Analisi morfologica di sistemi carsici tramite software di elaborazione 3D: il caso dei Piani Eterni nel Parco Nazionale Dolomiti Bellunesi, Veneto, Italia

Negli ultimi anni lo sviluppo di software per la resa vettoriale 3D dei sistemi carsici e per la costruzione di modelli geologici, ha permesso di ampliare notevolmente le potenzialità delle analisi di controllo strutturale e litologico dei vuoti carsici. L’analisi tridimensionale dei condotti, in cavità topografate per almeno 5 km di sviluppo spaziale (sistemi di dimensione non locale), permette di individuare le zone di maggiore carsificazione dei massicci carbonatici e di metterle in relazione al contesto geologico della zona. Le caratteristiche morfologiche dei sistemi carsici epigenetici sono controllate da fattori direttamente connessi con l’assetto strutturale dei massicci, le litologie e l’evoluzione paleogeografica dell’area. Grazie ai software di resa 3D è possibile individuare inception horizons da analisi statistiche della distribuzione dei vuoti, ricostruire in tre dimensioni particolari orizzonti stratigrafici e desumere le successive fasi di stazionamento della tavola d’acqua nel sistema carsico. Lo studio tramite metodologie 3D del Sistema dei Piani Eterni, nelle Dolomiti Bellunesi, ha evidenziato le varie fasi di stazionamento del livello di base, le relazioni tra le paleo- tavole d’acqua con le superfici di controllo stratigrafico e tettonico, fornendo interessanti spunti sull’evoluzione paleogeografia e morfotettonica dell’intero massiccio.In the last decade the development of 3D cave topography software has allowed to perform new methods of analysis on the structural and lithological control of karst systems. The 3D statistical analysis of conduit distribution provides identification of strata or structural discontinuities more favorable for the speleogenetic process and the finding of correlations with the geological context of the area. The structural settings, the lithologies and the paleogeographical conditions control directly the morphologic characters and the general shape of an epigenic karst system. The 3D analysis permits to identify inception horizons and to infer the subsequent lowering stages of the paleo-watertable. This study of the Piani Eterni Karst System (Belluno Dolomites) by a 3D approach has demonstrated the validity of this method, detecting the most important paleo-phreatic levels and their relationship with the inception horizons, and the main structural and stratigraphic surfaces

Spatial analysis of karst conduit networks and determination of parameters controlling the speleogenesis along preferential lithostratigraphic horizons

The main objective of this thesis is to improve the understanding of the position and characteristics of karst conduits within a rock massif. Such a characterisation is an important issue in civil engineering and in hydrogeology. Today in practice dissolution voids are considered as random in most cases. However, it is obvious for karst researchers that dissolution void distribution is not random, but defined by parameters controlling the speleogenesis. We developed a method to analyse the 3D geometry of cave systems in order to demonstrate from a statistical point of view that karst conduits position is not random. The analysis of several among the largest cave systems in the World (more than 1500 km of analysed cave conduits) confirmed for the first time quantitatively that the development and position of karst conduits under phreatic conditions is strongly related to a restricted number of so called inception horizons. An inception horizon – a concept introduced by Lowe (1992) – is a part of a lithostratigraphic succession that is particularly susceptible to the effects of the earliest cave forming processes by virtue of physical, lithological or chemical deviation from the predominant carbonate facies within the formation. We demonstrate that probably less than 10 % of the existing bedding partings of a limestone sequence are inception horizons and guide more than 70 % of the phreatic conduits. Our analysis clearly confirms that the influence of these horizons onto the 3D geometry of cave systems is high. Based on the 3D analysis of cave systems as well as on field verifications, 18 inception horizons in six cave systems have been selected for field characterisation and sampling in order to identify the properties and processes that makes these particular lithostratigraphic horizons favourable to karstification. Around 200 rock samples from the horizons and the surrounding rock mass have been analysed. The results evidence that inception horizons have a thickness of some centimetres to decimetres and that it is possible to distinguish between 3 types of inception horizons: Inception horizons where the cave inception took place within the inception horizon (type 1); characterized by a slightly higher primary permeability, pyrite and quartz contents and lower matrix contents than the surrounding rock mass. Usually, fractures propagate through or occur within these horizons. Inception horizons where the cave inception took place at the contact with the inception horizon (type 2); characterized by a lower primary permeability and carbonate contents, but higher pyrite contents than the surrounding rock mass. Fractures usually are ending at these horizons. Inception horizons where the cave inception took place along bedding plane fractures (type 3); already a slippage of just a few millimetres, striation, brecciation and surface irregularities enhance openings along the sliding plane and cause a significant increase in permeability. Furthermore it can be assumed that for the inception of horizons of type 1 the primary permeability will be the relevant factor at beginning of karstification, whereas both the matrix and the pyrite contents are the key factors during the later phases of cave inception and gestation. Whereas for further cave development the total carbonate content will be crucial. For inception horizons of type 2, we can assume that the low primary permeability, the clogging of the pores by the clay minerals, the high content of pyrite (production of aggressive solutions within the horizon that concentrates the dissolution along the contact to the surrounding rock) and the ending of the fractures at the horizon are responsible for the enhanced karstification at the contact during cave inception and gestation phases. Using simple hydrogeological numerical modelling we show that an epigenic karstic rock massif can be subdivided into four speleogenetic zones: 1) vadose cave development zone above the water table, 2) the phreatic cave development and 3) gestation zone within the first tens of metres of the phreatic zone and 4) below them the inception zone. Each of these zones is characterized by typical speleogenetic processes as well as dissolution void distribution. Further, it was possible to explain and reproduce schematically the 3D pattern of different cave systems by using the position and orientation of the inception horizons and the history of the landscape evolution (i.e. the re- and discharge area). This forward analysis provides a first idea of the geometry of the conduits as well as a better understanding of the development of a karst system in time and space (vertical section). Finally, we evaluated the feasibility to combine the improved inception horizon hypothesis, to predict inception horizons, with other current applied methods to improve the prediction of dissolution voids. Furthermore, we proposed a scientific based risk assessment for underground engineering proposes. Essentially, it is now evidenced that it is possible to quantify the probability of karst occurrences inside a karst massif by reconstructing the hydrogeolgical history and identifying the few inception horizons that guide the karstification at a regional scale

Complex Acetabular Prosthetic Revisions. Comparison of modern materials in treatment strategies

The increasing number of total hip arthroplasty (THA) operations has inevitably led to an increase in the number of revisions for aseptic, septic or traumatic mobilization. The surgical treatment of these lesions is a demanding challenge for the surgeon: the primary objective is a stable osterexesis of the fracture that allows an early mobilization of the patient, therefore a careful evaluation of the materials to be implanted is also necessary. The aim of our study is to demonstrate the usefulness and limitations of new revision surgery technologies in cotiprosteal fractures. We enrolled 54 patients who underwent hip acetabular revision. The criteria chosen for the evaluation of outcomes: the visual analogue scale of pain in the traumatized hip (VAS); the subjective score of the Harris HIP Score; quality of life measured with The Short Form (12) Health Survey (SF-12); the average time of cup integration and complications. The evaluation endpoint was set at 24 months. The results, assessed with the aforementioned parameters, were on average good. Complications are the same as those described in the literature. The advantages of the new generation of acetabular components are: excellent integration and ductility of materials during revision of hip arthroplasty

Local structure of liquid and solid silver halides probed by XAFS.

Investigation of the local structure of the high-temperature liquid and solid phases in the 300-725 K range of AgBr has been performed using the x-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS). Structural results are compared with existing diffraction studies and computer simulations demonstrating the reliability of the XAS technique in determining the short-range structure. Present results on solid AgBr are in agreement with known thermal expansion data. The short-range g(r) of liquid AgBr is reconstructed showing the unique insight provided by the XAS technique in measuring short-range atom-atom correlations in liquids

A case of the management of Heterotopic ossification as the result of acetabular fracture in a patient with traumatic brain injury

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A role for autophagy in β-cell life and death.

Autophagy is a vacuolar, self-digesting mechanism responsible for the removal of organelles and defined regions of the cytoplams. This process has, in general, a beneficial role for the cell, since it regulates the turnover of aged proteins and eliminates damaged structures. However, cells that undergo altered autophagy may be triggered to die in a non-apoptotic manner. As a matter of fact, in recent years it has become clear that dysregulated autophagy may be implicated in several disorders, such as cancer, neurodegenerative diseases and hepatic encephalopathy. We have recently shown that β-cells of type 2 diabetic subjects show signs of autophagy associated death, which may contribute to the overall loss of β-cell mass in type 2 diabetes. In addition, studies with cell lines and rodent models have demonstrated the importance of autophagy in β-cell function and survival. Altogether, the available evidence supports the view that autophagy is implicated in β-cell pathophysiology, and suggests that addressing the molecular mechanisms involved in autophagic regulation might provide clues for preventing or treating β-cell damage in diabetes

Resilient Drone Mission Management and Route Optimization in Drone Delivery Context

The last two decades were characterized by a rapidly increasing of innovative solutions in the microelectronic field, having therefore a significant impact on a huge set of applicative scenarios. This aspect allows the development and improvement of new solutions, giving the possibility of growth and development of new markets, such as the drones ones. Actually, in the unmanned field we have seen an exponential growth of the market, given not only from the increased computing capabilities, but also by a more efficient developed hardware, thus leading to the definition of innovative uses, service paradigms and applications. The latter span in several different areas, from agriculture monitoring to society's services including the Package Delivery which immediately plays a strategic role in the modern society. These types of applications took place mainly in an urban environment, highlighting therefore new rules, needs and management system in order to accommodate the mission's achievement guaranteeing at the same time a high degree of resilience, citizen safety and risks minimization. Furthermore, to assist these types of operations, T-DROMES, a RPAS (Remotely Piloted Aerial Systems) fleet and mission management solution, was developed allowing to scale-up the use of drones in complex operations from a geographical and mission point of view, in different applicative scenarios. The paper aims therefore to presents the tools capabilities and how the developed architecture is able to manage the entire mission for any context scenario and how the developed platforms and tools can be a valid framework for developing new operative working models

Naked mole rat TRF1 safeguards glycolytic capacity and telomere replication under low oxygen.

The naked mole rat (NMR), a long-lived and cancer-resistant rodent, is highly resistant to hypoxia. Here, using robust cellular models wherein the mouse telomeric protein TRF1 is substituted by NMR TRF1 or its mutant forms, we show that TRF1 supports maximal glycolytic capacity under low oxygen, shows increased nuclear localization and association with telomeres, and protects telomeres from replicative stress. We pinpoint this evolutionary gain of metabolic function to specific amino acid changes in the homodimerization domain of this protein. We further find that NMR TRF1 accelerates telomere shortening. These findings reveal an evolutionary strategy to adapt telomere biology for metabolic control under an extreme environment

Effect of Trandolapril on Regression of Retinopathy in Hypertensive Patients with Type 2 Diabetes: A Prespecified Analysis of the Benedict Trial

Background. The effect of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEi) on regression of retinopathy in type 2 diabetics is still ill defined. Methods. We compared the incidence of retinopathy regression in 90 hypertensive type 2 diabetics randomized to at least 3-year blinded ACEi with trandolapril (2 mg/day) or non-ACEi therapy who had preproliferative or proliferative retinopathy at baseline. Results. Over a median (interquartile range) follow-up period of 35.8 (12.4–60.7) months, retinopathy regressed in 27 patients (30.0%). Regression occurred in 18 of 42 patients (42.9%) on ACEi and in 9 of 48 (18.8%) on non-ACEi therapy (adjusted for predefined baseline covariates HR (95% CI): 2.75 (1.18–6.42), P = .0193). Concomitant treatment with or without Non-Dihydropyridine Calcium Channel Blockers (ndCCBs) did not appreciably affect the incidence of retinopathy regression. Conclusions. Unlike ndCCB, ACEi therapy may have an additional effect to that of intensified BP and metabolic control in promoting regression of diabetic retinopathy