Glacial dynamics in pre-Alpine narrow valleys during the Last Glacial Maximum inferred by lowland fluvial records (northeast Italy)

During the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM), most of the major glaciated basins of the European Southern Alps had piedmont lobes with large outwash plains; only a few glaciers remained within the valley. Piedmont glaciers have left well-preserved terminal moraines, which allow for investigations to be carried out and inferences to be made regarding their evolution and chronology. Valley glaciers\u2019 remnants, on the contrary, are often scantly preserved, and changes can only be detected through correlations with glaciofluvial deposits in downstream alluvial basins. The Brenta glacial system\u2019s dynamics in the glacier\u2019s terminal tract have been inferred through a wide range of sediment analysis techniques on an alluvial stratigraphic record of the Brenta megafan (northeast Italy), and via the mapping of in-valley glacial/glaciofluvial remnants. Glaciers flowing across narrow gorges could possibly be slowed/blocked by such morphology, and glacial/sediment fluxes may then be diverted to lateral valleys. Moreover, narrow valleys may induce glaciers to bulge and form icefalls at their front, preventing the formation of terminal moraines. The Brenta Glacier was probably slowed/blocked by the narrow Valsugana Gorge downstream of Primolano and was effectively diverted eastwards across a wind gap (Canal La Menor Valley), joining the Cismon/Piave glaciers near Rocca and ending 2 km downstream. The Cismon and Piave catchments started to contribute to the Brenta system just after 27 ka cal BP until at least 19:5 ka cal BP. After the glaciers collapsed, the Piave River once again flowed into its main valley, whilst the Cismon continued to merge with the Brenta. This investigation shows that glacial catchments may vary significantly over time during a single glaciation in rugged Alpine terrains. Sand petrography and the chemical/mineralogical composition of sediments are powerful proxies for tracing such variations, as they propagate through the glacial and glaciofluvial systems and can be recognized in the alluvial stratigraphic record far downstream from the glacier front

Deep seated gravitational slope deformation effects on Quaternary deposits in the Western Alps (NW Italy )

Deep-seated gravitational slope deformations (DSGSDs) are well-known to affect the landscape and the morphology of Alpine valleys. In contrast, little is known on their influence on Quaternary deposits. This paper, focused on the Western Italian Alps, aims to fill this gap. Eight case studies, identified after a long term field experience, are presented, representative of different geological settings. To fully define their distinctive features, such sites have been characterized using various methods: geological surveys, geophysics and geomatic techniques. DSGSD proved to influence the sediment deposition primarily with the continuous supply of centimetric/decimetric angular clasts. This have different consequences on sediments, depending on their features, in some cases deeply modifying their typical facies (i.e., glacial, colluvial and lacustrine sediments), whilst in other cases their influence is less evident (i.e., debris, avalanche and torrential deposits). This paper can be a useful tool when dealing with DSGSD-related deposits, helping avoid misinterpretations

Recurring flood distribution patterns related to short-term Holocene climatic variability

Received: 01 July 2015, Accepted: 08 October 2015, Published online: 09 November 2015Millennial- and multi-centennial scale climate variability during the Holocene has been well documented, but its impact on the distribution and timing of extreme river floods has yet to be established. Here we present a meta-analysis of more than 2000 radiometrically dated flood units to reconstruct centennial-scale Holocene flood episodes in Europe and North Africa. Our data analysis shows a general increase in flood frequency after 5000 cal. yr BP consistent with a weakening in zonal circulation over the second half of the Holocene, and with an increase in winter insolation. Multi-centennial length phases of flooding in UK and central Europe correspond with periods of minimum solar irradiance, with a clear trend of increasing flood frequency over the last 1000 years. Western Mediterranean regions show synchrony of flood episodes associated with negative phases of the North Atlantic Oscillation that are out-of-phase with those evident within the eastern Mediterranean. This long-term flood record reveals complex but geographically highly interconnected climate-flood relationships, and provides a new framework to understand likely future spatial changes of flood frequency.GB was funded by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness through the research projects CLARIES (CGL2011–29176), and PALEOMED (CGL2014–58127-C3-1-R).Peer reviewe

AVALIAÇÃO DOS METODOS PARA APLICAÇÃO DA ANÁLISE DO INVENTÁRIO DO CICLO DE VIDA NA INDÚSTRIA MOVELEIRA

O Sistema de Gestão Ambiental é indispensável dentro das indústrias de todos os setores, uma vez que a valorização dos produtos e processos que prezam pelo meio ambiente são tendências mundiais. Estudos mostram a necessidade de integrar o gerenciamento ambiental e as estratégias de manufatura das empresas, visando aspectos como a redução de resíduos e uso eficiente de recursos para diminuir os impactos ambientais gerados pela indústria. A Avaliação do Ciclo de Vida (ACV) é uma ferramenta de gestão ambiental que auxilia na determinação do impacto causado ao meio ambiente durante o processo de fabricação de um produto. Neste estudo, a metodologia ACV foi aplicada em um item do setor moveleiro do Planalto Norte Catarinense, com o objetivo avaliar a aplicabilidade dos métodos na análise do inventário do ciclo de vida nas indústriaS de móveis. Os resultados obtidos através da utilização do software SimaPro quantificaram o impacto ambiental total em diversos aspectos da natureza, bem como a emissão de gases responsáveis pelo aquecimento global gerados durante o ciclo de vida do berço ao portão - “cradle to gate” do produto. Uma comparação entre as metodologias de cálculo de impacto ReCiPe, CML e ILCD foi realizada para avaliar a padronização das mesmas, e demonstrou a divergência de resultados para algumas categorias, alertando para a necessidade de critérios rigorosos de escolha.

PRÁTICAS SUSTENTÁVEIS NAS PEQUENAS PROPRIEDADES DE AGRICULTURA FAMILIAR: UM ESTUDO DE CASO

Considering the economic and social importance, as well as by the ability to impact the environment through the use of natural resources, this study arises the problematic of which the practices adopted by the rural producers in the municipality of Santa Maria/RS allow to evidence characteristics of sustainability. From the analysis of these practices and perceptions of rural producers regarding the Brazilian environmental legislation in force, despite the importance of environmental issues, are not developing their activities in a fully sustainable way, considering that one of its pillars, the environmental, introduces areas for improvement with regards the harmony development with the social and economic variables. This factor could be obtained with appropriate waste disposal of the farms. Such results were made possible by the application of a questionnaire to rural producers agriculture in municipality of Santa Maria/RS.Pela importância econômica e social, bem como pela capacidade de impactar o meio ambiente pelas atividades de agricultura familiar exercida, insere-se a problemática deste estudo de quais as práticas adotadas pelos produtores rurais de agricultura familiar no município de Santa Maria/RS permitem evidenciar características de sustentabilidade. A partir da análise dessas práticas e da percepção dos produtores rurais quanto à legislação ambiental brasileira vigente, esses, apesar de considerarem a questão ambiental importante, não estão desenvolvendo suas atividades de maneira plenamente sustentável, visto que um de seus pilares, o ambiental, apresenta pontos a melhorar para o desenvolvimento harmônico com as variáveis social e econômica.  Esse fator poderia ser obtido com a adequada destinação dos resíduos das propriedades. Tais resultados foram possíveis pela aplicação de um questionário aos produtores rurais de agricultura familiar do município de Santa Maria/RS

Lopinavir/Ritonavir and Darunavir/Cobicistat in Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients: Findings From the Multicenter Italian CORIST Study

Background: Protease inhibitors have been considered as possible therapeutic agents for COVID-19 patients. Objectives: To describe the association between lopinavir/ritonavir (LPV/r) or darunavir/cobicistat (DRV/c) use and in-hospital mortality in COVID-19 patients. Study Design: Multicenter observational study of COVID-19 patients admitted in 33 Italian hospitals. Medications, preexisting conditions, clinical measures, and outcomes were extracted from medical records. Patients were retrospectively divided in three groups, according to use of LPV/r, DRV/c or none of them. Primary outcome in a time-to event analysis was death. We used Cox proportional-hazards models with inverse probability of treatment weighting by multinomial propensity scores. Results: Out of 3,451 patients, 33.3% LPV/r and 13.9% received DRV/c. Patients receiving LPV/r or DRV/c were more likely younger, men, had higher C-reactive protein levels while less likely had hypertension, cardiovascular, pulmonary or kidney disease. After adjustment for propensity scores, LPV/r use was not associated with mortality (HR = 0.94, 95% CI 0.78 to 1.13), whereas treatment with DRV/c was associated with a higher death risk (HR = 1.89, 1.53 to 2.34, E-value = 2.43). This increased risk was more marked in women, in elderly, in patients with higher severity of COVID-19 and in patients receiving other COVID-19 drugs. Conclusions: In a large cohort of Italian patients hospitalized for COVID-19 in a real-life setting, the use of LPV/r treatment did not change death rate, while DRV/c was associated with increased mortality. Within the limits of an observational study, these data do not support the use of LPV/r or DRV/c in COVID-19 patients