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Rosario Romeo e gli studi sul liberalismo ottocentesco anglo-siciliano
No full textL'esperienza costituzionalista siciliana del 1812 fu definita da Rosario Romeo il vero punto di partenza del processo risorgimentale, soprattutto per i suoi legami con la tradizione liberale inglese. I suoi studi su questo tema, e quelli che, sulla sua scia, furono effettuati, costituiscono un filone di ricerca e una occasione di dibattito accademico di fondamentale importanza ancora oggi
Biochemical valorisation of agro-industrial by-products through green extraction techniques, enzymatic digestion and metabolomic approaches with biotechnological and nutraceutical applications.
No full textAgro‐industrial by‐products represent a rapidly growing biomass stream that is still largely underexploited despite its richness in bioactive molecules and functional biopolymers. Within the conceptual framework of the circular economy and green chemistry, this PhD thesis focuses on the biochemical valorisation of these residues through environmentally sustainable extraction, structural and functional characterisation with biochemical, material science and cell biology applications. The global aim is to demonstrate how Citrus and ornamental plant by‐products can be transformed into sources of high‐value compounds with biotechnological and nutraceutical relevance, thereby contributing to a circular bioeconomy model.
The first experimental section investigates the effects of the flavone vicenin‐2, present in the by-products obtained from global citrus transformation industry, as a bioprotective agent against thermal‐ and oxidative stress‐induced protein damage. Using human serum albumin (HSA) as a protein-model, the study evaluates the ability of vicenin‐2 to prevent fibril formation and oxidative modifications, combining UV‐visible and fluorescence spectroscopy, microscopy, electrophoretic separation and circular dichroism. Binding equilibria, thermodynamic parameters and displacement assays are integrated with molecular docking to clarify the interaction sites, the predominant non‐covalent forces and the resulting conformational rearrangements in the protein. These data support the potential role of vicenin‐2, with implications for the stabilization of protein structure under stress conditions. The second experimental pillar addresses the development of active food‐packaging systems by functionalising bioplastics based on polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and chitosan with phytochemicals present in citrus “pastazzo” and Callistemon citrinus flowers. Anthocyanin‐enriched fractions and polyphenolic matrices are obtained using green extraction approaches and subsequently incorporated into polymeric films. The resulting materials are characterised by FTIR‐ATR, Raman spectroscopy, SEM and XRD to elucidate structural features and interactions between the polymer matrices and the bioactive components. Optical, mechanical, barrier, swelling and water‐contact properties are systematically evaluated, together with antioxidant and antimicrobial activities, migration and release behaviour and food‐preservation performance. The results show that the incorporation of phytochemicals improves the functional profile of the films, enabling antioxidant and antimicrobial protection while maintaining suitable mechanical integrity and contributing to the extension of food shelf‐life. The third experimental section focuses on the biological activity of an anthocyanin‐enriched fraction obtained from the by-products of Callistemon citrinus in TM3 mouse Leydig cells, with particular attention to mitochondrial function, redox homeostasis and steroidogenesis. Several assays are used to assess metabolic activity, cytotoxicity, intracellular reactive oxygen species, mitochondrial membrane potential, mitochondrial biogenesis, lipid peroxidation, OXPHOS protein levels and intracellular antioxidant capacity. Gene and protein expression analyses are combined with androstenedione quantification to dissect the impact on steroidogenic pathways. In parallel, exometabolomic profiling by 1H-NMR is employed to monitor changes in the extracellular metabolite landscape. The findings reveal that, at specific concentrations, the anthocyanin‐enriched fraction exerts a pro‐oxidant effect, impairs mitochondrial quality and suppresses androgen synthesis through transcriptional repression of CyP17a1 mediated by the nuclear transcriptional factors Nr0b2.
Overall, this thesis provides an integrated demonstration that agro‐industrial by‐products can be upgraded into functional ingredients and materials that simultaneously address environmental, technological and biochemical challenges. By combining green extraction technologies, advanced material characterisation and cellular and metabolomic approaches, the work outlines concrete strategies for converting waste streams into added‐value products for active packaging and the modulation of redox‐endocrine pathways, enhancement the link between circular bioeconomy and human health
Implantation of cancer cells from transoral endoscopic thyroidectomy: a case report
No full textBackground: With the development and new technological knowledge, such as surgical techniques that accompany the consolidated open surgical procedures, minimally invasive strategies have also emerged for thyroid surgery. Among these, we can cite the transoral endoscopic vestibular approach known as TOETVA. Recurrences and metastases of differentiated thyroid cancer frequently manifest in the lymph nodes, lungs, bones, and liver. Although the primary implantation of cancer cells causing these recurrences and metastases is considered an uncommon event, it can nonetheless occur in specific instances. This can be a serious complication for patients, as these recurrences and metastases can be difficult to detect and treat effectively. Early identification and appropriate management of these cases are crucial for improving patient outcomes. Case Description: We present a case of a 55-year-old male patient with recurring muscular and subcutaneous recurrence that developed five years after the initial left thyroidectomy performed via a TOETVA. The patient therefore required a second surgical procedure of completion thyroidectomy, central lymph node dissection (level 6 and 7), and removal of nodes in subcutaneous tissue and muscle. Conclusions: Tumor biology, local environment, technical issues, surgical skills, and the correct management and handling of neoplastic nodules represent crucial clinical pitfalls and important factors that can contribute to local recurrence and malignant cellular implantation following a TOETVA for thyroid surgery
A proposito della “creatività schizofrenica”: una rilettura del nesso tra genio e follia alla luce delle scienze cognitive incarnate
No full textThis paper critically examines the enduring myth of
“schizophrenic creativity”, understood as a supposed causal link
between psychotic disorders and enhanced creative abilities. Drawing
on a historical and epistemological critique of the romantic association
between genius and madness, the article presents an integrated analysis
of linguistic and artistic productions in individuals with schizophrenia
spectrum disorders. Combining clinical phenomenology, cognitive
science, neurolinguistics, and contemporary neuroscience of
creativity, the study argues that expressive manifestations commonly
labelled as “creative” in schizophrenia fail to meet the standard
definition of creativity, which requires both originality and contextual
appropriateness. Quantitative evidence and meta-analytic findings
consistently show that, although psychotic subjects may produce
unusual associations, they often exhibit impairments in executive
control and pragmatic effectiveness, preventing these productions
from functioning as adaptive creative outputs. On this basis, the
paper advances a conceptual shift from creativity as a trait or
product to creativity as an embodied process of sense-making. From
this perspective, schizophrenic artistic and linguistic expressions
are interpreted not as aesthetic achievements, but as situated and
meaningful strategies through which individuals attempt to represent
and stabilize an idiosyncratic experiential world marked by the loss of
natural self-evidence
Sul diritto a conoscere le proprie origini per il nato da fecondazione eterologa
No full textL'A., rispondendo ad una delle domande del Forum, riflette sulla figura dei donatori dei gameti (uomo o donna) per poi indagare, soprattutto, la possibilità di riconoscere in capo a colui che è nato grazie alla fecondazione eterologa il diritto a conoscere le proprie origini, diritto che è parzialmente tutelato in caso di adozione
Sustainable recovery of rare earth elements from aqueous media using fruit pomaces: adsorption performance, thermodynamics, and environmental assessment
No full textThe valorization of waste biomasses for recovering Critical Raw Materials (CRMs), particularly Rare Earth Elements (REEs), is a promising approach to enhance sustainability and resource efficiency. This study investigates the adsorption performance of bergamot, grape, and olive pomaces toward Nd3+ and Dy3+ ions under varying pH conditions, both in the absence of an ionic medium and in 0.10 mol/dm3 NaNO3(aq), following different biomass pretreatment protocols. Comparative tests with La3+ enabled evaluation of light (Nd3+, La3+) vs. heavy (Dy3+) lanthanide ion behavior. Biomass characterization was performed using Attenuated Total Reflectance Fourier Transform Infrared (ATR FT-IR) spectroscopy and Scanning Electron Microscopy – Energy-Dispersive X-ray (SEM-EDX) analysis to assess changes in surface chemistry and morphology after adsorption. Kinetic and isotherm analyses showed pseudo-second-order kinetics and Langmuir behavior, respectively. The highest capacity was observed for water-pretreated bergamot pomace at 30 °C, pH 5.0, without ionic medium, and measured adsorption efficiency followed the trend: Dy3+ (0.45 mmol/g) > Nd3+ (0.38 mmol/g) > La3+ (0.35 mmol/g). The materials exhibited good reusability across adsorption/desorption cycles, supporting their potential as sustainable biosorbents. For the first time, direct isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) was used to determine adsorption thermodynamics. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Techno-Economic Assessment (TEA) further evaluated the environmental and economic feasibility of bergamot pomace under different processing scenarios
Real-Time Oestrus Detection in Free Stall Barns: Experimental Validation of a Low-Power System Connected to LPWAN
No full textFeatured Application: This research demonstrates the robustness and practical relevance of a low-power, LPWAN-connected monitoring system that can enhance reproductive management, animal welfare, and data-driven farm sustainability. The growing demand for resources for production in intensive livestock farming requires research to operate with an environmentally sustainable perspective and respect for animal welfare, promoting circularity in the livestock industry. In this context, animal monitoring plays a key role in livestock management, not only to ensure their well-being but also to preserve the balance of the territory. In particular, early detection of oestrus events is one of the crucial elements in livestock monitoring. This study presents the development and on-farm validation of a low-power oestrus detection system for dairy cows, based on stand-alone smart pedometers (SASPs) connected through a Low-Power Wide-Area Network (LPWAN). The system implements an upgradeable, threshold-based algorithm that analyzes cow motor activity using a 24 h moving-mean approach and three behavioral indicators related to oestrus expression. Data are processed on board and transmitted to a cloud platform for visualization through a farmer-oriented WebApp, without requiring any fixed installation in the barn. The system was tested on a commercial free-stall dairy farm over three experimental campaigns (2021–2023). Oestrus events were validated through farmer visual observation and milk progesterone analysis, used as the reference method. A total of 22 confirmed oestrus events were analyzed. The system achieved a detection rate of 72.7% for certain oestrus events and 86.4% when including probable detections, with a mean oestrus duration of 18.1 ± 2.5 h, consistent with values reported in the literature. The proposed solution demonstrates the feasibility of a transparent, low-computational-cost oestrus detection approach compatible with LPWAN constraints. Its plug-and-play design, reduced infrastructure requirements, and upgradable firmware, although not able to self-update, limiting its potential compared to the machine learning-based methods present in the literature, make it suitable for practical adoption, particularly in farms where conventional connectivity and high-cost commercial systems are limiting factors
"Plaire" et "instruire". L'héritage des Anciens dans l'Essai sur les romans
No full textHorace, Plutarque, Tacite, Xénophon : ce ne sont là que quelques-uns des Anciens qui baignent de leur lumière l’Essai sur les romans. Ces résurgences sont d’autant plus importantes qu’elles appuient les propos de l’ouvrage, en alimentant les thèses du théoricien. Enquêter sur les traces de ce legs dans l’Essai sur les romans revient donc à interroger l’essence même de la poétique marmontélienne, articulée sur le lien entre fiction et moralité, entre pratique du genre romanesque et réécriture de l’histoire
Modelli di prevenzione degli eventi catastrofici e criteri di imputazione della responsabilità penale: una breve riflessione critica su Cass. pen. Sez. VI, sent. N. 9906/2025.
No full textIn presenza di eventi catastrofici, assistiamo di recente a un profondo mutamento di assetto e rilevanza delle cautele, parcellizzate nel tempo, nello spazio e rispetto alle persone. La sensazione, tutt’altro che rassicurante, è quella della sovrapposizione tra modelli di prevenzione e regole cautelari.
I vari soggetti coinvolti nella gestione del rischio entrano poi nel meccanismo delle regole cautelari “di secondo grado” e della colpa relazionale, dove la forza incriminatrice dell’art. 113 c.p. si interseca con posizioni di garanzia i cui confini si dilatano progressivamente: prova ne sia l’asserita esistenza, coniata dalla Cassazione, di posizioni di mera sollecitazione dell’impedimento dell’evento
Long-Range Transverse-Momentum Correlations and Radial Flow in Pb-Pb Collisions at the LHC
No full textThis Letter presents measurements of long-range transverse-momentum correlations using a new observable, v0(pT), serving as a probe of event-by-event radial-flow fluctuations, the underlying radial expansion, and the medium's properties in heavy-ion collisions. Results are reported for inclusive charged particles, pions, kaons, and protons across various centrality intervals in Pb-Pb collisions at sNN=5.02 TeV, recorded by the ALICE detector. A pseudorapidity-gap technique, similar to that used in anisotropic-flow studies, is employed to suppress short-range correlations. At low pT, a characteristic mass ordering consistent with hydrodynamic collective flow is observed. At higher pT (>3 GeV/c), protons exhibit larger v0(pT) than pions and kaons, in agreement with expectations from quark-recombination models. Comparisons to viscous hydrodynamic calculations with varying bulk viscosity and equation of state demonstrate the sensitivity of the v0(pT) observable to these key medium properties. The findings establish v0(pT) as a valuable addition to the set of observables used in Bayesian analyses for extracting the transport properties and constraining the equation of state of strongly interacting matter, while also helping to systematically explore its sensitivity and impact within such global studies