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Un argine alla «piaga» sociale del giornalismo moderno. Alle origini della Civiltà Cattolica
No full textIl 6 aprile del 1850 uscì a Napoli il primo numero della Civiltà Cattolica, l’organo ufficiale della Compagnia di Gesù, che fin dalla sua fondazione esercitò un’influenza consistente nel dibattito religioso e politico italiano. Il saggio si sof-ferma, in particolare, sulla sua struttura editoriale e sulle motivazioni che indussero Pio IX a patrocinare la rivista a cui fu affidato il compito di porsi come argine alla «piaga» sociale del giornalismo moderno sempre più orientato a promuovere nell’opinione pubblica la secolarizzazione della società e l’affermarsi dello Stato laico.On 6 April 1850 the first issue of La Civiltà Cattolica was published in Naples, the official periodical of the Society of Jesus, which from its very foundation exercised a significant influence on religious and political debate in Italy. The essay focuses, in particular, on its editorial structure and on the reasons that led Pius IX to sponsor the journal, which was entrusted with the task of setting itself up as a barrier to the social “scourge” of modern journalism, increasingly oriented towards promoting, within public opinion, the secularization of society and the affirmation of the secular state
Brexlit: Redefining Borders. An Introduction
No full textThis introductory essay frames Brexlit as a cultural, imaginative, and affective phenomenon rather than a discrete political event, arguing that Brexit constitutes an ongoing process of narrative contestation that continues to shape British and Irish identities. Drawing on cultural theory – particularly Stuart Hall’s analysis of political hegemony and Zygmunt Bauman’s concept of retrotopia – the article situates Brexit within longer ideological trajectories marked by post-imperial nostalgia, populist discourse, and the mobilisation of emotionally resonant national myths. It contends that literature and the performing arts play a crucial role in articulating, interrogating, and resisting these imaginaries by foregrounding ambiguity, ethical responsibility, and lived experience.
The essay surveys key fictional and theatrical responses to Brexit across Britain, Ireland, and Northern Ireland, with particular attention to the emergence of Brexlit as a corpus engaged with questions of power, belonging, borders, and otherness. Through close reference to novels, dystopian and satirical narratives, verbatim theatre, and contemporary stage productions, it highlights how cultural texts expose societal fractures, challenge xenophobic and nationalist discourses, and reimagine political futures. Special emphasis is placed on border imaginaries, the legacy of the Good Friday Agreement, and the gendered and postcolonial dimensions of Brexit on the Irish stage.
By situating recent political developments within Brexit’s cultural afterlife, the article argues that Brexit remains a potent symbolic site through which national identity, sovereignty, and European relations are continually renegotiated. Ultimately, it positions writers, playwrights, and artists as public intellectuals whose work mediates between personal experience and collective history, offering critical tools for understanding and rethinking the cultural meanings of Brexit in a still-unfolding present
Trasformazione degli alimenti attraverso la fermentazione: dalla conservazione dei nutrienti all’impatto sul microbiota
No full textProtocol for the generation and analysis of organoids from Dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs)
No full textDPSCs are a valuable resource for creating three-dimensional (3D) in vitro models, such as organoids, due to their accessibility and differentiation potential. Organoids have revolutionized in vitro culture, thanks to their ability to more faithfully replicate the architecture and complexity of tissues compared to 2D cultures. This enables their use in a wide range of applications, including research on genetic diseases, innovative therapies, and tissue engineering. This project aims to establish an in vitro protocol for generating 3D models from DPSCs to study dental diseases and test new drugs for regenerative medicine and tissue reconstruction. To this end, the organoids underwent morphological, viability, and functional analyses, allowing us to evaluate the effectiveness of the protocol and the validity of the model. The protocol includes the culture of DPSCs in Matrigel (R) Matrix, an extracellular matrix that supports 3D-fabricated organoids formation and growth. These 3D structures are exposed to differentiation factors to generate dental pulp organoids. However, the presence of Matrigel (R) Matrix may interfere with subsequent molecular analyses. To overcome this limitation, an efficient method for removing the Matrigel (R) Matrix was developed to allow efficient extraction of nucleic acids and proteins. Immunohistochemical and immunofluorescence techniques were also optimized to visualize cellular structures and markers. Cell count and proliferation were assessed using a CCK-8 viability assay, as well as Trypan Blue staining. The feasibility and effectiveness of this protocol can provide a new tool for studying dental pulp biology, paving the way for future applications in the field of dental pulp regeneration research
Sirtuins, redox, and metabolic pathways in the brain of female PCOS mice
No full textPurposeRecent studies emphasize the role of neuroendocrine dysfunctions and sirtuins in polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). We investigated whether altered SIRT1 and SIRT3 levels contribute to brain changes and oxidative stress, identifying these pathways as potential therapeutic targets for PCOS-related complications.MethodsUsing a DHEA-induced PCOS mouse model, we examined brain expression of pathways related to SIRT1 and SIRT3 and to oxidative/glycative stress changes. SH-SY5Y cells treated with DHEA were used to confirm direct neuronal effects.ResultsWe found decreased levels of Sirt1 and Sirt3 transcripts but increased protein expression and activity of both sirtuins in brains of DHEA-treated mice. The DHEA group showed elevated oxidative and glycative stress, including an overall increased lipid peroxidation and DNA damage, as well as accumulation of advanced glycation endproducts (AGEs) in isocortices. Differences in Cpt1 isoform expressions suggested disrupted metabolic processing in the PCOS brains. Neuronal degeneration was also observed, alongside unchanged Bdnf and TrkB mRNA levels in DHEA brains. Exposure of differentiated SH-SY5Y neuron-like cells to high concentrations (>= 100 mu M) led to increased oxidative stress, altered sirtuins expression, and ultimately cell toxicity. While low concentrations of DHEA (1 mu M) did not elicit such responses.ConclusionsThese findings reveal a complex interplay between oxidative stress, metabolic dysregulation, and neuronal health in PCOS brain, underscoring the need for further investigations into the underlying mechanisms, including research in genetic components. This research provides foundational insights into how PCOS may influence neurobiological processes and helps clarify some aspects of its pathogenesis
Screening of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum for the production of γ-aminobutyric acid in a legume-based fermented beverage
No full textApollonia di Paolo di Giovanni e Margherita Bandini. Un asse femminile nella corrispondenza tra Venezia e Prato
No full textIl carteggio privato di Margherita Bandini (1360-1423), moglie
del mercante pratese Francesco di Marco Datini (1335-1410), costituisce
una fonte preziosa per osservare le relazioni tra donne all'interno delle
reti sociali attive nel contesto mercantile toscano del tardo medioevo.
In un'epoca in cui la documentazione relativa alle donne è prevalentemente
indiretta, la conservazione di un nucleo di lettere scritte e ricevute
da donne, in parte autografe, in parte dettate, consente di accedere a
pratiche di comunicazione e scambio che non troverebbero altrimenti
riscontro diretto nelle fonti. Il presente contributo prende avvio da una
ricognizione condotta sul fondo Datini, volta a individuare i casi in
cui Margherita compare come interlocutrice in corrispondenze con altre
donne, anche al di fuori del nucleo familiare. Questi scritti restituiscono
situazioni concrete - legate alla cura dei figli, alla circolazione di beni,
alla gestione di tensioni o bisogni quotidiani - e mostrano come tali relazioni
potessero mantenersi anche al di fuori della parentela diretta, attraverso
legami fondati sulla consuetudine e sulla fiducia. Fra le lettere
comprese in questo gruppo, troviamo quella inviata da Apollonia, moglie
dell'operatore economico Polo (Paolo) di Giovanni Chellini, indirizzata
a Margherita nel dicembre 1405. Pratese di origine, Polo si era trasferito
a Venezia da tempo. È solo nel maggio 1405 che entra in contatto con il
Datini. La lettera di Apollonia, per quanto isolata, permette di osservare
una forma di relazione epistolare femminile attivata al di fuori dei consueti
legami familiari
Nuove tecnologie e democrazia Le sfide alle istituzioni democratiche tra etica e diritto
No full textLe nuove tecnologie hanno trasformato il ruolo dell’essere umano che, da utilizzatore degli strumenti tecnologici,
è diventato un momento dei processi sociali ed istituzionali, al punto da divenire una variabile dipendente del paradigma tecnocratico. Si scorge una società virtualizzata, in cui l’originalità dell’uomo non sarà che un’onerosa eccezione. Ciò significa che il diritto rischia di residuare come l’apparato di controllo dell’universo tecnologico, cui non può non conseguire la riscrittura dell’intero ordinamento ed in particolare dei diritti fondamentali. La colonizzazione del vivente avviata dalla tecnica solleva interrogativi soprattutto relativamente ai compiti del diritto nella difesa della democrazia: appaiono in difficoltà la fiducia nelle istituzioni pubbliche, le libertà civili, la sovranità nazionale e le basi stesse della sicurezza democratica. In un’epoca in cui l’accelerazione tecnologica sembra voler sopraffare la dimensione umana, l’adozione di un approccio rispettoso della dignità umana appare costituire, quindi, un paradigma imprescindibile per guidare l’innovazione digitale. Appare quindi necessario sviluppare quadri normativi ed eticiche siano capaci sia di mitigare i rischiconnessi all’uso delle nuove tecnologie per la vita democratica, sia di garantire che la tecnica venga effettivamente posta al servizio dell’azione umana
nel quadro del bene comune.New technologies have transformed the role of human beings. Once merely users of technological tools, we have become part of social and institutional processes to the extent that we have become dependent on the technocratic paradigm. We are witnessing the emergence of a virtualised society in which human originality will be a costly exception. This means that law is at risk of becoming merely a control mechanism for the technological universe, which will inevitably lead to the entire legal system being rewritten, particularly with regard to fundamental rights. The colonisation of life by technology raises questions above all about the role of law in defending democracy. Trust in public institutions, civil liberties, national sovereignty and the very foundations of democratic security appear to be under threat. In an era of accelerating technology, an approach that respects human dignity is essential for guiding digital innovation. It is therefore necessary to develop regulatory and ethical frameworks capable of mitigating the risks associated with the use of new technologies for democratic life, while ensuring technology effectively serves human action in the context of the common good
From rural to digital: Insights from Airbnb Gastro-Experiences in Italian Inner Areas
No full textThe study here presented applies the concepts of countryside capital and nexogenous development to assess the impacts of gastro-tourism offerings through Airbnb’s Experiences platform—an offshoot of the company’s original accommodation model. Experiences are a compilation of activity-based offerings, with the aim of highlighting more ‘authentic’ services to tourists in coherence with local cultural heritage. The research narrows in on one category of these Experiences—food and drink offerings—with the intention of understanding how their proliferation, via this digital platform, has impacted sustainable development across rural and inner communities throughout Italy. Has Airbnb’s new initiative achieved the aim of supporting the enhancement of local heritage in a socially and economically sustainable way? How this proliferation has triggered new forms of rural gastro-tourism, if at all? What role could innovative What role could innovative digital platforms like Airbnb play in driving rural development efforts in terms of nexus? These are the main research questions posed throughout the study. Employing a mixed-methods approach, insights from three different case studies have been drawn. After a detailed desk mapping of all Italian gastronomic Experiences, field work was conducted during the summer of 2022, which entailed in-depth, semi-structured interviews with tourism providers, along with survey responses from rural tourism Experience Hosts. Ultimately, the researchers found that the strategy proposed by Airbnb may one day support a successful, innovative rural development strategy if it can successfully address the threats posed to social, environmental, and economic sustainability, and better incorporate local participation into its business model
Automatismi espulsivi e discrezionalità amministrativa
No full textLa Corte costituzionale ha dichiarato illegittime alcune disposizioni del d. lgs. 25 luglio 1998, n. 286 (c.d. Testo unico in materia di immigrazione) nella parte in cui prevedono che, per il solo fatto di essere stato condannato per un certo reato, lo straniero non possa essere autorizzato ad entrare e soggiornare nel territorio dello Stato e, se già presente, debba essere espulso (c.d. automatismo espulsivo). È necessario, secondo la Corte, che la valutazione della pericolosità dello straniero e la decisione in merito al soggiorno o all’espulsione siano lasciate alla discrezionalità della P.A. L’autrice distingue tra il giudizio di pericolosità dello straniero e la (correlata ma distinta) decisione sull’espulsione, per chiarire che il giudizio di pericolosità sociale dovrebbe essere inquadrato non nell’ambito della discrezionalità amministrativa, bensì nell’ambito della c.d. discrezionalità tecnica.The Constitutional Court has declared illegitimate certain provisions of Legislative Decree no. 286 of 25 July 1998 (the so-called Consolidated Text on Immigration) insofar as they provide that, for the merefact of having been convicted of a specific crime, a foreigner cannot be authorised to enter and reside in the territory of the State and, if already present, must be expelled (so-called automatic expulsion). It is necessary, according to the Court, that the assessment of the foreigner's dangerousness and the decision on his stay or expulsion be left to the discretion of the Public Administration. The author distinguishes between the assessment of a foreigner's dangerousness and the (related but distinct) decision on expulsion, in order to make it clear that the judgement of social dangerousness should be framed not in the sphere of administrative discretion, but within the scope of so-called technical discretion