Hydrodynamics and water quality of a highly anthropized wetland: the case study of the Massaciuccoli basin (Tuscany, Italy).

Owing to increasing anthropogenic impacts, wetlands have suffered a serious environmental decline in recent decades. The sustainable management of these natural resources is fundamental to maintain both the ecosystems and the economic activities. The Lake Massaciuccoli and nearby areas represent one of the largest residual coastal marshy areas in Tuscany (Italy). This wetland is characterized by large-scale and intensive agricultural use and affected by reclamation activities, with consequent problems of erosion, subsidence and lake eutrophication and siltation. In this context, an integrated study combining hydrochemical data (water levels, electrical conductivity, pH, turbidity, major ions, trace metals) and stable isotopes (H, O, S) has been performed in the southernmost part of the basin, to better disentangle processes and interactions between groundwater and surface water and to understand the origin of solutes and their evolution. Our results indicated that both groundwater and surface water have a meteoric origin and that geochemical composition of groundwater is mainly affected by local geological and biological processes. Moreover, surface water is affected by sea water mixing and evapotranspiration/precipitation processes. The impact of agricultural activity and the use of fertilizers on the water quality appears to be limited as regards nitrates, indicating that less intense agricultural practices implemented in recent years have been successful. As regards sulfates, Fe, and Mn, we cannot fully elucidate the mechanisms underlying human influence, but the oscillation of water level and degradation of peat enhanced by reclamation and agriculture activities likely played an important role in controlling the fate of these elements. Overall, these results underline the importance of integrated approaches to disentangle geochemical processes and will be useful in supporting policy implementation and environmental protection in this valuable area of Tuscany. Findings from this work suggest the need for policy-making authorities to take actions as soon as possible to mitigate risks. Closer co-operation is essential between authorities and farmers to reduce inputs of fertilizers and chemicals into the lake and the surrounding area. Also, additional policy measures should be enforced to reduce the mechanical soil tillage and limit erosion and runoff, such as the NBSs implemented within the Phusicos Project.

Traveling gallstones: review of MR imaging and surgical pathology features of gallstone disease and its complications in the gallbladder and beyond.

Gallstone-related disease comprises a spectrum of conditions resulting from biliary stone formation, leading to obstruction and inflammatory complications. These can significantly impact patient quality of life and carry high morbidity if not accurately detected. Appropriate imaging is essential for evaluating the extent of gallstone disease and assuring appropriate clinical management. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) techniques (including Magnetic Resonance Cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) are increasingly used for diagnosis of gallstone disease and its complications and provide high contrast resolution and facilitate tissue-level assessment of gallstone disease processes. In this review we seek to delve deep into the spectrum of MR imaging in diagnose of gallstone-related disease within the gallbladder and complications related to migration of the gallstones to the gall bladder neck or cystic duct, common hepatic duct or bile duct (choledocholithiasis) and beyond, including gallstone pancreatitis, gallstone ileus, Bouveret syndrome, and dropped gallstones, by offering key examples from our practice. Furthermore, we will specifically highlight the crucial role of MRI and MRCP for enhancing diagnostic accuracy and improving patient outcomes in gallstone-related disease and showcase relevant surgical pathology specimens of various gallstone related complications.

Voriconazole-Induced Periostitis: A Case Report.

Voriconazole-induced periostitis (VIP) is an uncommon side effect typically seen in immunosuppressed patients requiring prolonged antifungal therapy. These patients can present with bone pain, fragility, and elevated alkaline phosphatase (ALP). We present a case of VIP in a 72-year-old immunocompromised female on antifungal therapy presenting with a comminuted intertrochanteric fracture after a ground-level fall. VIP, although rare, should be included as a differential diagnosis for patients presenting with bone pain and/or fractures with radiographic features of periostitis. This is particularly true when there is a history of or prior imaging suggesting a solid organ transplant. In these cases, a dedicated review of current medications noting long-term voriconazole use in the absence of underlying rheumatologic disease can result in a confident diagnosis.

Beyond one-way determinism: San Frediano's miracle and climate change in Central and Northern Italy in late antiquity.

Integrating palaeoclimatological proxies and historical records, which is necessary to achieve a more complete understanding of climate impacts on past societies, is a challenging task, often leading to unsatisfactory and even contradictory conclusions. This has until recently been the case for Italy, the heart of the Roman Empire, during the transition between Antiquity and the Middle Ages. In this paper, we present new high-resolution speleothem data from the Apuan Alps (Central Italy). The data document a period of very wet conditions in the sixth c. AD, probably related to synoptic atmospheric conditions similar to a negative phase of the North Atlantic Oscillation. For this century, there also exist a significant number of historical records of extreme hydroclimatic events, previously discarded as anecdotal. We show that this varied evidence reflects the increased frequency of floods and extreme rainfall events in Central and Northern Italy at the time. Moreover, we also show that these unusual hydroclimatic conditions overlapped with the increased presence of "water miracles" in Italian hagiographical accounts and social imagination. The miracles, performed by local Church leaders, strengthened the already growing authority of holy bishops and monks in Italian society during the crucial centuries that followed the "Fall of the Roman Empire". Thus, the combination of natural and historical data allows us to show the degree to which the impact of climate variability on historical societies is determined not by the nature of the climatic phenomena per se, but by the culture and the structure of the society that experienced it. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10584-021-03043-x.

Comparison between Mechanical Properties and Structures of a Rolled and a 3D-Printed Stainless Steel.

In this work selective laser melting was successfully utilized to produce 316 stainless steel bulk specimens. Although this technology provides many advantages compared to conventional shaping processes, little residual porosity may be a problem for some applications where high strength is required. The objective of this work was to determine, through data analysis, a mechanical and metallographic comparison between thin sheets made by using different manufacturing technologies: Cold rolling and additive manufacturing. This comparison was useful to understand whether it could be more advantageous to use the prototyping for new mechanical components. The results show that the additive manufactured steel, due to its microstructure, is characterized by a higher yield strength and by a lower elongation and ultimate tensile strength.