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Synthesis and Development of “Green” Chalcogenides Inks via High-Energy Ball Milling for the Realization of Ultra-Low-Cost Thin Film Solar Cells
No full textNew technological solutions for green energy and optoelectronics are needed to surpass current methodologies and performance benchmarks, demanding an extra effort from researchers in the field of material science for the synthesis, characterization, and prototyping of more performant materials and devices.
This PhD thesis demonstrates how mechanochemistry (MC) can be smartly applied in this field, particularly exploiting high energy ball milling methodologies. This simple and cost-effective technique allows direct control of materials reactivity and the synthesis of stable/metastable inorganic solids through solid-state reactions of the constituent elements or compounds. MC leverages the non-equilibrium thermodynamic regime, enabling the process to occur around ambient conditions while exchanging extreme local energy to the reactants. Moreover, it is possible to obtain large amounts of pure products without using toxic reactants and solvents.
Specifically, this thesis presents the application of MC to Cu(In,Ga)(S,Se) (CIGSSe) chalcogenides, well-known as efficient absorbers (α > 10^4 cm^(-1)) for thin film solar cells. Through MC, pure phases can be obtained by finely varying the cationic (In/Ga) and anionic (S/Se) ratios of the solid solution, allowing the tuning of the optical bandgap from 1.02 eV (CuInSe2) to 2.5 eV (CuGaS2) to match the solar spectrum.
A bottom-top process is presented that stabilizes a PV ink from mechanochemically synthesized low bandgap chalcogenides (CuInS2 and CuInSe2) for liquid-phase deposition. The process was optimized to obtain a stable suspension in n-butanol with the correct crystallographic structure and composition. A high temperature selenization treatment demonstrated effectiveness in improving the crystallinity and conductivity of the CuInSe2 films. The addition of ethanolamine as a complexing agent inside the CuInSe2 ink further enhanced these properties, achieving a resistivity of kΩ⋅cm. The photovoltaic cell demonstrated promising performance with a VOC of 331 mV and a JSC of 1.8 mA/cm².
For high bandgap chalcogenides (CuInGaS2 and CuGaSSe2), mechanochemical synthesis and refinement were successful in obtaining a pure phase. The refinement conditions allowed fine control of the particle size of CIGS, resulting in a semi-transparent ink with over 70% transparency in the spectral region between 750 and 1300 nm. A prototype device on a transparent FTO substrate showed a photovoltaic response.
Additionally, the use of high energy ball milling processed CuInSe2 as a hole transport layer in carbon-based Formamidinium Lead Iodide hybrid-perovskite solar cells was explored. Devices assembled with different concentrations and layers of CISe ink maintained efficiency over 24 hours, with some cells outperforming reference cells after aging, suggesting a possible stabilizing effect on perovskite cells.
The second part of the thesis focused on the mechanochemical synthesis of the FE-PV compound SbSI and its post-deposition treatments using Pulsed Electron Deposition (PED). The solid-state reaction of SbSI was successfully applied using mechanochemical synthesis from its constituent elements. A collaboration with the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Barcelona, studied oriented recrystallization using a high-pressure furnace. XRD and SEM analyses confirmed notable recrystallization and preferential orientation of crystallites, addressing sublimation issues and promoting crystallization with a specific orientation. This research represents a significant milestone in developing functional SbSI FE-PV devices
Enhancing short supply chain in large-scale retail. A visual identity project for "Valori del Territorio" by Conad Centro Nord
No full textIl progetto di tesi si pone come obiettivo la realizzazione di una proposta per la comunicazione visiva del progetto “Valori del Territorio” attuato dalla cooperativa di Conad Centro-Nord.
Tale iniziativa segue la scia delle altre GDO, sia italiane, che europee, che cercano di arricchire l’assortimento dei propri punti vendita, inserendo prodotti di filiera corta provenienti principalmente da micro-produttori, o comunque da piccole imprese. Questo tipo di progetti è sicuramente da considerare virtuoso, perché permette al distributore di arricchire la propria offerta con le eccellenze del territorio, ma in primo luogo perché sono volti al fine di sostenere le realtà produttive più piccole, salvaguardandone l’esistenza.
L’obiettivo di Conad non è quello di stravolgere queste piccole produzioni, facendole diventare delle industrie, ma quello di promuoverne l’eccellenza, rispettandone i ritmi di produzione.
Al giorno d’oggi sempre più persone decidono di acquistare i generi alimentari unicamente nei supermercati, per questioni di tempo, di comodità, o addirittura economiche; ciò però, sta gradualmente portando alla scomparsa delle imprese più piccole, che non riescono a competere con i ritmi produttivi dei grandi colossi: è proprio per questo motivo che è necessario che i grandi distributori si muovano verso la realizzazione di proposte di questo tipo, che si impegnano a conservare la rete produttiva del territorio e sviluppare delle alternative più sostenibili in termini sociali, ambientali ed economici.
In un momento in cui gran parte delle produzioni sono decentralizzate e la tracciabilità degli
alimenti è sempre più difficile, è fondamentale ricreare un legame con le reti produttive locali ed è per questo che Valori del Territorio si basa su concetti semplici come il “passaparola” e il legame diretto tra punto vendita e fornitori.
Il seguente progetto di tesi mira a creare l’identità visiva dell’iniziativa di Conad Centro Nord, traducendone gli obbiettivi e le virtù attraverso artefatti di comunicazione, descrivendone gli aspetti di sostenibilità ambientale, ma senza tralasciare le altre peculiarità caratterizzanti del progetto, scongiurando il rischio di ricadere nel cliché dell’estetica “green” che spesso troviamo sugli scaffali.The thesis project aims to develop a proposal for the visual communication of the “Valori del Territorio” initiative, implemented by the Conad Centro-Nord cooperative.
This initiative follows the trend of other large-scale retail chains, both Italian and European, which seek to enrich their store assortments by introducing short-supply-chain products, mainly sourced from micro-producers or small businesses. Such projects are undoubtedly virtuous, as they allow distributors to enhance their offerings with local excellence, but above all because they aim to support smaller production realities, safeguarding their existence.
Conad’s goal is not to transform these small producers into large industries, but rather to promote their excellence while respecting their production rhythms.
Nowadays, more and more people choose to purchase groceries exclusively in supermarkets for reasons of time, convenience, or even cost. However, this trend is gradually leading to the disappearance of smaller businesses that cannot compete with the production pace of large corporations. For this reason, it is essential that major distributors move toward initiatives like this, committed to preserving local production networks and developing more socially, environmentally, and economically sustainable alternatives.
At a time when most production is decentralized and food traceability is increasingly difficult, it is crucial to recreate a connection with local production networks. This is why Valori del Territorio is based on simple concepts such as “word of mouth” and the direct link between stores and suppliers.
This thesis project aims to create the visual identity of Conad Centro-Nord’s initiative, translating its objectives and values into communication artifacts that highlight its environmental sustainability aspects, while also emphasizing other distinctive features of the project—avoiding the risk of falling into the cliché of the “green” aesthetic often seen on store shelves
Prognosis of dogs affected by mast cell tumors treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy
No full textMast cell tumor (MCT) is one of the most common neoplasms in dogs and is characterized by highly variable biological and clinical behavior. In veterinary oncology, neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) is sometimes delivered before surgery, to reduce tumor burden prior to surgery. However, current knowledge regarding its impact on postoperative course and surgical wound healing remains limited. The objective of this study was to describe the outcome of dogs with MCTs treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by surgical excision, with particular attention to the incidence of postoperative complications.
A retrospective analysis was conducted on dogs with a cytologically diagnosed MCT, treated with NAC followed by surgical excision. Tumor response to chemotherapy was assessed according to the cRECIST v1.0 criteria and surgical outcomes were evaluated in terms of wound closure, complications and histological margins. Fourteen dogs were included. All dogs received vinblastine and 71% also received prednisone. The overall response rate was 36%, with 5 dogs (36%) showing partial response (PR) and 9 dogs (64%) achieving stable disease (SD). The median reduction rate in the longest tumor diameter was 38.5%. A total of 10 postoperative complications were observed in 7 patients (50%). In 57% (4/7) of cases, partial suture dehiscence was the only complication, whereas in 43% (3/7) seroma was also present. Complications were more frequent in dogs that required reconstructive procedures, such as cutaneous flap, whereas primary closure did not result in any complications. Histological margins were tumor-free in 86% of the cases. Local recurrence was observed in 7% of cases, while distant progression occurred in 14%. The mean time to progression (TTP) was 276 days. The mean overall survival (OS) was 356.5 days.
In conclusion, NAC may facilitate conservative surgery and help achieve tumor-free margins, but it may compromise surgical wound healing. Postoperative complications were frequent, although the need for reconstructive flaps represents a major confounding factor. Intraoperative electrochemotherapy emerged as potential alternative for margin reduction. Limitations of this study were the small sample size, the variability in chemotherapy protocols and the lack of standardized surgical procedures.Il mastocitoma (MCT) è una delle neoplasie più comuni nei cani ed è caratterizzato da un comportamento biologico e clinico altamente variabile. In oncologia veterinaria, la chemioterapia neoadiuvante (NAC) viene talvolta somministrata prima della chirurgia, al fine di ridurre il volume tumorale. Tuttavia, le conoscenze attuali riguardo al suo impatto nel decorso post-operatorio e sulla guarigione delle ferite chirurgiche rimangono limitate. L’obiettivo di questo studio era di descrivere l’outcome dei cani con mastocitomi trattati con chemioterapia neoadiuvante seguita da escissione chirurgica, con particolare attenzione all’incidenza delle complicanze post-operatorie.
È stata condotta un’analisi retrospettiva su cani con MCT diagnosticato mediante citologia, trattati NAC seguita da escissione chirurgica. La risposta tumorale alla chemioterapia è stata valutata secondo i criteri cRECIST v1.0, mentre gli esiti chirurgici sono stati analizzati in termini di chiusura della ferita, complicanze e margini istologici. Quattordici cani sono stati inclusi nello studio. Tutti i cani hanno ricevuto vinblastina e nel 71% dei casi anche prednisone. Il tasso di risposta complessivo alla NAC è stato del 36%, con 5 cani (36%) che hanno mostrato una risposta parziale (PR) e 9 cani (64%) che hanno mantenuto una malattia stabile (SD). Il tasso di riduzione mediano del diametro maggiore tumorale è stato del 38,5%. In 7 pazienti (50%) è stato riscontrato un totale di 10 complicanze post-operatorie. Nel 57% (4/7) dei casi si è verificata esclusivamente deiscenza parziale della sutura, mentre nel 43% (3/7) anche sieroma. Le complicanze erano più frequenti nei cani che necessitavano di procedure ricostruttive, come lembi cutanei, mentre la chiusura primaria non ha comportato complicanze. I margini istologici erano puliti nell’86% dei casi. La recidiva locale si è verificata nel 7% dei casi, mentre sono state riscontrate metastasi a distanza nel 14% dei casi. Il tempo alla progressione (TTP) medio è stato di 276 giorni. La sopravvivenza globale (OS) media è stata di 356,5 giorni.
In conclusione, la chemioterapia neoadiuvante può facilitare la chirurgia conservativa e contribuire a ottenere margini puliti, ma potrebbe compromettere la guarigione delle ferite chirurgiche. Le complicanze post-operatorie sono state frequenti, sebbene la necessità di lembi ricostruttivi rappresenti un importante fattore di confondimento. L’elettrochemioterapia intra-operatoria emerge come potenziale alternativa per ridurre i margini chirurgici. I limiti di questo studio includono il ridotto numero di casi, la variabilità nei protocolli chemioterapici e la mancanza di procedure chirurgiche standardizzate
Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare: From Agents Simulation to Cyber-Physical Systems
No full textThe integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in healthcare is rapidly reshaping this scenario, offering unparalleled opportunities to enhance patient care, improve the process of medicine, and enable predictive analytics. Recent developments in AI, mainly through Agent-Based Modeling and Simulation (ABMS) and Cyber-Physical Systems (CPSs), provide innovative tools that can consider the complexity and scale of modern challenges faced in healthcare. From diagnostics to treatment planning and real-time monitoring to predictive modeling, AI-driven systems are helping to bring much-needed personalization, efficiency, and data-informed decision-making into medical settings. With the increase in healthcare data volume and complexity, advanced AI methodologies like ABMS and CPS become instrumental in properly managing and interpreting such information.
ABMS offers a unique capability in simulating complex, agent-driven environments where individual agents, patients, medical professionals, or healthcare resources interact within a digital framework. This is useful in epidemic modeling to forecast the spread of diseases and assess various intervention strategies. ABMS has proved instrumental in providing health response intelligence by letting researchers test how variations in social behaviors and policies might have an impact, most recently in the COVID-19 pandemic.
On the other hand, CPSs use real-time data integration and AI algorithms to develop systems that achieve dynamic monitoring and control in medical settings. Moreover, CPSs can integrate Internet of Things (IoT) devices and Digital Twin (DT) technology to realize a continuous data flow between the physical and digital environments. Therefore, health professionals can safely and efficiently monitor patient data and optimize processes during their activities. Digital Twins, which mimic physical environments in real-time, further enable CPS applications to perform simulations that can effectively enhance resource allocation and patient care in hospital settings.
However, implementing AI in healthcare also has some significant challenges. Some of the problems with its effectiveness include the shortage of access to diverse and complete medical data, compatibility with legacy infrastructure, and biases within AI algorithms. Similarly, data availability will be restricted because of privacy issues and strict regulations. Next, integrating AI into healthcare facilities could become rather complex due to outdated systems. If not validated with care, AI models may even perpetuate already existing biases related to race, gender, or socioeconomic status, which would impact patient outcomes. Those bottlenecks are what ABMS and CPS can address with very strong strategies in the improvement of data-driven healthcare processes. They allow for simulations and real-time monitoring, making it easy for healthcare professionals to make informed decisions that improve operational efficiency while ensuring better patient outcomes.
This research underscores AI's pivotal role in building more efficient, intelligent healthcare systems and addressing critical challenges along the way. The work carefully discusses the two methodologies, ABMS and CPS. First, it looks into ABMS to analyze complex agent-driven interactions that could be simulated for better planning, resource management strategies, or even a response to complex health crises. In addition, it talks about CPS and how real-time integration of data with digital twin technology will lead to enhanced patient monitoring and operational control in a clinical setting. These approaches provide a solid foundation to meet the challenges regarding data accessibility and compatibility with legacy systems. In this dual analysis, the work can provide meaningful learning for how AI can be used effectively and responsibly to bring more adaptability and equity into the healthcare landscape
Sex-related brain morphology differences in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer's disease (AD)
No full textLe differenze di morfologia cerebrale tra i sessi rappresentano un elemento rilevante nello studio del declino cognitivo, in particolare nel Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) e nella Malattia di Alzheimer (AD). Questa tesi analizza le variazioni neuroanatomiche tra uomini e donne affetti da MCI e AD, evidenziando come i profili clinici e di neuroimmagine possano divergere in base al sesso e in base alla progressione del declino cognitivo. Attraverso tecniche di neuroimaging strutturale (Voxel-Based Morphometry, VBM) sono stati osservati pattern di atrofia differenziati: nelle donne, maggiore coinvolgimento delle aree temporali e limbiche; negli uomini, alterazioni più evidenti in regioni frontali. Queste differenze si riflettono anche nei profili cognitivi, con variazioni nei domini della memoria e del linguaggio. I risultati sottolineano l'importanza di considerare il sesso come variabile cruciale nella comprensione delle traiettorie patologiche e nella personalizzazione degli interventi clinici, con potenziali implicazioni per la diagnosi precoce e lo sviluppo di trattamenti mirati.Sex-related differences in brain morphology are a crucial factor in the study of cognitive decline, particularly in Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). This thesis investigates neuroanatomical variations between men and women affected by MCI and AD, highlighting how clinical and neuroimaging profiles may diverge based on sex and disease progression. Structural neuroimaging techniques, such as Voxel-Based Morphometry (VBM), revealed distinct patterns of atrophy: women showed greater involvement of temporal and limbic areas, whereas men exhibited more pronounced alterations in frontal regions. These differences are also reflected in cognitive profiles, with variations in memory and language domains. The findings emphasize the importance of considering sex as a critical variable for understanding pathological trajectories and tailoring clinical interventions, with potential implications for early diagnosis and the development of targeted treatments
Investigation of crystallization and growth of oxides and metals towards sustainability
No full textThe present thesis summarizes the research activities conducted during the Ph.D. in Materials Science and Technology at the University of Parma, where the focus was on the study of fundamental mechanisms and innovative low-energy strategies in crystallization processes and metal production. The work primarily examined metal-induced crystallization (MIC) of silicon dioxide (SiO₂), aiming to lower energy requirements for the phase transformation from amorphous to crystalline states. The exploration involved how metal cations affect SiO₂ crystallization, employing alkali and alkaline-earth metal salts to drive crystallization at temperatures below those of conventional methods. The results provide evidence that alkali cations integrate into the SiO₂ crystal matrix, promoting cristobalite and tridymite formation, while alkaline-earth cations appear to act mainly as external catalysts, favoring quartz formation through a two-step mechanism involving silicate intermediates. This work offers insights into refining crystallization mechanisms to selectively and efficiently produce high-purity quartz, presenting the potential for reducing the energy footprint of SiO₂ production across various industries.
A side project focused on the bulk synthesis of nanocrystalline iron using a homemade chemical vapor deposition (CVD) setup, which successfully produced iron films with nanometer-scale grain sizes and controlled morphologies. This study underscored the potential for producing dense, nanostructured materials with enhanced mechanical properties. These findings open further opportunities to optimize synthesis conditions for achieving the desired combination of small-scale features and bulk material applications, particularly in industrial sectors requiring high durability with reduced energy input.
In conclusion, this thesis provides a step forward in understanding metal-catalyzed crystallization of SiO₂ and the synthesis of nanostructured metals, highlighting methods to reduce energy consumption and improve material performance that are critical for sustainable industrial development. The findings aim to contribute to the fundamental science behind these processes and pave the way for applied research to optimize production techniques, supporting a sustainable future for energy-intensive industries
Visual exploration of natural scenes using eye-tracking : the role of familiarity and emotional relevance
No full textIl comportamento visivo rappresenta una via privilegiata per comprendere i processi cognitivi implicati nell’interazione tra percezione e memoria.
Gli ambienti naturali, ricchi di stimoli simultanei e strutture visive eterogenee, pongono il sistema percettivo davanti alla necessità di selezionare le informazioni rilevanti (Kaiser et al., 2016). Diversi modelli teorici hanno cercato di spiegare i meccanismi alla base della selezione oculare. Le teorie della salienza propongono che l’attenzione sia guidata in modo automatico da proprietà fisiche degli stimoli (Itti & Koch, 2001), mentre approcci più recenti pongono l’accento su fattori top-down, tra cui l’esperienza, il contesto e la valenza emotiva (Bradley et al., 2011; Pessoa et al., 2002). In particolare, le immagini con contenuto emozionale sembrano modulare significativamente l’allocazione dell’attenzione, influenzando la durata e la direzione delle fissazioni, e dei diversi indici oculari (e.g., Calvo and Lang, 2004; Nummenmaa et al., 2006).
Il presente studio si propone di indagare l’influenza degli stimoli emozionali sul repetition effect (effetto ripetizione). Il repetition effect è la modifica sistematica dei pattern oculomotori in seguito all’esposizione ripetuta degli stessi stimoli e rappresenta un potente indice dell’interazione tra processi percettivi e mnemonici (Ryan et al., 2007).
La riduzione delle fissazioni e dei tempi di latenza osservata durante la ripetizione suggerisce l’attivazione di meccanismi di riconoscimento implicito, che facilitano l’elaborazione visiva, rendendola automatica (Ryan et al., 2007).
Attraverso l’analisi dei movimenti oculari, registrati tramite eye-tracker, è possibile osservare con maggiore precisione le dinamiche dell’esplorazione visiva in contesti complessi e ricchi di stimoli simultanei, come le scene naturali.
L’interesse principale è comprendere se e come la mappa visiva generata durante la fase di codifica influenzi la successiva capacità di riconoscimento, e se tale processo sia modulato dalla presenza di stimoli a valenza emotiva; in particolar modo, in questo studio, è stata indagata l’influenza di stimoli a valenza negativa.
Per indagare questa interazione, è stata progettata una fase di codifica in cui i partecipanti hanno esplorato attivamente immagini naturali, alcune delle quali ripetute casualmente, insieme ad immagini emozionali negative.
Il fine ultimo è stata la valutazione dell’impatto di tali immagini emozionali durante la fase successiva di test da memoria, in cui è stata esaminata la capacità di riconoscimento delle immagini e la modulazione del comportamento oculare nella loro esplorazione.Visual behavior represents a favorable way to understand the cognitive processes involved in the interaction between perception and memory. Natural environments, rich in simultaneous stimuli and heterogeneous visual structures, present the perceptual system with the need to selectively process relevant information (Kaiser et al., 2016). Various theoretical models have attempted to explain the mechanisms underlying ocular selection. Saliency-based theories suggest that attention is automatically guided by the physical properties of stimuli (Itti & Koch, 2001), whereas more recent approaches emphasize top-down factors, including experience, context, and emotional valence (Bradley et al., 2011; Pessoa et al., 2002). In particular, emotionally charged images appear to significantly modulate attention allocation, influencing the duration and direction of fixations and other eye movement indices (e.g., Calvo and Lang, 2004; Nummenmaa et al., 2006).
The present study aims to investigate the influence of emotional stimuli on the repetition effect.
The repetition effect refers to the systematic modification of oculomotor patterns following repeated exposure to the same visual stimuli, and it constitutes a powerful index of the interaction between perceptual and memory processes (Ryan et al., 2007). The reduction in fixations and latency times observed with repetition suggests the activation of implicit recognition mechanisms, which facilitate visual processing by making it more automatic (Ryan et al., 2007).
Through the analysis of eye movements, recorded via eye-tracker, it becomes possible to precisely observe the dynamics of visual exploration in complex contexts rich with simultaneous stimuli, such as natural scenes.
The main objective is to understand whether, and how, the visual map generated during the encoding phase influences subsequent recognition performance, and whether this process is modulated by the presence of emotionally valenced stimuli. In particular, this study explored the influence of negatively valenced stimuli.
To examine this interaction, an encoding phase was designed in which participants actively explored natural images, some of which were randomly repeated, along with negatively emotional images.
The ultimate goal was to evaluate emotional pictures’ impact on the subsequent memory test phase, in which image recognition ability and the modulation of ocular behavior during visual exploration were assessed
Neuronal correlates of grip coding in freely moving monkeys
No full textThe investigation of cortical mechanisms underlying the organization of manual actions has so far emphasized the distal components of hand shaping and finger control for grasping as a defining feature of the ventral premotor cortex. An untested assumption of this perspective is that the selectivity of ventral premotor neurons for specific grip types remains consistent when the same object is grasped from different spatial positions - and hence with different body postures - during unconstrained grasping actions.
In this study, we tested this hypothesis by recording single-neuron activity from the ventral premotor cortex of two freely moving rhesus macaques, using chronically implanted floating multielectrode arrays and a 128-channel data logging system. During recordings, the monkeys grasped the same two objects - a large and a small sphere - using a Whole Hand (WH) grip and a Precision Grip (PG), respectively, while the objects were positioned in various locations within the home cage: on the ceiling, on a lower or upper part of the cage wall, or on a shelf. Each object location required different body postures to reach, grasp, and pull: standing and facing upward, sitting and facing forward, or sitting and facing downward with the back slightly bent or straight.
We recorded a total of 288 neurons, of which 54 showed no modulation during grasping actions, while the remaining 234 neurons exhibited significant modulation during grasping in at least one position. The proportion of modulated neurons was consistent across positions, as was the fraction of grip-selective neurons. Some neurons (n=99) showed no grip selectivity in any of the four positions. Among grip-selective neurons, only 4 cells (3%) maintained the same grip selectivity across all tested positions, 9 neurons (7%) exhibited the same selectivity in three positions, 23 neurons (17%) in two positions, and the majority (n=79, 58%) encoded the grip type exclusively in one of the four positions. Notably, a substantial fraction of grip-selective neurons (n=20, 15%) displayed different grip tuning depending on the object’s location.
We subsequently conducted a head-free intracortical microstimulation (ICMS) study, observing evoked axio-proximal movements involving the head, forelimb, and face/mouth. We found that stimulation at sites with grip-selective and grasp-related neurons predominantly evoked axio-proximal responses (43% at grip sites and 52.6% at grasp sites), while hand responses were observed less frequently (12.8% at grip sites and 12.3% at grasp sites).
These results suggest a substantial dependence of distal grip selectivity in premotor neuron activity on the axio-proximal postural component that accompanies the execution of grasping actions
Comparison between two protocols of antioxidant supplementation for dairy cattle recovery from heat stress
No full textLo stress da caldo rappresenta una delle principali sfide per l’allevamento bovino da latte, influenzando negativamente il benessere animale, la produzione e la fertilità. Il presente studio ha confrontato due protocolli di supplementazione antiossidante al fine di valutare l’efficacia della vitamina E, del selenio e dello zinco nel mitigare gli effetti dello stress ossidativo e nel favorire il recupero fisiologico delle bovine da latte sottoposte a condizioni ambientali estive.
L’esperimento è stato condotto su due gruppi di bovine pluripare, uno trattato con un’integrazione antiossidante (vitamina E + selenio + zinco) e uno di controllo, mantenuti nelle medesime condizioni gestionali e alimentari. Sono stati analizzati parametri produttivi, riproduttivi, fisiologici e biochimici (tra cui NEFA, BHBA, FRAP e concentrazioni sieriche di vitamina E).
I risultati hanno evidenziato che la supplementazione non ha modificato significativamente i principali parametri produttivi o fisiologici, ma ha contribuito al mantenimento di un equilibrio metabolico più stabile e a un miglior stato antiossidante, testimoniato dall’aumento dei livelli plasmatici di α-tocoferolo e dei valori di FRAP. Tali evidenze suggeriscono che la supplementazione antiossidante può svolgere un ruolo protettivo nei confronti dello stress ossidativo, migliorando l’adattamento metabolico e il benessere delle bovine in condizioni di stress termico.Heat stress is one of the major challenges in dairy cattle farming, negatively affecting animal welfare, milk production, and reproductive performance. This study compared two antioxidant supplementation protocols to evaluate the efficacy of vitamin E, selenium and zinc in mitigating oxidative stress and promoting physiological recovery in dairy cows exposed to summer heat conditions.
The experiment was conducted on two groups of multiparous dairy cows, one supplemented with an antioxidant protocol (vitamin E plus selenium plus zinc) and a control group, both maintained under the same feeding and management conditions. Productive, reproductive, physiological, and biochemical parameters (including NEFA, BHBA, FRAP, and serum vitamin E concentrations) were analyzed.
Results showed that antioxidant supplementation did not significantly affect productive or physiological parameters but contributed to maintaining a more stable metabolic balance and improving the antioxidant status, as evidenced by higher plasma α-tocopherol and FRAP values. These findings suggest that antioxidant supplementation plays a protective role against oxidative stress, enhancing metabolic adaptation and supporting animal welfare under heat stress conditions
Seniors and social networks : benefits of using alternative communication tools, self-perception of vulnerability and analysis of the phenomenon in the pre- and post-pandemic periods
No full textLa tesi analizza il ruolo dell’utilizzo di strumenti di comunicazione alternativi, in particolare dei social
network, nella terza età, focalizzandosi sui benefici percepiti, sull’autopercezione di vulnerabilità e
sulle differenze riscontrate nei periodi pre e post pandemico. Attraverso una revisione delle principali
teorie psicologiche sull’invecchiamento, viene evidenziato come l’età avanzata sia spesso
accompagnata da stereotipi e pregiudizi, sia sociali che autopercepiti, che possono influenzare
negativamente la qualità della vita e il processo di invecchiamento. L’elaborato approfondisce
l’impatto della pandemia da SARS-CoV-2 sugli stili di vita degli anziani, mettendo in luce come le
restrizioni abbiano accelerato l’adozione di tecnologie digitali e social network anche tra la
popolazione più anziana. Vengono analizzati i cambiamenti psicofisiologici propri della terza età, il
concetto di ageismo e le strategie di adattamento sviluppate dagli anziani, con particolare attenzione
all’invecchiamento attivo e di successo. La seconda parte della tesi si concentra sugli effetti dell’uso
delle nuove tecnologie sull’autopercezione di vulnerabilità, sia in ambito patologico che nella vita
quotidiana, evidenziando come l’accesso agli strumenti digitali possa favorire la socialità, la
resilienza e la partecipazione sociale, contribuendo a ridurre la percezione di isolamento e fragilità.
Infine, l’analisi dei dati raccolti durante e dopo la pandemia mostra come l’incremento dell’utilizzo
dei social network abbia avuto un impatto positivo sulla qualità della vita percepita dagli anziani,
suggerendo la necessità di promuovere politiche e interventi mirati all’inclusione digitale della terza
età e a sviluppare strumenti e piattaforme che siano di più facile accesso, in quanto emerge ancora
una certa difficoltà di utilizzo data dalla progettazione stessa, che si rivolge ad utenti più giovani e
non considera l’utilizzo da parte dei più anziani.This thesis analyzes the role of the use of alternative communication tools, in particular social
networks, in older age, focusing on perceived benefits, self-perception of vulnerability and differences
found in the pre- and post-pandemic periods. Through a review of the main psychological theories
on aging, it is highlighted how advanced age is often accompanied by stereotypes and prejudices,
both social and self-perceived , which can negatively affect the quality of life and the aging process.
The thesis delves into the impact of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on the lifestyles of the elderly,
highlighting how restrictions have accelerated the adoption of digital technologies and social
networks even among the older population. The psychophysiological changes typical of old age, the
concept of ageism and the adaptation strategies developed by the elderly are analyzed, with particular
attention to active and successful aging. The second part of the thesis focuses on the effects of the use
of new technologies on the self-perception of vulnerability, both in the pathological field and in
everyday life, highlighting how access to digital tools can promote sociability, resilience and social
participation, helping to reduce the perception of isolation and fragility. Finally, the analysis of the
data collected during and after the pandemic shows how the increase in the use of social networks
has had a positive impact on the quality of life perceived by the elderly, suggesting the need to
promote policies and interventions aimed at the digital inclusion of the elderly and to develop tools
and platforms that are easier to access, as a certain difficulty of use still emerges given the design
itself, which is aimed at younger users and does not consider the use by the elderly