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Mannoprotein-mediated modulation of red wine sensory quality and color stability: a comprehensive study
No full textThis PhD research investigated the use of mannoproteins to improve red wine quality (sensorial and color stability), particularly for short-aged commercial wines. It compared two approaches: using yeast strains that overproduce mannoproteins and adding commercial mannoprotein preparations.
The study found that overproducing yeast strains were not particularly effective or useful in improving wine quality in this type of vinification. In contrast, commercial mannoproteins, in particular MP4, effectively affect astringency by improving softness and are able to increase colloidal color stability, due to their particular physical and chemical characteristics and to the understanding of their application. These improvements were related to interactions with tannins and mannoproteins, and not simply to tannin-mannoprotein precipitation.
The research also developed a model to predict wine saliva precipitation index (astringency) based on various factors, including polysaccharides (of which mannoproteins are an important part). This model highlights the importance of a comprehensive approach to understanding and managing astringency in wine.
Overall, this research provides valuable tools for winemakers to manage red wine quality and counteract the effects of climate change and adapt to consumer preferences, through conscientious use of specific oenological practices related to mannoproteins
Direct speech in private correspondence. Two case studies from roman Egypt
No full textL’obiettivo dell’elaborato è quello di indagare la citazione diretta di messaggi, orali e/o scritti, nelle lettere private della provincia d’Egitto sotto la dominazione romana, dagli inizi fino alla conquista araba. L’analisi della documentazione epistolare si è concentrata su due corpora – l’uno proveniente dal nomo Ossirinchite, l’altro dall’area del deserto orientale – in cui si sono studiate le forme espressive e le ragioni sottostanti la scelta di avvalersi della citazione parola per parola. La ricerca ha studiato i verbi usati per introdurre la voce di qualcuno, in un’ottica temporale; circa quest’ultimo aspetto, le citazioni verbatim dei documenti epistolari sono state analizzate secondo il riferimento a un messaggio futuro o passato, da riportare a o da una persona. L’elaborato, strutturato in quattro capitoli, si apre con un’introduzione volta a contestualizzare la novità e la metodologia della presente ricerca e la storia degli studi precedenti sull’oralità e sulla tipologia epistolare. Il secondo capitolo è dedicato all'analisi della corrispondenza su papiro proveniente dal nomo Ossirinchite e dalla città di Ossirinco: dopo una breve contestualizzazione storico-sociale dell’area d’indagine, si procede con lo studio delle testimonianze che contengono una citazione diretta parola per parola. Nel terzo capitolo, si è analizzata la corrispondenza epistolare trasmessa da ostraka dell’area del deserto orientale, in particolare proveniente dalla zona delle cave di estrazione di Mons Claudianus e dai presidi militari di Krokodilo e Didymoi, situati lungo le vie di collegamento tra la valle del Nilo e il mar Rosso. Infine, il capitolo conclusivo si propone di indagare in modo comparativo le tendenze stilistiche e le scelte linguistiche degli scriventi e/o mittenti, insieme alle ragioni che hanno portato a prediligere la citazione diretta, rispetto a quella indiretta, di messaggi personali o altrui nella corrispondenza dall’Ossirinchite e dal deserto orientale.This research investigates the direct quotation of messages, either oral and/or written, in private letters of Roman Egypt, from the end of the Ptolemaic period up to the Arab conquest. The analysis focused on two corpora – one originating from the Oxyrhynchite nome, the other from the Eastern Desert. The dissertation analyses the use of direct speech and the verbs used to introduce a message of or for someone, while the reasons of such choice will be addressed using a chronological perspective. After an introductory chapter, with a brief overview of the previous studies on orality and epistolary theory, a methodological section follows. Chapter two is dedicated to the private correspondence from the Oxyrhynchite nome and the city of Oxyrhynchus. In chapter three, then, the focus is directed to the area of the Eastern Desert of Egypt, along the routes connecting the Nile Valley and the Red Sea, where one finds a Roman military presence in the quarries of Mons Claudianus and the forts of Didymoi and Krokodilo. Using a comparative approach, the final chapter both illustrates the style and writing choices of the people directly emerging from the private letters and the reasons underlying the use of direct over indirect quotation of messages
Phenotypic and molecular investigation of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) isolated from breast cancer patients at single cell resolution
No full textDespite the paramount advances in cancer research, breast cancer (BC) still ranks one of the leading causes of cancer-related death worldwide. Thanks to the screening campaign started in developed countries, BC is often diagnosed at early stages (non-metastatic BC, nmBC), but disease relapse
occurrence even after decades and at distant sites is not an uncommon phenomenon. Conversely, metastatic BC (mBC) is considered an incurable disease. The major perpetrators of tumor spread to secondary organs are circulating tumor cells (CTCs), a rare population of cells detectable in the peripheral blood of oncologic patients. In this study, CTCs from patients diagnosed with luminal nmBC and mBC (hormone receptor positive, Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2 (HER2) negative) were characterized at both phenotypic and molecular levels. To better understand the molecular mechanisms underlying their biology and their metastatic potential, next-generation sequencing (NGS) analyses were performed at single-cell resolution to assess copy number aberrations (CNAs), single nucleotide variants (SNVs) and gene expression profiling. The findings of this study arise hints in CTC detection, and pave the way to new application in CTC research
Identification and classification of uterine intracavitary lesions from hysteroscopic images using deep learning
No full textAnche se l'isteroscopia con la biopsia endometriale è il gold standard nella diagnosi della patologia intracavitaria uterina, l'esperienza dell’isteroscopista è fondamentale per una diagnosi corretta. Il Deep Learning (DL) come metodica di intelligenza artificiale potrebbe essere un aiuto per superare questo limite. Sono disponibili pochi studi con risultati preliminari e mancano ricerche che valutano le prestazioni dei modelli di DL nell'identificazione delle lesioni intrauterine e il possibile aiuto derivato dai fattori clinici.
Obiettivo: Sviluppare un modello di DL per identificare e classificare le patologie endocavitarie uterine dalle immagini isteroscopiche.
Metodi: È stato eseguito uno studio di coorte retrospettivo osservazionale monocentrico su una serie consecutiva di casi isteroscopici di pazienti con patologia intracavitaria uterina confermata all’esame istologico eseguiti al Policlinico S. Orsola. Le immagini isteroscopiche sono state usate per costruire un modello di DL per la classificazione e l'identificazione delle lesioni intracavitarie con e senza l'aiuto di fattori clinici (età, menopausa, AUB, terapia ormonale e tamoxifene). Come risultati dello studio abbiamo calcolato le metriche diagnostiche del modello di DL nella classificazione e identificazione delle lesioni uterine intracavitarie con e senza l'aiuto dei fattori clinici.
Risultati: Abbiamo esaminato 1.500 immagini provenienti da 266 casi: 186 pazienti avevano lesioni focali benigne, 25 lesioni diffuse benigne e 55 lesioni preneoplastiche/neoplastiche.
Sia per quanto riguarda la classificazione che l’identificazione, le migliori prestazioni sono state raggiunte con l'aiuto dei fattori clinici, complessivamente con precision dell'80,11%, recall dell'80,11%, specificità del 90,06%, F1 score dell’80,11% e accuratezza dell’86,74% per la classificazione. Per l’identificazione abbiamo ottenuto un rilevamento complessivo dell’85,82%, precision 93,12%, recall del 91,63% ed F1 score del 92,37%.
Conclusioni: Il modello DL ha ottenuto una bassa performance nell’identificazione e classificazione delle lesioni intracavitarie uterine dalle immagini isteroscopiche. Anche se la migliore performance diagnostica è stata ottenuta con l’aiuto di fattori clinici specifici, questo miglioramento è stato scarso.Background: Although hysteroscopy with endometrial biopsy is the gold standard in the diagnosis of endometrial pathology, the gynecologist experience is crucial for a correct diagnosis. Deep learning (DL) as an artificial intelligence method might help to overcome this limitation. Unfortunately, only preliminary findings are available, with the absence of studies evaluating the performance of DL models in identifying intrauterine lesions, the possible aid related to the inclusion of clinical factors in the model.
Aim: To develop a DL model as an automated tool for detecting and classifying endometrial pathologies from hysteroscopic images.
Methods: A monocentric observational retrospective cohort study was performed from a consecutive series of hysteroscopic cases of patients with pathologically confirmed intrauterine lesions performed at the S. Orsola Hospital. Retrieved hysteroscopic images were used to build a DL model for classification and identification of intracavitary uterine lesions with and without the aid of clinical factors. Study outcomes were DL model diagnostic metrics in classification and identification of intracavitary uterine lesions with and without the aid of clinical factors.
Results: We reviewed 1,500 images from 266 patients: 186 patients had benign focal lesions, 25 benign diffuse lesions, and 55 preneoplastic/neoplastic lesions.
For both classification and identification task, the best performance was achieved with the aid of clinical factors, with overall precision of 80.11%, recall of 80.11%, specificity of 90.06%, F1 score 80.11% and accuracy of 86.74% for the classification task, and an overall detection of 85,82%, precision 93,12%, recall 91,63%, F1 score 92,37% for the identification task.
Conclusion: Our DL model achieved a low diagnostic performance in detection and classification of intracavitary uterine lesions from hysteroscopic images. Although the best diagnostic performance was obtained with the aid of clinical data, such improvement was slight
Towards Europe 2050: the role of institutions, EU research, and citizens for climate justice. The urban challenge in Amsterdam, Bilbao, Freiburg, and Lisbon.
No full textThe climate crisis is the greatest challenge humanity has ever faced, and in 2023 the average global temperature reached new records, prompting the UN Secretary General to declare that 'the era of global warming is over, and the era of global boiling has arrived'.
In this context, urban areas play a key role, and can be considered a bottleneck of the climate crisis. The European Commission is investing billions of euros in research and innovation projects in urban areas, while the European Green Deal strategy has the ambition of making Europe the first carbon-neutral continent on the planet by 2050.
However, studies and research show that the causes of the climate crisis are rooted in an economic system that produces profound inequalities, and the very solutions to address the consequences of global warming risk deepening them. In this context, the role of cities is not only to decarbonise their urban fabric, but to build solutions to the social challenge posed by the climate crisis, promoting paradigm shifts capable of producing trajectories towards so-called 'climate justice'.
This research analyses, through a holistic view, European policies in these fields, and delves into the actions and projects of four European cities - Amsterdam, Bilbao, Freiburg, and Lisbon - through a qualitative approach aimed at identifying strengths and contradictions of strategies to tackle the climate crisis. Delving into the collective dynamics and social impacts of the actions promoted, the research proposes a comprehensive view of the role that urban areas can play not only in decarbonising society, but in promoting a paradigm shift capable of addressing the economic causes and social consequences of the climate crisis
Promoting self-assessment and improvement of Chinese international students' learning strategies: an empirical research study at the University of Bologna
No full textNel quadro di alcuni filoni di ricerca inerenti alla promozione delle strategie cognitive, metacognitive e motivazionali degli studenti per una migliore efficacia del loro apprendimento (anche a livello universitario), il contributo presenta l’impianto e gli esiti di una ricerca empirica volta a indagare le percezioni degli studenti internazionali cinesi sulla loro esperienza universitaria in Italia, con un focus sulle eventuali difficoltà nell’adozione di un approccio autonomo e strategico all’apprendimento, e a sperimentare un intervento formativo messo a punto per sostenerli nel miglioramento del loro approccio all’apprendimento attraverso l’uso di procedure sistematiche di autoriflessione, self-recording e autovalutazione supportate dalla ricercatrice. Il disegno della ricerca è un quasi-esperimento a due gruppi con pre-test e post-test. Il campione è costituito da 60 studenti di diversi Dipartimenti dell’Università di Bologna che hanno partecipato volontariamente alla ricerca, di cui 30 hanno preso parte all’intervento. Gli strumenti utilizzati per la misurazione in ingresso e in uscita sono il Questionario sui Processi di Apprendimento e alcune scale del Questionario sulle Strategie di Apprendimento. Agli studenti del gruppo sperimentale è stato somministrato anche un questionario finale di valutazione del percorso formativo. Sono state inoltre effettuate alcune interviste a distanza di tempo come fase di follow up. Gli studenti in entrambi i gruppi affrontano sfide relative all’ambientamento nel contesto universitario italiano, con particolare riferimento a difficoltà linguistiche e di integrazione sociale. I principali fattori influenti sull’efficacia dello studio includono le barriere linguistiche, la gestione del tempo, la consapevolezza e l’uso delle strategie di studio. Nonostante emerga un miglioramento del gruppo sperimentale tra pre e post test, le differenze tra i due gruppi non sono risultate statisticamente significative. Tuttavia, i feedback forniti dagli studenti nel questionario di soddisfazione per il percorso formativo e nelle interviste post-intervento evidenziano percezioni positive sull’utilità del percorso, con benefici relativi al loro approccio allo studio.The contribution outlines and discusses the framework and outcomes of an empirical research aimed at exploring the perceptions of international Chinese students regarding their university experience in Italy. The focus lies on potential challenges in adopting an autonomous and strategic approach to learning. Additionally, the study implements an educational intervention designed to support students in enhancing their learning approach through systematic procedures of self-reflection, self-recording, and self-assessment facilitated by the researcher. The research design follows a quasi-experimental approach with two groups, incorporating pre-tests and post-tests. The sample consists of 60 students from various departments at the University of Bologna who voluntarily participated, with 30 engaging in the intervention. Measurement tools include the Learning Processes Questionnaire and selected scales from the Learning Strategies Questionnaire for pre- and post-assessment. The experimental group also received a final questionnaire evaluating the educational intervention, and follow-up interviews were conducted over time. Both groups of students face challenges related to acclimating to the Italian university context, particularly in terms of language difficulties and social integration. Key factors influencing study effectiveness encompass linguistic barriers, time management, awareness, and the use of study strategies. While the experimental group shows improvement between pre- and post-tests, the differences between the two groups are not statistically significant. However, student feedback from the satisfaction questionnaire and post-intervention interviews indicates positive perceptions of the program's utility, highlighting benefits related to their study approach
Integrated management of hydropower reservoirs and variable renewable energy sources: a modelling framework for hybridization with solar photovoltaics
No full textVariable renewable energy sources (VRES), like solar photovoltaics (PV), offer a power generation profile which is driven by climate-related variables and which is therefore different from the consumers’ electricity demand. Hydropower (HP), thanks to flexibility and storage capacity, can facilitate the introduction of high shares of VRES in the energy mix. Integrating VRES and HP in a single power station (hybridization) is a promising solution to smooth out VRES fluctuations and obtain more regular power generation profiles. Focusing on hybrid solar-hydro power stations, we present a modelling framework to quantitatively assess the effects of complementing a reservoir-based HP plant with a PV plant; the method relies on meteorological input data and on hydrological data, possibly obtained through hydrological modelling. The proposed approach is first tested on a numerical experiment to analyse the effects of increasing solar-hydro hybridization levels on a synthetic, yet realistic case study in south-eastern Alps. The methodology is then applied to a real Swiss pumped-storage HP plant located in the pre-Alpine region, which is assumed to be complemented through a fictional floating photovoltaic (FPV) plant. Simulations are first performed using historical (1981-2018) meteorological input data and hydrological data obtained through hydrological modelling; simulations are then repeated under 39 future climate projections (covering three emission scenarios over the period 1981-2099) derived from the latest downscaled and de-biased Swiss climate change scenarios CH2018, based on the EURO-CORDEX dataset. Results show that, at least in the study region, hybridization with PV has a significant positive effect on the performance of a reservoir-based HP plant under current climate conditions and may help to mitigate possible impacts of climate change on HP generation. The proposed modelling framework proves to be a flexible methodology for performing quantitative analyses of hybrid solar-hydro power systems both under historical conditions and under future climate scenarios
Development of metallic surfaces for the reduction of bacterial and viral contamination
No full textHealthcare-associated infections (HAIs) pose a significant global issue, impacting patient well-being and healthcare costs. Contaminated surfaces are critical in the infection spread chain, especially for resilient pathogens. Cu and its alloys are promising antimicrobial materials, exhibiting superior effectiveness against microbes compared to stainless steel and polymers. While the antimicrobial properties of bulk Cu are well-established, applying thin Cu-based foils to high-touch surfaces offers a simple and cost-effective solution. However, to ensure long-term effectiveness in real-world applications, challenges related to applicability, durability, tarnishing from frequent contact, and environmental corrosion must be addressed.
In this study, we explored the development of Cu-based thin foils (13 to 27 μm thick) for hygiene-sensitive environments. We evaluated the trade-off between mechanical and corrosion properties, along with the antimicrobial behaviour essential for infection control. Cu15Zn and Cu18Ni20Zn alloys were compared to pure PHC Cu, which represented the benchmark. The influence of annealing treatment was also analyzed, comparing recrystallized (R+A) and non-recrystallized (R) Cu foils.
Antimicrobial activity was assessed using a simulated real-touch protocol with critical pathogens, including SARS-CoV-2, K. pneumoniae, S. aureus, C. auris, and C. albicans. Wear resistance was evaluated through scratch and microscale abrasion tests (MSAT), alongside microstructural analysis (PFIB-EBSD) and mechanical testing methods, including Bulge Testing (BT) and Instrumented Indentation Testing (IIT). To simulate prolonged use, accelerated ageing in a climatic chamber was conducted to study surface modifications and anti-biofilm activity against P. aeruginosa. Furthermore, we explored enhancing corrosion resistance while maintaining antiviral activity by applying an organosilane coating (PropS-SH).
These studies revealed that Cu-based foils demonstrated significant antimicrobial activity under simulated human contact conditions: Cu15Zn foils offer the best balance of durability and antimicrobial properties, while Cu R+A is ideal for short-term, easily replaceable applications. These materials could be highly effective in infection-prone areas such as ICUs and patient washrooms
Fatty acids containing lipids and membrane lipidomics in regenerative medicine and nutraceutical applications
No full textLipidomics is a powerful tool for studying dynamic lipid changes in both physiological and pathological conditions. Lipids and fatty acids are gaining increasing interest across multiple disciplines, from chemistry and biochemistry to nanobiotechnology, particularly in lipid-based formulations and membrane studies.
This Industrial PhD thesis, supported by Silfradent, explores lipidomic applications in fatty acids chemistry, biological sample analysis, regenerative medicine, and nutraceuticals.
Chapter 1 investigates the impact of radical stress on membrane phospholipids, focusing on Plasmalogens, a unique class of phospholipids. We demonstrated, for the first time, cis-trans isomerization of plasmalogens under thiyl radical stress, affecting membrane supramolecular organization and potentially contributing to disease mechanisms.
Chapter 2 focuses on analytical methodologies for lipid profiling. We highlight how acidic conditions alter plasmalogens and PUFA-containing lipids, affecting data reliability. Our findings emphasize the need for optimized protocols in lipidomic studies.
Chapter 3 applies lipidomics to regenerative medicine, investigating PRP lipid composition and its role in fibroblast membrane remodeling. While PRP is mainly studied for growth factors, our results reveal its lipid-driven regenerative potential. This research was developed within Silfradent’s PRP and regenerative medicine framework.
Chapter 4 explores lipid-based formulations, developing O/W emulsions and lactoferrin nanoparticles for nutraceutical and pharmaceutical applications. We demonstrate that lecithin enhances GLA membrane incorporation from Borage oil, promoting anti-inflammatory membrane remodeling in healthy and tumor cell lines. Additionally, Lactoferrin nanoparticles stabilize Evening Primrose Extract, supporting advanced delivery systems. This research was partially conducted at the Medical University of Lodz, Poland.
This PhD work lays a foundation for future advancements in lipidomics, regenerative medicine, and nutraceutical science, fostering cross-disciplinary innovation and applications
Graphical methodologies for early environmental disasters analysis from aerial vehicles
No full textThis thesis presents the research conducted during a PON-funded PhD under the initiative "Research topics in systems for urban environment safety, environmental monitoring, and prevention of critical or risk events (Action IV.5 - GREEN)". The work focuses on applying innovative image-based methodologies to address natural disaster risks, particularly through aerial imagery analysis. Three key application areas are explored: landslide damage assessment, early wildfire detection, and search and rescue operations for missing persons. To tackle these challenges, the research develops automated and scalable systems integrating image processing, georeferencing, and human-machine interfaces. The goal is to support timely and informed decision-making in emergency scenarios through rapid data acquisition and real-time analysis. Different methodologies were evaluated, including both classical image processing and modern deep learning techniques. Artificial Intelligence models, particularly tailored for small-object detection, showed significant advantages in terms of accuracy, speed, and adaptability. A dedicated wildfire detection model was designed for UAV deployment, addressing issues such as smoke and fire identification, real-time processing, and precise localization. A communication architecture was also developed to enable efficient data exchange between aerial platforms (both drones and manned vehicles) and ground stations. This facilitates real-time situational awareness and operational coordination. Furthermore, a digital environment combining image processing, operator interfaces, and augmented reality was created to enhance user experience and field responsiveness. The research highlights the superiority of AI-based approaches over traditional techniques for complex and dynamic environments. Results from simulations and case studies validate the effectiveness of the proposed solutions. In conclusion, the thesis delivers a comprehensive methodology for disaster monitoring and response, combining detection, segmentation, communication, and visualization. Future developments will focus on increasing model robustness, integrating multi-sensor data, and expanding the system's applicability to broader environmental monitoring tasks