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Bleomycin ElectroScleroTherapy (BEST) is a new approach in the treatment of vascular malformations. After bleomycin is administered to the malformation, electric pulses are applied to the target area to enhance the effectiveness of bleomycin. The mode of action is comparable to the effect of electrochemotherapy on tumour vasculature. For the wider and safer use of BEST in the clinical treatment of low-flow vascular malformations, this Current Operating Procedure (COP) is being prepared. It is a proposal for the clinical standardisation of BEST using the Cliniporator® as the electrical pulse generator with its associated electrodes. The electrical parameters considered in this protocol are those validated by the European Standard Operating Procedures for Electrochemotherapy (ESOPE) with the Cliniporator®.

Abstract Medical devices and technologies must undergo extensive testing and validation before being certified for public healthcare use, especially in oncology where a high research focus is on new advancements. Human 3D-tissue models can offer valuable insights into cancer behavior and treatment efficacy. This study developed a cell phantom setup using a rattail collagen-based hydrogel to facilitate reproducible investigations into ablation techniques, focusing on electroporation (EP) for lung tumor cells. The temperature rise due to the treatment is a critical aspect based on other studies that have discovered non-neglectable temperature values. A realistic physiological, biological phantom is crucial for electrode material development, non-thermal ablation control, tumor cell behavior study, and image-guided treatment simulation. The test system comprises a standardized 3D-printed setup, a cell-mimicking hydrogel model cultivated with NIH3T3 and HCC-827 cell lines. The treatment is evaluated with an AlamarBlue assay and the temperature is monitored with a sensor and a non-invasive MR-thermometry. Results showed the reliability of the selected monitoring methods and especially the temperature monitoring displayed interesting insights. The thermal effect due to EP cannot be neglected and it has to be discussed if this technique is non-thermal. The lesions in the phantom were able to show apoptotic and necrotic regions. The EP further led to a change in viability. These results suggest that the phantom can mimic the response of soft tissue and is a useful tool for studying cellular response and damage caused by EP or other treatment techniques.

Introduction Knee osteotomy combined with meniscal allograft transplantation (MAT) showed promising results to treat unicompartmental knee osteoarthritis (OA) secondary to meniscal deficiency and knee malalignment. However, there is still no high-level evidence to demonstrate whether the combination of these two treatments is superior to osteotomy alone.Methods and analysis 52 patients with unicompartmental knee OA Kellgren-Lawrence grade ≤3 secondary to meniscal deficiency and knee malalignment (aged 20–60 years) are randomised to undergo knee osteotomy associated with MAT or knee osteotomy alone in a 1:1 ratio. The primary outcome is the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) subjective score at 12 months. The secondary outcomes are the IKDC subjective score at 1, 3 and 6 months, the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index score, the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score, the Visual Analogue Scale, the EuroQol Visual Analogue Scale, the Tegner Activity Level Scale, objective parameters (transpatellar circumference, suprapatellar circumference and range of motion), patient expectation on treatment efficacy and patient satisfaction at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months. Radiographs are performed at baseline and at 1-, 6- and 12-month follow-ups and magnetic resonance evaluations at baseline and at 12 months. Biomechanical assessment is performed through gait analysis before surgery and at 12 months, investigating motion data, biomechanical parameters and muscle activation through electromyography. In addition, to detect early joint environment changes and potential MAT effects in protecting the articular surface providing a better knee homeostasis, biological markers of cartilage turnover and inflammation obtained from synovial fluid, serum and urine are evaluated at baseline and at 24 hours, 1-, 3-, 6- and 12-month follow-ups.Ethics and dissemination The study protocol has been approved by Emilia Romagna’s Ethics Committee (CE-AVEC), Bologna, Italy. Written informed consent is obtained from all participants. Findings of this study will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations.Protocol version March 2023.Trial registration number NCT05840887.

A method for the calculation of divergenceless, magnetically induced quantum mechanical current densities in molecules that approximates the exact current is presented. This was achieved by adding to the calculated conventional current density, i.e., a current that typically has a non-zero divergence, a corrective term that is the negative of the irrotational field of its Helmholtz decomposition. The solenoidal field of the decomposition is the divergence-free current density, which is still an approximation of the exact current but which now satisfies the continuity requirement regardless of the quality of the basis set. Based on calculations performed on several simple molecules (LiH, H2O, benzene, and zethrene), adopting different kinds of low-level theoretical approaches, clear improvements are observed in the correspondence of vortices, sources, and sinks for which the conventional current density shows a lack of continuity. A little improvement is also observed for the calculated diagonal components of the magnetizability tensor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on the role and perspectives of Human Intelligence in the digital era. It explores technological advancements that can be harnessed by Intelligence and Security practitioners in the fields of HUMINT and its associated support activities. The paper considers various technologies, including tools for decision support, deception and information detection, and strategies for mitigating cognitive biases and other limiting factors. The analysis concerns technologies, tools and techniques used in all phases of the Intelligence Cycle, evaluating their utility considering the current challenges posed by them for Intelligence Communities and Law Enforcement Agencies. Recent developments in technologies which support other Intelligence disciplines such as SIGINT, IMINT and OSINT have potentially diminished the standing and priority of HUMINT within the Intelligence Cycle. Moreover, psychology has a crucial role in comprehending HUMINT, as human minds have their imperfections, and psychological processes like cognitive biases can result in unanticipated mistakes and unintentional outcomes within the field of Intelligence. Still, HUMINT sources continue to play a fundamental role in Intelligence Collection, analysis, and interpretation, due to their ability to recall, recognise, contextualise, and establish connections between different information. HUMINT continues to be a vital element, providing a human touch and insights that can be difficult to reproduce solely through technological methods.

Quantum chemical topology addresses the study of the chemical structure by applying the tools of differential topology to scalar and vector fields obtained by quantum mechanics. Here, the magnetically induced isotropically averaged Lorentz force density was computed and topologically analyzed for 11 small molecules. Critical points (attractors, repellers, and saddles) were determined and trajectories connecting the attractors computed. It is shown that kinds and numbers of the critical points are to some extent transferable in similar molecules. CC bonds of different orders are endowed with critical points of different kinds close to their center. The sum of topological indices of the isolated critical points is influenced by the presence of repellers on the outer part of the molecules.

From painting to newspapers, from literature to homiletics, Victorian culture stigmatised the figure of the ‘fallen woman’ as it was considered a dangerous menace for a respectable society. For this reason, especially in the working class context, the mothers of illegitimate children were often marginalised even within their family circles. The Foundling Hospital aimed to house their ‘blank children’, teach them to read and prepare them for manual work, on condition that the mothers severed every link with their sons and daughters. Starting from the definition of ‘agency’ given by Anthony Giddens, this paper aims to demonstrate how letter writing became a powerful instrument of agency for the mothers who had their children admitted at the Foundling Hospital in mid-XIX century London. Letters became for them a way to overcome the strict rules of the institution and reaffirm their individuality in a context that considered them passive subjects.

Biomedical applications of electroporation are expanding out of the field of oncology into vaccination, treatment of arrhythmias and now in the treatment of vascular malformations. Bleomycin is a widely used sclerosing agent in the treatment of various vascular malformations. The application of electric pulses in addition to bleomycin enhances the effectiveness of the drug, as demonstrated by electrochemotherapy, which utilizes bleomycin in the treatment of tumors. The same principle is used in bleomycin electrosclerotherapy (BEST). The approach seems to be effective in the treatment of low-flow (venous and lymphatic) and, potentially, even high-flow (arteriovenous) malformations. Although there are only a few published reports to date, the surgical community is interested, and an increasing number of centers are applying BEST in the treatment of vascular malformations. Within the International Network for Sharing Practices on Electrochemotherapy (InspECT) consortium, a dedicated working group has been constituted to develop standard operating procedures for BEST and foster clinical trials.

Questo studio indaga le dimensioni emotive ed esperienziali dei repertori linguistici individuali nel contesto sociale multilingue dell’Alto Adige. Utilizzando il metodo del ritratto linguistico, analizziamo una collezione di ritratti creati da giovani studenti nell’ambito del progetto “RepertoirePluS” (Eurac Research), insieme alle loro conversazioni sui ritratti. La nostra analisi si basa sul concetto di Spracherleben proposto da Busch (2017), che enfatizza gli aspetti emotivi ed esperienziali dell’uso della lingua. Esaminiamo come gli studenti utilizzino le metafore del corpo per rappresentare le loro percezioni di sé e degli altri e come esprimano le emozioni che sorgono nell’interazione e che sono inscritte e si inscrivono nel corpo. La nostra analisi dimostra l’importanza dei metodi linguistico-biografici e visivi nel catturare gli aspetti emotivi ed esperienziali dell’uso della lingua, e forniscono spunti sul rapporto tra lingua, identità ed emozione in contesti multilingui. Drawing the linguistic experience: body metaphors in linguistic portraits This study investigates the emotional and experiential dimensions of individual linguistic repertoires within the multilingual social context of Alto Adige. Using the linguistic portrait method, we analyze a collection of portraits created by young students as part of the “RepertoirePluS” project (Eurac Research), along with their conversations about the portraits. Our analysis is based on the concept of Spracherleben proposed by Busch (2017), which emphasizes the emotional and experiential aspects of language use. We examine how students use body metaphors to represent their perceptions of themselves and others, and how they express the emotions that arise during interaction and are stored in the body. Our findings demonstrate the importance of linguistic-biographical and visual methods in capturing the emotional and experiential aspects of language use, and provide insights into the relationship between language, identity, and emotion in multilingual contexts.

Biodistricts (also known as “organic districts” or “eco-regions”) are receiving increasing attention by scholars and public institutions. This interest is based largely on the biodistricts’ focus on linking organic agriculture with the socio-economic, cultural and ethical aspects of the areas in which they are located. Furthermore, these realities are in line with recent EU initiatives aimed at promoting sustainable practices, such as Green Public Procurement and others included in the Farm to Fork strategy. The rising awareness of sustainability, food safety and security within schools has made Public School Food Procurement (PSFP) one of the potential drivers supporting the biodistricts’ development. Despite its relevance, research on this topic is relatively scarce. The present study seeks to assess the drivers influencing the integration between biodistricts and organic PSFP. A theoretical and an analytical framework tool were developed to this end and applied to the Cilento Biodistrict, where organic PSFP is currently active. The research highlighted different drivers positively affecting the access of the Cilento Biodistrict to organic PSFP, mainly related to its collaborative nature and the interest in adopting more sustainable practices. However, characteristics of local organic production such as high prices and insufficient volumes negatively impact the relationship with organic public school canteens. Considering the relatively homogeneous characteristics of these realities, the study provides a reference framework for further research and policies supporting the relationship between organic school meals initiatives and biodistricts.

Bio-districts are a practical example of a sustainable food system, which uses agroecological principles as tools for rural development. This research aims to understand the role of bio-districts in sustainable development, particularly in relation to social impacts. It does so by developing a framework for assessing social impacts in the context of alternative food systems. To this end, a two-step methodology is adopted. In the first part, a systematic literature review is carried out according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) protocol. It presents the state of the art in social impact assessment of bio-districts, identifying the approaches and indicators used to assess social standards, codes of good practice and, more generally, the factors influencing social sustainability in rural areas. In addition, a set of social themes is developed and validated through a content analysis to uncover the trends in the debate on social sustainability in bio-districts. In the second part, promising analytical frameworks and tools from the literature are compared on the basis of how deeply they assess social issues related to bio-districts. Finally, a description of the main steps that should be taken to adapt existing tools and frameworks to the local context is presented. A detailed framework specifically addressing the social impacts of bio-districts was not found in the literature. IDEA, MOTIFS, PG tools, RISE, SAFA guidelines, SOAAN guidelines and S-LCA are considered a suitable starting point for the bio-districts’ analysis, although tailored adjustments are required.

Coherence and cohesion are often seen as fundamental elements of learners’ textual competences, and their correct realisation is just as often required by teachers. While text linguistics has long been confronted with the constructs of coherence and cohesion and has developed convincing theoretical models, it is much rarer to see these theories transformed into easy-to-use evaluation grids. In this paper, we present the process of constructing a grid tailored to the evaluation of coherence and cohesion, as defined by the Basel Model of textuality. The production of the scale is carried out within the broader framework of the project ITACA – Coherence in Academic ITAlian, a research project devoted to the analysis of high school students' argumentative texts written in L1 Italian.

The Ethiopian magic scrolls are traditional parchment artifacts used by the Christians of Ethiopia as protection against disease and demonic possessions. On the occasion of their restoration in the Accademia delle Belle Arti di Bologna (Italy); a preliminary characterization before the treatments has been performed on four Ethiopian scrolls belonging to the Archivio storico della provincia di Cristo Re dei Frati Minori dell’Emilia Romagna of Bologna (Italy). In order to plan an effective preservative restoration procedure and; at the same time; to investigate the manufacturing techniques; the text and the decorations on the magic scrolls were studied and characterized. A combined approach by imaging and compositional techniques was used: Infrared Reflectography (IRR) for the preliminary characterization of the graphic supports and the identification of the points to sample the chemical measurements; and the spectroscopic analyses to clarify the hypothesized investigations and confirm the chemical composition of the inks. In particular; Attenuated Total Reflectance-Fourier Transform Infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy has provided information relating to the molecular composition of inks and pigments; while a characterization of the constituent elements is obtained with the Ion Beam Analysis (IBA). The ink composition proved to be consistent with data generally documented in the literature and contributing to the expansion of knowledge on Ethiopian magic scrolls and their production.

Digital technologies are increasingly adopted and developed in living labs, to support and enable co-production processes around wellbeing related public services. This research report presents the case of one of the local laboratories established by the European project NLAB4CIT, in the city of Kaisariani, Greece. In order to enhance community engagement, participatory design methods are applied under an “infrastructuring” notion; the living lab model is reapproached as community infrastructure; and digital tools are understood as civic technologies. The article reports on the initial co-design phases, in order to provide other living labs on digital co-production with an overview on the socio-technical challenges encountered. These challenges concern how community actors can engage in the process of co-production of public services, and how digital technologies can be introduced to this purpose. Strength factors emerge such as the existence of an already active community, the creation of an enduring space of collaboration between researchers and citizens, and a civic approach to technology that makes them accessible and tailored. Open challenges concern the role of the public administration, the extent to which technologies are actually co-designed and co-developed, and some technical issues such as internet accessibility.

Abstract This work investigates the link between grandmothers’ participation in the labour market during adult life (between ages 18 and 49) and their provision of grandparental childcare later in life. Our contribution is twofold. First, we consider the Italian case, that despite its reliance on informal care has been under-researched. Second, we test two contrasting arguments on the association between grandchild care provision and grandmother’s work histories. On the one hand, lifelong homemakers could be more family-oriented and more likely to provide grandchild care in later life. On the other hand, ever-employed grandmothers could be more likely to have employed daughters and provide grandchild care to support their working careers. With data from the Multipurpose surveys on Families and Social Subjects (2003, 2009, 2016), we estimate logistic regression models, considering various specifications of grandparental childcare, and measuring labour market attachment in three different ways (having ever worked, length of working career, employment interruptions for family reasons). Results show a dualism between grandmothers who ever worked and those who never did, with the former more likely to provide grandparental childcare, especially when parents are at work. Grandmothers who worked only a few years are more similar, in terms of grandchild care provision, to those who worked throughout their life, than to lifelong homemakers. This association is stronger in the South and North-West of Italy. Overall, we showed that care responsibilities are inextricable from labour market participation, as grandmothers who already juggled family and work are those supporting the most their adult children’s work–family reconciliation.

We develop a fully diagrammatic approach to finite-state automata, based on reinterpreting their usual state-transition graphical representation as a two-dimensional syntax of string diagrams. In this setting, we are able to provide a complete equational theory for language equivalence, with two notable features. First, the proposed axiomatisation is finite. Second, the Kleene star is a derived concept, as it can be decomposed into more primitive algebraic blocks.

Introduction The COVID-19 pandemic has affected and is still deeply affecting all aspects of public life. World governments have been forced to enact restrictive measures to stem the contagion which have led to a decrease in the movement of people within national territory and to a redirection of health care resources with a suspension of non-urgent procedures. In Italy, a lockdown was imposed from March 9 th to May 3 rd , 2020. As a result, a significant reduction in the overall operative volume of orthopedic trauma was expected, but it was not possible to predict a similar trend regarding fragility fractures of the proximal femur in the elderly. Methods The aim of this paper was to examine the impact of COVID-19 on the operating volume for trauma surgeries and to determine how the pandemic affected the management of fragility hip fractures (FHFs) in non-COVID patients at a single Institution. Results The first result was a statistically significant reduction in the overall operative volume of orthopedic trauma during the period of the first lockdown and an increase in the mean age of patients undergoing surgery, as expected. As regard to the second aim, the incidence of FHFs remained almost unchanged during the periods analysed. The population examined were superimposable in terms of demographics, comorbidities, type of fracture, peri-operative complications, percentage of operations performed within 48 hours from hospitalization and 1-year outcome. Discussion Our results are in line with those already present in the Literature. Conclusions Our study revealed a significant impact of the restrictive anti-contagion measures on the overall orthopedic surgical volume, but, at the same time, we could affirm that the pandemic did not affect the management of FHFs in non-COVID patients, and their results.

Abstract Across EU countries, all available evidence suggests that the number of deaths linked to COVID-19 among those living in nursing homes has been extremely high. However, it is largely unknown to what extent income and education affect the probability of being a nursing home resident. If the probability of residing in a nursing home is stratified by socio-economic status, under the current COVID-19 pandemic socio-economic inequality in the probability of living in a nursing home could contribute to enlarge socio-economic inequalities in the risk of mortality with COVID-19. In this article, we investigate whether there are income and educational differences in the likelihood of being a resident in a nursing home across 12 European countries. We use SHARE data (waves 5–7) and compute logistic regression models for rare events. We find that low-educated individuals and those having household income below the national median are more likely to live in a nursing home. This general pattern holds across all the European countries considered. However, there is considerable uncertainty in our estimates due to a small sample size, and firm conclusions on how the effect of socio-economic characteristics varies across countries cannot be drawn. Still, there is some indication that educational and income differences are the largest in the Scandinavian countries (Denmark and Sweden) and the Netherlands, while the smallest ones are found in Italy, with the remaining countries laying in between.

Interest in the adoption of urban agriculture (UA) has grown in recent years. The compatibility of UA with the urban social context, in particular with urban stakeholders’ attitudes, is crucial for its successful implementation and represents one of the key factors influencing its development. To this end, a literature review on different approaches to analysing stakeholders’ and farmers’ perceptions of UA is performed. The paper identifies the main approaches to assessing these aspects and designs an integrated framework to support the development of context-tailored analytical approaches for UA drivers’ and stakeholder perceptions. The study aims to address and solve potential conflicts between UA practitioners and urban stakeholders and adapt the implementation of UA to contextual factors. This increases the possibility of developing successful UA strategies that meet the challenges currently facing urban food systems.

Whereas string diagrams for strict monoidal categories are well understood, and have found application in several fields of Computer Science, graphical formalisms for non-strict monoidal categories are far less studied. In this paper, we provide a presentation by generators and relations of string diagrams for non-strict monoidal categories, and show how this construction can handle applications in domains such as digital circuits and programming languages. We prove the correctness of our construction, which yields a novel proof of Mac Lane's strictness theorem. This in turn leads to an elementary graphical proof of Mac Lane's coherence theorem, and in particular allows for the inductive construction of the canonical isomorphisms in a monoidal category. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]