Archivio istituzionale della ricerca - Università dell'Insubria
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Salivary pH after taking coffee with and without sugar
No full textBACKGROUND: Caries weakens and destroys the hard structures of the tooth, affecting up to 90% of the population and which manifests itself very early. The aim of this study was to evaluate the pH variation by taking coffee and coffee with or without sugar having performed or not the usual home oral hygiene. METHODS: Fourteen adult volunteers in good oral health and no history of any type of systemic disease, with PSR2 and DMFT = 0. The oral pH was measured for a total duration of 40 minutes with the aid of a pH Day2® pH meter. In all, 56 surveys were carried out on the 14 volunteers. Five minutes after the base pH procedure, the subject was given an espresso (Nescafè Dolce Gusto, Espresso Intenso, Nestlè, S.A Vevey), with or without sucrose, and the pH measurements continued for another 35 minutes; at the end of which the instrument was turned off, and the instrument data was downloaded to the PC. The volunteers were asked to suspend their routine oral hygiene from the evening before both for the administration of coffee without sucrose and for the administration of coffee with sucrose. In the other two surveys, they were asked to carry out their routine oral hygiene in the case coffee with sugar or without sugar. RESULTS: In all the subjects there was a clear reduction in salivary pH about four minutes after finishing the coffee. Subsequently, in those who had taken coffee without sucrose there was an immediate rise in salivary pH; on the other hand, those who had taken coffee with sugar. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that in order to maintain a basic pH of the oral cavity it is advisable to drink coffee without sugar, and carrying out proper oral hygiene correctly
Molecular profiling of tissue and circulating cancer-related ncRNA in hepatocellular carcinoma
No full textHuman hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common liver cancer and the third
leading cause of cancer-related death. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), including miRNAs and
long ncRNAs (lncRNAs), play a role in almost all aspects of cancer biology and have emerged
as novel therapeutic targets and valuable candidates with clinical translational potential in
cancer management. In HCC, we have described the tumor suppressor roles of miR-193a-3p
and miR-23b-3p, and we have identified the dysregulation of lncRNA GAS5 and miR-126-3p in
HCC cells treated with sorafenib, a multikinase inhibitor used for the treatment of advanced
HCC. Here, to further elucidate the function of these ncRNAs in HCC and assess their
potential as molecular indicators, we evaluated the levels of the selected ncRNAs in tissue
and liquid biopsies of HCC patients. The expression of miR-193a-3p, miR-23b-3p, and
miR-126-3p was significantly reduced in HCCs compared to peritumoral tissues. Interestingly,
high miR-193a-3p levels in HCCs were associated with prolonged OS and DFS of patients.
Regarding the circulating levels of the selected ncRNAs, miR-193a-3p resulted undetectable,
whereas miR-23b-3p and GAS5 were lower and miR-126-3p was higher in plasma of HCC
patients versus healthy individuals. The ROC curve analysis underlined the diagnostic
relevance of all the aforementioned ncRNAs. Finally, miR-23b-3p, miR-126-3p and GAS5 were
preliminarily evaluated in longitudinally collected plasma from a small group of HCC patients
treated with sorafenib (n=7). The results showed variations in the levels of these ncRNAs
during the follow-up, and interestingly miR-23b-3p significantly increased one month after
sorafenib treatment. Overall, these data highlight the promising translational relevance of the
selected ncRNAs in HCC and their potential involvement in the response to sorafenib
treatmen
Simultaneous Dynamic Light Scattering, Absorbance and Photoluminescence Measurements of Colloidal Nanoparticles. Application to Colloidal Stability and Aggregation Kinetics of CsPbBr3 Nanocrystals
No full textAn original but simple instrument is developed, capable of performing simultaneous Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), Absorbance (ABS), and Photoluminescence (PL) measurements on suspensions of colloidal nanoparticles. The instrument is designed as a standard laboratory tool that, by using only commercial components, enables rapid analysis of the sample under investigation. The setup offers two significant benefits: first, it allows for the simultaneous analysis of the very same sample, overcoming limitations arising from the measurements being performed on distinct specimens, under diverse experimental settings, at different times; second, it enables to monitor the kinetic evolution of nanocrystals (Ncs) colloidal stability in time, with a time resolution of ≈ 100 s, which is considerably shorter than typical timescales related to aggregation kinetics or other colloidal instability-related phenomena. The suitability of the instrument for characterizing time-resolved processes is assessed through the case study of the long-term instability of oleic acid/oleylamine-capped colloidal CsPbBr3 NCs suspensions driven by dilution. It is found that, as ligands gradually desorb from the surface, the suspension becomes unstable, displaying two rather unexpected processes: the formation of transient randomly arranged NCs aggregates that reach micron-sized dimensions, followed by the coalescence of the original NCs into larger crystalline domains
Sustainable polypropylene chair: A life cycle assessment and cost analysis of industrial production
Get PDFDue to their multiple properties, including flexibility, lightness, and strength, thermoplastics are an essential material in the development of processes at both industrial and domestic levels. However, thermoplastics are often derived from polymers synthesized using non-renewable petroleum resources. This has environmental consequences. The following research is proposed as the first environmental and economic impact evaluation of the extrusion and molding process of polypropylene (PP) generated by an industrial site for monobloc plastic chair production, through a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Cost Analysis (CA) methodology. The analysis was conducted using SimaPro v10.1 software, Ecoinvent v3.10 database, and ReCiPe 2016 v1.07 impact assessment method. This study proposes multiple mitigative scenarios applicable to reduce the business-as-usual impact. Primary data was collected in 2024. The results show a significant environmental impact reduction caused by the substitution of the virgin PP with the recycled PP (-39%), a lower one generated by the substitution of the Italian country energy mix with the adoption of renewable energy sources (-12%), and a global added reduction obtained summarizing the two alternatives (-55%). The economic impacts are, instead, slightly influenced by the change in input raw materials, due to similar market costs. However, the cost reductions associated with the change in energetic source can be considered not negligible, excluding the plant design and commissioning costs. This research provides decision-makers with valuable guidance for implementing PP production plants, promoting sustainability and a circular economy. Advancing these prerogatives supports the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDGs 3, 11, and 13
Self-consistent analysis for the ηc →γγ process
No full textThe next-to-next-to-leading-order (NNLO) perturbative QCD (pQCD) predictions for both the decay width and the transition form factor in the ηc→γγ process, based on nonrelativistic QCD (NRQCD), deviate from precise experimental measurements. These significant discrepancies have cast doubt on the applicability of NRQCD to charmonium processes. In this paper, we analyze the ηc→γγ process by applying the principle of maximum conformality (PMC), a systematic method for eliminating renormalization scheme-and-scale ambiguities. The PMC renormalization scales are determined by absorbing the nonconformal β-terms that govern the behavior of the QCD running coupling via the renormalization group equation. We obtain the PMC scale Q⋆=4.49mc for the ηc→γγ decay width. Even after using the PMC method, the convergence of the pQCD series is still poor, which indicates the importance of uncalculated next-to-next-to-next-to-leading-order and higher-order terms. The resulting value for Γηc→γγ is in agreement with the Particle Data Group's reported value of Γηc→γγ=5.1±0.4 keV within the bounds of uncertainties. Moreover, the transition form factor obtained using the PMC is also in good agreement with precise experimental measurements. The application of the PMC suggests a potential resolution to ηc→γγ puzzle and supports the applicability of NRQCD to charmonium processes
The efficient identification of horizontal meandering in raw ultrasonic anemometer data
No full textThis paper shows a new experimental method for the detection and identification of sub-mesoscale low-frequency components, in particular horizontal meandering, in raw data from three-axial ultrasonic anemometers and other high resolution, high sampling-rate three-dimensional wind sensors. The proposed method is a combination of autocorrelation-based detection and FFT-based filtering, well known in literature. The results of the application of the described method to a sample of hourly raw data files are shown as well. The method can be used as a building block for eddy covariance and other data processing procedures as well as in all the situations where very short time scales (about 10s) are relevant, such as in odour or toxic chemical dispersion
Sustainable tourism and technology: the case of glamping in the Puglia region
No full textIn response to the many challenges of the changed competitive scenario, tourism has had to adapt and innovate, bringing out new trends that highlight a significant transition towards more conscious and sustainable forms of tourism. This transformation is not only an immediate response to the challenges of the external environment, but represents a deeper change in the approach of tourism and tourist players to travel. In this context, Glamping short for “glamorous camping” stands out as a unique and fascinating alternative. It fits harmoniously between contemporary needs for comfort and the aspiration for a more authentic experience in contact with nature. This form of tourism allows travelers to enjoy the services and comforts offered by sophisticated accommodations, while experiencing a return to their origins, immersing themselves in the beauty and serenity of unspoiled natural environments. In this way, Glamping presents itself as an alternative response, fitting perfectly into the emerging narrative of more responsible and environmentally conscious tourism, reflecting the new perspectives of travelers eager to connect more meaningfully with the world around them. This essay aims to analyze the major trends of sustainable tourism in Italy, with a look at the market and the development opportunities of Glamping, which is taking on interesting dimensions. The presentation of a case study will give a concrete and applicative slant to this paper. This case study concerns a Glamping project (still in its infancy), located in the rural area of the Umbra Forest in Puglia. Through direct interviews and interviews with the creator and director of the project, we will obtain a practical and detailed view of the challenges and opportunities faced in the implementation of a sustainable tourism project. In order to generate sustainable project development, technology plays a key role. The case study demonstrates how by combining a direct and tangible approach focused on ‘face-to-face’ interaction with the public with a strategic digital approach (based on the publication of digital content promoting the tourist facility and communicating its values), it is possible to generate value and contribute to sustainable tourism development. The case study not only represents a tangible example of eco-friendly tourism but is organically part of the regional strategy aimed at promoting responsible tourism and counteracting seasonality
Modeling Interaction Patterns in Visualizations with Eye-Tracking: A Characterization of Reading and Information Styles
No full textIn data visualization, users' scanning patterns are as crucial as their reading patterns in text-based media. Yet, no systematic attempt exists to characterize this activity with basic features, such as reading speed and scanpaths, nor to relate them to data complexity and information disposition. To fill this gap, this paper proposes a model-based method to analyze and interpret those features from eye-tracking data. To this end, the bias-noise model is applied to a data visualization eye-tracking dataset available online, and enriched with areas of interest labels. The positive results of this method are as follows: (i) the identification of users' reading styles like meticulous, systematic, and serendipitous; (ii) the characterization of information disposition as gathered or scattered, and of information complexity as more or less dense; (iii) the discovery of a behavioural pattern of efficiency, given that the more visualizations were read by a participant, the greater their reading speed, consistency, and predictability of reading; (iv) the identification of encoding and title areas of interest as the primary loci of attention in visualizations, with a peculiar back-and-forth reading pattern; (v) the identification of the encoding area of interest as the fastest to read in less dense visualization types, such as bars, circles, and lines charts. Future experiments involving participants from diverse cultural backgrounds could not only validate the observed behavioural patterns, but also enrich the experimental framework with additional perspectives
ITV-net: a dataset of intraspecific leaf traits data across major Italian habitats
No full textOver the last decades plant ecology has greatly benefited from open data on functional traits. Nowadays, several national and international trait databases are available, but trait data from Southern European countries are generally missing or underrepresented. In addition, most of the available databases lack detailed trait information at the intraspecific level, an important source of trait variation linked to species potential for adaptation. Data were gathered from 21 Italian research groups. Individual measurements of leaf area (LA) and specific leaf area (SLA) for the most abundant vascular plant species were provided at the plot level using standardised protocols of trait measurement. The ITV-net dataset includes 8,518 records of leaf area (LA) and specific leaf area (SLA) in 1,043 georeferenced plots spanning most of the Italian peninsula and eight EUNIS habitat types. Individual LA and SLA measurements are available for 709 native and alien species (77 families, 353 genera). The ITV-net dataset is freely available in the Zenodo repository and will contribute to expanding research on a largely underrated source of trait variation and on its ecological consequences