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As a review of Kregel’s book Financial Macroeconomics (London: Anthem Press, 2024), the article illustrates Kregel’s original interpretation of Keynes and its compatibility with a Keynesian-Sraffian approach alternative to both mainstream economics and other heterodox theories. Kregel’s analysis focuses on the analytical relations between own rates of own return and own rates of monetary return for commodities and the rate of interest.

Sambhaji Bhagat is the heir of a centuries-old tradition of songs of participation, protest and peace, whose life blood comes from the folklore heritage of Maharashtra. Finding inspiration in such lok shahirs, bards, as Annabhau Sathe and Amar Sheikh, Sambhaji Bhagat is one of the main innovators of the shahir tradition. The article describes, through his words and his songs, the life story of an artist who attempts, with his lyrics, to give voice in Mumbai to the outcast, to those who today most suffer from the processes of marginalization and expulsion.

RESUMO O objetivo deste estudo consiste em reinterpretar as teorias da inflação inercial ante aos debates metodológicos sobre os determinantes da produção científica para entender se o inercialismo foi uma “revolução científica” em relação ao paradigma macroeconômico estabelecido na primeira metade da década de 1980 e/ou uma continuidade da abordagem dos estruturalistas dos anos 1950. Para tanto, buscou-se identificar um “núcleo duro” de elementos teóricos comuns das diferentes abordagens, reconstituindo o debate entre monetaristas e inercialistas na década de 1980 como uma segunda rodada da controvérsia monetarista-estruturalista da década de 1950. Os resultados indicam que o inercialismo é mais bem situado como um programa de pesquisa alternativo ao mainstream dos anos 1980, mas que mantém elevado grau de originalidade como um desenvolvimento teórico posterior da abordagem estruturalista latino-americana.

Nowadays, the scientific community and industry are increasingly pressed to provide solutions for developing compact and highly-performing trace-gas sensors for several applications of crucial importance, such as environmental monitoring or medical diagnostics. In this context, this work describes a novel configuration, making use of a mid-IR spectrophone combining the compactness of a photo-acoustic setup, a non-conventional micro-electro-mechanical (MEMS) acousto-to-voltage transducer, and the sensitivity enhancement given by a cost-effective and easy-to-build dual-tube resonator configuration. In the optimal condition of sample pressure, the system developed in this work can achieve a minimum detection limit (MDL) equal to 0.34 ppb when averaging up to 10 s. Compared with previous literature of single-pass photoacoustic-based sensors for N2O, this corresponds to a significant improvement both for the achieved normalized noise equivalent absorption coefficient (NNEA) equal to 1.41 × 10−9 cm−1WHz−1/2, and for a Noise-Equivalent-Concentration (NEC) of 1 ppb obtained at 1 s of averaging time.

Chlorella vulgaris and Scenedesmus sp. are commonly used in wastewater treatment due to their fast growth rates and ability to tolerate a range of environmental conditions. This study explored the cultivation of Chlorella vulgaris and Scenedesmus sp. using wastewater from the food industry, particularly from Italian basil pesto production tanks. The experiment involved different carbon dioxide concentrations and light conditions with a dilution rate of basil pesto wastewater at 1:2. Both microalgae strains were able to grow on pesto wastewater, and biomass characterization highlighted the influence of CO2 supply and light irradiation. The highest lipid storage was 79.3 ± 11.4 mg gdry biomass−1 and 75.5 ± 13.3 mg gdry biomass−1 for C. vulgaris and S. obliquus under red light (5% CO2 supply) and white light (0.04% CO2 supply), respectively. Protein storage was detected at 20.3 ± 1.0% and 24.8 ± 1.3% in C. vulgaris and S. obliquus biomasses under white light with a 5% CO2 and 0.04% CO2 supply, respectively. The removal of P, N, chemical oxygen demand, and biological oxygen demand resulted in 80–100%, 75–100%, 26–35%, and 0–20%, respectively.

Both aryl and benzyl polybromides have gained significant importance as reactive building blocks in polymer and materials chemistry. Their preparation primarily relies on established synthetic methods using molecular bromine or N-bromosuccinimide, known for their reliability and effectiveness. However, from a sustainability perspective, these methods suffer from the generation of stoichiometric amounts of byproducts and often encounter selectivity troubles. To mitigate these issues, we extended the greener peroxide-bromide halogenation method, initially developed for monobromides, to afford aryl-cored polybromides in high yields. The same method can be employed in two variants modulated by light irradiation. This external switch can be used to selectively trigger side-chain or core halogenation.

The achievable sensitivity level of photo-acoustic trace-gas sensors essentially depends on the performances of the acoustic transducer. In this work, the mechanical response of different silicon-based micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) is characterized, aiming at investigating both their mechanical properties, namely the resonance frequency and the quality factor, and the minimum detection limit (MDL) achievable when they are exploited as an acoustic-to-voltage transducer in a trace-gas photoacoustic setup. For this purpose, a 4.56µm Continuous-Wave (CW) quantum cascade laser (QCL) is used to excite a strong N2O roto-vibrational transition with a line strength of 2.14 × 10−19 cm/molecule, and the detection of MEMS oscillations is performed via an interferometric readout. As a general trend, the minimum detection limit decreases when the resonance frequency investigated increases, achieving a value of 15 parts per billion with a 3 dB cut-off lock-in bandwidth equal to 100 mHz, around 10 kHz.

Background Preterm birth alters nephrogenesis and reduces the total nephron number. Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) seems to worsen nephron loss, but only a few studies have investigated its role in neonatal kidney impairment. We investigated whether IUGR, defined as reduced estimated fetal growth and/or placental flow alterations and low birth weight z-score, increases the risk of developing acute kidney injury (AKI) in very preterm infants. Methods We performed a retrospective study including infants born with a birth weight (BW) [less than or equal to] 1500 g and/or gestational age (GA) [less than or equal to] 32 weeks admitted to our center between January 2016 and December 2021. Neonatal AKI was defined according to the neonatal KDIGO classification based on the decline of urine output and/or creatinine elevation. We used multivariable linear regressions to verify the association between AKI and GA, BW z-score, IUGR definition, and hemodynamically significant patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). Results We included 282 infants in the analysis, with a median (IQR) GA = 29.4 (27.4, 31.3) weeks, BW = 1150 (870, 1360) g, and BW z-score = - 0.57 (- 1.64, 0.25). AKI was diagnosed in 36 (13%) patients, and 58 (21%) had PDA. AKI was significantly associated with BW z-score (beta (std. error) = - 0.08 (0.03), p = 0.008) and severe IUGR (beta (std. error) = 0.21 (0.08), p = 0.009), after adjusting for GA and PDA. Conclusions Our data suggest that low BW z-score and IUGR could represent adjunctive risk factors for kidney impairment in preterm babies. Graphical abstract, Author(s): Mariateresa Sinelli [sup.1] , Emanuela Zannin [sup.1] , Daniela Doni [sup.1] , Sara Ornaghi [sup.2] [sup.3] , Eleonora Acampora [sup.2] , Nadia Roncaglia [sup.2] , Patrizia Vergani [sup.2] [sup.3] [...]

Integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) into Precision Medicine (PM) is redefining healthcare, enabling personalized treatments tailored to individual patients based on their genetic code, environment, and lifestyle. AI’s ability to analyze vast and complex datasets, including genomics and medical records, facilitates the identification of hidden patterns and correlations, which are critical for developing personalized treatment plans. Unsupervised Learning (UL) is particularly valuable in PM as it can analyze unstructured and unlabeled data to uncover novel disease subtypes, biomarkers, and patient stratifications. By revealing patterns that are not explicitly labeled, unsupervised algorithms enable the discovery of new insights into disease mechanisms and patient variability, advancing our understanding of individual responses to treatment. However, the integration of AI into PM presents some challenges, including concerns about data privacy and the rigorous validation of AI models in clinical practice. Despite these challenges, AI holds immense potential to revolutionize PM, offering a more personalized, efficient, and effective approach to healthcare. Collaboration among AI developers and clinicians is essential to fully realize this potential and ensure ethical and reliable implementation in medical practice. This review will explore the latest emerging UL technologies in the biomedical field with a particular focus on PM applications and their impact on human health and well-being.

The debate of whether bilingualism provides a cognitive and or linguistic advantage is a lasting one. Underlying this debate is the idea that an additional language shapes cognition and linguistic processing. The current research analyzes a behavioral dataset containing individuals’ performance in different general cognitive and linguistic tests using a machine learning approach to classify individuals as bilinguals or multilinguals based on their performance. Using an extreme gradient boosting model, we were able to achieve a balanced accuracy of 77%. High scores on a prescriptive grammar test, a verbal fluency test, and a picture naming test were predictive for multilingualism. The implications of the reported results for the field and future research are discussed.

Recensione di: Breda M., Caretti S. (2024), Il nemico di Mussolini. Giacomo Matteotti, storia di un eroe dimenticato, Milano: Solferino.

L’articolo propone un’introduzione al tema delle intelligenze artificiali generative multimodali, descrivendone natura e caratteristiche, e si sofferma quindi su due aspetti che potrebbero costituire contesti particolarmente interessanti per il loro uso, in particolare nel campo delle digital humanities: il tema dell’accessibilità, con la generazione automatica di descrizioni alternative fortemente personalizzate basate su codici comunicativi diversi rispetto al contenuto primario, e il tema della crono- e georeferenziazione, con la possibilità di includere la dimensione geografica e quella cronologica all’interno delle caratteristiche di un modello multimodale.

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused delays in cancer diagnoses and reductions in treatments. The aim of this work is to evaluate the impact of the pandemic on prostate cancer by evaluating whether there has been a shift towards more aggressive (Gleason) and more advanced tumors (stage IV) and a decline in treatments. The study was conducted on 1123 cases of prostate cancer incident in the Province of Reggio Emilia, Northern Italy, in the period of 2018–2021. In 2020, there was a decline in new diagnoses of prostate cancer (−31%), followed by a slight recovery in 2021 (+5%). While Gleason 7 and 8–10 values remained constant, a significant decrease was recorded in stage I (38.7%, 41.6%, 35.5%, and 27.7%) and an increase in stage IV (13.1%, 13%, 15.4%, and 20%) cases in the years 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021, respectively. However, there was no impact on surgical treatment (which remained constant at around 35%) and radiotherapy (around 39%). Our findings underline the profound impact of COVID-19 on prostate cancer management, highlighting the importance of healthcare resilience in the face of unprecedented disruptions.

The increasing demand for sustainable agricultural practices aimed at reducing carbon dioxide emissions has driven the exploration of converting viticulture residues into biochar. This study investigates the potential technological applications of biochar as a filler for the production of electrically conductive composite materials, suitable to Bipolar Plate (BP) manufacturing. Grape seeds (GSs), defatted grape seeds (DGSs), wood stems (WSs), and whole grape seeds (WGSs) were converted into biochar samples through low-temperature (300 °C) pyrolysis for 3 or 24 h. The composition and thermal stability of biochar were evaluated through thermogravimetric analysis (TG), which provided valuable insights into interpreting the in-plane conductivity (IPC) values of the BP samples. Pyrolyzed GS and DGS biochar samples demonstrated enhanced thermal stability and conferred higher IPC values compared to WS counterparts. This indicates a clear correlation between the formation of carbon-rich structures during pyrolysis and overall electrical conductivity. In contrast, pyrolyzed WGSs produced BP samples with lower IPC values due to the presence of lipids, which were not effectively degraded by the low-temperature pyrolysis.

Spirulina platensis (SP) has gained popularity over the last few years, owing to its remarkable nutritional properties and high potential across various industrial sectors. In this study, we analyzed the volatile profile of eight SP samples from the same strain subjected to different drying (oven-drying, air-drying, and spray-drying) and storing conditions (“freshly prepared” and after 12 months of storage) using HS-SPME-GC-MS. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used as a multivariate technique to discern similarities and differences among the samples. The main aim was to assess the impact of the drying technique on the aroma profile and storage life of SP samples. Air-drying leads to the less pronounced formation of by-products related to heat treatment, such as Maillard and Strecker degradation compounds, but promotes oxidative and fermentative phenomena, with the formation of organic acids and esters, especially during storage. Thermal treatment, essential for limiting degradation and fermentation during storage and extending shelf life, alters the aroma profile through the formation of volatile compounds, such as Strecker aldehydes and linear aldehydes, from amino acid and lipid degradation. High temperatures in spray-drying favor the formation of pyrazines. The findings underscore the trade-offs inherent in choosing an appropriate drying method, thereby informing decision-making processes in industrial settings aimed at optimizing both product quality and efficiency.

Recensione a: Perrotta C., Rizzello S., Sunna C, (2023), Human Capital. The Driving Force for Economic Development, Cham: Palgrave Macmillan.

ABSTRACTThe deformation of interatomic distances with respect to those of the perfect crystal generates atomic-level strain. In nanoalloys, strain can arise because of finite size, morphology, domain structure and lattice mismatch between their atomic compounds. Strain can strongly affect the functional properties of nanoalloys, as it alters their electronic energy levels. Moreover, atomic-level strain generates atomic-level stress, which in turn results in distortions induced by strain. When the stress accumulated in a nanoalloy exceeds a certain level, the particle can relax that stress by undergoing structural transitions such as shape and/or chemical ordering transitions. Atomic-level strain is then a powerful tool to control and manipulate the structural and functional properties of nanoalloys. This requires a combined theoretical and experimental approach both to deeply understand the physical origin of strain, and to characterize it with a sub-angstrom resolution. Here, we present a theoretical analysis of the main sources of strain in nanoalloys, we analyse how atomic-level strain can be experimentally measured with transmission electron microscopy, we discuss its effect on the functional properties of nanoalloys, finally we describe how atomic-level stress arises from atomic-level strain, and how stress can induce structural transformations at the nanoscale.

The new polynucleating tripodal proligand $\text{H}_6\text{tren(dpa)}_3$, containing thirteen nitrogen donors of four different types, was designed, synthesized, and isolated in good yield (${\sim }$60%) via a transition-metal-free triple N-arylation of $\text{H}_6$tren with HXdpa (X $=$ Br or F), using $\text{K}_2\text{CO}_3$ or $\text{Cs}_2\text{CO}_3$ as a base ($\text{H}_6$tren $=$ tris(2-aminoethyl)amine, HXdpa $=$ 6-halogeno-$N$-(pyridin-2-yl)pyridin-2-amine). HFdpa was prepared with excellent yield (90–92%) by reaction of 2,6-difluoropyridine with 2-aminopyridine in LiH/toluene/pyridine and was found more reactive than HBrdpa, affording higher conversion and higher yield. Use of $\text{Cs}_2\text{CO}_3$ turned out to be essential for achieving high regioselectivity and eliminating overarylation almost completely.

To deal with climate emergency and reduce environmental impact, agro-industrial wastes are gradually gaining interest and are being used for new products and applications. The large production of watermelons represents an opportunity because of the many byproducts that can be transformed into innovative and valuable foodstuffs. In this study, we examined the lycopene-rich whole dietary fiber (WDF) obtained from the watermelon pomace of a peculiar cultivar, Gavina® (Oristano, Italy) a seedless fruit from Sardinia (Italy). The volatile chemical composition of the WDF was investigated using Solid-Phase Microextraction-Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (SPME-GC/MS). The aim was to follow the evolution of the Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) fraction during storage and verify its stability over time. Since watermelon is an excellent source of carotenoids, their byproducts were the most abundant VOCs of the freshly prepared samples, but their overall abundance decreased significantly during storage. The opposite trend was observed for acids and aldehydes, whose increase over time is related to amino acid degradation. Freshly prepared WDF can be used in the food industry as an antioxidant-rich dietary fiber that imparts a characteristic and pleasant aroma. Over time, its aroma profile and carotenoid content change considerably, reducing its health properties and limiting its potential application as a natural flavor.

Questo tributo commemora Salvatore Biasco, illustre collega e amico della rivista. I molteplici contributi di Biasco hanno spaziato dall’economia internazionale alla finanza, passando per l’impegno politico in prima persona. Il lavoro di Biasco ha sempre sottolineato il ruolo centrale della politica economica ma anche la sua natura endogena. In contrasto con le teorie dominanti che attribuiscono le fluttuazioni economiche e le crisi a fattori esterni, Biasco considerava problematica l’idea di un equilibrio stabile di mercato. Il lavoro di Biasco ha gettato luce sull’importante impatto delle variabili finanziarie su quelle reali, ad esempio con articoli sull’endogenità dei cicli valutari e sull’importanza dei flussi lordi di capitali nel sistema monetario internazionale.

BackgroundThe aim of this randomized clinical trial (RCT) was to compare immunological changes in virally suppressed people living with HIV (PLWH) switching from a three-drug regimen (3DR) to a two-drug regimen (2DR).MethodsAn open-label, prospective RCT enrolling PLWH receiving a 3DR who switched to bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide (B/F/TAF) or dolutegravir/lamivudine (DTG/3TC) was performed. Blood was taken at baseline and months 6 and 12. The primary outcome was the change in CD4+ or CD8+ T-cell counts and CD4/CD8 ratio over time points. The secondary outcomes were the changes in immunological and inflammatory parameters. Parametric mixed-linear models with random intercepts and slopes were fitted separately for each marker after controlling for potential confounders.ResultsBetween the two arms (33 PLWH each), there was no difference in CD4+ or CD8+ T cells, CD4/CD8 ratio, and IL-6 trajectories. PLWH switching to DTG/3TC had increased levels of both transitional memory and terminally differentiated CD4+ T cells (arm–time interaction p-value = 0.02) and to a lesser extent for the corresponding CD8+ T-cell subsets (p = 0.09). Significantly lower levels of non-classical monocytes were detected in the B/F/TAF arm at T6 (diff = −6.7 cells/mm3; 95% CI; −16, +2.6; p-value for interaction between arm and time = 0.03). All differences were attenuated at T12.ConclusionNo evidence for a difference in absolute CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell counts, CD4/CD8 ratio, and IL-6 trajectories by study arm over 12 months was found. PLWH on DTG/3TC showed higher levels of terminally differentiated and exhausted CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes and non-classical monocytes at T6. Further studies are warranted to better understand the clinical impact of our results.Clinical Trial Registrationhttps://clinicaltrials.gov, identifier NCT04054089.

In this study, we demonstrate the direct preparation of dihalo-γ-lactams featuring two distinct halogens from dichloroamides using a novel atom exchange radical cyclization (AERC) procedure. This method integrates the established atom transfer radical cyclization (ATRC) with halogen exchange in solution. The technique operates under mild conditions and requires small amounts of metallic copper, serving as both a supplemental activator and reducing agent.

In this work, the fabrication of wafer-level vacuum-packaged 3C-SiC on Si double- clamped beam resonators via glass–silicon anodic bonding using Ti-based vacuum gettering is reported. Open-loop resonance measurements are performed on the vacuum-packaged devices, showing Q-factor values up to 290,000, a process yield above 80%, and a maximum vacuum level around 10−2 mbar inside the Ti-gettered encapsulations.