Improving the Accessibility of Cultural Sites During Pandemic Through Microclimate Control. The Case of CapsulART Applied to the MANN Museum in Naples

The use of cultural sites has been profoundly altered by the recent pandemic events with relevant consequences on the cultural heritage industry. While before the CoVid-19 pandemic access to Cultural Sites used to involve a simplified form of control, in the transitional period between the pandemic and the post-pandemic, additional steps are required. The research aims to combine seemingly distant aspects: counteracting the spread of contagion and reorganising the admission processes to institutes of culture, such as museums. Based on the literature, it has been shown that the parameters determining air quality (temperature, relative humidity, concentration of pollutants, dust, CO2, etc.) influence the state of conservation of works of art, while their interaction with the spread of the epidemic has been slightly investigated. The research seeks to find innovative technological solutions to allow access and safe visits to the greatest possible number of users. A conscious design, therefore, must be put in place to allow everyone to enjoy works of art, exhibitions and shows. This is how the concept of universal design is declined here, introducing the concept of 'safe environment accessibility'. The first results of a research carried out on the microclimate and the air quality inside Tyrannicides Hall at the National Archaeological Museum of Naples (MANN) will be presented. A device called 'CapsulART' is designed to be placed at the entrance of a specific room, which acts as a filter and as a decompression chamber to lower the level of pollutants present on people's clothes and shoe soles. Through a reduction in temperature, parameters that may increase the ease of contagion (e.g. sweating) should be decreased

An ontology-based approach supporting holistic structural design with the consideration of safety, environmental impact and cost

Early stage decision-making for structural design critically influences the overall cost and environmental performance of buildings and infrastructure. However, the current approach often fails to consider the multi-perspectives of structural design, such as safety, environmental issues and cost in a comprehensive way. This paper presents a holistic approach based on knowledge processing (ontology) to facilitate a smarter decision-making process for early design stage by informing designers of the environmental impact and cost along with safety considerations. The approach can give a reasoning based quantitative understanding of how the design alternatives using different concrete materials can affect the ultimate overall performance. Embodied CO2 and cost are both considered along with safety criteria as indicative multi-perspectives to demonstrate the novelty of the approach. A case study of a concrete structural frame is used to explain how the proposed method can be used by structural designers when taking multi performance criteria into account. The major contribution of the paper lies on the creation of a holistic knowledge base which links through different knowledge across sectors to enable the structural engineer to come up with much more comprehensive decisions instead of individual single objective targeted delivery

Influenza vaccination coverage among medical residents: An Italian multicenter survey

Although influenza vaccination is recognized to be safe and effective, recent studies have confirmed that immunization coverage among health care workers remain generally low, especially among medical residents (MRs). Aim of the present multicenter study was to investigate attitudes and determinants associated with acceptance of influenza vaccination among Italian MRs. A survey was performed in 2012 on MRs attending post-graduate schools of 18 Italian Universities. Each participant was interviewed via an anonymous, self-administered, web-based questionnaire including questions on attitudes regarding influenza vaccination. A total of 2506 MRs were recruited in the survey and 299 (11.9%) of these stated they had accepted influenza vaccination in 2011-2012 season. Vaccinated MRs were older (P = 0.006), working in clinical settings (P = 0.048), and vaccinated in the 2 previous seasons (P < 0.001 in both seasons). Moreover, MRs who had recommended influenza vaccination to their patients were significantly more compliant with influenza vaccination uptake in 2011-2012 season (P < 0.001). "To avoid spreading influenza among patients" was recognized as the main reason for accepting vaccination by less than 15% of vaccinated MRs. Italian MRs seem to have a very low compliance with influenza vaccination and they seem to accept influenza vaccination as a habit that is unrelated to professional and ethical responsibility. Otherwise, residents who refuse vaccination in the previous seasons usually maintain their behaviors. Promoting correct attitudes and good practice in order to improve the influenza immunization rates of MRs could represent a decisive goal for increasing immunization coverage among health care workers of the future. © 2014 Landes Bioscience

Asenapine in the management of impulsivity and aggressiveness in bipolar disorder and comorbid borderline personality disorder: an open-label uncontrolled study

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) often co-occurres with bipolar disorder (BD). Impulsivity and aggressiveness represent core shared features and their pharmacological management is mainly based on mood stabilizers and antipsychotics, although scarce evidence is available for this context of comorbidity. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the role of Asenapine as an adjunctive drug for reducing aggressiveness and impulsivity in a sample of Italian BD type I outpatients with or without a comorbid BPD. This was an observational 12-week open-label uncontrolled clinical study carried out from April to October 2014 in two psychiatric clinics in Sicily. Each patient was treated with asenapine at two dose options, 5\u2009mg (twice daily) or 10\u2009mg (twice daily), and concomitant ongoing medications were not discontinued. We measured impulsivity using the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS) and aggressiveness using the Aggressive Questionnaire (AQ). For the analysis of our outcomes, patients were divided into two groups: with or without comorbid BPD. Adjunctive therapy was associated with a significant decrease of BIS and AQ overall scores in the entire bipolar sample. Yet, there was no significant difference in BIS and AQ reductions between subgroups. Using a regression model, we observed that concomitant BPD played a negative role on the Hostility subscale and overall AQ score variations; otherwise, borderline co-diagnosis was related positively to the reduction of physical aggression. According to our post-hoc analysis, global aggressiveness scores are less prone to decrease in patients with a dual diagnosis, whereas physical aggressiveness appears to be more responsive to the add-on therapy in patients with comorbidity

Heroes or criminals? The legitimacy of humanitarian organizations rescuing lives in the Central Mediterranean Sea after 2017

Since late 2016, NGOs operating in the Mediterranean have been at the centre of a campaign of delegitimisation and criminalisation culminating with former Italian Interior Minister Matteo Salvini's 2018 NGO ban, which de facto erased the presence of humanitarian search and rescue operations and left the national coastguards to deal with an unprecedented migration crisis. Drawing upon discourse analysis of Italian and international news media articles and informed by semi-structured interviews with NGO representatives, this study investigates the implications of such media-driven public hostility. The results are threefold: first, the climate of suspicion surrounding NGOs has damaged them profoundly and led to a dramatic increase in deaths. Consequently, second, NGO's ability to present themselves publicly as legitimate has been heavily limited. Last, it is fundamental to investigate the range of legitimation strategies all organisations can use when victims of a media-led scandal or a smear campaign are legitimised by political institutions

The Management of Long-Term Psychiatric Sequelae in a Young Woman Who Suffered From Suspected Autoimmune Limbic Encephalitis:

We report the case of a 23-year-old woman who presented to our Psychiatry Unit with a complex psychiatric symptomatology, 6 years after suffering from a form of encephalopathy which was retrospectively and hypothetically labeled as autoimmune limbic encephalitis. Over the years, several psychopharmacological therapies had been initiated, but none of them led to substantial remission of symptomatology. During the first visit, symptoms were characterized by dysphoric mood with suicidal ideation, anxiety, delusional thoughts. Self-harm and psychogenic seizures with daily frequency were also reported. A therapy with slow-release lithium sulfate, lurasidone, and lorazepam was prescribed. After 6 months of treatment, psychopathological manifestations significantly improved

A pandemia de COVID-19 e casos de violência doméstica: percepções de profissionais da atenção primária à saúde no contexto de isolamento social

Objective: to analyze the perceptions of primary health care professionals in Paranaguá/PR about the relationship between the COVID-19 pandemic and cases of domestic violence in their assigned territories, identifying challenges in the approach, impacts on families and case management. Methodology: qualitative research was conducted using semi-structured interviews and focus groups with 36 professionals from two primary health care units in Paranaguá, on the Paraná coast. Results: Primary health care professionals unanimously reported an increase in the number of domestic violence cases in those communities, affecting women, children, and adolescents, with the closure of schools identified as an aggravating factor. The main challenges highlighted were the disruption of primary health care services during the peak of the pandemic due to the reallocation of professionals and resources; misinformation about referral processes for domestic violence cases within the intersectoral network; fear among professionals regarding the pandemic and reporting domestic violence cases; and high staff turnover. Conclusion: The period of social isolation caused by the pandemic intensified domestic violence cases, according to the perceptions of primary health care professionals in Paranaguá. The dismantling of the intersectoral network further compromised the care of individuals in situations of vulnerability and/or violence. The absence of national guidelines from the federal government left municipalities and primary health care professionals on their own to deal with the issue. Submission: 03/30/23| Review: 06/14/23| Approval: 10/04/23Objetivo: analizar las percepciones de los profesionales de la atención primaria de salud de Paranaguá/PR sobre las relaciones entre la pandemia de COVID-19 y los casos de violencia doméstica en sus territorios asignados, identificando desafíos en el abordaje, impactos en las familias y gestión de casos. Metodología: investigación cualitativa con entrevistas semiestructuradas y grupos focales con 36 profesionales de dos unidades básicas de salud de Paranaguá, en la costa de Paraná. Resultados: los profesionales de la atención primaria de salud fueron unánimes al reportar el aumento del número de casos de violencia doméstica en esas comunidades, con afectaciones tanto a mujeres, niños y adolescentes, siendo el cierre de escuelas un agravante. Se informaron los principales desafíos: la interrupción de la atención primaria de salud durante el apogeo de la pandemia con el desplazamiento de profesionales y recursos; desinformación sobre los flujos de derivación de casos de violencia doméstica en la red intersectorial; miedo entre los profesionales, tanto a la pandemia como a denunciar casos de violencia doméstica; y rotación profesional. Conclusión: El período de aislamiento social provocado por la pandemia intensificó los casos de violencia doméstica según la percepción de los profesionales de la atención primaria de salud en Paranaguá. El desmantelamiento de la red intersectorial perjudicó aún más la atención a personas en situación de vulnerabilidad y/o violencia. La ausencia de directrices nacionales por parte del gobierno federal dejó a los municipios y a los profesionales de atención primaria de salud a su suerte a la hora de abordar el problema. Envío: 30/03/23| Revisión: 14/06/23| Aprobación: 04/10/23  Objetivo: analisar as percepções de profissionais da atenção primária à saúde de Paranaguá/PR sobre as relações entre a pandemia de COVID-19 e casos de violência doméstica em seus territórios adscritos, identificando desafios na abordagem, impactos nas famílias e manejo dos casos. Metodologia: pesquisa qualitativa com entrevistas semiestruturadas e grupos focais com 36 profissionais de duas unidades básicas de saúde de Paranaguá, litoral paranaense. Resultados: profissionais da atenção primária à saúde foram unânimes em relatar o aumento no número de casos de violência doméstica naquelas comunidades, com impactos tanto para mulheres, quanto para crianças e adolescentes, sendo o fechamento das escolas um fator agravante. Como principais desafios, foram reportados: a desestruturação da atenção primária à saúde durante o auge da pandemia com deslocamento de profissionais e recursos; desinformação sobre fluxos de encaminhamento nos casos de violência doméstica na rede intersetorial; medo dos profissionais, tanto da pandemia, quanto de denunciar casos de violência doméstica; e rotatividade de profissionais. Conclusão: O período de isolamento social causado pela pandemia intensificou os casos de violência doméstica segundo as percepções de profissionais da atenção primária à saúde de Paranaguá. O desmonte da rede intersetorial prejudicou ainda mais o cuidado de pessoas em situação de vulnerabilidade e/ou violência. A ausência de diretrizes nacionais do governo federal deixou municípios e profissionais da atenção primária à saúde à própria sorte para lidar com o problema. Submissão: 30/03/23| Revisão: 14/06/23| Aprovação: 04/10/2

COVID-19 and Cities: from Urban Health strategies to the pandemic challenge. A Decalogue of Public Health opportunities

Background and aim of the work. The ongoing pandemic of COVID-19, which nowadays has exceeded 2.5 million notified infections in the world and about 200,000 deaths, is a strong reminder that urbanization has changed the way that people and communities live, work, and interact, and it’s necessary to make resilient the systems and local capacities to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. How we can re-design the concept of Public Health in relation to the built environment and the contemporary cities? Methods. According to the previous statements and scenario, aim of this paper is to integrate the Urban Health strategic objectives, focusing the possible responses, both immediate and medium-long term, to the current environmental, social, and economic aspects of the “period” of physical distancing. Results. Immediate Actions are 01. program the flexibility of city schedules; 02. plan a smart and sustainable mobility network; 03. define a neighborhood services’ plan; 04. develop a digitization of the urban context, promoting the smart communities; 05. re-think the accessibility to the places of culture and tourism. Medium-long term Actions are 06. design the indoor flexibility of domestic living spaces; 07. re-think building typologies, fostering the presence of semi-private or collective spaces; 08. renovate the basic care services’ network; 09. integrate the existing environmental emergency plans, with those related to the health emergencies; 10. improve stakeholders’ awareness of the factors affecting Public Health in the cities. Conclusions. The Decalogue of Public Health opportunities may provide a useful basis for Designers (Architects and Urban Planners), Policy Makers, Public Health experts and Local Health Agencies, in promoting actions and policies aimed to transform our cities in healthier and Salutogenic living environments

The Italian National Vaccine Prevention Plans, 1999/2020-2023/2025: challenges and obstacles to vaccine coverage goals

Five consecutive national vaccination plans (from 1999 to 2025) were revised, outlining their objectives, challenges, and results. Vaccination coverage for children consistently approached target levels, though regional differences emerged. In contrast, coverage for adolescents, the elderly, and vulnerable groups, consistently fell short of targets. While vaccination policies in Italy over the past 25 years were ambitious and well-planned, success was primarily limited to newborns immunization, thanks to effective organizational activities. Failure to achieve goals for other population groups was partly due to inconsistent implementation of Regional Vaccination Prevention Plans

Digital microclimate simulation models to support innovative management and preventive conservation processes in cultural sites

Among the least investigated aspects in historical architecture, one is the microclimatic behaviour linked to the preventive conservation of cultural heritage. This aspect should be studied intensively since it is closely related to any deterioration phenomenon of materials and can have a crucial role in updating management systems of cultural sites. Today the sensors that monitor environmental parameters can transfer data in real time into a continuous monitoring logic (cloud platforms) and this, in addition to the development of software capable of modelling the thermo-hygrometric behaviour of buildings, opens up new lines of research. The authors believe that it represents one of the most promising areas of investigation and capable of offering greater results in terms of preventive and planned measures. This contribution collects an experience recently conducted, financed by the Ministry of University and Research, in one of the most prestigious Italian museums, the National Archaeological Museum of Naples (MANN). The monitoring and modelling methodologies are illustrated, as well as the objectives of the intervention, with a view to a fruition that holds the psycho-physical well-being of staff and visitors and the conservation of heritage as close as possible. The results are closely linked to the pandemic experience, with the secondary objective of risk prevention for people and cultural heritage