A novel universal device "LINGUAL RING Ri.P.A.Ra" for TMDs and cranio-cervico-mandibular pains: preliminary results of a randomized control clinical trial

The aim of this study was to evaluate functionality and clinical application of a novel immediate device in the treatment of temporomandibular disorders (TMDs). To address the research purpose, authors developed and implemented a randomized control clinical trial

Probabilistic Seismic Hazard Curves and Maps for Italian Slopes

The seismic performance of an earth slope is commonly evaluated through the permanent displacements developed at the end of an earthquake. In this paper a probabilistic approach is adopted to assess the displacement of the slope for a given hazard level using an updated database of ground motions rec-orded during the earthquakes occurred in Italy. The results are presented in terms of hazard curves, showing the annual rate of exceedance of permanent slope displacement evaluated using ground motion data provided by a standard probabilistic hazard analysis and a series of semi-empirical relationships linking the permanent displacements of slopes to one or more ground motion parame-ters. The probabilistic approach permits to take into account synthetically the characteristics of the slope through the yield seismic coefficient, the aleatory variability of the ground motions and the different subsoil classes of the record-ing stations. Finally, the procedure has been extended on a regional scale to produce seismic landslide hazard maps for Irpinia, one of the most seismically active regions in Italy. Seismic landslide hazard maps are very attractive for practitioners and government agencies for a screening level analysis to identify, monitor and minimise damages in zones that are potentially susceptible to earthquake-induced slope instability

Influence of the displacement predictive relationships on the probabilistic seismic analysis of slopes

Seismically induced landslides can often cause severe human and economic losses. Therefore, it is worth assessing the seismic performance of slopes through a reliable quantification of the permanent displacements induced by seismic loading. This paper presents a new semiempirical relationship linking the permanent earthquake-induced displacements of slopes to one or two synthetic ground motion parameters developed considering the Italian seismicity, and a comparison with existing simplified displacement models is illustrated. Once combined with a fully probabilistic approach, these relationships provide a useful tool for practicing engineers and national agencies for a preliminary estimate of the seismic performance of a slope. In this perspective, the predictive capability of different semiempirical relationships is analyzed with reference to the permanent displacements evaluated for the Italian seismicity assimilating the slope to a rigid body and adopting the Newmark integration approach. The consequences of the adoption of these relationships on the results of the probabilistic approach are illustrated in terms of displacement hazard curves and hazard maps for different slope scenarios

Impactos socio-territoriales: Puerto Iguazú y Reserva Iriapú, 600 hectáreas. Misiones, Argentina

Se presenta una revisión teórica y analítica sobre la ciudad turística de Puerto Iguazú y su área periurbana, "Reserva Iriapú Parque Nacional en Misiones Argentina. En esta área se albergan comunidades nativas de guaraníes, que han sufrido modificaciones sociales en su espacio geográfico a partir del 2003, periodo en el cual los flujos de capital internacional aumentaron y las políticas públicas turísticas se consolidaron hacia procesos de internacionalización. En este contexto, el objetivo de la presente investigación se enfoca en identificar cuáles han sido los impactos socio-territoriales en el área de amortiguación, ocasionados por la actividad turística. Para ello se analizaron una diversidad de documentos (informes, planes de desarrollo, datos estadísticos de Organismos Gubernamentales, consultoras privadas e informes académicos) así como primeros acercamientos de campo al área de estudio, lo que permitió hacer una recopilación de datos y testimonios que abonaron a la revisión teórica y analítica. Donde las conclusiones muestran que las políticas turísticas y territoriales provinciales lejos de propiciar un desarrollo justo y equilibrado para las comunidades nativas, terminan por aumentar los niveles de desigualdad social y profundizar la polarización socio-territorial, disminuyendo a la vez la participación ciudadana.Se presenta una revisión teórica y analítica sobre la ciudad turística de Puerto Iguazú y su área periurbana, "Reserva Iriapú Parque Nacional en Misiones Argentina. En esta área se albergan comunidades nativas de guaraníes, que han sufrido modificaciones sociales en su espacio geográfico a partir del 2003, periodo en el cual los flujos de capital internacional aumentaron y las políticas públicas turísticas se consolidaron hacia procesos de internacionalización. En este contexto, el objetivo de la presente investigación se enfoca en identificar cuáles han sido los impactos socio-territoriales en el área de amortiguación, ocasionados por la actividad turística. Para ello se analizaron una diversidad de documentos (informes, planes de desarrollo, datos estadísticos de Organismos Gubernamentales, consultoras privadas e informes académicos) así como primeros acercamientos de campo al área de estudio, lo que permitió hacer una recopilación de datos y testimonios que abonaron a la revisión teórica y analítica. Donde las conclusiones muestran que las políticas turísticas y territoriales provinciales lejos de propiciar un desarrollo justo y equilibrado para las comunidades nativas, terminan por aumentar los niveles de desigualdad social y profundizar la polarización socio-territorial, disminuyendo a la vez la participación ciudadana

Soil-structure interaction for the seismic design of the Messina Strait Bridge

This paper illustrates an approach to the study of the seismic soil–structure interaction that was developed at the verification stage of the design of the Messina Strait Bridge in order to validate its seismic behaviour. It consisted of a series of two-dimensional, plane strain numerical analyses on models that included, in addition to the embedded foundation elements, a simplified structural description of the bridge towers: simplified structural models were specifically designed to reproduce the first vibrations modes of the towers, that were deemed to have the most significant influence on the system's dynamic response. Non-linear dynamic analyses were carried out in the time domain, studying the effects of two different natural records, each characterised by three orthogonal components of the soil motion. In the first part of the paper, essential information is provided about the foundations layout, the main properties of the foundation soil resulting from the in situ and laboratory investigation, and the assessment of the liquefaction potential. Then, the numerical models are discussed in some detail, with an emphasis on the modelling of the soil and of the structural elements. For sake of conciseness, details are provided only for one of the two shores. The results obtained with the present approach shed some light on the complex coupling between the soil's and the structure's behaviour, evidencing the significant role that the embedded, massive foundations of the bridge play in the dynamic response of the system. The computed time-histories of the displacements of the foundation elements are used to assess the seismic performance of the bridge

Una procedura per il dimensionamento di muri in terra rinforzata soggetti ad eventi sismici intensi

In questa nota si presenta una procedura per il dimensionamento di muri in terra rinforzata mediante il metodo pseudo-statico. In essa, il coefficiente sismico k è calibrato su prefissati livelli di prestazione del muro, espressi in termini di valori limite degli spostamenti permanenti accumulati durante l’evento sismico. Un’equivalenza di upper bound tra gli spostamenti indotti da sisma e i valori di k è stata ottenuta applicando il metodo di Newmark al database di accelerogrammi italiani, aggiornato alle registrazioni del 2017, e correggendo le relazioni empiriche ottenute per tenere conto della forma dei meccanismi plastici interni alla zona rinforzata, ai quali corrisponde la massima domanda di resistenza dei rinforzi. Fissata la prestazione sismica, il muro viene quindi dimensionato per ottenere un coefficiente sismico critico associato ai meccanismi interni (kcint) inferiore a quello associato ai meccanismi esterni (kcext), così da promuovere l’attivazione di meccanismi plastici che prevedano la mobilitazione della resistenza del sistema terreno-rinforzo, dotato di rinforzi caratterizzati da adeguati livelli di duttilità

Seismic design of geosynthetic-reinforced earth retaining walls following a pseudo-static approach

Geosynthetic-reinforced earth (GRE) retaining walls show a better performance than conventionally-designed walls during destructive earthquakes, due to their capability of redistributing seismic-induced deformations within the reinforced zone. In this paper, a recently-proposed method to design GRE walls is first recalled, where the wall is designed to trigger an internal plastic mechanism in the presence of strong earthquakes. Following a pseudo-static approach, the seismic coefficient k is therefore assumed equal to the internal seismic resistance of the wall kcint. The seismic coefficient is then calibrated against given seismic wall performance, expressed in terms of limit values of earthquake-induced displacements. Permanent displacements are evaluated through empirical relationships that were previously developed on the basis of a parametric integration of an updated Italian seismic database. Effectiveness of the proposed procedure is then demonstrated by assessing, through Finite Difference nonlinear dynamic analyses, the seismic performance of two walls, namely a GRE and a conventional gravity wall, characterised by the same seismic resistance but triggering an internal and external plastic mechanism, respectively. They are both subjected to a real strong motion, capable of activating a plastic mechanism. Results showed that lower permanent displacements are accumulated in the GRE wall where internal mechanisms are triggered

Interaction Between Tunnel Excavations and Historical Structures in Rome: A Fully Coupled Structural and Geotechnical Approach

In this paper we propose a 3D Finite Element (FE) approach to model the excavation of twin tunnels, accounting for the strongly non-linear soil behaviour, interacting with monumental masonry structures, carefully modelling their geometry and non-linear anisotropic mechanical behaviour. The work focuses on a specific case-study related to the ongoing construction of the line C of Rome underground