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SummaryThe aim of this multicentric, prospective and uncontrolled study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of levetiracetam in 110 children with refractory epilepsy, of whom 21 were less than 4 years old. After a median follow-up period of 7 months, levetiracetam administration was effective (responders with >50% decrease in seizure frequency) in 39% of children, of whom 10 (9%) became seizure-free. The efficacy was higher in patients with localization-related epilepsy (58% of responders) than in those with generalized epilepsy (37% of responders). Levetiracetam was well tolerated. The main side effects of somnolence and irritability occurred in 14% of patients. In one patient acute choreoathetosis occurred after few doses of levetiracetam. Overall, the adverse effects were not severe. Children younger than 4 years were particularly tolerant. In conclusion, the present study confirms that levetiracetam is effective and well tolerated as an add-on treatment in children with refractory epilepsy. Our preliminary data also indicate that levetiracetam may be a valid therapeutic option for epilepsy in infants and young children.

Fiber-reinforced cementitious matrix (FRCM) composites are a new category of composites recently proposed for seismic strengthening of historical masonry structures, to provide a more compatible solution compared with fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites. Despite the rapidly increasing number of research papers dealing with the mechanical behavior of FRCM composites applied to masonry, their long-term performance and susceptibility to weathering processes are still largely unexplored.In this paper, the response of FRCM-masonry joints to accelerated weathering is investigated. A laboratory testing procedure, previously developed by the authors, which involves wetting-drying cycles in water and saline solutions, is employed.Two different types of mortars (based on natural hydraulic lime and Portland cement) were used for the composite matrix, without changing the geometry, the type of masonry substrate and the fibers (galvanized steel cords), in order to assess the role of the matrix in the FRCM-masonry joint bond behavior and deterioration processes.Results show that the matrix played a key role in the debonding mechanism of the FRCM-masonry joints as well as in the capillary absorption of water and in the resulting salt crystallization patterns. (C) 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The present study deals with the deterioration of materials in the dome of the “Woodpecker” dance club designed by the architect Filippo Monti (1928–2015) and built in Milano Marittima (near Ravenna, Italy) in 1968. This place, considered extremely valuable due to its landscape and architectural features, has been in a state of abandonment for around 40 years, but recently the local Municipality has started a process for its restoration. The dome is made of 23 fibreglass precast rib vaults hiding a steel structure, and in early 2000s a large part of its internal surface was painted with a graffito by Blu, an internationally renowned Italian street artist. Nowadays, both the dome and the graffito are safeguarded for their historic-architectural-artistic value by putting restrictions to their demolishment and modification. However, both the dome and the graffito are affected by harsh kinds of degradation, very different from those affecting historical building materials, which endanger their state of preservation. This study investigates whether the methodological approach of the conservative restoration can be applied to this structure, which is an example of contemporary architecture. Because of the lack of project drawings, a visual investigation was carried out to define geometric features and the most important technical details, and to deduce plausible hypotheses about building techniques that were adopted. The degradation affecting the dome and the graffito was then investigated, and samples of fibreglass, steel and paint were collected. Laboratory analyses on these samples, in addition to environmental studies concerning wind, ground water and relative humidity, were conducted to characterize the materials and identify their main deterioration processes. A possible restoration solution in accordance with conservative restoration principles was finally proposed, showing that the application of the same methodological approach used for ancient buildings arises many challenges, due to some key peculiarities of XX century architectural heritage materials.

It is well known that multi-leaf walls, cavity walls as well as rubble masonry are prone to brittle collapse mechanism due to weak transverse connections. Twisted steel bars are widely used to strengthen such kind of masonry buildings, in particular to improve the transverse connection between different structural elements. Due to the shape of the twisted bar, the connector works as a self-threading screw, anchoring to the substrate material without any binder. The effectiveness of such technique mainly relies on the bond between the bar and the substrate, which relies on mechanical interlocking and friction mechanisms. In this paper, an experimental study on the pull-out behavior of twisted steel connectors inserted in units of different materials (bricks and stones) that can be commonly found in existing masonry buildings is presented. Mechanical and microstructural characterization of the substrate materials was conducted to investigate the influence of some key parameters (compressive strength, tensile strength, elastic modulus as well as abrasion resistance) on the pull-off load of the connector. To get a preliminary insight on the structural behavior of such connectors in presence of different loading regimes, the bars were also subjected to two cycles of unloading/reloading. Additionally, a 3D scanner was employed to geometrically characterize the inner surface of the hole left by the bar after its extraction. Results showed that among the different mechanical and microstructural parameters investigated, the substrate compressive strength plays a key role in the pull-out behavior of the connectors.

The Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) represents a suitable methodology to evaluate quantitatively the environmental impact related to a product or a process and it can be used as a guiding tool to make effective environmental sustainability choices. While the LCA-based methods are more and more diffused in the assessment and selection of materials for new constructions, they are still scarcely applied in the field of conservation and repair of historical buildings, although these buildings, especially in Europe, represent a high percentage of the building stock. In the present paper, the LCA method was applied to the field of the restoration, with particular reference to cleaning technologies and materials, in order to investigate if LCA can be applied in this field. The analysis of results pointed out the different environmental impact of the cleaning methods investigated (ascribed to different impact categories), but also the shortcomings and proxies arising from the lack of specific database. The impact of the waste treatment stage was also analysed, in order to highlight the main impact spots related with the end of life of materials and equipment. Results showed that, for some cleaning methods, the impacts related to manufacturing and disposal are very similar, which emphasizes the importance of performing LCA including the end of life scenarios. Finally, an evaluation of externalities was performed, to provide a monetary value of the environmental damage.

Self-cleaning finishing treatments based on the use of TiO 2 nanoparticles have been recently proposed for the protection of materials in cultural heritage, with the aim of increasing the durability of these materials in polluted environments. The results on stone seem encouraging, but the experimental tests on different porous materials, such as bricks and renders used in historical buildings, are still extremely limited. In the present paper, the application of water dispersion of titania nanoparticles to the repair renders of the former Del Corso hotel (XVIII cent., Bologna, Italy) was evaluated. The building and its environment were first analysed for assessing the appropriateness of such finishing, then samples of painted renders identical to those provided for in the intervention work were manufactured and treated with the dispersion, both by brushing on the dry paint and by brushing on the wet paint (the latter procedure in order to enhance the particles retention by exploiting the mechanism of fresco paintings). The outcome of the different treatments was investigated mainly to evaluate its compatibility with the substrate and its durability, which could be of interest also for the application of photocatalytic finishing to renders in new constructions.

Old reinforced concrete (RC) structures often exhibit unsatisfactory performances in terms of both residual serviceability and seismic behavior. The durability requirements were not considered at all at the age of design and construction, exposing such structures to severe decay in aggressive urban and/or industrial environment; in the meantime, the use of plain steel bars (with poor bond strength) was common at the age of construction and this jeopardizes the RC performance under cyclic load reversals like those induced by earthquakes. In this paper, the deep impregnation of cement-based mortars and concrete with a solution of ethyl silicate and with electrochemical treatments by means of a solution of sodium carbonate was investigated, with a twofold aim: (1) increasing the bond strength of the embedded plain steel bars in existing structures without any need for demolition and (2) increasing the durability and safety of the reinforced concrete elements. Both the treatments are already exploited in other fields: ethyl silicate solutions are widely used for stone consolidation (and only recently proposed for concrete surface protection), while migration of sodium carbonate under DC voltage is used for RC realkalization. In the present study these treatments are expected to penetrate inside mortar and concrete and to modify their microstructure, hence improving their properties. The effects of the treatments are investigated by comparing the characteristics of treated and untreated mortar and concrete samples reinforced with plain bars, in terms of penetration inside the samples, pull-out strength, water absorption, pore size distribution, carbonation resistance and corrosion resistance.

Rising damp is one of the main problems affecting historical masonry structures all over the world, as it jeopardises materials integrity, inhabitants’ health and performances of the building envelope. Despite the great effort spent over last century to understand water capillary rise phenomenon, the problem of damp removal is still substantially open, as not only the technologies adopted in the field frequently fail, but their working principles in real masonries have not been fully elucidated yet. This paper aims at providing, through a review of international literature, a coherent picture of the technologies so far proposed for the removal of rising damp and the results obtained, both in laboratory and on-site. Based on the results, the open challenges for research in this field are tentatively pointed out, according to the author’s opinion.

BACKGROUND: Esophago-gastrointestinal symptoms are frequently reported by patients with eating disorders. Scanty data exist on the relationship between psychopathological traits and digestive complaints. AIMS: To prospectively analyze (i) prevalence of digestive symptoms; (ii) psychopathological traits; (iii) relationship between symptom scores and psychopathological profiles. METHODS: Psychopathological and digestive symptom questionnaires were completed at baseline, at discharge, at 1 and 6 months' follow-up in 48 consecutive patients (85.4% female, median age, 15 years) hospitalized for eating disorders. RESULTS: The most frequently reported symptoms were postprandial fullness (96%) and abdominal distention (90%). Pooled esophageal (4; IQR 0-14) and gastrointestinal (34; IQR 19-53) symptoms significantly decreased at 6 months' follow-up (1; IQR 0-3 and 10; IQR 4-34; p