Surface wave methods gained in the past decades a primary role in many seismic projects. Specifically, they are often used to retrieve a 1D shear wave velocity model or to estimate the V
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at a ...site. The complexity of the interpretation process and the variety of possible approaches to surface wave analysis make it very hard to set a fixed standard to assure quality and reliability of the results. The present guidelines provide practical information on the acquisition and analysis of surface wave data by giving some basic principles and specific suggestions related to the most common situations. They are primarily targeted to non-expert users approaching surface wave testing, but can be useful to specialists in the field as a general reference. The guidelines are based on the experience gained within the InterPACIFIC project and on the expertise of the participants in acquisition and analysis of surface wave data.
ABSTRACT
Joint inversion strategies and physical constraints on model parameters may be used to mitigate equivalence problems caused by solution non‐uniqueness. This strategy is quite a common ...practice in exploration geophysics, where dedicated rock physical studies are usually carried out, while it is not so frequent in near surface geophysics. We use porosity as a constraint among seismic wave velocities and electrical resistivity in a deterministic joint inversion algorithm for surface wave dispersion, P‐wave traveltimes and apparent resistivity from vertical electrical sounding. These data are often available for near surface characterization. We show that the physical constraint among model parameters leads to internally consistent geophysical models in which solution non‐uniqueness is mitigated. Moreover, an estimate of soil porosity is obtained as a relevant side product of the procedure. In particular, we consider a clean sand deposit and hence the appropriate formulations for the computation of porosity from seismic velocities and resistivity are implemented in the algorithm. We first demonstrate how the non‐uniqueness of the solution is reduced in a synthetic case and then we applied the algorithm to a real‐case study. The algorithm is here developed for one‐dimensional condition and for granular soils to better investigate the physical constraint only, but it can be extended to the two‐dimensional or three‐dimensional case as well as to other materials with the adoption of proper rock physical relationships.
A case history is reported to outline a possible strategy for the construction of a pseudo-2D model of shear-wave velocity for seismic site response studies. Experimental data have been collected ...using the Multichannel Analysis of Surface Wave technique (MASW) at six sites in the city of Najaf (Southern Iraq). The sites are aligned along the route of a proposed subway. The dataset has been processed to extract the dispersion curves of each site and then it has been inverted by using a Laterally Constrained Inversion (LCI) algorithm. The initial model for the local search algorithm has been obtained with a preliminary Monte Carlo Inversion (MCI). A priori information from borehole logs and lateral constraints between neighbors 1D models are used to mitigate the non-uniqueness of the solution. The result is a pseudo-2D shear-wave velocity model of the area which is in good agreement with sediment lithology and thicknesses obtained from borehole logs.
Using siRNAs to genetically manipulate immune cells is important to both basic immunological studies and therapeutic applications. However, siRNA delivery is challenging because primary immune cells ...are often sensitive to the delivery materials and generate immune responses. We have recently developed an amphiphilic dendrimer that is able to deliver siRNA to a variety of cells, including primary immune cells. We provide here a protocol for the synthesis of this dendrimer, as well as siRNA delivery to immune cells such as primary T and B cells, natural killer cells, macrophages, and primary microglia. The dendrimer synthesis entails straightforward click coupling followed by an amidation reaction, and the siRNA delivery protocol requires simple mixing of the siRNA and dendrimer in buffer, with subsequent application to the primary immune cells to achieve effective and functional siRNA delivery. This dendrimer-mediated siRNA delivery largely outperforms the standard electroporation technique, opening a new avenue for functional and therapeutic studies of the immune system. The whole protocol encompasses the dendrimer synthesis, which takes 10 days; the primary immune cell preparation, which takes 3-10 d, depending on the tissue source and cell type; the dendrimer-mediated siRNA delivery; and subsequent functional assays, which take an additional 3-6 d.
Introduction
Haemophilia is a rare congenital bleeding disorder, and the most common manifestation is spontaneous bleeding in muscles and joints. Despite the benefits linked to recent and dramatic ...pharmacological advances at least in high income setting, many patients still develop musculoskeletal dysfunctions during their lifetime, which must be managed by physiotherapists in the frame of a multidisciplinary team. The aim of the scoping review is to map the available evidence by providing an overview on the past and present physiotherapy scenario in persons with haemophilia (PWH).
Materials and methods
The review was conducted according to the guidelines of the PRISMA extension for scoping reviews. Scientific articles on physiotherapy and sport interventions for PWH published from 1960 up to September 2021 have been included. Search was conducted on the e‐databases PubMed and PEDro without restrictions for the study design.
Results
Sixty eight articles were included, 52 related to rehabilitation and preventive physiotherapy, 16 to sport. The results have been reported in chronological order and divided into two categories: (1) rehabilitation and preventive physiotherapy; (2) sport activities.
Conclusions
This is the first scoping review on physiotherapy in haemophilia, based on the existing evidence on this topic which allowed us to underline how the role of the physiotherapist changed over time. Historically this specialist did intervene only after an acute bleed or surgical operation, but now he has a pivotal role in the multidisciplinary team that acts to improve from birth the quality of life of the PWH. His activity is also closely intertwined with sport promotion and supervision.
Recent evidence supports the occurrence of multiple hormonal and metabolic deficiency syndrome (MHDS) in chronic heart failure (CHF). However, no large observational study has unequivocally ...demonstrated its impact on CHF progression and outcome. The T.O.S.CA. (Trattamento Ormonale nello Scompenso CArdiaco; Hormone Treatment in Heart Failure) Registry has been specifically designed to test the hypothesis that MHDS affects morbidity and mortality in CHF patients.
The T.O.S.CA. Registry is a prospective, multicentre, observational study involving 19 Italian centres. Thyroid hormones, insulin-like growth factor-1, total testosterone, dehydropianoandrosterone sulfate, insulin resistance, and the presence of diabetes were evaluated. A MHDS was defined as the presence of ≥2 hormone deficiencies (HDs). Primary endpoint was a composite of all-cause mortality and cardiovascular hospitalizations. Four hundred and eighty heart failure patients with ejection fraction ≤45% were enrolled. MHDS or diabetes was diagnosed in 372 patients (77.5%). A total of 271 events (97 deaths and 174 cardiovascular hospitalizations) were recorded, 41% in NO-MHDS and 62% in MHDS (P < 0.001). Median follow-up was of 36 months. MHDS was independently associated with the occurrence of the primary endpoint hazard ratio 95% (confidence interval), 1.93 (1.37-2.73), P < 0.001 and identified a group of patients with a higher mortality 2.2 (1.28-3.83), P = 0.01, with a graded relation between HDs and cumulative events (P < 0.01).
MHDS is common in CHF and independently associated with increased all-cause mortality and cardiovascular hospitalization, representing a promising therapeutic target.
ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT023358017.
Two decades of investigations have failed to unequivocally clarify the functions and the molecular nature of imidazoline-2 receptors (I2R). However, there is robust pharmacological evidence for the ...functional modulation of monoamino oxidase (MAO) and other important enzyme activities by I2 site ligands. Some compounds of this class proved to be active experimental tools in preventing both experimental pain and opioid tolerance and dependence. Unfortunately, even though these compounds bind with high potency to central I2 sites, they fail to represent a valid clinical opportunity due to their pharmacokinetic, selectivity or side-effects profile. This paper presents the preclinical profile of a novel I2 ligand (2-phenyl-6-(1H-imidazol-1yl) quinazoline; CR4056) that selectively inhibits the activity of human recombinant MAO-A in a concentration-dependent manner. A sub-chronic four day oral treatment of CR4056 increased norepinephrine (NE) tissue levels both in the rat cerebral cortex (63.1% ±4.2%; P < 0.05) and lumbar spinal cord (51.3% ± 6.7%; P < 0.05). In the complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) rat model of inflammatory pain, CR4056 was found to be orally active (ED50 = 5.8 mg/kg, by mouth p.o.). In the acute capsaicin model, CR4056 completely blocked mechanical hyperalgesia in the injured hind paw (ED50 = 4.1 mg/kg, p.o.; ED100 = 17.9 mg/kg, p.o.). This effect was dose-dependently antagonized by the non-selective imidazoline I2/α2 antagonist idazoxan. In rat models of neuropathic pain, oral administration of CR4056 significantly attenuated mechanical hyperalgesia and allodynia. In summary, the present study suggests a novel pharmacological opportunity for inflammatory and/or neuropathic pain treatment based on selective interaction with central imidazoline-2 receptors.
Biological nurturing is a neurobehavioral approach to breastfeeding support that encourages women to breastfed in a relaxed, laidback position. This approach has the potential to reduce breast ...problems (e.g., sore nipples), making good latch easier and thus facilitating the initiation of exclusive breastfeeding. However, its effects have not been adequately investigated in a real-life situation. The aim of this randomized controlled trial was to assess the effectiveness of biological nurturing, compared to usual hospital practices, on the frequency of breast problems and on the prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding at discharge from the maternity ward, after 1 week, and at one and 4 months.
Open randomized parallel controlled trial carried out in a third level maternity ward (IRCCS Burlo Garofolo, Trieste, Italy) between March and December 2018. Two-hundred eight women who planned to give birth at the hospital and who expressed the intention to breastfeed were enrolled during pregnancy and randomized to receive breastfeeding support following either the biological nurturing approach or the usual care protocol based on the WHO/UNICEF 20-h course, in use at the hospital. The primary study outcome was the incidence of breast problems during hospital stay, defined as the presence of one or more of the following outcomes, collected separately: sore nipples, cracked nipples, engorgement and mastitis. The primary analysis was performed by intention to treat. The follow up lasted 4 months.
One hundred eighty eight out of 208 women (90.3%) were included in the analysis, 90 allocated to the biological nurturing group and 98 to the usual care group. At discharge from the maternity ward, biological nurturing significantly reduced the risk of breast problems (Relative risk RR 0.56, 95% Confidence Interval CI 0.40, 0.79), including cracked (RR 0.42, 95% CI 0.24, 0.74) and sore nipples (RR 0.59, 95% CI 0.40, 0.88). No statistically significant difference was observed for exclusive breastfeeding at discharge and up to 4 months. No adverse events occurred.
The biological nurturing approach applied in the real-life situation of a third level hospital was effective in preventing breast problems.
Clinicaltrials.gov NCT03503500. Date of First Submission: 28 March 2018.
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