Archivio istituzionale della Ricerca - Università degli Studi di Parma
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Exploring Clinical Placement Education Unit (CPEU) experiences from the nursing bachelor's degree program at the University of Parma
No full textIntroduction
Clinical placement is a vital component of nursing education, offering the opportunity to integrate theoretical knowledge with practical application. Among the factors that significantly influence this experience, clinical tutoring models plays a crucial role in the development of key competencies.
Objectives
To evaluate the impact of Dedicated Education Unit (DEU) on the quality of nursing students' teaching and learning experiences at the Piacenza Teaching Hospital and to explore its effect on job satisfaction.
Methods
A mixed-methods study was conducted from June 2023 to June 2024 included nursing students and nurses from the neuro-rehabilitation unit. Qualitative data were gathered through semi-structured interviews and analysed according to the Braun and Clarke thematic analysis model. Quantitative data were collected via two validated questionnaires and analysed using descriptive statistical methods.
Results
The qualitative findings reveal that this innovative placement model promotes autonomy, team integration, and the development of interpersonal skills. Quantitative results show that the absolute median values for both questionnaires were higher among participants in the DEU group compared to those exposed to the traditional clinical placement experience.
Conclusions
The DEU model seems to be effective in enhancing learning and in bridging theory with practice. Challenges related to high student numbers and resistance to change were identified
The role of industry 4.0 in global food security: A promising pathway to ending hunger
No full textEnsuring global food security is a critical challenge that necessitates innovative solutions and advanced technologies. This study explores how the fourth industrial revolution (Industry 4.0) technologies can transform global food security by enhancing availability, access, utilization, stability, agency, and sustainability. Technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), big data, blockchain, and robotics are
detailed, highlighting their current applications in the food sector. Emphasizing Sustainable Development Goal 2: Zero Hunger, the study examines how precision agriculture, smart farming, automated machinery, real-time monitoring, data analytics, and digitalization can improve food production, distribution, and quality, ultimately fostering food security. This comprehensive analysis offers strategic insights and policy recommendations for stakeholders to leverage these transformative technologies, ensuring a sustainable and secure food future for all
1/2 BPS Wilson loops in non-conformal N = 2 gauge theories and localization: a three-loop analysis
No full textWe study the 1/2 BPS circular Wilson loop in four-dimensional SU(N) N = 2 SYM theories with massless hypermultiplets and non-vanishing beta-function. Using supersymmetric localization on S4, we map the path-integral associated with this observable onto an interacting matrix model. Despite the breaking of conformal symmetry at the quantum level, we show that, within a specific regime, the matrix model predictions remain consistent with the perturbative results in flat space up to order g6. At this order, our analysis reveals that the reorganization of Feynman diagrams based on the matrix model interaction potential, widely tested in (super)conformal models, also applies to these non-conformal set-ups and is realized by interference mechanisms
Biological Effects of Micro-/Nano-Plastics in Macrophages
No full textThe environmental impact of plastics is worsened by their inadequate end-of-life disposal, leading to the ubiquitous presence of micro- (MPs) and nanosized (NPs) plastic particles. MPs and NPs are thus widely present in water and air and inevitably enter the food chain, with inhalation and ingestion as the main exposure routes for humans. Many recent studies have demonstrated that MPs and NPs gain access to several body compartments, where they are taken up by cells, increase the production of reactive oxygen species, and lead to inflammatory changes. In most tissues, resident macrophages engage in the first approach to foreign materials, and this interaction largely affects the subsequent fate of the material and the possible pathological outcomes. On the other hand, macrophages are the main organizers and controllers of both inflammatory responses and tissue repair. Here, we aim to summarize the available information on the interaction of macrophages with MPs and NPs. Particular attention will be devoted to the consequences of this interaction on macrophage viability and functions, as well as to possible implications in pathology
Pregnancy in the Era of Disease-Modifying Therapies for Spinal Muscular Atrophy: Considerations From a Case Report
No full textAntioxidant and Analgesic Effect of Melatonin Involving Sirtuin 1: A Randomised Pilot Clinical Study
No full textOn a variational problem for curves in Lie sphere geometry
No full textLet Λ be the unit tangent bundle of the unit 3-sphere acted on transitively by the contact group of Lie sphere transformations. We study the Lie sphere geometry of generic curves in Λ which are everywhere transver- sal to the contact distribution of Λ. By the method of moving frames, we prove that such curves can be parametrized by a Lie-invariant parameter, the Lie arclength, and that in this parametrization they are uniquely determined, up to Lie sphere transformation, by four local invariants, the Lie curvatures. We then consider the simplest Lie-invariant functional on generic transversal curves defined by integrating the differential of the Lie arclength. The corre- sponding Euler–Lagrange equations are computed and the critical curves are characterized in terms of their Lie curvatures. In our discussion, we adopt Griffiths’ exterior differential systems approach to the calculus of variations
A Review of Developments and Metrology in Machine Learning and Deep Learning for Wearable IoT Devices
No full textThis research explores the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in wearable devices, including smartwatches, fitness trackers, smart clothing, and smart eyewear. Machine Learning (ML) and Deep Learning (DL) play a crucial role in enhancing these devices, leveraging sophisticated algorithms within the Internet of Things (IoT) ecosystem. AI-powered wearables incorporate metrology and advanced computational techniques, with Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) and Recurrent Neural Network (RNN) driving applications in activity recognition, health monitoring, and personalized recommendations. The work presents case studies, highlighting AI applications in smart devices, such as stress detection via Heart Rate Variability, personalized exercise guidance, muscular activity monitoring, and real-time image recognition. Real-world implementations will illustrate the practical deployment of AI in commercial wearable products. Additionally, the research will address privacy and data security challenges associated with AI-driven wearable technology, ensuring the safeguarding of user information
Role of body anthropometry in severe asthmatic patients: Evidences from the Severe Asthma Network in Italy (SANI) registry
No full textAsthma and obesity are both chronic diseases. Obesity is a common comorbidity and a risk factor of severe asthma, associated with increased asthma exacerbation risk, poorer asthma control and reduced quality of life. However, the responsible mechanisms are poorly understood. The aim of this study was to detect parameters associated with obesity in patients with severe asthma in order to check different pattern of inflammation in obese asthmatics. Baseline data from the Severe Asthma Network in Italy (SANI) registry were analysed in 1922 patients with severe asthma. Demographic, clinical and functional features were compared, according to body mass index (BMI). The prevalence of overweight and obesity among severe asthma patients was 34,8 and 20,3, respectively. Females were more prevalent in the obese cluster (p < 0.001). Asthma onset age in overweight and obese patients was higher than in normal population (p < 0.001). Obese subjects reported less frequently chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis (CRSwNP) and more frequently impaired sleep quality, cardiovascular disease, and type-2 diabetes (p < 0.001). Severe asthma patients with obesity had lower predicted FVC values (89.0 ± 19.2 vs 93.5 ± 20.2; p 0.002) and higher FEV1/FVC ratio (69.9 ± 11.5 vs 66.9 ± 12.4; p < 0.001) than patients without obesity. Obese asthmatics had lower blood eosinophilic count, and fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) levels than non-obese asthmatics. Asthma control test (ACT) was significantly poorer in obese patients (17, IQR 12–21) than other subgroups. Regarding treatment, overweight and obese patients were more likely to receive a GINA-Step 5 therapy (p 0.023), with more than 20 of obese asthmatics having frequent exacerbations requiring oral corticosteroid (OCS). Patients with severe asthma and obesity presented different characteristics that support the existence of distinct asthma phenotype in obese patients. Trial registration: Trial registry: ClinicalTrials.gov. ID: NCT06625216. Retrospectively registered October 3, 2024
Pembrolizumab plus Lenvatinib in patients with metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma: real-world evidences from the international ARON- 1 study
No full textBackground: Pembrolizumab plus lenvatinib is a treatment option for metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma (mRCC). In the ARON-1 study we investigated we the real-world experiences gained from the use of this combination for mRCC.
Methods: We retrospectively investigated real-world clinical outcomes of mRCC patients receiving pembrolizumab plus lenvatinib within the ARON-1 study. Overall survival (OS) was calculated from the start of pembrolizumab plus lenvatinib to death for any cause. Progression-Free Survival (PFS) was defined as the time from the start of pembrolizumab to progression or death from any cause. Duration of response (DoR) was defined as the time from the start of pembrolizumab to disease progression or death, whichever occurred first, in patients who achieved complete remission (CR) or partial response (PR). Overall Response Rate (ORR) was defined as the proportion of patients who achieve a CR or PR per RECIST criteria. Adverse events were retrospectively collected from electronic and paper charts and categorized by the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) v5.0.
Results: Overall, we included 202 mRCC patients treated with pembrolizumab plus lenvatinib. The median follow-up time was 15.1 months. The median OS was not reached (NR), with a median PFS of 25.6 months and an Overall Response Rate (ORR) of 59%. The median Duration of Response (DoR) was 26.2 months. G3-G4 adverse events (AEs) were observed in 92 patients (46%), with hypertension being the most common AE (13%).
Conclusions: Pembrolizumab plus lenvatinib is an effective and tolerable treatment for mRCC also in the real-world setting