The Alpujarride Triassic Platform (Internal Zones of the Betic Cordillera, Spain)

A partir de estudios estratigráficos, centrados en la sucesión triásica alpujárride de la Sierra de Gádor (Almería, Cordillera Bética) y su correlación con otros sectores, proponemos una columna estratigráfica sintética para la Plataforma Triásica Alpujárride. Esta columna estaría dividida en dos formaciones: una metasiliciclástica basal (subdividida en tres miembros: inferior, intermedio y superior) y una metacarbonática suprayacente (subdivididida en seis miembros, numerados del 1 al 6 de muro a techo). Esta plataforma habría sufrido una evolución morfológica en tres fases: Fase 1 de rampa homoclinal (Anisiense-Ladiniense); Fase 2 de plataforma fallada (Ladiniense-Carniense); y Fase 3 de plataforma orlada (Noriense). Además, a partir del análisis sedimentario de las asociaciones de facies reconocidas en la sucesión triásica de la Sierra de Gádor proponemos su división en cuatro secuencias deposicionales para el intervalo comprendido entre el Anisiense y el Noriense. La primera secuencia comprendería los miembros inferior e intermedio de la formación metasiliciclástica; la segunda secuencia deposicional incluiría el miembro superior de la formación metasiliciclástica y los miembros 1 y 2 de la formación metacarbonática; la tercera secuencia constaría de los miembros 3 y 4, mientras que la cuarta secuencia estaría constituida por los miembros 5 y 6.Taking into account previous detailed stratigraphic and facies analyses carried out in the Alpujarride succession from the Sierra de Gádor (Almeria province) and correlations with other sectors, we propose a synthetic stratigraphic column for the Alpujarride Triassic Platform; this column consists of two formations: a basal meta-siliciclastic formation (divided in three members, from base to top: lower, middle and upper) Anisian in age, and an overlying meta-carbonate formation (divided in six members, 1 to 6 from base to top) Anisian-Norian in age. We postulate a morphological evolution of the Alpujarride Triassic Platform including three phases: an Anisian-Ladinian homoclinal ramp first phase, a Ladinian-Carnian fault-block-type platform second phase, and a Norian rimmed platform third phase. We also divide the Anisian-Norian stratigraphic record in four depositional sequences (DS). DS1 should comprise the lower and middle members of the meta-siliciclastic formation; DS2 should be formed by the upper member of the meta-siliciclastic formation and members 1 and 2 of the meta-carbonate formation; DS3 should consist of members 3 and 4; SD4 should be composed of members 5 and 6.El presente trabajo ha sido financiado con el Proyecto de Investigación CGL2011-30153-C02-02 del Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación, así como por el Grupo de Investigación de la Universidad de Alicante VIGROB053

Efficacy of three different irrigation techniques in the removal of smear layer and organic debris from root canal wall: A scanning electron microscope study

Abstract Aim Aim of this study was to compare the removal of smear layer and organic debris within the tooth canal among conventional needle irrigation, EndoVac and Endoactivator. Methodology Eighty single-rooted extracted human teeth were prepared with rotary NiTi instrumentation and randomly separated into 4 groups. Twenty teeth were used as positive control (Group 1), irrigated with only saline. Teeth assigned to Group 2 ( n = 20) received irrigation with a conventional syringe and a 30-gauge needle (NaviTip, Ultradent, South Jordan, UT); samples in Group 3 ( n = 20) were rinsed with an irrigation device based on apical negative pressure (EndoVac, Discus Dental, Culver City, CA) and teeth in Group 4 ( n = 20) were treated with a sonic irrigation system (EndoActivator, Dentsply Tulsa Dental, Tulsa, OK, USA). The amount of residual smear layer and debris was evaluated under a scanning electron microscope, and a semi-quantitative score was assigned to each root at the coronal, middle and apical thirds; the chi-square test was used to compare the results of the S.E.M. analysis. Results EndoActivator performed the best cleansing for both smear layer and organic debris in all root canal thirds, followed by EndoVac and conventional irrigation ( p > 0.001). EndoVac and conventional irrigation showed better cleaning in the coronal area, whereas EndoActivator performed an homogeneous cleansing at all levels. Conclusions The EndoVac system and the EndoActivator system demonstrated significantly more efficacy in cleansing root canal walls than conventional needle irrigation

The frameshift Leu220Phefs*2 variant in KRIT1 accounts for early acute bleeding in patients affected by cerebral cavernous malformation

Abstract Background and Objectives Cerebral cavernous malformation (CCM) is a neurovascular disease characterized by abnormally expanded and tortuous microvessels with increased predisposition to thrombosis and focal hemorrhage. Its incidence is estimated to range between 0.4% and 0.8%. Sporadic and familial forms of CCM are described. The first one is characterized by single lesion, while the familial form is defined by multiple malformations. In this scenario, more than 300 mutations affecting the CCM genes have been described to date, but the exact pathogenic mechanism is yet unknown. Most of the causative variants of KRIT1 gene are frameshift but there are many missense and nonsense variants and they have been found some splicing mutations. The diagnosis is based on magnetic resonance images (MRI) and genetic testing. Case report A 15-year-old male presented with a two weeks duration worsening headache accompanied by vomiting and three months behavioral changes. Computer tomography revealed a large right temporal lesion with other smaller in left parietal and left cerebellar region. At the time of diagnosis, the two siblings of the proband were asymptomatic. Nevertheless, four months later, the 7-years-old brother was admitted to the emergency room for balance deficit, diplopia, right-hitting nystagmus and stiff neck with deviation of the head. A cerebral CT revealed polylobate hyperdense mass of the middle cerebral pedicle associated to acute bleeding. A genetic testing for hereditary cavernous brain malformation was carried out. Results The molecular analysis identified a 2-bp duplication (NM_194456.1:c.658_659dupTT) as heterozygous within the exon 8 of CCM1/KRIT1 gene (Fig. 1C). This duplication leads to a frameshift variant, resulting in a premature stop codon (p.Leu220Phefs*2). Discussion The clinical data collected confirm the variable phenotypic expression of CCM and suggest a greater severity of symptoms in the youngest patients

A multi-objective optimization analysis to assess the potential economic and environmental benefits of distributed storage in district heating networks: a case study

Conventionally, district heating networks have been developed with a centralized logic, with large generation units designed to provide space heating to distributed users. Some networks have already evolved to a stage in which multiple generation units are distributed throughout the network and are supplying heat from different sources and with different schedules. ICT technologies can be the basis for a live optimization of the network, which can be implemented by minimizing energy supply cost for the users or minimizing greenhouse gases emissions. This paper presents an analysis of the potential effects of including distributed heat storage units to an existing DH network, as the first step toward opening the interaction with users. The results show the limited effect of the demand profile variation in comparison with the potential benefits of optimization strategies against the current operation of the case study under analysis, the main reason being the good flexibility of the available heat generation units. Thus, the installation of distributed storage units should be preferred in DH networks characterized by a large share of non-flexible generation options, such as solar energy or waste heat from industries, or where the energy prices show large variations over the day

The main lithoid material origin of the Temple of Hercules in San Marco d'Alunzio (Sicily, Italy)

This study compares four samples of travertine collected in the lithoid material of the Temple of Hercules (III-IV century B.C.) in San Marco dÂ’Alunzio (Messina) and other four samples of the same lithotype collected in an outcrop found in the surroundings of Alcara Li Fusi (Messina). Analyses on sedimentary petrology, paleontology, XRay diffraction and infrared spectroscopy have been carried out on both series of samples. Chemical analyses, for the determination of the major and trace elements, were carried out too. Sedimentary petrology and paleontological studies have indicated that all samples consist of Quaternary soft and porous organic limestones with plant remains, formed in wet and warm zones. X-ray diffraction analyses have shown that studied travertines are prevalently made up of calcite. Infrared spectroscopy studies also showed small quantities of kaolinite and dolomite. Chemical analyses have confirmed the compositional homogeneity among the different samples. Data, as a whole, allow us to hypothesize that the travertines used to build the Temple of Hercules were extracted in the surroundings areas of Alcara Li Fusi, in ancient open quarries set up in Quaternary travertines

Forensic geosciences investigations on experimental fields

The search for homicide graves is a very strenuous activity that may lead to the identification of the burial site if it is planned based on articulated scientific approaches considering several aspects of forensic sciences. Moreover, another difficult task in such criminal cases may be the estimation of the Post-Mortem Interval (PMI) of the victim. Discrepancies between PMI estimation through entomological studies and other evaluations may be. This inconsistency is at the base of the necessity to examine and well understand the human decay process of human beings and the decay consequences in the surrounding environmental context. It is noteworthy that several processes may occur on the surrounding site the burial.peer-reviewe

Diabetes and Obesity as Independent Risk Factors for Osteoporosis: Updated Results from the ROIS/EMEROS Registry in a Population of Five Thousand Post-Menopausal Women Living in a Region Characterized by Heavy Environmental Pressure

EMEROS/ROIS Registry is a project funded by ISBEM and supported by Medicina Futura Research

Posterior Titanium Screw Fixation without Debridement of Infected Tissue for the Treatment of Thoracolumbar Spontaneous Pyogenic Spondylodiscitis

Study DesignRetrospective study.PurposeThe aim of our study was to analyze the safety and effectiveness of posterior pedicle screw fixation for treatment of pyogenic spondylodiscitis (PSD) without formal debridement of the infected tissue.Overview of LiteraturePosterior titanium screw fixation without formal debridement of the infected tissue and anterior column reconstruction for the treatment of PSD is still controversial.MethodsFrom March 2008 to June 2013, 18 patients with PSD underwent posterior titanium fixation with or without decompression, according to their neurological deficit. Postero-lateral fusion with allograft transplantation alone or bone graft with both the allogenic bone and the autologous bone was also performed. The outcome was assessed using the visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain and the Frankel grading system for neurological status. Normalization both of C-reactive protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate was adopted as criterion for discontinuation of antibiotic therapy and infection healing. Segmental instability and fusion were also analyzed.ResultsAt the mean follow-up time of 30.16 months (range, 24–53 months), resolution of spinal infection was achieved in all patients. The mean CRP before surgery was 14.32±7.9 mg/dL, and at the final follow-up, the mean CRP decreased to 0.5±0.33 mg/dL (p <0.005). Follow-up computed tomography scan at 12 months after surgery revealed solid fusion in all patients. The VAS before surgery was 9.16±1.29 and at the final follow-up, it improved to 1.38±2.03, which was statistically significant (p <0.05). Eleven patients out of eighteen (61.11%) with initial neurological impairment had an average improvement of 1.27 grades at the final follow-up documented with the Frankel grading system.ConclusionsPosterior screw fixation with titanium instrumentation was safe and effective in terms of stability and restoration of neurological impairment. Fixation also rapidly reduced back pain