Fondazione Stella Maris

ABSTRACT The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) has significantly transformed modern marketing practices, particularly through AI-based marketing assistants such as ChatGPT and Jasper AI. These tools enable brands to deliver personalized, data-driven, and real-time interactions that enhance customer engagement. This study explores the impact of AI-powered marketing assistants on consumer decision-making processes and brand perception. By analyzing consumer responses to AI-generated content, recommendations, and conversational interfaces, the research identifies how automation influences trust, satisfaction, and purchase intentions. AI-driven personalization improves information accessibility and reduces decision fatigue, thereby accelerating buying behavior. However, concerns regarding authenticity, transparency, and data privacy may moderate consumer trust. The study also examines how perceived intelligence and responsiveness of AI tools shape brand credibility and emotional connection. Findings suggest that brands leveraging AI assistants strategically can strengthen brand image and competitive advantage. The research highlights the importance of ethical AI use and human–AI balance in marketing communication. Overall, AI-based marketing assistants are reshaping consumer-brand relationships in the digital era. KEYWORDS: Artificial Intelligence (AI), ChatGPT, Jasper AI, AI-based Marketing Assistants, Consumer Decision-Making, Brand Perception, Personalization, Customer Engagement, Purchase Intention.

ABSTRACT This study investigates the relationship between employee stress and its impact on productivity and how it influences job performance. Through a comprehensive analysis of demographic factors, stress levels, coping strategies, and productivity outcomes, the research aims to provide valuable insights into the complexities of workplace well-being and organizational performance. Findings indicate that while gender may not significantly influence job stress, age is a determinant of stress levels among employees. A structured questionnaire was sent to 110 respondents who were the employees in IT sector in Chennai. This research was done by using statistical tools like ANOVA to evaluate major organisational factors to workplace stress among employees. Moreover, a negative correlation between stress frequency and productivity underscores the importance of effective stress management strategies. Furthermore, the variation in coping mechanisms based on educational qualification highlights the need for tailored interventions to support employees with diverse backgrounds. Overall, this study underscores the critical importance of addressing employee stress to foster a healthier and more productive work environment. KEYWORDS: Employee stress, Productivity, Demographic factors, Coping strategies, Organizational performance, Workplace well-being, Stress management, Intervention strategies.

Creatine Transporter Deficiency (CTD) is a rare X-linked disorder caused by pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants in the SLC6A8 gene, leading to a deficiency of cerebral Creatine. Clinically, CTD manifests as a complex neurodevelopmental disorder and is associated with Intellectual Disability (ID), language and socio-communicative impairments, behavioral challenges and, often, epilepsy. This study was conducted in two phases: (i) An eSurvey was distributed among major Italian clinics specializing in rare neurometabolic diseases to create a national census of CTD patients, with extensive clinical data; (ii) A retrospective observational study was performed on patients who had undergone regular long-term follow-up using a consistent neuropsychological assessment and treatment protocol. We identified 18 CTD male patients, aged 18 months to 32 years at diagnosis. Within this cohort, 3 to 13 years follow-up clinical information was collected for 10 patients. A specific clinical protocol was applied to this subgroup, where a biochemical or 1H-MRS diagnosis was confirmed in 8 patients (urine Creatine/Creatinine ratio > 1), while in the remaining 2 patients, genetic testing was diagnostic and neurochemical tests followed. 1H-MRS consistently showed a decreased Creatine peak in all patients. All 10 patients exhibited ID with significant speech disorder, and 6 had epilepsy. The treatment protocol for this cohort involved oral Arginine supplementation. Diagnosing CTD remains clinically challenging due to the often negative results from a first tier clinical diagnostic test for intellectual disability (ID) (i.e. family history, cytogenetic testing and Fragile X) and neuroimaging without spectroscopy. CTD should be carefully considered when investigating severe ID with autistic-like traits and significant speech impairment, with or without epilepsy. The Urine Creatine/Creatinine ratio assay is a quick initial diagnostic step, which can be corroborated by a brain MRI/1H-MRS and molecular genetics. Even considering previouis literature findings, it is not yet possible, to demonstrate definite genotype-phenotype correlations, although a milder functional impairment has been suggested for missense SLC6A8 pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants. Treatment strategies supplementation with Creatine and its precursors have provided heterogeneous and inconsistent results. Recently proposed innovative therapeutic strategies such as lipophilic Creatine analogs and betaine supplementation in animal models need validation in human disease.

Background: Marinesco-Sjögren syndrome (MSS, MIM #248800) is a condition that is characterized by biallelic pathogenic variants in the SIL1 gene. Manifestations include congenital cataracts, cerebellar ataxia, progressive muscle weakness and skeletal deformities, delay in psychomotor development, hypergonadotropic hypogonadism and short stature. Muscular involvement has been extensively discussed as a clinical finding but there is little literature on muscle imaging. The aim of this paper is to systematically review muscular imaging techniques in MSS reported in the literature, and to describe the clinical and imaging features of two pediatric subjects with MSS. Methods: Having searched through three electronic databases (PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science) two articles, written in English, describing twelve patients with MSS mutations on whom muscle MRI imaging was performed, were selected. In addition, two paediatric cases (brother and sister) with Marinesco-Sjögren syndrome (MSS) and MRI muscle findings were added. Data on type of study, cohort characteristics, type of mutation, neuromuscular signs and symptoms, imaging assessment, electrophysiological findings, biopsies, CNS symptoms, ocular signs and muscle imaging data were collected and stored in a table. Results: Of the 239 articles examined, only 3 used a muscle imaging technique to describe myopathy in MSS; one used a CT while another a muscle MRI. All 14 patients showed signs of fatty replacement. The infiltration mainly affected the lower limbs, but involvement in the upper limb was described in some adult patients. Conclusions: Performing a muscle MRI in MSS can lead to the early identification of muscle involvement and may be a useful biomarker to monitor disease progression.

Sumba yang merupakan daerah tropis, kaya akan hasil tanah yang sangat bagus dan berlimpah. Salah satu yang menjadi focus dalam Pengabdian kepada Masyarakat ini adalah desa Ringu Rara di kabupaten Sumba Barat. Komoditas pangan lokal yang paling banyak di des aini adalah umbi-umbian dan berbagai jenis pisang. Dari kebiasaan masyarakat menjual mentah dan mendapatkan minim keuntungan, maka pelatihan ini diadakan dengan memberdayakan perempuan di des aini. Hal ini untuk menumbuhkan kreatifitas perempuan dalam membangun UMKM keluarga dan daerah. Karena kegiatannya berlangsung satu hari dan memanfaatkan waktu dan ruang sepenuhnya, maka kegiatan PkM ini menggunakan metode Pelatihan dan Pendampingan. Dari hasil kegiatan ini, perempuan-perempuan yang telibat dalam pelatihan ini sangat antusias dan akan melanjutkan untuk membuka usaha agar lebih baik.

Long QT syndrome (LQTS) is a rare and potentially life-threatening arrhythmia characterized by delayed repolarization on electrocardiogram (EKG) evaluation. Although LQTS is primarily associated with defects in ion channels, in approximately 20% of cases the genetic cause remains unknown. Kleefstra syndrome (KS), a rare neurodevelopmental disorder caused by alterations in the EHMT1 gene, has been associated with various cardiac abnormalities, including structural defects and arrhythmias. Here we report the second case of LQT in a patient with KS, strengthening the association between these two conditions. Although rare in KS, LQT may represent a potentially life-threatening condition that requires careful monitoring. Further, we present a detailed clinical case and a literature review on cardiac rhythm abnormalities in KS, highlighting the importance of EKG monitoring in these patients. Further studies are needed to clarify the link between EHMT1 and cardiac arrhythmias and to establish the potential role of EHMT1 in the epigenetic modulation of cardiac pacemakers. These insights may have important implications in management of patients with KS and other Mendelian disorders of epigenetic machinery (MDEMs).

Background Generation Alpha (born after 2010) requires pedagogical approaches aligned with their digital-native characteristics and Society 5.0 demands. Although digital integration advances in curriculum, many Indonesian vocational schools persist with teacher-centered methods that prioritize technical skills while neglecting essential soft skills teamwork, creativity, and adaptability. This study developed and validated the Alpha Generation Learning Style Scale (ALSS), the first instrument measuring Generation Alpha’s integrated learning preferences in digital vocational settings. Grounded in social constructivism, connectivism, heutagogy, and cybergogy, ALSS comprises four interconnected dimensions: Visual-Digital Learning (VDL), Collaborative Learning (CL), Self-Directed Learning (SDL), and Gamified Learning (GL). Methods Using Cantabrana et al.’s (2019) four-phase framework, the study executed expert validation (n=5), pre-testing (n=35), and empirical testing with 285 stratified vocational students using Classical Test Theory and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA). Results ALSS demonstrated excellent content validity (S-CVI/Ave = 0.981; Aiken’s V > 0.85) and high internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = 0.96). CFA confirmed a strong second-order factor structure (CFI = 0.996; TLI = 0.996; RMSEA = 0.020; SRMR = 0.030), with all dimensions significantly loading onto ALSS (λ = 0.59–0.65, p < 0.001). Self-Directed Learning showed the strongest influence (0.645), followed by Collaborative Learning (0.640) and Visual-Digital Learning (0.627), explaining 35–42% of variance per dimension. Convergent validity (AVE = 0.821–0.864), discriminant validity, and composite reliability (CR > 0.96) were confirmed. Conclusions ALSS is a valid, reliable instrument capturing Generation Alpha’s technology-mediated learning identity. It provides an evidence-based diagnostic framework for personalizing Cooperative Project-Based Learning (Co-PjBL) and transforming Indonesian vocational education toward adaptive, student-centered methods. Integration with computational thinking skills including algorithmic thinking, decomposition, pattern recognition, and abstraction strengthens pedagogical effectiveness. This approach aligns TVET with Society 5.0 demands, enhancing preparation of digitally proficient, computationally literate, collaborative, and autonomous learners.

Purkinje cells (PCs), the principal output neurons of the cerebellar cortex, are classically implicated in motor coordination via inhibitory projections to the deep cerebellar nuclei (DCN). Emerging evidence suggests their influence extends to seizure susceptibility, yet the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we investigated the functional role of PCs in locomotion and seizure-like activity in zebrafish larvae. Using the UAS/Gal4 system, we selectively expressed light-sensitive ion channels in PCs: Channelrhodopsin-2 (ChR2) to activate, and Anion ChannelRhodopsin-2 (ACR2) to inhibit neuronal activity. Behavioral assays at 5 days post-fertilization assessed locomotor output, while local field potential recordings monitored seizure-like events under baseline conditions and following administration of a proconvulsant agent. Optogenetic activation of PCs transiently increased locomotion and significantly reduced the duration and power of seizure-like events under hyperexcitable conditions, without affecting baseline activity. Conversely, inhibition of PCs was sufficient to induce seizure-like activity even in the absence of convulsant stimuli. These results reveal a dual role for PCs: they suppress pathological hyperexcitability during proconvulsant states, yet their inhibition can trigger seizures. This work highlights the cerebellum as a critical regulator of excitation-inhibition balance, linking motor control and seizure susceptibility, and suggests that cerebellar dysfunction may contribute to both motor and epileptic phenotypes observed in neurodegenerative disorders.

ABSTRACT Background Bucket hydrokinesiotherapy, a supportive aquatic intervention for newborns, has been widely applied, although it lacks robust evidence regarding its clinical and neuromotor effects. While the General Movements Assessment (GMA) sensitively detects early neurological risk, the influence of therapeutic interventions on general movements (GMs) remains unclear. Objective This study aimed to examine the effect of hydrokinesiotherapy on the GMs of hospitalized preterm infants and their clinical outcomes. Methods Parallel-arm randomized controlled trial in which newborns were randomly assigned to two balanced groups and assessed at 34 (baseline), 36, 40–42, and 50–52 weeks postmenstrual age. Main inclusion criteria were: poor repertoire-GMs, admitted to a Neonatal Intermediate Care Unit, clinically stable. Assessors of main outcomes were blinded to group allocation. Interventions consisted of 10-minute bucket hydrokinesiotherapy followed by diaper change over 6 sessions on alternate days, or a diaper change only (control). Body weight and GMA were primary outcomes. Behavioral state was a secondary outcome; physiological parameters and respiratory distress were monitoring outcomes. Results Thirty-four infants were included. Body weight (p = 0.43; d = 0.28) and global quality of GMs (p’s > 0.25; d’s < 0.39) were not affected by the intervention. Controls presented higher total (95%CI: 3.28–19.71; p < .001), upper (95%CI: 1.74–9.36; p < 0.001), and lower limb (95%CI: 0.79–8.14; p = 0.02) movement scores in the detailed GMA after the diaper changes protocol, at 36 weeks. The hydrokinesiotherapy group was more alert than controls after each session (p’s < 0.01; V’s > 0.53). Physiological parameters showed transient between-group differences within normal ranges (p’s < 0.05). Adverse effects were not found. Conclusion Bucket hydrokinesiotherapy was safe for the newborns. The technique was not effective in improving the global quality or detailed aspects of GMs after the two-week protocol. The intervention may be recommended to increase alertness, potentially supporting readiness for active feeding and engagement during care; however, caution is warranted given its acute effects on detailed aspects of GMs. Trial registrations Trial registered in the Brazilian Clinical Trials Registry (ReBec). ReBec is a Primary Registry in the WHO Registry Network. Trial nº. RBR-5n82tv. https://ensaiosclinicos.gov.br/rg/RBR-5n82tv/

The rapid development of information technology has provided significant opportunities to improve the efficiency of academic administration in schools. One of the common problems faced by educational institutions is the manual process of subject scheduling, which is time-consuming and prone to schedule conflicts among teachers, classes, and learning time. This problem is also experienced by SMPK Flos Carmeli, where the preparation of subject schedules has not yet been supported by an integrated computerized system. This study aims to design and develop a web-based subject scheduling application at SMPK Flos Carmeli using the Model–View–Controller (MVC) architecture. The research method employed is Research and Development (R&amp;D) with the Waterfall software development model, which includes the stages of requirements analysis, system design, and application implementation. Data were collected through interviews, observations, and literature review to obtain system requirements that align with the school’s conditions. The application was developed using native PHP with the implementation of the MVC pattern to produce a structured, maintainable, and flexible system. The results show that the developed application is able to support the subject scheduling process in a faster, more accurate, and well-organized manner. The system provides features for managing teacher data, class data, time slots, schedule arrangement, and schedule printing, thereby minimizing schedule conflicts and improving the efficiency of school administrative work. Therefore, this subject scheduling application is expected to support the digitalization of academic administration and enhance the effectiveness of the teaching and learning process at SMPK Flos Carmeli.