Chapter Disegni di Cesare e Pietro Dandini dalla raccolta Dandini-Targioni Tozzetti

The essay concerns two drawings by the Florentine baroque painters Cesare and Pietro Dandini, coming from the Dandini-Targioni Tozzetti collection. The naturalist Giovanni Targioni Tozzetti (1712-1783), consort of Maria Brigida, daughter of Ottaviano Dandini, brought together the impressive set of drawings belonging to the Dandini family, which were divided into twenty volumes, probably dismembered in the Nineteenth century. The paper presents two drawings which belonged to that collection: a sheet in sanguine by Cesare Dandini depicting a male figure, and a drawing by Pier Dandini depicting The glory of Saint Verdiana, a preparatory study for an altarpiece that was part of a series of large canvases executed by Pier Dandini between 1706 and 1710 for the basilica of Santa Trinita in Florence

Mesoscale Building Blocks of Pedestrian Mobility: a Discrete Vector Field Approach

Treballs Finals de Màster en Física dels Sistemes Complexos i Biofísica, Facultat de Física, Universitat de Barcelona. Curs: 2022-2023. Tutors: Javier Borge-Holthoefer, Albert Solé-Ribalta, Josep Perelló PalouUnderstanding and characterising pedestrian mobility is crucial to develop sustainable cities. While classical statistical analysis and diffusion models are commonly used to analyze human trajectories either at the microscopic (e.g. sidewalk flows) or macroscopic scale (e.g. origindestination matrices), they may not be suitable for capturing the nuances and intricacies of mobility patterns at the mesoscale. To overcome these limitations, the problem is approached by leveraging on vector field theory with the aim to describe how the urban geometry and structure of sidewalk networks affect pedestrian mobility flows. Considering the particularities of pedestrian movement (e.g. limited travel range) the discrete- (DTRW) and continuous-time (CTRW) random walk dynamics have been implemented to retrieve a baseline agent-based net flow along the edges of pedestrian networks with a temporal budget of mobility. These flows are subsequently interpreted as discrete vector fields. The Helmholtz-Hodge decomposition (HHD) allows the partition of vector fields into three well-defined patterns: cyclic (solenoidal and harmonic) and divergent/convergent (gradient) components. Results show that when mobility is agnostic to edge lengths (DTRW), that is, when the time budget is spent equivalently along the edges (steps), high-density regions with larger degree nodes show attractiveness, as existing literature already describes. However, when the time budget is spent proportionally to the edge lengths (CTRWs), the same regions show a repulsive effect. Intermediate regimes arise as well in the continuum between these two processes. An analytical description of both DTRWs and CTRWs has been developed to accurately estimate the gradient components of the vector fields. However, the presented deterministic developments do not predict the presence of the cyclic components as they seem to emerge from the stochasticity of the process. To validate this idea, the variance of the cyclic component, or its mean squared flow (MSF), has been analysed. Results show that the MSF grows linearly with the temporal budget of the walkers. This behaviour is similar to the characteristic linear temporal evolution of the Mean-Squared Displacement (MSD) in random walks and Brownian motion. Ultimately, this work contributes to the existing description and understanding of the behaviour of different random walk dynamics on spatially embedded graphs, providing a baseline to understand and analyse pedestrian mobility on sidewalk networks in future works

TEM in the treatment of recurrent rectal cancer in elderly

INTRODUCTION: Transanal microscopic surgery is an important application of minimally invasive surgery of rectum, allowing realization of complex transanal intervention. PATIENTS AND METHODS: During the period between January 2002 and December 2010, seven patients, five men and two women, average age 75 years, with early rectal cancer recurrence were selected for this type of surgical palliative procedure. The selection of the patients is made by: transrectal ultrasonografy, colonoscopy and abdominal ultrasonografy, to rule out liver metastases, CT with and without enema, PET CT. Follow-up is approximately 12-30 months. RESULTS: The pathologic staging confirms the complete excision of recurrences. Then patients are referred for more complementary therapies. DISCUSSION: The significance of conservative treatment for local recurrence of rectum adenocarcinoma is still controversial because the recurrence is an expression of tumor spread not controlled by oncological surgical and radio/chemo therapy. CONCLUSION: In selected subjects such as the elderly, based on equal oncological treatment, the reduction of surgical trauma, preservation of anatomical integrity and resolution of symptoms are important results

TEM in the treatment of recurrent rectal cancer in the elderly

Articolo presente su PubMed Central. Surcerecord id Scopus 28558 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3194378/ Introduction.Transanal endoscopic microsurgery is a useful technique of minimally invasive surgery that allows the realization of complex interventions, from transanal excisions to full thickness resections with anastomotic reconstructions. TEM can have a diagnostic and therapeutic value in the elderly for the treatment of primary rectal cancer as well as for recurrences. Materials and methods.During the period between January 2002 and December 2009 six patients, average age of 66 years, four men and two women, with early diagnosed rectal cancer recurrence were selected to undergo this palliative surgical procedure. 3 men and 1 woman underwent "ultra-low anterior resection”, followed by chemo / radio therapy (T3N1M0); in one woman a TEM (T1NxM0) and in one old man the local escission was performed after neoadiuvant chemo/radio therapy (T2NxM0). The selection of the patients was made by: rigid sigmoidoscope, transrectal us, colonoscopy, abdominal us to rule out liver metastases, CT and MRI abdomen and pelvis with and without contrast agents, PET CT. In all patients the lesions were superficial, smaller than 2 cm and located at the posterior wall of the rectum. Results.Follow-up was approximately 12-28 months; the pathologic staging confirmed the complete excision of recurrences. Patients were then referred for more complementary therapies. Only one patient presented a retro rectal abscess treated with conservative techniques, too. Conclusions.The alternative to conservative surgery is an abdomino-perineal resection sec. Miles, but also this really invasive procedure can be considered palliative in the most part of recurrences. So, based on equal oncological results, the reduction of surgical trauma and preservation of anatomical integrity are really important goals

Numerical analysis of the pressure gradient driven MHD flow in magnetically confined plasma using OpenFOAM

Treballs Finals de Grau de Física, Facultat de Física, Universitat de Barcelona, Curs: 2022, Tutors: Shimpei Futatani, Assumpta ParreñoNumerical simulations of magnetohydrodinamical (MHD) flow of a magnetically confined plasma in a cylindrical geometry have been performed. The externally imposed magnetic field is formed in a helical configuration which is composed of axial and poloidal magnetic fields. The parametric scan of the magnetic fields shows that the intensity of the MHD instability is positively correlated with the intensity of the poloidal magnetic field. Furthermore, a preliminary study of the effects of a time-independent pressure profile in the velocity equation has been performed. The presence of the pressure-gradient term may make the plasma instability more comple

Comparazione dei metodi di valutazione della vulnerabilità costiera nella piana del Sele (Salerno).

La ricerca interdisciplinare degli ultimi 20 anni evidenzia il rischio da erosione che colpisce molte coste sottoposte ad arretramento e inondazione da parte delle azioni naturali. Le condizioni critiche di vulnerabilità costiera possono diventare più gravi in particolare nelle pianure costiere, che ospitano importanti centri urbani e industriali, infrastrutture e attività turistiche, spesso accoppiate con paesaggi tutelati e / o siti archeologici. Pertanto è necessaria una corretta valutazione della vulnerabilità costiera, tenendo conto sia della vulnerabilità da inondazioni costiere sia da erosione. In questo lavoro viene valutata la vulnerabilità da eventi meteomarini estremi della piana costiera del Sele (Salerno). La stima della vulnerabilità viene effettuata combinando sia l’erosione a breve termine che quella a lungo termine valutata attraverso una simulazione numerica delle onde e le caratteristiche morfo-sedimentarie della spiaggia. L'analisi dell’evoluzione costiera per effetto della tempesta è stata esaminata per mezzo di due indicatori, calcolati lungo un certo numero di profili di spiaggia realizzati tra il 2008 e il 2009: il wave run-up (come misura di inondazione costiera) e l’arretramento della spiaggia (come misura dell’erosione potenziale). Inoltre, l’evoluzione costiera a lungo termine è stata valutata attraverso i tassi di erosione derivati dal confronto di ortofoto in sequenze multi-temporali e multi-scala. I risultati sono stati espressi utilizzando diversi indici di vulnerabilità costiera, ottenuti sommando i punteggi relativi alla erosione a breve termine ea lungo termine. L'esame dei risultati finali ha evidenziato diverse risposte dei profili costieri in funzione dell’indice utilizzato

Laparoscopy in bilio-pancreatic surgery in elderly

Articolo presente su PubMed Central. Sourcerecord id Scopus 28558 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3194374/ Background.More minimally invasive techniques are currently available for the surgical oncologist in the optimal staging of biliopancreatic cancer. With the increased age of population we can see an increase of age-related diseases, such a cardiovascular disease, hypertension, arthritis and other malignancies. With the development of endoscopy, laparoscopy, ultrasonography and biopsy equipment, more minimally invasive techniques are currently available for the surgical oncologist to provide a better optimal diagnosis and strategy, followed by an appropriate surgical treatment of biliopancreatic cancer. Improvement in the diagnostic and surgical care of elderly cancer patients will have a final impact on disease and overall survival rates of the different types of cancer treatment. Materials and methods.We retrospectively reviewed the records of patients between January 2001 and December 2008 who had either a mass in the biliopancreatic area classified as clinically resectable. Tumours were considered to be resectable when there was no evidence of distant extra pancreatic disease or involvement of lymphnodes outside the classic margins of resections. Occlusion or encasement of the superior mesenteric artery or vein, celiac artery or portal vein were used as a criteria for unresectability. Twenty-eight patients over 65 and under 75 years (middle age 69) with primary biliopancreatic cancer were submitted to operations for potentially operative resection. In all cases staging laparoscopy was performed just prior to planned open exploration and resection. Results.Twenty seven patients underwent laparoscopy exploration for potential resection. Two of five patients (40%) with distal cholangiocarcinoma survived at 5 years after DCP. Eighteen patients (66.6%) had unresectable disease identified at laparoscopy and fourteen were able to convert to laparotomy palliative surgery while for the others laparoscopy spared an unnecessary laparotomy. In four patients it was possible to perform a laparoscopy palliative surgery. Conclusions.Laparoscopy may have a role in the staging of patients with biliopancreatic malignancies, in particular, for reduction of unnecessary exploratory laparotomy. Moreover, even in old age, duodenocephalopancreasectomy, properly planned and executed, resulted in reduction of operative mortality and morbility and a clear long-term survival

Sentinel node biopsy and radical lymph node dissection for advanced melanoma in the elderly

Articolo presente su PubMed Central. Sourcerecord Id Scopus: 28558 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3194399/ Background.The majority of indications for surgery in melanoma are for the treatment of primary tumor and lymph node metastases. During the last decade, the Sentinel Node Biopsy (SNB), from a research procedure, has become standard of care in most institutions. SNB is normally considered for patients with melanoma > 1 mm and generally about 20% are positive; however, the risk of a positive SNB in a melanoma < 1 mm is still 5%. Usually when SNB is positive a complete lymphadenectomy is performed. Materials and methods.In the period 2004-2009, 18 elderly patients (median age 68 years) affected by cutaneous melanoma (mean Breslow’s thickness = 3.77 mm), after SNB histologically confirmed regional lymph node involvement, underwent complete lymph node dissection (CLND). We treated 11 of them with groin dissection, in 3 cases bilateral; 4 patients underwent axillar dissection, in one case bilateral; 2 patients underwent neck dissection and another patient underwent groin-axillar dissection. We treated bilateral groin involvement with laparoscopic access for dissection of lumbar-aortic, iliac and obturator lymph nodes. Results.Disagreeing with literature, 12/18 (67%) of these patients had positive lymph nodes, a high percentage if compared with younger patients’ data. Currently the average follow-up is 25 months. In our sample CLND has a crucial prognostic role (16% vs 41% of deceased in CLND – and CLND + patients respectively). Conclusions.Elderly melanoma patients are characterized by a higher tumor stage and, in patients with nodal metastases, the prognosis is independently affected by older age. In case of positive SNB the CLND plays a notable prognostic role and a presumable therapeutic role