MULTI-SCALE ASSESSMENT OF GROUNDWATER VULNERABILITY TO POLLUTION: STUDY CASES FROM CAMPANIA REGION (SOUTHERN ITALY)

In the Campania region (southern Italy), assessment of groundwater vulnerability is an important factor to be tackled for a proper management of risk to aquifer pollution, which is fostered by both high dependence of aqueduct systems on groundwater resources and the widespread agricultural and urbanized land uses of the territory. The different physiographic, geological and hydrogeological conditions of the region, coupled with high anthropic pressure, make such assessment complex to be dealt with, but at the same time mandatory to be accomplished. The proposed study has been developed into the framework of the “Campania Trasparente” project, which has been funded by the regional government to assess environmental factors controlling the quality of agricultural and livestock food productions. Specifically, it belongs to the research topic regarding the assessment of groundwater quality, with a special focus on the assessment of groundwater vulnerability. In this research a multi-scale approach for the assessment of groundwater vulnerability is carried out in order to propose suitable methods depending on extension of territory to be studied and related types and spatial density of available data. Scales considered were a) regional, including the whole Campania region; b) intermediate, identified with that of a single representative aquifer; c) site-specific, or local, related to a portion of aquifer for which a high spatial density of data is available.The applied methods were chosen among the many known in literature and adapted to the specific study cases. At the regional scale, the parametric SINTACS method (CIVITA & DE MAIO, 2000) has been applied to the whole region and adapted to types and spatial density of available data. At the intermediate scale, or aquifer scale, the Mt. Terminio karst aquifer was chosen as representative for the application of different parametric methods, also specifically designed for karst aquifers. At the site-specific scale, a representative sector of a shallow alluvial aquifer, located in the adjoining Casalnuovo di Napoli-Volla municipalities, in the Campania plain, at the eastern border of the city of Naples, has been studied by numerical modeling for the estimation of travel time of nitrate pollutant through the vadose zone. The obtained results can be conceived as useful for supporting a proper territorial planning aimed at the management of risk to pollution of groundwater resources

Quinine sulfate and bacterial invasion

BACKGROUND: As many patients who receive antimalarial drugs for treatment of noninfectious, inflammatory diseases are also immunosuppressed and might have a concomitant bacterial infection, we studied the effectiveness of these drugs against bacterial infections, to find out whether they could protect against (and even treat) such conditions and obviate the need for an additional antibiotic drug. METHODS: Effect of QS on bacterial growth: Escherichia coli (E. coli) HB101 pRI203 were cultured overnight at 37°C in TSB and inoculated (approx 1 × 10(7) cells /ml) in MEM in the presence of QS at various concentrations (0, 50 and 100 μM). The effect of QS at concentration of 50 and 100 μM on the entry process of E. coli HB101 pRI203 into HeLa cells was studied under different experimental conditions: 1. QS was incubated with 3 × 10(5) HeLa cells for 60 min at 37°C prior to infection. 2. QS was added to HeLa cell monolayers during the infection period. RESULTS: QS showed no antibacterial activity after 24 h of incubation. The invasive efficiency of the bacteria was significantly inhibited at a dose-dependent manner, when QS was added to HeLa cells for 60 min at 37°C prior to infection (condition 1), and to a lesser extent when added during the period of infection (condition 2). CONCLUSIONS: Although the antimalarials are generally regarded as being inactive against most extracellular bacterial species, our results indicate that QS significantly inhibited the internalization/invasion efficacy of E. coli in the host cells

On-board indirect measurements of the acoustic quality of railway track: state-of-the art and simulations

48th International Congress and Exposition on Noise Control Engineering (Inter-Noise 2019), MADRID, ESPAGNE, 16-/06/2019 - 19/06/2019Noise emission is a major concern for residents living along railway lines. For a large range of conventional speeds, railway noise is dominated by rolling noise. The contribution of the track to rolling noise is mainly driven by the level of rail roughness and the Track Decay Rate (TDR). The MEEQUAI project (on-board measurement of the acoustic quality of the infrastructure) aims to develop a system capable of measuring these characteristics using on-board instrumentation. A state-of-the-art on the subject shows that indirect measurement from vibro-acoustic sensors like axle-box accelerometers or microphones in the bogie area seems possible, but that a number of improvements could be made to the existing methods, especially in estimating the transfer functions between the e_ective roughness and the signals provided by the sensors. The idea is to combine modelling and measurements to optimize the estimation of the transfer functions and the location of sensors while taking into account the variability of circulated tracks. Numerical analyses of transfer functions based on axle/track vibro-acoustic models are performed. Based on the simulations results, several improvements are proposed, with a view to future tests in rolling conditions

Hydrological regimes in different slope environments and implications on rainfall thresholds triggering shallow landslides

Assessing hazard of rainfall-induced shallow landslides represents a challenge for the risk management of urbanized areas for which the setting up of early warning systems, based on the reconstruction of reliable rainfall thresholds and rainfall monitoring, is a solution more practicable than the delocalization of settlements and infrastructures. Consequently, the reduction in uncertainties afecting the estimation of rainfall thresholds conditions, leading to the triggering of slope instabilities, is a fundament task to be tackled. In such a view, coupled soil hydrological monitoring and physics-based modeling approaches are presented for estimating rainfall thresholds in two diferent geomorphological environments prone to shallow landsliding. Based on the comparison of results achieved for silty– clayey soils characterizing Oltrepò Pavese area (northern Italy) and ash-fall pyroclastic soils mantling slopes of Sarno Mountains ridge (southern Italy), this research advances the understanding of the slope hydrological response in triggering shallow landslides. Among the principal results is the comprehension that, mainly depending on geological and geomorphological settings, geotechnical and hydrological properties of soil coverings have a fundamental control on the timing and intensity of hydrological processes leading to landslide initiation. Moreover, results obtained show how the characteristics of the soil coverings control the slope hydrological response at diferent time scales, making the antecedent soil hydrological conditions a not negligible factor for estimating landslide rainfall thresholds. The approaches proposed can be conceived as an adaptable tool to assess hazard to initiation of shallow rainfall-induced landslides and to implement early-warning systems from site-specifc to distributed (catchment or larger) scales

Physically based estimation of rainfall thresholds triggering shallow landslides in volcanic slopes of Southern Italy

On the 4th and 5th of March 2005, about 100 rainfall-induced landslides occurred along volcanic slopes of Camaldoli Hill in Naples, Italy. These started as soil slips in the upper substratum of incoherent and welded volcaniclastic deposits, then evolved downslope according to debris avalanche and debris flow mechanisms. This specific case of slope instability on complex volcaniclastic deposits remains poorly characterized and understood, although similar shallow landsliding phenomena have largely been studied in other peri-volcanic areas of the Campania region underlain by carbonate bedrock. Considering the landslide hazard in this urbanized area, this study focused on quantitatively advancing the understanding of the predisposing factors and hydrological conditions contributing to the initial landslide triggering. Borehole drilling, trial pits, dynamic penetrometer tests, topographic surveys, and infiltration tests were conducted on a slope sector of Camaldoli Hill to develop a geological framework model. Undisturbed soil samples were collected for laboratory testing to further characterize hydraulic and geotechnical properties of the soil units identified. In situ soil pressure head monitoring probes were also installed. A numerical model of two-dimensional variably saturated subsurface water flow was parameterized for the monitored hillslope using field and laboratory data. Based on the observed soil pressure head dynamics, the model was calibrated by adjusting the evapotranspiration parameters. This physically based hydrologic model was combined with an infinite-slope stability analysis to reconstruct the critical unsaturated/saturated conditions leading to slope failure. This coupled hydromechanical numerical model was then used to determine intensity–duration (I-D) thresholds for landslide initiation over a range of plausible rainfall intensities and topographic slope angles for the region. The proposed approach can be conceived as a practicable method for defining a warning criterion in urbanized areas threatened by rainfall-induced shallow landslides, given the unavailability of a consistent inventory of past landslide events that prevents a rigorous empirical analysis

Medium frequency phenomena on heavy vehicles: experimental analysis and numerical applications

Driveline vibrations of a truck are a cause of strong discomfort for drivers, and have to be investigated in pre-design phases. In order to develop numerical and analytical tools for the prediction of noise and vibration of such a complex structure, a deep knowledge of the physical phenomena involved is imperative. Few experimental studies have been performed on truck vibrations, and they mostly concerned single components of a vehicle. Therefore an Experimental Modal Analysis (EMA) of a complete truck has been performed in order to observe vibratory phenomena and determine influencing parameters involved in the vibration transmission. This study brings new insights into the field of truck vibrations. The results of the test campaign have been used for correlation with a numerical model and for the identification of dynamic behaviour and related frequency ranges. This work constitutes the preliminary part for an on-going project aiming at the development of reduced numerical models for the prediction of sound and vibration in truck cabins

Debris flows and debris avalanches initiation and runout susceptibility assessment in Campania region (Italy)

Sectors of the Campania region (southern Italy), where pyroclastic airfall deposits cover carbonate slopes, have frequently experienced debris avalanches and debris flows. These landslides are triggered by heavy rainfall and in the last century caused severe destruction and hundreds of deaths. Their occurrence is controlled by the interaction of several factors, both natural and human induced. The initial failure is linked with the presence of morphological discontinuities such as rocky scarps and road cuts, which interrupt the stratigraphical continuity of an “infinite slope”. Here the main criteria for susceptibility analysis are defined trying to develop a procedure for identify highly-susceptible sources, runout and invasion areas

Mesure embarquée de la qualité acoustique de l'infrastructure ferroviaire-Projet MEEQUAI

Journées Techniques Acoustique et Vibrations, STRASBOURG, FRANCE, 15-/05/2019 - 16/05/2019Pour les riverains des infrastructures ferroviaires, les émissions acoustiques constituent une préoccupation de premier plan. Parmi les sources incriminées, le bruit de roulement est prépondérant pour une large gamme de vitesses d'exploitation. Pour ce qui est de l'infrastructure, le niveau de bruit de roulement est principalement déterminé par deux paramètres : la rugosité des rails et le taux de décroissance des ondes vibratoires de la voie (TDR). Le projet MEEQUAI (MEsure Embarquée de la QUalité Acoustique de l'Infrastructure) vise à développer un système de mesure de la rugosité des rails et du taux de décroissance à l'aide de microphones et d'accéléromètres embarqués sur un train. Ce système a pour objectif principal d'améliorer la connaissance des données d'entrée pour la réalisation de cartographies acoustiques. Cependant, il ouvrira également de nouvelles opportunités pour le suivi dans le temps de la qualité acoustique des infrastructures ferroviaires ainsi que pour la maintenance des points singuliers tels que les joints de rail et les appareils de voie.Dans cette présentation, les mécanismes de génération du bruit de roulement sont présentés, notamment à travers le rôle de la rugosité et du taux de décroissance. Les principaux systèmes de mesure de ces paramètres sont passés en revue et les limites des méthodes indirectes examinées. Enfin, les résultats des premières études numériques et expérimentales réalisées dans le projet sont exposés. Ils valident les premières briques de l'approche retenue dans MEEQUAI

The Italian Draft Law on the \u2018Provisions Concerning the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage\u2019

Intangible cultural heritage in Italy is still in need of a unified approach, capable of providing reliable criteria for identifying its assets and for indicating timescales and means by which they should be safeguarded. In the continued absence of up-to-date, ad hoc state legislation (since the content of those laws which do implement international Conventions is too generic in nature to be sufficiently effective), the Regions have proceeded to act in a somewhat scattered manner, giving rise to an extremely fragmented and very disorderly regulatory framework. The draft law N. 4486, "Provisions Concerning the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage", presented on 12th May 2017 at the Chamber of Deputies of the Italian Republic - as the result of the work of an interdisciplinary and inter-university research team coordinated by Marco Giampieretti, who has drafted the final text with the collaboration of Simona Pinton - seeks to fill the serious void that exists in Italian legal system by aligning it to the principles of international and European law, by redirecting the relevant State and Regional legislation, and by satisfying the fundamental requirements of the national community

Serum Albumin Is Inversely Associated With Portal Vein Thrombosis in Cirrhosis

We analyzed whether serum albumin is independently associated with portal vein thrombosis (PVT) in liver cirrhosis (LC) and if a biologic plausibility exists. This study was divided into three parts. In part 1 (retrospective analysis), 753 consecutive patients with LC with ultrasound-detected PVT were retrospectively analyzed. In part 2, 112 patients with LC and 56 matched controls were entered in the cross-sectional study. In part 3, 5 patients with cirrhosis were entered in the in vivo study and 4 healthy subjects (HSs) were entered in the in vitro study to explore if albumin may affect platelet activation by modulating oxidative stress. In the 753 patients with LC, the prevalence of PVT was 16.7%; logistic analysis showed that only age (odds ratio [OR], 1.024; P = 0.012) and serum albumin (OR, -0.422; P = 0.0001) significantly predicted patients with PVT. Analyzing the 112 patients with LC and controls, soluble clusters of differentiation (CD)40-ligand (P = 0.0238), soluble Nox2-derived peptide (sNox2-dp; P < 0.0001), and urinary excretion of isoprostanes (P = 0.0078) were higher in patients with LC. In LC, albumin was correlated with sCD4OL (Spearman's rank correlation coefficient [r(s)], -0.33; P < 0.001), sNox2-dp (r(s), -0.57; P < 0.0001), and urinary excretion of isoprostanes (r(s), -0.48; P < 0.0001) levels. The in vivo study showed a progressive decrease in platelet aggregation, sNox2-dp, and urinary 8-iso prostaglandin F2 alpha-III formation 2 hours and 3 days after albumin infusion. Finally, platelet aggregation, sNox2-dp, and isoprostane formation significantly decreased in platelets from HSs incubated with scalar concentrations of albumin. Conclusion: Low serum albumin in LC is associated with PVT, suggesting that albumin could be a modulator of the hemostatic system through interference with mechanisms regulating platelet activation