Extracellular pH, osmolarity, temperature and humidity could discourage SARS-CoV-2 cell docking and propagation via intercellular signaling pathways

open9sì: The COVID-19 pandemic and its virus variants continue to pose a serious and long-lasting threat worldwide. To combat the pandemic, the world's largest COVID-19 vaccination campaign is currently ongoing. As of July 19th 2021, 26.2% of the world population has received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine (1.04 billion), and one billion has been fully vaccinated, with very high vaccination rates in countries like Israel, Malta, and the UEA. Conversely, only 1% of people in low-income countries have received at least one dose with examples of vaccination frequency as low as 0.07% in the Democratic Republic of Congo. It is thus of paramount importance that more research on alternate methods to counter cell infection and propagation is undertaken that could be implemented in low-income countries. Moreover, an adjunctive therapeutic intervention would help to avoid disease exacerbation in high-rate vaccinated countries too. Based on experimental biochemical evidence on viral cell fusion and propagation, herein we identify (i) extracellular pH (epH), (ii) temperature, and (iii) humidity and osmolarity as critical factors. These factors are here in discussed along with their implications on mucus thick layer, proteases, abundance of sialic acid, vascular permeability and exudate/edema. Heated, humidified air containing sodium bicarbonate has long been used in the treatment of certain diseases, and here we argue that warm inhalation of sodium bicarbonate might successfully target these endpoints. Although we highlight the molecular/cellular basis and the signalling pathways to support this intervention, we underscore the need for clinical investigations to encourage further research and clinical trials. In addition, we think that such an approach is also important in light of the high mutation rate of this virus originating from a rapid increase.openCicconetti, Franco; Sestili, Piero; Madiai, Valeria; Albertini, Maria Cristina; Campanella, Luigi; Coppari, Sofia; Fraternale, Daniele; Saunders, Bryan; Teodori, LauraCicconetti, Franco; Sestili, Piero; Madiai, Valeria; Albertini, Maria Cristina; Campanella, Luigi; Coppari, Sofia; Fraternale, Daniele; Saunders, Bryan; Teodori, Laur

The first Italian blast-induced liquefaction test (Mirabello, Emilia-Romagna, Italy): description of the experiment and preliminary results.

none44Soil liquefaction can result in significant settlement and reduction of load-bearing capacity. Moreover, the increase and the accumulation of pore pressure during an earthquake and its post-seismic dissipation can generate permanent deformations and settlements. The quantitative evaluation of post-liquefaction settlements is of extreme importance for engineering purposes, i.e. for earthquake-resistant design of new buildings and safety evaluation of existing ones. Quantifying the extent of these phenomena is, however, rather difficult. Uncertainties arise from the stochastic nature of the earthquake loading, from the simplifications of soil models, and from the difficulty in establishing correlations between the pre-earthquake soil state and the post-seismic deformations. Field scale liquefaction tests, under controlled conditions, are therefore important for a correct quantification of these phenomena. Recent experiences (e.g. New Zealand, United States) show that liquefaction can be induced and monitored with field scale blast tests to study the related effects on soil geotechnical properties. Within this framework this paper introduces the preliminary results obtained from a research project on blast-induced liquefaction at the field scale; tests were performed at a trial site located in Mirabello (Ferrara, Italy), a village strongly affected by liquefaction phenomena during the 2012 Emilia Romagna earthquake. Invasive tests, such as piezocone, seismic dilatometer and down-hole tests, and non-invasive tests were carried out before and after the execution of two blast test sequences to study the variation in physical properties of the soils. Pore pressure transducers, settlement profilometers, accelerometers and an instrumented micropile were installed with the objective of measuring, during and after the detonations, the generation and subsequent dissipation of the pore pressure, the vertical deformations, and the blast-induced ground motions respectively. Variations in load distribution on deep foundations due to soil liquefaction were also evaluated on a test micropile instrumented with a strain gauge chain. Topographical surveys were carried out to measure ground surface settlements. Laboratory tests and trenches also provided increase understanding of the site characteristics.Soil liquefaction can result in significant settlement and reduction of load-bearing capacity. Moreover, the increase and the accumulation of pore pressure during an earthquake and its post-seismic dissipation can generate permanent deformations and settlements. The quantitative evaluation of post-liquefaction settlements is of extreme importance for engineering purposes, i.e. for earthquake-resistant design of new buildings and safety evaluation of existing ones. Quantifying the extent of these phenomena is, however, rather difficult. Uncertainties arise from the stochastic nature of the earthquake loading, from the simplifications of soil models, and from the difficulty in establishing correlations between the pre-earthquake soil state and the post-seismic deformations. Field scale liquefaction tests, under controlled conditions, are therefore important for a correct quantification of these phenomena. Recent experiences (e.g. New Zealand, United States) show that liquefaction can be induced and monitored with field scale blast tests to study the related effects on soil geotechnical properties. Within this framework this paper introduces the preliminary results obtained from a research project on blast-induced liquefaction at the field scale; tests were performed at a trial site located in Mirabello (Ferrara, Italy), a village strongly affected by liquefaction phenomena during the 2012 Emilia Romagna earthquake. Invasive tests, such as piezocone, seismic dilatometer and down-hole tests, and non-invasive tests were carried out before and after the execution of two blast test sequences to study the variation in physical properties of the soils. Pore pressure transducers, settlement profilometers, accelerometers and an instrumented micropile were installed with the objective of measuring, during and after the detonations, the generation and subsequent dissipation of the pore pressure, the vertical deformations, and the blast-induced ground motions respectively. Variations in load distribution on deep foundations due to soil liquefaction were also evaluated on a test micropile instrumented with a strain gauge chain. Topographical surveys were carried out to measure ground surface settlements. Laboratory tests and trenches also provided increase understanding of the site characteristics.noneAMOROSO SARA, MILANA GIULIANO, ROLLINS KYLE, COMINA CESARE, MINARELLI LUCA, MANUEL MARIA, MONACO PAOLA, FRANCESCHINI MARCO, ANZIDEI MARCO, LUSVARDI CAMERON, CANTORE LUCIANA, CARPENA ANDREA, CASADEI STEFANO1, CINTI FRANCESCA, CIVICO RICCARDO, COX BRADY, DE MARTINI PAOLO MARCO, DI GIULIO GIUSEPPE, DI NACCIO DEBORAH, DI STEFANO GIUSEPPE, FACCIORUSSO JOHANN, FAMIANI DANIELA, FIORELLI FEDERICO, FONTANA DANIELA, FOTI SEBASTIANO, MADIAI CLAUDIA, MARANGONI VALERIA, MARCHETTI DIEGO, MARCHETTI SILVANO, MARTELLI LUCA, MARIOTTI MAURO,MUSCOLINO ELENA, PANCALDI DAVIDE, PANTOSTI2 DANIELA, PASSERI FEDERICO, PESCI ARIANNA, ROMEO GIOVANNI, SAPIA VINCENZO, SMEDILE ALESSANDRA, STEFANI MARCO, TARABUSI GABRIELE, TEZA GIORDANO, VASSALLO MAURIZIO, VILLANI FABIOAmoroso, Sara; Milana, Giuliano; Rollins, Kyle; Comina, Cesare; Minarelli, Luca; Manuel, Maria; Monaco, Paola; Franceschini, Marco; Anzidei, Marco; Lusvardi, Cameron; Cantore, Luciana; Carpena, Andrea; Casadei, Stefano1; Cinti, Francesca; Civico, Riccardo; Cox, Brady; DE MARTINI PAOLO, Marco; DI GIULIO, Giuseppe; DI NACCIO, Deborah; DI STEFANO, Giuseppe; Facciorusso, Johann; Famiani, Daniela; Fiorelli, Federico; Fontana, Daniela; Foti, Sebastiano; Madiai, Claudia; Marangoni, Valeria; Marchetti, Diego; Marchetti, Silvano; Martelli, Luca; Mariotti, Mauro; Muscolino, Elena; Pancaldi, Davide; Pantosti2, Daniela; Passeri, Federico; Pesci, Arianna; Romeo, Giovanni; Sapia, Vincenzo; Smedile, Alessandra; Stefani, Marco; Tarabusi, Gabriele; Teza, Giordano; Vassallo, Maurizio; Villani, Fabi