Marriage Choices in Contemporary Italy.Couples’Places of Meeting Between Individualization and Structural Determinants

This article focuses on the study of the places where spouses first met in contemporary Italy.Using data provided by the nationally representative survey“Family,Social Subjects and the Life Cycle”,carried out in 2016 by Italian National Institute of Statistics(Istat)and made available in 2020,the article investigates trends in couples’places of meeting and the relation between contexts of meeting and structural determinants such as social class and territorial affiliation.The results support the idea that even in contemporary societies partner’s choice is shaped by a set of social and cultural constraints and is not solely the result of personal preferences inspired by the ideal of romantic love.

Later-Life Marital Dissolution in Italy:An Emerging Phenomenon?

The phenomenon of marital dissolution in later life,also referred to as“gray divorce”,is described on the rise in contemporary Western societies.This article contributes to the study of marriage breakdown in older age,with a specific focus on Italian society.First,the temporal trends of this phenomenon are reconstructed using official statistics.The data reveal that,although still relatively rare,the dissolution of marriage in later life is expanding in Italy.The analysis of the period from 1974 to 2015 indicates a rise in the average age at separation,a higher percentage of spouses over 50 years on the total number of couples obtaining legal separation,and an increase in the proportion of Italian spouses separating after many years of marriage.Furthermore,data from the national survey“Family and Social Subjects”,conducted in 2016 by the Italian National Institute of Statistics,are utilized to explore the relationship between specific traits of those who separated and their tendency to dissolve marriages before or after the age of 50.The data suggest that individuals with characteristics such as lower educational attainment,residence in the South and Islands,and adherence to more traditional family models are more likely to experience separation in later life.

China and Italy: Partners in Creating Prosperity

Chinese ambassador to Italy Jia Guide believes that the future of China-Italy relations is promising and that the two countries will further strengthen cooperation in jointly building a road to prosperity.

Model of Wetland Carbon Sequestration in the Venetian Lagoon, Italy

This research deals with an evaluation of the sink of greenhouse gas CO2 in a eutrophic area of the Venetian lagoon where fish is farmed （＂Valle da pesca＂）. Following CDM UNFCCC （Clean Development Mechanism United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change） criteria, this can be considered relevant to the international standard for the voluntary evaluation of carbon credits on the basis of Annex a of Kyoto Protocol. To identify the ＂Valle da pesca＂ brackish lagoon properties regulating the carbon dioxide （CO2）, a survey has been performed during three seasons in one year and in four different locations. These places are located in the Italian Venetian Lagoon and in the Grado Lagoon in North Italy, Europe. To identify the CO2 sink capacity, a special index is calculated. The CO2 concentrations and sink are regulated by the balance of autotrophic and heterotrophic activities, and the sediment anoxic denitrification and macro algae are crucial tank of CO2 in the valley shallow waters. The ponds potential-CO2 yield of 80-124 kg/m2 per year and the value are related and proportional to the correct human environmental control （water flux control）.

Carbon Capture and Storage in the Biofouling Tubeworm Ficopomatus Enigmaticus

The study investigates the potential of the serpulid tubeworm Ficopomatus sp.,sourced from Jesolo Lido(Venice,Italy),for CCS(Carbon Capture and Storage).Specimens were processed to extract bioactive compounds using a 50%polypropylene glycol-water solvent system.Extracts were analysed and purified using column gel filtration chromatography,with fractions identified by TLC(Thin Layer Chromatography)and further characterized for antioxidant and antibacterial activities.Antioxidant activity was detected via DPPH(2,2-Diphenyl-1-Picrylhydrazyl)spraying on TLC plates,while antibacterial activity was evaluated using the antibiogram paper disk diffusion method.Enzyme activity in the fractions was previously confirmed through a bromothymol blue test followed by spectrophotometric analysis.The primary goal was to explore the CCS potential,using an experimental module involving Arduino Uno embedded microprocessor for the CO_(2) measurement and to confirm the conversion into insoluble carbonates(storage).The most active fraction,identified as S1,showed significant CCS action,confirmed by microscopic observation of calcareous deposits on treated sponges.These findings suggest that Ficopomatus sp.can be used in CCS research highlighting its potential for biotechnological applications in mitigating climate change.The paper underscores the importance of marine organisms in CCS and offers insights into innovative strategies for environmental conservation and carbon management.

Black Pine Afforestations in Abruzzo （Central Italy）： Perspectives and Management

In Italy, the hydro-geological protection of the Apennine territories is a well-known issue. For this reason, at the end of the 19th century, a new reforestation technique was proposed by the Inspector of Forest Service, Pietro Montanari to cope with difficult soil conditions of the mountain areas. This new approach was the first application of the so-called ＂gradoni＂ （small terraces） method of soil preparation. Each ＂gradone＂ was 100-120 cm wide and made with a slight counter slope （ca 10-15 degrees） to promote the accumulation of water and organic matter. Along each ＂gradone＂, bare root black pine seedlings （Pinus nigra Am.） were planted at a distance of 1 m from each other with a density of more than 3,000/ha. Nowadays, 19,158 hectares of black pine forests are growing in the Apennine of the Abruzzi region, largely resulting from those reforestation projects realized since the beginning of the 20th century. A case study of Monte Plaia （42°00′ 12″ N 13°53′39″ E）, that illustrates the situation after 70-110 years in consequence of lacking of silvicultural treatment and the application of aforest restoration method is presented.

Prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection and intestinal metaplasia in subjects who had undergone surgery for gastric adenocarcinoma in Northwest Italy

AIM： To investigate the seroprevalence of Helicobacter pylori （Hpylori） infection and its more virulent strains as well as the correlation with the histologic features among patients who had undergone surgery for gastric cancer （GC）. METHODS： Samples from 317 （184 males, 133 females, mean age 69±3.4 years） consecutive patientswho had undergone surgery for gastric non-cardia adenocarcinoma were included in the study. Five hundred and fifty-five （294 males, 261 females, mean age 57.3±4.1 years） patients consecutively admitted to the Emergency Care Unit served as control. Histological examination of tumor, lymph nodes and other tissues obtained at the time of surgery represented the diagnostic ＂gold standard＇： An enzyme immunosorbent assay was used to detect serum anti-H pylori （IgG） antibodies and Western blotting technique was utilized to search for anti-CagA protein （IgG）. RESULTS： Two hundred and sixty-one of three hundred and seventeen （82.3%） GC patients and 314/555 （56.5%） controls were seropositive for anti-H pylori （P〈0.0001; OR, 3.58; 95%CI, 2.53-5.07）. Out of the 317 cases, 267 （84.2%） were seropositive for anti-CagA antibody vs 100 out of 555 （18%） controls （P〈0.0001; OR, 24.30; 95%CI, 16.5-35.9）. There was no difference between the frequency of H pylori in intestinal type carcinoma （76.2%） and diffuse type cancer （78.8%）. Intestinal metaplasia （IM） was more frequent but not significant in the intestinal type cancer （83.4% vs 75.2% in diffuse type and 72.5% in mixed type）. Among the patients examined for IM, 39.8% had IM type Ⅰ, 8.3% type Ⅱ and 51.9% type Ⅲ （type IU vs others, P = 0.4）. CONCLUSION： This study confirms a high seroprevalence of H pylori infection in patients suffering from gastric adenocarcinoma and provides further evidence that searching for CagA status over H pylori infection might confer additional benefit in identifying populations at greater risk for this tumor.

Debris Flows Risk Analysis and Direct Loss Estimation:the Case Study of Valtellina di Tirano,Italy

andslide risk analysis is one of the primary studies providing essential instructions to the subsequent risk management process. The quantification of tangible and intangible potential losses is a critical step because it provides essential data upon which judgments can be made and policy can be formulated. This study aims at quantifying direct economic losses from debris flows at a medium scale in the study area in Italian Central Alps. Available hazard maps were the main inputs of this study. These maps were overlaid with information concerning elements at risk and their economic value. Then, a combination of both market and construction values was used to obtain estimates of future economic losses. As a result, two direct economic risk maps were prepared together with risk curves, useful to summarize expected monetary damage against the respective hazard probability. Afterwards, a qualitative risk map derived using a risk matrix officially provided by the set of laws issued by the regional government, was prepared. The results delimit areas of high economic as well as strategic importance which might be affected by debris flows in the future. Aside from limitations and inaccuracies inherently included in risk analysis process, identification of high risk areas allows local authorities to focus their attention on the “hot-spots”, where important consequences may arise and local （large） scale analysis needs to be performed with more precise cost-effectiveness ratio. The risk maps can be also used by the local authorities to increase population’s adaptive capacity in the disaster prevention process.

Love wave tomography in Italy from seismic ambient noise

We estimate Love wave empirical Green＇s functions from cross-correlations of ambient seismic noise to study the crust and uppermost mantle structure in Italy. Transverse-component ambient noise data from October 2005 through March 2007 recorded at 114 seismic stations from the Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia （INGV） national broadband network, the Mediterranean Very Broadband Seismographic Network （MedNet） and the Austrian Central Institute for Meteorology and Geodynamics （ZAMG） yield more than 2 000 Love wave group velocity measurements using the multiple-filter analysis technique. In the short period band （5-20 s）, the cross-correlations show clearly one-sided asymmetric feature due to non-tmiform noise distribution and high local activities, and in the long period band （〉20 s） this feature becomes weak owing to more diffusive noise distribution. Based on these measurements, Love wave group velocity dispersion maps in the 8-34 s period band are constructed, then the SH wave velocity structures from the Love wave dispersions are inverted. The final results obtained from Love wave data are overall in good agreement with those from Rayleigh waves. Both Love and Rayleigh wave inversions all reveal that the Po plain basin is resolved with low velocity at shallow depth, and the Tyrrhenian sea is characterized with higher velocity below 8 km due to its thin oceanic crust.

Patterns of treatment with PDE5 inhibitors in the clinical practice in Italy： longitudinal data from the Erectile Dysfunction Observational Study

The Erectile Dysfunction Observational Study （EDOS） is a 6-months observational prospective multicentric study enrolling men with erectile dysfunction （ED） who asked, to be started on a treatment or to change a previous treatment. Aims of the study were to analyse the pattern of treatment and compare the efficacy of treatments used. Patients were enrolled during a normal hospital visit and were prescribed a treatment for ED. They were asked at baseline and after 3 and 6 months, to answer a set of questions from the International Index of Erectile Function, Erectile Dysfunction Inventory of Treatment Satisfaction （EDITS） and Short Form of the Psychological and Interpersonal Relationships Scale questionnaires （SF-PAIRS）. Clinicians were free to prescribe any therapy for ED available in the market, and to change therapy at any time during the study. Out of 1 338 patients, available for analysis at 6 months, 624 （47%） changed their treatment during the study and 714 （53%） continued with the drug prescribed at baseline. Patients assuming tadalafil had a significantly higher probability of maintaining the same treatment compared to sildenafil or vardenafil. There was no clinically significant difference in terms of efficacy, patient satisfaction, self-confidence and spontaneity between the different inhibitors of PDE5. The ‘time concerns＇ domain score of SF-PAIRS, was statistically better in patients assuming tadalafil. In conclusion sildenafil, vardenafil and tadalafil show similar efficacy in the clinical practice. However, patients receiving tadalafil display a lower risk to discontinue or change the treatment.

Assessment of prediction performances of stochastic models:Monthly groundwater level prediction in Southern Italy

Stochastic modelling of hydrological time series with insufficient length and data gaps is a serious challenge since these problems significantly affect the reliability of statistical models predicting and forecasting skills.In this paper,we proposed a method for searching the seasonal autoregressive integrated moving average(SARIMA)model parameters to predict the behavior of groundwater time series affected by the issues mentioned.Based on the analysis of statistical indices,8 stations among 44 available within the Campania region(Italy)have been selected as the highest quality measurements.Different SARIMA models,with different autoregressive,moving average and differentiation orders had been used.By reviewing the criteria used to determine the consistency and goodness-of-fit of the model,it is revealed that the model with specific combination of parameters,SARIMA(0,1,3)(0,1,2)_(12),has a high R^(2) value,larger than 92%,for each of the 8 selected stations.The same model has also good performances for what concern the forecasting skills,with an average NSE of about 96%.Therefore,this study has the potential to provide a new horizon for the simulation and reconstruction of groundwater time series within the investigated area.

An Analysis of Chinese Acquisitions of Made in Italy Firms in the Luxury Sector

Outward Foreign Direct Investment （OFDI） from emerging economies has begun to increase significantly and has been growing at a faster pace than Foreign Direct Investment （FDI） from the developed world. This research seeks to assess the impact of Chinese acquisitions and their implications for the ＂Made in Italy＂ luxury sector and its firms. This paper presents a cross-case analysis of two Chinese acquisitions in order to provide some in-depth insights into the influences and the motives driving Chinese firms to invest in the luxury Made in Italy sector, the patterns and modes of the Chinese acquisitions as well as the competitive strategies and the distinctive challenges that both investors and acquired firms have to face. From the findings, it emerges that both the investor and the acquired firm need to overcome several key challenges to be mutual benefits from the acquisition.

Environmental Data Acquisition, Elaboration and Integration： Preliminary Application to a Vulnerable Mountain Landscape and Village （Novalesa, NW Italy）

Climate conditions play a crucial role in the survival of mountain communities, whose survival already critically depends on socioeconomic factors. In the case of montane areas that are prone to natural haz-ards, such as alpine slope failure and debris flows, climatic factors exert a major influence that should be considered when creating appropriate sustainable scenarios. In fact, it has been shown that climate change alters the availability of ecosystem services （ES）, thus increasing the risks of declining soil fertility and reduced water availability, as well as the loss of grassland, potential shifts in regulatory services （e.g., protection from natural hazards）, and cultural services. This study offers a preliminary discussion on a case study of a region in the Italian Alps that is experiencing increased extreme precipitation and erosion, and where an isolated and historically resilient community directly depends on a natural resource econ- omy. Preliminary results show that economic factors have influenced past population trends of the Novalesa community in the Piemonte Region in northwest Italy. However, the increasing number of rock fall and debris flow events, which are triggered by meteo-climatic factors, may further influence the livelihood and weflbeing of this community, and of other similar communities around the world, Therefore, environmental monitoring and data analysis will be important means of detecting trends in landscape and climate change and choosing appropriate planning options. Such analysis, in turn, would ensure the survival of about 10% of the global population, and would also represent a possibility for future economic development in critical areas prone to poverty conditions.

Probabilistic Analyses of Seismic Hazard in the Messina Straits(Northeastern Sicily,Italy)

In order to assess the seismic hazard in an area with high seismogenic potential as the Messina Straits is, we employed the Cornell’s probabilistic approach, implemented by Bender and Perkins in the SEISRISKⅢcode,which allows calculating the expected ground motion.We considered all the earthquakes with magnitude M_s】4.0 reported in the CPTI04 catalogue and located in the seismogenic zones of Southern Italy(ZS9),which are able to

Source Parameters Evaluation of the 28^(th) December 1908 and 16^(th) January 1975 Earthquakes in the Messina Straits(Southern Italy)

The Calabria-Peloritani Arc is one of the most seismically active regions of Southern Italy.The most damaging event(Ⅰ0=ⅪMSK)occurred on December 28th,1908 in the Messina Straits area.This event,which caused at least 85000 casualties and widespread damage,has been identified as the greatest European seismic disaster of the 20th century.

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN DEBRIS FLOW RESEARCH IN ITALY

Debris flows play an important role among natural hazards in mountainous areas of Italy.This paper provides an overview on the recent research on debris flows conducted in italy, taking into account both hydraulic and geomorphological studies. Moreover,t

Study of factors influencing susceptibility and age at onset of type 1 diabetes: A review of data from Continental Italy and Sardinia

AIM:To investigate the role of protein tyrosin phosphatase 22(PTPN22),maternal age at conception and sex on susceptibility and age at onset of type 1 diabetes(T1D)in Continental Italy and Sardinian populations.METHODS:Three hundred seventy six subjects admitted consecutively to the hospital for T1D and 1032healthy subjects as controls were studied in Continental Italy and 284 subjects admitted consecutively to the hospital for T1D and 5460 healthy newborns were studied in Sardinia.PTPN22 genotype was determined by DNA analysis.Maternal age at conception and age at onset of disease were obtained from clinical records.χ2 test of independence,student t test for differences between means and odds ratio analysis were carried out by SPSS programs.Three way contingency table analysis was carried out according to Sokal and Rohlf.RESULTS:The pattern of association between PTPN22and T1D is similar in Continental Italy and Sardinia:the proportion of*T allele carriers is 13.6%in T1D vs6.7%in controls in Continental Italy while in Sardinia is 7.3%in T1D vs 4.4%in controls.The association between T1D and maternal age at conception is much stronger in Sardinia than in Italy:the proportion of newborn from mother aging more than 32 years is89.3%in T1D vs 32.7%in consecutive newborn in Sardinia(P<10-6)while in Continental Italy is 32.2%in T1D vs 19.1%in consecutive newborns(P=0.005).This points to an important role of ethnicity.A slight prevalence of T1D males on T1D females is observed both in Continental Italy and Sardinia.PTPN22 genotype does not exert significant effect on the age at onset neither in Continental Italy nor and Sardinia.Maternal age does not influence significantly age at onset in Italy(8.2 years in T1D infants from mothers aging32 years or less vs 7.89 years in T1D infants from mothers aging more than 32 years:P=0.824)while in Sardinia a border line effect is observed(5.75 years in T1D infants from mothers aging 32 years or less vs7.54 years in T1D infants from mothers aging more than 32 years:P=0.062).No effect of sex on age at onset is observed in Continental Italy while in Sardinia female show a lower age at onset of T1D as compared to males(8.07 years in males vs 6.3 years in females:P=0.002).CONCLUSION:The present data confirm the importance of ethnicity on susceptibility and on the age at onset of T1D.

Habitat, occurrence and conservation status of the Saharo-Macaronesian and Southern-Mediterranean element Fagonia cretica L. (Zygophyllaceae) in Italy

Fagonia cretica L. is an important component of Mediterranean dry grasslands and a rare and isolated species of Italian flora. In this study, an assessment is presented on the distribution, habitat, and conservation status of F. cretica in Italy. The results of field investigation and herbarium analysis show that this species grows in a small area within the southern Calabria region characterized by a warmest and driest Mediterranean climate on the Italian peninsula. F. cretica is a semi-desert plant species growing in Italy in only one peripheral and isolated population at the northern limit of its distribution. Plant community analysis, using the phytosociological method, shows that F. cretica grows in wintergreen perennial dry grasslands dominated by Lygeum {partum and Hyparrhenia hirta. F. crelica plant communities are located in thermo-xeric habits such as south-, southeast- and east-facing slopes on clays and sandy clays in southern Calabria. The population of F. cretica is fragmented in six neighbouring localities, with two of which belonging to a Site of Community Importance （SC1）. The conservation status of F. cretica population is not very good, and is defined as ＂Critically Endangered＂ in accordance with IUCN criteria. There are many threats affecting the F. crelica population in ltaly, primarily the changes in land uses due to urban expansion and reforestation with exotic plants. The southern end of the Italian peninsula hosts other plants from thermo-xeric habits that do not adapt to the current local climate. This territory can be considered as a microrefugia for plants currently distributed in the arid territory of the southern Mediterranean. These results contribute to the discussion of some conservation measures, and the possibility of establishing a micro-reserve. For all these reasons, we propose to include F. cretica in the lists of protected plant species at regional （Calabria） and country （Italy） scales in Italy.

Short-term forecast in the early stage of the COVID-19 outbreak in Italy. Application of a weighted and cumulative average daily growth rate to an exponential decay model

To estimate the size of the novel coronavirus(COVID-19)outbreak in the early stage in Italy,this paper introduces the cumulated and weighted average daily growth rate(WR)to evaluate an epidemic curve.On the basis of an exponential decay model(EDM),we provide estimations of the WR in four-time intervals from February 27 to April 07,2020.By calibrating the parameters of the EDM to the reported data in Hubei Province of China,we also attempt to forecast the evolution of the outbreak.We compare the EDM applied to WR and the Gompertz model,which is based on exponential decay and is often used to estimate cumulative events.Specifically,we assess the performance of each model to short-term forecast of the epidemic,and to predict the final epidemic size.Based on the official counts for confirmed cases,the model applied to data from February 27 until the 17th of March estimate that the cumulative number of infected in Italy could reach 131,280(with a credibility interval 71,415-263,501)by April 25(credibility interval April 12 to May 3).With the data available until the 24st of March the peak date should be reached on May 3(April 23 to May 23)with 197,179 cumulative infections expected(130,033e315,269);with data available until the 31st of March the peak should be reached on May 4(April 25 to May 18)with 202,210 cumulative infections expected(155.235 e270,737);with data available until the 07st of April the peak should be reached on May 3(April 26 toMay 11)with 191,586(160,861-232,023)cumulative infections expected.Based on the average mean absolute percentage error(MAPE),cumulated infections forecasts provided by the EDM applied to WR performed better across all scenarios than the Gompertz model.An exponential decay model applied to the cumulated and weighted average daily growth rate appears to be useful in estimating the number of cases and peak of the COVID-19 outbreak in Italy and the model was more reliable in the exponential growth phase.

Conceptual Hydrogeological Model and Groundwater Resource Estimation in a Complex Hydrothermal Area: The Case of the Viterbo Geothermal Area (Central Italy)

The conceptual hydrogeological model of the Viterbo thermal area in central Italy and the yield of the groundwater sys- tem have been examined. This area is of great geothermal interest. Through new investigations, three overlapping aquifers have been found. This study examines in detail the two shallower aquifers, characterized by different hydraulic and chemical characteristics. The first aquifer is related to the regional groundwater flow of the Cimino-Vico volcanic system and is generally characterized by cold, fresh waters used for irrigation and drinking water supply. The second aquifer, i.e. the thermal aquifer, supply thermal spas and public pools;it is present where the local hydrostratigraphic, structural and geothermal conditions permit a relatively active flow of higher salinity thermal waters (40?C - 62?C). These two aquifers interact vertically and laterally, giving rise to mixed waters circulating in the first aquifer. The first aquifer is recharged by direct infiltration and inflow from regional groundwater, as well as inflow from the second aquifer. The yield of the thermal aquifer is at least 170 L/s, discharging into thermal springs and wells, besides feeding the shallow aquifer vertically and laterally. Even if a future development of the second aquifer is potentially achievable on a global scale, the exploitation of the thermal waters is strictly dependent on the specific local hydrogeological equilibrium between the overlapping aquifers, different from place to place. The case study highlights that, in the volcanic hydrogeological environment, one of the most stringent constraints in determining the correct usage of a resource is the variable level of interaction of groundwater with different qualities.