1,358,072 research outputs found
Marsico, G. (2020). Psychology as an Historical Cultural Product. In M. Massimi, Psychological Knowledge and Practices in Brazilian Culture. Latin American Voices, 4 (pp.vii-ix), São Paulo, Brazil
No full textThe academic life is sometimes filled by a curious sequel of events and coincidences. I have never meet in person Marina Massimi, the author of this volume titled Psychological Knowledge and Practices in Brazilian Culture. Yet, our lives crossed already several times and all the times it was because her publications. Marina Massimi is, indeed, one of the most prominent scholar in the History of Psychology in South America and I had already a taste of her vaste knowledge about the historical roots of psychological and education sciences in the Brazilian context, in a volume I co-edited some years ago (Massimi 2015) to which Dr. Massimi contributed. I am very glad to host again her work within Latin America Voices Book Series that will serve as an international “sounding board” for her investigation
La zona A – settore 1 : la ceramica del balneum delle Guardiole (responsabile Francesco Massimi)
No full textAnalisi della ceramica proveniente dal Balneum della Villa delle Guardiole a Santa Marinella
Emulsion templated scaffolds based on gelatin and glycosaminoglycans (Massimi: co-corresponding author)
No full textGelatin is one of the most commonly used biopolymer for creating cellular scaffolds due to its innocuous nature. To create stable gelatin scaffolds at physiological temperature (37 degrees C), chemical cross-linking is a necessary step. In a previous paper (Biomacromolecules 2006, 7, 3059-3068), cross-linking was carried out by either radical polymerization of the methacrylated derivative of gelatin (GMA) or through the formation of isopeptide bonds catalyzed by transglutaminase. The method of scaffold production was based on emulsion templating in which an organic phase is dispersed in the form of discrete droplets into a continuous aqueous solution of the biopolymer. Both kinds of scaffolds were tested as culture medium for hepatocytes. It turned out that the enzymatic cross-linked scaffold performed superiorily in this respect, even though it was mechanically less stable than the GMA scaffold. In the present paper, in an attempt to improve the biocompatibility of the GMA-based scaffold, biopolymers present in the extracellular matrix (ECM) were included in scaffold formulation, namely, chondroitin sulfate and hyaluronic acid. These biopolymers were derivatized with methacrylic moieties to undergo radical polymerization together with GMA. The morphology of the scaffolds was tuned to some extent by varying the volume fraction of the internal phase and to a larger extent by inducing a controlled destabilization of the precursor emulsion through the use of additives. In this way, scaffolds with 44% of the void volume attributable to voids with a diameter exceeding 60 microm and with 79% of the interconnect area attributable to interconnects with a diameter exceeding 20 microm in diameter could be successfully synthesized. To test whether the inclusion of ECM components into scaffold formulation resolves in an improvement of their biocompatibility with respect to GMA scaffolds, hepatocytes were seeded on both kinds of scaffolds and cell viability and function assays were carried out and compared
Valor da ciência, defesa do conhecimento e Perspectival Realism: Entrevista com Michela Massimi
No full textMichela Massimi é professora de Filosofia da Ciência no Departamento de Filosofia da Universidade de Edimburgo, onde também é afiliada ao Higgs Centre for Theoretical Physics. Membro de importantes sociedades filosóficas e científicas, como a Royal Society of Edinburgh, a Royal Astronomical Society, e a Académie Internationale de Philosophie des Sciences (membro correspondente) é presidente eleita da PSA, Philosophy of Science Association, para o biênio 2023-2024. Massimi, com dupla nacionalidade, italiana e britânica, estudou na Sapienza Università di Roma, na London School of Economics, e lecionou História e Filosofia da Ciência na University College London antes de mudar-se para Edimburgo. Massimi trabalha com Filosofia da Ciência em uma abordagem marcada pelo recurso à pesquisa histórica. Seus interesses amplos abarcam a Filosofia da Cosmologia, o realismo científico, os estudos de ciências, as relações entre ciência e sociedade, entre outros tópicos. Tem se destacado por defender o que chama de Perspectival Realism, se afastando tanto do realismo tradicional, quanto do pragmatismo e do relativismo. Nessa entrevista dialogamos com Massimi sobre temas como o valor da ciência, a defesa da ciência em épocas de negacionismo e obscurantismo e as características de sua posição filosófica.
Valutazione delle capacità di adsorbimento di elementi da parte di scarti alimentari
No full textNumerosi processi industriali producono reflui particolarmente ricchi in metalli pesanti ed elementi tossici. Elevate concentrazioni di questi inquinanti nelle acque sono direttamente responsabili dell’alterazione dei cicli vitali di piante, animali ed esseri umani. La rimozione dei metalli da soluzioni acquose rappresenta uno dei principali obiettivi del risanamento ambientale; si può ottenere attraverso diversi metodi fisico-chimici ma la maggior parte di questi risulta essere costosa ed inadeguata. L’adsorbimento è il metodo generalmente preferito per l’alta efficienza nella rimozione dei metalli, la ridotta necessità di manipolazione, il possibile impiego di diversi adsorbenti ed i costi di applicazione generalmente inferiori rispetto a quelli di altre tecniche. Gli scarti prodotti dall’industria alimentare possono essere utilizzati come materiali adsorbenti a basso costo; negli ultimi anni, diversi ricercatori ne hanno studiato le potenzialità. Le condizioni operative fino ad ora utilizzate per gli esperimenti di adsorbimento sono però tra loro molto disomogenee ed è quindi impossibile confrontare le efficienze dei singoli adsorbenti. L'obiettivo di questo studio è quello di ottenere un quadro completo delle capacità di adsorbimento di inquinanti inorganici da parte di 12 scarti alimentari, valutando la loro capacità di rimuovere più di 30 metalli (per molti dei quali non erano ancora mai state valutate le capacità di adsorbimento) da una stessa soluzione inquinata. Mantenendo condizioni sperimentali omogenee, è possibile operare un confronto tra i diversi adsorbenti e valutarne adeguatamente la relativa efficienza. Le polveri di ogni scarto alimentare sono state inserite nelle soluzioni contaminate in dosi progressivamente crescenti per incrementare il numero dei siti attivi disponibili e studiare gli effetti di competizione tra i metalli. I 12 scarti alimentari (bucce di banana, bucce di melanzana, bucce di mela, bucce di limone con albedo, bucce di patata, vinaccia, bucce di pomodoro, bucce di arancia, bucce di anguria con albedo, carrube, fondi di caffè classico e caffè decaffeinato) sono stati essiccati, ridotti in polvere e lavati prima dell’utilizzo. E’ stata studiata la capacità di adsorbimento di 31 elementi (Ag, Al, As, Ba, Be, Bi, Cd, Ce, Co, Cr, Cs, Cu, Fe, Ga, In, La, Mn, Mo, Nb, Ni, Pb, Sb, Sn, Sr, Th, Ti, Tl, U, V, W, Zn) da soluzioni sintetiche a pH 2 e a pH 5.5. Per ciascun elemento sono state verificate le curve di solubilità in funzione del pH, per valutare gli equilibri di precipitazione di idrossidi e la loro possibile interferenza nel processo di adsorbimento. La percentuale di rimozione dei metalli dalle soluzioni contaminate è stata calcolata analizzando mediante spettroscopia al plasma accoppiato induttivamente con rivelazione ottica e di massa (ICP-OES, ICP-MS). Gli scarti alimentari possono essere utilizzati efficacemente per la rimozione di numerosi metalli da soluzioni inquinate anche a pH acido. Mantenendo condizioni sperimentali omogenee è possibile effettuare un confronto delle potenzialità dei diversi adsorbenti e notare come ognuno di essi abbia una propensione nell’adsorbire nei propri siti attivi determinati metalli piuttosto di altri. L’elaborazione statistica dei dati ottenuti ha permesso di raggruppare i materiali esaminati in funzione della tipologia di siti attivi presenti sulla superficie adsorbente. Per affinare la classificazione degli adsorbenti sono attualmente in corso ulteriori studi in microscopia elettronica e spettroscopia IR. Le potenzialità degli scarti alimentari come adsorbenti sono state verificate anche su matrici reali, valutando la rimozione di metalli pesanti dal refluo prodotto in un processo idro-metallurgico per il recupero di elementi pregiati da schede elettroniche (pH 5.5). Questi materiali hanno dimostrato ottime potenzialità anche su matrici reali
Galileo's Mathematization of Nature at the Crossroad between the Empiricist and the Kantian Tradition
No full textHuman hepatocytes in three-dimensional culture on Innovative biopolymeric scaffolds as a useful system for in vitro toxicology tests
No full textP 1.6
HUMAN HEPATOCY
TES IN THREE-
DIMENSIONAL CULTURE ON INNOVATIVE
BIOPOLYMERIC SCAFFOLDS
AS AN USEFUL SYSTEM
FOR
IN VITRO
TOXICOLOGY TESTS
Stampella A. (a), Massimi M. (b), Barbetta A.
(c), Rizzitelli G. (c), Dentini M. (c), Conti
Devirgiliis L. (a)
(a) Department of Biology and Biotechnology Charles Darwin, Sapienza University of
Rome, Rome, Italy
(b) Department of Basic and Applied Biology, University of L’Aquila, L’Aquila, Italy
(c) Department of Chemistry, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
Many innovative biomaterials have recently be developed as scaffolds to replace
physiological matrix components and their im
provement has led to significant advances in
culture techniques in terms of cell survival, quantitative expansion, maintenance of
differentiated phenotype and specific cell functions. A key point in achieving these goals
has been to maintain a three-dimensional culture and the typical cyto-architecture of the
tissue by improving the extracellular matrix geometry and by promoting cell-cell contacts
and reciprocal adhesions. These bio-artificial
systems represent a real hope as functional
substitutes for damaged organs and tissues and have provoked a great interest in the field of
regenerative medicine. Concerning hepatocyte cultures, since the liver is the main organ
involved in detoxification processes and in the defence of organisms against harmful
molecules, in addition to their biomedical applications, these systems can be utilized as
invaluable tool for toxicology tests for analyzing the effects on metabolism of new drugs,
or for screening potentially toxic substances. The aim of our research was to identify the
most suitable biomaterial for the technological applications with hepatocytes. Since the
possibility to improve the performance of thes
e systems depends strongly on the methods
used to create the scaffolds, here we analyzed
porous matrices made of gelatin or blends of
gelatin and glycosaminoglycans, obtained with different methods for the culture of the C3A
cell line, considered a
good model of human hepatocytes. Scaffolds were obtained using
either a concentrated emulsi
on-templating technique known as High Internal Phase
Emulsion (HIPE) or a gas foaming technique; the latter method uses an inert gas instead of
the internal liquid phase toluene, avoiding the use of organic solvent and allowing the
creation of scaffolds with la
rger pores and interconnections. Cell viability was analysed
using MTS and LDH assays; ultrastructural morphology and three-dimensional cell
organization into the scaffold were assessed by SEM; albumin and urea secretion, as the
main metabolic markers of hepatocyte functions, were monitored using, respectively, an
ELISA kit and a colorimetric assay. Finally
Cytochrome P450-3A4 activity was quantified
by a luminescent method. Values of activity of this important enzyme of the detoxification
system, obtained in the absence or in the pr
esence of specific inducing molecules, were
compared between the different culture conditions
The right to participate in science. Navigating cooperation among epistemic jurisdictions
No full textMichela Massimi takes steps in defining the notion of ‘epistemic cooperation’. By contrast with institutional and legal cooperation, Massimi understands ‘epistemic cooperation’ primarily as cooperation among ‘epistemic jurisdictions’. The latter are understood as jurisdictions concerning the allocation of knowledge and expertise (i.e. who the experts are in a given scientific domain of inquiry). Massimi elucidates a received view of epistemic jurisdiction which she calls the territory-centred view and shows its shortcomings when it comes to understanding the value and significance of cooperation among different ways of knowing. Massimi proposes an alternative view—the community-based view.
Instead of allocating expertise and knowledge to silos, the community-based view focuses on the
situated knowledge of epistemic communities. It highlights the reciprocal and relational (rather than
mutually exclusive) interactions among ways of knowing, which are key to the implementation of the
right to participate in science and to the collective pursuit of goals of justice
Programmazione per aree e tendenze occupazionali in una regione bifronte: l'Abruzzo tra Nord e Sud dell'Europa del 1992
No full text197 - Au(n, gamma) cross section in the resonance region
No full textThe (n, gamma) cross section of 197 - Au has been measured at n_TOF in the resolved resonance region, up to 5 keV, with the aim of improving the accuracy in an energy range where it is not yet considered standard. The measurements were performed with two different experimental setup and detection techniques, the total energy method based on C6D6 detectors, and the total absorption calorimetry based on a 4 BaF2 array. By comparing the data collected with the two techniques, two accurate sets of neutron-capture yields have been obtained, which could be the basis for a new evaluation leading to an extended cross-section standard. Overall good agreement is found between the n_TOF results and evaluated cross sections, with some significant exceptions for small resonances. A few resonances not included in the existing databases have also been observed
- …
