Civil engineering

Poiché gli Attacchi di Panico possono manifestarsi nel contesto di qualsiasi Disturbo d'Ansia come pure in altri disturbi mentali (per es., Disturbi dell'Umore, Disturbi Correlati a Sostanze) ed in alcune condizioni mediche generali (per es., cardiache, respiratorie, vestibolari, gastrointestinali). La caratteristica essenziale di un Attacco di Panico è un periodo preciso di paura o disagio intensi in assenza di vero pericolo accompagnati da almeno 4 sintomi somatici o cognitivi su 13. I sintomi possono essere somatici o cognitivi ed includono palpitazioni, sudorazioni, tremori fini o a grandi scosse, sensazioni di dispnea o di soffocamento, sensazione di asfissia, dolore o fastidio al petto, nausea o disturbi addominali, vertigini o sensazione di testa leggera, derealizzazione o depersonalizzazione, paura di perdere il controllo o di ''impazzire'', paura di morire, parestesie e brividi o vampate di calore. L'attacco ha un inizio improvviso, raggiunge rapidamente l'apice (di solito in 10 minuti o meno), ed è spesso accompagnato da un senso di pericolo o di catastrofe imminente e da urgenza di allontanarsi. L'ansia che è caratteristica di un Attacco di Panico può essere differenziata dall'ansia generalizzata per la sua precisa, quasi parossistica natura e per la sua gravità tipicamente maggiore. Gli attacchi che soddisfano tutti gli altri criteri, ma sono caratterizzati da meno di 4 sintomi somatici o cognitivi, sono considerati attacchi paucisintomatici. Esistono tre tipi caratteristici di Attacchi di Panico: -inaspettati (non provocati), sono definiti come quelli in cui il soggetto non associa l'esordio dell'attacco con un fattore scatenante situazionale interno o esterno (cioè l'attacco di panico viene avvertito come spontaneo, a ''ciel sereno''); -causati dalla situazione (provocati), sono definiti come quelli in cui l'attacco si manifesta quasi invariabilmente, subito durante l'esposizione a, o nell'attesa di, uno stimolo o fattore scatenante situazionale (per es., un soggetto con Fobia Sociale che ha un Attacco di Panico che inizia pensando di parlare in pubblico); -sensibili alla situazione, sono simili agli Attacchi di Panico causati dalla situazione, ma non sono invariabilmente associati allo stimolo e non si manifestano necessariamente subito dopo l'esposizione (per es., è più probabile che gli attacchi si manifestino durante la guida, ma alcune volte l'individuo guida e non ha un Attacco di Panico oppure l'Attacco di Panico si manifesta dopo aver guidato per una mezz'ora). Ciascun tipo di Attacco di Panico è definito da un set diverso di relazioni fra l'esordio dell'attacco e la presenza o l'assenza di fattori scatenanti situazionali che includono stimoli esterni (per es., un soggetto con claustrofobia ha un attacco mentre si trova in un ascensore bloccato fra i piani) o interni (per es., percezioni catastrofiche riguardo le irradiazioni di palpitazioni cardiache). Gli individui che richiedono cure per Attacchi di Panico inaspettati descrivono solitamente la paura come intensa e riferiscono di avere pensato di essere in procinto di morire, di potere perdere il controllo, di avere un infarto del miocardio o un ictus o di "impazzire". Riferiscono di solito anche un desiderio urgente di fuggire dal luogo in cui si sta manifestando l'attacco. Con il ripetersi degli Attacchi di Panico inaspettati, nel tempo gli attacchi tipicamente diventano causati o provocati dalla situazione, benché possano persistere attacchi inaspettati. Per la diagnosi di Disturbo di Panico (con o senza Agorafobia) è richiesto il manifestarsi di Attacchi di Panico inaspettati. Gli attacchi causati dalla situazione e sensibili alla situazione sono frequenti nel Disturbo di Panico, ma si manifestano anche nel contesto di altri Disturbi d'Ansia e di altri disturbi mentali. Per esempio, gli Attacchi di Panico causati dalla situazione sono vissuti dalla maggior parte dei soggetti con Fobia Sociale (per es., la persona ha un Attacco di Panico ogni volta che deve parlare in pubblico) e con Fobie Specifiche (per es., una persona con una Fobia Specifica per i cani ha un Attacco di Panico ogni volta che incontra un cane che abbaia), mentre gli Attacchi di Panico sensibili alle situazioni si manifestano più tipicamente nel Disturbo d'Ansia Generalizzato (per es., dopo aver visto in televisione nuovi programmi che annunciano una recessione economica, la persona si fa sopraffare dalle preoccupazioni relative alle sue finanze e si aggrava fino ad avere un Attacco di Panico) e nel Disturbo Post-traumatico da Stress (per es., la vittima di una violenza sessuale talvolta ha un Attacco di Panico quando si confronta con situazioni che ricordano l'evento traumatico, quali vedere un uomo che le ricorda l'assalitore).

The archaeological site of Pompeii includes a series of masonry towers belonging to the remains of the ancient aqueduct system, i.e. Castellum Aquae system. Among the fourteen water towers still standing, four of them (no. 1, 2, 3 and 4) have been recently investigated by non-destructive techniques (sonic waves, georadar, ambient vibration tests), aimed at gathering information on the constructive systems and the current conservation conditions, as well as data on the overall dynamic behaviour. Originally, the towers were crowned by a lead water container at their top, serving as collector of water for the distribution to the city. The different states of art of the towers are investigated in order to assess the different levels of vulnerability and damages. These types of structures are characterized by a highly non-linear dynamic response in which rocking and sliding motions take place.
Three different approaches are used to evaluate the vulnerability of masonry structures:
the kinematic approach is a fundamental method based on the equilibrium conditions; the main parameter is the geometry of the structure. The material characteristics are less relevant parameters as they influence only the position of the hinge. The finite element approach is a common method based on the numerical integration of the system equations; the main parameter is the mechanical characterization of the materials, the geometry is less relevant since a proper mesh is able to sufficiently represent the behaviour of the structure. The discrete element approach is a sophisticated numerical method based on the integration of the equation of motion; the main parameters are the mechanical characteristics of the materials (in particular on its interfaces) and the geometry, especially for the evaluation of the rocking behaviour.
The results of these analyses are here processed, discussed and compared in order to assess the seismic vulnerability of the towers.

The paper describes the approach followed in the characterization of the structural behavior of the historical masonry church of San Filippo Neri in Macerata, severely damaged and condemned after the Central Italy Earthquake occurred in October 2016. The case study of San Filippo Neri is particularly interesting: first for the historical and artistic importance of the church furthermore for the evidences of recurrent structural damage. The laboratory of Proof and Research on Structures and Materials of Roma Tre University carried out an extensive onsite testing campaign-including geometric survey, flat-jack test and ambient vibration test-in order to investigate the state of the building. Operational modal analysis was used to assess the dynamic behavior of the church; the results of the testing campaign were interpreted and correlated with an accurate finite element model of the construction. The numerical model was finally tuned up based on the experimental results in order to match the dynamic behavior. The aim of the research is to set the first steps for an integrated approach able to fit and combine the results from experimental onsite testing and numerical modelling.

The paper describes the approach followed in the characterization of the structural behavior of the historical masonry church of San Filippo Neri in Macerata, severely damaged and con- demned after the Central Italy Earthquake occurred in October 2016. The case study of San Filippo Neri is particularly interesting: first for the historical and artistic importance of the church furthermore for the evidences of recurrent structural damage.
The laboratory of Proof and Research on Structures and Materials of Roma Tre University carried out an extensive onsite testing campaign – including geometric survey, flat-jack test and ambient vibration test – in order to investigate the state of the building. Operational modal analysis was used to assess the dynamic behavior of the church; the results of the testing cam- paign were interpreted and correlated with an accurate finite element model of the construc- tion. The numerical model was finally tuned up based on the experimental results in order to match the dynamic behavior.
The aim of the research is to set the first steps for an integrated approach able to fit and com- bine the results from experimental onsite testing and numerical modelling.

Le masse accordate sono tra i più comuni ed affidabili sistemi di smorzamento delle azioni dinamiche. L'utilizzo di una massa esterna opportunamente dimensionata e collegata alla struttura esistente permette importanti miglioramenti delle performance dinamiche. Il presente elaborato propone la progettazione di un intervento di adeguamento sismico attraverso un sistema di masse accordate non convenzionale (non-conventional Tuned Mass Damper) che sfrutta la massa esistente dell'ultimo impalcato di un edificio in calcestruzzo armato.
A tale scopo, è stata effettuata la progettazione di un nuovo solaio di copertura in acciaio (sovrastruttura) opportunamente vincolato alla struttura esistente (sottostruttura) attraverso isolatori sismici flessibili HDRB.

The building, known as the Temple of Minerva Medica, dates back to the 4th century A.D. The building presents different critical aspects: first of all the monumental pillars rest on pre-existing archaeological sites and inhomogeneous layers of soils, moreover the integrity of the structure is endangered by severe vibrations induced by the frequent transit of the nearby trains and the local tramway. Due to the instability of the surviving portion of the dome (the main part collapsed in cia tion and consolidation interventions. These works restored the majesty and reliability of this monument that is undervalued and often forgotten. Onsite testing gained a fundamental role in the identification of the construction, in particular, Ambient Vibration Test (AVT) provides global information on the overall dynamic characteristics of the structures. This paper, through the case study of the Temple of Miner-va Medica, aims to prove the reliability of Operational Modal Analysis (OMA) in the identification of the dynamic behaviour of a large masonry building (natural frequencies, modal damping and modal deformations). Two sets of measurements were recorded by the laboratory of Proof testing and Research on Structures and Material (PRiSMa) sonable number of accelerometers, were suitably positioned and the dynamic response of the structure to wind and the surrounding traffic was recorded; the measurements of the two halves of the temple were processed and later merged through the Multi-Run technique in order to identify the dynamic behaviour of the entire structure.

Analysis and diagnosis of historical masonry buildings are frequently affected by uncertainties due to unexpected behaviors caused by cumulative damage, material decay or transformations. This research work follows a methodology in the structural analysis of the historical masonry church of San Filippo Neri in Macerata, severely damaged after the Central Italy Earthquake occurred in October 2016. The PRiSMa laboratory (Proof testing and Research in Structures and Materials) of Roma Tre University carried out an extensive onsite testing campaign, including NDT tests as sonic tomography and endoscopy, and minor destructive technique as double flat jack test, together with dynamic monitoring under ambient vibrations, to investigate the state of conservation of the building. The onsite testing results were then implemented in an accurate finite element model, which was tuned up by means of global dynamic response provided by OMA (operational modal analysis) and updated, after the sensit...

The archaeological site of Pompeii is an extraordinary evidence of Roman architectural heritage which comprehends a large number of masonry constructions, buried after the Vesuvius eruption in 79 AD. They were discovered in the XVIII century when renewed cultural interest induced numerous archaeological excavations. In this scenario, the remains of the Roman aqueduct system, i.e. Castellum Aquae system [1], includes a series of approximately 6 m height masonry water towers (WTs). Among the fourteen surveyed, four free-standing towers (i.e. no. 1, 2, 3 and 4) have been investigated in 2015 by means of non-destructive techniques (sonic pulse velocity tests, ground penetrating radar (GPR), ambient vibration tests), aimed at gathering information on the constructive systems and the current conservation state, as well as data on the overall dynamic behaviour. According to the on-site inspections outcomes, 3D finite element models of the towers were constructed and calibrated on the results of operational modal analysis (OMA) [3]. The model updating procedure was able to describe and simulate the soil-structure interaction, introducing a Winkler elastic soil model [2], and to define the elastic parameters of masonry. This paper describes the seismic vulnerability assessment of the four WTs, considering both equilibrium capacity and material strength, performing analytical kinematic analyses and numerical finite element modelling. Aiming at improving the previous studies [4], equivalent modal parameters (i.e. natural frequencies and mode shapes) are used to calibrate analytical models and furtherly refine FE model updating. The numerical models were generated using DIANA software [5], implementing a nonlinear constitutive law for masonry material, i.e. total strain crack model. Afterwards, sensitivity analyses are performed to calibrate both the elastic properties of materials and the Winkler springs' stiffness. Eventually, analytical kinematic approach and FE pushover analyses (with uniform and modal force distribution) are executed to assess the seismic vulnerability of the WTs, according to Italian code [6]. Results of the analyses are presented and discussed. The study was the occasion to compare the results of kinematic and numerical procedures applied to archaeological structures.

In Roman Baths, the Romans employed barrel and groin vaults of great dimensions, with maximum span more than 20 m; simple tools of structural analysis of ancient wide span vaulted halls are still lacking, due to geometrical and material complexity. In this paper, we study the collapse behavior, under horizontal static action, of a corner cross vault of the Baths of Diocletian in Rome (Hall I). Two methods of analysis are here used: non-linear incremental finite element and limit analysis. In both cases, 3D models have been developed by means of UAV inspection, NDT measures, and AVT monitoring. The construction of the overall 3D geometry has been here afforded with a specific pre-processing approach. Midas commercial software has been employed for FEM analysis, assuming a constitutive law specifically developed for Roman concrete. In limit analysis, masonry is discretized as a system of interacting rigid bodies in no-tension and frictional contact. The computational code consists in ...

During the last decades, conservation and structural safety assessment of historical buildings gained great importance, in particular, the prediction of the dynamic response of historical masonry constructions plays a central role in the structural analysis. In this scenario, finite element modelling proved to be the most common and available approach to study the behaviour of complex masonry structures, however the gap between numerical and experimental analysis may lead to erroneous results.

Nowadays, the research in the fields of conservation and restoration is focusing on recording large amounts of data and information in order to obtain highly accurate surveys that include most details of constructions. Documenting and surveying are fundamental activities in achieving the successful preservation of cultural heritage, but also in implementing efficient strengthening interventions of structures. The applications of methods and techniques that link the disciplines of geometrical surveys and structural analyses are still fragmented, and further research is necessary to fully transfer site information into structural models. In this article, the authors propose a methodology with which to link different restoration fields, with the aim of highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of the interoperability between surveys (carried out through detailed restitution from point clouds), heritage building information modeling (HBIM), and structural analyses to connect three diffe...

A comprehensive study was carried out to integrate information from different sources and evaluate the effects of induced vibrations on a temple. Historical analysis was fundamental to interpreting the evolution of the construction and defining the HBIM. Experimental data were implemented in the FEM of the site, including the temple, its foundations, and the soil stratifications. Sensitivity analysis was carried out to identify the most influential parameters, which were calibrated to reduce error with the experimental frequencies. The FEM was further optimized with the Douglas–Reid method, considering, simultaneously, modal frequencies and deformations. Two different nonlinear dynamic analyses were performed; one analysis studied the effect on the temple of the dynamically moving load of the tram, and the other analysis studied the response of the temple to three-dimensional accelerations applied at the base. The drawbacks of each simulation were identified by comparing the numeric...

Background: Clinical strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa possess a wide diversity of antibiotic resistance and genetic characteristics. Objectives: This study aimed to determine the antibiotic susceptibility patterns and genotypes of P. aeruginosa isolated from patients with nosocomial infections. Methods: We tested 149 samples for P. aeruginosa isolation, confirmed by PCR. The Multi, Extensively, and Pan-drug resistant strains were detected through CLSI guidelines. All isolates were subjected to ERIC-PCR genotyping using specific primers. The antibiotic patterns and ERIC types were analyzed statistically using specific software. Results: Seventy-six (51%) isolates were confirmed as P. aeruginosa. Among them, 86.8% were determined as MDR, 81.5% as XDR, and 5.3% as PDR. Eight E-types were detected, which belonged to two main clusters with a similarity rate of over 70%. Cluster B, composed of E-types G and H, was a dominant cluster. Interestingly all of these cluster members were isolat...

Geophagy is the habit of consuming clay soil such as chalk or kaolin. Though it is globally practiced, the safety of those involved is yet to be fully established. It is thought to be highly prevalent in pregnant women because of its antinausea or therapeutic effects. This practice is also thought to be provoked by some nutritional needs, but in modern society its etiology is obscure. The mineralogical and chemical compositions of clay may vary from one region to another and even in all form of rocks clay constitutes. Published articles in geophagy indicate lack of adequate investigations into the toxicity of geophagy, though it is globally practiced and more prevalent in Africa (as a continent) or in Africans migrants. Some studies have helped to identify some minerals that are toxic to human if ingested. In most cases, the potential toxicity emphasized by these studies is based on the detection of the presence of these nuisance elements in the geophagic materials. Scientifically, ...

This paper describes the activities that have been necessary to design, fabricate, control and test some low-cost test stands independently developed by the students enrolled in the course of Micro-Nano sensors and actuators for the postgraduate course in Industrial Nanotechnologies Engineering of the University of Rome La Sapienza. The construction and use of these test stands are an essential part of teaching and learning methods whose theoretical bases have been presented in the companion paper (Part 1). Each test stand is composed of a compliant structure and a control system, which consists of a programmable control micro-card equipped with sensors and actuators. The compliant structure consists of a compliant mechanism whose geometry is achieved by scaling some previously developed silicon micromanipuators and microactuators up to the macroscale by a factor of 20. This macroscale model offered a kinesthetic tool to improve the understanding of the original microsystems and the...