Oceanographic signals at the Benthic Boundary Layer in the Mediterranean Sea

The Benthic Boundary Layer (BBL) is considered a quite homogeneous environment where a wide variety of processes (chemical, physical, geological and biological) occur often producing front structures or inducing turbulence phenomena. The typical stratification of these zones can be interrupted by episodic events which effects can diffuse to the ocean interior exploiting by local current and mixing processes. According to hydrodynamic definition, the BBL thickness may vary from few millimetres up to 100 metres depending on the friction intensity with the sea bed and the stability of water column above it. Generally in deep-sea condition, the BBL thickness is defined by the ratio between the friction velocity and the Coriolis parameter according to the Ekman scale. In the latest years several experiments have been carried out in the deep water of Mediterranean Sea, focusing on the survey and study of benthic processes following a multidisciplinary approach. Benthic observatories, such as SN-1 and GEOSTAR, allow to record long time-series of geochemical, seismological, geomagnetic, geodetic and oceanographic data and allow to understand the dynamics and evolution of the processes though comparison and interpolation of different types of signals. From a oceanographic point of view, the technology of these benthic observatories brings the possibility to observe and measure directly the hydrological properties at the seafloor collecting data for long-time series and with high sampling rate. The observatories deployed in Mediterranean Sea, have provided good information about variations and oscillations of hydrological parameters in deep water where the monitoring is almost lacking. In some cases it has been possible to link these deep-sea datasets with upper data collected by ship-handled system during the same period or during different cruises. This allows to have a more complete idea of the linkage between surface, intermediate and bottom sea. Hence the multidisciplinary approach represents a very important aspect for this kind of study, because it allows not only a cross check of functionality among all the instruments but also an important tool to recognise and better understand possible nonphysical- oceanographic phenomena

A comprehensive multiparametric and multilayer approach to study the preparation phase of large earthquakes from ground to space: The case study of the June 15 2019, M7.2 Kermadec Islands (New Zealand) earthquake

This work deals with a comprehensive multiparametric and multilayer approach to study earthquake-related processes that occur during the preparation phase of a large earthquake. As a case study, the paper investigates the M7.2 Kermadec Islands (New Zealand) large earthquake that occurred on June 15, 2019 as the result of shallow reverse faulting within the Tonga-Kermadec subduction zone. The analyses focused on seismic (earthquake catalogs), atmospheric (climatological archives) and ionospheric data from ground to space (mainly satellite) in order to disclose the possible Lithosphere-Atmosphere-Ionosphere Coupling (LAIC). The ionospheric investigations analysed and compared the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receiver network with in-situ observations from space thanks to both the European Space Agency (ESA) Swarm constellation and the China National Space Administration (CNSA in partnership with Italian Space Agency, ASI) satellite dedicated to search for possible ionospheric disturbances before medium-large earthquakes, i.e. the China Seismo-Electromagnetic Satellite (CSES-01). An interesting comparison is made with another subsequent earthquake with comparable magnitude (M7.1) that occurred in Ridgecrest, California (USA) on 6 July of the same year but in a different tectonic context. Both earthquakes showed anomalies in several parameters (e.g. aerosol, skin temperature and some ionospheric quantities) that appeared at almost the same times before each earthquake occurrence, evidencing a chain of processes that collectively point to the moment of the corresponding mainshock. In both cases, it is demonstrated that a comprehensive multiparametric and multilayer analysis is fundamental to better understand the LAIC in the occasion of complex phenomena such as earthquakes.This work was undertaken in the framework of Limadou-Science+ funded by ASI (Italian Space Agency). Part of the funds were also given by Working Earth (Pianeta Dinamico) Project. We thank GeoNet (NZ) for providing TEC data (we also thank Claudio Cesaroni and Luca Spogli for giving suggestions on TEC data analyses) and the Kyoto World Data Center for Geomagnetism (http://wdc.kugi.kyoto-u.ac.jp/) for providing geomagnetic data indices. ESA is thanked for providing the Swarm satellite data and the CNSA (Chinese National Space Administration) for providing CSES-01 satellite data

Aberrant methylation within RUNX3 CpG island associated with the nuclear and mitochondrial microsatellite instability in sporadic gastric cancers. Results of a GOIM (Gruppo Oncologico dell'Italia Meridionale) prospective study.

Gastric cancer (GC) development is a multistep process, during which numerous alterations accumulate in nuclear and mitochondrial DNA. A deficiency of repair machinery brings about an accumulation of errors introduced within simple repetitive microsatellite sequences during replication of DNA. Aberrant methylation is related to microsatellite instability (MSI) by the silencing of the hMLH1 gene. The aim of this study is to investigate a possible relationship between the RUNX3 promoter methylation, nuclear microsatellite instability (nMSI) and mitochondrial microsatellite instability (mtMSI), in order to clarify its biological role in GC

GEOSTAR, an observatory for deep sea geophysical and oceanographic researches: characteristics, first scientific mission and future activity

GEOSTAR (GEophysical and Oceanographic STation for Abyssal Research) is a project funded by in the 4th Framework Programme of the European Commission, with the aim of developing an innovative deep sea benthic observatory capable of carrying out long-term (up to 1 year) scientific observations at abyssal depths. The configuration of the observatory, conceived to be a node of monitoring networks, is made up of two main subsystems: the Bottom Station, which in addition to the acquisition and power systems and all the sensors also hosts the communications systems; and the Mobile Docker, a dedicated tool for surface-assisted deployment and recovery. At present the Bottom Station is equipped with a triaxial broad-band seismometer, two magnetometers (fluxgate and scalar), CTD, transmissometer, ADCP, but it can easily host other sensors for different experiments. The first phase of the project, started in November 1995, was concluded with the demonstration mission in Adriatic Sea at shallow water depth (42 m) in August - September 1998. Some preliminary results of this first scientific experiment are presented and discussed. The second phase, started in 1999, will end with a long-term deep sea scientific mission, scheduled during 2000 for 6-8 months at 3400 m.w.d. in the southern Tyrrhenian bathyal plain.Published491-4973A. Ambiente MarinoN/A or not JCRrestricte

Mission results from the first GEOSTAR observatory (Adriatic Sea, 1998)

We assess the first mission of the GEOSTAR (GEophysical and Oceanographic STation for Abyssal Research) deep-sea multidisciplinary observatory for its technical capacity, performance and quality of recorded data. The functioning of the system was verified by analyzing oceanographic, seismological and geomagnetic measurements. Despite the mission’s short duration (21 days), its data demonstrated the observatory’s technological reliability and scientific value. After analyzing the oceanographic data, we found two different regimes of seawater circulation and a sharp and deepening pycnocline, linked to a down-welling phenomenon. The reliability of the magnetic and seismological measurements was evaluated by comparison with those made using on-land sensors. Such comparison of magnetic signals recorded by permanent land geomagnetic stations and GEOSTAR during a “quiet” day and one with a magnetic storm confirmed the correct functioning of the sensor and allowed us to estimate the seafloor observatory’s orientation. The magnitudes of regional seismic events recorded by our GEOSTAR seismometer agreed with those computed from land stations. GEOSTAR has thus proven itself reliable for integrating other deep-sea observation systems, such as modular observatories, arrays, and instrumented submarine cablesPublished361-373ope

Multiparametric seafloor exploration: the Marsili Basin and Volcanic Seamount case (Tyrrhenian Sea, Italy)

Exploration of ocean seafloor is of paramount importance for a better understanding of the geodynamic evolution of our Planet. The pilot experiment of ORION-GEOSTAR 3 EC project was the first long-term continuous geophysical and oceanographic experiment of an important seafloor area of Southern Tyrrhenian Sea, the Marsili abyssal plain. The latter hosts the Marsili Seamount which is Europe’s one of the largest underwater volcano of Plio-Pleistocenic age. In spite of its dimensions, it is rather unknown about the present characteristics and activity. For this reason, we deployed a deep-sea observatory network, composed by two bottom observatories, on the seafloor at the base of the seamount at 3320 m b.s.l., in the period December 2003-May 2005. Some of the instruments on board the observatory were: broad-band seismometers, hydrophones, gravity meter, two magnetometers (scalar and vectorial), 3D single-point current meter, ADCP, CTD, automatic pH analyser and off-line water sampler for laboratory analyses. The first successful scientific objective was to obtain long-term continuous recordings under a unique time reference. The data analysis shows that they are generally of good quality and really continuous (only a few gaps). As a first step we performed a classification of seismic waveforms, a first inversion of magnetic variational data, and a first analysis of gravity meter, chemical and oceanographic data. Analysis of individual time series has shown interesting results, i.e. depth of the magnetic Moho under the Marsili, attenuation of recorded seismic body waves and clues of hydrothermal circulation. We show examples of the preliminary data analysis together with first results and comparisons among data coming from different sensors.PublishedCambridge, UK, February 24-26, 20091.8. Osservazioni di geofisica ambientale3.8. Geofisica per l'ambienteope

Multiparametric seafloor exploration: the Marsili Basin and Volcanic Seamount case (Tyrrhenian Sea, Italy)

Exploration of ocean seafloor is of paramount importance for a better understanding of the geodynamic evolution of our Planet. The pilot experiment of ORION-GEOSTAR 3 EC project was the first long-term continuous geophysical and oceanographic experiment of an important seafloor area of Southern Tyrrhenian Sea, the Marsili abyssal plain. The latter hosts the Marsili Seamount which is Europe’s one of the largest underwater volcano of Plio-Pleistocenic age. In spite of its dimensions, it is rather unknown about the present characteristics and activity. For this reason, we deployed a deep-sea observatory network, composed by two bottom observatories, on the seafloor at the base of the seamount at 3320 m b.s.l., in the period December 2003-May 2005. Some of the instruments on board the observatory were: broad-band seismometers, hydrophones, gravity meter, two magnetometers (scalar and vectorial), 3D single-point current meter, ADCP, CTD, automatic pH analyser and off-line water sampler for laboratory analyses. The first successful scientific objective was to obtain long-term continuous recordings under a unique time reference. The data analysis shows that they are generally of good quality and really continuous (only a few gaps). As a first step we performed a classification of seismic waveforms, a first inversion of magnetic variational data, and a first analysis of gravity meter, chemical and oceanographic data. Analysis of individual time series has shown interesting results, i.e. depth of the magnetic Moho under the Marsili, attenuation of recorded seismic body waves and clues of hydrothermal circulation. We show examples of the preliminary data analysis together with first results and comparisons among data coming from different sensors

Towards a permanent deep sea observatory,: the GEOSTAR European Experiment.

GEOSTAR is the prototype of the first European long-term, multidisciplinary deep sea observatory for continuous monitoring of geophysical, geochemical and oceanographic parameters. Geostar is the example of a strong synergy between science and tecnology addressed to the development of new technological solutions for the observatory realisation and management. The GEOSTAR system is described outlining the enhancements introduced during five years of project activity. An example of data retrieved from the observatory being the deep sea mission running is also given.Published111-1202.5. Laboratorio per lo sviluppo di sistemi di rilevamento sottomarinireserve

Analysis of Globule Types in Malignant Melanoma

Objective: To identify and analyze subtypes of globules based on size, shape, network connectedness, pigmentation, and distribution to determine which globule types and globule distributions are most frequently associated with a diagnosis of malignant melanoma. Design: Retrospective case series of dermoscopy images with globules. Setting: Private dermatology practices. Participants: Patients in dermatology practices. Intervention: Observation only. Main Outcome Measure: Association of globule types with malignant melanoma. Results: The presence of large globules (odds ratio [OR], 5.25) and globules varying in size (4.72) or shape (5.37) had the highest ORs for malignant melanoma among all globule types and combinations studied. Classical globules (dark, discrete, convex, and 0.10-0.20 mm) had a higher risk (OR, 4.20) than irregularly shaped globules (dark, discrete, and not generally convex) (2.89). Globules connected to other structures were not significant in the diagnosis of malignant melanoma. Of the different configurations studied, asymmetric clusters have the highest risk (OR, 3.02). Conclusions: The presence of globules of varying size or shape seems to be more associated with a diagnosis of malignant melanoma than any other globule type or distribution in this study. Large globules are of particular importance in the diagnosis of malignant melanoma