Northeast Italy Research Articles

Environmental Impacts of Organic and Biodynamic Wine Produced in Northeast Italy

Increasing awareness of sustainability in the agri-food sector is leading to a gradual transition toward lower-impact farming systems, such as organic and biodynamic farming. The environmental performance of organic wines has largely been compared to that of conventional wines, and few researchers have investigated the differences between organic and biodynamic wine production from an environmental point of view. Therefore, in this study, the environmental profiles of two organic and two biodynamic wines produced in two areas in Northeast Italy were assessed by performing a “cradle-to-gate” analysis according to the life-cycle assessment (LCA) methodology. Results were used both to compare organic and biodynamic vitiviniculture and to draw overall conclusions on the environmental performance of each of the analyzed wines in order to identify environmental hotspots and provide recommendations to stakeholders. Production of the glass bottles was identified as the main source of environmental burden in all four systems, followed either by the production and use of fertilizers and pesticides, or the use of agricultural machinery. Results also showed that biodynamic wines seem to be responsible for lesser environmental impacts than organic ones.

Climate Change Risk and Vulnerabilities Analysis in Trieste SECAP

Climate change is affecting more and more local communities, which are now facing different hazards; in answer to this threat, specific actions at the local level should be taken. The Covenant of Mayors (CoM) is an initiative that tries to involve municipalities and communities in developing SECAPs, i.e., plans for sustainable energy and climate with the aim to develop adaptation and mitigation measures. In order to identify and evaluate hazards, the CoM developed a template relative to the current risk level and expected changes in the future. This paper develops a methodology to fill the template using a data driven approach instead of a heuristic one. The methodology was applied to the city of Trieste in northeast Italy and uses local weather station data and projections obtained from GCM-RCM models. Data were manipulated using different approaches for current risk levels and the Mann–Kendall test is proposed as a method to identify the future evolution of hazard intensity and frequency. The results showed that the developed approach could help municipalities in developing their SECAPs and in identifying the present and future evolution of hazards.

Occurrence of Chlamydiae in Corvids in Northeast Italy.

Simple SummaryThe continuous improvement of next-generation sequencing techniques has led to an expansion of the number of Chlamydia species, as well as their host range. Recent studies performed on wild birds have detected Chlamydia strains with characteristics intermediate between Chlamydia psittaci and Chlamydia abortus. In this study, 12/108 corvids tested positive for Chlamydia by real-time PCR. Molecular characterisation at the species level was possible for eight samples, with one positive for C. psittaci and seven for C. abortus. Considering the well-known zoonotic role of C. psittaci and that a potential zoonotic role of avian C. abortus strains cannot be excluded, people who may have professional or other contact with wild birds should take appropriate preventive measures.Chlamydiaceae occurrence has been largely evaluated in wildlife, showing that wild birds are efficient reservoirs for avian chlamydiosis. In this study, DNA extracted from cloacal swabs of 108 corvids from Northeast Italy was screened for Chlamydiaceae by 23S real-time (rt)PCR. The positive samples were characterised by specific rtPCRs for Chlamydia psittaci, Chlamydia abortus, Chlamydia gallinacea, Chlamydia avium, Chlamydia pecorum and Chlamydia suis. Cloacal shedding of Chlamydiaceae was detected in 12 out of 108 (11.1%, 5.9%–18.6% 95% CI) corvids sampled. Molecular characterisation at the species level was possible in 8/12 samples, showing C. psittaci positivity in only one sample from a hooded crow and C. abortus positivity in seven samples, two from Eurasian magpies and five from hooded crows. Genotyping of the C. psittaci-positive sample was undertaken via PCR/high-resolution melting, clustering it in group III_pigeon, corresponding to the B genotype based on former ompA analysis. For C. abortus genotyping, multilocus sequence typing was successfully performed on the two samples with high DNA load from Eurasian magpies, highlighting 100% identity with the recently reported Polish avian C. abortus genotype 1V strain 15-58d44. To confirm the intermediate characteristics between C. psittaci and C. abortus, both samples, as well as two samples from hooded crows, showed the chlamydial plasmid inherent in most C. psittaci and avian C. abortus, but not in ruminant C. abortus strains. The plasmid sequences were highly similar (≥99%) to those of the Polish avian C. abortus genotype 1V strain 15-58d44. To our knowledge, this is the first report of avian C. abortus strains in Italy, specifically genotype 1V, confirming that they are actively circulating in corvids in the Italian region tested.

Role of CSN2, CSN3, and BLG genes and the polygenic background in the cattle milk protein profile

To devise better selection strategies in dairy cattle breeding programs, a deeper knowledge of the role of the major genes encoding for milk protein fractions is required. The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of the CSN2, CSN3, and BLG genotypes on individual protein fractions (αS1-CN, αS2-CN, β-CN, κ-CN, β-LG, α-LA) expressed qualitatively as percentages of total nitrogen content (% N), quantitatively as contents in milk (g/L), and as daily production levels (g/d). Individual milk samples were collected from 1,264 Brown Swiss cows reared in 85 commercial herds in Trento Province (northeast Italy). A total of 989 cows were successfully genotyped using the Illumina Bovine SNP50 v.2 BeadChip (Illumina Inc.), and a genomic relationship matrix was constructed using the 37,519 SNP markers obtained. Milk protein fractions were quantified and the β-CN, κ-CN, and β-LG genetic variants were identified by reversed-phase HPLC (RP-HPLC). All protein fractions were analyzed through a Bayesian multitrait animal model implemented via Gibbs sampling. The effects of days in milk, parity order, and the CSN2, CSN3, and BLG genotypes were assigned flat priors in this model, whereas the effects of herd and animal additive genetic were assigned Gaussian prior distributions, and inverse Wishart distributions were assumed for the respective co-variance matrices. Marginal posterior distributions of the parameters of interest were compared before and after the inclusion of the effects of the 3 major genes in the model. The results showed that a high portion of the genetic variance was controlled by the major genes. This was particularly apparent in the qualitative protein profile, which was found to have a higher heritability than the protein fraction contents in milk and their daily yields. When the genes were included individually in the model, CSN2 was the major gene controlling all the casein fractions except for κ-CN, which was controlled directly by the CSN3 gene. The BLG gene had the most influence on the 2 whey proteins. The genetic correlations showed the major genes had only a small effect on the relationships between the protein fractions, but through comparison of the correlation coefficients of the proteins expressed in different ways they revealed potential mechanisms of regulation and competitive synthesis in the mammary gland. The estimates for the effects of the CSN2 and CSN3 genes on protein profiles showed overexpression of protein synthesis in the presence of the B allele in the genotype. Conversely, the β-LG B variant was associated with a lower concentration of β-LG compared with the β-LG A variant, independently of how the protein fractions were expressed, and it was followed by downregulation (or upregulation in the case of the β-LG B) of all other protein fractions. These results should be borne in mind when seeking to design more efficient selection programs aimed at improving milk quality for the efficiency of dairy industry and the effect of dairy products on human health.

Skin patterning and internal anatomy in a fossil moonfish from the Eocene Bolca Lagerstätte illuminate the ecology of ancient reef fish communities.

Colour patterning in extant animals can be used as a reliable indicator of their biology and, in extant fish, can inform on feeding strategy. Fossil fish with preserved colour patterns may thus illuminate the evolution of fish behaviour and community structure, but are understudied. Here we report preserved melanin‐based integumentary colour patterning and internal anatomy of the fossil moonfish Mene rhombea (Menidae) from the Bolca Lagerstätte (Eocene (Ypresian), north‐east Italy). The melanosome‐based longitudinal stripes of M. rhombea differ from the dorsal rows of black spots in its extant relative M. maculata, suggesting that the ecology of moonfish has changed during the Cenozoic. Extant moonfish are coastal schooling fish that feed on benthic invertebrates, but the longitudinal stripes and stomach contents with fish remains in M. rhombea suggest unstructured open marine ecologies and a piscivorous diet. The localized distribution of extant moonfish species in the Indo‐Pacific Ocean may reflect, at least in part, tectonically‐driven reorganization of global oceanographic patterns during the Cenozoic. It is likely that shifts in habitat and colour patterning genes promoted colour pattern evolution in the menid lineage.

Molecular Investigation of Recent Canine Parvovirus-2 (CPV-2) in Italy Revealed Distinct Clustering.

Canine parvovirus Type 2 (CPV-2) is a worldwide distributed virus considered the major cause of viral gastroenteritis in dogs. Studies on Italian CPV-2 are restricted to viruses circulating until 2017. Only one study provided more updated information on CPV-2 but was limited to the Sicily region. No information regarding the circulation and genetic characteristics of CPV-2 in Northeast Italy has been made available since 2015. The present study investigated the genetic characteristics of CPV-2 circulating in the dog population of Northeast Italy between 2013 and 2019. The VP2 gene of 67 CPV-2 was sequenced, and phylogenetic analysis was performed to identify patterns of distribution. Phylogenetic and molecular analysis highlighted unique characteristics of Northeast Italian CPV-2 and interestingly depicted typical genetic clustering of the Italian CPV-2 strains, showing the existence of distinct CPV-2 genetic groups. Such analysis provided insights into the origin of some Italian CPV-2 genetic clusters, revealing potential introductions from East European countries and the spread of CPV-2 from South/Central to North Italy. This is the first report that describes the genetic characteristics of recent Italian CPV-2. Tracking the genetic characteristics of CPV-2 nationally and globally may have impact on understanding the evolution and distribution of CPV-2, in particular in light of the current humanitarian emergency involving Ukraine, with the massive and uncontrolled movement of people and pet animals.

Genesis of wavy carbonate flowstone deposits in Bossea Cave (North Italy) and their hydroclimatic significance

Speleothems show an array of shapes. Flowstones are commonly tabular sheet-like deposits, which cover cave floors and walls. They can procure detailed information about past hydrogeological conditions through their morphology, geochemical composition and stratigraphic properties, which in turn are related to the climate conditions at the surface. This is possible if the climate and environmental factors controlling the formation of these deposits are well understood. In Bossea Cave (north-east Italy), we have investigated highly symmetrical wavy flowstones that have never been described in detail before. These deposits show a cyclical repetition of sloped and sub-vertical layers, with knickpoints migrating downslope. This paper investigates the origin of these peculiar carbonate deposits, using: i) terrestrial laser scanning surveys; ii) petrographic observations; iii) oxygen and carbon stable isotope analyses; iv) hydrochemical monitoring data of feeding waters. According to these analyses, we have generated a genetic model that demonstrates: 1) laminar flow of CaCO3–rich water prevails during the deposition of the flowstone; in accordance, the final flowstone architecture does not appear to be influenced by random irregularities of the underlying bedrock substrate. 2) The peculiar morphology is inherited by ripples occurring in the flowing water films during carbonate deposition, which trigger the precipitation of regularly spaced CaCO3 deposits along the bedrock slopes. Because of these ripple-induced initial deposits, calcite then deposits as sloped and sub-vertical layers, giving rise to a wavy-like morphology. 3) Wavy calcite layers are only deposited after heavy rainfall events occurred within two to four consecutive rainy days (10 to 20 mm/hour during rainfall peaks; average rates between 3.5 and 7.0 mm/hour); in contrast, calcite deposition cannot occur during low rainfall events (less than 5 mm/hour during rainfall peaks, average rates around 0.8 mm/hour). We therefore propose that the studied wavy flowstones are hydroclimatic indicators, testifying the occurrence of flashy type recharge related to heavy rainfall events. Similar deposits could record these same hydro-climatic conditions in other karst areas.In recent decades, storms have caused more frequent flooding in highly populated Mediterranean areas, especially in Italy. Wavy flowstones may offer a new archive to gain a better understanding of the long-term dynamics of intense precipitation events and, thus, help to improve future climate scenarios.

Malignant Melanoma: Direct Costs by Clinical and Pathological Profile.

IntroductionA number of studies have examined the impact of tumor stage on direct health care costs of patients with melanoma. This study aimed to investigate the association between the direct costs for melanoma and the patients’ clinical and histological characteristics.MethodsThe present analysis included 1368 patients diagnosed with melanoma in 2017 in the Veneto Region (northeast Italy) and recorded in a regional population-based melanoma registry. The costs were assessed taking monthly and total direct costs into account. Log-linear multivariable analysis was used to identify the clinical and histological cost drivers, focusing on monthly and total direct costs per patient incurred during the first 2 years after a patient’s diagnosis.ResultsOn multivariable analysis, besides the stage of melanoma, also the presence of mitoses (> 2) was associated with higher monthly direct costs [odds ratio (OR) 1.55, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.15–2.08, p = 0.004] in respect to cases with 0–2 mitoses. Vertical growth was associated with higher costs compared with radial growth (OR 1.28, 95% CI 1.00–1.64, p = 0.055). Moreover, the association between the absence of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and higher monthly direct costs reached statistical significance (OR 1.31, 95% CI 1.05–1.64, p = 0.017). There were no differences in monthly direct costs by patients’ sex or age, ulceration, or tumor site.ConclusionThis study showed that not only tumor stage but also other clinical and histopathologic characteristics have an impact on the direct monthly and total costs of treating melanoma. Further studies on the cost-effectiveness of the various options for managing this disease should take these variables into account, as well as tumor stage, as cost drivers.

Mothers living with contamination of perfluoroalkyl substances: an assessment of the perceived health risk and self-reported diseases.

Widespread contamination of the superficial, drinking, and groundwater by perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) was discovered in the Veneto Region (northeast of Italy) in 2013. Mothers from the contaminated area were concerned about the effects of PFAS on their own and their children's health. We determined the factors that influenced the perceived risk of PFAS and the presence of self-reported diseases by conducting a study with 384 mothers of children aged 1-13years living in the contaminated area (Red Zone, Veneto, Italy). Information on demography, the sources of exposure, and the health condition of the mothers was collected through an online survey. The serum PFAS concentration was recorded for some of the participants. We determined the factors influencing the perceived risk, risk of health outcomes, and serum PFAS levels through regression analyses. The PFAS perceived risk of the mothers increased with an increase in the trust in scientific institutions and social media, and when many friends were present, trust in politics and full-time employment had a protective effect. The PFAS perceived risk increased the occurrences of self-reported and autoimmune diseases. Longer residence (> 20years) in the most exposed area (Red Zone A) increased the frequency of some health outcomes. Serum PFAS concentrations decreased with breastfeeding, but increased with tap water consumption, residence in Red Zone A, and residence time. The PFAS perceived risk of the mothers was associated with many factors that influenced reporting of health issues. The association between PFAS exposure and health outcomes needs further investigation.

Analysis of Management, Labor and Economics of Milking Systems in Intensive Goat Farms

Dairy goat farms are growing in the world, but their technological level and, particularly, milking equipment are less developed than those of dairy cow farms. This study aims to evaluate milking parlors in the current situation in modern goat farms and suggest possible solutions or improvements. Ten goat farms located in various municipalities of the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region (Northeast Italy) adopting different milking systems (parallel milking parlors, milking carts, and milking buckets) were monitored. The mathematical model developed originally for the evaluation of milking parlors for dairy cows was modified and adapted to goat milking systems. Time for milking and final specific direct costs are the main parameters that enable evaluation and choice of suitable milking parlor; neglect or promotion of only one of the mentioned criteria may lead to an uneconomic investment or impaired operation of a farm. The research results showed that the modern milking systems, with a greater number of stalls and milking clusters, have a greater capacity and require less time for milking a goat than bucket and cart systems. The study also demonstrated that increasing the capacity of dairy goat farms enables a reduction of the final specific costs for milking.

Hybrid retrieval of crop traits from multi-temporal PRISMA hyperspectral imagery

The recently launched and upcoming hyperspectral satellite missions, featuring contiguous visible-to-shortwave infrared spectral information, are opening unprecedented opportunities for the retrieval of a broad set of vegetation traits with enhanced accuracy through novel retrieval schemes. In this framework, we exploited hyperspectral data cubes collected by the new-generation PRecursore IperSpettrale della Missione Applicativa (PRISMA) satellite of the Italian Space Agency to develop and test a hybrid retrieval workflow for crop trait mapping. Crop traits were mapped over an agricultural area in north-east Italy (Jolanda di Savoia, FE) using PRISMA images collected during the 2020 and 2021 vegetative seasons. Leaf chlorophyll content, leaf nitrogen content, leaf water content and the corresponding canopy level traits scaled through leaf area index were estimated using a hybrid retrieval scheme based on PROSAIL-PRO radiative transfer simulations coupled with a Gaussian processes regression algorithm. Active learning algorithms were used to optimise the initial set of simulated data by extracting only the most informative samples. The accuracy of the proposed retrieval scheme was evaluated against a broad ground dataset collected in 2020 in correspondence of three PRISMA overpasses. The results obtained were positive for all the investigated variables. At the leaf level, the highest accuracy was obtained for leaf nitrogen content (LNC: r2=0.87, nRMSE=7.5%), while slightly worse results were achieved for leaf chlorophyll content (LCC: r2=0.67, nRMSE=11.7%) and leaf water content (LWC: r2=0.63, nRMSE=17.1%). At the canopy level, a significantly higher accuracy was observed for nitrogen content (CNC: r2=0.92, nRMSE=5.5%) and chlorophyll content (CCC: r2=0.82, nRMSE=10.2%), whereas comparable results were obtained for water content (CWC: r2=0.61, nRMSE=16%). The developed models were additionally tested against an independent dataset collected in 2021 to evaluate their robustness and exportability. The results obtained (i.e., LCC: r2=0.62, nRMSE=27.9%; LNC: r2=0.35, nRMSE=28.4%; LWC: r2=0.74, nRMSE=20.4%; LAI: r2=0.84, nRMSE=14.5%; CCC: r2=0.79, nRMSE=18.5%; CNC: r2=0.62, nRMSE=23.7%; CWC: r2=0.92, nRMSE=16.6%) evidence the transferability of the hybrid approach optimised through active learning for most of the investigated traits. The developed models were then used to map the spatial and temporal variability of the crop traits from the PRISMA images. The high accuracy and consistency of the results demonstrates the potential of spaceborne imaging spectroscopy for crop monitoring, paving the path towards routine retrievals of multiple crop traits over large areas that could drive more effective and sustainable agricultural practices worldwide.

Impact of Wide Local Excision on Melanoma Patient Survival: A Population-Based Study.

IntroductionPromoting standardization and quality assurance (QA) in oncology on the strength of real-world data is essential to ensure better patient outcomes. Wide excision after primary tumor biopsy is a fundamental step in the therapeutic pathway for cutaneous malignant melanoma (CMM). The aim of this population-based cohort study is to assess adherence to wide local excision in a cohort of patients diagnosed with CMM and the impact of this recommended procedure on overall and disease-specific survival.Materials and MethodsThis retrospective cohort study concerns CMM patients diagnosed in the Veneto region (north-east Italy) in 2017, included in the high-resolution Veneto Cancer Registry, and followed up through linkage with the regional mortality registry up until February 29th, 2020. Using population-level real-world data, linking patient-level cancer registry data with administrative records of clinical procedures may shed light on the real-world treatment of CMM patients in accordance with current guidelines. After excluding TNM stage IV patients, a Cox regression analysis was performed to test whether the completion of a wide local excision was associated with a difference in melanoma-specific and overall survival, after adjusting for other covariates.ResultsNo wide excision after the initial biopsy was performed in 9.7% of cases in our cohort of 1,305 patients. After adjusting for other clinical prognostic characteristics, Cox regression revealed that failure to perform a wide local excision raised the hazard ratio of death in terms of overall survival (HR = 4.80, 95% CI: 2.05–11.22, p < 0.001) and melanoma-specific survival (HR = 2.84, 95% CI: 1.04–7.76, p = 0.042).ConclusionBy combining clinical and administrative data, this study on real-world clinical practice showed that almost one in ten CMM patients did not undergo wide local excision surgery. Monitoring how diagnostic-therapeutic protocols are actually implemented in the real world may contribute significantly to promoting quality improvements in the management of oncological patients.

First detection of avian metapneumovirus subtype C Eurasian lineage in a Eurasian wigeon (Mareca penelope) wintering in Northeastern Italy: an additional hint on the role of migrating birds in the viral epidemiology

ABSTRACT Avian metapneumovirus (aMPV) economically affects the global poultry industry causing respiratory and reproductive disorders. Considering the paucity of data on aMPV occurrence in European free-ranging avifauna, a molecular survey was conducted on wild birds of 23 species belonging to the orders Anseriformes, Charadriiformes or Passeriformes, captured alive and sampled in Northeast Italy as part of the national avian influenza virus (AIV) surveillance activities. A total of 492 oropharyngeal swabs, collected from 2007–2010, all AIV-negative, were screened from aMPV by subtype-specific qRT-PCR. An aMPV-C strain, named aMPV/C/IT/Wigeon/758/07, was found in a wintering young Eurasian wigeon (Mareca penelope) sampled in November 2007. The matrix, fusion, and attachment glycoprotein genes of the detected strain were subsequently amplified by specific independent RT-PCRs, then sequenced, and compared in a phylogenetic framework with known aMPV homologous sequences retrieved from GenBank. Close genetic relationships were found between the aMPV/C/IT/Wigeon/758/07 strain and subtype C Eurasian lineage strains isolated in the late 1990s in French domestic ducks, suggesting epidemiological links. Eurasian wigeons are medium/long-range migrant dabbling ducks that move along the Black Sea/Mediterranean flyway; our finding might, therefore, be related to migratory bridges between countries. To our knowledge, this is the first molecular evidence of the occurrence of aMPV subtype C in Italy and backdates the aMPV-C circulation to 2007. Moreover, the results suggest the susceptibility of Eurasian wigeons to aMPV. Broader investigations are needed to assess the role of wild ducks and the significance of the wildfowl/poultry interface in aMPV-C epidemiology. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS Wild birds live-captured in Italy were tested for aMPV detection and characterization. aMPV-C Eurasian lineage was found for the first time in a wintering Eurasian wigeon. Migratory birds could be involved in the aMPV epidemiology.

Cutaneous Melanoma in Alpine Population: Incidence Trends and Clinicopathological Profile.

Previous studies associated high-level exposure to ultraviolet radiation with a greater risk of cutaneous malignant melanoma (CMM). This study focuses on the changing incidence of CMM over time (from 1990 to 2017) in the Veneto region of Northeast Italy, and its Alpine area (the province of Belluno). The clinicopathological profile of CMM by residence is also considered. A joinpoint regression analysis was performed to identify significant changes in the yearly incidence of CMM by sex and age. For each trend, the average annual percent change (AAPC) was also calculated. In the 2017 CMM cohort, the study includes a descriptive analysis of the disease’s categorical clinicopathological variables. In the population investigated, the incidence of CMM has increased significantly over the last 30 years. The AAPC in the incidence of CMM was significantly higher among Alpine residents aged 0–49 than for the rest of the region’s population (males: 6.9 versus 2.4; females 7.7 versus 2.7, respectively). Among the Alpine residents, the AAPC was 3.35 times greater for females aged 0–49 than for people aged 50+. The clinicopathological profile of CMM was significantly associated with the place of residence. Over three decades, the Veneto population has observed a significant increase in the incidence of CMM, and its AAPC. Both trends have been markedly more pronounced among Alpine residents, particularly younger females. While epidemiology and clinicopathological profiles support the role of UV radiation in CMM, the young age of this CMM-affected female population points to other possible host-related etiological factors. These findings also confirm the importance of primary and secondary prevention strategies.

Language Competition and Language Shift in Friuli-Venezia Giulia: Projection and Trajectory for the Number of Friulian Speakers to 2050

This article analyses how the number of speakers of the Friulian language changes over time in the territory where this language is traditionally spoken, that is, the provinces of Udine, Pordenone, and Gorizia, located in the north-east of Italy in the autonomous region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia. The aim of this research is twofold. First, it illustrates how the number of speakers of Friulian evolved over the past 40 years. To this end, we provide an overview of the findings of empirical studies on the Friulian language from 1977, 1998, and 2014. We complement these findings with population figures, birth and death rates, as well as data on migration and language transmission in order to provide a better understanding of the current situation in the three provinces. Second, these data are used to set up a mathematical language dynamic (or language competition) model. With the help of this empirically informed model, we derive projections for the future of the Friulian language in the three provinces. The results show that the number of Friulian speakers will decrease from 600,000 in 2014 to about 530,000 in 2050 (−11%), and that the number of regular Friulian speakers will decreases from 420,000 to 320,000 (−23%). By 2050, about 30% of the population will speak Friulian regularly and about 50% will speak Friulian regularly or occasionally. Only in the province of Udine will Friulian speakers still be in a clear majority. The analysis suggests that a stronger commitment to language policy protecting and promoting Friulian is needed in order to counteract these trends.

Comparative Review of Neighborhood Sustainability Assessment Tools

The paper aims to evaluate criteria for appraising the existing urban transformation projects in view of the social dimension of sustainability. Within the case study of the recovery project of “G. Prandina” barrack in Padua, north-east of Italy, the paper compares two different Italian rating systems to evaluate neighborhood sustainability: “GBC Quartieri” and “ITACA Scala Urbana”. The GBC Quartieri rating system, with a point scheme, allots credits for neighborhood design features, and integrates the environment, infrastructures, and buildings for the creation of sustainable communities with a relationship net and a pre-existence connection. The “ITACA Scala Urbana” procedure consists of a multicriteria evaluation of the environmental sustainability and the compilation of a group of worksheets, one for each different internal performance indicator. The results show the main differences and analogies among the different tools, and this analysis confirms that new neighborhood protocols originating from building rating systems dedicate little space to social aspects and to the concept of inclusion, instead of the newly developed neighborhood protocols. Through this examination, the research can also conclude that the identification of common macro-areas is present, which highlights the different levels of importance given to the various features connected to social sustainability in neighborhood transformation.

Does More Moisture in the Atmosphere Lead to More Intense Rains?

AbstractIt is typically interpreted that more moisture in the atmosphere leads to more intense rains. This notion may be supported, for example, by taking a scatterplot between rain and column precipitable water. The present paper suggests, however, that the main consequence of intense rains with more moisture in the atmosphere is that there is a higher chance of occurrence rather than an increase in the expected magnitude. This tendency equally applies to any rains above 1 mm (6 h)−1to a lesser extent. The result is derived from an analysis of 33 local rain gauge station data and a shared sounding over Friuli Venezia Giulia, northeast Italy.Significance StatementMoisture is the source of clouds. Clouds, in turn, are source of rain. So we may expect that more moisture in the atmosphere causes more intense rains. We may further speculate that with more moisture in the atmosphere as a consequence of the global warning, we must face more catastrophic rain events and floods. However, this paper, by analyzing data over Friuli Venezia Giulia, northeast Italy, suggests otherwise: more moisture indeed increases frequencies of intense rains, but not their magnitudes as much.

Neanderthals\u2019 hunting seasonality inferred from combined cementochronology, mesowear, and microwear analysis: case studies from the Alpine foreland in Italy

Herbivore teeth are a valuable source of information for inferring the hunting season of past hunter-gatherers, the spatial–temporal organization of their activities, their socio-economic organization, and their adaptation to the seasonal fluctuation of the resources. Numberless of studies have been conducted on Neanderthals across Eurasia, but only few of them rely on the application of cementochronology and tooth wear analyses combined to obtain information about the ungulate paleodiet, paleoenvironments, and the time range of the mortality events. In this study, we present the results achieved though the combination of these two high-resolution techniques applied to large and medium-sized herbivore teeth yielded by two Middle Paleolithic sites in the north-east of Italy. We combined the two methodologies with the aim to overcome any possible lack of information, due to the use of a single method. This study addressed to analyze the material coming from two caves in the Venetian region, De Nadale and San Bernardino, and to produce data supporting the interpretation of the origin of the two archaeofaunal assemblages as a result of seasonal hunting events that took place mainly in winter. In this specific geographic and environmental context, our data gain a better understanding of Neanderthal subsistence strategies and occupational patterns.

"Would You Get Vaccinated against COVID-19?" The Picture Emerging from a Study on the Prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 Infection in the General Population of the Veneto Region.

COVID-19 disease, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, continues to cause high hospitalization and death rates. Vaccination campaigns have been key to controlling the pandemic, but vaccine hesitancy is on the rise. This study investigated the general population’s attitude to vaccination in Veneto (northeast Italy) in January 2021 as part of a study on the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection. An ad hoc questionnaire collected 4467 respondents’ sociodemographic data and propensity to be vaccinated, and findings were analyzed using logistic multivariable regression. The 48.9% of respondents were male, and the mean age was 46.8 ± 16.0 years. Asked whether they would get vaccinated against COVID-19, 84.3% said yes, 5.0% were uncertain, and 10.7% said no. Vaccine acceptance was higher in males than in females (85.8% vs. 82.8%), in people 70+ years old (92.3%), and among people with more than 14 years of schooling (89.6%). Multivariable analysis with adjOR (95% CI) showed a significantly greater vaccine reluctance in females (0.68 (0.57–0.81)), people 30–49 or 50–69 years old (0.69 (0.54–0.87)), and (0.76 (0.58–0.99)); and those with <9 or 9–13 years of schooling (0.62 (0.46–0.82)), and (0.72 (0.57–0.91)). As people refusing vaccination undeniably hinder efforts to control the pandemic, specific strategies are needed to overcome their doubts.

The contribution of landscape features, climate and topography in shaping taxonomical and functional diversity of avian communities in a heterogeneous Alpine region

Understanding the effects of landscape composition and configuration, climate, and topography on bird diversity is necessary to identify distribution drivers, potential impacts of land use changes, and future conservation strategies. We surveyed bird communities in a study area located in the Central Alps (Autonomous Province of South Tyrol, northeast Italy), by means of point counts and investigated taxonomic and functional diversity at two spatial scales along gradients of land use/land cover (LULC) intensity and elevation. We also explored how environmental variables influence bird traits and red-list categories. Models combining drivers of different types were highly supported, pointing towards synergetic effects of different types of environmental variables on bird communities. The model containing only LULC compositional variables was the most supported one among the single-group models: LULC composition plays a crucial role in shaping local biodiversity and hence bird communities, even across broad landscape gradients. Particularly relevant were wetlands, open habitats, agricultural mosaics made up of small habitat patches and settlements, ecotonal and structural elements in agricultural settings, and continuous forests. To conserve bird diversity in the Alps, planning and management practices promoting and maintaining small fields, structural elements, and a mosaic of different LULC types should be supported, while preserving continuous forests at the same time. Additionally, pastures, extensively used meadows, and wetlands are key to conservation. These strategies might mitigate the impacts of global change on bird diversity in the Alps and in other European mountain areas.