InsubriaSPACE
Not a member yet
702 research outputs found
Sort by
Il diritto di proprietà nella circolazione delle opere d'arte. I confini fra diritti “privati” e interesse pubblico nella teoria dei beni comuni.
The object of this research is twofold: on the one hand the property right, with particular reference to the public property; on the other hand, the issue of national and international circulation of works of art.
The two topics, certainly interrelated and interconnected, are analyzed through the deepening of the theory of commons, from its origins in the sixties of the last century to the recent doctrinal and social debates that have involved, in recent years, the Italian academy and politics.
Can the property be only public or private, or can a third category exist?
Can works of art, and more generally cultural assets, be included among the so-called commons?
Can theories concerning commons influence the adoption by the sovereign States of laws that are more or less favorable to the circulation of works of art?
The answer to these questions can be both normative and philosophical and derives from a value choice that every legal system must necessarily adopt: the answers will certainly be different, in the same way that, all around the world, there are sovereign States "exporters" and sovereign States "importers" of works of art
Distanza tra docenti e studenti nella percezione dello studio della fisica: valutazione e proposte di didattica laboratoriale.
Physics teachers need to take into account that students’ approach Physics is often very different from theirs. This is why teachers should be involved in an effort to transform their teaching method from traditional transmissive lectures to more interactive activities, in which students can learn not only the notions but also the correct method to approach physics and look at the reality.
Two are the leading ideas: first, students have their own background knowledge of reality, which, in many cases, is wrong from the point of view of scientist and teachers. It is important that these ideas come to light. Second, starting from students’ ideas, teachers should build a correct physical knowledge made at the same time of awareness and skills.
The Thesis work is made of two parts. The first concerns a study about the perception and
attitudes of students towards Physics performed by means of a questionnaire based on the CLASS (Colorado Learning Attitudes about Science Survey) questionnaire developed by the Physics Education Research group of the University of Colorado, translated and slightly adapted for Italy.
The second addresses the design and development of three different experimental laboratories for high school students, two concerning optics (“Dismantle rainbow” and “Holography”) and one related to fluids (“Physics under water, fluid pressure and Boyle's law”) for the PLS (Scientific Degree Plan) of the Physics Department of the University of Insubria
Iron oxide nanoparticles: a platform for biomolecule conjugation
Among the nanomaterials, of great interest are iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs), which possess unique magnetic properties, low toxicity and high biocompatibility. For these reason, IONPs are widely used in industrial and biomedical field. Here, IONPs were synthetized via co-precipitation method, obtaining NPs reproducible in shape and size distribution. First, IONPs were used as a platform for the conjugation of two thermophilic enzymes, L-aspartate oxidase and amylase to obtain an effective biocatalyst. Different binding strategies were studied leading to different enzymatic activity due to the different orientations and stretching of the proteins. Next, the NP-enzyme systems were nanoactuated by an alternate magnetic field (AMF) without increasing the overall temperature of the solution. Remarkably, the nano-systems were successfully reused for at three consecutive cycles of AMF with the loss of the 40% of the initial activity. IONPs were also used developed a nano-antibiotic system, using teicoplanin. The antimicrobial efficacy of NP-TEICO was assessed through classical microbiological methods and morphological studies. Results indicate that teicoplanin conjugation confers high and prolonged antimicrobial activity to IONPs toward Gram-positive bacteria, inhibiting also S. aureus biofilm formation, while no antimicrobial activity was detectable towards Gramnegative. Additionally, conjugation of teicoplanin improved the cytocompatibility of IONPs towards two human cell lines. To conclude, IONPs were successfully synthetized, functionalized and employed as a platform for biomolecules conjugation. Indeed two effective different nano-biocatalysts and a nano-antibiotic were obtained
Equations and systems of nonlinear equations: from high order numerical methods to fast Eigensolvers for structured matrices and applications
A parametrized multi-step Newton method is constructed for widening the region of convergence of classical multi-step Newton method. The second improvement is proposed in the context of multistep Newton methods, by introducing preconditioners to enhance their accuracy, without disturbing their original order of convergence and the related computational cost (in most of the cases).
To find roots with unknown multiplicities preconditioners are also effective when they are applied to the Newton method for roots with unknown multiplicities. Frozen Jacobian higher order multistep iterative method for the solution of systems of nonlinear equations are developed and the related results better than those obtained when employing the classical frozen Jacobian multi-step Newton method.
To get benefit from the past information that is produced by the iterative method, we constructed iterative methods with memory for solving systems of nonlinear equations. Iterative methods with memory have a greater rate of convergence, if compared with the iterative method without memory. In terms of computational cost, iterative methods with memory are marginally superior comparatively.
Numerical methods are also introduced for approximating all the eigenvalues of banded symmetric Toeplitz and preconditioned Toeplitz matrices.
Our proposed numerical methods work very efficiently, when the generating symbols of the considered Toeplitz matrices are bijective
Artificial vs biological meshes: can in vitro cellular responses predict the outcome in patients?
Synthetic and biological matrices for abdominal wall repair have been developed and commercialized in recent years. Biological meshes have been proposed as an alternative when synthetic implants are not indicated, as in the case of contaminated surgical field and may present fewer complications such as chronic pain and visceral adhesions after hernia repair. However, their use is still debated, due to high cost to benefit ratio. Moreover, knowledge of the molecular pathways activated in the different types of cells by their use is still lacking.
This study aimed to investigate the molecular processes activated by fibroblasts during their interaction with different types of biological and synthetic matrices, comparing the fibroblast-matrix interactions morphologically, monitoring cell proliferation and the expression of genes involved in the deposition and reabsorption of collagen, as well as some cytokines and markers of differentiation into myofibroblasts.
We found that fibroblasts grew differently on the different biological meshes. Few fibroblasts grew on the synthetic mesh, impairing gene expression analysis. Fibroblasts on biological meshes induced specific metalloproteinases and reduced expression of collagen genes compared to control cells. Expression of markers for myofibroblast differentiation was also reduced. We found limited differences in gene expression programs among the different biological meshes
Homo Patiens. A socio-philosophical concept. The restitution of "alienation" as a theoretical benchmark for socio-critical approaches. How the transcendental aspects of suffering hint to its progressive potential.
The aim of this work is to place suffering at the center of socio-critical considerations. It initially starts with the criticism of the concept of alienation which can be found in a long tradition within social and political philosophy. The orientation towards concrete experiences of suffering allows conclusions on the current and concrete socio-cultural limits of human formability and adaptability. On the one hand, the reference to suffering ensures that the real human being is indeed at the center of such investigations and no abstraction, which helps avoid overly idealistic speculations. On the other hand, suffering shows up at the nodal point of bio-psycho-sociocultural dimensions and has to be interpreted in this specific interconnectedness. So, putting suffering at the center of socio-philosophical contemplations requires an approach which questions and investigates suffering soberly. Trough the philosophical elaboration of eight different aspects of suffering a multilayered focus on this phenomenon shall be provided which aims to highlight the transcendental and productive sides of suffering. Therefore, suffering is read as a symptom that refers to something hidden and that reveals a certain truth which can provide guidance for social change
Pedostratigraphical and geochronological characterization of late Pleistocene to Holocene depositional sequences from the Po Plain: loess and paleosols as paleoseismological markers.
Loess represents one of the main paleoenvironmental archives recording Quaternary environmental changes. This study demonstrates that in Italy, at the Po Plain Loess Basin (PPLB), the most developed loessial sequences are preserved in association with morphotectonic structures, i.e. isolated hills, uplifted terraces and topographic highlands formed due to tectonically-induced drainage diversion. These landforms represent the surface expression of the complex interplay between the Pleistocene climatic changes and the compressional active tectonics which characterize the Po Plain foredeep. Such morphotectonic features, emerging a few meters above the surrounding fluvial plain because their moderate tectonic uplift rates higher than regional denudation/sedimentation rates, acted as sedimentary traps for aeolian sediments and preserved them. Therefore, the preservation of loess-paleosols sequences in correspondence of morphotectonic landforms makes loess a suitable tool to investigate not only the Quaternary climate changes, but also the recent tectonic activity and paleoseismology of the Po Plain. Four key loess-paleosols sequences preserved in setting controlled by active compressional tectonics (Solero, Rivarone, Pecetto di Valenza, AL; Monte Netto, BS) are presented, analysed through an innovative paleoseismological approach, integrating pedostratigraphy/micropedology and OSL/TT-OSL dating to structural analysis that allow to reconstruct the environmental conditions and tectonic activity of the Po Plain
PMI e welfare. Il contratto di rete tra imprese in Provincia di Varese: il caso GIUNCA, da welfare aziendale a welfare territoriale.
Questa tesi è centrata sull’analisi del ruolo che, in un contesto di crisi economica e di mutamento dei modelli sociali tradizionali, il contratto di rete per il welfare può svolgere per promuovere superiori livelli di produttività nelle imprese e di qualità della vita personale e familiare dei dipendenti e dei membri di una collettività locale.
La centralità della ricerca nel campo del welfare aziendale e delle reti di imprese è confermata dallo sviluppo del dibattito e della letteratura sul tema avvenuti negli ultimi anni e dall’impatto sul profilo sociale ed economico per lo sviluppo del sistema Paese.
Per argomentare perché siano necessari interventi che incrementino la produttività e i redditi da lavoro dipendente, nel primo capitolo si descrive la situazione di sofferenza in cui versano le PMI e i dipendenti per effetto della crisi risalente al 2007, illustrando la dinamica del PIL, degli occupati, delle ore annue lavorate, della produttività del lavoro per occupato e per ora lavorata e dei salari medi. Si mostrano, inoltre, le difficoltà patite all’interno dei nuclei familiari per effetto della compressione dei livelli di spesa pubblica destinata alla protezione sociale e dell’aumento dell’occupazione femminile e dell’innalzamento dell’età di pensionamento. Dato conto di un contesto di riferimento in cui i dati empirici e la letteratura mostrano complessivamente l’esistenza di forti divergenze tra bisogni espressi e risorse disponibili e di elevati rischi di povertà diffusa, cui lo Stato non è di fatto più in grado di far fronte, si argomenta poi come sia stato individuato un nuovo paradigma, definito “secondo welfare” poiché complementare e temporalmente successivo al regime obbligatorio, in cui i programmi di protezione e di investimento sociale sono attuati al di fuori del finanziamento pubblico e da attori diversi - imprese, organizzazioni sindacali e datoriali, fondazioni, mutue, enti filantropici e Terzo settore.
Nel secondo capitolo, poi, partendo dall’evidenza che attori sociali diversi da quelli pubblici possono attivarsi in logica di sussidiarietà e, con successo, migliorare la situazione monetaria e gestionale di bisogni comuni e crescenti, si analizza uno specifico strumento di intervento, il welfare aziendale, appannaggio delle imprese e idoneo ad ottenere vantaggi produttivi, fiscali e organizzativi per il datore di lavoro e a supportare l’azione di protezione sociale statale. In merito se ne presenta una definizione, i contenuti, gli attori e le novità legislative introdotte dalle Leggi di Stabilità 2016, 2017 e 2018.
Vista la forte presenza in Italia di PMI e i limiti monetari e organizzativi che caratterizzano strutture produttive di questo tipo, di fatto, il ricorso al welfare aziendale risulta in Italia ostacolato, tuttavia una soluzione perché siano esplicati i punti di forza e le potenzialità dello strumento si trova nell’utilizzo del contratto di rete, che viene illustrato nel terzo capitolo, dove sono anche illustrati i requisiti in termini di capitale sociale necessari alla stipulazione di un contratto di rete, le strutture e i modelli operativi cui le aziende possono ricorrere e quali implicazioni si configurino nei rapporti di lavoro.
La distribuzione geografica e i livelli di efficacia raggiunti in determinate aree del Paese portano ad ipotizzare che l’ambiente di riferimento sia facilitante verso un maggiore e più proficuo ricorso al contratto di rete e, nel quarto capitolo, si analizza il territorio - la Provincia lombarda di Varese - in cui è stato avviato il primo progetto di rete di impresa per il welfare aziendale - GIUNCA - per isolarne le caratteristiche ed individuare, in ottica causale, una prima serie di fattori di sostegno alla realizzazione di rilevanti livelli di produttività e integrazione dei redditi da lavoro dipendente. Il campo di osservazione viene esteso a livello di Regione, di macro area e di provincia e risulta che in Lombardia, la presenza di contratti di rete rispetto al resto d’Italia è consistente.
Illustrate alcune evidenze dal contesto di riferimento, nel quinto capitolo, si analizza il progetto GIUNCA, per ritrarvi quegli elementi che possono aver attivato una sperimentale utilizzazione del contratto di rete per il welfare aziendale. Dallo studio dei partecipanti, degli obiettivi, delle azioni intraprese e dei risultati raggiunti e dalle interviste ottenute dai protagonisti e da esperti nel settore, si riesce a isolare come superiori livelli di innovazione e orientamento alla CSR presenti nel tessuto imprenditoriale di riferimento abbiano portato le imprese retiste di GIUNCA a strutturare diversi elementi esterni, sia avversi che agevolanti, in un esperimento innovativo e efficace. Difatti la crisi economica e gli accresciuti bisogni di reddito e di sostegno nella vita familiare, da un lato, e l’introduzione normativa del contratto di rete, da un altro lato, sono stati colti come opportunità dalle imprese coinvolte nel progetto, che hanno così dato avvio alla prima rete per il welfare in Italia e realizzato livelli di copertura elevati, come chiarito nel quinto capitolo.
Un’analisi degli sviluppi successivi dell’azione di GIUNCA, consente, nel sesto capitolo, di individuare una differenziazione conglomerale verso ambiti più sociali e meno centrati sull’azienda. Nel tempo infatti la rete, originariamente orientata verso i propri dipendenti si è interessata alle situazioni di famiglie con figli minori e a categorie svantaggiate escluse dal mondo del lavoro - donne e giovani -, contribuendo come copartecipante, assieme ad un insieme via via più numero ed eterogeneo di attori sociali locali, alla realizzazione di progetti finanziati da Pubbliche Amministrazioni o Enti filantropici, avviando ed intensificando relazioni con esperti di ambiti territoriali sovra-locali.
L’esperienza di GIUNCA conferma trasformazioni in atto e l’ibridazione positiva dei programmi di integrazione sociale anche in aree relativamente estese come la Provincia di Varese e focalizza l’attenzione su questa area come territorio reattivo e campo di ricerca idoneo ad individuare sperimentazioni che potrebbero, compreso l’impatto realizzato dai programmi di welfare, costituire best practices replicabili
Le edizioni Minuziano: il laboratorio estetico-civile della “scuola di Milano”.
The objective of this research is to demonstrate the value of philosophical reflection about art for the construction of an aesthetic conscience as a fundamental resource to form the functional training base for the development of civil conscience to active citizenship. The considered cultural story includes the philosophical environment of Milan between 1932 and 1944, in which the main protagonist is the most innovative thought of European philosophers, moved (by desire, will, commitment and determination of Antonio Banfi) in university classrooms and in publishing laboratories. The living material of this operation was born in the context of high-level not only philosophical, but also didactic, methodological and interdisciplinary, such as that of the civil aesthetics workshop of the Minuziano Editions directed by Luigi Rognoni (student of Antonio Banfi) between 1945 and 1950, analyzed in detail in this study, in “Aesthetics” and “Politics” publications. This publishing activity represents the aesthetic-philosophical paradigm, both on the methodological-interdisciplinary level, and on that of the selection and proposal of contents, for a training aimed at the development of critical thinking and the construction of an aware civil conscience for a peaceful coexistence, a renewed social life in which every individual is an active protagonist in their choices and, through dialogue and the exchange of knowledge and reflections, in sharing those of others. At the core of the research (Second Section), which is identified with the Minuziano Editions, which traces the training path leading from the aesthetic conscience to the civil conscience, are integrated the theoretical foundations of the initiative and the interdisciplinary exchanges (First Section), in support of the pragmatic character of this extraordinary activity, that has developed in a laboratory environment, through the texts of the classical and original paths of study and research (Third Section). Here, the reading of the classics (Shaftesbury, Addison, Hutcheson, Burke, Kant, Schiller, Husserl, Scheler, Geiger, Conrad and Simmel) and the reconstruction of the aesthetic debate take place through the reflection and the teaching of Antonio Banfi, following the lines and the trends (the aesthetic thought of Dewey) that were passionate about the great students of the "school of Milan" and that, in the same way, deeply, even today they care about us too
Cytoplasmic localization of HTLV-1 HBZ oncoprotein: a biomarker of HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP)
Human T cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) is the etiological agent of a severe form of T cell neoplasia called Adult T cell Leukaemia (ATL) and of a neurologic disorder designated HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP). The HBZ oncoprotein encoded by the minus strand of the HTLV-1 is thought to play an important role in both diseases.
The recent isolation in our laboratory of the first described monoclonal antibody against HBZ protein has now permitted to investigate in detail the cellular and biochemical features of endogenous HBZ. In this direction our laboratory has recently established that HBZ is a nuclear protein in cells of ATL patients. My thesis was predominantly focused in expanding the analysis particularly in HAM/TSP patients, to assess similarities and/or diversities of HBZ subcellular distribution with respect to ATL patients and asymptomatic HTLV-1 carriers.
Expression and localization of HBZ in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of ATL, HAM/TSP patients and in HTLV-1 asymptomatic carriers (AC) was analyzed by immunohistochemistry and confocal microscopy using the anti-HBZ 4D4-F3 mAb.
Analysis of patients with HAM/TSP unequivocally showed that HBZ-positive cells presented an exclusive, never reported, cytoplasmic localization of the viral oncogenic protein. Interestingly, experiment with leptomycin B indicated that HBZ could not shuttle between cytoplasm and nucleus. This strict HBZ cytoplasmic localization was at variance with the distribution of the other HTLV-1 oncogenic protein, Tax-1, that could localize both in the cytoplasm and the nucleus, and could be sequestered totally in the nucleus after leptomycin B treatment of the cells. Additional extensive analysis of cells from ATL patients and asymptomatic recipients confirmed, instead, a nuclear localization of HBZ.
I further supported this finding by studying HBZ and Tax-1 in the CIB cell line, a CD4+ IL-2-dependent T cell line derived from an HAM/TSP patient. The vast majority of CIB cells express significant amounts of HBZ exclusively in the cytoplasm, mostly in a speckle-like fashion. Tax-1 instead was expressed in 30% of the cells, either as a diffuse reticulum or distributed in a speckled-like fashion mainly in the cytoplasm. Interestingly, in cells co-expressing cytoplasmic HBZ and Tax-1, the two proteins did not co-localize, suggesting that they do not interact in vivo.
Our results establish for the first time a distinctive and diverse pattern of sub-cellular localization of endogenous HBZ protein. Furthermore, and of potential importance in the pathogenesis of HTLV-1-associated diseases, our data suggest that the endogenous localization of HBZ protein in different cellular compartments may correlate with the different forms of the HTLV-1-mediated diseases