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Corpi che gridano in silenzio. Vulvodinia, cronicità e narrazioni oltre i confini della biomedicina.
No full textThis dissertation investigates vulvodynia in the Italian context, framing it as an emblematic case of a contested chronic illness. Vulvodynia is a form of chronic pelvic pain that disproportionately affects AFAB (Assigned Female at Birth) individuals and those socialized as women. It is characterized by the absence of observable organic markers and by fragmented or uncertain medical and institutional recognition. Despite an estimated prevalence of 10–16%, vulvodynia is not officially recognized by the Italian National Health Service as a chronic and disabling condition, nor is it included in the Essential Levels of Care.
Adopting a situated feminist perspective the dissertation critically examines the epistemological foundations of the Western biomedical paradigm, highlighting its structural limitations in addressing chronic pain conditions lacking objective biological evidence. The first part reconstructs the historical and epistemological genealogy of Western medicine, focusing on the role of gendered power relations and the persistence of biomedical reductionism. It then introduces alternative theoretical frameworks—namely the embodiment paradigm, ecosocial theory, and contributions from materialist and post-structuralist feminism—to reframe the relationship between body, gender, and illness.
The second part of the dissertation is based on a qualitative study conducted through in-depth discursive interviews with sixteen women living with vulvodynia. The analysis of illness narratives reveals how the lack of medical recognition produces forms of clinical, epistemic, and institutional exclusion, deeply affecting patients’ biographies, identities, and social relationships. At the same time, the narratives highlight practices of resistance, the production of experiential knowledge, and the emergence of counter-narratives through activism, peer support, and digital spaces. These processes challenge the epistemic hierarchies of biomedical knowledge and point toward the need to rethink care relationships and clinical practices in the management of chronic illness
Assessing upcycling of waste bioplastics for production of sustainable carbon black substitute
No full textCarbon black is a product with multiple applications, including use as an additive for tyres or plastics, as well as ink or toner. Current methods of carbon black production are based on incomplete combustion of fossil fuels, followed by quenching, resulting in a high carbon footprint and related emissions. Even though unintended, biodegradable bioplastics at the end of life still pose problems to waste management plants. Most notably, the time required for bioplastics to biodegrade is longer than the typical residence time in state-of-the-art processes, such as anaerobic digestion and composting. This causes incomplete degradation and reduces the efficiency of waste treatment facilities. This work provides an experimental evaluation of a novel method of production of carbon black, using bioplastic waste (namely, cellulose acetate) as a feedstock. The proposed system consists of hydrothermal carbonisation (HTC) and subsequent pyrolysis of separated solid products. The novel product exhibits morphology and structure similar to commercial carbon black and high thermal stability. BET surface area as high as 175 m2/g can be achieved by combining hydrothermal carbonisation performed at 250 °C followed by pyrolysis at 600 °C. Further increase in pyrolysis temperature provided no additional benefits and resulted in collapse of the pores within the mesoporous range, with detrimental influence on BET surface and pore volume
Analysis, Evaluation and Comparison of Religious Tourism with Ecotourism: Case Studies in Armenia and Tanzania
No full textThis contribution is the result of an experience of two recent trips—“the field study”—, to Armenia and Tanzania, carried out separately by the two authors with the aim of exploring particular aspects of sustainable tourism through the analysis, interpretation and comparison of religious tourism with ecotourism in both countries. The application of these two types of tourism in the form of sustainable tourism practices aims to enhance and protect the territories under consideration and contribute to their local and regional economic development. The methodology employed in the comparative analysis is based on the investigation of political strategies, official statistics, national and regional documentation adopted by Armenia and Tanzania in relation to the tourism practices adopted, and participant observation. Tourism practices in Armenia and Tanzania in recent times have shown a focus on sustainability, aimed at developing these countries and preserving their territories and cultural heritage, as well as increasing tourists' awareness of their positive impact on the territories they visit. Acting on religious tourism in synergy with ecotourism helps tourists reduce their ecological impact, contribute to the conservation of cultural landscapes, and broaden their spiritual experiences. Traveling responsibly, sustainably, and ecospiritually through sacred sites and natural landscapes, in line with political strategies aimed at the sustainability of a country visited, increases tourism awareness of the benefits they bring to the local community and the heritage they bring. The spread of ecospiritual practices practiced in sustainable tourist travel also leads to increased heritage sustainability
Multicriteria Optimization and Comparison of ACAES and PTES for Long Duration Energy Storage Market
No full text
The investigational anti-B7-H3 antibody-drug conjugate vobramitamab duocarmazine exerts anti-tumor activity in vitro and in vivo in pediatric sarcoma preclinical models
No full text: Prognosis for pediatric sarcoma (pSC)-affected patients, especially those with relapsed/refractory disease, is dismal. The available treatment options are unsatisfactory, challenging researchers to address this unmet need. The investigational B7-H3 targeted ADC vobramitamab duocarmazine (vobra duo) showed clinical effectiveness towards several B7-H3-positive adult tumors and pre-clinical efficacy in pediatric neuroblastoma models. Cytotoxicity of vobra duo was evaluated in 2D and 3D models toward pSC cell lines expressing B7-H3, showing a dose-dependent cell viability reduction. Proliferation was assessed by time-lapse single-cell segmentation. Compared to controls, vobra duo resulted in a significant increase in the cell doubling time. AKT/mTOR master effectors of cell proliferation were investigated by phospho-specific western blot assays. A down-modulation of phospho-AKT/ -P70 S6K and -4E-BP1 protein expression was detected in both A204 (rhabdomyosarcoma) and U-2-OS (osteosarcoma) cells, the most treatment-sensitive and resistant cell lines, respectively, suggesting their involvement in vobra duo-mediated anti-proliferative effect. In response to treatment, all cell lines underwent apoptotic cell death. A significant increase in the executioner cleaved caspase-3 was detected, and a partial but significant reversion of apoptotic cell death was noted following pre-treatment with the pan-caspase inhibitor, Q-VD-OP-h. Vobra duo also triggered caspase-independent apoptotic events: i) increased AIF nuclear translocation, ii) increased mitochondrial superoxide production, and iii) the depolarization of mitochondrial membrane potential. In vivo, the effectiveness of vobra duo was assayed by single and repeated intravenous administration in the mouse rhabdomyosarcoma model. The single injection of 3 mg/Kg of vobra duo induced a significant tumor growth delay. Repeated vobra duo doses ameliorated this outcome, reverting rhabdomyosarcorma to rhabdomyoma tumor, by increasing Desmin and Myogenin/Myf-4 differentiation markers expression, and reducing both Ki-67 and CD133. In conclusion, the in vitro and in vivo anti-tumor effects towards pSC highlight the need to extend the investigation to patient-derived preclinical models, to pave the way for clinical translation
Understanding municipalities and visitors tourism perspectives: An AI-driven analysis of Instagram posts in Italian and French villages.
No full textIn the digital tourism age, both cities and villages are being shaped by rapid societal and technological transformations
that redefine how they interact with visitors. While these transformations are fluid in cities, driven by
the necessity to integrate residents and visitors, they have also become central for villages that engage with
specific forms of tourism, particularly slow and rural tourism. It requires villages to change communication
methods using social media and digital tools to benefit from these new opportunities for interaction. Research on
the interaction between villages and tourists through social media tools is still in its early stages and requires
both (i) novel tools and (ii) insights to align visitors’ preferences and behaviours with villages’ communication
strategies. To advance this discourse, this research note contributes to the advancement of visual and digital
methodologies in tourism research by proposing a replicable framework based on artificial intelligence for visual
content analysis, focusing on 33 rural villages in France and Italy to explore the dual communicative perspectives
of visitors and municipalities. To do so, we developed and trained an artificial intelligence-based BOT named "AI
DetectKeywords" which leverages DALL⋅E Image Generation technology to systematically analyse and categorize
photographs. Our results reveal different nuances in the communication between the villages and the visitors,
highlighting different perceptions and interactions in a context that can embrace two similar but distinct tourism
paths (i.e., slow tourism and rural tourism). It also offers a useful guide for researchers, policymakers, and
tourism communication managers to refine their communication strategies
Atherogenic dyslipidaemia and residual cardiovascular risk: Understanding the link to heart disease
No full textBackground: A significant proportion of patients continue to experience cardiovascular (CV) events despite achieving recommended low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) targets, a phenomenon referred to as residual CV risk. Methods: Clinical evidence from large outcome trials highlights the impact of residual risk on cardiovascular disease (CVD) burden, underscoring the need for therapeutic strategies beyond LDL-C lowering. Residual CV risk arises from diverse mechanisms, including persistent atherogenic dyslipidaemia [elevated triglyceride-rich lipoproteins (TRL), high triglycerides (TG), low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels and increased apolipoprotein B (ApoB), Lipoprotein(a) (Lp[a]) and non-HDL-C], chronic inflammation, metabolic disorders and a prothrombotic state. These abnormalities continue to drive atherosclerotic progression in optimally treated patients, underscoring that managing residual CV risk requires a multifaceted approach. Results: Lifestyle and dietary interventions remain foundational, targeting weight reduction, smoking cessation or adoption of a Mediterranean diet. Pharmacological options include statins (as first-line therapy), or the use of ezetimibe, or bempedoic acid since they both have complementary effects to LDL-C lowering. Emerging therapies, including proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9), apolipoprotein C-III (ApoC3) and angiopoietin-like 3 (ANGPTL3) inhibitors, demonstrate potential efficacy in favourably modulating lipid profiles and targeting specific components of atherogenic dyslipidaemia (AD). Combination therapies tailored to individual lipid profiles show promise to reduce residual CV risk. Conclusion: The following review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the latest evidence on the factors driving residual CV risk and the therapeutic interventions available to treat atherogenic dyslipidaemia beyond LDL-C reduction