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Leveraging the twin transition: the impact of green and digital investment on firms’ performance
No full textThis paper investigates the impact of green, digital, and twin transition investments on firm performance in Italy during the 2014–2020 programming period. Drawing on project level data from the OpenCoesione platform on ERDF funded initiatives, we classify investments according to their thematic focus and apply a staggered Difference-in-Differences approach to estimate their effects on value added, employment, and labour productivity. Our results show that firms supported through twin transition projects, those combining green and digital components, achieve the most substantial and sustained gains in value added and productivity. These integrated interventions appear particularly effective in enhancing firm performance and capacity utilisation, with employment effects emerging gradually. Purely green and digital projects also yield positive outcomes, though with more moderate and variable effects. We further document significant heterogeneity across regions and sectors, with stronger impacts observed among firms located in Northern and Southern Italy and in knowledge intensive sectors. Our findings highlight the importance of strategic investment design: multi-dimensional projects consistently outperform single-focus initiatives. These results suggest that EU cohesion policy plays a pivotal role in supporting structural transformation, particularly when funding is targeted to integrated projects that align with broader environmental and digital policy goals
Early Diagnosis of Gaucher Disease and ASMD in Sardinia: the “ICHNOS” Project
No full textGaucher disease (GD) and Acid Sphingomyelinase Deficiency (ASMD) are autosomal recessive lysosomal storage disorders (LSDs) caused by biallelic pathogenic variants in GBA1 and SMPD1, respectively. The resulting enzymatic defects lead to progressive accumulation of undegraded sphingolipids within macrophages and parenchymal cells, producing chronic, multisystemic, and often irreversible organ damage
Acetic acid vapours adsorption-induced morphological change in FeBTC metal–organic frameworks
No full textWe report a post-synthetic vapour phase modulation strategy to tailor the morphology of semicrystalline FeBTC
metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) via acetic acid (AcOH) vapours adsorption. FeBTC, synthesized through a
green one-pot route, retained its structure upon exposure to AcOH vapours, as confirmed by WAXS. Adsorption
kinetics followed a double-exponential model, reaching 0.87 ± 0.09 mg⋅mg−
1 uptake at 237 h. μFTIR spectroscopy demonstrated a uniform distribution of AcOH on FeBTC surface, whereas thermogravimetric analysis (TGA)
provided insights into the thermal stability and AcOH desorption behaviour of FeBTC, supporting the evidence of
AcOH interaction with the MOF. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed rapid transformation from
irregular, blocky particles to hollow, cylinder-like architectures within 14 h upon interaction with AcOH vapours. This morphological change was confirmed by USAXS/SAXS data, which also showed a steep relative
increase in surface/volume (S/V) ratio at early exposure followed by a decrease at later stages compared to the
initial value. This facile vapour phase modulator approach unlocks new possibilities for post-synthetic control of
MOF morphology and available interaction surface, with implications for gas capture, catalysis, and separation
Novel 2-Aryl-1H-Benzimidazole Derivatives and Their Aza-Analogues as Promising Anti-Poxvirus Agents
No full textIntroduction: Despite the impressive progress carried out in the field of biomedical sciences
in recent decades, the incidence of emerging and neglected lethal viral infections mainly
belonging to the Coronaviridae, Filoviridae, Arenaviridae, Bunyaviridae, and Paramyxoviridae
families has considerably impaired human health. The worldwide vaccination campaign
at the end of the 1970s determined the eradication of smallpox. However, the growing
number of cases of diseases linked to orthopoxvirus diseases, such as the recent epidemic
of monkeypox zoonosis in various countries around the world, has increased the need for
knowledge of these viral pathogens. To date, there is no specific treatement for Monkeypox
virus (MPXV) infection. However, several antiviral drugs used to treat Smallpox and
other viral infections could also be beneficial for Monkeypox disease. In this study we
report the design and synthesis of new, variously substituted benzimidazole derivatives
and the evaluation of their cytotoxicity and antiviral activity against representatives of
the Orthopoxvirus genus, Vaccinia Virus (VV), closely related to variola virus and MPXV.
Methods: A combination of cell-based assays and experimental techniques was used
to investigate the cytotoxicity, antiviral activity, and mechanisms of action of the most
interesting compound. Results: In our study, new, variously substituted benzimidazoles
showed interesting EC50 values against vaccinia and MPXV and a cytotoxic profile in the
high micromolar range. Conclusions: Our work shows that the new tested benzimidazole
derivatives possess appealing activity and selectivity, accompanied by low cytotoxicity.
These results set a valid foundation with which to identify potent and selective anti-
Poxvirus agents
Lipidomics Changes Observed when Caco-2 Are co-cultured with the Enterohemorrhagic E. Coli Under Simulated Microgravity
No full textA Multi-Temporal Sentinel-2 and Machine Learning Approach for Precision Burned Area Mapping: The Sardinia Case Study
No full textThe escalating threat of wildfires under global climate change necessitates rigorous monitoring to mitigate environmental and socio-economic risks. Burned area (BA) mapping is crucial for understanding fire dynamics, assessing ecosystem impacts, and supporting sustainable land management under increasing fire frequency. This study aims to develop a high-resolution detection framework specifically calibrated for Mediterranean environmental conditions, ensuring the production of consistent and accurate annual BA maps. Using Sentinel-2 MSI time series over Sardinia (Italy), the research objectives were to: (i) integrate field surveys with high-resolution photointerpretation to build a robust, locally tuned training dataset; (ii) evaluate the discriminative power of multi-temporal spectral indices; and (iii) implement a Random Forest classifier capable of providing higher spatial precision than current operational products. Validation results show a Dice Coefficient (DC) of 91.8%, significantly outperforming the EFFIS Burnt Area product (DC = 79.9%). The approach proved particularly effective in detecting small and rapidly recovering fires, often underrepresented in existing datasets. While inaccuracies persist due to cloud cover and landscape heterogeneity, this study demonstrates the effectiveness of a machine learning approach for long-term monitoring, for generating multi-year wildfire inventories, offering a vital tool for data-driven forest policy, vegetation recovery assessment and land-use change analysis in fire-prone regions
Spectroscopic Technologies and Computational Approaches for Real-Time Detection of FMN as Biomarker during Machine Perfusion
No full textOrgan transplant waiting lists are progressively lengthening worldwide due to the shortage of suitable organs, resulting in a high mortality rate among patients. The traditional preservation method is static cold storage, but in recent years a new technique has emerged: machine perfusion. This approach consists of perfusing the organ with an oxygenated solution, either acellular or blood-based, with the aim of reactivating aerobic metabolism prior to transplantation and enabling the assessment of organ viability through the analysis of metabolites released into the perfusion fluid.
This doctoral thesis focuses on the use of technologies for the real-time detection of Flavin Mononucleotide (FMN), considered a biomarker of ischemia-reperfusion injury, during organ perfusion. The methodologies employed are based on spectrophotometric measurements, UV-visible absorption, and fluorescence, using both standard laboratory instruments, such as benchtop spectrophotometers, and an innovative stand-alone device, specifically developed by the company funding the doctoral research, capable of detecting fluorescence signals directly within the perfusion circuit.
A measurement protocol was proposed for the real-time monitoring of FMN and NADH concentrations using benchtop spectrophotometers, with potential clinical application. The stand-alone device was calibrated to detect FMN in the range of 12–237 ng/mL according to the developed protocol. Furthermore, dedicated software was implemented to identify the FMN spectrum and distinguish it from potential interferents, while a machine learning algorithm allows automatic, real-time quantification of FMN concentration during organ perfusion.
The prototype was validated in preclinical settings, both on animal and human organs, demonstrating excellent performance in biomarker detection. This thesis demonstrates the high potential of this technology for large-scale application in clinical settings
Interface-engineered 3D-printed PCEC/collagen composite scaffold for large bone defect repair under static and mechanical stimulation
No full textThe repair of large traumatic bone defects remains a huge challenge in orthopedic clinics due to the complicated environment of bone healing involving bone regeneration and vascularization in the defect region. This is even more pronounced with an aging population worldwide. To address this, a novel interface-engineered scaffold was developed by integrating a bone-mimetic collagen type I/nano-hydroxyapatite (CI-nHA) matrix with a 3D-printed poly(ε-caprolactone)-polyethylene glycol 20k-poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL-PEG20k-PCL, PCE20kC) triblock copolymer framework. The scaffold formed biofunctional interfaces with both enhanced mechanical support and promoted cell-material interaction. It exhibited interconnected multi-scale pores and a compressive modulus of
~37 MPa, comparable to cancellous bone. After culturing with preosteoblasts (MC3T3) under osteogenic conditions for 4 weeks, it showed promoted osteoblast proliferation, differentiation and matrix mineralization. The reinforced architecture further upregulated osteogenic transcription factors of RUNX2 and BMP-2. Moreover,
when cultured with endothelial cells, it promoted early angiogenic activity within 5 days, indicating interface-mediated vascularization. Furthermore, when subjected to mechanical stimulation in a bioreactor with simulated physiological mechanical condition, the reinforced scaffold supported osteoblast viability and enhanced early
mineralization evidenced by increasing gene expression of ALP and OCN after 1 week of intermittent mechanical stimulation. Overall, this interface-engineered scaffold integrates precise 3D architecture with collagen-functionalized surfaces to effectively support bone regeneration under both static and mechanical conditions,
highlighting its translational potential for large bone defect repair
The 'Russian Empire': Rosatom as a geopolitical tool [El imperio ruso: Rosatom como herramienta geopolítica]
No full textFinite element simulation of composite slabs with recycled concrete aggregates: collapse mechanisms and interface behaviour
No full textThe growing use of recycled aggregates in concrete represents a sustainable strategy to reduce the environmental impact of construction, but their influence on structural behaviour remains insufficiently understood. This study presents a numerical investigation of steel–concrete composite slabs incorporating recycled aggregate concrete (RAC), aimed at reproducing the experimental results obtained on twelve full-scale specimens with different aggregate replacement ratios (0–100%) and span lengths (2.4–3.2 m). Advanced non-linear finite element models were developed in ABAQUS to simulate the load–deflection response and interface debonding between the concrete and steel sheeting. A cohesive interaction law was implemented to capture progressive bond degradation and shear transfer. The comparison between numerical and experimental data demonstrates that the models accurately predict the load-bearing capacity and stiffness trends, while highlighting the beneficial effect of recycled aggregates on interface adhesion due to their increased surface roughness. The study confirms the potential of cohesive modelling as a reliable and cost-effective tool for analysing and designing composite slabs made with recycled concrete