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Cost-Effective Vibration Monitoring for Anomaly Detection and Localization in Existing Structures
No full textThe ability to detect and predict the progressive degradation of structures—whether due to natural material aging or unexpected dynamic events such as earthquakes or explosions—is of paramount importance. However, identifying structural damage through the analysis of modal parameter variations, while minimizing the influence of external factors like environmental conditions, remains a challenging and resource-intensive task. At the same time, the capacity to rapidly assess and respond to changes in structural behavior is essential for safeguarding human lives and ensuring the timely implementation of corrective actions. Quick interventions in critical situations not only mitigate risks but also minimize disruptions to structural functionality, enabling faster recovery where possible. This study introduces a methodology that leverages data directly from continuous monitoring systems, significantly reducing computational complexity. By bypassing the extraction of modal characteristics from acquired data, the proposed approach delivers near-instant feedback on dynamic behavior changes. This capability is pivotal for advancing sustainable, cost-effective, and efficient monitoring practices, enabling timely decision-making and improved structural resilience
Il personale sanitario: una risorsa non comprimibile
No full textIl presente contributo si concentra sul ruolo cruciale delle risorse umane nel sistema sanitario, sottolineandone la centralità in un settore caratterizzato da elevata intensità relazionale e da una strutturale non comprimibilità della spesa. Attraverso l'analisi dei dati relativi alla composizione, all'età, al genere e alla distribuzione territoriale del personale sanitario in Italia, si evidenziano criticità legate a una cronica carenza di infermieri, a un progressivo invecchiamento della forza lavoro e a un'inadeguata programmazione formativa. Il fenomeno delle dimissioni volontarie post-pandemiche, l'emigrazione professionale e la concorrenza del settore privato rappresentano ulteriori fattori di fragilità per ii SSN. L'articolo propоne un insieme articolato di strategie volte al reclutamento, alla fidelizzazione e alla valorizzazione del personale, che includono interventi organizzativi, misure economiche, strumenti di welfare aziendale e una ridefinizione dei percorsi professionali. Particolare attenzione è rivolta ai processi di femminilizzazione e all'avvento di nuove generazioni nel mercato del lavoro sanitario, interpretati come leve potenziali per un ripensamento dei modelli di professionalismo e di governance sanitaria. In quest'ottica, la valorizzazione del contributo delle donne e delle nuove generazioni potrebbe porsi come elemento chiave per la costruzione di un servizio sanitario pubblico più equo, sostenibile e attrattivo
Prevalence and clinical relevance of digital ulcers in systemic sclerosis patients from the real-life: the experience of the SPRING Registry of the Italian Society for Rheumatology
Get PDFIntroduction: Digital ulcers (DU) are one of the most frequent manifestations in systemic sclerosis (SSc). The presence of DU seems to be a sentinel sign of internal organ involvement and is related to a poor prognosis of the disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and the relationship of DU with clinical manifestations/variants in a large SSc cohort from the SPRING registry. Methods: SSc patients fulfilling the ACR/EULAR 2013 classification criteria without missing data on digital ulcers were enrolled in a cross-sectional study. Logistic regression models were built to test the association between the presence of DU and SSc-related features. Results: Among 1873 eligible SSc patients, the presence of DU was significantly associated with gastrointestinal involvement (OR 1.88, 2.04 and 1.74; p < 0.001) and serum ATA positivity (OR 2.15; p < 0.001), as well as with telangiectasias, sclerodactyly, digital pitting scar, and calcinosis (OR 1.40, p = 0.005; OR 3.43, p < 0.001, OR 9.12, p < 0.001 and OR 2.77, p < 0.001; respectively). In the multivariable regression models, even after adjustment for covariates, ATA positivity (OR 1.76, p = 0.039), puffy fingers (OR 2.82, p < 0.001), and a higher revEUSTAR-AI (OR 6.63, p < 0.001) emerged as risk factors for the presence of DU. Moreover, a low presence of DU was recorded in SSc patients with a history of previous immunosuppressive treatments (OR 0.53, p = 0.032). Conclusion: In our Italian SSc cohort, DUs were significantly associated with the presence of puffy fingers, high revEUSTR-AI, and ATA seropositivity. Noteworthy, immunosuppressive treatments were associated with a low rate of DU, suggesting that they might contribute to the prevention of these harmful manifestations
Reply to "Time to standardize preoperative EUS for lymph node staging in resectable extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma"
No full textA Novel Framework for Evaluating Polarization in Online Social Networks
Get PDFIn online communities, polarization refers to the phenomenon in which individuals become more divided and extreme in their opinions due to their exposure to specific content. In this paper, we present a network-based framework for evaluating polarization levels in Online Social Networks (OSNs). Starting from a dataset of comments, our framework creates a network of user interactions and leverages the Louvain algorithm, the Rao’s Quadratic Entropy, and ego networks to assess the polarization level of communities and the most influential users. To test our framework, we leveraged a dataset of tweets about climate change. After performing Extraction, Transformation and Loading activities on the dataset, we evaluated its labels, identified communities, and analyzed their polarization level and that of the most influential users. We also analyzed the ego networks of believers and deniers and the aggressiveness of the corresponding tweets. Our analysis revealed the existence of polarized communities and homophily among the most influential users. It also showed that the type of communication used to disseminate information influences the polarization level of both communities and individual users. These results demonstrate our framework’s ability to support the polarization analysis in OSNs
Myoelectric and Inertial Data Fusion Through a Novel Attention-Based Spatiotemporal Feature Extraction for Transhumeral Prosthetic Control: An Offline Analysis
No full textThis study proposes a feature extraction scheme that fuses accelerometric (ACC) and electromyographic (EMG) data to improve shoulder movement identification in individuals with transhumeral amputation, in whom the clinical need for intuitive control strategies enabling reliable activation of full-arm prostheses is underinvestigated. A novel spatiotemporal warping feature extraction architecture was employed to realize EMG and ACC information fusion at the feature level. EMG and ACC data were collected from six participants with intact limbs and four participants with transhumeral amputation using an NI USB-6009 device at 1000 Hz to support the proposed feature extraction scheme. For each participant, a leave-one-trial-out (LOTO) training and testing approach was used for developing pattern recognition models for both the intact-limb (IL) and amputee (AMP) groups. The analysis revealed that the introduction of ACC information has a positive impact when using windows of length (WLs) lower than 150 ms. A linear discriminant analysis (LDA) classifier was able to exceed the accuracy of 90% in each WL condition and for each group. Similar results were observed for an extreme learning machine (ELM), whereas k-nearest neighbors (kNN) and an autonomous learning multi-model classifier showed a mean accuracy of less than 87% for both IL and AMP groups at different WLs, guaranteeing applicability over a large set of shallow pattern-recognition models that can be used in real scenarios. The present work lays the groundwork for future studies involving real-time validation of the proposed methodology on a larger population, acknowledging the current limitation of offline analysis
The aging choroid plexus and its relationship with gut dysbiosis and Klotho decline: possible intervention strategies
No full textThe choroid plexus (ChP) is a complex ventricular structure that forms a semi-permeable barrier between the blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). It is responsible for CSF secretion and clearance, contains macrophages, and is one of the few sites within the central nervous system (CNS) where T cells are present. Additionally, the ChP plays a role in detecting peripheral inflammation, which leads to the modulation of its epithelial cell function. Despite its critical importance in maintaining brain homeostasis, the ChP is often overlooked, particularly concerning the changes it undergoes with aging, such as reduced barrier function, impaired CSF production, and altered immunosurveillance. These age-related alterations may contribute to several harmful effects, including neuroinflammation and oxidative damage, potentially predisposing individuals to neurodegenerative conditions. Although knowledge is still limited, gut dysbiosis and decreased Klotho levels-of which the ChP is one of the main sources-appear to be significant contributors to ChP impairments. This narrative review will examine the impact of age-related gut dysbiosis on the CNS, focusing on the ChP, and explore the effects of reduced Klotho levels in this brain structure. We will also propose the hypothesis that combining the administration of probiotics capable of restoring gut microbiota eubiosis with gene therapy to upregulate Klotho in the ChP could help preserve the structural and functional integrity of the aging brain. Finally, we will provide a technical overview to ensure that vectors encoding Klotho cDNA achieve maximum specificity for the ChP, thereby avoiding off-target effects
Eco-hydrological insights from a snow drought in a Mediterranean mountainous catchment in Central Italy
No full textThe Plastic Signature: Microplastic Ingestion and Phthalate Exposure in Parapenaeus longirostris from Three Tyrrhenian Sites (Mediterranean Sea)
No full textMicroplastic pollution is pervasive in marine ecosystems and poses a growing threat to marine organisms and human health. This study simultaneously investigates microplastic ingestion and phthalate exposure in Parapenaeus longirostris, a commercially valuable and ecologically relevant Mediterranean crustacean occupying an intermediate trophic position. Specimens were collected from three coastal areas in the central Tyrrhenian Sea (Western Mediterranean): near the Tiber River mouth, one of the most polluted rivers in Italy, and two additional sites to the north and south. The frequency of individuals with ingested microplastics varied among locations: 78% near the Tiber River, 64% at site S, and 38% at site N, reflecting anthropogenic pressure gradients. Analyses confirmed the lower occurrence at site N, indicating higher ingestion near land-based pollution sources. Ingested microplastic polymer types varied among sites, reflecting location-specific contamination. Phthalates were present in shrimp muscle at all sites (5–1122 ng/g w.w.) with the highest average concentration (68.26 ± 55.74 ng/g) at the site with the highest microplastic ingestion. Although no statistical correlation was found, the similar spatial distribution of microplastics and phthalates suggests a potential link influenced by local pollution and individual variability. These findings provide novel evidence of microplastic and phthalate contamination in P. longirostris, highlighting its role as a trophic connector mediating contaminant transfer through the food web. While current levels suggest no potential risk to human health, continued monitoring and further studies on exposure along trophic pathways are recommended
Human diagnostic markers for intake of semi-synthetic cannabinoids (9R)- and (9S)-hexahydrocannabinol
No full textBackground: Hexahydrocannabinol (HHC) emerged on the illicit drug market in 2022, especially in cannabinoid consumables. HHC has a chiral center and is present as 9(R) and 9(S) epimers, exhibiting different potencies. This study explores the enantioselective metabolism of 9(R)- and 9(S)-HHC to identify and differentiate intake of these two toxicants. Methods: 9(R)- and 9(S)-HHC were incubated separately with human hepatocytes for 3 h and analyzed by liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry. In addition, authentic urine samples collected 0.5, 3 and 24 h after HHC intake were also analyzed to identify biomarkers. In silico predictions were performed to complement in vitro and in vivo experiments with data mining analysis. Results: In silico metabolites predicted were transformed via hydroxylation, carboxylation, and alcohol oxidation to ketones and further conjugated through phase II glucuronidation and sulfation reactions. Thirteen metabolites were identified following 9(R)-HHC in vitro incubation and nine for 9(S)-HHC incubate. In human urine, nineteen metabolites were identified, ten and six specific 9R- and 9S-HHC metabolites, respectively, and three undefined for a specific isomer. However, 9(R)- and 9(S)-HHC were not detected in the urine under these analytical conditions. Conclusion: The stereoselective metabolism of 9(R)- and 9(S)-HHC was observed in in vitro incubation and in vivo authentic urine. Phase I metabolites were substantially conjugated as glucuronides. Without hydrolysis, MU1 and MU10 are recommended markers for 9(R)-HHC and MU7 for 9(S)-HHC consumption. MU3, MU4, and MU16 are proposed as metabolite biomarkers for HHC intake, after hydrolysis. Additionally, difference in HHC and Δ9-THC metabolism was observed