Novel PVDF mixed matrix membranes incorporated with green synthesized magnesium oxide nanoparticles for enhanced dye removal: Optimization using RSM, SOLVER, and ANN approach

The application of nanofiltration membrane technology for removing pollutant dyes from industrial wastewater represents a significant advance in environmental remediation. This research explores the development and performance evaluation of a novel PVDF/MgO mixed matrix membrane, synthesized using Arbutus Unedo leaf extract as an eco-friendly and sustainable approach for removing dye contaminants from aqueous solutions. The membrane’s efficiency in removing Bemacid Turquoise dye was optimized through a synergistic combination of artificial neural networks,response surface methodology, and SOLVER. The mixed matrix membrane was comprehensively characterized using X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, mechanical properties, point of zero charges, and water contact angle measurements. The optimum conditions were achieved with a membrane composition of 0.6 %, a tem- perature of 40 ◦C, and an initial dye concentration of 100 mg. L− 1. The findings indicated that the ANN model outperformed the RSM model, demonstrated by its lower values for mean squared error (MSE), mean absolute error (MAE), and root mean Squared error (RMSE), along with a higher R2 value. Based on SOLVER, the highest filtration of Bemacid Turquoise was achieved under an initial concentration of 94.08 g. L− 1, membrane composition of 0.51 %, and temperature of 50.12 ◦C. This study highlights the innovative potential of this green- synthesized PVDF/MgO membrane as an effective and sustainable solution for industrial wastewater treatment

Multi-source data-based quantitative risk analysis of road networks to slow-moving landslides

The paper addresses the quantitative risk analysis for a state road crossing an area of southern Italian Apennines diffusively affected by slow-moving landslides. In this area, Palaeozoic gneissic rocks suffering from intense weathering processes, which produce complex and deep weathering profiles, are present, and this determines severe predisposing conditions to deep-seated slow-moving landslides. Although not directly threatening human lives, for years these slope instabilities have been causing damage and temporary traffic interruptions or limitations to many road sections. To pursue a sustainable landslide risk management, a method that fully exploits multi-disciplinary data consisting of geological-geomorphological features, geotechnical characterization of geomaterials, both conventional (i.e. GPS and inclinometer) and remote sensing (i.e. MT-DInSAR) displacement measurements, in-situ and virtual (i.e. Google Street View images) surveys, and probabilistic tools (i.e. fragility and vulnerability curves) is implemented. As a novelty, such a rich dataset allows overcoming some limitations of the (few) previous studies in the scientific literature on the analysis of the risk posed by slow-moving landslides to roads by exploiting i) the multi-temporal recording of the road damage to catch the response of the infrastructure (i.e. both the road pavement and the side retaining structures) with time, and ii) the association of the cumulative landslide-induced displacements with the corresponding damage in order to feed empirical forecasting tools for consequence analyses. The thorough knowledge of the slow-moving landslides and their interaction with the exposed roads are implemented within the proposed method to assess the direct economic losses in terms of repair costs, should no countermeasures or mitigation works be implemented in due time. Considering that the studied area resembles very typical conditions of inner roads in hilly and mountain areas of southern Italy, the method can represent a valuable tool for decision makers to prioritize money allocation for risk adaptation and mitigation actions for roads in similar geo-environmental contexts

Longevity comparison by gender: exploring the future through an evidence-based approach

Our demographic study provides a detailed picture of the short-term, weekly, mortality fluctuations charactering females and males over more than a decade. We follow an evidence-based approach, since we use data from the Human Mortality Database to detect stylized empirical evidence about the behaviour of mortality, during normal times and in the most recent time span, highly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic disease. Our study relies on time-series mortality data collected at a finer scale than traditionally done in the actuarial literature and encompasses different age groups and gender. The empirical evidence represents the starting point for exploring the future mortality patterns. Our quantitative analysis, namely based on stochastic mortality modelling, indeed, answers the question whether accounting for higher frequency mortality data delivers more reliable mortality projections, namely projections that approximate more closely the realized mortality phenomenon

Teacher Emotional Competence for Inclusive Education: A Systematic Review

Although many studies have examined which teaching strategies are effective in achieving inclusive education, less attention has been paid to the role of teachers’ emotional competence. This study aimed to systematically review the literature on the relationship between teachers’ emotional competence and inclusive education through the following research questions: (1) What aspects of teachers’ emotional competence have been studied in relation to inclusive education? (2) How does teachers’ emotional competence influence different aspects of inclusive education? Five electronic databases were searched for all peer-reviewed empirical studies published from 2010 to February 2025. Studies were selected if they focused on K-12 teachers’ emotional competence in relation to inclusive education and were based on empirical designs. The CASP (Critical Appraisal Skills Programme) checklist was used to assess the quality of included studies. Eighteen studies were included. They drew on partially overlapping definitions of emotional competence (i.e., emotional intelligence, emotional awareness, empathy, and emotion regulation) and considered multiple indicators of inclusion that focused on student (engagement, motivation, emotional self-regulation, emotional development, and academic outcomes) and contextual variables (classroom management, teacher–student relationships, and classroom climate). Outcomes differed across various disabilities and special educational needs (SENs). The role of emotional competence should be considered both in improving teachers’ skills in professional practice and in providing adequate and comprehensive training for future teachers. These findings highlight the need to integrate emotional competence training into teacher education programs and inform education policy aimed at fostering more inclusive learning environments

La mostra sulle donne e il dibattito contemporaneo

La storia degli studi sulla donna nel mondo antico intreccia il dibattito contemporaneo relativo ai Women's Studies e alla Cancel Culture