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Cair fora do mundo. Peste e distopia em Ensaio sobre a Cegueira
No full textThe essay examines José Saramago’s Blindness (Ensaio sobre a Cegueira) as a threshold text between the classical tradition of plague narratives and the modern genre of dystopia. Drawing on the literary history of epidemics (from Homer and Lucretius to Thucydides, Manzoni and Camus) and on Auerbach’s theory of realism, the article interprets the “white blindness” as a figure of an internal collapse of civilization, caused not by an external catastrophe but by the loss of a constitutive human faculty. The epidemic is thus read as a device that produces a “creatural” regression, in which biology, violence and the breakdown of social bonds disclose a primary anthropological condition. From this perspective, Blindness connects the topos of the plague with a dystopian reflection on the crisis of language, the impoverishment of experience and the inadequacy of words in the face of radical evil, implicitly dialoguing with Primo Levi and with Walter Benjamin’s diagnosis of the collapse of experience in the twentieth century. A central role is assigned to the system of proverbs, understood both as a repository of cultural memory and as a narrative device that intertwines orality, anthropological knowledge and temporal montage, shaping the novel as a form of encyclopedic synthesis in which history, myth and the present are condensed within a stratified and non-linear temporality
Exploring the impact of AI on Web3 decentralized platform business model innovation
No full textAdvancements in information technologies have revolutionized business models (BMs), which are now increasingly based on digital platforms. The spread of Web3 has led to further development in this direction, giving rise to platform business models enabled by blockchain technology. At the same time, the advent of artificial intelligence (AI) has further expanded opportunities to innovate BMs. In this study we examine how the integration of AI influences BMs in blockchain-based platforms. We find that the integration of AI plays a key role in the three main dimensions of platform business models: value creation, value delivery, and value capture. We demonstrate, in particular, how AI enhances operational efficiency, strategic governance, and decision-making in Web3 platforms enabled by blockchains. Moreover, AI optimizes personalization, matching processes, and interactions in decentralized platforms. AI also fosters innovation in decentralized platform BMs and requires a skilled workforce. This research underscores how AI can improve performance in blockchain-based platforms, advancing scientific knowledge of decentralized platforms and offering recommendations for managers and policymakers on how to innovate their BMs and leverage AI to maximize value across platforms
Tectonic Reorganization of the Caribbean Plate System in the Paleogene Driven by Farallon Slab Anchoring
No full textConsiderazioni intorno al divieto di terzo mandato consecutivo, tra tentativi di elusione legislativa e prescrizioni di rango costituzionale
No full textIl saggio affronta il tema del divieto di terzo mandato consecutivo del Presiden-
ti della Giunta regionale. Più nello specifico tale previsione, contenuta nella
legge n. 165 del 2004, viene inserita all’interno di una ricostruzione più ampia
relativa alla preclusione al terzo mandato degli organi esecutivi ad elezione di-
retta, che – sulla base dell’esegesi del giudice delle leggi di plurimi articoli della
Costituzione – assurge oggi a principio fondamentale riguardante il sistema
elettorale degli enti sub statali. Partendo dall’analisi delle diverse normative re-
gionali volte ad eludere tale principio, a causa del dubbio circa la sua diretta ap-
plicabilità, il saggio esamina la posizione assunta dalla Corte costituzionale nella
recente sentenza n. 64 del 2025, interrogandosi anche sulla sua estensione alle
Regioni speciali e alle Province autonome. Infine, l’Autore auspica la costitu-
zionalizzazione del limite, per garantirne l’uniformità e la tenuta nel tempo, ri-
chiamando, in parallelo, il recente dibattito sul premierato.The essay addresses the issue of the prohibition of the third consecutive term of
the Presidents of the Regional Council. More specifically, this provision, con-
tained in law no. 165 of 2004, is included in a broader reconstruction relating
to the foreclosure to the third term of executive bodies by direct election, whi-
ch - on the basis of the exegesis of the judge of the laws of multiple articles of
the Constitution - arises today as a fundamental principle concerning the elec-
toral system of sub-state entities. Starting from the analysis of the various regio-
nal regulations aimed at evading this principle, due to the doubt about its di-
rect applicability, the essay examines the position taken by the Constitutional
Court in the recent judgment no. 64 of 2025, also questioning its extension to
the Special Regions and the Autonomous Provinces. Finally, the author calls
for the constitutionalization of the limit, to guarantee its uniformity and tightness over time, recalling, in parallel, the recent debate on the premiership
Seismic assessment of masonry churches through combined modal and pushover analysis
No full textThe paper proposes a novel procedure for the seismic assessment of ancient masonry churches. The procedure stems from the idea that the study of the linear dynamic behaviour of the building as a whole can help to gather information on the portions of the building most vulnerable in the event of an earthquake. The proposed procedure consists of several steps, the first of which is the modal analysis of the entire structure, which becomes the tool through which to define a series of simplified non-linear static analyses, performed on the whole structure and able of capturing the collapse load associated with the mechanisms. The procedure is first validated through comparison with the results of an experimental campaign and, subsequently, adopted to study the seismic behaviour of the church of St. Martino dei Gualdesi (Castelsantangelo - Italy), significantly hit by the 2016–2017 Central-Italy earthquake, and the church of St. Nicolò di Capodimonte in Camogli (Genova - Italy), studied in a previous work by the Authors [1]
A Digital-Based Approach for Efficient and Reliable Bridge Inspections Using Non-Destructive Technologies
No full textEnsuring the safety and durability of bridge infrastructure has become a critical issue in Italy, where a significant portion of the network was constructed between the 1950s and 1970s. Many of these bridges were designed based on standards and load assumptions that are now outdated. Today, they are subject to increased traffic volumes, environmental stressors, and aging-related deterioration. Despite this, traditional inspection methods—primarily based on visual assessments—are still the standard practices. While relatively simple to conduct, these inspections are often subjective, time-consuming, and dependent on the availability of specialized personnel. Moreover, they typically require partial or full road closures, leading to traffic disruptions and logistical challenges.
To address these limitations, this research explores the use of digital and non-destructive surveying technologies to support and potentially enhance bridge inspection workflows. The study focuses on the integration of laser scanning, UAV-based photogrammetry, and thermographic imaging for the generation of high-resolution 3D models of bridge structures. These technologies enable the acquisition of accurate geometric data, which can be used to build accurate and updatable digital representations of physical assets.
The methodology relies on a multi-sensor data acquisition strategy, followed by advanced processing techniques that include point cloud segmentation and surface extraction algorithms to identify structural elements and detect potential anomalies, such as moisture infiltration or material loss. The processed data are incorporated into a Building Information Modeling (BIM) environment and interoperable with a digital platform developed within the framework of the PIASTRE Project. This platform supports multiple data formats, allowing for the integration of semantic information and enabling long-term monitoring paving the way for the development of a Digital Twin.
A historic masonry bridge was selected as a case study to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach. The results highlight the method’s potential to increase the efficiency, accuracy, and objectivity of infrastructure inspections while minimizing disruption to traffic. Ultimately, this integrated workflow represents a step forward in creating resilient, data-driven management systems for transport infrastructure
Assessing the Effect of Insulation Materials Used for Energy Conservation in Buildings on Indoor Radon—The Scale Model Room Approach
No full textThis study investigates how external insulation materials used for energy efficiency affect indoor radon accumulation, using a scale model room built with ignimbrite, a highly radon-emitting volcanic rock. Two insulation materials—mineral wool (open-cell, 98% porosity) and extruded polystyrene (XPS, closed-cell, >95%)—were applied to the outer walls of the model room. Their effects were tested in combination with three internal radon barriers (silane-terminated membrane, silicone sealant, bitumen membrane) and under varying ventilation rates (0.11 h−1 and 0.44 h−1). Radon concentrations were measured using calibrated detectors over five experimental phases. Without ventilation, XPS increased indoor radon by up to +351%, while mineral wool showed a milder effect (+26%). The silicone sealant reduced radon by up to 90%, outperforming other barriers. Ventilation significantly lowered radon levels, simulating the “flushing” effect of wind. The combination of impermeable insulation and lack of air exchange led to the highest radon accumulation. High-performance insulation can compromise indoor air quality by trapping radon, especially in buildings with high geogenic radon potential. Effective mitigation requires pairing insulation with high-performing radon barriers and adequate ventilation. These findings highlight the need to balance energy efficiency with indoor environmental safety