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Women Inventors in Italy, 1861-1939
No full textThis paper studies women’s participation in innovative activities during the deep societal changes of twentieth-century Italy. It does so by tracking female inventors among the more than 330,000 patents registered in Italy between 1861 and 1939. The resulting dataset allows to disaggregate women’s inventive activity across industries, provinces, and social backgrounds. Despite accounting for only 0.7% of total patents, the number of women patenting increased steadily from 1861 to 1939. Until 1920, the growth of female-linked patents was comparable to that of male-only patents, but started to slow down during Fascism. The quality of inventions registered by women was only slightly lower than that of men and the gap was gradually reduced. Women also patented in a wide variety of technological sectors. This suggests that entrepreneurial women were able to innovate, but that systemic barriers, particularly during the Fascist period, limited their inventive potential. Although legal restrictions on women’s autonomous business activity were lifted in 1919, societal expectations of marriage and work and the restrictive policies of the Fascist regime contributed to a decline in women’s patenting activity in the 1920s and 1930s, suggesting an intersection of gender dynamics and political climate in shaping female inventive activities
Clinical parameters of death and heart failure hospitalization in biventricular systolic dysfunction assessed via cardiac magnetic resonance
No full textAims: While factors associated with adverse events are well elucidated in setting of isolated left ventricular dysfunction, clinical and imaging-based prognosticators of adverse outcomes are lacking in context of biventricular dysfunction. The purpose of this study was to establish role of clinical variables in prognosis of biventricular heart failure (HF), as assessed by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. Methods: Study cohort consisted of 840 patients enrolled in DERIVATE registry with coexisting CMR-derived right ventricular (RV) and left ventricular (LV) dysfunction, as defined by RV and LV ejection fractions ≤45 % and ≤ 50 %, respectively. The primary objective was to identify factors associated with adverse long-term outcomes, defined as composite of all-cause death and HF hospitalizations (DHFH). Kaplan-Meir curves were plotted for survival analysis. Cox proportional hazard models were constructed to estimate adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) and associated 95 % confidence intervals for clinical variables and their correlation with adverse events. Results: Mean age was 61.0 years; 83.1 % were male, 26.6 % had diabetes mellitus (DM), and 45.9 % had non-ischemic cardiomyopathy. At median follow-up of 2 years, DHFH occurred in 32.5 % of the cohort. Kaplan-Meir analysis showed higher rate of DHFH in patients with DM (35.2 % vs. 22.6 %, p < 0.001). Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that DM was independently associated with DHFH (aHR 1.61 [95 % CI: 1.15–2.25]; p = 0.003). Importantly, ACE-inhibitor/ARB usage in patients with DM was associated with significant reduction in DHFH (aHR 0.53 [95 % CI: 0.31–0.90]; p = 0.02). Conclusion: In patients with biventricular HF, DM was a strong predictor of DHFH, with ACE-inhibitor/ARB usage having cardioprotective effect
Empowering Visual Navigation: A Deep-Learning Solution for Enhanced Accessibility and Safety Among the Visually Impaired
No full textndividuals with visual impairments face significant challenges navigating environments, especially with tasks such as object identification and traversing unfamiliar spaces. Often, their needs are inadequately addressed, leading to applications that do not meet their specific requirements. Traditional object detection models frequently lack this demographic's accuracy, speed, and efficiency. However, recent Internet of Things (IoT) advancements offer promising solutions, providing real-time guidance and alerts about potential hazards through IoT-enabled navigation apps and smart city infrastructure. This paper presents an extension of our MoSIoT framework, incorporating the YOLOv8 convolutional neural network for precise object detection and a specialized decision layer to improve environmental understanding. Additionally, advanced distance measurement techniques are incorporated to provide crucial information on object proximity. Our model demonstrates increased efficiency and adaptability across diverse environments using transfer learning and robust regularization techniques. Systematic evaluation indicates significant improvements in object detection accuracy, measured by mean Average Precision at 50% Intersection over Union (mAP50) from 0.44411 to 0.51809 and mAP50-95 from 0.24936 to 0.29586 for visually impaired individuals, ensuring reliable real-time feedback for safe navigation. These enhancements significantly improve the MoSIoT framework, thereby greatly enhancing accessibility, safety, independence, and mobility for users with visual impairments
Effective Management Strategies for Primary Lymphedema of the Lower Extremities: Integrating Conservative and Surgical Therapies in Early and Late Stages
No full textIntroduction: Lymphedema, a debilitating characterized by localized fluid retention and tissue swelling, results from abnormalities in the lymphatic system. In the case of primary lymphedema, this condition is attributed to malformations in lymphatic vessels or nodes, and it is marked by a relentless progression leading to irreversible tissue fibrosis after repetitive inflammation. Many questions regarding its treatment, such as the choice of the type of intervention and the timing, still remain unanswered. This study aims to present our comprehensive approach to treat this challenging condition. Methods: To elucidate our approach, we conducted a retrospective chart review of 42 patients treated for primary lymphedema at 3 hospitals between July 2010 and December 2022. The study included two patient groups, those with early-stage disease (20) and those in the advanced stages (22). We outline our algorithm, based on our clinical experience in Taiwan. Patients were followed for at least 12 months post-treatment, and assessments were made, including photographic evidence. Results: A total of 42 patients participated in our study: 20 in the early stage and 22 in the late stage. Our approach yielded significant functional improvements and symptom regression in both groups. In the early-stage cohort, all 20 patients underwent VLNT procedures and SAL, with 15 (75%) undergoing unilateral procedures and 5 (25%) bilateral. Among the advanced-stage patients, 12 (54.5%) were treated with the modified Charles' procedure, and 10 (45.5%) with RRPP. The outcomes showed an average circumference reduction of 4.1 cm (2.9–5.3) after VLNT and liposuction. Reductions were noted at various levels: 5.7 cm (4.6–6.8) at mid-thigh, 4.3 cm (2.5–6.1) at mid-calf, 3.5 cm (2.7–4.3) at the ankle, and 1.4 cm (0.7–2.1) at mid-foot. Tonicity decreased by 5.9% (5.2–6.6), indicating significant tissue softening. Tissue removal averaged 3.7 kg (2.9–4.5) after the modified Charles' procedure and 2.6 kg (2.3–2.9) after RRPP. Patients experienced a mean of 3 (2–4) episodes of cellulitis per year, with no cellulitis in early-stage treated limbs during the follow-up period. Complications were minimal, including 4 partial skin graft losses that healed with conservative treatment and 3 postoperative infections after the modified Charles' procedure, treated successfully with antibiotics. No major complications were reported at the lymph node flap donor site. Conclusion: Primary lymphedema poses a considerable challenge, primarily due to its relentless progression if left untreated. The existing literature offers limited guidance on its management. Our algorithm, developed over years of experience, aims to fill this gap. By integrating surgical and conservative interventions, as well as individualized patient follow-up, we provide a comprehensive framework for managing both early and late- stage cases
CarDiac magnEtic Resonance for prophylactic Implantable cardioVerter defibrillAtor ThErapy in Non-Dilated Left Ventricular Cardiomyopathy: a sub-study from the DERIVATE registry
No full textAims Accurate risk stratification for patients with non-dilated left ventricular cardiomyopathy (NDLVC) remains challenging due to lack of dedicated clinical trials. This post hoc analysis aims to delineate the arrhythmic risk and assess the incremental value of cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging in the CarDiac magnEtic Resonance for prophylactic Implantable-cardioVerter defibrillAtor ThErapy (DERIVATE) study cohort meeting the NDLVC diagnostic criteria. Methods and results Patients with NDLVC from the DERIVATE registry were identified in the absence of left ventricular (LV) dilatation and in the presence of non-ischaemic LV scarring ('fibrotic NDLVC') or isolated LV systolic dysfunction (LV ejection fraction < 50%) without fibrosis ('hypokinetic NDLVC'). The primary endpoint was all-cause mortality. Major adverse arrhythmic cardiac events (MAACE) were the secondary endpoint and included sudden cardiac death (SCD) and aborted SCD. One hundred and ninety-seven NDLVC patients were identified from the cohort of the DERIVATE study (mean age: 59 +/- 14 years; male: 135). Over a median follow-up of 2.7 years, 15 (8%) patients died and 8 (4%) experienced MAACE. Patients with 'hypokinetic' NDLVC had significantly lower rates of MAACE than non-ischaemic dilated cardiomyopathy (NIDCM) (P = 0.001), while patients with 'fibrotic' NDLVC had same rate of both primary (P = 0.48) and secondary endpoints (P = 0.616) compared with NIDCM patients. Multivariable analysis identified late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) with midwall distribution as an independent predictor of MAACE in NDLVC patients (hazard ratio 6.7, 95% confidence interval: 1.33-33.67; P = 0.021). Conclusion NDLVC patients exhibit a heterogeneous risk profile for arrhythmic events. The presence of midwall LGE, similarly to NIDCM, is a significant predictor of MAACE, highlighting the importance of CMR imaging for risk stratification
Decrescita/Sviluppo
No full textIl capitolo presenta e approfondisce il dibattito sulla distinzione scientifica e
valoriale dei termini di crescita e sviluppo emersa già nel pieno della rivoluzione
industriale contro la prevalenza di un modello razionale e illimitato e confluita
negli ultimi decenni in un pensiero critico alternativo alla società della produzio-
ne capitalista e del consumo. Il capitolo proporrà le risposte fornite dalle princi-
pali scuole di pensiero che hanno definito i processi di produzione economica,
politica, sociale sia in termini di controllo e limitazione sia in termini di equilibrio
con la natura e di equità fra tutte le specie, non solo quella uman
Mobile Robots for Environment-Aware Navigation: A Code-Free Approach with Topometric Maps for Non-Expert Users
No full textThe growing use of mobile robots in unconventional environments demands new programming approaches to make them accessible to non-expert users. Indeed, traditional programming methods require specialized expertise in robotics and programming, limiting robots’ accessibility to a broader audience. End-user robot programming has emerged to overcome these limitations, aiming to simplify robot programming through intuitive methods. In this work, we propose a code-free approach for programming mobile robots to autonomously execute navigation tasks, i.e., reach a desired goal location from an arbitrary initial position. Our method relies on instructing the robot on new paths through demonstrations while creating and continuously updating a topometric map of the environment. Moreover, by leveraging the information gathered during the instruction phase, the robot can perceive slight environmental changes and autonomously make the best decision in response to unexpected situations (e.g., adjusting its path, stopping, or requesting user intervention). Experiments conducted in both simulated and real-world environments support the validity of our approach, as they show that the robot can successfully reach its assigned goal location in the vast majority of cases
Parents' dispositional mindfulness and child behavior: The mediating role of the child dispositional mindfulness
No full textParental factors, including parental dispositional mindfulness, play a crucial role in children's development and well-being. Studies have suggested that parents' mindfulness might be associated with positive outcomes in children by promoting their mindfulness, which in turn is associated with better emotional and behavioral functioning. However, little is known about whether parental dispositional mindfulness is associated with children's positive outcomes through children's mindfulness. Based on this, the current study explored, in a sample of 270 parent-child dyads, the relationship between parental dispositional mindfulness and children's internalizing and externalizing problems, and tested the mediating role of the child's levels of dispositional mindfulness in this relationship. Results showed that three parental mindfulness facets (Describing, Acting with Awareness, and Nonjudging) were indirectly associated with children's Internalizing and Externalizing Problems via children's mindfulness. These findings might be relevant for the implementation of mindful parenting interventions, suggesting which parental mindfulness facets could exert the most beneficial effect on offspring's well-being