Seismotomography of the crust in the transition zone between the southern Tyrrhenian and Sicilian tectonic domains

A crustal tomography of seismic wave velocity was performed in the contact zone between the southern Tyrrhenian, Sicilian and Ionian tectonic units, a zone where the lithospheric structure can be expected to furnish evident signatures of dynamics related to the Tyrrhenian subduction process. A dataset of 10241 P and 5597 S readings from 932 local earthquakes recorded between 1978 and 2001 by stations operating in Sicily and Calabria was inverted by the SIMULPS12 algorithm for simultaneous computation of hypocenter parameters and Vp and Vp/Vs three dimensional distributions. The study brought significant improvement in the knowledge of the local velocity structure, furnishing new information useful to better identify the local tectonic units. The results appear to be compatible with the most recent hypotheses regarding the geodynamics of the study region

Seismic strain and seismogenic stress regimes in the crust of the southern Tyrrhenian region

An investigation has been performed to identify and characterize the seismic deformation zones active over the last decades in the region of Italy that has experienced the strongest seismicity during the last centuries. The study is based on the estimate of hypocenter locations, fault plane solutions, seismogenic stress and seismic strain tensor orientations carried out using the entire dataset of the national and local seismic networks, and the recently improved three-dimensional (3D) crustal velocity model of the study area. A series of simulation tests have been performed to evaluate the significance of the earthquake space distribution obtained and whether it was influenced by network geometry problems related to the sea and the lack of ocean bottom seismometers. In the sectors where hypocentral location was synthetically proved to be reliable, space distributions of earthquakes located with epicenter and focal depth errors less than 3 and 4 km, respectively, have been compared with local geology in order to identify seismogenic faults. The dataset of 32 fault plane solutions estimated with fault parameter errors less than 20° has been used to investigate space variations of seismogenic stress and seismic strain orientations over the study area. Stress was found to be uniform in the Messina Strait and southern Calabria where inversion of the available set of 11 fault plane solutions showed clear evidence of an extensional regime. The different orientations of the minimum compressive stress and strain found in this sector, together with the information available on local geology and tectonics, lead us to propose that the seismicity occurring over the last decades in the Messina Strait and southern Calabria was not in general produced at the main faults, but at minor faults activated by the main tectonic stress field acting in the area. To the west, in the sector including western Etna, the Nebrodi chain and the western Aeolian Islands, analysis of the available set of 16 fault plane solutions revealed a certain degree of stress heterogeneity with an apparent prevalence of north–south compression. This east to west change of stress–strain regimes is evaluated in the light of current hypotheses regarding the geodynamics of the study region

Long-term effect of tillage, nitrogen fertilization and cover crops on soil organic carbon and total nitrogen content

No-tillage, N fertilization and cover crops are known to play an important role in conserving or increasing SOC and STN but the effects of their interactions are less known. In order to evaluate the single and combined effects of these techniques on SOC and STN content under Mediterranean climate, a long term experiment started in 1993 on a loam soil (Typic Xerofluvent) in Central Italy. The experimental variants are: conventional tillage (CT) and no-tillage (NT), four N fertilization rates (N0, N1, N2 and N3) and four soil cover crop (CC) types (C - no cover crop; NL - non-legume CC; LNL - low nitrogen supply legume CC, and HNL - high nitrogen supply legume CC).The nitrogen fertilization rates (N0, N1, N2 and N3) were: 0, 100, 200, 300kgNha-1 for maize (Zea mays, L.); 0, 60, 120,180kgNa-1 for durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.); 0, 50, 100, 150kgNha-1 for sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.).From 1993 to 2008, under the NT system the SOC and STN content in the top 30cm soil depth increased by 0.61 and 0.04Mgha-1year-1 respectively. In the same period, the SOC and STN content under the CT system decreased by a rate of 0.06 and 0.04Mgha-1year-1 respectively. During the experimental period, N1, N2 and N3 increased the SOC content in the 0-30cm soil layer at a rate of 0.14, 0.45 and 0.49Mgha-1year-1. Only the higher N fertilization levels (N2 and N3) increased STN content, at a rate of 0.03 and 0.05Mgha-1year-1.NL, LNL and HNL cover crops increased SOC content by 0.17, 0.41 and 0.43MgCha-1year-1 and -0.01, +0.01 and +0.02MgNha-1year-1.Significant interactions among treatments were evident only in the case of the N fertilization by tillage system interaction on SOC and STN concentration in the 0-10. cm soil depth in 2008.The observed SOC and STN variations were correlated to C returned to the soil as crop residues, aboveground cover crop biomass and weeds (C input).We conclude that, under our Mediterranean climate, it is easier to conserve or increase SOC and STN by adopting NT than CT. To reach this objective, the CT system requires higher N fertilization rates and introduction of highly productive cover crops

Editorial 3/2015: Handeln mit Symbolen

Die paradigmatische Unterscheidung zwischen Sozial- und Kulturwissenschaften, die spätestens seit den 1980er Jahren eingehend diskutiert wurde, lässt sich anhand des Bereichs des Symbolischen auf den Punkt bringen: Ist das Symbolische nur ein Effekt von sozialen, ökonomischen oder medialen Strukturen einer gegebenen Gesellschaft oder reproduzieren sich Strukturen nur durch die symbolischen Handlungen der AkteurInnen innerhalb einer gegebenen Kultur? So hatte etwa der klassische "harte" Strukturalismus bei Claude Lévi-Strauss, Jacques Lacan und dem frühen Michel Foucault symbolische Ordnungen (und d. i. hier die Sprache) als eine unbewusst determinierende Voraussetzung von menschlicher Interaktion begriffen, woraufhin mit dem Post- bzw. Neostrukturalismus die Rückkehr der individuellen Äußerung, der parole, des speech acts (und d. i. hier das Sprechen), also der symbolischen Handlung in den Mittelpunkt rückte. Medienpädagogisch ist diese Unterscheidung gerade dann von Interesse, wenn es darum geht, wie Lehrende und Lernende sich zueinander verhalten, interagieren und dabei eben mit Symbolen handeln. Insofern ist es bemerkenswert, dass – fast parallel zu Foucaults Unterscheidung von diskursiven und nicht-diskursiven Praktiken – auch Dieter Baacke 1973 von diskursiven und nicht-diskursiven Symbolen gesprochen hat. Denn – wie auch im Rahmen des "Symbolischen Interaktionismus" von George Herbert Mead argumentiert wurde – können Symbole nur im Rahmen einer gegebenen Diskursökonomie von AkteurInnen diskursiv ausgetauscht werden und konstituieren dabei Erfahrungen bzw. Wahrnehmungen und somit auch die soziale bzw. kulturelle Wirklichkeit. Insofern ist die Frage nach dem Symbolischen immer auch eine Frage nach den Möglichkeiten der Handlungstheorie (im Sinne Jürgen Habermas’) bzw. der Praxeologie (im Sinne Pierre Bourdieus). Die Redaktion der MEDIENIMPULSE geht in diesem Zusammenhang theoretisch und praktisch von Entscheidungsimpulse setzenden AkteurInnen aus und möchte mit der hier veröffentlichten Ausgabe "Handeln mit Symbolen" explizit diskutieren, inwiefern AkteurInnen, AktorInnen oder AgentInnen in einer gegebenen Gesellschaft oder Kultur mit Symbolen handeln und damit praktisch soziale, ökonomische, kulturelle und mediale Strukturen – natürlich auch jene der Schule und des Unterrichts – reproduzieren. So ist das Thema "Handeln mit Symbolen" medienpädagogisch direkt mit der konkreten Unterrichtspraxis verbunden und soll die Diskussionen zur handlungsorientierten Medienpädagogik bereichern

Tele-Psychiatry Assessment of Post-traumatic Stress Symptoms in 100 Patients With Bipolar Disorder During the COVID-19 Pandemic Social-Distancing Measures in Italy

The acute phase of the COrona VIrus Disease-19 (COVID-19) emergency determined relevant stressful burdens in psychiatric patients, particularly those with chronic mental disorders such as bipolar disorder (BD), not only for the threat of being infected but also for the strict lock-down and social-distancing measures adopted, the economic uncertainty, and the limited possibilities to access psychiatric services. In this regard, telepsychiatry services represented a new important instrument that clinicians could adopt to monitor and support their patients. The aim of the present study was to investigate acute post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) reported by patients with BD followed in the framework of a telepsychiatry service, set up in the acute phase of the COVID-19 outbreak at the psychiatric clinic of the University of Pisa (Italy). A sample of 100 patients were consecutively enrolled and assessed by the IES-r, GAD-7, HAM-D, and YMRS. Patients reported a mean (±SD) IES-r total score of 18.15 ± 13.67. Further, 17% of the sample reported PTSS (IES-r > 32), 17% depressive symptoms (HAM-D > 17), and 26% anxiety symptoms (GAD-7 > 10). Work and financial difficulties related to the COVID-19 pandemic and anxiety symptoms appeared to be positively associated with the development of acute PTSS. Acute manic symptoms appeared to be protective. The data of the present study suggest the relevance of monitoring patients with BD exposed to the burden related to the COVID-19 outbreak for prompt assessment and treatment of PTSS

Flow-to-fracture transition in a volcanic mush plug may govern normal eruptions at Stromboli

Stromboli is a model volcano for studying eruptions driven by degassing. The current paradigm posits that Strombolian eruptions represent the bursting of gas slugs ascending through melt‐filled conduits, but petrological observations show that magma at shallow depth is crystalline enough to form a three‐phase plug consisting of crystals, bubbles, and melt. We combine a 1‐D model of gas flushing a crystalline mush with a 3‐D stress model. Our results suggest that localized gas segregation establishes hot conduits of mobile magma within a stagnant plug. The plug is prone to tensile failure controlled by gas overpressure and tectonic stress, with failure most likely beneath the observed vent locations. We hence argue that Strombolian eruptions are related to plug failure rather than flow. Our proposed three‐phase model of the shallow plumbing system may provide a promising framework for integrating geophysical, petrological, and morphological observations at Stromboli and in open‐system volcanism more generally

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for isolated extramedullary relapse of acute lymphoblastic leukemia in children

Relapse of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) may occur in extramedullary sites, mainly central nervous system (CNS) and testis. Optimal post-remissional treatment for isolated extramedullary relapse (IEMR) is still controversial. We collected data of children treated with hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) for ALL IEMR from 1990 to 2015 in Italy. Among 281 patients, 167 had a relapse confined to CNS, 73 to testis, 14 to mediastinum, and 27 to other organs. Ninety-seven patients underwent autologous HSCT, 79 received allogeneic HSCT from a matched family donor, 75 from a matched unrelated donor, and 30 from an HLA-haploidentical donor. The 10-year overall survival was 56% and was not influenced by gender, ALL blast immune-phenotype, age, site of relapse, duration of first remission, and type of HSCT. In multivariable analysis, the only prognostic factors were disease status at HSCT and year of transplantation. Patients transplanted in third or subsequent complete remission (CR) had a risk of death 2.3 times greater than those in CR2. Children treated after 2000 had half the risk of death than those treated before that year. Our results suggest that both autologous and allogeneic HSCT may be considered for the treatment of pediatric ALL IEMR after the achievement of CR2

Structural Analysis of the Western Afar Margin, East Africa: Evidence for Multiphase Rotational Rifting

The Afar region in East Africa represents a key location to study continental breakup. We present an integrated structural analysis of the Western Afar Margin (WAM) aiming to better understand rifted margin development and the role of plate rotation during rifting. New structural information from remote sensing, fieldwork, and earthquake data sets reveals that the N-S striking WAM is still actively deforming and is characterized by NNW-SSE normal faulting as well as a series of marginal grabens. Seismicity distribution analysis and the first-ever borehole-calibrated sections of this developing passive margin show recent slip concentrated along antithetic faults. Tectonic stress parameters derived from earthquake focal mechanisms reveal different extension directions along the WAM (82°N), in Afar (66°N) and in the Main Ethiopian Rift (108°N). Fault slip analysis along the WAM yields the same extension direction. Combined with GPS data, this shows that current tectonics in Afar is dominated by the local rotation of the Danakil Block, considered to have occurred since 11 Ma. Earlier stages of Afar development (since 31–25 Ma) were most likely related to the large-scale rotation of the Arabian plate. Various authors have proposed scenarios for the evolution of the WAM. Any complete model should consider, among other factors, the multiphase tectonic history and antithetic fault activity of the margin. The findings of this study are not only relevant for a better understanding of the WAM but also provide insights into the role of multiphase rotational extension during rifting and passive margin formation in general.</p

Prenatal tobacco smoke exposure increases hospitalizations for bronchiolitis in infants

BACKGROUND: Tobacco smoke exposure (TSE) is a worldwide health problem and it is considered a risk factor for pregnant women's and children's health, particularly for respiratory morbidity during the first year of life. Few significant birth cohort studies on the effect of prenatal TSE via passive and active maternal smoking on the development of severe bronchiolitis in early childhood have been carried out worldwide. METHODS: From November 2009 to December 2012, newborns born at ≥ 33 weeks of gestational age (wGA) were recruited in a longitudinal multi-center cohort study in Italy to investigate the effects of prenatal and postnatal TSE, among other risk factors, on bronchiolitis hospitalization and/or death during the first year of life. RESULTS: Two thousand two hundred ten newborns enrolled at birth were followed-up during their first year of life. Of these, 120 (5.4%) were hospitalized for bronchiolitis. No enrolled infants died during the study period. Prenatal passive TSE and maternal active smoking of more than 15 cigarettes/daily are associated to a significant increase of the risk of offspring children hospitalization for bronchiolitis, with an adjHR of 3.5 (CI 1.5-8.1) and of 1.7 (CI 1.1-2.6) respectively. CONCLUSIONS: These results confirm the detrimental effects of passive TSE and active heavy smoke during pregnancy for infants' respiratory health, since the exposure significantly increases the risk of hospitalization for bronchiolitis in the first year of lif

Risk factors for bronchiolitis hospitalization during the first year of life in a multicenter Italian birth cohort

BACKGROUND: Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is one of the main causes of respiratory infections during the first year of life. Very premature infants may contract more severe diseases and 'late preterm infants' may also be more susceptible to the infection. The aim of this study is to evaluate the risk factors for hospitalization during the first year of life in children born at different gestational ages in Italy. METHODS: A cohort of 33-34 weeks gestational age (wGA) newborns matched by sex and age with two cohort of newborns born at 35-37 wGA and &gt; 37 wGA were enrolled in this study for a three-year period (2009-2012). Hospitalization for bronchiolitis (ICD-9 code 466.1) during the first year of life was assessed through phone interview at the end of the RSV season (November-March) and at the completion of the first year of life. RESULTS: The study enrolled 2314 newborns, of which 2210 (95.5 %) had a one year follow-up and were included in the analysis; 120 (5.4 %) were hospitalized during the first year of life for bronchiolitis. Children born at 33-34 wGA had a higher hospitalization rate compared to the two other groups. The multivariate analysis carried out on the entire population associated the following factors with higher rates for bronchiolitis hospitalization: male gender; prenatal treatment with corticosteroids; prenatal exposure to maternal smoking; singleton delivery; respiratory diseases in neonatal period; surfactant therapy; lack of breastfeeding; siblings &lt;10 years old; living in crowded conditions and/or in unhealthy households and early exposure to the epidemic RSV season. When analysis was restricted to preterms born at 33-34 wGA the following variables were associated to higher rates of bronchiolitis hospitalization: male gender, prenatal exposure to maternal smoking, neonatal surfactant therapy, having siblings &lt;10 years old, living in crowded conditions and being exposed to epidemic season during the first three months of life. CONCLUSION: Our study identified some prenatal, perinatal and postnatal conditions proving to be relevant and independent risk factors for hospitalization for bronchiolitis during the first year of life. The combination of these factors may lead to consider palivizumab prophylaxis in Italy