Acta Orientalia Vilnensia
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The innovation imagined for the window: international patents in comparison
No full textThe window is an element of the building system that has always been a field of stylistic and technological experimentation. By virtue of belonging to the envelope, it assumes a non-secondary role in the formal composition of façades and affects levels of thermal, luminous, and acoustic comfort. Recently, the aim of environmental sustainability has encouraged the offer of more efficient solutions, also responding to the circular economy, for example by providing for the use of recycled materials. To intercept both the direction taken by the research sector and the direction that industrial production may take, the purpose of the study was to understand what the innovative features of the window will be in the near future; this was done by analysing published patent applications. The methodological approach required prior investigation of patent types and of the territorial extension of their protection. In order to detect current trends on a global scale, interest was directed to international patent applications (PCT - Patent Cooperation Treaty), which allow for the possible protection of the invention in the 157 Treaty countries and which are published in the PATENTSCOPE database of WIPO. In 2023, the chosen year of observation, 195 patent applications were published in the “window” category and 132 were included in the study, selected according to previously defined inclusion and exclusion criteria. The classification was based on the sub-systems identified within the window element (Attachment to the structure; Frame, Sash; Glazing; Screen; Movement and maneuvering; Gasket) and categorised into three innovation areas (A1. Design, A2. Performance, A3. Sustainability), and related sub-areas. The study showed that the area of Sustainability is still lacking; while greater interest on the part of the researchers concerned the area of Performance, and in particular thermal/luminous comfort, with a significant focus on the integration of the smart component in windows
Metabolomics fingerprinting of Egyptian calendula (Calendula officinalis L.) essential oil and absolute by direct infusion into rapid evaporative ionization mass spectrometry
No full textThe present research is intended to provide a rapid and thorough method for the detection and characterization of the metabolites present in Calendula officinalis L. derived products, avoiding long analysis times and use of excessive amounts of solvents and energy, with a significant reduction of waste generation. Rapid Evaporative Ionization Mass Spectrometry (REIMS) was explored as ambient ionization source, coupled with a quadrupole-time of flight (Q-ToF) high-resolution tandem MS detector to enhance identification capability. Samples were introduced in REIMS-Q-ToF system by direct infusion excluding clean-up procedures and chromatographic separations. A characteristic fingerprint of the samples was obtained in a very short time (30–60 s). A huge number of phytochemical compounds belonging to different chemical classes was detected by matching the mass accuracy data in commercial and online database. Conventional gas and liquid chromatography analysis were also used as confirmatory methods. The adherence of the developed REIMS-Q-ToF method to green chemistry principles was quantitatively estimated and compared with conventional chromatographic techniques. For this purpose, different greenness evaluation tools (Analytical greenness metric (AGREE) and Modified Complementary Green Analytical Procedure Index (ComplexMoGAPI)) were applied along with Blue applicability grade index (BAGI) for practicality evaluation
Selected comorbidities and the probability of ART switch in PWH with undetectable HIV-RNA: a retrospective analysis in Italy
No full textObjectives: To estimate the incidence of comorbidities in persons with HIV (PWH) with a stable viral load (VL) of ≤50 copies/mL and evaluate the likelihood of treatment switch (TS) according to the new development of dyslipidaemia (DP), kidney disease and a weight change that determined overweight. Methods: We carried out six case-control studies nested within the Icona Foundation Study cohort with the outcome of TS of the current regimen (due to intolerance/toxicity or simplification) and investigated the incident comorbidities. Conditional logistic regression models were employed. Results: Overall, the median age of study participants was 45 years (IQR: 36-52), 19% were female, 48% were MSM and 17% were migrants. DP was confirmed to be the most frequent incident comorbidity [138 events; incidence rate (IR) = 28.4%; 95% CI: 22.7%-34%], followed by estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) deterioration and BMI elevation. None of the studied factors was associated with the risk of TS because of simplification. TS because of toxicity was predicted by incident DP [adjusted OR (aOR) = 2.49, 95% CI: 1.19-5.19, P = 0.02] and by a decline in eGFR of >10 mL/min/1.73 m2 (aOR = 1.51, 95% CI: 0.98-2.32, P = 0.06). The association with DP was stronger in participants who were receiving a boosted PI-based regimen at baseline (aOR = 3.38, 95% CI: 1.11-10.30, P = 0.03). Therapy discontinuation because of toxicity/simplification has remained common in PWH with VL of ≤50 copies/mL in recent years. Conclusions: The onset of DP and a decline in eGFR was associated with discontinuations due to toxicity. Interventions aiming to mitigate the risk of developing lipid abnormalities in PWH are likely to also reduce the number of ART changes, which can potentially affect future drug options
The role of uncertainty in representative Italian LCA database: the case of olive datasets
No full textData uncertainty plays a crucial role in influencing the quality of results obtained from a Life Cycle Assessment
(LCA) study. Alongside, the use of representative data for the agrifood sector is fundamental, on the one hand,
to account for the various technological, biological, and environmental factors affecting its related productions
and, on the other, to reduce their related uncertainty. In this regard, as part of a research project (PRIN 2017,
ID code 2017EC9WF2) funded by the Ministry of University and Research (MUR), the Italian Life Cycle
Inventory Database of Agrifoods (ILCIDAF) database has been developed in order to provide LCA
practitioners with regionalised data for four mains Italian agrifood products, i.e., olive oil, wine, citrus and
bread/pasta. This paper aims to analyse two different approaches to calculate the uncertainty related to the
regionalised data for Italian olive production included in the ILCIDAF database. In addition, these two
approaches are compared in order to understand how these data and their related uncertainty may affect the
final results. In the ILCIDAF database, the datasets for olive production have been developed by normalising
the input and output to the olive yield of 19 Italian regions and considering its temporal variation between
2015 and 2020. In this context, the first approach consists of calculating the uncertainty connected to the
temporal fluctuation of each region, assuming that the uncertainty is related to the annual variation of olive
yield among regions. Instead, the second approach involves the use of the basic uncertainty reported in
Ecoinvent for some categories of products and emissions. Results underscore that the uncertainty calculated
according to the annual olive yield fluctuation is overestimated for the input and underestimated for the direct
emissions when compared to the one based on Ecoinvent. Consequently, this contributes to differences in the
uncertainty of the LCA outcomes, highlighting that the use of inappropriate uncertainty values may
significantly affect the results
Dynamic changes in plasma electrophoretic protein profiles of different goat breeds during peripartum: implications for immuno-inflammatory monitoring
No full textThe peripartum period is marked by profound physiological adjustments related to fetal development and the onset of lactation, which can affect homeostasis and alter plasma protein profiles. This study aimed to evaluate and compare changes in plasma protein fractions in healthy goats from four Italian breeds: Camosciata delle Alpi (n = 15), Orobica di Valgerola (n = 20), Frisa Valtellinese (n = 22), and Lariana (n = 19) during this transitional phase. Blood samples were collected at five time points: thirty days before parturition (T1), fifteen days before parturition (T2), at parturition (T3), fifteen days after parturition (T4), and thirty days after parturition (T5). All breeds exhibited dynamic variations in total protein levels and electrophoretic fractions throughout the peripartum period. Frisa and Lariana breeds showed a post-partum increase in alpha- and beta-globulin fractions, suggesting a potentially greater inflammatory response compared to the other breeds. These findings highlight the metabolic demands of the peripartum period and the breed-specific adaptations involved. Plasma protein electrophoresis proved to be an effective tool for monitoring physiological changes and may support the early detection of metabolic imbalances. The study also underscores the importance of developing breed-specific reference intervals to enhance health assessment and herd management in goats
Predictability and calculability in tax proceeding: tha state of the art
No full textIn this digital era, artificial intelligence (AI) is emerging as a catalyst for transformation across numerous fields, ranging from, economics, environment, finance to healthcare, AI's integration into daily operations and strategic planning presents a pivotal shift towards data-driven decision-making and automation. Each chapter in this volume addresses a unique aspect of AI, from theoretical frameworks and technological advancements to practical applications and ethical considerations. This volume not only highlights the advancements and applications of AI but also addresses the critical challenges of bias, privacy, and ethical implications associated with AI deployment. Through a multidisciplinary approach, it aims to provide readers with a nuanced understanding of AI's role in modern society and its potential to address some of the most pressing challenges of our times. As we stand on the brink of technological revolutions, this volume serves as a guide and a critical examination of the potential pathways AI might forge in the future. It is an essential read for academics, industry professionals, policymakers, and anyone interested in the profound changes AI is poised to bring. This is a multi-author book, but not a collection of essays. In fact, although signed by different authors, all the chapters of the book follow a line of development which is traced in the first part of the book and deepen the various aspects in logical order.
The various parts of the book will explore the most important features of AI and analyse the implications of AI in Economics, Law, Policies, Smart Citizens and Territorial Aspects
InfraRed Thermographic Measurements in Parkinson’s Disease Subjects: Preliminary Results
No full textIn this preliminary study, the thermoregulatory response in individuals diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease was investigated by infrared thermography. Parkinson’s disease is a complex neurodegenerative disorder primarily known for motor impairments, significantly reducing the quality of life of affected people. However, in most cases, such disease is accompanied or preceded by non-motor symptoms, including autonomic dysfunction. As in the case of neurovegetative dysautonomia, this dysfunction involves a malfunction of the autonomic nervous system, which also plays a key role in thermoregulation. In general, such conditions are not always easy to detect; a valid method could be represented by the vasomotor response of the skin to cold stimuli. In this context, infrared thermography can provide insights into the thermoregulatory patterns associated with autonomic dysfunction, representing a valuable tool for non-invasive assessment of Parkinson’s research. Early biomarkers of the disease can be obtained through changes in skin temperature, allowing for timely intervention and management. The study was conducted on a cohort of 16 subjects (8 patients with Parkinson’s disease and 8 healthy controls), who were monitored with infrared images captured from their hands, following a specific protocol established by a preliminary analysis. Experimental results revealed that thermography can detect focal points and regions exhibiting either hyper- or hypothermia across the skin surface and muscular regions. This capability allows for extracting and categorizing precise medical data, which could inform future research aimed at identifying early markers of the disease. However, as this is a preliminary observational study, no diagnostic claims are made, and further investigations on larger cohorts with controlled comorbidities are needed
Gene-Exercise Interactions in Amyloid Metabolism and Clearance: Implications for Alzheimer’s Disease
No full textAlzheimer’s disease (AD), the most prevalent form of dementia, poses a critical global health challenge as its incidence rises with aging populations. Despite extensive research into its genetic and molecular underpinnings, effective therapeutic strategies remain limited. Growing evidence suggests that physical exercise may offer neuroprotective benefits, potentially mitigating AD progression through multifactorial mechanisms. This review synthesizes current findings on the interplay between aerobic exercise and AD pathophysiology, with a focus on amyloid-β (Aβ) metabolism, gene expression, and neuroinflammation. We explore how exercise influences Aβ clearance, modulates amyloid precursor protein (APP) processing, and impacts the activity of key enzymes such as secretases and neprilysin. Further, we highlight the gene–exercise crosstalk identified through transcriptomic data, particularly in the entorhinal cortex—an early site of Aβ deposition. Our analysis also discusses how exercise-induced modulation of molecular pathways—including mitochondrial function, oxidative stress responses, and neuroinflammatory cascades—may confer cognitive resilience. By integrating molecular, genetic, and systems biology data, this review underscores the potential of structured physical activity as a non-pharmacological intervention to delay or attenuate AD pathology. These insights support a precision medicine approach, which combines lifestyle interventions with molecular profiling, to improve prevention strategies and therapeutic outcomes in AD
Wave-induced incipient motion of non-buoyant plastic particles: Laboratory experiments
No full textThe incipient motion of nine non-buoyant plastic particles, having different shapes and densities, beneath surface waves is systematically investigated on both smooth and rough beds in a 2D flume. In each test, ten identical particles are placed on the bed, and the threshold for motion is defined when at least half of the particles move during each wave cycle. Experimental results are first compared with the classical Shields curve, originally developed for natural sediments under steady flow. To enhance predictive accuracy, the present dataset was combined with additional data sets from the literature acquired under steady flows, and the consolidated data were subjected to a systematic analysis. As has been established for steady flows, the effects of static friction and hiding-exposure need to be accounted for. However, it is found that these alone are not sufficient to achieve reconciliation with the classical Shields diagram for parameterizing incipient motion conditions. To ensure consistency with classical formulations based on steady flows, the shear velocity near the bed was estimated under wave forcing by applying a phase-averaging method. The peak near-bed velocity during the wave crest phase was extracted and used to compute the corresponding friction velocity. The novelty of this study is that an additional function, depending on the ratio of boundary layer thickness to particle size, has been incorporated to parameterize incipient motion beneath unsteady (oscillatory) wave-induced flows to account for the partial submergence of particles within the boundary layer. After accounting for this additional dependence, reconciliation with the Shields diagram is achieved, with remaining scatters being of the same order of magnitude for all the considered datasets. The proposed framework improves predictions of plastic debris mobility under both steady and wave-driven flow conditions