San Carlo dei Barnabiti: restoration and reinforcement of the roofing of a florentine baroque masterpiece

The church of San Carlo dei Barnabiti houses one of the most important examples of Baroque illusionistic painting in Florence. Given the level of deterioration of the vault, the preliminary investigations required a 3D survey of the current geometry to detect the mainly damaged areas. A point cloud obtained by laser scanning is employed to investigate the deformations and the state of conservation of the vault. The acquired data also revealed some unknown aspects concerning the construction of the structure and its pictorial decoration useful to design the restoration project

Prediction of the Italian electricity price for smart grid applications

In this paper we address the problem of one day-ahead hourly electricity price forecast for smart grid applications. To this aim, we investigate the application of a number of predictive models for time-series, including methods based on empirical strategies frequently adopted in the smart grid community, Kalman Filters and Echo State Networks (ESNs). The considered methods have been suitably modified to address the electricity price forecast problem. Strategies based on daily re-adaptation of models’ parameters are taken into consideration as well. The predictive performance achieved by the considered models is assessed, and the methods are compared among each other on recent real data from the Italian electricity market. As a result of the comparison over three years data, ESN methods appear to provide the most accurate price predictions, which could imply significant economic savings in many smart grid activities, such as switching on power plants to support power generation from renewable sources, electric vehicle recharging or usage of household appliances

Monitoring and Computation of the Volumes of Stockpiles of Bulk Material by Means of UAV Photogrammetric Surveying

The monitoring and metric assessment of piles of natural or man-made materials plays a fundamental role in the production and management processes of multiple activities. Over time, the monitoring techniques have undergone an evolution linked to the progress of measure and data processing techniques; starting from classic topography to global navigation satellite system (GNSS) technologies up to the current survey systems like laser scanner and close-range photogrammetry. Last-generation 3D data management software allow for the processing of increasingly truer high-resolution 3D models. This study shows the results of a test for the monitoring and computing of stockpile volumes of material coming from the differentiated waste collection inserted in the recycling chain, performed by means of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) photogrammetric survey and the generation of 3D models starting from point clouds. The test was carried out with two UAV flight sessions, with vertical and oblique camera configurations, and using a terrestrial laser scanner for measuring the ground control points and as ground truth for testing the two survey configurations. The computations of the volumes were carried out using two software and comparisons were made both with reference to the different survey configurations and to the computation software

Poor reactivity of posterior electroencephalographic alpha rhythms during the eyes open condition in patients with dementia due to Parkinson's disease

Here, we hypothesized that the reactivity of posterior resting-state electroencephalographic (rsEEG) alpha rhythms during the transition from eyes-closed to -open condition might be lower in patients with Parkinson's disease dementia (PDD) than in patients with Alzheimer's disease dementia (ADD). A Eurasian database provided clinical-demographic-rsEEG datasets in 73 PDD patients, 35 ADD patients, and 25 matched cognitively unimpaired (Healthy) persons. The eLORETA freeware was used to estimate cortical rsEEG sources. Results showed substantial (greater than −10%) reduction (reactivity) in the posterior alpha source activities from the eyes-closed to the eyes-open condition in 88% of the Healthy seniors, 57% of the ADD patients, and only 35% of the PDD patients. In these alpha-reactive participants, there was lower reactivity in the parietal alpha source activities in the PDD group than in the healthy control seniors and the ADD patients. These results suggest that PDD patients show poor reactivity of mechanisms desynchronizing posterior rsEEG alpha rhythms in response to visual inputs. That neurophysiological biomarker may provide an endpoint for (non) pharmacological interventions for improving vigilance regulation in those patients.European Consortium of Dementia ; IRCCS San Raffaele Rome ; World Medical Association ; Ministero della Salute ; Sapienza Università di Rom

Pennes' bioheat equation vs. porous media approach in computer modeling of radiofrequency tumor ablation

[EN] The objective of this study was to compare three different heat transfer models for radiofrequency ablation of in vivo liver tissue using a cooled electrode and three different voltage levels. The comparison was between the simplest but less realistic Pennes' equation and two porous media-based models, i.e. the Local Thermal Non-Equilibrium (LTNE) equations and Local Thermal Equilibrium (LTE) equation, both modified to take into account two-phase water vaporization (tissue and blood). Different blood volume fractions in liver were considered and the blood velocity was modeled to simulate a vascular network. Governing equations with the appropriate boundary conditions were solved with Comsol Multiphysics finite-element code. The results in terms of coagulation transverse diameters and temperature distributions at the end of the application showed significant differences, especially between Pennes and the modified LTNE and LTE models. The new modified porous media-based models covered the ranges found in the few in vivo experimental studies in the literature and they were closer to the published results with similar in vivo protocol. The outcomes highlight the importance of considering the three models in the future in order to improve thermal ablation protocols and devices and adapt the model to different organs and patient profiles.This work was supported by the Spanish Ministerio de Economia, Industria y Competitividad under "Plan Estatal de Investigacion, Desarrollo e Innovacion Orientada a los Retos de la Sociedad", Grant No "RTI2018-094357-B-C21" and by the Italian Government MIUR Grant No "PRIN-2017F7KZWS".Tucci, C.; Trujillo Guillen, M.; Berjano, E.; Iasiello, M.; Andreozzi, A.; Vanoli, GP. (2021). Pennes' bioheat equation vs. porous media approach in computer modeling of radiofrequency tumor ablation. Scientific Reports. 11(1):1-13. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-84546-6S113111Chu, K. F. & Dupuy, D. E. 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Social isolation triggers oxidative status and impairs systemic and hepatic insulin sensitivity in normoglycemic rats

Drug-naïve psychotic patients show metabolic and hepatic dysfunctions. The rat social isolation model of psychosis allows to investigate mechanisms leading to these disturbances to which oxidative stress crucially contributes. Here, we investigated isolation-induced central and peripheral dysfunctions in glucose homeostasis and insulin sensitivity, along with redox dysregulation. Social isolation did not affect basal glycemic levels and the response to glucose and insulin loads in the glucose and insulin tolerance tests. However, HOMA-Index value were increased in isolated (ISO) rats. A hypothalamic reduction of AKT phosphorylation and a trend toward an increase in AMPK phosphorylation were observed following social isolation, accompanied by reduced GLUT-4 levels. Social isolation also induced a reduction of phosphorylation of the insulin receptor, of AKT and GLUT-2, and a decreased phosphorylation of AMPK in the liver. Furthermore, a significant reduction in hepatic CPT1 and PPAR-α levels was detected. ISO rats also showed significant elevations in hepatic ROS amount, lipid peroxidation and NOX4 expression, whereas no differences were detected in NOX2 and NOX1 levels. Expression of SOD2 in the mitochondrial fraction and SOD1 in the cytosolic fraction was not altered following social isolation, whereas SOD activity was increased. Furthermore, a decrease of hepatic CAT and GSH amount was observed in ISO rats compared to GRP animals. Our data suggest that the increased oxidant status and antioxidant capacity modifications may trigger hepatic and systemic insulin resistance, by altering signal hormone pathway and sustaining subsequent alteration of glucose homeostasis and metabolic impairment observed in the social isolation model of psychosis

Microglia modulates hippocampal synaptic transmission and sleep duration along the light/dark cycle

Microglia, the brain's resident macrophages, actively contributes to the homeostasis of cerebral parenchyma by sensing neuronal activity and supporting synaptic remodeling and plasticity. While several studies demonstrated different roles for astrocytes in sleep, the contribution of microglia in the regulation of sleep/wake cycle and in the modulation of synaptic activity in the different day phases has not been deeply investigated. Using light as a zeitgeber cue, we studied the effects of microglial depletion with the colony stimulating factor-1 receptor antagonist PLX5622 on the sleep/wake cycle and on hippocampal synaptic transmission in male mice. Our data demonstrate that almost complete microglial depletion increases the duration of NREM sleep and reduces the hippocampal excitatory neurotransmission. The fractalkine receptor CX3CR1 plays a relevant role in these effects, because cx3cr1GFP/GFP mice recapitulate what found in PLX5622-treated mice. Furthermore, during the light phase, microglia express lower levels of cx3cr1 and a reduction of cx3cr1 expression is also observed when cultured microglial cells are stimulated by ATP, a purinergic molecule released during sleep. Our findings suggest that microglia participate in the regulation of sleep, adapting their cx3cr1 expression in response to the light/dark phase, and modulating synaptic activity in a phase-dependent manner.Bordeaux Region Aquitaine Initiative for Neuroscienc

Measures of Resting State EEG Rhythms for Clinical Trials in Alzheimer’s Disease:Recommendations of an Expert Panel

The Electrophysiology Professional Interest Area (EPIA) and Global Brain Consortium endorsed recommendations on candidate electroencephalography (EEG) measures for Alzheimer's disease (AD) clinical trials. The Panel reviewed the field literature. As most consistent findings, AD patients with mild cognitive impairment and dementia showed abnormalities in peak frequency, power, and "interrelatedness" at posterior alpha (8-12Hz) and widespread delta (<4Hz) and theta (4-8Hz) rhythms in relation to disease progression and interventions. The following consensus statements were subscribed: (1) Standardization of instructions to patients, resting state EEG (rsEEG) recording methods, and selection of artifact-free rsEEG periods are needed; (2) power density and "interrelatedness" rsEEG measures (e.g., directed transfer function, phase lag index, linear lagged connectivity, etc.) at delta, theta, and alpha frequency bands may be use for stratification of AD patients and monitoring of disease progression and intervention; and (3) international multisectoral initiatives are mandatory for regulatory purposes

First-year experience of a Brazilian tertiary medical center in supporting severely ill patients using extracorporeal membrane oxygenation

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this manuscript is to describe the first year of our experience using extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support. METHODS: Ten patients with severe refractory hypoxemia, two with associated severe cardiovascular failure, were supported using venous-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (eight patients) or veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (two patients). RESULTS: The median age of the patients was 31 yr (range 14-71 yr). Their median simplified acute physiological score three (SAPS3) was 94 (range 84-118), and they had a median expected mortality of 95% (range 87-99%). Community-acquired pneumonia was the most common diagnosis (50%), followed by P. jiroveci pneumonia in two patients with AIDS (20%). Six patients were transferred from other ICUs during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support, three of whom were transferred between ICUs within the hospital (30%), two by ambulance (20%) and one by helicopter (10%). Only one patient (10%) was anticoagulated with heparin throughout extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support. Eighty percent of patients required continuous venous-venous hemofiltration. Three patients (30%) developed persistent hypoxemia, which was corrected using higher positive end-expiratory pressure, higher inspired oxygen fractions, recruitment maneuvers, and nitric oxide. The median time on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support was five (range 3-32) days. The median length of the hospital stay was 31 (range 3-97) days. Four patients (40%) survived to 60 days, and they were free from renal replacement therapy and oxygen support. CONCLUSIONS: The use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support in severely ill patients is possible in the presence of a structured team. Efforts must be made to recognize the necessity of extracorporeal respiratory support at an early stage and to prompt activation of the extracorporeal membrane oxygenation team