Casa alle Zattere. Venecia (1953-58)

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Paradigmi relazionali nello spazio urbano: il caso-studio del centro storico di Palermo

In questo scritto analizzeremo le modalità attraverso le quali vengono sovvertite, con piccole azioni dei cittadini, le regole che disciplinano gli spazi urbani. Partendo dal caso studio del centro storico di Palermo illustreremo come la “conquista” anche temporanea, di strade e piazze possa permettere una rivitalizzazione ed una rivalutazione dei luoghi. Il nostro interesse è rivolto a comprendere come si siano sviluppati processi di ri-conquista dello spazio urbano, che hanno permesso di “addomesticare” alcuni spazi della città, modificando usi e configurazioni comuni, che estrapolati dal contesto abituale sono stati inseriti in nuove relazioni. La scelta di prendere Palermo come caso studio deriva da alcune caratteristiche di questa città: la prima caratteristica può essere individuata nelle sue radici storico-culturali che in qualche modo favoriscono l’insediamento di nuove comunità; l’altra caratteristica è che le forme di scambio con abitanti di diverse culture avvengono, non in periferia, ma in centro. Questo rende la città siciliana un caso non unico ma atipico nel panorama europeo, dove si tende ad avere una spinta centrifuga e quindi una emarginazione delle popolazioni non locali e dei ceti meno abbienti. Da questo punto di vista il centro di Palermo può essere considerato come una sorta di spugna, che riesce non solo ad assorbire nuove comunità ma anche ad attrarre esponenti del ceto sociale medio. A differenza di altre città europee, dove si sono innescati processi di gentrification grazie agli interventi strutturali promossi dalla pubblica amministrazione, a Palermo il processo di riqualificazione è dovuto a piccole azioni promosse dai residenti. L’inversione della tendenza degenerativa che era in atto e l’inversione dell’andamento dei valori immobiliari non è dovuta quindi ad una politica integrata, quanto alla libera iniziativa delle fasce sociali più deboli.In this script we’ll describe the everyday,little actions of the citizens that break the rules of the urban areas’ organization. Starting from the Old Town of Palermo, that we used as the example in our analysis, we’ll show how the “conquest”, even just temporary, of streets and squares could achieve a revitalization and a revaluation of quarters. Our focus is on understanding how revitalization/ re-conquest of urban areas has taken place. By altering people preconcieved ideas of areas of the city, this process achived the “domestication” of some areas that, out of their usual context, are inserted in new relations. Our choice to take Palermo as example derives from some typical characteristics of this city: the first one is due to its historical-cultural origins which, in some way, favor the settlement of new comunities; the second is that the way of live among population of different cultures develops in the centre of the city, not in the suburbs. These features make Palermo not unique, but atipical compared to the rest of Europe where immigrants and lower-class people, are generally forced to the external areas of towns. From this point of view we can imagine Palermo’s Old town as a sponge which is able not just to absorb new comunities, but also to attract people from the middle classes. In European cities gentrification processes are started thanks to projects realized by the Public Administrations, On the contrary in Palermo this process generates from actions of the inhabitants themselves. The change of degenerative trend and the increasing value in the Real Estate Market is therefore not caused by a political action, but thanks to the initiative of the lower class.Peer Reviewe

Convolutional Neural Networks on Embedded Automotive Platforms: A Qualitative Comparison

In the last decade, the rise of power-efficient, het- erogeneous embedded platforms paved the way to the effective adoption of neural networks in several application domains. Especially, many-core accelerators (e.g., GPUs and FPGAs) are used to run Convolutional Neural Networks, e.g., in autonomous vehicles, and industry 4.0. At the same time, advanced research on neural networks is producing interesting results in computer vision applications, and NN packages for computer vision object detection and categorization such as YOLO, GoogleNet and AlexNet reached an unprecedented level of accuracy and perfor- mance. With this work, we aim at validating the effectiveness and efficiency of most recent networks on state-of-the-art embedded platforms, with commercial-off-the-shelf System-on-Chips such as the NVIDIA Tegra X2 and Xilinx Ultrascale+. In our vision, this work will support the choice of the most appropriate CNN package and computing system, and at the same time tries to “make some order” in the field

Adaptive localization for autonomous racing vehicles with resource-constrained embedded platforms

Modern autonomous vehicles have to cope with the consolidation of multiple critical software modules processing huge amounts of real-time data on power- and resource-constrained embedded MPSoCs. In such a highly-congested and dynamic scenario, it is extremely complex to ensure that all components meet their quality-of-service requirements (e.g., sensor frequencies, accuracy, responsiveness, reliability) under all possible working conditions and within tight power budgets. One promising solution consists of taking advantage of complementary resource usage patterns of software components by implementing dynamic resource provisioning. A key enabler of this paradigm consists of augmenting applications with dynamic reconfiguration capability, thus adaptively modulating quality-of-service based on resource availability or proactively demanding resources based just on the complexity of the input at hand. The goal of this paper is to explore the feasibility of such a dynamic model of computation for the critical localization function of self-driving vehicles, so that it can burden on system resources just for what is needed at any point in time or gracefully degrade accuracy in case of resource shortage. We validate our approach in a harsh scenario, by implementing it in the localization module of an autonomous racing vehicle. Experiments show that we can adapt to variations in operational conditions such as the system workload, and that we can also achieve an overall reduction of platform utilization and power consumption for this computation-greedy software module by up to 1.6× and 1.5× , respectively, for roughly the same quality of service

Paradigmi relazionali nello spazio urbano: il caso-studio del centro storico di Palermo

In questo scritto analizzeremo le modalità attraverso le quali vengono sovvertite, con piccole azioni dei cittadini, le regole che disciplinano gli spazi urbani. Partendo dal caso studio del centro storico di Palermo illustreremo come la “conquista” anche temporanea, di strade e piazze possa permettere una rivitalizzazione ed una rivalutazione dei luoghi. Il nostro interesse è rivolto a comprendere come si siano sviluppati processi di ri-conquista dello spazio urbano, che hanno permesso di “addomesticare” alcuni spazi della città, modificando usi e configurazioni comuni, che estrapolati dal contesto abituale sono stati inseriti in nuove relazioni. La scelta di prendere Palermo come caso studio deriva da alcune caratteristiche di questa città: la prima caratteristica può essere individuata nelle sue radici storico-culturali che in qualche modo favoriscono l’insediamento di nuove comunità; l’altra caratteristica è che le forme di scambio con abitanti di diverse culture avvengono, non in periferia, ma in centro. Questo rende la città siciliana un caso non unico ma atipico nel panorama europeo, dove si tende ad avere una spinta centrifuga e quindi una emarginazione delle popolazioni non locali e dei ceti meno abbienti. Da questo punto di vista il centro di Palermo può essere considerato come una sorta di spugna, che riesce non solo ad assorbire nuove comunità ma anche ad attrarre esponenti del ceto sociale medio. A differenza di altre città europee, dove si sono innescati processi di gentrification grazie agli interventi strutturali promossi dalla pubblica amministrazione, a Palermo il processo di riqualificazione è dovuto a piccole azioni promosse dai residenti. L’inversione della tendenza degenerativa che era in atto e l’inversione dell’andamento dei valori immobiliari non è dovuta quindi ad una politica integrata, quanto alla libera iniziativa delle fasce sociali più deboli.In this script we’ll describe the everyday,little actions of the citizens that break the rules of the urban areas’ organization. Starting from the Old Town of Palermo, that we used as the example in our analysis, we’ll show how the “conquest”, even just temporary, of streets and squares could achieve a revitalization and a revaluation of quarters. Our focus is on understanding how revitalization/ re-conquest of urban areas has taken place. By altering people preconcieved ideas of areas of the city, this process achived the “domestication” of some areas that, out of their usual context, are inserted in new relations. Our choice to take Palermo as example derives from some typical characteristics of this city: the first one is due to its historical-cultural origins which, in some way, favor the settlement of new comunities; the second is that the way of live among population of different cultures develops in the centre of the city, not in the suburbs. These features make Palermo not unique, but atipical compared to the rest of Europe where immigrants and lower-class people, are generally forced to the external areas of towns. From this point of view we can imagine Palermo’s Old town as a sponge which is able not just to absorb new comunities, but also to attract people from the middle classes. In European cities gentrification processes are started thanks to projects realized by the Public Administrations, On the contrary in Palermo this process generates from actions of the inhabitants themselves. The change of degenerative trend and the increasing value in the Real Estate Market is therefore not caused by a political action, but thanks to the initiative of the lower class.Peer Reviewe

TRIPLETE: A randomised phase III study of modified FOLFOXIRI plus panitumumab versus mFOLFOX6 plus panitumumab as initial therapy for patients with unresectable RAS and BRAF wild-type metastatic colorectal cancer

FOLFOXIRI plus bevacizumab is considered a standard option in the upfront treatment of clinically selected patients with metastatic colorectal cancer irrespective of RAS and BRAF molecular status. The randomised MACBETH and VOLFI studies showed that a modified FOLFOXIRI regimen in combination with cetuximab or panitumumab, respectively, achieved high therapeutic activity in RAS and BRAF wild-type patients with an acceptable toxicity profile. Drawing from these considerations, we designed TRIPLETE study aiming at comparing two different chemotherapy backbones (mFOLFOXIRI or mFOLFOX6) in combination with panitumumab in the first-line treatment of patients with RAS and BRAF wild-type metastatic colorectal cancer. Methods This is a prospective, open-label, multicentre phase III trial in which initially unresectable and previously untreated RAS and BRAF wild-type metastatic colorectal cancer patients are randomised to receive a standard treatment with mFOLFOX6 plus panitumumab or an experimental regimen with modified FOLFOXIRI (irinotecan 150 mg/m 2, oxaliplatin 85 mg/m 2, L-leucovorin 200 mg/m 2, 5-fluoruracil 2400 mg/m 2 48-hour continuous infusion) plus panitumumab up to 12 cycles, followed by panitumumab plus 5-fluorouracil and L-leucovorin until disease progression. The primary endpoint is overall response rate according to RECIST 1.1 criteria. Discussion The relative benefit of chemotherapy intensification when using an anti-EGFR-based regimen in molecularly selected patients is unknown; TRIPLETE study aims at filling this gap of knowledge. The study is sponsored by the Gruppo Oncologico Nord Ovest Cooperative Group and is currently ongoing at 42 Italian centres. Clinical trial information NCT03231722

Impact of the time interval between primary or interval surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy in ovarian cancer patients

IntroductionPrimary debulking surgery (PDS), interval debulking surgery (IDS), and platinum-based chemotherapy are the current standard treatments for advanced ovarian cancer (OC). The time to initiation of adjuvant chemotherapy (TTC) could influence patient outcomes.MethodsWe conducted a multicenter retrospective cohort study of advanced (International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage III or IV) OC treated between 2014 and 2018 to assess progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) in relation to TTC. All patients underwent a germline multigene panel for BRCA1/2 evaluation.ResultsAmong the 83 patients who underwent PDS, a TTC ≥ 60 days was associated with a shorter PFS (hazard ratio (HR) 2.02, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.04–3.93, p = 0.038), although this association lost statistical significance when adjusting for residual disease (HR 1.52, 95% CI 0.75–3.06, p = 0.244, for TTC and HR 2.73, 95% CI 1.50–4.96, p = 0.001, for residual disease). Among 52 IDS patients, we found no evidence of an association between TTC and clinical outcomes. Ascites, type of chemotherapy, or germline BRCA1/2 mutational status did not influence TTC and were not associated with clinical outcomes in PDS or IDS patients.DiscussionIn conclusion, longer TTC seems to negatively affect prognosis in patients undergoing PDS, especially those with residual disease

Sequential therapies after atezolizumab plus bevacizumab or lenvatinib first-line treatments in hepatocellular carcinoma patients

Introduction: The aim of this retrospective proof-of-concept study was to compare different second-line treatments for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and progressive disease (PD) after first-line lenvatinib or atezolizumab plus bevacizumab.Materials and methods: A total of 1381 patients had PD at first-line therapy. 917 patients received lenvatinib as first-line treatment, and 464 patients atezolizumab plus bevacizumab as first-line.Results: 49.6% of PD patients received a second-line therapy without any statistical difference in overall survival (OS) between lenvatinib (20.6 months) and atezolizumab plus bev-acizumab first-line (15.7 months; p = 0.12; hazard ratio [HR] = 0.80). After lenvatinib first-line, there wasn't any statistical difference between second-line therapy subgroups (p = 0.27; sorafenib HR: 1; immunotherapy HR: 0.69; other therapies HR: 0.85). Patients who under-went trans-arterial chemo-embolization (TACE) had a significative longer OS than patients who received sorafenib (24.7 versus 15.8 months, p < 0.01; HR = 0.64). After atezolizumab plus bevacizumab first-line, there was a statistical difference between second-line therapy subgroups (p < 0.01; sorafenib HR: 1; lenvatinib HR: 0.50; cabozantinib HR: 1.29; other therapies HR: 0.54). Patients who received lenvatinib (17.0 months) and those who under-went TACE (15.9 months) had a significative longer OS than patients treated with sorafenib (14.2 months; respectively, p = 0.01; HR = 0.45, and p < 0.05; HR = 0.46).Conclusion: Approximately half of patients receiving first-line lenvatinib or atezolizumab plus bevacizumab access second-line treatment. Our data suggest that in patients progressed to atezolizumab plus bevacizumab, the systemic therapy able to achieve the longest survival is lenvatinib, while in patients progressed to lenvatinib, the systemic therapy able to achieve the longest survival is immunotherapy

Casa alle Zattere. Venecia (1953-58)

Peer Reviewe