Archivio istituzionale della ricerca - Università dell'Insubria
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Optimal Transport Autoregression to Forecast High-Frequency Financial Data Distributions
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Paleoseismic history of the intermountain Rieti Basin (Central Apennines, Italy)
Full text linkFrom the paleoseismological and seismotectonic point of view, the intermountain basins of the Central Apennines of Italy are one of the most studied areas worldwide. Within this context, however, the Rieti Basin, bounded at its sides by active normal faults and with its peculiar rhombohedral shape, is a relatively overlooked area, and its most recent paleoseismological studies date back to the 90s. This is a key area both for completing the paleoseismological history of this sector of the chain and for understanding how the present-day extensional regime is accommodated through time by the faults bounding the basin. With this aim in mind, we excavated 17 paleoseismological trenches along the normal faults bordering the Rieti Basin (Central Apennines, Italy) and unveiled at least 6 paleoearthquakes that ruptured the faults during the last ca. 20 kyr.Our analysis of the paleoearthquake succession along the basin-bounding faults suggests that a spatial pattern is followed during sequences of rupturing events, with a maximum credible earthquake of Mw 6.5, consistently within this sector of the Central Apennines
Misure nei sistemi quantistici aperti a molti corpi: cristalli temporali discreti e batterie quantistiche
No full textQuesta tesi indaga il ruolo delle misure in sistemi quantistici aperti, mostrando come esse possano essere ingegnerizzate non solo per mitigare la decoerenza, ma anche per rafforzare attivamente fasi fuori dall’equilibrio e protocolli di estrazione di energia. La prima parte costruisce le basi teoriche, trattando le mappe dinamiche quantistiche, la master equation di Lindblad e la termodinamica di lavoro, calore ed ergotropia in presenza di dissipazione. Dopo aver stabilito questo quadro, il lavoro si concentra su due contributi originali.
Nella prima parte, studiamo cristalli temporali discreti (DTC) soggetti a dissipazione termica. Analizzando i flussi di lavoro, calore ed entropia durante l’evoluzione dissipativa, mostriamo che la dissipazione distrugge inevitabilmente l’ordine temporale. Tuttavia, un risultato chiave del nostro studio è che schemi di misura possono essere utilizzati non solo per sondare, ma anche per stabilizzare la dinamica tempo-cristallina, estendendo la durata delle oscillazioni subarmoniche anche in regime dissipativo.
Nella seconda parte, analizziamo batterie quantistiche in presenza di misure continue, concentrandoci su scenari in cui batteria e caricatore sono correlati. Attraverso l’uso di unraveling stocastici della master equation di Lindblad, dimostriamo che la back-action della misura può aumentare sistematicamente il lavoro estraibile (ergotropia “demoniaca”) in una vasta e generale classe di sistemi e protocolli di caricamento, rendendo l’effetto robusto oltre specifici modelli.
Nel complesso, questa tesi mostra che misure opportunamente ingegnerizzate possono essere sfruttate per preservare e potenziare effetti quantistici cruciali per lo sviluppo di tecnologie quantistiche realistiche operanti in presenza di decoerenza e dissipazione.This thesis investigates the role of measurements in open quantum systems, showing how they can be engineered not only to mitigate decoherence, but also to actively enhance non-equilibrium phases and energy extraction protocols. The first part builds the theoretical foundation, covering quantum dynamical maps, Lindblad master equations, and the thermodynamics of work, heat, and ergotropy in dissipative settings. After establishing this framework, the work focuses on two original contributions.
In the first part, we investigate discrete time crystals (DTCs) subjected to thermal dissipation. By analyzing work, heat, and entropy flows during the dissipative evolution, we show that dissipation inevitably destroys time ordering. However, a key result of our work is that measurement schemes can be used not only to probe but also to stabilize time-crystalline dynamics, extending the lifetime of subharmonic oscillations even in dissipative regimes.
In the second part, we study quantum batteries in the presence of continuous measurements, focusing on correlated battery–charger scenarios. By employing stochastic unravelings of the Lindblad master equation, we demonstrate that measurement backaction can systematically enhance the extractable work (daemonic ergotropy) in a broad and general class of systems and charging protocols, making the effect robust beyond specific models.
Overall, this thesis shows that carefully engineered measurements can be harnessed to preserve and enhance quantum effects that are crucial for the development of realistic open quantum technologies operating under decoherence and dissipative settings
Functionalized nanodiamonds – toward innovative antitumor approaches
Full text linkD-amino acid oxidase (DAAO) represents a promising and well-characterized enzyme for the ‘enzyme-activated prodrug therapy’, one of the newest frontiers for anticancer treatment. This flavoprotein catalyzes the deamination of D-amino acids with production of hydrogen peroxide, a reactive oxygen species (ROS) able to favor cells death. In this preliminary work, promising drug delivery systems based on nanodiamonds (NDs) were designed to target DAAO specifically to the tumor site following possible future injection in the blood stream. NDs were functionalized with polyethylene glycol (PEG), hyaluronic acid (HA) and poly(glycerol monomethacrylate) (PGMA), to reduce aggregation and improve biocompatibility. Different conjugates were obtained by DAAO adsorption on the NDs surface. The interaction with human serum proteins was evaluated in vitro, and the formation of the protein corona (PC) was investigated via nLC-MS/MS, aiming to characterize both soft and hard corona. Because the PC provides a biological identity to the conjugates and influences their fate in vivo, this study may contribute to investigate preliminary in vitro properties of functionalized nanoparticles, conjugated with well-characterized enzyme. The cytotoxicity and the oxidative stress of the designed conjugates, induced by hydrogen peroxide, were tested on two different tumor and two different healthy cell lines, as controls. The contribution of the PC to both cytotoxicity and oxidative stress was also evaluated. Among all investigated NDs-DAAO conjugates, PEG-NDs-DAAO seemed to exhibit promising antitumor characteristics: a biocompatible PC may contribute to potentially prolong blood circulation time and the increased cytotoxicity against human breast cancer cells (SKBR3, viability of 34%) could be probably favored by interaction of PEG-NDs-DAAO-PC with tumor cells. The presence of specific proteins, like serotransferrin and Inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor heavy chain H2, could potentially play a crucial role in cell membrane adhesion
Platformed indie poptimism in Italian digital music culture
Full text linkThis ethnographic study examines the transformation of Italian indie culture under platform capitalism, tracing how digital infrastructures have reconfigured the relationship between independence and mainstream commercial logic. Drawing on fieldwork with musicians, industry professionals, and audiences across Italy, it argues that the semantic and aesthetic coordinates of indie have shifted from oppositional autonomy to a stylised modality compatible with platform logics, where visibility and metric optimisation increasingly dictate artistic legitimacy through commercial imperatives and through the internalisation of platform-mediated evaluative frameworks. The Italian case, rooted in a tradition of politicised independence, reveals how local infrastructures and cultural histories mediate these global transformations. Synthesising grounded, abductive analysis with historical reconstruction, the study identifies three intertwined processes - mainstreamisation, semantic drift, and platform gravity - through which visibility metrics and sponsorship logics recalibrate artistic practice, legitimacy, and audience address, recognising that these dynamics interact with diverse cultural trajectories and do not operate as a uniform homogenising force. The emerging configurations still depend on established intermediaries, informal circuits, and human decision-making embedded in longstanding power structures, even as platform mediation intensifies the circulation and repetition of certain stylistic and organisational practices. To theorise these shifts, the article advances 'poptimism' as a structural condition. The analysis shows how this gravitational field is absorbed into existing professional sensibilities, where platform mentalities recur within industry judgements shaped by longstanding organisational logics
Ectoparasite- and Vector-Borne-Related Dermatoses: A Single-Centre Study with Practical Diagnostic and Management Insights in a One Health Perspective
No full textBackground: Parasitic skin-related conditions represent a frequent and evolving challenge in human dermatology, as they often mimic other dermatoses, and are increasingly complicated by therapeutic resistance. With this study, we aimed to provide a practical, clinician-oriented overview of our experience, contextualising it within the current literature. Materials and Methods: We conducted a retrospective, single-centre observational study, reporting a case series of 88 patients diagnosed with parasitic or arthropod-related skin infestations at the San Raffaele Hospital Dermatology Unit (Milan) between 2019 and 2024, and integrated a concise narrative review of contemporary evidence on diagnosis, non-invasive imaging and management. For each case, we documented clinical presentation, dermoscopic or reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) findings, and treatment response. Non-invasive tools (dermoscopy, videodermoscopy, RCM) were used when appropriate. Results: The spectrum of conditions included flea bites, bed bug bites, cutaneous larva migrans, subcutaneous dirofilariasis, Dermanyssus gallinae dermatitis, pediculosis, tick bites (including Lyme disease), myiasis, scabies, and cutaneous leishmaniasis. One case of eosinophilic dermatosis of haematologic malignancy was also considered due to its possible association with arthropod bites. Non-invasive imaging was critical in confirming suspected infestations, particularly in ambiguous cases or when invasive testing was not feasible. Several cases highlighted suspected therapeutic resistance: a paediatric pediculosis and three adult scabies cases required systemic therapy after standard regimens failed, raising concerns over putative resistance to permethrin and pyrethroids. In dirofilariasis, the persistence of filarial elements visualised by RCM justified the extension of antiparasitic therapy despite prior surgical removal. Conclusions: Our findings underline that accurate diagnosis, early intervention, and tailored treatment remain essential for the effective management of cutaneous infestations. The observed vast spectrum of isolated parasites reflects broader health and ecological dynamics, including zoonotic transmission, international mobility, and changing environmental conditions. At the same time, diagnostic delays, inappropriate treatments, and neglected parasitic diseases continue to pose significant risks. To address these challenges, clinicians should remain alert to atypical presentations, and consider a multidisciplinary approach including the consultation with parasitologists and veterinarians, as well as the incorporation of high-resolution imaging and alternative therapeutic strategies into their routine practice
MIND–BODY CONNECTION: BALANCE PERFORMANCE AND ATTENTIONAL FOCUS IN INDIVIDUALS WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES
No full textPurpose: Individuals with intellectual disabilities (IDs) are known to
have deficits in body balance, particularly when cognitive and
attentional demands for postural control are increased1. Notably, there
is a paucity of evidence regarding the effects of attentional focus in
this population2. Therefore, we investigated the impact of different
attentional focus strategies on static balance performance in individuals
with IDs while they stood quietly on both firm and mobile
surfaces.
Methods: Participants (n = 14 males; 28.4 ± 5.5 years,
26.3 ± 7.1 kg/m2) performed a 30-s static balance assessment with,
eyes closed in bipodal stance, under three conditions: no focus (NF,
based on common instructions), internal focus (IF, based on ankle and
foot perceptions), external focus (EF, based on metaphors such as
‘‘stay stiff as if you were a statue or a stone’’). The Microgate GYKO
inertial sensor system measured the center of pressure convex hull
area (mm2), length (mm), and mean velocity (mm/s).
Results: Compared to NF and IF, the EF strategy showed a better
balance on convex hull area (p = 0.017) when standing on the firm
surface, and a better stability on convex hull area (p = 0.030), length
(p = 0.024) and mean velocity (p = 0.022) when standing on the
mobile surface.
Conclusions: Our results highlight the beneficial effects of external
focus (EF) in individuals with IDs. These findings may assist practitioners
and coaches in selecting the most appropriate attentional
focus instructions during balance training, thereby potentially
enhancing the effectiveness of interventions targeting postural
control
Depolymerization of Polycotton-Blended Fabrics: Challenges and Opportunities
No full textThe rapid growth of the textile industry has led to a dramatic increase in fiber production and textile waste, with blended fabrics-particularly made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and cotton-dominating global markets. These blends combine the advantageous properties of synthetic and natural fibers but pose significant challenges for recycling due to their composite structure and the required, often harsh, treatments. Traditional mechanical recycling falls short in effectively separating these materials, often resulting in downcycling or material loss. In recent years, innovative chemical and enzymatic recycling strategies have emerged, offering selective depolymerization routes to recover high-purity monomers such as terephthalic acid and ethylene glycol from PET and glucose from cotton. These processes show promise for reintegration into polymer synthesis as well as valorization into bio-based product streams. This minireview critically evaluates current approaches to cotton/PET hydrolysis processes, highlighting recent advancements in pretreatment techniques and process integration