Case Article—Optimizing Food Donation Delivery for the Nonprofit Company Logica&Co

The article presents a case exercise that teaches students how to apply mathematical programming to a real-life context. The case deals with the management of the food donation supply chain. The case, using a project-based approach, proposes a realistic scenario that simulates the consulting interaction with a nonprofit company, Logica&Co, which acts as a two-sided platform connecting supply and demand. The objective is to define an effective strategy to collect and deliver food donations, using either bike or e-bike, from local businesses to soup kitchens, covering a semester-long timeframe. The form of the problem exhibits nonlinear characteristics, but the design allows for adjustable difficulty levels. Students can assess their performance during the class period thanks to an interactive offline tool, the SoS simulator, which is publicly available for download and can be customized by instructors. The case was proposed as a competitive group challenge for students of the bachelor’s or master’s program in management engineering at Sapienza University of Rome. However, given the embedded characteristics of flexibility, it can be easily adjusted for heterogeneous curricula of undergraduate- and graduate-level courses in engineering programs (this opportunity is extensively discussed in the Case Article and the Teaching Note). The students appreciated both the teaching methodology and the teamwork aspects and highlighted the utility of the SoS simulator tool

Istinto, animalità e irriflessione nello Zibaldone di Leopardi

Il saggio ricostruisce la costellazione semantica dell’‘istinto’ e dell’‘irriflessione’ nello Zibaldone di Leopardi. Si mostrerà, anzitutto, il complesso (e talvolta contraddittorio) significato che i due termini assumono nelle differenti fasi del pensiero leopardiano, dal 1819 fino al dicembre 1826. Si getterà luce, così, sul legame tra i due lemmi e alcuni temi cruciali della riflessione antropologica e filosofica di Leopardi: l’istinto di conservazione, la corruzione dell’uomo e la nascita della «società stretta», la legge naturale e la virtù morale, l’egoismo, l’invidia, il piacere, il desiderio, l’amor proprio, le illusioni e le credenze, il danno del conoscere, il timore, la compassione, il problema della contraddittorietà dell’essere e, dunque, del male. Nel fare ciò, emergerà come i due lemmi traccino percorsi uguali e contrari, in linea con la tortuosa ricerca da parte di Leopardi di un possibile antidoto contro la corruzione dell’animale‐uomo, singolarmente incline sia all’eccesso della ragione sia all’irriflessione brutale.L’article reconstruit la constellation sémantique des notions « instinct » et « irréflexion » dans le Zibaldone de Leopardi. Il met en lumière, tout d’abord, le sens complexe (et parfois contradictoire) que ces deux termes acquièrent au fil des différentes phases de la pensée leopardienne, de 1819 jusqu’en décembre 1826. Cette analyse permet ainsi d’éclairer le lien entre ces deux notions et certains thèmes cruciaux de la réflexion anthropologique et philosophique de Leopardi : l’instinct de conservation, la corruption de l’homme et la naissance de la « société restreinte », la loi naturelle et la vertu morale, l’égoïsme, l’envie, le plaisir, le désir, l’amourpropre, les illusions et les croyances, le préjudice de la connaissance, la peur, la compassion, le problème de la contradiction de l’être et, en conséquence, celui du mal. En poursuivant cette démarche, on verra comment ces deux notions tracent des parcours à la fois similaires et opposés, en accord avec la quête tortueuse de Leopardi pour trouver un éventuel antidote contre la corruption de l’homme-animal, singulièrement enclin à l’excès de raison comme à l’irréflexion bestiale

Does implant placement below the ridge reduce crestal bone loss? A split-mouth randomized controlled clinical trial

: Reducing crestal bone loss (CBL) around implants allows for soft tissue stability and long-term success. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the extent of CBL in implants placed with the implant shoulder at the equi-crestal level and 2 mm below the alveolar ridge at 2, 12, 36, and 60 months. A split-mouth randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted by selecting subjects with Kennedy Class IV partial edentulism of the lower jaw. Two implants were inserted, of equal length and diameter, one equi-crestal and the other sub-crestal, in the site corresponding to the lateral incisor. Intraoral periapical radiographs with Rinn centering devices were performed at the time of implant insertion (T0), at 2 (T1), 12 (T2), 36 (T3), and 60 months (T4). Descriptive statistics and the T-test were used, setting the significance to P⩽ 0.05. Twenty-five subjects were recruited, with a mean age of 65 years (SD 9.88, range 42-82). No subject dropped out. A total of 50 implants were inserted, 25 at crestal and 25 sub-crest level. At the 60-month follow-up, no implant or prosthetic failure was recorded. An average loss of -0.81 mm was recorded in the crestal implant group (n.25; SD: 0.40; max-min: -1.6 - -0.1) while in the implants positioned below the crest the average CBL was -0.87mm (n.25; SD: 0.41; max-min: -2 - -0.2); however, the higher CBL in the sub-crestal implant group was not statistically significant (P=0.65). Comparing the mean CBL values of the two groups at the various follow-ups, a greater crestal bone resorption was recorded in sub-crest implants between T0 and T1 (-0.25 vs -0.1) and between T1 and T2 (-0.39 vs -0.23), while in subsequent follow-ups a greater, statistically significant (P=0.01), crestal bone loss was recorded in ridge implants between T3 and T4 (-0.05 vs -0.18). Over time, therefore, the extent of CBL seems to be reduced in implants placed below the crest, with bone retention above the implant shoulder. Ultimately, although the position of the implant shoulder relative to the crestal ridge doesn't affect the CBL, sub-crestal placement is recommended in order to reduce the risk of exposure of the rough surface of the implant

Lesion-level effects of LDL-C lowering therapy in patients with AMI. The PACMAN-AMI lesion-level analysis

Background. Previous intracoronary imaging studies investigated atherosclerotic changes induced by lipid-lowering therapy in extensive coronary segments, irrespective of baseline disease burden (vessel-level approach). The effects of lipid-lowering treatment on coronary lesions with advanced atherosclerosis and at presumably higher risk for future events remains unknown. Methods. The PACMAN-AMI trial randomized patients with acute myocardial infarction to receive alirocumab or placebo in addition to high-intensity statin therapy. In this pre-specified lesion-level analysis, nonculprit lesions were identified as segments with plaque burden ≥40% defined by intravascular ultrasound (IVUS). IVUS, near-infrared spectroscopy, and optical coherence tomography images at baseline and 52-week follow-up were manually matched, and changes in lesion-level imaging outcomes including high-risk plaque characteristics and phenotypes were assessed. Results. Overall, 591 lesions with available serial imaging were included: 287 lesions in 118 patients (214 vessels) in the alirocumab group and 304 lesions in 127 patients (239 vessels) in the placebo group. At lesion-level, mean change in percent atheroma volume (PAV) by IVUS was -4.86% with alirocumab vs -2.78% with placebo (difference, -2.02, -3.00 to -1.05, p<0.001). At the minimum lumen area (MLA) site, mean change in PAV was -10.14% with alirocumab vs -6.70% with placebo (difference, -3.36, -4.98 to -1.75, p<0.001). MLA increased by 0.15 mm2 with alirocumab and decreased by 0.07 mm2 in the placebo group (difference, +0.21, 0.01 to 0.41, p=0.036), whereas arterial remodeling (change in vessel area) was similar between groups (-0.73±1.61 mm2 in alirocumab vs -0.63±1.31 mm2 in placebo group, p=0.482). Among lipid-rich lesions, 61.8% of those in alirocumab arm and 41.8% of those in placebo arm showed a less lipid-rich plaque phenotype at follow-up (p=0.03). Among lesions with thin-cap fibroatheroma <65 μm at baseline, 30.8% of those in alirocumab arm and 8.1% of those in placebo arm showed a fibrous/fibrocalcific plaque phenotype at follow-up (p=0.02). Conclusions. At lesion-level, very intensive lipid-lowering therapy induced substantially greater PAV regression than described in previous vessel-level analyses. Compared to statin therapy alone, alirocumab treatment was associated with greater enlargement of the lesion MLA, similar negative arterial remodeling, and more frequent transition of high-risk plaque phenotypes into more stable, less lipid-rich plaque phenotypes

Dissipative systems driven by activated carboxylic acids

This thesis presents the results of my PhD research, which focused on the employment of Activated Carboxylic Acids (ACAs) as chemical fuels to drive the operation of a series of dissipative systems. This thesis falls within the field of Systems Chemistry, which aims to design complex artificial (de novo) systems of interacting and interconverting molecules and to study the emergent properties deriving from them. In Chapter 1 a general introduction to the field is given, with a particular focus on natural systems and how they managed to inspire the design of artificial life-like ones. The key concepts at the base of the operation of natural systems are discussed, as well as some of the strategies employed so far to design systems that dissipate energy to provide a certain output. Based on their exploited functionality, such systems have been divided into motors, pumps, and self-assemblable molecules. A series of examples for each category is illustrated, drawing the attention on the energy source that drive their operation. Finally, ACA-driven artificial systems are discussed with an initial focus on the state of the art of the ACAs topic. Among all the examples, some artificial life-like systems are highlighted both for the motor and pump, and self-assembly category pointing out their operational mechanisms. The following Chapters focus on the research I carried out during my PhD. The main goal has been to broaden the applicability of the ACAs both in organic solvents and in water. Chapter 2, carried out in collaboration with Prof. Gianfranco Ercolani, shows the design of two biphenyl amines and how an ACA, namely 2-cyano-2-phenylpropanoic acid, can be used to temporally control the conformational freedom around the CC bond connecting the two aromatic rings. In Chapter 3 is described the first example in which two orthogonal fuels of different nature, i.e. an ACA and light, have been used to drive the translocation of a metal cation between different supramolecular receptors. Interestingly, the combination of the two stimuli guarantees a finer time-control of the translocation process. Chapter 4 and 5 deal with the use of ACAs to control over time the population of a dynamic library of imines. Firstly, the focus has been placed on the temporal control of the composition of the library in the dissipative state. Then, in collaboration with Prof. Gianfranco Ercolani, the attention was shifted on how the dynamic library can store the energy deriving from the fuel-to-waste conversion and how the energy storage can be modulated by changing solvent. Finally, Chapter 6 illustrates the results obtained during my six-months stay in Munich hosted by the Boekhoven’s group. In this chapter an ACA, namely nitroacetic acid, has been employed to control the lifetime of coacervate-based droplets in water, providing a robust platform for examining early protocell-like systems

The grey forms of knowledge. Border scraps, secrecy and the reproduction of skateboarding in Tijuana (Mexico)

Tijuana is materially and symbolically shaped by the scraps of the North; they have even inspired cultural paradigms of border analysis like ‘Rudology’, echoing studies on the Anthropocene. By following the trails of these scraps, particular border grey spaces emerge. Local skateboarding thrives exactly on the scraps flowing through this grey infrastructures: DIY spots are built from the Tijuana River’s debris, second-hand U.S. skate-wear comes from informal transborder markets, and scrap skateboard decks are hijacked from the U.S. maquiladoras. The practices surrounding these objects, however, often operate within regimes of secrecy to elude border bureaucracy. Although the ‘unspeakable’ underpins skateboarding’s subcultural lore, particular social configurations of secrecy emerge from specific cultural contexts. Among Tijuana skaters, the concealment imposed by the border regime coexists with a performance of secrecy stimulated by the proximity to California and its resources. I call this ambivalence a ‘grey form of knowledge’ built around the scraps of border grey spaces necessary for skateboarding. A creative tactic shaped from below to reproduce a leisure community within a specific political and cultural border experience. I conclude by emphasising the articulations between material and symbolic grey spaces and highlighting their inherent potential for ‘relationality’ through my border ethnographic case

Comparison of hernia sac transection and full sac reduction for the treatment of inguinal hernias: a systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials.

ABSTRACT Background: The history of inguinal hernia repair has been marked by the description of several therapies over ages, each with its own approach to managing the hernial sac. An analysis of hernia sac transection (with or without high ligation) versus reduction (invagination) in adults who underwent Lichtenstein open tension‐free inguinal hernia repair and in adult and pediatric patients who underwent suture repair has been the primary aim of this systematic review and meta‐analysis. Methods: The authors conducted a comprehensive review and meta‐analysis. A comprehensive literature search yielded 15 publications, consisting of 12 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) including 1598 patients and 3 controlled clinical trials (CCTs) including 243 patients. In total, the included patients amounted to 1.841. Results: Analysis of the data revealed a lower rate of recurrence in patients who had sac reduction (0.35% in randomized controlled trials and 0 in clinical trials) compared to patients who had sac excision and ligation (0.86% in randomized controlled trials and 0.93% in clinical trials). However, this difference was not statistically significant (RCTs: relative risk 2.94 [0.30, 29.24]—CCTs: relative risk 4.46 [0.18, 111.36]). Conclusion: The reduction of sacs does not result in a statistically significant decrease in recurrence compared to patients who underwent sac excision and subsequent ligation. This study has demonstrated that the various courses of treatment for the inguinal hernia sac have similar primary and secondary outcomes in both adult and pediatric patients

Propensity score to compare pars plana vitrectomy and scleral buckling in retrospective studies [letter]

We found the article by Rajsirisongsri et al, "Primary Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment Repair by Pars Plana Vitrectomy With and Without Scleral Buckling: A Propensity Score Analysis", particularly noteworthy for two main reasons. 1 First, it examines the role of combining scleral buckling (SB) with pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) for rhegma-togenous retinal detachment (RRD) in terms of final anatomical success and visual acuity outcomes, based on a substantial sample of 683 patients. Second, it employs propensity score analysis to mitigate the bias stemming from the surgeon's preoperative choice of surgical technique, inherent in a retrospective study design. In a recent systematic review by Bonnar et al, which included 15 studies, none of the 9 retrospective studies applied a propensity score approach. 2 Surprisingly, there are relatively few studies in the literature that have utilized propensity score methods when comparing PPV and SB. 3,4 However, it is clear that when assessing the type of retinal detachment preoperatively, surgeons may be more inclined to combine SB with PPV in more complicated cases. Conclusions drawn from retrospective cohorts without propensity score analysis, therefore, risk being significantly biased. This aligns with our own experience when comparing the incidence of cystoid macular edema (CME) between SB alone and PPV. By applying propensity score matching, we demonstrated that, beyond any bias, PPV cases had a higher incidence of CME. 5 Two key points in Rajsirisongsri et al's study warrant further clarification. First, we would like to know why the authors opted for the inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) approach instead of propensity score matching (using methods such as caliper or kernel matching). Second, we wonder which preoperative factors truly drive the surgical decision among SB, PPV alone, and PPV combined with SB. Variables such as patient age, duration of symptoms, multiple retinal breaks, and lens status often appear in propensity score models and plausibly influence the choice of technique. However, it is less evident how factors like sex or intraocular pressure might sway the surgeon toward one procedure over another, while preoperative BCVA-arguably more relevant to surgical planning-was not included. Clarifying why these variables were selected (or excluded) is important to help standardize future propensity score studies, ensuring that only covariates genuinely reflecting surgical decision-making are incorporated, and that unrelated factors do not unnecessarily skew the model. Beyond the purely statistical results, we also acknowledge that what works best for one surgeon may not necessarily generalize to others, as individual expertise can significantly influence clinical outcomes. A surgeon who has traditionally achieved excellent results combining SB to PPV may continue to favor that approach, but it does not follow that the same success would hold for every surgeon. We believe these considerations can further refine the utility of propensity score approaches and improve our understanding of when and why SB is added to vitrectomy in managing RRD. We look forward to hearing the authors' perspective on these points

Shape representations for scalable 3D graphics pipelines

Recent research in the field of computer vision and graphics greatly widened the spectrum of available representations for 3D shapes, each offering distinct advantages depending on the application. Selecting the most suitable representation can have great impact on the efficiency and scalability of algorithms used throughout the computer graphics pipeline. This thesis aims to explore the influence of different 3D shape representations—ranging from traditional polygonal meshes to implicit, neural and hybrid representations—on the performance of modern graphics systems. Through the introduction of novel algorithms, we offer an overview of the key trade-offs between these representations via a detailed investigation of computational efficiency, memory footprint, and adaptability to different settings. Our case studies include geometry processing tasks, such as shape matching and editing, as well as rendering, texturing and simulation. Additionally, the thesis places particular emphasis on the critical role of data in recent research, offering four key data contributions that support the development and evaluation of scalable 3D shape representations. Empirical evaluations demonstrate the potential of this work to advance scalable 3D graphics pipelines, improving the rendering of large, dynamic scenes with high detail and interactivity

Raman spectroscopy and SERS: recent advances in cultural heritage diagnostics and the potential use of anisotropic metal nanostructures

Raman and Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopies (SERS) are among the foremost non-destructive techniques for material characterization in cultural heritage research. SERS, in particular, stands out for its remarkable signal enhancement and ability to mitigate fluorescence interference, making it a valuable tool embraced by researchers across the field. Central to this enhancement are metallic nanostructures, with their effects finely tuned by variations in shape, size, and metal type. Anisotropic nanostructures—such as nanostars, nanoflowers, and nanocubes—are especially compelling due to their capacity to amplify SERS hotspots and intensify plasmonic bands, positioning them at the frontier of scientific interest. Nevertheless, the application of anisotropic nanostructures in cultural heritage SERS analyses remains relatively untapped, with only a few recent studies venturing into this promising area. This review provides a focused overview of metal nanostructure properties, highlighting the unique benefits that anisotropic designs offer in advancing SERS analyses for cultural heritage materials