Finance for future. The role of multilateral development banks in green finance

LAUREA MAGISTRALELa tesi si propone di indagare il ruolo delle Banche Multilaterali di Sviluppo nel raggiungimento degli obiettivi ambientali internazionali legati ai settori della tutela ambientale, in particolare il contrasto ai cambiamenti climatici. L'analisi sarà condotta su più prospettive, evidenziando le strategie ambientali adottate da queste Istituzioni, le principali fonti di risorse finanziarie raccolte per attuare queste strategie, e il ruolo di queste Istituzioni nel finanziamento dei Progetti Ecosostenibili. La ricerca si baserà sui dati forniti direttamente dalle Banche Multilaterali di Sviluppo, unitamente a precedenti ricerche nel campo della tutela ambientale e della Green Finance.The paper aims at investigating the role of Multilateral Development Banks in the achievement of international environmental objectives related to the environmental-protection fields, particularly the contrast to climate change. The analysis will be performed on multiple perspectives, by highlighting the environmental strategies adopted by these Institutions, the main sources of financial resources gathered to perform these strategies, and the role of these Institutions in the financing of Green Projects. The research will be based on data directly provided by the Multilateral Development Banks, together with previous researches in the fields of environmental protection and Green Finance

Solid Lipid Nanoparticles: Technological Developments and in Vivo Techniques to Evaluate Their Interaction with the Skin

This chapter provides informations about the non-invasive bioengineering techniques to study the SLN distribution and interaction on the ski

funspace: An R package to build, analyse and plot functional trait spaces

Aim Functional trait space analyses are pivotal to describe and compare organisms' functional diversity across the tree of life. Yet, there is no single application that streamlines the many sometimes-troublesome steps needed to build and analyse functional trait spaces. Innovation To fill this gap, we propose funspace, an R package to easily handle bivariate and multivariate functional trait space analyses. The six functions that constitute the package can be grouped in three modules: ‘Building and exploring’, ‘Mapping’ and ‘Plotting’. The building and exploring module defines the main features of a functional trait space (e.g. functional diversity metrics) by leveraging kernel density-based methods. The mapping module uses general additive models to map how a target variable distributes within a trait space. The plotting module provides many options for creating flexible and publication-ready figures representing the outputs obtained from previous modules. We provide a worked example to demonstrate a complete funspace workflow. Main Conclusions funspace will provide researchers working with functional traits across the tree of life with a new tool to easily explore: (i) the main features of any functional trait space, (ii) the relationship between a functional trait space and any other biological or non-biological factor that might contribute to shaping species' functional diversity

Zircon U-PB and LU-HF isotopic data from some peri-gondwana variscan terranes (Sardinia-Corsica block and calabropeloritan arc): new insights on the cenozoic geodynamic evolution of the central mediterranean basin

The reconstruction of pre-Variscan plates configuration in the Mediterranean area, is still poorly understood. Different hypotheses have been proposed to explain the relationships between peri-Tyrrhenian blocks such as Sardinia-Corse block (SCB) and Calabrian-Peloritain Arc (CPA), which before the opening of South Tyrrhenian Basin belonged to a branch of Southern Variscan Realm (Alvarez & Shimabukuro, 2009). Is still ambiguous if the CPA in the early time was formed by an amalgamation of two or more continental terranes that collided during Tertiary (Bonardi etal., 1980; Scandone, 1982) or was a single terrane during the middle and late Tertiary (Amodio-Morelli et al., 1976). With the aim to provide a contribution in unraveling the peri-Tyrrhenian area evolution of the peri-Gondwana terranes, amalgamated during Variscan and widespread during Cainozoic opening (and closing) of Tethys, both Variscan and Tertiary rocks cropping out in the two Blocks have been investigated, either magmatic or sedimentary. The first part of the research was focused on the magmatic bodies supposed belonging to the European Variscides with the aim to provide more constrains to the Variscan magmatic evolutionand so to draft the analogies between the present-day, separated blocks. In detail, the geochemical data from magmatic and detrital zircons of the basement rocks highlight analogies or differences between the tectono-sedimentary sectors of the Sardinian Variscides (nappe and foreland zones) and between them and the Calabria Variscides. The geochemical whole rocks analyses and U-Pb data obtained show that the Variscan basement which crops out in the Northern part of the CPA (Sila region) is characterized by the similar features of that in the SCB: the Middle Ordovician and Late Palaeozoic magmatic products recognized in the two blocks look similar. Some of these data can provide new insights also about the Ordovician evolution of the Northern Gondwana margin. To compare the and better constrain the relationships between the two blocks, detrital zircons were sampled in Tertiary rocks in NE Sardinia, E Corsica and Calabria, commonly regarded as closely related to the tectonic evolution of the Central-western Mediterranean. The analyses performed suggest some differences on the classical paleo-geographic positions of the SCB respect to the CPA and some assumptions can be made also about their relationships with other peri-Gondwana terranes. The association of U-Pb and Lu-Hf study performed on Tertiary detrital zircon populations is a good tool to furnish more data for recognize the pre-Variscan inputs suffered by the peri-Tyrrhenian area, and to highlight differences and similarities between them. The first consideration that can be made is that the two blocks suffered different crustal evolution. The main difference between them has given by the Grenvillian zircons input studied in the Tertiary deposits. The Southern part of CPA (Aspromonte and Peloritani) is characterized by the lacking of Mesoproterozoic age, whereas the Northern part of CPA (Sila) together with the SCB, are characterized by an important Grenvillian input. These considerations have a geodynamic implications about the misunderstood early evolution of the studied zones The Southern part of CPA shows strong similarities with Cadomiam terranes, which permit to correlate it with the evolution of Variscides now cropping out in North Africa. The SCB and the Northern part of CPA could be associated to the other European Variscan terranes (e.g. Iberia) characterized by widespread Grenvillian zircons. A supplementary assumption that stem out from these analyses is that the early position of SCB and Northern part of CPA, were possibly close to the Amazonian craton or nearness to the West African craton (Arabian-Nubian shield and the Sahara Metacraton), quite different from more of the proposed reconstructions. Finally, considering all these data in the complicated evolution of southern Tyrrhenian basin, here is supported the “two-terrane model” (slightly different from that proposed by Alvarez and Shimabukuro, 2009) which considers the CPA composed by a northern CPA terrane connected with the SCB from the end of the Variscan orogeny until the almost the Eocene. The southern CPA terrane suffered a different evolution before the opening of the Tyrrhenian Sea. According to the roll-back model of the westward subduction of Adria plate under Europe during Neogene-Pliocene the whole CPA, likely amalgamated in the early Miocene, was then tear apart from SCB and drifted away eastwards during the open of the South Tyrrhenian basin

Digital emotion regulation: tools, interventions, and new technologies

openLa regolazione emotiva è un aspetto cruciale del benessere psicologico, e con l'avvento delle tecnologie digitali, nuove opportunità e sfide sono emerse in questo campo. Questa tesi esplora il concetto di regolazione emotiva digitale, esaminando gli strumenti, gli interventi e le nuove tecnologie che possono supportare gli individui nella gestione delle proprie emozioni. In particolare, vengono analizzati strumenti virtuali e tecnologie moderne come il visore per la realtà virtuale, il biofeedback e l'eye-tracking che monitorano e promuovono il benessere emotivo. Inoltre viene fatta un'analisi degli interventi online in cui queste tecnologie vengono applicate. Attraverso una revisione della letteratura e studi empirici, vengono valutati l'efficacia e i limiti di questi strumenti digitali. Infine, la tesi propone linee guida per future ricerche e interventi. In conclusione questa ricerca contribuisce a una comprensione più approfondita di come la tecnologia possa essere utilizzata per supportare il benessere emotivo e apre nuove direzioni per lo sviluppo di interventi psicologici innovativi.Emotion regulation is a crucial aspect of psychological well-being, and with the advent of digital technologies, new opportunities and challenges have emerged in this field. This thesis explores the concept of digital emotion regulation, examining the tools, interventions, and new technologies that can support individuals in managing their emotions. In particular, it analyzes virtual tools and modern technologies such as virtual reality headsets, biofeedback, and eye-tracking that monitor and promote emotional well-being. Additionally, an analysis of online interventions where these technologies are applied is conducted. Through a review of the literature and empirical studies, the effectiveness and limitations of these digital tools are evaluated. Finally, the thesis proposes guidelines for future research and interventions. In conclusion, this research contributes to a deeper understanding of how technology can be used to support emotional well-being and opens new directions for the development of innovative psychological interventions

Design and Implementation of a ROS2-based Vision Pipeline for Autonomous Docking: Integration and Performance Evaluation using Raspberry Pi 5 and Jetson Nano

openQuesta tesi presenta la progettazione e l’implementazione di una pipeline di elaborazione visiva basata su ROS2, finalizzata a supportare funzionalità di ormeggio autonomo in imbarcazioni robotiche di piccola scala. Il sistema proposto si concentra sull’acquisizione in tempo reale di immagini tramite il Raspberry Pi Camera Module 3, integrato mediante un nodo ROS2 personalizzato scritto in Python ed eseguito su una Raspberry Pi 5. Le immagini acquisite vengono trasmesse all’algoritmo di segmentazione “Open Water”, sviluppato in PyTorch da un membro del team di Autodocking, il quale classifica le regioni dell’immagine in acqua, cielo ed elementi urbani. A causa delle limitazioni computazionali della Raspberry Pi 5, l’architettura è stata progressivamente evoluta per delegare le operazioni di elaborazione a una NVIDIA Jetson Nano, introducendo un design modulare e distribuito. Per garantire la compatibilità del sistema, sono stati utilizzati container Docker al fine di armonizzare le dipendenze tra hardware ed ambienti operativi eterogenei. I test condotti a Padova e Chioggia hanno validato le prestazioni del sistema in ambienti acquatici reali, evidenziando sfide chiave come la gestione termica e le imprecisioni nella segmentazione causate dai riflessi ambientali. Sebbene non sia stata raggiunta una piena accelerazione GPU sulla Jetson Nano, sono state poste le basi per futuri miglioramenti. La modularità e la documentazione del sistema mirano a facilitare lo sviluppo verso una navigazione e un ormeggio completamente autonomi.This thesis presents the design and implementation of a ROS2-based visual data pipeline to support autonomous docking functionalities in small-scale robotic boats. The proposed system focuses on real-time image acquisition using the Raspberry Pi Camera Module 3, integrated via a custom Python ROS2 node running on a Raspberry Pi 5. The captured images are transmitted to the “Open Water” segmentation algorithm, developed with PyTorch by a member of the Autodocking team, which classifies image regions into water, sky and urban elements. Due to the computational limitations of the Raspberry Pi 5, the architecture was progressively evolved to delegate processing tasks to an NVIDIA Jetson Nano, introducing a modular and distributed design. To address system compatibility, Docker containers were used to harmonize dependencies across heterogeneous hardware and operating systems. Field testing in Padua and Chioggia validated system performance in real-world aquatic environments, highlighting key challenges such as thermal management and segmentation inaccuracies caused by environmental reflections. Although full GPU acceleration on the Jetson Nano was not achieved, the groundwork has been laid for future improvements. The system’s modularity and documentation aim to facilitate further development toward autonomous navigation and docking

Ultrasound and 3D Skin Imaging: Methods to Evaluate Efficacy of Striae Distensae Treatment

Background. Over time, the striae rubra develop into striae alba that appear white, flat, and depressed. It is very important to determine the optimum striae management. In order to evaluate the effectiveness of these therapies, objective measurement tools are necessary. Objective. The aim of this study is to evaluate if ultrasonography and PRIMOS can be used to obtain an objective assessment of stretch marks type and stage; furthermore, we aim to apply these techniques to evaluate the efficacy of a topical treatment. Methods. 20 volunteers were enrolled with a two-month study. A marketed cosmetic product was used as the active over one body area. The controlateral area with stretch marks was treated with a “placebo” formulation without active, as a control. The instrumental evaluation was carried out at the beginning of the trial (baseline values or t0), after 1 month (t1), and at the end of the study (t2). Results. PRIMOS was able to measure and document striae distensae maturation; furthermore, ultrasound imaging permitted to visualize and diagnose the striae. Statistical analysis of skin roughness demonstrated a statistically significant reduction of Rp value only in a treated group. In fact, the Rp value represented a maximum peak height in the area selected. These results demonstrated that after two months of treatment only the striae rubra can be treated successfully. Conclusions. This work demonstrated that the 22MHz ultrasound can diagnose stretch marks; PRIMOS device can detect and measure striae distensae type and maturation. Furthermore, the high-frequency ultrasound and the 3D image device, described in this work, can be successfully employed in order to evaluate the efficacy of a topical treatment

Trait dimensions of abiotic stress tolerance in woody plants of the Northern Hemisphere

Aim Trade-offs among tolerances to different abiotic stressors limit polytolerance in woody plants. However, the general trait syndromes that underlie large-scale tolerance patterns of woody plants remain controversial. Here, we tested if the leading trait dimensions that define the global spectrum of plant form and function capture the underlying trait trade-offs limiting woody plant polytolerance. Location Northern Hemisphere. Time Period Present. Major Taxa Studied Woody plants. Methods We used a dataset of 779 species to link the trait dimensions defining the global spectrum of plant form and function with two dimensions summarizing tolerance syndromes to drought, shade, cold and waterlogging. Stress tolerance dimensions were a trade-off between drought and cold/waterlogging tolerance strategies, and a shade tolerance spectrum. Relationships among trait and stress tolerance dimensions were evaluated using general additive models separately for deciduous and evergreen angiosperms, and evergreen gymnosperms. Results Drought-tolerant angiosperms showed greater specific stem density (SSD) and seed mass (SM), and lower specific leaf area (SLA) and leaf nitrogen content per mass (LN), compared to the cold/waterlogging-tolerant species. Shade-tolerant angiosperms displayed greater SSD and SM and lower SLA and LN compared to intolerant angiosperms. Highly contrasting trait adaptations also distinguished drought- (greater SSD, SM and lower SLA, LN) from shade-tolerant evergreen gymnosperms. Main Conclusions The ‘SSD–SM’ and the ‘SLA–LN’ dimensions mainly distinguish cold or drought-tolerant woody angiosperms and shade- or drought-tolerant gymnosperms. Our results also support a conservative trait strategy for shade-tolerant compared to shade-intolerant species, with some differences between plant functional types probably due to contrasting leaf lifespans. Overall, our findings identify some leading functional constraints on polytolerance in woody plants and provide a framework to integrate additional trait dimensions to fully elucidate such constraints