L'investigazione antincendio sugli aspetti strutturali: una proposta di codifica

Lo scopo di questo articolo è quello di esporre una metodologia codificata di Structural Fire Investigation (Investigazione sugli aspetti strutturali in caso di incendio) atta ad individuare le cause scatenanti, pregresse e latenti, che hanno determinato l’evento accidentale. L’iter investigativo, associato a determinate operazioni strutturali e forensi che partono dalla raccolta delle informazioni iniziali al repertamento e controllo documentale per poi completarsi con le verifiche computazionali, sicuramente aiuta a determinare, in maniera rigorosa, le cause e l’origine di un incendio. La modellazione degli incendi con il software del NIST, Fire Dynamics Simulator (FDS) e l’analisi strutturale con vari codici di calcolo, permettono di verificare determinate ipotesi maturate durante il repertamento e di avvalorare scientificamente l’analisi semiotica rilevata sulla scena, fornendo dati forensi utili in fase dibattimentale. Quindi un’attività investigativa pianificata, permette a qualsiasi utente, (VV.F., personale delle Forze dell’Ordine, Consulente, Perito, CTU o Libero Professionista), di svolgere indagini in maniera appropriata secondo una linea guida che permette di non tralasciare controlli a volte rilevanti per la stesura della documentazione complessiva in forma di report finale

Why do European primary care physicians sometimes not think of, or act on, a possible cancer diagnosis? : A qualitative study

Funding The Swedish application for ethical approval was funded by the Jämtland Cancer and Nursing Foundation. The study had no other external fundingPeer reviewedPostprin

Acute Delta Hepatitis in Italy spanning three decades (1991–2019): Evidence for the effectiveness of the hepatitis B vaccination campaign

Updated incidence data of acute Delta virus hepatitis (HDV) are lacking worldwide. Our aim was to evaluate incidence of and risk factors for acute HDV in Italy after the introduction of the compulsory vaccination against hepatitis B virus (HBV) in 1991. Data were obtained from the National Surveillance System of acute viral hepatitis (SEIEVA). Independent predictors of HDV were assessed by logistic-regression analysis. The incidence of acute HDV per 1-million population declined from 3.2 cases in 1987 to 0.04 in 2019, parallel to that of acute HBV per 100,000 from 10.0 to 0.39 cases during the same period. The median age of cases increased from 27 years in the decade 1991-1999 to 44 years in the decade 2010-2019 (p < .001). Over the same period, the male/female ratio decreased from 3.8 to 2.1, the proportion of coinfections increased from 55% to 75% (p = .003) and that of HBsAg positive acute hepatitis tested for by IgM anti-HDV linearly decreased from 50.1% to 34.1% (p < .001). People born abroad accounted for 24.6% of cases in 2004-2010 and 32.1% in 2011-2019. In the period 2010-2019, risky sexual behaviour (O.R. 4.2; 95%CI: 1.4-12.8) was the sole independent predictor of acute HDV; conversely intravenous drug use was no longer associated (O.R. 1.25; 95%CI: 0.15-10.22) with this. In conclusion, HBV vaccination was an effective measure to control acute HDV. Intravenous drug use is no longer an efficient mode of HDV spread. Testing for IgM-anti HDV is a grey area requiring alert. Acute HDV in foreigners should be monitored in the years to come

Structural Fire Investigation

Buildings damaged by the fires are a highly recurring phenomenon. This is leading to improve prevention procedures and to conduct more efficient investigations. The purpose of this thesis is to present an investigation methodology known as Structural Fire Investigation, which aims at identifying the causes, both pre-existing and latent, that led to a fire incident. Such investigation includes structural and forensic operations ranging from the gathering of initial information to evidence sampling and from document analysis to computational tests. At the base of the investigative methodology, there is the error analysis, the consequent causes, the effects that the fire produces in the scene and the consequences in the structure. It starts from analysis of accidents and then describes the fire event and the methodologies used to investigate which is also suggested by the NFPA 921 Guide for Fire and Explosion Investigations in which the importance of Fire Investigation is described even from the structural point of view. The starting point of this work is the occurrence of historical fire incidents at an international level, such as a fire incident that occurred in the Mont Blanc tunnel or an event occurred in a hotel in Taiwan. This work also addresses fire modelling by the software Fire Dynamics Simulator, in such a way that the hypotheses formulated during the sampling process are tested by the computational structural analysis of the incident. This thesis also aims at providing investigators with an innovative software package for conducting fire investigations, in an effort to produce a Unique Investigative Protocol. This tool will standardize the procedures at the core of the Structural Fire Investigation, so that parameters, other than just the point of origin of the fire are scrutinized. As such, Fire Investigation becomes a self-contained subject under the wider umbrella of structural engineering, and a forensic procedure just as important as those typically undertaken when fire-damaged buildings are involved. Finally the Structural Investigations that are constantly occurring at the core of Reverse Engineering might lead to the establishment of new frontiers, both from a structural optimization and fire reliability standpoint

Fire investigation del tunnel di Monte Bianco

L’incendio nel tunnel del Monte Bianco, ove persero la vita 39 persone, è stato il più grave nella storia dei tunnel transalpini. Tale evento disastroso ha spinto, negli anni successivi, a compiere migliorie nel settore della sicurezza antincendio nelle gallerie, ponendo molta attenzione agli aspetti di prevenzione, definendo criteri di progettazione innovativi e metodologie gestionali più efficaci. Lo scopo di questo articolo è quello di esporre delle fasi metodologiche di Fire Investigation atte ad individuare le cause scatenanti, pregresse e latenti, che hanno determinato tale evento accidentale. L’illustrazione di questa attività investigativa rappresenta un caso applicativo di quanto esposto nell’articolo Structural Fire Investigation e ingegneria forense. L’iter investigativo associato a determinate operazioni, in parte codificate, svolte anche attraverso l’ausilio di indagini computazionali (computational investigation), può aiutare a determinare nel dettaglio le cause e migliorare il livello di sicurezza antincendio di tali strutture.Le indagini svolte hanno messo in evidenza i difetti meccanici dell’automezzo e le carenze nella gestione dell’emergenza. Non si tratta dunque di uno scenario imprevedibile (black swans) ma di uno scenario probabile.The Mont Blanc tunnel fire was the most severe in the history of the trans-Alpine tunnels, where 39 people lost their lives. This disastrous event, which took two days of action, prompted, in subsequent years, to make improvements in the field of fire safety in tunnels, paying attention to the aspects of prevention and leading to the definition of design criteria and more effective innovative management methods. The purpose of this article is to expose the various methodological steps of Fire Investigation aimed at identifying all the causes, past and latent, which determined that accidental event. The illustration of this investigative activity in a case of application of the above article Structural Fire Investigation and forensic engineering. The investigative process associated with certain transactions, codified in part, carried out through the use of computational investigations, can help determine in detail the causes and improve the level of fire safety of such structures. The investigations have shown mechanical defects of the vehicle and deficiencies in emergency management. An unpredictable scenario (black swans) is out of question, as it is a very possible scenario

Structural fire investigation e ingegneria forense

Il ruolo della Fire Investigation, intesa come attività investigativa, riguarda l'esame degli episodi legati agli incendi con la finalità di determinarne le cause. Tale disciplina rientra nel campo dell’ingegneria forense, abbracciando diversi ambiti e diventando ancora più specialistica se incentrata nella Structural Fire Investigation ove le indagini strutturali hanno lo scopo di ricostruire il nesso eziologico fondato su principi scientifici che coniugano l’ingegneria strutturale con il diritto. L’investigazione ingegneristica costituisce una metodologia di reverse engineering che utilizza tecniche di back-analysis basate sulla Fire Safety Engineering divenendo così un’attività progettuale complementare (Investigation planning process) valida nei procedimenti giudiziari riguardanti incendi dolosi (Arson investigation), colposi o accidentali. In tale contesto l’ingegnere antincendio in ambito forense è quel professionista che, in senso lato, indaga su tutte le cause scatenanti e pregresse che hanno determinato l’incendio mentre, in senso stretto, è parte attiva in un procedimento giudiziario come consulente tecnico. In tal senso la Structural Fire Investigation si pone l’obiettivo di presentare una metodologia di analisi mettendo in risalto le aree d’interesse tecnico-giuridico ove lo studio accurato delle causalità degli eventi gioca un ruolo determinante