Identifikation und Untersuchung von Maßnahmen zur Verbesserung der Verkehrssicherheit an Arbeitsstellen an Autobahnen

Roadway work zones are hazardous, for both workers and motorists who drive through the complex array of signs, delineators and lane changes. Improper lane changing manoeuvres and possible vehicle encroachments in the activity areas may cause injuries to both the car occupants and road workers. Several studies agree that the presence of work zones significantly increases the risk of road crashes. Excessive speeding and high speed variances have also been identified as major causes of a large percentage of work zones crashes, injuries or fatalities. The main objective of this research was to determine safe and effective countermeasures for the reduction of speeds and speed variances within work zones. Furthermore, the influence of work zone layout features on crash occurrences was another important issue addressed with this study. An extensive accident analysis was therefore conducted on the stationary work zones of the Italian motorway network in order to identify the most critical layouts in terms of safety. The Empirical Bayes (EB) before-and-after method was performed in order to estimate crash modification factors (CMFs) associated with the installation of work zones on motorways. The findings of this part of the research have shown that all layout configurations that involve a crossover were associated with the highest values of CMFs. A number of countermeasures have been tested then in virtual reality through nine different configurations of the work zone crossover, in order to evaluate their effectiveness in reducing speeds and speed variances. The experiments investigated the effects of different speed limit sequences and alternative design features, such as wider lanes and median openings. Furthermore, the effects of different channelizing devices and perceptual treatments based on the Human Factor (HF) principles have also been investigated. The results of the experiments, performed on a total sample of 42 subjects, showed that, for all configurations, the drivers’ speeds are always higher than the posted speed limits and decrease significantly only in approaching the crossover by-passes. The implementation of higher speed limits, together with a wider median opening, led to a greater homogeneity of the driving speed. Perceptual countermeasures generally induced both the greatest homogenization of speeds and the largest reductions in mean speed values.Arbeitsstellen an Straßen sind gefährlich, sowohl für die Arbeiter als auch für die Verkehrsteilnehmer, die durch einen komplexen, von Verkehrszeichen, Straßenmarkierungen und Fahrstreifenwechsel geprägten Abschnitt fahren. Ungeeignete Fahrstreifenwechsel und dadurch verursachte Kollisionen innerhalb der Arbeitsstelle können zu Verletzten und Todesfolgen sowohl bei den Fahrzeuginsassen als auch bei den Straßenarbeitern führen. Verschiedene Untersuchungen stimmen darin überein, dass im Einflussbereich von Arbeitsstellen das Risiko für Verkehrsunfälle signifikant ansteigt. Unangepasste, zu hohe Geschwindigkeiten und große Geschwindigkeitsvarianzen wurden ebenfalls als wesentliche Ursachen für einen hohen Prozentsatz an Unfällen mit Personenschäden und Todesfolgen festgestellt. Das Hauptziel der vorliegenden Forschungsarbeit war es, sichere und wirkungsvolle Maßnahmen für die Reduzierung der Geschwindigkeiten und der Geschwindigkeitsvarianzen in Arbeitsstellen zu entwickeln. Weiterhin war der Einfluss der einzelnen Gestaltungsmerkmale der Arbeitsstelleneinrichtung auf das Unfallaufkommen ein anderer wichtiger Aspekt, der in dieser Studie adressiert wurde. Mit dieser Zielsetzung wurde eine umfangreiche Unfallanalyse für Arbeitsstellen längerer Dauer im italienischen Autobahnnetz durchgeführt, um die für die Verkehrssicherheit kritischsten Regelpläne zu identifizieren. Eine Vorher-Nachher-Untersuchung mit der empirischen Bayes-Methode (EB) wurde verwendet, um Änderungsfaktoren für das mit Arbeitsstellen verbundene Unfallaufkommen (Crash Modification Factor – CMF) zu schätzen. Die Ergebnisse dieses Teils der Forschung haben gezeigt, dass alle Regelpläne, die eine Überleitung auf die Fahrbahn der Gegenrichtung vorsehen, mit den höchsten Änderungsfaktoren (CMF) verbunden sind. Eine Reihe von Gegenmaßnahmen wurde daraufhin im Rahmen von neun unterschiedlichen Gestaltungsvarianten der Überleitung in der virtuellen Realität eines Fahrsimulators getestet, um deren Wirksamkeit auf die Verringerung der Geschwindigkeit und der Geschwindigkeitsvarianz zu bewerten. Die Experimente untersuchten die Auswirkungen von unterschiedlichen Folgen der Geschwindigkeitsbegrenzung und alternative Gestaltungsmerkmale wie z.B. breitere Fahrstreifen und Aufweitungen im Überleitungsbereich. Darüber hinaus wurden die Wirkungen von verschiedenen Einrichtungen für die Längsführung und die Aufmerksamkeitssteigerung untersucht. Die Ergebnisse der Fahrsimulator-Studie mit insgesamt 42 Testpersonen zeigten, dass die gefahrenen Geschwindigkeiten für alle Gestaltungsvarianten höher lagen als die jeweils vorgegebene Geschwindigkeitsbegrenzung und nur im nahen Zulauf zur Überleitung signifikant zurückgingen. Die Einrichtung höherer Geschwindigkeitsbegrenzungen in Verbindung mit einer größeren Aufweitung im Überleitungsbereich führte zu einer größeren Homogenität der gefahrenen Geschwindigkeiten. Maßnahmen, die der Aufmerksamkeitssteigerung dienen, führten sowohl zur größten Homogenität der Geschwindigkeiten als auch zur höchsten Verringerung der mittleren Geschwindigkeitswerte

Calixarenes Incorporating Sulfonamide Moieties: Versatile Ligands for Carbonic Anhydrases Inhibition

Carbonic anhydrases (CAs) continue to represent a relevant pharmaceutical target. The need of selective inhibitors and the involvement of these metalloenzymes in many multifaceted diseases boost the search for new ligands able to distinguish among the different CA isoforms, and for multifunctional systems simultaneously able to inhibit CAs and to interfere with other pathological events by interacting with additional targets. In this work, we successfully explored the possibility of preparing new CAs ligands by combining calixarenes with benzensulfonamide units. Inhibition tests towards three human CA isoforms evidenced, for some of the ligands, Ki values in the nanomolar range and promising selectivity. X-ray and molecular modeling studies provided information on the mode of binding of these calixarene derivatives. Thanks to the encouraging results and the structural features typical of the calixarene scaffold, it is then possible to plan for the future the design of multifunctional inhibitors for this class of widely spread enzymes

The rapid moving Capriglio earth flow (Parma Province, North Italy): multi-temporal mapping and GB-InSAR monitoring

This research presents the main findings of the multi-temporal mapping and of the long-term, real-time monitoring of the Capriglio landslide in the Emilian Apennines (Northern Italy). The landslide, triggered by prolonged rainfall and rapid snowmelt, activated of April 6th 2013. It is constituted by two main adjacent enlarging bodies with a roto-translational kinematics. They activated in sequence and subsequently joined into a large fast moving earth flow, channelizing downstream the Bardea Creek, for a total length of about 3600 meters. The landslide completely destroyed a 450 m sector of the provincial roadway S.P. 101, and its retrogression tendency put at high risk the Capriglio and Pianestolla villages, located in the upper watershed area of the Bardea River. Furthermore, the advancing toe seriously threatened the Antria bridge, representing the "Massese" provincial roadway S.P. 665R transect over the Bardea Creek, the only strategic roadway left able to connect the above-mentioned villages. With the final aim of supporting local authorities in the hazard assessment and risk management during the emergency phase, on May 5th 2013 aerial optical surveys were conducted to accurately map the landslide extension and evolution. Moreover, a GB-InSAR monitoring campaign was started in order to assess displacements of the whole landslide area. The versatility and flexibility of the GB-InSAR sensors allowed acquiring data with two different configurations, designed and set up to continuously retrieve information on the landslide movements rates (both in its upper slow-moving sectors and in its fast-moving toe). The first acquisition mode revealed that the Capriglio and Pianestolla villages were affected by minor displacements (order of magnitude of few millimetres per month). The second acquisition mode allowed to acquire data every 28'', reaching very high temporal resolution values by applying GB-InSAR technique (Monserrat et al., 2014; Caduff et al., 2015)

Design and synthesis of sulfonamides incorporating a biotin moiety: Carbonic anhydrase inhibitory effects, antiproliferative activity and molecular modeling studies

: Sulfonamides constitute an important class of classical carbonic anhydrase (CA, EC 4.2.1.1) inhibitors. Herein we have accomplished the conjugation of biotin with an ample number of sulfonamide motifs with the aim of testing them in vitro as inhibitors of the human carbonic anhydrase (hCA) isoforms I and II (cytosolic isozymes), as well as hCA IX and XII (transmembrane, tumor-associated enzymes). Most of these newly synthesized compounds exhibited interesting inhibition profiles, with activities in the nanomolar range. The presence of a 4-F-C6H4 moiety, also found in SLC-0111, afforded an excellent selectivity towards the tumor-associated hypoxia-induced hCA isoform XII with an inhibition constant (KI) of 4.5 nM. The 2-naphthyl derivative was the most potent inhibitor against hCA IX (KI = 6.2 nM), 4-fold stronger than AAZ (KI = 25 nM) with very good selectivity. Some compounds were chosen for antiproliferative activity testing against a panel of 3 human tumor cell lines, one compound showing anti-proliferative activity on glioblastoma, triple-negative breast cancer, and pancreatic carcinoma cell lines

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)-based remote sensing to monitor grapevine leaf stripe disease within a vineyard affected by esca complex

Foliar symptoms of grapevine leaf stripe disease (GLSD, a disease within the esca complex) are linked to drastic alteration of photosynthetic function and activation of defense responses in affected grapevines several days before the appearance of the first visible symptoms on leaves. The present study suggests a methodology to investigate the relationships between high-resolution multispectral images (0.05 m/pixel) acquired using an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), and GLSD foliar symptoms monitored by ground surveys. This approach showed high correlation between Normalized Differential Vegetation Index (NDVI) acquired by the UAV and GLSD symptoms, and discrimination between symptomatic from asymptomatic plants. High-resolution multispectral images were acquired during June and July of 2012 and 2013, in an experimental vineyard heavily affected by GLSD, located in Tuscany (Italy), where vines had been surveyed and mapped since 2003. Each vine was located with a global positioning system, and classified for appearance of foliar symptoms and disease severity at weekly intervals from the beginning of each season. Remote sensing and ground observation data were analyzed to promptly identify the early stages of disease, even before visual detection. This work suggests an innovative methodology for quantitative and qualitative analysis of spatial distribution of symptomatic plants. The system may also be used for exploring the physiological bases of GLSD, and predicting the onset of this disease.

Site response analyses for complex geological and morphological conditions: relevant case-histories from 3rd level seismic microzonation in Central Italy

The paper presents the results of 5 case studies on complex site e ects selected within the project for the level 3 seismic microzonation of several municipalities of Central Italy dam- aged by the 2016 seismic sequence. The case studies are characterized by di erent geo- logical and morphological con gurations: Monte San Martino is located along a hill slope, Montedinove and Arquata del Tronto villages are located at ridge top whereas Capitignano and Norcia lie in correspondence of sediment- lled valleys. Peculiarities of the sites are constituted by the presence of weathered/jointed rock mass, fault zone, shear wave veloc- ity inversion, complex surface and buried morphologies. These factors make the de ni- tion of the subsoil model and the evaluation of the local response particularly complex and di cult to ascertain. For each site, after the discussion of the subsoil model, the results of site response numerical analyses are presented in terms of ampli cation factors and acceleration response spectra in selected points. The physical phenomena governing the site response have also been investigated at each site by comparing 1D and 2D numerical analyses. Implications are deduced for seismic microzonation studies in similar geological and morphological conditions.Published5741–57775T. Sismologia, geofisica e geologia per l'ingegneria sismicaJCR Journa