Application of an integrated geotechnical and topographic monitoring system in the Lorano marble quarry (Apuan Alps, Italy)

PublishedThis is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from Elsevier via http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2015.04.009Accurate slope stability analysis is essential for human activity in high-risk geological contexts. This may, however, not be enough in the case of quarrying where the dynamic and evolving environment also requires effective monitoring. A well-designed monitoring system requires the acquisition of a huge dataset over time, improving knowledge of the study area and helping to refine prediction from stability analysis.This paper reports the implementation of an integrated monitoring system in a marble quarry in the Apuan Alps (Italy) and some of the results obtained. The equipment consists of a traditional geotechnical monitoring system (extensometers, crackmeters and clinometers) and two modern topographic monitoring systems (a terrestrial interferometer and a robotic total station). This work aims to provide in-depth knowledge of the large scale rock mass behaviour as a result of marble exploitation, thereby allowing continuous excavation. The results highlight the importance of integrating different monitoring systems.The present study was undertaken within the framework of the Italian National Research Project PRIN2009, funded by the Ministry of Education, Universities and Research, which involves the collaboration between the University of Siena, “La Sapienza” University of Rome, and USL1 of Massa and Carrara (Mining Engineering Operative Unit - Department of Prevention)

An integrated remote sensing-GIS approach for the analysis of an open pit in the Carrara marble district, Italy: slope stability assessment through kinematic and numerical methods

PublishedJournal Article© 2015 Elsevier Ltd. Over the last decade, terrestrial laser scanning and digital terrestrial photogrammetry techniques have been increasingly used in the geometrical characterization of rock slopes. These techniques provide innovative remote sensing tools which overcome the frequent problem of rock slope inaccessibility. Comprehensive datasets characterizing the structural geological setting and geometry of the slopes can be obtained. The derived information is very useful in rock slope investigations and finds application in a wide variety of geotechnical and mine operations. In this research an integrated remote sensing - GIS approach is proposed for the deterministic kinematic characterization of the Lorano open pit in the Apuan Alps of Italy. Based on the results of geomatic and engineering geological surveys, additional geomechanical analysis using a 3D finite difference method will be presented in order to provide a better understanding of the role of stress-induced damage on slope performance

β-hexachlorocyclohexane: a small molecule with a big impact on human cellular biochemistry

Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) belong to a heterogeneous class of organic compounds blacklisted by the Stockholm Convention in 2009 due to their harmful impact on human health. Among OCPs, β-hexachlorocyclohexane (β-HCH) is one of the most widespread and, at the same time, poorly studied environmental contaminant. Due to its physicochemical properties, β-HCH is the most hazardous of all HCH isomers; therefore, clarifying the mechanisms underlying its molecular action could provide further elements to draw the biochemical profile of this OCP. For this purpose, LNCaP and HepG2 cell lines were used as models and were subjected to immunoblot, immunofluorescence, and RT-qPCR analysis to follow the expression and mRNA levels, together with the distribution, of key biomolecules involved in the intracellular responses to β-HCH. In parallel, variations in redox homeostasis and cellular bioenergetic profile were monitored to have a complete overview of β-HCH effects. Obtained results strongly support the hypothesis that β-HCH could be an endocrine disrupting chemical as well as an activator of AhR signaling, promoting the establishment of an oxidative stress condition and a cellular metabolic shift toward aerobic glycolysis. In this altered context, β-HCH can also induce DNA damage through H2AX phosphorylation, demonstrating its multifaceted mechanisms of action

β-Caryophyllene Counteracts Chemoresistance Induced by Cigarette Smoke in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer MDA-MB-468 Cells

Exposure to cigarette smoke (CS) has been associated with an increased risk of fatal breast cancers and recurrence, along with chemoresistance and chemotherapy impairment. This strengthens the interest in chemopreventive agents to be exploited both in healthy and oncological subjects to prevent or repair CS damage. In the present study, we evaluated the chemopreventive properties of the natural sesquiterpene beta-caryophyllene towards the damage induced by cigarette smoke condensate (CSC) in triple negative breast cancer MDA-MB-468 cells. Particularly, we assessed the ability of the sesquiterpene to interfere with the mechanisms exploited by CSC to promote cell survival and chemoresistance, including genomic instability, cell cycle progress, autophagy/apoptosis, cell migration and related pathways. beta-Caryophyllene was found to be able to increase the CSC-induced death of MDA-MB-468 cells, likely triggering oxidative stress, cell cycle arrest and apoptosis; moreover, it hindered cell recovery, autophagy activation and cell migration; at last, a marked inhibition of the signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) activation was highlighted: this could represent a key mechanism of the chemoprevention by beta-caryophyllene. Although further studies are required to confirm the in vivo efficacy of beta-caryophyllene, the present results suggest a novel strategy to reduce the harmful effect of smoke in cancer patients and to improve the survival expectations in breast cancer women

A multi-element psychosocial intervention for early psychosis (GET UP PIANO TRIAL) conducted in a catchment area of 10 million inhabitants: study protocol for a pragmatic cluster randomized controlled trial

Multi-element interventions for first-episode psychosis (FEP) are promising, but have mostly been conducted in non-epidemiologically representative samples, thereby raising the risk of underestimating the complexities involved in treating FEP in 'real-world' services

Nuove possibili tracce di escavazione di lapis specularis nel territorio di Cattolica Eraclea

Abstract: The geoarchaeological survey of the Messinian gypsum in the area Cattolica Eraclea area provided probable traces of excavation at about 5 km from the Inferno cave, the only Roman quarry of lapis specularis identified in Sicily. Trenches and cavities, partly obstructed by debris, were excavated in correspondence with a dense network of fractures, up to one meter wide, filled by secondary gypsum crystals up to 40 cm across. The site contains pottery fragments dating from the Hellenistic period to the Middle Ages, but the determination of the excavations chronology needs further studies

Web Host Enumeration Through DNS

Most search engines exploit spiders to implement the information gathering process. We present a technique to reduce the memory resources required by such spiders, improve the coverage and to provide for scaling through parallelization. The technique exploits the direct enumeration of Internet hosts through Domain Name Server. Tool bases on this technique have been successfully applied in a search engine for the ".it" domain but can be applied directly to other domains. We report statistics on the results of the use of our tools in this context