Polypeptide-grafted macroporous polyHIPE by surface-initiated N-Carboxyanhydride (NCA) polymerization as a platform for bioconjugation

A new class of functional macroporous monoliths from polymerized high internal phase emulsion (polyHIPE) with tunable surface functional groups was developed by direct polypeptide surface grafting. In the first step, amino-functional polyHIPEs were obtained by the addition of 4-vinylbenzyl or 4-vinylbenzylphthalimide to the styrenic emulsion and thermal radical polymerization. The obtained monoliths present the expected open-cell morphology and a high surface area. The incorporated amino group was successfully utilized to initiate the ring-opening polymer- ization of benzyl-L-glutamate N-carboxyanhydride (BLG NCA) and benzyloxycarbonyl-L-lysine (Lys(Z)) NCA, which resulted in a dense homogeneous coating of polypeptides throughout the internal polyHIPE surfaces as confirmed by SEM and FTIR analysis. The amount of polypeptide grafted to the polyHIPE surfaces could be modulated by varying the initial ratio of amino acid NCA to amino-functional polyHIPE. Subsequent removal of the polypeptide protecting groups yielded highly functional polyHIPE-g-poly(glutamic acid) and polyHIPE-g- poly(lysine). Both types of polypeptide-grafted monoliths responded to pH by changes in their hydrohilicity. The possibility to use the high density of function (−COOH or −NH2) for secondary reaction was demonstrated by the successful bioconjugation of enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP) and fluorescein isocyanate (FITC) on the polymer 3D-scaffold surface. The amount of eGFP and FITC conjugated to the polypeptide-grafted polyHIPE was significantly higher than to the amino- functional polyHIPE, signifying the advantage of polypeptide grafting to achieve highly functional polyHIPEs

On the Lateral Inflows Assessment Within a Real-Time Stage Monitoring Addressed to Flood Forecasting

The role of the lateral inflows component for an on-line stage forecasting model Muskingum based is investigated. In particular, the original empirical formulation is replaced by a physically based approach incorporating the error on lateral contribution that is updated using the stage observations available in real-time. The updating procedure for lateral inflows assessment is different depending on the weight of the lateral contribution in the downstream flood evolution. The model requires the estimation of four parameters if the downstream rating curve is unknown, otherwise only two parameters have to be determined. The accuracy of the new model formulation is tested by its application to different flood events observed along an equipped river reach of the Upper Tiber River basin, in Central Italy, characterized by a significant intermediate drainage area. Assuming the rating curve known at the downstream site, the forecast stage hydrographs are found in good agreement with the observed ones for all the investigated events and more accurate than those provided by the original model. A preliminary analysis has highlighted that the forecast reliability is not significantly affected by the rainfall spatial variability in the intermediate basin, whereas it is strictly linked to the ratio between the rainfall depth in the upstream and intermediate drainage area (RRI). Moreover, a threshold of RRI has been defined in order to identify the forecast stages which could be affected by a not negligible degree of uncertainty. On this basis, the proposed model can be conveniently employed as part of a real-time flood forecasting system involving the RRI continuous monitoring during critical storm events

Unusual clinical presentation of primary aortoduodenal fistula

Primary aorto-enteric fistula (PAEF) develops between the native aorta and the gastro-intestinal tract, in the presence of an abdominal aortic aneurysm. It is a rare, life-threatening condition and appears to be less frequent than secondary aorto- enteric fistula, which is associated with previous aortic prosthetic reconstruction. When untreated, the overall mortality rate is almost 100%. Diagnosis may be challenging until the occurrence of a massive haemorrhage. In the presence of gross contamination, patients tend to a worse prognosis. Extra-anatomical bypass and repair of the enteric tract is the treatment of choice in case of gross contamination. In situ reconstruction is often reported in cases of mild bacterial contamination. Endovascular treatment has recently become a valid option in haemodynamically unstable patients, but a staged approach, with delayed surgical treatment, seems advisable

Using globally available soil moisture indicators for flood modelling in Mediterranean catchments

Abstract. Floods are one of the most dangerous natural hazards in Mediterranean regions. Flood forecasting tools and early warning systems can be very beneficial to reducing flood risk. Event-based rainfall–runoff models are frequently employed for operational flood forecasting purposes because of their simplicity and the reduced number of parameters involved with respect to continuous models. However, the advantages related to the reduced parameterization oppose to the need of a correct initialization of the model, especially in areas characterized by strong climate seasonality. In this case, the use of continuous models could be desirable but it is very problematic in poorly gauged areas where continuous rainfall and temperature data are not available. This paper introduces a Simplified Continuous Rainfall–Runoff model (SCRRM), which uses globally available soil moisture retrievals to identify the initial wetness condition of the catchment, and, only event rainfall data to simulate discharge hydrographs. The model calibration involves only three parameters. For soil moisture, besides in situ data, satellite products from the Advanced SCATterometer (ASCAT) and the Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer for Earth observation (AMSR-E) sensors were employed. Additionally, the ERA-Land reanalysis soil moisture product of the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasting (ECMWF) was used. SCRRM was tested in the small catchment of the Rafina River, 109 km2, located in the eastern Attica region, Greece. Specifically, sixteen recorded rainfall–runoff events were simulated by considering the different indicators for the estimation of the initial soil moisture conditions from in situ, satellite and reanalysis data. By comparing the performance of the different soil moisture products, we conclude that: (i) all global indicators allow for a fairly good reproduction of the selected flood events, providing much better results than those obtained from setting constant initial conditions; (ii) the use of all the indicators yields similar results when compared with a standard continuous simulation approach that, however, is more data demanding; (iii) SCRRM is robust since it shows good performances in validation for a significant flood event that occurred on February 2013 (after calibrating the model for small to medium flood events). Due to the wide diffusion of globally available soil moisture retrievals and the limited number of parameters used, the proposed modelling approach is very suitable for runoff prediction in poorly gauged areas.</jats:p

Effects of Rainfall and Soil/Land Use Spatial Distribution on Hydrological Response at Different Scales

The influence of spatial variability of rainfall and soil/land use on the accuracy of runoff simulation was investigated in order to define the optimal spatial discretization of the basin to be adopted in rainfall-runoff modeling. In particular, the effects of a uniform versus distributed spatial representation of both rainfall field and basin properties was analyzed by using a semi-distributed model. These effects were evaluated by comparing the observed and simulated flood hydrographs for different sub-basins of the Upper Tiber River basin at Ponte Felcino river section (drainage area of ~1800 km2), located in Central Italy. On the basis of the obtained results, a dimension of about 300 km2 for the homogeneous elements of the basin can be considered adequate for model applications addressed to flood forecasting and warning activities

Altimetry for the future: Building on 25 years of progress

In 2018 we celebrated 25 years of development of radar altimetry, and the progress achieved by this methodology in the fields of global and coastal oceanography, hydrology, geodesy and cryospheric sciences. Many symbolic major events have celebrated these developments, e.g., in Venice, Italy, the 15th (2006) and 20th (2012) years of progress and more recently, in 2018, in Ponta Delgada, Portugal, 25 Years of Progress in Radar Altimetry. On this latter occasion it was decided to collect contributions of scientists, engineers and managers involved in the worldwide altimetry community to depict the state of altimetry and propose recommendations for the altimetry of the future. This paper summarizes contributions and recommendations that were collected and provides guidance for future mission design, research activities, and sustainable operational radar altimetry data exploitation. Recommendations provided are fundamental for optimizing further scientific and operational advances of oceanographic observations by altimetry, including requirements for spatial and temporal resolution of altimetric measurements, their accuracy and continuity. There are also new challenges and new openings mentioned in the paper that are particularly crucial for observations at higher latitudes, for coastal oceanography, for cryospheric studies and for hydrology. The paper starts with a general introduction followed by a section on Earth System Science including Ocean Dynamics, Sea Level, the Coastal Ocean, Hydrology, the Cryosphere and Polar Oceans and the “Green” Ocean, extending the frontier from biogeochemistry to marine ecology. Applications are described in a subsequent section, which covers Operational Oceanography, Weather, Hurricane Wave and Wind Forecasting, Climate projection. Instruments’ development and satellite missions’ evolutions are described in a fourth section. A fifth section covers the key observations that altimeters provide and their potential complements, from other Earth observation measurements to in situ data. Section 6 identifies the data and methods and provides some accuracy and resolution requirements for the wet tropospheric correction, the orbit and other geodetic requirements, the Mean Sea Surface, Geoid and Mean Dynamic Topography, Calibration and Validation, data accuracy, data access and handling (including the DUACS system). Section 7 brings a transversal view on scales, integration, artificial intelligence, and capacity building (education and training). Section 8 reviews the programmatic issues followed by a conclusion

Motivos da prática de dança de salão nas aulas de educação física escolar

O estudo de corte transversal analisou os motivos da prática da dança de salão nas aulas de Educação Física escolar de escolas particulares, relacionando-os com o gênero, seu tempo de prática e participação em eventos de dança de salão. Obteve-se uma amostra de 279 alunos com idade de 15,5 ± 1,0 anos, matriculados nas aulas de dança de salão como Educação Física escolar. Aplicou-se o questionário de motivação para as atividades desportivas - QMAD, adaptado de SERPA e FRIAS (1990) e SERPA (1991). Analisou-se os dados através da estatística descritiva e inferencial, com nível de significância de 95%. Foram encontradas associações significativas entre os motivos e gêneros (r = 0,285; - 0,172); tempo de prática (r = 0,174) e frequência em eventos (r = 0,122; - 0,156). A dança de salão oferece em sua prática uma ferramenta de inúmeras possibilidades, onde cada um de seus praticantes procura preencher as suas próprias necessidades. De acordo com os resultados levantados percebe-se que os alunos estão motivados com a prática de dança de salão na escola havendo diferenças entre o gênero, o tempo de prática e a frequência nos eventos. Diante disto sugere-se a criação de propostas metodológicas condizentes com os principais motivos dos alunos nas aulas de dança de salão dentro do ambiente da Educação Física escolar.The transversal study analyzed the reasons for the practice of ballroom dance in the curricular physical activity in private schools, relating them to the gender, its practice time and participation in ballroom dance events. The study was composed of 279 students at the age of 15.5 ± 1.0, enrolled in ballroom dance as part of regular physical education. The Sport Motivation Questionnaire - SMQ, adapted from SERPA and FRIAS (1990), SERPA (1992) was used. The descriptive and inferential statistics were used with a 95% significance level. Significant associations were found between reasons and the genders (r = 0.285; - 0.172); practice time (r = 0.174) and event frequency (r = 0.122; - 0.156). The ballroom dance offers in its practice a tool of countless possibilities, in which each of its participants search to fulfil their own necessities. According to the risen results it is noticeable that students are motivated with the practice of ballroom dance in schools presenting differences in gender, practice time, and event attendance. Then, it is suggested the creation of methodological proposals coherent to the main goals of the students of ballroom dance within the regular physical education environment in schools