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Advanced statistical and machine learning techniques for multi-omics data integration
No full textMulti-omics integration promises to revolutionize precision medicine by combining diverse molecular data types to comprehensively characterize disease. However, these datasets present significant challenges due to their high dimensionality and inherent heterogeneity across both patient populations and molecular information, leading to biased predictions that fail to capture true biological signals. This dissertation develops a framework for heterogeneity-aware multi-omics integration that explicitly models these sources of variability to improve both predictive accuracy and biological interpretability. Our approach centers on a shared frailty survival model using multitask learning to discover latent patient subgroups and provide heterogeneity-adjusted survival estimates. Moreover, we provide an analytical framework based on mutual information decomposition that reveals how different fusion architectures preserve information across modalities, demonstrating that certain integration approaches better capture cross-modal relationships. To ensure robust evaluation, we develop a comprehensive benchmarking platform that incorporates realistic heterogeneous conditions through both real-world datasets and controlled simulations. We validate our methods through application to the myelodysplastic syndrome–acute myeloid leukemia continuum, where our heterogeneity-aware approach identifies previously hidden patient subgroups with distinct molecular mechanisms and treatment responses. This work demonstrates that accounting for population heterogeneity is essential for accurate prediction and biological interpretation in multi-omics analysis, providing both analytical foundations and practical tools that enable the translation of complex molecular data into actionable clinical insights
Advanced diagnostics for physiological characterisation of intrauterine growth-restricted pigs
No full textIntrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) affects up to 30% of piglets, leading to increased mortality and stunted growth. The lack of an accurate diagnostic method makes IUGR a challenge, limiting treatment development. This Ph.D. aimed to establish a model for the diagnosis of IUGR in newborn piglets and to characterise the IUGR subpopulation from a physiological perspective. The IUGR foetus increases blood flow towards the brain to survive when oxygen and nutrient supply through the placenta is limited. This mechanism results in a higher brain-to-liver weight ratio (BrW/LW) at birth. In this thesis, the BrW/LW was measured one day after birth with computed tomography or by weighing the organs, and compared with diagnosis based on head shape and birth weight (BtW). Moreover, pictures of the piglets were recorded to capture specific morphometric traits. Our findings revealed that identifying IUGR based on head morphology or BtW does not always align with an increased BrW/LW. Morphometric traits proved reliable indicators, allowing estimation of brain, liver weight, and BrW/LW with 6%, 17%, and 17% error, respectively. A higher BrW/LW correlated with extended time to reach market weight, negatively affecting growth from birth to slaughter, gain-to-feed ratio, and protein efficiency during the grower-finisher period, but without impacting fat and muscle mass at any stage. The BrW/LW affected the Beta diversity of faecal microbiota until the beginning of the finisher period. Plasma metabolome was unaffected by BrW/LW during lactation, and only asparagine was significantly lower in IUGR compared to normal pigs at the end of the starter period. Our research confirmed IUGR’s lasting impact on several physiological traits. An accurate and standardized diagnostic method is needed to further characterise the affected pigs and enable consistent comparisons across studies. The use of predictive models based on image analysis represents a promising tool for early identification of IUGR
Social skills and immersive virtual reality. An empirical research on the development and evaluation of relational competence in university students on degree courses in the educational area
No full textLa capacità di comunicare e relazionarsi con gli altri ha da sempre rappresentato un aspetto di fondamentale importanza all’interno della società.
In ambito educativo e formativo, tra le competenze professionali relative all’insegnamento ed alla gestione degli interventi didattici, la competenza relazionale assume da sempre un particolare rilievo.
A seguito della crescita del settore tecnologico, emerge dalla letteratura l’utilizzo sempre più frequente, all’interno di contesti educativi, di un nuovo strumento: la realtà virtuale immersiva (IVR).
Per comprendere se questa tecnologia possa essere impiegata per implementare lo sviluppo di conoscenze relative alla competenza relazionale, è stata realizzata una ricerca con intervento.
In particolare, è stata utilizzata la forma dello studio di caso, per indagare un contesto specifico (l’ambito universitario), al quale è stato aggiunto un intervento (introduzione innovazione didattica docimologica).
L’obiettivo è quello di riuscire ad integrare, alle strategie attualmente in uso, metodi che prevedono l’utilizzo della IVR per comprendere se tali strumenti possano rappresentare un utile investimento da parte degli atenei.
L’intervento è stato articolato in due studi: pilota e principale.
Il campione è costituito da 20 studenti frequentanti un corso di laurea triennale e magistrale di area educativa all’interno dell’Ateneo di Bologna.
I dati sono stati raccolti mediante tre strumenti/procedure: questionari con quesiti a risposta aperta e chiusa; videoregistrazioni; intervista di gruppo che ha successivamente assunto la forma di focus-group.
L’analisi dei dati è stata effettuata attraverso un’analisi quali-quantitativa, che ha previsto l’utilizzo di due software: MAXQDA e JAMOVI.
I risultati dimostrano che l’utilizzo di video a 360° visionati in IVR risulta essere una strategia didattica funzionale ai fini di sviluppare nei soggetti l’abilità di saper riconoscere gli elementi caratterizzanti la competenza relazionale. Si evince inoltre l’importanza assunta da diversi altri aspetti nella progettazione e nello svolgimento di un’attività didattica e valutativa che preveda l’utilizzo della IVR.The ability to communicate and relate to others has always been fundamental to society.
In education and training, relational competence has always been of particular importance among the professional competencies related to teaching and instructional design strategies.
Due to the growth of the technology sector, the literature reveals the increasing use of a new tool within educational contexts: the immersive virtual reality (IVR).
Research with intervention was carried out to understand whether this technology can be used to implement the development of knowledge related to relational competence.
In particular, the form of the case study was used to investigate a specific context (the university), with an intervention (introduction of didactic docimological innovation).
The aim of this work is to supplement the strategies currently in use with methods involving IVR in order to understand whether these tools could represent a useful investment for universities.
The intervention was divided into two studies: pilot and main.
The sample counts 20 students attending a Bachelor's and Master's degree course in the educational area at the University of Bologna.
Data were collected using three instruments/procedures: questionnaires with open-ended and closed-ended questions; video recordings; group interview (that later took the form of a focus-group).
Data were analysed through qualitative-quantitative analysis, exploiting two software: MAXQDA and JAMOVI.
The results demonstrate that using 360° videos in IVR is a useful teaching strategy for developing the subjects' ability to recognise the elements characterising relational competence. The importance of various other aspects in designing and carrying out a teaching and evaluation activity using IVR is also presented
Innovative and more sustainable vaccine strategies for Infectious Bursal Disease control in broilers
No full textInfectious Bursal Disease (IBD), a highly contagious viral infection, poses a significant threat to poultry health and productivity. This thesis investigates innovative and sustainable strategies to control IBD, emphasizing advanced vaccination protocols and molecular virology tools to address challenges posed by viral evolution. The first section provides an overview of the Infectious Bursal Disease Virus (IBDV), focusing on its genomic structure, the roles of segments A and B in pathogenicity, and the immune responses triggered during infection. While humoral immunity is well-documented, the systematic review in the second section explores T-cell dynamics during IBDV infection, revealing their critical role in both acute and chronic phases. This review highlights the need for deeper insights into T-cell subtypes, such as regulatory and gamma-delta T-cells, to enhance prevention strategies. The third section evaluates the efficacy of subcutaneous day-of-hatch vaccination using live IBDV vaccines in commercial broilers with maternally derived antibodies. Three protocols were assessed: an intermediate vaccine strain, an intermediate-plus strain, and an immune-complex vaccine. Findings demonstrate that these vaccines effectively protect against very virulent IBDV, preventing bursal damage and clinical disease. Notably, the intermediate-plus vaccine showed superior efficacy by reducing viral replication in the bursa, potentially decreasing viral shedding and transmission in field conditions. These findings suggest that day-of-hatch vaccination is a feasible strategy for early protection, offering biosecurity and economic benefits. The fourth section applies reverse genetics to study a novel South Australian IBDV variant, SA S328, which has rapidly displaced earlier strains. This variant introduces an additional serine residue in the hypervariable region of the VP2 protein, hypothesized to enhance virulence. Cloning and characterizing the genomic segments of SA S328 revealed mutations potentially influencing replication and pathogenicity. This thesis integrates diverse approaches to address key challenges in IBD control, offering insights into improving vaccine strategies and managing evolving viral threats
A zero-trust decentralized architecture for heterogeneous IoT monitoring systems
No full textEnsuring the integrity of infrastructures and the sustainability of the environment are critical tasks in today's society. Structural health and environmental monitoring are disciplines that aim to monitor these assets by trying to assess their condition and detecting potential issues. Over time, these activities have become increasingly dependent on the Internet of Things (IoT). This connection has allowed new capabilities to be introduced and brought these systems to work on large-scale environments. Unfortunately, this dependency also introduced several issues, such as centralization, lack of transparency, and interoperability, that weaken their reliability, which is essential for informed decision-making in the field. In this thesis we tackle these problems through a multi-layer, zero-trust decentralized architecture to enhance transparency, trustworthiness, and interoperability in monitoring systems. The architecture introduces an Interoperability Layer based on the W3C Web of Things (WoT) standard that enables a seamless integration among various IoT devices and platforms. Additionally, we introduce a Trustability Layer powered by ZONIA, a decentralized blockchain oracle system that ensures data integrity without relying on centralized entities or specialized hardware. ZONIA operates under a zero-trust paradigm, aggregating data from multiple sources and employing a truth inference algorithm and a reputation system to maintain system resiliency. We validated our approach through several evaluations of the components in these layers and through the development and deployment of a real-world structural health monitoring platform based on the proposed architecture
Biocombustibili liquidi per l'aviazione: valorizzazione del sottoprodotto biochar
No full textBiochar is a carbonaceous material produced through pyrolysis of biomass. One promising application of biochar is phosphorus recovery from wastewater. Phosphorus is a vital nutrient for plant growth, but its use in fertilizers often leads to runoff or leaching. Wastewater treatment plants discharge large amounts of phosphorus-rich wastewater, contributing to eutrophication and ecological harm. Biochar can sorb phosphorus, retaining it in solid form. In this thesis, two composites made of biomass and dolomite or shells exhibited superior phosphate sorption compared to biochar alone, reaching up to 100% sorption.
Biochar also finds use in soil remediation, specifically in cleaning up contaminated soil. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which can be carcinogenic and toxic, can be present in soil. Biochar adsorb PAHs, preventing their leakage or bioaccumulation. Hetero-PAHs, a subclass of PAHs with nitrogen, sulfur, or oxygen atoms in their ring structures, are particularly challenging to degrade. Little is known about their behavior or sorption onto biochar. In this thesis, biochar and activated carbon were effective in immobilizing PAHs and hetero-PAHs in real soils, with rates of immobilization reaching 100%. Biochar performed equally or better than activated carbon, offering a cost-effective alternative due to its lower price.
Biochar reduce of metal(loid)s mobility in soil. Metal(loid)s like lead, zinc, and arsenic can contaminate soil through industrial sources, agricultural runoff, and other pollution, and are toxic to plants and animals, rendering the soil unsuitable for agriculture. When biochar is added to contaminated soil, it binds to metal(loid)s, preventing leaching into the environment. A biomass-dolomite composite was compared to activated carbon for immobilizing metal(loid)s in contaminated soils. The composite generally outperformed activated carbon and exhibited the ability to immobilize arsenic. In summary, biochar shows promise for phosphorus recovery, soil remediation, and reducing the mobility of heavy metals, offering cost-effective and sustainable solutions to these environmental challenges
Emotions in legal decisions: the construction of objective narratives in Italian criminal trials
No full textDrawing on ethnographic data collected in Italian courts and prosecution offices, this dissertation offers new perspectives on legal decision-making by highlighting the importance of emotions for constructing and evaluating legal narratives. Focusing on criminal cases, it describes and dissects how judges and prosecutors use emotions in reflection and action tied to lay narratives and legal constraints. The analysis shows that legal professionals engage in different types of emotional dynamics when dealing with stories; first, they develop gut feelings, which are either endorsed or kept at distance by means of emotional reflexivity, to comply with legal ideals of objectivity and impartiality. Second, empathy emerges as a crucial tool to direct the interaction with lay people and to interpret legal prerequisites, such as credibility, and intent.
Finally, the dissertation shows that lay stories lead legal professionals to become passionate and committed towards the correct application of the law, the restoration of the moral order, and the achievement of justice. In light of the empirical findings, this thesis strives to develop
a theoretical understanding of legal decision-making as narrative work that includes emotional dynamics consistent with rational, objective action
Beyond the ghetto. Ethnic residential segregation dynamics in Bologna
No full textLa tesi intende contribuire a livello teorico ed empirico al dibattito in tema di segregazione residenziale su base etnica. Negli ultimi anni, infatti, si stanno sviluppando studi e ricerche che mirano a (ri)definire la categoria di segregazione residenziale e le forme che essa può assumere a livello urbano (micro-segregazione, interstizio, segregazione verticale) proprio a partire dall’analisi delle caratteristiche del contesto Mediterraneo o dell’Europa del Sud. In questo quadro, il disegno di ricerca si articola a partire dal caso studio di Bologna e analizza la distribuzione residenziale della popolazione residente straniera in prospettiva diacronica, utilizzando strumenti di analisi georeferenziata e considerando diverse variabili (nazionalità, genere, status-socioeconomico). L’analisi quantitativa viene integrata da una seconda parte, che si compone di 20 interviste biografiche di tipo recall, che ricostruisce le traiettorie abitative di migranti residenti nella Città Metropolitana di Bologna, al fine di comprendere le modalità in cui le dinamiche strutturali che investono l’housing system si concretizzino nelle storie di vita di persone migranti. Dall’analisi emerge che la popolazione residente straniera è investita da un processo di periferizzazione che si manifesta a livello spaziale-territoriale e nei percorsi di vita. Adottandone una definizione estensiva, la categoria di periferizzazione individua una specifica forma di segregazione residenziale che non denota solo un processo di mobilità territoriale ma anche un più ampio e articolato “modo di abitare” di chi sta ai margini.This dissertation aims to contribute theoretically and empirically to the debate on ethnic residential segregation. Indeed, in recent years, studies and research have been developed with the aim of (re)defining the category of residential segregation and the forms it may assume at the urban level (micro-segregation, interstices, vertical segregation), focusing on the characteristics of the Mediterranean or Southern European context. Within this framework, the research design is articulated starting from the Bologna case study, analyzing the residential distribution of the foreign resident population in a diachronic perspective, using geo-referenced analysis tools and taking into account different variables (nationality, gender, socio-economic status). The quantitative analysis is complemented by a second part, consisting of 20 recall biographical interviews, which reconstructs the housing trajectories of migrants residing in the Metropolitan City of Bologna, in order to understand the ways in which the structural dynamics affecting the housing system take shape in the life stories of migrants. The analysis shows that the foreign resident population is subject to a process of peripheralisation, which manifests itself at the spatial-territorial level and in life paths. By adopting an extensive definition, the category of peripheralisation identifies a specific form of residential segregation that denotes not only a process of territorial mobility, but also a broader and more articulated "way of living" of those on the margins
Synthesis and catalytic activity of new cu-based catalytic systems for the enhanced electrochemical CO2 reduction
No full textThis Ph.D. thesis concerns the synthesis of nanostructured Cu-containing materials to be used as electrode modifiers for the CO2 electroreduction in aqueous phase and the evaluation of their catalytic performances. Inspired by the fascinating concept of the artificial photosynthesis-oriented systems, several catalytic layers were electrochemically loaded on carbonaceous gas diffusion membranes, i.e., 3D structures that allow the design of eco-friendly materials for applications in green carbon recycling processes. In particular, early studies on Cu(I-II)-Cu(0) nanostructured materials were carried out to produce films on 4 cm2 sized supports by means of a fast and low-cost electrochemical procedure. Besides, through a screening of potentials, it was possible to find out a selective value for the CH3COOH production at -0.4 V vs RHE with a maximum productivity (1h reaction), ensured by the presence of the Cu+/Cu0 active redox couple (0.31 mmol gcat-1 h-1). On the basis of these results, further optimisations of the electrocatalyst chemical composition were carried out with the aim of (i) facilitating the interaction with CO2, (ii) increasing the dispersion of the catalytic active phase, and (iii) enhancing the CH3COOH productivity. To this aim, novel electrocatalysts based on layered double hydroxides (LDHs) were optimised, having as a final goal the formation of a new Cu2O-Cu0 based electrocatalyst derived from electrochemically achieved CuMgAl LDHs, subjected to calcination and reduction processes. The as-obtained electrocatalysts were tested for the selective production of CH3COOH and unprecedented results were obtained with the pristine CuMgAl LDH (2.0 mmol gcat-1 h-1). Additional characterisations of such an electrocatalyst have highlighted the possibility to achieve a ternary LDH in intimate contact with Cu2O-Cu0 species starting from the electrochemical deposition. The presence of these species, along with an alkaline environment on the electrode surface, were essential to preserve the selectivity towards the desired product, as confirmed by further operando studies
Sustainable exploitation of offshore renewable energy sources
No full textEnergy transition is the response of humankind to the concerning effects of fossil fuels depletion, climate change and energy insecurity, and calls for a deep penetration of renewable energy sources (RESs) in power systems and industrial processes.
Despite the high potentials, low impacts and long-term availability, RESs present some limits which need to be overcome, such as the strong variability and difficult predictability, which result in scarce reliability and difficult applicability in steady-state processes. Some technological solutions relate to energy storage systems, equipment electrification and hybrid systems deployment, thus accomplishing distributed generation even in remote sites as offshore.
However, all of these actions cannot disregard sustainability, which represents a founding principle for any project, bringing together economics, reliability and environmental protection.
To entail sustainability in RESs-based innovative projects, previous knowledge and tools are often not tailored or miss the novel objectives. This research proposes three methodological approaches, bridging the gaps.
The first contribute adapts literature-based indicators of inherent safety and energy efficiency to capture the specificities of novel process plants and hybrid systems. Minor case studies dealing with novel P2X processes exemplify the application of these novel indicators.
The second method guides the conceptual design of hybrid systems for the valorisation of a RES in a site, by considering the sustainability performances of alternative design options. Its application is demonstrated through the comparison of two offshore sites where wave energy can be valorised.
Finally, “OHRES”, a comprehensive tool for the sustainable optimisation of hybrid renewable energy systems is proposed. “OHRES” hinges on the exploitation of multiple RESs, by converting ex-post sustainability indicators into discrimination markers screening a large number of possible system configurations, according to the location features. Five case studies demonstrate “OHRES” versatility in the sustainable valorisation of multiple RESs