University of Salento

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...

The Infinite Volume Limit of the Hopfield Neural Networks in the Replica-Symmetric Regime

Abstract Despite extensive research over the past five decades, a rigorous determination of the infinite volume limit of the free energy of the Hopfield model with an extensive number of patterns has remained an outstanding open problem as standard methods from spin glass theory...

Training the Next Generation of Future Surgical Residents: A Scoping Review and Proposal for an Undergraduate Curriculum From the Italian Polispecialistic Society of Young Surgeons

AIM: The transition from medical school to surgical residency is marked by a persistent gap between theoretical instruction and clinical readiness. In Italy, variability in training programs across centers creates persistent gaps in residents’ medical education. Scientific societ...

A Multidisciplinary Care Pathway for Childhood Mouth Breathing: The Pediatric Allergist, ENT, and Orthodontic Perspective

Background: Mouth breathing (MB) in children is a functional alteration characterized by the substitution of nasal breathing with oral or mixed breathing. Persistent MB, particularly when occurring during sleep (nocturnal MB), may be associated with sleep fragmentation, neurobeha...

Illness Meaning-Making in an Oncology Support Group: A Longitudinal Lexical Correspondence Analysis of Group Discourse

Living with cancer involves an ongoing effort to make sense of experiences that disrupt identity, relationships, and future expectations. Meaning-making is embedded in interpersonal and healthcare contexts, including psychosocial support settings where illness experiences are sha...

The GRAVITY score (grading severity and frequency in hemorrhoidal disease): development and initial evaluation of a composite patient-reported outcome measure

Abstract Background Hemorrhoidal disease (HD) is characterized by heterogeneous symptoms including bleeding, prolapse, pain, itching, and soiling. Currently available patient-reported outcome measures evaluate complementary but distinct symptom dimensions. The aim of this study w...

A systematic experimental investigation on the aerodynamic contribution to mooring tension response in floating offshore wind turbines

Quantifying the aerodynamic effects on mooring line tension is essential to distinguish wind-induced impacts from wave-driven dynamics and to improve the understanding of mooring system behaviour under coupled environmental loading conditions. The present work provides the first...

Conservative Management of Pediatric Mandibular Condylar Fractures: A Systematic Review

ABSTRACT Mandibular condylar fractures are common mandibular injuries in children. Conservative treatment is generally favored because of the remodeling capacity of the growing condyle, although rehabilitation protocols and the criteria for operative treatment remain variable. Th...

Do digitalization and institutional capacity improve EU fund management for bridging territorial gaps? Evidence from the 2014–2020 Cohesion Policy

Abstract The Cohesion Policy (CP) plays a crucial role in reducing disparities among EU Member States, facilitated by the distribution of European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIFs). Maximizing the impact of these financial resources requires robust administrative performanc...

On the geometry of WDVV equations and their Hamiltonian formalism in arbitrary dimension

Abstract It is known that in low dimensions Witten–Dijkgraaf–Verlinde–Verlinde (WDVV) equations can be rewritten as commuting quasilinear bi‐Hamiltonian systems. We extend some of these results to arbitrary dimension and arbitrary scalar product . In particular, we show that suit...

Artificial Intelligence-assisted Versus Conventional Colonoscopy for Adenoma and Polyp Detection Rates: A Meta-analysis of Recent Randomized and Quasi-randomized Trials

Artificial intelligence (AI)-based computer-aided detection (CADe) has been associated with improved adenoma detection during colonoscopy. However, prior meta-analyses synthesized earlier trials, and whether the benefit remains consistent in recent contemporary trials is uncertai...

Rheological Optimization of Reduced-Sugar Ice Cream Enriched with Inulin and Carob Flour

Sugar reduction is technologically challenging in ice cream because sugars contribute not only to sweetness but also to rheological properties. A D-optimal mixture design was applied to optimize the formulation of reduced-sugar ice cream using inulin and carob flour as functional...

A rare case of abdominal actinomycosis mimicking ovarian cancer with presumed hepatic involvement and abdominal wall involvement

species. Because of its infiltrative growth, abscess formation, and fibrotic reaction, it may closely mimic malignant disease. We report the case of a 53-year-old woman presenting with abdominal pain and a palpable epigastric mass. Imaging showed a pelvic mass with abdominal wall...

Paracetamol: A History of Assumptions, Errors, and Evidence Reversals in Pain Management

Abstract Purpose of Review Paracetamol (acetaminophen) is among the most widely used medications in the history of humanity for treatment of pain conditions. For more than half a century, it has occupied a unique position as the archetypal first-line analgesic and antipyretic, re...

Surface Urban Heat Island Variability in Cosenza, Southern Italy: The Roles of Urban Morphology, Extreme-Temperature Conditions, and Local Wind Conditions

Mediterranean cities with complex terrain are increasingly exposed to overheating. This study investigates Surface Urban Heat Island Intensity (SUHII) in Cosenza, southern Italy, in relation to land-use, neighborhood-scale morphology, extreme-temperature conditions and local wind...

Synergic Improvement of Elastocaloric Effect in Polycrystalline NiMnGaCo by Magneto-Mechanical Coupling

Among the ferromagnetic shape memory alloys (SMAs), Ni43Mn31Ga19Co7 (at%) alloys are well known as a promising ferromagnetic SMA (FeSMA) for magnetocaloric effect, and scientific interest has increased due to the possible exploitation of multicaloric function. This first example...

Violence against women: a pilot study on the perception of Apulian High School students

Abstract Violence Against Women (VAW) is a widespread issue deeply rooted in social and cultural structures. Affecting women of all ages and backgrounds, VAW is often underreported due to stigma and victim-blaming. This study explores young people’s perceptions of VAW in the Apul...

Design and validation of a user experience questionnaire for storytelling-oriented video mapping applications

Abstract Video Mapping, also known as projection mapping, has become an increasingly popular means of telling the story of cultural assets and the context around it by projecting images onto their surface. In this context, a tool to evaluate the narrative effectiveness of project...

Disruption of the TDP-43/RILP axis impairs autophagic flux and stress granule homeostasis

Abstract TDP-43 has many functions, including the regulation of autophagy and stress granule dynamics, and mutations in TDP-43 are causative of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Among these, the G376D mutation is associated with TDP-43 cytoplasmic mislocalization and mitochond...

Eco‐Designed Transparent Bacterial Cellulose Composites for Next‐Generation Opto‐Electronics

ABSTRACT Sustainable, bio‐based alternatives to petrochemical substrates are essential for the fabrication of next‐generation optoelectronic devices. However, very few natural materials offer simultaneously high transparency, mechanical robustness, and functional versatility. Bac...