The Industrial Symbiosis of Wineries: An Analisys of the Wine Production Chain According to the Preliminary LCA Model

The circular economy refers to a term that defines an economy designed to be able to regenerate itself. Agri-food is one of the areas where the tools and strategies of the circular economy are implemented. The wine sector involving numerous stages of production and processing causes many impacts on the environment. Starting from the transport, to the distribution of wine products, there are several impacting processes on the environment. For the assessment of negative results although not of every product production process, the circular economy provides a more than suitable tool: the LCA (Life Cycle Assessment) has been implemented on the whole production chain of the product “Lenza di Munti”, a bottle of wine by “Nicosia S.p.A.”. The grapes used in the production of red wine are Nerello Mascalese and Nerello Cappuccio; instead of Carricante and Catarratto grapes used for white wine. This chapter provides a complete picture of the interactions between the product and the environment, to understand the environmental consequences and to provide the necessary information to define the best solutions

Epigenetic alteration of microRNAs in DNMT3B-mutated patients of ICF syndrome

Immunodeficiency, Centromeric region instability, Facial anomalies (ICF; OMIM #242860) syndrome, due to mutations in the DNMT3B gene, is characterized by inheritance of aberrant patterns of DNA methylation and heterochromatin defects. Patients show variable agammaglobulinemia and a reduced number of T cells, making them prone to infections and death before adulthood. Other variable symptoms include facial dysmorphism, growth and mental retardation. Despite the recent advances in identifying the dysregulated genes, the molecular mechanisms, which underlie the altered gene expression causing ICF phenotype complexity, are not well understood. Held the recently-shown tight correlation between epigenetics and microRNAs (miRNAs), we searched for miRNAs regulated by DNMT3B activity, comparing cell lines from ICF patients with those from healthy individuals. We observe that eighty-nine miRNAs, some of which involved in immune function, development and neurogenesis, are dysregulated in ICF (LCLs) compared to wild-type cells. Significant DNA hypomethylation of miRNA CpG islands was not observed in cases of miRNA up-regulation in ICF cells, suggesting a more subtle effect of DNMT3B deficiency on their regulation; however, a modification of histone marks, especially H3K27 and H3K4 trimethylation, and H4 acetylation, was observed concomitantly with changes in microRNA expression. Functional correlation between miRNA and mRNA expression of their targets allow us to suppose a regulation either at mRNA level or at protein level. These results provide a better understanding of how DNA methylation and histone code interact to regulate the class of microRNA genes and enable us to predict molecular events possibly contributing to ICF condition

Impact of safety-related dose reductions or discontinuations on sustained virologic response in HCV-infected patients: Results from the GUARD-C Cohort

BACKGROUND: Despite the introduction of direct-acting antiviral agents for chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, peginterferon alfa/ribavirin remains relevant in many resource-constrained settings. The non-randomized GUARD-C cohort investigated baseline predictors of safety-related dose reductions or discontinuations (sr-RD) and their impact on sustained virologic response (SVR) in patients receiving peginterferon alfa/ribavirin in routine practice. METHODS: A total of 3181 HCV-mono-infected treatment-naive patients were assigned to 24 or 48 weeks of peginterferon alfa/ribavirin by their physician. Patients were categorized by time-to-first sr-RD (Week 4/12). Detailed analyses of the impact of sr-RD on SVR24 (HCV RNA <50 IU/mL) were conducted in 951 Caucasian, noncirrhotic genotype (G)1 patients assigned to peginterferon alfa-2a/ribavirin for 48 weeks. The probability of SVR24 was identified by a baseline scoring system (range: 0-9 points) on which scores of 5 to 9 and <5 represent high and low probability of SVR24, respectively. RESULTS: SVR24 rates were 46.1% (754/1634), 77.1% (279/362), 68.0% (514/756), and 51.3% (203/396), respectively, in G1, 2, 3, and 4 patients. Overall, 16.9% and 21.8% patients experienced 651 sr-RD for peginterferon alfa and ribavirin, respectively. Among Caucasian noncirrhotic G1 patients: female sex, lower body mass index, pre-existing cardiovascular/pulmonary disease, and low hematological indices were prognostic factors of sr-RD; SVR24 was lower in patients with 651 vs. no sr-RD by Week 4 (37.9% vs. 54.4%; P = 0.0046) and Week 12 (41.7% vs. 55.3%; P = 0.0016); sr-RD by Week 4/12 significantly reduced SVR24 in patients with scores <5 but not 655. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, sr-RD to peginterferon alfa-2a/ribavirin significantly impacts on SVR24 rates in treatment-naive G1 noncirrhotic Caucasian patients. Baseline characteristics can help select patients with a high probability of SVR24 and a low probability of sr-RD with peginterferon alfa-2a/ribavirin

Development of a Nomogram Predicting the Risk of Persistence/Recurrence of Cervical Dysplasia

Background: Cervical dysplasia persistence/recurrence has a great impact on women's health and quality of life. In this study, we investigated whether a prognostic nomogram may improve risk assessment after primary conization. Methods: This is a retrospective multi-institutional study based on charts of consecutive patients undergoing conization between 1 January 2010 and 31 December 2014. A nomogram assessing the importance of different variables was built. A cohort of patients treated between 1 January 2015 and 30 June 2016 was used to validate the nomogram. Results: A total of 2966 patients undergoing primary conization were analyzed. The median (range) patient age was 40 (18-89) years. At 5-year of follow-up, 6% of patients (175/2966) had developed a persistent/recurrent cervical dysplasia. Median (range) recurrence-free survival was 18 (5-52) months. Diagnosis of CIN3, presence of HR-HPV types, positive endocervical margins, HPV persistence, and the omission of HPV vaccination after conization increased significantly and independently of the risk of developing cervical dysplasia persistence/recurrence. A nomogram weighting the impact of all variables was built with a C-Index of 0.809. A dataset of 549 patients was used to validate the nomogram, with a C-index of 0.809. Conclusions: The present nomogram represents a useful tool for counseling women about their risk of persistence/recurrence after primary conization. HPV vaccination after conization is associated with a reduced risk of CIN2+

Acute Delta Hepatitis in Italy spanning three decades (1991–2019): Evidence for the effectiveness of the hepatitis B vaccination campaign

Updated incidence data of acute Delta virus hepatitis (HDV) are lacking worldwide. Our aim was to evaluate incidence of and risk factors for acute HDV in Italy after the introduction of the compulsory vaccination against hepatitis B virus (HBV) in 1991. Data were obtained from the National Surveillance System of acute viral hepatitis (SEIEVA). Independent predictors of HDV were assessed by logistic-regression analysis. The incidence of acute HDV per 1-million population declined from 3.2 cases in 1987 to 0.04 in 2019, parallel to that of acute HBV per 100,000 from 10.0 to 0.39 cases during the same period. The median age of cases increased from 27 years in the decade 1991-1999 to 44 years in the decade 2010-2019 (p &lt; .001). Over the same period, the male/female ratio decreased from 3.8 to 2.1, the proportion of coinfections increased from 55% to 75% (p = .003) and that of HBsAg positive acute hepatitis tested for by IgM anti-HDV linearly decreased from 50.1% to 34.1% (p &lt; .001). People born abroad accounted for 24.6% of cases in 2004-2010 and 32.1% in 2011-2019. In the period 2010-2019, risky sexual behaviour (O.R. 4.2; 95%CI: 1.4-12.8) was the sole independent predictor of acute HDV; conversely intravenous drug use was no longer associated (O.R. 1.25; 95%CI: 0.15-10.22) with this. In conclusion, HBV vaccination was an effective measure to control acute HDV. Intravenous drug use is no longer an efficient mode of HDV spread. Testing for IgM-anti HDV is a grey area requiring alert. Acute HDV in foreigners should be monitored in the years to come

Discriminative Power of EEG-Based Biomarkers in Major Depressive Disorder: A Systematic Review

This work was supported in part by the Project AutoNomous DiscoveRy Of depressIve Disorder Signs (ANDROIDS) through the Program VAnviteLli pEr la RicErca (V:ALERE) 2019 Universita della Campania ``Luigi Vanvitelli'' under Grant D.R.906del4/10/2019 and Grant prot.n.15726417/10/2019; in part by the EU H2020 Research and Innovation Program under Grant 769872 [Empathic, Expressive, Advanced Virtual Coach to Improve Independent Healthy-Life-Years of the Elderly (EMPATHIC)] and Grant 823907 [Mental health monitoring through interactive conversations (MENHIR)]; and in part by the Project SocIal ROBOTics for active and healthy ageing (SIROBOTICS) through Italian Ministero dell'istruzione, dell'universita e della ricerca (MIUR) under Grant PNR2015-2020, Grant D.D.1735, and Grant 13/07/2017.Currently, the diagnosis of major depressive disorder (MDD) and its subtypes is mainly based on subjective assessments and self-reported measures. However, objective criteria as Electroencephalography (EEG) features would be helpful in detecting depressive states at early stages to prevent the worsening of the symptoms. Scientific community has widely investigated the effectiveness of EEG-based measures to discriminate between depressed and healthy subjects, with the aim to better understand the mechanisms behind the disorder and find biomarkers useful for diagnosis. This work offers a comprehensive review of the extant literature concerning the EEG-based biomarkers for MDD and its subtypes, and identify possible future directions for this line of research. Scopus, PubMed and Web of Science databases were researched following PRISMA's guidelines. The initial papers' screening was based on titles and abstracts; then full texts of the identified articles were examined, and a synthesis of findings was developed using tables and thematic analysis. After screening 1871 articles, 76 studies were identified as relevant and included in the systematic review. Reviewed markers include EEG frequency bands power, EEG asymmetry, ERP components, non-linear and functional connectivity measures. Results were discussed in relations to the different EEG measures assessed in the studies. Findings confirmed the effectiveness of those measures in discriminating between healthy and depressed subjects. However, the review highlights that the causal link between EEG measures and depressive subtypes needs to be further investigated and points out that some methodological issues need to be solved to enhance future research in this field.Project AutoNomous DiscoveRy Of depressIve Disorder Signs (ANDROIDS) through the Program VAnviteLli pEr la RicErca (V:ALERE) 2019 Universita della Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli'' D.R.906del4/10/2019EU H2020 Research and Innovation Program 769872- 823907Ministry of Education, Universities and Research (MIUR) D.D.173

Sustainable Use and Conservation of the Environmental Resources of the Etna Park (UNESCO Heritage): Evaluation Model Supporting Sustainable Local Development Strategies

Rural areas are recognized as multifunctional spaces, where traditional agro-silvo-pastoral and other human activities (unrelated rural tourism, ecotourism, processing industries of agricultural and or extractive products, land maintenance, trade in local products, etc.) take place alongside each other. The integrated endogenous development model, established to mitigate the effects of human activity in protected areas, relies on the enhancement of specific resources of individual territories through the active participation of the community to promote local development. This model is intrinsically connected with the model of sustainable development, based on three cornerstones: environmental, social, and economic sustainability. The difficulty in achieving a reasonable balance among these values relates primarily to areas subject to protection (i.e., Parks and Natural Reserves). Ultimately, the environmental culture emphasizes the sustainability of natural resources, obviously in relation to these values and to the vulnerability of these areas. This paper outlines some relationships between environmental protection and the exercise of agricultural activities and other human activities in protected areas by using the theory of “rough sets”. The study aims to show that in the complex context of Etna Park (recognized World Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 2013), the model developed by the “rough sets” could provide useful guidance to policy makers to formulate local development strategies according to a model of the sustainable management of protected areas

Do patients with Crigler-Najjar type 2 always need a life-lasting treatment with phenobarbital ?

The need of long-lasting treatment with phenobarbital in selected patients with Crigler-Najjar type 2 is discusse

Purchase intention in the Italian e-mobility market

The low diffusion of EVs, which account for only 4.2% of the global registrations, has pushed scholars’ interest in uncovering the factors involved when purchasing these vehicles. Based on the theory of planned behavior (TPB), this study performs an exploratory analysis of the factors influencing EV purchase intention of a representative sample of the Italian population (N = 1100). Data are collected through an online questionnaire composed as of the following: 33 items are derived from TPB, 20 concern mobility habits, 8 EV knowledge, and the remaining are socio-demographic variables. The last item measures the EV purchase intention. Data concerning TPB and mobility habits are reduced through two factor analyses. The first analysis reveals four components: pleasantness, traditional driving habits, environmental concern, and perceived purchase control. The second reveals three components: autonomous transport, non-autonomous transport, and walking versus driving the car. For EV knowledge, the mean score is calculated. Then a hierarchical multiple regression analysis shows that EV purchase intention is widely predicted by pleasantness, followed by environmental concern, perceived purchase control, and, to a less extent, autonomous transport, while it is negatively affected by traditional driving habits and EV knowledge. These findings reveal that EV purchase intention in the Italian e-mobility market is essentially driven by beliefs and attitudes, but is hindered by a reluctance to leave traditional driving habits and an increasing knowledge of EVs, entailing presumably that of their unresolved problems, such as the high purchase cost, the limited range, and the poor infrastructure. Demographic variables do not affect the EV purchase intention. Suggestions are provided to policy makers and car manufacturers to sustain the EV uptake

Purchase intention in the Italian e-mobility market

The low diffusion of EVs, which account for only 4.2% of the global registrations, has pushed scholars’ interest in uncovering the factors involved when purchasing these vehicles. Based on the theory of planned behavior (TPB), this study performs an exploratory analysis of the factors influencing EV purchase intention of a representative sample of the Italian population (N = 1100). Data are collected through an online questionnaire composed as of the following: 33 items are derived from TPB, 20 concern mobility habits, 8 EV knowledge, and the remaining are socio-demographic variables. The last item measures the EV purchase intention. Data concerning TPB and mobility habits are reduced through two factor analyses. The first analysis reveals four components: pleasantness, traditional driving habits, environmental concern, and perceived purchase control. The second reveals three components: autonomous transport, non-autonomous transport, and walking versus driving the car. For EV knowledge, the mean score is calculated. Then a hierarchical multiple regression analysis shows that EV purchase intention is widely predicted by pleasantness, followed by environmental concern, perceived purchase control, and, to a less extent, autonomous transport, while it is negatively affected by traditional driving habits and EV knowledge. These findings reveal that EV purchase intention in the Italian e-mobility market is essentially driven by beliefs and attitudes, but is hindered by a reluctance to leave traditional driving habits and an increasing knowledge of EVs, entailing presumably that of their unresolved problems, such as the high purchase cost, the limited range, and the poor infrastructure. Demographic variables do not affect the EV purchase intention. Suggestions are provided to policy makers and car manufacturers to sustain the EV uptake