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Soluzioni nature-based per l’infrastruttura verde nel piano urbanistico comunale: strumenti performativi per la revisione delle scelte insediative e dell’uso dei suoli. Un caso studio
No full textI modelli tradizionali di pianificazione dell’uso del territorio si sono rivelati inadeguati per affrontare le questioni contemporanee di sviluppo sostenibile urbano e di governance della protezione ambientale. Negli ultimi anni, è stato dimostrato che attraverso l’adozione di nuovi approcci "performance-based", che integrano i servizi ecosistemici (ES) e le infrastrutture verdi (GI) all’interno del piano urbanistico, si possa portare innovazione all’interno dei tradizionali modelli di pianificazione territoriale, e raggiungere livelli più elevati di prestazioni ambientali e paesaggistiche, funzionali a migliorare la qualità della vita dei cittadini nell’ambiente urbano. Questi nuovi approcci di pianificazione considerano nuovi paradigmi per il progetto ambientale su scala urbana e territoriale, anteponendo la dimensione “qualitativa” del progetto di città pubblica per la fornitura di molteplici benefici in termini di servizi di approvvigionamento, regolazione e mantenimento degli ecosistemi urbani, ma anche culturali e sociali. A partire da una valutazione scenariale sperimentale dei valori ecologici del territorio il contributo riflette sulla coerenza degli strumenti operativi della tecnica urbanistica per la pianificazione delle aree periurbane nel rispetto degli obiettivi ambientali perseguiti
Identification of hybrid dynamic systems via a sparse regression algorithm
No full textThis study introduces a sparse regression algorithm for identifying hybrid dynamical systems and the intricate switching dynamics between force fields. Using a physics-informed approach and assuming the number of discontinuities is known, the algorithm employs a coordinate transformation to explicitly reveal switching surfaces. A symbolic representation of the dynamics is recovered using sparse regularized regression. Our approach is numerically validated on a system with unilateral elastic impacts. We investigate the capabilities and limitations of the method, particularly with respect to impact strength, which defines a low-data regime for observables and limited contact information. The practical applicability is evaluated using an experimental rig featuring a two-well potential chaotic oscillator with an impact barrier. We demonstrate the robustness and versatility of the approach in recovering hybrid dynamic models from complex scenarios involving both smooth and non-smooth transitions between force fields. By combining physics-informed insights with symbolic regression techniques, this method enhances interpretability and robustness in the analysis of hybrid dynamical systems
Long-term infective complications of deep brain stimulation in Parkinson’s disease: A 22-year follow-up
No full textIntroduction: Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is an established treatment for Parkinson’s disease (PD), but infections remain a significant concern. This study evaluated infection rates and their impact in PD patients who underwent subthalamic nucleus (STN)-DBS over a 23-year period. Methods: A total of 172 PD patients who underwent bilateral STN-DBS between 2000 and 2023 were included in this retrospective study. Patients were followed up for periods ranging from 5 to 22 years, with regular assessments conducted to monitor both clinical outcomes and the occurrence of infections. The study analyzed the timing of infections onset, clinical features, microbiological data, management and outcomes. Results: The overall infection rate was 8.7 % over the follow-up period (15/172). Most of the infections (63.6 %) involved the implantable pulse generator (IPG) subcutaneous pocket, developed after a median of 22 months and were related to the number of substitutions with a notable peak in incidence after the third replacement (3.3 ± 1.5). All the infected devices were non-rechargeable and Staphylococcus epidermidis was the isolated pathogen in all cases except by one. Surgical revision of the IPG pocket was necessary in 46.2 % of cases while all the others were treated by antibiotics. Factors that significantly correlated with infections were the years elapsed since DBS implantation, BMI decrease, and the number of IPG replacements. Conclusions: While STN-DBS remains effective for PD, infection risk rises with time, particularly during IPG replacements. Long-term follow-up and timely management are vital for sustaining therapeutic benefits
Gli infortuni degli studenti del Corso di Laurea in Infermieristica nella regione Marche: uno studio osservazionale dal 2011 al 2024 presso la sede di Pesaro dell’Università Politecnica delle Marche Injuries among Nursing students in the Marche region: an observational study from 2011 to 2024 at the Pesaro campus of the Polytechnic University of Marche
No full textINTRODUZIONE nella pratica clinica in Italia si verificano più di 130.000 casi di infortunio/anno e il 40-50% di essi sono di natura biologica. La categoria più colpita è quella degli infermieri, compresi gli studenti di infermieristica; questi ultimi in particolare hanno un rischio di incidenza più elevato rispetto ai professionisti iscritti all’albo. L’obiettivo primario dello studio è di quantificare e stratificare gli infortuni causati da esposizione ad agenti biologici dell'assistenza infermieristica dall'a.a. 2011/2012 al 2023/2024. L’obiettivo secondario è individuare i contesti e le procedure con maggiore esposizione al rischio. MATERIALI E METODI studio retrospettivo condotto su una popolazione non probabilistica di 2538 studenti infermieri di un'università dell'Italia centrale, dal 2011 al 2024. I dati sulla tipologia e sul numero di incidenti biologici professionali sono stati estrapolati da un registro elettronico e raccolti in un database anonimo. L'incidenza delle lesioni biologiche è divisa per tipologia: contatto con fluido biologico, puntura con ago/tagliente, altro. RISULTATI nel periodo di osservazione sono state notificate 173 (7%) lesioni biologiche, 91 (53%) sono state dovute ad ago o tagliente, 79 (46%) al contatto con fluido biologico e 3 (1%) ad altre cause. Non è stata riscontrata alcuna differenza nell'incidenza e nella tipologia degli infortuni a seconda dell'anno accademico o dell'anno di corso (primo, secondo, terzo anno). La maggior parte degli infortuni si è verificata in ambienti chirurgici, DEA e medici. CONCLUSIONI Lo studio ha evidenziato l’importanza della formazione e della sorveglianza sanitaria per ridurre gli infortuni biologici. È necessario implementare laboratori pre-clinici finalizzati alla formazione pratica in sicurezza e monitorare costantemente l’andamento degli infortuni per individuare le aree critiche su cui intervenireINTRODUCTION: In clinical practice in Italy, more than 130,000 accidents occur annually, 40-50% of which are biological in nature. Nurses, including nursing students, are the most affected group; the latter, in particular, have a higher risk of injury than registered professionals. The primary objective of the study is to quantify and stratify injuries caused by exposure to biological agents in nursing care from the 2011/2012 to 2023/2024 academic years. The secondary objective is to identify the contexts and procedures with the greatest exposure to risk. METHODS: A retrospective study conducted on a non-probabilistic population of 2,538 nursing students at a university in central Italy, from 2011 to 2024. Data on the type and number of occupational biological incidents were extracted from an electronic registry and collected in an anonymous database. The incidence of biological injuries is broken down by type: contact with biological fluid, needlestick/sharp instrument puncture, and other. RESULTS: During the observation period, 173 (7%) biological injuries were reported, 91 (53%) were due to needle or sharp objects, 79 (46%) to contact with biological fluids, and 3 (1%) to other causes. No differences were found in the incidence and type of injuries depending on the academic year or year of study (first, second, or third year). Most injuries occurred in surgical, emergency department, and medical settings. CONCLUSIONS: The study highlighted the importance of training and health surveillance to reduce biological injuries. It is necessary to implement preclinical laboratories aimed at practical safety training and constantly monitor injury trends to identify critical areas requiring interventio
Boundary value problems for third-order differential equations involving singular Phi-Laplacian operators
No full textWe study strongly nonlinear, third-order differential equations of type (Φ(k(t)u''(t)))' = f(t, u(t), u'(t), u''(t)), a.e. t ∈ J, where Φ is the singular Φ-Laplacian operator. That is, Φ : (–r, r) -> R, r > 0, is a generic strictly increasing homeomorphism with bounded domain, which generalizes the relativistic operator Φ(u) := u (r2 – u2)–1/2. Moreover, k is a nonnegative continuous function, which can vanish on a set of zero measure, so such equations can be singular, and f is a general Carathédory function. For these equations, we investigate boundary value problems both in compact intervals (when J = [a; b]) and in a half-line (with J = [a;+∞)), and we prove existence results under mild assumptions. Our approach is based on fixed point technique
Debating wine health-warning labels using Q methodology
No full textIn Europe, alcohol-related diseases have an increasingly high impact on healthcare costs every year. Hence, rising consumer consciousness regarding the risks and harms of drinking alcohol is a primary goal of the EU Commission. Recently, the Commission has been discussing the mandatory adoption of health-warning labels (HWLs) on all alcoholic beverages, including wine. This study investigated expert and non-expert perceptions of adopting health-warning labels on wine bottles. The research used Q methodology, a mixed-method approach to explore subjective viewpoints regarding adopting health-warning labels for the wine sector. Respondents were evenly distributed among wine experts and consumers. The results provided four different views based on participants’ perceptions of HWLs. Factor 1 (the “Nationalism” view) strongly opposes the proposal, which is considered extremely dangerous for the entire wine market. Factor 2 (the “Market-oriented” view) believes that health warnings will increase transparency in the market and help consumers make informed choices, thereby respecting consumer autonomy. Factor 3 (the “Health-first” view) strongly believes that informing consumers through health labels on all alcoholic beverages is necessary to protect public health. Lastly, Factor 4 (the “Keep Us Alive” view) underestimates warning labels’ effectiveness in promoting the right behaviours. The findings highlight different “sides” of this debating topic and provide valuable insight into how policymakers can investigate new strategies, always considering and respecting consumer choic
AI-Driven Detection and Control in a Bioinspired Robotic Fish
No full textThis paper presents a bioinspired robotic fish adaptable to diverse applications, integrating artificial intelligence for real-time recognition of marine objects and a biomimetic locomotion system based on a 2 Degrees of Freedom (DoFs) tail. The onboard neural network processes visual data to identify specific underwater objects, such as mussels and clams. At the same time, a real-time communication system transmits findings remotely via a Telegram-based API. Performance evaluation, including accuracy, loss, confusion matrix, and Receiver Operating Characteristic-Area Under the Curve (ROC-AUC) analysis, confirms the model’s reliability in classification tasks. Additionally, key operational metrics such as waterproof integrity, response time, manoeuvrability, and regime speed were measured, demonstrating its practicability. The proposed system offers a versatile and cost-effective solution suitable for applications in marine biology, underwater monitoring, and autonomous exploration
