The pandemic widened the questions on the typological, functional, and managerial inadequacy of the university housing, highlighting its limits and criticality. A polycrisis that suggests to ...critically rethink the spatial, organizational, functional, and managerial models, to reflect on the opportunity to open to the needs of new and varied users, not necessarily academics, but above all to broaden the reasoning to the policies tied to the EU internationalization programs. To this end, a new overall vision seems urgent, able to accompany the recovery in terms of innovation, and inaugurate, in competition with the use of the substantial funding of the PNRR, a new season of student accommodation interventions.
Carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) is one of the best non-invasive parameters for evaluating previous vascular lesions and could be used to identify a preclinical stage of the atherosclerotic ...process. The aim of our research was to develop an epidemiological study of the normal mean values of IMT of the common carotid artery, adjusted for age and sex, in the Italian population.
In this multicenter study, a total of 1017 patients (596 males, mean age: 58.5 + 13.2 years) were enrolled at four different Italian centers. Inclusion criteria were the absence of cardiovascular risk factors or presence of not more than one. Patients underwent two-dimensional echo-color Doppler scanning of the carotid arteries, adopting a high-definition vascular echographic apparatus and a 11-3 MHz linear electronic probe. The arithmetical mean of the IMT value was calculated. Data obtained from this study show the carotid IMT changes in relation to age and sex. In particular, it grows higher with increasing age, and is always higher in men than in women.
In relation to the percentile distribution of the values in the population analyzed, the normal range of m-IMT could be established just on the basis of the patient's age and sex. In this way, the ultrasound scan operator can rely on a simple reference scheme. This will help to refine the use of carotid ultrasound as an excellent tool for detecting asymptomatic carotid alterations and patients at high risk for cerebral and cardiovascular disease.
In a competitive university system, student residences represent an essential infrastructure to support not only hospitality needs but also educational and training activities, promoting concepts of ...independence, and fostering reciprocal relational exchanges and supports. In order to respond immediately to the current shortage of accommodation places, it is possible to use prefabricated modular housing systems. Thanks to the study of literature and case studies, this paper describes the evolution of this construction system, highlighting limits and potentials. It also provides an overview that defines the reasons and opportunities that could suggest its greater use in the university housing sector, at a time when the speed of execution, product quality and respect for costs are increasingly important factors. Article info Received: 15/09/2023; Revised: 08/10/2023; Accepted: 20/10/2023
Si e dovuto fare ricorso a soluzioni emergenziali, come ridurre a un solo occupante camere doppie o triple, contingentare nell'uso gli spazi condivisi, dalle sale studio alle cucine comuni, ...organizzare programmi di turnazione per gruppi ridotti di utenti, inducendo molti studenti a confinarsi nei propri alloggi e far ricorso a servizi come il food delivery. Le unita abitative sono forzatamente diventate ambiti spaziali ibridi e/o multifunzionali, dove svolgere una pluralita di attivita: assistere a lezioni, studiare in solitudine, consumare i pasti, fare attivita motoria, ecc. Gli exchange student programs sono stati compromessi, costringendo moltissimi universitari a rinunciare all'interazione e integrazione con il paese ospitante (Cairns et al., 2021). Sul piano gestionale, una survey del 2020 ha inoltre confermato come sia i gestori di alloggi privati sia quelli universitari abbiano risposto alla situazione pandemica in svariati modi: il 40,5% ha permesso agli studenti tornati a casa di annullare il contratto, il 16,7% ha fornito sconti sull'affitto, il 23,8% ha concesso un periodo di affitto gratuito (The Class Foundation, 2020).
Endogenous hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia (EHH) is a rare clinical condition. The aim of this study was to evaluate baseline plasma cortisol concentration and its concentration during hypoglycemic ...crisis in fasting tests (FT) performed in our center. Secondarily, the aim was to establish the relationship between baseline cortisol and the time of evolution of EHH.
A retrospective, observational, descriptive study was carried out which included patients with hypoglycemic disorder with positive FT.
Of a total of 21 patients, 16 presented insulinoma, 1 nesidioblastosis, 2 malignant insulinoma and 2 EHH without pathological diagnosis. The time from the onset of symptoms to diagnosis was 2 years (Q1=1.5-Q2=5.5). The comparison between median baseline cortisol (BC)=11.8 mcg/dl (nmol/L 340.68) (Q1=9-Q3=14.1) and median cortisol during hypoglycemic episode (HC)=11.6 mcg/dl (nmol/L: 303.44) (Q1=7.8-Q3=16.1) showed no differences (Z=-0.08; P>.05). When correlating BC with HC, no significant relationship was observed (r=0.16; P>.05). When correlating the glycemic value in the crisis and the HC, a slight negative trend was found (r=-0.53; P=.01). In addition, we found that recurrent hypoglycemic disorder is associated with lower baseline cortisol values the longer the time of its evolution.
We confirmed that cortisol values remain low during hypoglycemic episodes, reinforcing the hypothesis of lack of response of this counterregulatory hormone in cases of recurrent hypoglycemia.
