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Addressing the urgent sustainability challenges in the wine industry, this study explores the efficacy of sustainability-oriented innovations (SOIs) and smart farming technologies (SFTs) across wine value chains in Cyprus and Italy. Utilising a mixed-methods approach that includes quantitative analysis through Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and qualitative assessments to understand stakeholders' perspectives, this research delves into the environmental, economic, and social impacts of these technologies. In Cyprus, the integration of digital labelling and smart farming solutions led to a substantial reduction in pesticide usage by up to 75% and enhanced the perceived quality of wine by an average of 8%. A pilot study in Italy witnessed a 33.4% decrease in greenhouse gas emissions, with the additional benefit of a 5.3% improvement in intrinsic product quality. The pilot introduced a carbon credit system, potentially generating an average annual revenue of EUR 4140 per farm. These findings highlight the transformative potential of SOIs and SFTs in promoting sustainable practices within the wine industry, demonstrating significant advancements in reducing environmental impact, improving product quality, and enhancing economic viability. This study underscores the critical role of innovative technologies in achieving sustainability goals and provides a compelling case for their wider adoption within the agricultural sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) show a more favorable toxicity profile than classical cytotoxic drugs, their mechanism of action is responsible for peculiar new toxicities. There is an urgent need for a multidisciplinary approach to advice on how to manage organ-specific toxicities., Methods: Our project aims to integrate the practices of two different hospitals into a single Italian regional collaborative model to treat immune-related adverse events (irAEs). The team structure is a multi-professional and multidisciplinary cooperative network that consists of different medical specialists. The team referrer is the medical oncologist and an existing telematic platform is used for specialists' cooperation. The leading oncologist first evaluates patients' clinical condition, therefore team intervention and teleconsultation are planned to activate proper management. After a first phase structured for general setting, outcomes analysis, data collection, and identification of critical issues, it is planned to define appropriate key performance indicators (KPIs) in quality, structure, process, and outcome settings. Therefore, a second phase would serve to implement KPIs. In the third phase, the proposal for the enlargement of the network with the extension to more centers in the context of the Regional Health Service will be performed., Discussion: The multidisciplinary management of irAEs based on telemedicine fits into the debate on the renewal of healthcare systems and the push for change toward multidisciplinary with the rising use of telemedicine. To our knowledge, this is the first project reporting a multi-institutional experience for change of service in irAEs management., (© 2024 The Author(s). Cancer Medicine published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

The building sector plays a crucial role in the advocated transition towards a carbon-free economy, and thus the zero-carbon building concept is taking hold. The paper focuses on the issue of existing hotels, with the aim of investigating the possibility of meeting the ambitious zero-carbon targets for this category of buildings, in which guests' comfort and satisfaction is the core business. A reference hotel and different retrofit scenarios are assessed in two Italian climatic zones. Models are evaluated with a multi-objective approach, by introducing a set of hotel-related Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), to evaluate the simulated models on three main dimensions: thermal comfort, energy and environmental impacts. The obtained results have emphasized the difficulty to achieve the zero-carbon targets, due to the high energy consumptions caused by the comfort-based nature of hotels and of the space constraints for on-site renewable sources. These outcomes help highlighting the need to shift the focus from single building to district or city scale, proving that the zero-carbon building definition must go hand-in-hand with the Post-Carbon City concept. • Transforming the built environment is fundamental to realize the Post-Carbon City. • Retrofit scenarios for an Italian Reference Hotel are modelled using EnergyPlus. • Scenarios are evaluated through multi-dimensional Key Performance Indicators. • Zero-carbon targets are still not tailored enough for comfort-based buildings. • A shift from building to district/city scale is needed to reach zero-carbon targets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The "First-Last Mile" problem (FLM) is a relevant transport issue. According to the Green Paper on Urban Mobility, the combination of passenger and freight flows may be a valid approach to promote sustainable, efficient and socially desirable FLM transport. This paper proposes a set of key performance indicators to evaluate potential improvements in operational, environmental and social performances of integrated passenger and freight flows, compared to the current transport schemes. The two case studies of the Northern lagoon of Venice in Italy and the Slovenian Municipality of Velenje indicate that the model may be particularly effective in those cases where reduced freight volumes, limited freight pickup/delivery locations and a lower elasticity of the travel demand reduce the constraints to the adoption of this integrated scheme. Results call for a reduction both in distances travelled and in externalities produced, and hence a good potential in FLM terms. Beside these technical aspects, one of the main issues is the need for innovation in the normative/regulatory context: a prerequisite in order to apply this solution to real-life contexts. • First-Last Mile is a main issue for both passenger and freight transport. • Their combination in first/last leg can help reducing operational and external costs. • A set of KPIs is proposed to evaluate the effectiveness of this innovative scheme. • KPIs are tested in two case studies involving different transport modes. • The regulatory context needs an update to allow the real application of this model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Infertility is increasing worldwide, and many couples seek IVF. Clinical management and laboratory work are fundamental in the IVF journey. Therefore, the definition of reliable key performance indicators (KPIs) based on clinical and laboratory parameters, is essential for internal quality control (IQC). Laboratory performance indicators have been identified and a first attempt to also determine clinical ones has been recently published. However, more detailed indicators are required., Methods: An Italian group of experts in Reproductive Medicine from both public and private clinics on behalf of SIFES-MR and SIERR was established to define IVF indicators to monitor clinical performance., Results: The working group built a consensus on a list of KPIs, performance indicators (PIs) and recommendation indicators (RIs). When deemed necessary, the reference population was stratified by woman age, response to ovarian stimulation and adoption of preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidies (PGT-A). Each indicator was scored with a value from 1 to 5 and a weighted average formula - considering all the suggested parameters-was defined. This formula generates a center performance score, indicating low, average, good, or excellent performance., Conclusion: This study is intended to provide KPIs, PIs and RIs that encompass several essential aspects of a modern IVF clinic, including quality control and constant monitoring of clinical and embryological features. These indicators could be used to assess the quality of each center with the aim of improving efficacy and efficiency in IVF., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

In 2011, a first peritoneal dialysis audit was held in the Lazio region to analyze the problems hindering the spread of this method and to improve the quality of care through the sharing of best practices across Centers. A scientific board was therefore set up, representing all the Centers offering PD, in order to assess clinical effectiveness using KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) and to quantify the objectives to be achieved. The analysis made it possible to identify the main problems and take action, all the while monitoring progress through KPIs. A second audit was carried out in 2017 and the collected data was analyzed and compared with the findings of the previous study. Overall, data showed an increase in prevalence, although the incidence showed a slight decrease. Indicators on the change of dialysis treatment, the dropout from domiciliary treatment and the incidence of late referral appeared stable over time. A slight improvement was observed in clinical data on peritonitis and on the length of hospitalization. All participants in the audit declared that sharing and discussing clinical practices had been really useful. In addition, through the drafting of practical documents (guides for patients, guidance on informed consent, protocols of clinical follow-up), a number of tools have been provided to ensure a uniformly high level of care across the different regional Centers., (Copyright by Società Italiana di Nefrologia SIN, Rome, Italy.)

Operations and maintenance optimization are primary issues in Facility Management (FM). Moreover, the increased complexity of the digitized assets leads Facility Managers to the adoption of interdisciplinary metrics that are able to measure the peculiar dynamics of the asset-service system. The aim of this research concerns the development of a cross-domain Decision Support System (DSS) for maintenance optimization. The algorithm underpinning the DSS enables the maintenance optimization through a wiser allocation of economic resources. Therefore, the primary metric encompassed in the DSS is a revised version of the Facility Condition Index (FCI). This metric is combined with an index measuring the service life of the assets, one measuring the preference of the owner and another measuring the criticality of each component in the asset. The four indexes are combined to obtain a Maintenance Priority Index (MPI) that can be employed for maintenance budget allocation. The robustness of the DSS has been tested on an office building in Italy and provided good results. Despite the proposed algorithm could be included in a wider Asset Management system employing other metrics (e.g., financial), a good reliability in the measurement of cross-domain performance of buildings has been observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper deals with the setting up and management of a complex logistic chain for the distribution of Euro Coins on the whole Italian peninsula through an ERP software. In particular, the work is related to a specific SCOR modelling that aims at decreasing software customisations times and minimising some parameters crucial for this supply chain, such as deliveries punctuality, delivery errors, warehouse stockout. After an analysis of the logistic chain, an original configuration of the SCOR has been proposed in which, on the basis of mathematical hypothesis for each level of the SC, some Processes of the SCOR model can be excluded. In addition to the lean configuration obtained, the case study has led to the implementation of some best practices, such as coins tracking and tracing along the chain, and a specific warehouse configuration that has made possible the improvement of some warehouse performances parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]