A community of agents as a tool to optimize industrial districts logistics

The aim of this paper is to find an optimal solution to operational planning of freight transportation in an industrial district. We propose a system architecture that drives agents – the industrial district firms - to cooperate in logistic field, to minimize transport and environmental costs. The idea is to achieve logistics optimization setting up a community made of district enterprises, preserving a satisfactory level of system efficiency and fairness. We address the situation in which a virtual coordinator helps the agents to reach an agreement. The objectives are: maximizing customers satisfaction, and minimizing the number of trucks needed. A fuzzy clustering (FCM), two Fuzzy Inference System (FIS) combined with a Genetic Algorithm (GA), and a greedy algorithm are thus proposed to achieve these objectives, and eventually an algorithm to solve the Travelling Salesman Problem is also used. The proposed framework can be used to provide real time solutions to logistics management problems, and negative environmental impacts

Results of medical treatment with psyllium, lactobacillus, and tryptophan (Plurilac® Trio) in obstructive defecation syndrome

IntroductionThe term “obstructive defecation syndrome” (ODS) describes a complex condition characterized by defecatory disorders. Such a condition represents a significant proportion of patients, which is estimated to be up to 30% of patients affected by chronic constipation. Presently, a broad agreement has been reached on diagnostic studies, whereas the choice of treatment that aims to improve the quality of life and/or correct the prevalent abnormalities or all anatomical abnormalities remains controversial.MethodsThis was a retrospective cohort study on 174 patients out of a total of 232 with ODS who were observed in a specialized university unit of surgical coloproctology between 2018 and 2022. Clinical assessment included examining the values of the Agachan–Wexner constipation score and Patient Assessment of Constipation (PAC)-quality of life (QoL) scores, a full digital anorectal examination, anoscopy, RX defecography, and a urogynecological consultation; a functional anorectal test, an endoanal ultrasound, and colonoscopy were performed in select patients. The patients were reevaluated after an 8–10-week course of medical treatment based on a high-fiber diet and fluid intake and 6 g of psyllium combined with lactobacillus and tryptophan b.i.d. The results were analyzed by means of the Wilcoxon rank-sum test, comparing pretreatment scores with the results at the first follow-up visit.ResultsAfter 8–10 weeks of conservative treatment, 128 patients declared full satisfaction, 29 reported moderate satisfaction, and 17 (9.7%) declared no improvement. Among these 17, there were 5 patients with paradoxical puborectal contractions. The value of the Agachan–Wexner constipation score after treatment decreased from the pretreatment Agachan–Wexner constipation score mean value of 23.4 ± 3.7 (mean ± SD range 15–27) to a mean value of 5.3 ± 0.7 (range 3–8, p < 0.001). The quality of life improved, as shown by the PAC-QoL score, indicating great improvement in social relationships.ConclusionsGiven the benefits of conservative therapies, they represent a cornerstone in the treatment of ODS, a complex disorder. Diet and bulking agents are mandatory forms of treatment prior to making any surgical attempt, also considering the fact that the psychosomatic component of ODS is an essential prerequisite to match patient expectations

Children’s and families’ determinants of health-related behaviors in an italian primary school sample: The “seven days for my health” project

Childhood obesity is an established health problem, and there is a growing need for health promotion interventions focused on healthy behaviors in collaboration with parents and schools. The Mediterranean diet (MD) could help to tackle obesity, but it is essential to maintain a good level of physical activity (PA) and limit time spent in sedentary activities (ST). To explore family determinants, adherence to the MD and PA levels as potential predictors of a child’s health-related behaviors, we performed a cross-sectional analysis of 368 Italian primary school children with a mean age of 8.95 years (SD = 1.43). Data were collected from May to June 2017 using a weekly diary, an interactive tool to assess the child’s and parents’ lifestyle. The child’s degree of adherence to the MD was calculated using the KIDMED index. Adherence to the MD was high, medium and poor in 5.2%, 62.5% and 32.3% of children, respectively. Higher maternal educational level was positively associated with children’s MD and PA (p < 0.05) and negatively correlated to ST. Maternal fruit and vegetable consumption was positively related to the MD and negatively related to ST (p < 0.05). Maternal PA was positively associated with the MD (p < 0.001). Paternal PA, and fruit and vegetable consumption, were positively associated with children’s PA (p < 0.05). Our results underline the need for future studies, mainly focused on school-based and family-based interventions, to promote healthy lifestyles and nutritional habits

The Effect of Curcumin on Idiopathic Parkinson Disease: A Clinical and Skin Biopsy Study

There are currently no standardized therapies for Parkinson disease (PD). Curcumin shows anti-amyloidogenic properties in vitro and may be a promising treatment for PD. We evaluated the effects of curcumin supplementation on clinical scales and misfolded, phosphorylated α-synuclein (p-syn) accumulation in skin biopsies in 19 PD patients who received curcumin supplementation for 12 months and 14 PD patients to treated with curcumin. The patients underwent autonomic (COMPASS-31), motor (MDS-UPDRS and H&Y) and nonmotor (NMSS) questionnaires and skin biopsies to evaluate clinical involvement and p-syn load in skin nerves at the beginning and the end of study. Curcumin and curcuminoid levels were assayed in plasma and CSF. Supplemented patients showed detectable CSF curcuminoid levels that were lower than those in plasma. They showed a decrease of COMPASS-31 and NMSS scores, and a slight p-syn load decrease versus untreated patients who displayed a worsening of these parameters despite increased levodopa doses. Multiple regression models showed a significant effect of curcumin supplementation in decreasing the worsening of the clinical parameters and p-syn load at after curcumin treatment. These data suggest that curcumin can cross the blood-brain barrier, that it is effective in ameliorating clinical parameters and that it shows a tendency to decrease skin p-syn accumulation in PD patients

Weekday and Weekend Differences in Eating Habits, Physical Activity and Screen Time Behavior among a Sample of Primary School Children: The "Seven Days for My Health" Project

Background: Healthy eating and active lifestyle habits are essential for a child's development, wellbeing, and health. School setting and family environment play a crucial role in shaping these habits and this could be reflected in different behavior patterns during weekdays and weekends. Methods: We investigated primary school children's lifestyle habits through a cross-sectional analysis of 428 Italian primary school children, with a mean age of 8.99 years (+/- 1.43). Data were collected from May to June 2017 using a weekly diary to assess children's lifestyles. Results: Children who eat their morning snack and lunch at school three or more times during the weekdays were 5.47 times more likely (95% CI 3.02, 10.2) to consume adequate snacks and 7.79 times more likely (95% CI 4.43, 14.5) to have adequate meals than those who did not. Conclusion: Consumption of vegetables, lunch, and snacks are significantly more adequate during the weekdays as compared to the weekends. Physical activity levels did not differ between weekdays and weekends. Moreover, children spent more time engaged in physical activities than in front of a screen during both the weekdays and the weekends. The present results are good indicators of the importance of the school canteen in defining correct eating habits. Family-based and school-based interventions could represent valuable integrative strategies for promoting a healthy lifestyle in children

Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy/dysplasia

Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy/dysplasia (ARVC/D) is a heart muscle disease clinically characterized by life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias. Its prevalence has been estimated to vary from 1:2,500 to 1:5,000. ARVC/D is a major cause of sudden death in the young and athletes. The pathology consists of a genetically determined dystrophy of the right ventricular myocardium with fibro-fatty replacement to such an extent that it leads to right ventricular aneurysms. The clinical picture may include: a subclinical phase without symptoms and with ventricular fibrillation being the first presentation; an electrical disorder with palpitations and syncope, due to tachyarrhythmias of right ventricular origin; right ventricular or biventricular pump failure, so severe as to require transplantation. The causative genes encode proteins of mechanical cell junctions (plakoglobin, plakophilin, desmoglein, desmocollin, desmoplakin) and account for intercalated disk remodeling. Familiar occurrence with an autosomal dominant pattern of inheritance and variable penetrance has been proven. Recessive variants associated with palmoplantar keratoderma and woolly hair have been also reported. Clinical diagnosis may be achieved by demonstrating functional and structural alterations of the right ventricle, depolarization and repolarization abnormalities, arrhythmias with the left bundle branch block morphology and fibro-fatty replacement through endomyocardial biopsy. Two dimensional echo, angiography and magnetic resonance are the imaging tools for visualizing structural-functional abnormalities. Electroanatomic mapping is able to detect areas of low voltage corresponding to myocardial atrophy with fibro-fatty replacement. The main differential diagnoses are idiopathic right ventricular outflow tract tachycardia, myocarditis, dialted cardiomyopathy and sarcoidosis. Only palliative therapy is available and consists of antiarrhythmic drugs, catheter ablation and implantable cardioverter defibrillator. Young age, family history of juvenile sudden death, QRS dispersion ≥ 40 ms, T-wave inversion, left ventricular involvement, ventricular tachycardia, syncope and previous cardiac arrest are the major risk factors for adverse prognosis. Preparticipation screening for sport eligibility has been proven to be effective in detecting asymptomatic patients and sport disqualification has been life-saving, substantially declining sudden death in young athletes

In Vitro Efficacy Test on a Food Supplement for the Treatment of Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs)

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are among the most common bacterial infections, representing a massive burden on healthcare systems and accounting for significant morbidity and healthcare expenditure. As bacteria generally cause UTIs, the primary therapy is defined by antibiotics, whose wide use can cause antibiotic resistance. In this scenario, using nutraceuticals to manage UTIs is an attractive alternative. This study aims to test the in vitro efficacy of a new food supplement for treating UTIs containing D-mannose, palmitoylethanolamide, HibCyn® (hibiscus extract), N-acetylcysteine and microencapsulated Lactobacillus rhamnosus LR04. The activity of the product was evaluated in terms of antimicrobial, antibiofilm, cytotoxic, antiinflammatory, and synergic activity with fosfomycin with respect to the main microorganisms responsible for UTIs, specifically Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterococcus faecium, and Escherichia coli. “UTIVAL” food supplement has an action on both the inhibition and eradication of the biofilms formed by all the microorganisms. In the in vitro tests performed in this study, the activity of the product was effective at a concentration of 0.78 g/l. It was also possible to affirm that the product has an inhibiting effect on inflammation mediated by tumor necrosis factor αlfa (TNFα) in a concentration range of 0.04 to 0.625 mg/ml

企业跨国经营中的跨文化管理问题研究

伴随着世界经济一体化和区域经济集团化的不断深化，企业经营的国际化已成为不可逆转的时代潮流。企业在全球范围内利用资源，将其自身所拥有的资金、技术、管理等方面的优势与东道国的资源、市场、劳动力等方面的优势相结合，从事跨国的生产经营活动，其在商品、资本、技术跨越国界的同时，也跨越了文化。在跨国经营中产生的国际企业，由于要经历不同的文化背景和地域环境，必将遇到前所未有的机遇与挑战，能否克服文化差异带来的文化冲突，实行有效的跨文化管理，是其能否取得跨国经营成功的关键。本文介绍了企业在跨国经营中碰到的文化差异和文化冲突现象，分析了造成文化差异和文化冲突的原因，论述了认识不同国家、不同民族间文化差异的途径，...学位：管理学硕士院系专业：管理学院企业管理系_企业管理(含财务管理、市场营销、人力资源管理)学号：19981400

Proceedings of the 5th International Summer School in Sport Sciences (Rimini, September 15th-19th, 2008), promoted by the Faculty of Exercise and Sport Sciences of the "Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna" (I), with the collaboration of the Uni.of Alicante (E), the Uni.of Szombathely (H), the Uni.of Lezsno (Pl), the Uni.of Telemark (N), the Uni.of Magdeburg (D), and other European Universities.

The main lectures of this Summer School edition have the following topics: The Meaning and the Evolution of the Olympic Games in the European Society The \u201cmediated\u201d Sports. Some Remarks on the Italian Television Audiences atthe XXIX Olympic Games and at the 2008 European Football Championship The Reality in Communicating a Healthy Life Style Construction of Survey Charts for Match and Performance Analysis on Team Beach Activities Nutrition in figure skating Sport supplement Sport Nutrition: diet for swimmers Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome The activation of AMPK as a result from regular physical activity and its positive effects on numerous metabolic adaptation

Stampaggio della plastica ed agenti chimici cancerogeni: l’esperienza dello Studio PPTP-Plastica

The potential carcinogenic risk at the workplaces is a primary interest of occupational health, but some questions are also controversially discussed. Particularly, in the plastic forming industry a great attention was directed to the hot processing and their possible exposure to monomers, some of which were classified as carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and/or the European Union (EU). In Lombardy, a study on occupational exposure to chemical carcinogens in the plastic forming industry was planned during last years. The aim was to recognize and promote preventive technical and medical solutions, basing on efficacy. By an investigation at workplace supported with standardized questionnaires, the presence of chemical carcinogens was registered in 59% of a representative sample of firms; but an effective possibility of exposure was found only for 34% of cases. The evaluation of exposure to monomers by air monitoring (acrylonitrile, 1,3-butadiene, styrene, formaldehyde), involving a representative sample of factory with ABS and formaldehydic resins processing, showed low level exposure, because the common hygienic prevention measures were applied; some particular occupation shoved greater exposure to formaldehyde