Farm Advisory Services for the Agro-Food Supply Chain as a Foster of Innovation: The Case of Veneto Region

 The aim of this study is to analyze the potentiality of the extension services in agriculture, to mainstream innovation in terms of sectoral competitiveness, when integrated into the agro-food supply chain. In doing this, the case of Venetian agriculture will give empirical evidence to the assumptions of this study, serving the identification of key factors, related to the use of extension services integrated into the so-called Integrated Supply Chain Projects (ISCPs), which are emerging as influential for the performance of the agro-food chain. In principle, the extension services are integrated within the entire agricultural knowledge system, which encloses several activities such as research and experimentation, vocational training, advisory and information. In the context of the Rural Development Policy, the farm advisory services are implemented through the measures 114 "Using farm advisory services" and 124 "Cooperation for development of new products, process and technologies", included in the Rural Development Programmes (RDPs). The present study focuses on the observed benefits that such measures deliver when integrated into the ISCPs, by adding value to the entire agro-food chain and bettering its performance. In fact, the systemic approach to the implementation of the research and of farm advisory services into the ISCPs seems to enhance their own potentiality to increase the entrepreneurial performance and contribute to create a competitive advantage for the entire agro-food chain. In Italy, within the RDP 2007-2013, the ISCPs are foreseen as an instrument for better achieve the increase of competitiveness of the agricultural and forestry sector, the improvement of the quality and the marketing of the productions; create and consolidate the value chain as a whole, by balancing the profit margins of each single segment. To this end, several Italian RDPs foresee the opportunity for a partnership involving different economic actors playing a role in the agro-food chain to define such project in view of achieving an overall common strategic objective. Each integrated supply chain project is set up through the implementation of several measures, which are supposed to contribute to the achievement of that overall objective. For the purpose of this study, a desk research has been carried out mainly on the fiche of the measures foreseen by the RDPs and by the tender documentation. The information gathered regard basically the type and the matter of the advisory services and of the research implemented by the measures, the number of beneficiaries achieved, the financial resources committed, and some result indicators (i.e: number of enterprises supported starting a new processes or realizing a new product; productive segment covered by the support; quality production; increase of the gross value added for the value chain). These information led mapping the model of an integrated supply chain project and identifying the different factors influencing the performance of the agro-food chain

Advanced CMR Techniques in Anderson-Fabry Disease: State of the Art

Anderson-Fabry disease (AFD) is a rare multisystem X-linked lysosomal storage disorder caused by α-galactosidase A enzyme deficiency. Long-term cardiac involvement in AFD results in left ventricular hypertrophy and myocardial fibrosis, inducing several complications, mainly arrhythmias, valvular dysfunction, and coronary artery disease. Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) represents the predominant noninvasive imaging modality for the assessment of cardiac involvement in the AFD, being able to comprehensively assess cardiac regional anatomy, ventricular function as well as to provide tissue characterization. This review aims to explore the role of the most advanced CMR techniques, such as myocardial strain, T1 and T2 mapping, perfusion and hybrid imaging, as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers

Artificial intelligence and radiomics in magnetic resonance imaging of rectal cancer: a review

Rectal cancer (RC) is one of the most common tumours worldwide in both males and females, with significant morbidity and mortality rates, and it accounts for approximately one-third of colorectal cancers (CRCs). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been demonstrated to be accurate in evaluating the tumour location and stage, mucin content, invasion depth, lymph node (LN) metastasis, extramural vascular invasion (EMVI), and involvement of the mesorectal fascia (MRF). However, these features alone remain insufficient to precisely guide treatment decisions. Therefore, new imaging biomarkers are necessary to define tumour characteristics for staging and restaging patients with RC. During the last decades, RC evaluation via MRI-based radiomics and artificial intelligence (AI) tools has been a research hotspot. The aim of this review was to summarise the achievement of MRI-based radiomics and AI for the evaluation of staging, response to therapy, genotyping, prediction of high-risk factors, and prognosis in the field of RC. Moreover, future challenges and limitations of these tools that need to be solved to favour the transition from academic research to the clinical setting will be discussed

Farm Advisory Services for the Agro-Food Supply Chain as a Foster of Innovation: The Case of Veneto Region

The aim of this study is to analyze the potentiality of the extension services in agriculture, to mainstream innovation in terms of sectoral competitiveness, when integrated into the agro-food supply chain. In doing this, the case of Venetian agriculture will give empirical evidence to the assumptions of this study, serving the identification of key factors, related to the use of extension services integrated into the so-called Integrated Supply Chain Projects (ISCPs), which are emerging as influential for the performance of the agro-food chain. In principle, the extension services are integrated within the entire agricultural knowledge system, which encloses several activities such as research and experimentation, vocational training, advisory and information. In the context of the Rural Development Policy, the farm advisory services are implemented through the measures 114 “Using farm advisory services” and 124 “Cooperation for development of new products, process and technologies”, included in the Rural Development Programmes (RDPs). The present study focuses on the observed benefits that such measures deliver when integrated into the ISCPs, by adding value to the entire agro-food chain and bettering its performance. In fact, the systemic approach to the implementation of the research and of farm advisory services into the ISCPs seems to enhance their own potentiality to increase the entrepreneurial performance and contribute to create a competitive advantage for the entire agro-food chain. In Italy, within the RDP 2007-2013, the ISCPs are foreseen as an instrument for better achieve the increase of competitiveness of the agricultural and forestry sector, the improvement of the quality and the marketing of the productions; create and consolidate the value chain as a whole, by balancing the profit margins of each single segment. To this end, several Italian RDPs foresee the opportunity for a partnership involving different economic actors playing a role in the agro-food chain to define such project in view of achieving an overall common strategic objective. Each integrated supply chain project is set up through the implementation of several measures, which are supposed to contribute to the achievement of that overall objective. For the purpose of this study, a desk research has been carried out mainly on the fiche of the measures foreseen by the RDPs and by the tender documentation. The information gathered regard basically the type and the matter of the advisory services and of the research implemented by the measures, the number of beneficiaries achieved, the financial resources committed, and some result indicators (i.e: number of enterprises supported starting a new processes or realizing a new product; productive segment covered by the support; quality production; increase of the gross value added for the value chain). These information led mapping the model of an integrated supply chain project and identifying the different factors influencing the performance of the agro-food chain

Energia, innovazione tecnologica, processi manutentivi: il patrimonio storico tra istanze conservative e updates prestazionali / Energy, technological innovation and maintenance processes: historical built heritage between conservation request and performance update

Preservation of identities and performance adaptation to new instances forms the cultural horizons of the studies within the METRICS project - Methods and technologies for the management and refurbishment of historical centers and quality buildings - by Architectural Technology researchers of the Department of Architecture DiARC, University of Naples “Federico II”. In a careful approach to the synergy between experts in different disciplines, the interdisciplinary research work developed within the High Technology District for Sustainable Construction STRESS, has been the occasion for an action aimed at the realignment of the technological culture to the needs and values of contemporary society. The objective of de ning innovative methods and technologies to support the sustainability and safety in the historical centers of the cities has been developed addressing particularly emerging issues in the intervention of energy retro t, of technological and environmental refurbishment, of management and maintenance of settlements, in a scenario of growing demand for innovative features that can accentuate the dynamic character of this built stock. The proposal of a virtuous relationship between scienti c research, enterprise and government informs the work presented, which is enriched with the results of other experimental studies, proposed here as emblematic cases of possible and sustainable actions on built heritage. It is a story of many voices that provides skills and knowledge gained in the area of Architectural Technology studies with the scienti c progress developed by the METRICS partners

Molecular basis and clinical management of Pompe disease

Pompe disease (glycogenosis type II) is a rare autosomal recessive lysosomal storage disorder due to mutations of the GAA gene, leading to the deficiency of acid α-glucosidase and consequent glycogen storage in various tissues, mainly in the skeletal muscle, heart and liver. The consequent clinical picture is mainly due to the muscle and heart involvement, although clinical manifestations may be multi-systemic. The phenotype of patients is heterogeneous and the severity is inversely related to the residual enzymatic activity of acid α-glucosidase. More than 200 different mutations of GAA gene have been described and genotype/phenotype correlations have been established for some of them. Traditionally three forms have been described, i.e. early onset classical and non-classical forms and late onset attenuated forms. A severe hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in combination with conduction disorder in newborns represents a typical feature in the classic infantile presentation, while clinical picture in late onset forms is dominated by skeletal muscle dysfunction, resulting in mobility and respiratory problems. Enzyme replacement therapy with recombinant human GAA is the approved therapeutic approach in Pompe disease patients. Clinical trials on enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) support the efficacy in improving survival and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, while efficacy seems to be variable on manifestations due to skeletal muscle involvement, mainly in lateonset patients. Considering the limitations of ERT and its high costs, innovative therapeutic approaches are now under development