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Prevalenza, progressione e mortalità di alterazioni polmonari interstiziali in oltre 20.000 TC addominali e toraco-addominali non selezionate
No full textInterstitial lung abnormalities (ILA) represent radiologic abnormalities incidentally detected on computed tomography (CT) scans, potentially associated with increased risk of progression toward frank pulmonary fibrosis and mortality.
We aim at evaluating frequency, progression, and associated mortality of ILA depictable in a large cohort of unselected subjects who had undergone either abdominal CT or thoracic-abdominal CT for various clinical indications.
Consecutive abdominal or thoraco-abdominal CT scans, performed on a large cohort of inpatients and outpatients without any available prior chest CT scan, were reviewed for the presence of ILA according to the Fleischner Society recommendations. Radiological progression of ILA was evaluated by comparing the first and the last available CT timepoints. Demographic and clinical data were obtained from hospital database and regional registry. Cox proportional hazards models were used to assess factors associated with hazards of ILA progression and mortality.
ILA were observed in 362/21.118 (1.7%) subjects; with fibrotic ILA recognized in approximately 1% of either baseline abdominal or thoraco-abdominal CT scans. A definite progression was observed in 44.4% subjects. ILA were independently associated with either all-cause mortality (OR 4.158, 95%CI 2.2165-8.9908, p<0.0001) or mortality due to respiratory disease (OR 4.76., 95%CI 11.95, p=0009)
Reinventing tin packaging: evolution and innovation in packaging for baked goods and confectionery products
No full textQuesta tesi ripercorre l’evoluzione del packaging in latta per i prodotti dolciari, esplorando la sua storia, i processi di lavorazione e lo sviluppo del design. Attraverso l’analisi di casi studio reali, vengono create linee guida per un packaging che unisca tradizione e modernità, integrando soluzioni di smart packaging. La tesi si conclude con la proposta di un packaging innovativo, supportato da nuove strategie promozionali dinamiche e interattive, capaci di rispondere alle sfide contemporanee del mercato e coinvolgere attivamente i consumatori. This thesis traces the evolution of tin packaging for baked goods and confectionery products, exploring its history, production processes, and design development. Through the analysis of real-world case studies, it establishes guidelines for packaging that blends tradition and modernity, incorporating smart packaging solutions. The thesis concludes with the proposal of an innovative packaging concept, supported by new dynamic and interactive promotional strategies designed to address contemporary market challenges and actively engage consumers.
Detection of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales in food producing animals and human patients: A "One Health" perspective
No full textIn past decades, antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) bacteria became a growing public health concern. Over time, this phenomenon has become a significant problem on a global scale, particularly for those pathogens showing resistance against molecules of primary interest in the medical treatment of bacterial infections in humans, such as carbapenems.
Carbapenems, which belong to the macro-class of β-lactams, are considered by the World Health Organization (WHO) to be “Critically Important Antimicrobials” (CIAs), i.e., drugs used only in extreme cases and as a last line of defense against infections caused by multidrug-resistant Gram- negative microorganisms. The strategies used by bacteria to develop effective resistance to antimicrobials involve many cellular functions, and the main mechanism of resistance to carbapenems is the production of specific enzymes belonging to the β-lactamase class, called carbapenemases. Among these enzymes, those that pose the greatest threat to public health are KPC (Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase), NDM (New Delhi metallo-beta-lactamase), VIM (Verona integron-encoded-metallo-β-lactamase), IMP (Imipenemase) and OXA-48 (oxacillinase).
Although the use of carbapenems is banned in veterinary medicine, bacteria resistant to these antimicrobials have been increasingly isolated from food-producing animals in recent years. This phenomenon is probably due to two factors: the selective pressure resulting from the misuse/abuse of antimicrobials, especially other β-lactams, in veterinary medicine, and the contamination from wastewaters, especially those coming from hospitals or highly urbanized environments.
Since humans, animals and the environment are closely interlinked, a “One Health” approach is essential to address the problem. For this reason, this study included samples of both human and animal origin. The samples of human origin consisted of 199 urine samples collected from patients hospitalized at the Parma University-Hospital. The samples of animal origin included 691 rectal swabs collected from cows at slaughter, 317 bovine milk filters and 231 fecal samples collected from slaughtered pigs in Parma province.
Since infections caused by carbapenem-resistant bacteria are mainly associated with healthcare settings and are often caused by bacteria belonging to the Enterobacterales family, especially K. pneumoniae and E. coli, human and animal samples were tested for the presence of carbapenem- resistant Enterobacterales. Genotypic methods were used to identify carbapenemases in the isolates that shew signs of resistance to carbapenems in the antimicrobial susceptibility tests (Kirby-Bauer test and Minimal Inhibitory Concentration assay).
A total of 53 Enterobacterales strains phenotypically resistant to carbapenems were isolated from the four matrices. Of these, 18 strains (33.96%) were isolated from the human urine samples, 16 (30.19%) from the bovine milk filters, 10 (18.87%) from the bovine rectal swabs and 9 (16.98%) from the pig stools samples. Genes encoding for carbapenemases were found in 7 (13.21%) of these isolates: 2 (3.77%) from human samples, 2 (3.77%) from milk filters and 3 (5.66%) from pig samples. None of the bovine rectal swab isolates were found positive. The genes found in this study belonged to the KPC, VIM and OXA-48-like families.
This project was a collaboration between the Inspection of Food of Animal Origin Unit and the Infectious Diseases Unit of the Department of Veterinary Science and the Nephrology Unit of the Department of Medicine and Surgery of the University of Parma
Sistema di Controllo basato sul Digital Twin potenziato dall'Apprendimento Automatico nei processi dell'industria alimentare
No full textThis work aims to design and implement a comprehensive DT system for the food industry, focusing on process control and optimization for industrial plants not ready for Industry 4.0, enhanced with machine learning
The Art of Memory in Sixteenth-century Civic Celebrations: Tableaux Vivants, Triumphal Arches and their Digital Afterlife
No full textThis essay discusses the presence of mnemonic imagery in mid-sixteenth century ceremonial entries through an analysis of tableaux vivants and triumphal arches erected in the 1540s in honour of Henri II of Valois, Charles V, and Philip II. The conclusion highlights how these ephemeral assemblages exploit the multisensory attributes of the art of memory to fabricate historical narratives. An epilogue explores the contributions of digital archives to the study of early modern representations of memory
Progressi in chimica organometallica: dalla progettazione dei ligandi alla reattività a cascata
No full textThe present PhD thesis enclose different cutting-edge developments in the field of organometallic chemistry and it is divided into four chapters. The first chapter focuses on the development of a synthetic strategy for the diastereoselective synthesis of tetrahydropyranes through the silver(I)-promoted dimerization of cinnamyl ethers. The second chapter explores the effect of visible light intensity on the two-photon promoted intermolecular cascade of 1,6-enynes and alkenes. The third part involves the preparation of a new family of efficient Ir(III) photosensitizers adorned with pendant radical-stabilizing naphthyl functions. The final chapter investigates the synthesis of bis-phosphine allenes and their application as metallic ligands in asymmetric catalysis.La presente tesi di dottorato comprende vari progressi nel campo della chimica organometallica ed è divisa in quattro capitoli. Il primo capitolo si concentra sullo sviluppo di una strategia sintetica per la sintesi diastereoselettiva di tetraidropirani attraverso la dimerizzazione di cinnamil eteri promossa da sali di argento(I). Il secondo capitolo esplora l'effetto dell'intensità della luce visibile sulla reazione intermolecolare a cascata di 1,6-enine e alcheni, promossa da due fotoni . La terza parte riguarda la preparazione di una nuova classe di fotocatalizzatori di Ir(III), decorati con funzioni naftile per la stabilizzazione dei radicali. L'ultimo capitolo investiga la sintesi di bis-fosfino alleni e la loro applicazione come ligandi metallici in catalisi asimmetrica
Semantic-lexical indices of verbal fluency as preclinical markers of Alzheimer’s disease
No full textIl sistema di memoria semantica è supportato da un circuito neurale di cui fanno parte alcune strutture del lobo
temporale mediale: in particolare, la corteccia entorinale e la corteccia peririnale. Queste aree sono le prime a
mostrare la presenza dei correlati neuropatologici della patologia associata alla malattia di Alzheimer
(Alzheimer’s Disease, AD) (stadi di Braak I e II); per questo motivo, negli ultimi decenni si è iniziato a
guardare allo studio della memoria semantica alla ricerca di indicatori di decadimento cognitivo dovuto ad AD
in fase preclinica e prodromica. I test di fluenza categoriale (o CFT) si sono dimostrati molto utili nel mettere
in luce il funzionamento della memoria semantica e nel discriminare tra soggetti sani e soggetti ai primi stadi
dell’AD (Mild Cognitive Impairment, MCI). Questo ha portato a voler trovare degli indicatori più precisi del
funzionamento della memoria semantica, rispetto al numero di parole prodotte ai CFT. Per questo, si è iniziato
a considerare la complessità semantica delle parole prodotte ed a cercare degli indicatori di questa: la tipicalità
delle parole, la frequenza d’uso e la familiarità sono solo alcuni di quelli proposti. I risultati del presente lavoro
suggeriscono che la frequenza d’uso delle parole prodotte ai CFT sia una variabile importante nel distinguere
tra soggetti sani e soggetti con MCI. Sono stati inoltre presi in considerazione due indicatori proposti più
recentemente: la relazione tra l’ordine di rievocazione delle parole (SRO) e le variabili semantico-lessicali
considerate e l’indice di discrepanza semantico-fonemica (SPD). I risultati relativi a questi due tipi di analisi
suggeriscono che ulteriori approfondimenti in merito sono necessari.The semantic memory system is supported by a neural circuit that includes some structures of the medial
temporal lobe, in particular the entorhinal cortex and the perirhinal cortex. These areas are the first to exhibit
the neuropathological correlates of Alzheimer's disease (AD) (Braak stages I and II). For this reason, in recent
decades, research has increasingly focused on the study of semantic memory to identify indices of cognitive
decline due to AD in its preclinical and prodromal stages. Category Fluency Tests (CFTs) have proven very
useful in revealing the functioning of semantic memory and in distinguishing between healthy individuals and
those in the early stages of AD (Mild Cognitive Impairment, MCI). This has led to efforts to identify more
precise indices of semantic memory functioning, beyond the number of words produced in CFTs. As a result,
researchers have begun to consider the semantic complexity of the words produced and to search for indices
of this, such as: word typicality, frequency, and familiarity are just some of the proposed measures. The results
of the present work suggest that the frequency of use of the words produced in CFTs is an important variable
in distinguishing between healthy individuals and those with MCI. Additionally, two more recently proposed
indices have been considered: the relationship between the serial order of recall (SRO) and the semantic-lexical
variables analyzed, and the Semantic-Phonemic Discrepancy Index (SPD). Findings from these two types of
analyses suggest that further investigation is needed
Oscillazioni elettroencefalografiche durante l'elaborazione di architetture : uno studio EEG tempo-frequenza analizzando delle camminate in realtà virtuale
No full textGiven the meaningful amount of time we spend in the built environment, it is crucial to investigate the influence of these spaces on our brain. We live, work, and perform many daily activities indoors, making it essential to understand how such environments impact us, particularly our perception, cognitive functions, and ultimately human behaviour. Despite significant progress in this field, much remains to be understood.
To address the need for a deeper understanding of how dynamic architectural experiences influence brain oscillatory activity, it was developed an experimental paradigm utilizing Virtual Reality (VR) and high-density electroencephalography (EEG). By using VR, it was explored how different architectural environments—low-arousing and high-arousing structures—impact brain activity. Participants virtually navigated through these environments while EEG data was continuously recorded to capture neural responses and analyse oscillatory patterns across various frequency bands (delta, theta, alpha, beta and gamma).
The EEG data, collected during these dynamic virtual experiences, was then subjected to time-frequency analysis. EEG desynchronizations in the frequency bands were found when comparing the low- and high- arousing architectural conditions to the baseline. Notably, when comparing low and high environments no significant differences were found in delta, theta, alpha, and beta activity, suggesting that these bands are more related to movement patterns than the arousal level of the architectures. However, cluster-based permutation tests revealed a decrease in gamma activity in the high-arousal condition compared to the low-arousal condition, particularly in the left parietal region. These significant differences were found during specific time windows: acceleration and deceleration, likely due to the change in walking speed, and transition, driven by variations in architectural spaces, highlighting how gamma activity responds to both movement and spatial variation. This suggest that dynamic architectural experiences could modulate attentional mechanisms. Further research is needed to explore how these changes in gamma activity might influence attentional mechanisms and social processing, potentially highlighting, even more, the role of the environment in shaping the brain's response to social stimuli. Understanding this relationship could guide the design of human-centered spaces that not only enhance our mental state, but can also shape social interactions and relationships.
As we spend a significant amount of time in the bult environment, so it becomes essential to be able to strategically design and construct spaces that positively influence our mental state, emotions, and overall well-being. By creating spaces that take into consideration our psychological health, we can built environments that are not only functional but also support a higher quality of life.Trascorriamo un considerevole quantitativo di tempo all’interno dell'ambiente costruito, perciò è fondamentale indagare l'influenza di questi spazi sul nostro cervello. Viviamo, lavoriamo e svolgiamo molte attività quotidiane all’interno di spazi chiusi, il che rende essenziale comprendere come tali ambienti influenzino la nostra percezione, le nostre funzioni cognitive e il comportamento umano. Nonostante i notevoli progressi ottenuti in questo campo, molti aspetti restano ancora da approfondire.
Per far fronte questa esigenza, è stato sviluppato un paradigma sperimentale che utilizza la Realtà Virtuale (VR) e l'elettroencefalografia ad alta densità (EEG), per comprendere in modo più approfondito come le esperienze dinamiche dell’architettura influenzino l'attività cerebrale. Attraverso l'uso della VR, è stato possibile esplorare come diversi ambienti architettonici—strutture a bassa e ad alta attivazione (arousal)—influenzino i ritmi cerebrali. I partecipanti hanno navigato virtualmente attraverso questi ambienti, mentre i dati EEG venivano registrati per rilevare le risposte neurali e analizzare le oscillazioni nelle diverse bande di frequenza (delta, theta, alfa, beta e gamma).
I dati EEG, raccolti durante queste esperienze dinamiche in realtà virtuale, sono stati successivamente sottoposti a un'analisi tempo-frequenza. Sono state rilevate desincronizzazioni nelle bande di frequenza confrontando le due condizioni architettoniche con la baseline. Tuttavia, nel confronto tra i due ambienti, a basso e alto arousal, non sono emerse differenze significative nelle attività delle bande delta, theta, alfa e beta, suggerendo che queste bande siano più legate al movimento piuttosto che al livello di arousal degli spazi architettonici. Al contrario, i test di permutazione basati su cluster hanno rivelato una diminuzione dell'attività gamma nella condizione ad alto arousal rispetto a quella a basso arousal, in particolare nell’area parietale di sinistra. Queste differenze significative sono state rilevate in specifiche finestre temporali: durante l’accelerazione e la decelerazione, probabilmente dovuti ai cambiamenti nella velocità di camminata, e durante la transizione, legata, invece, alle variazioni degli spazi architettonici. I risultati evidenziano come l'attività gamma risponda sia al movimento sia alla modifica dello spazio, suggerendo inoltre che le esperienze dinamiche all’interno di spazi architettonici potrebbero modulare meccanismi attentivi.
Ulteriori ricerche sono necessarie per indagare come queste variazioni dell'attività gamma possano influenzare l’attenzione e l’elaborazione di stimoli sociali, evidenziando ulteriormente il ruolo dell'ambiente nel modulare la risposta del cervello a tali stimoli. Comprendere questa relazione potrebbe guidare la progettazione di spazi costruiti attenti al benessere umano, capaci non solo di migliorare il nostro stato mentale, ma anche di facilitare le interazioni e le relazioni sociali.
Poiché trascorriamo gran parte del nostro tempo all’interno dell’ambiente costruito, diventa essenziale progettare e costruire ambienti che abbiamo un impatto positivo sul nostro stato mentale, sulle emozioni e sul benessere generale. Creando ambienti che tengano conto della nostra salute psicologica, è possibile ottenere ambienti non solo funzionali, ma anche in grado di supportare una migliore qualità della vita
Runs of homozygosity as selection signatures in five Italian horse breeds
No full textLe tecnologie genomiche a disposizione oggi sono fondamentali per conservare la diversità genetica e la biodiversità, sia di grandi popolazioni sia, soprattutto, di piccole popolazioni più a rischio. La presente tesi si propone di indagare le regioni di omozigosi (runs of homozigosity - ROH) in cinque razze equine italiane autoctone (Bardigiano, Haflinger, Maremmano, Murgese e CAITPR), utilizzando dati genomici, per valutare la presenza di segni genomici di selezione e il livello di consanguineità in queste razze.
Lo studio ha portato alla luce interessanti risultati sulle ROH condivise, ma anche quelle “private” (cioè riscontrate solo in una singola razza), e sulle funzioni dei geni contenuti all’interno di esse. Inoltre, è stata confermata la presenza di segni genomici di selezione ed è stato possibile valutare più precisamente la consanguineità. I risultati ottenuti permettono di elaborare strategie di miglioramento genetico senza compromettere la conservazione di tali razze native.Genomic technologies available today are essential to preserve genetic diversity and biodiversity, both in large populations and, especially, in smaller populations that are at greater risk. This thesis aims to investigate runs of homozygosity (ROH) in five Italian native horse breeds (Bardigiano, Haflinger, Maremmano, Murgese, and CAITPR), using genomic data to assess the presence of genomic signatures of selection and inbreeding level in these breeds. The study revealed interesting results regarding shared ROH, as well as private ones (found only in a single breed), and the functional genes contained within them. The presence of selection signatures was confirmed, and a precise assessment of inbreeding was possible. The results enable the development of genetic improvement strategies, while preserving the conservation of these native breeds
Risposta genetica e molecolare ai quantum dot in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
No full textQuantum dots are colloidal semiconductor nanocrystals with peculiar optical properties, widely studied for industrial and biomedical applications. Zinc sulphide quantum dots (ZnS QDs) are commonly utilized as shell material in core-shell QD structures, being considered more biocompatible compared to other metal-based QDs. However, limited research has been conducted regarding their effects as ZnS QDs core-only. This Ph.D. thesis aims to utilize the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a model organism to investigate the genetic and molecular response associated with exposure to this type of QDs. Following preliminary analyses on ZnS QD characterization and their effects on wild type growth, the initial phase of the project focused on screening a YKO (Yeast Knock-Out) collection, comprising haploid mutants deleted in non-essential genes. The identification of sensitive mutants deleted in genes encoding for proteins localized in mitochondria, involved in response to chemicals and with oxidoreductase activity, prompted further investigation into the phenotype of mutants deleted for genes with crucial roles in maintaining redox homeostasis in mitochondria: the medium sensitive mutants sod1Δ and glr1Δ and the hypersensitive mutant pos5Δ. The ability of these mutants to grow on non-fermentable carbon sources supplemented with ZnS QDs has been tested, revealing that respiratory metabolism could be involved in shaping ZnS QD response. Interestingly, when growth in the presence of CdS QDs, a type of cadmium-based QD previously reported to induce higher toxicity in this model organism, they revealed different degrees of sensitivity, suggesting that different detoxification mechanisms could be activated in response to specific types of QDs. Specifically, the hypersensitivity exhibited by the pos5Δ, deleted for a mitochondrial NADH kinase, was specific for ZnS QDs. To further dissect its phenotype, pos5Δ was exposed to other positively charged ENMs, cerium oxide nanoparticles (CeO2 NPs) and ferrous ferric NPs (Fe3O4 NPs), or to the presence of ZnSO4, to assess the effect of a potential release of zinc ions. Overall, the analyses revealed that surface charge and a potential release of Zn2+ ions likely do not play significant roles in shaping the ZnS QD-hypersensitivity. Flow cytometry analyses conducted on the wild type strain and the pos5Δ deletion mutant did not reveal an increase in reactive oxygen species following ZnS QD treatment; however, the analyses highlighted an increase in the percentage of dead cells in pos5Δ. Lately, the Ph.D. project availed of another omics approach to study ZnS QD response. RNA samples were extracted from wild type strain and pos5Δ at two different time points after treatment with ZnS QDs and ZnSO4, to compare the early and the late responses. RNA-sequencing has been performed to analyse the transcriptional changes induced in the different tested conditions. Along with some overlap in the annotation terms enriched in the presence of ZnSO4 and ZnS QDs, this latter specifically modulates proteins associated with membrane, metal-binding proteins, and impacts protein translation processes in the wild type strains. The alteration of various biosynthetic processes in the transcriptional landscape of the untreated pos5Δ deletion mutant highlighted the pleiotropic effect of POS5 deletion, also revealing a significant modulation of mitochondrial proteins and proteins with oxidoreductase activity. Furthermore, the analysis revealed that exposure to ZnS QDs selectively induced modulation of genes encoding proteins involved in mitochondrial processes, metal binding, and intracellular trafficking in the pos5Δ deletion mutant. The peculiar modulation observed in some metallochaperones, transcription factors, and metal transporters across different strains emphasized a potential influence of ZnS QDs on metal homeostasis. Within the context of an altered regulatory profile induced by pos5Δ genetic background, this could contribute to the specific hypersensitivity exhibited by pos5Δ. Overall, this study investigated the cellular response elicited by exposure to ZnS QDs in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, availing of different omics methodologies and exploiting the distinctive sensitivity phenotypes of different deletion mutants. Saccharomyces cerevisiae has proved to be a valuable model organism for studying the intricate dynamics of ENM interaction within biological systems