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This paper proposes a hybrid technique to solve the inverse problem of damage localization and severity estimation in beam structures. The first phase of the method involves the use of influence lines (ILs) to extract information about the damage location. Then, a genetic algorithm (GA), representing the core of the whole procedure, uses static parameters as displacements and rotations at a few points to evaluate the bending stiffness along the structure by updating a finite-element model. The information obtained in the first phase is used in the second phase for (1) reducing the number of design variables of the GA and the consequent computational time; and (2) improving the accuracy of GA solutions because it allows a suitably trained neural network to select proper values for the coefficients of the proposed cost function in the genetic algorithm. The procedure is applied to a test problem, a simply supported, prestressed concrete railway bridge located in northern Italy. Numerical experiments are also conducted to test the procedure when the beam length and geometric properties vary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Marsili Seamount (<1Ma; Southern Tyrrhenian Sea, Italy) is classically interpreted as the spreading ridge of the about 2Ma old Marsili oceanic back-arc associated to the Southern Tyrrhenian Sea–Calabrian Arc subduction setting. High resolution bathymetric data show that the ridge extends along a NNE–SSW strike and consists of 4 sectors and 11 major segments. Seafloor failures and central-type activity from an overpressurized sill-like reservoir characterize the central sector, whereas fissural volcanism and passive magma ascent take places at the edges. Cones indicative of high effusion rates concentrate in the axial zone, whereas flat-top shields associated to lower rates are located at the northern tip. Along-axis, lateral magma migration due to a local deepening of the elastic–brittle thickness of the crust develops from the central sector toward the northern tip. The opening of the Marsili back-arc basin vanished from about 1Ma and the Marsili Ridge formed by passive magma ascent along pre-existing fractures inherited by early spreading activity. The values of the long-term output rate, the ratio between magmatic pressure and tectonic stress, and the morphological features of the lava flows and dikes are consistent with those found in volcanic arc subduction settings. Marsili Ridge represents a volcanic arc edifice emplaced on an older, ‘relict’ back-arc. The formation of the Marsili Ridge marks the transition from an extensional subduction setting to a compressive one. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In 2004, contaminated water was found inside the safety interspace around the spent fuel pool; therefore, an ample monitoring programme of the structure, soils and shallow groundwater was started in order to detect any radioactive leakage into the environment. A first group of piezometers was installed. In the one nearest to the pool, an anomalous activity of 90Sr (∼10−2 Bq l−1) was found, calling for the following actions: gradual enlarging of the monitoring network, implementation of in situ permeability tests and groundwater tracer test and study of groundwater mobility of the main radionuclides contained in the pool water: 90Sr, 137Cs, 241Am and 239/240Pu. Because 90Sr is the only artificial radionuclide detected in groundwater, this study mainly focused on this one. All the investigations demonstrated that 90Sr coming from the pool is not detectable any longer just some tens of metres from the building and allow the correlation of 90Sr concentration to flow and water-table fluctuations. Moreover, such a wide mass of hydrogeological and radiological data allows the estimation of an environmental value for environmental radiological significance. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Abstract: We apply the Permanent Scatterers Synthetic Aperture Radar Interferometry (PS-InSAR) technique to the Campania Region (Southern Italy), which includes the Southern Apennines chain and Plio-Quaternary structural depressions, with the aim to detect ground displacements at a regional scale. The study area, which extends for 13,600 km2, is characterized by intense urbanization, active volcanoes (Phlegraean Fields, Vesuvius and Ischia), seismogenic structures, landslides, hydrogeological instability. PS-InSAR technique allows us to identify a set of radar benchmarks (PS) where accurate displacement measurements can be carried out. About 1.7·106 PS are identified by processing Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) images acquired in ascending and descending orbits from 1992 to 2001 by the European Remote Sensing satellites (ERS). The PS-InSAR application at regional scale detected ground deformations ranging from +28 to −39 mm/yr. The calculated velocity values are consistent with the available GPS and levelling data from selected areas. We identify volcanic areas in which the deformation is mainly related to the depressurization of the local hydrothermal systems, and recognize deformations along seismogenic and aseismic NNW–SSE and NW–SE faults. The deformations localized along the Southern Apennines chain are mainly related to landslides while those occurring in the plains are due to subsidence processes induced by intensive drainage from wells, i.e. anthropic activity. The review of 9 years of SAR data shows that tectonic, volcanic/hydrothermal, gravity, and anthropic processes are responsible for the ground deformation of Campania. The proposed joint interpretation of deformation fields related to natural and anthopogenic factors provides a comprehensive view of the dynamics of the Earth’s surface. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

We relocate the 1990–1991 Potenza (Southern Apennines belt, Italy) sequences and calculate focal mechanisms. This seismicity clusters along an E–W, dextral strike–slip structure. Second-order clusters are also present and reflect the activation of minor shears. The depth distribution of earthquakes evidences a peak between 14 and 20 km, within the basement of the subducting Apulian plate. The analysed seismicity does not mirror that of Southern Apennines, which include NW–SE striking normal faults and earthquakes concentrated within the first 15 km of the crust. We suggest that the E–W faults affecting the foreland region of Apennine propagate up to 25 km of depth. The Potenza earthquakes reflect the reactivation of a deep, preexisting fault system. We conclude that the seismotectonic setting of Apennines is characterized by NW–SE normal faults affecting the upper 15 km of the crust, and by E–W deeper strike–slip faults cutting the crystalline basement of the chain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Morphological features of mixing/mingling structures of heterogeneous juveniles from the 13-ka-old Upper Pollara eruption (Salina Island, southern Italy) are studied. These heterogeneous rocks result from the mixing between an andesitic and a rhyolitic magma. Concentration patterns generated by magma mixing are analyzed on digital images and results have been compared with those obtained from numerical simulations of mixing processes coupling chaotic advection and chemical diffusion. Results show that the Upper Pollara rocks were produced by mixing 24–49% of andesite and 76–51% of rhyolite. Multifractal analysis of the mixing structures is performed and the mixing intensity, i.e. the degree of interaction between the two end-member magmas, has been deduced from the analysis of the singularity spectrum. Results show that narrower is the multifractal spectrum, the higher is the degree of homogenization of magmas. Reynolds number (Re) during mixing has been estimated from the geometrical analysis of mixing structures by using experimentally defined relationships between shape parameters and Re. Results show that Re is between ca. 500 and 7000. There is a positive correlation between the estimated initial percentage of mafic magma in the different analyzed samples and Re, in agreement with the observation that the higher is the percentage of the mafic, lower viscosity magma, the higher is the turbulence of the mixing system. In addition, our analysis reveals an unexpected inverse relationship between the calculated Re and the degree of magma homogeneity suggesting that energy dissipation may have had a major role in the controlling mixing process because dissipation is inversely proportional to the mixing efficiency. Results suggest that mixing processes between the andesitic and rhyolitic magmas mainly developed in the conduit. It is also suggested that mixing occurred in a shear layer-type or pipe-type flow. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The volcanism of back-arc basins resembles that of oceanic spreading centers, rifts, and, in vanishing stages, extensional arcs, depending on the amount and rate of the dynamic processes associated to the subduction. Marsili Seamount (MS) represents the axial ridge of the Southern Tyrrhenian Sea back-arc basin, which is connected to the slab roll-backing processes affecting the Calabrian Arc (Italy). The Southern Tyrrhenian Sea back-arc is characterized by a significant decline in the spreading rate with time (2.8–3.1 mm/a to less than 1.8 mm/a in the last 0.78–1 Ma). MS develops between about 1 Ma and 3 ka and mainly consists of lava flows erupted from central and fissural vents. The MS products belong to the calcalkaline association and range in composition from basalts to trachytes. We present new stratigraphic, geochronological, and geochemical data (glass shards and minerals) of tephra from a 2.35 m long gravity core (Marsili1 core) recovered on MS at 943 m b.s.l. We recognize five tephras [M1 (top of the core) to M5 (bottom)] represented by poorly to highly vesiculated ashes. The lowermost tephra M5 emplaced between ca. 7 and 26 ka B.P.; it represents the less evolved distal counterpart of the Unit D related to the Biancavilla–Montalto products of Mount Etna (Sicily). The M1 to M4 tephras emplaced between 2.1 and 7.2 ka B.P. and are related to strombolian-like submarine eruptions of NNE–SSW aligned MS vents. The composition of the M1–M4 glasses ranges from basaltic trachyandesites to andesites and trachytes. The M1 to M4 magmas mainly originated by crystal fractionation from a heterogeneous mantle source with varying LILE enrichments by subduction-related fluids. The degree of evolution of the MS magmas increases with decreasing time. The formation of vertically stacked magma storage zones at the crust/mantle interface and within MS is related to the vanishing Southern Tyrrhenian Sea opening, which implies the rapid (< 1 Ma) evolution from a slow spreading back-arc setting to an arc system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Permanent Scatterers Synthetic Aperture Radar Interferometry (PSInSAR) and Global Position System (GPS) are applied to investigate the most recent surface deformation of the Campi Flegrei caldera. The PSInSAR analysis, based on SAR data acquired by ERS-1/2 sensors during the 1992–2001 time interval and by the Radarsat sensor during 2003–2007, identifies displacement patterns over wide areas with high spatial resolution. GPS data acquired by the Neapolitan Volcanic Continuous GPS network provide detailed ground velocity information of specific sites. The satellite-derived data allow us to characterize the deformation pattern that affected the Campi Flegrei caldera during two recent subsidence (1992–1999) and uplift (2005–2006) phases. PSInSAR results show the re-activation of the caldera ring-faults, intra-caldera faults, and eruptive fissures. We discuss the results in the light of the available volcanological, structural and geophysical data and propose a relationship between the structures activated during the recent unrest episodes and those responsible for the recent (<3.8–4ka) volcanism. The combined interpretation of the collected data show that (a) the caldera consists of two sectors separated by a N–S striking faulting zone and (b) the intra-caldera NW–SE faults and eruptive fissures in the central-eastern sector re-activated during the studied unrest episodes and represent possible pathways for the ascent of magma and/or gas to the surface. In this sector, maximum horizontal strain, recent volcanism (3.8–4ka), active degassing and seismicity concentrate. The fault re-activation is related to the dynamics of the caldera and not to tectonic stress. The deformation fields of the uplift and subsidence episodes are consistent with hydrothermal processes and degassing from a magmatic reservoir that is significantly smaller than the large (∼40km3) magma chamber responsible for the caldera formation. We provide evidence that the monitoring of the horizontal and vertical components of deformation improves the identification of active, aseismic faults. Accordingly, we suggest that future ground deformation models should include the re-activation of the detected structures. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

We review the instrumental seismicity at the boundary between the Southern and Central Apennines with the aim of detecting the active structures and clarifying the seismotectonic framework of this area of the chain. Single events with M<3.0, low magnitude (M<4.0) seismic sequences (1997-1998 and 2001), and swarms (1999, 2000 and 2005) characterize the seismicity of this area. Earthquakes occur within the upper 15 km of the crust, prevalently aligning along the Apennine Chain in a NW-SE axis. Strain analyses indicate that these events are related to the main NE-SW extension processes that affect the Apennine Chain. They are concentrated in the following areas: (a) south of the seismogenetic source responsible for the 1915 destructive earthquake (2000 swarm), (b) between the faults of the 1984 and 1805 destructive events (2001 sequence), and (c) between the faults of the 1805 and 1688 events (1997-1998 seismic sequence). The 1999, 2000 and 2005 swarms occurred along the so-called Ortona-Roccamonfina alignment, which is the NNE-SSW belt separating the Central Apennines from the Southern ones. The distribution of these swarms and the focal mechanisms indicate the presence of active NE-SW faults related to a local NW-SE extension. This direction of extension was also observed in the 1997-1998 and 2001 sequences. The location of the NE-SW striking faults, responsible for the seismic swarms, suggest that some segments of the Ortona-Roccamonfina line may be a rupture response to both the NE-SW regional extension of the Southern Apennines, and to a NW-SE striking longitudinal extension. Our data indicate that the seismicity of the Apennines at the boundary between the central and southern sectors is related to both the eastward migration of the chain (the NE-SW extension) and to its progressive curvature and thinning (the NW-SE extension). The NE-SW extension is responsible for the major earthquakes whereas the lower energy seismicity is related to the NW-SE extension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We analyze the 1997–2006 seismicity of the transition zone between Southern and Central Apennines, which is one of the most active seismic areas of Italy. Our aim is to add information on the seismotectonic picture of this area. Seismic activity is characterized by single events with M <3.0 and low magnitude (M <4.0) seismic sequences (1997–98 and 2005) and swarms (1999, 2000 and 2001). Hypocenters are within the upper 15 km of the crust. The epicentral distribution of the relocated seismicity shows that single events prevalently align NW–SE along the Apennine chain axis. This seismicity is related to the main, NE–SW extension affecting the chain. Single events concentrate also: at the south of the seismogenetic source responsible for the 1915 earthquake, where the 2000 swarm occurred; between the faults of the 1984 and 1805 events, where the 2001 sequence developed; between the faults of the 1805 and 1688 events, where the 1997–1998 seismic sequence concentrated. The seismic swarms occurred in 1999, 2000 and 2005 are located inside the Ortona–Roccamonfina structural line, which strikes NNE–SSW and separates the Central Apennines from the Southern ones. The epicentral distribution of these swarms and focal mechanisms suggest the presence of active NE–SW faults moving in response to a NW–SE extension. The results of the strain analysis on 52 well-constrained focal mechanisms evidence a prevailing NE–SW extension, corresponding to the large scale stress field acting in the Apennine Chain, and a second-order NW–SE extension. This last direction of extension was already observed in the 1997–98 and 2001 seismic sequences. The location of the NE–SW striking faults responsible for the seismic swarms suggest that some segments of the Ortona–Roccamonfina line are still active and move in response to both the NE–SW regional extension of Southern Apennines, and to a NW–SE striking longitudinal extension. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The rocks of Alban Hills and Monti Sabatini volcanoes (Central Italy) and their associated epiclastic deposits have been extensively used as building material in ancient Rome from about VIIIth century BCE to IVth century CE. However, the identification of the source areas of these rocks is difficult due to the lack of an integrated stratigraphic and geochemical analysis of the relationships between the two volcanic districts, and to the alteration affecting the primary products as consequence of weathering and pedogenetic processes. Here, a comprehensive, upgraded stratigraphic and geochronological review of the two volcanic districts, corroborated by new geochronological data for several eruptive units and altered deposits is presented, coupled to a complete geochemical background, achieved by means of newly determined major and trace element analyses for all the main eruptive units. A study of the alteration processes of the primary products is also presented, and the age of the main weathering and pedogenetic phases, associated to Quaternary climatic changes, are also investigated. The results are integrated with those from literature in order to construct discriminant diagrams based on selected trace elements, and allow us to characterize the primary and altered volcanic deposits in the Rome area, distinguish products of different volcanic districts, discuss the effects of different weathering processes on the mobility of some elements, and provide a reference frame for the provenance of the volcanic materials employed in ancient Roman masonry. The interdisciplinary data set and results presented here provide groundwork for volcanological, climate, pedological and archaeological provenance studies. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: We present a study of olivine-hosted glass/melt inclusions (MIs) in the most primitive rocks erupted at Procida Island, within the Phlegraean Volcanic District (PVD), Southern Italy. MIs were analyzed by combined Scanning Electron Microscopy coupled with Energy Dispersive X-ray-detectors, Wavelength Dispersive X-ray-equipped Electron Microprobe and Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) Spectroscopy; notably, the novel Focal-Plane-Array mode provided high-resolution FT-IR images evidencing the distribution of the C–H–O species across samples. Olivines range in composition from Fo85 to Fo90, do not show chemical zoning and are totally anhydrous. The majority of the MIs are glassy, while only few are completely crystallized. Some MIs, however, show the occurrence of crystal nuclei, i.e., nano- to micro-sized pyroxenes and oxides, and appear as low-crystallized MIs. The glass of crystal-free and low-crystallized MIs shows K-affinity and a compositional range along the basalt, trachy-basalt, shoshonite, tephrite basanite and phono-tephrite array. H2O and CO2 contents up to 2.69wt.% and 2653ppm, respectively, define a major degassing trend with small isobaric deviations. The collected data allow recalculating entrapment pressures from ~350MPa to <50MPa and suggest that the magma ascent was dominated by degassing. Crystallization was a minor process, likely also consequent to local CO2-fluxing. Mingling occurred between variable degassed and crystallized magma portions during decompression. The geochemical and isotopic data of Procida glasses and rocks, and the compositional relationship between our MIs and those from slightly more evolved and radiogenic Phlegraean products, indicate that Procida basalts are an adequate parental end-member for the PVD. Our data suggest that a CO2-rich magma source was stored at depths of at least 13–14km (i.e., 350MPa) beneath the PVD. Fast ascent of magma batches directly started from this depth shortly before PVD trachy-basaltic to shoshonitic eruptions. Such results have implication on volcanic hazard assessment in the PVD area. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The transition between the central and southern Apennines (Italy) is marked, among other regional features, by a dramatic shift (from SW-dipping to NE-dipping) of the vergence of the large (more than 25 km long) seismogenic normal faults, responsible for M>6 pre-historical and historical earthquakes. Also, in the exact area where such accommodation occurs, in 2005 a low magnitude (M<3) seismic sequence took place along a short stretch of a long-lived transverse structure running across this transition zone. We believe this sequence sheds light on the geometry and the role of the interaction between these seismogenic domains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Eruptive scenarios associated with the possible reactivation of maar-forming events in the Quaternary, ultrapotassic Colli Albani Volcanic District (CAVD) provides implications for volcanic hazard assessment in the densely populated area near Rome. Based on detailed stratigraphy, grain size, componentry, ash morphoscopy and petro-chemical analyses of maar eruption products, along with textural analysis of cored juvenile clasts, we attempt to reconstruct the eruptive dynamics of the Prata Porci and Albano maars, as related to pre- and syn-eruptive interactions between trachybasaltic to K-foiditic feeder magmas and carbonate–silicoclastic and subvolcanic country rocks. Magma volumes in the order of 0.5–3.1×108 m3 were erupted during the monogenetic Prata Porci maar activity and the three eruptive cycles of the Albano multiple maar, originating loose to strongly lithified, wet and dry pyroclastic surge deposits, Strombolian scoria fall horizons and lithic-rich explosion breccias. These deposits contain a wide range of accessory and accidental lithic clasts, with significant vertical stratigraphic variations in the lithic types and abundances. The two maar study cases hold a record of repeated transitions between magmatic (i.e, Strombolian fallout) and hydromagmatic (wet and dry pyroclastic surges) activity styles. Evidence of phreatic explosions, a common precursor of explosive volcanic activity, is only found at the base of the Prata Porci eruptive succession. The quantitative evaluation of the proportions of the different eruptive styles in the stratigraphic record of the two maars, based on magma vs. lithic volume estimates, reveals a prevailing magmatic character in terms of erupted magma volumes despite the hydromagmatic footprint. Different degrees of explosive magma–water interaction were apparently controlled by the different hydrogeological and geological–structural settings. In the Prata Porci case, shifts in the depth of magma fragmentation are proposed to have accompanied eruption style changes. In the Albano case, a deeply dissected geothermal aquifer in peri-caldera setting and variable mass eruption rates were the main controlling factors of repeated shifts in the eruptive style. Finally, textural evidence from cored juvenile clasts and analytical modeling of melt–solid heat transfer indicate that the interacting substrate in the Prata Porci case was at low, uniform temperature (~ 100 °C) as compared to the highly variable temperatures (up to 700–800 °C) inferred for the geothermal system beneath Albano. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The island of Ischia, located at the northwestern end of the Gulf of Napoli (Italy), is a volcanic area that is historically active (the Arso eruption, in 1302 and the Casamicciola earthquake, in 1883) and has diffuse hydrothermal phenomena. We present in this work a study of the surface deformation occurring in the island, which is based on applying the Differential Synthetic Aperture Radar Interferometry (DInSAR) algorithm referred to as Small BAseline Subset (SBAS) technique. This study is focused on the 1992–2003 time interval and SAR data acquired by the European Remote Sensing (ERS) satellites from ascending and descending orbits have been used, thus allowing us to discriminate the vertical and east–west components of the displacements. A validation of the DInSAR results has been carried out first by comparing the vertical deformations estimated from the SAR data with those measured from the spirit leveling network that is present in the area. In particular, we computed the difference between the mean vertical deformation velocities estimated from the SAR and the corresponding geodetic measurements along three main leveling lines; the maximum value of the root mean square difference is of about 1 mm/yr. The final discussion is dedicated to the interpretation of the detected displacements, benefiting from the overall information extracted from the ascending and descending DInSAR measurements. In particular, DInSAR data relative to the vertical deformation component show that the present-day subsidence of Ischia mainly develops in areas characterized by active landsliding and along faults; moreover, the deflation of the island, which is recorded by the horizontal displacement component, is probably related to the de-pressurization of the hydrothermal system. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

An integrated petrological, geophysical, and fluid-inclusion model is presented for the internal structure of the active Vulcano Island, Southern Tyrrhenian Sea. The present structure of the magma storage system in the crust consists of two major deep accumulation zones located at 17-21 km and 8-13 km depth, plus a minor one at 1-5 km depth, beneath Fossa Cone. The deepest magma accumulation zone contains mafic melts and is located at the transition between the upper mantle and a granulitic lower crust. This reservoir has been active since the onset of the exposed volcanism, and has undergone continuous fractional crystallization, crustal assimilation, and mixing with primary melts from the mantle. Slightly differentiated magmas from the deep reservoir feed a shallower accumulation zone in the middle and upper crust, or erupt directly to the surface through lateral vents. Deep melts probably enter the shallowest reservoir shortly before magma outbreak at the surface, and may represent the trigger of eruptions. According to our model, magmatic eruptions at Vulcano are related to deep magma dynamics, whereas most of the changes in the geochemical and geophysical parameters observed at the active cone in the last century could be due to shallow depth modification of rock permeability, possibly as a result of cone gravitative instability and/or tectonic events. Implications for strategies of volcano monitoring and for forecasting eruptions are briefly discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Palinuro volcanic chain (PVC) is located about 80 km offshore the Campania region (Italy) in the southern sector of the Tyrrhenian Sea. The chain consists of 15 volcanic edifices aligned in an E-W direction with two distinct major seamounts (Palinuro and Glabro). They cover a 90 km long and 20 km wide area, with a present-day volume of 2700 km3. Palinuro volcanism emplaced between 0.8 and 0.3 Ma, although shallow seismicity and hydrothermalism indicate an ongoing volcanic activity. A geomorphological analysis of the volcanic chain and data from a multichannel seismic profile reveal large volumes of buried chaotic material suggesting gravity mass sliding from the volcano flanks and slide scars. A stability analysis of the Palinuro flanks has been carried out to determine the sectors potentially prone to sliding in case of shallow volcanic earthquakes. Landslides are simulated by adopting a scenario-based approach. Tsunamis induced by these mass movements and their propagation across the Tyrrhenian Sea are modeled. Results suggest that shallow earthquakes (M ~4.6–4.8) are able to destabilize the flanks of the volcanic chain generating slope failures. Sliding volumes in the order of 1.5 km3 and 2.4 km3 may induce waves as high as 1.5 and 6 m, respectively, along the peri-Tyrrhenian coast. Our results underline the need for further investigations on the stability of the submarine volcanoes of the Tyrrhenian basin. These volcanoes are still poorly known although their instability could trigger large tsunamis along the southern Italy coastal sectors. Our recommendation is that multiparamertic monitoring networks on PVC and periodic oceanic cruises should be put into action, and further that a systematic evaluation of the tsunami hazard related to possible sliding phenomena on the flanks of the Tyrrhenian seamounts should be performed. • A stability analysis on the Palinuro volcanic chain (Italy) revealed its weakest sectors in case of volcanic earthquakes. • Landslides scenarios have been simulated on the three most unstable sections found. • Tsunami generation and propagation have been evaluated as a consequence of these different-size submarine movements. • Two out of three events generate waves potentially hazardous for specific coastal sections of the southern Tyrrhenian Sea. • The study highlights the need for further investigations and monitoring of the numerous Tyrrhenian Seamounts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surveillance data collected in the period 2017-20 for Brucella spp. in wildlife of the Lombardy Region in northern Italy were used to describe the exposure of the wildlife species to Brucella spp. in wild boar (Sus scrofa), European brown hare (Lepus europaeus), fallow deer (Dama dama), red deer (Cervus elaphus), and roe deer (Capreolus capreolus). Among the tested species, wild boar (n=6,440) showed the highest percentage of seropositive samples (5.9%). Notably, wild boars of perifluvial area of the Po River showed higher percentages of positivity than those of the pre-Alpine district. In addition, during the hunting season in 2018, 95 organs (uterus or testes, spleen, and submandibular lymph nodes) from wild boar of the perifluvial area of the Po River were collected for bacteriological examination. Brucella suis was isolated in culture from 18.9% of tested lymph nodes. These serological and microbiological results highlight the presence of B. suis in wild boar and suggest the importance of wild boar as a reservoir for B. suis. Comparison of the spatial distribution of Brucella-seropositive wild boars with the location of backyard swine farms revealed a higher chance of contact between the two populations only in the areas where the lower percentage of seropositive samples was observed. Conversely, the high percentage of seropositive samples observed in the Po River area coupled with positive microbiological cultures suggest a greater risk of infection for the humans directly or indirectly involved in wild boar hunting activity. These results may serve as a basis to establish sound wildlife management and to adopt education campaigns aimed at reducing the risk of human infection in people involved in wild boar hunting related activities., (© Wildlife Disease Association 2024.)

Aim: The use of complementary and alternative medicines (CAM) seems widespread in adults and children, despite the conflicting evidence regarding its effectiveness and safety. This study aims to investigate the prevalence of the use of CAM in a population of Italian children., Methods: This is a prospective observational study conducted in 4 family paediatric clinics, in Friuli Venezia Giulia, Italy, from February to June 2019. Children were enrolled after being visited. The use of CAM and essential therapies (ET) in the previous year was investigated with an anonymous questionnaire. The demographic characteristics of children and families were also collected., Results: Six hundred children were enrolled, mean age 5.8 years, 50% females. In the previous year, 358 (60%) children used both essential therapies and CAM, 209 children (35%) only essential therapies, 25 (4%) only CAM, and 8 (1%) no therapy. CAM was more frequently used in children whose parents have a higher educational level and come from high-income countries (P < .0001). Non-vaccinated children received more CAM than vaccinated ones (P < .003)., Conclusion: In our population, more than 60% of children receive CAM. The use of this medical approach seems strictly related to the social and cultural status of families., (© 2020 Foundation Acta Paediatrica. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Ground beef contamination with Escherichia coli is usually a result of carcass faecal contamination during the slaughter process. Carcasses are contaminated when they come into contact with soiled hides or intestinal leakage content during dressing and the evisceration processes. A more recent and compelling hypothesis is that, when lymph nodes are present in manufacturing beef trimmings, they can be a potential source of Enterobacteriaceae contamination of ground beef. The aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence of E. coli in lymph nodes from beef carcasses used for ground meat production, in six slaughter plants situated in central Italy A total of 597 subiliac (precrural) lymph nodes were obtained from 597 cattle carcasses and screened for E. coli by culture. Furthermore, E. coli isolates (one per positive carcass) were tested for stx1, stx2 eaeA and hlyA genes that are commonly used to identify and characterise shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC). In addition, the E. coli isolates were profiled for antimicrobial susceptibility. A proportion of 34.2% (204/597) carcasses were positive for E. coli. PCR revealed that 29% (59/204) of E. coli possessed stx1 or stx2 which corresponded to 9.9% of the cattle sampled. Moreover, a combination of stx1 or stx2 and eaeA was found in in 4 isolates (2% among E. coli positive samples and 1% among cattle sampled) and a combination of stx1 or stx2 and eaeA and hly in 1 isolate (0.5% and 0.2%). More than 95% of isolates were susceptible to gentamicin, ceftriaxone, cyprofloxacin and cefotaxime while high rates of resistance were recorded for cephalotin, ampicillin, tetracycline, tripe sulfa and streptomycin. The multivariate analysis identified "age" as the factor most closely related to E. coli positivity (either generic E. coli or STEC) in bovine lymph nodes. In conclusion, subiliac lymph nodes represent a source of E. coli for ground beef. These results are of major importance for risk assessment and improving good manufacturing practices during animal slaughter and ground meat production., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2020 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Counteract vaccine hesitancy is a public health priority. Main objectives of the cross-sectional study conducted were to evaluate knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors regarding vaccination issues, to estimate the prevalence of vaccine hesitancy and to estimate the effectiveness of vaccination counseling on community advocacy in a sample of general population. An anonymous validated questionnaire was administered in April 2017 at the main shopping center of Palermo and was followed by tailored vaccination counseling interventions. To estimate the effectiveness of the interventions four main connection parameters to the vaccinarsi.org website were evaluated, in the two months before and after the intervention and in the two months before the intervention compared with the same period of previous and following years. Among the 299 subject enrolled 12.7% were hesitant about vaccinations, and 4.7% declared being against vaccinations. General practitioners (GPs) and pediatricians were the most affordable source of information about vaccinations. A higher probability of vaccination hesitancy/refusal was reported among subjects who considered "alternative strategies" the best way for the prevention of infectious diseases (adj-OR = 7.01, IC95% 2.88-17.09, p -value < 0.001). A considerable increase of all the vaccinarsi.org website indicators analyzed was observed, from the area in which survey participants lived. Prevalence of vaccine hesitancy among population surveyed is consistent with the literature data. HCWs, such as GPs and pediatricians, should play a key role in modifying personal convictions and choices about vaccinations. A proper vaccination counseling could improve attitudes regarding vaccination issues, such as quality of web-based research.

Background and Aim of the Work: In response to the alarming reduction of vaccination coverage rates, Italian Ministry of Health approved the law number 119/2017, which has extended the number of mandatory vaccinations, for school attendance, from four to ten. The present study aims to evaluate accesses to the vaccination services of the Palermo Local Health Unit (LHU) and the variation of the vaccination coverage rates for hexavalent and measles, mumps, rubella and varicella (MMRV) vaccines, after the implementation of the law 119/2017., Methods: An extent of opening hours and an involvement of other health-care professionals in the vaccination services of the Palermo LHU have been adopted to manage the excess of accesses after the introduction of 119/2017 law and to limit the discomfort of general population. Vaccination accesses and coverage rates were calculated from the electronic immunization registers., Results: An overall increase of about 15% of single vaccination accesses was observed in the three semester after the introduction of the law in the LHU of Palermo. A peak of 35,516 accesses was observed during the second semester of 2017 (+ 30% compared to the same semesters of 2016 and 2018). From 2016 to 2018, coverage rates for full hexavalent cycle and first dose of MMRV, at 24 and 36 months, and for full MMRV cycle and fourth dose of diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, poliomyelitis (DTPa+IPV), among 6 years old children, showed considerable increases., Conclusions: Law 199/2017 demonstrated a high efficacy in increase vaccination coverage rates also in Sicily. The synergy established between the LHU and the University of Palermo allowed an excellent management of the accesses to vaccination services, making it possible to respond to the public health needs of the general population.

Background and Aim of the Work: Even though vaccination is easy to access in Europe, it has been facing several outbreaks caused by vaccine preventable diseases. Trying to balance the right to health of the community with individual self-determination, in Italy was mandate vaccination for ten vaccine preventable diseases in 2017. The project "Sportello Vaccinale" provided a counseling service to parents in kindergarten of Palermo. The main objective of the study was to investigate knowledge and compliance on vaccination by children's parents after the implementation of mandatory vaccination., Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted among parents accessing to the "Sportello Vaccinale" using a questionnaire.  The questionnaire consisted of 34 items divided into three sections: socio-demographic data; knowledge and attitude on mandatory vaccination using Health Belief Model (HBM); Health Literacy (HL) level., Results: A total of 95 questionnaires were garnered in the kindergartens from respondents with a mean age of 36 (±SD=6) years. The respondents who delayed hexavalent or Measles, Mumps, Rubella and Varicella (MMRV) vaccinations were 8 (8%) and the more frequent cause was fear of adverse reaction (87%). The sample had more often high level of health literacy (37%), and 55% had higher HBM score. The factor significantly associated with higher HBM score was the age of respondents (OR= 1.14, p=0.006) after controlling for other variables., Conclusions: Consent to vaccination practice was widely represented, but the results of the study highlighted the need for parents to have more information and more time devoted to the practice of vaccination counseling. Implementing counseling activities at school or at the vaccination service, could support an aware decision process of the parents on vaccination topic.

Background: Quality improvement is an increasingly recognized approach to maximize service effectiveness and minimize costs in public health. However, the Italian law never provided for the institutional accreditation of vaccination services. Furthermore, a recently approved law added six more compulsory vaccinations to the original four, which has led to a considerable increase in vaccination efforts, without any previous resources evaluation. The aim of the study was to investigate structural, organizational and managerial characteristics of the Italian vaccination services, in order to suggest the adoption of adequate quality standards., Study Design: A survey involving the representatives of the Italian Regions and Autonomous Provinces was performed between September 2017 and September 2018., Methods: An online questionnaire, including 26 items, designed to evaluate the structural, organizational and managerial characteristics of vaccination services was administered. The correlation between the number of vaccination centres and the coverage for each region was used to evaluate the performance of the vaccination services., Results: Respondents from seven Regions, totaling >15,000,000 inhabitants, answered the questionnaire. Overall, each vaccination service was potentially accessed by an average of 519 children aged zero to 24 months, with a β-coefficient of -0.87 (p = 0.01) for infant vaccination coverage in 2016. Eighty-five percent of vaccination services were provided with architectural features to accommodate the disabled but only 49% provided reserved parking lots. An average of 0.4 physicians and 0.6 other healthcare workers per 10,000 inhabitants were employed in vaccination services, with complete computerization in 74% of them., Conclusion: The inverse relation between vaccination services' spatial accessibility and vaccination coverage suggests that distance and accessibility of vaccination services should be considered in planning. This survey constitutes a baseline data for Italian vaccination services that could be useful for decision makers in establishing minimum requirements to provide high-quality preventive healthcare service.

During the summer of 2016 four cases of invasive meningococcal disease in rapid succession among young adults in the district of Palermo, Italy, resulting in one death, were widely reported by local and national mass media. The resultant 'epidemic panic' among the general population overloaded the vaccination units of the Palermo district over the following months. Strategies implemented by the Sicilian and local public health authorities to counteract 'meningitis fear' included the following: (a) extension of active and free-of-charge anti-meningococcal tetravalent vaccination from age class 12⁻18 to 12⁻30 years old; (b) implementation of vaccination units during normal clinic hours in rooms tailored for vaccine administration; (c) development of informative institutional tools and timely communication throughout local mass media to reassure the general population. In 2016, an increase in the anti-meningococcal coverage was observed in the Palermo district (+18% for 16-year-olds and +14% for 18-year-olds) and at the regional level (+11.2% and +13.5%, respectively). Concurrent catch-up of other recommended vaccinations for age (diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis-poliomyelitis and papillomavirus) resulted in a further increase of administered doses. The fear of meningitis, managed by the Sicilian public health authorities, had positive impacts in terms of prevention. In particular, the communication strategies that were adopted contributed to educating Sicilian young adults about vaccination issues.

Following two invasive meningococcal disease cases among twenties, general population overloaded vaccination Units of the Palermo's District during summer 2016. Sicilian Health Authorities adopted several public health strategies including: a) active meningococcal vaccination free of charge for people from 18 up to 30 years of age, b) information in crowded places and rapid communication by media. An increase in anti-meningococcal vaccination doses administered (+868%) as well as in anti-dTp and HPV vaccination (+41% and +8%, respectively) due to a further catch-up was observed.

Introduction: Vaccination coverages threaten to decrease because of false beliefs in their unsafety and inefficacy. Therefore formation of future health-care workers on this topic is fundamental to deal with any doubt and to promote active immunization among general population., Methods: In order to assess health-care students' knowledge about vaccination before an integrated seminar on this topic, and to evaluate their improvement after the educational intervention, an integrated educational intervention was held by a multidisciplinary team. Before and after the seminar, 118 students of medicine and biology schools at Palermo University were asked to answer 10 multiple-choice questions regarding vaccine history, mechanism of action, side effects, composition, use and nowadays issues (hesitancy). Two more questions investigating possible changes on students' attitudes towards vaccination and the usefulness of the formative intervention, were added at the post-test phase of the survey., Results: Eighty-one out of 118 students (68.6%) answered to both pre- and post-test questions. 97.6% and 81.5% of the participating group also completed the two additional questions about their improvement in knowledge (question 11) and attitudes (question 12) towards vaccinations. The post-test results showed a significant improvement for all questions administered, except for number 3 (about a specific immunological content), with an overall percentage of correct answers increasing from 38.8% to 77.6% (p©< 0.001)., Conclusions: The present explorative study put the basis for future studies, stronger in the methodology, and highlights the importance of educating health-care professions students by integrated extra-curricular intervention to be held early in their degree curricula and in order to improve knowledge and attitudes towards vaccinations and to prepare them to promote vaccines among the general population.

Aim: To assess epidemiological features of patients for which a consultation by the infectious diseases consultation team was required, and the rate of clinical advice that led to resource-saving advice (R-SA): discontinuation of inappropriate therapy or prophylaxis, de-escalation and switch from parenteral to oral therapy., Materials & Methods: An infectious diseases consultation team was implemented in a 1100-bed university hospital in Italy., Results: The most frequent infections for which an infectious diseases consultancy was required were pneumonia, bloodstream infections (17% by Candida) and urinary tract infections. In 828 patients (41.4%), interventions with the possibility of R-SA were suggested., Conclusion: Resource-saving advices were possible in 41% of cases. Recent surgery, having a central venous catheter, bloodstream, abdominal, surgical site or bone and joint infections were correlated to a higher probability of receiving R-SA.

Aims: To define the potential risk factors, prognostic indicators, and quality of life of HIV-infected patients with enteric salmonellosis., Methods: A five-year matched (1:2) case-control study was performed. Thirty cases and 60 matched controls were studied., Results: Univariate analysis (p < 0.05) identified six risk factors for enteric salmonellosis: 1) increasing value of APACHE II score, 2) altered nutritional status, 3) previous antibiotic therapy, 4) ingestion of "risk" foods, 5) multiple (> or = 2) previous opportunistic infections, 6) stage C of HIV infection. Using the multivariate analysis, the most powerful predictors for developing an enteric salmonellosis were: increasing value of APACHE II score and altered nutritional status. The response to therapy was favourable in all episodes. Five (17%) patients suffered from one or more relapses. Multivariate analysis identified that a low number of circulating CD4+ (< 100/mm3) and a high APACHE II score (> 15) predict an increased risk of relapses., Conclusions: HIV-associated enteric salmonellosis occurs more frequently in patients with advanced stage of HIV infection and with impaired nutritional status. We stress the need for a prompt and accurate diagnosis and treatment since the possible haematogenous spread and relapses appear reduced under early and prolonged antibiotic therapy.

Objective: To examine the role of serum cholesterol in acute myocardial infarction in a population of patients with no history of coronary heart disease and to establish the nature of this association, the degree of risk, and the possible interaction between serum cholesterol and other major risk factors for acute myocardial infarction., Design: Case-control study., Setting: 90 hospitals in northern, central, and southern Italy., Patients: 916 consecutive cases of newly diagnosed acute myocardial infarction and 1106 hospital controls admitted to hospital with acute conditions not related to known or suspected risk factors for coronary heart disease., Data Collection: Data were collected with a structured questionnaire and blood samples were taken by venepuncture as soon as possible after admission to hospital from cases and controls. Blood cholesterol concentrations were available for 614 cases and 792 controls., Results: After adjustment by logistic regression for sex, age, education, geographical area, smoking status, body mass index, history of diabetes and hypertension, and family history of coronary heart disease the estimated relative risks of acute myocardial infarction for quintiles of serum cholesterol (from lowest to highest) were 2.3 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.6 to 3.4), 3.1 (95% CI 2.1 to 4.6), 4.1 (95% CI 2.8 to 6.0), and 5.2 (95% CI 3.5 to 7.7). The estimated relative risk across selected covariates increased from the lowest to the highest quintile of serum cholesterol particularly for men, patients under 55 years of age, and smokers. When the possible interaction of known risk factors with serum cholesterol was examined, smoking habits, diabetes, and hypertension had approximately multiplicative effects on relative risk., Conclusions: This study indicates that serum cholesterol was an independent risk factor for acute myocardial infarction. This association was linear, with no threshold level. Moreover, there was a multiplicative effect between cholesterol and other major risk factors on the relative risk of acute myocardial infarction.

Fifty-five episodes of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) in AIDS patients were evaluated to assess clinical and laboratory risk factors predicting the probability of surviving the acute episode of PCP and the long-term survival after PCP. Age > 45 yrs, PaO2 < 50 mmHg, AaPO2 > 50 mmHg, and LDH > 800 IU/L correlated strongly with early mortality; patients who needed mechanical ventilation had a significantly lower PaO2 and serum albumin, and higher AaPO2 and LDH compared to the patients who did not. Neither age nor PaO2, AaPO2, LDH, albumin, days from onset, time for recovery, CD4+ cell count correlated with long-term survival of AIDS patients with PCP. Informations obtained at initial presentation of PCP may predict early outcome and influence therapeutic approach, improving chances for survival.

In Italy three epidemic peaks of meningococcal meningitis have occurred reflecting pandemic recrudescence of the disease. The seasonal distribution of the disease is similar in the epidemic or non-epidemic periods. There is no significant difference in the regional distribution of the disease. The disease is more prevalent among young males. The prevalent serogroup of Neisseria meningitidis is C. There has been a decrease in resistance to sulphonamides and an increase to rifampin among the isolated strains.

We have considered 91 cases of uterine cervical carcinoma observed in the period 1980-89, of which 31 (34%) at stage 0, and 23 (25.2%) at stage IB. The operative index was of 85.7%. Of 78 cases operated, 22 (28.2%) were treated with post-surgical adjuvant radiotherapy because of the presence of risk factors. The relapse incidence (follow-up 8-118 months) was in total 14.6% (12 relapses) with an NED-survival of 79.1% (at the first stage B 4.3% of relapses with an NED-survival of 95.6%). We have emphasized the importance of adjuvant radiotherapy which has allowed the progressive improvement in the therapeutic results of the last years.

We report the epidemiological data relative to meningococcal meningitis observed through a century, 1887-1986, in Italy. It is evident both from mortality and morbidity data that in Italy three epidemic peaks have occurred in 1915-1918, in 1939-1943 and in 1968-1972 respectively. The first two epidemic episodes are likely to be connected with the World Wars, the third one, recorded in other european and non european countries, probably reflects a pandemic recrudescence of the disease. The case fatality rate has shown periodic fluctuations connected with the epidemics and an average value of 10% until the sixties. Since then, the case fatality rate has stably decreased below that value. The seasonal distribution of the disease is similar both in the epidemic or non-epidemic period, with the higher incidence of cases between December and April and the lowest in August. There are no substantial differences in the regional distribution of the disease among the various regions of Italy. The distribution of cases, according to the different age-groups (0-14, 14-25, greater than 25 years old), indicates that the disease is more prevalent among the first group. However, in the last decade it is evident a trend of reduction among this group and a relative increase in other groups, in particular in subjects older than 25 years. In addition, meningococcal meningitis is prevalent among the males in the first two decades of life (less than 25 years old) while, afterward, there is an equal incidence both in males and females. The higher prevalence suggests a role of various close environmental contacts, such as the military service.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

In a retrospective study we examined 42 radical hysterectomies according to Wertheim-Meigs in the ten year period 1980-89, of whom 39 for carcinoma of the cervix, two for endometrial carcinoma at stage II one for microinvasive vaginal carcinoma. The incidence of relapses was 11.9% (5 cases) globally, with 3.7% at pathologic stage I, while the actuarial survival was 95.4% at stage I. The intraoperative, perioperative and postactinic complications related to integrated treatment are described, underlining the importance of post-surgical Radiotherapy in cases at risk.

In the decade 1977-1986 the total number of cases of brucellosis recorded in Italy was 25,165. The reported cases probably reflect only a minority of the total number of the effective cases due to lack of reporting. The epidemiological and clinical features of 62 cases of brucellosis, observed by the authors are reported as a sample of the total number of cases.