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This paper addresses the problem of establishing efficient intralogistic systems, focusing on the generation of roadmaps on a given layout and the coordination of multiple Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs). A simulation-based approach for automatic roadmap design is proposed. An event-based simulator is developed that uses ant-colony inspired optimization to generate roadmaps tailored to the specific characteristics of a given intralogistic problem, i.e., the plant layout, fleet size, statistical description of tasks, dispatching algorithm, etc. The generated solutions are evaluated with a Multi-Agent Path Finding (MAPF) simulator that uses a Safe Interval Path Planning (SIPP) algorithm. By analysing the system throughput, the optimal fleet size for the system is proposed. The approach is validated through various examples and benchmarked against existing methods in the literature. Note to Practitioners—Creating efficient roadmaps plays a key role in improving the efficiency of multi-AGV systems. Usually, roadmaps are designed by experts, which is time consuming and may lead to suboptimal solutions due to the complexity of the problem. The main objective of this work is to develop a methodology that allows the automatic generation of efficient roadmaps taking into account the specific characteristics of an intralogistic problem. The main advantage is the fast generation of solutions and their validation in terms of throughput. At the same time, the presented methodology allows a quick correction of the solution if one of the problem characteristics changes, without the need to change the layout itself. This provides industry practitioners with an effective tool that facilitates their work in setting up multi-AGV systems, thus saving time and costs.

The 6th International Conference, “Controversies in Vitamin D,” was convened to discuss controversial topics, such as vitamin D metabolism, assessment, actions, and supplementation. Novel insights into vitamin D mechanisms of action suggest links with conditions that do not depend only on reduced solar exposure or diet intake and that can be detected with distinctive noncanonical vitamin D metabolites. Optimal 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels remain debated. Varying recommendations from different societies arise from evaluating different clinical or public health approaches. The lack of assay standardization also poses challenges in interpreting data from available studies, hindering rational data pooling and meta-analyses. Beyond the well-known skeletal features, interest in vitamin D's extraskeletal effects has led to clinical trials on cancer, cardiovascular risk, respiratory effects, autoimmune diseases, diabetes, and mortality. The initial negative results are likely due to enrollment of vitamin D-replete individuals. Subsequent post hoc analyses have suggested, nevertheless, potential benefits in reducing cancer incidence, autoimmune diseases, cardiovascular events, and diabetes. Oral administration of vitamin D is the preferred route. Parenteral administration is reserved for specific clinical situations. Cholecalciferol is favored due to safety and minimal monitoring requirements. Calcifediol may be used in certain conditions, while calcitriol should be limited to specific disorders in which the active metabolite is not readily produced in vivo. Further studies are needed to investigate vitamin D effects in relation to the different recommended 25(OH)D levels and the efficacy of the different supplementary formulations in achieving biochemical and clinical outcomes within the multifaced skeletal and extraskeletal potential effects of vitamin D.Graphical Abstract

•A relationship between high baseline DOAC levels and early bleeding events in 1-year follow-up was found.•Early measurement allows to identify patients with high DOAC levels and, hopefully, to adjust treatment to reduce bleeding events.

•A relationship between low baseline DOAC levels and thrombotic events in 1-year follow-up was found.•Early measurement allows the identification of patients with low DOAC levels and treatment adjustment to avoid future thrombotic events.

Skeletal muscle mass wasting almost invariably accompanies bone loss in elderly, and the coexistence of these two conditions depends on the tight endocrine crosstalk existing between the two organs, other than the biomechanical coupling. Since the current diagnostics limitation in this field, and given the progressive population aging, more effective tools are needed. The aim of this study was to identify circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) as potential biomarkers for muscle mass wasting in post‐menopausal osteoporotic women. One hundred seventy‐nine miRNAs were assayed by quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction in plasma samples from 28 otherwise healthy post‐menopausal osteoporotic women (73.4 ± 6.6 years old). The cohort was divided in tertiles based on appendicular skeletal muscle mass index (ASMMI) to better highlight the differences on skeletal muscle mass (first tertile: n= 9, ASMMI = 4.88 ± 0.40 kg·m−2; second tertile: n= 10, ASMMI = 5.73 ± 0.23 kg·m−2; third tertile: n= 9, ASMMI = 6.40 ± 0.22 kg·m−2). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were calculated to estimate the diagnostic potential of miRNAs. miRNAs displaying a statistically significant fold change ≥ ±1.5 and area under the curve (AUC) > 0.800 (P< 0.05) between the first and third tertiles were considered. A linear regression model was applied to estimate the association between miRNA expression and ASMMI in the whole population, adjusting for body mass index, age, total fat (measured by total‐body dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry [DXA]) and bone mineral density (measured by femur DXA). Circulating levels of adipo‐myokines were evaluated by bead‐based immunofluorescent assays and enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assays. Five miRNAs (hsa‐miR‐221‐3p, hsa‐miR‐374b‐5p, hsa‐miR‐146a‐5p, hsa‐miR‐126‐5p and hsa‐miR‐425‐5p) resulted down‐regulated and two miRNAs (hsa‐miR‐145‐5p and hsa‐miR‐25‐3p) were up‐regulated in the first tertile (relative‐low ASMMI) compared with the third tertile (relative‐high ASMMI) (fold change ≥ ±1.5; P‐value < 0.05). All the corresponding ROC curves had AUC > 0.8 (P< 0.05). Two signatures hsa‐miR‐126‐5p, hsa‐miR‐146a‐5p and hsa‐miR‐425‐5p; and hsa‐miR‐126‐5p, hsa‐miR‐146a‐5p, hsa‐miR‐145‐5p and hsa‐miR‐25‐3p showed the highest AUC, 0.914 (sensitivity = 77.78%; specificity = 100.00%) and 0.901 (sensitivity = 88.89%; specificity = 100.00%), respectively. In this study, we identified, for the first time, two miRNA signatures, hsa‐miR‐126‐5p, hsa‐miR‐146a‐5p and hsa‐miR‐425‐5p; and hsa‐miR‐126‐5p, hsa‐miR‐146a‐5p, hsa‐miR‐145‐5p and hsa‐miR‐25‐3p, specifically associated with muscle mass wasting in post‐menopausal osteoporotic women.

The Human Machine Interface (HMI) of intraluminal robots has a crucial impact on the clinician's performance. It increases or decreases the difficulty of the tasks, and is connected to the users' physical and mental stress. Objective: This article presents a framework to compare and evaluate different HMIs for robotic colonoscopy, with the objective of identifying the optimal HMI that minimises the clinician's effort and maximises the clinical outcomes. Methods: The framework comprises a 1) a virtual simulator (clinically validated), 2) wearable sensors measuring the cognitive load, 3) a data collection unit of metrics correlated to the clinical performance, and 4) questionnaires exploring the users' impressions and perceived stress. The framework was tested with 42 clinicians investigating the optimal device for tele-operated control of robotic colonoscopes. Two control devices were selected and compared: a haptic serial-kinematic device and a standard videogame joypad. Results: The haptic device was preferred by the endoscopists, but the joypad enabled better clinical performance and reduced cognitive and physical load. Conclusion: The framework can be used to evaluate different aspects of a HMI, both hardware and software, and determine the optimal HMI that can reduce the burden on clinicians while improving the clinical outcome. Significance: The findings of this study, and of future studies performed with this framework, can inform the design and development of HMIs for intraluminal robots, leading to improved clinical performance, reduced physical and mental stress for clinicians, and ultimately better patient outcomes.

Purpose: Childhood obesity, a pressing global health issue, significantly increases the risk of metabolic complications, including metabolic dysfunction associated with steatotic liver disease (MASLD). Accurate non-invasive tests for early detection and screening of steatosis are crucial. In this study, we explored the serum proteome, identifying proteins as potential biomarkers for inclusion in non-invasive steatosis diagnosis tests. Methods: Fifty-nine obese adolescents underwent ultrasonography to assess steatosis. Serum samples were collected and analyzed by targeted proteomics with the Proximity Extension Assay technology. Clinical and biochemical parameters were evaluated, and correlations among them, the individuated markers, and steatosis were performed. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to determine the steatosis diagnostic performance of the identified candidates, the fatty liver index (FLI), and their combination in a logistic regression model. Results: Significant differences were observed between subjects with and without steatosis in various clinical and biochemical parameters. Gender-related differences in the serum proteome were also noted. Five circulating proteins, including Cathepsin O (CTSO), Cadherin 2 (CDH2), and Prolyl endopeptidase (FAP), were identified as biomarkers for steatosis. CDH2, CTSO, Leukocyte Immunoglobulin Like Receptor A5 (LILRA5), BMI, waist circumference, HOMA-IR, and FLI, among others, significantly correlated with the steatosis degree. CDH2, FAP, and LDL combined in a logit model achieved a diagnostic performance with an AUC of 0.91 (95% CI 0.75–0.97, 100% sensitivity, 84% specificity). Conclusions: CDH2 and FAP combined with other clinical parameters, represent useful tools for accurate diagnosis of fatty liver, emphasizing the importance of integrating novel markers into diagnostic algorithms for MASLD.

IMPORTANCE: Although up to 20% of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) experience onset before 18 years of age, it has been suggested that people with pediatric-onset MS (POMS) are protected against disability because of greater capacity for repair. OBJECTIVE: To assess the incidence of and factors associated with progression independent of relapse activity (PIRA) and relapse-associated worsening (RAW) in POMS compared with typical adult-onset MS (AOMS) and late-onset MS (LOMS). DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This cohort study on prospectively acquired data from the Italian MS Register was performed from June 1, 2000, to September 30, 2021. At the time of data extraction, longitudinal data from 73 564 patients from 120 MS centers were available in the register. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: The main outcomes included age-related cumulative incidence and adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) for PIRA and RAW and associated factors. EXPOSURES: Clinical and magnetic resonance imaging features, time receiving disease-modifying therapy (DMT), and time to first DMT. RESULTS: After applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, the study assessed 16 130 patients with MS (median [IQR] age at onset, 28.7 [22.8-36.2 years]; 68.3% female). Compared with AOMS and LOMS, patients with POMS had less disability, exhibited more active disease, and were exposed to DMT for a longer period. A first 48-week-confirmed PIRA occurred in 7176 patients (44.5%): 558 patients with POMS (40.4%), 6258 patients with AOMS (44.3%), and 360 patients with LOMS (56.8%) (P &lt; .001). Factors associated with PIRA were older age at onset (AOMS vs POMS HR, 1.42; 95% CI, 1.30-1.55; LOMS vs POMS HR, 2.98; 95% CI, 2.60-3.41; P &lt; .001), longer disease duration (HR, 1.04; 95% CI, 1.04-1.05; P &lt; .001), and shorter DMT exposure (HR, 0.69; 95% CI, 0.64-0.74; P &lt; .001). The incidence of PIRA was 1.3% at 20 years of age, but it rapidly increased approximately 7 times between 21 and 30 years of age (9.0%) and nearly doubled for each age decade from 40 to 70 years (21.6% at 40 years, 39.0% at 50 years, 61.0% at 60 years, and 78.7% at 70 years). The cumulative incidence of RAW events followed a similar trend from 20 to 60 years (0.5% at 20 years, 3.5% at 30 years, 7.8% at 40 years, 14.4% at 50 years, and 24.1% at 60 years); no further increase was found at 70 years (27.7%). Delayed DMT initiation was associated with higher risk of PIRA (HR, 1.16; 95% CI, 1.00-1.34; P = .04) and RAW (HR, 1.75; 95% CI, 1.28-2.39; P = .001). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: PIRA can occur at any age, and although pediatric onset is not fully protective against progression, this study’s findings suggest that patients with pediatric onset are less likely to exhibit PIRA over a decade of follow-up. However, these data also reinforce the benefit for DMT initiation in patients with POMS, as treatment was associated with reduced occurrence of both PIRA and RAW regardless of age at onset.

People with Huntington’s disease (HD) exhibit neurocognitive alterations throughout the disease, including deficits in social cognitive processes such as Theory of Mind (ToM). The aim is to identify methodologies and ToM instruments employed in HD, alongside relevant findings, within the scientific literature of the past two decades. We conducted a comprehensive search for relevant papers in the SCOPUS, PubMed, APA-PsyArticles, Web of Science, Redalyc, and SciELO databases. In the selection process, we specifically focused on studies that included individuals with a confirmed genetic status of HD and investigated ToM functioning in patients with and without motor symptoms. The systematic review followed the PRISMA protocol. A total of 27 papers were selected for this systematic review, covering the period from 2003 to 2023. The findings consistently indicate that ToM is globally affected in patients with manifest motor symptoms. In individuals without motor symptoms, impairments are focused on the affective dimensions of ToM. Based on our analysis, affective ToM could be considered a potential biomarker for HD. Therefore, it is recommended that ToM assessment be included as part of neuropsychological evaluation protocols in clinical settings. Suchinclusion could aid in the identification of early stages of the disease and provide new opportunities for treatment, particularly with emerging drugs like antisense oligomers. The Prospero registration number for this review is CRD42020209769.

The development of quantum simulators, artificial platforms where the predictions of many-body theories of correlated quantum materials can be tested in a controllable and tunable way, is one of the main challenges of condensed matter physics. Here we introduce artificial lattices made of lead halide perovskite nanocubes as a new platform to simulate and investigate the physics of correlated quantum materials. We demonstrate that optical injection of quantum confined excitons in this system realizes the two main features that ubiquitously pervade the phase diagram of many quantum materials: collective phenomena, in which long-range orders emerge from incoherent fluctuations, and the excitonic Mott transition, which has one-to-one correspondence with the insulator-to-metal transition described by the repulsive Hubbard model in a magnetic field. Our results demonstrate that time-resolved experiments provide a quantum simulator that is able to span a parameter range relevant for a broad class of phenomena, such as superconductivity and charge-density waves.

In this review, we describe the structure and function of the alveolar–capillary membrane and the identification of a novel potential marker of its integrity in the context of heart failure (HF). The alveolar–capillary membrane is indeed a crucial structure for the maintenance of the lung parenchyma gas exchange capacity, and the occurrence of pathological conditions determining lung fluids accumulation, such as HF, might significantly impair lung diffusion capacity altering the alveolar–capillary membrane protective functions. In the years, we found that the presence of immature forms of the surfactant protein-type B (proSP-B) in the circulation reflects alterations in the alveolar–capillary membrane integrity. We discussed our main achievements showing that proSP-B, due to its chemical properties, specifically binds to high-density lipoprotein, impairing their antioxidant activity, and likely contributing to the progression of the disease. Further, we found that immature proSP-B, not the mature protein, is related to lung abnormalities, more precisely than the lung function parameters. Thus, to the list of the potential proposed markers of HF, we add proSP-B, which represents a precise marker of alveolar–capillary membrane dysfunction in HF, correlates with prognosis, and represents a precocious marker of drug therapy.

Background: The management of tracheotomy at home can be very complex, affecting the patient’s quality of life.Objectives: This case series study aimed to explore the experiences of patients affected by neuromuscular diseases (NMD) concerning tracheostomy and Invasive Mechanical Ventilation (IMV) management at home during the COVID-19 health emergency in Italy.Methods: Semi-structured interviews and the following instruments were used: Connor and Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC-25); Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-II (AAQ-II); State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI); Langer Mindfulness Scale (LMS). Descriptive analyses, correlations, and qualitative analyses were carried out.Results: 22 patients [50% female, mean age?=?50.2 (SD?=?21.2)] participated in the study. Participants who showed high levels of dispositional mindfulness in terms of novelty-seeking (r?=?0.736, p?=?0.013) and novelty production (r?=?0.644, p?=?0.033) were those with higher resilience. The main emotion that emerged was the fear of contagion (19 patients, 86.36%), due to the previous fragile condition, leading to a significant sense of abandonment. The tracheostomy’s perception is seen in extremes as a lifesaver or a condemnation. The relationship with the health professionals moves from satisfaction to a feeling of abandonment with a lack of preparation.Conclusions: The relationship between resilience, flexibility, state anxiety and dispositional mindfulness offers ways to reinforce tracheostomy management at home, even in critical periods when going to the hospital may be difficult.

The management of tracheotomy at home can be very complex, affecting the patient’s quality of life. This case series study aimed to explore the experiences of patients affected by neuromuscular diseases (NMD) concerning tracheostomy and Invasive Mechanical Ventilation (IMV) management at home during the COVID-19 health emergency in Italy. Semi-structured interviews and the following instruments were used: Connor and Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC-25); Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-II (AAQ-II); State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI); Langer Mindfulness Scale (LMS). Descriptive analyses, correlations, and qualitative analyses were carried out. 22 patients [50% female, mean age = 50.2 (SD = 21.2)] participated in the study. Participants who showed high levels of dispositional mindfulness in terms of novelty-seeking (r = 0.736, p = 0.013) and novelty production (r = 0.644, p = 0.033) were those with higher resilience. The main emotion that emerged was the fear of contagion (19 patients, 86.36%), due to the previous fragile condition, leading to a significant sense of abandonment. The tracheostomy’s perception is seen in extremes as a lifesaver or a condemnation. The relationship with the health professionals moves from satisfaction to a feeling of abandonment with a lack of preparation. The relationship between resilience, flexibility, state anxiety and dispositional mindfulness offers ways to reinforce tracheostomy management at home, even in critical periods when going to the hospital may be difficult.

Preterm birth can constitute an unexpected interruption of the transition to motherhood that can impact on a mother's well-being and her subsequent interactions with her child and, thus, be an important risk factor for the infant's emotional development.

BackgroundIgG antibodies against myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG-IgG) define a subset of associated disorders (myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein associated disorders (MOGAD)) that can have a relapsing course. However, information on relapse predictors is scarce. The utility of retesting MOG-IgG over time and measuring their titres is uncertain. We aimed to evaluate the clinical relevance of longitudinal MOG-IgG titre measurement to predict relapses in patients with MOGAD.MethodsIn this retrospective multicentre Italian cohort study, we recruited patients with MOGAD and available longitudinal samples (at least one >3 months after disease onset) and tested them with a live cell-based assay with endpoint titration (1:160 cut-off). Samples were classified as ‘attack’ (within 30 days since a disease attack (n=59, 17%)) and ‘remission’ (≥31 days after attack (n=295, 83%)).ResultsWe included 102 patients with MOGAD (57% adult and 43% paediatric) with a total of 354 samples (83% from remission and 17% from attack). Median titres were higher during attacks (1:1280 vs 1:640, p=0.001). Median onset titres did not correlate with attack-related disability, age or relapses. Remission titres were higher in relapsing patients (p=0.02). When considering the first remission sample available for each patient, titres >1:2560 were predictors of relapsing course in survival (log rank, p<0.001) and multivariate analysis (p<0.001, HR: 10.9, 95% CI 3.4 to 35.2). MOG-IgG seroconversion to negative was associated with a 95% relapse incidence rate reduction (incidence rate ratio: 0.05, p<0.001).ConclusionsPersistent MOG-IgG positivity and high remission titres are associated with an increased relapse risk. Longitudinal MOG-IgG titres could be useful to stratify patients to be treated with long term immunosuppression.

Blazars are active galactic nuclei (AGN) with relativistic jets whose non-thermal radiation is extremely variable on various timescales1–3. This variability seems mostly random, although some quasi-periodic oscillations (QPOs), implying systematic processes, have been reported in blazars and other AGN. QPOs with timescales of days or hours are especially rare4in AGN and their nature is highly debated, explained by emitting plasma moving helically inside the jet5, plasma instabilities6,7or orbital motion in an accretion disc7,8. Here we report results of intense optical and γ-ray flux monitoring of BL Lacertae (BL Lac) during a dramatic outburst in 2020 (ref. 9). BL Lac, the prototype of a subclass of blazars10, is powered by a 1.7 × 108MSun(ref. 11) black hole in an elliptical galaxy (distance = 313 megaparsecs (ref. 12)). Our observations show QPOs of optical flux and linear polarization, and γ-ray flux, with cycles as short as approximately 13 h during the highest state of the outburst. The QPO properties match the expectations of current-driven kink instabilities6near a recollimation shock about 5 parsecs (pc) from the black hole in the wake of an apparent superluminal feature moving down the jet. Such a kink is apparent in a microwave Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA) image.

InAs nanowires are emerging as go-to materials in a variety of applications ranging from optoelectronics to nanoelectronics, yet a consensus on their mechanical properties is still lacking. The mechanical properties of wurtzite InAs nanowires are here investigated via a multitechnique approach, exploiting electron microscopies, ultrafast photoacoustics, and finite element simulations. A benchmarked elastic matrix is provided and a Young modulus of 97 GPa is obtained, thus clarifying the debated issue of InAs NW elastic properties. The validity of the analytical approaches and approximations commonly adopted to retrieve the elastic properties from ultrafast spectroscopies is discussed. The mechanism triggering the oscillations is unveiled. Nanowire oscillations in this system arise from a sudden expansion of the supporting substrate rather than the nanowire itself. This mechanism constitutes a new paradigm, being at variance with respect to the excitation mechanisms so far identified in ultrafast experiments on nanowires and on a plethora of nanosystems. The present findings are relevant in view of applications involving InAs nanowires, knowledge of their mechanical properties being crucial for any device engineering beyond a trial-and-error approach. The results bear generality beyond the specific case, the launching mechanism potentially encompassing a variety of systems serving as nano-optomechanical resonators.

The paper focuses on new opportunities of knowledge sharing, and comparison, thanks to the circulation and re-use of heritage HBIM models by means of Object Libraries within a Common Data Environment (CDE) and remotely-accessible Geospatial Virtual Hubs (GVH). HBIM requires a transparent controlled quality process in the model generation and its management to avoid misuses of such models once available in the cloud, freeing themselves from object libraries oriented to new buildings. The model concept in the BIM construction process is intended to be progressively enriched with details defined by the Level of Geometry (LOG) while crossing the different phases of development (LOD), from the pre-design to the scheduled maintenance during the long life cycle of buildings and management (LLCM). In this context, the digitization process—from the data acquisition until the informative models (scan-to-HBIM method)—requires adapting the definition of LOGs to the different phases characterizing the heritage preservation and management, reversing the new construction logic based on simple-to-complex informative models. Accordingly, a deeper understanding of the geometry and state of the art (as-found) should take into account the complexity and uniqueness of the elements composing the architectural heritage since the starting phases of the analysis, adopting coherent object modeling that can be simplified for different purposes as in the construction site and management over time. For those reasons, the study intends (i) to apply the well-known concept of scale to the object model generation, defining different Grades of Accuracy (GOA) related to the scales (ii) to start fixing sustainable roles to guarantee a free choice by the operators in the generation of object models, and (iii) to validate the model generative process with a transparent communication of indicators to describe the richness in terms of precision and accuracy of the geometric content here declined for masonry walls and vaults, and (iv) to identifies requirements for reliable Object Libraries.

Current practice in large infrastructure management requires new procedures for cost-effective maintenance and safe operation. In this sense, the availability of new surveying, inspection and monitoring procedures as well as new instruments can play a significant role in securing a fundamental asset with an affordable cost. Indeed, inspection and monitoring with automated or semi-automated instruments can guarantee a significant reduction of time in operations that are currently manual, risky and time-consuming. The availability of new sensing platforms and instruments like lightweight mobile mapping systems and drones is fundamental for rethinking current survey and inspection practice. However, their performance, in terms of metric accuracy and reliability, in real applications is still limited. On the other hand, the acquisition of primary data is only the first step of the maintenance workflow. Indeed, even if the adoption of informative content models for structural health monitoring (SHM) for large infrastructures clearly presents important advantages compared with standard management; the adoption of proper tolls for such complex infrastructures poses some issues that need to be solved to develop smooth management and maintenance workflows. This paper presents a methodology for the generation of a detailed informative model starting from multi-sources data: terrestrial laser scanning (TLS), Mobile Mapping Systems (MMS) and photogrammetry. The integration of those different techniques is discussed and a comparative analysis is carried out. The enrichment of the informative model with further data coming from load testing and inspection is presented to create a unique informative platform suitable for different end-users involved in maintenance operations.

The additive manufacturing technology known as Laser Metal Deposition (LMD) is achieving widespread diffusion, thanks to its capacity of repairing or manufacturing entirely new, highly customized functional parts with complex geometries. For this reason, researchers and practitioners are continuously trying to improve the productivity and quality of this process, in particular by applying cutting-edge machine learning and control approaches. The implementation of these methodologies requires the availability of a data management infrastructure, capable of communicating with multiple, heterogeneous sources (sensors and machines), logging such process data acquired at high speed, and exposing such information to machine learning and control functionalities. This work describes the Ground Control framework, a monitoring and control system architecture designed and implemented on LMD machines, which supports simultaneous acquisition of process data at frequencies up to 500 Hz (workpiece temperature, melt pool images and temperature, in-process 3D scans, and machine data) and control of laser power. This information is organized in a customized database, used for experimental characterization and optimization of the process. The results and performances of the designed system are described by examples extracted from real deposition experiment

Vitamin D (VITD) is a key hormone for bone health and has relevant extra-skeletal effects that might play a role in the prevention and treatment of COronaVIrusDisease 19 (COVID-19). Literature regarding this scenario is voluminous but controversial. Glucocorticoid Induced Osteoporosis Skeletal Endocrinology Group (G.I.O.S.E.G) has been present in the scientific debate about the use of VITD and has regularly interfaced national regulatory agencies to ensure appropriateness of its employment. Given the current pandemic and the questions on COVID-19 and VITD, G.I.O.S.E.G. appointed an expert panel to advise how to consider this issue best. The results of these deliberations are reported in the current recommendation paper.