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In the last century, a plethora of species have shown rapid phenological changes in response to climate change. Among animals, amphibians exhibit some of the greatest responses since their activity strongly depends on temperature and rainfall regimes. These shifts in phenology can have negative consequences for amphibian fitness. Thus, understanding phenological changes in amphibians is pivotal to design conservation actions to mitigate climate change effects. We used data on Common Spadefoot Toad (Pelobates fuscus) reproductive migration to wetlands over a period of 8 years in Italy to (i) identify the factors related to breeding migrations, (ii) assess potential phenological shifts in the breeding period, and (iii) determine which climatic factors are related to the observed phenological shifts. Our results showed that toads migrate to spawning sites preferably in early spring, on rainy days with temperatures of 9–14 °C, and with high humidity. Furthermore, despite an increase in average temperature across the study period, we observed a delay in the start of breeding migrations of 12.4 days over 8 years. This counterintuitive pattern was the result of a succession of hot and dry years that occurred in the study area, highlighting that for ephemeral pond breeders, precipitation could have a larger impact than temperature on phenology. Our results belie the strong presumption that climate change will shift amphibian phenology toward an earlier breeding migration and underline the importance of closely investigating the environmental factors related to species phenology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The NAO teleconnective pattern has a great influence on the European climate; however, the exact quantification of NAO pattern in the different areas is sometimes lacking, and at other times, highlights even large differences between the various studies. This motivation led to the identification of the aim of this research in the study of the relationship between the NAO index and temperature and precipitation anomalies over the period 1991–2020, through the analysis of 87 rain gauges and 86 thermometric stations distributed as homogeneously as possible over the Italian territory. The results were sometimes at odds with the scientific literature on the subject, as significance was also found outside the winter season, e.g., in the spring for temperatures and in the autumn for precipitation, and in some cases, correlations were found, especially in August, even in southern Italy, which is usually considered a poorly correlated area. In addition, the linear relationship between the NAO index and temperature and precipitation anomalies was verified, with many weather stations obtaining significant coefficients of determinations as high as 0.5–0.6 in December, with 29 degrees of freedom, and a p-value set at 95%. Finally, for both climatic parameters, the presence of clusters and outliers at seasonal and monthly levels was assessed, obtaining a spatial distribution using the local Moran index, and summarising them in maps. This analysis highlighted important clusters in Northern and Central Italy, while clusters in the summer months occur in the South. These results provide information that may further elucidate local atmospheric dynamics in relation to NAO phases, as well as encourage future studies that may link other teleconnective indices aimed at better explaining the variance of climate parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Avocado (Persea americana) represents an important emerging tropical crop in Italy, especially in the southern regions. In this study, young plants of avocado showing symptoms of stem and wood lesion, and dieback, were investigated. Isolations from symptomatic tissues consistently yielded colonies of Neopestalotiopsis-like species. The characterization of representative isolates was based on the observation of morphological characters, the effect of temperature on mycelial growth rate, and on the sequencing of three different gene regions, specifically ITS, TEF1, and TUB2. Phylogenetic analyses were conducted based on maximum parsimony and maximum likelihood approaches. The results showed the presence of two species, viz. Neopestalotiopsis rosae and N. siciliana, the latter of which is here described as a new species. Pathogenicity tests were conducted using the mycelial plug technique on young potted avocado trees for both Neopestalotiopsis species. The results showed that both species were pathogenic to avocado. This study represents the first report of these two species affecting avocado and results in the description of a new species within the genus Neopestalotiopsis. Based on phylogeny, Pestalotiopsis coffeae-arabicae is combined in Neopestalotiopsis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study retrospectively analysed the effects of different environmental factors such as the photoperiod, temperature/humidity index of 19 years of a commercial embryo transfer programme performed in central Italy. From 340 donors of different breeds and aged between 2 and 25 years, 576 embryos of an excellent or good quality were obtained by uterine flushing on days 7–8 after ovulation. The embryos were transferred to 259 recipients, aged between 2 and 16 years, and belonging to different breeds. Both the donors and the recipients were employed for several cycles/years. At the time of transfer, the recipients were in diestrus, from day 4 to day 8 after ovulation, and were classified as excellent or good based on clinical examination findings. Out of the total number of embryos transferred, 437 pregnancies were obtained at 14 days (75.9%), with 48/437 (10.1%) embryonic losses at 40 days; with no significant differences among years. Significant differences (p <.05) were observed between 14‐day pregnancy rates for transfers performed during the spring transition and breeding seasons (77.1%) compared to those performed during the autumn transitional season (57.9%). No effect of temperature/humidity index was found on pregnancy rates or pregnancy losses after the transfer to the recipients (p >.05). Embryo transfer during autumn was less successful than the transfers performed during the spring transition and the breeding season. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anoplophora chinensis (Forster) is a xylophagous invasive cerambycid whose larvae feed on the lower bole and exposed roots of many tree species in orchard, urban, and forested habitats. Larval survival and development of A. chinensis from Italy and China were evaluated at eight constant temperatures (5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, and 40°C). Development was slow or did not occur at temperatures ≤10 and >35°C. The TMin for the first six instars and the pupa was <10°C, while TMin for the higher instars was closer to 12°C. The ultimate instar for both populations was insensitive to temperature. When the TMax thresholds could be estimated they were between 31 and 41°C. Temperature also influenced larval weight gain; larvae held at 25–30°C generally weighed the most from the fourth instar on. The number of degree days for 50% of the population to molt to the next instar increased with increasing instar for both populations up through the sixth instar. Anoplophora chinensis may use wood moisture content in conjunction with temperature as a cue as to when to pupate. These responses of A. chinensis to temperature can be used for developing phenological models to predict timing of stages for management or eradication efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The analysis of geohistorical sources for the study of past rural seasonality and climate change has started to attract the interest of international researchers. Several scholars call for new sources for the development of a qualitative or quantitative interpretative framework. Following this line, this article presents a cartographic elaboration of a previously unknown land registry created by the Grand Duchy of Tuscany in the nineteenth century that contains a list of all agricultural products in Tuscan communities and their ripening times. The registry data were digitized and geolocalized using GIS applications. This source allows reconstruction of the spatial and temporal distribution of the weeks needed in the past for these products to ripen in different areas of Tuscany. The periods in which herbaceous and tree species reached maturity and when they were traded were mapped. Analysis shows many differences between regions that cannot be explained merely by environmental factors. By examining the periods of chestnut ripening between the nineteenth century and present day, we can study the effects of rising temperatures on ripening. We present a WebGIS portal where data may be consulted by disciplines interested in phytology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of environmental cues such as temperature and rainfall for the timing of breeding and as an indicator of plentiful food much later in the season is thought to have a great influence on breeding success and productivity rates. We tried to assess effects of such cues on timing and performance of the lanner falcon (Falco biarmicus feldeggii), a threatened large falcon in Italy. We ascertained success and productivity of 178 breeding attempts in 38 breeding sites distributed in central Eastern Sicily and along the Apennine peninsula. In Sicily alone, we checked each nest annually to ascertain the number and age of chicks and also post-hatching mortality. We overlaid nest locations in order to add attributes of temperature and rainfall for each month and year. Breeding populations from Sicily to the Apennine peninsula showed no significant difference in all breeding parameters except distribution of brood size. Annually, breeding pairs tried to synchronize the hatching in a precise favourable period that increased nestling survival. February rainfall was the main abiotic factor that greatly influenced all lanner falcon reproductive parameters with a positive effect as cues for breeding decisions by parents. Conversely, intense rainfall caused nesting failure through a delay in laying dates. Our study confirmed the importance of environmental cues such as temperature and rainfall on breeding decisions by lanner falcon pairs inhabiting the whole Italian territory. We discuss our results and compare them with prior studies in terms of their potential conservation implications for this threatened subspecies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study we present the first comprehensive analysis of the spatio-temporal differences in excess mortality during the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy. We used a population-based design on all-cause mortality data, for the 7,904 Italian municipalities. We estimated sex-specific weekly mortality rates for each municipality, based on the first four months of 2016–2019, while adjusting for age, localised temporal trends and the effect of temperature. Then, we predicted all-cause weekly deaths and mortality rates at municipality level for the same period in 2020, based on the modelled spatio-temporal trends. Lombardia showed higher mortality rates than expected from the end of February, with 23,946 (23,013 to 24,786) total excess deaths. North-West and North-East regions showed one week lag, with higher mortality from the beginning of March and 6,942 (6,142 to 7,667) and 8,033 (7,061 to 9,044) total excess deaths respectively. We observed marked geographical differences also at municipality level. For males, the city of Bergamo (Lombardia) showed the largest percent excess, 88.9% (81.9% to 95.2%), at the peak of the pandemic. An excess of 84.2% (73.8% to 93.4%) was also estimated at the same time for males in the city of Pesaro (Central Italy), in stark contrast with the rest of the region, which does not show evidence of excess deaths. We provided a fully probabilistic analysis of excess mortality during the COVID-19 pandemic at sub-national level, suggesting a differential direct and indirect effect in space and time. Our model can be used to help policy-makers target measures locally to contain the burden on the health-care system as well as reducing social and economic consequences. Additionally, this framework can be used for real-time mortality surveillance, continuous monitoring of local temporal trends and to flag where and when mortality rates deviate from the expected range, which might suggest a second wave of the pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tettigoniid Barbitistes vicetinus Galvagni & Fontana was described in 1993 as an endemic and rare bush-cricket of north-east Italy. Since 2008, this species has become a pest, causing repeated outbreaks with severe defoliations in broadleaf forests and neighbouring crops. Few data are currently available on ecology and life-cycle of this species, in particular about how temperature regulates egg-diapause and hatching phenology. The present work reports a field study regarding hatching phenology of B. vicetinus , surveyed with 84 emergence traps over four consecutive years (2013–2016). Moreover, the effect of temperature on the hatching was tested in the laboratory, exposing eggs to different temperatures. Field observations showed that hatching occurred between the end of March and beginning of April. In warmer years, hatching started early in the spring and lasted longer, while in colder years, hatching started later and was concentrated in a few days. Moreover, a significant effect of both elevation and exposure on the hatching start was observed. Results obtained from laboratory suggested the ability of the species to develop in the post-final diapause in a wide range of thermal conditions. After the diapause (terminated by a prolonged common exposure to low temperature) B. vicetinus was able to hatch from 6 to 23°C although, due to prolonged post-diapause development, hatching took place progressively later at colder temperatures. To manage B. vicetinus outbreaks, forecasting the seasonal phenology of egg hatching and its duration is important for an effective pest control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Concerns about climate change, pollution and energy security have prompted policies aiming at replacing fossil fuels (in heating and cooling, and transportation) with electricity, presumably generated from renewable sources. Climate change itself is expected to increase the demand for cooling in buildings, which is generally met with electricity-powered air conditioning. We use hourly electricity demand from a sample of Italian residences over a full year to examine how sensitive residential demand is to temperature. Our regression model includes a rich set of household-by-time fixed effects to control for dwelling characteristics and equipment, family composition, work and business schedules, demand for lighting, and seasonal habits other than temperature. These allows us to separate the effect of temperature from the demand for lighting and from other seasonal effects that may be correlated with temperature, but are not temperature. We find that demand stays unchanged within a relatively narrow range (and is thus relatively flat) up to temperatures of about 24.4 °C, and increases sharply with temperature thereafter. We find that temperature accounts for a very small share of daily electricity demand. Only on exceptionally hot summer days can temperature account for 12% of hourly electricity use. • The residential sector is an important component of daily electricity load. • We have hourly electricity loads from some 400 homes in Italy over 2011. • We seek to separate demand for lighting, plus seasonal and daily behaviors and habits from temperature-related demand. • Temperature accounts for only a small share of electricity usage. • Electricity consumption increases sharply with temperature at temperatures of 24.4 °C and higher. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of high temperatures as a degrading factor of rock materials is investigated in this study. Valdieri Marble samples, collected in a quarry in North-western Italian Alps, were subjected to thermal cycles (ranging from 105° to 600 °C) and to subsequent non-destructive and destructive laboratory tests with the aim of evaluating the variation of physical and mechanical properties as a function of temperature variations. Physical and mechanical measurements were complemented with microscopic observations on thin sections. The increase of crack density with temperature and the consequent porosity increases were found to be the main causes of degradation of physical and mechanical properties. In general, density, ultrasonic pulse velocity, wet electrical resistivity, uniaxial compressive strength and Young's moduli decrease as temperature increases. By contrast, peak strain and porosity increase. Correlations between temperature and physical-mechanical properties were proposed and compared to other relationships already established in scientific literature. A damage parameter to quantify the degradation of mechanical properties with temperature is also proposed. • Laboratory tests on Valdieri marble have been performed to investigate the effect of temperature on physical properties. • For the analysed rock, the range of temperature from 200 to 400 °C marks a turning point in the rock behaviour. • The porosity can be considered as a significant state parameter related to thermal degradation. • An exponential dependence of physical and mechanical parameters with temperature has been observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Highlights • Natural frequency tracking is newly applied for SHM of a stiff masonry Palace. • An effective tracking of natural frequencies and crack amplitudes is achieved. • Frequency-temperature correlations are negative in sign due to a major crack pattern. • Crack amplitudes as predictors enhance statistical modeling of natural frequencies. • Remarkable freezing effects on natural frequencies are highlighted. Abstract In recent years, the development of long-term structural health monitoring systems for preventive conservation of historic monumental buildings is receiving a growing trend of scientific interest. Nevertheless, the damage detection effectiveness of these systems is still debated, especially in respect to complex masonry palaces where both local and global failure mechanisms can be activated, whereby the majority of the documented successful applications are limited to masonry towers. In particular, one major issue that needs to be solved in order to derive damage sensitive features is associated to the removal of the effects of changes in environmental conditions and, primarily, of ambient temperature, from static and dynamic signatures. This paper aims to contribute to improving knowledge in this field, by investigating temperature effects on static and dynamic response of an iconic Italian monumental palace: the Consoli Palace in Gubbio. With the purpose of early detecting earthquake-induced damages, as well as damages caused by material degradation associated to awkward environmental conditions, a simple low-cost mixed static and dynamic long-term structural health monitoring system has been installed on the Palace by the authors in July 2017. After discussing surveys, ambient vibration tests, diagnostic investigations, numerical modeling and model calibration of the Palace, the analysis of the first year of monitoring data is presented. This analysis shows that, differently from what observed in other literature works on historic masonry towers, the natural frequencies of the Palace show a marked and sometimes non-linear decreasing trend with increasing ambient temperature, that can be effectively removed through linear statistical filtering provided that dynamic regression models, using past values of predictors, are used. On the other side, the evolution of the amplitudes of two major cracks monitored within the building also shows a marked linear decreasing trend with increasing ambient temperature. These results are meaningful towards the use of monitoring data for assessing the initial health conditions of a structure, as well as in a damage detection perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The M ∼ 7 1915 Fucino (Central Italy) earthquake represents one of the most destructive seismic events ever occurred in the Italian Peninsula. Several seismogenic faults have been proposed in the past decades as the source of the earthquake by means of different approaches and techniques that lead to a variety of speculations about the source mechanism and the fault location, often contrasting with one another. The 1915 earthquake produced a remarkable data set of 73 coseismic hydrological changes in the near and intermediate field that consist in variation of the flow of streams and springs, liquefaction, rise of water temperature and turbidity. In this paper, we study the coseismic water level changes induced by the 1915 earthquake in the near field to provide convincing clues on the geometry of the earthquake causative fault. We model the coseismic strain field induced by seventeen individual faults proposed through different approaches, and compare its pattern with the distribution of streamflow changes. We find: (i) clues on the most probable geometry of the earthquake causative fault. Best fits between modelled deformation and observed data are displayed by sources (derived by geological or seismological data) that share several distinctive features, as they are ∼135°-striking, SW-dipping, 25–30-km-long normal faults located along the eastern side of the Fucino basin. These data point to the Serrone Fault and the Parasano Fault as the most likely causative structures and support the hypothesis that the coseismic ruptures observed in the field represented primary surface faulting. On the contrary, our calculations show that the Pescina Fault and the Ventrino Fault are secondary faults from the perspective of the hydrological response. Finally, one of the best scoring potential sources (from geological data) is a multifaulting system that considers the presence, in the central-western part of the basin, of fault splays synthetic and antithetic to the main seismogenic structures; therefore, we infer for these splays a possible active involvement in a 1915-like seismogenic process; (ii) evidence against a number of seismogenic structures that were previously associated with the earthquake. In particular, the plots of coseismic strain induced by sources uniquely derived by macroseismic or geodetic data prove to be inconsistent with the polarities of the hydrological signatures. Also, sources mainly characterized by reverse faulting and/or by right-lateral strike-slip component are discarded and (iii) as a final remark, we maintain that the study of the hydrological signatures of earthquake strain can offer an alternative tool in the investigation of the historical seismicity, to estimate the focal mechanism of major earthquakes capable of giving rise to a consistent data set of hydrological data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] BPA migration from epoxy-coated cans into tomato products, retailed in Italian markets, has been found to occur. [•] Three types of canned tomatoes (peeled, cherry and concentrated paste) have been investigated. [•] A method based on solid-phase extraction followed by HPLC-DAD/FLD, has been developed. [•] Measured BPA resulted at levels below the present European Union legislation limit. [•] Heating process and/or can’s damage by denting increase the BPA migration levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Continuous measurements of snow temperature profiles may be a valuable tool to investigate occurrence and persistence of thermal conditions promoting the strengthening or weakening of the snow structure, with potentially important consequences on avalanche release. In this paper, automatic measurements of snow temperature profiles are analyzed based on an extensive dataset (67site-years) in Aosta Valley, Italy. The aims of this work are: (1) to highlight issues and uncertainties in the data and show appropriate data filtering that may be implemented by similar measurement networks; (2) to assess the impact of data filtering on temperature gradient calculation, and (3) to quantitatively describe the occurrence and duration of strong temperature gradients at the base of the snowpack and close to the snow surface that may lead to the formation of weak layers. Three main sources of uncertainty were identified and corrected: (1) errors in the data logging; (2) drifts in temperature measurements; and (3) a large bias in spring measurements due to snow melting and lack of contact between the sensor and the surrounding snow. We estimated that strong temperature gradients may account for as much as 25% of total gradients and the duration of these may be as long as 35days. The frequency of strong gradients was significantly higher at the snow surface than at the snowpack base. Hence, the importance of surface faceted crystals as potential weak layers in alpine snowpacks is highlighted. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Highlights: [•] The paper proposes an analysis on natural gas consumption forecasting. [•] A validation of the methodology is accomplished obtaining a good level of accuracy. [•] GDP, price and temperature elasticities are calculated. [•] A scenario analysis is developed by analysing twelve different scenarios. [•] In 2030, a natural gas consumption between 32 and 43bcm is expected in Italy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Although there are many works about forecasting using weather variables, the effects of information accuracy have been rarely investigated. [•] This work will use temperature data obtained from numerical weather prediction models, considering both data reanalysis and operational forecasts. [•] Use of weather data provided by models in all the regions leads to a clear improvement of forecasting accuracy. [•] The observed gap between operational forecasts and reanalysis may be reduced with more accurate initial condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Dried egg pasta is an important and traditional food in the Italian cuisine, and the eggs in pasta improve its nutritional value and organoleptic properties. For this reason the percentage of eggs present in the products sold as “egg pasta” has to always be clearly reported in the label. In this respect, the present research addresses the possibility of developing a method which would allow fast, simple and economic determination of egg content in dried egg-pasta, using near-infrared spectroscopy and chemometric analysis. However, as it is very likely that the spectroscopic fingerprint can also be affected by the manufacturing process of this product, in particular by drying temperature and time, the effect of the manufacturing process on the spectral profile of egg-pasta samples was thoroughly investigated, using experimental design coupled to a multivariate exploratory data analytical technique called ANOVA–Simultaneous Component Analysis (ASCA). Moreover, once confirmed the significance of the drying effect on spectral shape, with the aim of building a calibration model to quantify the egg content in pasta samples irrespective of the manufacturing protocol adopted, a non-linear approach based on local regression, namely LWR-PLS, was investigated. This method allowed the determination of the egg content in external validation samples with low error (RMSEP=1.25), resulting in predictions more accurate and precise than those obtained by a global PLS model. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Highlights: [•] Fumarole temperatures can be influenced by crustal stress dynamics. [•] We discuss data acquired at Vulcano Island (I) between 09/2009 and 05/2012. [•] We observed 3 episodes of concurrent tectonic earthquakes and temperature increments. [•] We interpreted these anomalies as seismic-induced “crustal fluid transients”. [•] Fumarole temperature changes can trace geodynamic instability. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Magma ascent velocities, v (dH/dt; where H is depth and t is time), can be determined from decompression rates (dP/dt), and rates of cooling (dT/dt): , where ρ is magma density, P is pressure, T is temperature and g is the acceleration due to gravity. This equation for v provides a key to investigating the relationships between the initial ascent velocity of magmas and the depths of magma dehydration. Ascent velocities can be calculated using pressure and temperature (P–T) estimates from mineral–liquid thermobarometry and cooling rates inferred from crystal size distribution (CSD) theory. For recent Mt. Etna lava flows, both dP/dT and dT/dt have been characterized for the portion of the feeding system between the Moho (∼27 km) and 6 km based, respectively, on clinopyroxene thermobarometry and clinopyroxene CSDs. Deep-level (>6 km) magma ascent velocities range from practically zero (where clinopyroxene P–T estimates form a cluster, and so dP/dT ≈ 0), to about 10 m h–1 for flows that yield very steep P–T trajectories. Many lava flows at Mt. Etna yield P–T paths that follow a hydrous (∼3% water) clinopyroxene saturation surface, which closely approximates the water content inferred from melt inclusions. Independent assessments of deep-level water contents have been obtained by means of a new geohygrometer and yield ascent rates of ∼1 m h–1, in agreement with the slowest rates derived for magma effusion or vapor-driven ascent (∼0·001 to >0·2 m s–1, or 3·6–720 m h–1). Changes in P–T slope, as determined by pyroxene thermobarometry, indicate an upward acceleration of magma, which may be due to the onset of deep-level magma dehydration linked to the non-ideal behavior of water and CO2 mixtures that induce a deep-level maximum of water loss at P ≈ 0·4 MPa and T ≈ 1200°C for a CO2 content >1000 ppm. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Spherulitic textures in the Rocche Rosse obsidian flow (Lipari, Aeolian Islands, Italy) have been characterized through petrographic, crystal size distribution (CSD) and in situ major and volatile elemental analyses to assess the mode, temperature and timescales of spherulite formation. Bulk glass chemistry and spherulite chemistry analyzed along transects across the spherulite growth front/glass boundary reveal major-oxide and volatile (HO, CO, F, Cl and S) chemical variations and heterogeneities at a ≤5 μm scale. Numerous bulk volatile data in non-vesicular glass (spatially removed from spherulitic textures) reveal homogenous distributions of volatile concentrations: HO (0.089 ± 0.012 wt%), F (950 ± 40 ppm) and Cl (4,100 ± 330 ppm), with CO and S consistently below detection limits suggesting either complete degassing of these volatiles or an originally volatile-poor melt. Volatile concentrations across the spherulite boundary and within the spherulitic textures are highly variable. These observations are consistent with diffusive expulsion of volatiles into melt, leaving a volatile-poor rim advancing ahead of anhydrous crystallite growth, which is envisaged to have had a pronounced effect on spherulite crystallization dynamics. Argon concentrations dissolved in the glass and spherulites differ by a factor of ~20, with Ar sequestered preferentially in the glass phase. Petrographic observation, CSD analysis, volatile and Ar data as well as diffusion modeling support continuous spherulite nucleation and growth starting at magmatic (emplacement) temperatures of ~790-825 °C and progressing through the glass transition temperature range ( T ~ 750-620 °C), being further modified in the solid state. We propose that nucleation and growth rate are isothermally constant, but vary between differing stages of spherulite growth with continued cooling from magmatic temperatures, such that there is an evolution from a high to a low rate of crystallization and low to high crystal nucleation. Based on the diffusion of HO across these temperature ranges (~800-300 °C), timescales of spherulite crystallization occur on a timescale of ~4 days with further modification up to ~400 years (growth is prohibitively slow <400 °C and would become diffusion reliant). Selective deformation of spherulites supports a down-temperature continuum of spherulite formation in the Rocche Rosse obsidian; indeed, petrographic evidence suggests that high-strain zones may have catalyzed progressive nucleation and growth of further generations of spherulites during syn- and post-emplacement cooling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The viscosity of pantelleritic melts from the Khaggiar lava flow (5.5ka — Pantelleria Island) was investigated as a function of temperature and water content. High (1673–1323K) and low (973–613K) temperature dry and hydrous liquid viscosities were determined by a combination of concentric cylinder (102.44 to 104.56 Pas) and micropenetration (108.67 to 1011.37) viscometric techniques. The effect of water, from 0.02 to 3.55wt.% H2O, was explored in the temperature range of 973–613K. Liquid viscosities have been parameterized by means of a modified Vogel–Fulcher–Tammann equation (VFT) which describes viscosities and derivative properties (glass transition temperature Tg, fragility m) of silicic liquids as a function of T–X (H2O). The results yield the expected strong decrease of viscosity with temperature and water content. Fragility, as a measure of the deviation from Arrhenian behavior, increases with H2O content from m =23 to m =28. The peralkalinity (molar alkali excess over alumina), which characterizes the pantelleritic magmas, exerts a primary control over the rheological behavior of these melts. The excess of alkalies over alumina content is responsible for the peculiarly low viscosities of pantelleritic liquids compared to their metaluminous counterpart in the high temperature range, and leads to an even more dramatic decrease in the viscosities of these rhyolites in the low temperature range. Comparison with available models shows substantial differences between the measured and calculated viscosities. Based on our new viscosity results combined with existing literature data, we propose a new parameterization based on a modified Vogel–Fulcher–Tammann equation, accounting for the effect of water and composition, which can be used to determine the viscosity of pantelleritic melts. The derived relationship reproduces the experimental data (58 in total) in the viscosity range from 102.44 to 1011.37 Pas and in the temperature range from 613 to 1673K within a root-mean-square-error (RMSE) of 0.12 log units. Application of this calculation model for high temperature low viscosity hydrous melt is limited by the lack of experimental data and needs verification by additional measurements. Volcanological implications for welding and rheomorphic processes as well as conduit dynamic modeling are also discussed in light of the results presented in this work. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This study presents the results of the microclimate monitoring of the Arch of Augustus. This is a monument from the Roman era, situated in an urban area in the Western Alpine region of Aosta Valley, Italy. Measurements were carried out on different monument positions, corresponding to the four faces and below the vault. The measurements refer to air and surface temperature, air relative humidity, wind speed and direction. The environmental conditions are described in order to underline the differences among the four faces of the monument and to explain the nature of the decay observed on the monument. The damage risk, caused by the occurrence of phenomena like freezing-thawing cycles, thermal stress and water condensation, is estimated by relating microclimatic conditions to the stone damage processes. The results are compared to the decay map and the correlation between damage and microclimate are finally discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Determination of the thermal state of the crust is of fundamental importance to understand the feedbacks between tectonics, rheology and metamorphism. The most important parameters controlling the variation of temperature with depth in the crust are the heat flow across the Moho, the thermal conductivity and the vertical distribution of heat-producing elements 238,235U, 232Th and 40K. The Corsica-Sardinia batholith formed during a regional high-temperature metamorphic event by extensive partial melting of the Variscan crust. Petrologic observations indicate that most granites and migmatites formed between 0.6–0.2GPa, requiring the geotherms to flatten substantially relative to the stage of crustal thickening. The adjustment of geotherms may be interpreted in terms of enrichment in heat-producing elements or, alternatively, in terms of increased mantle contribution. The validity of these two end-member hypothesis has been tested by performing numerical experiments with a software package appositely developed in Matlab. The software allows to set up crustal model composed of up to five different layers, and to plot the calculated geotherm along with the stability field of the haplogranite system and other thermo-barometric constraints. The steady-state thermal structure of the Sardinian Variscan crust has been computed at four different time steps (320, 310, 300, and 280Ma), which cover the batholith evolution. The geometry and composition of each of these crustal models has been constrained based on geophysical observations, geochronology and petrology. In a first experiment, the heat conduction equation has been solved for all of the four time-steps, assuming constant (15mW/m2) heat flow across the Moho in order to simulate a ‘fully crustal’ evolution of the thermal structure. The alternative has been simulated in a second experiment, by rising the basal heat flow up to 40mW/m2 during the last two time steps. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: We carried out an extensive waterborne GPR survey consisting of 50 profiles with a total length of nearly 37km on the morainic lake of Candia northerly Turin (Italy). Our aim was to test the capability of GPR to estimate the bathymetry, the water volume and the sediment type. We enhanced and controlled the GPR data processing and interpretation with bathymetry acquired with an acoustic echo sounder and measured conductivity and temperature profile of the water column with a multiparametric probe. We also analyzed the diffraction hyperbola that originated within the sediments in order to estimate the velocity and relative permittivity. With the permittivity and dielectric mixing rules, we estimated the porosity of the sediments above the diffracting objects and drew a map of the bottom lake porosity. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

ABSTRACT Aim To investigate whether differences in the elevational trend in native and alien species richness were dependent on climate or human pressures. Specifically we tested whether life-form and/or alien/native status modifies the response of plant species richness to human population and temperature along: (1) a complete elevational gradient, and (2) within separate elevational bands that, by keeping temperature within a narrow range, elucidate the effects of human pressures more clearly. Location Two provinces ( c. 7507 km2) on the southern border of the European Alps (Italy), subdivided into 240 contiguous sampling cells ( c. 35.7 km2). Methods We used an extensive dataset on alien and native species richness across an elevation gradient (20-2900 m a.s.l.). Richness of natives and naturalized aliens were separately related to temperature, human population and Raunkiaer life-form using general linear mixed models. Life-form describes different plant strategies for survival during seasons with adverse cold/arid conditions. Results The relationship between species richness and temperature for natives was strongly dependent on life-form, while aliens showed a consistent positive trend. Similar trends across alien and native life-forms were found for the relationship between species richness and human population along the whole gradient and within separate elevational bands. Main conclusions The absence of life-form-dependent responses amongst aliens supports the hypothesis that the distribution of alien plant species richness was more related to propagule pressure and availability of novel niches created by human activities than to climatic filtering. While climate change will potentially contribute to relaxing species thermal constraints, the response of alien species to future warming will also be contingent on changes in anthropogenic pressures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Active climatization is currently one of the main causes of energy use in buildings. Since it aims at providing indoor environmental conditions that are comfortable for most of the building occupants, the way these conditions are determined is very important in the framework of energy optimization. Indoor comfort conditions are conventionally expressed in terms of steady temperature levels (e.g. 20–26 °C). Differently, the adaptive approach determines temperature levels that are unsteady and follow the variability of the outdoor climate. Even if this alternative approach has proven to be very effective in providing mitigated indoor temperatures, agreement about its formulation and its practical application is still lacking. In this paper some of the available formulations of the adaptive approach are described and adopted to determine comfort temperatures for three different Italian climatic contexts. Moreover, the discomfort levels for a case-study room are estimated, by the means of a dynamic building energy simulation model, according to both the conventional and the adaptive approaches. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Morphophysiological dormancy was investigated in seeds of Ribes multiflorum Kit ex Roem et Schult. ssp. sandalioticum Arrigoni, a rare mountain species endemic to Sardinia (Italy). There were no differences in imbibition rates between intact and scarified seeds, suggesting a lack of physical dormancy, while methylene blue solution (0.5%) highlighted a preferential pathway for solution entrance through the raphe. Embryos were small at seed dispersal, with an initial embryo:seed ratio (E:S) of ca. 0.2 (embryo length, ca. 0.5 mm), whereas the critical E:S ratio for germination was three times longer ( ca. 0.6). Gibberellic acid (GA3, 250 mg·l−1) and warm stratification (25 °C for 3 months) followed by low temperature (<15 °C) enhanced embryo growth rate (maximum of ca. 0.04 mm·day−1 at 10 °C) and subsequent seed germination (radicle emergence; ca. 80% at 10 °C). Low germination occurred at warmer temperatures, and cold stratification (5 °C for 3 months) induced secondary dormancy. After radicle emergence, epicotyl emergence was delayed for ca. 2 months for seeds from three different populations. Mean time of epicotyl emergence was affected by GA3. Seeds of this species showed non-deep simple (root) - non-deep simple (epicotyl) morphophysiological dormancy, highlighting a high synchronisation with Mediterranean seasonality in all the investigated populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The magmatic evolution of two eruptive episodes at Campi Flegrei (Italy) has been investigated using phase equilibria modeling (MELTS) and data from melt inclusions (MIs) in phenocrysts from the Fondo Riccio and Minopoli 1 eruptions. Assuming that isobaric fractional crystallization of a mantle-derived parental magma is the dominant petrogenetic process, major element evolution and corresponding changes in the physical and thermodynamic properties of the magma bodies from which Fondo Riccio and Minopoli1 magmas were erupted can be tracked. Fondo Riccio parental magma was trachyandesitic, approximated by the composition of FR-C1-O2-M1, which evolved mainly through fractional crystallization at low pressure ( P ≈ 0.15 GPa, ≈ 7 km depth), along the QFM, QFM + 1 oxygen buffer with an initial dissolved HO content of ∼3 wt%. Minopoli1 parental magma was trachyandesitic, approximated by the chemistry of Mi1-C1-O5-M1, evolved through fractional crystallization at P ≈ 0.3 GPa (≈ 12 km depth), with oxygen fugacity along QFM + 1buffer and initial HO content of ∼ 2 wt%. The relationship between melt fraction and T reveals for Fondo Riccio the presence of a pseudo-invariant temperature at which the physical properties of melt change abruptly. The net effect of these changes is to drive the system towards dynamic instability, which it is suggested to be the trigger mechanism for the eruptions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we present a methodological approach based on a comparative analysis of floods that occurred in a wide region over a long period and the climatic data characterising the same period, focusing on the climate trend. The method simplifies the comparative analysis of several time series by defining some indexes (e.g. the monthly, bi-monthly, and … m-monthly indexes of precipitation, temperature, wet days and precipitation intensity and the monthly flood number) that can be used to study phenomena such as floods that are characterised by spatial and temporal variability. The analysis was used to investigate the potential effect of climate variation on the damaging floods trend. The approach was tested for the Calabria region (Italy) using historical flood and climatic data from 1880 to 2007. The results showed that the number of floods was correlated with the monthly indexes of precipitation, wet days, and daily precipitation intensity. The following trends were recognised: decreasing precipitation and wet days, almost constant precipitation intensity, increasing temperature, and linearly increasing floods. A second-order polynomial trend analysis showed a slight decrease in floods since the seventies, which might be explained by the favourable climatic conditions during the period and/or the effect of increasing awareness of flood vulnerability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: La Fossa crater on Vulcano Island is quiescent since 1890. Periodically it undergoes “crises” characterized by marked increase of temperature (T), gas output and concentration of magmatic components in the crater fumaroles (T may exceed 600°C). During these crises, which so far did not lead to any eruptive reactivation, the diffuse CO2 soil degassing also increases and in December 2005 an anomalous CO2 flux of 1350tons/day was estimated by 1588 measurements over a surface of 1.66km2 extending from La Fossa crater to the inhabited zone of Vulcano Porto. The crater area and two other anomalously degassing sites (Levante Beach and Palizzi) have been periodically investigated from December 2004 to August 2010 for diffuse CO2 soil flux. They show a marked variation with time of the degassing rate, with synchronous maxima in December 2005. Carbon dioxide soil flux and environmental parameters have been also continuously monitored for over one year by an automatic station at Vulcano Porto. In order to assess the hazard of the endogenous gas emissions, CO2 and H2S air concentrations have been measured by Tunable Diode Laser profiles near the fumaroles of the crater rim and of the Levante Beach area, where also the viscous gas flux has been estimated. In addition, CO2 air concentration has been measured both indoor and outdoor in an inhabited sector of Vulcano Porto. Results show that in some sites usually frequented by tourists there is a dangerous H2S air concentration and CO2 exceeds the hazardous thresholds in some Vulcano houses. These zones should be immediately monitored for gas hazard should a new crisis arise. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Hydrothermal fluid circulation may cause measurable gravity changes and ground deformation. We extend our previous studies and increase the number of observable parameters to include gas temperature, the rate of diffuse degassing, the extent of the degassing area, and electrical conductivity. We have carried out simulations using TOUGH2/EOS2 of a large scale hydrothermal system, then we have calculated observables arising from changes in hydrothermal fluid circulation. Our results show that fluids affect many observable parameters generating detectable signals. However, a more detailed description of the shallow subsurface is necessary to properly calculate electrical conductivity. Studies at Solfatara volcano (Campi Flegrei caldera, Italy) highlight the presence of an unsaturated layer at depth and allow to determine the position of the water table. Then, we present results from a new, small scale simulation, focused on the crater, and carried out with a new, refined meshgrid taking into account the real topography. Aim of the work is to calculate a detailed electrical conductivity map and reproduce the main features of the Solfatara crater. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Marine environments with naturally high CO2 concentrations have become important research sites for studying the impacts of future ocean acidification on biological processes. We conducted high temporal resolution pH and temperature measurements in and around a shallow (2.5–3m) CO2 vent site off Ischia, Italy in May and June 2008. Loggers were deployed at five stations to monitor water at both the surface and benthos. Our reference station, 500m from the CO2 vent, had no noticeable vent influence. It had a naturally high and stable benthic pH (mean 8.16, inter-quartile range (IQ): 8.14–8.18) fluctuating with diel periodicity, presumably driven by community photosynthesis and respiration. A principal component analysis (PCA) revealed that the pH of this station was well constrained by meteorological parameters. In contrast, a station positioned within the vent zone, had a low and very variable benthic mean pH of 7.11 (IQ: 6.91–7.62) with large pH fluctuations not well constrained by a PCA. Any stations positioned within 20m of the main vent zone had lowered pH, but suffered from abnormally large pH fluctuations making them unsuitable representatives to predict future changes to a shallow coastal environment. Between these extremes, we identified a benthic area with a lower pH of 7.84 (IQ: 7.83–7.88) that retained many of the characteristics of the reference station such as a natural diel pH periodicity and low variability. Our results indicate that a range of pH environments maybe commonplace near CO2 vents due to their characteristic acidification of benthic water over a wide area. Such environments could become invaluable natural laboratories for ocean acidification research, closely mimicking future CO2 conditions in a natural setting. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This study monitors regional changes in the crystallinity of carbonaceous matter (CM) by applying Micro-Raman spectroscopy to a total of 214 metasediment samples (largely so-called Bündnerschiefer) dominantly metamorphosed under blueschist- to amphibolite-facies conditions. They were collected within the northeastern margin of the Lepontine dome and easterly adjacent areas of the Swiss Central Alps. Three-dimensional mapping of isotemperature contours in map and profile views shows that the isotemperature contours associated with the Miocene Barrow-type Lepontine metamorphic event cut across refolded nappe contacts, both along and across strike within the northeastern margin of the Lepontine dome and adjacent areas. Further to the northeast, the isotemperature contours reflect temperatures reached during the Late Eocene subduction-related blueschist-facies event and/or during subsequent near-isothermal decompression; these contours appear folded by younger, large-scale post-nappe-stacking folds. A substantial jump in the recorded maximum temperatures across the tectonic contact between the frontal Adula nappe complex and surrounding metasediments indicates that this contact accommodated differential tectonic movement of the Adula nappe with respect to the enveloping Bündnerschiefer after maximum temperatures were reached within the northern Adula nappe, i.e. after Late Eocene time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The agricultural sector is probably the one that will suffer most directly from the climatic variations expected at the global level. In particular, the analysis of the changes expected in water availability and demand is fundamental in order to correctly establish both the present water resource management and the definition of new strategies. In this paper the time series of some climatic and agro-climatic indices in the Region of Umbria (Central Italy) have been analyzed with the aim of finding signs of climate changes and identifying the potential impacts on the agricultural water balance. The aforesaid indices include the precipitation, the mean maximum and minimum temperatures (Tmin, Tmax), the mean temperature range (ΔT), the reference evapotranspiration (ET0) and two drought indices, Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) and Standardized Deficit Index (SDI, based on the difference between ET0 and precipitation). These indices were analyzed with reference to different periods (in particular the average growing and irrigation seasons). Furthermore, more specific information was obtained by analyzing the simulated water requirement (CWR) and evapotranspiration deficit (ED) of two typical annual crops (corn and sunflower). The time series of the indices were quantified for 38 stations in the region and they were then analyzed with non-parametric tests both at single sites and at the regional level. The tendencies in cumulated precipitation are generally decreasing (particularly during the wet period) and they are also characterized by a defined spatial pattern. The rainfall reduction during the irrigation season, although less widespread, could have the most important practical consequences. The significant trends detected for both the Tmax and Tmin are mainly positive, and they are more evident for Tmin, often resulting in a reduction of ΔT. ET0 shows a prevailing stationary condition due to the counteracting effects of the prevalent reduction observed for the ΔT and the increment of the mean temperature. At any rate, with reference to the irrigation season, ET0 trends are mainly positive. The results obtained for SPI and SDI are in accordance with the tendencies of non-standardized indices with an expectation of extreme drought event occurrence doubled or even tripled over a 30-year time span. Finally, the analysis of the CWR for corn and the ED for sunflower shows a relevant presence of significant positive trends whose impacts can be estimated in respective mean increments of about 23% and 44% over a 50-year time span. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Summary: The delineation of groundwater protection zones around springs requires the assessment of the spring vulnerability, aquifer properties, and preferential infiltration zones in the recharge area. We propose the use of the Vulnerability Estimator for Spring Protection Areas (VESPA) index to quantify spring vulnerability. The VESPA index is based on a joint analysis of discharge, temperature, and electrical conductivity derived from hydrographs. The method requires 1year of data measured on the spring, and estimates the spring vulnerability for several hydrogeological contexts. No infiltration data in the catchment area is required by the VESPA index. We validated the proposed method using experimental data from 12 test springs, and found that the vulnerability estimated by the VESPA index corresponds to the known vulnerability of the test springs. Four significant test sites are presented in the paper. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: We review some analytical techniques that use underground thermal data as tracers of groundwater flow. These techniques allow the evaluation of the Darcy velocity in shallow aquifers of mid-low permeability and the evaluation of heat gain/loss by conduction in deeper aquifers. Examples of application are then given for the Acqui Terme hydrothermal system, located in the Tertiary Piedmont Basin (northwestern Italy). The analysis of borehole temperatures allowed the inference of the hydraulic features of the sedimentary cover of the hydrothermal system. The results show the presence of a relatively weak flow, with upward and horizontal components, only in conglomerates occurring at the base of the marly impermeable cover. The analysis of the heat transported in the deep parts of the hydrothermal system was approached by splitting the water path into different sections, each with given shape, slope and hydraulic properties. The recharge area is situated in the upland, south of the discharge area. Meteoric water initially descends and then flows horizontally within the fractured metamorphic basement of the basin, heating by conduction. Finally, from a reservoir positioned at intermediate depths, hot water reaches rapidly the surface through a sub-vertical fault. This scheme of deep water flow is constrained by the regional surface heat flow and the local geothermal gradient, and it is consistent with data of rock–water equilibrium temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: An amoeba strain was isolated from marine sediment taken from the beach near a fumarole in Italy. The trophozoites of this new marine species transforms into flagellates with variable numbers of flagella, from 2 to 10. The strain forms round to oval cysts. This thermophilic amoeboflagellate grows at temperatures up to 54°C. Molecular phylogenetic analysis of the small subunit ribosomal DNA (SSU rDNA) places the amoeboflagellate in the Heterolobosea. The closest relatives are Stachyamoeba sp. ATCC50324, a strain isolated from an ocean sample, and Vrihiamoeba italica, a recent isolate from a rice field. Like some other heterolobosean species, this new isolate has a group I intron in the SSU rDNA. Because of the unique place in the molecular phylogenetic tree, and because there is no species found in the literature with similar morphological and physiological characteristics, this isolate is considered to be a new genus and a new species, Oramoeba fumarolia gen. nov., sp. nov. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Larderello–Travale is one of the few geothermal systems in the world that is characterized by a reservoir pressure much lower than hydrostatic. This is a consequence of its natural evolution from an initial liquid-dominated to the current steam-dominated system. Beneath a nearly impermeable cover, the geothermal reservoir consists of carbonate-anhydrite formations and, at greater depth, by metamorphic rocks. The shallow reservoir has temperatures in the range of 220–250°C, and pressures of about 20bar at a depth of 1000m, while the deep metamorphic reservoir has temperatures of 300–350°C, and pressures of about 70bar at a depth of 3000m. The 3D numerical code “TOUGH2” has been used to conduct a regional modeling study to investigate the production mechanism of superheated steam, the interactions between the geothermal field and the surrounding deep aquifers, and the field sustainability. All the available geoscientific data collected in about one century of exploration and exploitation have been used to provide the necessary input parameters for the model, which covers an area (4900km2) about 10 times wider than the Larderello–Travale geothermal field (400km2). The numerical model explains the origin of the steam extracted in about one century of exploitation and shows that, at the current level, the production is sustainable at least for the next 100 years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Chemical composition data (ionic fraction, carbonaceous compounds and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons) for PM2.5 were acquired during 2005–2007years by seasonal sampling campaigns performed at six urban sites in Apulia Region. In addition, an industrial site was considered. Discriminant Function Analysis, Principal Component Analysis and Absolute Principal Component Scores were applied to dataset in order to identify PM2.5 sources and to estimate their contributions to samples mass. Three main sources were obtained for the urban sites: combustion processes, natural sources and secondary particulate. Moreover, the application of Principal Component Analysis on chemical and meteorological data highlighted the influence of temperature and relative humidity on natural sources, and the relevance of pressure on secondary particulate content. In PM2.5, secondary particulate contributed on average with 78% to total mass, while combustion processes and natural sources accounted, respectively, 15% and 6.5% of the fine fraction mass. For this reason the secondary background should be taken into account in order to suggest the efficient abatement strategies to improve local air quality in South of Italy. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This study documents the attributes of siliceous stromatolites growing in the Lake Specchio di Venere, on the volcanic island of Pantelleria, Italy, in a setting characterized by very shallow cold waters and pools and by scattered hydrothermal activity, which exhales mainly CO2, at emission point temperatures of 34 to 58°C. The saturation indexes indicate that the lake waters are saturated with respect to tridymite, cristobalite, chalcedony and quartz, and slightly undersaturated with respect to amorphous silica. Common roughly laminated and poorly lithified stromatolites show scanning electron microscope (SEM) evidence for silicified microbial mat structures, including biofilms, filamentous and coccoid cells, and extracellular polymeric substances (EPS). The screening of bacterial 16S rRNA libraries indicates that autotrophic and heterotrophic bacterial communities colonize surface and core levels of the stromatolites. Locally the stromatolites show a granular non-porous fabric, where filaments and silica sheets are not apparent. Inhomogeneity in the stromatolite fabric corresponds with varying DNA content and different structures of the colonizing bacterial communities, non-porous stromatolite levels being microbially colonized to a lesser extent. Based on Fourier Transform (FT)–Raman and FT-infrared investigations, the laminated stromatolite contains early diagenetic tridymite in addition to amorphous silica (opal-A), whereas the non-porous stromatolite shows an essentially amorphous character. The laminated stromatolite is thought to form at relatively low rates of silica precipitation and with a possible microbial mediation in terms of microbial cells and their EPS accelerating the onset of amorphous silica nucleation. It is suggested that high porosity probably favoured a consistent flux of silica-rich fluids that triggered the opal-A to tridymite transformation, thus strengthening the preservation of biosignals. Non-porous stromatolite growth could reflect temporal or localised changes in environmental conditions that caused variations in the degree of silica saturation in the lake waters inducing abiotic silica accumulation. Accelerated opal-A deposition could have obscured primary filamentous fabrics and limited the flux of pore fluid needed for sustaining the process of silica maturation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In this paper, a new bio-cleaning procedure based on the glucose oxidase (GOx) has been applied on the travertine and peperino substrata to remove the biological patina (i.e., biofilm). Glucose oxidase, used as a model enzyme system, is able to produce in situ H2O2 (the cleaning agent having oxidizing properties) by the enzymatic reaction at room temperature. The travertine and peperino samples came from the Villa Torlonia in Rome (Italy), and an analytical diagnosis on them was performed applying several analytical techniques, such as the differential interference contrast microscopy (DIC), the optical microscope (OM), the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and the X-ray fluorescence (XRF) that evidence the presence of biofilms on the substrata. Better results were obtained on the travertine samples in terms of the cleaning efficiency and the absence of the etching effect on the surface, eventually induced by the peroxide molecule. These results could be explained in terms of the different porosities of the two kinds of stone materials, according to the BET data. A comparative study was also performed to validate the new bio-cleaning procedure, using both traditional approaches based on saturated (NH4)2CO3 solution and EDTA in buffer solution and the enzyme lipase treatments. Among all, the cleaning procedure via GOx shows the best result, probably because the enzyme controls the concentration of the H2O2 in situ and also retains the H2O2 preferentially on the surface (where the biological patina is present) depending on the porosity of the substrata. A synergistic effect, with other enzymes such as lipase and protease, combined with the biocompatibility of the enzymatic treatments, could represent a new way for a higher cleaning efficiency to apply on different stone substrata. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The soil CO2 degassing is affected by processes of isotope exchange and fractionation during transport across the soil, which can deeply modify the pristine isotope composition. This has been observed in the Solfatara volcano, upon a field survey of 110 points, where the CO2 flux was measured, together with temperature, CO2 concentration and oxygen and carbon isotopes within the soil. Furthermore, in some selected sites, the measurements were made at different depths, in order to analyze vertical gradients. Oxygen isotope composition appears controlled by exchange with soil water (either meteoric or fumarolic condensate), due to the fast kinetic of the isotopic equilibrium between CO2 and water. Carbon isotope composition is reliably controlled by transport-driven fractionation, due to the differences in diffusion coefficients between and . We model the processes affecting CO2 transport across the soil in La Solfatara volcano by means of the Dusty Gas Model applied to a multicomponent system, to evaluate the reciprocal effect on diffusion of involved gases, i.e. , , N2 and O2 in our case. Both numerical and simplified analytical solutions of the equations based on the Dusty Gas Model are given. The modeling results fit well with the experimental data and put in evidence an isotope fractionation of carbon up to about with respect to the source value in the soil gas. This fractionation is independent from the entity of the CO2 flux, and occurs as long as a concentration gradient exists within the soil. On these grounds, the Dusty Gas Model can be applied to whichever diffusing gas mixture to evaluate the extent of chemical and/or isotopic fractionation that can affect ascending gases upon diffusion in any geothermal, volcanic or tectonic area. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In this paper, volcanic-rich ceramic remains from the archaeological sites of Francavilla, Naxos and Taormina (Province of Messina, North-eastern Sicily) were studied by using inclusions as main provenance marker. Technological features, such as temper choice, vitrification degree and firing temperatures, were investigated by polarizing microscopy, X-ray diffractometry (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Information on the production centres was obtained through the identification of the source area of raw materials used as temper. Indeed, petrochemical analysis of the volcanic inclusions within the examined ceramics displayed strong affinities with structures/textures and compositions of the locally outcropping mugearitic products, probably ascribed to the eruptive activity of an eccentric vent of Mt. Etna (Mt. Mojo). A local production for the studied pottery samples has been therefore advanced, assuming that the used volcanic temper was easily available from the alluvial deposits along the Alcantara River stream, which is connected to the lava flow of Mt. Mojo. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Late-Hercynian, high temperature (HT) shear deformation affected the zone straddling the contact between the Sila Massif batholith (above) and the host migmatitic paragneisses (below). A segment of the regional HT shear zone was investigated close to the town of Mesoraca, where a natural section allows one to analyse the solidus deformation of syn-tectonic granitoids. Shearing favoured the formation of polycrystalline quartz ribbons in deformed granodiorite and tonalite. Two main c-axis fabrics were found in the quartz-ribbons, different from each other by opening angles around Z between strong point maxima, in accordance with deformation under granulite to amphibolite facies conditions. These fabrics, along with microstructural observations, suggest that temperature of deformation played a key role and that ribboning was accompanied by the activation of (i) prism [c] slip and prism [c]+prism slips, under granulite facies conditions, followed by (ii) basal and prism slips under amphibolite facies conditions. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A research program addressed to evaluate the magnesium hydride storage scaling up effects is being developed by CESI RICERCA, Milano, and the Hydrogen Group of Padova University. A storage device containing 500g of magnesium hydride powder (manufactured by Venezia Tecnologie S.p.A. using high-energy ball milling) has been designed and tested in different operating conditions. A number of absorption and desorption cycles at different temperatures and pressures has been carried out in order to see if the results are comparable with laboratory data obtained on small amounts (fractions of grams) of powder samples. A sensible performance degradation that reduced the overall storage capacity of about 50% has been noticed after 20 cycles, presumably due to local powder heating, fragmentation and subsequent compaction. Further tests on a smaller tank equipped also with a porous baffle gave useful indications for the design of an improved large hydrogen reservoir. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A radon calibration facility was developed at Naples University (Italy). It consists of an exposure chamber, a radon reference monitor and an apparatus suitable for radon circulation and air climatic control. The parameters that are possible to change and control are carrier gas, radon activity, gas pressure, temperature, and humidity. The characterization of the facility is actually underway to verify its reliability and stability with respect to various parameters of interest. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

We present a case study of a Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) hybrid system based on Brillouin Distributed Fiber Optic Sensors (D-FOS), Vibrating Wire (VW) extensometers and temperature probes for an existing historical water penstock bridge positioned in a mountain valley in Valle d'Aosta Region, Northwestern Italy. We assessed Brillouin D-FOS performances for this kind of infrastructure, characterized by a complex structural layout and located in a harsh environment. A comparison with the more traditional strain monitoring technology offered by VW strain gauges was performed. The D-FOS strain cable has been bonded to the concrete members using a polyurethane-base adhesive, ensuring a rigid strain transfer. The raw data from all sensors are interpolated on a unique general timestamp with hourly resolution. Strain data from D-FOS and VW strain gauges are then corrected from temperature effects and compared. Considering the inherent differences between the two monitoring technologies, results show a good overall matching between strain time series collected by D-FOS and VW sensors. Brillouin D-FOS proves to be a good solution in terms of performance and economic investment for SHM systems on complex infrastructures such as hydropower plants, which involve extensive geometry combined with the need for detailed and continuous strain monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We studied growth and photosynthetic response of a shallow-water population of the invasive alga Caulerpa racemosa var. cylindracea off the Island of Ischia (Gulf of Naples, Italy). The effects of temperature on relative growth rate (RGR), light-saturated photosynthetic rate (Pmax), dark respiration rate (Rd) and optimal quantum yield (Fv/Fm) were assessed for thalli collected in two seasons (early winter and early summer). While temperatures higher than 22°C stressed early winter thalli, as reflected in the decrease in growth rates and optimal quantum yields, both increased with temperature in early summer plants. A difference between the two seasonal samples also occurred in the high-temperature sensitivity of respiration rates, which was enhanced in early winter plants. As changes in a number of the traits considered occur in advance of seasonal minima and maxima, C. racemosa var. cylindracea may behave as a season anticipator. The contribution of observed patterns to the colonization success of the alga is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]