design of reinforced ground embankments used for rockfall protection

Abstract. The prediction of the effects of rockfall on passive protection structures, such as reinforced ground embankments, is a very complex task and, for this reason, both full-scale tests and numerical dynamic modelling are essential. A systematic set of numerical FEM models, developed in the dynamic field, has been implemented in this work to evaluate the conditions of an embankment that has been subjected to the impact of rock blocks of various sizes at different speeds. These analyses have permitted design charts to be obtained. Furthermore, a simplified analytical approach, based on an equilibrium analysis, has been proposed and its results are compared with numerical data in order to assess its feasibility. A good correspondence between the results has been obtained

Prison de-radicalization strategies, programs and risk assessment tools in Europe

open3noWith financial support from the Criminal Justice Programme of the European Union Call: JUST-AG-2016-03 Project Number: 763710 Project Acronym: PRP Duration (months): 24 Project Title: European Prison Observatory. Prison de-radicalization strategies, programmes and risk assessment tools in Europe. Coordinator: ANTIGONE ONLUS Alvise Sbraccia wrote the Part One of this Report; Daniela Ronco wrote Part Two, chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8; Giovanni Torrente wrote Part Two, chapters 9-10. The conclusions have been written by all the authorsThis project’s goal is to assess strategies and programmes which prevent, deter and counter radicalization in prison and identify and analyse good practices regarding new or existing de-radicalization, disengagement and rehabilitation programmes and risk assessment tools. The analysis has been carried out having in mind the international and European standards for the the protection of detainees' rights. Research incorporates qualitative and quantitative data analysis on official government documents and interviews with stakeholders from prison administration and management, prison staff, Imams, chaplains and other religious representatives.openDaniela Ronco, Alvise Sbraccia, Giovanni TorrenteDaniela Ronco, Alvise Sbraccia, Giovanni Torrent

Fluid balance as a biomarker: impact of fluid overload on outcome in critically ill patients with acute kidney injury

Fluid therapy is fundamental to the acute resuscitation of critically ill patients. In general, however, early and appropriate goal-directed fluid therapy contributes to a degree of fluid overload in most if not all patients. Recent data imply that a threshold may exist beyond which, after acute resuscitation, additional fluid therapy may cause harm. In patients with acute kidney injury and/or oliguria, a positive fluid balance is almost universal. Few studies have examined the impact of fluid balance on clinical outcomes in critically ill adults with acute kidney injury. Payen and coworkers, in a secondary analysis of the SOAP (Sepsis Occurrence in Acutely Ill Patients) study, now present evidence that there is an independent association between mortality and positive fluid balance in a cohort of critically ill patients with acute kidney injury. In this commentary, we discuss these findings within the context of prior literature and propose that assessment of fluid balance should be considered as a potentially valuable biomarker of critical illness

Downy mildew of sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum) caused by Peronospora sp. in Argentina

In the green belt surrounding Buenos Aires and La Plata cities, Argentina, sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum) is grown commercially under greenhouse mainly for fresh consumption. In February 2008, plants showing typical symptoms of downy mildew were found in greenhouses in La Plata. The disease was widespread in the cropped area with 100% prevalence. Infection resulted in chlorotic leaves with a greyish to dark brown fungal-like growth on the lower surfaces. A sample was deposited in the local herbarium (KUS-F23241). Conidiophores were subhyaline, 230­ 460 X 7-11 pm, straight, monopodially branched, in 4-6 orders, and emergent from stomata. Ultimate branchlets were mostly in pairs, slightly curved, 10-25 (-30) pm long and had subtruncate tips. Conidia were broadly ellipsoidal to subglobose, greyish brown, and measured 24*3- 32-5 X 22-5-26-5 pm (length/width ratio = 1-06-1-23). This pathogen is unequivocally in the genus Peronospora, and well concordant with characters ofthe unnamedPeronospora speciesreported in basil (Belbahri et al., 2005).Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Forestale

Combinatorial Hopf algebras from renormalization

In this paper we describe the right-sided combinatorial Hopf structure of three Hopf algebras appearing in the context of renormalization in quantum field theory: the non-commutative version of the Fa\`a di Bruno Hopf algebra, the non-commutative version of the charge renormalization Hopf algebra on planar binary trees for quantum electrodynamics, and the non-commutative version of the Pinter renormalization Hopf algebra on any bosonic field. We also describe two general ways to define the associative product in such Hopf algebras, the first one by recursion, and the second one by grafting and shuffling some decorated rooted trees.Comment: 16 page

Vancomycin adsorption during in vitro model of hemoperfusion with mini-module of HA380 Cartridge

Introduction: Sepsis is a frequent complication in critically ill patients. Patients may require control of the source of infection, removal of pathogens and damaged cells, and organ support. Often, these targets can be achieved through the utilization of extracorporeal therapies including hemoperfusion for the adsorption of cytokines and other circulating mediators. On extracorporeal organ support, patients are generally treated with antibiotic therapy, and vancomycin is one of the most commonly used antibiotics. Because of the aspecific nature of adsorption, antibiotics can be removed from the circulation, leading to altered plasma levels and requiring prescription adjustment. The aim was to define the amount of vancomycin adsorbed by a sorbent cartridge (HA380, Jafron, China) during hemoperfusion and to establish possible strategies to maintain an effective plasma level in critically ill patients undergoing extracorporeal therapies. Methods: In vitro experiments with incremental concentrations of vancomycin in the test solution (500 and 1,000 mL) were carried out in a recirculation circuit until sorbent saturation was observed. A maximum of 10 g of vancomycin were injected and mini-modules containing 25 g of dry resin were utilized. Results: In different experiments with various concentration of vancomycin, a maximum amount of 244 mg/g of sorbent was adsorbed reaching saturation between 60 and 80 min from the beginning of the experiments. The kinetics of adsorption appears to be governed by a Langmuir-like isotherm with maximal removal speed in the early minutes and a plateau after 60 min. Discussion/Conclusion: HA380 adsorbs significant amounts of vancomycin. Adjusting the achieved results with the experimental mini-module to a full-scale cartridge, a total of 25 g of antibiotic can be removed. This might have affected outcome results in clinical trials. This suggests prescribing administration to critically ill patients requiring hemoperfusion, immediately after or in the inter-session time window. In case of administration during hemoperfusion, adequate adjustment and plasma level monitoring is strongly recommended