Ground motion areas detection (GMA-D): an innovative approach to identify ground deformation areas using the SAR-based displacement time series

Abstract. In this work, an innovative methodology to generate the automatic ground motion areas mapping is presented. The methodology is based on the analysis of the Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR)-based displacement time series. The procedure includes two modules developed using the ModelBuilder tool (ArcGis). These modules allow to identify the ground motion areas (GMA) using only one dataset and the persistent GMA (PGMA) considering the different monitored periods and datasets. These areas represent clusters of targets characterized by the same displacement time series trend. The procedure was tested using different sensors such as ERS-1/2, ENVISAT, COSMO-SkyMed and Sentinel-1 covering the periods, 1992–2000, 2003–2010, 2012–2016 and 2014–2017, respectively, over an area of about 500 km2 in the Venetian-Friulian coastal Plain (NE Italy). The resulting mapping allows to detect priority areas where to address further in situ investigations such as to verify the presence of localized buried landforms

Stima della prevalenza di broncopneumopatia cronico-ostruttiva basata su dati sanitari correnti, mediante l\u27uso di un algoritmo comune, in differenti aree italiane

Aim: to estimate the prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) by integrating various administrative health information systems. Methods: prevalent COPD cases were defined as those reported in the hospital discharge registry (HDR) and cause of mortality registry (CMR) with codes 490*, 491*, 492*, 494* e 496* of the International diseases classification 9th revision. Annual prevalence was estimated in 35+ year-old residents in six Italian areas of different sizes, in the period 2002-2004. We in- Annunziata Faustini,1 Silvia Cascini,1 Massimo Arc?,1 Daniela Balzi,2 Alessandro Barchielli,2 Cristina Canova,3 Claudia Galassi,4 Enrica Migliore,4,5 Sante Minerba,6 Maria Angela Protti,7 Anna Romanelli,7 Roberta Tessari,3,8 Maria Angela Vigotti,9 Lorenzo Simonato3 1Dipartimento di epidemiologia, ASL RME, Roma 2Unit? operativa di epidemiologia, Azienda sanitaria 10, Firenze 3Dipartimento di medicina ambientale e sanit? pubblica, Universit? di Padova 4Servizio di epidemiologia dei tumori, ASO S. Giovanni Battista, CPO Piemonte e Universit? di Torino 5Unit? di pneumologia, CPA-ASL TO2, Torino 6Unit? di statistica ed epidemiologia, ASL 1 Taranto 7Sezione di epidemiologia e ricerca sui servizi sanitari, IFC-CNR, Pisa 8Unit? di epidemiologia, Dipartimento di prevenzione, Azienda ULSS 12 Veneziana 9Dipartimento di biologia, Universit? di Pisa Corrispondenza: Annunziata Faustini, Dipartimento di epidemiologia, ASL RME, via Santa Costanza 53, 00198 Roma; tel. 06 86060486; fax 06 86060463; e-mail [email protected] cluded cases observed in the previous four years who were alive at the beginning of each year. Results: in 2003, age-standardized prevalence rates varied from 1.6% in Venice to 5% in Taranto. Prevalence was higher in males and increased with age. The highest rates were observed in central (Rome) and southern (Taranto) cities, especially in the 35-64 age group. HDR contributed 91% of cases. Healthtax exemption registry would increase the prevalence estimate by 0.2% if used as a third data source. Conclusions: with respect to the National Health Status suraldelvey, COPD prevalence is underestimated by 1%-3%; this can partly be due to the selection of severe and exacerbated COPD by the algorithm used. However, age, gender and geographical characteristics of prevalent cases were comparable to national estimates. Including cases observed in previous years (longitudinal estimates) increased the point estimate (yearly) of prevalence two or three times in each area.Obiettivi: stimare la prevalenza della broncopneumopatia cronico-ostruttiva (BPCO) mediante l\u27utilizzo integrato di dati sanitari correnti. Metodi: la prevalenza ? stata stimata nella popolazione residente di et? superiore ai 34 anni, in sei aree geografiche, per gli anni 2002-2004. I casi prevalenti sono stati individuati dai registri delle schede di dimissione ospedaliera (SDO) e delle cause di morte (RCM), mediante i codici ICD9-CM 490*, 491*, 492*, 494* e 496* della Classificazione internazionale delle malattie 9? revisione (ICD9-CM). Ai casi osservati in ciascun anno sono stati aggiunti i pazienti ricoverati nei quattro anni precedenti e vivi all\u27inizio dell\u27anno di stima. Risultati: la prevalenza della BPCO, stimata mediante tassi standardizzati per et?, varia per il 2003 dall\u271,6% di Venezia sural 5% di Taranto. La prevalenza ? pi? alta negli uomini e aumenta con l\u27et?; Taranto e Roma presentano i valori pi? elevati, specialmente nelle classi d\u27et? dai 35 ai 64 anni. Fonte principale dei casi sono i ricoveri ospedalieri, con un contributo di almeno il 91%. L\u27uso delle esenzioni ticket come terza fonte incrementa la stima di prevalenza dello 0,2%. Conclusioni: la prevalenza della BPCO ? sottostimata dell\u271%-3% rispetto ai dati dell\u27indagine Istat sullo stato di salute; questo ? in parte attribuibile alla selezione dei casi medio- gravi da parte dell\u27algoritmo utilizzato. Tuttavia le stime mantengono le caratteristiche attese nella distribuzione per genere, et? e area geografica. Inoltre, l\u27uso longitudinale dei dati ospedalieri aumenta di 2-3 volte la stima di prevalenza basata sui dati dei singoli anni

NMR Studies on Structure and Dynamics of the Monomeric Derivative of BS-RNase: New Insights for 3D Domain Swapping

Three-dimensional domain swapping is a common phenomenon in pancreatic-like ribonucleases. In the aggregated state, these proteins acquire new biological functions, including selective cytotoxicity against tumour cells. RNase A is able to dislocate both N- and C-termini, but usually this process requires denaturing conditions. In contrast, bovine seminal ribonuclease (BS-RNase), which is a homo-dimeric protein sharing 80% of sequence identity with RNase A, occurs natively as a mixture of swapped and unswapped isoforms. The presence of two disulfides bridging the subunits, indeed, ensures a dimeric structure also to the unswapped molecule. In vitro, the two BS-RNase isoforms interconvert under physiological conditions. Since the tendency to swap is often related to the instability of the monomeric proteins, in these paper we have analysed in detail the stability in solution of the monomeric derivative of BS-RNase (mBS) by a combination of NMR studies and Molecular Dynamics Simulations. The refinement of NMR structure and relaxation data indicate a close similarity with RNase A, without any evidence of aggregation or partial opening. The high compactness of mBS structure is confirmed also by H/D exchange, urea denaturation, and TEMPOL mapping of the protein surface. The present extensive structural and dynamic investigation of (monomeric) mBS did not show any experimental evidence that could explain the known differences in swapping between BS-RNase and RNase A. Hence, we conclude that the swapping in BS-RNase must be influenced by the distinct features of the dimers, suggesting a prominent role for the interchain disulfide bridges

Presentazione

Il volume costituisce un manuale per gli studenti dei corsi universitari in Educazione Professionale (nei servizi sanitari) sui temi della disabilit

NO EVIDENCE OF INCREASED RISK OF SOFT TISSUE SARCOMAS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF A STEEL FOUNDRY IN VERONA

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the possible association between occurrence of soft tissue sarcomas in Verona (Italy) and residence near a steel foundry, whose emissions of dioxin- like compounds may be relevant. Exposure to total suspended particulate (TSP) emitted from the plant as estimated by ADMS-urban dispersion model was used as an indirect index of exposure to dioxin-like compounds. Verona municipality was divided in six subareas according to the decreasing levels of estimated TSP exposure, and soft tissue sarcomas cases were mapped according to residence at time of diagnosis. Standardized incidence ratios were computed. No statistically significant departures between observed and expected cases were detected as illustrated by trend-test results

The Role of Regional Oxygen Saturation Using Near-Infrared Spectroscopy and Blood Lactate Levels as Early Predictors of Outcome After Pediatric Cardiac Surgery

Background The purpose of the study was to evaluate the association between regional oxygen saturation (rSO2) desaturation score (calculated by multiplying the rSO2 4.6 mmol/L. The median postoperative rSO2 desaturation score was 157 (IQR, 0-2050); 62 patients (41%) had an rSO2 desaturation score > 345. Fifty-seven patients (37%) had postoperative major morbidities. Using a multivariable regression model only rSO2 desaturation score > 345 was independently associated with major morbidities after surgery (odds ratio, 27.26; 95% confidence interval, 10.18-73.00). The proportion of patients with an rSO2 desaturation score > 345 within 240 minutes after surgery was higher than the rate of those who showed a peak of lactate > 4.6 mmol/L (84% vs 59%; P = 0.05). Conclusions The postoperative rSO2 desaturation score has a stronger association with major postoperative morbidities than lactate and it also provides an earlier warning sign of hemodynamic or metabolic compromise

Microextraction by packed sorbent and HPLC–PDA quantification of multiple anti-inflammatory drugs and fluoroquinolones in human plasma and urine

We developed and validated an analytical method based on microextraction packed sorbent (MEPS) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled to photodiode array (PDA) detector to simultaneously quantify multiple nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and fluoroquinolones (FLQs), which may provide as combination several adverse reactions in nephrology and neurology. The linearity range from LOQs (0.1 μg/mL) to 10 μg/mL, and LODs values were 0.03 μg/mL for both NSAIDs and FLQs. The validation was performed according to international guidelines and the accuracy was tested measuring the precision, intermediate precision and trueness. The drugs stability was tested under different storage conditions (+4 °C and −20 °C) and after three different cycles of freezing and thawing. The method can be a suitable tool to simultaneously detect a possible association of drugs in human biological samples and provide several potentialities for clinical applications, bioequivalence studies, pharmacodynamics and toxicodynamics of different pharmaceutical dosage forms showing NSAIDs and FLQs