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Therapeutic potential of mulberry (Morus alba L.) byproducts for cardiovascular diseases
No full textBesides mulberry fruit, mulberry (Morus alba L.) has many byproducts, including leaves, branches, and roots. Although these byproducts have long been used as traditional Chinese medicine, their use is limited mainly to rheumatism, diabetes, arthritis. These natural products have a variety of bioactive ingredients, including flavonoids, alkaloids, polysaccharides, with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, lipid-lowering and other biological functions. This review introduces the bioactive ingredients of mulberry leaves, branches, and roots and discusses their potential in alleviating cardiovascular diseases from antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, lipid regulation, blood glucose regulation, vascular protection and other aspects
Unhealthy Ultra-Processed Food, Diet Quality and Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet in Children and Adolescents: The DELICIOUS Project
Get PDFBackground: Western dietary patterns worldwide are increasingly dominated by energy-dense, nutrient-deficient industrial foods, often identified as ultra-processed foods (UPFs). Such products may have detrimental health implications, particularly if nutritionally inadequate. This study aimed to examine the intake of unhealthy UPFs among children and adolescents from five Mediterranean countries (Italy, Spain, Portugal, Egypt, and Lebanon) involved in the DELICIOUS project and to assess the association with dietary quality indicators. Methods: A survey was conducted with a sample of 2011 parents of children and adolescents aged 6 to 17 years to evaluate their dietary habits. Diet quality was assessed using the Youth Healthy Eating Index (Y-HEI), the KIDMED index to determine adherence to the Mediterranean diet, and compliance with national dietary guidelines. Results: Increased UPF consumption was not inherently associated with healthy or unhealthy specific food groups, although children and adolescents who consumed UPF daily were less likely to exhibit high overall diet quality and adherence to the Mediterranean diet. In all five countries, greater UPF intake was associated with poorer compliance with dietary recommendations concerning fats, sweets, meat, and legumes. Conclusions: Increased UPF consumption among Mediterranean children and adolescents is associated with an unhealthy dietary pattern, possibly marked by a high intake of fats, sweets, and meat, and a low consumption of legumes
Spray-Deposited Graphite Nanoplatelet Metasurfaces for Chipless Wireless Strain Sensing
No full textChipless passive wireless sensors (CLPWSs) are gaining traction for applications requiring battery-free, compact, and wireless monitoring capabilities. Among these, strain sensors leveraging metasurfaces offer a promising approach due to their tunable electromagnetic responses. This study presents the fabrication and characterization of a frequency-selective CLPWS using a spraydeposited nanocomposite based on graphite nanoplatelets (GNPs) on a polyetherimide (PEI) substrate. Characterized of electrical conductivity, strain sensitivity, and electromagnetic response in the X band (8–12 GHz) of samples with different composition have been performed to evaluate the best case for the fabrication of the sensor array. A maximum electrical conductivity (~7.16 × 104 S/m) was found for samples based on oriented GNPs at low frequencies (quasi-static condition). Strain sensitivity tests demonstrated a minimal resistance change under strain. X-band measurements and equivalent transmission line modeling were used to estimate material conductivity at high frequencies. The results highlight the feasibility of spraydeposited GNP-based metasurfaces for wireless strain sensing. Indeed, an array sensor of 10 x 10 cm2 has been fabricated and preliminary tested in X-band
A news-based macro uncertainty index for Italy
No full textIn this study, we introduce an innovative high-frequency uncertainty index derived from an extensive dataset of Italian news sources. Our index methodically sorts news items by their macroeconomic significance and underlying sentiment. We focus on a period of analysis, from July 2017 to July 2021, characterized by pronounced uncertainties, notably the emergence of the 5 Star-Lega government coalition in 2018, which introduced significant political unpredictability, and the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. We uncover a significant correlation between our newly developed uncertainty index and measures of sovereign risk (such as the BTP-Bund spread) during the tenure of the 5 Star-Lega government. However, this correlation diminishes following the initiation of the European Central Bank's quantitative easing program, underscoring the substantial influence of political uncertainty on sovereign risk before the ECB's intervention. The index is applied to dissect the Italian macroeconomic business cycle using a mixed-frequency model that integrates both financial and real economy indicators. Additionally, the study presents a nonlinear model leveraging the index to assess its predictive power in forecasting the Italian business cycle in recent years. The findings provide substantial evidence of the index's predictive capabilities, highlighting its effectiveness in foreseeing shifts in the business cycle
Transperineal Vulvar Ultrasound: A Review of Normal and Abnormal Findings with a Proposed Standardized Methodology
Get PDFThe vulva is a complex anatomical organ that may present with a wide range of pathologies. Even if it can be easily investigated, correctly interpreting vulvar appearance is often challenging. Vulvar ultrasound is an emerging diagnostic technique that may be helpful in different aspects of vulvar pathology. We aimed to summarize the state of the art of vulvar ultrasound, provide the necessary theoretical bases of embryology and anatomy, describe the normal and pathological vulvar sonographic characteristics, and propose a feasible and reproducible methodology for vulvar ultrasound. Vulvar sonographic scan should be performed with a linear probe, preferably > 15 mHz, following a standardized methodology. The sonographic appearance of the normal vulva reflects the different histology of its structures and, thus, their embryogenetic origin. The description of a suspected vulvar lesion should include localization, dimensions, volume, type of growth, shape, appearance of the edges, depth of invasion, echogenicity, and identification of vascularization. Cystic dilatation of obstructed Bartolini ducts is the most common benign finding in the vulva (fluctuant structures in the posterior third of the labia majora containing clear mucous fluid). Malignant vulvar lesions appear as hypoechogenic or heterogeneous solid lesions with irregular margins and a high degree of vascularization. Extramammary Paget Disease presents a homogeneous hypoechogenic creeping area in the epidermis due to neoplastic cells typical of this disease. The potential applications of vulvar ultrasound are examining the content of a vulvar swelling to guide its management and assessing the response to medical treatment in the case of lichen sclerosus. In managing patients affected by vulvar malignancies, it may play a critical role in local staging, stromal invasion determination, measuring the distance from the midline, and assessing the eligibility for sentinel lymph node procedure. Vulvar ultrasound is a minimally invasive and economical test that can be performed with minimal equipment. Further studies will be necessary to validate the clinical applications, quantify the diagnostic performance, and evaluate the agreement between operators
Antimicrobial Resistance Gene Patterns in Traditional Montenegrin Njeguški Cheese Revealed by qPCR
Get PDFBackground/Objectives: This study was aimed to investigate the safety profile of traditional Montenegrin Njegu & scaron;ki cheese by quantifying genes associated with resistance to clinically important antibiotics. Methods: Samples of Njegu & scaron;ki cheese were sourced from three artisan producers in Montenegro, identified as A, B, and C, with three individual batches selected per producer. Quantitative PCR (qPCR) was performed on bacterial DNA extracted directly from samples to detect genes encoding resistance to macrolide-lincosamide-streptogramin B (MLSB) [erm(A), erm(B), erm(C)], vancomycin (vanA, vanB), tetracyclines [tet(M), tet(O), tet(S), tet(K), tet(W)], beta-lactams (mecA, blaZ), aminoglycosides [aac (6 ')-Ie aph (2 '')-Ia], and carbapenems (blaKPC, blaOXA-48, blaNDM-1, blaGES, and blaVIM). Results: Among the MLSB resistance genes, erm(B) was detected in all samples, erm(C) was present only in those from producer B, while erm(A) was found exclusively in batch 3 from producer C. Tetracycline resistance genes were widely distributed, except for tet(O), which was absent in batch 3 from producers A and B. Regarding beta-lactam resistance, both blaZ and mecA were consistently detected across all samples, with statistically significant differences observed between producers. None of the samples tested positive for vancomycin resistance genes or the aminoglycoside resistance gene, regardless of producer. Among the carbapenemase genes analyzed, blaNDM-1 was the only one detected, found in most samples from producers B and C. Conclusions: This research provides the first risk assessment of artisanal and commercial Njegu & scaron;ki cheese regarding antimicrobial resistance genes. The findings offer valuable insights to enhance the microbiological safety of traditional Montenegrin cheeses, supporting consumer confidence in local and international markets
AI-Powered Beauty: Exploring AI's potential in Society 5.0
No full textThe chapter explores the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the cosmeticsindustry within the framework of Society 5.0 (S5.0). The potential of AI is mixedwith ethical concerns and societal impacts, necessitating a balance betweentechnological integration and human-centered values. S5.0 emerges as a para-digm where digital innovation enhances human well-being, social responsibil-ity, and sustainability. Through seven semi-structured interviews with Italiancosmetic companies, this study investigates how AI aligns with S5.0 principles.Research findings highlight the opportunities and challenges associated withintegrating AI in the pursuit of social improvement by considering the impacton different actors: users, employees, communities, and the society at large.Discussions highlight the need for ethical considerations and implicationsregarding the role of AI in the S5.0 paradigm
Architectural Heritage Management in Earthquake-Prone Areas Heritage
Get PDFHistoric masonry buildings represent one of the most valuable components of the world’s architectural heritage. Many of them were designed and constructed in times when seismic engineering was unknown, relying on empirical rules and traditional techniques. As a result, they often display a high level of vulnerability to earthquakes, especially in regions where both geological conditions and human activities have evolved over time. Their exposure to seismic risk is not only a structural matter but also a cultural one, since modifications, changes of use, and a lack of maintenance frequently alter their original balance. This Special Issue of Heritage, titled “Architectural Heritage Management in EarthquakeProne Areas”, was conceived to gather research contributions addressing these multifaceted challenges. The aim was to explore how technological innovation, methodological rigor, and multidisciplinary collaboration can enhance our understanding and management of historic constructions subjected to seismic risk. The published papers offer a wide and complementary perspective on these issues, ranging from digital documentation to seismic assessment and emergency management
A Knowledge Graph Framework for Impact Calculation in Life-Cycle Assessment
Get PDFSustainability assessments are increasingly critical for evaluating the environmental impacts of business activities. Life-cycle assessment (LCA) is a key methodology in measuring these impacts, but integrating and analyzing data from diverse enterprise data sources to compute LCA indicators remains a challenging task. In this paper, we propose an approach that leverages Knowledge Graphs to formally model LCA indicators and their associated mathematical calculation formulas. The graph serves as a flexible schema supporting enterprises in documentation and mathematical interpretation of indicators for LCA, by linking their internal data sources to the Graph. On top of it, a suite of reasoning-based services is presented to automate the calculation of indicators from available data sources through algebraic manipulation, and to facilitate collaboration among a network of enterprises by enabling consistent comparison of sustainability assessments
