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This study investigated the reciprocal relationship between self-perceived employability (SPE) and psychological well-being (PWB), a connection previously suggested by theory but not yet explored empirically in early career research. Drawing from the Conservation of Resources theory, we analysed the reciprocal effects between SPE and PWB. Using data collected from 376 Italian university students and graduates, we tested the hypotheses with the random intercept cross-lagged panel model (RI-CLPM) to analyse the SPE-PWB reciprocal linkage at both the between-person and within-person levels. While we observed a reciprocal SPE-PWB association across three waves at the between-person level, we obtained mixed findings at the within-person level. This study is the first to test the reciprocal associations between SPE and PWB among labour market entrants adopting a within-person approach. The findings offer new empirical insights into SPE during early career stages, with implications for both future research and practical applications.

Despite the studies on protean career attitude in the career management literature, career sustainability and its potential outcomes have been subjected to study with limited empirical evidence. With this context, this study propounds a conceptual model connecting protean career orientation and perceived employability with career sustainability. Besides, sequentially, we posit that lifelong learning and proactive skill development mediate the relationship between protean career orientation and perceived employability. To establish the relationship, this study gathered data from Italy and Cyprus. Structural equation modelling was performed using the data collected. The results indicated serial mediation paths through which protean orientation impacts career sustainability.

Background: In Western countries, 10–20% of adults have gallstones, of which about 1–3% of patients are symptomatic for biliary colic. The treatment with ursodeoxycholic acid is debated. Silymarin is emerging nowadays as a natural substance with choleretic and beneficial properties, useful in the case of gallbladder sludge. Aim: The aim of our study was to evaluate the efficacy of supplementation with a mix of natural compounds (milk thistle 150 mg, artichoke 150 mg, and green tea 150 mg) in patients affected by biliary sludge in reducing biliary colic and biliary sludge and improving lipid profiles after 3 months of treatment compared to a control group. Patients and Methods: This was an interventional open study on 65 consecutive adult patients (23 M/42 F; mean age 61.0 ± 18.7 years) affected by biliary sludge without indication for surgery, admitted to the Internal Medicine Department of San Carlo di Nancy Hospital Rome. Forty patients were treated with milk thistle 150 mg, artichoke 150 mg, and green tea 150 mg, 2 capsules/day for three months, and followed up for abdominal ultrasound, the frequency of occurrence of biliary colic, and blood tests. Twenty-five control group patients were followed up for abdominal ultrasound, the frequency of occurrence of biliary colic, and blood tests after 3 months. Results: In Group A, we observed a disappearance of biliary sludge in 32.4% (12/37) of patients compared to 8.7% in the control group (p < 0.05). In 32.4% of treated patients, we report a reduction in biliary sludge. There were no side effects during treatment. In both groups, we registered a significant reduction in transaminases and gamma-glutamyl transferase (γ-GT) (p < 0.05). No significant modification of the lipid profile was observed. Conclusions: The treatment with a mix of natural compounds (milk thistle, artichoke, and green tea) in patients affected by symptomatic biliary colic resulted in efficacy and safety in reducing biliary sludge, biliary colic, and transaminases levels after three months of treatment. The limitations of this study include a small number of patients and the absence of long-term follow up after the end of treatment.

Purpose: This study aims to understand how employability capitals' dynamics foster self-perceived employability (SPE) among students and graduates, which is still being empirically explored. Building upon the Employability Capital Growth Model and the Social Cognitive Career Theory's career self-management model, we aimed to understand how different capitals associate by testing a serial mediation model connecting career identity (reflecting career identity capital) and SPE through the serial mediation of cultural capital and job interview self-efficacy (ISE) (an element of psychological capital). Design/methodology/approach: We adopted a two-wave design involving 227 Italian University students and graduates. We recruited participants through multi-channel communication. The hypothesised relationships were analysed employing the structural equation modelling approach with the SPSS AMOS statistical package. Findings: The results indicated that career identity, cultural capital, ISE and SPE are meaningfully related. In particular, in line with our expectations, we observed that career identity predicts cultural capital, which is positively associated with ISE which, ultimately, impacts SPE. Originality/value: Our work adds to existing research by advancing the understanding of employability capitals, explaining how they interact and influence SPE, which is crucial for a sustainable transition into the workforce. At a practical level, our findings call upon, and guide, efforts from various stakeholders in the graduate career ecosystem (i.e. universities and their partners) to offer students and graduates meaningful experiences to form and use their employability capitals.

(1) Background: Lower gastrointestinal bleeding (LGIB) accounts for 20% of all gastrointestinal bleeds. LGBI originates in the colon, rectum, and anus, mainly in patients who are receiving antiaggregant or anticoagulant treatment. The major causes are diverticular disease, colitis, hemorrhoids, and angiodysplasia. The literature studies underline that Direct Oral Anticoagulants (DOACs) are effective in reducing the risk of thromboembolic events but are associated with a higher risk of lower gastrointestinal bleeding (LGIB), particularly lower hemorrhoid bleeding. (2) Methods: The aim of our review is to revise the risk of hemorrhoid bleeding, pathophysiology, and management in patients taking DOACs in light of the most modern evidence. (3) Conclusions: central to the management of hemorrhoid bleeding in patients receiving DOAC therapy is the consideration of a tailored approach that respects the delicate equilibrium between the need for thromboembolic prophylaxis and the potential for bleeding complications. Cessation of anticoagulation, if clinically feasible, constitutes a fundamental cornerstone in the control of hemorrhage. This pause in therapy aims to mitigate the exacerbation of bleeding risk while offering a window for the implementation of local measures to manage hemorrhoid bleeding.

We investigate the relation between quantum nonlocality and gravity at the astrophysical scale, both in the classical and quantum regimes. Considering a gedanken experiment involving particle pairs orbiting in the strong gravitational field of ultra-compact objects, we find that the violation of Bell inequality acquires an angular modulation factor that strongly depends on the nature of the gravitational source. We show how such gravitationally-induced modulation of quantum nonlocality readily discriminates between black holes (both classical and inclusive of quantum corrections) and string fuzzballs, i.e., the true quantum description of ultra-compact objects according to string theory. These findings promote Bell nonlocality as a potentially key tool in putting quantum gravity to the test.

For university students, perceived employability is gaining growing importance in dealing with occupational uncertainty. However, how perceived employability is shaped in the university setting is still under-researched. This study examines how support from university teaching staff influences perceived employability in a sample of Italian final-year university students. We draw on Conservation on Resources Theory to hypothesise a positive impact of support from teaching staff on students' perceived employability. In addition, we contend that perceived employability predicts students' psychological well-being. To test our hypotheses, one hundred twenty-seven university students completed a survey three times over a 10-month period. The results confirm that support from teaching staff enhances students' perceived employability. Moreover, a positive effect of perceived employability on students' psychological well-being emerges. Perceived employability also appears to mediate the relationship between support from teaching staff and psychological well-being. Using a time-lagged approach, this study enhances the empirical knowledge about antecedents and outcomes of students' perceived employability. This scholarly work underlines universities' responsibility in refining teachers' roles and didactical practices to equip their students with career resources.

Abstract We investigate the non-relativistic limit of the Klein–Gordon equation for mixed scalar particles and show that, in this regime, one unavoidably arrives at redefining the particle’s inertial mass. This happens because, in contrast to the case when mixing is absent, the antiparticle sector contribution cannot be neglected for particles with definite flavor. To clearly demonstrate this feature, we adopt the Feshbach–Villars formalism for Klein–Gordon particles. Furthermore, within the same framework, we also demonstrate that, in the presence of a weak gravitational field, the mass parameter that couples to gravity (gravitational mass) does not match the effective inertial mass. This, in turn, implies a violation of the weak equivalence principle. Finally, we prove that the Bargmann’s superselection rule, which prohibits oscillating particles on the basis of the Galilean transformation, is incompatible with the non-relativistic limit of the Lorentz transformation and hence does not collide with the results obtained.

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are one of the most common bacterial infections, affecting more than 150 million people each year in the world. UTIs have grown exponentially in the last few years. They represent a major load for both individuals and society. The highest incidence (about 55–60%) concerns women. Many pathogens are involved in UTIs, most of which are derived from the gut. Recent studies, together with recent diagnostic techniques (such as quantitative culture of urine or next-generation sequencing), have improved the knowledge of microbial communities in the urinary tract. It turned out that gut dysbiosis is strictly involved in the pathogenesis of UTIs. In particular, the human gut is the natural habitat for Escherichia coli (E. coli), the main bacterium responsible for UTIs. The overgrowth of E. coli pathogenic strains represents a risk factor for them. Furthermore, the human gut microbiota acts as a “global reservoir” for genes conferring resistance to clinically relevant antibiotics, thus influencing the treatment of UTIs. In addition, differently from the past, the idea of a sterile urinary environment has been replaced by the characterization of a urinary microbiome. The aim of our review is to explore recent studies on the association between gut microbiota and urinary microbiome and to summarize the current knowledge about the effects of interactions between gut and urinary microbial communities in the pathogenesis of UTIs, considering UTIs more as a “gut disease” and not only a urinary disease and providing new insight into the therapeutic options such as the use of probiotics.

Abstract We consider two necessary and sufficient conditions for macrorealism recently appeared in the literature, known as no-signaling-in-time and arrow-of-time conditions, respectively, and study them in the context of neutrino flavor transitions, within both the plane wave description and the wave packet approach. We then compare the outcome of the above investigation with the implication of various formulations of Leggett–Garg inequalities. In particular, we show that the fulfillment of the addressed conditions for macrorealism in neutrino oscillations implies the fulfillment of the Leggett–Garg inequalities, whereas the converse is not true. Finally, in the framework of wave packet approach, we also prove that, for distances longer than the coherence length, the no-signaling-in-time condition is always violated whilst the Leggett–Garg inequalities are not.

Copper (II), a vital fungicide in organic viticulture, also acts as a wine oxidation catalyst. However, limited data are currently available on the impact that maximum allowed copper (II) ion doses in wine grapes at harvest can have on aged wine quality. This was the focus of the present study. We investigated the copper (II) effects by producing both white and red wines from musts containing three initial metal concentrations according to the limits set for organic farming. In detail, the influence of copper (II) on fermentation evolution, chromatic characteristics, and phenolic compounds was evaluated. Interestingly, the white wine obtained with the highest permitted copper (II) dose initially exceeded the concentration of 1.0 mg/L at fermentation completion. However, after one year of storage, the copper (II) content fell below 0.2 ± 0.01 mg/L. Conversely, red wines showed copper (II) levels below 1.0 mg/L at the end of fermentation, but the initial copper (II) level in musts significantly affected total native anthocyanins, color intensity, hue, and acetaldehyde concentration. After 12-month aging, significant differences were observed in polymeric pigments, thus suggesting a potential long-term effect of copper (II) on red wine color stability.

Transient abnormal myelopoiesis (TAM) is a Down syndrome-related pre-leukaemic condition characterized by somatic mutations in the haematopoietic transcription factor GATA-1 that result in exclusive production of its shorter isoform (GATA-1S). Given the common hallmark of altered miRNA expression profiles in haematological malignancies and the pro-leukaemic role of GATA-1S, we aimed to search for miRNAs potentially able to modulate the expression of GATA-1 isoforms. Starting from an in silico prediction of miRNA binding sites in the GATA-1 transcript, miR-1202 came into our sight as potential regulator of GATA-1 expression. Expression studies in K562 cells revealed that miR-1202 directly targets GATA-1, negatively regulates its expression, impairs GATA-1S production, reduces cell proliferation, and increases apoptosis sensitivity. Furthermore, data from TAM and myeloid leukaemia patients provided substantial support to our study by showing that miR-1202 down-modulation is accompanied by increased GATA-1 levels, with more marked effects on GATA-1S. These findings indicate that miR-1202 acts as an anti-oncomiR in myeloid cells and may impact leukaemogenesis at least in part by down-modulating GATA-1S levels.

We analyze the dynamics of neutrino Gaussian wave-packets, the damping of flavor oscillations and decoherence effects within the framework of extended theories of gravity. We show that, when the underlying description of the gravitational interaction admits a violation of the strong equivalence principle, the parameter quantifying such a violation modulates the wave-packet spreading, giving rise to potentially measurable effects in future neutrino experiments.

In this paper, we investigate the consequences of maximal length as well as minimal momentum scales on nonlocal correlations shared by two parties of a bipartite quantum system. To this aim, we rely on a general phenomenological scheme which is usually associated with the non-negligible spacetime curvature at cosmological scales, namely the extended uncertainty principle. In so doing, we find that quantum correlations are degraded if the deformed quantum mechanical model mimics a positive cosmological constant. This opens up the possibility to recover classicality at sufficiently large distances.

Background: Calprotectin (CP) is a calcium- and zinc-binding protein that plays a key role in innate immunity and in the recruitment of inflammatory cells. CP can be detected both in serum and in fecal samples. Serum CP (sCP) is more specific for autoimmune diseases, while fecal CP (fCP) has been well investigated for gastrointestinal diseases. Few studies have shown the clinical effectiveness of sCP as an acute-phase biomarker for gastrointestinal diseases. Aim: The aim of this narrative review is to discuss the role of sCP as a useful alternative biomarker of the acute-phase activity of gastrointestinal diseases and as a possible tool for screening and monitoring these diseases. Material and Methods: We searched original articles, abstracts, reviews, case reports, and clinical trials on PubMed®, Up-to-Date®, and Medscape® in the last ten years. Conclusion: We found that sCP could represent a useful biomarker in the evaluation of the inflammatory stage in patients with immune-mediated gastrointestinal diseases, but more studies are needed to promote its routine use in clinical practice as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker as a replacement for fCP.

Several phenomenological approaches to quantum gravity predict the existence of a minimal measurable length and/or a maximum measurable momentum near the Planck scale. When embedded into the framework of quantum mechanics, such constraints induce a modification of the canonical commutation relations and thus a generalization of the Heisenberg uncertainty relations, commonly referred to as generalized uncertainty principle (GUP). Different models of quantum gravity imply different forms of the GUP. For instance, in the framework of string theory the GUP is quadratic in the momentum operator, while in the context of doubly special relativity it includes an additional linear dependence. Among the possible physical consequences, it was recently shown that the quadratic GUP induces a universal decoherence mechanism, provided one assumes a foamy structure of quantum spacetime close to the Planck length. Along this line, in the present work we investigate the gravitational decoherence associated to the linear-quadratic GUP and we compare it with the one associated to the quadratic GUP. We find that, despite their similarities, the two generalizations of the Heisenberg uncertainty principle yield decoherence times that are completely uncorrelated and significantly distinct. Motivated by this result, we introduce a theoretical and experimental scheme based on cavity optomechanics to measure the different time evolution of nonlocal quantum correlations corresponding to the two aforementioned decoherence mechanisms. We find that the deviation between the two predictions occurs on time scales that are macroscopic and thus potentially amenable to experimental verification. This scenario provides a possible setting to discriminate between different forms of the GUP and therefore different models of quantum gravity.

Drammaturgo ancora trascurato, Franco Scaldati rappresenta un unicum nel panorama italiano in virtù di un corpus di opere in cui la lingua palermitana risuona con incredibile forza poetica. Il saggio intende far luce sull’artista attraverso una prospettiva inedita che fa leva sullo studio degli animali e dell’animalità – zoöesis, come la definisce Una Chaudhuri – nei suoi drammi. In particolar modo, a essere approfondite sono le figure degli insetti. Cosa rappresentano questi animali? Che rapporto intercorre tra l’umano e l’animale? Qual è la linea di confine fra i due mondi? Quanto gli insetti possono essere considerati motore drammaturgico dell’opera scaldatiana? Punto di partenza e, contemporaneamente, di irraggiamento sulla produzione di Scaldati è l’analisi di Pupa Regina. Opere di fango e l’emersione di api e lucciole, insetti, questi ultimi, che ritornano anche nella scrittura del “finale mancante” de I giganti della montagna di Luigi Pirandello per l’allestimento di Federico Tiezzi (2007).

Safety training promotes safety at work, in particular through the use of engaging methods. This study introduces a newly developed measure of individual engagement in safety training, and aims to analyze the psychometric proprieties of the scale. The safety training engagement scale (STE) consists of five items pertaining to the trainee’s dedication and absorption in a safety training session. Two studies are carried out to analyze the validity of the scale. The first study focuses on the construct (internal) validity, to examine the scale’s internal consistency and dimensional structure. The second study seeks to provide further evidence for construct validity by testing the external validity of the scale. The sample consists of 913 (study 1) and 133 (study 2) participants in safety training programs in the field of the chemical industry who were invited to fill the STE scale after attending a safety training course. The results provide support to affirm the validity and reliability of the scale. The discussion describes the implication and the limitations of using the STE scale in practical safety training programs, and outlines recommendations for research to improve the scale’s robustness.

This study investigated the reciprocal relationship between self-perceived employability (SPE) and psychological well-being (PWB), a connection previously suggested by theory but not yet explored empirically in early career research. Drawing from the Conservation of Resources theory, we analysed the reciprocal effects between SPE and PWB. Using data collected from 376 Italian university students and graduates, we tested the hypotheses with the random intercept cross-lagged panel model (RI-CLPM) to analyse the SPE-PWB reciprocal linkage at both the between-person and within-person levels. While we observed a reciprocal SPE-PWB association across three waves at the between-person level, we obtained mixed findings at the within-person level. This study is the first to test the reciprocal associations between SPE and PWB among labour market entrants adopting a within-person approach. The findings offer new empirical insights into SPE during early career stages, with implications for both future research and practical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In Western countries, 10–20% of adults have gallstones, of which about 1–3% of patients are symptomatic for biliary colic. The treatment with ursodeoxycholic acid is debated. Silymarin is emerging nowadays as a natural substance with choleretic and beneficial properties, useful in the case of gallbladder sludge. Aim: The aim of our study was to evaluate the efficacy of supplementation with a mix of natural compounds (milk thistle 150 mg, artichoke 150 mg, and green tea 150 mg) in patients affected by biliary sludge in reducing biliary colic and biliary sludge and improving lipid profiles after 3 months of treatment compared to a control group. Patients and Methods: This was an interventional open study on 65 consecutive adult patients (23 M/42 F; mean age 61.0 ± 18.7 years) affected by biliary sludge without indication for surgery, admitted to the Internal Medicine Department of San Carlo di Nancy Hospital Rome. Forty patients were treated with milk thistle 150 mg, artichoke 150 mg, and green tea 150 mg, 2 capsules/day for three months, and followed up for abdominal ultrasound, the frequency of occurrence of biliary colic, and blood tests. Twenty-five control group patients were followed up for abdominal ultrasound, the frequency of occurrence of biliary colic, and blood tests after 3 months. Results: In Group A, we observed a disappearance of biliary sludge in 32.4% (12/37) of patients compared to 8.7% in the control group (p < 0.05). In 32.4% of treated patients, we report a reduction in biliary sludge. There were no side effects during treatment. In both groups, we registered a significant reduction in transaminases and gamma-glutamyl transferase (γ-GT) (p < 0.05). No significant modification of the lipid profile was observed. Conclusions: The treatment with a mix of natural compounds (milk thistle, artichoke, and green tea) in patients affected by symptomatic biliary colic resulted in efficacy and safety in reducing biliary sludge, biliary colic, and transaminases levels after three months of treatment. The limitations of this study include a small number of patients and the absence of long-term follow up after the end of treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are one of the most common bacterial infections, affecting more than 150 million people each year in the world. UTIs have grown exponentially in the last few years. They represent a major load for both individuals and society. The highest incidence (about 55–60%) concerns women. Many pathogens are involved in UTIs, most of which are derived from the gut. Recent studies, together with recent diagnostic techniques (such as quantitative culture of urine or next-generation sequencing), have improved the knowledge of microbial communities in the urinary tract. It turned out that gut dysbiosis is strictly involved in the pathogenesis of UTIs. In particular, the human gut is the natural habitat for Escherichia coli (E. coli), the main bacterium responsible for UTIs. The overgrowth of E. coli pathogenic strains represents a risk factor for them. Furthermore, the human gut microbiota acts as a "global reservoir" for genes conferring resistance to clinically relevant antibiotics, thus influencing the treatment of UTIs. In addition, differently from the past, the idea of a sterile urinary environment has been replaced by the characterization of a urinary microbiome. The aim of our review is to explore recent studies on the association between gut microbiota and urinary microbiome and to summarize the current knowledge about the effects of interactions between gut and urinary microbial communities in the pathogenesis of UTIs, considering UTIs more as a "gut disease" and not only a urinary disease and providing new insight into the therapeutic options such as the use of probiotics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heart failure (HF) remains a significant global health challenge, affecting millions of individuals worldwide and posing a substantial burden on healthcare systems. HF is a syndrome of intricate pathophysiology, involving systemic inflammation, oxidative stress, metabolic perturbations, and maladaptive structural changes in the heart. It is influenced by complex interactions between cardiac function, systemic physiology, and environmental factors. Among these factors, the gut microbiota has emerged as a novel and intriguing player in the landscape of HF pathophysiology. The gut microbiota, beyond its role in digestion and nutrient absorption, impacts immune responses, metabolic processes, and, as suggested by evidence in the literature, the development and progression of HF. There is a bidirectional communication between the gut and the heart, often known as the gut–heart axis, through which gut microbiota-derived metabolites, immune signals, and microbial products exert profound effects on cardiovascular health. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the intricate relationship between the gut microbiota and HF. Additionally, we explore the potential of using probiotics as a therapeutic strategy to modulate the gut microbiota’s composition and attenuate the adverse effects observed in HF. Conventional therapeutic approaches targeting hemodynamic and neurohormonal dysregulation have substantially improved the management of HF, but emerging research is exploring the potential implications of harnessing the gut microbiota for innovative approaches in HF treatment.

Background: Antibiotic-associated diarrhea is a condition reported in 5–35% of patients treated with antibiotics, especially in older patients with comorbidities. In most cases, antibiotic-associated diarrhea is not associated with serious complications, but it can prolong hospitalization and provoke Clostridium difficile infection. An important role in the prevention of antibiotic-associated diarrhea is carried out by some probiotic strains such as Lactobacillus GG or the yeast Saccharomyces boulardii that showed good efficacy and a significant reduction in antibiotic-associated diarrhea. Similarly, the Limosilactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 showed significant benefits in acute diarrhea, reducing its duration and abdominal pain. Aim: The aim of this study was to test the efficacy of a mix of two probiotic strains (Limosilactobacillus reuteri LMG P-27481 and Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus GG ATCC 53103; Reuterin GG®, NOOS, Italy), in association with antibiotics (compared to antibiotics used alone), in reducing antibiotic-associated diarrhea, clostridium difficile infection, and other gastrointestinal symptoms in adult hospitalized patients. Patients and methods: We enrolled 113 (49M/64F, mean age 69.58 ± 21.28 years) adult patients treated with antibiotics who were hospitalized at the Internal Medicine Department of the San Carlo di Nancy Hospital in Rome from January 2023 to September 2023. Patients were randomized to receive probiotics 1.4 g twice/day in addition with antibiotics (Reuterin GG® group, total: 56 patients, 37F/19M, 67.16 ± 20.5 years old) or antibiotics only (control group, total: 57 patients, 27F/30 M, 71 ± 22 years old). Results: Patients treated with Reuterin GG® showed a significant reduction in diarrhea and clostridium difficile infection. In particular, 28% (16/57) of patients in the control group presented with diarrhea during treatment, compared with 11% (6/56) in the probiotic group (p < 0.05). Interestingly, 7/57 (11%) of patients treated only with antibiotics developed clostridium difficile infection compared to 0% in the probiotic group (p < 0.01). Finally, 9% (5/57) of patients in the control group presented with vomiting compared with 2% (1/56) in the probiotic group (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Our study showed, for the first time, the efficacy of these two specific probiotic strains in preventing antibiotic-associated diarrhea and clostridium difficile infection in adult hospitalized patients treated with antibiotic therapy. This result allows us to hypothesize that the use of specific probiotic strains during antibiotic therapy can prevent dysbiosis and subsequent antibiotic-associated diarrhea and clostridium difficile infection, thus resulting in both patient and economic health care benefits.

Abstract. We briefly review recent developments in the study of the quantum nature of flavor mixing; in particular, the attention will be devoted to neutrino and neutral meson oscillations. We employ Leggett-Garg type inequalities and no-signaling-in-time conditions to probe the intrinsic quantumness of such a physical manifestation, showing how the analysis is not affected by the wave-packet spreading (for neutrinos) and the intrinsic particle instability (for mesons).

IntroductionCareer self-management behaviours are key to overcoming the challenges of entry into the labour market. Combining the Conservation of Resources and Career Self-management theories, this study delves into the concept of Career Engagement among Italian University students by examining its relationship with Support from teaching Staff and Movement Capital. We hypothesised a mediation model in which Support from Teaching Staff predicts Career Engagement which, in turn, fosters Movement Capital. As the pandemic led to the adoption of online learning solutions, we also explored whether and how the interaction between teachers and students during online classes moderates the said mediation relationship.Methods and resultsWe collected data from 276 Italian University students through an online questionnaire. Results supported the mediation hypothesis, corroborating the mediating role of Career Engagement. We also observed that this relationship is stronger at medium and higher levels of online interaction between teachers and students.DiscussionFindings contribute to existing evidence about the role of Career Engagement in facilitating career resources’ acquisition and extend the understanding of its contextual antecedents in Higher Education contexts. Results also align with the importance attributed to interaction in online learning environments. This work suggests ways to encourage career behaviours in Higher Education and equip prospective labour market entrants with career resources.

Celiac disease (CD) is a chronic inflammation of the small intestine triggered by gluten ingestion in genetically predisposed people. Recent literature studies highlight the possible role of the gut microbiota in the pathogenesis of this disease. The gut microbiota is a complex community of microorganisms that can interact with the innate and adaptative immune systems. A condition of dysbiosis, which refers to an alteration in the composition and function of the human gut microbiota, can lead to a dysregulated immune response. This condition may contribute to triggering gluten intolerance, favoring the development and/or progression of CD in genetically susceptible patients. Interestingly, studies on children and adults with CD showed a different microbiome profile in fecal samples, with a different degree of “activity” for the disease. From this point of view, our review aimed to collect and discuss modern evidence about the alteration of the gut microbiota and its modulation with probiotics, with possible future indications in the management of patients affected by CD.

Abstract In this paper, we study the phenomenon of quantum interference in the presence of external gravitational fields described by alternative theories of gravity. We analyze both non-relativistic and relativistic effects induced by the underlying curved background on a superposed quantum system. In the non-relativistic regime, it is possible to come across a gravitational counterpart of the Bohm–Aharonov effect, which results in a phase shift proportional to the derivative of the modified Newtonian potential. On the other hand, beyond the Newtonian approximation, the relativistic nature of gravity plays a crucial rôle. Indeed, the existence of a gravitational time dilation between the two arms of the interferometer causes a loss of coherence that is in principle observable in quantum interference patterns. We work in the context of generalized quadratic theories of gravity to compare their physical predictions with the analogous outcomes in general relativity. In so doing, we show that the decoherence rate strongly depends on the gravitational model under investigation, which means that this approach turns out to be a promising test bench to probe and discriminate among all the extensions of Einstein’s theory in future experiments.

In this paper, we clarify a foundational loose end affecting the phenomenological approach to quantum gravity centered around the generalization of Heisenberg's uncertainty principle. This misconception stems from a series of recently published works in which perturbative and non-perturbative methods are confused, thereby resulting in a blurring of the distinction between changes in the deformed algebra and changes in the representation of operators. Accordingly, this reasoning would render the existence of a minimal length representation-dependent, and thus unphysical.

We explore the interplay between the equivalence principle and a generalization of the Heisenberg uncertainty relations known as extended uncertainty principle, that comprises the effects of spacetime curvature at large distances. Specifically, we observe that, when the modified uncertainty relations hold, the weak formulation of the equivalence principle is violated, since the inertial mass of quantum systems becomes position-dependent whilst the gravitational mass is left untouched. To obtain the above result, spinor and scalar fields are separately analyzed by considering the non-relativistic limit of the Dirac and the Klein-Gordon equations in the presence of the extended uncertainty principle. In both scenarios, it is found that the ratio between the inertial and the gravitational mass is the same.

Current hypotheses towards quantisation of gravity imply the presence of a minimal length scale, which may have a role in explaining quantum-to-classical transition. Here, the authors show how assuming the minimal length scale to be a fluctuating quantity leads to a possible universal decoherence mechanism.

The wine industry produces large amounts of grape pomace (GP), a waste that needs to be disposed of properly. Bioactive compounds with high added value can be recovered from GP as an interesting strategy to reduce the environmental impact. Here, two different technologies were employed to recover polyphenol compounds from GP: microwave hydrodiffusion and gravity (MHG) and ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE). The further purification of UAE and MHG extracts was carried out through solid-phase extraction (SPE) to obtain three fractions, F1, F2 and F3. ATR-FTIR analysis confirmed the presence of sugar and polysaccharide components in F1, as well as non-anthocyanin and anthocyanin compounds in F2 and F3, respectively. Also, the chemical profile was determined by HPLC-UV-DAD, identifying the presence of catechin in F2, and malvidin-3-O-glucoside chloride and cyanidin chloride derivative as the main anthocyanin compounds in F3. The fractions and their parental extracts were characterized for total phenolic content (TPC) and scavenger activity by in vitro assays. We found that F2-MHG and F3-MHG contained phenol contents 6.5 and 8.5 times higher than those of the parental non-fractionated extracts. Finally, F3-MHG (100 μg/mL, w/v) was shown to reduce the proliferation of HT-29 cells.