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A reliable estimate of the areal reduction factor (ARF), useful for implementing the upscaling procedure of point rainfall information, is of crucial relevance in many hydrological applications aimed at hydraulic structures design. Despite the availability of different methodologies in the literature, the choice of the best formulation to be applied for ARF assessment in a specific region remains an open problem. In fact, the transposition of ARF formulations to areas different from those where they were developed, even with similar geographical features, could lead to incorrect ARF estimates and relevant errors in design rainfalls, especially for short durations. In this paper, a new deterministic fixed-area approach is proposed; it relies upon an averaging procedure of the ratios between areal and local annual maximum rainfalls. The proposed approach was applied to the study area of Umbria region in central Italy, where a parametric relation expressing ARF in a wide range of rainfall duration (5–2,880 min) and areas (up to about 6,100 km2) was derived. A comparison of the proposed approach with the most widely used empirical methodologies was also performed. The methodology can be adopted in any other region where a network characterized by a minimum length of rainfall time series of 7 years and a proper spatial density of stations is available. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper proposes a method to valorize abandoned mines whose traces were lost in the territory and in the collective memory. We selected two case studies in the Umbria region (central Italy) that were used as examples. The evidence of the presence of lignite mines on the Upper Tiber River Valley (northern Umbria) has been completely erased, and since they were located in rural areas, they represent an interesting challenge regarding recovering the memory of the places and proposing a no-longer-existent site as a geosite. The recovery and valorization of historical documents of the two lignite mines (Caiperino–Terranera and Carsuga) and their conversion into a digital format was carried out before constructing a geolocalized database in a GIS environment. This framework is the starting point for a promising dissemination process via a digital media app, using multimedia contents as video, 3D models and the principles of augmented reality (AR) to enhance the touristic or didactic experience and promote the cultural heritage of the territory by keeping the memory of 'ghost places'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Il Capitale Culturale: Studies on the Value of Cultural Heritage is the property of Il Capitale Culturale Studies on the Value of Cultural Heritage and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Orientamenti Pedagogici is the property of Pontificio Ateneo Salesiano (Facoltà di Scienze dell'Educazione dell'Università Pontificia Salesian) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In the absence of broad Italic ethnicities and clear-cut territorial boundaries, sanctuaries played a vital aggregative role in the life of peoples, oÁen acting as poles around which local communities formed. Sanctuaries in antiquity, especially in the pre-Roman period, were rarely manmade structures. Evidence of early ritual activity can be found in or near watercourses, lakes, mountains, and caves. By virtue of their liminal and otherworldly characteristics (obscurity, humidity, permanency, and silence), able to condition humans’ psycho-emotional sphere, caves stand out from other places within the landscape. ey inspire imagination and trigger the innate human curiosity to explore hidden spaces. Perhaps not coincidentally, Plato used the evocative context of a natural and dimly lit cave to allegorically represent the intelligible nature of human life. Caves are not only geographic features but also cultural constructs that can become highly charged symbols in identity construction and in the development of communal complexity and territoriality. Using new speleological and archaeological data as well as a cross-cu†ing temporal approach, this paper analyses how the cave of Gro†a Bella, in Umbria, Central Italy, functioned as a place of human gatherings across time: first as a temporary dwelling, then as a funerary space, and, lastly, as a sacred space. In this last phase, and possibly also due to the long-lasting memory of its previous functions, the cave appears to have had a distinctive connection to the surrounding territory, anchoring the identities of those who participated in the ritual that took place within this underground space. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The integration of digital technologies into forest management is crucial for the European Union's Green Deal, the Forestry Strategy 2030, and Italy's national forestry strategy, aiming to enhance governance and efficiency. However, sustainable forest management's administrative aspects are often overlooked, despite the potential for digital tools to significantly improve environmental performance. Through a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) for a case study in the Umbria region, the research quantifies CO2 emissions associated with over-threshold forestry administrative procedures under both current and future digitalisation scenarios. Data were collected from legislative documents, interviews with forestry professionals, and emissions calculated according to ISO standards. The findings reveal a considerable reduction in CO2 emissions through digitalisation, from 75.07 kgCO2 to 38.14 kgCO2, with the implementation of the LIFE FOLIAGE project's digital platform. This underscores digitalisation's role in climate change mitigation, highlighting the significant, albeit modest per procedure, of the cumulative national impact. The main findings support further digitalisation in forest management as a method of increasing resource efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, thus contributing to the Green Deal's and Italy's forest sustainability goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Allium ampeloprasum var. holmense (elephant garlic) is traditionally cultivated in "Val di Chiana", an area between Umbria and Tuscany regions of Central Italy, under the name "Aglione della Valdichiana". This product has recently increased in importance, becoming a key economic resource for local farmers. In 2019, phytosanitary problems of elephant garlic cloves ready for transplanting emerged in this cultivation area. Symptom/sign observations and fungal isolations were performed for cloves divided into four components (tunic, basal plate, reserve tissue and shoot) from six farms in the "Val di Chiana" area. Isolates obtained were identified, using partial β-tubulin (BenA) and calmodulin (CaM) or translation elongation factor 1α (tef1α) genes sequences, as belonging to Penicillium [P. allii (95%), P. citrinum (4%), P. brevicompactum (1%)] or Fusarium [F. oxysporum (81%), F. proliferatum (19%)]. Fusarium spp. were mainly associated with clove tunics and basal plates, while Penicillium spp. with basal plates, reserve tissues and shoots. Fungi often also developed from asymptomatic components, but a correlation was found between isolated pathogens and disease symptoms. Pathogenicity and virulence towards elephant garlic cloves were verified for a representative isolate of each identified species, and Penicillium allii was the most virulent. Strategies to control Fusarium and Penicillium spp. on cloves were assessed, including chemicals, a biocontrol agent, surface sterilization and heat treatment. Among these, treatments with Patriot Gold® (active ingredient [a.i.] Trichoderma asperellum TV1, approved in organic farming on crops similar to elephant garlic), or Signum® (a.i. boscalid + pyraclostrobin, approved for Integrated Pest Management systems on crops similar to elephant garlic), were effective in simultaneous reduction of Penicillium spp. and Fusarium spp. Transplanting of asymptomatic cloves combined with the use of the above treatments showed promising effects for pathogens control, and to assist elephant garlic crop establishment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasingly complex dynamics of urban planning require an innovative approach to land use suitability analyses and environmental assessments. Traditionally, these disciplines have provided a critical foundation for sustainable urban development, but the current acceleration of change requires renewed attention to technology and innovation. The integration of advanced territorial data is emerging as a key element to enrich the analysis and mapping of the landscape. This type of data allows for an updated and objective view of reality, providing urban planners and decision makers with a dynamic tool to quickly adapt to evolving urban needs. The use of new technologies increases the accuracy and effectiveness of these analyses, enabling more efficient and sustainable urban planning. This article explores how innovation and technology are transforming the field of land use suitability analyses and environmental assessments and provides real-life examples of how advanced territorial data can be used to model the landscape more accurately in the case of Umbria, a region in Italy characterised by a rich cultural history and picturesque landscapes. Umbria, with its unique geography and delicate environmental balance, provides a fertile ground for exploring how the implementation of territorial databases can contribute to the responsible management of industrial activities. This case study represents an important first step in applying a QGIS and Python geoprocessing approach to these issues. The methodology starts with the creation of territorial data and includes a post-processing phase using Python. This integrated approach not only provides an updated and objective view of the landscape but also represents the first instance in the literature of a study applied to such a small and environmentally rich region as Umbria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A quantitative analytical method for PFAS determination in airborne particulate matter (PM) has been developed using liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS), allowing for the determination of 33 compounds. The procedure was applied to ambient PM10 with limits of quantification for PFAS in the fg m−3 range. PM10 samples collected during a year-long campaign conducted in an urban site in Umbria (Central Italy) have been characterized for their PFAS content. Among the seven detected PFASs, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) were the most abundant compounds. Furthermore, this work allowed us to obtain the first seasonal trend of airborne PFASs in Central Italy. Seasonal trend analysis shows that PFAS concentration in the atmosphere peaks in summertime. A comparison with trends of other relevant primary and secondary air pollutants determined at the sampling site suggests a secondary nature of the observed PFAS, which are formed in the atmosphere directly from gaseous precursors and can contribute to worsen the urban air quality in summertime. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Socio-demographic factors are responsible for health inequalities also in vaccination. The aim of this study was to evaluate their role at the population level through a population-based study performed on the whole population entitled to receive COVID-19 vaccines in the Umbria Region, Italy, and registered to the Regional Healthcare Service as of 28 February 2021. Socio-demographic characteristics and vaccination status in terms of uptake of at least one dose of any available vaccine, completion of the primary vaccination cycle and uptake of the booster doses as of 28 February 2022 were collected from the Umbria regional database. The percentage of eligible population who did not initiate the COVID-19 vaccination, complete the full vaccination cycle and get the booster dose was 11.8%, 1.2% and 21.5%, respectively. A younger age, being a non-Italian citizen, and not holding an exemption for chronic disease/disability and a GP/FP were associated with all the endpoints. Females, as compared to males, were more likely to not initiate the vaccination but less likely to not receive the booster dose. On the contrary, the findings did not show a significant association between the deprivation index and the vaccine uptake. The findings, beyond confirming current knowledge at the population level, provide new inputs for better tailoring vaccination campaigns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biological invasions are one of the major drivers of global environmental change and there is a need to develop integrated strategies to counteract this phenomenon. Eradication is an effective management option to mitigate the deleterious impacts of invasive alien species (IAS). Eradication can be achieved if all reproductive individuals are removed and population recovery is prevented. However, individuals may survive removal operations in private areas if interventions are not allowed. Here, we present 1) three case studies in which restricted private property access prevented the local eradication of invasive alien populations, and 2) a list of reasons for denying access to private properties and a list of actions implemented or suggested by managers to facilitate access and reported in 29 reviewed papers. The restricted access affected the local eradication of three Eastern grey squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) populations in Italy. In Lombardy region, in one area a planned eradication did not start and in another area the implemented eradication failed due to the refusal from the owner of a large private property to grant access to managers. In Umbria region, the lack of collaboration from an Italian financial institution produced a delay of 15 months in the removal. In our case studies, therefore, a single person or institution denied access for a personal gain or presumed internal security. The reasons behind landowner opposition may be diverse and individual attitudes towards IAS management will depend on interactions with owners. According to our review, in many cases the denial of access takes place in a general perception of mistrust or opposition to the project as the results of a limited engagement of local people. Such opposition often jeopardizes control activities, with profound negative consequences on eradication, expecially at landscape scale. Bottom-up approaches aiming at involving stakeholders can increase the possibility to achieve IAS eradication, however appropriate legislation remains pivotal to enforce eradication in case of non-cooperative behaviour. [Display omitted] • Eradication is effective to mitigate the impacts of invasive alien species. • Private owners could deny access to their land challenging eradications. • Eradication failures were reported in 25 papers and three case studies. • Landowners may be involved with bottom-up approaches. • Appropriate legislation is pivotal in the case of non-cooperative behaviour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Volcanic rocks were among the most sought-after materials to produce grinding tools in antiquity because lavas lithologies, either mafic or felsic, ensured good wear resistance and grinding capacity with respect to many other kinds of rocks. The interest in findings made of vesciculated lavas, referable to parts of querns, mortars, and/or pestles of the Final Bronze Age site of Monte Croce Guardia (Arcevia) lies in the fact that this settlement was built upon limestones belonging to the sedimentary sequence of the Marche-Umbria Apennines (central Italy) and far away from potential raw materials of volcanic rocks. A petrologic study of 23 grinding tool fragments clearly indicates a provenance from the volcanic provinces of central Italy: Latium and Tuscany Regions. Few leucite tephrites (5) and one leucite phonolite lavas have a clear magmatic affinity with the high-K series of the Roman Volcanic Province (Latium) whereas the most abundant volcanic lithotype (17 samples) is represented by shoshonites (K-series) whose thin section texture, modal mineralogy and major-trace elements contents closely match with the shoshonite lavas from the Radicofani volcanic centre in the Tuscan Magmatic Province. At Radicofani (a volcanic neck in the eastern sector of Tuscany) a Final Bronze Age site coeval to that of Arcevia is present and a potential pathway corridor from that site towards Arcevia (air-line distance of ca. 115 km) is dotted with many settlements of the same age. Through analytical algorithms based on the slope and the different human-dependent cost-functions which can be applied to determine non-isotropic accumulated cost surface, least-cost paths and least-cost corridors, the best route from Radicofani to Monte Croce Guardia, approximately 140 km long, was simulated, with a walking time of 25–30 h, possibly using pack animals and wheel chariots. Three thousand years ago the Apennine Mountains did not thus constitute a barrier for human movements. This study also shed light on some other possible patterns of interactions between Final Bronze Age communities of central Italy through the present-day regions of Tuscany, Umbria and Marche, aimed towards the best performance of strategic economic activities at that time such as that of the transformation of cereals, and accompanied to cultural and social reasons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Voles from the Genus Microtus are rodents with a subterranean lifestyle. Central Italy is populated by two species of the Genus, the North-Western Microtus savii and the South-Eastern endemic Microtus brachycercus. Although morphometric features able to help distinguish M. savii from M. brachycercus are lacking, a peculiar morphology of the anterior end of the first lower molar is typical, but not exclusive, of M. brachycercus. Since some skulls with a compatible dental morphology were collected from Long-eared owl pellets in Umbria (Central Italy), a genetic assessment was deemed necessary to verify the possible presence of M. brachycercus outside of its known distribution range. Hemimandibles were isolated and used for both genetic and morphometric dental analyses. Despite the fact that this could suggest the presence of a M. brachycercus population, genetic analyses confirmed the species attribution to the M. savii complex, showing peculiar genetic polymorphisms that can either be due to the wide sampling area, represented by the owls' hunting grounds, or to the recent evolutive history of the analysed population. This study, once again, underlines the importance of integrative taxonomy, suggesting the key role of predators as field-assistants to minimize the impact of sampling campaign on natural populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The new European targets of achieving net zero emissions by 2050 have spurred Italy to aim for a 30% reduction in emissions by 2030, compared with 2005 levels. This goal will be achieved through the promotion of renewable energy sources and energy savings in the residential sector, which remains one of the main sectors accountable for total energy consumption, mainly for heating. This study aims at investigating the potential of some retrofit measures implemented in the Umbria Region, chosen as a case study, to reach the goal by 2030. Using parametric energy simulations with the standard calculation method and artificial neural networks (ANN), the energy consumption of Umbria's building stock and potential CO2 reductions were assessed. Results showed that with current energy policies, a reduction of 28% could be achieved, which is below the goal by 2030, while ANN integration within energy strategies could allow reaching it as early as 2025 or 2029, depending on the restriction set to the ANN and the extent of current energy policies. This study confirmed the potential benefits of using advanced technology in achieving national environmental goals, highlighting that they could be essential tools to be integrated into energy policies to accelerate progress towards ambitious climate goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water table elevation is a key feature for identifying the groundwater behaviour. Accordingly, appropriate measurements—in terms of both frequency and spatial distribution—play a crucial role for capturing the aquifer response to recharge and withdrawals. However, numerical models simulating the main features of the behaviour of the water table elevation may help groundwater management, as an additional tool. In this article, soil moisture data from three well‐established global reanalyses (ERA5, CFS, and JRA‐55) are used for evaluating the flux in the vadose zone towards shallow unconfined aquifers, Fg$$ {F}_g $$, in the Umbria region (central Italy). Then, according to the methodology proposed in Bongioannini Cerlini et al. (2021), where for the considered aquifers most of the recharge derives from the unsaturated zone, Fg$$ {F}_g $$ is used for simulating the water table evolution in time. With the aim of assessing which reanalysis is the most appropriate in simulating the evolution of groundwater levels, the properties of the correspondent land surface models (LSM) are examined, as they provide Fg$$ {F}_g $$. For the considered aquifers, the analysis of the performance of the selected reanalyses confirms the validity of the proposed approach. Moreover, it points out the crucial role of the spreading of the water table elevation with respect to its mean value, as a significant parameter for selecting the most adequate reanalysis to use. In addition, the role in the LSM of the explored soil depth, hydraulic conductivity curve, and spatial resolution is highlighted. These results, in line with recent literature on the performance of the reanalyses, suggest to extend future work to other regions of the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Historical maps, especially those at a small scale and rich in detail (e.g., the old "Cadastres"), represent an exceptionally important tool for understanding the recent historical evolution of landscapes. The note describes the example of the territory of Gubbio, in Umbria (Central Italy), where a map from the end of the 16th century shows a drawing of the hydrographic network partially different from the current one. A multidisciplinary study based on field surveys, observations of satellite images, archaeological discoveries, and archival research proved useful to confirm what was reported by the cartographer at the time. The possible causes that led to this variation of the surface hydrography up to its current configuration are then discussed in the light of other documentary finds from the archives, taken from the chronicles of the time, which have made it possible to identify, with sufficient approximation, the period where this change occurred. All this leads to a highlighting of a profound evolution of fluvial and slope morphogenetic processes that have affected the study area in recent centuries, in which the regulation of surface waters and afforestation, conducted during the 20th century, have played a decisive role. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many countries exposed to high levels of seismic risk, including Italy, are facing a huge challenge in promptly quantifying post-earthquake damages to their built historical heritage. In this context, structural health monitoring plays a fundamental role allowing to continuously track changes in selected damage-sensitive features. However, monitoring data interpretation is often not univocal and may be affected by large uncertainty, provoking false positives and false negatives. Hence, this research proposes a novel approach for post-earthquake structural condition assessment by exploiting the aggregation of different sources of information, notably steering from both monitoring and visual inspection campaigns, in order to take risk-informed decisions. More in depth, an automatic tool is proposed to detect and locate structural damages in monumental structures with the aid of a data fusion approach including vibration-based system identification, static and dynamic measurements, finite element (FE) and surrogate modeling, Bayesian-based model updating and visual inspections. In a preliminary phase, potential damage-sensitive regions in the structure are identified through FE-based numerical analysis and engineering judgment. Then, the solution of the inverse problem aimed at deriving the Bayesian posterior statistics of the uncertain parameters is entrusted to a computational-effective surrogate model (SM). Finally, the Bayesian-based updated parameters are adjusted considering the different allowable sources of information to achieve a final assessment. The effectiveness of the proposed approach is demonstrated by using the recorded data acquired in the Consoli Palace, an historical building located in Umbria, central Italy, which has been continuously monitored since 2017 using dynamic, static and environmental sensors and which has been hit by low-intensity earthquakes in 2021. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Rivista Italiana di Educazione Familiare is the property of Firenze University Press and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This contribution focuses on one of the identified case studies of the Franciscan Observance architecture in Umbria, the convent of San Bartolomeo near Foligno (PG). It addresses the issue of heritage documentation methodology through integrated 3D laser scanner digital survey techniques and SfM/IM photogrammetry close range and UAV. The investigations aim at developing a preliminary diagnostic framework of the San Bartolomeo complex after the damage suffered in the 2016 earthquake in Central Italy. The research is part of the broader context of the three-year European project F-ATLAS – Franciscan Landscapes: The Observance between Italy, Portugal, and Spain, funded by the JPICH 2019 call. The Project aims at the census of the Franciscan Observance’s convents and their enhancement in a European dimension. The Project also tends to verify the state of conservation and the possibilities of a compatible development of reuse projects, trying to connect the building phenomenon within its territorial and cultural context.. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Early Pleistocene marine deposits in southwestern Umbria (Orvieto–Allerona area, Italy) recently revealed the presence of more than forty carbonate conduits distributed over 2 km along the Paglia riverbed. In order to investigate their origins, analyses of their mineralogy, δ18O and δ13C stable isotopes, and organic geochemistry were conducted. All the carbonate conduits are made of euhedral microcrystals of dolomite with subordinate quartz, plagioclases, and micas. The stable carbon and oxygen isotope values of the bulk concretionary carbonates range from −0.57 to +4.79‰ (δ13C) and from +1.58 to +4.07‰ (δ18O), respectively. The lack of organic geochemical biomarkers of anaerobic methane oxidation (AOM) and the very low values of extractable organic matter suggest a non-biological origin for the dolomite precipitation. The latter is probably related to the rise of volcanic carbon dioxide due to the incipient Vulsini magmatism recorded in Early Pleistocene marine deposits all around the study site. The spatial distribution of the structures indicates that the upward migration of the CO2 was controlled by the fault system, while the vertical development of the conduits suggests that carbon dioxide degassing occurred, with multiple events. Carbon dioxide was probably stored in pockets within the clayey sediments until the pressure exceeded the eruptive threshold. These structures represent the first documentation of a volcanic carbon dioxide marine seepage event in the Umbria region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A Red List of the 100 Boletales (Agaricomycetidae) species recorded in Apennine Province ecoregion Subsections "Tuscan Basin, 1C1b" and "Umbria and Marche Apennine, 1C2a" (central Italy) is provided. According to the IUCN categories and criteria, 67% of the assessed species are classified as threatened, whereas 19% are Near Threatened (NT), 11% are Least Concern (LC) and 3% are Data Deficient (DD). As a consequence of the downlisting applied to the majority of the assessed taxa, no species results Critically Endangered (CR), while 44.78% of the threatened species are Endangered (EN) and 55.22% Vulnerable (VU). The distribution of Non-Threatened (NT, LC) species across 1C1b and 1C2a subsections is quite uniform, whereas the distribution of the Threatened species varies in a dissimilar way. In fact, the two subsections share 33 (4 EN, 29 VU) Threatened species, while 23 (18 EN, 5 VU) are present exclusively in 1C1b subsection and 11 (8 EN, 3 VU) only in 1C2a subsection. The present assessments will allow in future to assess these species also against the criterion A of the IUCN protocol, given that it will be possible to define a trend of the populations and to highlight a possible reduction. Supplemental data for this article is available online at https://doi.org/10.1080/11263504.2021.1918782. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Adolescents and young adults represent a vulnerable population in the context of the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The present retrospective study aims to investigate the pandemic's psychological impact on adolescents and young adults by analyzing data from an outpatient mental health service dedicated to youths in Umbria, central Italy. Materials and Methods: The clinical charts of subjects aged 14–24 who first accessed the service in the timeframe between March 1st, 2019, and February 28th, 2021, were reviewed. Subjects were divided into two subgroups according to the period of time when they accessed the service (pre-COVID-19 vs. during- COVID-19 outbreak). Bivariate analyses were performed using the Chi-square test and the Welch's t -test. A secondary analysis was performed considering only subjects suffering from psychiatric disorders. Furthermore, data concerning individuals who were already followed by the service before the pandemic were analyzed by the McNemar's test and the t -paired test to assess changes in treatment features. Results: The number of new accesses during the pandemic period remained stable. After the emergency onset, youths accessing the service showed a higher prevalence of anxiety disorders (p = 0.022). During the COVID-19 period, services were more frequently delivered by using a digital mental health approach (p = 0.001). Psychopharmacological treatment was more frequently prescribed among subjects that were referred to the service after the pandemic onset (p = 0.033). As for substance use, a highly significant reduction in opioid use was observed (p = 0.003). Family therapy was delivered less frequently in the during-COVID-19 subgroup, especially in the subpopulation of subjects suffering from psychiatric disorders (p = 0.013). When considering subjects referred to the service in the pre-COVID-19 period, the number of interventions provided to this population increased after the pandemic outbreak (p = 0.038). Conclusion: In the context of the COVID-19-related public health crisis, youths represent an at-risk population for which pathways to care should be reinforced, and targeted interventions, including psychosocial treatments, should be implemented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates how Pesticide Risk Indicators (PRIs) can be applied to help develop sound economic policies. We modified one of the numerous PRIs proposed over the years, the Environmental Impact Quotient (EIQ), originally developed for the fruit industry, to consider co-formulants and adjuvants. The new formula includes three components representing the externalities of farm worker risk, consumer risk, and ecological risk. It also considers the potential externalities of the use of pesticides on residents living near the farms where these products are used. We applied the modified EIQ to two areas located in central Italy (the Chiana Valley in Tuscany and the Tiber and Upper Tiber Valleys in Tuscany/Umbria), surveying a sample of farms to determine the quantity and types of pesticides used on five crops: durum wheat, soft wheat, corn, tobacco, and olives. After calculating the impact quotient, we used data from a survey conducted in a different Italian region regarding the willingness to pay (WTP) for a pesticide-free environment and determined the WTP for even minimal changes in that quotient. Using those results, we simulated the changes in welfare (calculated as changes in willingness to pay) that would result from modifying the amount of land used for each crop. Our findings indicate that the proposed WTP indicator may have broad utility and that its application may lead to enhanced awareness of the consequences of pesticide use in farming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current evolution of numerical weather prediction models, climate applications, warning and decision support systems needs more information at increasingly finer scales. In this context, mesoscale meteorological networks (mesonets) can provide essential observations for the international community. However, they often suffer from the absence of a national and international coordination, scarce maintenance, inadequate data quality and redundancy. An integrated network design and the implementation of a unified quality management system could reveal the full socio‐economical benefits of mesonet information. This study provides a general procedure to realize an efficient and high‐quality mesonet starting from existing fragmented networks. The process starts by defining a network quality management system (NQMS), which is responsible for the station maintenance and the data quality control (QC) procedures. Stations are first classified based on their primary purpose, their landscape and the instruments siting and exposure in the station enclosure. Then, their quality performances are evaluated by a complex QC system made by numerous QC tests, whose specifications are tailored to the main surface observations. Finally, an integrated network design procedure is provided to identify observational lack and planning site interventions. The design is based on the purpose of the network and all the information gathered by the NQMS. Spatial, meteorological, climate and financial considerations are then used to decide whether to add, remove or modify observations. This procedure is tested in the Umbria region, Central Italy, where its implementation would lead to a considerable advancement in terms of regional weather and climate services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The structural response of unreinforced masonry buildings designed for gravity load only or with reference to obsolete seismic provisions is widely studied in the literature in order to define proper strengthening strategies and solution to mitigate the seismic risk. However, the critical analysis of the effectiveness of past used strengthening solution is still lacking. To fill such gap, the present study deals with the evaluation of the seismic performances of buildings in Campi Alto struck by the 2016 central Italy seismic sequence. The behaviour of buildings in Campi Alto is compared with that of buildings in Norcia. A large part of the buildings in these two towns was strengthened between 1980 and 2000 during the reconstruction processes following previous earthquakes which occurred in 1979 and 1997. However, the strengthened buildings in Norcia reported limited damage while a significant and widespread level of damage was detected on several strengthened buildings in the hamlet of Campi Alto. This study focuses on the buildings in Campi Alto with the aim of investigating on the reasons of their unsatisfactory behaviour. Thus, the seismic action experienced by buildings in Norcia and Campi Alto is initially compared and the main vulnerabilities of these buildings are also evaluated. Then, 20 projects of strengthening interventions submitted to the Civil Engineering Department of the Umbria Region between 1984 and 2012 have been herein analysed and discussed in order to focus on the effectiveness of the strengthening solution adopted in the past. The analyses of such projects and of the empirical damage detected after the 2016 seismic sequence is a unique opportunity to derive useful information for future applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A complete characterization of "Scaglia Rossa" masonry is carried out. • The considered masonry monopolized constructions between 1950 and 60s in Central Italy. • Widespread damages and collapses were observed in the 2016 Central Italy earthquake. • Uniaxial compression, bending and shear-compression tests are performed on stone, mortar and walls. • The first quantitative indications were provided, filling a void in current bibliography. This paper outlines the complete characterization of masonry walls composed of "Scaglia Rossa", a typical stone of the Apennine area between the Umbria and Marche Regions in Central Italy. The study focuses the assessment of the mechanical behavior by means of an experimental campaign carried out in the laboratory of the Polytechnic University of Marche, where the samples of "Scaglia Rossa" masonry, obtained from the controlled demolition of three school buildings, were reconstructed with the same techniques of the 1950s-'60s, and then tested in order to identify both the constituent materials, stone and mortar, and the composite masonry. The experimental tests were prior to a numerical analysis implemented by the adoption of a nonlinear model capturing the cracking behavior. The main mechanical parameters were then calibrated by means of an optimization algorithm of Levenberg-Marquardt, considering a continuous approach with both (i) macro- and (ii) micro-modelling techniques and obtaining resistance parameters not deriving directly from the experimental tests. The comparison between the results obtained from the Levenberg - Marquardt algorithm by changing the parameters of the damage model based on data given by the experimental campaign allowed to confirm the validity of the approach used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate crustal seismic attenuation by the coda quality parameter ( Q c ) in the Gargano area (Southern Italy), using a recently released dataset composed of 191 small earthquakes (1.0 ≤ ML ≤ 2.8) recorded by the local OTRIONS and the Italian INGV seismic networks, over three years of seismic monitoring. Following the single back-scattering theoretical assumption, Q c was computed using different frequencies (in the range of 2–16 Hz) and different lapse times (from 10 to 40 s). The trend of Q c vs. frequency is the same as that observed in the adjacent Umbria-Marche region. Q c at 1 Hz varies between 11 and 63, indicating that the area is characterized by active tectonics, despite the absence of high-magnitude earthquakes in recent decades. The 3D mapping procedure, based on sensitivity kernels, revealed that the Gargano Promontory is characterized by very low and homogeneous Q c at low frequencies, and by high and heterogeneous Q c at high frequencies. The lateral variations of Q c at 12 Hz follow the trend of the Moho in this region and are in good agreement with other geophysical observations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The gymnosperms are a taxon of plants that release large amounts of pollen. Some genera of this group are specifically studied because their pollen is known to be the cause of respiratory diseases. The medical interest in allergenic bioaerosol has led to the need for daily aerobiological monitoring. The technique applied involves the use of an instrument that aspirates a volume of air corresponding to human inhalation and the identification under the light microscope of the allergenic bio-particulate present. Morphology alone does not allow to distinguish the non-saccate pollen thus they are attributed to a single category, i.e., Cupressaceae-Taxaceae, without distinction between genera belonging to the different families. This research represents an attempt to overcome the difficulties in the recognition of non-saccate gymnosperm pollen. Twenty-one species belonging to the Araucariaceae, Cupressaceae, and Taxaceae families were selected in Perugia (Umbria, central Italy). The most common species and other less widespread ones were selected, all characterized by non-saccate pollen. The results obtained allowed us to identify four morphologies: aperturoidate, areolate-papillate, areolate-porate, and porate. This study provides further knowledge regarding the morphological characteristics of these pollen grains, in order to overcome the general definition of inaperturates attributed to the pollen of some gymnosperms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Recently, a novel microwave apparatus for breast lesion detection (MammoWave), uniquely able to function in air with 2 antennas rotating in the azimuth plane and operating within the band 1–9 GHz has been developed. Machine learning (ML) has been implemented to understand information from the frequency spectrum collected through MammoWave in response to the stimulus, segregating breasts with and without lesions. The study comprises 61 breasts (from 35 patients), each one with the correspondent output of the radiologist's conclusion (i.e., gold standard) obtained from echography and/or mammography and/or MRI, plus pathology or 1-year clinical follow-up when required. The MammoWave examinations are performed, recording the frequency spectrum, where the magnitudes show substantial discrepancy and reveals dissimilar behaviours when reflected from tissues with/without lesions. Principal component analysis is implemented to extract the unique quantitative response from the frequency response for automated breast lesion identification, engaging the support vector machine (SVM) with a radial basis function kernel. In-vivo feasibility validation (now ended) of MammoWave was approved in 2015 by the Ethical Committee of Umbria, Italy (N. 6845/15/AV/DM of 14 October 2015, N. 10352/17/NCAV of 16 March 2017, N 13203/18/NCAV of 17 April 2018). Here, we used a set of 35 patients. According to the radiologists conclusions, 25 breasts without lesions and 36 breasts with lesions underwent a MammoWave examination. The proposed SVM model achieved the accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of 91%, 84.40%, and 97.20%. The proposed ML augmented MammoWave can identify breast lesions with high accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The application of Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) prospecting to the search of fossil structures, particularly using advanced techniques like Finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) modelling and GPR attribute analysis, is currently poorly exploited in paleontology. Here, we promote the use of such a GPR workflow at Bargiano (Umbria, central Italy), a unique paleontological site known for the discovery of cetacean skeletons, dolomitized sperm-whale cololites (Ambergrisichnu salleronae), and layered fossil assemblages. The study site is characterized by a very uneven topography shaping highly conductive clayey deposits, representing not exactly ideal conditions for GPR surveying. After generating models encompassing a real topography and variable electrical properties of media, we simulated buried fossil structures at variable depth with different size and geometry, using different operative frequencies. After obtaining information on the characteristics of reflections, investigation depth, and detectability, we provide a comparison with experimental data, also used to compute instantaneous amplitude and phase attributes. Upon depicting a peculiar GPR signature for our targets, we discuss the results in light of ground-truthing performed through trenching. Our workflow allowed us to restrict the excavation areas, extending the surface information in depth in a non-invasive way, and optimizing the field operations, necessary for the preservation of the study site. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of forecasting models for the evaluation of potential slope instability after rainfall events represents an important issue for the scientific community. This topic has received considerable impetus due to the climate change effect on territories, as several studies demonstrate that an increase in global warming can significantly influence the landslide activity and stability conditions of natural and artificial slopes. A consolidated approach in evaluating rainfall-induced landslide hazard is based on the integration of rainfall forecasts and physically based (PB) predictive models through deterministic laws. However, considering the complex nature of the processes and the high variability of the random quantities involved, probabilistic approaches are recommended in order to obtain reliable predictions. A crucial aspect of the stochastic approach is represented by the definition of appropriate probability density functions (pdfs) to model the uncertainty of the input variables as this may have an important effect on the evaluation of the probability of failure (PoF). The role of the pdf definition on reliability analysis is discussed through a comparison of PoF maps generated using Monte Carlo (MC) simulations performed over a study area located in the Umbria region of central Italy. The study revealed that the use of uniform pdfs for the random input variables, often considered when a detailed geotechnical characterization for the soil is not available, could be inappropriate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]