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Automated service provisioning in programmable network infrastructures
Get PDFModern networks are undergoing a fast and drastic evolution, with software taking a more predominant role. Virtualization and cloud-like approaches are replacing physical network appliances, reducing the management burden of the operators. Furthermore, networks now expose programmable interfaces for fast and dynamic control over traffic forwarding. This evolution is backed by standard organizations such as ETSI, 3GPP, and IETF.
This thesis will describe which are the main trends in this evolution. Then, it will present solutions developed during the three years of Ph.D. to exploit the capabilities these new technologies offer and to study their possible limitations to push further the state-of-the-art.
Namely, it will deal with programmable network infrastructure, introducing the concept of Service Function Chaining (SFC) and presenting two possible solutions, one with Openstack and OpenFlow and the other using Segment Routing and IPv6. Then, it will continue with network service provisioning, presenting concepts from Network Function Virtualization (NFV) and Multi-access Edge Computing (MEC). These concepts will be applied to network slicing for mission-critical communications and Industrial IoT (IIoT). Finally, it will deal with network abstraction, with a focus on Intent Based Networking (IBN).
To summarize, the thesis will include solutions for data plane programming with evaluation on well-known platforms, performance metrics on virtual resource allocations, novel practical application of network slicing on mission-critical communications, an architectural proposal and its implementation for edge technologies in Industrial IoT scenarios, and a formal definition of intent using a category theory approach
High friction and acoustic surface for pavements: development of artificial engineered aggregates from recycled powders
Get PDFThere is a constant need to improve the infrastructure's quality and build new infrastructure with better designs. The risk of accidents and noise can be reduced by improving the surface properties of the pavement. The amount of raw material used in road construction is worrisome, as it is finite and due the waste produced. Environmentally-friendly roads construction, recycling might be the main way. Projects must be more environmentally-friendly, safer, and quieter. Is it possible to develop a safer, quieter and environmentally-friendly pavement surfaces? The hypothesis is: is it possible to create an Artificial Engineered Aggregate (AEA) using waste materials and providing it with a specific shape that can help to reduce the noise and increase the friction? The thesis presents the development of an AEA and its application as a partial replacement in microsurfacing samples. The 1st introduces the topic and provides the aim and objectives of the thesis. The 2nd chapter – presents a pavement solution to noise and friction review. The 3rd chapter - developing a mix design for a geopolymer mortar that used basalt powder. The 4th chapter is presented the physical-mechanical evaluation of the AEA. The 5th chapter evaluates the use of this aggregate in microsurfacing regarding the texture parameters. The 6th chapter, those parameter are used as an input to SPERoN® model, simulating their noise behavior of these solutions. The findings from this thesis are presented as partial conclusions in each chapter, to be closed in a final chapter. The main findings are: the DoE provided the tool to select the appropriate geopolymer mortar mix design; AEA had interesting results regarding the physical-mechanical tests; AEA in partial replacement of the natural aggregates in microsurfacing mixture proved feasible. The texture parameters and noise levels obtained in AEA samples demonstrate that it can serve as a HIFAS
The organisation of oncological care in Emilia-Romagna during COVID-19 between invisible work and new care practices
Get PDFL’insorgere della pandemia da COVID-19 ha comportato una pesante riorganizzazione delle strutture ospedaliere e lo stesso sistema delle cure oncologiche è stato ripensato cercando di garantire, da un lato, la sicurezza dei pazienti e del personale sanitario e, dall’altro, la continuità delle cure. Il progetto analizza l’impatto di questa riorganizzazione sulle traiettorie di malattia dei pazienti oncologici e sul lavoro di cura dei diversi attori coinvolti nella definizione di queste traiettorie. La ricerca, focalizzata sul contesto ospedaliero emiliano-romagnolo, si è svolta tramite la realizzazione di interviste qualitative a personale sanitario ospedaliero, associazioni di volontariato, pazienti e caregiver. La gestione del rischio Covid ha comportato un consistente impegno in termini di safety work da parte del personale sanitario. Inoltre, le limitazioni degli accessi agli ambienti ospedalieri, imposte come misure di sicurezza, hanno comportato l’esclusione di familiari e associazioni di volontariato dagli ospedali e, di conseguenza, una maggiore solitudine del paziente in tutte le fasi del percorso di cura. L’assistenza fornita da queste figure ricomprende una componente di “lavoro invisibile” che la situazione pandemica ha permesso di far emergere. Infatti, i familiari supportano indirettamente e informalmente il lavoro del personale sanitario all’interno dello stesso ambiente ospedaliero. I professionisti intervistati hanno riconosciuto il venir meno di questo supporto. La risposta del personale ospedaliero, e infermieristico in particolare, si è articolata in due direzioni al fine di sopperire a queste mancanze: da un lato, incrementando la componente di sentimental work, e quindi di supporto emotivo ai pazienti; dall’altro, attraverso buone pratiche orientate a rispondere ai bisogni dei pazienti, intesi non solo in senso biomedico, ma anche psicologico e relazionale. Possiamo quindi concludere che, sotto certi aspetti, la pandemia è stata contrastata con una maggiore umanizzazione delle cure oncologiche e una maggiore attenzione ai bisogni dei pazienti intesi nella loro interezza e complessità.The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has led to a substantial reorganisation of hospital facilities, and oncological care itself has been reorganised trying to ensure, on the one hand, the safety of patients and healthcare professionals, and on the other, continuity of treatment. The project analyses the impact of this reorganisation on the illness trajectories of cancer patients and on the care work of the actors in various ways involved in the definition of these illness trajectories. The research was conducted through 41 semi-structured interviews with healthcare professionals, voluntary associations, cancer patients and informal caregivers in the Italian region Emilia-Romagna. The management of Covid risk entailed a substantial commitment in terms of safety work by healthcare professionals. The exclusion of family members and voluntary associations from hospital facilities, imposed as a safety measure, meant greater patient loneliness at all stages of the treatment process. The assistance usually provided by family members and voluntary associations includes a component of “invisible work” that the pandemic has allowed to come to light. Family members and voluntary associations informally support the work of healthcare professionals within the hospital setting. The professionals interviewed recognised the lack of this support. Healthcare professionals, and nurses in particular, have tried to, at least partially, replace the care work usually provided by family members and voluntary associations: on the one hand, by increasing their effort in terms of sentimental work, and therefore of emotional support to patients; on the other hand, with the implementation of new care practices aimed at responding not only to the biomedical needs of patients, but also to the psychological and relational ones, paradoxically showing a greater attention towards the humanisation of care and to the needs of patients understood in their entirety and complexity
CO2 utilization and alternative solvents: effective tools for sustainable applications
Get PDFThe growing concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere and its harmful consequences has led the scientific community to direct its efforts towards sustainable processes. Among the possible approaches, the use of CO2 and alternative solvents are two strategies that are having widespread diffusion.
In this work the reuse of CO2 is expressed by using it as a reaction reagent and as trigger to change the physical properties of a catalyst thus facilitating its recovery.
As regards the CO2 use as reagent, two catalytic systems have been developed for the conversion of CO2 and epoxides into cyclic carbonates, used in the synthesis of polymers and as aprotic solvents. Homogeneous catalysts made by choline-based eutectic mixtures and heterogeneous catalysts made from biopolymers and waste pyrolysis have been synthesized and tested on this reaction.
The carbonate interchange reaction (CIR) of a diol with a linear carbonate (as dimethyl carbonate) is an interesting alternative, for the synthesis of cyclic carbonates; as the second application of CO2 as polarity trigger, it was used for catalyst recovery. In fact DBU, here used as catalyst, is part of the so called “switchable solvents”: they can pass from a less-polar to a more-polar form (and from being soluble to non-soluble in the reaction mixture) when reacting with CO2 in presence of water or alcohols. Also in this case, heterogeneous catalysts made from biopolymers and waste pyrolysis have been synthesized and tested on CIR.
As for the use of alternative solvents, this work focuses on the use of Deep Eutectic Solvents (DESs). They are a new generation of solvents composed by a mixture of two or more substances, liquid at room temperature, and non-volatile. New and biobased DESs were here used: i) as reaction media to carry out chemoenzymatic epoxidation; ii) in the extraction of astaxanthin from microalgae culture
The conceptualisation of music in ancient Greek thought (V century B.C. – II century B.C.)
Get PDFThe focus of this dissertation is the analysis of the music-related philosophical passages from the 5th century B.C. to the 2nd century B.C. It aims to provide a multifaceted view towards music as a cultural phenomenon, which is based primarily on the philological and culturological explorations instead of the technical-musicological approach. The texts from our selected period attest that mousikē had an extremely broad conceptualisation which led to the attribution of the different, sometimes completely opposite value: from an insignificant performative practice to an activity which corresponds to the divine laws and directly affects the human soul. The discussed testimonia provide evidence of defining music both as an exclusively acoustic phenomenon and as a philosophically significant concept that oversteps the sonic definition. Our sources clearly demonstrate that mousikē was a polysemous term: it was understood as an interdisciplinary form of art (as the arts of the Muses), though it was also used to indicate the exclusively instrumental music or a philosophical concept, which does not necessarily define sound as its essential quality. The aim of this dissertation is to clarify the arguments behind each of these positions, to analyse whether such different modes of conceptualisation are compatible among themselves, and to see how they fit together into explaining what was understood as music in Antiquity. In this thesis we explore the conceptual framework of mousikē and analyse what enabled the musical thought to be worthy of the attention of the greatest philosophical minds. We will demonstrate that it was not the sound or the artistic practices that were central in the philosophical thought on music, but instead the embedded structural qualities that have correspondence to the universal proportions of the cosmic world and which are perceptible to the listeners through the medium of sound
Molecular target therapy and immunotherapy of rare lung tumors
Get PDFLung cancer is an heterogeneous disease, with 1-2% of rare histology. New molecular profiling technologies, such as next generation sequencing (NGS), haverevolutionized the assessment of molecular alteration in clinical practice.
We analyzed a cohort of 1408 NSCLC-A patients treated at the Sant'Orsola- Malpighi University Hospital from 2019 to 2021.
This analysis was performed using the oncomine focus thermo fischer panel.
Of them, 410 (29%) had rare alteration (RET 3%, NTRK 0,2%,FGFR1 2%, MET exon14 skipping 3%, BRAF V600 4%, ALK fusion EGFR exon 20 2%) and 36 (2%)had a uncommon mutation.
We enrolled 7 RET- rearranged patients in CRETA and J2G-MC-JZJC clinical trials assessing respectively unselective and selective RET-inhibitors , another 7 patients tested positive for the BRAF V6006 mutation and have been enrolled in the Array clinical trial assessing a novel combination of anti-BRAF and anti-mek agents . Other molecular alterations found are KRAS (Gly12Cys), FGFR1-4 mutation, MET skipping ex14 mutations, respectively eligible for other ongoing open studies such as Amgen 20190009 comparing efficacy of sotorasib vs docetaxel, Fight-207 assessing activity of pemigatinib and CINC280J12201 assessing activity of the novel met inhibitor capmatinib.
In 2018 we joined the CHANCE clinical trial,a multicenter study evaluating the efficacy and safety of atezolizumab in patients withrare lung cancer histologies where and 14 patients have been so far enrolled in the Bologna site.
Our studies underline the need of tailored approach to NSCLC patients and our results showed that precision medicine is feasible and is an effective approach to cancer treatment
The effects of European budget constraints on local authorities. New rules for stability.
Get PDFLa disciplina del pareggio di bilancio è in continua evoluzione, soprattutto a fronte delle nuove esigenze finanziarie per contrastare la pandemia.
Questo elaborato, studiando la governance economica strutturata dopo la crisi dei debiti, le derivanti scelte italiane in materia di costituzionalizzazione del pareggio di bilancio e le conseguenze sulle autonomie locali, dimostra come il sistema di gestione delle finanze pubbliche a livello comunitario si stia completando, generando un rapporto normativo ciclico tra il livello europeo e quello locale.
Ne è emersa una conflittualità tra le Regioni e lo Stato, che è analizzata al fine di comprendere la giustiziabilità costituzionale del pareggio di bilancio, osservando le esigenze di bilanciamento tra l’equilibrio finanziario e la tutela dei diritti sociali. La Corte Costituzionale ha recentemente conferito, in via giurisprudenziale, alla Corte dei Conti la potestà di svolgere un controllo diretto di costituzionalità del rispetto dell’equilibrio di bilancio degli enti nazionali e territoriali.
Particolare attenzione viene data, poi, a seguito degli effetti della pandemia da Covid-19 sui bilanci degli Stati. A fronte della crisi pandemica, per la prima volta dall’approvazione del TSCG, la Commissione ha attivato la clausola di salvaguardia generale per sospendere il Patto di Stabilità (c.d. escape clause). Questa clausola ha permesso ai Paesi di ricorrere agli scostamenti di bilancio.
Viene infine analizzato il piano “Next Generation EU”, che centralizza i prestiti verso gli Stati membri nel bilancio dell’Unione ed attinge dal mercato dei capitali le risorse necessarie per finanziare un totale di 750 miliardi, attraverso l’emissione di obbligazioni “Eu Bills”. Per la prima volta nella storia, l’Unione, nelle parole della Commissione, agisce sui mercati come se fosse uno Stato. La portata straordinaria del NGEU, con l’emissione di titoli europei, porta ad una sostanziale mutualizzazione dei debiti ed appare come un passo fondamentale verso il completamento dell’UEM e di un sistema federale.The discipline of the balanced budget is constantly evolving, especially in the face of the new financial needs to combat the pandemic.
This paper, studying the structured economic governance after the debt crisis, the resulting Italian choices regarding the constitutionalisation of the balanced budget and the consequences on local autonomies, demonstrates how the public finance management system at EU level is being completed, generating a cyclical regulatory relationship between the European and local levels.
A conflict emerged between the Regions and the State, which is analyzed in order to understand the constitutional justice of a balanced budget, observing the need for balancing the financial balance and the protection of social rights. The Constitutional Court has recently conferred on the Italian Court of Auditors, the power to carry out a direct control of the budget balance of national and territorial bodies.
Particular attention is given following the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on the budgets of the States. In the face of the pandemic crisis, for the first time since the approval of the TSCG, the Commission activated the general safeguard clause to suspend the Stability Pact (so-called escape clause). This clause allowed countries to resort to budget variances.
Finally, the "Next Generation EU" plan is analyzed, which centralizes loans to Member States in the Union budget and draws the necessary resources from the capital market to finance a total of 750 billion, through the issue of "Eu Bills" ". For the first time in history, the Union, in the words of the Commission, acts on the markets as if it were a state. The extraordinary scope of the NGEU, with the issuance of European bonds, leads to a substantial mutualisation of debts and appears as a fundamental step towards an europeam federal system
Planning and assessment techniques for spine surgeries
Get PDFThe rate of diagnosis and treatment of degenerative spine disorders is increasing, increasing the need for surgical intervention. Posterior spine fusion is one surgical intervention used to treat various spine degeneration pathologies To minimize the risk of complications and provide patients with positive outcomes, preoperative planning and postsurgical assessment are necessary.
This PhD aimed to investigate techniques for the surgical planning and assessment of spine surgeries. Three main techniques were assessed: stereophotogrammetric motion analysis, 3D printing of complex spine deformities and finite element analysis of the thoracolumbar spine.
Upon reviewing the literature on currently available spine kinematics protocol, a comprehensive motion analysis protocol to measure the multi-segmental spine motion was developed. Using this protocol, the patterns of spine motion in patients before and after posterior spine fixation was mapped.
The second part investigated the use of virtual and 3D printed spine models for the surgical planning of complex spine deformity correction. Compared to usual radiographic images, the printed model allowed optimal surgical intervention, reduced surgical time and provided better surgeon-patient communication.
The third part assessed the use of polyetheretherketone rods auxiliary to titanium rods to reduce the stiffness of posterior spine fusion constructs. Using a finite element model of the thoracolumbar spine, the rods system showed a decrease in the overall stress of the uppermost instrumented vertebra when compared to regular fixation approaches.
Finally, a retrospective biomechanical assessment of a lumbopelvic reconstruction technique was investigated to assess the patients' gait following the surgery, the implant deformation over the years and the extent of bony fusion between spine and implant.
In conclusion, this thesis highlighted the need to provide surgeons with new planning and assessment techniques to better understand postsurgical complications. The methodologies investigated in this project can be used in the future to establish a patient-specific planning protocol
Repertorio di buone pratiche per mitigare gli effetti del cambiamento climatico e espandere la resilienza dell'Ambiente costruito.
Get PDFThe way we live has revealed a lot about the choices made in the last decades. These choices are mostly based on a predatory socioeconomic structure, based on the pillars of anthropocentrism and inconsistent with the principles of global sustainability. This structure based on fossil fuels degrades the environment and directly and indirectly impacts the biomes. According to The International Energy Agency (2020), the sector was responsible for more than a third of global energy consumption and 40% of total GHG emissions into the atmosphere (directly and indirectly).
This thesis presents the main effects of climate change observed in the built environment and at the urban territorial scale, through a review of the state of the art of the subject in the last decade (2010-2021). The thesis breaks down the projectual process seeking to identify how the architect and urban planner can mitigate the effects of climate change, adapting existing structures or in projects, and also promoting the expansion of the resilience of these building systems.Il modo in cui viviamo ha rivelato molto delle scelte fatte negli ultimi decenni. Queste scelte si basano per lo più su una struttura socioeconomica predatoria, fondata sui pilastri dell'antropocentrismo e incoerente con i principi della sostenibilità globale. Questa struttura basata sui combustibili fossili degrada l'ambiente e impatta direttamente e indirettamente sui biomi. Secondo l'Agenzia Internazionale dell'Energia (2020), il settore è responsabile di oltre un terzo del consumo energetico globale e del 40% delle emissioni totali di gas serra nell'atmosfera (direttamente e indirettamente).
Questa tesi presenta i principali effetti del cambiamento climatico osservati nell'ambiente costruito e alla scala territoriale urbana, attraverso una revisione dello stato dell'arte della materia nell'ultimo decennio (2010-2021). La tesi scompone il processo progettuale cercando di individuare come l'architetto e l'urbanista possano mitigare gli effetti del cambiamento climatico, adattando le strutture esistenti o in progetto, e promuovendo anche l'espansione della resilienza di questi sistemi edilizi
Development of a Comprehensive Framework for the Assessment of Technological Scenarios Triggered by Natural Events (Natech) in the Chemical and Process Industries
Get PDFThe interaction between natural hazards and chemical and process installations might lead to severe technological scenarios involving hazardous materials. These events are termed as Natech accidents and have several peculiarities that fall beyond the features of industrial accidents caused by internal factors. Indeed, natural events can simultaneously trigger multiple technological scenarios, leading to complex situations hard to be managed by emergency teams. Moreover, natural hazards can affect utilities and lifelines required to guarantee the correct operation of processes and of the implemented safety measures. This impairment can produce peculiar scenarios if specific classes of substances are handled, and can influence the possibility of accident escalation and domino effect, eventually leading to complex cascading events. This thesis is aimed at developing the tools for a more comprehensive quantification of the Natech risk, with a specific focus on the possibility that utilities and safety barriers might be impacted during the accident. A novel paradigm is presented for the description of the dynamics of Natech events, to highlight the central role of utilities and safety barriers in accident chain progression. Subsequently, a complete approach to assess the modification of barrier performance during natural hazards is described and embedded in an approach to assess the modification of Natech escalation likelihood. Then, a set of quantitative risk assessment methodologies is presented, enabling the evaluation of Natech risk including the possibility of barrier depletion and accident escalation also via domino effects. The tools presented in this thesis will hopefully enhance the comprehension of complex Natech events and foster the development of effective strategies for risk reduction and management, pivotal issues to be addressed to improve the resilience of chemical and process sites to natural hazards also in the light of the possibility that their severity will be inflated by the effects of climate change