Risk Behaviors among Migrant Adolescents in Italy

: Adolescence is a critical period for engaging in health risk behaviors. Migrant adolescents may face unique challenges due to acculturation stress. This study aims to monitor substance use and problem gambling among migrant adolescents living in Italy. Data from the 2017/18 Health Behavior in School-Aged Children survey in Italy were analyzed. The 18,794 participants included 15-year-olds, categorized as native or migrants, with ethnic backgrounds from Western, Eastern European, or non-Western/non-European countries. Girls had higher smoking rates, while boys exhibited higher prevalence of alcohol-related risk behaviors, cannabis use, and gambling. Boys from Eastern European countries displayed a greater risk of drunkenness (OR: 1.58, 95% CI: 1.06-2.37), particularly in the first generation, while those from Western countries showed a higher risk of multiple substance use (OR: 1.44, 95% CI: 1.05-1.96). Girls from Eastern European and non-Western/non-European countries had a lower risk of alcohol consumption (OR: 0.50, 95% CI: 0.29-0.85; OR: 0.55, 95% CI: 0.33-0.91, respectively). Finally, boys, especially those from Eastern European and non-Western/non-European countries, had a significantly higher risk of problem gambling (OR: 1.83, 95% CI: 1.04-3.22; OR: 2.10, 95% CI: 1.29-3.42, respectively). This disparity was more pronounced in the first generation, possibly due to acculturation challenges and socio-economic factors. Risk behaviors in adolescents are influenced by complex interplays of gender, cultural factors, and migration generation. Preventive strategies should consider these factors to effectively address substance use and gambling in this heterogeneous population

Polychlorinated biphenyls and organochlorine pesticides in water and sediment from Volturno River, Southern Italy: occurrence, distribution and risk assessment

Abstract Background To assess the Volturno River pollution and its environmental impact on the Tyrrhenian Sea (Central Mediterranean Sea) caused by Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), 32 PCBs and aldrin, α-BHC, β-BHC, δ-BHC, γ-BHC (lindane), 4,4′- DDD, 4,4′-DDE, 4,4′-DDT, dieldrin, endosulfan I, endosulfan II, endosulfan sulphate, endrin, heptachlor, heptachlor epoxide (isomer B) and methoxychlor have been selected and were analyzed in three different phases: dissolved phase (DP), suspended particulate matter (SPM) and sediments. PCBs and OCPs were extracted using an SPE column for the DP and glass fiber filter for SPM and sediment samples. Cleaned extracts were analyzed by gas chromatography with electron capture detector (ECD) and mass spectrometry (MS) detector for PCBs and OCPs, respectively. Results Pollutants discharges of PCBs and OCPs into the sea were calculated in about 106.9 kg year−1 (87.1 kg year−1 of PCBs and 19.7 kg year−1 of OCPs), showing that this river could be a major source of PCBs and OCPs pollution to the Central Mediterranean Sea. Total concentrations of PCBs ranged from 4.1 to 48.0 ng L−1 in water (sum of DP and SPM) and from 4.3 to 64.3 ng g−1 in sediment samples. The concentrations of total organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) obtained in water (sum of DP and SPM) ranged from 0.93 to 8.66 ng L−1 and from 0.52 to 9.89 ng g−1 in sediment samples. Principal component analysis shows that all PCB compounds are more likely to come from surface runoff than an atmospheric deposition. Conclusion The data show that higher levels of PCBs and OCPs were found in sediment samples than in DP and SPM samples, which are an indication of no fresh inputs of these compounds. Based on our results, unintentionally produced PCBs by industrial processes (and other processes) were considered to be the main sources of PCBs in Volturno River and Estuary sediments. Considering the Sediment Quality Guidelines (SQGs), the Ecological Risk Index (ERI), the Risk Quotient (RQ) and the USEPA Environmental Quality Standards (EQS), the Volturno River and its Estuary would be considered an area in which the integrity is possibly at risk

Array and spectral ratio techniques applied to seismic noise to investigate the Campi Flegrei (Italy) subsoil structure at different scales

Abstract. The purpose of this work is to study the subsoil structure of the Campi Flegrei area using both spectral ratios and array techniques applied to seismic noise. We have estimated the dispersion curves of Rayleigh waves by applying the Frequency–Wavenumber (f–k hereinafter) and Modified Spatial Autocorrelation (MSPAC) techniques to the seismic noise recorded by the underground short period seismic Array "ARF", by the broadband stations of the UNREST experiment and by the broadband stations of the seismic monitoring network of INGV – Osservatorio Vesuviano. We have performed the inversion of a dispersion curve (obtained averaging the f–k and MSPAC dispersion curves of seismic noise and single phase velocity values of coherent transient signals) jointly with the H∕V spectral ratio of the broadband station CELG, to obtain a shear wave velocity model up to 2000 m depth. The best-fit model obtained is in a good agreement with the stratigraphic information available in the area coming from shallow boreholes and deep wells drilled for geothermal exploration. In active volcanic areas, such as Campi Flegrei, the definition of the velocity model is a crucial issue to characterize the physical parameters of the medium. Generally, a high quality characterization of the medium properties helps to separate the contributions of the volcanic source, path and site in the geophysical observables. Therefore, monitoring possible variations in time of such properties in general can help to recognize anomalies due to the volcano dynamics, i.e. fluid migration connected to the volcanic activity

Artificial Intelligence-suggested Predictive Model of Survival in Patients Treated With Stereotactic Radiotherapy for Early Lung Cancer

Background/aim: Overall survival (OS)-predictive models to clinically stratify patients with stage I Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) undergoing stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) are still unavailable. The aim of this work was to build a predictive model of OS in this setting. Patients and methods: Clinical variables of patients treated in three Institutions with SBRT for stage I NSCLC were retrospectively collected into a reference cohort A (107 patients) and 2 comparative cohorts B1 (32 patients) and B2 (38 patients). A predictive model was built using Cox regression (CR) and artificial neural networks (ANN) on reference cohort A and then tested on comparative cohorts. Results: Cohort B1 patients were older and with worse chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) than cohort A. Cohort B2 patients were heavier smokers but had lower Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI). At CR analysis for cohort A, only ECOG Performance Status 0-1 and absence of previous neoplasms correlated with better OS. The model was enhanced combining ANN and CR findings. The reference cohort was divided into prognostic Group 1 (0-2 score) and Group 2 (3-9 score) to assess model's predictions on OS: grouping was close to statistical significance (p=0.081). One and 2-year OS resulted higher for Group 1, lower for Group 2. In comparative cohorts, the model successfully predicted two groups of patients with divergent OS trends: higher for Group 1 and lower for Group 2. Conclusion: The produced model is a relevant tool to clinically stratify SBRT candidates into prognostic groups, even when applied to different cohorts. ANN are a valuable resource, providing useful data to build a prognostic model that deserves to be validated prospectively

Evaluation of liquefaction potential in an intermountain Quaternary lacustrine basin (Fucino basin, central Italy)

In this study, we analyse the susceptibility to liquefaction of the Pozzone site, which is located on the northern side of the Fucino lacustrine basin in central Italy. In 1915, this region was struck by a M 7.0 earthquake, which produced widespread coseismic surface effects that were interpreted to be liquefaction-related. However, the interpretation of these phenomena at the Pozzone site is not straightforward. Furthermore, the site is characterized by an abundance of fine-grained sediments, which are not typically found in liquefiable soils. Therefore, in this study, we perform a number of detailed stratigraphic and geotechnical investigations (including continuous-coring borehole, CPTu, SDMT, SPT, and geotechnical laboratory tests) to better interpret these 1915 phenomena and to evaluate the liquefaction potential of a lacustrine environment dominated by fine-grained sedimentation. The upper 18.5 m of the stratigraphic succession comprises fine-grained sediments, including four strata of coarser sediments formed by interbedded layers of sand, silty sand and sandy silt. These strata, which are interpreted to represent the frontal lobes of an alluvial fan system within a lacustrine succession, are highly susceptible to liquefaction. We also find evidence of paleo-liquefaction, dated between 12.1–10.8 and 9.43–9.13 kyrs ago, occurring at depths of 2.1–2.3 m. These data, along with the aforementioned geotechnical analyses, indicate that this site would indeed be liquefiable in a 1915-like earthquake. Although we found a broad agreement among CPTu, DMT and shear wave velocity ‘‘simplified procedures’’ in detecting the liquefaction potential of the Pozzone soil, our results suggest that the use and comparison of different in situ techniques are highly recommended for reliable estimates of the cyclic liquefaction resistance in lacustrine sites characterized by high content of fine-grained soils. In geologic environments similar to the one analysed in this work, where it is difficult to detect liquefiable layers, one can identify sites that are susceptible to liquefaction only by using detailed stratigraphic reconstructions, in situ characterization, and laboratory analyses. This has implications for basic (Level 1) seismic microzonation mapping, which typically relies on the use of empirical evaluations based on geologic maps and pre-existing sub-surface data (i.e., age and type of deposits, prevailing grain size, with particular attention paid to clean sands, and depth of the water table).Published91-1115T. Sismologia, geofisica e geologia per l'ingegneria sismicaJCR Journa

Preliminary analysis of site effects in the Ischia island: new insights from md 4.0 earthquake of 21 august 2017 and seismic noise data

On August 21, 2017, at 18:57 UTC, an earthquake of MD 4.0 occurred in Casamicciola, district of Ischia island. The damage caused by the earthquake was massive, with two victims and several buildings collapsed, and circumscribed to the areas of uptown Casamicciola, particularly in the Piazza Maio-La Rita area, and in a small area, called Fango, in Lacco Ameno. Medium and minor damages occurred in Piazza Bagni, in the area around the town hall of Casamicciola and in the Sentinella area. Even assuming the poor quality constructions and/or not in compliance with the anti-seismic regulations, such a level of damage has induced the scientific community to analyse the effects of local site amplifications, that usually are not negligible in volcanic areas. As a matter of fact the seismic station IOCA, located very close to the high damage areas, recorded a peak ground acceleration (PGA) of 2.6 m/s2. This paper is aimed to study the possible site amplification in the areas heavily affected by the August 21 earthquake in order to better understand the causes of these macroseismic effects and high damage levels already observed in the past.PublishedCentro Congressi della Stazione Marittima, Trieste, Italy6V. Pericolosità vulcanica e contributi alla stima del rischi