Bayesian multi--dipole localization and uncertainty quantification from simultaneous EEG and MEG recordings

We deal with estimation of multiple dipoles from combined MEG and EEG time--series. We use a sequential Monte Carlo algorithm to characterize the posterior distribution of the number of dipoles and their locations. By considering three test cases, we show that using the combined data the method can localize sources that are not easily (or not at all) visible with either of the two individual data alone. In addition, the posterior distribution from combined data exhibits a lower variance, i.e. lower uncertainty, than the posterior from single device.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures -- conference paper from EMBEC 2017, Tampere, Finlan

Instructional planning and new technologies in teacher education: the initial phase of a research project

The purpose of this work is to present the initial phase of a research project focused on the integration of technologies in the education of kindergarten and primary school student teachers through instructional planning. Firstly, we illustrate a tool designed for planning integrated learning units and describe the training path in which it was used. Secondly, we report the results of a preliminary study conducted with 96 students attending a university course that investigates two personal traits considered as prerequisites for using the tool: perceived proficiency in technology use, and opinions on the importance of each constituent element of the tool. With regard to both traits, some statistically significant variations emerged. The results obtained are an encouragement to continue the research project to verify whether the tool could be suitable to help student teachers develop an integrated planning procedure

Le cheratocongiuntiviti del puledro: review della letteratura e dell'esame della flora micotica in puledri sani.

Le patologie corneali sono molto comuni nel cavallo e sembrano essere più frequenti nei neonati piuttosto che negli adulti. Il cavallo alla nascita è precoce; gli occhi e gli annessi sono sì pienamente sviluppati, ma in un puledro appena nato spesso vi è ridotta secrezione lacrimale, ridotta sensibilità corneale, mancanza del riflesso di minaccia fino a due settimane d’età e lagoftalmo. Nei puledri sono di comune riscontro sia erosioni corneali persistenti non infettive, sia cheratiti (batteriche o micotiche); le erosioni persistenti della cornea possono andare incontro a sovrainfezione da parte di batteri o funghi. Secondo le nostre conoscenze, non sono disponibili dati riguardanti la normale flora micotica in puledri sani. Scopo della presente tesi è valutare la presenza di miceti nel fornice congiuntivale di 63 puledri appena nati, eseguendo esami colturali, durante il primo mese di vita. Sono stati inoltre eseguiti esami micologici sul materiale prelevato dal fornice congiuntivale delle 63 fattrici e su parte di esse sono stati eseguiti esami micologici su liquido amniotico, su tamponi vaginali e della mammella al momento del parto per valutare possibili contaminazioni fungine del puledro. I puledri sono risultati positivi nel 28,6% dei casi a T0, nel 36,7% a T24h, nel 16,1% a T48h, nel 24,5% a T7, nel 32,9% a T14 e nel 25% dei casi a T28. Le fattrici sono invece risultate positive al tampone oculare nel 36,5% dei casi a T0, nel 56,7% a T24h, nel 46,7% a T48h, nel 50% a T7, nel 79,2% a T14 e nel 45,4% dei casi a T28. Il 18,7% delle fattrici è risultata inoltre positiva alla ricerca di miceti nel liquido amniotico, il 12,5% al tampone vaginale e il 56,25% al tampone eseguito sulla cute della mammella. Da questi campioni sono stati isolati lieviti e funghi filamentosi, rappresentati prevalentemente da contaminanti ambientali. Analisi statistiche non hanno dimostrato differenze significative tra la micoflora presente nel sacco congiuntivale delle fattrici e dei puledri e tra i diversi prelievi eseguiti sullo stesso animale. Sembra inoltre che non vi sia continuità nell’isolamento dei miceti e che questo, quindi, è da ritenersi presenza occasionale di miceti derivanti dall’ambiente; è stato dimostrato inoltre che questa contaminazione si stabilisce fin dalla nascita

Basal cell carcinoma: 10-year experience with electrochemotherapy

BACKGROUND: Electrochemotherapy (ECT), by combining manageable cytotoxic agents with short electric pulses, represents an effective palliative skin-directed therapy. The accumulated evidence indicates that ECT stands out as a safe and well-tolerated alternative treatment for patients with multiple or large basal cell carcinoma (BCC), who are not suitable for conventional treatments. However, long-term data and shared indications are lacking. METHODS: In this observational study, we retrospectively analyzed 84 prospectively collected patients with multiple, recurrent or locally advanced BCC who were not candidate for standard therapies and received bleomycin-based ECT according to the European Standard Operative Procedures of ECT, from 2006 to 2016. RESULTS: Disease extent was local, locally advanced and metastatic in 40 (48%), 41 (49%) and 3 (3%), respectively. Forty-four (52%) individuals had multiple BCCs. Grade 3 skin toxicity after ECT was observed in 6% of cases. Clearance rate was 50% (95% CI 39-61%). Primary presentation (p = 0.004), tumor size <3 cm (p < 0.001), well-defined borders (p = 0.021), absence of tumor ulceration (p = 0.001), non-aggressive BCC histology (p = 0.046) and age 6469 years were associated with higher complete response rate. In patients with local BCC, the clearance rate was 72.5 and 85% after one or two ECT cycles, respectively. In the laBCC group, 32 patients (78%) achieved an objective response. Five-year recurrence rate for local and laBCC was 20 and 38%, respectively (p 64 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: One or two ECT cycles with bleomycin may be a valuable palliative treatment in well-selected patients with multiple BCCs and favorable tumor features. Validation of predictive factors will be imperative to match patients with optimal ECT treatment modalities. Management of laBCC with ECT warrants further investigation. Trial registration ISRCTN14633165 Registered 24 March 2017 (retrospectively registered)

Towards the Egyptian Charter for Conservation of Cultural Heritages

The notion of “Cultural heritage” is quite modern compared to other humanistic fields developed in the last century. Conservation as a science has emerged and took shape during international conventions and treaties in many places in Europe and developed various frameworks to recognize the heritage and its value but based on “Eurocentric bias” criteria. The fact of sharing universal values and common practices during the age of globalization had a significant impact on conservation actions in contexts utterly different from western societies and don’t share the same historical or cultural dimensions. Therefore, this study traces the history of the evolution of conservation in the west from two perspectives; the historical one and the developing methodologies, and the philosophies behind the main theories in conservation. Cultural heritage is a reflection of the identity of the society and its past; thus, this study outlines the development of conservation practices in Egypt within the international approaches in a chronological order to investigate the social response and the impact of the political and cultural influence of the cultural consciousness of the society and the conservation actions in the Egyptian context. Furthermore, to investigate the contribution of international charters in developing national policies in Egypt

Resilient connections

[EN] The paper presents Axis Strutture, patented by the authors, awarded with V:alere funds (VAnvitelli pER la ricErca 2020) for the establishment of an innovative start-up, now academic spin-off. It is based on the assemble of iron and wood with 'pins' (in Latin 'axis') threaded to ensure an economic profit in line with the Sustainable Development Goals, reviewing ancient technologies in the light of advanced research. The focus is on the structural connections of a construction system that clamps the steel frame elements with the wooden infill, allowing to assemble modular, prefabricated and flexible components customized on the design phase’s request. It provides effective emergency shelters assembled or dismantled as quickly as tents but more stable, healthier and comfortable. With a single star key, the steel uprights can be attested with wooden and similar tampons avoiding nails and screws which allows the total reuse of the components. The patented connections implement a new construction method promoting the self-construction of garden houses, leisure environments, bungalows, garages and quality housing modules, since they are resilient, resistant and with a controllable impact on the environment. The case study provides an opportunity to verify actions aimed at the implementation of Design for Adaptability strategies promoting virtuous life cycles that involves the entire community in sustainable models from an economic, environmental and social point of view.The case study develops the application potential of an idea patented by the authors awarded with the V: alere funds (VAnvitelli pER la ricErca 2020) for the establishment of an innovative start-up, now an academic spin-ofRossi, A.; Gonizzi Barsanti, S. (2021). Resilient connections. VITRUVIO - International Journal of Architectural Technology and Sustainability. 6(1):24-37. https://doi.org/10.4995/vitruvio-ijats.2021.15375OJS243761Adjodha, Joshua. (2018). Structural Design for Adaptability and Growth.Bullen, P. 2011. Factors influencing the adaptive re-use of buildings. Journal of Engineering, Design and Technology, 9, pp. 32-46. https://doi.org/10.1108/17260531111121459Israelsson, N. 2009. 'Factors influencing flexibility in buildings'. Structural Survey, 27, pp. 138-147. https://doi.org/10.1108/02630800910956461Lemer, A.C. 1996. 'Infrastructure Obsolescence and Design Service Life'. Journal of Infrastructure Systems, 2(4). https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)1076-0342(1996)2:4(153)Mallach, E. 2006. 'A Database Project in a Small Company (or How the Real World Doesn't Always Follow the Book)'. Journal of Cases on Information Technology (JCIT), 8(3), pp. 24-40. https://doi.org/10.4018/jcit.2006070103Manewa, A., Siriwardena, M., Ross, A., & Madanayake, U. 2016. 'Adaptable buildings for sustainable built environment'. Built Environment Project and Asset Management, 6(2). https://doi.org/10.1108/BEPAM-10-2014-0053Miller, Donald. 1996. City of the Century. New York: PaperbachsPinder, J.A., Schmidt, R., Austin, S.A., Gibb, A., & Saker, J. 2017. 'What is meant by adaptability in buildings?' Facilities, 35(1/2), pp. 2-20. https://doi.org/10.1108/F-07-2015-0053Remøy, H., de Jong, P., & Schenk, W. 2011. 'Adaptable office buildings'. Property Management, 29(5), pp. 443-453. https://doi.org/10.1108/02637471111178128Rockow, Zoraya Roldan, "Qualitative & Quantitative Analyses of Existing Buildings' Adaptability" (2020). All Dissertations. 2670. https://tigerprints.clemson.edu/all_dissertations/2670Turan, M. 2009. 'Reconstructing The Balloon Frame: A Study In The History Of Architectonics'. Metu Journal of The Faculty of Architecture, 26, pp. 175-209. https://doi.org/10.4305/METU.JFA.2009.2.1

Integrating home monitoring for transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) therapy to professional care environment

Daily management of neurodegenerative diseases is one of the most striking scenarios where an integrated health care system is essential for the continuous assistance to the patient and requires qualification of the caregivers and their training. In particular, patients affected by depression or chronic pain, as well as rehabilitating after stroke, can be treated at home with non-invasive electrical neuromodulation (transcranial Direct Current Stimulation, tDCS) in order to reduce daily travel expenses between home and hospital. Home monitoring of patient undergoing tDCS is essential to (1) optimize the stimulation parameters according to the current health status and to the stimulation outcomes, and (2) assess disease progression. However, monitoring effectiveness depends on the exchange of this information between the patient at home and his/her reference neurologist. Currently, the health IT scenario is composed by two independent environments, one dedicated to healthcare professionals (e.g., Electronic Health Records, EHRs), and one including mobile devices applications dedicated to citizens, caregivers and patients. Safety, communication and interoperability gaps prevented from an effective data exchange between these two environments. The aim of our work is to implement an integrated home monitoring system for tDCS patients, in which a web-based platform for EHR management exchanges data with a patient\u2019s mobile app

Mandatory or Not Mandatory Reporting? Insights From Italian Bank Foundations

3In the Italian nonprofit field, bank foundations face an increasing demand to account for their grant activity in forms that go beyond traditional financial statements. Consequently, bank foundations have developed specific reports in accordance with a 2001 Italian law that requires a mission report to be included within financial statements. This study investigates the peculiarities of social reporting documents in terms of standards used and formal characteristics, revealing different adoption levels. Contributing to an ongoing debate, the analysis of the reporting practices underlines how the due by law on social accounting could hamper the disclosure in nonprofit organizations.partially_openopenMoggi, Sara; Leardini, Chiara; Rossi, GinaMoggi, Sara; Leardini, Chiara; Rossi, Gin