24663 research outputs found
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System-Level Timing Performance Estimation Based on a Unifying HW/SW Performance Metric
No full textThe rapidly increasing complexity of embedded systems and the critical impact of non-functional requirements demand the adoption of an appropriate system-level HW/SW co-design methodology. This methodology tries to satisfy all design requirements by simultaneously considering several alternative HW/SW implementations. In this context, early performance estimation approaches are crucial in reducing the design space, thereby minimizing design time and cost. To address the challenge of system-level performance estimation, this work presents and formalizes a novel approach based on a unifying HW/SW performance metric for early execution time estimation. The proposed approach estimates the execution time of a C function when executed by different HW/SW processor technologies. The approach is validated through an extensive experimental study, demonstrating its effectiveness and efficiency in terms of estimation error (i.e., lower than 10%) and estimation time (close to zero) when compared to existing methods in the literature
Multi-Partner Project: A Model-Driven Engineering Framework for Federated Digital Twins of Industrial Systems (MATISSE)
No full textDigital twins are virtual representations of real-world entities or systems. Their primary goal is to help organizations understand and predict the behaviour and properties of these entities or systems. Additionally, digital twins enhance activities such as monitoring, verification, validation, and testing. However, the inherent complexity of digital twins implies challenges throughout the systems engineering process. This notably includes design, development, and analysis phases, as well as deployment, execution, and maintenance. Moreover, existing approaches, methods, techniques, and tools for modelling, simulating, validating, and monitoring single digital twins must now address the increased complexity in federation scenarios. These scenarios introduce new challenges, such as digital twin identification, shared metadata, cross-digital twin communication and synchronization, and federation governance. The KDT Joint Undertaking MATISSE project tackles these challenges by aiming to provide a model-driven framework for the continuous engineering of federated digital twins. It leverages model-driven engineering techniques and practices as the core enabling technology, with traceability serving as an essential infrastructural service for the digital twins federation. In this paper, we introduce the MATISSE conceptual framework for digital twins, highlighting both the novelty of the project's concept and its technical objectives. As the project is still in its initial phase, we identify key research challenges relevant to the DATE community and propose a preliminary research roadmap. This roadmap addresses traceability and federation mechanisms, the required continuous engineering strategy, and the development of digital twin-based services for verification, validation, prediction, and monitoring. To illustrate our approach, we present two concrete scenarios that demonstrate practical applications of the MATISSE conceptual framework
Review of the book of Santana, Germán (dir). Patrimonio cultural africano atlántico y de la afrodescendencia. Paris: L’Harmattan, 339 pages
No full textThis review will summarise the main aspects of the book, on African heritage and the forgiveness it has been subjected to in history. Several authors bring different perspectives and points of view, along with different places, to this multidisciplinary study that gives us an overview of how heritage management is working in different places on the Atlantic African continent
Vulnerabilità e conflitto. Riflessioni sulle dimensioni giuridiche e filosofico-giuridiche della protezione internazionale
No full textI conflitti, specie quelli armati, danno origine a vulnerabilità: il solo confronto aspro, che chiede l’identificazione di un vincitore e perdente, determina un vulnus nello sconfitto che sperimenta la sua fragilità. Sin qui un già conosciuto, tanto che il diritto ha posto in essere una serie di strumenti normativi internazionali tesi a non annichilire i “perdenti”, a tutelarli da pretese inesaudibili dei “vincenti”. Quando, tuttavia, si entra già vulnerabili nel conflitto? Quale il destino di tali persone? Quali gli eventuali strumenti di tutela? Meglio, è possibile ipotizzare una tutela, volta a non penalizzare ulteriormente chi versa già in una condizione di fragilità e, dunque, in un’inevitabile condizione di svantaggio? Lo snodo concettuale è nella definizione stessa di persona vulnerabile che, al momento, non è categoria unitaria né univocamente definita: si è vulnerabili, infatti, in maniera contingente (malattia, gravidanza, prigionia, povertà, migrazione, sofferenza fisica e/o psicologica, calamità naturali, disastri ambientali); ma si può essere vulnerabili in maniera naturale (minore età, vecchiaia, disabilità). Una pluralità di possibilità, ciascuna delle quali fa emergere profili differenti di fragilità, che possono richiedere diverse misure di tutela. Una pluralità di condizioni che impedisce alla radice la predisposizione di strumenti di tutela veramente efficaci, ove l’efficacia richiede comunque una dimensione internazionale delle medesime: l’unica che veramente possa garantire un’applicazione erga omnes (ovviamente per quanti sottoscrivono e ratificano tali strumenti). Il tutto in una cornice giuridica che si è strutturata a partire dall’eredità culturale e ideale dell’Illuminismo, teso alla valorizzazione del soggetto razionale e capace di autonomia, il cui corrispettivo giuridico è dato dal soggetto giuridico, titolare di diritti e doveri, che risponde delle proprie azioni, in ragione della sua razionalità. La dimensione della vulnerabilità apre spazi di criticità insoluti, per la sua petizione di spazi di tutela rafforzata, che costituiscono una negazione del principio fondante dell’uguaglianza (formale) fra i soggetti. Quid ius per tali soggetti? Meglio, fino a che punto si può spingere l’avvaloramento della disuguaglianza (teso alla tutela di chi è vulnerabile) senza ledere i diritti di chi vulnerabile non è
Il dialogo tra la Corte costituzionale della Romania e la Commissione europea nel contrasto alla disinformazione elettorale online
No full textIl presente articolo enuclea il tema del contrasto alla disinformazione online nell’ambito di contesti elettorali, muovendo dalle vicende che hanno portato all’annullamento delle elezioni presidenziali della Romania del dicembre 2024. In particolare, si propone di riflettere sul contributo della Corte costituzionale rumena alla raffinazione della nozione di disinformazione online, al fine di comprenderne la potenziale influenza sul processo decisionale avviato dalla Commissione europea ai sensi del Digital Services Act
Bridging the Gap in Physical Activity and Sport Among Women University Students: Motivational and Practical Insights for Effective Promotion
No full textWomen’s participation in physical activity (PA) and sport remains lower than that of men, with specific challenges persisting into young adulthood. This study aims to better understand the diverse engagement patterns and motivations of women university students in order to inform targeted, gender-sensitive approaches to PA and sport promotion. A survey was conducted among 2,071 women students aged 18–25 years (M = 20.01, SD = 1.33) from 16 European universities. Principal component analysis and clustering techniques revealed two main participation styles: “free” (C1 and C2) and “organized” (C3 and C4). The “free” group preferred low-intensity, flexible activities, often self-directed, and supported by digital tools, while the “organized” group thrived in structured, socially supportive environments such as clubs or team sports with coaching. Motivational factors varied considerably: C1 participants did not prioritize a single motivational factor, C2 were primarily motivated by physical condition and appearance, while a combination of enjoyment, affiliation, and psychological well-being drove C3 and C4 participants. The study highlights the need for universities to offer diverse, flexible PA options that cater to different preferences, from autonomous activities facilitated by digital innovations to structured programs that promote social belonging and accountability. Universities can create supportive environments that encourage sustained PA and sport engagement by tailoring interventions to individual motivations and using inclusive communication strategies. These findings provide valuable insights for promoting active lifestyles among women university students and for advancing gender-sensitive approaches to PA and sport promotion
A Pilot-Scale Gasifier Freeboard Equipped with Catalytic Filter Candles for Particulate Abatement and Tar Conversion: 3D-CFD Simulations and Experimental Tests
No full textThis work deals with the catalytic steam reforming of raw syngas to increase the efficiency
of coupling gasification with downstream processes (such as fuel cells and catalytic chemical
syntheses) by producing high-temperature, ready-to-use syngas without cooling it for
cleaning and conditioning. Such a combination is considered a key point for the future
exploitation of syngas produced by steam gasification of biogenic solid fuel. The design
and construction of an integrated gasification and gas conditioning system were proposed
approximately 20 years ago; however, they still require further in-depth study for practical
applications. A 3D model of the freeboard of a pilot-scale, fluidized bed gasification plant
equipped with catalytic ceramic candles was used to investigate the optimal operating
conditions for in situ syngas upgrading. The global kinetic parameters for methane and tar
reforming reactions were determined experimentally. A fluidized bed gasification reactor
(~5 kWth) equipped with a 45 cm long segment of a fully commercial filter candle in its
freeboard was used for a series of tests at different temperatures. Using a computational
fluid dynamics (CFD) description, the relevant parameters for apparent kinetic equations
were obtained in the frame of a first-order reaction model to describe the steam reforming
of key tar species. As a further step, a CFD model of the freeboard of a 100 kWth
gasification plant, equipped with six catalytic ceramic candles, was developed in ANSYS
FLUENT®. The composition of the syngas input into the gasifier freeboard was obtained
from experimental results based on the pilot-scale plant. Simulations showed tar catalytic
conversions of 80% for toluene and 41% for naphthalene, still insufficient compared to
the threshold limits required for operating solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). An overly low
freeboard temperature level was identified as the bottleneck for enhancing gas catalytic
conversions, so further simulations were performed by injecting an auxiliary stream of
O2/steam (50/50 wt.%) through a series of nozzles at different heights. The best simulation
results were obtained when the O2/steam stream was fed entirely at the bottom of the
freeboard, achieving temperatures high enough to achieve a tar content below the safe
operating conditions for SOFCs, with minimal loss of hydrogen content or LHV in the
fuel gas
Dai gruppi di auto e mutuo aiuto offline a quelli online: l’essere umano ancora al centro
No full textIl modello europeo di gestione delle crisi alla luce del Digital Services Act e dell’AI Act
No full textThe European crisis management model in the light of the Digital Services Act and the AI Act – The advent of new technologies has not only given rise to new opportunities but has also brought about the emergence of novel risks to the stability of democratic societies. Examples of this phenomenon include the spread of illegal content on the Internet and in social media, as well as the advancement of high-risk artificial intelligence systems. In response to these developments, the European Union has recently enacted two regulations: the Digital Services Act (DSA) and the Artificial Intelligence Act (AIA). However, the measures introduced by the Brussels legislator, particularly in the context of crisis situations, appear to encroach upon users’ fundamental rights