Search

In the manganesiferous ores associated with the metacherts of the ophiolitic sequences at the Cerchiara mine, Eastern Liguria (Italy), a new Mn-bearing mineral belonging to the mica group has been recently found and characterized. High resolution transmission electron microscopy and electron diffraction tomography studies confirm that the mineral belongs to the mica group. Unit-cell parameters from the powder diffraction pattern are: a = 5.149(1), b = 8.915(1), c = 10.304(1) Å, β = 102.03(1)°, space group C2 or C2/m. On the basis of the electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopic results, the Mn4+ content represents a very subordinate fraction of the total Mn, the remaining occurring as Mn3+. The Raman spectrum clearly indicates the presence of OH groups in the structure. Laser-ablation inductively-coupled-plasma mass-spectrometry measurements assess the presence of considerable amounts of Li. Assuming all Mn as Mn3+ and 22 negative charges, the empirical formula can be expressed as: (K0.83□0.17)(Mn3+ 1:14Mg0.80Li0.20Fe3+ 0: 02)(Si3.89Al0.10)O10[(OH)1.92F0.08] with the sum of the octahedral cations indicating a 'transitional' character between a di- and a tri-octahedral structure. This formula corresponds ideally to the Mn3+ analogue of celadonite, thus expanding the range of solid solution in the celadonite family. The ideal end-member formula KMn3+MgSi4O10(OH)2 can be easily related to celadonite by the homovalent substitution VIMn3+ → VIFe3+. The mineral and its name have been approved by the Commission on New Minerals, Nomenclature and Classification of the International Mineralogical Association, (IMA 2015-052). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The crystal structure of the mineral coquandite, a rare Sb oxy-sulfate hydrate, was solved using intensity data collected from a crystal from the Cetine mine, Tuscany, Italy. This study revealed that the structure is triclinic, space group P1̅, with a = 11.4292(5), b = 29.772(1), c = 11.2989(5) Å, α = 91.152(3), β = 119.266(4), γ = 92.624(3)° and V = 3346.4(2) Å3. The refinement of an anisotropic model led to an R index of 0.0347 for 21,061 independent reflections. Thirty-two Sb sites, five S sites and 67 oxygen sites occur in the crystal structure of coquandite. Sb atoms display the characteristic SbO3E and SbO4E coordinations whereas S fills (SO4) tetrahedral groups. These atoms are arranged in five symmetry-independent layers perpendicular to b*. Four of them and their centrosymmetrical counterparts form complex modules stacked along b* and bonded through two Sb atoms and H bonds. The complex H bonding system in the structure is discussed. On the basis of information gained from this characterization, the crystal-chemical formula was revised according to the structural results, yielding Sb6+xO8+x(SO4)(OH)x·(H2O)1-x (Z = 10) with x = 0.3 instead of Sb6O8(SO4)·H2O (Z = 12) as reported previously. A recalculation of the chemical data listed in the scientific literature for coquandite according to the structural results obtained here leads to a satisfactory agreement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crystals of challacolloite, KPb2Cl5, and hephaistosite, TlPb2Cl5, from volcanic sublimates formed on the crater rim of the “La Fossa Crater” at Vulcano, Aeolian Archipelago, Italy, were investigated. Chemical compositions were $${\left( {{\text{K}}_{{0.93}} {\text{Tl}}_{{0.02}} } \right)}_{{\Sigma = 0.95}} {\text{Pb}}_{{2.04}} {\left( {{\text{Cl}}_{{4.90}} {\text{Br}}_{{0.11}} } \right)}_{{\Sigma = 5.01}} $$ and $${\text{Tl}}_{{0.94}} {\text{Pb}}_{{2.01}} {\left( {{\text{Cl}}_{{4.91}} {\text{Br}}_{{0.14}} } \right)}_{{\Sigma = 5.05}} $$, respectively. Single crystal X-ray measurements showed monoclinic symmetry for both phases, space group P21/ c, with the following unit-cell parameters: a = 8.8989(4), b = 7.9717(5), c = 12.5624(8) Å, β = 90.022(4)°, V = 891.2(1) Å3, Z = 4 (challacolloite) and a = 9.0026(6), b = 7.9723(6), c = 12.5693(9) Å, β = 90.046(4)°, V = 902.1(1) Å3, Z = 4 (hephaistosite). The structure refinements converge to R = 3.99% and R = 3.86%, respectively. The effects of Br↔Cl and K↔Tl substitutions on the structure of these natural compounds have been discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Schmitterite, UTeO5, was found in a sample of the mineralogical collection of the Natural History Museum of the University of Florence. The sample is from the Bambolla mine, Moctezuma, Sonora, Mexico and the mineral occurs as very rare crystals associated with emmonsite. Schmitterite is orthorhombic, space group Pca21, with the following unit-cell parameters: a = 10.163(1), b = 5.361(1), c = 7.865(1) Å, V = 428.5(1) Å3, and Z = 4. EDS chemical analyses showed only uranium and tellurium to be present. The crystal structure has been solved and refined to R = 2.28%. It consists of edge-sharing chains of UO7 pentagonal bipyramids parallel to [001] linked into a framework by TeO4 polyhedra. The crystal-chemical reasons for the choice of the non-centrosymmetric arrangement and the structural relationships with other natural tellurites are outlined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is worldwide recognized that the use of pharmaceuticals for human and veterinary purposes could lead to unsustainable effects on the environment. A strategy to reduce the impact of pharmaceuticals on the environment has been recently established at European level, where guidelines to evaluate the impacts of veterinary drugs used to treat animal diseases are in place. The aim of this article is to focus on the worldwide used antiparasitic drug ivermectin (IVM) and its potential impact on the environment. A specific section is related to the IVM resistance that the massive use of this drug could generate enhancing the risk scenarios also for human health. The application of stringent measures for the veterinary use of this substance, in line with the recommendations provided by International frameworks such as One Health and EcoHealth, is recommended.

This paper describes the project "Information Flows", its contents of INAIL data about accidents and occupational diseases reported and recognized and its usefulness for programs of preventive initiatives undertaken by INAIL and by the responsible structures in the single italian regions. We propose some processings of data and suggest how their collection, according to criteria based on occupational medicine, industrial hygiene and epidemiology and a careful analysis and processing of data from more sources could lead to an extension of the workers protection, relatively to "unrecognized" occupational diseases, diseases caused by the "old" risks and the identification of occupational diseases caused by "new" risks.

The present study analyzes the trend of occupational diseases, in particular those asbestos-related, in the petrochemical industry from 2002 to 2011, taking into account the number of diseases claimed to and compensated by the National Institute for Insurance of Workplace Accidents and Occupational Diseases (INAIL), assessing risk factors and possible interactions. To identify the research areas, we selected INAIL cost codes, related to the petrochemical industry. In the last five years, over the total claims submitted by industrial workers, 54% of claims for asbestosis, 76.7% of claims for neoplastic diseases, and 78.6% of claims for pleural plaques have been compensated. In the petrochemical industry, such percentages are respectively 59.2%, 81.6% and 82.7%. These data suggest possible interactions between asbestos and other risk factors, particularly significant in the petrochemical industry, although difficult to identify, as well as an initial underestimation of asbestos exposure in this industry.

Aim: We aimed at assessing the opinion and degree of acceptance of physicians and nurses in Intensive Care Units (ICUs) toward an open ICU as our regional ethical committee has advised that ICU visitation policies be reformed using such a new approach., Methods: This was a descriptive, cross-sectional, multicenter survey using the Beliefs and Attitudes toward Visitation in ICU Questionnaire mailed to the ICUs in our region., Results: A total of 28 ICUs were invited, and 25 agreed to participate in this survey; 377 nurses and 230 physicians were surveyed with overall response rates of 94.9%% and 84.7%%, respectively. Nurses considered an open visiting policy to be an infringement on patient privacy (P<0.01), a possible interference with interactions between caregivers (P<0.01) and an impediment to their duties (P<0.05). They also significantly differed from physicians in considering open visitations a cause of more adverse hemodynamic events (P<0.05) and higher physiological and psychological stress for patients (P<0.05). With regard to attitudes, nurses strongly disagreed more frequently with the following: allowing everyone to visit the patient, accepting an open visitation policy in their unit, giving control of the visitation policy to the patient (P<0.01) and adapting visitation to the culture/ethnicity of the patients (P<0.0001)., Conclusions: This study points out that, in our region, physicians are more liberal and able than nurses to "customize" their wards to the specific psychosocial and emotional needs of patients and visitors.

Background: Donor's age and immunosuppression influence the severity of hepatitis C virus (HCV) recurrence. We analyzed the 18-month mortality in 302 consecutive HCV recipients, divided into three groups, with homogeneous immunosuppression and preemptive antiviral therapy in the last group., Patients: Group 1: one hundred thirty-three patients (1996-2000) mainly received a triple therapy (steroids- cyclosporine A [CyA]-azathioprine); first line treatment of biopsy-proven acute rejection (BPAR) was with steroid boluses; second-line with OKT3. Group 2: ninety-one patients (2001-2003) mainly received a double therapy (steroids-CyA) and induction with anti-CD25 antibody; first-line BPAR treatment was increased dose/switch of the calcineurin inhibitor; second-line steroid boluses; third-line extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP). Group 3: seventy-eight patients (2004-June 2006) mainly received a monotherapy (CyA) associated with ECP and induction with anti-CD25 antibody; first-line BPAR treatment was increased dose/switch of calcineurin inhibitor with increased ECP frequency, second-line steroid boluses, and third-line retransplantation., Results: Median donor's age increased from 54 (13-84) years in group 1 to 60 (10-93) years in group 2 and 66 (17-84) years in group 3 (P<0.001). Overall mortality in groups 1, 2, and 3 decreased from 28.6% to 22% and 10.2% respectively (P = 0.003); HCV-related mortality from 7.5% and 12.1% to 1.3%, respectively (P = 0.029). BPAR were 33.8% in group 1 and 9.0% in group 3. Applicability of the preemptive antiviral therapy in group 3 was 69.2%. Sustained viral clearance occurred in 38.9% of 36 patients who completed the protocol. At multivariate analysis, a single-drug immunosuppressive regimen was the only variable independently associated with survival (P=0.05)., Conclusion: Low and steady immunosuppression combined with preemptive antiviral therapy significantly improved the short-term mortality of HCV recipients transplanted with aged organs. Prolonged follow-up will assess whether this benefit is maintained in the long run.

The project "The publication of good practices and good techniques for prevention" is one the priorities of nail. This computerized system for the collection of good practices and standards of Good Technology is aimed to health and safety of workers. The basic objective of the database is to provide a valuable tool, usable, dynamic and implemented, in order to facilitate and direct the access to BP and BT it by people responsible for SSL. At the same time constitutes a tool strategically important for enterprises (especially SMEs) in terms of technological innovation and competitiveness, related to the prevention, safety and health of workers. The realization of this project has involved many of the professionals (chemists, engineers, doctors, biologists, geologists, etc.), and everyone gives his intake of qualified professional competence.

With the arrival of Legislative Decree 626/94 which brought into Italian law the EU directives on workers' health and safety at the workplace, our country has also introduced rules that make a break with the past in this area, with the creation of new professional roles. The workers' safety representative takes on a fundamentally important role in the management of prevention, safety and health for workers in their place of employment in accordance with article 19. In fact, before the introduction of this Legislative Decree, the "protection" of workers' health was essentially based on rules and regulations the application of which was left to the exclusive and direct responsibility of the relationship between the employer and doctor, leaving out any participation by the worker. Whereas in the past workers could only be considered the final receivers of instructions about the security measures to apply, with Law 626 the workers themselves became active participants in the assessment of risks at work and consequently in the implementing of all the safety and hygiene measures contributing to the reduction of risk levels. The new regulations now in force assign important tasks to the workers' safety representative; all tasks and responsibilities associated with that role are examined and discussed, especially those relating to rights to information and training, consultation and participation in the process of designing and promoting safety measures. The job of workers' representative today takes on a fundamentally important meaning and role in a self-regulating system of work safety, where he or she has a proper area responsibility, so becoming a reference point for the workers generally.

The authors analyse the biological risk inherent in nursing activity in INAIL's clinics. They highlight how this activity, though different from that in a hospital out-patient's department, involves risks inevitably connected to the contact with the insured person, injured in an accident or suffering from an occupational disease, especially in INAIL's surgical and orthopaedic "Prime cure" clinics. Then the authors mention concisely but exhaustively the prevention rules and broad criteria for general and specific prevention.