174 research outputs found
Preemption-aware planning on Big-Data systems
No full textRecent developments in Big Data frameworks are moving towards reservation based approaches as a mean to manage the increasingly complex mix of computations, whereas preemption techniques are employed to meet strict jobs deadlines. Within this work we propose and evaluate a new planning algorithm in the context of reservation based scheduling. Our approach is able to achieve high cluster utilization while minimizing the need for preemption that causes system overheads and planning mispredictions
A Florentine family in crisis: the Strozzi in the fifteenth century.
No full textPhDIn 1434 the Strozzi lineage had held a leading position in
Florentine society and government for at least one hundred and fifty
years, and was one of the largest and wealthiest of the city's
patrician lineages. The records of the catasto of 1427 and of the
scrutiny of 1433 are used to give a profile of the dominant social,
economic and political position of the Strozzi before the advent of
Medicean dominance. Their record of electoral success, and the
political and cultural leadership of influential and respected men
such as Palla di Nofri and Matteo di Simone, with other factors, put
the Strozzi amongst the greatest enemies of the victorious Medicean
regime of late 1434. The effects of political opposition and exile
on the lineage are examined both directly, through records of office-holding,
and indirectly through such indicators as marriage alliances
and household wealth. The two most prominent lines of the Strozzi
were exiled after 1434. Palla di Nofri's life and preoccupations in
his Paduan exile are examined, together with the lives of his sons;
none of these Strozzi ever returned to Florence, pursued as they were
by the enmity of the Medicean regime. The very different careers of
Filippo di Matteo and his brother Lorenzo are also examined: how they
succeeded in founding a lucrative bank in Naples, and in returning to
Florence to 'rebuild' (rifare) the position of the Strozzi lineage
there. The final decades of the century saw the Strozzi in an
economically more secure position, due substantially to the efforts
of Filippo. Except for a very small number of its members admitted
into the regime, most of the lineage is here shown to have remained
excluded from significant political office until after the fall of
the Medici regime in 1494
Total thyroidectomy for Graves' disease treatment
No full textObjectives. Graves' disease (GD) is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism, and accounts worldwide for 60-80% of all cases. The diagnosis is based on clinical findings, and is confirmed by the presence of TRAB, suppression of TSH, and elevation of free thyroxin (free T4), and triiodinethyronin (free T3). GD can be treated by antithyroid drugs, radioactive iodine, or surgery. The aim of this study was to review retrospectively the surgical management, in terms of safety and efficacy, in 50 patients operated in the Department of Surgical Sciences since 2005 through 2010 and followed up at the Endocrinology Unit A of the Experimental Medicine Department. We assessed postoperative complications, which included the presence, persistence and development of ophthalmopathy, transient hypocalcemia, permanent hypoparathyroidism and recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy. Materials and Methods. We analyzed data from 50 patients with GD who were eligible and underwent Total Thyroidectomy (TT). Thirty-nine patients underwent TT for recurrent hyperthyroidism after medical therapy and eleven patients for severe ophtalmopathy. The mean follow up was 41 months (range: 10-70). Results. Eleven patients had ophtalmopathy before surgery. Four patients developed an ophtalmopathy after surgery. Eleven patients presented hypocalcemia, transient in ten patients and permanent in one patient. Five patients developed a transient disphony. Conclusions. Total thyroidectomy is a safe and radical procedure in Graves' disease treatment. Complications of TT are not different than subtotal thyroidectomy if it's performed by expert surgeons
Monitoring of Mediterranean Coastal Areas problems and measurement techniques. EIGHTH INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM Livorno (Italy) June 2020
No full textMORPHOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
OF COASTLINES AND SEABEDS
The session "Morphology and evolution of coastlines and seabeds" has faced a
theme that is becoming increasingly important because coastal areas are characterized by
high-anthropic pressure, relevant socioeconomic interests besides being very sensitives to
the effect of climate changes.
The title of the session aims to underline how the coastal areas are a multifaceted
system constituted by both emerged and submerged areas that are in continuous and mutual
evolution.
Although the symposium starting date had unfortunately fallen during the Covid-19
emergence, several international and national researchers have brought their contributions
to the session.
The issues addressed, mainly concern a series of case-histories (Italy, Spain,
Turkey and Croatia) illustrating coastline changes along the time and, in some instances,
their relationships with beach nourishment or coastal defenses. Studies about the influence
of fluvial sedimentary supply on the offshore area and the effects of intensity water
circulation in strongly anthropized areas are also presented. The acquisition of data of the
scientific contributions derives from different approaches:
i) analysis of aerial and satellite images,
ii) laboratory analyses of samples collected in the study area,
iii) experimental tests.
Gomes da Silva et al. show how the use of automatic co-registered Landsat and
Sentinel-2 satellite images allows them to obtain accurate shoreline series in the Tordera
Delta area (Spain).
A complementary approach is proposed by Pagán et al. that analyses aerial images
spanning from 1956 to 2019 and reconstruct the coastal evolution along the Alicante coast
(Spain) testing the impact of beach nourishment that occurred since the 1990s.
Similar is the methodological approach proposed by Kadri and Atroune to
evaluate the diachronic evolution of the Bordj El Kiffane coastline (Algeria) with respect to
the presence or absence of protection structures.
Piccioli-Resta et al. have utilized a remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPSA) along
the Lecce coast (Italy), for the monitoring of the beach dunes and the nearby shorelines.
A similar technique was also utilized by Bedini et al., to monitoring
the Poseidonia oceanica meadows evolution in the Follonica and Baratti gulfs (Italy). The
drone-survey has evidenced the unsuitability of the coastal defenses used up now.
A direct sedimentological approach is proposed by López et al. to investigate,
within three beaches located in Spain, the relationship between sediment wear and shoreline
evolution through the use of the accelerated particle wear test (APW).
Pikelj and Furčić analyze several seabed samples collected in front of a coastal
cliff subjected to erosional processes at the Vrgada Island, in Croatia. The data furnish new
FUP Best Practice in Scholarly Publishing (DOI 10.36253/fup_best_practice)
Laura Bonora, Donatella Carboni, Matteo De Vincenzi (edited by), Eighth International Symposium “Monitoring
of Mediterranean Coastal Areas. Problems and Measurement Techniques”. Livorno (Italy) June 2020, © 2020
Author(s), content CC BY 4.0 International, metadata CC0 1.0 Universal, published by Firenze University Press
(www.fupress.com), ISSN 2704-5846 (online), ISBN 978-88-5518-147-1 (PDF), DOI 10.36253/978-88-5518-147-1
378
information about the impact of cliff erosion on coastal sediments supply and on their
longshore redistribution.
Di Leo et al. present a sedimentological and geochemical-based study to establish
the influence of the Sarno river on the present-day sedimentation in the Naples (Italy) bay
evaluating grain size, the presence of organic matter, and the pollution degree of the
sediments samples collected in the offshore area of the bay.
Bulkan et al. use a stratigraphic perspective to infer the depositional coastal
evolution of the Lake Bafa area (Aegean coast, Turkey), which occurred during the last
3,5 ka. Through the study of six cores, they document the succession of four phases, from
the earlier marine-dominated stage to the present-day isolated lacustrine stage.
Finally, Di Natale et al. by means of the implementation of experimental tests of a
three-dimensional physical model, carry out an evaluation of the intensity water circulation
within marinas and defense structures located in relevant sites of Italy (Salerno and
Ischitella stretch of coast along with the harbors of Fiumicino Manfredonia and
Castelvolturno).
Giovanni Sarti
Department of Earth Sciences
University of Pisa
Email [email protected]
YARN++ : distributed scheduling and opportunistic resource utilization in Hadoop
No full textLAUREA MAGISTRAL
Commentaries and cases on italian business law
No full textThis casebook deals with the basic principles of the Italian business law and focuses on certain recent and pivotal cases in which important rules governing the modern public company have been applied. After a short overview of the main corporate and securities laws and regulation applicable to Italian listed companies, certain leading cases which triggered the application of such rules are analyzed. The main interrelationships between and among the economic and legal elements are scrutinized for the purpose of highlighting the economic logic underlying corporate law. In the financial markets’ dynamics, the public company plays a vital role since it attracts the public savings coming from the investors in order to finance business plans and strategies which create growth and welfare. In such a scenario, financial intermediaries must act in the interest of the investors, selecting among the potential issuers those who are the most attractive for their clients. When companies are structurally organized to attract standardized equity or debt investments, by issuing listed shares, bonds or other financial instruments, their operational and governance rules change in order to safeguard the public savings coming from the investors. In the end, what makes this branch of law so interesting to students, practitioners, and scholars alike is the open-textured relationship between corporate law and securities regulation which plays a crucial role in such context. The cases selected in the second part of this book deal with significant topics in the Italian market practice and are briefly commented making reference to an updated set of laws and references. Therefore, this book can be used also with a focus on comparative legal systems for corporations taught in Italy or abroad
ASO Author Reflections: Image-Guided Intraoperative Tissue Assessment for Guidance in Oncologic Surgery: From Frozen Section to Digital Surgery
No full textN
The “accountant” stereotype in the Florentine medieval popular culture: “galantuomini” or usurers?
No full textPurpose – This paper explores the stereotype of the accountant in Florentine medieval popular culture based on literary works and from a historical perspective. It aims to highlight how stereotypes change with time and
represent the cultural and historical evolution of a society. This research challenges Miley and Read (2012), who stated that the foundation of the stereotype was in Commedia dell’arte, an Italian form of improvisational
theatre commenced in the 15th century.
Design/methodology/approach – The authors applied a qualitative research method to examine the accountant from a medieval popular culture perspective. The analysis consists of two phases: (1) categorisation of the accountant stereotype based on accounting history literature and (2) thematic analysis of The Divine Comedy (1307–1313) and The Decameron (1348–1351). The authors explored a synchronic perspective of historical investigation through a “cross-author” comparison, identifying Dante Alighieri as the first key author of medieval popular culture. During his imaginary journey through The Divine Comedy, Dante describes the social, political and economic context of the Florentine people of the 14th century. Then, with its various folkloristic elements, The Decameron of Giovanni Boccaccio becomes the “manifesto” of the popular culture in the Florentine medieval times.
Findings – This study shows the change of the accountant stereotype from the medieval age to the Renaissance.
The Divine Comedy mainly connotes a negative accountant stereotype. The 14th century’s Florentine gentlemen (“i galantuomini”) are apparently positive characters, with an ordered and clean aspect, but they are accused of being usurers. Dante Alighieri pictures the accountant as a “servant of capitalism”, “dishonest person, excessively fixated with money”, “villain and evil” and “excessively rational”. Giovanni Boccaccio mainly portrays a positive accountant stereotype. The accountant is increasingly more reliable, and this “commercial man” takes a more prestigious role in the society. In The Decameron, the accountant is depicted as a “hero”, “gentleman”, familyoriented person with a high level of work commitment” and “colourful persona, warm, and emotional”. Overall, the authors provided new evidence on the existence of the accountant stereotype in the Florentine medieval popular.
Originality/value – This study engages with accounting history literature accountants’ stereotypes in an unexplored context and time period, providing a base for comparative international research on accounting stereotypes and popular culture. Additionally, it addresses the need for further research on the accountant stereotype based on literary works and from a historical perspective. Therefore, this research also expands the New Accounting History (NAH) literature, focussing on the investigation of the accountant stereotype
connotations in the 14th century
Use of nebulized liposomal amphotericin B and posaconazole as antifungal prophylaxis in patients with severe SARS-CoV2 infection in intensive care unit
No full textPurpose COVID-19 associated pulmonary aspergillosis (CAPA) is common and linked with high fatality rates. To assess the impact on the incidence and outcome of CAPA of an antifungal prophylaxis (AFP) we compared two cohorts of COVID-19 patients admitted to intensive care units (ICU) in Brescia, Italy, from January to August 2021. Methods The study cohort included all mechanically ventilated patients observed between April 2021 and August 2021 with SARS-CoV-2-pneumonia, who received AFP with oral posaconazole (200 mg every 6 h) and nebulized liposomal amphotericin B (50 mg every 2 weeks) from ICU admission to 7 days after discharge or, if applicable, until tracheostomy removal. The control cohort included COVID-19 patients admitted to the same ICU between January and March 2021 who did not receive any AFP. Subjects with CAPA at ICU admission were excluded. Results We included 270 patients, of whom 64 (23.7%) received AFP. In patients in the study group, CAPA-related mortality was significantly reduced (29% vs. 48% p = 0.04), as well as the incidence of CAPA (3.1% vs 12.1%, p = 0.03). Patients who developed CAPA were older (mean of 70-y-old vs 63-y-old, p < 0.001). One subject discontinued posaconazole due to an adverse reaction. Among the 46 patients who received it, only one patient reached an effective plasma concentration of posaconazole. Conclusion AFP was associated with reduced incidence and mortality from CAPA and was well tolerated in patients with severe COVID-19. Posaconazole concentrations below the efficacy threshold in almost all patients may be attributable to drug interactions and prompt further studies to define its clinical significance
Il Vangelo secondo Matteo di Pier Paolo Pasolini (1964). Una religiosità profonda e tormentata.
No full textItPressoché unanimemente considerato dalla critica, anche cattolica, il miglior film su Gesù mai girato, il Vangelo secondo Matteo di Pier Paolo Pasolini ci rivela anche i tormenti dell'anima del regista che, comunista seppure eretico ed espulso dal partito, e ateo e anticlericale dichiarato, avvertiva profondamente l'esigenza del sacro e trovava un punto di conforto e di sostegno nella sua ricerca nella figura di papa Giovanni XXIII il cui avvento sul soglio di Pietro e la convocazione successiva del Concilio Vaticano II contrassegnarono il periodo storico e politico-religioso in maniera indelebile. Pasolini, pur da non credente, si accostò con estremo rispetto al testo matteano e realizzò un film fedele al racconto evangelico, ma non alla sua ispirazione, perché la figura di Cristo ne esce ridotta alla dimensione di un eroe mitico del quale Pasolini illustra discorsi e azioni, ma non intende le loro motivazioni profonde.EnAlmost unanimously considered by critics, also Catholic, the best movie about Jesus ever made, the Vangelo secondo Matteo by Pier Paolo Pasolini also reveals the torments of the soul of the filmmaker who, although communist and atheist and anti-clerical declared, deeply felt the need of the sacred. An element of comfort and support in his research was the figure of Pope John XXIII whose advent on the throne of St. Peter and the subsequent convocation of the Second Vatican Council undoubtedly marked the historical and political-religious period and, according to the same author, was the inspiration of his choice. Pasolini, though not a believer, approached with the utmost respect to the Matthean text and made a movie faithful to the story of the Gospel, but not to his inspiration, be-cause the figure of Christ takes on the dimension of a mythical Hero whom Pasolini shows speeches and actions, but he doesn't understand the deep motivations of them
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