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The basilica of Santa Croce in Lecce is a baroque church internationally well known; the starting point for this research was the evidence that some structures of the façade are more damaged and present signs of subsidence. The possible causes of damages can be: i) buried structures or subsurface anomalies; ii) not suitable microclimatic conditions; iii) deposition of pollutants. In order to study the first cause of damage geophysical survey, using groundpenetrating radar (GPR) was performed. This allow to obtain information on buried structures or to locate and identify anomalies related to a restoration intervention carried out in the 80s.

The condition of the wood structure and its components should be carefully recorded before considering any action. The diagnosis of wood structures in heritage should precede any intervention. Is important to know preliminarily the construction and structural system, the decay condition and the causes. Furthermore, damage or structural failure should be considered. The diagnosis must be based principally on measurements of physical parameters using non-destructive testing (NDT), and if necessary on laboratory testing. Water is one of the principal causes of wood decay. In this study Groundpenetrating radar (GPR) and time domain reflectometry (TDR) was used to estimate the dielectric permittivity and successively the volumetric water content of several types of wood. An empirical relationship was found between the dielectric constant and volumetric water content. Results were applied to a case study: the Cathedral of Foggia.

The Monastery of S. Chiara is located in the city of Nardò (Lecce, Italy). It is the oldest Monastery in southern Italy. In fact it was erected in 1256, only three years after the birth of St. Chiara in heaven. Tommaso Gentile, Count of Nardò, opened the doors of the medieval city walls to receive the first Clarisse nuns. A study was undertaken in some areas inside of the Monastery in order to investigate the buried archaeological structures. The ground-penetrating radar methodology was applied. GPR data analysis show interesting electromagnetic wave reflection events that could be related to archaeological remains.

The archaeological site of Monte Carrozza and Monte Falcone dominates in the south and east of the modern town of Baucina. These are two reliefs of modest size, separated by a small hill elongated in an East-West direction where the cliffs stand the necropolis. On these hills, probably in the sixth century. BC, settled people sicane that at the end of the century came into contact with the Greek colonies of Himera and the Punic Soluntum, as the research conducted in the last decade have demonstrated. Located in the hinterland, on the watershed between the river San Leonardo and Milicia, the sites are located in a key point, in an area open to the connections between Palermo, Solunto and Himera. Archaeological excavations are conducted by the Chair of Ancient Topography of the University of Palermo, in agreement and cooperation with the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage of Palermo, and with the logistical and financial support of the City of Baucina. Investigations affecting a sector of the necropolis located along the southern slope of Monte Falcone, as action to combat the phenomenon of illegal excavations. For this purpose were undertaken a series of geophysical surveys. The survey results showed the presence of various structures likely archaeological interest. Subsequent excavations made in areas investigated by geophysics have unearthed different types of funerary structures: burials in graves or nasturtium, cremation within pithoi or amphorae. The dead were accompanied by grave goods of the Greek tradition: skyphoi, achromatic cups, etc. Particular interest is a large tomb in an artificial cave entrance that consists of pillars and lintel plaster. The grave diggers violated by poachers is unique for their monumental architecture. It was reached by a corridor carved in the rock, in whose landfilling, as well as numerous ceramic fragments were recovered a bronze coin.

In this paper we propose an experimental case of the joint use of ground penetrating radar (GPR) and time domain reflectometry (TDR) for the estimation of the dielectric permittivity of several type of wood. In particular, the well known method of the diffraction curves is compared with the results of an "auto-focussing" strategy based on a linear microwave tomographic approach and with a TDR measurement. The effect of the actual offset between the antennas is accounted for too

We examined lymphocyte subsets in peripheral blood from children with visceral leishmaniasis both in the active stage of the disease and after recovery. At diagnosis, CD2+ and CD4+ cells showed a significant decrease while CD8+ cells were significantly increased when compared with controls; CD4/CD8 ratio was inverted. All of these alterations returned to normal values 3 months after recovery.

Goals: To compare the diagnostic yield and cost-consequences of 2 strategies, screening regardless of symptoms versus case finding (CF), using a point-of-care test (POCT), for the detection of celiac disease (CD) in primary care, to bridge the diagnostic gap of CD in adults. Materials and Methods: All subjects under 75 years of age who consecutively went to their general practitioners’ offices were offered POCT for anti-transglutaminase immunoglobulin A antibodies. The POCT was performed on all subjects who agreed, and then a systematic search for symptoms or conditions associated with higher risk for CD was performed, immediately after the test but before knowing the test results. The 2 resulting groups were: (a) POCT positive and (b) symptomatic subject at CF. Subjects were defined as symptomatic at CF in the presence of 1 or more symptoms. All POCT-positive or symptomatic subjects at CF were referred to the CD Centers for confirmation of CD. Data on resource consumption were gathered from patients’ charts. Cost of examinations, and diagnostic and laboratory tests were estimated with regional outpatient tariffs (Sicily), and a price of €2.5 was used for each POCT. Results: Of a total of 2197 subjects who agreed to participate in the study, 36 (1.6%) and 671 (30.5%) were POCT positive and symptomatic at CF, respectively. The yield from the screening and CF was 5 new celiac patients. The total cost and mean cost for each new CD case were €7497.35 and €1499.47 for the POCT screening strategy, and €9855.14 and €1971.03 for the CF strategy, respectively. Assuming consecutive use of both strategies, performing POCT only in symptomatic subjects at CF, the calculated yield would be 4 new diagnoses with a total cost of €2345.84 and a mean cost of €586.46 for each newly diagnosed patient. Only 1 patient was celiac despite a negative POCT. Conclusions: Testing symptomatic subjects at CF only by POCT seems the most cost-effective strategy to bridge the diagnostic gap of adult CD in primary care.