Dipartimento di Fisica - Tesi di Dottorato

Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://localhost:4000/handle/10955/35

Questa collezione raccoglie le Tesi di Dottorato afferenti al Dipartimento di Fisica dell'Università della Calabria.

Browse

End date: 2022Subject: search.filters.subject.Fisica applicata

Search Results

Now showing 1 - 10 of 16
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Environmental Radon Measurements using a closed chamber for building materials and water and a feasible program for Ecuador
    (2017-02-24) Tene Fernandez, Talia Beatriz; Pantano, Pietro; Capua, Marcella
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    <> study wind behavior from the micro to the mesoscale of different temporal and spatial horizons: turbulent regime, mean and climate
    (2014-11-13) Tiriolo, Luca; Bartolino, Roberto; Sempreviva, Anna Maria; Carbone, Vincenzo
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Molecular simulation of transport proteins in interaction with physiological and pharmacological ligands
    (2014-11-13) Evoli, Stefania; Bartolino, Roberto; Carbone, Vincenzo; Guzzi, Rita; Rizzuti, Bruno
    Molecular complexes of transport proteins with small compounds have been studied by using docking techniques and molecular dynamics simulations. The macromolecules considered are β- lactoglobulin and albumin, i.e. the most abundant proteins in bovine milk and human blood serum, respectively. The ligands are long-chain fatty acids of different length and ibuprofen, a molecule of pharmaceutical interest. Simulations of β-lactoglobulin with fatty acids, ranging from caprylic to stearic acid, revealed the key protein residues that contribute to the binding process. In particular, a rationale was found for the high binding affinity of both stearic and palmitic acid compared to shorter lipids. Moreover, the location of two low-affinity external binding sites was predicted for palmitic acid, by comparing docking results with those obtained for vitamin D3, for which an external site has already been identified in crystallography. For human serum albumin, docking results suggest different candidate binding locations for both charged and neutral ibuprofen. An alchemical free energy approach has been used to estimate the binding affinity for each pose. The results show that charged ibuprofen has a greater affinity for albumin compared to the ligand in the neutral form, suggesting that the former corresponds to the physiological binding state. The simulation findings were compared to experimental results and show an overall good agreement, predicting details of the protein-ligand interaction that include binding geometries and contacts with specific amino acid residues. The overall findings reveal significant features of the binding of well-known ligands to two extensively investigated transport proteins, and show how computational tools can be used to support experimental techniques in a variety of cases.
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Atomic forcemicroscopy of corneal biomechanics
    (2014-11-28) Labate, Cristina; Bartolino, Roberto; Versace, Carlo; Barberi, Riccardo; De Santo, Maria P.
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Advanced numerical models for highly frustrated liquid crystalline phases
    (2014-11-03) de Jesus, Caldera Teresita; Bartolino, Roberto; Versace, Carlo C.; Barberi, Riccardo; Lombardo, Giuseppe
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    New methods for characterization and dating in material of cultural heritage
    (2014-11-03) Bosco, Stefania; Versace, Carlo; Chidichimo, Giuseppe
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Laser ablation methods for cultural heritage: restoration, conservation, consolidation
    (2014-11-12) Stranges, Fabio; Pantano, Pietro S.; Bonanno, Assunta
    This thesis, developed in the period between March 2012 and November 2014, focuses on the researches on new methods for cleaning, diagnostics and restoration of Cultural Heritage assets. These methods are based on the use of Laser Ablation in various media (air, water and vacuum) and on different materials, such as alloys, metals and artificial stone materials. Furthermore, the thesis proposes different types of investigation, consolidation and restoration of archaeological artefacts, introducing new possible strategies of diagnostics and enhancements in the study of cultural heritage, through the contribution of nanotechnology and nanomaterials, still slightly used in the field of Cultural Heritage. The main objective of the thesis is to verify the applicability of different techniques in different environments, also trying to make the employed methodologies less invasive and more effective. In fact, a fundamental point is LA cleaning on various materials, directly in situ, using portable equipment and prototypes can be used in subaerial and underwater environments to selectively remove of crusts and deterioration patinas that often cover archaeological artifacts. The prototype has been realized during PhD and it can be used for measurements of LA cleaning and for Raman and PL spectroscopy. For testing the diagnostic methodology efficacy, the investigations were carried out by non-destructive methods on different types of materials (such as bronze, ceramics and precious metals) in different environments (subaerial and underwater), obtaining information comparable to laboratory measurements. Morphological studies were carried out using optical microscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy SEM and Atomic Force Microscopy AFM (rarely used in Cultural Heritage). Chemical analysis were carried out with different spectroscopic techniques including X-Ray Fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF), X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), PhotoLuminescence (PL), CathodoLuminescence (CL ) and finally the Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX). Another aim concerns the study of particulate generated by LA cleaning for application in the consolidation of the artifact and high tech (photovoltaic and optoelectronic applications). Indeed, we study the production and characterization of nanoparticles and nanocomposites based on TiO2 and SiO2 for application to restoration and consolidation in archaeological artifacts, for exploring the possibility to use NPs as consolidating materials without introducing chemical, physical or esthetical changes in artifacts. Finally, our study has demonstrated that LA cleaning does not affect the Thermoluminescence measure. This thesis develops into five chapters. In the first chapter, we will introduce the LA processes, the second describes the Diagnostic techniques and experimental setup. Instead, in the third chapter we will discuss the materials analyzed, while in the fourth chapter describes the use of by-products generated from LA for consolidation of Cultural Heritage assets and for realization of nanocomposites for high-tech applications. Finally, in the fifth chapter we will conclude the study by listing the achievements.
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Complexity in climate
    (2012-12-25) Capparelli, Vincenzo; Bartolino, Roberto; Carbone, Vincenzo
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Optical systems for diagnostics: Near-Infrared Imaging technique for detection of dental demineralisation
    (2012-11-30) Salsone, Silvia; Versace, Carlo; Lombardo, Giuseppe; Zakian, Christian; Bartolino, Roberto
    In dentistry, a correct detection of caries severity is still a challenging descision-making task that crucially a ects the choice for the best treatment plan. The challenge is to nd both the most objective parameters to detect caries at di erent stages (from an early reversibile stage to a severe one) and the most reliable method(s) that should be used to distinguish these stages. Currently, methods used in clinics are visual inspection, aided with light probe and pick inspection tools, and radiography. The main issue rising by the use of these methods is that both of them are subjective, with possibility for intra- and inter-examiner variability. For this reason, radiography needs an extreme care of interpretation especially when assessing occlusal caries. Visual methods, instead, are a ected by confounding factors, such as stain or uorosis, a ecting the accurate assessment of early caries lesions. Radiography, moreover, should be performed with care considering that the emission of ionising radiation may cause malignant change in tissues, especially for young age patients and are counter-indicated during pregnancy. They are also inadequate for the detection of initial caries and to locate the lesions looking at the superimposition of the tooth along its buccal-lingual axis. The aim of this study was to overcome the limits of the current detection techniques, o ering a non-invasive, objective method for the detection of caries at any stage of the demineralisation process. The proposed method measures the near-infrared (NIR) re ectance response of the tooth at three speci c wavelengths. It is then possible to investigate properties of the sample at the surface and in depth and get an image that maps the lesions on the occlusal view of the sample when combining these wavelengths. Due to the properties of the NIR light, this method is non-invasive, non-contact and allows for detection both at the enamel and at the dentine level. The NIR method o ers objective supporting information to quantify and detect dental caries and is especially suitable for areas a ected by confounding factors, such as stain. The objective of the study was to design and implement a NIR multispetral imaging system, developing e cient image analysis algorithms. In order to prove this objective, an in vitro validation of the technique against gold standard histology was performed together with a comparison to other detection methods - International Caries Detection and Assessment System (ICDAS - clinical visual inspection), bre optic transillumination method (FOTI - visual inspection with light probe), radiography and Quantitative Light-induced Fluorescence method (QLF), used in clinics or in research. A total of 112 teeh, molars and premolars, with di erent lesion severities were used for this study. Histologcal sections were obtained to con rm the lesion severities and used as a gold standard to compare the sensitivity and speci cty among techniques. Visual inspection methods recorded the highest values of sensitivity (ICDAS: >99%, FOTI: 93%) and speci city to dental caries (FOTI: >99%, ICDAS: 90%). However, these methods could have been highly facilitated by the in-vitro viewing of the samples. Sensitivity to dental caries was higher for NIR (91%) than for QLF (88%) and radiography (63%) while speci city was higher for radiography (81%) than for NIR (73%) and QLF (63%). The results from this study suggest that the NIR method has the ability to detect dental caries when other methods fail, providing an alternative to assist in the decision-making process with the further advantage of removing the confounding e ect of stain. This method can enhance patient communication and o ers an objective and safe alternative to ionising radiation methods.