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Un parlamentare e i suoi libri. Il fondo di antico diritto siciliano “Antonio Marinuzzi” nella Biblioteca del Senato della Repubblica “Giovanni Spadolini”
No full textLa prima parte del documento fornisce una breve panoramica della vita e della carriera professionale di Antonio Marinuzzi (1851-1917), avvocato e parlamentare nato a Palermo, con l'ausilio di diverse fonti documentarie (principalmente l'Archivio
del Senato italiano e dell'Archivio Storico dell'Università di Palermo) nonché riferimenti bibliografici.
La seconda parte del documento, anch'essa basata su materiali d'archivio e ricerche bibliografiche mirate, delinea il contesto storico e analizza più da vicino le caratteristiche e il significato culturale della collezione di diritto antico siciliano che Marinuzzi in vita donò al Parlamento, ed è oggi conservata nella Biblioteca del Senato in Piazza della Minerva a Roma.The first part of the paper provides a brief overview of life and professional career of Antonio Marinuzzi (1851-1917), Palermo-born lawyer and member of parliament, with the aid of various documentary sources (primarily the Archives
of the Italian Senate and the Historical Archive of the University of Palermo) as well as bibliographic references.
The second part of the paper, also based on archival materials and targeted bibliographic research, outlines the historical context and takes a closer look at the features and cultural significance of the collection of ancient Sicilian law that Marinuzzi donated to Parliament during his lifetime, which is now housed in the Senate Library venue in Piazza della Minerva in Rome
Recommended actions for eco-design of solar energy technologies based on life cycle approach
No full textInnovative solar energy technologies bring the benefit on the global decarbonization; nevertheless, they require certain raw materials and cause several environmental impacts. These impacts can be minimized through the application of eco-design measures. The paper applies life cycle assessment and life cycle costing on innovative solar photovoltaics cells and concentrating solar power technologies, from which eco-design measures are identified to improve the technologies technically, environmentally, and economically. For solar photovoltaics, materials for electrode and absorber layer are the most influencing factors to the eco-profile of the cells; therefore, the selection of materials, and the optimization of the fabrication process for depositing these layers would further reduce the cells’ life cycle environmental impacts. By selecting different combinations of materials, the global warming potential of lab-scaled perovskite solar cells may be as low as 0.12–0.15 kg CO2 eq per kWh, and mineral and metal resource use could be reduced to the value between 1.54E-05 and 1.61E-05 kg Sb eq. For concentrating solar power, the eco-design should focus on minimizing the use of the natural gas in co-generation components, and improving the eco-profiles of collector, heat transfer fluids and power generation unit among solar-to-power components. Other life cycle stages such as transportation, consumption and end-of-life, though contribute small shares of the total impact, need to be taken into account for the best and combined effect of the eco-design measures. These measures reduce not only the environmental impacts but also the electricity cost, to bring the innovative solar energy technologies closer to the market readiness level
The Rise of Total-Body PET/CT: Advancing Molecular Imaging Toward Early Cancer Detection and Potential Future Application in Prevention Healthcare
No full textEXPLORING POLYCAPROLACTONE, HALLOYSITE NANOTUBES, DIATOMACEOUS EARTH, AND THEIR COMPOSITES FOR ACETIC ACID MITIGATION IN MUSEUM ENCLOSURES
No full textThe long-term preservation of scientific and technological heritage is increasingly threatened by volatile organic compounds (VOCs), particularly low-molecular-weight carboxylic acids such as acetic and formic acids, which accumulate in poorly ventilated museum enclosures and trigger irreversible chemical degradation. Mitigating these pollutants is therefore essential for ensuring the long-term stability of sensitive collections. Nevertheless, the development of reliable, sustainable, and chemically safe adsorbents suitable for deployment in museum environments is still an open challenge, together with the absence of reproducible assessment protocols tailored to museum contexts.This research work addresses these critical gaps by investigating Halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) and Diatomaceous earth (Diat) as green sorbents for reducing gaseous pollutants in museum enclosures, with particular focus on acetic acid. Because of its powdery nature, blends of the biodegradable polymer Polycaprolactone (PCL) were prepared to ensure safety for use in museum contexts. Although these naturally occurring materials have attracted growing interest as sustainable sorbents due to their high surface area, chemical stability, and versatile adsorption properties, their capacity to capture gas-phase carboxylic acids remains largely unexplored.A comprehensive physico-chemical characterisation demonstrated that blending PCL with Diat or HNT is an effective strategy for obtaining biocompatible composites with enhanced viscoelastic, structural, and thermal properties compared with the pure polymer. Their adsorption performance and chemical safety in museum environments were then assessed through a structured evaluation procedure developed during the research period at the Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology (FKKT) of the University of Ljubljana (Slovenia). Within this framework, a systematic quantification of acetic acid uptake and formic/acetic acid release from raw materials and composites, together with assessments of pollutant retention and potential impacts on common heritage materials under museum-relevant conditions, was conducted for the first time.The most effective materials were finally validated through an in situ deployment in an 18th-century historical display case at the Museo della Specola (Palermo). This transition from laboratory settings to a real museum environment represents one of the first practical tests in Italy of newly developed adsorbent materials for mitigating acetic acid in historical enclosures within a scientific collection of astronomical interest. The research further extended to case studies within the Physics and Chemistry collections of the University of Palermo, where visible deterioration in lead-containing components of historical scientific instruments was consistent with corrosion induced by volatile organic acids accumulated in historical wooden enclosures. These investigations provided additional evidence of the broader relevance of VOC-driven degradation in scientific heritage contexts, particularly where original exhibition enclosures remain in use and cannot be replaced.Overall, the results provided an assessment of HNTs, Diat, and their PCL-based hybrids as gas-phase sorbents for carboxylic acids under heritage-relevant conditions and contributed to the standardisation of protocols for the development and comparative assessment of new sustainable sorbents in preventive conservation
Adopting a Dynamic Business Modeling Perspective to pursue Sustainability in Seaport Performance Management: The Western Sicily Seaport Authority case study
No full textBackground: Ports play a crucial role in global trade, serving as essential hubs for the exchange of goods and services and significantly contributing to both national and local development by generating employment and fostering economic growth. However, beyond their economic relevance, port activities also pose significant environmental and social challenges, including noise pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, and waste accumulation. In recent years, awareness of these impacts and the need to mitigate them has led to the emergence of the concept of Port Sustainability, based on three dimensions: economic, social, and environmental. This concept has become a focal point in both international and national policies, as well as in academic debates. Achieving sustainability in seaports requires more than adopting isolated green initiatives; it necessitates a structural transformation that integrates sustainability into the core of strategic decision–making. Seaport performance management requires holistic, dynamic, and strategic frameworks that incorporate the three dimensions of sustainability into the seaport business model. Purpose: Given this background, this study addresses the need to develop and adopt strategic frameworks that effectively integrate sustainability into seaport strategy design and performance management. Methodology: This study proposes the adoption of a dynamic perspective to manage, develop, and guide port activities toward long-term sustainability goals by implementing the Dynamic Business Model for Sustainability (DBMfS). This business model integrates economic, social, and environmental dimensions into the management framework of these complex organizations, fostering value creation and promoting more responsible and sustainable operational practices. The DBMfS supports economic and social development while respecting the environment and the well-being of local communities. To illustrate the application of this framework, the research adopts a case study approach, focusing on the Western Sicily Seaport Authority. Originality: This study aims to enrich the scientific debate on seaport performance management by providing both theoretical and practical contributions. From a theoretical perspective, it provides an integrated framework for embedding the three dimensions of sustainability into strategic performance management, addressing the need for strategic frameworks in the port sector. From a practical perspective, the DBMfS serves as a tool that seaport authorities can adopt to plan, implement, monitor, and manage their sustainable development path. By integrating environmental, social, and economic dimensions into seaport performance management, the DBMfS not only supports the achievement of sustainability goals but also enhances ports' long-term competitiveness in global trade. Furthermore, by adopting a dynamic and systemic perspective, which enables the identification of relationships between inputs, processes, outputs, and outcomes, it is possible to develop a set of key performance indicators (KPIs) that can be measured and monitored to assess the effectiveness of implemented strategies and achieve long-term sustainability goals. Finally, by applying the DBMfS to the selected case study, this research provides a replicable framework that can be adopted by other seaport authorities, serving as a strategic model for sustainable seaport management
Valorization of avocado (cv. Hass) waste powder in industrial-scale sourdough “ciabatta” bread production: Impact on microbial dynamics, quality attributes, and phenolic bioaccessibility
No full textThis study investigates the incorporation of avocado waste powder (AWP), derived from peel, seeds, and discarded Hass avocados, into traditional Sicilian ciabatta bread to enhance its functional properties and promote sustainable food innovation. AWP was added at 5% and 10% levels (AWP5, AWP10), and sourdough fermentation was conducted using Fructilactobacillus sanfranciscensis, Weissella cibaria, and Leuconostoc citreum. Despite the initial microbial diversity in raw ingredients, fermentation effectively selected beneficial lactic acid bacteria, with AWP addition potentially supporting their growth. Technological parameters such as weight loss, volume, and firmness remained unaffected, while AWP significantly influenced crumb structure and color. Sensory analysis revealed a different color intensity, aroma, and taste persistency in AWP added breads, though higher AWP levels introduced off-notes. Volatile organic compound profiling showed increased terpenes and sesquiterpenes in AWP breads, enhancing aromatic complexity.
Phenolic compound content was determined before and after in vitro digestion (INFOGEST protocol) in fortified breads. A significant increase in phenolic content with the incorporation of AWP compared to CTR bread was observed, with further enhancement after in vitro digestion. Higher bioaccessible polyphenols, particularly in AWP10 were catechin, gallic acid, and ellagic acid. These findings highlight ciabatta bread as a promising vehicle for functional ingredients, supporting circular economy principles and the valorization of agro-industrial by-products, while maintaining or improving key quality traits
Computational Strategies Reshaping Modern Drug Discovery
No full textConventional drug development remains a protracted [...]
Identification of CD320, SLC44A1 and TNFRSF13B as potential novel therapeutic targets for CAR T-cell therapy in multiple myeloma
No full textIntroduction: Multiple myeloma (MM) remains incurable despite effective
therapies, with most patients eventually relapsing. Chimeric antigen receptor
(CAR) T-cell therapy has improved treatment options but is limited by antigen
escape and lack of durable responses. To expand the spectrum of actionable
antigens, we sought to identify novel CAR-T actionable targets.
Methods: We analyzed 11 publicly available single-cell RNA sequencing datasets
from patients with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance
(MGUS), smoldering MM (SMM), MM, relapsed/refractory MM (RRMM) and
healthy donors. Plasma cell–specific surface proteins were identified via
bioinformatic filtering and validated on external bulk transcriptomic database
of ~2,000 patients and by flow cytometry on MM cell lines and primary bone
marrow samples.
Results: We identified 15 plasma cell–associated surface proteins, including
BCMA, CD138, CD38, and SLAMF7. Five molecules—TNFRSF13B (TACI), CD59,
FCGR2B (CD32B), SLC44A1 (CD92), and CD320—were prioritized for further
study. CD320 and SLC44A1 were upregulated with disease stage and associated
with poor survival, while TNFRSF13B, CD59, and FCGR2B were enriched in
advanced disease and linked to better outcomes. Cytogenetic clustering linked
these molecules to specific genetic backgrounds, suggesting subtyperelated
expression patterns. Flow cytometry confirmed the surface expression of CD59,
SLC44A1, TNFRSF13B and CD320.
Discussion: CD320, SLC44A1, and TNFRSF13B are promising, clinically
relevant targets for CAR T-cell therapy in MM. Their stage-specific expression
and prognostic significance support their potential to enhance existing
immunotherapeutic strategies
Introduction
No full textIn the present volume we have collected a few papers which discuss the use and appli-
cation of fuzzy notions in what can be said a “conceptual” way. That is, concerning
the primitive, innovative idea put forward at the beginning of the fuzzy explosion
The CARMEn project: A sustainable and circular brine treatment chain
No full textThe increasing demand for water and critical minerals is currently largely met through linear processes, such as desalination and saltworks, which generate highly saline waste streams typically discharged to the sea. These brines, however, are rich in valuable components. The Italian-funded CARMEn project proposes a circular approach to valorize such streams by producing magnesium hydroxide, freshwater, and energy through an integrated treatment chain. As proof of concept, real reverse osmosis (RO) brine and saltworks bitterns were processed at laboratory scale through a sequence of nanofiltration, reactive precipitation, softening, electrodialysis with bipolar membranes, membrane distillation, and reverse electrodialysis. Experimental data supported the development of a preliminary techno-economic analysis to assess the viability of a pilot plant targeting 50 tons/year of Mg(OH)2. Results show that feed composition and operating pH strongly influence performance. Bitterns, with Mg2+ concentrations ~20 times higher than RO brine, led to the lowest CAPEX and EnEx and enabled >99.7% product purity, but required external water input, reducing circularity. RO brine and NF retentate achieved full circular operation without external inputs, though with higher costs and slightly lower product purity (approximately between 85 and 93%). Across all scenarios, EDBM and MD dominated energy demand, but coupling MD with waste heat reduced power consumption lowering the levelized cost of Mg(OH)2