Archivio Istituzionale della Ricerca- Università degli Studi di Foggia
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Investigating the Impact of the Degree of Sharpness on the Microstructure of Fresh-Cut Apples
No full textMechanical damage significantly affects the quality and shelf-life of fresh-cut produce. Understanding and controlling the effects of mechanical damage is essential for developing nutritionally rich and sensorially acceptable products. This study investigated how the efficacy of cutting tools may cause mechanical damage to the tissues of Golden Delicious apples, affecting their main physical, chemical, and microstructural properties. The apples were sliced using one kitchen knife with four Degrees of Sharpness (DoS), from sharp (DoS1) to blunt (DoS4). Over 15 days of storage, the apples cut with a DoS1 maintained a higher L* value of 80.1, with minimal changes in the a* value. The apples cut with a blunt knife (DoS4) showed a significant decrease in L* to 78.1 and an increase in the a* value from 1.2 to 3.3. X-ray micro-CT imaging revealed that the porosity at the surface of the apples cut with a DoS1 was 15%, compared to 19% for those cut with a DoS4. Additionally, the DoS4 samples showed greater structural separation at the cut surface, suggesting a larger solid fraction and lower overall quality. This study concludes that the use of blunt tools can cause damage that negatively impacts the overall post-cut quality as a result of the changes induced in the internal microstructure
Le aziende nell’era della twin transition: i sistemi di management e controllo a supporto dell’agilità e della resilienza
No full textThe current entrepreneurial landscape is profoundly shaped by the twin transition, which demands a crucial rethinking of business models across ecological and dig-ital dimensions. To effectively handle these complex shifts, firms should embed sustainability and digital integration within their core values system to ensure long-term socio-economic value creation.
In this vein, traditional Management Control Systems (MCS) are evolving into Sustainability Management Control Systems (SMCS) to not only oversee multi-faceted performance (economic, social, environmental, governance, and digital), but also to foster firm agility and resilience. Thereon, effective SMCS are pivotal in translating twin transition strategies into actionable initiatives, driving organi-sational behaviour towards integrated ESG objectives, and promoting a culture of sustainable and digitally-enabled innovation.
However, despite their well-acknowledged relevance, there remains a need for a deeper understanding of how MCS can be effectively redesigned and leveraged to fully support companies in integrating sustainability and digitalisation. The arti-cles gathered in this issue fill this void of knowledge by theoretically and practi-cally contributing across three macro-areas of management and control: (1) the strategic corporate governance for sustainability; (2) the evolution of perfor-mance measurement systems to incorporate multidimensional and multi-stakeholder perspectives; and (3) other organisational aspects — such as culture, risk management, and agile structures — that enable or hinder the effective con-tribution of MCS to sustainable and digitally-driven management. Such works thus enrich the current academic debate on integrating ESG goals into perfor-mance measurement, as well as fostering a sustainability-oriented management approach within the twin transition era
Association between red blood cell transfusion and adverse clinical outcomes is Independent of cardiac history: a multicenter observational InPUT study analysis
No full textPurpose: Red-blood-cell (RBC) transfusion is one of the most frequent interventions in critical care patients. While patients with acute cardiac conditions are more likely to receive transfusions at higher haemoglobin thresholds than other critically ill patients, data on RBC transfusion practice for critically ill patients with pre-existing cardiac conditions are scarce. Methods: Using the International Point-Prevalence Study of Intensive-Care Unit Transfusion Practices cohort, weighted logistic regression investigated the association between the RBC units transfused and the primary composite outcome of 28-day mortality, new-onset acute kidney injury or ventilatory weaning failure. Interactions with cardiac history (acute coronary syndrome and/or heart failure) were tested. Results: Cardiac history was present in 746 of 3643 patients (20%) and 894 of 3643 (25%) received at least one RBC unit. Transfusion rates were similar in patients with and without cardiac history (25% vs. 24%; p = 0.51). Among transfused patients, median nadir haemoglobin during ICU stay was slightly higher in those with cardiac history (7.6 g/dL vs. 7.4 g/dL respectively; p = 0.007), whereas stated haemoglobin transfusion threshold did not statistically differ (8.5 g/dL vs. 8.0 g/dL; p = 0.11). Each additional RBC unit increased the odds of the composite outcome in the whole cohort (2.18, 95% CI 1.85–2.56, p < 0.0001), without interaction with cardiac history (p = 0.44). Conclusions: RBC transfusion was commonly and similarly prescribed in critically ill patients with or without cardiac history. Each additional unit was associated with a worse outcome with no evidence of differential effect due to cardiac history. Trial registration: NL9049 (Dutch Trial Register), registered on 16 November 2020
A two-tiered methodology for the validation of promising plant growth promoting bacteria isolated from durum wheat rhizosphere
No full textIntroduction: Plant growth promoting bacteria (PGPB) are gaining increasing attention as a sustainable tool to support crop performance under environmental and agronomic stress conditions. However, the transition from laboratory to field is a challenge. Methods: Six PGPB strains from the rhizosphere of durum wheat were evaluated for their technological characteristics and agronomic performance, to identify suitable candidates for field conditions in a Mediterranean environment. The strains were studied for their resistance to two commercial fungicides, ability to persist in soil at different temperatures, and their growth over pH and temperature. Results and discussion: The strain 23P (Pseudomonas migulae) showed the best overall performance, with the highest resistance to fungicides and viability in soil; in addition, this microorganism enhanced shoot biomass and nitrogen uptake, increasing shoot-to-root ratio and N:P. The results support a selection strategy that includes both technological characterization and agronomic validation with a comprehensive and holistic approach from lab to field
Contrastare il cyberbullismo. Utilizzo del Digital Storytelling e centralità della youth voice nei programmi di prevenzione: i risultati del Progetto GIneStra
No full textL’avvento delle TIC (Tecnologie dell’Informazione e della
Comunicazione) nella società contemporanea è tra i fattori che hanno
favorito la proliferazione del cyberbullismo, definito come un atto
aggressivo intenzionale “effettuato da un gruppo o da un individuo,
utilizzando forme di contatto elettronico, ripetutamente e nel tempo contro
una vittima che non può facilmente difendersi” (Smith et al., 2008, cit. p.
376). La vittimizzazione online può comportare diversi effetti, tra cui
l’aumento di cyberviolenza (Watts et al., 2017), disturbi del sonno (Kumar
& Goldstein, 2020), autolesionismo (John et al., 2018) e, nei casi più
estremi, ideazione e tentativi di suicidio (Ademiluyi, Li & Park, 2022;
Nixon, 2014; Watts et al., 2017). Il presente lavoro di tesi indaga gli effetti
di un approccio co-partecipativo basato sulla youth voice, che valorizza il
punto di vista studentesco. La ricerca ha coinvolto 5 istituti scolastici della
provincia foggiana, impiegando un disegno quasi-sperimentale
longitudinale. Si è condotto un intervento sperimentale basato
sull’Educational Digital Storytelling (Wu & Chen, 2020) presso le classi
sperimentali; il gruppo di controllo ha seguito la metodologia del debate
(Bradshaw & Lowenstein, 2011), che elicita la prospettiva giovanile senza
impiegare le TIC. Hanno partecipato 40 docenti con esperienza media di
18,62 anni di servizio e 148 studenti di età compresa tra gli 11 e i 15 anni. I
risultati principali mostrano che: a) l’intervento ha un margine di impatto
sui livelli di cyberbullismo/cybervittimizzazione; b) la metodologia basata
sulle TIC non si rivela più efficace; c) l’intervento ha avuto un impatto
significativo su alcune dimensioni psicologiche di studenti e docenti. Non
sono riscontrabili in letteratura simili esperienze di ricerca che abbiano analizzato gli effetti della metodologia del Digital Storytelling per il
contrasto al cyberbullismo
Enhancing Learning Motivation Through Virtual Worlds and Intelligent Tutoring Systems: A Narrative Review.
No full textThis narrative review explores the integration of virtual worlds (VWs), intelligent tutoring systems (ITS), and adaptive learning in education, focusing on their potential benefits, existing challenges, and strategies for effective implementation. VWs offer dynamic and immersive platforms that can simulate complex systems, visualize abstract concepts, and create engaging narratives for deeper learning experiences. When combined with ITS, these environments can provide personalized education, enabling students to explore tailored content and interact with AI-driven tutors. However, the adoption of these technologies is hindered by factors such as technological complexity, high implementation costs, and resistance from educators and students. Recent advancements, including the integration of large language models (LLMs) and AI systems, show promise in overcoming these barriers by enhancing the adaptability and responsiveness of educational tools. The review identifies trends, challenges, and opportunities in leveraging these technologies to enhance learning outcomes. Findings suggest that VWs, when structured adaptively and integrated with ITS, significantly impact student learning by fostering motivation and improving performance. This combination supports personalized education, enabling students to explore tailored content and interact with AI-driven tutors. Ultimately, the study highlights the transformative potential of VWs and ITS in cultivating critical life skills, digital competencies, and deeper engagement, establishing a robust foundation for the future of education
Conditional 1-year outcomes after emergent conversion to open heart surgery during transcatheter aortic valve implantation: a propensity-matched landmark analysis
No full textBackground: Emergent conversion to open heart surgery (E-OHS) during transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is rare (0.5%–2%) but carries high perioperative mortality. Long-term outcomes in survivors beyond 30 days are not well defined. Objectives: To assess 1-year conditional outcomes in patients who survived ≥30 days post-TAVI, comparing E-OHS survivors with propensity-matched uncomplicated TAVI recipients. Methods: Between January 2020 and August 2023, 825 consecutive TAVI procedures were performed at three Italian centers; 11 patients (1.3%) required E-OHS for catastrophic intraprocedural complications. A 30-day landmark analysis excluded early deaths (E-OHS: n = 3; controls: n = 25). Propensity matching (1:10) was performed on nine variables, yielding 8 E-OHS survivors and 80 well-matched controls. Primary endpoint: All-cause mortality from day 31 to 1 year. Secondary endpoints: Composite of death, moderate-or-greater paravalvular regurgitation, or valve reintervention; heart failure rehospitalization; permanent pacemaker; stroke/transient ischemic attack (TIA); and acute kidney injury (AKI). Results: Baseline characteristics were comparable. The mean age was 77 ± 5 years; EuroSCORE II was 6.8 ± 2.1%. One-year conditional mortality was 0% in E-OHS survivors vs. 2.9% in controls (p = 0.64). The composite endpoint occurred in 12.5% vs. 13.6% (p = 0.88). Other outcomes were similar: heart failure rehospitalization (12.5% vs. 11.2%), pacemaker implantation (12.5% vs. 9.6%), stroke/TIA (0% vs. 1.2%), and AKI (0% vs. 7.2%). No structural valve deterioration or thrombosis was observed. Conclusions: E-OHS survivors who overcome the initial high-risk phase achieve 1-year outcomes comparable to standard TAVI patients. These findings support immediate surgical backup within TAVI programs and provide reassurance for high-risk patient counseling
Senza casa. "Der Fluss und das Meer" di Natascha Wodin
No full textIn "Der Fluss und das Meer" (2023), a collection of short stories by Natascha Wodin, the Ukrainian port of Mariupol, the birthplace of the author’s mother, serves once again as the central focus. The waves of the Sea of Azov – «das flachste und wärmste Meer der Welt» (Wodin, Sie kam aus Mariupol, 2017, p. 12) – echo through space and time from Mariupol to the river Regnitz in Franconia. It was here where the young woman, deported to Germany as a
forced labourer, committed suicide in 1956. The author consoles herself with the thought that the water of the Regnitz could one day flow through the Rhine-Main-Danube Canal into the Black Sea and into the Sea of Azov, symbolically offering her mother a ‘home’. The water thus becomes a means for transporting bodies and memories and the search for something akin
to the German concept of Heimat is represented in the dramatic image of a body dissolving into water