Soil radon investigation, using a continuous measurement device, has been performed on Mt. Etna in order to observe possible anomalies due to seismic and/or volcanic activity. In October 2002 an ...eruptive event occurred. Measurements, performed on the NE flank, have shown a possible correlation between eruptive activity of the volcano and soil radon concentration anomaly. The study of the seismic activity recorded in the same flank has, also, allowed to characterize the volcano dynamics and to correlate it with the variations of radon. The obtained results seem to indicate a possible dependence on volcanic activity of the radon concentration.
Functional taping with elastic bandages and adhesive tapes could limit the action of upper limb spastic muscles and sustain that of weaker muscles in children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy (CP). 16 ...young children with CP (3±2 years old) were enrolled in this pilot study including 5 months of taping in conjunction with conventional physical therapy, followed by 7 months of physical therapy alone (taping wash-out), and other 5 months of taping plus therapy. Large improvements in the Melbourne assessment score were found in the first period in which taping was used (+15.4%, p<0.001) and also in the second one despite 8 drop-outs (+8.4%, p=0.012), but not during the taping wash-out (- 4.6%; p=0.093). These results suggest that children with CP could benefit from the continuous correction provided by taping in order to limit the development of improper upper limb motor schemas and to favour that of proper ones.
Radioactivity in underground waters from Mt. Etna was investigated on the basis of 13 samples. The samples were collected from springs, wells and galleries around the volcano. Water from nine out of ...thirteen intakes is used for consumption. Activity concentration of uranium isotopes
234,238U, radium isotopes
226,228Ra and radon
222Rn were determined with the use different nuclear spectrometry techniques. The measurements of radium and radon activity concentration were performed with the use of a liquid scintillation counter. The determination of uranium isotopes was carried out with the use of alpha spectrometry. All samples show uranium concentration above Minimum Detectable Activity (MDA), with the highest total uranium (
234U
+
238U) activity concentration equal to 130
mBq/l. For radium isotopes, all samples except one showed the activity concentration below MDA. Radon activity concentration was within the range from 1 to 13
Bq/l, hence these waters can be classified as low-radon waters.
The Calabrian Arc represents one of the most active sectors of the upper plate of the Tyrrhenian-Ionian subduction system. This research aims to reconstruct the evolution of the Squillace Basin ...(Ionian offshore of the Calabrian Arc) from the Late Miocene to Recent times and recognise active shallow and deep structures using a multiscale approach. The latter is based on interpreting high-penetration and high-resolution seismic reflection profiles, calibrated with well-log data coupled with bathymetric data and the distribution of instrumental earthquakes. Data highlight three steps in the evolution of the Squillace Basin. A Late Miocene extensional event led to the formation of WNW-ESE oriented horst and half-graben structures. During the Pliocene, deformation was localised in the central and northern sectors of the basin and expressed by a WNW-ESE oriented strike-slip fault and NW-SE normal to trastensional faults, respectively. A transpressional event started in the Early Pleistocene, causing the positive inversion of deep (> 3 km) extensional faults and the formation of NW-SE to WNW-ESE oriented transpressional/reverse faults and related anticlines. The kinematics of these faults agree with the NW-SE oriented left-lateral Albi-Cosenza, Lamezia-Catanzaro and Petilia-Sosti crustal fault zones developed in north Calabria. The results of this work suggest that the transpressional structures in the northwestern sector of the basin likely represent the offshore prolongation of the Albi-Cosenza fault zone. NW-SE to WNW-ESE trending, shallow (<2 km) high-angle normal faults offset the younger deposits. Their depth and direction indicate that these faults are secondary structures formed in the extrados of the anticlines associated with the transpressional faults. The distribution of earthquakes shows events with M > 3 and depth <15 km located in the hanging wall of transpressional faults. The integrated data suggest that these structures are active and probably responsible for the major earthquakes that affected the Ionian offshore.
•Extensional and strike-slip tectonics occurred in the Squillace Basin since Late Miocene.•Deep (>3 km) transpressional faults are active and seismogenic.•Transpressional faults are the offshore prolongation of the Albi-Cosenza fault zone.•Shallow (<2 km) normal faults are related to local stress on the anticline extrados.
Natural radioactivity measurements represent an interesting tool to study geodynamical events or soil geophysical characteristics. In this direction we carried out, in the last years, several ...radionuclide monitoring both in the volcanic and tectonic areas of the oriental Sicily. In particular we report in-soil Radon investigations, in a tectonic area, including both laboratory and in-site measurements, applying three different methodologies, based on both active and passive detection systems. The active detection devices consisted of solid-state silicon detectors equipped in portable systems for short-time measurements and for long-time monitoring. The passive technique consisted of solid-state nuclear track detectors (SSNTD), CR-39 type, and allowed integrated measurements. The performances of the three methodologies were compared according to different kinds of monitoring. In general the results obtained with the three methodologies seem in agreement with each other and reflect the tectonic settings of the investigated area.
Manganese silicides MnSi
δ
(1.73 <
δ
< 1.75) have been substituted with substantial amounts of Cr (<25%) and Fe (<30%) at the Mn site to study the resistivity (
ρ
), Seebeck (
α
) and Hall ...coefficients, and thermal conductivity of the resulting compositions. Only marginal reduction in
ρ
is observed upon substituting Cr to as much as 25%. Surprisingly, the Seebeck coefficient is positive even after substituting Fe to 20%. The Hall coefficients are positive, and the carrier concentrations seem to be less sensitive to substitution by either Cr or Fe. The promising aspect of this system is the low lattice thermal conductivity, which is approximately 2.5 W/m K at 300 K for most compositions.
Soil radon has been monitored at a fixed location on the northeastern flank of Mt. Etna, a high-risk volcano in Sicily. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of the recent volcanic ...activity on soil radon concentration. Continuous radon measurements have been performed since July 2001. While comparison between the trend in in-soil radon concentration and the acquired meteorological series (temperature, humidity and pressure) appear to confirm a general seasonal correlation, nevertheless particular anomalies suggest a possible dependence of the radon concentration on volcanic dynamics.
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