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"Ghinassi, M."
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How Is Time Distributed in a River Meander Belt?
by
Viero, D. P.
,
Finotello, A.
,
Lapôtre, M. G. A.
in
Abandonment
,
Age determination
,
Bank erosion
2023
River meandering controls the age of floodplains through its characteristic paces of growth and eventual cutoff of channel bends, forming oxbows. Hence, floodplain‐age distributions should reflect a river's characteristic size and migration rate. This hypothesis has been previously tested in numerical simulations, yet without systematic comparisons with natural systems. Here we analyze oxbow spacing and timescales of bend evolution and abandonment in natural and numerically simulated meander belts. In both cases, a saturated state is achieved whereby oxbows are spaced ∼1 meander radius apart. At saturation, the distribution of floodplain ages and probability of sediment‐storage time can be constrained from characteristic timescales of bend evolution and abandonment. Owing to the similar relationships between floodplain width and characteristic timescales in natural and simulated rivers, we postulate that this approach should apply to unconfined meandering rivers elsewhere—a hypothesis to be tested with independent geo‐ or dendrochronological data. Plain Language Summary Meandering rivers have curvy channels characterized by erosion and deposition along their inner and outer banks, respectively. Over time, continued erosion and deposition shuffle sediment along the river plain, and lead to channel bends joining each other, through a process—called neck cutoff—that isolates a channel segment in between. These processes control the age of sediment and soil in a river plain over timespans much longer than human life, such that evolution models of meandering rivers often rely on numerical simulations. Here, data from both natural and simulated rivers show that, over time, neck cutoffs find themselves in closely spaced arrangements, and that their position can inform typical sediment ages once the river's characteristic pace of erosion and deposition are accounted for. These results may be tested in the future with direct age determination and, if corroborated, could further inform future studies on river organic‐carbon budgets. Key Points Natural and simulated river meander belts reach a saturated state whereby oxbows are arranged ∼1 meander radius away from each other Distribution of floodplain sediment age is controlled by meander location, sizes, and channel migration rate Natural and numerically simulated floodplains display similar relationships between their width and sediment‐age distribution
Journal Article
Morphometry of Tidal Meander Cutoffs Indicates Similarity to Fluvial Morphodynamics
2024
Sinuous channels wandering through coastal wetlands have been thought to lack lateral‐migration features like meander cutoffs and oxbows, spurring the broad interpretation that tidal and fluvial meanders differ morphodynamically. Motivated by recent work showing similarities in planform dynamics between tidal and fluvial meandering channels, we analyzed meander neck cutoffs from diverse tidal and fluvial environments worldwide, and show that tidal cutoffs are widespread. Their perceived paucity stems from pronounced channel density and hydrological connectivity in coastal wetlands, comparatively small size of most tidal channels, and typically dense vegetation cover. Although these factors do not efface tidal meander cutoffs, they collectively inhibit oxbow formation and make tidal cutoffs ephemeral features that can escape detection. We argue that similar morphodynamic processes drive cutoff formation in tidal and fluvial landscapes, with differences arising only during post‐cutoff evolution. Such process similarity has important implications for understanding coastal wetland ecomorphodynamics and predicting their long‐term evolution. Plain Language Summary The sinuous channels that wander through tidal coastal wetlands look like meandering rivers. However, features of alluvial floodplains that indicate active river meandering over time, such as oxbow lakes and meander cutoffs, are difficult to find in tidal settings. Their apparent absence has led researchers to infer that tidal and fluvial meanders evolve differently. We re‐examined this inference by identifying, measuring, and compiling examples of meander cutoffs from a variety of tidal coastal wetlands and fluvial floodplains worldwide. Our analysis suggests that the shapes and geometric properties of tidal and fluvial cutoffs are indeed remarkably similar. This indicates that while tidal and fluvial environments differ in many ways, they nevertheless share the same physical mechanism affecting meander morphodynamical evolution. Differences between tidal and fluvial meanders do arise after a meander is cut off. We observe that tidal meanders remain preferentially connected to the parent channel, preventing the formation of crescent‐shaped oxbow lakes and thus making tidal cutoffs more difficult to detect. Our results indicate a close similarity in meandering channel behavior across tidal and fluvial systems, which opens new opportunities for how researchers model tidal wetlands, with important implications for the effective conservation and restoration of these critical ecosystems. Key Points Tidal meander cutoffs are far more common than typically thought and share remarkable morphometric similarities with fluvial counterparts Similar mechanisms trigger cutoffs in both tidal and fluvial landscapes, with differences arising only during post‐cutoff evolution Tidal cutoffs seldom disconnect from parent channels and rarely form oxbows due to the high hydrological connectivity of tidal wetlands
Journal Article
Spatial patterns of organic matter content in the surface soil of the salt marshes of the Venice Lagoon (Italy)
by
Tognin, Davide
,
D'Alpaos, Andrea
,
Franceschinis, Erica
in
Accretion
,
Aquatic plants
,
Blue carbon
2024
Salt marshes are crucial eco-geomorphic features of tidal environments as they provide important ecological functions and deliver a wide range of ecosystem services. Being controlled by the interplay between hydrodynamics, geomorphology, and vegetation, the contribution of both organic matter (OM) and inorganic sediments drives salt marsh vertical accretion. This allows marshes to keep pace with relative sea level rise and likewise capture and store carbon, making them valuable allies in climate mitigation strategies. Thus, soil organic matter (SOM), i.e. the organic component of the soil, plays a key role within salt marsh environments, directly contributing to soil formation and supporting carbon storage. This study aims at inspecting spatial patterns of OM in surface salt marsh soils (top 20 cm), providing further insights into the physical and biological factors driving OM dynamics that affect salt marsh survival and carbon sink potential. Our results reveal two scales of variations in SOM content in marsh environments. At the marsh scale, OM variability is influenced by the interplay between surface elevation and changes in sediment supply linked with the distance from the marsh edge. At the system scale, OM content distribution is dominated by the gradient generated by marine and fluvial influence. The observed variations in SOM are explained by the combination of inorganic and organic input, preservation conditions, and sediment grain size. Our results highlight the importance of marshes as carbon sink environments, further emphasising that environmental conditions within a tidal system may generate strongly variable and site-specific carbon accumulation patterns, enhancing blue carbon assessment complexity.
Journal Article
GIARPS@TNG: GIANO-B and HARPS-N together for a wider wavelength range spectroscopy
by
Gonzalez, C.
,
Gonzalez, E.
,
Ghinassi, F.
in
Applied and Technical Physics
,
Atomic
,
Complex Systems
2017
.
Since 2012, thanks to the installation of the high-resolution echelle spectrograph in the optical range HARPS-N, the Italian telescope TNG (La Palma) became one of the key facilities for the study of the extrasolar planets. In 2014 TNG also offered GIANO to the scientific community, providing a near-infrared (NIR) cross-dispersed echelle spectroscopy covering 0.97-2.45μm at a resolution of 50000. GIANO, although designed for direct light-feed from the telescope at the Nasmyth-B focus, was provisionally mounted on the rotating building and connected via fibers to only available interface at the Nasmyth-A focal plane. The synergy between these two instruments is particularly appealing for a wide range of science cases, especially for the search of exoplanets around young and active stars and the characterisation of their atmosphere. Through the funding scheme “WOW” (a Way to Others Worlds), the Italian National Institute for Astrophysics (INAF) proposed to position GIANO at the focal station for which it was originally designed and the simultaneous use of these spectrographs with the aim to achieve high-resolution spectroscopy in a wide wavelength range (0.383-2.45μm) obtained in a single exposure, giving rise to the project called GIARPS (GIANO-B & HARPS-N). Because of its characteristics, GIARPS can be considered the first and unique worldwide instrument providing not only high resolution in a large wavelength band, but also a high-precision radial velocity measurement both in the visible and in the NIR arm, since in the next future GIANO-B will be equipped with gas absorption cells.
Journal Article
Exercise training improves vascular function in patients with Alzheimer’s disease
by
Smania, Nicola
,
Di Baldassarre, Angela
,
Muti, Ettore
in
Acoustic Stimulation - methods
,
Aged
,
Aged, 80 and over
2020
Purpose
Vascular dysfunction has been demonstrated in patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Exercise is known to positively affect vascular function. Thus, the aim of our study was to investigate exercise-induced effects on vascular function in AD.
Methods
Thirty-nine patients with AD (79 ± 8 years) were recruited and randomly assigned to exercise training (EX,
n
= 20) or control group (CTRL,
n
= 19). All subjects performed 72 treatment sessions (90 min, 3 t/w). EX included moderate–high-intensity aerobic and strength training. CTRL included cognitive stimuli (visual, verbal, auditive). Before and after the 6-month treatment, the vascular function was measured by passive-leg movement test (PLM, calculating the variation in blood flow: ∆peak; and area under the curve: AUC) tests, and flow-mediated dilation (FMD, %). A blood sample was analyzed for vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Arterial blood flow (BF) and shear rate (SR) were measured during EX and CTRL during a typical treatment session.
Results
EX group has increased FMD% (+ 3.725%,
p
< 0.001), PLM ∆peak (+ 99.056 ml/min,
p
= 0.004), AUC (+ 37.359AU,
p
= 0.037) and VEGF (+ 8.825 pg/ml,
p
= 0.004). In the CTRL group, no difference between pre- and post-treatment was found for any variable. Increase in BF and SR was demonstrated during EX (BF + 123%,
p
< 0.05; SR + 134%,
p
< 0.05), but not during CTRL treatment.
Conclusion
Exercise training improves peripheral vascular function in AD. These ameliorations may be due to the repetitive increase in SR during exercise which triggers NO and VEGF upregulation. This approach might be included in standard AD clinical practice as an effective strategy to treat vascular dysfunction in this population.
Journal Article
Understanding dual career views of European university athletes: The more than gold project focus groups
2022
Previous studies have found that student-athletes (S-As) have difficulties in achieving dual career (DC) success. However, no studies have analysed the opinion of the S-As on the functioning of DC with a qualitative methodology. The aim of the present work was to collect the opinions of elite university S-As in relation to DC policy adopted by their academic institutions in different European countries. In total, 77 athletes (F = 35, M = 42; age range: 20–25 years) participated in 15 national face-to-face focus groups in five different countries, to discuss aspects that higher education institutes should implement in relation to: 1) the athletes’ needs; 2) assistance/tutorship: 2) curricula requirements; 3) financial support; 4) logistic support; 5) social support; and 6) dual career policies. Fifty of the athletes competed in individual sports and twenty-seven team sports. Of them, 57 was enrolled at undergraduate, 17 was enrolled in a master and 3 in a PhD. The athletes were presented with 13 open-ended questions one by one, and were ensured freedom to interact. All the discussions were recorded. After this, a general discussion took place in which the participants identified and agreed on a final list of statements from their focus group deemed to be relevant to DC athletes as university students. Then, at a consensus meeting, the findings were combined, repetitions were eliminated, and fragmented statements were condensed into broader ones. A final list of 31 statements, organized in six related content units, were identified in relation to the athletes’ needs (n = 5), assistance/tutorship (n = 5), curricula requirements (n = 4), financial support (n = 4), logistic support (n = 4), social support (n = 6), and DC policies (n = 3), respectively. In conclusion, this cross-national qualitative research study synthesized the S-As views about their needs and the most relevant DC policies and provisions that higher education institutes should provide to ensure them with positive academic experiences towards the achievement of a degree.
Journal Article
High-flow nasal oxygen versus conventional oxygen therapy in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia and mild hypoxaemia: a randomised controlled trial
by
Simioli, Francesca
,
Fiorentino, Giuseppe
,
Scala, Raffaele
in
Case reports
,
Continuous positive airway pressure
,
Coronaviruses
2023
RationaleIn patients with COVID-19 pneumonia and mild hypoxaemia, the clinical benefit of high-flow nasal oxygen (HFNO) remains unclear. We aimed to examine whether HFNO compared with conventional oxygen therapy (COT) could prevent escalation of respiratory support in this patient population.MethodsIn this multicentre, randomised, parallel-group, open-label trial, patients with COVID-19 pneumonia and peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2) ≤92% who required oxygen therapy were randomised to HFNO or COT. The primary outcome was the rate of escalation of respiratory support (ie, continuous positive airway pressure, non-invasive ventilation or invasive mechanical ventilation) within 28 days. Among secondary outcomes, clinical recovery was defined as the improvement in oxygenation (SpO2 ≥96% with fractional inspired oxygen (FiO2) ≤30% or partial pressure of arterial carbon dioxide/FiO2 ratio >300 mm Hg).ResultsAmong 364 randomised patients, 55 (30.3%) of 181 patients assigned to HFNO and 70 (38.6%) of 181 patients assigned to COT underwent escalation of respiratory support, with no significant difference between groups (absolute risk difference −8.2% (95% CI −18% to +1.4%); RR 0.79 (95% CI 0.59 to 1.05); p=0.09). There was no significant difference in clinical recovery (69.1% vs 60.8%; absolute risk difference 8.2% (95% CI −1.5% to +18.0%), RR 1.14 (95% CI 0.98 to 1.32)), intensive care unit admission (7.7% vs 11.0%, absolute risk difference −3.3% (95% CI −9.3% to +2.6%)), and in hospital length of stay (11 (IQR 8–17) vs 11 (IQR 7–20) days, absolute risk difference −1.0% (95% CI −3.1% to +1.1%)).ConclusionsAmong patients with COVID-19 pneumonia and mild hypoxaemia, the use of HFNO did not significantly reduce the likelihood of escalation of respiratory support.Trial registration number NCT04655638.
Journal Article
The Destination Earth digital twin for climate change adaptation
by
Müller, Sebastian
,
Nurisso, Matteo
,
Quintino, Tiago
in
Adaptation
,
Artificial intelligence
,
Automation
2026
The Climate Change Adaptation Digital Twin (Climate DT), developed as part of the European Commission's Destination Earth (DestinE) initiative, sets up an operational system for producing multi-decadal, multi-model global climate projections and translating climate data into climate impact information to support adaptation efforts. This system delivers data with local granularity at spatial resolutions of 5–10 km and hourly outputs, leading to globally consistent information at scales that matter for decision-making. It also enables the testing of what-if scenarios such as high-resolution storylines, which are physically consistent global simulations of extreme events under different climate conditions and provide contextual insights to support concrete adaptation decisions. They support the generation of more equitable (understood as accessible and relevant across regions) climate information. The Climate DT is built on cutting-edge infrastructure, expert collaboration, and digital innovation. It is designed to support on-demand responses to policy questions, with quantified uncertainty. It will foster interactivity by allowing users to influence simulation design, model output portfolios, and application integration through co-design. AI-based tools, including emulators and chatbots, are being developed in parallel to enhance climate information access. Sector-specific applications are embedded in the system to synchronously translate climate data into tailored climate-impact indicators, with examples provided for energy, water, and forest management. The applications have been co-designed with informed users. A unified, cross-platform workflow defines the orchestration of all components, which is handled by a single workflow manager and relies on containerised components, facilitating automation, portability, maintainability, and traceability. Data management is unified using standard grids (HEALPix), ensuring consistency and easing data usability under a strict governance policy. Streaming enables real-time data use by the data consumers and unlocks access to the unprecedented data wealth produced by the high-resolution simulations. Monitoring tools provide real-time quality control of data and model outputs and enable continuous assessment of the realism of the climate simulations during Climate DT operation. The compute-intensive system is powered by world-class supercomputing capabilities through a strategic partnership with the European High Performance Computing Joint Undertaking (EuroHPC). Despite high computational demands, the Climate DT sets a new benchmark for delivering equitable, credible, and actionable climate information. It complements existing initiatives like CMIP, CORDEX, and national and European climate services, and aligns with global climate science goals to support climate adaptation.
Journal Article
Non-Aβ-Dependent Factors Associated with Global Cognitive and Physical Function in Alzheimer’s Disease: A Pilot Multivariate Analysis
2019
Recent literature highlights the importance of identifying factors associated with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). Actual validated biomarkers include neuroimaging and cerebrospinal fluid assessments; however, we investigated non-Aβ-dependent factors associated with dementia in 12 MCI and 30 AD patients. Patients were assessed for global cognitive function (Mini-Mental state examination—MMSE), physical function (Physical Performance Test—PPT), exercise capacity (6-min walking test—6MWT), maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max), brain volume, vascular function (flow-mediated dilation—FMD), inflammatory status (tumor necrosis factor—α ,TNF- α, interleukin-6, -10 and -15) and neurotrophin receptors (p75NTR and Tropomyosin receptor kinase A -TrkA). Baseline multifactorial information was submitted to two separate backward stepwise regression analyses to identify the variables associated with cognitive and physical decline in demented patients. A multivariate regression was then applied to verify the stepwise regression. The results indicated that the combination of 6MWT and VO2max was associated with both global cognitive and physical function (MMSE = 11.384 + (0.00599 × 6MWT) − (0.235 × VO2max)); (PPT = 1.848 + (0.0264 × 6MWT) + (19.693 × VO2max)). These results may offer important information that might help to identify specific targets for therapeutic strategies (NIH Clinical trial identification number NCT03034746).
Journal Article
Psychosomatic Medicine for Non-Psychiatric Residents: Video Education and Incorporation of Technology
by
Azzam, P. N.
,
Gopalan, P.
,
Saunders, J.
in
Adult
,
Anxiety Disorders
,
Audiovisual Aids - standards
2015
Objectives
Psychiatric education for non-psychiatric residents varies between training programs, and may affect resident comfort with psychiatric topics. This study's goals were to identify non-psychiatric residents' comfort with psychiatric topics and to test the effectiveness of a video intervention.
Methods
Residents in various departments were given a survey. They were asked to rank their comfort level with multiple psychiatric topics, answer questions about medical decision making capacity (MDMC), watch a 15-min video about MDMC, and answer a post-test section.
Results
In total, 91 Internal Medicine, General Surgery, and Obstetrics and Gynecology residents responded to the study. Of the 91 residents, 55 completed the pre- and post-test assessments. There was no significant difference in correct responses. Residents’ comfort levels were assessed, and a significant improvement in comfort level with MDMC was found.
Conclusions
This study highlights potential opportunities for psychiatric education, and suggests brief video interventions can increase resident physicians' comfort with a psychiatric topic.
Journal Article