Experience with NORM waste disposal in different European countries.

Industrial processes generate various quantities of waste that can be contaminated with radionuclides of natural origin (naturally occurring radioactive material ('NORM waste')). The efficient management of this waste is essential for any industries affected by NORM waste generation. To obtain an overview of current practices and approaches in Europe, the IRPA Task Group on NORM conducted a survey among task group members and other experts from European countries.

Tools for harmonized data collection at exposure situations with naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM).

Naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM) contribute to the dose arising from radiation exposure for workers, public and non-human biota in different working and environmental conditions. Within the EURATOM Horizon 2020 RadoNorm project, work is ongoing to identify NORM exposure situations and scenarios in European countries and to collect qualitative and quantitative data of relevance for radiation protection. The data obtained will contribute to improved understanding of the extent of activities involving NORM, radionuclide behaviours and the associated radiation exposure, and will provide an insight into related scientific, practical and regulatory challenges.

A methodology for the systematic identification of naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM).

Naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM) are present worldwide and under certain circumstances (e.g., human activities) may give radiation exposure to workers, local public or occasional visitors and non-human biota (NHB) of the surrounding ecosystems.

Occupational exposure register-based cohort study on mortality among asbestos-related workers in Italy after the ban.

Objective: Asbestos is a human carcinogen and can cause some types of cancer, including mesothelioma. A relevant number of workers are still engaged in asbestos removal and disposal activities, whose actual risk of asbestos-related diseases is still scarcely recognized. The main objective of this study is to assess the cause-specific mortality among workers involved in asbestos removal and disposal after the ban in Italy.

WHO Laboratory Biosafety Manual: A New Approach to Security.

The paper aims to highlight the new indications introduced in the 4th edition of the "Laboratory Biosafety Manual" of World Health Organization. The authors propose a new vision to improve biosafety and biosecurity in the laboratory aligned with the technical standards ISO 35001:2019 "Biorisk management for laboratories and other related organizations" and ISO 45001:2018 "Occupational health and safety management systems-Requirements with guidelines for use" framework. The current edition has a more innovative approach compared to the previous ones, more attention is given to training awareness and providing skills, to promote the culture of safety by adopting an approach based on risk analysis, rather than the prescriptive approach that has been used previously.

Influence of Nanoaggregation Routes on the Structure and Thermal Behavior of Multiple-Stimuli-Responsive Micelles from Block Copolymers of Oligo(ethylene glycol) Methacrylate and the Weak Acid [2-(Hydroxyimino)aldehyde]butyl Methacrylate.

In this work, we compare nanoaggregation driven by pH-induced micellization (PIM) and by the standard solvent displacement (SD) method on a series of pH-, light-, and thermosensitive amphiphilic block copolymers. Specifically, we investigate poly(HIABMA)--poly(OEGMA) and poly(HIABMA)--poly(DEGMA--OEGMA), where HIABMA = [(hydroxyimino)aldehyde]butyl methacrylate, OEGMA = oligo(ethylene glycol)methyl ether methacrylate, and DEGMA = di(ethylene glycol)methyl ether methacrylate. The weakly acidic HIA group (p ≈ 8) imparts stability to micelles at neutral pH, unlike most of the pH-responsive copolymers investigated in the literature.

Characterizing the Gait of People With Different Types of Amputation and Prosthetic Components Through Multimodal Measurements: A Methodological Perspective.

Prosthetic gait implies the use of compensatory motor strategies, including alterations in gait biomechanics and adaptations in the neural control mechanisms adopted by the central nervous system. Despite the constant technological advancements in prostheses design that led to a reduction in compensatory movements and an increased acceptance by the users, a deep comprehension of the numerous factors that influence prosthetic gait is still needed. The quantitative prosthetic gait analysis is an essential step in the development of new and ergonomic devices and to optimize the rehabilitation therapies.

Size characteristics of asbestiform fibers in lung tissue of animals that grazed in areas rich in ophiolitic outcrops in Central Calabria (Southern Italy).

In Calabria (Southern Italy) naturally occurring asbestos (NOA) mainly occurs in the ophiolitic sequences cropping in the Mount Reventino area. The most common type of asbestos detected was the amphibole tremolite; fibrous antigorite and minor chrysotile were also found. The development of asbestos-related diseases depends on, among other things, the morphological characteristics of fibers, length and width, affecting the durability of asbestos fibers in the lung.

Occupational Mortality Matrix: A Tool for Epidemiological Assessment of Work-Related Risk Based on Current Data Sources.

Mortality from occupational diseases significantly afflicts society, in terms of both economic costs and human suffering. The International Labour Organization (ILO) estimated that 2.4 million workers die from work-related diseases every year.

In Vitro and In Vivo Biocompatibility Studies on Engineered Fabric with Graphene Nanoplatelets.

To produce clothes made with engineered fabrics to monitor the physiological parameters of workers, strain sensors were produced by depositing two different types of water-based inks (P1 and P2) suitably mixed with graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) on a fabric. We evaluated the biocompatibility of fabrics with GNPs (GNP fabric) through in vitro and in vivo assays. We investigated the effects induced on human keratinocytes by the eluates extracted from GNP fabrics by the contact of GNP fabrics with cells and by seeding keratinocytes directly onto the GNP fabrics using a cell viability test and morphological analysis.

Self-assembling nanowires from a linear l,d-peptide conjugated to the dextran end group.

Preparation and characterization of a block-like l,d-octapeptide-dextran conjugate DEX-(l-Val-d-Val) self-assembling into nanowire structures is reported. The conjugate was prepared by solid phase click-chemistry on an alkyne group N-terminus functionalized peptide with a regularly alternating enantiomeric sequence. Low molecular weight dextran (X = 29) with moderately low dispersity (1.

Round-Robin Tests with Relocatable Coverslips Improve Asbestos Fibre Counting.

Asbestos fibre counting by phase-contrast microscope is subject to many sources of variation, including those dependent on the analyst. In this study, asbestos sample slides prepared with relocatable coverslips have been used for fibre counting among voluntary analysts to evaluate their proficiency. One slide of amosite and one of chrysotile were distributed to all the analysts, and three proficiency testing rounds were conducted for amosite and four for chrysotile.

Occupational impact in COVID-19 pandemic according to one year of compensation claims in Italy.

Objectives: to evaluate the patterns of occupational COVID-19 cases, based on compensation claims applied to the Italian National Institute for Insurance against Accidents at Work (Inail).

Design: descriptive analyses of daily time series of compensation claims applications, geographical distributions, and occupations involved. Multivariate analyses have been performed for identifying significant epidemiological pattern.

Passive Vaping from Sub-Ohm Electronic Cigarette Devices.

To investigate passive vaping due to sub-ohm electronic cigarettes (e-cigs), aerosol number size distribution measurements (6 nm-10 µm) were performed during volunteer-vaping sessions. E-liquids, with vegetable glycerin (VG) and propylene glycol (PG), with a VG/PG ratio of 50/50 (with nicotine) and 80/20 (without nicotine), were vaped with a double-coil, single aerosol exit hole at 25-80 W electric power, corresponding to 130-365 kW m heat fluxes and with an octa-coil, four aerosol exit holes atomizers, at 50-150 W electric power, corresponding to 133-398 kW m heat fluxes. At the lowest heat flux, lower particle number concentrations (N) were observed for the nicotine-liquid than for the nicotine-free liquid, also due to its higher content of PG, more volatile than VG.

Asbestos containing materials in schools of Rome and surrounding area (Italy).

Despite Italy banning use and production of asbestos in 1992, it continues to represent a risk to human health due to its permanence in the places where it was located. The aim of this work is to estimate how many schools in Rome (Italy) have asbestos containing materials (ACM), and to assess whether the location, condition and nature of ACM can influence the level of risk for student health. 3,672 schools were contacted and 1,451 participated to asbestos survey.

What does evidence tell us about the use of gait robotic devices in patients with multiple sclerosis? A comprehensive systematic review on functional outcomes and clinical recommendations.

Introduction: There is growing evidence on the efficacy of gait robotic rehabilitation in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), but most of the studies have focused on gait parameters. Moreover, clear indications on the clinical use of robotics still lack. As part of the CICERONE Italian Consensus on Robotic Rehabilitation, the aim of this systematic review was to investigate the existing evidence concerning the role of lower limb robotic rehabilitation in improving functional recovery in patients with MS.

Efficacy of wrist robot-aided orthopedic rehabilitation: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: In recent years, many studies focused on the use of robotic devices for both the assessment and the neuro-motor reeducation of upper limb in subjects after stroke, spinal cord injuries or affected by neurological disorders. Contrarily, it is still hard to find examples of robot-aided assessment and rehabilitation after traumatic injuries in the orthopedic field. However, those benefits related to the use of robotic devices are expected also in orthopedic functional reeducation.

Impact of temporal variability of radon concentration in workplaces on the actual radon exposure during working hours.

For workplaces where significant diurnal variations in radon concentrations are likely, measurements to evaluate average radon concentration during working hours could be useful for planning an optimized protection of workers according to the 2013/59/Euratom Directive. However, very few studies on this subject, generally limited to periods of few weeks, have been published. Therefore, a study has been conducted to evaluate the actual long-term radon exposure during working hours for a sample of 33 workplaces of four different types (postal offices, shops, restaurants, municipal offices), mainly located at the ground floor, and with expected considerable air exchange rate occurring during working hours due to frequent entrance/exit of persons or mechanical ventilation.

Rifampicin-Liposomes for Infection Treatment: Intracellular Uptake and Antibacterial Activity Evaluation.

Treatment of pulmonary infections caused by are extremely difficult to treat, as this species is naturally resistant to many common antibiotics. Liposomes are vesicular nanocarriers suitable for hydrophilic and lipophilic drug loading, able to deliver drugs to the target site, and successfully used in different pharmaceutical applications. Moreover, liposomes are biocompatible, biodegradable and nontoxic vesicles and nebulized liposomes are efficient in targeting antibacterial agents to macrophages.

Synthesis and Characterization of Mitochondria-Targeted Triphenylphosphonium Bolaamphiphiles.

In this chapter we describe: (1) the procedure for the synthesis of four single chain bolaamphiphiles, displaying chains of 12, 16, 20 and 30 methylene units and triphenylphosphonium moieties as headgroups (TPP1-TPP4); (2) the methods used to characterize TPP1-TPP4 spontaneous aggregation in aqueous solution. We illustrate the determination of Krafft point and cac by conductivity measurements and the procedures used to investigate dimensions, morphology, and stability by dynamic and dielectrophoretic laser light scattering, dialysis, transmission electron microscopy, and Raman spectroscopy measurements.

The Double-Faced Electrostatic Behavior of PNIPAm Microgels.

PNIPAm microgels synthesized via free radical polymerization (FRP) are often considered as neutral colloids in aqueous media, although it is well known, since the pioneering works of Pelton and coworkers, that the vanishing electrophoretic mobility characterizing swollen microgels largely increases above the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of PNIPAm, at which microgels partially collapse. The presence of an electric charge has been attributed to the ionic initiators that are employed when FRP is performed in water and that stay anchored to microgel particles. Combining dynamic light scattering (DLS), electrophoresis, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) experiments, we show that collapsed ionic PNIPAm microgels undergo large mobility reversal and reentrant condensation when they are co-suspended with oppositely charged polyelectrolytes (PE) or nanoparticles (NP), while their stability remains unaffected by PE or NP addition at lower temperatures, where microgels are swollen and their charge density is low.

COVID-19 integrated imaging: our experience and literature review.

Purpose: To investigate the imaging features of emerging COVID-19 pneumonia on chest ultrasound, radiographs and computed tomography examinations performed at admission. In addition, we provide a review of the literature and compare our results with recent evidence regarding the imaging characteristics of this novel disease.

Material And Methods: From March 17, 2020 to April 25, 2020, 23 patients with real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay confirmed COVID-19 were identified.

Low-Cost Benzene Toluene Xylene Measurement Gas System Based on the Mini Chromatographic Cartridge.

Benzene, toluene and xylene (BTX) are an important part of the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) to be detected and monitored in the air, due to their toxicity towards human health. One of the most reliable technique used in BTX detection is gas chromatography (GC), which presents a high sensitivity. On the other hand, it has important drawbacks, such as high costs, the need for qualified personnel and frequent maintenance.

Environmental contamination by naturally occurring asbestos (NOA): Analysis of sentinel animal lung tissue.

Ophiolites are known sources of naturally occurring asbestos (NOA). In Calabria (Southern Italy) NOA are mainly concentrated in the ophiolitic sequences cropping in the Mount Reventino area, in the southern part of the Sila massif, and along the Coastal Chain. The most common type of asbestos identified in the rocks of these areas belongs to the tremolite-actinolite series.