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Cognitive and functional resilience as markers of longevity and successful ageing
No full textSuccessful ageing and lifespan are increasingly recognized as results influenced by the
preservation of cognitive and functional capacities. These indicators or markers, influenced by
genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors, are crucial for maintaining autonomy and quality of
life in advanced age.
Aim: the purpose of this study was to examine the existing empirical research on cognitive
and functional resilience, assessing their roles as biomarkers of lifespan and successful ageing.
Methods/Data Sources: we performed a literature search of peer-reviewed research
investigating cognitive resilience, functional ability, and their predictors.
Results: findings indicate that the maintenance of cognitive and functional abilities,
together with the absence of disease across one’s lifetime are critical markers of successful ageing
and longevity (i.e., Schupf et al., 2004). Rowe and Kahn's framework (1987) highlighted three
essential components, the following: (i) absence of disease, (ii) active engagement or participation
in life, and (iii) maintenance of both cognitive and physical functions. Similarly, the World Health
Organization (WHO, 2020) defines healthy ageing as “the process of developing and maintaining
the functional ability that enables wellbeing in older age”, emphasising the significance of
sustaining abilities such as fulfilling basic needs, acquiring knowledge, making decisions,
preserving mobility, establishing relationships, and contributing to society. Studies such as the
New England Centenarian Study, which collected data on functional activities (ADLs) and
instrumental activities (IADLs) of daily living, medications, major medical diagnosis,
hospitalisation, and life circumstances, revealed that individuals who achieved extreme old age had
generally maintained good health and independence throughout most of their lives (Hitt, YoungXu, Silver and Perls, 1999). Recent empirical studies indicates that cognitive resilience, cognitive
reserve and functional independence are essential for improving quality of life and serve as
predictors of longevity. These parameters are influenced by a complex interplay of genetic,
environmental, and lifestyle, encompassing physical activity, diet, social interaction, and mental
stimulation. The concept of cognitive resilience underscores the brain's ability to adapt for agerelated changes, thereby influencing individual variability in the onset and progression of cognitive
decline (Stern et al., 2019).
Conclusions: cognitive and functional resilience are closely interconnected and play a
pivotal role in promoting healthy ageing and longevity. Ongoing advancements in neuroscience are
elucidating the biological mechanisms underlying ageing, providing prospective methods for early
identification of individuals at risk of decline and the development of personalized interventions to
enhance longevity. Determining efficient strategies and techniques to maintain cognitive and
functional capacities is essential for improving both lifespan and healthspan
Optimization of supercritical CO2 cycles for biomass cogeneration for industrial applications
No full textThe industrial sector emitted 9.0 gigatonnes of CO2 in 2022, representing 25 % of global emissions, highlighting the urgent need for decarbonisation strategies. Biomass-fuelled Combined Heat and Power (CHP) systems offer a promising pathway to reduce primary energy demand and industrial emissions. This study evaluates three supercritical CO2 (sCO2)-based cogeneration architectures compared to standard biomass-fuelled Rankine cycles to assess their potential for enhanced energy and economic performance. The systems were designed to serve an industrial load of 10 ton/hour of 16-bar steam and 8 MW of electricity, typical of a tissue paper mill. Key parameters, including electrical efficiency, primary energy savings (PES), capital expenditures (CAPEX), and levelized cost of electricity (LCOE), were optimized and analyzed. Results demonstrate that at a turbine inlet pressure of 300 bar, sCO2 cycles achieve a PES of up to 13.8 %, significantly outperforming the Rankine cycle (1.9 %). CAPEX for sCO2 systems ranges from €32 million to €40 million, comparable to or lower than Rankine cycles of similar size. Biomass consumption is reduced by 3,500–4,000 tons annually, as reflected in LCOE values of €0.086–€0.095 per kWhel. These findings suggest that sCO2 cycles are a viable and efficient alternative for biomass-based CHP systems, particularly in biomass-scarce scenarios
Design of Reconfigurable Handling Systems for Visual Inspection
No full textIndustrial Vision Inspection Systems (VISs) often struggle to adapt to increasing variability of modern manufacturing due to the inherent rigidity of their hardware architectures. Although the Reconfigurable Manufacturing System (RMS) paradigm was introduced in the early 2000s to overcome these limitations, designing such reconfigurable machines remains a complex, expert-dependent, and time-consuming task. This is primarily due to the lack of structured methodologies and the reliance on trial-and-error processes. In this context, this study proposes a novel theoretical framework to facilitate the design of fully reconfigurable handling systems for VISs, with a particular focus on fixture design. The framework is grounded in Model-Based Definition (MBD), embedding semantic information directly into the 3D CAD models of the inspected product. As an additional contribution, a general hardware architecture for the inspection of axisymmetric components is presented. This architecture integrates an anthropomorphic robotic arm, Numerically Controlled (NC) modules, and adaptable software and hardware components to enable automated, software-driven reconfiguration. The proposed framework and architecture were applied in an industrial case study conducted in collaboration with a leading automotive half-shaft manufacturer. The resulting system, implemented across seven automated cells, successfully inspected over 200 part types from 12 part families and detected more than 60 defect types, with a cycle below 30 s per part
Advancing Industrial Automation: Highlights from Recent Research
No full textIndustries today face several challenges due to rapidly evolving market demands, stringent environmental regulations, and the growing integration of renewable energy sources. Addressing these issues requires the adoption of innovative technologies that foster adaptability, operational efficiency, and resilience [1]. Within this context, key research areas include robust control strategies, advanced fault detection systems, dynamic optimization techniques, and the development of sophisticated real-time monitoring models. These advancements, often based on learning algorithms and real-time problem-solving approaches, hold significant promise for transforming industrial processes. This Special Issue, “Recent Advances in Process Control and Monitoring”, marks the 10th anniversary of Processes by showing a curated selection of contributions. These works highlight notable progress in robust control [2,3,4], fault detection [5,6,7], dynamic optimization [2,8], and the application of cutting-edge monitoring and detection models for real-time solutions [9,10,11]
Development of antimicrobial and hydrophobic hot‐melt BioCoatings for cellulosic and biobased plastic substrates
No full textThis study addresses the growing need for sustainable, functional protection packaging by developing bio-based hot-melt coatings (HMCs) enriched with active biomolecules such as chitin, chitosan, and cutin. Current coatings are petroleum-based and not multi-functional and therefore, there is a necessity to discover more eco-friendly, high-performance alternatives. For this aim, a novel liquid-assisted extrusion process for efficient loading of bioactive compounds into a low-melting poly(butylene sebacate) (PBSe) matrix was explored. Optimized dispersing aids were used to form stable emulsions for homogeneous distribution of the biomolecules and prevention of agglomeration. Thermal and rheological measurements were carried out, and the resultant coatings were applied on both plastic and cellulosic substrates. The most significant findings include an extremely high rise in water repellency (hydrophobic behavior), mechanical behavior, and antimicrobial activity over bare substrates. Such improvement signifies the multifunctional ability of the coatings. The process adopted is easily scalable for industrial applications and represents a sustainable alternative to conventional coatings. Future studies will focus on the optimization of active loadings for specific end-use applications and evaluation of long-term environmental performance. Highlights: Developing bio-based hot-melt coatings with chitin, chitosan, and cutin. Using liquid-assisted extrusion for uniform biomolecule dispersion. Enhancing water repellence and antimicrobial properties. Improving mechanical strength on cellulosic and plastic substrates. Enabling scalable and sustainable industrial applications
Sous Vide Vacuum‐Packed Ipomoea batatas: Exploring the Antimicrobial and Antibiofilm Effects of Elettaria cardamomum Essential Oil Against Salmonella enterica
No full textCardamom, a highly valued spice, is predominantly cultivated in Guatemala and India. The plant is notable for its potent essential oil and unique, pleasant aroma. One of the many potential uses of cardamom essential oil lies within the culinary industry. This study aimed to assess the antimicrobial properties of the essential oil of cardamom (ECEO) in relation to its chemical profile. To achieve this, its antimicrobial activity was evaluated in vitro using the disk diffusion method and determination of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). The most abundant components were α-terpinyl acetate and 1,8-cineole. The findings revealed that gram-positive bacteria were the most sensitive to ECEO, as demonstrated by both methodologies. In situ testing showed that ECEO exhibited strong antimicrobial effects against Bacillus subtilis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which were identified in fruit and vegetable models. Additionally, ECEO was shown to inhibit biofilm formation, as observed in Salmonella enterica. Microbiological assessments further highlighted the exceptional efficacy of ECEO against S. enterica. These findings, in conjunction with prior research, indicate that ECEO possesses highly potent antimicrobial properties, making it a promising candidate for use as a preservative in sweet potatoes
Investigating the heterogeneous effects of a massive content moderation intervention via Difference-in-Differences
No full textIn today's online environments, users encounter harm and abuse on a daily basis. Therefore, content moderation is crucial to ensure their safety and well-being. However, the effectiveness of many moderation interventions is still uncertain. Here, we apply a causal inference approach to shed light on the effectiveness of The Great Ban, a massive social media deplatforming intervention on Reddit. We analyze 53M comments shared by nearly 34K users, providing in-depth results on both the intended and unintended consequences of the ban. Our causal analyses reveal that 15.6% of the moderated users abandoned the platform while the remaining ones decreased their overall toxicity by 4.1%. Nonetheless, a small subset of users exhibited marked increases in both the intensity and volume of toxic behavior, particularly among those whose activity levels changed after the intervention. However, these reactions were not accompanied by greater activity or engagement, suggesting that even the most toxic users maintained a limited overall impact. Our findings bring to light new insights on the effectiveness of deplatforming moderation interventions. Furthermore, they also contribute to informing future content moderation strategies and regulations
Optimizing timing and dose of exogenous melatonin administration in neuropsychiatric pediatric populations: a meta-analysis on sleep outcomes
No full textMelatonin is known to be effective in improving sleep in pediatric patients affected by neurological and psychiatric conditions. However, no guidelines exist advising the most effective treatment schedule. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to identify the dose, time of administration and treatment duration associated with the maximal treatment efficacy. The systematic search, conducted across multiple databases following PRISMA guidelines and including studies published up to April 30, 2024, yielded 21 studies. Mean differences in sleep-related variables between the treatment and the placebo group were considered as study outcomes. Dose-response curves and meta-regression models were fitted to test the effect of treatment-related parameters. Melatonin significantly reduced Sleep onset latency and increased Sleep efficiency and Total sleep time. Sleep onset latency reduction was associated with an advancement in the time between administration with respect to bedtime, while increased Sleep efficiency and Total sleep time with longer treatment durations. Melatonin reached the maximal efficacy between 2 and 4 mg/day. Our results suggest a dose and time of administration that may enhance melatonin's sleep promoting effects (2–4 mg, 3 h before bedtime) and, if replicated by large clinical trials, could guide clinical practice in managing sleep disturbances in children experiencing neuropsychiatric conditions
Appunti di Analisi Matematica Uno
Get PDFQueste note sono nate come appunti per il corso di Analisi Matematica del corso di studi in Fisica dell’Università di Pisa negli anni accademici dal 2017/18 al 2022/23. Le note (come il corso a cui fanno riferimento) riguardano l’analisi delle funzioni di una variabile reale. Gli argomenti trattati sono serie e successioni numeriche, successioni ricorsive, il calcolo differenziale e il calcolo integrale. Viene fatta un minimo di analisi funzionale allo scopo di considerare, come ultimo argomento, lo studio delle equazioni differenziali ordinarie. Da subito vengono introdotti i numeri complessi che vengono utilizzati laddove possono aiutare a dare una visione più unitaria e concettualmente più semplice degli argomenti trattati (in particolare nello studio delle serie di potenze, nella definizione delle funzioni trigonometriche, nella risoluzione delle equazioni differenziali lineari).
Le note sono estensive, non c’è alcun tentativo di concisione. L’obiettivo è quello di raccogliere tutti quei risultati che non sempre è possibile esporre in maniera dettagliata e rigorosa a lezione. Troveremo, ad esempio, la costruzione dei numeri reali, definizioni equivalenti della funzione esponenziale e delle funzioni trigonometriche (con e e π).
Proponiamo la dimostrazione del teorema fondamentale dell’algebra, della formula di Stirling e di Wallis, e dell’irrazionalità di e e di π. Viene proposta una definizione formale dei simboli di Landau o -piccolo e O -grande con i relativi teoremi per trattare queste espressioni. Lo stesso viene fatto per il simbolo di integrale indefinito. Vengono
trattati quei risultati algebrici che permettono di giustificare gli algoritmi per il calcolo delle primitive delle funzioni razionali e per risolvere le equazioni differenziali lineari con il metodo di similarità.
Il primo capitolo, dedicato ai sistemi formali, alla costruzione degli insiemi numerici e alla definizione delle funzioni elementari, vorrebbe dare fondamento matematico a tutte quelle nozioni che lo studente dovrebbe avere già appreso nel curriculum scolastico. Alcuni argomenti trattati nel primo capitolo possono risultare di difficile comprensione
in quanto molto tecnici: si potranno comunque saltare in quanto trattano di concetti che almeno intuitivamente dovrebbero risultare già noti. In particolare la definizione assiomatica dell’insieme dei numeri reali risulta probabilmente molto diversa da come viene usualmente svolta nella maggior parte dei libri di testo che introducono all’analisi matematica: invece di assumere le proprietà di campo (e quindi l’esistenza a priori delle due operazioni di addizione e moltiplicazione) si considera solamente l’operazione di addizione mentre la moltiplicazione viene costruita di conseguenza. Questo approccio è giustificato dall’osservazione che la costruzione della moltiplicazione è esattamente la stessa costruzione che viene usualmente utilizzata per costruire l’operazione di elevamento a potenza. Dunque lo stesso teorema astratto (isomorfismo dei gruppi totalmente ordinati densi e continui) viene utilizzato per costruire la moltiplicazione, le funzioni esponenziali e le funzioni trigonometriche