Università degli Studi di Enna Kore

Philology in the Age of Large Language Models

Talk on the potential of LLM-based philological applications to go beyond the principle of the usus scribendi.

From Reactive Oxygen Species to Organelle Stress and Innate Immunity in Dry Eye Disease

Dry eye disease (DED) is a complex, multifactorial condition in which oxidative stress is increasingly recognized as a recurrent feature of ocular-surface dysfunction and as a signaling hub linking environmental stress, organelle dysfunction, innate immunity, and regulated cell d...

Carbon quantum dots synthesis by laser ablation of graphene oxide in biocompatible solutions

A biocompatible dispersion of carbon quantum dots (CQDs) has been obtained by laser irradiation of graphene oxide (GO) in liquid media. The CQD synthesis uses a pulsed IR laser operating at 970 nm, with a 100 ms pulse duration and a fluence of 1.1 kJ/cm2. The carbon target consis...

Muscular Response in Sleep-Disordered Breathing Patients: New Methods of Assessment and Measurement

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a heterogeneous disorder influenced by both anatomical collapsibility and non-anatomical factors, such as neuromuscular response. Identifying these traits through simplified clinical surrogates is crucial for personalized precision med...

Growth factor polygenic disposition shapes associations of childhood adversity with gray matter and clinical profiles in depression: A two‐cohort imaging‐genetics study

Aim Adverse childhood experiences (ACE) are associated with greater symptom severity and treatment resistance in major depressive disorder (MDD), but their effects vary markedly across individuals. Growth factor polygenic profiles may contribute to this differential susceptibilit...

Backward Plasma Acceleration of Aluminum, Copper, Silver, and Tantalum Ions From 10 10 up to 10 15 W/cm 2 Pulse Laser Intensity

ABSTRACT Measurements of ion acceleration in laser‐generated plasma obtained at intensities from 10 10 up to 10 15 W/cm 2 using IR laser ablation of aluminum, copper, silver, and tantalum in high vacuum are presented. At low intensity, data were acquired from the MIFT Department...

The Behavior of the External Limiting Membrane and Ellipsoid Zone in Diabetic Macular Edema: A Population AI-Assisted Optical Coherence Tomography Study

Purpose: To investigate the behavior of the external limiting membrane (ELM) and ellipsoid zone (EZ) in diabetic macular edema (DME) using artificial intelligence (AI)-based optical coherence tomography (OCT) quantification. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study. OCT scans of...

Real-World Clinical Management of Keratoconus in Europe and the Middle East: A Multicountry Survey on Diagnostic and Surgical Practices (Keratoconus in Mind - KIM Project)

Purpose: This study aimed to describe the current management of patients with keratoconus in European and Middle Eastern countries through the collection of real-world data from clinicians actively managing keratoconus. Methods: Computer-assisted web interviewing survey targeting...

Corporate Environmental Responsibility: How Norms Shape Collectivity and Sustainability Intentions Across Organizational and Domestic Boundaries

ABSTRACT In an era of increasing environmental challenges, organizations are expected to integrate Corporate Environmental Responsibility (CER) into their strategies and practices. This research examines employees' perceptions of CER as normative organizational signals and invest...

Virologic, Lipid, Renal and Hepatic Laboratory Outcomes After Switching to Doravirine/Lamivudine/Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate in Treatment-Experienced People with HIV: Real-World Evidence from the SHINe-SHIC Cohort

Background/Objectives: Doravirine/lamivudine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (DOR/3TC/TDF) is used as a switch regimen in treatment-experienced people with HIV (PWH), particularly when simplification, lipid improvement, or avoidance of interaction-prone regimens is needed. We evalu...

HPV DNA Detection and Genotyping in Basal-Like Breast Carcinoma: Insights into a Possible Viral Association

Objectives: High-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) has been implicated in breast carcinogenesis, but its role remains controversial. Basal-like breast carcinomas (BLCs) share morphological and immunophenotypic features with HPV-related squamous cell cancers. This study aimed to det...

Data-driven seismic fragility and risk evaluation of existing reinforced-concrete bridge portfolios under limited data

Preliminary screening of existing transport infrastructure networks is essential to support timely maintenance and retrofit decisions, improve structural resilience, and reduce the economic and environmental impacts of severe damage, failure, and inefficient resource allocation....

In‐Vivo Frame Dynamicity of Self‐Expanding Transcatheter Aortic Valves

BACKGROUND: Due to nitinol stent properties, self-expanding transcatheter heart valves (THVs) have the potential to adapt their frames to native annular dimension excursions during the cardiac cycle and therefore to maintain the physiological relevance of this behaviour. AIMS: To...

The Impact of Climate Change on Pregnant Women’s Health: A Scoping Review of Reviews

Background/Objectives: Records through early 2026 mark 2025 as the warmest year in over 170 years. Pregnant women are among the populations most vulnerable to climate change. The objective of this study was to conduct a review that synthesizes existing knowledge on how the differ...

Smartphone-Based Automated Quantification of Bulbar Conjunctival Hyperemia Using Vessel Density Mapping

Purpose: To develop a smartphone application (Conjunctiva VD) that objectively quantifies bulbar conjunctival hyperemia by estimating the conjunctival vessel density (VD) within a user-defined region of interest (ROI). Methods: A total of 100 conjunctival images from 2 public dat...

DISE and Rhinomanometry Correlates of Response to Head‐of‐Bed Elevation in Obstructive Sleep Apnea

OBJECTIVES: To identify endoscopic and rhinomanometric correlation of response to 30° head-of-bed elevation (HOBE) in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and to explore whether upper airway (UA) collapse patterns and nasal resistance are associated with positional improv...

Updating the Prevalence of H. pylori and Extensive Precancerous Lesions in the Stomach: Results of a Multicenter, Endoscopic Study

Background/Objectives: H. pylori is the main preventable risk factor for gastric cancer through the development of extensive precancerous lesions, namely mucosal atrophy and intestinal metaplasia. Methods: This multicenter, nationwide study enrolled consecutive patients who under...

Role of Weathering on the Disintegration of Compatibilized Polymer Blends and Their Release of Microplastics

ABSTRACT The increasing environmental presence of microplastics and nanoplastics constitutes a critical concern for environmental integrity and public health, with notable repercussions across aquatic systems, terrestrial ecosystems, and both human and animal health. These partic...

Application of extracellular polymeric substances recovered from aerobic granular sludge as bio-based hydrogels for plant cultivation systems

Wastewater treatment plants generate large amounts of excess sludge, whose management represents an environmental and economic challenge, motivating resource recovery strategies in line with European Union Directive 2024/3019. Among these, the extraction of extracellular polymeri...

Scientific Clinical Trial Publication Productivity in Medical Oncology: A Comparative Analysis and Data Review of Northern and Southern Italy

Background: Italy exhibits a socioeconomic divide between its northern and southern regions, which extends into healthcare delivery and biomedical research. Medical oncology is particularly affected by this structural imbalance. This paper examines geographic disparities in clini...