Archivio istituzionale della ricerca - Alma Mater Studiorum Università di Bologna
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Dynamics of Multimorbidity, Health Expectancy and Survival in Middle Aged and Older Individuals
No full textIntroduction: Life expectancy has increased, but such increase has disproportionally expanded the period of life with diseases. Whether expanding health expectancy (HE), defined as years of life free of chronic diseases, could also affect rate of multimorbidity accumulation is uncertain. Objective: to investigate the dynamic relationship between HE and rate of multimorbidity accumulation and their impact on survival. Methods: 4274 (3511 > 50 years) participants from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), healthy at baseline and developing at least one disease overtime were included. Mean baseline age was 55.1 years and average follow-up was 9.4 years. Multimorbidity was operationalized as count of diagnosed diseases from a list of nine chronic conditions. HE was operationalized as years from birth until when the first disease was ascertained, and percentage of life in good health calculated as percentage of life lived free of chronic diseases. Mixed models investigated the association between HE and rate of multimorbidity accumulation, while survival analyses evaluated association with time to death. Results: HE were positively associated with multimorbidity rate (P<.001). Shorter HE and faster multimorbidity rate were independently associated with higher mortality (P<.001). Their interaction was negatively associated with mortality (P<.001). Results were confirmed restricting the analysis to individuals 51 or older and using HRS specific weights. Individuals with longer HE experienced a greater survival, almost regardless of multimorbidity rate, while a positive gradient was found in percentage of life in good health linked to multimorbidity rate. Discussion: Expanding health expectancy is likely followed by compression of morbidity
EXPERIMENTAL CHARACTERIZATION AND MODELING ANALYSIS OF POLYMERIC MATERIALS FOR THE CO2 TRANSPORTATION VALUE CHAIN
No full textStudy of the dynamic of cultural microbiome of kiwifruit along postharvest storage for the selection of beneficial microorganisms
No full textThe aim is to investigate the evolution of the microbial community of kiwifruit during postharvest storage and the impact of eight different bacterial strains, possessing specific metabolic activity, on the fruit of A. chinensis var. chinensis quality parameters. Additionally, the fate and growth of bacterial strains were assessed when inoculated on kiwifruit and subjected to cold storage conditions. Fruits were sampled in a commercial orchard in Italy (Latina, LT, Italy) and analyzed at harvest for the cultural population of fungi and bacteria. Approximately 250 fungal, yeast, and 500 bacterial strains were identified. Fungal strains were dissected for their potential pathogenic activity on fruit. Bacterial strains were also characterized for their potential beneficial functions (e.g., IAA, production, acetoin, siderophore) and their ability to grow at low temperatures. Sampling was performed during the first two months of storage with the aim of identifying the fungal and bacterial species specifically selected by cold storage. Eight bacterial species were selected for postharvest treatments on fruit to assess their potential ability to prolong storage, reduce losses, or increase fruit quality. Different strains showed the potential to inhibit Botrytis cinerea growth. Furthermore, six strains were able to increase sugar content in fruit; however, the effect was related to an increase in softening, suggesting that these strains were inducing an earlier ripening. Interestingly, the inoculation generally increases storage breakdown, a chilling-related disorder, suggesting a possible microbial component of this physiological disorder
Exploiting GenAI for Plan Generation in BDI Agents
Get PDFExtending BDI agents with the ability to autonomously generate plans has long been a goal in the field of cognitive agent engineering to enhance their adaptability. Recent advances in GenAI are now opening new possibilities for plan generation, by leveraging the natural-language understanding, mean-end reasoning, and abstraction capabilities of LLMs. In this paper, we investigate the integration of GenAI-based plan generation into AgentSpeak(L) agents, and we analyse the implications of transferring knowledge between the LLM and the BDI agent, for the sake of dynamic plan generation. We propose a coherent framework where AgentSpeak(L) is extended with plan generation, and we model the boundaries of the generative process. We prototype our framework via the JaKtA BDI agent technology, and we methodologically assess the quality of the plans generated by LLMs of different sorts
Everyday queering: gender, presence, and pedagogical disruption in Italian early childhood education
No full textThis article examines how queer, gay, and non-binary educators in Italian early childhood and primary education navigate gendered expectations and institutional norms through their teaching methods. Through a reflexive thematic analysis of twelve interviews, the study explores how these educators inhabit feminized school environments and disrupt heteronormative narratives with their presence, gestures, and emotional labor. Rather than introducing explicit LGBTQ+ content, which may be met with resistance in conservative school cultures, participants engage in situated forms of queering that reshape the emotional and cultural contexts in which children develop early understandings of gender and difference. These micro-practices are conceptualized as contributions to a "queer school," which is not a programmatic model but rather an affective and ethical approach in which plurality and vulnerability become pedagogical resources. By centering the experiences of educators working at the margins, the article illustrates how a queer presence can quietly transform the relational landscape of early education. The article contributes to current debates on inclusion, early socialization, and the transformative potential of LGBTQ+ visibility in educational settings
La libertà e segretezza delle comunicazioni
No full textIl contributo esamina la discplina costituizionale della libertà e segretezza delle comunicazioni, considerata nelle sue implicazioni processual
Santa Maria della Vita a Bologna: nuove fonti su un processo compositivo a più mani
No full textThe church of Santa Maria della Vita in Bologna was designed by Giovanni Battista Bergonzoni in 1688. Thanks to the discovery of unpublished archival documentation, it is possible to understand how the final project was drawn up. The study of the congregation records of the confraternity, which promoted the construction, highlights an ideational process that involves the architect himself and the brothers, who intervened directly by proposing planimetric models, suggesting drawings made by other architects, and presenting critical reports on the work of the technicians. The archival documentation presents drawings relating to at least three projects. In fact, the final draft by Bergonzoni is based on a plan by an anonymous Florentine architect. Ultimately, Santa Maria della Vita is the result of a sequence of events that can be considered a collaboration between various architects, as well as among architects and clients
Nurses’ perspectives on providing analgesia in the Italian prehospital emergency setting: A phenomenological study
No full textBackground: Effective pain management is a fundamental aspect of prehospital emergency care. However, numerous barriers, including inconsistent protocols, limited pharmacological options, and documentation gaps, hinder optimal pain relief. Emergency medical services (EMS) nurses play a crucial role in assessing and managing pain, yet their perspectives on prehospital analgesia remain underexplored. Objective: This study aims to explore the experiences and perceptions of Italian EMS nurses regarding prehospital pain management, identifying key challenges and potential improvements. Methods: A qualitative study was conducted using an interpretative phenomenological approach. Semi-structured interviews were performed with 14 EMS nurses from various Italian regions. Data was analyzed through thematic analysis, identifying recurring themes related to pain assessment, treatment, and documentation. Results: Five main themes emerged: (1) variability in analgesia protocols and pharmacological options, (2) inconsistent pain assessment and documentation, (3) challenges in pain management related to specific patient populations or environmental and logistical factors, (4) nurses' personal experiences shaping their approach to pain management, and (5) interprofessional collaboration challenges. While nurses emphasized the importance of systematic pain evaluation, barriers such as legal restrictions, inconsistent protocols, and limited pharmacological options were frequently reported. Conclusion: Prehospital pain management by EMS nurses in Italy faces significant challenges. Expanding protocol-approved pharmacological options, improving documentation practices, and enhancing training for pain management in vulnerable populations could improve care. A standardized, evidence-based national framework is needed to optimize pain relief and ensure equitable patient outcomes
Influence of the temperature and surface charge on the performance of nanocellulose-based facilitated transport membranes for carbon capture
No full textKetogenic diet as rescue therapy to access transplantation in obese and advanced stage IV-CKD patients: a case report and literature review
No full textKidney transplantation represents the best therapy for kidney failure, but obesity can limit access to this therapeutic option. Therapeutic strategies, such as diet or bariatric surgery, should be considered for obese patients with kidney failure. Unfortunately, there are no guidelines available to manage obesity in Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD). Reducing energy intake is necessary to manage obesity. This usually entails a protein intake of at least 1 g/kg of body weight, contrary to what is recommended by CKD guidelines. To date, bariatric surgery is the best strategy for weight loss, but is not indicated in some conditions, such as in patients with major mood disorders. We present the case of a woman with CKD stage G4A2, metabolic syndrome, and anxiety-depressive disorder. She was not eligible for transplantation because of morbid obesity, or for bariatric surgery due to her major mood disorder. An individualised ketogenic diet was prescribed to give her a chance to access the kidney transplantation waitlist. During the dietary treatment, there was no worsening of kidney function or any adverse effects, and the patient lost 11.7 kg. In selected cases, ketogenic diet could represent a rescue therapy for obese CKD patients allowing them access to the kidney transplantation program