Three-dimensional advanced numerical approaches to the seismic soil and structural response analyses

A 3D non-linear finite element approach is developed to study the free-field seismic ground response and the soil-structure interaction (SSI) phenomena at the Lotung site (Taiwan) during the earthquake event occurred on May 20 1986. The site was extensively instrumented with down-hole and surface ac- celerometers, these latter located also on a 1/4–scale nuclear power plant containment structure. An advanced constitutive model is adopt- ed for simulating the soil behaviour, while a linear visco-elastic be- haviour is assumed for the structural model. The free-field and SSI analyses are carried out applying both the NS and EW horizontal components of the acceleration time history as recorded at the depth of 47 m b.g.l. The predicted ground response re- sults are in fair agreement with the recorded motion at depth and at the surface. The dynamic response of structure is well captured for this specific seismic event, thus confirming the validity of the numerical approach

PRENOLIN project. Results of the validation phase at sendai site

One of the objectives of the PRENOLIN project is the assessment of uncertainties associated with non-linear simulation of 1D site effects. An international benchmark is underway to test several numerical codes, including various non-linear soil constitutive models, to compute the non-linear seismic site response. The preliminary verification phase (i.e. comparison between numerical codes on simple, idealistic cases) is now followed by the validation phase, which compares predictions of such numerical estimations with actual strong motion data recorded from well-known sites. The benchmark presently involves 21 teams and 21 different non-linear computations. Extensive site characterization was performed at three sites of the Japanese KiK-net and PARI networks. This paper focuses on SENDAI site. The first results indicate that a careful analysis of the data for the lab measurement is required. The linear site response is overestimated while the non-linear effects are underestimated in the first iteration. According to these observations, a first set of recommendations for defining the non-linear soil parameters from lab measurements is proposed. PRENOLIN is part of two larger projects: SINAPS@, funded by the ANR (French National Research Agency) and SIGMA, funded by a consortium of nuclear operators (EDF, CEA, AREVA, ENL)

Treatment patterns with systemic antipsoriatic agents in childhood psoriasis: an Italian database analysis

The majority of available systemic therapies have never been systematically investigated in moderate to severe childhood plaque psoriasis. For this reason, treatment preferences for moderate to severe psoriasis in childhood are still unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the systemic treatment patterns of moderate to severe psoriasis in children and adolescents aged 18 or older in Italy. Additional secondary outcomes were duration of treatment and reasons for discontinuation

Treatment patterns with systemic antipsoriatic agents in childhood psoriasis: an Italian database analysis

Most of systemic therapies have not been systematically investigated in moderate to severe childhood plaque psoriasis. Treatment preferences for moderate to severe psoriasis in childhood are unknown

Secukinumab shows high efficacy irrespective of HLA-Cw6 status in patients with moderate-to-severe plaque-type psoriasis: SUPREME study

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COVID 19-associated chilblain-like acral lesions among children and adolescents: an Italian retrospective, multicenter study

BACKGROUND: Since the COVID-19 pandemic started, great interest has been given to this disease, especially to its possible clinical presentations. Besides classical respiratory symptoms, dermatological manifestations occur quite often among infected and non-infected patients, particularly in children. A prominent IFN-I response, that is generally higher in children compared to adults, may not only cause chilblain lesions, but it could also prevent infection and viral replication, thus justifying the negative swab results, as well as the absence of relevant systemic symptoms in positive cases. Indeed, reports have emerged describing chilblain-like acral lesions in children and adolescents with either proven or suspected infection. METHODS: Patients aged from 1 to 18 years old were enrolled in this study from 23 Italian dermatological units and were observed for an over-all period of 6 months. Clinical pictures were collected along with data on the location and duration of skin lesions, their association with con-comitant local and systemic symptoms, presence of nail and/or mucosal involvement, as well as histological, laboratory and imaging findings. RESULTS: One hundred thirty-seven patients were included, of whom 56.9% were females. Mean age was 11.97 & PLUSMN;3.66 years. The most com-monly affected sites were the feet (77 patients, 56.2%). Lesions (48.5%) featured cyanosis, chilblains, blisters, ecchymosis, bullae, erythema, edema, and papules. Concomitant skin manifestations included maculo-papular rashes (30%), unspecified rashes (25%), vesicular rashes (20%), erythema multiforme (10%), urticaria (10%) and erythema with desquamation (5%). Forty-one patients (29.9%) reported pruritus as the main symptom associated with chilblains, and 56 out of 137 patients also reported systemic symptoms such as respiratory symptoms (33.9%), fever (28%), intestinal (27%), headache (5.5%), asthenia (3.5%), and joint pain (2%). Associated comorbid conditions were observed in 9 patients presenting with skin lesions. Nasopharyngeal swabs turned out positive in 11 patients (8%), whereas the remainder were either negative (101, 73%) or unspecified (25, 18%). CONCLUSIONS: COVID-19 has been credited as the etiology of the recent increase in acro-ischemic lesions. The present study provides a description of pediatric cutaneous manifestations deemed to be potentially associated with COVID-19, revealing a possible association between acral cyanosis and nasopharyngeal swab positivity in children and teenagers. The identification and characterization of newly recognized pat-terns of skin involvement may aid physicians in diagnosing cases of asymptomatic or pauci-symptomatic COVID patients

Distribution of congenital melanocytic naevi and congenital naevus-like naevi in a survey of 3406 Italian schoolchildren.

Background Scanty information is available on the prevalence of congenital melanocytic naevi (CMN) and congenital naevus-like naevi (CNLN), particularly the small ones.Objectives To estimate the prevalence of CMN/CNLN in Italian schoolchildren, and to assess variations according to potential risk factors for melanoma.Methods We conducted a survey in 13 Italian areas on 3406 schoolchildren aged 12-17 years. Children were examined by dermatologists who assessed pigmentary traits and made a count of small (6-15 mm in diameter) and medium/large (> 15 mm) CMN/CNLN on 19 anatomical areas.Results Overall, 592 children (17.4%) had one or more CMN/CNLN. Prevalence of small CMN/CNLN was 16.1%, and that of medium/large CMN/CNLN was 1.8%. There was no difference between age groups and sexes. CMN/CNLN were more frequent in children with a higher number of common melanocytic naevi (multivariate odds ratio, OR = 7.1 for the highest vs. the lowest quartile), consistent in small (OR = 7.2) and medium/large CMN/CNLN (OR = 6.0). Family history of malignant melanoma (OR = 1.4) and personal history of diabetes (OR = 4.4) appeared to be directly, and sun exposure inversely associated with CMN/CNLN. No relation was evident between CMN/CNLN and pigmentary traits, anthropometric characteristics, dietary habits, freckles, sunburns, sunscreen use or history of selected diseases.Conclusions The association with family history of melanoma, the strong association with acquired melanocytic naevi, and the lack of association with pigmentary traits and sunburns suggest that CMN/CNLN may act as an independent risk marker for subjects at increased risk for cutaneous melanoma later in life

International Benchmark on Numerical Simulations for 1D, Nonlinear Site Response (PRENOLIN): Verification Phase Based on Canonical CasesInternational Benchmark on Numerical Simulations for 1D, Nonlinear Site Response (PRENOLIN)

PREdiction of NOn-LINear soil behavior (PRENOLIN) is an international benchmark aiming to test multiple numerical simulation codes that are capable of predicting nonlinear seismic site response with various constitutive models. One of the objectives of this project is the assessment of the uncertainties associated with nonlinear simulation of 1D site effects. A first verification phase (i.e., comparison between numerical codes on simple idealistic cases) will be followed by a validation phase, comparing the predictions of such numerical estimations with actual strongmotion recordings obtained at well-known sites. The benchmark presently involves 21 teams and 23 different computational codes. We present here the main results of the verification phase dealing with simple cases. Three different idealized soil profiles were tested over a wide range of shear strains with different input motions and different boundary conditions at the sediment/bedrock interface. A first iteration focusing on the elastic and viscoelastic cases was proved to be useful to ensure a common understanding and to identify numerical issues before pursuing the nonlinear modeling. Besides minor mistakes in the implementation of input parameters and output units, the initial discrepancies between the numerical results can be attributed to (1) different understanding of the expression “input motion” in different communities, and (2) different implementations of material damping and possible numerical energy dissipation. The second round of computations thus allowed a convergence of all teams to the Haskell–Thomson analytical solution in elastic and viscoelastic cases. For nonlinear computations, we investigate the epistemic uncertainties related only to wave propagation modeling using different nonlinear constitutive models. Such epistemic uncertainties are shown to increase with the strain level and to reach values around 0.2 (log10 scale) for a peak ground acceleration of 5 m=s2 at the base of the soil column, which may be reduced by almost 50% when the various constitutive models used the same shear strength and damping implementation

Bullous pemphigoid: Italian guidelines adapted from the EDF/EADV guidelines

Bullous pemphigoid is the most common autoimmune subepidermal blistering disease of the skin and mucous membranes. This disease typically affects the elderly and presents with itch and localized or generalized bullous lesions. In up to 20% of affected patients blister may be completely absent, and only excoriations, prurigo-like lesions, eczematous lesions, urticated lesions, and/or infiltrated plaques are observed. The disease is significantly associated with neurological disorders. The morbidity of bullous pemphigoid and its impact on the quality of life are significant. So far, a limited number of national treatment guidelines have been proposed, but no common European consensus has emerged. This guideline for the treatment of bullous pemphigoid has been developed by an Italian group of experts taking in account the Italian legislation and local pharmacological governance. Guidelines are adapted from the original article under the guidance of the European Dermatology Forum (EDF) in collaboration with the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV). It summarizes evidence-based and expert-based recommendations (S2 level)

International Benchmark on Numerical Simulations for 1D, Nonlinear Site Response (PRENOLIN): Verification Phase Based on Canonical Cases

International audienc