Northwestern Italy Research Articles

Low Risk Perception about Ticks and Tick-Borne Diseases in an Area Recently Invaded by Ticks in Northwestern Italy.

Risk perception, together with the adoption of measures to prevent tick bites, may strongly influence human exposure to ticks and transmitted pathogens. We created a questionnaire to evaluate how people perceive the health risk posed by ticks in an area recently invaded by these arthropods, in the western Italian Alps. Moreover, through a collaborative effort with park rangers and physicians, we investigated which tick species bite humans and their infection with pathogens (Borrelia burgdorferi s.l., Anaplasma phagocytophilum, and spotted-fever group Rickettsiae). Apart from two Dermacentor marginatus bites, we identified Ixodes ricinus (n = 124) as the main species responsible for tick bites. The investigated pathogens infected 25.4% of tested I. ricinus. The evaluation of the engorgement rate of biting I. ricinus revealed that they had been likely feeding on humans for 24 h or more, suggesting a high probability of pathogen transmission. Indeed, the questionnaires revealed that people infrequently adopt preventive measures, such as inspecting the body for ticks, although most respondents claimed that ticks are a threat to human health. Having suffered from previous tick bites was positively associated with the adoption of personal protection measures. Given the increasing incidence of tick-borne diseases in the region, the public should be better informed about the possibility of being bitten by infected ticks in order to mitigate the risk.

Definition of an Operative Methodology for the Management of Rockfalls along with the Road Network

Rockfalls are widespread events in mountain areas worldwide. The management of this process can be done using different approaches. In this paper, we want to analyze the procedure that can be adopted to manage a rockfall event considering the safety of infrastructure and settlements. Focusing on an Alpine region highly affected by rockfalls like the Aosta Valley Region (north-western Italy), we implemented a dedicated procedure for the road network emergency management. This procedure can be activated immediately after a rockfall, and it aims to identify the effect of the collapse, define the danger zone, plan the recovery project and propose temporary solutions for correct residual risk management until the end of the remedial works. In natural hazards, the lack of codified methods can create critical conditions and increase the responsibility of the single operators, who have to effectively manage a critical situation in a limited amount of time without a well-defined procedure. For this reason, the proposed method aims to be a first example of how a correct codification can be used for more sustainable management of this widespread phenomenon.

A Messinian (latest Miocene) occurrence for Albanerpeton Estes & Hoffstetter, 1976 (Lissamphibia: Albanerpetontidae) at Moncucco Torinese, Piedmont Basin, northwestern Italy, and a review of the European Cenozoic record for albanerpetontids

Albanerpetontids are an extinct clade of superficially salamander-like lissamphibians that range from the Middle Jurassic (Bathonian)-Early Pleistocene and have a primarily Laurasian distribution. The best Cenozoic record for the clade is in Europe, where two species in the type genus AlbanerpetonEstes & Hoffstetter, 1976 occur in over 40 localities of early Oligocene-Early Pleistocene age in Austria, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, and Serbia. From the post-evaporitic Messinian (5.41-5.33 Ma or latest Miocene) succession at Moncucco Torinese, in the Piedmont Basin, northwestern Italy, here we describe isolated albanerpetontid jaws and vertebrae referable to A. pannonicumVenczel & Gardner, 2005. This Italian occurrence extends the temporal record for A. pannonicum from the Early Pleistocene and Pliocene back into the latest Miocene and it narrows the temporal gap between that species and its European congener, A. inexpectatumEstes & Hoffstetter, 1976 (early Oligocene-late Miocene).

A Retrospective, Observational Study on Antimicrobial Drug Use in Beef Fattening Operations in Northwestern Italy and Evaluation of Risk Factors Associated with Increased Antimicrobial Usage.

Simple SummaryAntimicrobial usage in veterinary medicine is thought to be a source of antimicrobial resistance, with possible implications for human health. Certain antibiotics are considered critical for human health, and their use is being judiciously reduced in animal productions. The monitoring of antimicrobial consumption in animal production is key to lowering the risk of the development of antimicrobial resistance. With this study, we quantified antimicrobial usage in beef fattening operations in northwestern Italy before the implementation of a program intended to control antimicrobial usage in veterinary medicine. We found that antimicrobials defined as critical for human health (e.g., fluroquinolones) were often used also for metaphylactic treatment.The abuse or misuse of antimicrobials in animal production is thought to be a potential factor in the development of antimicrobial resistance in veterinary and human medicine. With this study, we wanted to quantify antimicrobial usage in beef fattening operations in northwestern Italy and to identify factors potentially influencing antimicrobial usage. The sample was composed of 26 beef fattening operations that import heifers and bulls from France. Data were extracted from the 2014 and 2015 treatment registers kept by the farmers. The mean (±SD) number of animal daily doses per animal (nADDa) per year for each farm was 3 (±2.1) during the study period (2014–2015). Group antimicrobial treatments (57.5% of all treatments) were often administered orally (70.5%) and consisted overwhelmingly of doxycycline (97%). Individual treatments (42.5% of all treatments) were administered parenterally (98.1%) and the most often used active substances were florfenicol (19.9%), marbofloxacin (19.5%), and tylosin (12.4%). There was a negative correlation between the nADDa for total and group treatments and average batch weight at arrival and between the amount of straw added per animal per day and the nADDa (p ≤ 0.05). Our data show that antimicrobials critical for human medicine were often used in beef fattening operations in northwestern Italy before the European guidelines for the prudent use of antimicrobials in veterinary medicine were issued. Additionally, the use of antimicrobials as a preventive group treatment was still widespread, mostly in lighter weight animals.

First Data on Gastrointestinal Parasitic Infection in the Red-Legged Partridge (Alectoris rufa) in Italy

The Red-legged partridge (Alectoris rufa) is a Mediterranean Galliformes, recently classified as Near Threatened by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, due to the constant and significant decline of its global population. While the gastrointestinal parasites of the species are well studied in some part of its range (Iberian peninsula), limited information is available for the Italian populations, that represent the eastern limit of the species range. This study was conducted to fill this gap of knowledge, determining the composition, richness, prevalence, intensity and abundance of A. rufa gastrointestinal parasite community in two populations in Italy. During the autumn seasons 2008–2009 and 2009–2010, necropsies were conducted on 18 Red-legged partridge from the southern part of Alessandria province (Piedmont, northwestern Italy) and 34 from the Parma province (Emilia Romagna, northern Italy). All the animals were examined for the presence of gastrointestinal parasites. Additionally, 229 fecal samples were collected from live animals in Alessandria province. Prevalence, abundance and intensity of infection were calculated for each parasite species, except for coccidia for which only the prevalence was determined. The following parasites were observed: Heterakis gallinarum, Ascaridia spp., Ascaridia columbae, Raillietina spp., Eimeria spp. The highest parasite prevalence was found in Alessandria province for Eimeria sp., infecting almost half of the sampled animals (P: 45%, CI95%: 39–51). Eimeria sp. was also the most prevalent parasite in Parma province but with much lower prevalence (P: 19%, CI95%: 5–32). Intestinal helminths prevalence ranged from 3% (CI95%: 0–9) for A. columbae and Raillietina spp. (Parma Province) to 9% for H. gallinarum in both Parma (CI95%: 0–19), and Alessandria province (CI95%: 0–22). To our knowledge, this is the first study providing information on the gastrointestinal parasites of the Red-legged partridge in Italy. Ascaridia columbae, a parasite typical of the domestic pigeon, was reported for the first time in A. rufa. The epidemiological descriptors reported herein could serve as a basis for future studies, allowing for epidemiological comparison across countries, locations, and time periods.

Nesting, Sex Ratio and Natural Enemies of the Giant Resin Bee in Relation to Native Species in Europe.

Simple SummaryAlien bee species could have detrimental effects; in particular, they may compete with native bee species for floral resources or nesting sites. Here, we first studied the interaction in artificial trap nests, installed in a semi-urban area of north-western Italy, between the first exotic bee in Europe, Megachile sculpturalis, and native wild bees. Second, we evaluated the performance of the exotic bee by means of the sex ratio, and we screened for the presence of natural enemies affecting its brood. Our results showed that M. sculpturalis brood cells cohabited tunnels with the native Osmia cornuta. Given the exotic cells’ position within tunnels and their resin-based material, exotic cells may act as a block for native bee emergence. Moreover, our study revealed a strong male-biased sex ratio, suggesting a suboptimal reproductive trend for the M. sculpturalis local population. Additionally, we documented for the first time the presence of three natural enemies on the brood of the exotic bee that are common on native co-nesting bees. These novel findings broaden the knowledge on solitary bee invasions.Megachile sculpturalis (Smith, 1853) is the first exotic bee species in Europe. Its remarkably fast expansion across this continent is leading to a growing concern on the extent of negative impacts to the native fauna. To evaluate the interactions of exotic bees with local wild bees, we set up trap nests for above-ground nesting bees on a semi-urban area of north-western Italy. We aimed to investigate the interaction in artificial traps between the exotic and native wild bees and to assess offspring traits accounting for exotic bee fitness: progeny sex ratio and incidence of natural enemies. We found that the tunnels occupied by exotic bees were already cohabited by O. cornuta, and thus the cells of later nesting alien bees may block the native bee emergence for the next year. The progeny sex ratio of M. sculpturalis was strongly unbalanced toward males, indicating a temporary adverse population trend in the local invaded area. In addition, we documented the presence of three native natural enemies affecting the brood of the exotic bee. Our results bring out new insights on how the M. sculpturalis indirectly competes with native species and on its performance in new locations.

Geochemical, geostatistical and time series analysis techniques as a tool to achieve the Water Framework Directive goals: An example from Piedmont region (NW Italy)

In this study, geochemical data processing and statistical/geostatistical techniques were coupled to achieve Water Framework Directive goals, collecting useful information from a complex database. Considering the Greater Turin metropolitan area, located in North-Western Italy, chemical data of 135 wells sampled and collected from 2000 to 2018 by the Environmental Protection Agency of Piedmont were analyzed. Both the processes that determine the groundwater chemical composition and the origin and evolution of groundwater were decoded and understood. The presence of two different components in the foothill aquifer system investigated was found. A bicarbonate alkaline earthy type component, linked with different degrees to phenomena of water-rock interaction, and a chlorinated type component related to nitrates, whose effects related to human activities can be recognized. This last component was mapped by using geostatistical techniques to define the most critical zones of the study area. Time series analysis on chlorides and nitrates displayed the presence of statistically significant increasing trends in some areas of the Turin plain. This study shows that the combining of geochemical approach, geostatistical techniques, and time series analysis can be used as reliable tools to understand geochemical processes acting on the system, to identify temporal and spatial hydrochemical variability, as well as to forecast water quality evolution. In this perspective, the multi-disciplinary approach developed in this study represents a reliable methodology for extracting useful information from a complex database and achieving the Water Framework Directive goals.

Occurrence of Methicillin-Resistant Coagulase-Negative Staphylococci (MRCoNS) and Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) from Pigs and Farm Environment in Northwestern Italy.

Swine farming as a source of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has been well documented. Methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative staphylococci (MRCoNS) have been less studied, but their importance as pathogens is increasing. MRCoNS are indeed considered relevant nosocomial pathogens; identifying putative sources of MRCoNS is thus gaining importance to prevent human health hazards. In the present study, we investigated MRSA and MRCoNS in animals and environment in five pigsties in a high farm-density area of northwestern Italy. Farms were three intensive, one intensive with antibiotic-free finishing, and one organic. We tested nasal swabs from 195 animals and 26 environmental samples from three production phases: post-weaning, finishing and female breeders. Phenotypic tests, including MALDI-TOF MS, were used for the identification of Staphylococcus species; PCR and nucleotide sequencing confirmed resistance and bacterial species. MRCoNS were recovered in 64.5% of nasal swabs, in all farms and animal categories, while MRSA was detected only in one post-weaning sample in one farm. The lowest prevalence of MRCoNS was detected in pigs from the organic farm and in the finishing of the antibiotic-free farm. MRCoNS were mainly Staphylococcus sciuri, but we also recovered S. pasteuri, S. haemolyticus, S. cohnii, S. equorum and S. xylosus. Fifteen environmental samples were positive for MRCoNS, which were mainly S. sciuri; no MRSA was found in the farms’ environment. The analyses of the mecA gene and the PBP2-a protein highlighted the same mecA fragment in strains of S. aureus, S. sciuri and S. haemolyticus. Our results show the emergence of MRCoNS carrying the mecA gene in swine farms. Moreover, they suggest that this gene might be horizontally transferred from MRCoNS to bacterial species more relevant for human health, such as S. aureus.

Prevalence, Persistence, and Factors Associated with SARS-CoV-2 IgG Seropositivity in a Large Cohort of Healthcare Workers in a Tertiary Care University Hospital in Northern Italy

This observational study evaluated SARS-CoV-2 IgG seroprevalence and related clinical, demographic, and occupational factors among workers at the largest tertiary care University-Hospital of Northwestern Italy and the University of Turin after the first pandemic wave of March–April 2020. Overall, about 10,000 individuals were tested; seropositive subjects were retested after 5 months to evaluate antibodies waning. Among 8769 hospital workers, seroprevalence was 7.6%, without significant differences related to job profile; among 1185 University workers, 3.3%. Self-reporting of COVID-19 suspected symptoms was significantly associated with positivity (Odds Ratio (OR) 2.07, 95%CI: 1.76–2.44), although 27% of seropositive subjects reported no previous symptom. At multivariable analysis, contacts at work resulted in an increased risk of 69%, or 24% for working in a COVID ward; contacts in the household evidenced the highest risk, up to more than five-fold (OR 5.31, 95%CI: 4.12–6.85). Compared to never smokers, being active smokers was inversely associated with seroprevalence (OR 0.60, 95%CI: 0.48–0.76). After 5 months, 85% of previously positive subjects still tested positive. The frequency of SARS-COV-2 infection among Health Care Workers was comparable with that observed in surveys performed in Northern Italy and Europe after the first pandemic wave. This study confirms that infection frequently occurred as asymptomatic and underlines the importance of household exposure, seroprevalence (OR 0.60, 95%CI: 0.48–0.76).

Social Representations about Cultural Tourism in the Time of COVID-19: A Case Study of Langhe, Monferrato and Roero (Italy)

Cultural tourism is recognised as one of the broader sectors of the tourism industry, embracing an extensive range of tourist interests. Italy is a remarkable tourist destination due to its cultural appeal in tangible and intangible heritage as well as its cultural resources connected to food and gastronomy, and it is of special interest since the COVID-19 pandemic was declared in March 2020. This study sought to analyse the perceptions of diverse significant actors regarding culture and tourism during the COVID-19 pandemic in Langhe, Monferrato and Roero, an area of southern Piedmont in north-western Italy. As part of a larger collaborative international project addressing the coronavirus situation, the research examined residents, tourists and tourism-related professionals to investigate their perceptions of culture and tourism. Data were collected through a survey employing three distinct questionnaires for the three target groups of residents, tourists and entrepreneurs and cultural bodies. The data analysis reveals that residents embraced a static representation of the local cultural tourism’s appeal and heritage, while tourists were motivated mainly by gastronomic and wine experiences. The perception of the coronavirus among the three groups of interviewees reflects a general reduction in almost all cultural activities and travel possibilities.

Factors affecting the crop damage by wild boar (Sus scrofa) and effects of population control in the Ticino and Lake Maggiore Park (North-western Italy)

Wild boar foraging impacts the crops, pastures, and meadows causing remarkable losses to agricultural income. Protected areas located in plains, such as the Ticino Valley Natural Park, are characterized by the coexistence of important natural habitats and intensive agricultural areas. In the Park, from 2010 to 2017, 49% of the complaints report an event of damage to maize and 43% to meadows. The total expense for reimbursements of the maize amounted to € 439,341.52, with damages concentrated in May, after sowing period and between August and September, during the milky stage of maize. For meadows reimbursements amounted to € 324,768.66, with damage events concentrated in February and March. To reduce damage to crops, the Park administration carried out lethal control of the wild boar population. From 2006 to 2017, the most used control method was culling from hunting hides. In our analysis, we did not find significant relationships between the number of shot boars and the damage amount. The factors that determine the decrease of damage probability to crops are mainly related to human disturbance and the characteristics of the fields. The predictive model of damage risk built comparing damaged and undamaged fields showed a good predictive ability. The population viability analyses showed that it is impossible to obtain a drastic reduction of population with the current harvest rate. By tripling it and focusing on the females and sub-adult a numerical reduction of 50% of the population would be achievable in 7 years and the probability of population survival would be halved in 3 years.

The contribution to wildlife conservation of an Italian Recovery Centre

Wildlife recovery centres are widespread worldwide and their goal is the rehabilitation of wildlife and the subsequent release of healthy animals to appropriate habitats in the wild. The activity of the Genoese Wildlife Recovery Centre (CRAS) from 2015 to 2020 was analysed to assess its contribution to the conservation of biodiversity and to determine the main factors affecting the survival rate of the most abundant species. In particular, the analyses focused upon the cause, provenance and species of hospitalised animals, the seasonal distribution of recoveries and the outcomes of hospitalisation in the different species. In addition, an in-depth analysis of the anthropogenic causes was conducted, with a particular focus on attempts of predation by domestic animals, especially cats. Significantly, 96.8% of animals hospitalised came from Liguria, the region in north-western Italy where CRAS is located, with 44.8% coming from the most populated and urbanised areas of Genoa, indicating a positive correlation between population density and the number of recoveries. A total of 5881 wild animals belonging to 162 species were transferred to CRAS during the six years study period. The presence of summer migratory bird species and the high reproductive rates of most animals in summer resulted in a corresponding seasonal peak of treated animals. Birds represented 80.9% of entries; mammals accounted for 18.6% of hospitalisations; and about 0.5% of the entries were represented by reptiles and amphibians. Species protected by CITES and/or in IUCN Red List amounted to 8% of the total number of individuals. Consistent with results recorded elsewhere from Italy and other European countries, 53.9% of the specimens treated were released in nature; 4.7% were euthanised and 41.4% died. There was a significant difference between taxa in the frequency of individuals that were released, died or euthanised due to the intrinsic characteristics of species (more resistant or more adaptable to captivity than others) and/or to the types of debilitative occurrences common to each species (e.g. infections, wounds, traumas, fractures). A total of 14.2% of wildlife recovery was from injuries caused with certainty by people or domestic animals (human impact), with 54.3% of these hospitalised animals having been victims of predation attempts by domestic animals, mainly cats. The percentage of release in nature of animals hospitalised following human impact was significantly lower than overall cases (31.2% vs. 53.9%) due to the greater severity of the injuries. The percentage of animals released showed a further reduction to 27.1% amongst victims of predation attempts by pets. The work of Rehabilitation/Recovery Centres contributes to wildlife conservation. In particular, the CRAS in Genoa is a Centre with an increasing level of activity concerning the rehabilitation of species under CITES protection and/or included on the IUCN Red List. The contribution and experience of CRAS operators is critical for the success of ‘information campaigns’ aimed at limiting the number of stray dogs and cats because of their impact on wildlife. Therefore, the activity of a properly-managed CRAS can significantly contribute both directly and indirectly to wildlife conservation, resulting in important territorial safeguards for the protection of biodiversity.

RANS and LES face to face for forecasting extreme precipitation events in the Liguria region (northwestern Italy)

In the present work, seven different extreme precipitation events, that affected Liguria region (Italy) in the past ten years, were analysed in depth by means of sub-km resolution numerical simulations with the state-of-the-art non-hydrostatic Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) mesoscale model. The study aims at evaluating the impact on quantitative precipitation forecast of an explicit description of atmospheric boundary layer turbulence through a Large-Eddy Simulation (LES) approach versus the classical Reynolds-Averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) modelling framework. To this purpose, three different sets of simulations were carried out. In the first set, reaching a resolution of 1.1 km through three nested domains, the best performing planetary boundary layer (PBL) parameterization scheme identified in a preliminary sensitivity analysis, was imposed on each domain. This modelling setup was chosen as the reference one. Then, a further nested domain was introduced with horizontal resolution of 367 m, on which both RANS and LES simulations were performed. Quantitative precipitation forecasts were compared with observed data coming from the regional rain gauge network, composed of about 200 professional stations. In four out of the seven considered events, results show an evident LES contribution to improve model performances, regarding both intensity and/or location of precipitation. This improvement is observed both in cases of underestimation and overestimation by the reference simulations and is mostly associated to a better description of low-level dynamics as well as convection triggering and intensity. In other cases, the effect of LES is not remarkable and simulations closely resemble the reference ones. Further investigation is necessary to strengthen these conclusions, but the results of this study can suggest the possibility to integrate LES in operational simulations.

Genetic and phenotypic effects of hybridization in independently introduced populations of the invasive maize pest <em>Diabrotica virgifera virgifera</em> in Europe

The North American western corn rootworm, Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) was introduced into Europe several times during the end of the 20th century. Outbreaks in north-western Italy (NW Italian) and central and south-eastern Europe (CSE European) have merged in 2008 and insects interbreed since then. This study compared the genetic diversity (multi-locus genotype analyses at 13 microsatellites markers) and ten phenotypic traits among the CSE European and NW Italian populations as well as their hybrid offspring. All insects were reared under standardised laboratory conditions. Neutral genetic polymorphism appeared moderate in parental and hybrid populations, compared to North American populations. Some increase in neutral genetic variability was detected in the hybrids` expected heterozygosity and allelic richness compared to parental populations when family structures were considered. In 70% of the assessed phenotypic traits, the population type (CSE European, NW Italian, hybrids) influenced a trait, but averages in hybrids never exceeded those in their parents. Population type did not influence fecundity or adult lifespan (reflecting fitness) and not the proportion of adults flying (reflecting dispersal capabilities). There was no evidence yet that hybridization influences variability of phenotypic traits. In conclusion, there are only few indications that hybrids between the two overlapping invading European populations may in the longer term, take advantage through higher neutral genetic diversity and subsequent phenotypic adaptability.

Trends in admissions to a child and adolescent neuropsychiatric inpatient unit in the 2007–2017 decade: how contemporary neuropsychiatry is changing in Northwestern Italy

PurposeRising levels of psychopathology in the adolescent population have been evidenced in the last few years throughout the Western world. We aim to examine how contemporary neuropsychiatry is changing in Northwestern Italy and how this impacts inpatient services.MethodsThe present research considered the 1177 admissions to a public neuropsychiatric inpatient service in the 2007–2017 decade. The annual percentual change (APC) was analysed for the total admissions, the number of the neurological vs psychiatric admissions, the length of inpatient stay, and the mean age at admission, also accounting for sex differences. The annual trend was also calculated for each diagnosis.ResultsThe overall number of inpatient admissions decreased significantly (APC = − 5.91), in particular for children under 12 years of age (APC = − 7.23). The rate of neurologic diagnoses significantly decreased (APC = − 26.44), while the length of the inpatient stay (APC = 6.98) and the mean age at admission (APC = 6.69) increased. Among the psychiatric diagnoses, depression significantly rose (APC = 41.89), in particular among female adolescents (APC = 40.30).ConclusionsThese data document a substantial change in the utilization of inpatient neuropsychiatric services for children and adolescents, with a major increase in psychiatric hospitalizations and a parallel decrease in neurological ones. These trends call for greater attention to early preventive intervention in mental healthcare system.

Intraclade Contact from an I-Language Perspective. The Noun Phrase in the Ligurian/Occitan amphizone

This article aims to compare some traits that characterise the syntax of the noun phrase in the Occitan/Ligurian amphizone (i.e., contact area) that lies at the border between southern France and northwestern Italy. The dialects spoken in this area differ in several syntactic traits that emerged in a situation of contact between dialects of different subgroups (Ligurian and Occitan), two roofing languages (Italian and French), and regional contact languages such as Genoese. In particular, I will elaborate on the syntax of mass and indefinite plural nouns, on the co-occurrence of determiners and possessives, and on the syntax of kinship terms. From an I-language perspective, the fine variation observed at the Occitan/Ligurian border raises two types of research questions: (a) which comparative concepts best capture the observed variation; (b) whether intraclade contact (i.e., contact between languages of the same branch) can contribute relevant evidence and arguments to the debate concerning the biological endowment of the language faculty.

More data on ancient human mitogenome variability in Italy: new mitochondrial genome sequences from three Upper Palaeolithic burials

Background Recently, the study of mitochondrial variability in ancient humans has allowed the definition of population dynamics that characterised Europe in the Late Pleistocene and Early Holocene. Despite the abundance of sites and skeletal remains few data are available for Italy. Aim We reconstructed the mitochondrial genomes of three Upper Palaeolithic individuals for some of the most important Italian archaeological contexts: Paglicci (South-Eastern Italy), San Teodoro (South-Western Italy) and Arene Candide (North-Western Italy) caves. Subjects and methods We explored the phylogenetic relationships of the three mitogenomes in the context of Western Eurasian ancient and modern variability. Results Paglicci 12 belongs to sub-haplogroup U8c, described in only two other Gravettian individuals; San Teodoro 2 harbours a U2'3'4'7'8'9 sequence, the only lineage found in Sicily during the Late Pleistocene and Early Holocene; Arene Candide 16 displays an ancestral U5b1 haplotype already detected in other Late Pleistocene hunter-gatherers from Central Europe. Conclusion Regional genetic continuity is highlighted in the Gravettian groups that succeeded in Paglicci. Data from one of the oldest human remains from Sicily reinforce the hypothesis that Epigravettian groups carrying U2'3'4'7'8'9 could be the first inhabitants of the island. The first pre-Neolithic mitogenome from North-Western Italy, sequenced here, shows more affinity with continental Europe than with the Italian peninsula.

Some Traits of the Biology and Epigean Behavior of Sisyphus schaefferi (Linnaeus) (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae: Sisyphini)

A two-year field study on selected traits of the biology of the scarabaeine dung roller Sisyphus schaefferi (Linnaeus) was conducted in a natural park in the western Po Valley in northwestern Italy. Despite laboratory studies carried out over the past few decades, several aspects of the epigean behavior of the species in the wild remain uncertain. Our study revealed that 1) the species is active from early spring to late summer, with reproductive pairs being observed from mid-spring to midsummer; 2) sexual dimorphism in body weight and length is absent; 3) mating individuals are significantly heavier and longer than non-mating individuals; 4) metatibial length increases isometrically with body length and weight; 5) size and weight of the brood balls are isometric with respect to the length and weight of the male of the reproductive pair; 6) brood balls are significantly larger and heavier than food balls, and, whereas brood ball size and weight decrease as air temperature increases, food ball size and weight increase as air humidity rises, but only in non-reproductive periods; 7) pushing and pulling roles are not sex-dependent and can be reversed during the rolling process; 8) combat for balls can involve up to six individuals simultaneously.

Reliability of spring recession curve analysis as a function of the temporal resolution of the monitoring dataset

Mountain springs represent one of the largest and most precious sources of potable water in Italy, necessary to meet the water needs of the population. Optimizing the present and future management strategies of mountain groundwater resources has become increasingly necessary. The accuracy and frequency of the flow rate (Q) measurements determine and restrict the processes that can be studied using spring hydrograph and recession curve analysis. Therefore, to properly define mountain aquifers’ hydrogeological properties, it turns out important to highlight the variation of the error in the estimation of the hydrogeological parameters as the time interval of sampling varies. In this paper, recession curve analysis was performed on two different mountain springs (Spring 1 and Spring 2) of north-western Italy, firstly considering available 4-h resolution measuring data and subsequently by resampling data to simulate longer sampling intervals of 1, 3, 7, 15, and 30 days.The resulting distribution of errors introduced by longer acquisition intervals underlined how the percentage error increases with increasing acquisition interval. For obtaining an adequate estimation of mountain aquifer hydrodynamic parameters, in place of continuous hourly data, 1-day and 3-day sampling intervals with associated errors respectively lower than 5% and 10% were found to be valid.

Pediatric admissions to emergency departments of North-Western Italy during COVID-19 pandemic: A retrospective observational study.

BackgroundCOVID-19 pandemic caused huge decrease of pediatric admissions to Emergency Department (ED), arising concerns about possible delays in diagnosis and treatment of severe disorders.MethodsImpact of COVID-19 on Pediatric Emergency Room (ICOPER) was a retrospective multicentre observational study including 23 Italian EDs.All the children <18 years admitted, between March 9th and May 3rd 2020 stratified by age, priority code, cause of admission and outcome have been included and compared to those admitted in the same period of 2019.Our objectives were to assess the characteristics of pediatric admissions to EDs since COVID-19 outbreak until the end of lockdown, and to describe the features of critical children.Findings16,426 children were admitted in 2020, compared to 55,643 in 2019 (-70·48%). Higher reduction was reported in hospitals without Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) (-73·38%) than in those with PICU (-64·08%) (P<0·0001). Admissions with low priority decreased more than critical ones (-82·77% vs. 44·17% respectively; P<0·0001). Reduction of discharged patients was observed both in hospitals with (-66·50%) and without PICU (-74·65%) (P<0·0001). No difference in the duration of symptoms before admission was reported between 2019 and 2020, with the majority of children accessing within 24 h (55·08% vs. 57·28% respectively; P = 0·2344).InterpretationAdmissions with low priority decreased significantly more than those with high priority; we suppose that the fear of being infected in hospital maybe overcame the concerns of caregivers. Compared to 2019, no significant referral delay by caregivers was reported. Our data suggest the need of adaptation of EDs and primary care services to different needs of children during COVID-9 pandemic.