Volcanic spreading forcing and feedback in geothermal reservoir development, Amiata Volcano, Italia

We made a stratigraphic, structural and morphologic study of Amiata Volcano in Italy. We find that the edifice is dissected by intersecting grabens that accommodate the collapse of the higher sectors of the volcano. In turn, a number of compressive structures and diapirs exist all around the margin of the volcano. These structures create an angular drainage pattern, with stream damming and captures, and a set of lakes within and around the volcano. We interpret these structures as the result of volcanic spreading of the edifice of Amiata onto its weak substratum, formed by the late Triassic evaporites (Anidriti of Burano) and the Middle-Jurassic to Early-Cretaceous clayey chaotic complexes (Ligurian Complex). Regional doming created a slope in the basement forcing the outward flow and spreading of the ductile layers below the volcano. We model the dynamics of spreading with a scaled lubrication approximation of the Navier Stokes equations, and numerically study a solution. In the model we include simple functions for volcanic deposition and surface erosion that change the topography over time. Scaling indicates that spreading at Amiata could still be active. The numerical solution shows that, as the central part of the edifice sinks into the weak basement, diapiric structures of the underlying formations form around the base of the volcano. Deposition of volcanic rocks within the volcano and surface erosion away from it both enhance spreading. In addition, a sloping basement may constitute a trigger for the formation of trains of adjacent diapirs. Finally, we observe that volcanic spreading has created ideal heat traps that constitute todays’ exploited geothermal fields at Amiata. Normal faults generated by volcanic spreading, volcanic conduits, and direct contact between volcanic rocks (which host an extensive fresh-water aquifer) and the rocks of the geothermal field, constitute ideal pathways for water recharge during vapour extraction for geothermal energy production. We think that volcanic spreading could maintain faults in a critically stressed state, facilitating the occurrence of triggered seismicity

The Magnetic Distortion Calibration System of the LHCb RICH1 Detector

The LHCb RICH1 detector uses hybrid photon detectors (HPDs) as its optical sensors. A calibration system has been constructed to provide corrections for distortions that are primarily due to external magnetic fields. We describe here the system design, construction, operation and performance.Comment: 9 pages, 14 figure

Continuing medical education and evidence-based clinical pathways. Training emergency health workers in Latium, Italy

Background: In recent decades, studies that evaluate training programmes have shown that continuing education for physicians is not very effective in improving performance and behavioural changes. One of our goals was to create a Continuing Medical Education Programme (CMEP) that would result in changing the behaviour of health professionals. In early 2005, a new CMEP was offered to emergency medical services and emergency room professionals to introduce an Emergency Critical Pathway (ECP) for the management of acute stroke patients. This paper illustrates the main characteristics of the educational model and the strategies and activities adopted to realize it. Methods: The training programme was planned and organized applying the concepts and tools of experiential learning, It was organised in three successive phases: 1.) interviews with health professionals to identify their learning ne-eds; 2) training the ECP coordinators/facilitators in a residential setting; and 3) on-site training in small groups of health professionals (6-8), led by a coordinator/facilitator. Results: The CME involved 324 emergency health professionals, Participants positively evaluated both the educational programme and the clinical indications of the protocols. Over six months of the ECP training, health professionals treated 657 stroke patients: 153 (23.3%) were transferred to the stroke unit where 15 (9.8%) were thrombolysed. In the same period of the previous year, the professionals treated 638 patients: 99 (15.5%) were transferred to the stroke unit and no patients were thrombolysed. Conclusion: The application of the new educational methodology has contributed to improved management of stroke patients in Latium.</p

Continuing medical education and evidence-based clinical pathways. Training emergency health workers in Latium, Italy

Background: In recent decades, studies that evaluate training programmes have shown that continuing education for physicians is not very effective in improving performance and behavioural changes. One of our goals was to create a Continuing Medical Education Programme (CMEP) that would result in changing the behaviour of health professionals. In early 2005, a new CMEP was offered to emergency medical services and emergency room professionals to introduce an Emergency Critical Pathway (ECP) for the management of acute stroke patients. This paper illustrates the main characteristics of the educational model and the strategies and activities adopted to realize it. Methods: The training programme was planned and organized applying the concepts and tools of experiential learning, It was organised in three successive phases: 1.) interviews with health professionals to identify their learning ne-eds; 2) training the ECP coordinators/facilitators in a residential setting; and 3) on-site training in small groups of health professionals (6-8), led by a coordinator/facilitator. Results: The CME involved 324 emergency health professionals, Participants positively evaluated both the educational programme and the clinical indications of the protocols. Over six months of the ECP training, health professionals treated 657 stroke patients: 153 (23.3%) were transferred to the stroke unit where 15 (9.8%) were thrombolysed. In the same period of the previous year, the professionals treated 638 patients: 99 (15.5%) were transferred to the stroke unit and no patients were thrombolysed. Conclusion: The application of the new educational methodology has contributed to improved management of stroke patients in Latium.</p

First results of Waterborne Geophysical surveys around the Malpasso site (Tuoro sul Trasimeno, Italy) for geological and archeological characterization

With the aims of both reconstructing the geological setting of the area around the Malpasso site and to eventually find some localized remains of the battle we carried out several waterborne geophysical surveys on the area. Adopted methodologies were: magnetic surveys, seismic reflection Chirp Sonar surveys and Continuous Vertical Electric Soundings (CVES) profiles

Sabotage in Contests: A Survey

A contest is a situation in which individuals expend irretrievable resources to win valuable prize(s). ‘Sabotage’ is a deliberate and costly act of damaging a rival’s' likelihood of winning the contest. Sabotage can be observed in, e.g., sports, war, promotion tournaments, political or marketing campaigns. In this article, we provide a model and various perspectives on such sabotage activities and review the economics literature analyzing the act of sabotage in contests. We discuss the theories and evidence highlighting the means of sabotage, why sabotage occurs, and the effects of sabotage on individual players and on overall welfare, along with possible mechanisms to reduce sabotage. We note that most sabotage activities are aimed at the ablest player, the possibility of sabotage reduces productive effort exerted by the players, and sabotage may lessen the effectiveness of public policies, such as affirmative action, or information revelation in contests. We discuss various policies that a designer may employ to counteract sabotage activities. We conclude by pointing out some areas of future research

Reply to: Barazzuoli P., Bertini G., Brogi A., Capezzuoli E., Conticelli S., Doveri M., Ellero A., Gianelli G., La Felice S., Liotta D., Marroni M., Manzella A., Meccheri M., Montanari D., Pandeli E., Principe C., Ruggieri R., Sbrana A., Vaselli V., Vezzoli L., 2015. COMMENT ON: &quot;Borgia, A., Mazzoldi, A., Brunori, C.A., Allocca, C., Delcroix, C., Micheli, L., Vercellino, A., Gr

The volcanic spreading model by Borgia et al. (2014) is accurate in describing the extensional structures found on the edifice and the radial compressional structures existing all around the base of Amiata Volcano. Volcanic conduits, extensional structures, and direct contact between the volcanic rocks and the Tuscan Units, constitute the hydraulic connection between the potable fresh-water aquifer contained in the volcanites and the underlying hydrothermal system. Therefore, gaseous phases tend to flow upward (particularly through faults) carrying pollutants into the freshwater aquifer, while the freshwater recharges (also through primary permeability) the exploited geothermal fields