Public Administration Owned Regional Telecommunication Networks as Strategic Asset During 2012 Earthquake in Emilia-Romagna

Abstract Telecom is the domain where innovation and spread of usage registered the quickest and most consistent growth in the latest ten years. Seismic event dated May 2012 in Emilia-Romagna region was a significant example of how spread and diffused presence of two PA (Public Administration) regional telecommunication networks (ERretre Regional Mobile Network for radio emergency and Lepida broadband Network) substantially contributed to address such a catastrophic situation, providing the right premises to its quick overcoming and a strategic criterion for the following reconstruction of the territory. In this situation the importance and the effectiveness of a flexible, modular and configurable regional emergency mobile network such as ERretre has been proved, but at the same time the synergies with Lepida broadband network have emerged, showing a new potential in building an enabling infrastructure not only for new services, but also for new networks

From the Smart City to the Smart Community, Model and Architecture of a Real Project: SensorNet

This article presents a conceptual, architectural and organizational model for the realization of a smart city based on a holistic paradigm as its cornerstone and on the new technologies as its enabling tools. The model is based on the concept of integration of the data belonging to different systems, through the development of a middleware, which allows the retrieval of data from various sources and their storage in a standard format in a new centralized database. The article also illustrates a real project concerning the integration of different sensor networks for the environmental monitoring that exemplifies and implements the main topics discussed. The issues related to its "governance" are also highlighted, not only from a strategic point of view, but also, and above all, from the perspective of its maintenance, which is an important and crucial feature for its "survival" over time

Analysis of Horse Myostatin Gene and Identification of Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms in Breeds of Different Morphological Types

Myostatin (MSTN) is a negative modulator of muscle mass. We characterized the horse (Equus caballus) MSTN gene and identified and analysed single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in breeds of different morphological types. Sequencing of coding, untranslated, intronic, and regulatory regions of MSTN gene in 12 horses from 10 breeds revealed seven SNPs: two in the promoter, four in intron 1, and one in intron 2. The SNPs of the promoter (GQ183900:g.26T>C and GQ183900:g.156T>C, the latter located within a conserved TATA-box like motif) were screened in 396 horses from 16 breeds. The g.26C and the g.156C alleles presented higher frequency in heavy (brachymorphic type) than in light breeds (dolichomorphic type such as Italian Trotter breed). The significant difference of allele frequencies for the SNPs at the promoter and analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) on haplotypes indicates that these polymorphisms could be associated with variability of morphology traits in horse breeds

IFN-γ and CD38 in Hyperprogressive Cancer Development

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) improve the survival of patients with multiple types of cancer. However, low response rates and atypical responses limit their success in clinical applications. The paradoxical acceleration of tumor growth after treatment, defined as hyperprogressive disease (HPD), is the most difficult problem facing clinicians and patients alike. The mechanisms that underlie hyperprogression (HP) are still unclear and controversial, although different factors are associated with the phenomenon. In this review, we propose two factors that have not yet been demonstrated to be directly associated with HP, but upon which it is important to focus attention. IFN-γ is a key cytokine in antitumor response and its levels increase during ICI therapy, whereas CD38 is an alternative immune checkpoint that is involved in immunosuppressive responses. As both factors are associated with resistance to ICI therapy, we have discussed their possible involvement in HPD with the conclusion that IFN-γ may contribute to HP onset through the activation of the inflammasome pathway, immunosuppressive enzyme IDO1 and activation-induced cell death (AICD) in effector T cells, while the role of CD38 in HP may be associated with the activation of adenosine receptors, hypoxia pathways and AICD-dependent T-cell depletion

Epidemic of tuberculosis in a high school in Northern Sardinia

Abstract The aim of this study was to investigate the Mycobacterium tuberculosis transmission among high school student and teacher populations in a high school in Northern Sardinia. Tuberculin skin-test screening, chest-X-rays, QuantiFERON-TB Gold, microbiological examination, spoligotyping and variable numbers of tandem repeats (VNTR) analysis of M. tuberculosis isolates were performed. This study indicates the effectiveness of the epidemiological investigation

Toward a centralized data management center for integrated landslide monitoring in Emilia Romagna Region (Italy)

In Emilia Romagna Region, slope monitoring systems have become more widely used for hazard and risk management. However, they are generally non-interoperable. Moreover dispersion of monitoring data in several local databases have made data sharing among the involved institutional actors quite laborious and often untimely. A centralized database and a web-based portal that integrate infor- mation derived by different types of slope monitoring systems has been developed. The paper illustrates the specific features of the developed “SensorNet” and provides examples of its use for visualizing and analyzing in an integrated manner data from different monitoring systems. In perspective it could serve as an every-day operational tool for a timely reporting of landslide monitoring data for surveillance and warning purposes

Identification of PVR (CD155) and Nectin-2 (CD112) as Cell Surface Ligands for the Human DNAM-1 (CD226) Activating Molecule

Human natural killer (NK) cells express a series of activating receptors and coreceptors that are involved in recognition and killing of target cells. In this study, in an attempt to identify the cellular ligands for such triggering surface molecules, mice were immunized with NK-susceptible target cells. On the basis of a functional screening, four mAbs were selected that induced a partial down-regulation of the NK-mediated cytotoxicity against the immunizing target cells. As revealed by biochemical analysis, three of such mAbs recognized molecules of ∼70 kD. The other mAb reacted with two distinct molecules of ∼65 and 60 kD, respectively. Protein purification followed by tryptic digestion and mass spectra analysis, allowed the identification of the 70 kD and the 65/60 kD molecules as PVR (CD155) and Nectin-2 δ/α (CD112), respectively. PVR-Fc and Nectin-2-Fc soluble hybrid molecules brightly stained COS-7 cells transfected with the DNAM-1 (CD226) construct, thus providing direct evidence that both PVR and Nectin-2 represent specific ligands for the DNAM-1 triggering receptor. Finally, the surface expression of PVR or Nectin-2 in cell transfectants resulted in DNAM-1–dependent enhancement of NK-mediated lysis of these target cells. This lysis was inhibited or even virtually abrogated upon mAb-mediated masking of DNAM-1 (on NK cells) or PVR or Nectin-2 ligands (on cell transfectants)

Realizzazione di un nuovo sito web per l’INAF - Istituto di Radioastronomia

Questo report illustra l'attivita` del gruppo di lavoro incaricato della progettazione e sviluppo del nuovo sito web dell'INAF - Istituto di Radioastronomia. L'utilizzo di tecnologie di sviluppo web basate su CMS ha consentito di superare le difficolta` nell'aggiornamento e gestione del precedente sito basato su pagine html statiche. Con il nuovo approccio si è ottenuto da un lato un notevole miglioramento dell'aspetto grafico e della coerenza tra le pagine, dall’altro una notevole semplificazione nella produzione e nell’aggiornamento delle pagine stesse. Cio` consentira` ai diversi gruppi di ricerca, servizi e uffici di farsi carico delle pagine di competenza e di poter facilmente apportare modifiche ai contenuti via via che queste si renderanno necessarie, garantendo allo stesso tempo una maggiore sicurezza informatica. Nel report vengono descritte le varie fasi dell'attivita` del gruppo di lavoro: dalla iniziale identificazione delle linee guida e progettazione di struttura e contenuti, sino alla realizzazione vera e propria delle pagine web e ai successivi step di verifica conclusi con la pubblicazione online del sito

Chemotherapy and palliative care near end-of life: Examining the appropriateness at a cancer institute for colorectal cancer patients

Background: Appropriate cessation of chemotherapy and timely referral of patients to hospice services are crucial for the quality of care near death. We investigated the quality of care in our Cancer Institute in very advanced metastatic colorectal cancer patients treated in real life. Patients and Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of electronic medical data of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer who were candidates for chemotherapy during the study period (1 January 2007-30 June 2014) and died before 31 December 2014. Quality-of-cancer-care indicators were calculated for the overuse of chemotherapy and referral to hospice. Predictive factors of chemotherapy discontinuation and hospice referral in end-of life care were investigated using parametric and nonparametric methods. Results: Of the 365 patients who died before 31 December 2014, 26 (7.1%) received chemotherapy in the last 14 days of life and 36 (9.8%) started a new chemotherapy regimen in the last 30 days of life. Factors associated with the overuse of chemotherapy were being < 70 years of age for both indicators and not having received advanced chemotherapy treatments for the former indicator. The majority of patients (74.7%) had access to hospice services, of whom only a small percentage (7.2%) accessed them very near to death. Conclusions: According to the criteria used, our Institute provides a good quality of cancer care for dying colorectal cancer patients, measured by the use of chemotherapy and referral to hospice in their last days of life

Lavoro e impresa nelle società preindustriali

Come si lavorava, come si accumulava il reddito e come si faceva impresa nelle società preindustriali? Scorrendo il volume il lettore scoprirà, grazie alle esperienze descritte, un insieme di caratteri qualificanti le diverse attività lavorative. Alcuni sono ben noti, altri forse meno, ma tutti ricadono in tre ambiti: la diversificazione delle fonti di reddito, la costruzione di reti di contatti (professionali e parentali, politici e religiosi), l’adozione di complesse strategie imprenditoriali