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Evaluation of seismic retrofitting costs, a key issue in the risk mitigation strategies, requires the estimation of the building performance and the forecast of the site response. In addition, a target building performance should be a priori defined. In this study, a procedure to provide seismic retrofitting costs is suggested with reference to a case study, based on what following: i) the building performance is described by fragility curves obtain via recorded data on the building itself (Seismic Model from Ambient Vibration - SMAV), ii) the local seismic site response is estimated by means of numerical one-dimensional simulation based on site-specific data or by means of simplified technical code approach, iii) the building performance and the site response are combined in order to obtained an Annual Frequency of Failure for each damage limit state, iv) this frequency is compared to the target allowable reliability level according to the classes of use and limit states of building in order to obtained a Vulnerability index, v) seismic retrofitting costs, depending on the Vulnerability index values, are evaluated from literature suggestions (caterino et alii, 2018). Finally, with reference to the case study of the “San Benedetto” school of Norcia (Central Italy), the proposed methodology is satisfactorily verified by comparing the forecast with real costs. The innovative aspect of the proposed methodology lies in the use of the recorded data and SMAV model and in the procedure for defining the local seismic response which considers the building- specific characteristics and the site-specific conditions

Background Workers in the zinc production and processing of galvanized sheet steel are exposed to a complex mixture of particles and gases, including zinc oxide (ZnO) that can affect human health. We aimed to study the effects of short-term controlled exposure to nano-sized ZnO on airway inflammatory markers in healthy volunteers. Methods Sixteen subjects (8 females, 8 men; age 19–42, non-smokers) were exposed to filtered air and ZnO nanoparticles (0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 mg/m3) for 4 h, including 2 h of cycling with a low workload. Induced sputum samples were collected during a medical baseline and a final examination and also about 24 h after each exposure. A number of inflammatory cellular and soluble markers were analyzed. Results Frequency and intensity of symptoms of airway irritation (throat irritation and cough) were increased in some subjects 24 h after ZnO exposures when compared to filtered air. The group comparison between filtered air and ZnO exposures showed statistically significant increases of neutrophils and interleukin-8 (IL-8), interleukin-6 (IL-6), matrix metalloproteinase (MMP-9) and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMP-1) in sputum starting at the lowest ZnO concentration of 0.5 mg/m3. However, a concentration-response relationship was absent. Effects were reversible. Strong correlations were found between neutrophil numbers and concentrations of total protein, IL-8, MMP-9, and TIMP-1. Conclusions Controlled exposures of healthy subjects to ZnO nanoparticles induce reversible airway inflammation which was observed at a concentration of 0.5 mg/m3 and higher. The lack of a concentration-response relationship warrants further studies.

Lung metastases are frequently removed with an Nd:YAG laser. The aim is to perform a non-anatomic resection of all intraoperatively palpable lung metastases completely in order to preserve the largest possible amount of healthy lung parenchyma. The surgeon can either work with a focusing handpiece or use a laser fiber of the so-called bare fiber with direct contact to the lung parenchyma. We currently use a 600 µm bare fiber for applications involving the lung parenchyma. Precise data on the local effect of the laser fiber on the lung parenchyma are not available, especially with regard to an increase in the laser energy. We want to study this question within the scope of an experimental model in pig lungs by means of systematic and reproducible tests. The lung lobes were removed from animals recently slaughtered in the abattoir and taken to the laboratory immediately, where the lobes were stored such that the surface of the lungs was parallel to the floor. A 600 µm bare fiber was attached to a mounting bracket vertically above the lung surface at a distance of either 0, 5, or 10 mm. This mounting bracket was in turn connected to a hydraulic feed motor. The feed motor is capable of moving the bare fiber forward across the lungs consistently at three different speeds (5 mm/s, 10 mm/s, or 20 mm/s). The bare fiber itself was connected to the diode-pumped Nd: YAG Laser LIMAX® 120 (Gebrüder Martin GmbH &amp, Co KG, Tuttlingen, Germany). We carried out the tests using three different laser powers: 20 W, 60 W, and 120 W. The lung lesions caused by the laser in each of the lungs were resected and sent in for histological analysis. The exact size of the vaporization and coagulation zone was measured using the HE sections, and the respective mean values (with standard deviations) were ascertained. For all laser powers, the extent of the vaporization was greatest with a motion speed of 5 mm/s for the respective laser power: 756.4 ± 1.2 µm (20 W), 1411.0 ± 2.3 µm (60 W) and 2126.0 ± 1.4 µm (120 W). At the same time, the extent of the coagulation zone decreased with a consistent speed: 221.8 ± 2.9 µm (20 W), 324.9 ± 1.8 µm (60 W), and 450.5 ± 1.8 µm (120 W). With a consistent laser energy and increasing speed, we also saw a decrease in the size of the vaporization and of the coagulation zone. The same applies for an increasing distance of the bare fiber to the lung surface. The coagulation effect is the dominant effect here. At an operating speed of 5 mm/s and a maximum laser energy of 120, the 600 µm bare fiber exerts a maximum effect. With an increasing distance of the tip of the bare fiber to the lung surface, the coagulation effect is dominant. The effect of the laser decreases with increasing operating speeds.

Local anesthetic intoxication is an uncommon complication of regional anesthesia. We report the case of a 4-month-old infant who presented with generalized tonic-clonic seizure complicated by cardiac arrest secondary to a severe intoxication to local anesthesia. These complications were observed after a bilateral dorsal penile nerve block with lidocaine for circumcision in a non-hospital setting. This report emphasizes the potential risk of local anesthetic systemic toxicity in such circumstances and describes its treatment.; L'intoxication est une complication rare de l'anesthésie locorégionale. Nous rapportons le cas d'un nourrisson de 4 mois ayant présenté une crise convulsive tonico-clonique généralisée compliquée d'un arrêt respiratoire secondaire à une intoxication grave aux anesthésiques locaux à l'occasion d'un bloc pénien dorsal bilatéral avec de la lidocaïne pour une circoncision réalisée hors du milieu hospitalier. Le but de ce travail est de souligner le risque potentiel de toxicité systémique des anesthésiques locaux utilisés dans ces circonstances particulières et de préciser leur prise en charge. Summary Local anesthetic intoxication is an uncommon complication of regional anesthesia. We report the case of a 4-month-old infant who presented with generalized tonic-clonic seizure complicated by cardiac arrest secondary to a severe intoxication to local anesthesia. These complications were observed after a bilateral dorsal penile nerve block with lidocaine for circumcision in a non-hospital setting. This report emphasizes the potential risk of local anesthetic systemic toxicity in such circumstances and describes its treatment.

One of the most common applications of active control on flexible structures is the mitigation of vibrations to reduce stresses and consequently increase lifetime. However, except for a few particular cases, the fatigue phenomenon has never been taken into account in the design of the control algorithm. Moreover, since fatigue is mainly a local effect, in some cases active control could even worsen the structure's integrity (e.g. consider local damage close to the actuators caused by control strategies requiring high control forces). For this reason, control is not able to achieve the best performance in terms of damage reduction and lifetime maximisation. This paper proposes an optimal active control designed to minimise fatigue damage on the structure. A model of the fatigue phenomenon is introduced and included in the definition of the control parameters. The solution is firstly described from a theoretical point of view and then tested both numerically and experimentally, showing a significant improvement over state-of-the-art techniques.

Does offshoring affect industrial productivity at local level? In order to reply to this question a set of equation have been estimated on a panel of Italian provinces in the period 1999-2010, using DOLS (Dynamic Ordinary Least Square) methodology for panel data. The main results of the empirical analysis are: 1) offshoring has not damaged manufacturing employment: 2) offshoring has increased employment in services. The proposed explanation is that offshoring is associated with productivity growth, an indirect proof that the process was not pursued simply as a cost-reduction seeking strategy. However short and long run effects may differ, and data shows that the process is still in its initial stage

This paper presents a method of engineering modelling of structural details, which enables the analysis of local static and dynamic effects in a complex structure with the use of a personal computer. An analysed structural detail, modelled with the use of shell finite elements, is mounted to a spatial truss member system. Then, on the basis of prepared computational model, a static or dynamic analysis is carried out. The proposed model allows to detect the local effects in a theoretical. Conducted analyses confirmed the correct operation of such a computational model. Hence, the method of modelling presented in this paper allows to analyse the local effects on ordinary personal computer and more importantly, the results of such calculations are available within a relatively short period of time. The calculations are carried out by analysing the local effects in a steel node of the truss railway bridge.

The present work aims to offer a contribute for the evaluation of the opportunity to adopt strategies based on state support or, alternatively, on the managerial autonomy of local bodies in financial trouble. The research, after analysing the main guidelines at European level, presents the results of an empirical investigation on the economic effects produced on the local economy by the financial default of the Municipality of Taranto. The choice of the Municipality of Taranto is due both to the significant magnitude of the ascertained debt, which was one of the highest in the history of Italy, and to the considerable economic effects caused by the recovery procedure. Specifically, with reference to the companies admitted to the passive mass, have been firstly determined the economic losses they suffered and, secondly, has been analysed the survival status of the companies involved in the insolvency procedure and located in the local area of reference, as well as the related strategies they adopted.

For the prevention of local effects that may occur on the load-bearing elements of newly designed masonry infilled RC frames, additional measures are foreseen in modern seismic design codes. In particular, European code regulations impose special detailing and confinement requirements for structural elements in RC frames with adherent masonry infills. Moreover, the verification of adjacent columns for increased shear demands is required, es- timated based on approximate values of horizontal shear strength of the infill, and through the application of capacity design principles along the contact length. With the aim to verify the efficiency of the current design approach and provide additional recommendations re- lated to local effects due to the presence of masonry infills in RC frames, in this study a series of nonlinear dynamic analyses on typical newly designed building configurations with differ- ent masonry infill typologies of varying strength and stiffness properties has been performed at increasing levels of seismicity. The analyses are carried out using a simple numerical model representing the masonry infill as a single diagonal strut. Although such model cannot directly capture the local effects in the contact region, it allows, a posteriori, the calculation of effective shear demands on the columns. For a number of considered prototype buildings, a comparison of effective shear demands obtained from analyses and shear design forces re- quired by the code has been carried out. Furthermore, a simplified procedure for the verifica- tion of columns in RC frames exposed to increased shear demands due to the presence of masonry infills as a function of expected inter-storey drift demands has been proposed. Hence, starting from existing code recommendations, the given method allows the evaluation of shear design forces in compliance with effective shear demands, accounting for different masonry infill typologies, the position of the infill along the height of the building and the seismic ground motion intensity.

Due to a lack of route-specific toxicity data, the health risks resulting from occupational exposure are frequently assessed by route-to-route (RtR) extrapolation based on oral toxicity data. Insight into the conditions for and the uncertainties connected with the application of RtR extrapolation has not been clearly described in a systematic manner. In our opinion, for a reliable occupational health risk assessment, it is necessary to have insight into the accuracy of the routinely applied RtR extrapolation and, if possible, to give a (semi-)quantitative estimate of the possible error introduced. Therefore, experimentally established no-observed-adverse-effect-levels for inhalation studies were compared to no-adverse-effect-levels predicted from oral toxicity studies by RtR extrapolation. From our database analysis it can be concluded that the widely used RtR extrapolation methodology based on correction for differences in (estimates of) absorption is not generally reliable and certainly not valid for substances inducing local effects. More experimental data are required (from unpublished data or new experiments) to get insight into the reliability of RtR extrapolation and the possibility to derive an assessment factor to account for the uncertainties. Moreover, validated screening methods to predict/exclude the occurrence of local effects after repeated exposure are warranted. Especially, in cases where chemical exposure by inhalation or skin contact cannot be excluded route-specific toxicity studies should be considered to prevent from inadequate estimates of human health risks. © 2003 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.