Service Ecosystems and Social Innovation in the Inner Areas for a Regenerative Economy

The doctoral thesis “Service Ecosystems and Social Innovation in the Inner Areas for a Regenerative Economy” investigates how institutional dynamics and social innovation interact in shaping service ecosystems within peripheral and rural territories. Anchored in the New Institutional Economics (NIE) framework, it explores how formal and informal institutions jointly influence the capacity of inner areas to achieve economic, social, and environmental regeneration. Through the concept of s...

FOOD POLICIES AS STRATEGIES FOR INNER AREA DEVELOPMENT: INSIGHTS FROM EDE AND MONTAGNA MATERANA

Metodologie ed indicatori per la valutazione degli impatti della social responsibility degli enti locali: un’applicazione sui dati CPT dei comuni lucani

The growing urgency of addressing sustainability challenges, as defined by the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), has placed local government at the center of the transition, elevating Municipal Social Responsibility (MSR) to a strategic imperative. Despite the theoretical recognition of this responsibility, the literature highlights a significant empirical and methodological gap, particularly the difficulty of effectively connecting sustainability performance (often b...

Downscaling a livello locale delle Agende Internazionali. Applicazioni, sfide e best practice

This study investigates how major global sustainability frameworks — including the 2030 Agenda, the Paris Agreement, the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, and the EU Biodiversity Strategy — can be operationalized at the local scale through downscaling methodologies, multilevel governance arrangements, and resilience-oriented spatial planning. The objective is to develop a conceptual and operational framework capable of supporting territorial strategies that simultaneously advance ...

Use of low-cost sensors for precision monitoring of agrifood systems.

This thesis focuses on the design, calibration, and validation of a low-cost system for monitoring soil moisture and temperature, with potential applications in the field of smart farming. The research was developed following a progressive and structured approach, starting from an analysis of the main challenges of modern agriculture, characterized by the increasing demand for food and the scarcity of natural resources, with particular attention to sustainable water management. In this conte...

Sex-specific differences in Parkinson's disease: an integrated study of circulating biomarkers, metabolism and cellular response to α-synuclein toxicity

Production of γ-aminobutyric acid by Levilactobacillus brevis: basic aspects and applications in foods

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is a non-proteinogenic amino acid, widely recognized as the main inhibitory neurotransmitter in the mammalian central nervous system. GABA exerts several physiological effects, including antihypertensive, antidiabetic, anxiolytic, and anti-inflammatory activities, making it a promising bioactive compound for the formulation of functional foods. The natural concentration of GABA in foods is relatively low, and chemical synthesis, although efficient, rely on toxic...

SMART PLANT MANAGEMENT TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY AND SUSTAINABILITY OF BAKERY PRODUCTS

This doctoral thesis explores the integration of digital technologies and sustainable ingredient innovation in the bakery sector, with particular emphasis on gluten-free breadmaking. The work is framed within the evolving paradigm of Food Industry 5.0, which combines technological advancement with human-centricity, sustainability, and system resilience. The first part of the thesis provides a critical review of the transition from Food Industry 4.0 to Food Industry 5.0, highlighting the...

The strategic role of municipalities in the transition to clean energy: an energy and environmental analysis of the municipality of Tito using the ETSAP-TIMES model generator.

The global transition toward clean and sustainable energy systems is driven by the challenges of climate change mitigation, rising greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and increasing threats to energy security. Energy systems account for approximately three-quarters of global GHG emissions, rising from energy production, distribution, and end-use consumption. Therefore, the decarbonization of energy systems stands as a point for achieving climate neutrality while improving environmental quality, p...