Archivio istituzionale della Ricerca - Università degli Studi di Parma
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«Poetria sanctitatis». Comparing the Use of «amplificatio» in the Lives of St Christopher from the «Scottish Legendary» and the Thornton Manuscript (Lincoln Cathedral, MS 91)
No full textThe Relationship Between Parental Phubbing and Preschoolers’ Behavioral Problems: The Mediation Role of Mindful Attention Awareness
No full textPhubbing, a relatively new phenomenon in the field of digital risks, refers to the act of ignoring someone in favor of focusing on a smartphone during face-to-face interactions. Parental phubbing, a specific form of this behavior, is a prevalent negative parenting practice that can affect parent-child relationships and child development. However, the impact of parental phubbing on the emotional and behavioral development of preschool children remains unclear. This study aims to explore the relationship between parental phubbing and preschoolers' behavioral problems, as well as test whether parents' mindful attention awareness (MAA) acts as a mediator between them. Method: A questionnaire was administered to 138 Italian parents (mean age = 38.5, SD = 6.2) of 138 kindergarten preschoolers (mean age = 3.9, SD = 1.03). Questionnaires included the Generic Scale of Phubbing (GSP), the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS), and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Results: Analyses revealed a significant negative correlation between the MAAS and SDQ total scores, a positive correlation between the GSP total score and the SDQ total score, and a negative correlation between the GSP total score and the MAAS total score. The mediation analysis did not show a direct effect of GSP on SDQ, suggesting that parental phubbing did not directly predict children's behavioral difficulties. Nevertheless, the indirect effect measured by bootstrapping was significant, indicating that parental MAA fully mediated the relationship between parental phubbing and preschoolers' problematic behaviors. Conclusions: Although further research is needed, parental mindfulness may influence phubbing behaviors in parents providing valuable insights for early interventions aimed at reducing problem behaviors in young children
Efficacy of intrapartum bundles and interventions in reducing vaginal delivery-related perineal trauma: a systematic review
No full textObjective: The aim of this systematic review is to summarize the current evidence on preventive interventions and bundles, including combinations of multiple techniques, aimed at reducing vaginal delivery-related perineal injury. Methods: A systematic research of literature was independently conducted on different databases (PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE) by the authors, using a combination of the identified keywords and index terms as per current PRISMA guidelines. The research was restricted to papers published in English starting by 2000. Similar papers as previously published reviews and metanalysis satisfying the inclusion criteria were used as cross-reference to check for potential further inclusions. Findings: In total 14 papers have been identified to be included in our review, divided into 2 randomized controlled trials and 12 cohort studies (4 prospective cohort studies, 6 retrospective cohort studies, 1 prospective case-control study and 1 multicenter step-wedge cluster study). Conclusions: Bundles and interventions, including combinations of techniques and tools aimed at enhancing intrapartum perineal care are effective in reducing adverse perineal outcome after vaginal delivery. Most common features include training programs for labor professionals, pushing instructions and communication, hands-on technique for both reducing speed of delivery and perineal support, and restrictive use of medio-lateral episiotomy
Optimization of Protein Extraction from Duckweed Using Different Extraction Processes
No full textDespite its recent commercialization of duckweed, the extraction of high-quality protein presents challenges primarily in the efficiency of the extraction processes. In this study, conventional, ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE), and ultrafiltration (UF) extraction techniques, were evaluated showing significant enhancements in protein yield, amino acid profile, and chlorophyll extraction. The highest protein release of 80.83% was achieved with a 40% amplitude applied for 10 min. UAE increased the protein yield substantially compared to conventional methods, achieving the highest yield of 41.30% with a moderate protein content of 50.91% in Lemna gibba protein concentrate. However, it comes at the cost of reduced protein purity and altered protein profiles due to co-extraction of other plant components. SDS-PAGE analysis revealed that ultrasound methods improved the extraction of chlorophyll-binding proteins (LHCB1) but decreased the efficiency of extracting RuBisCO (ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase) subunits compared to non-ultrasound methods. Lysine and tryptophan were identified as limiting essential amino acids (EAA), except when ultrasound methods were applied, which raised the levels partially above the recommended amino acid score (AAS) threshold of 1 for adults. The study established a nitrogen-to-protein conversion factor for duckweed at ~ 5.8, aligning with RuBisCO-based calculations and providing a more accurate tool for future nutritional assessments of duckweed proteins
New polymorphisms of Vkork1 gene related to anticoagulant resistance of rats and mice in Italy
No full textBACKGROUND: Anticoagulant rodenticides (ARs) are a very effective tool to control rodent pest populations. Nevertheless, AR
resistance has been documented worldwide.
ARs block the cycle of vitamin K, leading to the death of the animal by internal bleeding: mutations in Vkorc1 gene can cause
resistance.
The spreading of AR-resistant rodents could lead to an increase of their populations, the associated diffusion of zoonotic pathogens, and to the amplified exposure of non-target animals to ARs, thus it is important to study its diffusion widely. This study aimed to report firstly the presence of Vkorc1 mutations in synanthropic rodents from the Emilia-Romagna region, Italy, and evaluate their role in resistance by means of molecular docking analysis.
RESULTS: A total of 67 animals were analyzed: 24 Rattus norvegicus, 35 Rattus rattus and eight Mus musculus. Single nucleotide
polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with AR resistance, in homozygosis or heterozygosis, were detected in 6/8 mice, on codons
128 and 139, and 13/24 R. norvegicus, on codons 61 and 139, and in 10/35 R. rattus, on codon 59. Furthermore, several newly
described missense mutations were detected in all the tested species: the molecular docking analysis suggests a role of some
of these (e.g., I123S and F87L) in resistance to brodifacoum, both in rats and in mice.
CONCLUSION: The discovery of AR resistance SNPs in the 43.28% of tested rodents sounds as an alarm bell that requires the
introduction of an integrated control approach, where ARs are not used routinely, but under specific monitoring evaluation
Geological and geochemical approach to natural hydrogen exploration in the Northern Apennines, Italy.
No full textThe western sector of Northern Apennines, Italy, presents favorable conditions for the occurrence of natural hydrogen (H2), hosting ophiolitic bodies, hyperalkaline waters, and deep-seated faults. A geological and geochemical investigation was conducted to evaluate the potential for subsurface H2 accumulations. The study involved gas analyses from spring waters, bubbling gas, and soil-gas measurements, along with petrographic analyses of ultramafic rocks. Multiple springs contain dissolved H2 at low (up to 1 μM) to moderate (1 μM - 100 μM) concentrations relative to other springs in serpentinized peridotites worldwide. In the Taro Valley, H2 occurrences (0.28 μM - 0.79 μM) are associated with hyperalkaline springs in proximity to exposed peridotites. However, the limited thickness of the peridotite body at Mt. Prinzera (∼250 m) suggests that the hyperalkaline water and associated H2 likely derive from deeper unexposed ultramafic units. Petrographic analyses of spinel-peridotites reveal varying degrees of serpentinization (45% to 95%), characterized by serpentine mesh textures with olivine relics, pyroxene converted into serpentine, and formation of magnetite and chromite. In the Bobbio Tectonic Window, springs with neutral pH waters, located away from exposed ultramafic bodies, contain higher concentrations of dissolved H2 (0.49 μM - 3.8 μM). Although the origin of this H2 remains unclear, it may be related to hidden ultramafic bodies within the sedimentary sequence undergoing serpentinization. Notably, all the spring-related H2 occurrences are associated with methane (CH4), showing thermogenic isotopic signatures (δ13C: -58.3‰ to -35‰ and δ2H: -200‰ to -145‰). Further research should focus on the characterization of regional hydrocarbon reservoirs, which could also host natural H2
Numerical study on settlement-induced damage to RC frames: the effect of foundation and ground stiffness
No full textThis paper discusses the effect of foundation modelling and soil characteristics on the structural response
of existing RC frames subjected to differential settlements. Numerical analyses are first carried
out by adopting a traditional push-down approach, which consists in the application of an increasing
displacement at the base of one or more columns by neglecting the modelling of column connections
at the foundation level. The effect of foundations on the structural response is then investigated, by
including the foundation beam within the FE model, and modelling the soil-structure interaction. The
effect of ground stiffness on damage evolution in the superstructure is finally taken into account through
parametric analyses
