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Scoutismo
No full textLa voce indaga l'utilizzo della figura di Francesco d'Assisi nel mondo del lupettismo
Nursing Student Satisfaction Scale: Evaluation of Measurement Properties in Nursing Degree Programs
Full text linkBackground/Objectives: Satisfaction among undergraduate nursing students plays a crucial role in student retention, helping to mitigate nursing shortages in the
workforce, reduce academic costs, and uphold universities’ reputations. The Nursing Student Satisfaction Scale (NSSS) measures three theoretical domains: Professional Social Interaction, Curriculum and Teaching, and Learning Environment. Although the NSSS has demonstrated reliability and validity with respect to American nursing students, its psychometric properties have not been tested on a population of Italian nursing students. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the reliability and validity of the NSSS in regard to Italian nursing students. Methods: A multicenter observational study was conducted on undergraduate nursing students in Central Italy. A confirmatory approach was used to assess structural validity. The construct validity, internal consistency, test–retest reliability, and responsiveness to change of the NSSS were evaluated using correlation analyses, reliability coefficients, and measurement error determination. Results: Confirmatory factor analysis supported the three-factor first-order structure of the NSSS as well as the presence of a single second-order factor. Reliability was adequate for all the coefficients computed (with values ranging from 0.924 to 0.974). Construct validity was supported. The measurement error was adequate. Conclusions: The NSSS exhibited robust measurement properties, confirming its validity and reliability as an instrument for assessing nursing student satisfaction in the Italian context. Furthermore, our results indicate that, after the translation and cultural adaptation of the scale, the construct of nursing student satisfaction remains consistent with the theoretical model
An overview of hyaluronic-acid nanoparticles for cancer cell targeted drug delivery
No full textIntroduction: Hyaluronic acid (HA) has been widely explored in cancer drug delivery due to its
biocompatibility, biodegradability and excellent cargo properties. Recently, HA-based formulations
have gained renewed interest thanks to the HA involvement in many CD44-overexpressing tumors,
offering potential for active targeting, tumor microenvironment modulation, and immune response
regulation.
Areas covered: This review explores the role of HA and its receptor in cancer progression and as
a strategy for active therapeutic targeting. It also outlines the current status of HA-based formulations
in clinical cancer therapy, emphasizing their clinical outcomes. The use of HA-drug conjugates, HAbased
and -decorated nanoparticles (NPs), in chemotherapy, gene therapy, and theranostics is
reviewed. Additionally, recent advancements in the role of HA in immune system modulation are
discussed. All presented systems are herein evaluated for their ability to selectively target CD44-
overexpressing cancer cells, with a focus on their in vivo biodistribution and therapeutic efficacy.
Expert opinion: Despite significant research, a few HA-based technologies have progressed to clinical
trials, with only one showing promising results. Key challenges include high production costs, industrial
scale-up feasibility, the need to preserve receptor recognition, and the off-target accumulation of HA in
the liver and spleen barriers that must be addressed for successful clinical translation
Performance evaluation of the new high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I immunoassay on CL-2600i Mindray analyzer
No full textBackground: International guidelines recommend the use of high-sensitivity cardiac troponin (hs-cTn) I and T methods for the detection of myocardial injury as a pre-requisite for the diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in patients admitted to the emergency department. Recently, Mindray (Mindray Bio-Medical Electronics Co., Ltd., Shenzhen, China) has introduced a new chemiluminescence immunoassay (CLIA) for the detection of the cTn complex. The present study aims to verify and validate the hs-cTnI Mindray assay on the new automated CL2600i analyzer compared to the routine Alinity-i series instrument by Abbott (Abbott, Chicago, IL, USA). Methods: This study evaluated linearity, precision through the 5 x 5 protocol, methodological comparison on plasma and serum matrices, hs-cTnI 99th percentile imprecision, and the hs-cTnI detection rate in a healthy population. Results: The results obtained proved that the performance of the Mindray hs-cTnI test on the CL2600i platform was closely comparable to the Abbott Alinity-i system (plasma R2: 0.974; serum R2: 0.995). The CVs were consistently low, and no significant differences were reported. Excellent analytical performance, with high sensitivity, was also observed in the healthy population (overall detection rate: 79%), as well as good linearity within the measuring range (R2: 0.994). Conclusions: The Mindray hs-cTnI test confirms its robustness and utility in routine practice as an advanced assay. The new technology, with more sensitive detection methods, may improve the accuracy and reliability of cardiac biomarker testing, ultimately leading to better outcomes in the management of patients with AMI and other cardiac conditions
Impact of Time to Treatment Initiation on Quality of Response in Patients with Acute Myeloid Leukemia Receiving Intensive Chemotherapy
Full text linkBackground: Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) necessitates timely treatment, yet
the impact of prolonged time to treatment (TTT) on clinical outcomes remains debated,
especially its impact on achieving measurable residual disease (MRD) negativity, a powerful
prognostic indicator in AML. Methods: This retrospective study analyzed 196 adult AML
patients treated with intensive chemotherapy, evaluating the effect of TTT on outcome
measures and quality of response. TTT was categorized arbitrarily into <8, 8–14, and
>14 days. Results: Results showed a median TTT of 11 days. Median overall survival (OS)
was 414 days, with no significant differences among TTT groups (p = 0.48). Complete
remission rate was 75.5%, with significantly higher rates in patients treated within 14 days
(p = 0.004 and p = 0.006 for 8–14 and <8 days, respectively) compared to >14 days. MRD
was assessed in 140 patients, with 35% achieving negativity, and no significant differences
observed among TTT groups. Conclusions: This study suggests that a treatment delay of up
to 14 days does not negatively impact OS or MRD negativity. This timeframe potentially
allows for thorough patient evaluation, including detailed genetic profiling and comorbidity
assessment, facilitating a more personalized and optimized therapeutic strategy
Società di persone e competitività degli ordinamenti: parole (non) conclusive
No full textRichiamando i principali esiti del convegno, il contributo sottolinea alcuni degli aspetti maggiormente problematici che si presentano oggi, alla luce del continuo mutamento del più generale quadro normativo di riferimento, nella interpretazione delle disposizioni in tema di società di persone.Referring to the main outcomes of the conference, the contribution highlights some of the most problematic aspects that arise today, in light of the continuous changes in the more general regulatory framework, in the interpretation of the provisions of the Civil Code on partnerships
District cooling optimal operation to decarbonize urban cold energy supply
Full text linkDistrict Energy Systems have seen growing attention for heat supply while, for meeting the cooling demand still, the applications are limited to tropical Countries. Given that, the deployment of district cooling systems has still many barriers, requires detailed planning and related dispatch to be found convenient in contexts with few applications already set. In this paper, the authors investigate the role of alternative district cooling plant layouts that include Combined Heat & Power equipment’s to meet a cooling demand. If, on the one hand, the increase of the District Cooling Plant layout complexity increases the investment costs, on the other hand, the reduction of the primary energy consumption makes this alternative attractive and of interest, especially for large capacity. By introducing the Levelized Cost of Cold Energy, the equivalent cost for 1 kWh of cold energy is of about 0.011€ in the baseline scenario, while for the best-optimized layout decreases to 0.09 €. Aside from the economic investigation, the optimisation procedure identified that a system made up of two twin cogeneration units (3 MWe internal combustion engine) and 3.3 MWc absorption chiller leads to 12% reduction of carbon emissions compared to the baseline, together with 0.5 million € saving, accounting for a carbon tax rate of 100 €/ton
Design and performance of a neurosurgery assisting device
No full textThis paper presents a new design solution for a neurosurgery-assisting device (NeurADe) based on a 3-RPS parallel kinematic mechanism. The NeurADe design employs compact linear actuators to accurately insert a cannula into specific areas of the brain. The CAD design and assembly of a prototype are discussed in this paper. The preliminary NeurADe prototype features 3D printed parts and incorporates mechanical and electrical components, which are designed for ease of use and lightweight functionality. For design validation and operational characterization, sensors measuring current, acceleration, and force data were utilized, and testing results are discussed to prove the feasibility of the proposed design
