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School and its educational value: the role of parental influences in shaping adolescents’ values, academic beliefs, and expectations
No full textParents play a fundamental role in the development of young people’s self-perceptions. In the context of education, psychological research has revealed that parental involvement (PI) is significantly related to students’ attitudes, beliefs, motivation, expectations, and academic outcomes. However, few studies have focused on a specific aspect of PI known as academic socialization, which refers to the importance that parents attribute to school and education, particularly in terms of how their educational values correspond with students’ psychological and academic adaptation. Thus, this study aimed to examine the associations between perceived parents’ educational values and students’ academic adjustment. A cross-sectional quantitative study was conducted on a sample of 477 Italian students (9th and 10th graders), with a mean age of 15.28 years (SD = .75; 50% male). A Structural Equation Model was estimated to examine how perceived parents’ educational values are related to students’ educational values and academic self-concept, and how these, in turn, relate to students’ perceived difficulties in completing their educational path. Results revealed an indirect relationship between perceived parents’ educational values and students’ negative expectations of academic success, via students’ educational values and their academic self-concept. Interestingly, these associations were found only when the intrinsic dimensions of parents’ and students’ educational values were considered. Overall, the findings highlight parents’ important role during secondary school and suggest that valuing education for its intrinsic and formative function – rather than for its extrinsic outcomes – may be associated with students’ academic adaptation and well-being
Thermal management strategies for contemporary and next-generation computing devices - A Computational Fluid Dynamics study with high fidelity DNS simulations for coupled Conjugate Heat Transfer
No full textThe exponential growth of computational demand, driven by advances in Artificial Intelligence (AI), scientific simulation, and data analytics, has made efficient thermal management an urgent engineering challenge, particularly in High-Performance Computing (HPC) systems. With processors reaching power levels exceeding 1200W, the heat flux density has surpassed the capabilities of traditional cooling technologies, necessitating novel solutions to maintain system stability, energy efficiency, and performance.
This doctoral thesis addresses the critical issue of thermal management in advanced computing architectures by employing high-fidelity Conjugate Heat Transfer (CHT) simulations and experimental validation. Using the open-source CFD platform OpenFOAM, this work presents a multi-faceted investigation into thermal control strategies, aligned with the broader objectives of Italy’s Piano Nazionale di Ripresa e Resilienza (PNRR) and focused on industrial applicability and digital-ecological transition.
The core of this research comprises three interconnected studies. First, a comprehensive study of microchannel cooling systems for HPC applications is undertaken. Through Direct Numerical Simulations (DNS) and experimental validation, the effects of fin geometries, pin arrangements, and flow disruptions are analysed. A full-scale microchannel heat block is fabricated and tested, offering design insights with real-world applicability. Furthermore, in collaboration with Gemateg srl, the integration of such systems with thermoelectric modules is explored to enhance thermal control capabilities further.
Second, the thesis briefly examines a bistable system driven by displacement flows inspired by bistable natural ventilation dynamics. DNS is used to explore complex fluid behaviours, such as flow flipping, with potential applications in edge computing and passive thermal regulation for remote sensors and IoT devices.
Finally, a short outlook is provided on the foundational principles of cryogenic cooling systems. This is primarily informed by the experience gained during a secondment at CERN, which allowed for the study of these systems in a high-energy physics context. This section serves to explain the nature of that collaboration and to highlight the broader applications of such ultra-low temperature technology.
Collectively, this thesis presents a methodology for designing and optimising next- generation thermal management systems. It offers practical engineering solutions for immediate application in HPC, insights into passive systems for low-power electronics, and preliminary frameworks for future technologies. These contributions aim to enable higher CPU/GPU performance by safely and efficiently pushing thermal limits, thereby supporting the continued evolution of computational infrastructure
Alda Merini e il racconto del manicomio in televisione: dalle interviste all’adattamento filmico mediato dal romanzo biografico
No full textMerini è probabilmente la poetessa mediaticamente più esposta della letteratura italiana: il suo volto è divenuto celebre soprattutto in seguito alla partecipazione a diversi talk televisivi e, successivamente, grazie a videointerviste, documentari, spettacoli teatrali fino al biopic per la televisione Folle d’amore (2004), diretto da Roberto Faenza.
L’esposizione, da parte della poetessa, del proprio vissuto ha contribuito a tenere alta l’attenzione dell’opinione pubblica sul dramma dell’esperienza manicomiale in anni successivi alla deistituzionalizzazione. L'articolo affronta il tema del racconto dell’internamento manicomiale della poetessa partendo dall’analisi del contenuto di alcune interviste rilasciate per arrivare alla recente trasposizione cinematografica, che è stata ottenuta riadattando il romanzo biografico di Vincenza Alfano Perché ti ho perduto (2021)
Modernità a bassa intensità. Religioni e società tra crisi ambientale e intelligenza artificiale
No full textIl volume analizza la configurazione della tarda modernità occidentale a partire dal discorso contemporaneo che intreccia natura, sacro e tecnica, rimettendo in discussione le narrazioni classiche della secolarizzazione e della post-secolarizzazione, così come le categorie di disincantamento e reincantamento del mondo. L’analisi formula il concetto di modernità a bassa intensità, come una nuova metafora per descrivere una modernità che procede lentamente in forma reticolare, ricombinando razionalità scientifica e dimensione simbolico-spirituale, senza dinamiche di esclusione o di regressione reciproca, ma attraverso la loro coesistenza all’interno di una rete dinamica di linguaggi simbolico-morali.
Muovendo da una prospettiva sociologica, il libro mostra come la costruzione del discorso ambientalista contemporaneo — tanto nei contesti laici quanto in quelli religiosi — renda visibile questa nuova riconcettualizzazione del costruirsi della modernità. Nel discorso ecologico, la scienza e la tecnica forniscono infatti gli strumenti analitici per comprendere le cause, i rischi e le possibili risposte al cambiamento globale, mentre il sacro contribuisce all’elaborazione di significati, valori e pratiche di cura e azione. Natura, tecnica e sacro emergono così non come ambiti separati, ma come nodi interconnessi di una stessa ecologia cognitiva e morale, funzionale al superamento della crisi della presenza umana nel mondo, costantemente minacciata dalle catastrofi ambientali e dalla perdita di utilità e sostituibilità indotta dall’avanzamento tecnologico.
Nel suo insieme, il volume propone una lettura della modernità non come traiettoria lineare, né come movimento ciclico tra un “pre” e un “post”, ma come una rete risonante di coappartenenze, in cui natura, sacro e tecnica, concorrono congiuntamente alla costruzione di nuovi orizzonti di senso, delineando i contorni di una modernità che avanza a bassa intensità
Multiphase modelling of 1D and 2D pressure wave propagation in a liquid metal using compressibleInterFoam
No full textThis study explores the use of OpenFOAM compressibleInterFoam solver to model pressure transients during loss-of-coolant accidents (LOCAs) in liquid metal breeding blankets (LM-BBs) of fusion reactors. In LM-BBs that adopt the separately-cooled architecture, the lead-lithium eutectic alloy (PbLi) serves as a tritium breeder and carrier and neutron multiplier, while the coolant is a secondary fluid such as helium or water. Under LOCA conditions, high-pressure coolant injection into PbLi can trigger complex two-phase flows and pressure shocks, posing significant risks to blanket integrity. The presence of reactive coolants, such as water, further complicates this scenario through exothermic reactions that amplify transient pressures and produce hydrogen, challenging current modelling tools ability to capture these coupled phenomena accurately. Given these constraints, we assess OpenFOAM capability to simulate representative LOCA transients in two-dimensional (2D) geometries. Validating against analytical benchmarks, we simulate helium or steam jets entering a stagnant, low-pressure PbLi pool, examining configurations with both a gas plenum and a fully liquid metal setup. A mesh sensitivity analysis highlights the significant effect of grid resolution on wave propagation, with coarser meshes dampening wave amplitude and delaying shock transmission. The results indicate that OpenFOAM can capture the primary dynamics of two-phase interactions and pressure transients within these prototypical setups. The findings underscore OpenFOAM potential as a flexible, extensible framework for fusion safety studies, though further development is necessary to incorporate critical LOCA phenomena like phase change, solid–fluid interactions, and magnetohydrodynamic effects. This work thus lays the foundation for advancing OpenFOAM-based tools capable of informing future experimental designs and enhancing safety assessments for fusion reactor LM-BBs
Chromatic Visions. Exploring Colour in Art, Archaeology and Digital Realities, Part II
No full textThis open access book builds upon the conceptual foundations established in the first part, presenting practical methods, tools, and workflows for studying and communicating colour in cultural heritage.
Developed within the Horizon Europe project PERCEIVE, this second volume examines how scientific analysis, digital reconstruction, and interactive design can be integrated into reproducible workflows. It documents the operational frameworks, technological infrastructures, and design resources developed to study, model, visualise, and communicate colour change across diverse heritage collections.
Structured around three complementary chapters (scientific modelling of colour change, digital tools and services for knowledge sharing, and design resources for interactive experiences) the book presents advanced workflows, AI-assisted methods, FAIR data infrastructures, and participatory exhibition prototypes. Case studies range from ancient polychromy and paintings to textiles, photography, and born-digital art, demonstrating approaches to make colour research accessible and transparent for both specialists and broader audiences.
Grounded in principles of care, authenticity, and participation, Chromatic Visions II addresses digital heritage as both a technical and relational practice. The book provides researchers, conservators, curators, designers, and museum professionals with methods and frameworks for interdisciplinary approaches to the digital study and communication of coloured collections
Right ventricular energetics and hemodynamic forces in pulmonary arterial hypertension: a 4D flow cardiac magnetic resonance study
No full textBackground: Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) leads to progressive right ventricular
(RV) overload and failure. While cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) is the gold standard for
RV assessment, conventional parameters mainly reflect late disease stages. 4D Flow MRI
allows comprehensive evaluation of intracardiac flow, offering new insights into RV
energetics and hemodynamics.
Objectives: To investigate RV kinetic energy (KE), viscous energy loss (EL), dissipation
index (DI), and hemodynamic forces (HDF) in PAH patients, and to explore their correlations
with invasive hemodynamic data, clinical risk stratification (REVEAL Lite 2), and outcomes.
Methods: Twenty-five PAH patients and ten controls underwent 4D Flow MRI and clinical
assessment. Sixteen PAH patients had analyzable 4D Flow datasets. RV global and regional
KE, EL, DI, and HDF were quantified and compared between groups, and correlations with
right heart catheterization parameters were assessed.
Results: PAH patients showed significantly reduced global and regional systolic KE (p =
0.007–0.029) and loss of the normal biphasic diastolic pattern. The systolic apical–basal
HDF amplitude was significantly decreased (p = 0.01), reflecting impaired flow directionality.
Moreover, several indices of viscous energy dissipation (EL and DI), both during systole and
diastole, showed a moderate positive correlation with mean pulmonary arterial pressure
(mPAP). KE parameters decreased progressively across REVEAL Lite 2 risk categories (p
< 0.05).
Conclusions: 4D Flow MRI identifies RV flow derangements in PAH, providing quantitative
markers of contractile inefficiency and altered hemodynamics. Systolic KE correlates with
invasive and prognostic parameters, suggesting potential for non-invasive risk assessment
and therapy monitoring
Electrochemical desulfurative borylation of thiols, disulfides, thioethers and thioacetals
No full textLow-valent sulfur-containing compounds are abundant among natural and synthetic products but remain underutilized as starting materials in desulfurative transformations. Herein, we present thiols, disulfides, thioethers, and thioacetals as precursors in a direct desulfurative electrochemical process for the formation of alkylboronic esters, including late-stage functionalization of pharmaceutically relevant scaffolds and natural products. The electrochemical protocol is simple, user-friendly and scalable, successfully producing gram quantities of borylated product
Individual psychological characteristics in performance settings: understanding processes and developing assessment tools
No full textHigh-performance settings, such as sport and work, are characterized by continuous demands for achievement, adaptability, and sustained engagement. In these environments, researchers have long focused on identifying and understanding the individual psychological characteristics that enable people to function effectively, stay motivated, and preserve well-being under performance pressure. Understanding how these characteristics operate, interact, and can be strengthened has therefore become a central focus for both disciplines. Building on this perspective, the present doctoral thesis explores how positive individual characteristics foster engagement, persistence, and performance within high-performance environments. Each study focuses on a positive individual characteristic or set of characteristics examined in either sport or work contexts, with the overarching aim of advancing understanding of how these resources support sustainable performance and well-being in demanding settings. The first chapter, Playful Sport Design among Young Soccer Players: A Diary Study Exploring Links with Sport Engagement and Performance, examines Playful Sport Design (PSD) as a self-initiated strategy through which athletes introduce elements of fun and challenge into their daily practice. Using a daily diary design, it investigates the association between PSD and sport performance through the mediating role of sport engagement. The second chapter, Linking Self-Efficacy to Dropout Intentions in Youth Soccer: The Role of Engagement and Coaching, adopts a multilevel design to analyze how self-efficacy relates to dropout intentions via sport engagement, and how empowering and directive coaching styles shape this relationship. The third chapter, The Work Agency Situational Judgment Test (WA-SJT): A Preliminary Validation of a Scenario-Based Test, extends the investigation to the organizational domain, presenting the development and preliminary validation of a situational judgment test designed to assess three interrelated facets of agency at work, hope, emotional self-regulation, and proactivity