Open questions about the hydrodynamic behaviour of the deep, coastal aquifer of the Salento peninsula (south-eastern Italy): Coupling expert knowledge, data, and numerical modelling for testing hydrogeological conceptual models.

This paper investigates the role of numerical models for testing the suitability of Hydrogeological Conceptual Models (HCMs). This approach has been applied to model the hydrodynamics of the deep, karst aquifer of the Adriatic portion of the Salento peninsula (south-eastern Italy), focusing on a coastal sub-area between Lecce and Otranto. The scope was to test two HCMs for the explanation of anomalous piezometric levels close to the coast (from 4.0 m to 4.5 m above mean sea level) occurring in this sub-area. Two different hypothesis were tested, assuming that the hydraulic contact between the aquifer and the sea in this sub-area occurs (a) offshore (HCM-A), or (b) at the shoreline (HCM-B). In HCM-B, we assumed a hydraulic connection between the deep aquifer and the Pliocene superficial aquifer. Results show that both HCMs can explain the anomalous piezometric values recorded close to the coast, but HCM-B would not completely clarify such occurrence. Calibration results for HCM-B, indeed, show two points located north of Otranto where the simulated hydraulic head is underestimated by the model and shows a poor sensitivity to any model parameter. As such, this is probably due to local phenomena not considered in the modelling framework and requiring further investigations.

1H-NMR-based metabolomic profiles of different sweet melon (Cucumis melo L.) Salento varieties: Analysis and comparison.

Melon (Cucumis melo L.) is a significant source of substances able to provide human health benefits. From the 18th century in the Salento area (Apulia region), the cultivation of melon varieties (C. melo L.) has always been intense. Over the years, the production of this fruit has involved a large number of selected and preserved varieties in the different local districts. Unfortunately, most of the characteristics of locally grown vegetable varieties do not match the food industry requirements. Moreover, the agricultural land abandon leads these varieties to quickly disappear, thus affecting the intraspecific biodiversity. In order to characterize the inter-variety diversity of sweet melon (C. melo L. ssp. melo group inodorus) and the potential differences in the nutritional quality of fruits, a first investigation on the juice of five sweet melon varieties (locally known as "allungato", "scurzune", "egiziano", "minna de monaca", "pinto"), cultivated exclusively in the Salento area, was performed by 1H-NMR spectroscopy and Multivariate Analysis (MVA). The analysis grouped the samples into clusters according to the different variety. Interestingly, a different sugar (mono and disaccharides) content was observed among the grouped varieties, being sweetness the main characteristic of sweet melon quality and taste. A relative higher accumulation of monosaccharides (α-d and ß-d glucose and α/ß-d fructose) was found, in particular for the "minna de monaca" with respect to "allungato", "egiziano" and "pinto" varieties. Moreover, a marked high content of polyphenols and aromatic aminoacids as phenylalanine and tyrosine characterize the "allungato", "minna de monaca" and "pinto" varieties. An NMR-based metabolomic approach was used for the first time to describe these local landraces. This method may integrate other actions in order to achieving a reduction in the current rate of erosion of the biodiversity of Apulian horticultural species.

Micronuclei in Exfoliated Buccal Cells of Children Living in a Cluster Area of Salento (Southern Italy) with a High Incidence of Lung Cancer: The IMP.AIR Study.

During the years 2014⁻2016 the University of Salento performed the "Impact of Air Quality on Health of Residents in the Municipalities of Cutrofiano, Galatina, Sogliano Cavour, Soleto and Sternatia" (IMP.AIR) study, an epidemiological-molecular research project aiming to evaluate early DNA damage in children living in an area of Salento with high incidence of lung cancer among the male population. One hundred and twenty-two children aged 6⁻8 years attending primary school were enrolled and the frequency of micronucleated cells (MNC) in oral mucosa was evaluated. In addition, a questionnaire was administered to parents to obtain information about personal data, anthropometric characteristics and lifestyles (physical activity, food habits, family context) of the children and perform a multivariate analysis to detect any factors associated with MNC occurrence. Data on airborne pollutants detected in the study area were acquired by the Regional Agency for the Environmental Protection. The presence of MNC was highlighted in about 42% of children with a mean MNC frequency of 0.49‰. The frequency of MNC was associated to obesity, consumption of red or processed meat and having a mother who smokes. Moreover, the prevalence of biomarkers was higher than in another area of Salento not included in the cluster area.