Benthic foraminifera response and geochemical characterization of the coastal environment surrounding the polluted industrial area of Portovesme (South-Western Sardinia, Italy).

To study the benthic foraminifers' response to heavy metal pollution and analyse the geochemical parameters, samples of surface sediments were collected in 2005 and 2006 from a polluted coastal zone shorefront to the industrial complex of Portoscuso-Portovesme (Sulcis, South-Western Sardinia). The samples came from the upper 1-2 cm of the undisturbed sediments in water less than 2m deep, along coastline (about 8.5 km in length) proximal to emerged alluvial plain. The entire examined marine area represents a shallow inner shelf, which is physiographically fairly protected and characterized by low turbulence, but subjected to southwards littoral drift. Geochemical analyses of seawater, sediments and foraminiferal tests correlated to biotic indexes (Dominance, Shannon-Weaver, Simpson, Eveness, Menhinick, Margalef, Equitability, Fisher-alpha, Berger-Parker and Q-mode Cluster Analyses--Ward Method) and provide data on environmental stress. A total of 38 benthic foraminiferal species were identified. Increasing pollution results in low species diversity, low population density and more frequent abnormal specimens. Results from ESEM images allow recognition of a strong infestation on the calcareous foraminiferal tests by microbial communities developed in the polluted environment.

[Cranial traumas in the city of Ravenna: a prospective study of patients who recovered]. / Traumi cranici nel comune di Ravenna: studio prospettico dei pazienti ricoverati.

A prospective study of head injury patients was carried out in the city of Ravenna in 1984. A complete record was completed for all patients admitted for hospital care. More than 50 clinical and diagnostic variables were evaluated to investigate risk factors on patients admitted to a Non-Neurosurgical Unit with CT facilities. Our report deals with 578 cases and shows some interesting findings: The mortality in the entire trauma-group was 42 cases; 35 (83%) of these died immediately after the accident or while being transported to the hospital. The number of patients hospitalized (42%) was much higher than that in previous reports concerning hospital admission of head injury patients. 9 cases were sent from the First Aid to Regional Neurosurgical Centre (Bellaria Hospital, Bologna). Among the other patients admitted to the Non-Neurosurgical Centre, 12 showed cerebral lesions on the CT (1 extradural haematoma). Risk factors were evaluated by comparing EEG, skull fractures and poor clinical condition with the presence of cerebral lesions. Our data show a peculiar situation here in Italy: a large number of hospital admissions for minor head injuries, of whom relatively few patients are at risk of intracranial post-traumatic haematoma.