Integrated surveying for the archaeological documentation of a neolithic site

It has been tested the applicability of integrated surveys (remote sensing, digital photogrammetry and terrestrial laser scanning (TLS)) in order to verify, through gradual and successive steps, how geomatic techniques can get 3D results with metric value combined with a quality content for an archaeological site. In particular, the data have been collected during the excavation campaign of Neolithic archaeological site in Taranto. The possibilities to scan articulated forms, in the presence of curve, concavity and convexity, and jutting parts rotate, characterized by alterations, through the acquisition of a dense points cloud makes the technique TLS needed in archaeology. Through the photogrammetric technique the laser data has been integrated concerning some details found on the site for which it has been required a higher degree of detail. The photogrammetric data has been acquired with the calibrated camera. The processing of the acquired data and their integration has been made possible to study an important archeological site, in its totality, from small scale (general site framework) to large scale (3D model with a high degree of detail) and to structure a multi-temporal database for simplified data management

UAV Photogrammetry and 3D Modelling of Complex Architecture for Maintenance Purposes: the Case Study of the Masonry Bridge on the Sele River, Italy

The aim of this paper is to identify a suitable methodology to realize, in an easy and quick way, 3D models of complex structures. To achieve this aim, the first step is to build the 3D model of the scene under investigation using photogrammetric modelling. This task was carried out by the use of algorithms based on Structure from Motion (SfM) - Multi View Stereo (MVS) approaches and using camera-generated images supplied in the UAS (Unmanned Aerial system). Once built the 3D point cloud of the structure under investigation, the geometry of each element was reconstructed with 3D profile reconstruction using Rhinoceros software and a few plug-ins developed in this software. Indeed, this paper shows, through a case study of a masonry bridge of special architectural and historic value built in the middle of 1800s and located in the south of Italy, the potential of the method developed in order to manage a maintenance or restoration project

QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE EVALUATION OF THE LUMINANCE OF LASER SCANNER RADIATION FOR THE CLASSIFICATION OF MATERIALS

The main aim of this experimentation is the evaluation of potentialities of terrestrial laser scanner technology to carry-out, beyond topographic and morphological detection, non-invasive materic analysis of the scanned objects, with the prospective to evaluate the conservation of historical landmarks and cultural heritage of which Italy is the world leading country. Coherent lasers in the visible light range may lead to optical diffraction phenomena thus allowing for structural investigation and chemical analysis of the scanned objects. Application of LST in the visible range (λ = 585 nm) to a set of solid samples commonly applied in the construction (building) industry, differing in the crystallinity of their respective lattice, led to the following conclusions: a linear correlation has been established between degree of crystallization of solids and returning luminance of lasers after diffraction onto the solids surface; Gauss distribution of luminance data from diffraction onto less crystalline (plastics, glass) materials has been much narrow than more crystalline ones (metals, alloys, plasters). Both findings confirm that laser diffraction methods may be applied for fast materic determinations after simple LST scanning of solid samples. Bragg modeling of data, extensively applied for Xray diffraction methods (XRD), may be truly co-opted to Laser Scanning

Integrated survey for the reconstruction of the Papal Basilica and the Sacred Convent of St. Francis in Assisi, Italy

The Papal Basilica and the Sacred Convent of Saint Francis in Assisi in Italy are characterized by unique and composite particularities that need an exhaustive knowledge of the sites themselves to guarantee visitor's security and safety, considering all the people and personnel normally present in the site, visitors with disabilities and finally the needs for cultural heritage preservation and protection. This aim can be reached using integrated systems and innovative technologies, such as Internet of Everything (IoE), which can connect people, things (smart sensors, devices and actuators; mobile terminals; wearable devices; etc.), data/information/knowledge and processes to reach the wanted objectives. The IoE system must implement and support an Integrated Multidisciplinary Model for Security and Safety Management (IMMSSM) for the specific context, using a multidisciplinary approach. The purpose of the paper is to illustrate the integrated survey for the reconstruction of the considered site that was necessary to obtain all the necessary information to start to set up the considered IMMSSM and the related IoE based technological system

Using optical satellite and aerial imagery for automatic coastline mapping

The continuous availability and rapid accessibility to multispectral data from satellite platforms within the Copernicus Programme represents a great opportunity for users in different fields of applications as: Agriculture, observation of coastal zones, monitoring land cover change. The aim of this paper is to identify a suitable method to map coastline using Sentinel-2 optical satellite image. The method provides the use of two indexes developed in remote sensing field for water environment: NDWI (Normalized difference water index) and MNDWI (Modified Normalized difference water index). Starting from the construction of maps of these indexes and, identifying appropriate threshold values, it has been possible to extrapolate the coastline. The coastlines derived from the use of the NDWI and MNDWI index were compared with a coastline obtained from the photointerpretation of a very high resolution orthophoto obtained through photogrammetric techniques. The results show that it is possible to map the coastline automatically and quickly with an intrinsic accuracy close to the geometric resolution bands of Sentinel-2 satellite images

Safety of Rotavirus Vaccination in Preterm Infants Admitted in Neonatal Intensive Care Units in Sicily, Italy: A Multicenter Observational Study

Rotavirus (RV) is among the most common vaccine-preventable diseases in children under five years of age. Despite the severity of rotavirus pathology in early childhood, rotavirus vaccination for children admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), who are often born preterm and with various previous illnesses, is not performed. This multicenter, 3-year project aims to evaluate the safety of RV vaccine administration within the six main neonatal intensive care units of the Sicilian Region to preterm infants. Methods: Monovalent live attenuated anti-RV vaccination (RV1) was administered from April 2018 to December 2019 to preterm infants with gestational age ≥ 28 weeks. Vaccine administrations were performed in both inpatient and outpatient hospital settings as a post discharge follow-up (NICU setting) starting at 6 weeks of age according to the official immunization schedule. Any adverse events (expected, unexpected, and serious) were monitored from vaccine administration up to 14 days (first assessment) and 28 days (second assessment) after each of the two scheduled vaccine doses. Results: At the end of December 2019, 449 preterm infants were vaccinated with both doses of rotavirus vaccine within the six participating Sicilian NICUs. Mean gestational age in weeks was 33.1 (±3.8 SD) and the first dose of RV vaccine was administered at 55 days (±12.9 SD) on average. The mean weight at the first dose was 3388 (SD ± 903) grams. Only 0.6% and 0.2% of infants reported abdominal colic and fever above 38.5 ◦C in the 14 days after the first dose, respectively. Overall, 1.9% EAEs were observed at 14 days and 0.4% at 28 days after the first/second dose administration. Conclusions: Data obtained from this study confirm the safety of the monovalent rotavirus vaccine even in preterm infants with gestational age ≥ 28 weeks, presenting an opportunity to improve the vaccination offer both in Sicily and in Italy by protecting the most fragile infants who are more at risk of contracting severe rotavirus gastroenteritis and nosocomial RV infection

Serum Albumin Is Inversely Associated With Portal Vein Thrombosis in Cirrhosis

We analyzed whether serum albumin is independently associated with portal vein thrombosis (PVT) in liver cirrhosis (LC) and if a biologic plausibility exists. This study was divided into three parts. In part 1 (retrospective analysis), 753 consecutive patients with LC with ultrasound-detected PVT were retrospectively analyzed. In part 2, 112 patients with LC and 56 matched controls were entered in the cross-sectional study. In part 3, 5 patients with cirrhosis were entered in the in vivo study and 4 healthy subjects (HSs) were entered in the in vitro study to explore if albumin may affect platelet activation by modulating oxidative stress. In the 753 patients with LC, the prevalence of PVT was 16.7%; logistic analysis showed that only age (odds ratio [OR], 1.024; P = 0.012) and serum albumin (OR, -0.422; P = 0.0001) significantly predicted patients with PVT. Analyzing the 112 patients with LC and controls, soluble clusters of differentiation (CD)40-ligand (P = 0.0238), soluble Nox2-derived peptide (sNox2-dp; P < 0.0001), and urinary excretion of isoprostanes (P = 0.0078) were higher in patients with LC. In LC, albumin was correlated with sCD4OL (Spearman's rank correlation coefficient [r(s)], -0.33; P < 0.001), sNox2-dp (r(s), -0.57; P < 0.0001), and urinary excretion of isoprostanes (r(s), -0.48; P < 0.0001) levels. The in vivo study showed a progressive decrease in platelet aggregation, sNox2-dp, and urinary 8-iso prostaglandin F2 alpha-III formation 2 hours and 3 days after albumin infusion. Finally, platelet aggregation, sNox2-dp, and isoprostane formation significantly decreased in platelets from HSs incubated with scalar concentrations of albumin. Conclusion: Low serum albumin in LC is associated with PVT, suggesting that albumin could be a modulator of the hemostatic system through interference with mechanisms regulating platelet activation

Determinazione dell'ondulazione geoidica a livello locale con metodologia GPS e gravimetrica

Dottorato di ricerca in scienze geodetiche e topografiche 12. Ciclo. Coordinatore Antonio Pugliano. Tutore Mauro CaprioliConsiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche - Biblioteca Centrale - P.le Aldo Moro, 7, Rome; Biblioteca Nazionale Centrale - P.za Cavalleggeri, 1, Florence / CNR - Consiglio Nazionale delle RichercheSIGLEITItal

EVALUATION OF REFLECTANCE FOR BUILDING MATERIALS CLASSIFICATION WITH TERRESTRIAL LASER SCANNER RADIATION

The main purpose of this work is the evaluation of the potential of Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS) technology to perform a reflectance analysis of scanned objects. A laser beam, having a coherent beam in the field of visible light (wavelength between 532nm and 680 nm), can lead to optical diffraction phenomena that allow a correlation between the degree of crystallinity of solids (in particular dispersed crystalline materials) and its reflectivity. Different materials with known crystallinity values have been examined and the diffraction value has been analysed for two types of lasers, one pulsed and the other phase measurement, with two different acquisition conditions (nadiral and oblique position). The results demonstrated the correlation by verifying that the incident laser light beam is more refracted by materials with a higher degree of crystallinity than less crystalline or amorphous materials

Monossido di Carbonio: effetti sulla modulazione della risposta infiammatoria in un modello in vitro di attivazione di monociti umani

Il monossido di carbonio (CO) è un gas conosciuto in particolare per il suo effetto tossico, dovuto alla capacità di competere con l’ossigeno per il legame con l’emoglobina. All’interno dell’organismo, il CO viene prodotto a opera dell’enzima Eme Ossidasi (HO), responsabile di circa lo 86% della sua produzione in condizioni fisiologiche. Esistono tre isoforme di HO, due costitutivamente espresse (HO2 e HO3) e una inducibile in condizioni di stress (HO1). All’interno delle cellule HO catalizza la reazione necessaria per la degradazione dell’eme attraverso l’apertura dell’anello tetrapirrolico con conseguente rilascio di ferro, CO e biliverdina. Il ruolo fisiologico del CO endogeno è quasi del tutto sconosciuto. Negli ultimi anni è stata proposta l’ipotesi che il CO a concentrazioni fisiologiche sia in grado di inibire la produzione di alcune citochine infiammatorie (es. TNF-α) e di aumentare la produzione di altre anti-infiammatorie (es. IL-10), ponendosi dunque come un regolatore endogeno delle risposte infiammatorie di difesa. Lo scopo del lavoro di tesi è stato quello di valutare gli effetti modulatori del CO sulla risposta infiammatoria in un particolare modello sperimentale basato su monociti umani, principali protagonisti della risposta infiammatoria. Questo particolare modello, già messo a punto precedentemente nel nostro laboratorio, si ripropone di ricostruire in vitro tutte le fasi del processo infiammatorio, dall’innesco da parte di un patogeno alla sua risoluzione. I monociti vengono sottoposti a una sequenza temporale di opportuni stimoli che riproduce in coltura il microambiente che li circonda in vivo e che è responsabile della loro attivazione. L’effetto del CO è stato valutato riproducendo le diverse fasi della reazione infiammatoria in presenza di composti di sintesi capaci di rilasciare CO in soluzione, denominati CORM (Carbon Monoxide Releasing Molecule). Come controllo è stato usato desametasone, un farmaco anti-infiammatorio di provata efficacia. A diversi tempi durante lo sviluppo della reazione infiammatoria sono stati prelevati campioni di cellule e supernatanti per l’analisi della variazioni della espressione genica (real-time PCR) e della produzione proteica (ELISA, Proteome Profile Antibody Array) delle principali citochine infiammatorie. In particolare è stato valutato il comportamento dei membri della famiglia delle citochine IL-1 e loro recettori. Tali molecole sono implicate nella risposta infiammatoria e anti-infiammatoria sia di difesa che patologica nelle malattie infiammatorie croniche e autoimmuni, come l’Artrite Reumatoide, la Sclerosi Multipla e il Lupus Eritematoso Sistemico. Lo scopo ultimo è quello di sfruttare la capacità del CO di regolare la risposta infiammatoria per proporre nuove strategie di inibizione dell’infiammazione nelle malattie infiammatorie croniche e autoimmuni