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Background and objectives: Depression is highly prevalent in older adults, especially in those with dementia. Trazodone, an antidepressant, has shown to be effective in older patients with moderate anxiolytic and hypnotic activity; and a common off-label use is rising for managing behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD). The aim of the study is to comparatively assess the clinical profiles of older patients treated with trazodone or other antidepressants. Methods: This cross-sectional study involved adults aged ≥ 60 years at risk of or affected with COVID-19 enrolled in the GeroCovid Observational study from acute wards, geriatric and dementia-specific outpatient clinics, as well as long-term care facilities (LTCF). Participants were grouped according to the use of trazodone, other antidepressants, or no antidepressant use. Results: Of the 3396 study participants (mean age 80.6 ± 9.1 years; 57.1% females), 10.8% used trazodone and 8.5% others antidepressants. Individuals treated with trazodone were older, more functionally dependent, and had a higher prevalence of dementia and BPSD than those using other antidepressants or no antidepressant use. Logistic regression analyses found that the presence of BPSD was associated with trazodone use (odds ratio (OR) 28.4, 95% confidence interval (CI) 18-44.7 for the outcome trazodone vs no antidepressants use, among participants without depression; OR 2.17, 95% CI 1.05-4.49 for the outcome trazodone vs no antidepressants use, among participants with depression). A cluster analysis of trazodone use identified three clusters: cluster 1 included mainly women, living at home with assistance, multimorbidity, dementia, BPSD, and depression; cluster 2 included mainly institutionalized women, with disabilities, depression, and dementia; cluster 3 included mostly men, often living at home unassisted, with better mobility performance, fewer chronic diseases, dementia, BPSD, and depression. Discussion: The use of trazodone was highly prevalent in functionally dependent and comorbid older adults admitted to LTCF or living at home. Clinical conditions associated with its prescription included depression as well as BPSD.

Microgreens have been recently introduced as a new category of vegetables, with unexploited potential as functional foods. Due to containerized production, they can be commercialized while growing on the medium, ready for being harvested before use. The chlorophyll content of vegetables is important for both health benefits and visual appearance of the produce. This paper aims to evaluate the feasibility of using simple tools to monitor chlorophyll content in microgreens of two different species, broccoli raab (Brassica rapa L., Broccoletto group) and radish (Raphanus sativus L.), in varying stages of cold storage in their growing vessel. Image acquisition with a CCD camera, followed by image analysis using preset algorithms of an open source software (ImageJ) was the approach used. Image color analysis (median values of L∗, a∗, and b∗indices) and textural parameters obtained from the gray-level co-occurrence matrix (GLCM) allowed to obtain regression models for chlorophyll content with satisfactory fitting parameters (adjusted R2 was 0.765 and 0.843 for broccoli raab and radish, respectively). These results point out the possibility to set up low-cost, real time, non-destructive monitoring systems for microgreens quality during their growing as well as during storage.

Microgreens are gaining increasing interest as a potential functional food due to their relevant contents of micronutrients and bioactive compounds, including carotenoids. Nevertheless, the analysis of carotenoids is inherently difficult, due to their thermal and chemical susceptibility, as well as to their varying polarity. From this point of view, extraction is the most critical step, compared to chromatographic separation and detection. Thus, the reliability of data on carotenoids should be guaranteed by a constant focus on analytical issues, with appropriate adaptations to each sample matrix. In this research, a specific extraction procedure for the analysis of carotenoids in microgreens was developed. Solvent composition, extraction time, solvent/sample ratio, and repeated extractions were evaluated. The obtained protocol showed recovery of 97.2%, limits of quantitation of 5.2 &mu, g&middot, g&minus, 1 for lutein and 15.9 &mu, 1 for &beta, carotene, as well as intra-day mean repeatability of 5.7% and inter-day mean repeatability of 4.7%.

In this paper, an extended numerical analysis of the “confined-crest impact” (hereinafter referred as “C–CI”), induced by non-breaking waves on recurved parapet walls, is presented to better understand the physics and characteristics of this impulsive wave phenomenon, which significantly depends on the geometry of the parapet (here made by a sector of circumference) as well as on non-breaking wave steepness. A dimensional analysis of the forces has been carried out and used to analyse the results obtained by numerical CFD computations. The numerical simulations, performed for different radii of curvature, opening angles and incoming wave characteristics (changing both the wave height H and wave period T), have shown that the maximum impulsive pressure: (i) takes place on the top of the recurved parapet and decreases moving towards the S W L , where it tends to vanish; (ii) tends to decrease as the radii of curvature and the incoming wave characteristics (wave height H and period T) increase. However, this reduction in the maximum pressure, is always accompanied by an increase of the forces acting on the recurved parapet and a decrease of the wave overtopping volumes. Moreover, the maximum wave induced pressures have been examined by means of regular and irregular wave conditions in order to analyse the possibility of schematising the effects (i.e. forces) of an irregular sea state with those of a regular one, providing an equivalent force and therefore saving computational time. Based on the new results, a schematization of the pressure diagram induced by the C–CI impact has been proposed, used to extend the Goda-Takahashi pressure diagrams, valid for vertical walls in non-breaking wave conditions, including recurved walls.

The function of main port breakwaters is to protect harbour basins from incoming waves and currents. In the event that a maritime terminal is placed on the inner side of a main breakwater, it is extremely important to limit waves overtopping the structure, because the overtopping flows may be very dangerous for the safety of the operations taking place in the terminal. Very often during storms if the overtopping discharges are severe, the terminal is temporarily closed, reducing its average annual workability accordingly. Wave overtopping is normally limited by using high parapet walls (crownwalls) which are not well considered from an environmental point of view due to their visual impact. A good solution to reduce wave overtopping limiting the increasing of the crownwalls height, is to use recurved parapet walls. The paper presents a new formula for recurved walls which can be used to estimate the overtopping flow rates reduction compared to normal vertical parapets. The formula has been obtained for vertical breakwaters by using numerical computations. The recurved parapet has the shape of a circumference sector, characterized by a radius and an opening angle. The numerical computations were performed applying OpenFOAM® which solves the 3D RANS equations for multiphase flows (air and water). The results show the high hydraulic efficiency of recurved walls in reducing overtopping rates compared to traditional vertical parapets.

This paper illustrates a methodology to get a reliable estimation of the local wave properties, based on the reconstruction of the motion of a moving sailboat by means of GNSS receivers installed on board and an original kinematic positioning approach. The wave parameters reconstruction may be used for many useful practical purposes, e.g. to improve of autopilots, for real-time control systems of ships, to analyze and improve the performance of race sailboats, and to estimate the local properties of the waves. A Class 40 oceanic vessel (ECO40) left from the port of &ldquo, Riva di Traiano&rdquo, located close to Rome (Italy) on 19 October 2014 to perform a non-stop sailing alone around the world in energy and food self-sufficiency. The proposed system was installed on ECO40 and the proposed method was applied to estimate the wave properties during a storm in the Western Mediterranean Sea. The results compared against two sets of hindcast data and wave buoy records demonstrated the reliability of the method.

Shortbread cookies with 0, 20, 40 and 50% fat replacement were obtained using an emulsion filled gel (EFG) based on inulin and extra virgin olive oil and studied during 60 storage days. Increasing the amount of EFG in shortbread cookies, higher volumes and harder texture were observed, in relation to the higher water availability and the lower fat content. Thermal analysis conducted by means of DSC and 1H-NMR confirmed the key role of lipids and water status on the mechanical properties of shortbread cookies. Darker colour and toasted notes were registered for increasing levels of EFG, in relation to the presence of inulin involved in the Maillard reaction. During storage, all the cookies resulted very stable regarding dimensions, colour and rancidity perception; only slight texture changes were observed, probably related to the moisture redistribution among the cookies components. EFG can be proposed as valuable ingredient to replace fats in shortbread cookies, allowing the use of the health claim “reduced saturated fat content” already from 40% butter substitution.

Inulin is a prebiotic, recovered from several vegetable sources, used for its health-promoting and technological properties. In this study, inulin was extracted from artichoke roots, an emerging agricultural waste, using both hot-water and ultrasound-assisted extraction. Roots from five cultivars grown in three different sites were submitted to both hot water extraction and ultrasound-assisted extraction. Physic-chemical characterization of the extracts was carried out, and gelling and prebiotic properties were evaluated. The extraction yields of the artichoke roots ranged between 6.5 and 20.9 g 100 g−1, and the use of ultrasound led to an increase in yield only for two cultivars. The FT-IR spectra of the extracts were comparable to that of commercial inulin from chicory, whereas the average degree of polymerization was higher (32 DP). Furthermore, extracts provided gels with different hardness. In most cases, the ultrasound-assisted method increased the protein residue of extracts and reduced the antiradical activity and the gel hardness. The evaluation of the prebiotic properties showed that almost all the tested probiotic strains were able to grow on artichoke inulin although with different extents. The results of this study suggest that artichoke roots can be a suitable source of inulin, though the extraction technology, the genetic and pedoclimatic variables can severely affect yields, gelling properties and prebiotic activity of inulin extracts.

Chronic kidney disease represents a global problem together with other so-called ‘lifestyle-related diseases’. Unlike the healthy population, for the patients with impaired kidney function, it is of course prudent to recommend a restriction of high-potassium foods. Thus, it is suggested to limit the consumption of vegetables, because they generally contain high concentrations of potassium. At the same time, a lower consumption of vegetables reduces the intake of healthy compounds such as vitamins, fibers, and antioxidants, which also reduces the vegetables’ potential benefit in chronic kidney disease patients. Microgreens are an emerging class of specialty crop that represent a nutritious and refined food. In this study, for the first time, some chicory (local variety ‘Molfetta’ and cultivar ‘Italico a costa rossa’) and lettuce (cultivar ‘Bionda da taglio’) genotypes were grown using a hydroponic system with different potassium (K) levels (0, 29.1, 58.4, and 117 mg L−1) in order to produce microgreens with a low potassium content. The crop performances, cations content, proximate composition, and antioxidant activity were analyzed. Independent of the genotype, the K content in the microgreens was successfully reduced using a nutrient solution (NS), without K or with 29.1 mg K L−1, which supplied between 103 and 129 mg of K 100 g−1 FW (about 7.7–8.6% of the K daily intake that was recommended for the patients that were affected by chronic kidney disease). Whereas, 100 g of microgreens that were grown by using an NS with 58.4 or 117 mg K L−1 supply between 225 and 250 mg of K (about 15.8–16.5% of the K daily intake recommended for patients affected by chronic kidney disease). No differences were observed in terms of the shoot height, dry matter, proximate composition, and visual quality. A slightly lower yield was observed using an NS with a K concentration

This paper describes 2-D numerical simulations of velocity and pressure fields generated by non-breaking waves on a vertical breakwater with a recurved parapet wall. The influence of the geometrical characteristics of the parapet is investigated. An impulsive pressure force is identified and discussed with respect to the pure vertical wall case. This force is generated by the seaward flow confinement induced by the surging wave crest. We refer to this impulsive impact as “confined-crest impact”. A large part of the vertical wall is affected by an impulsive increase in pressure caused by pulsating wave, compared to the case where the parapet is completely vertical. The maximum values of the impulsive pressures are localized under the recurved parapet. The total force increase on the entire structure may be significant when compared to the pure vertical wall case.

Besides the variety of colours and flavours, microgreens show interesting nutritional properties, mainly regarding their contents of mineral nutrients and bioactive compounds. To date, the literature has prevalently focused on the individual nutritional features of microgreens usually belonging to Brassicaceae. The present study reports an articulated nutritional profile of six genotypes of microgreens, belonging to three species and two families: chicory (Cichorium intybus L., Puglia's local variety ‘Molfetta’, CM, and cultivar ‘Italico a costa rossa’, CR) and lettuce (Lactuca sativa L. Group crispa, cultivar ‘Bionda da taglio’, LB, and ‘Trocadero’, LT), from Asteraceae; and broccoli (Brassica oleracea L. Group italica Plenk, Puglia's local variety ‘Mugnuli’, BM, and cultivar ‘Natalino’, BN) from Brassicaceae. All the microgreens, except LB, can be considered good sources of Ca, whilst LT and CM also showed considerable amounts of K. As regards bioactive compounds, Brassica microgreens were the richest in phenolic antioxidants. The microgreens also presented higher amounts of α-tocopherol and carotenoids compared to mature vegetables. In particular, broccoli microgreens and LB showed the highest amounts of vitamin E, while Asteraceae microgreens presented the highest levels of carotenoids. Due to their delicate tissues, fresh cut microgreens showed a shelf life not exceeding ten days at 5 °C. The results obtained highlight the possibility to exploit genetic biodiversity in order to obtain tailored microgreens with the desired nutritional profiles, with particular regard to mineral nutrients and bioactive compounds. Appropriate pre- and post-harvest strategies should be developed, so as to allow microgreens to retain as long as possible their nutritional value.