Neogene-Quaternary intraforeland transpression along a Mesozoic platform-basin margin: The Gargano fault system, Adria, Italy

We analyzed field structural data and an offshore seismic-reflection profile and compared them with previously published geological and geophysical data to constrain the tectonic evolution of the Gargano fault system, the kinematics of which have been the subject of contradictory interpretations. Field analyses show that the Gargano fault system consists of NW- to W-striking folds, thrusts, and left-lateral transpressional and strike-slip faults. A set of NW-striking solution cleavage supports the inference of an overall left-lateral kinematic regime for the Gargano fault system. Some synsedimentary structures indicate Miocene-Pliocene contractional and transpressional activity along the Gargano fault system, whereas strike-slip faults affecting Pleistocene conglomerates support a recent, left-lateral, strike-slip activity. The seismic-reflection data show that the offshore prolongation of the Gargano fault system consists of an anticline cut by high-angle faults arranged in a positive flower-like structure, which has mostly grown since middle-late Miocene times along a Mesozoic platform-basin margin. We have schematically reconstructed the tectonic evolution of the Gargano fault system between the middle-late Miocene and the present day. During this period, the Gargano fault system has mostly accommodated contractional to left-lateral transpressional and strike-slip displacements. These displacements are consistent with the regional, Neogene-Quaternary, contractional tectonics across Adria and the Apennines and Dinarides-Albanides fold-and-thrust belts. Some evidence suggests that the Gargano fault system is presently accommodating extensional or left-lateral transtensional displacements. We interpret the Neogene-Quaternary, strike-slip displacements on the Gargano fault system to be connected with the segmentation of the subducted Adriatic slab beneath the Apennines fold-and-thrust belt and with the noncylindrical evolution of this slab (i.e., differential retreating motions), which has undergone differential flexural movements in the adjacent, northern and southern Adriatic compartments

Clinical phenotypes of SARS-CoV-2 : implications for clinicians and researchers

Patients with COVID-19 present a broad spectrum of clinical presentation. Whereas hypoxaemia is the marker of severity, different strategies of management should be customised to five specific individual phenotypes. Many intubated patients present with phenotype 4, characterised by pulmonary hypoxic vasoconstriction, being associated with severe hypoxaemia with "normal" (>40 mL·cmH2O-1) lung compliance and likely representing pulmonary microvascular thrombosis. Phenotype 5 is often associated with high plasma procalcitonin and has low pulmonary compliance, Which is a result of co-infection or acute lung injury after noninvasive ventilation. Identifying these clinical phenotypes and applying a personalised approach would benefit the optimisation of therapies and improve outcomes

Behavior in subcortical vascular dementia with sight pathologies: visual hallucinations as a consequence of precocious gait imbalance and institutionalization

Background: Subcortical vascular dementia (sVAD) is considered the most frequent dementia in old population, and it is due to a small vessel disease. It has a very specific nosography, where the dominant factors are dysexecutive functions, depression, and apathy. Very few studies described visual hallucinations in sVAD, apart from in the final stages of it. Methods: This study recruited 577 patients with a diagnosis of sVAD associated with major ocular pathologies and 1118 patients with sVAD without any significant ocular pathology: Patients were followed up for 24 months. We studied the influence of ocular pathologies in precocious visual hallucinations, on behavior disorder (aggressiveness), and gait disorders (instability, fells). We registered the necessity of neuropsychiatric therapies, incidence of hospitalization, and institutionalization. Results: What emerges from our study is that the ocular comorbidities might change the behavior profile of dementia, provoking behavioral alterations, and the need for therapies with adverse effects. As far as old age is a complicated status of life, many factors can modify its development. The possible contribution of multiple biological events cannot be neglected, particularly the underlying influence of chronic diseases as well as the geriatric conditions, per se, might compromise the cognitive functions and the pathological conditions. Ocular pathology as a superimposing event in sVAD might worse the outcome. A correct and rapid identification of critical patients might be relevant for the dynamic life events in these patients and their caregive

Experimental study of CO2 sequestration by ECBM recovery: the case of Sulcis coal.

An ECBM (Enhanced Coal Bed Methane) feasibility study started for the Sulcis Coal Province (SW Sardinia, Italy) in December 2004: geochemical, structural-geology, stratigraphic and reservoir engineering considerations are discussed. The first newly gathered experimental data are discussed, including: fluid geochemistry (major and minor elements, dissolved gases, C and He isotopic ratios) of the reservoir, coal composition and experimental data on CO2/CH4 adsorption on coal. A MapInfo GIS structure was built up including stratigraphical, geo-structural, hydrogeochemical, coal-compositional and environmental impact information as well as the CO2 sources location and typology. Even if these data could be preliminary with respect to the coal characteritics effectively located at the future injection depth, they highlighted both the challenging positive and negative aspects of the Sulcis Coal Province versus the exploitation of the ECBM technique. The most important objective of this phase I of the project is the selection of the best Sulcis ECBM test-pilot site, which will be followed (Phase II) by the choice of a scaled up site and possibly by a future network (Phase III). These phases are foreseen to be accompanied by the selection of progressively added CO2 industrial sources, to be used within the project economic spreadsheet model, actually in evolution. CO2 geological storage and CH4 production potentials in Sulcis have been grossly evaluated as a whole, in the frame of the Sardinia region CO2 sources, including the coal-fired power plants, both existent and foreseen (hundreds of millions of tonns of CO2 are possible to be stored underground in the next decades). The reservoir estimates, both for the CO2 injection and for the CH4 production are clearly involving to start the test-site phase exploitation, in the frame of an auspicabile international operative project

Effects of Caffeine on the Muscular Endurance, Perceived Pain, and Effort of Resistance Trained Women

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S100B is not a reliable prognostic index in paediatric TBI.

Pediatr Neurosurg. 2007;43(4):258-64

The combined use of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin and brain natriuretic peptide improves risk stratification in pediatric cardiac surgery

Abstract Background: The aim of this study is to test the hypothesis whether the combined use of a cardio-specific biomarker, the brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and a marker of early renal damage, the assay of urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (uNGAL), may improve risk stratification in pediatric cardiac surgery. Methods: We prospectively enrolled 135 children [median age 7 (interquartile range 1–49) months] undergoing to cardiac surgery for congenital heart disease. All biomarkers were evaluated pre- and post-operatively at different times after cardiopulmonary-bypass (CPB): uNGAL at 2, 6 and 12 h; BNP at 12 and 36 h; serum creatinine at 2, 6, 12, and 36 h. Primary endpoints were development of acute kidney injury (AKI) (defined as 1.5 serum creatinine increase) and intubation time. Results: AKI occurred in 39% of patients (65% neonates and 32% older children, p=0.004). The peak of uNGAL values occurred more frequently at 2 h. uNGAL values at 2 h [median 28.2 (interquartile range 7.0–124.6) ng/L] had a good diagnostic accuracy for early diagnosis of AKI with an AUC (area under the curve) ROC (receiver operating characteristic) curve of 0.85 (SE 0.034). Using multivariable logistic regression analysis, development of AKI was significantly associated with uNGAL values at 2 h after CPB [OR=1.88 (1.30–2.72, p=0.001)], together with the CPB time and Aristotle score, as an index of complexity of the surgical procedure, while pre-operative BNP values were not. Furthermore, uNGAL and pre-operative BNP values (together with Aristotle score) were significantly associated with adverse outcome (longer intubation time and mortality). Conclusions: Pre-operative BNP and uNGAL values after surgery (together with the Aristotle score) were independently associated with a more severe course and worse outcome in children undergoing cardiac surgery for congenital heart disease.</jats:p