The rights of surviving spouse and surviving partner in comparative private law and private international law

En esta Tesis Doctoral se estudia el régimen jurídico del estatuto patrimonial del cónyuge viudo y de la pareja superviviente desde una doble perspectiva. La primera parte, dividida en cinco capítulos, aborda el derecho comparado de Alemania, España (Derecho civil común y foral), Francia, Italia y Reino Unido (Inglaterra y Gales, Irlanda del Norte y Escocia). Para cada uno de ellos, explica qué derechos tiene el cónyuge viudo en ausencia de actos de planificación, qué mecanismos existen para organizar los derechos del cónyuge viudo y qué influencia tienen en los derechos legalmente establecidos. También incluye un análisis de la protección de la pareja o pareja de hecho superviviente que no esté casada o en unión registrada. La segunda parte, dividida en dos capítulos, se dedica al estudio del Derecho internacional privado vigente, a partir de los Reglamentos (UE) 650/2012, 2016/1103 y 2016/1104. En primer lugar, se analiza la cuestión subjetiva de la relación de parentesco como materia previa al estatuto patrimonial y sucesorio, como materia excluida de estos Reglamentos y con escasa armonización en el marco jurídico internacional. A continuación, se analiza la cuestión objetiva, centrándose en los problemas de falta de coordinación entre ambos Reglamentos a la hora de establecer la ley aplicable a los derechos del cónyuge viudo o supérstite. Además, se examina la posible influencia de la planificación de la sucesión, a través de la elección de la ley aplicable, en la consecución de la coordinación.In this dissertation, the legal regime of the patrimonial status of the widowed spouse and surviving partner is studied from a dual perspective. The first part, divided into five chapters, deals with the comparative law of Germany, Spain (Common and Foral Civil Law), France, Italy and the United Kingdom (England and Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland). For each, it explains what rights a widowed spouse has in the absence of planning acts, what mechanisms exist to organise the rights of a widowed spouse, and what influence they have on legally established rights. It also includes a discussion of the protection of a surviving partner or cohabitee who is not married or in a registered partnership. The second part, divided into two chapters, is devoted to a study of current private international law, based on Regulations (EU) 650/2012, 2016/1103 and 2016/1104. First, the subjective issue of the family relationship is analysed as a matter prior to the status of property and succession, as a matter excluded from these Regulations and with little harmonisation in the international legal framework. Then an analysis of the objective question is provided, focusing on the problems of lack of coordination between the two Regulations in establishing the law applicable to the rights of a widowed spouse or surviving partner. In addition, the possible influence of succession planning, through the choice of applicable law, on achieving coordination is also considered

Primary dilated cardiomyopathy with onset in childhood: analysis of clinical-instrumental characteristics, genetic variants and their prognostic impact in patients followed at a specialist outpatient clinic in a tertiary care center.

Le cardiomiopatie pediatriche sono malattie rare ma gravate da un’alta mortalità, con un’incidenza di 1,5 bambini su 100.000/anno. La cardiomiopatia dilatativa (CMD) rappresenta circa il 50% dei casi, spesso è individuabile una base genetica. Sebbene i test genetici non siano ancora eseguiti in modo sistematico in età pediatrica, la loro utilità per la gestione della malattia e la possibilità di predirne la prognosi sta emergendo come è successo per i pazienti adulti. Questo studio retrospettivo ha analizzato 121 pazienti pediatrici con cardiomiopatia dilatativa (CMD), con un follow-up medio di 10 anni, seguiti presso l’ambulatorio cardiomiopatie dell’unità operativa di cardiologia e cardiochirurgia pediatrica dell’ospedale Sant’Orsola dal 2000 ad oggi. L’età media alla diagnosi era di 6,11 anni, e il 44% dei pazienti erano femmine. L’analisi genetica ha identificato mutazioni patologiche in 43 pazienti (35,5%), mentre in molti altri la diagnosi genetica non ha prodotto risultati significativi. I pazienti con eziologia metabolica o neuromuscolare hanno mostrato un maggiore rischio di mortalità. Tra i 62 pazienti che hanno sviluppato eventi avversi, 27 hanno ricevuto un trapianto cardiaco, 25 sono deceduti e 25 hanno sviluppato aritmie. Variabili cliniche come una bassa frazione di eiezione, dilatazione ventricolare sinistra e alterazioni elettrocardiografiche sono risultate predittive di un outcome avverso. La presenza di non compattazione del ventricolo sinistro (LVNC) è emersa come un fattore non associato ad outcome avverso, così come già dimostrato per i pazienti adulti. La diagnosi genetica non ha influenzato significativamente gli outcome clinici, ma l’alta mortalità associata alle cardiomiopatie metaboliche suggerisce una potenziale utilità in questa tipologia di pazienti. Lo studio evidenzia la necessità di implementare i protocolli di analisi genetica nei pazienti pediatrici con CMD.Pediatric cardiomyopathies are rare diseases characterized by high mortality rates, with an incidence of 1.5 children per 100,000 per year. Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) accounts for approximately 50% of cases, often with an identifiable genetic basis. Although genetic testing is not yet systematically performed in the pediatric population, its utility for disease management and the potential to predict prognosis is emerging, similar to what has been observed in adult patients. This retrospective study analyzed 121 pediatric patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), with an average follow-up of 10 years, monitored at the cardiomyopathy outpatient clinic of the pediatric cardiology and cardiac surgery unit at Sant'Orsola Hospital from 2000 to present. The mean age at diagnosis was 6.11 years, and 44% of the patients were female. Genetic analysis identified pathogenic mutations in 43 patients (35.5%), while many others had non-significant genetic diagnostic results. Patients with metabolic or neuromuscular etiology exhibited a higher risk of mortality. Among the 62 patients who developed adverse events, 27 underwent heart transplantation, 25 died, and 25 developed arrhythmias. Clinical variables such as low ejection fraction, left ventricular dilation, and electrocardiographic abnormalities were found to be predictive of adverse outcomes. The presence of left ventricular non-compaction (LVNC) emerged as a factor not associated with adverse outcomes, as previously demonstrated in adult patients. Genetic diagnosis did not significantly influence clinical outcomes, but the high mortality associated with metabolic cardiomyopathies suggests potential utility in this patient population. The study highlights the need to implement genetic analysis protocols in pediatric patients with DCM

Design and optimization of biocompatible thermoplastic elastomers to compound for the manufacturing of medical devices

In the last century, plastics changed habits, quality of life and industry. In biomedical sector, the introduction of low-cost and safe for human’s health polymers with a large range of mechanical and chemical properties, gave the possibility to create new biomedical devices. Single-use devices have seen a rapid evolution, from glass-based to thermoset and thermoplastic. Today Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) represent around 15.2% of the medical plastics market. Unfortunately, PVC compounds have several defects, such as need of different additives to tune the mechanical properties, concern about human health, unsuitable for some specific applications and interaction of PVC with drugs. To overcome this problems, new thermoplastic compounds and blends have been developed to replace PVC compounds, such as thermoplastic elastomers (TPE). The industrial research focused mainly to TPEs and TPO due to their low cost, wide range of both mechanical and chemical properties, and biocompatibility, being in every case a trade-off between desired properties and drawbacks. For example TPEs and TPO cannot be sterilized by steam or autoclave methods, SEBS cannot be glued with Cyclohexanone solvent, TPEs are difficult to print with injection molding, TPO tend to stick in the molds and have low crystallization The developed compounds need also to be transparent, no colored and weldable with radiofrequency welding technique. The present research work focused on the production of new TPE compounds characterized by low hardness, good elongation at break, adequate thermal resistance, good transparency, biocompatibility, and capability to be manufactured with most used technics in biomedical field, in order to replace PVC compounds. Various TPE matrices were considered, and the best ones modified with additives of various nature. All developed compounds have been characterized from optical, thermal and mechanical point of view. Further analyses have been conducted and processing parameters were investigated, to achieve the scale-up of production

Farmers behaviour and adoption of sustainable farming practices

The agri-food systems face many global and local challenges, including climate change, environmental degradation, and loss of biodiversity. There is an urgent need to transition agri-food systems’ goals from production efficiency to sustainability to address these challenges. Sustainable farming practices (SFPs) plays a critical role in this transition, as they have the potential to not only improve farmers’ incomes and food production but also preserve the natural environment. This thesis makes significant contributions to the literature by analysing farmers’ attitudes and behaviour towards sustainable farming, with a specific focus on uplands and hills beef and sheep farms in Northern Ireland (NI). A literature review was conducted on niches market for sustainable agri-food systems to provide insights into the motivation behind farmers’ attitudes and behaviour towards sustainable farming. Consequently, an analysis based on the Partial Least Squares-Structural Equation Modelling was conducted on 357 beef and sheep farms in NI to examine the behavioural drivers of adoption intensity, defined in terms of multiple SFPs and the duration (in years) of adoption. To understand the factors influencing farmers' attitudes towards the environmental impact of their farming activities, and the barriers to adopting sustainable practices among upland beef and sheep farms in NI, an ordered logit model and descriptive analysis was conducted on the 357 beef and sheep farms. The findings show that environmental attitudes, profitability goals, and access to formal information are significant drivers of adoption intensity. Results also show that education, farm structure, financial constraints, and regulatory burdens as key influences on farmers’ attitudes towards environment and sustainable farming. The thesis concludes by recommending that policies aimed at increasing the adoption of sustainable farming should combine both behavioural and socio-economic interventions. Such a policy mix could encourage more widespread and effective adoption of SFPs across the agri-food sector

The health data space in the process of European integration. New constitutional balances in the field of personal data

La tesi esamina il regolamento sullo Spazio europeo dei dati sanitari (EHDS) con un duplice obiettivo: da un lato, migliorare la comprensione dello EHDS nel contesto più ampio del processo di integrazione europea in ambito sanitario; dall’altro, valutare l’impatto del modello regolatorio introdotto dallo EHDS, e in generale dagli atti della Strategia europea per i dati, sulle scelte di bilanciamento che finora hanno orientato l’interpretazione e l’applicazione del Regolamento generale sulla protezione dei dati personali (GDPR). La struttura del lavoro riflette questa impostazione attraverso due parti tra loro complementari e poste in un rapporto di continuità, ma che consentono al contempo una declinazione più specifica dei temi affrontati. La prima parte si concentra sul fondamento costituzionale dello EHDS, sollevando rilievi critici sulla sua conformità al quadro costituzionale esistente e sui rischi di effettività normativa che possono emergere nella fase attuativa. La seconda parte, invece, muovendo da una disamina della giurisprudenza della Corte di giustizia dell’Unione europea in materia di protezione dei dati personali e delle normative nazionali di applicazione del GDPR, propone alcune strategie ermeneutiche e legislative che mirano a garantire un’interpretazione e un’applicazione del GDPR più coerente con le novità introdotte dallo EHDS.This thesis examines the European Health Data Space Regulation (EHDS) with a twofold objective: on the one hand, to improve the understanding of the EHDS in the broader context of the European integration process in the healthcare sector; on the other hand, to assess the impact of the regulatory model introduced by the EHDS, and more generally by the acts of the European Data Strategy, on the balancing choices that have so far guided the interpretation and application of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The structure of the work reflects this approach through two parts that are complementary and placed in a relationship of continuity, but at the same time allow for a more specific declination of the issues addressed. The first part focuses on the constitutional basis of the EHDS, raising critical observations on its compliance with the existing constitutional framework and on the risks to regulatory effectiveness that may emerge in the implementation phase. The second part, drawing from an examination of the case law of the Court of Justice of the European Union on the protection of personal data and of the national laws implementing the GDPR, proposes some hermeneutic and legislative strategies aimed at ensuring an interpretation and application of the GDPR that is more consistent with the innovations introduced by the EHDS

Innovative approaches to manage Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae by manipulating the disease triangle

Kiwifruit (Actinidia sp.) production has being severely affected by Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae, the etiological agent of the bacterial canker of Actinidia. The present work aimed at manipulating/exploring features of the three vertex of the disease triangle (host, pathogen and environment) to explore novel strategies to prevent disease development. Chapter 2 includes the study of the influence of red (R):blue (B) light ratio and green (G) light supplementation on plant physiology and disease development. Our study shows that 50%R-50%B and 25%R-75%B lead to the highest PSII efficiency and photosynthetic rate, but monochromatic blue light was the most efficient in reducing disease symptoms, possibly by modulating Psa virulence more than host plant defenses. Chapter 3 explores the potential of kiwifruit phyllosphere as a reservoir of microbes with potential biological control. Two strains stood out as great flower and leaf colonisers with good capacity to inhibit Psa growth. Their genomes were shotgun sequenced and the strains were taxonomically affiliated to Pseudomonas azotoformans and Pseudomonas putida species. The genome analysis revealed that both strains may produce the siderophore pyoverdine, which may contribute to limit iron availability and subsequently reduce pathogen growth. Chapter 4 explores the hypothesis that plant-derived factors recognized by Psa could be uniquely present, or more abundant, in susceptible species, thus increasing bacterial virulence traits. Leaf extracts, produced from five Actinidia species displaying different degrees of tolerance to Psa, were screened for their ability to induce Psa virulence and the results showed that all crude extracts tested enhance Psa virulence, independently of the susceptibility of the plant. Nevertheless, extract fractionation revealed that the molecule(s) responsible for Psa virulence induction by the different plant species could differ, suggesting that leaf metabolite composition may play a role in regulating Psa virulence and thus contribute to the outcome of the interaction

Sensory analysis as a tool to improve the quality of aquaculture products

Sensory analysis is a scientific discipline used to evoke, measure, analyse and interpret the responses to products that are perceived by the senses of sight, smell, taste, touch and hearing. This science is used to highlight the strengths and characteristics of a product, such as in the case of research and development products where alternative ingredients, food waste or by-products are used. It can also be used to evaluate the same characteristics over time, to highlight alterations in one of the sensory components at a given time or over time. This doctoral thesis deals with the valorisation, through characterisation, of various aquaculture fish products. In particular, the products covered by this study were analysed, depending on the objective pursued, with different sensory methods using trained judges and in one case consumers. Therefore, the sensory characterisation of the products was useful for investigating the foods considered in this doctoral research. In particular, specific research topics were taken: 1. The study of alternative ingredients, such as the outcomes of different levels of inclusion of insect larvae (Hermetia illucens) meal on the quality of sea bream (Sparus aurata) fillets. 2. The study of consumer expectations and perceptions on the use of insect meal as a feed for aquaculture products. In particular, this study was done after the characterisation by Quantitative Descriptive analysis (QDA) of the products to exclude sensory differences. 3. Development of a non-destructive and cheap device based on dielectric spectroscopy for assessing fish freshness. In particular in this study, the developed device was evaluated in correlation with a sensory method for assessing the freshness of fish product, the Quality Index Method (QIM