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The aim of the present meta-analysis was to update the literature on the outcomes and complications of ACL reconstruction in patients aged 40 years and older. It has been hypothesized that patients older than 40 years of age may have comparable clinical outcomes to those of younger patients. A systematic review of articles from 1996 to 2018 was completed using Pubmed, Medline, Cochrane Reviews, and Google Scholar databases using the keyword terms “anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction” and “middle-aged OR elderly OR over 40 OR age factors.” Functional and clinical outcomes (International Knee Documentation Committee, Lysholm and Tegner score and KT-1000 arthrometer), complication and graft failure rate were evaluated. Eleven articles met inclusion criteria. In total, 306 middle-aged patients and 566 younger patients were included in this study. The mean age of patients > 40 was 49 ± 7 (range 40–75) years with a mean follow-up of 25 ± 9 months (range 12–68). The mean age of younger patients was 26 ± 2.7 (range 15–39) years with a mean post-operative follow-up of 26.7 ± 11.5 months (range 3–64). The results were slightly higher (but no significantly different) towards the younger group in terms of objective IKDC (P = n.s.), Lysholm (P = n.s.) and Tegner (P = n.s.) scores and knee laxity assessment (P = n.s.). Complication rate (P = n.s.) and graft failure (P = n.s.) were low even in this cohort. The present meta-analysis shows that patients older than 40 years achieve comparable clinical outcomes to those of younger patients following primary ACL reconstruction. This evidence may push the surgeons toward a more aggressive approach in this specific cohort of patients. III.

Superimposition of craniofacial structures from radiographic examination has been always used for assessing changes in the maxilla-mandibular complexes, especially for the evaluation of potential changes occurring during growth as well as after orthodontic treatment and/or maxillofacial surgery. However, the availability of cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) and the recent advancement in 3D imaging have allowed the development of specific techniques for the registration and superimposition of virtual three-dimensional anatomical structures, improving the diagnosis and treatment plan strategies. In the present paper, it will be discussed the evolution of superimposition techniques from the beginning (2D) to the newest 3D approach, describing the most used methods and their main advantages and disadvantages, focusing primarily on accuracy and reproducibility of each technique.

Bacterial pathogens in coastal aquatic ecosystems pose a potential public health hazard for bathing water use. The European Bathing Water Directive (2006/7/EC) currently relies on the culturability of fecal pollution bacterial indicators such as Escherichia coli, without considering dormant or quiescent (Viable But Not Culturable, VBNC) cells, whose possible resuscitation after bathers ingestion cannot be excluded. Standard methods are also time-consuming and therefore hardly meet early warning needs of marine monitoring. To solve this issue, a new index, the Bathing Water Quality Index (BWQI), has here been developed, allowing to identify the most favorable coastal zones for recreational use. The index was calculated by combining numerical simulations of living and dormant E. coli abundances and their residence times. To specifically set up the model with the different physiological states of the whole E. coli population, an ad hoc experiment based on the fluorescent antibody method was performed. The BWQI application to Santa Marinella bathing area highlights a potential risk for human health in the zone most frequented by bathers. This study provides a predictive tool to support preventive decisions of the competent authorities and to properly protect bathers&rsquo, health, stressing the need for improved methods for environmental monitoring.

Dissolved organic matter present in natural aquatic environments is a heterogeneous mixture of allochthonous and autochthonous materials. In coastal areas vulnerable to sewage waste, its biologically active component, the chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM), is expected to change its composition and distribution in relation to anthropogenic activities, suggesting the possible use of CDOM as a proxy of fecal contamination. This study aimed at testing such hypothesis by investigating and relating the optical properties of CDOM with Escherichia coli abundance, physiological state, and enzymatic activities in a bathing area of the Northern Tyrrhenian Sea (Latium, Italy) affected by urban wastewaters. The parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC) applied to the excitation&ndash, emission matrices (EEMs) of CDOM allowed us to distinguish three main components: C1 (&lambda, Ex/&lambda, Em = 342 nm/435 nm), C2 (&lambda, Em = 281&ndash, 373 nm/460 nm), and C3 (&lambda, Em = 286 nm/360 nm). C1 and C2 corresponded to humic acids of terrestrial origin, while C3 to tryptophan, whose fluorescence peak was detected close to sewage sites, strongly related to active E. coli cells. The comparison between spectral and microbiological methods is suggested as a suitable approach to monitor bathing water quality for the implementation of coastal observing system capability.

Measles is a highly contagious airborne disease. Unvaccinated pregnant women are not only at risk of infection but also at risk of severe pregnancy complications. As measles causes a dysregulation of the entire immune system, we describe immunological variations and how immune response mechanisms can lead to adverse pregnancy outcomes. We evaluated data during the measles outbreak reported in the province of Catania, Italy, from May 2017 to June 2018. We controlled hospital discharge records for patients admitted to hospital obstetric wards searching the measles diagnostic code. We have indicated the case as “confirmed” when the IgM was found to be positive with the ELISA method. We registered 843 cases of measles and 51% were females (430 cases). 24 patients between the ages of 17 and 40 had measles while they were pregnant. Adverse pregnancy outcomes included 2 spontaneous abortions, 1 therapeutic abortion, 1 foetal death, and 6 preterm deliveries. Respiratory complications were more prevalent in pregnant women (21%) than in nonpregnant women with measles (9%). 14 health care workers (1.7%) were infected with measles, and none of these had been previously vaccinated. Immune response mechanisms were associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes in women with measles. To reduce the rate of measles complications, gynaecologists should investigate vaccination history and antibody test results in all women of childbearing age. During a measles outbreak, gynaecologists and midwives should be active proponents of vaccination administration and counteract any vaccine hesitancy not only in patients but also among health care workers.

Microorganisms are considered as sentinels of environmental changes, but microbial response to the presence of contaminants, such as hydrocarbons, is still not fully understood. This study aimed at assessing the response of the microbial community to the presence of oil pollution, by comparison of two ecosystems, Milazzo Gulf (Sicily, Italy) and Caleta Cordova (Argentina), as representative of two different temperate Mediterranean and cold-temperate Patagonian ecoregions, respectively. Water and sediments were sampled at coastal stations characterized by different levels of hydrocarbon contamination and analyzed for their microbial enzymatic activity rates; the presence of hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria was also determined. The study approach allowed to determine that microbial metabolism was significantly reduced at the polluted stations, suggesting the detrimental effects of contaminants on organic matter degradation process. The isolation of strains of hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria confirmed that the oil contamination favoured the growth of strains specifically adapted to metabolize hydrocarbons and actively involved in the remediation processes.

Increased attention has recently been addressed to Arctic ecosystems due to the well-known impact of global warming on the northern polar region. Advanced technologies for marine monitoring are needed to monitor environmental changes, especially those related to ice melting. In the framework of the ARCA project aimed at studying the hydrological cycle and its consequences on the climate in the boreal hemisphere, a first prototype of automatic equipment was specifically designed to perform discrete sampling of waters in the area close to the Kronebreen glacier, in the Svalbard Archipelago. This study reports the results of the first in situ application of this device related to the study of heterotrophic bacterial distribution and functional metabolism. Along a transect from the glacier to offshore, a high culturable heterotrophic bacterial abundance was observed close to the glacier. Significant spatial differences were recorded in the values of leucine aminopeptidase and beta glucosidase enzymatic activities, with high microbial glycolytic activity close to the glacier. The patterns of extracellular enzymatic profiles of the bacterial isolates showed that lipids, proteins and organic phosphates play a major role in bacterial metabolism in this area of the Arctic Ocean.

In this paper, we present the full characterization of a new high-density (HD) cell silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) technology for ultraviolet (UV) and blue light detection, named near UV HD SiPM. Thanks to an optimized border region around each cell, we were able to develop devices having a very high detection efficiency and, at the same time, a high dynamic range. We produced SiPMs with a square cell pitch of 15, 20, 25, and 30 $\mu \text{m}$ featuring a peak efficiency in the violet region ranging from 40% to 55%, according to the cell size. We tested this technology for time-of-flight positron emission tomography. Using two $4\times 4$ mm2 SiPMs with a $25 \,\, \times \,\, 25~\mu \text{m}^{2}$ cell pitch coupled to $3\times 3\times 5$ mm3 LYSO scintillators, we reached for the first time 100-ps full-width at half-maximum coincidence time resolution. This result was independent of the temperature in a range from 20 °C to −20 °C. At the same time, thanks to the high dynamic range and low correlated noise, we obtained an energy resolution lower than 9% for 511-keV $\gamma $ -rays.

This is the accepted manuscript of the paper "A multi-platform approach to marine environment assessment in Civitavecchia (Rome) area", published as final paper in "JOURNAL OF OPERATIONAL OCEANOGRAPHY, 9(sup1), s131-s143" https://doi.org/10.1080/1755876X.2015.1119561 Multi-platform systems for coastal environment monitoring are important tools that enable a better understanding of the dynamics of coastal ecosystems and their forcings; these observation networks can be used to highlight changes in marine ecosystems in response to anthropogenic impacts, identifying specific evolution. trends. This paper reports the results of a field study conducted in summer 2012 to test the efficacy of the multi-platform Civitavecchia Coastal Environment Monitoring System (C-CEMS). An observation programme was employed to analyse the fate of the Escherichia coli (E. coli) in bathing areas, to predict its dynamics and to prevent the sanitary risk associated with the presence of this microorganism in seawater.

The understanding of the coastal environment is fundamental for efficiently and effectively facing the pollution phenomena as expected by the Marine Strategy Framework Directive, and for limiting the conflicts between anthropic activities and sensitivity areas, as stated by Maritime Spatial Planning Directive. To address this, the Laboratory of Experimental Oceanology and Marine Ecology developed a multi-platform observing network that has been in operation since 2005 in the coastal marine area of Civitavecchia (Latium, Italy) where multiple uses and high ecological values closely coexist. The Civitavecchia Coastal Environment Monitoring System (C-CEMS), implemented in the current configuration, includes various components allowing one to analyze the coastal conflicts by an ecosystem-based approach. The long-term observations acquired by the fixed stations are integrated with in situ data collected for the analysis of the physical, chemical and biological parameters of the water column, sea bottom and pollution sources detected along the coast. The in situ data, integrated with satellite observations (e.g., temperature, chlorophyll a and TSM), are used to feed and validate the numerical models, which allow the analysis and forecasting of the dynamics of pollutant dispersion under different conditions. To test the potential capabilities of C-CEMS, two case studies are reported here: (1) the analysis of fecal bacteria dispersion for bathing water quality assessment, and (2) the evaluation of the effects of the dredged activities on Posidonia meadows, which make up most of the two sites of community importance located along the Civitavecchia coastal zone. The simulation outputs are overlapped by the thematic maps showing bathing areas and Posidonia oceanica distribution, thus giving a first practical tool that could improve the resolution of the conflicts between coastal uses (in terms of stress produced by anthropic activities) and sensitivity areas.

This is the accepted manuscript of the paper "WATER RENEWAL TIME AND TRACE METAL CONCENTRATION IN CIVITAVECCHIA PORT (ROME), ITALY", published as final paper in " Int. J. Environ Impacts, Vol. 1, No. 4 (2018) 450–460;https://www.witpress.com/elibrary/ei-volumes/1/4/2166" Most of the harbours can be considered as semi-enclosed areas where water stagnation leads to physical and chemical alterations due to anthropogenic activities. These features affect the quality of the port waters as well as the environmental health of coastal ecosystems in the surrounding areas. In order to understand the potential degradation of water quality within the harbour area it is essential to evaluate the hydrodynamic behaviour of the system. In this study, the DELFT3D-FLOW model, which allows to estimate the three-dimensional field velocity, was used to spatially characterize the water renewal time within the harbour. In particular, the flushing time (FT), which represents the time required for the total mass of a conservative tracer originally within the water body to be reduced to a factor 1/e, was examined. The concentration of contaminants in sediments is indeed a proper parameter to test the reliability of the calculated water renewal time within the semi-enclosed basins, since it relies on time-integrated measurements compared to single observations of water column. This research aims at studying the relation between the FT and the pollution due to trace metals in marine sediments. For this purpose, surface sediment samples were collected along a series of stations located in the innermost part and near the mouth of the Civitavecchia harbour. As, Cr, Hg, Ni, Cu, Zn, Pb and Al concentrations were analysed to calculate the enrichment factor, which provides an estimate of the heavy metal contamination in the harbour surface sediment. The obtained results show a high correlation between the FT and the enrichment factor within the Civitavecchia port, confirming that water renewal can be used as an indicator of water quality degradation in semi-enclosed areas.

Building on the successful experience in operating the DarkSide-50 detector, the DarkSide Collaboration is going to construct DarkSide-20k, a direct WIMP search detector using a two-phase Liquid Argon Time Projection Chamber (LAr TPC) with an active (fiducial) mass of 23 t (20 t). This paper describes a preliminary design for the experiment, in which the DarkSide-20k LAr TPC is deployed within a shield/veto with a spherical Liquid Scintillator Veto (LSV) inside a cylindrical Water Cherenkov Veto (WCV). This preliminary design provides a baseline for the experiment to achieve its physics goals, while further development work will lead to the final optimization of the detector parameters and an eventual technical design. Operation of DarkSide-50 demonstrated a major reduction in the dominant 39Ar background when using argon extracted from an underground source, before applying pulse shape analysis. Data from DarkSide-50, in combination with MC simulation and analytical modeling, shows that a rejection factor for discrimination between electron and nuclear recoils of $>3 \times 10^{9}$ is achievable. This, along with the use of the veto system and utilizing silicon photomultipliers in the LAr TPC, are the keys to unlocking the path to large LAr TPC detector masses, while maintaining an experiment in which less than $< 0.1$ events (other than $\nu$ -induced nuclear recoils) is expected to occur within the WIMP search region during the planned exposure. DarkSide-20k will have ultra-low backgrounds than can be measured in situ, giving sensitivity to WIMP-nucleon cross sections of $1.2 \times 10^{-47}$ cm2 ( $1.1 \times 10^{-46}$ cm2) for WIMPs of 1 TeV/c2 (10 TeV/c2) mass, to be achieved during a 5 yr run producing an exposure of 100 t yr free from any instrumental background.

Purpose: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the association between the Mediterranean diet and obesity in a Mediterranean cohort. Methods: The study population of MEAL (Mediterranean Healthy Eating, Ageing, and Lifestyle) study comprised 1814 men and women (18 + years) recruited in the city of Catania, southern Italy. Food intake was evaluated through a validated food frequency questionnaire and the Mediterranean diet adherence was assessed through the MEDI-LITE score. Results: Individuals highly adherent to the Mediterranean diet (highest quartile of the score) were less likely to be obese (OR 0.53, 95% CI 0.32, 0.89) despite there was no significant associations when considering men and women separately. The dietary profile of obese and non-obese individuals did not significantly differ, except for vitamin E, processed meat, and alcohol more consumed among non-obese ones. Among the food groups characterizing this dietary pattern, only satisfaction of the criterion for dairy products (< 1 serving/day) was significantly associated with lower odds of being obese. Among other covariates, current smoking was associated with obesity, while high physical activity and regular alcohol drinking were inversely associated. Some differences between men and women in the highest category of occupational status occurred, as the former were less likely, while the latter were more likely to be obese. Conclusions: Higher adherence to the Mediterranean diet as a whole dietary pattern, rather than its individual components, is associated with less likelihood of being obese. Level of evidence: Level V, cross-sectional descriptive study.

Background: Vaccine hesitancy is a considerable issue in European countries and leads to low coverage rates. After a long debate, Italy has made vaccination mandatory for admission to its schools.Methods: In the NAVIDAD study (a cross-sectional multicentre study), a 63-item questionnaire was administered to 1820 pregnant women from 15 Italian cities. The questionnaire assessed the interviewee's opinion on mandatory vaccines, as well as their socioeconomic status, sources of information about vaccines, confidence in the Italian National Healthcare Service (NHS), and intention to vaccinate their newborn.Results: Information sources play a key role in determining the opinion on restoration of mandatory vaccines; in particular, women who obtained information from anti-vaccination movements are less likely to accept the vaccines (OR: 0.35, 95% CI: 0.21-0.58, p < 0.001). Women who had confidence in healthcare professional information agreed more on mandatory vaccination than did the other women (OR: 2.66, 95% CI: 1.62-4.36, p < 0.001); those who perceived that healthcare professionals have economic interest in child immunization and who declared that healthcare providers inform only on vaccinations benefits not on risks were less likely to agree on compulsory vaccination (OR: 0.66, CI 95%: 0.46-0.96, p = 0.03; OR: 0.66, CI 95%: 0.46-0.95, p = 0.03, respectively).Conclusion: Information sources and confidence towards health professionals are the main determinants of acceptance of mandatory vaccine restoration. To increase the acceptability of the restoration and reduce vaccine hesitancy, these aspects need to be strengthened.

This is the accepted manuscript of the paper "Cost-Effective Technologies to Study the Arctic Ocean Environment", published as final paper in "Sensors 2018, 18, 2257;doi:10.3390/s18072257". Piermattei, V., Madonia, A., Bonamano, S., Martellucci, R., Bruzzone, G., Ferretti, R., Odetti, A., Azzaro, M., Zappalà, G., & Marcelli, M. (2018). Cost-Effective Technologies to Study the Arctic Ocean Environment†.Sensors (Basel, Switzerland),18(7), 2257. https://doi.org/10.3390/s18072257 The Arctic region is known to be severely affected by climate change, with evident alterations in both physical and biological processes. Monitoring the Arctic Ocean ecosystem is key to understanding the impact of natural and human-induced change on the environment. Large data sets are required to monitor the Arctic marine ecosystem and validate high-resolution satellite observations (e.g., Sentinel), which are necessary to feed climatic and biogeochemical forecasting models. However, the Global Observing System needs to complete its geographic coverage, particularly for the harsh, extreme environment of the Arctic Region. In this scenario, autonomous systems are proving to be valuable tools for increasing the resolution of existing data. To this end, a low-cost, miniaturized and flexible probe, ArLoC (Arctic Low-Cost probe), was designed, built and installed on an innovative unmanned marine vehicle, the PROTEUS (Portable RObotic TEchnology for Unmanned Surveys), during a preliminary scientific campaign in the Svalbard Archipelago within the UVASS project. This study outlines the instrumentation used and its design features, its preliminary integration on PROTEUS and its test results.

In this paper, we present the characteristics and performances of new silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs), produced at FBK, for the near-ultraviolet (NUV) light detection, with reduced afterpulsing and delayed optical crosstalk. To study these components of the correlated noise, we manufactured SiPMs on silicon wafers featuring different substrate minority-carrier lifetime. This parameter proved to be crucial in determining the amount of delayed optical crosstalk and afterpulsing caused by photo-generated carriers diffusing from the substrate to the cell active region. With a very low substrate lifetime, we were able to minimize this correlated noise component to few percent at room temperature. Besides reducing the excess noise factor, the lower delayed correlated noise allows biasing the SiPM at higher voltages, reaching higher values of photon detection efficiency.

This is the accepted manuscript of the paper "Modeling the dispersion of viable and total Escherichia coli cells in the artificial semi-enclosed bathing area of Santa Marinella (Latium, Italy)", published as final paper in "Marine Pollution Bulletin 95 (2015) 141–154;https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2015.04.030" Bonamano S, Madonia A, Borsellino C, Stefanì C, Caruso G, De Pasquale F, Piermattei V, Zappalà G, Marcelli M (2015). Modeling the dispersion of viable and total Escherichia coli cells in the artificial semi-enclosed bathing area of Santa Marinella (Latium, Italy). MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN, ISSN: 0025-326X, doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2015.04.030. Coastal areas are strongly affected by episodes of fecal contamination due to polluted water inflows from inadequately treated sewages. The present study aims to investigate the dispersion of Escherichia coli in the artificial semi-enclosed bathing area of Santa Marinella (Latium, Italy) through in situ samplings carried out in summer 2012 and the application of a dynamic model. Collected samples were analyzed by the Culture-Based technique and the Fluorescent Antibody method in order to estimate both the viable culturable cells and the total E. coli population, respectively. The in situ datasets were used to test the proposed modeling approach and simulate the behavior of bacteria as particles subjected, or not, to decay. Next, the flushing time and the computation of the Microbiological Potential Risk Area allowed the evaluation of the contribution of physical and biological processes to coliform dispersion and the related potential risk for bathers.

The aim of the present study was to determine the association between Mediterranean diet adherence and dyslipidaemia in a cohort of adults living in the Mediterranean area. The cross-sectional study comprised a total sample of 2044 men and women, aged >18 years old from southern Italy. The Mediterranean diet adherence was assessed using a validated score (MEDI-LITE score). Clinical data were investigated and anthropometric examinations were collected using standardised methods. Among included individuals, 18.4% had dyslipidaemia. The percentage of females with dyslipidaemia was higher than males (21.2% vs. 14.6%). Higher adherence to Mediterranean diet was inversely associated with dyslipidaemia (OR: 0.56, 95% Cl: 0.36, 0.86). Similar association was observed in men, but not in women. On the contrary, a positive association was found between dyslipidaemia and current smoking and higher occupational status. Our results support the potential effectiveness of this diet in the prevention of dyslipidaemia and justify future intervention studies.

International audience; Time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) is a high performance tool for molecular depth profiling of polymer films, in particular when they are structured in microphases. However, a major issue is the degradation of polymer materials under ion irradiation in reactions such as cross-linking, chain breaking, or reorganization processes of polymers which have been demonstrated for materials such as polystyrene (PS) and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA). This work aims at comparing ToF-SIMS molecular depth profiling of structured polymers (polystyrene (PS)-b-polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) block copolymers (BCP)) using either ultralow energy cesium or the more recently introduced C60(++) (under NO dosing and with sample cooling) and argon cluster ion beams (using Ar-1500(+) ions at 5 keV). The latter improved the quality of the depth profiles, especially the argon cluster ion beam, as it is characterized by a greater homogeneity for the sputter yields of PS and PMMA. No significant artifacts were observed, and this was confirmed by the comparison of depth profiles obtained from films with variable thickness, annealing time, and morphology (cylindrical blocks vs spherical blocks). Comparison to a theoretical model (hexagonal centered pattern) ensured that the ToF-SIMS depth profiles described the real morphology and may thus be a relevant characterization tool to verify the morphology of the films as a function of the deposition parameters

Time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) is a high performance tool for molecular depth profiling of polymer films, in particular when they are structured in microphases. However, a major issue is the degradation of polymer materials under ion irradiation in reactions such as cross-linking, chain breaking, or reorganization processes of polymers which have been demonstrated for materials such as polystyrene (PS) and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA). This work aims at comparing ToF-SIMS molecular depth profiling of structured polymers (polystyrene (PS)-b-polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) block copolymers (BCP)) using either ultralow energy cesium or the more recently introduced C

International audience; We report on the cryogenic characterization of Red Green Blue - High Density (RGB-HD) SiPMs developed at Fondazione Bruno Kessler (FBK) as part of the DarkSide program of dark matter searches with liquid argon time projection chambers. A cryogenic setup was used to operate the SiPMs at varying temperatures and a custom data acquisition system and analysis software were used to precisely characterize the primary dark noise, the correlated noise, and the gain of the devices. We demonstrate that FBK RGB-HD SiPMs with low quenching resistance (RGB-HD-LRq) can be operated from 40 K to 300 K with gains in the range 10(5) to 10(6) and noise rates at a level of around 1 Hz/mm(2).

Monitoring the quality of marine ecosystems is a challenge to achieve and preserve their good environmental status. Real time or near real time acquisition and collection of physical, chemical and biological data series describing the health conditions of marine environments is needed not only when pollution episodes occur, to set up proper remediation measures, but also to follow natural variability of water quality occurring at different time scales. The development of advanced systems for environmental monitoring (coastal and offshore buoys and platforms, unmanned or remotely controlled submersible and unsubmersible vehicles, etc.) gave a great contribution to operational oceanography, helping to bypass the limitations and costs of traditional oceanographic surveys. The systems here described constitute an improvement and application of the know-how acquired in the last two decades in the field of advanced systems for environmental investigations. Potential advantages of the new developed system in comparison with previous prototypes are described. A wide range of applications is possible, covering the cases when conventional "manual" sampling is not possible, or dangerous, for example in proximity to glaciers, or when oil spill, toxic algal blooms, waste water must be sampled. As a first test, the developed system has been used in Arctic waters (Svalbard Islands) to evaluate spatial variations in the microbial assemblage. Results obtained indicate that the developed automatic vehicle and water multi-sampler are a good complement of traditional oceanographic cruises, and constitute a practical low-cost system to obtain data with good spatio-temporal resolution both for the initial characterization and for the study of possible natural or anthropogenic disturbance in water quality.

This paper describes the design and characterization tests of detection modules for a low-cost, easily reconfigurable mini-array for cosmic rays. The basic layout of each individual module is based on a 400 cm2 scintillator tile, optically coupled to a Wavelength Shifter (WLS) bar and a Silicon Photomultiplier (SiPM) for light collection and readout. Low cost solutions, based on the Arduino MEGA board, have been adopted for electronics, triggering and data acquisition, in view of the operation of this facility. The first detection modules, equipped with 4×4 mm2 SiPMs were fully built and characterized. Additional tests were also carried out with photosensors having different sensitive area and technology.

The response of both microbial activities and prokaryotic abundances to environmental variability was studied in a transitional Mediterranean system (Oliveri–Tindari, Italy) during two yearly surveys (1997–'98 and 2005–'06). The total enzymatic (leucine aminopeptidase, β-glucosidase, alkaline phosphatase) and respiratory activity rates as well as of the abundances of total prokaryotes, culturable heterotrophic bacteria, faecal coliforms and enterococci were measured in surface waters of four brackish ponds, together with temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, pH, inorganic nutrients, chlorophyll- a and particulate organic carbon and particulate nitrogen determinations. The seasonal and interannual patterns of microbial parameters were investigated in relation to environmental variations. Both the microbial activities and the abundances of culturable heterotrophic bacteria, faecal coliforms and enterococci varied significantly among the ponds, reflecting their haline and trophic variability. Significant seasonal and interannual variations were found in the patterns of microbial activity, but not in total prokaryotic abundance, in response to temperature, dissolved oxygen and trophic changes. Microbial parameters showed a different response to environmental variability in the two examined periods: during 1997–'98, increases in the microbial activity rates and culturable bacterial counts were positively related with the trophic changes, while during 2005–'06 the patterns of leucine aminopeptidase, alkaline phosphatase and respiratory activities and of total prokaryotic and culturable bacteria abundances were uncoupled with those of temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, particulate organic carbon and chlorophyll- a . Changes in the relative importance of environmental and trophic variables between the two considered periods explain this discrepancy.

In the global warming process the Arctic region is heating up faster than other places on Earth. This has brought to a rapid environmental change which is increasingly evident in the observations of many geophysical and biological properties. The interactions between atmosphere, ocean, cryosphere and biosphere are responsible for the phenomenon of "Arctic amplification". The complex system of interactions involving heat exchanges and water cycle (vapor and liquid) in the Arctic Ocean that is generated by these climate changes is at the base of the instabilities inducing large uncertainties and errors in climate models. Within this scene extreme and unpredictable events, especially the collapse of the ice sheets, appear to be not so remote. The ARCA project aims to develop a conceptual model on the mechanism(s) behind the release of large volumes of cold and fresh water from melting of ice caps, investigating this complex system from both paleoclimatic and modern air-sea-ice interaction process point of view. Ice process of melting depends on the energy balance at the surface of the glaciers which is controlled by mutual interactions between the atmosphere and the surface of the glacier thus depending on weather conditions (temperature, radiation, turbidity, etc.) and on ice surface properties. Among the others, ARCA project focuses on the analysis of the interface between the melting glaciers fronts and the sea inside the Arctic fjords and studies the actual sedimentary processes by analysing the ice and sediments collected in the inner part of the fjords. The Svalbard Archipelago is considered a suitable region to explore the impacts of possible climate changes, being characterised by Atlantic water influx and melting of tidal glaciers, both linked to climate variability. The retreat of the glacier front has been particularly pronounced in recent decades and has led to the accumulation of sediments in the depressions inter-moraine near the sea-ice interfaces. Particularly interesting is the case of the Kongsfjorden where high sedimentation rates have been recorded. Kongsfjorden is an Arctic glacial fjord located on the west coast of the Svalbard at 79° N, 12° E. In the inner part of the fjord, many glaciers reach the sea and the shape of the glacier front is an almost vertical wall of ice above seawater. For this reason direct measurements in the proximity of the glacier front are very critical due to the possible sudden fall of ice blocks causing extreme conditions which are dangerous for human beings carrying out operations in the surrounding area. Within the ARCA project a first prototype of automatic equipment was designed to perform discrete sampling of waters in the area close to the Kronebreen glacier in the Kongsfjorden. The aim was to obtain in situ data to study the heterotrophic bacterial distribution and functional metabolism near the glacier to better understand the hydrology cycle and its consequences on the climate in the Boreal hemisphere.The Shark USSV (Unmanned Semi-Submersible Vehicle) designed and built by CNR-ISSIA was used for collecting samples in the stretch of sea near the Kronebreen glacier; this was the first time that an autonomous sampling was carried out near the front of the glacier. Shark was used to tow along a transect and via an adequate rope a small catamaran carrying an Automatic Water Multisampler designed on the experience of CNR-IAMC. Using the USSV+Sampling System has unquestionable advantages: possibility of carrying out real-time or near real-time acquisition of physical, chemical and biological data series; avoiding the presence of manifold (small and medium) drifting icebergs obstructing the passage to the glacier; protecting the operators from falling of ice blocks that can be directly or indirectly (due to the produced waves) dangerous. During the mission the vehicle was piloted by a human operator using the semi-automatic working mode (auto-heading and auto-speed). The floating ice block obstacles were avoided with the help of a visual feedback, transmitted through a Wi-Fi channel, coming from an Ethernet camera mounted on the bow of Shark. A serial communication link was provided between the robotic vehicle and the catamaran Multisampler. This link (bridged through the Wi-Fi of Shark) made it possible for the operator to send commands to the Multisampler and to remotely start water sampling in the chosen points of interest. In the framework of ARCA project the sampling of water near the Kronebreen was necessary to assess the Arctic microbial communities and carbon processing relation with environmental changes. Taking into account the short time between the sample collection and analysis and the low temperature, it was decided to work on the fresh sample, so making it unnecessary to fix it as in previous versions of the Multisampler. In June 2015, surface water samples were collected by the automatic Multisampler along a transect from the glacier to the open sea. The collected data showed the extracellular enzymatic profiles of the bacterial isolates and pointed out that lipids, proteins and organic phosphates play a major role in bacterial metabolism in Svalbard Archipelago. The results obtained show the usefulness and the effectiveness of using robotic autonomous vehicles for monitoring environmental and biological parameters in the proximity of glaciers and for evaluating the response of polar ocean ecosystems to the effects of climate changes.

We report on the characterization of near-ultraviolet high density silicon photomultiplier (\SiPM) developed at Fondazione Bruno Kessler (\FBK) at cryogenic temperature. A dedicated setup was built to measure the primary dark noise and correlated noise of the \SiPMs\ between 40 and 300~K. Moreover, an analysis program and data acquisition system were developed to allow the precise characterization of these parameters, some of which can vary up to 7 orders of magnitude between room temperature and 40~K. We demonstrate that it is possible to operate the \FBK\ near-ultraviolet high density \SiPMs\ at temperatures lower than 100~K with a dark rate below 0.01 cps/mm$^2$ and total correlated noise probability below 35\% at an over-voltage of 6~V. These results are relevant for the development of future cryogenic particle detectors using \SiPMs\ as photosensors.

Diet plays a role in the onset and progression of metabolic disorders, including metabolic syndrome (MetS). We aimed to systematically review and conduct a quantitative meta-analysis of results from observational cross-sectional and prospective cohort studies on adherence to the Mediterranean dietary pattern and risk of MetS. Literature databases including PubMed, SCOPUS and EMBASE were searched from the beginning to May 2016. Eight cross-sectional and four prospective studies were included in this meta-analysis, accounting for a total of 33,847 individuals and 6342 cases of MetS. High adherence to the Mediterranean diet was associated with a risk of MetS (RR: 0.81, 95%CI: 0.71, 0.92). Regarding individual components of the MetS, the inverse associations were significant for waist circumference, blood pressure and low HDL-C levels. In conclusion, adoption of a Mediterranean dietary pattern was associated with lower risk of the MetS and it can be proposed for the primary prevention of the MetS.

This is the accepted manuscript of the paper "The Civitavecchia Coastal Environment Monitoring System (C-CEMS): a new tool to analyse the conflicts between coastal pressures and sensitivity areas", published as final paper in "Ocean Sci., 12, 87–100, 2016 https://doi.org/10.5194/os-12-87-2016"https://www.ocean-sci.net/12/87/2016/ Bonamano, S., Piermattei, V., Madonia, A., Paladini de Mendoza, F., Pierattini, A., Martellucci, R., Stefanì, C., Zappalà, G., Caruso, G., and Marcelli, M.: The Civitavecchia Coastal Environment Monitoring System (C-CEMS): a new tool to analyze the conflicts between coastal pressures and sensitivity areas, Ocean Sci., 12, 87–100, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-12-87-2016, 2016. The understanding of the coastal environment is fundamental for efficiently and effectively facing the pollution phenomena as expected by the Marine Strategy Framework Directive, and for limiting the conflicts between anthropic activities and sensitivity areas, as stated by Maritime Spatial Planning Directive. To address this, the Laboratory of Experimental Oceanology and Marine Ecology developed a multi-platform observing network that has been in operation since 2005 in the coastal marine area of Civitavecchia (Latium, Italy) where multiple uses and high ecological values closely coexist. The Civitavecchia Coastal Environment Monitoring System (C-CEMS), implemented in the current configuration, includes various components allowing one to analyze the coastal conflicts by an ecosystem-based approach. The long-term observations acquired by the fixed stations are integrated with in situ data collected for the analysis of the physical, chemical and biological parameters of the water column, sea bottom and pollution sources detected along the coast. The in situ data, integrated with satellite observations (e.g., temperature, chlorophyllaand TSM), are used to feed and validate the numerical models, which allow the analysis and forecasting of the dynamics of pollutant dispersion under different conditions. To test the potential capabilities of C-CEMS, two case studies are reported here: (1) the analysis of fecal bacteria dispersion for bathing water quality assessment, and (2) the evaluation of the effects of the dredged activities onPosidoniameadows, which make up most of the two sites of community importance located along the Civitavecchia coastal zone. The simulation outputs are overlapped by the thematic maps showing bathing areas andPosidonia oceanicadistribution, thus giving a first practical tool that could improve the resolution of the conflicts between coastal uses (in terms of stress produced by anthropic activities) and sensitivity areas. &nbsp

Secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) with polyatomic primary ions provides a successful tool for molecular depth profiling of polymer systems, relevant in many technological applications. Widespread C60 sources, however, cause in some polymers extensive damage with loss of molecular information along depth. We study a method, based on the use of a radical scavenger, for inhibiting ion-beam-induced reactions causing sample damage.Layered polystyrene sulfonate and polyacrylic acid based polyelectrolyte films, behaving differently towards C60 beam-induced damage, were selected and prepared as model systems. They were depth profiled by means of time-of-flight (TOF)-SIMS in dual beam mode, using fullerene ions for sputtering. Nitric oxide was introduced into the analysis chamber as a radical scavenger. The effect of sample cooling combined with NO-dosing on the quality of depth profiles was explored.NO-dosing during C60-SIMS depth profiling of1 micrometer-thick multilayered polyelectrolytes allows detection, along depth, of characteristic fragments from systems otherwise damaged by C60 bombardment, and increases sputtering yield by more than one order of magnitude. By contrast, NO has little influence on those layers that are well profiled with C60 alone. Such leveling effect, more pronounced at low temperature, leads to a dramatic improvement of profile quality, with a clear definition of interfaces.NO-dosing provides a tool for extending the applicability, in SIMS depth profiling, of the widely spread fullerene ion sources. In view of the acceptable erosion rates on inorganics, obtainable with C60, the method could be of relevance also in connection with the 3D-imaging of hybrid polymer/inorganic systems.

Single-photon detectors are employed to measure faint light signals with high detection efficiency and time resolution. Silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs) are arrays of Single-photon avalanche diodes (SPADs), each one with its quenching resistor; they are connected in parallel giving a signal proportional to the number of detected photons. They offer the typical advantages of solid-state detectors (e.g. ruggedness, low power consumption, small size), high detection efficiency, good time resolution [1] and very good photon-number resolving capabilities. In FBK we produce SiPMs and SPADs with detection efficiency peaked for blue/ultraviolet light (called NUV technology) [2], or green-red light detection (RGB technology), with different geometries. The former are typically employed in a large number of applications exploiting scintillators [3]. Looking for the maximization of the photo-detection efficiency (PDE), e.g. increasing the fill-factor (FF) of the SiPM cell, noise components such as afterpulsing and optical crosstalk between cells (i.e. the correlated noise) become important issues. Recently, we developed new NUV-SiPMs, with high detection efficiency and with different solutions to reduce the noise of the detectors, both at a technological level [4] and a cell-layout level. Here we show the performance of this new NUV-SiPM, produced at FBK, employing a new silicon substrate, with a reduced minority-carriers lifetime, and new SiPM with trenches between cells and high cell density.

Fondazione Bruno Kessler (FBK) (Trento, Italy) has recently introduced High Density (HD) and Ultra High-Density (UHD) SiPMs, featuring very small micro-cell pitch. The high cell density is a very important factor to improve the linearity of the SiPM in high-dynamic-range applications, such as the scintillation light readout in high-energy gamma-ray spectroscopy and in prompt gamma imaging for proton therapy. The energy resolution at high energies is a trade-off between the excess noise factor caused by the non-linearity of the SiPM and the photon detection efficiency of the detector. To study these effects, we developed a new setup that simulates the LYSO light emission in response to gamma photons up to 30 MeV, using a pulsed light source. We measured the non-linearity and energy resolution vs. energy of the FBK RGB-HD e RGB-UHD SiPM technologies. We considered five different cell sizes, ranging from 10 μm up to 25 μm. With the UHD technology we were able to observe a remarkable reduction of the SiPM non-linearity, less than 5% at 5 MeV with 10 μm cells, which should be compared to a non-linearity of 50% with 25 μm-cell HD-SiPMs. With the same setup, we also measured the different components of the energy resolution (intrinsic, statistical, detector and electronic noise) vs. cell size, over-voltage and energy and we separated the different sources of excess noise factor.

Harbours and maritime transport are essential for both local and national economic development creating wealth, jobs and attracting investment and resources. However, the presence of port infrastructures and associated activities such as vessel docking, handling and transport of goods, production of a great quantity of wastes and pollutants and periodical dredgings, generate significant environmental impacts on coastal ecosystems and seawater quality. Civitavecchia harbour (Rome, Italy) is the first Mediterranean cruise port with approximately 2.6 million passengers, characterized by intense traffic of ships engaged in the carriage of goods and persons and interested by continuous maintenance and expansion works to improve its receptive capacity. In this context a significant support is given from the availability of continuous measurement systems, which offer an important tool for marine monitoring, allowing the acquisition of physical, chemical and biological time series, fundamental prerogative to promptly verify any unexpected phenomena and process. The Laboratory of Experimental Oceanology and Marine Ecology (University of Tuscia) is strongly involved in the environmental monitoring of the Civitavecchia coastal area. In June 2012 a fixed station was installed on a dock of the Civitavecchia harbour performing repeated measurements of surface water temperature, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, pH, turbidity and chl-a fluorescence. Moreover, a weather station acquiring meteorological parameters (wind speed and direction, precipitation, atmospheric pressure, air temperature and humidity and solar radiation), a surface buoy, moored outside the Civitavecchia harbour, and in situ water samplings provided data comparable with the fixed station. In support of the system a high resolution hydrodynamical model was used to calculate current and waves parameters around and inside the harbour area, allowing us to analyse the conservative constituents (e.g. suspended solids) behaviour. At the end of 2012 considerable modifications were made on the harbour structures, concerning Colombo breakwater extension and new Dock Services. The present work reports the observations on main water parameters before and after the cited works, comparing them with the results of model simulations. © 2014 WIT Press.

The Muon Portal Project aims at the construction of a large volume detector to inspect the content of travelling containers for the identification of high-Z hidden materials (U, Pu or other fissile samples), exploiting the secondary cosmic-ray muon radiation. An image of these materials is achieved reconstructing the deviations of the muons from their original trajectories inside the detector volume, by means of two particle trackers, placed one below and one above the container. The scan is performed without adding any external radiation, in a few minutes and with a high spatial and angular resolution. The detector consists of 4800 scintillating strips with two wavelength shifting (WLS) fibers inside each strip, coupled to Silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs). A smart strategy for the read out system allows a considerable reduction of the number of the read-out channels. Actually, an intense measurement campaign is in progress to carefully characterize any single component of the detector. A prototype of one of the 48 detection modules (1 × 3 m2) is actually under construction. This paper presents the detector architecture and the preliminary results.

This work presents a study of the factors contributing to the Photo-Detection Efficiency of Silicon Photomultipliers (SiPMs): Quantum Efficiency, Triggering Probability and Fill Factor. Two different SiPM High-Density technologies are tested, NUV-HD, based on n-on-p junction, and RGB-HD, based on p-on-n junction, developed at FBK, Trento. The quantum efficiency was measured on photodiodes produced along with the SiPMs. The triggering probability, as a function of wavelength and bias voltage, was measured on circular Single Photon Avalanche Diodes (SPADs) with 100% fill factor. Square SPADs, having the same layout of single SiPM cells, were studied to measure the effective fill factor and compare it to the nominal value. The comparison of the circular and square SPADs allows to get the transition region size between the effective active area of the cell and the one defined by the layout.

Traditional techniques, such as those based on X-rays absorption, to inspect shipping container in search of potential fissile threats cannot be employed on occupied vehicles and are of limited use in presence of a large amount of shielding materials. To overcome such limitations, prototypes of detection systems employing the muon tomography technique, based on cosmic muon scattering from high-Z materials, are being tested worldwide. The Muon Portal project aims to build a large area muon detector (18 m2) for the inspection of TEU containers with good spatial and angular resolution. The detector is made by four XY tracking planes of plastic scintillator bars with embedded WLS fibers and SiPM readout, placed above and below the volume to be inspected. Different imaging and visualization algorithms are being designed and tested over tomographic scenarios simulated with a detailed software replica of the entire detector. Experimental tests of the individual detection modules are already in progress. The design and operational parameters of the portal under construction are reported, together with the preliminary detector tests and imaging results.

Integrated observing systems are important tools for marine monitoring, as they allow acquisitions and record of ecological time series. Integration of time-series monitoring efforts is recognized as a priority in national and international scientific programs, being necessary to better understand how marine ecosystems will change not only in response to anthropogenic impacts, but also to identify trends in their natural evolution. Coastal ecosystems are areas particularly sensitive to climate changes and human impacts, consequently they deserve to be the subject of time-series observation programs. The Laboratory of Experimental Oceanology and Marine Ecology of Tuscia University is located in Civitavecchia's harbor; representing one of the main laboratories for marine experimental research on the Tyrrhenian Sea, it focuses its activities both on open sea and coastal processes. Although its recent constitution, it has already gained a good experience participating in national and European research projects, in many oceanographic cruises and collaborating with public institutions. Integrated marine observation activities were performed in the coastal area of Civitavecchia, an Italian city near Rome. Heart of the system was a platform moored near the harbor measuring every 20 minutes the main water parameters (temperature, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, fluorescence). A GPS gave the buoy position that was verified to be in the allowed range; in negative case an alarm was immediately sent via SMS to the mobile phones of the buoy crew. Another system verified the functionality of the buoy simply generating calls to the buoy modem; a "no response" generated an alarm to the crew. The acquired data were transmitted twice a day to the base station (the Laboratory) via e-mail and FTP using a cellular modem. Another fixed station in the harbor measured temperature, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, pH, numerical models played a fundamental role allowing us to estimate the dispersion dynamic of different kinds of particles (pollutants, suspended matter, bacteria, etc.). The accumulation and the dynamics of spreading and transport of potentially infectious microorganisms were simulated, using physical and microbiological in situ collected data to feed and validate the model results. Satellite observations gave an estimate of Chlorophyll-a and suspended matter. The system demonstrated an efficient, flexible and cost-effective way to assess environmental conditions. Some recent results are reported.

The southern- central Tyrrhenian Sea is a poorly studied area of the Mediterranean Sea, although its importance for the biological fluxes among the western and eastern basins is recognised. This note aimed at evaluating in the waters of the Southern Tyrrhenian Sea the efficiency of some steps of the organic matter processing (enzymatic hydrolysis, prokaryotic production and oxidation) and the role played by the prokaryotic community in this context. During the MEDBIO multidisciplinary cruise performed in July 2005, the distribution of prokaryotic abundance and activities (exo enzymatic activity, heterotrophic production and respiratory activity) was studied. The results showed the presence of high exo enzymatic activity rates (mostly leucine amino peptidase) in the deep sea, while heterotrophic production and respiratory activity rates were high at surface. Some speculations on the different behaviors of the Carbon fluxes occurring among the different epi, meso and bathypelagic layers are reported. At the epipelagic layer both the decomposition and biomass production processes were high. At the mesopelagic layer the organic matter was quickly mobilised but not efficiently incorporated into biomass, therefore the dissolved monomers remained available in the water column for export to other trophic levels or utilization in other chemical processes (lateral advection, oxidation). The bathypelagic layer was characterised by high levels of hydrolytic activity coupled with relatively high prokaryotic production; in this layer, exo enzymatic activity levels fall in an order of magnitude similar to that observed at the epipelagic one. This finding highlights the importance of microbially mediated processes in sustaining life in the marine depths.

Two measurements of Planck's constant, one based on the visible photoelectric effect and the other making use of light-emitting diodes of various colors, have been proposed for the third-year physics student undergraduate laboratory. The experimental data require various levels of analysis and interpretation, which may provide interesting activities for the students involved, notwithstanding the simplicity of the experimental setups employed.

The zero-dimensional subschemes of 𝒬 = ℙ1 × ℙ1 arising as scheme-theoretic complete intersections of two curves are considered. The main goal is to describe the possible Hilbert functions and to give some information on the graded Betti numbers of such schemes.

The Muon Portal is a recent Project [1] which aims at the construction of a 18 m2 tracking detector for cosmic muons. This apparatus has been designed as a real-size prototype to inspect containers using the muon tomography technique, i.e. by measuring the deflection of muons when traversing high-Z materials. The detection setup is based on eight position-sensitive X-Y planes, four placed below and four above the volume to be inspected, with good tracking capabilities for charged particles. The detection planes are segmented into strips of extruded plastic scintillators with WLS fibres to transport the light produced in the scintillator material to the photo-sensors (SiPMs) at one of the fibre ends. Detailed GEANT4 simulations have been carried out under different scenarios to investigate the response of the apparatus. The tomographic images are reconstructed by tracking algorithms and suitable imaging software tools. Simulations have demonstrated the possibility to reconstruct a 3D image of the volume to be inspected in a reasonable amount of time, compatible with the requirement of a fast inspection technique. The first two of the 48 detection modules are presently under construction.

Complex decision systems have been implemented for prevention and ecological risk analysis, based on economically sustainable activities including forecasting models, satellite images and sustainable observatory networks. Operational oceanography has been engaged in the development of new acquisition, transmission and assimilation systems in order to have the widest possible coverage of real time information, reflecting the guidelines of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC). The high costs of offshore mooring systems and traditional oceanographic cruises have suggested the use of alternative platforms to collect a large number of oceanographic data in a wide space. In particular the Ship-of-Opportunity Programme (SOOP) realised a network to support different operational needs, first of all the provision of upper ocean data for data assimilation in models, in support of climate prediction. Moreover, marine coastal areas can be monitored using small measure platforms integrating "on demand" sensors and systems to measure air and water parameters, streaming collected data using a cellular modem, able to directly connect to internet. This work shows an integrated real time observing system installed in the Latium coastal area (Central Tyrrhenian Sea). It comprises new low cost technological devices and an automatic multi-purpose buoy equipped with a pumping system developed ad hoc for physical-chemical-biological variables measuring. In particular this last device, because of its geographical location, has a strategic relevance for the ocean colour satellite sensors calibration, allowing investigation of marine coastal areas classified as 'case 2' waters and constituting a reference station for water quality assessment.