The construction of a Quality of Life Wellbeing Index for cancer patients in follow-up: the ONCORELIEF project

ONCORELIEF aims to improve post-treatment health status, wellbeing, and follow-up care of cancer patients in a patient-centric way: independent of the specific treatment and pathway points, but specific to each patient’s experience and needs, incorporating the patient’s illness experience and the psychosocial context

Psychosocial Issues in Long-Term Survivors of Testicular Cancer

Testicular cancer is the most frequent tumor in young males aged 15–39 years. As cure rates are currently around 90%, the prevalence of survivors is increasing. However, a disease-free condition does not necessarily correspond to a life free of physical and psychosocial health problems. The aim of this review was to explore psychosocial morbidity among testicular cancer survivors. A literature search was conducted in three electronic databases (PubMed, Medline, and Embase). The results of the search on cancer survivors were then combined with those of the search on psychosocial concerns and work performance. Eighty-four publications met the inclusion criteria. Physical, psychological, work-related problems and changing perspectives about work and life in general influenced life and career decisions among testicular cancer survivors. Individual health, sexual relationships and work problems, affect several important aspects of survival and significantly influence the QoL of long-term survivors

A vision towards low carbon economy: new challenges for agriculture and forestry sectors

The main result of CARBON.CARE project is the elaboration of recommendations and strategies (including also legislative, technical, incentive-based initiatives to be included in the Rural Development Programmes) in the forest and agricultural local sequestrations and scaling-up of benefits through consultation processes with local authorities. Being the project part of LoCaRe programme, an INTERREG IVC initiative promoted by the European Union, the higher purpose is to diffuse the project results at a larger scale in Europe through the development of exchange schemes and networking processes with other territories that share similar challenges. CARBON.CARE project is coordinated by LT Land&WaterTech (Tecnopolo, University of Ferrara, Italy) and is participated by CETEMAS Centro Tecnológico Forestal de la Madera (Spain) and the Centre for Sustainable Rural Development Kranj

Verso un'economia a basso impatto ambientale: una nuova sfida anche per l'agricoltura locale?

CARBON.CARE nasce all’interno di un programma comunitario più ampio, ovvero il progetto Lo.Ca.Re, finanziato dal Fondo Europeo di Sviluppo Regionale attraverso il Programma INTERREG IVC, nel corso del quale sei Regioni europee hanno unito le proprie forze per realizzare una iniziativa comune volta a ridurre le emissioni di CO2 nei propri territori. La comparazione di diverse modalità di gestione agronomica e forestale per giungere a tecniche più efficaci di fissazione del carbonio è stato il cuore pulsante delle iniziative intraprese dai tre partner nelle tre aree di progetto. A seguito dei risultati raggiunti dalle analisi effettuate nella provincia di Ferrara, questa pubblicazione esprime alcune riflessioni di carattere tecnico-scientifico sull’opportunità e sui vantaggi potenziali derivanti dall’effettiva applicazione di modelli energetici a basso impatto di CO2 su scala regionale nel settore primario

Brightly Luminescent and Moisture Tolerant Phenyl Viologen Lead Iodide Perovskites for Light Emission Applications

Lead halide perovskites are outstanding materials for optoelectronics, but they typically feature low stability against external agents. To overcome this drawback, LHPs based on quaternary ammonium cations, such as phenyl viologen lead iodide (PhVPI), were found to be promising candidates, being water-resistant and thermally stable. In this Letter, the optoelectronic properties of the PhVPI are investigated by a combined experimental-theoretical approach. Although the as-prepared material is photoluminescence-inactive, a short thermal (5 min @ 290 °C) or laser annealing turns PhVPI into a highly luminescent material, in the 600-1000 nm range. The PhVPI PL emission was characterized at different annealing conditions, and the structural evolution following thermal treatments was investigated by means of X-ray diffraction, Raman, and NMR spectroscopies. Besides this, the electronic structure and emission properties were investigated by density functional theory simulations. The intense optical emission and high stability make PhVPI an intriguing material for applications related to light-emitting devices

Role of Psychosocial Variables on Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting and Health-Related Quality of Life among Cancer Patients: A European Study.

Background: Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) continue to be a distressing problem still reported by cancer patients, with negative consequences on quality of life (QoL). Aims: To prospectively explore the association of psychosocial variables, including emotional distress, maladaptive coping styles and the doctor-patient relationship, with CINV and QoL among cancer outpatients. Methods: A prospective study was conducted on 302 consecutive cancer patients (response rate 80.9%) in Austria, Italy and Spain. The Distress Thermometer (DT), the Mini-Mental Adjustment to Cancer (Mini-MAC), and the Patient Satisfaction with Doctor Questionnaire (PSQ) were used to assess psychosocial variables before chemotherapy. In the 5 days after chemotherapy, CINV was examined by using a daily diary, and the Functional Living Index for Emesis (FLIE) was used to assess QoL. Results: More than half of the patients reported nausea (54%), and a small percentage reported vomiting (14%). CINV had a negative impact on QoL (FLIE caseness, p < 0.01). Maladaptive coping (i.e. hopelessness-helplessness and anxious preoccupation) and emotional distress were associated with CINV (p < 0.05) and poorer QoL (p < 0.05). In logistic regression analysis, nausea was predicted by Mini-MAC/H (OR = 1.1, p = 0.03) and younger age (OR = 0.97, p = 0.04); negative impact on QoL was predicted by grade of chemotherapy emetogenesis (OR = 1.7, p < 0.01) and Mini-MAC/H (OR = 1.2, p = 0.04). Conclusions: Screening and assessment of psychological variables, especially coping, could help in identifying cancer patients at risk for chemotherapy-induced nausea, in spite of the use of antiemetic treatment

Mood and anxiety spectrum disorders detected by neuropsychiatric interviews in young adults born preterm: A prospective cohort study

Background: Psychopathology has not yet been studied beyond pediatric age for all degrees of prematurity, including late-preterm, particularly in those who grew up with no apparent neurodevelopmental sequelae. This study aimed to examine psychopathological outcome following preterm birth and admission to neonatal intensive care in young adults without major neurodevelopmental and psychopathological problems that emerged during childhood. Methods: An Italian single-center prospective cohort study. Eighty-nine young adults (40 admitted to neonatal intensive care unit with less than 37 weeks of gestation and no medical history of other neurological or psychiatric conditions in childhood and 49 healthy peers born at term, matched by age, sex, and education) underwent neuropsychiatric interviews at the age of 20&nbsp;±&nbsp;1 years; MINI International Neuropsychiatric Interview, Beck Depression Inventory and Barratt Impulsive Scale, results were correlated to individual neonatal data and cognitive measures. Results: We found a significantly higher prevalence of psychopathology at MINI score (22.5% vs. 4.2%; χ2&nbsp;=&nbsp;6.7; p&nbsp;=&nbsp;0,010) and prevalence of previous stressful life events in the preterm compared to at-term group. B.D.I. (testing depression) and BIS-11(testing impulsivity) did not highlight a statistically significant difference between the groups. All patients had average I.Q., a statistically significant difference (p&nbsp;&lt;&nbsp;0.001) was observed between groups with a better performance in controls than cases. Conclusions: Preterm infants attaining young adult age with otherwise typical development during childhood are at risk of psychopathology and lower resilience to stressful life events. The MINI interview could be a useful tool to highlight the psychopathology of preterm infants attaining adult age

EU.Water - Un’agricoltura sostenibile e di qualità Elementi a supporto dell’applicazione della Direttiva Nitrati nelle Province di Ferrara e Rovigo

Il progetto EU.WATER nasce da un lungo processo di analisi che inizia nel 2007, quando le prime ipotesi di realizzare una iniziativa internazionale sul tema della sostenibilità in agricoltura avevano iniziato a riscuotere consensi e aggregare istituzioni in regioni a forte vocazione agricola nel Sud Est Europa, con l’esigenza di indirizzare nuove strategie integrate coerenti alle Direttive Europee di settore. Il progetto, che ha coinvolto in qualità di partner regioni, province, università ed enti di ricerca provenienti da 8 paesi dell’Europa Sud Orientale quali Italia, Croazia, Grecia, Moldavia, Romania, Serbia, Ucraina ed Ungheria, si basa su due semplici considerazioni: l’agricoltura rappresenta il settore che, a livello mondiale e locale, fa il maggiore uso di acqua e – allo stesso tempo – in relazione all’uso di fertilizzanti azotati può avere delle ricadute sulla qualità delle risorse idriche superficiali, contribuendo all’eutrofizzazione, e di falda, dove può determinare inquinamento da nitrati. Le strategie di miglioramento sono ampie e complesse e si estendono dall’innovazione nelle tecniche di emungimento, in alcuni casi ancora obsolete, alla migliore comprensione del bilancio dell’azoto per migliorare le tempistiche e modalità di distribuzione del fertilizzante, riducendo gli sprechi e minimizzando gli impatti ambientali. In Europa, molti sforzi sono stati fatti e sono tuttora in corso per tali finalità ma il percorso di avvicinamento ad elevati standard di sicurezza ed efficienza risulta ancora parzialmente disomogeneo, con criticità ancora presenti in vaste aree rurali dell’Europa Orientale. A partire da queste problematiche, il progetto EU.WATER ha sviluppato una serie di sperimentazioni su scala transnazionale di metodologie per la riduzione degli agenti inquinanti e una migliore gestione delle risorse idriche, proponendo un set comune di raccomandazioni ed una potenziale roadmap per un agricoltura rispettosa delle risorse naturali del territorio e per rafforzare lo sviluppo degli strumenti di policy locale e regionale, in linea con la normativa Europea e con gli obiettivi futuri dell’UE e della Politica Agricola Comune verso il 2020. A prescindere dalle specifiche azioni dei partner, EU.WATER rappresenta un processo partecipativo in cui sono stati coinvolti, in una logica di rete, partner e reti di operatori locali, per discutere e condividere le migliori strategie di gestione sostenibile delle risorse idriche, per garantire un’agricoltura competitiva, con elevati standard quali/quantitativi, non contrapposta ma anzi inserita, come principale attore, in un progetto complessivo di ricostituzione e mantenimento della qualità ambientale. Questa pubblicazione rappresenta il coronamento di un grande e complesso lavoro di indagine svolto da un team interdisciplinare coordinato dalle Province di Ferrara e Rovigo, entrambe dichiarate Zona Vulnerabile ai Nitrati, e facenti parti di un’area omogenea, al di là dei confini amministrativi, sia dal punto di vista meteoclimatico e idrografico che pedologico e colturale, tanto da stimolare lo sviluppo di due progetti pilota sinergici e di grande valore per entrambi i comparti agricoli provinciali. La presente pubblicazione, concentrandosi sui risultati locali ottenuti dai due Enti tramite le sperimentazioni pilota svolte a Ferrara e Rovigo, si rivolge, dunque, agli operatori del territorio e alle amministrazioni pubbliche per stimolare l’attenzione sui problemi e – soprattutto – sulle potenzialità emerse e le possibili opzioni di intervento per una agricoltura sostenibile e di qualità. Abstract In South East Europe area, where the economies are characterized by intensive agriculture, some of the main environmental challenges are the high consumption of water resources for irrigation, the low efficiency of water distribution networks and the pollution of groundwater caused by the massive use of fertilizers of organic origin. EU.WATER main objective, coordinated by the Province of Ferrara, is the identification of shared strategies in eight countries (Greece, Hungary, Italy, Romania, Serbia, Croatia, Moldova and Ukraine) to address the problem of rationalization of water use in agriculture and the reduction of nitrogen loads and other pollutants caused by intensive cultural exploitation. The main result of the project is the creation of a transnational network for the management of the waters in agriculture, according to the EU legislative framework and based on the direct involvement of the main actors of the interested rural areas. At this aim, EU.WATER produced studies, researches and innovative practical actions that can integrate the regional planning strategies of for the integrated management of waters, on the basis of a wide scientific horizon and developed according to a transnational approach applied and tested in different areas. The present publication is focused on the results achieved by the two Italian partners, the Provinces of Ferrara and Rovigo