A Fuzzy Set Approach to Measuring Violence Against Women and Its Severity

We develop a scale of severity of violence against women based on fuzzy set theory. The scale can be used to derive fuzzy indexes of violence which account for the prevalence, frequency and severity of violence. Using the results of the survey conducted by the European Agency for Human Rights (FRA) we find strong congruence of ranking between the proposed scale and three widely used alternatives – the Conflict Tactic Scale, The Severity of Violence Against Women Scale and the Index of Spouse Abuse. Unlike existing alternatives, however, the scale that we propose is based on objective information rather than subjective assessment; it is parsimonious in terms of the amount of information that it requires; and it is less vulnerable to risks of cultural bias. As an example of the uses to which fuzzy measurement of violence can be put, we compute fuzzy indexes of intimate partner violence for European countries and find a clear, inverse correlation across countries with the degree of gender equality

Neurological assessment of newborns with spinal muscular atrophy identified through neonatal screening

The possibility to identify patients with spinal muscular atrophy through neonatal screenings has highlighted the need for clinical assessments that may systematically evaluate the possible presence of early neurological signs. The aim of this study was to use the Hammersmith Neonatal Neurological Examination (HNNE) and a module specifically designed for floppy infants to assess the possible variability of neurological findings in infants identified through neonatal screening. The infants included in this study were identified as part of a pilot study exploring neonatal screening in two Italian regions. A neurological examination was performed using the HNNE and an additional module developed for the assessment of floppy infants. Seventeen infants were identified through the screening. One patient had 1 SMN2 copy, 9 had 2 copies, 3 had 3, and 4 had more than 3 copies. Nine of the 17 infants (53%) had completely normal results on both scales, 3 had minimal signs, and the other 5 had more obvious clinical signs. The number of SMN2 copies was related to the presence of abnormal neurological signs (p = 0.036) but two SMN2 copies were associated with variable clinical signs as they were found in some infants with respectively normal examination or obvious severe early signs. Conclusions: Our results suggest that the combination of both scales increases the possibility to detect neonatal neurological signs and to define different early patterns of involvement also identifying paucisymptomatic patients.What is Known:• The use of new therapeutic options in presymptomatic SMA patients leads to a dramatic reduction of the onset and severity of the diesease.• The already existing tools commonly used in Type I SMA (HINE and CHOP-intend) may not be suitable to identify minor neurological signs in the neonatal period.What is New:• Combining the HNNE and the floppy infant module, we were able to identify early neurological signs in SMA infants identified through newborn screening and may help to predict the individual therapeutic outcome of these patients.• Iinfants with 2 SMN2 copies identified through the screening had a more variable neonatal examination compared to those with three or more copies, in agreement with similar findings in older infants

Modeling maladaptation in the inequality–environment nexus

Adaptation against environmental degradation has the potential to generate further environmental pressures. Does this aspect of adaptation affect the inequality–environment link? To answer this question, we develop a one-sector and one-input model which integrates threats to social and environmental sustainability posed by feedback effects of agents’ adaptation strategies. We distinguish between income inequality and welfare inequality with the latter depending on environmental quality, leisure time, income level and allocation of income to consumption or adaptation. Despite its parsimony, the model describes the conditions for the existence of different inequality–environment dynamic regimes. The model confirms the standard view that environmental degradation exacerbates welfare inequality, but it also produces non-trivial and surprising insights. It illustrates that income inequality affects the type of dynamic regime followed by the economy. High-income economies and economies with high-income inequality are most at risk of following a pattern of maladaptive growth with increasing welfare inequality and environmental pressure

Mining and local economies: Dilemma between environmental protection and job opportunities

Mining areas often experience a climate of social tension due to the potential trade-off between expected employment impact and concerns for environmental damage. We address this topic from a theoretical perspective that, unlike most empirical research, includes medium-term dynamics. We developed a two-sector dynamic model that provides a new way to identify differences among mining regions in terms of conflict risk, local development, and welfare. There are critical points in the natural-resource base of local nonmining activities and in the pollution rate of mining operations, which determine the type of dynamics and its welfare outcomes due to the opening up of the economy to mining investment. Pollution control is a sine qua non for welfare gains despite new job opportunities in the mining sector

Rilievi DGPS, immagini QuickBird e foto aeree integrati per lo studio dei Geositi della Provincia di Siena

La protezione dei Geositi, ovvero delle località dove è possibile definire un interesse geologico o geomorfologico di rilevante valore naturalistico, può essere affrontata attraverso l’integrazione di misure ed interventi in situ supportati da un sistema informativo geografico e dall’analisi di dati telerilevati multitemporali. L’obiettivo di questo lavoro è l’analisi multitemporale relativa agli ultimi 50 anni delle suddette zone, attraverso l’integrazione di serie multitemporali di foto aeree pancromatiche ed a colori, e di immagini satellitari QuickBird di recente acquisizione. Per l’orientamento dei dati telerilevati sono stati collezionati accurati GCP attraverso rilievi DGPS in modalità statica. L’immagine QuickBird, di tipo Basic Bundle (Pan + MS), è stata sottoposta ad operazioni di ortorettifica e di data fusion attraverso metodi rigorosi all’interno del software Erdas Imagine 8.7. Per garantire la stereovisione dell’immagine QuickBird, il software PCI Geomatica 8.0 ha permesso la creazione di un’immagine sintetica derivante dall’introduzione di un parallasse artificiale di entità direttamente proporzionale al modello di elevazione del terreno. Successivamente, sia le foto aeree sia le immagini satellitari sono state orientate secondo metodologie di fotogrammetria digitale per lo studio del territorio. Attraverso tecniche semiautomatiche sono stati quindi creati i modelli digitali di elevazione e le ortofoto relativi alle date investigate, mentre dalla fotointerpretazione sono state realizzate le banche dati multitemporali. Operazioni di Map Analysis hanno permesso di confrontare i dati e di ricostruire l’evoluzione geomorfologica dei Geositi. L’interpretazione di immagini multitemporali mediante tecniche fotogrammetriche ha permesso di evidenziare importanti variazioni morfologiche e di uso del suolo che, negli anni, hanno compromesso il valore naturalistico del paesaggio. La serie multitemporale di dati telerilevati, inserita in un sistema informativo geografico, ha inoltre consentito l’analisi quantitativa di tali modificazioni. Dal punto di visto metodologico, la disponibilità di un’immagine Quickbird di tipo Basic ha consentito l’utilizzo dei modelli di correzione geometrica attualmente più accurati mediante integrazione con i rilevamenti DGPS effettuati

Interactions between financial and environmental networks in OECD countries

We analysed a multiplex of financial and environmental networks between OECD countries from 2002 to 2010. Foreign direct investments and portfolio investment showing the flows in equity securities, short-Term, long-Term and total debt, these securities represent the financial layers; emissions of NOx, PM10, SO2, CO2 equivalent and the water footprint associated with international trade represent the environmental layers. We present a new measure of cross-layer correlations between flows in different layers based on reciprocity. For the assessment of results, we implement a null model for this measure based on the exponential random graph theory. We find that short-Term financial flows are more correlated with environmental flows than long-Term investments. Moreover, the correlations between reverse financial and environmental flows (i.e.The flows of different layers going in opposite directions) are generally stronger than correlations between synergic flows (flows going in the same direction). This suggests a trade-off between financial and environmental layers, where, more financialised countries display higher correlations between outgoing financial flows and incoming environmental flows than from lower financialised countries. Five countries are identified as hubs in this finance-environment multiplex: The United States, France, Germany, Belgium-Luxembourg and United Kingdom

Fotogrammetria Digitale e High Resolution Remote Sensing per lo studio multitemporale delle variazioni geomorfologiche e di uso del suolo delle Crete Senesi

Purpose of the present study is the geomorphological and land use analysis of the Crete Senesi located in the Asciano municipality (Siena, Italy), by means of both multitemporal series of panchromatic and full chromatic aerial photos, and recent high resolution QuickBird satellite imageries. This work was realized to reconstruct the changes suffered by these famous landscapes with universally conferred naturalistic priceless value. First step of the analysis concerned the orientation of the whole remotely sensed data, for which GCPs were collected by means of DGPS measurements in static mode. A synthetic image starting from the QuickBird satellite imagery has been created by applying an artificial parallax proportional to the digital terrain model. Afterwards the aerial photos have been oriented as well as the satellite imagery by means of digital photogrammetric techniques directed to morphometric study. Digital elevation models related to the different temporal intervals have been calculated from the aerial photos by utilising semi-automatic techniques, whilst the multitemporal land use data base has been carried out through stereoscopic restitution. Map Analysis procedures allowed to compare the data and to rebuild the Crete Senesi’s geomorphologic evolution. Multitemporal land use and elevation data have been utilized as input for the RUSLE in the potential soil loss calculation

Alexander disease evolution over time: data from an Italian cohort of pediatric-onset patients

Alexander disease (AxD) is a leukodystrophy that primarily affects astrocytes and is caused by dominant variants in the Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein gene. Three main classifications are currently used, the traditional one defined by the age of onset, and two more recent ones based on both clinical features at onset and brain MRI findings. In this study, we retrospectively included patients with genetically confirmed pediatric-onset AxD. Twenty-one Italian patients were enrolled, and we revised all their clinical and radiological data. Participants were divided according to the current classification systems. We qualitatively analyzed data on neurodevelopment and neurologic decline in order to identify the possible trajectories of the evolution of the disease over time. One patient suffered from a Neonatal presentation and showed a rapidly evolving course which led to death within the second year of life (Type Ia). 16 patients suffered from the Infantile presentation: 5 of them (here defined Type Ib) presented developmental delay and began to deteriorate by the age of 5. A second group (Type Ic) included patients who presented a delay in neuromotor development and started deteriorating after 6 years of age. A third group (Type Id) included patients who presented developmental delay and remained clinically stable beyond adolescence. In 4 patients, the age at last evaluation made it not possible to ascertain whether they belonged to Type Ic or Id, as they were too young to evaluate their neurologic decline. 4 patients suffered from the Juvenile presentation: they had normal neuromotor development with no or only mild cognitive impairment; the subsequent clinical evolution was similar to Type Ic AxD in 2 patients, to Id group in the other 2. In conclusion, our results confirm previously described findings about clinical features at onset; based on follow-up data we might classify patients with Type I AxD into four subgroups (Ia, Ib, Ic, Id). Further studies will be needed to confirm our results and to better highlight the existence of clinical and neuroradiological prognostic factors able to predict disease progression

Mitochondrial epilepsy: a cross-sectional nationwide Italian survey

Many aspects of epilepsy in mitochondrial disorders (MDs) need to be further clarified. To this aim, we explored retrospectively a cohort of individuals with MDs querying the \u201cNationwide Italian Collaborative Network of Mitochondrial Diseases\u201d (NICNMD) database (1467 patients included since 2010 to December 2016). We collected information on age at epilepsy onset, seizure type and frequency, genetic findings, and antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). At the time of our survey, 147/1467 (10%) patients in the NICNMD database had epilepsy. Complete information was available only for 98 patients, 52 males and 46 females, aged 5\u201392 years (mean age 40.4 \ub1 18.4; 14/98 children/teenagers and 84 adults). Epilepsy was the presenting feature of MD in 46/98 (47%) individuals, with onset at a median age of 19 years (range, 0.2\u201368; < 3 years in 14/97 (14%), 3\u201319 years in 36/97 (37%), > 19 years in 47/97 (49%)). Moreover, 91/98 patients (93%) displayed multiple seizures, with daily or weekly frequency in 25/91 (28%). Interictal EEG was abnormal in 70/78 (90%) patients, displaying abnormal background (47/70; 67%) and/or interictal paroxysms (53/70; 76%). Eighty of 90 patients (89%) displayed a 50\u2013100% reduction of seizures on AEDs; levetiracetam was the most commonly used. Forty-one patients (42%) carried the m.3243A>G mutation, 16 (16%) the m.8344A>G, and 9 (9%) nuclear DNA (nDNA) mutations. Individuals with early-onset seizures mainly carried nDNA mutations and had a more severe epilepsy phenotype, higher seizure frequency, and disorganized background EEG activity. A better definition of epilepsy in MDs may foster the diagnostic workup, management, and treatment of affected patients, and allow more homogeneous patient stratification