Archivio istituzionale della ricerca - Alma Mater Studiorum Università di Bologna
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The Role of Functional Electrical Stimulation in Stroke Rehabilitation: A Preliminary Study
Get PDFBackground and purpose: Stroke often results in gait impairments such as foot drop. Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) could promote neuromuscular recovery. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of FES integrated into conventional neurorehabilitation on gait and activities of daily living in stroke patients with foot drop. Methods: Twenty-eight patients with stroke were enrolled and randomly allocated to either an experimental group receiving gait training with FES or a control group undergoing conventional rehabilitation. Both groups received 12 training sessions 3/week per 4/weeks. Primary and secondary outcomes were assessed at T0 and T1 using the Rivermead Mobility Index (RMI), Modified Barthel Index (MBI), Two-Minute Walk Test (2MWT), and Timed 25-Foot Walk Test (T25). Results: Significant improvements were observed in both groups across all outcome measures after the intervention. However, statistical comparisons between the FES and conventional therapy groups did not yield significant differences. Discussion: The addition of FES to conventional rehabilitation is an effective and safe approach stroke patients' rehabilitation
Assessing the Fertilizing Potential of Two Tannery Bio-Wastes Through Short-Term Soil Incubation and Plant Rhizosphere Bioassay
No full textThe tannery industry is a significant global manufacturing sector, producing over 4 million tons of tannery bio-wastes (TBWs) annually, and to reintegrate TBWs into the productive cycle offers a significant alternative to landfill disposal. Despite TBWs are rich in organic matter, nitrogen (N), and carbon (C) they pose important environmental risks, such as the presence of heavy metals like chromium (Cr) that can be released into the environment. This study aimed at evaluating the fertilizing potential of two TBWs-based fertilizers through a complementary laboratory-scale approach by using a short-term soil incubation experiment and the Rhizotest (ISO16198: 2015) bioassay. Two TBWs-based fertilizers, Tannery Sludge (TS) and Integrated Leather Meal (ILM), were subjected to 42 days of soil incubation and to Rhizotest bioassay. Nitrogen release, chemical and biochemical indicators were assayed after the soil incubation. Tomato plants uptake of heavy metals and rhizosphere enzyme activities were assayed after Rhizotest. TS and ILM released 11% and 35% of their total N content respectively, with TS acting more as a slow-release fertilizer. Heavy metal contamination was negligible, except for Cr, which however remained in the soil in its trivalent form and was not absorbed by plants. Rhizotest allowed to highlight that TS and ILM stimulated broad and specific enzyme activities in the rhizosphere soil. This complementary approach enabled rapid, reproducible, and sensitive characterization of organic fertilizers produced from TBWs, which have the potential to be employed as organic fertilizers safely
Sviluppo di un modello formativo per l’integrazione degli approcci educativi nelle strutture residenziali per anziani: una ricerca empirica
No full textMultimodel Simulations of Hydrogen Refueling Stations: Stock Levels, Infrastructure, and Performance Evaluation Under Stochastic Vehicle Inflows in the Gulf–Europe Corridor
No full textThis study employs multimodel simulations, including road traffic, process, and system dynamics modeling, to analyze hydrogen refueling stations (HRSs) in the Gulf–Europe corridor, also known as the Iraq’s development road project (DRP). It focuses on operational requirements, which consist of stock levels and infrastructure needs, along with refueling performance under stochastic vehicle inflows (SVIs) from the Gulf, European countries, and Iraq’s side roads (SRs). The research aims to identify key operational requirements and evaluate the refueling performance of an HRS for various stochastic vehicle inflow (SVI) scenarios, facilitating the efficient integration of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (HFCVs) into freight networks. The study introduces novel multimodel simulations developed in the AnyLogic software environment to replicate real-world variability in vehicle inflows. Key findings reveal that SVIs significantly impact hydrogen stock level (HSL), infrastructure requirements (IRs), and refueling performance metrics (RPMs). For example, for a daily transportation demand of 30,000 tons of goods with 10%–20% side road (SR) vehicle entries, an HRS requires an IR-1 of 3, an IR-2 of 2, and an HSL of 44,391.6 kg, with performance reflected in refueling performance metric (RPM)-1 values of 73%, 72%, and 45%, and an RPM-2 range of 1.32–6.12 min. This proves that the HRS requirements and performance vary with SVIs for different transportation demands. Hence, we enhance the theoretical framework of refueling station design by integrating multimodel simulations to address stochastic inflows. It offers actionable insights for policymakers on optimizing HRS operations, improving scalability, and achieving United Nations sustainable development goals (SDGs)
Does Total Hip Arthroplasty Influence Pelvic Version? A Retrospective Case Control Study Using the Sacro-Femoro-Pubic Angle in Osteoarthritis and Fracture Patients
No full textBackground and Objectives: Spinopelvic alignment may affect the outcomes of total hip arthroplasty (THA), with pelvic version influencing the risk of mechanical complications occurring after surgery. On the other hand, THA surgery itself may contribute to the modification of pelvis version. The sacro-femoro-pubic (SFP) angle is measured on anteroposterior (AP) radiographs of the pelvis in a supine position, and is used to estimate pelvic tilt (PT), representative of pelvic version, which requires lateral views of the sacrum for its calculation; however, these X rays are not routinely performed in the preoperative setting of hip surgery. This study aims to analyze how THA determines changes in the pelvic version of operated patients; the SFP angle will be used to assess pelvic version on standard AP radiographs. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study included 182 consecutive patients undergoing THA for unilateral primary degenerative hip osteoarthritis (HOA-study group, n = 104) or femoral neck fracture (FNF-control group, n = 78) at the author's institution. The SFP angle was measured on AP pelvic radiographs of the non-replaced hip preoperatively, postoperatively, and at the last follow-up. PT values were derived from SFP angles. Pre- and postoperative PT and its variations Delta PT were assessed. Study groups were compared in terms of native and postoperative variations of pelvic version. Results: The average absolute value of Delta PT was 2.99 degrees +/- 3.07 degrees in the HOA group and 3.57 degrees +/- 2.92 degrees in FNF group. There was no significant overall difference in preoperative or postoperative PT values between groups. In both groups, THA surgery led to a certain improvement, still not significant, in pelvic orientation, with FNF patients presenting a greater tendency toward retroversion. No significant differences in complication rates were found comparing patients with different pelvic orientations. Conclusions: THA can lead to a "normalization" of pelvic version in a certain number of patients with preoperative anteversion or retroversion. Although statistically non-significant, this observation may have clinical implications for spinopelvic balance and could support prioritizing THA in patients with concurrent spinal disease. Further research is needed to confirm these findings and to evaluate the long-term impact of THA on spinopelvic alignment
Do We Know How We Really Feel? Towards a Methodology for Investigating Space and Well-Being
No full textThis paper seeks to lay the basis of a wider research program, which investigates how users relate to the built environments in a more holistic and inclusive vision of comfort that integrates emotional responses to spatial features.
As a matter of fact, the physical, thermodynamic aspects of the built environment are increasingly acknowledged as critical factors shaping perceived human comfort and human behaviour; as opposite, emotional states and cognitive processes are often disregarded in this context.
In parallel, the field of neuroarchitecture is emerging, showing the possibility of a significant advance in exploring the influence of the built environment on performance and user satisfaction.
The paper proposes an investigatory framework for future research on the relationship between built environments and human well-being, drawing from existing literature, in an attempt to extrapolate the interrelation/interdependence between physiological and psychological effects in architectural spaces.
The presented literature review considers the effects of Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) factors - including lighting, temperature, acoustics, and air quality - on the comfort, productivity, and psychological state of occupants in various building types, such as offices and hospitals, as well as the effectiveness of green building certifications in achieving optimal IEQ.
Starting from the literature review, the paper proposes a theoretical framework that examines the intertwined relation between functional needs and other, often disregarded, experiential aspects related to human emotions and cognition that positively influence human well-being
Strani Disegni
No full textCosa lega un blog le cui illustrazioni nascondono una scena spaventosa, lo scarabocchio di un bambino che contiene un oscuro messaggio e uno schizzo fatto dalla vittima di un omicidio nei suoi ultimi istanti di vita? Un romanzo con una trama inquietante, unica, dove solo una serie di immagini, da comporre e interpretare, permette di scoprire l’identità di un assassino.
«Con le sue immagini impressionanti, Strani disegni è un’esperienza di lettura immersiva, mai vista prima»
Supporting Resilient, Ethical, and Verifiable Anonymous Identities Through Blockchains
Get PDFIn recent years, anonymity on the internet has come under intense scrutiny for enabling criminal behaviors like cyberbullying, disinformation, child exploitation, and illicit financial activities. Nevertheless, strong advocates highlight its importance as a protective space for legitimate and ethical actions that individuals may prefer to keep separate from their real-world identities. This paper presents a protocol for authenticated anonymity, enabling anonymous usage that remains unlinkable to real identities unless criminal activity is detected. Blockchain offers a robust and secure framework to manage these needs. While existing solutions — e.g., self-sovereign identities — grant users full control over their disclosure, they lack proper accountability. To address this limitation, the proposed protocol employs a blockchain-driven mechanism that supports anonymous yet verifiable identities. De-anonymization is achieved exclusively through multi-party consensus on the blockchain, t riggered by explicit and non-repudiable requests. We provide the formal mathematical model of the protocol and offer some evaluations of its robustness and fault tolerance, even under large-scale identity management scenarios
Enabling the sustainable protein transition: Alternative protein companies’ perspective on key factors influencing companies’ performance in Europe
Get PDFAlternative proteins (AP) products can contribute to a sustainability-oriented agri-food system, by creating significantly lower carbon emissions, and reduced land and water use compared to animal products. AP companies are key actors in shaping the transition toward sustainable agri-food systems. To further enhance the AP companies’ impact, it is essential to understand their performance in this competitive and fast-evolving market. This research explores the companies’ perspective on factors influencing the performance of European AP ingredients and food processing companies. The study adopts a theoretical approach based on sustainability transition to analyze factors at three levels of action: company, market and external environment. Based on semistructured face-to-face in person or online interviews with 37 company representatives throughout Europe, the study identifies limiting and enabling factors shaping company performance. Findings reveal that product characteristics are among the most significant determinants of success. Companies prioritize developing products that are tasty, nutritionally balanced, and affordable to meet consumer expectations. Performance is further enhanced by highly skilled team; investment in R&D to improve products characteristics; partnerships with comanufacturers; and increased retailer commercialization of AP products. Limiting factors include low consumer acceptance; financial and technological constraints to scalability; uncertainties regarding market growth; and regulation hurdles. The findings highlight key issues of the European AP market and offer valuable insights to support its continued growth and contribution to agri-food system sustainability
Ultra-Processed Food and Its Impact on Bone Health and Joint Diseases: A Scoping Review
Get PDFBackground/Objectives: This scoping review explores the relationship between ultra-processed food (UPF), bone health, and joint diseases, focusing on its potential impact on bone mineral density (BMD), osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, and inflammatory arthritis, including rheumatoid arthritis (RA), gout, and spondyloarthritis. Methods: A search strategy was developed using key terms such as “ultra-processed food” and related terms like “fast food,” alongside various definitions of bone health impairment, chronic degenerative joint diseases, and inflammatory arthritis. Results: A total of 19 studies were included: 12 on bone health, 3 on osteoarthritis, and 4 on inflammatory arthritis. Preclinical studies showed that UPF consumption negatively affects bone structure and strength. In studies on children and adults, four investigations (2013–2017) found no association between fast food intake and BMD. However, more recent large-scale cross-sectional studies linked higher UPF consumption to lower BMD, increased osteoporosis risk, and greater prevalence of osteopenia, particularly in postmenopausal women. UPF intake was associated with knee osteoarthritis risk, with evidence suggesting an interaction with cartilage thickness, though no association was found for hip osteoarthritis. In inflammatory arthritis, UK Biobank data indicated a higher risk of RA and gout in UPF consumers, while a Brazilian study reported worse metabolic profiles in RA patients. No significant differences in UPF intake were found in spondyloarthritis. Conclusions: This review highlights relevant considerations about the deleterious role of UPF on bone health and joint diseases, providing additional evidence to suggest healthier dietary patterns to patients and to the general population