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The impact of serpinB3-PD polymorphism on the prognosis of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma
No full textBackground: HCC ranks as the third leading cause of cancer-related death, yet current surveillance strategies miss over one-third of cases at an early stage. SerpinB3-PD (SB3-PD), a polymorphic isoform of a serine-protease inhibitor involved in tumorigenesis and fibrogenesis, has been related to a more rapid cirrhosis decompensation. This study investigates the prognostic role of SB3-PD in patients with HCC. Methods: SB3-PD polymorphism was assessed in 140 patients with HCC, followed up in our outpatient Clinic. Cell invasion analysis was conducted on HepG2 cells either overexpressing the SB3 wild-type (HepG2/SB3WT) or the PD isoform (HepG2/SB3PD). The effect of recombinant SB3-WT or SB3-PD on the production of molecules that impair immunosurveillance was also assessed in the THP-1 monocytic cell line. Results: Patients carrying SB3-PD polymorphism showed worse tumour characteristics, associated with significantly lower survival and SB3-PD was an independent predictor of mortality. HepG2/SB3PD cells had a significantly higher invasion capacity than the HepG2/SB3WT. In THP-1 cells recombinant SB3-PD induced higher levels of PDL1 and IL-13 than SB3-WT. Conclusion: SB3-PD isoform is associated with worse clinical prognosis in patients with HCC. These findings were supported in vitro by increased cellular invasion and higher production of molecules impairing immunosurveillance
Understanding Psychological Determinants of Technology Adoption for Future Mobility-as-a-Service Applications
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Le ideologie del classicismo tra le due guerre in Italia, Francia e Gran Bretagna
No full textThis research aims to analyze the relationship between historiography and politics in Europe between the two World Wars. In particular, it focuses on how ancient history was studied and taught in Italy, France and the United Kingdom. Although they had very different political evolution, these national contexts did not remain isolated, and from 1925 to 1945 they witnessed significant and reciprocal mobility, of ideas, books and people. Precisely to emphasize this latter aspect, this research adopted a transnational approach and applied it to the three case studies.
The first part of the research reconstructs how Julius Caesar was interpreted in Europe during that period. Mussolini presented himself as Caesar's heir. In this context, many classical scholars, in Italy and abroad, supported this comparison, implying – sometime not even implicitly – that having a strong man in charge was the only way out of the crisis of liberal democracies. This interpretation was not unanimous, though, and the thesis aims at illustrating the complex framing of this discussion.
Also the celebrations organized by the fascist regime for the Augustan Bimillenary in 1937-1938 had an explicit propagandistic aim. The second part of the thesis examines both the contribution of foreign scholars to these celebrations, and how these celebrations were received outside Italy. The relationship between the Augustan bimillenary celebrations, fascist racist policies, and the resulting forced mobility of Jewish scholars is also explored.
Finally, the third part analyses the debate on the concepts of peace and freedom in the Ancient world. In 1939, the publication of Ronald Syme's The Roman Revolution gave new impetus to this debate. An exile from fascist Italy, Arnaldo Momigliano, immediately grasped the political significance of this work: he highlighted the risks implied in Syme’s conclusions, and shifted the focus of his research from peace to freedom.
This research explores these themes through an itinerary which delves into the history of classical scholarship, the history of publishing, and contemporary history. In this way it is possible to study the interaction of historiography and politics in different historical moments, contexts, and through different media. The result is a rich, – as well as complex - picture of Europe between the two World Wars, a continent marked by nationalisms but at the same time deeply interconnected
An averaged strain energy density based approach to predict the static notch effect in short fibre composites. Part 1: Theoretical formulation
No full textIn this work the Averaged Strain Energy Density (ASED) criterion is reformulated for notched bodies made of orthotropic materials and proposed as an effective approach to predict the static notch effect in short fibre composites. The first part of this study focuses on the theoretical formulation, with the aim to provide a new set of analytical solutions for the ASED evaluated over a well-defined control volume close to U- and blunt V-shaped notches in orthotropic plates under Mode I loading conditions. The analytical solutions presented are derived taking advantage of some recent expressions for the stress distribution near blunt notches in orthotropic solids, as developed by the authors. Key parameters considered include the notch tip radius, notch opening angle and the elastic properties of the orthotropic material. As also discussed in the second part of this contribution, the ASED approach offers insights into the notch sensitivity of short fibre composites, providing a foundation for further investigation into the mechanical behaviour of this class of materials
Tra le carte di Enrico Falqui, un'antologia mancata
No full textIl saggio presenta i materiali preparatori di un'antologia di epigrammi italiani dal Quattrocento al Novecento, che il critico Enrico Falqui aveva iniziato a compilare ma che poi non vedrà la luce. Se ne indagano ragioni, struttura, esemplificazione
Flowering in fruit trees: a comparative transcriptomic study in peach (Prunus persica L. Batsch) and grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.)
No full textThe PhD thesis explores the molecular and hormonal mechanisms driving the flowering process in two significant fruit species, peach and grapevine. Through comparative transcriptomic analyses, the study investigates the role of key phytohormones, particularly gibberellins, in floral induction and transition. The research highlights the genetic regulation of flowering, focusing on specific genes that modulate the reproductive shift from vegetative growth. Insights are provided into how environmental factors, such as temperature and water stress, interact with internal cues to influence bud development and fertility. The findings have practical implications for crop management, particularly in the context of improving fruit quality and yield through targeted thinning and hormonal treatments, which are essential for optimizing commercial fruit production. This thesis offers a comprehensive understanding of the genetic and physiological basis of flowering, contributing to advancements in horticultural practices
Impact of heat stress on growth performance and carcass traits of fast- medium- and slow-growing broiler chicken genotypes
Get PDFThe present study aimed to evaluate the effects of genotype, environmental temperature, and pen enrichment on
growth performance and carcass traits in three broiler chicken genotypes. A total of 720 day-old male chickens
belonging to three genetic lines differing from growth rate (fast-growing – FG; medium-growing – MG; and slow-
growing – SG) were reared in 36 pens (3 m2 per pen; 20 birds per pen) across two separate rooms (18 pens per
room) under either controlled environmental temperatures (22.8 ± 2.8◦C) or heat stress (HS) conditions (27.2 ±
2.8◦C) until slaughter (40 d for FG; 55 d for MG; and 76 d for SG). In half of the pens (18 in total; 9 per room), a
perch was provided as environmental enrichment. FG broilers exhibited the highest daily weight gain, feed
intake, and the most efficient feed conversion ratio, whereas MG and SG chickens showed intermediate and
lowest performance levels, respectively (P < 0.001). MG chickens showed the highest slaughter yield but an
intermediate breast yield, which was surpassed by that of FG broilers (P < 0.001). In the pectoralis major muscle,
FG chickens displayed the highest values for ultimate pH, lightness, and yellowness, whereas SG birds showed
the highest redness index (P < 0.001). HS conditions significantly reduced growth performance (P < 0.001) and
slaughter yield (0.05 < P < 0.001) across all three genotypes, while increasing the incidence of wooden breast in
FG chickens (P < 0.05), compared to those reared under controlled conditions. However, the three genotypes
exhibited differential responses to HS, particularly in terms of growth performance. Indeed, the negative effects
of HS were more pronounced in FG and MG chickens, whereas SG chickens demonstrated greater resilience to the
same environmental challenge (0.05 < P < 0.001; significant Genotype × Temperature interaction). Providing a
perch as environmental enrichment had no significant effect on broiler growth performance but significantly
reduced the incidence of white striping in the breast fillets of FG chickens (P < 0.05). In conclusion, SG broilers
showed the lowest growth performance and slaughter yield but exhibited greater resilience to chronic HS
compared to FG and MG genotypes
Climate Change Impact on Built Environment: Definition of Surrogate Vulnerability Models
No full textManagement of Anticoagulant Therapy in Athletes and Sportspeople: Italian Federation of Centers for Diagnosis and Surveillance of the Antithrombotic Therapies (FCSA) Position Paper
No full textThis position paper offers expert guidance on managing anticoagulant therapy in athletes and sportspeople, addressing the unique challenges posed by the dual need for effective thromboprophylaxis and maintenance of athletic performance. Recognizing that conditions such as atrial fibrillation and venous thromboembolism occur with higher prevalence in athletes due to factors like intense physical training, dehydration, trauma, and long-haul travel, the paper reviews current literature and expert opinions from the Italian Federation of Centers for Diagnosis and Surveillance of the Antithrombotic Therapies. The manuscript highlights that although direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) are generally preferred for their favorable efficacy and safety profile compared with traditional vitamin K antagonists (VKAs), their use in sports demands careful risk stratification. To balance effective anticoagulation with the risk of bleeding, individualized treatment strategies—including intermittent dosing regimens with DOACs—are suggested. These strategies aim to minimize bleeding risk during periods of high physical demand while preserving therapeutic effectiveness. In athletes requiring VKA therapy, sport participation—especially contact or high-impact activities—should be strongly discouraged due to the inability to manage bleeding and thrombotic risks safely. Moreover, the paper emphasizes the importance of periodic reassessment of thromboembolic and hemorrhagic risks, multidisciplinary collaboration among cardiologists, hematologists, and sports medicine specialists, and shared decision-making with the athlete. By offering practical suggestions on treatment modifications, return-to-play protocols, and patient education, this position paper serves as a critical resource for clinicians striving to optimize anticoagulant therapy in athletic populations without compromising competitive performance