Variazioni del livello marino in Sardegna durante gli ultimi millenni sulla base di indicatori geo-archeologici costieri

Nel corso degli ultimi decenni, le coste del Mediterraneo sono state oggetto di numerosi studi multidisciplinari che hanno permesso di identificare con precisione le variazioni del livello del mare nel corso dei millenni. L’archeologia, grazie alle possibilità offerte dallo studio di manufatti sommersi in prossimità delle coste (indicatori archeologici), può apportare un notevole contributo a questo tipo di problematica. In questo poster viene presentata una sintesi dei più recenti lavori geo-archeologici svolti lungo le coste della Sardegna; viene inoltre proposto un confronto tra il dato archeologico e il più recente modello teorico di previsione

The Role of Needle Fear in Pediatric Flu Vaccine Hesitancy: A Cross-Sectional Study in Bologna Metropolitan Area

: (1) Background: vaccination is the most effective way to prevent influenza and reduce its complications. The main aim of the study is to assess a possible increase of parents'/caregivers' pediatric flu vaccination adherence due to a nasal administration as an alternative to injection in Bologna. (2) Methods: 169 parents/guardians of children who were joining the COVID-19 pediatric vaccination session in Bologna were interviewed. The results were summarized using descriptive statistics. A multiple logistic regression model was used to assess the determinants of the change in flu vaccine uptake if offered without injection administration. All analyses were conducted using STATA and R-Studio software. (3) Results: Only 29.0% of parents were informed about pediatric flu vaccination by pediatricians, and 32.5% heard about pediatric flu vaccination. Almost 72.2% of parents declared that they would not have their children vaccinated against influenza. Thus, 40.2% of them changed their opinion after being informed about the existence of a non-injective vaccine. Needle fear in children turned out to be a determinant of this opinion change (OR = 3.79; 95% CI = 1.63-9.43; p = 0.003). (4) Conclusions: the study has confirmed that needle fear is a determinant of vaccine hesitancy and that a different method of administration may increase parents'/guardians' adherence

Preservation of modern and MIS 5.5 erosional landforms and biological structures as sea level markers : a matter of luck?

The Mediterranean Basin is characterized by a significant variability in tectonic behaviour, ranging from subsidence to uplifting. However, those coastal areas considered to be tectonically stable show coastal landforms at elevations consistent with eustatic and isostatic sea level change models. In particular, geomorphological indicators—such as tidal notches or shore platforms—are often used to define the tectonic stability of the Mediterranean coasts. We present the results of swim surveys in nine rocky coastal sectors in the central Mediterranean Sea using the Geoswim approach. The entire route was covered in 22 days for a total distance of 158.5 km. All surveyed sites are considered to have been tectonically stable since the last interglacial (Marine Isotope Stage 5.5 [MIS 5.5]), because related sea level markers fit well with sea level rise models. The analysis of visual observations and punctual measurements highlighted that, with respect to the total length of surveyed coast, the occurrence of tidal notches, shore platforms, and other indicators accounts for 85% of the modern coastline, and only 1% of the MIS 5.5 equivalent. Therefore, only 1% of the surveyed coast showed the presence of fossil markers of paleo sea levels above the datum. This significant difference is mainly attributable to erosion processes that did not allow the preservation of the geomorphic evidence of past sea level stands. In the end, our research method showed that the feasibility of applying such markers to define long-term tectonic behaviour is much higher in areas where pre-modern indicators have not been erased, such as at sites with hard bedrock previously covered by post-MIS 5.5 continental deposits, e.g., Sardinia, the Egadi Islands, Ansedonia, Gaeta, and Circeo. In general, the chances of finding such preserved indicators are very low.peer-reviewe

Shoe-Leather Costs in the Euro Area and the Foreign Demand for Euro Banknotes

We estimate the shoe-leather costs of inflation in the euro area using monetary data adjusted for holdings of euro banknotes abroad. While we find evidence of marginally negative shoe-leather costs for very low levels of the nominal interest rate, our estimates suggest that the shoe-leather costs are non-negligible even for relatively moderate levels of anticipated inflation. We conclude that, despite the increased circulation of euro banknotes abroad, in the euro area the inflation tax is still predominantly borne by domestic agents, with transfers of resources from abroad remaining small

Relative sea level change in Olbia Gulf (Sardinia, Italy), a historically important Mediterranean harbour

Olbia Gulf, located in northeastern Sardinia, is bordered by granite, metamorphic rock, and limestones (Capo Figari and Tavolara Island). It has been an important merchant harbour for three thousand years. Tidal notches in limestone, considered one of the best sea level markers, are present between 5.1 and 8.6 m a.s.l. A fossil beach deposit on Tavolara Island is of Tyrrhenian age (MIS 5.5, 125 ka). Between 1999 and 2001, during the building of a new Olbia harbour tunnel, many shipwrecks hidden under recent fine sediments have been discovered. The archaeological excavation (380 x 20 m, to the surface of the carbonate bedrock at 4 m depth) was done by the Soprintendenza per i Beni Archeologici per le provincie di Sassari e Nuoro (Olbia branch). During the archaeological excavation campaign, thousands of ceramics, other materials which were not in situ, and 24 shipwrecks of different age and size were recovered. Eleven of these wrecks were sunk while they were still in the harbour during an attack by the Vandals in the middle of the fifth century. This attack determined the beginning of a sharp decline of Olbia, and gives a clear picture of one of the turning points of the Mediterranean cultural evolution: the end of the Roman Empire. Considering −1.4 m as the average altitude of the shipwrecks on the silty bottom of the Olbia Harbour and comparing this value with the predicted sea level curve from the Lambeck model calculated for northern Sardinia (−1 m ca. 1500 cal BP), it appears clear that the ships were at the margin of the harbour in water depth of less than 0.5 m. This confirms: a) the previous archaeological interpretation; and b) that the northern Sardinian coast was stable during the last millennia. Due to the tectonic stability of the coastal area, the evolution of the shoreline from the Bronze age (4 ka cal BP) up to 21.5 ka cal BP (LGM, last glacial maximum) is reconstructed

L'Italia centrale

I materiali illustrati nella rivista sono tratti dalla Mostra "Cantiere periferie. Alla ricerca di una città normale. Il ruolo dei quartieri di iniziativa pubblica nell'espansione urbana degli ultimi 50 anni in Italia" prodotta dalla Direzione Generale Arte e Architettura Contemporanee e Periferie urbane del MiBACT - Ministero dei Beni e delle Attività Culturali e del Turismo. La Mostra si è tenuta nella sede dell'Archivio Centrale dello Stato di Roma dal 15 aprile al 15 giugno 2016 (vedi ID 509845

Bacterial community acquired pneumonia in HIV-infected inpatients in the highly active antiretroviral therapy era

Introduction: Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has deeply modified HIV/AIDS related morbidity and mortality. However, bacterial community acquired pneumonia (BCAP) still represents one of the most frequent causes of morbidity in HIV-infected patients with an inpatient 10% mortality rate. Objectives: We retrospectively studied the characteristics of BCAP in consecutive HIV-infected inpatients hospitalized from 1999 to 2004 and evaluated the presence of risk factors and the influence of combination antiretroviral therapy receipt on BCAP outcomes. Results: We studied 84 BCAP episodes in 76 HIV-infected inpatients (63 males and 13 females) aged 27–80 years. Thirty-two (42.1%) patients were receiving combination antiretroviral treatment (CART) while 44 (57.9%) were not treated (NART). BCAP incidence progressively increased from 1999 to 2004. The overall percentage of injection drug users was > 84%, of smokers > 88% and alcohol abusers > 32% with no statistical difference between CART and NART. Streptococcus pneumoniae was the most frequently identified pathogen (60%). Time to clinical stability was significantly longer in NART in respect of CART (p = 0.011). In multivariate analysis, CDC stage C, CD4 cell count < 100 × 106 cells/l, and S. pneumoniae etiology were predictors for time to clinical stability > 7 days, while receipt of antiretroviral therapy was protective. The percentage of deaths did not differ between CART and NART; most patients had a CD4 count < 200 × 106 cells/l or severe concomitant diseases. Conclusions: The incidence of BCAP was high in HIV-infected inpatients observed in the present study mainly due to HIV infection itself, IVDU, alcohol abuse and smoking habit. A longer time to clinical stability was associated with advanced HIV infection and with S. pneumoniae etiology, while receipt of antiretroviral therapy was protective. Injection drug abuse treatment, alcohol abuse and smoking cessation programs, antiretroviral treatment adherence support and pneumococcal vaccination should be implemented to reduce the incidence and to improve the outcomes of BCAP in HIV-infected patients

Centrifugal Pump and Reduction of Neurological Risk in Adult Cardiac Surgery

This study was performed to assess if the kind of pump used for CPB (roller vs. centrifugal) can influence neurological outcomes of adult cardiac surgery patients. Between 1994 and 1998, 3438 patients underwent coronary and/or valve surgery at our hospital; of these, 1805 (52.5%) underwent surgery with the use of a centrifugal pump, and 1633 (47.5%) were operated with a roller pump. The effect of the type of the pump and of common preoperative and intraoperative risk factors for five different neurological outcomes (permanent neurological deficit, coma, delirium, transient neurological deficit, overall neurological complications) were assessed with univariate and multivariate analyses in the whole patients population, in patients ≥ 75 years old and in patients with histories of previous neurological events. Centrifugal pump use was the only protective factor for perioperative permanent neurological deficit in multivariable models developed for the whole patient population and for patients ≥ 75 years old. In addition, it resulted as the only protective factor for perioperative coma occurrence in multivariable models developed for patients ≥ 75 years old, and for patients with histories of previous neurological events. The use of the centrifugal pump provided a risk reduction for the considered events ranging from 23 to 84%. Centrifugal pump use can be helpful in reducing the occurrence of some of the most feared neurological complications of adult cardiac surgery patients

A Year of Bio-Monitoring (2021): Presence of Algae of the Genus <i>Alexandrium</i>, <i>Dinophysis</i>, <i>Prorocentrum</i> and Non-Compliance for Paralytic Toxins and Lipophilic Toxins in Bivalve Mollusks Bred in Sardinia (W Mediterranean Sea)

Bivalve mollusk production represents the principal aquaculture activity in Sardinia (40°03′ N, 9°05′ E). In 2021, 859 water samples and 1270 mollusk samples were analyzed. The species Alexandrium minutum caused the accumulation of Paralytic Shellfish Toxins (PST) in three samples of bivalve mollusks. Dinophysis acuminata complex caused the accumulation of lipophilic toxins (LTs) belonging to the okadaic acid group (OAs) in 18 samples of bivalve mollusks. The research of paralytic shellfish toxins (PSTs) in shellfish samples has been carried out with LC-FLD, as mentioned in the AOAC 2005 Official Method 2005.06. The determination of LTs was carried out by LC-MS/MS analysis. DTX2, belonging to the group of OA toxins, was detected for the first time in Sardinia, in mussels sampled in Tortolì. The presence of Dinophysis and Prorocentrum species was correlated with the accumulation of the OA toxin group in bivalve mollusks, showing a certain repeatability at certain times of the year in the areas included in the study. The results of the present study can help to plan and organize more effective bio-monitoring sampling strategies