Physically based modeling of rainfall-triggered landslides: a case study in the Luquillo forest, Puerto Rico

This paper presents the development of a rainfall-triggered landslide module within an existing physically based spatially distributed ecohydrologic model. The model, tRIBS-VEGGIE (Triangulated Irregular Networks-based Real-time Integrated Basin Simulator and Vegetation Generator for Interactive Evolution), is capable of a sophisticated description of many hydrological processes; in particular, the soil moisture dynamics are resolved at a temporal and spatial resolution required to examine the triggering mechanisms of rainfall-induced landslides. The validity of the tRIBS-VEGGIE model to a tropical environment is shown with an evaluation of its performance against direct observations made within the study area of Luquillo Forest. The newly developed landslide module builds upon the previous version of the tRIBS landslide component. This new module utilizes a numerical solution to the Richards' equation (present in tRIBS-VEGGIE but not in tRIBS), which better represents the time evolution of soil moisture transport through the soil column. Moreover, the new landslide module utilizes an extended formulation of the factor of safety (FS) to correctly quantify the role of matric suction in slope stability and to account for unsaturated conditions in the evaluation of FS. The new modeling framework couples the capabilities of the detailed hydrologic model to describe soil moisture dynamics with the infinite slope model, creating a powerful tool for the assessment of rainfall-triggered landslide risk.United States. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Project NNX07AD29G

Neuromuscular magnetic stimulation counteracts muscle decline in ALS patients: results of a randomized, double-blind, controlled study

The aim of the study was to verify whether neuromuscular magnetic stimulation (NMMS) improves muscle function in spinal-onset amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients. Twenty-two ALS patients were randomized in two groups to receive, daily for two weeks, NMMS in right or left arm (referred to as real-NMMS, rNMMS), and sham NMMS (sNMMS) in the opposite arm. All the patients underwent a median nerve conduction (compound muscle action potential, CMAP) study and a clinical examination that included a handgrip strength test and an evaluation of upper limb muscle strength by means of the Medical Research Council Muscle Scale (MRC). Muscle biopsy was then performed bilaterally on the flexor carpi radialis muscle to monitor morpho-functional parameters and molecular changes. Patients and physicians who performed examinations were blinded to the side of real intervention. The primary outcome was the change in the muscle strength in upper arms. The secondary outcomes were the change from baseline in the CMAP amplitudes, in the nicotinic ACh currents, in the expression levels of a selected panel of genes involved in muscle growth and atrophy, and in histomorphometric parameters of ALS muscle fibers. The Repeated Measures (RM) ANOVA with a Greenhouse-Geisser correction (sphericity not assumed) showed a significant effect [F(3, 63) = 5.907, p < 0.01] of rNMMS on MRC scale at the flexor carpi radialis muscle, thus demonstrating that the rNMMS significantly improves muscle strength in flexor muscles in the forearm. Secondary outcomes showed that the improvement observed in rNMMS-treated muscles was associated to counteracting muscle atrophy, down-modulating the proteolysis, and increasing the efficacy of nicotinic ACh receptors (AChRs). We did not observe any significant difference in pre- and post-stimulation CMAP amplitudes, evoked by median nerve stimulation. This suggests that the improvement in muscle strength observed in the stimulated arm is unlikely related to reinnervation. The real and sham treatments were well tolerated without evident side effects. Although promising, this is a proof of concept study, without an immediate clinical translation, that requires further clinical validation

Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Cancer and Neurodegenerative Diseases: Spotlight on Fatty Acid Oxidation and Lipoperoxidation Products

In several human diseases, such as cancer and neurodegenerative diseases, the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), produced mainly by mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation, is increased. In cancer cells, the increase of ROS production has been associated with mtDNA mutations that, in turn, seem to be functional in the alterations of the bioenergetics and the biosynthetic state of cancer cells. Moreover, ROS overproduction can enhance the peroxidation of fatty acids in mitochondrial membranes. In particular, the peroxidation of mitochondrial phospholipid cardiolipin leads to the formation of reactive aldehydes, such as 4-hydroxynonenal (HNE) and malondialdehyde (MDA), which are able to react with proteins and DNA. Covalent modifications of mitochondrial proteins by the products of lipid peroxidation (LPO) in the course of oxidative cell stress are involved in the mitochondrial dysfunctions observed in cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. Such modifications appear to affect negatively mitochondrial integrity and function, in particular energy metabolism, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production, antioxidant defenses and stress responses. In neurodegenerative diseases, indirect confirmation for the pathogenetic relevance of LPO-dependent modifications of mitochondrial proteins comes from the disease phenotypes associated with their genetic alterations

Políticas de ensino superior na pandemia: repertórios de contingência

El surgimiento de la enfermedad causada por el coronavirus a fines de 2019 y su rápida capacidad de propagación, llevó en pocos meses al mundo a una situación de crisis generalizada. Las características globalizadas del sistema mundial condujeron en efecto dominó a una tensión límite a los sistemas de salud y económicos, que obligó a los gobiernos a tomar medidas de carácter efectivo y urgente. El distanciamiento social como principal medida para el control de contagios afectó la cotidianidad de la vida en todos los niveles. El presente trabajo realiza un análisis exploratorio de tipo comparado de las estrategias relativas a la Educación Superior que surgen en el marco de esta pandemia. Se basa en la realización de un análisis documental de iniciativas en 23 países de cuatro subregiones de América, Europa y Asia. Los datos obtenidos son analizados alrededor de tres ejes: tipo de iniciativas, impacto buscado por las mismas y tipo de organismo que las promueve. El artículo introduce finalmente algunas conclusiones y plantea unas primeras discusiones que tienen origen en los resultados obtenidos.The emergence of the disease caused by the coronavirus in late 2019 and its rapid rate of spread capacity brought the world into a situation of general crisis in a few months. The globalized characteristics of the world system allowed a ripple effect on health and economic systems leading them into a limit point situation forcing governments to take effective and urgent action. Social distancing as the main measure of infection control affected everyday life at all levels. The present work carries out a comparative exploratory analysis of the strategies related to higher education that arise in the context of this pandemic. It is based on a documentary analysis of initiatives in 23 countries across four sub-regions of America, Europe and Asia. The data obtained are analyzed around three axes: type of initiatives, impact sought by them and type of organization promoting them. The article finally introduces some conclusions and raises some first discussions that have their origin in the results obtained.O surgimento da doença causada pelo coronavírus no final de 2019 e sua rápida capacidade de propagação levaram o mundo a uma situação de crise generalizada em poucos meses. As características globalizadas do sistema mundial conduziram a uma tensão limite aos sistemas de saúde e econômicos, forçando os governos a tomar medidas de caráter efetivo e urgente. O distanciamento social como principal medida para o controle de contágios afetou a cotidianidade da vida em todos os níveis. O presente trabalho realiza uma análise exploratória de tipo comparado das estratégias relativas ao Ensino Superior que surgem no âmbito desta pandemia. Baseia-se na realização de uma análise documental de iniciativas em 23 países de quatro sub-regiões da América, Europa e Ásia. Os dados obtidos são analisados em torno de três eixos: tipo de iniciativas, impacto buscado por elas, e tipo de organismo que as promove. O artigo introduz finalmente algumas conclusões e apresenta as primeiras discussões que têm origem nos resultados obtidos.publishedVersionFil: Astur, Anahí. Ministerio de Educación. Secretaría de Políticas Universitarias; Argentina.Fil: Flores, Emiliano. Ministerio de Educación. Secretaría de Políticas Universitarias; Argentina.Fil: Isasmendi, Gabriela. Ministerio de Educación. Secretaría de Políticas Universitarias; Argentina.Fil: Jakubowicz, Florencia. Ministerio de Educación. Secretaría de Políticas Universitarias; Argentina.Fil: Larrea, Marina. Ministerio de Educación. Secretaría de Políticas Universitarias; Argentina.Fil: Lepore, Evangelina. Ministerio de Educación. Secretaría de Políticas Universitarias; Argentina.Fil: Merega, María. Ministerio de Educación. Secretaría de Políticas Universitarias; Argentina.Fil: Pazos, Nuria. Ministerio de Educación. Secretaría de Políticas Universitarias; Argentina.Fil: Puppo, Chiara. Ministerio de Educación. Secretaría de Políticas Universitarias; Argentina