Northern Italian Regions Research Articles

Keep up with the modern joneses: an empirical analysis of the digital divide in Italy

ABSTRACTThe advent of digitalization and digital culture has increased productivity in modern societies. However, the uneven distribution of both phenomena may exacerbate disparities between wealthier and poorer realities, inducing the poor to become the most impoverished and slowing down the catch-up process towards a more prosperous status. In this context, this article explores the relationship between digitalization, digital culture and growth of northern and southern Italian regions in the last twelve years. An empirical analysis is conducted with panel data aggregated at regional level (NUTS-2) and the system of Generalized Method of Moments (system-GMM). Evidence suggests a statistically significant relationship between digitalization, digital skills and local growth. Italy’s southern area is still affected by a low level of digital culture that slows down its development. Policymakers should formulate strategies to tackle this digital divide challenge to prevent the unequal distribution of resources between the two areas of the country, ensuring southern regions keep up with the northern Joneses in the long run.

Incidence of Perfluoroalkyl Substances in Commercial Eggs and Their Impact on Consumer's Safety.

Eggs play an important role in a balanced diet; however, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) recognizes eggs as a major source of poly and per-fluoroalkyl substances (PFASs). In this study, the presence of PFASs was analysed in eggs produced by hens from Northern Italian regions, a PFASs-contaminated area. Sixty-five samples were analysed by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry. The greatest presence of PFASs was found in eggs from Veneto and Emilia Romagna, and the most detected PFASs were perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) (mean concentrations 0.30 ± 0.15 and 0.05 ± 0.00 ng g-1). Considering the most recent updates for the sum of the main four PFASs, the highest concentration found in the analysed samples was 0.05 ng g-1, well below the maximum limit set by the European Union. The PFAS intake evaluation confirmed that egg consumption does not represent a risk for Italian consumers.

Evidence of Circulation and Phylogenetic Analysis of Hepatitis E Virus (HEV) in Wild Boar in South-East Italy.

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is an important cause of acute viral hepatitis in humans worldwide. The food-borne transmission of HEV appears to be a major route in Europe through the consumption of pork and wild boar meat. HEV epidemiology in wild boars has been investigated mainly in Northern and Central Italian regions, whilst information from Southern Italy is limited. We investigated the occurrence of HEV in wild boar in the Apulia and Basilicata regions (Southern Italy). Thirteen (10.4%) out of one hundred and twenty-five wild boar samples tested positive for HEV using a quantitative reverse transcription PCR. HEV prevalence was 12% in Apulia and 9.3% in Basilicata. Seven samples were genotyped, and different subtypes (c, f, m) of genotype 3 were identified. The complete genome of a 3m strain was determined, and the virus showed the highest nucleotide identity to a human HEV strain identified in France in 2017. These findings demonstrate the substantial circulation of HEV in the wild boar population in Italian Southern regions. Gathering information on the HEV strains circulating in different geographical areas is useful for tracking the origin of HEV outbreaks and assessing the epidemiological role of wild boar as a potential virus reservoir for domestic pigs.

Modulation of the One Health Approach to Tackle Brucellosis in Buffaloes and Cattle in Two Italian Territories with Different Characteristics

The new European Union animal health law and its rule concerning brucellosis in cattle and buffaloes
 The authors examine the latest European Union (EU) rules concerning eradication and surveillance of brucellosis and animal infectious diseases of EU concern.
 The Italian rules concerning brucellosis in cattle and buffaloes 
 Italy is included in the EU co-financed compulsory eradication and surveillance programmes for brucellosis in cattle and in buffaloes in the frame of the EU and the related Italian laws, which allowed reaching the Brucellosis Free status without vaccination (former "Officially Brucellosis Free - OBF" status) in the majority of the northern and middle Italian Regions and in some middle and southern Provinces included in Regions where the infection persists.
 Epidemiology of brucellosis in the EU and in Italy
 In the Italian Province of Caserta, the highest prevalence of brucellosis in buffaloes is reported; in 2017-2021, a total of 314 outbreaks occurred, in which 39,163 heads tested positive. Here, brucellosis is threatening not only human health and the widespread buffaloes breeding but also the important satellite activities concerning the Protected Designation of Origin (P.O.D.) cheese “Mozzarella di Bufala Campana". The authors also discuss the reemerged brucellosis in cattle in the Molise Region, which despite bordering the Province of Caserta, shows different hydrographic, orographic, and breeding characteristics. In Molise, the reemerged brucellosis had a very different epidemiological course, which allowed it to limit the adoption of One Health measures.
 The One Health approach to tackle brucellosis in buffaloes
 In order to tackle brucellosis in Campania Region and in its Province of Caserta, the One Health approach has been predisposed through strict control of animal health, human health, and the environment. The adopted model could be exportable to territories having similar characteristics.

New distribution patterns of Dirofilaria immitis in Italy.

In recent decades, the number of autochthonous cases and foci of Dirofilaria immitis in dogs from southern regions has increased considerably, suggesting that the distribution of the species is not limited to northern Italian regions. This epidemiological picture emerges from case reports or studies in specific locations where outbreaks of heartworm disease have occasionally been reported together with the presence of mosquito vectors. To obtain a more comprehensive picture of the current distribution of D. immitis in southern Italy, a multicenter cross-sectional survey of canine filariasis was conducted. Owned and sheltered dogs (n = 1,987) were included in the survey regardless their breed, attitude and/or sex. All included dogs were older than 1 year and had no history of chemoprophylactic treatment against filarioses. A blood sample was collected from enrolled dogs and screened by modified Knott's test and, when positive, tested using D. immitis specific ELISA rapid test (SNAP 4DX, IDEXX). The overall microfilaremia prevalence was 17% (n = 338) being single-species infection (92.6%) more common that mixed (7.4%). Remarkably, D. immitis was the most frequent species detected with an overall prevalence of 11.4% (n = 227), followed by Dirofilaria repens (n = 74; 3.7%), and Acanthocheilonema reconditum (n = 12; 0.6%). Sheltered dogs were significantly more infected by D. immitis, as well as mongrel dogs and animals housed in rural areas. Data here reported indicate that D. immitis is largely present in southern Italy, raising awareness about the necessity of proper screening and chemoprophylactic treatments in exposed animals.

The three facets of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic during the first two waves in the northern, central, and southern Italy

BackgroundThere is a scarcity of information in literature regarding the clinical differences and comorbidities of patients affected by Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which could clarify the different prevalence of the outcomes (composite and only death) between several Italian regions. ObjectiveThis study aimed to assess the heterogeneity of clinical features of patients with COVID-19 upon hospital admission and disease outcomes in the northern, central, and southern Italian regions. MethodsAn observational cohort multicenter retrospective study including 1210 patients who were admitted for COVID-19 in Infectious diseases, Pulmonology, Endocrinology, Geriatrics and Internal Medicine Units in Italian cities stratified between north (263 patients); center (320 patients); and south (627 patients), during the first and second pandemic waves of SARS-CoV-2 (from February 1, 2020 to January 31, 2021). The data, obtained from clinical charts and collected in a single database, comprehended demographic characteristics, comorbidities, hospital and home pharmacological therapies, oxygen therapy, laboratory values, discharge, death and Intensive care Unit (ICU) transfer. Death or ICU transfer were defined as composite outcomes. ResultsMale patients were more frequent in the northern Italian region than in the central and southern regions. Diabetes mellitus, arterial hypertension, chronic pulmonary and chronic kidney diseases were the comorbidities more frequent in the southern region; cancer, heart failure, stroke and atrial fibrillation were more frequent in the central region. The prevalence of the composite outcome was recorded more frequently in the southern region. Multivariable analysis showed a direct association between the combined event and age, ischemic cardiac disease, and chronic kidney disease, in addition to the geographical area. ConclusionsStatistically significant heterogeneity was observed in patients with COVID-19 characteristics at admission and outcomes from northern to southern Italy. The higher frequency of ICU transfer and death in the southern region may depend on the wider hospital admission of frail patients for the availability of more beds since the burden of COVID-19 on the healthcare system was less intense in southern region. In any case, predictive analysis of clinical outcomes should consider that the geographical differences that may reflect clinical differences in patient characteristics, are also related to access to health-care facilities and care modalities. Overall, the present results caution against generalizability of prognostic scores in COVID-19 patients derived from hospital cohorts in different settings.

Thrive, survive, or perish: The impact of regional autonomy on the demographic dynamics of Italian Alpine territories

AbstractMountain communities face the threat of depopulation, as residents age or move to large cities in the lowland. This issue is pressing for Italy, where a large portion of the territory is mountainous and the overall population is rapidly aging. This paper analyses whether the autonomous status of a region affects the demographic dynamics of its mountain areas. The question is currently being fiercely debated in Italy, with border municipalities seeking to switch region in pursuit of perceived benefits, mainly in the form of the direct management of a larger portion of taxes. The analysis relies on an adjacency‐based estimation approach, including spatial regression discontinuity techniques, to compare population changes in mountain areas randomly selected from Northern Italian regions with special statutes versus neighboring regions without special statute. Measuring population changes in the 2000s shows a significant difference in the demographic dynamics in border regions, with areas in autonomous regions experiencing more favorable population dynamics. Our hypothesis is that fiscal autonomy contributes to sustainable local development and the survival of mountain communities.

The Spread of the Japanese Beetle in a European Human-Dominated Landscape: High Anthropization Favors Colonization of Popillia japonica

The impact of invasive species is not limited to the loss of biodiversity; it also represents significant threats to agriculture on a global scale. The Japanese beetle Popillia japonica (native to Japan but an invasive agricultural pest in North America) recently occurred in the Po plain (Italy), one of the most cultivated areas in southern Europe. Thus, our aims were to identify (i) the main landscape predictors related to the occurrence of the Japanese beetle and (ii) the areas of potential invasion of the Japanese beetle in the two Northern Italian regions in which this invasive species currently occurs, Piedmont and Lombardy. Specifically, we combined Japanese beetle occurrences available in the citizen science online platform iNaturalist with high-resolution landscape predictors in an ensemble approach and averaged the results of Bayesian generalized linear and additive models developed with the integrated nested Laplace approximation (with stochastic partial differential equation). We found that the occurrence of the Japanese beetle was negatively related to the percentage of broadleaf forests and pastures, while it was positively related to sparse and dense human settlements as well as intensive crops. Moreover, the occurrence of the Japanese beetle increased in relation to the percentage of rice fields until a peak at around 50%. The Japanese beetle was likely to occur in 32.49% of our study area, corresponding to 16,000.02 km2, mainly located in the Po plain, low hills, and mountain valleys. We stress that the Japanese beetle is a high-risk invasive species in human-dominated landscapes. Thus, we strongly recommend that local administrations quickly enact pest management in order to reduce further spread.

Nurses' experiences of accompanying patients dying during the COVID-19 pandemic: A qualitative descriptive study.

AbstractAimsThe aim was to explore nurses’ experiences of caring for and accompanying patients dying without the presence of family during the COVID‐19 pandemic.DesignA qualitative descriptive design was used.MethodsA purposive sample of registered nurses, caring for dying patients in Italian health‐care settings during the COVID‐19 pandemic, were selected. To capture a broad range of experiences, a maximum variety of participants about workplace, age, gender and work experience were included. A total of 31 nurses agreed to participate in the study; 28 participants were female; participants were aged 41 on average (range 25–63 years) and worked in hospitals and nursing homes in the Northern and Central Italian regions. Six focus groups were conducted from August to December 2020 through Microsoft Teams, reaching data saturation. The transcripts were analysed through inductive content analysis. The COREQ checklist was followed for study reporting.ResultsFour main categories emerged describing nurses’ experiences: hugely increased deaths in time of COVID‐19; ensuring physical, emotional, interpersonal and spiritual care for dying patients and supporting their families despite difficulties; ensuring care procedures of patients’ bodies after death and psychological consequences of caring for dying people during the pandemic.ConclusionRegistered nurses provided physical, spiritual and emotional care to dying patients during the pandemic, despite limited resources and knowledge, standing in for relatives who were not allowed to visit them; the experiences of caring for dying patients in the absence of the family caused emotional distress in nurses.ImpactHealth‐care systems should develop guidelines aiming to meet the psychological needs of dying people in case of restrictions on patients’ family visits. Health‐care administrators should offer services to support the grieving process of relatives who cannot accompany dying patients and to reduce emotional distress in nurses caring for dying patients.

A proposal for the reference intervals of the Italian microbiota \u201cscaffold\u201d in healthy adults

Numerous factors, ranging from genetics, age, lifestyle, and dietary habits to local environments, contribute to the heterogeneity of the microbiota in humans. Understanding the variability of a “healthy microbiota” is a major challenge in scientific research. The gut microbiota profiles of 148 healthy Italian volunteers were examined by 16S rRNA gene sequencing to determine the range and diversity of taxonomic compositions in the gut microbiota of healthy populations. Possible driving factors were evaluated through a detailed anamnestic questionnaire. Microbiota reference intervals were also calculated. A “scaffold” of a healthy Italian gut microbiota composition was identified. Differences in relative quantitative ratios of microbiota composition were detected in two clusters: a bigger cluster (C2), which included 124 subjects, was characterized by more people from the northern Italian regions, who habitually practised more physical activity and with fewer dietary restrictions. Species richness and diversity were significantly higher in this cluster (C2) than in the other one (C1) (C1: 146.67 ± 43.67; C2: 198.17 ± 48.47; F = 23.40; P < 0.001 and C1: 16.88 ± 8.66; C2: 35.01 ± 13.40; F = 40.50; P < 0.001, respectively). The main contribution of the present study was the identification of the existence of a primary healthy microbiological framework that is only marginally affected by variations. Taken together, our data help to contextualize studies on population-specific variations, including marginal aspects, in human microbiota composition. Such variations must be related to the primary framework of a healthy microbiota and providing this perspective could help scientists to better design experimental plans and develop strategies for precision tailored microbiota modulation.

Is the epithelial barrier hypothesis the key to understanding the higher incidence and excess mortality during COVID-19 pandemic? The case of Northern Italy.

The high incidence and increased mortality of COVID‐19 make Italy among the most impacted countries by SARS‐CoV‐2 outbreak. In the beginning of the pandemic, Northern regions accounted for 40% of cases and 45% of deaths from COVID‐19 in Italy. Several factors have been suggested to explain the higher incidence and excess mortality from COVID‐19 in these regions. It is noticed that Northern Italian regions, and particularly the cities in Po Valley, are the areas with the highest air pollution due to commercial vehicle traffic, industry and a stagnant meteorological condition, with one of the highest levels in Italy and Europe of fine particulate matter 2.5 micron or smaller in size (PM2.5). PM2.5, the major environmental pollutant deriving mainly by factory and automobile exhaust emissions and coal combustion, increases the expression of angiotensin‐converting enzyme 2, the epithelial cell entry receptor for SARS‐CoV‐2, and thus increase the susceptibility to this virus. The epithelial barrier hypothesis proposes that many diverse diseases may rise from the disruption of epithelial barrier of skin, respiratory tract and gastrointestinal system, including allergic diseases, metabolic and autoimmune diseases, and chronic neuropsychiatric conditions. There is evidence of a close correlation between air pollution and airway epithelial barrier dysfunction. Air pollution, causing lung epithelial barrier dysfunction, may contribute to local chronic inflammation, microbiome dysbiosis and impaired antiviral immune response against SARS‐CoV‐2, all of which contribute to the high incidence and excess mortality from COVID‐19. In addition, air pollution and epithelial barrier dysfunction contribute also to the higher prevalence of several comorbidities of COVID‐19, such as diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and obesity, which have been identified as risk factors for mortality of COVID‐19. In this article, on the basis of epidemiological and environmental monitoring data in Northern Italy, it is suggested that epithelial barrier hypothesis may help to understand the excess burden and mortality from COVID‐19.

Prevalence of Neospora caninum antibodies in fattening pigs and sows from intensive farms in northern Italy

Neospora caninum (Apicomplexa, Sarcocystidae) is a major cause of reproductive failure in cattle. In pigs, only a few studies investigated the effects of this parasite on reproductive efficiency. Considering the relevance of swine farms in northern Italian regions, an epidemiological survey was designed to investigate the spread of N. caninum infection. Three hundred seventy fattening pigs and sows from 23 intensive farms in Lombardy were sampled. Sera were analyzed by a commercial immunofluorescence antibody test. Statistical analysis through univariate and multivariate generalized linear models was conducted to detect farm management practices enhancing the risk of infection. At the farm level, 52.1% (12/23) of the selected farms, 72.7% housing sows and 40% fattening pigs, scored positive. At the individual level, 25 animals (25/370, P = 6.7%) were positive to N. caninum antibodies: one fattening pig and two sows showed an antibody titer of 1:100, and in two sows, an antibody titer of 1:400 and 1:6400 was evidenced. A higher seroprevalence was detected in sows (17/151, P = 11.2%) if compared to fattening pigs (8/219, P = 3.6%) (OR = 1.19, P value = 0.000 in sows). Moreover, a higher seroprevalence was recorded in farms with low and moderate sanitary score (P = 100% and P = 64.2%, respectively) if compared to farms with high sanitary score (P = 22.2%) (OR = 1.24, P value = 0.007 in score = 1 and OR = 1.10, P value = 0.050 in score = 2). This study provides the first data on the circulation of N. caninum in intensive swine farms in Italy, demonstrating the spread of the parasite in fattening pigs and sows in Lombardy region.

Nurses' Physical and Psychological Symptoms During the first COVID-19 Lockdown in Italy: a Nationwide Cross-Sectional Study in Stem Cell Transplantation Setting.

Background and objectiveNorthern Italy was one of the first European territories to deal with the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak. Drastic emergency restrictions were introduced to contain the spread and limit pressure on healthcare facilities. However, nurses were at high risk of developing physical, mental, and working issues due to professional exposure. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to investigate these issues among nurses working in Italian hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) centers during the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsData were collected online immediately after the first "lockdown" period in order to investigate the prevalence of physical issues, sleep disorders, and burnout symptoms and explore correlations with COVID-19 territorial incidence in Northern Italian regions versus Central and Southern Italian regions.ResultsThree hundred and eight nurses working in 61 Italian HSCT Units responded to the survey. Depression, cough, and fever were more frequently reported by nurses working in geographical areas less affected by the pandemic (p=0.0013, p<0.0001, and p=0.0005 respectively) as well as worst sleep quality (p=0.008). Moderate levels of emotional exhaustion (mean±SD −17.4±13.0), depersonalization (5.3±6.1), and personal accomplishment (33.2±10.7) were reported without significant differences between territories.Conclusionsdifferent COVID-19 incidence among territories did not influence nurses' burden of symptoms in the HSCT setting. However, burnout and insomnia levels should be considered by health care facilities in order to improve preventive strategies.

Modeling Early Phases of COVID-19 Pandemic in Northern Italy and Its Implication for Outbreak Diffusion.

The COVID-19 pandemic has sparked an intense debate about the hidden factors underlying the dynamics of the outbreak. Several computational models have been proposed to inform effective social and healthcare strategies. Crucially, the predictive validity of these models often depends upon incorporating behavioral and social responses to infection. Among these tools, the analytic framework known as “dynamic causal modeling” (DCM) has been applied to the COVID-19 pandemic, shedding new light on the factors underlying the dynamics of the outbreak. We have applied DCM to data from northern Italian regions, the first areas in Europe to contend with the outbreak, and analyzed the predictive validity of the model and also its suitability in highlighting the hidden factors governing the pandemic diffusion. By taking into account data from the beginning of the pandemic, the model could faithfully predict the dynamics of outbreak diffusion varying from region to region. The DCM appears to be a reliable tool to investigate the mechanisms governing the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 to identify the containment and control strategies that could efficiently be used to counteract further waves of infection.

Comparing two regional health services: is it always the same italian NHS?

The Italian National Health Service (NHS) provides universal and almost free health coverage to all Italian citizens. However, since 1992 the NHS has been progressively decentralized, with a gradual transfer of health powers to the regions. This has made a radical difference in terms of health administration and service delivery. Here we focus our analysis on two of the most important and populous northern Italian regions: Lombardy and Veneto. Although they are two neighboring regions and similar in many aspects, nevertheless they are totally different as regards their regional health services. Large differences stand out above all in the number of health sector agencies and the density of acute care hospitals. This heterogeneity is mainly due to the profound local political interference, which have been deeply rooted within the NHS over the years. Finally, we analyze the main implications of this situation and try to give insights for an indispensable future (re)harmonization of the NHS.

Spatio-temporal pattern and climatic determinants of Visceral Leishmaniasis in Italy

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Historically, leishmaniasis in Italy was constrained to areas with Mediterranean climate. In the last 20 years, sand fly vectors and cases of human Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL) have been detected in Northern Italian regions, traditionally classified as cold areas unsuitable for sand fly survival. We aimed to study the spatio-temporal pattern and climatic determinants of VL incidence in Italy. METHODS: National Hospital Discharge Register (HDR) records were used to identify incident VL cases between 2010 and 2017 (ICD-9-CM code: 085.0). Incident rates were computed for each year of study (N=8) and for each Italian province (N= 110). Temperature and precipitation data were obtained from the latest ERA5-Land database climate re-analysis (9 km of spatial resolution) and expressed as year and province-specific seasonal average temperature and cumulative precipitation. Incident cases were modelled with a Bayesian spatio-temporal conditional autoregressive Poisson models to quantify how disease risk was influenced by the climatic parameters. RESULTS:We identified 1123 VL cases (Crude Incidence Rate: 2.4 cases /1,000,000 person-years). The highest incidence rates were observed in Southern Italy, although high incidence rates were observed also in some areas of Northern Italy. VL incidence resulted positively associated with air temperatures (Incidence Rate Ratios (IRR) for 1°C increase in winter average temperature: 1.17, 95% Credible Interval (CI): 1.13-1.19, IRR for 1°C increase in summer average temperature: 1.06, 95% CI: 1.00-1.13) and inversely associated with cumulative precipitation (IRR for 10 mm increase in summer cumulative precipitation: 0.99, 95% CI: 0.98-1.00). CONCLUSIONS:The current findings indicate that VL is endemic in the whole Italian peninsula and that climatic factors, as air temperature and precipitation, might play a relevant role in shaping VL incidence. These results suggest also that climate change might affect the future spread of leishmaniasis. KEYWORDS: One-Health, Spatial Epidemiology, Climate-change, Vector-borne diseases, Environmental Epidemiology

Regional Resource Assessment During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Italy: Modeling Study.

BackgroundCOVID-19 has been declared a worldwide emergency and a pandemic by the World Health Organization. It started in China in December 2019, and it rapidly spread throughout Italy, which was the most affected country after China. The pandemic affected all countries with similarly negative effects on the population and health care structures.ObjectiveThe evolution of the COVID-19 infections and the way such a phenomenon can be characterized in terms of resources and planning has to be considered. One of the most critical resources has been intensive care units (ICUs) with respect to the infection trend and critical hospitalization.MethodsWe propose a model to estimate the needed number of places in ICUs during the most acute phase of the infection. We also define a scalable geographic model to plan emergency and future management of patients with COVID-19 by planning their reallocation in health structures of other regions.ResultsWe applied and assessed the prediction method both at the national and regional levels. ICU bed prediction was tested with respect to real data provided by the Italian government. We showed that our model is able to predict, with a reliable error in terms of resource complexity, estimation parameters used in health care structures. In addition, the proposed method is scalable at different geographic levels. This is relevant for pandemics such as COVID-19, which has shown different case incidences even among northern and southern Italian regions.ConclusionsOur contribution can be useful for decision makers to plan resources to guarantee patient management, but it can also be considered as a reference model for potential upcoming waves of COVID-19 and similar emergency situations.

The first diffusion of the Covid-19 outbreak in Northern Italy: an analysis based on a simplified version of the SIR model

Abstract In this paper an analysis of the first diffusion of the Covid-19 outbreak occurred in late February 2020 in Northern Italy is presented. In order to study the time evolution of the epidemic it was decided to analyze in particular as the most relevant variable the number of hospitalized people, considered as the less biased proxy of the real number of infected people. An approximate solution of the infected equation was found from a simplified version of the SIR model. This solution was used as a tool for the calculation of the basic reproduction number R 0 in the early phase of the epidemic for the most affected Northern Italian regions (Piedmont, Lombardy, Veneto and Emilia), giving values of R 0 ranging from 2.2 to 3.1. Finally, a theoretical formulation of the infection rate is proposed, introducing a new parameter, the infection length, characteristic of the disease.

Uncovering the Role of Biophysical Factors and Socioeconomic Forces Shaping Soil Sensitivity to Degradation: Insights from Italy

Following an operational framework derived from earlier research, our study research estimates the specific contribution of biophysical and socioeconomic factors to soil sensitivity to degradation at two-time points (Early-1990s and Early-2010s) in Italy, a Mediterranean hotspot for desertification risk. A total of 34 variables associated (directly or, at least, indirectly) with different processes of soil degradation (erosion, salinization, sealing, contamination, and compaction) and climate change were considered here, delineating the predominant (underlying) cause (i.e., biophysical or socioeconomic). This set of variables represented the largest (quantitative) information available from national and international data sources including official statistics at both national and European scale. Contribution of biophysical and socioeconomic dimensions to soil sensitivity to degradation was heterogeneous in Italy, with the level of soil sensitivity to biophysical factors being the highest in less accessible, natural areas mostly located in hilly and mountainous districts. The highest level of soil sensitivity to socioeconomic drivers was instead observed in more accessible locations around large cities and flat rural districts with crop intensification and low (but increasing) population density. All these factors delineated an enlarged divide in environmental quality between (i) flat and upland districts, and between (ii) Northern and Southern Italian regions. These findings suggest the appropriateness of policy strategies protecting soils with a strong place-specific knowledge, i.e., based on permanent monitoring of local (biophysical and socioeconomic) conditions.

Synoptic patterns and mesoscale precursors of Italian tornadoes

An analysis of synoptic patterns and mesoscale precursors is produced for Italian tornadoes for the period 2000–2018. Anomaly maps of different parameters are extracted from ERA-5 reanalysis. To highlight typical large-scale configurations, a clustering analysis is applied to define different regional clusters, representative of areas affected by a large number of tornadoes. The analysis shows that: a)Significant anomalies of synoptic variables and mesoscale precursors are generally present over and nearby the region where tornadoes occur, in particular for significant tornadoes (EF2+). b) Differences among clusters suggest that the environmental conditions favourable to tornado development differ between southern and northern Italian regions. In the Ionian region and Sicily, tornadoes occur when the northern end of a warm/moist tongue is advected toward an area of strong low-level shear. In the northern regions, high-shear cold air intrusions from continental Europe, combined with the high humidity content due to intense evaporation from the Mediterranean during summer, favour supercell triggering. c) tornadoes in southern regions are characterised by the highest anomaly values in wind shear, storm relative helicity and CAPE; d) significant SST positive anomalies are observed for southern tornadoes.