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Il sogno della rivoluzione. La nuova sinistra negli anni settanta
No full textGli anni Settanta italiani sono un persistente oggetto di studio, di memorie contrapposte, di nuove interpretazioni e di immutabili demonizzazioni. Il presente lavoro ne analizza alcune tematiche selezionate – dallo stragismo di Stato all’autonomia operaia, dal femminismo alla lotta armata, dai rapporti internazionali alla “questione elettorale” – restituendo la complessità di una storia ancora incandescente, problematica e divisiva. Continuare a studiare il lungo Sessantotto italiano è ancora necessario: per cogliere la forma sempre mutevole delle lotte di classe in Occidente e per definire storicamente la crisi della sinistra italiana, che proprio negli anni Settanta assume un connotato perdurante nei decenni successivi
Driving the change: How do personal factors and socio-economic context influence electric vehicles adoption across Europe?
No full textThis paper investigates the determinants influencing consumer adoption of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) across three European markets characterized by distinct socio-economic contexts and varying levels of EV market maturity. We develop a theoretical model based on Theory of Planned Behavior. A survey was conducted involving 737 consumers in Germany, Italy, and Norway. The data was analyzed using structural equation modeling, multigroup analysis, and Kruskal-Wallis’s test. The findings indicate that hedonic motivations, ascription of responsibility, subjective norms, and direct experience significantly enhance consumers' willingness to purchase BEVs. Conversely, range anxiety and environmental concerns negatively affect purchase intentions. Significant differences in consumer perceptions of BEVs and the effect of behavioral determinants across the three countries are highlighted. This research contributes to the literature on sustainable mobility adoption and proposes several avenues for future investigation. The findings can inform the development of marketing strategies and policy interventions to foster EV adoption in Europe
EEG reveals how space acts as a late heuristic of time
No full textTo compensate for its sensory intangibility, humans often rely on spatial metaphors, gestures, and visual tools to represent the passage of time. These spatial tools, i.e. heuristics, range from everyday practices—such as directional hand gestures to indicate past or future events—to more abstract scientific conceptualizations, such as the “curving of space-time” in the theory of relativity. Despite this widespread spatialization of time, it remains unclear to what extent space is an inherent component of the brain’s representation of time and its role in monitoring temporal durations. Here, in a combined EEG and behavioral study we have examined this issue by testing a sample of 30 young healthy adult volunteers (mean age: 23.3 y) in a task that required discriminating between short 1 sec. and long 3 sec. time intervals. In a compatible condition, “short” decisions were associated with left-side button presses and “long” decisions with right-side ones. In a incompatible condition the association between time durations and the side of lateral motor responses was reversed. Faster RTs in the compatible vs incompatible condition, i.e. a signature of the spatial representation of time, were only observed at slower RTs. This results point outs that space is a late compensatory mechanism of time representation that is recruited when faster and non-spatial timekeeping mechanisms are suboptimally engaged. EEG analyses reveal a cascade-like process: spatial engagement in timekeeping followed the insufficient non-spatial encoding of time intervals, leading to delayed decisions on their length and slower response selection. Computational models of meta-reinforcement learning suggest that trial-by-trial fluctuations in the speed of RTs and the corresponding spatialization of time durations could be explained by stochastic variations in the activity of the dopaminergic/noradrenergic (DA/NE) system and its interaction with the anterior cingulate cortex. These findings provide the first clear evidence of when, why, and how the brain recruits spatial mechanisms in the service of temporal processing and demonstrate that non-spatial and spatial timekeeping systems can be dissociated at both behavioural and electrophysiological levels
Ruolo della Lipoproteina(a) nei pazienti con Steatosi e Fibrosi Epatica
No full textPremessa ed obiettivi
La steatosi epatica associata a disfunzione metabolica (MASLD) comprende un
continuum che dalla steatosi semplice evolve verso steatoepatite (MASH) e cirrosi. La
lipoproteina(a) [Lp(a)] è un noto fattore di rischio cardiovascolare, ma il suo
comportamento lungo lo spettro istologico di MASLD è poco definito. Obiettivo di
questo lavoro è descrivere l’andamento dei livelli plasmatici di Lp(a) in funzione della
diagnosi istologica (steatosi semplice, MASH, cirrosi-MASLD relata) e la loro relazione
con le caratteristiche istologiche di attività (NAS) e con lo stadio di fibrosi, all’interno
della coorte PLINIO. In totale, 1186 soggetti sono stati arruolati; 918 presentavano
steatosi ecografica e 88 sono stati sottoposti a biopsia.
Metodi e risultati
Sono stati analizzati i pazienti biopsiati con dosaggio plasmatico di Lp(a); i gruppi
istologici sono stati confrontati e sono state valutate le associazioni tra Lp(a) e variabili
clinico-metaboliche e istologiche.
Nei tre gruppi istologici i livelli di Lp(a) mostravano un chiaro gradiente crescente
dalla steatosi semplice alla cirrosi-MASLDrelata, passando per la diagnosi di MASH.
Considerando le caratteristiche istologiche, Lp(a) aumentava in parallelo allo stadio di
fibrosi e si associava con gli indici di attività necro-infiammatoria, inclusi
infiammazione lobulare, ballooning e NAS; l’andamento descrittivo mostrava mediane
di Lp(a) progressivamente maggiori da F0 a F4 .
Sul piano clinico-metabolico, Lp(a) risultava più alto nei soggetti con diabete e
mostrava associazioni con glicemia, colesterolo totale e transaminasi.
Un sottostudio immunoistochimico su campioni bioptici suggeriva concordanza, ai
limiti della significatività nell’intero gruppo e più evidente escludendo i cirrotici, tra
segnale tissutale di Lp(a) e livelli plasmatici; nella MASH il segnale istologico era
maggiore in presenza di ballooning marcato.
Nel complesso della casistica biopsiata, età, sesso e BMI erano simili tra i gruppi,
mentre diabete e sindrome metabolica risultavano più frequenti in MASH e cirrosi rispetto alla steatosi semplice, in coerenza con un profilo di resistenza insulinica più
marcato (HOMA-IR e TyG index).
Conclusioni
Nella coorte MASLD dello studio PLINIO, la Lp(a) plasmatica mostra un andamento
crescente lungo il gradiente di severità istologica e una relazione coerente con lo stadio
di fibrosi e con i parametri di attività (NAS, infiammazione, ballooning). La
correlazione tra Lp(a) plasmatico e grado di fibrosi epatica ed i segnali derivati
dall’immunoistochimica supportano l’ipotesi di un coinvolgimento biologico della
Lp(a) nei quadri più avanzati di malattia. Questi risultati, integrati nel contesto clinicometabolico tipico della MASLD, suggeriscono un potenziale ruolo di Lp(a) come
indicatore del burden istologico, meritevole di conferma in studi prospettici più ampi e
disegnati per valutare anche gli outcome cardiovascolari ed epatici
Prosocial behavior across different ages: adolescents and adults
No full textApproximately fifty years ago, scientific interest in prosocial behavior - defined as voluntary and intentional actions aimed at benefiting others (Eisenberg & Miller, 1987), began to emerge. Although research attention has varied over time, interest in prosociality has remained persistent and increasingly interdisciplinary, engaging both the natural sciences, which study human life as part of the natural world, and the social sciences, which investigate human behavior and social organization. This thesis focuses on interpersonal functioning, particularly the tendency to connect with others through feelings or dispositions that drive voluntary actions to benefit them.
Specifically, the present research investigates individuals’ beliefs in their own capability to understand and respond empathically to others’ emotions and needs, with a particular focus on feelings of concern or sorrow for others, a core component of prosocial behavior. The theoretical framework integrates Bandura's Social Cognitive Theory (1986, 1997, 2001) with Eisenberg’s work on prosocial development and empathy-related responding (2003, 2006, 2010). To operationalize prosocial behavior in the context of this research, we focus on three intentional actions: helping, comforting, and sharing (Dunfield, 2014; Eisenberg et al., 2015).
The Ph.D. project comprised three studies investigating prosocial behavior, defined as voluntary actions intended to benefit others (Eisenberg & Fabes, 1998), across different ages: adolescents and adults. The overarching aim was to examine determinants of prosociality, specifically empathic self-efficacy and sympathy, in order to provide new insights into prosocial behavior across development. Taken together, the thesis examines three different longitudinal data whether: among adolescents, different informants provide complementary information about prosocial behavior; empathic self-efficacy and prosocial behavior mutually reinforce each other in everyday life; and sympathy promotes prosocial behavior in adults’ daily experiences. In conclusion, Prosocial behavior constitutes a cornerstone of moral and social development, supporting well-being and adaptive functioning across the lifespan
Classicismi contemporanei
No full textArchitettura ispirata al classicismo nel mondo globalizzato del XXI secol
A. D’Amato, Tortuosi percorsi. Giuseppe Cocchiara negli anni della formazione (1922-1945), Museo Pasqualino, Palermo, 2023, 302 pp.
No full textRecensione a: A. D’Amato, Tortuosi percorsi. Giuseppe Cocchiara negli anni della formazione (1922-1945), Museo Pasqualino, Palermo, 2023, 302 pp.Book review: A. D’Amato, Tortuosi percorsi. Giuseppe Cocchiara negli anni della formazione (1922-1945), Museo Pasqualino, Palermo, 2023, 302 pp
Climate Change, Cutaneous Ageing, and Skin Cancer:Mechanistic Pathways, Epidemiological Evidence,and Public Health Implications
No full textABSTRACT: Climate change is transforming the environmental exposures that shape human skin health. Rising ultraviolet (UV) radiation, heat extremes, humidity fluc-tuations, and escalating air pollution form a shifting cutaneous exposome. To-gether, these stressors accelerate extrinsic skin ageing and increase the burden of skin cancer. At the mechanistic level, pathways include oxidative stress, extracel-lular matrix degradation, mitochondrial dysfunction, immunosuppression, and pollutant–UV synergy. Epidemiological evidence supports growing risks across populations, though data gaps remain. Particularly vulnerable groups include out-door workers, climate migrants, children, the elderly, and immunocompromised patients. This article synthesizes current knowledge, identifies mechanistic and epidemiological links, and emphasizes prevention, from personal photoprotection to systemic climate adaptation. Situating dermatology within planetary health un-derscores the urgency of integrating skin health into climate policy and research priorities
Digitalization, electrification, and cybersecurity of urban energy services: smart grid optimization and fleet management
No full textThe accelerating digitalization and electrification of urban energy services are reshaping the role of Distribution System Operators (DSOs), requiring new tools for observability, flexibility, and cross sector integration. This thesis develops a comprehensive framework that unites Digital Twin (DT) technologies, heuristic state estimation, optimization methods, and cybersecurity risk assessment to support the reliable and sustainable operation of modern distribution networks and urban services. The research has been conducted in close collaboration with ASM Terni, a municipal multi-utility in Italy, ensuring methodological rigor and practical validation.
The first contribution lies in the development of a modular DT framework for distribution networks under low-observability conditions. By integrating Genetic Algorithm-based State Estimation (GA-SE) with SARIMA forecasting, the DT enables accurate monitoring of medium-voltage nodes using only low-voltage Power Quality Analyzer data. This hybrid approach enhances situational awareness and demonstrates how DSOs can extend observability without pervasive sensor deployment.
Building on this foundation, the thesis introduces a DT-informed feedback loop for flexibility activation. Real-world case studies on water pumps and virtual batteries show how state estimation outputs can guide load shifting and balancing, reducing peak imports and improving self-consumption. The approach demonstrates that even existing assets can provide grid-supportive services when coupled with digital intelligence.
Beyond grid operations, the research extends to the electrification and optimization of urban fleets. A dedicated methodology integrates Mixed Integer Linear Programming (MILP), clustering techniques, and anomaly detection for electric vehicle charging optimization, while a complementary study evaluates routing and electrification pathways for municipal waste collection. Together, these case studies highlight how digital tools can deliver cost reductions, emission savings, and operational efficiency across multiple urban domains.
The thesis also addresses the emerging cybersecurity risks of digitalized grids. A standards-aligned risk assessment methodology is developed and applied to DT-enabled infrastructures, evaluating vulnerabilities such as false data injection and denial-of-service. The results provide DSOs with practical strategies for securing critical assets while maintaining operational performance.
Overall, this work demonstrates that DT-enabled observability, flexibility, and cross-sector optimization can transform distribution grids into proactive, resilient, and user-centric infrastructures. By integrating power systems engineering, data science, and cybersecurity, the thesis provides a pathway for DSOs and municipalities to navigate the complexity of the energy transition and support the development of sustainable, data-driven cities
Towards an Architecture of Upcycling?
No full textThis essay is the introduction to the volume “Upcycling Architecture in Italy since 1945”, which presents the outcomes of the research project “Upcycling Architecture in Italy” (PRIN 2022 PNRR). Forging and Promoting a Renewed Building Culture. The book investigates upcycling as a distinctive form of material reuse within Italian architecture from the postwar period to the present, framing it as a critical alternative to the relentless production of the new and as a strategy for generating added value through existing matter. Closely connected to the concept of Design for Disassembly (DfD), the study adopts a historiographical and design-oriented approach to reinterpret Italian architectural culture since 1945. Through archival research, theoretical reflection, and selected case studies, the volume traces explicit and latent practices of reuse across reconstruction, industrialization, modern and postmodern design, and contemporary circular-economy debates. Challenging dominant narratives centered on destruction and renewal, the book reveals a multifaceted architectural modernity shaped by assembly, disassembly, spolia, and component-based thinking. Organized into five thematic sections, it offers an alternative historical framework and critical insights for contemporary upcycling practices and experimental approaches to preservation