Employability skills: Profiling data scientists in the digital labour market

In the current scenario, data scientists are expected to make sense of vast stores of big data, which are becoming increasingly complex and heterogeneous in nature. In the context of today's rapid technological development and its application in a growing array of fields, this role is evolving simultaneously. The present study provides an insight into the current expectations of employers seeking to hire individuals with this job title. It is argued that gaining a better understanding of data scientists’ employability criteria and the evolution of this professional role is crucial. The focus is placed on the desired prerequisites articulated through job advertisements, thus deriving relevant means for furthering theory and practice. It was achieved by harvesting relevant data from job advertisements published on US employment websites, which currently attract the US market's highest recruitment traffic. The key contribution of this study is to have identified means of systematically mapping skills, experience, and qualifications sought by employers for their data scientists, thus providing a data-driven pathway for employability and avoiding skills gaps and mismatches in a profession that is pivotal in the Industry 4.0

TRACE and ground-based observations of microflares

We present high temporal and spatial resolution, multiwavelength observations of small-scale activity phenomena. The data were obtained during a coordinated campaign between ground-based and space observatories. Our analysis supports the concept that small flares are just miniature flares, i.e. that the same physical processes are at work, but that it is mandatory to have an excellent resolution in order to clearly identify them. In particular, we find that chromospheric downward motions are a very distinctive characteristic of the flare phenomenon even in tiny events

Flare model sensitivity of the Balmer spectrum

Careful studies of various chromospheric spectral signatures are very important in order to explore their possible sensitivity to the modifications of the thermodynamic quantities produced by the flare occurrence. Pioneer work of Canfield and co-workers have shown how the H alpha behavior is able to indicate different changes in the atmospheric parameters structure associated to the flare event. It was decided to study the behavior of the highest Balmer lines and of the Balmer continuum in different solar flare model atmospheres. These spectral features, originating in the deep photosphere in a quiet area, may have a sensitivity different from H alpha to the modification of a flare atmosphere. The details of the method used to compute the Stark profile of the higher Balmer line (n is greater than or equal to 6) and their merging were extensively given elsewhere (Donati-Falchi et al., 1985; Falchi et al., 1989). The models used were developed by Ricchiazzi in his thesis (1982) evaluating the chromospheric response to both the nonthermal electron flux, for energy greater than 20 kev, (F sub 20) and to the thermal conduction, (F sub c). The effect of the coronal pressure values (P sub O) at the apex of the flare loop is also included

Peptide-based hydrogels and nanogels for delivery of doxorubicin

Introduction: The clinical use of the antitumoral drug doxorubicin (Dox) is reduced by its dose-limiting toxicity, related to cardiotoxic side effects and myelosuppression. In order to overcome these drawbacks, here we describe the synthesis, the structural characterization and the in vitro cytotoxicity assays of hydrogels (HGs) and nanogels (NGs) based on short peptide sequences loaded with Dox or with its liposomal formulation, Doxil. Methods: Fmoc-FF alone or in combination with (FY)3 or PEG8-(FY)3 peptides, at two different ratios (1/1 and 2/1 v/v), were used for HGs and NGs formulations. HGs were prepared according to the “solvent-switch” method, whereas NGs were obtained through HG submicroni-tion by the top-down methodology in presence of TWEEN®60 and SPAN®60 as stabilizing agents. HGs gelation kinetics were assessed by Circular Dichroism (CD). Stability and size of NGs were studied using Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) measurements. Cell viability of empty and filled Dox HGs and NGs was evaluated on MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. Moreover, cell internalization of the drug was evaluated using immunofluorescence assays. Results: Dox filled hydrogels exhibit a high drug loading content (DLC=0.440), without syneresis after 10 days. Gelation kinetics (20–40 min) and the drug release (16–28%) over time of HGs were found dependent on relative peptide composition. Dox filled NGs exhibit a DLC of 0.137 and a low drug release (20–40%) after 72 h. Empty HGs and NGs show a high cell viability (>95%), whereas Dox loaded ones significantly reduce cell viability after 24 h (49–57%) and 72 h (7–25%) of incubation, respectively. Immunofluorescence assays evidenced a different cell localization for Dox delivered through HGs and NGs with respect to the free drug. Discussion: A modulation of the Dox release can be obtained by changing the ratios of the peptide components. The different cellular localization of the drug loaded into HGs and NGs suggests an alternative internalization mechanism. The high DLC, the low drug release and preliminary in vitro results suggest a potential employment of peptide-based HGs and NGs as drug delivery tools

Effect of beetroot (Beta vul-garis) extract on black angus burgers shelf life

Beef burgers are meat preparations with easy perishability. To ensure a longer shelf-life, the Regulation EU 1129/11 allows the use of some additives. However, health-conscious consumers prefer products which do not contain synthetic substances. Aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of Red Beetroot (Beta vulgaris) integration on Black Angus made burgers shelf life. Red beet was prepared as powder and added to meat mixture as the same or in water solution. The study was split into 2 trials to assess the extract activity also in burgers vacuum-packaged stored. Burgers were analysed (up to 9 days at 4°C) in terms of sensory properties, microbiological profile, pH, aw and lipid oxidation (TBARS). At the end of storage, treated samples showed the highest values of redness and the lowest content of malondialdehyde, probably due to antioxidant properties of red beet towards myoglobin and lipid oxidation processes. Moreover, results highlighted that Red Beetroot activities were dose-dependent and intensified if dissolved in water. The aw values did not appear to be conditioned by extract integrations, unlike the pH that was lower in treated samples than control ones. Microbiological analyses identified beet-root as a potential antimicrobial substance, especially in high concentration. In conclusion, Beta vulgaris extract could be pro-posed as natural compound exploitable in beef burgers to preserve qualities and extend their shelf-life

Microbiological, rheological and physical-chemical characteristics of bovine meat subjected to a prolonged ageing period

he aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a long ageing period on the microbiological, rheological and physical-chemical characteristics of bovine beef. For the trial n. 3 Marchigiana bovine breed (live weight of 760 kg approximately), slaughtered at 34 months were chosen and the loin muscles were undergone to a prolonged ageing process. The analytical determinations performed were: pH and aw values, texture profile analysis, Warner-Bratzler shear force, colour (CIE L*a*b*), centesimal analysis, total bacterial count, Enterobacteriaceae, Listeria monocytogenes, yeasts and moulds. The results indicate that extended ageing has a negative effect on weight loss but, by the means of the standardization of dry aging parameters, reduce lipid oxidation and improve tendernes

Self-supporting hydrogels based on fmoc-derivatized cationic hexapeptides for potential biomedical applications

Peptide-based hydrogels (PHGs) are biocompatible materials suitable for biological, biomedical, and biotechnological applications, such as drug delivery and diagnostic tools for imaging. Recently, a novel class of synthetic hydrogel-forming amphiphilic cationic peptides (referred to as series K), containing an aliphatic region and a Lys residue, was proposed as a scaffold for bioprinting applications. Here, we report the synthesis of six analogues of the series K, in which the acetyl group at the N-terminus is replaced by aromatic portions, such as the Fmoc protecting group or the Fmoc-FF hydrogelator. The tendency of all peptides to self-assemble and to gel in aqueous solution was investigated using a set of biophysical techniques. The structural characterization pointed out that only the Fmoc-derivatives of series K keep their capability to gel. Among them, Fmoc-K3 hydrogel, which is the more rigid one (G’ = 2526 Pa), acts as potential material for tissue engineering, fully supporting cell adhesion, survival, and duplication. These results describe a gelification process, allowed only by the correct balancing among aggregation forces within the peptide sequences (e.g., van der Waals, hydrogen bonding, and π–π stacking)

Management of Bladder Cancer following Solid Organ Transplantation

Objective. Present our experience managing bladder cancer following liver and renal transplantation. Methods. Single institution retrospective review of patients diagnosed with bladder urothelial carcinoma (BUC) following solid organ transplantation between January 1992 and December 2007. Results. Of the 2,925 renal and 2,761 liver transplant recipients reviewed, we identified eleven patients (0.2%) following transplant diagnosed with BUC. Two patients with low grade T1 TCC were managed by TURBT. Three patients with CIS and one patient with T1 low grade BUC were treated by TURBT and adjuvant BCG. All four are alive and free of recurrence at a mean follow-up of 51 ± 22 months. One patient with T1 high grade BUC underwent radical cystectomy and remains disease free with a follow-up of 98 months. Muscle invasive TCC was diagnosed in four patients at a median of 3.6 years following transplantation. Two patients are recurrence free at 24 and 36 months following radical cystectomy. Urinary diversion and palliative XRT were performed in one patient with un-resectable disease. Conclusions. Bladder cancer is uncommon following renal and liver transplantation, but it can be managed successfully with local and/or extirpative therapy. The use of intravesical BCG is possible in select immunosuppressed patients