Influence of Root Reinforcement on Shallow Landslide Distribution: A Case Study in Garfagnana (Northern Tuscany, Italy)

In this work, we evaluated the influence of root structure on shallow landslide distribution. Root density measurements were acquired in the field and the corresponding root cohesion was estimated. Data were acquired from 150 hillslope deposit trenches dug in areas either devoid or affected by shallow landslides within the Garfagnana Valley (northern Tuscany, Italy). Results highlighted a correlation between the root reinforcement and the location of measurement sites. Namely, lower root density was detected within shallow landslides, with respect to neighboring areas. Root area ratio (RAR) data allowed us to estimate root cohesion by the application of the revised version of the Wu and Waldron Model. Then, we propose a new method for the assimilation of the lateral root reinforcement into the infinite slope model and the limit equilibrium approach by introducing the equivalent root cohesion parameter. The results fall within the range of root cohesion values adopted in most of the physically based shallow landslide susceptibility models known in the literature (mean values ranging between ca. 2 and 3 kPa). Moreover, the results are in line with the scientific literature that has demonstrated the link between root mechanical properties, spatial variability of root reinforcement, and shallow landslide locations

Spatial analysis of hydraulic conductivity for slope deposits at catchment scale in Northern Tuscany, Italy

Hydraulic conductivity (K) is a relevant engineering geology property of slope deposits overlying the geological bedrock. This parameter is relevant at the field scale to simulate infiltration and runoff processes, hillslope stability numerical analysis, hydrological studies and environmental issues. Direct measurements (field and laboratory tests), as well as indirect estimations are available in the literature for evaluating K, the latter being based on factors such as grain size distribution, bulk density, organic matter, etc. Many measurements are required to obtain reliable estimations, particularly for slope deposits, where these factors are characterized by wide range of variation. Hence, values of K of slope deposits are often uncertain and their spatial variability is generally unknown. In order to face these issues, a wide set (about 750) of K field measurements has been performed in the vadose zone of slope deposits, within Northern Tuscany (Italy), by means of constant and/or falling head permeameter. For each test site (a total of 150 locations), also engineering geology properties of slope deposits have been determined, such as depth to bedrock, texture, bulk density, Atterberg limits and grain size distribution. The site variability of K has been estimated by statistical analysis, moreover geostatistical techniques have been applied to infer the spatial distribution at the catchment scale. The results show that K varies along the slope deposits profile and in the geographic neighborhood of the test site, also exhibiting high regional variability within the study area

Seismic characterization and reconstruction of reference ground motion at accelerometric sites of the Italian national accelerometric network (RAN)

We present a field procedure that has been extensively used in Italy to characterize local seismic response at accelerometric sites and to retrieve ground motion at reference soil conditions by deconvolution analysis. To allow a generalized application to large areas where borehole data are generally lacking or inadequate for the seismic characterization for soils down to the reference seismic bedrock, cost-effectiveness of the considered procedures is a main issue. Thus, major efforts have been devoted to optimize available information and exploit fast and cheap surface geophysical prospecting. In particular, geological/geomorphological survey and passive seismic prospecting (both in single- and multi-station configurations) were jointly considered to reconstruct seismo-stratigraphical site conditions. This information was then used to feed numerical modeling aiming at computing the local seismic response and performing a deconvolution analysis to reconstruct ground motion at reference soil conditions. Major attention was devoted to evaluate and manage uncertainty involved in the procedure and to quantify its effect on final outcomes. An application of this procedure to a set of sites included in the Italian Accelerometric Network is presented

Seismic characterization and reconstruction of reference ground motion at accelerometric sites of the Italian national accelerometric network (RAN)

We present a field procedure that has been extensively used in Italy to characterize local seismic response at accelerometric sites and to retrieve ground motion at reference soil conditions by deconvolution analysis. To allow a generalized application to large areas where borehole data are generally lacking or inadequate for the seismic characterization for soils down to the reference seismic bedrock, cost-effectiveness of the considered procedures is a main issue. Thus, major efforts have been devoted to optimize available information and exploit fast and cheap surface geophysical prospecting. In particular, geological/geomorphological survey and passive seismic prospecting (both in single- and multi-station configurations) were jointly considered to reconstruct seismo-stratigraphical site conditions. This information was then used to feed numerical modeling aiming at computing the local seismic response and performing a deconvolution analysis to reconstruct ground motion at reference soil conditions. Major attention was devoted to evaluate and manage uncertainty involved in the procedure and to quantify its effect on final outcomes. An application of this procedure to a set of sites included in the Italian Accelerometric Network is presented

Development of lymphoma in patients with primary Sjögren Syndrome

Lymphoma is the main complication of primary Sjögren syndrome (pSS). The aim of this study was to describe the prevalence and incidence rate of lymphoma in patients with pSS in eleven centers in Argentina. To determine the frequency of commitment of the domains of the baseline clinical ESSDAI in the patients who developed lymphoma in the course of their follow-up and compare it with the rest of the sample. Methods and findings: We included patients older than 18 years with a diagnosis of pSS according to American College of Rheumatology/European League against Rheumatism (ACR/EULAR)2002/2016 criteria, included in a multi-center Argentine database. Patients diagnosed with another associated autoimmune rheumatic disease were excluded. Six hundred and eighty one patients were included, 95% female, with a mean age of 54.41 years (± 13.70). Sixteen patients presented lymphoma (prevalence: 2.35%, 95% CI: 1.2-3.4%). The average follow-up time was 4.7 years (± 4.94). Six hundread and thirty three patients contributed data for the survival analysis. The incidence rate of lymphoma was 0.54 per 100 patient-years (95% CI: -0,26 a 1,34). The most frequently lymphoma type was MALT. Patients who developed lymphoma had a higher frequency of involvement of most of the domains of the baseline clinical ESSDAI compared to patients who did not present this complication, observing statistically significant differences in glandular (68,75% vs 28.69%, p:0,001), and cutaneous (31.25% vs 10.99%, p: 0.01) domains. The glandular domain of clinical ESSDAI was the main domain associated lymphoma development (H.R: 4.54, 95% CI: 1.57-13.12). Conclusion: This was the first study with data on the population of Argentina about the prevalence of lymphoma in patients diagnosed with Sjogren´s syndrome. The prevalence of lymphoma in our cohort was lower than previously published. Despite observing a lower frequency of lymphoma in our study, we found an association with risk markers described in the literature, such as baseline parotidomegaly and cutaneous involvement.Fil: Schenone, L. N.. Hospital Bernardino Rivadavia. Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Pellet, A. C.. Hospital Bernardino Rivadavia. Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Mamani, M.. Hospital Bernardino Rivadavia. Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Melo, F.. Hospital Bernardino Rivadavia. Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Adrover, M.. Hospital Bernardino Rivadavia. Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Barreira, J.. Hospital Británico. Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Dermarchi, Julia. Hospital Británico. Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Escobar, C. S.. Hospital Británico.Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Santiago, L.. Organización Médica de Investigación. Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Salvatierra, G.. Rheumatology Unit. IPRI. Santiago del Estero; ArgentinaFil: Nitsche, A.. Hospital Alemán; ArgentinaFil: Asnal, C.. Hospital Alemán; ArgentinaFil: Amitrano, C.. Hospital Alemán; ArgentinaFil: Pucci, P.. Hospital Alemán; ArgentinaFil: Crow, C.. Hospital Alemán; ArgentinaFil: Ratti, L.. Clinica Bessone. Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Cruzat, V.. Clinica Bessone. Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Papasidero, S.. Hospital Tornu. Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Caeiro, Francisco. Hospital Privado Centro Médico de Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Retamozo, Maria Soledad. Hospital Privado Centro Médico de Córdoba; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud; ArgentinaFil: Baenas, Diego Federico. Hospital Privado Centro Médico de Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Riscanevo, Nadia. Hospital Privado Centro Médico de Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Vélez, S.. Rheumatology Care Offices, Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Juarez, V. R.. Hospital del Milagro, Salta, Argentina; ArgentinaFil: Secco, A.. Hospital Bernardino Rivadavia; Argentin