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This paper is a write-up of the ideas that were presented, developed and discussed at the fourth International Workshop on QCD Challenges from pp to AA, which took place in February 2023 in Padua, Italy. The goal of the workshop was to focus on some of the open questions in the field of high-energy heavy-ion physics and to stimulate the formulation of concrete suggestions for making progresses on both the experimental and theoretical sides. The paper gives a brief introduction to each topic and then summarizes the primary results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Migraine, as a prevalent neurologic disorder, involves intricate and yet incompletely elucidated pathophysiological mechanisms. A plethora of research findings underscores the pivotal role played by astrocytes in the progression of migraines. In order to elucidate the current advances and directions in research pertaining to astrocytes in migraines, we conducted bibliometric analysis of relevant literature and visualized the results. Subsequently, we expound upon these findings to contribute to the evolving understanding of the role of astrocytes in migraine pathophysiology. Methods: On November 21, 2023, we conducted a search on Web of Science (WOS), restricting the document type to articles or reviews and language to English. Following a meticulous selection process involving three researchers, we identified the literature to be included in our analysis. Subsequently, we employed Microsoft Office Excel programs, R, VOSviewer, Scimago Graphica, and CiteSpace software to conduct visualization analysis of basic information and trends regarding journals, countries/regions, and influential authors, institutions, keywords, and papers. Results: As of November 21, 2023, relevant literature has been published in 71 journals across 27 countries/regions. This corpus comprises contributions from 576 authors affiliated with 220 institutions, encompassing 865 keywords and referencing 6065 scholarly articles. CEPHALALGIA stands out as the most influential journal in this field, while authors PIETROBON D and DALKARA T have significant impact. The United States is highly influential, with CNR and UNIV PADUA emerging as highly influential institutions. The predominant category is Neurosciences. Conclusions: Future investigators may continue to focus on migraines with aura, familial hemiplegic migraine (FHM), and the crucial calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) system. Employing advanced observational techniques, such as imaging, researchers should pay attention to cellular and tissue structures, such as microglia and the trigeminal ganglion, as well as mechanisms involving inflammation and central sensitization. Moreover, animal models are paramount in obtaining high-quality evidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Status epilepticus is a life-threatening condition that is defined as refractory (RSE) when the seizure activity continues despite treatment with benzodiazepine and a second appropriate treatment. Super refractory status epilepticus (SRSE) is an RSE that persists or recurs for ≥24 h. Few papers have reported the outcomes of pediatric patients affected by RSE and SRSE and treated with neuromodulation therapies. Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is an approved treatment for drug-resistant epilepsy. We present our findings of pediatric patients treated with VNS for RSE/SRSE. Methods: We present a case series of seven consecutive pediatric patients treated with VNS for SRSE since 2012 by a single surgeon in Monza and Padua. A rapid titration was started soon after implantation. We considered electroclinical data before and after VNS implantation and at the last follow-up. Results: We achieved the resolution of SRSE in five out of seven patients in a mean time of two weeks. At the last follow-up, these patients had a significant reduction of seizure burden without any relapse of SE. Discussion and Conclusions: Based on our limited findings, we discuss the potential role of VNS therapy in similar but distinct clinical contexts. For patients with drug-resistant epilepsy and RSE/SRSE, prompt VNS consideration is suggested, offering rapid responses and potentially reducing pharmacological load. Meanwhile, in NORSE/FIRES, we suggest early neuromodulation during the acute phase if standard treatments prove ineffective or not tolerated. This approach may leverage VNS's potential anti-inflammatory effects and neuromodulation, enhancing patient-specific treatments. Expanding case studies and prolonged follow-ups are recommended to strengthen these clinical insights. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antithrombin (AT) deficiency increases the risk for venous thromboembolism, therefore, a highly sensitive assay to identify this condition is crucial. The aim of this paper was to perform a meta-analysis comparing AT activities measured by different AT activity assays in patients with heparin binding site AT deficiency. In addition, the diagnostic sensitivity of selected assays was compared depending on the available data. An extensive literature search was performed considering results with publication date up to July 10, 2021. Seven relevant English-language observational studies, comparing AT activity measured by different AT activity assays in Caucasian Europeans with either the AT Budapest III or AT Padua I mutation were included in meta-analyses. There was no significant difference in AT activity between Labexpert and Innovance in patients with AT Budapest III (P = 0.567) and AT Padua I (P = 0.265), while AT activity determined by HemosIL was significantly higher compared to Innovance for both mutations (AT Budapest III: P < 0.001; AT Padua I: P < 0.001). These results are in line with the results of comparison of diagnostic sensitivity. In patients with AT Budapest III, the AT activity was also higher when measured with Berichrom compared to Innovance (P = 0.002), however, the results of comparison of diagnostic sensitivity across studies were variable. No significant difference (P = 0.117) in AT activity as well as diagnostic sensitivity was observed between Sta-Stachrom and Innovance. The results of our study suggest that Innovance, Labexpert and Sta-Stachrom are the most sensitive activity assays for detection of AT Budapest III and AT Padua I, whereas HemosIL showed considerably lower sensitivity for these two variants. As revealed in our study, the diagnostic sensitivity of AT activity assays to type II heparin binding site AT deficiency is different, and in some assays mutation dependent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The International Symposium on Myofascial Pain, Fibromyalgia, and Fascial Pain Disorders was held at the University of Padua, Padua, Italy in June of 2023. This report presents a summary of the presentations from scientists and clinicians from around the world who presented to the symposium. The purpose of this symposium and resultant paper is improve health professional’s recognition and understanding of the clinical characteristics, co-morbidities, mechanisms, and treatment strategies for these common conditions to better understand and manage their pain, dysfunction, and quality life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Twenty years ago, we started to apply quantum optics to the astronomical research carried out inside the Department of Physics and Astronomy and the INAF Astronomical Observatory in Padova, Italy. The initial activities were stimulated by the project of the European Southern Observatory (ESO) to build a 100 m diameter telescope, the Overwhelmingly Large (OWL) telescope. The enormous photon flux expected from such an aperture suggested that quantum optics concepts be utilized in order to obtain novel astrophysical results. Following initial successful attempts to utilize the orbital angular momentum of the light beam to enhance the visibility of faint companions to bright stars, the Padova team concentrated its efforts on very high time resolution, in order to measure and store the arrival time of celestial photons to better than one nanosecond. To obtain observational results, we built two photon counting photometers (AquEye and IquEye) to be used with our telescopes of the Asiago Observatory and with 4 m class telescopes such as the ESO New Technology Telescope (NTT) in Chile. This paper firstly describes these two instruments and then expounds the results obtained on pulsar light curves, lunar occultations and the first photon counting intensity interferometry measurements of the bright star Vega. Indeed, the correlation of photon arrival times on two or more apertures can lead to extremely high angular resolutions, as shown around 1970 by Hanbury Brown and Twiss. Prospects for quantum intensity interferometry with arrays of Cherenkov light telescopes will also be described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gamification is an emerging trend in the educational context. It is embedded in the instructions anchored with game design elements in non-game context. It further amplifies the way how learners are hooked and attached with different technologies entailed with various online games and applications making them more motivated and engaged. This study sought to generate a theory in gamification in education. With this purpose, this paper will utilize the deductive axiomatic approach in theory generation following the steps provided by Padua (2012). There are five axioms construed, namely; (1) Gamification is universal in terms of its application to different topics discuss in the academe; (2) Gamification provokes the learners to think critically; (3) Gamification sustains the learner's motivation and engagement in a classroom discussion; (4) Gamification creates no boundaries among the students since it is widely used in different schools in the country; and (5) Gamification provides a convenient way of teaching and learning from each other as students also share their expertise in manipulating gadgets and different high-end technologies. From these five axioms, ten propositions were formulated; Gamification should (1) make the game-designs and applications friendly, (2) have more interesting and thought-provoking activities online, (3) provide a clear and simple instructions in performing the activities; (4) formulate activities and tasks that are locally contextualized, (5) create learning and behavioral goals attainable; (6) provide a reward system right after each milestone in the activity; (7) make all learning activities fun and interactive; (8) have the applications supported by the government to make it accessible to all learners; (9) create a competitive learning environment; and (10) encourage learners to provide their feedback about the game designs and its applications for the improvement of the activities. With these propositions, the Motivation-Exploration-Implementation Theory for Gamification in Education was generated. This theory emphasizes the importance of gamification in the teaching-learning process whereby motivation, exploration, and implementation are important elements in achieving a competitive, contextualized, and conducive learning environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines eight marble samples from the architectural elements and liturgical furniture of the ecclesiastical complex of Santa Giustina in Padova (Italy), founded by the Rufus Venantius Opilio before AD 524. The provenance determination of the marbles was carried out by means of a multi-analytical approach combining mineralogical–petrographic investigations, performed by microscopic observations of thin sections, and the measurement of the ratios of stable carbon and oxygen isotopes. The results obtained were compared with up-to-date petrographic and isotopic databases (Antonelli and Lazzarini 2015), and they showed that the analyzed marbles come from the quarries of the island of Proconnesus in Asia Minor, modern Marmara Adası (Turkey). Archaeometric evidence, together with the stylistic and functional analysis of the pieces, suggests the direct importation of a complete set of sculptures, shipped at different stages of workmanship from the workshops of Constantinople and expressly ordered by a single patron, who can be identified as Opilio, founder of the basilica of Santa Giustina and praetorian prefect at the court of King Theodoric. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is focused on feedback control of postprandial glucose levels for patients with type 1 Diabetes Mellitus. There are two important limitations that make this a challenging problem. First, the slow subcutaneous insulin pharmacokinetics that introduces a significant lag into the control loop. Second, the positivity constraint on the control action, meaning that it is not possible to remove insulin from the body. In this paper, both issues are explicitly considered in the design process using the internal model control framework, to derive a near-optimal feedback controller. Optimality is understood here as minimizing the blood glucose peak after a meal intake and, at the same time, preventing glucose values below a prescribed threshold. It is shown how the proposed controller approaches the optimal closed-loop performance as a limit case. The theoretical results are supported by a numerical example and the feasibility of the overall strategy under uncertainties is illustrated using an extended version UVa/Padova metabolic simulator. • Blood glucose control after a meal in patients with type 1 diabetes is investigated. • Unannounced control, that is, without intervention of the patient, is pursued • A controller is derived by means of the internal control model framework. • The positive control action constraint is taken into account at the design stage. • Optimal closed-loop control policy is approached as a tuning parameter tends to zero. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digital technologies are increasingly being used in the field of archaeology to provide three-dimensional metric information to scholars and help them in the process of understanding and interpreting the site under investigation. Among different surveying methods certainly photogrammetry has many advantages being a low cost, reliable and fast technique, but most importantly it allows the creation of realistic and interactive 3D models that can be viewed and interpreted by a wider audience. This certainly makes the enjoyment of sites easier and makes data accessible from anywhere. This study shows three particularly significant case studies in the archaeological field where photogrammetry has served as support. These case studies are representative of specific situations in which archaeology requires digitization of artefacts. The first one concerns the Temple of Apollo in Gortyn (Crete, Greece), the second one is the ancient city of Nora (Sardinia, Italy) and the third one is the Museo Civico of Eremitani in Padua (Italy). The paper explains how 3D metric surveying has served for the representation and analysis of stratigraphic sections of buildings in the case of the Gortyn site, for the creation of virtual tours of archaeological sites in the case of Nora, and for the documentation and visualization of small artifacts in the case of the Museo Civico of Eremitani by highlighting potentials and criticalities of the method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Type-1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is a challenging disorder which essentially involves regulation of the glucose levels to avoid hyperglycemia as well as hypoglycemia. For this purpose, this research paper proposes and develops control algorithms using an intelligent predictive control model, which is based on a UVA/Padova metabolic simulator. The primary objective of the designed control laws is to provide an automatic blood glucose control in insulin-dependent patients so as to improve their life quality and to reduce the need of an extremely demanding self-management plan. Various linear and nonlinear control algorithms have been explored and implemented on the estimated model. Linear techniques include the Proportional Integral Derivative (PID) and Linear Quadratic Regulator (LQR), and nonlinear control strategy includes the Sliding Mode Control (SMC), which are implemented in this research work for continuous monitoring of glucose levels. Performance comparison based on simulation results demonstrated that SMC proved to be most efficient in terms of regulating glucose profile to a reference level of 70 mg/dL compared to the classical linear techniques. A brief comparison is presented between the linear techniques (PID and LQR), and nonlinear technique (SMC) for analysis purposes proving the efficacy of the design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is a microbiological voyage throughout the main discoveries and research activities of scholars who studied or taught in this field at Padova University during its 800-year history. The ancient practice of variolization, the so-called miracle of Legnaro and the pellagra debate, whose observations and investigations were driven at Padova even before microbiology was established as a scientific discipline, along with the modern era research activities in the field of agricultural, environmental and food microbiology, undoubtedly suggest the hallmark and everyday role played by microbes in overwhelmingly global, but profoundly human, adventures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given the benefits both individuals and collectivity have achieved over the past few years thanks to Mobility-as-Service (MaaS) systems, various studies were conducted to predict the level of acceptance of MaaS bundles from different territorial scales and in different countries. Results obtained are in some cases contradictory. Literature is lacking in the study of small-to-medium-sized urban contexts and in the effects of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. This paper aims to understand (1) what factors influence respondents' preferences between their usual transportation means and a possible MaaS alternative and (2) what leads a user to prefer one MaaS bundle to another. A logistic regression and a mixed logit model were developed to reach the two aims, respectively. These models were calibrated using questionnaires administered to employees of the Municipality of Padua, a medium-sized city in Italy. Aspects concerning the perception of health safety in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic were included in the analyses. In 37% of the cases, users stated they would be willing to adopt at least one of the proposed MaaS bundles. The results suggest that MaaS solutions can be a useful tool for managing mobility even in medium-sized cities, provided users' biosecurity concerns are addressed by appropriate countermeasures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 69th International Congress of Meat Science and Technology (ICoMST) took place in Padova, Italy, with the theme "From Tradition to Green Innovation." The congress aimed to disseminate the latest research and innovation in the field of Meat Science and Technology, addressing topics such as meat safety, animal welfare, traditional meat products, meat alternatives, and the role of meat in food security and health. The congress also included a round table discussion on the societal role of livestock systems and a session for early-career researchers to present their scientific contributions. The event received about 500 short papers for presentation and was successful with the participation of delegates, keynote speakers, scientists, and sponsors. [Extracted from the article]

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) increases the risk for pregnancy complications. Increased time in the pregnancy glucose target range (63-140 mg/dL as suggested by clinical guidelines) is associated with improved pregnancy outcomes that underscores the need for tight glycemic control. While closed-loop control is highly effective in regulating blood glucose levels in individuals with T1D, its use during pregnancy requires adjustments to meet the tight glycemic control and changing insulin requirements with advancing gestation. In this paper, we tailor a zone model predictive controller (zone-MPC), an optimization-based control strategy that uses model predictions, for use during pregnancy and verify its robustness in-silico through a broad range of scenarios. We customize the existing zone-MPC to satisfy pregnancy-specific glucose control objectives by having (i) lower target glycemic zones (i.e., 80-110 mg/dL daytime and 80-100 mg/dL overnight), (ii) more assertive correction bolus for hyperglycemia, and (iii) a control strategy that results in more aggressive postprandial insulin delivery to keep glucose within the target zone. The emphasis is on leveraging the flexible design of zone-MPC to obtain a controller that satisfies glycemic outcomes recommended for pregnancy based on clinical insight. To verify this pregnancy-specific zone-MPC design, we use the UVA/Padova simulator and conduct in-silico experiments on 10 subjects over 13 scenarios ranging from scenarios with ideal metabolic and treatment parameters for pregnancy to extreme scenarios with such parameters that are highly deviant from the ideal. All scenarios had three meals per day and each meal had 40 grams of carbohydrates. Across 13 scenarios, pregnancy-specific zone-MPC led to a 10.3 ± 5.3% increase in the time in pregnancy target range (baseline zone-MPC: 70.6 ± 15.0%, pregnancy-specific zone-MPC: 80.8 ± 11.3%, p < 0.001) and a 10.7 ± 4.8% reduction in the time above the target range (baseline zone-MPC: 29.0 ± 15.4%, pregnancy-specific zone-MPC: 18.3 ± 12.0, p < 0.001). There was no significant difference in the time below range between the controllers (baseline zone-MPC: 0.5 ± 1.2%, pregnancy-specific zone-MPC: 3.5 ± 1.9%, p = 0.1). The extensive simulation results show improved performance in the pregnancy target range with pregnancy-specific zone MPC, suggest robustness of the zone-MPC in tight glucose control scenarios, and emphasize the need for customized glucose control systems for pregnancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The basilica of St. Anthony in Padua (13th–14th cent.) is one of the most remarkable pilgrimage sites in Italy. To date, the monument itself has never been subject to a comprehensive stratigraphic analysis. Important information about the construction sequence of the building may be conserved in the domed roofs protecting the inner masonry shells.The present paper will focus on the dome next to the facade. During the survey, data acquisition via laser scanner have been flanked by standard tasks. Specifically, the stratification analysis of the timber framework of the dome requires to measure the entire structure, including parts with difficult access, and calls for many scan bases to go further the sight obstacles represented by the rafters and the horizontal collar-beams. Therefore, application of laser scanning might appear difficult at first sight.The authors will show that the approach confirms the suitability of the laser scanner technology in facing the general complexity of the structure. The development of a graphic documentation in CAD environment entailed a manageable complexity in terms of time-consumption and precision in data processing. So far, the plans reveal the irregular profile of the dome in its inner masonry shell, and of the outer masonry drum. The sections show a two-centre curvature of the elevation of the outer timber shell. However, the joints among the rafters, ribs, and tie-beams still require a series of traditional in-depth assessments acquired in close-range access.Nevertheless, the pragmatic investigative modus operandi, tested up to now, does represent a fixed protocol suitable to be iterated and perfected for each cupola. In such complex structures, the laser scanning process confirms to be a valid strategy to reach a good compromise between time consumption, human effort, and millimetre precision. In this way, the collected material provides a first contribution to acquire knowledge on this Italian medieval masterpiece, which stands out on the international scenario for its historical richness and architectural complexity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At the Department of Management and Engineering (DTG) of the University of Padova (Italy), the research team led by Prof. Renato Lazzarin, formed by the authors, worked during the first fifteen years of the millennium on different topics focused on sustainable technologies for energy production and utilization in buildings. Both experimental and theoretical/modeling studies were carried out, all sharing the evaluation of energy performance and sustainability: From the life cycle assessment and life cycle cost of building insulation materials in Italy, to the measurement of energy performance of a green roof, to the experimental measurement of different photovoltaic/thermal modules, to the development of a simulation software for direct and indirect evaporative cooling techniques, to the evaluation of different energy savings techniques for refrigeration and air conditioning in supermarkets, to an extensive analysis of the urban heat island effect in the city of Padova. The paper summarizes the main theoretical and experimental approaches, providing the methods adopted in each line of research. The main results of the studies conducted during the fifteen-year period are described and commented on, some of which were a well-established reference for the following literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Giuseppe Gradenigo was born in Venice in 1859, and he was a member of the noble Venetian family of the Gradenigo. After graduation in medicine in Padua, he went to Vienna where he deepened his studies in otology and embryology. He obtained, in 1888, the "libera docenza" in otology in Padua, and in 1889, he began to direct the section of otolaryngology of the polyclinic of Turin. After a brilliant career in 1917, he took over the chair of otolaryngology at the University of Naples. Gradenigo was a pioneer in otolaryngology and audiology and a reference figure in the clinical and scientific fields. In this paper, the most important aspects about his works and his biography will be discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article summarizes the papers presented in the discussion group focused on the theme "Models for the Analysis of Individual and Group Needs" at the joint symposium of the International Association for Educational and Vocational Guidance, Society for Vocational Psychology, and National Career Development Association held in Padua, Italy, in September 2007 titled Vocational Psychology and Career Guidance Practice: An International Partnership. The predominant theme that emerged from papers and discussion was that theory and practice need to be positioned within their proximal and distal contexts, ranging from personal to societal contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dolichomitus Smith is a widely distributed pimpline genus with more than seventy known species. There are eight species previously reported from South America: D. annulicornis (Cameron), D. bivittatus Townes, D. hypermeces Townes, D. jatai Loffredo & Penteado-Dias, D. longicauda Smith, D. megalourus (Morley), D. moacyri Loffredo & Penteado-Dias and D. zonatus (Cresson). In this paper, we describe five new species: D. mariajosae Araujo & Pádua, sp. nov., D. menai Araujo & Pádua, sp. nov., D. orejuelai Araujo & Pádua, sp. nov., D. pimmi Araujo & Pádua, sp. nov., and D. rendoni Araujo & Pádua, sp. nov. All have been collected in cloud forests in the Colombian tropical Andes. An illustrated key to the South American species of the genus is also provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ITER Neutral Beam Test Facility (NBTF) is hosted in Padua and includes two experiments: MITICA, the 1 MeV full-scale prototype of the ITER HNB injector, and SPIDER, the 100 keV full-size ITER Radio Frequency (RF) negative ion source. SPIDER and MITICA experiments are actively cooled by Ultrapure Water (UPW) to electrically insulate in-vessel components that are biased to high voltage levels. Water conductivity is an important monitored parameter to ensure components' insulation by limiting the leakage current of active cooled equipment. A very low conductivity water is especially important in MITICA, where components need to operate up to 1 MVdc, an insulation level beyond the actual industrial standard. Careful selection of suitable materials for any in-vessel (vacuum insulation) and out-vessel component (air insulation) is of utmost importance, as their interaction with water and different environment may affect their chemical and mechanical properties. Additionally, materials selection can severely influence water chemical characteristics: cooling circuits are made of metals (copper, aluminium, steel) and insulating materials (plastic, rubber) when connecting parts at different electric potentials. During the first years of cooling plant exploitation, it was shown that water degrades more quickly than estimated by design. The Primary Circuits (PCs) that showed the most severe water degradation during operation are SPIDER and MITICA power supply ones, respectively called PC01 and PC08. This paper describes the results of specific experimental tests performed on MITICA PC08 to evaluate possible causes of water degradation and detect sources of contaminants that might compromise future experimental campaigns. The cooling circuit was subdivided in different sections and water circulation tests were performed at constant temperature and flowrate. Water samples were collected and Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) analyses were performed to quantify the type and amount of metals released. Moreover, components samples collected along their cooling circuits were characterized by Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) technique to detect undesired contaminants and immersed in UPW to study their corrosion behaviour using metal release tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In hybrid automatic insulin delivery (HAID) systems, meal disturbance is compensated by feedforward control, which requires the announcement of the meal by the patient with type 1 diabetes (DM1) to achieve the desired glycemic control performance. The calculation of insulin bolus in the HAID system is based on the amount of carbohydrates (CHO) in the meal and patient-specific parameters, i.e. carbohydrate-to-insulin ratio (CR) and insulin sensitivity-related correction factor (CF). The estimation of CHO in a meal is prone to errors and is burdensome for patients. This study proposes a fully automatic insulin delivery (FAID) system that eliminates patient intervention by compensating for unannounced meals. This study exploits the deep reinforcement learning (DRL) algorithm to calculate insulin bolus for unannounced meals without utilizing the information on CHO content. The DRL bolus calculator is integrated with a closed-loop controller and a meal detector (both previously developed by our group) to implement the FAID system. An adult cohort of 68 virtual patients based on the modified UVa/Padova simulator was used for in-silico trials. The percentage of the overall duration spent in the target range of 70–180 mg/dL was 71.2 % and 76.2 % , < 70 mg/dL was 0.9 % and 0.1 % , and > 180 mg/dL was 26.7 % and 21.1 % , respectively, for the FAID system and HAID system utilizing a standard bolus calculator (SBC) including CHO misestimation. The proposed algorithm can be exploited to realize FAID systems in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• SPIDER, the experimental device devoted to the study of the ion source, has started operation in June 2018. • The construction of MITICA, the full-size prototype of the ITER heating neutral beam, is still in progress. • SPIDER gas injection and vacuum system is designed in order to guarantee a nominal pressure inside the Beam Source of 0.3 Pa. • SPIDER GVS is composed by several sub-systems interconnected and managed by a proper I&C architecture. • Experimental tests give evidence that the vacuum pumping system behave properly and allow the execution of long pulses. The ITER project requires at least two Heating Neutral Beam Injectors (NBIs), each accelerating up to 1 MV a 40 A beam of negative H-/D-.ions, to deliver to the plasma a total power of about 33 MW for one hour. Since these requirements have never been experimentally met, it was recognized necessary to build-up a test facility, named PRIMA including both a full-size negative ion source (SPIDER – Source for Production of Ion of Deuterium Extracted from Rf plasma) and a full prototype of the ITER injector (MITICA – Megavolt ITER Injector & Concept Advancement). This realization is made with the main contribution of the European Union, through the Joint Undertaking for ITER (F4E), the ITER Organization and Consorzio RFX (CRFX) that hosts the Test Facility in Padova, Italy. SPIDER is a Radio Frequency ion source that has the same characteristics foreseen for the ITER NBI but with beam energy limited to 100 keV. The mission of SPIDER is to increase the understanding of the source operation and to optimize the source performance in terms of extracted current density, uniformity and pulse duration. The paper describes the Gas injection and Vacuum System (GVS), from the analysis of requirements to the system commissioning. In particular, it presents the rationale behind the main design choices and specific manufacturing details of the gas injection plant feeding the RF source. Furthermore, the paper describes the interfaces with the SPIDER central interlock and safety systems. Finally, the main results of the GVS commissioning with the control and interlock systems are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Integration of an high voltage test facility (−1 MV), air insulated, in a dedicated building. • The paper covers the aspects of integration between the high voltage deck ventilation system and the civil air conditioning system. • The focus of the paper is the CFD simulation of the two coupled sub-systems, from the hypothesis to the results, also considering possible simplifications and realistic operational scenarios. The first ever built full-scale prototype of the ITER heating neutral beam injector is the MITICA experiment at PRIMA-NBTF (Neutral Beam Test Facility), under realization in Padua, Italy. The MITICA experiment includes many auxiliary plants; this paper is focused on the simulation and verification of the air cooling system of the High Voltage Power Supply (−1 MVdc), hosted in a Faraday cage (HVD1, High Voltage Deck1) inside a dedicated Building (High Voltage Hall, HVH) at PRIMA-NBTF. The HVD1 hosts the MITICA ISEPS (Ion Source Power Supply) in a two-floor cage, air insulated to ground for -1MVdc, with huge dimensions 12.5 m (L) × 8.4 m (W) × 9.6 m (H). Severe cleanliness constraints are required in the HVH hosting the HVD1, due to the high voltage operative conditions (the −1 MVdc Faraday cage is air insulated). The thermal behavior and air distribution in HVH are investigated as described in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Integrated commissioning of ITER-size neutral beam ion source was executed. • Coordinated inter-operation of SPIDER plant systems was achieved. • Plant systems were run under control of CODAS and Central Interlock System. • Integrated commissioning terminated with generation of first plasma in SPIDER. The construction of SPIDER (Source for the Production of Ions of Deuterium Extracted from a Radio frequency plasma), the prototype of the full-size, radio frequency, negative ion source of the ITER Heating Neutral Beam Injectors, has been completed at the Neutral Beam Test Facility in Padova (Italy). All SPIDER components have been delivered and have successfully undergone site acceptance tests. The mechanical components (vessel, ion source, accelerator, and calorimeter), power supply systems, auxiliary systems (gas and vacuum and cooling), basic diagnostics (thermocouples, imaging, spectroscopy), control and interlock systems were prepared for operation by means of a step-by-step procedure, referred to as integrated commissioning, aiming to progressively achieve the coordinated interoperation of all SPIDER plant systems. The execution of the integrated commissioning requires a well-defined organization covering personnel safety, shift-based operation, definition of roles and their interaction. The paper, after briefly summarizing the status of the SPIDER experiment, initially focuses on the organization of the integrated commissioning. The execution of the commissioning campaigns is then presented along with the technical and scientific issues encountered and the solutions applied to solve problems. Finally, the paper discusses the transition from the SPIDER integrated commissioning to SPIDER operation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

3D survey methodologies are widely applied to the Cultural Heritage, employing both TLS and close-range photogrammetry with SfM techniques. Laser scanning produces models with high metric reliability and accuracy, whereas the main quality of the 3D photogrammetry is the result in term of photorealistic representation. Many studies have been conducted about the comparison and the integration of these different approaches and the aim of this paper is to contribute with a peculiar case study: the underground Roman bridge of San Lorenzo in Padova (Italy). The investigation regards the resulting point clouds of the intrados (or inner curve) of the central arch, comparing them and providing graphical and analytical outputs. The proposed workflow has the purpose to be a simple but valid tool to detect and evaluate geometrical differences, their significativity and the reliability of the 3D models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper deals with the general presentation of the Urban GEO BIG DATA, a collaborative acentric and distributed Free and Open Source (FOS) platform consisting of several components: local data nodes for data and related service Web deploy; a visualization node for data fruition; a catalog node for data discovery; a CityGML modeler; data-rich viewers based on virtual globes; an INSPIRE metadata management system enriched with quality indicators for each dataset.Three use cases in five Italian cities (Turin, Milan, Padua, Rome, and Naples) are examined: 1) urban mobility; 2) land cover and soil consumption at different resolutions; 3) displacement time series. Besides the case studies, the architecture of the system and its components will be presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The MITICA (Megavolt ITER injector and concept Advancement) experiment, currently in the installation and commissioning phase at the neutral beam test facility in Padua-Italy, will be equipped with a beam source (BS) expected to generate a 40A negative ion beam to the energy of 1MeV (values for D). It is composed of an ion source to generate a h or d plasma and of a multiple-Aperture multiple-grid (MAMuG) accelerator [1] , where ions extracted are accelerated in five consecutive stages of 200 kV each. • The engineering and fabrication of the beam source for MITICA BS started in october 2018, when a contract between fusion for energy (F4E) and alsymex (France) was signed. Presently, all the components and sub-assemblies have been manufactured, except for a few non-critical items. Assembly of the accelerator is well advanced and ion source is on-going. • A review of the fabrication of the main components and aspects of their assembly is reported in this paper, with a focus on the main achievements. The MITICA (Megavolt ITER Injector and Concept Advancement) experiment, currently in the installation and commissioning phase at the Neutral Beam Test Facility in Padua-Italy, will be equipped with a Beam Source (BS) expected to generate a 40A negative ion beam to the energy of 1MeV (values for D). It is composed of an ion source to generate a H or D plasma and of a multiple-Aperture multiple-grid (MAMuG) Accelerator [1] , where ions extracted are accelerated in five consecutive stages of 200 kV each. The engineering and fabrication of the beam source for MITICA BS started in October 2018, when a contract between Fusion for Energy (F4E) and Alsymex (France) was signed. Presently, all the components and sub-assemblies have been manufactured, except for a few non-critical items. Assembly of the accelerator is well advanced and ion source is on-going. A review of the fabrication of the main components and aspects of their assembly is reported in this paper, with a focus on the main achievements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this fourth paper of a series on the precision of ages of stellar populations obtained through the full-spectrum fitting technique, we present a first systematic analysis that compares the age, metallicity, and reddening of star clusters obtained from resolved and unresolved data [namely colour–magnitude diagrams (CMDs) and integrated-light spectroscopy] using the same sets of isochrones. We investigate the results obtained with both Padova isochrones and MIST isochrones. We find that there generally is a good agreement between the ages derived from CMDs and integrated spectra. However, for metallicity and reddening, the agreement between results from analyses of CMD and integrated spectra is significantly worse. Our results also show that the ages derived with Padova isochrones match those derived using MIST isochrones, both with the full-spectrum fitting technique and the CMD fitting method. However, the metallicity derived using Padova isochrones does not match that derived using MIST isochrones using the CMD method. We examine the ability of the full-spectrum fitting technique in detecting age spreads in clusters that feature the extended main-sequence turnoff (eMSTO) phenomenon using two-population fits. We find that three out of five eMSTO clusters in our sample are best fitted with one single age, suggesting that eMSTOs do not necessarily translate to detectable age spreads in integrated-light studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Padua temperature series is one of the longest in the world, as daily observations started in 1725 and have continued almost unbroken to the present. Previous works recovered readings from the original logs, and digitalized and corrected observations from errors due to instruments, calibrations, sampling times and exposure. However, the series underwent some changes (location, elevation, observing protocols, and different averaging methods) that affected the homogeneity between sub-series. The aim of this work is to produce a homogenized temperature series for Padua, starting from the results of previous works, and connecting all the periods available. The homogenization of the observations has been carried out with respect to the modern era. A newly released paleo-reanalysis dataset, ModE-RA, is exploited to connect the most ancient data to the recent ones. In particular, the following has been carried out: the 1774–2023 daily mean temperature has been homogenized to the modern data; for the first time, the daily values of 1765–1773 have been merged and homogenized; and the daily observations of the 1725–1764 period have been connected and homogenized to the rest of the series. Snowfall observations, extracted from the same logs from which the temperatures were retrieved, help to verify the robustness of the homogenization procedure by looking at the temperature frequency distribution on snowy days, before and after the correction. The possibility of adding new measurements with no need to apply transformations or homogenization procedures makes it very easy to update the time series and make it immediately available for climate change analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pregestational diabetes mellitus, if not well controlled, determines maternal and fetal complications. According to the new diagnostic criteria for gestational diabetes, the diagnosis of diabetes mellitus can also occur in early pregnancy (overt diabetes). Aim: This study aims to determine pregnancy outcomes in women with overt diabetes compared to women with pre-existing type 2 diabetes. Methods: In this retrospective study, we selected women with pre-existing type 2 and overt diabetes who had at least one pregnancy in the 2010–2022 period at the Diabetic Care Unit of Padova. Results: We analyzed 83 pregnancies, and overt diabetes was diagnosed in 18 pregnancies. In total, 95.5% of patients with overt diabetes and 48% of T2DM patients were immigrants (p < 0.143). No patients with overt diabetes planned their pregnancy, while pregnancy was planned in 26.3% of patients with pre-exiting type 2 diabetes (p < 0.05). Periconception and first-trimester glycemic control were the worst in patients with overt diabetes (HbA1c 9.7 ± 3.1% vs. 7.3% ± 2.3%, p < 0.044, at first visit; 8.1 ± 1.9% and 7.0 ± 1.6%, p < 0.037 in the first trimester) with respect to patients with pre-existing type 2 diabetes. As for maternal outcomes, 16.6% of pregnancies ended in miscarriage, and 5.5% of women developed gestational hypertension; as for newborn outcomes, 16.6% of newborns were LGA, and 11.1% were affected by congenital anomalies without any significant difference with respect to women with pre-existing type 2 diabetes. The high rate of congenital malformations in pregnancies of women with overt diabetes is probably a result of the poor, metabolic control observed during the periconception period when the organogenesis of the fetus takes place. Conclusions: It is essential to utilize procedures for diabetes screening in women of childbearing age not only at the beginning of the pregnancy, but also during the preconception phase or the postmenarcheal period when strong risk factors for diabetes onset are present, such as a high BMI, glycemic disorders, and those who fall under high-risk ethnicity categories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The following article proposes a reflection on the experience of Narrative Therapy of a group of cancer patients, non-homogeneous for sites and stages of disease, participating to a therapeutic writing path, in order to process the trauma reactive to cancer and to reflect on themselves. Taking inspiration from the assumption that "writing helps when people are faced with a stumble", facilitating the process of distancing from life-events, each writer establishes either context, in a more intimate and true way, or memories and emotions connected to it, in order to express them to the group and to themselves too, and to identify new adaptation styles. The therapeutic path lasted eight meetings, during which some themes were chosen to guide the written reflection, which was carried out at home, and then shared with the group. The therapeutic path is an opportunity to adjust the perspective with which the specialist accompanies patients during the adaptation process to the disease, moving from the "explanation" to "comprehension"; from symptom to "sense". The group narration is based on a relational perspective of co-construction of the meaning of experiences, highlighting the different roles and relevance of the factors involved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The connection between illuminance and luminance measurements is considered to create a traceability link among a highly accurate illuminance meter, which is considered as an internal standard of the Photometric Laboratory, University of Padova, Padova, Italy, and other illuminance meters or photometric heads and luminance meters. After an introduction on themain involved definitions and equations linking the illuminance and the luminance measurements, this paper presents the instruments to which the procedures are applied and, at the end, results regarding the absolute calibration of the instruments under test, the check of their linearity, and the analysis of their spectral responsivity within the visible range. Following this way, this paper shows the main results in the connection among instruments devoted specifically to illuminance and luminance measurements. Then, it also introduces a comparison to other photometric heads, e.g., sensors that are part of more complex systems, like an integrating sphere for luminous flux measurement. In this last case, it has no significance to evaluate the difference between the absolute outputs, but it is interesting to compare the response of the two devices considering their linearity and their relative spectral response. A special section devoted to the evaluation of the spectral response presents a new simple but effective method. The application of a detector-based method allows a significant reduction of the uncertainty in the internal calibration of the photometric instruments, granting the continuity of the Photometric Laboratory operation contemporarily. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Technology advances have made possible improvements such as Continuous Glucose Monitors, giving the patient a glucose reading every few minutes, or insulin pumps, allowing more personalized therapies. With the increasing number of available closed-loop systems, new challenges appear regarding algorithms and functionalities. Several of the analysed systems in this paper try to adapt to changes in some patients' conditions and, in several of these systems, other variables such as basal needs are considered fixed from day to day to simplify the control problem. Therefore, these systems require a correct adjustment of the basal needs profile which becomes crucial to obtain good results. In this paper a novel approach tries to dynamically determine the insulin basal needs of the patient and use this information within a closed-loop algorithm, allowing the system to dynamically adjust in situations of illness, exercise, high-fat-content meals or even partially blocked infusion sites and avoiding the need for setting a basal profile that approximately matches the basal needs of the patient. The insulin sensitivity factor and the glycemic target are also dynamically modified according to the situation of the patient. Basal insulin needs are dynamically determined through linear regression via the decomposition of previously dosed insulin and its effect on the patient's glycemia. Using the obtained value as basal insulin needs and other mechanisms such as basal needs modification through its trend, ISF and glycemic targets modification and low-glucose-suspend threshold, the safety of the algorithm is improved. The dynamic basal insulin needs determination was successfully included in a closed-loop control algorithm and was simulated on 30 virtual patients (10 adults, 10 adolescent and 10 children) using an open-source python implementation of the FDA-approved (Food and Drug Administration) UVa (University of Virginia)/Padova Simulator. Simulations showed that the proposed system dynamically determines the basal needs and can adapt to a partial blockage of the insulin infusion, obtaining similar results in terms of time in range to the case in which no blockage was simulated. The proposed algorithm can be incorporated to other current closed-loop control algorithms to directly estimate the patient's basal insulin needs or as a monitoring channel to detect situations in which basal needs may differ from the expected ones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ransomware presents a significant threat to the security and integrity of cryptocurrency transactions. This research paper explores the intricacies of ransomware detection in cryptocurrency transactions using the Bitcoinheist dataset. The dataset encompasses 28 distinct families classified into three ransomware categories: Princeton, Montreal, and Padua, along with a white category representing legitimate transactions. We propose a novel hybrid supervised and semi-supervised multistage machine learning framework to tackle this challenge. Our framework effectively classifies known ransomware families by leveraging ensemble learning techniques such as Decision Tree, Random Forest, XGBoost, and Stacking. Additionally, we introduce a novel semi-supervised approach to accurately identify previously unseen ransomware instances within the dataset. Through rigorous evaluation employing comprehensive classification metrics, including accuracy, precision, recall, F1 score, RoC score, and prediction time, our proposed approach demonstrates promising results in ransomware detection within cryptocurrency transactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban agriculture is recognized as a worthy resource to support a growing population as well as to provide other positive effects on urban ecosystems and their citizens. In this context, community gardens are considered key topics in terms of food production and food security, in both developing and developed countries, as well as in terms of social inclusion and participation. The general aim of this study was to assess the main spatial criteria recognized and shared by stakeholders to identify suitable and inclusive areas for community gardens by testing and developing a participatory process. Because of its size, population, and urban fabric, Padua (northeast Italy) was selected as a representative and emblematic case study for mid-sized cities in Europe. The methodology was based on field surveys of key informants and spatial multicriteria decision-making analysis in the open-source geographic information system environment of QGIS. The results identified neighborhoods to be prioritized in the design of new community gardens according to three scenarios: the distance index, the social index, and the combination of the two (overall index). To conclude, this study highlighted the importance of adopting a decision-making methodology to support local policymakers and municipal agencies that are interested in implementing other community gardens in Padua. The case study and the methodology adopted could also serve as important guides for cities by providing step-by-step processes that can be directly applied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peer-led approaches emphasize learner autonomy by affirming that the process of knowledge and skills acquisition does not correspond to a passive intake of information, but that understanding must be actively constructed in collaboration. Accordingly, learning is configured as a situated, active, and creative process. The introduction of peer-learning in the Italian education system is progressing very slowly, despite a continuing academic interest in the potential of the didactic method as an innovative asset in a structured school organization with prevailing standardized procedures. Drawing on these premises, this contribution aims to present the experience related to the application of particular forms of peer-led approaches. Specifically, the authors have been analysing peer-to-peer and peer-for-peer practices carried out as part of a pilot phase within the EU-funded Horizon project entitled ‘KIDS4ALLL’. The analysis of this study is grounded on qualitative data from students, teachers and educators who have been testing the proposed peer-led learning method in non-formal educational contexts in Turin and Padua. Major findings suggest that learning with new methodologies which put the learner at the centre of the process, may potentially respond to contemporary challenges of non-formal educational settings, if continuously adopted and accompanied by trained educational staff. Instead, intermittent and random interventions for the sake of forced didactic innovation in the classroom might entail unexpected effects on the development of competences for students and educational staff. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this second paper of a series on the accuracy and precision of the determination of age and metallicity of simple stellar populations (SSPs) by means of the full-spectrum fitting technique, we study the influence of star cluster mass through stochastic fluctuations of the number of stars near the top of the stellar mass function, which dominate the flux in certain wavelength regimes depending on the age. We consider SSP models based on the Padova isochrones, spanning the age range |$7.0 \le \mbox{log(age/yr}) \le 10.1$|⁠. Simulated spectra of star clusters in the mass range 104 ≤ M /M⊙ < 106 are compared with SSP model spectra to determine best-fitting ages and metallicities using a full-spectrum fitting routine in four wavelength regimes: the blue optical (0.35–0.70 µm), the red optical (0.6–1.0 µm), the near-infrared (near-IR; 1.0–2.5 µm), and the mid-IR (2.5–5.0 µm). We compare the power of each wavelength regime in terms of both the overall precision of age and metallicity determination and its dependence on cluster mass. We also study the relevance of spectral resolution in this context by utilizing two different spectral libraries (BaSeL and BT-Settl). We highlight the power of the mid-IR regime in terms of identifying young massive clusters in dusty star-forming regions in distant galaxies. The spectra of the simulated star clusters and SSPs are made available online to enable follow-up studies by the community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Radial Basis Functions (RBFs) methods, the distribution and the number of points have a significant effect on the accuracy, stability, and computational costs. Padua distribution is known as optimal points in the interpolation of Lagrange polynomials in a square-shaped computational domain and two-dimensional space. This point distribution was applied in rectangular and circular domains using mapping. In this research, for the first time, Padua points were used in three-dimensional space. The results of this distribution were compared with other distributions such as Fibonacci, points on vertices of a triangular mesh, points on regular grid plus extra points on boundaries, Halton, and Sobol and their combinations. Padua points were used to solve Partial Differential Equations (PDEs) using the RBF methods and Compactly Supported-Radial Basis Functions (CS-RBFs) and their combinations. Numerical results showed that Padua distribution in most of the cases with the lowest number of center points obtained the highest accuracy. Furthermore, Padua points in combination with other distributions increase the accuracy. The remarkable result of this paper is that these points can be used in higher dimensions and got accurate results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

More than half a century of skeletal muscle research is continuing at Padua University (Italy) under the auspices of the Interdepartmental Research Centre of Myology (CIR-Myo), the European Journal of Translational Myology (EJTM) and recently also with the support of the A&CM-C Foundation for Translational Myology, Padova, Italy. The Volume 30 (1), 2020 of the EJTM opens with the collection of abstracts for the conference "2020 Padua Muscle Days: Mobility Medicine 30 years of Translational Research". This is an international conference that will be held between March 18-21, 2020 in Euganei Hills and Padova in Italy. The abstracts are excellent examples of translational research and of the multidimensional approaches that are needed to classify and manage (in both the acute and chronic phases) diseases of Mobility that span from neurologic, metabolic and traumatic syndromes to the biological process of aging. One of the typical aim of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation is indeed to reduce pain and increase mobility enough to enable impaired persons to walk freely, garden, and drive again. The excellent contents of this Collection of Abstracts reflect the high scientific caliber of researchers and clinicians who are eager to present their results at the PaduaMuscleDays. A series of EJTM Communications will also add to this preliminary evidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Meteorological observations over the last four decades are of paramount importance to investigating ongoing climate change. An important issue is the quality and reliability of the climatic series, which are fundamental prerequisites to drawing the correct conclusions. Homogeneity tests are used to detect discontinuities whose interpretation is facilitated by metadata availability. In this work, daily minimum and maximum temperature measurements collected in Padua, Italy, between 1980 and 2022 are examined. During this period, the weather station of Padua center underwent many changes in location or instruments; therefore, some tests have been used to identify and remove their effects and obtain homogeneous series. Some well-known absolute tests have been applied to investigate the shift in the mean value: Standard Normal Homogeneity test (SNH), Buishand U and range tests, Pettitt test, F-test, and STARS. Relative tests have been applied too, using several stations nearby Padua and two reanalysis datasets (ERA5 and MERIDA) as reference series to enhance the picture of the local situation and provide more robust conclusions. The applied tests identify change-points in the years in which a change in instrument or the location of the station has occurred, confirming that these changes have compromised the homogeneity of the series. The sub-series obtained, splitting the observations in correspondence with these change-points, have been homogenized with respect to a selected period. The corrected series of the minimum and maximum temperatures are more coherent with the modern warming trend. The transfer functions to be applied to future measurements of minimum temperature have been calculated, while the series of maximum temperature measurements can be directly extended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a major preventable condition in hospitalized patients globally. This systematic review evaluates the effectiveness and clinical significance of venous thromboembolism (VTE) risk-screening protocols in preventing VTE events among hospitalized patients. Databases, including PubMed, Embase and Cochrane, were searched without date limits for studies comparing outcomes between hospitalized patients who did and did not receive VTE risk screening using standard tools. Twelve studies, enrolling over 139,420 patients, were included. Study quality was assessed using the ROBVIS tool. The results were summarized narratively. The findings show significant benefits of using VTE risk screening versus usual care across various outcomes. Using recommended tools, like Caprini, Padua and IMPROVE, allowed for the accurate identification of high-risk patients who benefited most from prevention. Formal screening was linked to much lower VTE rates, shorter hospital stays, fewer deaths and better use of preventive strategies matched to estimated clot risk. This review calls for the widespread adoption of VTE risk screening as an important safety step for at-risk hospital patients. More high-quality comparative research is needed to validate screening tools in different settings and populations. In summary, VTE risk screening is essential for healthcare systems to reduce life-threatening VTE events and improve patient outcomes through properly targeted preventive methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Medical Biochemistry is the property of Society of Medical Biochemists of Serbia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Time series classification is a challenging and exciting problem in data mining. Some diseases are classified and diagnosed based on time series. Such is the case for diabetes mellitus, which can be analyzed based on data from the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). Prompt diagnosis of diabetes mellitus is essential for disease management. Diabetes mellitus does not appear suddenly; instead, the patient presents symptoms of impaired glucose tolerance that can also be diagnosed via glucose tolerance testing. This work presents a classification and diagnosis scheme for diseases, specifically diabetes mellitus and poor glucose tolerance, using deep neural networks based on time series data. In addition, data from virtual patients were obtained through the Dalla Man and UVA/Padova models; the validation was carried out with data from actual patients. The results show that deep neural networks have an accuracy of 96%. This indicates that DNNs is a helpful tool that can improve the diagnosis and classification of diseases in early detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At the end of the 2023 Padua Days of Muscle and Mobility Medicine the next year's meeting was scheduled from 27 February to 2 March 2024 (2024Pdm3). During the summer and autumn the program was confirmed with Scientific Sessions that will take place over five days, starting in the afternoon of February 27, 2024 at the Conference Room of the Hotel Petrarca, Thermae of Euganean Hills (Padua), Italy. As usual, the next day will be spent in Padua, in this occasion at the San Luca Hall of the Santa Giustina monastery in Prato della Valle, Padua, Italy. Collected during Autumn 2023, many more titles and abstracts than expected were submitted, forcing the organization of parallel sessions both on March 1 and March 2 2024 confirming attractiveness of the 2024 Pdm3. The five days will include oral presentations of scientists and clinicians from Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, Egypt, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Romania, Russia, Slovenia, Switzerland, UK and USA. Together with the preliminary Program at December 1, 2023, the early submitted Abstracts is e-published in this Issue 33 (4) 2023 of the European Journal of Translational Myology (EJTM). You are invited to join, submitting your Last Minute Abstracts to ugo.carraro@unipd.it by February 1, 2024. Furthermore, with the more generous deadline of May 20, 2024, submit please “Communications” to the European Journal of Translational Myology (Clarivate’s ESCI Impact factor 2.2; SCOPUS Cite Score: 3.2). See you soon at the Hotel Petrarca in Montegrotto Terme, Padua, on February 27, 2024, but the complete program can be followed from home via zoom connection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the last 20 years since the Bologna Agreement the role of language in Higher Education has gained recognition as an integral part of the teaching/learning process, and an essential element of the process of internationalization. The rapid shift towards internationalization has had a pronounced effect on academic life, procedure, and personnel. In this process, it has often become the role of Language Centres to organize the language aspect, and to a more limited extent, to advise on language. This short paper looks at the involvement of the University of Padova Language Centre (CLA) in the process of internationalization, and in particular the promotion of a language policy. A project developed to promote language and teaching methodology courses for academic staff required to teach in English, and the findings of research based on this project, led to recognition of the need to draft a language policy which encompasses the wide-ranging issues relevant to successful internationalization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the framework of the program for the construction—in Padova, Italy—of the first prototype of the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor 1 MeV–16 MW negative neutral beam injector (NNBI), an R&D activity on voltage holding in vacuum has been initiated since 2009, aimed at supporting the design, construction, and development of the NNBI accelerator. For this purpose, the high-voltage Padova test facility, designed to operate up to 800 kV, has been built, in parallel to the development of a multivoltage multielectrode voltage holding prediction model (VHPM). This paper focuses on the results of the experimental campaign (up to 270 kV) carried out on a number of electrostatic configurations, aimed at validating the VHPM under a well-controlled condition. The prediction capability of the model is partially confirmed. This result makes it worthwhile to review the physical basis of the model—based on the Cranberg–Slivkov clump theory—while also taking into consideration an alternative breakdown initiation mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• HVD1 and HVBA are unique devices for size, electrostatic and mechanical features. • HVD1 and HVBA are installed inside a large HV hall. • The main design choices leading to the final hall layout are presented. • The manufacturing design and the factory type tests are reported. • The on-site installation, commissioning and testing activities are described. MITICA is the full scale prototype of the ITER Heating Neutral Beam (HNB) currently under construction at the Neutral Beam Test Facility in Padova (Italy). In the ITER HNB, negative ions (H−/D−) are produced in the Ion Source (IS) polarized to ground at −1012 kV, then extracted and accelerated to ground at 1 MeV energy and finally neutralized. The complex power supply system feeding the IS includes two non-standard equipment, beyond the current industrial standard for insulation voltage level (-1 MVdc) and dimensions: 1) the High Voltage Deck1 (HVD1), a large air insulated Faraday cage (12.5 m (L) x 8.4 m (W) x 9.6 m (H)) hosting the IS power supplies and diagnostics; 2) the High Voltage Bushing Assembly (HVBA), a -1 MVdc air to SF6 Bushing which interfaces the HVD1 with the SF 6 insulated Transmission Line (TL) connecting the Acceleration Grid Power Supply system with the IS, carrying inside its High Voltage electrode all IS power and diagnostics conductors. The HVD1 and HVBA are installed inside a large HV hall. The main design choices leading to the final hall layout, integrating the HV experimental equipment and the conventional building plants assuring the necessary clearance required by such very high electric insulation level, are presented. Moreover, the paper reports on the manufacturing design developed by the supplier, the factory type tests to validate the design of the HVD1, the factory tests carried out on the HVBA and the on-site installation, commissioning and testing activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The construction of MITICA, the full-size prototype of the ITER Heating Neutral Beam Injectors (HNBs) is in progress at the Neutral Beam Test Facility (NBTF) located in Padova, Italy. The design of the central control (CODAS) and interlock (CIS) systems is progressing taking into account the requirements coming from the MITICA plant units, in terms of number and type of interface signals, data sampling frequency values, operating states, protection actions and required reaction times and reliability. As the HNBs will be ITER components, additional requirements derive from the ITER plant control design handbook that specifies the design criteria and standard technologies to be applied to ITER plant systems. A distinction must be made in MITICA between plant units that will be part of the HNB, such as the power supply systems, and plant units that are auxiliaries, such as the gas and vacuum system. In the NBTF these components shall interface with MITICA CODAS and CIS, whereas in ITER they will be autonomous plant systems providing services to the HNB. The distinction reported above suggests defining the architecture of MITICA Instrumentation and Control (I&C) as split into the following functional blocks: i) HNB plant system including components that will be part of the HNB; ii) Service plant system including all operational plant units that need control in the NBTF but are implemented outside the ITER HNB; iii) Diagnostics plant system; iv) Central I&C (CODAS and CIS). The paper presents the requirements for MITICA CODAS and CIS and derives from these the system architecture. The design of CODAS and CIS is discussed with reference to the lesson learned in the implementation of SPIDER CODAS and CIS (the NBTF ion source test bed) and to the technologies suitable for the implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]