Nonlinear regional economic dynamics: continuous-time specification,estimation and stability analysis

This paper presents an innovative approach to the study of regional economic dynamics within a nonlinear continuous-time econometric framework—a generalized specification of the Lotka–Volterra system of equations. This specification, which accounts for interdependent behavior of three industrial sectors and spillover effects of activities in neighboring regions, is employed in an analysis of five Italian regions between 1980 and 2003. For these regions, we report estimation results, characterize the varying systems dynamics, analyze the models’ local and global stability properties, and determine via sensitivity analyses which structural features appear to exert the greatest influence on these properties.

The thin layer of Warm Ionized Gas: towards a 3-D reconstruction of the spatial distribution of HII regions

HII regions are known to contribute to the so-called thin layer of the diffuse Warm Ionized Gas. In order to constrain thiscontribution, we reconstruct the 3-D distribution of the sources.A detailed spatial analysis of the largest up-to-date sample of HIIregions is presented.     

Ar-Ar laser dating of tektites from the Cheb Basin (Czech Republic): Evidence for coevality with moldavites and influence of the dating standard on the age of the Ries impact

Moldavites (Central European tektites) are genetically related to the impact event that produced the ∼24-km diameter Ries crater in Germany, representing one of the youngest large impact structures on Earth. Although several geochronological studies have been completed, there is still no agreement among ⁴⁰Ar-³⁹Ar ages on both moldavites and glasses from Ries suevites. Even recently published data yielded within-sample mean ages with a nominal spread of more than 0.6 Ma (14.24-14.88 Ma). This age spread, which significantly exceeds current internal errors, must be in part ascribed to geological and/or analytical causes.This study reports the results of a detailed geochronological investigation of moldavites from the Cheb area (Czech Republic), which have never been dated before, and, for comparison, of two samples from type localities, one in southern Bohemia and the other in western Moravia. We used ⁴⁰Ar-³⁹Ar laser step-heating and total fusion techniques in conjunction with microscale petrographic and chemical characterization. In addition, with the purpose of ascertaining the influence of the dating standards on the age of the Ries impact and making data from this study and literature consistent with the now widely used Fish Canyon sanidine (FCs) standard, we performed a direct calibration of multi-grain splits of the Fish Canyon biotite (FCT-3) with FCs. The intercalibration factors (), determined for eight stack positions in one of the three performed irradiations, were indistinguishable within errors and gave an arithmetic mean and a standard deviation of 1.0086 ± 0.0031 (±2σ), in agreement with previous works suggesting that biotite from the Fish Canyon Tuff is somewhat older (∼0.8%) than the coexisting sanidine.Laser total fusion analysis of milligram to sub-milligram splits of five tektite samples from the Cheb area yielded mostly concordant intrasample ⁴⁰Ar-³⁹Ar ages, and within-sample weighted mean ages of 14.66 ± 0.08-14.75 ± 0.12 Ma (±2σ internal errors, ages relative to FCs) that overlap within errors. These ages match those obtained for samples from western Moravia (14.66 ± 0.08 Ma) and southern Bohemia (14.68 ± 0.11 Ma), supporting the genetic link between Cheb Basin tektites and moldavites, and, consequently, between Cheb Basin tektites and the Ries impact. In contrast to samples from the Cheb area and Moravia, ⁴⁰Ar-³⁹Ar ages from total fusion experiments on the Bohemian specimen ranged widely from ∼14.6 to ∼17.0 Ma. Older apparent ages, however, were systematically obtained from fragments characterized by visible surface alteration. Laser step-heating experiments, although displaying slightly disturbed age profiles, were in line with total fusion analyses and yielded well-defined plateau ages of 14.64 ± 0.11-14.71 ± 0.11 Ma (±2σ internal errors, ages relative to FCs).A thorough comparison of our and previous ⁴⁰Ar-³⁹Ar ages on both moldavites and Ries suevite glasses, recalculated relative to the ⁴⁰Ar^∗/⁴⁰K ratio recently determined for FCs using intercalibration factors available in or derivable from the literature, reveals some inconsistencies which may be ascribed to either geological or analytical causes. Based on our data, decay constants in current use in geochronology, and ages calculated relative to FCs, we infer that the age of moldavites is 14.68 ± 0.11 Ma (±2σ, neglecting uncertainties in the ⁴⁰K decay constants).     

Correction to: Numerical investigation of small- and medium-diameter drain wells to stabilise deep landslides

Acta Geotechnica - In the original publication, the first name of the authors was exchanged with the last name inadvertently. The name of the authors should be as below.     

U?Pb and 40Ar?39Ar geochronology of Palaeozoic units in the northern Apennines: determining protolith age and alpine evolution using the Calamita Schist and Ortano Porphyroid

In the northern Apennines, the Palaeozoic basement involved in the Late Oligocene–Middle Miocene nappe stack contains metamorphic units for which hypothetical ages have been assigned on the basis of lithological correlations with the Palaeozoic formations of the Variscan chain in Sardinia. This uncertainty concerning the age poses limitations to reconstructing the Palaeozoic stratigraphy, defining the Alpine and pre‐Alpine histories and correlations with other domains of the Variscan chain. We present the U Pb age of detrital zircon and the ⁴⁰Ar ³⁹Ar age of metamorphic muscovite for the Calamita Schist and Ortano Porphyroid, two metamorphic units of undetermined Palaeozoic age cropping out in the eastern Elba Island. The radioisotopic data allows us to: (i) define the Early Carboniferous and Middle Ordovician ages for the Calamita Schist and Ortano Porphyroid, respectively, as well as their derivation (flysch deposit and magmatic rocks); (ii) pose some constraints concerning their alpine tectonic and metamorphic histories. These new data generate a more precise reconstruction of the Palaeozoic sequence in the northern Apennines, and they document that the Palaeozoic basement involved in the alpine deformation underwent internal stacking with an inversion of the original sequence. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

New records of cold‐water coral sites and fish fauna characterization of a potential network existing in the Mediterranean Sea

New cold‐water coral (CWC) sites were recorded along the Apulian margin (Central Mediterranean). The species composition and depth distribution of CWCs were updated. A distribution of the CWC sites coincident with the course of the dense‐water masses that flow between the Southern Adriatic and Northern Ionian was confirmed. The faunal assemblages of five of these CWC sites were investigated and compared using experimental longlines during the spring–summer and autumn–winter seasons, between 2010 and 2014. Differences in ecological variables amongst the sites in each season were evaluated by means of a set of univariate and multivariate methods (analysis of variance, permutational multivariate analysis of variance, non‐metric multidimensional scaling). Although some differences were detected in relation to the different depths examined during spring–summer, the CWC sites showed similar features in terms of species richness and diversity as well as in the abundance of the same fish species (Galeus melastomus, Conger conger, Helicolenus dactylopterus, Merluccius merluccius, Phycis blennoides and Pagellus bogaraveo) most probably because of the distribution of adult specimens in structurally complex and heterogeneous habitats, which act as a potential ‘refuge network’ with respect to commercial fishing. The presence of maturing and mature individuals as well as post‐reproductive females indicates that these CWC sites also act as spawning areas, representing a potential ‘renewal network’ for the fish populations. The term ‘network’ used here refers to several similar subsystems (CWC sites) that play the same ecological role in a wider system (Apulian margin). These CWC communities need coherent conservation measures and management strategies according to the Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries.     

Operational model for direct determination of evapotranspiration for well watered crops in Mediterranean region

Direct calculation of actual evapotranspiration ET_c based on Penman-Monteith type models gives more accurate values than indirect models, which need the determination of reference evapotranspiration and crop coefficient. However, the direct models need the measurement of weather variables above the crop, which is limiting and not easily feasible in practice. An operational version of a known ET_c direct model is described and tested. This new version is based on the determination of the weather variables collected in a standard agro-meteorological station. The original and the operational versions of the ET_c model were validated on two crops with contrasting height: soybean (0.8 m) and sweet sorghum (3 m). For soybean, ET_c calculated with the two versions gave results very similar at both hourly and daily scales. For sweet sorghum, ET_c calculated with the operational version is good at daily scale and not as good, although acceptable, at the hourly scale.     

Mesozoic to Tertiary tectonic history of the Mirdita ophiolites, northern Albania

Abstract In this paper, a summary of the tectonic history of the Mirdita ophiolitic nappe, northern Albania, is proposed by geological and structural data. The Mirdita ophiolitic nappe includes a subophiolite mélange, the Rubik complex, overlain by two ophiolite units, referred to as the Western and Eastern units. Its history started in the Early Triassic with a rifting stage followed by a Middle to Late Triassic oceanic opening between the Adria and Eurasia continental margins. Subsequently, in Early Jurassic time, the oceanic basin was affected by convergence with the development of a subduction zone. The existence of this subduction zone is provided by the occurrence of the supra‐subduction‐zone‐related magmatic sequences found in both the Western and Eastern units of the Mirdita ophiolitic nappe. During the Middle Jurassic, continuous convergence resulted in the obduction of the oceanic lithosphere, in two different stages – the intraoceanic and marginal stages. The intraoceanic stage is characterized by the westward thrusting of a young and still hot section of oceanic lithosphere leading to the development of a metamorphic sole. In the Late Jurassic, the marginal stage developed by the emplacement of the ophiolitic nappe onto the continental margin. During this second stage, the emplacement of the ophiolites resulted in the development of the Rubik complex. In the Early Cretaceous, the final emplacement of the ophiolites was followed by the unconformable sedimentation of the Barremian–Senonian platform carbonate. From the Late Cretaceous to the Middle Miocene, the Mirdita ophiolitic nappe was translated westward during the progressive migration of the deformation front toward the Adria Plate. In the Middle to Late Miocene, a thinning of the whole nappe pile was achieved by extensional tectonics, while the compression was still active in the westernmost areas of the Adria Plate. On the whole, the Miocene deformations resulted in the uplift and exposition of the Mirdita ophiolites as observed today.     

Formation of planetary systems: A simple synthetical approach

It is shown that by means of elementary assumptions it is possible to obtain models of planetary systems not too different from the observed case. Such assumptions are shown to be the bulk of more detailed models as those by Dole (1970) and Isaacman and Sagan (1977).An accurate fit with the features of the Solar System can be obtained only byad hoc assumptions on various physical quantities and depends also on the possibility of taking into account stochastic processes in the numerical code.We discuss various cases and attempt to derive best fit values for the free parameters of the model. The hypothesis of a moderate mass depletion in the region of outer planets is strongly supported by our results.