Avanti donne

Il legame tra razzismo, politiche securitarie e nazionalismo si fa sempre più serrato con l'avanzata delle donne a destra. E intanto, nella sinistra in caduta libera, gli uomini si barricano e le donne spariscono: dalle liste, dagli incarichi e dalla leadershi

Il pluralismo dell'informazione nell'era digitale. Applicazione del Media Pluralism Monitor nell'Unione Europea, in Albania, Montenegro, Repubblica della Macedonia del Nord, Serbia e Turchia nell'anno 2021. Paese : Italia

This report presents the results of the implementation of the Media Pluralism Monitor for the year 2021 (MPM2022) in Italy. The MPM is a holistic tool geared at assessing the risks to media pluralism in EU member states and selected candidate countries (32 European countries in total, including Albania, Montenegro, the Republic of North Macedonia, Serbia, and Turkey). The MPM takes into account legal, political and economic variables that are relevant to analysing the levels of plurality of media systems in a democratic society. The Media Pluralism Monitor has been implemented, on a regular basis, by the Centre for Media Pluralism and Media Freedom, since 2013/2014.The Centre for Media Pluralism and Media Freedom is co-financed by the European Unio

Effect of ascorbic and citric acids on physicochemical and sensory properties of vegetarian cakes supplemented with grape marc flour

O objetivo deste trabalho foi desenvolver formulações de misturas para preparo de bolos de caneca, sem ovos e sem leite, com farinhas de cascas e sementes de uvas, além de avaliar características físico-químicas, tecnológicas e sensoriais, com enfoque nos efeitos dos ácidos ascórbico e cítrico sobre os bolos, com substituição parcial da farinha de trigo por farinha de bagaço de uva. Aos produtos, foram incorporados 5% de farinhas de cascas e sementes em relação à farinha de trigo. Foram realizadas análises de polifenóis, atividade antioxidante, cor, pH, volume específico, perda de massa e sensorial. Entre as formulações com farinha de uva, a amostra com adição de ácido ascórbico apresentou maior (p 0,05) quando comparada com a formulação com a adição de ácido cítrico ou a combinação de ácidos. De acordo com o coeficiente de correlação de Pearson, quanto mais ácido (menor pH) se mostrou o bolo, maior foi a tendência de aumento na concentração de polifenóis totais, antocianinas e compostos com atividade antioxidante. Com relação ao volume específico, a maioria das formulações controles apresentou os maiores volumes em relação às suas respectivas amostras com farinha de uva. Assim, a incorporação dos ácidos ascórbico e cítrico nos bolos com farinha de bagaço de uva possivelmente acarretou estabilização da coloração vermelha e o bolo com farinha de bagaço de uva e ácido ascórbico apresentou as maiores quantidades de compostos fenólicos totais, quando comparado aos outros bolos com o subproduto, além de ter sido um dos bolos mais bem aceitos pelos provadores, demonstrando o potencial de mercado para esses produtos alimentícios inovadores.This study aimed to develop formulations of mixtures to prepare mug cakes, without eggs and milk, with grape skin and seed flours, and to evaluate their physicochemical, technological and sensory characteristics focusing on the effects of ascorbic and citric acids on cakes with partial replacement of wheat flour with grape marc flour. The products were incorporated with 5% grape marc flour in relation to wheat flour. The following analyses were performed: polyphenols, antioxidant activity, color, pH, specific volume, loss of mass, and sensory. Among the formulations with grape marc flour, the sample with addition of ascorbic acid showed higher (p 0.05) compared with those with addition of citric acid or a combination of acids. According to the Pearson’s correlation coefficient, the more acidic (lower pH) the cake was, the greater the tendency for increased concentration of total polyphenols, anthocyanins, and compounds with antioxidant activity. Regarding specific volume, most of the control formulations presented higher values compared with those of their respective samples with grape marc flour. Thus, incorporation of ascorbic and citric acids into cakes with grape marc flour possibly resulted in red color stabilization, and the cake with grape marc flour and ascorbic acid presented the highest amounts of total phenolic compounds compared with those of other cakes with this by-product, in addition to being one of the cakes most accepted by the tasters, demonstrating the market potential of these innovative food products

The European Media Freedom Act : media freedom, freedom of expression and pluralism

This study analyses the European Media Freedom Act proposal. It provides a political and historical overview of EU policies in the field of media and on information society at large, also taking into account the debate regarding EU competences on media pluralism and media freedom. The study reasons on the legal basis of the proposed Act, and then analyses the provisions of it under each of the Chapters of the Act, basing on relevant academic literature, policy documents, and empirical data. It concludes with policy recommendations.Study requested by the LIBE Committee at the European Parliament

Position statement on the Joint ITA–NIST–USPTO collaboration initiative regarding standards : notice of public listening and request for comments

On 11th September 2023, the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), the International Trade Administration (ITA), and the National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST) called for stakeholder input on the current state of U.S. firm participation in standard-setting, and the ability of U.S. industry to readily adopt standards to grow and compete, especially as they relate to the standardisation of critical and emerging technologies. The Centre for a Digital Society (CDS) of the European University Institute (EUI) is thankful for the opportunity to offer its comments. We would like to express our view on the legislative proposal of the European Commission (EC) for a Regulation on Standard Essential Patents (hereinafter, the Regulation) as it relates to question no. 1 of the Request for Comments on the impact of foreign IPR policies on US leadership and participation in international standard setting. Furthermore, concerning question no. 9 on possible standard-essential patents (SEP) transparency measures, we highlight the possibility of improving the USPTO patent register already in place

Position statement on the European Commission’s proposal for a SEPs regulation

On 27th April 2023, the European Commission published a proposal for a Regulation on Standard Essential Patents (hereinafter, SEPs Regulation) and allowed the public to provide feedback. The Centre for a Digital Society (CDS) of the European University Institute (EUI) is thankful for the opportunity to offer its comments and make suggestions on the proposed Regulation. Our team of researchers has significant research, policy and training experience in the areas of intellectual property, telecommunications regulation, standardisation and EU competition policy. In this Position Statement, we caution against adopting the proposed SEPs Regulation in its current form and suggest adopting guidance under Arts. 101 and 102 TFEU to clarify how SEP licensing should occur not to breach EU competition law. In the sub-optimal scenario where EU institutions would continue to pursue an immediate regulatory intervention, we provide substantial suggestions in an attempt to improve the current proposal of SEPs Regulation and limit certain negative consequences. Our constructive criticism aims to be a catalyst for the debate in the legislative process about the appropriate SEP licensing framework

Minimally invasive vs. open segmental resection of the splenic flexure for cancer: a nationwide study of the Italian Society of Surgical Oncology-Colorectal Cancer Network (SICO-CNN)

Background Evidence on the efficacy of minimally invasive (MI) segmental resection of splenic flexure cancer (SFC) is not available, mostly due to the rarity of this tumor. This study aimed to determine the survival outcomes of MI and open treatment, and to investigate whether MI is noninferior to open procedure regarding short-term outcomes. Methods This nationwide retrospective cohort study included all consecutive SFC segmental resections performed in 30 referral centers between 2006 and 2016. The primary endpoint assessing efficacy was the overall survival (OS). The secondary endpoints included cancer-specific mortality (CSM), recurrence rate (RR), short-term clinical outcomes (a composite of Clavien-Dindo > 2 complications and 30-day mortality), and pathological outcomes (a composite of lymph nodes removed >= 12, and proximal and distal free resection margins length >= 5 cm). For these composites, a 6% noninferiority margin was chosen based on clinical relevance estimate. Results A total of 606 patients underwent either an open (208, 34.3%) or a MI (398, 65.7%) SFC segmental resection. At univariable analysis, OS and CSM were improved in the MI group (log-rank test p = 0.004 and Gray's tests p = 0.004, respectively), while recurrences were comparable (Gray's tests p = 0.434). Cox multivariable analysis did not support that OS and CSM were better in the MI group (p = 0.109 and p = 0.163, respectively). Successful pathological outcome, observed in 53.2% of open and 58.3% of MI resections, supported noninferiority (difference 5.1%; 1-sided 95%CI - 4.7% to infinity). Successful short-term clinical outcome was documented in 93.3% of Open and 93.0% of MI procedures, and supported noninferiority as well (difference - 0.3%; 1-sided 95%CI - 5.0% to infinity). Conclusions Among patients with SFC, the minimally invasive approach met the criterion for noninferiority for postoperative complications and pathological outcomes, and was found to provide results of OS, CSM, and RR comparable to those of open resection

Colorectal Cancer Stage at Diagnosis Before vs During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Italy

IMPORTANCE Delays in screening programs and the reluctance of patients to seek medical attention because of the outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 could be associated with the risk of more advanced colorectal cancers at diagnosis. OBJECTIVE To evaluate whether the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic was associated with more advanced oncologic stage and change in clinical presentation for patients with colorectal cancer. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This retrospective, multicenter cohort study included all 17 938 adult patients who underwent surgery for colorectal cancer from March 1, 2020, to December 31, 2021 (pandemic period), and from January 1, 2018, to February 29, 2020 (prepandemic period), in 81 participating centers in Italy, including tertiary centers and community hospitals. Follow-up was 30 days from surgery. EXPOSURES Any type of surgical procedure for colorectal cancer, including explorative surgery, palliative procedures, and atypical or segmental resections. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES The primary outcome was advanced stage of colorectal cancer at diagnosis. Secondary outcomes were distant metastasis, T4 stage, aggressive biology (defined as cancer with at least 1 of the following characteristics: signet ring cells, mucinous tumor, budding, lymphovascular invasion, perineural invasion, and lymphangitis), stenotic lesion, emergency surgery, and palliative surgery. The independent association between the pandemic period and the outcomes was assessed using multivariate random-effects logistic regression, with hospital as the cluster variable. RESULTS A total of 17 938 patients (10 007 men [55.8%]; mean [SD] age, 70.6 [12.2] years) underwent surgery for colorectal cancer: 7796 (43.5%) during the pandemic period and 10 142 (56.5%) during the prepandemic period. Logistic regression indicated that the pandemic period was significantly associated with an increased rate of advanced-stage colorectal cancer (odds ratio [OR], 1.07; 95%CI, 1.01-1.13; P = .03), aggressive biology (OR, 1.32; 95%CI, 1.15-1.53; P < .001), and stenotic lesions (OR, 1.15; 95%CI, 1.01-1.31; P = .03). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE This cohort study suggests a significant association between the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and the risk of a more advanced oncologic stage at diagnosis among patients undergoing surgery for colorectal cancer and might indicate a potential reduction of survival for these patients