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The large retail chains represent the main distribution channel for wine sales in Italy. Retailers, therefore, define the wine supply of their points-of-sale based on their own commercial strategies, taking into account evolving consumer demand, producer characteristics, and product types. Wine bottles from different producers with varying characteristics, sales performances, and commercial trends can be found on shelves next to each other. The aim of this study is to investigate the performance of various producers whose wines were sold in large retail chains in Italy before the pandemic. This analysis enabled us to observe market trends without disruptions. We focused on the two most sold Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) wines, Chianti DOCG and Montepulciano d'Abruzzo DOC. For this purpose, cluster segmentation was implemented using variables related to sales (value of sales, number of labels, average price, discount units, discount percentage, units sold above a certain price), and sales trends of each producer present in large retail chains with these products. The results show that, although there are different trends and commercial strategies among the producers of each of the two denominations of origin, there are similarities between the clusters of the two different denominations. In particular, in the domain of large-scale retail, wine sales are dominated by a few wineries with a strategy based on high sales volume, a wide range of labels, low prices, and promotional sales. The remaining sales refer to wines from producers with different characteristics that record positive sales trends and producers characterised by the declining value of sales. The identified results provide valuable insights for a better understanding of the dynamics of the large retail chain in Italy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study analyses the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on food consumption at the end of the first lockdown in the New York State (USA) and in Italy (spring 2020). The results of our study show that important changes occurred in food habits in these two countries, in which lockdown was very similar. Three models of response to the shock of the lockdown were noted in both countries. The first model (40%) includes individuals who largely increased their food consumption, the second model (26%) showed a more virtuous and responsible behaviour, while the third model (34%) displayed no change in food consumption. Diet quality in terms of healthiness and sustainability declined in the USA, while in Italy, approximately one-third of the sample showed an improvement in diet in these same areas. The use of sociodemographic, motivational, and behavioural variables to profile subjects who adhered to each food model has made it possible to obtain information that can be used to develop communication campaigns and policies for a healthier and more sustainable diet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper addresses the analysis issue of the complex interactions arising among different components of a warehouse logistic system. In particular, the focus is on a case study related to the handling operations required by the flow of goods within a store of Ikea, located in the center of Italy. The proposed study has been performed using Petri Nets (PNs) as discrete event modelling and simulation framework. In particular, this paper aims to bring out the innovative aspect of the use of PNs as tools to support the functional specifications of warehouse systems, highlighting their strengths and weakness. The goal is to emphasize critical factors in the entire logistic chain within the store and suggest solutions for improving its efficiency. In this regards, PNs have been proved to be quite suitable to easily represent the main features of the departments under consideration, showing at the same time the main logistic processes in which both labor and equipment are involved. The dynamics of the considered logistic system is evaluated, focusing on the three main operating cycles implemented at the Ikea store under consideration. Further, simulating directly the PN model, along with a quantitative analysis, has been possible to identify delays in the complete logistic chain and determine performance indices, such as utilization rate of the resources. Suggestions for improving the productivity of the system are given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Powered robotic exoskeletons represent an emerging technology for the gait training of Spinal Cord Injured (SCI) persons. The analysis of the psychological and physical impact of such technology on the patient is crucial in terms of clinical appropriateness of such rehabilitation intervention for SCI persons. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the acceptability of overground robot-assisted walking and its effect on pain and spasticity. METHODS: Twenty-one SCI persons participated in a walking session assisted by a powered robotic exoskeleton. Pain assessed using a Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) and muscle spasticity, assessed as subjective perception using an NRS scale and as objective assessment using the Modified Ashworth scale and the Penn scale, were evaluated before and after the walking experience. Positive and negative sensations were investigated using a questionnaire. The patient's global impression of change (PGIC) scale was administrated as well. RESULTS: After the walking session a significant decrease in the muscle spasticity and pain intensity was observed. The SCI persons recruited in this study reported (i) a global change after the walking session, (ii) high scores on the positive and (iii) low scores on the negative sensations, thus indicating a good acceptability of the robot-assisted walking. CONCLUSIONS: The overground robot-assisted walking is well accepted by SCI persons and has positive effects in terms of spasticity and pain reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Study design:This is a cross-sectional study.Objectives:The objective of this study was to examine the associations among the quality of couple relationship, perceived social support and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in persons with spinal cord injury (SCI).Setting:The study was conducted in Italy.Methods:Forty-three persons with SCI were administered questionnaires for the evaluation of relationship quality (Dyadic Adjustment Scale), perceived social support (Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support) and HRQoL (Short Form 36).Results:Many significant correlations between the scores of relationship quality and social support were detected. Relationship quality also correlated with relevant measures of HRQoL, such as Mental Health and Vitality. No correlation between spousal support and HRQoL was found, whereas friends' support correlated with Physical Role Functioning.Conclusions:Data suggest that the perception of social support is strictly related to relationship quality and that marital satisfaction might be related to relevant aspects of HRQoL more likely than social support itself. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Study design:Cross sectional.Objectives:To examine associations among functional status, health-related and individualised quality of life (QoL) and coping style in subjects with spinal cord injury (SCI).Setting:Italy.Methods:Forty subjects attending our hospital-based rehabilitation centre for SCI were administered the Spinal Cord Independence Measure-version III (SCIM-III), the Short Form-36 (SF-36), the Schedule for the Evaluation of Individual QoL-Direct Weighting (SEIQoL-DW) and the Coping Inventory for Stressful Situation (CISS) to assess functional status, health-related QoL, individualised QoL and coping strategies, respectively.Results:The SCIM-III scores were positively correlated (P<0.01) with the physical functioning subscale of the SF-36. The only scale that correlated (P<0.01) with the SEIQoL-DW scores was the SF-36 mental health subscale. Positive correlations among task-oriented or avoidance-oriented coping and specific measures of health-related QoL emerged.Conclusions:Data from the present study showed only a few associations among different measures of QoL and suggest that patient-centered evaluations of QoL are not necessarily or strictly related to functional status or health-related QoL. Coping strategies seem to be significantly related to the subjects perceptions of QoL, but mostly in the health-related domains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to provide a detailed framework of wine purchases in supermarkets during the COVID-19 pandemic. The unexpected diffusion of the virus and the restrictions imposed in Italy to prevent its spread have significantly affected the food purchasing habits of consumers. By analyzing the scanner data of the wine sales in the Italian mass market retail channel, this study was intended to show whether and how the dynamics triggered by the pandemic have modified the overall value and type of wine purchases, focusing on prices, formats, and promotional sales. In particular, this study explores sales in two separate periods, namely March–April (the "lockdown", with general compulsory closing and severe restrictions) and June–July 2020 (the "post-lockdown", in which some limitations were no longer effective). The analysis of wine sales during lockdown and post-lockdown and the study of the variations compared to the sales of the previous years showed some significant changes in purchase behavior. The results could provide managers, researchers, and policy makers with extensive insights into the purchasing patterns of consumers during this unprecedented time and reveal trends that may characterize the structure of the future wine demand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: As buffalo milk is important in Italy, especially in the southern regions where Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) buffalo mozzarella from Campania is produced, the need has arisen to trace the path of milk from the farm to the dairy. We aimed to verify the applicability of a buffalo tracing system throughout the national territory, following the Ministerial Decree of 9 September 2014. Use of the online system is mandatory for breeders, dairies, and intermediaries, and is required to record and communicate all milk that is produced, bought, and sold. In Italy, the number of registrations is more representative in the Campania region, which has the highest concentration of dairy buffalo herds; for the other regions, the number of farms registered in the system is less representative. The system highlights that the circuit of non-PDO products absorbs 35% of the total milk produced, while 65% of the milk is processed in PDO dairies, which allows for the control of milk production throughout the territory and facilitates the control of milk that proceeds to be frozen or that can only be used in non-PDO productions; this increases the transparency of the supply chain. The system is a computerized archive of the productions for all the operators in the sector. This document describes the development of a tracing system for the buffalo supply chain, namely an online computer system in which farmers, dairies, and brokers must maintain records of the production of milk through to the production of derivatives. The system is jointly used throughout the Italian national territory by the Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno (IZSM) and the Sistema Informativo Agricolo Nazionale Italiano (SIAN), after being made mandatory and regulated with the publication of the Ministerial Decree of 9 September 2014. Farmers are obligated to communicate their daily production of bulk milk, the number of animals milked, the number of the delivery note of the sale, and the name of the purchaser; within the first week of the month, they must communicate the milk production of each animal milked. Dairies are required to communicate the milk and the processed product (mozzarella, yogurt, etc.) purchased on a daily basis. The intermediaries are required to communicate the daily milk purchased, both fresh and frozen, the semi-finished product, and the sale of the same. The tracing system linked to the project authorized by the Ministry of Health, called "Development, validation and verification of the applicability of an IT system to be used for the management of traceability in the buffalo industry", provides operators with the monitoring of production and sales in real time through alerts and access logs. Currently, there are 1531 registered farmers, 601 non-PDO dairies, 102 PDO dairies, 68 non-PDO intermediaries, and 17 PDO intermediaries in Italy. The system provides support for the recovery of the buffalo sector; from the analysis of the data extrapolated from the tracing system of the buffalo supply chain for the years 2016 to 2019, this paper highlights that the application of the Ministerial Decree No. 9406 of 9 September 2014 and the tracing of the supply chain have increased the price of buffalo milk at barns from EUR 1.37/kg to EUR 1.55/kg from 2016 to 2019. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluates how textual information treatments (no information, animal welfare, quality, sustainability, and production cost) applied to organic production affect consumer preferences and willingness to pay for organic milk. We performed a choice experiment on 1250 Italian consumers, using a between-subject design. Our results show that without information, consumers on the average do not show a preference for organic milk. The impact of the information provided on the organic milk preference is mixed. Treatments on quality and production costs have no effect on consumer preferences for organic milk. On the contrary, consumers who received information on animal welfare or about environmental sustainability in organic farming showed a greater willingness to pay for organic milk than for conventional milk. Our results are in line with other studies that have observed that providing information about the ethical features of organic farming, such as animal welfare and environmental sustainability, has the greatest positive effect on consumer willingness to pay. These results are important for the possible strategies that stakeholders of the supply chain may enact to promote organic milk consumption., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Study Design: Multicentric prospective psychometric study., Objective: To provide a translation of the International Spinal Cord Injury Pain Basic Data Set (ISCIPBDS) for Italian persons and to evaluate the interrater reliability of the translated version., Setting: Ten Italian rehabilitation centres specialized in spinal injury care., Methods: The initial translation was performed by two medical doctors who had an in-depth knowledge of spinal cord injury (SCI), and then a back translation (from Italian to English) was given to an accredited agency. Sixty-six participants with SCI (53 men, 13 women; mean ± SD age: 53.4 ± 16.0 years) were evaluated by means of the Italian version of the ISCIPBDS by two different examiners. Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) or Cohen's Kappa (ĸ) was calculated to test the interrater agreement for the test-retest cases., Results: All 66 participants had at least one pain problem and 34% of them had only one type of pain. A good interrater agreement was obtained in terms of number of pain (ICC = 0.781), type of pain (ĸ = 0.683), pain intensity (ICC = 0.798), correspondence of pain localization (ĸ = 0.750), and the value of the pain interference in day-to-day activities, overall mood and night's sleep (ICC = 0.827, ICC = 0.861 and ICC = 0.724, respectively). Eventually a prominent prevalence of neuropathic pain was recorded (64% from the first examiner and 62% from the second one)., Conclusions: The authors propose the Italian version of ISCIPBDS that can be used for research and clinical evaluation of pain in SCI persons; it shows a significant interrater reliability.

In the scenario of food consumptions, we witness the consumer's growing consideration for the "convenience" attribute. Our study intends to understand the consumer behaviour towards convenience-processed foods by analysing in a single model the role of beliefs, personal traits, social influence and market availability. We applied a Structural Equation Model (SEM) to a representative sample of 426 Italian consumers. The results show a correlation between intention to consume convenience-processed foods and social influence, market availability and several personal traits, suggesting strategies for the development of the convenience food market., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Since a large fraction of patients affected by chronic hepatitis C do not respond to alpha-interferon therapy, we planned a pilot study of intravenous beta-interferon therapy in Italian patients non responsive to several courses of alpha-interferon., Methods: Ten Italian patients with chronic hepatitis C were treated intravenously with beta-interferon to assess the biochemical and virological responses. Each patient received intravenously 6 MU of beta-interferon daily for 7 days a week for a period of 2 months; in responders, this treatment was followed by intramuscular beta-interferon administration 6 MU three times a week for an additional 8 weeks., Results: All the patients were infected by the genotype 1b of hepatitis C virus and had a high serum concentration of HCV-RNA (4.1 +/- 3.3 x 10(7) copies/ml). During intravenous therapy, 4 patients (40%) showed a complete return to normal of alanino-aminotransferase and 3 cases became HCV-RNA negative. During intramuscular beta-interferon administration, two patients breakthrough. At the end of the follow-up (six months after the end of the treatment) two patients only showed return to normal of alanino-aminotransferase, but one of them remained HCV-RNA positive., Conclusions: These results indicate that even genotype 1b of hepatitis C virus can be suppressed by intravenous beta-interferon therapy, as previously described in similar cases in Japan. The rate of sustained biochemical and virologic response was, however, low, suggesting that further studies are needed to define the best regimen to achieve eradication of hepatitis C virus infection.