Anna Barbiero, Sasha Trevisan, Tommaso Manciulli
et al.
Despite being relatively common in endemic settings, amoebic liver abscesses are rarely diagnosed in high-resource countries, where they are usually imported by migrants or travelers to endemic areas. Between 2010 and 2024, we observed two cases of amoebic liver abscess that were successfully managed in a tertiary-care center in Italy. In both cases, the infection was contracted in Colombia. Given the high morbidity and mortality associated with nontreated amoebic liver abscesses, this report aims at underlying the importance of travel history and of considering amoebic liver abscess among the differential diagnoses for people coming from endemic countries with compatible clinical presentations. Prompt diagnosis and treatment are of paramount importance for favorable clinical outcomes.
Mount Etna has a well-documented history of frequent eruptions and seismic activity, periodically causing significant damage to urban areas. On 26 December 2018, a Mw 4.9 shallow earthquake struck the volcano’s eastern flank, severely damaging approximately 3000 buildings. The post-earthquake recovery strategy aimed to enhance community resilience by addressing the hazardous nature of the affected territory. This objective was achieved through measures such as relocation and public use transformation. In areas impacted by active faults, the relocation of damaged buildings was encouraged, while cleared zones were repurposed for public use, transformed into gardens and open-air parking spaces. Despite these efforts, some relocated individuals experienced psychological distress. To address this challenge, government planners played a pivotal role in disseminating scientifically accurate information, raising public awareness, and facilitating adaptation. The approach implemented on Etna was later adopted in other post-earthquake recovery programs in Italy, evolving into a replicable strategy for risk mitigation in disaster-prone areas.
Asciminib (asc), an allosteric inhibitor, is an effective and safe option for patients (pts) in late and early chronic-phase chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). In Italy, outside of clinical trials, in April 2019 asc became available through a Managed Access Program approved by Novartis for pts resistant or intolerant (R/I) to ≥2 tyrosine-kinase inhibitors (TKIs) without T315I mutation; since August 2024 it has been approved for commercial use by AIFA. We report our single-center experience of asc use as per clinical practice. We retrospectively collected data of 21 CML pts treated with asc in our Institute between November 2020 and November 2024. Most pts were elderly with a median age of 71 (range 37-90) years and with multiple comorbidities (57% had CCI >4), including cardiovascular ones (86%). The median number of prior TKIs were 3 (2-4); only 5 pts (24%) were ponatinib (pona)-exposed. Switch to asc occurred for sole intolerance in 9 pts (43%) and for resistance in 12 (57%) At baseline, 55% of pts had BCR::ABL1<sup>IS</sup> >1%; 20% of pts had major molecular response (MMR) or better. After 25 months of median follow-up and duration of therapy, most pts (81%) remained on asc. Reason for discontinuation was resistance (n=2) and death (n=2; 1 progressed to myeloid blast crisis, MBC). The cumulative incidence (CI) of MR2 at 12, 24 and 48 weeks was 18%, 64% and 82%, respectively; the CI of MMR was 13%, 44% and 50%, respectively. Overall, 80% of pts improved baseline response; loss of best response was observed in 0 and 50% of I and R pts, respectively, and in 23% and 40% of pona-naïve and -exposed pts, respectively. At baseline, mutational status was assessed by Sanger sequencing in 8/12 R pts and 3/8 (38%) harbored ABL mutations (n=2 T315I, n=1 G250E); none of these 3 pts achieved MMR (2 died, 1 was still on asc without alternative therapy). Of 5/8 pts without baseline mutations: 1 achieved stable MMR, 2 stable MR2 and 2 stopped asc due to resistance with new mutations detected (n=1 T315I/R483Q compound mutation, n=1 G254W and RUNX1 mutations - the latter identified only by next-generation sequencing). In our real-world mono-center experience, asc improved molecular response in most cases with excellent tolerance also in very elderly and comorbid pts. The benefit was seen especially in pts without history of resistance or pre-treated with pona and in absence of mutations including T315I. More data are needed to elucidate the role of emerging asc-resistant mutations.
The use of passive optical remote sensing (RS) has a rich history in precision viticulture (PV), with the use of RS technologies being employed in a myriad of PV applications. The present work undertakes a scoping review to examine past and current trends in the use of RS in grapevine production. It aims to identify literature gaps and new research opportunities. The Scopus database facilitated the search for relevant articles published between 2014 and 2023 using a search string of keywords. A total of 640 articles were produced by the Scopus search. Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) reporting framework, the 640 articles were reviewed based on predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria, resulting in 388 articles being deemed eligible for further data extraction. Four research questions were defined to guide the data extraction process, and a coding scheme was implemented to address these questions. The scoping review found Italy and the United States to be leading contributors to the research field, with vineyard mapping, yield estimation, and grapevine water status being the most extensively studied RS–PV applications. However, the use of RS to map vineyard soil properties and grapevine cultivars remains underexplored, presenting promising avenues for future research.
At the end of the 20th century, most industrial cities faced a massive phase of de-industrialisation, resulting in abandoned areas. However, these areas, rich in history and heritage, can represent significant resources for the regeneration of entire territories. Adaptive Reuse (AR) is one of the most appropriate strategies for the sustainable regeneration of brownfield sites: it gives new life to a ‘dead’ land, extending its use value so that it can continue to be enjoyed both by present and future generations. Decision-making processes concerning Industrial Heritage Adaptive Reuse (IHAR) cannot ignore the role that ‘intrinsic value’ plays in orienting development choices in such areas. Adopting participatory decision-making processes enables the inclusion of different values and interests of the stakeholders and, at the same time, increasing their awareness about the decision-making problem, thus reducing conflicts. This contribution intends to propose an evaluation framework to assess the multidimensional impacts of IHAR, considering the different values characterising them, and to support decision-making processes for the identification of the ‘preferable’ transformation scenario. This evaluation framework is applied, through the use of the TOPSIS multi-criteria evaluation method, in the case study of the ex-Italsider area in Bagnoli district (Naples, Italy), an industrial steel plant decommissioned in the early 1990s.
Federico Benassi, Alessio Buonomo, Raffaele Ferrara
et al.
The geographical (im)mobility of immigrants in host countries is a significant issue due to its strong links with the integration process. This is particularly evident in Italy, a country with a long history of emigration, where the foreign resident population has now become a structural element of society. Using original data sources and adopting a (pseudo) longitudinal and multiscale approach, this paper provides new insights into the stability and types of internal migration among the main 20 foreign communities residing in Italy in 2011 and in 2018. Significant heterogeneity emerges not only among the different foreign groups but also between metropolitan contexts in the north and centre-south of the country.
Francesco Cavalleri, Cristian Lussana, Francesca Viterbo
et al.
This study focuses on the validation of high-resolution regional reanalyses to understand their effectiveness in reproducing precipitation patterns over Italy, a climate change hotspot characterized by coastal sea-land interaction and complex orography. Nine reanalysis products were evaluated, with the ECMWF global reanalysis ERA5 serving as a benchmark. These included both European (COSMO-REA6, CERRA) and Italy-specific (BOLAM, MERIDA, MERIDA-HRES, MOLOCH, SPHERA, VHR-REA\_IT) datasets, using different models and parametrizations. The inter-comparison involved determining the effective resolution of daily precipitation fields using wavelet techniques and assessing intense precipitation statistics through frequency distributions. In-situ observations and observational gridded datasets were used to independently validate reanalysis precipitation fields. The capability of reanalyses to depict daily precipitation patterns was assessed, highlighting a maximum radius of precipitation misplacement of about 15 km, with notably lower skills during summer. An overall overestimation of precipitation was identified in the reanalysis climatological fields over the Po Valley and the Alps, whereas multiple products showed an underestimation of precipitations across the North-West coast, the Apennines, and Southern Italy. Finally, a comparison with a time-consistent observational dataset (UniMi/ISAC-CNR) revealed a non-stable deviation from observations in the annual precipitation cumulate of the reanalysis products analyzed. This should be taken into account when interpreting precipitation trends over Italy.
SETI is not a usual point of departure for environmental humanities. However, this paper argues that theories originating in this field have direct implications for how we think about viable inhabitation of the Earth. To demonstrate SETI's impact on environmental humanities, this paper introduces Fermi paradox as a speculative tool to probe possible trajectories of planetary history, and especially the "Sustainability Solution" proposed by Jacob Haqq-Misra and Seth Baum. This solution suggests that sustainable coupling between extraterrestrial intelligences and their planetary environments is the major factor in the possibility of their successful detection by remote observation. By positing that exponential growth is not a sustainable development pattern, this solution rules out space-faring civilizations colonizing solar systems or galaxies. This paper elaborates on Haqq-Misra's and Baum's arguments, and discusses speculative implications of the Sustainability Solution, thus rethinking three concepts in environmental humanities: technosphere, planetary history, and sustainability. The paper advocates that (1) technosphere is a transitory layer that shall fold back into biosphere; (2) planetary history must be understood in a generic perspective that abstracts from terrestrial particularities; and (3) sustainability is not sufficient vector of viable human inhabitation of the Earth, suggesting instead habitability and genesity as better candidates.
‘Soprattutto un attore di quella drammatica fase della vita italiana è stato tuttavia privilegiato in modo schiacciante come oggetto di studio: il “soggetto terrorista”, ovvero i terroristi e le organizzazioni terroristiche.’(‘One kind of actor in that dramatic period of Italian life has been privileged above all others, in an overwhelming way by researchers and others: the terrorists themselves and their organisations.’ (Brizzi 2021, 11).
AbstractThe article uses archival sources to critique the currently dominant etymological approach to the history of the word ’ndrangheta as used to refer to the Calabrian mafia. Scholars such as Paolo Martino and John Trumper have latched onto the word's ancient Greek origins to argue that the mafia organisation that we today call ’Ndrangheta has origins dating back many centuries. Moreover, according to Martino in particular, the flattering connotations of the word ’ndrangheta (courage, martial prowess, manliness) indicate that the ’Ndrangheta as a social phenomenon was rooted in the same positive values, and that it only later degenerated into criminality. This article proposes that the work of Martino and Trumper represents a largely evidence-free extension of etymology into the field of history. Analysing the latest archival evidence about the word from criminal trials conducted in the 1920s and early 1930s, and setting it in the context of current historiography and criminology on the ’Ndrangheta, the article argues that two conclusions about the history of the word are likely: that the use of ’ndrangheta as a name for the Calabrian mafia began at around the time it first appeared in the documentary sources; that the first to adopt it were mafiosi themselves.
The article discusses the history of the educational system in the Slovene Littoral (Primorska) in the interwar period, focusing on the northern part of the region. It highlights assimilation pressures that started with the Italian occupation at the end of the First World War and intensified with the rise of fascism. In detail, it presents the impact of the school reform of 1923, which was named after the education minister of the time, Giovanni Gentile; in the next twenty years, this reform enabled a systematic denationalisation of Slovenians in Italy and opened the field of education to fascist ideology. Activities in defence of the nation, which relied foremost on patriotic families and Slovenian priests, largely negated this denationalisation.
We present our personal histories with Michael Fisher. We describe how each one of us first came to Cornell University. We also discuss our many subsequent interactions and successful collaborations with him on various physics projects.
Women remain underrepresented in the labour market. Although significant advancements are being made to increase female participation in the workforce, the gender gap is still far from being bridged. We contribute to the growing literature on gender inequalities in the labour market, evaluating the potential of the LinkedIn estimates to monitor the evolution of the gender gaps sustainably, complementing the official data sources. In particular, assessing the labour market patterns at a subnational level in Italy. Our findings show that the LinkedIn estimates accurately capture the gender disparities in Italy regarding sociodemographic attributes such as gender, age, geographic location, seniority, and industry category. At the same time, we assess data biases such as the digitalisation gap, which impacts the representativity of the workforce in an imbalanced manner, confirming that women are under-represented in Southern Italy. Additionally to confirming the gender disparities to the official census, LinkedIn estimates are a valuable tool to provide dynamic insights; we showed an immigration flow of highly skilled women, predominantly from the South. Digital surveillance of gender inequalities with detailed and timely data is particularly significant to enable policymakers to tailor impactful campaigns.
Francesca Larese Filon, Ilaria Lazzarato, Emilia Patriarca
et al.
<b>Background</b>. Allergic patients may develop reactions following COVID-19 vaccination more frequently than non-allergic individuals. The aim of our study was to assess the risk of reactions in high-risk allergic patients vaccinated for COVID-19 at the University Health Agency Giuliano-Isontina (ASUGI) of Trieste (northeastern Italy). <b>Methods</b>. Patients were considered at high risk for allergic reactions in case of: prior anaphylactic reaction to any drug/vaccine; multiple drug allergy; intolerance to polyethylene glycol (PEG) or polysorbate 80 (PS80) containing drugs; and mast cell disorders. High-risk allergic patients were immunized in hospital by a dedicated allergy team supported by resuscitation staff. Patients were interviewed over the phone one month after vaccination to complete a structured questionnaire investigating signs and symptoms developed after immunization. <b>Results</b>. From March 2021 to February 2022, 269 patients with a history of severe allergic reactions were assessed, of whom 208 (77.3%) eventually received COVID-19 vaccination, 50 (18.6%) refused to be immunized, 10 (3.7%) were deferred for medical reasons and one was declared exempted due to testing positive for PS80. Mild reactions (urticaria, angioedema, rhinitis, erythema) to COVID-19 vaccines were reported by 30.3% of patients, 8.7% within 4 h and 21.6% > 4 h after immunization. No anaphylactic events were observed. Although they were 80 times (3.8%) more prevalent than in COVID-19 vaccinees from the general population (0.047%), vaccine allergic reactions in high-risk patients were mainly mild and late, more likely affecting women (OR = 3.05; 95% CI 1.22–7.65). <b>Conclusions</b>. High-risk allergic patients with urticaria and angioedema may experience mild flare-ups of mast cell activation-like symptoms following COVID-19 vaccination, supporting antihistamine premedication before vaccination and to be continued for one week afterwards.
Prediction of ``anyons'', often attributed exclusively to Wilczek, came first from Leinaas & Myrheim in 1977, and independently from Goldin, Menikoff, & Sharp in 1980-81. In 2020, experimentalists successfully created anyonic excitations. This paper discusses why the possibility of quantum particles in two-dimensional space with intermediate exchange statistics eluded physicists for so long after bosons and fermions were understood. The history suggests ideas for the preparation of future researchers. I conclude by addressing failures to attribute scientific achievements accurately. Such practices disproportionately hurt women and minorities in physics, and are harmful to science.
The project “Cult-goods”, focused on the study of the dynamically changing field of mass culture in the light of Russian reality, played a special role in the formation of the national literary tradition of studying mass literature. It is also noteworthy that the project was originally created as an international one. The presence of a different research perspective allows the project to remain a platform for discussion even when using similar methodological approaches. The project has existed for more than ten years, during which seven international conferences have been organized and four collections of scientific articles and three collective monographs have been published. Conferences have been held every two years, each time highlighting the current trends of the modern literary process, fixing systemic shifts that change the structure of the cultural field. This article is devoted to the analysis of the collective monograph “Cult-goods: Commercialization of History in Mass Culture”, published as a result of the conference of the same name, held in June 2019 at the University of Bologna in Italy.
Serena Rita Bruno, Mariacristina Poliseno, Francesca Vichi
et al.
Is it possible to achieve a collaboration between Infectious Diseases (ID) Specialists and General Practitioners (GPs) in the management of chronic HIV infection? A cross sectional survey was conducted among People Living with HIV (PLWHIV) attending the outpatient services of four Italian Infectious Diseases Centers to understand to which extent patients trust their GPs and involve them in the management of their chronic condition. Information about level of communication with GPs, subjective perception of the disease, and presence of co-medications were collected and matched with socio-demographic data using χ2statistics. A p<0.05 was considered statistically significant. From December 2019 to February 2020, 672 patients completed the survey, 59% males and 56% >50 years. Overall, 508 patients (76%) had informed GPs about HIV-positivity. Communication of diagnosis was significantly associated with age >50years, lower education level, history of disease >10 years and residency in Northern Italy. The "Undetectable = Untrasmittable" (U = U) concept was investigated as an indirect measure of perceived stigma. 23% of subjects was unaware of its meaning. Despite undetectable status, 50% of PLWHIV found difficult to communicate their condition to GPs, especially married (52% vs 48% of unmarried, p = 0.003), well-educated patients (51% vs 48, p = 0.007), living in Southern vs Northern Italy (52% vs 46%, p< 0.001). More than 75% of the participants consulted the ID specialist for co-medications and DDIs management, often complaining a lack of communication of the former with GPs. Overall, a good level of communication between PLWHIV and GPs was outlined, even if a wider involvement of the latter in HIV care is desirable.