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Honesta missio. Saggi e contributi per Salvatore Puliatti
No full textQuesto volume, incentrato sul profilo e l’opera di Salvatore Puliatti, Professore emerito di Diritto Romano dell’Università di Parma, è scandito in quattro sezioni, precedute da un breve profilo dell’onorato.
La prima sezione raccoglie gli interventi pronunciati durante un incontro tenutosi a Parma, il 24 ottobre 2023, in onore del Professore. Una seconda parte ospita saggi e contributi di illustri studiosi dedicati a Salvatore Puliatti, alla sua personalità scientifica e a temi che egli ha affrontato nelle sue ricerche. La terza sezione, indicata come Appendice, contiene la traduzione italiana della Laudatio per il conferimento del titolo di Doctor Honoris Causa da parte dell’Università „Petre Andrei” di Iași, Romania, conferita il 16 aprile 2024, corredata da una fotografia scattata durante tale occasione. Nella stessa sezione si legge il Decreto ministeriale con il conferimento del titolo di Professore emerito avvenuto nel mese di agosto 2025. Chiude il volume la quarta sezione costituita da una bibliografia aggiornata di Salvatore Puliatti
Historians of Science, Creators. Philosophical Perspectives on the History of Science on the light of Il Saggiatore by Galileo Galilei
No full textThis essay reads Galileo Galilei’s Il Saggiatore as an exemplary meeting point between the history of science, the history of philosophy, and the philosophy of science. Through his confrontation with Orazio Grassi and the Jesuit tradition that defended Tycho Brahe’s astronomical system, Galileo transforms the controversy over comets into
an epistemological laboratory where experience, language, and narrative intertwine.
The essay highlights three creative dimensions characteristic of the historian of science’s work: the creation of worldviews through narrative; a reflection about the material creation associated with scientific instruments and objects; and the logical-epistemic creation, which investigates styles of reasoning and forms of argumentation and dialogue. The proposed interdisciplinary approach weaves together historiography, philosophy,
and the analysis of scientific texts, suggesting that the history of science is not merely a description of the past but above all a critical exercise in interpretation. In doing so, it provides conceptual tools for developing philosophical categories useful for understanding science. Il Saggiatore thus emerges as a paradigm for grasping the tension between experience and theory, between authority and creativity, and for recognizing the
role of narrative in the construction of scientific rationality
Study of the Role of Exercise and IGF-1 in 3D Cell Culture Models for the Prevention of Cancer Recurrence
No full textEpidemiological studies have shown that increased physical activity and lifestyle modifications are associated with a lower risk of cancer recurrence.
This PhD Thesis explored the effects of exercise on prostate cancer (PC) and the effects of exercise and lifestyle interventions on breast cancer (BC) recurrence and progression, using a translational approach based on exercise-conditioned human serum and three-dimensional cell culture models.
We first demonstrated that serum obtained from healthy males after 5 km and 10 km running sessions reduced spheroid number and volume in PC cell lines, particularly 3 hours post-exercise. No differences were observed between distances, suggesting that shorter bouts can be as effective as longer ones, with muscle mass and cardiorespiratory fitness enhancing the effect.
Secondly, we examined the effects of single bouts of aerobic exercise in BC survivors performed at moderate and vigorous intensity. Serum collected 3 hours post-exercise, especially after the moderate-intensity bout, significantly reduced triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) spheroid formation, demonstrating that even moderate exercise – more achievable for BC survivors often facing fatigue and treatment-related limitations – can exert meaningful anti-oncogenic effects.
Given that cumulative epidemiological evidence shows the importance of lifestyle changes in the prevention of BC risk and recurrence, we also evaluated the effects of a 12-week home-based lifestyle intervention combining exercise and nutritional counselling in BC survivors. Post-intervention serum reduced TNBC spheroid formation, with insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) identified as the only key predictor of tumour growth.
Increased IGF-1 levels are associated with a higher risk of BC and recurrence. Since N-glycosylation plays a crucial role in the secretion of mature IGF-1, we demonstrated that glucose-dependent IGF-1 secretion promotes hormone-responsive BC cell proliferation and spheroid formation via IGF-1R, ERK1/2, and Akt pathways, emphasizing the importance of glycemic control in lifestyle interventions aimed at preventing BC recurrence.
Collectively, these results demonstrate that acute exercise, also integrated with nutritional and metabolic management, can effectively modulate tumorigenic processes in PC and BC. Short, moderate-intensity exercise elicits anti-oncogenic effects, and lifestyle interventions further enhance cancer-protective mechanisms.
The works included in this Thesis provide translational evidence supporting feasible exercise and lifestyle strategies to reduce cancer recurrence, offering insights to improve practical guidelines for exercise oncology in a tertiary cancer prevention context.Epidemiological studies have shown that increased physical activity and lifestyle modifications are associated with a lower risk of cancer recurrence.
This PhD Thesis explored the effects of exercise on prostate cancer (PC) and the effects of exercise and lifestyle interventions on breast cancer (BC) recurrence and progression, using a translational approach based on exercise-conditioned human serum and three-dimensional cell culture models.
We first demonstrated that serum obtained from healthy males after 5 km and 10 km running sessions reduced spheroid number and volume in PC cell lines, particularly 3 hours post-exercise. No differences were observed between distances, suggesting that shorter bouts can be as effective as longer ones, with muscle mass and cardiorespiratory fitness enhancing the effect.
Secondly, we examined the effects of single bouts of aerobic exercise in BC survivors performed at moderate and vigorous intensity. Serum collected 3 hours post-exercise, especially after the moderate-intensity bout, significantly reduced triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) spheroid formation, demonstrating that even moderate exercise – more achievable for BC survivors often facing fatigue and treatment-related limitations – can exert meaningful anti-oncogenic effects.
Given that cumulative epidemiological evidence shows the importance of lifestyle changes in the prevention of BC risk and recurrence, we also evaluated the effects of a 12-week home-based lifestyle intervention combining exercise and nutritional counselling in BC survivors. Post-intervention serum reduced TNBC spheroid formation, with insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) identified as the only key predictor of tumour growth.
Increased IGF-1 levels are associated with a higher risk of BC and recurrence. Since N-glycosylation plays a crucial role in the secretion of mature IGF-1, we demonstrated that glucose-dependent IGF-1 secretion promotes hormone-responsive BC cell proliferation and spheroid formation via IGF-1R, ERK1/2, and Akt pathways, emphasizing the importance of glycemic control in lifestyle interventions aimed at preventing BC recurrence.
Collectively, these results demonstrate that acute exercise, also integrated with nutritional and metabolic management, can effectively modulate tumorigenic processes in PC and BC. Short, moderate-intensity exercise elicits anti-oncogenic effects, and lifestyle interventions further enhance cancer-protective mechanisms.
The works included in this Thesis provide translational evidence supporting feasible exercise and lifestyle strategies to reduce cancer recurrence, offering insights to improve practical guidelines for exercise oncology in a tertiary cancer prevention context
Reading the Book of Nature Across Sciences, History and Philosophy Proceedings of the Conference to celebrate 400th anniversary of Galilei’s Il Saggiatore (28th-30th of June 2023, Museo Galileo - Istituto e Museo di Storia della Scienza, Florence)
No full textThis volume presents a selection of papers by early-career
researchers in philosophy, philosophy of science, and the
history of science, originally presented at the conference
Reading the Book of Nature Across Sciences, History, and Philosophy.
The conference, organized by SFI, SILFS, and SISS, was held at
the prestigious Museo Galileo – Istituto e Museo di Storia
della Scienza (Florence, 2023) to celebrate the 400th
anniversary of Galileo’s Il Saggiatore.
The fil rouge of the papers in this volume is the evolution of
knowledge and scientific thought, as well as the exploration of
their relationship with nature, techniques, and technology
L'italiano dell'arte
No full textL’idea del volume è motivata dalla mancanza di uno strumento anche didattico in grado di proporre un quadro aggiornato e riassuntivo delle ricerche condotte sulla lingua dell’arte da singoli studiosi e gruppi di lavoro, offrendo al contempo nuove analisi su aspetti finora poco approfonditi che abbracciano un settore di indagine così esteso e diversificato come quello delle scienze visuali. I testi della letteratura artistica in Italia vengono considerati nella loro evoluzione attraverso i secoli, e quindi valutati per tipologia, strategie testuali e lessico tecnico, dando particolare rilievo agli autori maggiormente significativi.
Il percorso privilegia tendenzialmente il versante letterario, in quanto più rilevante in rapporto all’evoluzione della lingua dell’arte nel corso del tempo, nonché l’epoca rinascimentale, che rappresenta il momento centrale per la sua formazione e il suo consolidamento (con autori quali Leonardo, Michelangelo, Brunelleschi, Ghiberti, Leon Battista Alberti, Vasari, Serlio, Palladio). Altro tema centrale di riflessione è il rapporto tra arte e lingua nella realtà contemporanea, finora poco esplorato dagli studi di settore, in vari campi di applicazione: nei manuali didattici, in articoli scientifici e didascalie, nonché nei media di massa. Chiude il libro una sezione antologica con alcuni casi esemplari
La natura in Leon Battista Alberti tra specchio della condizione umana e spazio «utile a bene e beato vivere» (con una digressione bucolica)
No full textQuesto articolo esplora il ruolo poliedrico della natura nelle
opere di Leon Battista Alberti, mettendo in luce la sua duplice funzione di
specchio della condizione umana e di spazio favorevole a una vita virtuosa
e felice. Diversamente da quanto accade in Petrarca, dove la natura è spesso
luogo di immersione e contemplazione, in Alberti gli elementi naturali vengono
integrati come allegorie di caratteri umani o valori morali all’interno
di riflessioni filosofiche, letterarie e architettoniche. Attraverso l’analisi di
testi come Theogenius, Momus, De re aedificatoria e Famiglia, il saggio rivela
una prospettiva profondamente antropocentrica, in cui paesaggio, flora e
fauna assumono significati simbolici, didattici o critici. L’articolo affronta
inoltre la poesia bucolica albertiana, in particolare la Mirtia, presentando
Alberti come una voce unica e sperimentale all’interno della tradizione
pastorale, più influenzata da fonti greche come Teocrito di quanto solitamente
si riconosca. La digressione bucolica contribuisce a contestualizzare
l’innovazione letteraria di Alberti all’interno del recupero umanistico dei
modelli classici, in particolare durante il suo soggiorno ferrarese.
Nature in Leon Battista Alberti: Between a Mirror of the Human
Condition and a Space «utile a bene e beato vivere» (with a Bucolic Digression) ·
This article explores the multifaceted role of nature in the works of Leon
Battista Alberti, highlighting its dual function as both a mirror of human
condition and a space conducive to virtuous and fulfilling living. Rather
than presenting nature as a backdrop for immersion or contemplation – as
seen in Petrarch – Alberti integrates natural elements as allegorical tools and moral referents within philosophical, literary, and architectural reflections.
Through the analysis of texts such as Theogenius, Momus, De re aedificatoria,
and Famiglia, this essay reveals a deeply anthropocentric perspective in which
landscape, flora, and fauna serve symbolic, didactic, or critical purposes. The
article also discusses Alberti’s bucolic poetry, particularly Mirtia, framing him
as a unique and experimental voice within the pastoral tradition, more influenced
by Greek sources like Theocritus than typically acknowledged. This
bucolic digression further contextualizes Alberti’s literary innovation within
the humanist revival of classical models, especially during his time in Ferrara
Effect of cognitive training on cortisol levels in patients with neurocognitive disorders
No full textObjectives: Elevated cortisol levels are linked to a greater risk and faster progression of neurocognitive disorders (NCDs). While interventions such as exercise and mindfulness have shown benefits in reducing cortisol, the impact of cognitive training (CT) on cortisol regulation remains unexplored. This study investigated whether CT affects cortisol levels and secretion patterns in individuals with minor or major NCD and compared its effects with those of pharmacological treatment. Methods: Sixty-two older adults with NCD and 43 healthy controls were recruited from the University Hospital of Padua in Italy. Among patients with NCD, 34 underwent CT (CT-NCD group), and 28 received pharmacological treatment (PH-NCD group). Salivary cortisol was measured at six points during the day, at baseline, and at 3 months (T1) and 6 months (T2) post-intervention. Results: Compared with pharmacological treatment (PH), CT showed a larger percentage decrease of daily cortisol exposure area under the curve (AUC) from baseline; however, the between-group difference did not remain statistically significant after covariate adjustment, and the only robust time-point effect was in the afternoon (F(1,47)=5.13; p = .028). Morning values decreased within groups, but between-group differences in the CAR were not significant; at bedtime, CT showed only a trend towards lower cortisol than PH (p = .071). Median morning values changed from 7.75 to 6.20 in CT and from 5.80 to 5.15 in PH. Discussion: Cognitive training may help lower cortisol levels and enhance cognitive function in NCD patients, suggesting its potential as a nonpharmacological tool to modulate hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activity. Larger randomized studies are needed to confirm and extend these findings
GUT MICROBIOTA MODULATION BY DIET AND EXERCISE: EFFECTS IN THE PREVENTION OF NON-COMMUNICABLE DEGENERATIVE DISEASES AND IMPROVEMENT OF QUALITY OF LIFE
No full textThe gut microbiota (GM) is a central regulator of host homeostasis, influencing metabolic, immune, and neuroendocrine signaling. Dysbiosis has been implicated in the onset and progression of neurodegenerative and oncological diseases. This doctoral research examined microbiota–host interactions across three complementary clinical and experimental models.
In the first study, GM composition was characterized in 109 patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD), clinically stratified by disease severity and presence of motor fluctuations. Disease progression was associated with a depletion of butyrate-producing taxa (e.g., Faecalibacterium, Roseburia) and an enrichment of mucolytic and pro-inflammatory genera (e.g., Alistipes, Collinsella, Desulfovibrio). Patients experiencing motor fluctuations exhibited a distinct dysbiotic profile, suggesting that microbial metabolic imbalance may contribute to impaired intestinal barrier function, systemic inflammation, and dopaminergic instability along the gut–brain axis.
The second project investigated a 12-week home-based Mediterranean diet and aerobic exercise intervention in breast cancer survivors (n = 20). In addition to improvements in cardiometabolic biomarkers, GM analysis demonstrated a reduction in Proteobacteria—often linked to inflammation—and positive associations between Mediterranean diet adherence and butyrate-producing genera. These findings indicate that lifestyle modification can promote a microbiota configuration associated with improved metabolic and inflammatory status during survivorship.
The third study explored microbiota-derived metabolites as modulators of tumor cell plasticity in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Propionate-rich supernatants from Acidopropionibacterium microaerophilum decreased ZEB1 and Vimentin expression while increasing E-cadherin in A549 cells, indicating inhibition of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). This supports a role for microbial metabolites in modulating tumor behavior through metabolic–epigenetic pathways.
Across neurological and oncological contexts, the GM emerges as both a biomarker of disease state and a tractable therapeutic target. Strategies that reshape microbial composition or exploit microbial metabolite production may provide innovative avenues to mitigate neuroinflammation, enhance metabolic recovery after cancer therapy, and limit tumor progression.The gut microbiota (GM) is a central regulator of host homeostasis, influencing metabolic, immune, and neuroendocrine signaling. Dysbiosis has been implicated in the onset and progression of neurodegenerative and oncological diseases. This doctoral research examined microbiota–host interactions across three complementary clinical and experimental models.
In the first study, GM composition was characterized in 109 patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD), clinically stratified by disease severity and presence of motor fluctuations. Disease progression was associated with a depletion of butyrate-producing taxa (e.g., Faecalibacterium, Roseburia) and an enrichment of mucolytic and pro-inflammatory genera (e.g., Alistipes, Collinsella, Desulfovibrio). Patients experiencing motor fluctuations exhibited a distinct dysbiotic profile, suggesting that microbial metabolic imbalance may contribute to impaired intestinal barrier function, systemic inflammation, and dopaminergic instability along the gut–brain axis.
The second project investigated a 12-week home-based Mediterranean diet and aerobic exercise intervention in breast cancer survivors (n = 20). In addition to improvements in cardiometabolic biomarkers, GM analysis demonstrated a reduction in Proteobacteria—often linked to inflammation—and positive associations between Mediterranean diet adherence and butyrate-producing genera. These findings indicate that lifestyle modification can promote a microbiota configuration associated with improved metabolic and inflammatory status during survivorship.
The third study explored microbiota-derived metabolites as modulators of tumor cell plasticity in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Propionate-rich supernatants from Acidopropionibacterium microaerophilum decreased ZEB1 and Vimentin expression while increasing E-cadherin in A549 cells, indicating inhibition of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). This supports a role for microbial metabolites in modulating tumor behavior through metabolic–epigenetic pathways.
Across neurological and oncological contexts, the GM emerges as both a biomarker of disease state and a tractable therapeutic target. Strategies that reshape microbial composition or exploit microbial metabolite production may provide innovative avenues to mitigate neuroinflammation, enhance metabolic recovery after cancer therapy, and limit tumor progression
Lean manufacturing and sustainability pillars. A systematic literature review
No full textPurpose – Organisations are no longer able to avoid the new and critical stakeholder awareness of the impacts they generate in the surrounding context. In this perspective, it is crucial to adopt an innovative business model that can optimise the entire corporate system, generating a positive long-term impact in terms of sustainability and value creation for all stakeholders. All this is explained by an integrated approach, Lean- Sustainability (LS), which represents a new management paradigm, based on the joint consideration of Lean practices and all pillars of sustainable development. Therefore, this study aims to analyse the current state of the art on the relationship between Lean and Sustainability, identifying possible gaps and opportunities for future research. Design/methodology/approach – A Systematic Literature Review (SLR) is conducted to examine and classify 188 scientific documents on the issue of Lean and Sustainability practices published in the Scopus database from 2012 to 2024. Findings – The results confirm the existence of a positive relationship between the adoption of a Lean approach and the achievement of sustainability goals, thus enabling organisations to improve their environmental, economic and social performance. However, it is emphasised that more empirical investigations on the subject are needed, which still appear to be lacking, especially with reference to the social pillar. Originality/value – Besides enriching the literature on the subject, the study encourages companies to act in an integrated Lean-sustainability perspective, as it meets new stakeholder needs and increases competitiveness in the long term
Network Efficiency of Centralized and Decentralized Health Data Systems
No full textThe adoption of decentralized architectures for health data management offers benefits including patient data sovereignty and elimination of single points of failure, but introduces questions about network overhead compared to traditional centralized systems. This paper presents a network overhead analysis comparing Firebase Real-Time Database with IPFS-based storage via Pinata for mobile health data transmission. We implemented an Android application that collects physiological data from wearable devices and transmits this information to both backends using REST APIs. Our experimental evaluation across eight transmission scales reveals that Firebase demonstrates lower fixed overhead and latency for small payloads, while Pinata exhibits superior scaling characteristics for larger data volumes. A crossover point occurs around 50 records per payload, beyond which the decentralized architecture transmits less total data than the centralized alternative. The results indicate that neither architecture maintains uniform efficiency across all operational scales, with architectural choice depending on expected transaction patterns in the deployment context