Northwest Italy Research Articles

Multi-temporal mapping of flood damage to crops using sentinel-1 imagery: a case study of the Sesia River (October 2020)

ABSTRACT Monitoring large-scale flood damage can be complicated and costly. Damages caused by floods affect also the agricultural sector. Permanence, height and quantity of stagnant water can significantly influence crop yield. Many studies exploit satellite data to map flooded areas, but only a few are focused on the timing of water persistence. This work refers to the river Sesia flooding event which occurred on 3 October 2020 in Northwest Italy with the aim of detecting damages to local crops. The analysis was based on Sentinel-1 data processed by Google Earth Engine platform. In particular, the Otsu’s method was applied to test the difference between pre- and post-event images. Areas that were mapped as flooded were successively analysed to estimate local water persistence: specifically, 1-2-6 days after the event. According to the available Corine Land Cover 2018 dataset, it was found that flood mainly affected agricultural areas (about 3288 ha). Since damage also relies on water persistence, a focus area was selected to test the effectiveness of S1 multi-temporal in mapping its distribution. Results show that only 3.5% of the agricultural fields in the focus area remained underwater for at least 6 days and 69% for only 1 day.

The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on radiology residents in Northern Italy

ObjectivesTo assess changes in working patterns and education experienced by radiology residents in Northwest Italy during the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsAn online questionnaire was sent to residents of 9 postgraduate schools in Lombardy and Piedmont, investigating demographics, changes in radiological workload, involvement in COVID-19-related activities, research, distance learning, COVID-19 contacts and infection, changes in training profile, and impact on psychological wellbeing. Descriptive and χ2 statistics were used.ResultsAmong 373 residents invited, 300 (80%) participated. Between March and April 2020, 44% (133/300) of respondents dedicated their full time to radiology; 41% (124/300) engaged in COVID-19-related activities, 73% (90/124) of whom working in COVID-19 wards; 40% (121/300) dedicated > 25% of time to distance learning; and 66% (199/300) were more involved in research activities than before the pandemic. Over half of residents (57%, 171/300) had contacts with COVID-19-positive subjects, 5% (14/300) were infected, and 8% (23/300) lost a loved one due to COVID-19. Only 1% (3/300) of residents stated that, given the implications of this pandemic scenario, they would not have chosen radiology as their specialty, whereas 7% (22/300) would change their subspecialty. The most common concerns were spreading the infection to their loved ones (30%, 91/300), and becoming sick (7%, 21/300). Positive changes were also noted, such as being more willing to cooperate with other colleagues (36%, 109/300).ConclusionsThe COVID-19 pandemic changed radiology residents’ training programmes, with distance learning, engaging in COVID-19-related activities, and a greater involvement in research becoming part of their everyday practice.Key Points• Of 300 participants, 44% were fully dedicated to radiological activity and 41% devoted time to COVID-19-related activities, 73% of whom to COVID-19 wards.• Distance learning was substantial for 40% of residents, and 66% were involved in research activities more than before the COVID-19 pandemic.• Over half of residents were exposed to COVID-19 contacts and less than one in twenty was infected.

Exploring Short-Term Climate Change Effects on Rangelands and Broad-Leaved Forests by Free Satellite Data in Aosta Valley (Northwest Italy)

Satellite remote sensing is a power tool for the long-term monitoring of vegetation. This work, with reference to a regional case study, investigates remote sensing potentialities for describing the annual phenology of rangelands and broad-leaved forests at the landscape level with the aim of detecting eventual effects of climate change in the Alpine region of the Aosta Valley (Northwest (NW) Italy). A first analysis was aimed at estimating phenological metrics (PMs) from satellite images time series and testing the presence of trends along time. A further investigation concerned evapotranspiration from vegetation (ET) and its variation along the years. Additionally, in both the cases the following meteorological patterns were considered: air temperature anomalies, precipitation trends and the timing of yearly seasonal snow melt. The analysis was based on the time series (TS) of different MODIS collections datasets together with Climate Hazards Group InfraRed Precipitation with Station data (CHIRPS) collection obtained through Google Earth Engine. Ground weather stations data from the Centro Funzionale VdA ranging from 2000 to 2019 were used. In particular, the MOD13Q1 v.6, MOD16A2 and MOD10A1 v.6 collections were used to derive PMs, ET and snow cover maps. The SRTM (shuttle radar topography mission) DTM (digital terrain model) was also used to describe local topography while the Coordination of Information on the Environment (CORINE) land cover map was adopted to investigate land use classes. Averagely in the area, rangelands and broad-leaved forests showed that the length of season is getting longer, with a general advance of the SOS (start of the season) and a delay in the EOS (end of the season). With reference to ET, significant increasing trends were generally observed. The water requirement from vegetation appeared to have averagely risen about 0.05 Kg·m−2 (about 0.5%) per year in the period 2000–2019, for a total increase of about 1 Kg·m−2 in 20 years (corresponding to a percentage difference in water requirement from vegetation of about 8%). This aspect can be particularly relevant in the bottom of the central valley, where the precipitations have shown a statistically significant decreasing trend in the period 2000–2019 (conversely, no significant variation was found in the whole territory). Additionally, the snowpack timing persistence showed a general reduction trend. PMs and ET and air temperature anomalies, as well as snow cover melting, proved to have significantly changed their values in the last 20 years, with a continuous progressive trend. The results encourage the adoption of remote sensing to monitor climate change effects on alpine vegetation, with particular focus on the relationship between phenology and other abiotic factors permitting an effective technological transfer.

An energy community for territorial resilience: Measurement of the risk of an energy supply blackout

The Clean Energy Package is aimed at making the energy transition recommended by the European Union more competitive. Such an energy transition can be achieved through a variety of measures aimed at improving the security, sustainability and competitiveness of energy supply systems. These measures include the introduction of physical and regulatory infrastructures that are adequate to satisfy the energy market requirements, integrate renewable energies and ensure security of the energy supply. A risk-based approach is generally suggested for the electricity sector to prevent and manage electricity problems. A risk-based methodology is proposed in this work, and an assessment has been made of the first “oil free zone” in North-West of Italy, which is located in the Pinerolo area (near Turin). A quantitative risk analysis method was conducted considering the risk of blackouts on the national electricity grid, the probability of such occurrences, the extent of damage and the risk of exposure. The risk assessment was applied through a place-based approach, considering different types of stakeholders: private and public consumers, producers and prosumers. The risks of the analysed case study were then compared with their tolerability limits and assessed for different scenarios to reduce the risk of energy supply blackouts, including: a reduced energy consumption, an increased energy production, and an optimised energy supply and demand. The possibility of establishing an energy community was considered in the latter scenario. The results show that all the actions taken to reduce the risk of energy supply blackouts produce different results, depending on the considered user. All the stakeholders can benefit from participation in the energy community, not only from an environmental point of view, through the production of energy from renewable sources, but also from an economic one. These results are in line with what the European Community and the Italian “Integrated National Plan for Energy and Climate” currently require, in terms of energy transition, pertaining to the sustainable development of a territory.

Ticks infesting humans and associated pathogens: a cross-sectional study in a 3-year period (2017\u20132019) in northwest Italy

BackgroundTick-borne diseases are common throughout Europe. Ticks transmit pathogens to the host while feeding and together with mosquitoes, they are major vectors of infectious agents worldwide. In recent years, there has been a marked increase in the incidence of tick-bite events and tick-borne disease in northwest Italy, but information on the prevalence of tick-borne pathogens in ticks removed from humans remains scarce. To fill this gap, we report here the prevalence of tick bites and tick-borne pathogens documented for humans in Piedmont, northwest Italy, in the 3-year period 2017–2019.MethodsTicks attached to humans during 2017–2019 were collected from residents of urban and rural area by physicians and veterinarians working with local veterinary agencies. All ticks (n = 1290) were morphologically identified to the species level. A subset of ticks removed from children (age 0–18 years) and the elderly (> 70 years), both age groups considered to be at-risk populations, was screened by biomolecular analysis to detect pathogens (e.g. Rickettsia spp., Borrelia spp., Anaplasma spp.). Pathogen identity was confirmed by Sanger sequencing.ResultsTicks were taxonomically assigned to ten species of six genera (Amblyomma, Dermacentor, Haemaphysalis, Hyalomma, Ixodes and Rhipicephalus). Most belonged to the genus Ixodes: 1009 ticks (78.22%) were classified as Ixodes ricinus. A subset of 500 ticks collected from the two at-risk populations were subjected to PCR assay to determine the presence of Rickettsia spp., Borrelia spp., and Anaplasma spp. The overall prevalence of infection was 22.8% (n = 114; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 19.19–26.73%), meaning that at least one pathogen was detected: Rickettsia spp. (prevalence 15%, n = 76; 95% CI 12.17–18.65%); Borrelia spp. (prevalence 6.4%, n = 32; 95% CI 4.42–8.92%); and Anaplasma spp. (prevalence 1.2%, n = 6; 95% CI 0.44–2.6%).ConclusionsOur data underline the importance of surveillance in the epidemiology of tick-borne diseases and the implementation of strategies to control tick infestation and associated pathogens.Graphical

Creating a Tourism Destination through Local Heritage: The Stakeholders’ Priorities in the Canavese Area (Northwest Italy)

A specific region, characterized by a significant natural and cultural heritage, is not necessarily a tourist destination. However, it can become so if there is active participation of local stakeholders oriented towards local development. In this context, this study focuses on a specific area, the Canavese (northwest Italy), which needs to find new regional development alternatives to the industrial sector. In particular, the research focused on the level of integration of local stakeholders and on their ability to identify common guidelines for tourist enhancement of the region. From an operational point of view, a survey of public and private stakeholders was carried out through a mixed-method approach divided into three stages: a questionnaire developed by a group of experts and individual interviews carried out by the Delphi method, presentation of the results, and identification of local priorities by the nominal group technique. Findings show the opportunity to act on specific elements to enhance local tourism offerings: outdoor nature and landscape, culture, and food and wine. Moreover, the stakeholders underlined the need for coordination among the parties involved to strengthen the local system. This activity should be supported by a single third party capable of managing the various phases of local development.

Community Pharmacy Practice in Italy during the COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) Pandemic: Regulatory Changes and a Cross-Sectional Analysis of Seroprevalence.

Pharmacists in the community and the essential requirement to safeguard their own health have become fundamental since the spread of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The aims of this paper were (I) to analyze the directives provided to pharmacists in 2020 regarding preventative safety measures to be adopted; (II) to determine the number of pharmacists who came into contact with SARS-CoV-2 in North-West Italy and relate this to the adopted preventative measures. The first aim was pursued by conducting a bibliographic research, consulting the principal regulatory sources. The second one was achieved with an observational study by administering a questionnaire and performing a serological test. The various protection measures imposed by national and regional legislation were analyzed. Two hundred and eighty-six pharmacists (about 8% of the invited ones) responded to the survey. Ten pharmacists reported a positive result to the serological test. Of the subjects who presented a positive result, three declared that they had not used a hand sanitizer, while two stated that they had not scheduled the cleaning and decontamination of surfaces. Two interviewees had not set up a system of quota restrictions on admissions. In four cases, a certified cleaning company had decontaminated the premises. The results of our study show that during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the most pressing challenge for community pharmacists has been the protection of staff and clients inside the pharmacy; the challenge to be faced in the near future will probably be the management of new responsibilities.

Effects of Durum Wheat Cultivars with Different Degrees of FHB Susceptibility Grown under Different Meteorological Conditions on the Contamination of Regulated, Modified and Emerging Mycotoxins.

The enhancement of Fusarium head blight (FHB) resistance is one of the best options to reduce mycotoxin contamination in wheat. This study has aimed to verify that the genotypes with high tolerance to deoxynivalenol could guarantee an overall minimization of the sanitary risk, by evaluating the contamination of regulated, modified and emerging mycotoxins on durum wheat cvs with different degrees of FHB susceptibility, grown under different meteorological conditions, in 8 growing seasons in North-West Italy. The years which were characterized by frequent and heavy rainfall in spring were also those with the highest contamination of deoxynivalenol, zearalenone, moniliformin, and enniatins. The most FHB resistant genotypes resulted in the lowest contamination of all the mycotoxins but showed the highest deoxynivalenol-3-glucoside/deoxynivalenol ratio and moniliformin/deoxynivalenol ratio. An inverse relationship between the amount of deoxynivalenol and the deoxynivalenol-3-glucoside/deoxynivalenol ratio was recorded for all the cvs and all the years. Conversely, the enniatins/deoxynivalenol ratio had a less intense relationship with cv tolerance to FHB. In conclusion, even though the more tolerant cvs, showed higher relative relationships between modified/emerging mycotoxins and native/target mycotoxins than the susceptible ones, they showed lower absolute levels of contamination of both emerging and modified mycotoxins.

Livestock-Associated Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Related Risk Factors in Holdings of Veal Calves in Northwest Italy.

Livestock-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (LA-MRSA) have emerged worldwide as zoonotic pathogens. Data on LA-MRSA in veal calf production in Italy are lacking; the aim of this survey was to fill current knowledge gaps in its prevalence and characteristics. Between February 2012 and January 2013 nasal swabs were taken from 1650 three- to six-month-old veal calves on 55 farms in Piedmont (northwest Italy), including gathering-related epidemiological data. S. aureus were screened for methicillin resistance by phenotypic and molecular (mecA gene detection) methods. MRSA were further genotyped by multilocus sequence typing. About 30% of the herds tested positive for MRSA: three different clonal complexes (CC398, CC97, and CC1) and staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec types (IVa, IVb, and V) were detected. Multilevel logistic regression model indicated poor cleaning, importation from Austria, and animal age as risk factors and coagulase-negative staphylococci colonization as a predictive factor for the occurrence of MRSA. The detection of CCs circulating in pigs and dairy cattle in Italy underscores the ability of the LA-MRSA clones to spread among animal production systems. In addition to maintaining preventive control measures for human health, better cleaning procedures need to be implemented, especially after new calves have been introduced into the herd.

Late Quaternary Landscape Dynamics at the La Spezia Gulf (NW Italy): A Multi-Proxy Approach Reveals Environmental Variability within a Rocky Embayment

The Gulf of La Spezia (GLS) in Northwest Italy is a rocky embayment with low fluvial influence facing the Mediterranean Sea. Past landscape dynamics were investigated through a multi-proxy, facies-based analysis down to a core depth of 30 m. The integration of quantitative ostracod, foraminifera, and pollen analyses, supported by radiocarbon ages, proved to be a powerful tool to unravel the late Quaternary palaeoenvironmental evolution and its forcing factors. The complex interplay between relative sea-level (RSL), climatic changes, and geomorphological features of the embayment drove four main evolution phases. A barrier–lagoon system developed in response to the rising RSL of the Late Pleistocene (likely the Last Interglacial). The establishment of glacial conditions then promoted the development of an alluvial environment, with generalised erosion of the underlying succession and subsequent accumulation of fluvial strata. The Holocene transgression (dated ca. 9000 cal year BP) caused GLS inundation and the formation of a low-confined lagoon basin, which rapidly turned into a coastal bay from ca. 8000 cal year BP onwards. This latter environmental change occurred in response to the last Holocene stage of global sea-level acceleration, which submerged a morphological relief currently forming a drowned barrier-island complex in the embayment.

The unusual isolation of carnobacteria in eyes of healthy salmonids in high-mountain lakes

Carnobacteria are common bacteria in cold and temperate environments; they are also reported during fish mortality events. In a previous study, carnobacteria were isolated from the eyes of healthy wild salmonids from a high-mountain lake. To better understand these findings, salmonids were captured from three high-mountain lakes (Lower and Upper Balma Lake, Rouen Lake; northwest Italy) during August 2019 and subjected to bacteriological and histological examination. Although all were healthy, 8.7% (Lower Balma Lake), 24% (Upper Balma Lake), and 32.6% (Rouen Lake) were positive for carnobacteria colonization of the eyes. A Trojan-horse effect was hypothesized to explain carnobacteria isolation in the eye. This immune-escaping macrophage-mediated mechanism has been identified in other Gram-positive bacteria. Biochemical, molecular, and phylogenetic analysis were carried out on isolated bacteria (Carnobacterium maltaromaticum and C. divergens). Based on previous references for carnobacteria isolated from fish, C. maltaromaticum strains were tested for the pisA precursor gene of the bacteriocin piscicolin 126. Carnobacterium maltaromaticum strains were found to display genotypic heterogeneity and a low percentage of pisA positive amplification. Features of geomorphology, geographic isolation, and microbiota common to the three lakes are thought to be possibly related to our findings. Moreover, terrestrial insects collected from the lake shoreline and the stomach contents were screened for the presence of carnobacteria. The salmonids in these high-mountain environments feed mainly on terrestrial insects, which are considered possible vectors for carnobacteria that might catabolize the exoskeleton chitin. All insects tested negative for carnobacteria, but as a small number of samples were analyzed, their role as possible vectors of infection cannot be excluded. Further studies are needed to corroborate our research hypothesis.

Knowledge on arterial hypertension in general population: Results from a community pharmacy screening program

Backgrounds and aimsHypertension is a risk factor for renal, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. It is responsible for a large proportion of overall morbidity and mortality every year. Hypertension-mediated organ damage is largely not reversible. For these reasons, prevention has primary importance: sensibilization of population on hypertension-related consequences is essential for therapeutic adherence and reduction of unhealthy lifestyle behaviour. This study aimed to evaluate awareness about hypertension among community pharmacies customers. Methods and resultsA questionnaire about hypertension was collected by 2731 customers from 94 community pharmacies in North West Italy, during a hypertension screening program. Hypertension awareness was unsatisfactory in a large proportion of the sample, with only 15% of subjects having an overall good level of knowledge. Furthermore, lower awareness was associated to higher blood pressure values (132/79 ± 19/11 mmHg vs 128/78 ± 18/10 mmHg, p < 0.001) and subjects resulted hypertensive or uncontrolled despite antihypertensive therapy, presented worse questionnaire scores (4.7 ± 1.9 vs 4.9 ± 2.0, p = 0.03). ConclusionKnowledge about hypertension is largely unsatisfactory among population. Community pharmacies may play as a setting for health education and hypertension screening.

Homicide-Suicides in the Genoa District (North-West Italy): A Retrospective Study from 2007 to 2018

Homicide-suicide is an act in which the murder of a victim is followed by the suicide of the perpetrator usually within a week. Despite being a rare event compared to committing murder alone and scarcely studied and reported in literature, homicide-suicides have attracted major media attention. Between 2007 and 2018 in the province of Genoa, 11 homicide-suicide episodes were registered for a total of 29 deaths, or 16% of murders that occurred in the same province. The most represented age group was the elderly (>60 years), both for the victims and the perpetrator. The victims were 12 women (67%) and 6 men (33%), while the murderer was a man in 10 of the 11 cases investigated. Firearms were found to be the most commonly used weapon for both committing the murder (67%) and the suicide (55%), with gunshots almost always aimed towards the cranial district. They were familicides in 82% of the cases (9 episodes) and the most common crime was uxoricide, that is, the killing of one’s wife (8 out of 18 victims). Almost all of the homicidal events (16 out of 18 murders) took place in the home, specifically in the bedroom. The most significant motives for the crime were the so-called “pietatis causa” (4 out of 11 cases), elderly individuals who kill their spouses and then take their own lives either in an attempt to end suffering, or for economic reasons or pathological jealousy. The homicide-suicide rate was found to be 0.11 for every 100,000 inhabitants, a disturbingly high figure that should encourage the introduction of procedures and initiatives to reduce the risk of such events from happening.

Pleural mesothelioma in a circus worker

ObjectivesTo describe an unusual occupational asbestos exposure in a patient with mesothelioma.MethodsSince 2000, the Lombardy Mesothelioma Registry (LMR) collects cases of malignant mesothelioma (MM) occurring among people residing in the Lombardy Region, North‐West Italy, with a population of 10 million inhabitants. For each case, clinical records and asbestos exposure are collected. Each case is then classified in agreement with the guidelines of the National Mesothelioma Registry.ResultsWe identified a male (86 years old), former smoker, who had been working for 53 years as a circus truck driver and tamer of lions and tigers. The first circumstance of exposure was the use of an asbestos tape that wrapped around the hoop in the feline jumping show with a flaming hoop. The second one was the presence of insulating panels protecting the engine placed inside the trucks.ConclusionA new MM case with an occupational etiology has been found in the public entertainment, an occupational sector not usually considered at risk for the presence of asbestos.

Vineyard Clusters Monitored by Means of Litterbag-NIRS and Foliar-NIRS Spectroscopic Methods

There is currently a lack of rapid indirect analysis methods for the assessment of the effects of soil microbiota on vine production. Fifteen clusters of two Nebbiolo and Erbaluce varieties were identified in five vineyards belonging to a cooperative of winemakers in North West Italy, according to the differences in the NDVI index, as monitored by the Crop Monitoring OES system. The vineyards were surveyed in 2019 and the experimental monitoring of 75 vines was conducted in 2020. The first indirect method (Litterbag-NIRS) involved examining hay litterbags with a smart SCiOTM device. The average litterbag-NIR spectra of the clusters, as far as the yield is concerned, were closely fitted with the measured production yield, with an R2 cross-validated value of 0.91 in the Nebbiolo vines and 0.67 in the Erbaluce vines. The results in yield were accounted for by considering a few dominant variables in both vines, namely the microbic respiration of the soil and the crude protein of the litterbag (positive), opposed to the soil NO3--N and litterbag ADF (negative). The pruning wood was also closely correlated to the litterbag spectra. A second rapid method, foliar pH coupled with the NIR spectroscopy of the leaves, was then performed. The overall results predicted from the foliar NIRS were 0.73 for yield and 0.79 for the Canopy Cover. However, the most interesting result concerned the yield regressions on the foliar pH, which were clearly negative in both vines and of a similar amount: -5.15 kg/pH in Nebbiolo (R2 0.68) and -5.63 kg/pH (R2 0.23) in Erbaluce. Litterbag-NIRS, which shows a high predictive capacity, and foliar pH - with or without foliar-NIRS - are indirect and frugal methods that can be recommended for a rational assessment of the microbial soil fertility of vineyards.

Trauma network during COVID-19: perspective from the four designed major trauma centers in north-west Italy

article: Trauma network during COVID-19: perspective from the four designed major trauma centers in north-west Italy - Minerva Ortopedica e Traumatologica 2020 December;71(4):139-43 - Minerva Medica - Journals

Mapping Flooded Paddy-Rice Fields in the Landscape between Turin and Milan: A GIS-Based Method for Detecting Scenic Routes for Experiential Tourism

The current research aims to explore the potential of ESA Sentinel-2 time-series satellite imagery, for detecting the seasonal landscape changes of paddy-rice fields, in the north-west of Italy, by using GIS mapping tools. On a regional scale context, paddy-rice mapping has several implications for agricultural monitoring, precision farming, food production, water management and climate change. However, it also concerns theirs high scenic value in the landscape perception, which can be a great resource for sustainable tourism. The defining characteristic of paddy-rice is that rice plants grow on flooded soils. In the field of slow tourism, such a temporary site-specific condition of the landscape can become an unconventional tourist destination. The research has been applied to territories in between cities: Turin and Milan, where the phenomenon of paddy-rice flooding, in the spring season, generates an outstanding scenic perception of the rural landscape. The research shows the effectiveness of the GIS workflow to compute the vegetation indices, which are sensitive for mapping flooded paddy-rice fields. The final outcome is a thematic map highlighting the scenic routes in the existing road network that allows experiencing such seasonal landscape conditions.

COVID-19 pandemic-related anxiety, distress and burnout: prevalence and associated factors in healthcare workers of North-West Italy.

The COVID-19 pandemic caused drastic changes in healthcare and severe social restrictions. Healthcare workers (HCWs) are on the front line against the virus and have been highly exposed to pandemic-related stressors, but there are limited data on their psychological involvement for a large sample in Italy. To investigate the prevalence of anxiety, distress and burnout in HCWs of North-West Italy during the COVID-19 pandemic, and to detect potential psychosocial factors associated with their emotional response. This cross-sectional, survey-based study enrolled 797 HCWs. Participants completed the Impact of Event Scale - Revised, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory - Form Y and the Maslach Burnout Inventory; demographic, family and work characteristics were also collected. Global psychological outcome, differences among professions and independent factors associated with worst psychological outcome were assessed. Almost a third of the sample had severe state anxiety and distress, high emotional exhaustion and depersonalisation, and low personal accomplishment. Distress was higher in women and nurses, whereas depersonalisation was higher in men. Family division, increased workload, job changes and frequent contact with COVID-19 were associated with worst psychological outcome. Trait anxiety was associated with significantly higher risk for developing state anxiety, distress and burnout. An elevated psychological burden related to the COVID-19 pandemic was observed in HCWs of North-West Italy. The identification of family and work characteristics and a psychological pre-existing condition as factors associated with worst psychological outcome may help provide a tailored, preventive, organisational and psychological approach in counteracting the psychological effects of future pandemics.

Influence of nitrogen-based fertilization on nitrates occurrence in groundwater of hilly vineyards

Nitrogen losses from intensive agricultural production may end up as high nitrate (NO3−) concentrations in groundwater, with a long-term impact on groundwater quality. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of fertilization practices used for grape cultivation on groundwater quality of Tidone Valley, northwest of Italy, following an integrated socio-hydrogeological approach that consists on (i) the involvement of 175 farmers in the description of agricultural and fertilization practices, using a survey of ad hoc questionnaires, (ii) the evaluation of NO3− occurrence in groundwater and (iii) the identification of NO3− sources through isotopic and hydrochemical analysis. In this area, as for certain particular Apennines shallow aquifers, groundwater is of reduced interest due to its limited storage capacity and there are insufficient wells currently monitored by the local Environmental Agency (ARPAE) to evaluate the impact of agricultural fertilization on existing local aquifers. Farmers' questionnaires results highlighted an extensive use of inorganic nitrogen fertilization and a tendency of farmers to follow their own experience for fertilization. Chemical analyses revealed high variability of major and trace elements concentrations isotope data. NO3− concentrations were significantly higher in deeper wells with respects to shallow wells. Isotopic results indicated that groundwater NO3− origin is inorganic, in agreement with the land use and the declared viticultural practices. Comparing groundwater NO3− occurrence from the studied area with values of entire Emilia-Romagna Region, only 7.7% of groundwater samples showed values above the EQS. (50 mg NO3−/L) between Nov 2017 and Sept 2018, while in the entire region 11.5% of groundwater samples showed values above the EQS in the same period. Considering that the vineyards surface in the studied area represents almost 75% of the entire regional vineyard surface, the obtained results suggest a low to moderate impact of viticulture on NO3−concentration of regional groundwater.

New Challenges for Historic Gardens’ Restoration: A Holistic Approach for the Royal Park of Moncalieri Castle (Turin Metropolitan Area, Italy)

The paper illustrates a holistic approach for restoring historic gardens in urbanized contexts, from the historic analysis, to the knowledge of the present values, to the proposal of guidelines for restoration and future sustainable management. The Royal Park of Moncalieri Castle (Turin metropolitan area, north-west Italy) was used as a case study. The evaluation of the current structure, analysis of the botanical component and the recognition of historical permanences were performed. Following the criteria of specific interest (forestry, botanical and compositional) and historical importance, invasive species and specific critical issue, selected trees were described and mapped. Identifying the historical compositional elements, including a system of preferential paths and botanical species to be safeguarded should be considered the first step for future management planning process. Our results could be of interest both for methodological purposes and for the restoration of historical gardens’ planning and management. During the restoration process, different critical issues exist. In this context, combining historical and compositional values with today’s needs and problems is a scientific challenge that involve all the community. Historic parks and gardens must be considered as patches of the urban green infrastructure, able to provide a wide set of ecosystem services. Promoting the return of historic parks to the public fruition is of primary importance for the citizen well-being.