Editoriale / Editorial

Nelle Alpi centrali e orientali la cultura architettonica ha giocato in anni recenti un ruolo fondamentale nello sviluppo locale e regionale, diventando un vettore determinante per il rafforzamento culturale e socio-economico dei territori. Una cultura portatrice di istanze di sostenibilità e di un nuovo rapporto con l’ambiente, tassello di filiere produttive locali, luogo di sperimentazione tecnica e linguistica, ed infine strumento per le pratiche di risignificazione del patrimonio costruito, nonché elemento cardine nei processi di innovazione sociale. Il numero, nel presentare una rassegna di architetture e di progettisti che hanno lavorato in questi luoghi, illustra altrettante idee di architettura, modi di esplorare i luoghi, di studiare le condizioni del passato, di interpretare il cambiamento e le ragioni della contemporaneità. In the central and eastern Alps, architectural culture has been playing a key role in local and regional development, as it has become a determining factor in the strengthening of the cultural and socio-economic context of these territories. This culture bears demands for sustainability and has contributed to building a new relationship with the environment. It is one of the pieces that make up the local production chains, a place for technical and linguistic experimentation, a tool for the resignification of the built legacy, as well as a key player in processes of social innovation. By presenting a selection of projects and architects that are connected to these territories, this issue illustrates several ideas of architecture and ways of exploring places, studying the past, and understanding change and the reasons behind contemporaneity

Editoriale / Editorial

The corpus of traditional architecture that had shaped the Alpine territory before the 20th-century “rupture” – which is looked further into in the introductory essay – in the modern and contemporary ages has been a basis for designers and scholars who have dealt with different modes of interpreting architecture and the landscape in the Alps

Ectomycorrhizal fungi and soil enzymes exhibit contrasting patterns along elevation gradients in southern Patagonia

The biological and functional diversity of ectomycorrhizal (ECM) associations remain largely unknown in South America. In Patagonia, the ECM tree Nothofagus pumilio forms monospecific forests along mountain slopes without confounding effects of vegetation on plant fungi interactions.To determine how fungal diversity and function are linked to elevation, we characterized fungal communities, edaphic variables, and eight extracellular enzyme activities along six elevation transects in Tierra del Fuego (Argentina and Chile). We also tested whether pairing ITS1 rDNA Illumina sequences generated taxonomic biases related to sequence length.Fungal community shifts across elevations were mediated primarily by soil pH with the most species‐rich fungal families occurring mostly within a narrow pH range. By contrast, enzyme activities were minimally influenced by elevation but correlated with soil factors, especially total soil carbon. The activity of leucine aminopeptidase was positively correlated with ECM fungal richness and abundance, and acid phosphatase was correlated with nonECM fungal abundance. Several fungal lineages were undetected when using exclusively paired or unpaired forward ITS1 sequences, and these taxonomic biases need reconsideration for future studies.Our results suggest that soil fungi in N. pumilio forests are functionally similar across elevations and that these diverse communities help to maintain nutrient mobilization across the elevation gradient.The biological and functional diversity of ectomycorrhizal (ECM) associations remain largely unknown in South America. In Patagonia, the ECM tree Nothofagus pumilio forms monospecific forests along mountain slopes without confounding effects of vegetation on plant fungi interactions.To determine how fungal diversity and function are linked to elevation, we characterized fungal communities, edaphic variables, and eight extracellular enzyme activities along six elevation transects in Tierra del Fuego (Argentina and Chile). We also tested whether pairing ITS1 rDNA Illumina sequences generated taxonomic biases related to sequence length.Fungal community shifts across elevations were mediated primarily by soil pH with the most species‐rich fungal families occurring mostly within a narrow pH range. By contrast, enzyme activities were minimally influenced by elevation but correlated with soil factors, especially total soil carbon. The activity of leucine aminopeptidase was positively correlated with ECM fungal richness and abundance, and acid phosphatase was correlated with nonECM fungal abundance. Several fungal lineages were undetected when using exclusively paired or unpaired forward ITS1 sequences, and these taxonomic biases need reconsideration for future studies.Our results suggest that soil fungi in N. pumilio forests are functionally similar across elevations and that these diverse communities help to maintain nutrient mobilization across the elevation gradient.The biological and functional diversity of ectomycorrhizal (ECM) associations remain largely unknown in South America. In Patagonia, the ECM tree Nothofagus pumilio forms monospecific forests along mountain slopes without confounding effects of vegetation on plant fungi interactions.To determine how fungal diversity and function are linked to elevation, we characterized fungal communities, edaphic variables, and eight extracellular enzyme activities along six elevation transects in Tierra del Fuego (Argentina and Chile). We also tested whether pairing ITS1 rDNA Illumina sequences generated taxonomic biases related to sequence length.Fungal community shifts across elevations were mediated primarily by soil pH with the most species‐rich fungal families occurring mostly within a narrow pH range. By contrast, enzyme activities were minimally influenced by elevation but correlated with soil factors, especially total soil carbon. The activity of leucine aminopeptidase was positively correlated with ECM fungal richness and abundance, and acid phosphatase was correlated with nonECM fungal abundance. Several fungal lineages were undetected when using exclusively paired or unpaired forward ITS1 sequences, and these taxonomic biases need reconsideration for future studies.Our results suggest that soil fungi in N. pumilio forests are functionally similar across elevations and that these diverse communities help to maintain nutrient mobilization across the elevation gradient.Fil: Truong, Camille. University of Florida; Estados UnidosFil: Truong, Camille. University of Florida; Estados UnidosFil: Truong, Camille. University of Florida; Estados UnidosFil: Gabbarini, Luciano Andres. Universidad Nacional de Quilmes. Departamento de Ciencia y Tecnología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Gabbarini, Luciano Andres. Universidad Nacional de Quilmes. Departamento de Ciencia y Tecnología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Gabbarini, Luciano Andres. Universidad Nacional de Quilmes. Departamento de Ciencia y Tecnología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Corrales, Adriana. Universidad Colegio Mayor de Nuestra Señora del Rosario; ColombiaFil: Corrales, Adriana. Universidad Colegio Mayor de Nuestra Señora del Rosario; ColombiaFil: Corrales, Adriana. Universidad Colegio Mayor de Nuestra Señora del Rosario; ColombiaFil: Mujic, Alija B.. University of Florida; Estados UnidosFil: Mujic, Alija B.. University of Florida; Estados UnidosFil: Mujic, Alija B.. University of Florida; Estados UnidosFil: Escobar, Julio Martin. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Austral de Investigaciones Científicas; ArgentinaFil: Escobar, Julio Martin. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Austral de Investigaciones Científicas; ArgentinaFil: Escobar, Julio Martin. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Austral de Investigaciones Científicas; ArgentinaFil: Moretto, Alicia Susana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Austral de Investigaciones Científicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Tierra del Fuego; ArgentinaFil: Moretto, Alicia Susana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Austral de Investigaciones Científicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Tierra del Fuego; ArgentinaFil: Moretto, Alicia Susana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Austral de Investigaciones Científicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Tierra del Fuego; ArgentinaFil: Smith, Matthew E.. University of Florida; Estados UnidosFil: Smith, Matthew E.. University of Florida; Estados UnidosFil: Smith, Matthew E.. University of Florida; Estados Unido

Lidar and Dial application for detection and identification: A proposal to improve safety and security

Nowadays the intentional diffusion in air (both in open and confined environments) of chemical contaminants is a dramatic source of risk for the public health worldwide. The needs of a high-tech networks composed by software, diagnostics, decision support systems and cyber security tools are urging all the stakeholders (military, public, research & academic entities) to create innovative solutions to face this problem and improve both safety and security. The Quantum Electronics and Plasma Physics (QEP) Research Group of the University of Rome Tor Vergata is working since the 1960s on the development of laser-based technologies for the stand-off detection of contaminants in the air. Up to now, four demonstrators have been developed (two LIDAR-based and two DIAL-based) and have been used in experimental campaigns during all 2015. These systems and technologies can be used together to create an innovative solution to the problem of public safety and security: the creation of a network composed by detection systems: A low cost LIDAR based system has been tested in an urban area to detect pollutants coming from urban traffic, in this paper the authors show the results obtained in the city of Crotone (south of Italy). This system can be used as a first alarm and can be coupled with an identification system to investigate the nature of the threat. A laboratory dial based system has been used in order to create a database of absorption spectra of chemical substances that could be release in atmosphere, these spectra can be considered as the fingerprints of the substances that have to be identified. In order to create the database absorption measurements in cell, at different conditions, are in progress and the first results are presented in this paper

Prevalence of the Congenital Long-QT Syndrome

Background-The prevalence of genetic arrhythmogenic diseases is unknown. For the long-QT syndrome (LQTS), figures ranging from 1: 20 000 to 1: 5000 were published, but none was based on actual data. Our objective was to define the prevalence of LQTS. Methods and Results-In 18 maternity hospitals, an ECG was performed in 44 596 infants 15 to 25 days old ( 43 080 whites). In infants with a corrected QT interval (QTc) >450 ms, the ECG was repeated within 1 to 2 weeks. Genetic analysis, by screening 7 LQTS genes, was performed in 28 of 31 (90%) and in 14 of 28 infants (50%) with, respectively, a QTc >470 ms or between 461 and 470 ms. A QTc of 451 to 460, 461 to 470, and >470 ms was observed in 177 (0.41%), 28 (0.06%), and 31 infants (0.07%). Among genotyped infants, disease-causing mutations were found in 12 of 28 (43%) with a QTc >470 ms and in 4 of 14 (29%) with a QTc of 461 to 470 ms. One genotype-negative infant ( QTc 482 ms) was diagnosed as affected by LQTS on clinical grounds. Among family members of genotype-positive infants, 51% were found to carry disease-causing mutations. In total, 17 of 43 080 white infants were affected by LQTS, demonstrating a prevalence of at least 1:2534 apparently healthy live births (95% confidence interval, 1:1583 to 1:4350). Conclusions-This study provides the first data-based estimate of the prevalence of LQTS among whites. On the basis of the nongenotyped infants with QTc between 451 and 470 ms, we advance the hypothesis that this prevalence might be close to 1:2000. ECG-guided molecular screening can identify most infants affected by LQTS and unmask affected relatives, thus allowing effective preventive measures

Prevalence of the congenital long-QT syndrome

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of genetic arrhythmogenic diseases is unknown. For the long-QT syndrome (LQTS), figures ranging from 1:20 000 to 1:5000 were published, but none was based on actual data. Our objective was to define the prevalence of LQTS. METHODS AND RESULTS: In 18 maternity hospitals, an ECG was performed in 44 596 infants 15 to 25 days old (43 080 whites). In infants with a corrected QT interval (QTc) >450 ms, the ECG was repeated within 1 to 2 weeks. Genetic analysis, by screening 7 LQTS genes, was performed in 28 of 31 (90%) and in 14 of 28 infants (50%) with, respectively, a QTc >470 ms or between 461 and 470 ms. A QTc of 451 to 460, 461 to 470, and >470 ms was observed in 177 (0.41%), 28 (0.06%), and 31 infants (0.07%). Among genotyped infants, disease-causing mutations were found in 12 of 28 (43%) with a QTc >470 ms and in 4 of 14 (29%) with a QTc of 461 to 470 ms. One genotype-negative infant (QTc 482 ms) was diagnosed as affected by LQTS on clinical grounds. Among family members of genotype-positive infants, 51% were found to carry disease-causing mutations. In total, 17 of 43 080 white infants were affected by LQTS, demonstrating a prevalence of at least 1:2534 apparently healthy live births (95% confidence interval, 1:1583 to 1:4350). CONCLUSIONS: This study provides the first data-based estimate of the prevalence of LQTS among whites. On the basis of the nongenotyped infants with QTc between 451 and 470 ms, we advance the hypothesis that this prevalence might be close to 1:2000. ECG-guided molecular screening can identify most infants affected by LQTS and unmask affected relatives, thus allowing effective preventive measures

Permanent Cardiac Pacing in Children:Choosing the Optimal Pacing Site A Multicenter Study

We evaluated the effects of the site of ventricular pacing on left ventricular (LV) synchrony and function in children requiring permanent pacing. One hundred seventy-eight children (aged <18 years) from 21 centers with atrioventricular block and a structurally normal heart undergoing permanent pacing were studied cross-sectionally. Median age at evaluation was 11.2 (interquartile range, 6.3-15.0) years. Median pacing duration was 5.4 (interquartile range, 3.1-8.8) years. Pacing sites were the free wall of the right ventricular (RV) outflow tract (n=8), lateral RV (n=44), RV apex (n=61), RV septum (n=29), LV apex (n=12), LV midlateral wall (n=17), and LV base (n=7). LV synchrony, pump function, and contraction efficiency were significantly affected by pacing site and were superior in children paced at the LV apex/LV midlateral wall. LV dyssynchrony correlated inversely with LV ejection fraction (R=0.80, P=0.031). Pacing from the RV outflow tract/lateral RV predicted significantly decreased LV function (LV ejection fraction <45%; odds ratio, 10.72; confidence interval, 2.07-55.60; P=0.005), whereas LV apex/LV midlateral wall pacing was associated with preserved LV function (LV ejection fraction ≥55%; odds ratio, 8.26; confidence interval, 1.46-47.62; P=0.018). Presence of maternal autoantibodies, gender, age at implantation, duration of pacing, DDD mode, and QRS duration had no significant impact on LV ejection fraction. The site of ventricular pacing has a major impact on LV mechanical synchrony, efficiency, and pump function in children who require lifelong pacing. Of the sites studied, LV apex/LV midlateral wall pacing has the greatest potential to prevent pacing-induced reduction of cardiac pump functio

Impact of the permanent ventricular pacing site on left ventricular function in children: a retrospective multicentre survey.

In children with isolated AV block, permanent ventricular pacing site is an important determinant of LV function, with LVFS being significantly higher with LV pacing than with RV pacing