The ANDROID Case Study; Venice and its territory: Existing mitigation options and challenges for the future

The Work Package 7 (Research Futures & Special Interest Groups) of the ANDROID project, within a specific working group, selected Venice and its territory as an emblematic case study of a region that could be affected by cross-border disastrous events. The paper provides a general overview on the topic, trying to organise the large amount of available scientific literature in some strategic cores, identifying undoubted milestones, open questions and future research needs, following a holistic approach to risk assessment. This case study is carried out not only as an engaging exercise, but with the purpose to provide a reference point for scientists and teachers interested to translate multifaceted knowledge into specific solutions. In fact, the paper is strongly linked as a whole to other three ones (presented at the 4th International Conference on Building resilience by WP7 group participants), which deepen respectively hazard, vulnerability/resilience, and mitigation about the site taken into consideration. Furthermore, the City of Venice takes part to the UNISDR Program “Making Cities Resilient”, and planned a robust intervention, consisting in the realisation of mobile dikes located at the openings of the lagoon (MOSE project, almost terminated), which has been strongly debated since the beginning, due to possible negative consequences on the environment. At last, the paper analyses drawbacks and benefits of the above said intervention, and suggests further proposals for the global safeguard of Venice and its lagoon

Disaster Resilience Education and Research Roadmap for Europe 2030 : ANDROID Report

A disaster resilience education and research roadmap for Europe 2030 has been launched. This roadmap represents an important output of the ANDROID disaster resilience network, bringing together existing literature in the field, as well as the results of various analysis and study projects undertaken by project partners.The roadmap sets out five key challenges and opportunities in moving from 2015 to 2030 and aimed at addressing the challenges of the recently announced Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030. This roadmap was developed as part of the ANDROID Disaster Resilience Network, led by Professor Richard Haigh of the Global Disaster Resilience Centre (www.hud.ac.uk/gdrc ) at the School of Art, Design and Architecture at the University of Huddersfield, UK. The ANDROID consortium of applied, human, social and natural scientists, supported by international organisations and a stakeholder board, worked together to map the field in disaster resilience education, pool their results and findings, develop interdisciplinary explanations, develop capacity, move forward innovative education agendas, discuss methods, and inform policy development. Further information on ANDROID Disaster Resilience network is available at: http://www.disaster-resilience.netAn ANDROID Disaster Resilience Network ReportANDROI

Cabergoline Withdrawal Before and After Menopause : Outcomes in Microprolactinomas

Natural course of prolactinomas after menopause is not fully elucidated. The aim of this study was to compare recurrence rate after cabergoline withdrawal in premenopausal vs. postmenopausal women with microprolactinoma. Sixty-two women with microprolactinoma treated with cabergoline for at least 1 year and followed for 2 years after drug withdrawal were retrospectively selected. Patients were divided into two groups: 48 patients stopped cabergoline before menopause ("PRE" group), while 14 after menopause ("POST" group). Recurrence was defined by prolactin levels above normal, confirmed on two occasions. Overall, 39/62 women relapsed. Patients who relapsed apparently had higher prolactin before withdrawal (median 216.2, range 21.2-464.3 mIU/L) compared with those in long-term remission (94.3, 29.7-402.8 mIU/L; p < 0.05), and the risk of recurrence seemed lower in POST women (4/14, 29%) than in PRE ones (35/48, 73%, p < 0.005, OR 0.149, 95% CI 0.040-0.558). However, none of the factors (prolactin before withdrawal, menopausal status, treatment duration, complete adenoma regression) showed a correlation with recurrence risk in multivariate analysis. The best strategy able to optimize CBG treatment and withdrawal's outcomes is still to be defined in microprolactinomas. Postmenopausal status cannot reliably predict long-term remission, and follow-up is needed also in women of this age

Is it possible to make a diagnosis of raw, heated and baked egg allergy in children using cut-offs? A systematic review

The diagnosis of IgE-mediated egg allergy lies both on a compatible clinical history and on the results of skin prick tests (SPTs) and IgEs levels. Both tests have good sensitivity but low specificity. For this reason, oral food challenge (OFC) is the ultimate gold standard for the diagnosis. The aim of the present paper is to systematically review the literature in order to identify, analyze and synthesize the predictive value of SPT and specific IgEs both to egg white and main egg allergens and to review the cut-offs suggested in the literature

Post-surgical thyroid bed pyoderma gangrenosum mimicking recurrent papillary thyroid carcinoma

Background: Pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) is a rare inflammatory disease presenting with chronic-recurrent cutaneous ulcers histopathologically hallmarked by neutrophilic infiltrates, which may occur more frequently at sites of surgical traumas. The disease is habitually limited to the skin, but it can virtually involve any organ. Nevertheless, no prior cases of PG involving the thyroid bed have ever been reported. Case Report: A bilateral PG of the breast was diagnosed in a 51-year-old woman and treated with intravenous methylprednisolone pulse-therapy and cyclosporine, with partial improvement. During the hospitalization, cytological examination of two hypoechoic thyroid nodules by fine-needle aspiration (FNA) was consistent with thyroid carcinoma. After total thyroidectomy, histopathology confirmed a papillary thyroid cancer (PTC), and radioactive iodine ablation was performed. At 12-month ultrasonographic follow-up, two hypoechoic avascular areas localized in the empty thyroid bed raised the suspect of PTC recurrence. However, (i) undetectable levels of thyroglobulin without anti-thyroglobulin antibodies, (ii) neutrophilia and increased inflammatory marker levels, and (iii) cytological examination of FNA showing numerous neutrophils induced to suspect thyroid bed PG infiltration. An ex juvantibus approach with high-dose methylprednisolone led to dimensional reduction of the hypoechoic areas on ultrasonography, thus confirming the hypothesis of thyroid bed PG. Conclusion: This case of thyroid bed PG supports the idea that PG reflects a cutaneous phenotype encompassed in the spectrum of systemic neutrophilic diseases. Endocrinologists should be aware that thyroid bed PG involvement is an albeit rare differential diagnosis to consider in patients who had undergone thyroid surgery, especially with a history of PG

A new tool based on artificial intelligence and GIS for preventive conservation of heritage buildings

This paper describes a new predictive model for preventive conservation of buildings. It allows for multiscenarios of several hazards, assessments of environmental risks, and the use level of buildings together with cultural val-ues of monuments. This modeling approach is based on fuzzy logic and geographic information system available to organizations dedicated to the restoration and rehabilitation in Spain. This system has a transversal development that includes urban, architectural, cultural heritage value, and the analysis of environmental and sociodemographic situations around the monuments. This new tool allows for decision making based on scientific criteria and minimizes risklosses of cultural asset

Sprawozdanie z I Spotkania Konsorcjum Akademickich Zakładów Studiów Strategicznych, Warszawa, 10 kwietnia 2017 r.

abstrak

Earthquake and People: The Maltese Experience of the 1908 Messina Earthquake

On December 28, 1908 at 5:20 a.m. local time, a devastating earthquake (Mw = 7.2) struck Southern Italy along the Messina Strait (Fig. 1). This event caused severe ground shaking throughout the region and triggered a local tsunami. As result the cities of Messina along Sicily’s coast and Reggio di Calabria were completely destroyed (Baratta, 1910) causing more than 120,000 fatalities and with many left without shelter. The effects of the earthquake were felt within a 300-kilometer radius. Rescuers searched through the rubble for weeks, and people were still being pulled out alive days later, but thousands remained buried there. The 1908 earthquake had a significant impact on buildings and people and local communities which were displaced. The Maltese experience of the Messina 1908 earthquake relied on communication which reached Malta after the event. The assessment of the Maltese experience of the Messina Earthquake has so far been carried out with reference to published newspaper reports and other brief accounts including Herbert Ganado’s Rajt Malta Tinbidel. Alfons Maria Galea a Maltese author and filanthropist published a book in Maltese on the earthquake and its devastating effects in the popular educational series il-Kotba tal-Mogħdija taż-Żmien just a few weeks after the event. The book is a vivid account of the destruction caused by the earthquake, the suffering of the survivors and the reaction of the population in reviving the city. The document presents first-hand accounts of the events in sufficient detail to give a clear picture of the severity of the event, extents of the damage and impact on the population. It is mostly based on accounts received by Galea from persons in institutions including religious orders in Sicily who he knew. Newspaper reports in Malta and other countries together with Galea’s book present clear first-hand accounts of this event and provide information on the building deficiencies and damage, limitations of communication infrastructure during that period, limits to timely emergency response to support the population and emergency action at the beginning of the 20th century.peer-reviewe

Consensus statement of the Italian society of pediatric allergy and immunology for the pragmatic management of children and adolescents with allergic or immunological diseases during the COVID-19 pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has surprised the entire population. The world has had to face an unprecedented pandemic. Only, Spanish flu had similar disastrous consequences. As a result, drastic measures (lockdown) have been adopted worldwide. Healthcare service has been overwhelmed by the extraordinary influx of patients, often requiring high intensity of care. Mortality has been associated with severe comorbidities, including chronic diseases. Patients with frailty were, therefore, the victim of the SARS-COV-2 infection. Allergy and asthma are the most prevalent chronic disorders in children and adolescents, so they need careful attention and, if necessary, an adaptation of their regular treatment plans. Fortunately, at present, young people are less suffering from COVID-19, both as incidence and severity. However, any age, including infancy, could be affected by the pandemic. Based on this background, the Italian Society of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology has felt it necessary to provide a Consensus Statement. This expert panel consensus document offers a rationale to help guide decision-making in the management of children and adolescents with allergic or immunologic diseases