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The genetic causes of epilepsies and developmental and epileptic encephalopathies (DEE) with onset in early childhood are increasingly recognized. Their outcomes vary from benign to severe disability. In this paper, we wished to retrospectively review the clinical, genetic, EEG, neuroimaging, and outcome data of patients experiencing the onset of epilepsy in the first three years of life, diagnosed and followed up in four Italian epilepsy centres (Epilepsy Centre of San Paolo University Hospital in Milan, Child Neurology and Psychiatry Unit of AUSL-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Pediatric Neurology Unit of Vittore Buzzi Children's Hospital, Milan, and Child Neurology and Psychiatry Unit, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia). We included 168 patients (104 with monogenic conditions, 45 with copy number variations (CNVs) or chromosomal abnormalities, and 19 with variants of unknown significance), who had been followed up for a mean of 14.75 years. We found a high occurrence of generalized seizures at onset, drug resistance, abnormal neurological examination, global developmental delay and intellectual disability, and behavioural and psychiatric comorbidities. We also documented differing presentations between monogenic issues versus CNVs and chromosomal conditions, as well as atypical/rare phenotypes. Genetic early-childhood-onset epilepsies and DEE show a very wide phenotypic and genotypic spectrum, with a high risk of complex neurological and neuropsychiatric phenotypes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cities are facing the greatest challenge of their whole lifecycle: choosing their own destiny. Cities are the main contributors to climate change, as much of the excess carbon dioxide in the atmosphere comes from them. Understanding how cities can transform into "circular cities" is key to fostering change. However, empirical studies in this direction are still scant. In this paper, we address this research gap by answering the following research question: how are current "cities of waste" transitioning to "circular cities"? We do so by means of an empirical study involving several stakeholders located in the town of Pavia (Northern Italy). We find that some actors have implemented virtuous circular economy (CE) practices; however, the transition to CE is overall conducted in a fragmented manner, with a lack of orchestration and planning among private actors as well as a lack of synergies between private and public actors. We conclude our study by advancing future avenues of research, highlighting our theoretical and managerial contributions, and advancing policy implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the partitioning of the closed water distribution network (WDN) serving the city of Pavia, Italy. As a thus far poorly explored aspect in the scientific literature, clustering for the definition of size and extension of district metered areas (DMAs) and of inter-DMA boundary pipes is performed by ensuring that the DMAs respect the altimetric areas of the WDN by leaning on a modified formulation of modularity. To define the boundary pipes to be closed or alternatively fitted with a flow meter for the monitoring of DMA consumption, the dividing is performed with an innovative heuristic algorithm. This technique operates by sequentially implementing the boundary closures that do not cause significant head losses, to obtain an approximation of the Pareto front in the trade-off between number of flow meters installed and WDN reliability. In the last part of the work, the pumps present in the network are assumed to be equipped with the variable speed drive, and their hourly settings are optimized to regulate service pressure. Overall, WDN partitioning and pump setting optimization are proven to mitigate the service pressure and energy consumption of the WDN, offering evident and attractive benefits up to about 50% for water utilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a comparative analysis of two hydrological models in the Storm Water Management Model (SWMM) software, namely, the non-linear reservoir (N-LR) and the unit hydrograph (UH), on the urban catchment of Cascina Scala, Pavia in Italy. The two models were applied for the simulation of the rainfall-runoff transformation in the 42 sub-catchments in Cascina Scala, while flow routing in the underground channels was simulated by means of the De Saint-Venant equations. A dataset of rainfall and runoff for 14 events from 2000 to 2003 was adopted for the calibration and validation of the models. The calibration was performed on 7 out of the 14 events by maximizing the fit of modeled-to-measured hydrographs in the final channel of the system. Prediction performance was assessed through different indices. Results from both models fit measured data well in terms of the total hydrograph. Whereas the time to peak was reliably predicted by both models, the N-LR was found to slightly outperform the UH in terms of total volume and peak flow prediction, though it requires a more detailed knowledge of the system for its implementation. Accordingly, the UH must be preferred in the case of a scarcity of data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Even though in the last few years we have witnessed a general rediscovery of female artists, the same has not happened for female Italian art historians whom have contributed in the art history making of the XX century. On the occasion of this conference I meant to remember Maria Luisa Ferrari, born in Cremona in 1929. No mention of her even in the endless internet world, no page passing on her biography and most important studies, starting from her dissertation thesis, discussed in Pavia with Edoardo Arslan in 1954, on the painter Giovan Pietro da Cemmo, published in Milan two years later. I hereby present some unpublished excerpts part of the correspondence with her first mentor, from which power games and "religion wars" among different art history schools of thought strongly emerge. My paper is dedicated to the human and professional events of the scholar and to the fundamental importance of her work for the period and in future perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scientific publications on the conservation of threatened species can drive practical conservation solutions for endangered species. Yet, a posteriori assessment of the impact of such publications is rarely seen in the scientific literature.The impact of two articles published in Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems (AQC) on the conservation of the endangered quillwort Isoëtes malinverniana is assessed. The articles were the result of a 10‐year study on the focal species that eventually led to the first reintroduction of I. malinverniana. The first article described the development of a cost‐effective model for the selection of suitable reintroduction sites for the species. The second article provided a summary of the techniques used to reintroduce the species and included techniques of ex situ propagation, recipient site preparation, planting methods, and monitoring.This article reviews the practical conservation actions for I. malinverniana that followed the publication of two AQC papers and how they may affect research and conservation for other quillworts and aquatic macrophytes.The results were surprising and went well beyond the initial expectations of the authors. Both AQC publications stimulated the conservation of I. malinverniana from different points of view. They contributed by informing scientists and policymakers of the risk of extinction of this species, leading to the establishment of a new protected area in Piedmont (northern Italy).Our published data represent a sound starting point for funding opportunities in the context of the European Union LIFE programme. Further impacts include an expansion of knowledge on oligotrophic habitat management, the assessment of conservation status, and the education of the general public, with the last of these greatly enhanced by the two ex situ collections created in the botanic gardens of Tourin and Pavia. Interestingly, other authors are now using our approach in research and conservation on other endemic and endangered quillworts worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by a combination of motor and non-motor dysfunction. Dysphagia is a common symptom in PD, though it is still too frequently underdiagnosed. Consensus is lacking on screening, diagnosis, and prognosis of dysphagia in PD. Objective: To systematically review the literature and to define consensus statements on the screening and the diagnosis of dysphagia in PD, as well as on the impact of dysphagia on the prognosis and quality of life (QoL) of PD patients. Methods: A multinational group of experts in the field of neurogenic dysphagia and/or PD conducted a systematic revision of the literature published since January 1990 to February 2021 and reported the results according to PRISMA guidelines. The output of the research was then analyzed and discussed in a consensus conference convened in Pavia, Italy, where the consensus statements were drafted. The final version of statements was subsequently achieved by e-mail consensus. Results: Eighty-five papers were used to inform the Panel's statements even though most of them were of Class IV quality. The statements tackled four main areas: (1) screening of dysphagia: timing and tools; (2) diagnosis of dysphagia: clinical and instrumental detection, severity assessment; (3) dysphagia and QoL: impact and assessment; (4) prognostic value of dysphagia; impact on the outcome and role of associated conditions. Conclusions: The statements elaborated by the Consensus Panel provide a framework to guide the neurologist in the timely detection and accurate diagnosis of dysphagia in PD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Epidemiology, exposure assessment is the process of measuring or estimating the intensity of human exposures to an environmental agent such as air pollution. Healthcare agencies typically take into consideration yearly averaged pollution values and apply them to all citizens, in risk models. However distinct parts of cities can have significantly different levels of pollution and individual habits can influence exposure, too. Consequently, in epidemiology and public health, there is an increasing interest for personal exposure assessment, i.e. the capability of measuring the exposure of individuals. Within the EU H2020 PULSE project, an innovative mechanism for the individual and dynamic assessment of exposure to air pollution has been implemented. The present paper illustrates its technological and scientific components. The system has already been deployed to several pilot cities of the project and Pavia, Italy, has been the first one. In that city several hundreds of tracks have already been acquired and processed. Therefore, the paper thoroughly illustrates the assessment procedure with examples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Teaching computer graphics in an effective way is a challenging task. Different approaches are proposed in the literature, some focusing on traditional teacher-led lectures, others on interactive teaching methods. This paper describes an experiential learning approach applied in a university-level course in computer engineering. Students were involved in the realization of a digital humanities project, the 3-D modeling of the city of Pavia, Italy, as it was in the 16th century. Traditional lectures introduced key theoretical elements, but students were subsequently given specific assignments and retrieved additional content when completing the tasks assigned to them under the overall guidance of their supervisors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Information about several papers discussed at the Law & Science Young Scholars Informal Symposium held at the University of Pavia in Pavia, Italy on May 14, 2012 is presented. Topics include mutual understanding between law and science, contributions of neuroscience in determination of legal responsibility, and experts systems simulating legal reasoning. The symposium featured several speakers including Carolo Casonato, Gabriella Bottini, and Chiara Boscarato.

Introduction: Recent studies have highlighted the prognostic value of easily accessible inflammatory markers, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) for predicting severe outcomes in patients affected by Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Our study validates NLR and PLR cut-off values from a prior cohort at IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo (OSM) of Pavia, Italy, across two new cohorts from different hospitals. This aims to enhance the generalizability of these prognostic indicators. Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, conducted at Milan's Ospedale Luigi Sacco (OLS) and IRCCS Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico (OMP) hospitals, we assess the predictive capacity of NLR and PLR for three main outcomes—non-invasive ventilation (NIV) or continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) usage, invasive ventilation (IV), and death—in patients with COVID-19 at admission. For each outcome, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) were computed separately for male and female cohorts. Distinct NLR and PLR cut-off values were used for men (7.00, 7.29, 7.00 for NLR; 239.22, 248.00, 250.39 for PLR) and women (6.36, 7.00, 6.28 for NLR; 233.00, 246.45, 241.54 for PLR), retrieved from the first cohort at OSM. Results: A total of 3599 patients were included in our study, 1842 from OLS and 1757 from OMP. OLS and OMP sensitivity values for both NLR and PLR (NLR: 24–67%, PLR: 40–64%) were inferior to specificity values (NLR: 64–76%, PLR: 55–72%). Additionally, PPVs generally remained lower (< 63%), while NPVs consistently surpassed 68% for PLR and 72% for NLR. Finally, both PLR and NLR exhibited consistently higher NPVs for more severe outcomes (> 82%) compared to NPVs for CPAP/NIV. Conclusions: Consistent findings across diverse patient populations validate the reliability and applicability of NLR and PLR cut-off values. High NPVs emphasize their role in identifying individuals less likely to experience severe outcomes. These markers not only aid in risk stratification but also guide resource allocation in emergencies or limited-resource situations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The frequency and the accumulation of medium–small flood events can cause severe impacts. In a climate change context, real-time monitoring and a fast risk assessment are needed to support the post-disaster phases. The present work presents a novel methodology that leverages the potential of earth observation data to produce a proof-of-concept for flood vulnerability assessment, serving as the basis for a Map Operational Service for the Lombardy region. The proof-of-concept is related to both flood hazard estimation and vulnerability assessment, considering the evaluation of the potentialities of the synthetic aperture radar data when used to feed a downstream service. Using the city of Pavia (Italy), which was affected by a flood event in November 2019, as a case study, we present an integrated flood impact approach that includes a combination of social and physical parameters. The results contribute to a processing chain designed as a pre-operational service where each data analytic retrieves thematic products to support the exposure and damage estimates based on earth observation-derived hazard products for emergency and recovery responses. Three different satellites covered more than 40 h of the flood's evolution, supporting the great potential of the multi-sensor approach. Therefore, different sensor configurations in terms of spectral bands (X and C bands) and resolutions (from 10 to 1 m) provide a near real-time view of the event. Comparing the results obtained through the three hazard scenarios, a final social and physical Integrated Impact Index is obtained. The added value information leads to the determination of hotspots with which to prioritize effective interventions during emergency and recovery phases, crucial for capturing inherent conditions that allow communities to absorb impacts and cope with a damaging flood event. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper deals with the two kinds of pathologies of Pavia's Cathedral discussed in a previous paper, and the intervention techniques implemented for its strengthening. Their conception and some details of the methods are described here. For the retrofitting of the pillars (first pathology), an innovative procedure was used, based on the horizontal precompression of the infill and on the partial transfer of the load from the marble lining to the infill, while for the cracked dome (second pathology), the increase in strength was achieved by a simple application of carbon-fibre strips to the main ribs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diabetes is a high-prevalence disease that leads to an alteration in the patient's blood glucose (BG) values. Several factors influence the subject's BG profile over the day, including meals, physical activity, and sleep. Wearable devices are available for monitoring the patient's BG value around the clock, while activity trackers can be used to record his/her sleep and physical activity. However, few tools are available to jointly analyze the collected data, and only a minority of them provide functionalities for performing advanced and personalized analyses. In this paper, we present AID-GM, a web application that enables the patient to share with his/her diabetologist both the raw BG data collected by a flash glucose monitoring device, and the information collected by activity trackers, including physical activity, heart rate, and sleep. AID-GM provides several data views for summarizing the subject's metabolic control over time, and for complementing the BG profile with the information given by the activity tracker. AID-GM also allows the identification of complex temporal patterns in the collected heterogeneous data. In this paper, we also present the results of a real-world pilot study aimed to assess the usability of the proposed system. The study involved 30 pediatric patients receiving care at the Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo Hospital in Pavia, Italy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Handly and easy-to-use optical instrumentation is very important for food safety monitoring, as it provides the possibility to assess law and health compliances at every stage of the food chain. In particular, the Surface-enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) method appears highly promising because the intrinsic drawback of Raman spectroscopy, i.e., the natural weakness of the effect and, in turn, of the signal, is overcome thanks to the peculiar interaction between laser light and plasmonic excitations at the SERS substrate. This fact paved the way for the widespread use of SERS sensing not only for food safety but also for biomedicine, pharmaceutical process analysis, forensic science, cultural heritage and more. However, the current technological maturity of the SERS technique does not find a counterpart in the recognition of SERS as a routine method in compliance protocols. This is mainly due to the very scattered landscape of SERS substrates designed and tailored specifically for the targeted analyte. In fact, a very large variety of SERS substrates were proposed for molecular sensing in different environments and matrices. This review presents the advantages and perspectives of SERS sensing in food safety. The focus of the survey is limited to specific analytes of interest for producers, consumers and stakeholders in Oltrepò Pavese, a definite regional area that is located within the district of Pavia in the northern part of Italy. Our attention has been addressed to (i) glyphosate in rice fields, (ii) histamine in a world-famous local product (wine), (iii) tetracycline, an antibiotic often detected in waste sludges that can be dangerous, for instance in maize crops and (iv) Sudan dyes—used as adulterants—in the production of saffron and other spices, which represent niche crops for Oltrepò. The review aims to highlight the SERS performance for each analyte, with a discussion of the different methods used to prepare SERS substrates and the different reported limits of detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With a mass of about 600 tons of Liquid Argon (LAr), the ICARUS T600 detector is the biggest, up to now, LAr Time Projection Chamber (TPC). Following its successful test run, on the Earth surface, in Pavia (Italy) in 2001, the detector is now very close to start data taking in the Gran Sasso underground laboratory. The main features of the LAr TPC technique, together with a short discussion of some of the ICARUS T600 test run results, are presented in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban mapping techniques using high spectral and spatial resolution (HSSR) data were investigated. To this aim, this paper proposes a novel mean shift (MS)-based multiscale method, and different spatial approaches are compared, including differential morphological profiles (DMPs), pixel shape index (PSI), the fractal net evolution approach (FNEA), and the proposed MS method. These spatial features were computed based on a dimensionally reduced representation that was obtained using the non-negative matrix factorization (NMF) transform. The support vector machine (SVM) was then used for classification. These algorithms were evaluated using two HSSR datasets that were obtained by using the Reflective Optics System Imaging Spectrometer (ROSIS) sensor over the urban area of Pavia, northern Italy. The results show that the spatial approaches can effectively complement the spectral features for urban mapping, and the proposed MS-based multiscale algorithm can give comparable or even better results than the FNEA, DMPs and other traditional algorithms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The commitment of multidisciplinary teams in antimicrobial stewardship programs (ASPs) is often inadequately considered, especially in surgical wards. We wanted to evaluate clinical, microbiological, and pharmacological outcomes before and after the implementation of an ASP in the Vascular Surgery ward of Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, a tertiary care hospital in Pavia, Italy. Methods: This was a quasi-experimental quality-improvement study. The antimicrobial stewardship activity was conducted twice a week for 12 months and consisted of both prospective audit and feedback of all the ongoing antimicrobial prescriptions by the infectious diseases' consultants and educational meetings for the healthcare workers of the Vascular Surgery ward. For comparison between the study periods, Student t test (Mann–Whitney test for skewed distributions) was used for quantitative variables (ANOVA or Kruskall-Wallis for > 2 groups respectively), and Pearson's chi-squared test (Fisher exact test where appropriate) for categorical variables. 2-tailed tests were used. P-value significance cut-off was 0.05. Results: During the 12-month intervention period, among a total number of 698 patients, 186 prescriptions were revised, mostly leading to de-escalating an ongoing antimicrobial therapy (39, 20.97%). A statistically significant reduction in isolates of carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (p-value 0.003) and the absence of Clostridioides difficile infections were reported. No statistically significant changes were observed in terms of length of stay and all-cause in-hospital mortality. A significant decrease in the administration of carbapenems (p-value 0.01), daptomycin (p-value < 0.01) and linezolid (p-value 0.43) was registered. A significant reduction in antimicrobial costs was also observed. Conclusions: The implementation of a 12-month ASP brought significant clinical and economic results, highlighting the benefits of a multidisciplinary teamwork. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Among clinicians and researchers, it is common knowledge that, in ALS, cognitive and behavioral involvement within the spectrum of frontotemporal degenerations (FTDs) begun to be regarded as a fact in the late 1990s of the twentieth century. By contrast, a considerable body of evidence on cognitive/behavioral changes in ALS can be traced in the literature dating from the late nineteenth century.Methods: Worldwide reports on cognitive/behavioral involvement in ALS dating from 1886 to 1981 were retrieved thanks to Biblioteca di Area Medica "Adolfo Ferrate," Sistema Bibliotecario di Ateneo, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy and qualitatively synthetized.Results: One-hundred and seventy-four cases of ALS with co-occurring FTD-like cognitive/behavioral changes, described in Europe, America, and Asia, were detected. Neuropsychological phenotypes were consistent with the revised Strong et al.'s consensus criteria. Clinical observations were not infrequently supported by histopathological, post-mortem verifications of extra-motor, cortical/sub-cortical alterations, as well as by in vivo instrumental exams-i.e., assessments of brain morphology/physiology and psychometric testing. In this regard, as earlier as 1907, the notion of motor and cognitive/behavioral features in ALS yielding from the same underlying pathology was acknowledged. Hereditary occurrences of ALS with cognitive/behavioral dysfunctions were reported, as well as familial associations with ALS-unrelated brain disorders. Neuropsychological symptoms often occurred before motor ones. Bulbar involvement was at times acknowledged as a risk factor for cognitive/behavioral changes in ALS.Discussion: Historical observations herewith delivered can be regarded as the antecedents of current knowledge on cognitive/behavioral impairment in the ALS-FTD spectrum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Featured Application: Beam monitor for high intensity beams in particle therapy. This work presents the tests of a multi-gap detector (MGD), composed of three parallel-plate ionization chambers (ICs) with different gap widths, assembled to prove the capability of correcting for charge volume recombination which is expected to occur when high fluence rates are delivered. Such beam conditions occur with a compact accelerator for charged particle therapy developed to reduce the costs, to accomplish faster treatments and to exploit different beam delivery techniques and dose rates as needed, for example, for range modulation and FLASH irradiations, respectively. The MGD was tested with carbon ions at the Centro Nazionale di Adroterapia Oncologica (CNAO Pavia, Italy), and with protons in two different beam lines: at Bern University Hospital with continuous beams and at the Laboratori Nazionale del Sud (Catania, Italy) of the Italian National Center of Nuclear Physics (INFN) with pulsed beams. For each accelerator, we took measurements with different beam intensities (up to the maximum rate of ionization achievable) and changed the detector bias voltage (V) in order to study the charge collection efficiency. Charge recombination models were used to evaluate the expected collected charge and to measure the linearity of the rate of ionization with the beam fluence rate. A phenomenological approach was used to determine the collection efficiency (f1) of the chamber with thinnest gap from the relative efficiencies, f1/f2 and f1/f3, exploiting the condition that, for each measurement, the three chambers were exposed to the same rate of ionization. Results prove that two calibration curves can be determined and used to correct the online measurements for the charge losses in the ICs for recombination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the last century, the increase in traffic, human activities and industrial production have led to a diffuse presence of air pollution, which causes an increase of risk of several health conditions such as respiratory diseases. In Europe, air pollution is a serious concern that affects several areas, one of the worst ones being northern Italy, and in particular the Po Valley, an area characterized by low air quality due to a combination of high population density, industrial activity, geographical factors and weather conditions. Public health authorities and local administrations are aware of this problem, and periodically intervene with temporary traffic limitations and other regulations, often insufficient to solve the problem. In February 2020, this area was the first in Europe to be severely hit by the SARS-CoV-2 virus causing the COVID-19 disease, to which the Italian government reacted with the establishment of a drastic lockdown. This situation created the condition to study how significant is the impact of car traffic and industrial activity on the pollution in the area, as these factors were strongly reduced during the lockdown. Differently from some areas in the world, a drastic decrease in pollution measured in terms of particulate matter (PM) was not observed in the Po Valley during the lockdown, suggesting that several external factors can play a role in determining the severity of pollution. In this study, we report the case study of the city of Pavia, where data coming from 23 air quality sensors were analyzed to compare the levels measured during the lockdown with the ones coming from the same period in 2019. Our results show that, on a global scale, there was a statistically significant reduction in terms of PM levels taking into account meteorological variables that can influence pollution such as wind, temperature, humidity, rain and solar radiation. Differences can be noticed analyzing daily pollution trends too, as—compared to the study period in 2019—during the study period in 2020 pollution was higher in the morning and lower in the remaining hours. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a chronic, complex and neglected infection that may cause serious disease in humans. Given its peculiar epidemiologic and clinical features, collection of clinical data is challenging. Notification systems, when available, fail to record important clinical features, available data are mostly retrospectively collected and no prospectively enrolled uniform surveillance systems exist. The European Register of Cystic Echinococcosis database (ERCE) is the first systematic attempt to address these issues. Methods Here, we describe the demographics and clinical characteristics of 436 patients who accessed the CE clinic at the University of Pavia–San Matteo Hospital Foundation, in Pavia, Italy, from March 2012 to February 2020. Results Overall, 436 patients, consisting of 204 (46.8%) males and 232 (53.2%) females were enrolled; the mean age at enrollment was 50 (range 4–88) y. Of the 436 patients, 248 (56.9%) were born in Italy while 188 (43.1%) were foreign-born. In total, 638 CE cysts were counted, most of them in the CE4 (230; 36.1%) and CE3b (131; 20.5%) stages. Conclusions This is the largest cohort of CE patients with detailed clinical and demographic data published to date. We strongly encourage colleagues caring for CE patients in the European Union to join the ERCE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dysphagia is common in Parkinson's disease (PD). The effects of antiparkinsonian drugs on dysphagia are controversial. Several treatments for dysphagia are available but there is no consensus on their efficacy in PD. To conduct a systematic review of the literature and to define consensus statements on the treatment of dysphagia in PD and related nutritional management. A multinational group of experts in the field of neurogenic dysphagia and/or Parkinson's disease conducted a systematic evaluation of the literature and reported the results according to PRISMA guidelines. The evidence from the retrieved studies was analyzed and discussed in a consensus conference organized in Pavia, Italy, and the consensus statements were drafted. The final version of statements was subsequently achieved by e-mail consensus. The literature review retrieved 64 papers on treatment and nutrition of patients with PD and dysphagia, mainly of Class IV quality. Based on the literature and expert opinion in cases where the evidence was limited or lacking, 26 statements were developed. The statements developed by the Consensus panel provide a guidance for a multi-disciplinary treatment of dysphagia in patients with PD, involving neurologists, otorhinolaryngologists, gastroenterologists, phoniatricians, speech-language pathologists, dieticians, and clinical nutritionists. • PD treatments should be optimized to minimize the impact on swallowing function • Treatment of dysphagia should be guided by an instrumental assessment of swallowing • There is insufficient evidence to support the use of neuromodulation techniques • Botulinum toxin is an option for isolated upper esophageal sphincter impairment • PEG feeding must be considered on an individual basis, but not in case of dementia [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Two Greenway plans for the Pavia area in Northern Italy will be discussed here: the “Battle of Pavia Greenway” and the “Milan–Pavia–Varzi Greenway”. The master plan for the Pavia Greenway was produced in 1999 and the first section was completed in spring 2003; the second greenway is in the advanced phases of the planning process. The idea of the greenway itself and the planning approach to design and implementation of these greenways are probably unique in Italy: although other greenways have been proposed and in some cases implementation started, none are based on such a broad and deep consideration of physical, economic and social factors. In both greenways, great importance has been given to the conceptually simple idea of obtaining the most from the greenway concept, while at the same time minimizing physical impact and implementation costs. This paper will describe the particularities of the local circumstances and the approach and methodology applied to both plans. It will also attempt a general evaluation of successes and failures in the development of these two greenways. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A full test of the ICARUS T600 liquid Argon detector has been carried out in the year 2001 in Pavia, Italy. The test, extended over about 100 days of continuous operation, has been successful, and has shown that the LAr TPC technology is mature for a large mass experimental programme. A large number of cosmic rays events have been recorded during that test. In this paper we show some results of that test, from the point of view of the imaging capabilities of the technique. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The interaction between geomorphological processes and anthropogenic activities produces an impressive association of geomorphological and archaeological heritage in urban contexts. We analyzed the urban geomorphology and the geo- and cultural heritage in the town of Pavia (N Italy). The city is located in a strategic position, on a series of fluvial terraces where the Romans founded a colony, probably in the place of an Iron Age Gaul settlement. In Medieval Times and the Modern Era, Pavia sprawled outside the Roman walls, creating new urban areas and modifying the landscape. Geomorphological and GIS-spatial analyses integrated with anthropic landform surveying, archaeological data and historical cartography were performed. This multi-disciplinary approach allowed an investigation into how urban development was firstly adapted and then superimposed onto fluvial landforms. As a result, a flexible geocultural itinerary is proposed for linking geoheritage with cultural heritage, and for disseminating urban geomorphology key-concepts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a rare and aggressive malignancy that most commonly affects the pleural layers. MPM has a strong association with asbestos, mainly caused by exposure to its biopersistent fibers in at least 80% of cases. Individuals with a chronic exposure to asbestos might develop disease with a 20-40-year latency with few or no symptoms. Such has been the case in the Italian regions of Piedmont and Lombardy, where industrial production of materials laden with asbestos, mainly cements, has been responsible for the onset of a large epidemic. Since 2018, a multidisciplinary team at San Matteo hospital in Pavia has been collecting data on over 100 patients with MPM. The main goal of this project is to define and describe an integrated profile for each MPM case at diagnosis by using data mining and partition analysis.Methods: Here we bring together exhaustive epidemiologic, histologic and radiologic data of 88 MPM patients that came to our observation and draw correlations with predictive and prognostic significance.Results: The median overall survival (OS) was 15.6 months. Most patients presented with pleural effusion, irrespective of disease stage. Quite unexpectedly, no statistically significant association was demonstrated between OS and TNM disease stage at diagnosis. Although average OS is similar in male and female patients, partition analysis of data underlined a significant differential hierarchy of predictor categories based on patient gender. In females with no smoking history, full chemotherapeutic regimens are associated with better outcomes. Moreover, concerning second line treatments, vinorelbine emerged as the most advantageous choice for female patients, whereas in the male subgroup no statistically significant difference resulted between gemcitabine and vinorelbine.Conclusion: A multidisciplinary approach to MPM is mandatory to define better therapeutic approaches, personalize the management and improve patient outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Protontherapy is a rapidly expanding radiotherapy modality where accelerated proton beams are used to precisely deliver the dose to the tumor target but is generally considered ineffective against radioresistant tumors. Proton-Boron Capture Therapy (PBCT) is a novel approach aimed at enhancing proton biological effectiveness. PBCT exploits a nuclear fusion reaction between low-energy protons and 11B atoms, i.e. p+11B→ 3α (p-B), which is supposed to produce highly-DNA damaging α-particles exclusively across the tumor-conformed Spread-Out Bragg Peak (SOBP), without harming healthy tissues in the beam entrance channel. To confirm previous work on PBCT, here we report new in-vitro data obtained at the 62-MeV ocular melanoma-dedicated proton beamline of the INFN-Laboratori Nazionali del Sud (LNS), Catania, Italy. For the first time, we also tested PBCT at the 250-MeV proton beamline used for deep-seated cancers at the Centro Nazionale di Adroterapia Oncologica (CNAO), Pavia, Italy. We used Sodium Mercaptododecaborate (BSH) as 11B carrier, DU145 prostate cancer cells to assess cell killing and non-cancer epithelial breast MCF-10A cells for quantifying chromosome aberrations (CAs) by FISH painting and DNA repair pathway protein expression by western blotting. Cells were exposed at various depths along the two clinical SOBPs. Compared to exposure in the absence of boron, proton irradiation in the presence of BSH significantly reduced DU145 clonogenic survival and increased both frequency and complexity of CAs in MCF-10A cells at the mid- and distal SOBP positions, but not at the beam entrance. BSH-mediated enhancement of DNA damage response was also found at mid-SOBP. These results corroborate PBCT as a strategy to render protontherapy amenable towards radiotherapy-resilient tumor. If coupled with emerging proton FLASH radiotherapy modalities, PBCT could thus widen the protontherapy therapeutic index. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In spite of the growing awareness on medical students' mental health in recent years, epidemiologic literature about the topic is scarce, particularly for what concerns suicide. Here, we collected cases of suicides among medical students enrolled at a local University in Italy and compared it to the general population of the same age group. Our sample was collected using records of suicides in the city of Pavia, Italy between the years of 2014 and 2019. This record was cross-referenced with enrolment numbers to the Medical Faculty of the city in order to select cases that involved medical students A time-window of 6 years was chosen for the evaluation. The odds ratio of suicide in medical students in comparison to the general population was of 14.58 (p value at the exact Poisson test <0.001). We then differentiated between native Italians and students from abroad. In this case, an odds ratio of 6.81 was observed (p value at the exact Poisson test 0.011). Our estimated suicide rates exceeded what was previously reported for the general population. We call for a closer attention on mental health in medical students, and an increased effort in collecting objective data on the topic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy with jejunal extension (PEG-J) is currently indicated in a variety of conditions, limited data are available regarding its safety and the best timing for its replacement. We herein describe a single-centre cohort of patients who underwent PEG-J placement or replacement to assess the short- and long-term safety of the procedure. Demographic and procedure-related data regarding all patients undergoing a PEG-J procedure between March 2010 and 2020, either first placement or any replacement, at the Endoscopy Unit of a University Hospital in Northern Italy (IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy), were retrospectively collected. Data were collected until last available follow-up. We included 73 patients (mean age 70 ± 9.7, 60.3% female) who underwent a PEG-J procedure. Data on a total of 215 procedures were gathered with a median follow up time of 21 months (IQR 9.3–39.5). No immediate adverse events (AEs) were reported. Short-term (within 30 days) AEs, including jejunal extension dislocations, accidental removal, obstruction and kinking occurred in 12 patients (5.6% of the total procedures), whilst long-term AEs (obstruction, tube malfunctions, inner tube dislocation, pyloric ulcer, hypergranulation tissue, wear, buried bumper syndrome and accidental removal) were reported in 40 patients. The risk of developing an AE was not reduced if tube replacement was performed electively. The median duration of the PEG-J before replacement was 12 months (IQR 6–16 months). PEG-J placement and replacement are safe procedures. Although PEG-J durability is variable an elective procedure might be indicated to reduce urgent replacements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the Mont Blanc Study was to investigate the relationship between intraocular pressure (IOP), central corneal thickness (CCT), and altitude in healthy subjects. Thirty-three eyes of 33 healthy volunteers (mean age: 24.8 years, 17 females) had their IOP measured with Perkins and I-Care tonometers and their CCT using ultrasound pachymetry at three locations in Italy with different altitudes: Pavia, (PV), 77 meters above sea level (a.s.l); Courmayeur (CM), 1300 meters a.s.l; Pointe Helbronner (PH), 3466 meters a.s.l.). The measurements were performed at 9 am, 11 am, 1 pm and 3 pm (±30') in indoor settings (mean temperature of 19°C) in PV and PH. At 9 am, CCT and IOP were measured outdoor (mean temperature of -1.4°C) at PH. The mean values of the IOP curve decreased from PV to PH with the Perkins (p = 0.02) and I-Care tonometers (p = 0.001). Instead, CCT increased upon ascension from PV to PH (p = 0.01), and from CM to PH (p = 0.002). When exposed to sub-zero temperature, the IOP increased (p<0.001), while the CCT did not change (p = 0.30). The results suggest that IOP significantly decreased and CCT significantly increased upon ascension from the sea level to higher altitudes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To maximize the advantages of both spectral and spatial information, we introduce a new spectral–spatial jointed hyperspectral image classification approach based on fractal dimension (FD) analysis of spectral response curve (SRC) in spectral domain and extended morphological processing in spatial domain. This approach first calculates the FD image based on the whole SRC of the hyperspectral image and decomposes the SRC into segments to derive the FD images with each SRC segment. These FD images based on the segmented SRC are composited into a multidimensional FD image set in spectral domain. Then, the extended morphological profiles (EMPs) are derived from the image set through morphological open and close operations in spatial domain. Finally, all these EMPs and FD features are combined into one feature vector for a probabilistic support vector machine (SVM) classification. This approach was demonstrated using three hyperspectral images in urban areas of the university campus and downtown area of Pavia, Italy, and the Washington DC Mall area in the USA, respectively. We assessed the potential and performance of this approach by comparing with PCA-based method in hyperspectral image classification. Our results indicate that the classification accuracy of our proposed method is much higher than the accuracies of the classification methods based on the spectral or spatial domain alone, and similar to or slightly higher than the classification accuracy of PCA-based spectral–spatial jointed classification method. The proposed FD approach also provides a new self-similarity measure of land class in spectral domain, a unique property to represent hyperspectral self-similarity of SRC in hyperspectral imagery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Museum visitor studies acknowledge guest books as a potential source of information and a means of dialogue both among visitors and between visitors and museum staff. Nevertheless, the guest book is still under-used in the Italian museum context. Assuming this gap, this study aims at enlarging the understanding of that audience development method by an exploratory case study. More specifically, the guest book related to the main temporary exhibition, managed by an Italian Civic Museum in Lombardy, has been carried out through sentiment analysis. Findings introduce the taxonomy of ‘non-active’, ‘pre-active’, ‘active’ and ‘pro-active’ users, with the last two categories representing dialogue and visitor engagement in the museum evaluation process. Additional research paths on the correlation between the guest book form and the active users’ attitude are suggested. The case study also encourages more investigation on accountability and reporting within museum discourse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New progresses into the molecular and cellular mechanisms of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) have been discussed in 1 day international symposium held in Pavia (Italy) on July 4th, 2014 entitled ''synapses as therapeutic targets for autism spectrum disorders'' (satellite of the FENS Forum for Neuroscience, Milan, 2014). In particular, world experts in the field have highlighted how animal models of ASDs have greatly advanced our understanding of the molecular pathways involved in synaptic dysfunction leading sometimes to ''synaptic clinical trials'' in children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the sculptural representation of royal authority in the adornments of the Romanesque church of San Michele Maggiore in Pavia, Italy. The author argues that the royal program in the eastern end of the building represents the church's function as a coronation site for the kings of Lombardy during the Middle Ages, and reflects the primacy of Pavia.

The Pavia University is celebrating the 650th anniversary of its foundation. In the framework of many different initiatives, a book, a workshop, and an exhibition were organized as part of the solemn celebrations “Pavia 1878,” dedicated to Alessandro Volta (Como, Italy, February 18, 1745 - Como, Italy, March 5, 1827). For 41 years - from 1778 up to 1819 - Volta served as a teacher, Dean, and Rector of the University (Figure 1). [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The article offers information on the annual conference of the Italian Society of Political Science (SISP) that was held from September 4-6, 2008 in Pavia, Italy. 240 papers concerning the Italian political system were discussed at the conference. Some of the issues taken up for discussion at the conference include administration and evaluation, implementation, and social policies.

The Italian National Centre for Oncological Hadrontherapy is currently under construction in Pavia. It is designed for the treatment of deep-seated tumours (up to a depth of 27 cm of water equivalent) with proton and C-ion beams as well as for both clinical and radiobiological research. The particles will be accelerated by a 7-MeV u−1 LINAC injector and a 400-MeV u−1 synchrotron. In the first phase of the project, three treatment rooms will be in operation, equipped with four fixed beams, three horizontal and one vertical. The accelerators are currently undergoing commissioning. The main radiation protection problems encountered (shielding, activation, etc.) are hereby illustrated and discussed in relation to the constraints set by the Italian national authorities. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Extended attribute profiles and extended multi-attribute profiles are presented for the analysis of hyperspectral high-resolution images. These extended profiles are based on morphological attribute filters and, through a multi-level analysis, are capable of extracting spatial features that can better model the spatial information, with respect to conventional extended morphological profiles. The features extracted by the proposed extended profiles were considered for a classification task. Two hyperspectral high-resolution datasets acquired for the city of Pavia, Italy, were considered in the analysis. The effectiveness of the introduced operators in modelling the spatial information was proved by the higher classification accuracies obtained with respect to those achieved by a conventional extended morphological profile. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the European School for Advanced Studies in Reduction of Seismic Risk. It was founded in the autumn of 2000 under the auspices of the Institute for Advanced Studies of the University of Pavia in Italy. The school's main objective is to provide a very high quality educational environment in earthquake engineering to top graduate students from all over the world. The teaching system is based on relatively short courses offered in series by very highly qualified international faculty.