Damage assessment of Apennine masonry churches severely damaged during the 2016 Central Italy seismic sequence

The masonry churches in the Apennine area of Central Italy were severely affected by the 2016 earthquakes. The damages of some of these are analysed by considering their typical features such as slender walls, bell-gables, vaults, etc. The behaviours exhibited by these churches are compared with the numerical results on 3D Finite Element Models. This study aims to show how the role of geometry and irregularities present in the structures are fundamental in the analysis of local and global behaviours. Another objective is to investigate the applicability of the nonlinear approach recommended by manuals and codes. This work confirms that with the usual nonlinear static analysis, despite the approximations introduced in the models, it is possible to identify (qualitative way) the critical areas of the structure that could trigger collapses. Therefore, this type of analysis shows once again that it is a suitable tool for planning interventions to preserve the heritage

Sistema di presa per lavorazioni a elevata precisione

Sistema di presa per lavorazioni a elevata precisione, comprendente: - un organo terminale comprendente una pluralità di segmenti meccanici, connesso a un manipolatore robotico; - una unità elettronica di controllo, connessa alla pluralità di segmenti meccanici, provvista di almeno una unità di memoria; - almeno un modulo ottico, connesso all’unità elettronica di controllo; - un prodotto informatico archiviato nell’unità elettronica di controllo, configurato per la gestione della pluralità di segmenti meccanici, del modulo ottico e per il riconoscimento visuale di forme geometriche di prodotti, posizionati removibilmente su un supporto esterno e ripresi per mezzo del modulo ottico

Changes in hospital admissions for facial fractures during and after COVID 19 pandemic: national multicentric epidemiological analysis on 2938 patients

Purpose: The objective of this multicenter study was to examine the differences in maxillo-facial fractures epidemiology across the various phases of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Methods: This is a retrospective study on patients who underwent surgery for facial bone fractures in 18 maxillo-facial surgery departments in Italy, spanning from June 23, 2019, to February 23, 2022. Based on the admission date, the data were classified into four chronological periods reflecting distinct periods of restrictions in Italy: pre-pandemic, first wave, partial restrictions, and post-pandemic. Epidemiological differences across the groups were analysed. Results: The study included 2938 patients. A statistically significant difference in hospitalization causes was detected between the pre-pandemic and first wave groups (p = 0.005) and between the pre-pandemic and partial restriction groups (p = 0.002). The differences between the pre- and post-pandemic groups were instead not significant (p = 0.106). Compared to the pre-pandemic period, the number of patients of African origin was significantly higher during the first wave and the post-pandemic period. No statistically significant differences were found across the periods concerning gender, age, fracture type, treatment approach, and hospital stay duration Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic brought about significant changes in fracture epidemiology, influenced by the restrictive measures enforced by the government in Italy. Upon the pandemic’s conclusion, the fracture epidemiology returned to the patterns observed in the pre-pandemic period

Glucometrics and device satisfaction in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes using different treatment modalities: A multicenter real-world observational study

Aims: To analyze metabolic outcomes, diabetes impact and device satisfaction in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes in Italy who used different treatment modalities for diabetes care in a real-life context. Methods: In this multicenter, nationwide, cross-sectional study, 1464 participants were enrolled at a routine visit. The following treatment modalities were considered MDI + SMBG; MDI + CGM; Sensor Augmented Pump Therapy; predictive management of low glucose; Hybrid Closed Loop (HCL); Advanced Hybrid Closed Loop (AHCL). Health related quality of life was evaluated by the Italian version of the Diabetes Impact and Device Satisfaction Scale (DIDS) questionnaire. Results: Patients treated with AID systems were more likely to have HbA1c ≤ 6.5 %, higher percentage of time with glucose levels between 70 and 180 mg/dL, lower percentage of time with glucose levels above 180 mg/dL, higher device satisfaction, and reduced impact of diabetes. All the therapeutic modalities with respect to MDI + CGM, except for MDI + SMBG, contributed to increase the device satisfaction. HCL and AHCL respect to MDI + CGM were associated with lower diabetes impact. Conclusion: Real-life use of automated insulin delivery systems is associated with reduced type 1 diabetes impact, increased device satisfaction, and achievement of glycemic goals

The first LC-MS/MS stereoselective bioanalytical methods to quantitatively detect 9R- and 9S-hexahydrocannabinols and their metabolites in human blood, oral fluid and urine

A sensitive LC-MS/MS method for the simultaneous quantification of the (9 R)- and (9 S)- hexahydrocannabinols (HHCs), and their metabolites, in human urine, oral fluid (OF) and blood samples were developed, validated and used to the biological samples of volunteers. The analytes were extracted from 100 mu L human samples. An isocratic elution mode with methanol was used for chromatographic separation of (9 R)- and (9 S)-HHC on an immobilized amylose tris(3-chloro-5-methylphenylcarbamate)-based chiral column Lux i-Amylose-3. The flow-rate of the mobile phase was 0.5 mL/min. An isocratic elution mode of methanol and water (80/20, v/v) was used for chromatographic separation of metabolites of (9 R)- and (9 S)-HHC on a Lux AMP chiral column (with a proprietary chiral selector) at a flow rate of 0.5 mL/min. MS/MS analysis was performed in positive ionization mode for HHC epimers, while in negative ionization mode was used for metabolites of HHCs. The calibration curves for HHCs and their metabolites in human samples ranged from 0.25- 240 ng mL(-1) and 1 - 100 ng mL(-1), respectively, with determination coefficients (r(2)) of >= 0.99. All analytes were stable at room temperature, 4 degrees C, in the autosampler (+10 degrees C) and -20 degrees C for 24 h, after three freeze/thaw cycles, and when stored at -20 degrees C up to one week after quality control (QC) sample preparation (concentration differences less than 20% with respect to time zero response), in blood, urine and OF

Geopolitical Risks' Spillovers Across Countries and on Commodity Markets. A Dynamic Analysis

We investigate the geopolitical risk transmission between G7-BRICS countries and commodity futures prices. We find geopolitical instability after the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. In a context where the G7 countries geopolitically influence the BRICS and vice versa, we also find that the United States, Germany, India and Russia emerge as the predominant source of spillovers. The futures prices most influenced by geopolitical risks are those relating to energy

Chemical engineering of cationic distribution in spinel ferrite nanoparticles: the effect on the magnetic properties

A set of ∼9 nm CoFe2O4 nanoparticles substituted with Zn2+ and Ni2+ was prepared by thermal decomposition of metallic acetylacetonate precursors to correlate the effects of replacement of Co2+ with the resulting magnetic properties. Due to the distinct selectivity of these cations for the spinel ferrite crystal sites, we show that it is possible to tailor the magnetic anisotropy, saturation magnetization, and interparticle interactions of the nanoparticles during the synthesis stage. This approach unlocks new possibilities for enhancing the performance of spinel ferrite nanoparticles in specific applications. Particularly, our study shows that the replacement of Co2+ by 48% of Zn2+ ions led to an increase in saturation magnetization of approximately 40% from ∼103 A m2 kg−1 to ∼143 A m2 kg−1, whereas the addition of Ni2+ at a similar percentage led to an ∼30% decrease in saturation magnetization to 68-72 A m2 kg−1. The results of calculations based on the two-sublattice Néel model of magnetization match the experimental findings, demonstrating the model's effectiveness in the strategic design of spinel ferrite nanoparticles with targeted magnetic properties through doping/inversion degree engineering

A randomized phase II trial of Captem or Folfiri as second-line therapy in neuroendocrine carcinomas

Background: Neuroendocrine Carcinomas (NECs) prognosis is poor.No standard second-line therapy is currently recognized after failure of platinum-based first-line treatment. FOLFIRI and CAPTEM regimens have shown promising activity in preliminary studies. We aimed to evaluate these regimens in metastatic NEC patients. Methods: This is an open-label, multicenter, randomized non-comparative phase II trial to evaluate the activity and safety of FOLFIRI or CAPTEM in metastatic NEC patients. Primary endpoints were the 12 weeks-Disease Control Rate (12w-DCR) by investigator assessment per RECIST v1.1 and safety per CTCAE v5.0. Additional endpoints included overall response rate (ORR), progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Patients' serum samples were subject to NGS miRNome profiling in comparison with healthy donors to reveal differentially expressed miRNAs as candidate circulating biomarkers. Results: The study was halted for futility at interim analysis, as the minimum 12w-DCR threshold of 10 out of 25 patients required for the first step was not reached. From 06/03/2017 to 18/01/2021, 53 out of 112 patients were enrolled. Median follow-up was 22.6 months (range: 1.4-60.4). The 12w-DCR was 39.1 % in the FOLFIRI arm and 28.0 % in the CAPTEM arm. In the FOLFIRI subgroup the 12-months OS rate was 28.4 % (95 % CI: 12.7-46.5) while in the CAPTEM subgroup it was 32.4 % (95 % CI: 14.9-51.3). The most common G3-G4 side effects were neutropenia (n = 5, 18.5 %) and anemia (n = 2, 7.4 %) for FOLFIRI and G3-G4 thrombocytopenia (n = 2, 8.0 %), G4 nausea/vomiting (n = 1, 4.0 %) for CAPTEM. Three microRNAs emerged as NEC independent predictors. High expression values were found to be significantly associated with decreased PFS and OS. Conclusion: The safety profile of FOLFIRI and CAPTEM was manageable. FOLFIRI and CAPTEM chemotherapy showed comparable activity in the second-line setting after progression on etoposide/platinum. Gov identifier: NCT03387592

Fluoropyrimidines affect de novo pyrimidine synthesis impairing biofilm formation in Escherichia coli

Antivirulence agents are considered a promising strategy to treat bacterial infections. Fluoropyrimidines possess antivirulence and antibiofilm activity against Gram-negative bacteria; however, their mechanism of action is yet unknown. Consistent with their known antibiofilm activity, fluoropyrimidines, particularly 5-fluorocytosine (5FC), impair curli-dependent surface adhesion by Escherichia coli MG1655 via downregulation of curli fimbriae gene transcription. Curli inhibition requires fluoropyrimidine conversion into fluoronucleotides and is not mediated by c-di-GMP or the ymg-rcs envelope stress response axis, previously suggested as the target of fluorouracil antibiofilm activity in E. coli. In contrast, 5-FC hampered the transcription of curli activators RpoS and stimulated the expression of Fis, a curli repressor affected by nucleotide availability. This last observation suggested a possible perturbation of the de novo pyrimidine biosynthesis by 5-FC: indeed, exposure to 5-FC resulted in a ca. 2 -fold reduction of UMP intracellular levels while not affecting ATP. Consistently, expression of the de novo pyrimidine biosynthesis genes carB and pyrB was upregulated in the presence of 5-FC. Our results suggest that the antibiofilm activity of fluoropyrimidines is mediated, at least in part, by perturbation of the pyrimidine nucleotide pool. We screened a genome library in search of additional determinants able to counteract the effects of 5-FC. We found that a DNA fragment encoding the unknown protein D8B36_18,480 and the N -terminal domain of the penicillin -binding protein 1b (PBP1b), involved in peptidoglycan synthesis, could restore curli production in the presence of 5-FC. Deletion of the PBP1b-encoding gene mrcB, induced csgBAC transcription, while overexpression of the gene encoding the D8B36_18,480 protein obliterated its expression, possibly as part of a coordinated response in curli regulation with PBP1b. While the two proteins do not appear to be direct targets of 5-FC, their involvement in curli regulation suggests a connection between peptidoglycan biosynthesis and curli production, which might become even more relevant upon pyrimidine starvation and reduced availability of UDP-sugars needed in cell wall biosynthesis. Overall, our findings link the antibiofilm activity of fluoropyrimidines to the redirection of at least two global regulators (RpoS, Fis) by induction of pyrimidine starvation. This highlights the importance of the de novo pyrimidines biosynthesis pathway in controlling virulence mechanisms in different bacteria and makes the pathway a potential target for antivirulence strategies

Operational Modal Analysis of Complex Buildings with and Without Structural Joints

Buildings with complex geometry are very often a challenge in the process of dynamic identification since they are characterized by many vibration modes, sometimes even too closely-spaced to be clearly identified. Such modes may be difficult to distinguish in modal tests and lead to difficulties when they need to be automatically identified within the structural health monitoring framework. This work deals with the challenges faced for the dynamic identification through operational modal analyses of a complex hospital building. The whole building is composed by many structural bodies with the same height, same structural typology, and built in adjacent to each other, constituting a quite complex plan shape geometry. In the entire building, an intensive experimental campaign was made, and a spread dynamic seismic monitoring system has been installed to monitor the structure both during operational conditions and under extreme excitations, as, for instance, earthquakes