Search Results (107)

The Xingyi Fauna yields abundant and well-articulated skeletons of Ladinian (Middle Triassic, ab. 240 Ma) marine reptiles, associated with fishes, conodonts, crinoids, ammonoids, bivalves, arthropods, and other fossils including nannofossils and coprolites. It represents a new marine ecosystem fully developed after the end-Permian Mass Extinction, and characterized by the appearance of a diversity of large marine reptiles with large ichthyosaurs as the apex predators. Twenty marine reptile and 17 fish species have been reported. The sequence of the Xingyi Fauna records the transition from a marine ecosystem dominated by air-breathing tetrapods extending across the shallow platform to the deep ocean, as indicated by large marine reptiles with a capability for long-distance cruising into the outer sea. The faunal composition of the Lower Assemblage of the Xingyi Fauna, dominated by small- to medium-sized pachypleurosaurids and nothosaurids, is similar to that of the older Anisian Panxian Fauna and the western Tethyan Monte San Giorgio Fauna, but the faunal composition of the Upper Assemblage, with large ichthyopterygians, pistosauroid sauropterygians, and flying fishes, is similar to that of the younger Carnian Guanling Biota as well as the Raibl and Polzberg Faunas in the Alps and California. Therefore, the Xingyi Fauna can be considered a hub of paleobiogeological exchange connecting the western Tethys and the eastern Pathalassa. Full article

Sedimentary rocks of the Gosau Group in the Grünbach–Neue Welt area (Eastern Alps, Austria) were analyzed to determine their mineralogical and geochemical compositions. This study includes the following: (1) the identification of major minerals using X-ray diffraction (XRD), (2) the analysis of major, minor, and trace elements via X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), and (3) the quantification of total organic carbon (TOC), total nitrogen (TN), and total sulfur (TS) using an Elementar Unicube analyzer. Samples were collected from four artificial trenches and one outcrop in Maiersdorf, spanning the Grünbach and Piesting formations deposited during a terrestrial-to-marine transition in the upper Santonian to Campanian (Late Cretaceous). The dominant minerals—quartz, muscovite, illite, and calcite—exhibit relative abundances corresponding with variations in major oxide concentrations. Minor elements show variability but generally follow consistent trends. Trace and rare earth elements display greater variability but similar patterns, with a broader distribution in the Grünbach Formation. Elevated TOC, TN, and TS values are observed near the formation boundary and in the Piesting formation. These results offer the mineralogical and geochemical characterization of the strata, and lay a foundation for further investigations into the paleoenvironmental and basin evolution of the Gosau Group in the region, providing a comparative framework for Gosau basins across the Eastern Alps. Full article

Mountain forestscapes are among the planet’s most vital socio-ecological systems, functioning as critical reservoirs of biodiversity, regulators of climate, and essential sources of water and livelihood for surrounding and downstream communities. However, these landscapes face intensifying threats from climate change, land-use transformation, resource extraction, unsustainable tourism, and fragmented governance. While sustainable forest management has provided essential frameworks for conservation, its focus on maintaining existing conditions is increasingly insufficient amid accelerating ecological and social decline. This paper explores the conceptual and practical evolution from sustainability to regeneration in mountain forest management, distinguishing between the theoretical foundations of each paradigm and analyzing the key drivers of degradation across diverse biocultural regions. Methodologically, the study employs a transdisciplinary and qualitative design, integrating critical literature synthesis, comparative regional analysis, and Indigenous and local knowledge systems. A structured review of 72 peer-reviewed sources and ethnographic materials was conducted, combined with a qualitative comparative analysis (QCA) of mountain case studies from the Alps, Carpathians, Andes, Eastern Arc Mountains, and Himalayas. The study synthesizes regenerative strategies such as ecological connectivity restoration, agroecological landscape design, participatory watershed management, and adaptive, polycentric governance. Based on these insights, an integrated framework for regenerative mountain forestscape management is proposed, aligned with global policy agendas including the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, nature-based solutions (NbS), and the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework. By prioritizing ecological renewal, cultural continuity, and community agency, this work contributes to transformative, place-based approaches that restore the functionality, resilience, and integrity of mountain landscapes. Full article

Amid global economic transformation, a persistent productivity gap exists between developed and developing nations in agriculture sector, shaped by technological advancements and shifting resource allocation patterns. Agricultural socialized services (ASS), defined as organized systems providing technical support, mechanization assistance, information services, market linkages, and resource optimization to farmers, have emerged as critical mechanisms for agricultural development. In developing economies, these services catalyze gains in agricultural labor productivity through the integration of advanced technologies and the mechanization of farming practices. Using panel data from 30 Chinese provinces during 2011 to 2022, this study investigates the relationship between ASS and ALP, focusing on regional heterogeneity, threshold effects, and spatial spillovers. The combination of spatial econometric methods and threshold analysis was selected for its unique capacity to capture both the geographic interdependencies and nonlinear relationships that characterize agricultural development processes. These thresholds at 5.254 and 8.478 represent critical points where the impact of ASS on ALP significantly changes in magnitude, revealing a nonlinear relationship that evolves across different stages of agricultural development. The study highlights notable regional disparities in the impact of ASS. Specifically, ASS is more effective on ALP in eastern, central and key food-producing regions, while its impact is relatively weak in western and non-food-producing regions. Spatial spillover analysis indicates that advancements in ASS create positive externalities, extending beyond their immediate implementation zones and facilitating inter-provincial agricultural cooperation and development. These findings provide crucial guidance for policymakers and agricultural service providers to optimize resource allocation and service delivery strategies. By identifying critical development thresholds and regional variations, this research offers evidence-based support for government officials designing targeted agricultural policies and enterprises developing region-specific service models to foster sustainable agricultural growth across diverse regional landscapes. Full article

Background/Objectives: Obesity is a global health issue, and in this context, bariatric surgery is considered the most effective treatment for severe cases. However, postoperative outcomes vary widely among individuals, driving the development of tools to predict body weight loss success. The main objective of this paper is to evaluate predictive variables for successful weight loss one year after Sleeve bariatric surgery, defining success as a weight loss exceeding 30%. Methods: A dataset of 94 cases was included in this study. Data were collected between 2013 and 2018 from the Nutrition Section of the Endocrinology and Nutrition Department in the Eastern Area of Valladolid, Spain. Machine learning algorithms applied included Random Forest, Multilayer Perceptron, XGBoost, Decision Tree, Logistic Regression, and Support Vector Machines (SVMs). Results: The SVM model demonstrated the best performance, attaining an accuracy of 88% and an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.76 with a 95% CI between 0.5238 and 0.9658. The main predictive variables identified were potassium (K), folic acid, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), height, transferrin, weight, body mass index (BMI), triglyceride (Tg), Beck Depression Test score, and insulin levels. Conclusions: In conclusion, this study highlights the potential of machine learning models, particularly Support Vector Machines (SVMs), in predicting successful weight loss after Sleeve bariatric surgery. The key predictive variables identified include biochemical markers, anthropometric measures, and psychological factors, emphasizing the multifactorial nature of postoperative weight loss outcomes. Full article

To understand the fluid evolution of Permian pegmatites, three pegmatite fields of the Austroalpine basement units located in the Rappold Complex at St. Radegund, the Millstatt Complex, and the Polinik Complex were investigated. To achieve this goal, fluid inclusions trapped in the magmatic accessories of garnet, tourmaline, spodumene, and beryl were studied using host mineral chemistry combined with fluid inclusion microthermometry and Raman spectrometry. Taking into account the previous work by the authors on pegmatite fields in the Koralpe and Texel Mountains, Permian fluid was determined to have evolved from two stages: Stage 1 is characterized by the homogeneous entrapment of two cogenetic immiscible fluid assemblages, a CO₂-N₂ ± CH₄-rich and a low-saline H₂O-rich fluid. Both fluids are restricted to inclusions in the early-magmatic-garnet-core domains of the Koralpe Mountains. Stage 2 is linked with the CO₂-N₂-CH₄-H₂O-NaCl-CaCl₂ ± MgCl₂ fluid preserved as an inclusion in all the pegmatite accessories of the KWNS. It represents the mechanical mixture of the stage 1 fluid caused by compositional changes along the solvus, which is typical for a hydrothermal vein environment process. Increasing X_CH4±N2 proportions from the eastern toward the western pegmatite fields of the KWNS results in a tectonic model that includes magmatic redox-controlled fluid flow along deep crustal normal faults during the anatexis of metasediments in Permian asymmetric graben structures. Because of a high number of solids within the inclusions as well as their irregular shapes, post-entrapment modifications have caused density changes that have to be considered with caution. However, the conditions in the range of 6–8 kbar at >670 °C for stage 1 and ca. 4 kbar at <670 °C for stage 2 represent the best approximations to explain the uprise of a two-stage Permian fluid associated with accessory mineral crystallization in close relation to fractionating melt. Full article

Sustainable soil management through the use of an appropriate tillage system can positively change the edaphic parameters. The aim of the present study was to compare the effects that reduced tillage (RT) and conventional tillage (CT) systems have on changes in selected physical and chemical properties and enzymatic activity in various soil types. The study included the following soil types: Eutric Fluvisol, Mollic Fluvisol, Haplic Chernozem, Haplic Luvisol, Eutric Regosol, Eutric Gleysol, and Stagnic Planosol. Soil samples were collected in the Danubian Lowland and Eastern Slovak Lowland. The following parameters were determined in the soil samples: soil texture, pH, hydrolytic acidity and the sum of basic exchangeable cations, the contents of carbon (TOC), nitrogen (TN), and dissolved organic carbon (DOC), and the activities of dehydrogenases (DEH), catalase (CAT), peroxidases (PER), alkaline phosphatase (AlP), acid phosphatase (AcP), proteases, and β-glucosidase (BG). The reaction of the analysed soils, in the RT and CT cultivations alike, ranged from acidic to neutral, and the sorption properties differed between individual soil types. The TOC ranged from 16.53 to 42.07 g kg⁻¹ for conventional cultivation and from 15.51 to 38.90 g kg⁻¹ for reduced tillage. The values of enzymatic soil quality indices values correlated with TOC, DOC, and TN, as well as with pH, the sum of exchangeable base cations, cation exchange capacity, and degree of base saturation of the sorption complex. The tillage system determined changes in the activity of the studied enzymes, but the intensity and direction of these changes depended on the soil type. Based on the enzyme activity results, soil quality indices such as GMea and TEI were calculated. TEI proved to be a more sensitive indicator than GMea. It was shown that, of all studied soil types and regardless of the cultivation system, Eutric Gleyosols had the most variable properties. For conventional tillage, Haplic Luvisol and Eutric Regosol were characterised by the greatest uniformity. In general, the edaphic properties of soils under conventional tillage differed from those of soils under simplified tillage. Full article

European grasslands are vital carbon (C) sinks, contributing to climate change mitigation. Grazing intensity significantly influences soil C and nitrogen (N) cycles through effects on soil conditions and microbial communities. While heavy grazing is linked to soil C loss and altered N processes, existing studies show conflicting outcomes. This study examines the impact of cattle grazing on soil C and N cycles in a historical alpine pasture in the eastern Italian Alps (1868 m a.s.l.). The following three grazing intensities were analyzed: heavy (8.19 LU ha⁻¹), moderate (0.59 LU ha⁻¹), and light (0.06 LU ha⁻¹). Soil was sampled from two depth layers (0–5 cm, 5–10 cm) and analyzed for bulk density, C and N content, C/N ratio, exchangeable N, δ¹⁵N, and microbial genes targeting general abundance (16S), N fixation (nifH), nitrification (amoA), and denitrification (nirK, nosZ) using real-time PCR. The results revealed decreased C and N concentrations with increasing grazing intensity, exclusively in the 0–5 cm soil layer. Higher δ¹⁵N and enhanced nitrification and denitrification suggest a more open N cycle under heavy grazing. These findings highlight the potential of microbial gene markers and δ¹⁵N isotopic ratios to monitor N cycle dynamics in alpine pastures, informing sustainable grazing management. Full article

Swiss stone pine (Pinus cembra L.) may represent a vital species for afforestation at the upper altitudinal limits of forests due to its adaptability to challenging environmental conditions. In this study, we aimed to analyze the variability in ring width (radial growth, RW, earlywood, EW, latewood, LW, and latewood proportion, LWP) and the influence of different sites on the climatic resilience of twelve European provenances of Swiss stone pine to identify the best-adapted provenances. Five provenances from the Alps and seven from the Carpathians were tested across two 27-year-old field trials conducted in the Eastern and Southern Carpathians. Moderate genetic differentiation among the provenances was noted, which could ensure the success of breeding programs. Based on ring width and latewood proportion, we successfully selected the 25% best-performing provenances and recommend them for use in the provenance regions where have performed. The significant influence of the testing site and the different outcomes of the provenances necessitate extreme attention during the transfer of forest reproductive materials. Additionally, the breeding strategies applied in the two trials differed, consisting in individual selection in the Cugir trial and provenance selection in the Cârlibaba trial. The low resistance of all provenances shown in both trials, particularly in the Cugir trial, is worrying in the context of global warming. Full article

Forest ecosystems are important for biodiversity conservation, climate regulation and climate change mitigation, soil and water protection, and the recreation and provision of raw materials. This paper presents a dataset on forest type and tree species composition for 934 georeferenced plots located in Italy. The forest type is classified in the field consistently with the Italian National Forest Inventory (NFI) based on the dominant tree species or species group. Tree species composition is provided by the percent crown cover of the main five species in the plot. Additional data on conifer and broadleaves pure/mixed condition, total tree and shrub cover, forest structure, sylvicultural system, development stage, and local land position are provided. The surveyed plots are distributed in the central–eastern Alps, in the central Apennines, and in the southern Apennines; they represent a wide range of species composition, ecological conditions, and silvicultural practices. Data were collected as part of a project aimed at developing a classification algorithm based on hyperspectral data. The dataset was made publicly available as it refers to forest types and species widespread in many countries of Central and Southern Europe and is potentially useful to other researchers for the study of forest biodiversity or for remote sensing applications. Full article

Background/Objectives: The prognostic value of baseline clinical parameters in predicting the survival prolonging effect of Radium-223-dichloride (²²³RaCl₂) for metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) patients has been the object of intensive research and remains an open issue. This national multicenter study aimed to corroborate the evidence of ten years of clinical experience with ²²³RaCl₂ by collecting data from eight Italian Nuclear Medicine Units. Methods: Data from 581 consecutive mCRPC patients treated with ²²³RaCl₂ were retrospectively analyzed. Several baseline variables relevant to the overall survival (OS) analysis were considered, including age, previous radical prostatectomy/radiotherapy, number of previous treatment lines, prior chemotherapy, Gleason score, presence of lymphoadenopaties, number of bone metastases, concomitant use of bisphosphonates/Denosumab, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status (ECOG-PS), as well as baseline values of hemoglobin (Hb), platelets, Total Alkaline Phosphatase (tALP), Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH), and Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA). Data were summarized using descriptive statistics, univariate analysis and multivariate analysis with the Cox model. Results: The median OS time was 14 months (95%CI 12–17 months). At univariate analysis age, the number of previous treatment lines, number of bone metastases, ECOG-PS, presence of lymphadenopathies at the time of enrollment, as well as baseline tALP, PSA, and Hb, were independently associated with OS. After multivariate analysis, the number of previous treatment lines (HR = 1.1670, CI = 1.0095–1.3491, p = 0.0368), the prior chemotherapy (HR = 0.6461, CI = 0.4372–0.9549, p = 0.0284), the presence of lymphadenopathies (HR = 1.5083, CI = 1.1210–2.0296, p = 0.0066), the number of bone metastases (HR = 0.6990, CI = 0.5416–0.9020, p = 0.0059), ECOG-PS (HR = 1.3551, CI = 1.1238–1.6339, p = 0.0015), and baseline values of tALP (HR = 1.0008, CI = 1.0003–1.0013, p = 0.0016) and PSA (HR = 1.0004, CI = 1.0002–1.0006, p = 0.0005) remained statistically significant. Conclusions: In the era of precision medicine and in the landscape of novel therapies for mCRPC, the prognostic stratification of patients undergoing ²²³RaCl₂ has a fundamental role for clinical decision-making, ranging from treatment choice to optimal sequencing and potential associations. This large Italian multicenter study corroborated the prognostic value of several variables, emerging from ten years of clinical experience with ²²³RaCl₂. Full article

This study investigates the effects of the 2018 Vaia windstorm on the evolution of humus profiles in forest soils of the north-eastern Italian Alps five years after the disturbance. The humipedon in five soil conditions was compared: intact forest (IF) and permanent meadow (M) for undisturbed soils, and soil under herbaceous cover (G), under dead wood (W), and bare soil (B) for windthrow-affected areas. No difference in pH and soil organic matter content (SOM) emerged within the same soil horizon between IF and windthrow-affected soils. When compared to IF, however, in G and B, a thinning of all O horizons (OL, OF, and OH) was detected, resulting in SOM loss and an increase in pH in the top 15 cm of the humipedon, conditions approaching the values found in M. Amphi was the most frequently occurring humus system in IF, with a shift towards a Mull system observed in all windthrow-affected soils—a shift more marked in G and B, approaching M conditions, but less marked in W, where the O horizon remained thicker. This study underscores the importance of considering soil heterogeneity and humus dynamics when assessing forest recovery and resilience after a severe disturbance. Full article

Most of the Periadriatic Fault System has been active during the Oligocene and Miocene times. Its western part seems to be almost inactive ever since, while the eastern segments show limited seismic activity. We conducted a systematic archaeoseismological survey along the Periadriatic-Sava fault system, assessing buildings and archaeological sites for earthquake damage. Eleven sites, four Roman and seven Medieval, bear evidence of destructive earthquakes which occurred during the past 2000 years. These are (from east to west): Roman Siscia (Sisak) near the Sava fault in Croatia, Roman Celeia (Celje) at the Savinja/Sava faults in Slovenia, Magdalensberg (Roman) just north of the Karavanka fault, Medieval Villach, the Dobratsch landslide and Medieval Arnoldstein at the junction of Mölltal and Gailtal faults, Medieval Millstatt, Sachsenburg. and Roman Teurnia on the Mölltal Fault, Medieval Lienz (all in Austria) and San Candido on the Pustertal fault, as well as Medieval Merano and Tirol (in Italy) adjacent to the North Giudicarie fault zone. Damaged upright walls of Medieval buildings and deformed floors of Roman settlements testify to local intensity up to IX. Ongoing studies of archaeological stratigraphy and construction history allow the dating of one or more seismic events at each site, ranging from the 1st century AD to the 17th century. It is remarkable that the sites, 20 to 70 km apart, along a <400 km long segment of the Periadriatic Fault system, carry evidence for so many high-intensity destructive events, suggesting that the region is tectonically active. Full article

InSAR has emerged as a leading technique for studying and monitoring ground movements over large areas and across various geodynamic environments. Recent advancements in SAR sensor technology have enabled the acquisition of dense spatial datasets, providing substantial information at regional and national scales. Despite these improvements, classifying and interpreting such vast datasets remains a significant challenge. InSAR analysts and geologists frequently have to manually analyze the time series from Persistent Scatterer Interferometry (PSI) to model the complexity of geological and tectonic phenomena. This process is time-consuming and impractical for large-scale monitoring. Utilizing Artificial Intelligence (AI) to classify and detect deformation processes presents a promising solution. In this study, vertical ground deformation time series from northeastern Italy were obtained from the European Ground Motion Service and classified by experts into different deformation categories. Convolutional and pre-trained neural networks were then trained and tested using both numerical time-series data and trend images. The application of the best performing trained network to test data showed an accuracy of $83\%$. Such a result demonstrates that neural networks can successfully identify areas experiencing distinct geodynamic processes, emphasizing the potential of AI to improve PSI data interpretation. Full article

Astrogeodetic deflections of the vertical (DoVs) are close indicators of the slope of the geoid. Thus, DoVs observed along horizontal profiles may be integrated to create geoid undulation profiles. In this study, we collected DoV data in the Eastern Swiss Alps using a Swiss Digital Zenith Camera, the COmpact DIgital Astrometric Camera (CODIAC), and two total station-based QDaedalus systems. In the mountainous terrain of the Eastern Swiss Alps, the geoid profile was established at 15 benchmarks over a two-week period in June 2021. The elevation along the profile ranges from 1185 to 1800 m, with benchmark spacing ranging from 0.55 km to 2.10 km. The DoV, gravity, GNSS, and levelling measurements were conducted on these 15 benchmarks. The collected gravity data were primarily used for corrections of the DoV-based geoid profiles, accounting for variations in station height and the geoid-quasigeoid separation. The GNSS/levelling and DoV data were both used to compute geoid heights. These geoid heights are compared with the Swiss Geoid Model 2004 (CHGeo2004) and two global gravity field models (EGM2008 and XGM2019e). Our study demonstrates that absolute geoid heights derived from GNSS/leveling data achieve centimeter-level accuracy, underscoring the precision of this method. Comparisons with CHGeo2004 predictions reveal a strong correlation, closely aligning with both GNSS/leveling and DoV-derived results. Additionally, the differential geoid height analysis highlights localized variations in the geoid surface, further validating the robustness of CHGeo2004 in capturing fine-scale geoid heights. These findings confirm the reliability of both absolute and differential geoid height calculations for precise geoid modeling in complex mountainous terrains. Full article