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Nabokovian scholarship has consistently emphasised the plurilingual aspects in Nabokov’s oeuvre. His American novels frequently include numerous sentences in Russian and French, which are often translated or discussed from a metalinguistic angle by the author. A remarkable example in this regard is the autobiography Speak, Memory. An Autobiography Revisited (1966), which conjures up various places where Nabokov spent different periods of his life, along with the languages overlapping in his European memoirs. Considering that the coexistence of foreign terms and expressions is common in Nabokov’s works, this article aims to analyse the linguistic architecture and aspects of self-translation in one of his American novels, Pnin. While this study dwells on the numerous grammatical and phonetic inaccuracies that feature in the protagonist’s dialogues, it also means to investigate the issue pertaining to the translator’s (in)visibility in the text. The analysis will be carried out in light of Venuti’s (2018) theories, which foreground the crucial yet often overlooked role of the translator, particularly in contexts where translation is domesticated. By quoting various examples of self-translated expressions from the novel, as well as grammatical and phonetic mistakes, the article traces the linguistic borders in the story, shedding light on the work of the translator, whose presence becomes discernible through the foreignizing effect generated by the numerous non-English words, mistakes and inaccuracies. The work thus engages with the issue of Nabokov’s (in)visibility in the story, since the translator’s presence is not always detectable as the storyline progresses. The alternation of domestication and foreignization, linguistic adaptation and estrangement, is infused with the writer’s investigation into his linguistic past which, in Cronin’s (2013, 19) words, sheds light on the “historical sense” of the languages employed. The exploration of Nabokov’s linguistic past, expressed through numerous foreignisms, paves the way for an analysis of the writer’s double, thereby providing a more nuanced illustration of Nabokov’s linguistic transition.

In the current landscape of banking and financial services, a primary concern for industry practitioners revolves around predicting the probability of default (PD) and categorizing raw data into risk classes. This study addresses the challenge of predicting payment past-due for customers of Residential Mortgage-Based Securities (RMBS) and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) within the Italian banking sector, employing an innovative approach that integrates a classification model (Random Forest) with an anomalies detection technique (Isolation Forest). The models are trained on a substantial dataset comprising performing loans from the 2020-2022 period. Notably, this research stands out not only for its novel modeling approach but also for its focus on the arrear status of RMBS and SME customers as the target variable. By concentrating on past-due rather than the broader concept of probability of default, this approach enhances understanding of customers' financial stress levels, enabling proactive monitoring and intervention by decision-makers. The ultimate aim of this experimentation is to develop a robust and effective algorithm applicable in real-world scenarios for predicting the likelihood of past-due among individual customers and companies, thereby supporting management decision-making processes. Empirical results demonstrate that the proposed framework surpasses conventional statistical and machine learning algorithms in credit risk modeling, exhibiting robust performance on new data (validated against 2023 data) and thus proving its operational suitability.

The subject of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) has been extensively covered in the literature; however, there is a paucity of data regarding eumenorrheic women with hyperandrogenism and/or hyperandrogenemia without ultrasound evidence of PCO morphology (EuHyperA), and even less data on the comparison between PCOS and EuHyperA subjects. It has previously been shown that around half of PCOS women exhibit a hyper-response of serum 17-hydroxy-progesterone (17-OHP) to the stimulation by GnRH-agonists, also indicated as functional ovarian hyperandrogenism (FOH). Often, this stimulation test is preceded by suppression of the adrenal steroidogenesis with oral dexamethasone (Dex). FOH has been associated with an increase of the P450c17 activity in the ovaries driven by elevated insulin levels. Interestingly, treatment of women with PCOS with Dex suppression and GnRH-agonist stimulation (buserelin) highlighted the possible existence of two clusters of patients: hyper-responders (HR) and normal responders (NR).In this retrospective study, we included 15 hyper-responders (HR) EuHyperA, 34 normal responders (NR) EuHyperA, 62 HR-PCOS and 45 NR-PCOS. The demographic characteristics, glucose-metabolism indices, and the hormonal response to Dex or buserelin were analyzed, with both intra-group and inter-group comparisons performed.The rate of FOH was significantly greater in PCOS than EuHyperA women. Compared to HR-PCOS, HR-EuHyperA had [i.] significantly greater age at observation; [ii.] lower cortisol, 17-OHP, Δ4-androstenedione (Δ4-ASD), total testosterone (TT), LH, and buserelin-stimulated whole curve of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), 17-OHP, Δ4-ASD and TT. Compared to NR-PCOS, NR-EuHyperA had [i.] significantly greater FSH, and buserelin-stimulated whole curve of DHEAS; [ii.] significantly lower post-HD Dex Δ4-ASD, TT, buserelin-stimulated whole curve of 17-OHP, Δ4-ASD and TT. Compared to NR-PCOS, HR-PCOS had [i.] significantly greater body mass index (BMI), homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), cortisol, DHEAS, Δ4-ASD, TT, FT, FAI, E2, and insulin AUC0-120min (area under the curve) at oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT); [ii] higher levels of post-LD and post-HD Dex 17-OHP, Δ4-ASD, TT, post-HD Dex DHEAS (with greater levels indicating weaker adrenal suppression), whole curve of DHEAS, 17-OHP, Δ4-ASD, TT and LH; [iii] significantly lower sex-hormone binding globulin (SHBG).Even if most of the parameters evaluated were statistically similar in the two sets of comparisons, interesting differences were observed. Women with PCOS exhibit higher androgen levels at baseline, after adrenal suppression and at the buserelin test, further to a higher ovarian volume. Of note, the percentage of women with HOMA-IR≥2.5 and serum insulin levels were greater in PCOS group compared to EuHyperA women. Moreover, within women with PCOS, the HR subgroup has higher insulin levels compared to the NR subgroup, when OGTT is performed. The alteration of the glucose-insulin balance and elevation of circulating androgens were more pronounced in PCOS, thus indicating that [i.] metabolic alterations might be crucial in the onset of PCOS itself and, [ii] EuHyperA might represent a milder form of PCOS.

The concept of Cultural Heritage, in its tangible and intangible meanings, has been expanding its contents and definitions for more than twenty years, involving multiple subjects and spaces at different scales. It plays a crucial role in the progress of societies, promoting dialogue between cultures and respecting identity and diversity. At the same time, it is an invaluable resource for education, employment, tourism, and sustainable development. In this scenario, reading, understanding, and valorising the cultural resources of territories becomes essential for understanding an urban area’s aims and relational complexity, which is aimed at redesigning the actual spaces. In an urban context, Cultural Heritage is exposed, subjected to interpretation and understanding by residents and tourists alike. In this process, visual storytelling becomes a key instrument for communication, identifying the recipient and its cultural background and proceeding to a cultural mediation to bridge the gap between perceived content and its meanings. The article starts with a state-of-the-art discussion of visual communication applied to cultural heritage, exploring the domain’s techniques and methodological approaches. Then, starting from the contextualisation of the research, set within the Esquiline district in Rome, the study focuses on the critical-comparative analysis between different visual approaches of different itineraries, relating the type of communication, the object of the communication, and the results achieved. The aim is to validate the visual approach regarding an active cultural experience, guaranteeing an accessible, participatory, and inclusive experience of Cultural Heritage.DOI: https://doi.org/10.20365/disegnarecon.31.2023.8

Abstract Accumulating evidence suggests that oral supplementation with myo-Inositol (myo-Ins) is able to reduce the amount of gonadotropins and days of controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COS) necessary to achieve adequate oocyte maturation in assisted reproduction technology (ART) protocols, particularly in women affected by polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). We used computational calculations based on simulation modellings. We simulated in vitro fertilization (IVF) procedures—with or without intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI)—with 100,000 virtual patients, accounting for all the stages of the entire IVF procedure. A Monte Carlo technique was used to account for data uncertainty and to generate the outcome distribution at each stage. We considered virtual patients with PCOS undergoing IVF cycles to achieve pregnancy. Computational data were retrieved from clinical experience and published data. We investigated three parameters related to ART protocols: cost of single procedure; efficacy to achieve ongoing pregnancy at 12 gestational weeks; overall cost per single pregnancy. The administration of oral myo-Ins during COH protocols, compared to the standard COH with recombinant Follicle Stimulating Hormone (rFSH) only, may be considered a potential strategy to reduce costs of ART for the Italian Health System.

The aim of this paper is to analyse the Italian dubbed and subtitled translations of selected episodes from the American TV series Sex and the City and its sequel And Just Like That. The analysis delves into the translation from English into Italian of the dialogues that are imbued with cultural references. The study examines the translation choices concerning swear words and idiomatic expressions by comparing the dubbed and subtitled versions. Starting from Munday’s theories, it aims to identify critical points in translational decision-making, namely, phrases and fragments of dialogues that require particular interpretations on the part of the translator. The study attempts to determine the extent to which the approach to translation from English into Italian is target audience-oriented. Finally, by considering the concept of linguaculture, the work explores the impact of this approach on the target culture in order to compare the American and Italian linguacultures. Keywords: Sex and the City, And Just like That, translation, critical points.

Abstract Background Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are considered as a homogeneous cohort of patients. However, the specific role of diabetic microvascular complications (DMC), in determining the features of coronary plaques is poorly known. We investigated whether the presence of DMC may identify a different phenotype of patients associated to specific clinical, angiographic, optical coherence tomography (OCT) features and different prognosis. Methods We prospectively enrolled consecutive T2DM patients with obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) at their first coronary event. Patients were stratified according to the presence or absence of DMC, including diabetic retinopathy, diabetic neuropathy, and diabetic nephropathy. OCT assessment of the culprit vessel was performed in a subgroup of patients. The incidence of major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) was assessed at follow-up. Results We enrolled 320 T2DM patients (mean age 70.3 ± 8.8 years; 234 [73.1%] men, 40% acute coronary syndrome, 60% chronic coronary syndrome). Patients with DMC (172 [53.75%]) presented a different clinical and biochemical profile and, of importance, a higher prevalence of multivessel CAD (109 [63.4%] vs. 68 [45.9%], p = 0.002). At OCT analysis, DMC was associated to a higher prevalence of large calcifications and healed plaques and to a lower prevalence of lipid plaques. Finally, MACEs rate was significantly higher (25 [14.5%] vs. 12 [8.1%], p = 0.007) in DMC patients, mainly driven by a higher rate of planned revascularizations, and DMC predicted the occurrence of MACEs (mean follow-up 33.4 ± 15.6 months). Conclusions The presence of DMC identifies a distinct diabetic population with more severe CAD but with a more stable pattern of coronary atherosclerosis.

The role of drones is becoming increasingly important within current 3D survey methodologies. Their flexibility of use and the ability to acquire images from inaccessible viewpoints make them a critical instrument in multiple fields of application at both urban and architectural scales. This success is mainly due to the progressive development of technology, including data acquisition sensors, flight systems, and data processing programs.The Cultural Heritage domain is one with the most widespread and massive applications. Besides, due to the RPAS regulations in Italy, drones less than or equal to 250 g have seen a considerable expansion in use in recent years. The improved quality of the cameras and the recent introduction of flight planning has made them proper for photogrammetric applications. Recent research reports experiments in the architectural and archaeological domains aimed at verifying the metric reliability of the acquired data compared with active instruments.In archaeological surveying, drones can cover large complex areas quickly, minimizing shadow areas concentrated in the crests of walls. The case study presented is the Canossa Castle, a medieval archaeological complex close to Reggio Emilia and extended on a steep hill with rocky spurs. The work describes integrating GNSS, 3D scanners, and ultralight RPAS photogrammetry, gathering multi-scale geometric information.The integration between the different surveying techniques allowed to plan different verification moments on the metrological reliability of the multi-resolution model.Al last, the data acquired made it possible to produce complete architectural and urban representations, improving the knowledge needed to prepare the virtual reconstruction of the entire complex area. DOI: https://doi.org/10.20365/disegnarecon.29.2022.3

Background It remains uncertain whether the drip‐and‐ship (DS) strategy (transport to the nearest primary stroke centers) or the mothership (MS) model (direct transportation to the comprehensive stroke center) is the organizational stroke model associated with the best functional outcome in acute stroke patients with large vessel occlusion. In this study, we compared the periprocedural complications and outcomes at 90 days of acute stroke patients with large vessel occlusion of the anterior circulation directly admitted to our comprehensive stroke center compared to those referred from primary stroke centers treated with mechanical thrombectomy. Methods This is a single‐center prospective observational study where patients with DS and MS were compared regarding the disability at 90 days, as assessed by applying the modified Rankin scale, the rate of successful reperfusion, and the rate of immediate complications postprocedure. Results Of 579 patients, 216 (37.30%) were MS, and 363 (62.7%) were DS. There was no difference regarding the modified Rankin scale at 3 months between the MS (36.4%) and DS (39.3%) groups of patients treated with mechanical thrombectomy (P=0.362). There was no significant difference regarding the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale at 24 hours, mortality at 90 days, and rate of successful recanalization postprocedure between the 2 groups. DS was associated with an increased risk of hemorrhagic transformation and symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (odds ratio, 5.414 [95% CI, 1.572–18.644]; P=0.007). Conclusion Our single‐center study showed no difference in terms of functional independence between the DS and MS organizational paradigm. DS was associated with an increased risk of hemorrhagic transformation and symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage.

Abstract Illicit cryptocurrency mining has become one of the prevalent methods for monetization of computer security incidents. In this attack, victims’ computing resources are abused to mine cryptocurrency for the benefit of attackers. The most popular illicitly mined digital coin is Monero as it provides strong anonymity and is efficiently mined on CPUs.Illicit mining crucially relies on communication between compromised systems and remote mining pools using the de facto standard protocol Stratum. While prior research primarily focused on endpoint-based detection of in-browser mining, in this paper, we address network-based detection of cryptomining malware in general. We propose XMR-Ray, a machine learning detector using novel features based on reconstructing the Stratum protocol from raw NetFlow records. Our detector is trained offline using only mining traffic and does not require privacy-sensitive normal network traffic, which facilitates its adoption and integration.In our experiments, XMR-Ray attained 98.94% detection rate at 0.05% false alarm rate, outperforming the closest competitor. Our evaluation furthermore demonstrates that it reliably detects previously unseen mining pools, is robust against common obfuscation techniques such as encryption and proxies, and is applicable to mining in the browser or by compiled binaries. Finally, by deploying our detector in a large university network, we show its effectiveness in protecting real-world systems.

The spread of Coronavirus has contaminated people’s vocabulary. The first part of my work aims to analyse the new expressions used in British news reporting. The discussion will thereafter center on the employment of neologisms and new phrases in less formal contexts. I will accordingly dwell on the relationship between the formal and informal registers of the Coronavirus-related vocabulary by taking into account Foucault’s (1972: 96-105) theory of repeatable materiality, and Johnstone’s (2008: 133-34) theory of indexicality. Finally, I will look into some Coronavirus-related medical lexicon (Thorne 2020). The second part will concentrate on the social aspects of the pandemic on a global scale. It will investigate the concept of space and distance by considering Lotman and Uspenskij’s (1975: 155-65) space theories. This discussion will go on to highlight the social inequalities brought about by the pandemic (Tsuda 2013: 445-56), and to ultimately point out how social changes have generated a space-cultural entropy (Shannon 1948: 381-82) and, therefore, social and linguistic chaos.

Background: The aim of the present study is to investigate the effects produced by a treatment with myo-Inositol (myo-Ins) in women presenting polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) of different phenotypes. Methods: We performed a retrospective study to evaluate whether patients presenting different PCOS phenotypes, treated for 6 months with myo-Ins, might exhibit a differential response to the treatment. On this premise, we clustered women with PCOS phenotypes A, B, and C in the first study group (hyperandrogenic PCOS or H-PCOS), and women presenting PCOS phenotype D in a separate study group (non-hyperandrogenic PCOS or NH-PCOS) to evaluate if the presence of hyperandrogenism, shared by H-PCOS, might imply a metabolic/endocrine condition rather than a gynecological issue. Results: The administration of myo-Ins induced a significant improvement in metabolic and endocrine parameters in H-PCOS, while the effects on NH-PCOS were negligible. Additionally, myo-Ins treatment improved the endometrial thickness of H-PCOS. Conclusions: Subjects selected for the study exhibited a differential response to myo-Ins therapy according to their PCOS phenotypes. The data suggest that the same treatment might not equally improve the parameters of the PCOS condition in each sub-group of patients. It is crucial to distinguish the various phenotypes to properly select the therapeutical approach.

The reconstruction of 3D geometries starting from reality-based data is challenging and time-consuming due to the difficulties involved in modeling existing structures and the complex nature of built heritage. This paper presents a methodological approach for the automated segmentation and classification of surveying outputs to improve the interpretation and building information modeling from laser scanning and photogrammetric data. The research focused on the surveying of reticular, space grid structures of the late 19th–20th–21st centuries, as part of our architectural heritage, which might require monitoring maintenance activities, and relied on artificial intelligence (machine learning and deep learning) for: (i) the classification of 3D architectural components at multiple levels of detail and (ii) automated masking in standard photogrammetric processing. Focusing on the case study of the grid structure in steel named La Vela in Bologna, the work raises many critical issues in space grid structures in terms of data accuracy, geometric and spatial complexity, semantic classification, and component recognition.

Friedreich ataxia is the most common form of hereditary ataxia. Heart involvement in Friedreich ataxia is common and can include increased left ventricular wall thickness, atrial fibrillation, and in the later stages, a reduction of left ventricular ejection fraction. We present the case of a 45-year-old man with a history of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation and a congestive heart failure, hypertension, age ⩾ 75 years, diabetes mellitus, stroke, vascular disease, age 65–74 years, and female sex (CHA2DS2-VASc) score of only 1 (because of reduced left ventricular ejection fraction) who presented with pneumonia and was also found to have atrial fibrillation with a rapid ventricular response. Despite already being on long-term therapy with a non-vitamin K-antagonist oral anticoagulant, a transesophageal echocardiogram showed a mobile floating thrombus in the left atrial appendage. In accordance with previous necropsy evidence of thrombosis and thromboembolism in Friedreich ataxia subjects who likely have had only non-sex-related CHA2DS2-VASc score ⩽1, this case suggests that the risk of thromboembolism in Friedreich ataxia subjects with atrial fibrillation may not be adequately predicted by the sole CHA2DS2-VASc score.

The BIM process applied to the built environment represents a much debated topic in the last decade, but it still contains unanswered questions. National and international frameworks introduced standards mainly focused on the levels of detail definition related to new project, leaving a wide interpretation on the 3D reconstruction of existing building. On the other hand, the increase in the use of this modeling approach and the possible expansion of this application in the nearly future lead to predict a significant rise in built field, requiring a general assessment both on global methodology and on its peculiarities. Starting from the complete description and analysis of two modern railway architectures, based on integrated survey, 2D representation up to 3D modeling in BIM environments, the article tries to highlight the limits in the 3D BIM modeling applied on existing construction, suggesting possible solutions in relation with the obtained results. The process is critically evaluated in each passage, in order to focus the BIM research areas useful for built environment analysis.

Although there have been many improvements in prognosis for patients with cancer, anticancer therapies are burdened by the risk of cardiovascular toxicity. Heart failure is one of the most dramatic clinical expressions of cardiotoxicity, and it may occur acutely or appear years after treatment. This article reviews the main mechanisms and clinical presentations of left ventricular dysfunction induced by some old and new cardiotoxic drugs in cancer patients, referring to the most recent advances in the field. The authors describe the mechanisms of cardiotoxicity induced by anthracyclines, which can lead to cardiovascular problems in up to 48% of patients who take them. The authors also describe mechanisms of cardiotoxicity induced by biological drugs that produce left ventricular dysfunction through secondary mechanisms. They outline the recent advances in immunotherapies, which have revolutionised anticancer therapies.

Quantification of oxidative stress is a challenging task that can help in monitoring chronic inflammatory respiratory airway diseases. Different studies can be found in the literature regarding the development of electrochemical sensors for H2O2 in cell culture medium to quantify oxidative stress. However, there are very limited data regarding the impact of the cell culture medium on the electrochemical quantification of H2O2. In this work, we studied the effect of different media (RPMI, MEM, DMEM, Ham’s F12 and BEGM/DMEM) on the electrochemical quantification of H2O2. The used electrode is based on reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and was obtained by co-electrodeposition. To reduce the electrode fouling by the medium, the effect of dilution was investigated using diluted (50% v/v in PBS) and undiluted media. With the same aim, two electrochemical techniques were employed, chronoamperometry (CH) and linear scan voltammetry (LSV). The influence of different interfering species and the effect of the operating temperature of 37 °C were also studied in order to simulate the operation of the sensor in the culture plate. The LSV technique made the sensor adaptable to undiluted media because the test time is short, compared with the CH technique, reducing the electrode fouling. The long-term stability of the sensors was also evaluated by testing different storage conditions. By storing the electrode at 4 °C, the sensor performance was not reduced for up to 21 days. The sensors were validated measuring H2O2 released by two different human bronchial epithelial cell lines (A549, 16HBE) and human primary bronchial epithelial cells (PBEC) grown in RPMI, MEM and BEGM/DMEM media. To confirm the results obtained with the sensor, the release of reactive oxygen species was also evaluated with a standard flow cytometry technique. The results obtained with the two techniques were very similar. Thus, the LSV technique permits using the proposed sensor for an effective oxidative stress quantification in different culture media and without dilution.

In the Architecture domain, the study, comparison, connection of morphological properties and meaning in a knowledge domain are crucial for building analysis. According to their spatial and functional hierarchical system, the formal complexity depends on the relationships and inferences between shapes. Digital technologies open today new opportunities for the cross-analysis of many cultural heritage artifacts, afar in space but close in features (typologies, styles, compositional rules), stimulating the creation of innovative scientific frameworks. The architectonic shape investigation involves different cognitive processes based on traditional and digital methods. The definition of experimental paths to study these forms and their hierarchical relations is an open topic. Combining theoretical knowledge with technological evolution is a crucial challenge today within the trending topic of the digital humanities. It moves towards a sustainable framework to merge human-driven interpretation and computer-based massive analysis within cross-disciplinary approaches by introducing sustainable paths of methodological renewal. This goal shifts the focus to analysing architectural heritage's geometric nature, representing the core of this journal issue.DOI: https://doi.org/10.20365/disegnarecon.26.2021.ED

Background Seasonal variations in acute coronary syndromes (ACS) have been reported, with incidence and mortality peaking in the winter. However, the underlying pathophysiology for these variations remain speculative. Methods and Results Patients with ACS who underwent optical coherence tomography were recruited from 6 countries. The prevalence of the 3 most common pathologies (plaque rupture, plaque erosion, and calcified plaque) were compared between the 4 seasons. In 1113 patients with ACS (885 male; mean age, 65.8±11.6 years), the rates of plaque rupture, plaque erosion, and calcified plaque were 50%, 39%, and 11% in spring; 44%, 43%, and 13% in summer; 49%, 39%, and 12% in autumn; and 57%, 30%, and 13% in winter (P=0.039). After adjusting for age, sex, and other coronary risk factors, winter was significantly associated with increased risk of plaque rupture (odds ratio [OR], 1.652; 95% CI, 1.157–2.359; P=0.006) and decreased risk of plaque erosion (OR, 0.623; 95% CI, 0.429–0.905; P=0.013), compared with summer as a reference. Among patients with rupture, the prevalence of hypertension was significantly higher in winter (P=0.010), whereas no significant difference was observed in the other 2 groups. Conclusions Seasonal variations in the incidence of ACS reflect differences in the underlying pathobiology. The proportion of plaque rupture is highest in winter, whereas that of plaque erosion is highest in summer. A different approach may be needed for the prevention and treatment of ACS depending on the season of its occurrence. Registration URL: https://www.clini​caltr​ials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT03479723.

Augmented reality (AR) allows the real and digital worlds to converge and overlap in a new way of observation and understanding. The architectural field can significantly benefit from AR applications, due to their systemic complexity in terms of knowledge and process management. Global interest and many research challenges are focused on this field, thanks to the conjunction of technological and algorithmic developments from one side, and the massive digitization of built data. A significant quantity of research in the AEC and educational fields describes this state of the art. Moreover, it is a very fragmented domain, in which specific advances or case studies are often described without considering the complexity of the whole development process. The article illustrates the entire AR pipeline development in architecture, from the conceptual phase to its application, highlighting each step’s specific aspects. This storytelling aims to provide a general overview to a non-expert, deepening the topic and stimulating a democratization process. The aware and extended use of AR in multiple areas of application can lead a new way forward for environmental understanding, bridging the gap between real and virtual space in an innovative perception of architecture.

The recent years saw an extensive use of 3D point cloud data for heritage documentation, valorisation and visualisation. Although rich in metric quality, these 3D data lack structured information such as semantics and hierarchy between parts. In this context, the introduction of point cloud classification methods can play an essential role for better data usage, model definition, analysis and conservation. The paper aims to extend a machine learning (ML) classification method with a multi-level and multi-resolution (MLMR) approach. The proposed MLMR approach improves the learning process and optimises 3D classification results through a hierarchical concept. The MLMR procedure is tested and evaluated on two large-scale and complex datasets: the Pomposa Abbey (Italy) and the Milan Cathedral (Italy). Classification results show the reliability and replicability of the developed method, allowing the identification of the necessary architectural classes at each geometric resolution.

The ErbB2 blocker trastuzumab improves survival in oncologic patients, but can cause cardiotoxicity. The late Na+ current inhibitor ranolazine has been shown to counter experimental HF, including doxorubicin cardiotoxicity (a condition characterized by derangements in redox balance), by lowering the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Since ErbB2 can modulate ROS signaling, we tested whether trastuzumab cardiotoxicity could be blunted by ranolazine via redox-mediated mechanisms. Trastuzumab decreased fractional shortening and ejection fraction in mice, but ranolazine prevented heart dysfunction when co-administered with trastuzumab. Trastuzumab cardiotoxicity was accompanied by elevations in natriuretic peptides and matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP2) mRNAs, which were not elevated with co-treatment with ranolazine. Trastuzumab also increased cleavage of caspase-3, indicating activation of the proapoptotic machinery. Again, ranolazine prevented this activation. Interestingly, Neonatal Rat Ventricular Myocytes (NRVMs), labeled with MitoTracker Red and treated with trastuzumab, showed only a small increase in ROS compared to baseline conditions. We then stressed trastuzumab-treated cells with the beta-agonist isoproterenol to increase workload, and we observed a significant increase of probe fluorescence, compared with cells treated with isoproterenol alone, reflecting induction of oxidative stress. These effects were blunted by ranolazine, supporting a role for INa inhibition in the regulation of redox balance also in trastuzumab cardiotoxicity.

Intelligent tire concept constitutes one of the approaches to increase the accuracy of active safety systems in vehicle technology. The possibility of detecting tire−road interactions instantaneously has made these systems one of the most important research areas in automotive engineering. This study introduces the use of cost-effective flex and polyvinylidene fluoride strain sensors to estimate some dynamic tire features in free-rolling and real working conditions. The proposed solution combines a microcontroller-based readout circuit for the two sensors with a wireless data transmission system. A suitable prototype was realized and first experimental tests were conducted, in the laboratory as well as on the road. The energy consumption of the wireless monitoring system was optimized. Simulated and experimental results validate the proposed solution.

The digital photography represents not only an immediate medium for data communication, but also an effective instrument for surveying and monitoring the architectural buildings. In this context, 2D images allow to acquire multi-scale geometrical and material data in a few time. This peculiarity makes this technique very suitable for the survey of cracks distribution in emergency condition, for example immediately after an earthquake. Referring to this specific application, the article suggests a process of 2D images acquisition, data management and representation for surveying crack distribution inside an historical building in Ferrara, Palazzo Renata di Francia, seriously damaged by the seismic events happened in May 2012.

Cardiovascular diseases represent the first cause of morbidity in Western countries, and chronic heart failure features a significant health care burden in developed countries. Efforts in the attempt of finding new possible strategies for the treatment of CHF yielded several approaches based on the use of stem cells. The discovery of direct cardiac reprogramming has unveiled a new approach to heart regeneration, allowing, at least in principle, the conversion of one differentiated cell type into another without proceeding through a pluripotent intermediate. First developed for cancer treatment, nanotechnology-based approaches have opened new perspectives in many fields of medical research, including cardiovascular research. Nanotechnology could allow the delivery of molecules with specific biological activity at a sustained and controlled rate in heart tissue, in a cell-specific manner. Potentially, all the mediators and structural molecules involved in the fibrotic process could be selectively targeted by nanocarriers, but to date, only few experiences have been made in cardiac research. This review highlights the most prominent concepts that characterize both the field of cardiac reprogramming and a nanomedicine-based approach to cardiovascular diseases, hypothesizing a possible synergy between these two very promising fields of research in the treatment of heart failure.

EnCultural Heritage represents an aspect of our historical memory that in the last decade has suffered transformations, reductions or destructions for different human or external factors. In this situation the introduction of technologies and methodologies suitable to reduce this deterioration process has been perceived as mandatory, leading to the development of strategies that permit to preserve and explain the information embedded in Cultural Heritage, supporting the process of valorization through the application of different representation instruments.3D acquisition and modeling technologies represents a possible aid because they allow to generate the digital simulacrum of a real artifact, and the availability of digital tools for manipulating, exploring, comparing and explaining a virtual object, can greatly increase the comprehension and the valorization of monuments. In addition to these applications orient to the common public, once an artifact is represented in digital form also analysis, management and conservation can be allowed with instruments oriented to experts.This paper critically presents the two possible complementary approaches to 3D modeling in CH: the representation of a monument “as is” through precise 3D capturing and modeling vs. the representation of a previous hypothetical state through a scientific reconstructive process. Such presentation is based on two exemplar cases of the two approaches: the reality-based modeling of the Pompeii Forum and the diachronic reconstruction of the San Giovanni in Conca basilica in Milan.ItIl Patrimonio Culturale rappresenta un aspetto della nostra memoria storica che nell'ultimo decennio ha subito trasformazioni, riduzioni o distruzioni per diversi fattori umani o naturali. In questa situazione l'introduzione di tecnologie e metodologie adatte a ridurre questo processo di deterioramento è stato percepito come necessario, portando allo sviluppo di strategie che permettono di preservare e spiegare le informazioni racchiuse nei Beni Culturali, sostenendo così il processo di valorizzazione attraverso l'applicazione di diversi strumenti di rappresentazione.Le tecnologie di acquisizione e modellazione 3D rappresentano un possibile aiuto perché consentono di generare il simulacro digitale di un manufatto reale. La disponibilità di strumenti digitali per manipolare, esplorare, confrontare e spiegare un oggetto virtuale, può aumentare notevolmente la comprensione e la valorizzazione dei monumenti. Inoltre, così come per il pubblico comune possono essere create applicazioni finalizzate alla comunicazione di un Bene Culturale, tramite lo stesso modello digitale possono essere realizzate anche l'analisi, la gestione e la conservazione riconfigurando modalità di interazione e tipologia di dati ad esso collegati.Questo articolo presenta criticamente i due possibili approcci complementari alla modellazione 3D nei Beni Culturali: la rappresentazione di un monumento "così com'è” attraverso una accurata modellazione 3D della realtà, comparata con la rappresentazione di un precedente ipotetico stato ottenuta attraverso un processo scientifico di ricostruzione tridimensionale. Tale presentazione si basa su due casi esemplari dei due approcci: la modellazione basata sullo stato corrente del Foro di Pompei e la ricostruzione diacronica della basilica di San Giovanni in Conca a Milano.

The performance of 2D digital imaging systems depends on several factors related with both optical and electronic processing. These concepts have originated standards, which have been conceived for photographic equipment and bi-dimensional scanning systems, and which have been aimed at estimating different parameters such as resolution, noise or dynamic range. Conversely, no standard test protocols currently exist for evaluating the corresponding performances of 3D imaging systems such as laser scanners or pattern projection range cameras. This paper is focused on investigating experimental processes for evaluating some critical parameters of 3D equipment, by extending the concepts defined by the ISO standards to the 3D domain. The experimental part of this work concerns the characterization of different range sensors through the extraction of their resolution, accuracy and uncertainty from sets of 3D data acquisitions of specifically designed test objects whose geometrical characteristics are known in advance. The major objective of this contribution is to suggest an easy characterization process for generating a reliable comparison between the performances of different range sensors and to check if a specific piece of equipment is compliant with the expected characteristics.

This article proposes a methodology for the virtual representation of lost Cultural Heritage monuments, based on the integration of a 3D digital survey of the remains, with the analysis of historical, literary, cadastral and iconographic sources. By using the objective geometrical data as initial interpretative grid, a scalable method is generated, suitable to be re-used on different artifacts. This approach has been experimented on the virtual reconstruction of different historical periods of a church characterized by a complex architectural development: the Basilica of San Giovanni in Conca in Milan. Realistic 3D digital representations of this monument allow to better understand the lost building changes, useful both for critical analysis of the experts or for touristic valorization.

My paper means to discuss the development and the application of Nabokov’s theories of translation in Anja v strane čudes (1922) and Eugene Onegin (1964). By using both Steiner’s and Newmark’s approaches, I will point out that Nabokov aims for a communicative translation, for a “hypotranslation”, in Carroll’s work, in order to make it more understandable to the Russian readership. Conversely, Nabokov uses a literal translation in Eugene Onegin, thus making the target text “awkward”. Such technique arises a sense of “foreignness” in the Russian readers, and paves the way for a metaphorical “hypertranslating” process. I will, therefore, demonstrate that the latter represents a generator of “overtranslating” elements, from a cultivated reader’s perspective, as a consequence of the clash between the Russian and the Anglo-Saxon worlds. Keyword Nabokov hypotranslation hypertranslation foreignness

The results of a survey conducted on an experimental system consisting of a rigid rotor supported on two radial bearings each with five tilting pads is presented. In particular, the system was set up in order to assess the dynamic behaviour of the bearing in unusual operating conditions. The response of the bearing to different unbalance values was determined after acquiring and analysing the orbits described by the journal axis for assigned unbalance values in different operating conditions. Analysis of the results shows some particular operating features that were not entirely predicted by the theoretical model and which may give rise to malfunctions in the rotor-tilting pad bearings system. The tests were carried out in the rotor dynamics laboratory of the Dipartimento di Ingegneria Meccanica per l'Energetica at the University of Naples.

The stability of a rigid rotor supported on radial tilting pad journal bearings is analysed. This study has been tackled both for small unbalance values by linearising the equations of motion, and also in the case where, because of the high unbalance value, the rotor axis describes orbits with an amplitude such that the system's non-linearity cannot be ignored. In both cases the system's stable operation maps have been obtained and verified through numerical integration of the differential equations of motion.

Il progetto di rilievo e rappresentazione ad alta risoluzione dell’Abbazia di Santa Maria di Pom-posa nasce con l’obiettivo di mettere a confronto differenti metodologie di rilievo e rappresenta-zione, valutare le prestazioni e le soluzioni più idonee finalizzate ad ottenere un rilievo e una rappresentazione complessiva dell’intero com-plesso abbaziale, che consenta restituzioni e ana-lisi multi-scalari. Il presente contributo presenta alcuni dei risultati ottenuti dall’utilizzo integrato di tecniche di rilievo 3D e illustra alcune tipologie di analisi e rappresentazioni grafiche che posso-no essere condotte e riprodotte a partire dal dato complesso e multi-scalare acquisito. Il contributo mostra come tale approccio non sia destinato ad un singolo caso studio, ma partendo da esso pos-sa essere esteso ad altri contesti che presentino simili criticità e potenzialità comunicative, spesso ricorrenti nel campo del rilievo e della rappresen-tazione dei Beni Culturali.