Virtual museums should not live on the internet through traditional applications sharing collections through simple panoramas or static images and descriptions but reach novel innovative and ...interactive forms of Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR), providing a more creative, intimate, personal learning experience. For this reason, the authors propose a method based on advanced Information Technologies (IT) to fully return the tangible and intangible values of different type of works of art. The primary purpose of this study is to create a system of virtual environments through which the digital user, mainly the visitor of an unconventional museum, will be able to physically interact, through visual and tactile methods, with 3D digital models of sculptures, information, and art objects. Thanks to the integration of the latest 3D modelling and digital survey techniques with the Visual Programming Language (VPL) and eXteded Reality (XR) development platforms, authors propose new levels of interactivity between users and Interactive Virtual Objects (IVOs) capable of coming to life, sharing new forms of real-time human-computer interaction for VR-AR enabled gaming experiences and virtual museums, using multiple devices such VR headset, web-based AR platforms, mobile phones, tablets, and PC workstation.
Spinal muscular atrophy is a rare, autosomal recessive, neuromuscular disease caused by biallelic loss of the survival motor neuron 1 (SMN1) gene, resulting in motor neuron dysfunction. In this ...STR1VE-EU study, we aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of onasemnogene abeparvovec gene replacement therapy in infants with spinal muscular atrophy type 1, using broader eligibility criteria than those used in STR1VE-US.
STR1VE-EU was a multicentre, single-arm, single-dose, open-label phase 3 trial done at nine sites (hospitals and universities) in Italy (n=4), the UK (n=2), Belgium (n=2), and France (n=1). We enrolled patients younger than 6 months (180 days) with spinal muscular atrophy type 1 and the common biallelic pathogenic SMN1 exon 7–8 deletion or point mutations, and one or two copies of SMN2. Patients received a one-time intravenous infusion of onasemnogene abeparvovec (1·1 × 1014 vector genomes vg/kg). The outpatient follow-up consisted of assessments once per week starting at day 7 post-infusion for 4 weeks and then once per month until the end of the study (at age 18 months or early termination). The primary outcome was independent sitting for at least 10 s, as defined by the WHO Multicentre Growth Reference Study, at any visit up to the 18 months of age study visit, measured in the intention-to-treat population. Efficacy was compared with the Pediatric Neuromuscular Clinical Research (PNCR) natural history cohort. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03461289 (completed).
From Aug 16, 2018, to Sept 11, 2020, 41 patients with spinal muscular atrophy were assessed for eligibility. The median age at onasemnogene abeparvovec dosing was 4·1 months (IQR 3·0–5·2). 32 (97%) of 33 patients completed the study and were included in the ITT population (one patient was excluded despite completing the study because of dosing at 181 days). 14 (44%, 97·5% CI 26–100) of 32 patients achieved the primary endpoint of functional independent sitting for at least 10 s at any visit up to the 18 months of age study visit (vs 0 of 23 untreated patients in the PNCR cohort; p<0·0001). 31 (97%, 95% CI 91–100) of 32 patients in the ITT population survived free from permanent ventilatory support at 14 months compared with six (26%, 8–44) of 23 patients in the PNCR natural history cohort (p<0·0001). 32 (97%) of 33 patients had at least one adverse event and six (18%) had adverse events that were considered serious and related to onasemnogene abeparvovec. The most common adverse events were pyrexia (22 67% of 33), upper respiratory infection (11 33%), and increased alanine aminotransferase (nine 27%). One death, unrelated to the study drug, occurred from hypoxic-ischaemic brain damage because of a respiratory tract infection during the study.
STR1VE-EU showed efficacy of onasemnogene abeparvovec in infants with symptomatic spinal muscular atrophy type 1. No new safety signals were identified, but further studies are needed to show long-term safety. The benefit–risk profile of onasemnogene abeparvovec seems favourable for this patient population, including those with severe disease at baseline.
Novartis Gene Therapies.
DIGITAL HUMANITIES: A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO CLASSIFY YELLOW COFFINS Mainieri, S.; Mandelli, A.; Rossi, C.
International archives of the photogrammetry, remote sensing and spatial information sciences.,
02/2022, Letnik:
XLVI-2/W1-2022
Journal Article, Conference Proceeding
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
The Faces Revealed Project takes its lead from innovative research trends that see the combination of different but interconnected skills and competences. It aims at contributing to the study of ...ancient Egyptian coffins by developing a new and efficient methodology based on fast, simple, cost-effective, and portable technique allowing the acquisition of precise and accurate gemetric data. This technology will provide further insights into the manufacture, production, workshops, and possibly the ancient reuse of the Yellow Coffins and may also constribute to the creation of a new way of classifying these coffins.
We compared the prognostic abilities of neurofilament light (NfL) and neuron-specific enolase (NSE) in patients resuscitated from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) of various aetiologies.
We ...analysed frozen blood samples obtained at 24 and 48 hours from OHCA patients treated in 21 Finnish intensive care units in 2010 and 2011. We defined unfavourable outcome as Cerebral Performance Category (CPC) 3–5 at 12 months after OHCA. We evaluated the prognostic ability of the biomarkers by calculating the area under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUROCs 95% confidence intervals) and compared these with a bootstrap method.
Out of 248 adult patients, 12-month outcome was unfavourable in 120 (48.4%). The median (interquartile range) NfL concentrations for patients with unfavourable and those with favourable outcome, respectively, were 689 (146–1804) pg/mL vs. 31 (17–61) pg/mL at 24 h and 1162 (147–4360) pg/mL vs. 36 (21–87) pg/mL at 48 h, p < 0.001 for both. The corresponding NSE concentrations were 13.3 (7.2–27.3) µg/L vs. 8.5 (5.8–13.2) µg/L at 24 h and 20.4 (8.1–56.6) µg/L vs. 8.2 (5.9–12.1) µg/L at 48 h, p < 0.001 for both. The AUROCs to predict an unfavourable outcome were 0.90 (0.86–0.94) for NfL vs. 0.65 (0.58–0.72) for NSE at 24 h, p < 0.001 and 0.88 (0.83–0.93) for NfL and 0.73 (0.66–0.81) for NSE at 48 h, p < 0.001.
Compared to NSE, NfL demonstrated superior accuracy in predicting long-term unfavourable outcome after OHCA.
This paper describes the methodology employed in 2020 to perform the 3D survey of the Tomb TT214 at Deir al-Medina (Egypt). The aim of the archaeological mission was to integrate the evidence ...collected in the past on this tomb with a fresh survey a detailed study of some of its elements and an evaluation of its needs in terms of conservation. In order to achieve this result, the collapse that blocked the entrance to the burial chamber had to be removed, the courtyard was cleared, and the decorated walls and blocks were inspected and surveyed. Digital imaging was used to document all these phases and portions of the work. The aim of the survey team was to identify the most efficient combination of tools and methods to be used during these logistically complex operations, during which it was necessary to coordinate the work of various specialists and of the workmen, as well as to negotiate with the environmental difficulties and constrains. The survey was conducted at two scales, one for the architecture of the funerary complex and one for minute details such as inscriptions and decorations. Beside the routine process, both sets of data underwent a further level of elaboration, in order to extract and highlight further information. The final result of the survey was a navigable 3D model able to produce different outputs, all designed to support the archaeologists on the field and during the post-fieldwork phase of the elaboration of the results. The elaboration of such an integrated model may be paired to the progressive construction of a Digital Twin, a term born from the manufacturing and industrial realm but that may be successfully exported into the archaeological realm.
Osteoporosis and sarcopenia are two conditions associated with aging and characterized by a simultaneous decline in bone and muscle mass, respectively. These conditions share common risk factors ...(genetic, endocrine, nutritional and lifestyle factors) and biological pathways that often co-exist in a syndrome known as osteosarcopenia. Among the endocrine causes, estrogens play a critical role, especially in women. Estrogens have been demonstrated to exert a positive effect on bone and muscle development and maintenance. For this reason, menopause is characterized by a loss in bone mineral density and skeletal muscle quality and quantity. To date, studies indicate a positive effect of hormonal therapy on the prevention and management of osteoporosis, to the point that estrogen is prescribed as a first-line treatment for osteoporosis by the major international authorities. While results on sarcopenia are still disputable, such that estrogens are not recommended to prevent muscle loss in postmenopausal women, increased response to anabolic stimuli with estrogen therapy suggests similar beneficial effects on muscle as seen with bone, particularly when combined with resistance exercise.
The Altamura Man and the paleontological remains are situated within a complex context encompassing logistical, geological, paleoenvironmental, and cultural perspectives. This context is ...exceptionally well-preserved but also fragile, requiring its preservation due to its unique nature. Unresolved inquiries exist in various disciplines, such as archaeology, biocultural studies, ecology, and geology, pertaining to karst formation, taphonomic dynamics, and the cultural and ecological context of the Neanderthal individual found in the cave. Interdisciplinary research was necessary to address these complex questions and understand the broader context of the Lamalunga Cave. Climate change also necessitated attention to preserving the cave’s microclimate and monitoring potential biodegradation. Digital technologies, including photogrammetry and laser scanning, were crucial for monitoring and safeguarding the cave’s cultural heritage. Digital representation, 3D modelling and Digital Twin were essential for managing the cave’s intricacies, analysing its values, and enhancing visual communication. The management of the Lamalunga cave aimed to promote scientific interpretation, safeguard the cave, and provide tools for understanding, storytelling, and further investigation. It was essential to utilise available methodologies and technologies while avoiding destructive interventions. Contemporary technologies have revolutionised the archaeological and paleoanthropological domains, enabling remote study and preservation. Protecting and comprehending the cultural heritage of the cave is linked to its usability, which can be enhanced through digital documentation methodologies to inform visitors about the karst context and promote social and economic development.
In the last decades, thanks to the development of eXtended Reality (XR) development platforms, research studies have envisaged new possibilities for disseminating tangible and intangible values of ...the past through historical virtual reconstructions. More recently, experimentation in the field of virtual archaeology has led to the development of interactive experiences based on advanced virtual and augmented reality (VR-AR) technologies. In this context, the authors intend to support the transmissibility of the historical and cultural background through validated and sustainable workflow-oriented to create virtual historical reconstruction using different sources such as 3D survey (laser scanning and digital photogrammetry), Historic Building Information Modelling (HBIM) models and historical reports. The XR project’s development included reconstructing the main historical sections and water basins of the Cerchia dei Navigli in Milan: the Conca dell’Incoronata, the Conca di Viarenna and Via Senato. The main objective is to achieve realistic and suggestive Virtual Visual Storytelling (VVS), recreating the atmospheres and scenes of everyday life when the waterways were still present. The result is engaging content on an emotional level, which leaves the visitor with dynamic memory and the feeling of reliving lost moments.
This paper aims at presenting the recording and modelling work developed in the framework of restoration and conservation activities for the Basilica di San Giacomo in Como, Italy, whose construction ...started in the 11th century. The project started in 2022 and involved the application of the Historical Building Information Model (HBIM) methodology through a Scan-to-BIM approach was assessed. High-detailed 3D survey techniques were used to acquire the specific shape of the church and annexed buildings. Then, through different modelling strategies, the HBIM environment allowed the representation of all the architectural elements. The purpose of this model is to have essential support to plan the restoration activities and to give the different experts involved a single three-dimensional tool for managing all the information during the development of the construction works. The possibility to update the model over time with geometric and non-geometric information will provide a powerful tool also for other future activities, such as the installation of a monitoring system that could reveal the displacements of bearing elements of the church.
In the architectural survey field, there has been the spread of a vast number of automated techniques. However, it is important to underline the gap that exists between the technical specification ...sheet of a particular instrument and its usability, accuracy and level of automation reachable in real cases scenario, especially speaking about Cultural Heritage (CH) field. In fact, even if the technical specifications (range, accuracy and field of view) are known for each instrument, their functioning and features are influenced by the environment, shape and materials of the object. The results depend more on how techniques are employed than the nominal specifications of the instruments. The aim of this article is to evaluate the real usability, for the 1:50 architectonic restitution scale, of common and not so common survey techniques applied to the complex scenario of dark, intricate and narrow spaces such as service areas, corridors and stairs of Milan’s cathedral indoors. Tests have shown that the quality of the results is strongly affected by side-issues like the impossibility of following the theoretical ideal methodology when survey such spaces. The tested instruments are: the laser scanner Leica C10, the GeoSLAM ZEB1, the DOT DPI 8 and two photogrammetric setups, a full frame camera with a fisheye lens and the NCTech iSTAR, a panoramic camera. Each instrument presents advantages and limits concerning both the sensors themselves and the acquisition phase.