Exploring proximity-based recommendation criteria as a tool for information exchange and interactions between locals and tourists

Sharing economy and contemporary tourism are two emerging concepts that urge to be investigated together with new ubiquitous and immersive technologies, in the tourism and hospitality sector. In this rich scenario, we designed and implemented ShareCities, a platform to foster remote direct information exchange and meaningful interactions among tourists and locals. Exploiting ShareCities we here present an extended analysis on the opportunity to use people-to-people recommendation criteria based on proximity. We hence defined three criteria which drove our analysis: i) profile similarity, ii) geographical proximity, and iii) random exploration. Through an online questionnaire, we collect answers from 126 young-adult students, obtaining a general positive interest in the three criteria but also concerns in terms of privacy, trust, and feeling of disorientation

Designing Interfaces to Display Sensor Data: A Case Study in the Human-Building Interaction Field Targeting a University Community

The increase of smart buildings with Building Information Modeling (BIM) and Building Management Systems (BMS) has created a large amount of data, including those coming from sensors. These data are intended for monitoring the building conditions by authorized personnel, not being available to all building occupants. In this paper, we evaluate, from a qualitative point of view, if a user interface designed for a specific community can increase occupants’ context-awareness about environmental issues within a building, supporting them to make more informed decisions that best suit their needs. We designed a user interface addressed to the student community of a smart campus, adopting an Iterative Design Cycle methodology, and engaged 48 students by means of structured interviews with the aim of collecting their feedback and conducting a qualitative analysis. The results obtained show the interest of this community in having access to information about the environmental data within smart campus buildings. For example, students were more interested in data about temperature and brightness, rather than humidity. As a further result of this study, we have extrapolated a series of design recommendations to support the creation of map-based user interfaces that we found to be effective in such contexts

On exploiting Data Visualization and IoT for Increasing Sustainability and Safety in a Smart Campus

In a world that is getting increasingly digital and interconnected, and where more and more physical objects are integrated into the information network (Internet of Things, IoT), Data Visualization can facilitate the understanding of huge volumes of data. In this paper, we present the design and implementation of a testbed where IoT and Data Visualization have been exploited to increase the sustainability and safety of the Cesena (Smart) Campus. In particular, we detail the overall system architecture and the interactive dashboard that facilitates the management of the campus premises and the timetabling. Exploiting our system, we show how we can improve the campus sustainability (in terms of energy saving) and safety (considering the COVID-19 restrictions and regulations)

Exploiting SERS sensitivity to monitor DNA aggregation properties

In the last decades, DNA has been considered far more than the system carrying the essential genetic instructions. Indeed, because of the remarkable properties of the base-pairing specificity and thermoreversibility of the interactions, DNA plays a central role in the design of innovative architectures at the nanoscale. Here, combining complementary DNA strands with a custom-made solution of silver nanoparticles, we realize plasmonic aggregates to exploit the sensitivity of Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) for the identification/detection of the distinctive features of DNA hybridization, both in solution and on dried samples. Moreover, SERS allows monitoring the DNA aggregation process by following the temperature variation of a specific spectroscopic marker associated with the Watson-Crick hydrogen bond formation. This temperature-dependent behavior enables us to precisely reconstruct the melting profile of the selected DNA sequences by spectroscopic measurements only

Lipodystrophy as a late effect after stem cell transplantation

Survivors of childhood cancer are at high risk of developing metabolic diseases in adulthood. Recently, several patients developing partial lipodystrophy following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) have been described. In this review, we summarize the cases described so far and discuss potential underlying mechanisms of the disease. The findings suggest that HSCT-associated lipodystrophies may be seen as a novel form of acquired lipodystrophy

Cadmium uptake, localization and stress-induced morphogenic response in the fern Pteris vittata.

Cadmium uptake, tissue localization and structural changes induced at cellular level are essential to understand Cd tolerance in plants. In this study we have exposed plants of Pteris vittata to different concentrations of CdCl2 (0, 30, 60, 100 μM) to evaluate the tolerance of the fern to cadmium. Cadmium content determination and its histochemical localization showed that P. vittata not only takes up, but also transports and accumulates cadmium in the aboveground tissues, delocalizing it mainly in the less bioactive tissues of the frond, the trichomes and the scales. Cadmium tolerance in P. vittata was strictly related to morphogenic response induced by the metal itself in the root system. Adaptive response regarded changes of the root apex size, the developmental pattern of root hairs, the differentiation of xylem elements and endodermal suberin lamellae. All the considered parameters suggest that, in our experimental conditions, 60 μM of Cd may represent the highest concentration that P. vittata can tolerate; indeed this Cd level even improves the absorbance features of the root and allows good transport and accumulation of the metal in the fronds. The results of this study can provide useful information for phytoremediation strategies of soils contaminated by Cd, exploiting the established ability of P. vittata to transport, delocalize in the aboveground biomass and accumulate polluting metals

Migraine Prevention through Ketogenic Diet: More than Body Mass Composition Changes

The ketogenic diet (KD) is gaining attention as a preventive treatment for migraine, which is sustained by many pre-clinical and clinical data. KD is also used for weight loss, and there is a relation between migraine and weight excess, but it is speculated that KD efficacy on migraine may go beyond this effect. We conducted a retrospective observational study on 23 migraine patients who received a KD and were evaluated at the baseline and then after 3 months both from a neurological and a nutritional point of view, including body mass composition analysis. We observed a reduction in monthly headache days (12.5 ± 9.5 vs. 6.7 ± 8.6; p < 0.001) and in days of acute medication intake (11.06 ± 9.37 vs. 4.93 ± 7.99; p = 0.008). We also observed a reduction in patients’ weight (73.8 ± 15.2 vs. 68.4 ± 14.6; p < 0.001) and BMI (26.9 ± 6.2 vs. 23.7 ± 8.1; p < 0.001) with a decrement of the fat mass (28.6 ± 12.5 vs. 20.6 ± 9.8; p < 0.001). Patients who responded to KD and those who did not had no differences with respect to weight or fat mass loss. These data corroborate the utilization of KD as a preventive treatment for migraine and suggest that the efficacy of such an intervention is not only due to weight or fat mass loss but probably relies on other mechanisms specific to KD

Efficacy of a spore-forming bacteria (Bacillus coagulans) on the health of weaning Holstein Friesian female calves

Bacillus coagulans is a lactic acid-producing and spore-forming bacterium. This combination makes this spore-forming bacteria a unique probiotic in animal nutrition and its beneficial effects can be attributed to several modes of action. In particular, the safety and efficacy of Bacillus coagulans DSM 32016 (Technospore®), when used as a zootechnical additive for piglets (suckling and weaned), other growing Suidae, chickens for fattening, other poultry for fattening and ornamental birds were attested by the Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP) in 2020. The study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and effects of Bacillus coagulans DSM 32016 administration on the health of young Holstein Friesian female calves. After birth, the animals were housed in individual boxes with free access to water. A total number of 20 calves were randomly divided into 2 homogeneous groups on the basis of body weight from the seventh day of life (0 d of trial) until 63 days of age (56 d of trial). Control group was fed with a standard milk replacer (MRP) plus concentrate and treated group was fed MRP and concentrate supplemented with 1*109 CFU/kg Bacillus coagulans DSM 32016. Withers height, length (from withers to the base of tail), hip width, chest width and girth were registered on day 0, 28 and 56 on trial to perform morphological evaluations. The following samples were collected: colostrum for IgG content, feces (0, 28 and 56 days on trial) for Cryptosporidium spp analysis and fecal microbiota characterization by 16S rRNA-gene sequencing. Blood samples were also collected at 0, 28 and 56 days on trial for haematological, metabolic parameters (NEFA, BHB and glucose) and antioxidant capacity (OXY-Adsorbent test) assessments. The morphological evaluations revealed that on day 56 on trial the treated animals registered a higher wither height if compared to control calves (94.44 ± 4.92 cm vs 89.38 ± 1.81 cm; p&lt;0.05). The value of IgG monitored in the first milking colostrum (6 to 12 hours) were above 50 mg/ml with a positive immune transfer to calves. Haematological and metabolic parameters did not show any differences between treated and control. Results revealed that the gut microbiota was dominated by Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteria, and Proteobacteria phyla which together made up for 95% of all microbes. As in similar previous studies consumption of Bacillus coagulans was able to increase population of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, probiotic microorganisms in the gut. On day 14 of trial a slight difference was highlighted in terms of point prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp. in favour of the treated group (40%) in comparison to control (45%). The administration of Bacillus coagulans significantly affected the antioxidant capacity. Serum antioxidant capacity was significantly (p&lt;0.05) enhanced after 63d (439.77 ± 81.90 control vs 546.16 ± 116.20 μmol HClO/ml treated). The results obtained confirmed the positive effect of Bacillus coagulans administration in supporting calves at weaning

Plastic breath: Quantification of microplastics and polymer additives in airborne particles

The widespread extensive use of synthetic polymers has led to a substantial environmental crisis caused by plastic pollution, with microplastics detected in various environments and posing risks to both human health and ecosystems. The possibility of plastic fragments to be dispersed in the air as particles and inhaled by humans may cause damage to the respiratory and other body systems. Therefore, there is a particular need to study microplastics as air pollutants. In this study, we tested a combination of analytical pyrolysis, gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, and gas and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry to identify and quantify both microplastics and their additives in airborne particulate matter and settled dust within a workplace environment: a WEEE treatment plant. Using this combined approach, we were able to accurately quantify ten synthetic polymers and eight classes of polymer additives. The identified additives include phthalates, adipates, citrates, sebacates, trimellitates, benzoates, organophosphates, and newly developed brominated flame retardants