Unveiling the relationships between solitary experiences and problematic social media use in young adults: a network approach to investigating underlying motivations

Previous research has shown that subjective and negative solitary experiences, such as loneliness, are associated with increased problematic social media use (PSMU). However, further research is needed to examine the role of other solitary experiences and motivations for solitary behavior in PSMU. Accordingly, the current study investigated the relationships between various solitary experiences (i.e., trait loneliness, perceived isolation, lack of relational connectedness, positive solitude, and frequency of solitary behavior), motivations for solitary behavior (i.e., autonomous and controlled), motives for social media use (i.e., enhancement, coping, conformity, and social), and core and peripheral symptoms of PSMU in young adults. Eight hundred twenty-nine young adults (65 % females), aged 18 to 30 years (M = 23.76, SD = 3.16), completed self-report measures assessing the variables of interest. Psychometric network analysis was performed to estimate regularized partial correlations among variables across the entire sample. Gender differences in network properties were evaluated using the network comparison test. Results showed that controlled motivations for solitary behavior and perceived isolation were indirectly linked to core symptoms of PSMU through conformity motives. Additionally, perceived isolation was also associated with core PSMU symptoms through coping motives. No significant gender differences were found in the network properties. These findings suggest that PSMU might serve as a maladaptive strategy to temporarily compensate for involuntary solitary experiences and to seek relief from perceived isolation

An integrated qualitative farm-to-fork approach to rank foodborne pathogens associated with mastitis-affected raw milk from Irish dairy farms to the consumer

A qualitative microbial risk assessment (MRA) framework was applied to evaluate the potential introduction of foodborne pathogens from bovine mastitis raw milk into the dairy chain. In a survey between January and December 2024, 588 raw milk samples were obtained from mastitis affected cows across 66 Irish dairy farms. Following guidelines from the International Dairy Federation and National Mastitis Council, samples were analysed for mastitis pathogens, where 337 positive samples (55.3 %) were further tested for seven foodborne microbial pathogens using a hierarchical testing strategy with ten culture-based methods. A qualitative MRA guided by the FAO/WHO and EFSA framework was developed in this study. Incorporating stages of the risk assessment paradigm that include hazard identification, hazard characterisation, exposure assessment, and risk characterisation through a structured decision-tree approach. For the survey, Streptococcus spp. was most frequently isolated (n = 123), followed by Escherichia coli (n = 76), Staphylococcus aureus (n = 67), and coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS) (n = 39). Less frequently detected pathogens included Enterococcus spp. (n = 15), Salmonella spp. (n = 4), and Bacillus cereus (n = 1). Exposure assessment and risk characterisation identified S. aureus, E. coli, and Salmonella spp., as high risk, necessitating targeted interventions within dairy chain systems, including processing failures. This study provides novel insights into the risks posed by mastitis-associated foodborne pathogens, facilitating evidence based recommendations for improving dairy safety management in the dairy chain

Probabilistic Branch-and-Bound for Clusterwise Linear Regression

Clusterwise linear regression, a supervised learning technique that aims at finding latent groups with distinct linear relationships, has numerous applications across diverse scientific and applied domains. However, it often leads to optimization challenges due to the combinatorial nature of the problem. This paper introduces pclustreg, a novel approach based on probabilistic branch-and-bound optimization that maximizes the log-likelihood of a Gaussian mixture model. We show that, under suitable conditions, pclustreg guarantees (with a user-defined probability s<1) a solution with log-likelihood at least as good as the infeasible oracle estimator, which knows the true cluster assignments. Additionally, pclustreg can be used as a computationally lean heuristic, as showcased on simulated and real-world datasets

Inter-instrument definition of valid criteria for the automatic identification of microplastics by micro-Raman spectroscopy

The assessment of the impact of microplastic contamination on the environment and human health requires a reliable identification of the polymer type of these particles. μ-Raman spectroscopy is a popular technique for identifying microplastics by comparing the reference spectra with those of the particles analysed. Automatic identification of microplastics requires defining an algorithm for the match between these spectra and setting a minimum match above which identification is performed with adequately high true and low false results rates. Ideally, the algorithm and match threshold should apply to different spectrometers and spectra collection parameters. This research presents a methodology to determine the best match algorithm for polymer identification using μ-Raman spectroscopy data collected on different instruments and laboratories, associated with a true positive rate (TP) of 95 % and a false positive rate (FP) lower than 5 %. Determining the match threshold (P5»P) by the bootstrap method does not require assumptions regarding match distribution. The normal distribution of the match between the reference and a particle's spectra from a different material allows FP determination. Identifying PET microparticles was optimal using Pearson's correlation coefficient (P5»P = 0.6244, TP = 95 %, FP = 4.9 × 10−7 %). Identification quality was tested based on three unweighted and three weighted correlation coefficients. Spectra with signal-to-noise ratios lower than 10 were forwarded to manual identifications. The MS Excel files used in the research are available as supporting information. The developed methodology for setting up identification criteria of microplastics by spectroscopy proved to be adequate for μ-Raman assessments and robust to different spectrometers and spectra collection conditions

Crystal structure, DFT-guided design, and selective antibacterial activity of a calcium-based hybrid for spray coating applications

We report the synthesis and comprehensive characterization of a calcium-based organic-inorganic hybrid material derived from ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), a polyaminocarboxylate ligand, specifically designed to harness weak coordination interactions for antimicrobial and surface coating applications. Structural and spectroscopic analyses including single-crystal X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), and thermal studies, including Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) revealed a supramolecular framework stabilized by extended weak contacts between calcium and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) moieties. Hirshfeld surface analysis confirmed the prevalence of non-covalent interactions such as hydrogen bonding and electrostatic forces, while density functional theory (DFT) calculations provided detailed insights into the electronic structure, orbital distribution, and charge localization. coccus haemolyticus (Gram-positive) than Escherichia coli (Gram-negative), a behavior attributed to calciummediated interactions with bacterial membranes. Upon deposition via physical spray coating onto glass substrates, the hybrid retained its supramolecular integrity and bioactivity, while exhibiting favorable surface wettability and adhesion characteristics. These findings highlight the strategic potential of EDTA-derived calcium hybrids in tuning physicochemical and biological functionalities through weak coordination chemistry. This integrated experimental-computational approach offers a versatile platform for the development of next-generation antimicrobial coatings applicable to biomedical surfaces and protective industrial materials

Ecologie degli ambienti urbani: sfide applicative

Seguendo il percorso che l’Urban Environment Lab – UrbE-Lab – Antropologia applicata agli ambienti urbani, laboratorio permanente della Società Italiana di Antropologia Applicata, sta seguendo fin dalla sua fondazione, il contributo propone una riflessione sull’antropologia urbana contemporanea alla luce dei suoi utilizzi applicativi in ambito nazionale e internazionale. In particolare, l’articolo si concentra sulla nozione di ambiente urbano, inteso come asse essenziale per l’articolazione di un’antropologia relazionale e applicata. La prima parte dell’articolo ricostruisce il contesto storico e intellettuale che ha portato l’antropologia urbana contemporanea italiana ad adottare un approccio applicato. La seconda parte approfondisce gli approcci teorici, i temi, le metodologie e le prospettive che caratterizzano il lavoro di UrbE-Lab. La terza parte, basata su un dialogo con i contributi di questo dossier, discute alcune proposte teoriche ed etnografiche per articolare la nozione di ambiente urbano nel mondo contemporaneo, sempre alla luce delle sue ripercussioni applicative e pubbliche. Following the path that the Urban Environment Lab – UrbE-Lab – Antropologia applicata agli ambienti urbani, a permanent laboratory of the Italian Society of Applied Anthropology, has been following since its foundation, the contribution proposes a reflection on contemporary urban anthropology in the light of its applicative uses in the national and international sphere. In particular, the article focuses on the notion of the urban environment, understood as an essential axis for the articulation of a relational and applied anthropology. The first part of the article reconstructs the historical and intellectual context that led Italian contemporary urban anthropology to adopt an applied approach. The second part discusses in detail the theoretical approaches, themes, methodologies and perspectives that characterise the work of UrbE-Lab. The third part, based on a dialogue with the contributions in this dossier, discusses some theoretical and ethnographic proposals for articulating the notion of the urban environment in the contemporary world, always in the light of its applicative and public repercussions

The Changing Epidemiology of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome: A 15‐Year Overview Comparing Italian and European Data

Background and Aims: Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) represents a prominent cause of infant death in many countries. Epidemiological data has been variable over time because the related International Classification of Diseases (ICD) code is not consistent throughout countries and has changed over the years. The prevalence of SIDS is unclear, with estimates that do not reflect the number of patients who actually died from SIDS. This paper aims to assess the trend of SIDS in Italy and Europe during 2011–2018, and factors contributing to epidemiological data. Data for Italy were also integrated with an individual‐level analysis over the period 2003–2018. Methods: A two‐pronged analysis was performed starting from the Italian National Institute of Statistics and experimental data. The individual characteristics of SIDS infants were detailed in association with biomedical, socioeconomic, and cultural variables. Results: Total infant mortality has been continuously declining in Italy, from 4.15‰ in 2003 to 3.05‰ in 2018 (−26.5%) with rates significantly lower than the European average in the same period (mean Italy 3.05‰ vs. mean Europe 4.11‰). Considering only SIDS, the 28 European countries show an average value of 0.15/1000 deaths/births (2011–2018), with a decreasing temporal trend. Italy displays an average rate 75% lower (0.04/1000 births). The seasonality of the syndrome highlights a prevalence during cold months (60.7%) and no evidence of a significant effect of mother's age at birth was found. The mean age at death is prevalent in the postneonatal period. No statistically significant effects on Italian SIDS mortality have been found regarding economical, educational, and cultural aspects related to the care of infants. Conclusion: The data suggest a likely effect of different ways of classification of SIDS‐related deaths, although a different approach to the prevention campaigns could be responsible for data variability among countries. Results also suggest an urgent need to get insight into previously unexplored aspects, such as neuroanatomical, genetic, metabolic, and proteomic aspects, focusing especially on high‐risk groups to further clarify the etiopathogenesis of this syndrome