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This research aims to assess the adaptability of Neural Radiance Fields (NeRF) for the digital documentation of cultural heritage objects of varying size and complexity. We discuss the influence of object size, desired scale of representation, and level of detail on the choice to use NeRF for cultural heritage documentation, providing insights for practitioners in the field. Case studies range from historic pavements to architectural elements or buildings, representing diverse and multi-scale scenarios encountered in heritage documentation procedures. The findings suggest that NeRFs perform well in scenarios with homogeneous textures, variable lighting conditions, reflective surfaces, and fine details. However, they exhibit higher noise and lower texture quality compared to other consolidated image-based techniques as photogrammetry, especially in case of small-scale artifacts.

This work describes a semi automatic workflow for the 3D reconstruction of Heritage Building Information Models from raw point clouds, based on Artificial Intelligence techniques. The BIM technology applied to historical architecture has made it possible to create a virtual repository of many heterogeneous pieces of information in order to make the process of storing and collecting data on the built heritage more effective. The modelling phase of an artefact is the most complex and problematic in terms of time, as the large architectural heritage of historical buildings does not allow the use of parametric models, so that manual modelling of components is required. Current scientific research focuses on automating this phase by means of segmentation and classification methods: these are based on associating different semantic information to the products of the three dimensional surveying as point clouds or polygonal meshes. To address these problems, the proposed approach relies on: (i) the application of machine learning algorithms with a multi level and multi resolution (MLMR) method to semantically classify 3D heritage data; (ii) the use of annotated data identified by relevant features to boost the scan to BIM process for 3D digital reconstruction. The procedure is tested and evaluated on the complex case of the Church of Santa Caterina d’Alessandria in Pisa, Italy. The classification results show the reliability and reproducibility of the developed method.DOI: https://doi.org/10.20365/disegnarecon.30.2023.17

Objectives: To explore clinician perspectives on the development, utility, and feasibility of a provider-facing point-of-care tool to assist in provision of patient-centered contraceptive care for Latina/x patients in Baltimore, MD. Methods: We conducted 25 semi-structured qualitative interviews with a sample of clinicians who provide contraceptive care to Latina/x patients. An interview guide was developed based on prior research related to patient-centered care and extant point-of-care tools. Transcripts were independently coded by two study team members and analyzed using a directed content analysis approach. Results: Four themes emerged from the data: (1) clinician perception of a need for a tool to facilitate patient-centered contraceptive care, (2) concern for tool burden and burnout, (3) desire for tool ease of use, and (4) a need for cultural awareness during tool development to avoid bias and typecasting. Conclusions: A provider-facing, point-of-care tool to facilitate patient-centered contraceptive counseling was acceptable among providers, provided the tool is easy to use and promotes cultural awareness. Innovation: In the current era of more limited reproductive choice across the U.S., the need and support for non-coercive, patient-centered contraceptive care is timely. A provider-facing, point-of-care tool can facilitate the provision of patient-centered care among clinicians proving contraceptive counseling to Latina/s.

Abstract Background Approximately 80% of deaths due to cervical cancer occur in low- and middle-income countries. In Guatemala, limited access to effective screening and treatment has resulted in alarmingly high cervical cancer incidence and mortality rates. Despite access to free-of-cost screening, women continue to face significant barriers in obtaining screening for cervical cancer. Methods In-depth interviews (N = 21) were conducted among women in two rural communities in Guatemala. Interviews followed a semi-structured guide to explore knowledge related to cervical cancer and barriers and facilitators to cervical cancer screening. Results Cervical cancer knowledge was variable across sites and across women. Women reported barriers to screening including ancillary costs, control by male partners, poor provider communication and systems-level resource constraints. Facilitators to screening included a desire to know one’s own health status, conversations with other women, including community health workers, and extra-governmental health campaigns. Conclusions Findings speak to the many challenges women face in obtaining screening for cervical cancer in their communities as well as existing facilitators. Future interventions must focus on improving cervical cancer-related knowledge as well as mitigating barriers and leveraging facilitators to promote screening.

Abstract The hadroproduction of a W boson in association with a charm quark at the Large Hadron Collider is at the centre of current investigations due to its potential to probe the strangeness content of the proton. In this paper we present an implementation of the W + c production process in the PowHel event generator matched to the PYTHIA8 parton shower approach, allowing to obtain predictions for differential cross-sections with NLO QCD accuracy matched to the accuracy of the Shower Monte Carlo event generator. Effects of non-diagonal CKM matrix elements, finite charm quark mass and off-shell W decays including spin correlations are taken into account. We investigate the production of a leptonically decaying W boson in association with either a charmed meson (W ± + D ∗∓) or a charmed jet (W ± + j c ) and compare our predictions with particle-level measurements by the ATLAS and CMS collaborations at s $$ \sqrt{s} $$ = 7 and 13 TeV. The role of the so-called “opposite sign” and “same sign” contributions to the theoretical cross-sections is presented and discussed, pointing out the importance of including parton shower effects for a reliable estimate of the latter and a faithful comparison with experimental data.

Background: Colombia hosts a large number of Venezuelan migrants and refugees who are uniquely vulnerable and have been markedly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. It is necessary to understand their experiences to inform future policy decisions both in Colombia and during disease outbreaks in other humanitarian contexts in the future. As part of a larger study focused on HIV among Venezuelans residing in Colombia, qualitative interviews were conducted to understand this population's experiences and access to healthcare. Methods: Interviews were conducted with Venezuelan migrants and refugees as well as stakeholders such as care providers, humanitarian workers, and government officials. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and coded using thematic content analysis. Select quotes were translated and edited for length and/or clarity. Results: Venezuelan migrants and refugees reported high levels of housing instability, job instability, increased barriers to accessing healthcare, and complications in engaging in the HIV care continuum, among other impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Stakeholders reported complications in provision of care and obtaining medicines, difficulty maintaining contact with patients, increased discrimination and xenophobia targeting Venezuelan migrants and refugees, increased housing instability among Venezuelan migrants and refugees, and other impacts as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Conclusions: This study demonstrates the unique impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic among Venezuelans residing in Colombia by both compounding extant vulnerabilities and introducing new challenges, such as high rates of eviction. Colombia has enacted increasingly inclusive migration policies for Venezuelan refugees and migrants within the country; findings from this study underscore the necessity for such policies both in and outside of the Colombian context.

Objectives Sexual harassment among adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) is a prevalent and understudied form of gender-based violence (GBV) with negative impacts on health and well-being. The COVID-19 pandemic raised global concern about GBV within homes; less is known about how it affected GBV in public spaces.Methods Present analyses use cross-sectional data from a cohort of adolescents and young adults residing in Nairobi, Kenya, restricted to female participants. Data were collected August–October 2020 via phone after implementation of COVID-19 restrictions. Prevalence of past-year sexual harassment and harassment relative to COVID-19 restrictions were calculated for overall sample, and by individual, household, and pandemic-related factors. Multivariate negative binomial regression models examine correlates of (1) past-year sexual harassment and (2) increases in sexual harassment relative to COVID-19 restrictions.Results Overall, 18.1% of AGYW experienced past-year sexual harassment at the 2020 survey. Among this group, 14.6% experienced sexual harassment pre-COVID-19 only, 18.8% after only and 66.6% at both time points. Among the latter group, 34.9% reported more occurrences following COVID-19 restrictions, 20.5% reported less occurrences and 44.7% reported no change in occurrence. Overall, 42.0% of AGYW experienced an increase in sexual harassment while 58.0% experienced no increase since COVID-19. In adjusted models, past-year sexual harassment was associated with higher educational attainment (adjusted risk ratio, aRR 2.11; 95% CI 1.27 to 3.52) and inability to meet basic financial needs (aRR 1.67; 95% CI 1.05 to 2.66). Increased sexual harassment since COVID-19 was associated with having full control to leave the home (aRR 1.69; 95% CI 1.00 to 2.90).Conclusions Sexual harassment among AGYW in Nairobi, Kenya was prevalent before and during COVID-19 restrictions. Safety in public spaces remains a highly gendered issue that impacts women’s safety and ability to participate in public life. Prevention and support services to address sexual harassment remain an important element in ensuring safe, sustainable public spaces.

Cultural heritage information systems, such as H-BIM, are becoming more and more widespread today, thanks to their potential to bring together, around a 3D representation, the wealth of knowledge related to a given object of study. However, the reconstruction of such tools starting from 3D architectural surveying is still largely deemed as a lengthy and time-consuming process, with inherent complexities related to managing and interpreting unstructured and unorganized data derived, e.g., from laser scanning or photogrammetry. Tackling this issue and starting from reality-based surveying, the purpose of this paper is to semi-automatically reconstruct parametric representations for H-BIM-related uses, by means of the most recent 3D data classification techniques that exploit Artificial Intelligence (AI). The presented methodology consists of a first semantic segmentation phase, aiming at the automatic recognition through AI of architectural elements of historic buildings within points clouds; a Random Forest classifier is used for the classification task, evaluating each time the performance of the predictive model. At a second stage, visual programming techniques are applied to the reconstruction of a conceptual mock-up of each detected element and to the subsequent propagation of the 3D information to other objects with similar characteristics. The resulting parametric model can be used for heritage preservation and dissemination purposes, as common practices implemented in modern H-BIM documentation systems. The methodology is tailored to representative case studies related to the typology of the medieval cloister and scattered over the Tuscan territory.

Resumo: Os autores apresentam uma metodologia quantitativa de avaliação objetiva da capacidade de formação de programas de Residência Médica. Tecem breves comentários a respeito da história desse tipo de recurso de treinamento médico, e sua importância atual. Como parte de uma série de estudos a respeito dos programas de Residência Médica do Estado de São Paulo, Brasil, o apresentado tem por objetivo permitir a alocação de recursos entre diferentes instituições, assim como localizar em determinada instituição aqueles fatores que devem ser incrementados com a finalidade de ampliar sua capacidade de formação. O método envolve o estabelecimento de uma relação de 30 indicadores, sendo três na área de aspectos físicos, 14 na de aspectos funcionais, 7 na área de Recursos Humanos e 6 na de atividades didáticas complementares. Os indicadores foram submetidos a três painéis de 30 peritos (especialidades clínicas, especialidades cirúrgicas e outro referente a meios de apoio diagnóstico e terapêutica e outros), que por intermédio de um processo Delphi em três turnos estabeleceram pontuação ("pesos") para cada indicador. Paralelamente, por meio de um questionário encaminhado aos coordenadores dos programas e de entrevistas com os responsáveis foram estabelecidos os valores para cada um dos componentes dos indicadores em cada Programa. A seguir, tais valores foram transformados em seu correspondente como variável padrão ("Z"), com o intuito de eliminar a grande variação nos valores absolutos das diferentes variáveis. Os valores padronizados das distintas variáveis foram multiplicados pelos pesos descritos anteriormente e assim encontrados índices de capacidade de formação para cada indicador; para as diferentes áreas de análise e, um indicador de capacidade de formação para a instituição em questão. Exemplificando com o caso dos 12 programas de Residência Médica em Pediatria do Estado de São Paulo, os autores demonstram como os indicadores encontrados podem facilitar a comparação entre a capacidade de formação dos distintos programas e ainda permitir a identificação de áreas e setores cujo incremento poderiam resultar na ampliação de tal capacidade.

Abstract We present a comparative study of various approaches for modelling of the e + v e μ − v ¯ μ b b ¯ γ $$ {e}^{+}{v}_e{\mu}^{-}{\overline{v}}_{\mu }b\overline{b}\gamma $$ final state in t t ¯ γ $$ t\overline{t}\gamma $$ production at the LHC. Working at the NLO in QCD we compare the fully realistic description of the top quark decay chain with the one provided by the narrow-width-approximation. The former approach comprises all double, single and non-resonant diagrams, interferences, and off-shell effects of the top quarks. The latter incorporates only double resonant contributions and restricts the unstable top quarks to on-shell states. We confirm that for the integrated cross sections the finite top quark width effects are small and of the order of O Γ t / m t $$ \mathcal{O}\left({\Gamma}_t/{m}_t\right) $$ . We show, however, that they are strongly enhanced for more exclusive observables. In addition, we investigate fractions of events where the photon is radiated either in the production or in the decay stage. We find that large fraction of isolated photons comes from radiative decays of top quarks. Based on our findings, selection criteria might be developed to reduce such contributions, that constitute a background for the measurement of the anomalous couplings in the t t ¯ γ $$ t\overline{t}\upgamma $$ vertex.

The axonal cortex is composed of a regular structure of F-actin and spectrin able to contract thanks to myosin II motors. Such an active tension is of fundamental importance in controlling the physiological shape of axons. Recent experiments show that axons modulate the contraction of the cortex when subject to mechanical deformations, exhibiting a non-trivial coupling between the hoop and the axial active tension. However, the underlying mechanisms are still poorly understood. In this paper, we propose a continuum model of the axon based on the active strain theory. By using the Coleman–Noll procedure, we shed light on the coupling between the hoop and the axial active strain through the Mandel stress tensor. We propose a qualitative analysis of the system under the simplifying assumption of incompressibility, showing the existence of a stable equilibrium solution. In particular, our results show that the axon regulates the active contraction to maintain a homeostatic stress state. Finally, we propose numerical simulations of the model, using a more suitable compressible constitutive law. The results are compared with experimental data, showing an excellent quantitative agreement.Statement of Significance The mechanics of cortical contractility in axons is still poorly understood. Unravelling the mechanisms underlying axial and hoop stress generation in the cortex will give insight on the active regulation of axon diameter. The understanding of this phenomenon may shed new light on the physical causes of axonal morphological degeneration as a consequence of neurodegenerative diseases, viral infections, and traumatic brain injuries.

Spin-noise spectroscopy is emerging as a powerful technique for studying the dynamics of various spin systems also beyond their thermal equilibrium and linear response. In this context, we demonstrate a nonstandard mode of the spin-noise analysis applied to an out-of-equilibrium nonlinear atomic system realized by a Bell-Bloom atomic magnetometer. Driven by an external pump and undergoing a parametric excitation, this system is known to produce noise squeezing. Our measurements not only reveal a strong asymmetry in the noise distribution of the atomic signal quadratures at the magnetic resonance, but also provide insight into the mechanism behind its generation and evolution. In particular, a structure in the spectrum is identified which allows to investigate the main dependencies and the characteristic timescales of the noise process. The results obtained are compatible with parametrically induced noise squeezing. Notably, the noise spectrum provides information on the spin dynamics even in regimes where the macroscopic atomic coherence is lost, effectively enhancing the sensitivity of the measurements. Our Letter promotes spin-noise spectroscopy as a versatile technique for the study of noise squeezing in a wide range of spin-based magnetic sensors.

Abstract Triggered by ongoing dark matter searches in the top quark sector at the Large Hadron Collider we report on the calculation of the next-to-leading order QCD corrections to the Standard Model process pp → t t ¯ $$ \overline{t} $$ + Z (Z → ν ℓ v ¯ $$ \overline{v} $$ ℓ). This calculation is based on matrix elements for e + ν e μ − ν ¯ μ b b ¯ ν τ ν ¯ τ $$ {e}^{+}{\nu}_e{\mu}^{-}{\overline{\nu}}_{\mu }b\overline{b}\kern0.33em {\nu}_{\tau }{\overline{\nu}}_{\tau } $$ production and includes all non-resonant diagrams, interferences, and off-shell effects of the top quarks. Non-resonant and off-shell effects due to the finite W -boson width are also consistently taken into account. As it is common for such studies, we present results for both integrated and differential cross sections for a few renormalisation and factorisation scale choices and three different parton distribution functions. Already with the fairly inclusive cut selection and independently of the scale choice and the parton distribution function non-flat differential K $$ \mathcal{K} $$ -factors are obtained for p T miss $$ {p}_T^{miss} $$ , ∆𝜙ℓℓ , ∆𝒴ℓℓ , cos θ ℓℓ , H T , H T ′ $$ {H}_T^{\prime } $$ observables that are relevant for new physics searches. Good theoretical control over the Standard Model background is a fundamental prerequisite for a correct interpretation of possible signals of new physics that may arise in this channel. Thus, these observables need to be carefully reexamined in the presence of more exclusive cuts before any realistic strategies for the detection of new physics signal can be further developed. Since from the experimental point of view both t t ¯ $$ \overline{t} $$ and t t ¯ $$ \overline{t} $$ + Z (Z → ν ℓ v ¯ $$ \overline{v} $$ ℓ) comprise the same final states, we additionally study the impact of the enlarged missing transverse momentum on various differential cross section distributions. To this end normalised differential distributions for pp → e + ν e μ − ν ¯ μ b b ¯ ν τ ν ¯ τ $$ {e}^{+}{\nu}_e{\mu}^{-}{\overline{\nu}}_{\mu }b\overline{b}\kern0.33em {\nu}_{\tau }{\overline{\nu}}_{\tau } $$ and pp → e + ν e μ − ν ¯ μ b b ¯ $$ {e}^{+}{\nu}_e{\mu}^{-}{\overline{\nu}}_{\mu }b\overline{b} $$ are compared.

In the last decade, in the field of conservation of historic buildings, several research projects have shown the potential of applying BIM technology to architectural heritage. However, the use of BIM for historic buildings (HBIM) is still evolving. This paper presents an application of Building Information Modelling targeted to the development of a restauration proposal for the ex-church of San Quirico all’Olivo in Lucca, Tuscany. Following a brief review of the state-of-the-art of BIM applied to architectural heritage, the paper shows the results of a study that included 3D architectural survey with Structure-from-Motion methodology, critical analysis of historical archival and bibliographic sources, analysis of the conservation status of the building, proposal for its conservation and enhancement.HBIM methodology has been critically applied to all the phases of the project. This study also explores the possibility of organizing the BIM model into temporal phases, integrating documentation in a structured and easily accessible way. In our study, we also chose to link the 3D point cloud to the model, in order to increase the level of information; the 3D survey, therefore, is both the starting point for modelling, and represents a source of information within the model, to be recalled when required.

Cultural heritage includes several cases of missing architectural element or entire buildings, due to destruction, replacement or radical changes caused over time by other structures. The investigation of these lost elements aimed at their virtual reconstruction, for both scientific and cultural-leisure applications, is therefore a topic of great interest. To this purpose, methodologies for surveying and photogrammetric processing provide a very powerful tool, extracting descriptive and geometric information, both 2-and 3-D, using diverse archive images. This paper presents the issues related to the use of archive images in photogrammetry, pointing out the need for an integrated approach to operations of virtual reconstruction of lost volumes. This approach provides a multidisciplinary effort, in order to evaluate all iconographic sources, of which images processed by geomatics techniques are a component. The paper also presents the early results of a reconstruction project of the Palazzo di Cosimo de’ Medici, in the Fortezza Vecchia site (Livorno, Italy), heavily damaged by World War II bombings and subsequently razed.

Abstract With the goal of increasing the precision of NLO QCD predictions for the pp → t t ¯ γ $$ pp\to t\overline{t}\gamma $$ process in the di-lepton top quark decay channel we present theoretical predictions for the ℛ = σ t t ¯ γ / σ t t ¯ $$ \mathrm{\mathcal{R}}={\sigma}_{t\overline{t}\gamma }/{\sigma}_{t\overline{t}} $$ cross section ratio. Results for the latter together with various differential cross section ratios are given for the LHC with the Run II energy of s = 13 $$ \sqrt{s}=13 $$ TeV. Fully realistic NLO computations for t t ¯ $$ t\overline{t} $$ and t t ¯ γ $$ t\overline{t}\gamma $$ production are employed. They are based on matrix elements for e + ν e μ − ν ¯ μ b b ¯ $$ {e}^{+}{\nu}_e{\mu}^{-}{\overline{\nu}}_{\mu }b\overline{b} $$ and e + ν e μ − ν ¯ μ b b ¯ γ $$ {e}^{+}{\nu}_e{\mu}^{-}{\overline{\nu}}_{\mu }b\overline{b}\gamma $$ processes and include all resonant and non-resonant diagrams, interferences, and off-shell effects of the top quarks and the W gauge bosons. Various renormalisation and factorisation scale choices and parton density functions are examined to assess their impact on the cross section ratio. Depending on the transverse momentum cut on the hard photon a judicious choice of a dynamical scale allows us to obtain 1%–3% percent precision on ℛ $$ \mathrm{\mathcal{R}} $$ . Moreover, for differential cross section ratios theoretical uncertainties in the range of 1%-6% have been estimated. Until now such high precision predictions have only been reserved for the top quark pair production at NNLO QCD. Thus, ℛ $$ \mathrm{\mathcal{R}} $$ at NLO in QCD represents a very precise observable to be measured at the LHC for example to study the top quark charge asymmetry or to probe the strength and the structure of the t- t ¯ $$ \overline{t} $$ -γ vertex. The latter can shed some light on possible new physics that can reveal itself only once sufficiently precise theoretical predictions are available.

Abstract We present a complete description of top quark pair production in association with a hard photon in the dilepton channel. Our calculation is accurate to NLO in QCD. It is based on matrix elements for e + ν e μ − ν ¯ μ b b ¯ γ $$ {e}^{+}{\nu}_e{\mu}^{-}{\overline{\nu}}_{\mu }b\overline{b}\upgamma $$ production and includes all resonant and non-resonant diagrams, interferences, and off-shell effects of the top quarks and the W gauge bosons. This calculation constitutes the first full computation for top quark pair production with a final state photon in hadronic collisions at NLO in QCD. Numerical results for total and differential cross sections are presented for the LHC at a centre-of-mass energy of s = 13 $$ \sqrt{s}=13 $$ TeV. For a few observables relevant for new physics searches, beyond some kinematic bounds, we observe shape distortions of more than 100%. In addition, we confirm that the size of the top quark off-shell effects for the total cross section is consistent with the expected uncertainties of the narrow width approximation. Results presented here are not only relevant for beyond the Standard Model physics searches but also important for precise measurements of the top-quark fiducial cross sections and top-quark properties at the LHC.

Abstract A precise measurement of the top quark mass, a fundamental parameter of the Standard Model, is among the most important goals of top quark studies at the Large Hadron Collider. Apart from the standard methods, numerous new observables and reconstruction techniques are employed to improve the overall precision and to provide different sensitivities to various systematic uncertainties. Recently, the normalised inverse invariant mass distribution of the t t ¯ $$ t\overline{t} $$ system and the leading extra jet not coming from the top quark decays has been proposed for the pp → t t ¯ j $$ pp\to t\overline{t}j $$ production process, denoted as ℛ(m t pole , ρ s ). In this paper, a thorough study of different theoretical predictions for this observable, however, with top quark decays included, is carried out. We focus on fixed order NLO QCD calculations for the di-lepton top quark decay channel at the LHC with s = 13 $$ \sqrt{s}=13 $$ TeV. First, the impact on the extraction of m t is investigated and afterwards the associated uncertainties are quantified. In one approach we include all interferences, off-shell effects and non-resonant backgrounds. This is contrasted with a different approach with top quark decays in the narrow width approximation. In the latter case, two cases are employed: NLO QCD corrections to the pp → t t ¯ j $$ pp\to t\overline{t}j $$ production process with leading order decays and the more sophisticated case with QCD corrections and jet radiation present also in top quark decays. The top quark mass sensitivity of ℛ(m t pole , ρ s ) is investigated and compared to other observables: the invariant mass of the top anti-top pair, the minimal invariant mass of the b-jet and a charged lepton as well as the total transverse momentum of the t t ¯ j $$ t\overline{t}j $$ system. Once top quark decays are included the invariant mass of the t t ¯ $$ t\overline{t} $$ system shows better sensitivity to the top quark mass extraction and smaller dependence on the off-shell effects and non-resonant contributions of the top quark and the W gauge boson than the ℛ(m t pole , ρ s ) observable.

The historical architectural heritage may be considered as the product of a complex system of interaction between several factors - cultural, socio-economic, technical, aesthetic etc. The restoration and conservation of this important heritage, therefore, requires necessarily a multidisciplinary approach, both in the preliminary phase of knowledge and in the operative one, strictly connected to the first, regarding the development of the restoration works in all their steps, from the project to the realization. The historical-critical analysis of bibliographic, archival and iconographic sources, together with the architectural survey, aims at interpreting all the events that, from the initial project to all the eventual phases of transformation, have lead the monument in its current state. This is therefore a multi-temporal and multi-spatial study in which geomatics gives an innovative contribution for its capability of gathering, storing, processing, and delivering different levels of spatially referenced information. The current techniques of architectural survey, supported by specific methodological skills, are therefore not limited to a mere mathematical-geometrical description of the historical building, but are useful also for many other purposes, such as formal-linguistic analysis, interpretation of the historical phases of transformation, description of the state of degradation/conservation etc. In this interdisciplinary perspective, photogrammetry and laser scanner represent the two main techniques, as they offer the greatest potential of performing integrated surveys. In the last decades, we have witnessed the growth and development of these 3D-survey techniques as alternative or complementary tools to the traditional ones. In particular, in the field of architectural restoration, these techniques have made significant improvements not only in terms of measure precision or reduction of time for survey operations, but also for the possibility to represent and visualize the historical building in its context. These modern techniques of survey, based on the creation of point clouds, are now widely used both in the study of a building and for the thorough description of architectural details and decorations. This paper aims at describing the methodological approach and the results of the 3D survey of the Chapel of St. Agata in Pisa, aimed at its restoration. For the development of a restoration project, the survey drawings must represent not only the geometry of a building, but also the materials and the level of degradation. So, we chose to use both the laser scanner - which guarantees uniformity of the geometric survey precision - and a 3D image-based modelling. The combined use of these two techniques, supported by a total station survey, has produced two point clouds in the same reference system, and allowed the determination of the external orientation parameters of the photographic images. Since these parameters are known, it was possible to texturize the laser scanner model with high quality images. The adopted methodology, as expected, gave back metrically correct and graphically high-quality drawings. The level of detail of the survey, and consequently of the final drawings, has been previously defined for the identification of all the elements required for the analysis of the current state, such as the clear identification and position of all the degradation phenomena, materials and decorative elements such as some fragmented and heavily damaged frescoes.

Buried upslope from the modern lakes in the McMurdo Dry Valleys of Antarctica are relict lake deposits embedded in valley walls. Within these relict deposits, ancient microbial mats, or paleomats, have been preserved under extremely arid and cold conditions since the receding of larger paleolakes thousands of years ago, and now serve as a sheltered niche for microbes in a highly challenging oligotrophic environment. To explore whether paleomats could be repositories for ancient lake cells or were later colonized by soil microbes, determine what types of metabolic pathways might be present, analyze potential gene expression, and explore whether the cells are in a vegetative or dormant state, we collected paleomat samples from ancient lake facies on the northern slopes of Lake Vanda in Wright Valley in December 2016. Using a gentle lysis technique optimized to preserve longer molecules, combined with a polyenzymatic treatment to maximize yields from different cell types, we isolated high-molecular weight DNA and RNA from ancient paleomat samples. Community composition analysis suggests that the paleomat community may retain a population of indigenous mat cells that may flourish once more favorable conditions are met. In addition to harboring a diverse microbial community, paleomats appear to host heterotrophs in surrounding soils utilizing the deposits as a carbon source. Whole genome long-read PacBio sequencing of native DNA and Illumina metagenomic sequencing of size-sorted DNA (>2,500 nt) indicated possible cell viability, with mat community composed of bacterial taxa. Metagenome assemblies identified genes with predicted roles in nitrogen cycling and complex carbohydrate degradation, and we identified key metabolic pathways such as stress response, DNA repair, and sporulation. Metatranscriptomic data revealed that the most abundant transcripts code for products involved in genetic information processing pathways, particularly translation, DNA replication, and DNA repair. Our results lend new insight into the functional ecology of paleomat deposits, with implications for our understanding of cell biology, Antarctic microbiology and biogeography, and the limits of life in extremely harsh environments.

It is known that the design of the harm caused by the indiscriminate use of anabolic steroids is short of the potential harm that misuse can cause. Were investigated 50 men users of anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS). All participants are bodybuilders, mean age 29 years (±7). Most have completed higher education (n=12; 26.1%) or are enrolled in higher education (n=17; 37%). The highest form of knowledge to AAS was for gym colleagues (n=10; 20%) and 17 (34%) show more than one. Twenty-nine (58%) received parenteral AAS, 46.5% (n=20) self-made application and the most frequently EAA cited were Durateston (n= 39; 78%) and Deca-Durabolin (n=38; 76%). Twenty six (59.1%) surveyed said they had used AAS for veterinary use. For 64% (n=32) of the participants have a physical thinner was the main justification for the use of AAS; the positive effect most noticeable was the improvement of athletic performance. Thus it appears that individuals who use AAS have, to share the risks of misuse, and that prevention campaigns should go beyond to warn of the harmful effects of AAS use.

The development of the human central nervous system represents a delicate moment of embryogenesis. The purpose of this study was to analyze the expression of multiple immunohistochemical markers in the stem/progenitor cells in the human cerebral cortex during the early phases of development. To this end, samples from cerebral cortex were obtained from 4 human embryos of 11 weeks of gestation. Each sample was formalin-fixed, paraffin embedded and immunostained with several markers including GFAP, WT1, Nestin, Vimentin, CD117, S100B, Sox2, PAX2, PAX5, Tβ4, Neurofilament, CD44, CD133, Synaptophysin and Cyclin D1. Our study shows the ability of the different immunohistochemical markers to evidence different zones of the developing human cerebral cortex, allowing the identification of the multiple stages of differentiation of neuronal and glial precursors. Three important markers of radial glial cells are evidenced in this early gestational age: Vimentin, Nestin and WT1. Sox2 was expressed by the stem/progenitor cells of the ventricular zone, whereas the postmitotic neurons of the cortical plate were immunostained by PAX2 and NSE. Future studies are needed to test other important stem/progenitor cells markers and to better analyze differences in the immunohistochemical expression of these markers during gestation.