New aspects of the structure and mode of action of the human cathelicidin LL-37 revealed by the intrinsic probe p-cyanophenylalanine

The human cathelicidin peptide LL-37 is an important effector of our innate immune system and contributes to host defence with direct antimicrobial activity and immunomodulatory properties, and by stimulating wound healing. Its sequence has evolved to confer specific structural characteristics that strongly affect these biological activities, and differentiate it from orthologues of other primate species. In the present paper we report a detailed study of the folding and self-assembly of this peptide in comparison with rhesus monkey peptide RL-37, taking into account the different stages of its trajectory from bulk solution to contact with, and insertion into, biological membranes. Phenylalanine residues in different positions throughout the native sequences of LL-37 and RL-37 were systematically replaced with the non-invasive fluorescent and IR probe p-cyanophenylalanine. Steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence studies showed that LL-37, in contrast to RL-37, forms oligomers with a loose hydrophobic core in physiological solutions, which persist in the presence of biological membranes. Fourier transform IR and surface plasmon resonance studies also indicated different modes of interaction for LL-37 and RL-37 with anionic and neutral membranes. This correlated with a distinctly different mode of bacterial membrane permeabilization, as determined using a flow cytometric method involving impermeant fluorescent dyes linked to polymers of defined sizes

PEWARISAN NILAI ETIS DAN ESTETIS DALAM TARI SILAT GELOMBANG DI MASYARAKAT SIMEULUE, ACEH

ABSTRAK Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui pewarisan nilai etis dan estetis dalam tari Silat Gelombang di masyarakat Simeulue Provinsi Aceh. Penelitian ini menggunakan paradigma kualitatif, dengan metode Sejarah dan pendekatan multidisiplin dengan kajian Etnokoreologi sebagai grand teori dibantu dengan disiplin ilmu lain seperti Folklore, Nilai dan teori Pendidikan Informal untuk mengungkapkan proses pewarisan nilai dalam tari Silat Gelombang di lingkungan keluarga dan masyarakat. Teknik pengumpulan data dengan observasi, wawancara, dokumentasi dan studi pustaka. Hasil penelitian ini memberi informasi mengenai pewarisan tari Silat Gelombang yang mengandung nilai etis (sosial dan kepribadian) bersumber dari Nandong, Nanga-nanga, Hadih Majah sebagai sumber nilai yang diyakini masyarakat Simeulue, Aceh dan nilai estetis tari Silat Gelombang melalui filosofi teks tari kepada masyarakat Simeulue, Aceh khususnya di lingkungan keluarga dan masyarakat. Kata Kunci: Pewarisan, Nilai Etis, Nilai Estetis, Tari Silat Gelombang, Masyarakat Simeulue, Aceh. ABSTRACT This study aimed to find out the inheritance of ethical and esthetical value in Silat Gelombang dance among Simeulue people in Aceh Province. This study used qualitative paradigm, with History method and multidisciplinary approach with Ethnochoreology as grand theory aided by another discipline knowledge such as Folklore, Value and Informal Education Theory to reveal the process of values inheritance in Silat Gelombang dance in environment and society. Data collection technique by observation, interview, documentation, and literature study. This study result gave information about the inheritance of Silat Gelombang dance which contain ethical value (social and personality) sourced from Nandong, Nanga-nanga, Hadih Majah as source of value believed by Simeulue people, Aceh and esthetical value of Silat Gelombang dance through dance text philosophy to Simeulue people, Aceh particularly in family and society environment. Keywords: Inheritance, Ethical Value, Esthetical Value, Silat Gelombang Dance, Simeulue People, Aceh

Testing the improvement of ShakeMaps using f inite-f ault models and synthetic seismograms

ShakeMap package uses empirical ground motion prediction equations (GM PEs) to estimate the ground motion where recorded data are not available. Recorded and estimated values are then interpolated in order to produce a shaking map associated to the considered event. Anyway GMPEs account only for average characteristics of source and wave propagation processes. Within the framework of the DPC-INGV S3 project (2007-09), we evaluate whether the inclusion of directivity effects in GMPEs (companion paper Spagnuolo et al., 2010) or the use of synthetic seismograms from finite-fault rupture models may improve the ShakeMap evaluation. An advantage of using simulated motions from kinematic rupture models is that source effects, as rupture directivity, are directly included in the synthetics. This is particularly interesting in Italy where the regional GMPEs, based on a few number of near-source records for moderate-to-large earthquakes, are not reliable for estimating ground motion in the vicinity of the source. In this work we investigated how and if the synthetic seismograms generated with finite-fault models can be used in place of (or in addition to) GMPEs within the ShakeMap methodology. We assumed a description of the rupture model with gradually increasing details, from a simple point source to a kinematic rupture history obtained from inversion of strong-motion data. According to the available information synthetic seismograms are calculated with methods that account for the different degree of approximation in source properties. We chose the M w 6.9 2008 Iwate-M iyagi (Japan) earthquake as a case study. This earthquake has been recorded by a very large number of stations and the corresponding ShakeMap relies almost totally on the recorded ground motions. Starting from this ideal case, we removed a number of stations in order to evaluate the deviations from the reference map and the sensitivity of the map to the number of stations used. The removed data are then substituted with synthetic values calculated assuming different source approximations, and the resulting maps are compared to the original ones (containing observed data only). The use of synthetic seismograms computed for finite-fault rupture models produces, in general, an improvement of the calculated ShakeMaps, especially when synthetics are used to integrate real data. When real data are not available and ShakeMap is estimated using GMPEs only, the improvement adding simulated values depends on the considered strong-motion parameters

REXELweb: a tool for selection of ground-motion records from the Engineering Strong Motion database (ESM)

This paper illustrates REXELweb, an updated online version of REXEL, which is a tool for the automatic selection and scaling of spectrum-compatible ground- motions for dynamic analysis of structures. REXELweb allows to define target spectra according to user-definition or design provisions (Eurocode 8 and Italian building code), as well as to uniform hazard spectra (UHS) based on a European hazard model. REXELweb implements all functionalities and options of REXEL through web-services that are accessible either via a MATHWORKS-MATLAB script or a user-friendly web-interface. The program selects records from the Engineering Strong Motion database (ESM), which is a daily-updated Pan-European repository of high-quality ground-motion records. These features make REXELweb a potentially useful tool for researchers and practitioners.Associazione Geotecnica ItalianaPublishedRome5T. Sismologia, geofisica e geologia per l'ingegneria sismic

Ground motion scenarios for the 1997 colfiorito, central Italy earthquake

In this paper we report the results of several investigations aimed at evaluating ground motion scenarios for the September 26th, 1997 Colfiorito earthquake (Mw 6.0, 09:40 UTC). We model the observed variability of ground motions through synthetic scenarios which simulate an earthquake rupture propagating at constant rupture velocity (2.7 km/s) and the inferred directivity. We discuss the variability of kinematic source parameters, such as the nucleation position and the rupture velocity, and how it influences the predicted ground motions and it does not account for the total standard deviation of the empirical predictive model valid for the region. Finally, we used the results from the scenario studies for the Colfiorito earthquake to integrate the probabilistic and deterministic approaches for seismic hazard assessment

Improving the Italian strong ground motion attenuation relationship: preliminary results with an updated accelerometric data set

Strong ground motion attenuation relationships are fundamental tools for seismic hazard evaluation. In Italy the most widely used attenuation relationship is the Sabetta and Pugliese (1987 and 1996, here afters referred to as SP96) for evaluating peak ground acceleration, peak ground velocity, Arias intensity and pseudovelocity response spectra, of the Italian territory. The equation has been derived using 95 records relative to 17 earthquakes with magnitude ranging from 4.6 to 6.8. The SP96 relation is based on the strongest events since the installation of accelerometric instruments in Italy, dated 1972, such as Friuli 1976, Valnerina 1979, Irpinia 1980, and Lazio-Abruzzo 1984, which is the most recent event. In the time span 1984 – 2007 other moderate seismic events occurred in Italy, namely the East Sicily 1991, Umbria-Marche 1997- 1998, Pollino 1998 and Molise 2002, with moment magnitude > 5, and huge data sets have been obtained due to the installation of many temporary stations and digital instruments. The Umbria-Marche and Molise accelerometric data sets allowed the calculation of regional attenuation relationships that show a considerably different trend compared to the SP96. In this time span a project for an updated Italian accelerometric data base construction has been started with the aim of collecting all the acceleration time histories recorded since 1972 and re-evaluating, updating and improving event parameters, data processing and station geological/geotechnical characteristics. The aim of this research is the implementation of a new weighted regression analysis with the expanded and updated database, including coefficients to model the magnitude-dependent decay rate, the faulting mechanism, the local site effects and the magnitude-dependent variance. In addition, the fit of the SP96 equation to the new accelerometric data set spanning from 1972 to 2004 is evaluated with the aid of different statistic techniques, in order to verify the need of deriving a new attenuation equation

Site Amplifications in the epicentral area of the 2016, M 6, Amatrice earthquake (Italy)

The first mainshock (Mw 6.0) of the 2016 Central Italy seismic sequence, severely struck the Amatrice village and the surrounding localities. After a few days, some Italian Institutions, coordinated by the “Center for Seismic Microzonation and its applications”, carried out several preparatory activities for seismic microzonation of the area. A temporary seismic network was installed that monitored about 50 sites in epicentral area. The network produced a huge amount of records in a wide range of magnitude up to Mw 6.5. For about half of the recording stations, detailed site characterization was undertaken, encompassing single station noise measurements and S-wave velocity profiles. The geological and geophysical data together with the collected dataset of seismic signals were exploited to investigate the site response of selected stations. Significant amplifications are found in the correspondence of several sites that experienced a high level of damage (Imcs >IX), mainly at short and intermediate periodsPublishedRoma5T. Sismologia, geofisica e geologia per l'ingegneria sismic

The engineering strong-motion database: A platform to access pan-European accelerometric data

This article describes the Engineering Strong-Motion Database (ESM), developed in the framework of the European project Network of European Research Infrastructures for Earthquake Risk Assessment and Mitigation (NERA, see Data and Resources). ESM is specifically designed to provide end users only with quality-checked, uniformly processed strong-motion data and relevant parameters and has done so since 1969 in the EuroMediterranean region. The database was designed for a large variety of stakeholders (expert seismologists, earthquake engineers, students, and professionals) with a user-friendly and straightforward web interface. Users can access earthquake and station information and download waveforms of events with magnitude 65 4:0 (unprocessed and processed acceleration, velocity, and displacement, and acceleration and displacement response spectra at 5% damping). Specific tools are also available to users to process strong-motion data and select ground-motion suites for codebased seismic structural analyses