Colic surgery in the equine patient: novel biomarkers, postoperative management, microbiotal influence and epidemiological analysis on the italian territory

The aim of this work was to investigate novel diagnostic and prognostic tools, postoperative treatments and epidemiologic factors impacting the outcome of surgical cases of colic. To make a more accurate diagnosis and establish a prognosis, several biomarkers have been investigated in colic patients. In this study we evaluated peritoneal PCT and blood ADMA and SDMA in SIRS positive and negative colic patients to be used as prognostic biomarkers. Our results highlighted the limits of these biomarkers in detection and the lack of specificity. In fact PCT was not detectable and even if ADMA and SDMA significantly increased in colic horses, they are not diagnostic nor prognostic markers for SIRS. Fluid therapy has been described to be crucial for the outcome of colic patients, nevertheless no guidelines have been established. Overhydration was the common practice in post surgical management. We compared cases with an extended fluid therapy protocol and cases with a restricted protocol. Results showed that survival rate and postoperative complications were similar between the groups, despite costs being significantly lower in the restricted group. The possible correlation between intestinal microbiota and colics has gained interest. In this study, cecal and colonic content from horses undergoing laparotomy were collected, and the microbiota analized. Results showed some differences in microbiota between discharged and non discharged patients, and between strangulating and non strangulating types of colic, that might suggest some influence of hind gut microbiota on the disease. A multicentric study involving three veterinary teaching hospitals on the italian territory was conducted investigating factors affecting postoperative survival and complications in colics. Results showed that the influence of age, PCV, TPP, blood lactate, reflux, type of disease, type of lesion, presence of anastomosis, duration of surgery and surgeons, were in line with literature. Amount of crystalloids used could affected the outcome.

Emotions in legal decisions: the construction of objective narratives in Italian criminal trials

Drawing on ethnographic data collected in Italian courts and prosecution offices, this dissertation offers new perspectives on legal decision-making by highlighting the importance of emotions for constructing and evaluating legal narratives. Focusing on criminal cases, it describes and dissects how judges and prosecutors use emotions in reflection and action tied to lay narratives and legal constraints. The analysis shows that legal professionals engage in different types of emotional dynamics when dealing with stories; first, they develop gut feelings, which are either endorsed or kept at distance by means of emotional reflexivity, to comply with legal ideals of objectivity and impartiality. Second, empathy emerges as a crucial tool to direct the interaction with lay people and to interpret legal prerequisites, such as credibility, and intent. Finally, the dissertation shows that lay stories lead legal professionals to become passionate and committed towards the correct application of the law, the restoration of the moral order, and the achievement of justice. In light of the empirical findings, this thesis strives to develop a theoretical understanding of legal decision-making as narrative work that includes emotional dynamics consistent with rational, objective action.

Characterization and natural history of different phenotypes in hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis: 40-year experience at a single Italian referral center

- Aims: Hereditary Transthyretin Amyloidosis (ATTRv) is one of the leading etiologies of systemic amyloidosis with more than 135 mutations described and a broad spectrum of clinical manifestations. We aimed to provide a systematic description of a population of individuals carrying pathogenic mutations of transthyretin (TTR) gene and to investigate the major clinical events during follow up. - Methods: Observational, retrospective, cohort study including consecutive patients with mutations of TTR gene, admitted to a tertiary referral center in Bologna, Italy, between 1984 and 2022. - Results: Three hundred twenty-five patients were included: 106 asymptomatic carriers, 49 cardiac phenotype, 49 neurological phenotype and 121 mixed phenotype. Twenty-three different mutations were found, with Ile68Leu (41.8%), Val30Met (19%), and Glu89Gln (10%) being the most common. After a median follow-up of 51 months data from 290 subjects were analyzed; among them 111 (38.3%) died and 123 (42.4%) had a major clinical event (death or hospitalization for heart failure). Nine (11.5%) of the 78 asymptomatic carriers showed signs and symptoms of the disease. Carriers had a prognosis comparable to healthy population, while no significant differences were seen among the three phenotypes adjusted by age. Age at diagnosis, NYHA functional class, left ventricular ejection fraction, mPND score and disease-modifying therapy were independently associated with survival. - Conclusions: This study offers a wide and comprehensive overview of ATTRv from the point of view of a tertiary referral center in Italy. Three main phenotypes can be identified (cardiac, neurological and mixed) with specific clinical and instrumental features. Family screening programs are essential to identify paucisymptomatic affected patients or unaffected carriers of the mutation, to be followed through the years. Lastly, disease-modifying therapy represents an evolving cornerstone of the management of ATTRv, with a great impact on mortality.

L'identità ibrida di Rita Ciresi tra Italia e Stati Uniti: Proposta di traduzione di Sometimes I Dream in Italian

L’oggetto del presente elaborato è una proposta di traduzione dall’inglese all’italiano di tre storie brevi prese dalla raccolta Sometimes I Dream in Italian, dell’autrice italoamericana Rita Ciresi. Accompagna la traduzione un’analisi del contesto letterario italoamericano in cui la scrittrice si inserisce. La tesi si compone di cinque capitoli: il primo ripercorre il fenomeno della Grande Emigrazione italiana negli Stati Uniti e la letteratura che ne è derivata, con particolare attenzione alla letteratura femminile. Il secondo è dedicato alla presentazione dell’autrice e all’analisi del testo di partenza (genere di appartenenza, casa editrice, struttura e paratesto, trama, personaggi, elementi spazio-temporali e stile). Nel terzo capitolo è presente la proposta di traduzione delle tre storie brevi: Cuore grande, La stella d’oro e La piccola era glaciale. Mentre il quarto capitolo è un commento alla traduzione dove sono prese in analisi le problematiche riscontrate nel testo (antroponimi e toponimi, sintassi, lessico, fraseologia, giochi di parole, figure retoriche ed elementi culturali) e le soluzioni trovate, fornendo esempi concreti.

Conceptualization of an Electric Compact SUV for the American and Italian Market using the IDeS Method

Electric cars are increasingly popular due to a transition of mobility towards more sustainable forms. From an increasingly green and pollution reduction perspective, there are more and more incentives that encourage customers to invest in electric cars. Using the Industrial Design and Structure (IDeS) research method, this project has the aim to design a new electric compact SUV suitable for all people who live in the city, and for people who move outside urban areas. In order to achieve the goal of developing a new car in the industrial automotive environment, the compact SUV segment was chosen because it is a vehicle very requested by the costumers and it is successful in the market due to its versatility. IDeS is a combination of innovative and advanced systematic approaches used to set up a new industrial project. The IDeS methodology is sequentially composed of Quality Function Deployment (QFD), Benchmarking (BM), Top-Flop analysis (TFA), Stylistic Design Engineering (SDE), Design for X, Prototyping, Testing, Budgeting, and Planning. The work is based on a series of steps and the sequence of these must be meticulously scheduled, imposing deadlines along the work. Starting from an analysis of the market and competitors, the study of the best and worst existing parameters in the competitor’s market is done, arriving at the idea of a better product in terms of numbers and innovation. After identifying the characteristics that the new car should have, the other step is the styling part, with the definition of the style and the design of the machine on a 3D CAD. Finally, it switches to the prototyping and testing phase to see if the product is able to work. Ultimately, intending to place the car on the market, it is essential to estimate the necessary budget for a possible investment in this project.

The italian translation of allusive jokes from three american sitcoms: A focus group analysis

The translation of allusions has presented an issue for translators, in a trend that has seen a shift in translation studies to a more culture-oriented perspective. “Allusion” is defined by doctor Ritva Leppihalme as a culture-bound element that is expected to convey a meaning that goes beyond the mere words used and can only be accurately translated through knowledge of both the source and target culture. Allusions in comedy, and more specifically, allusive jokes, can pose an additional challenge to translators, since failing to translate them in a satisfactory way, can lead to unfunny and puzzling results that completely miss the original comedic value of the allusion itself. For the purposes of this dissertation, an experiment, based on the one done by doctor Ritva Leppihalme, was conducted: a focus group consisting of eight people from different socio-demographic groups was asked to discuss three comedic scenes, translated in Italian, containing an allusive joke, from three different American sitcoms: Community, The Office, and Superstore. The purpose of this research was to find the best and most effective strategies, according to the average Italian viewer, to translate in Italian allusive jokes from the American culture and the English language. The participants were asked to state if they understood the translated joke, and if they did, to rate how funny they found it, and to discuss among themselves on possible reasons for their responses, and on possible alternative solutions. The results seem to indicate that the best course of action involves choices that stray from a literal translation of the words used, by changing items that need a deeper knowledge of the source culture to be understood and therefore cause hilarity, with items more familiar to the target culture. The worst possible solutions seem to be ones that focus on the literal translation of the words used without considering the cultural and situational context of the allusion.

Sviluppo di un codice di simulazione gara di un veicolo solare: il caso Italian Solar Challenge

L'elaborato in questione fa riferimento all’implementazione di un codice di simulazione gara, tenutasi all'Autodromo di Imola, di un veicolo solare applicato al caso Italian Solar Challenge. Per avere la possibilità di effettuare scelte strategiche sulla conduzione di gara, si è voluto creare un programma che fosse in grado di modellare: il veicolo designato per questa competizione, la produzione di energia generata dai pannelli solari, il comportamento della batteria; inoltre, che permettesse anche di integrare il regolamento per la restituzione del punteggio finale, di considerare il tracciato nel quale la competizione si svolge e di aver un tempo di calcolo limitato e contemporaneamente avere un’adeguata accuratezza.

Neural Machine Translation in the Field of Law. Analysis and Evaluation against Human Reference of NMT Raw Outputs of an Atto Costitutivo of S.r.l. from Italian into German.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is gaining ever more ground in every sphere of human life, to the point that it is now even used to pass sentences in courts. The use of AI in the field of Law is however deemed quite controversial, as it could provide more objectivity yet entail an abuse of power as well, given that bias in algorithms behind AI may cause lack of accuracy. As a product of AI, machine translation is being increasingly used in the field of Law too in order to translate laws, judgements, contracts, etc. between different languages and different legal systems. In the legal setting of Company Law, accuracy of the content and suitability of terminology play a crucial role within a translation task, as any addition or omission of content or mistranslation of terms could entail legal consequences for companies. The purpose of the present study is to first assess which neural machine translation system between DeepL and ModernMT produces a more suitable translation from Italian into German of the atto costitutivo of an Italian s.r.l. in terms of accuracy of the content and correctness of terminology, and then to assess which translation proves to be closer to a human reference translation. In order to achieve the above-mentioned aims, two human and automatic evaluations are carried out based on the MQM taxonomy and the BLEU metric. Results of both evaluations show an overall better performance delivered by ModernMT in terms of content accuracy, suitability of terminology, and closeness to a human translation. As emerged from the MQM-based evaluation, its accuracy and terminology errors account for just 8.43% (as opposed to DeepL’s 9.22%), while it obtains an overall BLEU score of 29.14 (against DeepL’s 27.02). The overall performances however show that machines still face barriers in overcoming semantic complexity, tackling polysemy, and choosing domain-specific terminology, which suggests that the discrepancy with human translation may still be remarkable.

Everybody's Talking About Jamie: a comparative analysis between the English musical and the Italian translation and its influence on the LGBTQIA+ community

“Culture has been, is and always will be useful to the political and social fight, precisely because it stirs consciences and prompts reflection”, stated Pero Di Blasio, producer of the Italian version of the musical Everybody’s Talking About Jamie in our private interview (Savoia, 2022). And the invitation for reflection mentioned by the producer represents the main topic of my dissertation, as its aim is to underline, starting from a translation point of view, the differences and similarities conveyed by the two versions of the musical, to raise awareness and spread validation towards the issues and struggles members of the LGBTQIA+ community are forced to face every day. The four chapters in which this dissertation is divided into proceed from a more generic and theoretical one (chapter 1), followed by the introduction of the musical in Chapter 2 with its British and Italian versions, contextualised in their national realities thanks to their press reviews. Then the focus will zoom into the more practical chapters, where the topic of the Italian translation will be gradually approached. The dissertation will then be concluded with the fourth chapter, where the findings identified in the third chapter will be commented, taking into consideration the audience perception and the social issues portrayed on stage by the cast of the West End musical.

Development of a relationship between physical parameters of tsunami waves and tsunami intensity based on macroscopic effects and its application to the Italian tsunami database

Tsunamis are rare events. However, their impact can be devastating and it may extend to large geographical areas. For low-probability high-impact events like tsunamis, it is crucial to implement all possible actions to mitigate the risk. The tsunami hazard assessment is the result of a scientific process that integrates traditional geological methods, numerical modelling and the analysis of tsunami sources and historical records. For this reason, analysing past events and understanding how they interacted with the land is the only way to inform tsunami source and propagation models, and quantitatively test forecast models like hazard analyses. The primary objective of this thesis is to establish an explicit relationship between the macroscopic intensity, derived from historical descriptions, and the quantitative physical parameters measuring tsunami waves. This is done first by defining an approximate estimation method based on a simplified 1D physical onshore propagation model to convert the available observations into one reference physical metric. Wave height at the coast was chosen as the reference due to its stability and independence of inland effects. This method was then implemented for a set of well-known past events to build a homogeneous dataset with both macroseismic intensity and wave height. By performing an orthogonal regression, a direct and invertible empirical relationship could be established between the two parameters, accounting for their relevant uncertainties. The target relationship is extensively tested and finally applied to the Italian Tsunami Effect Database (ITED), providing a homogeneous estimation of the wave height for all existing tsunami observations in Italy. This provides the opportunity for meaningful comparison for models and simulations, as well as quantitatively testing tsunami hazard models for the Italian coasts and informing tsunami risk management initiatives.

High-throughput Analysis By Sp-ldi-ms For Fast Identification Of Adulterations In Commercial Balsamic Vinegars.

Balsamic vinegar (BV) is a typical and valuable Italian product, worldwide appreciated thanks to its characteristic flavors and potential health benefits. Several studies have been conducted to assess physicochemical and microbial compositions of BV, as well as its beneficial properties. Due to highly-disseminated claims of antioxidant, antihypertensive and antiglycemic properties, BV is a known target for frauds and adulterations. For that matter, product authentication, certifying its origin (region or country) and thus the processing conditions, is becoming a growing concern. Striving for fraud reduction as well as quality and safety assurance, reliable analytical strategies to rapidly evaluate BV quality are very interesting, also from an economical point of view. This work employs silica plate laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (SP-LDI-MS) for fast chemical profiling of commercial BV samples with protected geographical indication (PGI) and identification of its adulterated samples with low-priced vinegars, namely apple, alcohol and red/white wines.

Cultivares de batata para sistemas orgânicos de produção

Informações a respeito de cultivares adaptadas ao sistema de cultivo orgânico são escassas. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar, sob sistema de cultivo orgânico, genótipos nacionais e estrangeiros desenvolvidos para o cultivo convencional, quanto ao potencial produtivo, em condições de campo. O experimento foi conduzido em 2008, no Pólo APTA Leste Paulista, em Monte Alegre do Sul-SP. O delineamento experimental foi em blocos ao acaso, com 18 tratamentos e quatro repetições. Cada parcela foi constituída por 80 batatas-semente, dispostas em quatro linhas de 5 m de comprimento, espaçadas de 80 cm, com 25 cm entre tubérculos. Os genótipos avaliados foram Agata, Asterix, Caesar, Cupido, Éden, Melody, Novella e Vivaldi, de origem estrangeira; e Apuã, Aracy, Catucha, IAC Aracy Ruiva, Itararé, Monte Alegre 172, IAC 6090, APTA 16.5, APTA 15.20 e APTA 21.54, nacionais. Foram avaliadas as características de produtividade total e comercial de tubérculos, massa média total e comercial de tubérculos, teor de matéria seca e severidade da pinta-preta (Alternaria solani). Os clones APTA 16.5, APTA 21.54 e IAC 6090, e as cultivares Cupido, Apuã, Itararé e Monte Alegre 172 foram os mais produtivos. 'APTA 21.54' superou os demais em relação a produtividade comercial (18,07 t ha-1), sendo que 'APTA 16.5', 'Cupido', 'IAC 6090' e 'Itararé' formaram o segundo grupo. As maiores massas médias de tubérculos foram apresentadas pelas cultivares Itararé e Cupido. O clone IAC 6090 e as cultivares Aracy e Aracy Ruiva foram as que apresentaram maiores teores de matéria seca, com valor médio de 22,91%. 'APTA 16.5', 'Apuã', 'Aracy', 'Aracy Ruiva', 'Éden', 'Ibituaçú' e 'Monte Alegre 172' apresentaram alto nível de resistência à pinta-preta. As cultivares Itararé, Apuã e Cupido são adaptadas ao cultivo orgânico, e os clones avançados APTA 16.5, APTA 21.54 e IAC 6090 apresentam potencial de cultivo no sistema orgânico.

Os escritos de Giovanni Angelo Brunelli, astrônomo da Comissão Demarcadora de Limites portuguesa (1753-1761), sobre a Amazônia brasileira

O texto apresenta breve introdução à vida e à obra de Giovanni Angelo Brunelli (1722-1804), astrônomo bolonhês que participou da primeira Comissão Demarcadora de Limites entre as possessões de Portugal e Espanha na América do Sul, de 1753 a 1761, a serviço da Coroa lusitana. Em seguida, são publicados os três trabalhos de Brunelli sobre a Amazônia brasileira, tendo como temas a pororoca (1767), a mandioca (1767) e o rio Amazonas (1791); e dois outros documentos relacionadas à comissão, um ofício no qual Brunelli reclama a coordenação dos trabalhos de cartografia (1752) e um rascunho do diário de viagem do astrônomo até o rio Negro (1754). Todos esses documentos foram traduzidos ao português, pela primeira vez, do latim e do italiano.

Epistemologia ou filosofia da Ciência da Informação?

It discusses the philosophical proposal by Luciano Floridi for Library and Information Science (BCI) and the response of information theorists to the proposal. The article points out the courage of the young Italian philosopher - from the computational field - who breaks the hegemony of epistemology as foundation for BCI. However, it takes distance from the philosophy of information in favor of a philosophy of Information Science, in which the creation of concepts, in Deleuze and Guattari's inspiration, is mandatory. In this sense, the article presents two philosophical concepts for the area of knowledge organization, such as: minor documentary language and descriptive classification by affects. These same concepts consider all elements of the philosophical concept: the problem the concept refers to; the components of the concept, the neighborhood and its boundaries and, most importantly, the becoming of the philosophical concept on scientific or artistic practices.

Sensitization Prevalence, Antibody Cross-Reactivity and Immunogenic Peptide Profile of Api g 2, the Non-Specific Lipid Transfer Protein 1 of Celery

Background: Celery (Apium graveolens) represents a relevant allergen source that can elicit severe reactions in the adult population. To investigate the sensitization prevalence and cross-reactivity of Api g 2 from celery stalks in a Mediterranean population and in a mouse model. Methodology: 786 non-randomized subjects from Italy were screened for IgE reactivity to rApi g 2, rArt v 3 (mugwort pollen LTP) and nPru p 3 (peach LTP) using an allergen microarray. Clinical data of 32 selected patients with reactivity to LTP under investigation were evaluated. Specific IgE titers and cross-inhibitions were performed in ELISA and allergen microarray. Balb/c mice were immunized with purified LTPs; IgG titers were determined in ELISA and mediator release was examined using RBL-2H3 cells. Simulated endolysosomal digestion was performed using microsomes obtained from human DCs. Results: IgE testing showed a sensitization prevalence of 25.6% to Api g 2, 18.6% to Art v 3, and 28.6% to Pru p 3 and frequent co-sensitization and correlating IgE-reactivity was observed. 10/32 patients suffering from LTP-related allergy reported symptoms upon consumption of celery stalks which mainly presented as OAS. Considerable IgE cross-reactivity was observed between Api g 2, Art v 3, and Pru p 3 with varying inhibition degrees of individual patients' sera. Simulating LTP mono-sensitization in a mouse model showed development of more congruent antibody specificities between Api g 2 and Art v 3. Notably, biologically relevant murine IgE cross-reactivity was restricted to the latter and diverse from Pru p 3 epitopes. Endolysosomal processing of LTP showed generation of similar clusters, which presumably represent T-cell peptides. Conclusions: Api g 2 represents a relevant celery stalk allergen in the LTP-sensitized population. The molecule displays common B cell epitopes and endolysosomal peptides that encompass T cell epitopes with pollen and plant-food derived LTP.