Time-domain induced polarization as a tool to image clogging in treatment wetlands.

During the last decade, treatment (artificial) wetlands have flourished all over Europe for the treatment of sewages from small communities thanks to their low cost of operation. The clogging of the filter of these wetlands is an issue affecting their efficiency and considered as their main operational problem. The present work shows the results of the application of a geophysical method called time-domain induced polarization. It is used to non-intrusively image, in 3D, the clogging of the gravel filters in a quick and efficient way. Induced polarization characterizes the ability of a porous material to reversibly store electrical charges when submitted to an electrical field. The material property characterizing this ability is called normalized chargeability. A set of laboratory experiments allows to determine an empirical relationship between the normalized chargeability and the weight amount of clogging. Induced polarization measurements have been performed in the field over a treatment wetland to get a 3D reconstructed image (tomography) of the normalized chargeability. From this tomography and the previously defined relationship, we are able to image in 3D the distribution of clogging and where it is concentrated in the filter. We can therefore identify the areas requiring preventive measures to minimize this clogging issue.

Norway rat (Rattus norvegicus) ectoparasites in livestock production systems from central Argentina: Influencing factors on parasitism.

Haematophagous ectoparasites are worldwide vectors of many zoonotic bacterial diseases, both emerging and re-emerging, whose incidences are rising. Livestock development alters different environmental characteristics such as the microclimate of a site, changing the availability, density and susceptibility of the hosts to pathogens and vectors, indirectly influencing the spread and persistence of a disease within an ecosystem. The Norway rat (Rattus norvegicus), the most abundant vertebrate pest species found on livestock farms from Argentina, is a reservoir for several important zoonotic bacteria and may harbor ectoparasite species, which act as their vectors. Even though the Norway rat is widely known for its role as an ectoparasite host, the ecological characteristics of their ectoparasite communities and the related factors with parasitism on livestock farms have never been described. In the present study, we describe the ectoparasite community in Norway rats from central Argentina livestock farms, while also depicting the influencing factors on both ectoparasite occurrence and abundance. Ectoparasites were collected from rats captured in 20 sites from Buenos Aires province, between the winter of 2016 and the summer of 2018. A total of 1441 ectoparasite individuals were collected from 159 Norway rat individuals [Total ectoparasite prevalence = 69.2%; Mean ectoparasite specimen abundance (± CI) = 9.06 ±â€¯2.32 ectoparasite individuals per rat; Mean ectoparasite specimen intensity (±CI) = 13.10 ±â€¯3.08 ectoparasite individuals per infested rat found]. Ectoparasite assemblage consisted of four cosmopolitan species, recognized for their sanitary relevance: mites (Laelapidae: Laelaps nuttalli and Laelaps echidninus), lice (Polyplacidae: Polyplax spinulosa) and fleas (Pulicidae: Xenopsylla cheopis). We observed higher Norway rat abundance in sites related to higher ectoparasite occurrence and abundance frequencies on the rats. Additionally, ectoparasites were more abundant on rats in warm seasons and on male individuals, over female rats. Moreover, the geographical location of the studied sites influenced the ectoparasite assemblage structure observed on the rats. This study broadens the knowledge on the role of Norway rats as zoonotic ectoparasites hosts and analyzes the drivers influencing ectoparasite occurrence and abundance on the most populated region of Argentina, which is also the region with the most intensive livestock farming. Therefore, this survey may assist in evaluating potential risks for humans and generate effective sanitary control strategies for ectoparasite-borne infectious diseases.

Patrones lesionales en inestabilidades graves que comprometen el complejo posterolateral de la rodilla / Lesional patterns in severe instabilities that affect the knee posterolateral corner

La esquina posterolateral presenta una anatomía variable y usualmente es sometida a mecanismos combinados. Objetivo: conocer los patrones lesionales de rodilla con inestabilidades graves que comprometen la esquina posterolateral. Material y método: evaluación retrospectiva: clínica, radiología, artroscopía. Criterio de inclusión: bostezo lateral mayor de 10 mm con aumento comparativo de la rotación externa. Resultados: 17 rodillas. Radiología: fracturas avulsivas: 6 de la cabeza del peroné y 5 del platillo tibial lateral, fracturas mediales: 3 del cóndilo y del platillo tibial. Artroscopía: 10 rupturas del ligamento cruzado anterior y 9 del posterior; tendón del popliteo 2 lateralizado, rupturas del ligamento cruzado anterior y 9 del posterior; tendón del popliteo 2 lateralizado, 3 imagen de "y" invertida; en 10 el menisco se separa del platillo tibial laterla: Macroscopía en todas se comprometió el ligamento colateral y la cápsula, es frecuente la lesión distal. Conclusión: existe un porcentaje relevante de avulsiones óseas laterales (reparables). El compromiso medial es significativo y poco reconocido. Destacamos la visualización artróscopica del ligamento popliteofibular y las lesiones parciales del cruzado posterior.

Some remarks on the current morphine consumption in Italy.

AIM: To analyse therapeutic morphine consumption in Italy and explain the current trend. ENVIRONMENT: Morphine consumption was examined at Santa Croce Hospital, Cuneo, a general provincial hospital. METHOD: The overall annual consumption of morphine was used as a starting point from which to evaluate the "average daily consumption of set doses", both in general and using a number of methods of administration. From these figures it was possible to calculate the average number of patients receiving full doses of the drug daily; this finding was compared every 10,000 days of hospitalisation. RESULTS: The analysis of consumption over the two-year period 1991-92 shows a 98.41% increase in mean morphine consumption compared to the period 1988-89. Over the five-year period the average number of patients receiving full doses of morphine daily through a variety of methods of administration was 9.89, equivalent to 3.79 patients every 10,000 days of hospitalisation. CONCLUSIONS: Useful information can be derived regarding the trend of morphine consumption from the "mean daily consumption of set doses" of morphine and, above all, from monitoring consumption per 10,000 days of hospitalisation. At present we are not aware of similar data relating to other hospitals. We hope that this lacuna will soon be filled so as to evaluate and monitor morphine consumption trends in Italy.