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The aim of this study was the evaluation of the occurrence of pathogenic Campylobacter , Escherichia coli O157:H7, E. coli virulence genes and Salmonella spp. in different wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) using a method based on an enrichment step and PCR. This method was sensitive enough to detect low levels (∼2 CFU100 ml -1 of raw sewage) of all the investigated pathogens. In the WWTP samples, E. coli O157:H7 DNA and the eae gene were never found, but 33 % of influents and effluents exhibited amplicons corresponding to Shiga-like toxin I. Twenty-five percent of the influent and 8 % of the effluent exhibited the presence of Shiga-like toxin II. Campylobacter jejuni and C. coli DNA were identified in 50 and 25 % of the influents and in 8 and 25 % of the effluents, respectively. Salmonella spp. DNA was present in all the samples. Considering the results obtained, the method tested here offers a reliable and expeditious tool for evaluating the efficiency of the effluent treatment in order to mitigate contamination risk. Influent contamination by Salmonella spp. and Campylobacter spp. provides indirect information about their circulation; moreover, their presence in effluents underlines the role of WWTPs in the contamination of the receiving surface waters, which affects public health directly or indirectly.

While the Ariel mission is primarily designed for the study of warm and hot objects, with an equilibrium temperature above 500 K, in this paper we want to explore a larger sample of possible colder targets. We thus investigate the detectability with Ariel of “temperate” exoplanets (with an equilibrium temperature of 400 K). We first consider the case of hydrogen-rich exoplanets (from Jupiters to sub-Neptunes) and we calculate their infrared transmission spectrum for several classes of stars. We consider the Tier 2 mode of Ariel, for which the resolving power (R = 50 for λ < 4 μm and R = 15 for λ > 4 μm) is sufficient to get information about the chemical composition of the objects. Results show that temperate Jupiters and sub-Neptunes around all types of stars from G2 to M8, with revolution periods of a few tens of days and transit durations of a few hours, could be observed with Ariel, up to distances of about 50 pc for Jupiters and 25 pc for sub-Neptunes. In the case of temperate super-Earths, we estimate that they will not be observable in the Ariel Tier 2 mode. In a study of currently available target candidates, we find one sub-Neptune (TOI-178 g) as possibly observable in Ariel’s Tier 2. This on-going study is a follow-up of “Transit spectroscopy of temperate Jupiters with ARIEL: A feasibility study” (Encrenaz et al., Exp. Astr. 46:31–44, 2018).

We report and analyze here observations of strong infrared emissions from the limb of the Venus upper atmosphere during daytime, taken by the Visible and Infrared Thermal Imaging Spectrometer (VIRTIS) aboard Venus Express. We focus on the measurements taken during the first 4 months of nominal operations. The emissions observed at 4.3 μm and at 2.7 μm are attributed to CO2 fluorescence of solar radiation and are detected up to about 160 km and 130 km, respectively, while the CO fluorescence at 4.7 μm is observed up to about 120 km. The emissions are detected in both the channels of VIRTIS, at different spatial and spectral resolutions (resolving powers about 1800 and 400), for the periapsis and the apoapsis of the Venus Express orbit. From these data sets we built up 2‐D maps of the emissions as well as vertical profiles, which are then studied in order to characterize their variations with geophysical parameters, like solar illumination and emission altitude. Several analyses are performed in order to understand the VIRTIS behavior, to determine systematic effects in the data, and to propose appropriate corrections. We also present comparisons with a theoretical nonlocal thermodynamic equilibrium (non‐LTE) model of the Venus upper atmosphere. The agreement is very encouraging, in general, and the main variability observed in the data, with solar zenith angle and altitude, can be understood with the model. We conclude that the present data set opens brilliant perspectives for deriving densities and rotational temperatures in the upper mesosphere and lower thermosphere of Venus.

To validate two severity scoring systems, the Simplified Acute Physiology Score (SAPS II) and Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE II), in a single-center ICU population. Prospective data collection in a two four-bed multidisciplinary ICUs of a teaching hospital. Data were collected in ICU over 4 years on 1,721 consecutively admitted patients (aged 18 years or older, no transferrals, ICU stay at least 24 h) regarding SAPS II, APACHE II, predicted hospital mortality, and survival upon hospital discharge. At the predicted risk of 0.5, sensitivity was 39.4 % for SAPS II and 31.6 % for APACHE II, specificity 95.6 % and 97.2 %, and correct classification rate 85.6 % and 85.5 %, respectively. The area under the ROC curve was higher than 0.8 for both models. The goodness-of-fit statistic showed no significant difference between observed and predicted hospital mortality (H = 7.62 for SAPS II, H = 3.87 for APACHE II; and C = 9.32 and C = 5.05, respectively). Observed hospital mortality of patients with risk of death higher than 60 % was overpredicted by SAPS II and underpredicted by APACHE II. The observed hospital mortality was significantly higher than that predicted by the models in medical patients and in those admitted from the ward. This study validates both SAPS II and APACHE II scores in an ICU population comprised mainly of surgical patients. The type of ICU admission and the location in the hospital before ICU admission influence the predictive ability of the models.

Background Biosensor technology can potentially revolutionise the area of air pollution monitoring by providing data on early biological effect induction. Such data can be developed for supplementing routine pollution monitoring, improving exposure estimation, including a potential effect estimation and raising community awareness about air pollution. Especially in consideration of complex biological effect such as mutagenic, genotoxic and other proved effects due to the air mixture exposure. The aim of the study is to propose a short-time biosensor for the mutagenic properties evaluation of air pollution. Methods A simple biosensor was developed using genetically modified microorganisms. A first sampling session was conducted in one of the most air-polluted city of Italy using the biosensor and collecting the data of the usual monitoring system, including PM2.5, PM10, NOx, PAHs and metals concentrations. Results The biosensor is able to answer to polluted air mixture indicating a valuable genotoxic effect. Such effect - expressed in relation to the air sampled volume - is comparable to that recorded by traditional genotoxicity in vitro assay on organic extract of particulate matter. Moreover, a comparison with reference measurements is conducted. Repeatability, reproducibility, stability, limit of detection as the impact of environmental factors on biosensor output have been discussed. Conclusions Due to copious difficulties arising when airborne emissions are sampled, biological assays have been applied only sporadically. Aerosol particles are generally collected on a filter and following extraction procedure and bioassay were performed. Monitoring using the biosensor require low sample quantity, directly colliding with the microorganism, and supply good choice when air genotoxicity are to be determined. Key messages Low-cost biosensors can empower high density monitoring of air pollution. The proposed biosensor is able to evaluate genotoxic properties of the air mixture even if data quality is a major concern for its employment.

Many xenobiotics, widely diffused in the environment, have the potential to disrupt the delicate endocrine system balance of wildlife and humans. Substances showing hormone-like actions in living organisms are defined endocrine-disruptor chemicals and they may mimic, block, or interfere with the synthesis, release, transport, elimination, and binding of natural hormones. Different ecotoxicologic studies were applied to screen for the discharge of estrogenic and toxic substances into the aquatic environment from a small industrial wastewater treatment plant based in Northern Italy. Samples of wastewater (3 L) were taken at three different periods during the year from different points of the plant's process: three phases of treatment, and effluent. Untreated samples (1 L) were assayed with two toxicity tests: Microtox and Daphnia magna. A simplified proliferation test using human estrogen receptor-positive MCF-7 breast cancer cells (E-screen assay) was performed on 2-L samples after solid-phase extraction for the determination of total estrogenic activity; the presence of estrogenic substances was evaluated by measuring the proliferation rate in cells exposed to samples. The results of the Microtox assay employing the marine bacterium Vibrio fischeri were compared with data obtained from whole-effluent toxicity testing methods employing D. magna. Toxicity was found only for the influent point. The proliferative effect of the five points, relative to the positive control 17beta-estradiol (relative proliferation effect), was between 2.4% and 39%, and the 17beta-estradiol equivalent concentrations were between 0.06 and 3.94 ng/L. A first comparison between results from toxicity load and estrogenic activity was performed. At all process points, the effluent samples were considered acceptable (taking only toxicity into account), but we demonstrated that they had estrogenic activity in the river water indicating an input of estrogenic substances by way of the treatment plant.

Over the past decade, several outbreaks of cryptosporidiosis have been reported in many EU countries in association with the consumption of contaminated drinking water, recreational waters, food consumption and contact with animals. The aim of this study was to evaluate the occurrence of Cryptosporidium oocysts in a drinking water treatment plant (DWTP) located in a rural area of northern Italy. Influent and effluent samples at the DWTP, together with tap water samples from a public fountain were collected for three years (2013-2016). All samples were analysed for the presence of Cryptosporidium spp. oocysts by the EPA Method 1623 based on immunomagnetic separation (IMS)/immunofluorescence assay (IFA), complemented by 4,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) staining. The detection has been implemented with a reverse transcriptase-PCR (RT-PCR) protocol to evaluate the oocyst viability. The results highlighted a high variability of oocyst concentrations in all samples (mean 4.3 - 5.8/100 L) and a high percentage variability of the DAPI-positive specimens (mean 48.2% - 40.3%). Conversely, RT-PCR did not reveal the presence of any viable C. parvum and C. hominis oocysts. A nested PCR targeting Cryptosporidium 18S ribosomal DNA was carried out in two water samples to deepen the understanding of the obtained results. This test revealed the presence of a particular Cryptosporidium genotype associated with wild animals in the river and in tap water. Although the recovered Cryptosporidium genotype is not a human pathogen, its presence demonstrates the existence of a potential pathogen Cryptosporidium spp. contamination risk. Moreover, these results underline the importance of considering unconventional (not bacterial) biological contaminations (protozoa) in water resources in rural areas, including those of developed countries.

The global action plan on antimicrobial resistance reports the necessity to develop standards and guidance for the presence of antimicrobial agents in the environment, especially in wastewater, highlighting its possible role in the antibiotic resistance spreading. In addition, the New European One Health Action Plan against Antimicrobial Resistance underlines the need to support research into knowledge gaps on the release of resistant microorganisms into the environment and their dissemination. The aim of this study was to evaluate the presence of Antibiotic Resistance Bacteria (ARB) and Antibiotic Resistance Genes (ARG) in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). At this scope, untreated sewage and treated effluents of three different WWTPs (A, B and C) were sampled for one year. Sample dilutions were plated on R2Agar added/not-added with 4 different antibiotics (ampicillin 32mg/L; tetracycline 16 mg/L; chloramphenicol 32 mg/L; sulfamethoxazole 50,4 mg/L) to evaluate the percentage of antibiotic resistant bacteria and their WWTPs removal rate (%). DNA extraction on the filter used to concentrate the wastewater samples was performed to reveal the ARG presence; subsequently specific PCRs for ARG (blaTEM, tetA, sul II, sul III) were carried out. ARB were detected in all samples analysed. The highest antibiotic resistance percentage was revealed in the sewage (mean 21,7%±4,8) and effluent (mean 21,1%±3,0) of the three wastewater treatment plants for sulfamethoxazole. Moreover, sul II was the most present gene in the samples (81% of all samples, 89 % of sewages and 72% of effluents). The lower WWTPs removal was recovered in the plant B for the tetracycline (95, 7%). The results obtained underlines the need to monitor WWTP as critical hot spot for the antibiotic resistance spreading also considering the One Health approach. Furthermore, the results obtained could suggest interventions to reduce the spread of the antibiotic resistance in the integrated urban water cycle.

The aim of this study was to assess the impact of a municipal wastewater treatment plant (MWTP) on the occurrence of Cryptosporidium oocysts and Giardia cysts in the receiving water. All MWTP effluent samples were Giardia and Cryptosporidium contaminated, although low mean values were found for both parasites (0.21±0.06 oocysts/L; 1.39±0.51 cysts/L). Otherwise, in the raw sewage a greater concentration was detected (4.5±0.3 oocysts/L; 53.6±6.8 cysts/L). The major occurrence of Giardia over Cryptosporidium, both in the influent and in the effluent of the MWTP, is probably related to the human sewage contribution to the wastewater. Data on protozoa contamination of the receiving water body demonstrated similar concentrations in the samples collected before (0.21±0.07 oocysts/L; 1.31±0.38 cysts/L) and after (0.17±0.09 oocysts/L and 1.01±1.05 cysts/L) the plant effluent discharge. The results of this study suggest that the MWTP has no impact related to Giardia and Cryptosporidium river water contamination, and underline the need for investigation into the effectiveness of these protozoa removal by less technologically advanced MWTPs which are the most widespread and could probably show a lower ability to reduce protozoa.

Classical growth hormone insensitivity syndrome (GHIS) comprises a dysmorphic phenotype, extreme short stature (height SDS < 3), normal GH and low IGF-I and IGFBP-3. Wide clinical variation is recognised with classical and atypical forms. We aimed to delineate features of the milder \"atypical\" GHIS phenotype, and to determine whether this correlates with milder auxological and biochemical features. Fifty-nine patients from a European series of 82 patients with GHIS, with strict diagnostic criteria of GHIS, were studied and assigned to classical or atypical GHIS groups according to facial phenotype, i.e. \"classical\" required 2 of 3 recognized GHIS features (frontal bossing, mid-facial hypoplasia and depressed nasal bridge), \"atypical\" required 0 or 1 of these facial features. Classical and atypical GHIS groups were compared in terms of (1) phenotypic features, including high-pitched voice, sparse hair, blue sclera, hypoglycaemia, microphallus, (2) birth length, height SDS, and (3) basal IGF-I, IGF-II, IGFBP-1, IGFBP-3, GHBP and increase in IGF-I on IGF-I generation testing. Fifty patients [24 males, 26 females, aged 8.6 +/- 4.6 years (mean +/- SD)] had \"classical GHIS\", 9 patients (7 males, 2 females, aged 7.8 +/- 4.1 years) had \"atypical GHIS\", 7 with normal facies. Atypical GHIS patients had lesser height deficit (Ht SDS -4.0 +/- 1.4) compared to classical GHIS (-6.7 +/- 1.4), less reduction in IGFBP-3 SDS (atypical -5.5 +/- 3.3; classical -8.6 +/- 2.4), and more had normal GHBP (>10% binding). Other variables were also less frequent in atypical GHIS patients: high-pitched voice 11% (70% classical), sparse hair 11% (42% classical), blue sclera 0% (38% classical), hypoglycaemia 11% (42% classical), and microphallus 14% (1 of 7 males), compared to 79% of classical (19 of 24 males). Atypical GHIS patients, with relatively normal facial appearance, demonstrate less height defect and biochemical abnormalities compared to classical patients. GH insensitivity may be present in children with short stature and an otherwise normal appearance.