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The poetical reflection in Aristophanes' fragments
No full textQuesta dissertazione offre un’analisi approfondita di diciotto frammenti di Aristofane (30, 31, 58, 264, 265, 346, 347, 348, 392, 466, 488, 543, 682, 688, 694, 706, 719 K.-A.) che trattano la riflessione del commediografo sulla poesia.
Un’Introduzione definisce la cornice teorica entro la quale è studiato il concetto di “riflessione poetica” e sintetizza il modo in cui la critica ha analizzato i testi di Aristofane sotto questo aspetto. Oltre a corredare ogni frammento di un apparato critico, discuto i principali problemi testuali in un commento finalizzato a rintracciare: a) la sezione cui il frammento probabilmente apparteneva in base al suo metro; b) come la riflessione poetica è sviluppata; c) un puntuale commento al testo. Ulteriori peculiarità riguardanti i singoli frammenti sono discusse prima del commento al testo. Il risultato dell’analisi è duplice: anzitutto, l’autorappresentazione di Aristofane
risponde coerentemente alle fasi poetiche elencate nelle Vespe. Inoltre, il ben noto concetto di identità tra un autore e la propria opera (qui denominato “principio di identità poetica”), che si riteneva un mero strumento della derisione, è impiegato dal poeta non solo relativamente agli altri autori ma anche su di sé, nell’ambito della propria critica letteraria. Un diciannovesimo frammento, il *322 K.-A., è posto in un’Appendice perché di paternità incerta.This dissertation offers a deepened analysis of eighteen Aristophanes’ fragments (30, 31, 58, 264, 265, 346, 347, 348, 392, 466, 488, 543, 682, 688, 694, 706, 719 K.-A.) which deal with the dramatist’s reflection on poetry. An Introduction defines the theorical frame into which the concept of “poetical reflection” is studied and sums up how scholarship analysed Aristophanes’ texts in this respect. Besides providing every fragment with a critical apparatus, I discuss the main textual issues in a comment aimed to detect: a) the section to which the fragment probably belonged according to its metre; b) how the poetical reflection is developed; c) a detailed textual commentary. Further peculiarities concerning each fragment are discussed before the textual commentary. The result of the analysis is twofold: firstly, Aristophanes’ self-presentation coherently responds to the poetical phases listed in Wasps. Moreover, the well-known concept of identity between an author and his works (here named “poetical identity principle”), which was believed to be only a mocking device, is used by the poet not only about other poets, but also about himself within his own literary criticism. The nineteenth fragment, *322 K.-A., is discussed separately within the Appendix because of the uncertainties about the author
Study of the interaction among microorganisms, plants and honeybees for the benefit of environmental health and sustainability
No full textNowadays, the ongoing climate change together with the strong anthropogenic modifications at landscape level have led to drastic ecosystem and agroecosystem alterations, that are impacting on biological processes necessary to maintain the ecosystem balance. In this context, the scientific community agrees in the importance of the microbial communities each ecological niche, whose degradation can lead to dramatic consequences. The presented thesis aims to achieve scientific advancements in the understanding of complex microbial interactions and contribution in the soil- plants-pollinators network in the agroecosystem. In particular, the main focus reported are addressing how the anthropogenic activities impact the pollinators microbiota; the microorganisms as an ecofriendly tool to counteract honeybees pathogens; and finally, how the microorganism affect sunflower-pollinators ecosphere. In particular, the effect of exogenous microbial strains (with PGPB activity) on sunflower rhizosphere endophytic community and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were evaluated. The obtained results showed that anthropogenic activities can impact the pollinators microbiome leading to dysbiosis and pathogens proliferation, however, ecofriendly solutions such as beneficial bacteria can control pathogens without disturbing their core microbiome. Moreover, the anthropogenic activities can interfere in the availability of trophic sources for pollinators. However, results show that a responsible management of the soil microbial communities of the sunflower rhizosphere, through ecological fertilizers, can enhance the VOCs profile, increasing the attractivity to pollinators. Not only this, but the use of ecological fertilizers can also improve the gene expression of sugar transporters involved in nectar secretion. These results propose a holistic approach that can be used for a deeper understanding of the complex ecosystemic interaction between soil- plants-pollinators network, in connection with the human activities
Regularity of almost minimizers of horizontal one-phase Bernoulli problems
No full textThe thesis mainly concerns the study of the regularity of almost minimizers of some one-phase Bernoulli-type functionals in Carnot Groups of step two. We consider some intrinsic functionals that represents the natural counterpart in Carnot groups to the classical one-phase Bernuolli functional studied in the Euclidean setting by Alt and Caffarelli. Generalizing the approach of De Silva and Savin, the main contribution of this thesis stems from the local intrinsic Lipschitz regularity of almost minimizers. Moreover, we extend the intrinsic Lipschitz regularity of almost minimizers to the nonlinear context of the p-Bernoulli-type functionals, driven by the sub-p-Laplace operator
Multiple approaches for ultrasensitive quantitative analysis in complex matrices: from traditional chromatographic techniques coupled with mass spectrometry to the development of biosensors for point-of-care applications based on biospecific recognition reactions
No full textThe research activity carried out during the three years of PhD was principally addressed the development of a portable analytical device based on biospecific molecular recognition reaction (immunoassay) and chemiluminescent (CL) detection. In particular, the development of biosensors was focused on the study of the properties of different materials as well as procedures for their construction, with particular attention to the development of suitable immobilization procedures, fluidic systems, and the selection of the suitable detectors. In this context, different methods were exploited, such as immunoassay and enzymatic-based techniques, exploiting different platforms (microplate format, functionalized magnetic microbeads) trying to improve the simplicity of the assay procedure. Different CL detectors were also employed (i.e amorphous silicon photosensors, charge-coupled device) for allowing an implementation of the specific bioassays into portable analytical platforms. The work was therefore aimed at miniaturization and simplification of analytical devices and the study involved all aspects of the system, from the analytical methodology to the type of detector, in order to combine high sensitivity with easiness-of-use and rapidity.
In addition to this work, studies have also been carried out using traditional bench-top analytical approaches based on chromatographic techniques coupled with mass spectrometry. These techniques have been used in projects involving the quantification of analytes of interest in complex matrices of environmental and pharmaceutical/cosmetic interest
Impact of the use of the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System in an integrated radiotherapy and palliative care outpatient clinic on the optimization of the quality of care
No full textI pazienti affetti da patologie oncologiche avanzate hanno un'esperienza di sintomi multipli spesso concomitanti tra loro. Lo scopo di questo progetto è quello di valutare come, nel contesto di un’ambulatorio integrato di Radioterapia e Cure Palliative (rep), sia possibile descrivere e quantificare i sintomi riportati dal paziente attraverso uno strumento di analisi convalidato, nello specifico l’Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS) al fine di costruire una proposta terapeutica ottimizzata per il singolo paziente.
Da aprile 2016 ad aprile 2020, sono stati analizzati gli accessi al rep per un totale di 519 accessi, quindi abbiamo selezionato solo le visite dei pazienti che avevano completato totalmente lo strumento ESAS per la valutazione dei sintomi. La popolazione in studio era quindi composta da 212 pazienti, di questi 120 erano uomini, 92 erano donne, l'età media era di 72 anni, del totale il 36% era stato sottoposto a radioterapia.
I principali risultati ottenuti dall'analisi dei dati relativi alla popolazione in studio sono stati i seguenti: 1) il 25% dei pazienti muore entro 2,2 mesi, il 60% entro 6 mesi; 2) la popolazione maschile ha un rischio di morte più elevato rispetto alla popolazione femminile; 3) Esiste una chiara differenza negli indici di correlazione tra la popolazione femminile e quella maschile 4) I principali sintomi correlati sono: dolore, mancanza di appetito, ansia, sonnolenza; 5) Il sintomo del dolore non è associato ad un aumento del rischio di morte, mentre la mancanza di appetito e sonnolenza sono associati ad un aumento del rischio di morte.
In conclusione, i dati a nostra disposizione hanno dimostrato che un'analisi approfondita dei sintomi attraverso lo strumento ESAS è fattibile e necessaria portando informazioni fondamentali per una gestione ottimale del paziente, dandoci la possibilità di muoverci verso l'opportunità di trattamenti sempre più personalizzati e individualizzati in base alle caratteristiche dei singoli pazienti.Patients affected from advanced oncological pathologies have an experience of multiple symptoms often concomitant with each other. The aim of this project is to evaluate how, in the context of an integrated Radiotherapy and Palliative Care (rep) outpatient clinic, it is possible to describe and quantify the symptoms reported by the patient through a validated analysis tool, specifically the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS) in order to build an optimized therapeutic proposal tailored to the individual patient.
From April 2016 to April 2020, access to the rep outpatient clinic was analyzed for a total of 519 accesses, we then selected only the visits of patients who had fully completed the ESAS tool for symptom assessment. The study population was therefore composed of 212 patients, of these 120 were men, 92 were women, the average age was 72 years, of the total 36% had been subjected to radiotherapy.
The main results obtained from the analysis of the data concerning the population under study were the following: 1) 25% of patients die within 2.2 months, 60% within 6 months; 2) The male population has a higher risk of death than the female population; 3) There is a clear difference in correlation indices between the female population and the male population 4) The main related symptoms are: pain, lack of appetite, anxiety, drowsiness; 5) The pain symptom is not associated with an increased risk of death while lack of appetite and drowsiness are associated with an increased risk of death.
In conclusion, the data available to us has shown that a thorough analysis of the symptoms through the ESAS tool is feasible and necessary bringing fundamental information for optimal patient management, giving us the possibility to move towards the appropriateness of increasingly customized and individualized treatments based on the characteristics of individual patients
In-car sound linear simulation
No full textIn recent years, vehicle acoustics have gained significant importance in new car development: increasingly advanced infotainment systems for spatial audio and sound enhancement algorithms have become the norm in modern vehicles. In the past, car manufacturers had to build numerous prototypes to study the sound behaviour inside the car cabin or the effect of new algorithms under development. Nowadays, advanced simulation techniques can reduce development costs and time. In this work, after selecting the reference test vehicle, a modern luxury sedan equipped with a high-end sound system, two independent tools were developed: a simulation tool created in the Comsol Multiphysics environment and an auralization tool developed in the Cycling ‘74 MAX environment. The simulation tool can calculate the impulse response and acoustic spectrum at a specific position inside the cockpit. Its input data are the vehicle’s geometry, acoustic absorption parameters of materials, the acoustic characteristics and position of loudspeakers, and the type and position of virtual microphones (or microphone arrays). The simulation tool can also provide binaural impulse responses thanks to Head Related Transfer Functions (HRTFs) and an innovative algorithm able to compute the HRTF at any distance and angle from the head. Impulse responses from simulations or acoustic measurements inside the car cabin are processed and fed into the auralization tool, enabling real-time interaction by applying filters, changing the channels gain or displaying the acoustic spectrum. Since the acoustic simulation of a vehicle involves multiple topics, the focus of this work has not only been the development of two tools but also the study and application of new techniques for acoustic characterization of the materials that compose the cockpit and the loudspeaker simulation. Specifically, three different methods have been applied for material characterization through the use of a pressure-velocity probe, a Laser Doppler Vibrometer (LDV), and a microphone array
Development of molecular-level switches and implementation into novel nanostructures and smart materials
No full textThe work presented in this thesis deals with the design, synthesis and investigation of (supra)molecular switches, and their implementation into novel nanostructures and smart devices. Part A deals with investigation of fundamental properties of Donor Acceptor Stenhouse Adducts (DASAs) as well as their implementation into polymer matrices in order to construct novel smart materials. Part B deals with the implementation of azobenzene photoswitches into pseudorotaxanes and the investigation of the effect of light-driven isomerization on the self-assembly and disassembly processes
Idea, Nature, Spirit. Schelling’s general ontology of the real in the “presentation of the natural process” of 1843/44
No full textZiel dieser Dissertation ist es, die grundlegenden philosophisch-theoretischen Implikationen von Schellings letzter systematischer Darlegung seiner Naturphilosophie nach dem Berliner Textfragment von 1843/44, der “Darstellung des Naturprocesses”, zu untersuchen. Angesichts der sich zwischen den 1830 und den 1860 Jahren in Berlin abzeichnenden neuen intellektuellen Tendenzen und der Entwicklungen in den Naturwissenschaften legt Schelling hier die Grundlagen für eine allgemeine Ontologie des Wirklichen in kritischer Auseinandersetzung mit Kants transzendentalem Idealismus. Innerhalb des systematischen Horizonts der "apriorischen Vernunftwissenschaft" oder "negativen Philosophie" stellt er im ersten Teil seines Werkes die Prinzipien fest, die die „Idee des Existierenden“ ausmachen, und beschreibt die rationale Operation, die durchgeführt werden muss, um zum Gedanken einer „Welt außer der Idee“ zu gelangen. Die philosophisch-systematischen Annahmen, die mit dem Übergang von der bloßen Idee des Existierenden zum Gedanken der außeridealen Welt verbunden sind, werden im ersten Kapitel dieser Dissertation untersucht. Im zweiten Teil seines Werkes definiert Schelling durch eine detaillierte Analyse von Kants Transzendentalen Ästhetik den Raum als diejenige Form, in der uns die Existenzen als voneinander getrennt vorstellen lassen. Obwohl der Zeitbegriff von Schelling nur am Rande behandelt wird, trägt er zusammen mit dem Raum dazu bei, die erste ontologische Grundstruktur der außeridealen Welt zu definieren. Die Analyse von Schellings Konzeption der raumzeitlichen Grundstruktur der außeridealen Welt stellt das Thema des zweiten Kapitels dieser Dissertation dar. Schließlich bestimmt Schelling im dritten Teil seines Werkes die Finalität als diejenige Kausalitätsform, die es ermöglicht, die außerideale Welt als einen werdenden Kontext zu verstehen, dessen Entwicklungsstufen die siderische Welt, die unorganische Welt und die organische Welt sind. Die Schelling‘sche Definition der Teleologie der Natur als zweite ontologische Grundstruktur der außeridealen Welt ist das Thema des dritten Kapitels dieser Dissertation.La presente tesi di dottorato ha l’obiettivo d’indagare i principali risvolti filosofico-teoretici che ruotano intorno all’ultima esposizione sistematica di filosofia della natura di Schelling, com’essa si configura nel frammento berlinese del 1843/44 intitolato “Esposizione del processo della natura”. Alla luce delle nuove tendenze intellettuali che emergono a Berlino tra il 1830 e il 1860 e degli sviluppi delle scienze naturali, Schelling pone qui le basi per un’ontologia generale del reale attraverso il confronto critico con l’idealismo trascendentale di Kant. All’interno dell’orizzonte sistematico della “scienza a priori della ragione” o “filosofia negativa”, nella prima parte della sua opera egli individua l’insieme dei principi che formano l’“idea dell’esistente” e descrive l’operazione razionale che occorre eseguire per giungere al pensiero del “mondo al di fuori dell’idea”. L’insieme dei presupposti filosofico-sistematici connessi al passaggio dall’idea dell’esistente al pensiero del mondo extra-ideale costituisce il tema del primo capitolo di questo lavoro. Nella seconda parte della sua opera, mediante un attento confronto con l’Estetica trascendentale di Kant, Schelling definisce lo spazio come la forma in cui le esistenze ci appaiono come separate le une dalle altre. Sebbene il concetto di tempo venga affrontato da Schelling in modo marginale, esso contribuisce, insieme allo spazio, a definire la prima struttura ontologica del mondo extra-ideale. L’analisi della concezione schellinghiana della struttura spazio-temporale del mondo extra-ideale rappresenta il tema del secondo capitolo di questo lavoro. Infine, nella terza parte della sua opera, Schelling individua nella finalità la forma di causalità che permette di comprendere il mondo extra-ideale come un contesto in divenire, i cui stadi di sviluppo sono il mondo siderale, il mondo inorganico e il mondo organico. La definizione schellinghiana della teleologia della natura come seconda struttura ontologica del mondo extra-ideale costituisce il tema del terzo capitolo di questo lavoro.The aim of this thesis is to investigate Schelling's later exposition of the philosophy of nature, as it addressed in the Berlin fragment of 1843/44 entitled “Presentation of the Natural Process”. In the light of the new intellectual tendencies that emerged in Berlin between the 1830s and the 1860s and the developments in the natural sciences, Schelling lays here the foundations for a general ontology of the real through a critical comparison with Kant’s transcendental idealism. Within the systematic background of the “a priori science of reason” or “negative philosophy”, in the first part of his work Schelling defines the set of principles that form “idea of the existent” and describes the rational operation that must be fulfilled in order to get to the thought of the “world outside the idea”. The systematic presuppositions connected to the “reversal” of our thought from the idea of the existent to the extra-ideal world is the topic of the first chapter of this thesis. In the second part of his work, through a detailed analysis of Kant's Transcendental Aesthetics, Schelling defines space as the form in which existences appear to us as separate from one another. Although the concept of time is marginally addressed by Schelling, it contributes, along with space, to defining the first ontological character of the extra-ideal world, i.e. its spatio-temporal structure, examined in the second chapter of this thesis. Finally, in the third part of his work, Schelling defines finality as the form of causality that makes it possible to understand the extra-ideal world as an overall developing context whose stages are the sidereal world, the inorganic world and the organic world. Schelling’s definition of the teleology of nature as the second ontological structure of the extra-ideal world is the topic of the third chapter of this thesis
Multipartite BNYVV regulates its genome formula differentially during host infection and vector transmission
No full textBeet necrotic yellow vein virus (BNYVV) is a soil-borne virus, transmitted by Polymyxa betae. BNYVV is a multipartite virus containing four or five genomic RNAs depending on the isolates, which are encapsidated in separate viral particles. The relative frequencies of all genomic segments of a multipartite virus pooled to an equilibrium value in a given environment is termed the set-point genome formula (SGF). Multipartite viruses can regulate the expression level of viral genes in different environments, and the gene expression may depend on SGF. Here, we investigate the relative frequency of the four genomic RNAs of BNYVV (B type) in leaves and roots of four different host plants and in two stages of the vector P. betae by a validated protocol of two-step reverse transcriptase droplet digital PCR (RT-ddPCR). Our results show that BNYVV genome formula reaches a different setpoint in distinct host plant species and organs with some viral genomic segments accumulate at low frequency, whereas others dominate. Moreover, the vector P. betae has a limited effect on the accumulation of BNYVV genomic RNAs in the host. We characterized as well the BNYVV SGF within zoospores and resting spores of P. betae taking into account contamination issued from infected Beta vulgaris roots. Results show the virus reaches a dedicated SGF also in each of the two stages of P. betae life cycle. Furthermore, the viral load in zoospores was significantly higher than in resting spores
How to plan for a circular city: a decision-support framework for integrating circularity within urban policies and plans
No full textResource scarcity and climate change are two of the biggest challenges of our times. Circular economy principles applied at city scale represent an opportunity both in environmental and socio-cultural terms, in order to pursue sustainable urban development. While the circular economy approach has gained a huge attention becoming the basis framework to boost innovation in many research fields, its application to the urban scale is still fragmented, and cities approach circularity in different ways and for different reasons. Therefore, there is the need to finalise a more holistic and spatial-related approach, not only considering the application of the circular economy principle to encourage the establishment of circular businesses in the city.
Starting from the analysis of the regulatory evolution of the international, European and national framework on the subject, the dissertation explores the role of cities in the transition to a circular economy and reflects on the role of urban planning in this sense. By collecting definitions, current research trends, methodologies to support urban planners, and the more holistic frameworks used for planning circular cities, the thesis proposes a reflection on the strength of this paradigm of sustainability, contributing to the systematization of the topic that is recent and still in evolution.
Starting from this framework, the dissertation proposes an original methodology to support local planners in identifying strategies for urban regeneration and the development of cities that are permeated and guided by the concept of circularity. The resulting image of the circular city is integrated in the different phases of the Strategic Environmental Assessment process, considering it as a methodology for drafting the plans and not an ex-post evaluation of its effects. This contributes to integrate circularity in the different phases of plan-making, going towards circular-inclusive spatial plans