Editorial Special Issue: Logistics, networks and sustainability in freight transport

The papers in this Special Issue provide several analyses and descriptions of the relevance of logistics, networks and sustainability in the recent evolution of freight transport flows at the local, national, and global levels. This phenomenon has been determined by several causes. First, the augmented GDP per capita in developed economies has stimulated the demand for an ever-increasing amount and variety of goods. Moreover, a significant share of the productive processes has been outsourced from the developed countries towards the developing ones. The economic reasons that have fostered this delocalization can be traced back to lower labour and investment costs in the latter countries, together with the decrease in unit transport costs. There has consequently been an increase in the complexity of existing freight transport networks and the emergence of new ones (Van Geenhuizen et al., 2007). This evolution has partly been related to the behaviour of logistics firms that, faced with an ever-rising level of competition, have been looking for alternative transport networks involving the implementation of peculiar transport means or of efficient intermodal systems (Beuthe et al., 2004). Moreover, as was mentioned above, new transport networks have emerged on the basis of evolving consumers’ demands and productive processes. This has, on the one hand, implied the urge for logistics firms to reconsider their strategic decisions (Brewer et al., 2001; De Kok and Graves, 2003) and, on the other hand, the opportunity for local and national administrations to take advantage of the international and/or intercontinental hubs of freight transport networks located within their territories (Banister, 2002)

Pituitary apoplexy masquerading as meningitis

Pituitary apoplexy is an uncommon condition and medical emergency that classically presents with abrupt onset of severe headache, nausea, fever, impaired level of consciousness, visual disturbances and a variable degree of ocular paresis. The constellation of signs, symptoms and cerebrospinal fluid findings in keeping with meningitis is considered a rare presentation of pituitary apoplexy and often leads to a misdiagnosis of infectious meningoencephalitis. We present the case of a 52 year old male admitted with a diabetic ketoacidosis who subsequently developed a severe headache with features of meningism. Haematological tests revealed an elevated white cell count and C-reactive protein, and lumbar puncture demonstrated a marked neutrophilic pleocytosis and elevated protein. Ceftriaxone was commenced for the presumptive diagnosis of bacterial meningitis, but resulted in no improvement in the patient’s condition and so imaging studies were performed which revealed the presence of an incidental pituitary macroadenoma with intra lesional haemorrhage, thus providing the diagnosis of pituitary apoplexy. The patient recovered with conservative management consisting of hormonal replacement therapy and continues to follow up at our facility.Keywords: apoplexy, endocrinology, neurosurgery, panhypopituitarism, pituitar

Assessing perceived job quality among seasonal tourism workers: The case of Rimini, Italy

none3noThis article aims at discussing the perceived job quality especially among seasonal workers in the tourism industry through the analysis of a sample of 407 seasonal workers hired in the summer of 2013 in the Province of Rimini, one of the most popular sun, sand and sea tourism destinations in Europe. The identification/construction of a job quality index is the most original contribution of this article as it integrates the subjective components with a selection of objective items related to skills endowment and training opportunities and with a set of job holders’ characteristics, qualifications and occupations. The impact of each component is then evaluated and discussed in the article by means of several statistical and econometric techniques including analysis of variance and cluster analyses as well as ordinary least squares regressions. Results show that the perception of seasonal work seems thus to be more multifaceted than usually assumed. Although it is intrinsically precarious and characterized by objectively bad jobs under many aspects, such as stability, career opportunities and skill requirements, workers’ perception of job quality is mixed, being positively influenced by the assignment to part-time and front-line positions. Such evidence provides relevant insights to design better jobs in the tourism industry and improve its long-term sustainability in contexts characterized by high seasonality.openGuidetti G.; Pedrini G.; Zamparini L.Guidetti, G.; Pedrini, G.; Zamparini, L

Resin-Bonded Prosthesis in Posterior Area to Prevent Early Marginal Bone Resorption in Implants Placed at Tissue Level

Aim: To evaluate the effect of the resin-bonded prosthesis (Maryland bridge) on marginal bone remodeling of implants placed at the tissue level in the posterior region. Methods: Consecutive healthy patients (n = 46) were included in this clinical study. Flapless not-submerged implants were placed with cover screws exposed and positioned approximately 0.5 mm above tissue level. Patients received the implant and a temporary resin-bonded prosthesis (RBP) (n = 22) or only the implant (n = 24). The RBPs were kept in place for 3 months and removed before impressions. The implants received a custom-made abutment and provisional resin crowns followed by definitive cemented metal-ceramic crowns after 2-3 weeks. The marginal bone level (MBL) was evaluated in a single-blind condition on scanned periapical radiographs and assessed mesially and distally (MBL-M/MBL-D). The bone levels of adjacent teeth (CEJ-M/CEJ-D) and the modification of the area between the implant and the mesial/distal teeth (Area-M/Area-D) were measured. All measurements were made at 1, 3 (pre-loading time) and 12 months (post-loading time). Linear regression models were fitted to evaluate the existence of any significant difference. Results: A total of 44 patients (20 Female, 24 Male; Mean age: 53.9 +/- 10.3) completed the study. Two patients were excluded for fractured RBP or de-bonding. The drop-out was of 4.3%. After 12 months, all implants were free from complications. No peri-implantitis or mucositis were observed. The RBP group showed the most stable MBL at 12 months (-0.07 +/- 0.41), statistically different from the non-RBP group (-0.67 +/- 0.52). CEJ-M and CEJ-D were stable in both groups. Conclusion: The proposed approach of the use of RBP creates a more stable marginal bone level around implants placed at the tissue level, resulting in a reliable technique to protect bone tissue from mechanical and occlusal trauma during the healing period and osteointegration

Properties of a novel polydimethylsiloxane endodontic sealer

Abstract Aim: The study aims to assess sealing ability of a novel polydimethylsiloxane-based sealer in simulated wet root canals with wide apex, ion release (calcium and pH) and examine samples using ESEM. Materials and methods: GuttaFlow bioseal, GuttaFlow2, and RoekoSeal Automix (Coltène/Whaledent Inc.) were tested.Roots were prepared to obtain an apical diameter #40 using nickel-titanium rotary files (HyFlex CM, Coltène/Whaledent Inc.), each root was filled with single cone technique and immediately inserted into a simulated socket (filled with 0.02. mL of simulated body fluid) to reproduce the clinical conditions of a wet apical environment. Sealing ability was evaluated as fluid filtration rate at 1, 14, 28 days, and 10 months.After 28 days in simulated body fluid, apices were examined using an Environmental Scanning Electron Microscope (ESEM).Alkalinizing activity and calcium release was evaluated after 3. h and 1, 7, 14, and 28 days.Data were analysed using Kolmogorov-Smirnov test (p <. 0.05). Results: Fluid filtration analysis showed no significant difference within materials. Significant difference was observed between 10 months observation and other time frames (p <. 0.05) of the same group.GuttaFlow bioseal showed a significantly higher alkalinising activity (p <. 0.05). Calcium release ability showed no significant difference through time, however significant differences were observed among materials (p <. 0.05).Observation using ESEM at 28 days after root obturation showed the presence of the materials sealing the wide apical foramen. Conclusions: All materials showed satisfying sealing ability. However due to low calcium release, their use is not suggested when apical barrier formation and periapical bone regeneration are needed. © 2017 Società Italiana di Endodonzi

Peri-Implant And Periapical Oral Bone Defects: Clinical Strategies To Achieve Alveolar Bone Stability And Experimental Bone Regeneration Procedures

Peri implant and periapical bone defects are widespread in the world population. Considering the high number of implant placement and root canal treatment performed every year, resolution of these bone defects will be of predominant interest in the next future. The present project has several aims: The first part of the project aimed to investigate how and what factors affect peri implant bone remodeling process. Microchemical analysis of the peri implant bone interface of retrieved human dental implants was performed. In addition, prospective clinical studies were conducted to evaluate the factors mostly related to peri implant bone loss. The second part of the project aimed to evaluate chemical physical and micromorphological properties of hydraulic calcium silicates based materials (CaSi), which gained a particular attention in the endodontic field. Use of these materials claimed to resolve several complex endodontic complications, however few information is present in literature. These materials were compared with some “gold standard” bioinert materials. Given the attractive biointeractive properties of CaSi based materials, the last part of the study will focus on the design and characterization of new mineral based scaffolds, aimed to be applied in future bone regeneration procedures. Scaffolds, composed of a polymeric matrix were doped with CaSi and calcium phosphates, in order to increase the materials biointeractive properties. A complete characterization of their chemical-physical-mechanical-thermal properties was performed, as well as the evaluation of apatite forming ability (bioactivity) and biocompatibility of these mineral based scaffolds. The combination of Human Periapical-cysts Mesenchymal Stem Cells (hPC-MSC) as a potential strategy to achieve periapical bone regeneration was evaluated. Finally, the angiogenesis potential of these scaffolds was investigated through the growth and proliferation of porcine vascular wall mesenchymal stem cells (pvw-MSC) was performed