Geographical mortality patterns in Italy

In this paper, we present a hierarchical spatial model for the analysis of geographical variation in mortality between the Italian provinces in the year 2001, according to gender, age class, and cause of death. When analysing counts data specific to geographical locations, classical empirical rates or standardised mortality ratios may produce estimates that show a very high level of overdispersion due to the effect of spatial autocorrelation among the observations, and due to the presence of heterogeneity among the population sizes. We adopt a Bayesian approach and a Markov chain Monte Carlo computation with the goal of making more consistent inferences about the quantities of interest. While considering information for the year 1991, we also take into account a temporal effect from the previous geographical pattern. Results have demonstrated the flexibility of our proposal in evaluating specific aspects of a counts spatial process, such as the clustering effect and the heterogeneity effect.clustering effect, heterogeneity effect, hierarchical spatio-temporal model, relative risks

Dynamic Geotechnical Characterization of San Giuliano Di Puglia Seismic Area

The city of San Giuliano di Puglia (CB), located in the Molise region in Southern Italy, is prone to high seismic risk. For site characterisation of soil deep site investigations have been undertaken. Borings, static and dynamic in situ tests have been performed. Among them Cone Penetration Tests (CPT), Cross-Hole (C-H) Down-Hole (D-H) and Seismic Dilatometer Marchetti Tests (SDMT) have been carried out, with the aim to evaluate the soil profile of shear waves velocity (Vs). Moreover the following laboratory tests were carried out on undisturbed samples: Oedometer tests, undrained Triaxial tests and Resonant Column tests. The available data enabled one to compare the shear waves velocity profile obtained by empirical correlations, Down Hole tests and Seismic Dilatometer Marchetti Tests. The influence of strain level on G-γ and D-γ curves was evaluated by means of laboratory tests. Two expression to allows the complete shear modulus degradation with strain level and the inverse variation of damping ratio with normalized shear modulus respectively were proposed. Finally after evaluating the synthetic accelerograms at the bedrock, the ground response analysis at the surface, in terms of time history and response spectra, has been obtained by two non-linear models GEODIN and EERA

Topographic Site Effects Evaluation for the Monte Po Hill in the City of Catania (Italy)

The Monte Po Hill is located in the North-eastern part of the city of Catania; this area is prone to high seismic risk due to the presence of several constructions, including a school, in the vicinity of a toe of a slope, characterized by precarious stability conditions. The study has regarded the evaluation of site effects in correspondence of the site, to which corresponds a different value of the Seismic Geotechnical Hazard. In the beginning of 2007 a seismic station has been also located into the school building, with the aim of recording seismic events. Seismograms obtained by the seismic station have been also used to evaluate the ground response analysis at the surface. Finally the 1-D computer code EERA was also used to model the equivalent-linear earthquake site response analyses of layered soil deposits of the hill. The detail with which the hill has been studied has allowed the construction of a detailed 2-D model of its structure. It has been explored the differences between the computed ground motion for different Vs profiles using QUAD4M and QUAKE/W 2-D codes. It has been also possible to compare the results from different 1-D models reflecting current approaches to the determination of site response

Site Response Analysis in the STM-M6 Industrial Area of the City of Catania (Italy)

The paper presents the case history of the geotechnical characterization of a seismic site for the re-use of an industrial building for producing solar panels in the industrial area of Catania (Sicily, Italy). To determine the geological profile and the geotechnical characteristics of the soil, the site was well investigated by means of in situ and laboratory tests. The following in situ geotechnical tests were carried out: Borings, SPT, CPT, PLT and dynamic in situ tests. Among them Down-Hole (D-H), Cross-Hole (C-H), SASW and recently Seismic Dilatometer Marchetti Tests (SDMT) have been carried out, with the aim to evaluate the soil profile of shear waves velocity (Vs). Moreover the following laboratory tests were carried out on undisturbed samples retrieved with a 86 mm diameter Shelby sampler: Oedometer tests, Direct shear tests, Resonant Column and Torsional shear tests. Static and dynamic parameters obtained by in situ and laboratory tests were reported and analyzed. Moreover the Sicilian earthquake of December 13, 1990 (ML= 5.4) heavy damaged the site, also due to soil amplification. Using the recordings of this earthquake, to evaluate the input motion at the conventional bedrock, the ground response analysis has been obtained by the 1-D non-linear code EERA at the industrial building site. In particular the study has regarded the evaluation of site effects in terms of acceleration time history at the surface, soil amplification factors, as well as in terms of time history and response spectra

Dynamic Site Characterization by the Seismic Dilatometer Marchetti Test in Central Italy

This paper describes and compares the results of in situ and laboratory investigations performed on two Italian sites: St. Giuliano di Puglia (CB) located in the Molise region and Tito Scalo (PZ) located in the Basilicata Region. The tests were carried out to determine the variation of shear wave velocity with depth and strain level by Seismic Dilatometer Marchetti Test (SDMT), Cone Penetration Test (CPT), Noise Analysis Surface Waves (NASW), Down-Hole (DH) Test and Resonant Column Tests (RCT). Some considerations on shear modulus degradation evaluation by SDMT are proposed. The available data also enabled one to compare the shear modulus profile obtained by empirical correlations based on CPT and NASW or laboratory results with Down Hole Test and Seismic Dilatometer Marchetti Test

Geotechnical Characterization of a Soft Clay Soil Subjected to a Preloading Embankment

The paper presents the geotechnical characterization of a clay soil subjected to a preloading embankment for the construction of an industrial electronics building in the industrial area (STM M6) of Catania (Sicily, Italy). To determine the geological profile and the geotechnical characteristics of the soil, the site was well investigated by means of in situ and laboratory tests. The following in situ geotechnical tests were carried out: Borings, SPT, CPT, PLT and dynamic in situ tests have been performed. Among them Down-Hole (D-H), Cross-Hole (C-H), SASW and recently Seismic Dilatometer Marchetti Tests (SDMT) have been carried out, with the aim to evaluate the soil profile of shear waves velocity (Vs). Moreover the following laboratory tests were carried out on undisturbed samples retrieved with a 86 mm diameter Shelby sampler: Oedometer tests, Direct shear tests, Triaxial Tests, Resonant Column and Torsional shear tests. Static and dynamic parameters were compared by in situ and laboratory tests. A significantly correspondence between the values of the geotechnical parameters derived from laboratory and in situ tests was observed. The in situ and laboratory geotechnical analysis gives the parameters to evaluate the performance of soil subjected to soil embankment by mathematical modeling

Soil Liquefaction and Risk Analysis From in Situ Tests for the City of Trapani (Italy)

The paper deals with a microzoning criterion based on CPT data to define liquefaction risk of the city of Trapani, Sicily (Italy). Zonation for liquefaction is a fundamental issue to prevent from seismic disasters since, as lessons of past earthquakes teach, liquefaction of sandy soils has been a major cause of damage to buildings. For the evaluation of the seismic risk of the municipal area of Trapani it has been chosen a scenario earthquake which may represent a possible repetition of the 1968 event. For this earthquake a Richter magnitude M= 6.0 and a maximum ground acceleration amax-= 0.30g have been estimated. While new tools and refinements continue to be developed on the subjects of pore pressure build-up due to earthquake shaking and of liquefaction triggering, reliable evaluation methods already exist for liquefaction microzonation purposes. This study focuses on the application of a method for the evaluation of the liquefaction potential to several sites of the city of Trapani, by means of relationships between liquefaction resistance and corrected cone penetration tests (CPT) resistance

Revisiting the mortality of France and Italy with the multiple-cause-of-death approach

In this paper, we use the multiple cause-of-death approach to compare the mortality profiles of France and Italy in 2003. Our analysis leads to a substantial re-evaluation of the role played by certain conditions in the process leading to death. Regarding the associations of causes, we distinguish three patterns that are common to both countries. The numerous similarities that emerge from the comparison of the two countries are a clear indication that, contrary to what is generally thought, misreporting by the certifying physicians generally do not distort the observation.cause of death, France, international comparisons, Italy, mortality, multiple causes of death

Area deprivation, perceived neighbourhood cohesion and mental health at older ages: A cross lagged analysis of UK longitudinal data

Previous research on neighbourhood influences on older adults’ mental health shows inconsistent evidence for effects of neighbourhood deprivation but stronger evidence for effects of perceived neighbourhood social cohesion, often proposed as a mediator of the link between neighbourhood deprivation and mental well-being. However, it is possible that mental health influences perceptions of neighbourhoods; this has rarely been considered. We use data from a large UK longitudinal study to investigate these associations. Results from cross-lagged models indicate that greater neighbourhood deprivation is associated with worse perceived social cohesion and worse mental health. Associations between change in perceived social cohesion and in mental health were reciprocal-lower perceived cohesion predicted poorer mental health and vice versa. Further research including three waves of data is needed to further unravel underlying directions of association