Evoluzioni e tendenze dei consumi alimentari delle famiglie italiane - Analisi delle decisioni di consumo attraverso il modello Almost Ideal

Il problema affrontato nel lavoro riguarda l'allocazione della spesa tra gruppi di beni alimentari (domestici ed extra-domestici) e le modificazioni che tale allocazione ha subito nell’arco dell’ultimo decennio. L’obiettivo principale dell'analisi proposta è, quindi, di spiegare come variazioni della quota di spesa destinata alle componenti del consumo alimentare siano attribuibili a fattori strettamente economici, oltre che alle caratteristiche struttura socio-demografiche dei consumatori. Allo scopo di valutare l’allocazione inter-temporale della spesa individuale viene proposto come schema di analisi il sistema di domanda Almost Ideal di Deaton e Muellbauer (AIDS).

Attività autonomica cardiaca e funzioni neurocognitive nei pazienti affetti da sindrome delle gambe senza riposo (RLS): effetto dei farmaci dopamino agonisti in acuto e a lungo termine

Several studies showed that sleep loss/fragmentation may have a negative impact on cognitive performance, mood and autonomic activity. Specific neurocognitive domains, such as executive function (i.e.,prefrontal cortex), seems to be particularly vulnerable to sleep loss. Pearson et al.(2006) evaluated 16 RLS patients compared to controls by cognitive tests, including those particularly sensitive to prefrontal cortical (PFC) functioning and sleep loss. RLS patients showed significant deficits on two of the three PFC tests. It has been recently reported that RLS is associated with psychiatric manifestations. A high prevalence of depressive symptoms has been found in patients with RLS(Rothdach AJ et al., 2000). RLS could cause depression through its adverse influences on sleep and energy. On the other hand, symptoms of depression such as sleep deprivation, poor nutrition or lack of exercise may predispose an individual to the development of RLS. Moreover, depressed patients may amplify mild RLS, making occasional RLS symptoms appear to meet threshold criteria. The specific treatment of depression could be also implicated, since antidepressant compounds may worsen RLS and PLMD(Picchietti D et al., 2005; Damsa C et al., 2004). Interestingly, treatments used to relieve RLS symptoms (dopamine agonists) seem to have an antidepressant effects in RLS depressed patients(Saletu M et al., 2002&2003). During normal sleep there is a well-regulated pattern of the autonomic function, modulated by changes in sleep stages. It has been reported that chronic sleep deprivation is associated with cardiovascular events. In patients with sleep fragmentation increased number of arousals and increased cyclic alternating pattern rate is associated with an increase in sympathetic activity. It has been demonstrated that PLMS occurrence is associated with a shift to increased sympathetic activity without significant changes in cardiac parasympathetic activity (Sforza E et al., 2005). An increased association of RLS with hypertension and heart disease has been documented in several studies(Ulfberg J et al., 2001; Ohayon MM et al., 2002).

L'immobilità del traduttore: la traduzione dei classici moderni inglesi in Italia

Translations, says Gideon Toury, are facts of target cultures – but the perceived status of source texts has a bearing on how these are reflected or refracted in the target language. This proposition is particularly evident in the case of classics: when translators have to work on literary creations occupying a pivotal position in the source/target cultures, they adopt strategies of literalness and ennoblement which betray a quasi-religious awe – on the one hand, a desire to ruffle the surface of the revered original as little as possible; and on the other, a determination to reproduce the supposed “classical qualities” of the classic even when they are not present in the source. In this dissertation, Paola Venturi studies how the “idea of classic” influences translation theory and practice, and substantiates her theoretical observations by looking at Italian translations of eighteenth- and nineteenth-century English classics. A marked – and historically determined – disparity between source and target readerships, and the translators’ reverence for their prestigious originals, conspire to produce Italian versions which are much more “wooden” and “elegant” than their English counterparts.

Biometanazione della frazione organica dei rifiuti solidi urbani attraverso codigestione con letame bovino

An anaerobic consortium, capable of efficiently converting into methane the organic fraction of mechanically sorted municipal solid waste (MS-OFMSW), was obtained through a dedicated enrichment procedure in a 0.36 L up-flow anaerobic recirculated reactor. This result was obtained after several micro-reactor fed-batch procedures that allowed to obtain only a few methanization of the MS-OFMSW.

Il vaglio di ammissibilità dei ricorsi avanti alla Corte di Cassazione francese: premesse per uno studio comparato

Oggetto dell’elaborato è il vaglio di ammissibilità dei ricorsi in materia civile avanti alla Corte di cassazione francese. Il primo dei tre capitoli ha ad oggetto alcuni aspetti storici ed ordinamentali ritenuti essenziali per una migliore comprensione del giudizio civile di cassation: dalle origini storiche della Corte di cassazione, alle funzioni attualmente attribuite alla Cour de cassation, sino alla presentazione dei membri che la compongono e delle differenti formazioni, non solo giudicanti, nelle quali può riunirsi; in tale capitolo trova, altresì, spazio una rassegna delle riforme che si sono susseguite negli ultimi decenni, volte, in maniera più o meno diretta, a contrastare il sovraccarico di ricorsi che affliggeva la S.C. francese ed a rafforzarne la funzione nomofilattica. Il secondo capitolo è interamente dedicato all’analisi della disciplina del processo civile avanti alla Cour de cassation. Dopo aver affrontato la questione della classificazione del mezzo di impugnazione, vengono illustrati i caratteri tradizionalmente attribuiti al pourvoi en cassation (assenza di effetto devolutivo e di effetto sospensivo), nonché la c.d. ouverture del ricorso, ossia le condizioni di ammissibilità dello stesso; sono, infine, descritti le fasi in cui si svolge il giudizio e l’esito del procedimento. L’attenzione si rivolge, nel terzo capitolo, a quel peculiare momento del giudizio rappresentato dal vaglio preliminare di ammissibilità del ricorso. Dopo un breve excursus storico, la tesi si sofferma sulla disciplina odierna, trattando, in particolare, i criteri offerti alle formazioni ridotte per la valutazione di ammissibilità del pourvoi; le peculiarità del procedimento volto alla dichiarazione di non-admission del ricorso; la natura, il contenuto e gli effetti della decisione della formation restreinte. Particolare attenzione è prestata, in tale capitolo, alle prassi applicative che integrano la scarna disciplina dell’istituto ed alla compatibilità del vaglio preliminare con la Convenzione Europea dei Diritti dell’Uomo.

L'imposizione sul reddito dell'attività bancaria profili nazionali e comunitari

La ricerca oggetto della tesi dottorale ha riguardato l’analisi della problematica relativa ai cambiamenti provocati dalla diversificazione delle attività aziendali bancarie nell'ottica tributaria. Si è individuato nella composizione del reddito imponibile il fulcro centrale del lavoro. Data la grande importanza del mercato finanziario la presente ricerca si è proposta una valutazione dell’attività bancaria tradizionale, facendo un’analisi della relativa fiscalità. In particolare si è cercato di evidenziare il momento in cui la banca è diventata un’azienda molto più complessa e moderna di quella che era originariamente. Tale cambiamento ha così richiesto un corrispondente sviluppo della tecnica giuridica tributaria di riferimento. Si sono altresì analizzate le fasi della implementazione e dello sviluppo nell’ordinamento tributario italiano ed europeo (analizzando così le difficoltà di adattamento per i modelli di Civil Law e Common Law) dell'armonizzazione giuridico/contabile europea e dell’adozione dei principi IAS/IFRS. A tal fine si sono ripercorse le fasi anteriori all’adozione dei menzionati principi e la loro evoluzione e, nel farlo, si sono fissati i punti ove sembra sia necessario un ripensamento da parte del legislatore comunitario. Il tutto è stato sviluppato senza trascurare la giurisprudenza nazionale e della Corte di Giustizia europea, in modo tale da tentare di individuare le soluzioni alle nuove sfide che il diritto tributario comunitario si trova a fronteggiare.

Ruolo di interleuchina-33 sull'espressione di geni profibrotici e sull'ipertrofia dei miofibroblasti nella fibrosi intestinale

Background: Intestinal fibrosis is a serious complication of IBD, with more than a third of Crohn’s disease (CD) patients developing a fibrostenosing phenotype with formation of strictures that will require surgical intervention. Remarkably, SAMP1/YitFc (SAMP) mice, a spontaneous model of CD, develop gut fibrosis; similar to IBD patients, the pathophysiology of SAMP fibrosis is unknown. IL-33 is a member of the IL-1 cytokine family and increased expression is associated with IBD. Emerging evidence suggests its potential role in liver and cutaneous fibrosis, as well as myofibroblast-associated colonic ulcerations . Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of IL-33 as a potential mediator of profibrotic events leading to intestinal fibrosis and possible stricture formation. Methods: A detailed histologic time course study, with collagen-specific Masson trichrome staining and IHC for ST2 (IL-33 receptor), was performed on SAMP and control AKR (parental strain) mice. qRT-PCR was done on full-thickness ilea for the profibrogenic genes, collagen (coll)-1, coll-3, connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1). Exogenous IL-33 (33 μg/kg, i.p.) or vehicle was administered daily for 7d to SAMP and AKR mice (N=6/exp group), and ileal tissues evaluated as above. Finally, microarray analysis was performed on full-thickness ilea from SAMP and AKR mice, and IL-33 stimulated subepithelial myofibroblasts (SEMFs). Results: SAMP mice displayed ileal skip lesions with randomly distributed strictures, preceded by typical pre-stricture dilations of the ileum. Ileal wall was visibly thickened with hypertrophy of the serosa, muscularis mucosa, muscularis propria, within which intense collagen deposition was observed, and inflammatory infiltrates in segments showing strictures. Interestingly, intense ST2 staining was present within the inflamed lamina propria of SAMP, notably localized to SEMFs. Fibrosis was first observed at 20 wks, and reached its peak by 50 wks of age. mRNA expression of coll-1 (4.74±0.69-fold; P=0.001), coll-3 (4.92±1.05-fold; P=0.01), IGF1 (12.9±3.45; P=0.006), and CTGF (3.29±0.69; P=0.004) was dramatically elevated in SAMP vs. AKR ilea. IL-33 treatment of AKR mice induced a marked increase in muscle fiber/myofibroblast cellularity and hypertrophy of the muscularis propria (4.13±0.74-fold; P<0.0001), and mRNA expression of coll-1 (5.16±0.89-fold; P=0.0009), coll-3 (1.97±0.14-fold; P=0.01), IGF-1 (9.32±2.27-fold; P=0.004), and CTGF (1.43±0.31-fold; P=0.006) vs. vehicle controls. Microarray data from SAMP ilea and IL-33-treated SEMFs confirmed these trends, displaying a global increase in profibrogenic gene expression. Conclusion: These data suggest an important role for IL-33 in intestinal fibrosis, and may represent a potential target for the treatment of IBD-associated fibrosis and stricture formation.

L'imposizione diretta dei redditi del lavoro autonomo: analisi comparata della disciplina italiana, francese, convenzionale e comunitaria

Les théories du post-industrialisation utilisent comme une preuve empirique du changement du processus historique l’entrée dans une nouvelle structure sociale que, par ailleurs, se distingue par le déplacement des biens et des services et par la formation de nouvelles structures professionnelles et de la gestion. Dans ce contexte, en premier lieu, c’est très intéressant à comprendre comme les nouvelles formes de l’organisation économique et sociale ont reussies à influer sur les systèmes de la fiscalité directe de l’État italien et de l’État français à la formation et au perfectionnement de la notion de revenu du travail indépendant et aussi à la formation et au perfectionnement des modèles de la taxation directe des revenus du travail indépendant. Par conséquent, la recherche, dans le principe, se concentre sur le processus de la construction et de l’évolution de la notion de revenu du travail indépendant et aussi de la construction et de l’évolution des formes nationales de la taxation directe des revenus du travail indépendant; un processus dévelopé au cours de l’Époque Moderne et de l’Époque Contemporaine que, du point de vue historique-fiscale, s’encadre comme l’époque des grands changements en ce qui concerne aussi à la fiscalité directe des revenus de la richesse mobilière. En second lieu, c’est très important à préciser si existe la possibilité de reconstruire les notions actuelles des revenus du travail indépendant en vue de l’aproximation des modalitès de la taxation directe de cette catégorie de revenus de la richesse mobilière avec les modalitès de la taxation directe des revenus de l’entreprise adoptées dans les systèmes italien et français de la fiscalitè directe; par conséquent, la recherche s’oriente vers la déscrition et l’analyse des questions en ce qui concerne à la définition fiscale objective et subjective des revenus du travail indépendant, à la direction vers laquelle on doit s’adresser actuellement les modèles nationaux de la taxation directe des revenus du travail indépendant et les raisons que la justifient. En autre, la recherche s’étendre vers une analyse comparative laquelle évidence les éléments de la convergence et de la divergence nécessaires pour tirer avec exactitude des conclusions sur l’approximation au niveau national et européen des notions des revenus du travail indépendant et des principes et modalités de la taxation directe des revenus du travail indépendant à fin de garantir les libertés de l’établissement et de la prestation des services et les principes de non-dicrimination et de la non-différenciation fiscale des travailleurs indépendants transfrontières dans le marché intérieur. En troisième lieu, c’est très intéressant à préciser avec cette recherche si dans le cadre conventionnel et européen existe une notion de revenu du travail indépendant ou non et si existe un modèle européen unifié ou, au contraire, il s’agit d’une approximation des modèles nationales de la taxation directe des revenus du travail indépendant. Par conséquent, un’autre argument de la recherce est l’analyse de la normative conventionnelle et de la législation européenne et aussi de la jurisprudence de la Cour de la Justice de l’Union Européenne relatives à la construction d’une notion conventionnelle et aussi européenne du travail indépendant au matiere de la fiscalité directe et l’incidence de principes conventionnels et aussi de libertés européenne de l’établissement et de la prestation des services à la taxation directe des revenus des travailleurs indépendants par rapport aux principes de non-discrimination et de la non-différenciation fiscale; une analyse laquelle évidence l’absence d’un modèle conventionnel et d’un modèle européen harmonisé relativement à la taxation directe des revenus du travail indépendant à raison de la prévalence du principe de la souveranité fiscale au domaine de la fiscalitè directe et pour cette raison en peut parler seulement d’une approximation des modèles nationales de la taxation directe des revenus du travail indépendant à fin de garantir les libertés européenne de l’établissement et de la prestation des services des travailleurs indépendants et les principes conventionnels de non-discrimination et de la non-différenciation fiscale. À la fin, c’est très intéressant à préciser si existe une corrélation entre les Traités fiscales et le Droit fiscal européen en ce qui concerne à la notion de revenus du travail indépendant et les principes fiscales. Par conséquent, la recherche se compléte avec l’analyse du régime fiscale des revenus du travail indépendant évidencé dans le Modèle de la Convention de l’OCDE et dans la Convention Italie-France concernant à l’élimination de la double imposition; une analyse laquelle, en analogie avec le droit fiscal européen, précise l’approximation des revenus du travail indépendant avec les revenus de l’entreprise en se référant le Modèle de la Convention de l’OCDE et l’absence d’un modèle conventionel de la taxation directe des revenus du travail indépendant, mais, à différence du droit fiscal européen, évidence la présence des certains critéres adoptés par la normative conventionnelle à fin de garantir l’arrêt de la double imposition et le principe de la non-discrimination que, en substance, sont points de convérgence avec le droit fiscal européen. En autre, l’analyse de la normative conventionnelle de l’OCDE, à différence de la normative conventionnelle relative à la Convention de l’élimination de la double imposition finalisée par l’Italie et la France, évidence une évolution de la fiscalitè directe en ce qui concerne aux travailleurs indépendants laquelle se vérifie à l’adoption des critéres de la fiscalitè directe des revenus des sociétés et de la quelle en se dérive l’approximation de la notion des revenus du travail indépendant avec la notion des revenus de l’entreprise, en substance, revenus provenant par les activités économiques. Compte tenu de ce qui précède, c’est clair la convérgence parmis les législations nationales de la taxation directe des revenus du travail indépendant et la normative conventionnelle du Modèle de la Convention de l’OCDE et la normative europénne; une convérgence que confirme la nouvelle diréction vers la quelle s’adressent les notions et les modèles de la taxation directe des revenus du travail indépendant dans les systèmes nationals de la taxation directe: l’approximation avec les modèles nationales de la taxation directe des revenus des sociétés en vue de l’approximation des notions des revenus dérives par les activités économiques.

Identificazione dei fenotipi clinici dell’insufficienza renale cronica che predicono la progressione della malattia. Un’applicazione della tecnica degli alberi decisionali

The primary aim of this dissertation to identify subgroups of patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) who have a differential risk of progression of illness and the secondary aim is compare 2 equations to estimate the glomerular filtration rate (GFR). To this purpose, the PIRP (Prevention of Progressive Kidney Disease) registry was linked with the dialysis and mortality registries. The outcome of interest is the mean annual variation of GFR, estimated using the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) equation. A decision tree model was used to subtype CKD patients, based on the non-parametric procedure CHAID (Chi-squared Automatic Interaction Detector). The independent variables of the model include gender, age, diabetes, hypertension, cardiac diseases, body mass index, baseline serum creatinine, haemoglobin, proteinuria, LDL cholesterol, tryglycerides, serum phoshates, glycemia, parathyroid hormone and uricemia. The decision tree model classified patients into 10 terminal nodes using 6 variables (gender, age, proteinuria, diabetes, serum phosphates and ischemic cardiac disease) that predict a differential progression of kidney disease. Specifically, age <=53 year, male gender, proteinuria, diabetes and serum phosphates >3.70 mg/dl predict a faster decrease of GFR, while ischemic cardiac disease predicts a slower decrease. The comparison between GFR estimates obtained using MDRD4 and CKD-EPI equations shows a high percentage agreement (>90%), with modest discrepancies for high and low age and serum creatinine levels. The study results underscore the need for a tight follow-up schedule in patients with age <53, and of patients aged 54 to 67 with diabetes, to try to slow down the progression of the disease. The result also emphasize the effective management of patients aged>67, in whom the estimated decrease in glomerular filtration rate corresponds with the physiological decrease observed in the absence of kidney disease, except for the subgroup of patients with proteinuria, in whom the GFR decline is more pronounced.

Studio di espressione e funzione della PLCβ1 nucleare in modelli murini ed umani di cellule ematopoietiche mieloidi e linfoidi

The aims of this work were to investigate the role of nuclear Phospholipase C beta 1 (PI-PLCβ1) in human and mouse cell lines and to identify new binding partners of nuclear PI-PLCβ1 to further understand the functional network in which the enzyme acts. The intracellular distribution of PI-PLCβ1 was further investigated in human leukaemia cell lines (NB4, HL60, THP1, CEM, Jurkat, K562). With the exception of HL60, a high endogenous level of PI-PLCβ1 was detected in purified nuclei in each of the cell lines. We found that also in Ba/F3 pro-B cells overexpressing PI-PLCβ1b the protein localize within the nucleus. Although our data demonstrated that PI-PLCβ1b was not involved in cell proliferation and IGF-1 response as shown in other cell lines (FELC and Swiss 3T3), there was an effect on apoptosis. Activation of early apoptotic markers caspase-3 and PARP was delayed in PI-PLCβ1b overexpressing Ba/F3 cells treated with 5 gr/ml mitomycin C for 24h. We performed an antibody-specific immunoprecipitation on nuclear lysates from FELC-PLCβ1b cells. Mass spectrometry analysis (nano-ESI-Q-TOF) of co-immunoprecipitated proteins allowed for identification of 92 potential nuclear PI-PLCβ1b interactors. Among these, several already documented PI-PLCβ1b interacting partners (Srp20, LaminB, EF1α2) were identified, further validating our data. All the identified proteins were nuclear, mostly localized within the nuclear speckles. This evidence is particularly relevant as PI-PLCβ1 is known to localize in the same domains. Many of the identified proteins are involved in cell cycle, proliferation and transcriptional control. In particular, many of the proteins are components of the spliceosome multi-complex, strengthening the idea that PI-PLCβ1b is involved in mRNA processing and maturation. Future work will aim to better characterize the regulatory role of PI-PLCβ1b in mRNA splicing.