Optimization of survey procedures and application of integrated digital tools for seismic risk mitigation of cultural heritage: The Emilia-Romagna damaged theatres.

Starting from current procedures, standards and tools for seismic damage survey, the research presents an integrated workflow for seismic damage documentation and survey applied to historic theatres in the Emilia-Romagna region damaged by the 2012 earthquake. The 2012 earthquake highlighted the fragility of the cultural heritage and underscored the lack of proactive conservation and management of historic assets. The research starts by analysing Agenzia Regionale per la Ricostruzione della Regione Emilia-Romagna- ARRER’s requests, which had found criticalities in applying the current Mic (Ministero della Cultura) procedures for the damage survey of complex types: the A-DC form for churches and the B-DP form for buildings. Using the two types of forms highlighted the lack of ad hoc tools for complex architectural styles such as castles, cemeteries and theatres, resulting in the loss of quantitative and qualitative information necessary for knowledge, conservation and thus management of the reconstruction process. As a result of these considerations, national and international standards of integrated documentation, existing digital databases for cataloguing and classification of cultural property, and seismic risk management were studied to develop a workflow of integrated procedures for seismic damage survey on the specific assigned case study: Regional Historic Theaters affected by the 2012 earthquake. The research used the holistic and interdisciplinary approach of integrated documentation to develop the integrated procedural workflow to enhance and optimise seismic damage detection operations in the case study. In providing a workflow of integrated procedures for the prevention and mitigation of hazards related to potential states of emergency, both natural and anthropic, the research follows an “extensive” methodological approach to test the survey outside the Emilia crater. The methodological framework led to the critical-comparative analysis, divided into two levels: the first involved studying critical issues in the B-DP form, mainly used in the 2012 theatre survey. The second level covered the techniques - laser scanning, digital photogrammetry - and integrated survey methodologies applied during the in-depth investigations for repair and restoration work. The critical-comparative analysis and morpho-typological study led to the development of an integrated procedural flow to survey damage in historic theatres. It is aimed at systematising and optimising the stages of damage documentation. The workflow consists of three information levels: L1. Screening level for the visual survey; L2 survey level defines the 3D acquisition steps for the geometric-dimensional study by theatres. The BIM L3 Plus level guides implementing the level of knowledge of parametric HBIM models for documentation, management and monitoring of historic theatres

Chapter Scenari di reverse processing nel rilievo architettonico da nuvola di punti

The 43rd UID conference, held in Genova, takes up the theme of ‘Dialogues’ as practice and debate on many fundamental topics in our social life, especially in these complex and not yet resolved times. The city of Genova offers the opportunity to ponder on the value of comparison and on the possibilities for the community, naturally focused on the aspects that concern us, as professors, researchers, disseminators of knowledge, or on all the possibile meanings of the discipline of representation and its dialogue with ‘others’, which we have broadly catalogued in three macro areas: History, Semiotics, Science / Technology. Therefore, “dialogue” as a profitable exchange based on a common language, without which it is impossible to comprehend and understand one another; and the graphic sign that connotes the conference is the precise transcription of this concept: the title ‘translated’ into signs, derived from the visual alphabet designed for the visual identity of the UID since 2017. There are many topics which refer to three macro sessions: - Witnessing (signs and history) - Communicating (signs and semiotics) - Experimenting (signs and sciences) Thanks to the different points of view, an exceptional resource of our disciplinary area, we want to try to outline the prevailing theoretical-operational synergies, the collaborative lines of an instrumental nature, the recent updates of the repertoires of images that attest and nourish the relations among representation, history, semiotics, sciences

Acoustic analysis in stuttering: a machine-learning study

BackgroundStuttering is a childhood-onset neurodevelopmental disorder affecting speech fluency. The diagnosis and clinical management of stuttering is currently based on perceptual examination and clinical scales. Standardized techniques for acoustic analysis have prompted promising results for the objective assessment of dysfluency in people with stuttering (PWS).ObjectiveWe assessed objectively and automatically voice in stuttering, through artificial intelligence (i.e., the support vector machine – SVM classifier). We also investigated the age-related changes affecting voice in stutterers, and verified the relevance of specific speech tasks for the objective and automatic assessment of stuttering.MethodsFifty-three PWS (20 children, 33 younger adults) and 71 age−/gender-matched controls (31 children, 40 younger adults) were recruited. Clinical data were assessed through clinical scales. The voluntary and sustained emission of a vowel and two sentences were recorded through smartphones. Audio samples were analyzed using a dedicated machine-learning algorithm, the SVM to compare PWS and controls, both children and younger adults. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were calculated for a description of the accuracy, for all comparisons. The likelihood ratio (LR), was calculated for each PWS during all speech tasks, for clinical-instrumental correlations, by using an artificial neural network (ANN).ResultsAcoustic analysis based on machine-learning algorithm objectively and automatically discriminated between the overall cohort of PWS and controls with high accuracy (88%). Also, physiologic ageing crucially influenced stuttering as demonstrated by the high accuracy (92%) of machine-learning analysis when classifying children and younger adults PWS. The diagnostic accuracies achieved by machine-learning analysis were comparable for each speech task. The significant clinical-instrumental correlations between LRs and clinical scales supported the biological plausibility of our findings.ConclusionAcoustic analysis based on artificial intelligence (SVM) represents a reliable tool for the objective and automatic recognition of stuttering and its relationship with physiologic ageing. The accuracy of the automatic classification is high and independent of the speech task. Machine-learning analysis would help clinicians in the objective diagnosis and clinical management of stuttering. The digital collection of audio samples here achieved through smartphones would promote the future application of the technique in a telemedicine context (home environment)

A machine-learning based bio-psycho-social model for the prediction of non-obstructive and obstructive coronary artery disease

Background: Mechanisms of myocardial ischemia in obstructive and non-obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD), and the interplay between clinical, functional, biological and psycho-social features, are still far to be fully elucidated. Objectives: To develop a machine-learning (ML) model for the supervised prediction of obstructive versus non-obstructive CAD. Methods: From the EVA study, we analysed adults hospitalized for IHD undergoing conventional coronary angiography (CCA). Non-obstructive CAD was defined by a stenosis < 50% in one or more vessels. Baseline clinical and psycho-socio-cultural characteristics were used for computing a Rockwood and Mitnitski frailty index, and a gender score according to GENESIS-PRAXY methodology. Serum concentration of inflammatory cytokines was measured with a multiplex flow cytometry assay. Through an XGBoost classifier combined with an explainable artificial intelligence tool (SHAP), we identified the most influential features in discriminating obstructive versus non-obstructive CAD. Results: Among the overall EVA cohort (n = 509), 311 individuals (mean age 67 ± 11 years, 38% females; 67% obstructive CAD) with complete data were analysed. The ML-based model (83% accuracy and 87% precision) showed that while obstructive CAD was associated with higher frailty index, older age and a cytokine signature characterized by IL-1β, IL-12p70 and IL-33, non-obstructive CAD was associated with a higher gender score (i.e., social characteristics traditionally ascribed to women) and with a cytokine signature characterized by IL-18, IL-8, IL-23. Conclusions: Integrating clinical, biological, and psycho-social features, we have optimized a sex- and gender-unbiased model that discriminates obstructive and non-obstructive CAD. Further mechanistic studies will shed light on the biological plausibility of these associations. Clinical trial registration: NCT02737982

The Sex-Specific Detrimental Effect of Diabetes and Gender-Related Factors on Pre-admission Medication Adherence Among Patients Hospitalized for Ischemic Heart Disease: Insights From EVA Study

Background: Sex and gender-related factors have been under-investigated as relevant determinants of health outcomes across non-communicable chronic diseases. Poor medication adherence results in adverse clinical outcomes and sex differences have been reported among patients at high cardiovascular risk, such as diabetics. The effect of diabetes and gender-related factors on medication adherence among women and men at high risk for ischemic heart disease (IHD) has not yet been fully investigated.Aim: To explore the role of sex, gender-related factors, and diabetes in pre-admission medication adherence among patients hospitalized for IHD.Materials and Methods: Data were obtained from the Endocrine Vascular disease Approach (EVA) (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02737982), a prospective cohort of patients admitted for IHD. We selected patients with baseline information regarding the presence of diabetes, cardiovascular risk factors, and gender-related variables (i.e., gender identity, gender role, gender relations, institutionalized gender). Our primary outcome was the proportion of pre-admission medication adherence defined through a self-reported questionnaire. We performed a sex-stratified analysis of clinical and gender-related factors associated with pre-admission medication adherence.Results: Two-hundred eighty patients admitted for IHD (35% women, mean age 70), were included. Around one-fourth of the patients were low-adherent to therapy before hospitalization, regardless of sex. Low-adherent patients were more likely diabetic (40%) and employed (40%). Sex-stratified analysis showed that low-adherent men were more likely to be employed (58 vs. 33%) and not primary earners (73 vs. 54%), with more masculine traits of personality, as compared with medium-high adherent men. Interestingly, women reporting medication low-adherence were similar for clinical and gender-related factors to those with medium-high adherence, except for diabetes (42 vs. 20%, p = 0.004). In a multivariate adjusted model only employed status was associated with poor medication adherence (OR 0.55, 95%CI 0.31–0.97). However, in the sex-stratified analysis, diabetes was independently associated with medication adherence only in women (OR 0.36; 95%CI 0.13–0.96), whereas a higher masculine BSRI was the only factor associated with medication adherence in men (OR 0.59, 95%CI 0.35–0.99).Conclusion: Pre-admission medication adherence is common in patients hospitalized for IHD, regardless of sex. However, patient-related factors such as diabetes, employment, and personality traits are associated with adherence in a sex-specific manner

Layers: a representation and learning landscape code for Dropull,

This research paper provides a base for drawing up the development of a general strategy and “acupunctural” experiences to identify and record liminal landscape potentialities of the Municipality of Dropull, located in the South-eastern cross border area between Albania and Greece. According to this key objective, the study looks at the liminal characteristics and potentials of Sofratikë, one of the four villages of the valley of the Drinos River, allowing to achieve the knowledge and understanding of many positive features related to liminal dimensions of landscape, metaphysical landscapes, and landscape experience. The analysis moves from two main driver-topics: “Landscape” and “History”; employing these two drivers, a first general strategy is designed, to define acupunctural interventions at a later stage. Acupunctural systems – water, roads, mountains, valley, archaeological area, and Sofratikë village - are those landscape and design strategies aimed at identifying specific sub-areas of intervention in the macro landscape unit. In fact, they are independent parts of the landscape, which - if interconnected - allow having an overview of the macro landscape unit. Therefore, the acupuncture interventions become actions of modification and sustainable development of the territory, because of levels of the same landscape unit, or rather of the same milieu. In the order to achieve these aims, the research identifies a specific methodology, focused on Sofratikë landscape’ layers, classifying different stratification layers of the area: archaeological area, historic-settlement, rural and agricultural landscape. A first approach to analyze Sofratikë's landscape is aimed at mapping and – at a later stage - overlapping the main physical layers, which have been defined and distinguished as the following stratification levels: the mountains, Sofratikë city, the quarry, the agricultural fields, Hadrianopoli. Starting from this investigation and after an overall photo screening, a first, possible, general strategy has been outlined, focusing on the identification of two main liminal development directions. Within the first direction, the longitudinal liminality has been analysed, connecting Sofratikë historical and rural city with the archaeological area of Hadrianopoli, through the main physical infrastructure - the national road - and natural systems – agriculture landscape and Drinos River. The second direction highlights the transversal liminality developing the connection between the SofratiKë system (just embedded the historic city, Hadrianopoli, natural, rural and infrastructure systems) with other archaeological sites like Antigonea and Melan. Once this framework has been established, the main acupunctural strategy to achieve the revitalization of this site has been investigated. Four principal clusters have been identified as driver-systems to plan the punctual redevelopment strategy and related following acupunctural activities. These potentials, which characterize the rural and cultural context, are in contrast to real and current area’s conditions, which is mainly abandoned. Therefore, to promote a coherent revitalization of Sofratikë, which could involve the adjacent villages, and to identify appropriate acupunctural actions, it would seem needed improving this first analysis by using the integrated survey approach and procedure. Indeed, this approach can achieve an analytic knowledge of the city system, thorough documentation and data collection ( using different devices and methodologies according to the purposes of the survey). Moreover, this procedure will allow transferring and aggregating the main aspects - “layers”- of the historical, cultural and landscape Heritage using “semantic” models (connecting different information - documentation, plans, historical data, etc. - to survey drawings or models), allowing to increase the landscapes valorisation and the fruition of the whole area. Furthermore, through this methodology, which allows to connect and overlay different levels of data and information, it’s possible to verify the general strategy and, meanwhile, checking and strengthening related acupunctural interventions. The integrated documentation and survey procedures, using a multidisciplinary approach, allows “reading”, analysing and explaining the main layers characterizing this area. In fact, involving in this process many actors with different and specific skills, it is possible to open new research avenues towards the knowledge, understanding, conservation, safeguard, redevelopment and valorisation of the architectural, urban and environmental heritage of the whole Municipality of Dropul

An integrated methodology for the documentation and representation of the Emilia-Romagna damaged theatres by the 2012 earthquake.

The contribution illustrates the extensive integrated methodology to be applied in the area of the Emilian Crater affected by the earthquake in 2012, focusing on cultural heritage and specifically on damaged protected theatres. Through the integrated survey procedures - metric-geometric preliminary sketch, topographic surveys, GIS systems, LIDAR systems, photogrammetry, thermography - a holistic approach is proposed to optimize and systematize the information stored so far, as well as implementing data and metadata, using the interoperable and implementable platform HBIM INCEPTION. The research aims to formulate an integrated protocol of seismic damage survey on the type of "Theatres", an operational tool in emergency and programmatic phase for preventive conservation. The integrated seismic damage survey protocol aims at organically documenting historical theatres on a regional scale. This research was conducted within the XXXIV cycle of the IDAUP international doctorate. Funded by the European social funds of the Operational Programme 2014/2020 Emilia-Romagna Region - high expertise in research, technology transfer and commercial -, it is coordinated by the DIAPReM Centre of the University of Ferrara in concert with the Agency for the Reconstruction of Emilia-Romagna-Sisma 2012. It makes use of the Emilia-Romagna high technology network, TekneHub laboratories and the Clust BUIL building and construction network

Archaeological Landscape Heritage: Museums’ Systems Between Narrative Techniques and Multimedia Tools.

The new information and communication technologies (ICT) are playing an increasingly predominant role in contemporary society. We must provide the opportunity to experiment and to develop new possible interactions between narrative techniques and multimedia tools able to promote our Cultural Heritage. Actually, it’s very important to focus our attention on trying to get over knowledge from generation to generation, through ICT. This work shows the results of a research project, implemented in close partnership (named Eridano museum network) among a University laboratory of Emilia-Romagna High Technologies Network (TekneHub), Regional Museum Pole Emilia-Romagna, two National Museums, four civic Museums, one Archaeological dig and a creative enterprise (TryeCo 2.0 Srl). The study primarily investigates how ICT can contribute to enhancing Cultural Heritage Education, adding value to cultural and didactic activities in museums. In this perspective, all Museums of Eridano network have tested innovative learning and teaching tools, thanks to user-centered design methodology, focusing virtual views, interactive technological platforms, games and immersive experiences. The researchers’ team builds a web platform, using VR cardboards linked to the innovative YouTube’s feature, 3D-VR-360 videos, through which is possible to discover ancient archaeological landscapes on Eridano river. Then this research aims to investigate new possible interactions between these tools and methodological approaches in the development of FOSS (Free and Open Source Software) Tools, especially OpenWebGIS (Geographic Information System), considering the growing social demand to have an inclusive fruition of cultural and landscape heritage. This new approach highlights the importance of a clearly defined communication strategy able to be inclusive for the different stakeholders of the Cultural Heritage, from museum workers to museum users

Alc.Este’s portrait. Knowledge, documentation, regeneration in a brownfield case study

The Former Distillery Alc.Este. Group in Ferrara is the subject of a research work consisting of three main stages: the first consists in researching and critically processing historical, cartographic, urbanistic data; the second one is aimed at providing a planning simulation considering feasible renewal scenarios; the third one is developing through a participatory design process, launched by the owner of the area together with the municipal Administration of Ferrara

Protocolli di acquisizione e gestione dati per la documentazione, rappresentazione e conservazione del patrimonio culturale danneggiato dal sisma

La vastità del patrimonio culturale danneggiato dal sisma del 2012 in Emilia-Romagna consente oggi, in virtù della disponibilità di tecnologie digitali avanzate, lo sviluppo di protocolli di ottimizzazione per l’estrazione e la condivisione dei dati al fine della definizione di data-base del patrimonio costruito esistente implementabili nel tempo e accessibili da categorie diverse di utenti