Re-engineering of GRRASP to support distributed and collaborative analysis of critical infrastructures

This report describes the reengineering of GRRASP architecture in order to support more advanced features in terms of collaboration of remote users as well as distributed analysis through the interconnection of several GRRASP installations. The technical infrastructure of GRRASP has benefited from the integration of the Drupal Content Management Systems (CMS), which streamlines the development and update process of the platform and allows the integration with a number of third-part modules, fostering interoperability and bringing collaboration capabilities to a new level. Thanks to these features, the platform provides all these features that are necessary to meet the objective to provide an analysis framework that can be used by member states competent authorities and operators in order to improve risk and resilience assessment at local, regional, national and international scale. In addition, it can represent a tool to support the development and testing process of new models, as well as CIP-related training activities.JRC.E.2-Technology Innovation in Securit

Interconnecting GRRASP with additional platforms and tools: A feasibility study

As it has already been documents in several reports, the Geospatial Risk and Resilience Assessment Platform (GRRASP) under development ad the JRC is a World Wide Web oriented architecture bringing together geospatial technologies and computational tools towards the objective of supporting the analysis of critical infrastructures (CIs) A key aspect of this platform is its capability to serve as the vehicle to interlink the analysis modules and tools that over the years have been developed by the scientific community towards a one-stop-shop for critical infrastructure risk and resilience analysis. The present report illustrates how the software architecture of GRRASP has been designed and is being exploited to support the integration of GRRASP with different projects related to the analysis of CIs.JRC.E.2-Technology Innovation in Securit

Developing stress tests to improve the resilience of critical infrastructures: a feasibility analysis

In this report we aim to provide a feasibility study and describe the main elements for developing stress tests in the domain of critical infrastructures. Stress tests can be a very useful element for the assessment of the resilience of critical infrastructures against a number of hazards. Currently stress tests are developed in the domain of Nuclear and Financial sector in order to assess the safety, security and resilience of these systems. Taking stock of the activities in these sectors we aim to provide a feasibility analysis and sketch the main lines for the development of stress tests for other infrastructures, systems and sectors.JRC.G.5 - Security technology assessmen

Non equilibrium dynamics in Escherichia coli's gene regulatory network

Gene regulation is a key process in living organisms. It defines cells identity and behavior, and allows the cells to adapt to the external environment. From a theoretical point of view, a central question is how to mathematically characterize the many players and their complex interactions to understand the gene expression output as function of the regulatory inputs. A common approach is thermodynamic modelling, where the transcription is assumed to be in equilibrium with the concentration of transcription factors, and any fluctuation is averaged away. However, the advent of new experimental techniques providing precise measurements of gene expression at the single-cell level is challenging the general validity of the equilibrium assumption. In this thesis, we focus on the induction of the LexA regulon in the model organism Escherichia coli, which is involved in the repair of DNA damages. Tracking the single-cell expression dynamics of different genes under the exclusive control of the inhibitor LexA, we show that the induction is characterized by short bursts of production, which are incompatible with a thermodynamic model where gene transcription is in equilibrium with the concentration of LexA. On the other hand, we show that the network responds to transient fluctuations in the concentration of the regulator. Finally, we deal with the question of how to properly analyze flow cytometry data for bacterial populations. Flow cytometry is an attractive technology to quantify single-cell gene distribution in high-throughput. However, so far no systematic investigation has been carried out to estimate the accuracy of these measurements for small bacterial cells. Here, by comparing the fluorescence distribution of the same E. coli strain both in flow cytometry and in a microscopy setup, we show that the fluorescent signal contains a significant amount of electronic noise and background fluorescence. We then propose a robust method to correct for these spurious components, and we show that only after correcting for electronic noise and autofluorescence, measurements from the flow cytometry agree with the ones from the microscopy setup

An algorithm for the H∞ control of switched linear systems via Hamilton-Jacobi-Isaacs formulation

n/

GRRASP Ver 3.3 Installation and User Manual

This report is the user manual of version 3.3 of GRRASP. GRRASP is available for download from the JRC science hub.JRC.E.2 - Technology Innovation in Securit

Progressing the research on systemic risk, cascading disasters, and compound events

Disaster risk in the 21st century differs from the experience of past generations and is defined by its evolving systemic nature. The increased role of technological networks, societal interdependencies and climate change dynamics make crises more complex and unpredictable. Cascading and compounding dynamics are becoming the new “business as usual”, challenging emergency management to maintain operations in face of complex disruptions while requiring the development of good practices and strategy for facilitate the recovery process. Our special issue aimed to support the development of a paradigm shift in the understanding of complex events, utilizing a network-based, cross-disciplinary approach to resilience. This editorial introduces and summarizes 18 papers across four thematic areas: 1) Resilience Challenges; 2) Area Studies and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction; 3) Community and Health; 4) Enhancing New Methodologies. The conclusions highlight open research challenges for future exploration

GRRASP version 3.1 User Manual

This report is a comprehensive manual for GRRASP including also a detailed description of the installation procedure. The user manual describes the main functionalities of GRRASP as well as how the end user can apply the models included in GRRASP. This software platform is evolving so this manual is a living document which will be updated on the basis of new functionalities.JRC.E.2 - Technology Innovation in Securit

Riduzione in situ del cromo esavalente mediante iniezione di substrati organici in acquifero

LAUREA MAGISTRALEL’elaborato di tesi valuta la riduzione del cromo esavalente alla sua forma trivalente meno tossica. La tecnologia innovativa indagata prende il nome di riduzione bio-indotta (o biodegradazione indiretta), ossia processi ove viene promossa la riduzione del Cr(VI) mediante la generazione di un ambiente fortemente riducente tramite l’iniezione di substrati organici carboniosi che vengono degradati dai microrganismi eterotrofi autoctoni presenti nell'acquifero. Questo meccanismo innesca il completo consumo di tutti gli accettori di elettroni, dall’ossigeno ai solfati, promovendo condizioni per la riduzione del Cr(VI) a Cr(III). Per la riproduzione di sistemi naturali in laboratorio, sono stati allestiti microcosmi batch (1.25L) artificialmente contaminati da cromo esavalente tramite aggiunta di bicromato di potassio, in differenti concentrazioni (5 – 10 mg Cr(VI)/L). I substrati addizionati sono provenienti dagli scarti dell’industria alimentare quali permeato di siero di latte ad una concentrazione di 5mL/L e una matrice proveniente dal processo di birrificazione per ottenere un valore di COD prossimo a 300mgCOD/L. Per la valutazione dell'applicabilità dell’intervento in diverse condizioni ambientali, sono state indagate due differenti matrici solide, di differente origine e composizione (sabbia e terreno da acquifero). Si è utilizzato un rapporto solido liquido pari al 50%. A valle di prove preliminari, sono stati realizzati test mirati alla valutazione della cinetica di riduzione del Cr(VI). Le prove, sono state condotte ad una temperatura controllata di 17±1°C per simulare al meglio le condizione di una falda reale. Le condizioni riducenti stabili (potenziale redox negativo) sono state raggiunte in tutti i microcosmi entro circa 10d di incubazione; il valore redox dei sistemi ha raggiunto valori fino a -500mV. In tutte le bottiglie, l'ossigeno disciolto è passato da un valore iniziale di 6,5 mg/L a valori inferiori a 0,5 mg/L entro 2d dall’inizio della prova. I microcosmi allestiti con terreno d’acquifero hanno mostrato una riduzione del contaminante maggiore del 99.9% ad esclusione dei replicati realizzati con permeato di siero di latte ad una concentrazione iniziale di 10mgCr(VI)/L (80%). Per quanto riguarda i microcosmi con sabbia si è osservato abbattimento significativo solo con l’additivazione di substrato da birrificazione e una concentrazione iniziale di 5mgCr(VI)/L; con questa configurazione si è raggiunta una riduzione maggiore del 99.9%. In molti dei replicati si riescono ad ottenere delle concentrazioni, dopo 36 giorni, inferiori ai limiti normativi relativi al Cr(VI) previsti dal D.Lgs 152/06 per le acque sotterrane (5 μgCr(VI)/L). Il pH iniziale di tutti i sistemi, prossimo a 7.2 non ha subito significative variazioni anche al termine della prova. Nel presente elaborato si sottolinea l’importanza della presenza di Fe(II), naturalmente rilasciato dalla matrice solida, il quale consente l’ossidazione e la precipitazione dei composti del cromo. L'approccio si colloca in una posizione innovativa nel panorama delle soluzioni di biorimedio, con prospettive interessanti in termini di ridotti costi e impatti ambientali complessivi

A fresh look at spinal alignment and deformities: Automated analysis of a large database of 9832 biplanar radiographs

We developed and used a deep learning tool to process biplanar radiographs of 9,832 non-surgical patients suffering from spinal deformities, with the aim of reporting the statistical distribution of radiological parameters describing the spinal shape and the correlations and interdependencies between them. An existing tool able to automatically perform a three-dimensional reconstruction of the thoracolumbar spine has been improved and used to analyze a large set of biplanar radiographs of the trunk. For all patients, the following parameters were calculated: spinopelvic parameters; lumbar lordosis; mismatch between pelvic incidence and lumbar lordosis; thoracic kyphosis; maximal coronal Cobb angle; sagittal vertical axis; T1-pelvic angle; maximal vertebral rotation in the transverse plane. The radiological parameters describing the sagittal alignment were found to be highly interrelated with each other, as well as dependent on age, while sex had relatively minor but statistically significant importance. Lumbar lordosis was associated with thoracic kyphosis, pelvic incidence and sagittal vertical axis. The pelvic incidence-lumbar lordosis mismatch was found to be dependent on the pelvic incidence and on age. Scoliosis had a distinct association with the sagittal alignment in adolescent and adult subjects. The deep learning-based tool allowed for the analysis of a large imaging database which would not be reasonably feasible if performed by human operators. The large set of results will be valuable to trigger new research questions in the field of spinal deformities, as well as to challenge the current knowledge