Spreading the Disease: The Role of Culture

This paper investigates the \cultural" transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak. Using West Germany data we observe that in predominantly Catholic regions with stronger social and family ties, the spread and the resulting deaths per capita were much higher compared to non-Catholic ones at the NUTS-3 level. This finding could help explain the rapid spread and high death toll of the virus in some European countries compared to others. Looking at differences within a specific country in a well identified setting eliminates biases due to different social structures, health care systems, specific policies and measures, and testing procedures for the virus that can confound estimates and hinder comparability across countries. Further, we use individual level data as well as Apple mobility data to investigate potential mechanisms. The results highlight the cultural dimension of the spread and could suggest the implementation of targeted mitigation measures in light of disease outbreaks

Preliminary results of investigations of possible ground deformation structures in the early christian basilica, ancient Lechaion harbour, Corinth, Greece.

Η Παλαιοχριστιανική Βασιλική Λεχαίου, Κόρινθος, κατασκευάστηκε στα τέλη του 5ου αι. μ.Χ. στον δυτικό βραχίονα του αρχαίου λιμανιού του Λεχαίου, και σύμφωνα με αρχαιολογικές ανασκαφές καταστράφηκε από την σεισμική δραστηριότητα του 551-552 μ.Χ.. Διάσπαρτα βυθίσματα και υβώματα που παρατηρήθηκαν στο δάπεδο της Βασιλικής αποτελούν ενδεικτικές δομές εδαφικής παραμόρφωσης η οποία πιθανόν να σχετίζεται με ρευστοποίηση εδάφους. Με στόχο την διερεύνηση της στρωματογραφίας και της δομής του υπεδάφους πραγματοποιήθηκαν γεωφυσικές διασκοπήσεις GPR και μετρήσεις αγωγιμότητας του εδάφους κατά μήκος δέκα επιλεγμένων τομών και συσχέτιση τους με τη στρωματογραφία όπως αυτή περιγράφεται από αρχαιολογικά σκάμματα. Τα αποτελέσματα της μελέτης είναι ενδεικτικά δομών παραμόρφωσης των υποκείμενων εδαφικών σχηματισμών με χαρακτηριστικά που επιτρέπουν την συσχέτιση των επιφανειακών δομών που παρατηρήθηκαν στο δάπεδο της Βασιλικής με το φαινόμενο της ρευστοποίησης εδάφους.The Early Christian Basilica of Lechaion, Corinth, located on the western jetty of the ancient Lechaion harbour, was constructed during the late 5th century AD and archaeological excavations suggest that it was destroyed by seismic activity during 551-552 AD. Numerous depressions and buckling structures observed on the Basilica floor are indicative of ground deformation structures, likely associated with liquefaction. In an attempt to investigate the subsurface soil structure, and stratigraphy, a GPR survey and horizontal distribution of ground conductivity along ten selected transects was carried out, supplemented by stratigraphic data as described by archaeological trenches. The results of the study revealed subsurface deformation features providing sufficient indications that allow us to suggest that the surface structures observed on the Basilica floor are the surface expression of earthquake-induced ground liquefaction

Foreseeing Neutrino spectra in Deep Core

Atmospheric muon neutrino in Deep Core (whose rate and spectra might be soon available) should exhibit a suppression (due to tens GeV up-going muon neutrino converted into tau flavor) that must be imprinted in out-coming rate spectra. We estimate here our independent muon neutrino spectra based on SK and its projected record on Deep Core Channels. Our estimate (based on cosmic rays, muon records and tested Super-Kamiokande (SK) data) differs both in shape and in rate from other previous published spectra. The expected rate might exhibit a minimum near channel 6 of Deep Core strings and it should manifest strong signature for flavor mixing (mostly between channel 4--15)and a relevant anomaly for eventual CPT violation (MINOS like) written at channel 3--6,whose statistical weight (mainly at channel 5) might soon confirm or dismiss MINOS CPT claim. At the flux minimum around channel 6, (a flux suppressed respect the non oscillated case at least by an order of magnitude) the atmospheric neutrino paucity offers a better windows to a twenty GeV Neutrino Astronomy. Therefore by doubling the string array we may foresee a richer rate and a more complete (zenith and azimuth) atmospheric neutrino distribution and an exciting first twenty GeV Astronomy.Comment: 8 pages, 8 figure

Religion, social interactions, and COVID-19 incidence in Western Germany

This paper investigates how social interactions, as shaped by religious denomination, are related to COVID-19 incidence and associated mortality in Western Germany. We observe that the number of infections and deaths during the early pandemic phase were much higher in predominantly Catholic counties with arguably stronger family and social ties. The relationship was confirmed at the county level through numerous robustness checks, and after controlling for a series of characteristics and county fixed effects. At the individual level, we confirmed that Catholics, relative to non-Catholics, have tighter and more frequent interactions with their family and friends. Moreover, the intensity of social interaction was able to partially explain the relationship between COVID-19 incidence and share of Catholics at the county level. Our results highlight the number of dimensions that have to be taken into account when designing and implementing mitigation measures in the early stages of disease outbreaks