37333 research outputs found
Sort by
Clinical presentation and echocardiographic characteristics of women with peripartum cardiomyopathy: Insights from the Italian Multicentre Registry
No full textBackground: Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is a rare, life-threatening form of heart failure occurring in late pregnancy or postpartum, with variable clinical course and outcomes. We report preliminary clinical and echocardiographic findings from a national Italian registry of PPCM patients Methods: The study was approved by the institutional Ethics Committee and registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05878041). Twenty-eight patients aged ≥18 years with confirmed PPCM diagnosis were included. At enrollment, all patients underwent clinical assessment, echocardiography, and peripheral blood sampling for multi-omics profiling. Results: Participants had a mean age of 33.9 ± 5.1 years and a median body mass index of 28 kg/m2 (25.5–32.9). Key characteristics of enrolled patients included African ethnicity (10.7 %), assisted reproduction (14.3 %), pre-eclampsia (14.3 %), autoimmune disease (10.7 %), hypertension (21.4 %), diabetes mellitus (3.5 %), and smoking (32.1 %). Most patients were diagnosed PPCM with NYHA class III/IV symptoms within one month postpartum; mean Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction (LVEF) at admission was 33.2 ± 9.3 %. Arrhythmic presentation occurred in 25 % of patients. Despite initial severity, 50 % of patients recovered LVEF over 11 ± 19 months, while persistent severe dysfunction (LVEF<35 %) requiring defibrillator implantation was observed in 14 % of patients. Several echocardiographic markers differed significantly in enrolled patients according to recovery status, and those with persistent dysfunction had larger LV end-diastolic diameters (61.2 ± 8.1 mm) and left atrial volumes (47.0 ± 24.7 ml/m2), lower LV strain (9.0 ± 1.4 %), and TAPSE (17.5 ± 4.2 mm, p < 0.005 for all). Conclusions: Clinical and echocardiographic predictors of LV recovery in PPCM need further investigation
The Carnian Pluvial Episode as a key interval for large-scale correlations through the Lagonegro-Imerese-Sicanian Basin (Southern Italy)
No full textThe Lagonegro-Imerese-Sicanian Basin deposits form thick Meso-Cenozoic successions arranged in different stacked tectonic units. The basin opened along the northern margin of the African Plate and, during the Meso- zoic, developed as a pelagic to hemipelagic domain enclosed between the coeval Apennine (or Panormide) and Apulian carbonate platforms. Sedimentation in the basin was mainly provided by the platform margins and/or siliceous/calcareous ooze fallout. As expected, sedimentary supply from the adjacent carbonate highs was signifi- cant in the proximal sectors and progressively diminished toward the distal, axial part of the basin. Given this close platforms - basin connection, climatic or tectonic changes affecting the platform margins are likely to be recorded in the basinal settings as distinctive stratigraphic intervals or stratigraphic gaps, providing reliable markers for regional-scale correlation and paleogeographic reconstructions.
The Carnian Pluvial Episode (CPE), occurring in the lower part of Calcari con Selce Formation (Upper Triassic), is suggested as a marker horizon across the entire Lagonegro-Imerese-Sicanian Basin. This interval, already rec- ognized in the proximal sector of the basin, was unknown for the distal portion of the basin so far. The identifica- tion of the Sorgente Acero Unit, a peculiar stratigraphic interval at the base of the Calcari con Selce Formation in the distal Lagonegro sector, as the equivalent of the CPE, enabled regional-scale correlations and a revision of the paleogeographic reconstructions of the basin during the Late Triassic. The attribution of the Sorgente Acero Unit to the CPE has been achieved thanks to integrated paleontological studies on palynomorphs, radiolarians and conodonts
An adamantylureido-benzylamide aniline as FLAP/sEH dual inhibitor: Rational design, in vitro and in vivo lipidomic profiling
No full textMultitarget approaches are highly effective strategies for treating acute and chronic inflammatory diseases. In this field, the dual inhibition of 5-lipoxygenase-activating protein (FLAP) and soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) offers the advantage of reducing the production of diverse pro-inflammatory lipid mediators (LMs) while preserving pro-resolving mediator levels. However, this approach is underexplored in medicinal chemistry, given the limited number of existing dual inhibitors. Here, we present the rational design of the adamantylureido-benzylamide aniline 6, which features in vitro FLAP/sEH inhibitory activity. An accurate investigation about the crucial interactions between our synthesized derivatives and 5LOX, FLAP and sEH binding sites, led us to shed light on structural requirements differentiating among the three targets. Lipidomic profiling following 6 in vivo administration highlighted the reduction of 5-LOX/FLAP- and sEH-derived LMs, resulting in a favourable redistribution of LMs in agreement with the inhibition of its molecular targets. © 2025 Elsevier Masson SA
Sfide ed Opportunita’ nella Conservazione Sostenibile del Patrimonio Industriale Portuale Challenges and Opportunities in the Sustainable Conservation of Port Industrial Heritage
No full textThe paper examines the modernist warehouses (tinglados) and historic cranes of the Port of Valencia as paradigmatic examples of industrial maritime heritage. Built between 1911 and 1914 within the framework of the port’s modernization, the tinglados combined structural solutions in steel and reinforced concrete with a modernist decorative language that turned them into unique urban landmarks. The study combines archival research and technical analysis with on-site observation, addressing both their constructive features and cultural value. Current challenges related to marine corrosion and urban pressure are analyzed, as well as opportunities for adaptive reuse inspired by international case studies. In doing so, the paper highlights the relevance of these structures within broader debates on the conservation of industrial heritage, emphasizing their potential role as cultural resources capable of fostering sustainable urban development. The ensemble of warehouses and cranes represents not only a testimony of Mediterranean industrial engineering and architectur, but also an opportunity to strengthen Valencia’s maritime identity and project its historical
memory into the future
Trend analysis of hourly rainfall in the Mediterranean: a case study of the Basilicata Region, Southern Italy (2001–2024)
No full textThis study examines recent trends in sub-daily rainfall extremes across the Basilicata region of southern Italy – a Mediterranean climate-change hot spot – using high-resolution hourly data from 32 well-distributed stations, covering years 2001–2024. A comprehensive set of fixed-threshold and percentile-based indices was applied to describe the occurrence, intensity and spatial variability of short-duration rainfall. Trend analyses were conducted using the Mann-Kendall test and Theil-Sen slope estimator, with adjustments for autocorrelation (TFPW) and multiple testing (Benjamini Hochberg False Discovery Rate, BH-FDR). Preliminary results indicate widespread upward tendencies in both frequency and intensity of sub-daily rainfall extremes, particularly for events exceeding the 95th and 99th percentiles, with over 80% of stations showing positive trends, most evident in summer and autumn. After BH-FDR correction, no individual station exhibited statistically significant changes; however, the complementary Field Significance Test (FST) revealed spatially coherent regional signals, with summer intensification and winter decline. Comparisons among physiographic zones (Kruskal-
Wallis test) showed stronger trends in mountainous and high-hilly sectors, confirming elevation as a key control on short-duration rainfall variability. Overall, moderate extremes (95th percentile) have intensified, while the most severe events (99th − 99.9th percentiles) remain stationary. These results align with broader Mediterranean evidence suggesting a seasonal redistribution of precipitation toward the warm period. The integrated statistical framework adopted here effectively distinguishes genuine climatic signals from natural variability, offering robust guidance for hydrological risk assessment
and climate adaptation planning in Mediterranean environments
Stories of Landscapes. Defining and Narrating Cultural Landscapes: Comparing San Severino Lucano and Rocca Imperiale
No full textThe article defines what a cultural landscape is and outlines an unambiguous definition, highlighting possible tools to investigate and talk about the transformations that landscapes undergo over time. Due to sudden climate changes, landscapes are constantly undergoing major transformations. The study of the material component of these landscapes is fundamental to interpret what is happening and understand how to act. In addition to investigating landscapes, they should be narrated, emphasizing not only the material but above all the intangible component, making it possible to document and transmit cultural memory and local history. Storytelling uses different tools to make its communication effective and efficient depending on the context and the type of narration to be made of the landscapes. The article proposes an analysis of
two different landscapes that have undergone a continuous transformation in recent years: the mountain landscape of the Pollino National Park, in particular of San Severino Lucano (PZ), and the coastal and agricultural landscape of Rocca Imperiale (CS). The analysis and the narration show that the causes of landscape changes are different: one related to climate change, the other to economic and social reasons
Immersive digital reconstruction using AR and holograms in Metaponto and Canosa di Puglia.
No full textTangible and intangible cultural heritage today faces accelerating threats of degradation and disappearance. This research explores the use of Augmented Reality (AR) and holographic modelling
to document and enhance archaeological heritage in fragile contexts. Interactive 3D models were developed using modelling software and AR platforms, and applied to the archaeological sites of Metaponto (Matera) and Canosa di Puglia. At Metaponto, AR integrated the existing ruins with stratigraphic reconstructions, improving the understanding of historical and spatial sequences. At Canosa, it enabled the virtual restitution of lost architectural elements, offering immersive experiences and educational tools. The results demonstrate that AR and holograms strengthen both research and dissemination, expanding physical and virtual accessibility to sites not yet included in established cultural networks
Enhancing Industry 4.0 Energy Efficiency: A Data-Driven Dynamic Control for Pull-Flow Lines
No full textThis paper investigates the effectiveness of dynamic switch-off policies in flow line production systems, aiming to balance energy efficiency and operational performance. A three-machine simulation model is developed and tested under steady-state and fluctuating processing conditions. The proposed policy, based on adaptive thresholds and Statistical Process Control (SPC) logic, is compared against two benchmarks: the traditional always-on model and a fixed switch-off policy. Simulation results demonstrate that the dynamic policy reduces customer-related performance measures—specifically queue lengths and waiting times—by approximately 50–56% compared to fixed policies. Crucially, this improvement is achieved while maintaining energy savings (~11%) and work-in-process reduction (~38%) comparable to the static approach. These benefits remain consistent even under high-variability scenarios, confirming the robustness of the proposed control architecture for Industry 4.0 sustainable manufacturing
Strategie integrate di architetture tra paesaggio urbano, dei calanchi e i patrimoni rurali
No full textIl contributo esplora strategie integrate di architetture per la rigenerazione dei paesaggi urbani dei calanchi e dei borghi rurali di Aliano, attraverso analisi morfologiche, rilievi, modelli
digitali responsivi e approcci phygital. La ricerca propone microarchitetture leggere, riusi mirati delle masserie e strumenti immersivi per rafforzare la relazione tra comunità, territorio e
patrimonio, attivando processi sostenibili di valorizzazione e sviluppo