Young homeless refugees in London: an exploratory research

This report is based on an exploratory research project focussing on the causes of homelessness among young refugees. The project aimed to carry out a preliminary analysis of the needs of this new population and the ways in which service providers can intervene to prevent homelessness. It also aims to raise awareness about homeless refugees and their integration into society

Surface faulting during the August 24, 2016, central Italy earthquake (Mw 6.0): Preliminary results

We present some preliminary results on the mapping of coseismically-induced ground ruptures following the Aug. 24, 2016, Central Italy earthquake (Mw 6.0). The seismogenic source, as highlighted by InSAR and seismological data, ruptured across two adjacent structures: the Mt. Vettore and Laga faults. We collected field data on ground breaks along the whole deformed area and two different scenarios of on-fault coseismic displacement arise from these observations. To the north, along the Mt. Vettore fault, surface faulting can be mapped quite continuously along a well-defined fault strand while such features are almost absent to the south, along the Laga fault, where flysch-like marly units are present. A major lithological control affects the surface expression of faulting, resulting in a complex deformation pattern

d- and l-amino acids in Antarctic lakes: assessment of a very sensitive HPLC-MS method

Amino acids represent a fraction of organic matter in marine and freshwater ecosystems, and a source of carbon, nitrogen and energy. l-Amino acids are the most common enantiomers in nature because these chiral forms are used during the biosynthesis of proteins and peptide. To the contrary, the occurrence of d-amino acids is usually linked to the presence of bacteria. We investigated the distribution of l- and d-amino acids in the lacustrine environment of Terra Nova Bay, Antarctica, in order to define their natural composition in this area and to individuate a possible relationship with primary production. A simultaneous chromatographic separation of 40 l- and d-amino acids was performed using a chiral stationary phase based on teicoplainin aglycone (chirobiotic tag). The chromatographic separation was coupled to two different mass spectrometers-an LTQ-Orbitrap XL (Thermo Fisher Scientific) and an API 4000 (ABSciex)-in order to investigate their quantitative performance. High-performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry methods were evaluated through the estimation of their linear ranges, repeatability, accuracy and detection and quantification limits. The high-resolution mass spectrometer LTQ-Orbitrap XL presented detection limits between 0.4 and 7 mu g l (-1), while the triple quadrupole mass spectrometer API 4000 achieved the best detection limits reported in the literature for the quantification of amino acids (between 4 and 200 ng l (-1)). The most sensitive method, HPLC-API 4000, was applied to lake water samples

A multi-element psychosocial intervention for early psychosis (GET UP PIANO TRIAL) conducted in a catchment area of 10 million inhabitants: study protocol for a pragmatic cluster randomized controlled trial

Multi-element interventions for first-episode psychosis (FEP) are promising, but have mostly been conducted in non-epidemiologically representative samples, thereby raising the risk of underestimating the complexities involved in treating FEP in 'real-world' services

I servizi ecosistemici del suolo – un progetto di ricerca per limitare il consumo di suolo a scala locale

.There is a common believe that land take is consuming a non-renewable resource, with social and economic impacts at various scales (EC, 2012). The debate is now focusing on possible strategies to limit and deal with the impacts. These include evaluation of ecosystem services (MEA, 2005) as one of the most interesting scientific challenges in the coming years. We discuss the evaluation of ecosystem services provided by unsealed soil, providing the reference framework of a research conducted by ISPRA in the frame- work of the LIFE project SAM4CP (Soil Administration Model for Community Profit) focusing on seven major ecosystem services, with reference to the overall objective of the research is to understand how the benefits produced by the soil may vary due to changes in land use