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Governare l'innovazione tecnologica in sanità: verso un paradigma Patient-Centered per la Silver Economy
No full textL’invecchiamento della popolazione e la rapida diffusione delle nuove tecnologie stanno ridefinendo il mercato della sanità, configurando la Silver Economy come un ambito di cruciale interesse per il marketing. Sebbene il potenziale delle tecnologie emergenti sia ampio, la loro effettiva integrazione nei percorsi di cura per gli anziani rimane limitata. La letteratura esistente risulta frammentata, con studi spesso concentrati su aspetti tecnici o barriere socio-psicologiche, ma senza offrire una visione d’insieme utile al marketing sanitario. La presente ricerca mira a colmare questa lacuna, investigando i fattori che influenzano l’adozione e l’integrazione delle tecnologie digitali per migliorare l’esperienza del paziente-consumatore. Per raggiungere questo obiettivo, è stato adottato un approccio di ricerca multi-metodo, che combina un’analisi sistematica della letteratura, uno studio quantitativo con analisi di regressioni multiple e uno studio qualitativo con interviste semi-strutturate e focus group. I risultati rivelano una segmentazione naturale del mercato basata sull’appartenenza generazionale, con bisogni e driver di accettazione eterogenei. L’esperienza utente e la fiducia emergono come determinanti critici del comportamento di adozione, al pari dell’utilità percepita. Inoltre, l’analisi del Patient Journey mostra che l’efficacia delle tecnologie è massima quando funzionano come touchpoint esperienziali nelle fasi di trattamento e monitoraggio, influenzando positivamente l’engagement e la fedeltà al percorso terapeutico.
In conclusione, lo studio dimostra che il successo dell’innovazione tecnologica in sanità non è questione di mere prestazioni tecniche, ma richiede una comprensione articolata della domanda, un’attenta progettazione dell’esperienza d’uso e una logica di implementazione che tenga conto del percorso di cura. La ricerca fornisce così evidenze empiriche e indicazioni operative per manager, marketer e decisori, contribuendo a orientare gli investimenti tecnologici verso soluzioni più inclusive, efficaci e sostenibili nel tempo per la crescente popolazione anziana
Controllable Generative Audio for Audiovisual Immersive Environments
No full textThe rapid progress of deep generative learning has profoundly transformed
multimedia production, opening new possibilities for the automatic synthesis and
control of audiovisual content. Among the most promising and challenging directions
is the generation of sound that is coherent with video, both in semantics and
timing, and that can adapt to the physical and acoustic characteristics of the
environment in which it is reproduced. This research area finds its roots in machine
learning, acoustics, and creative media technologies, and it is of high interest to both
academia and industry. On the academic side, it raises fundamental questions on
multimodal representation learning, multimodal alignment, and physical modeling
of sound. While on the industrial side, companies operating in cinema, videogames,
and extended-reality (XR) production are investing heavily in generative solutions
that can assist sound designers, post-production engineers, and interactive content
creators. Automating or augmenting sound design through learning-based methods
can reduce production time, enhance creative flexibility, and enable fully adaptive
audio for immersive experiences.
This thesis explores controllable generative audio for realistic simulation in audio-
visual and immersive environments, with the goal of learning how to generate sounds
that match the visual world semantically, temporally, spatially, and acoustically. The
research develops through a coherent sequence of five works, each addressing a spe-
cific aspect of this problem. Starting from the synthesis of temporally synchronized
Foley effects from silent video, the work evolves toward spatialized sound analysis for
virtual environments and concludes with data-driven modeling of physical acoustics
through deep learning (DL)-based approximations of wave equations.
The methodological backbone of this research is the use of diffusion-based
generative models, which have proven highly effective in modeling the temporal and
semantic dependencies between modalities. These architectures are extended with
interpretable conditioning mechanisms—such as visual onset cues, motion-derived
envelopes, and multimodal embeddings—enabling both automation and artistic
supervision in audiovisual generation.
We begin introducing an onset-synchronized video-to-audio generation model
that aligns sound with video events using visual onset detection and diffusion-
based synthesis. We then improve temporal and semantic control by separating
the when and what of sound generation: we develop a model where a video-driven
motion envelope guides the timing, while semantic embeddings define the auditory
content. We extend this study by introducing GRAM-aligned multimodal encoders
that jointly learn coherent audio, video, and textual representations, enhancing
multimodal control and semantic consistency.
Our research then moves toward immersive applications, focusing on where
sound sources are located in the visual space. We propose a large-scale dataset
and benchmark for learning 3D spatial audio and sound source localization from
multichannel Ambisonics recordings and visual data, supporting audio generation
and analysis in Augmented Reality (AR)/ Virtual Reality (VR) scenarios. Finally,
we analyze the ways in which deep learning models can estimate physical acoustics,
showing that neural networks can approximate solutions to the Helmholtz equation
and emulate how waves propagate across materials and space. This last step grounds
generative audio in physically consistent simulation, essential for realism in virtual
environments.
Together, these works try to unify semantic, temporal, spatial, and physical
realism in generative audiovisual learning. Beyond algorithmic advances, the thesis
also introduces several high-quality datasets, such as Walking the Maps, L3DAS23
dataset, and HA30K dataset, that address the critical lack of multimodal, well-
synchronized data for research in this field.
Overall, this thesis focuses on demonstrating how diffusion-based architectures
and generative models can serve as controllable and interpretable tools for realistic
and creative media synthesis. The proposed frameworks and datasets pave the
way for future research and industrial applications, aiming for a new generation
of systems capable of producing audiovisual content that is not only perceptually
coherent but also acoustically and physically realistic, an essential step for deep
learning-based applications in immersive media
A novel electrochemical nano-aptasensor based on newly synthetized carbon dots for BNP detection in heart failure diagnosis
No full textBrain natriuretic peptide (BNP) is a key biomarker for the diagnosis and monitoring of heart failure (HF), providing crucial information on cardiac function and disease progression. Conventional antibody-based detection methods, although reliable, suffer from high production costs, batch-to-batch variability, and the need for centralized laboratory infrastructure. In this work, we present a novel electrochemical aptasensor for point-of-care (POC) detection of BNP, designed to achieve high sensitivity and operational simplicity. The detection platform employs a BNP-specific DNA aptamer (A10), selected by SELEX, which exhibits strong binding affinity (Kd = 12 ± 1.5 nM). Screen-printed graphite electrodes (g-SPEs) were nanomodified with single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) decorated with carbon dots (CDs), forming a hybrid nanostructure that enhances both conductivity and aptamer immobilization. The electrode surface was further functionalized with a polyadenosine (polyA) linker to enable controlled hybridization with a complementary polythymine-terminated (polyT) aptamer. This CD-SWCNT nanohybrid aptasensor demonstrated superior electrochemical performance, achieving an ultralow detection limit of 0.095 pg/mL (3 × standard deviation/sensitivity) and a linear range of 20–500 pg/mL, encompassing clinically relevant BNP levels. The sensor demonstrated high reproducibility, excellent recovery (90 ± 8 % at 200 pg/mL BNP), and negligible matrix interference (8.5 % variation in serum). Furthermore, the device retained 80 % of its activity after two months of storage at room temperature in dry conditions, proving the best stability over similar biosensors in the literature. These results highlight the potential of the proposed aptasensor as a robust, cost-effective, and portable diagnostic tool for rapid heart failure screening in POC applications
The role of Discoidin Domain Receptors (DDRs) in tumor invasion: a perspective for new therapeutic strategies
No full textHigh-grade serous ovarian cancer (HG-SOC) is characterized by aggressive metastasis and resistance to chemotherapies. Increased secretion of collagen type I (Col1), the most
abundant extracellular matrix protein, correlates with HG-SOC progression and poor patient outcomes. Discoidin Domain Receptors (DDRs) 1 and 2, non-canonical tyrosine kinase receptors (TKRs), are activated by fibrillar collagens and require Src to become fully
phosphorylated. In OC, DDR2 sustains invasion, epithelial to mesenchymal transition, and
metastasis, acting on both cancer and stromal cell; the molecular mechanisms are not
completely understood. In this tumor, β-arrestins (β-arr1 and β-arr2) regulate tumor-stroma communication and oncogenic pathways, including those involving Src, TKRs, and integrins. Their role in DDR2 signaling is completely unknown. Since β-arrs act as allosteric activators of Src, we hypothesize that they interact with DDR2 to regulate its signaling and functional outcomes. To investigate this, we integrated bioinformatic analysis with biochemical and functional assays in HG-SOC cell lines and in human ovarian fibroblasts (HOFs). We found that Col1-activated DDR2 signaling supports tumor cell viability, adhesion, and invasion, while WRG-28, a selective DDR2 inhibitor, impairs DDR2 activation in both tumor and stromal cells, and functional effects in HG-SOC cells. Computational models predicting complexes between DDR2 and β-arr were empirically validated by biochemical assays. Loss/gain function of β-arr1 or β-arr2 demonstrated that β-arrs facilitate DDR2 phosphorylation via Src recruitment. Combined β-arr1 silencing and WRG-28 significantly reduces HG-SOC cell adhesion and invasive behavior. Moreover, in HOFs, nuclear β-arr1 is involved in upregulating ECM-related proteins, and Col1 transcription and secretion, thus amplifying DDR2 activation in cancer cells. Finally, high co-expression of DDR2 and β-arrs correlates with reduced overall (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) in advanced-stage HG-SOC patients, identifying them as potential markers of disease progression. Our results unveil a novel β-arr/Src-dependent mechanism essential for DDR2 activation and function in HG-SOC. Moreover, stromal β-arr1 might reinforce DDR2 signaling, suggesting that targeting DDR2/β-arr-dependent signaling represents a new approach to simultaneously targeting cancer and stromal cells in this tumor
Positive Contact and Attitudes toward Women as Managers: The Moderating Role of Implicit Person Theory (or Mindset) about the Malleability of Human Attributes
No full textOver the past decades, research has emphasized the "glass ceiling" that limits women's access to leadership roles and makes them the target of biased attitudes. This barrier persists because women continue to face challenges in breaking free from traditional gender-role stereotypes in the workplace. This study (N = 252), conducted in Italy using a cross-sectional approach, explored two key factors that might be associated with negative attitudes toward women managers: positive contact with women in leadership/managerial positions (i.e., counterstereotypic contact) and Implicit Person Theories (IPT) or mindsets (Dweck, 2024), which reflect individuals' beliefs system about the malleability of individual’s attributes. We expected the positive quality of contact to be associated with less negative towards women managers (hypothesis 1). As for the role of moderating role of IPT, two exploratory competitive hypotheses were advanced stressing that individuals low in IPT would benefit the most from the contact (hypothesis 2a) or, on the other hand, that individuals who are prejudice prone (i.e., have high IPT) would benefit the most from positive contact (hypothesis 2b). Besides providing support for hypothesis 1, and in line with hypothesis 2b, the findings revealed also that that IPT moderates the relationship between positive contact and negative attitudes towards women leaders. Specifically, when individuals held an entity IPT (believing an attribute is a fixed, non-malleable trait, i.e., fixed mindset), positive contact was associated with a reduction in negative attitudes toward women leaders. These findings highlight the power of positive contact in shifting rigid, stereotyped mindsets and, consequently, reducing prejudice towards women in leadership/managerial roles
Forecasting renewable energy in Italy: comparative approaches for energy planning
No full textThe energy transition represents a key challenge for the 21st century, requiring robust forecasting methods to facilitate the integration of renewable energy sources into national power systems. Italy, with its rapid deployment of solar photovoltaic and wind power, presents an ideal case study for forecasting methodologies to inform policy, infrastructure development, and investment decisions.
This thesis investigates statistical and machine learning models for forecasting the installed capacity of renewable energy in Italy, focusing on solar PV and wind power. The research, conducted between 2022 and 2025, evaluates di ̇erent methodological approaches, compares their performance, and discusses implications for national and regional energy planning.
Chapter 1 introduces the global and European framework of the energy transition, with particular attention to the EU Green Deal, long-term scenarios (TYNDP 2024), and the alignment with Italian national strategies.
Chapter 2 examines the historical evolution and current status of renewable energy deployment in Italy, highlighting trends in PV and wind capacity, regional disparities, and challenges for grid integration.
Chapter 3 presents the forecasting methodologies, including regression-based approaches, Grey models, and machine learning techniques such as Feedforward Neural Networks and Long Short-Term Memory. Comparative criteria and evaluation metrics are also discussed.
Chapter 4 illustrates the application of these models to national and regional datasets (2006–2023), highlighting the performance of di ̇erent approaches and pre-senting case studies on wind (Tuscany–Apulia) and solar PV (Emilia-Romagna–Apulia).
Conclusions are discussed in Chapter 5
Le idee e il potere. Il pensiero politico contemporaneo
No full textQuesto volume illustra la storia del pensiero politico dall’inizio del Novecento a oggi, articolandola in tre parti. La prima affronta i conflitti ideologici che hanno segnato l’epoca della «guerra civile europea»: il dibattito nel socialismo su riforme e rivoluzione; le filosofie del totalitarismo, da Heidegger a Schmit a Gentile; le grandi figure del pensiero liberale e democratico, da Croce a Kelsen, da Dewey a Schumpeter. La seconda parte analizza le innovazioni della teoria politica dopo la seconda guerra mondiale, negli anni in cui si affermano il laburismo, il riformismo socialdemocratico e il Welfare State. Il pensiero marxista si rinnova profondamente, con Sartre e con la Scuola di Francoforte. Negli Stati Uniti, la cultura politica si arricchisce dell’apporto degli
europei sfuggiti al nazismo, come Leo Strauss e Hannah Arendt. La decolonizzazione feconda grandi esperienze intellettuali come quella di Frantz Fanon. La terza parte, infine, illustra le tendenze principali dell’epoca presente: la discussione su Una teoria della giustizia di John Rawls; la ricerca di una migliore democrazia, da Bobbio a Habermas; la critica del soggetto moderno nel pensiero radicale, da Foucault a Toni Negri; le teorie femministe e il pensiero della differenza. Lungi dall’essere una raccolta di nozioni, Le idee e il potere si propone come una ricognizione di idee e concetti utili per orientarsi nei conflitti e nelle trasformazioni del mondo contemporaneo
Vittorio Erspamer
No full textA pioneer in comparative biology who laid the foundations of modern neuropharmacology. Born in Malosco, Italy, in 1909, he died in Rome in 1999
I musei universitari. Un sapere in divenire
No full textNel vasto campo della museografia contemporanea, il tema dei musei universitari è argomento di grande interesse perché in esso si palesa, potremmo dire per statuto, l’idea del museo come luogo della restituzione di un sapere in divenire, frutto degli esiti della ricerca universitaria nei diversi campi della conoscenza, non riferiti esclusivamente al passato ma rivolti al futuro.
Un museo in cui, alla definizione di luogo di conservazione ed esposizione, si possa associare, auspicabilmente, l’idea della comunicazione e divulgazione dei contenuti scientifici e culturali, non solo agli studenti e agli studiosi, ma anche al pubblico dei semplici cittadini.
Al di là di questa riflessione sul senso e significato della istituzione, qual è la realtà dei musei universitari in Italia? Come valorizzare la qualità delle collezioni che vi albergano? Come narrare e condividere la ricchezza e vitalità della ricerca scientifica di cui essi, in qualche modo, dovrebbero essere espressione? Attraverso quali modalità di intervento esplicitare le peculiari caratteristiche dei diversi tipi di musei universitari?
La ricerca ha inteso indagare queste questioni, approfondendo lo studio del Polo Museale Sapienza in un quadro nazionale che si presenta oggi estremamente eterogeneo e complesso, con l’obiettivo di delineare possibili prospettive di valorizzazione di questo immenso patrimonio che aspetta solo di essere conosciuto fuori dai confini universitari.Within the broad field of contemporary museography, the theme of university museums is of great interest, as it embodies—almost by definition—the idea of the museum as a place for the public return of knowledge in the making, produced by university research across different fields of knowledge, oriented not only toward the past but also toward the future.
A museum in which, alongside its role as a place of conservation and exhibition, one may ideally associate the idea of communication and dissemination of scientific and cultural contents, addressed not only to students and scholars but also to the wider public of citizens.
Beyond this reflection on the meaning and role of the institution, what is the current reality of university museums in Italy? How can the quality of their collections be enhanced? How can the richness and vitality of the scientific research of which they should, in some way, be an expression be narrated and shared? Through which forms of intervention can the specific characteristics of the different types of university museums be made explicit?
This research set out to investigate these issues by developing an in-depth study of the Sapienza Museum Network within a national context that today appears extremely heterogeneous and complex, with the aim of outlining possible strategies for the enhancement of this vast heritage, which is still waiting to be discovered beyond the boundaries of the university
L’Ellenismo di Roma e del Lazio. Questioni (archeologiche) di cronologia e storia
No full text“Pensare la storia è certamente periodizzarla”. Questa affermazione, citatissima, di Benedetto Croce identifica un tema che ‒ affrontato con fonti, metodi e prospettive talvolta differenti – coinvolge tanto la ricerca storica quanto quella archeologica; ma in una ostinata autonomia disciplinare che non ha giovato ‒ e non giova ‒ alla comprensione di fenomeni culturali complessi, come quello affrontato in questo Convegno. In effetti, la “periodizzazione” è un processo essenziale in ogni riflessione storica, sebbene intrinsecamente arbitrario e scarsamente oggettivo: “una operazione indispensabile, – per dirla con Andrea Giardina ‒ quasi un respiro naturale del ragionamento storico”. Dividere il tempo sulla base di elementi distintivi delle diverse epoche ne individua segmenti storicamente significativi, definibili sulla base degli eventi politici e istituzionali, dei cicli economici, dei fenomeni sociali e delle manifestazioni culturali; tale approccio consente una valutazione (emica) delle diverse epoche storiche in relazione al loro contesto di riferimento e, al contempo, una valutazione (etica) della riflessione storiografica successiva, non ultima quella contemporanea. Tuttavia, le cesure che gli storici identificano principalmente negli eventi militari, politici, istituzionali ed economici – pure in una prospettiva di “lunga durata” e di “storia globale”‒ molto raramente sono messe a confronto (o, piuttosto, integrate) con quelle che si riscontrano nelle testimonianze materiali e che, con assoluta evidenza, inverano tali cambiamenti con i loro peculiari risvolti culturali e ideologici: parlano della trasformazione delle epoche l’urbanistica, l’architettura, l’arte, l’artigianato ma anche tutte quelle espressioni della mentalità, dei comportamenti e delle pratiche sociali e religiose che il contesto archeologico (talvolta)
è in grado di rivelare. Eppure, gli storici più sensibili hanno da tempo riconosciuto il sostanziale contributo che l’archeologia – le sue fonti, i suoi metodi, le sue prospettive di ricerca – ha apportato ed apporta nella identificazione,
nella descrizione e nella definizione dei grandi cambiamenti storici