Durability of repair mortars used in restoration of a Sardinian coastal tower: assessment after ten years

[EN] This study reports the results of investigations on conservation conditions of an ancient tower, called Torre del Pozzo, located in the S-W coast of Sardinia, restored about ten years ago. The tower suffers from serious problems related to vulnerability of building materials, particularly limestone and sandstones and aerial lime mortar with poor physical-mechanical properties. Over the centuries the materials were subjected to aggressive actions (wind corrasion and salt crystallization) causing an intense erosion of the walls with consequent partial collapse of the structure. About ten years ago a restoration involved the mortars and only the replacement and integration of ashlars deteriorated. After about 10 years from this intervention, some inspections have been carried out in order to assess the effectiveness of the intervention and the state of preservation of the tower. This paper focuses on analyses and tests carried out to assess condition and durability of the repair mortars.Meloni, P.; Carcangiu, G.; Palomba, M.; Enzo, S.; Carboni, M.; Cocco, O.; Casti, M.... (2015). Durability of repair mortars used in restoration of a Sardinian coastal tower: assessment after ten years. En Defensive architecture of the mediterranean: XV to XVIII centuries. Vol. II. Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València. 397-44. https://doi.org/10.4995/FORTMED2015.2015.1761OCS3974

Immunohistochemical investigations on Brucella ceti-infected, neurobrucellosis-affected striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba)

Bacteria of the genus Brucella cause brucellosis, an infectious disease common to humans as well as to terrestrial and aquatic mammals. Since 1994 several cases of Brucella spp. infection have been reported in marine mammals worldwide. Indeed, since human brucellosis ranks as one of the most common bacterial zoonotic infections on a global scale, it is necessary to increase our knowledge about it also in the marine environment. Brucella ceti, which is phenotypically similar to other smooth brucellae as B. abortus and B. melitensis, shares with the latter two the same surface antigens that are routinely used for the serological diagnosis of Brucella spp. infection. Marine mammal Brucella spp. infections are characterized by a pathogenicity similar to their terrestrial counterparts, with the occurrence of abortion, stillbirth and orchitis and an involvement of the host’s central nervous system (CNS), similarly to what happens in mankind. While sero-epidemiological data suggest that Brucella spp. infection is widespread globally, detecting Brucella spp.-associated antigens by immunohistochemistry (IHC) in tissues from infected animals is often troublesome. The present study was aimed at investigating, by means of IHC based upon the utilization of an anti-Brucella LPS monoclonal antibody (MAb), the CNS immunoreactivity (IR) shown by B. ceti-infected, neurobrucellosis-affected striped dolphins

Efficacy of an interdisciplinary pathway in a first level trauma center orthopaedic unit: A prospective study of a cohort of elderly patients with hip fractures

Background: hip fracture has negative consequences for elderly people. Alternative models of care, with respect to traditional model, were developed to minimize complications and improve functional outcomes. The interdisciplinary model in orthopaedic wards has less evidence of efficacy compared to orthogeriatric units. Objective: to compare the efficacy (in\u2013hospital outcomes, mortality, functional status at 6 months after discharge) of an interdisciplinary pathway, based on comprehensive geriatric assessment, compared to a traditional model of care, in hip-fractured elderly patients. Design: prospective study with retrospective control group conducted in a first-level trauma center Orthopaedic Unit. Subjects: 97 patients treated with the traditional model and 127 with an interdisciplinary pathway (mean age 83.9 \ub1 7.4 vs 84 \ub1 6.7 years, p = 0.89). Methods: in all participants we assessed: clinical history, functional pre-fracture status utilising Activities of Daily Living (ADL), in-hospital details. At 6 months after discharge, we evaluated functional status, place of residence, hospital readmissions, mortality. Results: during hospital stay, significant differences emerged in mortality and in external visits. A higher proportion of patients of the orthogeriatric group lived alone at home at 6 months and showed a lower functional decline. Comprehensive geriatric assessment was associated with the ADL score (partial R2: 0.08, p < 0.001) and with a higher probability of independent walking ability ([OR] 3.89 95% [CI] 1.73 \u2013 8.74, p = 0.001). Conclusions: an interdisciplinary pathway in hip-fractured elderly patients, could reduce in\u2013hospital mortality, improve functional recovery and increase the probability of living alone at home, at 6 months

INFLUENCE OF NONLINEAR MODELING ON CAPACITY ASSESSMENT OF RC FRAMED STRUCTURES

Many existing buildings in the world present serious seismic deficiencies and need to be retrofitted. However, the basis for an effective seismic retrofit intervention is a reliable assessment of the structure. To this end, nowadays structural engineers can simulate the response of structures subjected to earthquake excitation by nonlinear numerical models. These models consider explicitly the mechanical nonlinearities of the structural members, identify the parts of the structure where yielding takes place, quantify the demand of plastic deformation and force. Furthermore, a number of models is available to carry out the nonlinear analysis of structures. All these models are able to provide a detailed representation of the seismic response of the structure. However, they are controlled by many parameters that need to be properly set to obtain an accurate prediction of the response. Based on the framework depicted above, the target of the Reinforced Concrete Work Package 2 of the ReLUIS 2018 project was to examine and compare different nonlinear modelling techniques used to evaluate the response of structures by pushover analysis. To this end, a case study building is analysed by the eight research units involved in the project by different nonlinear numerical models. The building presents very different lateral stiffness and strength in the longitudinal and transverse directions. Each numerical model is run two times including and not including the masonry infills. Furthermore, pushover analysis is run two times with forces in the longitudinal and transverse directions. Finally, the results are compared to illustrate advantages and limitations of each nonlinear modelling techniqu

ANMCO/ISS/AMD/ANCE/ARCA/FADOI/GICR-IACPR/SICI-GISE/SIBioC/SIC/SICOA/SID/SIF/SIMEU/SIMG/SIMI/SISA Joint Consensus Document on cholesterol and cardiovascular risk: Diagnostic-therapeutic pathway in Italy

Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease still represents the leading cause of death in Western countries. A wealth of scientific evidence demonstrates that increased blood cholesterol levels have a major impact on the outbreak and progression of atherosclerotic plaques. Moreover, several cholesterol-lowering pharmacological agents, including statins and ezetimibe, have proved effective in improving clinical outcomes. This document focuses on the clinical management of hypercholesterolaemia and has been conceived by 16 Italian medical associations with the support of the Italian National Institute of Health. The authors discuss in detail the role of hypercholesterolaemia in the genesis of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. In addition, the implications for high cholesterol levels in the definition of the individual cardiovascular risk profile have been carefully analysed, while all available therapeutic options for blood cholesterol reduction and cardiovascular risk mitigation have been explored. Finally, this document outlines the diagnostic and therapeutic pathways for the clinical management of patients with hypercholesterolaemia

INFLUENCE OF NONLINEAR MODELING ON CAPACITY ASSESSMENT OF RC FRAMED STRUCTURES

Typescript (photocopy).The overall goal of this research was to establish whether parameters derived from heart rate (HR) variability could be utilized to characterize autonomic states. Specifically, to (1) identify those parameters, derived from R-R interval data, which could be used as measures of dynamic and static autonomic tone, (2) determine the shortest signal duration required to achieve a valid measure of autonomic status, (3) utilize the information from the first two objectives in correctly classifying various autonomic states, (4) compare pharmacologically induced autonomic states with naturally occurring autonomic responses, and (5) characterize the daily changes resulting from evoked stressors. One study involved pharmacological agents which were administered to dogs in a five day study designed to establish specific dynamic and static autonomic conditions. Thirty-two parameters, derived from the frequency spectrum of HR variability waveforms calculated from electrocardiographic signals, were statistically analyzed to evaluate each parameter's ability to classify the three dynamic and three static autonomic conditions. A 94% accuracy in classifying these states was established using cluster analysis of two parameters: HR and power distribution of the low frequency (0.03125 to 0.0625 Hz) components of the HR variability waveform. Thirty-two seconds of HR variability data were needed for this classification. A second study of five days evaluated the day to day autonomic responses resulting from a stressor (air horn) and the anticipatory stress existing immediately before the treatment. Autonomic responses did result from the stressor, but day to day changes were difficult to characterize; anticipatory stress increased for two days, following the stressor, and then decreased on the last day. One of the parameters which proved to be a good discriminator in the pharmacological studies, power distribution of low frequency HR variability components, was significant in these studies. However, sixty-four seconds of data were needed for optimal discrimination..