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Three Essays on Intergenerational Transmission of Disadvantages
No full textQuesta tesi analizza le origini, le conseguenze e la trasmissione intergenerazionale della disuguaglianza di opportunità (IOp) in Europa attraverso tre studi empirici basati su microdati armonizzati e informazioni multigenerazionali. Il primo capitolo esamina l’evoluzione della IOp educativa nelle regioni europee e tra diverse coorti utilizzando i dati dell’European Social Survey. I risultati mostrano una riduzione costante della IOp dalle coorti degli anni Venti a quelle degli anni Ottanta, ma evidenziano che l’istruzione dei genitori rimane il principale determinante dei livelli educativi nella maggior parte dei contesti. Inoltre, individui esposti e regioni caratterizzati da livelli più elevati di IOp presentano esiti sociali significativamente peggiori, indicando che le disuguaglianze di opportunità producono costi sociali più ampi. Il secondo capitolo analizza in che modo la IOp influenzi le preferenze per la redistribuzione. Combinando dati ESS ed EU-SILC, il capitolo misura la IOp a livello regionale e costruisce una misura individuale che approssima la probabilità di aver sperimentato opportunità limitate nella formazione del reddito. Sfruttando la variazione generata dagli anni di istruzione obbligatoria e dai fondi ESF pro capite, il capitolo identifica un effetto causale positivo delle opportunità limitate sul sostegno alla redistribuzione. Il terzo capitolo studia come la mobilità regionale durante l’infanzia, verso aree caratterizzate da condizioni economiche migliori, influenzi la trasmissione intergenerazionale dell’istruzione. Utilizzando dati SHARE che collegano tre generazioni, si mostra che il trasferimento verso una regione più ricca prima dei 18 anni aumentava i livelli educativi della generazione dei genitori (G2), ma risulta in media penalizzante per la generazione dei figli (G3), ad eccezione delle famiglie con livello di istruzione elevato. Una strategia di confronto tra fratelli, che sfrutta la variazione nell’età al momento del trasferimento e nella durata dell’esposizione, conferma un effetto causale modesto ma positivo di un’esposizione più lunga a regioni più avvantaggiate.
Nel complesso, i tre contributi mostrano che le strutture di opportunità in Europa restano profondamente diseguali nello spazio e tra generazioni. Sebbene la IOp sia diminuita nel tempo, il contesto familiare continua a mediare sia i benefici derivanti da ambienti regionali più favorevoli sia le risposte politiche alla disuguaglianza. La tesi evidenzia la necessità di politiche che affrontino simultaneamente lo svantaggio regionale, le condizioni di vita nei primi anni e le diseguali capacità delle famiglie di trarre beneficio da contesti più ricchi di opportunità.This dissertation explores the origins, consequences, and intergenerational transmission of inequality of opportunity (IOp) in Europe through three empirical studies drawing on harmonised micro-data and multigenerational information. The first chapter investigates the evolution of educational IOp across European regions and cohorts using data from the European Social Survey. It identifies a steady decline in IOp from the 1920s to the 1980s, yet shows that parental education remains the dominant determinant of educational attainment in most country–cohort groups. Moreover, individuals and regions characterised by higher IOp display significantly poorer social outcomes, indicating that unequal opportunities have broader societal costs. The second chapter examines how IOp shapes preferences for redistribution. Combining ESS and EU-SILC data, it measures IOp at the regional level and constructs an individual-level proxy for having faced limited opportunities in income formation. Using variation from compulsory schooling laws and ESF allocation per capita, the chapter identifies a positive causal effect of limited opportunities on demand for redistribution. The third chapter analyses how childhood mobility across regions of differing economic conditions affects the intergenerational transmission of education. Using SHARE data linking three generations, it shows that moving to a richer region before age 18 increased educational attainment for the parents’ generation (G2), but has become detrimental on average for the children’s generation (G3), except in highly educated families. A sibling comparison design exploiting variation in age at move and duration of exposure confirms a modest but positive causal effect of longer exposure to richer regions.
Together, the three contributions show that opportunity structures in Europe remain deeply uneven across space and generations. While IOp has declined, family background continues to mediate both the returns to regional environments and the political responses to inequality. The dissertation highlights the need for policies that simultaneously address regional disadvantage, early-life conditions, and the unequal capacities of families to benefit from improved contexts
The Atrial Fibrillation In Critically Ill patients (AFICILL) studies: validation and implemetation of topological data analysis and machine learning techniques in the prediction of atrial-fibrillation related outcomes in patients admitted to medical sub-intensive care units
No full textNon-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) is the most common sustained arrhythmia observed in critically ill patients, linked to a higher risk of embolic and haemorrhagic events. Conventional tools, such as CHADS2, CHA2DS2-VASc, and HAS-BLED scores, are ineffective for risk stratification and do not offer guidance for anticoagulation strategies in this population. Recently, we engineered new machine-learning (ML) models retrospective cohorts, with promising results; in this work, we aim to validate our ML models in a larger cohort.
We performed a retrospective analysis of all consecutive critically ill patients admitted to our step-down unit over a 10-year period who had a history of NVAF. We calculated classical risk scores and trained our ML models on pre-specified outcomes: the main outcome (MO) which was a composite of in-hospital death or intensive care unit (ICU) transfer, stroke/TIA, and major bleeding (MB) during the admission.
After eliminating trauma and non-critical patients, we obtained 2105 subjects, with 314 MO, 134 cardioembolic stroke/TIA and 227 MB. Classical risk scores (APACHE-II for MO, CHADS2 and CHA2DS2-VASc for stroke/TIA, HAS-BLED for MB) performed poorly, while ML confirmed its accuracy in predicting outcomes also in this extended cohort (AUC APACHE-II:0.6397; 95%CI:0.6064-0.6729; AUC MO-ML:0.96; 95%CI:94.6-97.2; p<0.0001; AUC CHADS2:0.5775; 95%CI:0.5332-0.6218; p<0.0001; AUC CHA2DS2-VASc:0.5793; 95%CI:0.5357-0.6228; AUC stroke/TIA-ML:0.95; 95%CI:94.3- 96.6; p<0.0001; AUC HAS-BLED:0.5089 95%CI:0.4786-0.5392; AUC MB-ML:0.973 95%CI 95.5–98.1; p<0.0001).
ML models can be considered as potential candidates in this setting to guide anticoagulant therapy. Multicenter, prospective cohorts will be necessary to establish their applicability in clinical practice
ANALYSIS OF CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACT ON THE AVIATION AND SAFETY STRATEGIES IN THE EUROPEAN AIRPORTS
No full textScientific literature provides strong evidence of climate change and aviation’s contribution to global CO2 emissions. Systematic studies on the impact of climate on aviation safety remain limited. This thesis adopts the predictive safety paradigm of modern Safety Management Systems and assesses whether the European system is prepared for emerging climate-related risks. The research hypothesis is that the interaction between critical meteorological phenomena and operational practices and technological configurations generates systemic vulnerabilities, particularly during approach and landing. The study integrates four pillars: regulatory and literature review, meteorological data, European safety events, and qualitative investigation of operational and technological aspects. Results show that turbulence, reduced visibility, and wind-related phenomena significantly affect safety, without a direct linear correlation between frequency and number of incidents, suggesting risk arises from the interaction between exposure and operational vulnerabilities. The original contribution lies in demonstrating, with integrated data, that critical weaknesses emerge at the interface of human factors, procedures, and technological systems. Overall, the findings do not refute the hypothesis of emerging vulnerabilities and provide evidence of the mechanisms through which climate change may affect European airport safety, while acknowledging data limitations. The thesis identifies regulatory, infrastructural, training, and technological priorities to strengthen system resilience
Multi-modal nonlinear dynamic response of cable-stayed beams with two-to-one internal resonance: Theory and experiments
No full textIn this study, the large-amplitude vibrations and nonlinear modal interactions of a cable-stayed beam under principal resonance excitation with theories and experiments are investigated, focusing on the 2:1 internal resonance between different modes. An accurate description of the interaction in the cable-stayed beam is obtained using the Hamilton variational principle, which leads to the derivation of the equations of motion for the system. A multi-modal discrete model of the cable-stayed beam is subsequently developed through a functional form approach. The method of multiple scales is employed to derive the averaged equations and second-order approximate displacement expressions. The equilibrium and dynamic responses of the cable-stayed beam under various principal resonance conditions are subsequently analyzed. The chaotic dynamics in the unstable region were analyzed based on numerical simulations, and the 2:1 internal resonance of the cable-stayed beam was investigated through experiments. It is found that the nonlinear response of the cable-stayed beam undergoes various bifurcations, displaying a rich spectrum of nonlinear dynamics. Finally, the effects of the interactions between cable and beam, the nonlinearity of beam are discussed
Governing Hybrid Municipal Enterprises through Sustainability: Balancing Tensions and Creating Public Value - Evidence from Three Studies
No full textMunicipally owned enterprises (MOEs) are central hybrid actors in local governance, yet research still lacks an integrated understanding of how they manage competing logics and contribute to sustainable public value. Three gaps persist: (1) the literature is fragmented and rarely connects organisational, institutional, and systemic levels; (2) sustainability is treated mainly as disclosure rather than as a governance and sensemaking mechanism; (3) the political and discursive role of MOEs in municipal arenas remains largely unexplored. This dissertation addresses these gaps through a three-part multilevel qualitative design. A grounded literature review reinterprets MOE scholarship through a micro–meso–macro lens, identifying cross-level misalignments as structural sources of hybrid tensions. A case study of an Italian MOE shows how sustainability and SDG reporting become tools for navigating paradoxes, aligning strategy, and shaping organisational identity. A discourse analysis of municipal council debates reveals how political actors mobilise MOEs rhetorically to construct legitimacy, responsibility, and ESG priorities. Overall, the dissertation offers a systemic understanding of how sustainability operates across organisational, institutional, and political arenas, advancing theory and practice on hybrid governance and sustainable public value creation.
Effects of improvement practices and xenobiotics on soil fertility
No full textLa presente tesi di dottorato è stata suddivisa in due macro-aree strettamente correlate tra loro: pratiche per incrementare la fertilità del suolo e tecniche per ridurre l’inquinamento da xenobiotici. Il primo argomento, incentrato sulle pratiche sostenibili per migliorare la fertilità del suolo negli interfilari di vigneto, è trattato nei capitoli 3 e 4. Nello specifico, il capitolo 3 ha valutato l'impatto di due tipi di gestione degli interfilari dei vigneti biologici sulla qualità complessiva del suolo. Il suolo è stato gestito con una copertura annuale di leguminose e un inerbimento naturale permanente. Il confronto è stato effettuato con una porzione di suolo nudo (controllo negativo). In questo esperimento è stato osservato un aumento complessivo della concentrazione di C organico nei primi 40 cm di suolo in entrambi i tipi di gestione dell'interfilare. L'opzione con copertura annuale di leguminose ha mostrato i migliori risultati in termini di contenuto di HA nello strato superficiale del suolo, MBC, respirazione del suolo e attività enzimatiche correlate al ciclo dell’N. Nel Capitolo 4, gli interfilari del vigneto sono stati gestiti con trasemina annuale e con inerbimento naturale permanente. L'effetto di queste pratiche conservative sulla fertilità del suolo è stato confrontato con un suolo inerbito per 30 anni (controllo positivo). Gli effetti positivi sono stati visibili soprattutto nei primi 20 cm di suolo. La trasemina annuale ha migliorato la sostanza organica e le attività enzimatiche legate al ciclo del C e dell'N. Inoltre, questo trattamento si è avvicinato ai valori misurati nel controllo positivo per QCO2 e respirazione del suolo. Il controllo positivo ha mostrato costantemente valori significativamente più alti rispetto a tutti i suoli trattati. Sono quindi necessari più di 4 anni di sovescio per ripristinare un'adeguata fertilità del suolo. Il secondo argomento, descritto nei Capitoli 5, 6 e 7, si concentra sull'applicazione di lombrichi e dei loro prodotti per ridurre l'inquinamento del suolo e ripristinarne la salute. Nel Capitolo 5 è stata condotta una ricerca sulla tecnica di vermiremediation, applicata da sola o in combinazione con altre tecniche di biorisanamento, su suoli inquinati da contaminanti organici e/o inorganici. Nel Capitolo 6 è descritto uno studio di biorisanamento e fertilità del suolo; la vermiremediation è stata applicata tramite il lombrico E. fetida e il vermicompost in un suolo contaminato da clorpirifos. L'applicazione di E. fetida o di vermicompost in questo esperimento non ha accelerato la degradazione del clorpirifos nel suolo. La presenza di lombrichi ha influenzato positivamente sia il MBC, sia l'attività β-glucosidasica; in entrambi i casi, l'effetto stimolante è stato più pronunciato all'aumentare della dose di clorpirifos. L'aggiunta di vermicompost ha stimolato l'attività fosfatasica sia in presenza che in assenza di clorpirifos. Nel Capitolo 7, la bonifica mediante vermirisanamento è stata applicata ad un suolo contaminato da nichel. Il lombrico E. fetida e il vermicompost sono stati utilizzati da soli o in combinazione per testarne la capacità di bonifica e gli effetti sulla comunità microbica. Gli agenti di vermiremediation, da soli o in combinazione, non hanno ridotto il contenuto totale di Ni nel suolo; tuttavia, i lombrichi hanno aumentato sia il Ni solubile che la frazione di Ni biodisponibile. Il MBC e l'attività della fosfatasi alcalina sono stati migliorati in misura maggiore dal trattamento combinato, Il trattamento combinato si è dimostrato il più efficace, sia nello stabilizzare il Ni disponibile nel suolo sia nel migliorare la salute generale della comunità microbica.This PhD thesis has been divided into two topics and has focused primarily on techniques to improve soil health by increasing fertility and reducing contamination. The first topic, which focuses on sustainable practices to increase soil fertility in vineyard inter-row areas, is described in Chapters 3 and 4. Specifically, Chapter 3 examined the impact of two types of sustainable management of organic vineyard interrows on overall soil quality. The soil was managed with an annual legume cover crop (Trifolium alexandrinum) and a permanent meadow. The comparison was made with a portion of bare soil used as a negative control. In this experiment, an overall increase in organic carbon concentration in the 40 cm soil layer was observed compared to uncultivated soil in both types of inter-row management. The option with annual legume cover showed the best results for humic acid content in the topsoil, microbial biomass carbon, soil respiration, and enzymatic activities related to the N cycle. The results indicated that managing vineyard interrows with cover crops can improve overall soil fertility. In Chapter 4, the vineyard inter-rows were managed with annual overseeding with a mixture of barley and field beans and with permanent grassing based on spontaneous species. The effect of these conservation practices on soil fertility was evaluated and compared with a positive control grassed and undisturbed for 30 years. The effects of cover cropping were primarily visible in the top 20 cm of soil. Annual overseeding improved organic matter and enzymatic activities related to the C cycle (FDA hydrolysis and β-glucosidase) and the N cycle (β-glucosaminidase). Furthermore, this treatment was close to the values measured in the positive control for QCO2 and for soil respiration. The positive control consistently showed significantly higher values than all treated soils. More than 4 years of cover cropping are necessary to restore adequate soil fertility. The second topic, described in Chapters 5, 6, and 7, focuses on the application of earthworms and their products to reduce soil pollution and increase and restore soil health. In Chapter 5, a systematic review was conducted on the vermiremediation technique, applied alone or in combination with other bioremediation techniques, on soils polluted by organic and inorganic contaminants. A bioremediation and soil fertility study is described in Chapter 6; vermiremediation was applied using the earthworm Eisenia fetida and its derived vermicompost in soil contaminated with chlorpyrifos, an organic insecticide. Analyses were conducted to assess the effect of vermiremediation on chlorpyrifos content in soil and soil microbial fertility. The application of E. fetida or vermicompost in this experiment did not accelerate chlorpyrifos degradation in the soil. The presence of earthworms positively influenced both microbial biomass carbon and β-glucosidase activity; in both cases, the stimulating effect was more pronounced as the chlorpyrifos dose increased. The addition of vermicompost significantly stimulated phosphatase activity both in the presence and absence of the insecticide. In Chapter 7, vermiremediation was applied to soil contaminated by the inorganic contaminant nickel. The earthworm E. fetida and its derivative vermicompost were used alone or in combination to test their remediation capacity and the effects on the microbial community. The vermiremediation agents, applied alone or in combination, did not reduce the total Ni content in the soil; however, earthworms increased both soluble Ni and the bioavailable Ni fraction. The microbial biomass carbon and the activity of alkaline phosphatase were improved to a greater extent by the combined treatment, whereas earthworms alone increased β-glucosaminidase activity. The combined treatment of E. fetida and vermicompost proved to be the most effective, both in stabilising soil-available Ni and in enhancing overall microbial community health
Spectral Computed Tomography Angiography in Visceral Artery Aneurysms: Technical Principles and Clinical Applications
No full textBackground: Visceral artery aneurysms (VAAs) are rare but potentially life-threatening vascular lesions often clinically silent until rupture. The widespread use of advanced imaging has increased incidental detection, highlighting the need for accurate, noninvasive diagnostic strategies. Dual-Energy Computed Tomography Angiography (DECTA) offers potential advantages over conventional CT across diagnostic and post-treatment settings; however, its role in VAAs remains incompletely defined. This narrative review summarizes current evidence on DECTA applications in VAAs, focusing on diagnosis, emergency evaluation, and post-treatment follow-up. Methods: A non-systematic literature search of PubMed and Embase focusing on English-language articles up to June 2025 was performed. The search included peer-reviewed original research articles, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses addressing dual-energy CT and spectral CT in vascular and aneurysmal imaging. Case reports without technical data and non-English articles were excluded. Results: In the diagnostic phase, DECTA enhances tissue differentiation through virtual monoenergetic images, iodine maps, and material decomposition reconstructions. In the post-treatment setting, DECTA supports assessment after endovascular procedures, including coil embolization or stent graft placement. In VAAs, these techniques may improve aneurysm delineation, reduce metal artifacts after endovascular treatment, enable accurate detection of endoleaks or residual perfusion, and support volumetric follow-up. Virtual Non-Contrast images may reduce radiation exposure without compromising diagnostic confidence. Conclusions: DECTA represents a versatile imaging modality with potential benefits across the diagnostic, emergency, and post-treatment phases of VAA management. Although many applications are extrapolated from aortic and peripheral vascular disease, emerging evidence supports its growing clinical relevance. Further dedicated studies are needed to define its role in VAA-specific decision-making and follow-up
Behavioural Economics in Business Networks: A Sustainability Compliance and Innovation Case
No full textA Comprehensive Review of Non-Conventional Yeasts: Innovation in Craft Beer Production
No full textThe craft beer market is continually expanding, driven by the consumers’ demand for product diversification, which leads to innovation in the brewing industry. While traditional brewing focuses on consistency and high-volume efficiency using standard yeasts, craft brewing prioritizes small-batch experimentation and flavor complexity. Traditionally, Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Ale beer) and Saccharomyces pastorianus (Lager beer) yeast are used in brewing. The craft brewing revolution introduced the use of non-conventional yeast. These yeasts possess distinct technological characteristics compared to commercial starters, such as a richer enzyme profile. This biological diversity produces beers with novel, complex aroma profiles, and opens exciting avenues for flavor creation. Recently, non-alcoholic beer and low-alcoholic beer (NABLAB), and functional beer have become the new horizons for the application of non-conventional yeasts. In recent years, the brewing potential of these alternative yeasts has been extensively explored. However, some aspects relating to the interactions between yeast and raw materials precursors involved in the aroma of the final beer, and the management of yeasts in fermentation, remain unexplored. This review systematically outlines the various innovative ways in which non-conventional yeasts are applied in brewing, including healthier beer. Here, we explore how these yeasts can foster innovation in the beer sector and provide the possibility for sustainable development in contemporary brewing
Predicting fishing vs. not-fishing in small-scale fisheries: A sample vessel tracking dataset and a reproducible machine learning approach
No full textPredicting fishing activity from vessel tracking data is crucial for quantifying fishing effort. This study addresses this challenge by classifying the fishing versus non-fishing activity status of small-scale vessels using passive gears, with a suite of different algorithms, ranging from basic statistics (Logistic Regression - LoRe) to Machine Learning (Decision Trees - Dtree, Random Forests - RaFo, and Extreme Gradient Boosting - XGBo). Results demonstrate that the Machine Learning (ML) ensemble significantly outperformed LoRe, especially with XGBo and Dtree achieving comparable high accuracy and robustness across training, validation, and test sets. By employing SHAP (SHapley Additive exPlanations), we demonstrate that the vessel speed (SPEED) and course variations (course_diff), the hour of the day (hours), and the distance from the coast (distance_from_coast) or the bathymetric depth (depth), are the primary mechanistic drivers for discerning fishing operations in passive-gear small-scale fisheries (SSF). We provide a fully reproducible workflow and a unique, high-resolution dataset of manually labelled tracking data to address the critical scarcity of validated resources in this field. This framework provides a timely, scalable solution for high-resolution tracking analysis, directly addressing the technical needs arising from upcoming EU mandates (Control Regulation 2023/2842) for small-scale vessel monitoring. The shared code and data enable researchers to evaluate model transferability and generalisation, providing a standardised approach to harmonise fishing effort estimation across diverse geographic contexts. Finally, the provided code is structured as an accessible framework for fisheries scientists with limited ML experience, offering a practical foundation for implementing automated activity classification