49112 research outputs found
Sort by
Exploring pro-environmental behavior of religious tourists based on motivations: the case of Assisi visitors
Get PDFAbstract
Purpose – The pro-environmental behavior of tourists is becoming a topic of growing interest for both scholars
and policymakers, given the numerous implications that it can determine. Recent studies have considered the
role of visitor motivations for the adoption of on-site sustainable practices. This research fits into this debate,
delving into the case of religious destinations, assessing if travel motivations can determine behaviors more or
less oriented toward protecting the environment.
Design/methodology/approach – Considering a sample of individuals who visited Assisi in the second half of
2022, a cluster analysis focused on the intensity of the motives of the visit was performed, followed by a
confirmatory factor analysis centered on pro-environmental behavior and by a simple linear regression.
Findings – Three clusters of visitors (the “Poorly Spiritual – Cultural - Escape – Motivated (S-C-E-M),” the
“Spirituals” and the “Strongly Spiritual – Cultural – Escape – Motivated (S-C-E-M”) emerged, with a different
propensity to adopt pro-environmental behavior. Strongly S-C-E-M visitors, driven by cultural, spiritual and
escape motives, adopt pro-environmental behavior to a greater extent than the other two groups; the spirituals are
placed in an intermediate position, while the poorly S-C-E-M are the least accustomed to sustainability practices.
Originality/value – The paper fits into the debate concerning the antecedents of pro-environmental behavior,
focusing on travel motivations. It offers a new perspective for understanding the implementation of
sustainability practices by visitors to religious places, highlighting that spirituality can be a catalyst for proenvironmental
behavior, but its power increases if it is accompanied by other types of motivations such as
cultural and escape
It’s all About Position, Position, Position. The Case of the Five Star Movement in Italy
No full textWhat is the “place” of a populist, digital party in the political market? Further, how does it change
as it evolves from the stage of protest toward institutionalization? In this chapter, we will examine these issues through the lens of a specific national case that has garnered significant attention on the international stage: the Italian Movimento 5 Stelle (Five Star Movement, FSM)
Water-rock interaction processes and hydrogeological pathways in seismically active areas as revealed by a multi-isotopic (C, S, O, H, B, Sr) approach
No full textWaters circulating in the seismically active (up to 6.4 Mw) Pesaro-Urbino province (central Italy) were investigated to understand water–rock interaction processes and groundwater circulation patterns through a multi-isotopic approach.
The investigated waters showed different geochemical facies: Ca-HCO3, Ca-SO4, Ca-HCO3-SO4, and Na-HCO3. Water geochemistry and isotopic composition suggest that Ca-HCO3 waters are related to the dissolution of carbonate-rich rocks and, subordinately, Al-silicate minerals and are generally characterized by shallow or fast hydrogeological circuits. In contrast, Ca-SO4, Ca-HCO3-SO4, and Na-HCO3 waters relate to longer water–rock interaction and/or deeper circulation patterns within the aquifers. All the waters show biogenically derived δ13C-TIDC values and δ2H- and δ18O-H2O signatures indicative of meteoric origin. The combination of δ34S-SO4 and 87Sr/86Sr values suggest that the Ca-HCO3-SO4 and Ca-SO4 waters interact with the evaporitic anhydrite-rich rocks of the Triassic Burano formation that constitute the regional basal aquiclude, making these waters interesting to be monitored for seismic tracers, being likely able to carry possible deep seismic signals (e.g., deep-sourced gases inflow, enhanced metals mobility), similarly to what found in comparable geological contexts. Contrarily, Na-HCO3 waters show 87Sr/86Sr ratios and δ11B values approaching those of the siliciclastic Marnoso Arenacea Fm, consistent with long-lasting interactions with Na-bearing silicates. Our results suggest that the hydrogeochemical and multi-isotopic approach provided paramount information to detect sites more prone to record possible geochemical variations during the build-up phase of seismic events, making it suitable for application to other seismically active areas
Specific physical development of midfielders in comparative football from youth to senior level: Insight from objective parameters measured with advanced wearable technology.
Get PDFAlthough relatively unederrpresented in scientific literature, this study aims to establish foundational insights
into the developmental trajectory of midfield football players as they transition from youth to senior levels. The
research primarily examines physical and athletic attributes while also considering their interaction with specific
technical and tactical aspect. The study focuses on players aged 14-23 years.The limited existing research on this
topic has, hindered comparative analysis but also created an opportunity to explore an underexamined area. This
investigation uses wearable scientific instrumentation (K-AI, K-Sport Ita) to provide new insights into player
development.The param under scrutiny encompass a spectrum of physical attributes, including distance covered,
speed dynamics, acceleration, and deceleration patterns. Of particular interest is the evaluation of High Peak
Speed (HPS), denoting the pinnacle of instantaneous velocity within defined temporal intervals. Furthermore, the
discerning factor in an athlete's developmental journey lies not solely in their maximal speed potential, but rather
in their capacity to sustain high-intensity sprints and consistently surpass the HPS threshold during match
scenarios (Izzo et al., 2018). This nuanced perspective emerges as a pivotal and discerning criterion for assessing
the prowess of football athletes
Applicazione e valutazione di sistemi per la sanificazione in ambienti indoor a ridotto impatto ambientale
No full textThe present thesis aimed to evaluate the efficacy of devices, with reduced environmental impact, for biological sanitization of air and surfaces in indoor environments, gave rise to new evidence about the use of UV-C technology. The sanitizing efficacy of two UV-C LED devices was investigated. The first tested system, CSA System S14000, was installed in a university sports pressostatic structure. The sanitization efficacy of the device (which sanitizes up to 19000 m3/h of air) in its entire configuration, and of each single component was assessed following the procedures reported by the ISO 15714:2019. Second, the sanitization efficiency of the device was evaluated through on-site environmental tests in presence of athletes. The results showed high efficacy in eliminating airborne microorganisms, both during efficacy tests (inactivation rate around 99.92 ± 0.07%, log reduction of 3.22 ± 0.39) and in on-site environmental tests (inactivation rate around 70.7 ± 3.6% and 72.4 ± 3.3% for airborne bacteria and molds, respectively). The CSA System S14000 is a promising solution to guarantee efficient and healthy sanitation for athletes during sporting activity. Furthermore, the efficacy of a UV-C LED hand lamp, designed for surface disinfection in domestic or small-scale food-processing environments, was evaluated through in vitro decontamination tests using standard ATCC microorganisms, with different UV-C susceptibility (E. coli ATCC 25922, B. subtilis ATCC 6633, Cladosporium spp.). A bacterial titer 3 logs was achieved with all other microorganisms. Lastly, the ability of UV-C irradiation to induce a VBNC state in E. coli was investigated. The positivity of UV-treated culture-negative samples to enzymatic and resuscitation tests would indicate the possible presence of VBNC cells
NEW FRONTIERS IN TRANSDERMAL DELIVERY AND WOUND HEALING: ADVANCING DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEMS VIA MICROFLUIDICS, 3D PRINTING, AND SOLUTION BLOW-SPINNING.
Get PDFSkin-mediated drug delivery has gained significant popularity over the past decade, mainly due to the rising demand for patient-friendly alternatives to oral and injectable medications. However, conventional transdermal treatments face issues, such as limited permeability and lack of customization, that restrict their widespread use. These limitations have paved the way for reshaping the future of next-generation transdermal systems through innovative manufacturing methods.
This thesis investigates the revolutionary impact of cutting-edge technologies, such as microfluidics, 3D printing, and solution blow spinning on the development of transdermal delivery and wound-healing systems, using research findings from my PhD program.
Specifically, Part I reports the successful use of a microfluidic-assisted ionotropic gelation technique to produce peptide-loaded chitosan nanoparticles (Cs NPs) with improved skin penetration. Argireline, selected as the model peptide due to its hydrophilic nature and high molecular weight (factors that typically hinder transdermal delivery), was encapsulated in these nanoparticles. The resulting nanoparticle gel showed favorable mechanical properties for Argireline's skin delivery, offering better release regulation and enhanced permeation than the free peptide solution.
Part II proposes the direct powder extrusion (DPE) 3D printing technique as a promising platform for manufacturing transdermal patches customized to individual patient needs. Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA) copolymer was employed as the feedstock material for DPE, combined with model drugs possessing varied physicochemical properties. Notably, using the EVA grade with the appropriate vinyl acetate content enabled the successful printing of medications with different characteristics, while achieving the desired dose, release, and permeation profiles, marking a significant step forward for personalized medicine.
Finally, in addressing wound healing, Part III introduces the solution blow spinning processing of keratin, extracted from wool wastes, into nano-fibrous patches that support tissue regeneration. The proposed strategy not only re-ennobled wool wastes into valuable biomedical material but also pioneered the spinning of keratin aqueous solutions, potentially allowing for the safe deposition of keratin patches directly onto the wound site. Furthermore, in vitro studies evaluating the hemocompatibility of the spun patches with human blood cells demonstrated their suitability for blood-contact applications.
Overall, this thesis highlights the transformative potential of integrating emerging technologies, such as microfluidics, 3D printing, and solution blow spinning, into the development of advanced transdermal delivery and wound care systems. The research successfully addresses the limitations of established therapies by offering scalable, cost-efficient, and patient-centered alternatives.Skin-mediated drug delivery has gained significant popularity over the past decade, mainly due to the rising demand for patient-friendly alternatives to oral and injectable medications. However, conventional transdermal treatments face issues, such as limited permeability and lack of customization, that restrict their widespread use. These limitations have paved the way for reshaping the future of next-generation transdermal systems through innovative manufacturing methods.
This thesis investigates the revolutionary impact of cutting-edge technologies, such as microfluidics, 3D printing, and solution blow spinning on the development of transdermal delivery and wound-healing systems, using research findings from my PhD program.
Specifically, Part I reports the successful use of a microfluidic-assisted ionotropic gelation technique to produce peptide-loaded chitosan nanoparticles (Cs NPs) with improved skin penetration. Argireline, selected as the model peptide due to its hydrophilic nature and high molecular weight (factors that typically hinder transdermal delivery), was encapsulated in these nanoparticles. The resulting nanoparticle gel showed favorable mechanical properties for Argireline's skin delivery, offering better release regulation and enhanced permeation than the free peptide solution.
Part II proposes the direct powder extrusion (DPE) 3D printing technique as a promising platform for manufacturing transdermal patches customized to individual patient needs. Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA) copolymer was employed as the feedstock material for DPE, combined with model drugs possessing varied physicochemical properties. Notably, using the EVA grade with the appropriate vinyl acetate content enabled the successful printing of medications with different characteristics, while achieving the desired dose, release, and permeation profiles, marking a significant step forward for personalized medicine.
Finally, in addressing wound healing, Part III introduces the solution blow spinning processing of keratin, extracted from wool wastes, into nano-fibrous patches that support tissue regeneration. The proposed strategy not only re-ennobled wool wastes into valuable biomedical material but also pioneered the spinning of keratin aqueous solutions, potentially allowing for the safe deposition of keratin patches directly onto the wound site. Furthermore, in vitro studies evaluating the hemocompatibility of the spun patches with human blood cells demonstrated their suitability for blood-contact applications.
Overall, this thesis highlights the transformative potential of integrating emerging technologies, such as microfluidics, 3D printing, and solution blow spinning, into the development of advanced transdermal delivery and wound care systems. The research successfully addresses the limitations of established therapies by offering scalable, cost-efficient, and patient-centered alternatives
Il miracolo. Saggio di filosofia della religione
No full textIl miracolo è divenuto un argomento imbarazzante tanto per i filosofi, che nella modernità hanno tentato di liquidarlo senza riuscirvi, quanto per i teologi, che, intimoriti dall’accusa di “soprannaturalismo”, tendono spesso ad ignorarlo. Nonostante ciò, esso gioca un ruolo insostituibile nella vita di molti credenti e continua a porre interrogativi ineludibili: qual è il significato religioso che veicola? In che cosa si differenzia da un atto magico o da un fenomeno paranormale? Qual è il valore delle sue testimonianze? Se lo si considera come un intervento di Dio nel mondo, come spiegare che Dio sospenda o violi quelle stesse leggi di natura che ha disposto? Da ciò sorge anche un problema morale: se Dio è onnipotente e infinitamente buono, perché interviene nel creato in modo tale da sanare solo una piccola parte del male che vi si manifesta? A partire dalla prospettiva della filosofia della religione, il volume invita a riflettere nuovamente su quello che Goethe ha chiamato “il figlio prediletto della fede” e ad apprezzare la pluralità di questioni teoriche e pratiche che solleva
L’Italia sullo scacchiere europeo, tra sfide nazionali e nomine europee
No full textL’inizio del mese di settembre è stato agitato per la compagine governativa, a causa del cd. “Boccia-Sangiuliano gate” e delle nomine europee.
Per quanto riguarda il primo elemento, si è trattato di un di natura personale che però si è ben presto trasformato in una controversia. Naturalmente, in questa sede non rilevano le relazioni interpersonali tra i due soggetti coinvolti, ossia il Ministro della Cultura Gennaro Sangiuliano e una imprenditrice partenopea, quanto invero le diverse implicazioni istituzionali: in primo luogo, l’esposto presentato alla Procura della Repubblica di Roma dal parlamentare Angelo Bonelli, che ha ipotizzato il reato di peculato e ha conferito una dimensione giudiziaria alla questione. In secondo luogo, le comunicazioni sui social media dell’imprenditrice Boccia hanno sollevato interrogativi sia sul coinvolgimento dell’esecutivo nella sua mancata nomina a Consigliere dei Grandi Eventi presso il dicastero alla Cultura, sia per la possibile diffusione di segreti d’ufficio.
Sin da subito, il Presidente del Consiglio ha stabilito dei paletti specifici per la permanenza di Sangiuliano all’interno della compagine ministeriale, fondati su due condizioni essenziali: l’assenza di accesso non autorizzato a documentazione riservata, con particolare riferimento al G7 della Cultura, e la non utilizzazione di risorse pubbliche [...