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Il Punto cieco del diritto: a proposito di Salvatore Satta e Salvatore Mannuzzu
Full text linkThe Law is in crisis because it can no longer find a common ground. Economics, media and political power try to influence it. This is why the laws risk to move away from the needs of the people. For this reason some scholars have begun to approach the study of law using literature. The aim of this PhD dissersation is to create a taxonomy of the different approaches of the Law & Literature method, with particular attention to the ethical setting of academics such as François Ost and Martha Nussbaum. After this theoretical introduction, the study continues with the analysis of the works of two Sardinian writers: Salvatore Satta and Salvatore Mannuzzu. Both of them were writers and jurists. It was important to deepen their narrative works in light of their legal convictions. Satta was in fact a refined theoretician of law, one among the influential scholars of the civil trial and also the author of one of the greatest books of Italian literature of the twentieth century, Il giorno del giudizio (The Day of Judgment). Mannuzzu was a judge involved in the daily life of the trial; he presided over government investigations and was also a prolific writer. Are the interactions between the two vocations useful for better understanding justice and their literature
Evaluation of water quality during successive severe drought years within <i>Microcystis</i> blooms using fish embryo toxicity tests for the San Francisco Estuary, California
No full textIn the San Francisco Estuary, California, the largest estuary on the Pacific Coast of North America, the frequency and intensity of drought and associated cyanobacteria blooms are predicted to increase with climate change. To assess the impact of water quality conditions on estuarine fish health during successive severe drought years with Microcystis blooms, we performed fish embryo toxicity testing with Delta Smelt and Medaka. Fish embryos were exposed to filtered ambient water collected from the San Francisco Estuary during the Microcystis bloom season in 2014 and 2015, the third and fourth most severe recorded drought years in California. Medaka embryos incubated in filtered ambient waters exhibited high mortality rates (> 77%), which was mainly due to bacterial growth. Medaka mortality data was negatively correlated with chloride, and positively correlated with water temperature, total and dissolved organic carbon, and ambient and net chlorophyll a concentration. Delta Smelt embryo mortality rates were lower (< 42%) and no prominent seasonal or geographic trend was observed. There was no significant correlation between the Delta Smelt mortality data and water quality parameters. Aeromonas was the dominant bacteria that adversely affected Medaka. The growth of Aeromonas was suppressed when salinity was greater than or equal to 1 psu and resulted in a significant reduction in mortality rate. Bacterial growth test demonstrated that the lysate of Microcystis cells enhanced the growth of Aeromonas. Toxin production by Microcystis is a major environmental concern, however, we conclude that dissolved substances released from Microcystis blooms could result in water quality deterioration by promoting growth of bacteria. Furthermore, a distinctive developmental deformity was observed in Medaka during the toxicity tests; somite formation was inhibited at the same time that cardiogenesis occurred and the functional heart was observed to be beating. The exact cause of the embryonic developmental deformity is still unknown
Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio and clinical outcomes in COPD: recent evidence and future perspectives
Full text linkChronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a disabling condition that is characterised by poorly reversible airflow limitation and inflammation. Acute exacerbations of COPD are a common cause of hospitalisation and death among COPD patients. Several biochemical markers have been studied as outcome predictors in COPD; however, their measurement often requires significant time and resources. Relatively simple biomarkers of inflammation calculated from routine complete blood count tests, such as the neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR), might also predict COPD progression and outcomes. This review discusses the available evidence from studies investigating the associations between the NLR, COPD exacerbations and death in this patient group
Landscape planning and defragmentation measures: an assessment of costs and critical issues
No full textDefragmentation, i.e. the systematic action of reconnecting even smaller and more isolated landscape patches, is a major concern for landscape analysists and planners. Landscape fragmentation (LF) can jeopardize both ecosystem continuity and quality. Transport and mobility infrastructures (TMIs) are considered one of the main causes of LF and trigger negative effects, such as death of wild animals killed by vehicular traffic, and decrease of landscape connectivity. The effectiveness of defragmentation actions can be monitored through indices, such as the Infrastructural Fragmentation Index (IFI) and, as a counterpart, the connectivity index (CI). In this paper, we aim at illustrating the effect of defragmentation actions based on the use of wildlife crossing structures (WCSs). WCSs are targeted for the wild boar and ideally located at different linear densities in the fragmented and car accidents very rich landscape unit of Alghero, Sardinia, Italy. Results demonstrate that the higher the WCSs’ density the higher the defragmentation effect and that the average cost of defragmentation increases for scenarios with denser WCSs
Chemistry of oxidomolybdenum(IV) and -(VI) complexes with ONS donor ligands: synthesis, computational evaluation and oxo-transfer reactions
No full textA series of dioxidomolybdenum(VI) complexes, [MoVIO2L1–6] (1–6) and [MoVIO2L1–6(solv)] (1a–6a) {where solv (solvent) = DMSO (1a, 3a, 5a and 6a) and H2O (2a and 4a)} have been synthesized using thiosemicarbazone ligands, H2L1–6. Furthermore, six monooxidomolybdenum(IV) complexes [MoIVOL1–6(N-N)] (7–12) {where co-ligand (N-N) = 2,2′-bipyridine (bipy) (7, 10 and 11) and 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) (8, 9 and 12)} have also been synthesized from the corresponding Mo(VI) precursors, [MoVIO2L1–6] (1–6) by oxygen atom transfer (OAT) reaction. Complexes have been characterized by conventional methods, including X-ray crystallography, and DFT (density functional theory) calculations. OAT reactivity of Mo(VI) and Mo(IV) complexes have been successfully established through the formation of OPPh3 and Me2S. These OAT products have been characterized by 31P NMR (OPPh3), UV–Vis spectroscopy and GC–MS (Me2S) and DFT simulations supported this finding through the prediction of ΔGtotsol for the reaction of oxygen atom transfer. DFT methods suggested that the oxygen atom transfer from [MoVIO2L] species to PPh3 to give [MoIVOL(bipy)] and from DMSO to [MoIVOL(bipy)] to yield [MoVIO2L] is strongly favored, whereas the formation of μ-oxido dimer [MoV2O3L2], is much less probable
Mutual effect of <i>Phragmites australis</i>, <i>Arundo donax</i> and immobilization agents on arsenic and trace metals phytostabilization in polluted soils
No full textThis study assessed the suitability of Phragmites australis and Arundo donax for the aided phytostabilization of metal(loid)s in polluted soils treated with an iron-rich water treatment residue (Fe-WTR), a municipal solid waste compost (MSW-C) and their combination (Fe-WTR + MSW-C). The three soils under study (S1, S2, S3) showed very high total concentrations of As (from 371 to 22,661 mg·kg− 1 d.w.) and variable amounts of co-occurring trace metals (TMs) (i.e. Pb, 74–2162; Zn, 57-1535 and Cu, 19–412 mg·kg− 1 d.w.). Results showed that P. australis and A. donax biomass was significantly increased in all the amended soils and followed the order: MSW-C > Fe-WTR + MSW-C > Fe-WTR > Control. For both plant species grown in the amended soils, metal(loid)s concentration in below ground organs were higher than those in above ground tissues. In S1 soil (the most polluted and acidic; pH 3.77), the highest As bioaccumulation factors (BAFs) were recorded for plants grown on untreated soil (approx. 45% higher with respect to those recorded for plants in treated soils), where the concentration of labile As was significantly higher with respect to amended soils. By contrast, in S2 and S3 soils, the most effective As bioaccumulator plants were grown on soils treated with compost, even if the addition of this amendment induced a decrease of the soil As extractability. Similar results were detected for TMs in S1 soil, where P. australis and A. donax grown on soil amended with compost showed the highest Pb, Zn and Cu BAFs, while variable results were detected in S2 soil. The lowest As translocation factors (TFs ≪ 1.0) were detected for plants grown on compost-amended soils (25 and 51, 34 and 50, 64 and 55% lower with respect to P. australis and A. donax control plants in S1, S2 and S3 soils respectively), while TMs translocation from roots to shoots was more variable and depending on soil, TMs, amendment and plant species.
Overall, our results indicate the suitability of P. australis and A. donax, and of Fe-WTR and MSW-C, for the aided phytostabilization of soils contaminated with arsenic and trace metals
Fragmentos de identidad insular: paisaje y cultura local como herramientas para la planificación turística de Agaete y Alghero
Full text linkThe mass tourism development that takes place in Spain and Italy since the mid-twentieth century makes for a fundamental economic boost in insular territories as Gran Canaria or Sardinia, but it also leads to problems such as an intense urbanization process, the landscape degradation or an excessive influence on the local communities. Therefore, this thesis seeks to set the landscape and heritage values of coastal, non-touristic origin areas at the center of a methodology that aims to a new and complementary tourism model for the cases of study, Agaete and Alghero. Thus, the analysis of construction logics of the territory and the landscape, the cataloging of the historical heritage and the study of the local history enable the definition of some narrative paths capable of interpreting and putting in value the elements that best represent the local identity. This approach helps to extend the tourist interest from the coast to the inland, reducing the problems of tourist pressure suffered by the coast and putting in value the important agricultural areas of both cases of study
Pharmacokinetic studies of “off-label” drugs in food producing animals: quantification of drug residues in different organic matrices
Full text linkFour studies were carried out in the present thesis:
In the first study 65 poultry chickens were randomly divided into 4 groups: group A (n = 20) and B (n = 20) received the drug orally (PO), in group C (n = 20) the drug was injected by intravenous (IV) route, whereas group D (n = 5) was the control group. The analysis of plasma samples and residues in organs were performed through the HPLC-FL instrument.
The second study was divided into 2 phases where at the same 6 lactating goats were given tulathromycin drug before gestation and during lactation postpartum period. In the first phase of the study, tulathromycin was administered at 2.5 mg/kg b.w. by IV and subcutaneous (SC) routes. In the second phase of the study, the same animals were administered with a single IV dose. The analysis of plasma samples and organs were performed through the HPLC-MS/MS instrument.
In the third study, 20 laying hens were divided into 3 groups: group A (n=6), B (n=6) and C (n=8). During the first phase group A and B was administered the drug tapentadol by IV and PO routes at the dose of 1 and 5 mg/kg b.w. respectively. In the second phase of study, group C received the drug by PO at a dose of 5 mg/kg b.w. for 5 consecutive days. The eggs were collected for 30 days from the beginning of the experiment. Plasma, egg yolk and album samples were analysed using the HPLC-FL instrument.
In the fourth study, 6 lactating goats were divided into 2 groups: group A (n = 3) and B (n = 3) where meloxicam was administered by IV and intramuscular (IM) routes at a dose of 0.5 mg/kg b.w. Milk samples were taken up to 168 h for quantification of drug residues in the organic matrix. The plasma and milk samples were analysed using the HPLC-DAD instrument
Epigenetics and neurodegeneration: physiological relevance of TDP-43/HDAC1 interaction
Full text linkTDP-43 pathology is a disease hallmark that characterizes both sporadic and familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD-TDP). TDP-43 has been implicated in transcription, RNA metabolism and transport, and different TDP-43 post-translational modifications, spanning from phosphorylation to acetylation, can regulate its activity. In the present PhD thesis we provide evidences that TDP-43 interacts with histone deacetylase 1 (HDAC1), both in vivo and in vitro. By biochemical assays, performed in SH-SY5Y cells, we demonstrated that HDAC1, as well as HDAC6, can modify TDP-43 acetylation, that occurs mainly on amino acid residues K142 and K192, located in the RRM1 and RRM2 domains, necessary for the interaction . Interestingly, HDAC1 overexpression modulates TDP-43 transcriptional activity on CHOP promoter, but not TDP43 splicing activity on polymerase delta interacting protein 3 [POLDIP3] gene. Finally, both in cell culture and in Drosophila, HDCA1 reduced level (genomic inactivation or siRNA) or treatment with pan-HDAC inhibitors, reduce WT or pathological mutant TDP-43 toxicity, suggesting TDP-43 acetylation as a new potential therapeutic target
La Tutela penale dei beni culturali
Full text linkThe constitutional and supranational importance of cultural objects imposes the use of criminal law
as necessary instrument to guarantee adequate protection for their rank.
The subject of the present study is the protection provided by the italian legal system to the offenses
caused to the historical and artistic heritage, also considering the international and European sources
of law.
The study aims to analyze the critical aspects of the italian legislation with regard to fundamental
issues of criminal law, also in the light of the position of the legal literature and the judicial
interpretation.
The current system, composed by the Criminal Code and the Code of Cultural Heritage and
Landscape, is fragmented and inadequate and it requires an urgent and substantial legislative reform.
As a matter of fact, it is severe when there is no damage at the good and the danger is only abstract,
while the severity vanishes when the type of offense is the injury.
Finally the study focuses on the most recent proposal for reform of the criminal law system for the
protection of cultural heritage (submitted during the 17 th parlamentary term) which, however, doesn’t
solve the major flaws of the discipline