First insights on the potential of Sentinel-1 for landslides detection

This paper illustrates the potential of Sentinel-1 for landslide detection, Accepted 23 March 2016 mapping and characterization with the aim of updating inventory maps and monitoring landslide activity. The study area is located in Molise, one of the smallest regions of Italy, where landslide processes are frequent. The results achieved by integrating Differential Synthetic Aperture Radar Interferometry (DInSAR) deformation maps and time series, and Geographical Information System (GIS) multilayer analysis (optical, geological, geomorphological, etc.) are shown. The adopted methodology is described followed by an analysis of future perspectives. Sixty-two landslides have been detected, thus allowing the updating of pre-existing landslide inventory maps. The results of our ongoing research show that Sentinel-1 might represent a significant improvement in terms of exploitation of SAR data for landslide mapping and monitoring due to both the shorter revisit time (up to 6 days in the close future) and the wavelength used, which determine an higher coherence compared to other SAR sensors

EVALUATION BY TEST OF TIGHTENING TORQUE FOR PRELOADED STAIN-LESS STEEL BOLTING ASSEMBLIES

Preloaded stain-less steel bolting assemblies are currently used in minor and secondary structures such as ventilated facades, but the national and international regulations condition their use on the execution of specific tests to determine the sliding resistance. This approach is justified by the dif-ferent viscoplastic behaviour compared to carbon steel, which can lead to a greater loss of preload over time and by the galling, that is a formation of streaks during tightening with damage of the bolt. This study investigates the use of bolted joints in stainless steel and hypothesizes, based on labora-tory tests, valid formulations in the project for the definition of the preload and the consequent sliding resistance of the joint. Using non-lubricated stainless-steel bolts with geometries according to UNI EN ISO 4014, 4017 standards, tests were carried out on the suitability for preloading, on the possible presence of galling and on the sliding resistance of joints. The preload suitability tests were carried out following the current regulations for preloaded carbon steel bolting, UNI EN 14399 2 and 3, and the achievable preloads were found to be lower than those defined for common steel. The most important conclusion is that it is possible to use these preloaded bolts, with a design preload equal to 50% of that defined in the case of carbon steel. On the other hand, for the factor k, laboratory tests have shown that the values for these bolts are included in a range between 0.25-0.40, higher than carbon steel preloaded bolting. Since the interval is quite wide, further laboratory tests are therefore necessary to define the k factor of these joints made by stainless steel, to avoid over-tightening or in the other hand, having a too low preload. The study constitutes further investigation with laboratory tests on the application of the correct tightening torque without damaging the bolt, compared to the previous publication dealt with in 2019 Bologna’s conference, which was limited to sliding tests of the joint

Una nuova popolazione isolata di xenopo liscio in Sicilia sud-occidentale

African clawed frog is a sub-saharan native anuran that has been introduced in various states of the old and the new world. The only Italian population of this species is located in western Sicily, and it is known as the European clawed frog population with wider distribution area. This paper describes a new Sicilian population of this species, and sets out to verify the effective isolation from the currently known distribution. The new site is a disused swimming pool, located near the mouth of the Belice River (province of Trapani), 31 km away from the nearest edge of the African clawed frog distribution area. To test whether this new population is the result of natural expansion of its range have been checked 21 control sites, arranged in a suitable area near the new site and along the basin of the Belice River, whose upper course is included in the Sicilian range of this species. The surveys in the control sites did not reveal the presence of clawed frogs, therefore, it seems doubtful the hypothesis of natural expansion along the Belice River basin and plausible the occurrence of a man-mediated introduction event

Serine Transhydroxymethylase SUBUNIT STRUCTURE AND THE INVOLVEMENT OF SULFHYDRYL GROUPS IN THE ACTIVITY OF THE ENZYME

Abstract The results of peptide map patterns, end group analysis, and disc electrophoresis experiments in gels containing 8 m urea show that serine transhydroxymethylase from rabbit liver consists of four identical polypeptide chains. Evidence is presented to show that serine transhydroxymethylase can exist in an oxidized form and a reduced form. The oxidized form is about 60% as active as the reduced form but can be converted to the reduced form by incubation with a sulfhydryl compound, such as dithiothreitol, and pyridoxal 5'-phosphate. In the absence of a sulfhydryl compound the reduced enzyme is converted to the oxidized enzyme over a period of several weeks at -5°. The apoenzyme is converted to the oxidized form in a few hours. The reduced enzyme has 12 sulfhydryl groups which react with 5,5'-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid). Kinetically they are of two classes. Eight of these sulfhydryl groups react rapidly and four more slowly. The oxidized enzyme has only eight sulfhydryl groups which react with 5,5'-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid), four reacting rapidly and four more slowly. The reaction of the enzyme with 5,5'-dithiobis(2nitrobenzoic acid) causes dissociation of pyridoxal 5'-phosphate and complete loss of enzymatic activity

Comparacion de distribuciones SB Johnson y Logit-logistic en renovales de Nothofagus obliqua y Nothofagus glauca en la precordillera de la region del Maule

35 p.En el área forestal las distribuciones de probabilidad se utilizan para estimar y predecir las futuras estructuras horizontales del bosque. Esta información es usada para cuantificar el recurso a través del tiempo, evaluando el rendimiento del bosque, a través de variables de fácil medición, lo que permite un adecuado manejo de la información para la toma de decisiones. Para el desarrollo de esta investigación se ajustó la distribución Logit-logistic en renovales de Nothofagus glauca y Nothofagus obliqua de la precordillera de la Región del Maule, utilizando el complemento en Visual Basic for Application denominado “Ajuste Logit-logistic”. Este complemento fue creado por el Dr. Oscar Vallejos para el desarrollo de este estudio. La distribución SB Johnson fue ajustada por Godoy (2006), para estos mismos datos. El objetivo de este estudio fue comparar las distribuciones Logit-logistic y SB Johnson y los diferentes métodos de ajuste. Se llevó a cabo un análisis de varianza empleando el estadístico “Dn unitario”. Al no cumplirse el supuesto de normalidad, en el análisis de varianza, se usó la prueba no paramétrica de Kruskal- Wallis Cada distribución fue ajustada a través de cuatro métodos: Knoebel-Burkhart, regresión, máxima verosimilitud, momentos, y los métodos minimizados propuestos por Vallejos. La distribución SB Johnson modela de manera más efectiva la estructura horizontal. El mejor ajuste de las especies analizadas fue encontrado por el método de los momentos optimizado de la distribución SB Johnson

Dense nanocrystalline W alloys: Enhancement of hardness and thermal stability by Al addition

Nanocrystalline W100-xAlx (x up to 20 at.%) powders obtained by mechanical alloying have been consolidated by spark plasma sintering (SPS). Alloying W with Al significantly improves the sinterability, allowing the fabrication of dense samples. The consolidation process keeps the nanocrystalline microstructure substantially unaffected, which contributes to the hardness of the final W-Al alloys. The room-temperature nano-and micro-hardness of dense W80Al20 alloy sintered at 1100 degrees C are as high as 18 and 14 GPa, respectively. These values are significantly higher than those previously reported for pure coarse-or submicron-grained W and may be ultimately ascribed to the grain boundary segregation of Al

Evaluation of Borderline Ovarian Tumor Recurrence Rate after Surgery with or without Fertility-Sparing Approach: Results of a Retrospective Analysis

Borderline ovarian tumors (BOTs) comprise 15-20% of primary ovarian neoplasms and represent an independent disease entity among epithelial ovarian cancers. The present study (Clinical Trial ID: NCT05791838) aimed to report a retrospective analysis of the management and outcomes of 86 consecutive BOTs patients, 54 of which were at a reproductive age. All patients with BOTs undergoing surgical treatment from January 2010 to December 2017 were included. Data were retrospectively reviewed. High levels of Ca-125 were observed in 25.6% of the FIGO stage I patients and 58.3% of the advanced disease patients. Fertility-sparing surgery and comprehensive surgical staging were performed in 36.7% and 49.3% of the patients, respectively. Laparotomy was the most frequent surgical approach (65.1%). The most common diagnosis at frozen sections was serous BOT (50.6%). Serous BOTs have significantly smaller tumor diameters than mucinous BOTs (p < 0.0001). The mean postoperative follow-up was 29.8 months (range 6-87 months). Three patients experienced a recurrence, with an overall recurrence rate of 3.5% (10% considering only the patients who underwent fertility-sparing treatment). BOTs have low recurrence rates, with excellent prognosis. Surgery with proper staging is the main treatment. Conservative surgery is a valid option for women with reproductive potential

Oxidized Low-Density Lipoproteins Induce Tissue Factor Expression in T-Lymphocytes via activation of Lectin-Like Oxidized Low-Density Lipoprotein Receptor-1

T-lymphocytes plays an important role in the pathophysiology of acute coronary syndromes (ACS). T-cell activation in vitro by pro-inflammatory cytokines may lead to functional Tissue Factor (TF) expression, indicating a possible contribution of immunity to thrombosis. Oxidized low-density lipoproteins (oxLDLs) are found abundantly in atherosclerotic plaques. We aimed at evaluating the effects of oxLDLs on TF expression in T-cells and the role of the lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor-1 (LOX-1)

Receptor tyrosine kinase-dependent PI3K activation is an escape mechanism to vertical suppression of the EGFR/RAS/MAPK pathway in KRAS-mutated human colorectal cancer cell lines

Abstract BACKGROUND: Previous studies showed that the combination of an anti-Epidermal growth factor (EGFR) and a MEK-inhibitor is able to prevent the onset of resistance to anti-EGFR monoclonal antibodies in KRAS-wild type colorectal cancer (CRC), while the same combination reverts anti-EGFR primary resistance in KRAS mutated CRC cell lines. However, rapid onset of resistance is a limit to combination therapies in KRAS mutated CRC. METHODS: We generated four different KRAS mutated CRC cell lines resistant to a combination of cetuximab (an anti-EGFR antibody) and refametinib (a selective MEK-inhibitor) after continuous exposure to increasing concentration of the drugs. We characterized these resistant cell lines by evaluating the expression and activation status of a panel of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) and intracellular transducers by immunoblot and qRT-PCR. Oncomine comprehensive assay and microarray analysis were carried out to investigate new acquired mutations or transcriptomic adaptation, respectively, in the resistant cell lines. Immunofluorescence assay was used to show the localization of RTKs in resistant and parental clones. RESULTS: We found that PI3K-AKT pathway activation acts as an escape mechanism in cell lines with acquired resistance to combined inhibition of EGFR and MEK. AKT pathway activation is coupled to the activation of multiple RTKs such as HER2, HER3 and IGF1R, though its pharmacological inhibition is not sufficient to revert the resistant phenotype. PI3K pathway activation is mediated by autocrine loops and by heterodimerization of multiple receptors. CONCLUSIONS: PI3K activation plays a central role in the acquired resistance to the combination of anti-EGFR and MEK-inhibitor in KRAS mutated colorectal cancer cell lines. PI3K activation is cooperatively achieved through the activation of multiple RTKs such as HER2, HER3 and IGF1R

Final results of the second prospective AIEOP protocol for pediatric intracranial ependymoma

BACKGROUND: This prospective study stratified patients by surgical resection (complete = NED vs incomplete = ED) and centrally reviewed histology (World Health Organization [WHO] grade II vs III). METHODS: WHO grade II/NED patients received focal radiotherapy (RT) up to 59.4 Gy with 1.8 Gy/day. Grade III/NED received 4 courses of VEC (vincristine, etoposide, cyclophosphamide) after RT. ED patients received 1-4 VEC courses, second-look surgery, and 59.4 Gy followed by an 8-Gy boost in 2 fractions on still measurable residue. NED children aged 1-3 years with grade II tumors could receive 6 VEC courses alone. RESULTS: From January 2002 to December 2014, one hundred sixty consecutive children entered the protocol (median age, 4.9 y; males, 100). Follow-up was a median of 67 months. An infratentorial origin was identified in 110 cases. After surgery, 110 patients were NED, and 84 had grade III disease. Multiple resections were performed in 46/160 children (28.8%). A boost was given to 24/40 ED patients achieving progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) rates of 58.1% and 68.7%, respectively, in this poor prognosis subgroup. For the whole series, 5-year PFS and OS rates were 65.4% and 81.1%, with no toxic deaths. On multivariable analysis, NED status and grade II were favorable for OS, and for PFS grade II remained favorable. CONCLUSIONS: In a multicenter collaboration, this trial accrued the highest number of patients published so far, and results are comparable to the best single-institution series. The RT boost, when feasible, seemed effective in improving prognosis. Even after multiple procedures, complete resection confirmed its prognostic strength, along with tumor grade. Biological parameters emerging in this series will be the object of future correlatives and reports