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Compelling doubts in the Padua of Gian Vincenzo Pinelli: note-taking, medical training, and maize biscuits
No full textDoubt constitutes the most compelling part of learning, and the writings of many Renaissance students were organized according to doubts rather than notions. The study of a number of unpublished manuscripts by Giovan Vincenzo Pinelli makes it possible to highlight how common this practice was within the Paduan student body, animated in the second half of the 16th century by young minds from all over Europe. These young scholars found themselves grappling at the same time with different perplexities, and this chapter will analyze many doubts and three described by Pinelli in great detail, which aroused heated debates inside and outside the University. Was it appropriate to dictate lectures to students or was it preferable to leave them free to take notes? Was theory sufficient to become good doctors, or did one need practical knowledge? Finally, could making corn biscuits compromise the hold of the state? All these questions were answered for the benefit of past and present doubters
Characterisation of the Extracellular Fraction in some economically relevant fungi
No full textBotrytis cinerea, also known as “grey mould “, is a necrotrophic fungus part of the large fungal Ascomycota family. Over the years, B. cinerea has raised several concerns because of its wide host range and major impact on crops such as tomato, strawberry and grapevine.
Despite much research, current management of B. cinerea is mostly based on chemical fungicides, raising environmental and health concerns. To explore innovative control strategies, this PhD project focused on the characterisation of the Extracellular Fraction (EF) of B. cinerea ungerminated macroconidia, because it represents the very first interface between the pathogen and its host at the beginning of the spring life cycle of the pathogen. The EF was defined as the entire repertoire of molecules, metabolites, extracellular vesicles (EVs) and proteins present outside the macroconidia, either associated with the cell wall surface (membrane-associated factors) or secreted via conventional and unconventional pathways, through active or passive mechanisms.
A proteomic workflow was optimised to extract the EF and characterise the proteome profile (exoproteome and surfaceome) from ungerminated macroconidia of two B. cinerea strains with two different pathogenic backgrounds (B05.10, more aggressive, and T4, less aggressive). Experimental conditions were adjusted to preserve cell viability to avoid contamination from intracellular proteins released by lysis or cell death. Proteins were identified after trypsin digestion using nanoUPLC–MS/MS under conditions that do not allow EV rupture as reported in literature and bioinformatic analysis, such as functional classification, protein-protein interaction networks, effector classification, secretion and membrane-association prediction. Complementary TEM and nanoparticle tracking analysis confirmed that both strains release extracellular vesicles within one hour of incubation, making this the first report of EV production directly from macroconidia.
Proteomic analysis revealed a common core of 80 proteins between the two strains. These proteins were clustered in different functional groups associated with protein folding, stress response, primary metabolism and intracellular trafficking. The presence of proteins involved in redox homeostasis, protein quality control and RNA-related processes highlights that macroconidia in an unstimulating environment, as a neutral buffer, appear to be metabolically active, releasing factors that may act as early virulence effectors. This core of proteins shared between the two strains highlighted an interesting functional conservation of these factors in the early steps of infection between B05.10 and T4.
To investigate the functional role of the EF, detached leaf assays were performed in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) and grapevine (Vitis vinifera). In tomato a pilot assay three concentrations of EF (25, 50 and 100 μg/mL) were tested. Results revealed a modulation of host defence genes such as PTI5, WRKY1 and PR1, indicating a plant immune-stimulating effect. Afterwards, in grapevine, pretreatment with EF prior to fungal inoculation resulted in a reduced development of necrotic lesions. This effect was supported by stereomicroscope observations performed at various time points (0, 6, 24, 30 and 54 hours post-infection) following 48 hours of immune stimulation. Gene expression analysis confirmed the induction of defence gene markers such as VvMYB14, VvSTS1 and VvJAR1, plus highlighted differences between infection with B05.10 and T4. Altogether, these findings support the role of the B. cinerea macroconidia exoproteome as an immune elicitor in plants and a probable virulence determinant.
In conclusion, this work provides a first characterisation of the B. cinerea macroconidial exoproteome and surfaceome fraction from the EF, including likely EV-associated proteins with a bottom-up proteomic approach. The planta in-vivo assays results, instead, confirm that the entire EF acts as a priming stimulus that can enhance plant defence responses; parallel studies suggest that EF could probably prepare the macroconidial environment independently of its host to favour the subsequent infection. Considering the advances in understanding the early host-pathogen interaction mechanism, this research points towards potential applications of B. cinerea EF as a base for new eco-friendly crop protection strategy development. This work contributes to the search for sustainable alternatives to chemical fungicides in the fight against B. cinerea and other necrotrophic pathogens
Who stands up to persuade? Voluntary influencers in public support for Pigouvian taxation
Get PDFWe examine how voters choose to influence others' attitudes toward policy, focusing on the context of Pigouvian taxation. Data from a controlled laboratory experiment show that individuals are generally reluctant to stand up and persuade others. Among those who do, both tax supporters and objectors are equally likely to volunteer—and equally persuasive. As a result, overall negative attitudes toward Pigouvian taxes persist. Moreover, it is the strength of individuals' initial views, rather than an informational advantage, that increases the likelihood of self-nomination as first voters, regardless of the direction of those views. These findings help explain the enduring lack of public support for welfare-enhancing tax policies and suggest avenues for addressing it
Information Frictions and Behavior in Green Markets
No full textThe PhD dissertation Information Frictions and Behavior in Green Markets, investigates how information frictions and behavioral biases shape decision-making and economic outcomes in markets where environmental and moral dimensions are central. Motivated by the growing relevance of sustainability and transparency, the dissertation examines why asymmetric information continues to undermine market efficiency despite decades of theoretical and empirical research, and how behavioral mechanisms and policy interventions can help mitigate these distortions.
The thesis adopts both a household and a corporate perspective. On the demand side, it explores whether market inefficiencies stem from unawareness, inattention, or biased decision-making by consumers. On the supply side, it analyzes how firms’ incentives related to image, revenues, and limited monitoring contribute to strategic misrepresentation in environments characterized by informational opacity.
The dissertation consists of three chapters.
The first chapter, Voluntary Disclosure Under Bounded Rationality: Experimental Evidence (co-authored with Sébastien Houde, University of Lausanne), studies the strategic foundations of voluntary information disclosure. Using a sender–receiver experiment framed in the housing market, it tests whether bounded rationality distorts communication under asymmetric information relative to the benchmark of full unraveling (Milgrom, 1981). The results show that treatment variations significantly affect strategic reasoning and belief formation for both informed and uninformed agents, providing clear evidence of bounded rationality. While full unraveling represents an optimal benchmark in theory, it is rarely observed in practice, as informed agents often benefit from withholding information when receivers anchor their beliefs around average outcomes.
The second chapter, Walk the Talk? Greenwashing in the Electricity Market (co-authored with Stefano Verde, University of Siena), introduces a novel methodology to measure greenwashing in the electricity sector. By combining numerical indicators with text-based analysis, the chapter documents substantial heterogeneity in firms’ greenwashing behavior and identifies firm size, profitability, and sectoral characteristics as key correlates of misleading environmental communication. The chapter contributes to the literature by providing a new framework to quantify and analyze greenwashing using integrated quantitative and textual data.
The third chapter, Estimating Residential Electricity Demand under Time-of-Use Tariffs: Evidence from Micro-Level Data, provides new evidence on household electricity demand when price information is complex and not easily accessible. Using a unique panel dataset from Estra S.p.A.—the co-funder of the PhD scholarship—the chapter estimates short-run demand elasticities, substitution patterns across peak and off-peak hours, and heterogeneity in consumption behavior across demographic and geographic dimensions.
Across chapters, the dissertation combines experimental and behavioral methods, panel data econometrics, and text-mining techniques based on Natural Language Processing (NLP). The central message is that information must be accessible, verifiable, and clearly communicated to all market participants. When these conditions are not met, cognitive biases, strategic behavior, and limited awareness can severely distort economic decisions. The dissertation therefore highlights the importance of monitoring firms’ environmental communications and designing targeted behavioral and informational policies that enable households to recognize how individual actions generate environmental and economic externalities shaping the sustainability of the broader community
Adding pieces to the puzzle: IL-33 contribution to fibrogenesis in chronic lung allograft dysfunction
Get PDFInterleukin-33 (IL-33) is a pleiotropic, chromatin-binding cytokine primarily expressed by non-hematopoietic cells, including endothelial cells, fibroblasts and bronchial epithelial cells. It participates in various respiratory diseases, such as acute and chronic inflammatory diseases, viral infections, lung cancer and COPD, and is known to mediate asthma and allergic conditions. IL-33 plays a dual and context-dependent role, contributing to tissue homeostasis and immune regulation under physiological conditions, while promoting inflammation and fibrosis in pathological contexts. Its signalling is mediated by the ST2 receptor, which exists in two forms: the membrane-bound ST2L that activates immune responses, and the soluble decoy receptor sST2 that negatively regulates IL-33 activity. Over the past decade, medical research has cast a spotlight on the widespread contribution of IL-33 biology not only to inflammation but also to the development of fibrosis and lung transplant rejection. A comprehensive overview of the interactions between rejection following lung transplant and IL-33 signalling is lacking. In this review, we summarize the most recent literature regarding the IL-33 in relation to chronic lung allograft dysfunction (CLAD) and acute rejection. We also discuss the potential contribution of microbial and environmental stimuli in shaping IL-33-driven type 2 and autophagic responses in the lung transplant microenvironment. Recent findings regarding therapeutic implications of IL-33 were also reported
Designing for reuse in timber buildings: The environmental benefits of aligning the time of nature and time of use
Get PDFTimber is emerging as a key bio-based material for decarbonizing the construction sector and supporting circular economy goals. This study explores how Design for Deconstruction and Reuse can extend the timber value chain by enabling the reuse of structural components with the same function after disassembly. Current regulations often prioritize energy recovery, thereby limiting the circular potential of timber. We address this gap by modelling ex-ante cascading reuse scenarios for a timber building and assessing the generated environmental benefits through Life Cycle Assessment. Results show that maintaining the structural function of timber across multiple lifecycles significantly reduces environmental impacts compared to downcycling or incineration. This approach provides a systems perspective on timber use, aligning with the need for sustainable, bio-based solutions in the construction industry. To fully leverage timber's potential for carbon sequestration and resource conservation, standards must evolve to support reuse strategies that preserve material value across the built environment. © 2025 The Author(s
Integrating subdivision schemes into SVM for improved signal classification
Get PDFThe integration of advanced signal processing techniques into machine learning models has gained increasing attention due to its potential to improve model performance, particularly for classification tasks. Support Vector Machine (SVM) is widely recognized as a powerful tool for signal classification due to its robust mathematical foundation and effectiveness in handling high-dimensional data. Subdivision schemes, originally developed in computer graphics for geometric modeling, offer a novel and parametric approach to feature preprocessing by iteratively refining input data through an efficient computational procedure. This paper studies the impact of subdivision schemes on SVM performance in terms of class separability and provides insights into the relationship between feature transformation and SVM response. Specifically, it investigates the theoretical and empirical implications of applying subdivision schemes to input features in SVM-based classification. The conditions under which these schemes preserve or enhance class separability are analyzed, focusing on the tension parameter which governs both the smoothness properties of the limit curve and the subdivision rule at each iteration. An estimation method for the tension parameter from the training data is also provided. Experimental results, performed in the context of signal classification based on the wavelet scattering transform, demonstrate that the appropriate selection of the tension parameter of the scheme can significantly enhance class separability, highlighting that subdivision schemes are a promising tool for improving classification accuracy in machine learning workflows
Energy production and storage by electrocatalysis
No full textThe development of efficient, cost-effective electrocatalysts is crucial for
sustainable energy conversion, including hydrogen production and fuel cells. This
doctoral research addresses the design, synthesis, characterization, and
implementation of advanced non-noble, hybrid, and bimetallic electrocatalysts for
key reactions such as hydrogen evolution (HER), hydrogen oxidation (HOR),
oxygen reduction (ORR), and formate oxidation.
A self-supported MoO3−x/NiMoO4 powder was synthesized using NiO nanopowder
as a structural template. Thermal annealing at 600°C generated sub-stoichiometric
Mo oxides and enhanced surface roughness, improving active site accessibility and
catalyst–membrane contact. The material exhibited high HER activity in threeelectrode
tests and stable operation in 5 cm2 and 78.5 cm2 AEM electrolyzers,
demonstrating its scalability and potential for PGM-free hydrogen production.
Silver-supported metal phthalocyanines (M-Pc@Ag/C, M = Fe, Co, Ni, Cu) were
developed for ORR in alkaline media. FePc@Ag/C showed the highest onset
potential and current density, promoting a selective four-electron reduction to
water. The combination of conductive Ag nanoparticles and active metal centers
enhanced electron transfer, catalyst dispersion, and surface stability, offering a
viable non-PGM alternative to platinum.
PdAu bimetallic nanoparticles were prepared via Metal Vapour Synthesis, yielding
ultrasmall, ligand-free alloys with Pd-rich cores and Au-enriched surfaces. In direct
formate fuel cells, PdAu/C showed higher power density, increased
electrochemical surface area, and improved stability compared to Pd/C,
highlighting the benefits of nanoscale alloy engineering.
Finally, Pd@Ni4W/C catalysts for HER and HOR exhibited superior Pd mass
activity (up to 463 A g−1Pd) and reduced charge-transfer resistance, confirming
enhanced kinetics and synergistic interactions.
Overall, this work demonstrates scalable strategies for synthesizing highperformance
electrocatalysts, elucidates structure–activity–stability relationships,
and provides a framework for translating lab-scale materials into device-level
applications, advancing sustainable hydrogen production and energy conversion
technologies
One Step Forward in Understanding the Mechanism of Action of Wood Vinegar: Gas Exchange Analysis Reveals New Information
Get PDFWood vinegar (WV), a by-product of woody biomass pyrolysis, is increasingly used in agriculture as a sustainable biostimulant, although its effects on plant stress resistance and underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. Recent studies propose that WV may act through a eustress-based mechanism, defined as a mild and controlled stress that activates adaptive physiological responses and enhances plant performance without causing structural or metabolic damage. This study investigated the physiological and biochemical effects of WV on strawberry plants grown under three water-deficit stress levels [no stress (NS), moderate stress (MS), and high stress (HS)] and treated with WV either via fertigation (0.5% v/v, WV1) or foliar spray (0.2% v/v, WV2). Gas exchange parameters (A, gsw, E, Ci, WUE), total chlorophyll content, and nutrient balance ratios (Fe/Mn and K/Ca) were measured after a three-month growth period. PERMANOVA revealed significant effects of both WV and water-deficit stress, as well as their interaction, on most parameters. Under NS and MS conditions, WV reduced A, gsw, E, and Ci while increasing WUE, indicating enhanced water-use efficiency and improved physiological adjustment to water limitation. Chlorophyll content remained stable, demonstrating preserved photosynthetic integrity. Nutrient ratios further supported a controlled ion rebalancing associated with adaptive stress responses under NS and MS, whereas HS conditions indicated the onset of distress. Overall, the data demonstrate that WV enhances plant stress resistance primarily by inducing eustress-mediated physiological regulation rather than by directly stimulating growth
Ionization quenching factors and W-values of low-energy H2+ and He+ ions in Ar gas at low pressure measured with a bulk resistive MICROMEGAS
No full textThe ionization quenching factor, the fraction of an ion's initial kinetic energy lost through ionization in a medium, was measured for H+2 and He+ ions within the 2.5-5 keV energy range in an Ar/CO2 gas mixture at pressures between 75 and 150 mbar. The mixture was contained in the active volume of a MICROMEGAS type Micro Pattern Gaseous Detector (MPGD), which was connected to an ion source via a high vacuum system. The results showed a significant decrease in ionization as the ion energy decreased, although no dependence on gas pressure was observed within the low pressure range studied. Additionally, significant deviations from the predictions of SRIM (Stopping and Range of Ions in Matter) simulations were found. These measurements also allowed the first determination of W values (the average energy required to create an electron-ion pair in the gas) for H+2 and He+ ions in Ar at this particular energy range, which had not been previously explored for these projectile-target combinations. These findings are essential for accurate ion energy reconstruction in low-pressure MPGDs, with particular relevance for space-based energetic neutral atom detection, as proposed by the Italian Space Agency's SWEATERS project