Can equity be included in a performance evaluation system? Some evidences from the tuscan health care system

Objectives. Can Equity be included in a performance evaluation system? In Italy, the Tuscan Region has tested and now is adopting an integrated model for performance measurement to which the regional administration, the local health authorities, and other stakeholders may refer either in terms of indicators and shared responsibilities. Thoughout this performance evaluation system it is now possible to measure also the capacity to persue equity at a regional and local level. Methods. In 2005 aspects as equity and access to services, that, in a public system, are very relevant and characterize the political strategy, were included in the performance evaluation system to evaluate the action carried out by the local health authorities, i.e. the operative actors of the system. This was achieved identifing equity measures and including them in an essential number of indicators, classified in six dimensions and represented in diagram targets. Results. This comprehensive performance evaluation system helped managers and the regional healthcare system as a whole to learn and to consider equity not only as a political issue but as a management goal. Conclusions. This system, used continuously and systematically at a regional level, is now a public policy tool and supports the Local Health Authorities in keeping equity in their management goals.Performance, Evaluation, Balanced Scorecard, Equity, Health Service Access, Health Targets.

SEGMENTATION OF 3D MODELS FOR CULTURAL HERITAGE STRUCTURALANALYSIS – SOME CRITICAL ISSUES

Cultural Heritage documentation and preservation has become a fundamental concern in this historical period. 3D modelling offers a perfect aid to record ancient buildings and artefacts and can be used as a valid starting point for restoration, conservation and structural analysis, which can be performed by using Finite Element Methods (FEA). The models derived from reality-based techniques, made up of the exterior surfaces of the objects captured at high resolution, are - for this reason - made of millions of polygons. Such meshes are not directly usable in structural analysis packages and need to be properly pre-processed in order to be transformed in volumetric meshes suitable for FEA. In addition, dealing with ancient objects, a proper segmentation of 3D volumetric models is needed to analyse the behaviour of the structure with the most suitable level of detail for the different sections of the structure under analysis. Segmentation of 3D models is still an open issue, especially when dealing with ancient, complicated and geometrically complex objects that imply the presence of anomalies and gaps, due to environmental agents such as earthquakes, pollution, wind and rain, or human factors. The aims of this paper is to critically analyse some of the different methodologies and algorithms available to segment a 3D point cloud or a mesh, identifying difficulties and problems by showing examples on different structures

Editorial for the Special Issue: “3D Virtual Reconstruction for Cultural Heritage”

The use of 3D modelling, computer-aided design (CAD), augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) for the acquisition and virtual reconstruction of Cultural Heritage is of great importance in the analysis, study, documentation and dissemination of the past. Reverse engineering (RE) and computer graphics (CG) are also relevant aids for the visualisation and preservation of Cultural Heritage. The integrated use of AR and VR technologies helps to accomplish the full potential of 3D models obtained with reality-based techniques and CAD data, and it aims at interactively communicating the significance of the heritage to non-experts. AR and VR are valid tools for interacting with 3D models and help make culture more accessible to the wider public. Their flexibility can help museum curators to adapt cultural proposals and information about artefacts based on different types of visitor’s categories. These technologies allow visitors to travel through space and time, have fun and get educated on complicated topics. VR/AR technologies are also extremely useful for recreating a lost or hidden environment, leading to a better comprehension of the site or allowing people to discover important sites that are not visible, both for security and conservation reasons

Resilient connections

[EN] The paper presents Axis Strutture, patented by the authors, awarded with V:alere funds (VAnvitelli pER la ricErca 2020) for the establishment of an innovative start-up, now academic spin-off. It is based on the assemble of iron and wood with 'pins' (in Latin 'axis') threaded to ensure an economic profit in line with the Sustainable Development Goals, reviewing ancient technologies in the light of advanced research. The focus is on the structural connections of a construction system that clamps the steel frame elements with the wooden infill, allowing to assemble modular, prefabricated and flexible components customized on the design phase’s request. It provides effective emergency shelters assembled or dismantled as quickly as tents but more stable, healthier and comfortable. With a single star key, the steel uprights can be attested with wooden and similar tampons avoiding nails and screws which allows the total reuse of the components. The patented connections implement a new construction method promoting the self-construction of garden houses, leisure environments, bungalows, garages and quality housing modules, since they are resilient, resistant and with a controllable impact on the environment. The case study provides an opportunity to verify actions aimed at the implementation of Design for Adaptability strategies promoting virtuous life cycles that involves the entire community in sustainable models from an economic, environmental and social point of view.The case study develops the application potential of an idea patented by the authors awarded with the V: alere funds (VAnvitelli pER la ricErca 2020) for the establishment of an innovative start-up, now an academic spin-ofRossi, A.; Gonizzi Barsanti, S. (2021). Resilient connections. VITRUVIO - International Journal of Architectural Technology and Sustainability. 6(1):24-37. https://doi.org/10.4995/vitruvio-ijats.2021.15375OJS243761Adjodha, Joshua. (2018). Structural Design for Adaptability and Growth.Bullen, P. 2011. Factors influencing the adaptive re-use of buildings. Journal of Engineering, Design and Technology, 9, pp. 32-46. https://doi.org/10.1108/17260531111121459Israelsson, N. 2009. 'Factors influencing flexibility in buildings'. Structural Survey, 27, pp. 138-147. https://doi.org/10.1108/02630800910956461Lemer, A.C. 1996. 'Infrastructure Obsolescence and Design Service Life'. Journal of Infrastructure Systems, 2(4). https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)1076-0342(1996)2:4(153)Mallach, E. 2006. 'A Database Project in a Small Company (or How the Real World Doesn't Always Follow the Book)'. Journal of Cases on Information Technology (JCIT), 8(3), pp. 24-40. https://doi.org/10.4018/jcit.2006070103Manewa, A., Siriwardena, M., Ross, A., & Madanayake, U. 2016. 'Adaptable buildings for sustainable built environment'. Built Environment Project and Asset Management, 6(2). https://doi.org/10.1108/BEPAM-10-2014-0053Miller, Donald. 1996. City of the Century. New York: PaperbachsPinder, J.A., Schmidt, R., Austin, S.A., Gibb, A., & Saker, J. 2017. 'What is meant by adaptability in buildings?' Facilities, 35(1/2), pp. 2-20. https://doi.org/10.1108/F-07-2015-0053Remøy, H., de Jong, P., & Schenk, W. 2011. 'Adaptable office buildings'. Property Management, 29(5), pp. 443-453. https://doi.org/10.1108/02637471111178128Rockow, Zoraya Roldan, "Qualitative & Quantitative Analyses of Existing Buildings' Adaptability" (2020). All Dissertations. 2670. https://tigerprints.clemson.edu/all_dissertations/2670Turan, M. 2009. 'Reconstructing The Balloon Frame: A Study In The History Of Architectonics'. Metu Journal of The Faculty of Architecture, 26, pp. 175-209. https://doi.org/10.4305/METU.JFA.2009.2.1

Chapter Oppido Mamertina in 3D: dalla fotogrammetria alla ricostruzione digitale

The 43rd UID conference, held in Genova, takes up the theme of ‘Dialogues’ as practice and debate on many fundamental topics in our social life, especially in these complex and not yet resolved times. The city of Genova offers the opportunity to ponder on the value of comparison and on the possibilities for the community, naturally focused on the aspects that concern us, as professors, researchers, disseminators of knowledge, or on all the possibile meanings of the discipline of representation and its dialogue with ‘others’, which we have broadly catalogued in three macro areas: History, Semiotics, Science / Technology. Therefore, “dialogue” as a profitable exchange based on a common language, without which it is impossible to comprehend and understand one another; and the graphic sign that connotes the conference is the precise transcription of this concept: the title ‘translated’ into signs, derived from the visual alphabet designed for the visual identity of the UID since 2017. There are many topics which refer to three macro sessions: - Witnessing (signs and history) - Communicating (signs and semiotics) - Experimenting (signs and sciences) Thanks to the different points of view, an exceptional resource of our disciplinary area, we want to try to outline the prevailing theoretical-operational synergies, the collaborative lines of an instrumental nature, the recent updates of the repertoires of images that attest and nourish the relations among representation, history, semiotics, sciences

Is the co-location of GPs in primary care centres associated with a higher patient satisfaction? Evidence from a population survey in Italy

Background: Several countries have co-located General Practitioners (GPs) in Primary Care Centres (PCCs) with other health and social care professionals in order to improve integrated care. It is not clear whether the co-location of a multidisciplinary team actually facilitates a positive patient experience concerning GP care. The aim of this study was to verify whether the co-location of GPs in PCCs is associated positively with patient satisfaction with their GP when patients have experience of a multidisciplinary team. We also investigated whether patients who frequently use health services, due to their complex needs, benefitted the most from the co-location of a multidisciplinary team. Methods: The study used data from a population survey carried out in Tuscany (central Italy) at the beginning of 2015 to evaluate the patients’ experience and satisfaction with their GPs. Multilevel linear regression models were implemented to verify the relationship between patient satisfaction and co-location. This key explanatory variable was measured by considering both the list of GPs working in PCCs and the answers of surveyed patients who had experienced the co-location of their GP in a multidisciplinary team. We also explored the effect modification on patient satisfaction due to the use of hospitalisation, access to emergency departments and visits with specialists, by performing the multilevel modelling on two strata of patient data: frequent and non-frequent health service users. Results: A sample of 2025 GP patients were included in the study, 757 of which were patients of GPs working in a PCC. Patient satisfaction with their GP was generally positive. Results showed that having a GP working within a PCC and the experience of the co-located multidisciplinary team were associated with a higher satisfaction (p < 0.01). For non-frequent users of health services on the other hand, the co-location of multidisciplinary team in PCCs was not significantly associated with patient satisfaction, whereas for frequent users, the strength of relationships identified in the overall model increased (p < 0.01). Conclusion: The co-location of GPs with other professionals and their joint working as experienced in PCCs seems to represent a greater benefit for patients, especially for those with complex needs who use primary care, hospitals, emergency care and specialized care frequently

Chapter Ripresentare il reperto di Hatra

The 43rd UID conference, held in Genova, takes up the theme of ‘Dialogues’ as practice and debate on many fundamental topics in our social life, especially in these complex and not yet resolved times. The city of Genova offers the opportunity to ponder on the value of comparison and on the possibilities for the community, naturally focused on the aspects that concern us, as professors, researchers, disseminators of knowledge, or on all the possibile meanings of the discipline of representation and its dialogue with ‘others’, which we have broadly catalogued in three macro areas: History, Semiotics, Science / Technology. Therefore, “dialogue” as a profitable exchange based on a common language, without which it is impossible to comprehend and understand one another; and the graphic sign that connotes the conference is the precise transcription of this concept: the title ‘translated’ into signs, derived from the visual alphabet designed for the visual identity of the UID since 2017. There are many topics which refer to three macro sessions: - Witnessing (signs and history) - Communicating (signs and semiotics) - Experimenting (signs and sciences) Thanks to the different points of view, an exceptional resource of our disciplinary area, we want to try to outline the prevailing theoretical-operational synergies, the collaborative lines of an instrumental nature, the recent updates of the repertoires of images that attest and nourish the relations among representation, history, semiotics, sciences