Archivio istituzionale della ricerca - Alma Mater Studiorum Università di Bologna
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Transitioning to circular business models in developing countries: a systematic literature review of barriers, enablers, and future directions
Get PDFThe concept of the circular economy (CE) is gaining attention in developing countries as they cope with global challenges such as resource depletion, climate change, and environmental degradation. However, the adoption of CE principles at the business model level in these countries is constrained by various obstacles. This systematic literature review of 107 articles from Scopus and Web of Science (WoS) examines study results on circular business models within developing economies to establish a comprehensive framework for researchers, practitioners, and policymakers. We identify proof
of obstacles such as financial constraints, regulatory and institutional challenges, technological limitations, market and supply chain issues, organizational hurdles, and cultural resistance. Among successful practices, drivers, and enablers that facilitate transition from linear to circular are highlighted: policy support, innovation, stakeholder engagement, and
capacity building. A research gap is identified, especially in the health sector, food supply chains, and plastic packaging manufacturers. Due to the differences in terms of methodology, context, and topic of the reviewed research, the findings cannot be generalized. Nevertheless, by synthesizing current knowledge, our study aims to offer valuable insights to guide businesses in adopting circular models and policymakers in creating supportive environments, contributing to sustainable development in emerging economies
Modulation of Lonp1 Activity by Small Compounds
Get PDFThe Lon protease homolog 1 (LONP1) is an ATP-dependent mitochondrial protease essential for maintaining proteostasis, bioenergetics, and cellular homeostasis. LONP1 plays a pivotal role in protein quality control, mitochondrial DNA maintenance, and oxidative phosphorylation system (OXPHOS) regulation, particularly under stress conditions. Dysregulation of LONP1 has been implicated in various pathologies, including cancer, metabolic disorders, and reproductive diseases, positioning it as a promising pharmacological target. This review examines compounds that modulate LONP1 activity, categorizing them into inhibitors and activators. Inhibitors such as CDDO and its derivatives selectively target LONP1, impairing mitochondrial proteolysis, inducing protein aggregation, and promoting apoptosis, particularly in cancer cells. Compounds like Obtusilactone A and proteasome inhibitors (e.g., MG262) demonstrate potent cytotoxicity, further expanding the therapeutic landscape. Conversely, LONP1 activators, including Artemisinin derivatives and 84-B10, restore mitochondrial function and protect against conditions such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and acute kidney injury (AKI). Future research should focus on improving the specificity, bioavailability, and pharmacokinetics of these modulators. Advances in structural biology and drug discovery will enable the development of novel LONP1-targeted therapies, addressing diseases driven by mitochondrial dysfunction and proteostasis imbalance
Multiband Multisine Excitation Signal for Online Impedance Spectroscopy of Battery Cells
Get PDFMultisine electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) represents a highly promising technique for the online characterization of battery functional states, offering the potential to monitor, in real-time, key degradation phenomena such as aging, internal resistance variation, and state of health (SoH) evolution. However, its widespread adoption in embedded systems is currently limited by the need to balance measurement accuracy with strict energy constraints and the requirement for short acquisition times. This work proposes a novel broadband EIS approach based on a multiband multisine excitation strategy in which the excitation signal spectrum is divided into multiple sub-bands that are sequentially explored. This enables the available energy to be concentrated on a limited portion of the spectrum at a time, thereby significantly improving the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) without substantially increasing the total measurement time. The result is a more energy-efficient method that maintains high diagnostic precision. We further investigated the optimal design of these multiband multisine sequences, taking into account realistic constraints imposed by the sensing hardware such as limitations in excitation amplitude and noise level. The effectiveness of the proposed method was demonstrated within a comprehensive simulation framework implementing a complete impedance measurement system. Compared with conventional excitation techniques (i.e., the sine sweep and the classical single-band multisine methods), the proposed strategy is an optimal trade-off solution both in terms of energy efficiency and measurement time. Therefore, the technique is a valuable solution for real-time, embedded, and in situ battery diagnostics, with direct implications for the development of intelligent battery management systems (BMS), predictive maintenance, and enhanced safety in energy storage applications. © 2025 by the authors
Diagnostic Accuracy of an Add-On, Blood-Based Screening Test for Colorectal Cancer in Two Established Screening Programmes
Get PDFBackgroundCELTiC is a blood-based test consisting of a panel of four mRNAs (CEACAM6, LGALS4, TSPAN8 and COL1A2) associated with colorectal cancer (CRC). CELTiC has a high sensitivity (90%) for detecting advanced neoplasia (AN) when compared to faecal immunochemical test (FIT)-negative subjects.AimsTo evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of CELTiC as an add-on test following a positive FIT in two existing CRC screening programmes.MethodsWe designed a prospective study in FIT-positive screenees. Analyses were performed in two (partially overlapping) groups: participants with FIT >= 47 mu g Hb/g faeces (group I) and FIT >= 20 mu g Hb/g faeces (group II). We estimated CELTIC sensitivity and specificity in detecting AN at a pre-defined and a post hoc threshold (targeted sensitivity: 90%).ResultsWe included 809 participants (n = 567 in group I and n = 486 in group II). CELTiC did not reach a sensitivity of 90% at the pre-defined threshold (Group I 41%, group II 27%). At the post hoc thresholds for 90% sensitivity in detecting AN, CELTiC had a specificity of 14% (53/388; 95% CI: 10% to 17%) in group I and 12% (44/354; 95% CI: 9% to 16%) in group II.ConclusionsIn a FIT-positive population, CELTiC did not reach 90% sensitivity at the pre-defined threshold. At post hoc thresholds corresponding to 90% sensitivity, specificity was low. CELTiC cannot currently be recommended as an add-on test to detect AN in FIT-positive screenees in a CRC screening programme.Trial RegistrationClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT04980443, NCT05205967, NCT0436905
‘Talkin’ ’bout a revolution’? The strategic narratives of the Syrian Democratic Council
No full textWhat strategic narratives did the Syrian Democratic Council (SDC) develop during the Syrian civil war? Existing scholarship on strategic narratives and civil wars often overlooks how non-state armed actors developed their strategic narratives and how rebel groups developed their foreign policy. Through qualitative content analysis and narrative analysis of 559 documents published in English by the SDC between 2019 and 2023, this article finds that the SDC developed two strategic narratives. The first narrative, related to the international system, argues that the international military and political interventions weakened the Syrian peace process, criticizing how the promoters of such peace processes have been extensively involved in military operations in Syria. The second narrative contends that the SDC self-identifies as a different and responsible actor in the Syrian context, aiming to achieve national dialogue and an inclusive peace agreement among armed factions, reinforcing the dichotomy between in-groups and out-groups. To this extent, the article fills the gap in the scholarship on civil wars – particularly rebel diplomacy – and strategic narratives, bridging the two literatures and advancing the current understanding of non-state actors’ foreign policies
Information transmission as artificial intelligence
Get PDFArtificial intelligence (AI) emerged from the convergence of several ideas and theories developed over a significant period in the first half of the twentieth century. Among these, information theory holds a prominent place, achieving its complete formulation with Claude Shannon in the 1940s. Shannon is considered one of the founding fathers of AI, being a key contributor to the 1956 Dartmouth seminar that officially launched the field. However, some aspects of this origin and the influence of information theory seem somewhat inconsistent from a broader perspective. Notably, information theory primarily deals with the transmission of signals rather than directly addressing the transmission of meaning—a key element of intelligence. At the same time, Nyquist’s earlier work, which anticipated and facilitated the construction of a solid theory of information, concerned the transmission of intelligence, as per the author’s terms. In my talk, I will attempt to trace the historical and theoretical connections between information theory and AI, exploring their mutual influence through the shared notion of “intelligence”. I will demonstrate that while this shared usage does not signify a perfect conceptual overlap, it has nevertheless sparked numerous advancements in AI. These developments have far exceeded the initial expectations of those who first provided a technical and formal foundation for AI, and they have done so despite the great expectations generated in public opinion by early AI slogans
Macrophages recycle phagocytosed bacteria to fuel immunometabolic responses
No full textMacrophages specialize in phagocytosis, a cellular process that eliminates extracellular matter, including microorganisms, through internalization and degradation1,2. Despite the critical role of phagocytosis during bacterial infection, the fate of phagocytosed microbial cargo and its impact on the host cell are poorly understood. In this study, we show that ingested bacteria constitute an alternative nutrient source that skews immunometabolic host responses. By tracing stable isotope-labelled bacteria, we found that phagolysosomal degradation of bacteria provides carbon atoms and amino acids that are recycled into various metabolic pathways, including glutathione and itaconate biosynthesis, and satisfies the bioenergetic needs of macrophages. Metabolic recycling of microbially derived nutrients is regulated by the nutrient-sensing mechanistic target of rapamycin complex C1 and is intricately tied to microbial viability. Dead bacteria, as opposed to live bacteria, are enriched in cyclic adenosine monophosphate, sustain the cellular adenosine monophosphate pool and subsequently activate adenosine monophosphate protein kinase to inhibit the mechanistic target of rapamycin complex C1. Consequently, killed bacteria strongly fuel metabolic recycling and support macrophage survival but elicit decreased reactive oxygen species production and reduced interleukin-1β secretion compared to viable bacteria. These results provide a new insight into the fate of engulfed microorganisms and highlight a microbial viability-associated metabolite that triggers host metabolic and immune responses. Our findings hold promise for shaping immunometabolic intervention for various immune-related pathologies
Modeling of demoralization in breast cancer
Get PDFObjective: This study aimed at identifying correlates of demoralization in breast cancer. Materials and methods: Information was obtained from outpatients with breast cancer at the Oncology Clinic of a university-affiliated hospital in the United States, using reliable and valid scales, and from the participants’ medical records on demographic and social characteristics, location, type, and stage of cancer, whether it was a re-occurrence or first time diagnosed, type of cancer treatment, medications being used, history of mental disorder, functional impairment, perceived stress, perceived social support, resilience, subjective incompetence, demoralization, and depression. Demoralization was measured with the Demoralization Scale. Bivariable and multivariable analyses were conducted with demoralization as the dependent variable. Results: Demoralization correlated positively with functional impairment, perceived stress, depression, and subjective incompetence, and negatively with months since diagnosed with breast cancer, perceived social support, resilience, and quality of life. Forward stepwise regression conducted without depression in the regression equation identified emotional wellbeing subscale of quality of life, resilience, subjective incompetence, perceived social support, and functional impairment as significant. After forced entry of depression, perceived social support and mild depression ceased to be significant, leaving only moderate and severe depression as significant. Perceived stress did not enter any of the regression models. Conclusion: Early detection of demoralization and of the co-occurrence of depression and demoralization are essential for promoting the well-being of patients with breast cancer. Psychotherapy should focus on strengthening the modifiable negative correlates of demoralization, countering the modifiable positive correlates, and preventing the co-occurrence of demoralization and depression
“C’è ancora domani...”. L’incompiuta cittadinanza politica femminile.
No full textIl contributo esamina una subdola forma di discriminazione connessa al parametro del sesso e cioè quella relativa alla salute delle donne. Il diritto alla salute viene sempre af-fermato in maniera neutrale per cui la salute rappresenta un bene sostanziale il cui pos-sesso e tutela coinvolge indiscriminatamente donne e uomini, ma la questione da indaga-re è se effettivamente questa neutralità corrisponda alla realtà, o se invece la concretizza-zione di tale diritto mostri una vocazione discriminante, per cui tutti godono del diritto alla salute ma qualcuno in fin dei conti ne gode in maniera più piena e completa. In tale ragionamento si colloca la “medicina di sesso e genere” indirizzata a conoscere in che modo le malattie di tutti gli organi e sistemi si manifestino nei due sessi, valutando non solo le differenze legate al fattore biologico del sesso, ma anche quelle connesse al genere rispetto ai sintomi delle malattie, alla necessità di percorsi diagnostici diversificati così come per le interpretazioni dei risultati, valutando le eterogenee risposte ai farmaci. La medicina di genere non è la medicina delle donne, ma un approccio che concretizza e va-lorizza il legame tra eguaglianza e salute da cui tutte e tutti possono trarre giovamento
Supernova pointing capabilities of DUNE
Get PDFThe determination of the direction of a stellar core collapse via its neutrino emission is crucial for the identification of the progenitor for a multimessenger follow-up. A highly effective method of reconstructing supernova directions within the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE) is introduced. The supernova neutrino pointing resolution is studied by simulating and reconstructing electron-neutrino charged-current absorption on (Formula presented) and elastic scattering of neutrinos on electrons. Procedures to reconstruct individual interactions, including a newly developed technique called “brems flipping,” as well as the burst direction from an ensemble of interactions are described. Performance of the burst direction reconstruction is evaluated for supernovae happening at a distance of 10 kpc for a specific supernova burst flux model. The pointing resolution is found to be 3.4 degrees at 68% coverage for a perfect interaction-channel classification and a fiducial mass of 40 kton, and 6.6 degrees for a 10 kton fiducial mass respectively. Assuming a 4% rate of charged-current interactions being misidentified as elastic scattering, DUNE’s burst pointing resolution is found to be 4.3 degrees (8.7 degrees) at 68% coverage