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Traditionally, R&D studies focus on organisational characteristics and internal context factor effects on a firm’s R&D activities. This paper extends previous research by analysing firm–level R&D expenditures in the wider context of inter–organisational networks. Using sample of 2002 manufacturing firms in Italy, it provides evidence that R&D intensity is linked to a firm’s positioning within an industrial group’s hierarchy. Further tests on the antecedents of R&D expenditures are carried out in relation to the effects of firm characteristics and industry factors. Important findings include a significant and positive association between R&D intensity and the firm’s size, performance, intangible assets and industry concentration. These findings suggest that, in addition to firm–level factors and its market environment, network resources and organisation may play an important role in driving the intensity of the firm’s R&D expenditures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salsiccia sarda or Sardinian fermented sausage is a traditional dry-fermented sausage included in the list of traditional food products of Sardinia (Italy). At the request of some producing plants, the possibility of extending the shelf life of the vacuum-packed product up to 120 days was evaluated. Manufacturing of 90 samples, representing 3 different batches of Sardinian fermented sausage was carried out in two producing plants (A and B). In the packaged product and subsequently every 30 days for four months (T 0 , T 30 , T 60 , T 120 ), the following analyses were conducted on all samples: physicochemical characteristics, total aerobic mesophilic count, Enterobacteriaceae count, detection of Listeria monocytogenes , Salmonella spp ., mesophilic lactic acid bacteria, and coagulase-positive Staphylococci . Moreover, surfaces in contact and surfaces not in contact with food were sampled in both producing plants. Sensory profile analysis was also performed for every analysis time. At the end of the extended shelf life, pH values were equal to 5.90±0.11 (producing plant A) and 5.61±0.29 (producing plant B). Water activity mean values at T 120 were 0.894±0.02 (producing plant A) and 0.875±0.01 (producing plant B). L. monocytogenes was detected in 73.3% (33/45) of the samples from producing plant A, with mean levels of 1.12±0.76 log 10 CFU/g. In producing plant B, L. monocytogenes was never detected. Enterobacteriaceae were detected in 91.1% (41/45) of samples in producing plant A with mean values of 3.15±1.21 log 10 CFU/g, and in 35.5% (16/45) samples in producing plant B samples with mean values of 0.72±0.86 log 10 CFU/g. Salmonella and Staphylococcus aureus were never detected. Regarding environmental samples, the sites that were most contaminated by L. monocytogenes were the bagging table (contact surface) and processing room floor drains (non-contact surface) with a prevalence of 50% each (8/16 positive samples for both sampling sites). Sensory analysis results showed that at T 30 the overall sensory quality was at its highest;moreover, the visual-tactile aspect, the olfactory characteristics, the gustatory aspects, and the texture showed significant differences in samples throughout the shelf life, with a decreased intensity at 120 days of storage. Overall, the quality and sensory acceptance of the vacuumpacked Sardinian fermented sausage was not affected until 120 days of shelf-life. However, the possible contamination by L. monocytogenes calls attention to the hygienic management of the entire technological process. The environmental sampling was confirmed as a useful verification tool during control., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest: the authors declare no potential conflict of interest., (©Copyright: the Author(s).)

Evidence on the effectiveness of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines in nursing home (NHs) residents is limited. We examined the impact of the BNT162b2 mRNA SARS-CoV-2 vaccine on the course of the epidemic in NHs in the Florence Health District, Italy, before and after vaccination. Moreover, we assessed survival and hospitalization by vaccination status in SARS-CoV-2-positive cases occurring during the post-vaccination period. We calculated the weekly infection rates during the pre-vaccination (1 October-26 December 2020) and post-vaccination period (27 December 2020-31 March 2021). Cox analysis was used to analyze survival by vaccination status. The study involved 3730 residents (mean age 84, 69% female). Weekly infection rates fluctuated during the pre-vaccination period (1.8%-6.5%) and dropped to zero during the post-vaccination period. Nine unvaccinated (UN), 56 partially vaccinated (PV) and 35 fully vaccinated (FV) residents tested SARS-CoV-2+ during the post-vaccination period. FV showed significantly lower hospitalization and mortality rates than PV and UV (hospitalization: FV 3%, PV 14%, UV 33%; mortality: FV 6%, PV 18%, UV 56%). The death risk was 84% and 96% lower in PV (HR 0.157, 95%CI 0.049-0.491) and FV (HR 0.037, 95%CI 0.006-0.223) versus UV. SARS-CoV-2 vaccination was followed by a marked decline in infection rates and was associated with lower morbidity and mortality among infected NH residents.

Background: Nursing home (NH) residents have been dramatically affected by COVID-19, with extremely high rates of hospitalization and mortality., Aims: To describe the features and impact of an assistance model involving an intermediate care mobile medical specialist team (GIROT, Gruppo Intervento Rapido Ospedale Territorio) aimed at delivering "hospital-at-nursing home" care to NH residents with COVID-19 in Florence, Italy., Methods: The GIROT activity was set-up during the first wave of the pandemic (W1, March-April 2020) and became a structured healthcare model during the second (W2, October 2020-January 2021). The activity involved (1) infection transmission control among NHs residents and staff, (2) comprehensive geriatric assessment including prognostication and geriatric syndromes management, (3) on-site diagnostic assessment and protocol-based treatment of COVID-19, (4) supply of nursing personnel to understaffed NHs. To estimate the impact of the GIROT intervention, we reported hospitalization and infection lethality rates recorded in SARS-CoV-2-positive NH residents during W1 and W2., Results: The GIROT activity involved 21 NHs (1159 residents) and 43 NHs (2448 residents) during W1 and W2, respectively. The percentage of infected residents was higher in W2 than in W1 (64.5% vs. 38.8%), while both hospitalization and lethality rates significantly decreased in W2 compared to W1 (10.1% vs 58.2% and 23.4% vs 31.1%, respectively)., Discussion: Potentiating on-site care in the NHs paralleled a decrease of hospital admissions with no increase of lethality., Conclusions: An innovative "hospital-at-nursing home" patient-centred care model based on comprehensive geriatric assessment may provide a valuable contribution in fighting COVID-19 in NH residents., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

Background: A substantial coronal plane deformity is common in the context of end-stage ankle osteoarthritis. Recent literature shows a trend toward extending the indication of total ankle arthroplasty in increasingly severe coronal deformities, showing promising results when correct alignment is achieved. Nevertheless, the results of lateral transfibular total ankle replacement (LTTAR) in valgus has not been extensively studied. We aimed to evaluate if the outcomes of LTTAR in ankles with valgus deformity were similar to those with no major deformity at short-term follow-up., Methods: This retrospective cohort study included 228 LTTARs. Patients were classified into 2 groups according to the preoperative coronal plane tibiotalar angle (TTS): neutral (less than 10 degrees of coronal deformity, 209 patients) and valgus (above 10 degrees of valgus, 19 patients). Clinical evaluation was performed using the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) score, visual analog scale (VAS), 12-Item Short Form Health Survey 12 (SF-12) regarding its Physical and Mental Component Summary items. The radiographic evaluation considered anteroposterior and lateral ankle radiographs. Complications were also registered and classified as major or minor. The minimum follow-up was 2 years., Results: The average AOFAS, VAS, and SF-12 scores improved significantly postoperatively ( P < .001), without differences between groups. At final radiographic follow-up, the valgus alignment group did not show significant differences with the neutral alignment group regarding TTS, lateral distal tibial angle, or anterior distal tibial angle ( P > .05)., Conclusion: LTTAR in cases with valgus deformity achieved and maintained correction at short-term follow-up, as obtained in neutral alignment ankles. Clinical outcomes improved significantly regardless of preoperative valgus deformity., Level of Evidence: Prognostic Level III, retrospective cohort study.

Left atrial invasion by lung cancer via haematogenous pathways is a relatively uncommon but potentially life-threatening event. While several cardiac complications of cardiac involvement have been previously described, the evolution towards cerebral stroke has been rarely reported. In this case report, we describe an atypical case of haematogenous metastatic invasion of the left atrium from pulmonary neoplasm extension presenting as an ipsilateral stroke whose ASCO classification changed during the clinical management., Competing Interests: The authors declare that there are no competing interests.

Unlabelled: Ricotta salata cheese is frequently contaminated on the surface with Listeria monocytogenes. Water bath heat treatment in vacuum packed whole ricotta salata cheese wheels demonstrated to be effective in inactivating L. monocytogenes. However, the risk of cross-contamination in ricotta salata wedges is increased during cheese cutting. Therefore, the effectiveness of heat treatment in ricotta salata wedges has to be demonstrated conducting a new validation study. In this study, 9 different time temperature combinations, 75, 85, and 90 °C applied for 10, 20, and 30 min each, were tested on artificially contaminated ricotta salata cheese wedges. The extent of the lethal effect on L. monocytogenes was assessed 1 and 30 d after the application of the hot water bath treatment. Five of 9 combinations, 75 °C for 30 min, 85 °C for 20, and 30 min, and 90°C for 20 and 30 min, demonstrated to meet the process criteria of at least 5 log reduction. Sensory analyses were also conducted in order to account for the potential impact on sensory features of ricotta salata wedges, which showed no significant differences between treatments., Practical Application: This study allowed to select water bath heat treatments of vacuum packed ricotta salata wedges effective to reduce L. monocytogenes contamination. Such treatments can be successfully applied by food business operator to meet compliance with microbiological criteria through the designated shelf-life., (© 2015 Institute of Food Technologists®)

In this work, a quantitative characterisation of lipid (both triglycerides and phospholipids) rearrangements in the muscle of offshore-raised gilthead sea bream was carried out as a function of fish growth between April and September. Relative percentages of lipid classes and fatty acids/acyls composition of the commercial feeds and fish dorsal muscles were assessed by means of an interdisciplinary analytical approach. A combination of preparative chemistry and experimental results from NMR spectroscopy, GC, 3D-TLC as well as proximate analysis permitted the observed growth parameters in key metabolic events to be linked with fish fattening and lipid turnover. While defined effects of feed composition on fatty acid profiles of fillets were ascertained, the relative increase of fatty acyls in triglycerides and phospholipids were also estimated enabling detailed evaluation of TAG:PL ratio in adult offshore-farmed gilthead sea bream. NMR was also used to quantify PUFA regiospecific distribution in TAG and PL., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)