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In this article we analyze the multi-layered engagements of young Muslim activists in Dhaka (Bangladesh) and in the 'Bangladeshi community' in Rome (Italy), illustrating how, despite the local factors shaping a problematic relationship between Islamic activism and civil society in the two contexts, the young people share an attitude that points to the manifestations of a public Islam on a global level. This attitude aims at transcending the sectarianism and isolationism of previous generations, giving rise to civic engagements that rely on a concept of moral personhood, and strive to achieve change in society through modalities that depart from the clichés of political Islam. By considering these varied modalities, we highlight the existence of unconventional links between politics and civil society, and between 'new' and 'old' forms of civil society, contributing to the deconstruction of a Eurocentric and religion-averse understanding of the concept. At the same time, by analyzing the role played by the 'individual' in our interlocutors' engagements, we shed light on counterintuitive convergences between Muslim moral economy and that of neoliberal governmentality, and on the emergence of a 'liquid civil society'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The constant demand for new buildings means concrete continues to contribute to a large proportion of global greenhouse gas emissions. Italian architect and researcher Fabio Amicarelli, and Assistant Professor in Architecture and Guest‐Editor of this AD Ena Lloret‐Fritschi, discuss the Foldcast project being developed by the Fabrication and Material Aware Architecture (FMAA) group at the Università della Svizzera Italiana in Mendrisio. Foldcast combines software and digital machines to produce non‐standard, recyclable, paper‐based moulds for casting structurally efficient concrete elements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unbelievably huge amounts of concrete, a major contributor to our contemporary world, are produced every year, and this continues to increase exponentially. ETH Zurich researchers Timothy Wangler, Yamini Patankar and Robert J Flatt explain the pros and cons of the digital fabrication of concrete, and the research still to be done in this relatively young and experimental subset of the construction industry and material science. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The lower chamber of tower J17 from the Aurelian Walls in Rome is covered by a singular brick vault by slices that is almost completely preserved. This kind of vault is unusual in a Roman context and specifically in Aurelian Walls. Brick vaults by slices were extensively studied by the French engineer Auguste Choisy, who mainly scrutinized their ease of construction that doesn't require formwork and can adapt to different plans to achieve lowered vaults. The best-known examples are in Byzantium and generally in the Eastern Roman Empire, while we don't know many cases dating from late Roman antiquity on the Italian peninsula. Based on a rigorous photogrammetric survey and thorough data management, a detailed analysis of this vault allows us to establish a hypothesis about its construction process and to deepen the knowledge of this type of structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dalla parte di lei by Alba de Céspedes explores the life of the protagonist, Alessandra, in Rome, from her childhood to the early years of her marriage, a period that spans the Fascist years through the Second World War and the Resistance, and ends shortly after the liberation. The narrative illustrates the painful effects of Mussolini's policy of autarky and food rationing and their burden on women. Food and food preparation constitute gendered signs that highlight the contrast between Alessandra's values and those of both Fascist and immediate post-Fascist society. Alessandra's resistance to gendered food labour carries political resonance. Food scarcity frames Alessandra's rejection of both male precedence and matriarchal authority, her critique of gender and class injustices, and her participation in the Italian Resistance. The food motif sheds light on Alessandra's gender performance and queer desires. This article focuses on three aspects of Alessandra's resistance: her resistance to traditional gender roles, her political awakening during the Second World War food shortages, and her sexual and emotional hungers and queer desire. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several landslide susceptibility (LS) maps at various scales of analysis have been performed with specific zoning purposes and techniques. Supervised machine learning algorithms (ML) have become one of the most diffused techniques for landslide prediction, whose reliability is firmly based on the quality of input data. Site-specific landslide inventories are often more accurate and complete than national or worldwide databases. For these reasons, detailed landslide inventory and predisposing variables must be collected to derive reliable LS products. However, high-quality data are often rare, and risk managers must consider lower-resolution available products with no more than informative purposes. In this work, we compared different ML models to select the most accurate for large-scale LS assessment within the Municipality of Rome. The ExtraTreesClassifier outperformed the others reaching an average F1-score of 0.896. Thereafter, we addressed the reliability of open-source LS maps at different scales of analysis (global to regional) by means of statistical and spatial analysis. The obtained results shed light on the difference in hazard zoning depending on the scale and mapping unit. An approach for low-resolution LS data fusion was attempted, assessing the importance of the adopted criteria, which increased the ability to detect occurred landslides while maintaining precision. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research studies the residential mobility of Italians and foreigners in Rome from 2002 to 2019. We examine the differences in residential mobility patterns for (1) Italians and foreigners, (2) foreign migrants by selected country of origin, and (3) the effect of intra‐urban mobility on residential segregation. Log‐linear models and segregation indexes are used to analyze unpublished microdata on residential mobility by neighbourhood from the population register of Rome. Results show that foreigners are more mobile than Italians and more prone to move outside the area where they live, but with an increasing process of remaining in their current locations over time. Also, similarities and differences emerge by country of origin. Finally, we find residential mobility has increased the spatial concentration and clustering of foreigners in Rome, whilst reducing the dissimilarity from Italians at the same time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: To analyse the perspectives of healthcare professionals (HCPs) regarding the acceptance of digital health solutions for growth hormone (GH) deficiency care. This study identified factors impacting HCPs' intent to use and recommend digital solutions supporting recombinant-human growth hormone (r-hGH) therapy in Italy and Korea with a use case of connected drug delivery system (Aluetta® with Smartdot™) integrated in a platform for GH treatment support (the Growzen™ digital health ecosystem). Methods: Participatory workshops were conducted in Rome, Italy, and Seoul, Korea, to collect the perspectives of 22 HCPs on various predefined topics. HCPs were divided into two teams, each moderated by a facilitator. The workshops progressed in five phases: introduction of the project and experts, capturing views on the current context of digitalisation, perceived usefulness and ease of use of Aluetta® with Smartdot™, exploration of the perception of health technology evolution, and combined team recommendations. Data shared by HCPs on technology acceptance were independently analysed using thematic analysis, and relevant findings were shared and validated with experts. Results: HCPs from both Italy and Korea perceived Aluetta® with Smartdot™ and the Growzen™ based digital health ecosystem as user-friendly, intuitive, and easy-to-use solutions. These solutions can result in increased adherence, a costeffective healthcare system, and medication self-management. Although technology adoption and readiness may vary across countries, it was agreed that using digital solutions tailored to the needs of users may help in data-driven clinical decisions and strengthen HCP--patient relationships. Conclusion: HCPs' perspectives on the digitalisation in paediatric GH therapies suggested that digital solutions enable automatic, real-time injection data transmission to support adherence monitoring and evidence-based therapy, strengthen HCP--patient relationships, and empower patients throughout the GH treatment process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dopaminergic transmission impairment has been identified as one of the main neurobiological correlates of both depression and clinical symptoms commonly associated with its spectrum such as anhedonia and psychomotor retardation. We examined the relationship between dopaminergic deficit in the striatum, as measured by 123I-FP-CIT SPECT imaging, and specific psychopathological dimensions in patients with major depressive disorder. To our knowledge this is the first study with a sample of >120 subjects. After check for inclusion and exclusion criteria, 121 (67 females, 54 males) patients were chosen retrospectively from an extensive 1106 patients database of 123I-FP-CIT SPECT scans obtained at the Nuclear Medicine Unit of Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS in Rome. These individuals had undergone striatal dopamine transporter (DAT) assessments based on the recommendation of their referring clinicians, who were either neurologists or psychiatrists. At the time of SPECT imaging, each participant underwent psychiatric and psychometric evaluations. We used the following psychometric scales: Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale, Snaith Hamilton Pleasure Scale, and Depression Retardation Rating Scale. We found a negative correlation between levels of depression (p = 0.007), anxiety (p = 0.035), anhedonia (p = 0.028) and psychomotor retardation (p = 0.014) and DAT availability in the left putamen. We further stratified the sample and found that DAT availability in the left putamen was lower in seriously depressed patients (p = 0.027) and in patients with significant psychomotor retardation (p = 0.048). To our knowledge this is the first study to have such a high number of sample. Our study reveals a pivotal role of dopaminergic dysfunction in patients with major depressive disorder. Elevated levels of depression, anxiety, anhedonia, and psychomotor retardation appear to be associated with reduced DAT availability specifically in the left putamen. • We conducted single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) evaluation to study dopamine transporter (DAT) availability in the striatum and psychometric scales to assess the psychopathology of patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) and related clinical symptoms (anxiety, anhedonia, and psychomotor retardation). • We found a negative correlation between levels of depression (p = 0.007), anxiety (p = 0.035), anhedonia (p = 0.028) and psychomotor retardation (p = 0.014) and DAT availability in the left putamen. • Furthermore, we found that DAT availability in the left putamen was lower in seriously depressed patients (p= 0.027) and in patients with significant psychomotor retardation (p = 0.048). • To our best knowledge this is the first study, among those investigating dopamine levels in the striatum through SPECT, involving such a high number of patients (121 patients with MDD). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A painted wooden shield from the 16th century, commonly traced back to the famous Lepanto Battle (1571), was investigated by a multi‐analytical approach to identify its manufacturing process and shed light on its cultural provenance. The typology is coherent with both the Christian and Ottoman armies and does not allow for an attribution. Radiocarbon dated the shield to two time intervals (1470–1525, 1580–1625, at 68% level of probability), compatible with the date of the Battle of Lepanto. Optical and Scanning Electron Microscopy, Attenuated Total Reflectance, External Reflection Fourier Transform Infrared, micro‐Raman and Energy Dispersive X‐ray Spectroscopy, and histochemical and shrinking temperature tests were used to characterize the artefact. The shield resulted to be made of softwood panels, covered by a stratigraphy of flax fibres, cattle skin, and a painting preparation layer of hydromagnesite. Adhesion was ensured by bone glue. Oblique, red, and cinnabar stripes alternating on the white preparation are visible on the front of the shield, whereas a homogeneous dark paint covers the back. None of the raw materials was informative by themselves, but the unusual presence of the hydromagnesite could be crossed with the geographical context, resulting in a promising outcome for future isotopic and trace element studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The diagnosis of disorders of gut–brain interaction (DGBI) in children is exclusively based on clinical criteria called the Rome criteria. The inter‐rater reliability (IRR) measures how well two raters agree with a diagnosis using the same diagnostic tool. Previous versions of the Rome criteria showed only fair to moderate IRR. There have been no studies assessing the IRR of the current edition of the pediatric Rome criteria (Rome IV). This study sought to investigate the IRR of the pediatric Rome IV criteria and compare its reliability with the previous versions of the Rome criteria. We hypothesized that changes made to Rome IV would result in higher IRR than previous versions. Methods: This study used the same methodology as the previous studies on Rome II and III, including identical clinical vignettes, number of raters, and levels of expertise. Participants included 10 pediatric gastroenterology fellows and 10 pediatric gastroenterology specialists. IRR was assessed using the percentage of agreement and Cohen's kappa coefficient to account for possible agreement by chance. Results: The average IRR percentage of agreement using the Rome IV criteria was 55% for pediatric gastroenterologists and 48.5% for fellows, indicating moderate agreement (k = 0.54 for specialists, k = 0.47 for fellows). The results demonstrated higher percentages of agreement and kappa coefficients compared to the Rome II and III criteria. Conclusions: The findings demonstrate improved reliability in Rome IV compared to Rome II and III, suggesting that the changes incorporated into the Rome IV criteria have enhanced diagnostic consistency. Despite the advancements, the reliability is still moderate, indicating the need for further refinement of future versions of the Rome criteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Rumination is characterized by the repeated regurgitation of food. Rumination syndrome is a disorder of gut‐brain interaction diagnosed by Rome criteria, whereas rumination disorder is a feeding and eating disorder diagnosed by DSM‐5 criteria. We aimed to determine the global prevalence of rumination according to these criteria across all age groups. Methods: We performed a systematic review and meta‐analysis of studies reporting the prevalence of rumination syndrome according to Rome III and Rome IV and rumination disorder according to the following validated DSM‐5 assessments: PARDI, EDA‐5, EDY‐Q, STEP, and STEP‐CHILD. We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, and PsychINFO (from January 1, 2006, to June 1, 2023) to identify studies reporting the prevalence of rumination in community settings in participants of any age. We did a meta‐analysis to estimate the pooled prevalence and odds ratio (OR) of rumination according to diagnostic criteria, country, and characteristics such as age and sex. Key Results: The search strategy generated 1243 studies, of which 147 studies appeared to be relevant. Thirty studies were included, with a total of 114,228 participants, of whom 61,534 of these were adults and 52,694 were children. The pooled prevalence of rumination syndrome in children of all ages according to Rome III criteria was 1.0% (95% CI 0.3–1.6; I2 91.1%), but no data were available for adults. According to Rome IV criteria, the pooled prevalence of rumination syndrome in children of all ages was 0.4% (95% CI 0.2–0.6; I2 56.4%) and 3.7% in adults (95% CI 2.3–5.1; I2 91.4%). The pooled prevalence of rumination disorder in children of all ages according to EDY‐Q was 2.1% (95% CI 0.9–3.4; I2 = 78.1%), but only one study utilizing EDY‐Q in adults was included (0.7% [95% CI 0.4–1.0]). No data were available for children or adults using any other validated DSM‐5 assessments for rumination disorder. Irrespective of diagnostic criteria, the pooled prevalence of rumination was higher in adults compared to children and adolescents (3.0% [95% CI 1.4–4.7; I2 = 98.1%] vs. 0.8% [95% CI 0.4–1.3; I2 = 90.8%]), but higher in adolescents than in children (1.1% [95% CI 0.3–2.0; I2 = 92.8%] vs. 0.1% [95% CI 0.0–0.2; I2 = 24.5%]). In adults, factors independently associated with rumination were female gender (OR 1.4 [95% CI 1.0–2.0]), anxiety (OR 2.3 [95% CI 2.1–2.6]), and depression (OR 1.8 [95% CI 1.2–2.9]). No association between gender and rumination was seen in children. Conclusions and Inferences: The prevalence of rumination is more common in adults than in children. In adults, rumination is associated with female gender, anxiety, and depression. Future population studies should aim to better understand why this behavior is more common in adults and also compare validated DSM‐5 assessments for rumination disorder with Rome criteria for rumination syndrome as prevalence may differ. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: Postprandial diarrhea (PPD) is commonly seen in patients with disorders of gut–brain interaction (DGBI), but the factors associated with it have not been well studied. In this study, we aim to study the burden, impact, and predictors of PPD using a clinical cohort of DGBI patients. Methods: This study included patients with chronic diarrhea fulfilling ROME IV criteria for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or functional diarrhea (FDiarr). PPD was defined as patients reporting mushy/watery stools following meals ≥30% of the time in the last 3 months using a ROME IV question on PPD. Age, sex, and BMI, the severity of diarrhea, abdominal pain, depression, anxiety, somatization, and quality of life were assessed using validated measures. Person's chi‐square test and Student's t‐test were used to compare variables. A multiple linear regression model with backward elimination was done to determine predictors of PPD severity. Key Results: Of 213 eligible patients, more than three‐fourth of patients (75.6%) had PPD. Women (79.0%, p = 0.037), patients with ROME IV diagnosis of IBS‐D (90.5%, p = 0.002), and functional dyspepsia (83.2%, p = 0.014), and those with a history of cholecystectomy (CCY) (95.5%, p = 0.022) were more likely to report PPD. PPD patients experienced more severe abdominal pain, diarrhea, and decreased quality of life (QoL) but showed no significant difference in BMI, anxiety, depression, sleep, or somatization. In our regression model, female sex and history of CCY were independent predictors of PPD. Conclusions and Inferences: PPD is frequently reported among chronic diarrhea patients and is associated with more severe GI symptoms and decreased QoL. Female sex and CCY predict PPD, while psychological factors do not. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, we suggest a new analysis of the decline and abandonment of medieval urban landscapes, using as a case study the thoroughly excavated and documented Caelian Hill in Rome during the eleventh century, supported by notions from modern studies of climate change. We provide evidence for the concurrent decline of the urban landscape and the abandonment of waterways, including the aqueduct of Aqua Claudia that functioned since the first-century CE and was last recorded as functioning ca. 1006 CE. We further point to the implications of these processes on changes in the urban fabric in other areas of the city, challenging previous studies which associate its decline with political and economic circumstances culminating in the Norman sack of 1084. We suggest that these processes should be attributed to the effects of the regional climatic disturbances that affected Central-Southern Italy during the medieval climate anomaly (MCA). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the safety and feasibility of the new surgical robot HUGO robotic assisted surgery (RAS) in a series of gynecologic surgical procedures. Methods: Between March and October 2022, 138 patients treated at Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy were enrolled in the study. All patients suitable for a minimally‐invasive approach were prospectively included and divided into two groups: Group 1 (78 patients) made up of patients operated on for uterine and/or adnexal pathologies, and Group 2 (60 patients) made up of patients treated for pelvic organ prolapse. Results: In Group 1, median docking time (DT) was 5 min and median console time (CT) was 90 min. In two patients (2.6%) redocking was necessary. In two patients (2.6%), the surgeon continued the surgery laparoscopically. Intraoperative complications occurred in two surgeries (2.6%). In Group 2, median DT was 4 min and median CT was 134.5 min. In three patients (5%), redocking was necessary. In all patients, the surgery was successfully completed robotically without intraoperative complications. Conclusions: The present study demonstrates that the new HUGO RAS system for gynecologic surgery is safe with good results in terms of surgical efficacy and perioperative outcomes. Further studies are needed to investigate its use in other technical and surgical aspects. Synopsis: The new robotic system HUGO RAS is safe with good results in terms of surgical efficacy and perioperative outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A multi‐analytical approach based on colourimetry, micro‐Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, optical microscopy and powder X‐ray diffraction, has been applied to investigate Roman cooking ware samples dating back to imperial age (I‐II century AD). In particular, the highly distinctive production of pots coming from two different archaeological sites, ‘Villa della Piscina’ at Centocelle district and the so called ‘Minerva Medica Temple’ at Esquilino district (Rome, Italy), was studied characterising the colour, the chemical, mineralogical and petrographic distinctive properties of the investigated samples, in order to compare technological and provenance aspects. Classification of ceramic fragment by colorimetry, integrated by compositional studies with a main contribution of micro‐Raman spectroscopy, allows to discriminate between superior and inferior quality cooking ware and evaluate the compatibility of the investigated samples with some pottery realised in known manufacturing sites in Lazio. Compositional and petrographic features allow assignment of samples from ‘Villa della Piscina’ testifying productions in the surroundings of Rome, while an importation from outsider workshops is hypothesised for the ceramic fragments from the so called ‘Minerva Medica Temple’. For these, an importation from outsider workshop is hypothesised. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines spatial disparities and associations between the social deprivation index (SDI) and Type 2 Diabetes, Dementia, and Heart Failure in Italy's Lazio Region. The primary goal is to assess how social deprivation impacts health inequalities by analysing SDI-disease correlations. This retrospective study uses 2020 socioeconomic data and 2021 epidemiological indicators in Lazio Region, Italy. The SDI, constructed following established guidelines, measures social deprivation. Statistical tools, including regression models, Moran's I test, and LISA techniques, are used to analyse spatial patterns. Utilizing a retrospective approach, we merge 2020 socioeconomic and 2021 epidemiological data for analysis. The SDI is computed using established methods. Spatial disparities are explored through regression models, Moran's I test, and LISA techniques. The study reveals significant disparities in disease incidence. District V in Rome exhibits high Type 2 Diabetes (113.75/1000) and Heart Failure (37.98/1000) rates, while Marcetelli has elevated Dementia incidence (19.74). Southern municipalities face high unemployment (up to 25%), whereas bordering areas have higher education levels (30–60%). Disease hotspots emerge in Rome and centre-north municipalities, aligning with social deprivation patterns. Regression models confirm the link between disease incidence and socioeconomic indicators. SDI ranges from − 1.31 to + 10.01. This study underscores a correlation between social deprivation and disease incidence. Further national-level research is essential to deepen our understanding of how social deprivation influences health outcomes, with potential implications for addressing health disparities both regionally and nationally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the discussion on Shakespeare's use of Caesar's self-referential illeism from The Gallic Wars in Julius Caesar, highlighting its connection to Caesar's self-promotion and legacy. Topics include influence of Caesar's writings on Shakespeare's characterization, the representation of dismembered hands as a symbol of Roman militarism in Titus Andronicus; and the impact of these elements on the portrayal of Rome in Renaissance literature.

Objective: The introduction of cytological screening with the Papanicolau smear significantly reduced cervical cancer mortality. However, Pap smear examination can be challenging, being based on the observer ability to decode different cytological and architectural features. This study aims to evaluate the malignancy rate of AGC (atypical glandular cells) category, investigating the relationships between cytological and histological diagnosis. Methods: Eighty‐nine patients, diagnosed as AGC at cytological evaluation and followed up with biopsy or surgical procedure at Policlinico Gemelli Hospital, Rome, Italy, were included in the study. The cytopathological architectural (feathering, rosette formation, overlapping, loss of polarity, papillary formation, three‐dimensional formation) and nuclear (N/C ratio, nuclear enlargement and hyperchromasia, mitoses, nuclei irregularity, evident nucleoli) features of AGC were evaluated. Statistical analyses were performed to assess cyto‐histological correlation and determine the relevance of architectural and nuclear features in the diagnosis of malignancy. Results: Of the 89 AGC patients, 48 cases (53.93%) were diagnosed as AGC‐NOS and 41 (46.07%) were diagnosed as AGC‐FN, according to the Bethesda classification system. The follow‐up biopsies or surgical resections revealed malignancy in 46 patients (51.69%). The rates of malignancy for AGC‐NOS and AGC‐FN were 35.41% and 70.73% respectively. Furthermore, analysing cytopathological features, we found that both architectural and nuclear criteria were statistically significant (p < 0.05). Only overlapping, nuclear irregularity and increased N/C ratio were not found to be statistically significant for detecting malignancy. Conclusions: Cytological diagnosis of glandular lesions remains a valid tool, when appropriate clinical correlation and expert evaluation are available. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nuova luce da Pompei (New Light from Pompeii) explored the role of artificial light in the lives of ancient Romans. In addition to presenting 180 rarely seen bronzes from Pompeii, including lamps, candelabra, and elegant statues that held lamps, the exhibition demonstrated the effects and meanings these lighting devices generated. Clearly, Roman lamps have lost their agency, presented as objects in museums or in photographs—a problem addressed by encouraging visitors to handle replicas of lamps and to light them virtually. In a virtual reality recreation of the triclinium of the House of Polybius, visitors could use a torch to light lamps and see what they could reveal—or fail to reveal. Videos of elaborate lamps with figures standing on their oil holes were particularly noteworthy, demonstrating their potential for "shadow play." In addition to plumbing the meanings of the astonishingly varied imagery, the show investigated bronze metallurgy and modern conservation, as well as the role lamps played in the convivium, cult, nighttime pursuits, and commerce. A section on the creation of pastiches and copies evoked the antiquarian culture sparked by the discovery of Pompeii and Herculaneum. In its Rome venue, curators added a roomful of rarely seen objects from Rome's former Antiquarium Comunale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inspired by the scholarly work of Paul Cantor and David Lowenthal, this paper argues that the 1981 war-comedy, Stripes, constitutes a democratic appropriation of Shakespeare's Coriolanus. Drawing on what is arguably Shakespeare's most political drama, Cantor and Lowenthal argue, respectively, that both Rome and its martial warrior tragically aspire to a wholeness that will always elude them; Rome's republic depends on a mixing of political classes that presume to be distinct from and independent of the other while the work's eponymous figure believes he can exist above and apart from the city he alternately seeks to save and to destroy. Because tragedies show the self-defeating flaws that plague their protagonists, they allow us to see the impossibilities such characters represent as absurd. But, in seeing them as absurd, they should also appear as the proper subjects of comedy. Viewed as a democratic reworking of this Elizabethan tragedy, Stripes shows us how the wisdom that allows us to appreciate both the need for and the shortcomings of republican politics, as the scholarship of Cantor and Lowenthal reveal them, may yet be made available without leading us to despair of the possibility a genuinely free and healthy civic life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The detection and monitoring of deformation patterns induced by causes of various nature is fundamental to prevent and mitigate the associated risk. To this aim, one of the most innovative, non-invasive monitoring approaches is based on the use of satellite radar images through the advanced multi-temporal Differential Interferometry Synthetic Aperture Radar (DInSAR) technique, which is able to detect deformations induced by slowly evolving phenomena. In this work, the multi-temporal DInSAR technique referred to as full resolution SBAS approach is exploited for the monitoring of the ground deformations and their effects on the "Vittorino da Feltre" school building located in the city of Rome (Italy), which is undergoing a retrofitting project. The displacement measurements were obtained by using the COSMO-SkyMed satellite dataset related to the city of Rome during the 2011–2019 time interval, processed with full resolution Small. The damage progression during the last years has been evaluated by comparing a recent survey of the structural damage with the previously available ones. An integration of SAR-derived data and outcomes of the on-site damage surveys is presented, aimed to perform a damage assessment of the structure using literature scales of damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Palo Laziale Wood is a relatively small biotope (129 ha) situated along the coast of the Metropolitan Area of Rome, Lazio region, Italy. Despite being one of the region's remaining patches of an ancient oak floodplain broad-leaved forest, it conserves numerous priority habitats and species of high conservation interest. The vegetation consists mainly of Turkey oak stands with small temporary ponds and flooded meadows. The forest underwent a dieback in 2003, triggered by a significantly hot and dry summer. In 2018, an ecological restoration project (LIFE PRIMED LIFE17 NAT/GR/000511) was initiated to restore Palo Laziale's ecosystems. This paper presents the methodological approach employed to assess the vegetation ecology of a degraded forest ecosystem. Such an investigation was a key component of the Adaptative Restoration Plan of the Project. It provided the baseline necessary for designing and calibrating the planned direct conservation actions on the target habitat types (91M0: Pannonian-Balkanic turkey oak-sessile oak forests, 3170*: Mediterranean temporary ponds, 5230*: Arborescent matorral with Laurus nobilis, etc.) and establishing reference values to enable long-term monitoring. Plant taxa comparison from 1 ha square-grid sampling and multivariate analyses were carried out to group species and identify environmental and Ellenberg-based drivers. Six ecologically distinct units were found, eventually confirming the distinctive ecological heterogeneity of Mediterranean ecosystems. Amongst these, the hygrophilous vegetation has resulted to be the one mainly affected by the dieback outbreak. Due to the high heterogeneity, introduced by the massive tree mortality, the method of regular 1 ha squares turned out to be a reliable alternative to random vegetation sampling plots (e.g., phytosociological relevés) to disentangle ecological patterns of fragmented and disturbed habitats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The article titled "Beyond the Realms of Death" explores the concept of creativity and the role of the Harlequin figure in the author's work. The author discusses their interest in artists such as Gian Lorenzo Bernini, Marcel Duchamp, Leonor Fini, Salvador Dalí, and George Melly, and how these influences have shaped their own artistic endeavors. The article also touches on the challenges of publishing a book related to the author's ongoing project, "Communicating Vessels," and includes a heartfelt eulogy for the late graphic designer Vaughan Oliver. Overall, the article offers a personal reflection on the creative process and the connections between different artistic influences. [Extracted from the article]

The aim of this study was to assess the methodical protection of the lingual nerve via the use of a standardized step-by-step procedure in the surgical extraction of the lower third molar. A 5-year retrospective analysis of surgical third molar surgery conducted by third-year oral surgery specialty program students was performed in the oral surgery department of Policlinico Umberto I in Rome, from 2017 to 2022. All surgeries were carried out using a standardized step-by-step procedure to protect the lingual flap during the surgery. Every patient underwent a review on the initial postoperative day, and subsequently, one week after the surgery, coinciding with the removal of the sutures. During each postoperative visit, thorough examinations were conducted to assess any sensory nerve impairment of the inferior alveolar, lingual, or mylohyoid nerves. None of the cases reported postsurgical lingual nerve injury; there was zero incidence of lingual nerve paresthesia or dysesthesia. The systematic application of lingual flap protection proved to be an effective and reproducible approach for the surgical removal of lower third molars without raising the risk of lingual nerve sensory impairment, regardless of the operator's experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the study is to analyse the EU's existing and potential capabilities in criminal law policy to prevent transnational environmental crimes. The study uses statistical analysis, formal legal, comparative legal and descriptive methods. As a result of the work carried out, it was found that today, Ukraine requires special attention in terms of the scale of transnational environmental crimes. About 2,500 environmental crimes committed by Russian companies were recorded in the country. In this regard, the author's in-depth analysis of the current legislative documents related to transnational environmental crimes provides valuable insights. It is determined that changes in the criminal law policy of the European Union may improve the situation with transnational environmental crime. At the same time, the author considers the prospects for further improvement of criminal law policy, including introducing the concept of "ecocide" into the Rome Statute. The author notes the European Union countries' best practices in preventing environmental crimes using criminal law instruments and the SIENA platform's effectiveness in exchanging information on environmental crimes between countries. The findings of this work can be applied in developing mechanisms for the prevention of transnational environmental crimes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Italian language and in languages of the world, Rome is synonymous with power, eternal beauty, religious passion. The phraseology and proverbs linked to the capital of Italy retrace the phases of its ancient era, the imperial one, in which the city was a conqueror of Eurasia and the homeland of law. The phraseology and proverbs reflect the many images of a city that has a long and singular destiny and which, a few centuries after its foundation, immediately became a symbol of secular power, and immediately afterwards also of religious power. In its legendary history, the toponym Roma has forcefully entered the idioms, used to create metaphors that explain reality, to highlight the relationship between absolute power and subjects, without mentioning the ramifications of intrigues and injustices that have arisen from it. The research aims to analyze the most famous sayings and proverbs concerning the capital, as well as those that we considered most interesting from a historical and historical-linguistic point of view, dividing them into three categories: those linked to political power, those concerning the Pope and the Santa Sede and those whose protagonists are the Romans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: The implementation and monitoring of the European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ESGE) performance measures for colonoscopy are suboptimal in clinical practice. Electronic reporting systems may play an important role in data retrieval. We aimed to define the possibility of systematically assessing and monitoring ESGE performance measures for colonoscopy through reporting systems. Materials and Methods: We conducted a survey during a nationwide event on the quality of colonoscopy held in Rome, Italy, in March 2023 by a self-administered questionnaire. Analyses were conducted overall and by workplace setting. Results: The attendance was 93% (M/F 67/26), with equal distribution of age groups, regions and public or private practices. Only about one-third (34%) and 21.5% of participants stated that their reporting system allows them to retrieve all the ESGE performance measures, overall and as automatic retrieval, respectively. Only 66.7% and 10.7% of respondents can systematically report the cecal intubation and the adenoma detection rate, respectively. The analysis according to hospital setting revealed no significant difference for all the items. Conclusions: We found a generalized lack of systematic tracking of performance measures for colonoscopy due to underperforming reporting systems. Our results underline the need to update reporting systems to monitor the quality of endoscopy practice in Italy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The invention of movable type printing was followed by a fundamental technical development, which influenced the way in which a text was produced: the replacement of the original one-pull press with the two-pull press, which made it possible to print two pages at a time with a single pull of the press. Lotte Hellinga, following a survey of quarto format editions printed in printing shops in various locations, suggests that the first occurrence of the new technology is to be attributed to the beginning of 1472 and to Georg Lauer's printing shop in Rome. Following some reflections that take Hellinga's study as a point of departure, other parameters are described that allow to establish which printing press was used in the production of a certain edition. Once the methodology applied in the analysis of incunabula printed in Rome has been described, four cases are illustrated, which highlight the complexity of the topic.

This article analyses a manuscript collection of recipes (ca. 1590-1643) and its context of production and use: the Oratory of Santa Maria in Vallicella in Rome. This book is at once a text, a paratext, and a notebook, and its material analysis attests to the ways in which it was produced, noting the use of manuscript sources and printed books kept in the Oratorian library, and the combination of writing and reading practices. The essay also aims to highlight the role of informal and oral routes in the dissemination of medical knowledge at the Vallicella, even emphasising the way in which care practices took place there through professional carers and the sharing of knowledge and therapeutic know-how between Oratorian priests. The aim is to assess their contribution to the formation of the collection and, ultimately, to show that the compilation of recipes was part of a wider process of circulation of medical knowledge, to be situated in a specific social and cultural milieu.

Background: Symptoms of dyspepsia are usually encountered by chronic kidney disease patients. Abdominal discomfort is commonly seen in CKD patients with no other causes of organic affection. Aim: to determine the prevalence of functional dyspepsia in CKD patients, and which subtype is predominant in them. Materials and patients: This observational study included 150 CKD patients. Clinical and laboratory data were recorded for every patient. All the patients were interviewed using the ROME IV questionnaire of functional dyspepsia. Patients fulfilling criteria for functional dyspepsia were exposed to upper GI endoscopy. Results: Overall, 73 (48.7%) of CKD patients were males and 77 (51.3%) were females with mean age of (45.71 ± 9.59) and mean BMI (26.58 ± 5.39). The frequency of functional dyspepsia among CKD patients was determined to be 14.7% (22 out of 150 patients). Among those affected by functional dyspepsia, the most prevalent subtype was found to be Epigastric Pain Syndrome (EPS), accounting for 59% (13 out of 22 cases). The most common predictor of FD in CKD patients was chronic HCV infection, hemodialysis, stage of CKD and eGFR as revealed by Univariate regression analysis. Conclusion: The prevalence of FD amongst CKD patients is 14.7% with EPS the predominant subtype. Male patients, HCV patients, patients with higher CKD stages and highly impaired eGFR (low eGFR) are more probable to have FD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On October 22, 1934, in a fateful experiment, Enrico Fermi and his associates at the University of Rome discovered that neutrons in hydrogen-rich media slow down and acquire enhanced capability for nuclear reactions. The utilization of this phenomenon had far-reaching implications in science and world events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

E-scooter services have multiplied worldwide as a form of urban transport. Their use has grown so quickly that policymakers and researchers still need to understand their interrelation with other transport modes. At present, e-scooter services are primarily seen as a first-and-last-mile solution for public transport. However, we demonstrate that 50 % of e-scooter trips are either substituting it or covering areas with little public transportation infrastructure. To this end, we have developed a novel data-driven methodology that autonomously classifies e-scooter trips according to their relation to public transit. Instead of predefined design criteria, the blind nature of our approach extracts the city's intrinsic parameters from real data. We applied this methodology to Rome (Italy), and our findings reveal that e-scooters provide specific mobility solutions in areas with particular needs. Thus, we believe that the proposed methodology will contribute to the understanding of e-scooter services as part of shared urban mobility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Researchers cannot agree on the interpretation of the programme of the murals in the Borgia apartments executed by Pinturicchio in the 90s of the 15th century. Egyptian subjects, Turkish motifs, the theme of the salvific role of the Church, the Aragonese origin of the customer, etc., are on a display in the interior of the apartments in the Apostolic Palace. The frescoes were commissioned by Alexander VI (Rodrigo Borgia), one of the most odious Popes of the Renaissance. This paper focuses on the political aspect of the frescoes, particularly on the theme of the triumph of the Church as an institution. Pinturicchio’s painting was used to visualize the public image of Rodrigo Borgia with dominant motifs of Pope’s leadership in the Christian world. The pontificate of Alexander VI, the ‘warrior of Christ’, in whose hands both spiritual and secular powers were united, was glorified in the church history, and it is presented here as Borgia’s triumph. Such a public image was in line with other representations of Roman pontiffs and secular rulers of Western Europe. It was created in the context of political confrontation of the Holy See with powerful royal houses of Italy, French kings, etc. We can thus talk not only about the visual programme of the apartments per se, but also about its connection with other imagery presenting Popes as political figures and created for Alexander VI’s predecessors as well as for his successors. Относительно интерпретации программы росписей в апартаментах Борджиа, выполненных Пинтуриккьо в 90-х годах XV века, у исследователей нет единого мнения. Египетские сюжеты, турецкие мотивы, тема спасительной роли Церкви, арагонское происхождение заказчика и т. д. – всё это находит отражение в интерьерах апартаментов Апостольского дворца, расписанных по заказу одного из самых одиозных пап эпохи Ренессанса – Александра VI (Родриго Борджиа). В данной статье в основу интерпретации положена политическая составляющая визуального ряда апартаментов, в частности, триумфа Церкви как института. На примере росписи Пинтуриккьо рассматривается визуализация публичного образа Родриго Борджиа с доминирующим мотивом ведущей роли папы в христианском мире. При этом понтификат Александра VI, «воина Христа», в руках которого соединяются как духовная власть, так и светская, с одной стороны, подчёркнуто вписывается в общую церковную историю, а с другой, представляется пиком торжества Церкви, что ставится в заслугу Борджиа. Подобный публичный образ был близок к репрезентации как римских понтификов, так и светских правителей Западной Европы, и создавался, в том числе, в контексте политического противостояния не только самого Родриго Борджиа, но и Римского престола в целом с представителями правящих домов в Италии, французскими королями и т. д. Это позволяет говорить не только об общей программе апартаментов, но и о её связи с изображениями, созданными как при предшественниках Александра VI, так и при его преемниках, в контексте политической репрезентации римских пап.

Abstract Neither ἰατρίνη nor μαῖα: the «special» knowledge of the iatromaea/ἰατρόμαια Especially in the last thirty years both the ἰατρίναι/medicae and the μαῖαι/obstetrices have received particular attention from scholars both for a more precise framing of these female «professions» within activities that are not exclusively manual but also intellectual, and in order to reconstruct the legal status, the possibilities of social affirmation and the opportunities of economic income of these two specific professional profiles. The subject of analysis here is a figure in its own right, that of the iatromaea/ἰατρόμαια, a term attested by very rare epigraphic mentions in Latin and Greek, absent from the databases of papyrus texts and a veritable hapax in literary testimonies. After reviewing the inscriptions that certify the existence of this word and the hypotheses formulated by moderns regarding its possible meaning, the paper attempts to trace the professional profile of this specialist, identifying, through a comparison with the sources, similarities and differences with the other types of therapists and making an interpretative proposal in conclusion regarding the specific knowledge and skills of the iatromaea/ἰατρόμαια.

Purpose: The aim of the present work is to explore the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on research activities in a vast multidisciplinary academic community to identify the most critical issues. Method: To this purpose we planned a survey addressed to the entire academic research staff at "Sapienza" University of Rome, which represents the largest Italian academic community. A questionnaire consisting of both open and closed-ended questions was delivered to 4118 individuals in April 2021. Results: A total of 544 responses were collected. All academic roles were sufficiently represented in the study cohort. The median number of critical issues experienced by academic research staff was three. Among these, the three most frequently reported were related to: "Access to libraries / laboratories / research sites" (21.9%), "Limitation to stay abroad / study / research periods" (17.6%), "Progress of experimental work" (14.7%), with variable prevalence according to academic position and gender. Older subjects reported issues with "Projects' financial reporting" and "Expiration of acquired consumable material more frequently". The most common critical aspects reported in relation to the economic burden were: being "Unable to allocate funds" (31.4%), a "Reduction in clinical and scientific activity" (26.3%) and experiencing "Increased expenses (comprising private costs)" (21.2%) with no differences between genders. Researchers in Applied Sciences and Natural Sciences reported a higher frequency of problems in clinical and scientific activities, whereas increased expenses were reported also by researchers operating in the Humanities field. As a possible solution aimed at improving these issues, most subjects, especially those aged >45 years, indicated "Economic aid" (22.6%), "Reduction in bureaucracy" (19.9%) or "Enhancement of the scientific and clinical activities", whereas those aged ≤45 years felt that an increased duration and better access to PhD programs were to be prioritized. Conclusion: Our findings highlight the most critical issues related to research activities during the COVID-19 pandemic in a large academic community. The information achieved may be useful to identify researchers' needs and to design appropriate policies aimed at preparing research institutions for unexpected catastrophic events and limiting the negative impact on academic research activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Human papilloma virus (HPV) infection and the management of its persistence is still a great medical challenge. Recently, scientific evidence has supported the potential therapeutic effects of four combined natural molecules—epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), folic acid, vitamin B12 and hyaluronic acid (HA)—in counteracting HPV DNA positivity and related cytological lesions. Methods: Each patient of these five clinical cases had persistent HPV positivity in the anogenital site and assumed a dietary supplement based on a combination of 200 mg of EGCG, 50 mg of HA, 1 mg of vitamin B12 and 400 mcg of folic acid (Pervistop®, Farmares s.r.l., Rome, Italy) at a dosage of 1 or 2 caps/day for 6 or 3 months, respectively, depending on clinical history. Results: After treatment, all the patients reported a negative HPV DNA test and improved cytological lesions, thus demonstrating the ability of these combined molecules to counteract both anal and cervical HPV infection and related manifestations. Conclusions: Overall, these data corroborate previous evidence about the effectiveness of such natural molecules in the management of HPV infection and its persistence. Naturally, further studies with a larger population and long-term follow-up will contribute to reinforce the positive effects of this dietary supplement in counteracting HPV infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]