Dinamiche territoriali nella Media Valle dell’Aterno in età moderna dal XV al XVIII secolo. Il contado aquilano tra geografia storica e applicazioni geotecnologiche

Il lavoro analizza le dinamiche territoriali di nove castelli della Media Valle dell'Aterno nel corso dell'età moderna, area storicamente connessa alla città dell’Aquila in quanto parte del suo contado e per tale ragione inscritta nel processo di fondazione urbana a partire dal XIII secolo. Con una metodologia di lavoro imperniata sull'incrocio tra fonti di varia tipologia (cartografia storica, fonti a stampa e fonti manoscritte provenienti da diverse conservatorie archivistiche pubbliche), unito alla ricerca sul campo, la ricerca ha focalizzato l'attenzione sull'evoluzione territoriale di questa porzione di Abruzzo interno con riguardo particolare a due linee tematiche proprie degli studi storico-geografici. In primo luogo lo studio ha perseguito il tema della ricostruzione dei paesaggi storici attraverso il contributo delle fonti storico-cartografiche e delle fonti catastali interpellate nella loro potenzialità ermeneutica dei passati quadri geo-antropici, tenendo conto del rapporto tra rappresentazioni e centri di potere - alle diverse scale - in termini di committenza e di dinamiche di circolazione delle scritture del territorio. La seconda direttrice tematica richiama l'argomento delle discontinuità territoriali che coinvolsero i centri in esame. Nel dettaglio si è analizzato il rapporto tra disastri e fenomeni di territorializzazione e deterritorializzazione con specifico riferimento alle conseguenze sui contesti antropici della crisi sismica del 1703 - che nell'area risultano quasi del tutto sconosciute dalla prospettiva dei dati raccolti all'interno dei cataloghi dei terremoti storici dell'Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia - e a un episodio di eccesso idrico del fiume, le cui implicazioni sono state approfondite analizzando la risposta comunitaria di una singola università feudale e le differenti percezioni dell'alluvione nelle fonti documentali, veicolate da specifiche logiche di potere incarnate dalle parti sociali. Per ultimo, l'elaborato propone una messa a valore delle informazioni storico-territoriali emerse dall'interrogazione delle fonti attraverso la creazione di una WebApp, ideata su piattaforma ArcGIS Online e concepita per incentivare una lettura critico-propositiva dei dati funzionale alle attività di programmazione degli attori territoriali (istituzioni, progettisti, associazioni culturali, cooperative di comunità, università, istituti scolastici), affinché le fasi di studio preliminare che precedono i processi di pianificazione sommino il concorso delle conoscenze storico-geografiche

Enhancing radiological characterization through static 2D and free-moving 3D Gamma-ray imaging

Radiological characterization of radioactive materials, waste, and areas often relies on gamma-ray spectrometry for rapid, low-cost, yet reliable quantification of gamma-ray-emitting radionuclides. However, the applicability of gamma-ray spectrometry can be limited by the static nature of commonly used systems (such as High Purity Germanium crystals), and performance can be affected by the lack of knowledge regarding the matrix and distribution of radioactivity. These limitations can be mitigated by using a gamma-ray spectrometry system equipped with gamma-ray imaging capabilities. In recent years, this has become possible thanks to advancements in crystal manufacturing, electronics, and imaging and calculation algorithms. State-of-the-art systems, such as the 3D position-sensitive CdZnTe, now provide radioactivity distribution data as 2D heat maps superimposed on optical images of the space. However, the adoption of this technique has not yet become widespread among end-users in the nuclear field, partly due to the lack of trusted reference experiences. Therefore, the primary goal of this thesis was to conduct a series of experiments that could serve as reference cases for the application of gamma-ray imaging. The three tasks investigated were: radiological surveys (including the evaluation of gamma irradiation channels and the assessment of Special Nuclear Materials), direct quantification of gamma-ray emitters through spectrometric capabilities, and qualitative 3D reconstruction of radioactivity in a generic item. Special attention was given to integrating the results of these radiological surveys into the 3D model of a generic installation, following the Building Information Modeling (BIM) methodology. The experiments confirmed the reliability of imaging techniques for all these tasks, leading to improvements in accuracy and significantly enhancing the level of information available to users. However, they also revealed certain limitations of current gamma-ray imaging technology, particularly the native 2D output and the subjective positioning of the gamma-ray imager, even though this flexibility is typically an advantage in practical in-situ applications. To overcome these limitations and enhance gamma-ray imaging performance, a new device concept was designed and realized: a space-aware, free-moving detection system that pairs gamma-ray imaging (and potentially other sensors) with a Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM) tool. This system tracks the detector’s position and orientation in real-time, reconstructing the environment as a point cloud, which allows for the generation of a 3D model of radioactivity. Several tests were conducted using this system, validating its performance with known sources and mock-ups of real waste

On the cyber security analysis of computerized transportation systems

Questa tesi indaga le sfide e le vulnerabilità della sicurezza informatica nei moderni sistemi di trasporto computerizzati, con un'attenzione particolare ai settori marittimo e aeronautico. Man mano che i sistemi di trasporto diventano sempre più digitalizzati e interconnessi, affrontano rischi di sicurezza informatica crescenti che potrebbero compromettere la sicurezza e le operazioni. Attraverso ricerche approfondite e sperimentazioni utilizzando banchi di prova appositamente costruiti, questo lavoro fornisce diversi contributi chiave alla comprensione e alla risoluzione di queste sfide. Innanzitutto, questa tesi presenta nuove metodologie di test e ambienti specializzati progettati per consentire una valutazione approfondita della sicurezza delle tecnologie e dei protocolli unici dei sistemi di trasporto. In secondo luogo, questa tesi rivela 12 vulnerabilità precedentemente non scoperte nei sistemi di trasporto. Tra i risultati degni di nota figurano attacchi contro i sistemi di automazione e radar marittimi, i sistemi di prevenzione delle collisioni delle navi autonome e i sistemi di prevenzione delle collisioni aeronautiche. In terzo luogo, propone e valuta varie strategie di rimedio, inclusi sistemi di rilevamento per anomalie radar, quadri di formazione migliorati per i centri operativi di sicurezza marittima e protocolli ottimizzati per le comunicazioni nave-terra.This thesis investigates cybersecurity challenges and vulnerabilities in modern computerized transportation systems, with a particular focus on maritime and aviation domains. As transportation systems become increasingly digitized and interconnected, they face growing cybersecurity risks that could compromise safety and operations. Through extensive research and experimentation using purpose-built testbeds, this work makes several key contributions to understanding and addressing these challenges. First, this thesis presents novel testing methodologies and specialized environments designed to enable thorough security evaluation of transportation systems' unique technologies and protocols. Second, this thesis uncovers 12 previously undiscovered vulnerabilities in transportation systems. Notable findings include attacks against maritime automation and radar systems, autonomous ship collision avoidance systems, and aviation collision avoidance systems. Third, it proposes and evaluates various remediation strategies, including detection systems for radar anomalies, improved training frameworks for maritime security operations centers, and optimized protocols for ship-to-shore communications

Using Dalbavancin for the treatment of acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSIs) in obese patients. A real-life, single-center observational study

Background/Objectives: Obesity is an established risk factor for several infective conditions, including Acute Bacterial Skin and Skin Structure Infections (ABSSSIs), with a rising trend in their incidence expected in this population. Although numerous antibiotics are available for the prevention and treatment of ABSSSIs, their characterization in obese patients is not a regulatory mandate, highlighting a knowledge gap in this field. Dalbavancin (DAL) is the first approved long-acting antibiotic for the treatment of ABSSSIs. The aim of the study was to describe the clinical effectiveness of DAL in the treatment of ABSSSI, with or without concomitant osteoarticular infections (OAIs), in obese patients compared with non-obese patients. Furthermore, we compared the effectiveness of DAL and intravenous standard of care (SOC) regimens in a subgroup of obese patients with ABSSSI. Results: Overall, 45 subjects treated with DAL (12 obese and 33 non-obese) and 8 obese subjects treated with SOC regimens (1:1 ratio) were included. Obese patients treated with DAL had a similar clinical resolution to non-obese patients. However, obese patients tended to have a better cure rate in ABSSSI than OAI. The subgroup of obese patients with ABSSSI had a high clinical resolution, which was comparable to that of SOC. DAL was overall highly tolerated in obese patients. Methods: Over a three-year period, hospitalized subjects with ABSSSI who were treated with DAL were included. Patients were further divided into two groups according to the presence/absence of obesity (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2). Furthermore, obese patients treated with DAL were compared with obese patients treated with SOC (1:1 ratio). Conclusions: In our real-world study, DAL confirmed its high effectiveness in the treatment of ABSSSI, including in a difficult-to-treat population such as obese patients

Development and analysis of circuit-level solutions for accurate high-speed SAR converters

Handling large flows of data is one of the main challenges of the modern world. High-performance computing infrastructures and telecommunication networks require data interfaces capable of high bit rates. Due to the inherent robustness of digital signal processing (DSP) techniques, high-speed data interfaces have been increasingly relying on digital elaboration to implement key functionalities such as demodulation and equalization. Clearly, these system depend on high-speed analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) to move signals to the digital domain. Over the last 15 years, successive approximation register (SAR) ADCs have become increasingly popular in a wide variety of applications thanks to their ability to take advantage of technological scaling. Through time interleaving, SAR converters are able to achieve the sampling rates required by the most advanced communication systems while maintaining remarkable power efficiency. Clearly, the performance of a time-interleaved (TI) ADC depends considerably on the characteristics of the single-channel converters that are part of it. A single-channel ADC for time interleaving applications should exhibit a good balance between speed and power consumption and target an effective resolution that is slightly above the specification of the system. In high-speed ADCs with medium-high resolutions (8-10 bit), increasing the sampling rate without compromising accuracy can represent a challenging task. For this reason, the investigation of techniques that relax the trade-off between sampling frequency and noise/distortion is a research field of great relevance. This thesis explores circuit-level solutions for improving the speed/accuracy trade-off in SAR converters, focusing on the optimization of the comparator and capacitive DAC (CDAC). In particular, the present manuscript introduces a novel CDAC switching scheme and three novel comparator topologies. The proposed switching scheme allows to adjust the trajectory of the output common-mode voltage of the CDAC in such a way to optimize comparator performance. The proposed comparators, on the other hand, achieve low delay with no penalties in terms of input-referred noise and offset. In addition, the three comparator topologies have been analyzed in order to provide a theoretical validation and to derive useful design guidelines for each of them. This manuscript also describes the design and characterization of ADC1 and ADC2, two high-speed SAR ADCs implemented in 55 nm CMOS in the context of a prototyping activity for the “Sustainable tecHnologies enablIng Future Telecom applications” (SHIFT) project. The development of the two converters also represented an opportunity for further validating the proposed CDAC switching scheme and one of the aforementioned comparator topologies. Post-layout simulation results highlight the effectiveness of the proposed approaches. ADC2, in particular, achieves a sampling rate of 200 MS/s and a signal to noise and distortion ratio (SNDR) of 57.5 dB while absorbing 2.37 mW from a 1 V supply. The resulting Walden figure of merit (FoM) is approximately 19 fJ/conv. step, which is close to the recent state of the art in the field of high-speed SAR ADCs. The two converters will be also characterized through measurements as soon as the prototypes are available

Linking platelet reactivity, cardiac autonomic dysfunction and inflammation in patients with acute coronary syndromes: a complex puzzle to be solved with potential therapeutic implications

Background Platelets reactivity, inflammation and autonomic nervous system (ANS) dysfunction have been shown to play a role in the pathophysiology of acute coronary syndromes (ACS). However, whether differences in their individual and combined involvement in patients with ACS and obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) and those who show normal or near normal arteries at angiography is not known. Methods We have conducted an observational, longitudinal, prospective study recruiting 92 patients who were admitted to hospital because of non-ST-segment elevated ACS (NSTE-ACS) with increased troponin levels compatible with acute myocardial infarction (MI). The study population was divided in two main groups: 1) Group MI-CAD (MI with obstructive CAD; n=46): patients diagnosed with a hemodynamically significant stenosis in one or more coronary vessels; 2) Group MINOCA (MI with non obstructive CAD; n=46): patients without any hemodynamically significant stenosis at coronary angiography. Patients underwent standard clinical, laboratory and instrumental evaluations during hospitalization and follow-up. We specifically evaluated 1) platelet reactivity to ADP, TRAP6 and increasing doses of epinephrine; 2) levels of inflammatory cytokines (IL-8, IL-6, IL-18, TNFα); 3) cardiac autonomic nervous system function by Heart Rate Variability (HRV) parameters, using 24-hour ECG Holter recordings. As a control group, we enrolled 38 asymptomatic subjects who had no history or evidence, based on clinical visit, electrocardiogram and echocardiogram, of any cardiovascular disease. In control subjects, platelet reactivity and inflammatory indices were assessed using the same methods applied in the other two groups. Results There were no significant differences in platelet reactivity between the 3 groups in basal conditions. In contrast, platelet activation resulted significantly higher in MINOCA patients compared to MI-CAD, both after ADP 0.5 μM (p<0.001) and TRAP-6 10 μM stimulation (p<0.001). MINOCA patients also showed a higher platelet activation in response to TRAP6 (p<0.05) compared to controls. There were no significant differences in platelet activation between MINOCA and MI- CAD patients after stimulation with high (p=0.99), intermediate (p=0.78) or low doses (p=0,46) of epinephrine. In both groups of patients, however, stimulation with intermediate and high doses of epinephrine resulted in a significantly higher platelet activation compared to control subjects. The subgroup analysis by antiplatelet therapy regimen showed a significantly greater increase in platelet activation after stimulation with ADP and TRAP6 in the antiplatelet therapy naïve patients (NAPT), compared to SAPT (p<0.01) and DAPT population (p<0.01). Platelet response to ADP and TRAP6 was also greater in SAPT compared DAPT patients (p<0.01). No differences between NAPT, SAPT and DAPT groups were observed in platelet activation in response to epinephrine stimulation. The analysis of pro-inflammatory cytokines showed significantly higher levels of IL-6 in MICAD patients compared to both MINOCA patients and controls; IL-6 levels were also significantly higher in MINOCA patients, compared to healthy controls. No significant differences among groups were found for other cytokines. HRV variables did not significantly differ between MI-CAD and MINOCA patients. Among the various cytokines analyzed, however, IL-6 levels appeared consistently associated with lower HRV values, and this association was particularly evident in MINOCA patients. Conclusion The findings of the present study indicate that platelet reactivity is higher in MINOCA patients compared to healthy subjects, both in response to ADP, TRAP6 and medium-high concentrations of epinephrine, suggesting a possible role in the mechanisms responsible for this acute clinical syndrome. The strong correlation between IL-6 levels and HRV parameters in MINOCA patients suggests a significant interplay between inflammation and the sympathetic autonomic nervous system within this patient group, which might also contribute to the pathophysiologic mechanisms of the syndrome. Further specifically designed studies are needed to better clarify the pathophysiologic role and the clinical implications that the findings emerging from our data have in the populations of patients with NSTE-ACS with or without obstructive CAD

The role of microbiota in urinary tract cancer

The present study aimed to investigate the bladder microbiome composition in the controls (stress incontinence) and bladder cancer patients (women only) to understand the microbial community structure, microbial diversity and potential role of specific taxa in the disease. For this purpose, 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing was performed to get a detailed profile of the bladder microbiota in the two groups. Despite clinical differences, the findings from a bioinformatics analysis on the alpha and beta diversity showed no significant differences. Both groups showed similar Shannon diversity index and Simpson’s diversity index, suggesting that microbial richness and diversity remained consistent between these groups. Also, the PERMANOVA results indicated no statistically significant difference in the overall bacterial community composition between control and patient groups (p > 0.05). However, a prominent shift in the microbial composition was noticed, with the control group showing elevated amounts of genera such as Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, while the bladder cancer patient group had a higher abundance of genera such as Escherichia Shigella and Corynebacterium. This study provides an in depth examination of the bacterial composition in the bladder cancer patients and control in women, covering various stages from the collection of samples to advanced microbial analysis. The findings suggest that specific microbial shifts, particularly the overrepresentation of certain genera in bladder cancer patients, could serve as potential biomarkers for non invasive diagnostic testing. This study also employed both traditional urine culture (STD) and expanded quantitative urine culture (EQUC) under aerobic and anaerobic conditions to identify and isolate colonies from these culture conditions and which were preserved to perform future MALDI TOF MS analysis and characterize bacterial species of potential therapeutic or diagnostic use

Spinning Technology in Classical Attica: The Iconographic Evidence

Vase painters from Classical Athens left us a rich repertoire of representations including spinning women. Between the late 6th and the early 4th c. BCE spinning scenes became increasingly popular in Attic workshops, adding to our knowledge of spinning as a form of labour rich in social meaning. In the past, these spinning scenes have been the subject of several detailed iconogra-phic studies. Those, however, focused almost exclusively on contextual analysis, with “who is spinning” as the main question to be answered. Attic spinning scenes are not unknown in ancient textile studies and are often quoted as a precious source. Nonetheless, no detailed study was ever conducted on these scenes to investigate spinning itself rather than spinners. This study thus aims to fill in the gap, investigating these representations solely as evidence for spinning technology. Two fundamental questions are therefore raised: “how are the women spinning” and “what are they spinning with”? To answer the first question, a thorough gestural analysis was carried out in order to assess not only how the women are spinning, but also to what extent vase painters tried – and managed – to “accurately” represent this predominantly female task. The second question is more relevant for present and future research alike, as to this day very little is known about ancient distaffs and spindles. These fundamental tools are rarely attested in the archaeological record and recognizing them is not always an easy task. This paper presents a careful examination of the iconographic material, contextualised through comparisons with excavated tools from the Greek world as well as from the wider Mediterranean. It is thus suggested that vase painting is a reliable and fruitful source of information to (re)identify spinning tools in the archaeological record. By investigating how the spinning craft was represented by Attic painters, alternating between verisimilitude and stylization, this study ultimately aims at a better understanding of spinning technology and spinning tools in Attica

Violence against healthcare workers in a university hospital of central italy: how risk management interventions can help change a trend

Background/Objectives: Violence against workers (physical, verbal, or psychological abuse), even if it affects all professional categories, is up to ten times higher in healthcare workers. A University Hospital of Central Italy has gradually implemented a series of preventive measures, which might have impacted the trend of the phenomenon. Methods: In order to monitor the episodes, an aggressive event reporting form was adopted throughout the hospital. Data extracted both from this form and the root cause analysis documentation regarding the period January 2019–December 2023 were used. Descriptive statistical analysis was performed using the Chi-squares test, while the join point regression program was used to analyze the trends. Results: The average age of the sample is 43.5 years, with twice as many female workers as male workers. Nurses are more frequently involved (76.6%), and 58% of the events involved 2 to 4 HWs. Verbal violence was reported by 51.2% of HWs, and over 35% of them did not suffer any damage, while 25% suffered mild to moderate damage (illness, injury, or material harm, whether physical or psychological). The hospital divisions which are primarily concerned are the Psychiatry department (36.2%) and the Emergency Room (33.4%). There is no difference in hospital management of aggressive events between males and females. Join point regression analyses showed that there was a significant increase in the reporting of episodes of aggression. Conclusions: The presence of a strong culture of reporting among HWs guarantees a seemingly constant increase in the reporting of nonphysical forms of violence. The statistically significant differences found will allow hospital management to categorize the risk levels and act accordingly

The dilemma of X-linked agammaglobulinemia carriers

Background: Many patients with X-linked agammaglobulinemia (XLA) nowadays have reached adulthood, as well as their sisters, possibly carriers of a deleterious Bruton tyrosine kinase variant. Studies on motherhood outcomes in families with XLA are lacking. Objective: We sought to investigate adherence to carrier status screening, interest in preconception and prenatal genetic counseling, and reproductive decisions in relatives with XLA. Methods: In this multicenter, retrospective cohort study, we collected a 3-generation pedigree and data on mothers and sisters of patients with XLA, including carrier status and pregnancy outcome. Results: Data on 53 adults with XLA, 52 mothers, and 33 sisters were collected. All XLA sisters received genetic counseling. Forty percent of the sisters chose to undergo carrier status determination, and 60% of them chose invasive prenatal testing. The main reasons for the sisters to decide not to undergo genetic testing were their young age and the willingness to carry on with the pregnancy regardless of the outcome of the genetic test, followed by the willingness to postpone the decision at the time of pregnancy and the decision to not have children. Prenatal testing resulted in 5 XLA diagnoses, with 2 pregnancy terminations, 1 miscarriage, and 2 XLA live births. Three carriers refused prenatal testing and had 6 live births, including 3 XLA-affected sons. One sister was diagnosed as a carrier after the birth of an XLA-affected son. In total, 9 XLA diagnoses were made, including 6 live births. Conclusions: A number of XLA sister carriers decided to carry on with their pregnancy after receiving the diagnosis of an affected fetus or after refusing prenatal testing. We propose to initiate a more extensive collaborative study to verify the effect of genetic counseling on families with XLA in other cohorts from different countries