Reducing CO2 Emissions and Improving Water Resource Circularity by Optimizing Energy Efficiency in Buildings

Climate neutrality by 2050 is a priority objective and reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, increasing energy efficiency, and improving the circularity processes of resources are the imperatives of regulatory and economic instruments. Starting from the central themes of the mitigation of the causes of climate change and the interdependence represented by the water–energy nexus, this research focuses, through the application of the principles of the circular and green economy, on deep energy zero-emission renovation through the improvement of circularity processes of water resources in their integration with energetic ones on the optimization of their management within urban districts, to measure their capacity to contribute towards reducing energy consumption and CO2 emissions during water use and distribution in buildings. After defining the key strategies and the replicable intervention solutions for the circularity of water resources, the investigation focuses on the definition of the research and calculation method set up to define, in parallel, the water consumption of an urban district and the energy consumption necessary to satisfy water requirements and CO2 emissions. Starting from the application of the calculation method in an existing urban district in Rome, 10 indicators of quantities have been developed to define water and energy consumption and their related CO2 emissions, focusing on the obtained results to also define some interventions to reduce water and energy consumption and CO2 emissions in territories that suffer a medium-risk impact from contemporary climatic conditions

Metallization of Fiber Reinforced Composite by Surface Functionalization and Cold Spray Deposition

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Artificial intelligence and radiomics in magnetic resonance imaging of rectal cancer: a review

Rectal cancer (RC) is one of the most common tumours worldwide in both males and females, with significant morbidity and mortality rates, and it accounts for approximately one-third of colorectal cancers (CRCs). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been demonstrated to be accurate in evaluating the tumour location and stage, mucin content, invasion depth, lymph node (LN) metastasis, extramural vascular invasion (EMVI), and involvement of the mesorectal fascia (MRF). However, these features alone remain insufficient to precisely guide treatment decisions. Therefore, new imaging biomarkers are necessary to define tumour characteristics for staging and restaging patients with RC. During the last decades, RC evaluation via MRI-based radiomics and artificial intelligence (AI) tools has been a research hotspot. The aim of this review was to summarise the achievement of MRI-based radiomics and AI for the evaluation of staging, response to therapy, genotyping, prediction of high-risk factors, and prognosis in the field of RC. Moreover, future challenges and limitations of these tools that need to be solved to favour the transition from academic research to the clinical setting will be discussed

A machine-learning based bio-psycho-social model for the prediction of non-obstructive and obstructive coronary artery disease

Background: Mechanisms of myocardial ischemia in obstructive and non-obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD), and the interplay between clinical, functional, biological and psycho-social features, are still far to be fully elucidated. Objectives: To develop a machine-learning (ML) model for the supervised prediction of obstructive versus non-obstructive CAD. Methods: From the EVA study, we analysed adults hospitalized for IHD undergoing conventional coronary angiography (CCA). Non-obstructive CAD was defined by a stenosis < 50% in one or more vessels. Baseline clinical and psycho-socio-cultural characteristics were used for computing a Rockwood and Mitnitski frailty index, and a gender score according to GENESIS-PRAXY methodology. Serum concentration of inflammatory cytokines was measured with a multiplex flow cytometry assay. Through an XGBoost classifier combined with an explainable artificial intelligence tool (SHAP), we identified the most influential features in discriminating obstructive versus non-obstructive CAD. Results: Among the overall EVA cohort (n = 509), 311 individuals (mean age 67 ± 11 years, 38% females; 67% obstructive CAD) with complete data were analysed. The ML-based model (83% accuracy and 87% precision) showed that while obstructive CAD was associated with higher frailty index, older age and a cytokine signature characterized by IL-1β, IL-12p70 and IL-33, non-obstructive CAD was associated with a higher gender score (i.e., social characteristics traditionally ascribed to women) and with a cytokine signature characterized by IL-18, IL-8, IL-23. Conclusions: Integrating clinical, biological, and psycho-social features, we have optimized a sex- and gender-unbiased model that discriminates obstructive and non-obstructive CAD. Further mechanistic studies will shed light on the biological plausibility of these associations. Clinical trial registration: NCT02737982

Genetic mechanisms of critical illness in COVID-19.

Host-mediated lung inflammation is present1, and drives mortality2, in the critical illness caused by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Host genetic variants associated with critical illness may identify mechanistic targets for therapeutic development3. Here we report the results of the GenOMICC (Genetics Of Mortality In Critical Care) genome-wide association study in 2,244 critically ill patients with COVID-19 from 208 UK intensive care units. We have identified and replicated the following new genome-wide significant associations: on chromosome 12q24.13 (rs10735079, P = 1.65 × 10-8) in a gene cluster that encodes antiviral restriction enzyme activators (OAS1, OAS2 and OAS3); on chromosome 19p13.2 (rs74956615, P = 2.3 × 10-8) near the gene that encodes tyrosine kinase 2 (TYK2); on chromosome 19p13.3 (rs2109069, P = 3.98 ×  10-12) within the gene that encodes dipeptidyl peptidase 9 (DPP9); and on chromosome 21q22.1 (rs2236757, P = 4.99 × 10-8) in the interferon receptor gene IFNAR2. We identified potential targets for repurposing of licensed medications: using Mendelian randomization, we found evidence that low expression of IFNAR2, or high expression of TYK2, are associated with life-threatening disease; and transcriptome-wide association in lung tissue revealed that high expression of the monocyte-macrophage chemotactic receptor CCR2 is associated with severe COVID-19. Our results identify robust genetic signals relating to key host antiviral defence mechanisms and mediators of inflammatory organ damage in COVID-19. Both mechanisms may be amenable to targeted treatment with existing drugs. However, large-scale randomized clinical trials will be essential before any change to clinical practice

Spectrum of mutational signatures in T-cell lymphoma reveals a key role for UV radiation in cutaneous T-cell lymphoma

Funder: Galderma; doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100009754Funder: NIHR-BRC Cambridge core grantFunder: National Institute for Health Research; doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100000272Funder: NHS EnglandAbstract: T-cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas develop following transformation of tissue resident T-cells. We performed a meta-analysis of whole exome sequencing data from 403 patients with eight subtypes of T-cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma to identify mutational signatures and associated recurrent gene mutations. Signature 1, indicative of age-related deamination, was prevalent across all T-cell lymphomas, reflecting the derivation of these malignancies from memory T-cells. Adult T-cell leukemia-lymphoma was specifically associated with signature 17, which was found to correlate with the IRF4 K59R mutation that is exclusive to Adult T-cell leukemia-lymphoma. Signature 7, implicating UV exposure was uniquely identified in cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL), contributing 52% of the mutational burden in mycosis fungoides and 23% in Sezary syndrome. Importantly this UV signature was observed in CD4 + T-cells isolated from the blood of Sezary syndrome patients suggesting extensive re-circulation of these T-cells through skin and blood. Analysis of non-Hodgkin’s T-cell lymphoma cases submitted to the national 100,000 WGS project confirmed that signature 7 was only identified in CTCL strongly implicating UV radiation in the pathogenesis of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma

The Sex-Specific Detrimental Effect of Diabetes and Gender-Related Factors on Pre-admission Medication Adherence Among Patients Hospitalized for Ischemic Heart Disease: Insights From EVA Study

Background: Sex and gender-related factors have been under-investigated as relevant determinants of health outcomes across non-communicable chronic diseases. Poor medication adherence results in adverse clinical outcomes and sex differences have been reported among patients at high cardiovascular risk, such as diabetics. The effect of diabetes and gender-related factors on medication adherence among women and men at high risk for ischemic heart disease (IHD) has not yet been fully investigated.Aim: To explore the role of sex, gender-related factors, and diabetes in pre-admission medication adherence among patients hospitalized for IHD.Materials and Methods: Data were obtained from the Endocrine Vascular disease Approach (EVA) (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02737982), a prospective cohort of patients admitted for IHD. We selected patients with baseline information regarding the presence of diabetes, cardiovascular risk factors, and gender-related variables (i.e., gender identity, gender role, gender relations, institutionalized gender). Our primary outcome was the proportion of pre-admission medication adherence defined through a self-reported questionnaire. We performed a sex-stratified analysis of clinical and gender-related factors associated with pre-admission medication adherence.Results: Two-hundred eighty patients admitted for IHD (35% women, mean age 70), were included. Around one-fourth of the patients were low-adherent to therapy before hospitalization, regardless of sex. Low-adherent patients were more likely diabetic (40%) and employed (40%). Sex-stratified analysis showed that low-adherent men were more likely to be employed (58 vs. 33%) and not primary earners (73 vs. 54%), with more masculine traits of personality, as compared with medium-high adherent men. Interestingly, women reporting medication low-adherence were similar for clinical and gender-related factors to those with medium-high adherence, except for diabetes (42 vs. 20%, p = 0.004). In a multivariate adjusted model only employed status was associated with poor medication adherence (OR 0.55, 95%CI 0.31–0.97). However, in the sex-stratified analysis, diabetes was independently associated with medication adherence only in women (OR 0.36; 95%CI 0.13–0.96), whereas a higher masculine BSRI was the only factor associated with medication adherence in men (OR 0.59, 95%CI 0.35–0.99).Conclusion: Pre-admission medication adherence is common in patients hospitalized for IHD, regardless of sex. However, patient-related factors such as diabetes, employment, and personality traits are associated with adherence in a sex-specific manner

Lost worlds: tales of archaic hominin admixture in Southeast Asia and Oceania

Sebbene studi recenti abbiano contribuito a far luce su alcuni aspetti dell’interazione tra uomo anatomicamente moderno e forme umane arcaiche, come Neandertal e Denisova, sappiamo ancora ben poco riguardo all’interazione tra popolazioni di nostri antenati e altre forme umane oggi estinte – come ad esempio l’enigmatico Homo floresiensis – con cui siamo convissuti per migliaia di anni. In questo progetto abbiamo analizzato il genoma completo (coverage ~40x) di 10 individui appartenenti ad una popolazione pigmea dell’isola di Flores, in Indonesia orientale. Il villaggio abitato da questa popolazione si trova nelle vicinanze della grotta di Liang Bua dove i fossili di H.floresiensis sono stati rinvenuti, e i suoi abitanti presentano delle caratteristiche morfologiche in comune con H. floresiensis. Abbiamo analizzato questi dati - che rappresentano anche i primi dati di genomi complete dell’Indonesia ottenuti finora - utilizzando un approccio recentemente sviluppato che consente di identificare DNA ereditato a seguito di ibridazione con specie umane arcaiche, senza la necessita’ di conoscere il genome della specie arcaica. Le nostre analisi hanno rivelato la presenza nei pigmei di Flores, di regioni genomiche divergenti, che potrebbero derivare da ibridazione con H. floresiensis e che potrebbero quindi contribuire a fornire una nuova visione della nostra interazione con specie estinte, in questa regione del mondo che e’ stata cruciale per la nostra evoluzione – e dove non e’ possibile, al momento, ottenere DNA da resti fossili. Infine, abbiamo applicato lo stesso approccio a dati di genomi completi di 1,523 individui di diverse popolazioni mondiali, che includono 35 nuovi genomi Melanesiani da noi prodotti, con lo scopo di identificare sequenze ereditate dall’ibridazione con Neandertal e Denisova. Abbiamo mostrato che l’ibridazione con i Neandertal sarebbe avvenuta numerose volte in diverse popolazioni non-Africane, abbiamo caratterizzato regioni genomiche che appaiono significativamente impoverite di sequenze arcaiche, ed infine abbiamo identificato la presenza di introgressione adattativa in questi genomi.Although recent genetic findings have contribuited to shed light on some aspects of the interaction between anatomically modern humans and archaic hominin forms, such as Neandertals and Denisovans, very little is known about the interaction between our ancestors and other extinct species - such as the enigmatic Homo floresiensis - with which they co-existed for thousands of years. Here we analyzed 10 new high coverage genomes (~40x) from a pygmy population in the Island of Flores (Eastern Indonesia). This village is near where remains of H. floresiensis were found and its people have been reported to have morphological similarities to Homo florensiensis. We used a newly developed approach to identify DNA inherited from archaic hominin ancestor, which does not rely on ancient genomes. Moreover, our data represent to date the first complete genomes from Indonesia. Our analysis revealed the presence of highly divergent genomic regions in the Flores pygmies, that might result from past admixture with H. floresiensis, and contribuited to provide new insights on the landscape of hominin interactions in this part of the world crucial for our evolutionary history – where ancient DNA work may not be tractable. Finally, we applied the same approach to whole-genome sequences from 1,523 geographically diverse individuals, including 35 new Island Melanesian genomes with the goal of identifying sequences inherited from Neandertals and Denisovans. We showed that Neandertal admixture occurred multiple times in different non-African populations, we characterized genomic regions that are significantly depleted of archaic sequence, and identified signatures of adaptive introgression

Dalla città del passato alla città ‘green’, per un futuro più desiderabile

La lettura del percorso generativo dell’ecosistema storico permette di analizzare il sistema dei segni che configurano i luoghi del passato e dei significati che comportano sul piano dell'abitare, per individuare quella continuità dell’atteggiamento ecologico che dovrebbe permanere nella configurazione degli assetti nel tempo. È, pertanto, possibile delineare nella città storica esistente alcuni dei riferimenti della contemporaneità chiamata a una profonda svolta 'green' che, nel confronto col passato potrebbe rinvenire, riacquisire, reinterpretare il valore e il significato di sistemi di spazi capaci di attivare sistemi di relazione sociale, di gestione abitativa, di comportamento umano, in armonia e dialettica con i sistemi ambientali e climatici, per definire un processo di progettazione improntato sul green city approach e, in definitiva, per configurare un futuro dell'abitare più desiderabil

Dalla città del passato alla città ‘green’, per un futuro più desiderabile

La lettura del percorso generativo dell’ecosistema storico permette di analizzare il sistema dei segni che configurano i luoghi del passato e dei significati che comportano sul piano dell'abitare, per individuare quella continuità dell’atteggiamento ecologico che dovrebbe permanere nella configurazione degli assetti nel tempo. È, pertanto, possibile delineare nella città storica esistente alcuni dei riferimenti della contemporaneità chiamata a una profonda svolta 'green' che, nel confronto col passato potrebbe rinvenire, riacquisire, reinterpretare il valore e il significato di sistemi di spazi capaci di attivare sistemi di relazione sociale, di gestione abitativa, di comportamento umano, in armonia e dialettica con i sistemi ambientali e climatici, per definire un processo di progettazione improntato sul green city approach e, in definitiva, per configurare un futuro dell'abitare più desiderabile