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The 30–150 m bathymetric range is commonly adopted in the literature to constrain the mesophotic zone. However, such depth interval varies depending on sunlight penetration, which is primarily a function of solar radiation incidence and water clarity. This is especially obvious in the Mediterranean Sea with its peculiar biophysical properties. Integrating information on light regime in the estimation of the bathymetric range of the mesophotic zone would provide a more robust definition, orienting conservation actions targeting its ecosystems. We present a first assessment of the spatial and vertical extension of the mesophotic zone in the Mediterranean Sea based upon light penetration, comparing our prediction with literature data. Our study also represents a baseline to monitor future variations in the bathymetric interval associated with the mesophotic zone in the Mediterranean Sea in relation to global changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aggregations of sea pens are important soft-bottom communities providing a three-dimensional complexity from which several associated species can benefit. The red sea pen Pennatula rubra is one of the Mediterranean coastal field-forming sea pens able to establish dense aggregations on the sandy/muddy bottoms of the infra- and circumlittoral zones. This species was first described at the end of the 17th century, but since then little information has been published about its biology, ecology and biogeography. Even less is known about its behaviour, its reactions after disturbance and its possible escape strategies. Several species of pennatulaceans can withdraw partially or completely into the sediment, usually in a fast (i.e. a few seconds) process of polyp closure and expulsion of part of the water contained within the colony. The present study reports and discusses the withdrawal behaviour of P. rubra after disturbance. This behaviour has never been documented before in this species. It proved to be a slow process requiring between 210 and 340 seconds (3 min 30 sec to 5 min 40 sec) for the complete withdrawal. Moreover, a soft bioluminescence was observed in two undisturbed colonies in the study area, while two other colonies were found to be out of the sediment, inflating themselves with seawater and getting carried by currents as a sort of dispersal behaviour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A recent geo-marine survey of the Malta Escarpment revealed for the first time the existence of live cnidarian assemblages at about 300 m depth. These associations have been observed by means of a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) during surveys carried out on the upper part of the Malta Escarpment. The assemblages established on hard bedrock were chiefly composed of the antipatharianLeiopathes glaberrima. The Malta Escarpment is known to have been successfully colonised by deep-water scleractinian assemblages until the last glacial age. However, no living specimens had been observed, and only specimens of dead but relatively freshDendrophyllia cornigerahad been reported. This area of the Mediterranean Sea, which connects the deep Ionian basin to the western Mediterranean, is largely unknown and in clear need of thorough exploration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Disgust is a basic emotion characterized by the feeling of revulsion and evoked by unpleasant stimuli such as contaminated food, poor hygiene and contact with sick or dead organisms. Disgust is a contributing factor to the development of several mental disorders including anxiety disorders (AD). Several studies have tried to explore the relationship between disgust and eating disorders (ED), with heterogeneous findings. Subjects with ED showed a heightened level of disgust sensitivity (DS) when compared with healthy controls (HC). Objectives: Our study aims to evaluate levels of disgust and anxiety in ED, AD and HC in order to assess associations between these two emotions. Methods: We enrolled 74 patients admitted to Psychiatric Unit of Careggi, 41 with diagnosis of Eating Disorder, 33 with Anxiety Disorders, and 40 healthy controls. We administered to all groups: ZungAnxiety Scale (ZSAS) and Disgust Propensity and Sensitivity Scale-revised (DPSS-r). Results: Both patients with anxiety disorders and eating disorders showed higher levels of disgust propensity and sensitivity than healthy controls. Moreover, there was no significant differences in anxiety, Disgust Propensity (DP) and Disgust Sensitivity levels between patients with eating disorders and anxiety disorders. Among healthy controls there was a significant association between DS and Anxiety levels (B: 0.579, T:3,416 p:0,001). Conclusions: Anxiety and disgust are typical emotions of anxiety disorders and eating disorders. However, they are increased both in anxiety and eating disorders and they are associated in healthy controls. The nature of this association needs to be deeply investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The geo-biological exploration of a pockmark field located at ca. 800m below sea level in the Gela basin (Strait of Sicily, Central Mediterranean) provided a relatively diverse chemosymbiotic community and methane-imprinted carbonates. To date, this is the first occurrence of such a type of specialised deep-water cold-seep communities recorded from this key region, before documented in the Mediterranean as rather disjunct findings in its eastern and westernmost basins. The thiotrophic chemosymbiotic organisms recovered from this area include empty tubes of the vestimentiferan Lamellibrachia sp., loose and articulated shells of lucinids (Lucinoma kazani, Myrtea amorpha), vesicomyids (Isorropodon perplexum), and gastropods (Taranis moerchii). A callianassid decapod (Calliax sp.) was consistently found alive in large numbers in the pockmark mud. Their post-mortem calcified parts mixed with molluscs and subordinately miliolid foraminifers form a distinct type of skeletal assemblage. Carbonate concretions display δ13C values as low as -40‰ PDB suggesting the occurrence of light hydrocarbons in the seeping fluids. Since none of the truly chemosymbiotic organisms was found alive, although their skeletal parts appear at times very fresh, some specimens have been AMS-14C dated to shed light on the historical evolution of this site. Lamellibrachia and Lucinoma are two of the most significant chemosymbiotic taxa reported from various Mediterranean cold seep sites (Alboran Sea and Eastern basin). Specimens from station MEDCOR78 (pockmark#1, Lat. 36°460'10.18" N, Long. 14°01'31.59" E, 815m below sea level) provided ages of 11736±636 yr cal BP (Lamellibrachia sp.), and 9609.5±153.5 yr cal BP (L. kazani). One shell of M. amorpha in core MEDCOR81 (pockmark#6, Lat 36°45'38.89" N, Long 14°00'07.58" E, 822m below sea level) provided a sub-modern age of 484±54 yr cal BP. These ages document that fluid seepage at this pockmark site has been episodically sustaining thiotrophic macrobenthic communities since the end of the Younger Dryas stadial up to sub-recent times. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The geo-biological exploration of a pockmark field located at ca. -800m in the Gela basin (Strait of Sicily, Central Mediterranean) provided a relatively diverse chemosymbiotic community and methane-imprinted carbonates. To date, this is the first occurrence of such type of specialized deep-water cold-seep communities recorded from this key region, before documented in the Mediterranean as rather disjunct findings in its eastern and westernmost basins. The thiotrophic chemosymbiotic organisms recovered from this area include empty tubes of the vestimentiferan Lamellibrachia sp., loose and articulated shells of lucinids (Lucinoma kazani, Myrtea amorpha), vesicomyids (Isorropodon perplexum), and gastropods (Taranis moerchi). A callianassid decapod (Calliax sp.) was consistently found alive in large numbers in the pockmark mud. Their post-mortem calcified parts mixed with molluscs and subordinately miliolid foraminifers form a distinct type of skeletal assemblage (named DECAMOL). Carbonate concretions display δ13C values as low as -40‰ PDB suggesting the occurrence of light hydrocarbons in the seeping fluids. Since none of the truly chemosymbiotic organisms was found alive, although their skeletal parts appear at times very fresh, some specimens have been AMS- 14C dated to shed light on the historical evolution of this site. Lamellibrachia and Lucinoma are two of the most significant chemosymbiotic taxa reported from various Mediterranean cold seep sites (Alboran Sea and Eastern basin). Specimens from station MEDCOR78 (pockmark#1, Lat 36° 46'10.18" N, Long 14°01'31.59" E, -815m) provided ages of 11 736±636 yr cal BP (Lamellibrachia sp.), and 9609.5±153.5 yr cal BP (L. kazani ). One shell of M. amorpha in core MED-COR81 (pockmark#6, Lat 36°45'38.89" N, Long 14°00'07.58" E, -822m) provided a sub-modern age of 484±54 yr cal BP. These ages document that fluid seepage at this pockmark site has been episodically sustaining thiotrophic macrobenthic communities since the end of the Younger Dryas stadial up to sub-recent times. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent investigations of the Eastern Mediterranean Sea carried out during the GECO cruise with RV Urania provided a substantial number of new cold-water coral (CWC) records, including branching and solitary scleractinian species. These new sites are located along steep escarpments and on topographic highs along the margins of Crete, Karpathos, and Rhodes. The majority of the corals represent fossil occurrences, predominantly Late Pleistocene assemblages. Our research documents that the Eastern Mediterranean Basin has been colonized by CWC at favorable times during the Last Glacial, in particular during the Younger Dryas. Schizocyathus fissilis is reported for the first time for the Mediterranean, while the finding of Ceratotrochus magnaghii represents the first record for the Eastern Mediterranean. Various coral facies occur on the southerly island slopes of Crete, Karpathos, and Rhodes, including hardgrounds and loose skeletal sediments. Hardgrounds occur on steep topographies between ca. 500 and 1,700 m, and can conveniently be subdivided as (1) Neopycnodonte- Desmophyllum framestone, (2) Desmophyllum- Caryophyllia framestone, (3) Madrepora- Lophelia rudstone, (4) Pelagic mudstone and wackestone, and (5) Siliciclastic-carbonate conglomerate and breccia. Unconsolidated skeletal sediments containing corals mainly occur on gentler topographic situations between ca. 140 and 600 m and can be subdivided as: (A) Lophelia- Madrepora rubble, (B) Dendrophyllia rubble, (C) Stenocyathus rubble, (D) Caryophyllia calveri rubble, and (E) fine-grained sediment with octocoral axes. Many of these facies types are also present in the western part of the Mediterranean and have fossil representatives from the Pleistocene to the Recent. Radiocarbon dating (AMS-C) reveals Younger Dryas ages between 12.4 and 12.0 ka cal BP for Lophelia pertusa and Madrepora oculata. Desmophyllum dianthus occurs during the Last Glacial Maximum (21.8 ka cal BP) and the Younger Dryas (11.7 ka cal BP), as well as during the Late Holocene and subrecent times (4.4-0.6 ka cal BP). Caryophyllia sarsiae occurs during the Late Glacial (15.5 ka cal BP), while Caryophyllia calveri occurs during the Early Preboreal (10.8 ka cal BP). The ages for the framework-constructing corals L. pertusa and M. oculata are coherent with their temporal predominance during the Younger Dryas in other parts of the Mediterranean. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Observations and theoretical expectations indicate that metal enrichment in spheroidal star systems has taken place in their early evolutionary phases through continuous star formation from the ambient gas polluted by supernova explosions, until the remaining gas was ejected from the system. Star populations and mean star metallicity are determined practically by the time of the gas ejection, since the accumulation of matter subsequently lost by the stars (and expelled by supernovae) may only lead to some sporadic episodes of star formation. We discuss the implications of a global wind driven by supernova explosions in the framework of the closed one-zone models for star systems ranging from globular clusters to giant elliptical galaxies. Difficulties with these simple models are pointed out especially with regard to the choice of the protogalactic radius. Possible implementations are mentioned and a self-consistent determination of the initial radius is outlined; that is, the final ( i.e. at the present age) galactic masses and binding energies of the models are required to fulfil the relationship obtained from observations of present-epoch star systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Introduction: Several studies demonstrate that disgust, defined as a revulsion response aimed at distancing an individual from a potentially harmful or noxious stimulus, is linked to post-traumatic stress following sexual trauma even when accounting for associated fear and anxiety. One of the suggested mechanisms implicated in this association is a feeling of mental contamination. Recent neuroimaging studies demonstrated that exposure to contamination activates the insular cortex. In addition, disgust sensitivity correlates with the activation of the insular cortex. Objectives: We aimed to investigate the psychopathological role of the emotion of disgust in the developement of anxiety symptoms in patient with an history of abuse. Methods: We enrolled 84 patients admitted in Psychiatric Unit of Careggi with diagnosis of Anxiety Disorders. We administered to them: Zung Anxiety Scale (ZSAS), Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), Disgust Propensity and Sensitivity Scale-revised (DPSS-r). Results: Results showed a significant mediation of the association between CTQ emotional abuse scores and total ZSAS scores via DPSS disgust sensitivity scores in patients with anxiety disorders (p=0.022). Total effect and indirect effect of emotional abuse on severity of anxiety symptoms were significant (total effect = 0.494; p=0.051, indirect effect: 0.256, p=0.022), while there was no significant direct effect from emotional abuse to anxiety symptoms in the total model (direct effect: 0.237, p=0.356). The model explained 18% of variance in anxiety symptomatology (R2=0.18). Conclusions: Such preliminary data suggest a possible mediating role of disgust in development and maintenance of childhood abuserelated anxiety, making it a potential target for psychotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Disgust has been identified to play a role in the development of several psychological disorders (1). Recent studies have tried to explore the relationship between disgust and eating disorders, with heterogeneous findings (2). Elevated levels of disgust are associated to traumatic events involving sexual victimization. One of the suggested mechanism implicated in this association is a feeling of mental contamination (3). Objectives: The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between disgust and history of maltreatment in patients with Eating Disorder. We also predict that levels of propensity and sensitivity to disgust in patients diagnosed with Eating Disorders and Anxiety Disorders are higher than healthy controls. Methods: We enrolled 114 patients admitted in Psychiatric Unit of Careggi: 41 with diagnosis of Eating Disorder, 33 with Anxiety Disorders and 40 healthy controls. We administered to all groups: Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), Eating Disorder Examination-2 (EDI-2), Disgust Propensity and Sensibility Scalerevised (DPSS-r). Results: We noted higher scores at DPSS-r in the two psychopathological groups compared to the healthy group, in accordance with previous literature (barchart 1, table 1). We found a significant linear correlation between the DPSS-R scores and the CTQ subscales Emotional Abuse and Physical Neglect (table 2). Disgust Propensity was finally identified as a possible mediator of the relationship between Emotional Abuse and altered Interoceptive Awareness (Indirect Effect: 0,59; I.C. 95%: 0,30-0,95) Conclusions: These preliminary data could suggest a possible role of childhood traumatic events in the development of Sensitivity and Propensity to Disgust in Eating Disorders patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]