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With regard to the impact of dredging activities in harbour environments on aquatic ecosystems, the aim of this study was to integrate results obtained from a research project carried out in Palermo Harbour in 1999. In particular, an ecotoxicological approach, together with physical–chemical analysis, was introduced to assess the quality of the dredging sediment. This study provides important data and information for the realisation of a handbook on handling of marine sediments in Italy.

In the present multicentre randomized phase II trial, the activity and toxicity of three platinum-based combination regimens for the treatment of advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) were evaluated. The three regimens were: MVP (mitomycin-C 6 mg m(-2) on day 1, vindesine 3 mg m(-2) on days 1 and 15, and cisplatin 80 mg m(-2) on day 1 every 28 days), PIN (cisplatin 80 mg m(-2) day 1, ifosfamide 3 g m(-2) day 1 and vinorelbine 25 mg m(-2) day 1 and 8 every 21 days) and CaN (carboplatin 350 mg m(-2) day 1 and vinorelbine 25 mg m(-2) days 1 and 8 every 28 days). A total of 140 chemotherapy-naive patients entered the study; 49 patients were treated with MVP, 48 with PIN and 43 with CaN. Sixty-seven per cent of the patients had stage IV disease. Response rates, calculated on an 'intention to treat' basis, were as follows: MVP, 14.3% (95% CI 5.94-27.2%); PIN, 16.7% (95% CI 7.4-30.2%); and CaN, 14% (95% CI 5.3-27.9%). The overall median survivals were 256, 269 and 243 days for patients treated with MVP, PIN and CaN respectively. Myelosuppression was the most frequent toxicity: grade 3-4 leucopenia was observed in 14.3%, 25% and 18.6% of patients treated with MVP, PIN and CaN respectively. This multicentre phase II randomized trial shows that MVP, PIN and CaN can be administered on an outpatient basis with acceptable toxicities. Unfortunately, the three regimens showed an activity significantly lower than that reported in previous single-institution phase II trials.

When analyzing vehicular crashes such as those at intersections, it is often necessary to postulate the motion of vehicles from stationary positions. Typically, an assumed constant acceleration is defined, and motion calculated. In many cases, however, when the motion of interest is near the starting position; simply assuming a constant rate of acceleration may be inappropriate. In this paper, acceleration profiles as a function of time are examined in order to identify errors associated with the constant acceleration assumption for a passenger car and a large truck. The paper also includes acceleration data collected from 219 large trucks measured over distances of 50 and 100 feet. (A) For the covering abstract of the conference see IRRD 882390.