Abruzzo Region Research Articles

Statistical characterisation of winter precipitation in the Abruzzo region (Italy) in relation to the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO)

This paper analyses the relationship between the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) and winter precipitation at 75 stations in the Abruzzo region (Central Italy) during the period 1951–2009. The analysis was carried out for individual months (December, January, February, March) as well as for 3-month accumulation periods, December to February (DJF) and January to March (JFM). A composite analysis, based on the positive and negative values of the North Atlantic Oscillation Index (NAOI) was used to compare the characteristics of precipitation associated with NAOI positive (NAO+) and negative (NAO−) conditions. Firstly, the NAO+ and NAO− precipitation subsets were compared by using the Brown–Forsythe and Mann–Whitney tests to assess the presence of significant differences in the variance and mean, respectively. Then the L-moment ratio diagrams were used to identify, for each period and NAO phase, the best-fitting two-parameter distribution. The NAO+ and NAO− conditions were also compared on the basis of the first (D1) and ninth (D9) precipitation deciles. The results show that the NAO mainly affects the mean precipitation amounts that are in most cases lower (higher) during the NAO+ (NAO−) phase, particularly for JFM. This influence is characterised by a relevant spatial variability that can be attributed to local factors (orography and distance from the sea). No significant differences were found in the precipitation variance, but this means that NAO+ precipitation, due to lower mean values, is relatively more variable than NAO- precipitation.The L-moment ratio diagrams reveal that the Weibull distribution always provides the best overall fitting for NAO− conditions (with the exception of DJF for which the log-normal is the best). For NAO+ conditions the best-fitting distributions become the generalized Pareto (January and February), the Weibull (DJF) and the Gamma (JFM), while no change in the distribution type is observed in December and March. In most cases, both D1 and D9 are lower during NAO+ phases. However, the differences related to D1 are more evident than those observed for D9, thus denoting a not-symmetrical influence of the NAO on the tails of the precipitation distributions. For D1, the differences are particularly relevant for January, February and DJF and for the inland areas, for which more frequent and severe drought events are expected during NAO+ phases.

Infestation of Apis mellifera colonies by Megaselia scalaris (Loew, 1866) in Abruzzo and Molise regions, central-southern Italy

Phoridae, which belong to the Diptera order, were identified as the cause of serious infestations of Apis mellifera colonies in the American continent such as Phoridae from the genus “Melaloncha” in Central America and Apocephalus borealis in the USA. Some authors identified a novel phorid, Megaselia scalaris, as a possible parasitoid of honey bee in Brazil. Recently, in Europe, Diptera from the genus Megaselia was found able to parasitize adults of A. mellifera. So far, in the old continent, such infestation was reported only in bees dead or affected by other diseases, but never in healthy bees. From July through August 2014, the prevalence of myiases affecting A. mellifera was verified in Abruzzo and Molise regions. Most of the selected apiaries showed a great infestation of bees due to M. scalaris, even if they were apparently healthy, during trapping back from their foraging trip. Here, we report the results of our work to stress the impact that this parasitoid might have on health condition of beehive.

Cultural explanations of sleep paralysis: The spiritual phenomena

IntroductionSleep paralysis (SP) is relatively frequent condition, occurring either at sleep onset or sleep offset. It occurs at least once in a lifetime in 40–50% of normal subjects. During SP, the patient experiences gross motor paralysis, while the sensory system is clear. Hypnogogic and hypnopompic hallucinations are common. This experience might be interpreted as a spiritual phenomenon in several cultures, each one with different interpretations and attributions.ObjectiveThe authors revisit the clinical presentation of sleep paralysis and how this sleep disorder is seen from a cultural perspective.AimsTo describe several cultural interpretations of SP.MethodsA literature review of the theme is shortly surveyed.ResultsIt is very common during an episode of SP sensing the presence of menacing intruders in one's bedroom. Supernatural accounts of this hallucinated intruder are common across cultures. It has been traditionally labeled “ghost oppression” among the Chinese. In the Abruzzo region (Italy), the supernatural interpretation of the phenomena is called the Pandafeche attack. One study found that nearly half (48%) of the participants from the general Egyptian population believed their SP to be caused by the Jinn, a spirit-like creature. In Southwest Nigeria, Ogun Oru is a traditional explanation for nocturnal neuropsychiatric disturbances. The characteristics of the ‘a dead body climbed on top of me’ phenomenon suggest that is identical to sleep paralysis and a frequent experience among Mexican adolescents.ConclusionsDepending on the etiological interpretations of SP, which is largely culturally determined, patients react to the event in specific ways.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

The Dry Construction Systems on the Rehabilitation of Built Heritage

The dry construction techniques, widely used in past centuries have seen a renewed interest in the last few years. This is due to different reasons such as the new user’s needs for high quality at low cost, the shortage of traditional skilled labor, the need to reduce delivery times and the rising costs of initiating a fabrication plant. Dry construction methods regard the building site as the place of assembly. The quality of the finish products, are guaranteed by a factory controlled production process and reduction to a minimum of on-site work. The building, designed by “unconnected boxes” becomes an “active machine”, capable of ensuring maximum performance for the user. Finally the design of an “open building system” also consists of a set of rules to allow creation of various solutions. The complexity of this modus operandi increases progressively if the intervention is carried out in small historic centres. Therefore, this research aims at presenting a method of work that uses dry construction systems and that has been developed to intervene in the historic contexts damaged by the earthquake that struck the Abruzzo region on April 6, 2009. This method develops a process that aimes at the rehabilitation of the buildings but also at improving their energy behavior while respecting, at the same time, the vernacular values. It is based on a “case by case” approach that starts from an analysis of the context and its local construction techniques, taking into account the peculiarities of each location. The results of this method have been applied to a small village located in the province of L'Aquila called Santa Maria del Ponte.

Morphological and genetic characterisation of Pagliarola breed and its genetic relationships with other three indigenous Italian sheep breeds

Sheep are an important livestock species in the socio-economic contest around the world. In the past, exotic sheep breeds were utilised in crosses with local breeds in order to improve their production traits. The Pagliarola is an ancient sheep population spread over many areas of the central Italy, mainly in Abruzzo region. The aim of this paper was to identify this breed from other sheep breeds living in the same area trough morphological and genetic characterisation. Fifty-three Pagliarola sheep animals (two flocks) were sampled together with 30 sheep of Appenninica, Gentile di Puglia and Merinizzata Italiana. Biometrical measures and 25 microsatellite markers were studied for the characterisation. In the morphological analysis, the Pagliarola was observed to be well separated from the other breeds and the genomic results confirmed the morphological study. In the molecular approach, a total of 330 alleles were detected. In the neighbour-Net tree, each breed clustered independently and no clear cluster was observed. The expected heterozygosity was the highest in Appenninica (0.78), while Pagliarola had the lowest (0.70). Results of STRUCTURE analyses at K=5 showed Pagliarola breed splitted in two sub-clusters. Both biometric and molecular results allow to consider the residual Pagliarola as an original genotype. Moreover, the variability still remaining in this population can be useful to plan suitable conservation programs.

Toward Resilient, Inclusive and Vital Technological Infrastructures for the Energies of the Landscape

Today, the implementation of energy infrastructure needs a complex â"dialogue" between two apparently different aspects: technical aspects that characterize the processes of production and transformation of energy for the territory, and socio-ecological aspects related to the biological, organizational, and economic variables for cultural, creative, and productive energies of the territory. This new dimension of designing and building the energy infrastructures replaces to the classic esthetical idea of the landscape an integrated vision of human habitat in which innovations play a key role for the redefinition of relationships between téchne, bios and oikos. On these subjects, this article proposes a reflection on a methodological approach to re-think energy infrastructures as technological-environmental interfaces between land resources, energy needs, living dynamics, and inhabiting practices of territories and cities. Four possible scenarios are presented starting from some research experiences developed on Italian Abruzzo region. Through these experiences, emerges a new strategic, tactic and operational framework for the design of energy infrastructures. A new design framework in which energy infrastructures can contribute to re-build relations and connections between the acceptance/correlation of technological innovations and resilience, inclusiveness and vitality of the landscape.

Sustainability in Mountain Viticulture. The Case of the Valle Peligna

The production of Montepulciano wine in Italy represents an important factor in the agricultural sector, being the second tree crop for area involved and the first for turnover produced. In this context, the mountain viticulture stands out from the others for various reasons, such as the lack of mechanisation, the low yield per hectare and its strong links with the surrounding territory, of which it has also become a landscape-heritage protection tool. The Peligna Valley is an inland zone of the Abruzzo region that houses a number of typical agricultural products, out of which winemaking stands out. Within the framework of a project financed by the Abruzzo Region with funding from the 2007-2013 RDP, the methodology of Carbon Footprint (OIV 2013. ISO, 2013) was applied to the production of Montepulciano wine and the OIV (International Organisation of Vine and Wine) guidelines on sustainable and durable viticulture (CST 1-2004 and 1-2008 CST) were verified and applied. Therefore, the agricultural and oenological phases excluding the packaging, transport and consumption phases of two consecutive years were analysed. In this period, measures to reduce environmental impacts have been implemented. A deep analysis of the data revealed that the most impactful phase is farming, instead of the winemaking phase that represents an item much smaller in terms of GHG emissions. It was also seen that, thanks to the adoption of actions to reduce emissions, an improvement of the environmental performance was identified ranging from 7% and 15% of the total.

Stand structure and climate influence on the growth trends of a marginal forest population of Pinus nigra spp. nigra

The Black pine of Villetta Barrea (Pinus nigra ssp. nigra var italica) is a variety of the nigra subspecies. It is naturally distributed only in the Abruzzo Region, near the village of Villetta Barrea, with a rear-edge Marginal Population. A dendrochrono- logical sampling of the population was implemented with the aim of studying its stand structure and the most probable interactions between growth trends and climate. Mensurational data were used to characterize the stand and, furthermore, the general correlation function (CF) and the moving correlation function (MCF), with a 30 years window, were used to assess the interrelation between the growth of the tree rings and the climate.The results indicated that the past forest management, mainly carried out with thinnings from below and selective cuttings, influenced the current structure of the forest (mean diameter) but no differences in growth trends were detected within the population. The survey on Villetta Barrea Black pine showed a positive and statistically significant correla- tion between the ring-width and the average temperatures of the months of December (before the ring formation - t-1), February and March; but it also showed a negative correlation with the temperatures of July, September and October of the current year (t). Moreover, the analysis with moving correlation functions suggested that, in the last decades, the population has negatively reacted to very few climate factors and, in particular, to the changes in temperatures (both minimum and maximum temperatures). This is especially true for the shifts occurred in September, the year of the ring formation.

Effect of the North Atlantic Oscillation on winter daily rainfall and runoff in the Abruzzo region (Central Italy)

In this paper a composite analysis was used to assess the influence of the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) on the winter daily rainfall and seasonal runoff at 28 stations of the Abruzzo region (Central Italy) during the period 1951–2012. Compositing was based on NAO− and NAO+ phases, identified by mean winter values of the normalized NAO index (NAOI) ≤−0.75 and ≥+0.75, respectively. In accordance with previous studies, it was found that NAO− phases determine, in general, a greater number of wet days (Nw) and (consequently) higher seasonal rainfall amounts in comparison to NAO+ phases. However, the NAO influence is characterized by a certain spatial variability, that can mostly be explained by orographic effects due to the Apennine Mountains. This is particularly evident for the mean rainfall depth per event (Pe) that, during NAO− phases, increases for the stations to the west of the Apennines, while it decreases for most of the stations to the east. The structure of winter daily rainfall of NAO+ and NAO− type, was described by a simple but effective first-order Markov process, determining the transition probabilities P01 (dry to wet) and P10 (wet to dry) and modelling the rainfall depth on wet days by a Weibull distribution. The most significant influence of NAO concerns P01 and the shape parameter of the Weibull distribution that are both higher during the NAO− phase. This means that NAO− phases are characterized by less persistent dry periods and less variable daily rainfall depths, in comparison to NAO+ phases. The effect of these differences on the winter seasonal runoff was explored by applying a Curve Number rainfall-runoff model. Significant increments of the mean seasonal runoff during NAO− phases were observed only for few stations (mainly on the west), characterized by corresponding increments of Nw, Ptot and Pe.). NAO+ phases, instead, are characterized by relevant increments of the seasonal runoff variability, particularly on the eastern areas. In this context, the important regulating function of the watershed conditions was also discussed.

Uncertainty in drought monitoring by the Standardized Precipitation Index: the case study of the Abruzzo region (central Italy)

As shown by several authors, drought monitoring by the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) presents some uncertainties, mainly dependent on the choice of the probability distribution used to describe the cumulative precipitation and on the characteristics (e.g., length and variability) of the dataset. In this paper, the uncertainty related to SPI estimates has been quantified and analyzed with regards to the case study of the Abruzzo region (Central Italy), by using monthly precipitation recorded at 75 stations during the period 1951–2009. First, a set of distributions suitable to describe the cumulative precipitation at the 3-, 6-, and 12-month time scales was identified by using L-moments ratio diagrams. The goodness-of-fit was evaluated by applying the Kolmogorov–Smirnov test, and the Normality test on the derived SPI series. Then the confidence intervals of SPI have been calculated by applying a bootstrap procedure. The size of the confidence intervals has been considered as a measure of uncertainty, and its dependence on several factors such as the distribution type, the time scale, the record length, and the season has been examined. Results show that the distributions Pearson type III (PE3), Weibull (WEI), Generalized Normal (GNO), Generalized Extreme Value (GEV), and Gamma (GA2) are all suitable to describe the cumulative precipitation, with a slightly better performance of the PE3 and GNO distributions. As expected, the uncertainty increases as the record length and time scale decrease. The leading source of uncertainty is the record length while the effects due to seasonality and time scale are negligible. Two-parameter distributions make it possible to obtain confidence intervals of SPI (particularly for extreme values) narrower than those obtained by three-parameter distributions. Nevertheless, due to a poorer goodness of fit, two-parameter distributions can provide less reliable estimates of the precipitation probability. In any event, independently of the type of distribution, the SPI estimates corresponding to extreme precipitation values are always characterized by a relevant uncertainty. This is due to the explosion of the probability variability that occurs when precipitation values approach the tails of the supposed distribution.

Environmental disasters, migration and displacement. Insights and developments from L’Aquila's case

This paper analyses the environmentally-induced migration and displacement resulting from L’Aquila's earthquake of 2009. After a general critical overview of the social science literature on this topic, the main changes in the migration system are analysed looking at the roots and trajectories of the forced human displacement that followed the earthquake, and reflecting on the challenges related to post-earthquake demographic movements and post-disaster resettlement. Through the analysis of the pre disaster (2002–2008) and recovery period (2009–2013) data, this paper offers a general model of how environmental disaster might affect migration and displacement and suggests the main challenges related to the post-disaster governance. Relying on ISTAT data on internal migration in Italy this paper argues that the post-seismic recovery period is characterized by a strong increase of out-flows from L’Aquila to other provinces, within the Abruzzo region and outside it, in particular toward the closest regions (Latium, Campania).

Evaluation of biogenic amines in wine: Determination by an improved HPLC-PDA method

An improved, simple and sensitive method to quantify the biogenic amines ethanolamine, methylamine, ethylamine, isoamylamine and the usually investigated β-phenylethylamine, putrescine, cadaverine, histamine, tyramine, spermidine, spermine has been developed and validated in red and white wines. The analytes were derivatised with dansyl chloride and separated by HPLC coupled with PDA detector. The calibration curves showed good linearity (r > 0.9990) and biogenic amines recovery varied from 72 to 97%. The repeatability ranged from 1 to 8% for red wine and from 1 to 5% for white wine. The detection and quantification limits were from 0.02 to 0.10 mg/L and from 0.08 to 0.30 mg/L, respectively. The method was successfully applied to detect and quantify biogenic amines in Italian red and white wines from Abruzzo Region. The proposed method is suitable for simultaneous detection and for accurate and precise quantification of eleven biogenic amines in wines.

Definition of a Standard Protocol to Determine the Growth Potential of Listeria Monotgenes and Yersinia Enterocolitica in Pork Sausage Produced in Abruzzo Region, Italy.

Pork meat products consumed raw or after a short period of fermentation can be considered at risk for food safety. Sausages (fresh sausage made from pork meat) are produced in several Italian regions, with variation in ingredients. In some Italian Regions, including Abruzzo, these products are frequently consumed raw or undercooked, after a variable period of fermentation. The European Community food regulation promotes the use of challenge tests to determine safety levels. This study is aimed to ensure safety of Abruzzo’s sausages, compared with growth potential (δ) of Listeria monocytogenes and Yersinia enterocolitica, and also aims to define an experimental standard protocol document to carry out challenge tests. Guidelines classify ready-to-eat foods in categories that are able to support (δ>0.5 log10 ufc/g) and not support (δ≤0.5 log10 ufc/g) the growth of Listeria monocytogenes. The products were manufactured according to traditional recipes and were contaminated in laboratory. Results from the experiment yielded information useful to assess the ability of these products to support the growth of pathogenic microorganisms. The batches of sausages were stored at 8, 12, 18 and 20°C to get statistical evaluation. The results showed that, despite the conditioning of the storage temperature and the level of water activity, both organisms remain in the product in concentrations similar to those leading or being able to increase its charge. In particular, the period of greatest consumption of this product (7/8 days of preparation) corresponds to the period of greatest growth of pathogenic microorganisms studied, except for those stored at a temperature of 8°C, which are safer for the consumer.

A sustainable methodology for the rehabilitation of minor historic centres. A case study in the seismic crater of Abruzzo Region

The doctoral research links the issue of rehabilitation of small historic centres of Abruzzo Region hit by earthquake of 2009 to the environmental issue, proposing the reuse of this heritage through a sustainable strategy that put in network its potentiality and investigates open spaces and energy networks. The research proposes the development of an operative methodology that helps to overcome the gaps of the reconstruction process and those related to the integration of energy efficiency in historical contexts, providing indicators of compatibility and a lot of compatible solutions.

Optimizing the environmental performance of integrated waste management scenarios by means of linear programming: a case study

When municipal waste scenarios are compared by using Life Cycle Assessment, the comparison is usually carried out among a limited number of alternative scenarios identified in advance. Therefore, however accurate and broad the scenario definition may be, the scenario actually generating the lowest environmental impacts might just not be included among the alternatives proposed and analysed. To overcome this limitation, this paper proposes linear programming models developed to identify, among all the potential scenarios, the waste management scenario that minimises one particular environmental impact or a set of impacts at the same time, using environmental data from Life Cycle Assessment. Besides describing the proposed models, a concise overview of solution methods for multi-objective linear programming is provided.These models were tested in a case study and the results obtained are here presented and analysed. As a case-study, a suitable waste management system in the Abruzzo Region, Italy, was identified. In addition, a further hypothetical waste management context, also including an incinerator plant, was considered. Moreover, a sensitivity analysis was carried out to identify how changing distances to plants may affect optimal scenarios.As a result, different best-performing scenarios for the analysed waste management system were obtained, one for each single impact category considered, and one for each solution method adopted. Furthermore, the analysis of the hypothetical context shows how the introduction of an additional treatment plant could affect the system. Both distances and the solution methods used affect the results.The models developed could be used in decision-making processes to identify the best-performing scenario of a waste management system from the environmental point of view. The models are easy to apply and flexible, since they can be modelled according to the context to be analysed by introducing new factors.

High seroprevalence of HCV in the Abruzzo Region, Italy: results on a large sample from opt-out pre-surgical screening.

Available estimates of the prevalence of chronic HCV infection in Italy are quite conflicting, varying from 1.5 to 22.5%, with an apparent north to south gradient. As Direct Acting Antivirals are expensive, both National and local governmental Agencies are in urgent need of detailed and reliable estimates of HCV patients to be treated, nationwide and in each district. We investigated the prevalence of anti-HCV antibodies in a large unselected sample of surgical patients providing consent to in-hospital opt-out pre-surgical HCV screening, at two hospitals from the Abruzzo Region, Italy. Data were retrieved for 55,533 screened patients (4.1% of the total population in the Abruzzo Region), admitted in the Orthopedic and General Surgery wards of Pescara and Teramo Hospitals from 1999 to 2014. The prevalence of anti-HCV antibodies was 4.4% in the total sample. HCV-positive patients had a mean age of 63.8 ± 19.9 years; 49.2% were males. From 1999 to 2014, the prevalence of HCV antibodies decreased from 5.4% to 4.1%; at both sites, however, two age-related-peaks were evidenced, the first among patients aged 30-49 years, the second among those older than 70 years. Statistical analyses confirmed a significant trend to decrease over time and a higher prevalence in Pescara and among males (all p < 0.01). Data retrieved from opt-out pre-surgical screening programs may allow inexpensive and easy-to-perform estimates of HCV seroprevalence from large samples of unselected patients with a well-defined provenience, which may turn useful for future treatment resource allocation.

Oxyprenylated ferulic acid derivatives in Italian citrus liqueurs

Fiorito S., Epifano F., Taddeo V.A., Genovese S. (2015): Oxyprenylated ferulic acid derivatives in Italian citrus liqueurs. Czech J. Food Sci., 33: 237–241. 4'-Geranyloxyferulic and boropinic acid have been recently found as phytochemicals exerting promising pharmaco logical effects as cancer chemopreventive, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, and antiHelicobacter pylori agents. An RP HPLC-UV/Vis method for the qualitative and quantitative analysis of these oxyprenylated derivatives in hand made citrus-based typical Italian liqueurs like limoncello, arancello, and mandarinetto was successfully performed. Concentration values showed a great variation between the different liquors, limoncello, from Abruzzo region, being the richest one both in 4’-geranyloxyferulic acid (1.68 ± 0.03 µg/ml of liquor) and boropinic acid (0.16 ± 0.01 µg/ml). Only in two cases boropinic acid was not detected.

Consumer perceptions of nanotechnology applications in Italian wine

This paper examines Italian consumer acceptance of nanotechnology applications in wine production, surveying wine consumers from the Abruzzo Region. Conjoint and post-hoc segmentation analysis establishes how consumers value different wine product attributes and place them within the context of applications of nanotechnology. Consumers appear relatively unfamiliar with nanotechnology applications, both generally and specifically to food. Although, an overall rejection of the concept of “nano wine” is evident, low acceptance scores disguise a somewhat more open attitude to specific applications of the technology. In particular, consumers appear more receptive to applications that enhance certain wine attributes. Practical implications are discussed.

Petals of Crocus sativus L. as a potential source of the antioxidants crocin and kaempferol

Saffron from the province of L'Aquila, in the Abruzzo region of Italy, is highly prized and has been awarded a formal recognition by the European Union with EU Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) status. Despite this, the saffron regions are abandoned by the younger generations because the traditional cultivation of saffron (Crocus sativus L.) is labour intensive and yields only one crop of valuable saffron stamens per year. Petals of the saffron Crocus have had additional uses in traditional medicine and may add value to the crops for local farmers. This is especially important because the plant only flowers between October and November, and farmers will need to make the best use of the flowers harvested in this period. Recently, the petals of C. sativus L., which are considered a waste material in the production of saffron spice, were identified as a potential source of natural antioxidants.The antioxidants crocin and kaempferol were purified by flash column chromatography, and identified by thin layer chromatography (TLC), HPLC–DAD, infrared (IR), and nuclear magnetic resonance (1H &13C NMR) spectroscopy. The antioxidant activity was determined with the ABTS and DPPH tests. The antioxidant activities are mainly attributed to carotenoid and flavonoid compounds, notably glycosides of crocin and kaempferol. We found in dried petals 0.6% (w/w) and 12.6 (w/w) of crocin and kaempferol, respectively. Petals of C. sativus L. have commercial potential as a source for kaempferol and crocetin glycosides, natural compounds with antioxidant activity that are considered to be the active ingredients in saffron-based herbal medicine.

A sustainable methodology for the rehabilitation of minor historic centres. A case study in the seismic crater of Abruzzo Region

The doctoral research links the issue of rehabilitation of small historic centres of Abruzzo Region hit by earthquake of 2009 to the environmental issue, proposing the reuse of this heritage through a sustainable strategy that put in network its potentiality and investigates open spaces and energy networks. The research proposes the development of an operative methodology that helps to overcome the gaps of the reconstruction process and those related to the integration of energy efficiency in historical contexts, providing indicators of compatibility and a lot of compatible solutions.