Search

ABSTRACTA growing number of countries have set ambitious climate targets and recognized the potential of CO2 geological storage. Brazil's goal is to neutralize carbon emissions by 2050. The Paraná Basin is one of the most favorable onshore sedimentary basins for geological storage of CO2 in Brazil. This extensive sedimentary basin presents a privileged location in the south and southeast regions, where the largest stationary CO2 emitters are concentrated. Our results showed Rio Bonito Formation siliciclastic deposits present pairs of reservoir-seal rocks with adequate thicknesses and depths for stratigraphic CO2 trapping. The screening allowed us to define a favorability map area, which will be the basis for subsequent detailing and characterization studies on the Rio Bonito Formation rocks and the location of CO2 injection sites, thus contributing to the mitigation of the impacts of this gas in climate change.

Simone Gambazza,1,2,* Annalisa Orenti,2,* Giovanna Pizzamiglio,3 Anna Zolin,2 Carla Colombo,4,5 Dario Laquintana,1 Federico Ambrogi2,6 On behalf of ECFSPR1Healthcare Professions Department, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy; 2Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, Laboratory of Medical Statistics, Biometry and Epidemiology “G. A. Maccacaro”, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy; 3Cystic Fibrosis Center – Adult Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy; 4Cystic Fibrosis Center, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy; 5Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy; 6Scientific Directorate, IRCCS Policlinico San Donato, San Donato Milanese, MI, Italy*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Simone Gambazza, Healthcare Professions Department, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Via Francesco Sforza 35, Milan, 20122, Italy, Email simone.gambazza@policlinico.mi.itBackground: Association between dependence on oxygen therapy (OT) and natural disease progression in people with cystic fibrosis (pwCF) has not been estimated yet. The aim of this study is to understand the prognosis for pwCF on OT, evaluating how the transition probabilities from being alive without lung transplantation (LTx) to LTx and to death, and from being alive after LTx to death change in pwCF with and without OT.Methods: We used 2008– 2017 data from the 35-country European CF Society Patient Registry. A multi-state model was fitted to assess the effects of individual risk factors on transition probabilities.Results: We considered 48,343 pwCF aged from 6 to 50 years. OT (HR 5.78, 95% CI: 5.32– 6.29) and abnormal FEV1 (HR 6.41, 95% CI: 5.28– 7.79) were strongly associated with the probability of having LTx; chronic infection with Burkholderia cepacia complex (HR 3.19, 95% CI: 2.78– 3.67), abnormal FEV1 (HR 5.00, 95% CI: 4.11– 6.08) and the need for OT (HR 4.32, 95% CI: 3.93– 4.76) showed the greatest association with the probability of dying without LTx. Once pwCF received LTx, OT (HR 1.75, 95% CI: 1.41– 2.16) and abnormal FEV1 (HR 1.63, 95% CI: 1.18– 2.25) were the main factors associated with the probability of dying. An association of gross national income with the probability of receiving LTx and with the probability of dying without LTx was also found.Conclusion: Oxygen therapy is associated with poor survival in pwCF with and without LTx; harmonization of CF care throughout European countries and minimization of the onset of pulmonary gas exchange abnormalities using all available means remains of paramount importance.Keywords: cystic fibrosis, oxygen therapy, epidemiology, mortality, lung transplantation

Carla Colombo,1 Paola Catastini,2 Anna Brivio,1,3 Benedetto Acone,4 Patricia Dang,5 Serena Quattrucci6 1Cystic Fibrosis Center, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy; 2Cystic Fibrosis Regional Center, Anna Meyer Children’s Hospital, Florence, Italy; 3UOC DPS Department for Health Professional, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy; 4Cartesio Solutions S.r.l., Venice, Italy; 5Vertex Pharmaceuticals S.r.l., Rome, Italy; 6Cystic Fibrosis Lazio Regional Center, Pediatrics Department, “Sapienza” University, Rome, Italy Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine the level of consensus among Italian health care professionals (HCPs) regarding factors that influence adherence to cystic fibrosis (CF) treatments.Methods: A Delphi questionnaire with 94 statements of potential factors influencing adherence was developed based on a literature review and in consultation with a board of experts (n=4). This was distributed to a multidisciplinary expert panel of HCPs (n=110) from Italian CF centers. A Likert scale was used to indicate the level of agreement (1= no agreement to 9= maximum agreement) with each statement. Three rounds were distributed to establish a consensus (≥80% of participant ratings within one 3-point region) and, at the third round, assign a ranking to each statement with a high level of agreement (consensus in the 7–9 range) only.Results: Of 110 HCPs (from 31 Italian CF centers who were surveyed), responses were obtained from 85 (77%) in the first, 78 (71%) in the second, and 72 (65%) in the third round. The highest degree of agreement (95.8%) was reached with the statement that the HCP needs to build a relationship with the patient to influence adherence. A high level of agreement was not reached for statements that morbidity and mortality are influenced by the level of adherence to therapy, and no consensus was reached on the statement that age of the patient influences adherence to treatment.Conclusion: We found that Italian HCPs endorsed a strong relationship with the patient as being a key driver in improving adherence. There were several areas, such as the influence of adherence on morbidity and mortality, where the consensus of Italian HCPs differed from the published literature. These areas require investigation to determine why these discrepancies exist. Keywords: cystic fibrosis, long-term adherence, Delphi technique

Chemometric analysis applied to diffuse reflectance spectroscopy is increasingly proposed as an effective and accurate methodology to predict soil physical, chemical and biological properties. Its effectiveness, however, largely varies in relation to the calibration techniques and the specific soil properties. In addition, the calibration of UV-Vis-NIR spectra usually requires large datasets, and the identification of techniques suitable to deal with small sample sizes and high dimensionality problems is a primary challenge. In order to investigate the predictability of many soil chemical and biological properties from a small dataset and to identify the most suitable techniques to deal with this type of problems, we analysed 20 top soil samples of three different forests (Fagus sylvatica, Quercus cerris and Quercus ilex) in southern Apennines (Italy). Diffuse reflectance spectra were recorded in the UV-Vis-NIR range (200-2500 nm) and 22 chemical and biological properties were analysed. Three different calibration techniques were tested, namely the Partial Least Square Regression (PLSR), the combinations wavelet transformation/Elastic net and wavelet transformation/Supervised Principal Component (SPC) regression/ Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO), a kind of preconditioned LASSO. Calibration techniques were applied to both raw spectra and spectra subjected to wavelet shrinkage filtering, in order to evaluate the influence on predictions of spectra denoising. Overall, SPC/LASSO outperformed the other techniques with both raw and denoised spectra. Elastic net produced heterogeneous results, but outperformed SPC/LASSO for total organic carbon, whereas PLSR produced the worst results. Spectra denoising improved the prediction accuracy of many parameters, but worsen the predictions in some cases. Our approach highlighted that: (i) SPC/LASSO (and Elastic net in the case of total organic carbon) is especially suitable to calibrate spectra in the case of small, high dimensional datasets; and (ii) spectra denoising could be an effective technique to improve calibration results.

Based on radiogenic isotope systems of neodymium [Epsilon Neodymium-εNd(0), 143Nd/144Nd, 147Sm/144Nd, and Sm-Nd Depleted Mantle Model ages-TDM] from current and previous data of continental rocks and associated sediments, this work provides the provenance of Holocene sediments from the Southwestern Atlantic Margin. The isotopic variability reported along the cores 7616 and 7620 are related to paleoceanographic and paleoclimatic changes. Further, we display the first Nd radiogenic isotope system distribution map of the study area. The map is the result of the principal component and clustering analyses of data compiled from the Ribeira belt, Luís Alves craton, and Paraná basin rocks. Differences in Nd isotopic signatures allowed the distinction between the sediment sources of the cores. The Core 7616 exhibits εNd(0) average value of −10.5, TDM = 1.4 Ga and 143Nd/144Nd = 0.512103, while the Core 7620 shows εNd(0) average value of −17.5, TDM = 1.8 Ga and 143Nd/144Nd = 0.51177. The relative more radiogenic Nd ratios from the Core 7616 are associated to the contribution of sediments from the Paraná basin, nevertheless less radiogenic values are observed along the Core 7616 between ~2,000 and 1,800 cal. yr BP. We have attributed the lower Nd ratios, recorded during this interval, to the decreasing influence from the Rio de la Plata estuary in the Core 7616. Remarkable less radiogenic Nd ratios are also recorded in the Core 7620 during the late Holocene. The intensification of the NE winds and the South America Summer Monsoon (SASM) enhanced the terrigenous input from the Paraíba do Sul River and southwards sediment transport by the Brazil Current (BC), providing higher contribution of less radiogenic metasediments from the Paraíba do Sul geotectonic domain to the Core 7620.

Heavy metals provoke environmental pollution with potentially toxic effects on human and plants systems. Recently, investigations are conducted on plants that may play a relevant role on pollutants absorption or stabilization, focusing on fast growing tree species in agronomic conditions; little is known on the effects of contaminants on tree species colonizing abandoned fields to be used in restoration ecology. The effects of Cd on photosynthetic performance and metal accumulation were investigated in Quercus pubescens Willd. seedlings grown in pots containing a mixture of sand, clay, turf and Cd-treatments (0, 25 and 75 mg kg-1 dry soil). The studied photosynthetic parameters (Asat= net phytosynthesis; Rday= day respiration; Γcomp= CO2 compensation point; Vcmax= maximum carboxylation rate; Jmax = electron transport rate; TPU = triose phosphate use; Ci/Ca = ratio of intercellular (Ci) to ambient (Ca) [CO2] (Ci/Ca); Jmax/Vcmax = ratio; (gsmax) = maximum stomatal conductance; (lg) = stomatal conductance estimated relative to the photosynthetic rate; (Fv/Fm) = maximum quantum yield of PSII photochemistry; (ΔF/F’m) = effective photochemical efficiency) varied progressively with increasing Cd concentration in the soil, highlighting a negative impact on photosynthetic potential and PSII functioning. Approximately 10% of added Cd was found to be extractable from the substrate, at the maximum concentration applied, with about 12 and 0.75 as bioaccumulation and translocation factors, respectively. Analogously, Cd accumulated up to 34, 30 and 46 mg kg−1 in leaves, stem and roots, respectively. While it is not possible to extrapolate from the present study with seedlings to effects on mature pine trees, there are clear implications for regeneration in soils contaminated with heavy metals, which may lead to ecosystem deterioration.

Il presente lavoro intende affrontare, seppur brevemente, l’attuale e interessante tematica riguardante la donna e la sua posizione nel mondo del lavoro. Dopo un inquadramento storico-normativo, l’attenzione viene rivolta al fenomeno del mobbing (in Italia e nel mondo) che, a tutt’oggi, presenta come vittima preferenziale la donna.Le but de cette étude est d’aborder, même si brièvement, les questions, actuelles et intéressantes, concernant les femmes et leur place dans le monde du travail. Après avoir esquissé un cadre historique et juridique, l’attention est accordée au phénomène du harcèlement sur le lieu de travail que, jusqu'à présent, touche de préférence la femme.This article briefly describes the position of the women in the working world. After an historical and legal description, attention is given to the phenomenon of mobbing (in Italy and all over the world) that, nowadays, victimizes a lot of women.

Mutilations of female genital organs are a particularly difficult issue. That is the reason why it occupies historical, anthropological and medico-legal research. So the present article considers the situation in all these aspects together with the provisions introduced by Law n. 7, 9/1/2006 and article 583 bis of the Criminal Code for the Protection of the rights of women being mutilated.Indeed we believe that the mutilations are real and cause personal psychic injury. The custom of mutilation has nothing to do with religious beliefs, but is the product of old social prejudices against women, as an individual.La MGF (mutilation génitale féminine) est un sujet de société tristement actuel dont on dit qu'elle est pratiquée au nom des croyances religieuses les plus ancestrales.C’est la raison pour laquelle j’ai voulu avant tout consulter, bien que brièvement, l'analyse anthropologique, historique, médico-légale et juridique effectuée sur cet argument pour me pencher ensuite sur la loi italienne n° 7 du 9/1/2006 et sur l’article n° 583bis du Code Pénal Italien, ayant trait à la sauvegarde des droits inaliénables de la femme qui subit une mutilation.En effet les mutilations sont de véritables lésions physiques et souffrances psychiques qui plus que motivées par des croyances religieuses sont dictées par d'anciens us et coutumes combles de préjugés sociaux envers la femme en tant qu’individu.Le mutilazioni degli organi genitali femminili rappresentano un tema tristemente attuale legato per “comodità” alle credenze religiose più arcaiche.Per questo motivo, l’articolo ha voluto, da subito, volgere uno sguardo, seppur breve, all’analisi antropologica, storica e medico-giuridica dell’argomento per poi considerare la legge n. 7 del 9/1/2006 (che ha attuato i principi della Dichiarazione e del Programma della IV Conferenza mondiale dell’ONU sulle donne - Pechino 1995, nonché le disposizioni degli artt. 2,3,32 della nostra Costituzione - tutelando le donne vittime di questo sopruso e dichiarando reato ogni “lesione o mutilazione genitale femminile, provocata in assenza di esigenze terapeutiche, al fine di condizionamento sessuale”, punibile con detenzione da 6 a 12 anni ) e l’art. 583 bis c.p. con il quale si è venuti ad applicare la linea “dura” per tutelare la salute e la dignità della donna sottoposta a mutilazione. In realtà, nel caso delle mutilazioni genitali femminili è chiaro come ci troviamo di fronte ad atti imposti su minori, atti che provocano danni fisici e psichici - qualificabili, ai sensi del nostro codice penale, come lesioni - atti che costituiscono una vera e propria violenza con conseguenze a volte irreversibili sul piano psichico e fisico e che oggi hanno ben poco a che fare con delle giustificazioni religiose, ma sicuramente con costumi vetusti e colmi di pregiudizi.

New lines of geological evidence strongly suggest that the main period of hydrocarbon maturation within Assistência Formation should be Permian-Triassic, stimulated by a high geothermal gradient that also sustained various manifestations of hydrothermal activity. Three main stages of fluid/hydrocarbon migration can also be inferred on the basis of multiscale observations: confined flow in late Permian to Triassic times, depending on the local build-up of fluid pressures; heterogeneous flow in Lower Cretaceous, triggered by a rejuvenated temperature gradient assisted by the early developed permeability conditions; and a late flow possibly driven by local pressure gradients, after complete cooling of dolerite dykes/sills. The early maturation and multistage migration of hydrocarbons have significant consequences in the design of exploration models to be applied in Paraná Basin.