In this study, we derive a large-scale Vs30 map for Italy starting from the global terrain geomorphological classification based on normalized slope, local convexity, and surface texture (after ...Iwahashi et al., 2018). The novelty of the present work is the integration of a large amount of data from the Italian seismic microzonation dataset, consisting in about 35,000 borehole logs and 11,300 Vs profiles. The results of our analysis suggest that the geomorphological classes are correlated to subsoil lithologies and Vs30 values more than surface lithological types (after Amanti et al., 2008). As already done in Japan (Matsuoka and Wakamatsu, 2006), Greece (Stewart et al., 2014), Central and Eastern North America (Parker et al., 2017), and Pacific Northwest Region of North America (Ahdi et al., 2017), we found a proxy dependence of Vs30 from slope gradient and elevation through a lognormal linear regression model for each geomorphological class. A stepwise method allowed us to give meaning and statistical robustness to the regression model dependencies. The polygons inconsistent with the Iwahashi et al. (2018) approach (e.g., Meso-Cenozoic carbonate units of Apulian block and Hyblean Plateau related to the foreland domain) were replaced with the polygons of the lithological map (Amanti et al., 2008) and the associated Vs30 lognormal average values. Therefore, a hybrid raster Vs30 map was created with a spatial resolution of 50 × 50 m. The comparison with other previous maps shows how the forecast improves in terms of both accuracy and precision. For these reasons, the new Vs30 proxy-based map for Italy based on the seismic microzonation dataset represents a useful tool for improving several applications: ShakeMaps, stochastic event based hazard map, total hazard map, assessment of coseismic instabilities, seismic risk assessment for spatially distributed emergency and resilience systems. Vs30 raster maps and supplementary material are available in the Research Data (doi:10.17632/8458tgzc73.1).
•Vs30 Italy map was created starting from the global geomorphological classification.•Seismic microzonation dataset was used for better estimation of Vs30 for Italy.•Geomorphological classes represent the best strategy for Vs30 large scale mapping.•The new Vs30 map is a useful tool for seismic risk assessment at large scale.
Based on the known antioxidant effect of flavonoids, baicalin (baic) found in roots of Scutellaria has been selected. Its coordination complex with the oxidovanadium(IV) cation, Na4VO(baic)2.6H2O ...(VIVO(baic)), was synthesized at pH9 in ethanol and characterized by physicochemical methods. Spectrophotometric studies at pH9 showed a ligand: metal stoichiometry of 2:1. By vibrational spectroscopy a coordination mode through the cis 5-OH and 6-OH deprotonated groups is inferred. EPR spectroscopy shows an environment of four aryloxide (ArO−) groups in the equatorial plane of the VO moiety, both in solution and in the solid complex. The antioxidant capacity against superoxide and peroxyl radicals of VIVO(baic) resulted greater than for baicalin and correlated with previous results obtained for other VOflavonoid complexes. The coordination mode produces delocalization of the electron density and the stabilization of the radical formed by interaction with external radicals. The complex and the ligand displayed no toxic (Artemia salina test) and no mutagenic (Ames test) effects. The complex improved the ability of the ligand to reduce cell viability of human lung cancer cell lines (A549) generating reactive oxygen species (ROS) in cells, being this effect reversed by pre-incubation of the cells with antioxidants such as vitamins C and E. The addition of NAC (N-acetyl-l-cysteine, a sequestering agent of free radicals) suppresses the anticancer effect, confirming the oxidative stress mechanism. The complex interacted with bovine serum albumin (BSA) with stronger binding than baicalin and the mechanisms involved H bonding and van der Waals interactions.
A new baicalin (baic) complex with oxidovanadium(IV) cation Na4VO(baic)2.6H2O has been prepared. The electron delocalization of VO with phenoxide groups produced higher antioxidant properties. The complex is neither toxic, nor mutagenic and displayed anticancer effects through oxidative stress mechanisms, suppressed by antioxidants. Bovine serum albumin can store and transport it. Display omitted
•Oxidovanadium(IV) interacted with baicalin through the phenoxide anions.•Consequent improvement of the antioxidant effects by coordination.•Oxidative stress mechanism in the cancer cell-killing activity of the complex.•Suppression of the anticancer effect by non-enzymatic antioxidants.•Ligand and complex could be transported and stored by bovine serum albumin.
A comprehensive treatment of seismic risk requires a reliable seismic hazard assessment. For this purpose, authors propose here the application of a synthetic damage-constrained parameter (named as H
...SM
) which establishes, in three chosen vibration period ranges of engineering interest, an absolute ranking of seismic hazard. It includes the regional seismic hazard and the amplification due to the geological and geophysical setting of such areas of the Italian territory where the results of seismic microzonation studies are available. The purpose behind the application of this new parameter is providing new elements for effective implementation of seismic risk prevention and mitigation policies. In particular, a methodology is defined for individuating the thresholds values of the H
SM
parameter that classify the territory according to an increasing hazard scale, coupling with a theoretical expected average damage. In order to enhance the robustness of this methodology, a tempt of validation using experimental data is described in Appendix 1. The aforementioned scale of representation is applied on the dataset of the seismic microzonation studies conducted in 137 municipalities in Central Italy after the Mw 6.0 earthquake of 24 August 2016, providing for these centers realistic estimates of the overall seismic hazard. As future perspectives, it is shown how the inclusion of this parameter in urban planning and seismic design may help reaching different outcomes. In particular, in this paper it is discussed the effective contribution of H
SM
at: (i) helping decision makers to highlight priority intervention areas; (ii) defining best practices for existing structures, such as specific response studies, where higher overall seismic hazard values are expected.
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•Copper(II) complex with the natural antioxidant 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP).•Antioxidant effects. Anticancer action (three cancer cell lines) by oxidative stress.•No cytotoxic ...effects on non-malignant cells, Artemia salina and Ames tests.•Neuroprotective effects on cortical neurons exposed to glutamate.
5-Hydroxy-L-tryptophan (5-HTP) is a serotonin pathway metabolite of L-tryptophan in the brain. In the knowledge that the biological properties of some compounds can be modified upon metal complexation, a new solid metal complex, Cu(5-hydroxytryptophan)2.H2O (Cu5HTP), has been synthesized and characterized to analyze the modification of some biological properties. The conformational investigations (optimized in gas phase at B3LYP/6-311G** theory level) suggest the coexistence of two conformers of Cu5HTP with cis- and trans- arrangements of the amino acids in the equatorial plane. The trans- Cu5HTP1 complex is the most stable conformer. The complexation led to an enhancement of the antioxidant properties of the ligand. The metal complex also improved the anticancer behavior of the ligand (tested in cancer cell lines derived from human lung (A549), cervix (HeLa) and colon (HCT-116)). It did not show toxicity against either the non-malignant human lung fibroblast (MRC-5) cell line or Artemia salina and did not behave as mutagenic agent (Ames test). Cellular reactive oxygen species production may be one of the possible mechanisms of action. Besides, the metal complex exerted neuroprotective action on cortical neurons from embryonic 18 days rats exposed to glutamate.
Here we describe the macroseismic survey of the 24 August 2016 earthquake in central Italy (M_W 6.2). By applying a revised version of the Mercalli-Cancani-Sieberg scale, we estimated the site ...intensity in more than 300 localities of Lazio, Abruzzi, Umbria and Marche regions, providing the Civil Protection with a quick and robust snapshot of the earthquake. The most severe effects are focused south of the instrumental epicenter, in the Amatrice intermountain basin, where intensity reached 10-11 MCS. Highest damage (area inside 9 MCS isoseismal) is focused in a NNW-SSE belt of the hangingwall of the causative faults, i.e. the southern segment of the Mount Vettore fault system and the northern segment of the Laga Mounts fault system, with northward damage propagation in the far-field. The intensity dataset allows to evaluate a M_W 6.16±0.5, which is very close to the instrumental magnitude, with a seismogenic box striking N161°, mimicking the geological active faults. Epicentral intensity is I_0 10 MCS, I_MAX 10-11. The elevated level of destruction is mainly due to the high vulnerability of buildings, mostly made by cobblestone masonry. Integrating the macroseismic information with the geological, geodetical and geophysical data it is possible to hypothesize a bidirectional rupture propagation (toward NNW and SSE) along the two different faults. It is also possible to attribute the 1639, M_W 6.0 earthquake to the same source of the southern 2016 rupture (northernmost Laga Mounts faults).
The complex of oxidovanadium(IV) with naringin (Narg) VO(Narg)2 8H2O (VONarg) was prepared according to the literature improving the synthetic procedure and physicochemical characterization. In ...addition, biological activities (cytotoxic, antioxidant, and BSA interaction) were determined. The metal coordinated through the 5-hydroxy and 4-carbonyl groups of rings A and C of naringin, respectively. The antioxidant activity of VONarg, determined in vitro, was higher than those of the flavonoid against superoxide and peroxyl reactive oxygen species (ROS) and DPPH radical. The cytotoxic properties were determined by a MTT assay on adenocarcinoma human alveolar basal epithelial cells (A549). VONarg exerted a 20% decrease in cancer cells viability at 24 h incubation, while naringin and oxidovanadium(IV) cation did not show cytotoxicity. Measurements with the normal HEK293 cell line showed that the inhibitory action of the complex is selective. VONarg generated intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), depletion of reduced glutathione and depolarization of mitochondrial membrane potential, typical for apoptotic pathway, producing cell death by oxidative stress mechanism. Moreover, naringin interacted with bovine serum albumin (BSA) through hydrophobic interactions in a spontaneous process, and VONarg showed greater affinity for the protein but can still be transported and delivered by it (Ka 104 L·mol−1 order).
Metal complexation in general improves the biological properties of ligands. We have previously measured the anticancer effects of the oxidovanadium(IV) cation with chrysin complex, VO(chrys)2. In ...the present study, we synthesized and characterized a new complex generated by the replacement of one chrysin ligand by phenanthroline (phen), VO(chrys)phenCl, to confer high planarity for DNA chain intercalation and more lipophilicity, giving rise to a better cellular uptake. In effect, the uptake of vanadium has been increased in the complex with phen and the cytotoxic effect of this complex proved higher in the human lung cancer A549 cell line, being involved in its mechanisms of action, the production of cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), the decrease of the natural antioxidant compound glutathione (GSH) and the ratio GSH/GSSG (GSSG, oxidized GSH), and mitochondrial membrane damage. Cytotoxic activity studies using the non-tumorigenic HEK293 cell line showed that VO(chrys)phenCl exhibits selectivity action towards A549 cells after 24 h incubation. The interaction with bovine serum albumin (BSA) by fluorometric determinations showed that the complex could be carried by the protein and that the binding of the complex to BSA occurs through H-bond and van der Waals interactions.
Abstract Pancreatic adenocarcinoma is a leading cause of cancer death in western countries. The treatment of advanced disease with gemcitabine has only a modest activity on survival with a favourable ...impact on quality of life. However, recent data support the evidence that the combination of gemcitabine with erlotinib, capecitabine or platinum compounds could be more active than gemcitabine alone in advanced pancreatic cancer. New therapeutic strategies, particularly using molecular target agents, are under evaluation. A number of molecular mechanisms responsible of transformation and progression of pancreatic cancer have been identified, opening the possibility to identify also possible pharmacological targets. A promising approach is the pharmacological inhibition of tumor angiogenesis with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) agents, such as bevacizumab, cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors (celecoxib), thalidomide and others. Also epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) plays an important role in progression of pancreatic cancer. Erlotinib, an oral available anti-EGFR compound, was the first agent capable to significantly improve overall survival in a phase III trial, leading to its approval by Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in combination with gemcitabine as first-line therapy. Ongoing studies are exploring the role of targeted therapy in the adjuvant setting. However, despite these promising results, several questions remain to be resolved, including the rational selection of the patients who are more likely to obtain benefit of target therapy, the choice of the optimal therapeutic schedule of therapy, the clinical setting of choice, and the management of the toxicity.
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