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On the occasion of the review of the portable art of Grotta Romanelli, a decorated stone with a feline figure was object of an interdisciplinary study. The analysis considered different approaches so to: characterise the stratigraphic setting of the finding, the rock support, look into the techniques used to decorate the stone, elaborate a graphic documentation (photographs, 3D models and tracings), relate the symbolic production with the environmental context, and consider the motifs into the wider late Upper Palaeolithic (LUP) art production. The work allows confirming that the represented subject corresponds to a Panthera spelaea , and fixing some issues concerning the variability of the decorating activity, which is in line with the graphic tradition of the European LUP. Style and formal variable features of the figure might have responded to specific social conventions or to single author's skills, tracing new investigation lines about the cultural behaviour and the decorating activity: from the collection of the raw material and the preliminary modelling of the support, to the different artistic techniques (engraving and painting), from the use of the object to the definition of possible local artistic variations and/or inspiration at large scale. Moreover, it questions the thematic aspect in relation to the local fauna and its influence in the symbolic production, highlighting the importance of this stone in the wider debate about the extinction of the cave lions. Indeed, the Romanelli lion may represent the last evidence of this animal in Europe. • One of the richest records of Palaeolithic portable art of Italy. • Interdisciplinary approach to the study of a portable art object. • The engraved lion of Grotta Romanelli and the extinction of P. spelaea in Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

West Nile virus (WNV) is a public health concern in Europe. Rising temperatures and the migration of potential vectors promote the spread of viruses to previously unaffected areas. In 2023, the Apulia region of Southern Italy experienced an unexpected increase in West Nile neuroinvasive disease (WNND); no such cases had been reported in the previous 10 years. Overall, eight autochthonous cases of WNV infection were identified between July and October 2023, six of which were WNND. All cases were male (median age, 73 years). Two of the cases were blood donors. All WNND cases were hospitalized and all recovered within a few weeks. Surveillance data showed that, in the Apulia region, WNV Lineage 2 was detected in humans, mosquitoes, and horses. Based on the number of WNND cases reported, we can assume that a high number of infections occurred during the summer period. Changes in the climate in the region over recent years could be considered among the main drivers of the rapid increase in WNV infections. Therefore, integrated surveillance should be strengthened to avoid the potential massive spread of WNV in Southern Italy. Moreover, the implementation of whole-genome sequencing of WNV strains, as well as seroepidemiological studies in the area, will facilitate a better understanding of circulation dynamics., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Eokochia saxicola (Guss.) Freitag & G. Kadereit is a very rare and endangered endemic species of Southern Italy and one of the rarest plants in Europe. It grows only on calcareous or volcanic sea cliffs and is supposed to be the remnant of an old lineage, being considered an ancestor within the Chenolea clade (tribe Camphorosmeae). Given that data on the biology and ecology of this species are limited, the aim of this study is to increase the knowledge of reproductive and vegetative structures and to investigate the occurrence and nature of potential critical steps in the life cycle affecting the species fitness. Micro- and macro-morphology of leaves, flowers and diaspores have been analysed together with seed germination in different environmental conditions. Morphological analyses have improved the description of the species (flowers are sub-ternate, subsessile at the axils of leaves and show protogyny) and highlighted the occurrence of peculiar and interesting characteristics of the epidermis, such as the presence of superhydrophobic surfaces both on the vegetative and reproductive structures. These surfaces are discussed with respect to removing dust and salt from leaves and protecting perianth from moulds. Seed germination is inhibited even by moderate environmental salinity but readily recovers in fresh water. Results are discussed with regard to the adaptive strategy of E . saxicola to the peculiar habitat of coastal cliffs, e.g., salinity stress and geographic isolation, and to the current hypothesis on the origin of the Chenolea clade. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pirro Nord, located in Apricena, Southern Italy, represents one of the earliest records of hominin dispersal into Europe. The site is dated on a biochronological basis between 1.6 and 1.3 Ma and a significant vertebrate assemblage (Pirro Nord Faunal Unit) is associated with lithic artefacts which show many similarities with more or less contemporaneous lithic assemblages in Europe and with the African Mode 1. Since 2006, 340 artefacts have been found in the Pirro 13 fissure, and the lithic series is considered as a homogenous assemblage in terms of taphonomical, technological and raw material characteristics. Flint is the main raw material and the available and exploited flint cobbles and pebbles have different morphologies and sizes. The raw material has been collected in a secondary position near the actual location of the deposit. Two main reduction sequences have been performed by hominins in Pirro Nord: an “opportunistic” debitage, with multiple striking platforms in order to produce flakes of different morphologies including some “debordant” flakes and at least one cutting edge, and a “centripetal” or convergent debitage for the production of flakes with convergent cutting edges. The “opportunistic” approach has been adopted for the reduction of the largest flint cobbles and the polyhedral pebbles/cobbles. This method is considered as an adaptation to the raw material shape. The debitage is always made by direct percussion and hard hammer. Most of the cores are abandoned non-exhausted. In some rare cases, the use of flint pebbles of poor quality is also documented and seems to be the result of a very opportunistic and expeditious behaviour. Four flakes are retouched and are from an advanced phase of the debitage. The patterns from Pirro Nord fit well with the technological features provided by most of the European Mode 1 sites. Some peculiar features may be observed, possibly due to the main use of flint. The site with the highest similarities with Pirro Nord is Cà Belvedere di, possibly because the raw materials are ovoid flint pebbles. The lithic strategies at Pirro Nord are characterized, (1) by “opportunistic” and expedient behaviour adapted to the raw material constraints, suggested by the very short reduction sequences and by the non-exhaustion of the cores and, (2) by a series of products (pointed flakes) that appears to indicate a presumable intentionality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Tavoliere di Puglia is a large alluvial plain located in southern Italy (Foggia Province, Apulia Region). From a geological perspective view, it represents the northern part of the Bradanic trough located between the southern Apennine Chain and the Apulian Foreland. A detailed geological survey of the middle-late Pleistocene terraces has been performed in this area and a new geologic map, at 1:150,000 scale, is here described. Criteria to distinguish these units are based on the recognition of basal unconformity surfaces: seven different synthems (UBSU, Unconformity-bounded Stratigraphic Units) have been discriminated. The data are presented in a synthesis map in which the geometrical relationships between the different sedimentary units are shown. New results for this sector of the Bradanic trough are significantly different from previous literature data. Furthermore, the map allows a reliable reconstruction of the Tavoliere di Puglia paleogeography during the Late Quaternary. Moreover, a detailed map of the Pleistocene terraces is fundamental to analyze and solve environmental problems associated with soil loss and desertification processes and river flood events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic nitrogen (N) deposition is a threat to biodiversity that results from the eutrophication of ecosystems. We studied long-term monitoring data from 28 forest sites with a total of 1,335 permanent forest floor vegetation plots from northern Fennoscandia to southern Italy to analyse temporal trends in vascular plant species cover and diversity. We found that the cover of plant species which prefer nutrient-poor soils (oligotrophic species) decreased the more the measured N deposition exceeded the empirical critical load ( CL) for eutrophication effects ( P = 0.002). Although species preferring nutrient-rich sites (eutrophic species) did not experience a significantly increase in cover ( P = 0.440), in comparison to oligotrophic species they had a marginally higher proportion among new occurring species ( P = 0.091). The observed gradual replacement of oligotrophic species by eutrophic species as a response to N deposition seems to be a general pattern, as it was consistent on the European scale. Contrary to species cover changes, neither the decrease in species richness nor of homogeneity correlated with nitrogen CL exceedance (ExCLempN). We assume that the lack of diversity changes resulted from the restricted time period of our observations. Although existing habitat-specific empirical CL still hold some uncertainty, we exemplify that they are useful indicators for the sensitivity of forest floor vegetation to N deposition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Lithic assemblages contribute to gather insights into past human populations, their technical know-how and behaviour. The present research focuses on the period of the first Gravettian, dated between 29,000 and 27,000 BP, by analysing the technological aspects of the lithic industry recovered from layer 23 of Grotta Paglicci at Rignano Garganico (Apulia, Southern Italy). Stone tool production is characterized by the twofold concept of variability and standardization: blade débitage, one the one hand, is finalized at the manufacture of a differentiated set of tools for domestic activities, whose variability is determined by size, shape and edges, and sometimes by retouch and functional fractures, whilst bladelet production, on the other hand, aims at obtaining standardized backed tools referable to armatures hafted onto throwing weapons. Standardization of the backed points is determined both by débitage and by intensive modification. Different modalities for bladelet production are documented, among which prevails the exploitation of burin cores on thick blades. The flintknappers’ technical choices show several similarities to contemporaneous industries of Central and Western Europe. The evident change in armature manufacture which took place after 30,000 BP, represented throughout Europe by the diffusion of straight and pointed backed armatures, was most likely related to the development of new hunting technologies. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Although Italy is one of the most important exporters of furniture in Europe, it is also a great importer of foreign timber. We decided to focus our study on Walnut tree (Juglans regia L.) as it can be considered one of the most important species for high quality timber production in Italy. Our goal is to examine the production of high quality timber deriving from a dedicated walnut tree plantation with the intent of evaluating the environmental impact from the LCA prospective (ISO 14040). The functional unit adopted here was 1 m3 of dry solid under bark wood (u = 12%). Tillage and N-based fertilisers had the heaviest environmental impact, respectively through diesel consumption and a high NH3 volatilization rate. The emissions produced by urea may be reduced by switching to other N-fertilisers with a lower NH3 volatilization rate, or by choosing biofuels that can also represent an alternative to traditional diesel. Plant protection systems against animals such as metallic fences represent an unexpected hot spot because of the steel production and galvanizing processes related to them. Biodegradable protection systems might be adopted instead of metallic fences, even though this choice depends on the size of the animals. When considering the lack of data in industrial tree plantations literature with regard to the production of high quality wood, the present LCA study can be considered a useful tool in providing a deeper understanding of the key environmental impact issues related to high quality timber production. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Variants of the angiotensin I converting enzyme (peptidyl-dipeptidase A) 1 (ACE1) gene and the apolipoprotein E gene (APOE) have been suggested to be associated with human longevity. We tested the association between the ACE1 insertion (I allele)/deletion (D allele) polymorphism and longevity in a population from Southern Italy and examined the impact of geographical variation on ACE1 allele frequencies on reported associations from other European countries. ACE1 and APOE genotypes were obtained on 82 centenarians and 252 middle-aged, unrelated subjects or volunteers. No statistically significant differences were found in ACE1 genotype or allele frequencies between centenarians and controls in this Southern Italian population nor was there any observed interaction with APOE alleles that are also reputed to be linked to longevity. However, decreasing gradients in ACE1*I allele frequencies, both in centenarians and controls, with concomitant increases in ACE1*D allele frequencies (particularly the ACE1*D/*D genotype) were observed to be statistically significant from Northern to Southern regions of Europe. These findings did not support the previously reported association between ACE1 polymorphism and longevity. However, there were interesting and significant differences, as one moves from Northern to Southern Europe, with regard to the distribution of ACE1 alleles. Such genetic differences in conjunction with differing environmental factors may explain in part previous results suggesting a role of this polymorphism in longevity. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Between the 1220s and about 1500, an abridgment of Introductorium maius in astronomiam, written by Abã Ma'šar (787-886), was copied several times and six copies have been preserved, originating from southern Italy, the Low Countries, and Paris. The abridgment itself, based upon a Latin translation of the treatise by Hermann of Dalmatia (from 1140-43), was made in the second part of the twelfth century by Georgius Zothorus Zaparus Fendulus. The total number of images representing instruments, in all six manuscripts, is about 150. It is a rare opportunity to have such a chain of textual and iconographic sources, wherein we can trace almost the exact origin of each organological term and, through its illustration, recognize its precise meaning at the time. A comparison of corresponding images shows textual and iconographical changes occurring in the terminology of instruments during the translation of Abã Ma'šar's text from Arabic into Latin, clues about instruments which provide Fendulus's misunderstanding of Latin terminology in his illustrated prototype of the abridgment, and the changes which occurred in the iconography during the transmission of the treatise throughout Europe over almost 300 years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The geographical location and shape of Apulia, a narrow land stretching out in the sea at the South of Italy, made this region a Mediterranean crossroads connecting Western Europe and the Balkans. Such movements culminated at the beginning of the Iron Age with the Iapygian civilization which consisted of three cultures: Peucetians, Messapians, and Daunians. Among them, the Daunians left a peculiar cultural heritage, with one-of-a-kind stelae and pottery, but, despite the extensive archaeological literature, their origin has been lost to time. In order to shed light on this and to provide a genetic picture of Iron Age Southern Italy, we collected and sequenced human remains from three archaeological sites geographically located in Northern Apulia (the area historically inhabited by Daunians) and radiocarbon dated between 1157 and 275 calBCE. We find that Iron Age Apulian samples are still distant from the genetic variability of modern-day Apulians, they show a degree of genetic heterogeneity comparable with the cosmopolitan Republican and Imperial Roman civilization, even though a few kilometers and centuries separate them, and they are well inserted into the Iron Age Pan-Mediterranean genetic landscape. Our study provides for the first time a window on the genetic make-up of pre-Roman Apulia, whose increasing connectivity within the Mediterranean landscape, would have contributed to laying the foundation for modern genetic variability. In this light, the genetic profile of Daunians may be compatible with an at least partial autochthonous origin, with plausible contributions from the Balkan peninsula., (© The Author(s) 2022. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Molecular Biology and Evolution.)