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Nanoparticelle organiche fluorescenti per il bioimaging: dalla spettroscopia alle applicazioni in vitro ed ex vivo
No full textThis thesis focuses on lipid-based and polymer-based fluorescent organic nanoparticles (FONs) labelled with fluorescent dyes. Several advanced optical spectroscopic/microscopic techniques have been applied to the investigation of FONs as a whole and the encapsulated dyes, assessing their interactions in the native environment (typically aqueous suspensions) as well as when in contact with biological samples, such as ex vivo tissues (eyes and skin) and cell cultures. The thesis is organized into four chapters: Chapter 1, 2 and 3 present the preparation, spectroscopic characterization, and evaluation of the bioimaging capabilities of different FONs families exhibiting increasing complexity. In Chapter 1, self-folded unimer micelles derived from an amphiphilic random copolymer loaded with a simple hydrophobic fluorophore are discussed. Chapter 2 concerns the encapsulation of two different cyanine dyes into common polymeric or lipidic micelles, assessing the presence of FRET phenomena in the system. In Chapter 3, Quatsomes, a class of non-liposomial vesicles with an elaborate supramolecular structure are studied, by investigating the labelling with multiple fluorophores characterized by different physico-chemical properties or targeted surface functionalization. Chapter 4 collects the results obtained by combined spectroscopic and microscopic investigations of NPs specifically designed for drug delivery. In this context, the images and spectroscopic data retrieved from two-photon microscopy proved to be of major support to address the nanocarriers’ fate inside the tissues and corroborate quantification data concerning their permeation and retention. The research work presented in this thesis marks a significant advancement in the exploration of phenomena and nanomaterials for bioimaging applications
Product ecodesign: redesign of a kitchen appliance
No full textProgettazione di un elettrodomestico da cucina partendo dallo smontaggio e da un’analisi di punti di forza e debolezza di un prodotto già esistente sul mercato, con l’obbiettivo di migliorarne alcuni aspetti come ergonomia, funzionalità ed estetica. Il focus, inoltre, sarà rivolto alla sostenibilità del prodotto considerando l’intero ciclo di vita, partendo quindi dalla selezione delle materie prime fino allo smaltimento Design of a kitchen appliance starting from disassembly and an analysis of strengths and weaknesses of an existing product on the market, with the aim of improving some aspects such as ergonomics, functionality and aesthetics. The focus, moreover, will be on product sustainability considering the entire life cycle, thus starting from the selection of raw materials to disposal
Short-term effects on selected echocardiographic parameters of Pimobendan administration in dogs with stage b2 myxomatous mitral valve disease
No full textLa malattia degenerativa valvolare mitralica cronica (MMVD) rappresenta la patologia cardiaca acquisita più frequente nei cani. È fondamentale determinare la gravità della malattia in modo da stabilire una prognosi e per decidere con precisione il trattamento più opportuno.
Il Consensus Statement dell’American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM), aggiornato nel 2019, descrive il sistema di stadiazione più utilizzato per la malattia degenerativa valvolare mitralica cronica.
Lo stadio B2 si riferisce a cani asintomatici con rigurgito mitralico abbastanza grave da indurre rimodellamento cardiaco. Questi cani soddisfano i criteri clinici utilizzati per identificare i soggetti che beneficerebbero di iniziare la terapia con pimobendan al fine di ritardare la progressione allo stadio sintomatico della malattia.
Questo studio prospettico osservazionale di misura dell’effetto ha analizzato una popolazione di pazienti ACVIM B2 riferiti all’Ospedale Veterinario Universitario Didattico dell’Università di Parma (OVUD) e al Centro Veterinario Imperiese. Lo scopo dello studio è quello di valutare l’impatto della somministrazione di pimobendan su specifici parametri ecocardiografici, associati alla gravità della malattia e alla sua prognosi, dopo sette giorni dall’inizio della terapia.
Nel periodo di tempo compreso da agosto del 2021 a luglio del 2024, un totale di 27 cani hanno soddisfatto i criteri di inclusione e sono stati inclusi nello studio. Le razze più rappresentate erano Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, incroci e Chihuahua. Il numero di maschi era leggermente più alto del numero delle femmine. Il peso mediano dei cani era 8.1 kg, mentre l’età mediana era di 141 mesi.
Le misure ecocardiografiche valutate hanno messo in evidenza la riduzione del volume rigurgitante, della frazione rigurgitante e delle dimensioni atrio-ventricolari sinistre già dopo sette giorni di trattamento. Inoltre, la funzione sistolica è migliorata in entrambi i ventricoli. La stabilità delle pressioni polmonari ha poi dato ulteriore supporto all’effetto terapeutico del pimobendan.
I risultati offrono approfondimenti importanti sugli effetti a breve termine del pimobendan sul rimodellamento cardiaco e sulla funzionalità sistolica nei cani con MMVD.Myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) stands as the most prevalent acquired cardiac disease in dogs. It is essential to assess the severity of the illness to determine the prognosis and accurately identify the most appropriate treatment.
The updated 2019 American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) Consensus Statement outlines the most utilized staging system for myxomatous mitral valve disease in dogs.
Stage B2 refers to asymptomatic dogs with mitral regurgitation severe enough to induce cardiac remodeling. These dogs meet clinical trial criteria used to identify dogs that would benefit from starting pimobendan treatment to delay the progression of the disease to the symptomatic stage.
This prospective observational study analyzed a population of ACVIM B2 patients admitted to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital of Parma University (OVUD) and the Centro Veterinario Imperiese. The study aims to evaluate the impact of pimobendan administration on specific echocardiographic parameters associated with the severity and prognosis of the disease seven days after initiating therapy.
In the period between August 2021 and July 2024, a total of 27 dogs met the inclusion criteria and were included in the study. The most represented breeds were Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, mixed breed, and Chihuahua. The number of males was slightly higher than the number of females. The median weight of the dogs was 8.1 kg, whereas the median age was 141 months.
The echocardiographic measures revealed that the regurgitant volume, regurgitant fraction, and left atrial and ventricular dimensions decreased after seven days of treatment. Moreover, systolic function was enhanced in both ventricles. The stability of pulmonary pressures further supports the therapeutic effect of pimobendan.
The results offer valuable insights into the short-term effects of pimobendan on cardiac remodeling and systolic function in dogs with MMVD
Neural representations of self and other's actions in the monkey putamen nucleus
No full textIt is widely accepted that the cortical motor system plays a pivotal role not only in motor control, but in a variety of advanced perceptual, cognitive, and social functions as well. When observing the actions of others, an extended Action Observation Network (AON) encompassing cortical regions devoted to action planning and execution becomes active. Anatomical data in monkeys demonstrated that areas of the AON send convergent projections to overlapping territories of the putamen nucleus in the basal ganglia, suggesting that this nucleus may not only contribute to the selection of one’s own action, but also to the representation of the action of others.
To address this issue, we recorded neuronal activity from 573 single-units in the putamen nucleus of two male rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) during a Mutual Action Task in which each animal and an experimenter facing the same device in a shared operational space in between them, took turns based on learned contextual cues to grasp or observe the other agent grasping and lifting the same multi-affordance object, which could be grasped wither with a precision grip (PG) or with a whole hand prehension (WH).
Most of the recorded neurons (n = 301) exhibited a modulation during the reaching-grasping period of the task performed by the animals, most often with an increase of their firing rate with respect to the baseline. Almost 40% of the motor-related units (n = 120) showed a significantly different discharge between the two examined grip types, with a similar number of neurons exhibiting a preference for PG and WH prehension.
Amongst those neurons whose activity was modulated during the reaching-grasping epoch of the task, we found that the great majority encoded selectively monkeys’ own action (self-type, n = 212), a smaller fraction was active only during action observation (other-type, n = 66), whereas the remaining discharged in both conditions (self-other type, n = 89). During active movement facilitated neurons prevailed over suppressed ones, whereas in observation trials we found a balanced number of excited an inhibited cells. Amongst self-other type neurons, the majority exhibited a “classical” MN activity, being facilitated during both action execution and observation (FF-type, n = 41), however we also recorded a sizeable fraction of cells being consistently suppressed during both conditions (SS-type, n = 26), or that showed opposite discharge patterns depending on which subject was performing the action (FS- and SF-type).
Our findings constitute one of the first empirical demonstrations of the existence of putamen neurons specifically modulated by others’ observed actions, supporting the hypothesis of an involvement of the basal ganglia in the AON and indicating the need to causally investigate its overall modulatory impact on the functioning of the cortical AON
Fasti e disfide. Ricerche sullo spettacolo di corte tra le carte dell’Archivio di Stato di Firenze: il caso de La Flora e de La Disfida d’Ismeno
No full textNel 1628 fu celebrato a Firenze il matrimonio di Margherita de’ Medici e Odoardo Farnese, duca di Parma e Piacenza. Attraverso l’incrocio di documenti di varia natura conservati perlopiù all’Archivio di Stato di Firenze si può ripercorrere il composito iter festivo e gettare nuova luce su tappe celebrative spesso relegate in secondo piano. Rievocando le celebrazioni nuziali dei giorni dal 6 al 22 ottobre, ci si concentrerà in particolar modo sulla “commedia” La Flora e sul torneo La disfida d’Ismeno
Wine, gastronomy and regenerative tourism: tools for exploring the local area and culture. The case study of Central Ostrobothnia in Finland.
No full textLa presente tesi si propone di analizzare e valutare modelli al
ternativi di turismo, in contrasto con quelli predominanti nella
nostra società che causano sovraffollamento e compromet
tono l’autenticità culturale e naturale dei luoghi da visitare.
In questo contesto, il turismo rigenerativo può essere un vali
do approccio che si concentra sul generare attivamente, e a
lungo termine, impatti positivi, per apportare benefici al
territorio.
La tesi propone la creazione di una piattaforma web che met
ta in contatto viaggiatori volontari e attività locali, con l’intento
di provocare una riflessione sulla dicotomia del turismo: quel
la del turista, guidata da aspettative preconfezionate, e quella
dei locali, che offre un’autentica esperienza, promuovendo
esperienze reali e consigliando attività culturali genuine.
Nello specifico la tesi considera la regione dell’Ostrobotnia
Centrale in Finlandia come caso studio, inserito all’interno del
progetto Interreg Europe SYSTOUR. L’obiettivo è dunque in
dirizzare i flussi turistici verso aree rurali attraverso strategie e
applicazioni del design sistemico per il sistema agroalimen
tare.Si pone dunque l’accento sui tratti distintivi del territorio,
comprendendo come la valorizzazione della cultura locale,
delle tradizioni e delle risorse naturali svolga un ruolo chiave,
in stretta relazione con il patrimonio gastronomico.This thesis aims to analyze and evaluate al
ternative models of tourism, as opposed to those predominant in
our society that cause overcrowding and compromise
tone the cultural and natural authenticity of the places to be visited.
In this context, regenerative tourism can be a vali
approach that focuses on actively generating, and in the
long-term, positive impacts, to bring benefits to the
territory.
This thesis proposes the creation of a web platform that met
connects volunteer travelers and local businesses, with the intent
of provoking reflection on the dichotomy of tourism: that
that of the tourist, driven by pre-packaged expectations, and that
of locals, which offers an authentic experience, promoting
real experiences and recommending genuine cultural activities.
Specifically, the thesis considers the region of Ostrobothnia
Central in Finland as a case study, embedded within the
Interreg Europe SYSTOUR project. The objective is therefore to in
directing tourism flows to rural areas through strategies and
applications of systemic design for the agri-food system.
tare.Emphasis is thus placed on the distinctive features of the area,
understanding how the enhancement of local culture,
traditions and natural resources plays a key role,
in close relation to gastronomic heritage
Performance analysis of 5G networks: a joint experimental and simulative approach
No full textFifth Generation (5G) Technology is poised to bring in a revolutionary era in wireless communications, promising significant enhancements in data speed, latency, and connectivity. Specifically, 5G is slated to radically alter various sectors, enabling real-time interactions, broadening the Internet of Things (IoT) ecosystem, and catalyzing advancements in autonomous vehicles and intelligent urban growth. The advent of 5G signifies a monumental transition in wireless communications, notably beneficial for vehicular communications where immediate data exchange is imperative for maintaining road safety, improving traffic flow, and enabling autonomous driving capabilities. Employing Commercial of the Shelf (COTS) modems for 5G emerges as a pragmatic and efficient strategy in this approach, providing a standardized solution that fast-tracks integration, simplifies development challenges, and proves invaluable for real-world testing to evaluate 5G performance across diverse vehicular communication scenarios. The high-speed mobility vehicles within 5G networks necessitates a critical examination of handover processes to guarantee uninterrupted and reliable connectivity. The intricacy of handover in 5G, while complex, is pivotal, requiring rigorous optimization to tackle potential challenges like latency, packet loss, and service interruptions that could obstruct real-time communication in vehicular systems. This doctoral thesis ventures into an extensive (both experimental and simulative) exploration of 5G technology, its notable advancements over its predecessor (4G), and its applicability in the sphere of vehicular communications. In depth, this doctoral thesis methodically unravels the 5G protocol stack, investigates signals and channels, and undertakes experimentations in a Matlab environment. It further probes into the functionalities and performance of COTS 5G modems, various antennas, and road test setups, culminating in an empirical analysis of handover performance within 5G networks. Through rigorous experimental campaigns, this doctoral thesis examines handover procedures, underscoring the advantages of small cells in diminishing unnecessary handovers. This investigation augments vehicular communication systems using 5G for a safer and more proficient future
Therapeutic management and monitoring of hyperthyroid cats: a survey of Italian veterinarians
No full textIn questo studio si descrive la tiroide nel gatto, i suoi processi fisiologici e le condizioni patologiche associate, con un focus sull'ipertiroidismo felino. La ghiandola produce ormoni chiave per il metabolismo e altre funzioni vitali. L'ipertiroidismo, rilevato nel 10% dei gatti anziani, è in aumento a causa della longevità e del numero crescente di gatti domestici. Fattori genetici e ambientali, come l'uso di isoflavoni e altri inquinanti, aumentano il rischio di comparsa della malattia.
I sintomi dell'ipertiroidismo includono principalmente perdita di peso, poliuria-polidipsia e cambiamenti nel comportamento. La diagnosi coinvolge vari test, tra cui la concentrazione del T4 sierico il più utilizzato per fare diagnosi e la scintigrafia considerato il gold standard. Sono descritte quattro opzioni di trattamento: terapia medica, dieta a basso contenuto di iodio, tiroidectomia e ablazione con radioiodio. La scelta dipende dalla situazione clinica del paziente e dalle preferenze del proprietario.
Questo studio condotto in Italia su 152 veterinari rivela che il 52% ha più di 15 anni di esperienza e il 70% lavora nel Nord Italia. La gestione dell'ipertiroidismo varia in base al paziente e la terapia medica è la più utilizzata. Il Metimazolo in sciroppo è il farmaco preferito e il 78% dei veterinari esegue il primo controllo dopo 3-4 settimane, poi i controlli si riducono ogni 3-6 mesi. La tiroidectomia è eseguita solo dall’11% dei veterinari, principalmente a causa di complicazioni e costi. La terapia con radioiodio è considerata il trattamento di elezione nel 52% dei casi, ma è limitata da costi e accesso. La dieta a basso contenuto di iodio è l’ultima alternativa e nel 50% dei casi viene proposta quando le altre opzioni terapeutiche non sono possibili.This study describes the thyroid in cats, its physiological processes, and associated pathological conditions, with a focus on feline hyperthyroidism. The gland produces key hormones for metabolism and other vital functions. Hyperthyroidism, detected in 10% of elderly cats, is on the rise due to longevity and an increasing number of domestic cats. Genetic and environmental factors, such as the use of isoflavones and other pollutants, increase the risk of the disease.
Symptoms of hyperthyroidism primarily include weight loss, polyuria-polydipsia, and behavioral changes. Diagnosis involves various tests, with serum T4 concentration being the most commonly used for diagnosis and scintigraphy considered the gold standard. Four treatment options are described: medical therapy, low-iodine diet, thyroidectomy, and radioiodine ablation. The choice depends on the patient's clinical situation and owner preferences.
This study conducted in Italy with 152 veterinarians reveals that 52% have over 15 years of experience, and 70% work in Northern Italy. The management of hyperthyroidism varies based on the patient, and medical therapy is the most utilized. Methimazole in syrup is the preferred drug, and 78% of veterinarians conduct the first follow-up after 3-4 weeks, followed by subsequent check-ups every 3-6 months. Thyroidectomy is performed by only 11% of veterinarians, mainly due to complications and costs. Radioiodine therapy is considered the treatment of choice in 52% of cases but is limited by costs and accessibility. The low-iodine diet is the last resort and is proposed in 50% of cases when other therapeutic options are not possible
Food in american pop art: the representation of the consumer society
No full textIl cibo durante gli anni sessanta in America diventa una vera e propria merce di consumo, al pari di qualsiasi altro prodotto industriale, infatti si trasforma in un vero e proprio oggetto di culto, finalizzato a soddisfare una necessità di possesso fine a sé stesso.
L’alimento, insieme a tutto il sistema che ne deriva, è il tema dominante all’interno delle opere degli artisti della pop art che, attraverso la loro visione, rappresentano le varie sfaccettature del consumo. L’intento principale è rappresentare l’obiettivo espressivo di esasperazione di una cultura di massa sempre più insistente, fenomeno che caratterizza l’America di quegli anni, patria dello sviluppo dell’estremo esibizionismo.
Si assiste anche ad un riscontro concreto sulla società, tramite un processo di mercificazione dell’arte, sfruttata dalle aziende produttrici per amplificare il mercato, cercando di veicolare i consensi mediante una pubblicità iconografica.During the 1960s in America, food became a real consumer good, just like any other industrial product, in fact it transformed into a real cult object, aimed at satisfying a need for possession as an end in itself.
Food, together with the entire system that derives from it, is the dominant theme in the works of pop art artists who, through their vision, represent the various facets of consumption. The main intent is to represent the expressive objective of exasperation of an increasingly insistent mass culture, a phenomenon that characterizes America in those years, home to the development of extreme exhibitionism.
We also witness a concrete response on society, through a process of commodification of art, exploited by manufacturing companies to amplify the market, trying to convey consensus through iconographic advertising
Genetic diversity characteriza$on from genomic and pedigree data for two Italian donkey breeds
No full textLa diversità genetica è da sempre un elemento essenziale nella conservazione e nel miglioramento delle specie di interesse zootecnico. Questa tesi ha l'obiettivo di caratterizzare l'allevamento asinino e di comprendere la diversità genetica di due importanti razze asinine italiane, Romagnolo e Amiata, utilizzando i dati da pedigree e quelli genomici. Lo scopo principale è quello di valutare la variazione di consanguineità e di confrontare, tramite un T-test, le stime ottenute valutando la presenza di differenze quando si stima la consanguineità da dato di pedigree e genomico.
I risultati hanno portato alla luce differenze significative tra le stime di consanguineità da dati di pedigree e genomici, indicando quanto sia importante che la biologia molecolare tramite analisi genomiche entri a fare parte della routine di popolazioni animali a limitata diffusione.
La discussione dei risultati è finalizzata a fornire informazioni circa le strategie di conservazione e programmi di miglioramento genetico orientati a promuovere la sostenibilità delle popolazioni asinine.Genetic diversity has always been an essential element in the conservation and improvement of
species of livestock interest. This thesis seeks to evaluate the diûerent breeding and farming
strategies and understand the genetic diversity of two important Italian donkey breeds,
Romagnolo and Amiata, using pedigree and genomic data. The main purpose is to assess the
variation in inbreeding and to compare, by means of a T-test, the obtained estimates.
The results uncovered significant differences between estimates of inbreeding from pedigree and
genomic data, indicating how important it is for molecular biology via genomic tools to become
part of the routine of limited animal populations. The results seek to provide information about
conservation strategies and genetic improvement programs geared toward promoting the
sustainability of asinine populations