1,721,190 research outputs found
Cybersecurity in Italy Governance, Policies and Ecosystem
Full text linkThis book offers a focused perspective on the governance, policies, legal frame- works, ecosystem, and national architecture implemented by Italy in the context of cybersecurity. Given Italy’s significant geopolitical position, and its status as a mature country in the digital society, the comprehensive exploration included in this book attempts to shed light on the nuanced ways in which the nation addresses digital threats, adapts to technological advancements, and applies laws that protect and enhance the well-being of its citizens and organizations. For professionals working in Italy or with Italy, this detailed analysis is immediately applicable. Understanding Italy’s governance structures, therefore, helps cybersecurity profes- sionals navigate a complex institutional (and bureaucratic) framework consisting of stakeholders and decision-makers, thereby improving their knowledge of the roles that require interactions with government entities or compliance with national poli- cies and rules. This book also serves as an essential reference for those involved in policymaking or managing cybersecurity from both a public and private perspective.
However, this book is dedicated specifically to students who are interested in, or want to become involved in, the political aspect of cybersecurity. In this book, they will hopefully find valuable information on “who” does “what” in Italy in the con- text of cybersecurity. By studying the Italian approach, students can appreciate the practical implications of theoretical knowledge, such as the implementation of laws in the field, how policies are shaped in response to emerging threats, and how gov- ernance structures influence national cybersecurity strategies. Designed to promote a critical thinking approach, and based on empirical validation of data with 35 semi- structured interviews, this book encourages students to analyze and question “how” and “why” certain decisions are made in the context of national cybersecurity. Addressing a significant gap in the existing literature, this book provides an updated and in-depth analysis of Italy’s response to cybersecurity issues, setting a precedent for similar studies in other national contexts. As cybersecurity assumes a greater role in national security, the insights gleaned from Italy’s experiences hold rele- vance not only for those within Italy studying or working in this field, but also for the global community endeavoring to fortify its cybersecurity measures. Moreover, the book offers valuable perspectives for individuals seeking to comprehend the strategic stance of a specific country in this field. By presenting a holistic view of the Italian cybersecurity framework, this book also aims to contribute to the dis- semination of a culture of cybersecurity awareness in Italy. It highlights the signifi- cance of comprehending the Italian cybersecurity model, while also recognizing that Italy, within the cybersecurity landscape, is a component of a broader frame- work encompassing its role as a Member State of the European Union and its posi- tion as a significant actor globally in different international (i.e. UN; G20 and G7 etc.) and regional (i.e. OSCE, etc.) fora.
This book represents the culmination of extensive research, more than 15 years of personal experiences, academic research and professional insights. However, it is important to note that the contents provided here are based on the author’s interpre- tation and the content represents a snapshot of the subject at the time of writing. As the author of this book, I hereby assume full responsibility for the contents provided herein. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy, reliability, and completeness of the information presented, I recognize that I am solely responsible for any errors, inaccuracies, or omissions that may be found
Confidence Building Measures (C.B.M.) in campo Cyber: Attuali limiti e possibile contributo nazionale alla loro condivisione a applicazione
No full textIl cyberspazio è diventato nel XXI secolo un aspetto cruciale nel campo politico, militare, sociale, finanziario e umano.
Secondo i coniugi Alvin e Heidi Toffler l’attuale “era dell’informazione”3 è il prodotto della “terza rivoluzione industriale”. Infatti, la loro tesi futuristica poggia sulla concezione che la storia dell’umanità non è altro che il frutto di un’evoluzione a “ondate”, di cui la “terza ondata” è il risultato del passaggio dalla rivoluzione industriale alla rivoluzione digitale, che attraverso le moderne tecnologie interattive è riuscita a espandersi a livello planetario, abbattendo così i limiti dello spazio e del tempo.
L’Information Revolution (teorizzata dai Toffler) ha dato vita a ciò che oggi conosciamo come “spazio cibernetico”, ovvero un ambiente artificiale frutto per eccellenza delle attività umane, la cui natura antropica e artificiale ha contribuito a modellare le dinamiche delle interazioni umane e a superare concetti classici quali la partecipazione e il dibattito politico, il processo decisionale, la pace e la guerra.
Proprio l’aspetto bellico (quindi politico) introduce una novità sui generis: l’avvenuta militarizzazione del cyberspazio ha portato all’affermazione di una “quinta dimensione della conflittualità”6, dove il tipo di armi-non militari utilizzate per combattere e gli obiettivi delle stesse fanno dei sistemi informatici (soprattutto quelli civili) i nuovi centri di gravità da proteggere contro un nemico che “agisce nelle ombre” in un ambiente sfumato e asimmetrico.7
1 Non esiste una definizione univoca del termine cyberspazio, in questa ricerca si farà riferimento a tale termine riprendendo la definizione fornita dal Glossario Intelligence redatto dal Dipartimento delle informazioni per la sicurezza (DIS) il quale, alla voce cyber-space precisa che tale spazio è rappresentabile come “L’insieme delle infrastrutture informatiche interconnesse, comprensivo di hardware, software, dati ed utenti nonché delle relazioni logiche, comunque stabilite, tra di essi. Include tra l’altro internet, reti di comunicazione, sistemi attuatori di processo ed apparecchiature mobili dotate di connessione di rete”.
La pervasività e il rilevante impatto delle Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), nonché la crescente interconnessione e interdipendenza globale raggiunta a vari livelli (politico-economico-sociale-finanziario-militare) hanno evidenziato un intrinseco trade- off tra informatizzazione e sicurezza nazionale. Così come l’abbassamento della soglia di accesso alla violenza (dovuto in larga misura all’economicità degli strumenti informatici) e l’assenza di limiti geografici hanno provocato l’“affollamento” dell’arena internazionale, permettendo così l'ingresso nel sistema globale di attori (non-statali, terroristi, individui) un tempo relegati alla periferia della Comunità internazionale. La stessa composizione “geografica” dello spazio cibernetico ha innalzato la consapevolezza da parte dei decisori politici e della società civile che le attività sociali, le stesse relazioni intra e inter nazionali e le nuove minacce si diffondono tramite un medium di gran lunga più mutevole e pervasivo rispetto agli ambienti finora conosciuti.
L’odierno campo di battaglia è così diventato anche virtuale e le armi cibernetiche hanno ormai raggiunto la capacità di produrre effetti reali.9 Gli stessi attori delle relazioni internazionali non sono più i classici protagonisti della politica internazionale. Agli Stati infatti si sono affiancati attori privati quali le società multinazionali, i gruppi terroristici o criminali e gli individui, che si confrontano all’interno dell'arena informatica senza un quadro normativo definito. 10 A questo si aggiunge la bassa barriera di accesso alle capacità tecniche e operative nel campo delle ICT e la velocità del progresso tecnologico, tutti aspetti che rendono sempre più complessa l’attribuzione delle responsabilità degli attacchi informatici e la definizione di una efficace strategia deterrente
Le iniziative diplomatiche per il cyberspazio: punti di forza e di debolezza
Full text linkLe attività malevole condotte nel cyberspazio incidono non solo sulla sicurezza nazionale e dei cittadini, ma influenzano anche la pace e la stabilità internazionale. Per limitare il pericolo di escalation politico-militare, organizzazioni internazionali, regionali e multilaterali come le Nazioni Unite, l’Organizzazione per la Sicurezza e la Cooperazione in Europa e il G7, hanno lanciato diverse iniziative diplomatiche e normative, con l’obiettivo di migliorare la cooperazione multilaterale e aumentare la fiducia e la trasparenza tra gli stati nell’arena cyber. Una delle prime iniziative è stata lanciata dall’Onu sul finire degli anni Novanta e sulla scia della distensione internazionale seguita alla caduta del Muro di Berlino. In linea con tale iniziativa, nel 2012 l’Osce ha creato un apposito gruppo di lavoro informale volto a sviluppare un quadro di misure utili a ridurre i rischi di conflitti nel dominio cibernetico. Ma in che modo esattamente queste iniziative diplomatiche sono in grado di garantire la stabilità e la sicurezza internazionale nel cyberspazio? Quali sono i punti di forza e di debolezza principali di queste iniziative multilaterali
Identificazione di siti di deamidazione come ipotetici segnali di invecchiamento nella serina idrossimetiltrasferasi
No full textSerine hydroxymethyltransferase purified from rabbit liver cytosol has at least two Asn residues (Asn5 and Asn220) that are 67 and 30% deamidated, respectively. Asn5 is deamidated equally to Asp and isoAsp, while Asn220 is deamidated only to isoAsp. To determine the effect of these Asn deamidations on enzyme activity and stability a recombinant rabbit liver cytosolic serine hydroxymethyltransferase was expressed in Escherichia coli over a 5-h period. About 90% of the recombinant enzyme could be isolated with the two Asn residues in a nondeamidated form. Compared with the enzyme isolated from liver the recombinant enzyme had a 35% increase in catalytic activity but exhibited no significant changes in either affinity for substrates or stability. Introduction of Asp residues for either Asn5 or Asn220 did not significantly alter activity or stability of the mutant forms. In vitro incubation of the recombinant enzyme at 37°C and pH 7.3 resulted in the rapid deamidation of Asn5 to both Asp and isoAsp with a t1/2 of 50 –70 h, which is comparable to the rate found with small flexible peptides contain- ing the same sequence. The t1/2 for deamidation of Asn220 was at least 200 h. This residue may become deamidated only after some unfolding of the enzyme. The rates for deamidation of Asn5 and Asn220 are consistent with the structural environment of the two Asn residues in the native enzyme. There are also at least two additional deamidation events that occur during prolonged incubation of the recombinant enzyme
The Vitamin B6 Salvage Pathway: BiomedicalAspects of Pyridoxal 5’-Phosphate Availability
No full textPyridoxal 5’-phosphate (PLP), the catalytically active form of vitamin B6, has a crucial role in several cellular processes, acting as cofactor in more than 140 different enzyme reactions, including the synthesis and degradation of neurotransmitters. In humans, as in all animals, PLP is recycled from foods and degraded B6-enzymes in a “salvage pathway”, which involves two enzymes: pyridoxal kinase and pyridoxine phosphate oxidase. Once PLP is made, it is targeted to dozens of different apo-B6-enzymes that are being synthesized in the cell. The mechanism and regulation of the salvage pathway and the mechanism of addition of PLP to the newly synthesized apo-B6-enzymes are poorly understood and represent a very challenging research field. The free PLP concentration in the cell is quite low, probably in order to prevent unspecific reactions of the cofactor aldehyde group, and is not enough to meet the requirements of the many B6-enzymes (1,2). This raises the intriguing question of how the cell supplies sufficient PLP, with high specificity, to B6-enzymes. A very attractive hypothesis is that PLP may be transferred from either pyridoxal kinase or pyridoxine phosphate oxidase to apo-B6-enzymes by direct channeling (2-4), an efficient, exclusive and protected means of delivery of the highly reactive PLP. Polymorphisms in enzymes of the salvage pathway are known to reduce the availability of PLP in the cell, causing severe neurological disorders in humans. At the same time, polymorphisms of PLP-dependent enzymes are known to affect their capability to bind the cofactor and may determine disease states. Several drugs, as well as natural substances, are known to antagonize the action of vitamin B6. Some classes of substances achieve these effects by inhibiting the activity of pyridoxal kinase, causing seizures, headache, agitation, convulsions, unconsciousness, paralysis and even death.
Our presentation will focus on several aspects of the above-mentioned problems and will report:
i) studies on serine hydroxymethyltransferase as a model of PLP addition to apo-B6-enzymes;
ii) characterization of human pyridoxine phosphate oxidase polymorphisms and studies on the hypothetical channelling of PLP to apo- B6-enzymes;
iii) studies on human pyridoxal kinase: regulation mechanism and structural determination of the interaction with drugs. Studies on the hypothetical channelling of PLP to apo- B6-enzymes
Studi sul meccanismo di deamidazione di residui di asparagina nella Serina idrossimetiltrasferasi
No full textSerine hydroxymethyltransferase purified from rabbit liver cytosol has at least two Asn residues (Asn5 and Asn220) that are 67 and 30% deamidated, respectively. Asn5 is deamidated equally to Asp and isoAsp, while Asn220 is deamidated only to isoAsp. To determine the effect of these Asn deamidations on enzyme activity and stability a recombinant rabbit liver cytosolic serine hydroxymethyltransferase was expressed in Escherichia coli. About 90% of the recombinant enzyme could be isolated with the two Asn residues in a nondeamidated form. Compared with the enzyme isolated from liver the recombinant enzyme had a 35% increase in catalytic activity but exhibited no significant changes in either affinity for substrates or stability. Introduction of Asp residues for either Asn5 or Asn220 did not significantly alter activity or stability of the mutant forms. In vitro incubation of the recombinant enzyme at 37°C and pH 7.3 resulted in the rapid deamidation of Asn5 to both Asp and isoAsp with a t1/2 of 50 –70 h, which is comparable to the rate found with small flexible peptides containing the same sequence. The t1/2 for deamidation of Asn220 was at least 200 h. This residue may become deamidated only after some unfolding of the enzyme. The rates for deamidation of Asn5 and Asn220 are consistent with the structural environment of the two Asn residues in the native enzyme. There are also at least two additional deamidation events that occur during prolonged incubation of the recombinant enzyme
Semisynthetic production of unnatural amino acids and their direct incorporation into peptides and proteins
No full textThe main source of chemical diversity in the majority of mature proteins and peptides is due to posttranslational modifications (PTMs). Mimicking these PTM machineries is not trivial. Probably, the most straightforward way to tackle this problem is to specifically insert natural or synthetic non-canonical amino acids (ncAA) directly during translation, expanding the scope of ribosomal protein synthesis beyond the 20 canonical amino acids – in other words, to re-engineer the genetic code. In this context, it is highly desirable that synthetic amino acids of interest are directly produced by the host, by means of engineering metabolic pathways so as to provide the cells with target synthetic amino acids formed intracellularly from simple carbon sources or precursors. In this respect, enzymatic pathways mediated by pyridoxal-5'-phosphate (PLP)-dependent enzymes are most promising targets
Metodologie biochimiche - Principi e tecniche per l' espressione, la purificazione e la caratterizzazione delle proteine
No full textLa Suisse et l'Asie Centrale : un processus d'apprentissage mutuel ?
No full textLa Suisse représente le Kirghizstan, le Tadjikistan, le Turkménistan et l'Ouzbékistan auprès des institutions de Bretton Woods. Si au début des années 1990, la Suisse et les pays d'Asie Centrale ignoraient pratiquement tout les uns des autres, avec le temps les illusions (suisse)s d'une rapide transition vers la démocratie et l'économie de marché ont du laisser la place à une vision plus pragmatique des processus de «transition». En 2004 le Parlement suisse aura à discuter la révision de la législation concernant la coopération avec l'Europe de l'Est, centrale et orientale et la CEI, la Suisse devra décider si l'Asie Centrale continuera à être une priorité de sa politique étrangère.De Martino Luigi. La Suisse et l'Asie Centrale : un processus d'apprentissage mutuel ?. In: CEMOTI, n°36, 2003. Turquie : désir d'Europe ? pp. 251-264
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