Sviluppo ed ottimizzazione delle librerie C++ e Python CosmoBolognaLib

La cosmologia moderna è un campo di studio che si occupa dell'origine, dell'evoluzione e della struttura dell'Universo nel suo complesso, utilizzando osservazioni astronomiche, dati sperimentali e modelli teorici. I problemi tuttora aperti nella cosmologia moderna non sono pochi. Tra i più discussi, c'è la natura e l'origine dell'energia oscura, che sembra guidare l'accelerazione dell'espansione dell'Universo. Un altro problema è la natura e la distribuzione della materia oscura, ovvero una forma di materia invisibile che influisce sulla struttura a grande scala dell'Universo. Inoltre, la comprensione dell'origine dell'Universo stesso, inclusa la sua fase iniziale di espansione accelerata chiamata inflazione cosmica, è ancora un mistero tutto da risolvere. Questo lavoro di Tesi è dedicato a una parziale ristrutturazione delle librerie di calcolo \texttt{CosmoBolognaLib} (CBL), sviluppate presso il Dipartimento di Fisica ed Astronomia dell'Università di Bologna. Si tratta di librerie numeriche \textsl{free software} in C++ per calcoli cosmologici. È un progetto in continua evoluzione che mira a definire un ambiente numerico comune per le indagini cosmologiche sulla struttura a grande scala dell'Universo. Il mio lavoro si è concentrato sulla classe Cosmology, che contiene tutte le funzioni prettamente cosmologiche. Lo scopo è stato quello di creare nuove classi con cui riorganizzare una grossa parte delle funzioni presenti inizialmente nella classe Cosmology. Grazie a questo, è stato possibile migliorare la modularità, la riusabilità del codice, la manutenibilità e la facilità di comprensione. Il capitolo 1 è dedicato all'introduzione della cosmologia moderna. Il capitolo 2 presenta la descrizione della struttura e dell'utilizzo delle CBL. Il capitolo 3 è dedicato alle modifiche apportate al codice e ai miglioramenti ottenuti. Il capitolo 4, in conclusione, riassume il lavoro svolto e quello in programma per terminare questa ristrutturazione

Not all KIT 557/558 codons mutations have the same prognostic influence on recurrence-free survival: breaking the exon 11 mutations in gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs)

Background: Although the gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) genotype is not currently included in risk-stratification systems, a growing body of evidence shows that the pathogenic variant (PV) type and codon location hold a strong prognostic influence on recurrence-free survival (RFS). This information has particular relevance in the adjuvant setting, where an accurate prognostication could help to better identify high-risk tumors and guide clinical decision-making. Materials and Methods: Between January 2005 and December 2020, 96 patients with completely resected GISTs harboring a KIT proto-oncogene receptor tyrosine kinase (KIT) exon 11 PV were included in the study. We analyzed the type and codon location of the PV according to clinicopathological characteristics and clinical outcome; the metastatic sites in relapsed patients were also investigated. Results: Tumors harboring a KIT exon 11 deletion or deletion/insertion involving the 557 and/or 558 codons, showed a more aggressive clinical behavior compared with tumors carrying deletion/deletion/insertion in other codons, or tumors with duplication/insertion/single-nucleotide variant (SNV) (7-year RFS: 50% versus 73.1% versus 88.2%, respectively; p < 0.001). Notably, among 18 relapsed patients with 557 and/or 558 deletion or deletion/insertion, 14 patients (77.8%) harbored deletions simultaneously involving 557 and 558 codons, while only 4 patients (22.2%) harbored deletions involving only 1 of the 557/558 codons. Thus, when 557 or 558 deletions occurred separately, the tumor showed a prognostic behavior similar to the GIST carrying deletions outside the 557/558 position. Remarkably, patients with GISTs stratified as intermediate risk, but carrying the 557/558 deletion, showed a similar outcome to the high-risk patients with tumors harboring deletions in codons other than 557/558, or duplication/insertion/SNV. Conclusion: Our data support the inclusion of the PV type and codon location in routine risk prediction models, and suggest that intermediate-risk patients whose GISTs harbor 557/558 deletions may also need to be treated with adjuvant imatinib like the high-risk patients

Erratum to: Changes in patterns of uveitis at a tertiary referral center in Northern Italy: analysis of 990 consecutive cases

Erratum to: Changes in patterns of uveitis at a tertiary referral center in Northern Italy: analysis of 990 consecutive case

La rigenerazione delle aree rurali a partire dal patrimonio culturale: l\u2019hub del Borgo per l\u2019Alta Val Taro

La valorizzazione del patrimonio naturale e culturale, tangibile e intangibile, ha un ruolo determinante per la rigenerazione delle aree rurali. Il paper esamina nello specifico il ruolo del Cibo quale leva in grado di trasformare le aree rurali in laboratori di sviluppo sostenibile, dove la riscoperta e la valorizzazione dei prodotti locali e tradizionali pu\uf2 contribuire a rivitalizzare settori economici quali l\u2019agricoltura e il turismo, valorizzando allo stesso tempo il paesaggio e rafforzando l\u2019identit\ue0 culturale delle comunit\ue0

Treatment of severe frontobasilar fractures in growing patients: a case series evaluation

【Abstract】 Objective: The treatment of fronto-basilar fractures is a demanding aspect of craniofacial frac-ture management. A sequel of inadequate or improper frac-ture management presents cosmetic and functional prob-lems which are very difficult to correct. The aim of this manu-script was to examine a group of growing patients treated for frontobasilar fractures and provide clinicians a possible therapeutic option for the treatment of these challenging fractures. Methods: In this investigation, 12 patients under the age of 16 years treated for severe injuries to the frontobasilar region were included. Their records were reviewed to evalu-ate the clinical diagnosis, preoperative findings, hospital course, postoperative results, and long-term follow-up. Preoperative and postoperative CT scans were performed in all children treated. Postoperative complications were re-viewed in detail. Surgical procedures were evaluated for type and location of fixation. All complications and treat-ments were recorded. Results: Three of the patients presented with a cere-brospinal fluid (CSF) leak and required pericranial flaps. Only 3 patients underwent removal of plates and screws due to palpability in 1 patient, loose hardware in 1 patient, and limited disturbance on growth in the rest patient. Seven patients underwent open reduction and internal fixation with resorbable plates, 4 patients with titanium plates, and 1 pa-tient with a combination. Follow-up ranged from 6 months to 5 years. No patients with a preoperative CSF leak deve-loped any recurrence of the leak. Conclusion: According to basic craniofacial principles, reducing and stabilizing the fractures should reconstruct the anterior cranial base. However, the treatment of paediatric maxillofacial trauma requires the evaluation of several factors. The facial skeleton of a child is constantly evolving and its growth depends on the balance of basal bone and soft tissues. Key words: Fractures, bone; Facial injuries; Eth-moid bone; Nasal bone; Zygom

Prognostic significance of hypoxic and metabolic gene profiling in hepatocellular carcinoma

AbstractBackground & AimsHepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is characterized by high clinical and biological heterogeneity, depending on the extremely variable combinations of pathways, linked with immune mechanisms, neo‐angiogenesis, ECM remodeling, metabolism and/or hypoxia. We recently identified a 5‐genes neo‐angiogenic transcriptomic signature (TS), able to discriminate between "aggressive" HCCs (TS‐positive) from "bland" HCCs (TS negative), the former having extremely poor survival. The aim of this study was to compare gene expression of our HCC cohort with gene expression of well‐characterized, published signatures, which have been related with several different functions potentially relevant in carcinogenesis (ie immune control, hypoxia, metabolism, vascular invasion). We also aimed to ascertain the prognostic power for survival.MethodsThe gene expression profile of a cohort of 78 HCC patients prospectively identified were analysed according to a series of published gene expression signatures related with hypoxia, metabolism and immunity and related with the ability of the signature to predict survival.ResultsOnly few genes described in the various immune‐signatures analyzed were differentially expressed and were related with reduced survival in our prospective cohort, especially in TS‐positive HCCs. Genes composing hypoxic, metabolic and vascular invasion signatures were instead much more deregulated both in aggressive or bland HCCs. For most of them, the level of expression related with reduced survival. This suggests their possible value as biomarker of tumor aggressiveness.ConclusionAltogether, our data demonstrate that in HCC, and especially in aggressive TS‐positive HCC, signaling pathways related with hypoxic and metabolic/glycolytic signatures are more relevant in determining a poorer outcome of HCC than immune‐related pathways

Making an Opportunity out of a Crisis: The Inclusive Approach of the Italian Robotics Community

The COVID-19 pandemic is forcing a rethink in robotics. In the form it is known today, robotics has been the prerogative of a broad community of insiders. But now, in the wreckage left behind by COVID-19, a new era is beginning. What does it hold? During the pandemic, increasing numbers of people had manifested the hope that robotics might bring novel solutions. And this interest has emerged beyond the usual boundaries of the experts or technology enthusiasts. This provides an opportunity to reinforce the community of people involved in the process of innovation. By involving citizens, the community becomes more comprehensive (that is, plural and diverse). This broadening will involve more practical knowledge and therefore produce better robots of many shapes and functions. If progress is possible in the industry, why not in the hospitals, shopping malls, restaurants, hotels, and schools? What is more, the approach endorsed by the Italian robotics community during the lockdown has established a new cooperation among those who labor with robots, and the professionals who work in hospitals, which is bound to last a long time. As a major impact, this experience will enable an improvement on science's relationship with and for society. This may entail a further shift: to value more scientific knowledge and scientific literacy