Intersections of Language, Identity and Culture. Exploring Bilingualism and Biculturalism through Scientific and Literary Insights.

This doctoral thesis explores the intersections of language, identity, and culture through the lens of bilingualism and biculturalism, drawing from both scientific research and literary insights. The journey begins with an investigation into the Foreign Language Effect (FLE), proposing that processing information in a second language can lead to moderated emotional responses and more utilitarian decision-making. A subsequent experiment examines the FLE's influence on Tolerance of Ambiguity (T...

Decoding the RNA cargo of plasma-derived extracellular vesicles in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer

Liquid biopsies offer a minimally invasive and readily accessible complement to tissue biopsies for monitoring cancer by capturing multiple molecular components circulating in body fluids, such as circulating tumor cells (CTCs), cell-free DNA (cfDNA), cell-free RNA (cfRNA) and extracellular vesicles (EVs). EVs are nanoscale structures surrounded by a lipid bilayer. They carry a rich molecular cargo that includes nucleic acids, proteins, and lipids. The EV RNA cargo encompasses various types o...

Antecedents and Consequences of Negative Relationships for Muslim Youth in Germany

DEEP-LEARNING LOCAL FEATURES FOR PHOTOGRAMMETRIC APPLICATIONS AND VISUAL POSITIONING

Image matching is a crucial step in various photogrammetric and computer vision applications. Traditional handcrafted matching algorithms automatically identify correspondences between image pairs, correspondences that can be triangulated to create a sparse map of the environment, while estimating the pose of the cameras and, in some cases, the internal camera parameters and distorsions. However, these algorithms often suffer from performance degradation under challenging conditions, such as ...

Risk-based bridge asset management

Bridges, critical components of a nation’s infrastructure network, are vulnerable to deterioration from aging, fatigue, and external events like earthquakes or impacts. These challenges, coupled with limited maintenance resources, create the need for efficient and expeditious predictive maintenance strategies. The present thesis focuses on the development and application of Decision Support Systems (DSS) for the optimization of bridge stocks management and upkeep. The developed DSS introduce...

A theoretical and empirical investigation into Attachment Trauma - the development and validation of the Adult Attachment Trauma Questionnaire (AATQ).

The dissertation explores the concept of Attachment Trauma (AT) and its measurement. The first chapter addresses the theoretical heterogeneity surrounding AT by conducting an integrative review, identifying six distinct research streams: infant disorganized attachment, unresolved/disorganized adult state of mind, adult fearful attachment, complex post-traumatic stress disorder (cPTSD), early adverse experiences, and biological correlates of trauma. The review highlights the differences and th...

Exploring central and enteric nervous system vulnerability in Huntington’s Disease: hints from a knock-in animal model

Huntington’s disease (HD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder caused by an aberrant expansion of CAG repeats within the HTT gene, for which there is currently no cure. The disease is driven by the mutant huntingtin protein, which predominantly leads to the degeneration of the striatum within the brain. Medium-sized spiny neurons (MSNs), the main neuronal components of the striatum, are selectively affected by HD, and they can be further categorized by their surface expression of Dopam...

Idealismo e neohegelismo in Piero Martinetti. Filosofia, scienza e religione

The subject of this dissertation is an analysis of Piero Martinetti's reflections around idealism. Therefore, the historical and cultural motivations that led this author to adhere to idealism, and the deeper speculative motives of his speculation are investigated. This research has a historiographic and a speculative purpose. On the historiographic side, it is intended to show the hitherto neglected influence that certain authors, such as the British idealists, had on Martinetti. From the th...

LA QUESTIONE DELLA DEMOCRAZIA IN CLAUDE LEFORT: PARADOSSI E SFIDE DELLA MODERNITÀ DI FRONTE AL TEOLOGICO-POLITICO

La ricerca dottorale ha mirato a far luce sull’idea di democrazia e modernità elaborata da Claude Lefort. Sebbene la sua opera sia stata oggetto di numerosi studi, le fonti del suo pensiero e la complessità della sua idea di storia e di sociale sono lungi dall’essere pienamente comprese. La ricerca ha tracciato ciò che abbiamo chiamato la “storia filosofica della modernità” lefortiana attraverso lo studio delle fonti del suo pensiero così come del contesto in cui prese forma, vale a dire la c...