Periodical reactivation of slow movements due to rainfall regime in the Orvieto overconsolidated clay slope

The northern slope of the Orvieto hill (Central Italy) is affected by slow intermittent movements within the overconsolidated clays at depth and in the overlying debris cover. Inclinometer and piezometer (Casagrande) measures show that reactivations are rainfall-induced. This encourages the interest in a predictive seepage model which allows to evaluate rainfall conditions determining pore pressure threshold for reactivation. Since the low permeability of the materials raised doubts on the correlations between piezometer and rainfall data, new boreholes were instrumented with vibrating wire cells. Their time histories are compared to those of Casagrande piezometers and the applicability of the two instruments is discussed. Finally, results of a preliminary model are presented, comparing calculated and measured time series of pore pressure in the shal-lower portion of the slope

Palaeopathology of Human Remains from the Roman Imperial Age

The increasing attention of archaeological and anthropological research towards palaeopathological studies has allowed to focus the examination of many skeletal samples on this aspect and to evaluate the presence of many diseases afflicting ancient populations. This paper describes the most interesting diseases observed in skeletal samples from five necropolises found in urban and suburban areas of Rome during archaeological excavations in the last decades, and dating back to the Imperial Age. The diseases observed were grouped into the following categories: articular diseases, traumas, infections, metabolic or nutritional diseases, congenital diseases and tumors, and some examples are reported for each group. Although extensive epidemiological investigation in ancient skeletal records is impossible, palaeopathology allowed highlighting the spread of numerous illnesses, many of which can be related to the life and health conditions of the Roman population

Influence of infiltration on the periodic re-activation of slow movements in an overconsolidated clay slope

In Orvieto (central Italy), overconsolidated clay slopes are affected by intermittent slow movements at the top of the clay formation and within the landslide debris cover. Monthly data from inclinometers, Casagrande piezometers, and rainfall gauges show that velocity, pore pressure, and rainfall are closely related. A relationship is suggested to predict slope re-activation using rainfall history alone, once a pore pressure threshold has been reached and response of pore pressures to rainfall is understood. Pore pressures have been continuously monitored through vibrating wire cells. The threshold for shallow movements, critical for infrastructures and buildings, was identified by comparing displacement histories of a shallow movement, representative of many other ones recognized over the slope, and pore pressure, both measured at the centre of the sliding mass. The impact of infiltrated rainfall on groundwater flow was investigated through transient seepage analyses. Seepage analyses performed using hydraulic properties from laboratory and in situ tests do not fully depict the observed pore pressures because field data miss some structural characters and lithologic variations. The hydraulic properties of the shallower model layers were refined, based on field observations and interpretation of monitoring data, to have a good match between computed and measured pore pressures. Once the model is tested at different locations along a slope, it could be used to predict movement re-activation using only rainfall data

Periodical reactivation of slow movements due to rainfall regime in the Orvieto overconsolidated clay slope

The northern slope of the Orvieto hill (Central Italy) is affected by slow intermittent movements within the overconsolidated clays at depth and in the overlying debris cover. Inclinometer and piezometer (Casagrande) measures show that reactivations are rainfall-induced. This encourages the interest in a predictive seepage model which allows to evaluate rainfall conditions determining pore pressure threshold for reactivation. Since the low permeability of the materials raised doubts on the correlations between piezometer and rainfall data, new boreholes were instrumented with vibrating wire cells. Their time histories are compared to those of Casagrande piezometers and the applicability of the two instruments is discussed. Finally, results of a preliminary model are presented, comparing calculated and measured time series of pore pressure in the shal-lower portion of the slope

Il regime delle pressioni interstiziali nel pendio in argille sovraconsolidate di Orvieto: osservazioni sperimentali e modellazione numerica

none4Orvieto sorge su una rupe tufacea soggetta a fenomeni di instabilità connessi ai lenti movimenti del sottostante pendio in argille sovraconsolidate. La strumentazione di controllo installata sin dal 1982 sul versante nord del colle di Orvieto ha messo in evidenza la stretta correlazione fra l'intensità e la durata delle piogge, i livelli piezometrici e gli spostamenti registrati negli inclinometri. In particolare, in questa nota vengono messe a confronto le misure di pressione interstiziale effettuate con piezometri di Casagrande e con piezometri a corda vibrante installati recentemente. Sono inoltre presentati e discussi i risultati di una serie di analisi numeriche in condizioni transitorie per valutare l'effetto dell'infiltrazione sulle variazioni di pressione interstiziale nella fascia superficiale del versante.mixedP. Tommasi; L. Verrucci; D. Boldini; G. CaldariniP. Tommasi; L. Verrucci; D. Boldini; G. Caldarin

The maturation of HIV-1 protease precursor studied by discrete molecular dynamics

The equilibrium properties of a HIV-1-protease precursor are studied by means of an efficient molecular dynamics scheme, which allows for the simulation of the folding of the protein monomers and their dimerization into an active form and compare them with those of the mature protein. The results of the model provide, with atomic detail, an overall account of several experimental findings, including the NMR conformation of the mature dimer, the calorimetric properties of the system, the effects of the precursor tail on the dimerization constant, the secondary chemical shifts of the monomer, and the paramagnetic relaxation enhancement data associated with the conformations of the precursor. It is found that although the mature protein can dimerize in a unique, single way, the precursor populates several dimeric conformations in which monomers are always native-like, but their binding can be non-native

Bone deformities and skeletal malformations in the Roman imperial age

This paper describes some cases of individuals affected by skeletal deformities resulting in “freak” appearance. The skeletal remains were found during large archaeological excavations in the Roman territory, carried out by the Special Superintendence to the Archeological Heritage of Rome in the last years, dated back to the Imperial Age. The first cases reported are referred to two growth disorders with opposite effects: a case of dwarfism and another of gigantism. The former concerns a young man from the Collatina necropolis with very short and malformed limbs, which allowed a diagnosis of acondroplasic dwarfism, a rare congenital disorder that limits height below 130 cm. The latter case comes from the necropolis of Torre Serpentana in Fidenae, and is instead referred to a young person of very high stature, about 204 cm, suffering from Gigantism, a rare condition which in this case seems to have been linked to a hormonal dysfunction due to a pituitary adenoma. A third case regards a joint disease affecting the vertebral column and causing severe deformities. The skeleton was found in the Collatina necropolis and belongs to an old woman, suffering from ankylosing spondylitis. Finally, the last and very peculiar case is related to an individual recovered in the necropolis of Castel Malnome. The skeletal remains belong to an adult man with a complete fusion of the temporo-mandibular joint, which compromised mastication and caused severe deformation of the maxillofacial complex. These cases are described in detail together with the possible implications that these deformities could have on in the social context

Identification and characterization of folding inhibitors of hen egg Lysozyme : an example of a new paradigm of drug design

Studies of protein folding indicate the presence of native contacts in the denatured state, giving rise to folding elements which contribute to the accomplishment of the native state. The possibility of finding molecules which can interact with specific folding elements of a target protein preventing it from reaching its native state, and hence from becoming biologically active, is particularly attractive. The notion that folding elements not only provide molecular recognition directing the folding process, but also have conserved sequence, implies that targeting such elements will make protein folding inhibitors less susceptible to mutations which, in many cases, abrogate drug effects. The folding-inhibition strategy can lead to a truly novel and rational approach to drug design, aside from providing new insight into folding. This is illustrated in the case of hen egg lysozyme