10081 research outputs found
Sort by
Digital platforms and user empowerment in EU private law. The liability regime applicable to digital platforms operating in the European transportation and logistics industry
No full textDigital platforms have fundamentally transformed the logistics industry, driving efficiencies and innovation in supply chain operations while raising complex regulatory, economic, and environmental challenges. This research investigates the liabilities for digital platforms in logistics, focusing on the European Union's regulatory framework and strategic priorities. The study begins by analyzing how digital platforms operate in logistics, emphasizing their pivotal role in facilitating e-commerce, comparing the liability regimes of platforms such as Amazon and Alibaba, which offer comprehensive logistics solutions, with gig economy-driven services like Deliveroo and Uber Eats. Attention then shifts to the EU's legal framework governing these platforms. The project examines the interaction between general regulations, such as the E-Commerce Directive, the Digital Services Act, and the Digital Markets Act, alongside specific rules addressing logistics operations and the role of digital freight forwarders. Finally, the project also delves into the evolving data governance landscape and the role played by digital platforms in the digitization of transport documents, analising the impact of Data Act and eFTI Regulation
Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, environmental exposures, genetic mutations and the risk of selected neoplasms
No full textApproximately 20 million new cancer cases and 9.7 million cancer deaths occurred in 2022, making cancer the third cause of death in the world. Cancer types with the highest burden on population’s health are respiratory and digestive cancer, and among the latter colorectal and liver cancer have the highest mortality rates. Previous work suggested that tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) detected in cancer tissue are predictive of better prognosis among cancer patients. TILs can be evaluated visually by pathologists in hematoxylin and eosin-stained tissue sections. However, TIL assessment made by experts is a time-consuming task and is affected by interobserver variability. Hence, machine learning-based methods, such as deep learning, have been tested to analyze whole slide images of cancer tissue to overcome such potential issues related to human-based TIL estimation and to improve reproducibility. Previous studies evaluating TILs assessed using deep learning algorithms as a prognostic marker among cancer patients were focused on a specific cancer type only and mostly used cancer-specific algorithms for TIL estimation. Also, none of them investigated the combined use of TILs and other factors, such as exposure to environmental pollutants and genetic mutations, in the assessment of prognosis among cancer patients. The results described in this thesis suggest that TILs evaluated using a deep learning algorithm validated for many different cancer types may be useful for cancer prognostic stratification, especially among head and neck cancer patients. Also, among evaluated factors, TILs and environmental exposure to air pollutants classified as carcinogens showed the most promising results as prognostic markers, while clusters of genetic mutations obtained using k-means algorithm showed no clear associations with cancer survival. Hence, the present thesis provides a proof of concept for the integration of machine learning and classical epidemiological methods for the identification of prognostic factors in patients with respiratory and digestive cancer
A comprehensive study on the recovery of lactose and lactic acid from acid whey
No full textAcid whey is a by-product of the manufacturing of concentrated yogurts and fresh cheeses, and differs from sweet whey in its higher content of lactic acid and calcium and lower pH. These characteristics negatively impact the recovery of lactose powders by hindering crystallization and causing salt precipitation. Consequently, there is an ongoing need for effective methods to remove these undesired components from acid whey. Electrodialysis and ion exchange, integrated with nanofiltration, have emerged as effective solutions. However, these methods are characterized by high complexity and the requirement of additional equipment and do not provide any valorization of lactic acid. The objective of this study is to design an alternative acid whey processing flowsheet for the recovery of all valuable components (whey proteins, lactose and lactic acid). The proposed process bears a close resemblance to the conventional processing of sweet whey, with the incorporation of a dedicated decalcification step for calcium removal. The novel aspect is the attempt to recover both lactose and lactic acid using the same nanofiltration apparatus. This thesis presents a proof of concept for lactose purification through nanofiltration, developing an integrated process combining nanofiltration in concentration mode followed by diafiltration that successfully achieves all lactose purification targets. The study also identifies the concentration factor and operating flux as key design variables for process design. Energy consumption analysis across various fluxes reveals that operating both steps at 30 L/(hm2) is the most energy efficient approach. Then, an overview of the state-of-art highlights the scarcity of studies on nanofiltration for lactic acid demineralization and thus an experimental campaign is carried out to address this gap. The experimental findings demonstrate that operating at the original pH of 4 of the lactic acid-rich permeate is inefficient, whereas raising the pH leads to a partial lactic acid purification accompanied by notable losses
Unruly pictures. Queering children’s literature under dictatorial regimes in Brazil (1964-1985) and Argentina (1976-1983)
No full textThis dissertation investigates how picturebooks from the Brazilian (1964–1985) and Argentinean (1976–1983) military dictatorships engage with sociopolitical realities through representations of everyday life. It introduces a novel methodological approach that integrates queer reading, critical content analysis, and multimodal literary analysis, positioning picturebooks as dynamic artifacts that challenge authoritarian ideologies and reimagine social possibilities. Historical contextualization of the military dictatorships and of children’s literature uses in Brazil and Argentina are provided, further situating the corpus and analysis within broader political and cultural frameworks. Inspired by an archival sensibility that echoes Jack Halberstam’s silly archive, this study treats each analytical chapter as a thematic collection, grouping picturebooks around the themes of precarity, unruliness, and prefigurative happy endings. This structure highlights how narratives grapple with exclusion, vulnerability, and systemic inequalities while imagining alternatives through humor, absurdity, and reconfigurations of relationships. Key concepts coming from queer scholarship, such as precarity (Gabriel Giorgi; Judith Butler), resistance (Judith Butler), educated hope (José Esteban Muñoz), and prefigurativism (Charles Boggs, Paul Raekstad and Sofa Saio Gradin), underpin the analysis. By positioning picturebooks as politically engaged cultural artifacts, this dissertation questions the conventional perception of children’s literature as solely didactic or entertaining. It also moves away from interpretations focusing on the child as the main reader of the genre, highlighting how picturebooks engage with broader sociopolitical discourses, functioning as tools for cultural critique, historical reflection, and radical imagination. By reconceptualizing the happy ending as an act of resistance and critique, this study expands the interpretative possibilities of the genre, demonstrating its capacity to subvert dominant narratives and envision alternative futures
Myco-conversion of agricultural waste into new bioproducts to improve the biodiversity of agricultural ecosystem
No full textAgriculture, while vital for sustaining a global population exceeding 8 billion, generates substantial agro-waste, posing ecological and economic challenges. Sustainable waste management strategies are urgently needed. This thesis explores myco-valorization—the use of fungi to convert agricultural waste into value-added products—as a circular, eco-friendly solution. Fungi natural decomposing abilities enable them to process complex organic materials while producing bioactive compounds. Advanced analytical techniques, such as Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) and Raman spectroscopy, support substrate characterization and process optimization. The research comprises four interconnected studies. Chapter 3 investigates integrating biogas production with mushroom cultivation by using anaerobic digestate as a substrate for Pleurotus ostreatus. Incorporating 15% digestate yielded comparable mushroom productivity and improved uniformity and timing of fruiting, supporting synergies between mushroom and biogas industries. Chapter 4 evaluates grape pomace, alone and mixed with digestate, as a cultivation substrate. Grape pomace enhanced yield and quality, with digestate optimizing pH and nutrients. The spectroscopic analyses confirmed the chemical consistency of mushrooms grown on these alternative media, highlighting grape pomace valorization potential. Chapters 6 focus on extracting chitosan from mushrooms and spent substrates to synthesize chitosan nanoparticles. FTIR, Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS), and Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) analyses revealed source-dependent variations in composition and particle characteristics. This demonstrates a viable route for producing high-value nanomaterials from fungal by-products. Chapter 7 utilizes SERS spectroscopy to study ergothioneine, a bioactive amino acid in fungi. Its molecular behavior under varying pH and concentrations was characterized, and in situ detection in fruiting bodies was demonstrated, positioning SERS as a valuable tool in fungal biotechnology. In conclusion, this thesis advances scalable strategies for agro-waste valorization through fungal applications, contributing to sustainable agriculture, biotechnology, and circular economy transitions. Future work should explore diverse substrates, fungal species, and innovative applications of fungal-derived products
The trade, climate, and green energy triad in the EU's new generation free trade agreements
No full textAll economic activities impact the environment, and trade does not represent an exception. With anthropogenic climate change denoting the most pressing environmental concern of the present Millennium, global commercial exchanges have been regarded as a force for good in tackling it, in particular through the adoption of “green” trade measures. On these bases, the thesis investigates if, and to what extent, the new generation free trade agreements (NGFTAs) negotiated and/or concluded by the European Union with third Countries codify and operationalize provisions pertaining to climate change, through the promotion of renewable energy. After setting the theoretical framework of the study, the research examines the scope, content, and normative value of the provisions pertaining to climate change and renewable energy, as enshrined in the EU NGFTAs. Subsequently, the investigation rests on the implementation and enforcement phases of the investigated provisions. In relation to the former, the thesis rests on the composition, function, decision-making powers and existing practice of the institutional bodies set up under the examined agreements. With regard to the latter phase, the remedies which are available both to the parties to the Agreements and to natural and legal persons in order to claim the violation of the provisions under scrutiny are investigated. Against this backdrop, the doctoral thesis argues that, despite representing sophisticated models for integrating environmental interests within trade agreements, the Union’s NGFTAs stand out as mere “blunt weapons” in fighting climate change. In this vein, some prospective outlooks for future research are presented, analyzing the future developments which might foster the promotion of the nexus entwining trade, climate change and green energy at a global level
The European Union's supply of critical raw materials between trade needs, sustainable development and indigenous peoples' rights
No full textIl presente lavoro di ricerca mette in luce il rapporto tra commercio internazionale, sostenibilità e diritti dei popoli indigeni (specialmente quelli fondiari), partendo dall’analisi della politica commerciale comune dell’Unione europea (UE) e della strategia dell’UE per l’approvvigionamento di materie prime critiche. La ricerca evidenzia come la liberalizzazione del commercio, pur promuovendo la crescita economica, generi tensioni con gli obiettivi di sviluppo sostenibile, causando impatti sproporzionati sulle comunità indigene in termini di espropriazione di risorse e degrado ambientale. Attraverso un approccio interdisciplinare – che combina analisi giuridiche, revisione della letteratura postcoloniale e proposte di policy – la tesi esamina le lacune normative presenti nei capi su energia e materie prime ed in quelli su commercio e sviluppo sostenibile contenuti negli accordi commerciali dell’UE. Il caso di studio sull’accordo di libero scambio tra UE e Nuova Zelanda, che incorpora l’eccezione del Trattato di Waitangi, offre un esempio di tutela crescente dei diritti dei popoli indigeni nel contesto del commercio internazionale, pur non essendo esente da criticità nell’applicazione pratica. Tra le proposte avanzate vi sono l’introduzione di valutazioni d’impatto guidate dalle comunità indigene e di meccanismi vincolanti di condivisione dei benefici, così come l’obbligatorietà del consenso libero, preventivo e informato per tutte le attività (in primis, quelle di tipo estrattivo) che abbiano luogo nelle terre e nei territori indigeni e che prevedano lo sfruttamento di risorse naturali di proprietà indigena. La tesi si conclude con un appello ad un cambio sistemico nelle politiche commerciali dell’UE, nell’ottica di promuovere davvero un commercio internazionale che integri la protezione dei diritti umani di tutti, il perseguimento dello sviluppo sostenibile nelle sue tre dimensioni e la promozione della giustizia sociale in una prospettiva di maggiore inclusione e progresso più equo.This work highlights the relationship between international trade, sustainability and indigenous peoples’ rights (particularly land rights), starting from the analysis of the EU’s trade policy and its strategy for the supply of critical raw materials (CRMs). The research highlights how trade liberalisation – whilst promoting economic growth – generates tensions with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), causing disproportionate impacts on indigenous communities in terms of resource dispossession and environmental degradation. Through an interdisciplinary approach – combining legal analysis, postcolonial literature review and policy proposals – this dissertation examines the existing regulatory gaps in the chapters on energy and raw materials and in those on trade and sustainable development contained in a number of EU trade agreements. The case study on the EU-New Zealand free trade agreement (FTA), which incorporates the exception of the Treaty of Waitangi, offers an example of increasing protection of indigenous peoples’ rights in the context of international trade, even if it is not free from problematicness in its practical application.
Amongst the proposals put forward are the introduction of indigenous-led impact assessments and binding benefit-sharing mechanisms, as well as mandatory free, prior and informed consent for all activities (especially the extractive ones) taking place on indigenous lands and involving the exploitation of indigenous-owned natural resources. This thesis ends with a call for a systemic change in the EU’s trade policies, with a view to truly promoting a new commercial paradigm that integrates the protection of human rights for all, the pursuit of sustainable development in its three dimensions and the promotion of social justice in a perspective of greater inclusion and more equitable development
Sustainable supply chain management as a societal challenge: a social network analysis perspective on italian value chains
No full textThe accelerating urgency of climate change necessitates innovative strategies to integrate sustainability into supply chain management (SCM). This thesis bridges network theory and sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) to examine how network structures and firm-level sustainability performance interact to shape sustainable practices across complex supply chain networks. Employing a multi-scalar approach, the research spans macro-level analysis of a directed supplier-buyer network on a macro-level on the Italian territory, meso-level insights from industry-specific sectors, and micro-level investigations of central firms. The study utilizes Social Network Analysis (SNA), Exponential Random Graph Models (ERGMs), and a linear-log regression analysis to explore how sustainability metrics influence network connectivity, firm centrality, and tie formation. Key findings highlight the role of central firms as sustainability hubs and the significance of relational dynamics, such as homophily, in shaping collaborative behaviors, as well as confirm a logarithmic decay in sustainability performance with increasing network distance from central firms. The collaboration with CRIF provided access to a robust dataset which includes 1,374 Italian firms and their ESG performances scores of certified sustainability metrics, enabling the exploration of how structural and relational factors propagate sustainable practices throughout supply chain networks. This research contributes theoretically by integrating network theory into SSCM, offering new insights into the structural and relational dynamics critical to advancing sustainable supply chains. Practically, it provides actionable guidance for managers and policymakers, advocating for interventions such as digital traceability systems, targeted support for central firms, and collaborative platforms to foster resilience and sustainability. The findings underscore the importance of leveraging network configurations and central actors to drive systemic change, paving the way for resilient, adaptive, and sustainable supply chains aligned with global climate goals
Muséologie du sacré. Les églises consacrées et le patrimoine culturel des Frères Mineurs Conventuels en Italie
No full textLa tesi esamina le chiese consacrate e il patrimonio culturale dei Frati Minori Conventuali individuando parallelismi e differenze con l’esposizione degli oggetti religiosi nel contesto secolare dei musei. Concentrandosi sulla relazione dell’Ordine con il patrimonio culturale a partire dall’inizio del XX secolo, lo studio si basa su metodologie della ricerca storica, della museologia e della storia dell’arte, integrando prospettive provenienti dagli studi religiosi e dalla fenomenologia. Al centro di questa ricerca si trova l’interazione tra le nozioni di “sacro” e di “secolare”. Sebbene spesso percepite come opposte, queste dimensioni si intrecciano in modo complesso, in particolare nell’allestimento, interpretazione e contestualizzazione degli oggetti religiosi negli ambienti ecclesiastici e museali. Per illustrare queste dinamiche, la ricerca esamina l’impegno dei Frati Conventuali nei confronti del loro patrimonio storico e artistico dal primo Novecento fino a oggi, dalle mostre temporanee realizzate in contesti francescani nei primi decenni del secolo alle pratiche tutela e valorizzazione contemporanee, soffermandosi sulle attuali sfide legate alla “musealizzazione” delle chiese e sul confronto tra le modalità di storytelling del patrimonio proposte dai francescani e le narrazioni secolari sull’arte sacra nei musei. Un caso di studio centrale è quello di Assisi, cuore della spiritualità francescana e sito UNESCO dal 2000, analizzato come paesaggio culturale in relazione ai diversi fruitori. Le collezioni del Museo del Tesoro della Basilica di San Francesco d’Assisi sono studiate in dialogo con la basilica stessa, mettendo in luce i racconti sovrapposti che si sviluppano in questi spazi. Infine, la tesi propone una riflessione teorica sulle qualità esperienziali degli spazi ecclesiali e museali. Confrontando le dimensioni atmosferiche, architettoniche e percettive dei siti sacri e degli ambienti museali, lo studio identifica i parallelismi e le distinzioni nel modo in cui questi spazi coinvolgono i visitatori a livello emotivo e sensoriale.The dissertation examines consecrated churches and the cultural heritage of the Conventual Franciscan Friars, identifying parallels and differences with the display of religious objects in the secular context of museums. Focusing on the Order’s relationship with cultural heritage from the early twentieth century to the present, the study draws on methodologies from historical research, museology, and art history, while also incorporating perspectives from religious studies and phenomenology. At the core of the research is the interaction between the notions of the “sacred” and the “secular.” Although often perceived as opposites, these dimensions are deeply intertwined, particularly in the exhibition, interpretation, and contextualization of religious objects within ecclesiastical and museum settings. To illustrate these dynamics, the dissertation explores the Conventual Friars’ engagement with their historical and artistic heritage from the early 1900s to today—from temporary exhibitions held in Franciscan contexts during the early decades of the century to contemporary practices of preservation and interpretation. Special attention is given to current challenges surrounding the “musealization” of churches and the contrasts between the storytelling approaches of the Franciscans and the secular narratives of sacred art found in museums. A central case study is Assisi, the heart of Franciscan spirituality and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000, analyzed as a cultural landscape in relation to its diverse audiences. The collections of the Museum of the Treasury of the Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi are also studied in dialogue with the Basilica itself, revealing the layered narratives that unfold within these spaces. Finally, the dissertation offers a theoretical reflection on the experiential qualities of ecclesial and museum spaces. By comparing the atmospheric, architectural, and perceptual dimensions of sacred sites and museum environments, the study identifies both the parallels and the distinctions in how these spaces engage visitors on emotional and sensory levels.La thèse examine les églises consacrées et le patrimoine culturel des Frères Mineurs Conventuels, en identifiant parallélismes et différences avec la présentation des objets religieux dans le cadre séculier des musées. En se concentrant sur la relation de l’Ordre avec le patrimoine culturel depuis le début du XXe siècle, l’étude s’appuie sur des méthodologies issues de la recherche historique, de la muséologie et de l’histoire de l’art, tout en intégrant des perspectives des études religieuses et de la phénoménologie. Au cœur de cette recherche se trouve l’interaction entre les notions de « sacré » et de « séculier ». Bien que souvent perçues comme opposées, ces dimensions se mêlent de manière complexe, notamment dans la mise en scène, l’interprétation et la contextualisation des objets religieux dans les espaces ecclésiaux et muséaux. Pour illustrer ces dynamiques, la recherche analyse l’engagement des Frères Conventuels envers leur patrimoine historique et artistique depuis les premières expositions franciscaines du XXe siècle jusqu’aux pratiques actuelles de conservation et de valorisation. Une attention particulière est portée aux défis contemporains liés à la « muséalisation » des églises, ainsi qu’à la comparaison entre les récits patrimoniaux proposés par les franciscains et les narrations séculières de l’art sacré dans les musées. Un cas d’étude central est celui d’Assise, cœur de la spiritualité franciscaine et site UNESCO depuis 2000, envisagé comme paysage culturel en lien avec la diversité de ses visiteurs. Les collections du Musée du Trésor de la Basilique Saint-François d’Assise sont étudiées en dialogue avec la basilique elle-même, révélant des récits superposés. Enfin, la thèse propose une réflexion théorique sur les qualités expérientielles des espaces ecclésiaux et muséaux. En comparant les dimensions atmosphériques, architecturales et perceptives des lieux sacrés et des environnements muséaux, l’étude identifie les parallèles et les distinctions dans l’engagement sensoriel et émotionnel des visiteurs
Reconfiguring the Anthropocene. Contemporary art and new theoretical paradigms in the era of ecological crisis
No full textLa presente tesi indaga le trasformazioni delle pratiche artistiche contemporanee nell'era dell'Antropocene, interpretando questa epoca geologica non meramente come crisi ecologica, ma come catalizzatore per l'emergere di inedite sensibilità estetiche e paradigmi relazionali che problematizzano e superano le tradizionali dicotomie occidentali tra natura e cultura, soggetto e oggetto, umano e non-umano. L'adozione dell'approccio metodologico transdisciplinare, che integra l'analisi storico-artistica con le più recenti teorizzazioni del pensiero postumanista, del nuovo materialismo e dell'ecocritica contemporanea, consente di analizzare le pratiche artistiche come intra-azioni che partecipano attivamente alla produzione di nuove comprensioni della crisi ecologica. L'indagine si articola attraverso un percorso analitico, che muove dall'esame critico dell'Antropocene come paradigma interdisciplinare, analizzando le diverse prospettive geologiche, filosofiche e culturali, per giungere all'esplorazione delle metodologie emergenti nelle pratiche artistiche contemporanee. La ricerca procede esaminando le genealogie storiche a partire dagli anni Sessanta e le tendenze innovative dell'arte ambientale, con particolare attenzione ai nuovi dispositivi di ibridazione tra arte, filosofia, scienza e tecnologia. Attraverso un'analisi approfondita di opere significative nel panorama europeo e nordamericano, la ricerca esamina le pratiche di artisti come Hans Haacke, Piero Gilardi, Tomás Saraceno, Pierre Huyghe ed Edward Burtynsky. Viene, inoltre, sviluppata una critica costruttiva dei limiti intrinseci alle pratiche artistiche legate all'Antropocene e una problematizzazione delle prospettive teoriche del nuovo materialismo nell'ambito dell’arte contemporanea. Infine, la ricerca esamina la trasformazione della categoria estetica del sublime nell’Antropocene, con particolare attenzione al “toxic sublime” nelle fotografie di Edward Burtynsky. I risultati della ricerca rilevano che le pratiche artistiche contemporanee non si limitano a rappresentare la crisi ambientale, ma contribuiscono a riconfigurare i paradigmi teorici e culturali del dibattito ecologico, proponendo nuovi modi di pensare e praticare la coesistenza tra umano e non umano.This thesis investigates the transformations of contemporary artistic practices in the Anthropocene era, interpreting this geological epoch not merely as an ecological crisis, but as a catalyst for the emergence of unprecedented aesthetic sensibilities and relational paradigms that problematize and transcend traditional Western dichotomies between nature and culture, subject and object, human and non-human. The adoption of a transdisciplinary methodological approach, which integrates art-historical analysis with recent theorizations in posthumanist thought, new materialism, and contemporary ecocriticism, enables the analysis of artistic practices as intra-actions that actively participate in producing new understandings of the ecological crisis. The investigation unfolds through an analytical trajectory that moves from a critical examination of the Anthropocene as an interdisciplinary paradigm, analyzing diverse geological, philosophical, and cultural perspectives, to the exploration of emerging methodologies in contemporary artistic practices. The research proceeds by examining historical genealogies from the 1960s onwards and innovative trends in environmental art, with particular attention to new apparatuses of hybridization between art, philosophy, science, and technology. Through an in-depth analysis of significant works in the European and North American landscape, the research examines the practices of artists such as Hans Haacke, Piero Gilardi, Tomás Saraceno, Pierre Huyghe, and Edward Burtynsky. Furthermore, a constructive critique of the intrinsic limitations of artistic practices related to the Anthropocene is developed, along with a problematization of new materialist theoretical perspectives within the field of contemporary art. Finally, the research examines the transformation of the aesthetic category of the sublime in the Anthropocene, with particular attention to the "toxic sublime" in Edward Burtynsky's photographs. The research findings reveal that contemporary artistic practices do not merely represent the environmental crisis, but contribute to reconfiguring the theoretical and cultural paradigms of ecological discourse, proposing new ways of thinking and practicing coexistence between human and non-human