Pollen Viability for Air Pollution Bio-Monitoring

Biological characterization of Corylus avellana L. and Pinus nigra L. pollen samples was carried out to determine the actual value of pollen as a bio-indicator of the effects of atmospheric pollution, using samples from plants naturally developed in sites controlled for air pollution. In Trentino (North Italy), we selected six stations at three different levels of air pollution, which are constantly monitored with automatic gauges by the Environmental Protection Agency of Trento.First results showed that pollen viability of both species, germinability and pollen tube length of P. nigra, were higher in areas with no road traffic compared to heavy traffic ones. Pollen viability of P. nigra was positively correlated to ozone (O₃) concentrations and altitude but negatively to sulphur dioxide (SO₂), particulate matter with a diameter less than 10 m (PM₁₀), nitrogen oxides (NO_x) and nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) concentrations.     

Quantitative analysis of H2O and CO2 in cordierite using polarized FTIR spectroscopy

We report a FTIR (Fourier transform infrared) study of a set of cordierite samples from different occurrence and with different H₂O/CO₂ content. The specimens were fully characterized by a combination of techniques including optical microscopy, single-crystal X-ray diffraction, EMPA (electron microprobe analysis), SIMS (secondary ion mass spectrometry), and FTIR spectroscopy. All cordierites are orthorhombic Ccmm. According to the EMPA data, the Si/Al ratio is always close to 5:4; X _Mg ranges from 76.31 to 96.63, and additional octahedral constituents occur in very small amounts. Extraframework K and Ca are negligible, while Na reaches the values up to 0.84 apfu. SIMS shows H₂O up to 1.52 and CO₂ up to 1.11 wt%. Optically transparent single crystals were oriented using the spindle stage and examined by FTIR micro-spectroscopy under polarized light. On the basis of the polarizing behaviour, the observed bands were assigned to water molecules in two different orientations and to CO₂ molecules in the structural channels. The IR spectra also show the presence of small amounts of CO in the samples. Refined integrated molar absorption coefficients were calibrated for the quantitative microanalysis of both H₂O and CO₂ in cordierite based on single-crystal polarized-light FTIR spectroscopy. For H₂O the integrated molar coefficients for type I and type II water molecules (ν₃ modes) were calculated separately and are ^[I]ε?=?5,200?±?700?l?mol^?1?cm^?2 and ^[II]ε?=?13,000?±?3,000?l?mol^?1?cm^?2, respectively. For CO₂ the integrated coefficient is $ \varepsilon_{{{\text{CO}}_{ 2} }} $ ?=?19,000?±?2,000?l?mol^?1?cm^?2.     

Intra‐messinian gypsum palaeokarst in the Northern Apennines and its palaeogeographic implications

A short intra‐Messinian continental period has been recognised in some North Italian gypsum areas, mostly under the form of palaeokarst deposits. This emersion appears to have occurred only locally, and is explained as caused by the intra‐Messinian tectonic phase and a major sea level lowering. Evidences of this palaeokarst are mostly small, although at some places the palaeontological content of its fillings is of great importance. The discovery near Zola Predosa (Bologna) of a new intra‐Messinian extensive karst system and of its infilling sheds new light on the importance of this karst episode.     

An approximate F.E. analysis of seepage with a free surface

An approximate step-by-step procedure is presented for the finite element analysis of transient unconfined flow problems. At each step the free surface is modelled by means of segments coinciding with sides of the elements. This leads to an approximate but extremely simple solution scheme which can be readily incorporated into standard codes for confined analysis. The solutions of some significant problems are presented and compared with other non-approximate solutions. They show that the technique, in spite of its approximation, is capable of giving meaningful results from an engineering viewpoint.     

A simple boundary equation technique for elastic stress analysis of underground cavities

Summary A boundary integral equation approach is illustrated which does not require the solution of singular integrals in order to compute the coefficients of the final system of linear equations. This characteristic allows the carrying out of all the necessary integrations by means of numerical techniques, leading to a rather simple and compact solution algorithm. In addition the approach permits the evaluation of a measure of the error affecting the numerical solution. The stability and the accuracy of the procedure, which is based on the minimization of the difference between known boundary tractions and corresponding numerically derived stresses, are discussed with reference to some rock engineering problems and it is shown that the approach is particularly suitable for stress analyses related to underground openings. To get some insight into the overall performance of the procedure, the results obtained in the analysis of a tunneling problem of practical interest are compared with those deriving from a standard Finite Element calculation.     

Assessment of toxicological status of a SW Mediterranean segment population of striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba) using skin biopsy

Various studies have revealed high concentrations of contaminants such as organochlorines (OCs) and heavy metals in Mediterranean cetaceans. A geographical trend of contamination (PCBs and DDTs) has been found for striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba). In this study we used a non-lethal approach (skin biopsy) to investigate bioaccumulation of OCs, including polychlorobiphenyls (PCBs), DDTs, polychlorodibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), polychlorodibenzofurans (PCDFs), trace elements (Hg, Cd, Pb) and CYP1A activity (BPMO) in nine striped dolphins sampled in the Aeolian area (Sicily - Italy) in summer 2002. The arithmetic mean value of BPMO activity in this group was 43.46 AUF/g tissue/h. This value is approximately 3 times and 5 times lower, respectively, than the value found in the Ionian and in the Ligurian groups. Skin biopsies of striped dolphins emerged as a suitable material for assessing the toxicological status of the various Mediterranean groups.     

Mapping and monitoring net primary productivity with AVHRR NDVI time-series: statistical equivalence of cumulative vegetation indices

In the last two decades, numerous investigators have proposed cumulative vegetation indices (i.e., functions which encode the cumulative effect of NDVI maximum value composite time-series into a single variable) for net primary productivity (NPP) mapping and monitoring on a regional to continental basis. In this paper, we investigate the relationships among three of the most commonly used cumulative vegetation indices, expanding on the definition of equivalence of remotely sensed vegetation indices for decision making. We consider two cumulative vegetation indices as equivalent, if the value of one index is statistically predictable from the value of the other index. Using an annual time-series of broad-scale AVHRR NDVI monthly maximum value composites of the island of Corsica (France), we show that the pairwise linear association among the analysed cumulative vegetation indices shows coefficients of determination (R²) higher than 0.99. That is, knowing the value of one index is statistically equivalent to knowing the value of the other indices for application purposes.