Search Results (473)

The collection of honey and propolis is crucial for the nutrition and health of honey bee colonies. In this study, Apis mellifera with high productivity for both honey and propolis (MJ) was developed through long-term selective breeding using Apis mellifera caucasica and Apis mellifera carnica as breeding materials, resulting in substantial improvements in both honey yield and propolis production. To elucidate the genetic basis and molecular mechanisms underlying efficient foraging behavior for nectar and resins in honey bees, whole-genome resequencing was performed on MJ, the C-lineage, and the O-lineage of Apis mellifera. In addition, transcriptome sequencing was conducted using MJ and Apis mellifera ligustrica, which exhibited the highest honey and propolis production traits. MJ had a composite genetic background dominated by O-lineage ancestry. Compared with C-lineage honey bees, MJ exhibited 234 candidate genes under selection, mainly related to chitin and amino sugar metabolism. Transcriptome analysis identified 504 and 2676 differentially expressed genes between MJ and Italian honey bees in the nectar-forager and resin-forager comparisons, respectively, involving chemosensory gene families. Genes upregulated in MJ nectar and resin foragers were mainly associated with redox regulation and energy metabolism, respectively. Integrated analyses identified 7 candidate genes associated with nectar foraging and 41 candidate genes associated with resin foraging; these genes were involved in chemosensory responsiveness, flight-related structural traits, energy metabolism, and redox regulation in MJ. These findings provide genetic and transcriptomic resources for further studies on the division of labor in foraging and molecular breeding in honey bees. Full article

The digitalisation of healthcare is transforming not only clinical practice but also the legal architecture through which health rights are protected, coordinated, and operationalised. Using Italy as a doctrinal case study within the European Union (EU) framework shaped by the General Data Protection Regulation, the European Health Data Space, and artificial intelligence (AI) regulation, this article argues that digital healthcare is moving beyond consent-centred protection toward governance-based safeguards. The Italian trajectory is especially revealing because regionalised healthcare governance intersects with centralised digital coordination through the Fascicolo Sanitario Elettronico, the Ecosystem of Health Data, and EU rules on the secondary use of health data. The article contends that this shift does not displace consent as a legal or constitutional value, but requires stronger substitute and complementary safeguards when consent can no longer operate as an effective practical control mechanism. These include clear legal bases, differentiated access regimes, data minimisation, secure processing environments, meaningful patient information, democratic accountability, human oversight, anti-discrimination duties, and clearer allocations of responsibility among clinicians, institutions, and technology providers. AI-mediated care is treated as a downstream test case for whether governance-based legality remains compatible with autonomy, dignity, and responsibility in clinical care. Full article

Old-growth forests are recognized as key reference systems for biodiversity conservation and sustainable forest management, yet they remain rare and highly fragmented ecosystems across Europe. In this study, we developed and applied a quantitative, measurement-based framework to assess candidate old-growth beech stands by comparing their structural attributes with reference old-growth forests and with a broader set of beech forests from the National Forest Inventory (NFI). Specifically, we compared the structural attributes of two candidate old-growth (COG) beech stands to assess their degree of naturalness and their similarity to three reference old-growth (ROG) beech forests in the central Apennines. The approach integrated field-based structural measurements, deadwood quantification, dendrochronological assessment of dominant trees and diachronic aerial imagery evaluation, comparing COG stands with both ROG and other beech forests from the NFI database. The two COG stands differ clearly from common beech forests, exhibiting lower stem density, larger size variability, higher occurrence of large trees and of standing wood biomass. Stem diameter distributions followed a reverse J-shaped pattern, typical of uneven-aged and scarcely managed forests. Some very old trees were also found, especially at one of the two COG sites. These characteristics are largely comparable to the ROG beech forests, except for deadwood volumes, lower at the two COG forests. In addition, historical aerial imagery and tree-ring analysis suggested that these forests are intermediate stages along an old-growth gradient. Our findings demonstrate that a prolonged forest management abandonment of over 70 years can induce the development of old-growth attributes in Mediterranean mountain beech forests, even in stands previously coppiced or pastured for a long time. This study provides a replicable measurement-based approach for identifying and validating candidate old-growth forests, under current Italian regulations and contributes to conservation targets consistent with the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030. Full article

Employment is a key social determinant of health, yet autistic individuals face high levels of unemployment, with consequences for well-being and social inclusion. This exploratory study examined stakeholder perceptions regarding the inclusion of autistic individuals in public administration employment within the Italian context, considering its potential role in advancing health equity through stable and regulated work environments. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted to explore perceptions of current inclusion measures, the importance of specific inclusion domains, and the usefulness of potential support tools. Participants (n = 62) included autistic adults, family members, and professionals with expertise in autism. Quantitative data were analyzed using non-parametric tests, while qualitative responses were examined through reflexive thematic analysis. Quantitative findings showed that educators express more positive views on existing measures and greater support for new interventions compared to family members; autistic participants report intermediate perspectives. Qualitative analysis identified five areas: recognition of autistic perspectives, need for interventions, support figures, work personalization, and staff training. Although the study does not evaluate intervention effectiveness, the findings highlight stakeholder priorities and perceived needs related to employment inclusion. While exploratory and based on a limited sample, the results may inform future research and the development of more inclusive public employment practices. Full article

Herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) is a rare cause of acute hepatitis, especially in patients with chronic immunosuppression. We performed whole-genome HSV-1 sequencing with a metagenomics approach on peripheral blood samples from an Italian case of fatal acute liver failure with high circulating HSV-1 (1,129,900,000 copies/mL), followed by phylogenetic analysis. After multiple sequence alignment, a final dataset of 182 whole-genome sequences was selected. The sequenced HSV-1 strain belonged to a phylogenetic clade isolated in Florida in 2002 (OQ724868.1). A characterization of single nucleotide polymorphisms and indels was performed to determine their effects on the viral genome: only one variant, classified as an indel, was detected with a high impact effect (c.905_906insGTTTT) in the UL49A gene, which is known to encode a membrane protein regulating virion morphogenesis, replication and assembly. In addition, this study also detected variants in other genes involved in crucial steps of the HSV-1 life cycle, like alpha-regulation (US7), capsid transport (UL36) and viral polymerase function (UL30). In conclusion, the results of this variant analysis confirmed that in HSV-1 hepatitis, some viral regions may be hotspots for adaptive mutations with a substantial impact on viral replication or immune evasion. Full article

Seasonal workers in the tourism sector are exposed to significant psychosocial risks, such as work overload, emotional exhaustion, and precarious employment conditions. Despite growing interest in positive organizational psychology, little is known about how organizational culture impacts perceptions and experiences of seasonal workers in Italy. This study explores the role of positive organizational culture in promoting well-being among seasonal workers in the tourism sector, examining their direct perspectives on organizational climate, work challenges, and individual and organizational resources. Eight semi-structured interviews were conducted with seasonal workers employed in the hospitality industry in Italy. Data were analyzed through an integrated mixed-method approach combining Grounded Theory methodology with quantitative lexical analysis using T-LAB software, ensuring both analytical rigor and interpretive depth. Five macro-categories emerged inductively from the data: trust and relations, coping strategies and emotions, perceived justice, teamwork, and meaning of work. These were integrated into a core category defined as flourishing at work, interpreted through the lens of Seligman’s PERMA model. These findings suggest that well-being in seasonal work is an active and relational achievement, sustained by emotional self-regulation, perceived fairness, and collective identity. The results carry direct implications for organizational policies and psychosocial risk prevention strategies in precarious work contexts. In particular, positive organizational culture and environments can act as protective factors against psychosocial risks, with direct implications for organizational policies, psychosocial risk prevention, and evidence-based workplace interventions. The specificity of the analysis method offers an original contribution by integrating qualitative and quantitative textual analysis to investigate psychosocial well-being in an under-explored population: Italian seasonal workers. Full article

University professors’ emotional competencies are increasingly discussed as relevant dimensions of teaching professionalism that may shape students’ academic engagement, motivation, and psychological well-being. This qualitative study explores how university students perceive professors’ emotional and relational practices and how students perceived these practices as shaping their academic experience. Twenty-one semi-structured interviews were conducted with undergraduate and master’s students at an Italian university and analyzed through thematic analysis. Five interconnected themes were identified: (1) empathy and the humanization of the professor–student relationship; (2) relational and communicative styles shaping classroom climate and motivation; (3) emotional regulation in high-stress academic situations, particularly examinations; (4) perceived differences across teaching modalities and disciplinary contexts; (5) students’ expectations regarding balanced emotional openness and faculty development. Students described empathetic, approachable, and emotionally regulated professors as helping to reduce stress, strengthen academic confidence, foster engagement, and support a sense of belonging. Conversely, rigid, distant, or humiliating interactions were associated with anxiety, withdrawal, and disengagement. Rather than treating emotional competence as an individual disposition, the study proposes that it should be understood as a professional and institutional dimension of university teaching. It further develops the notion of student-perceived academic psychological safety as a relational mechanism through which professors’ emotional competencies may influence students’ well-being and participation. The findings highlight the need for faculty development initiatives and institutional policies that recognize the emotional and relational dimensions of teaching as integral to higher education quality. Full article

Background/Objectives: Feeding and Eating Disorders (FEDs) are among the most challenging mental disorders due to their pervasive symptomatology and high relapse rates. While considerable research has focused on the role of personality in the onset and maintenance of FEDs, it remains unclear whether specific personality dimensions and emotion dysregulation mechanisms predict clinical severity and purging behaviors. This study aimed to explore the role of personality dimensions, emotion dysregulation, and purging behaviors in predicting psychological distress in patients with FEDs, adopting a dimensional and integrated perspective. Methods: A sample of cisgender women in a semi-residential treatment for FEDs or obesity (n = 124) was recruited in southern Italy and assessed using a psychodiagnostics survey, including the Eating Disorder Inventory-3 (EDI-3), the Symptom Checklist-90-R (SCL-90-R), and the Personality Inventory for DSM-5 (PID-5). Results: Patients with bulimia nervosa exhibited higher psychological distress compared to patients with other FEDs and Obesity, which was not significantly determined by the co-occurrence of personality disorders. Negative affectivity, detachment, and purging symptoms were significantly related to psychological distress in patients with FEDs and Obesity (p ranging from 0.028 to <0.001). Moreover, the results showed an indirect effect of emotion regulation on the relationship between self-esteem and purging symptoms in patients with FEDs and Obesity (β = 0.107; p = 0.046). Conclusions: These findings suggest that specific personality dimensions, emotion dysregulation, and purging symptoms are associated with psychological distress in individuals with FEDs and Obesity. Therefore, it is necessary to reflect on the impact of these psychological components in planning tailored treatment for FED patients. Full article

Background: Emotional dysregulation (ED) is increasingly recognized as a clinically relevant dimension of adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), yet its multidimensional structure and independent contribution beyond impulsivity and psychiatric comorbidity remain incompletely understood. This study aimed to characterize the profile of ED and its clinical correlates in a large, well-characterized clinical sample of adults with ADHD. Methods: In this cross-sectional observational study, 231 adults with a DSM-5 diagnosis of ADHD, confirmed through structured interview (DIVA 5), completed the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS). Associations between ED and ADHD presentation, psychiatric comorbidity, current substance use disorder (SUD), impulsivity (BIS-11), problematic internet use (IAT), camouflaging behaviors (CAT-Q), and clinical functioning were examined using independent-samples t-tests, Pearson correlation analyses, and multiple linear regression models. Results: Participants showed elevated emotional dysregulation relative to reference data. When DERS subscales were interpreted against Italian reference values, the largest elevation was observed for Clarity, followed by Goals, Nonacceptance, and Impulse, whereas Strategies showed a more modest elevation and Awareness was only slightly higher than the reference value. The combined ADHD presentation was associated with significantly greater dysregulation compared to the predominantly inattentive presentation. Higher DERS total scores were observed among participants with combined ADHD presentation, psychiatric comorbidity, and current SUD. DERS total score was positively correlated with current ADHD symptoms, retrospective childhood ADHD symptoms, depressive symptoms, state and trait anxiety, impulsivity, problematic internet use, and camouflaging behaviors, and negatively correlated with ADHD-related quality of life. In multiple regression models, current SUD, current ADHD symptoms, retrospective childhood ADHD symptoms, trait anxiety, and ADHD-related quality of life were independently associated with DERS total score. Conclusions: Emotional dysregulation in adult ADHD represents a clinically relevant affective dimension that is only partially accounted for by impulsivity and is closely associated with psychosocial impairment and maladaptive coping behaviors. These findings support an integrated affective–executive framework for the assessment and treatment of adult ADHD, with implications for targeted, skills-based interventions addressing emotional regulation across clinical subgroups. Full article

Background/Objectives: Artificial intelligence (AI) is integrated into diagnostic, therapeutic, administrative, and communicative healthcare domains in Italy under regulations requiring human oversight. Empirical evidence on AI attitudes, acceptance, and perceptions in Italian healthcare is rapidly accumulating but not systematically mapped. This scoping review aimed to (i) map empirical evidence on AI attitudes, acceptance, and perceptions in Italy by population and domain; (ii) identify measurement instruments used in studies and their origins; and (iii) characterize determinants, themes, and methodological gaps in the Italian evidence base. Methods: This review used Joanna Briggs Institute methodology, reported via PRISMA-ScR (protocol Open Science Framework doi: 10.17605/OSF.IO/TZRVF). PubMed and Embase were searched on 27 April 2026 from January 2018 in English, Italian, or German, combining controlled vocabulary and free-text terms across AI, attitudes-acceptance, and healthcare delivery, with an Italian-context qualifier; a complementary AI-assisted semantic search (Consensus Pro) was conducted to validate retrieval completeness. Eligibility criteria used the Population–Concept–Context mnemonic. Results: Of 1510 unique records screened, 35 empirical studies were retained, comprising 7 studies of Italian patients and the general population, 22 studies of healthcare professionals, 3 psychometric validation studies of AI-acceptance instruments, 1 mixed-population study, and 2 international comparator studies with substantial Italian sub-samples. Acceptance was consistently positive but conditional on physician oversight, training, and regulatory clarity. A recurrent optimism–knowledge gap and an absence of probabilistic, population-representative evidence were identified as principal gaps. Conclusions: Italian evidence on AI attitudes is expanding but methodologically narrow. Three Italian-validated acceptance instruments are now available. Population-representative, multilingual, and longitudinal evidence is required. Full article

Background/Objectives: This study explored parents’ perspectives regarding digital media use in children and adolescents with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDs) and examined how these views vary according to family and clinical characteristics. Methods: Data were collected from an Italian survey involving 352 families. Items assessed the perceived effects of digital devices on child development and parenting, awareness of screen time guidelines, and use of time- and content-limiting tools. Quantitative analyses were complemented by a reflexive thematic analysis of open-ended responses describing how digital media influenced parenting. Results: Parents expressed divergent attitudes towards digital media, with broadly similar proportions reporting positive, neutral, and negative views regarding both child development and parenting. More favourable views were associated with greater perceived benefits for children and were more frequent among parents of children with more severe functional disabilities. About half had discussed screen use with health professionals, and most were aware of existing guidelines. Thematic analysis identified six themes related to digital parenting: educational means (digital devices as tools for communication, learning, and socialisation), entertainment (screens as a source of leisure or behavioural management), reward (digital media used as reinforcement), screen time as a “necessity” (technology as an integral and sometimes rehabilitative part of daily life), negative effects on the child (concerns about detachment, reduced social interaction, and mood dysregulation), and parental behaviour and attitudes (reflecting the emotional burden of regulation and broader beliefs about digital media). Conclusions: Parents of children with NDs navigate digital media use through a complex balance of perceived risks and benefits. Findings highlight the need for family-centred guidance and assistive technology approaches that promote digital inclusion while addressing parental stress and regulatory challenges. Full article

The digital transformation of agriculture has generated vast heterogeneous datasets from sensors, machinery, and administrative systems; however, interoperability and data sovereignty remain critical challenges. This study presents an IDS-compliant Agricultural Data Space tailored to the Italian context, integrating regulatory frameworks (General Data Protection Regulation, Data Governance Act and Data Act) with the International Data Spaces (IDS) Reference Architecture Model. The study addresses key barriers to data sharing, including technical fragmentation, governance gaps, and economic incentives, by mapping Italian agricultural data flows onto the five-layer IDS model. Policy-based usage control is implemented through machine-enforceable Open Digital Rights Language policies, enabling farmer-centric data sovereignty. Three use cases, namely administrative Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) declarations, machine-generated data portability, and agri-food supply-chain traceability, demonstrate how structured and interoperable data exchange can reduce redundancy, mitigate vendor lock-in, and support sustainable agri-food systems. The findings highlight the feasibility of IDS-driven solutions in real-world agricultural ecosystems, emphasizing the need for sector-specific policy templates and scalable governance mechanisms. This work contributes to the development of the Common European Agricultural Data Space by bridging institutional, technical, and regulatory gaps. Full article

While parenthood is gratifying, it is also a significant life transition, filled with challenges and stressors that require ongoing psychological and behavioral adjustments. This study aims to: (1) verify the psychometric characteristics of the Perceived Corporate Welfare Scale (PCWS), and (2), in line with the Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) theory, investigate how corporate welfare and parenting self-regulation act as resources against perceived stress and quiet quitting. We further explored the mediating role of stress and the moderating effect of parenthood. A group of 788 Italian workers (43.5% non-parents; 29.6% moms; 26.9% dads) participated. The psychometric properties of the PCWS were tested using CFA. A moderated mediation model was estimated using Bootstrap methods (95% CI). The PCWS showed a robust one-factor structure with significant item loadings (>0.60) and satisfactory reliability (CR and AVE). Findings suggest that perceived corporate welfare and parenting self-regulation function as resources and are negatively associated with perceived stress. Perceived stress fully mediates the relationship between perceived corporate welfare and quiet quitting and partially mediates the relationship between parenting self-regulation and quiet quitting. Crucially, parenthood moderates this relationship: fathers’ perceived stress has a stronger association with quiet quitting than mothers’ does. Consequently, the indirect effects are also stronger for fathers. This study provides a validated tool for monitoring perceptions of corporate welfare. The results suggest that personalized interventions and an organizational culture that values parenthood are key to sustaining well-being and long-term employee engagement. Full article

This study develops a human-centered Artificial Intelligence (AI) framework enabling rapid ecodesign prioritization for Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) compliance while demonstrating Large Language Model (LLM) integration in sustainability strategy. A four-stage hybrid methodology combining LLM-assisted action identification (30 ESPR-aligned interventions) with multi-criteria decision analysis with analytic hierarchy process (MCDA-AHP) is developed. Expert validation addressed LLM-driven interventions’ limitations with practitioners evaluating AI suggestions based on the value chain context. The framework applied to two Italian building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) small-medium enterprises (SMEs) demonstrated strategic differentiation based on feasibility vs. desirability vs. affordability, producing systematically different action portfolios within regulation-aligned aggregate structures. Sensitivity analysis showed 100% priority stability under ±10% AHP variations for priority one, three, and four actions and 82% for priority two actions, validating framework robustness. The framework provides empirical evidence for augmentation-not-automation in AI-assisted strategic planning, contributing a replicable methodology for responsible LLM integration across manufacturing sectors. Results demonstrate that combining AI synthesis efficiency with human contextual judgment enable regulation-aligned, business-model-specific sustainability strategies. Full article

Background: Emotional awareness is a core component of professional competence in healthcare, influencing therapeutic communication, stress regulation, and relational effectiveness. Alexithymia, defined as difficulty identifying and describing emotions, may interfere with the development of these skills during nursing education. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of alexithymic traits in Italian nursing students and to examine differences according to gender and academic year. Methods: A multicenter cross-sectional design was adopted. A total of 232 undergraduate nursing students from several Italian universities completed the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) via an anonymous online survey. Descriptive statistics, independent samples t-tests, and one-way ANOVA were performed. Results: The mean TAS-20 total score was 60.36 (SD = 11.22), approaching the clinical cutoff. Approximately 26% of students met the criteria for alexithymia. No statistically significant differences emerged across gender or academic year. A near-significant trend was observed for the Difficulty Identifying Feelings subscale (p = 0.053). Conclusions: A substantial proportion of nursing students reported elevated alexithymic traits. These findings highlight the need to strengthen emotional competence within nursing curricula to support professional development and resilience. Full article