Archivio Istituzionale della Ricerca- Università del Salento
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Conversion Ability of Immunotherapy in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Insights from the International Converse Study
No full textIntroduction: The potential for curative conversion with immunotherapy-based systemic treatment used with noncurative intent in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains debated. This study aimed to provide a reliable epidemiological snapshot of response patterns to atezolizumab plus bevacizumab (AB) therapy, with a focus on curative conversion rates. Methods: Patients with HCC undergoing first-line noncurative AB or lenvatinib (LENV, used as reference) from 2019 to 2023 were included, using centre-level aggregate data from a broad international consortium. The primary endpoint was the curative conversion rate, differentiating potential conversion (PC) - when objective response (OR) resulted in a consistent decrease in tumour burden and alpha-fetoprotein levels - from actual conversion (AC), when OR led to curative treatment. Secondary endpoints included OR, under-conversion (UC; [PC - AC]/OR) rates, and crude survival rates of AC patients. A meta-analytic approach was employed to analyse aggregate data. Results: Forty-eight international centres treating 2,379 patients with HCC with a noncurative intent (1,401 with AB and 978 with LENV) were included. A significant discrepancy was observed between PC (16% and 13% for AB and LENV, p = 0.03) and AC rates (3% for both AB and LENV, p = 0.14). UC rates remained similarly high (40% and 36% for AB and LENV, p = 0.93), despite differing OR rates (29% and 24% for AB and LENV, p = 0.01). Subgroup and meta-regression analyses did not identify any clear treatment, centre, or patient patterns that explained the high UC rate. The 3-year survival rate for the 72 patients who underwent a curative conversion after AB was 93%. Conclusions: Although patients treated with AB achieved higher OR and PC rates than those treated with LENV, AC remained similarly low, highlighting a potentially worrisome UC phenomenon in real life, also with novel immunotherapy-based combinations
Performance of different approaches to difficult biliary cannulation in endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography: A systematic review and network meta-analysis
No full textBackground: It is unclear which is the best strategy for difficult biliary cannulation in endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). Aims: We compared the different techniques, through a network meta-analysis combining direct and indirect comparisons. Methods: We identified 12 randomized controlled trials (1605 patients) comparing different techniques for difficult biliary cannulation (early and late needle knife techniques, pancreatic guidewire- and stent-assisted techniques, transpancreatic sphincterotomy, and endoscopic ultrasound rendez-vous [EUS-RV]) either with each other or with persistence with the standard cannulation techniques. The success rate of biliary cannulation and the incidence of post-ERCP pancreatitis (PEP) were the primary outcomes. Results: Only transpancreatic sphincterotomy significantly outperformed pancreatic stent assisted cannulation (risk ratio [RR] 1.33, 1.00-1.55), whereas no difference was observed among the other techniques in terms of cannulation success. SUCRA ranking suggested EUS-RV and early needle knife techniques as the best performing approaches (SUCRA 0.78 and 0.68, respectively). In terms of PEP rate, only EUS-RV significantly outperformed pancreatic guidewire-assisted techniques (RR 0.21, 0.04-0.98). Conclusions: Based on low quality of evidence, the several techniques for difficult biliary cannulation show similar results although a trend in favour of needle knife techniques and EUS-RV was observed. EUS-RV seems to decrease the risk of PEP
Designing Innovative Digital Solutions in the Cultural Heritage and Tourism Industry: Best Practices for an Immersive User Experience
Full text linkDigital transformation is reshaping business strategies and driving innovation across various industries including Cultural Heritage (CH) and tourism. Digital technologies, such as eXtended Reality (XR) and the Internet of Things (IoT), are increasingly being adopted to enhance visitors’ experiences, foster interactive engagement, and promote cultural knowledge. Despite the growing number of digital solutions proposed in the CH sector, several challenges remain in differentiating digital products and services, including matching industry needs and user expectations. This aspect is of particular interest when dealing with small and medium enterprises (SMEs), which often suffer from limited resources. Therefore, to design an effective digital solution, like a cloud-based platform for tourism and heritage applications, it is essential to first identify the key requirements, expectations, and preferences of SMEs and customers. This study presents the findings of a survey-based analysis conducted among 122 CH and tourism professionals, focusing on the most relevant features, services, and functionalities that such platforms should integrate. Results indicate a strong demand for cloud-based solutions that incorporate XR, IoT, sensors, and smart devices to collect context data and deliver personalized, immersive, and context-aware experiences. These insights suggest valuable practices for the development of digital tools that effectively support cultural organizations in engaging visitors
La filosofia del suono in Martin Heidegger
No full textIs it possible to draw up a philosophy of sound in Heidegger? And is a phenomenology of the world as given through sound possible? Among post-Husserlian philosophers, Heidegger most radically emphasizes the inseparability of subject and world, to the extent that he avoids using such terminology to describe this kind of synusia. However, in the Heideggerian opus this fundamental determination is indicated both narrowly and loosely. The human being (das menschliche Seiende) can inquire into its relationships with its surroundings and grasp the references (Verweisungen) that constitute significance (Bedeutsamkeit); but can also dismiss this relationship and establish a different relation to things (abstrakt hören). Through phenomenological analysis of Heideggerian texts, it is possible to trace the outlines of a phenomenology of the world as given through sound, which provides the precise coordinates of a philosophy of sound in Martin Heidegger
Formal Institutions and International Knowledge Transfer
Full text linkThis paper adopts a systematic review method to summarize the major economic literature on the topics of
international knowledge transfer. We pay special attention to studies exploring the role that formal
institutions may have in guiding, intensifying, and enhancing international knowledge transfer in, to, and from
emerging markets. Our findings identify five main transfer channels that we believe are predominant in the
literature. The first refers to the role of multinational enterprises, and how industrial links affect international
knowledge transfer through inward and outward foreign direct investment. The second addresses the effect
of R&D internationalization on firm innovation performance. The third deals with the idea that firms learn
from international trade and benefit from links with foreign markets by introducing either new products or
processes. The fourth focuses on international collaborations and networks. Finally, the fifth addresses the
human capital international mobility of managers and employees. However, the complex nature of these
topics claims the need for supplementary studies that can help to further develop this theme
Artificial Intelligence in Education: Using New Technologies for Teaching and Learning Process
No full textDamage Detection on Real-World Structures Through M-DLAC Technique
No full textThe localization of structural damage using non-destructive evaluation techniques based on changes in modal parameters is a significant challenge in the Structural Health Monitoring field. In this study, through the use of real-world data, we test a technique for structural assessment that relies solely on variations in natural frequencies induced by damage: the Multiple-Damage Location Assurance Criterion (M-DLAC).
The findings shown represent a novel and significant contribution to the scientific community, as the M-DLAC technique has never been tested on real-world structures before. This is facilitated by the recent introduction in the literature of a benchmark structure database consisting of a 9-m-high lattice tower with reversible damage mechanisms at various levels. The aforementioned database encompasses the monitoring of the structure, in terms of accelerometer data, conducted over an entire year and includes various damage cases as well as the intact one. Moreover, the application of M-DLAC to the lattice tower necessitated the extension of the original method with a custom-built algorithm that uses mode shapes to correlate the post-damage modes with the pre-damage ones in order to successfully evaluate the natural frequencies variations.
The study demonstrates the applicability and effectiveness of M-DLAC in real-world scenarios, highlighting its potential as a valuable tool for damage localization
Cells Derived from Concentrated Growth Factor Exhibit a Multilineage Differentiation Capacity
Full text linkConcentrated growth factor (CGF) is an autologous blood-derived product widely used in regenerative medicine due to its high concentration of growth factors and platelets. In this study, the ability of primary stem cells isolated from human CGF to differentiate into adipocytes, endothelial cells, and neuronal-like cells was evaluated in vitro. CGF primary cells (CPCs) were obtained from CGF fragments and characterized after one month in culture. These cells were positive for the surface markers CD105, CD45, CD31, and CD14, and also expressed mRNA levels of the stemness markers Nanog and Oct3/4 comparable to human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs). Results showed that, following appropriate differentiation protocols, CPCs, similarly to BMSCs, were able to differentiate into adipogenic, endothelial, and neuronal lineages, acquiring specific phenotypic and molecular markers. Adipogenic induction resulted in lipid accumulation and the upregulation of key genes, including PLIN2, FABP4, CD36, and FASN. Under pro-endothelial conditions, the cells exhibited increased expression of endothelial markers, eNOS, VEGFR-2, and CD31. Neuronal induction promoted the expression of β-tubulin III, Nestin, and Neurofilament. Overall, this work highlights the remarkable plasticity of CPCs and supports their potential application in multilineage regenerative therapies
Machine Learning Models For Multilevel Biodiversity Index Prediction In Apulia, Southern Italy: A Comparative Study
No full textEnvironmental factors, notably air pollutants and meteorological conditions, significantly impact biodiversity distribution and ecosystem dynamics. Among these, PM10 is a major stressor, affecting plant physiological responses, reducing species abundance, and modifying soil microbial activity and nutrient cycling. These effects are often compounded when PM10 interacts with climatic conditions, particularly temperature and rainfall. Elevated temperatures contribute to habitat fragmentation and species loss, while changes in precipitation patterns influence ecological productivity and species composition. Furthermore, during extreme weather events, increased airborne particle deposition can lead to soil acidification and nutrient depletion, further compromising ecological integrity.
Understanding these combined impacts is crucial for regions like Apulia, where biodiversity is shaped by both climate variability and localized human pressures.
This study aims to provide biodiversity modeling for predicting Multilevel Biodiversity Index (Cazzolla Gatti and Notarnicola, 2018), taking into account the effect of PM10 concentrations and meteorological variables. A comparative analysis of the performance of Random Forests, Support Vector Machines, and Gradient Boosting algorithms, including Extreme Gradient Boosting with respect to multiple geographical regression analysis is discussed (Bayat et al, 2021; Chang, 2023).
The empirical findings demonstrate a significant decline in biodiversity in areas with elevated PM10 levels, particularly in inland regions where agricultural and industrial activities are prominent
Aquatic Moss as New Multipurpose Live Biomass: From Biofiltration to Bioproduction
No full textDue to their extraordinary surface extension, aquatic mosses Taxiphyllum barbieri and Leptodictyum
riparium perform very well in N metabolization without preliminary microbiological activation and
in capturing HMs and metalloids as well as trapping NPs. Therefore, aquatic moss biomasses are
gaining attention to be considered as valuable and efficient biofilter media applicable in many
different scenarios.
At the same time cultivation of the biomass may be a limiting factor since growth is relatively slow.
In our work we evidence how the moss cultivation may also be part of a productive chain where
biomass synthesize valuable products while gaining mass.
First, we identified plant growth regulators with significant biostimulatory effects. Secondly, we are
exploring the possibility to genetically engineer these organisms to create innovative and efficient
molecular farms