Cybersecurity is a concern to be tackled not only by individual States but also by the European Union as a whole. Building on the recent adoption of Regulation (EU) 2025/38, the so-called Cyber Solidarity Act, the study intends to analyse the creation of a supranational capacity to prevent and respond to cyber incidents, by answering the following questions: how and to what extent is solidarity concretely declined in the act in question? How do the mechanisms provided for by this act concretely interact with the Member States’ prerogatives in the broader security domain?

Fast electron generation and transport in high-intensity laser–solid interactions induces X-ray emission and drives ion acceleration. Effective production of these sources hinges on an efficient laser absorption into the fast electron population and control of divergence as the beam propagates through the target. Nanowire targets can be employed to increase the laser absorption, but it is not yet clear how the fast electron beam properties are modified. Here we present novel measurements of the emittance of the exiting fast electron beam from irradiated solid planar and nanowire targets via a pepper-pot diagnostic. The measurements indicate a greater fast electron emittance is obtained from nanowire targets. Two-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations support this conclusion, revealing beam defocusing at the wire–substrate boundary, a higher fast electron temperature and transverse oscillatory motion around the wires.

This article presents a systematic review on the use of eye-tracking technology to assess the mental workload of unmanned aircraft system (UAS) operators. With the increasing use of unmanned aircraft in military and civilian operations, understanding the mental workload of these operators has become essential for ensuring mission effectiveness and safety. The review covered 26 studies that explored the application of eye-tracking to capture nuances of visual attention and assess cognitive load in real-time. Traditional methods such as self-assessment questionnaires, although useful, showed limitations in terms of accuracy and objectivity, highlighting the need for advanced approaches like eye-tracking. By analysing gaze patterns in simulated environments that reproduce real challenges, it was possible to identify moments of higher mental workload, areas of concentration and sources of distraction. The review also discussed strategies for managing mental workload, including adaptive design of human-machine interfaces. The analysis of the studies revealed a growing relevance and acceptance of eye-tracking as a diagnostic and analytical tool, offering guidelines for the development of interfaces and training that dynamically respond to the cognitive needs of operators. It was concluded that eye-tracking technology can significantly contribute to the optimisation of UAS operations, enhancing both the safety and efficiency of military and civilian missions.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine disorder amongst reproductive-aged women associated with cardiometabolic, reproductive and psychological abnormalities. Lifestyle modification, including a healthy diet, is considered first-line treatment for management of clinical symptoms. However, there is limited high-quality evidence to support one superior therapeutic dietary intervention for PCOS management that is beyond general population-based dietary guidelines. Adherence to a Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) has been shown to decrease cardiometabolic disease risk and attenuate depressive symptoms, particularly in patients with metabolic perturbations. This narrative review summarises the proposed biological mechanisms underpinning the potential therapeutic benefits of a MedDiet for the management of cardiometabolic, reproductive and psychological features related to PCOS. Observational evidence suggests an inverse relationship between MedDiet adherence and PCOS features, particularly insulin resistance and hyperandrogenemia. Although the exact mechanisms are complex and multifaceted, they are likely related to the anti-inflammatory potential of the dietary pattern. These mechanisms are underpinned by anti-inflammatory bioactive constituents present in the MedDiet, including carotenoids, polyphenols and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). Synthesis of the available literature suggests the MedDiet could be a promising therapeutic dietary intervention to attenuate short and long-term symptoms associated with PCOS and may aid in reducing the longer-term risks associated with cardiometabolic diseases and reproductive and psychological dysfunction. Nevertheless, current evidence remains insufficient to inform clinical practice and well-designed clinical trials are needed. As such, we provide recommendations for the design and delivery of future MedDiet interventions in women with PCOS, including exploring the acceptability, and feasibility to enhance adherence.

Runway overruns (ROs) are the result of an aircraft rolling beyond the end of a runway, which is one of the accident’s types that most frequently occurs on aviation. The risk of an RO arises from the synergistic effect among its precursors, such as unstable approaches, long touchdowns and inadequate use of deceleration devices. To analyse this complex socio-technical system, the current work proposes a customised functional resonance analysis method, called FRAM-FDM, as traditional techniques of risk and safety assessment do not identify the interactions and couplings between the various functional aspects of the system itself, especially regarding human and organisational components. Basically, FRAM-FDM is the coupling of a traditional FRAM with flight data monitoring (FDM) techniques, used here to quantify the variabilities of the flight crew performance while executing the required activity (i.e. the landing). In this proposal, these variabilities (i.e. the FRAM functions aspects) are aggregated by the addend of a logistic regression, resulting in a model to evaluate the flare operations and the brake application profile effect on the remaining distance to the end of the runway, used as a reference to classify the landing as acceptable or not. The present application of the FRAM-FDM assesses the operational risk of a sample fleet in overrunning the runway during landing, highlighting the brake pedal application profile as the most relevant contributor. The model improves the knowledge about the system behaviour, being useful to direct flight crew training.

During the menopausal transition, women often encounter a range of physical and psychological symptoms which negatively impact on health-related quality of life (HRQoL)(1). Diet quality has previously been identified as a modifiable factor associated with mitigating the severity of these symptoms in peri-menopausal and menopausal women(2). We therefore explored the independent associations between adherence to a Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) and the severity of menopausal symptoms in peri-menopausal and menopausal women living in Australia. We also explored the association between MedDiet adherence and HRQoL in this same cohort of women. We conducted a cross-sectional study of Australian peri-menopausal or menopausal women aged between 40 to 60 years. An 86-item self-administered questionnaire was used to assess the relationship between adherence to a MedDiet and severity of symptoms. MedDiet adherence was assessed using the Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener (MEDAS), the Menopause Rating Scale (MRS) was used to assess the severity of menopausal symptoms related to somatic, psychological and urinary-genital symptoms and the 36-item short form survey instrument (SF-36) was used to assess HRQoL. Multivariable linear regression analysis (and 95% CI) was used to investigate the independent association between adherence to a MedDiet, severity of menopausal symptoms and HRQoL subscales using one unadjusted and five adjusted predictor models. A total of n = 207 participants (50.7 ± 4.3 years; BMI: 28.0 ± 7.4 kg/m2) were included in the final analyses. Participants reported low-moderate adherence to a MedDiet (5.2 ± 1.8; range: 1-11). We showed that MedDiet adherence was not associated with severity of menopausal symptoms. However, when assessing individual dietary constituents of the MEDAS, we showed that low consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (<250ml per day) was inversely associated with joint and muscle complaints, independent of all covariates (β = −0.149; CI: −0.118, −0.022; P = 0.042). Furthermore, adherence to a MedDiet was positively associated with the physical function subscale of HRQoL (β = 0.173, CI: 0.001, 0.029; P = 0.031) and a low intake of red and processed meats (≤ 1 serve per day) was positively associated with the general health subscale (β = 0.296, CI: 0.005, 0.014; P = <0.001), independent of all covariates used in the fully adjusted model. Our results suggest that diet quality may be related to severity of menopausal symptoms and HRQoL in peri-menopausal and menopausal women. However, exploration of these findings using longitudinal analyses and robust clinical trials are needed to better elucidate these findings.

An increasing body of evidence has emerged suggesting that lifestyle behaviours, including diet quality, may be an important modifiable risk factor for mental health disorders. The Mediterranean diet (MedDiet), which is often heralded as an anti-inflammatory diet, has been widely investigated and promoted as one of the ‘healthiest’ dietary patterns for reducing chronic disease risk and promoting healthy ageing(1). Greater adherence to a MedDiet and/or anti-inflammatory diet is inversely associated with the risk of depression or depressive symptoms in younger and middle-aged adults(2). However, these findings have been inconsistent, particularly in older adults. We therefore explored the independent associations between adherence to a MedDiet and severity of symptoms related to depression, anxiety and stress in community-dwelling older adults from Australia. We conducted a cross-sectional study of older Australians aged ≥ 60 years. Older adults who were permanent residents of Australia, free from dementia or cognitive decline and could independently complete an anonymous online survey in English were invited to participate. A 75-item self-administered questionnaire was used to assess the relationship between adherence to a MedDiet and severity of symptoms related to depression, anxiety, and stress. MedDiet adherence was assessed using the Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener (MEDAS)(3) and the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21)(4) was used to assess the severity of negative emotional symptoms. Multivariable linear regression analysis (and 95% CI) was used to investigate the independent association between adherence to a MedDiet and severity of symptoms related depression, anxiety and stress using one unadjusted and six adjusted predictor models. A total of n = 294 participants were included in the final analyses (70.4 ± 6.2 years; Females, n = 201; Males, n = 91; n = 2 unspecified). Adherence to a MedDiet was inversely associated with severity of anxiety symptoms (β = −0.118; CI: −0.761, −0.012; P = 0.043) independent of age, gender, BMI, physical activity, sleep, cognitive risk and ability to perform activities of daily living. Furthermore, MedDiet adherence was inversely associated with symptoms of stress (β = −0.151; CI: −0.680, −0.073; P = 0.015) independent of age, gender, BMI, physical activity and sleep. However, no relationship between MedDiet adherence and depressive symptoms was observed. We showed that adherence to a MedDiet is inversely associated with severity of symptoms related to anxiety and stress but not for depression. Exploration of these findings using longitudinal analyses and robust clinical trials are needed to better elucidate these findings in older adults.

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is a common hormonal condition affecting women of reproductive age(1). Women with PCOS experience a broad range of clinical symptoms, collectively grouped into reproductive, metabolic, psychological and anthropometric features(2). Complementary therapies, such as nutrient supplementation, have been identified as potential adjunct therapeutic approaches to support currently recommended lifestyle and pharmacological interventions(3). However, evidence for their overall efficacy and safety is inconsistent and unclear. This review aimed to systematically map the available literature on the use of nutrient supplementation for the management of PCOS features, including metabolic, reproductive, psychological and anthropometric. This review followed a systematic approach with literature searches using CINHAL, Cochrane reviews, Medline, PsycINFO, Scopus and LILACS conducted up to April 2022. All types of study designs were included if they reported on the efficacy or association between micronutrient supplementation and/or nutraceuticals on features of PCOS in women (≥ 18 years) with a confirmed diagnosis of PCOS. A total of 317 articles were included involving n = 23,926 women. Forty-three different supplements examined various clinical features of PCOS grouped into metabolic, reproductive, psychological and anthropometric. The most studied supplements included Inositols (n = 83), Vitamin D (n = 51), N-acetylcysteine (n = 25), Omega-3 fatty acids (n = 18) and Biotics (n = 14). Most studies (n = 262; 83%) reported on reproductive features followed by metabolic (n = 212; 66%), anthropometric (n = 181; 57%) and psychological (n = 5; 2%). Less than half (n = 148; 47%) of the included studies reported on the potential for adverse events. Our results highlight that the potential therapeutic benefit of micronutrient and nutraceutical supplementation on psychological features of PCOS warrants future exploration. Additional primary studies that are adequately powered are needed to investigate therapeutic doses needed for clinical benefits. Lastly, a more rigorous approach to monitoring and recording adverse event data is recommended.

The Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) is largely a plant-based dietary pattern which is associated with a reduced risk of numerous chronic diseases(1,2). A traditional MedDiet contains a wide variety of wild herbs and spices, which are frequently used in cooking and food preparation(3,4), and are a valuable source of antioxidants. However, little is known about herbs and spices use in Australian households. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the types of herbs and spices used in cooking and food preparation in Australian households. A cross-sectional study was undertaken amongst Australian adults aged ≥18 years. Participants were recruited via social media platforms requesting voluntary participation in an online survey. The survey tool included questions related to the types of herbs and spices used and consumed in Australian households, frequency of use, and the perceived level of confidence for use of herbs and spices in cooking and food preparation. Given the lack of a previously validated and reliable survey instrument, the authors developed a prototype questionnaire that was initially piloted against a separate representative sample for face validity. A total of n = 400 participants responded and completed the survey. Participants were mostly female (n = 340; 85.0%) with a mean age of 46.5 ± 14.7 years and were overweight (BMI: 26.4 ± 6.0 kg/m2). In the previous 12 months, two-thirds of participants (n = 258; 64.8%) reported consuming herbs and spices 1-2 times per day, which were most commonly consumed as part of lunch or dinner meals (n = 372; 94.2%). Basil (n = 391; 97.8%), pepper (n = 390; 97.5%), and garlic (n = 387; 96.8%) were the most frequently used and consumed herbs and spices. A quarter of participants reported using basil 1-3 times per month (n = 104; 26%), while a quarter reported using pepper (n = 104; 26%) and garlic (n = 103; 25.8%) daily. The majority of participants identified that they were extremely confident (n = 159; 39.8%) or very confident (n = 149; 37.3%) using herbs and spices in cooking and food preparation. Most participants (n = 282; 70.5%) reported growing herbs and spices in their own homes. This cross-sectional analysis of Australian households shows that most Australian adults consume herbs and spices daily, with basil, pepper, and garlic being the most frequently consumed. Further investigation into the quantities needed to elicit potential health benefits of herbs and spices when incorporated into a healthy dietary pattern warrants future research.

In this article, we review the main results achieved by the research activities carried out at PRISMA Lab of the University of Naples Federico II where, for 35 years, an interdisciplinary team of experts developed robots that are ultimately useful to humans. We summarize the key contributions made in the last decade in the six research areas of dynamic manipulation and locomotion, aerial robotics, human-robot interaction, artificial intelligence and cognitive robotics, industrial robotics, and medical robotics. After a brief overview of each research field, the most significant methodologies and results are reported and discussed, highlighting their cross-disciplinary and translational aspects. Finally, the potential future research directions identified are discussed.

Abstraction processes involve two variables that are often confused with one another: concreteness (banana versus belief) and specificity (chair versus furniture or Buddhism versus religion). Researchers are investigating the relationship between them, but many questions remain open, such as: What type of semantics characterizes words with varying degrees of concreteness and specificity? We tackle this topic through an in-depth semantic analysis of 1049 Italian words for which human-generated concreteness and specificity ratings are available. Our findings show that (as expected) the semantics of concrete and abstract concepts differs, but most interestingly when specificity is considered, the variance in concreteness ratings explained by semantic types increases substantially, suggesting the need to carefully control word specificity in future research. For instance, mathematical concepts (phase) are on average abstract and generic, while behavioral qualities (arrogant) are on average abstract but specific. Moreover, through cluster analyses based on concreteness and specificity ratings, we observe the bottom-up emergence of four subgroups of semantically coherent words. Overall, this study provides empirical evidence and theoretical insight into the interplay of concreteness and specificity in shaping semantic categorization.

Dietary oils and fats contain different fatty acid compositions that are associated with cardiometabolic disease risk. Despite their influence on disease outcomes, the types of dietary oils and fats predominately used in Australian households remain unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the use of dietary oils and fats in cooking and food preparation in Australia. Adults living in Australia completed a cross-sectional online survey outlining their current household oil and fat use from July to December 2021. The survey was disseminated via social media platforms and included questions about the types of dietary oils and fats used for different cooking methods and the perceived motivators for choosing the main household oil. A total of 1248 participants responded to the survey. Participants were mostly female (91·6 %) aged between 25 and 44 years (56·7 %). The majority of participants (84·5 %) reported using some form of olive oil as their main source of oil for cooking and food preparation. Almost two-thirds of the sample (65·4 %) reported using extra virgin olive oil (EVOO), mainly in raw food preparation (71·5 %) or savoury baking and roasting (58 %). Fewer households reported using rice bran oil (4·6 %), canola oil (4·3 %) and vegetable oil (1·8 %). Almost half of all participants (49·6 %) identified perceived health benefits as the primary motivating factor for their main choice of oil, followed by sensory preference (46·7 %), versatility (10·2 %) and convenience (8·8 %). Australian adults frequently use olive oil, specifically EVOO, as the main oil for cooking and food preparation in the household.

OBJECTIVES/GOALS: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a cartilage destroying disease. We are investigating abaloparatide (ABL) activation of parathyroid hormone receptor type 1 (PTH1R), which is expressed by articular chondrocytes in OA. We propose ABL treatment is chondroprotective in murine PTOA via stimulation of matrix production and inhibition of chondrocyte maturation. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: 16-week-old C57BL/6 male mice received destabilization of the medial meniscus (DMM) surgery to induce knee PTOA. Beginning 2 weeks post-DMM, 40 μg/kg of ABL (or saline) was administered daily via subcutaneous injection and tissues were harvested after 6 weeks of daily injections and 8 weeks after DMM surgery. Harvested joint tissues were used for histological and molecular assessment of OA using three 5 μm thick sagittal sections from each joint, 50 μm apart, cut from the medial compartment of injured knees. Safranin O/Fast Green tissue staining and immunohistochemistry-based detection of type 10 collagen (Col10) and lubricin (Prg4) was performed using standard methods. Histomorphometric quantification of tibial cartilage area and larger hypertrophic-like cells was performed using the Osteomeasure system. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: Safranin O/Fast Green stained sections showed a decreased cartilage loss in DMM joints from ABL-treated versus saline-treated mice. Histomorphometric analysis of total tibial cartilage area revealed preservation of cartilage tissue on the tibial surface. Immunohistochemical analyses showed that upregulation of Col10 in DMM joints was mitigated in the cartilage of ABL-treated mice, and chondrocyte expression of Prg4 was increased in uncalcified cartilage areas in ABL-treated group. The Prg4 finding suggests a matrix anabolic effect that may counter OA cartilage loss. Quantification of chondrocytes in uncalcified and calcified tibial cartilage areas revealed a reduction in the number of larger hypertrophic-like cells in ABL treated mice, suggesting deceleration of hypertrophic differentiation. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE: Cartilage preservation/regeneration therapies would fill a critical unmet need. We demonstrate that an osteoporosis drug targeting PTH1R decelerates PTOA in mice. ABL treatment was associated with preservation of cartilage, decreased Col10, increased Prg4, and decreased number of large hypertrophic-like chondrocytes in the tibial cartilage.

The relationship between adherence to a Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is unclear, particularly in vulnerable older adults. This cross-sectional analysis explored the association between adherence to a MedDiet and subscales of HRQoL in two independent cohorts of overweight and obese middle-aged to older adults with and without type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Both cohorts were community-dwelling (T2DM aged ≥ 50 years; non-T2DM aged ≥ 60 years) with a BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2. Adherence to a MedDiet was assessed using the Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener, and HRQoL was determined using the 36-item short-form health survey. Multiple regression analysis was used to examine the association between adherence to a MedDiet and HRQoL subscales. A total of 152 middle-aged to older adults were included (T2DM: n 87, 71·2 (sd 8·2) years, BMI: 29·5 (sd 5·9) kg/m2; non-T2DM: n 65, 68·7 (sd 5·6) years, BMI: 33·7 (sd 4·9) kg/m2). Mean adherence scores for the entire cohort were 5·3 (sd 2·2) (T2DM cohort: 5·6(sd 2·3); non-T2DM cohort: 4·9 (sd 2·0)). In the adjusted model, using pooled data from both study cohorts, adherence to a MedDiet was significantly associated with the general health subscale of HRQoL (β = 0·223; 95 % CI 0·006, 0·044; P = 0·001). Similar findings were also observed in the T2DM cohort (β = 0·280; 95 % CI 0·007, 0·054; P = 0·001). However, no additional significant associations between adherence to a MedDiet and HRQoL subscales were observed. We showed that adherence to a MedDiet was positively associated with the general health subscale of HRQoL in middle-aged to older adults with T2DM. However, larger longitudinal data in older adults with a wider range of adherence scores, particularly higher adherence, are required to better understand the direction of this relationship.