Perspective Studies on the Adoration of the Magi by Leonardo da Vinci

This paper aims to unravel the perspective construction used by Leonardo da Vinci for his iconic and celebrated unfinished painting the Adoration of the Magi. This study is the final step of years-long research brought forward by our department focused on the study of the perspective construction used by Leonardo in the preparatory drawings of his masterpiece. The first two published studies demonstrate how Leonardo re-interpreted the Albertian rules of perspective construction and used them in a non-rigorous way to draw the architectural elements of the preparatory drawings. Starting from these discoveries, this contribution aspires to complete the analysis by investigating if the same aberrations and formal errors are also present in the final painting. By inverse construction and comparison with the preparatory drawings, we observed probable perspective aberrations analogous to those observed in Uffizi’s preparatory drawing

Systematizing Virtual Reconstructionof Lost or Never Built Architectures

European Architectural Cultural Heritage is immense. Yet part of this Heritage is invisible: churches, synagogues, mosques that have either been destroyed or never been built. Now the digital world offers the possibility to bring these artefacts to a new life, through 3D reconstruction. This way of studying and representing the past has become increasingly important in the academic world and the domain of digital entertainment. These applications make use of the so-called ‘virtual 3D reconstructions’, which are 3D models based on figurative/textual sources or ruins of artefacts that no longer exist or have never been built.This paper aims to present ‘CoVHer’ (Computer-based Visualisation of Architectural Cultural Heritage), an Erasmus Plus Project that deals with this vast theme and involves five universities and two private companies from five European countries (Italy, Spain, Portugal, Poland and Germany). The main objective of CoVHer is to define applicable/practice guidelines and operational methodologies aimed at the study, implementation, visualization and critical evaluation of the 3D models. Some of the ongoing theoretical studies developed in the project will be presented. In particular, this paper will focus on the systematization of the reconstruction process. It defines and classifies different aspects of 3D digital modelling; and other aspects concerning visualization in the field of architectural hypothetical reconstruction

Algorithmic Modelling of Folded Surfaces. Analysis and Design of Folded Surfaces in Architecture and Manufacturing.

Both in the field of design and architecture origami is often taken as a reference for its kinetic proprieties and its elegant appearance. Dynamic facades, fast deployment structures, temporary shelters, portable furniture, retractile roofs, are some examples which can take advantage of the kinetic properties of the origami. While designing with origami, the designer needs to control shape and motion at the same time, which increases the complexity of the design process. This complexity of the design process may lead the designers to choose a solution where the patterns are mere copies of well-known patterns or to reference to the origami only for ornamental purposes. The origami-inspired projects that we gathered and studied in the fields of architecture, manufacturing and fashion, confirmed this trend. We observed that the cause of this lack of variety could also be attributed to insufficient knowledge, or to inefficiency of the design tools. Many researchers studied the mathematical implications of origami, to be able to design specific patterns for precise applications. However, this theoretical knowledge is hard to apply directly to different practical projects without a deep understanding of these theorems. Thus, in this thesis, we aim to narrow the gap between potentialities of this discipline and limits of the available designing tools, by proposing a simplified synthetic constructive approach, applied with a parametric modeller, which allows the designers to bypass scripting and algebraic formulations and, at the same time, it increases the design freedom. Among the cases studies, we propose some fabrication-aimed examples, which introduce the subjects of thick-origami, distribution of stresses and analysis of deformations of the folded models.Nei campi dell’architettura e dell’industrial design, l’origami è spesso preso come riferimento per le sue proprietà cinetiche e le sue forme eleganti. Facciate dinamiche, strutture pieghevoli, rifugi temporanei, arredi portatili, tetti retrattili, sono alcuni esempi di progetti che potrebbero beneficiare delle proprietà cinetiche dell’origami. Progettare con l’origami richiede di controllare forma e movimento contemporaneamente; ciò aumenta la complessità del processo progettuale. Questa difficoltà progettuale può portare i progettisti a scegliere soluzioni che non sono altro che mere copie di pattern noti o a considerare l’origami come riferimento solo per ragioni ornamentali. I progetti ispirati all’origami che abbiamo raccolto ed analizzato nei campi di architettura, industria manifatturiera, e moda, confermano questo trend. Abbiamo osservato che la causa di questo mero utilizzo potrebbe essere attribuibile a preparazione insufficiente del progettista o a inefficienza degli strumenti progettuali. Diversi ricercatori hanno studiato le implicazioni matematiche dell’origami, per poter progettare specifici pattern per precise applicazioni. Nonostante ciò, questa conoscenza teorica è difficile da applicare direttamente ad altri progetti pratici senza una profonda comprensione di questi teoremi. Questa tesi punta quindi a ridurre il divario tra potenzialità di questa disciplina e limiti imposti dagli strumenti progettuali disponibili, proponendo un approccio sintetico e costruttivo semplificato, che permetta ai progettisti di evitare scripting e formulazioni algebriche, aumentando allo stesso tempo la libertà progettuale. Tra i casi studio, proponiamo anche alcuni esempi mirati alla fabbricazione che introducono il tema dell’origami a spessore non nullo, della distribuzione delle forze e dell’analisi delle deformazioni sui modelli piegati

Explicit kinematic equations for degree-4 rigid origami vertices, Euclidean and non-Euclidean

We derive algebraic equations for the folding angle relationships in completely general degree-4 rigid-foldable origami vertices, including both Euclidean (developable) and non-Euclidean cases. These equations in turn lead to elegant equations for the general developable degree-4 case. We compare our equations to previous results in the literature and provide two examples of how the equations can be used: in analyzing a family of square twist pouches with discrete configuration spaces, and for proving that a folding table design made with hyperbolic vertices has a single folding mode

How to use parametric curved folding design methods- a case study and comparison

Designs based on developable surfaces can be convenient for many reasons, however designing developable patterns that make use of curved creases is a challenge. Many studies propose new methods to tackle the problem but sometimes these methods do not generate a parametric model which is easily modifiable by changing the input parameters. Furthermore, the known methods are applicable only to certain families of curved folded models, because there is no generalized method for curved folding yet. Thus, sometimes, it is hard for designers to decide which method is more suitable for their needs. This paper shows how to use different well-known and newer approaches to produce parametric curved folded designs. The potentialities and criticalities of three approaches are compared by applying them to the same case study, namely the “curved folded tripod”. The aim, thus, is to make the design of curved folded geometries more accessible to designers without a background in origami theory

Prevention and treatment of ischaemic and haemorrhagic stroke in people with diabetes mellitus: a focus on glucose control and comorbidities

Diabetes mellitus is a significant risk factor for both ischaemic and haemorrhagic stroke, affecting up to a third of individuals with cerebrovascular diseases. Beyond being a risk factor for stroke, diabetes and hyperglycaemia have a negative impact on outcomes after ischaemic and haemorrhagic stroke. Hyperglycaemia during the acute ischaemic stroke phase is associated with a higher risk of haemorrhagic transformation and poor functional outcome, with evidence in favour of early intervention to limit and manage severe hyperglycaemia. Similarly, intensive glucose control nested in a broader bundle of care, including blood pressure, coagulation and temperature control, can provide substantial benefit for clinical outcomes after haemorrhagic stroke. As micro- and macrovascular complications are frequent in people with diabetes, cardiovascular prevention strategies also need to consider tailored treatment. In this regard, the broader availability of sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors and glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists can allow tailored treatments, particularly for those with heart failure and chronic kidney disease as comorbidities. Here, we review the main concepts of hyperacute stroke management and CVD prevention among people with diabetes, capitalising on results from large studies and RCTs to inform clinicians on preferred treatments. Graphical Abstract

The reconstruction of drawn architecture

Among the many cases concerning the process of digital hypothetical 3D reconstruction a particular case is constituted by never realized projects and plans. They constitute projects designed and remained on paper that, albeit documented by technical drawings, they pose the typical problems that are common to all other cases. From 3D reconstructions of transformed architectures, to destroyed/lost buildings and part of towns. This case studies start from original old drawings which has to be implemented by different kind of documentary sources, able to provide - by means evidence, induction, deduction, analogy - information characterized by different level of uncertainty and related to different level of accuracy. All methods adopted in a digital hypothetical 3D reconstruction process show us that the goal of all researchers is to be able to make explicit, or at least intelligible, through a graphical system a synthetic/communicative level representative or the value of the reconstructive process that is behind a particular result. The result of a reconstructive process acts in the definition of three areas intimately related one each other which concur to define the digital consistency of the artifact object of study: Shape (geometry, size, spatial position); Appearance (surface features); Constitutive elements (physical form, stratification of building/manufacturing systems) The paper, within a general framework aimed to use 3D models as a means to document and communicate the shape and appearance of never built architecture, as well as to depict temporal correspondence and allow the traceability of uncertainty and accuracy that characterizes each reconstructed element.  

Clinical validation of full HR-HPV genotyping HPV Selfy assay according to the international guidelines for HPV test requirements for cervical cancer screening on clinician-collected and self-collected samples

Background According to international guidelines, Human Papillomavirus (HPV) DNA tests represent a valid alternative to Pap Test for primary cervical cancer screening, provided that they guarantee balanced clinical sensitivity and specificity for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2 or more (CIN2+) lesions. The study aimed to assess whether HPV Selfy (Ulisse BioMed - Trieste, Italy), a full-genotyping HPV DNA test that detects and differentiates 14 high-risk HPV (HR-HPV) types, meets the criteria for primary cervical cancer screening described in the international guidelines, on clinician-collected as well as on self-collected samples. Methods For each participant woman, consecutively referring to Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria Giuliano Isontina (Trieste, Italy) and CRO-National Cancer Institute (Aviano, Italy) for the cervical cancer screening program, the following samples were tested: (a) a clinician-collected cervical specimen, analyzed with the reference test (Hybrid Capture (R) 2 test, HC2) and HPV Selfy; and (b) a self-collected vaginal sample, analyzed with HPV Selfy. Enrolled women were also asked to fulfill a questionnaire about self-sampling acceptability. As required by guidelines, a non-inferiority test was conducted to compare the clinical performance of the test under evaluation with its reference test. Results HPV Selfy clinical sensitivity and specificity resulted non-inferior to those of HC2. By analysis of a total of 889 cervical liquid-based cytology samples from a screening population, of which 98 were from women with CIN2+, HPV Selfy showed relative sensitivity and specificity for CIN2+ of 0.98 and 1.00 respectively (non-inferiority score test: P = 0.01747 and P = 0.00414, respectively); the test reached adequate intra- and inter-laboratory reproducibility. Moreover, we demonstrated that the performance of HPV Selfy on self-collected vaginal samples was non-inferior to the performance obtained on clinician-collected cervical specimen (0.92 relative sensitivity and 0.97 relative specificity). Finally, through HPV Selfy genotyping, we were able to describe HPV types prevalence in the study population. Conclusions HPV Selfy fulfills all the requirements of the international Meijer's guidelines and has been clinically validated for primary cervical cancer screening purposes. Moreover, HPV Selfy has also been validated for self-sampling according to VALHUDES guidelines. Therefore, at date, HPV Selfy is the only full-genotyping test validated both for screening purposes and for self-sampling. Trial registration ASUGI Trieste n. 16008/2018; CRO Aviano n.17149/201

Direct-acting antivirals and hepatocellular carcinoma in chronic hepatitis C: A few lights and many shadows

With the introduction of direct-acting antiviral agents (DAA), the rate of sustained virological response (SVR) in the treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) has radically improved to over 95%. Robust scientific evidence supports a beneficial role of SVR after interferon therapy in the progression of cirrhosis, resulting in a decreased incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, a debate on the impact of DAAs on the development of HCC is ongoing. This review aimed to analyse the scientific literature regarding the risk of HCC in terms of its recurrence and occurrence after the use of DAAs to eradicate HCV infection. Among 11 studies examining HCC occurrence, the de novo incidence rate ranged from 0 to 7.4% (maximum follow-up: 18 mo). Among 18 studies regarding HCC recurrence, the rate ranged from 0 to 54.4% (maximum "not well-defined" followup: 32 mo). This review highlights the major difficulties in interpreting data and reconciling the results of the included studies. These difficulties include heterogeneous cohorts, potential misclassifications of HCC prior to DAA therapy, the absence of an adequate control group, short follow-up times and different kinds of follow-up. Moreover, no clinical feature-based scoring system accounts for the molecular characteristics and pathobiology of the tumours. Nonetheless, this review does not suggest that there is a higher rate of de novo HCC occurrence or recurrence after DAA therapy in patients with previous HCV infection. \ua9 2018 The Author(s). Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved

Conformation of a Flexible Miura Pattern on a Double Curvature Surface

This paper proposes a design method, through a case study, to explore the conformation of any corrugation to a single or double curvature surface using Grasshopper with Kangaroo. The research focuses on the Miura-ori [8] which is one of the simplest 1 DOF rigid-foldable corrugation. It has limited spatial configurations, and at first can\u2019t be conformed to a generic surface, but including the flexibility of the faces it can conforms to a wider range of surfaces. The flexibility of faces, has been simulated triangulating the quadrangular faces and applying a \u201cstiffness\u201d controller to the relative rotation freedom of the new triangular faces. This study is aimed at architects and designers who are not familiar with origami mathematics and physical formulations, and it want to carry out an easy approach with which it can be possible to make preliminary shapes-searching studies before the prototyping. For this reason, widespread pieces of software, used by architects and designers, have been chosen. In the conclusions, the pros and cons which can be encountered using this methodology are highlighted. Some precautions and checking methods are explained to avoid deceitful issues which can be encountered using these kinds of tools