eutrophication, highlighted by the trophic index values, while Varano showed lower eutrophication levels except for the summertime. The values of physical, chemical and biological parameters measured in Orbetello and Varano lagoons indicate that a wide spatial and seasonal gradient of the water characteristics was established during the study period, but in particular in winter. This gradient, typical of estuarine systems, was essentially due to the mixing of freshwater, seawater and anthropogenic inputs. Orbetello lagoon seemed much more affected by the urban impact and the fish-farming activities than Varano lagoon, but the latter showed a greater agriculture activities impact as showed by the remote sensing images.

The purpose of this paper is to assess the present status of a Mediterranean lagoon (Varano lagoon, Italy), basing on nutrient and chlorophyll a data. A water sampling in Varano lagoon was performed at 7 fixed stations from February 2004 to July 2005, collecting surface water samples to analyse ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) and soluble reactive silica (SRSi), chlorophyll a (chl a) and total suspended solids (TSS). Spatial and temporal distributions of chemical and biological parameters in Varano lagoon were examined to accomplish the goal of this study. Statistical tests were used to investigate the correlations between analysed variables and to characterize, from a spatial and temporal point of view, the lagoon in relation to each variable. Ammonia and nitrate did not showed good correlation (P

1 - Mediterranean lagoons are naturally exposed, during the dry season, to dystrophic and hypoxic events determining dis-equilibrium conditions along temporal and spatial scales, which are linked to metabolism and life cycle of the biotic components. 2 - In summer 2008, Lesina lagoon (SE Italian coastline) was interested by a geographically localized dystrophic crisis which affected up to 8% of the total lagoon surface. 3 - Temporal dynamics of principal descriptors of abiotic (water, sediment) and biotic (phytoplankton, benthic macroinvertebrate) compartments have been followed during the 2008 by collecting data inside stressed and control lagoon areas before a dystrophic event and in the six months after the dystrophic event. 4 - The aim of the study was to analyse the pathways of ecosystem responses to dystrophic stress, searching for the characteristic scales of ecosystem compartment resistance and resilience. 5 - The characteristic time-scale of abiotic and biotic component time responses varied from days, for the selected markers of the water column, to year, for the benthic ones. Short-term biotic and abiotic responses in the water column were strongly coupled while biotic and abiotic responses at the sediment level were remarkably un-coupled. Dynamics and recovery time of water column and benthic components do not match in Lesina following the dystrophic crisis, highlighting an intrinsic individualistic behavior within the lagoon community driving ecosystem processes and ecosystem level responses. 6 - Taxonomic and non-taxonomic descriptors of both phytoplankton and benthic macroinvertebrates showed different response patterns as early warning signals and overall resilience. The emphasized differences in the stability components, i.e., resistance and resilience, of water column and sediment abiotic and biotic characteristics as well as of taxonomic and non-taxonomic descriptors has key implication in planning monitoring strategies and programs for transitional waters in the Mediterranean and Black Sea EcoRegions.

Bio-physical properties along a transect from coastal to offshore waters of the Southern Adriatic Sea (Gulf of Manfredonia) were monitored during a multidisciplinary cruise in March 2012 and are here reported. Absence of stratification and presence of two systems with different bio-physical characteristics were highlighted. Coastal waters resulted colder and less salty than off-shore waters. Primary biomass data evidenced an increase of the values from the surface coastal waters to the depth of 25 m. A decrease of phytoplankton biomass was also detected at the off-shore waters.

The results presented in this work are part of a pilot project aimed at the evaluation of the potential biodiesel production from algal biomass. Specifically, macroalgal and phytoplanktonic biomass of two Italian lagoon, Orbetello (north Tyrrhenian Sea) and Lesina (south Adriatic Sea), regarded as highly productive and eutrophic, were monitored in spring and summer 2011 and 2012. The study has been divided in two main sections. Firstly, a general qualitative outline of the submerged vegetation distribution by visual census techniques was conducted. Secondly, macroalgae and water samples for chlorophyll a determination were collected in order to study the primary production (in Kg.m-2 and ?g.L-1 for macroalgae and phytoplankton, respectively). Accordingly the lagoons have been divided into transects oriented according to the direction NS and WE. We obtained a total of 18 transects oriented in NW-SE direction in the Orbetello (8 in the western basin and 10 in the eastern basin) and 13 in the Lesina (10 of them in the "Sacca Orientale"). At the same time, physico-chemical parameters were measured by multiparametric probe. The results show a basic difference between the two systems, with a productivity shift towards phytoplankton biomass in Lesina and macroalgae in Orbetello. In Lesina, mean concentrations of chlorophyll a were 2.97 ± 3.63 ?g.L-1 (spring, with maximum of 15.27??g.L-1) and 2.36 ± 2.60 ?g.L-1 (summer, with peak of 12??g.L-1), while macroalgal biomass ranged from 1.9 to 2.6 kg.m-2 for both observation periods. Conversely, in Orbetello lagoon mean phytoplanktonic chlorophyll a did not exceed the level of 0.51 ±0.31 ?g.L-1 in spring and 0.81 ± 0.70 ?g.L-1 in summer (with maximum of 3.21 ?g.L-1), while biomass of submerged vegetation was always an order of magnitude greater. In particular, macroalgal biomass was higher in the western basin than in the Eastern one with mean values that increased from spring (28.2 Kg.m-2) to summer (66.1 kg.m-2). This study indicates that the high macroalgal production in Orbetello lagoon could be evaluated for biodiesel production, while in Lesina the macroalgae distribution is more casual e quantitatively less abundant.

A new classification is proposed for post-reduction necrosis of the femoral epiphysis based on retrospective analysis of 54 cases with a mean follow-up of 15 years. Necrosis can be divided under two main headings:A) partial, involving only the epiphysisB) total, involving the metaphyseal cartilage.Four total forms have been identified:B1: eventually resulting in coxa valgaB2: eventually resulting in a short stubby neck, oval head and coxa magnaB3: eventually resulting in coxa vara and severe acetabular dysplasiaB4: eventually resulting in hypoplasia of the whole hip joint.This classification system comprises all the aspects of necrosis, while at the same time providing guidelines for treatment and long-term planning.

L'anguilla europea è ampiamente usata come biomonitor nelle lagune costiere per la sua capacità di accumulare contaminanti durante la sua lunga vita, per i suoi bassi tassi di espulsione, per il suo comportamento ecologico e tolleranza ad alti livelli di inquinamento. In tale studio viene valutata la bontà dell'anguilla come bioindicatore di inquinamento in due lagune italiane (Orbetello e Varano). Campioni di sedimento superficiale e tessuti (fegato e muscolo) di anguille argentine, provenienti da catture commerciali, sono stati raccolti con lo scopo di determinare il contenuto degli inquinanti (organici ed inorganici), di valutare l'arricchimento nei tessuti e di correlare tali livelli alla potenziale differente pressione umana. Per valutare l'accumulo di contaminanti legato alle attività umane sono stati calcolati i fattori di arricchimento biologico (BEF), mentre l'analisi multivariata è stata usata per confrontare la pressione antropica sui due ecosistemi e l'influenza delle sorgenti di scarico. I risultati evidenziano una differenza significativa tra le lagune di Orbetello e Varano per ciò che riguarda i contaminanti organici nei sedimenti, con valori medi largamente più alti nella laguna di Orbetello. Stesso risultato è stato riscontrato dalle analisi dei tessuti delle anguille, evidenziando la presenza di un importante fonte locale di tale contaminazione ad Orbetello rispetto a Varano. In relazione agli inquinanti inorganici, arricchimenti significativi di alcuni elementi in traccia (per es. Zn e Cu) sono stati ritrovati in entrambi le lagune, con valori di BEF sensibilmente più alti nella laguna di Orbetello. In conclusione, i risultati ottenuti in questo studio confermano che l'anguilla europea rappresenta un buon indicatore della qualità delle lagune costiere. Sebbene la laguna di Varano risulti essere meno impattata da un punto di vista della qualità chimica rispetto ad Orbetello, dai fattori di accumulo è stato possibile differenziare la pressione antropica (origine) sulle due lagune. Nella laguna di Varano prevale l'inquinamento inorganico da elementi in traccia, dovuto ad intense attività agricole nel bacino imbrifero, mentre nella laguna di Orbetello è maggiore la biodisponibilità degli inquinanti organici, dovuti ad una maggiore industrializzazione ed urbanizzazione dell'area.

In CHD (Congenital Hip Dislocation), the elements which determine the degree and quality of acetabular growth are not clear. This has caused a great deal of controversy on the capability of development of the cotyloid cavity, hence on the indications to reconstructive surgical treatment. In order to study the behavior of che cotyloid cavity, two groups of patients were taken into consideration: normal subjects and subjects with CHD. In normal subjects the median value of the Hingelreiner angle was 19°–4'± 1° (normal limit), at 1 year old. The acetabular index decreases rapidly until becoming stable at adult values at the age of 8-10 years of age. The distinctive characteristics of the hip with spontaneous recovery from cotyloid dysplasia could be defined as follows: a) the higher critical value on average is reached after 24 months of treatment; b) once the borderline is reached, the dislocated hip evolves in the same way as the healthy hip; c) the earlier treatment is started, the sooner correction of the H angle is obtained; d) the cotyloid cavity continues to develop even after 5 years from reduction. In CHD with terminal residual dysplasia, an initial correction of the H angle is followed by a sudden interruption in acetabular development, which remains inadequate and will never reach normal values. These data allow not only the definition of the acetabular growth potential, but also the establishment of more precise indications for reconstructive surgical treatment.

This study presents a biotic index (?) for measuring environmental quality in the coastal lagoons of the Mediterranean. Index ? considers combined anthropogenic (pollution) and natural factors (prohibitive salinity, anoxia, toxic blooms, isolation from sea, etc.) of deterioration. The method is based on the principle of indicator species and on the conceptual scheme developed by Frisoni et al. (1984) according to which there are six possible sub-assemblages (Zones) of benthic macrofauna, each indicating a different level of environmental quality. The procedure requires defining the relative extent of the Zones in the lagoon under study, and the number of species and the mean biomass of benthic macrofauna present in each. The three metrics are applied in the index formula and the resulting number from one to ten indicates increasing environmental quality. The authors have validated the index by applying it to two lagoons, Lesina and Varano (S.Adriatic, Italy).

Nell'ambito di un progetto finalizzato alla produzione di biocombustibili da biomasse acquatiche, è stato eseguito un monitoraggio abiotico (acqua e sedimenti) nella Sacca Orientale della laguna di Lesina durante il 2010. A maggio, luglio e ottobre 2010, in 30 siti, sono stati misurati in situ i parametri chimico-fisici e raccolti campioni di acqua per le analisi dei nutrienti e clorofilla a. In 10 stazioni sono stati, inoltre, raccolti campioni di sedimento superficiale per le analisi del carbonio organico totale (TOC). E' stata, inoltre, effettuata una identificazione delle specie macroalgali presenti, soprattutto quelle utili ai fini del progetto (Chara sp., Chaetomorpha linum e Chladophora sp.). La temperatura, la salinità e l'ossigeno disciolto mostrano il tipico trend stagionale con fluttuazioni spaziali più marcate durante il mese di luglio. In estate, infatti, quando gli input di acqua dolce sono minimi e le alte temperature favoriscono l'evaporazione, vengono registrati valori di salinità maggiori, dovuti anche all'entrata di acqua di mare del canale Schiapparo (come mostrato dalle distribuzioni spaziali). In particolare la presenza di acque più fredde, meno salate e più ossigenate risulta essere evidente in prossimità degli input di acqua dolce (fiume Lauro e Idrovora Lauro), sebbene nessuna correlazione sia stata osservata tra l'ossigeno e la salinità. Una netta diminuzione della concentrazione media dei silicati fu osservata da maggio (94,12 ?M) a luglio (7,93 ?M) ed un aumento da luglio ad ottobre (78,96 ?M). Inoltre, la forte ed inversa correlazione tra i silicati e la temperatura indicherebbe che le concentrazioni dei silicati sono influenzate dai bloom stagionali della componente fitoplanctonica.In relazione ai sedimenti, i contenuti medi di TC furono costanti durante il periodo di osservazione, mentre il TOC variava, aumentando le sue concentrazioni nei mesi di luglio e ottobre, in cui si registrarono valori alti di 5,12-6,78 % nei siti localizzati nell'estremità nord-est della Sacca Orientale.

In the latest years, the environmental research has focused on studying the water quality of marine-coastal ecosystems and on the main consequences of human activities within these environments, their surroundings and catchments. Among aquatic water systems, coastal lagoons are particularly vulnerable to water-quality deterioration, due to their restricted water exchange. In addition, they are used as nursery areas for aquaculture and fisheries exploitations, which represent the main economic relevance for local inhabitants. Protection of the ecological status of worldwide lagoons has to be the key purpose of the International directives, as coastal lagoons are naturally stressed ecosystems which suffer from frequent environmental disturbances and fluctuations related to their geomorphologic characteristics, general hydrodynamics, abiotic and biological parameters. The main keys of ecological research studies in coastal lagoons are represented by the need to improve the general knowledge on system dynamics focusing on the leading aspects useful to develop eco-compatible management plans which allow us to preserve their productivity avoiding losses of biodiversity related to the increase of bioavailabile nutrients. The increasing number of ecosystems exhibiting frequently a progressive decline of water quality has led environmental researchers and managers to identify eutrophication as a major worldwide problem. The development of simple and not expensive well calibrated indices of eutrophication represents one of the most actual ecological fields in which researchers are involved. Many European countries have developed within the Water Framework Directive (CE 2000/60), an environmental quality classification scheme in order to assess the trophic state and water quality through the use of specific indices based on environmental factors. Our aim is to evaluate nowadays the state of knowledge related to eutrophication of worldwide lagoon ecosystems, highlighting the main fields of interest and major problems. Leading problems are related to the choise of useful indices, their calibration, their efficiency in describing dynamics of lagoons characterized by different trophic levels and the selection of the opportune pristine ecosystem as reference for lagoon classifications related to water quality.

Il sedimento rappresenta il comparto di accumulo principale dei contaminanti ambientali quali xeno biotici, idrocarburi e metalli in tracce. Negli ecosistemi di transizione, interessati da un elevato dinamismo geomorfologico, processi multifattoriali a ciclicità stagionale possono indurre oscillazioni significative dei livelli di queste sostanze nel corso dell'anno solare in seguito a fenomeni di cessione dal sedimento e trasferimento alla rete trofica. Un contributo sostanziale in questo senso può essere rappresentato da up-take da parte delle biomasse vegetali. Questo studio ha valutato la significatività dei fattori stagione e copertura vegetale del substrato sui livelli di contaminanti presenti nel sedimento. Sono state individuate sei aree interne alla laguna di Orbetello caratterizzate da concentrazioni elevate di contaminanti e da una diversa copertura vegetale. Nel corso del biennio 2007-2008, sono stati effettuati rilievi dei principali descrittori della colonna d'acqua, prelievo di sedimento e biomasse vegetali secondo un modello logico di campionamento a cadenza stagionale replicata. I risultati conseguiti hanno evidenziato una dipendenza notevole dei livelli di alcuni contaminanti ambientali rispetto al fattore stagione mostrando l'esistenza di dinamiche di tipo molecola-specifiche all'interno del sistema di studio. La presenza di copertura vegetale costituisce fattore significativo sulla discriminazione dei livelli di questi composti nel sedimento indicando fenomeni di uptake complessi. Sono state riscontrate alcune relazioni significative tra i livelli di contaminanti ed alcuni fattori abiotici stagionali in grado di interferire con la mobilitazione delle molecole dal sedimento quali, ad esempio, le condizioni meteorologiche, il livello di ossigenazione della colonna d'acqua e torbidità.

L'obiettivo principale del lavoro è stato quello di stabilire una possibile zonizzazione nella laguna di Lesina, attraverso lo studio del comparto bentonico. In particolare, l'approccio utilizzato è stato quello di descrivere le variazioni spazio-temporali nella diversità e nella struttura del macrobentos e nelle caratteristiche chimico-fisiche dei sedimenti (granulometria, carbonio organico totale e macronutrienti), al fine di comprendere il potenziale effetto dell'habitat sedimentario sull'organizzazione spaziale della componente biotica. Campionamenti annuali (tarda primavera-estate), per un periodo di tre anni (2007, 2008, 2009), sono stati eseguiti su una griglia di n. 13 stazioni. I risultati granulometrici hanno mostrato che il settore orientale della laguna, soprattutto la linea di costa settentrionale, è caratterizzato dalla componente più grossolana, dove probabilmente la dinamica delle correnti previene l'accumulo delle particelle più fini che coprono la zona sud-orientale (silt) e quella occidentale (clay). E' stato osservato un aumento del contenuto medio di TOC dal 2007 (3,07%) al 2009 (3,72%), con i valori più alti nel settore orientale ed in corrispondenza del centro urbano. L'analisi multivariata sulle variabili ambientali non ha evidenziato zone della laguna significativamente differenti durante il periodo di studio, mentre una significativa differenza tra gli anni di osservazione fu ottenuta attraverso l'applicazione del test ANOSIM (analisi delle similarità) che h prodotto un fattore R=0,241, p=0,01%). In relazione al macrozobentos, è stato riscontrato un numero totale di specie pari a 20 dove il taxa dominante è costituito da i molluschi bivalvi (80%) e la specie più abbondante è rappresentata dall'Abra segmentum (61%). Contrariamente alle variabili ambiental, la Cluster analysis e l'ANOSIM test hanno identificato gruppi di stazioni caratterizzati da comunità macrozoobentiche significativamente diverse. Analogamente al TOC, l'abbondanza media degli organismi sembra aumentare nel corso degli anni e sembra mostrare altresì un gradiente Ovest-Est. I risultati biotici hanno evidenziato che gli assemblaggi macrozoobentici in laguna sono caratterizzati da un alta eterogeneità spaziale su piccola scala (ad esempio, centinaia di metri) in relazione ai cambiamenti ambientali fisici e chimici.

Good results have been reported after both primary repair and conservative management of grade III ankle sprains. This prospective study found no advantage of operative treatment compared to taping; no significant differences were found between the groups with regard to objective or subjective stability, functional scores, or the overall result.

In order to assess the fishery potential of the Aquatina lake we applied the method of VATOVA (1953) which relates the quality and quantity of the benthic macrofauna with the maximum sustainable yield in fish. Samples of benthic macrofauna were taken in October 2006 and November 2007. The forthcoming data revealed that the fishery potential was 16 kg/ha in 2006 and 36 kg/ha in 2007, consisting in 60% of seabass, seabream and eel and 40% grey mullet. According to the bionomic scheme of FRISONI et al. (1984), 80% of Aquatina basin falls within Zone III and Zone IV.

1 -In this study recent changes of the distribution of three phanerogam species (Ruppia cirrhosa, Cymodocea nodosa, and Nanozostera noltii) were studied in the Orbetello lagoon, a meso-eutrophic and human stressed ecosystem. 2 -The aim was: I) to produce SURFER distributions maps, and II) to statistically evaluate significant changes in the spatial distribution taking into account two different factors (basin and year). For these reasons, percentage of coverage (CP) of each species was estimated in 38 sites equally distributed inside the Eastern and Western basins both in summers 2003 and 2009. 3 -The geostatistical maps evidenced changes in phanerogams distribution during the studied period but only variations observed for the N. noltii species at basin level resulted significant on a statistical basis. Significant differences at basin level were also obtained by the multivariate analysis. These results might be explained by the different ecological characteristics existing between Western and Eastern basins.

In this first, introductory study we established the parameters with which to develop an in-depth study of the mechanical interpretation of roentgenographic images of osteoarthritic hips. Our choice of parameters, and in fact our whole approach, parted from the theories of morphobiomechanics advanced by Pauwels and by Bombelli

Biomonitoring with benthic macro-invertebrates is a major tool to evaluate ecological status of aquatic ecosystems. Macro-invertebrates represent also a key Biological Quality Element (BQE) for the evaluation of ecological status of all categories of water bodies in the EU Water Framework Directive (WFD). According to WFD, the evaluation and classification of ecological status is based on the comparison of metric values within the considered aquatic ecosystems with the same metric values in reference 'pristine' ecosystems of the same type. This approach is a major problem for the classification of Mediterranean transitional water ecosystems, since in the Mediterranean Ecoregion almost all relevant transitional waters have been used by human societies since centuries; there are not pristine transitional water in the Mediterranean. Here, we test the adequacy of a reciprocal approach, based on the use of extremely polluted conditions, as reference cases. To this aim, following the strong dystrophic crisis that has occurred to a portion of Lesina lagoon during the summer 2008, we have analysed the spatial and temporal patterns of most of the metrics proposed so far to evaluate the status of benthic macro-invertebrate guilds. They involve, simple and complex metrics, taxonomically based, functionally based and size spectra based, accounting for taxa sensitivity or considering all taxa with the same weight. Globally, more than forty metrics were tested and for the 25th percentile characterized by the highest redundancy and the lowest variability, the patterns of variation between polluted and unpolluted sites and along the temporal scale of the dystrophic crisis are described. The intercalibration of the different metrics and their adequacy to describe the ecological status of transitional waters is discussed.

In 2003–2006, the distribution of macronutrients and pollutants of environmental interest was investigated in surficial sediments collected from 10 southern Italy harbors selected in four different regions. About 167 stations were sampled to determine levels of total organic carbon, total nitrogen, total phosphorous, trace elements (Al, Cd, Pb, Ni, Cr, Cu, Zn, Hg, As), short- and long-chain aliphatic hydrocarbons ( Hy C > 12 and Hy C

The main goal of this study is to understand the hydrological and biochemical set up and processes of a marine coastal area located in the western side of the south Adriatic sea (the gulf of Manfredonia) by the use of both satellite images and in situ investigations A water sampling in the gulf of Manfredonia was performed at 18 fixed stations in June 2003; physico-chemical and biological parameters (temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen and fluorescence) were measured along the water column and water samples were collected to analyse dissolved nutrients (ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, phosphate and silicate), total nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus), chlorophyll a and total suspended solids. Surface spatial distributions of field collected data were examined to characterize biochemical and hydrographic conditions of the Gulf of Manfredonia and these results were related with the remote sensing analysis data. Remote sensed data (obtained by Landsat 7 TM and Modis Terra) were processed to obtain maps of chlorophyll a, temperature and optical characteristics of the gulf; these maps were compared to in situ data. From physico-chemical measurements no stratification was observed in the water column except for the south-eastern area. High concentrations of silicate and ammonia were observed in the northern zone of the gulf, while nitrate, phosphate, chlorophyll a and total suspended solids distributions showed higher values in the central coastal zone. These results were confirmed by remote sensing analysis; Modis elaboration showed a distribution with higher concentrations of chlorophyll a near the coast and Landsat images highlighted the extension of the surrounding agricultural areas crossed by the two main rivers which discharge into the gulf. The integration between field data with the remote sensing analysis showed to be a valid support in coastal zone management.

Benthic macro-invertebrates represent a key component on Mediterranean lagoon ecosystems being the group of species whose life cycle and behavioural patterns fits are more exposed to the abiotic variability characteristic of these ecosystems. Here we describe the results of a field experiment carried out during the dystrophic crisis affecting Lesina lagoon in summer 2008. Benthic macro-invertebrate guilds were studied at weekly interval in two stations differently exposed to the crisis. Seasonal data on the same stations were also collected. The aim of the study was to evaluate the resistance and resilience components of structural and functional metrics of macro-invertebrate guilds, where body size structure and trophic groups were considered as functional metrics. Dystrophic crisis determined significant changes in all metrics considered: taxonomic richness decreased, species composition changed, functional richness decreased and size distribution widths decreased in the area affected by the crisis with respect to the control, unaffected, area. In the station inside the crisis area, only more opportunistic species (e.g., Chironomus salinarius, Hydrobia ventrosa) were able to outstand the anoxic conditions characterizing the dystrophic crisis. However, the time lag of the response, its amplitude and the recovery times vary greatly among taxonomic, functional and size structure descriptors of benthic macro-invertebrate guilds. The trajectories of change for everyone of these descriptor along the spatial and temporal gradients set by the dystrophic crisis are analysed and discussed. The overall data set seems to indicate that functional responses, including the metabolic based ones, are faster and more consistent than those shown by the taxonomic components, suggesting that a niche filtering process on functional traits is a driving force in the organization of macro-invertebrate guilds in Mediterranean lagoon ecosystems.

In order to assess the fishery potential of the Aquatina lake we applied the method of VATOVA (1953) which relates the quality and quantity of the benthic macrofauna with the maximum sustainable yield in fish. Samples of benthic macrofauna were taken in October 2006 and November 2007. The forthcoming data revealed that the fishery potential was 16 kg/ha in 2006 and 36 kg/ha in 2007, consisting in 60% of seabass, seabream and eel and 40% grey mullet. According to the bionomic scheme of FRISONI et al. (1984), 80% of Aquatina basin falls within Zone III and Zone IV.

The aim of this study was to define the characteristics of the diseased hip through a series of roentgenographic parameters measured on X-rays taken from a group of patients suffering from primary osteoarthritis. The arthritic hips were divided into three groups: superolateral OA, concentric OA, and medial OA. In light of the anatomo-roentgenographic characteristics this study proposes a new classification of osteoarthritis based on the direction of migration of the femoral head. Analysis of the data has highlighted the extreme polymorphism which characterizes the course and evolution of osteoarthritis and the serious modifications brought about in the hip-joint region. The clinical impression at the conclusion of this study is of a direct correlation between primary alterations of parameters of the hip and development of osteoarthritis.

The aim of this study was to establish the point at which a hip is at risk of developing osteoarthritis and the percentage of hips which run such a risk. 253 hips of 164 adults (average age 43) suffering from pathologies not involving the coxofemoral joint were examined. The most important data were: The WBS presented a greater obliquity than the medio-normal; the S. S. surface was narrower; all parameters presented considerable standard deviation. A hip was considered “at risk” when at least two parameters were outside the “normal” limits established in our previous study.

The electromigration performance of the Al-1 per cent Si/TiN/Ti metal scheme is investigated both for contacts and for stripes and compared with the results for the standard Al-1 per cent Si metallization. Statistical extrapolations at the operating conditions for a device have been performed to calculate the useful life of contacts and stripes. The results indicate that the most severe limitation to the interconnection reliability is given by the contacts without the diffusion barrier layer.

With the aim of defining the roentgenographic characteristics of a “normal” hip - meaning an articulation able to fully respond to static and dynamic stress without wear, we examined 60 hips of people over 70 years old from a population of Southern Italy. The parameters considered were: width of WBS, inclination of WBS, height of Gothic Arch, width of Gothic Arch, angle of aperture of Gothic Arch, a angle of Gothic Arch, diameter of femoral head, CE angle of Wiberg, neck-shaft angle, offset, angle of aperture of spherichal sector (SS), surface area of SS, volume of SS, radius of the spherical bowl, height of the spherical bowl, distance from the “tear drop” image of the fundus acetabuli. The main findings are: a) the WBS is horizontal; b) the gothic arch is orthogonal to the WBS; c) the spherical sector presents wide individual oscillations; d) the female hip has specific characteristics, being mainly smaller.

In this work the results of a test breeding of Crassostrea gigas (Thun.) in Varano lagoon, performed from 2006 to 2007, are presented. Minimum average size with trade interest was 6 cm and it was observed for six months. The results obtained suggest good prospects for the oyster culture reintegration into the activities of the aquaculture brackish from reassess.

1. Introducing more or less voluntary alien species is now recognized worldwide as one of the most 1 - serious biological threats to biodiversity. The brackish-water lakes of the Lesina and Varano (Apulia, Adriatic Sea), where in recent years (2000-2007) the presence of exotic species is increasingly reported by local fishermen, have not been spared this phenomenon. 2. The two biotopes are connected with the Adriatic Sea by two artificial channels. In this paper a list 2 - of alien species found in the two brackish basins in recent years was described. 3. The following 6 species were reported: Oreochromis niloticus niloticus (Linnaeus, 1758) 3 - (Actinopterygii, Perciformes, Cichlidae), Callinectes sapidus (Rathbun, 1896) (Arthropoda, Crustacea, Decapoda, Portunidae), Procambarus clarkii (Girard 1852) (Arthropoda, Crustacea, Decapoda, Cambaridae), Musculista senhousia (Benson in Cantor,1842) (Mollusca, Bivalvia, Mytilidae), Rapana venosa (Valenciennes, 1846) (Mollusca, Gastropoda, Muricidae), Dyspanopeus sayi (Smith, 1869) (Arthropoda, Crustacea, Decapoda, Xanthidae). 3. The presence of Oreochromis niloticus niloticus and Procambarus clarkii seemed to be linked to the 4 - accidental release from aquaculture activities present in the sourronding land, while the presence of Musculista senhousia, Rapana venosa and Dyspanopeus sayi was probably due to the introduction into the lake of the juvenile mussels coming from the northern Adriatic sea. The place of origin of other species is not clear.

At present, news techniques and instrumentations need for real time marine environmental monitoring. This necessity arises from the need of knowing in real time the evolution of marine phenomena due to anthropic pressure or natural events. A real time observation system could permit a better management and sustainable exploitation of marine environment. The PITAGEM project (Integrated methodologies for the study of marine trophic processes and deployment and management of oceanographic platform for marine monitoring), coordinated by CNR - ISMAR of Lesina, aims to develop new oceanographic instrumentations and to set up and to manage an automatic monitoring integrated network in the Gulf of Manfredonia (Southern Adriatic Sea) and in the Gulf of Taranto (Ionian Sea). Furthermore, in the Gulf of Manfredonia another aim is to study and understand its processes. This gulf can be considered a complex area where anthropic pressure (industrial, agricultural, urban, harbour and tourist activities) plays an important role for pollution phenomena or alteration of the marine ecosystem. The technology and instrumentation developed during the PITAGEM project are the following: 1. An oceanographic platform, still under testing, deployed in the Gulf of Manfredonia, equipped with: a)a meteorological station measuring air pressure, air temperature, solar radiation, wind direction and wind speed; b)an automatic phosphorous and nitrogen compound analyser of water samples collected at five different depths; c)a multiparametric probe for temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, pH, in vivo fluorescence measurements of water samples collected at five different depths; d)a near real time communication system transmitting data via SMS. The monitoring program performed by the platform has began on October 2003, but at the moment the platform is under maintenance. 2.An eight meter vessel equipped with a surface pumping system and a multiparametric probe for measuring in continuous physico - chemical parameters of surface waters of the Gulf of Manfredonia. The monitoring program performed by the vessel has began on May 2003 with bimonthly frequency, and includes: a)horizontal continuous tracks of surface physico-chemical parameters (temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, pH, in vivo fluorescence and turbidity) along a transect parallel to the coastline; b)vertical physico-chemical profiles (temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, pH, fluorescence) at 20 fixed stations along 4 transects (one parallel and 3 perpendicular to the coastline); c)sub-surface and bottom water sampling, by rosette, for suspended solid, nutrient (NO3, NO2, NH3, PO4, Si(OH)4, total P and N) and chlorophyll "a" analyses at fixed stations. An additional component of the project is the realization of two multidisciplinary cruises aiming to study optical properties, primary production and biogeochemical processes of the Gulf of Manfredonia. The data are stored in an integrated data bank provided with a GIS system. The platform data are validated by a data quality control check (quality flags, statistical elaboration) and compared to data which are acquired in the same sampling stations by a reference instrument (field calibration). The validation and calibration protocols will be designed and modified in according to all the developing system of the platform. The final aim of this system is to set up an ecological model to obtain forecast scenarios. The initial data obtained with the platform and the boat monitoring in the Gulf of Manfredonia show how this area is subject to high seasonal influence, that processes between coastal and central marine areas differ, and the high influence of the general winter cyclonic circulations of the Adriatic Sea in more offshore areas.