Region Central Italy Research Articles

A multilinear discrete Nash-cascade model for stage-hydrograph routing in compound river channels

ABSTRACTStream gauge-based information is the foundation for many hydrological applications in a river basin including the aquatic-habitat conservation. A simple two-parameter model for routing streamflow depth (alternatively, stream–stage) hydrographs and estimating corresponding discharge hydrographs in river channels is proposed using the multilinear approach, based on Nash-type discrete-cascade model. The applicability of this model is investigated by extending its framework to the realm of compound cross-section trapezoidal channels for both in-bank and overbank flows by using 20 flood events of the Tiber River in the Umbria region of Central Italy, and subsequently comparing the simulated results with the corresponding simulations of the HEC-RAS (Hydrologic Engineering Center – River Analysis System) hydrodynamic model and observed flow depth hydrographs. The field application, comparative study, and uncertainty and sensitivity analysis of the results demonstrate that the proposed multilinear discrete Nash-cascade stage-hydrograph (MDNS) routing model has the potential for routing floods in real-world rivers and canal irrigation systems, especially in operational mode.

Determinants Of Antipsychotic Drugs Prescription Among Community-Living Older Adults With Dementia: A Population-Based Study Using Health Information Systems In The Lazio Region, Italy.

IntroductionDespite recommendations from associations of geriatric and psychiatry societies and warnings from drug agencies, antipsychotic (AP) drugs are frequently used to control behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia. APs are associated with a range of potential adverse events, including increased risk of cerebrovascular events and mortality. Evidence suggests limited efficacy of APs for aggression and psychosis. Our objectives were to investigate patterns and predictors for prescription of APs among older adults with dementia residing in a large region of central Italy, and to identify patient characteristics related to typical or atypical APs prescribing.MethodsThis is a retrospective population-based cohort study using data from regional health information systems (HIS). We included dementia patients aged ≥65 years residing in the Lazio region. The exposure was defined as new use vs non-use of APs. Dementia patients with incident use of APs during 2015 were followed-up from the date of first prescription to the earliest among discontinuation of use, death, or end of study (December 31, 2016).ResultsWe enrolled 24,735 dementia patients, 1727 (6.7%) new users and 23,008 non-users of APs. Forty-four percent of AP users were treated for more than 3 months, and among these about 60% received APs continuously for at least 12 months. Individuals using antidepressant or anti-dementia drugs had higher odds of being prescribed with APs (OR: 1.67 and OR: 1.86, respectively). Patients exposed to polypharmacy were less likely to receive APs (OR: 0.82). Cardiovascular risk factors and comorbidities were not associated with APs use. Low socio-economic position was associated with lower odds of atypical AP prescribing (OR: 0.57).ConclusionThe study showed that a not negligible proportion of patients had a period of AP use longer than recommended by guidelines. We identified socio-demographic and clinical factors associated with first use of APs, providing insight into prescribing practices in a community setting and useful information to address areas of potential inappropriateness.

Arsenic accumulation in edible vegetables and health risk reduction by groundwater treatment using an adsorption process.

The heavy metals transfer from the soil, where they accumulate, to the edible parts of the plants, and then, their entrance in the food chain can represent a source of concern for human health. Among heavy metals, arsenic is one of the most widespread in the soil of Lazio (central region of Italy), where the phytoavailable geogenic arsenic enters the food chain, with a dangerous exposition of the local population. In the first part of this work, plants of radish (Raphanus sativus L.) and lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) were grown in protected culture in the experimental farm of CREA-AA, where they were daily treated with different concentrations of sodium arsenate dibasic heptahydrate in order to investigate differences in their arsenic accumulation capacities. In order to confirm the results achieved, in the second part of this study, the arsenic concentration was determined in commercial products obtained from contaminated areas of Lazio, and the potential exposition risk for human health through consumption of these widely consumed vegetables was estimated. The highest arsenic concentrations were found in the samples of lettuce. To evaluate the potential health risk from consumption of L. sativa and R. sativus, the estimated daily intake (EDI) for adults, adolescents, and elderly was calculated, finding that HRI (health risk index) index value for arsenic was low (< 1) in the case of chronic consumptions for all samples of radishes, and for the lettuces grown in the area of Viterbo. On the contrary, the lettuces obtained from Tuscania and Tarquinia presented very high concentrations of arsenic and a worrying HRI value. In order to reduce the risk of As toxicity in the people through consumption of the vegetables, the irrigation water should contain less than 0.1 mg As L-1. For this reason, the authors tested the application of red mud (RM) to remove As from groundwater before using it for the irrigation of radish and lettuce in greenhouse production.

Aromatic complexity in Verdicchio wines: a case study

Aim: Verdicchio is a white wine grape variety that has been cultivated for hundreds of years in the Marche region of central Italy. Verdicchio is used to produce all kinds of dry, sweet and sparkling wines, some of which can be aged for ten or more years. This study aimed to extend knowledge of the volatile profile of Verdicchio wines and the recognition and detection of odorous molecules. We considered wines produced in multiple vintages from some of the best Cru from the Marche region, in the Castelli di Jesi Classico area.Methods and results: Two data sets were considered: a vertical collection that included wines from different vintages, same variety, different production areas vinified by the same winery and a horizontal collection of wines from the 2016 harvest, considering different production areas, harvest times and clones produced by the same winery. Samples were analysed with GC×GC-ToF-MS, GC-MS-MS and GC-O. Comprehensive profiling with more than 1000 compounds allowed the wines produced in different areas to be separated. By GC-O analysis 48 main odorants were found. This survey led to the identification of 3-methyl-2,4-nonanedione (3-MND) that impart an anise note and an interesting content in methyl salicylate as a possible key odorant characteristic in Verdicchio.Conclusion: The volatile profile of different Verdicchio wines from the best production areas was investigated in detail. This work confirms that it is possible to obtain wines with very different characteristics from this variety of grapes, producing premium wines with a distinctive pattern of volatiles, reproducible across several vintages and variable depending on the different location of the vineyard and winemaking techniques. Young wines are characterised by fruity, thiolic notes, while wines aged for longer are distinguished by their norisoprenoids content and by anise and balsamic notes, which can be attributed to the presence of 3-MND and to methyl salicylate released by precursors. With a derivatisation GC-MS-MS method it was possible to quantify 3-MND in the range of 10–50 ng L−1. With the use of GC-O, 48 potentially odour-active compounds were found for this wine. Analysis of the compounds after hydrolysis confirmed that a high amount of methyl salicylate characterised this variety. Methyl salicylate has a balsamic note from wintergreen oil that is often perceived in aged Verdicchio tasting.

Acute Mastoiditis Associated with Pseudomonas Aeruginosa in the Pediatric Population of the Umbria Region, Italy.

Acute mastoiditis (AM) is the most common complication of acute otitis media (AOM) and is one of the most severe acute bacterial diseases in infants and children. In some geographic areas, the incidence of AM is increasing, and the causative role of some bacterial pathogens could be greater than previously thought. In this paper, the results of a study that evaluated the epidemiology and microbial etiology of paediatric AM in Umbria, which is a region of central Italy, are reported. This is a retrospective study of patients aged 0–14 years with AM admitted to the pediatric wards of the hospitals of Umbria, Italy, between June 1 and September 30 in four consecutive years (2015–2018). A total of 108 children were enrolled. The prevalence of AM in males during the four years of analysis was significantly higher than that in females at 63% (95% confidence intervals [CI]: 0.54–0.72). The most frequently affected age groups were 5–9 years (45.4%) and 10–14 years (31.5%), with statistically significant differences in comparison with children aged <1 year (5.6%, 95% CI: 0.01–0.10) and 1–4 years (17.6%, 95% CI: 0.10–0.25). In most cases (64, 59.3%), AM was associated with spontaneous tympanic membrane perforation (STP). The culture of the middle ear fluid revealed the presence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in 56 cases (51.6%). The mean incidence rates of pediatric AM in Umbria during the study increased significantly with time, as it was 18.18/100,000 children/year in 2015–2016 and 29.24/100,000 children/year in 2017–2018 (CI difference: +2.5 – +19.9, p < 0.05). The incidence rates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa detection in pediatric AM associated with STP significantly increased with time. The incidence was 6.06/100,000 children/year in 2015–2016 and 18.61/100,000 children/year in 2017–2018 (CI difference: +6.1 – +19.0, p < 0.001). This study demonstrated the high and increasing incidence of AM in the Umbria region during the summer months and the frequent detection of P. aeruginosa as an etiologic agent of the disease in the presence of STP. Confirmation of these results with a larger study population, in different settings, and throughout the whole year is needed to define the first-line approach of AM with STP in pediatrics.

Radon concentration in self-bottled mineral spring waters as a possible public health issue

Since 2013, the Council Directive 2013/51/Euratom has been regulating the content of radioactive substances in water intended for human consumption. However, mineral waters are exempted from this regulation, including self-bottled springs waters, where higher radon concentration are expected. Therefore, a systematic survey has been conducted on all the 33 mineral spring waters of Lazio (a region of Central Italy) in order to assess if such waters, when self-bottled, may be of concern for public health. Waters have been sampled in two different ways to evaluate the impact of bottling on radon concentration. Water sampling was possible for 20 different spring waters, with 6 samples for each one. The results show that 2 (10%) of measured mineral spring waters returned radon concentrations higher than 100 Bq L−1, i.e., the parametric value established by the Council Directive. These results, if confirmed by other surveys involving a higher number of mineral spring waters, would suggest regulating also these waters, especially in countries like Italy for which: (i) mineral water consumption is significant; (ii) mineral concession owners generally allow the consumers to fill bottles and containers, intended for transport and subsequent consumption, directly from public fountains or from fountains within the plant; (iii) the consumers’ habit of drinking self-bottled mineral water is widespread.

1891P - Identification of the founder BRCA1 mutation c.4117G>T (p.Glu1373*) recurring in the Abruzzo and Lazio regions of Central Italy and predisposing to breast/ovarian and BRCA1-related cancers

BackgroundFounder BRCA1/2 cancer predisposing mutations have been reported in Italian population. We reported the founder BRCA1 mutation, c.4117G>T - p.Glu1373*, recurring in unrelated families of Abruzzo and Lazio regions of Central Italy. MethodsPreliminary analysis of 17 unrelated families carrying BRCA1 c.4117G>T nonsense mutation reported in the Hereditary Breast/Ovarian Cancer Registry of the Oncology Territorial Care Unit, University of L’Aquila and Genetic Unit, Catholic University of Rome was performed by genetic counselling and peripheral blood collection after written informed consent from affected and unaffected probands. BRCA1/2 genetic analysis were performed by direct sequencing; haplotype analysis was carried out using microsatellite markers in the 17q21 region: D17S846, D17S1328, D17S855 (intragenic), D17S902, D17S806. Post-test genetic counselling was performed to address Therapeutic and/or Preventive Clinical strategies. Geographic area of origin, cancer family trees, cancers affecting the probands were collected. To date, overall 23 unrelated families were enrolled. ResultsIn the preliminary analysis, BRCA1 c.4117G>T mutation was identified in 17 unrelated families with familial origin in a territory of Central Italy including Abruzzo and Lazio regions: this mutation was always and significantly associated with the Allelic Variant (AV) BRCA1, c.3119G>A (p.Ser1040Asn), in 52 tested carriers, 20 affected and 32 unaffected. Microsatellite markers confirmed a common haplotype shared by the 52 probands, comprising the region between D17S1328 and D17S902 markers. In overall 23 unrelated families, the association of BRCA1 founder mutation and the AV were identified in 66 tested carriers, 28 affected and 38 unaffected. ConclusionsThe BRCA1 c.4117G>T is a founder mutation prevalent in the territory of Central Italy in Abruzzo and southern Lazio regions, cosegregating with AV BRCA1 c.3119G>A, providing faster identification of affected and unaffected carriers to specifically address therapeutic and preventive clinical pathways for breast, ovarian and BRCA1-related cancers. Legal entity responsible for the studyEnrico Ricevuto. FundingHas not received any funding. DisclosureAll authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

Iodine Status in Schoolchildren and Pregnant Women of Lazio, a Central Region of Italy.

The inhabitants of Lazio, similarly to those of other Italian regions, have been historically exposed to the detrimental effects of an inadequate intake of iodine. The latter is a micronutrient essential for the biosynthesis of thyroid hormones (TH). Iodine deficiency is responsible for a number of adverse effects on human health known as iodine deficiency disorders (IDD), the most common of which worldwide are goiter and hypothyroidism. In order to reduce IDD, a national salt iodination program was started in Italy in 2005. In this article we reviewed the available data regarding iodine intake in the Lazio population before and after the introduction of the national salt iodination program, in order to evaluate its efficacy and the eventual problem(s) limiting its success. On the whole, the information acquired indicates that, following the introduction of the program, the dietary iodine intake in the Lazio population is improved. There is, however, still much work ahead to ameliorate the iodine prophylaxis in this region. In fact, although a generally adequate iodine intake in school-age children has been observed, there are still areas where a mild iodine insufficiency is present. Moreover, two independent epidemiological surveys on pregnant women evidenced a low urinary iodine concentration with respect to the reference range conceived by the World Health Organization. These findings demonstrate the need for greater attention to the iodine prophylaxis by health care providers (i.e., obstetricians, gynecologists, pediatricians, etc.), and the implementation of effective advertising campaigns aimed at increasing the knowledge and awareness of the favorable effects of iodine supplementation on population health.

Quantitative methods for the economic valuation of a cultural tourism destination: case study of the Pisa Charterhouse

This paper aims to provide an economic valuation of the Pisa Charterhouse, a renowned monastic complex built in the fourteenth century, located in the Tuscany region of central Italy. Quantitative analysis offers an estimate of the use value of the good that is obtained through the application of the Travel Cost method and by relying on original survey data collected in 2017 by interviewing a sample of Charterhouse Museum visitors.

Satellite and ground-based observation of pre-earthquake signals—a case study on the Central Italy region earthquakes

The complexity in earthquake occurrences has forced scientists to adopt an interdisciplinary approach for the development short-term forecasting model. In this manuscript, the authors have presented an interdisciplinary scheme involving pre-earthquake signals like geo-electrical measurements, relative humidity (RH) and outgoing longwave radiation (OLR). Prior to the occurrence of earthquakes, these parameters show exceptional deviation and indicate the nucleation of the earthquakes at the seismically active zones. Variations in the geo-electrical potential are observed prior to the occurrence of the earthquakes due to the physical and chemical interactions between hydrogen and Earth’s interior, which in turn facilitates the migration of the H+ ions through the interior of the earth. Also, this migration process weakens lithosphere, which produces non-synchronous stress variations along the fault interface. Due to the increased stress, the radioactive radon comes out from the voids of the rocks, ionizes the atmospheric air, which leads to the release of latent heat, and can be observed in the form of anomalous drop in RH and rise in OLR. Prior to the occurrence of Central Italy region earthquakes of the year 2016 (M > 6.0), the above-mentioned parameters have shown a significant variation than ± 2σ level.

Local attitudes toward Apennine brown bears: Insights for conservation issues

Human‐carnivore coexistence is a multi‐faceted issue that requires an understanding of the diverse attitudes and perspectives of the communities living with large carnivores. To inform initiatives that encourage behaviors in line with conservation goals, we focused on assessing the two components of attitudes (i.e., feelings and beliefs), as well as norms of local communities coexisting with Apennine brown bears (Ursus arctos marsicanus) for a long time. This bear population is under serious extinction risks due to its persistently small population size, which is currently confined to the long‐established protected area of Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise National Park (PNALM) and its surrounding region in central Italy. We interviewed 1,611 residents in the PNALM to determine attitudes and values toward bears. We found that support for the bear's legal protection was widespread throughout the area, though beliefs about the benefits of conserving bears varied across geographic administrative districts. Our results showed that residents across our study areas liked bears. At the same time, areas that received more benefits from tourism were more strongly associated with positive feelings toward bears. Such findings provide useful information to improve communication efforts of conservation authorities with local communities.

Incidence of hip fracture and 30-day hospital readmissions in a region of central Italy from 2006 to 2015.

Increased life expectancy causes a higher prevalence of chronic and degenerative diseases, and greater frailty among older people. Hip fracture is a common event for older people, and 1-year mortality after hip fracture is high. The present study was carried out in the Abruzzo region, Italy, over the years from 2006 to 2015, entailing as its main objectives the assessment of age and sex-specific trends in the incidence of hip fractures, with the subsequent hospital mortality. Causes of 30-day hospital readmissions were assessed. Data were collected from all hospital discharge records. Information on all 30-day readmissions was also retrieved. Overall, 23 075 patients were admitted to hospital for hip fracture (mean age 81.0 ± 11.7 years,72.6% women). The overall hip fracture incidence remained constant over the study period, varying from 175.9 cases in 2006 to 179.3 cases per 100 000 in 2015. However, the incidence progressively increased from 40.0 to 51.0 among men, and from 61.6 to 80.9 among patients aged >85 years. The in-hospital mortality rate was 3.8%. Within 30 days from the hip fracture discharge, 10 526 patients (45.6%) had a second hospitalization, related to the condition of interest in >80% of the patients. Additionally, 414 (3.9%) patients died during the second hospitalization. Although women aged >65 years remain the category of patients at highest risk of hip fracture, an increasing trend is observed among men and patients aged >85 years. Hip fracture is frequently associated with early hospital readmission and is responsible for elevated in-hospital mortality. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2019; 19: 483-486.

Groundwater level forecasting using linear time series modeling: the case study of the thermal aquifer system of Monsummano Terme (central Italy)

Groundwater level forecasting can support a more efficient and sustainable groundwater management. In the present study, linear models are implemented on hydrogeological and meteorological time series related to the thermal aquifer system of Monsummano Terme (Pistoia province, Tuscany region in central Italy), in order to develop a tool for short-term groundwater level forecasting.Groundwater level data were analyzed along with daily precipitation and used for training Autoregressive (AR) models and Autoregressive models with Exogeous Input (ARx). The best performing AR model consisted in a linear combination of thepast 9 groundwater level measurements whereas the ARx model concerned, in addition, the precipitation values of the past 10 days. As a result, these models show an optimal performance in terms of Normalized Root Mean Square, and their residuals (i.e. modeled – measured values) can be associated to a white noise containing no relevant information. This study shows how linear models can beuseful and easy-applicable tools for groundwater level forecasting in systems characterized by a linear relationship between recharge and groundwater level increase.

The role of infrastructural barriers and gaps on Natura 2000 functionality in Italy: a case study on Umbria region

The present work is part of the Road Ecology theme, and thus, the fragmentation of ecosystems caused by road networks, a very important phenomenon throughout Italy, but especially in the central part of the peninsula where there is a high concentration of natural areas of European importance. The research was carried out with the aim to implement a method for measuring fragmentation caused by the large regional road network towards the Special Conservation Zones (SCZs) of Natura 2000 system (92/43/CEE—Habitat Directive). The goal of the method described herein is to provide the region with design instructions, which will be part of a pilot project following the current one, to mitigate the intense landscape fragmentation identified in this crucial central region of Italy. Since 2002, the region had already resolved on the implementation of an ecological regional network (RERU), but the work carried out provides the necessary information to achieve full efficiency in the connections between the different habitats by identifying gaps that may actually allow wildlife to move from one area to another. This is an essential knowledge in a territory that, even though of high overall environmental value, is crossed by a dense network of infrastructural road barriers almost entirely occlusive. Work materials have been processed as part of a LIFE Nature project “SUN” under the leadership of the Umbria Region.

Settlement, space organization and land-use of a small Middle Bronze Age community of central Italy. The case study of Gorgo del Ciliegio (Arezzo-Tuscany)

The Middle Bronze Age site of Gorgo del Ciliegio is located in the Afra valley (Upper Tiber basin) in the proximity of strategic trans-Apennine passes connecting the Tyrrhenian regions of Central Italy to the Po plain and the Umbrian-Marches territories. At Gorgo del Ciliegio a Middle Bronze Age small settlement composed of a single house and various kinds of ancillary features was discovered. Through a multi-disciplinary approach it was possible to gather a large amount of information about settlement dynamics implemented by people living at Gorgo del Ciliegio and about the ways in which this community interacted with and took advantage of the surrounding environment/landscape, while adapting the site's economy to natural features.This paper focuses on the evidence provided by material culture, environment and landscape considered as interrelating indicators of social identity and economic strategies. In order to contextualize these issues, broad space was given to the spatial organization and the architectural features as key factors of socio-economic complexity. The authors conclude that Gorgo del Ciliegio was a farm settlement being probably part of a more extensive settlement system, composed of several farms dispersed along the Afra valley. This specific context proved to be particularly suitable for interweaving relations and exchanges with the Adriatic regions, and thus promoting (and being promoted by) the development of an economy mainly based on mobile pastoralism.

Epidemiology of Viral Hepatitis in Men Who Have Sex with Men in Mediterranean Europe: A Region-Wide Sero-Surveillance in Rome (Italy)

BACKGROUND: Viral hepatitis caused by HAV, HBV and HCV are a major public health problem worldwide. Men who have sex with men (MSM) are at increased risk of viral hepatitis. In 2017, a voluntary screening and prevention campaign for viral hepatitis was started in Lazio, a Region of central Italy, following a vast epidemic of HAV mainly affecting young MSM. Here we present the results of the sero-surveillance study carried out as a component of the campaign. METHODS: The study enrolled 1,100 MSM people aged 18-45 years participating to the campaign. Eighteen exposure variables were assessed for potential association with outcomes (i.e. serology for HAV, HBV, and HCV). FINDINGS: We found a very low prevalence of immunity against HAV and a significant exposure to high-risk behaviours, suggesting that gay community of Lazio is an ideal setting for HAV outbreaks. Prevalence of different serology profiles for HBV suggests that waning immunity and escape to mandatory vaccination still represent a significant issue in patients older than 35 years. Moreover, waning immunity suggests that patients who were vaccinated at birth may show low antibody levels. Consistently with other studies, prevalence of HCV infection was very low among young MSM. INTERPRETATION: Tailored vaccine programme aimed at immunizing MSM are critical to improve control of HAV in our setting. Findings on HBV epidemiology suggest that there is a need to define a clear strategy to recover patients who escaped vaccination and inform clinicians on the need to booster subjects with low immunity and high risk of exposure, such as MSM. Finally, MSM in Lazio do not represent a special group for HCV neither in terms of risk of infection nor in terms of potential issues for therapy access. FUNDING STATEMENT: The study was funded by Lazio Region Health Authority and Italian ministry of Health “Ricerca Corrente” INMI-Spallanzani. CONFLICT OF INTERESTS: All authors declared no conflict of interest. ETHICS APPROVAL STATEMENT: INMI Spallanzani ethical board approved the study (ethical clearance N.1 of January 24th 2017). Patients were required to sign an informed consent.

Length of stay reduction in the emergency department and its quantification using complex network theory

Overcrowding in emergency department (ED) has become an increasingly significant problem worldwide. Different crowding measures have been proposed in the literature and, between them, the length of stay (LOS) is one of the most recognised. In this paper the LOS in the ED of a hospital located in the southern central region of Italy is calculated; than the ED process is represented as a network and, due to the identification of the bottleneck node, possibilities to reduce the LOS through changes to the actual process can be identified. The present work demonstrates that the LOS reductions obtained by process changes and measured by the analytical LOS calculations can be assessed also through the changes in the topological properties of the activities network, that are measured using complex network measures.

Length Of Stay Reduction in the Emergency Department and its quantification Using Complex Network Theory

Overcrowding in emergency department (ED) has become an increasingly significant problem worldwide. Different crowding measures have been proposed in the literature and, between them, the length of stay (LOS) is one of the most recognised. In this paper the LOS in the ED of a hospital located in the southern central region of Italy is calculated; than the ED process is represented as a network and, due to the identification of the bottleneck node, possibilities to reduce the LOS through changes to the actual process can be identified. The present work demonstrates that the LOS reductions obtained by process changes and measured by the analytical LOS calculations can be assessed also through the changes in the topological properties of the activities network, that are measured using complex network measures.

The effect of summer drought on the yield of Arundo donax is reduced by the retention of photosynthetic capacity and leaf growth later in the growing season.

The development of Arundo donax as a biomass crop for use on drought-prone marginal lands in areas with warm to hot climates is constrained by the lack of variation within this species. We investigated the effect of morphological and physiological variation on growth and tolerance to drought under field conditions in three ecotypes of A. donax collected from habitats representing a climate gradient: a pre-desert in Morocco, a semi-arid Mediterranean climate in southern Italy and a warm sub-humid region of central Italy. The three A. donax ecotypes were grown under irrigated and rain-fed conditions in a common garden field trial in a region with a semi-arid Mediterranean climate. Physiological and morphological characteristics, and carbohydrate metabolism of the ecotypes were recorded to establish which traits were associated with yield and/or drought tolerance. Variation was observed between the A. donax ecotypes. The ecotype from the most arid habitat produced the highest biomass yield. Stem height and the retention of photosynthetic capacity later in the year were key traits associated with differences in biomass yield. The downregulation of photosynthetic capacity was not associated with changes in foliar concentrations of sugars or starch. Rain-fed plants maintained photosynthesis and growth later in the year compared with irrigated plants that began to senescence earlier, thus minimizing the difference in yield. Effective stomatal control prevented excessive water loss, and the emission of isoprene stabilized photosynthetic membranes under drought and heat stress in A. donax plants grown under rain-fed conditions without supplementary irrigation. Arundo donax is well adapted to cultivation in drought-prone areas with warm to hot climates. None of the A. donax ecotypes exhibited all of the desired traits consistent with an 'ideotype'. Breeding or genetic (identification of quantitative trait loci) improvement of A. donax should select ecotypes on the basis of stem morphology and the retention of photosynthetic capacity.

Rural Small and Medium Enterprises Development in Molise (Italy)

Abstract Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are a key economic sector in Molise, a region in central Italy, characterized by a high level of rurality. This paper uses descriptive survey research to discuss the findings of a study of the innovation process in a sample of SMEs located in rural areas of Molise. It explores the aims of the innovation and any barriers encountered. Data were collected from 30 respondents with the aid of an on-line questionnaire. The sample was drawn from a database made available by the Chambers of Commerce in Molise. The database includes 165 firms that, in recent years, have introduced innovative technologies. The findings of the study revealed that there is a high level of awareness of the importance of technology among the managing bodies of SMEs. Most rural firms prefer to use new production technologies and new processes, rather than invest in research and development activities. Furthermore, there is a low propensity to set up partnerships with other enterprises along the supply chain and to participate in collaborative networks designed to stimulate innovation. Most owners and/or managers interviewed lamented the lack of financial resources necessary to make technological innovations. They also highlighted the considerable difficulty in accessing public and private funding. The paper concludes with some brief prospects by recommending a few implications for policy. The results of this study are important for both researchers as well as those involved in small business (including government, agencies and owner/managers).