Supporting the diffusion of innovative SMEs: the Italian experience

Innovative SMEs are believed to be of fundamental importance for a territorial context’s social and economic development. Countries have adopted many policies to favour the diffusion of innovative SMEs, even if the results often appear contradictory. This study verifies the effectiveness of a specific decree-law encouraging entrepreneurs to open up their businesses to systematic innovations by analysing the financial and economic performances obtained by 617 innovative SMEs in the five-year period 2016–2020. Findings reveal that most SMEs who benefited from the measures envisaged by the decree achieved an acceptable situation, with valid profitability and a bearable financial and economic balance. The main implication of this study is that the polarisation of support measures on the enhancement of human resource skills can be at least as important as sources for access to financial resources

Highly sensitive gold nanostar based optical fiber sensor with tunable plasmonic resonance

In this work, we present a detailed numerical and experimental investigation of highly sensitive optical fiber sensors based on localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR). These sensors are enhanced by the deposition of nanoparticles (NPs) and nanostars (NSs) onto uncladded silica multi-mode optical fiber. The unique optical properties of NSs - featuring a 40 nm gold core surrounded by silver branches of variable size and shape - allows for precise tuning of the LSPR effect. For comparison, we also explored spherical gold NPs with a 40 nm diameter to assess performance differences. Our findings, both numerical and experimental, demonstrate that the LSPR wavelength and sensitivity to surrounding refractive index can be finely tuned by adjusting the morphology of the NS branches. This is achieved by varying the silver nitrate content during their synthesis. Using the Finite Element Method-based design tool we performed simplified study cases, that led to experimental sensitivity of approximately 560 nm/RIU for an LSPR wavelength near 810 nm. As a practical demonstration, the sensor was successfully employed to detect Thiram, a common agricultural pesticide, with a wide dynamic range from 10 pM to 100 μM and an impressive low limit of detection of 0.3 pM. Moreover, we investigated the sensor selectivity, stability and response to environmental temperature changes. This study emphasizes the simplicity, cost-effectiveness, and tunable performance of NS-based optical fiber sensors. By manipulating nanostructure morphology, we can significantly enhance sensor performance, positioning this technology as a highly promising solution for environmental monitoring, biomedical diagnostics, and chemical detection

Aberrant Expression of Non-Coding RNAs in Pediatric T Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia and Their Potential Application as Biomarkers

Less than 5% of the DNA sequence encodes for proteins, and the remainder encodes for non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs). Among the members of the ncRNA family, microRNAs (miRNAs) and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play a pivotal role in the insurgence and progression of several cancers, including leukemia. Thought to have different molecular mechanisms, both miRNAs and lncRNAs act as epigenetic factors modulating gene expression and influencing hematopoietic differentiation, proliferation and immune system function. Here, we discuss the most recent findings on the main molecular mechanisms by which miRNAs and lncRNAs are involved in the pathogenesis and progression of pediatric T acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL), pointing out their potential utility as therapeutic targets and as biomarkers for early diagnosis, risk stratification and prognosis. miRNAs are involved in the pathogenesis of T-ALL, acting both as tumor suppressors and as oncomiRs. By contrast, to the best of our knowledge, the literature highlights lncRNAs as acting only as oncogenes in this type of cancer by inhibiting apoptosis and promoting cell cycle and drug resistance. Additionally, here, we discuss how these molecules could be detected in the plasma of T-ALL patients, highlighting that lncRNAs may represent a new class of promising accurate and sensitive biomarkers in these young patients. Thus, the unveiling of the aberrant signature of circulating and intracellular levels of lncRNAs could have great clinical utility for obtaining a more accurate definition of prognosis and uncovering novel therapeutic strategies against T-ALL in children. However, further investigations are needed to better define the standard methodological procedure for their quantification and to obtain their specific targeting in T-ALL pediatric patients

Navigating the Transition to Green Mobility: Assessing the Impact of Tax Incentives on Vehicle Efficiency and Market Dynamics in Italy

The transportation sector is a significant contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions, underscoring the need for innovative fiscal measures to promote decarbonisation. This study evaluates the efficiency of car models based on price, emissions, and technical specifications, while examining the impact of fiscal policies on the adoption of green vehicles in Italy. A two-stage Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) was conducted utilising a comprehensive database of new cars registered in 2019, categorised by market segments. The results indicate a paradox: the most efficient cars are not necessarily the most environmentally friendly. Furthermore, while green cars are available in smaller segments, their prices often exceed those of comparable conventional cars by 100%. This highlights the need for eco-bonus adjustments that consider factors beyond CO2 emissions. Additionally, promoting environmentally friendly cars in higher-end segments could drive innovation, reduce costs, and advance the automotive industry's transition to sustainability

Adult Neurogenesis Is Regulated by the Endocannabinoid and Kisspeptin Systems

Neurogenesis is considered the most robust form of plasticity in the adult brain. To better decipher this process, we evaluated the potential crosstalk of Kisspeptin and Endocannabinoid Systems (KPS and ECS, respectively) on hippocampal neurogenesis. Male adolescent rats were exposed to kisspeptin-10 (KP10) and the endocannabinoid anandamide (AEA) administered alone or in combination with the type 1 cannabinoid receptor (CB1R) antagonist SR141716A. The expression of Kiss1 and Kisspeptin receptor (Kiss1R) has been characterized for the first time in rat hippocampus together with the expression of the CB1R and the Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid 1 ion channel receptor (TRPV1). Results show that both systems inhibit neurogenesis by reducing the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling. Despite little differences in the expression of Kiss1R and CB1R, TRPV1 is enhanced by both KP10 and AEA treatments, suggesting TRPV1 as a common thread. KP10 administration reduces CB1R expression in the dentate gyrus, while AEA does not. KPS, unlike ECS, promotes the expression of estrogen receptor α (ER-α) and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), also upregulating sirtuin 1 (SIRT1), brain-derived-neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and c-Jun. These findings suggest that the interaction between ECS and KPS could be involved in the fine-tuning of neurogenesis, highlighting a novel role for KPS

Circular Harmony: Role of Circular Economy in Enhancing Environment Resilience?

The circular economy (CE) tackles global issues like pollution, waste, biodiversity loss, and climate change by decreasing waste, reusing materials, and recycling products to create a closed-loop system. It requires creative commercial strategies. By separating economic progress from environmental degradation, CE practices promote resilience by extending the lifespan of products and materials. The foundation of environmental resilience is enhancing ecosystems’ capacity to endure shocks by reducing resource extraction and waste production. This chapter discusses the importance of circular harmony, emphasizing CE and environmental resilience by adopting decarbonization practices. The emergence of the CE concept offers numerous economic sectors, new potential for resource utilization and a new phase of development. The study directs the real issue of ecological development harmony under the framework of the CE to develop sustainable business models. Sustainable business models based on CE are more ecologically conscious and utilize the appropriate resources to increase firms’ performance. This chapter further focuses on decarbonization practices to understand the role of CE in decarbonizing processes and the challenges of maintaining harmony between environmental and social well-being. To understand these issues, supported by the institutional, legitimacy, resilience and stakeholder theories, this chapter seeks to develop a new theoretical framework addressing reshaping the organizational culture to achieve sustainable development goals (SDGs) by adopting decarbonization practices through green technology and renewable energy resources

Hormesis and health: molecular mechanisms and the key role of polyphenols

Hormesis is a fundamental adaptive mechanism in response to moderate stress stimuli. This phenomenon underlies many preventive and therapeutic strategies, particularly in the context of chronic-degenerative diseases. The aim of the current article is to analyze the main molecular pathways involved in hormetic processes, and their roles in promoting longevity, cellular resilience, and protection against harmful agents. Among the substances capable of triggering hormetic responses, polyphenols, bioactive compounds found in many plant-based foods, play a prominent role. Although polyphenols have relatively modest direct antioxidant activity, they are powerful inducers of hormetic responses. They act as low-dose xenobiotics, capable of stimulating endogenous cellular defense mechanisms. This dual nature, potentially toxic at high doses but beneficial at low concentrations, grants polyphenols a central role in modulating oxidative stress and inflammation. This review offers a novel perspective by integrating molecular, nutritional, and systemic dimensions of polyphenol-induced hormesis, with particular emphasis on the dynamic crosstalk between cellular stress responses and microbiota-derived signals. This manuscript highlights underappreciated mechanisms and proposes a more interconnected framework for understanding the health effects of polyphenols. In conclusion, polyphenol-induced hormesis appears as an innovative and promising paradigm for health promotion and the prevention of age-related diseases

Sustainable Shipping Business Models Through Circular And Accountability Harmony: A Research Agenda

The shipping industry, a key component of global trade, plays a significant role in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) outlined in the United Nations 2030 Agenda. Meanwhile, it also contributes approximately 940 million tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) annually, for which it is undergoing a process of decarbonizing its supply chain to reduce Scope 3 emissions. This involves not only reducing emissions but also measuring and reporting them, striving to balance environmental concerns with profitability. However, Scope 3 emissions fall outside the direct control of shipping companies, as they are tied to the resources and raw materials consumed (e.g., paper, waste) and the emissions of suppliers. Reporting and reducing these emissions are particularly important for shipping companies adhering to frameworks like the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), or the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD). Shipping activities related to fuel production, energy consumption, and waste generation, categorized as upstream Scope 3 emissions under the GHG Protocol Corporate Standard, are influenced by the shipping industry’s business model. This model, when driven by circular economy principles and business accountability, can help mitigate climate change and contribute to the achievement of SDG7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and SDG13 (Climate Action). Despite growing scholarly interest, these issues remain fragmented, particularly regarding the integration of circular economy models in the shipping industry’s business practices and accountability mechanisms. This study aims to address these gaps by analyzing existing literature and proposing a research agenda to advance knowledge in this area