University of Modena and Reggio Emilia
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Commodity risk assessment of debarked conifer wood chips fumigated with sulfuryl fluoride from the US
Get PDFThe European Commission requested the EFSA Panel on Plant Health to deliver a risk assessment on the likelihood of pest freedom from regulated EU quarantine pests, with emphasis on Bursaphelenchus xylophilus and its vectors Monochamus spp. of debarked conifer wood chips fumigated with sulfuryl fluoride as proposed by the United States (US) and as outlined in ISPM 28 - PT23 of sulfuryl fluoride (SF) fumigation treatment for nematodes and insects in debarked wood. The assessment considered the different phases in the wood chips' production, with special emphasis on the SF treatment. In addition to B. xylophilus and its vectors Monochamus spp., 22 EU quarantine pests and protected zone quarantine pests, some of which are regulated as groups of pests by the Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2072, are present in the US and are potentially associated with the commodity. For these pests an expert judgement is given on the likelihood of pest freedom taking into consideration the available scientific information and technical information provided by the US, including uncertainties associated with the assessment. The likelihood of pest freedom varies among the pests evaluated, with B. xylophilus being the pest most frequently expected on the commodity. The Expert Knowledge Elicitation (EKE) indicated with 95% certainty that between 9491 and 10,000 m3 of debarked conifer wood chips treated with SF per 10,000 m3 will be free from B. xylophilus, and that between 9987 and 10,000 m3 of wood chips per 10,000 m3 will be free from Monochamus spp. Technical elements which are critical for a successful treatment and for minimising the presence of Union quarantine pests on the commodity are identified and described in the opinion. In particular, it is important to note that SF treatments are generally less effective in eliminating fungi than insects, the required parameters of the fumigation should be met at all points of the pile of wood chips and the time of storage of wood chips before treatment should be kept as short as possible because B. xylophilus can easily reproduce and spread throughout the pile under conducive conditions
Diptera as predators in biological control: applications and future perspectives
Get PDFThe role of dipteran predators in biological pest control programs is reviewed and discussed. Diptera encompasses a large number of potentially efficient predators for biological pest control, yet only a few species are routinary used. The families Syrphidae and Cecidomyiidae provide some of the most successful examples of biological control, but other families (e.g., Muscidae, Sarcophagidae, Sciomyzidae) also include species with that potential. Most applications of Diptera as predators involve the conservation biological control approach, while the augmentative approach has involved only a few species, almost exclusively of Syrphidae and Cecidomyiidae. In a few cases, classical biological control has been employed. Commercialization of species mainly to be used in the augmentative approach is discussed, also focusing on the critical issues linked to rearing methods. The dual services performed by Diptera (pollination as adults and biological control as larvae) have been studied in detail for Syrphidae only, but would deserve further study in other families, e.g., Sarcophagidae. This is the first review in which the use of predatory Diptera in biological control programs is investigated for all families and in all types of applications. This review recommends a multi-taxon approach in the use of Diptera in biological control since a large number of taxa have considerable potential, although this has not yet been tested in practical applications
Hyperelastic model for nonlinear elastic deformations of graphene-based polymer nanocomposites
Get PDFGraphene-based polymer nanocomposites (PNCs) are increasingly important in engineering applications involving large deformations. However, the nonlinear behavior of these materials has not been thoroughly studied. Current models do not address the specific nonlinear effects of graphene nanofillers under large strains, lack sufficient comparison with experimental data, and primarily focus on uniaxial behavior without exploring biaxial responses, which are relevant in technological applications. This study investigates PNCs composed of silicone elastomer and graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs). We present experimental tests conducted in both simple tension and biaxial inflation on circular membranes. A homogenized hyperelastic model is developed, incorporating distinct contributions from the matrix and the nanofiller. Specifically, we introduce a novel strain energy function for the nanofiller contribution, tailored to reproduce the observed experimental behavior. The model accurately predicts the nonlinear elastic response of the studied PNCs across varying contents of GNPs. The proposed strain energy function is implemented in MATLAB to obtain an exact numerical solution for the inflation of circular PNC membranes. Finally, to demonstrate its broader applicability, the hyperelastic model is applied to additional experimental data from other PNCs found in the literature. This model contributes to establishing a robust framework for the effective use of PNCs
VATr++: Choose Your Words Wisely for Handwritten Text Generation
Get PDFStyled Handwritten Text Generation (HTG) has received significant attention in recent years,propelled by the success of learning-based solutions employing GANs,Transformers,and,preliminarily,Diffusion Models. Despite this surge in interest,there remains a critical yet understudied aspect - the impact of the input,both visual and textual,on the HTG model training and its subsequent influence on performance. This work extends the VATr [1] Styled-HTG approach by addressing the pre-processing and training issues that it faces,which are common to many HTG models. In particular,we propose generally applicable strategies for input preparation and training regularization that allow the model to achieve better performance and generalization capabilities. Moreover,in this work,we go beyond performance optimization and address a significant hurdle in HTG research - the lack of a standardized evaluation protocol. In particular,we propose a standardization of the evaluation protocol for HTG and conduct a comprehensive benchmarking of existing approaches. By doing so,we aim to establish a foundation for fair and meaningful comparisons between HTG strategies,fostering progress in the field
«Pandoro gate»: de minimis ...vel omnibus? - Note a margine del caso Balocco-Ferragni
Get PDFThe Balocco-Ferragni case confirms that it is an uncertain task to identify which unfair commercial practices, regulated as such by European and national legislation, are atributable to influencers and can therefore capture various facets of the communications of these "entrepreneurs". In fact, as promotional activities become increasingly diversified, it is becoming increasingly complex to identify the gap between the commercial core of the influencers’ activity and what is represented in specific cases. The multiplicity of protection needs that emerge from it, crossed with interpretative and applicative ambiguities of the judicial actions available to protect the consumers’ demands, deserve to be rethought in order to act with regulatory simplification and legislative centralization of any corrective interventions by the political-economic regulator rather than the administrative one (or the judicial decision-maker)
Notch Signaling in Central Nervous System: From Cellular Development to Multiple Sclerosis Disease
Get PDFIntroduction/objective: Multiple sclerosis (MS), is characterized by autoimmune-driven neuroinflammation, axonal degeneration, and demyelination. This study aimed to explore the therapeutic potential of targeting Notch signaling within the central nervous system (CNS) in the context of MS. Understanding the intricate roles of Notch signaling could pave the way for targeted interventions to mitigate MS progression. Methods: A comprehensive literature review was conducted using databases such as PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus. Keywords such as "Notch signaling," "neuroglial interactions," and "MS" were used. The selection criteria included relevance to neuroglial interactions, peer-reviewed publications, and studies involving animal models of MS. Results: This review highlights the diverse functions of Notch signaling in CNS development, including its regulation of neural stem cell differentiation into neurons, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes. In the context of MS, Notch signaling has emerged as a promising therapeutic target, exhibiting positive impacts on neuroprotection and remyelination. However, its intricate nature within the CNS necessitates precise modulation for therapeutic efficacy. Conclusion: This study provides a comprehensive overview of the potential therapeutic role of Notch signaling in MS. The findings underscore the significance of Notch modulation for neuroprotection and remyelination, emphasizing the need for precision in therapeutic interventions. Further research is imperative to elucidate the specific underlying mechanisms involved, which will provide a foundation for targeted therapeutic strategies for the management of MS and related neurodegenerative disorders
Historias de bosques. Las figuras visuales del bosque y de la selva en el imaginario y en las series televisivas: un enfoque sociosemiótico
Get PDFThe main focus of this essay is to open a new search field in relation to
some emerging points of the semiotic, historical and anthropological dimension of the
semiotic figures of forests and jungles in the cultural imaginary and describe how they evolve
thematically and narratively in modernity and hypermodernity. To achieve this objective
we have analyzed some examples of television serial fiction and in particular through the
series “Stranger Things”.El objetivo de este ensayo es investigar algunos puntos emergentes de la dimensión semiótica, histórica y antropológica de las figuras semióticas de los bosques y selvas en el imaginario cultural contemporáneo y describir cómo evolucionan temática y narrativamente en la modernidad e hipermodernidad. Para llevar a cabo este objetivo hemos analizado algunos ejemplos de la ficción serial televisiva, en particular a través de la serie Stranger Things
Public Financial Management for Sustainable Development Goals: Challenges, Experiences, and Perspectives
Get PDFThe special issue critically explores how public sector financial management can support the achievement of sustainable development and how it can act in the service of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It aims to encourage further research in the field, while also drawing on findings from the eight papers included, which touch on important areas of research in the nexus between public financial management and the SDGs and specifically: (1) Reporting on SDGs: This is an area that deserves further attention, even moving beyond the theories already adopted to investigate the topic. (2) Embedding sustainability into operations: Sustainable development requires the adoption of methods and tools that can enhance sustainability-related action at the public sector entity level. (3) SDGs and calculative practices: The use of calculative practices in SDGs reporting can help to take a meaningful step from a symbolic to a substantive approach to sustainability, but the unintended consequences of performativity in promoting sustainable development need to be further investigated. (4) Environmental reporting and SDGs: While environmental reporting is a dominant theme in sustainable development, further research on climate change and environmental disclosure in the public sector is required. In addition, the special issue draws attention to some further dimensions: the governance for SDGs achievement, the assurance of SDGs reporting, and the creation of citizen-driven demand for reporting on SDGs achievement in a digital environment