513225 research outputs found
Sort by
Metafisica e fragilità
No full textCaterina Botti, Giorgio Fazio and Elettra Stimilli discuss Estelle Ferrarese’s La fragilità
della cura degli altri (The Fragility of the Others’ Care). The authors present the book’s
main theses and critically analyze them. The specific way in which Ferrarese envisages a
rich encounter between Adorno’s reflections on the possibility of a moral life and care
ethics is analyzed from different points of view. In her contribution, Botti develops the suggestions which can be derived from Ferrarese’s volume from a care perspective, while
suggesting some critiques from a more radical feminist point of view, while Fazio discusses
Ferrarese’s theses more from within the critical perspective, and suggests a further analysis
based on the relevance of Habermas e Honneth’s points of view. To conclude the discus-
sion, Stimilli’s contribution goes deeply in Ferrarese’s analysis of Adorno’s philosophy and
challenges it mainly with reference to the understanding of bodily materiality
Sustainable ductile iron design: Leveraging machine learning and genetic algorithms for critical raw materials reduction
No full textOne of this century's key challenges is ensuring the supply of critical raw materials essential for economic stability. These materials face supply risks due to factors like scarcity, geopolitical instability in supplier countries, and lack of substitutes. The European Union maintains a list of critical raw materials, updated every three years, and is strongly committed to developing strategies to mitigate these supply risks.
Although ductile iron is a strategic material for mass production, offering low cost and high mechanical performance, its production requires critical raw materials, as well, such as Ti, Mg, Nb, and Sb, among others. To address this issue, researchers are exploring substitutes that could replace critical raw materials in ductile iron's composition without compromising or potentially even improving its mechanical properties. In this work, a deep neural networks-based model has been developed to assess the mechanical properties of ductile cast iron based on its chemical composition. The model has then been integrated with a genetic algorithm to optimize the chemical composition of the alloy in a critical raw material perspective, while maintaining equivalent mechanical performance. Three case studies were presented to illustrate the potentialities of the proposed approach
Tracking the Environmental Impact of Mine Residues and Tailings in Sardinia (Italy) Using Imaging Spectroscopy
No full textItaly is estimated to host thousands of abandoned mines, many of which contain large volumes of mine residues that negatively affect land and aquatic ecosystems, also posing a risk to human health. This study evaluates the effectiveness of spaceborne imaging spectroscopy combined with laboratory spectroscopy for characterizing the mineralogy and geochemistry of residues from the abandoned Montevecchio sulfide mine in southwestern Sardinia, a site recognized as a significant source of environmental pollution. Mine tailings and their downstream dispersion along the Rio Irvi River were systematically studied and sampled in the field. Collected samples were analyzed in the lab using an Analytical Spectral Device (ASD) spectroradiometer, complemented by powder X-ray Diffraction (XRD) for mineralogical characterization. Affected zones were subsequently mapped using the Environmental Mapping and Analysis Program (EnMAP) hyperspectral satellite data at a 30 m spatial resolution, by applying a polynomial fitting technique to the image spectra. The results reveal the presence of Fe- and Zn-bearing sulfates and oxy/hydroxides, indicative of acidic-to-circum-neutral drainage conditions in the mine tailings and along affected streams. Specifically, EnMAP was able to detect jarosite and subtle chemical and physical variations in Fe-hydroxides. This integrated approach enabled the delineation of environmental conditions and zones with varying acidity based on the spectral characteristics of secondary minerals. Overall, the study demonstrates the potential of EnMAP data for mapping acid mine drainage and assessing environmental impacts in legacy mining areas
Beyond hebbian learning: optimizing memory retrieval and network structure in bio-inspired neural models
No full textThis thesis investigates how memory storage and retrieval can be optimized in bio-inspired neural networks by going beyond classical Hebbian learning and fully symmetric architectures. In the first part, we introduce the Daydreaming algorithm, a local and unsupervised learning rule that combines learning and unlearning to stabilize stored memories while suppressing spurious attractors. This approach overcomes the classical capacity limit of the Hopfield model, achieving optimal performance for uncorrelated patterns and efficiently exploiting correlations in structured data, including real-world datasets.
In the second part, we explore neural networks with asymmetric and diluted connectivity, closer to biological systems. By systematically studying their dynamical behavior, we identify connectivity regimes that maximize attractor diversity, robustness, and computational efficiency. Together, these results highlight the crucial role of both synaptic plasticity and network structure in associative memory systems
Political market entropy in Rome. An analysis of different electoral cycles (1993–2023)
No full textThis paper explores the dynamics of political market entropy in Rome between 1993 and 2023, analyzing 29 electoral cycles across local, regional, national, and European levels. Using Shannon’s entropy as an indicator of systemic uncertainty, the study examines how the fragmentation of the political offer interacts with voter participation and abstention. Building on previous systemic approaches and the behavioral insights in the scientific literature of social sciences, entropy is treated both as a dependent and an independent variable—a product of political fragmentation and a driver of voter disaffection. The findings reveal a gradual increase in entropy over three decades, punctuated by cyclical oscillations consistent with self-regulating dynamics in the political system. The results suggest that the Roman political market behaves as a complex adaptive system, oscillating between periods of dispersion and re-consolidation, pluralism and stability. This entropic interpretation offers a novel framework for understanding how contemporary democracies process uncertainty and adapt to changing patterns of competition and participation
Music Museums in the Age of 3D Reproduction: Access, Potential, Challenges
No full textThis study explores the application of 3D printing to reproduce historical woodwind instruments from the Royal College of Music Museum’s collection, aiming to enable safe performance and research without risking original artifacts. Focusing on ivory and boxwood instruments, the project uses CT scanning to create precise digital models, which are then printed in materials like Nylon-12 and ceramic-resin composites. Digital restoration preserves original imperfections to maintain historical authenticity. Initial tests show promising acoustic and tactile fidelity, especially with BASF’s ceramic-resin, which closely mimics ivory. Copies are scaled to 415 Hz for modern early music practice. The project, a collaboration with the University of Turin, evaluates materials, acoustics, and usability, with future plans for perceptual studies and dissemination. While not replacing handcrafted instruments, 3D printing offers affordable, accurate reproductions that could revitalize access to historical collections for performers and educators, bridging heritage preservation with contemporary musical practice
Il fascino del rischio: binge drinking, social media challenge e altri giochi pericolosi
No full textIl capitolo dà conto della diffusione del binge drinking, della partecipazione a social media challenge e ad altri giochi pericolosi all’interno di un campione di adolescenti del Lazio. Esso si concentra sulla descrizione dei tratti caratteristici delle modalità di gioco e identifica i fattori di rischio e protettivi che si associano significativamente a queste pratiche ludiche. L’obiettivo di carattere generale è quello di fornire strumenti, empiricamente fondati, che possano orientare efficaci strategie di prevenzione nei contesti di socializzazione
Sulla nascita del suo corpo: le matrici culturali e storico-religiose della biografia di Mani nel Codice Manicheo di Colonia
No full textScopo di questa tesi è l’analisi del testo dal titolo Sulla nascita del suo corpo contenuto nel Codice Manicheo di Colonia (da ora in poi CMC1) sotto il profilo del genere letterario biografico, per verificare se questo testo possa effettivamente ascriversi alla tradizione letteraria del bios greco tardoantico, oppure se le sue caratteristiche formali e il contenuto siano eccentriche rispetto a tale tradizione
Investigation of the dynamic modulations of peripersonal space: evidence from clinical conditions and mindfulness-based practices on the plasticity of the self
No full textIn everyday life, we constantly interact with stimuli in the environment, whether they are objects or people. These interactions may require to protect ourselves, for example, when a bee flies threateningly toward our body. Although such responses appear quickly and effortlessly, the brain coordinates and integrates numerous sources of information in real time, both from the body and from the external environment. In the case of bee, the eyes help track the insect in space; if it comes closer, the upper limbs and hands may be recruited to protect the face; in some cases, the trunk and lower limbs may also be involved to initiate locomotion for escape.
From a spatial perspective, each body part involved contributes to encode the external stimulus, and the distance between the body and the stimulus plays a crucial role. Neurophysiological and behavioral research has demonstrated that the brain builds a specific representation for objects near the body, in a region referred to as peripersonal space (PPS). While the extent of this area varies, it generally corresponds to the space within reach.
Different theoretical frameworks have attributed distinct roles to PPS: some emphasize its role in supporting goal-directed actions and interactions with the environment, while others stress its importance in protecting the body margin. Current evidence suggests that both perspectives capture core aspects of PPS. More recent findings have also proposed that PPS contributes to shaping the phenomenological experience of the self, which is deeply grounded in bodily sensations. In other words, the sense of self may extend beyond the body’s physical boundaries.
A key and well-studied property of PPS is its plasticity. It is well established in the literature that a boundary separates PPS from far space (also known as extrapersonal space). Specifically, PPS can either shrink (i.e., boundary closer to the body) or expand (i.e., boundary further into space).
This thesis focuses precisely on the plasticity of PPS. The introduction outlines the mechanisms underlying PPS and its relevance for action, interaction, and self-representation. The first part of the thesis presents a systematic review of studies investigating PPS alterations in individuals with sensorimotor impairments, including stroke, spinal cord injury (SCI), and amputation.
Seventeen studies were reviewed and discussed within a framework that views PPS primarily as a space for action. Despite difficulties in disentangling motor from sensory contributions, most studies consistently reported PPS shrinkage or absence in affected individuals. Studies investigating the use of rehabilitative tools or prostheses showed that these promote partial or temporary recovery of PPS representation.
The second part of the thesis is dedicated to experimental research on mindfulness meditation. This section provides a systematic investigation of how three types of mindfulness practice influence PPS: focused-attention meditation (FAM), open monitoring meditation (OMM), and compassion meditation. The rationale for this investigation stems from phenomenological literature on alterations in self-experience, particularly in the sense of boundaries, i.e., the perceived separation between self and non-self or between self and the surrounding environment. These boundaries, which do not coincide with the physical body, have been referred to vanish or expand during meditation, and this may be reflected in changes in PPS.
The first experimental study compared expert meditators and non-meditators in a pre-post design. Using an audio-tactile interaction paradigm to measure multisensory facilitation, the results showed that a short FAM session led to a blurring of PPS boundary in both groups. This effect aligns with reports of a perceived dissolution of self-world boundaries during mindfulness.
The second study compared FAM and OMM in two groups of non-meditators, to assess whether the effect observed in the first study was specific to FAM or generalizable to mindfulness practices. Results indicated that OMM did not alter PPS characteristics, suggesting that the two practices and their differences in attentional focus (object-based
vs. metacognitive) have distinct effects. The modulation observed after FAM may be due to its focus on internal sensations, such as breathing.
While the first two studies highlight PPS modulations potentially linked to self-experience, the third experiment explores PPS in relation to social cognition. This study examined the state effects of compassion meditation in non-meditators. Participants completed the same audio-tactile task pre- and post-meditation, and additionally performed two tasks assessing interpersonal distance preferences during social interaction: one required participants to indicate a comfortable distance from a stranger, and the other involved reachability judgments. We found that meditating on compassion toward others and human interdependence reduced preferred interpersonal distances, though PPS was not altered. This may support the hypothesis that meditation leads to increased social openness.
In conclusion, the findings of the studies and the review are discussed. While the systematic review frames PPS mainly as a space for acting, it cannot be excluded that sensorimotor impairments also impact bodily self-representation.
Instead, the experimental studies on mindfulness focus more directly on the bodily self, and up to the self-other relationship in the study on compassion. Building on influential theoretical models and evidence linking high-level changes in empathy and altruism with low-level changes in bodily self-experience, this research supports the idea that mindfulness practice may influence both domains. In fact, although meditation is typically an individual practice, it is consistently associated with increases in prosocial behavior.
Understanding prosociality and the low-level mechanisms underlying it is crucial for addressing public health issues recently emphasized by the World Health Organization, particularly those related to loneliness and social isolation. Moreover, it has broader implications for social and environmental challenges, such as climate change and global peace. Thus, the potential of mindfulness- and compassion-based interventions, or training of their core components, needs to be considered to reduce self-centeredness and promote prosocialness
Ambiente
No full textDall’analisi emerge una situazione abbastanza preoccupante per il settore ambientale. I dati ecologici, in via generale, continuano a peggiorare ma a questo peggioramento non fanno seguito iniziative legislative e finanziarie degne di nota