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Study of the molecular patterning in stem cells exposed to biophysical stimuli: a new vision of regenerative medicine
Get PDFRegenerative medicine is a novel applied field of medical management based on the application of stem cell technology and tissue engineering in order to replace or regenerate
human tissues and organs and restore their functions. The regenerative medicine has the prospective to help scientists and clinicians while planning early-intervention treatments for traumatic injury or degenerative diseases, by regrowth or replacement of cells or tissues.
However, the challenges in this field are still countless, as (1) which type of cells are suitable (2) which is the best protocol to commit all the stem cells toward a specific phenotype with the 100% of yield, (3) drop cell manipulation.
At the same time, physical energy were found capable to interact with cell physiology and increase their performance. In the clinical practice physical therapies enhance the quality and time of spontaneous tissues regeneration.
Here, I focused on the effect of physical stimuli by Radio electric asymmetric conveyor (REAC) and Extra corporeal shock wave (SW) and their interaction with cells or stem cell behaviour.
In particular, during the modulation of the main molecular patterning controlling cellular senescence, differentiation toward specific phenotypes and proliferation, in order to figure out the targets of action, to enhance their performance for future therapeutic applications
Environmental implications of dairy sheep supply chain and evaluation of climate change mitigation actions for Sardinian sheep farming systems
No full textThe contribution of small ruminant sector to overall livestock GHG emissions is quite significant and the optimization of environmental performances by the way of eco-innovation is considered a valid strategy to improve the competitiveness of Mediterranean dairy sheep systems. Despite their significant role in environmental and socio-economic terms, little research has been conducted on the environmental implications of dairy sheep production systems.
In this context, the main aim of this thesis was to contribute to the environmental profile characterization of the Sardinian dairy sheep supply chain, in order to evaluate climate change mitigation actions for Sardinian sheep farming systems.
Three studies were conducted using a LCA approach, with the following specific goals: i) comparing the environmental implications of contrasting dairy sheep systems and ii) identifying the hotspots to minimizing the ecological impacts of the Sardinian dairy sheep sector. In line with several LCA studies on dairy sector, the farm activities played the most relevant role in the overall environmental performances. Enteric methane emissions, feed supply chain, electricity and equipment seem to be the hotspots where the environmental performances can be improved.
Future research will be dedicated to explore in detail the relationship between sheep breed, diet composition and enteric methane emissions and to properly assess the ecosystems services of pasture-based farming systems
Next Generation Sequencing in rare childhood epilepsy of suspected genetic etiology
No full textMutations in several genes are associated with epilepsy (e.g. SCN1A, MECP2, ARX). Identifying genetic causes in epileptic syndromes is crucial to avoid a complex diagnostic work up, to provide genetic counseling, to start a tailored treatment in some cases and to avoid drugs potentially worsening seizures in others.
Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) technologies allow analyzing a large number of genes in a single experiment, shortening the time to reach a definite diagnosis, and saving costs.
Aim of this research was to identify gene variants underlying epilepsies with a challenging etiological classification. DNA from 81 pediatric epileptic patients was analyzed with a gene panel set up by child epileptologists, neurophysiologists and geneticists. This included 55 genes, later extended to 91, associated or not to intellectual disability, additional neurological signs, and complex malformations.
In 14 patients pathogenic mutations were individuated, with an overall mutational frequency of 17,2% (14/81).
90,5% of patients had previously undergone unrevealing cytogenetic or single-gene analyses, thus our population was highly selected at the time NGS was performed.
It is essential to underline that NGS must not be considered a screening examination, and that it requires a multidisciplinary approach in patients’ selection, and results interpretation
Penisola del Sinis: fonti per paesaggi dell'archeologia rurale
Get PDFAbstract: The Sinis Peninsula: sources for the study of a rural archaeological landscape
The study aims to analyze the diachronic transformations of the natural and anthropic landscapes in the Sinis Peninsula, locate in the Gulf of Oristano, Western Sardinia.
The long study tradition related to the archaeology of the area has required a thorough review of the available literature. The fieldwork activities have focused on a series of systematic, intensive and extensive landscape surveys.
The surveys have been developed prior to, during and following the author’s active participation to the excavation of the Mont’e Prama archaeological site. The data deriving from fieldwork and literature review have been implemented into a Geographical Information System (GIS), while the data elaborations have been used to analyze ancient settlements dynamics of the rural territory related to the city of Tharros.
The study analyzes the reasons behind the intense ancient settlement in the area which slowly diminishes, almost ceasing, during the Early Middle Ages. Therefore, a specific attention has been given to the potential resources in the area, which need to be understood as potential factor of an economic relevance and active elements of the settlement dynamics. The collection of video-footages of oral histories accounting for the ancient life-style in the Sinis Peninsula has represented the conclusive action of the research, aiming to offer a useful tool for the reconstruction of the territorial layout in post-medieval times. It also offers a valuable tool for the promotion and public interpretation of the territory thanks to the storytelling approach
Assessing the response of ground-dwelling beetles communities to different land-uses in Mediterranea cork oak systems
No full textIn our study, we assessed the response of beetles communities at low taxonomical resolution to different Mediterranean cork oak land-use systems. Spatial variation of dung-beetles communities was also analyzed because of their potential role as ecological indicators in grazed areas
Tra conoscenza locale e scientifica: indagine etnopedologica e geostatistica applicata allo studio dei suoli nel contesto territoriale del Golfo di Oristano
No full textThis research aims to increase the environmental knowledge of a complex area (the Gulf of Oristano) investigating the following aspects:
- The distribution and behaviour of some key potentially toxic elements (PTE).
- To integrate, through an innovative ethnopedological approach (EA), local and scientific knowledge in order to improve our understanding of the whole environmental and socio-economic aspects that have historically characterized such area.
The realization and implementation of provisional geostatistical models related to the presence of some PTE, by applying the Ordinary Kriging (OK), have shown a spatial distribution that, except for some specific area, is mainly linked with the natural geological and/or pedological conditions.
The results coming from the integrated EA shows that toponymy (TP) cannot be intended merely as a contextual geographic practice aiming to attribute a specific place name to a predefined space. It rather represents a really complex and articulated dynamic objectivation of a geographic entity. This process is the consequence of a strong, deep, and often conflicting interaction among humans, culture, and the surrounding environment. During the Anthropocene period, the influence of human activities on TP has been so intensive that many place names are now coined to mainly indicate the “artificial” man-made features of an intensively anthropized environment. Such “technogenic TPs” could represent the “written witness” of the Anthropocene during subsequent eras
La Pianificazione forestale territoriale, metodologie e problematiche applicative per una gestione sistemica in Sardegna
No full textThe Region Sardinia has relatively recently adopted a district level approach to develop forest
management. The first experimental implementation of this approach has been conducted in
the Arci-Grighine district (Oristano province), with an initial effort between 2009 and 2010
and finally concluded in 2013-2016, in cooperation with NuoroForestrySchool study center
of Sassari University (Department of agriculture). The doctoral thesis research has been
developed as part of this work.
The research has confirmed that district level planning is a very appropriate context to
approach territorial forest planning and management operational aspects in a systemic
perspective, connecting all interacting actors: private owners, public administrations and
‘commoners’ (common rights community members). Different specific methodologies have
been developed and tested with success, from Public Participation GIS to the ‘sub-systems’
strategy developed as operational planning tool. Personal and collective responsibility play an
essential role in the implementation of a systemic perspective. Proposed methodologies and
tools can be useful and some times essential as support elements only in an ethically
conscious environment
La Morte in Emily Dickinson e raffronti con la poesia italiana del Novecento
No full textIn this research, with the offer of an extensive anthology of texts, we are asking poetry for help to, if not unveil the mystery of death, at least to grasp its varied aspects, which could make him less inaccessible and more familiar. And wondering, among other things, about the loss of loved ones, the condition of the dying, on when and how our future death will occure, what comes after death. The aim of this thesis is therefore to capture the different aspects of the idea of death through, first, the analisys of every single poem, and then subsequently compared all of them in various comparative summaries. The chosen texts are a selection of 35 poems of Emily Dickinson and a selection of poems of several Italian poets of the Twentieth Century. The analyzed Italian poets, for a total of 40 overall works, are: Betocchi, Bontempelli, Caproni, Cardarelli, Corazzini, Giotti, Govoni, Guidacci, Giudici, Loi, Luzi, Marin, Montale, Montanaru, Pozzi, Risi, Saba, Sbarbaro, Scotellaro, Sereni, Spaziani, Rebora, Viviani. The method employed is relating to content (and not stylistic): an approach that is attentive to the things poets say – of course without neglecting the way they say it: that's why each poem is integrated with analysis and exegesis of individual verses, images, figures. It 's just this approach that allows to get to more and better knowledge of the faces of death
Interaction of the water soluble fraction of MSW-composts with Pb(II) and Cu(II) ions
No full textIn this study we report on the interactions between the water-soluble fraction (WSF) of two municipal solid waste composts (C1- and C2-WSF) with Pb(II) and Cu(II) ions at pH 4.5. The Me(II) addition to the compost-WSFs led to the formation of soluble Me(II)-organic complexes (as highlighted by FT-IR spectroscopy), and to a decrease of the trace metals' solubility, which was greater for Pb(II) than Cu(II). This was due to the formation of insoluble Me(II) complexes involving the water-soluble organic carbon (WSOC) and the inorganic anions within both WSFs [1.10 and 0.62 mmol L−1 and 2.06 and 0.42 mmol L−1 of Pb(II) and Cu(II) precipitated from C1- and C2-WSF respectively, when 6.4 mmol L−1 Me(II) was added]. A loss of WSOC from both WSFs, i.e. ∼13% and <5%, was detected in the systems containing 6.4 mmol L−1 Pb(II) and Cu(II) respectively. A significant contribution in the formation of Pb(II) precipitates was also due to phosphate, chloride and sulphate anions, since their concentrations in the WSF decreased of 80, 25 and 90%, respectively, after the addition of 6.4 mmol L−1 Pb(II). A decrease of phosphate anions in both WSFs (∼30%) was found in the systems containing Cu(II)
Cork oak management sustainability: indicators for a certification prototype
No full textIn this study we tested a set of indicators of sustainable cork oak forest management in Sardinia (Italy). First, we defined a list of specific indicators derived from attributes collected during the conventional management planning process. Secondly, we selected threshold values consulting a panel of experts on cork forest management. Thirdly, we applied the set of proposed indicators and related thresholds to a database of 361 sample plots and 285 forest compartments, representing 2% of the Sardinian cork oak forests, to test its potential suitability