Gravity as a tool to improve the hydrologic mass budget in karstic areas

Monitoring the water movements in karstic areas is a fundamental but challenging task due to the complexity of the drainage system and the difficulty in deploying a network of observations. Gravimetry offers a valid complement to classical hydrologic measurements in order to characterize such systems in which the recharge process causes temporarily accumulation of large water volumes in the voids of the epi-phreatic system. We show an innovative integration of gravimetric and hydrologic observations that constrains a hydrodynamic model of the Škocjan cave system (Slovenia). We demonstrate how the inclusion of gravity observations improves water mass budget estimates for the Škocjan area based on hydrological observations only. Finally, the detectability of water storage variations in other karstic contexts is discussed with respect to the noise performances of spring and super-conducting gravimeters

Geodetic observations to monitor natural hydraulic overpressure

The pressurization of a channel system occurs naturally through intake of rainfall and river drainage. The consequences of up to 1MPa pressurization include sudden uprise of water level, blockage of channels, increased erosion and possible triggering of seismicity, with associated diversified hazards. We model the expected deformation with the Finite Element Method and analytical approaches, and find that the pressures induce deformation which can be geodetically detected. The careful analysis of GNSS timeseries and tilt observations recovered in N-Italy demonstrates that the signals are observable. The observations of tilt have been made in karstic caves where a GPS station has been colocated on the surface. The uplift of GPS during underground floods is expected to be up to several mm and the titling at the microradians level for the tiltmeters. The results demonstrate that geodetic observations could be used to monitor internal pressure loading of the underground channel system. The research is based on the results described in Grillo et al. 2018 and Braitenberg et al. 2019. References Braitenberg C., Pivetta T., Barbolla D.F., Gabrovšek F., Devoti R., Nagy I. (2019) Terrain uplift due to natural hydrologic overpressure in karstic conduits, Scientific Reports, in press. Grillo B., Braitenberg C., Nagy I., Devoti R., Zuliani D., Fabris P. (2018). Cansiglio Karst-Plateau: 10 years of geodetic-hydrological observations in seismically active northeast Italy. Pure and Applied Geophysics, Volume 175, Issue 5, 1765-1781, doi:10.1007/s00024-018-1860-7

Eating disorders: the current status of molecular genetic research

Anorexia nervosa (AN) and bulimia nervosa (BN) are complex disorders characterized by disordered eating behavior where the patient’s attitude towards weight and shape, as well as their perception of body shape, are disturbed. Formal genetic studies on twins and families suggested a substantial genetic influence for AN and BN. Candidate gene studies have initially focused on the serotonergic and other central neurotransmitter systems and on genes involved in body weight regulation. Hardly any of the positive findings achieved in these studies were unequivocally confirmed or substantiated in meta-analyses. This might be due to too small sample sizes and thus low power and/or the genes underlying eating disorders have not yet been analyzed. However, some studies that also used subphenotypes (e.g., restricting type of AN) led to more specific results; however, confirmation is as yet mostly lacking. Systematic genome-wide linkage scans based on families with at least two individuals with an eating disorder (AN or BN) revealed initial linkage regions on chromosomes 1, 3 and 4 (AN) and 10p (BN). Analyses on candidate genes in the chromosome 1 linkage region led to the (as yet unconfirmed) identification of certain variants associated with AN. Genome-wide association studies are under way and will presumably help to identify genes and pathways involved in these eating disorders. The elucidation of the molecular mechanisms underlying eating disorders might improve therapeutic approaches

Recent advances in karst research: From theory to fieldwork and applications

Karst landscapes and karst aquifers, which are composed of a variety of soluble rocks such as salt, gypsum, anhydrite, limestone, dolomite and quartzite, are fascinating areas of study. As karst rocks are abundant on the Earth's surface, the fast evolution of karst landscapes and the rapid flow of water through karst aquifers present challenges from a number of different perspectives. This collection of 25 papers deals with different aspects of these challenges, including karst geology, geomorphology and speleogenesis, karst hydrogeology, karst modelling, and karst hazards and management. Together these papers provide a state-of-the-art review of the current challenges and solutions in describing karst from a scientific perspective

CHARACTERISATION OF A TRANSBOUNDARY KARST AQUIFER: THE CLASSICAL KARST

In the hydrogeological sense the karst aquifer of Classical Karst / Kras is a uniform unit, but politically divided between two countries. The main part of the aquifer is located in Slovenia, but the whole karst coast and the springs area are located in Italy. To understand its functioning and to preserve it properly a close co-operation between experts from both countries is necessary. Classical Karst / Kras is a limestone plateau of 900 km2 that extends from SE-NW direction between Brkini hills in Slovenia and Isonzo River in Italy. To understand the functioning of the transboundary karst system many researches were performed in a close co-operation between Italian and Slovene researchers. One of the primary goals was the protection of the aquifer, in which large quantities of groundwater are stored. The springs of the Timavo River are one of the highest-discharge regions in the Mediterranean region (medium discharge of 40 m3/s, maximum of 175 m3/s). Close to the springs, on the Slovenian side, groundwater is pumped for the supply of several municipalities. In Italy, the Sardos and Moschenizze Nord springs are still used at present for water supply of Trieste. The hydrodynamics and chemical characteristics of springs are well known, but there is a lack of informations about autogenic and allogenic recharge. Only few data are available about hydrodynamic behavior within the hydro-structure. For these reasons the spatial hypogean development of the karst phenomena is very unpredictable. Karst voids organization is driven by several aspects: geological and structural settings, climate characteristics, geomorphological context etc. Due to the high heterogeneity of the underground karstification is still very complex to model the groundwater circulation, to define the underground karstification development and the karst voids connection especially in a mature karst

Hydrologic induced deformation : Distinguish surface loading from pressure induced uplift

The observation of crustal deformation is a means to calculate the strain rates and the stress loading at faults. The strain rate is expected to vary in time during the earthquake cycle, but also due to hydrologic masses and fluxes. Hydrologic mass is an elastic loading of the crust, with a consequent lowering and return to the starting position. The opposite effect occurs in places in which the subsurface waters are constrained to flow in channels with consequent buildup of pressure of the water, which determines a surface uplift and deformation. This latter effect is present in karst areas, and in particular in the classical karst shared between Italy and Slovenia, where crustal deformation is measured with tiltmeters in caves and GPS at the surface

Cellular localization and regional distribution of an angiotensin II-forming chymase in the heart.

The human heart is a target organ for the octapeptide hormone, angiotensin II (Ang II). Recent studies suggest that the human heart contains a dual pathway of Ang II formation in which the major Ang II-forming enzymes are angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) and chymase. Human heart chymase has recently been purified and its cDNA and gene cloned. This cardiac serine proteinase is the most efficient and specific Ang II-forming enzyme described. To obtain insights into the cardiac sites of chymase-dependent Ang II formation, we examined the cellular localization and regional distribution of chymase in the human heart. Electron microscope immunocytochemistry using an anti-human chymase antibody showed the presence of chymase-like immunoreactivity in the cardiac interstitium and in cytosolic granules of mast cells, endothelial cells, and some mesenchymal interstitial cells. In the cardiac interstitium, chymase-like immunoreactivity is associated with the extracellular matrix. In situ hybridization studies further indicated that chymase mRNA is expressed in endothelial cells and in interstitial cells, including mast cells. Tissue chymase levels were determined by activity assays and by Western blot analyses. Chymase levels were approximately twofold higher in ventricles than in atria. There were no significant differences in chymase levels in ventricular tissues obtained from non-failing donor hearts, failing ischemic hearts, or hearts from patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy. These findings suggest that a major site of chymase-dependent Ang II formation in the heart is the interstitium and that cardiac mast cells, mesenchymal interstitial cells, and endothelial cells are the cellular sites of synthesis and storage of chymase. In the human heart, because ACE levels are highest in the atria and chymase levels are highest in ventricles, it is likely that the relative contribution of ACE and chymase to cardiac Ang II formation varies with the cardiac chamber. Such differences may lead to differential suppression of cardiac Ang II levels during chronic ACE inhibitor therapy in patients with congestive heart failure