Alessandro Scuderi

Factors associated with adherence to the Mediterranean diet among adolescents living in Sicily, Southern Italy.

The present study aimed to examine the factors associated with increased Mediterranean diet (MD) adherence among a sample of Italian adolescents. A cross-sectional survey was conducted on 1135 students (13–16 years) attending 13 secondary schools of Sicily, southern Italy. Validated instruments were used for dietary assessment and the KIDMED score to assess adolescents’ adherence to the MD. A higher adherence to the MD was associated with high socioeconomic status (Odds Ratio [OR] 1.53, 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 1.03–2.26) and high physical activity (OR 1.19, 95% CI: 1.02–1.70), whereas lower adherence was associated with living in an urban environment (OR 0.65, 95% CI: 0.44–0.97) and being obese (OR 0.59, 95% CI: 0.37–0.94). The adolescents’ KIDMED scores were inversely associated with adolescents’ intake of sweets, fast foods, fried foods, and sugary drinks, and directly with fruit, vegetables, pasta, fish, and cheese intakes. Urban-living adolescents were less likely to eat fruit and more prone to consume meat, sugary drinks, and fast food than rural-living adolescents. The latter were more likely to eat sweets and snacks. A general poor quality of food consumption in Italian adolescents away from the MD was reported, especially among those living in urban areas.

Red orange: experimental models and epidemiological evidence of its benefits on human health.

In recent years, there has been increasing public interest in plant antioxidants, thanks to the potential anticarcinogenic and cardioprotective actions mediated by their biochemical properties. The red (or blood) orange (Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck) is a pigmented sweet orange variety typical of eastern Sicily (southern Italy), California, and Spain. In this paper, we discuss the main health-related properties of the red orange that include anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and cardiovascular protection activities. Moreover, the effects on health of its main constituents (namely, flavonoids, carotenoids, ascorbic acid, hydroxycinnamic acids, and anthocyanins) are described. The red orange juice demonstrates an important antioxidant activity by modulating many antioxidant enzyme systems that efficiently counteract the oxidative damage which may play an important role in the etiology of numerous diseases, such as atherosclerosis, diabetes, and cancer. The beneficial effects of this fruit may be mediated by the synergic effects of its compounds. Thus, the supply of natural antioxidant compounds through a balanced diet rich in red oranges might provide protection against oxidative damage under differing conditions and could be more effective than, the supplementation of an individual antioxidant.

Evaluations of Social Media Strategy for Green Urban Planning in Metropolitan Cities

This study was intended to frame current changes of city and citizens in the new virtual contexts. This research analyzed different citizens need attitudes whether it occurs in a traditional or virtual context. Here we presented the first results, which may well explain the new strategies and modalities of city to join the new green urban planning and meet the new citizens’ demand, by means of different tools and media. More specifically, the research carried out on the social media application for quality of metropolitan life. Information obtained has helped leading municipality towards a correct planning strategy in the different environments, traditional and virtual, also considering the impact of social media. In particular, the word-of-mouth mechanism among citizen seems to have gained a more and more relevant role in the information process of the virtual community, representing a strong generator of messages and experiences in the virtual and traditional environments.

The Integration of Agriculture in the Politics of Social Regeneration of Degraded Urban Areas

Starting out from the admonitions of the encyclical letter by pope Francis, this contribution aims to define the value of social agriculture as an instrument of integrated development of the territory able to foster, just for its own peculiarities, the creation of dense systems of relationships among the various stakeholders that operate in synergy for the local development of the territory and the creation, therefore, of shared capital. The analysis, through the first results of a case study involving various social agricultural enterprises that operate in the metropolitan area of Catania, has enables the quantitative and qualitative evaluation of the relationships that are generated between the various subjects that interact at the territorial level (network), using the methodology of Social Network Analysis (SNA).

The digital economy: new e-business strategies for food Italian system

In the ICTs sector, innovations follow each other swiftly, as it is a very dynamic market, where Web 3.0 represents the latest phenomenon, after Web 2.0 and the social networks that had revolutionised the global world of information. The web has become a web ecosystem in which users create value by sharing and creating experiences in the web. However, despite the fact that there are interesting potentials for growth, Italian agri-food and agricultural enterprises have still not bridged the digital divide. The aim of this study is to provide a brief overview of the developments in the digital economy and of the changes in B2C models. In particular, the state of the art for agri-food products in relation to the evolution from e-commerce to social commerce will be analysed, through a specific survey, consisting of two complementary phases, related both to online businesses and to the web consumers.

THE INNOVATION ICT STRATEGY IN AGRI-FOOD SECTOR

Abstract: The achievement of Information Communication Technology (ICT) as a new ground for economic competition is deeply affecting the trade organization in many merchant sectors. For Italian agri-food products it is of absolute importance for Internet marketing to be undertaken and to foresee the consequent scenarios. The aim of this research is to exactly assess the opportunities and problems of the distribution circuit based on the virtual scenario, with a methodological and empirical approach, working on the analysis of experiences already begun by agri-food companies established in Italy and engaged in “business to consumer” and “business to business”. The ICT is configured as a phenomenon in a continuous and rapid evolution, which makes it necessary for companies to continually adapt to it and to the habits of web-consumers. This means that it is necessary to effectively enter the network of agri-food firms, and to strategically revise marketing methods focusing on the market place.