[Epidemiological, social and public health aspects of tuberculosis in Ferrara in the 19th century]

Our first study of tuberculosis in Ferrara during the nineteenth century, whose results have been recently published, focused on disease treatment. Here we present the descriptive analysis of mortality, with the following results being attained: two behavioural patterns are detected with regard to the onset of disease, before and after 1850; TB is a specific disease that affects all parts of the body in all age groups: childhood, and active and passive populations; there are no significant differences with regard to gender; as regards the occupations performed by the deceased, those related to industry and agriculture and to various other activities and services are those with the highest mortality; tuberculosis has a seasonal pattern; summer and autumn are the periods of greatest prevalence (hot weather and humidity are factors that affect the respiratory system); among the forms of tuberculosis it can be observed that up to the year 1850 people died in Ferrara either of pulmonary tuberculosis or TB localised in other areas; from 1851 onward there appears to have been a dramatic change, with a decrease in unspecific diagnosis but the appearance of disease manifestations in its various clinical forms.

Far infrared properties of the rare-earth scandate DyScO3

We present reflectance measurements in the infrared region on a single crystal the rare-earth scandate DyScO(3). Measurements performed between room temperature and 10 K allow us to determine the frequency of the infrared-active phonons, never investigated experimentally, and to get information on their temperature dependence. A comparison with the phonon peak frequency resulting from ab initio computations is also provided. We finally report detailed data on the frequency dependence of the complex refractive index of DyScO(3) in the terahertz region, which is important in the analysis of terahertz measurements on thin films deposited on DyScO(3).

High-temperature optical spectral weight and fermi-liquid renormalization in bi-based cuprate superconductors

The optical conductivity σ(ω) and the spectral weight W(T) of two superconducting cuprates at optimum doping, Bi2Sr2-xLaxCuO6 and Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8, have been first measured up to 500 K. Above 300 K, W(T) deviates from the usual T2 behavior in both compounds, even though σ(ω→0) remains larger than the Ioffe-Regel limit. The deviation is surprisingly well described by the T4 term of the Sommerfeld expansion, but its coefficients are enhanced by strong correlation, as shown by the good agreement with dynamical mean field calculations.

[Regulations for the commercialization of new disinfectants: efficacy studies required for products to be used in foodstuffs, and in industrial, domestic and institutional areas]

Regulations for the commercialization of new disinfectants in Europe are currently going through a transition phase. Up to the present time these were set down by each member State of the European Union while in May 2010 a single European set of regulations (Directive 98/8/CE) will become effective in all Member States, the main aspects of which are discussed in this paper. In particular, we discuss the main points regarding studies and other information to be submitted for obtaining approval of new active substances and for reviewing products already in the market.

Mutagenicity evaluation with Ames test of hydro-alcoholic solution of terpenes

Mutagenic properties of terpenes (both synthesis and plant derived) have been tested, up to now, as a single molecule. A terpenes containing hydro-alcoholic solution deriving from frankincense and myrrh resins and hyssop essential oil was assayed for mutagenicity by means of ames test. Extraction technique conducted with electromagnetic fields at room temperature enabled to obtain a solution of free active molecules that did not undergo thermal degradation and characterized by biocidal activity. In order to verify lack of mutagenic hazard in coming into contact with human, the solution was appropriately diluted and tested with Salmonella typhimurium TA98, TA1535 and YG1024 strains, both in absence and in presence of metabolic system S9. For none of the tested conditions a 2-fold increase of induced revertants, as regards to spontaneous, was registered. The ratio between induced and spontaneous His+ revertants (Mutagenic Index) was around 1.00 in all the determinations and no statistically significant differences have been identified comparing the sample and the negative control. A similar result has been obtained for the dose-response curve. In conclusion, we verified that tested terpenes solution lacks of mutagenicity on Salmonella typhimurium with and without metabolic activator so this plant extract can be safely used as biocide.

Optical properties across the insulator to metal transitions in vanadium oxide compounds

We review the optical properties of three vanadium oxide compounds V(2)O(3), VO(2) and V(3)O(5), belonging to the so-called Magnéli phase. Their electrodynamics across a metal to insulator transition is investigated as a function of both temperature and pressure. We analyse thoroughly the optical results, with a special emphasis on the infrared spectral weight. This allows us to discuss the nature of the mechanisms driving the phase transitions in the three compounds, pointing out the role of electron-electron and electron-phonon interactions in the various cases.

Far-infrared absorption and the metal-to-insulator transition in hole-doped cuprates

By studying the optical conductivity of Bi(2)Sr(2-x)La(x)CuO(6) and Y(0.97)Ca(0.03)Ba(2)Cu(3)O(6), we show that the metal-to-insulator transition in these hole-doped cuprates is driven by the opening of a small gap at low T in the far infrared. Its width is consistent with the observations of angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy in other cuprates, along the nodal line of the k space. The gap forms as the Drude term turns into a far-infrared absorption, whose peak frequency can be approximately predicted on the basis of a Mott-like transition. Another band in the midinfrared softens with doping but is less sensitive to the metal-to-insulator transition.

Quasiparticles at the Mott transition in V2O3: wave vector dependence and surface attenuation

We present an angle resolved photoemission study of V2O3, a prototype system for the observation of Mott transitions in correlated materials. We show that the spectral features corresponding to the quasiparticle peak in the metallic phase present a marked wave vector dependence, with a stronger intensity along the GammaZ direction. The analysis of their intensity for different probing depths shows the existence of a characteristic length scale for the attenuation of coherent electronic excitations at the surface. This length scale, which is larger than the thickness of the surface region as normally defined for noncorrelated electronic states, is found to increase when approaching the Mott transition. These results are in agreement with the behavior of quasiparticles at surfaces as predicted by Borghi et al.

Assessment of urinary mutagens presence in a population of non smokers

The paper presents the early results of a study involving a group of 312 non smoking and not professionally exposed subjects (144 males and 168 females) in order to evaluate the probable presence of urinary mutagens possibly derived from aspecific exposures. Urine samples were assayed by the Ames test on the YG1024 Salmonella typhimurium strain in the presence of S9 mix with plate incorporation method with preincubation. At the moment of sample collection, the subjects were invited to fill a questionnaire on their main characteristics and lifestyle. On the basis of laboratory data analysis, it emerged that, on 288 samples with a valuable mutagenic activity, 20 urinary extracts (8 of which were males and 12 were females) showed mutagenicity levels twice as much as spontaneous revertants. Diet and indoor exposure to passive smoking, fireplace and cooking fume exposure seemed to play a major role among the lifestyle behaviours investigated in generating positive mutagenic response with a statistically significant difference between positive and negative samples induction (Chi square, P = 0.0057 and P = 0.0168 respectively). After correction of induced revertants by means of creatinine excretion determination, it appeared that females, who had the higher mean urinary mutagenic activity, showed a mutagenicity level twice as much as men (364 +/- 491 revertants/mmole creatinine for males against 605 +/- 868 revertants/mmole creatinine in females, Mann-Whitney U-test, z = -3.97, P < 0.0001) possibly in consequence of their greater cooking fumes exposure. The study, that carefully evaluated the characteristics of involved subjects, reveals the presence, even though modest, of mutagens in urine of an apparently not significantly exposed population. In addition, standardization of method leads to suppose little feasible a confounding influence of considered features. Moreover, it would be therefore rather interesting to study the effect of low exposure time persistence.

Evidence of a pressure-induced metallization process in monoclinic VO2

Raman and combined infrared transmission and reflectivity measurements were carried out at room temperature (RT) on monoclinic VO2 over the 0-19 GPa and 0-14 GPa pressure ranges. Both lattice dynamics and optical gap show a remarkable stability up to P* approximately 10 GPa whereas subtle modifications of V ion arrangements within the monoclinic lattice, together with the onset of a metallization process via band gap filling, are observed for P >P*. Differently from P=0, where the VO2 metallic phase is found only in conjunction with the rutile structure above 340 K, a new RT metallic phase within a monoclinic structure appears accessible in the high pressure regime.

Pressure dependence of the charge-density-wave gap in rare-earth tritellurides

We investigate the pressure dependence of the optical properties of CeTe3, which exhibits an incommensurate charge-density-wave (CDW) state already at 300 K. Our data are collected in the midinfrared spectral range at room temperature and at pressures between 0 and 9 GPa. The energy for the single particle excitation across the CDW gap decreases upon increasing the applied pressure, similarly to the chemical pressure by rare-earth substitution. The broadening of the bands upon lattice compression removes the perfect nesting condition of the Fermi surface and therefore diminishes the impact of the CDW transition on the electronic properties of RTe3.

Low-energy electrodynamics of superconducting diamond

Heavily boron-doped, diamond films can become superconducting with critical temperatures Tc well above 4 K. Here we first measure the reflectivity of such a film down to 5 cm(-1), by also using coherent synchrotron radiation. We thus determine the optical gap 2Delta, the field penetration depth lambda, the range of action of the Ferrell-Glover-Tinkham sum rule, and the electron-phonon spectral function alpha2F(omega). We conclude that diamond behaves as a dirty BCS superconductor.

Temperature dependence of the optical spectral weight in the cuprates: role of electron correlations

We compare calculations based on the dynamical mean-field theory of the Hubbard model with the infrared spectral weight W(Omega,T) of La(2-x)SrxCuO4 and other cuprates. Without using fitting parameters we show that most of the anomalies found in W(Omega,T) with respect to normal metals, including the existence of two different energy scales for the doping and the T dependence of W(Omega,T), can be ascribed to strong correlation effects.

Frequency-dependent thermal response of the charge system and the restricted sum rules of La2-xSrxCuO4

In La2-xSrxCuO4 (LSCO) the spectral weight W=integralOmega0sigma(ab)1(omega,T)domega [where sigma(ab)1(omega,T) is the ab-plane conductivity] obeys the same law W=W0-BOmegaT2 as in a conventional metal such as gold, for any Omega up to the plasma edge. However, in LSCO BOmega points toward correlation effects and, unlike in gold, is related to an energy scale tT<<t0 approximately W0. The Ferrell-Glover-Tinkham sum rule is fulfilled in LSCO superconductors for Omega greater than or approximately equal to 2000 cm(-1).

Non-smoking coke oven workers show an occupational PAH exposure-related increase in urinary mutagens

We examined the urinary mutagenicity in the YG1024 Salmonella typhimurium strain in the presence of S9 mix, of 31 male non-smoking coke oven workers and an equal number of controls matched for gender and dietary habits. Occupational PAH exposure to the workers was assessed by means of the individual urinary post-shift excretion of 1-pyrenol (mean +/- S.D.: 5.41 +/- 6.06 micromole/mol creatinine). Eleven urinary extracts of workers (35.5%) were clearly mutagenic (with at least a doubling of the number of spontaneous revertants), against only two samples in the control group (6.5%) (chi2-test; chi2 = 7.883; P < 0.01). Moreover, the mean mutagenic activity level corrected for dilution/concentration of the urine was about three times higher in coke oven workers than in matched controls (mean +/- S.D. (range) 495 +/- 407 (89.7-1603) versus 186 +/- 113 (14.2-524) net revertants/mmol creatinine; Mann-Whitney U-test, z = 3.86, P < 0.001). Simple linear regression analysis showed that the coke workers' urinary mutagenic activity is associated with the PAH occupation-related urinary excretion of 1-pyrenol (r = 0.41, P = 0.0215). This study definitely demonstrates an occupation-related exposure of coke oven workers' bladder epithelium to mutagenic PAH metabolites. This factor, mainly in the case of high exposure studied here, may account for a higher bladder cancer risk in coke oven workers.

[Sleep-disordered breathing and occupational medicine: considerations on three clinical cases]

Three subjects suffering from sleep-disordered breathing are described. Two of them (a 37-year-old lorry driver with obstructive sleep apnea, and a 47-year-old bricklayer with upper airway resistance syndrome) had suffered several accidents at work in few months, due to daytime sleepiness. The third patient (45-year-old) had developed (central and obstructive) sleep apnea after having been exposed to organic solvents for 15 years as a painter. In all the three subjects, polysomnography led to correct diagnosis, and nocturnal ventilotherapy with nasal CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) considerably improved the clinical picture. The cases presented illustrate the twofold interest of sleep-disordered breathing for Occupational Medicine: on the one hand, these syndromes may reduce job performance and increase the accident risk; on the other hand, they may recognize as a risk factor the occupational exposure to solvents.

Phase diagram of La2-xSrxCuO4 probed in the infared: imprints of charge stripe excitations

While there is increasing evidence for antiferromagnetic (AF) ordering in the Cu-O planes of high-T(c) superconductors, either static or fluctuating, there is no direct evidence so far for the charge stripes that should separate the AF domains. By investigating the optical response of La2-xSrxCuO4 for 0<or=x<or=0.26 and 30<or=T<or=295 K, we identify strong far infrared peaks whose energy, width, and intensity are consistent with a scenario of charge stripe dynamics in the Cu-O planes.

Role of metabolic polymorphisms NAT2 and CYP1A2 on urinary mutagenicity after a pan-fried hamburger meal

In this work the phenotyping approach was used to study the influence of metabolic polymorphisms NAT2 and CYP1A2 on S9-mediated urinary mutagenicity, detected with Salmonella strain YG1024, in 50 subjects after a meal of pan-fried hamburgers. All 50 post-meal samples, but not pre-meal ones, were clearly mutagenic (number of urine samples able to double number of spontaneous revertants was 50 to 0, respectively). CYP1A2 positively influences urinary mutagenicity: a rise in CYP1A2 activity increases levels of post-meal urinary mutagens (1.16+/-0.91 vs 1.72+/-1.19 7-h minimum mutagenic doses (MMDs)/intake), especially in NAT2 slow acetylators (2.18+/-1.33 vs 0.90+/-0.54 7-h MMDs/intake, Mann-Whitney U-test, P<0.05). NAT2 rapid acetylators exert lower post-meal urinary mutagenicity than slow ones (1.41+/-1.02 vs 1.77+/-2.45 7-h MMDs/intake) and even more if the latter are extensive CYP1A2 metabolizers (1.41+/-1.02 vs 2.18+/-1.33 7-h MMDs/intake), but the difference did not reach statistical significance. In conclusion, this study indicates that CYP1A2 and NAT2 activities influence the presence of urinary mutagens after a meal of pan-fried hamburger (rich in HHAs) and consequently their potential genotoxic risk.

[Professional anamnesis and information: considerations on a clinical case]

Work history and information about risks represent two main instances in occupational medicine, the first one in order to formulate the diagnosis of occupational disease, the second one for the health education of workers. As far as this is concerned we describe the clinical case of a patient admitted for a cutaneous manifestation of suspected allergic nature. After a careful evaluation of the work related risk factors it turned out to be a cutaneous rash caused by exposure to dimethylformammide and concomitant consumption of alcohol. A correct information about substances used in the workplace and about subsequent hygienic rules would have avoided the appearance of the clinical manifestation and a useless admission.

SINBAD, a brilliant IR source from the DAPhiNE storage ring

SINBAD is the Italian IR synchrotron radiation beamline, designed to work at wavelengths greater than 10 micro m. It is being installed on DAPhiNE, a new collider that is designed to work at 0.51 GeV with a beam current up to 5 A. Due to such a high current, the IR extracted from a bending magnet will be more brilliant than that of a black body at 2000 K by two orders of magnitude at 100 micro m. The beamline optical system, projected by ray-tracing simulation, consists of six mirrors that first focus the radiation on a wedged CVD diamond-film window and then transfer the collimated beam to the experimental area where a Michelson interferometer will be installed.