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Hygiene programs which comprise the cleaning and sanitization steps are part of the Good Hygiene Practices (GHP) and are considered essential to ensure food safety and quality. Inadequate hygiene practices may contribute to the occurrence of foodborne diseases, development of microbial resistance to sanitizers, and economic losses. In general, the sanitizer resistance is classified as intrinsic or acquired. The former is an inherent characteristic, naturally present in some microorganisms, whereas the latter is linked to genetic modifications that can occur at random or after continuous exposure to a nonnormal condition. The resistance mechanisms can involve changes in membrane permeability or in the efflux pump, and enzymatic activity. The efflux pump mechanism is the most elucidated in relation to the resistance caused by the use of different types of sanitizers. In addition, microbial resistance to sanitizers can also be favored in the presence of biofilms due to the protection given by the glycocalyx matrix and genetic changes. Therefore, this review aimed to show the main microbial resistance mechanisms to sanitizers, including genetic modifications, biofilm formation, and permeability barrier.

In most of the recent intense earthquakes in Italy, a strong subsequent event (SSE) of comparable or higher magnitude was observed. Its effects, in combination with the strong mainshock, may lead to the collapse of already weakened buildings and to a further increase in damage or even in the number of fatalities, with serious consequences for society. Therefore, the forecasting of an SSE is of strategic importance to reduce the seismic risk during the occurrence of a seismic sequence. To this end, we have recently developed the machine learning-based multi-parameter algorithm NESTORE (Next STrOng Related Earthquake). The first MATLAB version (NESTOREv1.0) was applied to Italian seismicity to forecast clusters where the difference between the magnitude of the mainshock Mm and that of the strongest aftershock is less than or equal to 1. These clusters are called type A by the NESTOREv1.0 software, while the other cases are called type B. NESTOREv1.0 is based on nine seismicity features that measure the number of events with M > Mm-2, their spatial distribution, magnitude, and energy trend over time in increasing time intervals following the occurrence of the mainshock. The software identifies seismic clusters above a threshold for mainshock magnitude Mth, finds appropriate thresholds for features to distinguish A and B cases in a training database, and uses them to provide an estimate of the probability that a cluster is of type A in a test set. For the application of NESTOREv1.0 to Italy, we considered both a national and a regional approach. In the first case, we analysed the seismicity recorded by the INGV network from 1980 to 2021, while in the second case we used the seismic catalogue of the dense OGS network in northeastern Italy for the period 1977-2021. In the nationwide application of NESTOREv1.0, we observed an area between Tuscany and Emilia-Romagna with anomalously high seismic activity concentrated in bursts of short duration. Since this area is almost exclusively populated by type B and therefore not suitable for a specific training procedure, we excluded it from the following analyses. In the remaining national area, we trained NESTOREv1.0 with clusters in the time period 1980-2009 (24 clusters) and tested it in the period 2010-2021 (14 clusters). For the regional case, we considered a rectangular area in northeastern Italy, where we could lower Mth due to the higher local density of seismic stations of the OGS seismic network compared to the mean density of the national network. In this area, 13 clusters from 1977 to 2009 were used as training set, and the performance of NESTOREv1.0 was evaluated using 18 clusters from 2010 to 2021. For both approaches, we obtained good results in terms of the rate of correct forecasting of cluster typology. In the 12 hours following the mainshock, the rate is 86% for the nationwide analysis and 89% for the regional analysis, respectively, which supports the application of NESTOREv1.0 on the Italian territory.Funded by a grant from the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation

It is widely known that large earthquakes are followed by aftershocks that can affect numerous facilities in a city and worsen the damage already suffered by vulnerable structures. In this study, we apply NESTORE machine learning algorithm to Greek seismicity to forecast the occurrence of a strong earthquake after a mainshock. The method is based on extracting features used for machine learning and analyzing them at increasing time intervals from the mainshock, to show the evolution of knowledge over time. The features describe the characteristics of seismicity during a cluster. NESTORE classifies clusters into two classes, type A or type B, depending on the magnitude of the strongest aftershock. To define a cluster, a window-based technique was applied, using Uhrhammer's (1986) law. We used the AUTH earthquake catalogue between 1995 and 2022 over a large area of Greece to analyze a sufficiently large number of clusters. The good overall performance of NESTORE in Greece evidenced the algorithm's ability to automatically adapt to the area under study. The best performance was obtained for a time interval of 6 hours after the main earthquake, which makes the method particularly attractive for application in the field of early warning, as it allows estimating the probability of a future hazardous earthquake occurring after a strong initial event. Funded by a grant from the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and Co-funded by the Erasmus+ programme of the European Union (EU).

The spreading of respiratory diseases through deposited saliva droplets is strongly dependent on the water evaporation process that may determine the virus viability due to the increase in concentration of nonvolatile compounds that are harmful for the virus. The drying time of a virus-laden droplet is influenced by environmental conditions, such as relative humidity and temperature, physical properties, such as the features of the surface on which it is deposited, and the wetting regime. Under this perspective, we addressed the modeling of an evaporating sessile droplet resting on a flat smooth surface, extending a previous diffusion-based model from the same authors. The evaporation behavior of sessile droplets of aqueous sodium chloride solutions and the virus viability of a surrogate virus (MS2) have been simulated considering different wetting regimes to account for different types of surfaces, ranging from highly hydrophilic to highly hydrophobic, as well as different ambient conditions, in terms of temperature and relative humidity. The results of calculations were given in terms of time evolution of contact angle, contact radius, mixture volume, and salt concentration, unveiling the importance of different wetting regimes for evaporation behavior and drying time. Longer evaporation times have been observed as temperature decreases and relative humidity increases. With reference to a surrogate virus, we evaluated the virus viability at different selected conditions, observing the classical U-shape of relative viability as a function of relative humidity of the environment at a certain temperature.

Background: Balance and mobility impairments are frequent in people with multiple sclerosis, partly due to cerebellar dysfunctions. Task-oriented behavioural approaches were previously shown to promote physical function. The possibility exists that cerebellar transcranial direct current stimulation (ctDCS) applied during training, known to increase the excitability of the brain, can boost rehabilitation effects through modulation of cerebellum-brain inhibition. Objective: To test the efficacy of cerebellar ctDCS stimulation combined with motor training on mobility and balance in people with multiple sclerosis. Methods: 16 subjects were randomly assigned to receive real- or sham-ctDCS and task-oriented training daily over two weeks in a double-blind, randomised clinical pilot trial. Functional mobility, balance, walking performance and quality of life were tested before and after treatment and at two-week follow-up. Effects of cerebellar stimulation on psychological and executive functions were also recorded. Results: Walking performance, balance and quality of life improved for both groups at post-treatment assessment which was maintained at 2-weeks follow up. A two-way ANOVA revealed a significant time effect for balance and walking performance. A significant interaction effect of time–treatment (F = 3.12, df = 2,26; p = 0.03) was found for motor aspects of quality of life assessment in patients who received real-ctDCS. Conclusions: Task-oriented training improves balance and mobility in people with multiple sclerosis, but ctDCS does not boost motor training effects.

This article presents the first publicly available version of the NExt STrOng Related Earthquake (NESTORE) software (NESTOREv1.0) designed for the statistical analysis of earthquake clusters. NESTOREv1.0 is a MATLAB (www.mathworks.com/products/matlab, last accessed August 2022) package capable of forecasting strong aftershocks starting from the first hours after the mainshocks. It is based on the NESTORE algorithm, which has already been successfully applied retrospectively to Italian and California seismicity. The code evaluates a set of features and uses a supervised machine learning approach to provide probability estimates for a subsequent large earthquake during a seismic sequence. By analyzing an earthquake catalog, the software identifies clusters and trains the algorithm on them. It then uses the training results to obtain forecasting for a test set of independent data to estimate training performance. After appropriate testing, the software can be used as an Operational Earthquake Forecasting (OEF) method for the next stronger earthquake. For ongoing clusters, it provides near-real-time forecasting of a strong aftershock through a traffic light classification aimed at assessing the level of concern. This article provides information about the NESTOREv1.0 algorithm and a guide to the software, detailing its structure and main functions and showing the application to recent seismic sequences in California. By making the NESTOREv1.0 software available, we hope to extend the impact of the NESTORE algorithm and further advance research on forecasting the strongest earthquakes during seismicity clusters.

Conventional Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) that relies on static coefficients is usually based on yearly averages. However, the impacts of electricity supply vary remarkably on an hourly basis. Thus, a company production plan is reassessed to reduce selected LCA impacts due to electricity consumption. To achieve this, the company will need a forecast of hourly LCA impacts due to electricity consumption, which can be directly forecast with the Direct Forecasting (DF) approach. Alternatively, the Electricity Technological Mix Forecasting (ETMF) forecasts the electricity production of the technologies in the mix and subsequently linearly combines it with unitary LCA impact indicators. Here, we assessed different machine learning models to forecast two LCA impact indicators for the consumption of electricity in the Italy-North control zone. The feed-forward neural network (NN) with the ETMF approach was the best perfomer among the assessed forecasting models. In our dataset, recurrent neural networks (RNNs) performed worse than feed-forward neural networks. Due to its better forecasting performance, the ETMF approach was preferred over the DF approach. This was due to its flexibility and scalability with easy updates or expansion of the selected forecast indicators, and due to its ability to assess technology-specific errors in the forecasting. Finally, we propose to adopt the correlation of LCA impact indicators within the dataset to select indicators while avoiding unconscious burden-shifting.

Background: Malaria greatly affects the world health, having caused more than 228 million cases only in 2018. The emergence of drug resistance is one of the main problems in its treatment, demonstrating the need for the development of new antimalarial drugs. Objective: Synthesis and in vitro antiplasmodial evaluation of triazole compounds derived from isocoumarins and a 3,4-dihydroisocoumarin. Methods: The compounds were synthesized in 4 to 6-step reactions with the formation of the triazole ring via the Copper(I)-catalyzed 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition between isocoumarin or 3,4- dihydroisocoumarin azides and terminal alkynes. This key reaction provided compounds with an unprecedented connection of isocoumarin or 3,4-dihydroisocoumarin and the 1,2,3-triazole ring. The products were tested for their antiplasmodial activity against a Plasmodium falciparum chloroquine resistant and sensitive strains (W2 and 3D7, respectively). Results: Thirty-one substances were efficiently obtained by the proposed routes with an overall yield of 25-53%. The active substances in the antiplasmodial test displayed IC50 values ranging from 0.68-2.89 μM and 0.85-2.07 μM against W2 and 3D7 strains, respectively. Conclusion: This study demonstrated the great potential of isocoumarin or 3,4-dihydroisocoumarin derivatives because practically all the tested substances were active against Plasmodium falciparum.

The presence of inhibitors is still an economic bottleneck that needs to be resolved in order to make the biorefineries feasible, requiring the development of technologies capable of improving their competitiveness in the biofuel marketplace. Soluble and insoluble lignin can impair the enzymatic hydrolysis process by inhibition, deactivation, and unproductive adsorption of enzymes. Washing the pretreated biomass or using lignin-blocking additives during saccharification could mitigate these negative effects in future biorefineries. Here, an investigation was performed of the combined mitigation processes, in terms of their technical and economic feasibility in an integrated first and second generation (1G2G) sugarcane biorefinery. Evaluation was made of the impacts of biomass washing and soybean protein addition, separately or in combination, on glucose yields for enzymatic hydrolysis in the presence of high (liquor) and low (buffer) concentrations of soluble inhibitors/deactivators. Combining washing and soybean protein addition provided the highest glucose yields, with an increase of up to 50%. The effect of the mitigation processes could be explained by a combination of catalytic mechanisms acting on both soluble and insoluble lignin. In an industrial context, biomass washing (90 °C, 15% (w/w) solids, 3 steps) followed by soybean protein addition (12% (w/v) solids) provided a cost-competitive methodology for bioethanol production, with an estimated net present value of US$ 9.16 × 107, optimizing hydrolysis process in the 1G2G sugarcane biorefinery.

Two-photon fluorescence calcium imaging allows recording the activity of large neural populations with subcellular spatial resolution, but it is typically characterized by low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and poor accuracy in detecting single or few action potentials when large number of neurons are imaged. We recently showed that implementing a smart line scanning approach using trajectories that optimally sample the regions of interest increases both the SNR fluorescence signals and the accuracy of single spike detection in population imaging in vivo. However, smart line scanning requires highly specialised software to design recording trajectories, interface with acquisition hardware, and efficiently process acquired data. Furthermore, smart line scanning needs optimized strategies to cope with movement artefacts and neuropil contamination. Here, we develop and validate SmaRT2P, an open-source, user-friendly and easy-to-interface Matlab-based software environment to perform optimized smart line scanning in two-photon calcium imaging experiments. SmaRT2P is designed to interface with popular acquisition software (e.g., ScanImage) and implements novel strategies to detect motion artefacts, estimate neuropil contamination, and minimize their impact on functional signals extracted from neuronal population imaging. SmaRT2P is structured in a modular way to allow flexibility in the processing pipeline, requiring minimal user intervention in parameter setting. The use of SmaRT2P for smart line scanning has the potential to facilitate the functional investigation of large neuronal populations with increased SNR and accuracy in detecting the discharge of single and few action potentials.

Background and objectives The treatment of chronic illnesses requires health care professionals (HCPs) to master several nontechnical skills to meet patient care needs. This article aims to describe the rationale and the inductive process through which a self-assessment tool for the nontechnical skills of hemophilia teams was conceived, developed, and tested. Methods Starting from an explorative analysis of hemophilia HCP work experiences, the process followed 3 phases: an in-depth analysis of hemophilia HCP skills; the questionnaire development; and a pilot study. Results Using the voice of HCPs as a starting point, the tool proved to be able to identify precise cross-professional and intercultural challenges as well as related required and/or acquired skills in the hemophilia field. Conclusion The proposed tool may contribute to providing HCPs with strategic knowledge to successfully perform everyday practices, to improve the effectiveness of hemophilia teams and the care model adopted by their centers, and to implement intercultural research in this field. It may be used to propose ad hoc training courses targeted by challenge, in order to fill the major gaps reported by the teams, or targeted by medical specialty or country (and therefore health care system) specificity.

Aims: Embedded system plays a vital role in today’s life. Hence, our interest is in areadelay- energy efficient embedded system design in post-CMOS technology, i.e., QCA. Objectives: The research is focused on efficient area-delay-energy Configurable Logic Block (CLB) design for Field-Programmable Gate Array architecture (FPGA) with successful simulation-based on next-generation technology, Quantum-dot cellular automata. Methods: Each proposed circuit is designed on post CMOS 4 dot 2 electron technology, i.e. QCA (Quantum dot Cellular Automata), is adopted in circuit implementation due to low power dissipation, high clock frequency and high package density. QCADesigner is used to verify the functionality of every circuit. QCAPro tool is used for determining power dissipation. Results: In contrast, a new approach of using de-multiplexer replacing the decoder has been introduced that results in the reduction of the average energy dissipation by almost 57%. A NOR based D flip-flop memory architecture and multiplexer are also used in the lookup table for the configurable logic block. The proposed architecture thus reduces the overall latency. The proposed CLB consists of 6356 QCA cells covering 7.44 um2 area. Write and read latency of proposed CLB are 12 and 7.25 QCA clock, respectively. Conclusion: The present paper concludes that read and write latency reduction occurs; average energy dissipation, leakage, and switching energy dissipation are reduced in a large amount resulting in an advantage of the overall minimization of the latency for the proposed CLB in the process.

In the western Antarctic Peninsula one of the areas the highest warming in the southern hemisphere has been identified. To characterize this tendency, we selected the Lange Glacier (LG) on King George Island, to evaluate: 1) LG surface temperature and dynamics using stakes with temperature data loggers; 2) LG submerged thickness and sea parameters through bathymetry (BT) and 29 CTD stations in front of LG; 3) glacier front (GF) using BT and a Digital Elevation Model (DEM); 4) change in GF position using DEM and historical data of GF width; 5) Calving flux (QC). Our findings showed 85 % of temperatures were above the 0 °C melting point (mean = 5.0 ± 5.2 °C). The stakes had an average ice loss of 9.3 ± 1.3 cm. The LG mean dynamics was 8.8 ± 1.5 m (0.40 ± 0.70 m/day), corroborated by Sentinel-1 satellite images (Offset Tracking = 0.43 ± 0.01 m/day). An intrusion of external waters warmer in the LG bay was identified, which destabilizes the water column due to convection processes. Our findings together indicated a continuous glacial melt that increases its dynamics due to the increase in temperature, with a contribution of fresh water to the Admiralty Bay. Based on historical results and this study, the LG retracement was estimated in 2,492 m between 1956 and 2019. RESUMEN Al occidente de la Península Antártica se ha identificado una de las áreas de mayor calentamiento del hemisferio sur. Para caracterizar esta tendencia, se seleccionó el Glaciar Lange (GL) en la Isla Rey Jorge, con el fin de evaluar: 1) temperatura superficial y dinámica del GL utilizando estacas con sensores de temperatura; 2) espesor sumergido del GL y parámetros del mar a través de batimetría (BT) y 29 estaciones CTD frente al GL; 3) frente de glaciar (FG) utilizando BT y un Modelo Digital de Elevación (MDE); 4) cambio en la posición del FG usando MDE y datos históricos de su ancho; 5) flujo de Calving (QC). Los resultados mostraron que el 85 % de las temperaturas estuvieron por encima del punto de fusión de 0 °C (media = 5,0 ± 5,2 °C). Las estacas arrojaron una pérdida promedio de hielo de 9,3 ± 1,3 cm. La dinámica promedio del GL fue de 8,8 ± 1,5 m (0,40 ± 0,70 m/día), corroborado por imágenes de satélite Sentinel-1 (Offset Tracking = 0,43 ± 0,01 m/día). Se identificó una intrusión de aguas externas más cálidas que las aguas residentes en la bahía del GL, lo cual desestabiliza la columna de agua debido a procesos de convección. Nuestros hallazgos en conjunto indicaron una fusión glaciar continua que aumenta su dinámica debido al aumento de temperatura, con un aporte de agua dulce a la Bahía del Almirantazgo. Según los resultados históricos y este estudio, el retroceso del GL se estimó entre 1956 y 2019 en 2.492 m.

Ammonium carbonates are a group of fertilizer materials that include ammonium bicarbonate, ammonium carbonate hydrate, and ammonium carbamate. They can be synthesized from diverse nutrient-bearing liquid waste streams but are unstable in a moist environment. While extensively utilized several decades ago, their use gradually decreased in favor of large-scale, facility-synthesized urea fertilizers. The emergence of sustainable agriculture, however, necessitates the recovery and reuse of nutrients using conventional feedstocks, such as natural gas and air-derived nitrogen, and nutrient-containing biogenic waste streams. To this extent, anaerobic digestion liquid presents a convenient source of solid nitrogen and carbon to produce solid fertilizers, since no significant chemical transformations are needed as nitrogen is already present as an ammonium ion. This review describes detailed examples of such feedstocks and the methods required to concentrate and crystallize solid ammonium carbonates. The technologies currently proposed or utilized to stabilize ammonium carbonate materials in the environment are described in detail. Finally, the agricultural efficiency of these materials as nitrogen and carbon source is also described.

This article examines people-place relationships in a carbon-intensive area—i.e., heavily dependent on the steel industry and marked by severe environmental degradation—involved in the EU Just Transition Mechanism (Taranto, Italy). Drawing upon a psychosocial perspective grounded on social representations theory, this article focuses on intertwining the sense of place, identity processes, and agency to understand the dynamics of place stigma and identity devaluation. In-depth semi-structured interviews with active residents were thematically and discursively analyzed. The results suggest both theoretical and applied insights. Overall, they highlight a widely shared negative representation of the place related to territorial stigmatization, ambivalent place attachments, and devaluation of place-based and social identities. To cope with such processes and dynamics, identity processes seem to act as self-protective mechanisms both at a personal and social level. The article concludes by inviting a more comprehensive conceptualization of just transition, harm restoration, and related territorial planning to include the psychosocial processes underlying the community’s well-being and identity.

Esta publicación describe el empleo de la tecnología RPA como método complementario durante el censo de lobos marinos chuscos (Otaria flavescens), en la Isla Chincha sur, Ica – Perú, como parte de las actividades programadas por el Instituto del Mar del Perú (IMARPE). Se llevó a cabo el mapeo de las colonias de estos pinnípedos y su posterior clasificación en entorno de Sistemas de Información Geográfico, con el objetivo de comparar los resultados obtenidos por conteo directo en el campo y el conteo de ortofotos generadas por RPA. Los valores totales de los conteos del método directo y de las ortofotos fueron 2300 y 2700 individuos, respectivamente. Si bien no se encontraron diferencias significativas entre ambos conteos, el conteo digital permitió obtener un mayor detalle del número de individuos correspondientes a las categorías crías y hembras. El uso de RPA constituye una herramienta que permite la georreferenciación de cada individuo y la posibilidad de hacer repeticiones del conteo, incluso por diferentes evaluadores.

NESTORE (Next STrOng Related Earthquake) is a recently developed algorithm (Gentili & Di Giovambattista 2017, 2020) to recognize clusters in which a strong mainshock is followed by an aftershock of similar magnitude. Specifically, NESTORE labels clusters as type A if the magnitude difference between the mainshock and its strongest aftershock is less than or equal to 1, otherwise as type B. After an intense earthquake, the prediction of strong following events is strategic for civil protection purposes. In fact, already weakened structures may suffer further damage, increasing the risk of collapse and casualties. The goal of NESTORE is a near real-time estimation of the probability that the ongoing cluster is type A. The software is based on a set of parameters (features) of seismic clusters calculated at increasing time intervals after the mainshock. In particular, the algorithm exploits a training procedure with a feature-based machine learning approach. The features are related to the evolution of the number of events and their space-magnitude distribution over time. To make NESTORE a suitable software for online sharing, we optimized its structure. Specifically, some functions have been improved, further ones have been added, and a new name structure has been introduced to better characterize the three independent modules of NESTORE (cluster identification, training, and testing). This software renovation has been developed in the frame of project “Analysis of seismic sequences for strong aftershock forecasting” funded by a grant from the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation within the collaboration in science and technology between Italy and Japan. We applied this new version of NESTORE to Italian seismicity and in particular to North-Eastern Italy, and obtained information on the features with best performances in terms of type A and B cluster discrimination. Funded by a grant from the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation

espanolToro Muerto (valle del rio Majes, Arequipa-Peru), es uno de los sitios arqueologicos mas grandes del mundo y con mayor cantidad de expresiones petrograficas: en un area de 10 km2 se han registrado 2.584 bloques de rocas grabadas con representaciones geometricas, zoomorficas y antropomorficas. En el 2017, al realizarse las prospecciones de acuerdo con el Proyecto de Investigacion Arqueologica Toro Muerto (PIA-TM), en el extremo norte del sitio, se hallo una colina con 92 petroglifos aun no estudiados (Sector X). En el 2018, se realizo un registro integral y preciso de todo el yacimiento: cada roca cuenta con fichas, fotografias calibradas, dibujos y algunos modelos 3D de rocas. Asimismo, se realizaron levantamientos geodesicos, fotogrametria del terreno, ortofotos, tecnomorfologia y modelo 3D del sector y tambien excavaciones. El presente articulo trata sobre el estudio y la virtualizacion integral del patrimonio cultural rupestre del referido sector. EnglishToro Muerto (valley of the Majes River, Arequipa-Peru), being one of the biggest archaeological sites of Rock Art in the world, gathers an impressive amount of petrographs: within an area of 10 km2, have been registered 2584 rocks engraved with geometrical, zoomorphic and anthropomorphic representations. In 2017, during prospections for the execution of the Toro Muerto Archaeological Research Project (PIA-TM, its abbreviation in Spanish) in 2017 has been discovered a Hill with 92 petroglyphs in the extreme north of Toro Muerto, not studied yet (“Sector X”). In 2018, the sector was completely documented creating one of the most exclusive registers of the site. Each rock counts with a file, calibrated photographs, drawings and for some rocks even 3D models. Additionally geodesic data as well as photogrammetric data was collected, ortophotographs taken and 3D and tecnomorphologic models of the sector developed and some excavations realized. This article is a case study about the integral virtualization of the Rock Art Cultural Heritage of the aforementioned sector.

Here we show the possibility to forecast the hourly day-ahead electricity consumption mix exploiting a deep learning model. Thus, in the context of the proposed life cycle assessment (LCA) aware scheduling framework, a production scheduling could be optimized to adapt its load profile in those hours that are predicted to have a lower environmental impact. The objective functions of the optimization would therefore be the LCA impacts of the consumed electricity mix. The increase in detail in the accounting can also be exploited to complement the life cycle inventory, allowing the overall assessment to be more adherent to reality.

ADVANCES IN THE PRODUCTION AND FORMULATION OF MICROBIAL INOCULANTS FOR A MORE SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE. The wide application of beneficial microorganisms in agriculture as inoculants to combat pests and diseases and/or to improve soil fertility and the nutrients availability for plants has been considered as an effective and more sustainable alternative than chemical fertilizers and agricultural defensives. However, it is necessary to examine all processing steps of these bio-based products under a more integrated view including the type of microorganisms and the whole production process in order to reduce dependence on synthetic chemical inputs. Here, recent developments on the production and formulation technologies of microbial inoculants and the main types of inoculants currently applied in agriculture are addressed. The different types of microbial formulations are compared with emphasis on the encapsulation technology. Moreover, the application of biofertilizers in seed coating and a new approach to apply biocomposites as fertilizers are discussed, presenting the main challenges and future perspectives to promote more sustainable agriculture practices.

We assessed the effectiveness of lyophilised banked human milk (HM) as a fortifier to feed very-low-birth-weight infants (VLBWI). This study aimed to evaluate the safety and tolerability of HM with HM lyophilisate as an additive compared with the standard additive (cows’ milk protein). In this phase I double-blind randomised controlled clinical trial, set in the intensive and intermediate care units of a tertiary hospital, forty VLBWI were enrolled and allocated into two groups: HM plus HM lyophilisate (LioNeo) or HM plus commercial additive (HMCA). The inclusion criteria were preterm infants, birth weight 750–1500 g, small or adequate for gestational age, exclusively receiving donor HM, volume ≥ 100 ml/kg per d and haemodynamically stable. Participants were followed up for 21 consecutive days. The primary outcome measures were necrotising enterocolitis (NEC), late-onset sepsis (LOS), death, gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding or perforation, diarrhoea, regurgitation, vomiting and abdominal distension. The LioNeo and HMCA groups had similar weights at baseline. The regression models showed no differences between the groups in terms of the primary outcomes. Diarrhoea, GI perforation, NEC and LOS were absent in the LioNeo group (one LOS and one NEC in the HMCA group). Multiple regression analysis with the total volume of milk as a covariate did not show significant differences. The lyophilisation of donor HM was considered safe and tolerable for use in stable haemodynamically VLBWI.

This chapter discusses how social psychology can offer theoretical contributions for a better understanding of the relations between the institutional and public spheres and how this may impact change in ecological matters. First, it introduces the difference between natural and agreed—or chosen—limits to human action and draws on Sophocles’s Antigone to illustrate this and discuss how legitimacy has roots in the many heterogeneous values of the public sphere/consensual universe, while legality arises from the institutional/reified sphere. Recalling some empirical research in the area of social studies of sustainability, it then shows how a social representations perspective can help us understand the dynamic and interdependent relations between the institutional or reified sphere and the consensual or common sense universe—and their implications for social change and continuity.

The potential of furan-based epoxy thermosets as a greener alternative to diglycidyl ether of Bisphenol A (DGEBA)-based resins has been demonstrated in recent literature. Therefore, a deep investigation of the curing behaviour of these systems may allow their use for industrial applications. In this work, the curing mechanism of 2,5-bis[(oxiran-2-ylmethoxy)methyl]furan (BOMF) with methyl nadic anhydride (MNA) in the presence of 2-methylimidazole as a catalyst is analyzed. In particular, three systems characterized by different epoxy/anhydride molar ratios are investigated. The curing kinetics are studied through differential scanning calorimetry, both in isothermal and non-isothermal modes. The total heat of reaction of the epoxy resin as well as its activation energy are estimated by the non-isothermal measurements, while the fitting of isothermal data with Kamal’s autocatalytic model provides the kinetic parameters. The results are discussed as a function of the resin composition. The global activation energy for the curing process of BOMF/MNA resins is in the range 72–79 kJ/mol, depending on both the model used and the sample composition; higher values are experienced by the system with balanced stoichiometry. By the fitting of the isothermal analysis, it emerged that the order of reaction is not only dependent on the temperature, but also on the composition, even though the values range between 0.31 and 1.24.

This study proposes the use of green matrices of cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) and a nanocomposite of CNC with carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) for efficiently encapsulating the plant biocontrol agent Trichoderma harzianum. Beads containing spores of the microorganism were produced by dripping dispersions of the polymers into a CaCl2 coagulation bath, resulting in the crosslinking of CNC chains by Ca2+ ions. SEM micrographs evidenced the T. harzianum spores in the encapsulation matrices. X-ray microtomography confirmed the random distribution of the microorganism within the polymeric matrix and the presence of internal pores in the CNC:CMC:spores beads. Encapsulation in the CNC:CMC nanocomposite favored growth of the fungus after 10 days of storage at room temperature, which could be attributed to the presence of internal pores and to the extra carbon source provided by the CMC. The results indicated that CNC:CMC nanocomposites are promising materials for protecting and delivering microbial inoculants for agricultural applications. Made available in DSpace on 2022-09-27T21:06:28Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 P-Encapsulation-of-Trichoderma-harzianum-with-nanocellulose-carboxymethyl.pdf: 5225096 bytes, checksum: 2704abc9d765e28cd40bdb4e8589b81a (MD5) Previous issue date: 2022

Cocaine use disorder is a significant public health issue without a current specific approved treatment. Among different approaches to this disorder, it is possible to highlight a promising immunologic strategy in which an immunogenic agent may reduce the reinforcing effects of the drug if they are able to yield sufficient specific antibodies capable to bind cocaine and/or its psychoactive metabolites before entering into the brain. Several carriers have been investigated in the anti-cocaine vaccine development; however, they generally present a very complex chemical structure, which potentially hampers the proper assessment of the coupling efficiency between the hapten units and the protein structure.The present study reports the design, synthesis and preclinical evaluation of two novel calix[The preclinical assessment corresponded to the immunogenicity and dose-response evaluation ofBoth calix[The present results demonstrate the potential of

Background: Assessing the viewpoints of health care professionals concerning their work with chronic patients is a relatively new research topic, widely overlooked in the literature. However, understanding their subjective work experience is highly relevant for identifying problems and perceived resources, enhancing health service organisation, improving relationships or communication with patients, and maintaining well-being. Purpose and method: Qualitative data from the "Haemophilia Experience, Results and Opportunities" Initiative - a research program aimed at investigating the psychosocial aspects of hemophilia - were used to evaluate the experiences of 62 professionals from seven countries around the world. Semi-structured interviews were submitted to thematic analysis of elementary contexts with the aid of T-Lab software. Results: Five dominant themes emerged, identifying the main challenges that professionals have to deal with in their everyday work practice: caring for impaired adult patients; handling policies and stakeholders; providing counselling on diagnosis and reproductive choices; considering the role of family dynamics; coping with adolescent patients. Conclusion: The outcomes of the study provide an opportunity to develop the area of the non-technical skills in the core curriculum of those who work with chronic illnesses by focusing on cross-professional competences and by improving a comprehensive care model for hemophilia patients.

Purpose On the verge of what has been hailed as the next technological revolution, the purpose of this paper is to examine scientific and popular definitions of the social robot, reflecting on how expert and lay spheres of knowledge interact. Drawing on social representations theory, this paper aims to elucidate how social robots are named and classified, and to examine the dynamics contributing to their definition. Design/methodology/approach Scientific and popular definitions of the social robot were investigated by conducting: a systematic review of relevant articles published from 2009 to 2015 in the International Journal of Social Robotics; an analysis of the definitions retrievable from the scientific literature using Google Scholar; and an assessment of the interest in the public sphere, and of the popular definitions retrievable online (by inputting “social robot” in Google Trends, and in Google). Findings Scientific definitions of the social robot adopt two strategies, one drawing on and merging previous definitions, the other proposing new, visionary, forward-looking definitions. Popular online definitions of social robots attribute new emotional, linguistic and social capabilities to their physical body. Research limitations/implications The findings need to be confirmed by further research, given the limited size of the data sets considered, and the distortions in the data due to filters and the opacity of the online tools employed. Originality/value Both scientific and non-scientific definitions see social robots as being capable of interacting with and working for humans, but attribute them a different degree of (functional or full) autonomy. In future, any controversy over the connotation of social robots is likely to concern their sociality and autonomy rather than their functionality.

Objective The aim of this study was to describe a variation of the breast reconstruction technique with myocutaneous flap of the fat-grafted latissimus dorsi muscle and its outcomes and evaluation of patient satisfaction. Method This prospective cohort study included 18 patients and 19 reconstructed breasts, with 1 bilateral case. There were 7 cases of late reconstruction and 11 cases of immediate reconstruction. The flap was prepared with fat at the time of surgery, which was injected before its preparation. The evaluation of the results regarding shape, volume, and symmetry was performed through a satisfaction scale completed by patients and 2 physicians from 12 to 18 months after reconstruction. Results On average, 171.31 mL of fat was injected (100-275 mL); the average time of unilateral surgery was 3 hours 42 minutes (3 hours to 4 hours 30 minutes). After a mean follow-up of 26.38 months (13-38 months), we did not observe complications of this new technique. In the evaluation performed by patients regarding the shape, volume, and symmetry, more than 80% rated the outcome as excellent and good, and the evaluations by the medical team were also satisfactory. In the comparative analysis between immediate and late reconstruction, patients who underwent immediate reconstruction were more satisfied. Conclusions This reconstruction technique with autologous fat injection was effective, with satisfactory and long-lasting results, and without the requirement for implants to set breast shape and volume.

Life cycle assessment (LCA) is a well-established methodology to quantify the environmental impacts of products, processes, and services. An advanced branch of this methodology, dynamic LCA, is increasingly used to reflect the variation in such potential impacts over time. The most common form of dynamic LCA focuses on the dynamism of the life cycle inventory (LCI) phase, which can be enabled by digital models or sensors for a continuous data collection. We adopt a systematic literature review with the aim to support practitioners looking to apply dynamic LCI, particularly in Industry 4.0 applications. We select 67 publications related to dynamic LCI studies to analyze their goal and scope phase and how the dynamic element is integrated in the studies. We describe and discuss methods and applications for dynamic LCI, particularly those involving continuous data collection. Electricity consumption and/or electricity technology mixes are the most used dynamic components in the LCI, with 39 publications in total. This interest can be explained by variability over time and the relevance of electricity consumption as a driver of environmental impacts. Finally, we highlight eight research gaps that, when successfully addressed, could benefit the diffusion and development of sound dynamic LCI studies.

The diffusion of Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) is projected to influence the electricity grid operation, potentially offering opportunities for load-shifting policies aimed at higher integration of renewable energy technologies in the electricity system. Moreover, the examined literature emphasizes electricity as a relevant driver of BEVs Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) results. To evaluate LCA impacts associated to future BEVs diffusion scenarios in Italy, we adopt the Consequential Life Cycle Assessment (CLCA) methodology. LCA conventionally assumes a proportional relation between environmental impact indicators and the functional unit. However, such relation may not be representative if the electricity system is significantly affected by the large-scale diffusion of BEVs. Our study couples the conventional CLCA methodology with the EnergyPLAN model through three different approaches, which progressively include BEV-specific dynamics, to capture correlations between additional BEVs fleets and the electricity grid operation, that affectthe mix of electricity consumed in the use phase by BEVs, in Italy in 2030. Here we show that if renewables capacity is not additionally installed in response to additional BEVs electricity demand, the marginal Climate change total indicator of BEVs may increase up to ~40%, with respect to a business-as-usual scenario. Moreover, we quantitatively support the literature indications on how to properly estimate BEVs LCA impacts. Indeed, we weight electricity LCA impacts on hourly BEV charge profiles, finding that this approach best captures BEVs interdependence with the electricity system. At low BEVs diffusion, this approach clearly shows the potential BEVs capability to increase exploitation of renewable energy, whereas at high BEVs diffusion, it fully highlights potential responses of fossil fuel power plants to additional electricity demand. Due to these dynamics, we find that linearly scaling the business-as-usual scenario results would lead to an underestimation of 12.45 Mton CO2-eq of the total impacts of an additional BEVs fleet, under a 100% BEV diffusion scenario. Our methodology could be replicated with different energy system models, or at various geographical scales. Our framework could be coupled with comprehensive assessments of transport systems, to further provide robustness to policymakers by including non-linearities in the mix of electricity consumed during the use phase of BEVs.

Glaciers are a key indicator of climate change. Since the second half of the 20th century several glaciers in Antarctica have retreated. In situ measurements of glacier mass balance in the Antarctic Peninsula and its surrounding islands are very scarce because this area is inaccessible due to rough terrain and inhospitable atmospheric conditions, but there is a necessity in study peripheral glaciers dynamics to know their future contribution to sea level rise. To fill this gap, remote sensing is an alternative tool to enable timely monitoring of dynamic glaciers and quantifying spatial-temporal changes. Here we combine remote sensing (satellite imaginary and aerial photos) and in situ measurements to calculate mass balance for the Znosko glacier (King George Island, Antarctic Peninsula) and compare the accuracy of this methods. Two field campaigns were carried out during the XXVI and XXVII Peruvian Antarctic Operation (austral summer 2018/19 and 2019/20). 19 stakes were fixed on the glacier surface, in situ mass balance data were collected from yearly stake measurements. Also, digital elevation models were generated through aerial photogrammetry and auxiliary data from the ICESat-2 mission were included into the analysis. We find that mass balances estimated with these methods are consistent and confirm the mass loss (heterogeneous pattern between accumulation and ablation zone) and retreat of Znosko glacier. We illustrate how participatory mapping (interdisciplinary team) can complement initial remote sensing land cover classification and assist ground checks.

In vivo two-photon calcium imaging is a powerful approach in neuroscience. However, processing two-photon calcium imaging data is computationally intensive and time-consuming, making online frame-by-frame analysis challenging. This is especially true for large field-of-view (FOV) imaging. Here, we present CITE-On (Cell Identification and Trace Extraction Online), a convolutional neural network-based algorithm for fast automatic cell identification, segmentation, identity tracking, and trace extraction in two-photon calcium imaging data. CITE-On processes thousands of cells online, including during mesoscopic two-photon imaging, and extracts functional measurements from most neurons in the FOV. Applied to publicly available datasets, the offline version of CITE-On achieves performance similar to that of state-of-the-art methods for offline analysis. Moreover, CITE-On generalizes across calcium indicators, brain regions, and acquisition parameters in anesthetized and awake head-fixed mice. CITE-On represents a powerful tool to speed up image analysis and facilitate closed-loop approaches, for example in combined all-optical imaging and manipulation experiments., We thank Dr. C. Arlt and Dr. C. Harvey for sharing mesoscopic imaging data, Dr. A. Sattin for sharing VPM recordings, Dr. S. Fiorini and Dr. A. Barla for discussion and comments on algorithm development, Dr. D.S. Kim and the GENIE project and Dr. J.M. Wilson for constructs, and Dr. S. Succol for technical support. This work was supported by the ERC-CoG (NEURO-PATTERNS, 647725), NIH Brain Initiative (U19 NS107464), and H2020-ICT (DEEPER, 101016787). M.P. is a Marie Sklodowska-Curie fellow (EnlightenedLoom, 101024523).

Around the world there is a consensus of the importance of knowladge the ice thickness distribution and total ice volume for estimating future glacier change for both glaciological and hydrological...

The Alto Tiberina normal fault (ATF) in Central Italy is a 50 km long crustal structure that deepens at a low angle (15-20◦). Events on the fault plane are about ten times less than those located i...

O presente trabalho visa analisar o segmento de ecoturismo como estratégico para destinos frágeis que necessitam da preservação ambiental para sua atratividade. A escolha do tema se dá pelo fato de se observar que na atividade turística, os segmentos de turismo de sol e de cultura são de forma geral, priorizados por grande parte dos destinos turísticos, não só no Estado do Rio de Janeiro como em outras regiões do país. Apesar de algumas localidades fluminenses já destinarem grande parte da sua atenção e de recursos ao desenvolvimento do ecoturismo, observa-se que muito ainda pode ser feito em termos de direcionamento de políticas públicas e privadas. O presente estudo tem como objetivo investigar destinos semelhante ao da Vila do Abraão, podem ser beneficiados ao utilizarem ferramentas de place branding pautado no segmento de ecoturismo e assim contribuir para sua sustentabilidade. Para se atingir tal objetivo, a pesquisa foi realizada por meio de levantamento de dados secundários e primários. Os resultados apontaram aspectos negativos de se priorizar a promoção de destinos de sol e praia, em conjunto com produtos e serviços relacionados com o semento de ecoturismo. Os dados apontam ainda que esta estratégia favorece para atrair pessoas com hábitos de viagem mais conscientes e com maior cuidado em se preservar o destino e contribuir para a economia local e, diretamente, para a sustentabilidade local. Além disso, o estudo é base para sua proposta de elaboração de um Manual de Orientação para Estratégia de Marketing de Destinos Ecoturísticos.

To determine the biological and physical mechanisms between Lange glacier and its pro-glacier marine system located in Almirantazgo bay, King George Island, Antarctica, specific variables were determined through remote sensing approaches shown in this work. These preliminary results will allow relating the dynamics of both systems, the glacier, and the marine ecosystem. The information for the estimation of surface flux velocity of the glacier was derived through Radar satellite images (Sentinel-1) by means of offset tracking, the bathymetry was derived from a Multi-beam Echo Sounder, and the Digital Elevation Modell was obtained by means of a Remotely Piloted Aircraft; Finally, the biological parameters were derived from MODIS and OLCI images for the analysis of satellite data to have a first insight to the characteristics of the marine system. This information will help to build the first frame needed to study through remote sensing approaches, the mechanisms that govern the interface among “Lang Glacier” and the “Almirantazgo Bay” at King George Island, Antarctica.

Summary Two-photon functional imaging using genetically encoded calcium indicators (GECIs) is one prominent tool to map neural activity. Under optimized experimental conditions, GECIs detect single action potentials in individual cells with high accuracy. However, using current approaches, these optimized conditions are never met when imaging large ensembles of neurons. Here, we developed a method that substantially increases the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of population imaging of GECIs by using galvanometric mirrors and fast smart line scan (SLS) trajectories. We validated our approach in anesthetized and awake mice on deep and dense GCaMP6 staining in the mouse barrel cortex during spontaneous and sensory-evoked activity. Compared to raster population imaging, SLS led to increased SNR, higher probability of detecting calcium events, and more precise identification of functional neuronal ensembles. SLS provides a cheap and easily implementable tool for high-accuracy population imaging of neural GCaMP6 signals by using galvanometric-based two-photon microscopes., Graphical Abstract, Highlights • Smart line scanning (SLS) restricts imaging to the most informative image pixels • SLS substantially increases the signal-to-noise ratio of population GCaMP6 imaging • SLS leads to higher probability of detecting calcium events in population imaging • SLS achieves more precise identification of functional neuronal ensembles, Using galvanometric mirrors and fast smart line scan trajectories, Brondi et al. present a method to significantly increase the signal-to-noise ratio in population GCaMP6s imaging. The method is validated in anesthetized and awake mice, and it leads to more precise identification of functional neuronal ensembles.

The application of industrial symbiosis to chemical processes is made possible by considering physical by-products as new sources in spite of potential waste. The by-product acts as a substitution of raw materials in symbiotic chemical companies, possibly taking into account geographical proximity. While advantages appear evident in terms of reduced cost savings and resource consumption, benefits related to other environmental impacts seem to be less clear. This chapter deals with different case studies of industrial symbiosis and how these are treated according to literature, regulatory approaches and main guidelines. Once the different approaches and their range of applications are presented, the chapter describes the main barriers and strengths in the application of these rules to the chemical sector. Finally, the identified approaches are applied to a specific case of industrial symbiosis in the chemical sector by illustrating how the single data can be calculated and can quantitatively change. This chapter aims to guide the LCA practitioner through an agile set of rules in modelling industrial symbiosis in an LCA perspective and to provide a quantitative evaluation of the effects that a modelling choice may produce with respect to another.

Orientador: Jorge Herman Behrens Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Engenharia de Alimentos Resumo: Iogurte grego ou Labneh é um iogurte concentrado que apresenta maior teor de sólidos, em torno de 24% totais. O iogurte grego apresenta uma textura mais firme obtida pela remoção parcial da água (método tradicional) ou pelo uso de centrífugas ou membranas que concentram os sólidos do produto. No Brasil, é também comum a adição de proteínas lácteas, amido e gomas vegetais, sozinhos ou em combinação, para melhorar as propriedades de textura e impedir a sinérese. Este trabalho teve como objetivo compreender as razões sensoriais e não sensoriais que justifiquem a aceitabilidade do iogurte grego pelo consumidor brasileiro. Para tanto, foram realizados dois estudos: no primeiro, as técnicas de Completamento de Sentença e da Listagem livre (n = 400 consumidores) foram utilizadas para coletar a percepção sobre o produto; no segundo, o perfil sensorial e aceitabilidade foram avaliados usando ferramentas como o Napping (n = 55), Check-all-that-apply (CATA) e escala hedônica (n = 120 consumidores). Sete amostras comerciais de iogurte grego tradicional foram utilizadas para caracterização sensorial, sendo também analisadas por Perfil de Textura Instrumental (TPA) e Microscopia Eletrônica de Varredura (SEM) para avaliar a estrutura física dos produtos. Dentre as características sensoriais do iogurte grego, o sabor e a textura mostraram-se como direcionadores de escolha do produto. Os consumidores disseram preferir um iogurte grego mais firme, denso e cremoso, além de saborizado - produtos que continham aromatizantes receberam melhores escores de aceitabilidade em relação às amostras que não continham. Por outro lado, a principal razão não sensorial relatada que desencoraja a compra do iogurte grego foi o preço. TPA mostrou as diferenças significativas (p

A prematuridade é a principal causa de morte em recém-nascidos, sendo um problema de saúde global, pois, no mundo, a cada 15 bebês nascidos prematuramente, um vai a óbitos. Os avanços tecnológicos na saúde contribuem para o aumento da sobrevida de bebês cada vez mais imaturos e, associado a este avanço há o aumento de dependência de tecnologias permanentes ou temporárias por estes bebês para auxílio da sobrevida ou qualidade de vida. Visto isso, sabe-se da importância da presença precoce dos pais nas unidades neonatais e da educação destes para os cuidados domiciliares com seus filhos. Objetivou-se assim, desenvolver um protótipo de um aplicativo móvel sobre o cuidado com o bebê pré-termo, com necessidades especiais e dependente de tecnologia, para a família. Trata-se de uma pesquisa aplicada que segue os preceitos do método do Design Instrucional Construtivista para o desenvolvimento do aplicativo móvel, de forma dinâmica, a partir da identificação na literatura das demandas de conhecimento dos pais de bebês com necessidades especiais e dos tópicos a serem abordados, desenvolvendo design visualmente ergonômico, intuitivo em relação à usabilidade e agrupamento de saberes, multimídia e que representasse a clientela, a fim de garantir significado à aprendizagem. Como produto final, o protótipo do app Baby Care Tech está organizado em conteúdos sobre colostomia, gastrostomia, oxigenoterapia, sonda enteral e traqueostomia, subdivididos em 22 telas, além do ícone do app, implementadas de multimeios (textos e hipertextos, vídeos, animações, figuras, áudios e games) que abordam desde cuidados diários como manutenção, higiene e monitorização, até sinais de alerta e possíveis problemas que o bebê possa apresentar, favorecendo a interatividade, motivação, autonomia e integração com a realidade na busca da aprendizagem significativa em que haja apreensão e modificação dos saberes. Para tanto, foi utilizada uma linguagem simples e adequada, associada a ícones com objetivo de favorecer intuição e entendimento, além da definição de cores claras que destaquem as ilustrações e escritas, a fim de gerar contraste para destacar os dispositivos temas do material, gerar maior legibilidade, torna-lo visualmente aprazível, assim como retratar a população alvo. Por fim, o protótipo do app desenvolvido é parte de um novo e relevante nicho, uma vez que há a demanda educacional dos cuidadores dessas crianças e a quase inexistência de tecnologias desenvolvidas para esta clientela, bem como, o fato de vivenciarem a era digital. Os usuários do app, muitos nativos e outros imigrantes digitais, conectados às tecnologias nos diferentes setores da vida e experiências têm demonstrado que as ferramentas contribuem com a aprendizagem e devem estar cada vez mais presentes no processo educacional. Em estudos futuros, em continuidade, pretende-se findar o desenvolvimento deste aplicativo, validar com especialistas e usuários e integrá-lo aos serviços de saúde Prematurity is the leading cause of newborns death, being a global health problem because in the world, every 15 babies born prematurely, one dies. The technological advances in health contribute to the increase of the survival of babies increasingly immature and, associated to this advance, there is a raise in the dependence of permanent or temporary technologies by these babies to help their survival or quality of life. Given this, we know the importance of early parental presence in neonatal units and their education to home care their children. The aim of this project was to develop a mobile application prototype for the family about preterm baby cares, with special needs and dependent on technology. This is an applied research based on the precepts of the Constructivist Instructional Design method for the development of the mobile application, dynamically, starting by the identification in the literature of the knowledge demands of the parents of babies with special needs and the topics to be approached, developing visually ergonomic design, intuitive in relation to the usability and grouping of knowledge, multimedia and that represents the clients, in order to guarantee meaning to the learning. As a final product, the prototype of the Baby Care Tech app is organized into contents about colostomy, gastrostomy, oxygen therapy, enteral catheter and tracheostomy, subdivided into 22 screens, as well as the app icon, implemented in multimedia (texts and hypertexts, videos, animations, figures, audios and games) that range from daily care such as maintenance, hygiene and monitoring, to warning signs and possible problems that the baby may present, favoring interactivity, motivation, autonomy and integration with reality in the search for meaningful learning in which there is apprehension and modification of the knowledge. For that, a simple and suitable language was used, associated with icons with the purpose of favoring intuition and understanding, as well as the definition of clear colors that highlight the illustrations and writings, in order to contrast the material themes of the material, generate greater legibility, visually pleasing, as well as represent the target population. Finally, the developed app prototype is part of a new and relevant niche, since there is the educational demand of the caregivers of these children and the almost nonexistence of technologies developed for this clientele, as well as the fact of experiencing the digital era. App users, the most natives and other digital immigrants, connected to technologies in different walks of life and experiences have demonstrated that the tools contribute to learning and should be increasingly present in the educational process. In future studies, in continuity, it intends to finish the development of this application, to validate with specialists and users and to integrate it to the health services

Resumo Objetivo Verificar a aprendizagem cognitiva de mães sobre os cuidados com seus filhos prematuros mediante atividade educativa com base em uma cartilha. Métodos Estudo de abordagem quantitativa e desenho quase-experimental de série temporal, realizado junto a mães de prematuros hospitalizados em duas unidades neonatais de um hospital de alta complexidade. Foram aplicados pré e pós-teste com os grupos controle e experimental com intervalo de dez dias entre as verificações de aprendizagem, analisando desempenho e comparando grupos com testes Wilcoxon e Mann-Whitney. A intervenção constou de atividade educativa com o uso de uma cartilha sobre cuidados ao bebê prematuro, enquanto o grupo controle participou de atividade tradicionalmente oferecida nas unidades neonatais do estudo, sem apoio da cartilha. A coleta de dados foi realizada no mês de outubro de 2016. Resultados Participaram do estudo 18 mães, sendo que oito foram alocadas por conveniência no grupo experimental e dez no grupo controle. Por meio da comparação entre grupos, houve diferença estatisticamente significativa (p=0,027) favorável à utilização da cartilha educativa em associação à educação em saúde para a aprendizagem das mães sobre os cuidados com o filho. Conclusão A cartilha educativa acerca dos cuidados com o bebê prematuro é um recurso que favorece a aprendizagem de mães no tema em questão. Assim, é uma tecnologia importante para a educação em saúde e favorece a construção do conhecimento, podendo ser utilizada nas unidades de saúde como disparador e suporte das discussões e troca de experiências. Resumen Objetivo Verificar el aprendizaje cognitivo de las madres en el cuidado de sus hijos prematuros a través de la actividad educativa basándose en un folleto informativo. Métodos Estudio de enfoque cuantitativo y diseño casi experimental de serie temporal, realizado con las madres de bebés prematuros hospitalizados en dos unidades de neonatología de un hospital de alta complejidad. Se aplicaron pre y postest con los grupos control y experimental, con intervalo de diez días entre las verificaciones de aprendizaje, analizando desempeño y comparando grupos con pruebas Wilcoxon y Mann-Whitney. La intervención constó de actividad educativa con el uso de un folleto sobre cuidados al bebé prematuro, mientras que el grupo control participó de una actividad tradicionalmente ofrecida en las unidades neonatales del estudio, sin apoyo del folleto. La recolección de datos se llevó a cabo en octubre de 2016. Resultados Participaron en el estudio 18 madres, siendo que ocho fueron asignadas por conveniencia en el grupo experimental y 10 en el grupo control. Por medio de la comparación entre grupos, hubo diferencia estadísticamente significativa (p = 0,027) favorable a la utilización del folleto educativo, en asociación a la educación en salud para el aprendizaje de las madres sobre los cuidados con el hijo. Conclusión El folleto educativo sobre el cuidado del bebé prematuro es un recurso que favorece el aprendizaje de las madres en el tema en cuestión. Siendo así, es una tecnología importante para la educación en salud y favorece la construcción del conocimiento, pudiendo ser utilizado en las unidades de salud como disparador y soporte de las discusiones e intercambio de experiencias. Abstract Objective Verify mothers’ cognitive learning on care for their premature infants through an educative activity based on a booklet. Methods Quantitative study with a quasi-experimental time-series design, involving mothers of premature infants hospitalized at two neonatal wards of a high-complexity hospital. A pre and post-test was applied to the control and experimental groups with a ten-day interval between the verifications of learning, analyzing the performance and comparing the groups by means of the Wilcoxon and Mann-Whitney tests. The intervention consisted of an educational activity using a booklet on care for premature infants. The control group participated in an activity traditionally offered at the neonatal wards where the study was undertaken, without the support of the booklet. The data collection took place in October 2016. Results Eighteen mothers participated in the study, eight of whom were allocated by convenience to the experimental group and ten to the control group. Intergroup comparison revealed a statistically significant difference (p=0.027) favorable to the use of the educative booklet in combination with health education for the mothers’ learning on care for their infants Conclusion The educative booklet on care for the premature infant is a resource that favors the mothers’ learning on the theme. Hence, it represents important technology for health education and favors the knowledge construction. At the health services, it can be used as a trigger and support for discussions and experience exchange.

In this paper we examine the use of Twitter and Facebook in two dramatic earthquakes that hit Italy: L’Aquila (in 2009) and Emilia (in 2012). Indeed, disasters disrupt everyday life and engage people in meaning-making processes aimed at recovering meaning and control of their world. In these cases, we argue that the use of social media may contribute to social representations processes and functions: cognitive coping, social sharing of emotions, preserving self-efficacy, boosting identity, and community empowerment. Different methods were adopted to examine the use of social media in the immediate aftermath, a few days after, and in the medium-long term. Differences between the events, combined with the differences between Twitter and Facebook, entailed a multiplicity of uses. Nevertheless, the analyses point to the same conclusions: by fostering new forms of communication and encounters, social media played an increasingly important role during and after the earthquakes. First, they were used for providing information and material coping, then they favored the social sharing of emotions and joint remembering, and finally they contributed to claiming voice and control. Results thus suggest that the use of social media favored different representational functions, which progressively contributed to community empowerment.