Studio di un sistema informativo territoriale per la pianificazione delle aree costiere

L’obiettivo del presente lavoro è rappresentato dalla messa a punto di un prototipo di sistema informativo territoriale che consenta di verificare come il territorio costiero si può evolvere in funzione di diverse scelte di pianificazione territoriale. L’area in studio è rappresentata da una porzione settentrionale della costa della Gallura (Sardegna). Il prototipo consente di effettuare delle analisi di valutazione di diversi possibili scenari di pianificazione territoriale, le aree che si ricavano possono essere sfruttabili per diverse tipologie di attività o essere classificate come soggette a protezione totale o parziale.The aim of this paper is to develop a GIS application for coastal territorial planning. The study area is in the northern part of Gallura (Sardinia). A prototype of this application is being developed. The prototype-tool allows to evaluate different scenarios, within the GIS, of landscape planning, and helps the planners during the process of decision making; the obtained areas can be exploited for different kinds of activities or can be classified as totally or partially protected

Social isolation blunted the response of mesocortical dopaminergic neurons to chronic ethanol voluntary intake

Previous studies have shown that stress can increase the response of mesolimbic dopaminergic neurons to acute administration of drugs of abuse included ethanol. In this study, we investigated the possible involvement of the mesocortical dopaminergic pathway in the development of ethanol abuse under stress conditions. To this aim we trained both socially isolated (SI) and group housed (GH) rats to self administer ethanol which was made available only 2 ha day (from 11:00 to 13:00 h). Rats have been trained for 3 weeks starting at postnatal day 35. After training, rats were surgically implanted with microdialysis probes under deep anesthesia, and 24 hlater extracellular dopamine concentrations were monitored in medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) for the 2 hpreceding ethanol administration (anticipatory phase), during ethanol exposure (consummatory phase) and for 2 hafter ethanol removal. Results show that, in GH animals, dopamine extracellular concentration in the mPFC increased as early as 80 min before ethanol presentation (+50% over basal values) and remained elevated for 80 min during ethanol exposure. In SI rats, on the contrary, dopamine extracellular concentration did not show any significant change at any time point. Ethanol consumption was significantly higher in SI than in GH rats. Moreover, mesocortical dopaminergic neurons in SI animals also showed a decreased sensitivity to an acute administration of ethanol with respect to GH rats. Our results show that prolonged exposure to stress, as in social isolation, is able to induce significant changes in the response of mesocortical dopaminergic neurons to ethanol exposure and suggest that these changes might play an important role in the compulsivity observed in ethanol addictio

'The Dead are Watching Us':A landscape study of prehistoric rock-cut tomb cemeteries in Ossi, Sardinia, Italy

International audienceZUSAMMENFASSUNG ‘Die Toten beobachten uns’: Eine Landschaftsstudie der vorgeschichtlichen Felsengrabfriedhöfe in Ossi, Sardinia, Italy , von Guillaume Robin, Florian Soula, Pascal Tramoni, Laura Manca, und Kirsty Lilley Die Insel Sardinien ist bekannt für ihre unterirdischen Felsengräber des Spätneolithikums und der Kupferzeit, die über Generationen für Kollektivbestattungen genutzt wurden. Viele Gräber waren derart dekoriert, dass sie dem Inneren von Häusern glichen, und die Friedhöfe werden oft als Dörfer der Toten angesprochen. Die bisherige Forschung konzentrierte sich auf die Ausgrabung von stratigraphischen Kontexten innerhalb einiger dieser Monumente oder auf typologische Klassifizierungen von Grabplänen und Wanddekorationen, aber der landschaftliche Kontext der Friedhöfe und ihre Beziehung zu Siedlungen wurden übersehen. Der Artikel stellt die Ergebnisse von zwei Surveykampagnen in Ossi (Nordwestsardinien) vor, die sich auf zwei große Friedhöfe (Mesu ‘e Montes und S’Adde ‘e Asile) konzentrieren. Durch die Kombination von Feldbegehung, Kartierung und 3D-Aufnahmeverfahren liefern die Surveys eine umfassende Dokumentation der Friedhöfe (von der unterirdischen Architektur einzelner Gräber bis zu ihrem landschaftlichen Umfeld) und ergeben Hinweise auf prähistorische Siedlungen in ihrer Umgebung. Der Artikel diskutiert die topographischen und visuellen Beziehungen zwischen den Gräbern und den Wohngebieten und wie sie möglicherweise die sozialen Interaktionen zwischen den Lebenden und den Toten in Sardinien während der jüngeren Vorgeschichte widerspiegeln.The island of Sardinia is well known for its Late Neolithic and Copper Age underground rock-cut tombs that were used over generations for collective burials. Many tombs were decorated to resemble house interiors and cemeteries are often referred to as villages of the dead. Research so far has focused on excavating stratigraphic contexts within some of these monuments, or on typological classifications of tomb plans and wall decorations, but the landscape context of the cemeteries and their relationship to settlements have been overlooked. The article presents the results of two seasons of survey in Ossi (north-west Sardinia), focusing on two major cemeteries (Mesu ‘e Montes and S’Adde ‘e Asile). Combining fieldwalking, mapping and 3D recording techniques, the survey provides a comprehensive documentation of the cemeteries (from the underground architecture of individual tombs to their landscape setting) and yields evidence of prehistoric settlements in their vicinity. The article discusses the topographic and visual relationships between the tombs and the residential areas and how they may reflect social interactions between the living and the dead in late prehistoric Sardinia.RESUMEN “Los muertos nos están mirando”: un estudio de paisaje de los cementerios prehistóricos con tumbas excavadas en la roca en Ossi, Cerdeña, Italia , por Guillaume Robin, Florian Soula, Pascal Tramoni, Laura Manca, y Kirsty Lilley La isla de Cerdeña es muy conocida por las tumbas excavadas en la roca adscritas al Neolítico final y la Edad del Bronce que fueron utilizadas durante generaciones como enterramientos colectivos. Muchas de estas tumbas fueron decoradas para parecerse a los interiores de las casas y los cementerios a menudo se conocen como las villas de los muertos. Hasta ahora la investigación se ha centrado en la excavación de contextos estratigráficos dentro de estos monumentos, así como en la clasificación tipológica de las plantas de las tumbas y de las decoraciones de las paredes, sin embargo, el contexto paisajístico de los cementerios y su relación on los asentamientos ha sido ignorado. El artículo presenta los resultados de las campañas de prospección en Ossi (noroeste de Cerdeña), centradas en dos cementerios de gran tamaño (Mesu ‘e Montes and S’Adde ‘e Asile). Los trabajos de prospección, combinando prospección superficial, mapeado y técnicas de registro 3D, aportan una documentación completa de los cementerios (desde la arquitectura subterránea de las tumbas individuales a su entorno paisajístico) y evidencias de los asentamientos prehistóricos de su entorno. El artículo discute las relaciones topográficas y visuales entre las tumbas y las áreas residenciales y cómo podrían estar reflejando interacciones sociales entre la vida y la muerte de la Prehistoria reciente de Cerdeña.RÉSUMÉ ‘Les morts nous regardent’: Etude du paysage des cimetières nécropoles à tombes hypogées préhistoriques à Ossi, Sardaigne, Italie, de Guillaume Robin, Florian Soula, Pascal Tramoni, Laura Manca, et Kirsty Lilley L’île de la Sardaigne est renomée pour ses tombes souterraines taillées dans le rocher du Néolithique final et de l’âge du cuivre qui furent utilisées pendant des générations pour des inhumations collectives. Nombre de ces tombes étaient décorées de manière à ressembler à des intérieurs de maisons et les nécropoles sont souvent présentées comme aux villages des morts. Les recherches se sont, jusqu’à présent concentrées sur la fouille des contextes stratigraphiques à l’intérieur de certains de ces monuments ou sur la classification typologique des plans de tombes et des décorations murales mais le contexte du paysage de ces cimetières et leurs relations avec les habitats ont été négligés. Les résultats de deux campagnes de prospections à Ossi, nord ouest de la Sardaigne, se concentrant sur deux importantes nécropoles (Mesu ‘e Montes et S’Adde ‘e Asile). Associant prospections pédestres, géolocalisation, et techniques de relevés 3D, l’etude de terrain fournit une documentation détaillée des nécropoles qui va de l’architecture souterraine de tombes individuelles à leur situation dans le paysage et a relevé des témoinages d’occupations préhistoriques à proximité. Cet article discute les relations topographiques et visuelles entre les tombes et les zones habitées et comment elles pouvaient refléter les interactions entre les vivants et les morts à la fin de la Prehistoire en Sardaigne

Mozart’s music between predictability and surprise: results of an experimental research based on electroencephalography, entropy and Hurst exponent

OBJECTIVE: The main goal of our work was to simultaneously study musical and electroencephalogram (EEG) signal while listening to Mozart’s K448 Sonata, a piece known for the “Mozart effect”, with the aim to better understand the reasons of beneficial effect of music on the brain. DESIGN: To this purpose, in a small sample of young healthy subjects, we examined the EEG correlates of modifications of brain activity, also applying the concepts of entropy and Hurst exponent H to K448 Sonata compared to a selection of Mozart’s excerpts, so that to expose the peculiar characteristics of this compositions in terms of predictability and surprise for the listener RESULTS: Spectral analysis showed that mean beta rhythm significantly grew during the listening to K448, and that this effect remaining immediately after, but to a lesser extent. Furthermore, we found that maximum values of entropy and lower values of H were reached by K448 compared to a selection of Mozart’s pieces. CONCLUSIONS: The results support the hypothesis of an overall effect of activation of the superior cortical functions during listening to K448, and immediately afterwards, in healthy young adults, and of a greater complexity of this sonata compared to a selection of Mozart’s pieces

A century of limnological research in the Historical Archive of the CNR ISE

Since 2010, the Historical Archive of the Italian Institute of Ecosystem Studies has been subject to an extensive rearrangement and improvement program. The Archive contains original documents (such as letters, administrative documents, notarial deeds, drawings and prints, photographic plates, photographs) recording the scientific and administrative activities from the foundation of the Institute (1938) till its annexation to the Italian National Research Council (1977). Furthermore, it hosts some material documenting studies that were conducted in the first decades of the XIX Century, mainly by Marco De Marchi (1872-1936), a pioneer of limnology in Italy, and Edgardo Baldi (1899-1951), the first director of the Institute. This collection is a cornerstone of more than a century of scientific research in limnology, which also benefitted from frequent international contacts with scientists and ecological associations. The reorganization of the material in the Historical Archive was planned in consultation with the Soprintendenza Archivistica of the Piedmont Region, which is the legal authority responsible for the public archives in the Piedmont Region. Beginning in 2012, the information contained in the Archive has been digitized using the software xDams, an open version software source of Regesta?. In 2014, part of the digitized material was made available on the web site: http://www.ise.cnr.it/archivio. These activities were conducted thanks to the contribution of the Fondazione Cassa Risparmio di Torino and Fondazione Comunitaria VCO, which funded two temporary staff for the reorganisation of the Historical Archive, including the physical preservation and digitalisation of the documents. These activities are part of the CNR mission within the European Digital Agenda, and the CNR contribution to the development of scientific thought

Extrapolating Survival from Randomized Trials Using External Data: A Review of Methods.

This article describes methods used to estimate parameters governing long-term survival, or times to other events, for health economic models. Specifically, the focus is on methods that combine shorter-term individual-level survival data from randomized trials with longer-term external data, thus using the longer-term data to aid extrapolation of the short-term data. This requires assumptions about how trends in survival for each treatment arm will continue after the follow-up period of the trial. Furthermore, using external data requires assumptions about how survival differs between the populations represented by the trial and external data. Study reports from a national health technology assessment program in the United Kingdom were searched, and the findings were combined with "pearl-growing" searches of the academic literature. We categorized the methods that have been used according to the assumptions they made about how the hazards of death vary between the external and internal data and through time, and we discuss the appropriateness of the assumptions in different circumstances. Modeling choices, parameter estimation, and characterization of uncertainty are discussed, and some suggestions for future research priorities in this area are given

Studi limnologici sul Lago Alto Flumendosa (Sardegna centrale): stato trofico e fitoplancton

Alto Flumendosa Reservoir (Central Sardinia), was investigated from February 1990 to February 1993, to study either long time period phytoplankton variations in a mesotrophic mediterranean reservoir and to value the influence of a cage rearing pisciculture on its trophic status. The annual mean values of clorophyll a varied from 2.3 mg m-3 in 1991 to 11.1 mg m-3 in 1990, annual mean values of biomass from 0.5 mg l-1 in 1993 to 3.9 mg l-1 in 1990 and annual mean values of cellular density from 6 x 106 cells l-1 in 1993 to 11.3 x 106 cells l-1 in 1990. Despite great variations in the species composition of phytoplankton in each year, a general scheme in the algal succession was found with Cryptophyceae in the colder months, Chlorophyceae in the spring months (sometimes in autumn), Cyanophyceae and Dinophyceae in summer, Bacillariophyceae in autumn, Chrysophyceae between winter and spring and Conjugatophyceae in summer or in winter. The trophic status on the basis of phytoplankton composition, clorophyll a, annual mean values of total phosphorus (from 19 mg P m-3 in 1993 to 25 mg P m-3 1990) was mesotrophic but in 1990 the eutrophic probability, on the basis of chlorophyll a, was higher. The cage rearing pisciculture was presumed to be responsible of the strong oxygen decreases in hypolimnetic water at the end of the stratification periods

Differential metabolomic signatures of declining renal function in Types 1 and 2 diabetes

Publisher Copyright: © 2020 The Author(s) 2020. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of ERA-EDTA. All rights reserved.Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) shows different clinical features in Types1 (T1D) and 2 diabetes (T2D). Metabolomics have recently provided useful contribution to the identification of biomarkers of CKD progression in either form of the disease. However, no studies have so far compared plasma metabolomics between T1D and T2D in order to identify differential signatures of progression of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) decline. Methods: We used two large cohorts of T1D (from Finland) and T2D (from Italy) patients followed up to 7 and 3 years, respectively. In both groups, progression was defined as the top quartile of yearly decline in eGFR. Pooled data from the two groups were analysed by univariate and bivariate random forest (RF), and confirmed by bivariate partial least squares (PLS) analysis, the response variables being type of diabetes and eGFR progression. Results: In progressors, yearly eGFR loss was significantly larger in T2D [-5.3 (3.0), median (interquartile range)mL/min/1.73 m2/year] than T1D [-3.7 (3.1) mL/min/1.73 m2/year; P = 0.018]. Out of several hundreds, bivariate RF extracted 22 metabolites associated with diabetes type (all higher in T1D than T2D except for 5-methylthioadenosine, pyruvate and β-hydroxypyruvate) and 13 molecules associated with eGFR progression (all higher in progressors than non-progressors except for sphyngomyelin). Three of the selected metabolites (histidylphenylalanine, leucylphenylalanine, tryptophylasparagine) showed a significant interaction between disease type and progression. Only eight metabolites were common to both bivariate RF and PLS. Conclusions: Identification of metabolomic signatures of CKD progression is partially dependent on the statistical model. Dual analysis identified molecules specifically associated with progressive renal impairment in both T1D and T2D.Peer reviewe

Phases 1 and 2 of Covid-19 Epidemic in the Three Geographical Areas of Italy: An Estimation of Italian Government Measures Based on a Bayesian Changepoint Detection Method

Background: Based on data from the Ministry of Health, which highlighted the earlier onset of Covid-19 epidemic in Italy, compared with the Europe, we would like to present a statistical elaboration on the impact of measures taken by the Government, during the phase 1 and the start of phase 2. Methods: After the implementation of a Bayesian changepoint detection method, we looked for a best fit model, based on the first part of time series data, in order to observe the progress of the data in the presence and absence of the restriction measures introduced. Results: Both the implementation of changepoint detection method and the analysis of the curves showed that the decree that marked the start of lockdown has had the effect of slowing down the epidemic by allowing thestart of a plateau between 21 and 25 March. Moreover, the decree that decided the beginning of phase 2 on 4 May did not have a negative impact. Conclusion: This statistical analysis supports the hypothesis that stringent measures decreased hospitalization, thanks to a slowing down in the evolution of the epidemic compared with what was expected

The history of Lake Maggiore industrial pollution traced through lake sediment and long term monitoring of the biota

In Lake Maggiore large watershed (ca. 6,600 sq. km), industrial activities along the XX century led to the discharge into the lake or its tributaries of several pollutants, such as DDT, PCBs and mercury. Other pollutants, such as PAHs and flame retardants (such as PBDEs) are still reaching the lake. Analyses of some of these pollutants in lake biota were performed continuously since 1998 and form a unique time series. We used in parallel lake sediment cores to infer the history of lake contamination, and analyses of biological samples to describe the distribution of these pollutants in the lake food web and its year-to-year variability. Furthermore, analysis of the sediment of the main rivers flowing towards Lake Maggiore was used to get information on present sources of pollution. Results also show that legacy pollutants, which are no more used nor produced, still reach the lake from polluted soils located around the industrial sites, in particular during heavy rainfall. In particular, we paid special attention to Hg and to DDT and its metabolites, because of the presence of a large pollution source close to the River Toce, one of the main inlets of Lake Maggiore. Although DDT production ended in 1996, p,p\u27-DDT is still found in river sediment and in molluscs collected in Lake Maggiore, deriving probably from polluted soils. On the contrary, p,p\u27-DDE prevails in fish tissues, zooplankton and molluscs. Finally, high values of the concentration of some pollutants in the sediment of Lake Maggiore outlet (River Ticino) show that the lake does not act as a perfect sink for these compounds. Considering present day pollution, PAHs derive from diffuse sources and are found in the sediment of all tributaries, while PBDEs where found only in the sediment of two inlets, revealing the presence of active point sources