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The Water Framework Directive (WFD) sets the fundamental structure for assessing the status of water bodies in the European Union. Its implementation is currently entering its fourth six-year cycle assisted by a total of 38 guidance documents. The principal objective is to ensure good status for surface and ground waters. The functioning of the WFD is based on detecting the impact of human pressures on biological, physico-chemical, or hydromorphological parameters, and reducing these causal pressures through a program of measures to achieve good status. Climate change can exert a significant influence on ecological status by directly altering parameters monitored, pressure interactions, or influencing the effectiveness of programs of measures. Aquatic systems respond holistically to climate change with different pressures having additive, synergistic, or antagonistic interactions. The challenge is how to adapt the framework to manage aquatic systems in the context of climate change while maintaining focus on implementing measures to tackle key pressures. This paper examines potential approaches, including reassignment of waterbody type, quantifying the portion of Ecological Quality Ratio (EQR) driven by climate change, and creating an assessment module of climatic pressures and ecological responses. The overall purpose is to stimulate discussion and explore ways to incorporate climate change into the WFD structure., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare no competing interest., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

This study presents what we believe is the first extensive assessment of the water reflectance products from the German hyperspectral Environmental Mapping and Analysis Program (EnMAP). We evaluate EnMAP's standard normalized water leaving reflectance [ρ W ] N over 17 water sites in the first two years of the mission. The EnMAP [ρ W ] N standard product is generated by a dedicated water atmospheric correction (AC) called the Modular Inversion Program (MIP). The quality of the [ρ W ] N retrievals was assessed using in situ hyperspectral measurements and Aerosol Robotic Network - Ocean Colour (AERONET-OC) multispectral measurements. The results showed very good agreement between in situ hyperspectral match-ups and EnMAP [ρ W ] N , with an underestimation of EnMAP of -17.37% (bias, β) and an error ( ϵ ) of 23.75% at 418 - 797 nm. Two other AC processors were also investigated: the polynomial based algorithm applied to MERIS (Polymer) and the atmospheric correction for OLI lite (Acolite). The intercomparison exercise between the three AC methods applied to EnMAP data using the hyperspectral match-up dataset showed better statistical metrics for MIP ( ϵ =23 % , β =-17.37 % ) compared to Polymer ( ϵ =42.20 % , β =-2.43 % ) and Acolite ( ϵ =97 % , β =97 % ). The superior performance of MIP was further confirmed by the validation results obtained with the multispectral match-up dataset; MIP retrievals show good agreement with in situ measurements at the majority of study sites. Conversely, Polymer and Acolite retrievals tended to overestimate, especially in clearer waters as the Lampedusa study site.

Slow and long-term variations of sea surface temperature anomalies have been interpreted as a red-noise response of the ocean surface mixed layer to fast and random atmospheric perturbations. How fast the atmospheric noise is damped depends on the mixed layer depth. In this work we apply this theory to determine the relevant spatial and temporal scales of surface layer thermal inertia in lakes. We fit a first order auto-regressive model to the satellite-derived Lake Surface Water Temperature (LSWT) anomalies in Lake Garda, Italy. The fit provides a time scale, from which we determine the mixed layer depth. The obtained result shows a clear spatial pattern resembling the morphological features of the lake, with larger values (7.18± 0.3 m) in the deeper northwestern basin, and smaller values (3.18 ± 0.24 m) in the southern shallower basin. Such variations are confirmed by in-situ measurements in three monitoring points in the lake and connect to the first Empirical Orthogonal Function of satellite-derived LSWT and chlorophyll-a concentration. Evidence from our case study open a new perspective for interpreting lake-atmosphere interactions and confirm that remotely sensed variables, typically associated with properties of the surface layers, also carry information on the relevant spatial and temporal scales of mixed-layer processes., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The development of algorithms for remote sensing of water quality (RSWQ) requires a large amount of in situ data to account for the bio-geo-optical diversity of inland and coastal waters. The GLObal Reflectance community dataset for Imaging and optical sensing of Aquatic environments (GLORIA) includes 7,572 curated hyperspectral remote sensing reflectance measurements at 1 nm intervals within the 350 to 900 nm wavelength range. In addition, at least one co-located water quality measurement of chlorophyll a, total suspended solids, absorption by dissolved substances, and Secchi depth, is provided. The data were contributed by researchers affiliated with 59 institutions worldwide and come from 450 different water bodies, making GLORIA the de-facto state of knowledge of in situ coastal and inland aquatic optical diversity. Each measurement is documented with comprehensive methodological details, allowing users to evaluate fitness-for-purpose, and providing a reference for practitioners planning similar measurements. We provide open and free access to this dataset with the goal of enabling scientific and technological advancement towards operational regional and global RSWQ monitoring., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

COVID-19 lockdown brought to a drastic reduction of anthropic impacts on the environment worldwide, including the marine-coastal system. Earth-Observation (EO) data have the potential to monitor and diagnose the effects of the lockdown in terms of water quality. Here we connect the dots among some coastal environmental changes that occurred during the Italian COVID-19 lockdown by using EO data, also seeking to assess connectivity between inland and marine systems. We present a holistic analysis of spatial and temporal variability of environmental parameters in the North Adriatic Sea, Mediterranean basin, exploiting the synergy of different satellite sensors, as well as hydrologic data from in situ observations. Our analysis indicates a favourable interplay of environmental variability that resulted in negative anomalies of Chlorophyll-a concentration, with respect to the climatologic values. Peculiar meteo-oceanographic and hydrological conditions made hard to disentangle potential anthropogenic effects. However, a multi-year hierarchical cluster analysis of riverine remote sensing reflectances groups together the optical properties of inland waters during the lockdown. This emergent cluster highlights the possibility of a second-order, anthropogenic effect that, superimposed to the (first-order) environmental natural causes, may have enhanced water quality during the lockdown., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The frequency of heatwave events in Europe is increasing as a result of climate change. This can have implications for the water quality and ecological functioning of aquatic systems. We deployed three spectroradiometer WISPstations at three sites in Europe (Italy, Estonia, and Lithuania/Russia) to measure chlorophyll-a at high frequency. A heatwave in July 2019 occurred with record daily maximum temperatures over 40 °C in parts of Europe. The effects of the resulting storm that ended the heatwave were more discernable than the heatwave itself. Following the storm, chlorophyll-a concentrations increased markedly in two of the lakes and remained high for the duration of the summer while at one site concentrations increased linearly. Heatwaves and subsequent storms appeared to play an important role in structuring the phenology of the primary producers, with wider implications for lake functioning. Chlorophyll-a peaked in early September, after which a wind event dissipated concentrations until calmer conditions returned. Synoptic coordinated high frequency monitoring needs to be advanced in Europe as part of water management policy and to improve knowledge on the implications of climate change. Lakes, as dynamic ecosystems with fast moving species-succession, provide a prism to observe the scale of future change.

The aim of this study is to test a series of methods relying on hyperspectral measurements to characterize phytoplankton in clear lake waters. The phytoplankton temporal evolutions were analyzed exploiting remote sensed indices and metrics linked to the amount of light reaching the target (E PAR ), the chlorophyll-a concentration ([Chl-a] OC4 ) and the fluorescence emission proxy. The latter one evaluated by an adapted version of the Fluorescence Line Height algorithm (F FLH ). A peculiar trend was observed around the solar noon during the clear sky days. It is characterized by a drop of the F FLH metric and the [Chl-a] OC4 index. In addition to remote sensed parameters, water samples were also collected and analyzed to characterize the water body and to evaluate the in-situ fluorescence (F F ) and absorbed light (F A ). The relations between the remote sensed quantities and the in-situ values were employed to develop and test several phytoplankton primary production (PP) models. Promising results were achieved replacing the F A by the E PAR or F FLH in the equation evaluating a PP proxy (R 2 > 0.65). This study represents a preliminary outcome supporting the PP monitoring in inland waters by means of remote sensing-based indices and fluorescence metrics.

This study presents a first assessment of the Top-Of-Atmosphere (TOA) radiances measured in the visible and near-infrared (VNIR) wavelengths from PRISMA (PRecursore IperSpettrale della Missione Applicativa), the new hyperspectral satellite sensor of the Italian Space Agency in orbit since March 2019. In particular, the radiometrically calibrated PRISMA Level 1 TOA radiances were compared to the TOA radiances simulated with a radiative transfer code, starting from in situ measurements of water reflectance. In situ data were obtained from a set of fixed position autonomous radiometers covering a wide range of water types, encompassing coastal and inland waters. A total of nine match-ups between PRISMA and in situ measurements distributed from July 2019 to June 2020 were analysed. Recognising the role of Sentinel-2 for inland and coastal waters applications, the TOA radiances measured from concurrent Sentinel-2 observations were added to the comparison. The results overall demonstrated that PRISMA VNIR sensor is providing TOA radiances with the same magnitude and shape of those in situ simulated (spectral angle difference, SA, between 0.80 and 3.39; root mean square difference, RMSD, between 0.98 and 4.76 [mW m -2 sr -1 nm -1 ]), with slightly larger differences at shorter wavelengths. The PRISMA TOA radiances were also found very similar to Sentinel-2 data (RMSD < 3.78 [mW m -2 sr -1 nm -1 ]), and encourage a synergic use of both sensors for aquatic applications. Further analyses with a higher number of match-ups between PRISMA, in situ and Sentinel-2 data are however recommended to fully characterize the on-orbit calibration of PRISMA for its exploitation in aquatic ecosystem mapping.

Monitoring freshwater and wetland systems and their response to stressors of natural or anthropogenic origin is critical for ecosystem conservation. A multi-temporal set of 87 images, acquired by Sentinel-2 satellites over three years (2016-2018), provided quantitative information for assessing the temporal evolution of key ecosystem variables in the perialpine Lake Mezzola (northern Italy), which has suffered from the impacts of a massive landslide that took place upstream of the lake basin in summer 2017. Sentinel-2 derived products revealed an increase in lake turbidity triggered by the landslide that amounted to twice the average values scored in the years preceding and following the event. Hotspots of turbidity within the lake were in particular highlighted. Moreover, both submerged and riparian vegetation showed harmful impacts due to sediment deposition. A partial loss of submerged macrophyte cover was found, with delayed growth and a possible community shift in favor of species adapted to inorganic substrates. Satellite-derived seasonal dynamics showed that exceptional sediment load can overwrite climatic factors in controlling phenology of riparian reed beds, resulting in two consecutive years with shorter than normal growing season and roughly 20% drop in productivity, according to spectral proxies. Compared to 2016, senescence came earlier by around 20 days on average in 2017 season, and green-up was delayed by up to 50 days (20 days, on average) in 2018, following the landslide. The approach presented could be easily implemented for continuous monitoring of similar ecosystems subject to external pressures with periods of high sediment loads., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

In this study we evaluate the capabilities of three satellite sensors for assessing water composition and bottom depth in Lake Garda, Italy. A consistent physics-based processing chain was applied to Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS), Landsat-8 Operational Land Imager (OLI) and RapidEye. Images gathered on 10 June 2014 were corrected for the atmospheric effects with the 6SV code. The computed remote sensing reflectance (Rrs) from MODIS and OLI were converted into water quality parameters by adopting a spectral inversion procedure based on a bio-optical model calibrated with optical properties of the lake. The same spectral inversion procedure was applied to RapidEye and to OLI data to map bottom depth. In situ measurements of Rrs and of concentrations of water quality parameters collected in five locations were used to evaluate the models. The bottom depth maps from OLI and RapidEye showed similar gradients up to 7 m (r = 0.72). The results indicate that: (1) the spatial and radiometric resolutions of OLI enabled mapping water constituents and bottom properties; (2) MODIS was appropriate for assessing water quality in the pelagic areas at a coarser spatial resolution; and (3) RapidEye had the capability to retrieve bottom depth at high spatial resolution. Future work should evaluate the performance of the three sensors in different bio-optical conditions.

The lakes of the European perialpine region constitute a large water reservoir, which is threatened by the anthropogenic pressure altering water quality. The Water Framework Directive of the European Commission aims to protect water resources and monitoring is seen as an essential step for achieving this goal. Remote sensing can provide frequent data for large scale studies of water quality parameters such as chlorophyll-a (chl-a). In this work we use a dataset of maps of chl-a derived from over 200 MERIS (MEdium Resolution Imaging Spectrometer) satellite images for comparing water quality of 12 perialpine lakes in the period 2003-2009. Besides the different trophic levels of the lakes, results confirm that the seasonal variability of chl-a concentration is particularly pronounced during spring and autumn especially for the more eutrophic lakes. We show that relying on only one sample for the assessment of lake water quality during the season might lead to misleading results and erroneous assignments to quality classes. Time series MERIS data represents a suitable and cost-effective technology to fill this gap, depicting the dynamics of the surface waters of lakes in agreement with the evolution of natural phenomena., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The operational application of remote sensing technologies to lake water quality monitoring requires products derived from remote sensing to be quantitatively self-consistent and have a certified accuracy. Fundamental elements in this quality assurance framework are sensor radiometric calibration and atmospheric correction models, which are briefly discussed in the paper. In order to evaluate the accuracy of present operational techniques to retrieve basic parameters from satellite data, such as water-leaving radiance and reflectance, an experiment was organised in the frame of SAtellite remote sensing for Lake MONitoring (SALMON), a European Union co-funded research project. A series of ship-based radiometric and atmospheric measuring campaigns were conducted on Lake Iseo and Lake Garda (Italy) together with limnological sampling. Four Landsat-5 Thematic Mapper (TM) scenes were acquired during different seasons and simultaneous in situ measurements were made. After the radiometric calibration procedure, satellite digital images were processed by applying two entirely image-based atmospheric correction models. These models account for the effects of both additive scattering and multiplicative transmittance effects in the atmosphere on the at-satellite measured signal. The results achieved using these procedures were evaluated by comparing satellite-based estimates with in situ measurements of water reflectance. The root mean square difference between Landsat TM-derived reflectance values and ground measurements was close to 0.010 reflectance for each TM spectral band. Such image-based correction models, requiring no in situ field measurements during the satellite overpass, constitute a valid method of lake water monitoring.

The aim of the present study was the evaluation of methods for estimating the content of bio-physical parameters in lake water on the basis of spectral reflectance measured above water surface, in particular the estimation of chlorophyll-a (chl-a) concentrations. Data sets considered refer to some sampling point located in the sub-alpine meso-eutrophic Lake Iseo, surveyed six times over the period March-July and once in November 1998, as these months were very important for the characterization of the springtime algal bloom, which affect the lake waters yearly. At each point station, limnological observations (chlorophyll, total suspended solids, Secchi disk depth) were conducted simultaneously with optical measurements. The latter consisted of water leaving radiance measured by means of a spectroradiometer above the water surface; moreover, a standard reflector radiance was also measured to obtain the water reflectance. Reflectance spectra were transformed according to two well-documented models and correlated to water quality parameters, to investigate their performances as retrieval algorithms under different conditions and referring to different analytical methods. Results outline the sensitivity of the models to chl-a concentrations, different phytoplankton composition, and the sampling depth.

Some bio-physical parameters, such as chlorophyll a concentration, Secchi disk depth and water surface temperature were mapped in the sub-alpine Lake Iseo (Italy) using Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) data acquired on the 7 March 1997. In order to adequately investigate the water-leaving radiance, TM data were atmospherically corrected using a partially image-based method, and the atmospheric transmittance was measured in synchrony with the satellite passage. An empirical approach of relating atmospherically corrected TM spectral reflectance values to in situ measurements, collected during the satellite data acquisition, was used. The models developed were used to map the chlorophyll concentration and Secchi disk depth throughout the lake. Both models gave high determination coefficients (R2 = 0.99 for chlorophyll and R2 = 0.85 for the Secchi disk) and the spatial distribution of chlorophyll concentration and Secchi disk depth was mapped with contour intervals of 1 mg/m3 and 1 m, respectively. A scene-independent procedure was used to derive the surface temperature of the lake from the TM data with a root mean square error of 0.3 degrees C.

pRb/p105, p107, and pRb2/p130 compose the retinoblastoma (RB) family of proteins and regulate cellular growth and differentiation. Because recent functional studies have indicated that the expression of the RB-related proteins p107 and pRb2/p130 are tightly cell cycle regulated, we were interested in investigating their expression along with cellular kinetic characteristics and proliferative features of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHLs). p107 and pRb2/ p130 expression was determined immunohistochemically in biopsy specimens from 83 untreated patients with NHLs of various histiotypes. The expression of these two RB-related proteins was correlated with the mitotic index, apoptotic index, and percentages of Ki-67(+), cyclin A(+), p34(+), and cyclin B(+) cells. The overall survival rate was evaluated according to the Kaplan-Meier method and the log-rank test. We found a positive correlation between the percentages of cells positive for p107 and proliferative features such as mitotic index and percentage of Ki-67(+) and cyclin A(+) cells, whereas such correlation could not be demonstrated for the percentages of pRb2/p130 positive cells. Low immunohistochemical levels of pRb2/p130 detected in untreated patients with NHLs of various histiotypes inversely correlated with a large fraction of cells expressing high levels of p107 and proliferation-associated proteins. Such a pattern of protein expression is normally observed in continuously cycling cells. Interestingly, such cases showed the highest survival percentage (82.5%) after the observation period of 10 years. Thus, down-regulation of the RB-related pRb2/p130 protein could be one of the reasons why these cases display such a high rate of proliferation and why they respond so well to therapy.

The pathological fracture of the mandible is a rare and undesirable consequence of cancerous bone invasion. This study investigates the retrospective incidence of this phenomenon in diagnosed cases of squamous cell carcinoma of the mandibular region, and reviews the methods of treatment used. A total of 194 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the mandibular region were observed. Only six cases of pathological fractures were found. The treatment was conditioned by the need to eliminate the tumor, and was carried out in different methods according to the individual cases. This study underlines the importance of both knowing various techniques and collaborating with other specialists in treating the fracture.

During 1975-87, 105 patients with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the lip were surgically treated. All patients underwent radical resection of the tumor. Only the patients with palpable lymph nodes had a simultaneous neck dissection. All patients were followed up for at least 5 years. Of the 80 patients without palpable lymph nodes, only three developed lymph-node metastasis. Of the 25 patients with palpable lymph nodes who underwent modified neck dissection, four had recurrence of lymph-node metastasis at a different level. The over-all 5-year survival rate was 97%. The survival rate for patients with lymph-node metastasis was 88%.

In cases of parotid carcinoma, the percentage of cervical metastases, at the time of first observation is 18%. Consequently, the evaluation of the grade of lymphatic involvement is very important in order to plan a correct therapy. The authors underline the important role that neck dissection has in the treatment of these tumours. There are different points of view on neck dissection in cases of malignant parotid tumours. While there is no doubt with regard to indications on neck dissection in N + patients, the problem does exist for N-patients. The Authors have analyzed 39 patients with malignant parotid tumours observed at the Department of Maxillo-Facial Surgery of the "Federico II" University of Naples.

Parotid lesions are often not easily classified. Important information is gathered by conventional and instrumental investigation. But these data are often insufficient to make a correct diagnosis. The authors have compared these techniques. In particular, they have evaluated their accuracy in identification of site and histology. 60 patients with parotid tumours underwent the same instrumental diagnostic techniques (echography, sialography, computed tomography and fine needle aspiration biopsy). In regard to the identification of the site, the highest percentage was achieved by computed tomography (98%). Echotomography has shown an accuracy of 83%, and sialography 87%. Fine needle aspiration biopsy has allowed the definition of the histiotype in 98% of cases. Computed tomography, echotomography and sialography have not allowed the definition of histiotype in malignant tumours, but in the case of benign tumours computed tomography has permitted a diagnosis in 29 cases (57% of benign tumours). Echotomography and sialography in 25 (49%) and 26 cases (51%), respectively.

Authors report their experience in enteral nutrition (E.N.) on maxillo-facial surgery. From 1987 to 1989, 24 patients were subjected to enteral alimentation in the Department of Maxillo-Facial Surgery of the 2nd School of Medicine of "Federico II" University of Naples (Italy). 50% of patients suffered from head and neck tumours, and 50% suffered from traumatic lesions. Before treatment, patients' nutritional conditions were evaluated by anamnesis, azotic balance, hydroelectrolytic balance, anthropometric, bioumoral, and immunologic parameters. Basal energy expenditure was calculated through Harris-Benedict formula. Patients were checked every week, and E.N. allowed a rapid and adequate caloric increase.

Recent views concerning the physiopathological aspects of restrictions on opening of the mouth attributable to extra-articular inflammation are examined. Stress is laid on the importance of psychological factors related to joint function and various organs and apparatuses that interferere with such function by reflex action via the brain. Instances of extra-articular inflammation limiting opening of the mouth are listed, with particular reference to primary and secondary myositis and myositis ossificans. Inflammation may also supervene in osteodysplasia, granuloxanthomatous hyperdysplasia of the maxillary bones, while opening of the mouth may be restricted by fibrosis of the muscles used in mastication due to protracted immobilisation, as in ankylosis of the T.M.A. Lastly, the way in which inflammation accompanying diseases of the salivary glands, dysembryoplasia, and jaw and mouth cavity neoplasia may prevent proper opening of the mouth is explained.

Reference is made to the percent incidence of malignant tumours of the tongue and its increase. Several anatomical features of this form are described, with particular regard to the lymphatic pathways. Turning to questions of classification, attention is given to cancer of the soft and fixed parts of the tongue in the light of the clinical stages and TNM system (1973) with the aim of making statistical comparisons more uniform, especially those concerning the approach adopted and the results achieved by modern, interdisciplinary therapy.

A case of mandibular condyle osteochondroma is reported, special attention being paid to radiographic aspects and to the functional changes brought on by this neoplasia. Surgical and meta-operative treatment to correct residual latero-deviation and occlusal relations are described.

Three cases of infiltrating congenital lipomatosis of the face are presented. These lesions shared the following morphologic criteria: 1) nonencapsulated congenital fatty tumor; 2) infiltration of adjacent muscle and soft tissue; 3) absence of lipoblast and malignant characteristics; 4) presence of fibrous elements with numerous nerve bundles and vessels; and 5) hypertrophy of subjacent bone. Although these tumors are benign, all three recurred after surgical excision. Extensive specimen sampling is advisable to exclude infiltrating lipoma, diffuse angiomatosis, infiltrating angiolipoma, and well-differentiated liposarcoma. Relationship with lipoblastomatosis and histogenesis of infiltrating congenital lipomatosis of the face are discussed.