University of Udine
Archivio istituzionale della ricerca - Università degli Studi di UdineNot a member yet
91472 research outputs found
Sort by
The FriûlBot dataset: Experimental validation of an autonomous ground robot for vineyard 3D mapping
No full textIn this paper, we present the FriûlBot open-source dataset, collected by an autonomous mobile robot for vineyard 3D mapping and monitoring. The dataset is designed to provide a reference testbed for the development and benchmarking of localization, mapping, and multi-sensor data fusion algorithms. It includes detailed information on the robot status, point clouds of the vineyard, and multispectral images, offering valuable resources for future research on autonomous robotic systems in agriculture. The mobile robot employed for the dataset acquisition is capable of autonomously navigating, reaching GNSS way points, and building a map of the canopy integrating geometric and multispectral data. The navigation and mapping approach proposed in this work is based on a SLAM algorithm that integrates multiple odometry sources, and is designed for agricultural environments with plants arranged in rows, e.g., vineyards and orchards. The performance of the proposed mobile robot and navigation approach are tested during an extensive experimental campaign in a vineyard of University of Udine (Italy). During the tests, the robot successfully navigates along several vineyard rows, building point clouds of the environment that are merged with data regarding multiple vegetation indexes. The experimental results confirm the reliability of the autonomous mobile robot and the potential of the proposed dataset to foster further advances in robotics for vineyard 3D mapping
Intravitreal Aflibercept 8 mg in Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration
No full textPurpose To report the efficacy, durability, and safety of intravitreal aflibercept 8 mg versus intravitreal aflibercept 2 mg every 8 weeks (2q8) in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) through 96 weeks, PULSAR ( ClinicalTrials.gov identifier, NCT04423718). Design Phase 3, randomized, noninferiority, 96-week trial. Participants Treatment-naive adults ≥ 50 years with nAMD. Methods Patients were randomized 1:1:1 to intravitreal aflibercept 8 mg every 12 or 16 weeks (8q12 or 8q16), or 2q8, after 3 initial monthly doses; dosing intervals in 8-mg groups were modified based on prespecified criteria. Main Outcome Measures Change from baseline in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and central retinal thickness (CRT), proportion of patients maintaining or extending the randomized dosing intervals, and safety outcomes. Results Of 1009 patients treated, 869 patients (8q12, n = 291; 8q16, n = 292; 2q8, n = 286) completed treatment through week 96. Least squares (LS) mean change from baseline in BCVA at week 96 was +5.6 (95% confidence interval [Cl], 4.1–7.1), +5.5 (95% Cl, 4.0–7.0), and +6.6 (95% Cl, 5.2–8.0) letters in the 8q12, 8q16, and 2q8 groups, respectively; 8q12 and 8q16 differences versus 2q8 in LS mean BCVA changes at week 96 met the noninferiority criteria specified for the primary end point at week 48. Mean (standard deviation) change in CRT from baseline was –143.9 (123.6) μm, –153.4 (140.8) μm, and –135.8 (133.1) μm in the 8q12, 8q16, and 2q8 groups, respectively. Patients completing 96 weeks of treatment in the 8q12, 8q16, and 2q8 groups received a mean of 9.7, 8.2, and 12.8 active injections, respectively. Of these, 87% of patients in the 8q12 group had last assigned dosing intervals of 12 weeks or more, whereas 78%, 53%, and 31% of patients in the 8q16 group qualified for last assigned dosing intervals of ≥ 16 weeks, ≥ 20 weeks, and 24 weeks, respectively. Incidence of ocular treatment-emergent adverse events was similar across groups. Conclusions Aflibercept 8 mg delivered sustained disease control in patients with nAMD, maintaining improvements in visual and anatomic outcomes through week 96 with extended dosing intervals and similar safety profile to aflibercept 2 mg. Financial Disclosure(s) Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found in the Footnotes and Disclosures at the end of this article
Simulation of the evaporative cooling effect of super adsorbent materials in building envelopes
No full textMuch work on the potential of including evaporative cooling in building envelopes has been carried out, for example evaporative roofs, green roofs, and pond roofs. This principle is particularly effective in hot climates with water availability, and it has proved to be effective when used in low-cost energy retrofits in low per-formance buildings. In this work a new approach is proposed: the addition of a layer of a hypothetical super adsorbent material with a wetting system on the external side of the wall and its effect on the cooling loads is evaluated for different climates and building envelope build-ups. The efficiency of the system is evaluated using the software tool WUFI Plus, which is used to perform the building energy simulation of the building considering coupled heat and moisture transfer in the building enve-lopes.
These promising preliminary results could be used to evaluate the development of low budget retrofit solutions for low performance buildings subject to relevant heat waves, improving the climate resiliency of existing building stock
Effect of vacuum degradation on heat losses in parabolic trough collector receivers
No full textThis study investigates the thermal performance of linear evacuated receivers designed for parabolic trough collector (PTC) systems under varying operating conditions. A parametric thermal analysis was performed using ANSYS Fluent for a stainless steel receiver tube with Therminol® VP-1 as the heat transfer fluid. This fluid can produce low-boiling-point compounds, including hydrogen, which permeate through the absorber wall into the evacuated annulus between the absorber and the glass envelope of the receivers. Two annulus conditions were evaluated: a fully evacuated state (10−2 mbar) and hydrogen-filled environment (1 mbar). Additionally, the impact of wind speeds (5 and 10 m/s) on key performance parameters was assessed under two extreme operating conditions. Key metrics included temperature and velocity profiles, circumferential temperature gradients, convective heat transfer coefficients, and heat losses. Simulations covered mass flow rates of 3–6 kg/s (in 1 kg/s increments), inlet temperatures from 290 ◦C to 390 ◦C (in 20 ◦C steps), and direct normal irradiance levels of 800 and 1000 W∕m2. Results revealed how these annulus conditions and wind effects influence thermal performance. Hydrogen presence increased heat losses by up to 3 times compared to the evacuated case, with glass temperatures peaking at 142.5 ◦C. Increasing the mass flow rate from 3 to 6 kg/s reduced the absorber tube’s maximum circumferential temperature difference from 39.4 ◦C to 23.5 ◦C, with different annulus conditions showing diminished impact on this parameter at higher flow rates. Heat losses increased under windy conditions, whereas the glass temperature decreased significantly, especially for the hydrogen-filled annulus
Whey protein cryogel particles enable tunable design of multiphase systems: from oleogels to structured emulsions
No full textThis study aimed to understand the behavior of whey protein (WP) cryogel particles engaged in oil structuring in the presence of water. To this aim, an oleogel composed of sunflower oil, structured by WP cryogel particles (37 %, w/w), was progressively added with water, leading to systems containing 0–45 % (w/w) water. As control, native unstructured WP was also considered. Cryogel-based systems demonstrated high physical stability (liquid-holding capacity: 75–99 %), with diverse appearance and rheology depending on the water content. The system at 20 % (w/w) water showed a crumbly appearance and a brittle structure. By increasing water content at 30 %, a homogeneous gel-like solid was obtained, with lower elastic properties and higher tolerance to large deformations as compared to the starting oleogel. A further increase in water content (35–40 %) enhanced phase inversion, converting the oleogel into a structured oil-in-water emulsion with creamy appearance and significantly lower G’ and firmness as compared to the starting oleogel. When water content was increased to 45 %, a free-flowing oil-in-water emulsion with remarkable stability against phase separation (∼99 %) was obtained. Confocal microscopy was used to demonstrate the relationship between macrostructure and microstructure changes upon water addition. Results demonstrate the suitability of WP cryogel particles as a multipurpose ingredient in food structuring
Myocarditis and Pericarditis in Focus: A Brief Report Comparing the 2025 ESC Guidelines and Latest ACC Position Papers
No full textPyro-ecophysiology of 11 woody Karst species: Leaf flammability analysis reveals fire-safe species for green firebreaks development
No full textClimate change is intensifying wildfire frequency and severity in Mediterranean ecosystems, creating urgent needs for effective fire management strategies. Green firebreaks based on fire-resistant vegetation represent a promising approach, but require species-specific flammability assessments. We evaluated leaf moisture-dependent flammability of 11 dominant woody species in a Mediterranean karst ecosystem to identify potential candidates for green firebreak establishment. For each species, we conducted laboratory leaf flammability tests by measuring ignition vulnerability curves (IVCs), which relate leaf ignition probability at different moisture content levels, quantified as Live Fuel Moisture Content (LFMC) and Relative Water Content (RWC). Contemporarily, we monitored species-specific LFMC variation during summer drought in the field. Species-specific IVCs revealed critical LFMC thresholds corresponding to different ignition probability. Results showed marked interspecific variability in flammability, with Specific Leaf Area (SLA) being positively correlated with both maximum moisture content and LFMC at 50 % ignition probability. Species clustered into distinct vulnerability groups: high-risk species (Robinia pseudoacacia, Acer campestre, Acer monspessulanum) required minimal dehydration for ignition, while fire-resistant species (Quercus pubescens, Prunus mahaleb, Pistacia terebinthus, Ailanthus altissima) maintained high moisture content under drought and also required severe dehydration for ignition. These findings provide quantitative tools for species selection in fire management and demonstrate how plant hydraulic strategies determine landscape-scale fire vulnerability in Mediterranean karst ecosystems
Sensory profile of wines produced from disease-resistant grapevine varieties grown in the Mediterranean area
No full textThe transition to a sustainable viticulture is vital to address environmental issues such as the use of agrochemicals and greenhouse gas emissions. In viticulture, the use of disease-resistant varieties (PIWI) offers a promising solution because of their lower requirement for fungicides treatments, but little is known about their qualitative performance in Mediterranean environments. This study evaluated the quality of wines produced from Merlot Kanthus and Merlot Khorus varieties compared to their parental Merlot N. cultivar in Salento, an area of the Apulia region in southern Italy, characterized by a hot and dry climate. Two different sensory analyses, namely, an affective and a quantitative descriptive test, were performed. Resistant varieties tend to outperform Merlot N. in sensory preferences, acidity, and color, achieving high quality in the Apulian terroir. These results prove the potential value of resistant varieties like Merlot Kanthus and Merlot Khorus to produce high-quality wines in Mediterranean regions and to support a wider acceptance and adoption of PIWI varieties in Italian regions which currently restrict their use
Mental health, coping and related risk factors during the first 2 years of the COVID-19 pandemic in children: Nationally representative, multi-wave, cross-sectional results from 12 countries from the global COH-FIT study
No full textFew multinational studies have assessed risk factors and coping strategies associated with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children’s mental health over time. The Collaborative Outcomes study on Health and Functioning during Infection Times (COH-FIT) is the largest transcontinental, multi-wave, cross-sectional survey collecting multi-nation data on well-being and psychopathology during the pandemic. We analyzed country-specific, general-population-based, representative COH-FIT data of 6067 children aged 6–13 years from 12 countries across repeated cross-sectional waves over a period of >2 years (Apr/2020–May/2022), addressing through current and retrospective assessment pre- to intra-pandemic changes in well-being (WHO-5) and general psychopathology scores (Pc) (0–100) in relation to COVID-related deaths, stringency index, eight a priori risk factors, and 16 coping strategies in different responders at each wave. From pre- to intra-pandemic, WHO-5 scores decreased (−4.59, 95 %CI=−6.18 to −2.99, p < 0.001), while PC-scores increased (+6.68, 95 %CI=4.48–8.88, p < 0.001) significantly, following distinct time patterns but both returning to near pre-pandemic levels. Changes in both scores varied by country. WHO-5 scores correlated strongly with PC and subdomain scores. Both score changes were significantly but minimally associated to COVID-19 deaths/stringency index. The proportion of children screening positive for depression increased from 3.9 % to 8.3 % (χ2=145.70, p < 0.001) and for major depression from 0.6 % to 2.2 % (χ2=68.64, p < 0.001) intrapandemic. WHO-5 and PC-score changes were significantly associated with female gender, school closure, and pre-existing physical and mental conditions, with cumulative effects. The five most frequently endorsed coping strategies were family contact (85.2 %), friends (67.3 %), outdoor play (54.0 %), pet interaction (51.5 %), and internet use (50.9 %). Identified risk groups and coping strategies can inform targeted interventions and global public health policy. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov; Identifier: NCT0438347
Molecular pathology of bladder cancer
No full textSignificant progress has been achieved in elucidating the molecular underpinnings of bladder cancer initiation and progression. Translational research has identified mutations in chromatin-modifying genes such as KMT2D and KDM6A, which facilitate colonization of larger regions of the urothelium. Subsequent mutations in TP53, PIK3CA, FGFR3 or RB1 drive malignant transformation. Advances in personalized oncology now integrate clinical, pathological and molecular classifications in bladder cancer, representing a paradigm shift in the management of locally advanced and metastatic disease. Alterations in FGFR3, commonly found in the luminal-papillary molecular subtype associated with low response to immunotherapy, are the target of erdafitinib. Enfortumab vedotin, which targets Nectin-4 (expressed in >95% of urothelial carcinomas), is approved for patients who progress after chemotherapy and/or immunotherapy. Evidence suggests that Nectin-4 gene amplification may further refine patient stratification. Sacituzumab govitecan, an antibody–drug conjugate directed against Trop-2, is effective in basal, luminal and stroma-rich subtypes but not in neuroendocrine carcinomas. In addition, therapies developed for HER2-positive breast cancer have shown efficacy in urothelial carcinoma, with recent data from the DESTINY pan-tumour phase II trial leading to FDA approval of trastuzumab deruxtecan for HER2-overexpressing metastatic urothelial carcinoma. This paper is a comprehensive review of the molecular pathology of bladder cancer, highlighting advances in molecular classification, biomarkers and personalized therapies. The transition from morphology-based classifications to combined morphological and molecular approaches, with therapeutic implications, is also addressed