La Qiṣṣat Ḏī l-Qarnayn (“Storia del Bicorne”) e la tradizione arabo-occidentale del romanzo di Alessandro

The main object of this research is the Qiṣṣat Ḏī l-Qarnayn (“The Story of the TwoHorned”), an Arabic version of the Alexander Romance, which we also examined within the framework of the Western-Arabic tradition of this literary cycle. The bipartite structure of this thesis reflects the two-fold interest of the Qiṣṣat Ḏī l-Qarnayn. In fact, the first part of this thesis concerns the linguistic variety of this text, which can be recognized as an Andalusi Middle Arabic variety, whereas the second part focuses on the content of the Qiṣṣat Ḏī lQarnayn and of the other Western-Arabic versions of the Alexander Romance. In conclusion, this research allows, first of all, confirmation of the Andalusi origin of the Qiṣṣat Ḏī l-Qarnayn and suggests a method to detect the non-stigmatized traits of Neo-Arabic by examining Middle Arabic texts whose linguistic variety is rather close to Standard Arabic. Moreover, this research reveals the complexity of the transmission of the WesternArabic tradition of the Alexander Romance, to which the Qiṣṣat Ḏī l-Qarnayn belongs. In fact, this group of texts, originating from the Western extremity of the dār al-islām, shows an intricate network of similarities and textual correspondences. This complex network seemingly reflects the complex transmission of these texts, which are the result of the continuous rewriting, reworking, and reassembling of fragments of texts of various types.El principal objeto de esta investigación es la Qiṣṣat Ḏī l-Qarnayn (“Historia del Bicorne”), una versión árabe del Roman d’Alexandre, que se considera también en el marco de la tradición árabe-occidental de este ciclo literario. La estructura bipartita de esta tesis refleja el doble interés de la Qiṣṣat Ḏī l-Qarnayn: en la primera parte se examina la variedad lingüística de este texto, que se puede reconocer como una variedad de árabe medio andalusí, mientras que la segunda parte se enfoca en el contenido de este texto y de las otras versiones árabe-occidentales del Roman d’Alexandre. Por lo tanto, esta investigación permite, por un lado, confirmar el origen andalusí de la Qiṣṣat Ḏī l-Qarnayn y sugerir un método para estudiar los rasgos menos estigmatizados del neoárabe a partir del análisis de los textos en árabe medio relativamente cercanos al árabe estándar. Por otro, este estudio destaca la complejidad de la transmisión de la tradición árabeoccidental del Roman d’Alexandre, de la cual la Qiṣṣat Ḏī l-Qarnayn forma parte: este grupo de textos, que provienen del extremo occidental de la dār al-islām, muestra una compleja red de analogías y correspondencias textuales que parece reflejar la compleja transmisión de estos textos, fruto de recomposiciones y reescrituras de fragmentos textuales de vario género

Design of new biopolymers for biomedicine and food-packaging

The limited fossil fuels reserves, as well as serious pollution problems, have led to a continuously growing interest in the use of sustainable materials obtained from renewable sources for many different applications. Among these materials, biopolymers, and in particular the class of biopolyesters, could potentially replace traditional plastics. Their versatility and their ability to undergo degradation in the environment where they are disposed, is of particular interest both for food packaging (when recycling is not possible due to organic matter contamination as well as multi-layered structures) and for biomedicine, in case of temporary applications, such as controlled drug release or tissue engineering. If these materials hydrolyse in the human body, it is possible to avoid the removal of the implant through surgery. In this framework, aim of the present research project was the synthesis and characterization of new bio-based and biodegradable polyesters and copolyesters, with tailored properties in relation to the intended use, in the fields of food packaging, which is one of the most demanding in terms of plastic sources, and regenerative medicine, as it represents the new frontier of biomedicine. The synthetic routes adopted (i.e. two-step melt polycondensation, ring opening polymerization and chain extension) are solvent-free, simple and economic, and can be easily used for industrial scale-up. Monomers from renewable sources were preferred over the ones obtained from fossil fuels. Moreover, copolymerization turned out to be a winning strategy to modify the polymers of interest. Starting from polyesters, the aliphatic (i.e. polylactic acid, poly(butylene succinate), polymers containing cyclohexane ring) and aromatic ones (i.e. polymers containing furan and thiophene rings), all characterized by high stiffness and low degradation rates, it was possible to obtain more flexible materials with higher biodegradation rates, particularly suitable for soft tissue engineering and for the realization of flexible food packaging films

La risoluzione dei contrasti sulla gestione nella s.r.l. (dopo l'entrata in vigore del codice della crisi)

Si tratta di un esame aggiornato della disciplinca del c.d. "arbitraggio gestionale

3D-printing of porous structures for reproduction of a femoral bone

Background: 3D-printing has shown potential in several medical advances because of its ability to create patient-specific surgical models and instruments. In fact, this technology makes it possible to acquire and study physical models that accurately reproduce patient-specific anatomy. The challenge is to apply 3D-printing to reproduce the porous structure of a bone tissue, consisting of compact bone, spongy bone and bone marrow. Methods: An interesting approach is presented here for reproducing the structure of a bone tissue of a femur by 3D-printing porous structure. Through the process of CT segmentation, the distribution of bone density was analysed. In 3D-printing, the bone density was compared with the density of infill. Results: The zone of compact bone, the zone of spongy bone and the zone of bone marrow can be recognized in the 3D printed model by a porous density additive manufacturing method. Conclusions: The application of 3D-printing to reproduce a porous structure, such as that of a bone, makes it possible to obtain physical anatomical models that likely represent the internal structure of a bone tissue. This process is low cost and easily reproduced

Waiting time information in the Italian NHS: A citizen perspective

Public involvement in the management and communication of waiting times is known to support initiatives to reduce waiting times, as well as increase fairness and promote transparency and accountability. In order to improve transparency and communication to citizens, Italy recently updated the National Regulatory Plan for Waiting Lists (2019–2021), which calls for the disclosure of waiting time information on healthcare provider webpages. This study analyses waiting time information for outpatient visits and digital services available on the institutional website pages of 144 public healthcare organisations in nine regions and two autonomous provinces of Italy. Web pages were analysed both in terms of the available information/services, using a grid, and in terms of the quality of the text using an advanced readability assessment tool (READ-IT). This information was complemented and validated by regional healthcare key informants during research-specific workshops. Waiting time information disclosure, digital services and text readability varied both within and between the regional healthcare systems and organisations. The types and characteristics of waiting time information and statistics vary considerably with a negative impact on their use for benchmarking and their readability and usability for booking purposes. Overall, communication weaknesses due to low harmonization and clarity of information can undermine efforts in effectively informing and involving the public through online waiting time data disclosure

Dysregulation of Astrocytic HMGB1 Signaling in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Astrocytes have emerged as critical elements for the maintenance and function of the central nervous system. The expression on their cell membrane of RAGE and TLR4 receptors makes astrocytes susceptible to High-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1), a nuclear protein typically released in the extracellular milieu by living cells experiencing physiological stress conditions or by damaged cells. Here, we show that the interaction of HMGB1 with normal spinal cord astrocytes induces the astrocytic production of neurotrophic factors, particularly brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF). Multiple investigations suggest a role for HMGB1 in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Yet, no mechanistic information on the implication of HMGB1 signaling in this disorder is currently available. We demonstrate that non-transgenic and transgenic SOD1WT spinal motor neurons exhibit only a basal nucleus-to-cytoplasm shuttling of the HMGB1 protein. Conversely, in SOD1G93A ALS mouse spinal cords, HMGB1 significantly translocates from the nucleus to the cytoplasm of motor neurons, thereby suggesting that it may be eventually released in the extracellular environment during the progression of the disease. We postulate that extracellular HMGB1 can paracrinally interact with the neighboring astrocytes in an attempt to counteract the neurodegenerative process. Yet, at variance with normal cells, SOD1G93A-expressing astrocytes show impaired capacity to raise BDNF and GDNF levels upon HMGB1 stimulation. Our data suggest that HMGB1 have a potential to promote neuroprotective actions by healthy astrocytes. However, this neurotrophic response is disrupted in ALS astrocytes. This indicates that diseased astroglial cells may exacerbate motor neuron degeneration in ALS because of the loss of their neurosupportive functions

Bio-based aliphatic/aromatic poly(trimethylene furanoate/sebacate) random copolymers:Correlation between mechanical, gas barrier performances and compostability and copolymer composition

Highly promising fully biobased random copolyesters, poly(trimethylene 2,5-furandicarboxylate-co-trimethylene sebacate) (PTFcoPTSeb), were synthesized by using bio derived 1,3-propanediol, dimethyl ester of 2,5- furandicarboxylic acid, and sebacic acid, through eco-friendly polycondensation in the melt. Copolymers with high molecular weight containing 5, 15, 25 mol % of PTSeb were obtained, and their chemical structure confirmed by 1H NMR and FTIR spectroscopy. The thermal, tensile and gas barrier properties and composability were studied in relation to the copolymer supramolecular structure. As expected, introduction of PTSeb co-units results in lowering of glass transition temperature of copolymers and improves their flexibility. Besides, all copolymers showed outstanding gas barrier properties to O2 and CO2, with copolymer containing 15 mol % of PTSeb showing exceptional gas barrier properties, better than those of PTF and comparable to those of EVOH, currently used in multilayer packaging films. The same copolymer exhibited temperature induced shape memory behaviour. It was found that low amounts (15-25 mol %) of PTSeb in copolymer significantly modifies PTF thermal, mechanical and barrier properties and renders the final material compostable. Copolyesters containing 15 and 25 mol % of PTSeb can compete in some applications with commercially available compostable Ecoflex® polymer, but with markedly improved barrier properties.</p

In-silico prediction and deep-DNA sequencing validation indicate phase variation in 115 Neisseria meningitidis genes

Parameters applied for SSR identification. (XLSX 32 kb

Broadband Dielectric Spectroscopy Study of Biobased Poly(alkylene 2,5-furanoate)s’ Molecular Dynamics

Abstract Poly(2,5-alkylene furanoate)s are bio-based, smart, and innovative polymers that are considered the most promising materials to replace oil-based plastics. These polymers can be synthesized using ecofriendly approaches, starting from renewable sources, and result into final products with properties comparable and even better than those presented by their terephthalic counterparts. In this work, we present the molecular dynamics of four 100% bio-based poly(alkylene 2,5-furanoate)s, using broadband dielectric spectroscopy measurements that covered a wide temperature and frequency range. We unveiled complex local relaxations, characterized by the simultaneous presence of two components, which were dependent on thermal treatment. The segmental relaxation showed relaxation times and strengths depending on the glycolic subunit length, which were furthermore confirmed by high-frequency experiments in the molten region of the polymers. Our results allowed determining structure–property relations that are able to provide further understanding about the excellent barrier properties of poly(alkylene 2,5-furanoate)s. In addition, we provide results of high industrial interest during polymer processing for possible industrial applications of poly(alkylene furanoate)s.This research was funded by the European Union: EUSMI, H2020-INFRAIA-2016-1, PROJECT 731019, via proposals E171100043 and E171100040. The APC was funded by EUSMI. B.R.-H. and A.A. acknowledge funding from Basque Government (IT-1175-19). D.E.M.-T. acknowledges financial support via the postdoctoral fellowship “Juan de la Cierva–Incorporación” grant (IJCI-2017-31600, MCIU–Spain). G.G., M.S. and N.L. and A.M. acknowledge financial support via the framework COST Action FUR4Sustain, CA18220, supported by COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology)