Quartz in sedimentary rocks: OH-defects and trace elements for provenance studies

The flysch basins of the North-eastern part of the Adria Plate are represented by several elongated turbiditic sedimentary units, which are filled by carbonatic and siliciclastic material. In this study we focus on the Julian, Brkini, and Kvarner Islands basins (Italy, Slovenia, and Croatia). The carbonatic part is thought to derive by the disassembly of the nearby carbonate platforms, while the provenance of the siliciclastic material is still a matter of debate. To fill this gap in knowledge and identify the possible source of the siliciclastic portion of the filling sediments, this work presents a new quartz analyses dataset. Quartz can incorporate chemical impurities as defects in the crystal lattice (Al, Li, B, 4H), which are coupled to OH groups and form specific IR absorption bands. These so called OH-defects are correlated to petrogenetic conditions during crystal growth, and they may be used as a provenance tool. The amount of Al-related defects can be used to discriminate between a igneous (> 5ppm) and a non-igneous source (< 5ppm). In this study, FTIR spectroscopy of quartz has been used to investigate the sample set, with interest to its OH defect speciation and content. Julian Basin’s quartz show differences in the supply source within the succession: the oldest ones (JB5 and JB1) show an almost 1:1 ratio between igneous and non-igneous origin; samples JB10 and JB17 show a change with a predominantly igneous source; the youngest samples (JB23 and JB26) have a neat predominance of a non-igneous source. Brkini samples show again a difference in the source with the older BK41 having a more igneous source than the younger BKNV. Samples from the Kvarner Islands Basin indicate a predominantly non-igneous source (DOB) while in RAB1 the non-igneous source seems to be clearly prevalent, even if only few clear spectra were obtained. Trace elements such as Al, Li, B, Ge, Ti, and others have been analysed and quantified by LA-ICP-MS on the same grains. Regarding the Al trace content, it is important to notice that it follows the Al-related OH defects’ trend, demonstrating the possible existence of a correlation between the two analytical methods. Other classifications based on trace elements demonstrate different behaviour within the quartz set, confirming the trend displayed by the OH-defects method.The flysch basins of the North-eastern part of the Adria Plate are represented by several elongated turbiditic sedimentary units, which are filled by carbonatic and siliciclastic material. In this study we focus on the Julian, Brkini, and Kvarner Islands basins (Italy, Slovenia, and Croatia). The carbonatic part is thought to derive by the disassembly of the nearby carbonate platforms, while the provenance of the siliciclastic material is still a matter of debate. To fill this gap in knowledge and identify the possible source of the siliciclastic portion of the filling sediments, this work presents a new quartz analyses dataset. Quartz can incorporate chemical impurities as defects in the crystal lattice (Al, Li, B, 4H), which are coupled to OH groups and form specific IR absorption bands. These so called OH-defects are correlated to petrogenetic conditions during crystal growth, and they may be used as a provenance tool. The amount of Al-related defects can be used to discriminate between a igneous (> 5ppm) and a non-igneous source (< 5ppm). In this study, FTIR spectroscopy of quartz has been used to investigate the sample set, with interest to its OH defect speciation and content. Julian Basin’s quartz show differences in the supply source within the succession: the oldest ones (JB5 and JB1) show an almost 1:1 ratio between igneous and non-igneous origin; samples JB10 and JB17 show a change with a predominantly igneous source; the youngest samples (JB23 and JB26) have a neat predominance of a non-igneous source. Brkini samples show again a difference in the source with the older BK41 having a more igneous source than the younger BKNV. Samples from the Kvarner Islands Basin indicate a predominantly non-igneous source (DOB) while in RAB1 the non-igneous source seems to be clearly prevalent, even if only few clear spectra were obtained. Trace elements such as Al, Li, B, Ge, Ti, and others have been analysed and quantified by LA-ICP-MS on the same grains. Regarding the Al trace content, it is important to notice that it follows the Al-related OH defects’ trend, demonstrating the possible existence of a correlation between the two analytical methods. Other classifications based on trace elements demonstrate different behaviour within the quartz set, confirming the trend displayed by the OH-defects method

Phasor identifier : a cloud-based analysis of Phasor-FLIM data on Python notebooks

This paper introduces an innovative approach utilizing Google Colaboratory (Colab) for the versatile analysis of phasor Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging Microscopy (FLIM) data collected from various samples (e.g., cuvette, cells, tissues) and in various input file formats. In fact, phasor-FLIM widespread adoption has been hampered by complex instrumentation and data analysis requirements. We mean to make advanced FLIM analysis more accessible to researchers through a cloud-based solution that i) harnesses robust computational resources, ii) eliminates hardware limitations, iii) supports both CPU and GPU processing, We envision a paradigm shift in FLIM data accessibility and potential, aligning with the evolving field of AI-driven FLIM analysis. This approach simplifies FLIM data handling and opens doors for diverse applications, from studying cellular metabolism to investigating drug encapsulation, benefiting researchers across multiple domains. The comparative analysis of freely distributed FLIM tools highlights the unique advantages of this approach in terms of adaptability, scalability, and open-source nature

Curvature in the color-magnitude relation but not in color-sigma: Major dry mergers at M* > 2 x 10^11 Msun?

The color-magnitude relation of early-type galaxies differs slightly but significantly from a pure power-law, curving downwards at low and upwards at large luminosities (Mr>-20.5 and Mr<-22.5). This remains true of the color-size relation, and is even more apparent with stellar mass (M* < 3x10^10 Msun and M* > 2x10^11 Msun). The upwards curvature at the massive end does not appear to be due to stellar population effects. In contrast, the color-sigma relation is well-described by a single power law. Since major dry mergers change neither the colors nor sigma, but they do change masses and sizes, the clear features observed in the scaling relations with M*, but not with sigma > 150 km/s, suggest that M* > 2x10^11 Msun is the scale above which major dry mergers dominate the assembly history. We discuss three models of the merger histories since z ~ 1 which are compatible with our measurements. In all three models, dry mergers are responsible for the flattening of the color-M* relation at M* > 3x10^10 Msun - wet mergers only matter at smaller masses. At M* > 2 x 10^11 Msun, the merger histories in one model are dominated by major rather than minor dry mergers, as suggested by the axis ratio and color gradient trends. In another, although both major and minor mergers occur at the high mass end, the minor mergers contribute primarily to the formation of the ICL, rather than to the mass growth of the central massive galaxy. A final model assumes that the reddest objects were assembled by a mix of major and minor dry mergers.Comment: 22 pages, 22 figures and 3 tables. Accepted for publication in MNRA

Evidence of major dry mergers at M* > 2 x 10^11 Msun from curvature in early-type galaxy scaling relations?

For early-type galaxies, the correlations between stellar mass and size, velocity dispersion, surface brightness, color, axis ratio and color-gradient all indicate that two mass scales, M* = 3 x 10^10 Msun and M* = 2 x 10^11 Msun, are special. The smaller scale could mark the transition between wet and dry mergers, or it could be related to the interplay between SN and AGN feedback, although quantitative measures of this transition may be affected by morphological contamination. At the more massive scale, mean axis ratios and color gradients are maximal, and above it, the colors are redder, the sizes larger and the velocity dispersions smaller than expected based on the scaling at lower M*. In contrast, the color-sigma relation, and indeed, most scaling relations with sigma, are not curved: they are well-described by a single power law, or in some cases, are almost completely flat. When major dry mergers change masses, sizes, axis ratios and color gradients, they are expected to change the colors or velocity dispersions much less. Therefore, the fact that scaling relations at sigma > 150 km/s show no features, whereas the size-M*, b/a-M*, color-M* and color gradient-M* relations do, suggests that M* = 2 x 10^11 Msun is the scale above which major dry mergers dominate the assembly histories of early-type galaxies.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures. Accepted for publication in MNRA

La catalogazione in rete dei manoscritti delle biblioteche venete: Nuova Biblioteca Manoscritta

Nuova Biblioteca Manoscritta (NBM) è il catalogo in linea dei manoscritti conservati nelle biblioteche del Veneto - stimati in ca. 90.000, non tenendo conto dei carteggi - senza limitazioni cronologiche o di contenuto. Questo patrimonio è fino ad oggi accessibile in maniera incompleta e insufficiente mediante cataloghi a stampa parziali, spesso per di più poco rispondenti alle esigenze scientifiche moderne. Il progetto, finanziato dalla Regione del Veneto, è iniziato nel 2003 e vi partecipano attualmente 38 biblioteche. Il lavoro di catalogazione, che privilegia in generale una descrizione di tipo sommario, si svolge via Internet attraverso la catalogazione partecipata di più biblioteche, che lavorano sulla stessa banca dati. I catalogatori condividono in rete le liste di autorità dei nomi, dei titoli, degli argomenti, delle antiche segnature, della tipologia del testo e del genere letterario, della bibliografia; si ha così il vantaggio di accedere a informazioni già strutturate e di poter aggiornare continuamente le notizie, nello spirito proprio di un catalogo aperto. Tutta la gestione di NBM si svolge attraverso Internet, dalla catalogazione sino alla revisione delle schede e alla pubblicazione finale, secondo diversi profili che corrispondono alle differenti funzioni nell`ambito del progetto. Un coordinamento scientifico provvede al controllo e alla revisione di ogni scheda descrittiva, all`assegnazione delle chiavi di accesso all`area di catalogazione, alla gestione dei contenuti del sito. Per garantire la maggiore uniformità possibile nelle descrizioni sono state elaborate delle linee guida per la catalogazione. In NBM è possibile allegare immagini relative ad ogni parte della scheda di descrizione, ma anche importare materiale digitalizzato integralmente, consentendone una consultazione pagina per pagina. L`interrogazione della banca dati di NBM è possibile attraverso l`OPAC presente sul sito e mediante il protocollo Z39.50. Fino ad oggi i manoscritti catalogati, pubblicati e consultabili sono più di 19.000.

The Evolution of the M_BH-sigma relation Inferred from the Age Distribution of Local Early-Type Galaxies and AGN Evolution

We utilize the local velocity dispersion function (VDF) of spheroids, together with their inferred age--distributions, to predict the VDF at higher redshifts (0<z<6), under the assumption that (i) most of the stars in each nearby spheroid formed in a single episode, and (ii) the velocity dispersion sigma remained nearly constant afterward. We assume further that a supermassive black hole (BH) forms concurrently with the stars, and within ~1 Gyr of the formation of the potential well of the spheroid, and that the relation between the mass of the BH and host velocity dispersion maintains the form M_BH ~ sigma^{beta} with beta~4, but with the normalization allowed to evolve with redshift as ~(1+z)^{alpha}. We compute the BH mass function associated with the VDF at each redshift, and compare the accumulated total BH mass density with that inferred from the integrated quasar luminosity function (LF; the so--called Soltan argument). This comparison is insensitive to the assumed duty cycle or Eddington ratio of quasar activity, and we find that the match between the two BH mass densities favors a relatively mild redshift evolution, with alpha ~ 0.26, with a positive evolution as strong as alpha>1.3 excluded at the 99% confidence level. A direct match between the characteristic BH mass in the VDF--based and quasar LF--based BH mass functions also yields a mean Eddington ratio of lambda ~ 0.5-1 that is roughly constant within 0<z<3. A strong positive evolution in the M_BH-sigma relation is still allowed by the data if galaxies increase, on average, their velocity dispersions since the moment of formation, due to dissipative processes. If we assume that the mean velocity dispersion of the host galaxies evolves as sigma(z)=sigma(0)*(1+z)^{-gamma}, we find a lower limit of gamma>0.23 for alpha>1.5. abridgedComment: Accepted for publication on ApJ; 10 pages, 9 Figure

Dinámica temporal de nutrientes, clorofila a y parámetros de calidad del agua en la Laguna de Venecia

Since 1997, CNR-ISMAR has been collecting monthly hydrochemical and phytoplankton data in the northern and central basins of the Lagoon of Venice. The data have been part of the International Long-Term Ecosystem Research (LTER) database since 2007, helping to fill a gap in lagoon environmental studies. Analysing our time series (1998-2017), we were able to observe a rise in water temperature due to climate trends, a reduction in trophic status mainly due to the lower input of inorganic dissolved nitrogen nutrients and an increase in transparency and dissolved oxygen related to the increased biomass of macrophytes (macroalgae and seagrasses). Finally, a reduction in phytoplankton biomass and an accompanying increase in seagrass and macroalgal cover were observed. Present and future studies will help to evaluate the ways in which the Lagoon of Venice ecosystem responds to anthropogenic pressures and global climate change.Desde 1997, el CNR ISMAR ha recopilado datos mensuales de hidroquímica y fitoplancton en las zonas del norte y centro de la Laguna de Venecia. Desde el 2007 los datos hacen parte de la base de datos LTER (International Long-Term Ecosystem Research), ayudando a llenar la falta de datos en los estudios ambientales de la Laguna. Analizando nuestra serie histórica (1998-2017), pudimos observar un aumento de la temperatura del agua debido a las tendencias climáticas, una reducción del estado trófico debido principalmente al menor suministro de nutrientes inorgánicos de nitrógeno disuelto y un aumento de la transparencia y del oxígeno disuelto relacionado al aumento de la biomasa de macrófitas (macroalgas y faneró­gamas). Por último, se observó una reducción de la biomasa del fitoplancton y al mismo tiempo un aumento de fanerógamas y macroalgas. Los actuales y futuros estudios ayudarán a evaluar las formas en el cual el ecosistema de la Laguna de Venecia responderá a las presiones antropogénicas y al cambio climático global

L'uso di clausole vessatorie come pratica commerciale scorretta

Il candidato intende offrire un contributo allo studio dei due impianti normativi che possono dirsi costituire tra i più significativi e rivoluzionari interventi del legislatore europeo spesi nel tentativo di sistemazione della disciplina dell’atto di consumo: la direttiva 1993/13/CEE del Consiglio del 5 aprile «concernente le clausole abusive nei contratti stipulati con i consumatori» e la direttiva 2005/29/CE del Parlamento Europeo e del Consiglio dell’11 maggio 2005 «relativa alle pratiche commerciali sleali tra imprese e consumatori nel mercato interno». L’analisi è condotta avendo a riferimento tanto le disposizioni contenute nelle direttive quanto le disposizioni nazionali frutto dell’opera di recepimento del legislatore italiano, quest’ultime rispettivamente contenute, quanto alle clausole vessatorie, negli artt. 33-37 bis del D.lgs. 206/2005 (Codice del consumo) e, quanto alle pratiche commerciali scorrette, negli artt. 18-27 quater del medesimo decreto. La prima parte del lavoro è dedicata a una ricognizione dei profili generali delle due discipline, delle quali, in particolare, verranno illustrati i rispettivi ambiti di applicazione (soggettivo e oggettivo), la portata delle clausole generali di abusività/vessatorietà (artt. 3 dir. n. 13/1993 e 33 cod. cons.) e di slealtà/scorettezza (artt. 5, para 2°, dir. n. 29/2005 e 20, comma 2°, cod. cons.), e i sistemi rimediali (cd. enforcement) predisposti per arginare il fenomeno dell’utilizzo di clausole vessatorie nei contratti tra professionisti e consumatori (artt. 6-7 dir. n. 13/1993 e 36-37-37 bis cod. cons.) e quello delle pratiche commerciali scorrette cd. “business to consumers” (“B2C”) (artt. 11-13 dir. n. 29/2005 e 27 cod. cons.). La seconda parte del contributo è dedicata a un primo raffronto tra le due discipline. Muovendo dall’analisi delle diverse disposizioni di legge, si tenterà, più precisamente, di illustrare come il rapporto tra i due sistemi normativi debba anzitutto ricondursi al più ampio e generale rapporto che intercorre tra il diritto generale delle pratiche commerciali sleali (o, ove si preferisca, della concorrenza sleale in senso lato) e il diritto dei contratti, come sintetizzato dal disposto di cui all’art. 3, para 2, della direttiva 2005/29/CE (art. 19, comma 2°, lett. a), cod. cons.). Si osserverà, dunque, che le due direttive muovono da diverse prospettive d’intervento (prevalentemente individuale la dir. n. 13/1993 e esclusivamente meta-individuale la dir. n. 29/2005), hanno distinti ambiti di applicazione e offrono (parzialmente) differenti livelli di tutela del consumatore (individuale e successiva l’una, collettiva e preventiva l’altra). Tanto offrirà altresì gli strumenti per affrontare la peculiare questione - oggetto anche di un recente arresto della Corte di Giustizia (Sez. I^, del 15/03/2012, C-453/10, Jana Pereničová e Vladislav Perenič contro SOS financ spol. s r. o.) - relativa alla possibile influenza che la qualificazione di una pratica commerciale come scorretta possa avere sulla valutazione della natura vessatoria di una clausola. La terza parte della ricerca, invece, muoverà dalla constatazione che la pratica di «utilizzo» di clausole abusive ben può essere sussunta sotto la più ampia fattispecie generale di pratica commerciale di cui agli artt. 2, lett. d) e 3, para 1°, della direttiva 2005/29/CE (18, lett. d) e 19, comma 1°, cod. cons.). L’analisi, in particolare, verterà sull’eventualità che l’uso di clausole abusive ai sensi della direttiva 1993/13/CEE possa qualificarsi come pratica commerciale sleale ai sensi della direttiva 2005/29/CE. Verranno premesse preliminari considerazioni sulla dimensione super-individuale riconoscibile anche all’impianto normativo recato dalla direttiva 1993/13/CEE (come ricavabile dagli artt. 7 dir. e 37-37 bis, cod. cons.), e verranno quindi analizzati i requisiti alla ricorrenza dei quali una pratica possa dirsi sleale/scorretta (eventualmente anche nelle forme tipiche della ingannevolezza o aggressività), al fine di verificare se essi risultano per l’appunto integrati nell’ipotesi di un generalizzato utilizzo di clausole abusive da parte del professionista. Verificata la possibilità di qualificare come sleale/scorretta la pratica d’uso di clausole abusive/vessatorie, da ultimo, verrà affrontata la questione circa l’esistenza di un eventuale conflitto tra le due normative, come inteso ai sensi dell’art. 3, para 4, della direttiva 2005/29/CE (art. 19, comma 3°, cod. cons.) A tale fine, in chiave critica, verrà preliminarmente dato conto delle diverse posizioni della dottrina e dell’evoluzione normativa (d.lgs. 21/2014) e giurisprudenziale (in particolare della giurisprudenza amministrativa del Cons. di Stato, antecedente e successiva all’apertura della procedura di infrazione n. 2013/2169) registratesi quanto al più ampio problema del coordinamento tra il divieto generale di porre in essere pratiche commerciale sleali/scorrette e i più specifici divieti e obblighi comportamentali posti da altre normative preesistenti alla direttiva 2005/29/CE ed applicabili in determinati settori o con riferimento a determinate pratiche commerciali. Delle conclusioni così raggiunte verrà quindi fatta applicazione al più circoscritto rapporto intercorrente tra il divieto di cui all’art. 5, para 1°, della direttiva 2005/19/CE (art. 20, comma 1°, cod. cons.) e il divieto di utilizzare clausole vessatorie (artt. 7 dir. e 37-37 bis, cod. cons)

High-Resolution Lightning Detection and Possible Relationship with Rainfall Events over the Central Mediterranean Area

Lightning activity is usually associated with precipitations events and represents a possible indicator of climate change, even contributing to its increase with the production of NOx gases. The study of lightning activity on long temporal periods is crucial for fields related to atmospheric phenomena from intense rain-related hazard processes to long-term climate changes. This study focuses on 19 years of lightning-activity data, recorded from Italian Lightning Detection Network SIRF, part of the European network EUCLID (European Cooperation for Lightning Detection). Preliminary analysis was dedicated to the spatial and temporal assessment of lightning through detection in the Central Mediterranean area, focusing on yearly and monthly data. Temporal and spatial features have been analyzed, measuring clustering through the application of global Moran\u2019s I statistics and spatial local autocorrelation; a Mann\u2013Kendall trend test was performed on monthly series aggregating the original data on a 5 7 5 km cell. A local statistically significant trend emerged from the analysis, suggesting possible linkage between surface warming and lightning activity