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Giovanni Pontano umanista e maestro di scuola a Napoli nel Quattrocento
No full textQuando pensiamo al profilo di Giovanni Pontano come intellettuale e umanista, ci sovvengono subito i suoi cimenti poetici, i suoi trattati etico-filosofici, oppure il suo impegno politico alla corte aragonese di Napoli, ma tendiamo perlopiù a trascurare i suoi interessi pedagogici, che pure dovettero assorbire non poche delle sue energie intellettuali a partire dai suoi anni giovanili e fino a quelli più tardi, non senza lasciare una significativa traccia nella sua produzione sia in prosa che in poesia. Infatti, al di là del De aspiratione, un trattato filologico-ortografico di esplicita destinazione pedagogica, l’attenzione del Pontano per la pedagogia si espresse non solo nella raccolta poetica De laudibus divinis e nel trattato De principe, opere scaturite ambedue dal suo impegno di precettore, rispettivamente di Giovanni di Navarra, nipote di Alfonso il Magnanimo, e di Alfonso Duca di Calabria, primogenito del Re Ferrante d’Aragona, ma anche nei trattati De obedientia e De immanitate, o qua e là in poesia, come, per esempio, nella raccolta elegiaca De amore coniugali, dedicata alla moglie e alla vita familiare, nell’ecloga Quinquennius, in cui è rappresentata una madre che dialoga col suo bambino di cinque anni, o, ancora, nel De tumulis, una raccolta di carmi sepolcrali, in cui, rievocando la memoria di alcuni dei suoi maestri, ci lascia intravedere il suo concetto dell’insegnamento. Per queste ragioni il Pontano merita un suo posto nella storia della pedagogia umanistica accanto agli altri intellettuali che hanno scandito il suo sviluppo
A numerical proof of the Betz–Joukowsky limit
No full textAccording to the Betz–Joukowsky limit, the maximum power coefficient of a wind turbine is 16/27. This limit is obtained assuming a priori that the disk is radially uniformly-loaded. In other words, the proof of the limit does not evaluate the optimum type of the load distribution, but it directly speculates that radially uniform load is the optimal one. Therefore, it should be questioned if a radially varying load with a power coefficient higher than 16/27 exists, which overrules the Betz–Joukowsky limit. For this reason, the paper presents, for the first time, an original numerical optimisation strategy aimed at proving, with a prescribed accuracy level, the validity of the Betz–Joukowsky limit, i.e., at verifying whether or not the optimal load distribution is uniform. The proposed strategy combines a Computational-Fluid-Dynamic-Actuator-Disk model with a classical gradient-based optimisation algorithm. The former aims at computing the objective function (i.e., the power coefficient), whereas the latter is devoted to the detection of the optimum. The procedure assumes that the load distribution is a real analytic function, while the optimisation variables are the coefficients of its Taylor polynomial. The proposed methodology is thoroughly verified, and its overall accuracy level is quantified. Up to an 8th-degree Taylor polynomial, the outcome of the numerical optimisation procedure differs from the Betz–Joukowsky solution by a quantity equal to the uncertainty of the adopted computational strategy. In other words, within the given accuracy range, the analysis confirms the validity of the Betz–Joukowsky limit based on the radially uniform load. Finally, it should be stressed that if the actual optimum differed from the Betz–Joukowsky limit by an amount less than the accuracy of the adopted numerical method, then that optimum could not be detected by the proposed procedure
LA FISIONOMIA DEL PROCESO PENAL ITALIANO EN LA EPOCA COVID: EL NUEVO MODELO DESPUES DE LA EMERGENCIA
No full textAssessing compassionate abilities: Translation and psychometric properties of the Italian version of the compassionate engagement and action scales (CEAS)
No full textThis study aimed to develop the Italian version of the Compassionate Engagement and Action Scales (CEAS) and examine its validity and reliability among Italian-speaking adults. A total of 374 (mean age = 23.11) Italian speaking participants took part in the study. All of them completed a questionnaire comprising the CEAS, together with measures of self-compassion, self-criticism, social support, empathy, well-being and general distress, used to estimate the scale’s convergent and criterion-related validity. Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) revealed a satisfactory fit for a model in which three second-order factors (Self-compassion, Compassion for others and Compassion from others) were further articulated in two first-order factors (Engagement and Action). All the scales presented good reliability in terms of internal consistency. Correlations with measures of social support, empathy, self-compassion, self-criticism, well-being, and general distress indicated good convergent and criterion-related validity of the Italian version of the CEAS. Taken together, these results suggest that the CEAS can be properly used with Italian-speaking individuals in order to assess the three compassion flows in terms of both engagement and action
La famiglia come società naturale: rappresentazioni storiche e modelli giuridici. Natalità e denatalità
No full textPrognostic role of postoperative persistence of ctDNA molecular signature after liver resection for colorectal liver metastases: Preliminary results from a prospective study
No full textIntroduction: Liver resection represents the cornerstone treatment for Colo-Rectal Liver Metastases (CRLM), but it is still followed by a high recurrence rate. The identification of a valid and reproducible predictor of recurrence can play a key role in correct and timely management of the disease. In this scenario, liquid biopsy may represent an integrative, less invasive, and easily manageable tool to clinically stratify colorectal cancer patients.We aimed to investigate the prognostic role of persistent circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) signature on CRLM recurrence after liver resection. Methods: A series of 51 consecutive patients undergoing liver resection for CRLM were prospectively enrolled between January 2020 and March 2023. Patients underwent liquid biopsy from peripheral blood samples before and after surgery. Other risk factors for disease recurrence were also investigated. Results: Twenty-nine patients were found to be positive for one of the clinically relevant molecular alterations detected by NGS, at preoperative (T0) ctDNA analysis. At univariate analysis, total tumor size bigger than 60 mm (p = 0.046, HR 2.486) and postoperative persistence of ctDNA molecular signature (p = 0.024, HR 2.831) were significantly associated with recurrence. Multivariable Cox Regression analysis showed that only postoperative persistence of ctDNA molecular signature was associated with recurrence (p = 0.027, HR 2.766). Similarly, 1-3 yr DFS was significantly lower in the subgroup with persistence of molecular signature at liquid biopsy (100-49.5 % vs 57.1-21.4 %, p = 0.018). Conclusion: Postoperative persistence of ctDNA molecular signature could represent a useful tool to predict recurrence after liver resection for CRLM patients
Impact of timing of computed tomography staging and patient factors on the detection of 'true' cN+ bladder cancer
No full textObjectives: To evaluate whether computed tomography (CT) scans should be performed before or after transurethral resection of bladder tumour (TURBT) for accurate lymph node staging in clinically lymph node-positive bladder cancer (BCa). Additionally, to identify patient factors that can aid in predicting lymph node metastasis. Patients and Methods: In this retrospective, multicentre study, we analysed patients with cN+ M0 BCa staged by CT and treated with upfront radical cystectomy (RC) and pelvic lymph node dissection. We stratified patients by the interval between TURBT and CT into three groups: (1) before TURBT; (2) within 30 days after TURBT; and (3) more than 30 days post-TURBT. Staging accuracy, defined as concordance between clinical and pathological lymph node status, was evaluated. We utilised logistic regression analyses to identify patient factors, including the optimal timing of staging, in predicting pathological lymph node status at RC. Results: Among 183 patients with cN+ disease, 90 (49%) had pN0 disease at RC. Of these, 40, 36 and 14 were staged before TURBT, within 30 days after TURBT, and more than 30 days post-TURBT, respectively (P = 0.2). Pathological downstaging was most common in cN1 (22%) and cN2 (20%) disease. The overall concordance rate was 23%. The timing of staging did not correlate with pathological lymph node status on logistic regression (all P > 0.05). Lymphovascular invasion (LVI) at TURBT was associated with pN status (odds ratio 4.25, confidence interval 2.02–9.34; P < 0.001) at RC. Conclusion: Overall, we found no association between the timing of CT-based staging and pathological lymph node metastases in cN+ BCa. The data suggest that performing a TURBT prior to staging does not increase the finding of false-positive nodes on imaging. LVI was the only factor at the time of TURBT associated with pathological lymph node metastasis at RC. Limitations include the multicentre retrospective design and the inclusion of only patients with clinically node-positive disease
Evaluation of Selenium-Based Biocides with Biocidal Potential for Cultural Heritage Applications
No full textThe conservation of cultural heritage has long garnered significant attention within the
scientific community, particularly due to the biodeterioration processes driven by microbial
colonization. These processes can severely compromise the aesthetic, chemical, and
physical integrity of artworks. While traditional chemical biocides are widely used, they
present notable drawbacks, including toxicity, chemical instability, and the risk of inducing
microbial resistance. Accordingly, efforts to expand the repertoire of molecules with
biocidal activity are of utmost significance. In this study, we report the synthesis and
characterization of selenium-based biocides with biocidal activity. Characterization was
performed using NMR spectroscopy and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS).
The biocidal efficacy of these compounds was evaluated via algal growth inhibition tests
(OECD 201), employing Raphidocelis subcapitata as a model organism. Our results indicate
that certain seleno-sugars exhibit a dose-dependent inhibition of algal growth, suggesting
superior biocidal activity compared to conventional agents. Notably, one compound
demonstrated an optimal balance of efficacy and chemical stability and was selected for
subsequent in vivo testing
The central benefit of physiologically induced ketogenic states
No full textKetones not only act as metabolic fuel for the brain in periods of carbohydrate shortage, but also serve as signalling molecules that improve cognition. Ketogenic states can be induced peripherally by physiological interventions such as fasting and exercise, or ketogenic diets/exogenous supplementation. These interventions beneficially act on the brain through partially overlapping peripheral metabolic pathways. We focus on the role of peripheral organs such as the intestine, liver and skeletal muscle in mediating cognitive benefits in response to these interventions and discuss the prominent roles of the nuclear receptor peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor δ, which serves as a nutrient sensor guiding ketones to the brain, where they stimulate the multifunctional cognition-improving factor, brain-derived neurotrophic factor. (Figure presented.)