a multi scalar approach to long term dynamics spatial relations and economic networks of roman secondary settlements in italy and the ombrone valley system southern tuscany towards a model

In Roman landscapes, the particular sites defined as secondary settlements (also known as vici/villages, minor centres, agglomerations secondaires and/or stationes/mansiones) have played an 'intermediary' role between the cities and other rural structures (villae/farms), linked to medium- and long-distance economic and commercial trajectories. The aim of this paper is to apply a multi-scalar approach to model their long-term spatial relationships and connectivity with the Mediterranean exchange network. On the macro-scale, we have analysed a sample of 219 reviewed sites to understand the diachronic trends and spatial dynamics of attraction/proximity to significant elements of the landscape such as towns, roads, rivers and coastline. The Ombrone Valley (Tuscany, Italy) represents a micro-scale case study of a complex system, in which the imported pottery (amphorae, African Red Slip ware, ingobbiata di rosso) found in the vicus/mansio of Santa Cristina in Caio, the Roman villa of La Befa and the town of Siena (Saena Iulia) provided diagnostic 'macroeconomic' perspectives. The results show how the secondary settlements occupied a nodal position in the Roman landscape in terms of resilience (long period of occupation until the Early Middle Ages) and spatial organization with a close relationship to natural and anthropic infrastructures and trade functions linked to Mediterranean routes

Tharros XXI-XXII. Saggio di scavo nei quadrati B2.7-8, C2.7-8: la cisterna ad ovest del cardo

Breve rapporto dello scavo condotto in una cisterna di tipo punico scavata lungo il cardo maximus di Tharros. Essa è del tipo a bagnarola, ma ha una caratteristica forma a T; conteneva materiali da età punica a bizantina

Tharros: saggio di scavo sul cardo maximus

Studio della ceramica a vernice nera, di quella africana da cucina e delle lucerne rinvenute in occasione di un saggio di scavo condotto in un tratto di cloaca presso il cardo maximus di Tharros

Influence of genotype and soil on nutrients concentration of two Italian oat cultivars

Total phenols (TPs), total avenanthramides (AVNs; 2c+2p+2f), total antioxidant capacity (ORAC) and β-glucan were compared in two husked oat cultivars (cv.) grown in two different soils. Oat samples were labeled as: C1, cv. Donata in loamy soil; C2, cv. Donata in a medium texture soil; C3, cv. Flavia in loamy soil; C4, cv. Flavia in a medium texture soil. In the dehulled grains: TPs values were influenced by the genotype only, as both Donata samples showed higher values than the two Flavia samples; total antioxidant capacity did not show any difference due to soil or genetic; total AVNs showed a significantly higher value only in C1 sample, with respect to C2 and C3, thus emphasizing differences due to soil type and cultivar, respectively; β-glucan did not show significant difference due to cultivar or soil. The milling process significantly decreased TPs and ORAC values in all samples, but the reduction was higher in Donata than Flavia. Total AVNs were reduced by the milling process only in the Donata samples, whereas β-glucan did not show any reduction. Overall, the soil type had a little impact on nutrients level of the analyzed samples, whereas the genotype had a remarkable role, primarily for antioxidants retention during the milling process

Oat germoplasm for food: quality characteristics in naked and husked cultivars

Oats nutritional characteristics for human consumption have been well described in many papers. Besides a high content of proteins and lipids, the presence of soluble fiber (β-glucans) and unique antioxidant molecules (avenanthramides) confer to oat kernel a high nutritional value, which could be exploited for the production of healthy foods. Thirty oat cultivars (both naked or husked) have been multiplied in 2014 and characterized for the content of β-glucan, soluble phenols (SPs), total avenanthramides (AVNs; 2c+2p+2f) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC). SPs and TAC showed no significant differences between naked and husked samples. Average values of the 30 samples were the following: 1.12 ± 0.16 gGAE/Kg for SPs; 16.39 ± 1.77 mmolTE/Kg for ABTS and 6.74 ± 1.47 mmolTE/Kg for DPPH assay. A significant linear correlation was observed between SPs vs ABTS assay (R2 = 0.53) and SPs vs DPPH assay (R2 = 0.34) (p<0.05). Total AVNs of naked oats were significantly higher than husked samples, with average values of 248.56 ± 194.01 and 84.87 ± 88.66 mg/Kg, respectively (p<0.05). A significant linear correlation was observed between SPs and total AVNs (R2 = 0.51; p = 0.0007) of all 30 samples. In conclusion, as several cultivars, among the 30, have been released in recent years, these results indicate the importance of activating specific breeding programs to improve the nutritional and health protective characteristics of oats