Archivio istituzionale della Ricerca - Università degli Studi di Parma
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L’utilizzo della blockchain e degli smart contract nel settore industriale dell’agri-food
No full textIl volume è il prodotto finale del Progetto di ricerca «The use of Blockchain and Smart Contract in the agri-food industry. The case study of Emilia Romagna», finanziato dal Dipartimento di Scienze economiche e aziendali dell’Università di Parma, e approfondisce variegati profili critici legati all’uso delle nuove tecnologie nel comparto agroalimentare Il lavoro si pone come strumento conoscitivo non solo per gli operatori del diritto, ma per tutti i soggetti coinvolti nella filiera produttiva
Controllable Face Synthesis with Semantic Latent Diffusion Models
No full textSemantic Image Synthesis (SIS) is among the most popular and effective techniques in the field of face generation and editing, thanks to its good generation quality and the versatility is brings along. Recent works attempted to go beyond the standard GAN-based framework, and started to explore Diffusion Models (DMs) for this task as these stand out with respect to GANs in terms of both quality and diversity. On the other hand, DMs lack in fine-grained controllability and reproducibility. To address that, in this paper we propose a SIS framework based on a novel Latent Diffusion Model architecture for human face generation and editing that is both able to reproduce and manipulate a real reference image and generate diversity-driven results. The proposed system utilizes both SPADE normalization and cross-attention layers to merge shape and style information and, by doing so, allows for a precise control over each of the semantic parts of the human face. This was not possible with previous methods in the state of the art. Finally, we performed an extensive set of experiments to prove that our model surpasses current state of the art, both qualitatively and quantitatively
Experimental and Numerical Compressive Strength of a Pervious Concrete
No full textThe compressive strength of a specific mixture of pervious concrete is investigated both experimentally and numerically. The experimental campaign, performed at the Civil Engineering Laboratory of the Federal University of Pampa in Brazil, is performed to measure both the physical (density and porosity) and mechanical properties (compressive, tensile and flexural strengths and elastic modulus) of the material, whereas the numerical analysis is performed to simulate the mechanical behaviour under compression, by using the LDEM formulation implemented in the Abaqus/Explicit environment. The numerical results, both in terms of compressive strength and crack paths, are in a quite satisfactory agreement with the experimental ones
Omniflow II Biosynthetic Graft for Infra-inguinal Arterial Reconstruction in Infected Fields: A Systematic Review
No full textObjective: This review aimed to evaluate the use of Omniflow II biosynthetic grafts for infra-inguinal vascular reconstruction in infected fields. Data sources: A systematic literature search (Pubmed, Embase, Cochrane Library) following PRISMA guidelines was performed (Prospero registration number CRD420251000785). Review methods: All English full text studies from 1989 - 2024 reporting on infra-inguinal vascular reconstruction using an Omniflow II in an infected field were included. Cases series and cohorts with fewer than five patients were excluded from the pooled analysis. The primary outcome was freedom from re-infection at one year and three years. Secondary outcomes were 30 day all cause mortality, survival, primary and secondary patency, freedom from amputation, and aneurysmal degeneration. Statistical analysis was conducted using Prometa 3.0 and OpenMeta software. Evidence certainty for key outcomes was assessed using GRADE. Results: Six studies (116 patients) were included in the quantitative synthesis. Overall risk of bias was low in four studies and high in two studies. Freedom from re-infection was 90% (95% confidence interval [CI] 82 - 95%) at one year and 76% (95% CI 47 - 92%) at three years. All cause 30 day mortality was 4% (95% CI 0 - 10%). Survival was 93% (95% CI 86 - 97%) at one year and 87% (95% CI 73 - 95%) at three years. Primary patency was 76% (95% CI 66 - 83%) at one year and 68% (95% CI 56 - 77%) at three years. Secondary patency was 83% (95% CI 74 - 89%) at one year and 77% (95% CI 65 - 86%) at three years. Freedom from amputation was 89% (95% CI 82 - 94%) at one year and 88% (95% CI 77 - 94%) at three years. No aneurysmal degeneration was reported. GRADE certainty was low or very low for all outcomes. Conclusion: The Omniflow II graft offers an off the shelf solution for infra-inguinal reconstructions in infected fields when there is no option for autologous vein. Larger prospective cohorts are needed to further validate its effectiveness
Seeing to learn and learning to see: histology teaching between new technologies, old paradigms and natural cyborgs
No full textHistology is a foundational course in many life science programs. Microscopes have long been the primary instruments used in this discipline, playing a crucial role in histology education for decades. However, with the current significant technological advancements, digital tools are progressively replacing microscopes in university classrooms worldwide. Due to their expense and maintenance requirements, educators are questioning whether the use of traditional microscopes remains a practical approach to teaching this subject. This work aims to present an alternative perspective on the importance and the epistemic peculiarities of microscopes in understanding the microstructure of tissues, moving from internalist approaches to enactive perspectives. Rather than adjudicating a technological contest that many programs have already resolved pragmatically, we offer a philosophical and pedagogical reflection that clarifies what kinds of understanding are cultivated by optical and virtual practices and how those understandings align with contemporary research
Green degrees, unequal futures? How sustainability in higher education curricula impacts graduate outcomes in Italian regions
No full textThis research examines the evolving landscape of academic curricula, focusing from a territorial perspective on changing graduate labour market outcomes in the wake of the introduction of the so-called ‘green curricula’ in the Italian higher education (HE) system. As the promotion of ‘green skills’ and the creation of ‘green jobs’ gain momentum in the sustainability debates at both the European and international level, we analyse how the expansion of green curricula affects local labour market outcomes for graduates and contributes to inequality. To address existing research gaps, we utilise data from the AlmaLaurea Interuniversity Consortium, the Italian Ministry of University and Research, and the Italian Labour Force Survey. We conduct a panel fixed effects analysis to assess the impact of environmentally focused HE programmes on various local labour market outcomes among graduates, also controlling for potential spatial effects. Our findings highlight the role of sustainability-oriented degrees in shaping local labour market conditions and, consequently, in influencing inequality in outcomes (which we label ‘green bias’) among graduates. By contributing to the broader discourse on unequal graduate outcomes, our research offers insights into the implications of incorporating environmental sustainability into HE programmes. Focusing on the Italian context, we provide new evidence on the potential unintended social consequences of sustainability-oriented educational policies in the context of a just transition
Use of Probiotics During Antibiotic Therapy in Pediatrics: A Cross-Sectional Survey of Italian Primary Care Pediatricians
No full textBackground: Antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD) is a common adverse effect of pediatric antibiotic therapy, often linked to gut microbiota disruption. Probiotics may help prevent AAD when appropriately selected and dosed. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey to assess the attitudes and prescribing habits of Italian Primary Care Pediatricians (PCPs) regarding the use of probiotics during antibiotic treatment. A digital questionnaire comprising 23 mandatory multiple-choice items was distributed to 980 PCPs across Italy between July and October 2024. The survey explored probiotic prescribing frequency, indications, strains used, dosage, duration, and sources of information. Descriptive statistics and subgroup analyses by years of clinical experience were performed. Results: A total of 279 PCPs (response rate: 28%) completed the survey; 66.7% were female, and 77.1% had over 20 years of clinical experience. Probiotics were prescribed primarily to restore microbiota balance (81.1%) and prevent AAD (47.3%). The most common barriers included additional cost (35.1%) and perceived lack of evidence (26.5%). Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (91.8%) and Saccharomyces boulardii (41.9%) were the most frequently recommended strains. Daily doses of 5-10 billion CFU were preferred by 44.4% of respondents, with typical durations of 1-2 weeks (40.1%) or one week (31.2%). Conclusions: Probiotics are widely used by Italian PCPs during antibiotic therapy, especially for microbiota support and AAD prevention. However, variability in practice underscores the need for clearer, evidence-based guidelines regarding probiotic strain selection, dosing, and treatment duration
