Struggle for recognition, a lever to establish Industrial Relations from below. Reinterpreting couriers' mobilisations in food delivery sector in Italy

In this contribution we offer a conceptualisation of the cycle of struggles recently happening in the food delivery sector in Italy. As a part of an in-depth co-research conducted among Riders Union Bologna (RUB), we investigate this case by adopting the lens of recognition. Despite its long-standing roots, recognition is a category that has largely been neglected by Industrial Relations (IR) debate. The article will present its potential in understanding some precarious workers' struggles, focusing their successful path in establishing IR in an anti-union environment, such as that of food delivery platforms. Three dimensions of recognition will then be explored: the internal recognition that is fundamental in forming workers' collective identity; the institutional recognition leading to the development of new regulations in the sector; the recognition by employers that makes collective bargaining possible. In conclusion, after highlighting the main evidences of the research, reflections will be conducted on the potential of the category of recognition in renewing IR theories, including struggles that often escape traditional approaches

Struggle for recognition, a lever to establish Industrial Relations from below. Reinterpreting couriers’ mobilisations in food delivery sector in Italy

In this contribution we offer a conceptualisation of the cycle of struggles recently happening in the food delivery sector in Italy. As a part of an in-depth co-research conducted among Riders Union Bologna (RUB), we investigate this case by adopting the lens of recognition. Despite its long-standing roots, recognition is a category that has largely been neglected by Industrial Relations (IR) debate. The article will present its potential in understanding some precarious workers’ struggles, focusing their successful path in establishing IR in an anti-union environment, such as that of food delivery platforms. Three dimensions of recognition will then be explored: the internal recognition that is fundamental in forming workers’ collective identity; the institutional recognition leading to the development of new regulations in the sector; the recognition by employers that makes collective bargaining possible. In conclusion, after highlighting the main evidences of the research, reflections will be conducted on the potential of the category of recognition in renewing IR theories, including struggles that often escape traditional approaches

Astrophysics at n-TOF facility

The neutron time of flight (n_TOF) facility at CERN is a neutron spallation source, its white neutron energy spectrum ranges from thermal to several GeV, covering the full energy range of interest for nuclear astrophysics, in particular for measurements of the neutron capture cross section required in s-process nucleosynthesis. This contribution gives an overview on the astrophysical program made at n_TOF facility, the results and the implications will be reported.Postprint (published version

Gut Dysbiosis and Western Diet in the Pathogenesis of Essential Arterial Hypertension: A Narrative Review

Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of the most dangerous cardiovascular (CV) risk factors including visceral obesity, insulin resistance, hyperglycemia, alterations in lipid metabolism and arterial hypertension (AH). In particular, AH plays a key role in the complications associated with metabolic syndrome. High salt intake is a well-known risk factor for AH and CV diseases. Vasoconstriction, impaired vasodilation, extracellular volume expansion, inflammation, and an increased sympathetic nervous system (SNS) activity are the mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of AH, induced by Western diet. Gut dysbiosis in AH is associated with reduction of short chain fatty acid-producing bacteria: acetate, butyrate and propionate, which activate different pathways, causing vasoconstriction, impaired vasodilation, salt and water retention and a consequent high blood pressure. Moreover, increased trimethylamine N-oxide and lipopolysaccharides trigger chronic inflammation, which contributes to endothelial dysfunction and target organs damage. Additionally, a high salt-intake diet impacts negatively on gut microbiota composition. A bidirectional neuronal pathway determines the "brain-gut" axis, which, in turn, influences blood pressure levels. Then, we discuss the possible adjuvant novel treatments related to gut microbiota modulation for AH control

Effects of Ultramicronized Palmitoylethanolamide (um-PEA) in COVID-19 Early Stages: A Case-Control Study

Ultramicronized palmitoylethanolamide (um-PEA), a compound with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties, appears to be a potential adjuvant treatment for early stages of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). In our study, we enrolled 90 patients with confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 that were randomized into two groups, homogeneous for age, gender and BMI. The first group received oral supplementation based on um-PEA at a dose of 1800 mg/day for a total of 28 days; the second group was the control group (R.S. 73.20). At baseline (T0) and after 28 days of um-PEA treatment (T1), we monitored: routine laboratory parameters, inflammatory and oxidative stress (OS) biomarkers, lymphocytes subpopulation and COVID-19 serological response. At T1, the um-PEA-treated group presented a significant reduction in inflammation compared to the control group (CRP p = 0.007; IL-6 p = 0.0001; neutrophils to lymphocytes ratio p = 0.044). At T1, the controls showed a significant increase in OS compared to the treated group (FORT p = 0.05). At T1, the um-PEA group exhibited a significant decrease in D-dimer levels (p = 0.0001) and higher levels of IgG against SARS-CoV-2 (p = 0.0001) compared to the controls. Our data demonstrated, in a randomized clinical trial, the beneficial effects of um-PEA in both asymptomatic and mild-symptomatic patients related to reductions in inflammatory state, OS and coagulative cascade alterations

Treatment of hemophilia: a review of current advances and ongoing issues

Replacement of the congenitally deficient factor VIII or IX through plasma-derived or recombinant concentrates is the mainstay of treatment for hemophilia. Concentrate infusions when hemorrhages occur typically in joint and muscles (on-demand treatment) is able to resolve bleeding, but does not prevent the progressive joint deterioration leading to crippling hemophilic arthropathy. Therefore, primary prophylaxis, ie, regular infusion of concentrates started after the first joint bleed and/or before the age of two years, is now recognized as first-line treatment in children with severe hemophilia. Secondary prophylaxis, whenever started, aims to avoid (or delay) the progression of arthropathy and improve patient quality of life. Interestingly, recent data suggest a role for early prophylaxis also in preventing development of inhibitors, the most serious complication of treatment in hemophilia, in which multiple genetic and environmental factors may be involved. Treatment of bleeds in patients with inhibitors requires bypassing agents (activated prothrombin complex concentrates, recombinant factor VIIa). However, eradication of inhibitors by induction of immune tolerance should be the first choice for patients with recent onset inhibitors. The wide availability of safe factor concentrates and programs for comprehensive care has now resulted in highly satisfactory treatment of hemophilia patients in developed countries. Unfortunately, this is not true for more than two-thirds of persons with hemophilia, who live in developing countries

Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Cardiovascular Protection in Chronic Kidney Disease

The high mortality related to chronic kidney disease (CKD) is not only due to the disease itself; in fact, CKD also represents an important risk factor for cardiovascular (CV) morbidity and mortality. Among the functional foods that seems to have cardioprotective action, extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) plays a pivotal health-promoting role. The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible cardioprotective effects of an EVOO containing a very high content (>900 ppm) of minor phenolic compounds (MPCs). The selected EVOO was analyzed by HPLC-DAD-MS to establish the MPC content. The Olea extract obtained from the selected EVOO was tested against the RAW 264.7 cell line in order to investigate its anti-inflammatory activity. We enrolled 40 CKD patients under conservative therapy for in vivo clinical testing. All CKD patients consumed 40 mL/day of raw EVOO for 9 weeks (T1). At baseline (T0) and at T1, we monitored the patients' blood and urinary parameters. The patients' body composition was assessed using bioelectrical impedance analysis and the carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) using ultrasound imaging. At T1, we observed a decrease in inflammatory parameters, CIMT, and oxidative stress biomarkers. We also noticed improvements in lipid and purine metabolism, atherogenic indices, and body composition. Thus, this study highlighted the cardioprotective action of EVOO in nephropathic patients

Study of the photon strength function of 152SM in resonance neutron capture at n-TOF

The Photon Strength Function of 152Sm has been investigated at nTOF by studying the ¿-ray spectra from resonance neutron capture of 151Sm. The experimental apparatus consisted of two C6D6 liquid scintillator detectors. The measured spectra were compared with the predictions of the DICEBOX code, for different assumptions on the Photon Stregth Functions and on the Nuclear Level Density. For a meaningful comparison, the model calculations were filtered through a detailed software replica of the experimental apparatus, performed by means of three different Monte Carlo simulations. Preliminary results indicate that a reasonable reproduction of the experimental ¿-ray spectrum is obtained by postulating the presence of a Scissors Resonance. Some hints on the most suitable models, developed in the most recent studies of the Photon Strength Functions and Nuclear Level Density, are also obtained. © 2007 Sissa Medialab Srl. All rights reserved.Postprint (published version