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La circolazione del sistema francese di decentramento regionale in Europa centrale.
Full text linkThe purpose of this work is to examine if and how the French system served as a model for regionalisation processes in Poland, Czech Republic and Slovakia.
In this research, I will propose an analysis of the historical evolution of the regional State. Furthermore, I will provide a theoretical framework of the concept of regionalization. I will therefore refer to the classifications proposed by Italian doctrine, as well as to the definitions of the concept developed by Italian and French scholars.
I will analyse the origins of decentralization in France, the process which led France to opt for a regional model and how it was implemented starting from 1982. The French system is considered as a benchmark.
I will examine reforms of the territorial structure in Poland, Czech Republic and Slovakia introduced in the aftermath of the fall of the Communist regimes, and in the context of the transition to a democratic model. The European Union exerted an significative influence on all these countries to overcome the centralized structure inherited from the Socialist system and to start decentralization processes. Historical legacies, socio-economic elements as well as fear of secessionism led these states to opt for a regional solution.
To conclude, I will propose a comparative analysis of the elements which characterize regionalization in Poland, Czech Republic and Slovakia, on one side and the French system on the other
Il Medioevo nel pensiero politico di Montesquieu. Origine ed evoluzione della monarchia in Francia.
Full text linkThis study focuses on the XXVIII, XXX and XXXI books of the Esprit des lois, dedicated to the origins of civil and feudal laws in relation to the history of the French monarchy, and aims to clarifying understudied aspects of Montesquieu’s theory of governments. Montesquieu’s theories are investigated by linking them to the eighteenth-century historiographical debates, to the political and institutional transformations of the French monarchy of the time and to author’s life. Through historical research Montesquieu means to interpret political events of his times, in particular the institutional changes taking place in the Kingdom of France: examining the socio-political and institutional upheavals that, starting from the realms generated from the disintegration of the Roman Empire, led to the birth of modern European monarchies, Montesquieu meditates on the power and forms of government in their historical development. This doctoral dissertation wishes to shed new light on the political theories contained in the Esprit des lois and highlight some aspects that, until now, have been mostly neglected by critics, in particular the role of seigneurial jurisdictions and feudal laws within the form of monarchical government, as well as the relationship between nobility and sovereign
Le edizioni Minuziano: il laboratorio estetico-civile della “scuola di Milano”.
Full text linkThe objective of this research is to demonstrate the value of philosophical reflection about art for the construction of an aesthetic conscience as a fundamental resource to form the functional training base for the development of civil conscience to active citizenship. The considered cultural story includes the philosophical environment of Milan between 1932 and 1944, in which the main protagonist is the most innovative thought of European philosophers, moved (by desire, will, commitment and determination of Antonio Banfi) in university classrooms and in publishing laboratories. The living material of this operation was born in the context of high-level not only philosophical, but also didactic, methodological and interdisciplinary, such as that of the civil aesthetics workshop of the Minuziano Editions directed by Luigi Rognoni (student of Antonio Banfi) between 1945 and 1950, analyzed in detail in this study, in “Aesthetics” and “Politics” publications. This publishing activity represents the aesthetic-philosophical paradigm, both on the methodological-interdisciplinary level, and on that of the selection and proposal of contents, for a training aimed at the development of critical thinking and the construction of an aware civil conscience for a peaceful coexistence, a renewed social life in which every individual is an active protagonist in their choices and, through dialogue and the exchange of knowledge and reflections, in sharing those of others. At the core of the research (Second Section), which is identified with the Minuziano Editions, which traces the training path leading from the aesthetic conscience to the civil conscience, are integrated the theoretical foundations of the initiative and the interdisciplinary exchanges (First Section), in support of the pragmatic character of this extraordinary activity, that has developed in a laboratory environment, through the texts of the classical and original paths of study and research (Third Section). Here, the reading of the classics (Shaftesbury, Addison, Hutcheson, Burke, Kant, Schiller, Husserl, Scheler, Geiger, Conrad and Simmel) and the reconstruction of the aesthetic debate take place through the reflection and the teaching of Antonio Banfi, following the lines and the trends (the aesthetic thought of Dewey) that were passionate about the great students of the "school of Milan" and that, in the same way, deeply, even today they care about us too
Pedostratigraphical and geochronological characterization of late Pleistocene to Holocene depositional sequences from the Po Plain: loess and paleosols as paleoseismological markers.
Full text linkLoess represents one of the main paleoenvironmental archives recording Quaternary environmental changes. This study demonstrates that in Italy, at the Po Plain Loess Basin (PPLB), the most developed loessial sequences are preserved in association with morphotectonic structures, i.e. isolated hills, uplifted terraces and topographic highlands formed due to tectonically-induced drainage diversion. These landforms represent the surface expression of the complex interplay between the Pleistocene climatic changes and the compressional active tectonics which characterize the Po Plain foredeep. Such morphotectonic features, emerging a few meters above the surrounding fluvial plain because their moderate tectonic uplift rates higher than regional denudation/sedimentation rates, acted as sedimentary traps for aeolian sediments and preserved them. Therefore, the preservation of loess-paleosols sequences in correspondence of morphotectonic landforms makes loess a suitable tool to investigate not only the Quaternary climate changes, but also the recent tectonic activity and paleoseismology of the Po Plain. Four key loess-paleosols sequences preserved in setting controlled by active compressional tectonics (Solero, Rivarone, Pecetto di Valenza, AL; Monte Netto, BS) are presented, analysed through an innovative paleoseismological approach, integrating pedostratigraphy/micropedology and OSL/TT-OSL dating to structural analysis that allow to reconstruct the environmental conditions and tectonic activity of the Po Plain
RUNX2 associated long non-coding RNA characterization
No full textRUNX2 is a lineage-specific transcription factor (TF) known to promote cancer progression. However, the molecular mechanisms that control RUNX2 expression in cancer remain widely unknown. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are a novel class of transcripts that do not code for proteins and are often engaged in gene expression regulation.
Using the ENCODE annotation data, we identified a previously uncharacterized family of lncRNAs within the RUNX2 locus, that we named RAIN (RUNX2 Associated Intergenic Non-coding RNA). We showed that RAIN comprises 4 major variants that share a common central region but differ at the 5'- and 3'- ends. The longest isoform (l-RAIN) is nuclear and strongly associated with chromatin, suggesting a role of RAIN in gene expression regulation. Expression analysis in cancer cell lines and patient samples demonstrated that RAIN correlates with RUNX2. Furthermore, RAIN silencing resulted in a significant RUNX2 repression demonstrating that this lncRNA is required for the expression of this TF in cancer. We showed that RAIN promotes RUNX2 expression at least through two distinct mechanisms. Interacting with WDR5 and directing its recruitment to the P2 promoter, RAIN modifies its transcriptional activation status, bursting transcription initiation. In parallel, RAIN sequesters NELFe preventing the binding of the NELF complex to the RUNX2 P2 promoter and restraining its inhibitory function on nascent transcripts elongation. Finally, we investigated the RAIN associated transcriptional profile in thyroid cancer showing that beside RUNX2, this lncRNA controls a panel of cancer associated TFs. Overall, our data characterize the function of novel lncRNA and identify an additional layer in the complex RUNX2 regulation in cancer
L'immagine della ragione in Piero Martinetti. Un programma di ricerca filosofica: tra metafisica e scienza, tra esperienza e coscienza
No full textThe privileged view of this work deals with the philosophy-science nexus in Martinetti (very little or not at all investigated by the critics), according to the Wundtian metaphysical-idealistic conscientialism, fundamental theoretical matrix of his thought. Piero Martinetti, the only Italian philosopher who refused the oath to fascism in 1931, is one of the most original Italian thinkers of the first half of the twentieth century, with a European profile. From the focus on the theory of knowledge which originally re-elaborates the idealistic-religious perspective with Kantian basis, the study shows an unusual crossing of the Canavese philosopher’s work beyond the usual historiographical topos (of reductively meant religious idealism and spiritualism), through Wundt's and also Mach's points of view. The four sections of the research (dedicated to the historical-philosophical frame of Martinetti’s thought and examination of two important writings: the Introduction to Metaphysics and the unfinished Metaphysics) contribute to delineate the image of a new trans-intra disciplinary research program, aimed at keeping allied the plural forms of knowledge of human reason, focusing on “marginal” details and favouring the systemic view of today's “challenge of complexity”. So reason and faith, knowledge and will, metaphysics and science can be combined for the shared world commitment and for the common good, respecting the interdisciplinary slant of the Doctoral Course in Law and Humanities
Developing of a novel enantioselective biocatalyst acting on L-amino acids of biotechnological interest through a "semi-rational design" approach supported by computational analyses.
No full textThe synthesis of optically pure enantiomers is a challenge for traditional chemistry. Enzymes often perform better than inorganic catalysts because of their enantioselectivity, effectiveness and ecological sustainability. However, natural enzymes that evolved under the drive of natural selective pressure for their biological function, are not suitable for most industrial applications 1. For this reason, enzymes must be improved by protein engineering.
L-amino acid deaminase from Proteus myxofaciens (PmaLAAD) catalyzes the oxidative deamination of L-amino acids (AAs) to the corresponding -keto acids (KA). This biocatalyst can be used for the setup “green processes” to produce pure KA and D-AAs, which are used as raw materials for the synthesis of drugs and agrochemicals. In this project, several biocatalytic processes based on PmaLAAD have been optimized for the bioconversion, deracemization and stereoinversion of (un)natural L-AAs 2. Several natural or synthetic L-AAs have been used as substratet obtaining conversion yields close to 100%. The knowledge of the 3D structure of PmaLAAD 3 was exploited to produce several enzyme variants possessing animproved activity on L-1-naphthylalanine (L-1-Nal) through a semi-rational design approach supported by computational analysis. The most interesting variant (F318A/V412A/V438P-PmaLAAD) was able to convert D,L-1-Nal with a rate 7.5 fold higher than the wild type
The understanding of depression in the light of C.G. Jung's work.
Full text linkThe aim of this research is to reconstruct C. G. Jung’s psychological understanding of depression,in other words, to give an account of the meaning of depressive phenomena for the development of human consciousness. Through this, we aspire to make a triple contribution:
1) Although there are some post-Jungian studies that address the subject of depression (E. Harding, 1981; V. W. Odajnyk, 1983; W. Steinberg, 1989, among others) there is still a lack of research aiming to clarify and to critically reconstruct in detail the Jungian understanding of depression through a carefully study of his work, and with special attention to its sources.
2) As we will try to show, this reconstruction contributes to the human sciences, particularly health sciences, and especially regarding the possibility of conceiving a potentially transforming and meaningful dimension of depressive phenomena along the development of human consciousness, without neglecting its pathological and adaptive dimension. This becomes particularly valuable in the context of the increasing over-medicalization and ‘diagnostic inflation’ of depression that many scholars of the health sciences have evidenced in the last years (A. Horwitz and J. Wakefield, 2007; A. Frances, 2013; P. Pignarre, 2001).
3) Within certain limits we will try to show that the Jungian understanding of depression as a potentially transforming experience recovers psychologically a leitmotiv that traverses, through a variety of symbols and forms, a big part of Western history. This thread of meaning reveals itself particularly in the symbolism regarding Saturn in the Greco-Roman tradition, in the notion of ‘the dark night of the soul’ in Christian mysticism, and in the alchemical nigredo
Post-Newtonian evolution of massive black hole triplets in galactic nuclei.
Full text linkMassive black-hole binaries (MBHBs) are thought to be the main source of gravitational waves (GWs) in the low-frequency domain surveyed by Pulsar Timing Array (PTA) campaigns and space-borne missions (LISA). However, many MBHBs in realistic astrophysical environments may not reach separations small enough to allow significant GW emission. This final-parsec problem can be eased by the appearance of a third massive black hole (MBH) whose action can force, under certain conditions, the former MBHB to merge. A detailed assessment of the process requires a general relativistic treatment and the inclusion of environmental effects.
In this thesis, I developed a three-body Post-Newtonian (PN) code framed in a galactic potential, including PN terms up to 2.5PN order, orbital hardening and dynamical friction. With the code I performed a vast exploration of the parameter space represented by MBH triplets. I found that a non-negligible fraction (_ 30%) of the otherwise stalled binaries can actually merge because of the perturbation of the third body.
By combining these results with a cosmological semi-analytical code of galaxy formation, I drew robust predictions about the nHz stochastic background of GWs, which in the most pessimistic scenario is suppressed by only a factor of two with respect to the standard models in which MBHBs can efficiently merge. This result has important consequences for PTA and implies that a detection of the GW background could be claimed in the near future
Insects’ superpower: waste bioconversion by Hermetia illucens larvae.
No full textOver the coming decades it will be mandatory to face the problem of feeding the constantly increasing world population, limiting the depletion of food resources, the unsustainable exploitation and exhaustion of agricultural land and water, and environmental pollution. The higher demand for human food will require an increasing production of feeds for livestock, poultry, and aquaculture. Another serious concern is represented by food waste disposal since one third of food produced globally is wasted. These critical challenges require innovative solutions to produce more food with fewer inputs, less environmental impact, and reducing the food waste.
Insects must be considered as a high potential source of animal protein for feed production, as well as a primary agent for organic waste reduction and bioconversion into usable protein products. In particular, the dipteran Hermetia illucens is a good candidate for the bioconversion of waste substrates into high quality insect proteins. Despite the great interest toward the optimization of rearing methods of H. illucens, information on the biology of this insect remains scarce, especially on the larval midgut and fat body, two organs of key importance for the bioconversion process.
The present research aimed at analyzing the morphofunctional properties of the larval midgut. Moreover, we evaluated how the diet provided to the larvae can affect the microbiota composition and the morphological and functional properties of the midgut, as well as the accumulation of storage molecules in the fat body. Finally, a study about the feeding habits of the fly, an aspect that has been neglected so far, was performed