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Camminabilità, perché e come misurarla: un modello e uno studio empirico di validazione della misura
Get PDFThis work deals with the pedestrians’ accessibility issues, especially how the walkability is a matter of justice and how it can be measured and modeled.
It is possible to divide the research product into three main areas:
The first area, an introduction, deals with the pedestrian accessibility implications for the urban justice. In this sense, one of the possible points of view, whereby a walkable city is a right, is justified by the right to the city and by the capability approach.
The second area, based on bibliographic research, provides an overview of the measurement methods of accessibility, with regard to its definition in respect to the justice and equity. As a justice measure, the accessibility is affected by the definition of equity, spatial equity and accessibility. Each different definition of these concepts brings to a different measurement method, formally place-based or people-based. Differently to the literature, this work has the merit to implement characteristics of both the approaches.
The third area is composed of two empirical tests, to define and validate the classification model. It also integrates a wide bibliographic collection of similar studies and a series of test on the models. The main result of the experiments allows one to define the space features perceived as important in the evaluation of urban environment and what is their weight in the judgment.
Starting from results of the regression model some data mining classifiers are tested. Neural Network method seems to be the best one to be affected as a walkability evaluation tool
Adattamento al cambiamento climatico nei sistemi rurali del Perù: tra fattori locali e dinamiche globali
Get PDFDuring the last decade adaptation to climate change (c.c.) rose on the political and research agenda. The impacts of c.c. are increasingly evident and are expected to be severe specially for the most vulnerable low and middle income countries.
Through a qualitative case study in two rural districts of the Amazonas Region (Peru), this research aims at studying how people, particularly smallholder farmers, are adapting to climate change impacts and which factors influence their responses, starting from their voices and points of view. Also the role of institutions and their initiatives related to c.c. in the area are considered.
We found that although c.c. is widely present in the national and regional policy strategies, few plans related to adaptation are being implemented. A primary focus is paid on mitigation, while the complexity and multi dimension of c.c is underestimated.
On the other hand, local farmers are responding autonomously diversifying the varieties of coffee they cultivate, increasing the use of chemicals and fertilizers, diversifying their sources of income with temporary jobs. Also family and community nets play an important role in case of crisis. However, most of these strategies are not sustainable in the long term and people adaptive capacity is threatened by the interaction of multiple stressors related to the local and international context, such as economic globalization. These factors need to be considered in the designing of adaptation policies and initiatives
Glycosaminoglycan purification and characterization: from pathophysiology to tissue engineering
Get PDFGlycosaminoglycans (GAGs) are linear polysaccharide chains which, with the excepton of Hyaluronan, are covalently linked to a core protein to assemble a more complex molecule called Proteoglycan (PG). GAGs/PGs are involved in several physiological and pathological processes being among the major consttuents of the Extracellular Matrix. Regarding their role in the Peripheral Nervous System, GAGs/PGs-mediated interactons partcipate in proliferaton, synaptogenesis, neural plastcity and regeneraton. Generally PNS nerve fbers have a remarkable ability to regenerate, leading to an almost complete recovery of normal functon and this process is governed by glial cells known as Schwann cells, by their unusual capacity to metamorphose into cells driving the healing process.
However, postraumatc nerve repair contnues to be a major challenge in restoratve medicine and micro-surgery. Although progress has been made in surgical techniques, functonal recovery afer a severe lesion of a major nerve trunk is ofen incomplete and unsatsfactory.
In this project I discuss the role of glycosamynoglycans in promotng the regeneraton processes in Schwann Cells seeded in electrospun scafolds functonalized with purifed GAGs from porcine aorta tssue.
Results show that Schwann cells seeded in Polycaprolactone scafolds increase proliferaton and metabolic actvites per tme points and the levels of protein expression vary in cells seeded in functonalized scafolds
The Ability of ovine whey powder to improve quality of Sardinian bakery products
No full textOvine whey is a by-product of the dairy industry, which is widely available in the Mediterranean area; its potential to improve the rheological properties of semolina-based dough, the quality indexes of bread and the shelf life of a typical Sardinian cheese cake has been the subject of investigation.
In the first part of this PhD thesis, 2 low grade semolinas (LGS) were used (one obtained from a modern wheat cultivar with strong and tenacious gluten, and the other obtained from an old wheat variety with weak and stick gluten) and mixed with 2 commercial ovine whey powders (OWP) and rheological properties of the dough were studied.
In the second part, 2 kinds of bread were made using 2 LGSs and one OWP at 4 different concentrations. The addition of OWP was able to improve the bread making quality of the semolina characterized by weak gluten. This result could be exploited to verify the effect of the addition of OWP to old durum wheat varieties, which are generally characterized by having weak and sticky gluten.
In the third part, we studied the combination of modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) and substitution of ricotta cheese with 4 and 8% of OWP to extend the shelf life of cheesecakes, compared with samples packaged in air and without OWP. The combined use of MAP and OWP at the highest concentration increased the mould-free shelf life of the cakes to 60 days without affecting sensory characteristics
L'Unione di Comuni come veicolo di promozione del Turismo Culturale
No full textIl lavoro di ricerca si propone di esaminare l’evoluzione dello associazionismo intercomunale dalla genesi e la fioritura delle città stato italiche fino agli albori dello Stato “regionale” tardomedievale. Segue una disamina delle tappe normative che hanno condotto il comune ad essere la figura centrale dell’amministrazione decentrata post riforma del titolo V della Carta Costituzionale. Successivamente si analizzano le connessioni tra Stato e enti locali, considerati nella prospettiva del rapporto tra territorio, paesaggio e istituzioni. La parte centrale dell’elaborato individua la trasformazione della intercomunalità da mero strumento di abbattimento dei costi della amministrazione a strumento imprescindibile per la salvaguardia delle innumerevoli specificità locali. Si conclude con l’analisi della crescita esponenziale del fattore cultura nel turismo. Il viaggiatore moderno sviluppa un senso critico che lo conduce a pianificare i propri itinerari con il fine di conoscere un paesaggio a tutto tondo, appagando in questo modo la sua “anima turismi”. Nello specifico il proposito della ricerca è quello di individuare nelle forme associative intercomunali la via per la valorizzazione del territorio, la salvaguardia dell’identità e la promozione del turismo culturale
Dallo scavo al laboratorio: applicazione di tecniche di biologia molecolare in contesti archeologici
Get PDFThis work joins different disciplines regarding the study of ancient DNA. In this thesis, it was applied and modified the protocol of sampling in situ and in the laboratory, based on the characteristics of the sample. During this work, several samples were collected from different sites of various dating and type, including 16 individuals, 40 samples from teeth and 237 samples from sediment. Ten samples from sediment and four from teeth were finally subjected to DNA extraction, library synthesis and next generation sequencing (NGS). Sequence data were processed via bioinformatics and results were analyzed considering the context. In the two samples from palazzo ducale, parasitological analysis were also performed, showing Ascaris, Trichiuris, Dyphillobotrium and Dricocelium genus. More accurate metagenomic analysis showed also Acanthamoeba castellani, confirmed Trichuris trichiura and identified the parasite Ascaris as A. suum. also, 18s rRNA sequencing showed Hartmanella sp. not confirmed by metagenomics. It is interesting the finding of Kribella sp. sequences with high similarity with the species K. catacombae (first described in a roman catacomb), in the sediments of the tombs. Future perspectives are a deeper sequencing of the metagenomes to reconstruct the genomes of the species already identified and other pathogens. This analysis will allow to evaluate the degradation of the DNA, a certain method to evaluate the antiquity of the species
Cropping systems for biomass production under Mediterranean conditions: implantation techniques and soil carbon balance
Get PDFThe reduction of GHG emission by replacing fossil fuel with biofuel is possible, but the agronomic practices for crop biomass production can have an important effect in the achievement of this objective.
In the rural district of Sulcis, in Southern Sardinia (Italy), we evaluated the effect of different
implantation techniques of giant reed (Arundo donax L.) on biomass yield and the effect of different N fertilization levels on soil respiration and soil Carbon (C) balance in the early year of cultivation.
In the dairy district of Arborea, in the Central-western coast of Sardinia (Italy), we evaluated the biomass production and soil C balance of maize (Zea mays L.)-based cropping system in relation to the different management of N fertilization sources.
The results suggested that, under fertile soil conditions, giant reed can be implanted using the cheapest propagation method (stem cutting) in spring or autumn, while under poor soil conditions, the rhizomes proved to be the best propagation method, independently by implantation season.
In the early stages of giant reed growth, compared to the unfertilized treatment, high N fertilization rates determined higher biomass yield, a depressing effect on soil heterotrophic respiration rates and a soil C balance not significantly different from equilibrium.
The fertilization with just organic fertilizer reduced the soil C budget in maize-based irrigated cropping systems, in sandy soils under Mediterranean climate
Methanogenic community structure in the digestive tract of Equidae
Get PDFThis study aims to assess the diversity of the methanogenic community in six different segments hindgut (cecum, four different tracts of the colon and rectum) of two equides (horse and donkey). The archaeal genomic DNA was isolated from two adult animals and a clone library for each segment was built. All the positive clones were further analysed with the RFLP (Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism) using the restrictases MluI and MboI and the representatives of the different restriction patterns underwent the sequence analysis. The phylogenetic analysis revealed interesting differences among the different parts of the digestive tract of each animal and considerable diversity between these two species. The diversity of the hindgut methanogen population was higher in the horse compared to the donkey. In the horse the phylogenetic analysis showed that the clones were classified in 4 clades: Methanobacteriales, Methanomicrobiales, Methanomassiliicoccales and Methanosarcinales. The clones of the donkey were classified in 3 clades: Methanobacteriales, Methanomassiliicoccales and Methanomicrobiales. The abundance and the distribution of the methanogens differed greatly in the two animals, while the methanogen community structure was quite similar, with the dominance of Methanomicrobiales and Methanobacteriales. This finding indicates that the hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis is the major methane production pathway in the hindgut of both the two species
Role of LRRK2 in the regulation of dopamine receptor trafficking
No full textMutations in LRRK2 play a critical role in both familial and sporadic Parkinson’s disease (PD). Up to date, the role of LRRK2 in PD onset and progression remains largely unknown. However, experimental evidence highlights a critical role of LRRK2 in the control of vesicle trafficking that in turn may regulate different aspects of neuronal physiology. We have analyzed the role of LRRK2 in regulating dopamine receptor D1 (DRD1) and D2 (DRD2) trafficking. DRD1 and DRD2 are the most abundant dopamine receptors in the brain. They differ in structural, pharmacological and biochemical properties, as well as in localization and internalization mechanisms. Our results indicate that disease-associated mutant G2019S LRRK2 impairs DRD1 internalization, leading to an alteration in signal transduction. Moreover, the mutant forms of LRRK2 affect receptor turnover by decreasing the rate of DRD2 trafficking from the Golgi complex to the cell membrane. Collectively, our findings are consistent with the conclusion that LRRK2 influences the motility of neuronal vesicles and the neuronal receptor trafficking. These findings have important implications for the complex role that LRRK2 plays in neuronal physiology and the possible pathological mechanisms that may lead to neuronal death in PD
Flavii Cresconii Corippi Iohannidos liber sextus: introduzione, traduzione e saggio di commento
Get PDFSubject of this thesis is the sixth book of Flavius Cresconius Corippus’ Iohannis. This section is focused on the preparation and the progress of a big battle: the Moorish tribes reassemble and form a new coalition, a fact that comes with a total subversion of the narrative balance. An Italian full translation will be provided as well as the commentary of Coripp. Ioh. 6, 1-126. A rich introduction - divided into two main sections and preceding both the translation and commentary - primarily concerns Corippus’ historical and cultural background (to the extent that it is possible, considering the lack of information available) and the tradition of the Iohannis through the only surviving manuscript, the Trivultianus 686. A brief reference is made to the manuscript tradition of Corippus’ panegyric In laudem Iustini. The complex issue of the literary genre is approached, since the Iohannis contains several elements arising from the epic genre, along with a clear encomiastic purpose torwards John Troglita and the Emperor Justinian himself. The main literary models are addressed as well as the ideological and religious framework, the language, the style and the metre of the Iohannis. After that the sixth book will be examined with regard to: literary composition (between history and literary stereotypes), role within the poem, epic shapes, historical interest (use of the indigenous ethnonyms; Byzantine policy towards the rebel tribes; Moorish value system and shared spirituality)