Foundation Soil Influence on the Seismic Response of Piers

Significant experimental dynamic tests by vibrodyne were conducted on single piers of a motorway near Livomo (Italy). Tests were conducted on structures similar to each other but founded on two different type of soils (under consolidated silts below the water table and over consolidated clays) and very different dynamic responses were found in terms of damping and natural frequencies. This effect was particularly evident for single piles proving the importance of soil characteristics upon the dynamic response of the structure. It is refere also a numerical investigation about the behavior of identical structures founded on different soils and subjected to the same seismic input

Structure-type classification and flexibility-based detection of earthquake-induced damage in full-scale RC buildings

Detecting early damage in civil structures is highly desirable. In the area of vibration-based damage detection, modal flexibility (MF)-based methods have proven to be promising tools for promptly identifying changes in the global structural behavior. Many of these methods have been developed for specific types of structures, giving rise to different approaches and damage-sensitive features (DSFs). Although structural type classification is an important part of the damage detection process, this part of the process has received little attention in most literature and often relies on the use of a-priori engineering knowledge. Moreover, in general, experimental validations are only performed on small-scale laboratory structures with controlled artificial damage (e.g., imposed stiffness reductions). This paper proposes data-driven criteria for structure-type classification usable in the framework of MF-based damage identification methods to select the most appropriate algorithms and DSFs for detecting and localizing structural anomalies. This paper also tests the applicability of the proposed classification criteria and the damage identification methods on full-scale reinforced concrete (RC) structures that have experienced earthquake-induced damage. The considered structures are a seven-story RC wall building and a five-story RC frame building, which were both tested on the large-scale University of California, San Diego-Network for Earthquake Engineering Simulation (UCSD-NEES) shaking table

Capillary filling with wall corrugations] Capillary filling in microchannels with wall corrugations: A comparative study of the Concus-Finn criterion by continuum, kinetic and atomistic approaches

We study the impact of wall corrugations in microchannels on the process of capillary filling by means of three broadly used methods - Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), Lattice-Boltzmann Equations (LBE) and Molecular Dynamics (MD). The numerical results of these approaches are compared and tested against the Concus-Finn (CF) criterion, which predicts pinning of the contact line at rectangular ridges perpendicular to flow for contact angles theta > 45. While for theta = 30, theta = 40 (no flow) and theta = 60 (flow) all methods are found to produce data consistent with the CF criterion, at theta = 50 the numerical experiments provide different results. Whilst pinning of the liquid front is observed both in the LB and CFD simulations, MD simulations show that molecular fluctuations allow front propagation even above the critical value predicted by the deterministic CF criterion, thereby introducing a sensitivity to the obstacle heigth.Comment: 25 pages, 8 figures, Langmuir in pres

Ferulic acid derivatives and avenanthramides modulate endothelial function through maintenance of nitric oxide balance in huvec cells

Wholegrain oats contain a variety of phenolic compounds thought to help maintain healthy vascular function, through the maintenance of local levels of the vasodilator nitric oxide (NO). Thus, the full molecular mechanisms involved are not yet clear. With this work we aim to understand the possible cellular mechanisms by which avenanthramides and ferulic acid derivatives, present in oats, may help maintain a healthy vascular function through the modulation of the NO pathway. Primary Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells (HUVEC) were exposed to ferulic acid, isoferulic acid, hydroferulic acid, ferulic acid 4-O-glucuronide, isoferulic acid 3-O-sulfate, dihydroferulic acid 4-O-glucuronide, avenanthramide A, avenanthramide B and avenanthramide C (1 µM) or vehicle (methanol) for 24 h. Apocynin and Nω-Nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA) were additionally included as controls. NO and cyclic GMP (cGMP) levels, superoxide production and the activation of the Akt1/eNOS pathway were assessed. The statistical analysis was performed using one-way ANOVA followed by a Tukey post-hoc t-test. Apocynin and all phenolic compounds increased NO levels in HUVEC cells (increased DAF2-DA fluorescence and cGMP), and significantly reduced superoxide levels. Protein expression results highlighted an increase in the Akt1 activation state, and increased eNOS expression. Overall, our results indicated that the glucuronide metabolites do not enhance NO production through the Akt1/eNOS pathway, thus all compounds tested are able to reduce NO degradation through reduced superoxide formation

Clinical‐epidemiological aspects of the Monkeypox 2022 epidemic: a multicenter study by the Italian SIDeMaST Group of Sexually Transmitted, Infectious and Tropical Diseases

Dear Editor,In spring 2022, an increase of monkeypox (mpox) cases was reported in Europe. Mpox is a zoonotic virus of the Poxviridae family, is endemic in the Congo Basin and just few cases outside Africa were reported before 2022. Its cutaneous presentation is similar to smallpox, usually preceded by a prodromal phase of fever, lymphadenopathy, headache and asthenia. Infection can occur through various means, including skin-to-skin contact, respiratory droplets or contact with fomites. The new outbreak is unique due to the increased human-to-human transmission, without an animal reservoir, particularly among men who have sex with men (MSM). As of February 13, 2023, 85.860 confirmed cases have been reported in 110 countries

Hydrokinetic simulations of nanoscopic precursor films in rough channels

We report on simulations of capillary filling of high-wetting fluids in nano-channels with and without obstacles. We use atomistic (molecular dynamics) and hydrokinetic (lattice-Boltzmann) approaches which point out clear evidence of the formation of thin precursor films, moving ahead of the main capillary front. The dynamics of the precursor films is found to obey a square-root law as the main capillary front, z^2(t) ~ t, although with a larger prefactor, which we find to take the same value for the different geometries (2D-3D) under inspection. The two methods show a quantitative agreement which indicates that the formation and propagation of thin precursors can be handled at a mesoscopic/hydrokinetic level. This can be considered as a validation of the Lattice-Boltzmann (LB) method and opens the possibility of using hydrokinetic methods to explore space-time scales and complex geometries of direct experimental relevance. Then, LB approach is used to study the fluid behaviour in a nano-channel when the precursor film encounters a square obstacle. A complete parametric analysis is performed which suggests that thin-film precursors may have an important influence on the efficiency of nanochannel-coating strategies.Comment: 16 pages, 8 figures; To be published on JSTAT: Journal of statistical mechanics: Theory and experiment

Effect of green-Mediterranean diet on intrahepatic fat: the DIRECT PLUS randomised controlled trial

18openInternationalBothObjective To examine the effectiveness of green-Mediterranean (MED) diet, further restricted in red/processed meat, and enriched with green plants and polyphenols on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), reflected by intrahepatic fat (IHF) loss. Design For the DIRECT-PLUS 18-month randomized clinical trial, we assigned 294 participants with abdominal obesity/dyslipidaemia into healthy dietary guidelines (HDG), MED and green-MED weight-loss diet groups, all accompanied by physical activity. Both isocaloric MED groups consumed 28 g/day walnuts (+440 mg/day polyphenols provided). The green-MED group further consumed green tea (3–4 cups/day) and Mankai (a Wolffia globosa aquatic plant strain; 100 g/day frozen cubes) green shake (+1240 mg/day total polyphenols provided). IHF% 18-month changes were quantified continuously by proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). Results Participants (age=51 years; 88% men; body mass index=31.3 kg/m2; median IHF%=6.6%; mean=10.2%; 62% with NAFLD) had 89.8% 18-month retention-rate, and 78% had eligible follow-up MRS. Overall, NAFLD prevalence declined to: 54.8% (HDG), 47.9% (MED) and 31.5% (green-MED), p=0.012 between groups. Despite similar moderate weight-loss in both MED groups, green-MED group achieved almost double IHF% loss (−38.9% proportionally), as compared with MED (−19.6% proportionally; p=0.035 weight loss adjusted) and HDG (−12.2% proportionally; p<0.001). After 18 months, both MED groups had significantly higher total plasma polyphenol levels versus HDG, with higher detection of Naringenin and 2-5-dihydroxybenzoic-acid in green-MED. Greater IHF% loss was independently associated with increased Mankai and walnuts intake, decreased red/processed meat consumption, improved serum folate and adipokines/lipids biomarkers, changes in microbiome composition (beta-diversity) and specific bacteria (p<0.05 for all). Conclusion The new suggested strategy of green-Mediterranean diet, amplified with green plant-based proteins/polyphenols as Mankai, green tea, and walnuts, and restricted in red/processed meat can double IHF loss than other healthy nutritional strategies and reduce NAFLD in half.openYaskolka Meir, Anat; Rinott, Ehud; Tsaban, Gal; Zelicha, Hila; Kaplan, Alon; Rosen, Philip; Shelef, Ilan; Youngster, Ilan; Shalev, Aryeh; Blüher, Matthias; Ceglarek, Uta; Stumvoll, Michael; Tuohy, Kieran; Diotallevi, Camilla; Vrhovsek, Urska; Hu, Frank; Stampfer, Meir; Shai, IrisYaskolka Meir, A.; Rinott, E.; Tsaban, G.; Zelicha, H.; Kaplan, A.; Rosen, P.; Shelef, I.; Youngster, I.; Shalev, A.; Blüher, M.; Ceglarek, U.; Stumvoll, M.; Tuohy, K.; Diotallevi, C.; Vrhovsek, U.; Hu, F.; Stampfer, M.; Shai, I

New MACRO results on atmospheric neutrino oscillations

The final results of the MACRO experiment on atmospheric neutrino oscillations are presented and discussed. The data concern different event topologies with average neutrino energies of ~3 and ~50 GeV. Multiple Coulomb Scattering of the high energy muons in absorbers was used to estimate the neutrino energy of each event. The angular distributions, the L/E_nu distribution, the particle ratios and the absolute fluxes all favour nu_mu --> nu_tau oscillations with maximal mixing and Delta m^2 =0.0023 eV^2. A discussion is made on the Monte Carlos used for the atmospheric neutrino flux. Some results on neutrino astrophysics are also briefly discussed.Comment: Invited Paper at the NANP03 Int. Conf., Dubna, 200

The metabolomic-gut-clinical axis of Mankai plant-derived dietary polyphenols

24openInternationalBothBackground: Polyphenols are secondary metabolites produced by plants to defend themselves from environmental stressors. We explored the effect of Wolffia globosa ‘Mankai’, a novel cultivated strain of a polyphenol-rich aquatic plant, on the metabolomic-gut clinical axis in vitro, in-vivo and in a clinical trial. Methods: We used mass-spectrometry-based metabolomics methods from three laboratories to detect Mankai phenolic metabolites and examined predicted functional pathways in a Mankai artificial-gut bioreactor. Plasma and urine polyphenols were assessed among the 294 DIRECT-PLUS 18-month trial participants, comparing the effect of a polyphenol-rich green-Mediterranean diet (+1240 mg/polyphenols/day, provided by Mankai, green tea and walnuts) to a walnuts-enriched (+440 mg/polyphenols/day) Mediterranean diet and a healthy controlled diet. Results: Approximately 200 different phenolic compounds were specifically detected in the Mankai plant. The Mankai-supplemented bioreactor artificial gut displayed a significantly higher relative-abundance of 16S-rRNA bacterial gene sequences encoding for enzymes involved in phenolic compound degradation. In humans, several Mankai-related plasma and urine polyphenols were differentially elevated in the green Mediterranean group compared with the other groups (p < 0.05) after six and 18 months of intervention (e.g., urine hydroxy-phenyl-acetic-acid and urolithin-A; plasma Naringenin and 2,5-diOH-benzoic-acid). Specific polyphenols, such as urolithin-A and 4-ethylphenol, were directly involved with clinical weight-related changes. Conclusions: The Mankai new plant is rich in various unique potent polyphenols, potentially affecting the metabolomic-gut-clinical axisopenYaskolka Meir, A.; Tuohy, K.; von Bergen, M.; Krajmalnik-Brown, R.; Heinig, U.; Zelicha, H.; Tsaban, G.; Rinott. E.; Kaplan, A.; Aharoni, A.; Zeibich, L.; Chang, D.; Dirks, B.; Diotallevi, C.; Arapitsas, P.; Vrhovsek, U.; Ceglarek, U.; Haange, S.; Rolle-Kampczyk, U.; Engelmann, B.; Lapidot, M.; Colt, M.; Sun, Q.; Shai, I.Yaskolka Meir, A.; Tuohy, K.; von Bergen, M.; Krajmalnik-Brown, R.; Heinig, U.; Zelicha, H.; Tsaban, G.; Rinot, T.E.; Kaplan, A.; Aharoni, A.; Zeibich, L.; Chang, D.; Dirks, B.; Diotallevi, C.; Arapitsas, P.; Vrhovsek, U.; Ceglarek, U.; Haange, S.; Rolle-Kampczyk, U.; Engelmann, B.; Lapidot, M.; Colt, M.; Sun, Q.; Shai, I