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The remains of the archaeological site of Castelseprio (Varese province, Italy) are listed under the UNESCO World Heritage as proof of one of the seven settlements of the Lombards in Italy. Freestanding elements belonging to the apse and the lateral walls of the church of San Giovanni Evangelista are still preserved nowadays, reaching heights around 5 and 10 m, respectively. The condition of these walls, both in terms of slenderness and incompleteness, constitutes a possible vulnerability under horizontal actions that would need to be assessed for conservation. In particular, the presence of multi-leaf and/or low-compact sections could limit the structural capacity of the walls and contribute to brittle collapses, even under low forces. According to the analyses of mortars carried out in the excavation site, the specific characteristics of the local geo-resources (clay-rich sediments traditionally called “Ferretto” deposits) directly influenced the incidence of pozzolanic binding processes, allowing the formation of two different aluminosilicate-based reaction products based on a standard calcic system (C-A-S-H) and on a magnesian one (M-A-S-H). This peculiar reuse of local lateritic soils, with a high concentration in the bedding mortars of the foundational structures, increased not only the general durability of the masonry but also the mechanical properties of the first architectural complex of San Giovanni. Based on the types of mortar identified, various configurations of wall sections were assumed (monolithic and multi-layered) and their mechanical behaviour through kinematic analyses was compared, to evaluate the relevant limits of the seismic capacity of the walls.

The restoration process stems from a proper exploratory study of the features of architectural heritage (AH) buildings. The methods to obtain such knowledge are continuously evolving and expanding, as contamination among different disciplines grows, and large datasets are generated. The use of building information modelling applied to AH (HBIM) is becoming widespread as a flexible tool for centralization and querying purposes, which can help in obtaining new information from raw data. The paper compares two approaches to HBIM: the common one, based on mainstream software and oriented to the symbolic and visual presentation of the restoration project, and a new one (OpenHBIM), based on open software and standards, which aims at the semantic representation of architectural information. Independently from the final choice, HBIM is a technology that enables a proper management of data of AH and motivates a new approach to the design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The widespread usage of BIM for the study (HBIM) of architectural heritage (AH) advocates for a critical consideration of how models are built, in relation to information sharing and the need to carry out multiple disciplinary analyses from a single model. This Open HBIM is made possible by shared and standardized ontologies, such as Industry Foundation Classes (IFC). IFC, originally thought for new buildings, is a well-known open standard, currently used as a sharing format in BIM authoring software. The paper proposes a virtualization (model definition) procedure of AH organized in 'semantic segmentation' (modular and systematic decomposition) and 'semantic enrichment' (relation definition and property attribution) entirely based on IFC and open-source software (Blender-Bonsai, Python programming language). The resulting Open HBIM of a simple heritage building appeared as a data rich environment, easily shareable and ready for disciplinary analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The complexity of the historical built environment may be reduced by discretizing buildings in types. At urban scale, typological classifications feed vulnerability models. Several literature procedures define types by the evaluation of constructive, geometrical, and structural features, but none seems to consider improving or upgrading interventions. These are the expected performance levels prescribed by seismic codes for strengthening existing masonry buildings. Notwithstanding, the 2016 Central Italy earthquake revealed the potentially detrimental role of interventions on the seismic behaviour of a building. A new performance-based taxonomy of masonry buildings is here proposed starting from the analysis of 2306 inspected dwellings struck by that event. Building features, i.e., masonry and diaphragm types, were matched to strengthening techniques, thus obtaining a preliminary description of that sample. The empirical evidence showed the performance levels of buildings with interventions, which were graded in four categories: upgrading and improvement, downgrading and worsening depending on their compliance with the box-like behaviour. Therefore, an expansion of the coded possible performance levels was found. Those levels entered the final taxonomy of the sample, yielding 15 robust performance-based types, which were cross-validated through the analysis of their most common damage mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Masonry buildings in historic centres are prone to seismic damage, due to either construction features or effects of changes over the time. Systematic studies on built heritage need to be updated, aimed at providing large number of data to identify recursive aspects affecting vulnerability and damage. In this study, over 2300 case studies (i.e., structural units/buildings) belonging to 20 villages struck by the 2016 Central Italy earthquake were analysed by a multi-level survey procedure recently upgraded at the University of Padova. The effect of damage was examined with respect to the local macroseismic intensity and computed by comparing the influence of features such as: settlements configuration, buildings aggregation, geometrical and architectural details, horizontal and vertical structural components, and constituent materials. This study lays the groundwork for new approaches to the analysis of construction parameters of existing masonry buildings, in view of their typological categorization and validation on a statistical base. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Damage surveys following to the Central Italy 2016 seismic swarm have shown that retrofitting or strengthening interventions on masonry buildings may result in unexpected seismic behaviour, which may be defined as hybrid. In fact, the insertion within the masonry of single parts aimed at activating the box-like behaviour can worsen the overall response like a vulnerability added to a building's intrinsic ones. Existing procedures for post-earthquake visual assessment do not permit the definition of the behaviour of altered masonry buildings (substitution of horizontal structures, concrete curbs, injections, etc.). The article proposes a completion of the 'knowledge path' of an existing survey form adding a new part specifically dedicated to structural interventions. On-site data collection is performed by a digital survey form written in Google Forms. The analysis phase takes advantage of the features available in a Geographical Information System (GIS). The application of this survey form to about one hundred buildings in Castelsantangelo sul Nera (Macerata district, Central Italy) hit by the Oct. 26 and 30, 2016 quakes also helped to define the vulnerability classes for buildings with structural interventions. Empirical results show that either poor execution or conception of interventions can lead to the highest vulnerability classes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In most cases, archaeological excavations provide very little information about buildings' upper parts, such as roof and floors, except for a few peculiar cases, such as Pompeii, Herculaneum and ancient Ostia. Being wood less durable than masonry, our knowledge of the rules and the principles commonly used in Antiquity to design timber structures is still limited to hypothesis. Ancient writers, such as Plinius or Vitruvius, cannot help either, due to the recurrent difficulty of interpreting structural details and technical aspects discussed in their essays. In the paper, an integrated method, able to combine the archaeological data with the architectural knowledge of the Antiquity and the support of engineering analyses, is proposed. Based on limited information already available and through the application of the simplified kinematic approach, unknown geometrical data of the Roman house have been identified through analytical formulas, thus linking a house's floor layout to its elevation. In particular, starting from the linking of the house's floor layout to its elevation, dimensional criteria for timber beams and the roof's pitch in agreement with the archaeological evidence have been defined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Today it is well-known that high risk of genetic breast cancer concerns a very limited part of the population: no more than 2-3 women are affected every thousand and this condition as a whole accounts for no more than 3%-5% of all breast cancers., Objectives and Methods: Following the directions contained in the 2014-2018 National Prevention Plan, Veneto's 2014-2018 Regional Program of Prevention (PRP), approved by Regional Council Resolution (DGR) No. 749 of 14.5.2015, consolidation of a pathway of diagnosis, observation, and prophylaxis for women at high risk of hereditary breast carcinoma is thus proposed. The principal activities of this policy will be the following: creation of a regional working group, survey of currently existing pathways for the identification of women at risk of hereditary breast cancer and adoption of the same, approval and consolidation of a structured regional pathway for women at high risk of hereditary breast and/or ovarian cancer, from paths of oncogenetic consultation and genetic testing to management of disease risk. Subsequent to the recognition of the pathway of diagnosis, observation, and prophylaxis for women at high risk of hereditary breast carcinoma, the Veneto region undertakes to develop a co-ordinated program of information and training on this pathway directed at the population and healthcare workers., Conclusions: It is firmly hoped that with the inclusion of a program for the management of women at high risk of hereditary breast cancer within the Veneto PRP this topic may become more defined and structured in terms of sustainability, integration with the existing regional networks (mammography network, Breast Unit), contrasting inequality, monitoring and evaluation, in this way pursuing the objectives of a reduction of cause-specific mortality and improvement of quality of life.

Objective: to estimate the prevalence of smokers inside cars or duty vehicles and the presence of children exposed to second hand smoke on board, in the NHS districts of Veneto Region., Design: an observational study was carried out by the technicians of the Prevention department from October 1st to October 17th 2008. The observers had to record sex of the driver and of the passengers, their presumed ages, verify if drivers or passengers were smoking, and if there were any children on board., Setting and Participants: 19 Local Health Authorities (90,5%) out of 21 in the Veneto region., Main Outcomes Measures: percentage of crossings monitored out of the total scheduled., Results: a total of 5,928 cars were examined at the crossings, males accounted for 61,4% of the drivers. Smoking overall by at least one person in the car was reported in 409 cases (6.9%, 12% among commercial vehicles), the driver alone was smoking in 87.3% of the cases, whereas only the passenger smoking represented 8.3% of the cases. Both the driver and passenger smoking were 4.4% of the observations. Children were present as passengers in 762 cars (12.9%); there were people smoking with children on board in 7 cars (0.9%)., Conclusion: in spite of the efforts to limit the dangers of second hand smoke, smoking in car is still a common behaviour, and represents a serious risk both for both, adults and children. Focusing in research projects could help the Department of Prevention of the Local Health Authorities to increase their activities and involvement in the research field.

Objective: to identify the most suitable marker for monitoring ETS inside a moving car, and to verify the efficacy of window opening to reduce ETS pollution inside the car., Design: experimental pilot study. SSETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: monitoring of ETS markers in a moving car., Main Outcomes Measures: we used real time analyzers to measure: n particulate matter as mass (mug/m3, PM1, PM2.5, PM10); n suspended particle number (total number of particles sized >0.3 e >0.4 mum; n the number of particles with aerodynamic size between 0.3-0.4 mum in diameter; n total volatile organic compounds (TVOC); n carbon monoxide (CO). The recordings were carried out inside a car moving on the road at the speed of 50 km/h, with controlled conditions of temperature and relative humidity., Results: after lighting a cigarette, with driver's window closed, the levels of all the pollutants increased dramatically, with peaks of 700 mug/m3 for PM2.5 and PM10, and of over 600,000 particles/ liter, while TVOC reached values up to 6,000 mug/m3 and CO up to 6 ppm. When a cigarette was lit with the window 1/4 open, excess pollution was promptly recorded, although with less intensity. With the window completely open, PM, TVOC and CO concentrations were hardly measurable as compared to background levels. On the contrary, particle number increased dramatically up to over 300,000/liter, mostly due to the submicrometric particle fraction in the range 0.3-0.4 mum., Conclusion: smoking just a cigarette inside a car represents an extremely high exposure to ETS. Partially opening the window is useless to prevent the accumulation of pollutants. Complete window opening is helpful to remove coarse PM and volatile pollutants, but is ineffective against submicrometer particles. Measuring particle number seems to be the best way to assess ETS pollution inside a car.