Social networks feed the food supplements shadow market

Purpose: The paper investigates the role of social networks in the millennials’ decision-making process of illegal and unnotified food supplements purchase. The connections and interactions that (co) produce information are studied with a holistic perspective of social sustainability as a development driver of business model innovation. Design/methodology/approach: An exploratory qualitative multiple analysis study was conducted in two consecutive phases. Data from 23 semi-structured individual interviews were collected, followed by a netnographic analysis of the Facebook virtual community. Findings: The results show that the decision-making process does not develop following the traditional sequence, as social networks modify the wellness meaning creation process and reduce risk perception. Moreover, social networks introduce the use of similar experiences of others and online information and emotional support on unethical and unhealthy behavior. Research limitations/implications: Due to the application to a social network, the results should be understood within this context. Future studies would benefit by expanding the target and the range of social networks explored. Practical implications: The official information quality control, as a prerogative of public and professional health stakeholders, and the medialization of medicalization, contribute to the conscious development of their wellness meanings and values. Originality/value: This work represents one of the first attempts to investigate resources integration through social networks in the pre-purchase decision-making process of unnotified and illegal food supplements. Unethical and unhealthy behavior develops through the interaction of actors, firms, influencers and individuals over social networks

Monitoring Epiphytic Lichen Biodiversity to Detect Environmental Quality and Air Pollution: the Case Study of Roccamonfina Park (Campania Region - Italy)

In this study, lichen distribution was examined in a district of Campania region to monitor the evolution of air quality at landscape scale. A new methodological approach was tried by overlapping the results of biomonitoring samplings to land cover maps, in order to highlight the relations between air pollution and land use patterns. The main objectives of this work were the following: i) to evaluate air quality on the studied area with the aid of IBL index, and reporting geo-referenced data on a thematic map; ii) to relate lichen distribution and biodiversity to land use spatial patterns; iii) to put the basis for a comparative analysis focussed on changes induced by the present socio-economic evolution of the plain, from agriculture to industrial and tertiary; iv) to provide a reproducible protocol for monitoring air quality, identifying clusters of lichen species linked to particular land use models and formulating previsions about environmental quality on areas characterized by similar dynamics

Minimization of Feedback Loop Distortions in Digital Predistortion of a Radio-Over-Fiber System with Optimization Algorithms

This article proposes the linearization of an intensity modulation/direct detection radio-over-fiber (RoF) link with feedback loop. The goal is to carry out the predistortion process in a real scenario, in which the output signals are a few kilometers far from the baseband unit (BBU). First, the feedback loop is considered ideal, so the output signals are captured at the remote radio head side. Then, the feedback loop is taken into account, and both the input and output signals are captured at the BBU side. Applying optimization algorithms, such as Fibonacci, Golden, or Powell, it is possible to seek the optimal attenuation value within only a few iterations, which minimizes the distortion of the feedback loop. Experiments are carried out in a RoF system with 10 and 25 km length fiber within the long-Term evolution (LTE) standard. Measured results show how with a proper choice of the attenuation it is possible to reach analogous results regarding to an ideal feedback loop in terms of adjacent channel power ratio, the output signal power and error vector magnitude

Radio-over-fiber linearization with optimized genetic algorithm CPWL model

This article proposes an optimized version of a canonical piece-wise-linear (CPWL) digital predistorter in order to enhance the linearity of a radio-over-fiber (RoF) LTE mobile fronthaul. In this work, we propose a threshold allocation optimization process carried out by a genetic algorithm (GA) in order to optimize the CPWL model (GA-CPWL). Firstly, experiments show how the CPWL model outperforms the classical memory polynomial DPD in an intensity modulation/direct detection (IM/DD) RoF link. Then, the GA-CPWL predistorter is compared with the CPWL model in several scenarios, in order to verify that the proposed DPD offers better performance in different optical transmission conditions. Experimental results reveal that with a proper threshold allocation, the GA-CPWL predistorter offers very promising outcomes

Metric trees of generalized roundness one

Every finite metric tree has generalized roundness strictly greater than one. On the other hand, some countable metric trees have generalized roundness precisely one. The purpose of this paper is to identify some large classes of countable metric trees that have generalized roundness precisely one. At the outset we consider spherically symmetric trees endowed with the usual combinatorial metric (SSTs). Using a simple geometric argument we show how to determine decent upper bounds on the generalized roundness of finite SSTs that depend only on the downward degree sequence of the tree in question. By considering limits it follows that if the downward degree sequence $(d_{0}, d_{1}, d_{2}...)$ of a SST $(T,\rho)$ satisfies $|\{j \, | \, d_{j} > 1 \}| = \aleph_{0}$, then $(T,\rho)$ has generalized roundness one. Included among the trees that satisfy this condition are all complete $n$-ary trees of depth $\infty$ ($n \geq 2$), all $k$-regular trees ($k \geq 3$) and inductive limits of Cantor trees. The remainder of the paper deals with two classes of countable metric trees of generalized roundness one whose members are not, in general, spherically symmetric. The first such class of trees are merely required to spread out at a sufficient rate (with a restriction on the number of leaves) and the second such class of trees resemble infinite combs.Comment: 14 pages, 2 figures, 2 table

Genus expansion for real Wishart matrices

We present an exact formula for moments and cumulants of several real compound Wishart matrices in terms of an Euler characteristic expansion, similar to the genus expansion for complex random matrices. We consider their asymptotic values in the large matrix limit: as in a genus expansion, the terms which survive in the large matrix limit are those with the greatest Euler characteristic, that is, either spheres or collections of spheres. This topological construction motivates an algebraic expression for the moments and cumulants in terms of the symmetric group. We examine the combinatorial properties distinguishing the leading order terms. By considering higher cumulants, we give a central limit-type theorem for the asymptotic distribution around the expected value

Measuring processes and the Heisenberg picture

In this paper, we attempt to establish quantum measurement theory in the Heisenberg picture. First, we review foundations of quantum measurement theory, that is usually based on the Schr\"{o}dinger picture. The concept of instrument is introduced there. Next, we define the concept of system of measurement correlations and that of measuring process. The former is the exact counterpart of instrument in the (generalized) Heisenberg picture. In quantum mechanical systems, we then show a one-to-one correspondence between systems of measurement correlations and measuring processes up to complete equivalence. This is nothing but a unitary dilation theorem of systems of measurement correlations. Furthermore, from the viewpoint of the statistical approach to quantum measurement theory, we focus on the extendability of instruments to systems of measurement correlations. It is shown that all completely positive (CP) instruments are extended into systems of measurement correlations. Lastly, we study the approximate realizability of CP instruments by measuring processes within arbitrarily given error limits.Comment: v

Immediate effects of a telerehabilitation program based on aerobic exercise in women with fibromyalgia

Background: We analyzed the immediate effects of a Telerehabilitation Program (TP) based on aerobic exercise in women with fibromyalgia (FM) syndrome during the lockdown declared in Spain due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A single-blind randomized controlled trial was designed. Thirty-four women with FM were randomized into two groups: TP group and Control group. The intervention lasted 15 weeks, with 2 sessions per week. The TP based on aerobic exercise was guided by video and the intensity of each session was monitored using the Borg scale. Pain intensity (Visual Analogue Scale), mechanical pain sensitivity (algometer), number of tender points, FM impact (Revised Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire), pain catastrophizing (Pain Catastrophizing Scale), physiological distress (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale), upper (Arm Curl Test) and lower-limb physical function (6-min Walk Test) were measured at baseline and after the intervention. Results: The TP group improved pain intensity (p = 0.022), mechanical pain sensitivity (p 0.05). Conclusion: A TP based on aerobic exercise achieved improvements on pain intensity, mechanical pain sensitivity, and psychological distress compared to a Control group during the lockdown declared in Spain due to COVID-19 pandemic

Cytomegalovirus reactivation after bortezomib treatment for multiple myeloma and light chain amyloidosis

Objective: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is an opportunistic herpesvirus, and reactivation of infection is possible in immunocompromised patients. Historically, the risk for haematology patients is restricted to those treated with an allogeneic transplant or T‐cell depleting agents. Bortezomib is a highly efficacious proteasome inhibitor widely used to treat multiple myeloma and light chain (AL) amyloidosis patients. The objective of this small prospective study was to quantify the risk of CMV reactivation associated with bortezomib treatment. Methods: Fifty‐seven consecutive multiple myeloma or AL amyloidosis patients commencing bortezomib‐based therapy were included. Viral copy numbers were established at baseline and then at fortnightly intervals during treatment. Pre‐emptive anti‐viral treatment was initiated in patients with a viral load >7500 copies/mL. Results: Reactivation of CMV was detected in 39% (n = 12/31) of seropositive bortezomib treated patients compared with 0% of CMV seronegative patients. Detectable DNAemia developed during the first two cycles of treatment in 83% (n = 10/12) patients. Anti‐viral treatment was initiated in 42% (n = 5/12), but no cases of active CMV disease were seen. Conclusion: This study suggests that there is a substantial risk of CMV reactivation in CMV‐seropositive plasma cell dyscrasia patients treated with bortezomib