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Fish oil rich in polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acids is extracted in high yield from anchovy filleting waste using d-limonene as green biosolvent in a simple solid-liquid extraction performed by mechanically stirring and maceration followed by limonene removal via evaporation under reduced pressure. As limonene is renewably obtained from waste orange peel, this method closes the materials cycle and establishes a circular economy process to obtain high quality fish oil from biowaste available worldwide in several million t/year amount. Significant economic, social and environmental benefits are anticipated.

Investigating the feasibility of betanin and pectin extraction from Opuntia ficus-indica peel via microwave-assisted hydrodiffusion and gravity, this study identifies selected important economic and technical aspects associated with this innovative production route starting from prickly pear fruit discards. Which benefits would be derived from this process? Would production be limited to Opuntia-growing countries or, likewise to what happens with dried lemon peel chiefly imported from Argentina, would production take place abroad also? Can distributed manufacturing based on clean extraction technology compete with centralized production using conventional chemical processes?

The microwave-assisted hydrodiffusion extraction process affords high quality pectin and betanin from the peel of red and green Opuntia ficus-indica fruits under mild conditions. An aqueous mixture of valued bioproducts is readily obtained from the fruit peel cell water itself, without any water addition. The integral extract can be used as such to formulate nutraceutical beverages and products or, upon straightforward separation, to isolate pectin and betanin devoid of chemical contaminants suitable as ingredients for products ranging from food and beverage to cosmetic and pharmaceutical sectors. Betanin shows exceptional stability thanks to the high amounts of antioxidant polyphenols in the extract. Here, we describe the simple extraction process and present spectroscopic characterization of the extracts from red and green Opuntia ficus-indica peel.

Pistachio nuts are worldwide appreciated for their chemical and organoleptic profiles. There are several studies on the influence of irrigation on pistachio productivity, whereas there are little available data on the influence on nut quality. In this study we characterized some qualitative traits of pistachio nuts cultivar Bianca in Mediterranean environment and how plant water status affected them. Water status had a positive and significant influence on the chlorophylls content, nuts from less stressed trees showed higher values of chlorophyll a (14.7 mg/100 g) and b (21.1 mg/100 g) compared than more stressed trees (9.3 and 11.5 mg/100 g for a and b, respectively). Solid phase microextraction technique in headspace followed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (HS-SPME GC/MS) identified seventeen different compounds with terpenes being the major class of volatiles, the most abundant were &alpha, Pinene (range 26.2&ndash, 35 &mu, g/g), D-Limonene (2.8&ndash, 3.3 &mu, g/g), 2-Carene (1.8&ndash, 3 &mu, g/g) and &beta, Myrcene (0.6&ndash, 1.4 &mu, g/g). Overall, we found higher level of terpenes in less stressed trees and for &alpha, Pinene and &beta, Myrcene differences were significant. The fatty acid composition analysis revealed oleic acid (70.1&ndash, 71.1%), linoleic acid (13.5&ndash, 14.4%) and palmitic acid (9.6&ndash, 9.8%) as the most abundant compounds, but tree water status did not influence their concentration. Overall, the data reported proved that supplemental irrigation contributes to increase pistachio nut quality.

The purpose of the present work was to find a correlation between microencapsulation technology applied to wines and the resulting quality of the wine itself in terms of volatile composition and phenolic profile. To this aim, samples of Nero d'Avola wines produced in Sicily (Italy) were investigated in order to: i) elucidate the aromatic composition by means of HS–SPME coupled with GC–MS; ii) assess the polyphenolic content by UHPLC mass spectrometry; iii) compare the results obtained from both the screenings with those relative to the same wines that had previously been subjected to spray-drying. The results showed a marked reductionThe results here obtained evidenced a marked reduction of odour active compounds in microencapsulated wines, after resolubilization in water/ethanol; when considering the total amount of volatiles, a twofold reduction was observed. Conversely, the qualitative analysis of phenolic compounds and anthocyanin-derived pigments showed no influence of the spray-drying process on these functional constituents.

High yields of valued benzaldehyde and benzyl benzoate are obtained in one pot starting from benzyl alcohol using oxygen as only oxidant under mild conditions (2 bar O2, 100 °C) along with an ultralow amount (0.02 mol %) of Au nanoparticles heterogenized over a spherical ORMOSIL mesoporous support. The process is remarkably selective and the catalyst is stable.

Neogene-Quaternary wedge-top-basins arose during the Sicilian fold and thrust belt (FTB) build-up. The infilling sedimentary successions are: i) middle-upper Miocene silicoclastics succession, accommodated on top of the accreted Sicilide and Numidian flysch nappes; ii) upper Miocene-lower Pliocene deepening-upwards sediments unconformably overlying the inner Meso-Cenozoic deep-water, Imerese and Sicanian thrust units; iii) Upper Pliocene-Quaternary coastal-open shelf deposits unconformably covering (in the outer sector of the FTB) a tectonic stack (Gela thrust system). These successions are characterized by a basal unconformity on the deformed substrate believed to be the depositional interface common both to the coeval wedge-top and foredeep basins. The tectono-sedimentary evolution of the syn-tectonic basins was controlled by the progressive deepening of the structural levels, which were active during the growing of the FTB. The palinspastic restoration of a crustal geological transect in central Sicily points to: i) the occurrence of two subsequent, basal main thrusts (MT1 and MT2) active during the Neogene-middle Pleistocene tectonic evolution, as well as ii) a decrease in slip- and shortening-rate, estimated for the later MT2 as compared to earlier MT1 basal main thrust. The foreland-basin system evolution recorded during these two steps suggests: – the regional lithofacies distribution, during late Tortonian-early Pliocene, accounted for a wide depozone including the Iblean plateau and its offshore;– a crucial change was recorded by the late Pliocene-Pleistocene wedge-top depozone, when the deeper basal main thrust (MT2) involved and thickened (in the inner sector of the FTB) the crystalline basement (thin- to thick-skinned thrust tectonics); this change influenced the depozones, progressively narrowing up to the present-day setting. As regards this general evolutionary framework, thin-skinned and thick-skinned thrust tectonics can be recognized in the Sicilian FTB evolution. The late Tortonian-early Pliocene, thin-skinned thrust tectonics include two main tectonic events, a “shallow-seated” Event 1 and a “deep-seated” Event 2, with the Pliocene-Pleistocene thick-skinned thrust tectonics representing a third tectonic event (Event 3).

We present a 1:25.000 scale geological map of the Kumeta-Pizzuta ridge in north-western Sicily (Italy), achieved by integrating stratigraphic, structural and geophysical data. In this area, the tectonic edifice results from the piling-up of deep-water-, carbonate platform- and pelagic platform-derived tectonic units (Imerese and Sicilide, Panormide and Trapanese domains, respectively) resulting from deformations of the former southern Tethyan continental margin. The structural setting shows interference of tectonic events, different types of structural styles and different scales of deformational patterns. Early overthrust of the Imerese on the Trapanese units (since the late Serravallian) was followed by wedging at depth of the Trapanese units (after the Tortonian). The wedging implied re-embrication and shortening into the overlying Imerese tectonic units and so produced the main folding and compressive to transpressive structures along the Kumeta-Pizzuta Ridge. Seismic reflection profiles integrated with field data reveal that the main E-W-trending anticlines have been offset by high-angle reverse faults flattening at depth until they connect with low-angle, regionally widespread, decollement surfaces with a northward tectonic transport. This setting supports backthrusting along transpressional faults in the study area, ruling out that the Kumeta ridge is a positive flower structure related to a near-vertical deep, crustal, shear zone as formerly suggested.

The aim of this study was to obtain information on the presence and levels of hazardous organic pollutants in groundwater located close to solid waste landfills. Eighty-two environmental contaminants, including 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), 20 volatile organic compounds (VOCs), 29 polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), 7 dioxins (polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins, PCDDs) and 10 furans (polychlorinated dibenzofurans, PCDFs) were monitored in areas characterised by different geological environments surrounding three municipal solid waste landfills (Palermo, Siculiana and Ragusa) in Sicily (Italy) in three sampling campaigns. The total concentrations of the 16 PAHs were always below the legal threshold. Overall, the Fl/Fl + Py diagnostic ratio revealed that PAHs had a petrogenic origin. VOC levels, except for two notable exceptions near Palermo landfill, were always below the legal limit. As concerns PCB levels, several samples were found positive with levels exceeding the legal limits. It is worth noting that the % PCB distribution differs from that of commercial compositions. In parallel, some samples of groundwater containing PCDDs and PCDFs exceeding the legal threshold were also found. Among the 17 congeners monitored, the most abundant were the highest molecular weight ones.

Background and objectives. 1,2,4-Oxadiazoles show a high reactivity and represent starting compounds for the synthesis of several other heterocycles. Some their derivatives can give the so called Boulton-Katritzky Reactions (BKR) which opens the way to the synthesis of several azoles. For this reason we have registered the mass spectra of several 3-aroylamino-5-methyl-1,2,4-oxadiazoles and 3-acetylamino-5-aryl-1,2,4-oxadiazoles. Methods and results. Thus, studying the mass spectra of the isomeric couple 3-benzoylamino-5-methyl-1,2,4-oxadiazole (1A) and 3-acetylamino-5-phenyl-1,2,4-oxadiazoles (1B) we have observed that MIKE and CID MIKE spectra of their molecular ions and of the [M – CH2CO]+. evidence that several fragmentation processes arise from common structure(s). Conclusions. These findings lead to suggest that the BKR could occur also under electron ionization. In order to evidence possible substituent effects the EI-MS spectra of a large series of 3-aroylamino-5-methyl-1,2,4-oxadiazoles (2A-19A) and of the corresponding 3-acetylamino-5-aryl-1,2,4-oxadiazoles (2B-19B) have been examined.

A set of horizontal to vertical spectral ratio (HVSR) and multichannel analysis of surface waves (MASW) measurements, carried out in the Altavilla Milicia (Sicily) area, is analyzed to test a geological model of the area. Statistical techniques have been used in different stages of the data analysis, to optimize the reliability of the information extracted from geophysical measurements. In particular, cluster analysis algorithms have been implemented to select the time windows of the microseismic signal to be used for calculating the spectral ratio H/V and to identify sets of spectral ratio peaks likely caused by the same underground structures. Using results of reflection seismic lines, typical values of P-wave and S-wave velocity were estimated for each geological formation present in the area. These were used to narrow down the research space of parameters for the HVSR interpretation. MASW profiles have been carried out close to each HVSR measuring point, provided the parameters of the shallower layers for the HVSR models. MASW inversion has been constrained by extrapolating thicknesses from a known stratigraphic sequence. Preliminary 1D seismic models were obtained by adding deeper layers to models that resulted from MASW inversion. These justify the peaks of the HVSR curves due to layers deeper than MASW investigation depth. Furthermore, much deeper layers were included in the HVSR model, as suggested by geological setting and stratigraphic sequence. This choice was made considering that these latter layers do not generate other HVSR peaks and do not significantly affect the misfit. The starting models have been used to limit the starting research space for a more accurate interpretation, made considering the noise as a superposition of Rayleigh and Love waves. Results allowed to recognize four main seismic layers and to associate them to the main stratigraphic successions. The lateral correlation of seismic velocity models, joined with tectonic evidences, allowed to plot two geological sections, showing the main pattern of geological formations and tectonic structures.

Vegetable oils are a dietary source of lipids that constitute an essential component of a healthy diet. The commonly used vegetable oils differ significantly for their triacylglycerol (TAG) profile. TAGs represent the principal components of oils and may contain different fatty acids (FA) esterified with glycerol leading to several positional isomers. To differentiate individual TAGs species in edible oils, advanced analysis systems and innovative methods are therefore required. TAGs can be considered as good fingerprints for quality control and many studies have been performed to develop rapid and low cost analytical methods to determinate the authenticity, origin and eventually evidence frauds or adulterations. The present manuscript provides a general overview on the most common vegetable oils TAGs compositions and on the related analytical methodologies recently used. Finally, the chemometric applications developed to assess the authenticity, quality and botanical origin of various edible oils are discussed.

In this work, a new sensitive analytical method has been developed and evaluated for the determination of the most commonly used gaseous anesthetics, desflurane, sevoflurane, and this latter’s hepatic metabolite hexafluoroisopropanol (HFIP) in the urine. In addition, an evaluation of anesthetics exposition on the urine levels of a small population of surgical operators has been performed and results are briefly discussed.

We present a 1:25.000 scale geological map of the Kumeta-Pizzuta ridge in north western Sicily (Italy), which was achieved by integrating stratigraphic, structural and geophysical data. In this area the tectonic edifice results from the piling-up of deep water-, carbonate platform- and pelagic platformderived tectonic units (Imerese and Sicilide, Panormide and Trapanese domains respectively) originated by deformations of former southern Tethyan continental margin. The structural setting shows interference of subsequent tectonic events, different type of structural styles, and different-scale deformational patterns. Early overthrust of the Imerese on the Trapanese units (since late Serravallian) was followed by wedging at depth of the Trapanese units (after Tortonian). The wedging implied re-embrication and shortening into the overlying Imerese Units and produced main folding and compressive to transpressive structures along the Kumeta-Pizzuta Ridge. Seismic reflection profiles image the main E-W trending anticlines have been offset by high angle reverse to transpressive faults that merge at depth with low angle, regionally widespread, flat decollement surfaces that show, in this sector, a northward tectonic transport. This setting supports backthrusting along transpressional faults in the study area, ruling-out that the Kumeta ridge is a positive flower structure related to a near-vertical deep, crustal, shear zone as formerly suggested

RATIONALE: Self-assembling processes of surfactants in the gas phase constitute a developing research field of interest since they allow information to be gained on the peculiar structural organization of these aggregates, on their ability to incorporate from small molecules up to proteins and on their possible use as carriers of drugs in the gas phase or as cleaning agents and exotic reaction media. METHODS: The mass spectra of charged aggregates of the chiral surfactant (1R,2S)-dodecyl(2-hydroxy-1-methyl-2- phenylethyl)dimethylammonium bromide (DMEB) in the gas phase have been recorded using a Synapt G2-Si mass spectrometer in the positive and negative ion mode. For comparison purposes, the mass spectra of sodium bis(2-ethylhexyl)sulfosuccinate and sodium octane sulfonate aggregates have also been recorded under the same experimental conditions. The collisional cross sections of positively and negatively charged DMEB aggregates were obtained through an appropriate calibration of the measured drift times. RESULTS: For all the surfactants investigated, it has been found that there is a lowest and a highest limit of the aggregation number at each charge state: no aggregates are found outside this range. Moreover, the occurrence at each aggregation number and extra charge of a unique value of drift time points toward aggregates whose conformations do not show discernible shape change in the experiment time scale. The analysis of the collisional cross sections emphasizes that the DMEB aggregates are nearly spherical clusters somewhat affected by the charge state and constituted by interlaced polar and apolar domains. CONCLUSIONS: The analysis of all the experimental findings indicates that in the gas phase DMEB forms supramolecular aggregates characterized by an internal organization whose stability is triggered by the charge state. The comparison of the behavior of DMEB aggregates with that of sodium bis(2-ethylhexyl)sulfosuccinate and sodium octane sulfonate aggregates allows us to highlight the effects on the aggregate organization in gas phase due to nature of the head group and alkyl chain steric hindrance.

Since the 1970s, paleomagnetic data collected in Sicily have documented large magnitude clockwise (CW) rotations around vertical axis with respect to Africa and the Hyblean foreland. Many Authors argued that rotations arise from rotational thrusting of large coherent nappes coinciding with paleogeographic units. In the forward thrust propagation process, each nappe rotates the overlying nappe stack. This would explain the stepwise decrease of rotation magnitudes from the internal Panormide unit (90°-140°) to the external Saccense unit, yielding no rotation. However, other Authors later proposed that rotations of Sicily are the consequence of dextral shear occurring since late Miocene times along EW to NW-SE strike-slip faults. To understand the tectonics responsible of paleomagnetic rotations in Sicily, we paleomagnetically investigated 29 sites and a stratigraphic section from Meso-Cenozoic sediments belonging to the Imerese and Trapanese successions exposed in the Piana degli Albanesi area, Mt. Kumeta, and Rocca Busambra. In the study area the fold and thrust belt is characterized by the occurrence of two main sets of subsequent tectonic structures: 1) the early thrusts, producing imbricate-fan and duplex since early Tortonian (deep-water Imerese Units thrust over carbonate-platform Trapanese units); 2) the superimposed wedging at depth of carbonate platform units (since late Tortonian), that produced the most striking (and studied) structural highs of Kumeta and Busambra ridges, bounded by transpressive faults. In order to test the effect of the latter faults on the cumulated CW rotation, we collected data along several transects perpendicular to both Kumeta and Busambra ridges. In fact, rotations are expected to diminish progressively moving away from faults located at the northern ridge edges, in a way that is related to fault offset. The main results of our study are as follows: 1. Six new sites (and one site from previous study) show that the Imerese unit rotated ≈130°, similarly to the Panormide unit at the Monti di Palermo. This evidence requires updated discussion on the tectonic and paleogeographic relations between the Panormide and Imerese domains. 2. At Mt. Kumeta the rotations are effectively greater (120°) along the dextral fault plane, but they decrease to 80° (normal value of the Trapanese unit) at only 300-400 m from the fault. Thus we calculate that the lateral offset of the Kumeta transpressive fault is definitely less than 1 km. 3. At both Mt. Kumeta and Rocca Busambra, rotations from Scaglia sites surprisingly increase moving southward (i.e. far from fault). This suggests a differential rotational and tectonic behavior of the Scaglia with respect to the underlying carbonate backbones of the Trapanese ridges. As a conclusion, paleomagnetic rotations in Sicily are almost entirely due to thrust tectonics, while transpressive fault activity induced local rotations that fade out at only few hundreds of meters from fault planes.

A large number of certified samples (84) of Sicilian olive oils arising from the eight cultivars most represented in Sicily (Biancolilla, Cerasuola, Moresca, Nocellara del Belice, Nocellara Etnea, Oglialora Messinese, Brandofino and Tonda Iblea) have been collected and analyzed by HPLC/MS using an atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) source. The sample preparation is very simple; in fact, the oil samples are diluted without any chemical derivatization. A following statistical data treatment by general discriminant analysis (GDA) allows the determination of the olive oil cultivar. Furthermore, changes in the composition of glyceridic components of the olive oils lead to easy discrimination between fresh oils and 1-year-old samples.

The fatty acid composition of the seed oil from the yellow fruit of Opuntia ficus-indica widely grown in Sicily shows several distinctive features. The oil obtained comprises significant amounts of vaccenic acid along with several other unsaturated fatty acids showing several health benefits, including linolenic, trans-13-octadecenoic, gondoic, 7Z,10Z-hexadecadienoic, and gadoleic acid. The economic analysis shows the significant advantage of carrying out the extraction from fruits considered unfit for consumption. Practical applications: The fatty acid composition of Sicilian Opuntia ficus-indica seed oil is similar to that of fruits grown in Tunisia, while it has a completely different profile than the OFI fruits grown in Algeria and Morocco. Like the oil obtained in Tunisia, the Sicilian oil has a higher vaccenic acid content, but it comprises significant amounts of other unsaturated fatty acids showing highly beneficial health properties. Extracted from fruits considered unfit for consumption, its production generates €1220 additional revenues per tonne of unfit fruit thereby significantly improving the economics of OFI processing companies. The oil has several potential applications which go beyond cosmetics, especially as nutraceutical ingredient. With increasing usage and market expansion, we predict that cold press extraction will be replaced by advanced extraction methods such as extraction with supercritical CO2 maximizing for example the biophenol amount in the oil. The fatty acid composition of the seed oil from the yellow fruit of Opuntia ficus-indica widely grown in Sicily shows several distinctive features. The oil obtained comprises significant amounts of vaccenic acid along with several other unsaturated fatty acids showing several health benefits, including linolenic, trans-13-octadecenoic, gondoic, 7Z,10Z-hexadecadienoic, and gadoleic acid. The economic analysis shows the significant advantage of carrying out the extraction from fruits considered unfit for consumption.

Ochratoxin A is the only mycotoxins with legal limits in the European Union for wine, by contrast, there is no EU legislation imposed for Aflatoxins and Ochratoxin B. A reproducible and sensitive analytical method for six mycotoxins: Ochratoxin A, Ochratoxin B, Aflatoxins B1, Aflatoxin B2, Aflatoxin G1 and Aflatoxin G2 was developed by using immunoaffinity column cleanup and HPLC-FLD method in 30 sweet wines produced in Sicily. This typical type of wine is manufactured from grapes grown in warmer climates, which have a higher sugar content; also, the over-ripening and the drying process of the grapes before fermentation conditions are responsible for the particular susceptibility of these berries to contamination by mycotoxins producing fungi. Results revealed the presence of Ochratoxin A in 96.6 % and of Ochratoxin B in 83.3 % of the samples examined (mean 0.246 and 0.168 μg/l, respectively). None of the samples showed a contamination exceeding the EU limit (2 μg/kg). Nine of tested wines were found to contain Aflatoxins with concentrations ranging from below LOD values to 0.068 μg/l. The results showed a very low incidence of Ochratoxins and Aflatoxins in analyzed wines, confirming the high degree of quality and safety of Sicilian sweet wines.

The natural occurrence of ochratoxin A, ochratoxin B, aflatoxin B1, aflatoxin B2, aflatoxin G1 and aflatoxin G2 (OTA, OTB, AFB1, AFB2, AFG1, AFG2) in red wines was investigated by HPLC/FLD after immunoaffinity column clean-up in 57 market samples produced in Sicily (Italy). The results showed a very low incidence of these mycotoxins in analysed samples, confirming the high degree of quality and safety of Sicilian red wines. The results indicated 71.9% and 64.9% positive samples for OTA and OTB respectively, with an average level of 0.13 μg l(-1), well below the European maximum permitted levels (MLs). The aflatoxin most frequently detected in the samples was AFG1, present in 57.9% of samples, while the other aflatoxins were rarely present. Recovery experiments were carried out on eight mycotoxin-free red wines spiked with OTA, OTB, AFB1, AFB2, AFG1 and AFG2 at two different levels. The limits of detection (LODs) in wines were 0.02 µg l(-1) for OTA, 0.04 µg l(-1) for OTB, 0.03 µg l(-1) for AFG1, AFG2 and AFB2, and 0.05 µg l(-1) for AFB1. A good correlation was found, with good performances in term of precision for the method.

Context: Chemoprevention of potential malignant disorders or cancerous lesions that affect oral mucosae requires extended duration of treatment. Locoregional delivery of natural products could represent a promising strategy for this purpose. Objective: To investigate the aptitude of aloin to permeate through, or accumulate in, the buccal mucosa and to develop a new prolonged oro-mucosal drug delivery system. Materials and Methods: Permeation/accumulation of aloin from Curacao Aloe (containing 50% barbaloin) was evaluated ex vivo, using porcine buccal mucosa as the most useful model to simulate human epithelium. Oro-mucosal matrix tablets were prepared by dispersing aloin (10% w/w) in Eudragit® RS 100 as, biocompatible, low permeable, pH-independent, and non-swelling polymer. The prepared tablets were evaluated for drug-polymer compatibility, weight variation, drug uniformity content, diameter, thickness, hardness, friability, swelling, mucoadhesive strength, and drug release. Results: Aloin has low tendency to cross buccal mucosa, permeation is marginal, and high drug amounts remain entrapped into the epithelium. Matrix tablets characteristics were in agreement with pharmacopoeial requirements. Drug release showed highly reproducible Higuchian profile. Delivery through matrix tablets promoted drug accumulation in the mucosal tissue. Discussion and conclusion: Following application of matrix tablets on porcine buccal mucosa, the amount of discharged drug recovered in the tissue should be sufficient to produce the desired effects, providing therapeutic drug levels directly at the site of action. Aloin loaded tablets are valid candidates for prevention/treatment of potentially malignant disorders and oral cancer and could potentially lead to clinically relevant drug delivery system as coadjuvant of conventional chemotherapy/radiation therapy.

This study has been designed to evaluate the relationship among transforming growth factor beta1 (TGFbeta1) and some measurements of diastolic function in a population of hypertensive subjects with normal left ventricular ejection fraction. We studied 67 hypertensive outpatients who according to their BMI levels were subdivided into three groups: lean (L), overweight (OW) and obese (OB) hypertensives (HT). Circulating TGFbeta1 and M- and B-mode echocardiography was determined. All hypertensives were further subgrouped, according to European Society of Cardiology Guidelines, into two subsets of patients with normal diastolic function or with diastolic dysfunction. Prevalence of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) was determined in all the groups. TGFbeta1, left ventricular mass (LVM), LVM/h(2.7), E-wave deceleration time and isovolumic relaxation time (IVRT) were significantly (P < 0.005) higher and E/A velocity ratio was significantly (P < 0.05) lower in OW-HT and OB-HT than in L-HT. Prevalence of LVH was significantly higher (P < 0.03) in group OB-HT than in L-HT. TGFbeta1 (P < 0.004), LVM/h(2.7) (P < 0.001) and prevalence of LVH were (P < 0.01) significantly higher in hypertensives with diastolic dysfunction than hypertensives with normal diastolic function. TGFbeta1 levels were positively correlated with BMI (r = 0.60; P < 0.0001), LVM/h(2.7) (r = 0.28; P < 0.03), IVRT (r = 0.30; P < 0.02) and negatively with E/A ratio (r = -0.38; P < 0.002) in all HT. Multiple regression analysis indicated that TGFbeta1, BMI and IVRT were independently related to E/A ratio explaining 71% of its variability (r = 0.84; P < 0.0001). This relationship was independent of LVH, age and HR suggesting that TGFbeta1 overproduction may be considered a pathophysiological mechanism in the development of left ventricular filling abnormalities in obesity-associated hypertension.

The role of mannitol and malic acid in the regulation of diurnal leaf water relations was investigated in ‘Biancolilla’ (high-mannitol) and ‘Cerasuola’ (low-mannitol) olive trees. Photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD), vapor pressure deficit (VPD), stomatal conductance (gs), transpiration rate (T), relative water content (RWC), mannitol and malic acid were measured in ‘Biancolilla’ and ‘Cerasuola’ leaves during a dry and hot day of summer in Sicily. In general, leaves of ‘Biancolilla’ trees exhibited greater mannitol content, higher gs and T, but lower RWC than leaves of ‘Cerasuola’ trees. Differences in gs and T between the two cultivars were evident mainly in mid to late morning. ‘Biancolilla’ leaves accumulated mannitol at midday and again late in the evening. Stomatal responses to VPD were RWC dependent, and limited somewhat T, only in ‘Biancolilla’. Mannitol was directly related to RWC, and may play an osmotic role, in ‘Biancolilla’ leaves, whereas ‘Cerasuola’ leaves remained well hydrated by just transpiring less and regardless of mannitol. A day-time accumulation and night-time utilization of mannitol in ‘Biancolilla’ leaves is proposed as an efficient mechanism to regulate water status and growth.

The study of geological evolution of a multiphase orogenic belt is complex, expecially when the tectonic events are superimposed in a coaxial fashion. The Sicilian fold-and-thrust belt represents an interest- ing case study, as a non-coaxial superimposition of structures is recognizable, owing to large synkinematic clockwise rotations during each of two subsequent compressional events. These rotations involved also the syntectonic basins that developed in the wedge-top depozone. This study aims to constrain the tectono-depo- sitional evolution of the NW Sicily fold-and-thrust belt and the associated wedge-top depozone between the middle Miocene and the early Pliocene. Integrated analyses of stratigraphic, sedimentological and structural field data allow us to better constrain the transition between the two tectonic events. The syntectonic basins developed during the first (late Serravallian–early Tortonian) tectonic event were relatively wide and char- acterized by marine sedimentation. The onset of the second (latest Tortonian) transpressional event induced localized deformation into the wedge-top depozone and the syntectonic successions were accommodated as basin fill in progressively narrower and laterally discontinuous basins, bounded by transpressional structures. The lateral correlation of the wedge-top successions suggests a latest Miocene regional palaeoslope with a present-day WSW dip, which fits well with the tectonic transport calculated for the early compressional event.

At today the use of inversion of HVSR curves is mainly limited to derive average parameters of the shear wave velocity, although recently they have been used also for a detailed reconstruction of the roof of the seismic bedrock (Di Stefano et al. 2014). Since ambient vibrations may contain waves travelling in all directions, as body waves and Rayleigh and Love waves, a limit of this method lies in the uncertain composition of seismic noise, in the lack of knowledge about the microseismic field and in the subjective choices regarding the data processing. This work aims to verify the potential and limits of the HVSR inversion for the purposes of geological reconstruction of the subsoil in heavy urbanized areas, where few stratigraphic and geophysical constraints are available, and the only information is practically derived from the geological maps. The test site is the area of Altavilla Milicia (Sicily), characterized by outcrops of marine terraces and continental Pleistocene deposits that do not indicate directly the oldest geological formations, which, however, outcrop in the surrounding areas. Microtremor measurements were carried out on 20 recording points equally spaced of about 300 meters along two alignments: the line P in NW-SE direction near parallel to the coast and the line Q in NNE-SSW direction crossing the town. The HVSR inversion has been carried out using the Neighborhood Algorithm (Wathelet et al. 2004) implemented by the Geopsy software. Because of the lack of boreholes, starting models for inversions were chosen by assigning to each seismic layer ranges of thickness and velocity typical of the lithology expected, as deduced from the geological formations outcropping in the area and from previous geophysical surveys. The 1D seismic models obtained by results of HVSR inversion were correlated and laterally interpolated in order to construct two-dimensional geophysical sections, considering typical seismic velocities for each lithology concerned. In the study area, the outcropping Plio-Pleistocene clastic succession covers the Numidian Flysch silico-clastic deposits and the substrate related to slope to deep water Imerese Succession. The study area is characterized by a Miocene compression and later Plio-Pleistocene transcurrent and extensional tectonics (Catalano et al. 2013). The profiles display seismic layers mostly dipping towards N. Profile P (NW-SE-trending) shows displacements whereby seismic layers are abruptly downthrown towards N. This can be interpreted as high angle transcurrent and extensional faults, that downthrow a backlimb of a major fold towards the coast. Results of this test demonstrate that HVSR inversion can be a valuable method for the reconstruction of the geometry of the main subsurface structures, if supported by the right geological-structural information.

SUMMARY An application of HVSR inversion is presented in order to verify the effectiveness of this technique for purposes of geological reconstruction of the subsoil finalized to studies of seismic microzonation of heavily urbanized areas, where few stratigraphic and geophysical constraints are available and most of the information are derived from the geological maps. In such cases the uncertainty of the results is is enhanced by doubts on the nature of the H/V peaks, not always caused by stratigraphic discontinuities, and to the subjective choices done especially in the step of signal preprocessing. The investigated area (Altavilla Milicia, Sicily) includes the town center and the adjacent coastal plain, characterized mainly by outcrops of marine terraces and continental Pleistocene deposits that do not indicate directly the oldest geological formations, which, however, outcrop in the surrounding areas. However in order to constrain the inversion of the HVSR curves we uses only the detailed knowledge of the geological formations outcropping in the surrounding area and of the tectonic history, together with the typical seismic velocity of the formation outcropping in the area. In spite of this two geological sections have been constructed, showing the main pattern of geological formations and tectonic structures.

Sulfamethoxazole (SMZ) is one of the most widely employed sulfonamides. Because of the widespread use of SMZ, a considerable amount is indeed expected to be introduced into the environment. The cytotoxicity of SMZ relies mainly on arylhydroxylamine metabolites (S-NOH) of SMZ and it is associated with the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). There is limited information about the toxic potential of SMZ at the cellular and molecular levels, especially in aquatic and/or non-target organisms. In the present study, the red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii), being tolerant to extreme environmental conditions and resistant to disease, was used as a model organism to profile the molecular and physiological response to SMZ. Haemolymphatic-immunological parameters such as glucose serum levels and total haemocyte counts were altered; moreover, a significant increase in Hsp70 plasma levels was detected for the first time. Variations at the transcriptional level of proinflammatory genes (cyclooxygenase-1, COX 1, and cyclooxygenase-2, COX 2), antioxidant enzymes (glutathione-S-transferase, GST and manganese superoxide dismutase MnSOD), stress response and Fenton reaction inhibitor genes (heat-shock protein 70 HSP70, metallothionein, MT and ferritin, FT) were evaluated, and alterations in the canonical gene expression patterns emerged. Considering these results, specific mechanisms involved in maintaining physiological homeostasis and adaptation in response to perturbations are suggested. (C) 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The palinspastic restoration of the Sicilian crustal geological cross section (Catalano et al., 2013) points out two subsequent main thrust (MT1 and MT2) active during the Neogene tectonic evolution as well as the decrease of slip and shortening rate estimated for MT2 with respect to MT1 early main thrust. During orogenic building, syn-tectonic deposits are accumulated inside wedge-top-basin that grow on top of thrust sheets. Sedimentary and stratigraphic features of wedge-top basin change trough time following fold and thrust belt evolution. Neogene-Quaternary syn- tectonic successions (terrigenous, evaporitic, hemipelagic and shallow water deposits) extensively crop-out, in more or less wide wedge-top-basins, above the Sicilian Fold and Thrust Belt (Gugliotta et al., 2014 with references therein). These deposits can be grouped in three main sedimentary successions characterized by basal unconformity surface on deformed substrate (thrust wedge) that, also, represent the depositional interface of coeval wedge-top and foredeep basins: i) middle-late Miocene terrigenous, deep-water succession, accommodated on top of accreted Numidian Flysch nappes; ii) late Miocene deepening upwards succession unconformably covering the inner sector of the FTB constituted by thrusting of Meso-Cenozoic deep-water succession (Sicilide, Imerese and Sicanian Units); iii) Upper Pliocene – Quaternary shallow water succession unconformably covering (in the outer sector of the FTB) a tectonic pile (Gela Thrust System) made by thrusting of the former syn-tectonic succession. Tectono-sedimentary evolution of these basin was controlled by the deepening of the structural levels that were active during fold and thrust belt growth. A crucial change was recorded by the wedge-top depozone during late Pliocene-Pleistocene, when a deeper thrust plain (MT2), cut and thickened the crystalline basement (in the inner sector of the FTB), evolving the thrusting model from thin to thick skinned. As consequence of the involvement of the basement in the Sicilian FTB, and of increased orogenic deep load, the foreland basin system recorded a narrowing of the foredeep: - during late Tortonian – early Pliocene, regional lithofacies distribution accounts for a wide foredeep that included the present day Iblean Plateau and its offshore; - following the involvement of the basement and consequent increased orogenic load, the foredeep narrowed up to present day wideness, confined between the deformed outermost units of the GTS, to the NW, and the outcrop of the carbonate successions of the Iblean foreland, to the SE.

Objectives: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of pravastatin treatment on lipid, inflammation, and coagulation parameters in patients suffering from myocardial infarction with or without carotid atherosclerotic lesions (groups 1 and 2, respectively). Methods: In the first phase of the study, a cross-sectional comparison of lipid, inflammation, and coagulation parameters was performed between the patients and the control group (group 3). Highly significant differences in these parameters were observed, especially in group 1. In the second phase of the study, we assessed the effects of a persistent reduction in cholesterol synthesis induced by increasing doses of pravastatin (20 mg daily for 8 weeks and 40 mg daily for a further 8 weeks). In addition to the well-established lipid-lowering effect, significant changes in inflammation and coagulation parameters were observed. In particular, pravastatin at a dosage of 20 mg/day significantly reduced only fibrinogen levels, while at a dosage of 40 mg/day significantly reduced factor VII, fibrinogen, prothrombin fragments 1 and 2, thrombin–antithrombin complexes, tissue plasminogen activator antigen (tPA:Ag) before venous occlusion (b.o.), inhibitor of plasminogen activator activity (PAI) b.o., PAI activity after occlusion (a.o.), the human autoantibodies against oxidized low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and the c fraction of the third component system levels, and significantly increased tPA:Ag a.o. levels. Results: Our results show that in patients suffering from myocardial infarction the risk of thrombotic complications can be decreased with pravastatin, especially by larger doses. However, the relationship must be further investigated because the observed reductions in the hemostatic system and inflammatory response seemed to be dose dependent, while the effects of pravastatin treatment were not significantly correlated with total and LDL cholesterol changes.

Leaf and fruit size and shape were measured and mannitol, glucose, sucrose and malic acid were quantified in leaf, bark and fruit of 25 Sicilian olive genotypes. Multivariate analysis was used to individuate groups with similar chemical composition and morphological traits suggesting potential for stress tolerance and/or oil yield and quality. Mannitol content varied greatly among genotypes and was the most abundant carbohydrate in leaf and bark, whereas glucose was the most abundant in fruit. Sucrose and malic acid were generally low indicating a marginal role in olive tissues. Mannitol and glucose were directly related in both leaf and fruit tissues. Genotypes also differed for carbohydrate partitioning among tissues, and multivariate analysis individuated a group of seven genotypes associated to leaf length:width, length:area, glucose, mannitol, and sucrose, which should stand for environmental stress tolerance. Multivariate analysis also individuated a group of six genotypes associated to malic acid, oleic acid, oleic:linoleic, and polyphenols, and therefore showing potential for production of high quality and stable olive oil. Overall, three of the 25 genotypes in trial seem to combine a good degree of abiotic stress tolerance with production of high quality and stable olive oil.

The Map Sheet 1:50.000 595 ”Palermo” includes marine and land areas of the topographic map sheet “Palermo”. The map sheet “Palermo” (Palermo Province) covers a part of the Sicily Fold and Thrust Belt (FTB) which has developed along the plate boundary between Africa and Europe in the Central Mediterranean. The Sicily FTB links the African Maghrebide to the Calabrian arc and Southern Apennines. The FTB and its submerged western and northern extensions are part- ly located between the Sardinia block and the Pelagian-Ionian sector, and partly beneath the central southern Tyrrhenian Sea. In this sector of the Mediterranean area, the main compressional move- ments, after the Paleogene Alpine orogeny, began with the latest Oligocene-Early Miocene counterclockwise rotation of Corsica-Sardinia, believed to represent a volcanic arc, and its collision with the African continental margin. Thrusting oc- curred in connection with the westward subduction of the Adriatic and Ionian lithosphere beneath the Corsica-Sardinia block. Today, a westward subduction is indicated by a North-dipping Benioff zone, as deep as 400 km, west of Calabria and the Apennines, and the related calc- alkaline volcanism in the Eolian Islands. Subduction and thrusting are contempo- raneous with a back arc-type extension in the Tyrrhenian Sea.186 LAND AREAS geomorphoLogy Three different sectors can be distinguished in Sheet 595: 1) the Palermo and Bagheria coastal plains, characterized by several poly- cyclic marine terraces organized in different orders; 2) the isolated carbonate reliefs of Monte Pellegrino and Monte Catalfano; 3) the internal Belmonte Mezzagno highlands and the Oreto and Eleuterio river valleys. The geomorphological evolution of the area has been controlled by strong down-cutting and dismantling processes that have produced both the erosion of thick volumes of mainly Tertiary terrigenous deposits and the exhumation of mainly Mesozoic carbonate rocks. Due to tectonic uplifting, these proces- ses are intensely developed on ”soft rocks “(Numidian Flysch clayey deposits), producing large river valleys with slopes affected by water erosion and surficial landslides (valleys of Fiume Oreto, Fiume Eleuterio and Fiume Milicia); they have, however, considerably slowed down along the blocks of more resistant rock (Mesozoic-Tertiary carbonate units), forming the wide Palermo Mountains. At the present-day, relict (planation surfaces and abandoned valleys), structural (fault/fault-line scarps) and karst (sinkholes and polje) forms occur in the highlan- ds. The geomorphological setting of the coastal areas has been influenced more by significant Quaternary extensional tectonics that originated the drowning of the northern sectors of the Sicilian chain in the Tyrrhenian Sea above which the marine deposition was deposited (Marsala synthem). The uplifting, involving also the lowered blocks, has resulted in the progressive retreat of the sea that gave origin to a succession of marine terraces, Ionian-Latest Pleistocene in age, and fi- nally the emersion of the present-day coastal depressions (Palermo and Bagheria plains). During the Upper Pleistocene to Holocene, the uplifting rates reached values generally lower than 0.1 m/ky. stratIgraphy The carbonate and terrigenous rock facies analysis and stratigraphy led to the recognition of large Paleozoic to Miocene sedimentary bodies pertaining to diffe- rent and separate crustal paleogeographic domains; the former, developed along the African passive continental margin and the adjacent Tethyan ocean. The “Tethyan” successions correspond to the deep clayey carbonate and vol- canoclastic rocks known to have been deposited in the Sicilide Domain. The pas- sive margin rock bodies are shallow water carbonates, deep water carbonates and 187 siliceous carbonates that were deposited in domains, locally known as Panormide, Trapanese and, Imerese. Terrigenous, evaporitic and clastic-carbonate rocks, Miocene to Pleistocene in age, formed during the foredeep evolution of the Sicilian FTB. A detailed stratigraphy of the rock-successions is summarized in the paragraph “Legend of the Palermo Sheet”. Quaternary continental deposits have been mapped as unconformity-bounded stratigraphic units limited by lower and upper unconformities, locally marked by palaeosoils, due to erosion/depositional processes, marine/sub-aerial processes or non-depositional events. Locally, the upper boundaries are the present-day topo- graphic surface. The detection of some unconformities of regional extent allowed us to define several synthems. The Marsala synthem is a Lower Pleistocene body of marine/coastal deposits, with abundant fossils; its lower boundary is a mari- ne erosion surface cutting pre-Quaternary rocks. The Buonfornello-Campofelice synthem is composed of middle Pleistocene marine deposits covering abrasion surfaces above the coastal stepped blocks. The Polisano synthem is made up of aeolian sandstones and sands with intercalations of breccias talus, late Middle Pleistocene in age (OIS 6); its lower boundary is a non-depositional surface at the top of older rocks. Eleuterio and Milicia synthems are made up of Middle-Upper Pleistocene, mainly fluvial, deposits deposited on river terrace surfaces; their lo- wer boundary is a stream erosion surface. The Benincasa synthem includes colluvial Middle-Upper Pleistocene deposits of Qz-sandstones interbedded with stone-line, palaeosoils, Fe-rich layers and no- dular concretions. Its lower boundary is an unconformity above the Buonfornello- Campofelice synthem, the upper one is the base of the Capo Plaia synthem of the present soil. The Barcarello synthem encompasses marine/coastal conglomerates and are- nites, with a rich warm-temperate “Senegal fauna” including Strombus bubonius; it is located on two orders of marine terraces (OISs 5e and 5c or 5a) and laterally passes into welded colluvial deposits whose age is correlated with the OIS 5. The lower boundary of the synthem is a marine abrasion surface, laterally extending to a continental erosion surface; the latter is cutting the Polisano synthem or older rocks. The Raffo Rosso synthem consists of aeolian sandstones and sands, collu- vial or gravitational deposits and thick stratified slope deposits of the last glacial climatic event (OISs 4-2); the lower boundary is a non-depositional surface at the top of the Barcarello synthem or older rocks. The Capo Plaia synthem is made up of coastal to continental deposits of the last glacial climatic event of the end - Holocene age (OISs 2-1); its lower boundary is formed by variously origina- ted erosion or non-depositional surfaces; the upper boundary is the topographic surface.188 struCturaL graIn The Paleozoic to Cenozoic, mainly carbonate sedimentary bodies, developed in different sectors of the African passive continental margin and the adjacent Tethyan ocean and were progressively accreted in a pile of tectonic units and are now exposed to form the Sicilian fold and thrust belt. To define the extension and setting of these bodies versus their internal facies pattern, we individuate them as Structural-Stratigraphic Units (U.S.S.), described as large geological bodies per- taining to original paleogeographic domains from where they were removed and later deformed. These bodies are bounded by clearly mappable tectonic features (faults, thrust, etc.) and each of them is characterized by homogeneous lithologies and similar structural behaviours and settings. The outcropping tectonic edifice, in the “Palermo” Sheet, is composed of se- veral U.S.S., which can be locally subdivided into tectonic units of minor order. These subunits have been mapped on the basis of their tectonic relationships. Some U.S.S. have been identified, starting from the geometrically highest and most internal in the FTB. 1) U.S.S. deriving from the deformation of the Sicilide domain succession: - U.S.S. Tusa-Troina outcropping in the south-eastern sector, overlying the Numidian Flysch deposits. 2) U.S.S. deriving from the deformation of the Imerese domain succession and its overlying numidian flysch basin. The units widely outcrop in the cen- tral and southern sector of the geological sheet where Mesozoic deep water carbonates and their oligo-miocene numidian flysch covers are deformed, with the latter often slightly detached from the carbonate substrate. Among them we distinguished: - U.S.S. Sagana - Belmonte Mezzagno, in the western sector, where we indi- viduated the sub-unit Pizzuta-S.Cristina; - U.S.S. Monte Cane-San Calogero, in the eastern sector, subdivided into a) the subunit Monte Cane-S. Onofrio, overlying b) the subunit Bizolelli; 3) U.S.S. deriving from the deformation of the Panormide Domain. The U.S.S. consists of Meso-Cenozoic shelf to pelagic carbonates and the often detached nu- midian flysch cover, pertaining to the U.S.S. M. Gallo-M. Palmeto, forming the margin of the Panormide Platform. It outcrops only at Monte Pellegrino (subunit Pellegrino). 4) U.S.S. deriving from the deformation of the Trapanese domain. It is recognizable only in the seismic profile crossing the eastern sector where it is overlain by the U.S.S. Sagana - Belmonte Mezzagno. Southwards, it oucrops at Monte Balatelle (U.S.S. Kumeta-Balatelle).189 Structural evolution The tectonic edifice outcropping and buried beneath the area of the Palermo Sheet is the result of several deformational events that have taken place since the Triassic, deforming complexly the sedimentary successions deposited during the Mesozoic-Pleistocene. After the detachment from their crystalline basement the original sedimentary bodies were progressively accreted in a pile of tectonic units now exposed in the Sicilian chain. Two main events have occurred during the Miocene and Pleistocene time interval. They are respectively characterized by compression and transpression. Contraction originally involved the Tethyan domains and the internal domains of the continental margin, whose deep water meso-cenozoic carbonates formed the structurally highest tectonic units in the chain. The occurrence of intrastratal decollement originated duplex geometries. Since the Messinian, the deformation moved at depth, progressively involving the carbonate platform rock bodies in large E-W antiforms that were successively (during Late Pliocene) folded by NE- SW structures. The transpressional event is proved by NNW-SSE and NE-SW transcurrent and transpressive structures (dextral); it involves the deep-seated car- bonate platform-forming fold structures and severe uplifting that induces reimbri- cation in the overlying Imerese deep-water units. This transpressive event accom- panies the paleomagnetically evidenced thrust rotations between the Late Miocene and the Early Pleistocene. An abrupt change in the tectonic transport direction of the two compressional structure systems is explained taking into account the 120° clockwise rotations based on the paleomagnetic results of ChanneL et alii (1980, 1990); speranza et alii (2000). As a consequence the present day outcropping structural attitude of the structures (and consequently of the deformation fields) do not coincide with the original trends. The compressional and traspressional structures are down faulted northwards by the extensional tectonics. MARINE AREAS In the marine areas, we distinguished different morphological environments, from beaches through the offshore (inner shelf), to the outer shelf and upper slope where two confined slope basins (Palermo and Termini basins, separated by the Monte Catalfano salient) represent the south-western margin of the large Cefalù basin. The substrate of these basins is represented by the Sicilian FTB tectonic units and their syn- and post-orogenic covers. The area shows a lateral variation from the rocky shores, in front of Monte Pellegrino and Monte Catalfano and in the eastern sector, to the beaches mainly in the central sector.190 Important physiographic changes, as shelf width and gradient and different coast orientations, characterise the continental shelf and slope and influence the hydrodynamic processes (wave activity and shelf current patterns). The continental shelf reaches 250 km2 and shows width values ranging from 1.5 km in the Capo Zafferano offshore to 8,0 km in the gulf of Termini, whereas gradient values range between 1° and 8°. The continental shelf has been subdi- vided into an inner infralittoral domain down to a 30 - 35 m water depth, which is characterized by an abrasion platform at different depths, and the outer shelf domain extends to the shelf edge. The shelf edge, which is both depositional and erosional, located at water depths between 120 m and 140 m, rises to lower depths at the canyon heads. Dominant morphological features along the continental slope are the submari- ne erosive conduits, locally interesting also the continental shelf. The heads of the conduits are characterised by severe episodes of retrogressive failure and incised by small gullies. Some (the Oreto and Eleuterio canyons) are directly linked to rivers and were connected during the last glacial maximum through incised val- leys, now buried by transgressive to highstand deposits. In the central sector of the Gulf of Palermo, we pinpointed almost three pockmarks, depressions tens of meters deep, originating from escaping fluids, while in the western sector of the gulf the same phenomena caused the occurrence of isolated or aligned, outcrop- ping or buried mounds. Finally anthropic features largely characterize the seabottom mainly in the inner shelf. seIsmostratIgraphy and stratIgraphIC settIng The buried sedimentary succession has been investigated by means of a close grid of single and multichannel seismic lines. On the whole, three seismic units (S, C and A) have been distinguished. The S seismic unit represents the offshore prolongation of the Meso-Cenozoic units of the Sicilian FTB and their syn- and post-orogenic cover. They are ge- nerally topped by a pronounced, erosive unconformity, correlated to the exten- sive Messinian horizon, generated during the last phases of the Mediterranean Salinity Crisis (5.5 Ma), and covered by a transparent seismic unit representing the Globigerina - bearing pelagic chalk (Trubi) and the Upper (?) Pliocene slope to shelfal deposits. The C seismic unit is represented by a prograding succession of 4° to 7° dip- ping horizons, which have been correlated with the regressive upper Pliocene- Pleistocene deposits, topped by the regional wide, erosional truncation related to the last glacioeustatic sea level fall, correlated with the δ18 O isotopic stage 2. The A seismic unit corresponds to the Late Pleistocene to Holocene 191 depositional sequence (SDTQ) with sigmoidal to tabular geometry; the deposi- tional sequence consists of a Falling Stage and Lowstand Systems Tracts with a progadational pattern controlling a relevant out-building of the shelf margin and a sedimentary wedge, of variable thickness, made up of the Transgressive (TST) and the Highstand (HST) Systems Tracts. The TST, developed during the Holocene sea level rise, shows a retrograda- tional stacking pattern, while the HST, deposited during the last 6 ka b.P., shows aggradational to faintly progradational geometries, related to the development of a littoral depositional system. Along the upper slope, turbiditic systems, characterized by erosive conduits and scattered mass wasting, developed extensively during the Late Pleistocene to Holocene. Surficial sediments of the continental shelf and slope The continental shelf and slope of the Palermo sheet are veneered with uncon- solidated, late Holocene in age, clastic and biogenic carbonate (Palermo gulf) and in second order, lithoclastic (Termini gulf) sediments. Deposits are composed of sands, relict Pleistocene and older carbonate parti- cles, abundant biogenic carbonate granules and algal-coated grains. In the outer shelf and upper slope, deposits are predominantly fine to very fine grained (silts and silty clays). The inner shelf is veneered by a mixture of gravel (rarely), coarse to fine sands, silts and clays, showing a general trend of decrea- sing size in a general seaward direction. From the sedimentary and the morphological features, four different depo- sitional systems have been distinguished: foreshore depositional systems, inner shelf depositional systems, outer shelf depositional systems and upper slope de- positional systems, mapped as g8 , g19 , g21 , m2 respectively. The systems are laterally gradational and linked by a variety of sedimentary processes. Shallow marine environments (up to a 50 m water depth) are generally characterized by biogenic sediments while terrigenous and carbonate clastic sedi- ments supplied by rivers or coastal erosion locally prevail. The most important facies of the infralittoral domain consists of Posidonia oceanica and Cymodocea nodosa meadows, which extensively cover the rocky substrate or the sandy floors the former and the muddy floors the latter. teCtonIC evoLutIon of the offshore areas The present day structural setting reconstructed in the Palermo sheet marine sectors appears the same as the tectonic edifice depicted on the mainland: it has 192 been interpreted as a consequence of the complex Neogene to Quaternary tectonic evolution. The compressive tectonics, responsible for the wedging of the present day submerged thrust sheets, developed during the Late Miocene span interval. This event was followed by transpressive tectonics that faulted and folded the Late Neogene to Pliocene infill by activation of high-angle, deep faults. During the Pleistocene, extensional tectonics accounted for opening and subsidence of structural lows. Present day active tectonics is still going on, as documented by compressive- transpressive focal mechanisms of shallow to deep, low amplitude earthquakes occurring along the offshore between the Sicilian coast and Ustica Island. A few middle-late Pleistocene marine terraces, outcropping along the coast at different levels, suggest a prolonged, faintly tectonic uplift. On the whole, the Plio-Quaternary geological evolution of the offshore area appears to be constrained by a strong interaction between eustatic sea level chan- ges, sediment supply and tectonics, recorded by strain features and enhanced un- conformities crossing the basin fill.

Background: The cultivated strawberry brings the the botanical name Fragaria X ananassa and is derived from the crossing of different species of Fragaria, brought to Europe from America in the sixteenth century. Strawberries are widely appreciated and consumed as a pleasant-tasting fruit either in fresh form or as processed product. Of the many factors than can affect the quality of fruit (sensorial and nutritional), the variety is especially important, but it is also affected by crop conditions. The main characteristics related to the fruit quality and nutritional attributes were assessed in several varieties of strawberry. Objective: The aim of this work was to study the aromatic component of strawberries, comparing two types of fresh plants of two variety Sabrosa Candonga ® and Florida Fortuna. The study was conducted in 2011-2012 and the fruits were grown in the experimental field in Marsala (TP). Methods: Several chemical parameters based on concentration of glucose and fructose were evaluated. The volatile fraction was analyzed on fresh fruit by solid-phase MicroExtraction technique in headspace followed by Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (HS-SPMEGC/ MS). Results: Chemical parameters were determined in the harvested fruits, and differences among the strawberry varieties were observed. More of fifty volatile compounds were found in the fruit tissues of strawberry. Profiles included esters, alcohols, terpenes, and aldehydes. Concentrations and LRI are calculated for both variety, fruit fresh showed a similar volatile profile, with a few differences. Conclusion: The comparison of the different varieties of strawberry cultivated in two crop system revealed differences in the nutritional and organoleptic quality. This information could be useful to select growing conditions and varieties with high quality. References: 1. Vas G and Vékéy K, “Solid-phase microextraction: a powerful sample preparation tool prior to mass spectrometric analysis”. J Mass Spectrom 39:233 (2004). 2. M. Nuzzi., R. Lo Scalzo, A. Testoni, A. Rizzoli, “Evaluation of fruit aroma quality: comparison between gas chromatography-olfactometry (GC-O) and odour activity value (OAV) aroma patterns of strawberries”, Food Analytical Methods 1:270(2008).

The 594-585 ”Partinico-Mondello” Map Sheet 1:50.000 includes marine and land areas of the topographic map sheet “Partinico” and “Mondello”. The map sheet “Partinico-Mondello” (Palermo Province) covers a part of the Sicily Fold and Thrust Belt (FTB) which has developed along the plate boundary between Africa and Europe in the central Mediterranean. The Sicily FTB links the African Maghrebides to the Calabrian arc and the Southern Apennines. The fTB and its submerged western and northern exten- sions are partly located between the Sardinia block and the Pelagian-Ionian sec- tor, and partly beneath the central southern Tyrrhenian Sea. In this sector of the Mediterranean area, the main compressional movements, after the Paleogene Alpine orogeny, began with the latest Oligocene-Early Mio- cene counterclockwise rotation of Corsica-Sardinia, believed to represent a volca- nic arc, and its collision with the African continental margin. Thrusting occurred in connection with the westward subduction of the Adriatic and Ionian lithosphere beneath the Corsica-Sardinia block. Today, a westward subduction is indicated by a North-dipping Benioff zone, as deep as 400 km, west of Calabria and the Apennines, and the related calc- alkaline volcanism in the Eolian Islands. Subduction and thrusting are contempo- raneous with a back arc-type extension in the Tyrrhenian Sea. 237lAND AREAS geomorphology The geomorphological evolution of the studied area has been controlled by strong down-cutting and dismantling processes that have produced both the ero- sion of thick volumes of very recent terrigenous deposits and the exhumation of older rocks. Due to tectonic uplifting, these deepening processes are developed intensively on “soft rocks” (Numidian fysch clayey deposits), producing large river valleys whose slopes are affected by water erosion and surfcial landslides (Nocella and Oreto rivers); erosion has slowed down considerably along the more resistant Mesozoic-Tertiary carbonate rock units of the wide ranges of the Palermo Mountains. In the present-day, relicted planation surfaces and abandoned valleys, fault/fault-line scarps and karst “dolines” and “poljes” occur in the mountainous areas. On the other hand, the geomorphological setting of the coastal areas has been infuenced by important Quaternary extensional tectonics that were at the origin of the lowering of the northern sectors of the Sicilian chain submerged by the Tyrrhenian Sea and invaded by coastal marine depositions (Marsala synthem). Uplifting, involving also the subsided blocks, together with sea level variations, has led to the progressive withdrawal of the sea that originated a succession of marine terraces, Tarantian-Latest Pleistocene in age, followed by the emersion of the present-day coastal depressions (Partinico, Carini and Palermo plains). Du- ring the Upper Pleistocene to Holocene, the uplifting rates reach values between about 0.08 and 0,15 m/kyr. stratigraphy The carbonate and terrigenous rock facies analysis and stratigraphy has led to the reconaissance of large Paleozoic to Miocene sedimentary units pertaining to different crustal paleogeographic domains; the former developed along the Pela- gian (African) passive continental margin and the adjacent Tethyan Ocean. The “Tethyan” successions correspond to the deep sea, clayey carbonate and volcanoclastic rocks known to have been deposited in the Sicilide Domain. The passive continental margin, rock units are Meso-Cenozoic shallow water carbo- nates, deep water carbonates and siliceous rocks that were deposited in some domains, locally known as Panormide, Trapanese and Imerese. The terrigenous evaporitic and clastic-carbonate rocks, Miocene to Pleistocene in age, formed during the foredeep evolution of the Sicilian fTB. A detailed stratigraphy of the rock-successions is summarized in the next paragraph (see map Legend of the sheet). 238Quaternary continental (mostly) and marine deposits have been mapped as unconformity-bounded, stratigraphic units limited by lower and upper uncon- formity surfaces, locally marked by palaeosols, due to erosion/depositional phe- nomena, marine/sub-aerial processes or non depositional events. In place, the upper boundary is the present-day topographic surface. The detection of some unconformity surfaces of regional extent allowed us to defne several synthems here described from the older ones. The Marsala synthem is a lower Pleistocene rock unit of marine/coastal deposits, with abundant fossils; its lower boundary is a marine erosion surface cut into pre-Quaternary rocks. The Piana di Parti- nico synthem is made up of marine/coastal deposits located above a number of marine terrace surfaces, related to sea-high, stand phases of the Middle Pleisto- cene (Oxygen Isotope Stages – OISs - 17-7); its lower boundary is a wave cut platform carved into the Marsala synthem or some pre-Quaternary rocks. The Polisano synthem is made up of aeolian sandstones and sands with intercalations of breccia talus, late Middle Pleistocene in age (OIS 6); its lower boundary is a non-depositional surface at the top of the Piana di Partinico synthem or older rocks. The Oreto and Jato synthems are made up of Middle – Upper Pleistocene mainly fuvial deposits located on river terrace surfaces; their lower boundary is a stream erosion surface. The Monreale synthem consists of Middle Pleistoce- ne carbonate speleothems (mainly travertines); its lower boundary is a subaerial erosion surface cut both into the Marsala synthem or into the pre-quaternary rocks. The Barcarello synthem encompasses marine/coastal conglomerates and arenites, with a rich warm-temperate “Senegal fauna” including Strombus bubo- nius; the unit is located above two orders of marine terrace (OISs 5e and 5c or 5a) and laterally passes into welded colluvial deposits whose age is correlated to the oIS 5. The lower boundary of the Barcarello synthem is a marine abrasion surface, laterally extending into a continental erosion surface; the latter cuts the Polisano synthem or older rocks. The Raffo Rosso synthem consists of aeolian sandstones and sands, colluvial or gravitational deposits and thick stratifed slope deposits of the last glacial climatic event (OISs 4-2); the lower boundary is a non- depositional surface located at the top of the Barcarello synthem or older rocks. The capo Plaia synthem is made up of coastal to continental deposits of the last glacial climatic event end – Holocene age (OISs 2-1); it is comprised in the lower boundary, formed by variously originated erosion or non-depositional surfaces and the topographic surface. struCtural grain The geological map has been compiled following stratigraphic and structural criteria, suggested by the CARG rules. Following the carbonate and terrigenous 239facies analysis, already carried out in western Sicily during the eighties and nine- ties, large Paleozoic to Cenozoic sedimentary units were identifed. These bodies, detached from their basement, progressively accreted in a pile of tectonic units and are now exposed in the Sicilian FTB. To defne the extension and setting of the mentioned units versus their internal facies pattern, we have used the term Structural – Stratigraphic units (USS). The USS are bounded by clear mappable tectonic features (faults, thrust surface, etc.) and each one is characterized by ho- mogeneous lithologies and similar structural behaviours and settings. The outcropping tectonic edifce in the “Partinico-Mondello” geological map sheet is formed by some USS that, locally, can be subdivided into tectonic units of minor order mapped on the basis of their tectonic relationships. The following USS have been identifed from the geometrically highest and most internal ones in the “Partinico-Mondeòlo” tectonic edifce: 1) the USS deriving from the deformation of the Imerese Domain and its overlying Numidian fysch basin. The units outcrop in the central southern sector of the geological sheet and are Meso-cenozoic deep water carbonates deformed together with their Oligo-Miocene Numidian fysch cover. The latter is detached from its carbonate substrate. Among them: - USS Meccini; - USS Sagana – Belmonte Mezzagno. The latter has been separated into three subunits based on the occurrence of some décollment surfaces (low and high angle) that put in evidence the deforma- tion (thickening) of the rock succession: a) Cuccio-Saraceno is the highest in the stack; b) Gradara and c) Pizzuta-Santa Cristina are widespread in the southern sectors. The lowest in the stack (the Pizzuta-Santa Cristina unit) overthrusts the Trapanese carbonate Platform units as is clearly shown in the Monte Kumeta Ridge located to the south in the adjacent corleone sheet map. 2) The USS deriving from the deformation of the Panormide Domain con- sist of Meso-cenozoic shelf to pelagic carbonates including their unconformably overlying ,Numidian fysch cover that is, often detached from its substrate. Three main USS have been distinguished and divided, in turn, into subunits: - gallo- Palmeto USS consisting of the Palmeto and gallo subunits - Cozzo di Lupo USS, formed by the shelf to margin carbonates of the Panor- mide Platform, is geometrically underlying the Gallo-Palmeto unit. It has been divided into: the Cala Rossa subunit, occurring in the coastal zone of Terrasini and the Vuturo subunit outcropping in the hilly neighbourhood of Palermo and Torretta. - Pecoraro-colombrina USS. The Unit outcrops in the hills of Monte Pecora- io, Montagna Longa, Monte Colombrina, Cozzo Muletta, Torre Pozzillo near the town of carini. 240Structural evolution The tectonic edifce outcropping and buried beneath the “Partinico-Mondel- lo” map sheet is the result of several deformational events that have taken place since the Triassic, deforming the sedimentary successions deposited during the Mesozoic-Pleistocene in different ways. Two main events took place during the Miocene and Pleistocene time interval. They are respectively characterized by compression and transpression. Contraction, originally involved internal domains of the continental margin whose deep water mesocenozoic carbonates formed the structurally highest tectonic units in the chain. The occurrence of intrastratal decollement gave origin also to the duplex geometries. Since the Messinian, the deformation has gone into depth, progressively involving the carbonate platform rock body in large E-W antiforms that were successively (during Late Pliocene) folded by NE-SW structures. The transpressional event is proved by NNW-SSE and NE-SW transcurrent and transpressive structures (dextral); it involves the deep-seated carbonate platform-forming fold structures and severe uplifting that induces reimbrication in the overlying Imerese deep-water units. This transpres- sive event accompanies the paleomagnetically evidenced thrust rotations between the late Miocene and the Early Pleistocene. An abruplt change in the tectonic transport direction of the two compressional structure systems is explained taking in account the 120° clockwise rotation based on the paleomagnetically results of Channell et alii (1980, 1990); speranza et alii (2000). As a consequence the present day outcropping structural attitude of the structures (and consequently of the deformation felds) do not coincide with the original trends. The compressio- nal and traspressional structures are down faulted northwards by the extensional tectonics. After the detachment from their crystalline basement, the original sedimenta- ry bodies were progressively accreted in a pile of tectonic units now exposed in the Sicilian fold and Thrust Belt. MARINE AREAS The morphological environments from the beach and the foreshore, through to the outer shelf, upper slope and confned slope basin settings are part of the marine area. The area shows a lateral gradation from the fuvially – (i.e. small mountainous rivers) dominated Castellammare Gulf shelf to the sediment – starved Carini Bay. Important physiographic changes, as shelf width and gradient and different coast orientations, characterize the continental shelf and slope and infuence the 241hydrodynamic processes (wave activity and shelf current patterns). The physiographic sectors that have been recognised are, from the West: 1) the eastern parts of the gulf of Castellammare, 2) the shelf of the Carini Bay and 3) the inner shelf of the Mondello Bay. The shelf shows width values ranging from the 8,0 km of the gulf of Castel- lammare to the 10 km of the Carini Bay, whereas gradient values range between 0,4° and 1,35°. The shelf edge, located at water depths between 120 m and 160 m, rises to lower depths at the canyon heads. The continental shelf has been subdivided into an inner infralittoral domain down to a 30 – 35 m water depth and an outer shelf domain, extending to the shelf edge. Off Cape Rama, the seaward boundary between the inner and the outer shelf is marked by a break of slope and by the occurrence of several small wave – cut marine terraces; in the Carini Bay, a paleoshoreline, between a depth of 100 m - 110, divides the shelf into an outer smooth sector and in an inner rough area, where paleoriver valleys occur. Dominant morphological features within the eastern castellammare gulf are the submarine erosive conduits that intercept the dominant littoral drift from the west to the north-west. The heads of the castellammare conduits are characteri- zed by severe episodes of retrogressive failure and incised by small gullies. Ero- sional chutes deeply cut the sedimentary cover of the carini slope. seismostratigraphy and stratigraphiC setting The Plio – Pleistocene buried sedimentary succession has been investigated by means of a close grid of single and multichannel seismic lines. Overall, three seismic units (PL, PQ and STDQ) have been distinguished. The PL seismic unit unconformably overlies a pronounced, erosive unconfor- mity (refector Y) that has been correlated to the extensive Messinian horizon, ge- nerated during the last phases of the Mediterranean Salinity Crisis (5.5 Ma b. P.). The Pl seismic unit has been interpreted as being made up of globigerina – bearing pelagic chalk (Trubi) and the Upper (?) Pliocene slope to shelfal deposits, pertain to the “marnoso arenacea del Belice”. The Pq seismic unit has been correlated with the regressive Pleistocene depo- sits, bounded below to the x horizon, corresponding to the lower boundary of the Marsala synthem and topped by the regional-wide, erosional truncation related to the last glacioeustatic sea level fall, correlable with the δ18 o isotopic stage 2. In the stratigraphic section, transversal to the coastline, the Late Pleistocene to holocene STDq shows a sigmoidal to tabular geometry; the depositional se- quence consists of a falling Stage and a lowstand Systems Tract with a progra- dational pattern controlling a relevant outward-building of the shelf margin and 242a sedimentary wedge, of variable thickness, made up of the Transgressive (TST) and the Highstand (HST) Systems Tracts. The TST, developed during the Holocene sea level rise, shows a retrograda- tional stacking pattern of three small parasequences, well defned in the eastern sectors of the Castellammare shelf but more condensed in the Carini Bay; here, the holocene sea level stillstands have been recorded by three orders of submer- ged paleo-shorelines. The HST, deposited during the last 6 ka b.P., shows aggradational to faintly progradational geometries, related to the development of a deltaic to littoral de- positional system. In the inner continental shelf of the eastern Castellammare Gulf, seismic fa- cies, like “migrating waves” and acoustic wipe – out, suggest sedimentary insta- bility and gas expulsion phenomena. Along the upper slope, an extensive slope to turbiditic system, characterized by erosive conduits and scattered mass wasting deposits, developed during the late Pleistocene to holocene. Surfcial sediments of the continental shelf and slope The continental shelf and slope of the “Partinico – Mondello” sheet are vene- ered with unconsolidated, late Holocene in age, terrigenous and carbonate clastic and biogenic sediments. Deposits are composed of quarzose sands, relictic? Pleistocene and older car- bonate particles, abundant biogenic carbonate granules and algal-coated grains. In the outer shelf and the upper slope seafoors, deposits are predominantly fne to very fne grained (silts and silty clays). The inner shelf seafoors are vene- ered by a mixture of very coarse to fne sands, silts and clays, showing a general trend of decreasing size in a general seaward direction. According to the sedimentary and the morphological features, four different depositional systems have been distinguished: foreshore depositional systems, inner shelf depositional systems, outer shelf depositional systems and upper slope depositional systems, mapped as g8, g19, g21, m2 respectively. The systems are laterally gradational and linked by a variety of sedimentary processes. Shallow marine environments (up to 50 m of water depth) are general- ly characterized, in the Castellammare Gulf, by terrigenous and carbonate clastic sediments supplied by rivers or coastal erosion; in the carini Bay and in the inner shelf of Mondello, biogenic sediments prevail. The most important facies of the infralittoral domain consists of Posidonia oceanica and Cymodocea nodosa meadows that extensively cover the rocky sub- strate or the sandy foors the frst, muddy foors the latter. 243teCtoniC evolution of the offshore areas The present day structural setting reconstructed in the castellammare basin and Palermo salient marine sectors appears correlatable to the tectonic edifce depicted on the mainland: it has been interpreted as a consequence of a complex Neogene to Quaternary tectonic evolution. The compressive tectonics, responsi- ble for the wedging of the present day submerged thrust sheets, developed during the late Miocene span interval. This event was followed by transpressive tecto- nics that faulted and folded the Late Neogene to Pliocene infll by activation of deep, high-angle faults. During the Pleistocene, extensional tectonics accounted for opening and sub- sidence of structural lows. Present day active tectonics are still going on, as documented by compressive- transpressive focal mechanisms of shallow to deep, low amplitude earthquakes occurring along the offshore between the Sicily coast and Ustica Island. A few middle-late Pleistocene marine terraces outcropping along the coast at different levels suggest a prolonged, faintly tectonic uplift. On the whole, the Plio-Quaternary geological evolution of the offshore area appears constrained by a deep interaction between tectonics, eustatic sea level changes and sediment supply, recorded by strain features and enhanced unconfor- mities crossing the basin fll.

HPLC–MS applications in the agrifood sector are among the fastest developing fields in science and industry. The present tutorial mini-review briefly describes this analytical methodology: HPLC, UHPLC, nano-HPLC on one hand, mass spectrometry (MS) and tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) on the other hand. Analytical results are grouped together based on the type of chemicals analyzed (lipids, carbohydrates, glycoproteins, vitamins, flavonoids, mycotoxins, pesticides, allergens and food additives). Results are also shown for various types of food (ham, cheese, milk, cereals, olive oil and wines). Although it is not an exhaustive list, it illustrates the main current directions of applications. Finally, one of the most important features, the characterization of food quality (including problems of authentication and adulteration) is discussed, together with a future outlook on future directions.