University of Modena and Reggio Emilia
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Comprendere testi con la lettura attiva
No full textPer favorire il processo di comprensione del testo è utile rendere il lettore attivo: indicazioni e criter
Le Partecipanze agrarie emiliane: il caso particolare di Nonantola. Un contributo storico-giuridico
No full textThe «partecipanze» are an agricultural institution that originated in the Middle Ages, with specific characteristics that distinguish them from civic uses. The affirmation of full and undivided property in nineteenth-century codes gave rise to a strong doctrinal and political orientation advocating the liquidation of all forms of collective domains, considered remnants of a feudal past. Few jurists and politicians spoke out in their defence. Law 397/1894 provided the basis for a sort of public law dimension of collective domains, while Law 1766/1927 further contributed to the process of generalised liquidation. Only recently Law 168/2017 recognised collective domains as “primary legal order of the original communities”, which, as such, are inalienable, indivisible and non-usucapable, without, however, completely dispelling doubts about their legal configuration
Relation between epidural analgesia and perinatal outcomes on Robson class 2a
No full textBACKGROUND : The use of epidural analgesia represents the gold standard for pain management during labor, however, the influence of the use of epidural analgesia on delivery mode and neonatal outcomes is not fully understood. Moreover, the rate of induction of labor worldwide is increasing dramatically. OBJECTIVE : This study aimed to analyze the impact of epidural analgesia on the mode of parturition and perinatal outcomes among individuals classified as Robson class 2a. STUDY DESIGN A retrospective cohort study was conducted on every Robson class 2a individual who delivered from January 1, 2022, to December 31, 2023, at the University Hospital of Modena in the north of Italy. The primary outcome was the delivery mode (cesarean delivery, vaginal delivery, and operative vaginal delivery rates), and the secondary outcomes were the effect of epidural analgesia on the duration of labor, duration of the second stage of labor, Apgar score, and neonatal intensive care unit admission. RESULTS Overall, 809 individuals were included in the final analysis, and 456 of them (56.4%) received epidural analgesia on request. Among individuals with and those without epidural analgesia, the cesarean delivery rate was 25% and 20.4% (P =.12), the vaginal delivery rate was 65.6% and 69.4% (P =.25), and the operative vaginal delivery rate was 9.4% and 10.2% (P =.72), respectively, without statistically significant differences. Furthermore, no significant difference was found in the neonatal outcomes between the 2 groups. Individuals with epidural analgesia had longer induction (P '.001) and second stage (P =.004) times than those without. These findings were confirmed by multivariable logistic and multinomial regression analyses. In the multivariable logistic regression, the increased induction time was associated not only with epidural analgesia (P '.001) but also with body mass index at delivery (P =.027), the gestational age at induction (P '.001), post-term pregnancy (P '.001), and induction indications of gestational diabetes or an estimated fetal weight '95th percentile (P '.001). Similarly, the increased duration of the second stage was associated not only with epidural analgesia (P =.026) but also with neonatal weight (P =.005) and induction indication for gestational diabetes or estimated fetal weight '95th percentile (P =.034). CONCLUSION Epidural analgesia was among the factors that increased both the induction and second stage of delivery times. However, epidural analgesia did not impact the mode of delivery and perinatal outcomes in Robson class 2a individuals
Impact-governed dynamics of an axially-incompressible bistable continuous metastructure
No full textWe study the dynamics of a bistable Single Degree of Freedom mechanism that bifurcates from the trivial straight configuration when subjected to a critical traction force and it is otherwise incompressible. We show that the appearance of “impacts”, in correspondence with the minimum axial extension of the system, merely reflects the adoption of the axial extension as the dependent variable, as opposed to the angular rotation. Within this description, the structure realizes a perfectly elastic obstacle. Next, we construct the continuous limit for a dense chain of such mechanisms and axial strain naturally emerges as the continuous dependent field. Consequently, an unilateral constraint becomes associated with the system. Most importantly, the corresponding Lagrangian problem needs to be supplemented by energy conservation across the impacts to faithfully represent the underlying microstructure. In doing so, we generalize the established procedure to construct the continuous limit of a dense chain of discrete systems to the presence of unilateral constraints. Remarkably, energy conservation allows to apply Hamilton’s principle in the form of a variational equality , in contrast to the inequality format usually encountered when dealing with non-smooth problems. This important result, which greatly simplifies the mathematics, is available provided that variations are extended to accommodate for discontinuities in the variables. Besides, the system dynamics may be now constructed semi-analytically by joining pairs of d’Alembert’s solutions through the conditions obtained from the extended variational principle at the impact time and location (which are obviously unknown). As a result, waves propagating in the system are obtained and they are checked against global energy conservation
Large Language Models: applicazioni e criticità nel dibattito pubblico-informativo. Spunti di riflessione informatico-giuridici.
No full textLa sfida posta dalla disinformazione digitale non è rinviabile: essa interpella il presente delle istituzioni democratiche e richiede uno sforzo di riflessione che coniughi analisi critica, responsabilità normativa e innovazione tecnologica. Partendo da tale premessa, il Volume offre una mappa teorica e applicativa delle tensioni che attraversano l’odierno cyberspazio, adottando una prospettiva multidisciplinare e una duplice direttrice analitica: da un lato, la riflessione sulle condizioni di compatibilità tra il contrasto alla disinformazione e la tutela dei diritti fondamentali nel quadro del costituzionalismo liberal-democratico; dall’altro, l’esigenza di tradurre tale bilanciamento in architetture tecnologiche e sistemi operativi coerenti con un paradigma human-centric
Microplastiche nel Mar Mediterraneo: presenza ed effetti su invertebrati pelagici e bentonici meno indagati
No full textLe microplastiche (MP, <1 mm) rappresentano un’emergenza ambientale globale e suscitano crescente preoccupazione per gli effetti sulla biodiversità marina. Nel Mediterraneo, tra i principali bacini di accumulo a livello mondiale, le MP sono state rinvenute dalla superficie fino ai sedimenti profondi, impattando gli invertebrati marini attraverso diverse vie di esposizione. Nonostante numerosi studi abbiano indagato l’ingestione e gli effetti delle MP in diversi livelli trofici, le conoscenze su molte specie ecologicamente rilevanti restano limitate.
In questa tesi di dottorato sono stati approfonditi distribuzione ed effetti della contaminazione da MP in invertebrati pelagici e bentonici ad oggi poco studiati. Sono state analizzate specie chiave del Mediterraneo, comuni in colonna d’acqua e sui fondali marini, selezionate in base alla loro importanza ecologica, posizione trofica e suscettibilità all’ingestione di MP: le meduse Rhizostoma pulmo e Pelagia noctiluca, lo ctenoforo Mnemiopsis leidyi e il polichete Hermodice carunculata.
Per quantificazione di MP in organismi marini, è stato messo a punto un protocollo “green”, rapido e sostenibile, per l’isolamento delle MP da esemplari interi. Il metodo ha mostrato un’elevata efficienza nella rimozione della materia organica, garantendo un recupero ottimale delle MP senza alterarne la struttura. L’efficacia è stata confermata su organismi con caratteristiche diverse, da specie con un elevato contenuto d’acqua (meduse) a organismi complessi, ricchi in lipidi e chitina (policheti).
In entrambi i gruppi è stata riscontrata un’elevata presenza di MP, principalmente microfibre, in accordo con le loro nicchie ecologiche e strategie alimentari. Questi dati confermano la vulnerabilità di tali specie all’ingestione di MP e suggeriscono che, in virtù della loro posizione trofica, possano contribuire al trasferimento delle MP lungo le reti alimentari marine. Inoltre, i risultati rafforzano il potenziale di questi organismi come bioindicatori della contaminazione da MP in ambienti costieri e bentonici.
Sono stati condotti esperimenti per analizzare l’ingestione di MP e le risposte biologiche in condizioni controllate. Per lo zooplancton gelatinoso è stata valutata la sensibilità della scifomedusa P. noctiluca (stadio di efira) tramite test di ecotossicità, analizzando effetti letali e sub-letali in risposta a surfattanti di riferimento. Esposizioni a breve termine a concentrazioni crescenti (0.1–1–10 mg/L) di microsfere di polistirene (10 μm) e frammenti di polietilene ad alta densità (25.4 ± 1.4 μm) hanno permesso di valutare l’internalizzazione di MP e gli effetti sullo stato fisiologico degli organismi. L’internalizzazione è stata confermata alle concentrazioni più elevate, insieme ad alterazioni del nuoto. Questi risultati offrono nuove evidenze sui rischi delle MP per gli stadi giovanili delle meduse, contribuendo alla comprensione delle implicazioni ecologiche nelle comunità pelagiche.
Esperimenti pilota su H. carunculata hanno chiarito i tassi di ingestione ed escrezione di MP, utilizzando microsfere di polistirene fluorescenti. È stata inoltre dimostrata l’ingestione indiretta di MP attraverso prede contaminate da parte di questo predatore bentonico. Sebbene la ritenzione sia risultata limitata, le MP espulse erano rivestite da materiale fecale e biofilm, indicando potenziali vie di trasferimento delle MP all’interno delle comunità bentoniche.
Nel complesso, i risultati ampliano la conoscenza sulla contaminazione da MP in meduse e policheti, confermando fenomeni di ingestione, trasferimento trofico e alterazioni comportamentali, e sottolineano la necessità di approcci di monitoraggio integrati negli ecosistemi costieri mediterranei.Microplastics (MP, <1 mm) have emerged as a global environmental issue, raising concern due to their potential threat to biodiversity. In the Mediterranean Sea, MP have been detected from surface water to deep sediments, affecting marine invertebrates through multiple pathways. Despite several studies have dealt with MP uptake and impacts in different trophic levels, knowledge on a range of ecologically relevant marine organisms remains limited.
Whitin this PhD thesis, critical insights on the occurrence and adverse effects of MP contamination in overlooked pelagic and benthic invertebrates are provided. Mediterranean key species from the water column and seafloor were selected based on their ecological relevance, habitat representativeness, trophic position and potential susceptibility to MP ingestion, including jellyfish (Rhizostoma pulmo and Pelagia noctiluca), ctenophores (Mnemiopsis leidyi) and polychaetes (Hermodice carunculata).
To advance the assessment of MP abundance in marine biota, a green and time-cost effective protocol for isolating MP from whole specimens of marine invertebrates was developed. The protocol demonstrated high efficiency in removing organic matter, ensuring high MP recoveries without compromising polymer integrity. Its reliability was confirmed through successful application to organisms with different body composition, from water-based (jellyfish) to more complex organisms, rich in lipids and chitinous structures (polychaetes), enabling a comprehensive evaluation of MP content in wild specimens. Results show high levels of MP, mainly represented by microfibres, in both gelatinous zooplankton and benthic polychaetes, with contamination patterns reflecting their ecological niches and feeding strategies. These findings highlight the vulnerability of those species to MP ingestion and suggest that, due to their trophic position, they may facilitate the transfer of MP through marine food webs. Furthermore, such evidence enhances our current understanding of their value as bioindicators for assessing MP contamination in coastal and seafloor habitats.
Laboratory experiments were conducted to explore internalization and/or biological responses to MP under controlled conditions. For gelatinous zooplankton, the suitability of the scyphomedusa P. noctiluca (ephyra stage) for ecotoxicity tests was first explored by evaluating lethal and sub-lethal effects in response to surfactants as reference toxicants. Then, short-term exposure to increasing concentrations (0.1–1–10 mg/L) of both standard polystyrene microbeads (10 μm) and high-density polyethylene irregular fragments (25.4 ± 1.4 μm) derived from environmental samples was carried out to investigate MP uptake and effects on organism fitness. MP internalization was confirmed at the highest concentration tested as well as swimming alterations. These results shed new light on the potential risks of MP to jellyfish early life stages, contributing to a better understanding of the ecological implications in pelagic communities.
Pilot bench-scale experiments with H. carunculata were additionally setup to elucidate MP ingestion and egestion rates, using fluorescently labelled polystyrene microbeads as proxy. The contribution of indirect MP ingestion through contaminated prey by this voracious benthic predator was demonstrated. Although MP retention was minimal, they were covered by faecal material and biofilm, providing new evidence on potential fluxes of MP through benthic communities.
Overall, the data advance our understanding of MP contamination in both jellies and polychaetes by confirming ingestion, trophic transfer, behavioural alterations and retention dynamics, supporting the need for integrated monitoring approaches in Mediterranean coastal environments
Real-world use of cefiderocol as monotherapy or combination therapy for the treatment of Gram-negative bacterial infections: the multicentre retrospective CEFI-BAC study
No full textObjectives This study aimed to characterise the real-world use of cefiderocol in treating Gram-negative bacterial infections (GNBIs) across Italian hospitals. Methods We conducted a multicentre retrospective study enrolling patients with GNBI treated with cefiderocol from January 2021 to February 2023. Statistical analyses included Kaplan–Meier survival estimates and multivariable Cox regression. A propensity score analysis with inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) was also performed to compare the treatment effect of combination therapy versus monotherapy adjusting for imbalances between treatment groups. Results A total of 239 patients were included. Bloodstream infections were the most common (49.8%), followed by ventilator-associated and hospital-acquired pneumonia. Acinetobacter baumannii was the most common isolate (64.8%), followed by Klebsiella spp. (23%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (17.6%), and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (8.8%). Overall 30-day survival was 71% (95% CI: 65-76), with no significant differences between monotherapy and combination therapy. Independent predictors of higher 30-day mortality were: having received 2 or 3 previous lines of antibiotic therapy (aHR: 4.26, 95% CI: 1.00-18.20; aHR: 7.33, 95% CI: 1.53-35.05), SARS-CoV-2 coinfection (aHR: 4.19, 95% CI: 2.04-8.59), and isolation of NDM-producing Klebsiella spp. (aHR: 6.22, 95% CI: 2.09-18.50). Conclusions Real-world experience supports the role of cefiderocol as a valuable option for GNBIs, with no clinical advantage of combination therapy over monotherapy. Notably, NDM-producing infections and use of cefiderocol as salvage therapy are associated with poor outcomes, highlighting the need for optimised treatment strategies
