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This study investigates how farmers develop place-based relations when subject to structural conditions of violence and environmental crime. We particularly focus on environmental crimes perpetrated by the Camorra, the Neapolitan Mafia, at the expense of farming communities in the metropolitan areas of Naples and Caserta, in Italy. Farmers located in this area have struggled to mobilize collectively, with only a group of farmers enable to re-act to land exploitation, illegal burning or dumping, and more in general to the waste crisis. Stimulated by this rather puzzling empirical evidence, our research team engaged in a deeper investigation of the waste crisis, exploring how farmers located in the Land of Fires reacted to conditions of violence and environmental crime by developing a differentiated set of place-based narratives and practices. Using the Land of Fires and the waste crisis as an empirical context, in this study we focus particularly on conceptualizing place-based processes emerging in the context of organized violence and environmental crime. In our approach, these are structural conditions produced by the Camorra and the state, to which local agencies, such as farmers, respond. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The association between early atherosclerosis (IMT) and Atherogenic index of plasma (AIP), a marker of atherogenicity (log triglycerides/HDL Cholesterol) was evaluated in a population-based cohort study in women, aged 30–69, living in the metropolitan area of Naples, Southern Italy (Progetto ATENA). Serum cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, Triglyceride, Insulin, HOMA, Apo B, hs-CPR were measured in 390 menopausal women, as a part of 5.062 participants of the cohort. Women in the second and third tertile of AIP showed an increased common carotid intima-media thickness compared with those in the first tertile: II vs I tertile (O.R. = 2.24, p = 0.007), III vs I tertile (O.R. = 2.29, p = 0.005), adjusted for age and Systolic pressure or II vs I tertile (O.R. = 2.19, p = 0.014), III vs I tertile (O.R. = 2.13, p = 0.026), adjusted for age, Systolic pressure, Body mass index and Apo B. Women in the second and third tertile of AIP compared to those in the first tertile, showed an OR of 2.14 (p = 0.016) and 1.99 (p = 0.033) respectively, of having elevates level of IMT, adjusted for traditional cardiovascular risk factor (age, Systolic Pressure, BMI, LDL Cholesterol, Diabetes diagnosis). This finding shows that in this group of menopausal women increased IMT is associated with elevated AIP independently of age and different cardiovascular risk factors. These results are in line with the hypothesis that AIP may be an useful clinical tools to give additional information in the risk assessment for atherosclerotic disease, in particular in postmenopausal women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cognitive impairment is a common cause of morbidity in the elderly. The relationship between dietary habits and cognitive impairment in a female population living in the metropolitan area of Naples, in the Mediterranean part of Italy, has been evaluated in the Naples EPIC prospective cohort study. The study cohort, enrolled between 1993 and 1997, is composed of 5062 women aged 30-69 years. At time of enrolment anthropometric measures were performed and information about socio-demographic details, clinical data, lifestyle and dietary habits were collected. During 2008 and 2009, women 65 years of age or older received a telephone interview to evaluate cognitive status (TICS); the derived score was used as proxy of cognitive impairment. Analyses were carried out on 1514 participants. Linear regression model showed negative association between TICS score and, respectively, age at baseline (β = −.31, 95 % CI −.34, −.24), body mass index (BMI) (β = −.08, 95 % CI −.16, −.01), and glycemic load (GL) (β = −.02, 95 % CI −.03, −.01), whereas education level (β = 0.62, 95 % CI .56, .69) showed positive association. A logistic regression model, used to evaluate determinants of the low cognitive score (TICS score ≤ 15, 1st tertile), confirmed association for previous variables [age (OR 1.1, 95 % CI 1.08, 1.15); BMI (OR 1.03, 95 % CI 1.001, 1.07); GL (OR 1.005, 95 % CI 1.001, 1.011); education level (OR .82, 95 % CI .79, .84)] with, in addition, type II diabetes (OR 1.85, 95 % CI 1.014, 3.4). This study indicates that GL may play a role in determining risk of cognitive impairment, besides age, BMI, education and diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In urban areas, particulate matter (PM) is the most abundant airborne pollutant. Plants have been reported to filter PM, as leaves may intercept and adsorb it. The aims of the research were: i) to evaluate if leaves of Quercus ilex L., an ornamental species proven to be a good monitor of air quality, of different ages (1 and 2 years old) differed for the main leaf traits; ii) to assess the efficiency of Q. ilex L. leaves of different ages to intercept particulate matter of two sizes (PM >10 and PM 10); iii) to highlight the leaf traits that enhanced the accumulation of PM >10 and PM 10 on leaf surface. The research was performed at four municipalities on the outskirts of Naples (Southern Italy). In April 2018, Q. ilex L. leaves of one and two years old were collected and then described for length, width, area, thickness, circularity, dry matter content and petiole length. The tested hypotheses were: older leaves, that should have high values of the investigated leaf traits, intercept and accumulate greater amounts of PM; leaves with greater circularity, width and length, and with lower dry matter content are expected to accumulate more PM. The findings highlighted that Q. ilex leaves of different ages did not statistically differ neither for the investigated leaf traits nor for the amounts of accumulated PM >10 and PM 10 ; the greater amount of PM was observed in Q. ilex leaves with higher circularity and lower dry matter content; smaller width leaves seem to favour the accumulation of PM >10 and those with smaller length the accumulation of PM 10. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plants play a fundamental role by intercepting air particulate matter (PM) and improving air quality. The link between the accumulation of pollutants and the leaf exposure time to air pollution remains unclear as it depends on different factors. The aim of this study is to test if the metal and PM accumulation in holm oak leaf is linked to exposure time to air pollution. For this study, 1- (1y) and 2-year (2y) old holm oak leaves were sampled in an urban area near Naples. Those leaves were analyzed to measure the amount of particulate matter (PM2.5–10 and PM>10) and the Cr, Cu, Mn, and Ni metal concentrations. The results displayed that leaf Cr, Cu, and Mn accumulation are linked to exposure time, whereas leaf PM deposit was not directly linked to the exposure time. PM deposit on leaves could be influenced by rainfall events or by the saturation of leaves' surface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]