Torre Astura tra passato e presente. Memoria e attualità di un paesaggio storico

La ricerca si è focalizzata sulle architetture, di straordinaria rilevanza storico-artistica, situate all’interno dell’area di Torre Astura; tra queste, oltre alla fortificazione di origine medievale – da cui prende il nome l’intero sito – anche gli edifici ad essa strettamente relazionati, in primo luogo la cosiddetta ‘Finanziera’, un casino di caccia costruito dai Borghese nel 1932 laddove un tempo sorgeva la seicentesca chiesa della SS. Annunziata, distrutta o comunque abbandonata in tale occasione e oggi scomparsa. Il valore storico e l’interesse scientifico per questo sito pluristratificato sono evidenti e anche avvalendosi della disponibilità offerta dalle autorità militari a consentire l’accesso alle aree normalmente interdette, il gruppo di ricerca si prefigge di realizzare uno studio complessivo e interdisciplinare, supportato da rilievi accurati delle strutture murarie e architettoniche. Uno studio che, nel riorganizzare e comparare quanto finora emerso, tanto in ambito archeologico quanto in quello architettonico, approfondisca, sviluppi e completi le conoscenze su alcuni aspetti ad oggi poco approfonditi o addirittura trascurati. La ricerca mira inoltre a delineare alcune strategie per la valorizzazione dell’area, nell’intento di far convivere le necessità di sicurezza militari con quelle di una fruizione, controllata e consapevole, da parte del pubblico, di un sito di straordinario interesse storico e ambientale

Storia, disegno e restauro nei materiali d’archivio. Un patrimonio da gestire e condividere

Il patrimonio documentario – grafico e fotografico –frutto delle attività didattiche e di ricerca svolte nelle Facoltà di Architettura e Ingegneria italiane, è stato negli ultimi anni valorizzato attraverso progetti di catalogazione e diffusione in rete. All’interno del Dipartimento di Storia Disegno e Restauro dell’Architettura della “Sapienza” i progetti di catalogazione e di digitalizzazione dei materiali sono stati avviati alla fine degli anni Novanta del secolo scorso e si sono sviluppati, nel tempo, adattandosi da un lato alle mutate esigenze dell’utenza, dall’altro alle diverse possibilità offerte dalle nuove tecnologie. Tra le finalità quella di comunicare verso l’esterno i prodotti della ricerca e della didattica e di conseguenza valorizzare il patrimonio legato alla fondazione e allo sviluppo della Scuola Superiore di Architettura e poi della Facoltà di Architettura. Il complesso documentario conservato, un patrimonio costituito da oltre 40.000 disegni e 25.000 immagini, raccolti a partire dagli anni Quaranta del secolo scorso, riveste una notevole importanza in termini di conoscenza e di testimonianza storica, non solo con riferimento agli edifici analizzati. Di moltissimi edifici e complessi monumentali si conservano infatti rilievi, fotografie, analisi e mappature ormai piuttosto datati, che aiutano a ricostruire fasi significative della loro vita costruttiva. Attraverso i disegni è però anche possibile riflettere sui mutamenti, avvenuti nel corso degli anni, nella didattica delle tre discipline – storia, disegno e restauro - all’interno della nostra Facoltà.During recent years, the outcomes of research and didactic activities regarding documentary heritage – graphic and photographic – in Italian faculties of Architecture and Engineering has been widely appreciated thanks to cataloguing projects and web sharing. At Sapienza University’s Department of History, Representation and Restoration of Architecture, cataloguing and digitisation projects began in the late ’90s. Since then, they have adapted to both the changes in user demands and the potential offered by new technologies. The main purpose is to share research and didactic results and increase the value of our heritage, from the foundation of the Scuola Superiore di Architettura up to the Faculty of architecture. This rich documentary asset – which boasts over 40,000 sketches and 25,000 images, collected since the 1940s – is particularly important due to the knowledge and historical evidence found there. Old measurements, pictures, analyses and maps of many buildings and monuments help us to study their evolution over the years. The sketches also make it possible to consider the changes in the way three disciplines of our faculty – history, representation and restoration – are taught

Italy and Spain: twenty-five years of drawing

[EN] Big ideas are often inspired by small events. Everything began when Gaspare De Fiore and I met in Rome in the late fifties and Emma Mandelli and Angela Garcia Codoñer met in Florence in the eighties. My meeting with Gaspare De Fiore led to the creation of the Italian Union of Drawing (UID) in 1980; our intention was to strengthen and develop scientific research on Drawing in Italian universities. Instead the meeting between Emma and Angela led to Angela’s involvement in Drawing in Italy and the creation of the Spanish association of teachers, Expresión Gráfica Arquitectónica (EGA), the Spanish counterpart of UID. A slight, wobbly pencil mark that gradually became steadier and more pronounced, tackling and developing research in the field of the science of representation. Impressed on paper for more than twenty-five years, the pencil mark has explored the various thematic areas of Drawing.[IT] Le grandi idee nascono sovente da piccoli avvenimenti. Tutto risale agli incontri tra chi scrive e Gaspare De Fiore a Roma sul finire degli anni Cinquanta e tra Emma Mandelli e Angela Garcia Codoñer a Firenze negli anni Ottanta. Dal primo nel 1980 è scaturita la nascita dell’UID, l’Unione Italiana Disegno, con l’intento di rafforzare e sviluppare la ricerca scientifica del Disegno nelle università italiane, mentre dal secondo ha avuto origine il rapporto tra Angela e il Disegno italiano, da cui è nata l’EGA, associazione spagnola dei docenti di Expresión Gráfica Arquitectónica, che costituisce il simmetrico dell’UID. Un segno sottile e incerto, che via via si è fatto sempre più sicuro e deciso, affrontando e sviluppando la ricerca nel campo della scienza della rappresentazione, che si è impresso sulla carta nel corso di oltre venticinque anni, investigando nelle diverse aree tematiche del Disegno.Docci, M. (2018). Un disegno lungo 25 anni tra Italia e Spagna. EGA. Revista de Expresión Gráfica Arquitectónica. 23(34):194-205. doi:10.4995/ega.2018.11015SWORD194205233

Il sistema degli antichi mulini ad acqua nell’alto Lazio. Conoscenza, documentazione e valorizzazione

L’industria agraria ha svolto un ruolo fondamentale nella storia dell’economia laziale, in particolare la lavorazione dell’olio ha costituito uno dei sistemi portanti del territorio sabino fin da epoca molta antica, mentre la macinatura delle granaglie, realizzata per lo più tramite mulini ad acqua, era diffusa capillarmente tramite una rete di piccoli opifici dislocati nel territorio ma anche all’interno dei centri urbani. Tale patrimonio, di notevole interesse storico-culturale comprende una vasta gamma di beni materiali e immateriali relativi alla trasformazione dei prodotti agricoli, di cui le architetture e i pochi resti di macchinari ancora sopravvissuti al decadimento e alla distruzione, costituiscono le testimonianze più evidenti. La ricerca si è posta alcuni obiettivi particolari che, nell’insieme, confluiscono nell’obiettivo generale della proposizione di metodi e strumenti per la conservazione e la valorizzazione di questi particolari edifici. Un processo che, muovendo dalla conoscenza approfondita e dalla comprensione dei luoghi, degli edifici e dei processi produttivi che in questi si svolgevano, porti alla realizzazione di progetti che sappiano rileggerne e reinterpretarne la storia, attraverso forme e contenuti compatibili. Nello specifico le indagini e i sopralluoghi sul territorio del Lazio settentrionale hanno portato all’individuazione e al censimento di oltre settanta mulini situati nelle provincie di Roma, Viterbo e Rieti, all’interno di tre aree geografiche che fanno riferimento ai bacini fluviali lungo i quali si attesta la maggior parte dei manufatti (ad ovest il torrente Mignone; al centro il fiume Arrone; ad est, infine, i fiumi Velino e Farfa e il fosso Corese); sono stati quindi selezionati alcuni esempi paradigmatici, sui quali sono stati compiuti studi più approfonditi e redatte delle schede descrittive accompagnate da foto e da grafici di rilievo e di conoscenza

Reverse-engineering of architectural buildings based on an hybrid modeling approach

We thank MENSI and REALVIZ companies for their helpful comments and the following people for providing us images from their works: Francesca De Domenico (Fig. 1), Kyung-Tae Kim (Fig. 9). The CMN (French national center of patrimony buildings) is also acknowledged for the opportunity given to demonstrate our approach on the Hotel de Sully in Paris. We thank Tudor Driscu for his help on the English translation.This article presents a set of theoretical reflections and technical demonstrations that constitute a new methodological base for the architectural surveying and representation using computer graphics techniques. The problem we treated relates to three distinct concerns: the surveying of architectural objects, the construction and the semantic enrichment of their geometrical models, and their handling for the extraction of dimensional information. A hybrid approach to 3D reconstruction is described. This new approach combines range-based modeling and image-based modeling techniques; it integrates the concept of architectural feature-based modeling. To develop this concept set up a first process of extraction and formalization of architectural knowledge based on the analysis of architectural treaties is carried on. Then, the identified features are used to produce a template shape library. Finally the problem of the overall model structure and organization is addressed

The Colon Theater in Buenos Aires and its architectural representation: from the academic age to the digital era

Esta contribución es una investigación en el campo de la historia de la representación arquitectónica, ampliamente analizada pero no confrontada en un solo estudio de caso. Para ello, analizamos y realizamos un estudio comparativo de las representaciones arquitectónicas realizadas entre 1892 y 2003 para el Teatro Colón, identificando su relación con tres paradigmas representacionales sucesivos - académico, moderno y digital - y estudiando la conceptualización y los valores de los resultados gráficos. Como conclusiones, los practicantes de la era digital necesitan aprender habilidades de la edad académica para enriquecer sus recursos digitales.This contribution is a research into the field of architectural representation’s history, widely analyzed but not confronted in a single case study. For this purpose, on analyze and make a comparative study from the architectural representations, made between 1892 and 2003 for the Colon Theater, identifying its relationship with three successive representational paradigms - academic, modern and digital - and studying the conceptualization and values of the graphic results. As conclusions, the practitioners from the digital era need to learn skills from academic age to enrich their digital resources.Facultad de Arquitectura y Urbanism

Pharmacological profile of mephedrone analogs and related new psychoactive substances

Mephedrone is a synthetic cathinone and one of the most popular recreationally used new psychoactive substances. The aim of the present study was to characterize the in vitro pharmacology of novel analogs of mephedrone and related newly emerged designer stimulants.; We determined norepinephrine, dopamine, and serotonin transporter inhibition potencies and monoamine release in transporter-transfected human embryonic kidney 293 cells. We also assessed monoamine receptor and transporter binding affinities.; Mephedrone analogs potently inhibited the norepinephrine transporter and, with the exception of 3-methylmethcathinone (3-MMC), inhibited the serotonin transporter more potently than the dopamine transporter. Similar to classic amphetamines, mephedrone analogs were substrate-type monoamine releasers. 5-(2-Aminopropyl)indole (5-IT) was a highly potent monoamine transporter inhibitor and a releaser of dopamine and serotonin. 4-Methylamphetamine (4-MA) mediated efflux of all three monoamines and inhibited the serotonin transporter more potently than the dopamine transporter, unlike amphetamine. N-methyl-2-aminoindane (N-methyl-2-AI) was a selective norepinephrine transporter inhibitor and norepinephrine releaser, whereas 5-methoxy-6-methyl-2-aminoindane (MMAI) was a selective serotonin transporter inhibitor and serotonin releaser. All of the drugs interacted with monoamine receptors.; The predominant actions on serotonin vs. dopamine transporters suggest that dimethylmethcathinones, 4-MA, and MMAI cause entactogenic effects similar to 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, whereas 3-MMC, 5-IT, and N-methyl-2-AI have more stimulant-type properties like amphetamine. Because of pharmacological and structural similarity to mephedrone, similar health risks can be expected for these analogs

Association of kidney function with inflammatory and procoagulant markers in a diverse cohort: A cross-sectional analysis from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA)

Background: Prior studies using creatinine-based estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) have found limited associations between kidney function and markers of inflammation. Using eGFR and cystatin C, a novel marker of kidney function, the authors investigated the association of kidney function with multiple biomarkers in a diverse cohort. Methods: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis consists of 6,814 participants of white, African-American, Hispanic, and Chinese descent, enrolled from 2000-2002 from six U.S. communities. Measurements at the enrollment visit included serum creatinine, cystatin C, and six inflammatory and procoagulant biomarkers. Creatinine-based eGFR was estimated using the fourvariable Modification of Diet in Renal Disease equation, and chronic kidney disease was defined by an eGFR less than 60 mL/min/1.73 m2. Results: Adjusted partial correlations between cystatin C and all biomarkers were statistically significant: C-reactive protein (r = 0.08), interleukin-6 (r = 0.16), tumor necrosis factor-a soluble receptor 1 (TNF-aR1; r = 0.75), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (r = 0.21), fibrinogen (r = 0.14), and factor VIII (r = 0.11; two-sided p less than 0.01 for all). In participants without chronic kidney disease, higher creatinine-based eGFR was associated only with higher TNF-aR1 levels. Conclusion: In a cohort characterized by ethnic diversity, cystatin C was directly associated with multiple procoagulant and inflammatory markers. Creatinine-based eGFR had similar associations with these biomarkers among subjects with chronic kidney disease.This research was supported by contracts N01-HC-95159 through N01-HC-95169 from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)

Validation and Optimization of In Vitro Hepatocyte Systems and Physiologically Based Pharmacokinetic Modelling for Translation of Drug Metabolism to Human

In the last few decades, great strides were made in predicting pharmacokinetic drug properties to reduce attrition rates of drug projects in the clinical phase due to unfavorable pharmacokinetic characteristics. Nonetheless, capability gaps still remained and emerged during the past years. Optimization of the metabolic stability of drugs to avoid metabolism by the cytochrome P450 enzymes led to increasing relevance of alternative drug metabolizing enzymes and routes of clearances. On a related note, the importance of UDP-glucuronosyltransferases as metabolizing enzymes for new chemical entities increased, which formed the challenge of determining and translating the metabolism of a less well-established enzyme family. Furthermore, novel in silico and in vitro test systems are constantly adopted in the pharmaceutical industry with the promise to improve the quality of the pre-clinical data, whereas the systems must be fundamentally evaluated and assessed before routine application during the drug development. The aims of the PhD project was to address current capability gaps to enhance the confidence in the prediction of human clearance and to evaluate a novel in vitro hepatocyte system. We investigated the translatability of UGT-mediated drug clearance by using a promising hepatocyte co-culture and physiologically based pharmacokinetic modelling and simulation. In addition, we aimed to advance the adoption of novel in vitro hepatocyte system that potentially offers new capabilities of determining more complex research questions during the drug development. These studies resulted in three published manuscript and in one on-going work that is planned to be finalized and submitted in the near future: 1. In Vitro to In Vivo Extrapolation of Metabolic Clearance for UGT Substrates Using Short-Term Suspension and Long-Term Co-Cultured Human Hepatocytes 2. Construction and Verification of Physiologically Based Pharmacokinetic Models for Four Drugs Majorly Cleared by Glucuronidation: Lorazepam, Oxazepam, Naloxone, and Zidovudine 3. Application of New Cellular and Microphysiological Systems to Drug Metabolism Optimization and Their Positioning Respective to In Silico Tools 4. Optimization of a Liver-on-Chip System for DMPK Application and Combination with Modelling and Simulation We demonstrated for the first time that an improvement is achieved upon the application of a hepatocyte co-culture for the in vitro to in vivo extrapolation of metabolic clearance. We could further identify and discuss current limitations for physiologically based pharmacokinetic modelling and simulation based on well-constructed models. With the review, we reported the state of the art for the application of conventional and more advanced hepatocyte systems as parts of the value chain during drug development in relation to computational approaches. Finally, we evaluated a microphysiological system (i.e. liver-on-chip device) for the application of DMPK determination. Overall, the studies have a positive impact on the decision-making process during the pre-clinical drug development and increase the confidence in the application of the hepatocyte co-culture and PBPK modelling for UGT substrates. To the structure of the thesis: The introduction will familiarize the reader to the elements that were key to the PhD program: metabolic clearance and factors affecting the drug metabolizing enzymes, in vitro hepatocyte systems for the determination of DMPK properties, and physiologically based pharmacokinetic modelling (i.e. computational approaches) and its relevance in the pharmaceutical industry. The introduction will further highlight the current gaps and limitations that exist in the field and elaborates on the outline and plans of the studies conducted during the project. The results section contains the manuscripts that report the core studies conducted in the past three years. Finally, the “Summary and Future Investigations” section papers summarizes the work with an emphasis on the impact of the studies for the pharmaceutical industry and complements the thesis with next investigations that should be conducted in order to extend the work

Il castello di Itri

L'articolo presenta le prime indagini ed in particolare il rilievo (topografico, diretto e in parte fotogrammetrico) del castello di Itri, realizzato in vista del consolidamento e del restauro della struttura fortificata