Sapienza University Research Articles

How to Deal with Adobe Architecture in the Ancient Near East: The Case of Ebla in Syria

The paper presents the restoration activities carried out at Tell Mardikh-Ebla (Syria) by the Italian Archaeological Expedition to Syria of the Sapienza University of Rome. In particular, the study focuses on the operations to preserve the mudbrick structures that have specifically suffered from erosion by rain wind which has caused the collapse of sections of walls. The programme of restoration at Ebla sought to clarify and outline a plan of excavated structures with swift, non-invasive, and reversible interventions and reconstructions. The protection of mudbrick buildings is indeed a challenge for archaeologists working in the Near East: mudbricks are extremely fragile both during the excavation and even more so after they have been excavated. Starting from the results at Ebla, the issue of preserving mudbrick structures is far from being completely solved; the lack of any archaeological research at Ebla, because of the political crisis in Syria, heavily affected the site and the restored buildings that have been seriously damaged by illicit digging and the occupation of the archaeological areas. New techniques and solutions are needed to improve the quality of maintenance and the protection of such a fragile heritage.

Surgical and Bioengineering Integration in the Anatomy Course of Medicine and Surgery High Technology: Knowledge and Perception of Anatomy

The Locomotor System Anatomy (LSA) course, placed in the first semester of the first year of the new Master’s degree in Medicine and Surgery High Technology (MSHT) at the Sapienza University of Rome, was integrated with surgical and bioengineering content. This study investigated the educational value and the students’ perceptions of the effectiveness of these two types of integration, comparing surgical integration (SI) with engineering integration (EI). Anatomy knowledge and students’ opinions attending the LSA course in MSHT degree (n = 30) were compared with those of students (n = 32) attending another medical and surgery course not comprising EI. Data show that students in the MSHT course like in-depth SI much more than in-depth EI. However, those who like in-depth SI also like in-depth EI. Significant differences were in anatomy knowledge between the two groups in the three sections of the test. There was no significant correlation between the three test scores and the levels of liking, while there was a significant correlation between students liking SI and those liking EI. A statistically significant correlation was also found in students who correctly responded to questions on the head and trunk, with students responding correctly to questions on the upper limbs. This study will be important in optimizing the deepening of SI and EI in the LSA course.

P556 Surgery in high-risk paediatric Crohn’s Disease treated with up-front anti-TNF agents and long-standing biologic therapy

Abstract Background High-risk (HR) Crohn’s Disease (CD) is associated with high surgical and progression rates. Therefore, recent ESPGHAN guidelines (GL) suggest starting an early anti-TNFα treatment to modify the natural history of the disease. The aim of our study was to evaluate the surgical rate in a population of HR-CD paediatric patients treated with up-front anti-TNFα agents and long-standing biologic therapy Methods This is a retrospective, observational, single-center study conducted at the Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Endoscopy Unit at Policlinico Umberto I Hospital – Sapienza University of Rome. We collected data from all patients diagnosed with CD under 18 years, with a minimum follow-up of 12 months. between June 2008 to July 2022. Patients were then stratified at the diagnosis into HR and LR, based on ESPGHAN GL criteria. Demographic, clinical, laboratory, endoscopic, and imaging data were collected at 6, 12, 24, 36, 48, and 60 months Results 130 patients were enrolled, 76 HR (58%) and 54 LR (42%) [median age 12.5 (IQR) yrs, female 45 (35%), medium follow-up 54±24 months]. The HR group included 39 patients (51%) with panenteric disease, 15 (20%) with a structuring behavior (B2), 3 (4%) with structuring/penetrating disease (B2-B3), and 26 (34%) with perianal involvement (p). Early anti-TNFα agents were started in 80% of patients <6 months from the diagnosis, while 15 (20%) started biological therapy between 6 and 12 months from the diagnosis. All patients continued biologic therapy throughout the study follow-up: 20 (26%) optimized anti-TNF, 25% switched biologic, 11% added an immunomodulator, and 4% combined 2 biological drugs. The surgical rate at 5 years was 29% (n=22) and 29% n=16) in HR and LR groups respectively (p-value 1,0). Eleven % (n=8) of HR patients needed surgical resection, while perianal surgery (seton drainage, fistulotomy, fistulectomy) was performed in 18% (n=14), with no significant difference with LR group [(intestinal resection 18% (10/55), perianal surgery 11% (6/55), p > 0.05]. Perianal disease resulted positively associated with surgical risk (p 0.002, OR 5.62 CI 1.84-17.15) while small bowel imaging at the diagnosis was a protective factor for surgery (p 0.017, OR 0.23 CI 0.07-0.77). No significant difference was found in the interval free from surgery between HR and LR, although HR children mainly needed surgery in the first 12 months after the diagnosis. Conclusion Our data suggest that paediatric patients with HR-CD treated with early anti-TNF agents and long-standing biologic therapy have a similar disease course and surgical risk to those with LR disease. At a 5-year follow-up, one-third of patients needed surgery, mainly in the first year after the diagnosis

P623 Mucosal eosinophils as markers of post-induction vedolizumab response in paediatric Ulcerative Colitis

Abstract Background Vedolizumab (VDZ) is commonly used as an off-label therapy in children with ulcerative colitis (UC) but no predictive factors of response are available. Vedolizumab binds α4β7 integrin and blocks the migration of T-lymphocytes and other cells, including eosinophils, which are involved in the UC inflammatory process. The aim of our study was to explore the predictive value of pre-therapy mucosal eosinophil count on the response to vedolizumab induction therapy in a paediatric population with UC Methods This is a retrospective, monocentric study, including children with UC treated with VDZ in the Paediatric Gastroenterology Unit of Policlinico Umberto I Hospital – Sapienza University of Rome. Histopathological data were analyzed for eosinophil counts in high power fields (hpf) in the cecum, transverse colon, sigma, and rectum prior to VDZ treatment. Clinical remission and response were evaluated at week 14 based on the PUCAI score. Results Twenty-five UC patients treated with VDZ were enrolled. All patients had failed previous anti-TNF therapy. Median baseline eosinophil count was 21 eo/hpf (5-60) in the cecum, 20 eo/hpf (6-68) in transverse colon, 44 eo/hpf (12-77) in sigma and 31 eo/hpf (9-67) in rectum. Baseline median eosinophil mucosal count in sigma was significantly higher in patients in remission (51[30-82]/ vs. 19[8.5–46] eosinophils/hpf, P<0.05) and clinical response (46[23-79]/ vs. 14[6–45] eosinophils/hpf, P<0.05) at week 14, compared to non-responders. At univariate and multivariate analysis, the number of eosinophils in sigma was confirmed to predict clinical remission [OR=1.0 (95%CI:1.00-1.087), p: 0.03), also independently to concomitant steroid use [OR: 1.06 (95%CI: 1.00-1.122) p: 0.047). The ROC curve identified a risk threshold value for eosinophil count in sigma >23 eosinophils/hpf, with a sensitivity of 85.7% and specificity of 66.7% (Youden’s index 0.83) with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.778 Conclusion Mucosal eosinophil abundance in sigma may predict remission to vedolizumab induction in paediatric UC. More studies are warranted to confirm these preliminary results and further investigate the role of mucosal eosinophils as a marker of therapeutic response and in the pathogenesis of UC

Knowledge and perception about climate change among healthcare professionals and students: A cross-sectional study

Aim: The aim of this study was to assess knowledge on Climate Change (CC) and related consequences among students and professionals of healthcare setting. Methods: A cross-sectional study involving 364 people was conducted. The survey was performed at Sapienza University (Rome) using questionnaire previously developed and validated by the same research group. Results: Findings indicate awareness about CC and its effects and correct identification of practices that could help to mitigate its repercussions. The majority of the participants believed that CC had an impact on the health of humans (96.7%), animals (99.5%) and on the environment (99.7%). Results from the multivariate analysis regarding overall knowledge, show an increased odd in professionals (OR=2.08; 95%CI=1.02-4.26), individuals from the North (OR=3.34; 95%CI=1.37-8.15) and from the Center (OR=2.07; 95%CI=1.17-3.66). Regarding factors able to modify Earth's climate, correct answer had higher odds of being chosen by professionals (OR=2.83; 95%CI=1.41–5.70), and from individuals from South/Islands than by the ones from the Center (OR=0.65; 95%CI=0.40-1.06). The main sources of information resulted to be TV and school/university. Conclusions: These new evidences could guide policymakers on increasing the awareness of the population about this fundamental subject. Funding: This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

A decade of WHO 2010: total sperm number temporal trend and role of lifestyle factors.

After a huge decline in sperm concentration between 1938 and 1991 was reported, many researchers investigated the possibility of a worsening of human sperm quality. Despite massive efforts, published evidence is still controversial. Similarly, the role of lifestyle factors on semen parameters is debated. We conducted a monocentric Italian study to evaluate the total sperm number trend over the last 10 years (from 2010 to 2019). Additionally, we evaluated the association between lifestyle factors and total sperm number in order to identify possible damaging factors. We performed a retrospective study analyzing subjects aged 18-55 years who had their semen analyzed between 2010 and 2019. A total of 3329 subjects were included: 1655 subjects referred to our department (Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Roma, Italy) for idiopathic infertility and 1674 subjects referred for preconceptional or andrological screening with no confirmed andrological diseases. Semen samples were examined according to World Health Organization (WHO) 2010 criteria by two seminologists with the same training and the same equipment. For statistical evaluations, only total sperm number (×10 6 per ejaculate) was taken into consideration. We detected no significant changes in mean total sperm number during the last decade, in either the entire population or the two subgroups (infertile group and control group). In a multivariate analysis total sperm number was significantly associated with the history of infertility, body mass index (BMI) and cigarette smoking. Our results suggest that infertile men are "vulnerable" subjects, particularly susceptible to several negative factors, many of which still remain unknown. Our study highlights the need for studies addressing men's lifestyle in order to find and reduce deleterious agents.

Peculiar clinical and diagnostic features of infective endocarditis in Yemen: Comparative analysis with a Western University Hospital.

The aim of this study was to describe the pattern, characteristics, and outcomes of infective endocarditis (IE) in Yemen and compare the results with the findings of a Western university hospital. Patients (pts) with a final diagnosis of IE observed in Al-Thawra Sanaa Cardiac Center were prospectively enrolled in 1-year time period. Clinical and diagnostic findings were compared to clinical and diagnostic data of 50 pts with IE observed at Sapienza University Hospital in Rome, Italy. The mean age was 38 ± 6. Predisposing factors for IE were rheumatic heart disease (RHD) in 34 pts (68%), congenital heart disease in 9 pts (18%), prosthetic valve IE in 4 pts (8%), and previous IE in 3 pts (6%). Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) was done in 50 pts and transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) in 25. Blood cultures were taken in all pts and were positive in 3 pts (6%) and negative in 47 (94%). TTE was positive in 34/50 pts (68%) and TEE in 20/25 (80%). Compared to Sapienza University pts, Al-Thawra Cardiac Center pts had a younger age (p = 0.003), more predisposing RHD (p = 0.0004), less prosthetic heart valves IE (p = 0.002), and more negative blood cultures (p = 0.0001). IE is still a common disease in Yemen among RHD pts and affects the younger age group. It has severe complications which need early diagnosis and proper management. Echocardiography is of prime diagnostic value in the absence of positive blood cultures. An effort should be made to prevent rheumatic fever and RHD.

Feasibility of a gender-driven paratransit service at Sapienza University of Rome

Problems of women harassment on transit are often reported by the local press, and the situation in Rome is no exception. This is a serious issue also for the Sapienza University of Rome female community, especially when commuting back home in the evening. A specifically night-dedicated transport service provided by Sapienza could be a solution, but the research questions behind are those of its acceptance and affordability for the so-called “Sapienza Women”, i.e. students, teaching and administrative staff, along with the profitability for Sapienza as its operator. This is the background for the feasibility of a gender-dedicated university-to-home paratransit service, called MinervaMove, from the Sapienza's main campus and other premises in city. The multistep methodology adopted relies on: i) the initial development of a series of questionnaires and focus groups targeted to assess travel preferences by the Sapienza women community; ii) the data process to highlight recurring patterns and origin/destination sets, and create the service coverage area; iii) the service design; and iv) eventually, the analysis of the profitability of the service. From an initial investigation on Sapienza female population, the acceptance for a women-only-dedicated Sapienza night transport service was full, giving a positive answer to the first research question. This led develop the MinervaMove multi-option night supply, i.e. a station service starting from the main campus of Sapienza to Rome's two main railway stations, plus a door-to-door shared taxi service also originating at the main campus. MinervaMove also provides a daytime service supplied to the entire Sapienza community (men and women). Within the methodology, two different scenarios (A-optimistic and B-pessimistic) were developed to generate an appropriate service in terms of operational performance and affordability, with also scenario B enabling the generation of revenues.

Acceptance Evaluation of Automated Logistics Services: Case Study in Rome

EU member states face significantly higher sustainability awareness regarding safety, environmental and efficient mobility concerns of citizens. The paper aims to assess how to access the acceptance of automated logistics technology that is developed as a case study at the main campus of the Sapienza University of Rome, considering safety and service efficiency questions, willingness to use the service also in an urban environment. To achieve this, a user needs analysis was conducted to determine the target groups, followed by an acceptance questionnaire. The result is that the proposed automated service is expected to be used more by the younger age groups, although older respondents have also expressed an interest and do be accepted by transport sector employees and students. Regression analysis indicates a significant value for acceptance and automated logistics scenarios.

A Journey to the East and Back to the West: Textual Research Paths of the Bertuccioli Collection

The article presents textual research paths connected to the works of the Bertuccioli collection, stored in the Dipartimento Istituto Italiano di Studi Orientali of Sapienza University of Rome. Based on the bequest of Giuliano Bertuccioli (1923—2001), the collection is particularly rich, given the historical and personal contexts in which it was created. In fact, Bertuccioli was able to gather his texts over the years before 1949; he had the far–sightedness to buy valuable and important works, of which some are analysed in this article. The purpose is to point out research perspectives on the collection from a variety of research fields, also celebrating the profound scholarship of the late Professor Bertuccioli.

A Methodological Study to Operate a Gender-driven Paratransit Supply at Sapienza University of Rome for Staff and Students

The literature on the relationship between gender and transport suggests that gendered transport policies are very few and so are dedicated services, especially when it comes to women security at night. At the same time, problems of harassment on transit are common. This a serious issue also for the Sapienza University of Rome female staff and students (i.e. “Sapienza Women”) attending lessons very late in the evening, with a long commuting way back home. A specific night service provided by Sapienza would be a solution, but the two research questions behind are those of its acceptance and affordability for the Sapienza Women, and the profitability for the university, as its operator. The feasibility study presented answers to both, with the research goal to showcase an example of a methodology to design a women-reserved night service replicable in other university campuses.

SCIENTOMETRIC ANALYSIS OF SCIENTIFIC LITERATURE ON NEUROMARKETING TOOLS IN ADVERTISING

Neuromarketing (NM) is a relatively new area of marketing that involves innovative technological changes in the marketing research process and the tools and methods used. Considering the novelty of the domain, the subject of the study is chosen to be articles published in scientific literature describing neuromarketing tools used in advertising. This study examined articles in the field of advertising that used neuromarketing techniques to measure consumers' neural and physiological responses to advertising, which has not yet been covered in the literature. Methodology. To fill the gap in the literature, the authors, guided by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) protocol, selected relevant articles and conducted a bibliometric analysis to identify global trends and developments in the field of advertising and neuromarketing. From the Web of Science (WoS) database, 41 articles published between 2009 and 2020 were extracted and analyzed. Purpose of the study was to establish a background for advertising research based on the application of NM tools. The findings revealed that Spain was the most productive country with eleven papers published in a domain of advertising research, followed by Italy and the USA with eight and seven papers, respectively. Among academic institutions, Sapienza University Rome was recognized as the leading academic organization with three articles. As for the most productive journals, Frontiers in Psychology was the most cited journal with eight articles and 29 total citations (TC). As the highest productive author, Babiloni, F. with two papers and 68 TCs by 2020 was identified. Keyword analysis showed that "advertising" (27 occurrences and 127 total references) is the most frequently used keyword. The analysis of co-occurrence of keywords showed that NM focused on marketing research such as advertising (12 occurrences, 63 total link strength (TLS)), followed by brain processes such as attention, emotions and memory. The paper titled “Neuromarketing: The new science of consumer behavior” was the most-cited paper with 152 TCs. Conclusion of the study. This study presents a brief overview of the latest universal areas of neuromarketing and advertising research. The findings suggest that neuroscientific methods and techniques are extremely important for mapping consumers' neural and physiological responses to advertising.

Retrofit Proposals for Energy Efficiency and Thermal Comfort in Historic Public Buildings: The Case of the Engineering Faculty’s Seat of Sapienza University

The building sector greatly contributes to energy consumption and Greenhouse Gas emissions, relating to the whole building life cycle. Boasting a huge building heritage of historical and architectural value, Europe faces challenging retrofit perspectives, as the potential for high energy efficiency has to be exploited while preserving the buildings’ original characteristics. The present work aims to feature the influence of a passive strategy on a heritage building in a mild climate. As historical its façade cannot be modified, its large glazing areas involve multiple issues, such as an increase in the heating (QH) and cooling (QC) energy demands and the risk of thermal discomfort. Thus, window replacement was proposed for retrofitting. A dynamic simulation model in TRNSYS was validated with experimental data collected by the continuous monitoring of walls of different thicknesses and orientations. Solutions from replacement with Double Glazing Units (DGUs) with improved thermal insulation, to internal shading activation were applied. All configurations were compared in terms of QH, QC, thermal performance of the building and user comfort (Fanger). Low-e DGU enabled the saving of up to 14% of the annual energy demand, and shading also offered good results in summer, reducing QC by 19%. In summer, DGU involved a maximum PPD reduction of 10 units.

Exploring risk factors for re-hospitalization in a psychiatric inpatient setting: a retrospective naturalistic study

BackgroundThe reduction of multiple psychiatric hospitalizations is an important clinical challenge in mental health care. In fact, psychiatric re-hospitalization negatively affects the quality of life and the life expectancy of patients with psychiatric disorders. For these reasons, identifying predictors of re-hospitalization is important for better managing psychiatric patients. The first purpose of the present study was to examine the readmission rate in a large sample of inpatients with a psychiatric disorder. Second, we investigated the role of several demographical and clinical features impacting re-hospitalization. MethodThis retrospective study enrolled 1001 adult inpatients (510 men and 491 women) consecutively admitted to the University Psychiatric Clinic, Sant'Andrea Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome between January 2018 and January 2022. To identify risk factors for psychiatric re-hospitalization, we divided the sample into 3 subgroups: the Zero-Re group which had no readmission after the index hospitalization, the One-Re group with patients re-admitted only once, and the Two-Re with at least two re-admissions. ResultsThe groups differed according to previous hospitalizations, a history of suicide attempts, age at onset, and length of stay. Furthermore, the results of the regression model demonstrated that the Two-Re group was more likely to have a history of suicide attempts and previous hospitalizations.DiscussionThese results indicate the importance of assessing risk factors in psychiatric hospitalized patients and implementing ad hoc prevention strategies for reducing subsequent re-hospitalizations.

Transient analysis of a locked rotor/shaft seizure accident involving the EU-DEMO WCLL Breeding Blanket primary cooling circuits

The EU-DEMO Water-Cooled Lithium-Lead (WCLL) Breeding Blanket (BB) main subsystems to be cooled are the Breeder Zone (BZ) and the First Wall (FW). Each subsystem will be equipped with an independent Primary Heat Transfer System (PHTS). Within the framework of the EUROfusion Work Package Breeding Blanket research program, several accidents belonging to the category of “Decrease in Coolant System Flow Rate” were studied. The activity was aimed at evaluating the blanket and primary cooling systems thermal-hydraulic performances during such transient conditions. A complete model including the BB and related PHTS circuits has been developed at Sapienza University of Rome. A modified version of RELAP5/Mod3.3 system code has been used to perform the calculations. The simulation results showed that a locked rotor/shaft seizure of a BZ or a FW main coolant pump is the most challenging scenario. BZ and FW system behavior has been analyzed following this initiating event with the goal of the design improvement and to individuate the need for preventive measures. The influence of loss of off-site power on the accident evolution has also been investigated. Moreover, management strategies have been proposed for different reactor components. Calculations demonstrate that the current blanket and PHTS design is appropriate to cope with these kinds of accident scenarios.

Liver fibrosis is associated with impaired bone mineralization and microstructure in obese individuals with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Chronic liver diseases are associated with increased bone fracture risk, mostly in end-stage disease and cirrhosis; besides, data in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) are limited. Aim of this study was to investigate bone mineralization and microstructure in obese individuals with NAFLD in relation to the estimated liver fibrosis. For this cross-sectional investigation, we analyzed data from 1872 obese individuals (44.6 ± 14.1years, M/F: 389/1483; BMI: 38.3 ± 5.3kg/m2) referring to the Endocrinology outpatient clinics of Sapienza University, Rome, Italy. Participants underwent clinical work-up, Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry for assessing bone mineral density (BMD) and microarchitecture (trabecular bone score, TBS). Liver fibrosis was estimated by Fibrosis Score 4 (FIB-4). Serum parathyroid hormone (PTH), 25(OH) vitamin D, osteocalcin and IGF-1 levels were measured. Obese individuals with osteopenia/osteoporosis had greater FIB-4 than those with normal BMD (p < 0.001). FIB-4 progressively increased in presence of degraded bone microarchitecture (p < 0.001) and negatively correlated with the serum osteocalcin (p < 0.001) and IGF-1 (p < 0.001), which were both reduced in presence of osteopenia/osteoporosis. FIB-4 predicted IGF-1 reduction in multivariable regression models adjusted for confounders (β: -0.18, p < 0.001). Higher FIB-4 predicted bone fragility with OR 3.8 (95%C.I:1.5-9.3); this association persisted significant after adjustment for sex, age, BMI, diabetes, smoking status and PTH at the multivariable logistic regression analysis (OR 1.91 (95%C.I:1.15-3.17), p < 0.01), with AUROC = 0.842 (95%C.I:0.795-0.890; p < 0.001). Our data indicate the presence of a tight relation between NAFLD-related liver fibrosis, lower bone mineral density and degraded microarchitecture in obese individuals, suggesting potential common pathways underlying liver and bone involvement in obesity and insulin resistance-associated disorders.

Biskup warmiński Paweł Legendorf (ok. 1410-1467). Między zakonem krzyżackim a Polską

Paweł Legendorf ’s life and activities (around 1410–1467) were conditioned by the difficult neighborhood of the Teutonic Order in Prussia and the Polish Crown. His situation was complicated in the middle of this century, after the people of this land denounced obedience and then war to the Order, which was undoubtedly a rebellion. The location of Legendorf became especially difficult when during that thirteen years’ war of the Teutonic Order with Poland (1454-1466) he was appointed administrator of the diocese of Warmia in the autumn of 1458 by Pope Pius II. From the arrival of Warmia in the summer of 1460 to the end of the war in the autumn of 1466, he was forced to considerably balance between the parties to the conflict. On the basis of the document of January 26, 1432, the author justifies the need to withdraw the date of birth of Paweł Legendorf until about 1410. From this letter, it seems that Paul probably in 1431 became parish priest of the parish in Mątowy Wielkie in the diocese of Pomezania, from this institution in January 1432, he reported through his father the desire to resign, hoping to receive, through the intercession of the authors of the letter to the Grand Master of the Teutonic Order, a more cherished parish (he could not become a parish priest at the age of 16, so he was not born around 1415). After 1437, that is after the death of the past parish priest, Legendorf took over the parish in Domnowo, located in the then diocese of Warmia, from which the income facilitated or even enabled him to start studies in Leipzig in 1441. He studied there in the years 1441-1442, obtaining a baccalaureate (licencjat) in the field of liberal arts. From there, he went to Rome to Sapienza University and probably there he obtained a master’s degree. Before 1447, he came to the papal court, where he remained in the service of three more Popes. Legendorf received the episcopal consecration only on September 21, 1466 in Toruń and he held the dignity of the Ordinary of Warmia until his death on July 23, 1467. He died probably in Braniewo (or in its vicinity) and here in the church. St. Catherine was buried. The author presents the attitude of Legendorf to the Teutonic Order and to the Polish Crown on the basis of numerous sources and studies, concluding that the bishop Paweł undoubtedly had the temperament of an efficient and effective politician (maybe the effect of a dozen or so practice in the Roman Curia). The situation of Legendorf in the mid-fifteenth century was difficult because both fighting parties expected his loyalty, from time to time testing it while they were not always loyal to Warmia and its shepherd. Paweł Legendorf was a wise and prudent governor of the diocese of Warmia, and he never placed his personality above the interests and prosperity of the episcopate. It is a form of the European format whose political talents underestimated - to the detriment of each other - both sides of a furious armed conflict, which in the mid-15th century devastated Warmia.

Abdominal Lymphadenopathy: Hypothesize Cat-Scratch Disease and Avoid Abdominal Excisional Biopsy

The finding of lymphadenopathy is usually the consequence of a benign infection, although a neoplastic origin must always be excluded. Through a careful anamnesis, physical examination, and serological tests several differential diagnoses are frequently possible. Nevertheless, sometimes an excisional biopsy of superficial lymph nodes is required, which is the best means to reach a definitive diagnosis. More concerns arise when lymphadenopathy is only abdominal/retroperitoneal: percutaneous biopsy is often inconclusive and the excisional node biopsy becomes a surgical procedure, certainly indicated in case of malignancy but avoidable in case of inflammatory diseases. We present the case of a 30-year-old man with a deep iliac lymphadenopathy who was evaluated at the Hematological Unit of Sapienza University of Rome. The enlargement of an iliac lymph node is quite unusual for an infectious disease. Although symptoms such as pain, fever, and chills suggested it was the case, cat-scratch disease was not hypothesized. Radiological investigations did not exclude a malignant disease and a laparoscopic excisional biopsy was scheduled, but the slight improvement of his spontaneous symptoms suggested a careful follow-up. Given the lack of disappearance of lymphadenopathy, the lack of diagnosis, and an ipsilateral superficial (inguinal) lymph node with similar ultrasonographic and radiological features, the patient underwent biopsy, which disclosed a diagnosis of cat-scratch disease, avoiding more invasive surgical procedures.

Energy and Environmental Refurbishment of the Hygiene Institute within the Sapienza University of Rome campus

Starting from the definition of sustainable development introduced by the 2030 Agenda, and the most recent European implementation tools such as above all the New Green Deal, three goals have been highlighted as pilot objectives of this research: Goal 13 “Climate Action” to strengthen the resilience and adaptability of our building stock to climate-related risks, Goal 7 “Affordable and Clean Energy” by increasing the share of renewable energy and improving the energy efficiency of the existing building stock and Goal 6 “Clean Water and Sanitation”, aimed, in this specific case, at a sustainable management of water resources and technologies for recycling and reuse. In particular, the research work focused on the energy and environmental redevelopment, from a green perspective, of the “Sanarelli” Institute of Hygiene within the “Sapienza” University of Rome campus. The building was built in 1935 and, following a series of changes over the years, currently has a total volume of 37,700 m3 and an area of 9,475 m2. After an in-depth study of the status quo thanks to inspections, surveys, non-invasive investigations and environmental analyses, the work has focused on the definition of specific objectives with the ultimate aim of the energy and environmental refurbishment intervention by tracing 7 strategies thanks to which it has been possible to identify 9 technical solutions to be applied to the Institute. The design choices highlight a close synergy between active and passive devices which together contribute to achieving a circular use of water resources on site, with systems for capturing and collecting rainwater and treating wastewater, as well as achieving a significant improvement in the energy behaviour of the building. This improvement has been possible not only thanks to the updating, with respect to nowadays uses and standards, of the characteristics of the building envelope and of the active systems, but also thanks to the close collaboration between the active and passive technological solutions that have led to satisfactory results with a view to reducing CO2 emissions.

Numerical and Physical Modeling of Ponte Liscione (Guardialfiera, Molise) Dam Spillways and Stilling Basin

Issues such as the design or reauditing of dams due to the occurrence of extreme events caused by climatic change are mandatory to address to ensure the safety of territories. These topics may be tackled numerically with Computational Fluid Dynamics and experimentally with physical models. This paper describes the 1:60 Froude-scaled numerical model of the Liscione (Guardialfiera, Molise, Italy) dam spillway and the downstream stilling basin. The k-ω SST turbulence model was chosen to close the Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes equations (RANS) implemented in the commercial software Ansys Fluent ®. The computation domain was discretized using a grid with hexagonal meshes. Experimental data for model validation were gathered from the 1:60 scale physical model of the Liscione dam spillways and the downstream riverbed of the Biferno river built at the Laboratory of Hydraulic and Maritime Constructions of the Sapienza University of Rome. The model was scaled according to the Froude number and fully developed turbulent flow conditions were reproduced at the model scale (Re &gt; 10,000). From the analysis of the results of both the physical and the numerical models, it is clear that the stilling basin is undersized and therefore insufficient to manage the energy content of the fluid output to the river, with a significant impact on the erodible downstream river bottom in terms of scour depths. Furthermore, the numerical model showed that a less vigorous jet-like flow is obtained by removing one of the sills the dam is supplied with.