Warehouse operations are increasingly scrutinised for their contribution to greenhouse gas emissions. The adoption of Electric Vehicles (EVs), renewable energy sources, and Energy Storage Systems (ESS) represents an energy-efficient strategy to reduce the environmental impact of warehouses. In this context, designing an Energy Management System (EMS) is crucial to optimising energy use and enhancing sustainability. This paper proposes a novel framework that jointly schedules daily warehouse operations (including sequencing of storage and retrieval tasks, assigning tasks to fuel-based vehicles or EVs, and vehicle routing) and manages energy flows among photovoltaic panels, ESS, power grid, and EV charging station. A Mixed Integer Linear Programming model is proposed to address this integrated planning problem. Computational experiments in realistic situations under sunny and cloudy weather conditions demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed formulation. The results highlight the importance of integrating renewables, EMS, and warehouse operations to reduce costs and support sustainable warehouse operations. Moreover, a very fast matheuristic algorithm is proposed to efficiently solve large and real-scale instances. Dedicated experiments on a real case study confirm the capability of the approach to deliver fast and high-quality solutions in industrial case scenarios.

The European Reference Network on Hepatological Diseases (ERN RARE-LIVER) is a Europe-wide network for centers of excellence in the management of rare liver diseases. We aimed to evaluate the current diagnostic and therapeutic trends of primary biliary cholangitis (PBC). Prospective data of PBC cases diagnosed from 2017 to March 2024 were extracted from the R-LIVER registry of ERN-RARE LIVER. Cases without two follow-ups within 24months were excluded from the treatment analysis. Biochemical response according to Toronto criteria and normalization of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) values after 12months of Ursodeoxycholic Acid (UDCA) were evaluated. This study included 327 incident cases from six centers. Median age was 56years, 89.3% were female. At the time of diagnosis, median values of ALP were 1.37 x ULN, and median bilirubin was 0.49 x ULN. Transient elastography (TE) was performed in 230 patients (70.3%) at baseline; median liver stiffness was 6.2kPa. Out of 316 subjects, treatment with UDCA was started in 312 patients (98.7%); 246 (85.1%) achieved ALP values<1.67 x ULN at 12months. Normalization of ALP values occurred in 143 subjects (49.5%) at 12months. Among 43 patients with inadequate response, 18 (41.9%) were treated with second-line therapies, and had worse liver biochemistry at baseline. In the current era, patients with PBC are diagnosed at an early stage using non-invasive methods and are almost all treated with UDCA. The biochemical response rate is 85.1%, but the use of second-line therapies for inadequate responders remains suboptimal.

Heart failure (HF) and atrial fibrillation (AF) are major global health challenges with rising prevalence and significant morbidity, mortality, and healthcare burden. Despite advances in HF management, AF remains a critical comorbidity that worsens outcomes and requires ad hoc treatment strategies, increasing the risk of non-adherence and side effects. While rhythm control strategies in AF have gained attention for their prognostic benefits in HF, the pharmacological treatment of HF in patients with AF, including the benefit of rhythm versus rate control, remains underexplored. The relationship between HF and AF lacks sufficient evidence and targeted research to assess the optimal treatment strategies. This narrative review critically examines current HF pharmacotherapy in the context of AF, focusing on the four cornerstone treatments and modifiers of prognosis for HF with reduced ejection fraction: beta-blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin receptor blockers/sacubitril-valsartan, aldosterone antagonists, and sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors. Although these therapies are well-established in HF patients, their efficacy in patients with concomitant AF requires further prospective investigation. The unique challenges posed by AF, including arrhythmia-induced remodelling and cardiomyopathy, necessitate a more individually tailored treatment. We also highlight critical knowledge gaps and the need for dedicated clinical trials specifically assessing HF therapies in AF subgroups, such as paroxysmal, long-standing persistent and permanent AF, and the benefit of heart rate and rhythm control strategies. The future of precision medicine in HF-AF management lies in bridging these evidence gaps through targeted research and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Understanding the interaction between biomolecules andoxide surfacesis essential for advancing technologies in photocatalysis, virus inactivation,and self-cleaning materials. This study investigates the adsorptionbehavior of l-cysteine on the rutile TiO2(110)surface using a combined experimental and theoretical approach. Byemploying X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier-transforminfrared reflection absorption spectroscopy (FT-IRRAS), scanning tunnelingmicroscopy (STM), and density functional theory (DFT) calculations,we elucidate the molecular configurations and bonding mechanisms involvedin the interaction of cysteine with the TiO2 surface. Theresults reveal three distinct adsorption geometries: two bidentatebridging modes involving the carboxylate group and amino group anda configuration involving the interaction of the thiolate group withtitanium atoms. Additionally, cysteine molecules form dimers stabilizedby disulfide bonds even at low coverage while maintaining a zwitterionicstate. Our study highlights, for the first time, the key role of thethiol group in cysteine adsorption on TiO2, both for surfacedirect binding and dimer formation. These findings provide new insightsinto the fundamental principles of biomolecule–semiconductorinteractions with important implications for surface-functionalizedmaterials in catalysis and sensing.

We present a model of x-ray thermal diffuse scattering (TDS) from a cubic polycrystal with an arbitrary crystallographic texture, based on the classic approach of Warren [B. E. Warren, Acta Crystallogr. 6, 803 (1953)]. We compare the predictions of our model with femtosecond x-ray diffraction patterns gathered from ambient and dynamically compressed rolled copper foils obtained at the High Energy Density instrument of the European X-Ray Free-Electron Laser facility and find that the texture-aware TDS model yields more accurate results than does the conventional powder model owed to Warren. Nevertheless, we further show: with sufficient angular detector coverage, the TDS signal is largely unchanged by sample orientation and in all cases strongly resembles the signal from a perfectly random powder; shot-to-shot fluctuations in the TDS signal resulting from grain-sampling statistics are at the percent level, in stark contrast to the fluctuations in the Bragg-peak intensities (which are over an order of magnitude greater); and TDS is largely unchanged even following texture evolution caused by compression-induced plastic deformation. We conclude that TDS is robust against texture variation, making it a flexible temperature diagnostic applicable just as well to off-the-shelf commercial foils as to ideal powders.

Phase change materials are exploited in non-volatile electronic memories and photonic devices that rely on a fast and reversible transformation between the amorphous and crystalline phases upon heating. Recrystallization of the amorphous phase under the operation conditions of the memories occurs in the supercooled liquid phase above the glass transition temperature Tg. The dynamics of the supercooled liquid is thus of great relevance for the operation of the devices and, close to Tg, also for the structural relaxations of the glass that affect the performances of the memories. Information on the atomic dynamics is provided by the diffusion coefficient (D) and by the viscosity (η), which are, however, both difficult to be measured experimentally under the operation conditions of the devices due to fast crystallization. In this work, we leverage a machine learning interatomic potential for the flagship phase change compound Ge2Sb2Te5 to compute η, D, and the α-relaxation time in a wide temperature range from 1200K to about 100K above Tg. Large-scale molecular dynamics simulations allowed quantifying the fragility of the liquid and the occurrence of a breakdown of the Stokes-Einstein relation between η and D in the supercooled phase. Isoconfigurational analysis provided a visualization of the emergence of dynamical heterogeneities responsible for the breakdown of the Stokes-Einstein relation. The analysis revealed that the regions of most mobile atoms are related to the presence of Ge atoms with particular local environments.

There is growing interest in exploring the positive effects of commercial video games for educational purposes. These investigations focus on enhancing learning outcomes but also on improving emotional and physical well-being, which may lead to greater motivation to learn and more positive learning experiences. However, few studies focus on the role of flow state in these phenomena. In line with this, we present two studies, the former conducted in a primary school in Northern Italy, and the latter in two secondary schools in Central Italy. Both of them aim to investigate the hidden effects of gaming at school in connection with the flow state. The first study, involving students from four classes, aimed at revealing collective dynamics unique to each class. The second study involved students from three classes of two different schools. This study investigated the peculiarity of the effects of different genres of games played in classes. We observed how flow state in context raised meaningful differences in some of the variables measured. These variations seem to reflect distinctive traits regarding playing in general and in the specifics of each class. These findings suggest that educators could consider the unique characteristics that gaming makes evident when designing educational strategies, potentially tailoring the learning process to better align with the specific dynamics of the context.

ABSTRACT Introduction Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD) are chronic immune-mediated disorders diagnosed in both adult and pediatric populations. In recent years, there has been a significant global increase in pediatric-onset IBD, not only in Western countries but also in newly industrialized regions. Age of onset plays a crucial role in disease behavior and prognosis, with pediatric onset often associated with a more extensive and aggressive disease. As a systemic inflammatory condition, IBD can involve multiple organ systems beyond the gastrointestinal tract, thus resulting in extraintestinal manifestations (EIMs) of variable severity. These manifestations (musculoskeletal, dermatological, oral, ocular, and hepatobiliary) may significantly impact patients’ quality of life, sometimes even more than intestinal symptoms. To support this review, a PubMed search was conducted using the terms inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, pediatric inflammatory bowel disease, extraintestinal manifestations, focusing on the most relevant papers with no time restrictions. Areas covered This review aims to provide a comprehensive revision and comparison of the presentation, course, and management of EIMs in pediatric- versus adult-onset IBD. Expert opinion A deeper understanding of EIMs in different age groups is essential for timely diagnosis and holistic care, ultimately improving the overall quality of clinical management of patients with IBD.

This joint Position Paper, developed by the Italian Expert Panel on Alzheimer convened by the Italian Society of Neurology with participation from multiple scientific societies, outlines strategic guidelines for reorganizing the patient journey in the era of anti-amyloid monoclonal antibodies for Alzheimer's disease. Emphasizing a multidisciplinary and integrated approach, the document recommends a patient journey that begins with early identification of cognitive impairment by General Practitioners, continues with specialized assessments at Memory and Dementia Centres, and leads, in carefully selected cases, to initiation of anti-amyloid monoclonal antibody therapy. It advocates the rational use of diagnostic tools, including plasma and cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers, advanced neuroimaging (MRI and PET), and genetic profiling (ApoE genotyping), not only to identify eligible patients but also to stratify those requiring alternative care strategies. The paper further defines minimum requirements for the accreditation of prescribing and infusion centres, highlighting the clinical competencies, structural resources, and inter-professional communication protocols necessary to ensure safety and appropriateness. Recognizing both the therapeutic potential and the organizational challenges associated with anti-amyloid monoclonal antibodies, the document aims to guide healthcare policymakers, institutions, and practitioners toward a coordinated reorganization of the diagnostic-therapeutic pathway, ensuring the safe and effective use of these treatments and ultimately improving outcomes and quality of care for individuals with Alzheimer's disease.