NUOVE "TRACCE" PER IL QUARTIERE DI PORTA A LUCCA A PISA - Riqualificazione architettonica e urbanistica di un'area in Via di Gello

La presente tesi di laurea ha come oggetto la riqualificazione architettonica e urbanistica di un’area verde nel quartiere di Porta a Lucca a Pisa. Il tema scaturisce da un’analisi critica degli elementi e delle conseguenti necessità proprie del quartiere, che trovano come risposta la proposta progettuale oggetto di questa tesi. L’obiettivo essenziale della tesi è quello di dotare il quartiere di quei servizi specifici di cui attualmente è carente, individuando in un’area verde in Via di Gello la locazione adatta allo scopo. La soluzione individuata prevede la realizzazione di una biblioteca di quartiere con annessi servizi, un’area di parcheggio, un’area verde attrezzata e un nuovo sistema di collegamenti viari. Le scelte compositivo-architettoniche compiute sono state accuratamente esplicate e con esse è emersa la primaria importanza delle “tracce” viarie proprie dello stesso quartiere. Relativamente ai nuovi collegamenti stradali previsti, nell’interesse del quartiere e non solo dell’area, sono state definite due nuove rotatorie urbane con la viabilità ad esse connessa; contestuale a ciò è stato lo studio sperimentale dei flussi di traffico, prima e dopo la riqualificazione dell’area, e l’utilizzo del metodo empirico francese del CETUR per la verifica dimensionale delle rotatorie

Fine wines : a study of financial returns with a focus on the Covid-19 pandemic and key implications of wine frauds

This dissertation investigated how fine wines can be a valid asset class and how they have performed in terms of returns in the past 6 years, with a focus on the COVID-19 pandemic. It analyzed the extensive literature around fine wines and the definition of fine wine and attempted to link the fine wine phenomenon to relevant notions in the literature on strategy and management theory. Qualitative data gathered through expert interviews aimed at validating fine wines as an asset class and to understand better what influenced price increases of fine wines, as well as how fake wines may limit the market and hamper growth. Fine wines were confirmed to be a valid asset class, recently gaining more interest due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the growth of fine wines into Asian markets. Experts further acknowledged that fake wines are a serious threat and that investors should always be careful, especially when buying from China, and buy directly from producers or trusted sales representatives to avoid fakes. Quantitative data used from the eWibe proprietary database, to analyze price trends and study price behavior. Fine wines have demonstrated the ability to deliver, on average, a 60% gross return over 6 years, which can increase up to an average 90% by selecting the fine wines produced in the two best performing regions, namely Burgundy in France and Piedmont in Italy. Finally, by comparing these two, we found that the April 2021 adverse weather had an average impact on Burgundy’s prices of 12%.Esta dissertação investigou como os vinhos finos podem ser uma classe de bens válida e como atuaram em termos de retorno nos últimos 6 anos, com enfoque na pandemia da COVID-19. Analisou a literatura sobre vinhos finos e a definição de vinho fino e tentou ligar o fenómeno do vinho fino a noções relevantes na literatura sobre estratégia e teoria de gestão. Dados qualitativos recolhidos através de entrevistas de peritos para validar os vinhos finos como uma classe de bens e de compreender o que influenciou os aumentos de preços, assim como os falsos podem limitar o mercado e dificultar o crescimento. Os vinhos finos foram confirmados como sendo uma classe de ativos válida, ganhando mais interesse durante a pandemia de Covid-19 e ao crescimento dos vinhos finos nos mercados asiáticos. Os especialistas reconheceram que os vinhos falsos são uma séria ameaça, os investidores devem ter cuidado, especialmente quando compram da China, e comprar diretamente aos produtores para evitar falsificações. Dados quantitativos usados do banco de dados proprietário eWibe, para analisar tendências de preços e estudar o comportamento dos preços. Os vinhos finos têm demonstrado a capacidade de proporcionar, em média, um retorno bruto de 60% ao longo de 6 anos, que pode aumentar até uma média de 90%, selecionando os vinhos finos produzidos nas duas regiões com melhor desempenho, nomeadamente Borgonha e Piemonte. Comparando estas duas regiões, constatamos que o clima adverso de Abril de 2021 teve um impacto médio de 12% nos preços da Borgonha

Feulgen-DNA Content and C-Banding of Robertsonian Transformed Karyotypes in Dugesia Lugubris

SUMMARYIn the planarian species, Dugesia lugubris, two biotypes are found: E (2n = 8, n = 4) and F (2n = 6, n = 3); on the basis of karyometric studies it has been hypothesized that the second was derived from the first through a Robert-sonian mechanism of centric fusion. The quantitative cytochemical data reported here confirm the hypothesis of karyotype evolution, since there are no significant differences between the DNA content of the nucleus in the two biotypes. The regenerative blastemas of both biotypes contain a number of cellular populations with a variable Feulgen-DNA content; these correspond to successive doublings of the 2C diploid content. In addition, metaphase plates with multistranded chromosomes have been found. A difference between the chromosome C-banding in the two biotypes has also been observed

UML design and AWL programming for reconfigurable control software development of a robotic manipulator

The goal of the presented research is to face the topic of reconfigurable control software development in a concrete fashion, i.e., by presenting a control software system development approach which has been used for a specific, although easy to be generalized, robotized manufacturing cell component. In particular, a methodology for the control software development of a planar robot (2-degrees of freedom) is presented, from the conceptual design to the actual implementation. The methodology suggests UAL and object-oriented modeling and programming techniques for the design phase, while AWL programming language run by a PLC for the implementation phase. The analysis has been conducted considering the internal and external requirements of the manufacturing system which comprises the. robot, mostly driven by the contemporary industrial need of reconfigurable control systems, critical key to succeed in the new era of mass customization

Combination Therapy with Nintedanib and Sarilumab for the Management of Rheumatoid Arthritis Related Interstitial Lung Disease

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, systemic, inflammatory disease characterized by joint and extra-articular involvement. Among them, interstitial lung disease (ILD) is one of the most common and severe extra-articular manifestations, with a negative impact on both therapeutic approach and overall prognosis. ILD can occur at any point of the natural history of RA, sometimes before the appearance of joint involvement. Since no controlled studies are available, the therapeutic approach to RA-ILD is still debated and based on empirical approaches dependent on retrospective studies and case series. Here, we report the case of a 75-year-old patient affected by RA complicated by ILD successfully treated with a combination therapy of an antifibrotic agent, nintedanib, and an inhibitor of IL-6 receptor, sarilumab. We obtained a sustained remission of the joint involvement and, simultaneously, a stabilization of the respiratory symptoms and function, with a good safety profile. To date, this is the first report describing a combination therapy with nintedanib and a disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) for the management of RA complicated by ILD. Future prospective studies are needed to better define efficacy and safety of this approach in the treatment of these subjects

Surgical Approach and Laser Applications in BRONJ Osteoporotic and Cancer Patients

Bisphosphonates-related Osteonecrosis of the Jaw (BRONJ) has been reported with increasing frequency in literature over last years, but its therapy is still a dilemma. One hundred ninety patients affected by BRONJ were observed between January 2004 and November 2011 and 166 treated sites were subdivided in five groups on the basis of the therapeutical approach (medical or surgical, traditional or laser-assisted approach, with or without Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT)). Clinical success has been defined for each treatment performed as clinical improvement or complete mucosal healing. Combination of antibiotic therapy, conservative surgery performed with Er:YAG laser and LLLT applications showed best results for cancer and noncancer patients. Nonsurgical approach performed on 69 sites induced an improvement in 35 sites (50.7%) and the complete healing in 19 sites (27.5%), while surgical approach on 97 sites induced an improvement in 84 sites (86.6%) and the complete healing in 78 sites (80.41%). Improvement and healing were recorded in 31 (81.5%) and 27 (71.5%) out of the 38 BRONJ sites treated in noncancer patients and in 88 (68.75%) and in 69 (53.9%) out of the 128 in cancer patients

Case series of 589 tooth extractions in patients under bisphosphonates therapy. Proposal of a clinical protocol supported by Nd: YAG low-level laser therapy

Objective: Trauma during dental surgery is a predisposing factor for bisphosphonates (BP)-related osteonecrosis of the jaws (BRONJ). However, about 40% of cases of BRONJ are not related to dental invasive procedures, be ing probably associated to endodontic or periodontal infections. Extraction of non-treatable teeth is considered a reliable choice, to improve symptoms and to reduce the risk of BRONJ. Here we report our experience of tooth extractions in patients under oral or intravenous BP therapy. Study Design: Two-hundred and seventeen patients (38 males, 179 females; mean age 68.72 ± 11.26 years, range 30 to 83 years) under BP therapy received 589 tooth extractions at the Unit of Oral Medicine, Pathology and Laser-assisted Surgery of the University of Parma, Italy, between June 2006 and December 2010. Ninety five patients were under BP therapy for oncological disease (multiple myeloma (MM): 23; bone metastases (BM): 72) and 122 patients for non oncological diseases: 119 osteoporosis (OP), 2 rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and 1 Paget's disease (PD). The mean duration of BP was of 35 months. Antibiotic treatment was administered three days before and 2 weeks after tooth extractions. Patients were additionally treated with low level laser therapy (LLLT) through Nd:YAG laser (1064 nm - power 1.25 W; frequency 15 Hz; fibre diameter: 320 µm), 5 application of 1 minute each. Patients were evaluated 3 days and once a week for 2 months after the extractions and every time they received LLLT. Mean follow-up was 15 months (ranging from 4 to 31 months). Results: In a total of 589 extractions (285 mandibular, 304 maxillary) performed, a minimal bone exposure was observed in 5 cases, treated with Er:YAG laser vaporization and than healed. Conclusions: Our experience supports the hypothesis that the association of antibiotic treatment and LLLT can be effective in preventing ONJ after tooth extractions in patients under BPT

BIM Methodology Applied to Architectural Heritage Preservation: Case Study of the Medina and Dungeons of Tetuán, Morocco

The aim of the proposed contribution is to investigate how the application of BIM methodology in the field of the architectural heritage can avail both the study of an historical building and its subsequent preservation. Starting from the analysis carried out in the Medina and Dungeons of Tetuán (Morocco), we propose a H-BIM (Historic Building Information Modelling) methodology focused on the pathological parametric study of the buildings (as-damaged model) and therefore obtain a specific information database for each architectural element. The goal of the work is to establish a digital parametric methodology that is both inherent to the pathological and geometric study of a vivienda of the Medina as well as applicable to diverse cases within that realm, starting with a hybrid traditional (CAD) and innovative (photogrammetry) database combined. Furthermore, the hybrid workflow allows to rise above the limitations that the (geographical) distance often presents from case studies and it allows overcoming the common difficulties encountered in a traditional restoration-conservative study in finding information. The choice of this particular case study enables evaluating the updatability of an H-BIM model and therefore the possibility of containing different information dating back to different phases of survey and project that can be parameterized and compared, with the aim of ensuring both the historical traceability of the degradation of the asset and its architectural composition over time. Lastly, an H-BIM catalogue of the different viviendas which were analysed in the preliminary phase is proposed, starting from a typical house in the Medina of Tetuán, so as to initiate a realistic data collection of the Medina of Tetuán with the aim of undertaking a preventive restoration without having to resort to interventions of emergency and structural reinforcement as foreseen in the case of the Ben Marzouk house and the dungeons (mazmorras)

Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis-Associated Interstitial Lung Disease: Lights and Shadows

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic and systemic inflammatory disease affecting 0.5-1% of the population worldwide. Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is a serious pulmonary complication of RA and it is responsible for 10-20% of mortality, with a mean survival of 5-8 years. However, nowadays there are no therapeutic recommendations for the treatment of RA-ILD. Therapeutic options for RA-ILD are complicated by the possible pulmonary toxicity of many disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) and by their unclear efficacy on pulmonary disease. Therefore, joint and lung involvement should be evaluated independently of each other for treatment purposes. On the other hand, some similarities between RA-ILD and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and the results of the recent INBIULD trial suggest a possible future role for antifibrotic agents. From this perspective, we review the current literature describing the pulmonary effects of drugs (immunosuppressants, conventional, biological and target synthetic DMARDs and antifibrotic agents) in patients with RA and ILD. In addition, we suggest a framework for the management of RA-ILD patients and outline a research agenda to fill the gaps in knowledge about this challenging patient cohort