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Interactions of the white truffle Tuber magnatum Picco with bacteria and plants
No full textThe white truffle (Tuber magnatum Picco) is a highly valuable food product, yet its cultivation remains underdeveloped. Despite numerous attempts, production still depends on natural truffle grounds due to limited knowledge of its biology and ecology. This study aims to summarize existing literature and address key knowledge gaps. The thesis comprises seven chapters. Chapter 1 introduces T. magnatum morphology, aroma, biology, ecology, natural production, and cultivation. Chapter 2 outlines the objective: to elucidate ecological traits of T. magnatum to advance cultivation techniques. Chapter 3 investigates interactions between T. magnatum mycelium and bacteria through in vitro mycelial cultivation. Isolation and phylogenetic analyses identified Bradyrhizobium bacterial strains promoting T. magnatum mycelium growth in vitro, highlighting a dependency not observed in other Tuber species. Chapter 4, in collaboration with Michigan State University, presents comparative genome analyses of two Bradyrhizobium strains associated with T. magnatum mycelium. Phylogenomic reconstruction was conducted to compare Bradyrhizobium genomes across supergroups. Chapter 5 employs Tuber borchii Vittad. as a model to explore endophytic behavior between truffles and herbaceous plants. A study using morphological and molecular techniques detected T. borchii mycelium within wild orchid roots, suggesting orchids as temporary hosts facilitating survival and lifecycle progression. Chapter 6 extends this method to T. magnatum, analyzing endophytic behavior in ECM and non-ECM host plants. Fluorescent In Situ Hybridization (FISH) and PCR detected T. magnatum in plant roots, but FISH confirmed colonization in only one sample, indicating rare and seasonal endophytic interactions. Chapter 7 concludes with findings and future research directions. This study enhances understanding of T. magnatum ecology, informing potential advancements in its cultivation
Genomic characterization of rare visceral sarcomas through next generation sequencing
No full textVisceral sarcomas are rare malignancies of mesenchymal origin targeting visceral organs and characterized by a heterogenous clinical and biological profile and dismal prognosis. Due to their rarity and heterogeneity, defining the molecular profile of most histotypes represents a daunting task. Therefore, we aimed to investigate rare visceral sarcomas including cardiac, uterine sarcomas and gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) by next-generation sequencing (NGS) techniques, including RNA-Sequencing (RNA-Seq), Whole Exome Sequencing (WES) and Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS), combined with the development of computational and experimental pipelines to analyze and validate the outputs. Furthermore, a poor understanding of the disease coupled with the limited efficacy of the currently available targeted therapies negatively affects our healthcare system. Consequently, in line with the Strategia Nazionale di Specializzazione Intelligente (SNSI) and Programma Operativo Nazionale (PON), our research might contribute to the development of more efficient targeted therapies, which could lower the manufacturing costs but, most importantly, reduce patients’ toxicity levels and diminish disease spread. Ultimately, in agreement with the Programma Nazionale per la Ricerca (PNR), identifying targetable biomarkers for each visceral sarcoma histotype would also favor the administration of screening tests, enhancing early diagnosis and treatment efficacy
Supply and demand of digital skills in Europe: a statistical analysis of regional labour markets through latent variable and spatial regression models
No full textThis thesis explores the distribution of digital skills in Europe, adopting a labour market perspective. On the supply side, attention was focused on Eurostat’s data on ICT usage. A Multidimensional Item Response Theory (MIRT) analysis was performed on the items selected by Eurostat to compute its Digital Skills Indicators, conceptually based on the “Digital Competence framework for citizens” (DigComp). The estimation of exploratory MIRT models suggested a five-dimensional latent structure, different from DigComp. This data driven structure was used to compute five count indicators, representing individuals' proficiency in the corresponding dimensions, serving as manifest variables in a Multilevel Latent Class Analysis. With the help of selected covariates, five clusters of individuals, i.e. attitudes towards ICTs, and four groups of regions, i.e. levels of diffusion of digital skills, were obtained. Some issues related to the goodness-of-fit assessmentof MIRT models for binary variables were addressed in a model-based simulation study. The effectiveness of three decision strategies was evaluated across eighteen scenarios. Quantifying the degree of fit along a continuum via fit indices seemed to be more effective than testing the hypothesis of exact fit. For these indices, more restrictive cutoff values than those used in factor analysis were proposed. Lastly, data from online job advertisements collected by Cedefop in 2022 enabled to integrate information on the demand side. On the basis of the regional number of mentions of digital skills, a Percentage index of Digital skill Imbalance (PDI) was defined. The study of the determinants of PDI was undertaken in a spatial data analysis. An original route map which compared spatial econometric specifications, Geographically Weighted Regression (GWR) and Generalized Additive Models (GAMs) was adopted. The final model was a multi-scale GWR which distinguished two groups of covariates on the basis of the scale, i.e. local vs global, of their effect on PDI
Workers buyout transactions between cooperative law and insolvency law
No full textIl diritto europeo sta attraversando una fase di trasformazione, in cui la sostenibilità è diventata uno dei valori mainstream, influenzando anche ambiti tradizionalmente meno permeabili come quello dell’insolvenza. In tale contesto, la Direttiva (UE) 2019/1023 rappresenta un tentativo organico di armonizzare i diversi sistemi normativi degli Stati membri, cercando un equilibrio delicato tra la tutela dei creditori e la salvaguardia dei diritti e degli interessi di imprese e lavoratori. In Italia, sebbene il Codice della crisi recepisca alcuni elementi chiave della direttiva, appare come un’occasione mancata per valorizzare pienamente il ruolo dei lavoratori, che restano spesso la parte più esposta nelle situazioni di crisi aziendale. La tesi esplora il modello del Workers Buyout (WBO), approfondendone le implicazioni giuridiche e operative nel contesto italiano. Particolare attenzione è rivolta ai principali attori coinvolti: i lavoratori, le Centrali Cooperative e CFI, che dagli anni ’80 promuovono attivamente il modello cooperativo come alternativa concreta nei casi di insolvenza. I WBO hanno potuto contare su un quadro normativo favorevole, a partire dalla Legge Marcora (L. 49/1985), rafforzata da strumenti successivi come il Decreto Destinazione Italia (D.L. 145/2013). A titolo comparativo, viene analizzata anche l’esperienza argentina delle Empresas Recuperadas por sus trabajadores, che evidenzia quanto sia determinante il ruolo del sostegno pubblico per il successo e la sostenibilità di questi percorsi. In conclusione, la tesi propone un ripensamento del quadro normativo italiano, auspicando una più chiara integrazione dei WBO come strumenti strutturali per affrontare le crisi d’impresa in un’ottica di continuità aziendale e tutela occupazionale.European Law is undergoing a period of volatility, during which sustainability has emerged as one of the mainstream ideals that has permeated its way through to various fields, including that of bankruptcy. With this in mind, the EU Insolvency Directive constitutes a concerted effort towards the standardisation of the different regulatory frameworks that exist amongst member states, aiming to strike a delicate balance between upholding the protections of creditors whilst simultaneously safeguarding and enshrining the rights and interests of not only enterprises but workers. Within Italy, despite incorporating some of the key elements of the aforementioned European directive, the Crisis and Insolvency Code of 2019 (Codice della Crisi e dell'Insolvenza) appears to have squandered an important opportunity to strengthen the position of employees, who often represent the more vulnerable party both during bankruptcy proceedings and in negotiated settlements. This text explores the concept of the “Workers Buy Out” (WBO), by delving into the legal and operational implications as they pertain to Italy, whilst paying particular attention to the roles of pertinent key players: employees, the so-called “Central Co-operatives” that consist of the key national co-operative federations in Italy, as well as the Business Finance Cooperation (Cooperazione Finanza Impresa – CFI), that since the 1980s have strongly promoted the co-operative business model as an alternative outcome in cases of economic insolvency. These WBOs have benefited from regulatory support introduced by the Marcora Law (L. 49 of 1985), further enhanced by later instruments such as the “Destination Italy Decree” (D.L. 145 of 2013). The Argentine experience of “Worker-Recovered Enterprises” (Empresas Recuperadas por sus trabajadores) is also considered, highlighting the crucial role of public policy and funding. The thesis concludes by advocating for a more systematic legal integration of WBOs as a structural tool for managing business crises
Non-invasive methods and techniques in archaeology: case studies and applications
No full textLa presente ricerca, intitolata "Metodi e tecniche per l’archeologia senza scavo: casi di studio e applicazioni", affronta l’applicazione integrata di metodologie diagnostiche non invasive nello studio di contesti urbani antichi, con particolare riferimento alle città romane di Suasa e Falerio Picenus (Marche). La combinazione di tecniche geofisiche (georadar, magnetometria, geoelettrica), telerilevamento da UAV/UAS e verifica stratigrafica ha permesso di ottenere risultati di grande dettaglio e di riflettere criticamente sui limiti e le potenzialità di ciascun metodo. Suasa, già oggetto di precedenti indagini, ha offerto l’opportunità di reinterpretare dati esistenti integrandoli con nuove acquisizioni, anche grazie al progetto Urbes Revelantur (E-RIHS). Falerio Picenus, al contrario, rappresenta un contesto esplorato per la prima volta tramite telerilevamento, con successiva validazione tramite scavo. La ricerca si colloca nel panorama metodologico attuale, proponendo un approccio contestualizzato piuttosto che estensivo, volto a valorizzare la lettura archeologica dei dati. Le indagini sono state inoltre affiancate da esperienze sul campo, svolte in collaborazione con enti pubblici e privati (tra cui Enel Green Power), e durante un tirocinio presso Geostudi Astier s.r.l. La tesi sottolinea infine l’importanza di un’integrazione metodologica tra dati remoti, di prossimità e fonti archeologiche, dimostrando come un approccio interdisciplinare possa contribuire in modo sostanziale alla ricostruzione delle dinamiche urbane e alla comprensione storica dei paesaggi antichi.This doctoral research, titled "Methods and Techniques for Non-Invasive Archaeology: Case Studies and Applications", explores the integrated use of non-invasive diagnostic methods in the investigation of ancient urban contexts, focusing on the Roman cities of Suasa and Falerio Picenus (Marche, Italy). Combining geophysical techniques (GPR, magnetometry, electrical resistivity), UAV/UAS-based remote sensing, and stratigraphic verification enabled highly detailed results and a critical evaluation of each method’s strengths and limitations. At Suasa, legacy data was reanalysed alongside new acquisitions, supported by the Urbes Revelantur project (E-RIHS). Falerio Picenus, by contrast, was investigated for the first time using remote sensing and subsequently validated through excavation. Rather than following an extensive approach, the research adopts a context-sensitive methodology, emphasising the archaeological interpretation of data. The project also included field experience through collaborations with public and private institutions (including Enel Green Power), and a six-month internship at Geostudi Astier s.r.l. Ultimately, the thesis highlights the importance of integrating remote and proximal sensing with archaeological sources, showing how interdisciplinary approaches can significantly enhance our understanding of ancient urban transformations and landscapes
The correspondence on Petrarch from the Fracassetti Archive: critical edition and commentary
No full textIl documento offre l’edizione critica e commentata della corrispondenza a matrice petrarchesca di Giuseppe Fracassetti, custodita nel Fondo omonimo della Biblioteca Civica ‘Romolo Spezioli’ di Fermo. A partire da una disamina generale dell’archivio dello studioso, si presenta il caso delle lettere – per la maggior parte inviate a Fracassetti – contenute nel faldone Carteggio relativo ai miei lavori sul Petrarca. La messe di manoscritti e altri materiali (1078 cc.), analizzata dapprima dalla specola della presentazione 107 soggetti corrispondenti del fermano e successivamente da quella della ricostruzione cronologica dei temi trattati negli scambi epistolari, viene poi censita nella Nota ai testi. Le 540 lettere oggetto del presente lavoro sono corredate di un ampio commento, a ricostruire a un tempo le implicazioni tra le comunicazioni e gli studi di Fracassetti su Petrarca e il contesto culturale in cui si collocano. Laddove possibile, si dà conto, inoltre, delle missive di Fracassetti rinvenute presso altri Enti di conservazione. Chiude il lavoro un’Appendice, dedicata alle 37 lettere estravaganti di argomento affine rinvenute in altri faldoni di corrispondenza del Fondo.The document offers a critical and annotated edition of Giuseppe Fracassetti’s correspondence about Petrarch, preserved in the Fracassetti collection of the ‘Romolo Spezioli’ Library of Fermo. Starting with a general examination of the scholar's archive, the case of the letters – mostly sent to Fracassetti – contained in the folder Carteggio relativo ai miei lavori sul Petrarca is presented. The group of manuscripts and other materials, analised from the perspective of the 107 correspondents and then from the chronological one, is catalogued in the Nota ai testi. The 540 letters covered in this work are accompanied by a commentary that reconstructs both the implications between Fracassetti's communications and studies on Petrarch and the cultural context. Where possible, Fracassetti's letters found in other conservation Institutions are also taken into account. The work concludes with an Appendix dedicated to 37 extravagant letters on similar topics found in other folders of archive’s correspondence
The Ecloga of Leo III between justinianic law and the macedonian renaissance
No full textL’Ecloga di Leone III Isaurico costituisce il fondamentale punto di ripartenza dell’attività legislativa bizantina che assurse al suo periodo d’oro in epoca successiva sotto i sovrani della dinastia macedone. Il dibattito scientifico in materia si è incentrato principalmente sugli istituti qui affrontati, ricostruiti nella loro evoluzione diacronica al fine di fornire un’ampia panoramica sui diversi indirizzi interpretativi.
Per contestualizzarne al meglio l’intento ideologico si è data enfasi all’importanza dell’influsso cristiano sugli istituti legali, con particolare riguardo al diritto di famiglia e alla materia penalistica, informati al principio di filantropia espressamente richiamato da Leone III nel proemio della raccolta.
Altra sezione di particolare attenzione riguarda la disamina del diritto agrario, che ha permesso di affrontare l’evoluzione della società rurale dell’epoca di transizione fra il tardo Impero Romano e l’alto Impero Bizantino anche sotto il profilo degli aspetti economici e della regolamentazione fiscale.
La trattazione si integra con un raffronto fra l’Ecloga ed il famoso Nomos Georgikos, opera di diffusione capillare nei manoscritti giuridici bizantini, ponendo in evidenza i parallelismi fra le due raccolte normative.The Ecloga of Leo III the Isaurian was the starting point of the Medieval Byzantine legislation, which reached its golden age under the Macedonian emperors. The scientific debate on this subject focused mainly on the institutes dealt with in the following chapters, namely the agrarian law, the family law and the penal law.
In order to contextualize the ideological aim of this law book, I focused on the Christian influx into the legal institutes, especially regarding family law and penal law, inspired by the principle of philanthropy expressly mentioned by the emperor in the prooimion.
Another section deals with the agrarian law, which allowed me to tackle the topic of the evolution of the rural society in the transitional period between the Late Roman Empire and the Early Byzantine Empire also considering the economic aspects and fiscal regulation.
The handling of the matter is also enriched by a comparison between the Ecloga and the renowned Nomos Georgikos, a work of widespread circulation in Byzantine law manuscripts
The important role of multidetector-AF4 in the study of gold nanoparticle bioconjugates life: synthesis, optimization, application in drug delivery
No full textGold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have emerged as a pivotal material in nanotechnology, thanks to their unique optical, electronic, and chemical properties. These properties make AuNPs highly desirable for a variety of applications, particularly in biosensing, where they serve as transducers, and in nano-pharmaceutics, where they function as drug carriers. However, despite their widespread use, the characterization, purification, and stability of AuNPs, particularly in their conjugated forms with biomolecules such as proteins, remain significant challenges. Conventional techniques often fall short in providing the necessary resolution and sensitivity, particularly when working under native conditions or in complex biological media. This research aims to address these gaps by leveraging advanced separation and detection techniques, specifically Asymmetrical Flow Field-Flow Fractionation (AF4) combined with multi-detection platforms, to develop robust methodologies for the comprehensive study of AuNPs and their bioconjugates.
The research was structured around the application of AF4 and a suite of detection systems to address the challenges associated with AuNPs and their bioconjugates. AF4 is a sophisticated technique used for the separation and characterization of nanoparticles (NPs), polymers, and macromolecules. Unlike traditional chromatographic methods, AF4 does not rely on a stationary phase; instead, it uses a cross-flow field to separate particles based on their size and diffusion properties. This is particularly advantageous for the study of AuNPs and their conjugates, as it allows for the analysis of these species under native conditions, minimizing the risk of altering their structure or function. In this research, AF4 was employed to separate AuNPs with different surface coatings and to analyze their conjugation with BSA, a model protein commonly used in biosensing and pharmaceutical applications. These methodologies were applied across three distinct studies, each contributing to the overall understanding of AuNP behavior, conjugation efficiency, stability under various conditions, and their bioconjugates application prospects
Fragmentary yet informative: a methodological approach to bridging the gap between cremation and inhumation in bioarchaeology
No full textThe study of skeletal remains altered by thermal processes, such as burning and cremation, presents significant challenges, limiting the amount of information that can be extracted. This Doctoral project is aimed to develop an approach and workflow for studying these materials to maximise information retrieval by focusing on analyses best suited to their limitations. The challenges addressed include the progressive and total degradation of organic matter with increasing temperatures, the reorganisation of the crystalline matrix, the extreme fragmentation, and the difficulty in sourcing suitable skeletal elements for various analyses. The analyses explored in this project included the application of spectroscopy as a pre-screening technique, and the extraction of amelogenin for sex determination—a critical component in reconstructing an individual’s biological profile, especially when diagnostic skeletal regions are fragmented or deformed by heat. ZooMS was also used to determine the taxonomic classification of undetermined bone fragments. Additionally, strontium isotope analysis was employed to investigate the mobility and origin of individuals. Cremated bones, being more resistant to diagenesis than unburnt remains, provided a reliable substrate for this isotopic analysis. The proposed approach enables the selection of analytical methods that best exploit bone and dental fragments that, using traditional study methods alone, would not have provided significant information
Hybrid coordination polymers based on silver halide and Ppicolylamine as new luminescent and conductive materials
No full textThis research studied new crystalline materials, specifically coordination polymers (CPs) based on silver halides and n-(aminomethyl)pyridine (n-pica, where n = 2, 3, 4). The study involved three key areas:
1. Synthesis and structural characterization: this part aimed to develop eco-friendly synthesis methods that minimize solvent usage and to explore the structural variety of silver halide-based CPs. Analysis in the Cambridge Structural Database showed that Ag(I) in AgXL compounds (where X is a halide and L an organic ligand) typically has tetrahedral coordination. Halide ions in these compounds exhibit many bridging patterns and coordination numbers, which enhance their structural diversity and enable the formation of hybrid coordination polymers (HCPs). Twelve different compounds were synthesized and structurally characterized during this Ph.D. project.
2. Polymorphic phases and stoichiometry: This part investigated the existence of different polymorphic phases and changes in stoichiometries in the synthesized compounds. Mechanochemical synthesis was a useful method to control the stoichiometry for compounds involving liquid ligands at room temperature as reactants. The study examined how stoichiometric ratios and small additions of a reactant affect reactions. Thermal treatment of [(AgX)(3-pica)]n showed varied behaviors based on the halide type, leading to phase transitions and the potential for forming solid solutions.
3. Photophysical and conductive properties: This segment analyzed the luminescent properties of [(AgX)(n-pica)]n, revealing their temperature-dependent behavior and the presence of thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF). DFT calculations helped clarify the influence of halides on these properties. Lastly, [(AgBr)₂(3-pica)]n was tested for its conductivity, both with electrochemical methods and terahertz spectroscopy, displaying semiconductor behavior according to the Drude model