Radon Risk Analysis Through Geostatistical Tools Implemented in a WebGIS

Radon (Rn) is a colorless, odorless, tasteless, inert radioactive gas, and derives from the decay of uranium, which is a radioactive element that is found in small quantities in all sediments and rocks. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and theWorld Health Organization (WHO) classify Rn pollution as the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking. Since Rn is present, in the depths of the Earth, in gaseous phase, it reaches the surface because it interacts with other natural elements, such as uranium, thorium and radio (precursor elements); moreover other geo-lithological features, such as the mineralogical composition of the rocks, the underground permeability levels, the presence of faults, fractures and cavities, affect the transport of the Rn on the surface. In this paper, the spatial distribution of the Rn concentrations in soil gas over a survey area located in the South of Apulian Region (Italy) and its prediction at unsampled points have been discussed. In particular, Ordinary Kriging (OK), Log-Normal Kriging (LK), Cokriging with indicator variable (ICK) and Kriging with Varying Means (KVM) have been used to predict Rn concentrations over the study area. In this context, the integration of a Geographical Information System (GIS) and geostatistical tools can certainly support the evaluation of alternative scenarios, possible strategies for a sustainable development

Intracranial complications of sinogenic and otogenic infections in children:an ESPN survey on their occurrence in the pre-COVID and post-COVID era

Background: COVID-19 pandemic is thought to have changed the epidemiology of some pediatric neurosurgical disease: among them are the intracranial complications of sinusitis and otitis (ICSO). According to some studies on a limited number of cases, both streptococci-related sinusitis and ICSO would have increased immediately after the pandemic, although the reason is not clear yet (seasonal changes versus pandemic-related effects). The goal of the present survey of the European Society for Pediatric Neurosurgery (ESPN) was to collect a large number of cases from different European countries encompassing the pre-COVID (2017–2019), COVID (2020–2021), and post-COVID period (2022–June 2023) looking for possible epidemiological and/or clinical changes. Material and methods: An English language questionnaire was sent to ESPN members about year of the event, patient’s age and gender, presence of immune-deficit or other favoring risk factors, COVID infection, signs and symptoms at onset, site of primary infection, type of intracranial complication, identified germ, type and number of surgical operations, type and duration of medical treatment, clinical and radiological outcome, duration of the follow-up. Results: Two hundred fifty-four cases were collected by 30 centers coming from 14 different European countries. There was a statistically significant difference between the post-COVID period (129 children, 86 cases/year, 50.7% of the whole series) and the COVID (40 children, 20 cases/year, 15.7%) or the pre-COVID period (85 children, 28.3 cases/year, 33.5%). Other significant differences concerned the presence of predisposing factors/concurrent diseases (higher in the pre-COVID period) and previous COVID infection (higher in the post-COVID period). No relevant differences occurred as far as demographic, microbiological, clinical, radiological, outcome, morbidity, and mortality data were concerned. Paranasal sinuses and middle ear/mastoid were the most involved primary site of infection (71% and 27%, respectively), while extradural or subdural empyema and brain abscess were the most common ICSO (73% and 17%, respectively). Surgery was required in 95% of cases (neurosurgical and ENT procedure in 71% and 62% of cases, respectively) while antibiotics in 99% of cases. After a 12.4-month follow-up, a full clinical and radiological recovery was obtained in 85% and 84% of cases, respectively. The mortality rate was 2.7%. Conclusions: These results suggest that the occurrence of ICSO was significantly increased after the pandemic. Such an increase seems to be related to the indirect effects of the pandemic (e.g., immunity debt) rather than to a direct effect of COVID infection or to seasonal fluctuations. ICSO remain challenging diseases but the pandemic did not affect the management strategies nor their prognosis. The epidemiological change of sinusitis/otitis and ICSO should alert about the appropriate follow-up of children with sinusitis/otitis.</p

Intracranial complications of sinogenic and otogenic infections in children:an ESPN survey on their occurrence in the pre-COVID and post-COVID era

Background: COVID-19 pandemic is thought to have changed the epidemiology of some pediatric neurosurgical disease: among them are the intracranial complications of sinusitis and otitis (ICSO). According to some studies on a limited number of cases, both streptococci-related sinusitis and ICSO would have increased immediately after the pandemic, although the reason is not clear yet (seasonal changes versus pandemic-related effects). The goal of the present survey of the European Society for Pediatric Neurosurgery (ESPN) was to collect a large number of cases from different European countries encompassing the pre-COVID (2017–2019), COVID (2020–2021), and post-COVID period (2022–June 2023) looking for possible epidemiological and/or clinical changes. Material and methods: An English language questionnaire was sent to ESPN members about year of the event, patient’s age and gender, presence of immune-deficit or other favoring risk factors, COVID infection, signs and symptoms at onset, site of primary infection, type of intracranial complication, identified germ, type and number of surgical operations, type and duration of medical treatment, clinical and radiological outcome, duration of the follow-up. Results: Two hundred fifty-four cases were collected by 30 centers coming from 14 different European countries. There was a statistically significant difference between the post-COVID period (129 children, 86 cases/year, 50.7% of the whole series) and the COVID (40 children, 20 cases/year, 15.7%) or the pre-COVID period (85 children, 28.3 cases/year, 33.5%). Other significant differences concerned the presence of predisposing factors/concurrent diseases (higher in the pre-COVID period) and previous COVID infection (higher in the post-COVID period). No relevant differences occurred as far as demographic, microbiological, clinical, radiological, outcome, morbidity, and mortality data were concerned. Paranasal sinuses and middle ear/mastoid were the most involved primary site of infection (71% and 27%, respectively), while extradural or subdural empyema and brain abscess were the most common ICSO (73% and 17%, respectively). Surgery was required in 95% of cases (neurosurgical and ENT procedure in 71% and 62% of cases, respectively) while antibiotics in 99% of cases. After a 12.4-month follow-up, a full clinical and radiological recovery was obtained in 85% and 84% of cases, respectively. The mortality rate was 2.7%. Conclusions: These results suggest that the occurrence of ICSO was significantly increased after the pandemic. Such an increase seems to be related to the indirect effects of the pandemic (e.g., immunity debt) rather than to a direct effect of COVID infection or to seasonal fluctuations. ICSO remain challenging diseases but the pandemic did not affect the management strategies nor their prognosis. The epidemiological change of sinusitis/otitis and ICSO should alert about the appropriate follow-up of children with sinusitis/otitis.</p

Mostra internazionale dell'artigianato - Fortezza da basso - Firenze. Progetto e allestimento dello stand del DESIGNCAMPUS (Università di Firenze – Dipartimento DIDA)-

Progetto e allestimento dello stand del DESIGNCAMPUS (Università di Firenze – Dipartimento DIDA), con A. Spennat

Mostra internazionale dell'artigianato - Fortezza da basso - Firenze. Progetto e allestimento dello stand del DESIGNCAMPUS (Università di Firenze – Dipartimento DIDA)-

Progetto e allestimento dello stand del DESIGNCAMPUS (Università di Firenze – Dipartimento DIDA), con A. Spennat

Predicting the Consumer's Purchase Intention of Food Products

An important aspect of health monitoring is effective knowledge of food consumed. In this regard, a methodology of analysis is proposed in order to know in advance the food choices of the final consumers. This can give added value to the agricultural productions of the territory and of the farmers, facilitating the direct relationship between agriculture and the final consumer. To build a prediction model, web monitoring and traditional marketing analysis will be performed. The results of analysis can be used to sensitize the consumers towards a greater alimentary awareness, helping to manage of diet-related diseases like obesity, diabetes, and even cardiovascular diseases

Factor analysis and structural equation modeling in oncology research

The aim of this paper is to investigate the service quality provided to the patients and the relationship between doctors and long-term cancer patients. Data have been collected during a survey conducted to long-term cancer patients, who follow a therapy at the Hospital Vito Fazzi, in Province of Lecce (located in the Southern region of Puglia, Italy). In particular, factor analysis and structural equation model are used to measure the relations among latent variables related to two aspects of the analyzed issue, such as service quality provided to the patient and the relationship between doctors and long-term cancer patients. The first model describes the perceived service quality provided to the patient, which is influenced by four important factors such as the tangible aspects, the reliability, the empathy (doctor-patient human relations) and the hospital organization. The second model describes the relationship between doctors and long-term cancer patients, which is influenced by three factors, such as the reliability, the empathy (doctor-patient human relations) and the hospital organization. The results are useful to investigate the strategies used to improve the quality service. Moreover, the analysis focuses on highlighting some empirical evidences in health risk through the use of a Geographical Information System (GIS). The advantages of implementing a GIS are related to the possibility to include different demographic databases, relate and analyze them as well as to detect and represent the areas in which there are high mortality rates. This tool, called GIS Cancer Screening, allows to process thematic maps using health data and support public health policies