Fostering the entrepreneurial intention of university students: the role of challenge-based learning approach

Building on the Theory of Planned Behavior, the aim of this paper is to investigate the moderating effect of entrepreneurship education in the relationship between attributes like attitude, social norms and perceived behavioral control, and the entrepreneurial intention of university students. Specifically, the moderation effect of entrepreneurship programs that adopt a Challenge-Based Learning approach is analyzed. To do so, the Italian sample of university students who participated in the 2021 Global University Entrepreneurial Spirit Students' Survey (GUESSS) was used. Results confirm that participation in entrepreneurial programs that adopt a Challenge-Based Learning positively moderate the relationship between Theory of Planned Behavior attributes and entrepreneurial intention of the students. Specifically, the results show that participation in Challenge-Based programs increases the positive effect of attitude on entrepreneurial intention

Physical and mental health of university staff during the Covid-19 pandemic

The 2020 Covid-19 pandemic caused a sudden and massive change in work organizations. One of the major consequences of the crisis was the acceleration towards teleworking, through the specific phenomenon of Mandatory Work From Home: the situations in which workers overnight found themselves to work seven days a week from their home environment, constantly online, often without adequate equipment and little to no preparation. Different workers reacted in different way to this important change, depending on age, gender, family characteristics and other impacting factors. Mandatory work from home and these other variables impacted employees’ physical and mental health, triggering or increasing symptoms of overwork and emotional exhaustion among others. This paper contributes to the literature on the impact of the pandemic on workers’ health by giving an overview of the effects of MWFH on university staff, using Politecnico di Torino as a case study

Petroclival clinoidal folds and arachnoidal membranes of the anteromedial incisural space: clinical anatomy for neuro critical care

A systematic and narrative literature review was performed, focusing attention on the anatomy of the area located at the junction of the sphenoid and the basal portion of the temporal bone (petrous bone, petrous apex, upper petro-clival region) encircled by the free edge of the tentorium, the insertion of the tentorium itself to the petrous apex and the anterior and posterior clinoid processes that give rise to three distinct dural folds or ligaments: the anterior petroclinoid ligament, the posterior petroclinoid ligament and the interclinoid ligament. These dural folds constitute the posterior portion of the roof of the cavernous sinus denominated "the oculomotor triangle". The main purpose of this review study was to describe this anatomical region, particularly in the light of the relationships between the anterior margin of the free edge of the tentorium and the above-mentioned components of the sphenoid and petrous bone

Reduction of the microbial load in meat maturation rooms with and without alkaline electrolyzed water fumigation

Dry-aging is a process during which meat is stored within maturation chambers at low temperatures and low relative humidity, resulting in improved tenderness and flavor development. The cuts are exposed to the atmosphere by hanging them or setting them on racks in the maturation chamber without any protective packaging. Animals and humans are usually the major sources of bacterial food contamination in the meat industry, but other routes might be involved. Therefore, procedures to reduce or eliminate pathogens from surfaces are crucial for an effective hazard analysis critical control point program in the food industry and other environments. This study aimed to assess the survival of Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp., and Staphylococcus aureus on the inner surface of dry aging chambers. Moreover, we tested the efficacy of alkaline electrolyzed water (REW) for its eventual application within a procedure aimed at reducing foodborne pathogens during meat storage. Environmental conditions inside the dry aging cabinet determine a reduction of circa 3 log CFU/cm2 of the considered microorganisms on the inner surface in 24 hours. Additionally, the nebulization of alkaline electrolyzed water with the smoking system increased the count reduction in 24 hours due to environmental conditions for L. monocytogenes (~1 log CFU/cm2) and for S. aureus (~2 log CFU/cm2). In this context, the use of REW can be justified for routine cleaning procedures of the surfaces, with the added value of being safe to handle, not containing environmental pollutants, and making it unnecessary to rinse surfaces due to its instability

Mediterranean diet and colorectal cancer risk : A pooled analysis of three Italian case-control studies

Background: Adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MD) is associated with a reduced risk of several cancers. However, studies conducted in Mediterranean regions are scanty. Methods: To investigate the relation between MD and colorectal cancer risk in Italy, we pooled data from three case-control studies, including a total of 3745 colorectal cancer cases and 6804 hospital controls. Adherence to the MD was assessed using an a priori Mediterranean Diet Score (MDS), based on nine components. Results: Compared with the lowest adherence to the MD (0-2 MDS), the odds ratio (OR) was 0.52 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.43-0.62) for the highest adherence (7-9 MDS), with a significant inverse trend in risk (P<0.0001). The OR for a 1-point increment in the MDS was 0.89 (95% CI 0.86-0.91). The inverse association was consistent across studies, cancer anatomical subsites and strata of selected covariates. Conclusions: This Italian study confirms a favourable role of MD on colorectal cancer risk

Relative accuracy, specificity and sensitivity of a 5′ nuclease Real-Time PCR assay for Salmonella detection in naturally contaminated pork cuts

n the present study the relative sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of a Real-Time PCR assay for Salmonella detection in naturally contaminated pork cuts were evaluated in comparison with the ISO 6579:2004 reference culture method. Meat samples were collected from packaging up to the end of shelf life from 10 different lots over a year. The PCR method included an 18 h pre-enrichment step in buffered peptone water, a DNA extraction step, and a final 5' nuclease Real-Time PCR assay, including an Internal Amplification Control (IAC) and targeting the ttrRSBCA locus. Based on the analysis of 480 sub-units (three sub-units for each sample), the relative sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of the Real-Time PCR assay were 90, 78.7, and 82.9% respectively, corresponding to a Cohen's kappa value of 0.81 (very good agreement). These results suggest the PCR method as a rapid and accurate method for the quick check of meat lots before distribution. The ISO reference method might be applied only on positive Real-Time PCR samples for confirmatory and isolation purposes, mandatory in epidemiological investigations

Entrepreneurship Education: The Effects of Challenge-Based Learning on the Entrepreneurial Mindset of University Students

The aim of this paper is to investigate the implications of Challenge-Based Learning programs on entrepreneurial skills, and on the mindset and intentions of university students, through a quantitative approach. Resorting to an original database, we analyzed the pre- and post-levels of entrepreneurial skills, mindset and intention of 127 students who attended a Challenge-Based Learning program. Results show a positive and significant effect of Challenge-Based Learning programs on the entrepreneurial mindset and skills—that is, financial literacy, creativity, and planning—of the students