Tabulation of PVI Transcendents and Parametrization Formulas (August 17, 2011)

The critical and asymptotic behaviors of solutions of the sixth Painlev\'e equation PVI, obtained in the framework of the monodromy preserving deformation method, and their explicit parametrization in terms of monodromy data, are tabulated.Comment: 30 pages, 1 figure; Nonlinearity 201

Outcomes of the 9th EGU Plinius Conference on Mediterranean Storms (2007)

No abstract available

On the Logarithmic Asymptotics of the Sixth Painleve' Equation (Summer 2007)

We study the solutions of the sixth Painlev\'e equation with a logarithmic asymptotic behavior at a critical point. We compute the monodromy group associated to the solutions by the method of monodromy preserving deformations and we characterize the asymptotic behavior in terms of the monodromy itself.Comment: LaTeX with 8 figure

Impact of mapping errors on the reliability of landslide hazard maps

International audienceIdentification and mapping of landslide deposits are an intrinsically difficult and subjective operation that requires a great effort to minimise the inherent uncertainty. For the Staffora Basin, which extends for almost 300 km2 in the northern Apennines, three landslide inventory maps were independently produced by three groups of geomorphologists. In comparing each map with the others, large positional discrepancies arise (in the range of 55?65%). When all three maps are overlain, the locational mismatch of landslide deposit polygons increases to over 80%. To assess the impact of these errors on predictive models of landslide hazard, for the study area discriminant models were built up from the same set of geological-geomorphological factors as predictors, and the occurrence of landslide deposits within each terrain-unit, derived from each inventory map, as dependent variable. The comparison of these models demonstrates that statistical modelling greatly minimises the impact of input data errors which remain, however, a major limitation on the reliability of landslide hazard maps

Remote landslide mapping using a laser rangefinder binocular and GPS

We tested a high-quality laser rangefinder binocular coupled with a GPS receiver connected to a Tablet PC running dedicated software to help recognize and map in the field recent rainfall-induced landslides. The system was tested in the period between March and April 2010, in the Monte Castello di Vibio area, Umbria, Central Italy. To test the equipment, we measured thirteen slope failures that were mapped previously during a visual reconnaissance field campaign conducted in February and March 2010. For reference, four slope failures were also mapped by walking the GPS receiver along the landslide perimeter. Comparison of the different mappings revealed that the geographical information obtained remotely for each landslide by the rangefinder binocular and GPS was comparable to the information obtained by walking the GPS around the landslide perimeter, and was superior to the information obtained through the visual reconnaissance mapping. Although our tests were not exhaustive, we maintain that the system is effective to map recent rainfall induced landslides in the field, and we foresee the possibility of using the same (or similar) system to map landslides, and other geomorphological features, in other areas

Diagnostic value of N-terminal ProB-Type Natriuretic Peptide in Emergency Department: Analysis by subgroups

Objectives. Our aim was to evaluate the diagnostic impact of N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) measurement in patients presenting with acute dyspnea in Emergency Department (ED), taking into account clinical and chest x-ray results routinely obtained. Methods. This was a prospective observational study. Four hundred eighty-eight consecutive subjects evaluated for dyspnea in a metropolitan 600 beds hospital ED, entered into the final data analysis. According to a clinical and radiological score, the patients enrolled were divided in three groups: low (A-group), intermediate (B-group), and high (C-group) probability of heart failure. Results. NT-proBNP median value was 2445 ng/L (Inter Quartile Range 631-5847 ng/L), and the area under the receiver-operating characteristic curves (AUC) was 0.854 for NT-proBNP, 0.921 for clinical/radiological score and 0.936 for the two in combination (logistic model). In the B-group (intermediate) NT-proBNP test added correct diagnostic information in 126 subjects with HF and in 53 subjects without a final diagnosis of HF. In A- and C-group NT-proBNP test added correct diagnostic information in 1 patient. Conclusions. NT-proBNP did not substantially enhance diagnostic accuracy in all patients with shortness of breath in ED. However, in patients with not conclusive clinical and radiological results NT-proBNP determinations improved the percentage of correct diagnosis

Influence of gravitational sympathetic stimulation on the surgical plethysmographic index

Surgical Plethysmographic Index (SPI), calculated from pulse photo-plethysmographic amplitude oscillations, has been proposed as a tool to measure nociception anti-nociception balance during general anesthesia, but it is affected by several confounding factor that alter the autonomic nervous system (ANS) modulation. We hypothesized that SPI may be mainly affected by sympathetic stimulation independently from nociception. We studied the effects of two sympathetic stimuli on SPI, delivered through passive head-up tilt at 45 and 90 degrees angles, in nine awake healthy adults. The sympathetic modulation was assessed by means of heart rate variability (HRV) analysis. Mean (SD) SPI significantly increased from baseline to 45 degrees [from 38.6 (13.7) to 60.8 (7.6), p<0.001)] and to 90 degrees angle tilt [82.3 (5.4), p<0.001]. The electrocardiographic mean R-to-R interval significantly shortened during both passive tilts, whereas systolic arterial pressure did not change during the study protocol. HRV changed significantly during the study protocol towards a predominance of sympathetic modulation during passive tilt. Gravitational sympathetic stimulation at two increasing angles, in absence of any painful stimuli, affects SPI in awake healthy volunteers. SPI seems to reflect the sympathetic outflow directed to peripheral vessels