University of Udine
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Ozonation method for pulp and paper wastewater treatment
No full textThis chapter describes the most recent advances in ozone application for pulp and paper wastewater treatment. Ozone’s unique features and production processes are described in detail, underlining its growing applications in drinking water and wastewater as well as the advantages and downsides related to its specific utilization to treat pulp and paper effluents. A detailed review of the most recent literature studies regarding pulp and paper ozonation is successively made, including not only ozonation alone but also its utilization in combined processes (such as catalytic ozonation and ozonation followed by biofiltration), which is becoming more and more common. Finally, the most relevant economic and environmental aspects related to ozone treatment of pulp and paper wastewater are discussed to give a thorough overview to the reader
GenAI Paradox: Balancing Creative Innovation with Authenticity, Ethics, and Legal Compliance
No full textDespite ongoing debate about the potential effects of the adoption of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) in modern societies, there is still a lack of clarity on issues such as copyright and authorship of AI-generated content. This paper analyzes the implications of GenAI with particular attention to authenticity, ethics, and legal compliance, and outlines directions for future research. Although the use of GenAI as a collaborative tool is already widespread, it requires humans to develop appropriate skills for responsible use. The study also examines ethical and regulatory concerns related to visual content protection and presents an end-to-end lifecycle model as a framework for managing AI-generated materials in a trustworthy manner
‘Lex Aquilia’, responsabilità nossale e ‘scientia domini’ nella interpretazione di Celso, Giuliano e Ulpiano
No full textIn D. 9.4.2 Ulpiano affronta il tema della responsabilità nossale e della 'scientia domini' nell'ambito della 'lex Aquilia'. Il passo presenta due incongruenze che hanno indotto Bernardo Albanese nel 1967 e ancora Carlo Augusto Cannata nel 2013 a offrirne una ricostruzione poco conservativa. Quanti ne hanno sostenuto la genuinità sostanziale non hanno spiegato in che modo si possa salvare tale genuinità eliminando al contempo le due incongruenze che giustificano la proposta ricostruttiva dei due grandi studiosi della legge Aquilia. Lo studio si propone di dimostrare come questa spiegazione sia possibile ipotizzando una minima alterazione del testo
Expectant management or conization for persistent low-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia: Analysis of 5-year outcomes
No full textObjective: To investigate to describe outcomes of conization or expectant management for women with persistent (>24 months) low-grade cervical intra-epithelial neoplasia. Methods: This is a retrospective analysis focusing on five-year outcomes after persistent, histologically confirmed, low-grade cervical intra-epithelial neoplasia undergoing conization or expectant management. Results: Charts of 219 women with persistent low-grade cervical lesions were retrieved. Overall, 98 (44.7%) and 121 (55.3%) women had conization and observation, respectively. Patients receiving conization were older than patients having observation (43 (range, 24-77) vs. 39 (range, 25-68) years; p=0.013). Focusing on the group of patients receiving conization, 16 (16.3%) women were diagnosed with CIN2+. The five-year risk of secondary conization was 5% (n=5). Focusing on patients having observation (n=121), 18 (14.8%) patients received conization, after a median of 16.5 (range, 6-30) months. Seven (5.8%) and 11 (9.1%) patients were diagnosed with persistent CIN1 and CIN2+, respectively. Not fully visible squamous-columnar junction at colposcopic examination (p=0.035) was associated with CIN2+ occurrence. No invasive cancer was observed Conclusions: Conization for persistent low-grade cervical intra-epithelial neoplasia revealed “occult” CIN2+ in 16% of patients. However, expectant management appears safe and effective in this context, in women with fully visible squamous columnar junction. The decision between conization and expectant management should be discussed on an individual basis
Neurological adverse events of immune checkpoint inhibitors: A practical guide to diagnosis with a focus on neuroimaging findings
No full textThe use of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), a class of oncologic therapies that enhance anti-tumor immunity, may be complicated by the occurrence of neurologic immune-related adverse events (n-irAEs). ICI-induced neurotoxicities predominantly affect the peripheral nervous system, manifesting as myositis, polyradiculoneuropathies and cranial neuropathies and, less frequently, involve the central nervous system, typically as encephalitis or myelitis. The diagnosis of n-irAEs relies on the exclusion of alternative etiologies – such as cancer dissemination, chemotherapy-induced neurotoxicities, and neuroinfections – and the recognition of specific clinical syndromes. Neuroradiological investigations, particularly magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), play a crucial role in ruling out differential diagnosis, mainly cancer dissemination. Furthermore, MRI can support the clinical suspicious of an immune-mediated process by demonstrating indirect signs of neuroinflammation, including tissue edema and gadolinium enhancement. Nuclear medicine techniques, such as position emission tomography and scintigraphy, may also aid in the assessment of ICI-induced encephalitis and parkinsonism. Despite the recognized clinical relevance of imaging investigations in the diagnosis of n-irAEs, a detailed characterization of neuroradiological features of ICI-induced neurotoxicities remains limited. In this Review, we provide a comprehensive description of the imaging findings associated with n-irAEs and summarize the diagnostic work-up of these challenging disorders, emphasizing the central role of neuroimaging in their evaluation
Unconventional chitosan from mushroom by-products as an alternative fining agent for white wines stabilization
No full textProtein haze in white wines, conventionally managed with bentonite, poses significant drawbacks. Since
bentonite fining is associated with wine losses, colour and aroma depletion, and environmental concerns, sustainable
alternative are needed. This study investigated a novel and unconventional chitosan, sustainably
extracted from mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) by-products using an environmentally friendly subcritical water
process, as a fining agent. Chitosan was applied at 20, 60, and 100 g/hL to three unstable white wines (Gra
ˇsevina, Malvasia, and Traminer) to evaluate its impact on protein stability, phenolic composition, and aroma
profile. The treatment significantly reduced protein instability (up to 44% in Graˇsevina) and Pathogenesis-
Related (PR) protein levels (up to 51% in Malvasia), also suggesting a variety-specific efficacy. The addition
of chitosan did not significantly alter the polyphenols content or wine color and even increased an oxidizability
index at the highest dosage, suggesting a preservation of wine phenolics. A dosage-dependent decrease in ester
concentrations (up to 26% at 100 g/hL) was detected, while levels of alcohols, fatty acids, and varietal aroma
compounds remained largely unaffected, at least above sensory thresholds, indicating a minimal impact on the
wine aromatic profile. Overall, this unconventional, by-product derived chitosan offers a sustainable and
promising solution for the winemaking sector, enhancing circular bioeconomy strategies
From Support to Dependency: Exploring Student Perceptions of Generative AI
No full textThe rapid integration of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) into education highlights the need for empirical insights into student perspectives to inform institutional policies, pedagogical strategies, and social practices. This study explored Italian university students’ perceptions of GenAI’s benefits and risks across personal, social, and academic domains. A total of 1,347 students from 24 Italian universities completed an online questionnaire. This manuscript focuses on two open-ended questions investigating perceived advantages and disadvantages of ChatGPT and similar systems, analyzed through manual coding using MaxQDA software. Results show students predominantly adopt an instrumental view of GenAI: operational benefits made up 41.6% of responses, followed by informational (14.3%) and educational advantages (10.9%). The most cited disadvantages were cognitive and learning risks (29.6%), problematic behaviors (23.6%), and technical limitations (15.4%). These findings reveal an ambivalent stance: students value GenAI’s efficiency and learning support but express concerns about intellectual dependency, diminished critical thinking, and threats to academic integrity. This study makes several key contributions: it provides the first large-scale qualitative investigation (N=1,347) of GenAI perceptions in Italian higher education, bridging the gap between qualitative depth and quantitative generalizability; it offers culturally situated insights from a non-Anglophone context, enriching the predominantly Anglo-centric literature; and it delivers evidence-based recommendations for institutional policy development grounded in actual student experiences rather than theoretical assumptions. Such insights are crucial for understanding the views of a key stakeholder group in higher education and for guiding the development of ethical usage policies, structured teacher training, and tailored student orientation initiatives. These measures aim to promote technological governance skills that preserve intellectual autonomy while harnessing GenAI’s operational benefits
Design of Ni-promoted Ca2Fe2O5/modified ceria as oxygen carrier for fast and carbon-resistant chemical-looping steam methane reforming
No full textChemical looping steam methane reforming enables the production of high-purity syngas and hydrogen while eliminating the energy-intensive downstream separation steps typically required by conventional technologies. Ca2Fe2O5 is a promising oxygen carrier thanks to its high redox stability and low equilibrium pO2. However, its practical application is hindered by sluggish reduction kinetics. Here, we have overcome this limitation by preparing nickel-promoted composite oxygen carriers (OC) through the physical mixing of Ca2Fe2O5 and modified CeO2. The selective deposition of Ni on the surface of the CeO2-based phase significantly increases the OC reduction rate, outperforming samples in which Ni is in close contact with Ca2Fe2O5 (either on the surface or within the lattice). SiO2 modified ceria was found to be more effective than CeO2-Al2O3 and Ce0.8Zr0.2O2 in promoting the microstructural stability of CeO2 within the composite, ensuring consistent performance over multiple redox cycles. The co-presence of Ca2Fe2O5 and the catalyst in the same reactive bed effectively limits carbon formation at a low OC conversion degree. In situ synchrotron X-ray diffraction and isothermal packed-bed tests revealed a gas-mediated synergistic mechanism whereby carbon deposition was inhibited by H2O and CO2 generated locally from the reduction of Ca2Fe2O5. This led to fast oxygen exchange and stable syngas production. After 50 reaction cycles, the composite OC produced 13.0 mmol/g of syngas in the reduction step with 88 % CH4 conversion, and 6.8 mmol/g of H2 in the water splitting step with > 99 % purity, demonstrating the potential of this OC design strategy