Mobile App in Health: Improving User Awareness Regarding Own Health

Knowledge is more and more a strategic resource for health organizations while information & communication technology earns an important role for sharing knowledge and information among people in and out organizations. these conditions satisfy specific demands related to the new emerging information needs, asking for a change in relationships and effective communication. so, the medicine apps represent an emerging and rapidly developing framework for health system, able to contribute to its quality and efficiency. The same u.s. supervisory authority activated in the last years an appropriate study in order to control the medical applications downloaded directly through mobile devices and able to influence health performance. this work - with a mixed approach - presents the results of the exploratory and descriptive studies in order to make clear the general dynamics and functionality of the medicine category apps

A modelling approach to Extra Virgin olive oil extraction

In the present work is described a feasibility assessment for a new approach in virgin olive oil production control system. A predicting or simulating algorithm is implemented as artificial neural network based software, using literature found data concerning parameters related to olive grove, process, machine. Test and validation proved this tool is able to answer two different frequently asked questions by olive oil mill operators, using few agronomic and technological parameters with time and cost saving: – which quality level is up to oil extracted from defined olive lot following a defined process (predicting mode); – which process and machine parameters set would determine highest quality level for oil extracted from a defined olive lot (simulating mode)

Digital (Re)Evolution In An Italian Public Administration: Some Implications In Pandemic Era

Nowadays, the COVID-19 pandemic condition has generated an acceleration of change in public administration. The challenges around the COVID‐19 pandemic have further spurred public organizations into action by increasing their awareness of the need to accelerate digital transformation. The digital revolution in public administration is defined as e-government . The context of public administration appears to be increasingly complex and requires skills able to better manage the digital transformation under-way. The role of the Human Resources Manager, in this particular historical phase, in which the work is digitalized, is transformed. The figure of the Human Resources Manager (HR Manager) overlaps with that of the Chief Digital Officier (CDO). In recent years, the role of the Chief Digital Officer has emerged and attracted scholars’ attention. However, the role of the CDO is still in its nascent and not well-defined stages, the role means different things for different organizations. On this basis, the main objective of the research is understanding if the HR manager is also a CDO in this historical phase in public organizations; trying to understand if the CDO is going to play the role of change agent in these organizations. This study is based on qualitative analysis

Cytoprotective and Antigenotoxic Properties of Organic vs. Conventional Tomato Puree: Evidence in Zebrafish Model

In this in vivo study, we investigated cytoprotective and antigenotoxic effects of commercial tomato puree obtained from conventional vs. organic farming systems (pesticides vs. pesticide-free agriculture, respectively). This is relevant as pesticides are widely used in agriculture to prevent pests, weeds, and the spread of plant pathogens. By exposing zebrafish to tomato puree alone and in combination with H2O2 (a well-known genotoxic agent), we analyzed the percentage of fish survival, cell viability, intracellular concentration of reactive oxygen species (ROS), DNA fragmentation index (DFI%), and genomic template stability (GTS%). Fish exposed to organic puree showed higher fish survival and cellular viability, lower DFI% and ROS, and improved GTS%. Our results suggest a higher cytoprotective and antigenotoxic effect of organic pesticide-free tomatoes, probably because the activity of natural phytochemicals is not affected by the presence of toxic residues, which are otherwise produced by pesticides used in conventional farming systems. Our study points out the importance of considering alternative strategies in agriculture to minimize the genotoxic impact of chemical pesticides

Knowledge management in virtual community: some implications in COVID-19 pandemic

To reduce the COVID-19 contagion, the organizations have had to implement new organizational models based on the technology intensive, social distance and the reduction of face-to-face contacts. These conditions have led to the creation of virtual communities. A Virtual Community (VC) can be defined as a social entity which, using ICT, allows the sharing and transfer of knowledge between members of the community, bridging the geographical distance. VC are based on a Human-Device-Human interaction. For this reason, VC are based on the continuous and active participation of members, a rapid access to shared knowledge and reciprocity of information. Also in the healthcare sector, there has been the creation of VC. A VC in the healthcare sector aims to share knowledge related to the delivery of health services, provide support and discuss problems related to health and treatment, share documents and consult doctors. Few studies have focused on the VC in the healthcare sector, from the perspective of knowledge management. This study aims to identify and understand the elements of the VC in the healthcare sector. An explorative-qualitative methodology was used. Mobile applications (M-apps) created by public authorities in Italy were analyzed. The results highlighted that the VC, through the M-apps, is a complex system characterized by a reciprocal relationship between the members. Some aspects, such as trust and functionality of the M-app and speed of response, can allow the success of the virtual community. M-apps are a useful tool for KM and enable to support healthcare sector

A Novel null homozygous mutation confirms <i>CACNA2D2</i> as a gene mutated in epileptic encephalopathy

Contribution to epileptic encephalopathy (EE) of mutations in CACNA2D2, encoding α2δ-2 subunit of Voltage Dependent Calcium Channels, is unclear. To date only one CACNA2D2 mutation altering channel functionality has been identified in a single family. In the same family, a rare CELSR3 polymorphism also segregated with disease. Involvement of CACNA2D2 in EE is therefore not confirmed, while that of CELSR3 is questionable. In a patient with epilepsy, dyskinesia, cerebellar atrophy, psychomotor delay and dysmorphic features, offspring to consanguineous parents, we performed whole exome sequencing (WES) for homozygosity mapping and mutation detection. WES identified extended autozygosity on chromosome 3, containing two novel homozygous candidate mutations: c.1295delA (p.Asn432fs) in CACNA2D2 and c.G6407A (p.Gly2136Asp) in CELSR3. Gene prioritization pointed to CACNA2D2 as the most prominent candidate gene. The WES finding in CACNA2D2 resulted to be statistically significant (p = 0.032), unlike that in CELSR3. CACNA2D2 homozygous c.1295delA essentially abolished α2δ-2 expression. In summary, we identified a novel null CACNA2D2 mutation associated to a clinical phenotype strikingly similar to the Cacna2d2 null mouse model. Molecular and statistical analyses together argued in favor of a causal contribution of CACNA2D2 mutations to EE, while suggested that finding in CELSR3, although potentially damaging, is likely incidental

Maml1 acts cooperatively with Gli proteins to regulate Sonic hedgheog signaling pathway

Sonic hedgehog (Shh) signaling is essential for proliferation of cerebellar granule cell progenitors (GCPs) and its misregulation is linked to various disorders, including cerebellar cancer medulloblastoma. The effects of Shh pathway are mediated by the Gli family of transcription factors, which controls the expression of a number of target genes, including Gli1. Here, we identify Mastermind-like 1 (Maml1) as a novel regulator of the Shh signaling since it interacts with Gli proteins, working as a potent transcriptional coactivator. Notably, Maml1 silencing results in a significant reduction of Gli target genes expression, with a negative impact on cell growth of NIH3T3 and Patched1−/− mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs), bearing a constitutively active Shh signaling. Remarkably, Shh pathway activity results severely compromised both in MEFs and GCPs deriving from Maml1−/− mice with an impairment of GCPs proliferation and cerebellum development. Therefore Maml1−/− phenotype mimics aspects of Shh pathway deficiency, suggesting an intrinsic requirement for Maml1 in cerebellum development. The present study shows a new role for Maml1 as a component of Shh signaling, which plays a crucial role in both development and tumorigenesis

Synergism between bisphenol a exposure and overweight/obesity in increasing the malignancy risk in a cohort of patients with thyroid nodules

BPA exposure conferred higher risk of thyroid cancer only in case of concomitant overweight/obesity, therefore suggesting a synergistic action between BPA and the excess of adipose tissue in promoting thyroid carcinogenesis