Dynamic properties of buildings evaluated through ambient noise measurements

It is well known that the damage level and its distribution during an earthquake is due to the combined effects of seismic hazard in the investigated area, the features of the local site response, based on the near–surface and subsurface ground conditions, as well as on the dynamic features of the erected buildings. The extent of building dam- age and its distribution is indeed tightly linked to the combined effect of local site response and the dynamic features of the human-made structures. The dynamic properties of a building are usually described through its natural frequency (or period T) and the damping ratio (ζ ), the latter representing the energy loss of an oscillating system. The damping ratio is important in seismic design since it allows to evaluate the ability of a structure to dissipate the vibration energy during an earthquake. Such energy causes a structure to have the highest amplitude of response at its fundamental period, which depends on the structure’s mass and stiffness. The knowledge of damping level and fundamental period of the building is therefore particularly important for estimating the seismic base shear force F in designing earthquake resistant structures.peer-reviewe

First Ever Observations of Mineral Dust in Wintertime over Warsaw, Poland

The long-range transport of desert dust over the area of the temperate climate zone is associated with the influx of hot air masses due to the location of the sources of this aerosol in the tropical climate zone. Between 24–26 February 2021, such an aerosol outbreak took place and reached Central Europe. The mean temperature of +11.7 °C was recorded during the event. A comparison of this value to the 20-year (2000–2020) average February temperature for Warsaw (−0.2 °C) indicates the uniqueness of the meteorological conditions. It was the first wintertime inflow of Saharan dust over Warsaw, the presence of which was confirmed by lidar and sun-photometer measurements. The properties of the desert dust layers were obtained; the mean values of the particle depolarization for the fully developed mineral dust layer were 13 ± 3% and 22 ± 4% for 355 and 532 nm, respectively. The aerosol optical thickness was high with average values >0.36 for all wavelengths smaller than 500 nm. The three-modal, aerosol size distribution was dominated by coarse-mode particles, with a visible contribution of accumulation-mode particles. It suggests the possible presence of other aerosol types

GREASE II. A phase II randomized, 12-month, parallel-group, superiority study to evaluate the efficacy of a Modified Atkins Diet in Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease patients

Introduction Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease (ADPKD) is a condition that causes progressive renal function decline. Preclinical data suggest the presence of a profound metabolic derangement in ADPKD. Cystic cells shift their energy metabolism from oxidative phosphorylation to aerobic glycolysis, show inhibition of fatty acid oxidation and become glutamine and arginine dependent. Recent preclinical experiences have suggested beneficial effect in terms of reduction of cystic size, interstitial fibrosis and disease progression, targeting these deregulated metabolic pathways by ketosis induction. The dietetic approach to ADPKD, because of low cost and absence of toxicity, represents an interesting therapeutic strategy. Methods and analysis The protocol describes a phase II clinical trial that will evaluate the effect on Total Kidney Volume, safety and tolerability of a ketogenic diet in a selected ADPKD population. The trial will have, as secondary objective, the evaluation of the ability of the ketogenic diet to slow down the renal function decline. This will be a 12-month randomized, parallel group, two arm, superiority trial with 1:1 allocation to evaluate the efficacy of a Modified Atkins Diet protocol compared to a balanced normocaloric diet on 90 ADPKD patients. Dissemination The study results will be released to the patients and the medical community

Environmental and Agro-Economic Sustainability of Olive Orchards Irrigated with Reclaimed Water under Deficit Irrigation

This study explores the effects of the adoption of reclaimed water (RW) as source of irrigation in conjunction with the application of deficit irrigation strategies in an olive orchard (different genotypes) located within the “Valle dei Margi” farmhouse (Eastern Sicily). Specifically, the RW was obtained in situ by treating the wastewater coming from the farmhouse throughout a treatment wetland system (TW). The effects of RW on crop water status (CWS) was assessed by conducting plant-based measurements (i.e., leaf water potential, Ψ, and leaves relative water content, RWC) and determining satellite-based biophysical indicators. An economical and environmental evaluation of the proposed sustainable irrigation practices was carried out by using the life cycle assessment (LCA) approach.The RW quality showed high variability due to fluctuations in the number of customers at the farmhouse during the Covid-19 pandemic period. However, high removal efficiency of the overall TW was reached even if the RW quality did not always accomplish with the limits of the Italian regulations. A strong impact in the variation of Ψ was observed among the olive orchard under the different water regimes, evidencing how CWS performances are greatly conditioned by the genotype. However, no differences in leaves RWC and in satellite-based biophysical indicators were detected, despite the severe water deficit imposed (i.e., 50% of irrigation water reduction). Finally, the results of the LCA analysis underlined that the use of RW may permit to obtain important gains both in economic and environmental terms, thus representing a valid strategy for the olive cultivation

Diagnostic investigation of the Cycle of the new church of Sarria (Floriana, Malta) by Mattia Preti

In the present paper, we present the main results of a diagnostic investigation on different paintings by Mattia Preti, belonging to the Cycle of the New Church of Sarria, located inside the Church of the Immaculate Conception of Sarria (Floriana) in Malta. The analysis was carried out on the occasion of the restoration process and, due to the short time available, only on some representative areas of each painting. A multi-technique approach was applied in situ, employing X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF) and Raman microscopy. The aim was to achieve information on the execution technique, in a completely non-invasive way, following the requirements of the restorers.peer-reviewe

Why Use Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Tendinopathic Patients: A Systematic Review

The aim of the present systematic review was to provide a clear overview of the clinical current research progress in the use of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ASCs) as an effective therapeutic option for the management of tendinopathies, pathologies clinically characterized by persistent mechanical pain and structural alteration of the tendons. The review was carried out using three databases (Scopus, ISI Web of Science and PubMed) and analyzed records from 2013 to 2021. Only English-language papers describing the isolation and manipulation of adipose tissue as source of ASCs and presenting ASCs as treatment for clinical tendinopathies were included. Overall, seven clinical studies met the inclusion criteria and met the minimum quality inclusion threshold. Data extraction and quality assessment were performed by groups of three reviewers. The available evidence showed the efficacy and safety of ASCs treatment for tendinopathies, although it lacked a clear description of the biomolecular mechanisms underlying the beneficial properties of ASCs

Looking into CALIPSO climatological products: Evaluation and suggestions from EARLINET

CALIPSO (Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Pathfinder Satellite Observations) Level 3 (CL3) data were compared against EARLINET (European Aerosol Research Lidar Network) monthly averages obtained by profiles during satellite overpasses. Data from EARLINET stations of Évora, Granada, Leipzig, Naples and Potenza, equipped with advanced multi-wavelength Raman lidars were used for this study. Owing to spatial and temporal differences, we reproduced the CL3 filtering rubric onto the CALIPSO Level 2 data. The CALIPSO monthly mean profiles following this approach are called CALIPSO Level 3*, CL3*. This offers the possibility to achieve direct comparable datasets. In respect to CL3 data, the agreement typically improved, in particular above the areas directly affected by the anthropogenic activities within the planetary boundary layer. However in most of the cases a subtle CALIPSO underestimation was observed with an average bias of 0.03 km-1. We investigated the backscatter coefficient applying the same screening criteria, where the mean relative difference in respect to the extinction comparison improved from 15.2% to 11.4%. Lastly, the typing capabilities of CALIPSO were assessed outlining the importance of the correct aerosol type (and associated lidar ratio value) assessment to the CALIPSO aerosol properties retrieval

CBD enhances the cognitive score of adolescent rats prenatally exposed to THC and fine-tunes relevant effectors of hippocampal plasticity

Introduction: An altered neurodevelopmental trajectory associated with prenatal exposure to ∆-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) leads to aberrant cognitive processing through a perturbation in the effectors of hippocampal plasticity in the juvenile offspring. As adolescence presents a unique window of opportunity for “brain reprogramming”, we aimed at assessing the role of the non-psychoactive phytocannabinoid cannabidiol (CBD) as a rescue strategy to temper prenatal THC-induced harm.Methods: To this aim, Wistar rats prenatally exposed to THC (2 mg/kg s.c.) or vehicle (gestational days 5–20) were tested for specific indexes of spatial and configural memory in the reinforcement-motivated Can test and in the aversion-driven Barnes maze test during adolescence. Markers of hippocampal excitatory plasticity and endocannabinoid signaling—NMDAR subunits NR1 and 2A-, mGluR5-, and their respective scaffold proteins PSD95- and Homer 1-; CB1R- and the neuromodulatory protein HINT1 mRNA levels were evaluated. CBD (40 mg/kg i.p.) was administered to the adolescent offspring before the cognitive tasks.Results: The present results show that prenatal THC impairs hippocampal memory functions and the underlying synaptic plasticity; CBD is able to mitigate cognitive impairment in both reinforcement- and aversion-related tasks and the neuroadaptation of hippocampal excitatory synapses and CB1R-related signaling.Discussion: While this research shows CBD potential in dampening prenatal THC-induced consequences, we point out the urgency to curb cannabis use during pregnancy in order to avoid detrimental bio-behavioral outcomes in the offspring

Results from shallow geophysical investigations in the northwestern sector of the island of Malta

We performed geophysical investigations in the northwestern sector of the island of Malta to reconstruct velocity-depth models and provide shear-wave velocity profiles. We have chosen two sites, one located in Rabat (Malta) and another in the Golden Bay area. We used both active (seismic and electrical 2D-tomography, Multichanel Analysis of Surface Waves – MASW) and passive (2D arrays and single-station measurements using ambient noise) geophysical methods. Consistently with previous studies performed in this part of Malta, we have found that both sites are characterised by site resonance in the frequency range 1-2 Hz as an effect of the local lithostratigraphic succession that shows an impedance contrast at about 60-90 m depth. This resonance effect can have important implications on both seismic hazard as well as seismic risk evaluation of the region since the amplified frequency range coincides with the resonance frequencies typical of 5–10 storey buildings which are very diffuse in the Maltese Islands, especially after intense recent urbanization.Published41-484T. Sismologia, geofisica e geologia per l'ingegneria sismicaJCR Journa