Agnizioni indomediterranee. Contesti culturali, riflessi linguistici, evidenze testuali

The recognition of exposed children and the subsequent legitimisation of their identity through similarity with their mother’s feet was not an uncommon occurrence in the ancient Indo-Mediterranean area. More generally, it can be said that after being recognised, these children were often destined to accomplish great and sometimes terrible enterprises during their adulthood. Such endeavours often coincided with dynastic change or real turning points in history, while lack of recognition often resulted in even greater disasters. This important cultural trait is common to India (the stories of Karna and Rama), Iran (the story of Cyrus), Mesopotamia (stories of Gilgamesh and Sargon), Anatolia (the story of Suppiluliuma), Egypt and Israel (stories of Moses and Jesus), Greece (the stories of Paris, Melampus, Theseus, Oedipus, Orestes) and Rome (stories of Silvio and Romulus and Remus). These complex events share many cultural traits along with the associated linguistic reflections. The tragic story of Oedipus is one of the most striking, since his failed recognition (precisely because of his deliberately deformed feet at the time of his exposure as an infant) is transformed into incest and blindness as a form of self-punishment, which are both the negative reverse side of this coin.Il riconoscimento di un bambino esposto e la conseguente sua legittimazione identitaria avviene con una frequenza non casuale nell’antichissimo spazio indomediterraneo mediante la constatazione che i suoi piedi sono in tutto simili a quelli della propria madre. Più in generale si può dire che i bambini, una volta riconosciuti quando sono ormai diventati adulti, sono destinati a grandi e a volte terribili imprese, spesso coincidenti con un cambio dinastico o una vera e propria svolta storica, mentre una loro mancata agnizione si converte in sciagure ancora più grandi. Questo importante tratto culturale accomuna l’India (storie di Karna e di Rāma), l’Iran (storia di Ciro), la Mesopotamia (storie di Gilgameš e di Sargon), l’Anatolia (storia di Suppiluliuma), l’Egitto e Israele (storie di Mosé e di Gesù), la Grecia (storie di Paride, Melampo, Teseo, Edipo, Oreste), Roma (storie di Silvio e di Romolo e Remo). Queste complesse vicende hanno in comune molti tratti culturali e i connessi riflessi linguistici. Tra tutte spicca la tragica storia di Edipo, la cui agnizione mancata (proprio in conseguenza dei suoi piedi volutamente deformati nel momento dell’esposizione di lui neonato) si converte nell’incesto e nella cecità autopunitiva, entrambi rovescio negativo di un mancato riconoscimento

Systematic Human Reliability Analysis (SHRA): A New Approach to Evaluate Human Error Probability (HEP) in a Nuclear Plant

Emergency management in industrial plants is a fundamental issue to ensure the safety of operators. The emergency management analyses two fundamental aspects: the system reliability and the human reliability. System reliability is the capability of ensuring the functional properties within a variability of work conditions, considering the possible deviations due to unexpected events. However, system reliability is strongly related to the reliability of its weakest component. The complexity of the processes could generate incidental situations and the worker appears (human reliability) to be the weakest part of the whole system. The complexity of systems influences operator's ability to take decisions during emergencies. The aim of the present research is to develop a new approach to evaluate human error probability (HEP), called Systematic Human Reliability Analysis (SHRA). The proposed approach considers internal and external factors that affect operator's ability. The new approach is based on Nuclear Action Reliability Assessment (NARA), Simplified Plant Analysis Risk Human Reliability (SPAR-H) and on the Performance Shaping Factors (PSFs) relationship. The present paper analysed some shortcomings related to literature approaches, especially the limitations of the working time. We estimated HEP, after 8 hours (work standard) during emergency conditions. The correlations between the advantages of these three methodologies allows proposing a HEP analysis during accident scenarios emergencies. SHRA can be used to estimate human reliability during emergencies. SHRA has been applied in a nuclear accident scenario, considering 24 hours of working time. The SHRA results highlight the most important internal and external factors that affect operator's ability

An Experimental Study on Developing a Cognitive Model for Human Reliability Analysis

Serious incidents that occur inside or caused by industrial plants represent a very critical issue. In this context, the human reliability analysis (HRA) is an important tool to assess human factors that influence human behaviour in disasters scenario. In fact, the reliability assessment of interaction between human-machine systems is an important factor that affects the overall performance and safety in industrial plants. However, even though HRA techniques have been available for decades, there is not a universal method/procedure to reduce human errors that affect human performance. This study aims to design a novel approach to investigate the relationship between human reliability and operator performance considering the dependence on the available time to make decisions

Mild to moderate bleeding: diagnostic and therapeutic paths

We consider mild to moderate bleedings all bleeding events that do not meet the criteria proposed by the International Society of Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH) for the definition of major bleeding. As regards the approach to the bleeding patient, the first step is undoubtedly an accurate collection of clinical history and overall physical examination. Then, the etiological diagnosis of a bleeding disorder uses a series of laboratory investigations, divided into first level tests, which are intended to identify the altered phase of the hemostatic process, and second level ones, i.e. more specific tests used if screening tests are negative or to better characterize the alteration identified by them. For the treatment of a bleeding disorder there are several approaches, all strictly dependent on the etiologic diagnosis of this disorder

Site effects due to the presence of cavity near the cliffs

The paper reports a numerical evaluation of seismic site effects from an underground cavity in Sant’Agata de’ Goti, a typical medieval town of south Italy, perched on a tuff ridge. The cavity, located along the edge of Martorano ridge and interconnected to the historical center, was analyzed with the 2D FLAC code. A dynamic analysis was carried out with seven spectrum compatible accelerograms according to Italian code. In order to distinguish the site effects, the analysis was done with and without the cavity. From comparison of the two cases, expressed by maximum acceleration on the ground surface, it was observed that the presence of the cavity leads to higher acceleration towards the edge of the cliff with respect to a 1D analysis and to simplified procedures according to the Italian National code

Diffraction-free light droplets for axially-resolved volume imaging

An ideal direct imaging system entails a method to illuminate on command a single diffraction-limited region in a generally thick and turbid volume. The best approximation to this is the use of large-aperture lenses that focus light into a spot. This strategy fails for regions that are embedded deep into the sample, where diffraction and scattering prevail. Airy beams and Bessel beams are solutions of the Helmholtz Equation that are both non-diffracting and self-healing, features that make them naturally able to outdo the effects of distance into the volume but intrinsically do not allow resolution along the propagation axis. Here, we demonstrate diffraction-free self-healing three-dimensional monochromatic light spots able to penetrate deep into the volume of a sample, resist against deflection in turbid environments, and offer axial resolution comparable to that of Gaussian beams. The fields, formed from coherent mixtures of Bessel beams, manifest a more than ten-fold increase in their undistorted penetration, even in turbid milk solutions, compared to diffraction-limited beams. In a fluorescence imaging scheme, we find a ten-fold increase in image contrast compared to diffraction-limited illuminations, and a constant axial resolution even after four Rayleigh lengths. Results pave the way to new opportunities in three-dimensional microscopy

Combined laparoscopic pyelolithotomy and endoscopic pyelolithotripsy for staghorn calculi. Long-term follow-up results from a case series

Purpose: Staghorn renal stones are a challenging field in urology. Due to their high recurrence rates, particularly those associated with an infective process, a complete removal is the ultimate goal in their management. We report our experience with a combined approach of laparoscopic pyelolithotomy and endoscopic pyelolithotripsy, the stone clearance rate, and long-term, follow-up outcomes. Methods: From June 2012 to October 2014, nine adult patients with large staghorn renal calculi (mean size, 7.2 cm; range, 6.2–9.0 cm) underwent a combined laparoscopic and endoscopic approach. The technique comprised laparoscopic pyelolithotomy and holmium-YAG laser stone fragmentation with the use of a flexible cystoscope introduced through a 12 mm trocar. Results: The average operative time was 140 min (range, 90–190 min). The mean estimated hemoglobin loss was 0.6 mmol/l (range 0.5–0.7 mmol/l). None of the patients required an open- surgery conversion. The mean hospital stay was 4 days (range, 2–6 days). A computed tomography urogram control at 6 months of follow up did not show any stone recurrence. Conclusions: Laparoscopic pyelolithotomy combined with endoscopic pyelolithotripsy could be a therapeutic option in cases where mini-invasive procedures, that is, extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy, ureteroscopic lithotripsy, and percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) have failed. This technique has a high stone-clearance rate (75–100%) comparable with open surgery and PCNL. However, it could be technically demanding and should be performed by skilled laparoscopy surgeons

T Cells in Gastric Cancer: Friends or Foes

Gastric cancer is the second cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Helicobacter pylori is the major risk factor for gastric cancer. As for any type of cancer, T cells are crucial for recognition and elimination of gastric tumor cells. Unfortunately T cells, instead of protecting from the onset of cancer, can contribute to oncogenesis. Herein we review the different types, “friend or foe”, of T-cell response in gastric cancer