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The location quotient (LQ), a ratio of ratios, is a widely known geographic index (Isard, 1960). It is used to measure and map relative distributions or relative concentrations of a character in a sub-area compared to the area as a whole (Wheeler, 2005). It has been recently proposed as a local index in the study of residential segregation of foreign population (Apparicio et al., 2008; Benassi et al., 2016). The LQs are particularly useful when applied to a metropolitan area where they allow to identify the spatial units in which a population group is under-represented (LQ1). Despite their apparent simplicity, the location quotients present some slippery features this contribution tries to reflect on. This paper examines some different ways to compute the LQs and their results, by using data on residents by citizenship in the metropolitan area of Milan. We analyse and compare the statistical distributions of the LQs of selected foreign population’s groups. Finally, we propose an alternative measure, the Locational Differential Index, to take account of density, conveying the spatial component, absent in location quotients.

Nel nostro paese continuano a diffondersi molteplici forme di migrazione temporanea per motivi di lavoro, trasferimenti spesso a carattere circolare, in riferimento ai quali si è parlato anche di "pendolarismo a lungo raggio" . Negli ultimi decenni, l'evoluzione delle tecnologie di trasporto ha accentuato la mobilità spaziale e abbreviato le distanze tra i luoghi, facilitando soprattutto gli spostamenti di medio-lungo raggio. Allo stesso tempo, nelle società più avanzate si sono fatti più marcati alcuni fattori di viscosità alla migrazione "definitiva". In particolare tra le generazioni più giovani, le odierne strategie migratorie devono tenere conto dei nuovi equilibri tra i membri del nucleo familiare. Il lavoro femminile non ha più un peso marginale come un tempo e un trasferimento di residenza deve considerare le esigenze lavorative di entrambi i membri della coppia, nonché la continuità del percorso educativo dei figli, che meglio si esprime in un contesto scolastico stabile. In un paese come l'Italia, poi, la flessibilizzazione del mercato del lavoro ha reso transitoria sia l'esperienza lavorativa che quella migratoria e l'ampia diffusione dell'abitazione di proprietà rappresenta un ulteriore freno ad un trasferimento duraturo, soprattutto nelle grandi aree urbane, dove i valori immobiliari sono spesso proibitivi. La scelta di una mobilità lavorativa a carattere temporaneo e ricorrente rappresenta perciò un efficace compromesso tra differenti esigenze, sia in un'ottica transitoria che nel lungo periodo. I dati della "Rilevazione continua delle forze di lavoro" dell'Istat permettono di mettere in luce alcuni aspetti dell'evoluzione recente delle migrazioni temporanee per lavoro lungo la "tradizionale" direttrice Sud-Nord. Ciò appare di particolare interesse anche nell'ipotesi che, permanendo il rilevante divario economico tra le due ripartizioni, una parte delle forti migrazioni "permanenti" di un tempo possa essersi trasformata in mobilità provvisoria.

Quasi mezzo secolo di intensa diffusione residenziale dal core urbano alle periferie urbane e metropolitane ha avuto profonde ricadute sulla qualità della vita dei romani. Con la crisi economica il fenomeno diffusivo ha subito un netto e inedito rallentamento legato alla diminuzione dei valori immobiliari, che sta consentendo a molte famiglie di riavvicinarsi al centro cittadino e ad altre di non allontanarsene. Il contributo si basa in gran parte sull'utilizzo di microdati di fonte anagrafica. Dopo avere ripercorso brevemente l'evoluzione e l'impatto dello sprawl romano, vengono delineate le modalità del rallentamento della diffusione e i suoi legami con la crisi del settore immobiliare, al fine di evidenziare come la congiuntura attuale potrebbe preludere ad una nuova fase nello sviluppo urbano in direzione di una densificazione abitativa e di un ringiovanimento della città compatta. Appare opportuno che le politiche in campo urbanistico, sociale e della mobilità seguano con attenzione questi processi potenzialmente virtuosi già in essere e li rafforzino, per favorire un riequilibrio sociale e territoriale dell'area. Sebbene le misure di rigenerazione urbana non siano state finora inserite in un visione complessiva di sviluppo della città, ad oggi, il quadro normativo e la volontà politica dei singoli decisori sembrano, almeno in linea teorica, voler favorire un arresto dello sprawl urbano nell'area romana.

The role of temozolomide concurrent with and adjuvant to radiotherapy (RT/TMZ) in elderly patients with glioblastoma (GBM) remains unclear. We evaluated the outcome of patients >70 years in the context of the Project of Emilia-Romagna Region in Neuro-Oncology (PERNO), the first Italian prospective observational population-based study in neuro-oncology. For this analysis the criteria for selecting patients enrolled in the PERNO study were: age >70 years; PS 0–3; histologically confirmed GBM; postoperative radiotherapy (RT) after surgery with or without concomitant temozolomide (TMZ) or postsurgical TMZ alone. Between January 2009 and December 2010, 76 GBM elderly patients were identified in the prospective PERNO study. Twenty-three patients did not receive any treatment after surgery, and 53 patients received postsurgical treatments (25 patients received RT alone and 28 patients RT/TMZ). Median survival was 11.1 months (95 % CI 8.8–13.5), adding temozolomide concomitant and adjuvant to radiotherapy it was 11.6 months (95 % CI 8.6–14.6), and 9.3 months (95 % CI 8.1–10.6) in patients treated with RT alone (P = 0.164). However, patients with MGMT methylated treated with RT/TMZ obtained a better survival (17.2 months, 95 % CI 11.5–22.9) (P = 0.042). No difference in terms of survival were observed if patients with MGMT unmethylated tumor received RT alone, or RT/TMZ or, in MGMT methylated tumor, if patients received radiotherapy alone. In elderly patients RT/TMZ represent a widely used approach but it is effective with methylated MGMT tumors only.

Unfortunately, some of the participants of the PERNO Study Group are missing in the original publication of the article. The correct details are given below: Participants: Agati R., Ambrosetto G., Bacci A., Baldin E., Baldrati A., Barbieri E., Bartolini S., Bellavista E., Bisulli F., Bonora E., Bunkheila F., Carelli V., Cerasoli S., Crisci M., Dall’Occa P., de Biase D., Ferro S., Franceschi C., Frezza G., GrassoV., Leonardi M., Marucci G., Morandi L., Mostacci B., Palandri G., Pasini E., Pastore Trossello M., Pession A., Poggi R., Riguzzi P., Rinaldi R., Rizzi S., Romeo G., Spagnolli F., Tinuper P., Trocino C., Visani M. (Bologna), Dall’Agata M., Faedi M., Frattarelli M., Gentili G., Giovannini A., Iorio P., Pasquini U., Galletti G., Guidi C., Neri W., Patuelli A.., Strumia S. (ForlÍ-Cesena), Casmiro M., Gamboni A., Rasi F. (Faenza, RA), Cruciani G. (Lugo, RA), Cenni P., Dazzi C., Guidi A.R., Zumaglini F. (Ravenna), Amadori A., Pasini G., Pasquinelli M., Pasquini E., Polselli A., Ravasio A., Viti B. (Rimini), Sintini M. (Cattolica, RN), Ariatti A., Bertolini F., Bigliardi G., Carpeggiani P., Cavalleri F., Meletti S., Nichelli P., Pettorelli E., Pinna G., Zunarelli E. (Modena), Artioli F., Bernardini I., Costa M., Greco G., Guerzoni R., Stucchi C. (Carpi, MO), Iaccarino C., Ragazzi M., Rizzi R., Zuccoli G. (Reggio Emilia), Api P., Cartei F., Fallica E., Granieri E., Latini F., Lelli G., Monetti C., Saletti A., Schivalocchi R., Seraceni S., Tola M.R., Urbini B. (Ferrara), Giorgi C., Montanari E. (Fidenza, PR), Cerasti D., Crafa P., Dascola I., Florindo I., Giombelli E., Mazza S., Ramponi V., Servadei F., Silini EM., Torelli P. (Parma), Immovilli P., Morelli N., Vanzo C. (Piacenza), Nobile C. (Padova).

Throughout history, the socio-economic development of the city of Rome has been intertwined with the magnitude and frequency of flooding events from the Tiber, one of Italy's largest rivers. Ancient Rome mostly developed on the hills, while the Tiber's floodplain was mainly exploited for agricultural purposes. A few small communities did settle in the riparian areas of the Tiber, but they had a relatively peaceful relationship with the frequent occurrence of flooding events. Instead, numerous people live nowadays in modern districts in the Tiber's floodplain, unaware of their exposure to potentially catastrophic flooding. This research work aims to explore the dynamics of changing flood risk between these two opposite pictures of ancient and contemporary Rome. To this end, we carried out a socio-hydrological study by using long time series of hydrological (extreme flood events) and social (human population dynamics) processes, along with information about human interactions with the environment (flood defence structures). The historical analysis showed how human and water systems have been co-evolving over time, while being abruptly altered by the occurrence of an extreme flood event in 1870, just before Rome became the capital of a recently unified Italy. The outcomes of this study were then compared to the results of a socio-hydrological model simulating the dynamics emerging from the mutual shaping of floods and societies.

The aims of this study were to evaluate the correlation between malnutrition, serum hypotransferrin and chronic skin ulcers and the effect of supplementation with a dietary integrator on wound healing. The study population was 20 patients with chronic skin ulcers (12 men and 8 women; mean age 75.58 ± 8.51 years). Monthly assessments were carried out for 6 months (V1-V6) and comprised measurement of changes in wound surface area and blood chemistry parameters (hemoglobin [Hb], total proteins, albumin, transferrin, iron, total iron-binding capacity [TIBC], latent iron-binding capacity [LIBC], transferrin saturation index). Nutritional supplementation with an oral dietary integrator was initiated at day 45. At day 45, the mean blood chemistry values were: serum albumin 2.73 ± 1.07 g/dL (45.05 ± 15.84%); total proteins 6.35 ± 0.65 g/dL; total lymphocyte count 24.17 ± 0.09%; serum Hb 10.86 ± 1.47 g/dL; serum trasferrin 165.92 ± 75.95 g/dL; serum iron 40.5 ± 19.65 mg%; TIBC 207.4 ± 94.94 mgr%; LIBC 166.9 ± 92.45 mg%; transferrin saturation index 20.63 ± 9.73%. These values indicated moderate protein malnutrition. The mean wound surface area was 56.92 ± 47.95 cm2. At 90 days (V4) the mean values were: serum albumin 3.43 ± 0.68 g/dL (48.05 ± 8.15%); serum proteins 6.91 ± 0.51 g/dL; total lymphocyte count 40.44 ± 0.44%; serum Hb 12.47 ± 1.91 g/dL; serum trasferrin 223.73 ± 104.07 g/dL; serum iron 51.09 ± 22.66 mgr%; TIBC 279.66 ± 130.09 mgr%; LIBC 228.57 ± 133.37 mgr%; transferrin saturation index 21.54 ± 12.15%. The mean wound surface area was 20.41 ± 25.91 cm2. In conclusion, a correlation emerged between hypotransferrinemia and chronic skin ulcers, as demonstrated by the improvement in both parameters with treatment. Supplementation with the oral dietary integrator led to an increase in serum transferrin, and particularly in serum Hb and proteins and total lymphocyte counts, stimulating the healing of the chronic skin ulcers.

Background: Clinical and molecular factors are essential to define the prognosis in patients with glioblastoma (GBM). O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) methylation status, age, Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS), and extent of surgical resection are the most relevant prognostic factors. Our investigation of the role of gender in predicting prognosis shows a slight survival advantage for female patients. Methods: We performed a prospective evaluation of the Project of Emilia Romagna on Neuro-Oncology (PERNO) registry to identify prognostic factors in patients with GBM who received standard treatment. Results: A total of 169 patients (99 males [58.6%] and 70 females [41.4%]) were evaluated prospectively. MGMT methylation was evaluable in 140 patients. Among the male patients, 36 were MGMT methylated (25.7%) and 47 were unmethylated (33.6%); among the female patients, 32 were methylated (22.9%) and 25 were unmethylated (17.9%). Survival was longer in the methylated females compared with the methylated males (P = 0.028) but was not significantly different between the unmethylated females and the unmethylated males (P = 0.395). In multivariate analysis, gender and MGMT methylation status considered together (methylated females vs. methylated males; hazard ratio [HR], 0.459; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.242-0.827; P = 0.017), age (HR, 1.025; 95% CI, 1.002-1.049; P = 0.032), and KPS (HR, 0.965; 95% CI, 0.948-0.982; P < 0.001) were significantly correlated with survival. Conclusions: Survival was consistently longer among MGMT methylated females compared with males. Gender can be considered as a further prognostic factor.

The multiple types of temporary and circular migration carried out for work can be interpreted as forms of intermediate mobility located between commuting and permanent migration. These forms of mobility are a flexible adaptation to the new opportunities and constraints brought about by the present-day social and economic organization. The study of temporary migrations represents an arduous yet unavoidable challenge precisely for its contemporary relevance and close connection with ongoing changes in society. Studies on temporary mobility for work are not very common, and also the international literature on the subject does not share definitions and measures, but is concordant in identifying the protagonists as being mostly young men, with a high level of education, and in the early stages of their work life. The aim of the article is two-fold: to provide methodological insights for further studies on temporary migration, contributing to the debate surrounding the conceptualization of this phenomenon and an improvement in quantitative sources; to offer a descriptive and multivariate analysis of southern residents temporarily migrating to the centre-north regions through the Italian Labour Force Survey (ILFS) data.

Several biomarkers have been proposed as useful parameters to better specify the prognosis or to delineate new target therapy strategies for glioblastoma patients. MicroRNAs could represent putative target molecules, considering their role in tumorigenesis, cancer progression and their specific tissue expression. Although several studies have tried to identify microRNA signature for glioblastoma, a microRNA profile is still far from being well-defined. In this work the expression of 19 microRNAs (miR-7, miR-9, miR-9∗, miR-10a, miR-10b, miR-17, miR-20a, miR-21, miR-26a, miR-27a, miR-31, miR-34a, miR-101, miR-137, miR-182, miR-221, miR-222, miR-330, miR-519d) was evaluated in sixty formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded glioblastoma samples using a locked nucleic acid real-time PCR. Moreover, a comparison of miRNA expressions was performed between primary brain neoplasias of different grades (grades IV-I). The analysis of 14 validated miRNA expression in the 60 glioblastomas, using three different non-neoplastic references as controls, revealed a putative miRNA signature: mir-10b and miR-21 were up-regulated, while miR-7, miR-31, miR-101, miR-137, miR-222 and miR-330 were down-regulated in glioblastomas. Comparing miRNA expression between glioblastoma group and gliomas of grades I-III, 3 miRNAs (miR-10b, mir-34a and miR-101) showed different regulation statuses between high-grade and low-grade tumors. miR-10b was up-regulated in high grade and significantly down-regulated in low-grade gliomas, suggesting that could be a candidate for a GBM target therapy. This study provides further data for the identification of a miRNA profile for glioblastoma and suggests that different-grade neoplasia could be characterized by different expression of specific miRNAs.