Session report: Geophysics,1

A large number of papers has been presented in the session devoted to geophysical methods, confirming their consolidated role in site characterization. Different applications and a wide variety of techniques are also discussed in the present report. For one the reliability, which can be improved with advanced interpretation strategies based on joint inversion of multiple geophysical datasets. The role of guidelines for the execution and interpretation in improving the standard of practice is finally commente

Are the deficits in navigational abilities present in the Williams syndrome related to deficits in the backward inhibition?

Williams syndrome (WS) is associated with a distinct profile of relatively proficient skills within the verbal domain compared to the severe impairment of visuo-spatial processing. Abnormalities in executive functions and deficits in planning ability and spatial working memory have been described. However, to date little is known about the influence of executive function deficits on navigational abilities in WS. This study aimed at analyzing in WS individuals a specific executive function, the backward inhibition (BI) that allows individuals to flexibly adapt to continuously changing environments. A group of WS individuals and a mental age- and gender-matched group of typically developing children were subjected to three task-switching experiments requiring visuospatial or verbal material to be processed. Results showed that WS individuals exhibited clear BI deficits during visuospatial task-switching paradigms and normal BI effect during verbal task-switching paradigm. Overall, the present results suggest that the BI involvement in updating environment representations during navigation may influence WS navigational abilitie

Numerical modelling of wave attenuation through soil

Numerical analyses of induced ground vibrations play an important role in assessing building safety and comfort. One of the major difficulties is related to the calibration of an adequate source model to be used in the numerical simulation. In this paper the attenua-tion of waves caused by drop load tests is considered to provide a general framework for the evaluation of vibration attenuation both with empirical laws and numerical simulations. A new equation to reproduce the source signal is suggested and used as input for a dynamic cou-pled consolidation Finite Element Analysis. The model is validated through comparison with field data obtained at a site in the vicinity of the Tower of Pisa, Italy, from geophones at various distances from the impact source. The calibrated numerical model is then used to study in detail the attenuation of waves from the source and assess the validity of empirical attenuation laws