Neogene-Quaternary intraforeland transpression along a Mesozoic platform-basin margin: The Gargano fault system, Adria, Italy

We analyzed field structural data and an offshore seismic-reflection profile and compared them with previously published geological and geophysical data to constrain the tectonic evolution of the Gargano fault system, the kinematics of which have been the subject of contradictory interpretations. Field analyses show that the Gargano fault system consists of NW- to W-striking folds, thrusts, and left-lateral transpressional and strike-slip faults. A set of NW-striking solution cleavage supports the inference of an overall left-lateral kinematic regime for the Gargano fault system. Some synsedimentary structures indicate Miocene-Pliocene contractional and transpressional activity along the Gargano fault system, whereas strike-slip faults affecting Pleistocene conglomerates support a recent, left-lateral, strike-slip activity. The seismic-reflection data show that the offshore prolongation of the Gargano fault system consists of an anticline cut by high-angle faults arranged in a positive flower-like structure, which has mostly grown since middle-late Miocene times along a Mesozoic platform-basin margin. We have schematically reconstructed the tectonic evolution of the Gargano fault system between the middle-late Miocene and the present day. During this period, the Gargano fault system has mostly accommodated contractional to left-lateral transpressional and strike-slip displacements. These displacements are consistent with the regional, Neogene-Quaternary, contractional tectonics across Adria and the Apennines and Dinarides-Albanides fold-and-thrust belts. Some evidence suggests that the Gargano fault system is presently accommodating extensional or left-lateral transtensional displacements. We interpret the Neogene-Quaternary, strike-slip displacements on the Gargano fault system to be connected with the segmentation of the subducted Adriatic slab beneath the Apennines fold-and-thrust belt and with the noncylindrical evolution of this slab (i.e., differential retreating motions), which has undergone differential flexural movements in the adjacent, northern and southern Adriatic compartments

Understanding Infection: A Primer on Animal Models of Periprosthetic Joint Infection

Periprosthetic joint infections are devastating complications for patients and for our health system. With growing demand for arthroplasty, the incidence of these infections is projected to increase exponentially. This paper is a review of existing animal models to study periprosthetic infection aimed at providing scientists with a succinct presentation of strengths and weaknesses of available in vivo systems. These systems represent the tools available to investigate novel antimicrobial therapies and reduce the clinical and economic impact of implant infections

A Mouse Model of Post-Arthroplasty Staphylococcus aureus Joint Infection to Evaluate In Vivo the Efficacy of Antimicrobial Implant Coatings

Post-arthroplasty infections represent a devastating complication of total joint replacement surgery, resulting in multiple reoperations, prolonged antibiotic use, extended disability and worse clinical outcomes. As the number of arthroplasties in the U.S. will exceed 3.8 million surgeries per year by 2030, the number of post-arthroplasty infections is projected to increase to over 266,000 infections annually. The treatment of these infections will exhaust healthcare resources and dramatically increase medical costs.To evaluate novel preventative therapeutic strategies against post-arthroplasty infections, a mouse model was developed in which a bioluminescent Staphylococcus aureus strain was inoculated into a knee joint containing an orthopaedic implant and advanced in vivo imaging was used to measure the bacterial burden in real-time. Mice inoculated with 5x10(3) and 5x10(4) CFUs developed increased bacterial counts with marked swelling of the affected leg, consistent with an acute joint infection. In contrast, mice inoculated with 5x10(2) CFUs developed a low-grade infection, resembling a more chronic infection. Ex vivo bacterial counts highly correlated with in vivo bioluminescence signals and EGFP-neutrophil fluorescence of LysEGFP mice was used to measure the infection-induced inflammation. Furthermore, biofilm formation on the implants was visualized at 7 and 14 postoperative days by variable-pressure scanning electron microscopy (VP-SEM). Using this model, a minocycline/rifampin-impregnated bioresorbable polymer implant coating was effective in reducing the infection, decreasing inflammation and preventing biofilm formation.Taken together, this mouse model may represent an alternative pre-clinical screening tool to evaluate novel in vivo therapeutic strategies before studies in larger animals and in human subjects. Furthermore, the antibiotic-polymer implant coating evaluated in this study was clinically effective, suggesting the potential for this strategy as a therapeutic intervention to combat post-arthroplasty infections

Metodologie di valutazione della biofunzionalita' e biocompatibilita' dei materiali per protesi dentarie: analisi del fallimento ed indagini non distruttive

Dottorato di ricerca in ingegneria dei materiali, materie prime e metallurgia. 11. ciclo. Docente guida Claudio CanevaConsiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche - Biblioteca Centrale - P.le Aldo Moro, 7, Rome; Biblioteca Nazionale Centrale - P.za Cavalleggeri, 1, Florence / CNR - Consiglio Nazionale delle RichercheSIGLEITItal

Finanza e crescita nelle economie in transizione. problemi e prospettive in Politica Agricola Internazionale

L'articolo intende analizzare il problema relativo all'omogeneità delle statistiche nei paesi peco. Inoltre si è proceduto mediante verifica econometrica ad analizzare la relazione esistente tra il PIl ed i depositi ed il credito concesso al settore privato.[...

Micromechanical modification induced by cyclic thermal stress on metal matrix composites for automotive applications

Cyclic thermal stresses induced in MMC component were reproduced through an innovative test apparatus. The modification induced and the residual properties of the specimens were then investigated through mechanical tests and fractographic analysis. The behaviour showed by this material seems to be interesting in some peculiar applications in the automotive industry, in order to obtain greatly lighter components with equal or better performance than traditional one. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved

Fatigue thermique sur plaquettes céramiques pour outils de coupe par émission acoustique

L’évaluation non destructive de l’intégrité structurale des revêtements a une grande importance, parce qu’elle caractérise le comportement et la durabilité de la pointe pour outil de coupe. Dans cet article, nous proposons une méthode d’évaluation par émission acoustique de la qualité de plaquettes en WC-Co (1 × 1 cm) avec une couche mince (8 μm) surfacique en nitrure de titane (TiN) et nitrure de carbone (CN) appliquée par la technique PVD. Les plaquettes avec et sans défauts ont été soumises à des chocs thermiques et leur réponse dynamique a été étudiée par émission acoustique. La réponse donnée par les plaquettes présentant un revêtement efficace et celle donnée par contre par les plaquettes avec différents niveaux d’imperfection peuvent être utilisées comme un premier tentative pour distinguer d’une façon semi-quantitative la qualité du revêtement même. Les résultats obtenus ont été confirmés par observation avec microscope à balayage électronique (MEB)

Fractal distributions of particle size in carbonate cataclastic rocks from the core of a regional strike-slip fault

We present particle size data from 31 samples of carbonate cataclastic rocks collected across the 26 m thick fault core of the Mattinata Fault in the foreland of the Southern Apennines, Italy. Particle size distributions of incoherent samples were determined by a sieving-and-weighting technique. The number of weight-equivalent spherical particles by size is well fitted by a power-law function on a log-log space. Fractal dimensions (D) of particle size distributions are in the 2.091-2.932 range and cluster around the value of ~2.5. High D-values pertain to gouge in shear bands reworking the bulk cataclastic rocks of the fault core. Low D-values characterise immature cataclastic breccias. Intermediate D-values are typical of the bulk fault core. Analysis of the ratio between corresponding equivalent particle numbers from differently evolved cataclastic rocks indicates that the development of particle size distributions with D > 2.6-2.7 occurred by a preferential relative increase of fine particles rather than a selective decrement of coarse particles. This preferentially occurred in shear bands where intense comminution enhanced by slip localisation progressed by rolling of coarse particles whose consequent smoothing produced a large number of fine particles. Our data suggest that during the progression of cataclasis, the fragmentation mode changed from the Allègre et al.'s (1982) "pillar of strength" mechanism in the early evolutionary stages, to the Sammis et al.'s (1987) "constrained comminution " mechanism in the subsequent stages of cataclasis. Eventually, localised shear bands developed mainly by abrasion of coarse particles