The authors have intensively studied the Syracuse Cathedral in order to evaluate the structural s... more The authors have intensively studied the Syracuse Cathedral in order to evaluate the structural state of preservation of the building. The Cathedral of Syracuse was built in d ifferent phases on an ancient Greek temple f rom the 5th cent b.C. and modified along the centuries. The pillars of the central nave, obtained by cutting the walls of the temple
During their service life, masonry structures subjected to an aggressive environment may suffer d... more During their service life, masonry structures subjected to an aggressive environment may suffer degradation according to the type of their component materials and the technique of construction. This can lead the structure to high states of damage even if not failures. The great randomness connected with the occurrence of critical attacks suggests approaching the deterioration process of masonries under a probabilistic point of view. Following this way, the deterioration process L(t) of the stone masonry of a full-scale physical model, has been carried out. It has been approached as: 1) L(t) time dependent stochastic process of the r.v. l. 2) L(t) time dependent stochastic process of the r.v. τ.
1 , E. PAPA 2 ABSTRACT This paper presents a non-linear finite element mat erial model for the an... more 1 , E. PAPA 2 ABSTRACT This paper presents a non-linear finite element mat erial model for the analysis of the mechanical beha vior of multi-leaf masonry, which is quite frequently used in ancient stone masonry buildings. A damage model, previously developed by some of the authors for bri ttle materials (namely, concrete) was adapted to fi t the experimental stress -strain behavior of stone masonry. To this end, a da mage evolution law originally proposed for concrete was modified and a new material parameter was added. A distinguishing feature of this model is that damage is characterized by a second-o rder tensor, thus allowing oriented 'cracks' to be described; the orientation of the cracks is fixed o nce they are activated, whatever the subsequent str ess history is. Then, the modified model was implemented into a subroutine, linked to a commercial finite element code suitable for nonlinear analyses (FEAP). In order to validate the obtained material model, results avai l...
Methanolic extract of Ficus platyphylla was tested on isolated rabbit jejunum, rat duodenum and g... more Methanolic extract of Ficus platyphylla was tested on isolated rabbit jejunum, rat duodenum and gastrointestinal motility in mice. The extract showed a biphasic effect on isolated smooth muscle. Lower concentration of extract caused contraction, while higher concentrations produced relaxation. The contractile phase was attenuated by atropine, while relaxant phase attenuated histamine induced contraction of guinea pig ileum. The extract also exhibited a dose-dependent inhibition of gastrointestinal motility. Acute toxicity test in mice established LD50 value (i.p.) of the extract to be 2000 mg/kg. Preliminary phytochemical screening of the extract gave positive test for flavonoids, tannins and saponins.
Effect of the aqueous leaf extract of I. gabonensis on the gastrointestinal tract was investigate... more Effect of the aqueous leaf extract of I. gabonensis on the gastrointestinal tract was investigated on isolated rabbit jejunum, guinea pig ileum, gastrointestinal motility, castor oil-induced diarrhoea in mice and castor oil-induced fluid accumulation in rats. The results showed that the extract exhibited a concentration-dependent relaxation of spontaneous pendular movement of isolated rabbit jejunum and guinea pig ileum, and attenuated both acetylcholine-induced contraction of rabbit jejunum and histamine-induced contraction of guinea pig ileum. The extract (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg) also caused a significant dose-dependent decrease of gastrointestinal motility in mice (40.12, 39.45 and 37.45%), intestinal fluid accumulation in rats (71.43, 81.63 and 83.27%), and remarkably protected mice against castor oil-induced diarrhoea [58.33, 75 and 91.67% (Di Carlo score)] respectively. Preliminary phytochemical screening of the aqueous leaf extract of I. gabonensis revealed the presence of sa...
... the presence of phytosterols, flavonoids, saponins and other glycosides, in addition to sugar... more ... the presence of phytosterols, flavonoids, saponins and other glycosides, in addition to sugars and ascorbic acid (Salama & Ibrahim, 1979 ... Adegunloye BJ, Owolabi, OA, Ajagbona OP, Sofola OA (1993): Petal extract of Hibiscus sabdariffa elicits relaxation of rat aorta by stabilizing ...
Effects of the aqueous extract of Sphaeranthus senegalensis Vaill. (Family: Compositae) were stud... more Effects of the aqueous extract of Sphaeranthus senegalensis Vaill. (Family: Compositae) were studied on spontaneous motor activity, exploratory behaviour, rota-rod performance and pentobarbital sleeping time in mice. Preliminary phytochemical evaluation and acute toxicity (LD 50 ) values were also studied. The extract (50 and 100 mg/kg p.o.) produced reduction in spontaneous motor activity, exploratory behaviour and motor coordination and prolonged pentobarbital sleeping time. Glycosides, saponins and tannins were shown to be present in the extract. The i.p. LD 50 in mice was 2735.61 and 5000 mg/kg orally. The results suggest that the aqueous extract of S. senegalensis contains some active principles, which may be sedative in nature.
The present study evaluated the neuropharmacological effects of the aqueous extract of Nauclea la... more The present study evaluated the neuropharmacological effects of the aqueous extract of Nauclea latifolia root bark in rodents. Effects on the spontaneous motor activity (SMA), exploratory behaviour, pentobarbital sleeping time, apomorphine-induced stereotypic behaviour and motor coordination (rota-rod performance) were investigated. The extract (50-200 mg/kg p.o.) significantly (P < 0.05) decreased the SMA and exploratory behaviour in mice and prolonged pentobarbital sleeping time in rats dose-dependently. The extract also remarkably attenuated the intensity of apomorphine-induced stereotypy dose-dependently in mice, but had no effect on motor coordination as determined by the performance on rota-rod. These results indicate the presence of psychoactive substances in the aqueous extract of the root bark of Nauclea latifolia.
The anti-diarrhoeal and ulcer-protective properties of the aqueous root extract of Guiera senegal... more The anti-diarrhoeal and ulcer-protective properties of the aqueous root extract of Guiera senegalensis, a popular herbal traditional medicine in Nigeria were investigated in rats and mice. Acute toxicity studies were also carried out. The intestinal transit in mice was significantly (P &lt; 0.05) reduced and gastric emptying delayed. One hundred and Two hundred milligrams per kilogram (p.o.) of the extract elicited a greater anti-motility activity than 0.1 mg/kg of atropine. The extract exhibited ulcer-protective properties against ethanol-induced ulceration in rats with maximal anti-ulcer activity recorded at 100 mg/kg. Guiera senegalensis also exerted significant anti-enteropooling effects causing a dose-related inhibitory effect on castor oil-induced enteropooling in rats. A profound anti-diarrhoeal activity was observed when Guiera senegalensis was tested in diarrhoeic mice. The frequency of defaecation as well as the wetness of the faecal droppings was significantly reduced. Furthermore, the extract produced 100% inhibition of castor oil-induced diarrhoea in mice. The oral LD50 values obtained were &gt; 5000 mg/kg in both mice and rats. The results support the folkloric applications of Guiera senegalensis for the treatment of diarrhoea and ulcer in Nigerian herbal traditional medicine.
The aqueous extract of Crinum giganteum given intraperitoneally at doses of 6.25, 12.5 and 25 mg/... more The aqueous extract of Crinum giganteum given intraperitoneally at doses of 6.25, 12.5 and 25 mg/kg in rats prolonged the duration of pentobarbital sleeping time and in mice reduced spontaneous motor activity, decreased the exploratory activity and attenuated amphetamine-induced stereotype behavior. The intraperitoneal and oral preliminary LD50 in mice were found to be 627 and 1468 mg/kg, respectively. The data obtained suggest that the aqueous extract of C. giganteum contains some biologically active principles with sedative activity.
Artemisinin or qinghaosu is the active principle of quinghao (Artemisia annua L.) developed from ... more Artemisinin or qinghaosu is the active principle of quinghao (Artemisia annua L.) developed from Chinese traditional medicine, which is now widely used around the world against falciparum malaria. Behavioural effects of high acute doses of artemisinin were studied on spontaneous motor activity (SMA), exploratory behavior, apomorphine-induced stereotype behavior and pentobarbital sleeping time in mice and rats in order to provide additional evidence on its safety profile on the central nervous system (CNS). Effects of the drug on bromocriptine-induced hyperactivity in short term reserpinised mice were also evaluated. Intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of artemisinin at doses of 50 and 100mg/kg, significantly (P&lt;0.05) reduced the SMA in mice, prolonged the pentobarbital sleeping time in rats, and attenuated the apomorphine-induced stereotypy in mice. Mice pretreated with reserpine, showed a significant decrease in locomotor activity compared to the saline-treated group. Bromocriptine, a D(2) receptor agonist, induced locomotor activity in mice pretreated with reserpine which was attenuated by artemisinin. The results suggest that artemisinin possesses sedative property, which may be mediated via postsynaptic dopamine (D(2)) receptor in the CNS.
The 1997 Umbria -Marche earthquake offered a unique opportunity to verify the knowledge on seismi... more The 1997 Umbria -Marche earthquake offered a unique opportunity to verify the knowledge on seismic response and on retrofitting strategies of historic masonry structures which have been developed during the last twenty years. Severe damages were in fact suffered also by those buildings that had already been, and in some cases were still being, repaired and strengthenedafter the effects of the previous 1979 earthquake -according to the most updated expertise in this field, as it is expressed by the national recommendations. The study of the actual efficiency of current techniques for repairing and strengthening historic masonry is particularly dealt with in the paper. To this scope, the authors are carrying out extensive surveys on damaged buildings in order to accurately analyze the observed failure mechanisms. The crucial problems of the structure and materials incompatibility that frequently occurred are particularly taken into account.
Forensic science international. Genetics, Jan 21, 2015
DNA profiles can be used as evidence to distinguish between possible donors of a crime stain. In ... more DNA profiles can be used as evidence to distinguish between possible donors of a crime stain. In some cases, both the prosecution and the defence claim that the cell material was left by the suspect but they dispute which cell type was left behind. For example, in sexual offense cases the prosecution could claim that the sample contains semen cells where the defence argues that the sample contains skin cells. In these cases, traditional methods (e.g. a phosphatase test) can be used to examine the cell type contained in the sample. However, there are some drawbacks when using these methods. For instance, many of these techniques need to be carried out separately for each cell type and each of them requires part of the available sample, which reduces the amount that can be used for DNA analysis. Another option is messenger RNA (mRNA) evidence. mRNA expression levels vary among cell types and can be used to make (probability) statements about the cell type(s) present in a sample. Exist...
Historic building, either famous monuments or "minor" architecture of historic centers need to be... more Historic building, either famous monuments or "minor" architecture of historic centers need to be investigated in order to carry out repair aimed to their preservation. Non destructive techniques should be applied on site and destructive investigation limited to minor sampling. A methodology for investigation is outlined describing advantages and limits of the different techniques. Need for guidelines in Codes and Standards are also stressed.
The mechanical characterisation of mortars sampled from existing masonry is usually very difficul... more The mechanical characterisation of mortars sampled from existing masonry is usually very difficult when not impossible. Joints are usually so thin that it is impossible to apply the traditional codified tests that are carried out on new mortars produced in laboratory. Furthermore, it is important to characterise the masonry as a whole rather than as single components. Masonry is a composite material that is frequently inhomogeneous. A relationship between the components and the masonry itself usually does not exist. Nevertheless, a mechanical characterisation of the original mortar can be useful to inform the choice of mortar for repair. In the last decade many proposals have been made of tools for the on-site characterisation of mortars (drills, Schmidt hammer, etc). For the laboratory characterisation of historic mortar samples some tests are proposed below within these Recommendations.
The authors have intensively studied the Syracuse Cathedral in order to evaluate the structural s... more The authors have intensively studied the Syracuse Cathedral in order to evaluate the structural state of preservation of the building. The Cathedral of Syracuse was built in d ifferent phases on an ancient Greek temple f rom the 5th cent b.C. and modified along the centuries. The pillars of the central nave, obtained by cutting the walls of the temple
During their service life, masonry structures subjected to an aggressive environment may suffer d... more During their service life, masonry structures subjected to an aggressive environment may suffer degradation according to the type of their component materials and the technique of construction. This can lead the structure to high states of damage even if not failures. The great randomness connected with the occurrence of critical attacks suggests approaching the deterioration process of masonries under a probabilistic point of view. Following this way, the deterioration process L(t) of the stone masonry of a full-scale physical model, has been carried out. It has been approached as: 1) L(t) time dependent stochastic process of the r.v. l. 2) L(t) time dependent stochastic process of the r.v. τ.
1 , E. PAPA 2 ABSTRACT This paper presents a non-linear finite element mat erial model for the an... more 1 , E. PAPA 2 ABSTRACT This paper presents a non-linear finite element mat erial model for the analysis of the mechanical beha vior of multi-leaf masonry, which is quite frequently used in ancient stone masonry buildings. A damage model, previously developed by some of the authors for bri ttle materials (namely, concrete) was adapted to fi t the experimental stress -strain behavior of stone masonry. To this end, a da mage evolution law originally proposed for concrete was modified and a new material parameter was added. A distinguishing feature of this model is that damage is characterized by a second-o rder tensor, thus allowing oriented 'cracks' to be described; the orientation of the cracks is fixed o nce they are activated, whatever the subsequent str ess history is. Then, the modified model was implemented into a subroutine, linked to a commercial finite element code suitable for nonlinear analyses (FEAP). In order to validate the obtained material model, results avai l...
Methanolic extract of Ficus platyphylla was tested on isolated rabbit jejunum, rat duodenum and g... more Methanolic extract of Ficus platyphylla was tested on isolated rabbit jejunum, rat duodenum and gastrointestinal motility in mice. The extract showed a biphasic effect on isolated smooth muscle. Lower concentration of extract caused contraction, while higher concentrations produced relaxation. The contractile phase was attenuated by atropine, while relaxant phase attenuated histamine induced contraction of guinea pig ileum. The extract also exhibited a dose-dependent inhibition of gastrointestinal motility. Acute toxicity test in mice established LD50 value (i.p.) of the extract to be 2000 mg/kg. Preliminary phytochemical screening of the extract gave positive test for flavonoids, tannins and saponins.
Effect of the aqueous leaf extract of I. gabonensis on the gastrointestinal tract was investigate... more Effect of the aqueous leaf extract of I. gabonensis on the gastrointestinal tract was investigated on isolated rabbit jejunum, guinea pig ileum, gastrointestinal motility, castor oil-induced diarrhoea in mice and castor oil-induced fluid accumulation in rats. The results showed that the extract exhibited a concentration-dependent relaxation of spontaneous pendular movement of isolated rabbit jejunum and guinea pig ileum, and attenuated both acetylcholine-induced contraction of rabbit jejunum and histamine-induced contraction of guinea pig ileum. The extract (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg) also caused a significant dose-dependent decrease of gastrointestinal motility in mice (40.12, 39.45 and 37.45%), intestinal fluid accumulation in rats (71.43, 81.63 and 83.27%), and remarkably protected mice against castor oil-induced diarrhoea [58.33, 75 and 91.67% (Di Carlo score)] respectively. Preliminary phytochemical screening of the aqueous leaf extract of I. gabonensis revealed the presence of sa...
... the presence of phytosterols, flavonoids, saponins and other glycosides, in addition to sugar... more ... the presence of phytosterols, flavonoids, saponins and other glycosides, in addition to sugars and ascorbic acid (Salama &amp; Ibrahim, 1979 ... Adegunloye BJ, Owolabi, OA, Ajagbona OP, Sofola OA (1993): Petal extract of Hibiscus sabdariffa elicits relaxation of rat aorta by stabilizing ...
Effects of the aqueous extract of Sphaeranthus senegalensis Vaill. (Family: Compositae) were stud... more Effects of the aqueous extract of Sphaeranthus senegalensis Vaill. (Family: Compositae) were studied on spontaneous motor activity, exploratory behaviour, rota-rod performance and pentobarbital sleeping time in mice. Preliminary phytochemical evaluation and acute toxicity (LD 50 ) values were also studied. The extract (50 and 100 mg/kg p.o.) produced reduction in spontaneous motor activity, exploratory behaviour and motor coordination and prolonged pentobarbital sleeping time. Glycosides, saponins and tannins were shown to be present in the extract. The i.p. LD 50 in mice was 2735.61 and 5000 mg/kg orally. The results suggest that the aqueous extract of S. senegalensis contains some active principles, which may be sedative in nature.
The present study evaluated the neuropharmacological effects of the aqueous extract of Nauclea la... more The present study evaluated the neuropharmacological effects of the aqueous extract of Nauclea latifolia root bark in rodents. Effects on the spontaneous motor activity (SMA), exploratory behaviour, pentobarbital sleeping time, apomorphine-induced stereotypic behaviour and motor coordination (rota-rod performance) were investigated. The extract (50-200 mg/kg p.o.) significantly (P < 0.05) decreased the SMA and exploratory behaviour in mice and prolonged pentobarbital sleeping time in rats dose-dependently. The extract also remarkably attenuated the intensity of apomorphine-induced stereotypy dose-dependently in mice, but had no effect on motor coordination as determined by the performance on rota-rod. These results indicate the presence of psychoactive substances in the aqueous extract of the root bark of Nauclea latifolia.
The anti-diarrhoeal and ulcer-protective properties of the aqueous root extract of Guiera senegal... more The anti-diarrhoeal and ulcer-protective properties of the aqueous root extract of Guiera senegalensis, a popular herbal traditional medicine in Nigeria were investigated in rats and mice. Acute toxicity studies were also carried out. The intestinal transit in mice was significantly (P &lt; 0.05) reduced and gastric emptying delayed. One hundred and Two hundred milligrams per kilogram (p.o.) of the extract elicited a greater anti-motility activity than 0.1 mg/kg of atropine. The extract exhibited ulcer-protective properties against ethanol-induced ulceration in rats with maximal anti-ulcer activity recorded at 100 mg/kg. Guiera senegalensis also exerted significant anti-enteropooling effects causing a dose-related inhibitory effect on castor oil-induced enteropooling in rats. A profound anti-diarrhoeal activity was observed when Guiera senegalensis was tested in diarrhoeic mice. The frequency of defaecation as well as the wetness of the faecal droppings was significantly reduced. Furthermore, the extract produced 100% inhibition of castor oil-induced diarrhoea in mice. The oral LD50 values obtained were &gt; 5000 mg/kg in both mice and rats. The results support the folkloric applications of Guiera senegalensis for the treatment of diarrhoea and ulcer in Nigerian herbal traditional medicine.
The aqueous extract of Crinum giganteum given intraperitoneally at doses of 6.25, 12.5 and 25 mg/... more The aqueous extract of Crinum giganteum given intraperitoneally at doses of 6.25, 12.5 and 25 mg/kg in rats prolonged the duration of pentobarbital sleeping time and in mice reduced spontaneous motor activity, decreased the exploratory activity and attenuated amphetamine-induced stereotype behavior. The intraperitoneal and oral preliminary LD50 in mice were found to be 627 and 1468 mg/kg, respectively. The data obtained suggest that the aqueous extract of C. giganteum contains some biologically active principles with sedative activity.
Artemisinin or qinghaosu is the active principle of quinghao (Artemisia annua L.) developed from ... more Artemisinin or qinghaosu is the active principle of quinghao (Artemisia annua L.) developed from Chinese traditional medicine, which is now widely used around the world against falciparum malaria. Behavioural effects of high acute doses of artemisinin were studied on spontaneous motor activity (SMA), exploratory behavior, apomorphine-induced stereotype behavior and pentobarbital sleeping time in mice and rats in order to provide additional evidence on its safety profile on the central nervous system (CNS). Effects of the drug on bromocriptine-induced hyperactivity in short term reserpinised mice were also evaluated. Intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of artemisinin at doses of 50 and 100mg/kg, significantly (P&lt;0.05) reduced the SMA in mice, prolonged the pentobarbital sleeping time in rats, and attenuated the apomorphine-induced stereotypy in mice. Mice pretreated with reserpine, showed a significant decrease in locomotor activity compared to the saline-treated group. Bromocriptine, a D(2) receptor agonist, induced locomotor activity in mice pretreated with reserpine which was attenuated by artemisinin. The results suggest that artemisinin possesses sedative property, which may be mediated via postsynaptic dopamine (D(2)) receptor in the CNS.
The 1997 Umbria -Marche earthquake offered a unique opportunity to verify the knowledge on seismi... more The 1997 Umbria -Marche earthquake offered a unique opportunity to verify the knowledge on seismic response and on retrofitting strategies of historic masonry structures which have been developed during the last twenty years. Severe damages were in fact suffered also by those buildings that had already been, and in some cases were still being, repaired and strengthenedafter the effects of the previous 1979 earthquake -according to the most updated expertise in this field, as it is expressed by the national recommendations. The study of the actual efficiency of current techniques for repairing and strengthening historic masonry is particularly dealt with in the paper. To this scope, the authors are carrying out extensive surveys on damaged buildings in order to accurately analyze the observed failure mechanisms. The crucial problems of the structure and materials incompatibility that frequently occurred are particularly taken into account.
Forensic science international. Genetics, Jan 21, 2015
DNA profiles can be used as evidence to distinguish between possible donors of a crime stain. In ... more DNA profiles can be used as evidence to distinguish between possible donors of a crime stain. In some cases, both the prosecution and the defence claim that the cell material was left by the suspect but they dispute which cell type was left behind. For example, in sexual offense cases the prosecution could claim that the sample contains semen cells where the defence argues that the sample contains skin cells. In these cases, traditional methods (e.g. a phosphatase test) can be used to examine the cell type contained in the sample. However, there are some drawbacks when using these methods. For instance, many of these techniques need to be carried out separately for each cell type and each of them requires part of the available sample, which reduces the amount that can be used for DNA analysis. Another option is messenger RNA (mRNA) evidence. mRNA expression levels vary among cell types and can be used to make (probability) statements about the cell type(s) present in a sample. Exist...
Historic building, either famous monuments or "minor" architecture of historic centers need to be... more Historic building, either famous monuments or "minor" architecture of historic centers need to be investigated in order to carry out repair aimed to their preservation. Non destructive techniques should be applied on site and destructive investigation limited to minor sampling. A methodology for investigation is outlined describing advantages and limits of the different techniques. Need for guidelines in Codes and Standards are also stressed.
The mechanical characterisation of mortars sampled from existing masonry is usually very difficul... more The mechanical characterisation of mortars sampled from existing masonry is usually very difficult when not impossible. Joints are usually so thin that it is impossible to apply the traditional codified tests that are carried out on new mortars produced in laboratory. Furthermore, it is important to characterise the masonry as a whole rather than as single components. Masonry is a composite material that is frequently inhomogeneous. A relationship between the components and the masonry itself usually does not exist. Nevertheless, a mechanical characterisation of the original mortar can be useful to inform the choice of mortar for repair. In the last decade many proposals have been made of tools for the on-site characterisation of mortars (drills, Schmidt hammer, etc). For the laboratory characterisation of historic mortar samples some tests are proposed below within these Recommendations.
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