513225 research outputs found
Sort by
La speculazione edilizia di Italo Calvino
No full textIl contributo ricostruisce la laboriosa gestazione della Speculazione edilizia attraverso l'analisi dei materiali autografi conservati presso il Centro Manoscritti di Pavia, mettendo in luce le sovrapposizioni tra la stesura del racconto e gli altri cantieri di scrittura calviniani degli stessi anniThe paper traces the laborious genesis of La speculazione edilizia through the analysis of the autograph materials held at the Pavia Manuscript Centre, highlighting the overlaps between the drafting of the story and Calvino's other literary works in progress during the same years
A miRNA tumour signature as a prognostic biomarker to decipher the biology of Relapsed/Refractory Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma (R/R DLBCL) and improve treatment response
No full textDiffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is a heterogeneous disorder. Prognostic factors include genomic alterations and cell-of-origin (COO) subtypes, even though they cannot fully predict treatment response. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), deregulated in patient tumours and blood, are promising non-invasive biomarkers. Several circulating miRNAs were found to be correlated with progression-free survival (PFS), independently of other prognosticators. However, miRNA signatures, rather than individual miRNAs, represent more reliable biomarkers and a better mirror of the disease. In this PhD project, we identified circulating miRNAs differentially expressed between R-CHOP (rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, prednisone) refractory and responding patients, by small-RNA sequencing on serum from 33 DLBCL samples. Among the identified miRNAs, the combined expression of three of them (miR-200c-3p, miR-324-5p, miR-421) improved the predictive performance and was correlated with PFS. Moreover, two out of three miRNAs, miR-324-5p and miR-421, were also differentially expressed in tumour tissues based on treatment response. Overexpressing the latter miRNAs reduced cell proliferation, viability and resistance to R-CHOP in the germinal centre B-like COO subtype. Through an in silico analysis, EGLN1 and TXNRD1, regulators of oxygen metabolism and redox homeostasis, were identified and validated as miRNA targets. The silencing or inhibition of these genes impaired cell viability and induced ferroptosis. On the one hand, these results support the value of a circulating three-miRNA signature as a potential predictive biomarker of treatment response. On the other hand, the results obtained strengthen the possible application of a two-miRNA signature and its targets for novel combined therapeutic interventions in DLBCL
Chapter 21 - The complex interplay between stress and the endocannabinoid system in the modulation of memory function
No full textThe endocannabinoid system has been recognized as an important regulator of several processes within the central nervous system, including learning and memory. Compelling evidence indicates that cognitive functions can be affected by stressful and emotional arousal experiences, and that endocannabinoids are also recruited by stress and glucocorticoids to mediate stress-induced effects on memory. In this chapter, we review literature data demonstrating the involvement of the endocannabinoid signaling in the modulation of a wide array of learning and memory processes, and whether these effects can be affected by stress
INVESTIGATING THE INTERCULTURAL JOURNEY OF NIGERIAN REFUGEES IN ITALY
No full textThe core of the research lies in unraveling the interplay of social representation, positioning theory, and the migratory experiences of Nigerian refugee in Italy through social representation theory, the study uncovers the representations of Nigerian refugees and of the intercultural encounters which are shared by Nigerian refugees themselves. Positioning theory is moreover employed to explore how Nigerian refugee narratively position themselves within Italian society and within the migrant communities as well
Interaction between M2 muscarinic receptor and β-Arrestin1 in human glioblastoma: implication in cell proliferation and migration
No full textGlioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is an incurable form of primary brain tumour, associated with a very poor prognosis correlated to its drug resistance capability. The standard therapy is based on surgery followed by radio/chemotherapy with Temozolomide, but more than half of patients do not respond to this treatment. For this reason, from years, in our laboratory we are working on new potential therapeutic target for GBM, demonstrating that the M2 muscarinic receptor subtype (M2R) can negatively modulate cell proliferation and survival in different kind of cancer, including Glioblastoma. In this work, I firstly characterized the drugs-receptor interactions and the dynamics resulting from the selective activation of M2R mediated by two molecules: the orthosteric agonist Arecaidine Propargyl Ester (APE) and the dualsteric Iper-8-Naphthalimide (N8). After assessing the capability of N8 to inhibit GBM cell proliferation upon low-doses treatment, I deeper investigated its biased agonism capability, which allows N8 to activate one pathway in preference to another downstream M2R activation. To do this, I introduced in my project the study of the β-Arrestin1, a protein from the Arrestins family known as a key factor in G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) desensitization and recycling but also in promoting non-canonical signaling pathways G-protein independent. Interestingly, the data show that not only the β-Arrestin1 can exert its role in receptor internalization in our reference model, but it is also essential in mediating intracellular signaling pathway downstream M2R selective activation with dualsteric agonist N8. In particular, the interaction between the M2R and the β-Arrestin1 seems to be crucial in PI3K/Akt and AMPK pathway activation as well as in GBM cell proliferation and migration. Finally, thanks to the collaboration with the University of Artois, I was able to assess the ability of our agonists to cross the Blood-Brain-Tumour Barrier (BBTB) without damaging its integrity
Post-digital Europe: society, politics and technology in the age of generative artificial intelligence. The Transformation of the European Public Sphere
No full textThis doctoral thesis investigates how European integration is being reshaped in the post-digital age, arguing that the European project must be understood as a communicative, symbolic and technologically mediated construction rather than solely an institutional or policy process. Drawing on a multidisciplinary theoretical framework integrating European studies, social representations theory, communication studies and critical approaches to technology, the work conceptualises the European Union as a political formation continuously produced through discourse, meaning-making practices and evolving media ecologies. Special attention is devoted to the rise of generative and agentic artificial intelligence, examined not as a mere extension of digital transformation but as a socio-technical rupture that alters the epistemic conditions of communication, legitimacy and public authority.
The thesis develops three core analytical components. First, it reconstructs the historical trajectory of European integration from its post-war foundations to the enlargement of 2004 and the crisis-driven developments of the 2005–2025 period, emphasising how legitimacy has progressively shifted from an elite-driven permissive consensus to an era of politicisation, contestation and communicative fragility. Second, it analyses European public institutional communication as a meta-policy domain that remains structurally weak yet essential to the reproduction of the EU’s authority, mapping its evolution from analogue technocratic logics to the hybrid dynamics of Web 2.0, datafied governance and AI-mediated communication. Third, it offers a multilevel theoretical model of the European public sphere as a site where information, participation and communication intersect to shape the symbolic economy of integration.
Empirically, the research employs a qualitative multi-method design combining expert interviews, participant observation and policy document analysis. Findings reveal persistent misalignments between institutional self-representations of communicative effectiveness and societal perceptions, highlighting the endurance of the EU communication deficit even in the 2024 European elections. The study identifies the emergence of a post-digital European public sphere characterised by algorithmic mediation, hybrid informational ecologies, new forms of artificial sociality and a utilitarian consensus that redefines public attitudes toward the EU.
The thesis advances the central claim that communication is not an auxiliary tool of governance but a constitutive dimension of European integration. By foregrounding the implications of generative artificial intelligence for authorship, authenticity and legitimacy, it offers a novel framework for understanding how the meanings of Europe are constructed and contested under conditions of profound communicative and technological transformation
Muscle Ultrasound in Inclusion Body Myositis: Integrating Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches with Clinical and MRI Findings
No full textBackground
Inclusion Body Myositis (IBM) is a distinct, slowly progressive inflammatory
myopathy characterized by a complex clinical presentation and diagnostic delay.
Imaging techniques such as MRI and muscle ultrasound (Muscle US) can aid
diagnosis by identifying characteristic patterns of muscle involvement and
differentiating IBM from other myopathies. Muscle US offers a rapid, accessible and
cost-effective tool, though its diagnostic role in IBM remains under investigation. This
study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic and clinical value of qualitative and
quantitative muscle ultrasound in IBM by examining their correlation with clinical
and MRI findings.
Methods
Thirteen patients with histologically confirmed IBM were prospectively enrolled. All
underwent comprehensive clinical evaluation, including the Inclusion Body Myositis
Functional Rating Scale (IBM-FRS) and the Medical Research Council (MRC) muscle
strength grading. Qualitative muscle US was performed using the Heckmatt scale,
while quantitative US assessed muscle echo-intensity (EI) and muscle thickness (MT)
z-scores. MRI of the lower limbs (T1 Mercuri and STIR scores) was performed in nine
of the thirteen patients. Inter-rater reproducibility for US grading and correlations
between US, MRI, and clinical scores (IBM-FRS, muscle MRC) were analysed.
2
Results
Qualitative muscle US analysis showed increased echogenicity predominantly in the
flexor digitorum profundus (FDP), vastus lateralis (VL), rectus femoris (RF), tibialis
anterior (TA) and medial gastrocnemius (GM). Quantitative US showed increased EI
predominantly in the FDP, biceps brachii (BB), VL, RF and GM, with milder
involvement of the TA and lateral gastrocnemius (GL). Quantitative EI correlated
strongly with Heckmatt grading and MRI T1 Mercuri scores (p < 0.001). Muscle
thickness analysis also confirmed atrophy in the most affected muscles. Furthermore,
EI in FDP and TA showed an inverse correlation with muscle strength (MRC scores).
Conclusion
Qualitative and quantitative muscle US provide complementary and reproducible
measures of muscle damage in IBM, correlating with both clinical and MRI
parameters. These findings support the integration of muscle US as a bedside, non-
invasive tool for diagnosis and disease monitoring in IBM, consistent with the 2024
ENMC framework promoting multimodal, imaging-supported diagnostic
approaches
In-situ microscale cold welding using a focused ion beam-scanning electron microscope
No full textMicroscale cold welding is an efficient method for achieving high-quality joints, particularly in electronic components, as its low-temperature process preserves the mechanical and electrical properties of the base metals. However, the limited fundamental understanding of successful bonding mechanisms for dissimilar metal joining has significantly restricted its industrial adoption. This is especially true at the microscale, where heat-assisted methods are still generally preferred. Therefore, this work presents a test bed procedure for cold welding of dissimilar metals at the microscale. A Focused Ion Beam (FIB) -scanning electron microscope was employed to design, monitor and characterise the technique, allowing complete control over the welding parameters, such as speed, geometry, and superficial oxides. Successful bonding was achieved without preliminary surface preparation by pushing a tapered copper wire into a pre-made hole in a soft aluminium alloy. The copper wire diameter was larger than that of the hole, promoting shear stresses and plastic deformation. Cross-sectional analysis of joints revealed severe grain refinement near the bonded interface. Elemental mapping highlighted that shear forces removed most contaminants mechanically as soon as contact began. Bonding defects originated from microscopic residuals of oxides or contaminants from the FIB, while a uniform interface was observed in their absence. A four-probe setup for in-situ electrical resistance measurement across the Al-Cu interface was tested, and it was indirectly used to testify the bond quality. Transmission electron microscopy investigations revealed that interdiffusion occurred across the joint interface, forming a thin intermetallic Al-Cu layer, even in the presence of a nanoscopic fragmented oxygen layer
Numerical analysis of radiative heat transfer in rocket engines
No full textThermal radiation represents a fundamental, yet often underestimated or missmodeled, mode of heat transfer in rocket engines. The extreme thermodynamic
conditions encountered in combustion chambers—characterized by high temperatures,
pressures, and the presence of radiatively active species and particles—make radiative
effects potentially comparable to convective heat fluxes. However, the lack of models
validated for rocket engine environments has limited their inclusion in predictive
simulations. This thesis addresses this gap through a comprehensive numerical
analysis of radiative heat transfer across liquid, hybrid, and solid rockets.
A general framework for radiation modeling was developed, solving the radiative
heat transfer equation in absorbing, emitting, and scattering medium with the
discrete transfer method. Several spectral and global approaches for gaseous radiative
species have been implemented, along with dedicated models for particulate radiation.
The solver was coupled to CFD simulations of reactive, turbulent, compressible flows
for different propulsion systems.
For liquid rocket engines, the analysis compared several gas radiation models
for oxygen–hydrogen and oxygen–methane propellant combinations under chamber
conditions up to 100 bar. The results showed the need for radiation models specifically
tailored for LRE conditions. Reduced-order WSGG models were developed and
validated, offering substantial computational savings while maintaining good accuracy
with respect to detailed spectral methods.
For hybrid rocket engines, a detailed investigation of gas and soot radiation was
carried out in an oxygen–HTPB motor. Simulations revealed that soot emission can
represent a major fraction of the radiative heat flux and significantly affect the fuel
regression rate, improving the agreement with experimental data.
For solid rocket motors, radiation from alumina particles was modeled, accounting
for absorption, emission, and scattering effects. Results highlighted that scattering
anisotropy and particle size distribution strongly influence the wall heat flux, which
can locally exceed the convective contribution in the nozzle throat.
Overall, this work bridges the gap between radiative transfer modeling and
rocket engine analysis, providing validated tools and physical insight into the role of
radiation in propulsion system design
The Effects of Secondary Motor and Cognitive Tasks on Gait Depend on Functional Walking Ability in Non-Traumatic Neurological Patients: A Feasibility Pilot Study
No full textAdaptive locomotion requires the integration of cognitive and motor processes and is challenged in neurological disorders. Dual-task (DT) training may improve cognitive–motor coordination, but its feasibility across heterogeneous clinical populations is uncertain. This pilot study aimed to understand if the effects of a secondary motor or cognitive task added to a walking task depend on the functional walking abilities of the subjects. We enrolled 30 participants with neurological disorders not related to traumatic events, 5 for each one of the following groups: healthy young subjects (HeY), healthy control subjects (HeC), subjects with stroke (ictus, IC), Parkinson’s disease (PD), multiple sclerosis (MS), and Long-COVID sequelae (LC). Spatiotemporal gait parameters were recorded using a wearable inertial magnetic unit, and subjective workload was assessed with the visual analog scale (VAS) and NASA-Task Load Index. Regression models revealed strong baseline–DT coupling for stride duration (slopes 1.11–1.37; R2 0.85–0.97), stride length (slopes 0.93–0.94; R2 0.86–0.93), walking speed (slopes 0.87–0.98; R2 0.78–0.93), and gait ratio (stance/swing, slopes 0.38–0.60; R2 0.21–0.52). Mixed-effects analyses identified significant group effects for walking speed (F(5) = 7.218, p < 0.001), stride length (F(5) = 4.834, p = 0.001), gait cycle duration (F(5) = 5.630–5.664, p < 0.001), Walking Quality (F(5) = 4.340–4.373, p = 0.001), and propulsion index (F(5) = 5.668–6.843, p < 0.001). The incongruent DT condition was the most sensitive in differentiating clinical groups. NASA-TLX indicated higher perceived workload in IC and MS compared with non-clinical groups. The protocol was completed by all participants without adverse events, supporting the feasibility of the procedure in this pilot sample. Its predictable scaling across baseline gait metrics supports its use as a personalized rehabilitation tool for diverse neurological populations. (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT07254377)