Analysis of building vulnerability and firebrand exposure to mitigate wildfire damage

Wildfire intensity and resulting damage to communities and infrastructure is increasing worldwide; this thesis investigates the vulnerability of wildland-urban interface (WUI) buildings to wildfires, focusing on firebrand exposure. The research objective is to improve understanding of wildfire damage mechanisms to aid effective risk reduction practices. A comprehensive literature review establishes the need for quantitative building vulnerability assessments and advanced understanding of firebrand deposition and accumulation around solid obstacles. To address these needs, a statistical analysis on two large wildfire damage databases from Portugal and California is conducted to investigate the relationship between building design and damage extent. The results contribute to the development of a preliminary building resistance index (WRI) to assess building vulnerability to wildfire damage. The thesis progresses to characterise the feasibility of using the Fire Dynamics Simulator (FDS) to simulate firebrand creep movement and accumulation around solid obstacles. A sensitivity analysis quantifies the impact of input parameters on final particle position, revealing a relationship between sensitivity and the Tachikawa number, which describes the aerodynamic properties of simulated particles. A comparison between two FDS Lagrangian Particle model modalities assesses their efficacy in simulating firebrand accumulation based on previously published experimental results. The analysis explain the connection between particulate transport physical mechanisms and the effective operational FDS use for simulating wildfire firebrand exposure. FDS simulations are subsequently conducted to identify regions of firebrand contact exposure, connected to firebrand ignition hazard, around three different obstacles mimicking common building components. Results characterize the combined influence of wind speed and obstacle geometry on firebrand contact exposure. Finally, the applicability of established sand protection measures to protect infrastructure from firebrands is explored by reviewing literature and conducting exploratory FDS simulations. The effectiveness of a trench protection measure to inhibit firebrand accumulation on an infrastructure component is investigated, indicating its potential when combined with contextual information on infrastructure design and ambient conditions.Open Acces

Occurrence, seasonal variations and removal of Organic Micropollutants in 76 Wastewater Treatment Plants

The present study shows the results of an experimental survey conducted over 34 months on 76 full-scale Wastewater Treatment Plants located in central Italy with the aim to determine the influent and effluent concentrations of 13 Organic Micropollutants belonging to the class of illicit drugs, pharmaceuticals and steroids. The survey focused on a large set of plants differing for the main characteristics (e.g. treatment capacity, type of lay-out). Based on the values measured in the influent and effluent, removal efficiency of each contaminant in each plant was also determined, as well as the seasonal variation of the influent concentration. Among the monitored pollutants, some illicit drugs (i.e. Benzoylecgonine, 11-nor-carboxy-Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol) and Ketoprofen showed the highest concentrations in the influent and were also the most frequently detected in the wastewater; nonetheless, the plants were capable of removing these pollutants at high extent (median removal value of 70 %, 65 % and 74 %, respectively). On the other side, steroid concentrations were in most cases under the detection limits. About the type of lay-out, the comparison of the efficiency obtained by the different plants showed that combination of secondary and tertiary treatment provides the best removal for most of the target Organic Micropollutants

A global outlook on increasing wildfire risk:current policy situation and future pathways

International audienc

Fabry-Stroke Italian Registry (FSIR): a nationwide, prospective, observational study about incidence and characteristics of Fabry-related stroke in young-adults. Presentation of the study protocol

TIA and stroke, both ischemic and hemorrhagic, may complicate Fabry disease at young-adult age and be the first manifestation that comes to the clinician's attention. No definite indications have yet been elaborated to guide neurologists in Fabry disease diagnostics. In current practice, it is usually sought in case of cryptogenic strokes (while Fabry-related strokes can also occur by classical pathogenic mechanisms) or through screening programs in young cerebrovascular populations. Data on recurrence and secondary prevention of Fabry's stroke are scanty

Prevalence of Fabry disease and GLA variants in young patients with acute stroke: The challenge to widen the screening. The Fabry-Stroke Italian Registry

Background: Fabry disease (FD) is a treatable X-linked lysosomal storage disorder caused by GLA gene variants leading to alpha-galactosidase A deficiency. FD is a rare cause of stroke, and it is still controversial whether in stroke patients FD should be searched from the beginning or at the end of the diagnostic workup (in cryptogenic strokes). Methods: Fabry-Stroke Italian Registry is a prospective, multicentric screening involving 33 stroke units. FD was sought by measuring α-galactosidase A activity (males) and by genetic tests (males with reduced enzyme activity and females) in patients aged 18-60 years hospitalized for TIA, ischemic stroke, or intracerebral hemorrhage. We diagnosed FD in patients with 1) already known pathogenic GLA variants; 2) novel GLA variants if additional clinical, laboratory, or family-derived criteria were present. Results: Out of 1906 patients, we found a GLA variant in 15 (0.79%; 95%CI 0.44-1.29) with a certain FD diagnosis in 3 (0.16%; 95%CI 0.03-0.46) patients, none of whom had hemorrhage. We identified 1 novel pathogenic GLA variant. Ischemic stroke etiologies in carriers of GLA variants were: cardioaortic embolism (33%), small artery occlusion (27%), other causes (20%), and undetermined (20%). Mild severity, recurrence, previous TIA, acroparesthesias, hearing loss, and small artery occlusion were predictors of GLA variant. Conclusion: In this large multicenter cohort the frequency of FD and GLA variants was consistent with previous reports. Limiting the screening for GLA variants to patients with cryptogenic stroke may miss up to 80% of diagnoses. Some easily recognizable clinical features could help select patients for FD screening

Risk of Guillain-Barr\ue9 syndrome after 2010-2011 influenza vaccination

Influenza vaccination has been implicated in Guillain Barr\ue9 Syndrome (GBS) although the evidence for this link is controversial. A case-control study was conducted between October 2010 and May 2011 in seven Italian Regions to explore the relation between influenza vaccination and GBS. The study included 176 GBS incident cases aged 6518 years from 86 neurological centers. Controls were selected among patients admitted for acute conditions to the Emergency Department of the same hospital as cases. Each control was matched to a case by sex, age, Region and admission date. Two different analyses were conducted: a matched case-control analysis and a self-controlled case series analysis (SCCS). Case-control analysis included 140 cases matched to 308 controls. The adjusted matched odds ratio (OR) for GBS occurrence within 6 weeks after influenza vaccination was 3.8 (95 % CI: 1.3, 10.5). A much stronger association with gastrointestinal infections (OR = 23.8; 95 % CI 7.3, 77.6) and influenza-like illness or upper respiratory tract infections (OR = 11.5; 95 % CI 5.6, 23.5) was highlighted. The SCCS analysis included all 176 GBS cases. Influenza vaccination was associated with GBS, with a relative risk of 2.1 (95 % CI 1.1, 3.9). According to these results the attributable risk in adults ranges from two to five GBS cases per 1,000,000 vaccinations