Sharing data and maps on flood and landslide hazards, vulnerability, and related risk reduction Public Works via a web platform at national scale: the case of #italiasicura

Italy has experienced many flood and landslide disasters, during and after which the local intrinsic risk management levels have been very different. This problem can be managed, in cooperation with other policies, through improvements in risk awareness and preparedness. With this aim in mind, #italiasicura web platform has been developed, based on a geographic “non-GIS” interface (although working with an underlying database system) to show hazard maps and risk reduction Public Works in the whole of Italy, up to local level. Such an instrument operates as an innovative “social tool”, developed to be used both by decision/makers and citizens, giving the possibility, at any stage of the user experience on the platform, of an easy information sharing via social media. Such a kind of tool represents an opportunity of increasing the knowledge linked to flood and landslide hazards and structural defence strategies. As a matter of fact, the #italiasicura web platform is based upon three pages: one, geographic, presenting hazard, risk and physical infrastructures; the second, also geographic, focused on national emergencies; the third, text and graphics, allowing a number of simple queries and rankings of the main parameters related to the topics of the platform. From a technical point of view, although there is a map on the screen and an underlying database system (permanently updated automatically), neither layers to be switched on and off are present nor any other typical GIS user interface function. All information is presented based upon the coordinates and the zoom level, to allow a better user experience, particularly with the responsive version toward mobiles. Both graphic pages open on the national map. A text box self customizes itself, aggregating data on the actual zoom level; the main navigation actions are performed moving the mouse and acting on the mouse wheel. A new URL is generated at any event generated by the user. Data shown and related web analytics are an interesting source of information for refining risk management strategies and studies; at the same time, they will allow a greater involvement of the scientific community and young researchers, enabling them to elaborate bottom-up suggestions to decision makers

Assessing and Improving Flood and Landslide Community Social Awareness and Engagement via a Web Platform: The Case of Italy

Italy is significantly affected by ever-present flood and landslide risks and has experienced many disasters. Local social awareness and engagement, however, differ and need to be increased by decision makers and citizens through improvements in risk preparedness. With this aim, the #italiasicura web platform was developed by Fondazione Politecnico di Milano and released in 2015 to show country to local level hazard maps and risk reduction projects in Italy. Any stage of the user experience with the platform can be shared via social media. Using this tool, an awareness-oriented web analytics process was structured to develop a set of indicators for the increase of knowledge linked to flood and landslide hazards. In so doing, it is possible to measure community disaster awareness actions and competence in the area of hazard knowledge. This article presents the results obtained by using data from the platform

An easier and safe affair, pleural drainage with ultrasound in critical patient: a technical note

Abstract Thoracic ultrasound is a powerful diagnostic imaging technique for pleural space disorders. In addition to visualising pleural effusion, thoracic ultrasound also helps clinicians to identify the best puncture site and to guide the drainage insertion procedure. Thoracic ultrasound is essential during these invasive manoeuvres to increase safety and decrease potential life-threatening complications. This paper provides a technical description of pigtail-type drainage insertion using thoracic ultrasound, paying particular attention to indications, contraindications, ultrasound guidance, preparation/equipment, procedure and complications

Did the September 2010 (Darfield) earthquake trigger the February 2011 (Christchurch) event?

We have investigated the possible cause-and-effect relationship due to stress transfer between two earthquakes that occurred near Christchurch, New Zealand, in September 2010 and in February 2011. The Mw 7.1 Darfield (Canterbury) event took place along a previously unrecognized fault. The Mw 6.3 Christchurch earthquake, generated by a thrust fault, occurred approximately five months later, 6 km south-east of Christchurch's city center. We have first measured the surface displacement field to retrieve the geometries of the two seismic sources and the slip distribution. In order to assess whether the first earthquake increased the likelihood of occurrence of a second earthquake, we compute the Coulomb Failure Function (CFF). We find that the maximum CFF increase over the second fault plane is reached exactly around the hypocenter of the second earthquake. In this respect, we may conclude that the Darfield earthquake contributed to promote the rupture of the Christchurch fault

Performance analysis of the European X-ray Free Electron Laser 3.9 GHz superconducting cavities

The limits of performance of the European XFEL 3.9 GHz superconducting cavities were investigated. Most cavities exhibited high field Q slope, reaching the breakdown field at approximately $22\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{MV}/\mathrm{m}$. We hypothesize that this limit is a feature of high frequency cavities and can be explained by a thermal model incorporating field dependent surface resistance. The results obtained from simulations were in good agreement with experimental data obtained at 2 K

Italian Society of Anesthesia, Analgesia, Resuscitation, and Intensive Care expert consensus statement on the use of lung ultrasound in critically ill patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (ITACO)

Background To produce statements based on the available evidence and an expert consensus (as members of the Lung Ultrasound Working Group of the Italian Society of Analgesia, Anesthesia, Resuscitation, and Intensive Care, SIAARTI) on the use of lung ultrasound for the management of patients with COVID-19 admitted to the intensive care unit. Methods A modified Delphi method was applied by a panel of anesthesiologists and intensive care physicians expert in the use of lung ultrasound in COVID-19 intensive critically ill patients to reach a consensus on ten clinical questions concerning the role of lung ultrasound in the following: COVID-19 diagnosis and monitoring (with and without invasive mechanical ventilation), positive end expiratory pressure titration, the use of prone position, the early diagnosis of pneumothorax- or ventilator-associated pneumonia, the process of weaning from invasive mechanical ventilation, and the need for radiologic chest imaging. Results A total of 20 statements were produced by the panel. Agreement was reached on 18 out of 20 statements (scoring 7–9; “appropriate”) in the first round of voting, while 2 statements required a second round for agreement to be reached. At the end of the two Delphi rounds, the median score for the 20 statements was 8.5 [IQR 8.9], and the agreement percentage was 100%. Conclusion The Lung Ultrasound Working Group of the Italian Society of Analgesia, Anesthesia, Resuscitation, and Intensive Care produced 20 consensus statements on the use of lung ultrasound in COVID-19 patients admitted to the ICU. This expert consensus strongly suggests integrating lung ultrasound findings in the clinical management of critically ill COVID-19 patients

Patterns of recurrences in sinonasal cancers undergoing an endoscopic surgery-based treatment: Results of the MUSES* on 940 patients: *MUlti-institutional collaborative Study on Endoscopically treated Sinonasal cancers

The improvements in survival with expansion of the survivors' population, along with evolution of endoscopically-based treatment modalities, have contributed to emphasize the clinical relevance of recurrences in sinonasal cancers. However, at present, literature is scant regarding the pattern of recurrences and the therapeutic strategies available to manage long survivors who experienced single or multiple failures. The aim of the present study was to analyze sinonasal cancers recurrences to provide data regarding rates and patterns of relapse, predictors of failure and prognostic impact of the recurrence

Association between preoperative evaluation with lung ultrasound and outcome in frail elderly patients undergoing orthopedic surgery for hip fractures: study protocol for an Italian multicenter observational prospective study (LUSHIP)

Hip fracture is one of the most common orthopedic causes of hospital admission in frail elderly patients. Hip fracture fixation in this class of patients is considered a high-risk procedure. Preoperative physical examination, plasma natriuretic peptide levels (BNP, Pro-BNP), and cardiovascular scoring systems (ASA-PS, RCRI, NSQIP-MICA) have all been demonstrated to underestimate the risk of postoperative complications. We designed a prospective multicenter observational study to assess whether preoperative lung ultrasound examination can predict better postoperative events thanks to the additional information they provide in the form of "indirect" and "direct" cardiac and pulmonary lung ultrasound signs

Piani comunali di protezione civile: origini, sviluppo e nuove azioni di pianificazione territoriale (parte I)

La normativa degli ultimi 20 anni dà ai piani comunali di protezione civile un valore crescente tra le attività di pianificazione del territorio, ma i relativi caratteri specifici stentano ad affermarsi tra gli addetti. Coerentemente, il lavoro colma, prima, il percorso, dalla genesi ad oggi, della pianificazione di protezione civile nel nostro paese, ricostruendone l’evoluzione tra norme e indirizzi. L’esito definisce i ruoli di Sindaci, strutture amministrative comunali, regioni, volontariato e prefetture culminato nel D.Lgs. 1/2018. Nella seconda parte si espone il nuovo ruolo del piano di protezione civile comunale nel quadro del Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction e offre spunti per la cruciale direttiva nazionale sulla pianificazione di protezione civile in fLa normativa degli ultimi 20 anni dà ai piani comunali di protezione civile un valore crescente tra le attività di pianificazione del territorio, ma i relativi caratteri specifici stentano ad affermarsi tra gli addetti. Coerentemente, il lavoro colma, prima, il percorso, dalla genesi ad oggi, della pianificazione di protezione civile nel nostro paese, ricostruendone l’evoluzione tra norme e indirizzi. L’esito definisce i ruoli di Sindaci, strutture amministrative comunali, regioni, volontariato e prefetture culminato nel D.Lgs. 1/2018. Nella seconda parte si espone il nuovo ruolo del piano di protezione civile comunale nel quadro del Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction e offre spunti per la cruciale direttiva nazionale sulla pianificazione di protezione civile in fase di stesura