A large multilingual and multi-domain dataset for recommender systems

This paper presents a multi-domain interests dataset to train and test Recommender Systems, and the methodology to create the dataset from Twitter messages in English and Italian. The English dataset includes an average of 90 preferences per user on music, books, movies, celebrities, sport, politics and much more, for about half million users. Preferences are either extracted from messages of users who use Spotify, Goodreads and other similar content sharing platforms, or induced from their ”topical” friends, i.e., followees representing an interest rather than a social relation between peers. In addition, preferred items are matched with Wikipedia articles describing them. This unique feature of our dataset provides a mean to derive a semantic categorization of the preferred items, exploiting available semantic resources linked to Wikipedia such as the Wikipedia Category Graph, DBpedia, BabelNet and others

insights on pro environmental behavior towards post carbon society

Abstract The increasing phenomena related to urbanization and human impact on landscape leads to re-think the future of the cities. As well as in buildings, a careful design, the use of renewable sources and the use of advanced technical solutions, to achieve a significant energy savings, are strategies not sufficient to define a "Post-Carbon city" or a "Post-Carbon building". It is necessary that the citizen/occupant become a "Post-Carbon society", i.e. they pursue conscious lifestyle marked on energy saving principles. This suggest that the occupant's behaviour plays a fundamental role. In fact, many studies have shown that the human behaviour influences, mainly, the energy performance, explaining, in this way, the discrepancy gap between predicted and real consumptions. Since human behaviour is, in large part, influenced by several factors, a behavioural change towards sustainable lifestyle is desirable and this is possible, for examples, by providing to users feedback and information on comfort condition and energy use. The main goal of this research is to identify the pro-environmental behaviour by a questionnaire survey. Specifically, the structure of the survey will be described in this paper and the main results presented

Control of Grapevine Downy Mildew by an Italian Copper Chabasite-Rich Zeolitite

Abstract: The progressive reduction in the quantities of copper regulated by the European Union is focusing the research on new formulations with a reduced copper content but equally effective. In this regard, the activity of an Italian copper chabasite-rich zeolitite, which proved to be effective against grapevine grey mold and sour rot, was assessed against downy mildew. A two-year study was carried out in the Abruzzo region, Italy, in a cv. Montepulciano vineyard. The applications of the copper zeolitite showed the same good results obtained by a standard integrated/conventional strategy based on contact and systemic fungicides. At harvest, in both trial years, the plants with infected bunches in the untreated control ranged from 86.25% to 100%, compared to 15–30% of the treated plants. Furthermore, infected bunches and berries of the untreated control vines were 70–100% while treated ones never exceeded 2.32%. Furthermore, an increase in the polyphenol content and color intensity in wines made from vines treated with copper zeolitite was confirmed and appeared to be particularly evident in hot and dry seasons. The activity of copper zeolitite towards downy mildew, the potential use against grey mold and sour rot and the protection of grapes from high temperatures indicate that this product is a promising tool for a viticulture environmentally friendly control strategy

the interaction of peptides and proteins with nanostructures surfaces a challenge for nanoscience

Abstract The impact of nanotechnologies in biomedicine and biotechnology is becoming more and more evident. It imposes practical challenges, for instance, raising specific issues on the biocompatibility of nanostructures. Nanoparticles are characterized by a high surface-to-volume ratio, which makes them reactive to foreign species. Thus, when proteins or peptides approach an inorganic nanoparticle, as well as a flat surface, they are likely to interact with the substrate to some extent. This interaction is crucial for applications in drug delivery, imaging, diagnostics, implants, and other medical devices. Specifically, gold nanoparticles are highly versatile and particularly appealing. It is widely accepted that the surfaces of nanoparticles adsorb proteins either transiently in the soft corona layer or permanently in the hard corona layer. As a consequence, the protein structure and/or function may undergo profound adjustments or remain conserved. Detailing the interaction of different inorganic substrates with proteins and peptides at the atomic level, and designing ways to control the interaction, is the key for biomedical applications of nanoparticles, both from a fundamental viewpoint and for practical implementations. In the last decade, we have addressed protein–nanoparticle interactions, focusing on interfaces of gold surfaces and nanoparticles with amyloidogenic peptides and protein models. We have developed classical force fields, performed advanced molecular dynamics simulations, and compared computational outcomes with data from nuclear magnetic resonance experiments. Protein–gold complexes with differently coated gold nanoparticles have been modeled to explore the effects of charge and size on the protein structure. Our work unravels that a complex interplay between surface properties and characteristics of the biological adsorbate determines whether peptide conformation is influenced and whether protein aggregation is accelerated or inhibited by the presence of the substrate. General guidelines to cope with amyloidogenic proteins could be inferred: these can be essentially summarized with the necessity of balancing the hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions that the amyloidogenic proteins establish with the coating moieties

Organizzazione e gestione delle attività inerenti alla Convenzione con il Ministero dello Sviluppo Economico (MiSE) per le iniziative di sviluppo a valere sul Fondo per la Crescita Sostenibile (FCS)

Il presente documento ha lo scopo di illustrare gli strumenti messi in campo dal Ministero dello Sviluppo Economico per l’attuazione degli interventi a valere sul FCS e al contempo descrivere le attività che l’Ufficio Programmazione e Grant Office – UPGO (già Ufficio Supporto alla Programmazione Operativa – USPO) del CNR ha condotto nei 5 anni di durata della Convenzione stipulata tra il MiSE e il RTI per l’organizzazione e la gestione tecnico – amministrativa di tutte le attività inerenti alla valutazione delle proposte progettuali

Cr(III) Complexes Bearing a β-Ketoimine Ligand for Olefin Polymerization: Are There Differences between Coordinative and Covalent Bonding?

β-ketoimines are extensively applied for the synthesis of organometallic complexes intended as (pre)catalysts for a variety of chemical transformations. We were interested in the synthesis of two Cr complexes bearing a simple bidentate β-ketoimine (L), with different ligand binding modes, as well as their application as a precatalyst in the polymerization of olefins. Complex 1 (L2CrCl3) was obtained by direct reaction of L with CrCl3(THF)3, while, for the synthesis of complex 2 (LCrCl2), the ligand was first deprotonated with nBuLi, giving the β-ketoiminato ligand L─Li+, and then reacted with CrCl3(THF)3. Characterization of the complexes proved that the Cr(III) ion is coordinatively bonded to L in 1, while it is covalently bonded to L in 2. The complexes were then used as precatalysts for the polymerization of ethylene and various cyclic olefins. Upon activation with methylaluminoxane, both the complexes exhibited poor activity in the polymerization of ethylene, whilst they exhibit good productivity in the polymerization of cyclic olefins, affording semicrystalline oligomers, without a significant difference between 1 and 2. To gain more insight, we investigated the reaction of the complexes with the Al-cocatalyst by IR and UV-Vis spectroscopies. The results proved that, in case of 1, the Al-activator deprotonates the ligand, bringing to the formation of an active species analogous to that of 2

Convenzione CNR-MiSE fondo per la crescita sostenibile

Nel presente documento vengono illustrate in dettaglio le finalità del FCS e le attività rea- lizzate dal RTI nell’ambito del servizio realizzato per il primo intervento che il MiSE ha bandito sul Fondo con Decreto del 20 giugno 2013 e attuato con procedura valutativa “a sportello”, definita nel Decreto del 25 luglio 2014. In particolare, oltre alle caratteristiche principali dei progetti di ricerca che il MiSE intende finanziare attraverso tale intervento, nel presente documento viene altresì descritta l’attività che l’Ufficio Supporto alla Programmazione Operativa della Direzione Centrale alla Rete Scientifica e Infrastrutture del CNR ha condotto per coordinare e gestire il processo di valutazione delle proposte progettuali. Viene infatti descritta la compagine di valutazione del CNR, che è stata attivata grazie alla partecipazione dei ricercatori e tecnologi della rete scientifica dell’Ente, e le attività che questi, in veste di esperti valutatori, hanno condotto per determinare la qualità tecnico-scientifica delle proposte progettuali presentate

Anxiety, Depression, and Body Weight in Children and Adolescents With Migraine

Background: There is a lack of studies that explore the possible association between body weight, psychological symptoms, and migraine severity in pediatric populations. The purpose of the study was to explore: (1) the association between body weight and the frequency of migraine attacks, (2) the possible differences in anxiety and depression symptoms according to the frequency of attacks and body weight, and (3) the possible mediating role of anxiety and/or depression in the association between body weight and frequency of migraine attacks in children.Methods: One hundred and eleven children/adolescents with migraine were included (47 boys and 64 girls; mean age 11.7; +/- 2.4 years). The patients were classified as: (1) high frequency patients, reporting from weekly to daily episodes and (2) low frequency patients, with <= 3 episodes per month. According to their body mass index percentiles, the patients were divided in "Normal weight" (from >= 5 to <85 percentile), "Overweight" (from >= 85 to <95 percentile), and "Obese" (>= 95 percentile). Given the low number of obese patients, the overweight and obese groups were considered together in the "Overweight" group. Anxiety and depression symptoms were assessed by the Self-Administered Psychiatric Scales for Children and Adolescents (SAFA).Results: Fifty-four patients were normal in weight (49.6%), while 56 patients (50.4%) were overweight. The overweight patients showed a higher frequency of migraine attacks (64.7%; p < 0.05). Patients with a high frequency of attacks reported higher scores in all SAFA-Anxiety subscales (SAFA-A Tot: F = 15.107; p = 0.000). Overweight patients showed a significantly higher score in the "Separation anxiety" subscale (F = 7.855; p = 0.006). We found a mediating role between the overweight and high frequency for total anxiety (z = 2.11 +/- 0.03; p < 0.05) and social anxiety (z = 2.04 +/- 0.03; p < 0.05).Conclusions: Our results suggest that, among the children suffering from migraine, the overweight status is associated with a higher frequency of attacks and separation anxiety symptoms. In particular, our study provides the first evidence of the role of anxiety in linking overweight and the frequency of migraine attacks in children and adolescents

Il biofeedback preoperatorio migliora il recupero della continenza a seguito di prostatectomia radicale: una revisione sistematica con meta-analisi

BACKGROUND:  Postoperative urinary incontinence is the overall result of urethral sphincter incompetence and modifications in urethral length after radical prostatectomy. Findings for preoperative interventions targeted at preventing post-prostatectomy incontinence include preoperative pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) and biodfeedback (BFB), which can be managed by nurses in many countries and have been used for decades to speed up continence recovery after surgery. AIM: to determine the effectiveness of preoperative biofeedback (BFB) for post-prostatectomy urinary incontinence compared to pelvic training without BFB, considering the variability between the results of the available studies.  METHODS: A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted, analyzing the indications provided by the literature regarding preoperative biofeedback for preventing urinary incontinence after open radical prostatectomy, in terms of treatment regimens, timing for beginning the sessions, number of contraction and relaxation exercises, and scheduled work at home. Literature search on Pubmed, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Scopus, EMBASE, and PEdro. RESULTS: Despite only three papers being suitable for metanalysis, our results support BFB over written instructions for continence recovery after both 3 and 6 moths from surgery. Implementing progressive programs with many different muscular exercises and including relaxation are the main recommendations. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative biofeedback leads to improved urinary continence after 3 and 6 months from radical prostatectomy. Future studies should focus on the characteristics and number of pelvic muscle contractions required during biofeedback in order to maximize effectiveness.BACKGROUND: L'incontinenza urinaria postoperatoria è il risultato complessivo dell'incompetenza dello sfintere uretrale e delle modifiche della lunghezza dell'uretra dopo la prostatectomia radicale. I risultati degli interventi preoperatori mirati a prevenire l'incontinenza post-prostatectomia includono l'allenamento preoperatorio dei muscoli del pavimento pelvico (PFMT) e il biodfeedback (BFB), che possono essere gestiti dal personale infermieristico in molti Paesi. OBIETTIVO: determinare l'efficacia del biofeedback preoperatorio (BFB) per l'incontinenza urinaria post-prostatectomia rispetto al training pelvico senza BFB, considerando la variabilità dei risultati degli studi disponibili.  METODI: è stata condotta una revisione sistematica con meta-analisi, analizzando le indicazioni fornite dalla letteratura sul biofeedback preoperatorio per la prevenzione dell'incontinenza urinaria in termini di regimi di trattamento, tempi di inizio delle sessioni, numero di esercizi di contrazione e rilassamento e lavoro programmato a casa. La ricerca della letteratura è stata effettuata su Pubmed, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Scopus, EMBASE e PEdro. RISULTATI: nonostante solo tre articoli siano stati adatti alla metanalisi, i nostri risultati supportano il BFB rispetto alle istruzioni scritte per il recupero della continenza dopo 3 e 6 mesi dall'intervento. L'implementazione di programmi progressivi con molti esercizi muscolari diversi e l'inclusione del rilassamento sono le principali raccomandazioni. CONCLUSIONI: Il biofeedback preoperatorio porta a un miglioramento della continenza urinaria dopo 3 e 6 mesi dalla prostatectomia radicale. Gli studi futuri dovrebbero concentrarsi sulle caratteristiche e sul numero di contrazioni muscolari pelviche richieste durante il biofeedback per massimizzare l'efficacia.Il biofeedback preoperatorio migliora il recupero della continenza dopo la prostatectomia aperta: una revisione sistematica e una meta-analis

Common loss of far-red light photoacclimation in cyanobacteria from hot and cold deserts: a case study in the Chroococcidiopsidales

Deserts represent an extreme challenge for photosynthetic life. Despite their aridity, they are often inhabited by diverse microscopic communities of cyanobacteria. These organisms are commonly found in lithic habitats, where they are partially sheltered from extremes of temperature and UV radiation. However, living under the rock surface imposes additional constraints, such as limited light availability, and enrichment of longer wavelengths than are typically usable for oxygenic photosynthesis. Some cyanobacteria from the genus Chroococcidiopsis can use this light to photosynthesize, in a process known as far-red light photoacclimation, or FaRLiP. This genus has commonly been reported from both hot and cold deserts. However, not all Chroococcidiopsis strains carry FaRLiP genes, thus motivating our study into the interplay between FaRLiP and extreme lithic environments. The abundance of sequence data and strains provided the necessary material for an in-depth phylogenetic study, involving spectroscopy, microscopy, and determination of pigment composition, as well as gene and genome analyses. Pigment analyses revealed the presence of red-shifted chlorophylls d and f in all FaRLiP strains tested. In addition, eight genus-level taxa were defined within the encompassing Chroococcidiopsidales, clarifying the phylogeny of this long-standing polyphyletic order. FaRLiP is near universally present in a generalist genus identified in a wide variety of environments, Chroococcidiopsis sensu stricto, while it is rare or absent in closely related, extremophile taxa, including those preferentially inhabiting deserts. This likely reflects the evolutionary process of gene loss in specialist lineages