Silicone-coated non-woven polyester dressing enhances reepithelialisation in a sheep model of dermal wounds

Negative-pressure wound therapy (NPWT) also known as V.A.C. (Vacuum-assisted closure), is widely used to manage various type of wounds and accelerate healing. NPWT has so far been delivered mainly via opencell polyurethane (PU) foam or medical gauze. In this study an experimental setup of sheep wound model was used to evaluate, under NPWT conditions, the performance of a silicone-coated non-woven polyester (N-WPE) compared with PU foam and cotton hydrophilic gauze, used as reference materials. Animals were anesthetized with spontaneous breathing to create three 3 9 3 cm skin defects bilaterally; each animal received three different samples on each side (n = 6 in each experimental group) and was subjected to negative and continuous 125 mmHg pressure up to 16 days. Wound conditions after 1, 8 and 16 days of treatment with the wound dressings were evaluated based on gross and histological appearances. Skin defects treated with the silicone-coated N-WPE showed a significant decrease in wound size, an increase of re-epithelialization, collagen deposition and wound neovascularisation, and a minimal stickiness to the wound tissue, in comparison with gauze and PU foam. Taken all together these findings indicate that the silicone-coated N-WPE dressing enhances wound healing since stimulates higher granulation tissue formation and causes minor tissue trauma during dressing changes

Entrepreneurial Behaviour and New Venture Creation: the Psychoanalytic Perspective

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Motor and dietary education against obesity for students: Evidence from Italy

This study aims to analyse and measure the effects of a specific pilot program on "Motor and Dietary Literacy" (MDL) implemented in Italian schools. An interview based survey was conducted on a sample of 85 students. The results support the hypothesis that proper education and training of students may have a positive impact on preventing physical inactivity and poor diet phenomena. MDL educating sparked a remarkable attitude of awareness and alert among students with respect to obesity. These results show that motor and dietary education can be a cornerstone to promote healthy life-styles

Knowledge Transfer in Doctoral Education During the Pandemic Time: An Exploratory Study of the PhD Students’ Experiences

The research aims to explore how PhD students interacted with professors and peers and transferred knowledge during pandemic time. We firstly aim to provide an overview of communication media used by students, as well as to classify them for different kinds, social presence, and media richness. Furthermore, our research also aims to explore how doctoral students took their courses by interacting with professors and with peers, in terms of learning (KT) and social exchange relations (LMX, TMX, POS), through online learning platforms and communication media. We conducted exploratory research on 25 PhD students from 5 Italian PhD Programs in ‘economic and statistical sciences’ area. Data was collected through (a) the focus group interview with PhD students for collecting their opinions and experiences on the usage of media for communicating with professors and peers and (b) an online questionnaire aimed to measure their experiences or perceptions on technology usage and social relations. Results shown that PhD students used e-learning platform for communicating with peers and professors, so developing good social relations -even at a distance- which have encouraged knowledge transfer among them

The importance of sport activities to stimulate an educational management of students with SLD

In Italy, one student out of five, during his/her educational path from the early years of school up to University, faces difficulties in learning requiring the need of help by experts. This observation allows us affirming that, in Italian country, there are roughly 10 million students needing didactic support; among them, in particular, almost two million show the so-called Specific Learning Disorders (SLD). In this regard, this paper aims to identify and analyse a performing management strategy, in educational and social perspective, able to deal with the critical aspects relating to Specific Learning Disorders (SLD) in the main scholastic contexts such as School and University. Through a performance analysis of: data, laws and regulations, protocols of action and sources of literature, were detected a set of key determinants has been suggested to define and develop operational management solutions at different educational levels. An important result was that we identified in the sporting activity a tool of universal support able to achieve multiple benefits for supporting students with SLD. In fact, sport contributes significantly to the enhancement of the specific characteristics of these people, and the consequent increase in their self-esteem level and in their relational skills. This implies, in turn, a greater predisposition to school and university learning, favouring the overall development of the individual

An Original Single-Body Synthetic Heart Valve: Feasibility Study And Prototype Realization

The research for durable, non-thrombogenic heart valve prostheses able to overcome the limits of biological and mechanical ones, promoted the development of synthetic valves. Their success has been hampered by lack of durability, due to calcification and thromboembolic complications. The aim of this work was to develop a prototype of a new elastomeric biocompatible valve, durable and free from calcification

A New Elastomeric Biomaterial for Arterial Diseases Applications

The covering of self-expandable stents (S-ESs) with elastic biocompatible membrane may avoid the atherosclerotic plaque prolapse between the stent struts into the lumen. In this work it is proposed a new elastomeric biomaterial, combined with a spray-technique, to realise a thin membrane for covering S-ESs. The membrane resulted adherent to metallic struts and able to follow stent deformation. The new biomaterial, an elastomeric silicone (polydimethylsiloxane PDMS) based poly(ether)urethane (PEtU/PDMS), deposited on the S-ESs by the spray-technique, showed in vitro good adhesion to metallic struts, even after deformation and recoil, and did not compromise its elastic behaviour. Capitalising on the good biocompatibility and low trombogenicity demonstrated by the material within previous studies it is expected that it can be used successfully for S-ESs covering for iliac-femoral applications

Using a scale model room to assess the contribution of building material of volcanic origin to indoor radon

AbstractIn the frame of Radon rEal time monitoring System and Proactive Indoor Remediation (RESPIRE), a LIFE 2016 project funded by the European Commission, the contribution of building materials of volcanic origin to indoor radon concentration was investigated. First, total gamma radiation and related outdoor dose rates of geological materials in the Caprarola area (Central Italy) were measured to define main sources of radiation. Second, 222Rn and 220Rn exhalation rates of these rocks used as building materials were measured using an accumulation chamber connected in a closed loop with a RAD7 radon monitor. Among others, the very porous "Tufo di Gallese" ignimbrite provided the highest values. This material was then used to construct a scale model room of 62 cm × 50 cm × 35 cm (inner length × width × height, respectively) to assess experimental radon and thoron activity concentration at equilibrium and study the effects of climatic conditions and different coatings on radon levels. A first test was carried out at ambient temperature to determine experimental 222Rn and 220Rn equilibrium activities in the model room, not covered with plaster or other coating materials. Experimental 222Rn equilibrium was recorded in just two days demonstrating that the room "breaths", exchanging air with the outdoor environment. This determines a dilution of indoor radon concentration. Other experiments showed that inner covers (such as plasterboard and different kinds of paints) partially influence 222Rn but entirely cut the short-lived 220Rn. Finally, decreases in ambient temperature reduce radon exhalation from building material and, in turn, indoor activity concentration

European Atlas of Natural Radiation

Natural ionizing radiation is considered as the largest contributor to the collective effective dose received by the world population. The human population is continuously exposed to ionizing radiation from several natural sources that can be classified into two broad categories: high-energy cosmic rays incident on the Earth’s atmosphere and releasing secondary radiation (cosmic contribution); and radioactive nuclides generated during the formation of the Earth and still present in the Earth’s crust (terrestrial contribution). Terrestrial radioactivity is mostly produced by the uranium and thorium radioactive families together with potassium. In most circumstances, radon, a noble gas produced in the radioactive decay of uranium, is the most important contributor to the total dose. This Atlas aims to present the current state of knowledge of natural radioactivity, by giving general background information, and describing its various sources. This reference material is complemented by a collection of maps of Europe displaying the levels of natural radioactivity caused by different sources. It is a compilation of contributions and reviews received from more than 80 experts in their field: they come from universities, research centres, national and European authorities and international organizations. This Atlas provides reference material and makes harmonized datasets available to the scientific community and national competent authorities. In parallel, this Atlas may serve as a tool for the public to: • familiarize itself with natural radioactivity; • be informed about the levels of natural radioactivity caused by different sources; • have a more balanced view of the annual dose received by the world population, to which natural radioactivity is the largest contributor; • and make direct comparisons between doses from natural sources of ionizing radiation and those from man-made (artificial) ones, hence to better understand the latter.JRC.G.10-Knowledge for Nuclear Security and Safet