Migratory birds crossing large ecological barriers can exhibit significant plasticity in their circadian movement patterns, e.g., shifting from nocturnal to continuous flight over seas. But substantial plasticity in the circadian patterns of active migration has also been reported in other birds, such as most intra-Palearctic dabbling ducks, that do not face major ecological barriers en route. Yet, the factors driving such behavioural variation in these species remain poorly understood. We investigated how biotic and abiotic factors influenced circadian movement patterns and seasonal migratory schedules during pre-breeding migration of GPS-tracked Northern pintails (Anas acuta) tagged in late winter in northern Adriatic wetlands (Italy) and migrating across Eurasia towards their breeding areas. We classified behaviours from GPS data and estimated the probability of being in active migration as a function of biome, altitude of the sun above the horizon, average ground temperature, and orthodromic distance from the breeding site. While showing a consistent preference for conditions of low (and decreasing) sun altitude throughout migration (n = 22 pintails, n = 25 complete migration events), we observed a gradual shift towards diurnal flight along the movement path, with the level of diurnality varying according to the specific biome encountered and, likely, to the potential exposure to predators in forested areas, across latitudes. Stopovers were longer in the first half of migration and shorter and more frequent as pintails neared the breeding grounds (located mainly in the Russian Arctic). Although active migration segments were covered at very high speeds, the overall migration pace was consistently slow, suggesting a tendency to follow seasonal cues en route. Our study provided evidence that circadian migration patterns and seasonal migratory schedules in pintails were continuously adjusted in response to the environmental conditions encountered during migration. This variation was not solely due to the steep reduction in dark hours as individuals migrated northeast, nor to the increasing urgency to reach the breeding grounds. Rather, it likely resulted from an adaptation to ecological contexts favouring daytime migration, counteracted by the necessity of waiting for environmental conditions to become suitable for breeding.
In 2012, the 'Workplace Injury Stories' project was developed. Within this project, professionals from the Occupational Health and Safety Prevention Services of Local Health Authorities in Piedmont and Lombardy Regions (Northern Italy) and in Marche Region (Central Italy) transformed occupational injury investigation reports into narrative stories. This study aimed to explore the contexts in which injury stories are used, their application in training settings, and their contribution to preventive activities.An online survey was administered to 225 professionals involved in the project, and three focus groups were conducted. Among 135 respondents (60%), 25 participated in the focus groups. Injury stories were mainly used for training purposes, most commonly through lectures combined with group work using innovative approaches such as role play and theatrical performances, and as case studies in peer discussions and during inspection activities also emerged. In training settings, injury stories promoted identification and empathy, supporting reflection on preventive actions. These findings support the use of narrative-based training for the continuing education of workers and prevention professionals.
Objective.Objective evaluation of operational training remains challenging, particularly when comparing physical training with virtual reality (VR) training. Behavioral and subjective measures capture performance and perceived workload but provide limited insight into the underlying neurocognitive adaptation. This study proposes and validates a synthetic EEG-derived cognitive training index (CTI) that integrates multiple training-sensitive neurometrics into a single composite metric, with two aims: to validate CTI as an objective marker of training progression in a physical training group, and to test whether VR-based training leads to neurocognitive adaptation comparable to physical training when participants subsequently execute the task in the real environment.Approach.Participants completed three repetitions of a realistic confined-space industrial maintenance procedure structured into Entrance, Rolling shutter, and Pipe replacement phases. Behavioral outcomes (execution time, procedural errors) and subjective workload NASA Task Load Index (NASA-TLX) were collected after each trial. Wearable EEG was recorded continuously; six neurometrics were computed from cleaned EEG using band-specific Global Field Power over predefined electrode sets. CTI was obtained via principal component analysis applied at the trial level to the multivariate neurometric time series, followed by segment-wise analysis. Temporal specificity of CTI was assessed through phase-randomized surrogate-data analyses.Main results.Execution time decreased across trials (F= 14.82,p< .001,η2p= 0.35), procedural errors decreased similarly (F= 10.31,p< .001,η2p= 0.27), and NASA-TLX declined (F= 11.94,p< .001,η2p= 0.30). CTI increased significantly with training (F= 18.21,p< .001,η2p= 0.39) and was selectively higher in learning-relevant phases (Entrance and Pipe replacement), while remaining near baseline in the low-demand Rolling shutter phase. Surrogate analyses showed that real CTI exceeded null expectations, supporting temporal specificity. Repeated-measures correlations indicated significant negative associations between CTI and procedural errors (R= - 0.42,p< .01) and between CTI and NASA-TLX (R= - 0.38,p< .01), while CTI was not significantly related to execution time (R= 0.18,p= .12).Significance.CTI provides a psychologically grounded, multivariate EEG marker that tracks training progression and aligns with operationally meaningful outcomes, namely procedural accuracy and perceived workload, rather than task speed alone. This approach supports objective comparison of cognitive adaptation across training modalities and provides a practical basis for neurophysiologically informed training evaluation and future adaptive training systems.
The alpine biome, located at higher elevations of mountains worldwide, supports unique biodiversity and provides important ecosystem contributions to people. Despite the growing recognition of mountain biodiversity in international policy frameworks, substantial gaps remain in our understanding of how alpine biodiversity varies across mountain systems, undermining estimates of its conservation value and consequently effective conservation strategies. Here, we curate a dataset on alpine biodiversity, incorporating expert-validated data on species' elevational ranges for vascular plants, mammals, birds, and reptiles across 32 mountain ranges worldwide. We show that alpine biodiversity hotspots are concentrated in Neotropical regions, while most temperate regions represent coldspots with lower species richness. These patterns persist whether considering species with broad elevational ranges or only those strictly confined to the alpine zone. Unlike the classical latitudinal gradient of biodiversity, alpine richness patterns show no consistent relationship with latitude, highlighting the importance of regional history, landscape structure, and biogeographical processes.
The present paper investigates the adsorption performance of pinewood-derived biochars produced at two pyrolysis temperatures (850 °C, PW-A; 1000 °C, PW-B), including sieved fractions (PW-A1 and PW-A2) and a functionalized variant (PW-C), for the removal of five short- and intermediate-chain PFASs (PFBA, PFBS, PFHxA, PFHxS, and GenX) from water under continuous-flow conditions. Adsorption behavior was evaluated using Freundlich and Hill isotherm models. The Hill model provided a superior fit for most PFAS-adsorbent systems, highlighting the importance of cooperativity effects, particularly for short-chain PFASs. In single-compound experiments, PFBS and GenX showed the highest adsorption capacities (up to 82.3 and 68.5 mg g-1), while PFBA and PFHxA exhibited the lowest. Among the tested materials, biochar produced at 1000 °C (PW-B) consistently demonstrated the highest adsorption efficiency. Compared to activated carbon, PW-B showed comparable performance for PFBA, PFBS, PFHxA and PFHxS and significantly better performance for GenX. In mixed-PFAS systems, competitive effects reduced adsorption capacity and cooperativity. Sulfonic PFASs showed higher affinity than carboxylic PFASs, following the trend PFHxS > PFBS > PFHxA > PFBA. Overall, the results demonstrate that waste-derived biochar represents a low-cost and sustainable alternative for PFAS removal in realistic water-treatment scenarios, supporting scalable solutions aligned with global environmental goals.
Formaldehyde (FA) is a widely used industrial chemical and a ubiquitous environmental contaminant, for which biological monitoring remains challenging due to its high reactivity and substantial endogenous background. In the present study, a sensitive and selective analytical method based on headspace solid-phase microextraction with on-fiber derivatization (HS-SPME) coupled to gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) was developed and applied for the determination of urinary FA. Direct on-fiber derivatization using O-(2,3,4,5,6-pentafluorobenzyl) hydroxylamine (PFBHA) was optimized to ensure quantitative derivatization, reproducibility, and minimal sample handling. The method was validated in terms of linearity, sensitivity, precision, and robustness, demonstrating suitability for trace-level FA determination in complex biological matrices. The applicability of the method was evaluated in an occupational biomonitoring campaign involving 124 subjects, including workers occupationally exposed to FA (healthcare personnel, laboratory staff, and firefighters) and non-exposed administrative employees. Urinary FA concentrations showed wide inter-individual variability and substantial overlap between exposed and non-exposed groups, particularly at low exposure levels. Stratified analyses indicated associations with sex and smoking habits, while age and body mass index showed no clear influence. Overall, the results highlight both the analytical reliability of the proposed HS-SPME GC-MS/MS approach and the biological complexity of urinary FA as an exposure biomarker.
Occupational exposure to chromium trioxide (CAS number: 1333-82-0) remains a major concern in the electroplating sector. Risk assessment is regulated under both the REACH Regulation, which focuses on substance-related risks across the supply chain, and Occupational Safety and Health (OSH), which emphasizes workplace-specific exposure. The two regulatory frameworks adopt different approaches, particularly regarding the role of exposure models and monitoring for workplace risk assessment. This study investigated the outcomes of exposure assessment under REACH and OSH, comparing modeled exposure estimates with measured workplace data for occupational exposure to hexavalent chromium, in order to analyze differences in the exposure assessment process and the risk characterization under both approaches. The study focuses on four Italian companies involved in metal products manufacturing, which applied to ECHA for authorization to use chromium trioxide. Worker contributing scenarios were defined from Chemical Safety Reports. Exposure estimates were derived using the Advanced REACH Tool, while additionally measured data came from workplace monitoring campaigns, evaluated according to EN 689:2019. Comparisons between exposure estimates and measured data were made following the criteria of level of consistency and level of conservatism. Considerations on risk as risk characterization ratio (RCR) under OSH and excess risk under REACH were also made due to the different regulatory approach. Model estimates from ART frequently have allow level of consistency with measured workplace concentrations, in some cases by up to two orders of magnitude. RCR values calculated from each exposure measured and estimated data were always <1, although EN 689 testing revealed cases of noncompliance. Excess risk under REACH remained below the tolerable level defined but was closer to it than to the acceptable level. The analysis highlighted fundamental differences between REACH and OSH: REACH relies mostly on exposure models for registration. For Application for Authorizations, monitoring is more frequently applied. On the other hand, OSH prioritizes monitoring of carcinogenic agents by workplace measurements in any case. Models are useful tools, but their reliability depends amongst others on assessor expertise and contextualization with workplace data. Integrating REACH authorization conditions with OSH monitoring obligations can create a more consistent and effective strategy to protect workers from Cr(VI) exposure. As the concept of risk is framed differently in REACH and OSH, this study highlights how the exposure tools may be used at different levels, leading to mutual benefits for both approaches.
Italian Cystic Fibrosis Registry (ICFR) collects data of people with cystic fibrosis through the collaboration with Italian CF referral and support Centres (Italian law 548/93). It aims at analysing medium and long-term clinical and epidemiological trends, identifying healthcare needs at regional and national levels, contributing to healthcare programs and resource allocation (sharing the population of FC centres with the Ministry of Health). Finally, the RIFC shares some of its data with the Italian Medicines Agency (Agenzia Italiana del Farmaco, AIFA) to better define the number of people with cystic fibrosis with early access to specific treatments with innovative therapies. Moreover, ICFR data are shared with the European CF Patients' Registry (ECFSPs' Registry) to contribute to the estimation of the European incidence of the pathology and to bridge knowledge gaps on specific topics as well as to the adoption of common strategies for the standardized collection of data on people with cystic fibrosis. The objective of this report is to provide updated data from ICFR for the years 2023 and 2024. It is essential to consider that the analyses and specific studies carried out refer to a limited number of variables collected in the Registry, and that the selection of the topics covered in the chapters of this report was agreed by the scientific committee of the ICFR. The analyses and results presented in this report pertain to people with cystic fibrosis currently under care Italian National Referral Centres (CRR) and Support Centres (SS) for Cystic Fibrosis and Paediatric Hospital 'Bambino Gesù' (OPBG). Data are collected using web-based software adopted by almost all participating centres, except for the centres in Verona (which also includes the data from Treviso and Rovereto) and Messina, where data collection is carried out using a different software. The submitted data are then subject to both quantitative and qualitative quality control (QC) procedures, aimed at verifying the consistency and continuity of the information previously transmitted and shared with the European CF Registry. In the two-year period 2023-2024, 28 and 27 CF Centres, respectively, submitted their data to ICFR. However, the information from the two CF centres in Sardinia is still partial, since the data provided is limited to a small number of people with cystic fibrosis from 2023. The results section provides a comprehensive overview of various aspects of CF epidemiology and people with cystic fibrosis characteristics. 1. Demography: in 2023 and 2024, 6,127 and 6,182 people with cystic fibrosis were, respectively, included in the ICFR (median ages of 24.1 and 24.9 years). On average, 52.2% of people with cystic fibrosis are male, and most of the population (65.3%) is older than 18 years. This reflects the growth of the adult population, the number of paediatric people with cystic fibrosis remains almost unchanged compared to previous years. 2. in 2024, 66.5% of the Italian CF population received a diagnosis before reaching two years of age, 61.8% within the first year of life, while 15.5% of diagnoses were made in adulthood (>18 years). New diagnoses were 103 in 2023 and 134 in 2024, with an incidence of 1 in 5,587 live births in 2023 and 1 in 8,808 in 2024. 3. the genetic analysis of people with cystic fibrosis was performed in 99.9% of cases. The results allowed the characterization of at least one of the two alleles in 6,040 individuals (97.7%). The most frequent variant in Italy, consistent with previous years, is F508del, present in 43.6% of cases. A higher frequency, compared with other European countries, is also confirmed for the genetic variants N1303K, G542X, and 2789+5G>A. Only 1.3% of alleles carry a CFTR gene variant that has not yet been identified (unknown). 4. Lung function: lung function, measured by percent predicted FEV1%p, declined progressively before adulthood. In detail, 96.4% (in 2023) and 95.5% (in 2024) of paediatric people with cystic fibrosis aged between 6 and 17 maintain a FEV1%p>=70%. On the other hand, the percentage of paediatric people with cystic fibrosis with severely impaired respiratory function (FEV1%p<40%) is 0.2% (2023) and 0.1% (2024). In the adult population, FEV1%p values are encouraging, with an increasing proportion of people with cystic fibrosis showing preserved lung function (85.7% in 2023 and 87.1% in 2024). This report introduces a brief focus on pulmonary exacerbations, which decreased between 2023 and 2024 (from 19.8% to 15.4%; recurrent forms from 8.6% to 4.9%), with reductions across all age groups, though less marked in those over 40. The most affected remain children (1-6 years) and those over 55; the 4.9% with recurrent episodes represent the priority for therapeutic optimization. Overall, trends in respiratory function suggest a progressive improvement in health status among the adult population, likely associated with the increasing use of new targeted pharmacological therapies. 5. Nutrition: ICFR data confirm the critical nature of the first months of life, which usually precede the definitive diagnosis of CF and the subsequent initiation of specialized care. In the 12-17 years age group, the median body max index (BMI) z-score is close to zero, documenting an adequate nutritional status in half of the subjects. The proportion of malnourished males was 6.2% and 5%, while among females it was 2.3% and 2.6%, respectively, in 2023 and 2024. In the >=18 years age group, a higher percentage of underweight BMI is observed among females (9% in 2023 and 8% in 2024) compared with males (4.2% and 4.4% in 2023 and 2024, respectively). 6. in 2024, in both paediatric and adult people with cystic fibrosis, the most frequent complications were the same, but occurred at different rates, such as CF-related liver disease (24.1% and 49.4%, respectively), diabetes (3.8% and 26%), and osteoporosis (4.2% and 18.7%). A total of 50 people with cystic fibrosis with cancer were recorded in 2023 and 2024, of whom 4 were of paediatric age. 7. Transplantation: over the two-year period, 21 people with cystic fibrosis underwent double-lung transplantation, with median ages of 36.2 e 36.8 years in 2023 and 2024, respectively, with ages ranging from 15.1 to 64.7 years across the two years. 8. Microbiology: in 2024, the prevalence of adult people with cystic fibrosis with chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection is 30.1%, while in paediatric people with cystic fibrosis is 5.5%. The prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus infections is 28.7% and 26.4%, respectively, in adults and paediatric people with cystic fibrosis; prevalence of infections of Burkholderia cepacia is 1.6% and 0.2%. 9. in the two-year period, ICFR data show that 36 people with cystic fibrosis died (16 males and 20 females), with median ages at death of 48.3 years in 2023 and 57.2 years in 2024 (excluding transplanted people with cystic fibrosis). The crude mortality rate ranged from 3.1‰ in 2023 to 2.8‰ in 2024; excluding transplant recipients, the crude rate was 1.6‰ and 1.0‰ in the respective years. 10. Motherhood and fatherhood: over the two-year period, 80 pregnancies were recorded, of which 62 were successfully completed (77.5%). Additionally, 22 pregnancies were still ongoing as of 31.12.2024. In 2024, 25 people with cystic fibrosis became fathers. The present report updates data published in previous years thus summarizing 2023 and 2024 results. The number of registered people with cystic fibrosis was 6,127 in 2023 and 6,182 in 2024. Population coverage estimates for 2024 to be around 98%. Over the two-year period 2023-2024, the number and percentage of people with cystic fibrosis aged over 18 years increased. In detail, the ICFR recorded 3,927 adult people with cystic fibrosis (64.1%) in 2023 and 4,034 (65.3%) in 2024. An increase in the median age of Italian people with cystic fibrosis has been observed over time, reaching 24.9 years in 2024. The absolute number of new diagnoses per year is comparable with that of the previous biennium (237 vs 234); the percentage of new diagnosis in adulthood was 39.6% in 2024. In 2024, the median age at diagnosis was 3.9 months; 61.8% of subjects are diagnosed within the first year of life; 95.1% of them were identified through neonatal screening. Analysis of different CFTR genotypes in the Italian CF population confirms the high allelic variability observed in Italy, with a substantial proportion of subjects not eligible for CFTR modulator therapy. Regarding respiratory function, findings are consistent with previous reports, showing an increasing percentage of subjects under the age of 18 with a normal respiratory function. This marked improvement observed in the adult population seems to be mainly due to the introduction of highly effective CFTR modulator therapies in Italy from 2021. In 2024, a reduction in the percentage of chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection was observed in both adults (30.1% vs 38.8% in 2020) and paediatric people with cystic fibrosis (5.5% vs 7.6% in 2020). Liver disease remains the most frequent complication in both paediatric and adult populations, affecting 24.1% and 49.4% of people with cystic fibrosis, respectively. During the two-year period, 36 people with cystic fibrosis died with a median age at death between 48.3 and 57.2 years (transplant people with cystic fibrosis excluded). Only one transplanted people with cystic fibrosis under the age of 18 died in the period 2023 and 2024, confirming once again that mortality in paediatric age is a rare event. Finally, for the first time, this report introduces data related to maternity and paternity, highlighting that in more than 77% of cases pregnancies were successful; as well as estimates of tumour and pulmonary exacerbations incidence as possible complications.
This pilot study evaluated the feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of the Mindful Compassion Care Program (MCCP) in reducing burnout and work-related distress among frontline nurses who worked with COVID-19 patients. A non-randomized controlled design with repeated measures was adopted in a large hospital in northern Italy. Thirty-three nurses participated. The intervention group attended a 7-week mindfulness- and compassion-based program, while the control group was waitlisted. Outcomes included emotional exhaustion, cynicism, perceived stress, mindfulness skills, and self-reassurance. Repeated measures ANOVA showed significant group-by-time interactions for emotional exhaustion (ηp2 = 0.249), cynicism (ηp2 = 0.174), perceived stress (ηp2 = 0.166), and mindfulness skills (ηp2 = 0.216). Mixed-effects models confirmed significant improvements in perceived stress, mindfulness skills, and self-reassurance. No drop-outs occurred during the intervention phase. The MCCP appears feasible and promising in reducing burnout-related distress. Larger randomized trials are warranted.
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Urban environments are increasingly recognized as important settings for biodiversity monitoring, yet empirical knowledge of insect fauna in cities remains limited. Ants are key components of urban ecosystems and useful model organisms to study the ecological effects of urbanization. Urban ant assemblages include invasive alien species, climate-sensitive taxa, and species associated with both ecosystem functioning and human environments, making them relevant to questions of biodiversity loss, sustainable urban development, and human well-being. Here we describe a nationwide dataset on urban ants in Italy, compiled through the community science project School of Ants. The dataset, accessible through GBIF, contains 4,698 occurrence records collected between 2011 and 2024 using a standardized baiting protocol (cookie-crumb-filled tubes left open for one hour). It documents 66 species and four species complexes, belonging to 21 genera and three subfamilies of the family Formicidae, and represents approximately one-fourth of the known Italian ant fauna. Data were generated through the participation of more than 6,000 volunteers and subsequently validated by taxonomic experts. Records were harmonized according to Darwin Core standards to facilitate integration with global biodiversity infrastructures. This dataset provides a spatially and temporally structured resource to investigate the effects of urbanization on ant assemblages, track dominant and non-native species. Although coverage is concentrated in Northern Italy, the standardized and accessible protocol provides a scalable framework that can be readily adopted to generate comparable urban ant datasets in other geographic contexts.
The safety of workers in industrial settings is ensured through the correct use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). The use of such equipment can be monitored using Deep Learning (DL). Federated Machine Learning (FML) is a technique that can be used in this context to preserve the privacy of sensitive information and provide explainability for the models adopted. Explainability techniques are an essential resource for interpreting the classification performed by the model. In this regard, this study aims to evaluate, through the adoption of specific similarity indices, the robustness and consistency of the explainability algorithms adopted to identify the areas of the images that are decisive for PPE classification. The dataset consists of 1600 real images representing work environments, in which staff are portrayed both with and without Personal Protective Equipment; specifically, there are workers wearing helmets, workers wearing reflective vests, workers wearing both devices and, finally, workers without any PPE. SSIM, VIF and SCC are the most relevant indices involved in the study. In the experimental phase, their mean values stand at 0.99, 0.96 and 0.96 for the intra-client study, and 0.96, 0.91 and 0.71 in the inter-client analysis.
Cross-sectional study. To quantify the safety, usage pattern, and satisfaction of seven subjects with paraplegia after prolonged home use of a commercial powered overground exoskeleton. Centro Protesi Inail, the prosthetic centre of the Italian workers' compensation authority. The participants were recalled for a single-day assessment. Five domains were investigated: i. occurrences of adverse events. ii. Active use, usability, and satisfaction: Number of gait steps and stair steps with exoskeleton, System Usability Scale (SUS), Quebec User Evaluation of Satisfaction with Assistive Technology (QUEST). iii. Health status and independence: Short Form-36 (SF-36), Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), General Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7), VO2 consumption associated to a sub-maximal arm crank ergometer test, Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS), Jobe's test and Speed's test, Spinal Cord Injury Measure (SCIM). iv. Perceived benefits: Self-perceived pain severity (VAS scale), Self-perceived bowel and bladder management (5-Likert scale). v. Performance: 6 min Walking Test (6MWT), 10 Meters Walking Test (10MWT). Most recruited subjects were able to use the exoskeleton actively and safely throughout the observation period, experiencing an overall improvement across all domains of investigation. In one case, the ambulation time was lower due to the unavailability of the caregiver. Home supply of powered exoskeleton for ambulation could be part of a rehabilitation program to support individuals with paraplegia in their daily life. However, the presence of a qualified caregiver emerged as dominant factor for technology abandonment.
. Recruitment of foreign nurses under temporary recognition in Piedmont: evolution of migration flows and transformation of the healthcare labor market (2020-2026). The shortage of nurses is one of the major challenges facing European healthcare systems. During the covid-19 pandemic, Italy introduced emergency regulations allowing temporary professional practice for foreign healthcare workers without completion of the ordinary national recognition process. To describe the evolution of foreign nurse recruitment in the Piedmont Region (Italy) between 2020 and 2026, and to compare these flows with historical migration patterns and professional register data. A retrospective analysis of the data from the Piedmont Regional Registry of Temporary Healthcare Professionals. Available variables included profession, country of origin, qualification, and date of application. Geographical origin and temporal trends were analyzed and compared with the register of the Nursing Professional Board of Turin (OPI Torino). Between March 2020 and May 2026, 2,183 nurses entered Piedmont through temporary recognition procedures, compared with 1,439 foreign nurses registered during the previous thirty years. The geographical composition changed dramatically: European professionals decreased from 86.1% among historically registered nurses to 39.4% among temporarily authorized professionals, while African, Asian and South American flows increased substantially. Tunisia, India and Brazil showed the most significant growth. The number of regional authorization resolutions progressively increased after the transformation of the emergency regulation into a structural workforce policy. Temporary recognition procedures profoundly changed international nurse migration patterns in Piedmont. The rapid expansion of recruitment from non-European countries raises organizational, ethical and professional concerns, including transparency of recruitment agencies, professional qualification assessment and potential worker exploitation. International recruitment cannot replace long-term workforce policies aimed at improving salaries and professional attractiveness for nurses in Italy.
Foundries represent complex exposure scenarios where metals, particulate matter, and combustion by-products coexist, posing potential cumulative biological effects. Urinary metabolic profiles from 64 foundry workers and 78 residents living in surrounding areas were investigated using multivariate statistical modeling. Differences in urinary metabolite patterns were observed between the two groups, including lower levels of several amino acids (e.g., valine, alanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan) and tricarboxylic acid intermediates (e.g., citrate and succinate), together with higher levels of selected branched-chain amino acid catabolites (e.g., 3-hydroxyisobutyrate and erythro-2,3-dihydroxybutyrate) in workers. Variations in gut microbiota-related metabolites, such as phenylacetylglycine and p-cresol sulphate, were also detected. Based on these metabolic patterns, potential molecular mechanisms related to energy metabolism, oxidative stress and host-microbiome interaction are discussed as interpretative hypotheses. The comparison between workers and residents was interpreted, taking into account differences in demographic and lifestyle characteristics between groups. Overall, the results indicate that occupational exposure in foundries is associated with measurable differences in urinary metabolic profiles, demonstrating that the applied NMR-based metabolomic strategy is capable of capturing early biological effects and supporting its potential as a non-invasive and holistic biomonitoring tool for evaluating the health impact of complex occupational exposures.
Robotic assistive devices, such as exoskeletons, are increasingly employed in walking rehabilitation. Therefore, the measurement of both movement kinematics and cognitive workload is important to understand this human-robot interaction in real-world contexts. To address this need this study presents the validation of a framework integrating inertial motion capture (Xsens) and eye-tracking sensor (Pupil Neon) within a Mixed Reality (Meta Quest 3) architecture. We developed an overground dual-task paradigm in which holographic numbers appear in the user's peripheral vision. This setup actively stimulates visuospatial attention while quantifying kinematic and cognitive output. To validate the framework, the protocol has been tested on 30 healthy subjects across repeated exoskeleton training sessions. Statistical analyses revealed that the Coefficient of Multiple Correlation (CMC) and Spectral Arc Length (SPARC), calculated on the shank angular velocity, together with the Step Length Variability, exhibited significant time effects (p < 0.01), mapping the transition toward automated gait. Concurrently, pupillometric data demonstrated a measurable reduction in neurocognitive demand; specifically, the Task-Evoked Pupillary Response (TEPR) decreased significantly across progressive training sessions (p < 0.05). With this work, we validated a measurement protocol that aims to provide a novel methodology for objectively evaluating motor and cognitive adaptation in wearable assistive devices.
Although less commonly used than internal dose indicators, biological effect indicators can be valuable for Risk Assessment. Among the numerous biomarkers used to date, those that indicate DNA damage could be especially useful for occupational safety, as they predict the risk of carcinogenesis. The most common among these assays is the micronucleus test. Unfortunately, this test cannot be performed on human erythrocytes; to apply it to lymphocytes, it requires invasive blood sampling, limiting its use to scientific research. We have developed a new method that enables the micronucleus test to be conducted in a rapid, non-invasive, and cost-effective manner. The test is performed on immature erythrocytes (reticulocytes) in human blood smears collected via a finger prick and stained with Acridine Orange. This new protocol allows the micronucleus test to be applied to human blood samples in a manner compatible with occupational safety procedures.
to evaluate the preventability of workplace fatalities that occurred in Piedmont Region (Northern Italy) through inspections by Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) inspectors. It was examined whether an inspection carried out the day before the event could have avoided the injury, and also differences in its impact across various sectors were investigated. descriptive study. workplace injury investigations conducted by OSH inspectors on fatalities that occurred in Piedmont from 2002 to 2022, classified according to the InforMo method. using a group of validated criteria of preventability, fatalities were divided into three categories: probably preventable, probably not preventable, and uncertain. two-thirds of the 786 workers who died were employed in construction and agriculture, while the remaining third worked in manufacturing and other sectors. The analysis on the preventability of fatalities indicates that, in at least half and up to two thirds of the cases, an inspection carried out the previous day probably could not have prevented the fatality. Interviews with OSH inspectors confirmed the validity of the criteria adopted to classify the preventability of injuries. the results suggest that, although inspections can play a significant role in preventing workplace fatalities, a considerable portion of them probably could not have been avoided with a hypothetical inspection the day before the event. To corroborate this result, it is necessary to extend the analysis to fatalities occurring in other Regions. Nevertheless, it is necessary to strengthen the contribution of the various actors envisaged by Legislative Decree 81/2008 and Legislative Decree 626/1994 (RSPP, RLS, etc.) to improve significantly the workplace safety.