141 research outputs found
Cristoforo Buondelmonti, Descriptio insule Crete. Edizione critica e introduzione
No full textLa tesi propone una nuova edizione critica della Descriptio insule Crete di Cristoforo Buondelmonti (1384-1430 ca.), che aggiorna e rivede profondamente l’edizione di Van Spitael (1981) sulla base di nuove acquisizioni. Preceduta da un’introduzione volta a indagare la peculiare metodologia dell’autore nella stesura della monografia su Creta, la nota al testo fornisce un’approfondita descrizione codicologica dei testimoni manoscritti e ne studia gli intricati rapporti di parentela. Il confronto serrato delle varianti d’autore ha inoltre condotto a una nuova ricostruzione dell’articolato iter redazionale, distinguibile in tre tappe: a una prima versione, nata sotto forma di resoconto personale all’amico Niccolò Niccoli dell’esplorazione cretese e tràdita dal manoscritto Laurenziano Pluteo 29.42, segue una versione più ampia, testimoniata dal Chigiano F. IV. 74 e dal codex deperditus ex-Baden, a sua volta superata da una terza e ultima redazione, tràdita dal Rossiano 703 e dal codice MS-G-13 di Düsseldorf (non considerato nella precedente edizione dell’opera), che costituiscono la base per il nuovo testo critico. Quest’ultimo è corredato da una doppia fascia di apparato, in cui si segnalano le varianti d’autore delle due precedenti redazioni e gli errori di tradizione. Cruciale si è rivelato proprio lo studio diacronico dei vari stadi evolutivi dell’opera, dal quale è emersa con chiarezza la volontà di Buondelmonti di sprovincializzare la propria relazione di viaggio, nata in un contesto squisitamente fiorentino, e rivestirla di un apparato letterario ed erudito più in linea con le rinnovate esigenze della stagione umanistica.
English version:
The thesis proposes a new scholarly edition of Descriptio insule Crete by Cristoforo Buondelmonti (ca. 1384-1430), which updates and deeply revises the edition by Van Spitael (1981) on the basis of new acquisitions. Preceded by an introduction aimed at investigating the peculiar methodology of the author in the writing the monograph about Crete, the Note to the Text provides a thorough codicological description of the manuscript witnesses and the study of their intricate relationships. The close comparison of the author’s variants has also led to a new reconstruction of the complex editorial process, distinguishable in three stages: a first version, born in the form of a personal report about the Cretan exploration to his friend Niccolò Niccoli and witnessed by the manuscript Laurenziano Pluteo 29.42, was followed by a larger version, witnessed by the Chigiano F. IV. 74 and by the codex deperditus ex-Baden, which was in turn superseded by a third and final version, witnessed by the Rossiano 703 and by the codex MS-G-13 of Düsseldorf (not considered by Van Spitael’s edition), which form the basis for the new scholarly edition. The latter is accompanied by a double band of apparatus, in which the author’s variants of the two previous versions and the errors of tradition are reported. The diachronic study of the various editorial phases of the work has been crucial, and it has clearly shown Buondelmonti’s will to de-provincialize his travel report, born in an exquisitely Florentine context, and to cover it with a literary and erudite stratum more in line with the needs of the humanistic season
Impaired glucose metabolism in bipolar patients and response to mood stabilizer treatments
No full textBackground: Metabolic dysfunctions in patients with bipolar disorder (BD) are critical factors that interfere with outcome, but only one study evaluated the influence of glucose dysmetabolism on the response to treatment with lithium. We aimed to investigate the potential impact of glucose metabolic status on clinical characteristics of BD patients and their response to treatment with different mood stabilizers in monotherapy or in combination. Methods: 45 BD patients with insulin resistance (IR) or type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2) and 46 patients with normal glucose metabolism, treated with mood stabilizers for at least one year were assessed by diagnostic and rating instruments. Their clinical characteristics were compared and an ordinal logistic regression model was adopted to identify possible predictors of response to mood stabilizer treatments. Results: Compared to patients with normal glucose metabolism, BD patients with impaired glucose metabolism showed a worse clinical presentation of their psychiatric illness and a worse response to mood stabilizers. Ordinal logistic regression analysis evidenced that impaired glucose metabolism was the only predictor of poor response to mood stabilizers (OR 4.3; 95% CI: 1.7–11.1; p < 0.002). Limitations: Cross-sectional design and the relatively small sample size, are the main limitations of our study. Conclusions: Our findings expand literature data suggesting that BD patients with impaired glucose metabolism are at a greater risk of not responding to lithium as well as to different mood stabilizer treatments
Integrated survey methodologies for the knowledge, restoration and valorization of modern architecture. The case study of the Archaeological Museum of Siracusa designed by Franco Minissi
No full textThe knowledge of an articulate architectural organism cannot disregard its critical observation: it is important to detect what it generously shows but especially what it jealously hides. This twofold recognition allows making the essential breakthrough for the planning of a conscious restoration project that will so find on it, a solid support on which to unfold and develop. This identification is a multi-faceted process that can today take advantage of digital technologies. These instruments - if properly selected and managed - can facilitate an indepth investigation, stimulating new considerations and inspiring new fields to explore. In this framework, this paper describes the path followed in the study of a modern building: the Regional Archaeological Museum "Paolo Orsi" in Syracuse, designed by Franco Minissi in the '60s and opened to the public almost 30 years later. This work, based on a careful "reading" of the edifice and its environment, made by integrating archival and documentary analysis and different survey methods, aims at suggesting the proper interventions to conserve and enhance the design process developed by the author. It, also, intends to contribute to the definition of a new approach to the museum visitor experiences through multimedia. Conceived as a vital center for research and cultural promotion, the museum, thanks to virtual reality technologies, can today found new capabilities, although keeping its original spirit
Positively charged polymers modulate the fate of human mesenchymal stromal cells via ephrinB2/EphB4 signaling
No full textAbstractUnderstanding the mechanisms by which mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) interact with the physical properties (e.g. topography, charge, ζ-potential, and contact angle) of polymeric surfaces is essential to design new biomaterials capable of regulating stem cell behavior. The present study investigated the ability of two polymers (pHM1 and pHM3) with different positive surface charge densities to modulate the differentiation of MSCs into osteoblast-like phenotype via cell-cell ephrinB2/EphB4 signaling. Although pHM1 promoted the phosphorylation of EphB4, leading to cell differentiation, pHM3, characterized by a high positive surface charge density, had no significant effect on EphB4 activation or MSCs differentiation. When the MSCs were cultured on pHM1 in the presence of a forward signaling blocking peptide, the osteoblast differentiation was compromised. Our results demonstrated that the ephrinB2/EphB4 interaction was required for MSCs differentiation into an osteoblast-like phenotype and that the presence of a high positive surface charge density altered this interaction
How to Manage a Failed Cartilage Repair: A Systematic Literature Review
No full textPurpose The aims of this paper are to report the rate and risk factors for the failure of the most common cartilage repair technique, and analyze the most important factors that could influence the choice of a specific surgical treatment to revise a failed cartilage repair.
Methods A review of the literature was performed focusing on failed cartilage repair and related treatments. Two of the authors independently screened articles. Conflicts about the inclusion of a paper was resolved by further evaluation by the senior author. Review articles, articles written in languages different from/other than English, case reports, and papers that did not evaluate the outcomes of interest were excluded. Full- text version of each included paper was obtained and relevant data were extracted and collected in a database.
Results At the end of the screening process, 31 articles were included. Microfractures and mosaicplasty showed a nonnegligible failure rate at short- and midterm. Better results, especially in terms of time to failure or revision, were reported with the use of autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI) and osteochondral allograft (OCA) trans- plantation. Regarding the treatment of failed cartilage repair, the use of OCA transplantation in patients with previous failed cartilage repair may be a safe option. The revision of failed OCA transplantation with further OCA seems to have a greater failure rate. Patients with previous failed ACI or matrix-induced autologous chondro- cyte implantation (MACI) who underwent further MACI or ACI reported acceptable results. Otherwise, ACI in patients with history of previous subchondral marrow stimulation (SMS) demonstrated a greater failure rate.
Conclusion From the analysis of the literature, OCA transplantation seems to be the most reliable treatment of a failed SMS. ACI or MACI showed acceptable results in patients with previously failed MACI or ACI.
Level of Evidence level IV, systematic review of level I-IV studies
Correction to: Left Ventricular Non-Compaction, Atrial Fibrillation and ANK2 Mutation in a Young Athlete
No full textThe authors would like to make following correction to the published article: Left Ventricular Non-Compaction, Atrial Fibrillation and ANK2 Mutation in a Young Athleteh, 2025;17(1):60-65. doi: 10.14740/jocmr6126 [1]. The name of the second author should read “Francesco Brancati” instead of “Enrico Brancati”. The published online date should read “January 6, 2025” instead of “January 6, 2024”
Recovery and Conservation of Old Water Mills in Central Sicily
No full textAbstractEstablished on the analysis of an area dotted by interesting anthropogenic and natural elements, this paper focuses on the recognition of the cultural value of Central Sicily's river landscape. In the territory of Piazza Armerina (Enna) the presence of streams full of water allowed, since the 14th century, a significant production cycle mainly related to the wheat cultivation and grinding. Of the related watermill system, abandoned as any longer functional, today remain little traces, which are, however, important source of cultural identity. This heritage, if rediscovered, conserved and enhanced, may play an essential role in the area's socioeconomic regeneration
3-D Nonstationary Simulation of Hall Thrusters
No full textThe thesis summarizes the work carried out by the author during the PhD course in Aerospace Engineering, XXI Cycle, at Universita' di Pisa, Dipartimento di Ingegneria Aerospaziale ”Lucio Lazzarino” (DIA). The goal of this work is to make a macroscopically exhaustive analysis of the physical phenomena involved in the study of Hall Effect Thrusters (HETs).
The numerical model utilizes and extrapolates the results of several works on HETs and other electric thrusters. Moreover, we draw knowledge from rudiments and solution techniques by other fields of Computational Physics and include them in our simulation model. Among the different kinds of models for the plasma dynamics description, we have chosen to utilize a multifluid-quasineutral nonstationary model with a 3-D structured discretization of the simulation domain. The 3-D description of the problem is fundamentally focused to consider and accurately explore magnetic field configurations that are inherently non-axysimmetric due to the magnetic circuit construction. Moreover, the model aims to take into account a plasma dynamics inherently 3-D despite an axysimmetric construction. The analysis of the unsteady thruster’s operation aims to verify if the nonstationary phenomena, which were highlighted in several theoretical and
experimental works, can be accurately modeled by the fluid framework.
The magnetic model was described using the "magnetostatic approximation", thus it can be considered externally applied such an input parameter to the simulation of the plasma dynamics. Moreover, we split up the total magnetic field into two components, the former externally fixed, and the latter depending on the current induced by the motion of the plasma in-
side the discharge channel. Taking into account the effects induced by the plasma dynamics on the magnetic circuit properties also permits to analyze configurations of magnetic field in series with the discharge.
We started our model description by writing the plasma simulation model in a dimensional form using the fluid equations for a quasineutral three-components plasma. Subsequently, the dimensional fluid equations were expressed in a dimensionless form. The dimensionless form of the model permits to numerically solve it without consider scale effects depending on the value of discharge parameters and extrapolate some typical dimensionless parameters of the problem. Moreover, the dimensionless formulation permits to share the simulation results between different thrusters and effectively present them in scientific publications. Dealing with dimensionless parameters, a scale analysis of physical phenomena can be made. Indeed, using experimental data in the literature
expressed in terms of macroscopic quantities for existing HETs, we can write scaling laws able to keep constant some dimensionless parameters for a reference thruster. The dimensionless analysis is considered of worth because it constitutes the basis of the conceptual design of HETs.
Finally, a frequency analysis of 1-D discharge properties along the axial direction has been performed. This analysis was mainly focused to highlight the presence of low-frequency longitudinal oscillations, thus to validate the pattern of relevant fields with respect to existing experimental data or to numerical models presented in the literature
Immunosuppressive treatment and radiotherapy in kidney transplant patients: A systematic review
No full textBACKGROUND Immunosuppression (IS) therapy may contribute to cancer development. Some authors have proposed to reduce immunosuppression drugs dose in case of viral infections, in immunosuppression-related diseases, and in patients undergoing radiotherapy. The present analysis reports the results of a systematic review on kidney transplant recipients undergoing immunosuppression and radiotherapy. AIM To define if it is necessary reduce immunosuppression drugs during radiotherapy. METHODS The literature search was based on three electronic databases (Pubmed, Scopus, and Web of Science) using selected keywords linked through the "AND " and "OR " Boolean operators to build specific strings for each electronic search engine. Two researchers independently screened the citations, and disagreement was resolved by discussion or through the intervention of a third author. The review was conducted and reported according to the PRISMA statement. Extracted data were narratively synthesized, and, where possible, frequencies, percentages, and ranges were calculated. RESULTS The literature search resulted in 147 citations. After abstracts screening, 21 records were selected for full-text evaluation. Fifteen of these were excluded, leaving six papers considered suitable for analysis. There is still no clear evidence that withdrawing antimetabolites and/or calcineurin inhibitors and/or mammalian target of rapamycin-inhibitors, as opposed to continuing maintenance IS, improves patient survival in kidney transplant recipients with cancer undergoing radiotherapy. Only few retrospective studies on small cancer patient cohorts are available in this setting, but without comparison of different immunosuppression treatments. Even where immunosuppression therapy was described, patient survival seemed to be correlated only with cancer stage and type. CONCLUSION The results of this systematic review do not support the reduction of immunosuppression dose in patients undergoing radiotherapy
Polarization Properties of the Weakly Magnetized Neutron Star X-Ray Binary GS 1826–238 in the High Soft State
No full textCapitanio, Fiamma et al.--Full list of authors: Capitanio, Fiamma; Fabiani, Sergio; Gnarini, Andrea; Ursini, Francesco; Ferrigno, Carlo; Matt, Giorgio; Poutanen, Juri; Cocchi, Massimo; Mikusincova, Romana; Farinelli, Ruben; Bianchi, Stefano; Kajava, Jari J. E.; Muleri, Fabio; Sanchez-Fernandez, Celia; Soffitta, Paolo; Wu, Kinwah; Agudo, Ivan; Antonelli, Lucio A.; Bachetti, Matteo; Baldini, Luca; Baumgartner, Wayne H.; Bellazzini, Ronaldo; Bongiorno, Stephen D.; Bonino, Raffaella; Brez, Alessandro; Bucciantini, Niccolo; Castellano, Simone; Cavazzuti, Elisabetta; Ciprini, Stefano; Costa, Enrico; De Rosa, Alessandra; Del Monte, Ettore; Di Gesu, Laura; Di Lalla, Niccolo; Di Marco, Alessandro; Donnarumma, Immacolata; Doroshenko, Victor; Dovciak, Michal; Ehlert, Steven R.; Enoto, Teruaki; Evangelista, Yuri; Ferrazzoli, Riccardo; Garcia, Javier A.; Gunji, Shuichi; Hayashida, Kiyoshi; Heyl, Jeremy; Iwakiri, Wataru; Jorstad, Svetlana G.; Karas, Vladimir; Kitaguchi, Takao; Kolodziejczak, Jeffery J.; Krawczynski, Henric; La Monaca, Fabio; Latronico, Luca; Liodakis, Ioannis; Maldera, Simone; Manfreda, Alberto; Marin, Frederic; Marinucci, Andrea; Marscher, Alan P.; Marshall, Herman L.; Mitsuishi, Ikuyuki; Mizuno, Tsunefumi; Ng, C. -Y.; O'Dell, Stephen L.; Omodei, Nicola; Oppedisano, Chiara; Papitto, Alessandro; Pavlov, George G.; Peirson, Abel L.; Perri, Matteo; Pesce-Rollins, Melissa; Petrucci, Pierre-Olivier; Pilia, Maura; Possenti, Andrea; Puccetti, Simonetta; Ramsey, Brian D.; Rankin, John; Ratheesh, Ajay; Romani, Roger W.; Sgro, Carmelo; Slane, Patrick; Spandre, Gloria; Tamagawa, Toru; Tavecchio, Fabrizio; Taverna, Roberto; Tawara, Yuzuru; Tennant, Allyn F.; Thomas, Nicholas E.; Tombesi, Francesco; Trois, Alessio; Tsygankov, Sergey S.; Turolla, Roberto; Vink, Jacco; Weisskopf, Martin C.; Xie, Fei; Zane, SilviaThe launch of the Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) on 2021 December 9 has opened a new window in X-ray astronomy. We report here the results of the first IXPE observation of a weakly magnetized neutron star, GS 1826−238, performed on 2022 March 29–31 when the source was in a high soft state. An upper limit (99.73% confidence level) of 1.3% for the linear polarization degree is obtained over the IXPE 2–8 keV energy range. Coordinated INTEGRAL and NICER observations were carried out simultaneously with IXPE. The spectral parameters obtained from the fits to the broadband spectrum were used as inputs for Monte Carlo simulations considering different possible geometries of the X-ray emitting region. Comparing the IXPE upper limit with these simulations, we can put constraints on the geometry and inclination angle of GS 1826–238. © 2023. The Author(s). Published by the American Astronomical Society.J.P. and S.S.T. acknowledge support from Russian Science Foundation grant 20-12-00364 and Academy of Finland travel grants 349144, 349373, and 349906. J.P. and J.J.E.K. were supported by Academy of Finland grant 333112.Peer reviewe
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