The subsoil as a "thermal reservoir" is a modern concept that is leading to continuous developments of innovative methods of energy production. If volcanic areas have been so far considered suitable ...for exploitation of medium-to-high enthalpy resources, it is also true that an incredible potential confined to low grade resources is available. The geological background of Sicily makes the island as one of the most suitable contexts of southern Italy where geothermal resources could have great potential to increase their whole usage. Several active volcanic zones or areas at high hydrothermalism offer advantageous exploitation from low to high enthalpy geothermal resources. Here we present a case study from Santa Marina Salina (Aeolian Island Arc) with a detailed field survey providing information on lithostratigraphic features and on hydrogeological conditions of the area. The study is aimed at testing the thermal conductivity distribution at various depths by means of a theoretical model. Such an approach allowed the definition of the most suitable areas and their low-grade geothermal potential through different thematic maps for thermal conductivity in the shallow subsurface (0-150 m). Collected data become crucial for correct sizing of low-enthalpy geothermal installations, leading to optimization of the final planned technical solutions efficiency.
The Tuscan Region (Central Italy) spends about 12 million euros every year in the prevention and suppression of forest fires. In this context, this study aims to analyse the economic and ...environmental benefits derived from fire suppression activities. Starting from a case study of a real fire event in Tuscany, we simulated three hypothetical scenarios (with different fire durations) without fire extinction activities planned by using the open source software FARSITE. Benefits derived from fire extinction activities can be quantified as the avoided damage, which has been calculated through the estimation of the total economic value of forests not destroyed by fire thanks to the extinction action. The avoided damage is represented by the difference between values of forest areas burned by the real fire event and those burned by simulated fire. By providing an economic estimation of avoided damages, our results confirm that forest fire services and forest management have a high impact on both the economy and the environment.
•Structural analysis of rheomorphic features of the Green Tuff ignimbrite of Pantelleria.•Model and history of emplacement of the Green Tuff ignimbrite.•Location and geometry of the possible eruptive ...source(s) of large explosive eruption at Pantelleria.•Tectonic control of volcanism on the island of Pantelleria and relations with geodynamics of the Sicily Channel.
Original geological and structural data, which derive from the analysis of the rheomorphic Green Tuff ignimbrite unit of Pantelleria, have offered the opportunity to define its modes of emplacement and the location of the eruptive sources in terms of distribution and geometry. The Green Tuff displays a wide range of rheomorphic structures consisting of preserved penetrative foliations, lineations and folds which, developed at distinct times, have been assigned to three major (D1–D3) deformation events accompanying and following the ignimbrite unit emplacement. The first D1 event produced distinct sets of structures developed along ductile shear zones generated during the emplacement of pyroclastic density currents along current-deposit boundaries. Palaeoflow directions of this event are completely independent from topography and are directly related to high-energy currents generated from the eruption. D2 event is characterized by folding due to down-slope post-emplacement flows related to gravity sliding processes whereas the D3 event was dominated by semi-brittle to brittle structures developed after the complete emplacement of the flow units and their subsequent cooling and compaction. The statistical analysis of these structural data has led to the hypothesis that the Green Tuff eruption developed from fissural sources that are largely superimposed on the NNE-trending dip-slip normal fault zones of the island (the Zinedi and the Montagna Grande faults). Our model also implies that the Green Tuff ignimbrite deposit can be the result of several events within a single eruptive cycle. The orientation of the fissural eruptive systems is evidence that the feeding structures for this large-size explosive event were strongly controlled by the E-W to ESE-WNW directed extension structures that affect the island of Pantelleria and, as a whole, the entire region of the Sicily Channel.
During the 2001 eruptive episode three different magmas were erupted on the southern flank of Mount Etna volcano from distinct vent systems. Major and minor element chemistry of rocks and minerals ...shows that mixing occurred, and that the mixed magma was erupted during the last eruptive phases.
The space–time integrated analysis of the eruption, supported by geophysical data, together with major and trace element bulk chemistry (XRF, ICP-MS) and major and trace mineral chemistry (EPMA, LAM ICP-MS), support the following model: 1) trachybasaltic magma rises through a NNW–SSE trending structure, connected to the main open conduit system; 2) ascent of an amphibole-bearing trachybasaltic magma from a 6 km deep eccentric reservoir through newly open N–S trending fractures; 3) just a few days following the eruption onset the two tectonic systems intersect at the Laghetto area; 4) at the Laghetto vent a mixed magma is erupted.
Mixing occurred between the amphibole-bearing trachybasaltic magma and an inferred deep more basic end-member. The most relevant aspect in the eruptive dynamics is that the eruption of the mixed magma at the Laghetto vent was highly explosive due to volatile content in the magma. The gas phase formed, mainly because of the decreased volatile solubility due to rapid fractures opening and increased
T, related to mixing, and partially because of the amphibole breakdown.
To analyze the presence of chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency parameter and vascular abnormalities, in the internal jugular veins (IJVs) and/or vertebral veins in sitting and supine posture, ...in patients with Meniere’s disease compared to healthy general population. A prospective study on 32 patients affected by definite Ménière was performed from February 2012 to January 2013. All subjects underwent an echo-color Doppler examination of the cerebrospinal venous flow. 21 of the 32 Menieric patients showed a statistically significant reflux in the intracranial veins versus healthy (65.6 vs 25%;
P
< 0.001). A high prevalence of IJVs stenosis with hemodynamic changes (increased velocity or absence of flow) was observed (66.7 vs 33.3%;
P
< 0.05). The other parameters considered did not show statistically significant differences among the two groups. The results obtained showed a vascular pattern of cerebrospinal venous system present in patients affected by definite Meniere. This vascular impairment significantly affects the vascular areas more directly involved in the venous drainage of the inner ear. Thus venous stasis may be considered a further pathogenetic mechanism for development of Meniere’s disease.
Mount Etna volcano is often characterized by bilateral eruptive events, involving both the south (S) and the north east (NE) rifts. The last event occurred in 2002–2003 from October 27 to January 28. ...A detailed, stratigraphically time-controlled sampling of lavas and tephra of the southern eruptive fissure was performed in order to (1) track the petrological features of products during the eruption and (2) integrate the results with those previously obtained on the NE rift. Whole-rock composition and textural observations were implemented by major and minor element analyses of plagioclases in lavas and tephra from both sides of the volcano. Fractionation models constrained by mass balance (major and trace elements) and Rayleigh calculations suggest that magmas are linked by the same liquid line of descent by fractionating 9.11 % of a mineral assemblage of Cpx (52.69 %), Plg (21.41), and Ol (7.46 %). These new data allowed us to identify at least two feeding episodes through the southern fissure and infer that high-K
2
O porphyritic magmas, emitted on both the S and NE rifts, derives by fractionation from the same parent magma. However, lavas and tephra from the southern flank were slightly more primitive. Textural and petrological study of plagioclase moreover indicates that chemical–physical conditions in the deep feeding system were similar for magmas erupting from both rifts as suggested by the presence of dissolved rounded cores in both lavas. Magmas evolved differently on the S and the NE rifts only at shallow levels. Comparison with published seismotectonic data supports the idea that the main magma feeding the eruption on October 27 ascended along the same pathway at depth and was intercepted by the fracture system of the S and NE rifts at shallow depth, between 6 and 3 km b.s.l.
This retrospective, comparative study aimed to assess anatomical and functional results in a group of adults undergoing type I tympanoplasty for subtotal tympanic membrane perforation, using two ...different types of graft.
The study included 106 patients affected by chronic otitis media, who underwent underlay type I tympanoplasty, 53 using an autologous chondro-perichondral tragal graft and 53 using temporalis fascia. Anatomical and functional outcomes were evaluated over time.
Audiometric results comparing the cartilage and fascia groups at six months and one year after surgery showed no statistically significant differences. Assessment of anatomical outcomes indicated a greater number of complications in the fascia group.
Functional results indicate the validity of the cartilage tympanoplasty, while anatomical results indicate a slightly better outcome in terms of graft re-perforation and retraction, compared with temporalis fascia at one-year follow up. These results suggest that the cartilage technique is preferable for type I tympanoplasty.
Ground‐penetrating radar (GPR) is a well‐established geophysical terrestrial exploration method and has recently become one of the most promising for planetary subsurface exploration. Several future ...landing vehicles like EXOMARS, 2020 NASA ROVER, and Chang'e‐4, to mention a few, will host GPR. A GPR survey has been conducted on volcanic deposits on Mount Etna (Italy), considered a good analogue for Martian and Lunar volcanic terrains, to test a novel methodology for subsoil dielectric properties estimation. The stratigraphy of the volcanic deposits was investigated using 500 MHz and 1 GHz antennas in two different configurations: transverse electric and transverse magnetic. Sloping discontinuities have been used to estimate the loss tangents of the upper layer of such deposits by applying the amplitude‐decay and frequency shift methods and approximating the GPR transmitted signal by Gaussian and Ricker wavelets. The loss tangent values, estimated using these two methodologies, were compared and validated with those retrieved from time domain reflectometry measurements acquired along the radar profiles. The results show that the proposed analysis, together with typical GPR methods for the estimation of the real part of permittivity, can be successfully used to characterize the electrical properties of planetary subsurface and to define some constraints on its lithology of the subsurface.
Key Points
GPR methodologies for evaluating the loss tangent of volcanic sediments
Characterization of electrical properties of a planetary soil simulant
Comparison between GPR and TDR measurements
New business models that integrate sustainability into corporate strategies and combine environmental, economic, and social issues with production practices are on the rise. Implementation of ...corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives may trigger organizational, process, and product changes, thus affecting a firm's innovation pattern. This study explores the relationship between CSR and innovation by considering the multidimensional nature of these concepts and taking account of all components of CSR and different types of innovation. Therefore, our work aims to verify whether the link between CSR and innovation depends on the CSR pattern and whether firms with specific CSR behaviour differ in terms of innovativeness and type of innovation.
The analysis refers to Italian agri-food firms and is based on microdata from the first Permanent Business Census carried out by the National Institute of Statistics (ISTAT). Our results support a positive relationship between the intensity of CSR dimensions and the implementation of innovation projects, and between specific strategies of social responsibility and innovation. Indeed, the greatest effects on innovation are associated with initiatives aimed at collective and territorial interests, but a relevant effect is also related to more diversified CSR strategies that merge social and environmental actions. This demonstrates the synergistic effect of different CSR practices in fostering innovation. Moreover, CSR activates a change in a firm's organisation that simultaneously affects procedures, processes, and products.
•The likelihood to innovate increases when the firm undertakes CSR actions.•Different CSR profiles activate specific innovation patterns.•The integration of CSR in the firm's strategy enhances the link between CSR profiles and innovation.•Diversified CSR strategies have a synergistic effect in fostering innovation compared to strategies focused on a single CSR dimension.
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