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Recently, there has been an increase in telemedicine applied to child neuropsychiatry, such as the use of online platforms to collect remotely case histories and demographic and behavioral information. In the present proof-of-concept study, we aimed to understand to what extent information parents and teachers provide through online questionnaires overlaps with clinicians' diagnostic conclusions on attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Moreover, we intended to explore a possible role that autism spectrum disorders (ASD) symptoms played in this process. We examined parent- and teacher-rated questionnaires collected remotely and an on-site evaluation of intelligence quotients from 342 subjects (18% females), aged 3–16 years, and referred for suspected ADHD. An easily interpretable machine learning model—decision tree (DT)—was built to simulate the clinical process of classifying ADHD/non-ADHD based on collected data. Then, we tested the DT model's predictive accuracy through a cross-validation approach. The DT classifier's performance was compared with those that other machine learning models achieved, such as random forest and support vector machines. Differences in ASD symptoms in the DT-identified classes were tested to address their role in performing a diagnostic error using the DT model. The DT identified the decision rules clinicians adopt to classify an ADHD diagnosis with an 82% accuracy rate. Regarding the cross-validation experiment, our DT model reached a predictive accuracy of 74% that was similar to those of other classification algorithms. The caregiver-reported ADHD core symptom severity proved the most discriminative information for clinicians during the diagnostic decision process. However, ASD symptoms were a confounding factor when ADHD severity had to be established. Telehealth procedures proved effective in obtaining an automated output regarding a diagnostic risk, reducing the time delay between symptom detection and diagnosis. However, this should not be considered an alternative to on-site procedures but rather as automated support for clinical practice, enabling clinicians to allocate further resources to the most complex cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The experience of the COVID-19 pandemic showed the importance of timely monitoring of admissions to the ICU admissions. The ability to promptly forecast the epidemic impact on the occupancy of beds in the ICU is a key issue for adequate management of the health care system. Despite this, most of the literature on predictive COVID-19 models in Italy has focused on predicting the number of infections, leaving trends in ordinary hospitalizations and ICU occupancies in the background. This work aims to present an ETS approach (Exponential Smoothing Time Series) time series forecasting tool for admissions to the ICU admissions based on ETS models. The results of the forecasting model are presented for the regions most affected by the epidemic, such as Veneto, Lombardy, Emilia-Romagna, and Piedmont. The mean absolute percentage errors (MAPE) between observed and predicted admissions to the ICU admissions remain lower than 11% for all considered geographical areas. In this epidemiological context, the proposed ETS forecasting model could be suitable to monitor, in a timely manner, the impact of COVID-19 disease on the health care system, not only during the early stages of the pandemic but also during the vaccination campaign, to quickly adapt possible preventive interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the short-term impact and the retention of a dementia care intervention for healthcare staff working in an Italian acute hospital setting. Additionally, we identified the predictors of improvement across the intervention. Sixty-two healthcare staff from an Italian public hospital participated in a dementia care intervention consisting of 5 modules delivered in a 5-hour training program focusing on dementia management, knowledge, and care. A pre-test/post-test and six-months follow-up design was used to evaluate participants' changes in knowledge, attitudes, and confidence in dementia. The intervention significantly improved healthcare staff's dementia knowledge and confidence immediately after the end of the intervention. No significant changes were observed from post-test to follow-up, indicating retention of these outcomes over six months. Regarding attitude to dementia, we found an immediate improvement only in the Recognition of Personhood scale. Looking at the predictors of improvement, healthcare staff with lower levels of knowledge, attitudes, and confidence in dementia at pre-test were those who improved more following the intervention. These findings provide further evidence that dementia care interventions are suitable initiatives to promote knowledge and skills required to manage the needs of people with dementia in an acute hospital setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Social cognition refers to all mental operations to decipher information needed in social interactions. Here we aimed to outline the socio-cognitive profile of Chronic Migraine with Medication Overuse (CM + MO), given they are recognized to be at risk of socio-cognitive difficulties. Given the multidimensionality of this construct, we considered: (1) socio-cognitive abilities, (2) socio-cognitive beliefs, (3) alexithymia and autism traits, and (4) social relationships. Methods: Seventy-one patients suffering from CM + MO, 61 from episodic migraine (EM), and 80 healthy controls (HC) were assessed with a comprehensive battery: (1) the Faux Pas test (FP), the Strange Stories task (SS), the Reading Mind in the Eyes test (RMET), (2) the Tromsø Social Intelligence Scale, (3) the Toronto Alexithymia Scale, the Autism Spectrum Quotient, (4) the Lubben Social Network Scale, the Friendship Scale. Results: CM + MO: (1) performed similar to EM but worse than HC in the FP and SS, while they were worse than EM and HC in the RMET; (2) were similar to EM and HC in social intelligence; (3) had more alexithymic/autistic traits than EM and HC; (4) reported higher levels of contact with their family members but felt little support from the people around them than HC. Conclusions: CM + MO results characterized by a profile of compromised socio-cognitive abilities that affects different dimensions. These findings may have a relevant role in multiple fields related to chronic headache: from the assessment to the management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To evaluate the subjective experience of the COVID-19 outbreak in healthy older adults and develop a model of the older population's psychological adaptation to the COVID-19 pandemic. A qualitative grounded theory approach was taken to the study design and analysis, using semi-structured interviews to collect data from 19 community-active Italian older people by telephone during the first wave of COVID-19 (May 2020). The theory emerging from the study conceptualized the COVID-19 subjective experience in older people as an adjustment process to the disruption of habits, social contacts, and routines that prompted a meaning-making process to face this adverse experience. Three emergent categories included 'loss, uncertainty, and distress' as the psychological impact of the pandemic emergency, 'making sense of COVID-19' as a subjective sense-making process of the pandemic, and 'living with the pandemic' as agency and self-management within the pandemic experience. The resulting narratives encompassed themes, i.e. risk perception, representation of the self, connection with past-time memories, and compliance with safety measures. The results have implications for designing effective messages to promote hope, social responsibility, and commitment in aging during the COVID-19 pandemic and for health workers who wish to support the psychological health of older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The most frequent volcanic eruptions are of low-intensity and small magnitude. They produce abundant ash-sized (< 2 mm) clasts, which are too small to establish quantitative links between magmatic processes and eruptive dynamics using classic approaches. This inhibits our ability to study the past behaviour of frequently erupting volcanoes, essential to predict their future activity and mitigate their impact. The Palizzi unit (10–13th century, Vulcano, Italy) includes a prototype sequence of ash deposits resulting from prolonged Vulcanian eruptions punctuated by those of two larger sub-Plinian events. We apply Hierarchical Clustering to chemical analyses of clinopyroxene collected along the stratigraphy to decipher magma dynamics during this eruptive period. We identify periods of magma input and we link deep magmatic processes to eruptive dynamics, also showing that our approach can be used to connect magma and eruptive dynamics in any volcanic sequence. This is essential to track the processes occurring during frequent eruptions and to identify the build-up to larger explosive events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Landslides are the most frequent and diffuse natural hazards in Italy causing the greatest number of fatalities and damage to urban areas. The integration of natural hazard information and social media data could improve warning systems to enhance the awareness of disaster managers and citizens about emergency events. The news about landslide events in newspapers or crowdsourcing platforms allows fast observation, surveying and classification. Currently, few studies have been produced on the combination of social media data and traditional sensors. This gap indicates that it is unclear how their integration can effectively provide emergency managers with appropriate knowledge. In this work, rainfall, human lives, and earmarked fund data sources were correlated to "landslide news". Analysis was applied to obtain information about temporal (2010–2019) and spatial (regional and warning hydrological zone scale) distribution. The temporal distribution of the data shows a continuous increase from 2015 until 2019 for both landslide and rainfall events. The number of people involved and the amount of earmarked funds do not exhibit any clear trend. The spatial distribution displays good correlation between "landslide news", traditional sensors (e.g., pluviometers) and possible effects in term of fatalities. In addition, the cost of soil protection, in monetary terms, indicates the effects of events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the last year of the Great War, Italy was also hit by the Spanish flu. The Civic Hospitals faced a deadly disaster with insufficient resources. All the heavy workload fell on the female nursing staff, who were the only ones able ensure the continuity of the hospital services. This study aimed to explore the impact of the influenza on the health of the nurses at the Maggiore Hospital in Milan during the second and third epidemic waves. Historical research was conducted between February and May 2020. Primary sources were retrieved from the historical archives of the Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico and the daily newspaper Corriere della Sera. In the autumn of 1918, the Maggiore Hospital in Milan changed its organization to hospitalise patients affected by the influenza pandemic. Although the hospital managers wanted to protect their healthcare staff from the risks of contagion by means of prophylaxis rules, 388 lay nurses and 80 religious sister nurses were affected by this insidious disease. The second and third waves of the pandemic claimed 25 victims of duty. Remembered for their altruism and spirit of abnegation, the hospital community honoured their sacrifice, and the citizens expressed their gratitude. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Landslides represent a serious worldwide hazard, especially in Italy, where exposure to hydrogeological risk is very high; for this reason, a landslide quantitative risk assessment (QRA) is crucial for risk management and for planning mitigation measures. In this study, we present and describe a novel methodological approach of QRA for slow-moving landslides, aiming at national replicability. This procedure has been applied at the basin scale in the Arno River basin (9100 km2, Central Italy), where most landslides are slow-moving. QRA is based on the application of the equation risk = hazard (H) × vulnerability (V) × exposure (E) and on the use of open data with uniform characteristics at the national scale. The study area was divided into a grid with a 1 km2 cell size, and for each cell, the parameters necessary for the risk assessment were calculated. The obtained results show that the total risk of the study area amounts to approximately 7 billion €. The proposed methodology presents several novelties in the risk assessment for the regional/national scale of the analysis, mainly concerning the identification of the datasets and the development of new methodologies that could be applicable over such large areas. The present work demonstrates the feasibility of the methodology and discusses the obtained results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, several systems to set up landslide inventories exist although they rarely rely on automated or real-time updates. Mass media can provide reliable info about natural hazard events with a relatively high temporal and spatial resolution. The news publication about a natural disaster inside newspaper or crowdsourcing platforms allows a faster observation, survey, and classification of these phenomena. Several techniques have been developed for data mining inside social media for many natural events, but they have been rarely applied to the automatic extraction of "landslide events". This source of information allows continuous feedback from real world, and news concerning landslide events can be rapidly collected. In this work, the newspaper articles about landslides in Italy are automatically collected by an existing data mining algorithm, based on a semantic engine. The news has been analysed to assess their distribution over the territory and to verify the possibility of using them for hazard mapping purpose. In 10 years, from 2010 to 2019, the algorithm identified and geolocated 184322 articles referring to 32525 generical events ("news"). At first, the collected data underwent to a manual verification, followed by a classification based on news relevance, localization accuracy and time of publication. Then, these data have been used to identify the areas and the periods most affected by landslide phenomena. The analyses show that almost 42% of Italian municipalities have been affected by landslide. According to the results, the use of data mining is helpful for the creation of landslide databases where the day and the approximative location (municipality) of the possible landslide triggers are known. This database, in turn, can be used for scientific purposes, as the definition of the meteorological condition associated with landslide initiation, the validation of risk maps. It can also be used for a proper land use or risk mitigation planning, since the most landslide-prone municipalities can be defined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate whether a short training focused on improving dementia care practices of the hospital staff was able to counteract functional loss and to decrease negative outcomes at discharge among hospitalized older adults with cognitive impairment. Method: Sixty-eight hospitalized participants aged 65 and over with cognitive impairment were included in the study, allocated in the control group (n = 34) and intervention group (n = 34). The intervention consisted of a short training of the hospital staff aimed at improving the management of patients with cognitive impairment. Participants were evaluated within 48 h of hospital admission and at discharge using a battery of tests including Barthel Index, Mini-Mental State Examination, and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Results: The intervention group demonstrated shorter hospital length of stay and a maintenance of the functional status at discharge compared to the control group. We observed no differences in cognitive ability between the two groups, and a trend towards a decrease of anxious symptoms in the intervention group compared to the control group. Conclusion: The results suggest that an intervention, focused on improving dementia care practices in healthcare staff, has the potential to improve the outcomes for hospitalized older adults with cognitive impairment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evacuation planning and management represent a key aspect of volcanic crises because they can increase people's protection as well as minimize potential impacts on the economy, properties and infrastructure of the affected area. We present an agent-based simulation tool that assesses the effectiveness of different evacuation scenarios using the small island of Vulcano (southern Italy) as a case study. Simulation results show that the overall time needed to evacuate people should be analysed together with the percentage of people evacuated as a function of time and that a simultaneous evacuation on Vulcano is more efficient than a staged evacuation. For example, during the touristic (high) season between July and August, even though the overall duration is similar for both evacuation strategies, after ∼ 6 h about 96 % of people would be evacuated with a simultaneous evacuation, while only 86 % would be evacuated with a staged evacuation. We also present a model to assess the economic impact of evacuation as a function of evacuation duration and of the starting period with respect to the touristic season. It reveals that if an evacuation lasting 3 to 6 months was initiated at the beginning or at the end of the touristic season (i.e. June or November), it would cause a very different economic impact on the tourism industry (about 78 %–88 % and 2 %–7 % of the total annual turnover, respectively). Our results show how the assessment of evacuation scenarios that consider human and economic impact carried out in a pre-disaster context helps authorities develop evacuation plans and make informed decisions outside the highly stressful time period that characterizes crises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lahars are rapid flows composed of water and volcaniclastic sediments, which have the potential to impact residential buildings and critical infrastructure as well as to disrupt critical services, especially in the absence of hazard-based land-use planning. Their destructive power is mostly associated with their velocity (related to internal flow properties and topographic interactions) and to their ability to bury buildings and structures (due to deposit thickness). The distance reached by lahars depends on their volume, on sediments/water ratio, as well as on the geometrical properties of the topography where they propagate. Here we present the assessment of risk associated with lahar using Vulcano island (Italy) as a case study. First, we estimated an initial lahar source volume considering the remobilisation by intense rain events of the tephra fallout on the slopes of the La Fossa cone (the active system on the island), where the tephra fallout is associated with the most likely scenario (e.g. long-lasting Vulcanian cycle). Second, we modelled and identified the potential syn-eruptive lahar impact areas on the northern sector of Vulcano, where residential and touristic facilities are located. We tested a range of parameters (e.g., entrainment capability, consolidation of tephra fallout deposit, friction angle) that can influence lahar propagation output both in terms of intensity of the event and extent of the inundation area. Finally, exposure and vulnerability surveys were carried out in order to compile exposure and risk maps for lahar-flow front velocity (semi-quantitative indicator-based risk assessment) and final lahar-deposit thickness (qualitative exposure-based risk assessment). Main outcomes show that the syn-eruptive lahar scenario with medium entrainment capability produces the highest impact associated with building burial by the final lahar deposit. Nonetheless, the syn-eruptive lahar scenario with low entrainment capacity is associated with higher runout and results in the highest impact associated with lahar-flow velocities. Based on our simulations, two critical infrastructures (telecommunication and power plant), as well as the main road crossing the island are exposed to potential lahar impacts (either due to lahar-flow velocity or lahar-deposit thickness or both). These results show that a risk-based spatial planning of the island could represent a valuable strategy to reduce the volcanic risk in the long term. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concept of climate change has grown in recent decades, influencing the scientific community to conduct research on meteorological parameters and their variabilities. Research on global warming, as well as on its possible economic and environmental consequences, has spread over the last 20 years. Diffused changes in trends have been stated by several authors throughout the world, with different developments observed depending on the continent. Following a period of approximately 40 days of almost continuous rain that occurred from October to November 2019 across the Italian territory and caused several hazards (e.g., floods and landslides), a relevant question for decision-makers and civil protection actors emerged regarding the relative frequencies of given rainfall events in the Warning Hazard Zones (WHZs) of Italy. The derived products of this work could answer this question for both weather and hydrogeological operators thanks to the frequency and spatio-temporal distribution analyses conducted on 10-year daily rainfall data over the entire Italian territory. This work aspires to be an additional tool used to analyse events that have occurred, providing further information for a better understanding of the probability of occurrence and distribution of future events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evacuation planning and management represents a key aspect of volcanic crises because it can increase people protection as well as minimize the potential impact on the economy, properties, and infrastructure of the affected area. Assessment of evacuation scenarios that consider human and economic impact is best done in a pre-disaster context as it helps authorities develop evacuation plans and make informed decisions outside the highly stressful time period that characterizes crises. We present an agent-based simulation tool that assesses the effectiveness of different evacuation scenarios using Vulcano island (Italy) as a case study. Simulation results show that the overall time needed to evacuate people should be analysed together with the percentage of people evacuated as a function of time and that a simultaneous evacuation on Vulcano is more efficient than a staged evacuation. We also present a model to assess the economic impact of evacuation as a function of evacuation duration and starting period that reveals that an evacuation of Vulcano would cause significant economic impact to the tourism industry if lasting more than 3 months (in case it was initiated at the beginning of the visitor season) to 1 year (in case it was initiated at the end of the visitor season). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate and understand the experiences and feelings lived by people with an ICD. Qualitative study, semi-structured interviews were conducted with a sample of 16 patients, during the annual follow-up. A hermeneutical analysis of the interviews was carried out to identify the themes. Four main themes were classified: "My heart falls asleep," highlighting a reduced awareness of the pathology and ICD installation; "But what is this thing...?" underlining the lack of information and fears related to the device and its functioning; "I cannot hug the microwave" which describes the changes brought about by the surgery; "And with this one I am alright for the rest of my life", involving hopes and life expectations. This study highlighted the patients' need for major support from health professionals while processing their new life conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Information on children's diet including bioactive compounds is quite scarce. This observational study investigated the composition of the diet of children living in Parma (Italy; n = 172, 8–10 years) using 3-day food records completed in winter and spring. Mean daily intakes of food groups, energy and nutrients were obtained using the national food database, while (poly)phenol contents were estimated from Phenol-Explorer or by specific literature searches. Food consumption, energy and nutrient intakes decreased in spring and were partially in line with national data. Adherence to the nutritional recommendations was not satisfied for the majority of nutrients. Main contributors to the phenolic intake were flavonoids (flavan-3-ols) and phenolic acids (hydroxycinnamic acids), while main dietary sources were fruit, chocolate-based products, vegetables, and tea & coffee (decaffeinated). This study provided the first comprehensive analysis of the nutritional composition of children's diet. Future research should look at the health implications of dietary choices in children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Landslide susceptibility maps (LSM) define the spatial probability of landslide occurrence based on the spatial distribution of predisposing factors. In this work, a LSM is produced for Norther Tuscany (3100 km2) with a Random Forest algorithm. The element of novelty is the use, besides 15 state-of-the-art parameters, of some newly proposed parameters. Starting from the national soil sealing map updated yearly by IS PRA, we derived a parameter accounting for the degree of human interference on hillslope systems. Soil sealing is the most intense form of land take, and it can be defined as the destruction (or covering) of soil by completely or partly impermeable artificial material. A multi-criteria approach was introduced to get a more complex and complete geological information into LSM. Usually, lithology is the only geological variable used, leaving the potential of geological maps largely unexploited. We used a 1:10,000 geological map to define a set of parameters based on lithological, genetic, structural, paleogeographic and chronological criteria, and found that the joint use of all the geology-derived parameters improved the susceptibility assessment. The outcomes of this study could be easily reproduced elsewhere in Italy, since the newly proposed parameters were generated from easily accessible datasets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Italian Journal of Nursing (IJN) / Giornale Italiano di Infermieristica is the property of Collegio IPASVI MI-LO-MB - Ordine Professioni Infermieristiche MI-LO-MB 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.)

Objective: The present study aimed at surveying the nutritional quality of prepacked biscuits and sweet snacks sold on the Italian market, and at identifying whether the product type and other information reported on the pack could discriminate the overall quality of products analysed.Design: Data on energy, nutrient and salt content of the products from two different categories of prepacked sweet cereal products (i.e. biscuits and sweet snacks) were collected from thirteen retailers present on the Italian market. Based on the product type, nutrition and health claim (NHC) and gluten-free (GF) declaration, a comparison of nutrient profile within each category was performed.Setting: This work is part of the Food Labelling of Italian Products (FLIP) study that aims at systematically investigating the overall quality of the prepacked foods sold on the Italian market.Results: A total of 1290 products were analysed (63 % biscuits and 37 % sweet snacks). After comparing different product types within each category, a high intra-type product variability was evidenced, which was more pronounced for biscuits. Overall, NHC-carrying products seemed to have a better nutrition profile than those without claims, except for salt content. Conversely, a comparison between GF and gluten-containing products did not show consistent results within the two categories analysed.Conclusions: Due to the high intra-type variability within each category, the different characteristics and regulated information reported on the pack do not seem to be a clear marker of the overall nutritional quality of biscuits and snacks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives:Previous research has shown that individual differences in Theory of Mind (ToM) are crucial for people's social relationships. However, very few studies have investigated this issue in ageing. The present study was designed to fill this gap and examine the associations between ToM and social relationships in elderly adults. In doing so, this study considered people's relationships with their relatives and friends, and examined the possible moderating role of social motivation. Method:The study involved 53 healthy older adults (age:M= 67.91; SD = 6.93; range: 60--85 years). All participants were tested collectively during a 2-hr session and completed a demographic questionnaire as well as a battery of tests assessing verbal ability (vocabulary and word fluency), ToM and social relationships. They also answered a social motivation question. Results:Results showed that individual differences in older people's ToM were overall significantly associated with those in relationships with friends, but not relatives. In addition, the Hayes moderating procedure showed that individual differences in ToM were related to those in friendships only for those people who had a high or medium level of social motivation. Conclusion:These findings underline the importance of motivation in guiding the use of ToM in everyday social interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives:Previous research on age-related changes in Theory of Mind (ToM) showed a decline in older adults, particularly pronounced over 75 years of age. Evidence that ToM may be enhanced in healthy aging people has been demonstrated, but no study has focused on the role of age on the effects of ToM training for elderly people. The present study was designed to examine the efficacy of a ToM training on practiced (ToM Strange Stories) and transfer tasks (ToM Animations) in both young and older adults. Method:The study involved 127 older adults belonging to two age groups: young–old (Mage= 64.41; SD = 2.49; range: 60–69 years) and old–old (Mage= 75.66; SD = 4.38; range: 70–85 years), randomly assigned to either a ToM group or a control group condition. All participants took part in two 2-hour testing sessions and four 2-hour training sessions. Results:Results showed that both young–old and old–old adults in the ToM group condition improved their ability to reason on complex-mental states significantly more than participants in the control group condition. This positive effect of the training was evident on practiced and transfer ToM tasks. Crucially, age did not moderate the effect of the ToM training. Conclusion:These findings demonstrate that young–old and old–old adults equally benefit from the ToM training. Implications for the positive effect of the ToM training in old–old adults are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

At Stromboli volcano ( Southern Italy), only few minor precursors (gas output) have been identified for 'major' Strombolian explosions. We use ground-based interferometric synthetic aperture radar ( GBIn SAR) technology to monitor the displacement rate of the summit area of Stromboli. We analysed the 2009-2011 period. The analysis of the displacement rate has been performed by dividing the summit zone monitored by the GBIn SAR into three regions, corresponding to the edge of the crater area (1 and 2), and to the slope of the NE crater (3). Pulses of rapid expansion of sector 3, of variable duration and amplitude, appear in coincidence with periods of intense activity that include lava flows and major explosions. We associate this expansion with the pressurization of the magma column that is recharged by deep-derived gas, promoting the onset of 'major explosion-dominated' activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of L'Infermiere is the property of IPASVI - Italian Nursing Association 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.)

The 3.7 ka year-old Averno 2 eruption is one of the rare eruptions to have occurred in the northwest sector of the Phlegraean Fields caldera (PFc) over the past 5 ka. We focus here on the fallout deposits of the pyroclastic succession emplaced during this eruption. We present major and trace element data on the bulk pumices, along with major and volatile element data on clinopyroxene-hosted melt inclusions, in order to assess the conditions of storage, ascent, and eruption of the feeding trachytic magma. Crystal fractionation accounts for the evolution from trachyte to alkali-trachyte magmas; these were intimately mingled (at the micrometer scale) during the climactic phase of the eruption. The Averno 2 alkali trachyte represents one of the most evolved magmas erupted within the Phlegraean Fields area and belongs to the series of differentiated trachytic magmas erupted at different locations 5 ka ago. Melt inclusions record significant variations in HO (from 0.4 to 5 wt%), S (from 0.01 to 0.06 wt%), Cl (from 0.75 up to 1 wt%), and F (from 0.20 to >0.50 wt%) during both magma crystallization and degassing. Unlike the eruptions occurring in the central part of the PFc, deep-derived input(s) of gas and/or magma are not required to explain the composition of melt inclusions and the mineralogy of Averno 2 pumices. Compositional data on bulk pumices, glassy matrices, and melt inclusions suggest that the Averno 2 eruption mainly resulted from successive extrusions of independent magma batches probably emplaced at depths of 2-4 km along regional fractures bordering the Neapolitan Yellow Tuff caldera. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives To assess the prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) NS3/4A protease inhibitor (PI) resistance mutations in HCV genotype 1-infected PI-naive individuals in Italy. Patients and methods One hundred and twelve patients infected with HCV genotype 1a or 1b (based on Versant HCV Genotype 2.0 or 5′UTR/core sequencing) and never treated with any HCV PI were evaluated. The whole NS3 region was analysed by population sequencing and mutations related to resistance to linear and macrocyclic PIs were recorded. Results Forty-six HCV-monoinfected and 66 HCV/HIV-coinfected subjects were studied. Complete NS3 sequence information was obtained for 109 (97.3%) samples: 67 subtype 1a and 42 subtype 1b. Subtype assignment by NS3 sequencing was concordant in 100.0% and 83.9% of cases with the original 5′UTR sequencing and Versant result, respectively. At least one mutation related to PI resistance was detected in 21 (19.3%) isolates. However, 11 of these had only Q80K, expected to confer resistance to one investigational macrocyclic compound, and were detected only in subtype 1a. Boceprevir and telaprevir resistance-related mutations were detected in 10 (9.2%) isolates and included V36L, T54S and V55A. Only one isolate harboured two mutations (V36L and T54S). There was no association between HCV PI resistance and HIV coinfection or exposure to HIV PIs. Conclusions A minority of untreated HCV genotype 1 patients in Italy harbour a virus population carrying HCV PI resistance-related mutations. The clinical implications of this finding warrant further analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

In the article, the authors discuss the new reference chronostratigraphic reconstruction of the Holocene volcanic activity as of January 2012 and its effects for the Campi Flegrei (CF) volcanic history in southern Italy and related volcanic hazards. They cite the study conducted by V. C. Smith and colleagues on Campi Flegrei through the use of Bayesian analysis. They reject the proposed changes in chronostratigraphic evolution due to the disregard of the stratigraphic position, among others.

Background HIV-1 non-B subtypes have recently entered Western Europe following immigration from other regions. The distribution of non-B clades and their association with demographic factors, over the entire course of the HIV-1 epidemic, have not been fully investigated in Italy. Methods We carried out a phylogenetic analysis of HIV-1 pol sequences derived from 3670 patients followed at 50 Italian clinical centres over nearly three decades. Results Overall, 417 patients (11.4%) carried non-B subtypes. The prevalence of non-B strains increased from 2.6% in 1980–1992 to 18.9% in 1993–2008 ( P<0.0001) in a subset of 2479 subjects with a known year of diagnosis. A multivariate analysis on a subset of 1364 patients for whom relevant demographic data were available indicated that African ethnicity, heterosexual route of infection and year of diagnosis were independently associated with non-B HIV-1 infection ( P≤0.0001). All pure subtypes, except for clade K, and seven circulating recombinant forms were detected, accounting for 56.6 and 34.1% of the non-B infections, respectively. The F1 subtype was the most prevalent non-B clade among Europeans and was acquired heterosexually in half of this patient population. Unique recombinant forms accounted for 9.4% of the non-B sequences and showed a B/F1 recombination pattern in one-third of cases. Conclusions The circulation of non-B clades has significantly increased in Italy in association with demographic changes. Spread of the F1 subtype and B/F recombinants appears to predominate, which may result in a redistribution of the relative proportions of the different strains, and this could lead to overlapping epidemics. Thus, the HIV-1 landscape in Italy may in future be distinct from that of the rest of Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Congenital dyserythropoietic anemias (CDAs) are rare hereditary disorders characterized by ineffective erythropoiesis and striking abnormalities of erythroblast morphology. The mutated genes are known for the most frequent types, CDA I and II, but data about their frequency do not exist. The objective of this retrospective study was to estimate the frequency of CDA I and II, based on all cases reported in the last 42 yr in publications and identified registries or surveys. Reports were collected of 124 and 377 confirmed cases of CDA I and CDA II cases, respectively. The cumulated incidence of both types combined varied widely between European regions, with minimal values of 0.08 cases/million in Scandinavia and 2.60 cases/million in Italy. CDA II is more frequent than CDA I, with an overall ratio of approximately 3.2, but the ratio also varied between different regions. The most likely explanations for the differences are both differences in the availability of advanced diagnostic procedures and different levels of the awareness for the diagnosis of the CDAs. The estimations reported here are most probably below the true incidence rates, because of failure to make the correct diagnosis and to underreporting. Limited data do not suggest differing levels of risk in identified ethnic groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stromboli is a 3000 m high island volcano, rising to 900 m above sea-level. It is the most active volcano of the Aeolian Archipelago in the Tyrrhenian Sea (Italy). Major, large volume (1 km3) sector collapses, four occurring in the last 13 kyr, have played an important role in shaping the north-western flank (Sciara del Fuoco) of the volcano, potentially generating a high-risk tsunami hazard for the Aeolian Islands and the Italian coast. However, smaller volume, partial collapses of the Sciara del Fuoco have been shown to be more frequent tsunami-generating events. One such event occurred on 30 December 2002, when a partial collapse of the north-western flank of the island took place. The resulting landslide generated 10 m high tsunami waves that impacted the island. Multibeam bathymetry, side-scan sonar imaging and visual observations reveal that the landslide deposited 25 to 30 × 106 m3 of sediment on the submerged slope offshore from the Sciara del Fuoco. Two contiguous main deposit facies are recognized: (i) a chaotic, coarse-grained (metre-sized to centimetre-sized clasts) deposit; and (ii) a sand deposit containing a lower, cross-bedded sand layer and an upper structureless pebbly sand bed capped by sea floor ripple bedforms. The sand facies develops adjacent to and partially overlying the coarse deposits. Characteristics of the deposits suggest that they were derived from cohesionless, sandy matrix density flows. Flow rheology and dynamics led to the segregation of the density flow into sand-rich and clast-rich regions. A range of density flow transitions, both in space and in time, caused principally by particle concentration and grain-size partitioning within cohesionless parent flows was identified in the deposits of this relatively small-scale submarine landslide event. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Livestock farming is often addressed as one of the most impactful food production systems on the environment due to GHGE-Green-House Gas Emissions- and land use degradation. However, in the last years there is a growing number of studies that underline the beneficial environmental impacts of extensive livestock farming (i.e., providing ecosystem services, increasing biodiversity and improving carbon and nitrogen cycles), as well as social and economic benefits (i.e., offering alternative and additional forms of income in marginal areas). The multitude of livestock management approaches call urgently for specific tools of assessment in order to inform and orientate policies, farming practices and consumer choices. This study proposes a set of 14 agroecological indicators to assess the state of structural/planned agrobiodiversity in livestock farming systems. Our methodology stems from the already established Indicator-Based Framework to evaluate the sustainability of farming systems and adapted it specifically to livestock farming systems. The set of indicators has been clustered with respect to the ecosystem functions/services they describe. The methodology has been applied and validated on a selection of 12 Italian organic livestock farms and analyzed according to animal breeds and geographical regions. The results highlight that the farms show very positive results with optimal values for all indicators, except for Field Adjacency (FA), Share Species (SS), Share Group (SG). This study highlights how livestock farms could actually provide different ecosystem services in comparison to stockless farms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A 4.8 m long gravity core was recovered on a relative topographic high in the northern part of the Marsili Basin (southern Tyrrhenian Sea) at a water depth of 3200 m. The core was taken in order to decipher the sedimentary record of the past volcanic events of the nearby Aeolian arc. A succession of thin (2 cm to 5 cm thick) fine-grained turbidites, mainly of volcaniclastic origin, topped by hemipelagic mud layers and a number of primary tephra layers were recovered by the core. The most prominent turbidite occurs in the lower part of the core at 385 cm. It consists of a 20 cm-thick, thinning-upward, pebble to sand-sized bed. Grain-size analysis and component compositions in the 0.063–0.250 mm size fractions were determined on thirty samples taken from primary tephra beds and the silty–sandy basal part of the volcaniclastic turbidite units. SEM scans and glass fraction chemical analyses were successively carried out on a selection of 17 samples. To aid source correlation and comparison, sub-aerial tephras of the Lower Pollara (Salina, 24±3.6 ka), Gabellotto-Fiumebianco (Lipari, 8.5 or 11.5 ka), Monte Pilato (Lipari, 749 or 580 AD) and Secche di Lazzaro (Stromboli, ~5 ka) eruptions were also analyzed with the same procedure. Primary tephra respectively belonging to the eruptions of Lower Pollara, Gabellotto-Fiumebianco and Vesuvius (AP eruptions 3.5 ka–79 AD) were identified in the core at the expected relative stratigraphic depths. Two turbidite beds composed of monogenic glass shards were also identified and interpreted as the remobilisation of primary tephras of Secche di Lazzaro (Stromboli, 5 ka) and Pilato (Lipari, 580 or 749 AD). Tephrochronology results indicate that the cored sequence formed in the last 30 ka suggesting an average sedimentation rate of 0.15–0.17 mm/y. The thick pebbly sandy turbidite unit in the lower part of the core has component and glass composition compatible with the Lower Pollara volcanic sequence of Salina Island. In view of the grain-size and thickness of the turbidite unit, we suggest that it represents the deposit of a large failure event. The tephra corresponding to the Lower Pollara event lies below the turbidite unit, separated by 16 cm of hemipelagic mud, indicating that the collapse took place sometime after the eruption. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract  Anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS) has been used to interpret flow directions in ignimbrites, but no study has demonstrated that the AMS fabric corresponds to the flow fabric. In this paper, we show that the AMS and strain fabric coincide in a high-grade ignimbrite, the Nuraxi Tuff, a Miocene rhyolitic ignimbrite displaying a wide variability of rheomorphic features and a well-defined magnetic fabric. Natural remanent magnetization (NRM) data indicate that the magnetization of the tuff is homogeneous and was acquired at high temperatures by Ti-magnetite crystals. Comparison between the magnetic fabric and the deformation features along a representative section shows that AMS and anisotropy of isothermal remanent magnetization (AIRM) fabric are coaxial with and reproduce the shape of the strain ellipsoid. Magnetic tests and scanning electron microscopy observations indicate that the fabric is due to trails of micrometer-size, pseudo-single domain, magnetically interacting magnetite crystals. Microlites formed along discontinuities such as shard rims and vesicle walls mimicking the petrofabric of the tuff. The fabric was thus acquired after deposition, before late rheomorphic processes, and accurately mimics homogeneous deformation features of the shards during welding processes and mass flow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: On April 5, 2003, Stromboli volcano (Italy) produced the most violent explosion of the past 50 years. The event was exceptionally well documented thanks to the presence on the island of several scientists and a large number of instruments deployed over the preceding months to monitor the effusive eruption that began in December 2002. Integration of visual documentation, deposit features and geophysical data allowed an accurate reconstruction of the explosive event and its dynamics. The eruption consisted of a 8-min long explosive event which evolved through four phases whose timing was precisely recorded by an infrared thermometer located about 450 m from the summit crater. Phases 2 and 3 lasted 39 and 42 s, respectively. Both had an impulsive character, were responsible for ejecting almost the entire mass of the pyroclastic products. Phases 1 and 4 represented, respectively, a short-lived precursory event and a waning tale. During Phase 2, meter-sized ballistic blocks were launched with velocities of 170 m/s to altitudes of up to 1400 m above the craters. These fell on the volcano flanks and on the village of Ginostra, about 2 km distant from the vent. A vertical jet rose above the craters which developed to feed a convective plume that reached a height of up to 4 km. The calculated mass of the Phase 2 fallout deposit and mass discharge rate were 1.1–1.4×108 kg and 2.8–3.6×106 kg/s, respectively. During Phase 3 a scoria flow deposit, with an estimated volume of 0.9–1.1×104 m3, was erupted from the same vent that fed the ongoing sustained lava flow. The average mass discharge rate for this phase was 2.5–3.1×105 kg/s. Products emitted during Phases 2 and 3 consisted of lithic and fresh magmatic material in similar proportions. The juvenile fraction consisted of a deep-originated, almost aphyric, highly vesicular pumice mingled with a shallow-derived, crystal-rich, moderately vesicular scoria. Similarities with the eruption dynamics of other historical paroxysms at Stromboli makes the April 5, 2003 explosion representative of these highly energetic events that constitute the most hazardous volcanic phenomena at Stromboli volcano. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Deposits of the 15.8 Ma Nuraxi explosive eruption crop out in the Sulcis volcanic district, southwestern Sardinia. They consist of a decimeter-thick pumice fallout layer overlain, with no apparent temporal break, by several tens of meters thick, high-grade ignimbrite. The eruption was from a vent probably located ∼20–30 km north of S. Pietro island, and it tapped a compositionally uniform, rhyolite magma reservoir (SiO2 70–72 wt.%) bearing about 20 vol.% crystals. The ignimbrite consists of: (a) a Lower Ignimbrite (LI), &#60;2-m-thick, fine-grained and glassy grading upward into a partly devitrified lapilli-tuff, and (b) an Upper Ignimbrite (UI) that is an intensely welded to lava-like lapilli-tuff. The deposit has an inferred maximum runout of about 80 km and overall dispersal/thickness characteristic of a low aspect-ratio ignimbrite. Over most of its outcrop the tuff rests on a flat, horizontal paleosurface and forms an ignimbrite plateau with uniform thickness and structural characteristics. However, in some areas it shows extensive folding and over-thickening as a result of rheomorphic flow into topographic depressions. Structural analysis of the ignimbrite reveals the presence of a pervasive foliation and lineation as well as macroscopic and microscopic flow structures. Occurrence of abundant, widely distributed stretched cavities in the tuff indicates that a substantial amount of gas was trapped in the tuff during aggradation. The observed pattern of structures of the ignimbrite plateau accords well with a conceptual model in which syn-depositional structures are formed during non-particulate, basal laminar flow due to agglutination of juvenile particles within the lower part of the pyroclastic density current. The flow was controlled by the substantial transfer of momentum from the high-speed, particulate upper part of the current to the top of the non-particulate part of the current and the onset of a complex relationship between welding, flow and sedimentation processes. It is proposed in particular that elongated gas pockets played a major role in guiding the laminar shear within the non-particulate part of the current in flat, horizontal areas, eventually promoting brittle failure of the deforming tuff mass along shear planes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: It has been argued that lay interviewers’ use of fully-structured interviews could lead to a diagnostic pattern different to that by treating physicians. Clinical interviewers in community samples should probably identify cases that are closer to those seen in clinical settings. The greatest advantage of using clinical interviewers consists of the immediate assessment of a possible psychopathology, i.e. the evaluation of current disorders. Methods: Two thousand three hundred and sixty-three citizens from the community of Sesto Fiorentino, Italy, were interviewed by their own general practitioners using the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI). Positive cases for any lifetime psychiatric disorder as well as a random sample of the negative cases were re-interviewed by psychiatrists or trained residents in psychiatry using the Florence Psychiatric Interview (FPI). Results: The point prevalence for any current disorder was 8.7%; the two disorders with the highest prevalence were generalised anxiety disorder (2.9%) and major depressive episode (2.7%). The figures increase about 50% when the sub-threshold sequelae of previous disorders are considered. Current comorbidity was generally high. The one-year prevalence of any disorder was 10.6%. Ninety-two percent of the cases sought help, 82% were being treated at the moment of interview. Social impairment was considerable. Conclusions: The period prevalence rates for most of the disorders considered were generally comparable with the range defined by previous studies conducted in other Western countries, despite using different methodologies. Conversely, the use of health facilities, the treatment received and the social impairment were much higher than those reported by the other studies, suggesting a greater similarity with the clinical samples.Copyright © 2004 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This paper presents lifetime prevalences and estimated risks of DSM-IV psychiatric disorders from a community survey conducted in Sesto Fiorentino, Italy, using psychiatric interviewers with clinical experience and clinical instruments. Methods: Two thousand five hundred subjects aged 14 or more were randomly selected from the lists of 15 general practitioners (GPs) regardless of wheter or not they had consulted the GP. A three-phase design was adopted, with the GPs using the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) for the first stage. All positive cases at the MINI and a probability sample of 123 negative cases were re-interviewed by psychiatrists or trained residents in psychiatry using the Florence Psychiatric Interview (FPI) at the second stage. During phase III, the subjects were administered the rating scales specific to the pathology detected by the FPI. Results: Two thousand three hundred and sixty-three subjects were interviewed (response rate 94.5%) by their own GP; 623 were found positive for any psychiatric disorder. The psychiatrists could re-interview 605 of these, along with a random sample of 123 negatives. Almost twenty-five percent (24.4%; 15.7% males, 31.7% females) of the population was found positive for any DSM-IV disorder during their lives. The most common diagnosis was major depressive episode, followed by anxiety not otherwise specified. Women had higher rates for most disorders. Conclusions: The prevalence rates for most of the disorders considered are generally comparable with the range identified by previous studies conducted in other Western countries, even though they were using different methodologies. Exceptions are represented by the high prevalence of residual categories and the lower prevalence of phobias.Copyright © 2004 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crystal-rich materials (scoriae and lava flows) emitted during the 1985-2000 activity of Stromboli were taken into consideration for systematic study of bulk rock/matrix glass chemistry and in particular for the study of chemical and textural zoning of plagioclase, the most abundant mineral phase. Over the considered time period, bulk rock composition remained fairly constant in both major (SiO2 49.2-50.9 wt% and K2O 1.962.18 wt%) and trace elements. The quite constant chemistry of matrix glasses also indicates that the degree of crystallization of magma was maintained at around 50 vol%. Plagioclase ranges in composition between An62 and An88 and is characterized by alternating, < 10100 µm thick, bytownitic and labradoritic concentric layers, although the dominant and representative plagioclase of scoriae is An68. The labradoritic layers (An62-70) show small-scale (1-5 µm), oscillatory zoning, are free of inclusions, and appear to record episodes of slow crystal growth in equilibrium with a degassed liquid having the composition of the matrix glass. In contrast the bytownitic layers (An70-An88) are patchy zoned, show sieve structure with abundant micrometric glass inclusions and voids, and are attributed to rapid crystal growth. A key to understanding the origin of bytownitic layers can be retrieved from the texture and composition of the coronas of plagioclase xenocrysts, inherited from crystal-rich magma, in nearly aphyric pumice which are erupted during more energetic events and represent a deep, volatile-rich, HK-basaltic magma. They show a continuum from fine-sieve to evident skeletal texture from the inner to the outer part of the corona associated with normal compositional zoning from An90 to An75. In the light of these observations, we propose that input of H2O-rich melt blobs, and their mixing with the residing magma, causes partial dissolution of the labradoritic layers followed by the growth of bytownitic composition whose sieve texture attests of rapid crystallization occurring under undercooling conditions mainly induced by degassing. As a whole, the zoning of plagioclase in the scoriae records successive and discrete intrusions of volatile-rich magma blobs, its degassing and mixing with the resident degassed magma at shallow level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses about development of the movement of the Fair trade and Loyal in Italy. Practical ethics and the model of protest of the movement of the fair trade and loyal have been analyzed by the author. The main characteristic of the movement is in its ability for actively moving a context of social relations in a position to making of the market one instrument finalized to the creation of shapes of economic justice between the producers of the so-called South of the world and the consumers of the so-called North. The development of directed, stable and equal ties, to the inside of the dimension trades them, allows that production and purchase are not limited, in the exchange, to the simple parameter of the value of material use of the reference goods, it helps for advancing quality. In the last few years Italians have developed a such collective identity to project it in one dimension of social movement. The article also focuses on issues raised against the movement in context of the economic structure. The author suggests that the accessibility of the Fair Trade are the characteristics that great part of the activists cites like peculiar regarding the other model of protest, since they allow translate strong feeling of social justice that belongs to this movement.

Stromboli, in the Aeolian Archipelago, is famous for its persistent volcanic activity. The ‘normal’ activity, consisting of rhythmic explosions ejecting crystal-rich scoriae, is periodically interspersed with more energetic explosions during which, in addition to crystal-rich scoriae, crystal-poor pumices are also emitted. The scoriae contain ∼50 vol. % crystals (Plag ∼65; Cpx ∼25; Ol ∼10) whereas the pumices display <10 vol. % crystals (Plag ∼42–50; Cpx ∼47–30; Ol ∼11–20). The bulk rocks, mainly ranging between K-rich basalts and shoshonitic basalts, surprisingly exhibit only slight variations in major and trace element contents, and rare earth element patterns. Systematic studies of melt inclusions (MI) and their host minerals were performed on three scoria–pumice pairs erupted together during the violent explosions. The MI cover a compositional range (CaO/Al2O3 = 0·99–0·29) far wider than that of the whole rocks (CaO/Al2O3 = 0·69–0·52) and attest to the presence of rather primitive melts not yet identified as erupted magmas. On the basis of MI analyses, the crystal-poor magmas contain between 2·3 and 2·8 wt % H2O, 894–1689 ppm CO2, 2250–1660 ppm S and 2030–1660 ppm Cl, with the S/Cl ratio close to unity. In contrast, the crystal-rich magma is extensively degassed. We propose that this degassed magma, which sustains the ‘normal’ activity, results from the crystallization of volatile-rich magmas within the cone itself, driven by decompression and H2O exsolution at low pressure. The crystallization is accompanied by S and Cl fractionation into the gas phase, consistent with partition coefficients DS and DCl between fluid and melt of 40 and 10, respectively. The most violent explosions appear to result from the uprising and emission of volatile-rich magma blobs. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Simple Summary: Insects use visual stimuli to find habitats, food, or a mate while moving around. This trait might be exploited to intercept flying insects to monitor their populations and reduce their presence. Among the various visual stimuli, colours are commonly used to attract insects. Lipoptena fortisetosa is a hematophagous deer ectoparasite native to Japan that has spread to several central European countries and was recently recorded in Italy. Measures to monitor and control L. fortisetosa would be helpful given its potential threat as a pathogen vector for animals and humans. The objective of this research was to assess the potential use of colour to attract and trap L. fortisetosa. The response of the winged adults was evaluated through an experimental trial carried out in a wooded area of Tuscany using differently coloured sticky panels as traps. Blue panels attracted the highest number while yellow panels showed the lowest performance. This preference for blue could be useful in the design of traps to reduce the population of this parasitic fly which, at certain times, can reach a very high density, causing annoyance to wildlife and humans visiting natural areas. Lipoptena fortisetosa, a deer ked native to Japan, has established itself in several European countries and was recently recorded in Italy. This hippoboscid ectoparasite can develop high density populations, causing annoyance to animals and concern regarding the potential risk of transmitting pathogens to humans. No monitoring or control methods for L. fortisetosa have been applied or tested up to now. This research evaluated the possible response of L. fortisetosa winged adults to different colours as the basis for a monitoring and control strategy. In the summer of 2020, a series of six differently coloured sticky panels were randomly set as traps in a wooded area used by deer for resting. The results indicated a clear preference of the deer ked for the blue panels that caught the highest number of flies during the experimental period. Lower numbers of flies were trapped on the red, green, black, and white panels, with the yellow panels recording the fewest captures. The response clearly demonstrates that this species displays a colour preference, and that coloured traps might be useful for monitoring and limiting this biting ectoparasite in natural areas harbouring wildlife and visited by people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Canine atopic dermatitis (CAD) is a genetically predisposed allergic skin disease associated to IgE-mediated hypersensitivity. Serum Allergen-Specific IgE test (SAT) is used to detect allergen-specific IgE antibodies and to set-up a specific immunotherapy. The present study aims to identify the most relevant environmental allergens in a population of atopic dogs living in Northern Italy by using SAT, due to the absence of data in this area. Out of 117 selected client-owned dogs, 69 were included in the study. A screening test was used to identify indoor and outdoor allergens positivity and a specific serum allergy test was performed to detect an extended panel of allergens. Among the 49 positives to the screening test, 53% were positive for both indoor and outdoor, 38.8% only for indoor, and 8.2% only for outdoor allergens. Mites and pollen of Rumex acetosa, and grasses were the most represented allergens. This is the first study to collect data on the frequency of specific allergens involved in CAD in Italy by using SAT. In accordance with the result of this study, specific panels for geographical areas should be considered and re-evaluated at time intervals since numerous factors affect the prevalence of IgE positivity in atopic dogs. Canine atopic dermatitis (CAD) is a pruritic allergic skin disease associated with IgE-mediated hypersensitivity. IgE is detected using Serum Allergen-Specific IgE test (SAT) in order to identify allergens. The present study aims to identify the environmental allergens in atopic dogs living in Northern Italy using SAT. The screening SAT (sSAT), using a monoclonal antibody cocktail-based ELISA to identify indoor and outdoor allergens, was performed. In all positive samples, an anti-IgE monoclonal antibody ELISA test was performed to extend panel of allergens. Out of 117 selected dogs, 69 were included in the study; 71% were positive and 29% were negative to sSAT. Among the 49 positive sSAT, 53% were positive for both indoor and outdoor, 38.8% only for indoor, and 8.2% only for outdoor allergens. This is the first study on the frequency of allergens involved in CAD in Italy using SAT. IgE hypersensitivity in atopic dogs of Northern Italy is usually associated with indoor allergens, primarily house dust mites. Among the outdoor allergens, an important role was played by Rumex acetosa. Polysensitization also commonly occurs. Therefore, since the numerous factors affect the IgE positivity in CAD, specific panels for geographical areas should be considered and re-evaluated at time intervals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bread is one of the most common staple foods, despite the increasing consumption of the so-called "bread substitutes". The aim of the present work is to survey the nutritional quality intended as a nutrition declaration of 339 pre-packed bread products and 1020 bread substitutes sold in the major retailers present on the Italian market. Comparisons of energy, macronutrient, and salt content within product types, and between regular and gluten-free (GF) products and products with or without nutrition claim (NC) and health claim (HC) declarations, were performed. A high inter-product variability was detected. The median energy contents were 274 (interquartile range 255–289) and 412 (380–437) kcal/100 for bread products and substitutes, respectively. Irrespective of the category, GF products had lower amounts of energy than their gluten-containing counterpart (p < 0.001), whereas products carrying NC had lower energy, sugar and salt amounts than the products without these declarations on the pack (p < 0.001 for all). A strong positive correlation was observed between energy and carbohydrate in bread (rho = 0.73, p < 0.001), but not in substitutes (rho = 0.033, p = 0.29). The present work highlighted a high variability in the apparent nutritional quality of bread products and substitutes sold on the Italian market, and suggested that bread alternatives should not be considered tout court as substitutes from a nutritional point of view. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant-based drinks represent a heterogeneous class of beverages, made from several vegetal sources, with a market rapidly expanding around the world. These beverages are mainly drunk in the replacement of milk. Thus, aims of the present study were to: (i) evaluate the nutritional declaration of 330 plant-based drinks currently available on the Italian market; (ii) compare their nutrition facts based on type, presence or not of organic certification and nutrition (NC) or health claims (HC), and of specific claims ("no added sugars" and "source of calcium"); (iii) compare their nutrition composition with cow's milk. A high variability in terms of nutrient profile among products was observed. Limited difference was found between products belonging to both organic and NC categories, while products carrying HC showed lower energy, carbohydrates, sugar, and higher protein contents than the related counterparts. Compared to cow's milk, plant-based drinks showed differences in terms of nutrient profile, mostly regarding the lower protein content (except for soy drinks). Overall, due to the variability, findings from the present survey show that plant-based drinks sold in Italy cannot be considered tout court as milk substitutes and support the importance of improving knowledge towards food labeling to make conscious food choices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stromboli is a persistently active, open-vent basaltic volcano whose activity is controlled by the balance between magma supply, outgassing, and eruptive rates, and is characterized by low-intensity, regular Strombolian explosions. However, two types of large, transient, violent explosive eruptions suddenly occur with no clear precursory activity. These explosions, called "major" and "paroxysmal" depending on size, cover a large variability in intensity and magnitude, but are all marked by short duration. Paroxysms have significantly larger intensities (>106 kg/s) than major explosions (104 kg/s) and fundamental differences in the characteristics (composition, crystallinity, vesicularity) of the erupted tephra, suggesting that different sources feed these two eruption types. Paroxysms are generated by the explosive fragmentation of low-porphyricity (LP) magma mingled with high-porphyricity resident magma in the shallow reservoir, whereas major eruptions are likely associated with destabilization of the lower portion of the shallow magmatic system, continuously hybridized by the arrival of LP magma. In general, the intensity of these explosions is related to the amount of the LP magma erupted (>107 kg in paroxysms and 104-105 kg in major explosions), suggesting that the magma plays a major role in the fragmentation mechanism. Despite its primary importance in the hazards of Stromboli, the total amount of magma erupted in these events in the past 10 years is less than 1% of the total mass erupted by the volcano. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: On 27 February 2007, at 12.49 GMT, a new eruption of Stromboli took place with the effusion of a lava flow from a fracture cutting the flank of the NE cone, which rapidly reached the sea. The eruption had been heralded by an increase in the amplitude of tremor and flank movement since at least the 14th of February. Short-term precursors were an increase in the rate of occurrence of small landslides within the “Sciara del Fuoco” scar on the North-western flank of the volcano. A new effusive vent opened at 18.30 GMT on the Sciara del Fuoco at an height of 400 m asl. The new lava emission caused the sudden termination of the summit flow and initiated a period of non-stationary lava outpouring which ended on 2 April, 2007. The eruption has been characterized by a rapid decrease in the eruption rate after the first days and subsequently by episodic pulse increases. On the 15th of March, the increase in lava outpouring, monitored by a thermal camera, heralded by 9 min the occurrence of a violent paroxysmal explosion with the formation of an impulsive eruption column and the emission of small pumices mingled with black scoriae. The pumice had a bulk composition similar to that of the lava and of the black scoriae, but with a distinct lower content of phenocrysts. A similar feature has been repeatedly observed during the major explosive paroxysms of Stromboli. Short term precursors of the paroxysm were recorded by strainmeter and tiltmeter stations. The volcano monitoring activity has been made by a joint team of researchers from the INGV sections of Catania, Napoli, Palermo and Rome, along with researchers from the Universities of Florence, Pisa, Roma Tre, and Palermo. The scientific activity was coordinated by a Synthesis Group made up by scientists responsible for the different monitoring techniques of INGV and Universities and by the volcanic experts of Commissione Nazionale Grandi Rischi of the Prime Minister Office (Civil Protection Department). The group made a daily evaluation of the state of the volcano and transmitted its recommendations to the Civil Protection Department (DPC). Several prevention measures were adopted by DPC, the main of which were the evacuation of the coast zone when strong acceleration of the Sciara del Fuoco slope motion (occurred twice) could led to a dangerous tsunami by flank collapse (as last occurred on 30 December 2002) and four days before the 15 March paroxysm when access was prohibited to the part of the volcano above 290 m asl. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A survey on heat damage of both direct and indirect UHT milk marketed in Italy was carried out. Furosine, lactulose, galactosyl-β-pyranone and lysinoalanine were determined in order to quantify the severity of heat processing in 92 UHT milk samples. Twenty-seven samples out of ninety-two were imported from other countries and showed value ranges for these parameters similar to those manufactured in Italy. Anomalous levels for at least one of the four parameters were revealed in about 40% of the samples, indicating the use of operating conditions that promote relevant heat damage. While the adoption of regulations to guarantee the quality of UHT milk does not seem to be a priority of EU policy, fixing the threshold values for one or more of these indices is recommended as a minimal quality requirement for UHT milk in order to prevent improper technological practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Devastation associated with tsunamis is well known on the global scale. Flank collapse at volcanic islands is among the mechanisms triggering tsunamis, but very few examples document interaction between landslides and volcanic activity. The study of three well-preserved medieval tsunami deposits recently discovered along the coast of Stromboli volcano (Aeolian Islands, southern Italy) enabled a detailed characterization of the tsunami sequences intercalated with volcaniclastic deposits and primary tephra and allowed reconstruction of the likely sequence of volcanic events. In one case, a violent explosion possibly preceded the tsunami, whereas in the youngest event, the lateral collapse of the volcano flank triggered a tsunami wave that was rapidly followed by sustained explosive magmatic activity and ensuing prolonged ash venting. The hypothesized tsunami-triggering dynamics suggests a close link between volcanic activity and flank collapse, further confirming that the persistent activity at Stromboli makes the volcano particularly susceptible to tsunami generation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]