Terremoti, ruderi e ricostruzioni. Una proposta per la chiesa di Sant’ Agostino ad Amatrice

The Church of Sant’Agostino is an aulic example of medieval mendicant architecture. The church is part of central Italy’s huge heritage reduced to ruin by the earthquake of 2016 and 2017. Those repeated seismic shocks caused the collapse of the rose window, the bell tower, the adjacent urbic door and the northwest side.The following work concerns the cultural and technological issues of the reconstruction project for a ruin which was caused by traumatic events. These ruins have intrinsic cultural values.This essay proposes design solutions for the church of Sant'Agostino: without altering the focus of the intervention, which consists of preservation of the cultural values of what still persists, the project envisages the reconstruction and rubble recycling, using constructive techniques that are both traditional and contemporary. Furthermore, the border line between the ruin and the rebuilt parts is marked out with both modern technological and formal solutions

APPROCCIO CLINICO E RIABILITATIVO AL PAZIENTE PROTESIZZATO D'ARTO INFERIORE

Nella chirurgia sostitutiva protesica, ripercorrendo le tappe riabilitative e analizzandone le modalità e le tecniche, si evince che è possibile permettere al paziente il riapprendimento della corretta deambulazione con la riorganizzazione di tutte le fasi e della gestualità corrente per il reinserimento efficace nel contesto sociale di appartenenza. Oltre che dal punto di vista puramente motorio, il soggetto deve essere seguito anche sotto l’aspetto della psicomotricità e nel rispetto di importanti esigenze psicologiche. Viene sorretto, incoraggiato, ma soprattutto responsabilizzato sul fatto che per la ripresa completa si rende indispensabile la sua partecipazione attiva e la costanza dell’impegno. I riflessi pratici di una guarigione efficace e completa sono quindi estremamente proficui per il soggetto, il quale avverte in sé la capacità di ottemperare all’impegno del proprio recupero; seppur con stati d’ansia che insidiano il suo equilibrio, egli tenderà a proiettarsi nel suo futuro che quindi non apparirà denso di incognite. Non vi sarà commiserazione né emarginazione, ma voglia di vivere in una società che, anche se disumanizza i rapporti fra le differenti fasce di età, offre interessi e spazi per quanti sappiano organizzare la propria esistenza senza frustrazioni, remore e tentennamenti. La riabilitazione del protesizzato è un processo complesso perché non riguarda solamente il recupero della funzionalità della singola articolazione ma è rivolto a un riaddestramento globale del soggetto a una nuova modalità di vita relazionale. Il programma riabilitativo, quindi, deve essere personalizzato sul singolo e deve proporsi obiettivi differenti in base alle condizioni generali (anche cognitive). È necessario rendere possibile il raggiungimento di un livello di autosufficienza e autonomia motoria tale da permettere il ritorno alle normali attività di vita quotidiana

A Concise Review of 5G New Radio Capabilities for Directional Access at mmWave Frequencies

In this work, we briefly outline the core 5G air interface improvements introduced by the latest New Radio (NR) specifications, as well as elaborate on the unique features of initial access in 5G NR with a particular emphasis on millimeter-wave (mmWave) frequency range. The highly directional nature of 5G mmWave cellular systems poses a variety of fundamental differences and research problem formulations, and a holistic understanding of the key system design principles behind the 5G NR is essential. Here, we condense the relevant information collected from a wide diversity of 5G NR standardization documents (based on 3GPP Release 15) to distill the essentials of directional access in 5G mmWave cellular, which becomes the foundation for any corresponding system-level analysis.Comment: 14 pages, 6 figures, 4 tables, published in proceedings of International Conference on Next Generation Wired/Wireless Networking, NEW2AN 2018, St. Petersburg, Russi

Integrated methods for the conservation and restoration of archaeological sites. An experimental application on the "Balneum" of Piazza Dante in Catania (Italy)

Abstract. Archaeological sites in urban areas are often poorly integrated with the modern urban fabric and appear as "trenches" at a lower level than the road. They become neglected and unvalued places. The study of archaeological ruins in urban centres must involve archaeologists and architects to integrate restoration, enhancement and improvement of physical and visual accessibility projects. New digital technologies can improve these activities thanks to 3D models, "digital replicas" that allow even remote study (especially during a pandemic). The paper presents the case study of a private Roman-imperial bath in Catania. The open-air site is located at a depth of 3 metres above the road level and is not exploited. Our study consisted of historical-bibliographical research, direct and SfM surveys that allowed creating a high-resolution textured 3D model. We have extracted orthophotos and sections for geometric and technical-constructive analyses and recognition of decay from this model. We drew up an archaeological restoration and valorisation design. In addition, we imported the model into the Sketchfab portal. So, we enriched the mesh with information from the analyses employing specific tags about annotations, 2D drawings, historical and technical-scientific information. In this way, the model becomes an interactive document to monitor over time the conservation state, validate the restoration design and contribute to the valorisation of the site. This is an easy tool of exchange between all involved users (researchers, professions and students). Thus, the digital replica also represents a very high potential for dissemination purposes

Effectiveness of Rehabilitative Intervention on Pain, Postural Balance, and Quality of Life in Women with Multiple Vertebral Fragility Fractures: A Prospective Cohort Study

Patients with vertebral fragility fractures often experience chronic pain, postural and balance disorders, and poor quality of life (QoL). Although several studies have investigated the role of rehabilitation in severe osteoporosis, the effectiveness of this intervention in patients with multiple vertebral fractures is poorly known. The aim of our longitudinal cohort study is to evaluate the effectiveness of rehabilitation, including postural training, resistance exercises, and visual stabilization exercises, for a 7-week period, on the pain, postural balance, and QoL of subjects with at least two vertebral fragility fractures receiving denosumab and vitamin D. We investigated, before (T0) and after (T1, at 7 weeks) rehabilitation, the following outcome measures on 28 patients: pain (Numerical Rating Scale (NRS)), self-perceived QoL (36-Item Short Form Survey (SF-36) and Mini-Osteoporosis Quality of Life Questionnaire (Mini-OQOL)), dizziness (Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI-I)), mobility (Timed-Up and Go (TUG) test), and instrumental posturographic assessment (FreeMed posturography system). At the end of the treatment, improvements of pain and QoL were recorded. Pain relief was highly obtained in patients with more than two vertebral fractures. Moreover, a significant functional improvement (TUG test) was found in those with two vertebral fractures, without any statistically significant change reported for other outcomes. Our findings suggest that combined intervention, including anti-osteoporotic drugs and postural rehabilitation, should be proposed to osteoporotic patients with multiple vertebral frac

Gait analysis patterns and rehabilitative interventions to improve gait in persons with hereditary spastic paraplegia: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BackgroundHereditary spastic paraplegias (HSPs) are a group of inheritance diseases resulting in gait abnormalities, which may be detected using instrumented gait analysis. The aim of this systematic review was 2-fold: to identify specific gait analysis patterns and interventions improving gait in HSP subjects.MethodsA systematic review was conducted in PubMed, Cochrane Library, REHABDATA, and PEDro databases, in accordance with reporting guidelines of PRISMA statement and Cochrane's recommendation. The review protocol was recorded on the PROSPERO register. Patients with pure and complicated HSP of any age were included. All types of studies were included. Risk of bias, quality assessment, and meta-analysis were performed.ResultsForty-two studies were included: 19 were related to gait analysis patterns, and 24 were intervention studies. The latter ones were limited to adults. HSP gait patterns were similar to cerebral palsy in younger subjects and stroke in adults. Knee hyperextension, reduced range of motion at knee, ankle, and hip, reduced foot lift, and increased rapid trunk and arm movements were reported. Botulinum injections reduced spasticity but uncovered weakness and improved gait velocity at follow-up. Weak evidence supported intrathecal baclofen, active intensive physical therapy (i.e., robot-assisted gait training, functional exercises, and hydrotherapy), and functional electrical stimulation. Some improvements but adverse events were reported after transcranial magnetic stimulation, transcutaneous spinal direct current stimulation, and spinal cord stimulation implant.ConclusionKnee hyperextension, non-sagittal pelvic movements, and reduced ROM at the knee, ankle, and hip represent the most peculiar patterns in HSP, compared to diplegic cerebral palsy and stroke. Botulinum improved comfortable gait velocity after 2 months. Nonetheless, interventions reducing spasticity might result in ineffective functional outcomes unveiling weakness. Intensive active physical therapy and FES might improve gait velocity in the very short term

Review of imaging biomarkers for the vulnerable carotid plaque

Identification of carotid artery atherosclerosis is conventionally based on measurements of luminal stenosis. However, histopathologic studies demonstrate considerable differences between plaques with identical degrees of stenosis and indicate that certain plaque features are associated with increased risk for ischemic events. As a result of the rapid technological evolution in medical imaging, several important steps have been taken in the field of carotid plaque imaging allowing us to visualize the carotid atherosclerotic plaque and its composition in great detail. For computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, positron emission tomography, and ultrasound scan, evidence has accumulated on novel imaging-based markers that confer information on carotid plaque vulnerability, such as intraplaque hemorrhage and lipid-rich necrotic cores. In terms of the imaging-based identification of individuals at high risk of stroke, routine assessments of such imaging markers are the way forward for improving current clinical practice. The current review highlights the main characteristics of the vulnerable plaque indicating their role in the etiology of ischemic stroke as identified by intensive plaque imaging

I portali del periodo aragonese nella Sicilia orientale: individuazione delle principali regole geometriche ed esecutive: corrispondenza tra degrado materiale, forma ed ambiente

Dottorato di ricerca in ingegneria edile: tecniche di progettazione, produzione e recupero edilizio. 12. ciclo. Tutore Angelo Salemi. Coordinatore Benedetto ColajanniConsiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche - Biblioteca Centrale - P.le Aldo Moro, 7, Rome; Biblioteca Nazionale Centrale - Piazza Cavalleggeri, 1, Florence / CNR - Consiglio Nazionale delle RichercheSIGLEITItal