Alien Registration- Hartt, Vona G. (Millinocket, Penobscot County)

https://digitalmaine.com/alien_docs/7157/thumbnail.jp

A simplified approach for the seismic loss assessment of rc buildings at urban scale: The case study of Potenza (Italy)

Comprehensive methodologies based on a fully probabilistic approach (i.e., the performance- based earthquake engineering approach, PBEE), represent a refined and accurate tool for the seismic performance assessment of structures. However, those procedures are suitable for building-specific evaluations, appearing extremely time-consuming if applied at the urban scale. In the proposed contribution, simplified loss assessment procedure will be applied at the urban scale with reference to the residential building stock of the center of Potenza. After the identification of the main reinforced concrete (RC) structural typologies and the definition of specific archetype building numerical models, the direct estimation of expected annual loss (DEAL) methodology will be applied to derive the EAL (i.e., expected annual loss) of RC buildings, deriving information on the effectively seismic quality (or seismic resilience) of the aforementioned built heritage at urban scale. Similarly, the monetary losses associated with downtime are evaluated. Preliminary considerations on the socio-economic effects of seismic scenarios on the territorial scale are also proposed

ACTN-3 and ACE genotypes in elite male Italian athletes

The ACE I/D and the ACTN-3 R577X polymorphisms are the most studied genes associated with elite athlete status, even if this association has been often conflicting. The aim of the present study was to investigate the association between the ACE and the ACTN3 genotypes and elite performance in Italian male athletes. The ACTN-3 R577X and the ACE I/D genotype distributions of 59 elite male Italian athletes practicing gymnastics (G; n = 17), 100 m-400 m running (R; n = 12), and playing soccer (S; n= 30) were compared with controls from Italian (C; n = 31) populations. For ACE distribution, athletes did not differ from controls (G, X2 = 0.37, df = 2, p = 0.82; R, X2 = 1.90, df = 2, p = 0.45; S, X2 = 1.48, df = 2, p = 0.47) and the DD genotype was at very high frequency in all groups (G = 53%, R= 50%, S = 60%, C = 45%). For ACTN-3 distribution, elite gymnasts showed a significant difference from controls (X2 = 6.57, df = 2, p = 0.03), showing an absence of XX genotype. Soccer players and runners did not differ from controls in ACTN-3 genotype distribution (R, X2 =0.43, df = 2, p = 0.80; S, X 2 = 1.25, df = 2, p = 0.53). Even if the ACE DD genotype is often positively associated with elite sprint/power athlete status, its high frequency in Italian populations eliminates the possibility of its exclusive association in Italian athletes. The results of ACTN3 genotypes suggest that RR genotype of ACTN-3 gene is a determinant of elite gymnasts status but it is not the key factor for achieving a top-level performance in soccer or track events

Timescale of Emplacement and Rheomorphism of the Green Tuff Ignimbrite (Pantelleria, Italy)

We present a multidisciplinary study based on Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), paleomagnetic analysis, and numerical modeling to gain information on the timescales of syn- and post-depositional ductile deformation of the strongly welded and rheomorphic Green Tuff ignimbrite (GT; Pantelleria, Italy). DSC measurements allow the determination of glass fictive temperatures (Tf; i.e., the parameter accounting for the cooling dependence of glass structure and properties). Using a Tf-based geospeedometry procedure, we infer the cooling rate (qc) experienced by the glassy phases in different lithofacies within the GT formation. Glass shards from the basal pumice fall deposit record a fast qc of ∼10°C/s. In contrast, the ignimbrite body returns slow qc values depending on the stratigraphic position and lithofacies (basal/upper vitrophyres, fiamme-rich and rheomorphic layers), ranging from ∼10−2 to ∼10−6 °C/s. Moreover, paleomagnetic analyses of the natural remanent magnetization of ignimbrite matrix and embedded lithic clasts indicate an emplacement temperature higher than 550–600°C. By integrating calorimetric and paleomagnetic datasets, we constrain a conductive cooling model, describing the ignimbrite's temperature-time-viscosity (T–t–η) evolution from the eruptive temperature to below Tf. Outcomes suggest that the upper and basal vitrophyres deformed and quenched over hours, indicating that the entire GT underwent intense syn-depositional ductile deformation. Furthermore, the central body remained above Tf for a much longer timespan (>1 month), enabling post-emplacement rheomorphic flow. Lastly, we discuss the critical role of mechanisms such as shear heating and retrograde solubility of volatiles, in locally controlling the rheological behavior of the GT

Impact of sulfur starvation in autotrophic and heterotrophic cultures of the Extremophilic Microalga Galdieria Phlegrea (Cyanidiophyceae)

In plants and algae, sulfate assimilation and cysteine synthesis are regulated by sulfur (S) accessibility from the environment. This study reports the effects of S deprivation in autotrophic and heterotrophic cultures of Galdieria phlegrea (Cyanidiophyceae), a unicellular red alga isolated in the Solfatara crater located in Campi Flegrei (Naples, Italy), where H2S is the prevalent form of gaseous S in the fumarolic fluids and S is widespread in the soils near the fumaroles. This is the first report on the effects of S deprivation on a sulfurous microalga that is also able to grow heterotrophically in the dark. The removal of S from the culture medium of illuminated cells caused a decrease in the soluble protein content and a significant decrease in the intracellular levels of glutathione. Cells from heterotrophic cultures of G. phlegrea exhibited high levels of internal proteins and high glutathione content, which did not diminish during S starvation, but rather glutathione significantly increased. The activity of O-acetylserine(thiol)lyase (OASTL), the enzyme synthesizing cysteine, was enhanced under S deprivation in a time-dependent manner in autotrophic but not in heterotrophic cells. Analysis of the transcript abundance of the OASTL gene supports the OASTL activity increase in autotrophic cultures under S deprivation

Towards specific T–H relationships: FRIBAS database for better characterization of RC and URM buildings

FRIBAS database is an open access database composed of the characteristics of 312 buildings (71 masonry, 237 reinforced concrete and 4 mixed types). It collects and harmonizes data from different surveys performed on buildings in the Basilicata and Friuli Venezia Giulia regions (Southern and Northeastern Italy, respectively). Each building is defined by 37 parameters related to the building and foundation soil characteristics. The building and soil fundamental periods were experimentally estimated based on ambient noise measurements. FRIBAS gave us the opportunity to study the influence of the main characteristics of buildings and the soil-building interaction effect to their structural response. In this study, we have used the FRIBAS dataset to investigate how the building period varies as a function of construction materials and soil types. Our results motivate the need of going beyond a 'one-fits-all' numerical period-height (T-H) relationship for generic building typologies provided by seismic codes, towards specific T-H relationships that account for both soil and building typologies

Population variability in some genes involving the haemostatic system: data on the general population of Corsica (France), Sardinia and Sicily (Italy)

Three different population samples from Corsica (France), Sardinia and Sicily (Italy) were studied using nine genetic markers. For the first time, allele distributions of FGA TaqI, FGB Bcl I, FGB Hind III, PAI-1 Hind III, PLAT TPA-25, GPIIIa Taq I, GPIIb I/D 9bp, FVII HVR4 and FVII -323 10 bp markers, which are thought to be associated with cardiovascular disease risk, were studied in the general population of the three islands. The frequencies of the markers analysed in the present work show some peculiarities: the locus FVII HVR4 is characterized by the presence of a rare allele (H5), found in Corsicans and in Sardinians; the locus FBG BcII shows a low frequency of the B1 allele and the absence of the B1B1 genotype. The frequencies of some alleles have a distribution that is in agreement with the low risk for cardiovascular diseases in south European countries. The results highlight a genetic differentiation between the three Mediterranean islands and the other European populations

c myc deregulation is involved in melphalan resistance of multiple myeloma role of pdgf bb

Oncogenes are important regulators of cancer growth and progression and their action may be modulated by proteins of the growth factor family, such as angiogenic cytokines, known to be strongly involved in neoplastic evolution. Reciprocal interactions between oncogenes and angiogenic modulators may represent, in haematological neoplasms, including multiple myeloma (MM), a possible mechanism of drug resistance. The aim of this work is to investigate in vitro and in vivo whether or not c-myc deregulation is involved in the melphalan resistance elicited by myeloma patients and consequently to clarify the role of the angiogenic factor PDGF-BB in modulating c-myc protein expression. Fifty-one MM patients on chemotherapy with melphalan were analyzed for structural alterations of the c-myc gene, c-Myc protein expression, as well as for serum PDGF-BB release. For the in vitro study, two M14-derived established cell clones, differing for the c-Myc protein expression (c-Myc low -expressing or constitutively express..