Identità e relazioni sociali. Dai popoli migranti alla cultura del Web 2.0

Nel saggio è una riflessione preliminare su cos'è da intendere per identità prima di individuare il ruolo che svolge la comunicazione non solo nel mantenere ma anche e soprattutto nel costruire identità e nel gestire relazioni, nel senso di crearle, mutarle o annullarle.The essay is a reflection about identity and role of communication on creating, mantaining and destroying social relations

Breast cancer and communication: Monocentric experience of a self-assessment questionnaire

Background: The communication of the diagnosis of breast cancer induces to the patient a strong psychological trauma. Radiologists are at the forefront of communicating, either for a biopsy or the probable diagnosis of malignancy. This is a complex task, which requires the knowledge and application of correct “communicative models”, among which the SPIKES protocol rep-resents a fundamental reference. Design and methods: 110 patients, with a history of breast cancer, filled out a questionnaire consisting of six questions: five aimed at defining communication compliance with the SPIKES protocol, the sixth, consisting of six feelings, aimed at the knowledge of the next emotional state. Results: Regarding compliance with various “strategic points” of the SPIKES protocol, questionnaires show that 70% of patients reported no omissions, while the remaining 30% reported omissions relatively to perception (56%), emotions (23%), setting (13%), knowledge (6%) and invitation (2%). The results showed the existence of a correlation between the final emotional state and the correct application of the SPIKES protocol; in fact, patients who reacted with a positive final emotional state-reported greater adherence to the strategic points of the SPIKES protocol. Conclusions: In healthcare, knowing the communicative compliance of a team in giving “bad news” is fundamental, especially in breast cancer. The SPIKES protocol is recognized by the Literature as a fundamental reference able to affect “positively” the emotional state of patients. The proposed questionnaire is a valid tool to identify the weak points of communication and related criticalities, to improve clinical practice

Transmembrane transporters and salt tolerance in temperate japonica rice

Several investigations aimed at identifying molecular tools useful for the selection and/or the constitution of high-yield salt tolerant rice have been successfully carried out, concerning in particular indica and/ or tropical rice genotypes. Te global warming process is nowadays determining the intrusion of saline wedge into coastal fresh-water streams, and the soil salt concentration of many European rice areas, where temperate rice cultivars are mainly grown, is more and more increasing. In order to identify molecular markers and/or new loci related to salt tolerance, a Genome Wide Association Study (GWAS) has been carried out using a panel of 277 japonica rice accessions. Te panel has been subjected to Genotyping By Sequencing and phenotyping concerning tolerance to a mild-salt stress soil condition (5 dS m-1) expressed at the 4th-5th leaf developmental stage using the Standard Evaluation Score (SES) proposed by IRRI. On the basis of GWAS, a QTL including a few genes that in the indica rice genome are localized within the major salinity tolerance-related QTL \u2018SalTol\u2019 have been identified. Among them, the Os01g0337500 gene encoding the vacuolar H+-pyrophosphatase 6 (OsOVP6) is present. Since the role of the OsOVP6 activity is considered central in regulating the cellular Na+ homeostasis in both roots and leaves, investigations comparing some elements of the complex mechanisms involved in this process have been carried out. A physiological approach evaluating this possibility has been conducted in two japonica rice varieties (Galileo and Virgo) that resulted salt-tolerant, in one japonica rice variety (PL12) known to be quite salt-susceptible, and in the salt-tolerant indica inbred genotype FL478 (containing the \u2018SalTol\u2019 QTL) as reference genotype. Te root and shoot Na+/K+ ratio, Na+ influx and K+ efflux, H+ extrusion activity, cytosolic and vacuolar pH by in vivo 31P-NMR techniques were evaluated in roots of the four rice genotypes. Te results obtained, together with the electrophysiological evaluation of the whole root Na+ conductance, allow to define a picture that may explain the different salt tolerance observed among the rice genotypes analyzed. As a whole, these results confirm the interest towards a deep allele mining analysis, concerning OsOVP6, within the most significant members of the japonica rice accession panel under investigation

SKS splittings in the southern Apennines-Calabrian arc region (southern Italy)

During the years 2003-2006 CAT/SCAN (Calbarian-Apennine-TyrrhenianlSubductionCollision- Accretion Network) temporary broadband stations operate in Southern Apennine and Calabria (Italy). In the same period CESIS-INGV project improved the number of permanent seismic stations in the same area. We analyze the data recorded to study seismic anisotropy and to investigate the mantle flow in the boun(fary-zoile{ between Southern Apennine and Calabriaibeneath and above the subducting slab. In the current work we present new shear wave splittings obtained analyzing SKS phases of 15 teleseisms with epicentral distance ranging from 88.40 to 98.20 and magnitude greater than 6.0. We used the method of Silver & Chan (1991) to obtained anisotropic parameters: delay time and fast polarization direction. The splitting parameters reveal strong seismic anisotropy in the mantle beneath Southern Tyrrhenian Sea- Calabrian Arc System that seems to be controlled by the slab presence. The clear variability in the fast directions allow us to hypothesize the existence of different anisotropic domains: fast polarization directions vary from NNW -SSE in the tyrrhenian side ofthe Southern Apennine to N-S and NE-SW toward the Adriatic Sea. Moving toward the Calabria fast directions are prevalently trench parallel showing a NE-SW orientation following the strike on the mountain chain

Shear wave splitting in southern tyrrhenian subduction zone (Italy) from CESIS and CAT/SCAN projects

In the years 2003 -2006 several broad band stations were installed in Southern Italy: 15 permanent ones (CESIS project), improved the INGV Italian national network and 40 temporary ones were installed in the frame of CAT/SCAN NSF project.We present shear wave splitting measurements obtained analyzing SKS phases and local S phases from slab earthquakes. We used the method of Silver & Chan to obtain shear wave splitting parameters: fast direction and delay time. Shear wave splitting measurements reveals strong seismic anisotropy in the mantle beneath Southern Tyrrhenian subduction system. The SKS splitting results show fast polarization directions varying from NNW-SSE in the Southern Apennines to N-S and to E-SW in Calabria, following the strike of the mountain chain. Moving toward the Adriatic sea the fast directions rotate from N-S to NE-SW. Fast directions could indicate the mantle flow below the slab, due to its retrograde motion but also the lithospheric fabric of the subducting plate. In the Tyrrhenian domain, above the slab, from Sardinia to the Italian and Sicilian coasts the dominant fast direction is E-W and could be related to the opening of the Tyrrhenian basin and to the corner flow in the asthenospheric wedge. In Sicily fast directions depict a ring around the slab edge supporting the existence of a slab tear and of a return flow from the back to the front of the slab. Measurements obtained with intermediate and deep earthquakes slab S phases show an extremely complex pattern of fast directions. They are mostly distributed in front of the Tyrrhenian Calabrian coast in correspondence of the fast velocity anomaly imaged at 150 km depth by tomography. We can relate this fast directions variability to the complex structure of the slab itself. The complex pattern of SKS and S splitting measurements suggests the presence of local scale mantle flow controled by the motion of an anisotropic slab

The INGV Mobile Telemetered Network (Re.Mo.Tel.): long-term monitoring analysis.

Since 2008, the Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV) developed a temporary real-time telemetered seismic network infrastructure (Re.Mo.Tel.) to densify the Italian National Seismic Network in epicentral area, thus improving the location of the aftershocks distribution after a mainshock. This infrastructure consists of various mobile and autonomous seismic stations that in group of three are telemetered to a Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT). Using a dedicated bandwidth on UHF, Wi-Fi and satellite frequency, the system is able to stream real-time data to the INGV acquisition centers in Rome and Grottaminarda. The deployment of the seismic network is supported by a geographical information system (GIS) that visualizes, for the epicentral area, information about instrumental seismicity, seismic risk, macroseismic felts and territorial data. The April, 6th, 2009 Mw 6.3 L'Aquila destructive earthquake represented the first real-case where the entire Re.Mo.Tel. infrastructure has been deployed. Less than 6 hours after the earthquake occurrence, a first accelerometric station was streaming data to the INGV seismic monitoring headquarters. A total number of 9 seismic stations was installed within 4 days after the main event, with the aim of recording continuous data to contribute in the aftershocks detection. In detail the first day a number of 3 stations was installed, surrounding the mainshock. Then the rest of the stations was deployed on the third and the fourth day to the south and the north, following the post-seismic evolution. A project funded by the Dipartimento di Protezione Civile (DPC-Civil Defense) gave the opportunity to maintain some of the deployed stations throughout the duration of the project of one year (although the stations are still installed) to assure the long-term monitoring of the triggered seismic sequence. In this work, we investigate: • The impact of the Re.Mo.Tel. on earthquakes detection and real-time monitoring of the sequence evolution; • The location improvement due to the deployment of stations closer to the epicentral area (with installations that followed the early evolution and complexity of fault fractures); • The network reliability in terms of data stored throughout the working period

Permanent monitoring of thin structures with low-cost devices

Recently, structural monitoring technology invested in methodologies that give direct information on structures' stress state. Optic fibers, strain gauges, pressure cells give real-time data on the stress condition of a structural element, often determining the area where peak stresses have been reached, with a clear advantage over other less direct monitoring methodologies, such as, e.g., the use of accelerometers and inverse analysis to estimate internal forces. In addition, stresses can be recorded in a data log for analysis after a loading event, as well as for taking into account the lifelong stress state of the structure. Beams and columns of a reinforced concrete frame can be effectively monitored for flexural loads. Differently, thin shells are most of their lifespan under membrane regime, and, when properly designed, they rarely move to the bending regime. Our proposal is to monitor the stress in thin structures by small-sized low- cost devices able to record the stress history at key locations, sending alerts when necessary, with the aim of ensuring safety against the risk of collapse, or simply to perform maintenance/repairing activities. Such devices are realized with cheap off-the-shelf electronics and traditional strain gauges. The application examples are given as laboratory tests performed on a reinforced concrete plate, a masonry panel, and a steel beam. Results shows that the permanent monitoring control of stresses can be conveniently carried out on new structures using low-cost devices of the type we designed and realized in-house

IoT sensors for modern structural health monitoring. A new frontier

The problem of determining the structural safety level of buildings and civil engineering infrastructures (CEIs) is raising growing concern worldwide. Most of the reinforced concrete constructions have a design life not greater than 100 years, and today it is necessary to face the problem of assessing their level of safety and structural integrity. Such problem is even more pressing when a construction is subjected to extreme environmental conditions. The long-term goal of this study is the realization of wireless low- cost devices, and a data management software, for the structural health monitoring of buildings and CEIs, with remotely controlled sensors embedded in, or installed on, the structural elements, to measure stresses together with accelerations. Once equipped with such system, each construction can become part of the Internet of Things, permitting users and authorities to be alerted in case structural safety is diminished or compromised. A crucial aspect is the unaltered preservation of measurement data over time, which cannot just rely on third parties, and for which it is necessary the exploitation of suitable data-protection technologies. This study have been carried out by experimental testing and validation, both in lab and on site, of the monitoring devices designed and realized. Results show that it is possible to realize low-cost monitoring systems, and related installation techniques, for integration in every new or existing buildings and CEIs

Sequenze sismiche: La nuova struttura di Pronto Intervento dell’Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia

Fin dai primi anni ‘70, l’Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV, ex ING) si avvale di una struttura di Pronto Intervento in occasione di eventi sismici rilevanti garantendo in tempi relativamente brevi il monitoraggio di dettaglio in area epicentrale. Dal suo primo intervento (terremoto di Ancona 1972) ad oggi, la struttura di Pronto Intervento si è evoluta costantemente implementando migliorie tecnologiche e logistiche. In questo lavoro prensentiamo la nuova struttura impiegata per la prima volta durante l’ ”Operazione Blue Mountains 2008”, l'esercitazione di Protezione Civile sul rischio sismico organizzata dalla Regione Marche il 23-25 maggio 2008

Analysis of cadmium translocation, partitioning and tolerance in six barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) cultivars as a function of thiol metabolism

Six barley cultivars widely differing for cadmium (Cd) tolerance, partitioning, and translocation were analyzed in relation to their thiol metabolism. Results indicated that Cd tolerance was not clearly related to the total amount of Cd absorbed by plants, resulting instead closely dependent on the capacity of the cultivars to trap the metal into the roots. Such behaviors suggested the existence of root mechanisms preserving shoots from Cd-induced oxidative damages, as indicated by the analysis of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances \u2014diagnostic indicators of oxidative stress\u2014whose increases in the shoots were negatively related to Cd root retention and tolerance. Cd exposure differentially affected glutathione (GSH) and phytochelatin (PC) levels in the tissues of each barley cultivar. The capacity to produce PCs appeared as a specific characteristic of each barley cultivar, since it did not depend on Cd concentration in the roots and resulted negatively related to the concentration of the metal in the shoots, indicating the existence of a cultivar-specific interference of Cd on GSH biosynthesis, as confirmed by the existence of close positive linear relationships between the effect of Cd on GSH levels and PC accumulation in both roots and shoots. The six barley cultivars also differed for their capacity to load Cd ions into the xylem, which was negatively related to PC content in the roots. Taken as a whole, these data indicated that the different capacity of each cultivar to maintain GSH homeostasis under Cd stress may strongly affect PC accumulation and, thus, Cd tolerance and translocation