A scoring test on probabilistic seismic hazard estimates in Italy

"Probabilistic estimates of seismic hazard represent a basic element for seismic risk reduction strategies and they are a key element of seismic regulation. Thus, it is important to select the most effective estimates among the available ones. An empirical scoring strategy is described here and is applied to a number of time-independent hazard estimates available in Italy both at national and regional scale. The scoring test is based on the comparison of outcomes provided by available computational models at a number of accelero-metric sites where observations are available for 25 years. This comparison also allows identifying computational models that, providing outcomes that are in contrast with observations, should thus be discarded. The analysis shows that most of the hazard estimates proposed for Italy are not in contrast with observations and some computational models perform significantly better than others do. Furthermore, one can see that, at least locally, older estimates can perform better than the most recent ones. Finally, since the same computational model can perform differently depending on the region considered and on average return time of concern, no single model can be considered as the best-performing one. This implies that, moving along the hazard curve, the most suitable model should be selected by considering the specific problem of concern.

Automatic identification of sites prone to topographic seismic amplification effects by the current seismic codes

Current seismic codes provide proxies to estimate seismic amplification effects expected in correspondence of some morphological features. To make possible any empirical validation of these proxies, these features must be univocally identified on the basis of an automatic procedure. To this purpose, based on geomorphological considerations, a GIS-based numerical approach has been developed. The results of a morphometric analysis allowed the correct identification and mapping of the landforms of concern, at a detail corresponding to the resolution of the available digital elevation model (DEM). Some case-studies are provided to show the feasibility of the proposed approach. © 2023 The Author

Promoting beliefs in the inalienability of human rights by attributing uniquely human emotions through multiple categorization

The combination of multiple categorization (i.e., the use of multiple criteria to define others) and human identity-the superordinate group of human beings-has recently been highlighted as a method to reduce implicit (i.e., attribution of secondary emotions) and explicit (i.e., attribution of human rights) dehumanization towards Blacks. In two studies aimed to replicate such evidence the mediating role of secondary emotions in explaining the impact of multiple and human categorization in reducing dehumanization was assessed. The role of implicit cognition such as attribution of secondary emotions in leading people to attribute human rights to minorities is discussed

Altos teores de zinco no solo interferem o desenvolvimento de porta-enxertos de videira na Serra Gaúcha.

Em vinhedos é frequente e intenso o uso de fungicidas que possuem o zinco na sua composição, mas ainda existem poucos estudos sobre a interferência deste elemento sobre a videira. O objetivo deste trabalho é analisar a influência dos teores de zinco no solo em diferentes porta-enxertos de videiras cultivados em casa de vegetação na Serra Gaúcha. O trabalho foi conduzido em casa de vegetação na Embrapa Uva e Vinho, localizada na Serra Gaúcha do Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil. Utilizou-se solo coletado em Neossolo e cultivou-se, em vasos, cinco porta-enxertos (SO4, Paulsen1103, IAC572, IAC313 e 420A) em cinco doses de zinco (0, 20, 40, 80 e 160 mg kg-1 de Zn). Foram analisadas avaliações no crescimento, área foliar, matéria seca e índice de clorofila. O porta-enxerto IAC572 apresenta maior potencial de produção vegetativa e desta forma torna-se mais tolerante às doses altas de Zn no solo. Enquanto que o Paulsen 1103 e SO4 são mais sensíveis ao aumento de Zn no solo, identificados pela alteração dos índices de clorofila.Resumo expandido

Apparent diffusion coefficient by diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging as a sole biomarker for staging and prognosis of gastric cancer

Objective: To investigate the role of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) from diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI) when applied to the 7th TNM classification in the staging and prognosis of gastric cancer (GC). Methods: Between October 2009 and May 2014, a total of 89 patients with non-metastatic, biopsy proven GC underwent 1.5T DW-MRI, and then treated with radical surgery. Tumor ADC was measured retrospectively and compared with final histology following the 7th TNM staging (local invasion, nodal involvement and according to the different groups — stage I, II and III). Kaplan-Meier curves were also generated. The follow-up period is updated to May 2016. Results: Median follow-up period was 33 months and 45/89 (51%) deaths from GC were observed. ADC was significantly different both for local invasion and nodal involvement (P<0.001). Considering final histology as the reference standard, a preoperative ADC cut-off of 1.80×10–3 mm2 /s could distinguish between stages I and II and an ADC value of ≤1.36×10–3 mm2 /s was associated with stage III (P<0.001). Kaplan-Meier curves demonstrated that the survival rates for the three prognostic groups were significantly different according to final histology and ADC cut-offs (P<0.001). Conclusions: ADC is different according to local invasion, nodal involvement and the 7th TNM stage groups for GC, representing a potential, additional prognostic biomarker. The addition of DW-MRI could aid in the staging and risk stratification of GC

Alto teor de cobre no solo interfere no desempenho produtivo de videiras jovens?

O objetivo deste trabalho foi analisar a interferência dos níveis de cobre no solo nas diferentes partes de videiras jovens cultivadas em solos oriundos de vinhedos em produção

Capacidade do gesso agrícola em mitigar fitotoxicidade de cobre em aveia.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi verificar a influência do gesso na cultura da aveia cultivada em solos contaminados com Cu

Avaliação de compostos orgânicos em plantas de videiras jovens.

Este trabalho tem como objetivo avaliar o efeito de diferentes formas de misturas de compostos orgânicos sobre a cultura da videira