A reference architecture for the component factory

Software reuse can be achieved through an organization that focuses on utilization of life cycle products from previous developments. The component factory is both an example of the more general concepts of experience and domain factory and an organizational unit worth being considered independently. The critical features of such an organization are flexibility and continuous improvement. In order to achieve these features we can represent the architecture of the factory at different levels of abstraction and define a reference architecture from which specific architectures can be derived by instantiation. A reference architecture is an implementation and organization independent representation of the component factory and its environment. The paper outlines this reference architecture, discusses the instantiation process, and presents some examples of specific architectures by comparing them in the framework of the reference model

La sorgente del Terremoto del 1908 nel quadro sismotettonico dello Stretto di Messina

La costruzione di un modello della faglia responsabile del terremoto del 1908 ha impegnato diversi ricercatori negli ultimi decenni e si è basata sulle deformazioni del suolo rilevate grazie alla ripetizione di misure di livellazione geodetica sulle due sponde dello Stretto. Il modello preferito è una faglia estensionale lunga circa 40 km, posta al centro dello Stretto e cieca, ovvero non direttamente visibile in superficie. Questo modello si accorda bene con l’evoluzione recente dello Stretto come un elemento fisiografico ben distinto all’interno dell’Arco Calabro. L’accordo tra la sorgente del terremoto e l’evoluzione geologica dello Stretto suggerisce che l’evento del 1908 sia un “terremoto caratteristico” di quest’area, con lunghi tempi di ritorno

Low-density lipoprotein-lowering medication and platelet function

Elevated low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (LDL-C) levels represent one of the most important risk factors for atherosclerosis and therefore cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. LDL-C operates at different levels and through various classic and non-classic mechanisms. In particular, increased or modified LDL enhances platelet function and increases sensitivity of platelets to several naturally occurring agonists. Agents that lower LDL-C in hypercholesterolemic patients have been shown to interfere with platelet function. Several studies, in fact, suggested that statins exert anti-thrombotic effects largely as a result of an anti-platelet activity. Among the other LDL-C-lowering agents those acting by interfering with cholesterol reabsorption from the gut (cholestyramine, colestipol) do not appear to interfere with platelet function, whereas peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor agonists (such as fibrates) can inhibit platelet function. The full potential of these drugs in vascular protection is only just being realized. Further studies are still needed to elucidate the full therapeutic benefits of these agents in plaque stabilization and thrombosis. Copyright (c) 2006 S. Karger AG, Basel

Platelet activation in type 2 diabetes mellitus

The abnormal metabolic state that accompanies diabetes renders arteries susceptible to atherosclerosis, being capable of altering the functional properties of multiple cell types, including endothelium and platelets. In particular, an altered platelet metabolism and changes in intraplatelet signaling pathways may contribute to the pathogenesis of atherothrombotic complications of diabetes. A variety of mechanisms may be responsible for enhanced platelet aggregation. Among them, hyperglycemia may represent a causal factor for in vivo platelet activation, and may be responsible for nonenzymatic glycation of platelet glycoproteins, causing changes in their structure and conformation, as well as alterations of membrane lipid dynamics. Furthermore, hyperglycemia-induced oxidative stress is responsible for enhanced peroxidation of arachidonic acid to form biologically active isoprostanes, which represents an important biochemical link between impaired glycemic control and persistent platelet activation. Finally, increased oxidative stress is responsible for activation of transcription factors and expression of redox-sensitive genes leading to a phenotypic switch of endothelium toward an adhesive, prothrombotic condition, initial platelet activation, adhesion and subsequent platelet aggregate formation. All this evidence is strengthened by the results of clinical trials documenting the beneficial effects of metabolic control on platelet function, and by the finding that aspirin treatment may even be more beneficial in diabetic than in high-risk non-diabetic patients. Attention to appropriate medical management of diabetic patients will have great impact on long-term outcome in this high-risk population. © 2004 International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis

WP8 Modelling of topographic signal: GIS-BASED data base of potential earthquake sources identified in suitable kei-areas

GIS-based database of potential earthquake sources that were identified in key areas, such as the Provence, France, Po Plain, Italy, Outer Jura, Switzerland. The seismogenic source is defined as in Valensise and Pantosti (2001) following the scheme de-veloped in the framework of the EC project FAUST (Valensise et al., 2002)

Identification of rainy periods from ground based microwave radiometry

AbstractIn this paper the authors present the results of a study aiming at detecting rainy data in measurements collected by a dual band ground-based radiometer.The proposed criterion is based on the ratio of the brightness temperatures observed in the 20–30 GHz band without need of any ancillary information. A major result obtained from the probability density of the ratio computed over one month of data is the identification of threshold values between clear sky, cloudy sky and rainy sky, respectively. A linear fit performed by using radiometric data and concurrent rain gauge measurements shows a correlation coefficient equal to 0.56 between the temperature ratio and the observed precipitation

STOCHASTIC AND FULL-WAVEFIELD FINITE-FAULT GROUND-MOTION SIMULATIONS OF THE M7.1, MESSINA 1908 EARTHQUAKE (Southern Italy)

In the framework of an ongoing Italian national research project we are studying the Messina 1908 earthquake, the first to be recorded adequately by seismological and geodetic instrumentation that allowed subsequent quantitative investigations of its source properties. We use a high-frequency stochastic finite-fault modeling (Motazedian and Atkinson, 2005) to simulate the ground-shaking for a number of different source models (Basili et al. 2008), either constrained from past source studies of this event or simulated. Although inherently kinematic, our approach accounts for the physics of the source using a procedure to generate physically consistent earthquake-rupture models (Guatteri et al., 2004). Considering the width of the seismogenic zone and appropriate source-scaling relation, we generate heterogeneous slip models that obey to the source complexity of past earthquakes (Mai and Beroza, 2002). By also constraining the point of rupture initiation based on empirical findings and energy-balance arguments (Mai et al., 2005), we generate a suite of earthquake source models to compute far-field ground-shaking. The Housner parameter from the stochastic high-frequency simulations is than compared with the felt intensity (MCS scale). The developed procedure is a necessary tool to take into account the influence of directivity effects in simulating ground shaking scenarios using realistic slip distribution on the fault. Furthermore, we carry out full-wavefield ground-motion calculations (at frequencies f < 3 Hz) to compare those low-frequency simulations with (a) the stochastic simulations and (b) appropriate ground-motion prediction equations. The combined approach helps to examine the validation range of the two methods (distinguishing the influence of the near-field and far-field motions on the shaking level), and may serve as a basis to develop a hybrid technique which combines the two methods for generating fully broadband synthetic seismograms

UR 3.13 - MAXIMUM OBSERVABLE SHAKING (MOS) MAPS OF ITALY

The main goal of UR 3.13 is to establish a work flow for a multi-layer map that includes the seismicity of Italy in terms of Maximum Observable Shaking (MOS), and the near-field/far-field boundaries (NF/FF) with respect to the major seismogenic faults mapped within the DISS database. Here we will discuss only the procedure to derive the MOS-map of Italy. Our approach merges updated knowledge on the Italian regional tectonic setting and on the Source Zone (SZ) definition and broadband scenario-like calculation of expected maximum shaking on a given area. For a given SZ, broadband ground shaking is computed for a rupture model derived from a Maximum Credible Earthquake (MCE) and its associated Typical Fault (TF). Amplitude spectra for deterministic Low Frequency and stochastic High Frequency waveforms are reconciled at intermediate frequency, where their domain of validity overlaps, to derive broadband synthetics and compute the associated shaking. As the MCE and TF float along the SZ, broadband ground motion is computed at each point surrounding the given fault and the maximum among observable shaking according to that scenario is plotted on the MOS map. So far the procedure was entirely successfully tested on the Macro Region MR4 (central-northern Apennine), while more detailed analysis is done on the MCE and TF suggested for the Colfiorito earthquake. Here our broadband ground motion scenario shows, besides a complex pattern of variation, a southwestern area of high PGA values, at about 20 km distance from the fault, likely associated to with the properties of the spatio-temporal complexity of the rupture process. For the purpose of the project a complete new map of SZ and MCE is under compilation, grouping seismogenic sources according to Mw and faulting mechanisms. This goal can be achieved most efficiently by targeted numerical simulations that cover the parameter range of interest (in terms of magnitude and distance etc) and consider a large suite earthquake rupture scenarios

Is blind faulting truly invisible? Tectonic-controlled drainage evolution in the epicentral area of the May 2012, Emilia-Romagna earthquake sequence (northern Italy)

For decades alluvial plains have been the areas of fastest population growth over most of the globe. Modern societies demand growing extensions of flat and easily accessible land to accommodate swelling urban areas, booming industrial districts, large power plants, and multi-runway airports. But how can we tell if one of such flat areas hides large active faults? How can we assign a significant pre-instrumental earthquake to its causative source? In other words, how can modern societies deal with buried, that is to say, invisible faults, and with the elusiveness of the hazard they pose