Sustainability and Well-Being: The Perception of Younger Generations and Their Expectations

The paper aims at analyzing the level of knowledge and the perception of the concepts of sustainability and well-being of high school students in Tuscany. It is an explorative study carried out during specific events held in high schools with the support of the teachers; during the events, students were asked to fill a questionnaire designed to elicit their relation with these topics as well as the level of involvement of their families. The results provide an interesting starting point for a debate about what the expectations of younger generations are and what we can do to match them. The debate moves from the assessment of the importance of sustainability and well-being indicators and the relevance of perceived threats. Moreover, the results put the role of institutions (and in particular that of public schools) under scrutiny to develop the level of awareness and to promote knowledge transfer

Sustainability and Food: a Text Analysis of the Scientific Literature

The paper analyses the evolution of the research debate related to sustainability and to the relation between food and sustainability. A number of text analysis techniques were combined for the investigation of scientific papers. The results stress how discourse analysis of sustainability in the pre-Rio period is mostly associated with agriculture and with a vision where the ecological and environmental aspects are dominant. In the post-Rio phase, the discussion about sustainability, though still strongly linked to environmental issues, enters a holistic dimension that includes social elements. The themes of energy and the sustainability of urban areas become central, and the scientific debate stresses the importance of indicators within an assessment approach linked to the relevance of planning and intervention aspects. The focus on the role of food within the debate on sustainability highlights a food security oriented approach in the pre-Rio phase, with a particular attention towards agriculture and third world Countries. In the post-Rio period, the focus of the analysis moves towards developed Countries. Even though food security remains a strongly significant element of the debate, the attention shifts towards consumers and food choices

Dangerous liaisons? The role of inflammation and comorbidities in HIV and SARS-CoV-2 infection

In people living with HIV (PLWH), immune activation and inflammation levels are high even when viral suppression is maintained, potentially contributing to several comorbidities, and hampering the immune response to infections such as the recent SARS-CoV-2 disease 2019 (COVID-19)

Blood Parameters Modification at Different Ruminal Acidosis Conditions

This study evaluated the reliability of various blood parameters to assess the ruminal acidosis in cattle. Six whole heifers were fed three experimental rations in a 3 x 3 Latin square design. The diets had different starch levels: high (HS), medium (MS) or low (CT). Ruminal pH values were continuously measured using wireless sensors. To evaluate the severity of ruminal acidosis, the amount of time per day that the pH was below 5.8, 5.5 and 5.0 was recorded. Blood samples were analyzed for complete blood count, venous blood gas and biochemical profile at 8:00 and 12:00 h. The data were analyzed according to a mixed model. Feeding on CT, MS and HS led to significant differences in DMI (7.7 vs. 6.9 vs. 5.1 kg/d; P < 0.01) which modified the amount of time per day that the pH was below 5.0 (0 vs. 12 vs. 92 min; P < 0.10). Feeding MS and HS diets led to inflammation as indicated by the significant increment of white blood cells when compared to the CT ones and to blood concentration due to the osmotic pressure at ruminal level. Furthermore a significant decrease of bicarbonate level, CO2 partial pressure and oxyhemoglobin was observed as consequence of the activation of metabolic processes aimed to prevent metabolic acidosis. No differences were observed on blood sampling time, suggesting that one daily blood sample was enough to evaluate the metabolic variations related to ruminal acidosis

Distribution of the brown bear (Ursus arctos marsicanus) in the Central Apennines, Italy, 2005-2014

Despite its critical conservation status, no formal estimate of the Apennine brown bear (Ursus arctos marsicanus) distribution has ever been attempted, nor a coordinated effort to compile and verify all recent occurrences has ever been ensured. We used 48331 verified bear location data collected by qualified personnel from 20052014 in the central Apennines, Italy, to estimate the current distribution of Apennine brown bears. Data sources included telemetry relocations, scats and DNA-verified hair samples, sightings, indirect signs of presence, photos from camera traps, and damage to properties. Using a grid-based zonal analysis to transform raw data density, we applied ordinary kriging and estimated a 4923 km2 main bear distribution, encompassing the historical stronghold of the bear population, and including a smaller (1460 km2) area of stable occupancy of reproducing female bears. National and Regional Parks cover 38.8% of the main bear distribution, plus an additional 19.5% encompassed by the Natura 2000 network alone. Despite some methodological and sampling problems related to spatial and temporal variation in sampling effort at the landscape scale, our approach provides an approximation of the current bear distribution that is suited to frequently update the distribution map. Future monitoring of this bear population would benefit from estimating detectability across a range on environmental and sampling variables, and from intensifying the collection of bear presence data in the peripheral portions of the distribution

Blood Parameters Modifi cation at Diff erent Ruminal Acidosis Conditions

Summary Th is study evaluated the reliability of various blood parameters to assess the ruminal acidosis in cattle. Six whole heifers were fed three experimental rations in a 3 x 3 Latin square design. Th e diets had diff erent starch levels: high (HS), medium (MS) or low (CT). Ruminal pH values were continuously measured using wireless sensors. To evaluate the severity of ruminal acidosis, the amount of time per day that the pH was below 5.8, 5.5 and 5.0 was recorded. Blood samples were analyzed for complete blood count, venous blood gas and biochemical profi le at 8:00 and 12:00 h. Th e data were analyzed according to a mixed model. Feeding on CT, MS and HS led to signifi cant diff erences in DMI (7.7 vs. 6.9 vs. 5.1 kg/d; P &lt; 0.01) which modifi ed the amount of time per day that the pH was below 5.0 (0 vs. 12 vs. 92 min; P &lt; 0.10). Feeding MS and HS diets led to infl ammation as indicated by the signifi cant increment of white blood cells when compared to the CT ones and to blood concentration due to the osmotic pressure at ruminal level. Furthermore a signifi cant decrease of bicarbonate level, CO 2 partial pressure and oxyhemoglobin was observed as consequence of the activation of metabolic processes aimed to prevent metabolic acidosis. No diff erences were observed on blood sampling time, suggesting that one daily blood sample was enough to evaluate the metabolic variations related to ruminal acidosis

VI Seminario di studio. Salute globale e scenari attuali. Nuovi contributi di ricerca. Istituto Superiore di Sanità. Roma, 16 aprile 2015. Riassunti

Esiste un bisogno crescente di chiare evidenze scientifiche che possano supportare le politiche per la salute. Questo vale per una serie di aspetti che vanno dai protocolli diagnostici applicati alle malattie trasmissibili, agli approcci terapeutici, agli studi epidemiologici, alla definizione e identificazione dei determinanti della salute con partico lare riguardo alle situazioni di grave diseguaglianza, alle contaminazioni ambientali, alla relazione tra malattia e diritti così come alla relazione tra malattia e diritto. L’obiettivo del Dottorato di Ricerca in Malattie Infettive, Microbiologia e Scienze della Salute è proprio quello di fornire momenti di crescita, finalizzati alla formazione di nuovi ricercatori, nel campo delle malattie infettive, della microbiologia, della parassitologia, della sanità pubblica e medicina sociale, nella medicina legale e nelle scienze forensi. L’obiettivo di questo sesto appuntamento, nell’ambito della collaborazione tra Istituto Superiore di Sanità e l’Università̀ Sapienza di Roma, con i dottorandi è proprio quello di fornire una cornice il più possibile unitaria a un quadro complesso di ricerche di base e applicate nell’ambito degli obiettivi del dottorato.There is a growing need for clear scientific evidence that can support health policies. This applies to a number of issues including diagnostic protocols applied to communicable diseases, therapeutic approaches, epidemiological studies, the definition and identification of the health determinants (with particular reference to situations of severe inequality), environmental contamination, the relationship between disease and rights as well as the relationship between disease and law. The objective of the PhD Program in Infectious Diseases, Microbiology and Health Sciences is precisely to provide moments of intellectual growth, aimed at the trai ning of new researchers in the field of infectious diseases, microbiology, parasitology, public health and social medicine, in forensic medicine and forensic sciences. The objective of the sixth meeting with graduate students, part of the collaboration between the Italian National Institute of Health, and the Sapienza University of Rome, is precisely to provide a frame as unitary as possible to a complex picture of basic and applied research within the objectives of the doctorat

Characteristics of people living in Italy after a cancer diagnosis in 2010 and projections to 2020

BACKGROUND: Estimates of cancer prevalence are widely based on limited duration, often including patients living after a cancer diagnosis made in the previous 5 years and less frequently on complete prevalence (i.e., including all patients regardless of the time elapsed since diagnosis). This study aims to provide estimates of complete cancer prevalence in Italy by sex, age, and time since diagnosis for all cancers combined, and for selected cancer types. Projections were made up to 2020, overall and by time since diagnosis. METHODS: Data were from 27 Italian population-based cancer registries, covering 32% of the Italian population, able to provide at least 7 years of registration as of December 2009 and follow-up of vital status as of December 2013. The data were used to compute the limited-duration prevalence, in order to estimate the complete prevalence by means of the COMPREV software. RESULTS: In 2010, 2,637,975 persons were estimated to live in Italy after a cancer diagnosis, 1.2 million men and 1.4 million women, or 4.6% of the Italian population. A quarter of male prevalent cases had prostate cancer (n\u2009=\u2009305,044), while 42% of prevalent women had breast cancer (n\u2009=\u2009604,841). More than 1.5 million people (2.7% of Italians) were alive since 5 or more years after diagnosis and 20% since 6515 years. It is projected that, in 2020 in Italy, there will be 3.6 million prevalent cancer cases (+\u200937% vs 2010). The largest 10-year increases are foreseen for prostate (+\u200985%) and for thyroid cancers (+\u200979%), and for long-term survivors diagnosed since 20 or more years (+\u200945%). Among the population aged 6575 years, 22% will have had a previous cancer diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: The number of persons living after a cancer diagnosis is estimated to rise of approximately 3% per year in Italy. The availability of detailed estimates and projections of the complete prevalence are intended to help the implementation of guidelines aimed to enhance the long-term follow-up of cancer survivors and to contribute their rehabilitation need

A rat immobilization model based on cage volume reduction: a physiological model for bed rest?

Bed rest has been an established treatment in the past prescribed for critically illness or convalescing patients, in order to preserve their body metabolic resource, to prevent serious complications and to support their rapid path to recovery. However, it has been reported that prolonged bed rest can have detrimental consequences that may delay or prevent the recovery from clinical illness. In order to study disuse-induced changes in muscle and bone, as observed during prolonged bed rest in humans, an innovative new model of muscle disuse for rodents is presented. Basically, the animals are confined to a reduced space designed to restrict their locomotion movements and allow them to drink and eat easily, without generating physical stress. The animals were immobilized for either 7, 14, or 28 days. The immobilization procedure induced a significant decrease of food intake, both at 14 and 28 days of immobilization. The reduced food intake was not a consequence of a stress condition induced by the model since plasma corticosterone levels-an indicator of a stress response- were not altered following the immobilization period. The animals showed a significant decrease in soleus muscle mass, grip force and cross-sectional area (a measure of fiber size), together with a decrease in bone mineral density. The present model may potentially serve to investigate the effects of bed-rest in pathological states characterized by a catabolic condition, such as diabetes or cancer