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Water sustainability involves several natural and human spheres conditioning the availability and quality of water resources and life conservation. Regarding water quality, currently emerging pollutants (EPs) are a key topic at global scale since they are difficult to remove by traditional water treatment systems. In this context, this work aims to evaluate experts’ perception of several EPs issues with a special focus on semi-arid Mediterranean areas where EPs are negatively impacting water, environmental, and agricultural systems as, in these areas, effluents from water treatment plants are widely reused in the irrigation of crops, urban gardens, and golf courses or directly discharged on natural streams. Particularly, a detailed survey composed of questions about EPs regulation, risk insight, equipment, social and economic impacts, was performed collecting 437 responses. Main results suggested that EPs existence may pose a significant risk and a destabilizing factor in wastewater reuse, with negative impacts to crop irrigation, being managers the class with more concern followed by scientifics and administratives. New EPs regulations raises uncertainty amongst experts since 29 % considered positive its creation, while 20 % estimated this fact as regular and 14 % as negative. As well, although the combination of technologies to improve EPs removal generated agreement, aspects like the treatment charges at water treatment plants or the price/bill of EPs-free water were features of ambiguity. Within EPs elimination, the three expert groups highlighted that technologies impacts in the sustainability spheres will be positive on public health (87 % of responses), social trust (75 %), and environmental sustainability (76 %). Likewise, 88 % of experts concurred that the future of wastewater reuse relies on a combination of technologies. These findings offer valuable information to water legislators and policymakers to manage water resources, especially in semi-arid areas due to the final use of treated effluents and, therefore, the great implications for agriculture, environment and human health.

Since the last decades, soil erosion and wildfires are significant threats to most societies and results in the loss of fertile layers and, consequently, in productivity. Changes in soil moisture and stability of soil grains, both in the short- and long-terms after a wildfire occurs, should be also considered as a parameter because they play a key role in plant growth and nutrition too. Adding conditioners to soil also helps to reduce runoff and nutrient losses, which is necessary for the sustainable use of water and ecosystem services. Therefore, the current research was conducted to assess the impacts of zeolite (microporous, crystalline aluminosilicate material commonly applied as commercial adsorbent and catalysts) conservation treatment with diverse amounts (0, 250, 500 and 750 g m−2; Z0 Z1, Z2 and Z3, respectively) on changes of runoff and sediment yield in burned soils with different amounts (250, 500, 750 and 1000 g m−2; F1, F2, F3 and F4, respectively) under laboratory conditions. The experiments were conducted using rainfall simulations with an intensity of 50 mm h−1. The results showed that the highest changes percent of time to runoff (s), runoff volume (l), and soil loss (g) variables after zeolite application at different rates of fire was observed in F4Z3 treatment with 114.94, 76.61 and 82.60%, respectively. We conclude that these results can be useful for a better understanding of the relationships between the fire effects on runoff and sediment considering innovative application of control measures nin-tested to date.

Cognates are words that are orthographically and semantically identical (or similar) between languages. The purpose of Experiment 1 was to provide educators and researchers with orthographic similarity ratings for the English-Spanish cognate words that comprise the Academic Word List (Coxhead, 2000). To this end, similarity ratings for the 473 English-Spanish cognate pairs were collected from 42 students enrolled in literacy education courses at a southwestern university. Experiment 2 was conducted to validate the ratings from Experiment 1 using reaction time. We found that the orthographic similarity ratings were strongly correlated with reaction times during this task, lending support to the usefulness of the transparency ratings obtained in Experiment 1. Thus, educators and researchers can avail themselves of these ratings to create leveled educational materials for language instruction or to statistically calibrate experimental stimuli for learning and memory investigations. Additionally, we report an initial-letter effect, which describes the finding that the earlier an English word deviates from its Spanish cognate, the lower the similarity rating for the cognate pair, thus extending the generalizeability of the initial-letter effect observed in prior research.

La situación actual de escasez de recursos energéticos, unido a la ineficiencia en el uso de los edificios, y al avance de la tecnología sugiere la implantación de sistemas inteligentes para un uso más sostenible. En este texto se expone el desarrollo de un sistema de información heterogéneo que permite la monitorización de las infraestructuras edificatorias, y la integración de datos en una plataforma digital de visualización, dentro de una arquitectura escalable y de fuentes abiertas. Se ha implementado en el caso de estudio del municipio del Casar de Cáceres, y en el ámbito del consumo eléctrico de los edificios públicos; este municipio cuenta con unos 4500 habitantes y 39 contratos de contadores públicos que se agrupan según cada edificio y su tipología de uso (sanitario, educativo, culturales, asistenciales, otros, y alumbrado público). El uso de estos indicadores facilitará el establecimiento de políticas de evaluación de los edificios. Para finalizar, estos flujos de datos facilitarán la gestión municipal y mejorará la calidad de los servicios ofrecidos, permitiendo además mejorar su eficiencia y el ahorro de recursos, tanto naturales como humanos y económicos. Abstract The current situation of scarcity of energy resources, together with the inefficient use of buildings and the advance of technology, suggests the implementation of intelligent systems for a more sustainable use. This text presents the development of a heterogeneous information system that allows the monitoring of building infrastructures and the integration of data in a digital visualisation platform, within a scalable and open-source architecture. It has been implemented in the case study of the municipality of Casar de Cáceres, and in the field of electricity consumption of public buildings; this municipality has about 4500 inhabitants and 39 public meter contracts that are grouped according to each building and its type of use (health, education, cultural, welfare, other, and public lighting). The use of these indicators will facilitate the establishment of building evaluation policies. Finally, these data flows will facilitate municipal management and improve the quality of the services offered, as well as improving their efficiency and saving resources, both natural, human and economic.

Many buildings built before energy performance regulations are actually in a situation of thermal discomfort and energy inefficiency. The creation of intelligent environments is moving towards new opportunities, based on real-time monitoring and on the development of sensors and technologies. Furthermore, building automation and electronic systems standards enable interoperability and interconnection between control devices and systems. The application of soft computing has significantly improved the energy efficiency; however, it requires prior assessment to design the automation functions. Temperature, humidity, air quality and energy consumption are the most commonly measured parameters, but their relationships with other operational variables such as occupancy or some building states remain as a research challenge. This article presents a methodology to develop the automation of a large existing public building. This methodology consists of two stages: 1. Assessment and diagnosis to set appropriate functions, using EN ISO 52120-1 and EN 50090 for open communication networks, and EN ISO 52120-1 to assign the technical building management. 2. System control deployment of low-cost and low-consumption input and output devices. It has been proven that it is possible to effectively automate an obsolete building with a low-cost, open-source system that can be easily applied to other buildings.

Digital Twins (DTs) are real-time digital models that allow for self-diagnosis, self-optimization and self-configuration without the need for human input or intervention. While DTs are a central aspect of the ongoing fourth industrial revolution (I4.0), this leap forward may be reserved for the established, large-cap companies since the adoption of digital technologies among Small and Medium-size Enterprises (SMEs) is still modest. The aim of the H2020 European Project ”DIGITbrain” is to support a modular construction of DTs by reusing their fundamental building blocks, i.e., the Models that describe the behavior of the DT, their associated Algorithms and the Data required for the evaluation. By offering these building blocks as a service via a DT Platform (a Digital Twin Environment), the technical barriers among SMEs to adopt these technologies are lowered. This paper describes how digital models can be classified, reused and authored on such DT Platforms. Through experimental analyses of three industrial cases, the paper exemplifies how DTs are employed in relation to product assembly of agricultural robots, polymer injection molding, as well as laser-cutting and sheet-metal forming of aluminum.

En este artículo se aporta una metodología para evaluar la eficiencia energética que aportan las estrategias bioclimáticas de las viviendas vernáculas. El caso de estudio ha sido el Valle del Jerte (Cáceres) con unas tres mil viviendas tradicionales. En primer lugar, se han definido tres tipologías constructivas, y posteriormente se ha simulado específicamente el comportamiento energético de la estrategia de la inercia térmica, proporcionada por los muros de piedra de la envolvente de los edificios, y por la tierra en contacto con la planta baja. En las simulaciones fueron eliminados los elementos masivos para analizar las diferencias en las condiciones higrotérmicas y los intercambios energéticos, tanto de calentamiento como de enfriamiento. Los resultados indican que esta estrategia es beneficiosa, ya que estabiliza las temperaturas interiores respecto a las oscilaciones exteriores, acercándolas a las medias diurnas, más agradables. Identificar las estrategias bioclimáticas permite proponer la valorización de elementos vernáculos.

La economía circular y la bioeconomía han resultado ser una alternativa a nivel mundial a los modelos de producción lineales y basados en combustibles fósiles y materias primas muchas veces no–renovables. Aunque en Centroamérica existen iniciativas de este tipo, principalmente en el sector bioenergético, se debe impulsar la aplicación de estos principios en sectores más amplios como la bio emediación, la fabricación de bio–fertilizantes e incluso de materiales de más alto valor como bio–polímeros y bio–cosméticos. De igual manera, la preservación de la biodiversidad debe ser un objetivo común centroamericano, aunado a esto, se debe añadir el efecto sinérgico entre los países centroamericanos, en donde el SICA puede jugar un rol institucional neutro, más no pasivo, de coordinación y articulación entre los países. La migración hacia una economía bio–basada y circular con enfoque ambientalmente sostenible es viable en la región considerando las tecnologías actuales y el potencial de biodiversidad de Centroamérica.

De entre los muchos elementos arquitectónicos dispersos por el término municipal de Cáceres (ciudad histórica incluida en el Patrimonio Mundial de la UNESCO) hay uno en estado de ruina, conocido como “ermita de San Jorge”, que en el estado actual del conocimiento algunos autores consideran un edificio religioso por el hecho de tener una estructura de nave diáfana y una serie de pinturas con motivos religiosos. La investigación resumida en este artículo: 1. Se ha realizado con metodología arquitectónica, recabando los datos conocidos y realizando un levantamiento arquitectónico de la estructura del edificio, no sólo de la geometría de los restos, sino del sistema estructural, así como del análisis del emplazamiento. 2. Demuestra que la estructura resistente de los restos constructivos corresponde en realidad a un edificio de almacén de agua (aljibe), emplazado en un camino histórico de la red caminera de Cáceres y en las inmediaciones de la torre medieval de Los Mogollones.

The elements of a new daily normal, airports need to face in post-pandemic operations, are massive flight delays, operational disruptions, and shortage of trained staff. The authors analysed the problems and reactions of airport human resources staff during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic and their approach to the management of human resources after the remission of the pandemic. Additionally, this paper describes problems of airports during the recovery phase and increases the understanding of specific problems airports are facing due to lack of qualified staff in their post-pandemic recovery period. Critical areas, in which airports underperform are ground handling services and security checks of passengers. Staff recruitment is not capable of providing enough workers to do the job. This leads to flight cancellations and delays or unsatisfied passengers during check-in and security. On top of this, ground-handling services remain unattractive for newcomers due to poor working conditions, such as low wages and 7 days a week shift work. ‘Cross-training’, allowing airports to have employees shadow colleagues from other airport teams, or ‘employee sharing’ (with other airports) could help in reducing problems, with unavailability of trained staff, especially at smaller airports.

Air transport industry is one the many sectors significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Travel restrictions and bans resulted in reduction in aircraft operation. Airlines have no option than to limit their services by grounding their fleet: as of April 2020, out of 22,000 passenger aircraft around the world, almost 14,400 were grounded [1]. Airport operators are trying to accommodate most of the grounded aircraft by utilizing their main operational space as aprons, taxiways and runways. The limited space at airports often means that aircraft have to be parked in non-standard positions, which may affect the airport daily operations. While planning aircraft parking, safety is the top priority. The effect of long-term load was not considered in the pavement design and could result in increased pavement maintenance requirements. Airport operators must also reflect aircraft maintenance needs in terms of engines, hydraulics, braking system, cabin interior and others.

The low satisfaction of university accounting teachers with the mentoring process of the Final Year Dissertation (FYD) has motivated carrying out this study. Moreover, lecturers are very interested in knowing which factors are influencing this satisfaction. The aim of the study is to detect which factors explain this state of satisfaction and model this relation. The elements which have been able to influence this opinion have been identified and studied. Exploratory factor analysis has extracted 5 factors from them: the acceptation of the methodology, the perception of competence, generic competences, the importance of instrumental competences and the importance of systemic competences. The results reveal the relations between the constructs and satisfaction. In conclusion, if we wish to build a teaching strategy which reinforces university accounting teachers’ degree of satisfaction in their work mentoring the FYD, this should be centred on enhancing its generic competences. The development of these generic competences directly or indirectly impacts the mentors’ opinions concerning the importance of the instrumental and systemic competences and, consequently, their satisfaction.

ABSTRACT Background: Pediatric procedures have the difficulty of being performed in reduced spaces. Training in reduced spaces has proven to be different in complexity compared to adult laparoscopic endotrainers. Aim: To develop and validate a new neonatal/reduced-space endotrainer. Methods: The simulator was tested and assessed by users with different skill levels and experience in laparoscopic pediatric surgery through an 8-item questionnaire. Construct validity was determined by evaluating the performance of each subject on nine exercises. Results: A 10.5 x 10 x 18 cm acrylic simulator was created, with an internal working surface of 9 x 9 cm. An HD camera was incorporated, with a 0-180° range of movement. All exercises of a Basic Laparoscopic Training Program were adapted on a scale of 1:0.5 to fit in. From 49 participants, 42 (85.71%) answered the survey; 80.5% considered that the simulator reproduces similar conditions to procedures performed in children under one year of age; 61.1% thought that the simulator represents a difficulty identical to procedures performed in newborns; 73.7% considered that the neonatal simulator is more complicated than the adult simulator. Experts showed significantly better performance in all proposed exercises. Conclusion: The simulator has a high-quality image and design that allows training with basic tasks. The endotrainer permitted to discriminate between these different skill levels and was well evaluated by users with diverse surgical experience.

Tetraclinis articulata (Vahl) Masters is an endangered tree growing in coastal and arid environments that is widely exploited by the timber and resin industry, among other applications. In this context, the use of in vitro techniques is highly encouraged for its propagation. We present a protocol for micropropagation using twigs from adult trees as a source of explants. The Schenk and Hildebrandt basal medium (SH) supplemented with 30 g L−1 sucrose, 6.5 g L−1 plant agar, 4.0 mg L−1 6-benzyladenine (BA), and 0.05 mg L−1 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) provided the optimum multiplication rate (90.48 ± 9.52 explants with basal shoots and 2.58 ± 0.29 basal shoots per explant). Application of activated charcoal (AC) or ½ Knop solution in a liquid overlay produced significantly longer shoots. Supplementation of solid media with indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) or NAA gave low rooting percentages (−1 AC improved rooting (40%) but rooting performance was optimal (66.7%) after a pulse treatment consisting of 4 h immersion in liquid SH medium without growth regulators, followed by 8 weeks of cultivation. Rooted microplants were successfully acclimatized (93.33%) in a peat moss and vermiculite mixture (1:1 v/v ratio). The genetic stability of the in vitro regenerated plantlets was confirmed using the randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) technique. Explant survival and growth remained higher than 90% after 28 weeks of cold storage at both 4 °C and 10 °C. The protocol presented here allows for largescale T. articulata production and could be applied for both ex situ conservation strategies and industrial purposes.

An interdisciplinary study of Miocene successions in the eastern External Betic Zone (South Iberian Margin) was carried out. Evidences of syn-sedimentary tectonic activity were recognized. The results enabled a better reconstruction of the stratigraphic architecture (with an improved chronostratigraphic resolution) in the framework of the Miocene foredeep evolution of the eastern EBZ. Two main depositional sequences were dated as uppermost Burdigalian-upper Serravallian p.p. and middle-upper Tortonian. p.p., respectively. The vertical and lateral diversification of lithofacies associations and thicknesses resulted from the syn-depositional tectonic complexity of the area. A great variety of sedimentary depositional realms is due to different subsidence rates, and the growing of anticlines and synclines during the Langhian p.p.-Serravallian. After a regression with an early Tortonian erosional gap, platform to hemipelagic realms developed during the middle Tortonian. The end of the sedimentation coincided with the emplacement of an important olisthostrome-like mass consisting of Triassic material related to either the development of thrust systems or diapirs emerged in the middle-late Tortonian, during the nappe emplacement. Correlations with other external sectors of the Betic Chain, and the external domains of the Rif, Tell, and northern Apennine Chains highlighted a similar Miocene foredeep evolution during the building of these orogens.

During the last decade, several Bohaiornis-like enantiornithine species—and numerous specimens—have been recognized from the celebrated Jehol Biota of northwestern China. In this paper, we describe the anatomy of another “bohaiornithid” species from the 125 million-year-old Yixian Formation of Liaoning Province, China. The new taxon differs from previously recognized “bohaiornithids” on a number of characters from the forelimb and shoulder girdle. We also provide a new phylogenetic framework for enantiornithine birds, which questions the monophyly of the previously recognized bohaiornithid clade and highlights ongoing challenges for resolving enantiornithine interrelationships. Additionally, we offer the first assessment of the flight properties of Bohaiornis-like enantiornithines. Our results indicate that while “bohaiornithids” were morphologically suited for flying through continuous flapping, they would have been unable to sustain prolonged flights. Such findings expand the flight strategies previously known for enantiornithines and other early birds.

An interdisciplinary study based on lithostratigraphic, biostratigraphic, petrographic and mineralogical analyses has been performed in order to establish the Cenozoic tectono-sedimentary evolution of the El Habt and Ouezzane Tectonic Units (External Intrarif Subzone, External Rif, Morocco). The reconstructed record allowed identification of the depositional architecture and related sedimentary processes of the considered units. The Cenozoic successions were biochronologically defined allowing, at the same time, identification of unconformities and associated stratigraphic gaps. The presence of five unconformities allowed for the definition of the main stratigraphic units arranged in a regressive trend: (1) lower Paleocene interval (Danian p.p.) assigned to a deep basin; (2) Eocene interval (lower Ypresian-lower Bartonian p.p.) from a deep basin to an external carbonate-siliceous platform; (3) lower Rupelian-upper Chattian p.p. interval deposited on unstable slope with turbidite channels passing upward to an external siliciclastic platform; (4) Burdigalian p.p. interval from a slope; (5) Langhian-Serravallian p.p. interval from slope to external platform realms. The petrography of the arenites and calcarenites allowed for the identification of the supplies derived from erosion of a recycled orogen (transitional and quartzose subtypes). The clay-mineralogy analysis indicates an unroofing (first erosion of Cretaceous terrains followed by upper Jurassic rocks) always accomplished by erosion of Cenozoic terrains. Several tectofacies checked in some stratigraphic intervals seem to indicate the beginning of deformation of the basement generating gentle folds and first activation of blind thrusts, mainly during the Paleogene. A preorogenic tectonic framework is considered as responseto the generalized tectonic inversion (from extension to compression) as frequently registered in the central-western peri-Mediterranean areas. The large volumes of reworked terrigeneous supply during the latest Oligocene-Miocene p.p. indicates the beginningsof the synorogenic sedimentation (foredeep stage of the basins) controlled by active tectonics.

From the study of the planktonic foraminifer assemblages of the sediments of the Ocean Drilling Program (ODP)-Site 975 (Baleares), sea-surface temperature, seasonality and salinity for the Pliocene and Gelasian of the Western Mediterranean were estimated. The estimates were carried out by the modern analog technique (MAT) using PaleoUma, a calibration dataset of 735 North-Atlantic and Mediterranean core-tops. In order to compare Pliocene–Gelasian and present-day analog assemblages, the necessary reduction of the taxonomic variables leads to statistically insignificant increases in estimation error, assessed on the calibration dataset itself. In addition, the correlation with δ18O results as an independent proxy, supports the use of MAT in order to establish the dominant paleoceanographic frameworks during the Pliocene and Gelasian. The SST curve shows an increase trend of the average value since the Early Zanclean (19.7 ± 1.8 °C) to the Late Piacenzian (20.9 ± 1.7 °C) and a decrease until the Late Gelasian (18.1 ± 1.4 °C). The seasonality offers permanently lower estimates than the current value (9.8 °C), reaching the closest values during the Late Gelasian (8.6 ± 0.8 °C). The salinity estimates are overall slightly lower during the Zanclean (36.7‰ ± 0.5‰) than today (37.3‰), whereas they reach up to more than 38.5‰, in the Early Piacenzian. The paleoceanographic frameworks deduced from the combination of the paleoceanographic parameters suggest that the current water-deficit regime in the Mediterranean was clearly predominant throughout the Pliocene and Gelasian. However, since the Piacenzian this regime alternates with stages of water surplus, which are especially frequent in the late Piacenzian. By the middle of the Early Gelasian the regime becomes more predominantly in deficit again.

We describe an exquisitely preserved new avian fossil (BMNHC-PH-919) from the Lower Cretaceous Yixian Formation of eastern Inner Mongolia, China. Although morphologically similar to Cathayornithidae and other small-sized enantiornithines from China's Jehol Biota, many morphological features indicate that it represents a new species, here named Junornis houi. The new fossil displays most of its plumage including a pair of elongated, rachis-dominated tail feathers similarly present in a variety of other enantiornithines. BMNHC-PH-919 represents the first record of a Jehol enantiornithine from Inner Mongolia, thus extending the known distribution of these birds into the eastern portion of this region. Furthermore, its well-preserved skeleton and wing outline provide insight into the aerodynamic performance of enantiornithines, suggesting that these birds had evolved bounding flight-a flight mode common to passeriforms and other small living birds-as early as 125 million years ago.

In polymer nanocomposites, the interface region between the matrix and the fillers has been identified as a key interaction region that strongly determines the properties of the final material. Determining its structure is crucial from several points of view, from modeling (i.e., properties prediction) to materials science (i.e., understanding properties/structure relationships). In the presented paper, a method for characterizing the interface region of polymer nanocomposites is described using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. In particular, the structure of the polymer within the interface region together with its dimension in terms of thickness were analyzed through density profiles. Epoxy resin nanocomposites based on diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA) were studied using this approach, and the interface region with triple walled carbon nanotubes (TWCNT) and carbon fibers (CF) was characterized. The effect of carbon nanotube diameter, type of hardener, and effect of epoxy resin cross-linking degree on interface thickness were analyzed using MD models. From this analysis no general rule on the effect of these parameters on the interface thickness could be established, since in some cases overlapping effects between the analyzed parameters were observed, and each specific case needs to be analyzed independently in detail. Results show that the diameter has an impact on interface thickness, but this effect is affected by the cross-linking degree of the epoxy resin. The type of hardener also has a certain influence on the interface thickness.

La Ley de Auditoria lleva vigente algo más de una década y numerosas voces reclaman su modifica, por lo que este trabajo aborda las posibles orientaciones que podrían contemplarse en la reforma de algunos de los puntos más controvertidos de la ley actual. Se revisan así los problemas derivados del procedimiento de acceso a la profesión y del régimen transitorio inicial que dispuso la ley, el grado de intervencionismo y su posible reducción, el carácter de profesión de la actividad auditora, el papel de las corporaciones de auditores, la problemática de la formación continuada de los profesionales, los controvertidos temas de la responsabilidad, la independencia prestación de otros servicios paralelos a las empresas auditadas, y el contexto internacional en que desarrollarse la ley y sus consecuencias de cara a la libre circulación de auditores en la Unión Europea.The Spanish Auditory Law is ten years old now and there is now a generalised call for its reform & paper therefore puts forward some possible trends with in this reform, especially in the more controversial sections of the present law. Topics analyzed are the procedure to enter in the auditor career, specially in the transitory way observed by the law, the intervencionisme of the public authorities versus the regulation, the profesional character of the auditor's activity, the role of the auditor's associations problems of permanent training, the highlights themes of responsability, independence and the treatement of other relationships between auditors and companies: consultant and legal services and its implications and the influence in the new law of the international environment, mainly in the free circulation of auditing services in the European Union.

New biostratigraphic data on the Frazzanò Flysch Formation are presented. This unit is the topmost formation of the stratigraphic succession characterizing the Longi-Taormina Unit, which in turn represents the lowest tectonic unit of the Peloritani Mountains and the only unit in the entire southern sector of the Calabria-Peloritani Arc in which cenozoic terrains have been recognized. The age of the Frazzanò Fm., which as yet has not been well defined, is essential to ascertain the time period during which the tectogenetic phase responsible for the stacking (superposition) of the nappes in the Peloritani Mountains occurred . Coltro (1967) reported foraminiferal assemblages of Late Eocene age, but subsequently ages ranging between the Middle Eocene and the Oligocene have been pro posed, none of them supported by new biostratigraphic data. The identification of some coccolithid taxa which appear in the Late Oligocene and Early Miocene allowed us to attribute an age not older than Upper Oligocene to the levels that mark the transition between the Frazzanò Fm.and the underlying Militello Formation, and an age not older than Early Aquitanian to the most recent beds of the Frazzanò Formation. Therefore, the tectogenetic phase responsible for the superposition of the nappes in the Peloritani Mountains, very likely started during the Aquitanian. While these data agree with the evolution of homologous units recognised in the Betic and Rifian sectors, they challenge the Late Oligocene age ascribed to the basal levels of the Stilo-Capo d'Orlando Formation, which lies unconformably over all the tectonic units of the Calabria-Peloritani Arc and pro vides a chronological upper limit to their overthrusting.