This dissertation examines social cognitive processes that promote perceived inclusion of outgroup members in the human group. We first review the literature on social categorization, highlighting the role of multiple and complex categorisations, as social cognitive processes reducing intergroup prejudice. Then, we review research on dehumanisation, addressing antecedents and consequences of this tendency to exclude the “others” from the human group, assessing that research is needed to address the construens role of categorisation in including outgroups in the human group. The first line of research pursued in this contribution investigates the effectiveness of multiple categorisation as a human-enhancing mechanism towards outgroups at stake. Study 1 shows that perceiving members of a rival University along multiple categorical dimensions enhances the tendency to attribute them human traits. Study 2, involving a highly threatening outgroup, that is, immigrants, goes further beyond previous findings showing that multiple categorisation increases not only attribution of human traits to the target, but also supports for policies in defense of outgroup members’ health. Furthermore, de-categorisation as well as perceived threat from immigrants explains the relationship between categorisation and their inclusion in the human group. The second line of research extends the issue of social inclusion of outgroups, through attribution of humanness, by investigating counter-stereotypical (vs. stereotypical) expectations of others. Across three studies we provide evidence that counter-stereotypical vs. stereotypical category combinations elicits more positive and less stereotypical judgments towards different outgroups and more interestingly, the attribution of higher humanness to unrelated outgroups. Furthermore, the extension of humanising outcomes to different discriminated outgroups is explained by an increase of cognitive flexibility, such as the inhibition of reliance on heuristic thoughts. In the general discussion, we highlight the relevance of our findings in the contexts of impression formation, groups perception and intergroup relationships.

Shellfish are filter-feeding organisms that can accumulate many bacteria and viruses. Considering that depuration procedures are not effective in removal of certain microorganisms, shellfish-borne diseases are frequent in many parts of the world, and their control must rely primarily on investigation of prevalence of human pathogens in shellfish and water environment. However, the diffusion of enteric viruses and Vibrio bacteria is not known in many geographical areas, for example in Sardinia, Italy. A survey aimed at investigating the prevalence of Norovirus (NoV), hepatitis A virus (HAV), V. parahaemolyticus, V. cholerae and V. vulnificus was carried out, analyzing both local and imported purified, non-purified and retail shellfish from North Italy and Sardinia. Shellfish from both areas were found contaminated by NoVs, HAV and Vibrio, including retail and purified animals. Molecular analysis evidenced different NoV genogroups and genotypes, including bovine NoVs, as well as pathogenic Vibrio strains, underlining the risk for shellfish consumers. However, also other approaches are needed to control the diffusion of shellfish-borne diseases. It was originally thought that enteric viruses are passively accumulated by shellfish. Recently, it was proven that NoVs bind to specific carbohydrate ligands in oysters, and various NoV strains are characterized by a different bioaccumulation pattern. To deepen the knowledge on this argument, a study was carried out, analyzing bioaccumulation of up to 8 different NoV strains in four different species of shellfish. Different bioaccumulation patterns were observed for each shellfish species and NoV strain used, potentially important in setting up effective shellfish purification protocols. Finally, a novel study of evaluation of viral contamination in shellfish from the French Atlantic coast was carried out following the passage of Xynthia tempest over Western Europe which caused massive destruction. Different enteric viruses were found over a one month period, evidencing the potential of these events of contaminating shellfish.

The aim of this thesis is to apply multilevel regression model in context of household surveys. Hierarchical structure in this type of data is characterized by many small groups. In last years comparative and multilevel analysis in the field of perceived health have grown in size. The purpose of this thesis is to develop a multilevel analysis with three level of hierarchy for Physical Component Summary outcome to: evaluate magnitude of within and between variance at each level (individual, household and municipality); explore which covariates affect on perceived physical health at each level; compare model-based and design-based approach in order to establish informativeness of sampling design; estimate a quantile regression for hierarchical data. The target population are the Italian residents aged 18 years and older. Our study shows a high degree of homogeneity within level 1 units belonging from the same group, with an intraclass correlation of 27% in a level-2 null model. Almost all variance is explained by level 1 covariates. In fact, in our model the explanatory variables having more impact on the outcome are disability, unable to work, age and chronic diseases (18 pathologies). An additional analysis are performed by using novel procedure of analysis :"Linear Quantile Mixed Model", named "Multilevel Linear Quantile Regression", estimate. This give us the possibility to describe more generally the conditional distribution of the response through the estimation of its quantiles, while accounting for the dependence among the observations. This has represented a great advantage of our models with respect to classic multilevel regression. The median regression with random effects reveals to be more efficient than the mean regression in representation of the outcome central tendency. A more detailed analysis of the conditional distribution of the response on other quantiles highlighted a differential effect of some covariate along the distribution. / Lo scopo di questa tesi è quello di applicare il modello di regressione multilivello nel contesto di indagini sulle famiglie. La struttura gerarchica in questo tipo di dati è caratterizzato da numerosi piccoli gruppi. Negli ultimi anni analisi comparative e multilivello sullo stato di salute percepito sono aumentate molto. L’obiettivo di questa tesi è di applicare un'analisi multilivello a tre livelli per la variabile risposta Physical Component Summary allo scopo di: valutare entità all'interno e tra varianza ad ogni livello (individuale, familiare e comune); indagare quali covariate influiscono sulla percezione dello stato di salute fisica ogni livello; confrontare le analisi model-based e di design-based al fine di stabilire se i pesi campionari siano informativiti per il modello di interesse; stimare una regressione quantile per i dati gerarchici. La popolazione target sono i residenti italiani di età compresa tra 18 anni. Il nostro studio rileva un’elevata omogeneità tra le unità di livello 1 e una correlazione intraclasse del 27% nel modello nullo a 2livelli. Quasi tutta la varianza è spiegata dalle covariate di livello. Nel nostro modello le variabili esplicative hanno un impatto maggiore sulla variabile risposta sono la disabilità, inabilità al lavoro, l’età e le malattie croniche (18 patologie). Un'ulteriore analisi viene eseguita utilizzando una nuova procedura di analisi: "Regressione lineare quantile multilivello”. Questa analisi ci dà la possibilità di descrivere più in generale la distribuzione condizionata della variabile risposta attraverso la stima dei suoi quantili. Questo ha portato un grande vantaggio nei nostri modelli rispetto al classico modello di regressione multilivello. La regressione mediana con effetti casuali si rivela più efficiente del regressione media nella rappresentazione della tendenza centrale. Un'analisi più dettagliata della distribuzione condizionata della variabile risposta in corrispondenza di altri quantili ha evidenziato che certe covariate hanno un effetto diverso lungo la distribuzione.

Le traduzioni di Luis Cernuda, poeta spagnolo della Generazione del '27, da testi poetici di autori francesi, tedeschi ed inglesi, la cui scelta è dettata da ragioni di coerenza artistica, non hanno valore secondario rispetto alla produzione poetica autoriale. Nel presente studio si delinea l'uniformità del percorso creativo di Luis Cernuda nel ruolo duplice ed apparentemente contraddittorio di poeta-traduttore, attraverso un tracciato spazio-temporale, al contempo realistico e metaforico, che si svolge lungo gran parte della vita del misconosciuto poeta sivigliano. Ad una preliminare presentazione analitica del concetto di traduzione, della funzione che la stessa riveste nel genere letterario specifico della poesia e nell'attività creativa di Cernuda, segue l'analisi comparativa delle traduzioni cernudiane con le rispettive fonti straniere. L'argomento si svolge in tre capitoli successivi, organizzati rispettando lo svolgimento cronologico del percorso traduttorio cernudiano, svolto in parallelo alla produzione poetica personale. Il secondo capitolo verte sulla traduzione da testi poetici in francese. Il terzo capitolo, sul periodo immediatamente successivo agli anni della sperimentazione francese, analizza lo studio della poesia tedesca e della sperimentazione in traduzione. Tale incontro si propone anche come momento di scissione definitiva dalla lirica romanza, piuttosto esornativa, e di accostamento alla più essenziale lirica germanica. Il quarto capitolo raccoglie le versioni poetiche da autori inglesi, che si contraddistinguono per la grande somiglianza alla poesia di Cernuda nelle scelte contenutistico-formali. Le conclusioni vertono sulla coesione perseguita nel tradurre, per cui contenuto e forma acquisiscono pari importanza nella “ricreazione poetica” realizzata da Cernuda. / The translations by Luis Cernuda, Spanish poet of the Generation of ’27, from poems by French, German and British authors that he chose on the basis of artistic consistency, are by no means less relevant than his poetic works. This study outlines the uniformity of the creative path followed by Luis Cernuda in his dual and apparently contradictory role of poet and translator, over a space-time course which is both realistic and metaphorical and which is found along most of this largely unacknowledged Sevillan poet’s life. After a preliminary analytical introduction of the concept of translation and of its function in the specific poetic genre and in the Cernuda’s creative activity, there follows a contrastive analysis of Cernuda’s translations, accompanied by the relevant foreign sources. The topic unfolds in three subsequent chapters, which are planned matching the chronological order of Cernuda’s translation activity, in parallel to his own poetic work. Consequently, the second chapter is focused on translations from French poems. The third chapter, on the period immediately after the years of the French experiments, analyses Cernuda’s investigation of German poetry and experiments in translation. Said contact also represents a final breakaway from Romance lyric poetry, rather ornamental, and an approach to the more essential German one. The fourth chapter includes poetic versions from British authors, which are characterized by their strong similarities to Cernuda’s poetry in terms of formal-contents choices. The conclusions focus on the consistency pursued in translating, whereby form and contents play an equal role in the “poetic recreation” achieved by Cernuda.

During my Doctoral study I researched about the remote detection of canopy N concentration in forest stands, its potentials and problems, under many overlapping perspectives. The study consisted of three parts. In S. Rossore 2000 dataset analysis, I tested regressions between N concentration and NIR reflectances derived from different sources (field samples, airborne and satellite sensors). The analysis was further expanded using a larger dataset acquired in year 2009 as part of a new campaign funded by the ESA. In both cases, a good correlation was observed between Landsat NIR, using both TM (2009) and ETM+ (2000) imagery, and N concentration measured by a CHN elemental analyzer. Concerning airborne sensors I did not obtain the same good results, mainly because of the large FOV of the two instruments, and to the anisotropy of vegetation reflectance. We also tested the relation between ground based ASD measures and nitrogen concentration, obtaining really good results. Thus, I decided to expand my study to the regional level, focusing only on field and satellite measures. I analyzed a large dataset for the whole of Catalonia, Spain; MODIS imagery was used, in consideration of its spectral characteristics and despite its rather poor spatial resolution. Also in this case a regression between nitrogen concentration and reflectances was found, but not so good as in previous experiences. Moreover, vegetation type was found to play an important role in the observed relationship. We concluded that MODIS is not the most suitable satellite sensor in realities like Italy and Catalonia, which present a patchy and inhomogeneous vegetation cover; so it could be utilized for the parameterization of eco-physiological and biogeochemical models, but not for really local nitrogen estimate. Thus multispectral sensors similar to Landsat Thematic Mapper, with better spatial resolution, could be the most appropriate sensors to estimate N concentration.

Se realizaron tres estudios cualitativos que tuvieron como propósito conocer las representaciones que ha construido la población general, los pacientes oncológicos y los profesionales de la salud, sobre el cáncer, la quimioterapia y el trasplante de médula ósea y realizar un análisis sobre las semejanzas y diferencias entre ellos. Se realizó en la ciudad de Bogotá (Colombia) con 55 personas: 20 pacientes con cáncer en proceso de trasplante de médula ósea, 20 personas no diagnosticadas con cáncer y 15 personas que trabajan en la atención de pacientes con cáncer. Se realizó una entrevista en profundidad con todos los participantes y asociaciones libres, clásicas y por sustitución sobre las palabras “cáncer”, “quimioterapia” y “trasplante de médula”. Los datos conseguidos se analizaron a la luz de la Teoría de las Representaciones Sociales (TRS). El análisis de la información siguió la técnica de análisis cualitativo de contenido para encontrar significados simbólicos y construir, denominar y definir categorías. Para los tres grupos el cáncer es una enfermedad terrible, que puede llevar a la muerte. El personal de salud y la población general creen que la enfermedad genera terror, angustia y miedo. Los pacientes tienen conciencia de la gravedad y del temor consecuente por una enfermedad que lo cambia todo, produce sufrimiento, dolor, obliga a depender de alguien y puede conducir a la muerte. El personal de salud considera que los pacientes lo pueden vivir como un castigo y la población general que puede ser la consecuencia de estilos de vida poco saludables. Para todos, la quimioterapia es un tratamiento para la enfermedad, que por un lado presenta efectos colaterales difíciles y visibles y que producen sentimientos negativos de temor y de angustia y al mismo tiempo constituye una opción y posibilidad de curación. El Trasplante de Médula Ósea representa para todos una oportunidad. / The present study consists of three qualitative studies whose purpose was to know the representations constructed by the general population, by oncological patients and health professionals, regarding cancer, chemotherapy and bone marrow transplant. This study also carried out an analysis of similarities and differences between them. It was done in Bogotá (Colombia) with 55 people: 20 patients with cancer in process for bone marrow transplant, 20 people without cancer diagnosis and 15 people who work with patients with cancer. An in-depth interview was performed with each of the participants, as well as free, classical and by substitution associations of the words “cancer”, “chemotherapy” and “bone marrow transplant”. The data obtained was analyzed in light of the Theory of Social Representations (TSR). The analysis of the information followed the research technique of qualitative analysis of content in order to find symbolic significances and to construct, to denominate and to define categories. For the three groups, cancer is a terrible disease that could lead to death. Health personnel and the general population believe that the disease creates terror, anxiety and fear. Patients are aware of the seriousness and the consequent fear triggered by a disease that changes everything, produces suffering, pain, obliges them to depend of someone else and that could lead to death. Health professionals consider that patients can live cancer as a punishment and the general population believes that it can be the consequence of unhealthy life habits. For all, chemotherapy is a treatment for the disease that, one the one hand, produces difficult and visible collateral effects and creates negative feelings of fear and anxiety and, on the other hand, constitutes an option and a possibility for healing. The bone marrow transplant represents, for all of them, an opportunity to live.

Esta investigación tuvo como objetivo general develar las representaciones sociales sobre la Medicina Popular en tres grupos poblacionales, pacientes oncológicos (n=100), familiares de los pacientes (n=25) y miembros del equipo de salud (n=26). Para ello, se realizaron tres estudios cualitativos con cada grupo poblacional y un cuarto en el que se describen las similitudes y las diferencias entre ellos en relación con el objeto de representación. En general, se utilizaron entrevistas en profundidad, ejercicios de asociaciones libres y grupos focales (7 con 62 pacientes). Resultados: paciente oncológico: Medicina Popular representada como una salida optimista a la angustiante situación que está viviendo frente al cáncer; una apuesta a la vida. Para la familia: una contra capaz de mantener con vida y fortaleza al paciente y para el equipo de salud, una realidad incombatible de los pacientes y de la familia, que tiene efecto placebo sobre ellos y que está relacionada con el pensamiento mágico religioso, la fé y la ignorancia de quienes la realizan. En cuanto a las diferencias, el paciente y la familia consideran que la Medicina Popular es una alternativa en la que depositan su fé y confianza; el personal de salud no cree en sus efectos sobre el cáncer y la considera como estafa y engaño para el paciente. En las similitudes, todos coinciden en que es una alternativa, generadora de esperanza, basada en compuestos naturales que le permiten al paciente contribuir a la curación del cáncer y a sobrellevar el malestar provocado por la quimioterapia. Finalmente, se presentan conclusiones generales, se discuten algunos de los hallazgos y la importancia de las RS de la Medicina Popular y su impacto sobre la atención y la calidad de vida del paciente y se plantean algunos interrogantes que podrían favorecer el desarrollo de una línea de investigación en el tema. / This research aimed to analyze social representations of folk medicine in three population groups, cancer patients (n=100), patients' families (n=25) and members of the health care team (n=26). To this end, three qualitative studies were conducted, one with each population group; a fourth study was focused in describing the similarities and differences between the three groups in relation to the object of representation. Methodology: in-depth interviews were used, free association exercises, and focus groups (7 with 62 patients). Results: For cancer patients, folk medicine is represented as an optimistic exit from the desperate situation they are living against cancer and a commitment for life. For the family, this is a counter able to maintain life and strength for cancer patients. For the health team, a reality for patients and family, with a placebo effect on them, that definitely applies to the religious magic thinking, faith and ignorance of those who perform these practices. As to the differences, the patient and the family believe that folk medicine is an alternative in which they place their faith and trust, whereas health care team does not believe on its supposed effects on cancer and considered it as fraud and deception for the patient. In terms of similarities, all agree that folk medicine is an alternative, generating hope, based on natural compounds that allow patients to contribute to cancer cure and overcome the discomfort of chemotherapy. Finally, some general conclusions, where we discuss some of the findings, focusing on the importance of the RS of folk medicine and its impact on health and quality of life of patients and some questions were raised that may favor the development of a new line of research on the topic.

During my three academic years, I focused on the effects of N fertilization on growth and function of plants and forest stands. The study had the dual objective of estimating the effects of atmospheric N deposition and evaluating the potential management value of N fertilization itself. In particular, the analysis took into account the changes induced in water use and intrinsic transpiration efficiency (ITE), an aspect often overlooked in world literature but of great importance especially in Mediterranean environment, where the positive effects of N fertilization may be denied by the parallel increased transpiration and exacerbated water stress.

In questo lavoro sono state analizzate diverse strategie di recupero di una cava dismessa situata presso la località Colombara (Monte San Pietro, Bologna). Su questi terreni sono state condotte tre prove, costituite da diverse parcelle nelle quali sono stati adottati differenti trattamenti. Sono state svolte analisi di tipo quantitativo del suolo e della parte epigea delle specie arbustive e arboree, focalizzandosi sull'azoto (N totale, ammoniacale, nitrico, e firma isotopica) e sulla sostanza organica del suolo. Inoltre è stata effettuata un'indagine qualitativa della composizione floristica. Scopo della tesi è quello di individuare le strategie più efficaci per un recupero di suoli degradati. Non sempre a trattamenti iniziali migliori corrispondono i migliori risultati portando a conclusioni apparentemente controintuitive a cui si è cercato di dare risposta. / In this work we have analyzed different restoration strategies of an abandoned quarry located at Colombara (Monte San Pietro, Bologna, Italy). On these surfaces we carried out three experiments, based on manifold land parcels on which different agronomic treatments were applied. On was conducted analyses of soil and of the aboveground plant biomass of shrub and tree species. We focused on soil and leaf Nitrogen content and on the soil organic Carbon in order to evaluate the soil fertility. Moreover we carried out a qualitative analysis about the botany species composition. The main scope of this thesis was to find out the most suitable strategies to restore degraded soils. Just few times the best results correspond to better initial treatments. The latter brought to apparently counter intuitive conclusions to which we tried to find the causes.

Diego e José de Figueroa y Córdoba furono due fratelli drammaturghi, attivi nella seconda metà del XVII secolo, che praticarono assiduamente la scrittura in collaborazione. Nel tentativo di rivalutare questi autori ingiustamente dimenticati dalla critica odierna, il presente lavoro si propone di offrire uno studio introduttivo alle figure e al teatro dei due fratelli. Nella prima parte, si offre un profilo biografico dei fratelli Figueroa, riunendo le seppur scarse notizie che possediamo sulla loro vita, in modo da inquadrarne le personalità all’interno degli ambienti letterari dell’epoca. Ci si concentra, poi, sul corpus, proponendo una panoramica delle commedie scritte da Diego e José, dando di ciascuna una breve sinossi e un rapido inquadramento all’interno dei generi tipici del teatro aureo, e segnalando gli eventuali problemi di attribuzione. Si accenna, infine, alla collaborazione dei fratelli nella scrittura di molte delle loro commedie, avanzando alcune ipotesi sulla tecnica compositiva. La seconda parte è costituita da un repertorio bibliografico del teatro “maggiore” dei due fratelli, in cui si descrivono analiticamente tutti gli esemplari conosciuti delle comedias dei Figueroa. Ogni descrizione si completa con una lista delle biblioteche in cui l’esemplare è conservato, lista compilata attraverso la consultazione di cataloghi, cartacei e on-line, delle principali biblioteche con fondi di teatro spagnolo del Siglo de Oro. Infine, la terza parte è dedicata all’edizione critica di una delle commedie scritte in collaborazione da Diego e José: Mentir y mudarse a un tiempo, condotta usando come testo base un manoscritto probabilmente autografo. L’edizione si completa di un apparato critico, con analisi dei testimoni, stemma codicum e registro delle varianti. Precede l’edizione uno studio generale introduttivo all’opera. / Diego and José de Figueroa y Córdoba were two brothers, active in the second half of the XVII century, who assiduously collaborated in the writing of their plays. In an attempt to re-evaluate these authors, unjustly forgotten by today's critics, this work aims to offer an introductory study to the brother’s figures and theatre. In the first part, some biographical notes will be given, bringing together the little information we have about the life of the Figueroas, in order to frame their personalities within the literary circles of the time. We will then concentrate on the theatrical corpus, offering an overview of the plays written by Diego and José, giving for each one a brief synopsis and a quick framing within the typical genres of Golden Age theatre, and pointing out possible problems of attribution. Finally, we will refer to the collaboration of the brothers in the writing of many of their works, putting forward some hypotheses about the composition technique. The second part consist of a bibliographic catalogue of the mayor theatre written by the two brothers, where all the known exemplars of the Figueroa’s comedias are described analytically. Each description is completed with a list of libraries where the exemplar is hold, a list compiled by consulting catalogues, printed and on-line, of the main libraries with Golden Age Spanish theatre holdings. Finally, the third part is dedicated to the critical edition of one of the plays written in collaboration by Diego and José: Mentir y mudarse a un tiempo, prepared using a manuscript, which is probably autographic, as the copy-text. The edition is completed by a critical apparatus, with analysis of the witnesses, stemma codicum and register of variants. The edition is preceded by a general introductory study of the play.