Archivio Istituzionale della Ricerca - Università degli Studi della Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli"
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Structural Assessment of the Double-Shell Dome in San Gennaro Chapel, Naples (Italy)
No full textThe study aims to perform the structural analysis of the double shell dome of the San Gennaro Chapel, which is part of Naples Cathedral. Constructed in the early 17th century from Francesco Grimaldi's design, the dome fea-tures a double shell with intermediate space, topped by a Piperno and Sor-rento stone lantern. Originally sustained by double brick layers support, the tamburetto, the lantern's excessive weight, compounded by damage from the 1688 earthquake, led to partial collapses and vertical fissures in both shells. Leading by the need to preserve the dome's internal decorative frescoes as much as possible, restoration works didn't involve the lower shell; on the contrary, the idea was to support the upper dome by inserting a wooden artefact between the shells. The original stone lantern was replaced with a lighter, lead-covered wooden structure to reduce the upper dome's weight further. The complex chestnut structure, interposed between the double shells, is still in place today. It is an umbrella-like reticular system with several strut and tie-rod elements with different dimensions.
The proposed study explores the dome's overall structure, focusing on the structural role of the timber structure in sustaining the masonry shell and assessing changes in static behaviour with respect to the original design
Screening for sickle cell disease by point-of-care tests in Italy: pilot study on 1000 at risk children
No full textSickle cell disease (SCD) is a global health problem causing premature deaths and preventable severe chronic complications. A priority goal to improve outcomes both in the short and long term is the screening for early diagnosis and access to specialized care. In Italy, as in other countries, no systematic national screening program is available. A regional pilot project was developed with the aim to screen 1000 children at risk of SCD in Italy. Primary care paediatricians received point-of-care tests (POCTs) to detect abnormal haemoglobin (Hb) to be offered to children regularly followed at their own clinics. Children positive to the POCT were referred to the regional paediatric specialized centre for diagnosis confirmation and follow up. Among 1000 at risk children screened, 85 (8,5%) tested positive for an abnormal Hb. HbS trait was reported in 69 (7%) children, HbC trait in 13 (1,3%) and SCD was diagnosed in 3 (0,3% overall; 0,56% in African background) children. African family background was the most affected by sickle mutations and all children with SCD had African ancestry. Only 56/259 (22%) primary care paediatricians invited but 20/21 (95%) reception centres adhered to the pilot screening project. Conclusions: A screening program for SCD performed by the primary care paediatricians is feasible and relatively easy to organize. SCD affects mainly children with African family background and the scarce adherence of primary care paediatricians, in contrast to the high adhesion of charitable institutions, outlines the need for a mandatory screening for SCD, and improved awareness among health care providers. (Table presented.
Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Incidence in Patients With Systemic Sclerosis Treated With Bosentan for Digital Ulcers: Evidence From the SPRING-SIR Registry
No full textObjective: Bosentan (BOS) is approved for treating pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and preventing digital ulcers (DU) in systemic sclerosis (SSc). Our study aimed to evaluate whether BOS prescribed for DU could reduce the incidence of PAH in a large SSc cohort from the Systemic Sclerosis Progression Investigation (SPRING) registry. Methods: Patients with SSc from the SPRING registry, meeting 2013 American College of Rheumatology/European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology classification criteria with data on PAH onset, DU status, BOS exposure, and at least 1 year of follow-up between 2015 and 2020, and having no known PAH at baseline, were included. PAH was diagnosed with right heart catheterization during the follow-up, and its incidence rate (IR) was calculated. Kaplan-Meier curves were determined, and multivariate regression identified PAH risk factors. Results: Among 727 eligible patients with SSc, followed for a median of 2.0 years, 54 (7.4%) developed PAH (IR 3.71 per 100 patient-years [PYs]). Patients with DU who were never exposed to BOS had a higher incidence of PAH (IR 4.90 per 100 PYs) compared to those exposed to BOS, whose rates matched those without DU and who were never exposed to BOS. Risk factors independently associated with PAH development included DU (hazard ratio [HR] 1.86), age (HR 1.05), modified Rodnan skin score > 4 (HR 2.07), interstitial lung disease (HR 2.29), and acetylsalicylic acid treatment (HR 1.78). Conclusion: In our cohort, the presence of DU was confirmed as a leading risk factor for PAH development, and BOS use for DU prevention may reduce this risk. Only patients with DU who were not using BOS had an increased PAH incidence
Spatially-Clustered Spatial Autoregressive Models with Application to Agricultural Market Concentration in Europe
No full textIn this paper, we present an extension of the spatially-clustered linear regression models, namely, the spatially-clustered spatial regression (SCSR) model, to deal with spatial heterogeneity issues in clustering procedures. In particular, we extend classical spatial econometrics models, such as the spatial autoregressive model, the spatial error model, and the spatially-lagged model, by allowing the regression coefficients to be spatially varying according to a cluster-wise structure. Cluster memberships and regression coefficients are jointly estimated through a penalized maximum likelihood algorithm which encourages neighboring units to belong to the same spatial cluster with shared regression coefficients. Motivated by the increase of observed values of the Gini index for the agricultural production in Europe between 2010 and 2020, the proposed methodology is employed to assess the presence of local spatial spillovers on the market concentration index for the European regions in the last decade. Empirical findings support the hypothesis of fragmentation of the European agricultural market, as the regions can be well represented by a clustering structure partitioning the continent into three-groups, roughly approximated by a division among Western, North Central and Southeastern regions. Also, we detect heterogeneous local effects induced by the selected explanatory variables on the regional market concentration. In particular, we find that variables associated with social, territorial and economic relevance of the agricultural sector seem to act differently throughout the spatial dimension, across the clusters and with respect to the pooled model, and temporal dimension. Supplementary materials accompanying this paper appear online
Il cacciatore di conchiglie: Walter Burkert
No full textIn memory of Walter Burkert (1931–2015), one of the most innovative scholars of antiquity and historians of religion of the 20th and early 21st centuries, whose influence was felt worldwide
Il ruolo dell’educazione al movimento nella crisi contempomporanea in età evolutiva
No full textThe role of movement education in the contemporary crisis in the developing age · Digital hyper-connection, social isolation and economic instability
are limiting children’s opportunities for play and movement, which are crucial for motor and social-emotional development. Reduced physical activity compromises health and the ability to relate, also affecting body identity. The work proposes the importance of new educational methodologies, such as
synchronic movement, to foster healthy, balanced and resilient growth in a global crisis
The reciprocal effects of learning motivation, perceived academic self-efficacy and academic performance in adolescence: a four-wave longitudinal study
No full textThe purpose of this study was to observe how within-person variation in motivation, self-efficacy and academic performance scores are correlated or can be predicted. The reciprocal association between these variables was analysed through a four-wave longitudinal study and a within-person analytical approach (random intercept cross-lagged panel model, RI-CLPM). A total of 932 adolescents, 417 boys and 515 girls (Mage = 14.34 years, SD =.90) enrolled in the first year of high school (9th grade) participated in the study. Questionnaires on motivation and self-efficacy were administered once a year for four years. At the end of each school year, teachers’ evaluations of students’ academic performance, expressed in school grades, were collected. The cross-lagged paths of the RI-CLPM suggested that higher-than-expected self-reported levels of self-efficacy were associated with above-average levels of motivation one year later and vice versa. In addition, adolescents who reported higher-than-expected levels of self-efficacy showed above-average levels of academic performance one year later and vice versa, and only adolescents who reported higher-than-expected levels of academic performance had above-average levels of motivation, but not vice versa. However, a mediation analysis revealed an indirect role of motivation in academic performance through self-efficacy. Implementing projects that strengthen motivation and self-efficacy can thus reduce the risk of poor academic performance and leaving school. Preventing young people from dropping out of school can help promote lifelong learning opportunities for all
Sexuality, Gender Identity, Romantic Relations, and Intimacy Among Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Narrative Review of the Literature
No full textSexual health is a vital aspect of overall well-being, yet individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) face significant stigma and discrimination, affecting self-esteem, relationships, and sexual expression. This review examined the recent literature (2020–January 2024) on intimacy and sexuality among adolescents and young adults with ASD, incorporating 32 studies. Findings highlight poorer sexual health among autistic individuals compared to the general population, with difficulties in forming romantic relationships and navigating sexual interactions due to hypersensitivity. Autism is also linked to non-conforming gender identities and asexuality, exposing individuals to dual stigma within the LGBTQ+ community. Autism-related traits hinder sexual health knowledge, increasing risks of victimisation, abuse, and sexually transmitted infections. Comprehensive sexual education and inclusive support are crucial to address these challenges and promote sexual well-being for autistic individuals
Preoperative platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio as a predictor of inguinal lymph node metastasis in penile cancer
No full textBackground: Penile cancer (PC) is a rare malignancy with poor prognosis. To date, reliable preoperative biomarkers for lymph node status and prognosis are still lacking. This study aims to explore the potential role of preoperative platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) as a predictor of inguinal lymph node invasion in PC patients. Methods: Retrospective analysis was conducted on anamnestic, clinical, and laboratory data of PC patients who underwent surgical treatment between January 2016 and October 2023. Inguinal lymphadenectomy was performed as per EAU guidelines. PLR, calculated as the ratio between platelet-to-lymphocyte values obtained from preoperative blood analyses, was assessed within 30 days before surgery. Patients were categorized into pN- (no lymph node metastasis) and pN+ (lymph node metastasis confirmed pathologically). Statistical analyses included Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U tests, univariate logistic regression, and ROC curve analysis with Youden index, assuming p < 0.05 as statistically significant. Results: Overall, 60 PC patients were retrospectively involved in the study. A total of 36 (60%) patients reported ILN metastases, confirmed by inguinal lymphadenectomy (pN+), while no ILN metastases (pN-) were reported in 24 (40%) patients. The AUC for predicting ILN metastasis by preoperative PLR was 0.71 (p = 0.014). According to the ROC curve analysis and the Youden Index, a cut-off for PLR was set at 122.4. On Univariable logistic regression analysis, the presence of T stage ≥ 2 (OR = 3.21; 95% CI: 1.43-7.47, p = 0.011), lymphovascular invasion (OR = 3.78; 95% CI: 1.56-5.90, p = 0.003), clinical node-positive disease (OR = 19.86; 95% CI: 5.91-41.03, p < 0.001) and PLR ratio > 122.4 (OR = 7.22; 95% CI: 1.41-22.71, p = 0.0148) were independent predictors of pN+ disease. Conclusions: The current study confirms the relationship between cancer and inflammation. When elevated preoperatively, PLR may be associated with inguinal lymph node invasion in PC patients
