Umbria Region Research Articles

Evolution of freshwater availability in a climate‐changing Mediterranean context: The case of Umbria region, central Italy

AbstractFreshwater availability is the litmus test of the ongoing global warming, but local effects in relation to larger scale behaviours are often ambiguous. In this study, 19 indicators derived by historical rainfall and temperature records have been used to reconstruct climatic trends over the Umbria region (central Italy). The scenario emerging from observations of the last 70–100 years consists in increasing air temperatures and decreasing yearly precipitation depths, which are differently distributed over the 12 months with respect to the past. As a second step, the response in terms of freshwater availability has been assessed by analysing runoff and groundwater records. A clear reduction in yearly water volumes flowing through the outlet stations of five pilot basins during the last century (1927–2020) has been found, quantified in a median loss rate of equivalent surface water thickness of −1.62 mm/year. Monthly mean groundwater levels show a slight increasing trend for most of the monitoring stations, but such an analysis has been carried out over a limited and more recent period (2006–2020). Hence, it can be affected by the uncertainty commonly associated to the interpretation of trend analyses referring to short temporal windows. This last critical point is strengthened by an analysis of the runoff volume limited to the period 2006–2020 from which, in contrast with the results provided by the aforementioned long‐term investigation, an increasing trend has been derived.

Regional-scale InSAR investigation and landslide early warning thresholds in Umbria, Italy

In this work, we use conventional two-pass differential satellite interferometry for the investigation of active landslides at regional scale in the Umbria Region of Italy. First, we use InSAR for the detection of active slope movements during the study period (October 2019 to January 2021). Then, we characterize the displacement rates and their variation through time for selected active slopes, by analysing 6-days interferograms. The evolutionary trends of the phenomena are compared to the pertaining climate and soil parameters that are used by the regional landslide early warning system (LEWS) to predict the possibility of landslide occurrence over the territory. We aim to explore the potential of differential interferometry to detect and monitor active landslides and, through that, to validate a geographical LEWS:Through the analysis of stacked interferograms, we identified 256 InSAR deformation signals (IDS) corresponding to active slope movements. Their distribution is compared to the geological map and the landslide inventory, illustrating how active landslides are favoured by weak lithologies and pre-existing slope instability. Also, the relative orientation of the satellite's line of sight with respect to the slope influences the results indicating a bias in the completeness of remotely sensed data. However, in the context of land management and civil protection, the results constitute a valuable information dataset for plans managed by local authorities.The analysis, at the interferogram scale (6-days), of 13 clearly recognizable IDSs illustrates the dynamics of the slopes through the variation of the displacement rates. Due to decorrelation, only about half of the interferograms can be used for this purpose, and interpretation is required. The comparison to the alert thresholds of the Umbria region shows the remarkable relationship between InSAR-derived landslide activity and the parameters used for landslide prediction (i.e., 48 h rainfall and soil moisture conditions). The maximum 48 h cumulative rainfall and the soil saturation index prove effective to predict landslide reactivations and accelerations. We provide uncertainty measures of the landslide prediction through binary classification metrics. Such results are only preliminary, given the limited number of landslides and timespan of our dataset. However, it represents one of the few attempts to validate the forecast of a regional LEWS quantitatively.

Socio-demographic factors and COVID-19 vaccination uptake in Umbria region: a population-based study

Abstract Introduction The study of factors associated with vaccination uptake at population level is of great relevance to inform decision making. It is well known that several factors, might be linked to vaccine hesitancy and therefore final vaccine uptake. Nevertheless, contextual factors might be known querying available databases. This study is aimed to investigate the role of these factors, in particular socio-demographic ones, in COVID-19 vaccination initiation and completion. Methods A population-based study was conducted on the overall Umbrian resident population registered to the Regional Healthcare Service as of February 28th 2021 (N = 866,678), excluding children under 5 years of age and those who obtained a certificate of COVID-19 vaccination exemption or were not alive at the date of endpoints assessment. The uptake of at least one dose and the completion of primary vaccination cycle was analyses as of February 28th 2022. The following socio-demographic characteristics were investigated as potential associated factors: sex, age, citizenship (Italian vs not-Italian), exemption for chronic condition/disability, holding a general practitioner (GP) or a family pediatrician (FP) and Deprivation Area Index based on education, unemployment, non-home ownership, one parent family and overcrowding. Results Considering eligible populations, people who did not initiate and complete vaccination were 11.8% and 1.2% respectively. The same factors were found to be associated to both endpoints: being female, younger, and not-Italian citizen, not holding an exemption for chronic disease/disability and a GP/FP and leaving in a most deprived area. The associations were stronger in respect to vaccination initiation. Discussion The results of this study, which is representative of the whole population of an Italian region and not based on survey data, confirm the available evidence and add knowledge on COVID-19 vaccination uptake that might serve to inform future vaccination campaigns Key messages • This population-based study shows that there are socio-demographic differences in COVID-19 vaccination uptake in term of both initiation and completion of full primary vaccination cycle. • Socio-demographic differences in vaccination uptake can be addressed in future vaccination campaigns using the information available from population-based databases.

Heritage Trasimeno: From Mapping the Dynamics of Landscape Transformation to Possible Strategies for Heritage Use

This research concerns the analysis of the evolution of the landscape of Lake Trasimeno, in the Umbria region (Italy). The case study is marked by an inconsistent settlement pattern. Nevertheless, it retains wide glimpses of unspoilt territory, still tied to its original values. The same landscape transformations offer a series of opportunities for recomposition. These require representative instruments capable of interpreting and guiding the valorisation of the rich heritage, all this also considering the strong tourism value of the area under study. From a methodological point of view, the contribution is structured in three main phases: a first phase of studying the tourism dynamics in the area; a second phase of mapping the identity and evolutionary characteristics of the area; a third phase of conception and development of three project proposals aimed at enhancing the identity characteristics of the place and at favouring its usability with a view to sustainable tourism. The restitution and interpretation of the analysis and mapping phases (albeit partial, because they are limited to only a part of the lake’s coastline) become fundamental for identifying sustainable project strategies, as they are integrated with the social, cultural and economic characteristics of the area.

Cosmogenic 3He anomaly K1 vs. the early Campanian isotopic event (ECE) as recorded in pelagic limestones of the Umbria-Marche succession (Italy)

In this paper, we report on a biostratigraphic, magnetostratigraphic, and stable isotope (δ13C and 3He) analysis across three pelagic limestone sections of the Campanian Scaglia Rossa Formation exposed in the classic Bottaccione Gorge at Gubbio (Umbria region), near the village of Furlo, and near the town of Apiro (both in the Marche region), all located in the Umbria-Marche basin of the northeastern Apennines of central Italy. These sections record the coincidental occurrence of an extraterrestrial 3He (3HeET) anomaly known as K1 and a negative shift in the δ13C record known as the early Campanian event. Cyclostratigraphic spectral analysis of the Furlo section based on a high-resolution magnetic susceptibility record in these pelagic limestones revealed that the regular orbitally forced Milankovitch cycles are somewhat disturbed or blurred through the interval of the coincident 3HeET K1 anomaly and the early Campanian event isotopic anomaly, suggesting a causal effect resulting from the enhanced influx of extraterrestrial material (i.e., interplanetary dust particles and a myriad of small meteorite impacts). This would have altered the transparency of the atmosphere, causing a short-lived climate change event.

A New Technique for the Passive Monitoring of Particulate Matter: Olive Pollen Grains as Bioindicators of Air Quality in Urban and Industrial Areas

A new technique for the passive monitoring of particulate matter was developed, exploiting olive pollen as a bioindicator. We tested the pollen bioaccumulation efficiency when exposed to atmospheric particulate at three different sites in the Umbria region (Central Italy). Pollen grains, placed into sampling holders, were exposed in Perugia, a polluted town impacted by traffic emissions; in Terni, an industrial hotspot; and at Monte Martano, a regional rural site. At the end of the exposure period, the daily deposition fluxes of the soluble and insoluble elements and soluble molecular ions present in particulate were determined, and the bioaccumulation factor (BAF) and bioaccumulation index over time (BAIt) were derived to validate the passive monitoring system, distinguish the deposition contribute from natural pollen composition, and interpret the temporal dependence of the pollen exposure to pollutants. We observed BAFs greater than 1, which means that bioaccumulation occurs, and pollen can be considered a good passive sampler for several crustal and anthropic ions and toxic elements at all sites. BAIt values greater than 1 were detected only for some of the ions and metals previously present in the pollen, like Ca, Cr, and Mn at Terni; and nitrate, Ca, and Mn at Monte Martano and Perugia.

COVID-19 Vaccination Actual Uptake and Potential Inequalities Due to Socio-Demographic Characteristics: A Population-Based Study in the Umbria Region, Italy.

Socio-demographic factors are responsible for health inequalities also in vaccination. The aim of this study was to evaluate their role at the population level through a population-based study performed on the whole population entitled to receive COVID-19 vaccines in the Umbria Region, Italy, and registered to the Regional Healthcare Service as of 28 February 2021. Socio-demographic characteristics and vaccination status in terms of uptake of at least one dose of any available vaccine, completion of the primary vaccination cycle and uptake of the booster doses as of 28 February 2022 were collected from the Umbria regional database. The percentage of eligible population who did not initiate the COVID-19 vaccination, complete the full vaccination cycle and get the booster dose was 11.8%, 1.2% and 21.5%, respectively. A younger age, being a non-Italian citizen, and not holding an exemption for chronic disease/disability and a GP/FP were associated with all the endpoints. Females, as compared to males, were more likely to not initiate the vaccination but less likely to not receive the booster dose. On the contrary, the findings did not show a significant association between the deprivation index and the vaccine uptake. The findings, beyond confirming current knowledge at the population level, provide new inputs for better tailoring vaccination campaigns.

Tapeworms detected in wolf populations in Central Italy (Umbria and Marche regions): A long-term study.

Tapeworms are trophically-transmitted and multi-host parasites with a complex indirect life cycle, strictly depending on predator-prey interactions. Their presence in a free-living population, mainly definitive hosts, is arduous to study due to the complexity of collecting fecal samples. However, epidemiological studies on their frequency are crucial from a public health perspective, providing information on food habits and prey selection of predators. The present study aims to update the frequency of tapeworms detected in stool samples by molecular analysis in Italian wolf populations of Umbria and Marche regions collected from 2014 to 2022. Tapeworm's total frequency was 43.2%. In detail, Taenia serialis was detected in 27 samples (21.6%), T. hydatigena in 22 (17.6%), and Mesocestoides corti (syn. M. vogae) in 2 (1.6%). Three samples were identified as M. litteratus and E. granulosus s.s. (G3) and T. pisiformis, with a proportion of 0.8%, respectively. The low frequency of E. granulosus in a hyperendemic area is discussed. The results show for the first time a high frequency of Taenia serialis not comparable to other Italian studies conducted on wild Carnivora; thus, a new ecological niche is conceivable. These findings suggest a plausible wolf-roe deer cycle for T. serialisin the investigated area.

Early Childhood Services as Inclusive Contexts. Opportunities to Support Families

The contribution proposes a reflection about the possible inclusive dimensions of early childhood services. Despite the lack of a clear regulatory framework in Italy, there are significant care and education practices that play a crucial role in the early years of life. Support for parenthood in acceptance of diagnosis and the activation of a teamwork with the social and territorial health services are crucial at this stage. In addition is significant to build up ordinary educational contexts that can customize the proposals in a perspective of “special normality”. The professionalism that lives in these services must be able to count on an initial and ongoing training that supports thought and reflection against possible lapses in linear thoughts, often based on normalizing cultural frames. The comments shown come from a research project conducted in the Umbria Region through a self-reflective tool called “Self Reflection Tool” developed by the European Agency for Special Educational Needs and Inclusive Education (2017), with a specific focus on family dimensions.

Landslides triggered by an extraordinary rainfall event in Central Italy on September 15, 2022

Timely and systematic collection of landslide information after a triggering event is pivotal for the definition of landslide trends in response to climate change. On September 15, 2022, a large part of central Italy, particularly Marche and Umbria regions, was struck by an anomalous rainfall event that showed characteristics of a persistent convective system. An extraordinary cumulated rainfall of 419 mm was recorded by a rain gauge in the area in only 9 h. The rainfall triggered 1687 landslides in the area affected by the peak rainfall intensity and caused widespread flash floods and floods in the central and lower parts of the catchments. In this work, we describe the characteristics of the landslides identified during a field survey started immediately after the event. Most of the mass movements are shallow, and many are rapid (i.e., debris flows, earth flows) and widely affecting the road network. Landslide area spans from a few tens of square meters to 105 m2, with a median value of 87 m2. Field evidence revealed diffuse residual risk conditions, being a large proportion of landslides located in the immediate vicinity of infrastructures. Besides reporting the spatial distribution of landslides triggered by an extreme rainfall event, the data collected on landslides can be used to make comparisons with the distribution of landslides in the past, validation of landslide susceptibility models, and definition of the general interaction between landslides and structures/infrastructures.

Ghost Mines for Geoheritage Enhancement in the Umbria Region (Central Italy)

The paper proposes a method to valorize abandoned mines whose traces were lost in the territory and in the collective memory. We selected two case studies in the Umbria region (central Italy) that were used as examples. The evidence of the presence of lignite mines on the Upper Tiber River Valley (northern Umbria) has been completely erased, and since they were located in rural areas, they represent an interesting challenge regarding recovering the memory of the places and proposing a no-longer-existent site as a geosite. The recovery and valorization of historical documents of the two lignite mines (Caiperino–Terranera and Carsuga) and their conversion into a digital format was carried out before constructing a geolocalized database in a GIS environment. This framework is the starting point for a promising dissemination process via a digital media app, using multimedia contents as video, 3D models and the principles of augmented reality (AR) to enhance the touristic or didactic experience and promote the cultural heritage of the territory by keeping the memory of ’ghost places’.

New national and regional Annex I Habitat records: from #60 to #82

New Italian data on the distribution of the Annex I Habitats are reported in this contribution. Specifically, 8 new occurrences in Natura 2000 sites are presented and 49 new cells are added in the EEA 10 km × 10 km reference grid. The new data refer to the Italian administrative regions of Campania, Calabria, Marche, Piedmont, Sardinia, Sicily, Tuscany and Umbria. Relevés and figures are provided as Supplementary material respectively 1 and 2.

Paslahepevirus balayani (Hepatitis E Virus) in Italian Nonungulate Wildlife: Molecular Detection and Characterization of an Isolate from a Crested Porcupine (Hystrix cristata).

Paslahepevirus balayani (hepatitis E virus [HEV]) is the causative agent of hepatitis E, a worldwide zoonosis involving a wide range of hosts among domestic and wild animals. This species is characterized by a great genomic heterogeneity and includes eight genotypes, HEV-1 to HEV-8. The HEV-3 genotype is one of the most common types circulating in Italy in humans and Suidae. Although domestic and wild Sus scrofa and deer (Cervidae) are recognized as the main reservoirs of HEV, several other wild species are potential carriers. A total of 228 liver samples were collected from nonungulate wild animals, found dead, in the framework of the regional passive surveillance program in Umbria and Marche regions (central Italy) during 2018-20. These were tested using real-time reverse-transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR) for detection of RNA of HEV-1 to HEV-4 and confirmed by nested RT-PCR assay. One of the 11 samples collected from crested porcupines (Hystrix cristata) tested positive for the presence of HEV RNA; all other samples were negative. Sequence analysis based on the full-length genome revealed that this isolate, 49434/UM/2018 (accession no. OL658617), belongs to the HEV-3e subtype. These findings suggest a potential role of crested porcupines as a carrier of HEV infection.

Detection by Sensitive Real-Time Reverse Transcription Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification of Olive Leaf Yellowing Associated Virus and Its Incidence in Italy and Spain

Olive trees (Olea europea L.) are constantly threatened by many viruses, such as the olive leaf yellowing-associated virus (OLYaV), that belong to the Olivavirus genus, family Closteroviridae. In this work, the OLYaV incidence in different regions of Italy and Spain, which represent the two most important European areas for olive production, was evaluated through the development of a real-time reverse transcription-loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) for reliable and sensitive OLYaV detection. The specificity and accuracy of the developed real-time RT-LAMP assay were determined; the assay showed that potential cross-reactivity with other viruses belonging to the Closteroviridae family was excluded. The LAMP assay detected OLYaV with a higher sensitivity than conventional end-point RT-PCR, detecting a total of 1.34 × 10−2 genome copies. A total of 80 and 120 plants of different olive cultivars from Spain (Comunitat Valenciana, Andalusia) and Italy (Sicily, Calabria, Apulia, Lazio, and Umbria) regions were tested, respectively. The percentage of infected plants was 46.25% and 30% for Spain and Italy, respectively, while the most susceptible cultivars were “Serrana Espadán” and “Villalonga” from Comunitat Valenciana and Andalusia regions (Spain) and “Ogliarola barese” from Apulia region (Italy). In addition, the survey demonstrated that the real-time RT-LAMP showed good sensitivity for OLYaV-positive sample detection, especially on asymptomatic olive trees. For this reason, the developed assay could be very suitable for phytopathological laboratories as a reliable and efficient method for a rapid and sensitive routine test on olive samples.

Canine mortality in Umbria Region (Central Italy): a population-based analysis.

Companion dogs may be valuable sentinels to better understand the environmental determinants of morbidity and mortality in humans. This study aimed to assess the dog population and mortality in Umbria Region. The source of data was the local Canine Registry. Attribute-specific crude mortality rates by sex, age, and breed were produced on a five-year basis (2014-2018). The human ICD-10 was employed to code the causes of deaths. Over 2014-2018, an annual average population of 226,875 specimens and a total of 46,743 deaths were estimated. Mortality rate was higher in young males than in young females. A specific cause of death was reported for 5,209 dogs; the 62.8 per cent (95%CI = 61.4-64.1) was due to external causes. Neoplasms were the fourth cause of death. Differences in mortality between sexes were consistent with human ones. The death registration procedure needs improvement by a systematic coding of the causes. An adjustment of the human ICD could address the lack of a coding system until the introduction of international standards for animals.

"Oops…a Beaver Again!" Eurasian Beaver Castor fiber Recorded by Citizen-Science in New Areas of Central and Southern Italy.

The Eurasian beaver Castor fiber was once present in the Palearctic, ranging from the western Iberian Peninsula to northwestern China. In the Middle Ages, this rodent underwent a severe decline in population due to habitat loss, hunting for fur and meat, and the demand for castoreum. At the beginning of 1900, the range of the Eurasian beaver was limited to scattered refugia in Eurasia. Since 1920, legal protection, reintroduction events, and natural spread triggered the recovery of the species in most of its original range. In March 2021, the presence of the Eurasian beaver in Central Italy (Tuscany and Umbria regions) was confirmed through camera trapping after the detection of unequivocal signs of presence (i.e., gnawed trunks). Recordings are located about 550 km south of the known range of this species, thus suggesting that the presence of beavers in Tuscany and Umbria might be due to a local unauthorised reintroduction. In this work, we also reported the presence of beavers in the Abruzzi region and in Southern Italy (Molise-Campania regions), over 380 km in a straight line south to the southernmost record of beaver presence in Central Italy.

Effects of Urban Planning on Ecosystem Services: The Umbria Region Seismic Crater

The earthquake in central Italy in 2016 led to a profound urban and natural landscape transformation. The role of territorial planning in this kind of situation is extremely important because it allows the orientation of future settlement choices through appropriate interpretative keys of the existing territorial dynamics. This work aims to analyze the effects of the planning choices made in the post-earthquake period in the seismic crater municipalities of the Umbria region. Using the InVEST models, these studies regard the comparison of the effects of in-force plans on ecosystem services such as habitat quality and carbon storage. The data about the mosaic of the municipal urban planning tools are derived from specific actions produced under two LIFE projects (SUNLIFE and IMAGINE). The comparison makes it possible to identify how and to what extent the transformative scenarios, linked to the new condition, change the spatial planning compared to the previous one and the effects on the provision of ecosystem services. The knowledge of the latter aspect allows optimization of the methods of urban transformation that will be implemented. Moreover, this process of optimizing the provision of essential ecosystem services could certainly play a key role in the enhancement and economic recovery of these areas.

Tracing the human movements of three thousand years ago by volcanic grinding tools in the Final Bronze Age settlement of Monte Croce Guardia (Arcevia-Marche Region, central Italy)

Volcanic rocks were among the most sought-after materials to produce grinding tools in antiquity because lavas lithologies, either mafic or felsic, ensured good wear resistance and grinding capacity with respect to many other kinds of rocks. The interest in findings made of vesciculated lavas, referable to parts of querns, mortars, and/or pestles of the Final Bronze Age site of Monte Croce Guardia (Arcevia) lies in the fact that this settlement was built upon limestones belonging to the sedimentary sequence of the Marche-Umbria Apennines (central Italy) and far away from potential raw materials of volcanic rocks. A petrologic study of 23 grinding tool fragments clearly indicates a provenance from the volcanic provinces of central Italy: Latium and Tuscany Regions. Few leucite tephrites (5) and one leucite phonolite lavas have a clear magmatic affinity with the high-K series of the Roman Volcanic Province (Latium) whereas the most abundant volcanic lithotype (17 samples) is represented by shoshonites (K-series) whose thin section texture, modal mineralogy and major-trace elements contents closely match with the shoshonite lavas from the Radicofani volcanic centre in the Tuscan Magmatic Province. At Radicofani (a volcanic neck in the eastern sector of Tuscany) a Final Bronze Age site coeval to that of Arcevia is present and a potential pathway corridor from that site towards Arcevia (air-line distance of ca. 115 km) is dotted with many settlements of the same age. Through analytical algorithms based on the slope and the different human-dependent cost-functions which can be applied to determine non-isotropic accumulated cost surface, least-cost paths and least-cost corridors, the best route from Radicofani to Monte Croce Guardia, approximately 140 km long, was simulated, with a walking time of 25–30 h, possibly using pack animals and wheel chariots. Three thousand years ago the Apennine Mountains did not thus constitute a barrier for human movements. This study also shed light on some other possible patterns of interactions between Final Bronze Age communities of central Italy through the present-day regions of Tuscany, Umbria and Marche, aimed towards the best performance of strategic economic activities at that time such as that of the transformation of cereals, and accompanied to cultural and social reasons.

Greening Umbria’s Future: Investigation of the Retrofit Measures’ Potential to Achieve Energy Goals by 2030 in the Umbria Region

The new European targets of achieving net zero emissions by 2050 have spurred Italy to aim for a 30% reduction in emissions by 2030, compared with 2005 levels. This goal will be achieved through the promotion of renewable energy sources and energy savings in the residential sector, which remains one of the main sectors accountable for total energy consumption, mainly for heating. This study aims at investigating the potential of some retrofit measures implemented in the Umbria Region, chosen as a case study, to reach the goal by 2030. Using parametric energy simulations with the standard calculation method and artificial neural networks (ANN), the energy consumption of Umbria’s building stock and potential CO2 reductions were assessed. Results showed that with current energy policies, a reduction of 28% could be achieved, which is below the goal by 2030, while ANN integration within energy strategies could allow reaching it as early as 2025 or 2029, depending on the restriction set to the ANN and the extent of current energy policies. This study confirmed the potential benefits of using advanced technology in achieving national environmental goals, highlighting that they could be essential tools to be integrated into energy policies to accelerate progress towards ambitious climate goals.

The management of orphan drugs in Italy - Focus on haemophilia in the region of Umbria

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