Thermochronology of the Miocene Arabia-Eurasia collision zone of southeastern Turkey

The Bitlis-Piitiirge collision zone of SE Turkey is the area of maximum indentation along the > 2400-km-long Assyrian-Zagros suture between Arabia and Eurasia. The integration of (1) fission-track analyses on apatites, (ii) (U-Th)/He analyses on zircons, (iii) field observations on stratigraphic and structural relationships, and (iv) preexisting U-Pb and Ar-Ar age determinations on zircons, amphiboles, and micas provides for the first time an overall picture of the thermochronometric evolution of this collisional orogen. The data set points to ubiquitous latest Cretaceous metamorphism of a passive margin sedimentary sequence and its igneous basement not only along the suture zone but across the entire width of the Anatolia-Tauride block north of the suture. During the early Paleogene the basement complex of the Bitlis and Piitiirge massifs along the suture was rapidly exhumed due to extensional tectonics in a back-arc setting and eventually overlain by Eocene shallow-marine sediments. The entire Oligocene is characterized by a rather flat thermochronometric evolution in the Bitlis orogenic wedge, contrary to the widely held belief that this epoch marked the inception of the Arabia-Eurasia collision and was characterized by widespread deformation. Deposition of a thick Oligocene sedimentary succession in the Mu-Hinis basin occurred in a retroarc foreland setting unrelated to continental collision. During the Middle Miocene, the Bitlis-Piitiirge orogenic wedge underwent a significant and discrete phase of rapid growth by both frontal accretion, as shown by cooling/exhumation of the foreland deposits on both sides of the orogenic prism, and underplating, as shown by cooling/exhumation of the central metamorphic core of the orogenic wedge. We conclude that continental collision started in the mid-Miocene, as also shown by coeval thick syntectonic clastic wedges deposited in flexural basins along the Arabian plate northern margin and contractional reactivation of a number of preexisting structures in the European foreland

Optimization of a rapid QuEChERS sample treatment method for HILIC-MS2 analysis of paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) toxins in mussels

A rapid and simple QuEChERS sample treatment was proposed for the development of a selective hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography-ESI-MS2-based method for the determination of saxitoxins (STXs) in mussel samples. Among different sorbents, ABS Elut-NEXUS phase, composed of polystyrene cross-linked with 50 % divinyl benzene and poly(methyl methacrylate), provided the best results. The effects of experimental parameters, including sorbent amount, vortexing time and centrifugation time were investigated and optimized by experimental design. In particular, regression models and desirability functions were applied to find the experimental conditions providing the highest global extraction response. The method was validated under the optimized conditions; detection and quantification limits in the 3-159 μg/kg and 7-436 μg/kg ranges respectively were obtained, except for C2 for which highest values were calculated due to its low ESI ionization efficiency. Finally, the analysis of twenty-eight mussel samples permitted to detect and quantify some of the investigated STXs, proving the applicability of the devised method

Measurement of the muon flux in the tunnels of Doss Trento hill

In the context of astroparticle physics, nuclear astrophysics and quantum computing projects, it is important identifying underground laboratories where the cosmogenic background is suppressed. Located about 500 m far from the center of Trento (Italy) the Piedicastello tunnels are covered by 100 m limestone rock of the Doss Trento hill. The site exceeds 6000m2 surface and is currently hosting events, temporary exhibitions, and educational activities. The cosmogenic background was measured in different locations within the Piedicastello tunnels with three portable scintillator telescopes having different geometrical acceptances. The muon flux measured in the deepest part was found to be about two orders of magnitude lower than the surface flux. This preliminary measurement suggests the use of the site as a facility in which a low environmental background is required

Assessing the impact of a construction virtual reality game on design review skills of construction student

Being able to perform an effective design review is a fundamental skill that every design or construction student should possess. Performing a design review requires critical thinking, analysis, and communication skills. To support the acquisition of these skills, this study investigated the impact of a virtual reality game, the design review simulator (DRS), in a classroom environment. To assess the impact of the game, the authors performed a crossover experiment with 120 students. The students were split into groups and were asked to perform design reviews in two treatment conditions, 2D drawings or the DRS. A knowledge test was administered at the end of different treatments to collect quantitative data on the students’ performance. Results from this research indicate that the DRS supported students in identifying a higher number of design mistakes. Furthermore, students that played with the DRS after performing 2D drawings reviews scored significantly higher in the knowledge test. The research results contribute to the growing knowledge base on the implementation of VR in the classroom and in supporting students in meeting learning objectives related to design review skills. In particular, the research illustrated that the benefits of VR found in the construction industry in terms of improved communication, user involvement, and feedback collection could be translated into the classroom environment

Scandali politici e opinione pubblica: Impatto e strategie di ripristino della reputazione

La presente rassegna si propone di fare il punto sulle conoscenze prodotte dalla psicologia politica relativamente alle dinamiche che si verificano a seguito degli scandali politici e che coinvolgono l’opinione pubblica. Innanzitutto abbiamo tentato di definire l’impatto sul piano cognitivo, affettivo e comportamentale dell’elettorato sia nell’immediato sia nel medio-lungo periodo. In secondo luogo, abbiamo individuato i fattori in grado di moderare tale impatto. Infine, ci siamo chieste quali sono le strategie comunicative di ripristino della reputazione a disposizione dei politici sotto accusa, e quali risultino più efficaci. La rassegna termina con una discussione degli interrogativi ancora aperti