36 research outputs found
A coupled stability and eco-hydrological model to predict shallow landslides
Knowledge of spatio-temporal dynamics of soil water content, groundwater and infiltration processes is of considerable
importance for the understanding and prediction of landslides. Rainfall and consequent water infiltration
affect slope stability in various ways, mainly acting on the pore pressure distribution whose increase causes a decrease
of the shearing resistance of the soil. For such reasons rainfall and transient changes in the hydrological
systems are considered the most common triggers of landslides.
So far, the difficulty to monitor groundwater levels or soil moisture contents in unstable terrain have made modeling
of landslide a complex issue. At the present, the availability of sophisticated hydrological and physically based
models, able to simulate the main hydrological processes, has allowed the development of coupled hydrologicalstability
models able to predict when and where a failure could occur.
In this study, a slope-failure module, with capability to predict shallow landslides, implemented into an ecohydrological
model, tRIBS-VEGGIE (Triangulated Irregular Network (TIN)-based Real-time Integrated Basin
Simulator with VEGetation Generator for Interactive Evolution), is presented. The model evaluates the stability
dynamics in term of factor of safety consequent to the soil moisture dynamics, strictly depending on the textural
soil characteristics and hillslope geometry.
Failure criterion used to derive factor of safety equation accounts for the stabilizing effect of matric suction arising
in unsaturated soils. The eco-hydrological framework allows also to take into account the effect of vegetation with
its cohesive effect as well as its weight load.
The Mameyes basin, located in the Luquillo Experimental Forest in Puerto Rico, has been selected for modeling
based on the availability of soil, vegetation, topographical, meteorological and historic landslide data. A static
analysis based on susceptibility mapping approach was also carried out on the same area at a larger spatial scale,
providing the hot spot of landsliding area. Application of the model yields a temporal and spatial distribution of
predicted rainfall-induced landslides.
Moreover, stability dynamics have been assessed for different meteorological forcing and soil types, to better evaluate
the influence of hydrological dynamics on slope stability
A coupled stability and eco-hydrological model to predict shallow landslides
4openopenARNONE, Elisa; NOTO, Leonardo; Lepore, C; Bras RLArnone, Elisa; Noto, Leonardo; Lepore, C; Bras, R
Neuromuscular junction as an entity of nerve-muscle communication
One of the crucial systems severely affected in several neuromuscular diseases is the loss of effective connection between muscle and nerve, leading to a pathological non-communication between the two tissues. The neuromuscular junction (NMJ) represents the critical region at the level of which muscle and nerve communicate. Defects in signal transmission between terminal nerve endings and muscle membrane is a common feature of several physio-pathologic conditions including aging and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). Nevertheless, controversy exists on whether pathological events beginning at the NMJ precede or follow loss of motor units. In this review, the role of NMJ in the physio-pathologic interplay between muscle and nerve is discussed
Dekoracija Augusteuma iz Narone
U tekstu je obrađena dekoracija Augusteuma iz Narone u odnosu na dosad
poznatu rimsku arhitekturu
Metabolic Changes Associated With Muscle Expression of SOD1G93A
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a severe neurodegenerative disorder, classified into sporadic or familial forms and characterized by motor neurons death, muscle atrophy, weakness, and paralysis. Among the familial cases of ALS, approximately 20% are caused by dominant mutations in the gene coding for superoxide dismutase (SOD1) protein. Of note, mutant SOD1 toxicity is not necessarily limited to the central nervous system. ALS is indeed a multi-systemic and multifactorial disease that affects whole body physiology and induces severe metabolic changes in several tissues, including skeletal muscle. Nevertheless, whether alterations in the plasticity, heterogeneity, and metabolism of muscle fibers are the result of motor neuron degeneration or alternatively occur independently of it remain to be elucidated. To address this issue, we made use of a mouse model (MLC/SOD1G93A) that overexpresses the SOD1 mutant gene selectively in skeletal muscle. We found an alteration in the metabolic properties of skeletal muscle characterized by alteration in fiber type composition and metabolism. Indeed, we observed an alteration of muscle glucose metabolism associated with the induction of Phosphofructokinases and Pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 4 expression. The upregulation of Pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 4 led to the inhibition of Pyruvate conversion into Acetyl-CoA. Moreover, we demonstrated that the MLC/SOD1G93A transgene was associated with an increase of lipid catabolism and with the inhibition of fat deposition inside muscle fibers. All together these data demonstrate that muscle expression of the SOD1G93A gene induces metabolic changes, along with a preferential use of lipid energy fuel by muscle fibers. We provided evidences that muscle metabolic alterations occurred before disease symptoms and independently of motor neuron degeneration, indicating that skeletal muscle is likely an important therapeutic target in ALS
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Preventing Persistence of HPV Infection with Natural Molecules
Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is one the most common sexually transmitted infections worldwide. In most cases, the infection is temporary and asymptomatic; however, when persistent, it may lead to lesions that can evolve into cancer in both women and men. Nowadays, prophylactic vaccination is the primary preventive strategy for HPV infections, but vaccines do not cover all types of HPV strains. Scientific research has uncovered the beneficial role of some natural supplements in preventing persistent HPV infections or treating HPV-related lesions. We review the current insight into the roles of natural molecules in HPV infection with a special focus on epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), folic acid, vitamin B12, and hyaluronic acid (HA). Specifically, EGCG from green tea extracts plays a critical role in suppressing HPV oncogenes and oncoproteins (E6/E7), which are responsible for HPV oncogenic activity and cancer development. Folic acid and vitamin B12 are essential vitamins for multiple functions in the body, and accumulating evidence suggests their importance in maintaining a high degree of methylation of the HPV genome, thus decreasing the likelihood of causing malignant lesions. HA, due to its re-epithelizing property, may prevent HPV virus entry in damaged mucosa and epithelia. Thereby, based on these premises, the combination of EGCG, folic acid, vitamin B12, and HA may be a very promising therapeutic approach to prevent HPV persistence
Neuromuscular magnetic stimulation counteracts muscle decline in ALS patients: results of a randomized, double-blind, controlled study
The aim of the study was to verify whether neuromuscular magnetic stimulation (NMMS) improves muscle function in spinal-onset amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients. Twenty-two ALS patients
were randomized in two groups to receive, daily for two weeks, NMMS in right or left arm (referred to as real-NMMS, rNMMS), and sham NMMS (sNMMS) in the opposite arm. All the patients underwent a
median nerve conduction (compound muscle action potential, CMAP) study and a clinical examination that included a handgrip strength test and an evaluation of upper limb muscle strength by means of
the Medical Research Council Muscle Scale (MRC). Muscle biopsy was then performed bilaterally on the flexor carpi radialis muscle to monitor morpho-functional parameters and molecular changes.
Patients and physicians who performed examinations were blinded to the side of real intervention. The primary outcome was the change in the muscle strength in upper arms. The secondary outcomes
were the change from baseline in the CMAP amplitudes, in the nicotinic ACh currents, in the expression levels of a selected panel of genes involved in muscle growth and atrophy, and in histomorphometric parameters of ALS muscle fibers. The Repeated Measures (RM) ANOVA with a Greenhouse-Geisser correction (sphericity not assumed) showed a significant effect [F(3, 63) = 5.907, p < 0.01] of rNMMS on MRC scale at the flexor carpi radialis muscle, thus demonstrating that the rNMMS significantly improves muscle strength in flexor muscles in the forearm. Secondary outcomes showed that the improvement observed in rNMMS-treated muscles was associated to counteracting muscle atrophy, down-modulating the proteolysis, and increasing the efficacy of nicotinic ACh receptors (AChRs). We did not observe any significant difference in pre- and post-stimulation CMAP amplitudes, evoked by median nerve stimulation. This suggests that the improvement in muscle strength observed in the stimulated arm is unlikely related to reinnervation. The real and sham treatments were well tolerated without evident side effects. Although promising, this is a proof of concept study, without an immediate clinical translation, that requires further clinical validation
Metabolic changes associated with muscle expression of SOD1G93A
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a severe neurodegenerative disorder, classified into sporadic or familial forms and characterized by motor neurons death, muscle atrophy, weakness, and paralysis. Among the familial cases of ALS, approximately 20% are caused by dominant mutations in the gene coding for superoxide dismutase (SOD1) protein. Of note, mutant SOD1 toxicity is not necessarily limited to the central nervous system. ALS is indeed a multi-systemic and multifactorial disease that affects whole body physiology and induces severe metabolic changes in several tissues, including skeletal muscle. Nevertheless, whether alterations in the plasticity, heterogeneity, and metabolism of muscle fibers are the result of motor neuron degeneration or alternatively occur independently of it remain to be elucidated. To address this issue, we made use of a mouse model (MLC/SOD1G93A) that overexpresses the SOD1 mutant gene selectively in skeletal muscle. We found an alteration in the metabolic properties of skeletal muscle characterized by alteration in fiber type composition and metabolism. Indeed, we observed an alteration of muscle glucose metabolism associated with the induction of Phosphofructokinases and Pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 4 expression. The upregulation of Pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 4 led to the inhibition of Pyruvate conversion into Acetyl-CoA. Moreover, we demonstrated that the MLC/SOD1G93Atransgene was associated with an increase of lipid catabolism and with the inhibition of fat deposition inside muscle fibers. All together these data demonstrate that muscle expression of the SOD1G93Agene induces metabolic changes, along with a preferential use of lipid energy fuel by muscle fibers. We provided evidences that muscle metabolic alterations occurred before disease symptoms and independently of motor neuron degeneration, indicating that skeletal muscle is likely an important therapeutic target in ALS
Taurine Administration Counteracts Aging-Associated Impingement of Skeletal Muscle Regeneration by Reducing Inflammation and Oxidative Stress
Abstract: Sarcopenia, which occurs during aging, is characterized by the gradual loss of skeletal
muscle mass and function, resulting in a functional decline in physical abilities. Several factors
contribute to the onset of sarcopenia, including reduced regenerative capacity, chronic low-grade
inflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction, and increased oxidative stress, leading to the activation of
catabolic pathways. Physical activity and adequate protein intake are considered effective strategies
able to reduce the incidence and severity of sarcopenia by exerting beneficial effects in improving
the muscular anabolic response during aging. Taurine is a non-essential amino acid that is highly
expressed in mammalian tissues and, particularly, in skeletal muscle where it is involved in the
regulation of biological processes and where it acts as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory factor.
Here, we evaluated whether taurine administration in old mice counteracts the physiopathological
effects of aging in skeletal muscle. We showed that, in injured muscle, taurine enhances the regenerative process by downregulating the inflammatory response and preserving muscle fiber integrity.
Moreover, taurine attenuates ROS production in aged muscles by maintaining a proper cellular
redox balance, acting as an antioxidant molecule. Although further studies are needed to better
elucidate the molecular mechanisms responsible for the beneficial effect of taurine on skeletal muscle
homeostasis, these data demonstrate that taurine administration ameliorates the microenvironment
allowing an efficient regenerative process and attenuation of the catabolic pathways related to the
onset of sarcopenia
Physically-based and distributed approach to analyze rainfall-triggered landslides at watershed scale
Landslides are a serious threat to life and property throughout the world. The causes of landslides are various since multiple dynamic processes are involved in driving slope failures. One of these causes is prolonged rainfall, which affects slope stability in different ways. Water infiltrating in a hillslope may cause a rise of the piezometric surface, which, in turn, involves an increase of the pore water pressure and a decrease of the soil shear resistance. For this reason, knowledge of spatio-temporal dynamics of soil water content, infiltration processes and groundwater dynamics, is of considerable importance in the understanding and prediction of landslides dynamics.In this paper a spatially distributed and physically based approach is presented, which embeds a slope failure method in a hydrological model. The hydrological model here used is the tRIBS model (Triangulated Irregular Network Real-Time Integrated Basin Simulator) that allows simulation of most of spatial-temporal hydrologic processes (infiltration, evapotranspiration, groundwater dynamics and soil moisture conditions) that can influence landsliding. Slope stability is assessed by implementing the infinite slope model in tRIBS. The model, based on geotechnical and geomorphological characteristics, classifies each computational cell as unconditionally stable or conditionally stable. Soil moisture conditions resulting from precipitation can trigger landslides at conditionally stable locations. When a landslide occurs, the model also computes the amount of detached soil and its possible path downslope.Model performance has been initially tested on a small catchment with very steep slopes, located in the northern part of Sicily (Italy), after a sensitivity analysis concerning some model parameters