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Technological innovations and regional diversity in Western Europe at ca. the MIS 11 threshold: a cladistic approach
No full textMarine Isotope Stage (MIS) 11 interglacial is considered to be a threshold for behavioural innovations in Western Europe. Innovations both in technology and subsistence are observed, as well as the appearance of Neanderthal anatomical features. Core technologies and Large Cutting Tools reflect changes in behaviours and innovations, with for instance, the onset and diffusion of the iconic Levallois core technology associated with more complex and standardized debitage. Following the severe glacial event of MIS 12, the lithic assemblages yield evidence of both innovations, but the chronology of their appearance remains unclear. For tracking these innovations and generally characterizing the technological and typological features of this period of time, a large database of the available ca. MIS 11 assemblages (from MIS 12 to MIS 10) has been built including a revision of some of the assemblages. In order to unravel the relationship between sites of this period, we applied a cladistic approach using three-item analysis, considering the assemblages themselves as the object of analysis, with an emphasis on core technology. We show how three-item analysis is an efficient method capable of correctly analysing characters from lithic technologies that appear to be intrinsically hierarchical. Our results suggest that Levallois core technology survived during the glacial event of MIS 12 and diversified during the long interglacial of MIS 11. Our results also show the absence of cultural endemism, which may be linked to significant mingling between northern and southern Europe
Intersecting Landscapes: New Spatial Visions for the Cross-Border Region of the Prespa Lakes
No full textThe paper presents a research-by-design contribution focused on the Prespa–Ohrid lake system, with particular attention to Pustec Municipality (Albania), integrating method, diagnosis, and design hypothesis into a single narrative. Methodologically, it proposes a “sensitive” exploration that treats walking as a knowledge device and constructs trans-scalar readings of territory as a living system. The diagnostic section reframes the area as a planetary-scale “witness territory” and identifies strategic interpretive nuclei that can reorient action beyond infrastructural templates and growth-driven agendas towards ecosystem-based logics and cross-border cooperation. The design hypothesis translates this stance across two levels: a cross-border strategy articulated through national sequences and phased objectives; and a local prototype in Pustec (the agro-field as a connector of landscapes and biotopes) combining knowledge infrastructures, buffer landscapes, water management, and productive systems within a shared civic-ecological framework. The overall horizon is vision-making understood as an adaptive, care-oriented process rather than a blueprint
Towards a conversational public administration? Public services, chatbots, and new organisational challenges for local administrations
No full textIntroduction: In a context where public administrations are increasingly required to rethink their organizational and relational models in light of digital transformation, artificial intelligence (AI) emerges as a promising lever for innovation in local public services. In particular, the intersection between AI and institutional communication opens up new scenarios for the interaction between administrations and citizens, raising critical questions about efficiency, accessibility, and trust. Objective: This study explores the organizational challenges and communication practices associated with the introduction of AI in Italian local governments, with a specific focus on the deployment of chatbots and the use of AI tools by public employees. Methodology: The research adopts a qualitative methodology, based on 26 in-depth interviews with managers, officials, and heads of ICT and communication departments in public entities across three Italian regions (Lombardy, Emilia-Romagna, and Lazio), selected based on their level of digital maturity (Regional DESI Index, Politecnico di Milano, 2022). Results: The findings reveal a heterogeneous and still experimental landscape: while there are promising opportunities in terms of automation and service improvement, structural weaknesses persist, particularly concerning organizational fragmentation, data governance, and the shortage of internal competencies. The use of chatbots in communication processes is widely viewed as potentially beneficial, yet its effectiveness is heavily dependent on the quality of informational infrastructures and the ability of AI to support trust-based relationships. Conclusion: The study offers a reflection on the conditions necessary for the effective integration of AI into the broader eGovernment framework
‘But bread causes my symptoms’: possible clinical scenarios
No full textWheat is a globally cultivated crop and staple food, valued for its adaptability, nutritional content and baking properties. Its widespread consumption, however, has been paralleled by a rise in concerns related to wheat-derived products to cause a wide range of reactions. This review explores the key wheat components—gluten, fermentable carbohydrates, amylase-trypsin inhibitors and wheat germ agglutinin—that may trigger adverse reactions in susceptible populations and the diagnostic challenges faced in clinical practice. Coeliac disease (CD) is an autoimmune disorder initiated by gluten in genetically predisposed individuals, involving both adaptive and innate immune responses. Wheat allergy, on the other hand, is mediated by immunoglobulin E antibodies against specific proteins and can present with cutaneous, respiratory or systemic symptoms. Non-coeliac gluten/wheat sensitivity is a less understood condition characterised by gastrointestinal and extraintestinal symptoms in the absence of CD or wheat allergy. It likely involves immune activation and gut-brain interaction mechanisms, with symptoms overlapping with disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome. Diagnosis of these conditions can be challenging in the clinical setting, and serological tests, skin prick tests and double-blind placebo-controlled challenges can be considered. While bread remains a nutritionally valuable food, careful diagnostic differentiation is essential to guide dietary management and avoid unnecessary restrictions. Ongoing research into molecular mechanisms and biomarkers is crucial to better understand and manage wheat-related disorders
Rethinking defibrillation: a viewpoint on alternative strategies for refractory ventricular fibrillation
No full textRefractory ventricular fibrillation (RVF) remains one of the most dramatic and frustrating scenarios in emergency care [1]. Despite timely, high-quality cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and adherence to advanced cardiovascular life support (ACLS) algorithms, some patients remain in persistent ventricular fibrillation, unresponsive to standard defibrillation and medications [2]. For years, the default approach in such cases has been repetition: same energy, pad placement, and same result [2,3]. Recently, alternative defibrillation strategies (ADS), that is, double sequential external defibrillation (DSED) and vector change defibrillation (VCD), have emerged as promising options [1,4–10]. These techniques offer a potential exit from therapeutic inertia (Fig. 1); however, despite growing enthusiasm, especially in prehospital care, they are inconsistently used and often implemented without protocols or institutional support. The time has come to move from improvisation to integration, transforming scattered efforts into structured escalation pathways
GenAI e gestione dell’informazione nella GenZ: tra diffidenza e dipendenza
No full textIn a context marked by information overload and disorder, GenAI emerges as an ambivalent tool: on one hand, it amplifies those same risks; on the other, it fosters new practices of information management and personalization. This contribution examines, through a quantitative survey of GenZ university students, the level of knowledge, perceptions, and usage patterns of GenAI, with particular focus on information management and potential dependence. The findings reveal widespread but superficial use, shaped by both enthusiasm and caution, while a GenAI-first approach reflecting persistent heuristics and cognitive biases
Phenotyping asthma and/or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease using 129Xe MRI and comprehensive physiologic testing
No full textRationale: Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) significantly overlap by conventional diagnostic criteria, yet important treatment differences remain, and people with both asthma and COPD (asthma + COPD) have worse clinical outcomes than people with a single diagnosis. Hyperpolarized xenon-129 magnetic resonance imaging (129Xe MRI) and pulmonary function tests (PFTs) are sensitive to lung function and structure.
Objective: To determine whether 129Xe MRI alongside PFTs can aid phenotyping of real-world patients with asthma and/or COPD.
Methods: Patients ≥16 years with physician-assigned asthma and/or COPD were recruited from primary care. 129Xe and proton MRI, multiple-breath nitrogen washout, airwave oscillometry, transfer factor of the lung for carbon monoxide (TLco), body plethysmography, and spirometry were assessed post-bronchodilator. Differences between diagnostic groups were assessed.
Results: The study assessed 165 patients. 129Xe MRI and PFT metrics differed significantly between diagnostic groups. On 129Xe MRI, patients with COPD had significantly reduced and more heterogeneous ventilation, greater acinar dimensions, and lower gas transfer, in addition to lower spirometry, greater airways resistance and reactance, and more air trapping than patients with asthma. Similarly, 129Xe MRI metrics demonstrated greater abnormalities in COPD than asthma when comparing only those with normal forced expiratory volume in 1 s or TLco. Lung function and structure were worse in asthma + COPD than asthma and better than COPD.
Conclusions: 129Xe MRI alongside PFTs provide phenotypically distinct airway disease signatures to aid diagnosis of asthma and/or COPD. 129Xe MRI is highly sensitive to minimal lung disease and identifies functional/structural phenotypes that may help to guide treatment decisions
Albumin kinetics, intravascular fluid volume, and respiratory function in pigs ventilated at different levels of mechanical power following crystalloid vs. albumin infusion
No full textBackground The rationale of albumin use lies in its potential to increase oncotic pressure and optimize tissue perfusion. Randomized trials have not demonstrated a survival benefit, and the effects of albumin on volemia remain
unclear. This study investigates, in healthy pigs, the effects of a 48-h albumin infusion on intravascular fluid volume,
albumin kinetics, and its impact on respiratory function.
Methods Thirty-nine healthy female pigs ventilated for 48 h were grouped according to mechanical power
(high~18 J/min vs. low~6 J/min) and type of fluid (5% albumin solution vs. crystalloid), generating four experimental
groups: MPLOW-Crystalloid; MPLOW-Albumin; MPHIGH-Crystalloid; and MPHIGH-Albumin.
Results Intravascular fluid volume was similar across groups (MPLOW-Crystalloid: 1.92 (±0.38)L; MPHIGH-Crystalloid:
1.72 (±0.40)L; MPLOW-Albumin: 1.86 (±0.37)L; MPHIGH-Albumin: 2.10 (±0.58)L; p 0.389). For the same mechanical power, the fraction of albumin lost from the plasma was higher in the albumin compared to the crystalloid groups (MPLOW-Albumin: 62 (±13)% vs. MPLOW-Crystalloid: − 16 (±66)%; and MPHIGH-Albumin: 58 (±24)% vs.
MPHIGH-Crystalloid: 29 (±14)%; p<0.001). Albumin groups showed greater ascites (MPLOW-Crystalloid: 261 (±380)
mL; MPHIGH-Crystalloid: 144 (±148)mL; MPLOW-Albumin: 710 (±664)mL; MPHIGH-Albumin: 685 (±651)mL; p 0.034),
and worse end-expiratory lung gas volume and elastance, despite comparable histological damage.
Conclusions In our cohort, prolonged albumin infusion did not lead to a difference in intravascular fluid volume,
but it resulted in the loss of~60% of the infused albumin and ascites development. Ascites was associated with lower
end-expiratory lung gas volume and higher elastance, despite similar histological lung damage across the groups
On-Field End-of-Life Filters Fouling Survey of Two 260 MW Gas Turbines
No full textThe performance and lifespan of gas turbines can be severely affected by airborne contaminants in the atmosphere. Natural and anthropogenic sources, combined with the machine's operating condition, determine the characteristics and intensity of contamination. Microsized particles ingested by compressor units can adhere to the blades, leading to performance deterioration, a phenomenon known as compressor fouling. Multistage filtration systems are crucial in mitigating the contamination severity at the intake of land-based units. High-efficiency media filters are commonly installed in the last stages to remove smaller particles from the airflow. However, the filter's exposure to contaminants leads to an increase in pressure drop, and consequently, maintenance operations have to be accurately scheduled to prevent excessive efficiency reduction. This work presents a detailed analysis of the contamination at the filter section of two 260 MW land-based units operating in different environments. The investigation comprises the on-field detection and collection of deposits from the two filter stages. The composition of the deposits was characterized from chemical, physical, and mineralogical perspectives. High-resolution imaging using optical and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) provided detailed morphological insights. In addition, X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) analysis identified the crystalline phases present in the particulate. The findings dive into the deposits' structure, morphology, and chemical composition for both filter stages. At the same time, the dust particulate was interpreted concerning the surrounding environment based on the mineralogical examination.The performance and lifespan of gas turbines can be severely affected by airborne contaminants in the atmosphere. Natural and anthropogenic sources, combined with the machine's operating condition, determine the characteristics and intensity of contamination. Microsized particles ingested by compressor units can adhere to the blades, leading to performance deterioration, a phenomenon known as compressor fouling. Multistage filtration systems are crucial in mitigating the contamination severity at the intake of land-based units. High-efficiency media filters are commonly installed in the last stages to remove smaller particles from the airflow. However, the filter's exposure to contaminants leads to an increase in pressure drop, and consequently, maintenance operations have to be accurately scheduled to prevent excessive efficiency reduction. This work presents a detailed analysis of the contamination at the filter section of two 260 MW land-based units operating in different environments. The investigation comprises the on-field detection and collection of deposits from the two filter stages. The composition of the deposits was characterized from chemical, physical, and mineralogical perspectives. High-resolution imaging using optical and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) provided detailed morphological insights. In addition, X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) analysis identified the crystalline phases present in the particulate. The findings dive into the deposits' structure, morphology, and chemical composition for both filter stages. At the same time, the dust particulate was interpreted concerning the surrounding environment based on the mineralogical examination
Redrawing Giotto's ambiguity. LuigiMoretti, other practices and the formative process
No full textDrawing as a tool of investigation has almost always been used to study the formal and spatial qualities of an architectural work, whether built or remaining on paper. Only rarely, however, drawing has been used to reinterpret certain architectural works belonging exclusively to the domain of painting. This is the case with Giotto's illustrations reinterpreted by Luigi Moretti in 1928