Western and Central Asia. Satellite Imagery for the Study of Conservation and Restoration of Earthen Architecture. Research carried out between July and September 2022

Conservation and restoration of archaeological earthen architecture in the countries of Western and Central Asia is critical but challenging due to the tendency of earthen architecture to deteriorate once exposed to weathering and other decay agents. The paper presents a comparative analysis of the practices carried out in the area, with the use of satellite environmental and climatic data about rainfall, snow-ice cover, and average land surface temperature data for day and night. The aim is to propose an approach that gives the opportunity to compare the different practices employed and their effectiveness on the basis of various climatic and environmental elements.Conservation and restoration of archaeological earthen architecture in the countries of Western and Central Asia is critical but challenging due to the tendency of earthen architecture to deteriorate once exposed to weathering and other decay agents. The paper presents a comparative analysis of the practices carried out in the area, with the use of satellite environmental and climatic data about rainfall, snow-ice cover, and average land surface temperature data for day and night. The aim is to propose an approach that gives the opportunity to compare the different practices employed and their effectiveness on the basis of various climatic and environmental elements

Ceramic technology between the third and second millennium BC: New insights from southern Mesopotamia

This paper is the result of a pilot project conducted at the Penn Museum in Philadelphia and based on a selection of pottery vessels from Nippur (area TB) dated at the transition between the late Akkadian and Isin-Larsa period (2350-1763 BC). The continuity in occupation, and the presence of precise chronological markers make area TB a perfect case study for a diachronic analysis of the ceramic repertoire of this period. The aim of the project is a detailed reconstruction of the chaîne opératoire, fundamental for understanding the pottery repertoire from a technological point of view. Focusing on the late third millennium BC pottery assemblage, the chaîne opératoire approach can be used to discern the organisation and scale of production and the transmission of technical and technological knowledge through time, thus linking pottery production to the economic and social spheres. Macro- and meso-scale observations of pottery allow the identification of manufactural evidences useful for a preliminary reconstruction of the production sequence. Through this approach some aspects of continuity and discontinuity emerged, among which the identification of a new technique (trimming) at the very beginning of the second millennium BC, which can indicate significant technological development in pottery production

Identification and characterization of cytogenetic profile in olfactory neuroblastoma by array comparative genomic hybridization

Aim: the Olfactory Neuroblastoma (ONB) is an uncommon malignant tumor arising from the olfactory epithelium. Due to its rarity, the molecular and cytogenetic profiles are not well-known. The aim of the study is to better define the cytogenetic profile of ONB analyzed by Comparative Genomic Hybridization on Microarray (a-CGH) and identify possible correlations with clinical and pathological features. Materials and methods: 13 patients affected with ONB were collected and treated at Ospedale di Circolo of Varese, University of Insubria. At the Section of Biology and Medical Genetic, the DNA was extracted and isolated. We asseyed 14 samples using a-CGH technique: ten primary tumors, two relapsed tumors and two samples were from the same patient at onset and at relapse. Results: our results on chromosome imbalances highlight the highly heterogeneous presentation: seven of 13 samples showed multiple numerical changes and very few structural ones, while four samples showed an opposite pattern; one samples showed no imbalances. We did not reach firm evidence of any recurrent specific imbalances either at level of entire chromosomes or chromosome segments. Conclusion: Gain of chromosome 19 is the only corrispondence with literature data concerning an entire chromosome and most segmental gains and losses found in our cohort of patients are different from those indicated in the literature: the only similarities are the gain of 20q13 and the loss of segments of chromosome 15 and 22

Simulated synchrotron and Inverse Compton emission from Pulsar Wind Nebulae

We present a complete set of diagnostic tools aimed at reproducing synthetic non-thermal (synchrotron and/or Inverse Compton, IC) emissivity, integrated flux energy, polarization and spectral index simulated maps in comparison to observations. The time dependent relativistic magnetohydrodynamic (RMHD) equations are solved with a shock capturing code together with the evolution of the maximum particles energy. Applications to Pulsar Wind Nebulae (PWNe) are shown.Comment: 3 pages, 7 figures, proceeding of the conference "40 Years of Pulsars ", 12-17 August 2007, Montreal, Canada, submitted to AI

Energy renovation through RELS methodology in social housing

Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Microwave-Assisted Synthesis, Optical and Theoretical Characterization of Novel 2-(imidazo[1,5-a]pyridine-1-yl)pyridinium Salts

In the last few years, imidazo[1,5-a]pyridine scaffolds and derivatives have attracted growing attention due to their unique chemical structure and optical behaviors. In this work, a series of pyridylimidazo[1,5-a]pyridine derivatives and their corresponding pyridinium salts were synthesized and their optical properties investigated to evaluate the effect of the quaternization on the optical features both in solution and polymeric matrix. A critical analysis based on the spectroscopic data, chemical structures along with density functional theory calculation is reported to address the best strategies to prevent aggregation and optimize the photophysical properties. The obtained results describe the relationship between chemical structure and optical behaviors, highlighting the role of pendant pyridine. Finally, the presence of a positive charge is fundamental to avoid any possible aggregation process in polymeric films

Retroperitoneal and Retrograde Total Laparoscopic Hysterectomy – Technique with Three- and Five-millimeter Trocars

In this chapter, we describe total laparoscopic hysterectomy (TLH) using retroperitoneal and retrograde technique: it combines the retroperitoneal coagulation of the uterine artery and the retrograde approach to the pelvic organs, as in oncological surgeries. We report our experience in applying this modified TLH with 3-mm instruments and without uterine manipulator, in order to demonstrate its safety and feasibility

Palatovaginal (pharyngeal) artery: clinical implication and surgical experience

The palatovaginal or pharyngeal artery is a small branch of the internal maxillary artery supplying the nasopharynx. Bleeding from this artery is exceptional and only one case of traumatic epistaxis from this artery has been reported previously. We report a case of a 66-year-old male presenting with right recurrent posterior epistaxis. Endoscopic dissection of the pterygopalatine fossa and direct visualization of the palatosphenoidal canal permitted to identify the origin of bleeding, and coagulation of the pharyngeal artery solved the epistaxis. Although rare, intractable posterior epistaxis may arise from the pharyngeal artery. The anatomical knowledge of this artery and of the palatosphenoidal canal is of outmost importance in endoscopic transpterygoid and nasopharyngeal procedures, to identify the vidian canal, evaluate nasopharyngeal cancer spread in the pterygopalatine fossa, reduce bleeding during surgery of the nasopharynx, and harvest adequately the pedicle of the nasoseptal flap

La Borda: promoción de vivienda cooperativa con criterios de calidad ambiental

Postprint (published version

Universal testing for COVID-19 in patients undergoing cancer treatment during the second outbreak in Brescia

Background: The impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been overwhelming on patients with cancer, who may be at higher risk of developing severe disease. During the second COVID-19 outbreak in Italy, we planned universal microbiologic screening for patients scheduled for antineoplastic treatment. Methods: All patients with planned active treatment at Brescia University Radiation Oncology Department were screened for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) RNA with repeated nasopharyngeal swabs (NPS) from October 31, 2020. Treatment continuation, suspension, or delay was modulated for patients testing positive according to clinical presentation. Results: From October 31, 2020, to February 6, 2021, 636 patients were enrolled and 1243 NPS were performed, of which 28 (2.25%) were positive. The infection rate was 2.52%; 81.3% of the patients with a positive NPS were asymptomatic, 2 had mild disease, and 1 severe disease that led to death. All patients already on treatment with mild or asymptomatic COVID-19 carried on the therapy with no or minimal delay. Median delay for patients with infection detected before treatment start was 16.5 days. Conclusions: Detected incidence of COVID-19 was lower during the second outbreak in our patients (2.52% vs 3.23%), despite the extensive testing schedule, and substantiates the high rate of asymptomatic infections and the low mortality among patients with COVID-19 (6.3% vs 38.5% during the first outbreak). Universal SARS-CoV-2 screening for all patients with planned treatment might allow early identification of patients with COVID-19, resulting in timely management that could improve clinical outcomes and prevent spread of the infection