Analytical methods for evaluating the quality and the genuineness of olive oils

This Ph.D. thesis focuses on the investigation of some chemical and sensorial analytical parameters linked to the quality and purity of different categories of oils obtained by olives: extra virgin olive oils, both those that are sold in the large retail trade (supermarkets and discounts) and those directly collected at some Italian mills, and lower-quality oils (refined, lampante and “repaso”). Concurrently with the adoption of traditional and well-known analytical procedures such as gas chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography, I carried out a set-up of innovative, fast and environmentally-friend methods. For example, I developed some analytical approaches based on Fourier transform medium infrared spectroscopy (FT-MIR) and time domain reflectometry (TDR), coupled with a robust chemometric elaboration of the results. I investigated some other freshness and quality markers that are not included in official parameters (in Italian and European regulations): the adoption of such a full chemical and sensorial analytical plan allowed me to obtain interesting information about the degree of quality of the EVOOs, mostly within the Italian market. Here the range of quality of EVOOs resulted very wide, in terms of sensory attributes, price classes and chemical parameters. Thanks to the collaboration with other Italian and foreign research groups, I carried out several applicative studies, especially focusing on the shelf-life of oils obtained by olives and on the effects of thermal stresses on the quality of the products. I also studied some innovative technological treatments, such as the clarification by using inert gases, as an alternative to the traditional filtration. Moreover, during a three-and-a-half months research stay at the University of Applied Sciences in Zurich, I also carried out a study related to the application of statistical methods for the elaboration of sensory results, obtained thanks to the official Swiss Panel and to some consumer tests.

L’«educativo» in sanità: reti di complessità e orizzonti di possibilità

La tesi analizza il dialogo tra due prospettive disciplinari: pedagogia e scienze mediche aprendo ad una serie di riflessioni operative e metodologiche per lo sviluppo della competenza educativa in sanità. Si tratta di un lavoro di ricerca pedagogica articolata in due parti:una teoretica e una empirica. La prima parte pone l’attenzione in modo particolare all’epistemologia della cura sanitaria nella prospettiva della complessità e agli elementi che definiscono la competenza educativa degli operatori. La seconda parte presenta i dati di una indagine esplorativa realizzata tramite focus group che ha coinvolto medici, infermieri, ostetriche e fisioterapisti della provincia di Bologna e medici, infermieri e fisioterapisti del Canton Ticino, Svizzera per far emergere le esperienze, i vissuti e le opinioni legate alle azioni educative sanitarie

Ringier (Familie)

Famille de pasteurs, politiciens et entrepreneurs de Zofingue, attestée pour la première fois en 1527, lorsque leur aïeul Jean, tonnelier originaire de Nîmes, obtint la bourgeoisie de Zofingue. Michael (1521-1605), avoyer, l'un de ses cinq fils, est l'ancêtre de la branche des imprimeurs et éditeurs. Après lui, de nombreux R. consolidèrent durablement l'influence de la famille. A partir du XVIIIe s., divers membres firent des carrières politiques, tels Samuel (1706-1786), avoyer, et Rudolf Friedrich (1805-1886), président de la ville. Les R. furent aussi très liés à l'Eglise. Le fils de Michael, Moritz (1557-1615), fut pasteur et doyen à Zofingue. Jusqu'au XIXe s., la famille compta une trentaine d'ecclésiastiques, essentiellement des pasteurs officiant sur le territoire bernois, tels Johann Heinrich ( -> 3) et Michael ( -> 8). Les conseillers Beat (1712-1778) et Niklaus (1734-1766) furent les premiers R. actifs dans la production protoindustrielle de drap. D'autres négociants suivirent jusqu'au milieu du XIXe s. L'architecte Niklaus Emanuel (1744-1815) construisit l'hôtel de ville de Zofingue (1792-1795) de style baroque tardif. Johann Rudolf ( -> 4) se distingua sous la République helvétique (1798-1803). Samuel (1767-1826), conseiller municipal de Zofingue, créa les armoiries du canton d'Argovie en 1803. Les R. s'affirmèrent sur le plan cantonal avec Karl Ludwig ( -> 6), chancelier, et Arnold ( -> 1), conseiller d'Etat et plusieurs fois landamman, et sur le plan fédéral avec Johann Rudolf ( -> 5), conseiller national, et Gottlieb ( -> 2), conseiller aux Etats et chancelier de la Confédération. Johann Rudolf (1803-1874) fonda, en 1833, l'imprimerie Ringier à Zofingue, reprise par son fils Franz Emil (1837-1898). A partir de 1898, Paul August ( -> 9), représentant de la troisième génération d'imprimeurs, agrandit l'entreprise dont il fit la principale imprimerie et maison d'édition de Suisse. Cette expansion se poursuivit après 1960 sous son fils Hans (1906-2003). Avec les fils de celui-ci, Christoph (naissance1941, dans la firme jusqu'en 1991) et Michael (naissance1949), Ringier devint, à partir de 1985, une entreprise multinationale et multimédia. Bibliographie – F. Schoder, Ortsbürger von Zofingen, 1962 – P. Meier, T. Häussler, Zwischen Masse, Markt und Macht, 2009

Measuring attitudes, behaviours, and influences in inner city victims of interpersonal violence (VIVs) - a Swiss emergency room pilot study

Background Switzerland is confronted with the problem of interpersonal violence. Violence is in the increase and the potential for aggression seems to be rising. Observations by hospitals discern an appalling increase of the severity of the injuries. The aim of this study is to collect accurate information about the social environment, the motivation and possible reasons for violence. We also intend to investigate whether sociocultural, or ethnic differences among male victims exist. Materials and methods For the first time in Switzerland, this survey employed a validated questionnaire from the division of violence prevention, Atlanta, Georgia. The first part of the questionnaire addressed social and demographic factors which could influence the risk of violence: age, gender, duration of stay in Switzerland, nationality and educational level. Beside these social structural factors, the questionnaire included questions on experience of violent offences in the past, information about the most recent violent offence and intra and interpersonal facts. The questionnaire itself consists of 27 questions, translated into German and French. In a pilot study, the questionnaire was checked with adolescents for feasibility and comprehensibility. Results 69 male VIVs were interviewed at two hospitals in the Canton of Bern. Most of the adolescents emphasised that weapons were not used during their confrontations. It is astonishing that all of the young men considered themselves to be victims. Most of the brawls were incited after an exchange of verbal abuse and provocations with unfamiliar individuals. The rivals could neither be classified with the help of ethnic categories nor identifiable groups of the youth scenes. The incidents took place in scenes, where violence was more likely to happen. Interestingly and contrary to a general perception the offenders are well integrated into sport and leisure clubs. A further surprising result of our research is that the attitude towards religion differs between young men with experience of violence and non-violent men. Discussion Youth violence is a health issue, which concerns us globally. The human and economic toll of violence on victims and offenders, their families, and on society in general is high. The economic costs associated with violence-related illness and disability is estimated to be millions of Swiss francs each year. Physicians and psychologists are compelled to identify the factors, which cause young people to be violent, to find out which interventions prove to be successful, and to design effective prevention programs. The identification of effective programs depends on the availability of reliable and valid measures to assess changes in violence-related attitudes. In our efforts to create healthier communities, we need to investigate; document and do research on the causes and circumstances of youth violence.

Retraining of interjoint arm coordination after stroke using robot-assisted time-independent functional training

We have developed a haptic-based approach for retraining of interjoint coordination following stroke called time-independent functional training (TIFT) and implemented this mode in the ARMin III robotic exoskeleton. The ARMin III robot was developed by Drs. Robert Riener and Tobias Nef at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (Eidgenossische Technische Hochschule Zurich, or ETH Zurich), in Zurich, Switzerland. In the TIFT mode, the robot maintains arm movements within the proper kinematic trajectory via haptic walls at each joint. These arm movements focus training of interjoint coordination with highly intuitive real-time feedback of performance; arm movements advance within the trajectory only if their movement coordination is correct. In initial testing, 37 nondisabled subjects received a single session of learning of a complex pattern. Subjects were randomized to TIFT or visual demonstration or moved along with the robot as it moved though the pattern (time-dependent [TD] training). We examined visual demonstration to separate the effects of action observation on motor learning from the effects of the two haptic guidance methods. During these training trials, TIFT subjects reduced error and interaction forces between the robot and arm, while TD subject performance did not change. All groups showed significant learning of the trajectory during unassisted recall trials, but we observed no difference in learning between groups, possibly because this learning task is dominated by vision. Further testing in stroke populations is warranted.

Sustained impact of electronic alerts on rate of prophylaxis against venous thromboembolism

Advanced electronic alerts (eAlerts) and computerised physician order entry (CPOE) increase adequate thromboprophylaxis orders among hospitalised medical patients. It remains unclear whether eAlerts maintain their efficacy over time, after withdrawal of continuing medical education (CME) on eAlerts and on thromboprophylaxis indications from the study staff. We analysed 5,317 hospital cases from the University Hospital Zurich during 2006-2009: 1,854 cases from a medical ward with eAlerts (interventiongroup) and 3,463 cases from a surgical ward without eAlerts (controlgroup). In the intervention group, an eAlert with hospital-specific venous thromboembolism (VTE) prevention guidelines was issued in the electronic patient chart 6 hours after admission if no pharmacological or mechanical thromboprophylaxis had been ordered. Data were analysed for three phases: pre-implementation (phase 1), eAlert implementation with CME (phase 2), and post-implementation without CME (phase3). The rates of thromboprophylaxis in the intervention group were 43.4% in phase 1 and 66.7% in phase 2 (p<0.001), and increased further to 73.6% in phase3 (p=0.011). Early thromboprophylaxis orders within 12 hours after admission were more often placed in phase 2 and 3 as compared to phase 1 (67.1% vs. 52.1%, p<0.001). In the surgical control group, the thromboprophylaxis rates in the three phases were 88.6%, 90.7%, 90.6% (p=0.16). Advanced eAlerts may provide sustained efficacy over time, with stable rates of thromboprophylaxis orders among hospitalised medical patients.