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INNOVAZIONE E SOSTENIBILITÀ NELLO SVILUPPO DI ALIMENTI FUNZIONALI: STRATEGIE DI VALORIZZAZIONE DEI COMPOSTI BIOATTIVI DA SOTTOPRODOTTI DELL’INDUSTRIA AGROALIMENTARE
Get PDFEfficacy of localized muscle vibration on lower extremity functional ability in patients with stroke: A randomized controlled trial
No full textIntroduction: Lower extremity impairments are commonly affected in patients with stroke. Localized muscle vibration (LMV) incorporates sensory signals to alter cortical excitability. The present study aimed to examine the efficacy of LMV along with conventional physiotherapy (CPT) on lower extremities and activities of daily living (ADL) poststroke. Methods: In total, 37 participants with stroke (mean age: 68.6 ± 9.3) were randomly assigned to either the CPT plus LMV (n = 19) or the CPT group (n = 18). All participants underwent 30-min CPT, three sessions a week, for eight weeks. The participants in the experimental group underwent a 10-min LMV after each CPT session. The primary measure used was the Barthel Index (BI). The secondary measures used were the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), the Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS), the Manual Muscle Testing (MMT), and the Range of Motion (ROM) evaluation. Results: Thirty-four participants completed the treatment protocol. At the end of the treatment, between-group analysis showed significant differences in knee flexion (MAS) scores, indicating spasticity reduction (P = 0.011, Cohen's d = 0.906) and knee flexion (P = 0.045, Cohen's d = 0.73) and extension (P = 0.013, Cohen's d = 1.013) ROM. Conclusions: CPT can improve the functional outcomes of the hemiplegic lower extremity poststroke. However, using localized muscle vibration may have a superior effect on improving ROM and spasticity. The progress in daily living activities is associated with reductions in spasticity, emphasizing the need for therapists to consider integrating LMV into their rehabilitation protocols to optimize stroke patient outcomes
Herbicidal activity of natural compounds: determination of strategies for improved effectiveness
No full textIn questa tesi si studiano e analizzano diversi parametri e fattori che influenzano l'attività erbicida di prodotti naturali, inclusi estratti acquosi, oli essenziali e composti puri ottenuti da piante di clima mediterraneo o adattate a tale ambiente, con l'obiettivo di stabilire strategie che massimizzino la loro efficacia senza danneggiare le colture. Nel primo capitolo si analizza la natura degli estratti vegetali, valutando da quale parte della pianta (foglie o radici) sia preferibile ottenere gli estratti per conseguire una maggiore attività erbicida e individuando dove si concentri una maggiore quantità di metaboliti secondari con attività erbicida, sia nella pianta stessa sia nel suolo circostante, arricchito dagli essudati radicali. Inoltre, si studia e analizza l'influenza del substrato sull'efficacia dei composti erbicidi naturali, confrontandone il comportamento su sabbia inerte, carta da filtro e suolo agricolo franco-argilloso. Tutti questi saggi sono stati effettuati in condizioni controllate, su piastre Petri. Nel secondo capitolo si affronta l'effetto del momento di applicazione e della dose sull'attività erbicida dei prodotti naturali, attraverso saggi condotti in condizioni di serra. Nel terzo capitolo, si studia l'effetto erbicida di composti naturali formulati in condizioni di serra, mettendo in evidenza l'importanza di una formulazione adeguata, capace di migliorare la loro attività, in combinazione con l'applicazione nel momento fenologico più adatto, al fine di controllare efficacemente le specie infestanti. In questo capitolo si include anche la valutazione dell'attività erbicida degli stessi composti formulati in due saggi di campo, stabilendo strategie per ottimizzarne l'efficacia in condizioni reali. Infine, si esplorano le potenziali sinergie tra miscele di prodotti naturali con attività erbicida, come possibile strumento per sviluppare nuovi erbicidi con diversi meccanismi d'azione, al fine di prevenire lo sviluppo di resistenze e ottenere un'alta efficacia erbicida.I risultati di questa ricerca evidenziano il potenziale di vari composti di origine vegetale come bioerbicidi e valutano strategie per migliorarne l'attività. Ailanthus altissima ha mostrato forti effetti fitotossici, inibendo completamente la germinazione di Erigeron canadensis. L’attività erbicida degli estratti testati dipendeva dalla specie infestante su cui agivano e dalla parte della pianta utilizzata per ottenerli. I diversi estratti valutati hanno anche provocato ritardi nella germinazione e malformazioni nelle plantule. L’olio essenziale di Thymbra capitata ha dimostrato una potente attività erbicida se applicato in post-emergenza, soprattutto contro infestanti dicotiledoni tramite applicazione fogliare, e su monocotiledoni mediante irrigazione al suolo. La sua efficacia è stata influenzata dalla concentrazione testata, dal metodo di applicazione utilizzato e dallo stadio fenologico delle piante bersaglio.Tra i metaboliti secondari valutati, timolo, carvacrolo ed eugenolo hanno mostrato forti effetti fitotossici, a sostegno del loro potenziale come alternative erbicide di origine naturale. Il carvacrolo è risultato il composto più efficace su Chenopodium album, mentre il p-cimene ha mostrato un’attività limitata. Le miscele contenenti carvacrolo ed eucaliptolo sono state le più fitotossiche, con evidenti effetti sinergici in combinazioni binarie e ternarie.Questi risultati supportano lo sviluppo di erbicidi naturali e costituiscono una base per l’ottimizzazione della loro attività biologica. Tuttavia, sono necessari ulteriori studi in condizioni di campo per ottimizzare le formulazioni, ampliare lo spettro delle specie infestanti target e valutarne la sicurezza ambientale, al fine di consentirne l’integrazione nei sistemi sostenibili di gestione delle infestanti.In this thesis, various parameters and factors affecting the herbicidal activity of natural products, including aqueous extracts, essential oils, and pure compounds obtained from plants native to or adapted to Mediterranean climates, were studied and analyzed to establish strategies that maximize their efficacy without harming crops. The first chapter examines the nature of plant extracts, evaluating which part of the plant (leaves or roots) should be used to obtain extracts with greater herbicidal activity, and determining where a higher concentration of herbicidal secondary metabolites is located, either within the plant itself or in the soil surrounding the roots that receives these exudates. Additionally, the influence of the substrate on the efficacy of natural herbicidal compounds is studied and analyzed, comparing their performance in inert sand, filter paper, and clay-loam agricultural soil. All these experiments were conducted under controlled conditions in Petri dishes. The second chapter addresses the effect of application timing and dosage on the herbicidal activity of natural products through experiments conducted under greenhouse conditions. In the third chapter, the herbicidal effect of formulated natural compounds under greenhouse conditions is studied, highlighting the importance of appropriate formulation, which can enhance their activity, along with their application at the optimal phenological stage to effectively control weed species. This chapter also includes the evaluation of the herbicidal activity of the same formulated compounds in two field trials and the establishment of strategies to optimize their effectiveness under real-world conditions. Finally, the potential synergies among mixtures of natural products with herbicidal activity are explored as a possible tool to develop new herbicides with different modes of action, aimed at preventing the development of resistance and achieving high herbicidal efficacy.The results of this research highlight the potential of several plant-derived compounds as bioherbicides and evaluate strategies to enhance their activity. Ailanthus altissima exhibited strong phytotoxic effects, completely inhibiting the germination of Erigeron canadensis, and showed species-specific activity depending on the plant part used for extract preparation. The various extracts tested also caused delays in germination and seedling malformations.The essential oil of Thymbra capitata demonstrated potent herbicidal activity when applied post-emergence, particularly against dicotyledonous weeds via foliar application and monocotyledonous weeds via soil irrigation. Its efficacy was influenced by the concentration used, the application method, and the phenological stage of the target plants.Among the individual compounds tested, thymol, carvacrol, and eugenol exhibited strong phytotoxic effects, supporting their potential as natural herbicide alternatives. Carvacrol was the most effective against Chenopodium album, while p-cymene showed limited activity. Mixtures containing carvacrol and eucalyptol were the most phytotoxic, with synergistic effects observed in both binary and ternary combinations.These findings support the development of natural herbicides and constitute a basis for the optimization of their phytotoxic activity. Nevertheless, further research under field conditions is necessary to refine their formulations, broaden the spectrum of target weed species, and evaluate their environmental safety, with the ultimate goal of enabling their integration into sustainable weed management systems
MISAR in enhancing agricultural resilience: a comprehensive approach to climate change risk management for mango farms in Sicily, Italy
Get PDFAgriculture plays a crucial role in the economy of Italy, particularly in the region of Sicily where it serves as a primary source of income. To ensure high yields, it is essential to enhance farmers’ knowledge and awareness, especially in mitigating potential risks and damages caused by climate change and managing farming processes such as soil and water preparation, fertilizer, and pesticide management. To follow the MISAR (Climate Change Risk Management by Improving the Individual and Social Awareness of Risk in Sicily) targets, this paper focuses on the importance of Information and communication technologies (ICT) in the “Mango Farms Risk Management Plan” to foster stronger connections between stakeholders and farmers in Messina. Climate change poses various hazards such as temperature fluctuations, extreme events, soil salinity, and irregular rainfall, which are expected to increase in the future. Effective decision-making for stakeholders and farmers requires efficient analytical tools, particularly for handling large data sets. The paper introduces a new architecture called ADM, which combines decision support systems (DSS), agent-based modeling (ABM), and machine learning (ML) methods to develop a comprehensive risk plan for future agricultural challenges. The ADM model in MISAR incorporates empirical information collected during the ML phase, including the reactions of mango plants to risks and determining factors like extreme temperature changes. To promote and safeguard mango cultivation and production, changes in temperature are estimated using advanced techniques such as random forest and feed-forward neural networks. Weather stations equipped with meteorological sensors are strategically placed within farms, providing direct measurements of hazards. Each station has its own credentials, allowing farmers access to the data. Furthermore, historical data analysis considers data from municipal meteorological stations and satellite sources. The model facilitates mutual communication between decision-makers and farmers, enabling farmers to monitor forecasts and report unexpected events in their respective farm areas
Integration of Mg(OH)2 production in a real industrial scale reverse osmosis desalination plant
No full textLa complessa relazione tra giustizia riparativa, reati ambientali e responsabilità degli enti alla luce della legislazione vigente
No full textAfter describing the structural differences between the repa-
rative cases of environmental harms found in current criminal legislation and
the tools of restorative justice recently introduced in our legal system by the
Cartabia Reform, the contribution reflects on the obstacles to their use in the
sphere of environmental crimes and, more generally, in the sphere of victim-
less crimes. Equally narrow appear to be the margins for a robust penetration
of the new paradigm in the terrain of the criminal liability of legal persons,
although it is precisely in this area that restorative justice seems to be able to
release its greatest potential. Indeed, the correlation of restorative mecha-
nisms with the logic of compliance could help inaugurate a particularly
effective corporates crimes strategy in terms of enhancement of deterrence
and environmental safety. In our legal system, however, the opportunities
opened by such a perspective are in fact compromised by the lack of provision
of linkage between restorative outcomes and the sanctions for corporations.
Unlike for natural persons, about legal persons, restorative justice runs along
a parallel and autonomous track
Microsatellite Instability and Myometrial Infiltration in Low-Grade Endometrial Cancer: A Focus on MMR Heterodimer Dysfunction by a Retrospective Multicentric Italian Study
Get PDFBackground: Recent studies highlight the role of microsatellite instability (MSI) in tumor
progression. This study examines the link between MSI, type of loss of function, and disease
progression in low-grade endometrial carcinoma clinically confined to the uterus, focusing
on myometrial infiltration. Materials and Methods: This retrospective case-control study
analyzed data from 144 women treated for clinical stage I low-grade endometrial carcinoma
at two university hospitals. Patients were divided into two groups based on microsatellite
status: 118 with microsatellite stability (MSS) and 26 with MSI. Immunohistochemical
profiling assessed MMR proteins (MLH1, PMS2, MSH2, MSH6). The primary outcome was
the presence of myometrial infiltration, and the secondary outcome was the deepness of
infiltration. Data were statistically analyzed using Fisher’s exact, Chi-square, and Wilcoxon
tests, with logistic regression applied to evaluate the impact of MSI on these outcomes.
Results: Myometrial infiltration was present in 96% of MSS and 98% of MSI cases (p = 0.5).
However, deep infiltration (≥50%) was more frequent in patients with MSI (38% vs. 19%,
p = 0.042). Stratification by heterodimer loss revealed that loss of MLH1/PMS2 was associ-
ated with a higher rate of deep infiltration (47%), while loss of MSH2/MSH6 correlated
with lower infiltration risk (14%). In multivariate analysis, MSH2/MSH6 loss remained
negatively associated with infiltration (OR 0.88; 95% CI 0.80–0.98; p = 0.020), independent
of grade and LVSI. Conclusions: In low-grade endometrial carcinomas clinically confined
to the uterus, MSI does not increase the overall prevalence of myometrial infiltration but is
associated with deeper invasion, especially in cases with MLH1/PMS2 loss. MSI profiling
could aid in risk stratification and therapeutic planning, particularly in candidates for
fertility-sparing treatment
Some Results on Fuzzy Basis of Fuzzy Lie Algebras
No full textThis work explores the application of fuzzy set theory to the study of algebraic structures, with a particular focus on Lie algebras. Since fuzzy Lie algebra can be regarded as fuzzy vector space, the foundational properties of these structures are investigated, with emphasis placed on the role of fuzzy basis. A selection of key results is presented, establishing necessary and sufficient conditions for a basis to be fuzzy, and providing concrete examples to illustrate how these findings can be applied in practice to fuzzy Lie subalgebras
A discontinuous Galerkin framework for aeroelastic flutter analysis with variable-order structural modeling capability
No full textAn original computational framework for aeroelastic flutter analysis of wings is proposed. The novelty of the method lies in the combination of a discontinuous Galerkin method (DG) for structural analysis with the unsteady vortex lattice method (UVLM) for aerodynamics. The proposed DG formulation is based on a variable-order kinematic model, which allows adopting different structural theories in the analysis of the lifting wing structure, including beam and plate theories. The UVLM is employed for generating both the geometry of the wake shed by the wing and the flutter equations. The coupling between the methods is performed under the assumptions of small structural and aerodynamic perturbations. The formulation has been implemented and validated against benchmark results obtained by a commercial finite element code or data available in the literature in terms of eigenvalues and eigenvectors for various free-vibration and aeroelastic problems. The obtained results confirm the accuracy and robustness of the proposed methodology and demonstrate that high-order DG approximations may achieve faster convergence rates, in terms of degrees of freedom, with respect to standard finite element schemes, thus making the framework a powerful tool for fast aeroelastic analysis in early-stage aircraft design
Vasopressor use after noncardiac surgery: an international observational study
No full textBackground: Hypotension after major noncardiac surgery is associated with increased morbidity, mortality, and costs, and is often treated with postoperative vasopressor infusions. The frequency of administration in the postoperative period is unknown. Methods: This international prospective cohort study was conducted between October 2020 and October 2023. At each hospital, adults undergoing noncardiac surgery were enrolled into two cohorts: all consecutive patients for 1 week (Cohort A) and an additional sample of up to 30 consecutive patients administered postoperative vasopressor infusions within 1 yr (Cohort B). The primary outcome (Cohort A) was the incidence of postoperative vasopressor infusions, defined as any continuous infusion of vasopressors. Secondary outcomes included in-hospital mortality, organ dysfunction, length of hospital stay, and complications associated with postoperative vasopressor infusions (both cohorts). Results: In total, 25 675 participants were enrolled from 228 hospitals across 42 countries. In Cohort A, 770/19 768 (3.9%) participants received postoperative vasopressor infusions, with vasopressor use ranging between 0% and 18% across hospitals (median odds ratio: 2.30 [credible interval 1.96–2.73]). This variability did not alter after adjustment for case-mix and procedural characteristics. For both cohorts, postoperative vasopressor infusions were associated with higher (15.5%) in-hospital mortality, higher rates of organ failure, and longer hospital stay. Conclusions: Administration of postoperative vasopressors after noncardiac surgery varied across hospitals and was associated with worse outcomes. Variable practice across hospitals could not be explained by differences in case-mix. Clinical trial registration: https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT03805230, ESAIC tracking ID: ESAIC_CTN_SQUEEZE