54 research outputs found
Trento Urban Transformation. Designing Healthy Cities through. Adaptive Urban Planning
No full textUrban areas constitute key hubs of interventions to drive towards sustainable development: affordable housing, mobility, provision of services, ageing, urban health, social segregation, environmental footprint, and climate action have been shaping urban transformation with unpredictable scenarios. Such challenges require an update of urban planning tools, which need to mirror the complexity of urban patterns and to enhance their capacities to focus on multiple pathways and plurality of goals. The paper presents the research conducted by the Trento Urban Transformation (TUT) research group at the University of Trento as scientific support to the revision of the General Urban Plan of Trento, an alpine city in the north-east of Italy. The research project aims to propose innovative, adaptive, and incremental planning tools to allow flexibility, preparedness to extreme events, and capacity to learn from the past. The proposed city plan draws on a new vision, namely “Trento Leaf Plan”. It defines a strategic vision to cope with urban challenges for a healthier and more resilient habitat. The paper introduces the general approach proposed, and focuses on three tools that have been experimented to shift from a quantitative system based on control to a metabolic, interdisciplinary, and multiscale plan: spatially explicit vegetation and ecosystem services models, the figure of chief resilient officer and integration of environmental criteria in planning tools
Development of oral and topical sucrose esters-based formulations for the delivery of lipophilic molecules
No full textThe present study is the result of a collaboration with a private company that operates in the food supplements field (Labomar S rl, Istrana - Italy) within a particular doctorate category called "Apprendistato di alta formazione e ricerca". The main purpose of the research project has been the design and characterization of formulation platform able to deliver lipophilic active molecules both by oral and topical administration. Dealing with a company mainly operating in the food supplements market, food grade excipients have been the first to be chosen: glycerin, medium chain fatty acids (MCFA) and sucrose esters (SEs). In the first part of the study the design of experiments has been used as a mathematical approach for the development of a set of formulations. Subsequently formulations have been characterized through dynamic light scattering, rheology measurements (including sweep test), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The developed formulations have been able to form emulsions with a droplet size up to 280nm after dispersion in water and a direct relation between sucrose monopalmitate (SMP) concentration and viscosity has been found. It has been observed that the combination of SEs, water, glycerine and MCFA in specific ratios is able to form both classical emulsions and transparent gel-emulsion, also referred as high internal phase ratio emulsions (HIPREs), exhibiting a liquid crystalline molecular organization. On the basis of results, two formulations named F01 and F03 have been selected in order to develop oral and topic dosage forms. Formulation F03 is a HIPREs containing the 75% of oil phase, it is characterized by high viscosity and small droplet size. It has been selected for the development of two oral dosage forms: a water-soluble powder and a medicated jelly. In order to evaluate the ability of these formulations to increase the water solubility of lipophilic molecules resveratrol and coenzime Q10 have been loaded as model molecules. The dissolution performances of the oral formulations have been assessed. Release proles show an increase in actives solubility: compared to bulk powder, resveratrol release has been increased two times by the jelly formulation, and three times by the powder formulation (adsorbed-HIPREs), reaching a rapid onset. Coenzime Q10 is practically water-insoluble while the jelly formulation is able to release 20% of the total CoQ10, as long as the adsorbed-HIPREs reach 40%.
The last part of the study deals with the development and the characterization of topical dosage forms. First of all, two of the initial formulations have been selected (F01 and F03) and appropriate excipients have been added to improve spreadability and release of actives: ethoxy diglycol and polyethylene glycol 400 have been used as solubilizers,while glyceryl stearate and xanthan gum have been used as thickeners. Secondly, formulations have been characterized through optical and TEM microscope analysis, DSC and rheology measurements. Finally, the formulations have been loaded with resveratrol as model molecule and release and in-vitro absorption tests have been carried out. Results have been shown that the majority of the formulations follow a first-order kinetic release. Resveratrol release and absorption could be modified by modulating rheology of the formulations and the physical state of the active molecule; in particular, the maximum resveratrol absorption has been registered with formulation labelled as AF201, containing ethoxy diglycol as solubilizer and glyceryl stearate as thickener.
In conclusion, the information and the results obtained from this study should facilitate the rational design and fabrication of lipid-based delivery systems for lipophilic food and cosmetic actives. The initial aim to produce a formulation platform capable to delivery lipophilic active molecules by oral and topical administration has been achieved.
Once the administration route and the active molecule have been chosen, an affordable and effective formulation could be provided and adapted to nutraceutical, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industry as well.Il presente studio e il risultato della collaborazione con un'azienda produttrice di integratori alimentari (Labomar srl, Istrana) e si inserisce in un particolare tipo di dottorato definito "Apprendistato di alta formazione e ricerca". Lo scopo principale del progetto e lo sviluppo e la caratterizzazione di una piattaforma formulativa capace di veicolare principi attivi lipofili sia per via orale che topica. Trattandosi di un'azienda operante principalmente nel mercato degli integratori alimentari gli eccipienti scelti nella fase iniziale sono di grado alimentare: glicerina, acidi grassi a media catena (MCFA) e esteri del saccarosio. La prima parte dello studio riguarda lo sviluppo di una serie di formulazioni mediante l'utilizzo del design of experiment e la loro caratterizzazione mediante l'uso di tecniche quali dynamic light scattering, misure reologiche, scansione calorimetrica differenziale (DSC) e microscopia a trasmissione elettronica (TEM). Le formulazioni iniziali una volta disperse in acqua sono in grado di creare emulsioni fini; la fase interna arriva ad avere un diametro di 280nm ed e stata verificata una relazione diretta fra viscosità e concentrazione di saccarosio monopalmitato (SMP) nella formulazione. Si e scoperto inoltre che la combinazione di SMP, acqua, glicerina e MCFA in specifici rapporti può dare luogo alla formazione sia di classiche emulsioni che di emulsioni-gel, spesso chiamate high internal phase ratio emulsions (HIPREs) caratterizzate da una struttura interna a cristalli liquidi.
La formulazione F03 e un HIPREs contenente il 75% di fase oleosa ed è caratterizzata da elevata viscosità. E' stata scelta come base per lo sviluppo di due forme orali: una polvere idrosolubile e una gelatina medicata. Per valutare la capacità di queste formulazioni di aumentare la solubilità in ambiente acquoso di molecole lipofile entrambe sono state caricate con due molecole modello (resveratrolo e coenzima Q10). In seguito è stato valutato il rilascio in-vitro delle due molecole modello. I profili di rilascio dalle formulazioni orali indicano un sostanziale aumento della solubilità degli attivi: la gelatina raddoppia la solubilità del resveratrolo (rispetto alla sostanza tal quale) mentre la formulazione in polvere (HIPREs-adsorbito) riesce a triplicarla in circa dieci minuti. Il coenzima Q10 tal quale è praticamente insolubile in acqua, la gelatina riesce a rilasciarne in soluzione circa il 20% (sul totale caricato), mentre l'HIPREs-adsorbito arriva al 40%. L'ultima parte dello studio riguarda lo sviluppo e la caratterizzazione di formulazioni topiche. Sono state selezionate due tra le formulazioni iniziali (F01 e F03) e vi sono stati aggiunti eccipienti per migliorare la spalmabilità e il rilascio degli attivi: etossi diglicole e polietilene glicole 400 sono stati usati come solventi mentre gliceril stearato e gomma di xantano come viscosizzanti. Dopo caratterizzazione mediante microscopia ottica e TEM, DSC e misure reologiche le formulazioni sono state caricate con resveratrolo come
molecola modello per vericarne il rilascio e l'assorbimento mediante test in-vitro. E' stato verificato che il rilascio dalla maggior parte delle formulazioni testate segue una cinetica di primo ordine. Il rilascio e l'assorbimento di resveratrolo può essere modificato modulando le caratteristiche reologiche della formulazione e lo stato fisico dell'attivo; in particolare il massimo valore di assorbimento è stato registrato con la formulazione AF201, contenente etossi diglicole e gliceril stearato.
In conclusione, le informazioni e i risultati ottenuti con questo studio possono facilitare lo sviluppo e la produzione di formulazioni per la veicolazione di attivi lipofili alimentari e cosmetici. L'obiettivo iniziale di sviluppare una piattaforma formulativa capace di veicolare molecole lipofile sia per via orale che topica e stato raggiunto. Una volta scelta la via di somministrazione e la molecola di interesse sarà possibile sviluppare una formulazione efficiente e dai costi contenuti, utilizzabile dall'industria alimentare, cosmetica e farmaceutica
Pneumococcal interactions with the host : threats and therapeutic approaches
No full textStreptococcus pneumoniae (the pneumococcus) is a Gram-positive bacterium responsible for substantial morbidity and mortality worldwide. Apart from causing severe pneumonia, septicemia or meningitis, pneumococci are also major contributors to less severe diseases like otitis media and sinusitis. Pneumococcal autolysis was thought to be the main route that S. pneumoniae utilizes in order to deliver its virulence factors. Recently a new mechanism has been proposed, the release of extracellular vesicles (EVs).Presence of adhesins and other virulence factors on EVs leads to cell responses after contact with vesicles. We observed that pneumococcal EVs are indeed a mechanism for the delivery of virulence factors to host cells, and that interactions of vesicles with dendritic cells lead to activation of cells and release of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Since EVs mimic the outside of a bacterium, they can play a role as decoys for the immune system. Tightly linked to this decoy function is the ability of EVs to promote immune evasion through binding of serum components. Indeed, we discovered that pneumococcal EVs are able to bind several components of the human complement system, leading to formation of the membrane attack complex on vesicles.Outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) released from Gram-negative bacteria have been directly used as vaccines in numerous preclinical mouse models. We isolated pneumococcal vesicles and found that they are able to confer serotype-independent protection in mice. Moreover, these vesicles stimulate the production of antibodies directed against pneumococcal antigens. These antibodies are able to increase opsonophagocytosis of pneumococci by mouse macrophages, and are required for protection, as demonstrated by the absence of protection in mice that are not able to produce B lymphocytes. Moreover, in our model the vesicles are able to protect mice against an infection with a pneumococcal strain of serotype 3, to a higher degree than what we observed for the currently available pneumococcal vaccine PCV13. The protective effect in humans of PCV13 against IPD caused by serotype 3 is debated.The structure of the pneumococcal capsule differs vastly between serotypes. We found that these differences have profound consequences in determining the disease progression in terms of pneumonia or septicemia, in mice. In particular, we observed that serotype 2 was quickly cleared from the lungs but migrated efficiently to the blood, while serotype 3 remained in the lungs, since the thick capsule made bacteria able to adhere less to cells and better avoid opsonization by the complement system. Fate of pneumococcal disease is tightly linked to the immune response against pneumococci. We found that a compound used in traditional Chinese medicine is able to potentiate the response of dendritic cells against pathogens, as well as increase the antimicrobial activities of host cells.Overall, the work in this thesis provides information on pneumococcal interactions with the host immune system and highlights the potential use of vesicles in future vaccination strategies.List of scientific papersI. CODEMO M., MUSCHIOL S., IOVINO F., NANNAPANENI P., PLANT L., WAI S. N., HENRIQUES-NORMARK B. Immunomodulatory Effects of Pneumococcal Extracellular Vesicles on Cellular and Humoral Host Defenses. mBio. 2018 Apr 10, 9(2): e00559-18. https://doi.org/10.1128/mBio.00559-18 II. CODEMO M., IOVINO F., MUSCHIOL S., NANNAPANENI P., HENRIQUES-NORMARK B. Streptococcus pneumoniae microparticles evoke a heterologous serotypeindependent protection towards invasive pneumococcal disease. [Manuscript]III. NORMAN M., PATHAK A., CODEMO M., SENDER V., GALLOTTA M., NANNAPANENI P., BOOTSMA H. J., BROWALL S., JONCZYK M., HASTE L., HERMANS P., ANDREW P., HENRIQUES-NORMARK B. Growth and defence strategies affect pneumococcal disease pattern: septicaemia versus pneumonia. [Manuscript]IV. XIE S., SPELMINK L., CODEMO M., SUBRAMANIAN K., PÜTSEP K., HENRIQUES-NORMARK B., OLLIVER M. Cinobufagin Modulates Human Innate Immune Responses and Triggers Antibacterial Activity. PLoS ONE. 2016 Aug 16; 11(8): e0160734. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0160734 </p
Primo sviluppo metalinguistico in bambini bilingui italiano-inglese. Una ricerca in contesto britannico
No full textThis article presents research into metalinguistic development in Italian-English pre- schoolers. A total sample of 118 children was selected, aged 4 to 5,11 years, all living in London and subdivided into two sub-samples. The bilingual sub-sample was composed of 64 children from Italian families, balanced bilinguals from birth and attending an Italian kindergarten, while the monolingual sub-sample was made up of 54 English-speaking children attending an English kindergarten. Half of the bilinguals, randomly selected, was tested through the Italian version of a battery of metalinguistic tasks, the TAM-1 (Pinto, Candilera 2000), while the other half was tested through the English version of the same test, the MAT-1 (Pinto, Titone, Trusso 1999), as were also the English-speaking monolinguals. Results, obtained by means of a 3 factor Anova (type of language experience, age, gender) show a statistically significant effect of biligualism, but at different levels
Trento Smart Infrastructures: green and blue infrastructures for Trento: climate assessment report
No full textThe project aims to valorise, develop and manage periurban landscapes with their natural and cultural assets as part of the blue and green infrastructure network for a liveable and attractive Trento. Suburban public green and agricultural areas shall reconnect the city with the river Adige since the valley floor suffers from urban sprawl and infrastructures of the Brenner axis.
The city is currently questioning on how to understand, valorise, develop, and manage periurban landscapes with their natural and cultural assets as integral part of the larger blue and green infrastructure BGI network for a liveable and attractive Alpine Space. The alpine features and the natural and productive landscapes (agriculture, recreational, cultural sites) are the background of the project. It explores the multifold identities of infrastructures in the Alpine context, enhancing them into contemporary definitions of green and blue infrastructures
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