Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Abstract Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

Progettazione, esecuzione, monitoraggio e analisi della strategia di marketing per una campagna di crowdfunding

Questo lavoro di tesi mostra il lavoro svolto durante le fasi di progettazione, esecuzione, monitoraggio e analisi della strategia di marketing per una campagna di crowdfunding. L’elaborato presenta il caso studio costituito dalla campagna progettata dall’azienda TOI e conclusa con successo a marzo 2015. Vengono presentate inizialmente il contesto, l’azienda e il prodotto, per poi passare alla pianificazione delle fasi e alla preparazione della campagna durante la fase di pre-marketing. Nella successiva parte dell’elaborato vengono descritte le azioni di marketing vero e proprio eseguite dopo l’avvio della campagna su Kickstarter suddividendole nelle categorie “Digital PR”, “E-mail marketing” e “Partecipazione ad eventi”. Viene poi illustrato il monitoraggio e l’analisi delle azioni svolte e dei risultati ottenuti durante la campagna. A conclusione si dà una visione d’insieme delle attività svolte e dei risultati ottenuti in modo da trovare la relazione esistente tra esse. Grazie a questo il presente lavoro di tesi costituisce non solo un’esposizione degli avvenimenti, ma può costituire una guida per la progettazione di strategie di marketing applicate a campagne di crowdfunding future

Occupational exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls and risk of cutaneous melanoma: A meta-analysis

The aim of this study was to carry out a meta-analysis of studies on exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and the risk of malignant melanoma (MM). We searched Scopus, PubMed, and reference lists; among 807 potentially relevant articles, we selected those based on 12 populations. Data were extracted according to a standardized form; the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was used to assess study quality. Meta-analyses were carried out according to fixed-effect and random-effects models. The fixed-effect summary relative risk (RR) for MM was 0.91 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.82-1.00]; the random-effects summary RR was 1.05 (95% CI: 0.78-1.32). The random-effects summary RR from eight occupational cohorts was 1.13 (95% CI: 0.91-1.35) and that from four community-based studies was 0.84 (95% CI: 0.36-1.31). The quality of the studies and the methods for PCB exposure assessment did not influence the RR. These results do not support the hypothesis of an association between PCB exposure and the risk of M

Defining industry 4.0 professional archetypes: a data-driven approach

Worldwide industrial systems are evolving by leveraging internet connected technologies to generate new added values for organisations and society. Researchers, policy makers and entrepreneurs refer to such phenomenon as Industry 4.0. An increasing number of experts from different fields are focusing on this topic and bringing their contributions in terms of new technologies and methods. As a consequence of this process, companies that are embracing the new paradigm need to manage new technologies and the relations between them with a multidisciplinary approach. The result is an emerging need for personnel with the capabilities to bridge different fields. Accordingly, Industry 4.0 presents a wide range of skill issues that need to be addressed. While the scientific interest in the technological aspects of Industry 4.0 is constantly growing, an understanding of the implications for the future of work and new professional roles it is likely to give rise to prove to more difficult to get to grips with. In many respects this stems from the heterogeneity, complexity and static nature of job description systems. As a result, the issue is addressed in a qualitative manner which results in findings being uncertain and partial. To rectify this data gap, a method for identifying the skills associated with Industry 4.0 has been developed which is explained in greater detail below. The first step in developing data driven mapping of Industry 4.0 competencies is to develop a method which benefits – rather than suffers – from the heterogeneity of the entities to map. As will be demonstrated below, this allows for the classification of the groups of competencies that can be used to identify and define archetypes of Industry 4.0 workers. Before proceeding to the analysis and results, consideration is given to the literature to allow the reader to contextualise the work and its contribution to scientific discourse

Comparative Study Regarding the Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet and the Eating Habits of Two Groups—The Romanian Children and Adolescents Living in Nord-West of Romania and Their Romanian Counterparts Living in Italy

Background: The Mediterranean diet (MD) is associated with significant health benefits, including prevention of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). Given the important migratory flow from Romania to Italy in recent decades, this study seeks to evaluate the differences between the nutritional habits of Romanian children and adolescents in Romania compared with those of Romanian children who moved to Italy or were born in Italy from both Romanian parents. Method: To assess adherence to MD, parents of Romanian children in Romania (RCR) and Romanian children in Italy (RCI) answered questions from an adapted version of the KIDMED test. Results: The results show that the high KIDMED index among RCI is significantly higher than the same index among RCR (68.09 versus 17.76, p < 0.05). RCR obtained a higher KIDMED score on different items: they had a lower consumption of fast food and sweets but an increased consumption of nuts, yogurts, and cheese. Conclusions: RCI have a better adherence to MD, but, at the same time, they are more exposed to westernized diet and practice less physical activity. Nutrition education is an important tool for improving health outcome