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Valorization of legumes, important constituents of the Mediterranean Diet, with specific attention to lentils and their nutraceutical effects
No full textThe current thesis has been developed and realized at the University of Camerino, School of Pharmacy in the Food Chemistry laboratories during my Ph.D course. This thesis provides a comprehensive assessment of the state of chemistry, nutrition and beneficial aspects of legumes, mainly lentils, which are an important food from a nutritional point of view. Whereupon, my research has been divided mainly into three parts. First of all, great attention was focused on the development of analytical instrumental methods for the analysis of important bioactive constituents in legumes, especially in lentils, such as soyasaponins and isoflavones, as well as, the fatty acid composition. The second part of this thesis was developed at the University of Valencia, Faculty of Pharmacy in the Toxicology laboratory. In this joint project, antioxidant properties of soyasaponins and lentil extracts were tested in “in vitro” cells to determine the cytoprotective action against mycotoxins such as Alternariol. Finally, the third part of the thesis, was focused on the “in vivo” study, in collaboration with Pharmacology research group of the University of Camerino, to test hypocholesterolemic action of lentil extracts rich in soyasaponins.\ud
Regarding bioactive constituents present in lentils, great attention was focused on soyasaponins that demonstrated to have health-promoting properties including plasma cholesterol-lowering, anti-carcinogenic, antioxidant and hepato-protective. In the first part of my thesis, an innovative and fast analytical method for the quantification of soyasaponins I and βg in lentils was developed. Samples were extracted using 70 % aqueous ethanol at room temperature and then injected into a high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry system. The correlation coefficients of calibration curves of the analyzed compounds were ≥ 0.9997. The recoveries obtained by spiking the lentil samples with a standard mixture of soyasaponins I and βg at 50 and 100 mg l-1 were in the range of 96 - 101 and 98 - 103 %, respectively. The validated method was applied to the analysis of 30 lentil samples from central Italy. Soyasaponins I and βg were present in these lentils in concentrations that ranged from 54 to 226 mg kg-1 and from 436 to 1272 mg kg-1, respectively. Our data indicated that lentils cultivated in fields at intermediate altitudes (1142 - 1387 m) showed the highest levels of soyasaponins, a result confirmed by principal component analysis. Successively, a new analytical method for determining five isoflavone compounds, three of which are aglycons, namely daidzein, genistein, biochanin A, and two of which, daidzin and genistin, are glycosilated, in lentils and other legumes, by using an effective clean-up system and HPLC-MS/MS (triple quadrupole) method was developed. The recoveries obtained by spiking the lentil samples with a standard mixture of isoflavones at three levels of fortification (5, 25 and 100 μg kg-1) were in the range of 54.4 - 111.1 %, 68.6 - 91.1 %, and 84.4 - 114 %, respectively. The method was then applied to analyse 48 lentil samples from central Italy and other legumes for determining the isoflavone content which in lentils ranged from 1.1 to 95.6 μg kg-1, while chickpeas sample showed the highest isoflavone content (913.8 μg kg-1). After that, the fatty acid composition of 29 legumes (mostly lentils) after the optimization of the extraction method, was studied. The Folch method and liquid-solid extraction with hexane/isopropanol or with hexane/acetone were investigated, as was the effect of previous hydration of samples. Soxhlet extractions were also evaluated with different solvent mixtures. Results on fatty acids composition obtained using the hexane/isopropanol extraction method were the same in terms of fatty acids composition of the Folch method, but the extraction yield was only around 20 - 40 % of that of the Folch method preceded by hydration. Some types of legumes showed particularly interesting values for the ratio of polyunsaturated fatty acids n-6/n-3, in particular lentils, with the value of 4.0, in which PUFAs ranged from 42.0 to 57.4 %.\ud
Concerning the second part of my work, the cytotoxicity of Alternariol (AOH), soyasaponin I (SS I) and soyasaponins-rich extract from lentils was investigated, as well as, the cytoprotective effects of SS I and lentil extracts against AOH induced-cytotoxicity on Caco-2 cells. AOH is a mycotoxin produced by Alternaria spp. that has been found in vegetables such as lentils. Cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of AOH have been demonstrated previously in vitro. In our study, cytotoxicity was carried out using MTT and PC assays (AOH: 3.125 - 100 μM, SS I: 3.125 - 50 μM, and lentil extracts: 1:0 - 1:32) during 24 h of exposure in Caco-2 cells. Only AOH showed cytotoxic effect. The reduction in cell proliferation ranged from 25 % to 47 %, while simultaneous combination of SS I with AOH (1:1) increased cell proliferation (35 %) compared to AOH tested alone. Then SS I and lentil extracts showed synergistic cytoprotective effects against cytotoxicity induced by AOH on Caco-2 cells. Thus food commodities, such as lentils, containing soyasaponins could contribute to diminish the toxicological risk that natural contaminant as AOH, can produce to humans.\ud
For what concern the third part of my work, an “in vivo” study was realized to test the hypocholesterolemic activity of a lentil extract. However, this part of the thesis concerning the “in vivo” study are the basis of Patent Application, and no more details can be provided
Arylsulfonyl based compounds for the synthesis and functionalization of nitrogen containing heterocycles
No full textThe research described in this PhD thesis has been carried out mainly at the Department of Chemistry, University of Camerino, under the supervision of Prof. Marino Petrini and Prof. Alessandro Palmieri, following their ongoing research interest in the chemistry of sulfonyl azoles and α-amidosulfones for the synthesis and functionalization of nitrogen-heterocycles. \ud
A convenient and easy method for the synthesis of unsymmetrical 3, 3'-bisindolyl and 3, 3'-bisbenzazolyl structures was developed. The presence of the p-toluenesulfonyl moiety at the benzylic position enables further functionalization of these framework: elimination of the sulfonyl group, in fact, occurs under basic conditions affording a reactive indolenine intermediate that can undergo nucleophilic addition of a variety of nucleophiles. In particular, addition of hydride, Grignard and Reformatsky reagents affords the corresponding addition products. \ud
Functionalization at C-3 of pyrrole was achieved by base-promoted addition of nitrocompounds to sulfonylalkylpyrroles; this procedure allows the synthesis of 3-(2-nitroalkyl)pyrroles, challenging targets by mean of a regioselective Friedel-Crafts alkylation. The obtained addition products can be easily converted into functionalized 6-azaindoles through a three-step procedure involving reduction of the nitro group, Pictet-Spengler reaction and final oxidation on Pd/C. \ud
Reaction conditions for the synthesis of α-acryloylamidoalkysulfones were optimized in order to minimize the competitive conjugate addition to the acryloyl moiety. Various allyl bromides can be added under Barbier-like reaction conditions affording in good yields N-acryloyl homoallyl derivatives; the latter can undergo ring-closing metathesis to afford useful 6-substituted tetrahydropyridinones in good yields. When a substrate with a substituted double bond is submitted to reaction in presence of Grubb's II catalyst cross metathesis occurs, affording selectively N-substituted fumaramides. \ud
The last chapter, instead, deals with the research performed under the guidance of Prof J. N. Johnston as a visiting student at Vanderbilt University, Tennesse. Following their research line on umpolung amide synthesis, an analogue strategy leading to thioamides was envisaged. Preparation of opportune substrates and preliminary results for umpolung thioamides synthesis are herein reported
A Features Based Approach to Model Variability of Business\ud Processes
No full textNowadays Public Administrations have to promptly react when the introduction of new law prescribes the provision of a new service or a change to an existing one. The law defines many information on the service to provide. Among them it specifies the involved Public Administrations, their respective responsibilities, and the activities that each of them have to perform to deliver the service. Generally the execution order of the activities is only partially defined by the law to permit its adaptation to the specific characteristics of the administration providing the service. Underspecified characteristics introduce then a level of variability in term of activities and data that could be explicitly modeled in order to permit the reuse on an abstract specification that could drive the refinement activities within each\ud
administration. Indeed the absence of such an abstract specification result in a waste of resources, having all Public Administrations the need to model every aspect of the law independently.\ud
To solve this issue it is necessary to introduce a modeling approach that is able to represent law constraints and variability dimensions according to different Public Administration characteristics. This will contribute to the homogenization of BPs structures resulting also in the usage of common naming rules for the activities in the process.\ud
In this thesis I present the Business Process Feature Modeling (BPFM) notation that combines in a new notation concepts coming from feature modeling and from Business Process modeling. The notation intends to permit to represent activities, their partial execution order, the data objects involved in process, and at the same time it permits to explicitly represent variability. A BPFM model embeds many possible Business Process variants, and through a configuration step it helps a Public Administration during the Business Process design phase. The approach is supported by a modeling environment that I implemented using the ADOxx development platform. Moreover the approach has been validated, with\ud
encouraging results, on several real case studies, while its usability has been assessed via a questionnaire based approach
Il trasporto pubblico locale in Brasile e Italia:\ud Aspetti contrattuali
No full textThe thesis was carried out in the form of joint supervision between the University of Camerino and the University of Sao Paulo, considering the theme chosen by the Local Public Transport in Brazil and in Italy, approaching the aspects of contracts made by the Public Administration to private companies.\ud
The work presents the history of Local Public Transport in Brazil and Italy, starting with the Brazilian system, approaching the historical development in the country until 1988, when it enacted the current Federal Constitution and the current system and federal laws that permeate the Local Public Transport. Public services in Brazil are also presented, with its definition after doctrinal and jurisprudential analysis as well as its characteristics, ratings and principles, beyond the possibilities of its delegation. The legal nature of administrative contracts will also be addressed in Brazil, pointing to its concept and characteristics, highlighting the figure of exorbitant clauses, as well its changing character and the maintenance of financial balance of the contract.\ud
In the same way, it will be analysed historical evolution of Local Public Transport in Italy, as well the European legal system, its regulations and the Italian laws until 1981 and the current ones. Public services will also be addressed in Italy, with its historical evolution and its definition, besides its rapport with the market and free competition in the European legal system. The contracts regarding Local Public Transport wil be also analysed in Italy, as well both systems from the perspective of the principle of efficiency
Multi-disciplinary approach to geothermal systems in foredeep basins: the Acquasanta Terme case study (Marche, Italy)
No full textThe continuous growth of energy consumption, the progressive and fast depletion of hydrocarbon reserves, the environmental pollution, in addition to frequent political crises, have generated a global importance energy emergency. At the same time, the growth in energy production has to be ‘sustainable’, meaning a social and economic development respectful of the natural times and of the resources of the Planet. Within this general framework, one of the most important ‘renewable’\ud
is the geothermal, being the energy originated from the heat released by the Earth. In the Country that launched the geothermal energy in the world, initiating the era of\ud
energy production from this source (Larderello 1904), the aim of this Ph.D. thesis is to investigate the less promising east side of Italy in a region with surface thermal manifestations, in order to characterize the potential geothermal system. The study area was identified in the Acquasanta anticline (Acquasanta Terme, Southern Marche Region, Central Italy), located within the foredeep Laga basin with low heat flow values and water temperatures ranging between 20º C and 30º C at surface. To achieve the purpose, we integrate different prospections (geochemical, seismic and structural) that allow for a comprehensive picture of the geothermal system.\ud
The model of a geothermal system characterized by water of meteoric origin flowing from south to north is proposed. Water infiltrates at altitudes ranging between\ud
1400 m and 1700 m, identifying the recharge area with the Laga Mountains, located in the southernmost part of the anticline, about 30 km South of Acquasanta Terme. From geochemical data collected along more than one year of monitoring three “end – member” waters with different chemical features and circuits are defined. The first\ud
water type shows higher temperatures (25.3º C – 30.0º C), and salinity and chemical composition stable during time. It displays a clear contact with the Burano Anhydrites\ud
Fm and with carbonatic rocks, confirmed by Sr isotopic values. Furthermore, it has a residence time greater than sixty years (0 T.U.), indication of long circulation period, and no mixing with younger waters. Moreover, some indications (i.e. Rubidium) of a possible slight contribution from deep fluids are present. The second water end – member likely infiltrates at lower quotes than the previous one, following a shorter deep circuit within the same formations as suggested by ion concentrations. It was also recognized within the Varoni_1 deep well (AGIP s.p.a., 1987). The third type is\ud
inferable from samples distribution on correlation graphs and from identified mixing trends, characterized by warm temperature, but lower ions concentrations than the\ud
others. This water likely flows only within the Calcare Massiccio Fm, just interacting with anhydrites, probably following a slightly faster circuit. Except for the\ud
easternmost springs (first end – member), all the other collected springs are influenced by mixing phenomena both among the three end-members and also with surface freshwater. The lateral confinement of the easternmost springs and the peculiar mixing processes are strictly linked to the complex structural setting, in particular to N – S oriented faults.\ud
The reservoir is identified mainly within the Calcare Massiccio Fm (CM). In detail, by seismic interpretation, it is slightly N-plunging, following the anticline\ud
geometry, and laterally bounded by a N – S oriented thrust to the east, a related backthrust to the west, and by a WNW – ESE normal fault to the north. Its bottom depth ranges between 3000 m and 3800 m below the surface. A first estimation gives back a computed volume of about 66 km3. The mentioned WNW – ESE extensional discontinuity is also considered to be the main rising conduit for the deep hot waters. In the final part of the fluid circuit, hot waters flow within the shallow reservoir of the\ud
Scaglia Rossa Fm (SR) creating relevant karst caves phenomena. Finally, all the thermal manifestations occur at the base of the low permeability Scaglia Cinerea Fm\ud
(reservoir cap rock), on the right bank of the Tronto River, as confirmed by relevant travertine deposits. Detailed quantitative structural analyses were performed both in the lower (CM) and shallower (SR) reservoirs, in order to create the DFN model and to compute their connectivity properties. In particular, for the CM buried reservoir, an analogue example has been used to perform the field analyses. The highest permeability is shown along the bottom up and the longitudinal directions, whose calculated permeability value is 0.148 mDarcy. Moreover, fractured volume derived from these structural data allows to calculate an estimation of the total profit volume of the reservoir, resulting in 1.32 km3.\ud
Concerning the temperature reached by the system, K/Mg geothermometer applied on the most stable samples gives back an estimated temperature at the bottom of the reservoir (top of the Burano Anhydrites Fm) of about 90º C, consistent with the normal geothermal gradient of the sedimentary Laga Basin
Synthesis and characterization of advanced materials for Li-ion batteries :\ud 1. Si/RGO nanocomposite anodes.\ud 2. V2O5 gel cathodes.
No full textLithium-ion batteries represent the state-of-the-art of electrochemical energy storage. However, with the advance of microelectronic technology for portable devices and the progressive introduction into the automotive market of Electrical Vehicles (EVs.), a breakthrough in Li-ion materials is needed to overcome known issues related to cost, higher energy densities, safety and cycle life. Moreover, steps forward are also needed from a sustainability point of view, in order to reduce both costs and environmental impact during battery manufacturing.\ud
On the anode side, research in next-generation materials, capable of replacing the industry-standard graphite, are now underway. In this PhD thesis, a novel high capacity Silicon/Reduced Graphene Oxide (Si/RGO) nanocomposite has been synthesized, thoroughly characterized and evaluated under an electrochemical point of view. The electrode preparation has been optimized using an alternative binder and eco-friendly solvent like ethanol. The composite shows a good stability and capacity retention over prolonged cycling.\ud
On the cathode side, next-generation materials should have higher capacities in order to increase the energy density of the future batteries. In this PhD thesis, Vanadium Pentoxide (V2O5) - has been studied both in its amorphous (aerogel) and crystalline form as next generation Li-ion cathode materials. Also in this case materials were prepared, characterized and electrochemically tested. A green and eco-friendly approach during electrode processing was used also in this case.\ud
The data resulting from this PhD thesis were subject of the following publications and proceedings of congresses:\ud
- F. Maroni, R. Raccichini, A. Birrozzi, G. Carbonari, R. Tossici, F. Croce, R. Marassi, F. Nobili Graphene/silicon nanocomposite anode with enhanced electrochemical stability for lithium-ion battery applications, J. Power Sources, 2014; Vol. 269; 873 – 882. doi:10.1016/j.jpowsour.2014.07.064\ud
- A. Moretti, F. Maroni, F. Nobili, S. Passerini, V2O5 electrodes with extended cycling ability and improved rate performance using polyacrylic acid as binder, J. Power Sources, 2014, In Press. doi : 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2014.09.150\ud
- A. Moretti, F. Maroni, I. Osada, F. Nobili, S. Passerini, V2O5 aerogel as a versatile cathode material for lithium and sodium batteries, ChemElectroChem, 2014, In Press.\ud
- F. Nobili, F. Maroni, R. Raccichini, R. Tossici, R. Marassi, A Silicon/Graphene Composite Anode for High-Efficiency Lithium Batteries, 17th International Meeting on Lithium Batteries, June 10/14 2014, Cernobbio (CO) Italy, Abstract #361.\ud
- F. Nobili, F. Maroni, R. Raccichini, R. Tossici, R. Marassi, Graphene/Silicon nanocomposite anode with enhanced electrochemical stability for Li-ion battery applications, Green Lion European Project Workshop, October 28-29 2014, Ulm, Germany Abstract #20.\ud
- Si/RGO nanocomposite development was carried out within the ENEA project “Ricerca di materiali anodici per batterie litio ione operanti in elettroliti organici convenzionali di più elevata energia rispetto a quelle sul mercato” and reported in the following documents:\ud
- R. Marassi, F. Nobili, R. Tossici, M. Marinaro, A. Birrozzi, R. Raccichini, RdS 2012\ud
- A. Birrozzi, F. Maroni, G. Carbonari, R. Tossici, F. Nobili, R. Marassi, RdS 201
Streptococcus mutans X-prolyl dipeptidyl peptidase as a\ud target against biofilm formation unravelled by antihuman\ud DPP IV drugs: a new paradigm for the synthesis\ud of innovative anti-caries agents
No full textProtein translocation in narrow pores: influence of the pore dynamical fluctuations
No full textWe study the phenomena of translocation of a globular protein through a fluctuating cylindrical nanopore under the action of a driving force using the method of Langevin dynamics simulation (Go-like protein model). The work is motivated by recent experiments on voltage driven transport of protein across nano-channel. In the first\ud
part of the thesis we describe a numerical analysis on the driven transport of Maltose binding protein (MBP) across a nano-pore in the framework of coarse-grained modeling. The protein is described by a native centric model on a C carbon backbone to study the influence of protein-like structural properties on the translocation process. In this transport mechanism of protein across a channel, the force-fields consists of stretching energy, bending energy and torsion energy. The non-bonded interaction energy is modeled by Lennard-Jones potential. We model the fluctuating nanopore through which the protein is confined by a step-like soft-core repulsive potential with cylindrical symmetry which is set parallel the x -axis of the frame of reference to used for translocation simulations\ud
\ud
In chapter 3 we investigate the translocation of MBP through a static pore. We characterized the translocation mechanism by studying the thermodynamical and kinetic\ud
properties of the process. In particular, we study the average of translocation time, the mobility, and the translocation probability as a function of pulling force F acting in the channel. The translocation process depend on the free-energy barrier that protein has to overcome in order to move along the channel. Such a free-energy\ud
barrier occurs due to the conflict of the unfolding energy and the entropy connected with the confinement effects of the pore. Umbrella sampling simulation is implemented to compute the free-energy landscape as a function of reaction coordinate. To compute the translocation free-energy profile from the umbrella sampling simulation, we introduce an artificial harmonic biasing potential, forcing the system dynamics to\ud
explore the set of unstable conformations. The effect of the umbrella potential is than deweighted from the Boltzmann weight by processing the data through appropriate debiasing algorithms. We used the free-energy profile to built up a phenomenological one - dimensional drift - diffusion model in the reaction coordinate based on the Smoluchowski stochastic differential equation. The results obtained from the mathematical model are then used in comparison with molecular dynamics simulation to\ud
explains and reproduces the behavior of the translocation observables.\ud
In chapter 4 and 5, we study the effect of fluctuating environment in protein transport dynamics. In particular, we investigate the translocation of a protein across a\ud
temporally modulated nano-pore. We allow the radius of the cylindrical pore to oscillate harmonically with certain frequency and amplitude about an average radius. The protein is imported inside the pore whose dynamics is influences by the fluctuating nature of the pore. We investigate the dynamic and thermodynamical properties of\ud
the translocation process by revealing the statistics of translocation time as a function of the pulling inward force acting along the axis of the pore, and the frequency of the time dependent radius of the channel. We also examine the distribution of translocation time in the intermediate frequency regime.\ud
We observe that the shaking mechanism of pore leads to accelerate the translocation process as compared to the static channel that has a radius equal to the mean\ud
radius of oscillating pore. Moreover, the translocation time shows a global maximum as a function of frequency of the oscillating radius, hence revealing a resonant\ud
activation phenomenon in the dynamics of protein translocatio
The Geosites as tools for teaching Earth Sciences at school
No full textGeosites representing different geological environments through time, from Triassic to Pleistocene, have been chosen to promote the study of Earth Sciences in schools in the Marche Region, Italy. The project aims at stimulating students and teachers with a different experimental and interdisciplinary approach with the contextual study of chemistry, biology, geology and ecology.\ud
The Geosites introduce a variety of geoscience topics and cover the major themes of Earth science courses in Italian schools. The choice of the sites also meets certain requirements (logistics, appeal, availability of data, appropriateness for the age) to facilitate school field trips or to introduce certain topics at the different school levels. By means of the geosites we intend to facilitate and make appealing the teaching of several Earth Sciences topics such as geomorphology, stratigraphy, sedimentology, mineralogy, paleontology, etc.. with a special focus on the topics relevant for the syllabus of the secondary school level.\ud
For each geosite, teaching material (general, specific or interdisciplinary) was produced and made available to the teachers through the University of Camerino website, to support them during the study of the Marche geology and of the geosites. The teaching material consists in power point files (to give general and in-depths information), video-clips, interdisciplinary links, proposals of hands-on activities, students' and teachers' questionnaires. The material produced has been presented to the teachers involved in the experimentation and used for the preparation of the field trips dedicated to the teachers and carried out with some of their classes. The questionnaires administered to teachers and students after the activity allowed to implement the teaching material according to the suggestions and the results of the experimentation.\ud
With the material created in this project, teachers without a geological background had the chance to become more confident about geosciences and to deepen their knowledge on geological themes and processes, directly related to their own area. They had also the possibility to apply an experimental and interdisciplinary approach, using data from the field trips to find and propose the students some connections between Earth Sciences and other disciplines.\ud
In the geosites students had the possibility to be stimulated to apply their theoretical knowledge thanks to the direct observation in the field, increasing their interest in the topics under study. Since the chosen geosites respond to scientific-educational and practical-logistics requirements, students of different age can use them to study scientific topics at different degree of deepening. The teaching material created for the geosites allow to organize school trips in order to observe directly the themes previously studied at school, to collect data and information in the field and to elaborate them back to school.\ud
In this project we focused our attention on two geosite:\ud
Frasassi (from 210 to 140 million years ago, Quaternary Era)\ud
Monte Conero (from Cretacic to Quaternary Era)\ud
The reasons for this choice are:\ud
- they cover the entire geological history of the Marche region, from 200 Ma up to present day;\ud
- they show very significant events of the Earth history;\ud
- they allow to analyze several interdisciplinary aspects.\ud
Frasassi Geosite. In order to organize the teaching activities for the Frasassi Geosite three geological footpaths have been identified: Frasassi Walk, Beata Virgin of Frasassi trail and M.Valmontagnana trail. To support learners in their study we produced in-depth studies including geological and interdisciplinary aspect offered by the outcrops, the environments and the panorama of the area. Other two power point files, Umbria-Marche Sequence and Frasassi Caves, complete the study of the area with more general information about the geology of the area and the description of the caves. The practical activities to be carried out at this geosite included also the visit of the museum with hands-on activities on fossils.\ud
M. Conero Geosite. For the Conero Geosite seven geological footpath have been identified: Passo del Lupo trail, K-Pg boundary Walk, Fornaci Quarries, Massignano Quarry, M.Conero Short walk, Mezzavalle Beach and Portonovo Ring. Similarly to the Frasassi geosite, we produced teaching material. Another interest point, the Sirolo visitor centre, completes the description of the area.\ud
The teaching material created in this project was made available to the teachers in the website (http://d7.unicam.it/teachingearthsciences/)\ud
For each geosite there is a topographic map with the indication of the trails chosen to describe the geosite and to cover the geosciences topics. The teaching materials consist in:\ud
a) principal power point presentations;\ud
b) In-depth studies power point presentation of the topics concerning the Frasassi and Conero Geosites;\ud
c) photos and sketches of the trails;\ud
d) video-clips of the outcrops and of the panorama;\ud
e) students' and teachers' activities hand-outs;\ud
f) guide sheets;\ud
g) questionnaires with or without answers;\ud
h) sitography;\ud
i) references;\ud
j) on line feedback questionnaires.\ud
To introduce secondary school teachers to the geosites we organized preparatory courses, seminars and trips in 2013 and 2014. During the field trips, teachers examined in details the trails and the outcrops in order to organize future activities with their classes. At the end of the teachers' activities, we asked them to answer a feedback questionnaire, in order to have their comments and suggestions about the activities proposed about the\ud
geosite. The data obtained were used to improve both the teaching materials and the website.\ud
Both teachers and students were administered questionnaires at the end of the field trips to evaluate the appreciation of the activities proposed and the geological themes suggested at the geosites, as well as the interdisciplinary aspects evidenced. The results show a high appreciation for the idea to use the regional geosites for improving the knowledge of Earth sciences, although for this type of activity can be very challenging for the teachers without a geological background. Concerning this, the availability of teaching material with precise description of the point of interest for each geosite has been regarded to be very useful to increase the confidence of the teachers in approaching a field trip or even to introduce the local geology to their classes during formal lessons. Moreover, although the teaching material was intended for secondary schools and experimented on schools of this level, it is possible to modulate the materials to be used for middle schools or even primary schools, providing that a selection of the topics is made by the teacher.\ud
In the same way the website can be of wider application since it is available to all the people interested to find information on the relevant points in the geosites of their region. This is particularly important to favour the spreading of knowledge of geological phenomena and their implications for the life of the citizens in areas, like Italy, were the geoenvironmental hazards affect heavily the daily life and can put a risk lives and properties. A better knowledge of geosciences, coming from school, can strongly improve the awareness of the Earth as a living planet and guide the behaviours of the future citizens towards the environment.\ud
In the Introduction (Chapter 1) is outlined the alarming decline in young people's interest for key science studied, probably due to "the way science of taught in primary and secondary school". Because of this the purpose of this PhD project is to promote the study of the Earth Sciences in school by stimulating students and teachers with an experimental and interdisciplinary approach offered by the geosites. The aims explain the way we intend to proceed to approach this topic.\ud
In the following chapters there is the Methodology (Chapter 2) used to select the geosites, the teaching approach, the organization of the project, the visiting of Museum and display centers, the field trips and the production of teaching tools. Each geosite is presented by illustrating the various trails, outcrops, museum and display center included. There is a description of each field trip and of the tools produced to facilitate the teachers’ work.\ud
A brief geological introduction for the two Geosites is reported in chapter 3, with all the geoscience points of interest for the schools and the description of the interdisciplinary topics. Diagrams, chart maps and description of the skills acquired by the students with these activities are presented.\ud
The Website (chapter 4) includes all the information and the teaching materials regarding the two geosites including the guide cards and the Earth Sciences study in-depth files. For each geosite there are principal power points, study in depth power points, guide cards, video-clips, pictures and images, student and teacher activity hand-outs and questionnaires. In each power point presentation there are curiosity slides (in blue and yellow), several links to study in depth topics, video-clips, photos, activity hand-outs, worksheets, external website links. At the end of each file there are the sitography and the textbooks and general references.\ud
Chapter 5 contains the various phases of the research Experimentation, which included:\ud
I. presentation of the geosite trails to teachers;\ud
II. use of the website;\ud
III. visits to the geosites;\ud
IV. use of the learning objects;\ud
V. the questionnaires of the principal trails;\ud
VI. the on-line questionnaire about Frasassi geosite;\ud
In the Results (chapter 6) we show the data obtained from the questionnaire administrated proposed to the participants to the project (teachers, secondary school students, IESO selected students and 1st year University students) about:\ud
secondary school teachers refresher courses;\ud
outdoor experiences;\ud
on-line questionnaire feedback about Frasassi geosite.\ud
A Discussion (chapter 7) about the results, thanks to tables, figures and charts, shows the impact that the methodology used in this research had on teachers and students. The results obtained allowed also to evidence weaknesses and strengths of the proposed activities which have been used to increase the effectiveness of the teaching material and of the website content.\ud
Chapter 8 summarize the Conclusions reached during this project, evidencing the information obtained by the interaction with the science teachers involved in the experimentation and their comments and suggestions. Interesting factors arising from the experimentation with the students were also sources of inputs for the strategy to carry out field and hands-on activities with students of different ages.\ud
The Appendices report examples of a hands-on activity, an in-depth study file, a questionnaire, a list of all the materials produced in this project
Porre mano all'intricata matassa: l'archivio del presidente Ferdinando Cornacchia e gli stati parmensi tra dominio francese e Restaurazione
No full textNel contesto nazionale, le vicende delle carte parmensi risaltano per dinamiche di sedimentazione, dispersione e recupero talmente intricate da richiedere una lunga e paziente opera euristica per restituire agli studiosi e\ud
alla collettività l’intera memoria documentaria dei ducati emiliani. L’archivio del presidente Ferdinando Cornacchia rappresenta in modo emblematico questo quadro, per le vicende archivistiche e per l’importanza del personaggio. Fino agli interventi di recupero le Carte Cornacchia risultavano disperse, prive di ogni strumento di corredo e conservate in parte presso l’Archivio di Stato e in parte presso la Biblioteca Palatina di Parma. L’attività di\ud
riaggregazione e inventariazione restituisce attraverso testimonianze dirette un approccio moderato all’amministrazione della cosa pubblica ottocentesca a metà strada tra l’alta politica, rappresentata prima dai francesi, poi dalla duchessa e dai funzionari austriaci posti al suo fianco dal Metternich, e i\ud
cittadini, che fossero proprietari terrieri o intellettuali, piccoli imprenditori o contadini, borghesi o rappresentanti di ciò che restava della nobiltà di antico\ud
lignaggio. Questo volume, oltre all’inventario analitico del fondo archivistico, presenta il contesto storico, storiografico archivistico nel quale è necessario\ud
interpretare le carte che testimoniano l’intensa attività di questo alto dirigente pubblico. Gli archivi, di per sé, sono infatti silenziosi, finché non si agisce pazientemente e con competenza per farli parlare.\ud
Pierluigi Feliciati dal 2007 è ricercatore presso l’Università di Macerata, dove insegna progettazione digitale applicata ai sistemi documentari e alla\ud
valorizzazione dei beni culturali, specie attraverso il Web.\ud
Precedentemente, dopo la laurea a Roma in Storia del diritto italiano, ha lavorato molti anni prima presso l‘Archivio di Stato di Parma, dove ha redatto tra l’altro la guida agli strumenti di ricerca Synopsis ad Invenienda,\ud
poi presso l’Istituto Centrale per gli Archivi, dove ha coordinato il portale web dell’amministrazione archivistica nazionale e il Sistema Informativo degli Archivi di Stato. Recentemente ha diretto la summer school internazionale su Policies and Practices of Access to Digital Archives