Monitoring of Rain-Induced Landslides for the Territory Protection: The AD-VITAM Project

The authors refer in this paper some of the analyses already done and the planned activities in developing the AD-VITAM Project (InterReg V-A France \u2013 Italy \u2013 E.U. ALCOTRA), which aims to assess the most suitable techniques to obtain a reliable forecasting of rain-induced landslides, in order to enhance the territorial resilience when subject to such a risk. The authors refers about the procedure called LAMP (Landslides Monitoring and Predicting), consisting in an Integrated Hydrological/Geotechnical numerical model (IHG) fed by site-specific installed sensor-network, to help in the start-up calibration of some of the relevant parameters used by the model. The tuned-up simulation models is used to assess the landslide susceptibility to measured/predicted rainfall histories. The implementation of the numerical geotechnical/hydrological models on a GIS platform with regard to some of the selected sites, and the preliminary tests performed on the sensors to be installed on-site in order to monitor the real-time response to rainfalls are briefly described. Thanks to the effective cooperation with the local technicians and the project partners, the final achievements of AD-VITAM could furnish a real support to a better protection of both the natural and the urbanized environments, allowing site-specific warnings and a better hydro-geological risk management capacity

Oscillation of water table due to rainfall: an experience of modeling in GIS

A physically-based Integrated Hydrological-Geotechnical model (IHG) able to assess the rainfallinduced landslide susceptibility was developed, refined and applied in GIS environment along the past years (Passalacqua, 2002; Federici et al., 2014; Bovolenta et al., 2016), showing its reliability. It is a useful instrument to landslide susceptibility evaluations and land-use planning over wide areas. The present paper focuses on the modeling of water table oscillation due to rainfall, comparing different hydrological models

Cross-cultural adaptation and patients' judgments of a Question Prompt List for Italian-speaking cancer patients

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Question Prompt Lists (QPLs) have proven very effective in encouraging cancer patients to ask questions, allowing them to take up a more active role during visits with the oncologist. As no such tool has yet been validated for Italian-speaking users, we carried out the cross-cultural adaptation and evaluation of an existing Australian Question Prompt List.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Cross-cultural adaptation was performed in accordance with the five steps described by Guillemin and Beaton. Forward and back translations of the original tool were carried out, and the products discussed by an Expert Committee who agreed on a prefinal version of the Italian QPL, which was submitted to 30 volunteer patients for evaluation. They rated each question's adequacy of content, clarity of wording, usefulness, and generated anxiety, on a 3-point Likert scale. Based on the analysis of patient ratings, the final version of the Italian QPL was produced.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Few discrepancies between the two back translations and the original version of the instrument were noted, indicating that the Italian translation (synthesis of the 2 forward translations) was substantially accurate. Most volunteer patients felt that the questionnaire was adequate, easy to understand and useful. Only a few minor criticisms were expressed. Certain questions on diagnosis and prognosis generated the highest level of anxiety. Patient comments and ratings on clarity highlighted the need to clarify common health care terms which are not widely used by the public (i.e. guideline, multidisciplinary team and clinical trial)</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This cross-cultural adaptation has produced an Italian Question Prompt List that is now available for multi-center international studies and can be safely used with Italian-speaking cancer patients.</p

Gefitinib plus interleukin-2 in advanced non-small cell lung cancer patients previously treated with chemotherapy

The activation of lymphocytes by gefitinib treatment has been described. In this phase II pilot trial, we explored the possible synergism between IL-2 and gefitinib for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treatment. From September, 2003, to November, 2006, 70 consecutive patients with advanced, progressive NSCLC, previously treated with chemotherapy, received oral gefitinib 250 mg daily. The first 39 patients received gefitinib alone (G group). The other 31 also received subcutaneous IL-2 (GIL-2 group): 1 MIU/m2 (Million International Unit/m2)twice a day on Days 1 and 2, once a day on Days 3, 4, 5 every week for four consecutive weeks with a four-week rest period. Median follow-up was 25.2 months. Grade 3–4 toxicity of gefitinib was represented by skin rash (7%), asthenia/anorexia (6%) and diarrhea (7%); patients treated with IL-2 showed grade 2–3 fever (46%), fatigue (21%) and arthralgia (13%). In the GIL-2 group and G-group, we respectively observed: an overall response rate of 16.1% (6.4% complete response) and 5.1% (only partial response); a disease control rate of 41.9% and 41%; a median time to progression of 3.5 (CI 95% = 3.2–3.8) and 4.1 (CI 95% = 2.6–5.7) months; a median overall survival of 20.1 (CI 95% = 5.1–35.1) and 6.9 (CI 95% = 4.9–8.9) months (p = 0.002); and an actuarial one-year survival rate of 54% and 30%. Skin toxicity (p &lt; 0.001; HR = 0.29; CI 95% = 0.16–0.54) and use of IL-2 (p &lt; 0.001; HR = 0.33; CI 95% = 0.18–0.60) were independently associated with improvement of survival. In this consecutive, non-randomized, series of advanced NSCLC patients, the use of IL-2 increased the efficacy of gefitinib

Investigation of TiCr Hydrogen Storage Alloy

A new reversible hydrogen storage material, based on TiCr metal alloy, is proposed. Cr and Ti were mixed and melted in a final atomic ratio of 1,78. Chemical-physical characterisations, in terms of XRD and SEM-EDX, were performed. The quantification of Laves phases was performed through Rietveld refinements. The atomic Cr/Ti ratio was determined by EDX analysis and 1,71 was obtained. The H2 sorption/desorption measurements by Sievert apparatus were carried out. After different tests varying temperature and pressure, a protocol measurement was established; and a H2 sorption value of 0,4 wt% at 200 °C/10 bar with a fast kinetic at 5 bar (Dwt% of about 0,3 wt%) were obtained. Hydrogen desorption measurements performed in the same conditions of T confirmed a totally reversible trend. A confirm of metal hydride formation was recorded by XRD, in fact, comparing X-Ray patterns before and after volumetric tests a notable difference was recorded

GeoFlood: Large-Scale Flood Inundation Mapping Based on High-Resolution Terrain Analysis

Recent floods from intense storms in the southern United States and the unusually active 2017 Atlantic hurricane season have highlighted the need for real‐time flood inundation mapping using high‐resolution topography. High‐resolution topographic data derived from lidar technology reveal unprecedented topographic details and are increasingly available, providing extremely valuable information for improving inundation mapping accuracy. The enrichment of terrain details from these data sets, however, also brings challenges to the application of many classic approaches designed for lower‐resolution data. Advanced methods need to be developed to better use lidar‐derived terrain data for inundation mapping. We present a new workflow, GeoFlood, for flood inundation mapping using high‐resolution terrain inputs that is simple and computationally efficient, thus serving the needs of emergency responders to rapidly identify possibly flooded locations. First, GeoNet, a method for automatic channel network extraction from high‐resolution topographic data, is modified to produce a low‐density, high‐fidelity river network. Then, a Height Above Nearest Drainage (HAND) raster is computed to quantify the elevation difference between each land surface cell and the stream bed cell to which it drains, using the network extracted from high‐resolution terrain data. This HAND raster is then used to compute reach‐average channel hydraulic parameters and synthetic stage‐discharge rating curves. Inundation maps are generated from the HAND raster by obtaining a water depth for a given flood discharge from the synthetic rating curve. We evaluate our approach by applying it in the Onion Creek Watershed in Central Texas, comparing the inundation extent results to Federal Emergency Management Agency 100‐yr floodplains obtained with detailed local hydraulic studies. We show that the inundation extent produced by GeoFlood overlaps with 60%~90% of the Federal Emergency Management Agency floodplain coverage demonstrating that it is able to capture the general inundation patterns and shows significant potential for informing real‐time flood disaster preparedness and response