Effective Disclosure in the Fast-Fashion Industry: from Sustainability Reporting to Action

[Abstract]: This work, set in the context of the apparel industry, proposes an action-oriented disclosure tool to help solve the sustainability challenges of complex fast-fashion supply chains (SCs). In a search for effective disclosure, it focusses on actions towards sustainability instead of the measurements and indicators of its impacts. We applied qualitative and quantitative content analysis to the sustainability reporting of the world’s two largest fast-fashion companies in three phases. First, we searched for the challenges that the organisations report they are currently facing. Second, we introduced the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) framework to overcome the voluntary reporting drawback of ‘choosing what to disclose’, and revealed orphan issues. This broadened the scope from internal corporate challenges to issues impacting the ecosystems in which companies operate. Third, we analysed the reported sustainability actions and decomposed them into topics, instruments, and actors. The results showed that fast-fashion reporting has a broadly developed analysis base, but lacks action orientation. This has led us to propose the ‘Fast-Fashion Sustainability Scorecard’ as a universal disclosure framework that shifts the focus from (i) reporting towards action; (ii) financial performance towards sustainable value creation; and (iii) corporate boundaries towards value creation for the broader SC ecosystem

Determinación de la evaluación del desempeño en Estadística Aplicada con análisis ROC

Difficulties in learning and teaching statistics have been a subject of interest for researchers and many studies have attempted to describe the factors influencing academic performance in the subject of statistics. The aim of this research is twofold: a) to test for the effects of attendance to statistics sessions, interest in the subject, collective feedback, satisfaction, and the existence of previous experience with applied statistics, in the students’ assessment results in applied statistics; and b) to build an “instrument” to predict which students will find problems to pass the subject. Sample consisted of 166 students of statistics in psychology. Logistic regression and ROC curve analysis were used, and class attendance, collective feedback utility and previous experience with statistics emerged as good predictors of statistics achievement.Las dificultades en la enseñanza y el aprendizaje de la estadística han sido objeto de interés de los investigadores. Muchos estudios han intentado describir los factores que influyen en los resultados de la asignatura estadística. El objetivo de esta investigación es doble: a) evaluar los efectos de asistir presencialmente a las clases de estadística, del interés por la asignatura, del feedback colectivo, de la satisfacción y de la experiencia previa sobre el rendimiento en asignaturas de estadística aplicada; y b) construir un “instrumento” para pronosticar qué estudiantes tendrán problemas para aprobar la asignatura. La muestra consistió en 166 estudiantes de estadística en psicología. Se utilizaron una regresión logística y un análisis de curvas ROC, siendo la asistencia a las clases, el feedback colectivo y la experiencia previa con la asignatura los mejores predictores de un buen rendimiento en estadística

Nanoparticle-based receptors mimic protein-ligand recognition

The self-assembly of a monolayer of ligands on the surface of noble metal nanoparticles dictates the fundamental nanoparticle\u2019s behavior and its functionality. In this combined computational\u2013experimental study, we analyze the structure, organization, and dynamics of functionalized coating thiols in monolayer-protected gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). We explain how functionalized coating thiols self-organize through a delicate and somehow counterintuitive balance of interactions within the monolayer itself and with the solvent. We further describe how the nature and plasticity of these interactions modulate nanoparticle-based chemosensing. Importantly, we found that self-organization of coating thiols can induce the formation of binding pockets in AuNPs. These transient cavities can accommodate small molecules, mimicking protein-ligand recognition, which may explain the selectivity and sensitivity observed for different organic analytes in NMR chemosensing experiments. Thus, our findings advocate for the rational design of tailored coating groups to form specific recognition binding sites on monolayer-protected AuNPs

The Evaluation of a Mind–Body Intervention (MBT-T) for Stress Reduction in Academic Settings: A Pilot Study

This study is aimed at evaluating the outcomes of mind–body transformation therapy (MBT-T), previously known as the creative psychosocial genomic healing experience© (CPGHE). The intervention was aimed at reducing the perceived level of stress in two non-clinical groups of students with dierent educational levels and dierent expertise in the domain of well-being. Whereas participants from the first group were first-year university students, participants from the second group were students attending a post-graduate program in psychotherapy. All participants (n = 159) were exposed to a single session of MBT-T, each group in a separate session. The results of two paired-samples t-tests, conducted separately on the two samples, showed that there was a statistically significant reduction in the participants’ perceived level of stress between pre- and post-intervention states in both samples (t88 = 5.39, p < 0.001; t53 = 4.56, p < 0.001 respectively). The results, therefore, showed that a single session of MBT-T was beneficial in reducing the perceived level of stress in both first-year university students and students attending a post-graduate program in psychotherapy, regardless of educational level and expertise in the domain of well-being

Structure and dynamics of the acyl chains in the membrane trafficking and enzymatic processing of lipids

The regulatory chemical mechanisms of lipid trafficking and degradation are involved in many pathophysiological processes, being implicated in severe pain, inflammation, and cancer. In addition, the processing of lipids is also relevant for industrial and environmental applications. However, there is poor understanding of the chemical features that control lipid membrane trafficking and allow lipid-degrading enzymes to efficiently select and hydrolyze specific fatty acids from a complex cellular milieu of bioactive lipids. This is particularly true for lipid acyl chains, which have diverse structures that can critically affect the many complex reactions needed to elongate, desaturate, or transport fatty acids. Building upon our own contributions in this field, we will discuss how molecular simulations, integrated with experimental evidence, have revealed that the structure and dynamics of the lipid tail are actively involved in modulating membrane trafficking at cellular organelles, and enzymatic reactions at cell membranes. Further evidence comes from recent crystal structures of lipid receptors and remodeling enzymes. Taken together, these recent works have identified those structural features of the lipid acyl chain that are crucial for the regioselectivity and stereospecificity of essential desaturation reactions. In this context, we will first illustrate how atomistic and coarse- grained simulations have elucidated the structure–function relationships between the chemical composition of the lipid’s acyl chains and the molecular properties of lipid bilayers. Particular emphasis will be given to the prominent chemical role of the number of double carbon–carbon bonds along the lipid acyl chain, that is, discriminating between saturated, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated lipids. Different levels of saturation in fatty acid molecules dramatically influence the biophysical properties of lipid assemblies and their interaction with proteins. We will then discuss the processing of lipids by membrane-bound enzymes. Our focus will be on lipids such as anandamide and 2-arachidonoylglycerol. These are the main molecules that act as neurotransmitters in the endocannabinoid system. Specifically, recent findings indicate a crucial interplay between the level of saturation of the lipid tail, its energetically and sterically favored conformations, and the hydrophobic accessory cavities in lipid-degrading enzymes, which help form catalytically active conformations of the selected substrate. This Account will emphasize how the specific chemical structure of acyl chains affects the molecular mechanisms for modulating membrane trafficking and selective hydrolysis. The results examined here show that, by using molecular simulations to investigate lipid plasticity and substrate flexibility, researchers can enrich their interpretation of experimental results about the structure–function relationships of lipids. This could positively impact chemical and biological studies in the field and ultimately support protein engineering studies and structure-based drug discovery to target lipid-processing enzymes

Probiotics Supplementation Attenuates Inflammation and Oxidative Stress Induced by Chronic Sleep Restriction

Background: Insufficient sleep is a serious public health problem in modern society. It leads to increased risk of chronic diseases, and it has been frequently associated with cellular oxidative damage and widespread low-grade inflammation. Probiotics have been attracting increasing interest recently for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Here, we tested the ability of probiotics to contrast oxidative stress and inflammation induced by sleep loss. Methods: We administered a multi-strain probiotic formulation (SLAB51) or water to normal sleeping mice and to mice exposed to 7 days of chronic sleep restriction (CSR). We quantified protein, lipid, and DNA oxidation as well as levels of gut-brain axis hormones and pro and anti-inflammatory cytokines in the brain and plasma. Furthermore, we carried out an evaluation of microglia morphology and density in the mouse cerebral cortex. Results: We found that CSR induced oxidative stress and inflammation and altered gut-brain axis hormones. SLAB51 oral administration boosted the antioxidant capacity of the brain, thus limiting the oxidative damage provoked by loss of sleep. Moreover, it positively regulated gut-brain axis hormones and reduced peripheral and brain inflammation induced by CSR. Conclusions: Probiotic supplementation can be a possible strategy to counteract oxidative stress and inflammation promoted by sleep loss

Vitamin D, a Regulator of Androgen Levels, Is Not Correlated to PSA Serum Levels in a Cohort of the Middle Italy Region Participating to a Prostate Cancer Screening Campaign

: Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most common non-cutaneous malignancy in men worldwide, and it represents the fifth leading cause of death. It has long been recognized that dietary habits can impact prostate health and improve the benefits of traditional medical care. The activity of novel agents on prostate health is routinely assessed by measuring changes in serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels. Recent studies hypothesized that vitamin D supplementation reduces circulating androgen levels and PSA secretion, inhibits cell growth of the hormone-sensitive PCa cell lines, counteracts neoangiogenesis and improves apoptosis. However, the results are conflicting and inconsistent. Furthermore, the use of vitamin D in PCa treatments has not achieved consistently positive results to date. In order to assess the existence of a correlation between the PSA and 25(OH)vitamin D levels as widely hypothesized in the literature, we analyzed the serum PSA and 25(OH)vitamin D concentration on a cohort of one hundred patients joining a PCa screening campaign. Additionally, we performed medical and pharmacological anamnesis and analyzed lifestyle, as sport practice and eating habits, by administering a questionnaire on family history. Although several studies suggested a protective role of vitamin D in PCa onset prevention and progression, our preliminary results revealed a clear absence of correlation between the serum vitamin D and PSA concentration levels, suggesting that vitamin D has no impact on PCa risk. Further investigations enrolling a huge number of patients are needed with particular attention to vitamin D supplementation, calcium intake, solar radiation that influences vitamin D metabolism and other potential indicators of health to confirm the absence of correlation observed in our study

RDA and archives: the search for a bridge between different domains

Since its inception in 2012, the MAB Toscana has operated through multi professional working groups with membership drawn from libraries, archives and museums, having in common a concern on interoperability and shared services. For this reason, the Italian translation of the RDA guidelines, which are proposed as a potentially usable tool for archival fonds and museum collections, has been welcomed with great interest. A working group has tested the application of RDA to the fonds of the Ligue européenne de coopération économique, highlighting strengths and weaknesses in relation to archival standards (ISAD-G and ISAAR-CPF). In the meanwhile, the Records in Contexts model (RIC-CM) established by the International Council on Archives was presented in Italy and attracted interest for its provision of relation techniques between entities for archival description, while defining for each of them individual properties.Nowadays, the focus on quality of data produced by archives, libraries and museums in the context of the semantic web makes it possible to launch a debate between professional communities that have been pursuing parallel avenues for too long. The MAB Toscana wanted to conduct the test which has been illustrated here with the aim of contributing to the harmonization of tools and methods for effectively accessing cultural heritage information resources.Fin dalla sua istituzione nel 2012, il MAB Toscana ha operato attraverso gruppi di lavoro multi professionali con soci provenienti da biblioteche, archivi e musei, accomunati dall’interesse verso l’interoperabilità e i servizi condivisi. Per questo motivo, la traduzione italiana delle linee guida RDA, che vengono proposte come uno strumento potenzialmente utilizzabile per i fondi archivistici e le collezioni museali, è stata accolta con grande interesse. Un gruppo di lavoro ha testato l’applicazione di RDA per i fondi della Ligue européenne de coopération économique, evidenziandone i punti di forza e le debolezze in relazione agli standard archivistici (ISAD-G e ISAAR-CPF). Nel frattempo, è stato presentato in Italia il Records in Contexts model (RIC-CM) stabilito dal Consiglio Internazionale degli archivi, che ha suscitato interesse per il suo provvedere alle relazioni tecniche tra le entità della descrizione archivistica, definendo nel mentre per ciascuna di esse proprietà peculiari.Attualmente, l’attenzione alla qualità dei dati prodotti da archivi, biblioteche e musei nel contesto del Web semantico permette di avviare un dibattito tra comunità professionali che hanno seguito strade parallele per troppo tempo. Il MAB Toscana ha voluto condurre il test che è stato qui illustrato con l’obiettivo di contribuire all’armonizzazione degli strumenti e dei metodi per accedere in modo efficace alle risorse informative del patrimonio culturale

Pharmacophore Hybridization To Discover Novel Topoisomerase II Poisons with Promising Antiproliferative Activity

We used a pharmacophore hybridization strategy to combine key structural elements of merbarone and etoposide and generated new type II topoisomerase (topoII) poisons. This first set of hybrid topoII poisons shows promising antiproliferative activity on human cancer cells, endorsing their further exploration for anticancer drug discovery