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The Advanced Ion Source for Hadrontherapy (AISHa) is an electron cyclotron resonance ion source operating at 18 GHz, developed at the Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare-Laboratori Nazionali del Sud, with the aim of producing high intensity and low emittance highly charged ion beams for hadrontherapy purposes. Moreover, thanks to its unique peculiarities, AISHa is a suitable choice for industrial and scientific applications. In the framework of the INSpIRIT and IRPT projects, in collaboration with the Centro Nazionale di Adroterapia Oncologica, new candidates for cancer treatment are being developed. In particular, the paper presents the results of the commissioning of four ion beams of interest for hadrontherapy: H+, C4+, He2+, and O6+. Their charge state distribution in the best experimental conditions, their emittance, and brightness will be critically discussed, along with the role of ion source tuning and space charge effects in beam transport. Perspectives for further developments will also be presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research presented here is part of an on-going research focused on the 3D documentation of rock-cut Underground Built Heritage with a complex morphology and characterised by narrow spaces, the Hypogeum of Calaforno (province of Ragusa, Sicily). It is one of the most interesting prehistoric monuments in Sicily in terms of size and unique rock-cut architecture. Various digital techniques have been tested over the years on the site, to represent its spatiality, such as Laser Scanner and Structure from Motion. The proposed methodological approach for the knowledge and the documentation of this archaeological site is based on an interdisciplinary approach involving archaeological and engineering disciplines. This paper focuses on the use of expeditious techniques such as iMMS (indoor Mobile Mapping Systems) based on SLAM (Simultaneous Localization and Mapping) and on the comparison of different surveying equipment in order to verify data quality and accuracy, as well as the inherent advantages of using one technology over another in relation to the characteristics of the site. Through the global verification of TLS and SLAM model reliability, we maintain that such research can contribute to enriching the protocols surrounding the archaeological investigation of sites characterized by complex morphology, irregular surfaces, narrow spaces, specific chromatic features, scarce or total lack of lighting, and physical obstacles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Following significant discrepancies observed when decay-correcting 122Sb γ-peak count rates to a reference time, we looked at the literature supporting the presently recommended 2.7238(2) d (1σ) 122Sb half-life value as the source of these discrepancies. Investigation revealed that the value was derived from an inconsistent dataset and was published without reporting details of the experiment nor the uncertainty budget. In this work we performed a new measurement of the 122Sb half-life by measuring the 122Sb decay of neutron-activated antimony samples using state-of-the-art γ-detection systems characterized in terms of efficiency drift and random pulse pile-up. The measurement was carried out in two different laboratories with the same method. The resulting 2.69454(39) d and 2.69388(30) d (1σ) 122Sb half-life values are in agreement at the evaluated 10–4 relative combined standard uncertainty level but are significantly lower (1.07% and 1.10% lower, respectively) than the preexisting recommended value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Aggressive behaviors have been reported to be more frequent in people with eating disorders (ED), especially bulimia nervosa (BN). Network Analysis (NA) is particularly useful or examining the interactions among symptoms of comorbid conditions through the identification of "bridge symptoms," defined as those symptoms playing a key role in the connection between two syndromic clusters. Objectives: The aim of the present study was to investigate the association of ED core symptoms and ED-related psychopathology with aggressiveness in a clinical sample of women with BN through NA. Methods: A NA was conducted, including ED symptoms and aggressiveness measures. The bridge function was implied to identify symptoms bridging ED symptoms and aggressiveness. Results: The most connected nodes among communities were asceticism and impulsivity from ED-related psychopathology, drive for thinness from ED- core psychopathology and guilt and suspicion from aggressiveness domain. In particular, drive for thinness connected ED-core community to verbal hostility, while impulsivity connected ED-related symptoms to guilt and suspicion of aggressiveness community. Conclusions: In conclusion the present study showed that in people with BN guilt is the specific negative emotion of the hostile dimensions that may be bidirectionally associated with ED symptoms. Disclosure of Interest: None Declared [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon nanoparticles (CNPs) gained a growing attention for a wide multiplicity of applications. CNPs offer the basic advantage of being well tolerated by living organisms and they are much more environmental friendly than many other inorganic NPs for analogous purposes. In this short review, several techniques are described and compared, enlighting their strenghts and drawbacks in terms of easy of deployment, possibility of transfer on a large scale, plant safety and environmental soundness. The latter aspect is now one of the basic paradigms for the chemical production tout court and this target can be achieved by acting on different fronts, namely energy saving, cleaner processes and reagents substitution. Some techniques are still confined to a laboratory scale and they need deeper investigations before being transferred to an industrial production, while some other have reached a technological maturity to make them competitive on the market. The methods for the synthesis of CNPs have been grouped according to a scheme different from the usual classification in top-down and bottom-up processes. A greater emphasis has been given to the simplicity of unit operations and to the corresponding energy burden. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes the results of a participatory approach experienced during the training of university and high school students at the MuRa (Museo della Rappresentazione). Mura is a university museum belonging to the Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture at University of Catania. It houses and exhibits the collections of architectural projects of Francesco Fichera and a series of chalcographies including the collection of the renown engraver Giovan Battista Piranesi. The training program has been addressed at the documentation, visualization and communication of the architectures realized by Francesco Fichera and other Sicilian architects in the city centre of Catania in the first half of XXth century, whose projects are hosted by the museum. The methodology adopted has included the experimentation of participatory strategies aimed at the communication and the narration of the architectures built in the early twentieth century in Catania. After a preliminary training phase on digital tools for 3D documentation and enhancement of architectural heritage, the students were invited to participate with their ideas and creative expressions in the dissemination actions of the identified case studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ratio of γ counting efficiencies is very important in trace element analysis carried out by prompt- and delayed-γ neutron activation based on k0 standardization. Although the effect of correlation between counting efficiencies is well known and methods have been developed and adopted in prompt-γ neutron activation analysis to correctly evaluate the uncertainty, proposals and applications in delayed-γ neutron activation analysis are still lacking. To fill the gap, we developed a new method based on the use of reference γ-sources to determine the detection efficiency ratio and its uncertainty by taking full account of correlations. A measurement model that differs to some extent from the classical k0 formulation widely used in delayed-γ neutron activation analysis is required. A detection system was characterized to test the suitability of the method in a double-counting position setup, where the standard is placed far from the detector end-cap and the sample is placed close to it. The present paper is a significant expansion of a relevant abstract presented at the 'Mathematical and Statistical Methods for Metrology' Workshop, Torino, Italy, 30–31 May 2019 (pp 27–28 in www.msmm2019.polito.it/programme). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the first results of a large-scale-Agent-Based Simulation devoted to simulate individual behaviour inside a medium sized city (600,000 inhabitants). Humans are simulated as Intelligent Individual entities characterized by several attributes created from the Open Data available by means of a multi-layer approach. The work presented is divided into two main parts: the first part aims to describe the multi-layer approach adopted with the inclusion of the social network layer devoted to capture how social networks can be correlated with human activities and how an "Individual Opinion" can changes based on social interactions. The second part is devoted to present a preliminary case study for simulating the propagation dynamics of the individual opinion in the form of an ethical value function. The basic idea is to capture the changes in the individual opinion based on the social interactions predicted by the simulation. Finally, a food choice model for predicting individual choices based on the individual opinion function is presented; the model is based on three parameters: accessibility of ethical shops, price difference with standard products, and ethical value propagation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper shows the results of an experimentation on the use of low cost tools such as action cameras for the photogrammetric surveying of relevant archaeological sites characterized by the presence of narrow and complex rooms. The archaeological site chosen for this experimentation is the South-Western Quarter, also known as Quartiere Levi, of the Minoan Palace of Phaistos (Crete), one of only two cases of buildings surviving up to the third floor in the Aegean world. The research foresaw the setting up of a pipeline aimed at obtaining a complete scaled, photorealistic and navigable 3D model, with a considerable economy in terms of work time and number of photographs. For this purpose, many efforts have been paid on solving all the issues related to the complexity of the site and on comparing the performances of traditional (Canon EOS 70D) and action (GoPro Black Hero 6) cameras as well as of two of the current most used software in the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This abstract illustrates an interdisciplinary research project which focuses on the study, conservation and enhancement, through 3D digitization and virtual fruition, of an asset of great naturalistic, historical and ethnoanthropological value: Grotta dei Pipistrelli of Pantalica Nature Reserve (Sortino, SR). The cave (located in the Calcinara necropolis) is characterized by a great beauty as well as by a high cultural relevance and a remarkable scientific importance. In 2005, it awarded the UNESCO World Heritage title for its high historic, archaeological and speleological profile. Despite the site is being studied by specialists in chiropterofauna, nowadays there is not a comprehensive and reliable documentation of the plano-altimetric morphology of the cave, able to constitute a 3D database of essential information (e.g. morphological, geological, textural and wildlife information) for current and future studies, and to preserve the memory of this fragile ecosystem. The process of 3D digitization aims to create a model of the cave that allows us to enjoy this place, to explore it and to closely understand it in order to limit the anthropic pressure caused by visitors on the real site. Consequently, it is proposed the creation of a virtual environment, as a reproduction of the real one, which can be enjoyed by all categories of users. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The papers in this special section focus on modeling and simulation in disaster and emergency management. The COVID-19 pandemic of 2020 has wrought damage globally to a degree that is totally unprecedented in human history.Within three months that the first known death from the illness caused by the so-called novel Coronavirus was reported by state media in China on the 11th of January 2020, close to 1.8 million people worldwide had tested positive, with more than 100,000 deaths reported. By the time the pandemic will have been declared to be under control, millions more are expected to have been infected and tens (possibly hundreds) of thousands more will have perished as a result of the disease. Not only are the numbers of COVID-19 infected people and deaths staggering. Economies throughout the world have suffered tremendously, with many companies forced to shut down, or at the very least significantly scale down, their production of goods and services as a result of the need for social distancing and self-isolation required to prevent the unmitigated transmission of the disease. All this has led to hundreds of millions worldwide losing their employment or other sources of livelihood. Governments of all nations, large and small, developed and underdeveloped, have needed to pump into their economy and onto their struggling citizens whatever financial resources they could manage to generate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on the use of the spreadsheet technique to set up the uncertainty budget for the k0-standardisation method in Neutron Activation Analysis. The adopted measurement model included most of presently recognized error sources and was written to limit the covariances between input quantities. The calculations were implemented in a worksheet file and tested in a multi-elemental analysis of a biological material. Besides, it was demonstrated that the k0-standardisation turns to the relative-standardisation when the monitor element corresponds to the analyte element. The developed worksheet is available and suitable for the analysis of other materials in different experimental conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The application of the k0-standardization method of neutron activation analysis offers the great advantage to perform multielemental analyses using a single element as a comparator. On the other hand, some knowledge of the neutron flux energy distribution is mandatory. Recently, neutron flux parameters f and α in three irradiation channels of the TRIGA Mark II nuclear reactor in Pavia were measured for the first time to allow the application of the k0-standardization method at the Radiochemistry and Spectroscopy Laboratory of the Istituto Nazionale di Ricerca Metrologica. In this framework, a preliminary test was performed by analyzing a set of samples irradiated in Central Channel, including a number of elements prepared with mono-elemental solutions and a reference material. The results of all the selected elements were in agreement with the expected value and confirmed the applicability of the k0-standardization method in Central Channel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The optimal treatment for unfavourable intermediate/high-risk prostate cancer is still debated. In the present study, the pattern of toxicity and early clinical outcome of patients with localized prostate cancer was analyzed. Methods: A cohort of 90 patients treated on pelvic lymph nodes from 2010 to 2015 was selected. All patients were treated with Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy (VMAT), and Simultaneous integrated boost (SIB) in 28 fractions; the prostate, the seminal vesicle and the pelvic lymph node received total doses of 74.2, 65.5, and 51.8 Gy, respectively. End points were the detection of acute and late toxicities graded according to the Common Toxicity Criteria CTCAE version 3, evaluating the rectal, genito-urinary and gastro-intestinal toxicity. Correlation of OARs dose parameters and related toxicities was explored. Preliminary overall survival and Progression-free survival (PFS) were evaluated. Results: With a median follow-up of 25 months, no interruptions for treatment-related toxicity were recorded. Univariate analysis among dosimetric data and acute toxicities showed no correlations. Regarding late toxicity: the dose received by a rectal volume of 90 cm was found to be significant for toxicity prediction ( p = 0.024). PFS was 90.6% and 60.2% at 2 and 4 years, respectively. PFS correlates with age ( p = 0.011) and Gleason score ( p = 0.011). Stratifying the PSA nadir in quartiles, its value was significant ( p = 0.016) in predicting PFS, showing a reduction of PFS of 2 months for each PSA-nadir increase of 0.1 ng/ml. Conclusion: HRT with VMAT and SIB on the whole pelvis in unfavourable prostate cancer patients is effective with a mild pattern of toxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Flavescence dorée is an epidemic yellows disease of grapevine, caused by a phytoplasma (FDP), for which there is currently no cure. We assessed whether the endophytePseudomonas migulae8R6, able to synthesize 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) deaminase, can limit the phytoplasma-induced damages in periwinkle, a model plant hosting FDP. Plant protection induced by 8R6 and its mutant, impaired in ACC deaminase synthesis, was compared. Fifteen plants per treatment were used; FD infection was transmitted by grafting. Evaluation of symptoms was performed every 4 days for 40 days. The presence and the amount of FDP were assessed by nested PCR and qPCR, respectively. Images of phytoplasma inside the infected plants were obtained by transmission electron microscopy. The strain 8R6 significantly reduced the number of symptomatic plants (53% vs 93%). While the density of FDP inside the leaves was unaffected by the bacterial strains, the FDP titre was under the quantification threshold in 38% of the plants inoculated with strain 8R6. Microscopical observations showed damaged FDP cells in plants inoculated with strain 8R6. The ACC deaminase activity of the endophytic bacteriaP. migulae8R6 helps the plant to regulate the level of the stress-related hormone ethylene, leading to significantly improved resistance to phytoplasma infection. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Pteris vittata, a fern able to hyperaccumulate arsenic (As) in its fronds, has been object of a number of studies aimed to understand the mechanisms involved in As absorption and tolerance. This study has focused on a new mechanism, As leaching, already observed inP. vittata, but not explained, based on the possible involvement of hydathodes, not yet described in this fern; moreover, the results contained in this article will provide information on a more detailed frond anatomy ofP. vittata. A combination of light and electron microscopic techniques (transmission electron microscopy and environmental scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray) and chemical analyses (inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy) was used. The results suggest that in phytoremediation processes under field conditions there could be the need to know the atmospheric conditions before harvesting plants, to avoid the loss of As in the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The article discusses the robotic-assisted surgery techniques robotically assisted bivalved palatal transposition flaps (RA-BPTF) and robotically assisted pharyngeal flap (RA-PF) for treating nasopharyngeal stenosis (NPS) and velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI). It mentions the surgical steps for using RA-BPTF and RA-PF techniques and suggests the safety and efficiency of the methods.

This paper proposes a model aimed at investigating safety and security issues in fresh good supply chain. Particular attention is paid on fresh goods contamination since the increasing complexity of supply chains makes these events more likely to happen. To this end, a discrete event simulator (DES) underpinned by an analytical model has been developed as a support tool for prevention and mitigation. Indeed, the simulation model is able to recreate the disruption wave propagation along the supply chain due to a contamination event as well as the effects on the dynamic evolution of contaminated products demand taking into account complex phenomena like media campaigns. In addition, even the economic impacts in terms of costs (i.e. transportation costs, inventory costs, and lost sales) can be assessed. The potentials of the proposed simulation framework have been investigated in a real case study of a fresh food supply chain located in the north of Italy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Evaluated in this study were the feasibility and the efficacy of concurrent low dose fractionated radiotherapy (LD-FRT) and chemotherapy as palliative treatment for recurrent/progressive glioblastoma multiforme (GBM).Patients and Methods: Eligible patients had recurrent or progressive GBM, Karnofsky performance status ≥ 70, prior surgery, and standard radiochemotherapy treatment. Recurrence/progression disease during temozolomide (TMZ) received cisplatin (CDDP; 30 mg/m(2) on days 1, 8, 15), fotemustine (FTM; 40 mg/m(2) on days 2, 9, 16), and concurrent LD-FRT (0.3 Gy twice daily); recurrence/progression after 4 months from the end of adjuvant TMZ were treated by TMZ (150/200 mg/m(2) on days 1-5) concomitant with LD-FRT (0.4 Gy twice daily). Primary endpoints were safety and toxicity.Results: A total of 32 patients were enrolled. Hematologic toxicity G1-2 was observed in 18.7 % of patients and G3-4 in 9.4 %. One patient (3.1 %) had complete response, 3 (9.4 %) had partial response, 8 (25 %) had stable disease for at least 8 weeks, while 20 patients (62.5 %) experienced progressive disease. The clinical benefit was 37.5 %. Median progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were 5 and 8 months, respectively. Survival rate at 12 months was of 27.8 %.Conclusion: LD-FRT and chemotherapy for recurrent/progressive GBM have a good toxicity profile and clinical outcomes, even though further investigation of this novel palliative treatment approach is warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The determination of the Avogadro constant plays a key role in the redefinition of the kilogram in terms of a fundamental constant. The present experiment makes use of a silicon single-crystal highly enriched in Si that must have a total impurity mass fraction smaller than a few parts in 10. To verify this requirement, we previously developed a relative analytical method based on neutron activation for the elemental characterization of a sample of the precursor natural silicon crystal WASO 04. The method is now extended to fifty-nine elements and applied to a monoisotopic Si single-crystal that was grown to test the achievable enrichment. Since this crystal was likely contaminated, this measurement tested also the detection capabilities of the analysis. The results quantified contaminations by Ge, Ga, As, Tm, Lu, Ta, W and Ir and, for a number of the detectable elements, demonstrated that we can already reach the targeted 1 ng/g detection limit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To investigate the impact of nonstandard concomitant temozolomide (TMZ) administration in two prospective phase II studies for glioblastoma (GBM).Patients and Methods: From October 2000 to June 2008, 104 patients were enrolled in two studies: 25 in RT-TMZ-10.00 and 79 in RT-TMZ-01.04. Adjuvant radiotherapy (RT) was used with a total dose of 59.4 Gy (1.8 Gy/day). Patients received concomitant TMZ (75 mg/m(2)/day) from Monday to Friday during the first and last weeks of RT in the RT-TMZ-10.00 study and from Monday to Friday during all weeks of RT in the RT-TMZ-01.04 trial. Adjuvant TMZ (200 mg/m(2)) was administered for 5 days every 28 days.Results: Median progression-free (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were 9 and 16 months, respectively, with no significant difference between the two groups (p = 0.5 and 0.14, respectively). The 2- and 5-year OS rates were 32 and 3 %, respectively, and similar to those observed with standard treatment regimens.Conclusion: Our data support the hypothesis that adjuvant TMZ is more important than concomitant chemotherapy (CH) and that RT is the more important element of the concomitant treatment schedule. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]