L'estimo e l'economia

In questo primo capitolo, senza pretesa di esaustività, si intendono introdurre alcune teorie fondamentali alla base della valutazione delle risorse economiche, quali immobili o intangibili, beni privati e pubblici piani e progetti di trasformazione, strategie di sviluppo urbano e sostenibilità, attualmente oggetto di interesse dell’estimo. Considerando che gli asset intangibili, quali il benessere e la cultura, sono diventati sempre più cruciali per lo sviluppo e la crescita economica dei diversi Paesi, oltre che risorse sempre più scarse, il campo di interesse dell’estimo si è ampliato, inglobando anche tali beni. Le relative metodologie di valutazione sono piuttosto articolate e, in questa sede, si intende fornire solo una sintetica presentazione dei principali approcci mutuati dalle diverse discipline cui si fa cenno, fra queste la matematica finanziaria e l’econometria (illustrate in appendice), l’equilibrio spaziale, le scienze economiche e sociali che servono per capire e governare la complessità delle scelte nel campo dello sviluppo urbano sostenibile e Smart City. La questione ambientale rappresenta un imperativo non trascurabile a livello planetario. In economia, essa assume specifiche connotazioni di carattere morale ed etico, con riferimento al concetto di green economy. L’economia verde riconosce e investe nel capitale naturale, considerando la biodiversità come il tessuto vivente proprio di questo pianeta, che contribuisce al benessere umano e fornisce servizi gratuitamente, risorse preziose per il benessere delle persone. Insito nella green economy è anche il concetto di sviluppo sostenibile che da alcuni decenni sta impegnando studiosi di diverse discipline, ed in particolare gli studiosi di valutazione economica per la necessità di definire appropriate metriche di riferimento alle diverse scale (spaziali), dai materiali, all’edificio, alla città, fino alla scala territoriale e globale

LC/MS analysis and antioxidative efficiency of Maillard reaction products from a lactose-lysine model system

Aqueous solutions of lactose and lysine were refluxed for up to 4 h without pH control. Samples were collected every hour, and the reaction was monitored by measuring the pH, the optical density at 420 nm, and the relative antioxidative efficiency (RAE). The greatest change in optical density and antioxidative efficiency occurred for the mixture heated for 4 h. The 4 h solution was separated into three fractions according to the molecular weights of the components and tested for RAE. The high molecular weight fraction was more colored, and it had the highest antioxidative activity. The low molecular weight fraction was separated by high- performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). RAE values were measured for each purified compound. HPLC coupled with diode array and electrospray mass spectrometry allowed a rapid screening of the solutions and a tentative identification of several peaks. Nuclear magnetic resonance analysis allowed the identification of galactosylisomaltol and pyrraline. The resonance assignments for these compounds were revised

Burnout in Intensive Care Unit Workers during the Second Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Single Center Cross-Sectional Italian Study

The COVID-19 pandemic had a massive impact on the Italian healthcare systems, which became overwhelmed, leading to an increased risk of psychological pressure on ICU workers. The present study aimed to investigate the prevalence of distress (anxiety, depression and insomnia symptoms), burnout syndrome and resilience in healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic and to detect potential factors associated with their psychological response. This cross-sectional, survey-based study enrolled 136 healthcare workers assisting COVID-19 patients in the new COVID-19 ward (Intensive Care Unit), at Milano Fiera, Lombardy. Participants completed an online survey that comprised different validated and standardized questionnaires: Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), Resilience Scale for adults (RSA), Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale (HADS) and Insomnia Severity Index (ISI). Socio-demographic and work characteristics were also collected. Out of 136 ICU specialists, there were 84 nurses (62%) and 52 physicians (38%). Over half (60%) met the criteria for burnout, with nearly the same percentages among nurses and physicians. Nurses reported significantly higher scores of anxiety and insomnia levels. Forty-five percent of participants reported symptoms of depression (of whom 13.9% in the clinical range) and most of the staff showed moderate to high levels (82.4%) of resilience. The COVID-19 pandemic can have a significant impact on ICU staff. Effective interventions are needed to maintain healthcare professionals’ mental health and relieve burnout. Follow-up and tailored procedures should be provided to alleviate the psychological burden in the frontline staff at highest risk

Pediatrician and parental evaluation of child neurodevelopment at 2 years of age

Abstract Background The early identification of infants with a risk for neurodevelopmental disorders in the first few years of life is essential for better developmental outcomes. Screenings should be carried out by combining the family pediatricians’ and parents’ perspectives, the two fundamental sources of information on children’s health. The present study has three aims: (a) to test the feasibility of parent-report instruments to detect warning signs in their children’s development; (b) to ascertain whether there is an agreement between the family pediatricians’ (FP) clinical judgments of warning signs and the parental perceptions; (c) to determine whether there is a link between parents’ distress and child development. Methods Within the NASCITA birth cohort, in addition to the family pediatrician’s clinical evaluation with routine tools, the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers, Revised (M-CHAT-R) was completed by parents to assess the child’s language, social skills, behavior, and sensory areas. Parents were also asked to complete the Parenting Stress Index, Short Form (PSI-SF) to verify the magnitude of stress in the parent-child system. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to evaluate the association between child and parental characteristics and the presence of warning signs. Results The follow-up assessment was completed for 435 infants: 69 (15.8%) presented warning signs: 43 in the pediatrician’s assessment and 36 in the M-CHAT-R (10 in both). A total of 16 children (14 with warning signs) received a diagnosis after a specialist evaluation. Being male (OR 2.46, 95%CI: 1.23–4.91) and having sleep disorders (OR 2.43, 95% CI 1.17–5.04) was associated with a greater likelihood of warning signs in the multivariate analysis, while reading aloud was a protective factor (not exposed versus exposed (OR = 3.14; 95% CI 1.60–6.17). For 73 children (18.4%), at least one parent tested positive for PSI-SF. An increased prevalence of parental distress was observed in children with warning signs (OR 2.36, 95% CI 1.27–4.37). Conclusions Integrating physician and parental perspectives during well-child visits and in clinical practice appears feasible and can improve the identification of children at risk of developmental disorders

Prenatal and perinatal risk and protective factors for psychosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Prenatal and perinatal insults are implicated in the aetiopathogenesis of psychotic disorders but the consistency and magnitude of their associations with psychosis have not been updated for nearly two decades. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to provide a comprehensive and up-to-date synthesis of the evidence on the association between prenatal or perinatal risk and protective factors and psychotic disorders

Late Neandertals in central Italy. High-resolution chronicles from Grotta dei Santi (Monte Argentario - Tuscany)

International audienc