Early warning system for the prevention and control of unauthorized accesses to air navigation services infrastructures

Early warning systems are fundamental instruments for the management of critical situations since they are able to signal in advance any anomaly with respect to ordinary situations. The purpose of this paper is to present an early warning system, based on artificial neural networks, for the prevention and control of unauthorized accesses to the air navigation services infrastructure in Italy

Oneiric stress and safety and security at work: the discovery of a new universal symbol

Cox and Griffiths define as psychosocial risks at work “those aspects of the planning, organization and management of work, which, along with their environmental and social contexts, may affect mental and physical health of the employees, directly or indirectly producing stress”. Therefore, a more effective approach to occupational safety and security should include integrated risk management through the identification of any work stress related problem. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the possible correlation of risk at work with the modification of sleep, and inside it, the specific function of dream activity

An early warning system for railways and highways tunnels using artificial neural networks

Il nocciolo di questo articolo proviene da considerazioni in merito ai problemi di miglioramento della security dei trasporti, con un occhio rivolto ai fatti passati (l’Undici Settembre, Madrid 2004 e Londra 2005) e un occhio al concetto di fattibilità (analisi di rischio, studio dell’impatto delle misure, minimizzazione degli aspetti critici come la congestione). In particolare l’attenzione è centrata su come migliorare la security di trasporti e mobilità mediante la protezione delle gallerie. Le gallerie ferroviarie e autostradali rappresentano da sempre il collo di bottiglia della mobilità, considerando sin da subito il caso di incidenti e attacchi terroristici contro treni merci e autocarri che trasportano merci pericolose (HazMat). Le reti neurali artificiali sembrano essere in grado di costruire un sistema intelligente in grado di intervenire in tempo reale in situazioni come questa, in cui sostanze pericolose vengono rilasciate a prescindere da cause dolose o accidentali.The main core of this paper comes from transports security improvement issues, with an eye to the past facts (the Nine Eleven, Madrid 2004 and London 2005 taken as milestones), and an eye to the feasibility (risk analysis, impact of measures, minimization of critical aspects such as congestion). In particular the attention is focused on how to improve transports and mobility security protect-ing tunnels. Highways and railways tunnels represent an all-along bottleneck of mobility, considering first of all the case of accidents and terrorist attacks against freight trains and trucks carrying hazardous materials (HazMat). Artificial neural networks look to be able to build up an intelligent system which can do real time intervention in cases like these, where hazardous materials are released, regardless malicious or accidental

Improving security in road transportation of hazardous materials

A great variety of hazardous materials (HazMat) are transported by road and, with a few exceptions, no particular restrictions are posed to their routes and no surveillance is exerted during their trip. On the other hand, it is recognized that the potential consequences of an accident involving these materials may be severe or even catastrophic. Such road tankers may therefore represent an attractive target for terrorists, as also recognized by the A.D.R. regulation which identifies some high consequences dangerous goods (HCDG) classes, requires the adoption of security measures, and lists the essential elements to be included in the security plan, which should be prepared when transporting such materials. However, as a matter of fact, the HCDG list includes practically all fuel tankers (gasoline, LPG, kerosene, etc.) so that providing all these vehicles with proper security devices may be impracticable and rather expensive; moreover workers’ privacy should be safeguarded. The present work focuses on critical security issues to be addressed when transporting high consequences dangerous goods, and considers some devices and procedures aimed at reducing the risk. The complexity of the system can be modulated based on the available resources and specific circumstances (type of dangerous good, route features, and others). An attempt is also made to further subdivide HCDG classes into three large groups, based on the type of consequence (fire, overpressure and missiles, toxic cloud) and on the expected impact areas associated to a deliberate release of the product into the environment. This will allow to properly scale the complexity of the proposed security apparatuses and procedure

Security procedures and devices for road transportation of high consequence dangerous goods

Road tankers transporting high consequences dangerous goods (HCDG) may represent an attractive target for terrorists, travelling practically anywhere, without escort, and presenting the potential to give rise to catastrophic incidents with a number of fatalities. Different kinds of security devices are available, ensuring a number of useful functions (localization of the vehicle, communication, etc.): their cost may represent a problem, even if prices are progressively decreasing, but additional concern may be workers’ privacy, which should be safeguarded. The operating procedures should be carefully tuned to provide the needed protection level without bothering the driver with a number of time consuming tasks to be fulfilled. The driver may be taken as hostage by terrorists, and forced to obey to their orders, this eventuality should be assessed without endangering the worker’s life. The present work outlines some basic arrangements of security devices and proposes some procedures to prevent threats to security posed by road transportation of HCDG

MRI-Derived Apparent Diffusion Coefficient of Peri-Prostatic Adipose Tissue Is a Potential Determinant of Prostate Cancer Aggressiveness in Preoperative Setting: A Preliminary Report

Background: The aim of this study was to test the association between periprostatic adipose tissue (PPAT)-apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) value recorded at multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) and determinants of prostate cancer (PCa) aggressiveness in the preoperative setting. Methods: Data from 219 consecutive patients undergoing prostate biopsy (PBx) for suspicion of PCa, between January 2020 and June 2022, at our institution were retrospectively evaluated. Only patients who had mpMRI performed before PBx were included. The distribution of demographics and clinical features among PPAT-ADC values up to vs. above the median was studied using both parametric and non-parametric tests, according to variables. Linear and logistic regression models tested the association between PPAT-ADC values and determinants of PCa aggressiveness and the presence of intermediate-high risk PCa, respectively. Results: Of 132 included patients, 76 (58%) had PCa. Median PPAT-ADC was 876 (interquartile range: 654 - 1112) × 10-6 mm2/s. Patients with PPAT-ADC up to the median had a higher rate of PIRADS (Prostate Imaging-Reporting and Data System) 5 lesions (41% vs. 23%, p = 0.032), a higher percentage of PBx positive cores (25% vs. 6%, p = 0.049) and more frequently harbored ISUP (International Society of Urological Pathology) > 1 PCa (50% vs. 28%, p = 0.048). At univariable linear regression analyses, prostate-specific antigen (PSA), PSA density, PIRADS 5, and percentage of PBx positive cores were associated with lower PPAT-ADC values. PPAT-ADC up to the median was an independent predictor for intermediate-high risk PCa (odds ratio: 3.24, 95%CI: 1.17-9.46, p = 0.026) after adjustment for age and body mass index. Conclusions: Lower PPAT-ADC values may be associated with higher biopsy ISUP grade group PCa and a higher percentage of PBx-positive cores. Higher-level studies are needed to confirm these preliminary results