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The exposure to UV solar radiation can have several adverse health effects. During summer in Mediterranean area high UV irradiation levels occur and outdoor workers may incur in overexposure risk. This paper reviews the measurement campaigns of UV solar exposure carried out in Mediterranean area.

Occupational solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR) exposure is a relevant heath risk in dock workers, potentially exposed to both direct and reflected radiation, but apparently was scantly studied up now and few studies on measurements of solar UVR levels are currently available for these workers. Our aim was to provide an evaluation of UVR exposure in 10 longshoremen and 4 port traffic coordinators/goods acceptors of a dock in North-East Italy. During a Summer day, workers' exposure was measured with personal UV dosimeters, and the environmental UV effective radiant exposure with a spectroradiometer. Personal solar UV dose ranged between 257–1975 J/m2 in longshoremen, and between 44–139 J/m2 for port traffic coordinators/goods acceptors. The percentage of personal compared to ambient exposure resulted between 16 and 59% for longshoremen, while were much lower, between 2 and 7%, in port traffic coordinators/goods acceptors. Eye exposure was also estimated using an ocular UV dosimeter placed on a stem of the sunglasses in a subject spending the day close to the longshoremen, resulting in a non-weighted solar UV-A ocular dose between 133.9 and 401.8 J/m2. Our results show an occupational solar UVR exposure of uncovered skin exceeding the suggested occupational limit of 1—1.3 standard erythemal dose per day, in all longshoremen. In one case this value was exceeded also in one of the port traffic coordinators /good acceptors, despite the overall lower UVR doses received. In conclusion, our UV measurement campaign in a group of Italian dock-workers support the existence of a significantly high occupational UVR risk at least for longshoremen, possibly inducing long-term UV-related adverse skin effects. Accordingly, an effort for the development of adequate interventions to protect these workers from solar UV risk is highly recommended in Italy.

Occupational solar radiation exposure is a relevant heath risk in the fishing sector. Our aim was to provide a detailed evaluation of individual UV exposure in three different fishing activities in Italy, with personal UV dosimeters and a simple formula to calculate the fraction of ambient erythemal UV dose received by the workers. The potential individual UV exposure of the fishermen was between 65 and 542 Joules/m2. The percentages of the ambient exposure were estimated between 2.5% and 65.3%. Workers&rsquo, UV exposure was mainly influenced by the characteristics of the work activity, the postures adopted, and the type of boats. Overall, our data showed that 43% of the daily measurements could result largely above the occupational limits of 1&ndash, 1.3 standard erythemal dose (i.e., 100 Joules/m2) per day, in case of exposure of uncovered skin areas. Measurements of individual UV exposure are important not only to assess the risk but also to increase workers&rsquo, perception and stimulate the adoption of preventive measures to reduce solar UV risk. Furthermore, the simple method proposed, linking ambient erythemal UV dose to the workers&rsquo, exposure, can be a promising tool for a reliable assessment of the UV risk, as time series of environmental UV dose are widely available.

In addition to the many beneficial effects that the solar radiation (SR) has on human beings, the ultraviolet (UV) band can produce several adverse effects to skin and eyes. Both acute and long-term effects are due to UV overexposure and the damage, as well as the risk, increase with the duration of exposure. To reduce the incidence of those risks, outdoor workers should take careful behaviors, reducing the tissues exposition to sun. Nowadays, there are many easy-to-use apps and tools to estimate outdoor exposition with UV-index. However, the use of a such simple measurement is not sufficient for a correct estimation of the UV dose to skin and eyes; in fact the UV erythemal dose is measured only with scientific instruments and the acquired data have to be postprocessed. The paper presents a prototype of a personal and wearable smart device for estimating in real time the UV erythemal exposure of outdoor workers. The device is equipped with several sensors able to detect the body posture assumed by worker and to communicate with a Smartphone’s app which provides geographical coordinates, the sun position and UV irradiation level from satellite data. Hence, with the help of an algorithm, the software can calculate an estimation of the UV dose.

An algorithm has been developed to determine the annual dose of UV solar radiation for outdoor workers. The dose is indirectly assessed basing on satellite data, mean global irradiance values, workers' data obtained by means of a questionnaire and corrective coefficients provided by a mathematical model. The values obtained by the use of the algorithm are compared with those obtained by measurement records in different environments. Results demonstrated that the algorithm estimates the mean daily erythemal dose with good approximation.

Introduction The near infrared (IRA, 780–1.400 nm) represents a primary component of the solar spectrum, accounting for about 30% of the total solar energy reaching the soil. IRA is highly penetrating, being able to reach the subcutaneous tissues. Moreover, significant amounts of IRA may reach retinal tissue. Outdoor workers are occupationally exposed to solar radiation. However, until now the attention was primarily focused on the acute and long-term adverse effects (especially skin cancer) involving both skin and eyes due to UVB and UVA bands. Methods A literature search was conducted to assess the current knowledge about the biological effects of IRA, analysing implications in terms of occurrence of long term adverse effects in people working outdoor. Results Experimental studies show that IRA may affect gene expression profile and the redox balance of the cell, especially fibroblasts, causing a direct or an indirect increase in ROS production, primarily interfering with mitochondrial activity. Until now there is no epidemiological evidence regarding long-term adverse effects due to solar IRA, by alone or in combination with other bands of solar radiation. Discussion The available data suggest that IRA may have biological effects regardless of the potential temperature increase of tissues. Moreover, a synergistic action between IRA, visible radiation, UVB or UVA, may not be excluded, for instance regarding ROS production, modulation of cell signalling, induction of mutations and/or epigenetic changes, especially for prolonged and repeated exposures of skin and eye tissues. Waiting for new experimental and epidemiological data (including those obtained applying ‘omics’ technologies) protection of workers exposed to solar radiation should ideally include the shielding of IRA (although effective sunscreens are not yet available in this regard), while health surveillance should not ignore the possibility of synergistic effects. Finally, preventive pathways have to include, among others, education to healthy lifestyles.

The aim of this paper is to present the main issues concerning the protection of outdoor workers from UV natural radiation, in order to prevent the UV adverse effects, and to discuss the current measurement tools available for workers, evidencing their deficits. A wearable smart sensor for monitoring the effective exposure of the individual worker is proposed as innovative solution

Introduction Solar radiation may have adverse effects, both acute and long-term, on skin and eye, mainly due to the UV component. Outdoor workers are significantly exposed to solar UV radiation, but exposure is highly variable, depending on environmental, occupational and personal features. Outdoor workers’ exposure to Solar Radiation (SR) is still an underestimated risk factor in several countries, particularly in Italy, even if it has been included for years in the carcinogenic for humans by (IARC). The scarce attention paid by employers to this risk imports as an insufficient prevention, as well as a difficulty in recognising in retrospect the causal relation between the long time exposure of workers and the eventual skin cancer; in particular, this can happen when the melanoma occurs in body districts which were less exposed to direct SR. Individual exposure may be measured by using personal dosimeters, but presently operative concerns may limit or even prevent their usage in a lot of cases. Several indirect methods to assess UV exposure of outdoor workers have been proposed, with no general agreement. Also, there may be need to assess lifetime cumulative exposure of an individual worker for both epidemiological and legal purposes. This work describes a method for reconstructing the annual exposure dose starting from the data obtained by a questionnaire filled by the worker. Methods An algorithm has been developed for reconstructing the annual exposure dose of SR related to the worker. The mean radiant exposure of one month in a selected place was derived from satellite data (TEMIS-ESA) and the mean global irradiance on the same period was provided by ENEA on the basis of measured data; both data consider the cloudy coverage and the ozone column, and the satellite data are the mean of five years. The ratio of these two values gives a coefficient for estimating the mean erythemal dose of one month on the horizontal plane; successive corrections relative to the number of working hours and day, clothing, albedo and position of the body district exposed were applied. Results First validation tests demonstrated that the algorithm estimates the mean daily erythemal dose with an optimal approximation respect to the values deriving from on field measurement campaign. Successive validation test will be carried out with extensive measurements involving workers of specific sectors (fishing, farming, quarry). Conclusion The developed algorithm is an instrument useful for determining the cumulative UV erythemal dose of workers with the best possible level of approximation, since it was obtained on the basis of the previous working exposure derived from a questionnaire filled by the worker itself. The algorithm can be also used as prevention instrument for the previous evaluation of the occupational risk.

The aim of this effort is to implement a nonlinear flight control architecture, specifically flight path control via command filtered backstepping, for use in AME UAS's Fury® 1500 unmanned flying wing aircraft. Backstepping is a recursive, control-effort minimizing, constructive design procedure that interlaces the choice of a Lyapunov function with the design of feedback control. It allows the use of certain plant states to act as intermediate, virtual controls, for others breaking complex high order systems into a sequence of simpler lower-order design tasks. Work herein is a simplified implementation based on publications by Farrell, Sharma, and Polycarpou. Online approximation is not applied, however command filtering along with two variants of control allocation is. This minimal approach was done to mitigate risk, as adaptation could be added in future work to this baseline. Command filtering assures that control inputs generated meet magnitude, rate, and bandwidth constraints for states and actuators as well as provides command derivatives that reduce computation. Two different forms of control allocation were implemented, the simplest a least-squares pseudo-inverse and the second an optimal quadratic programming method. Two Simulink based simulations successfully flew AME's Fury® 1500 UAS: a nominal case with fully operational actuators and a failure case with an actuator stuck at -10°. Coordinated flight for both cases with outer loop tracking was achieved for a demanding autopilot task of simultaneously varying heading and flight-path angle commands, ±60° and ±10° respectively, for a constant airspeed command of 135 ft/s. Command signals were generated were achievable due to the command filter implementation.

Beside some documented benefits attributed to ultraviolet solar radiation (solar UVR), a lot of adverse effects are a consequence of a chronic exposure, including the occurrence of photo-induced skin cancer. Improvement in risks perception, due to UVR overexposure, in the case of occupational or recreational exposure, is of great importance for public health. The amount of exposure to UVR has to be assessed as accurately as possible, with the aim to characterize different exposure conditions and, by their appropriate management, to prevent adverse health effects attributed to prolonged exposure to solar radiation (SR). The available technology allows to acquire such information, either using miniaturized and wearable sensors, or through devices who exploit radiative transfer models by integrating satellite-based radiometric data with meteorological data. We proceeded to an intercomparison to evaluate the performance of different devices in three commonly exposure conditions. Applications using satellite data, developed for preventing sunburn during recreational exposure, are adeguate for that purpose, while for a more accurate exposure assessment, only those which evaluate the irradiance in near real-time provide acceptable results. Unlike earlier, the low-cost devices that use wearable sensors showed inadequate performance for our purpose.

Ultraviolet radiation is known to cause both benefits and harmful effects on humans. The adverse effects mainly involve two target organs, skin and eye, and can be further divided into short- and long-term effects. The present case report describes an accidental exposure of two health-care workers to ultraviolet radiation produced by a germicidal lamp in a hospital pharmacy. The germicidal lamp presented a spectrum with an intense UV-C component as well as a modest UV-B contribution. Overexposure to UV-C radiation was over 100 times as large as the ICNIRP exposure limits. A few hours after the exposure, the two subjects reported symptoms of acute UV injury and both of them continued having significant clinical signs for over 2 years. In this study, we describe acute and potentially irreversible effects caused by high UV exposure. In addition, we present the results of risk assessment by occupational exposure to germicidal lamps.

Ultraviolet (UV) irradiance measurements are usually associated with large inaccuracies and uncertainties complicating the comparability of corresponding measurement equipment and its data. For supervisors or safety experts, though, it is mandatory to measure reliable UV irradiances with regard to occupational safety regulations. The following work aims at an intercomparison of five different types of spectroradiometers regarding their wavelength alignment and irradiance accuracy in the UV spectral region that provides the reader with information on how to determine and compare the measurement accuracies of their own devices. In a first step, measurements of two UV irradiance standards, a deuterium and a halogen lamp, were carried out. The percentage deviations of the measured total UV irradiances from their calibrated ones are smaller than ±10% for all spectroradiometers. The quality of wavelength accuracy as well as of the spectral bandwidth, both investigated by means of a low pressure mercury argon lamp are consistent with those stated by the manufacturers. In a second step, UV radiation from a metal active gas welding arc was examined at three distances in combination with a variation of welding current and arc length to check the behaviour of UV irradiance accuracy in field. The overall averaged standard deviation of these field measurements for all CCD array detectors is given by ±8%. For high welding currents this accuracy decreases to ±21%.

This prospective observational study assessed the impact of the changes in junior doctors’ working hours and waiting-time initiatives on teaching and learning opportunities for junior doctors in acute medicine. An audit cycle of post-take ward rounds including all medical admissions to an urban teaching hospital was conducted. During two seven-day periods in July 2006 and 2008, 317 and 354 patients were admitted respectively. In the two-year interval a number of changes were implemented resulting in a significant increase in patients reviewed by a consultant within 24 hours of admission. Target waiting times were being met but there were many missed learning opportunities for junior staff. Senior doctors continue to perform the majority of post-take reviews in the absence of the doctors who had admitted the patient. Similar patterns are likely to be found in other hospitals attempting to balance training with government targets for waiting times and junior doctors’ working hours.

L’Istituto di Radioprotezione ENEA (IRP), che assicura la sorveglianza fisica di radioprotezione all’interno dei centri di ricerca ENEA, nell’ambito delle proprie attività ha istituito un gruppo di lavoro tra gli Esperti Qualificati dell’Agenzia che si occupasse della stesura di una serie di procedure a supporto delle attività istituzionali. All’interno di questo progetto è stato elaborato un documento che illustra la procedura operativa applicata in ambito IRP per la misura indiretta della contaminazione superficiale rimovibile ,  e , senza impiego di contatori a scintillazione liquida. Lo scopo delle misure di contaminazione superficiale con finalità di sorveglianza fisica è quello di controllare l’esposizione alle radiazioni stimando la concentrazione, il rilascio e la risospensione in aria di materiale radioattivo per valutare il conseguente impatto sui lavoratori e sulla popolazione attraverso esposizione esterna e/o interna. La contaminazione superficiale è generalmente costituita da una componente fissa e una rimovibile. La prima è intimamente integrata con i materiali della superficie mentre la seconda può essere rimossa con semplici operazioni di pulizia e strofinio e può molto facilmente essere rilasciata dal materiale. L’applicabilità e l’affidabilità delle misure dirette o delle valutazioni indirette della contaminazione superficiale dipendono dall’entità di queste due componenti, tanto che talvolta i metodi indiretti che si avvalgono del prelievo di un campione per la successiva misura sono indicati come procedura di elezione nella determinazione della contaminazione superficiale. La procedura sviluppata e qui descritta fornisce le indicazioni necessarie per valutare i livelli di contaminazione superficiale rimovibile tramite campagne di misura condotte con la tecnica conosciuta con il termine “smear test” o di strofinio, consigliando anche le metodiche più accreditate sulla base di diverse condizioni e in presenza di diverse situazioni operative. Nella medesima procedura si propone anche una strategia di controllo che comprende diversi livelli o vincoli derivati in corrispondenza dei quali attuare azioni adeguate ad affrontare le situazioni che possono essere previste in funzione dei risultati del monitoraggio effettuato. In via preliminare sono quindi definiti e discussi livelli derivati di registrazione, indagine e intervento, al di sopra dei quali si opera rispettivamente nei modi seguenti: a) si registra il livello di contaminazione rilevato nello specifico punto, b) si avvia un’indagine per stabilire le motivazioni che hanno portato al superamento dello specifico livello, c) si interviene con una decontaminazione dell’area interessata ed eventualmente con l’interdizione all’accesso in quell’area per un determinato periodo di tempo.

Within an epidemiological study regarding the correlation between skin pathologies and personal ultraviolet (UV) exposure due to solar radiation, 14 field campaigns using polysulphone (PS) dosemeters were carried out at three different Italian sites (urban, semi-rural and rural) in every season of the year. A polysulphone calibration curve for each field experiment was obtained by measuring the ambient UV dose under almost clear sky conditions and the corresponding change in the PS film absorbance, prior and post exposure. Ambient UV doses were measured by well-calibrated broad-band radiometers and by electronic dosemeters. The dose-response relation was represented by the typical best fit to a third-degree polynomial and it was parameterized by a coefficient multiplying a cubic polynomial function. It was observed that the fit curves differed from each other in the coefficient only. It was assessed that the multiplying coefficient was affected by the solar UV spectrum at the Earth's surface whilst the polynomial factor depended on the photoinduced reaction of the polysulphone film. The mismatch between the polysulphone spectral curve and the CIE erythemal action spectrum was responsible for the variability among polysulphone calibration curves. The variability of the coefficient was related to the total ozone amount and the solar zenith angle. A mathematical explanation of such a parameterization was also discussed.

The highbush blueberry culture in Italy is limited by its low adaptability to soil characteristics, the difficulty to find plants of the most interesting varieties, the low rooting ability of some of the main cultivars, and the slow growth and low productivity of young plants propagated by cuttings. Micropropagation proved to be an excellent means to produce many plants in a short period of time and plants with better field performance than those obtained by traditional cuttings: bushier growth habit, increased vigor, number of branches and flowering buds, and yield almost doubled. Preliminary studies on mycorrhization of highbush blueberry with selected fungi showed the role of symbiosis on the growth behavior of young plants. In the present study, the use of two techniques together - micropropagation and mycorrhization – has been investigated in order to improve the production and quality of nursery stock plants, to access a possible reduction in the use of chemicals and to increase the adaptability of highbush blueberry to a wider range of soils. Thus, the aim of this research was to study the effect of selected mycorrhizal fungi inoculated on different varieties of Vaccinium corymbosum propagated in vitro, on the establishment, development and vegetative growth of nursery plants. In comparison to non-mycorrhized plants (control), mycorrhizazion with strains E12 and D IX significantly increased plant growth. However, vegetative growth of the mycorrhized potted plants showed a great interaction between the fungus strain and the cultivar. The different fungi performed differently with each variety as far as total plant growth. The best symbiotic fungi for Atlantic were G2, OMZ and D IX; E12, DIX, LH and HE were the best for Berkeley; OMZ, OME and G1 for Herbert and LH, OME and E12 for Lateblue. The effect of different fungus strains were both on root development and on the growth rate and growth habit of plants. Since the success in the symbiosis between fungus and plant in the field can be influenced by environmental conditions and particularly by the soil, it is very important to study the adaptability of mycorrhized plants in different pedo-climatic environments, assuming that a correct mycorrhiza choice could favor the Vaccinium adaptability to a wider range of environments. Mycorrhized plants were then transferred to the field on different soils for further investigation.

This article presents the new Italian database of physical agents, which is available at http://www.portaleagentifisici.it. It supports in risk assessment employers who have to comply with Italy's Legislative Decree 81/2008 (transposing into law European Union Directives 2003/10/EC, 2002/44/EC, 2004/40/EC and 2006/25/EC). The database currently contains measurements and declared European Community (EC) values from over 2540 machines; in particular, the database hosts data on mechanical vibration from over 1430 hand-held power tools (e.g., pneumatic and electric hammers, chainsaws, grinders, drills, sanders and saws) and from over 1020 whole-body machines (e.g., buses, fork lifts and wheel tractors). The database is continuously updated as soon as new experimental and declared data are acquired.

The aims of this study were to compare the cardiovascular risk profiles of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus cared for by general practitioners and those regularly attending a diabetes center. Out of an Italian population-based cohort of 1967 diabetic patients, 1574 (80%) were investigated. Patients exclusively cared for by general practitioners (23.8%) were older and showed lower prevalence of hypertension (79.0% vs 85.9%, P 8.0, 33.4% vs 47.9%, P 8.8% (OR 0.67, 95% CI 0.45–0.99), hypertension (OR 0.53, 95% CI 0.36–0.78), fibrinogen >4.1 g/L (OR 0.50, 95% CI 0.32–0.77), smoking (OR 0.60, 95% CI 0.36–1.00), and coronary heart disease (OR 0.65, 95% CI 0.45–0.93), after adjustment for age, sex, duration of diabetes, BMI, and antidiabetic treatment. Patients regularly cared for at a diabetes clinic had a higher cardiovascular risk profile, suggesting selective referral to the clinics of patients with more difficult management and/or severity of the disease. These findings have implications in the interpretation of morbidity and mortality clinic-based studies.

Electron temperatures in excess of 8 keV have been obtained by electron-cyclotron-resonance heating on FTU plasmas at peak densities up to $8\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{19}\mathrm{m}{}^{\ensuremath{-}3}$. The magnetic shear in the plasma core is low or negative, and the electron heat diffusivity remains at, or below, the Ohmic level $(0.2\mathrm{m}{}^{2}/\mathrm{s})$, in spite of the very large heating power density $(10--20\mathrm{MW}/\mathrm{m}{}^{3})$ which produces extremely high temperature gradients (up to 120 keV/m). The ion heat transport remains at the neoclassical level.

The prevalence of QT interval prolongation is higher in people with diabetes and its complications. Sudden death has been reported as a common cause of death in insulin-dependent diabetic patients affected by autonomic neuropathy. It has been postulated that QT prolongation predisposes to cardiac arrhythmias and sudden death. In this analysis the prevalence of QT interval prolongation and its relation with diabetic complications were evaluated in the EURODIAB IDDM Complications Study (3250 insulin-dependent diabetic patients attending 31 centres in 16 European countries). Five consecutive RR and QT intervals were measured with a ruler on the V5 lead of the resting ECG tracing and the QT interval corrected for the previous cardiac cycle length was calculated according to the Bazett's formula. The prevalence of an abnormally prolonged corrected QT was 16 % in the whole population, 11 % in males and 21 % in females (p < 0.001). The mean corrected QT was 0.412 s in males and 0.422 s in females (p < 0.001). Corrected QT duration was independently associated with age, HbA1 c and blood pressure. Corrected QT was also correlated with ischaemic heart disease and nephropathy but this relation appeared to be stronger in males than in females. Male patients with neuropathy or impaired heart rate variability or both showed a higher mean adjusted corrected QT compared with male patients without this complication. The relation between corrected QT prolongation and autonomic neuropathy was not observed among females. In conclusion we have shown that corrected QT in insulin-dependent diabetic female patients is longer than in male patients, even in the absence of diabetic complications known to increase the risk of corrected QT prolongation. [Diabetologia (1999) 42: 68–75]

Study Objective: To investigate, in a group practice setting, the effects of combining information about drug costs with adoption of a voluntary low-cost protocol. Design: Prospective before-and-after intervention comparison study. Setting: Private practice anesthesiology group (certified registered nurse-anesthetists and anesthesiologists) of a large midwestern for-profit hospital. Measurements and Main Results: Clinical outcome and anesthesia-related drug cost were examined for coronary artery bypass grafts (CABG), laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC), and lumbar laminectomy (LL). There were no restrictions on the use of any drug if warranted by the patient's condition. 135 consecutive prospective (P) cases performed by the anesthesiology group after the intervention were retrospectively matched by surgery type and surgeon to cases done 9 months prior to the protocol to form the retrospective control group (R) resulting in a total sample of 270 subjects. Significant cost reductions were seen in LC-(57%), LL-(42%), and CABG-(37%). The largest cost reductions were opioids (78%), induction drugs (50%), and muscle relaxants (41%). There were no differences in pain, nausea, or hypertension scores between the P and R groups, but there were minor differences in recovery room, oxygen therapy, and dismissal times between the R and P groups of LC and LL patients. There were no differences in anesthetic outcome for CABG patients between the P and R groups. A follow-up survey completed 4 months after the study demonstrated that muscle relaxant costs and fresh gas flow rates and costs had returned to preintervention levels, while opioid and induction drug savings were maintained. Conclusions: A private practice anesthesia group that followed a voluntary protocol could significantly reduce drug costs with little change in clinical outcome. However, the savings may not be completely maintained after the monitoring period.

Over the last few years, a great deal of effort has been devoted to solving the problem of power and particle handling in divertors, which has been recognized as a critical issue for the operation of a magnetic fusion reactor. In particular, the choice of materials for plasma facing components has been examined with a view to developing heat and erosion resistant materials for divertor target plates. A large database on the behaviour of low-Z (carbon or beryllium) materials in tokamaks is available, while for high-Z materials there is little experience in the present generation of magnetic fusion devices. Frascati Tokamak Upgrade (FTU), a high field compact tokamak, has devoted part of its experimental campaign to studying the plasma characteristics when its limiter material is changed from the usual Inconel (nickel) to molybdenum and tungsten. Siliconization of the machine has also allowed the comparison of plasma performance when a relatively low-Z (silicon) ion is the dominant impurity. In this article, results are reported concerning the plasma operation, the differences in plasma characteristics and radiation losses, the impurity generation mechanisms and the relative impurity concentrations in the core plasma. A simulation of the experimental results, made with a self-consistent edge-core coupled model is presented, in order to provide evidence of the main physics mechanisms responsible for the observed behaviour

In this study, we evaluated the exposure of operating room personnel to non-coherent optical radiation by measuring the emission of blue light generated by operating lights. The values we obtained were largely below the exposure limit value of 100 W x m(-2) x sr(-1) provided by Legislative Decree no. 81/08 and European Directive 2006/25/EC, showing how workers can be exposed for longer than 8 hours without risk of acute health effects, confirming what was already said in literature. This work demonstrates, therefore, that the risk of acute nature of photochemical retinal damage, caused by exposure to blue light, is absent, if not exceeded the exposure limit values, on the basis of the current knowledge, however, respect for exposure level cannot protect against a possible retinal damage from chronic exposure, related to the total dose accumulated by the worker in the long-term.

The question as to whether the QTc interval correlates with five cardiovascular tests (deep breathing test, 30/15 ratio test, lying to standing test, cough test, and postural blood pressure test) for the diagnosis of diabetic autonomic neuropathy (DAN) was investigated in 168 (38 Type 1, 130 Type 2) consecutive outpatients (mean age 54.9 +/- 11.2 years). QT interval was measured on an ECG recorded at rest and QTc calculated according to Bazett's formula. The percentage of patients with a QTc greater than 0.440 s was: absent DAN = 11% (n = 7), probable DAN = 7% (n = 4), definite DAN = 23% (n = 12) (p < 0.05), and the mean (+/- SD) QTc values were 0.403 +/- 0.028 s, 0.405 +/- 0.023 s, and 0.421 +/- 0.026 s, respectively. A significant correlation between QTc duration and DAN score of autonomic cardiovascular test results (r = 0.34, p < 0.0001) was observed. The calculated specificity, sensitivity, positive and negative predictive values were 89%, 15%, 70% and 37%, respectively. In conclusion, QTc can be considered as an additional specific test in the assessment of diabetic autonomic neuropathy, but cannot replace the standard battery of cardiovascular tests.

In this work, a method previously proposed in the literature (Sisto R, Pinto I, Stacchini N et al. Infrared radiation exposure in traditional glass factories. AIHAJ 2000; 61: 5–10) to evaluate the exposure to infrared (IR) radiation when the source can be approximated as a black body is implemented in a mathematical code developed in Matlab. Some practical situations are discussed. A comparison between the results obtained by a spectroradiometric technique and that obtained by using a broadband radiometer and the modelling of the source is shown. The IR radiation exposure evaluations in a cement industry and in a steel forge are shown and compared to the exposure limit values.

Due to meteorological conditions variability and to the variability of exposure patterns, which can be largely different during a working day, personal dosemeters use can be necessary to obtain a correct quantitative evaluation of the radiation dose absorbed by an exposed worker. Different classes of personal dosemeters exist and, among them, electronic dosemeters and polysulphone film dosemeters. An experimental campaign is presented conduced in a cultivated area of Tuscany and some aspects are discussed about an experimental campaign performed on a population of volunteers on a central Italy beach near Rome. The aim of the present work is to show some relevant issues in a dosimetric approach to the exposure evaluation of outdoor workers and, in general, of the public during recreational activities.

High Z materials, as possible plasma facing components for a fusion reactor, are being re-evaluated due to their advantages connected to the low sputtering yield and small erosion. A data base of experimental results related to their use on present Tokamak is missing. FTU has carried out a series of experiments with different medium and high Z limiter materials, Ni, Mo, and W, to improve the knowledge of the plasma behavior in these conditions. The results on plasma operation, core parameters, impurity content, and corresponding radiation losses are presented, and compared with those obtained with a low Z dominant impurity (siliconization). A simple model coupling the SOL and the plasma core is able to reproduce the experimental results, indicating that sputtering and self-sputtering are the main physical mechanisms of impurity production. © 1995 American Institute of Physics.

Measurement of plasma radiation (i.e., breusstrahlung) in the infrared (IR) range (λ=933, 978 nm), at six lines of sight from z=−20 cm to z=8 cm above the equatorial plane, using the detection system of the Frascati Tokamak Upgrade (FTU) Thomson scattering system (TSS) are reported. The agreement of IR with visible (λ=540 nm) bremsstrahlung intensity S, [S=photons/(m2 sr nm s)] measurements is within 20%–30% and depends upon the absolute calibration of both systems. The intensity is equal S(z)=〈ZeffGn2/Te1/2〉, where 〈⋅〉 means average on a line of sight. For determining the Zeff the Gaunt factor(G) is needed, and analysis the Born–Elwert formula is used. The Zeff spatial profiles (i.e., Zeff(r)), are determined using the plasma temperature (Te) and density (ne) measured by the TSS and the Abel inverted intensity profiles, determined using the plasma radiation S(z) measured from six horizontal chords. Zeff(r) behavior in a variety of FTU discharges is presented.

The density of Fe atoms produced by bombardment of a stainless steel target by Ar+ ions was measured by laser induced fluorescence (LIF) using a tunable dye laser. The excitation transition involved was a 5D4→y 5D04 (λ=302.064 nm); measurements of the fluorescence signal, from the y 5D04→a 5F5 decay (λ=382.043 nm), were made by varying the laser power incident on Fe atoms by means of grey filters. An absolute calibration of the detection system allowed the determination of the number of the emitting atoms, versus the incident power. So the experimental curve of the fraction of total pumped atoms versus the saturation parameter was obtained. On the other hand, that fraction can be calculated by using standard rate equations for LIF process involving three level atoms. The result is strongly dependent on the model for the pumping laser pulse, particularly (as expected) at low incident power level. Assuming a realistic Gaussian temporal dependence for the radiation field energy flux at frequency v, i.e., U ...

Presents the work carried out by the Laboratory of Radiations and Ultrasounds Pollution of the National Institute of Occupation Safety and Prevention (ISPESL) about the measurement of radiofrequency and microwave electromagnetic field in the urban area of Rome (Italy) from 1998 to 2001. The measurements have been carried out within the framework of the technical and scientific advice paid by ISPESL to the public authority and to the companies to implement the cellular networks in TACS, GSM and DCS technologies. Presents the result of approximately 220 wide band measurements of the electromagnetic field background in the urban area of Rome, carried out near the sites selected for the installation of new base stations.

Veglio M, Bruno G, Borra M, Macchia G, Bargero G, D'Errico N, Pagano GF, Cavallo-Perin P (Evangelico Valdese Hospital, Torino; University of Torino, Torino; and S. Spirito Hospital, Casale Monferrato; Italy). Prevalence of increased QT interval duration and dispersion in type 2 diabetic patients and its relationship with coronary heart disease: a population-based cohort. J Intern Med 2002; 251: 317–324. Objective. To evaluate the prevalence of prolonged QT interval and dispersion in a population-based cohort of type 2 diabetic patients and their relationship with clinical and metabolic variables. Design. Cross-sectional population-based cohort. Setting. Diabetes clinics and general practitioners in Casale Monferrato (Northern Italy). Subjects. A total of 1357 patients with known type 2 diabetes (70% of the cohort). Main outcome measures. Albumin excretion rate and coronary heart disease (CHD); a standard supine 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) was recorded and coded according to the Minnesota code criteria. QT interval corrected for heart rate (QTc) > 0.44 s and QTc dispersion > 0.080 s were considered abnormally prolonged. Results. Prevalence of increased QTc duration and QTc dispersion were 25.8% (95% CI 23.5–28.3) and 33.1% (95% CI 30.6–35.7), with no sex differences. No metabolic differences were found, apart from fibrinogen and creatinine levels, which were higher in patients with increased QTc dispersion. Patients with CHD had higher mean adjusted values of QTc and QTc dispersion, whereas no association was found with albumin excretion rate (AER) and diabetes treatment. QTc duration and QTc dispersion were significantly correlated (0.17, P

Background It has been hypothesized that fibrinogen clusters with several components of the metabolic syndrome, thus increasing its cardiovascular risk. The aims of the present study were to assess in a large population-based cohort of patients with type 2 diabetes (1) variables associated with fibrinogen and (2) the relationship between hyperfibrinogenemia, a number of components of the metabolic syndrome, and coronary heart disease (CHD). Methods We identified a cross-sectional, population-based cohort of 1574 patients with type 2 diabetes using multiple sources of ascertainment. Components of the metabolic syndrome were hypertension (systolic blood pressure ≥160 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure ≥95 mmHg and/or treatment with antihypertensive drugs), dyslipidemia (tryglicerides >2.82 mmol/l and/or HDL-cholesterol 416 µmol/l) and increased albumin excretion rate (AER ≥20 µg/min). Results Fibrinogen increases with age, HbA1c, smoking, hypertension and a number of components of the metabolic syndrome, even after adjustment for confounders. Prevalence of CHD increases linearly across quartiles of fibrinogen (from 26.1 to 40.6%, p=0.046). However, in logistic regression, after adjustment for both confounders and known risk factors for CHD, the role of fibrinogen is no more significant, whereas ORs for HbA1c between 6.8 and 8.8% and >8.8% vs values

The EC system at 140 Ghz, 2 MW, being implemented on FTU tokamak for performing electron heating, profile control and current drive, is composed by four gyrotrons with 0.5 s pulse length capability, and four hybrid mirror/waveguide transmission lines. The launching system is capable of poloidal/toroidal beam steering through a set of tiltable in-vacuum mirrors, coupling to the O-mode at the fundamental resonance, with full control of the e.m. field polarization. Experiments have been made with two gyrotrons, by launching 0.8 MW to the plasma. In the high density regime (local n{sub e} from {approx_equal}0.8 up to 2 10{sup 20} m{sup -3}) the e-i energy transfer is significant, and ion heating is observed through the enhancement of the neutron emission in Deuterium plasmas. The highest electron heating is observed when on-axis ECRH is performed in the current ramp-up, sawtooth-free phase. In steady-state conditions, saw-tooth period is increased up to stabilization by off-axis ECRH. Localized ECCD is also performed to assist in the shaping of the current density profile.

The aims of this study were to compare the cardiovascular risk profiles of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus cared for by general practitioners and those regularly attending a diabetes center. Out of an Italian population-based cohort of 1967 diabetic patients, 1574 (80%) were investigated. Patients exclusively cared for by general practitioners (23.8%) were older and showed lower prevalence of hypertension (79.0% vs 85.9%, P0.001), poor blood glucose control (HbA1c8.0, 33.4% vs 47.9%, P0.001) and coronary heart disease (18.1% vs 22.3%, P = 0.003), and lower plasma fibrinogen (3.5 +/- 0.8 vs 3.7 +/- 0.9 g/L, P0.001). In logistic regression analysis, they had significantly lower ORs for HbA1c8.8% (OR 0.67, 95% CI 0.45-0.99), hypertension (OR 0.53, 95% CI 0.36-0.78), fibrinogen4.1 g/L (OR 0.50, 95% CI 0.32-0.77), smoking (OR 0.60, 95% Cl 0.36-1.00), and coronary heart disease (OR 0.65, 95% CI 0.45-0.93), after adjustment for age, sex, duration of diabetes, BMI, and antidiabetic treatment. Patients regularly cared for at a diabetes clinic had a higher cardiovascular risk profile, suggesting selective referral to the clinics of patients with more difficult management and/or severity of the disease. These findings have implications in the interpretation of morbidity and mortality clinic-based studies.

About 400 kW of rf power at the frequency of 433 MHz were coupled to the plasma of the FTU tokamak by a waveguide antenna. During the experiment, a peaking of the Te and ne profiles and a Hα drop have been observed during the IBW pulse, only when operating with toroidal magnetic field value which allows the wave penetration to in the plasma bulk. Moreover, the electron temperature increased typically from about 2.5 keV to about 4.5 keV with a coupled power of about 350 kW; the line-averaged central plasma density increased from 3×1019 m−3 to about 5×1019 m−3.

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OBJECTIVE: In lean diabetic patients, the presentation of the disease does not allow one to easily distinguish between type 1 and type 2. Aims of this study were to describe clinical, immunological, and genetic features of lean newly diagnosed diabetic patients. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: A population-based cohort of 130 lean (BMI < 25 kg/m2) newly diagnosed patients, aged 30-54 years, was identified among residents of the province of Turin. Islet cell antibodies (ICAs), anti-GAD, fasting and glucagon-stimulated C-peptide values, and HLA DQA1-DQB1 susceptibility genotypes were assessed within 2 months of the diagnosis. RESULTS: A total of 45 (34.6%) and 29 (22.3%) patients were, respectively, ICA+ and anti-GAD+, with 15 (11.5%) having both antibodies. In 59 patients, ICAs and/or anti-GAD antibodies were detected, giving a high prevalence of autoimmunity (45.4%, 95% Cl 36.8-54.0); relative to patients without markers (n = 71), they were younger (40.8 +/- 7.5 vs. 45.0 +/- 6.5 years, P < 0.001) and showed lower values of fasting C-peptide (0.56 +/- 0.33 vs. 0.79 +/- 0.41 nmol/l, P < 0.001) and stimulated C-peptide (1.03 +/- 0.56 vs. 1.42 +/- 0.69 nmol/l, P < 0.001). The lowest stimulated C-peptide values were found in patients with both ICA and anti-GAD antibodies. Frequencies of adult-onset type 1 and type 2 diabetes were, respectively, 49.2 and 50.8%. Clinical and genetic features were not useful in the classification of patients. CONCLUSIONS: Almost 50% of lean young and middle-aged patients were ICA+ and/or anti-GAD+, suggesting a high prevalence of a slowly evolving form of type 1 diabetes. The evaluation at diagnosis of both beta-cell secretory capacity and markers of autoimmunity is recommended to provide a pathogenetic classification of the disease.

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Results are reported of the 8 GHz Lower Hybrid experiments on FTU after the installation of the new toroidal limiter. A figure of merit of the Current Drive efficiency eta(CD) approximate to 0.11.10(20) A/Wm(2) is estimated for plasma density = 10(20) m(-3) and no appreciable broadening of the launched frequency is detected. In low density experiments sawteeth are stabilised and m = 1 activity is present in the plasma. Shear reversed discharges with large reversal radius, r(S)/a approximate to 0.5, are obtained at higher density, lower temperature, B-T = 4 T, q(a) approximate to 5.5, by off-axis LH CD. The reversed configurations exhibit high central temperature coexisting with regular m = 2, n = 1 relaxations of large amplitude and are maintained up to LH switch off. At higher magnetic field, B = 5.2 T, q(a) approximate to 7, irregular DTM crashes are present during the whole LH pulse. Confinement time of radiofrequency heated discharges (P-LH = 0.5 divided by 2.P-OH) exhibits the same behaviour of FTU ohmic discharges following the ITER89-P scaling. Preliminary results of central 140 GHz Electron Cyclotron Resonant Heating (ECRH) during the plasma current ramp-up, aimed at obtaining shear reversed configurations are also reported.

Plasma behaviour in the high density regime has been investigated on the Frascati Tokamak Upgrade (FTU). The items particularly addressed are density limit, MARFE characteristics and fuelling efficiency. With gas puffing, a maximum line average density of 3.2*1020 m-3 has been obtained in the ohmic regime at q=5.1, corresponding to 1.7 times the Greenwald limit; while with pellet injection, a value of 3.7*1020 m-3 has been reached at q=3.5. The density limit appears to be connected with the impurity content and edge parameters, so the best results are obtained with very clean plasmas and peaked electron density profiles. The MARFE phenomenon always appears beyond a critical density that depends on the total input power and the effective charge: emissivities in the range of 2 to 12 MW/m3 have been measured in this highly radiating region. The fuelling efficiency, starting from a value of about 50% at low density, progressively deteriorates, falling to 10% near the density limit: this behaviour is interpreted as being due to a decrease of the scrape-off layer transparency to incoming neutrals

Three methods of density modulation have been used in FTU discharges (gas puffing, pellet injection and current rampup). The analysis of particle balance confirms that the neoclassical theory is not adequate and the experimental results obtained by the three methods are used to verify the validity of an empirical expression for the radial particle flux. Such an expression is relevant for the design of future experiments and constitutes a constraint for any satisfactory theory.

OBJECTIVE To determine the prevalence of micro- and macroalbuminuria in NIDDM and their relationship with some known and putative risk factors. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Out of a population-based cohort of 1,967 NIDDM subjects, 1,574 were investigated (80%). Albumin excretion rate (AER) was evaluated on an overnight urine collection, and plasma and urine determinations were centralized. RESULTS The prevalences of microalbuminuria (AER 20–200 μg/min), macroalbuminuria (AER > 200 μg/min), and hypertension were 32.1% (95% CI 29.8–34.4), 17.6% (15.7–19.5), and 67% (64.6–69.3), respectively. Apart from prevalence of hypertension, which after adjustment for age, BMI, and duration of diabetes was 2.3 times higher in women, rates were higher in men (odds ratio [OR] 1.31, 95% CI 1.04–1.66 for microalbuminuria and OR 1.63, 1.22–2.17 for macroalbuminuria). In comparison with normoalbuminuric subjects, both micro- and macroalbuminuric diabetic subjects had significantly longer duration of diabetes, higher levels of systolic blood pressure, fasting plasma glucose, HbA1c, triglycerides, and uric acid; in macroalbuminuric subjects only, levels of apolipoprotein B and HDL cholesterol were, respectively, higher and lower than in normo- and microalbuminuric subjects. In logistic regression, variables independently related to both micro- and macroalbuminuria were age, HbA1c, cigarette smoking habits, plasma uric acid, and diastolic blood pressure, after adjustment for plasma creatinine and diabetic treatment. In addition, duration of diabetes and HDL cholesterol levels were associated with macroalbuminuria. CONCLUSIONS This population-based study showed high prevalence of micro- and macroalbuminuria in NIDDM subjects, who were characterized by a more adverse pattern of cardiovascular risk factors.

Experiments with different dominant impurities (C, Si, Ni, Mo) have been carried out on the FTU tokamak. Density limit, marfe, Z(eff) and radiation losses are compared and discussed. An analytical model that couples in a self consistent way the parameters of the SOL and the transport of the impurities generated at the limiter to the bulk plasma parameters has been used to reproduce the experimental data.