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Modelling opinion dynamics in complex social systems: from agent-based to AI-powered simulations
No full textThis thesis investigates opinion dynamics in complex social systems by combining methods from statistical physics, network science, and artificial intelligence. The central aim is to understand how individual behavior, social structure, and computational models can be used to model social systems and predict collective outcomes, and how these insights can be applied to real-world scenarios. Specifically, this thesis focuses on how to model opinion formation and describe opinion shifts in the population, on how to probe opinions through new surveys that exploit network effects, and on how to simulate human agents with new AI tools.
We begin by showing how a simple modification of the classical voter model — introducing a latency period after each opinion change — fundamentally alters its behavior. Instead of drifting randomly toward consensus, the system exhibits persistent oscillations, offering a possible explanation for recurrent opinion swings observed in electoral and social contexts. This result highlights how small changes in individual rules can generate qualitatively new forms of collective dynamics.
We then investigate how structural features of social networks affect the way opinions are measured. By analyzing the “social circle” polling method within a generative network framework, we show how network topology simultaneously biases these kinds of survey results and reveals the level of polarization in society. We develop an improved estimator that combines individual responses with structural information, and demonstrate its applicability on polling data from the 2016 U.S. presidential election.
Finally, we extend the scope of opinion dynamics modeling by employing Large Language Models (LLMs) as artificial agents in online political conversations. Using Reddit discussions from the 2016 U.S. Presidential election as a testbed, we assess the ability of GPT-4 to reproduce human-like behavior. The experiments reveal both the realism and systematic biases of LLM-generated discourse, pointing to their potential as tools for simulating complex interactions but also raising concerns about manipulation and governance in digital environments. Moreover, we highlight a potential method for spotting LLM-generated texts inside social networks.
Together, these studies show how the interplay of individual decision rules, network structure, and advanced AI systems can be captured within a unified modeling perspective. By bridging approaches from statistical physics, empirical data analysis, and artificial intelligence, this work contributes new theoretical mechanisms, practical methodologies, and critical reflections on the future of social simulation with physical approaches
Convegno CNR “Avanzamenti metodologici e operativi per il monitoraggio delle foreste e delle loro risorse”
No full textIl convegno CNR (Consiglio nazionale delle ricerche) sugli “Avanzamenti metodologici e operativi per il monitoraggio delle foreste e delle loro risorse”, tenutosi il 2 aprile 2025, ha costituito un momento di proficua riflessione sulle più recenti e avanzate metodologie di analisi del contesto boschivo italiano. La tematica del monitoraggio del patrimonio forestale italiano, con il suo censimento e il controllo dello stato di salute, riveste notevole importanza per il nostro paese, in quanto necessario sia per la gestione e la pianificazione, sia per gli studi climatici e di osservazione richiesti nei protocolli internazionali (es. Agenda 2030)
Evaluating Quercus pollen as a valuable archive of past UV-B levels in the Central Mediterranean. Insights from comparative infrared spectroscopy analyses
No full textThe relative abundance of ultraviolet-absorbing compounds (UACs) in pollen and spore exine increases with prolonged and higher exposure to ultraviolet B (UV-B) radiation. This relationship has been extensively studied via transmission Fourier-transform infrared microspectroscopy (transmission micro-FTIR), primarily in Lycopodium spores and airborne Pinus pollen. However, traditional transmission micro-FTIR methods are prone to infrared light scattering and interference, resulting in spectral deformations and reduced reproducibility. Additionally, bisaccate pollen, like Pinus, can travel long distances and may not accurately reflect local UV-B levels. This study compares transmission and attenuated total reflection (ATR) micro-FTIR methods to assess their reproducibility and investigates Quercus pollen as a potential local UV-B proxy in the Central Mediterranean. Samples containing fresh (in situ), trapped (in mosses), and fossilized (from Holocene sediments) pollen grains were subjected to various chemical treatments, after which the macromolecular composition of single and clustered grains was characterized. Results show that ATR micro-FTIR yields significantly more reproducible data than transmission micro-FTIR, demonstrating the suitability of this method for systematic chemo-palynological studies. Quercus ilex pollen consistently display UAC-related absorption bands across modern and fossil samples, and treatment with hydrochloric acid, hydrofluoric acid, and sodium hydroxide does not significantly alter these signatures. A comparison with fresh and trapped Q. cerris and Q. pubescens pollen further supports these findings. These results suggest that relative UAC concentrations in modern and fossil Quercus exine likely reflect accumulated UV-B dosage, pinpointing Quercus pollen as a valuable local UV-B proxy for reconstructing past UV-B levels in the Central Mediterranean
On the distribution of the telegraph meander and its properties
No full textIn this paper we study the telegraph meander, a random function obtained by conditioning the
telegraph process to stay above the zero level. The finite dimensional distribution of the telegraph
meander is derived by applying the reflection principle for the telegraph process and the Markovianity of the telegraph process with the velocity process. We show that the law of the telegraph
meander at the end time is a solution to a hyperbolic equation, and we find the characteristic
function and moments of any order. Finally, we prove that Brownian meander is the weak limit
of the telegraph meander
Egyptian Epigraphy of the Early Dynastic Period (c. 3250-2700 BCE)
No full textThe essay presents current perspectives on the corpus of Egyptian inscriptions of the Early Dynastic period, covering the documentation from the earliest written attestations dating to the late fourth millennium BCE up to the first known full registration of continuous language at the time of king Djoser (c. 2700 BCE). It reviews the corpus, addresses past scholarship, and discusses major issues on the material, historical, and social setting for the emergence, development, and exploitation of the writing system. A strong focus is on typology, scale, material practice, spatial dimension of the written artefacts in order to situate their production, circulation, and reception against the background of previous forms of visual expression as well as to assess their status within the nascent state
Narrating the Museum to Enhance Cultural Heritage through User Profiling and Personalization of the Message. The case of the National Roman Museum
No full textThis doctoral research examines how museums can act as agents of social change by
integrating Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS), Digital Storytelling (DST), and Virtual Reality
(VR) into inclusive communication and education practices. Grounded in theories of
experiential and situated learning, constructivism, and participatory museology, the study
investigates how narrative forms—particularly digital ones—foster 4 C’s skills, digital
competencies, well-being, and social inclusion.
A quasi-experimental, mixed-methods design was implemented at the National Roman
Museum (MNR), involving both staff and student participants. Staff training in VTS
enhanced professional identity and well-being, while student interventions combining VTS,
360-degree virtual tours, and DST workshops demonstrated selective but significant gains
in communication, digital skills, well-being, and social inclusion. Correlational analyses
confirmed the interrelated nature of the 4C’s, with critical thinking emerging as an
integrative construct.
Findings highlight the transformative potential of narrative-driven, digitally enriched
museum education. The research contributes theoretically by bridging constructivist
learning, accessibility standards, and participatory museology; methodologically by
validating quasi-experimental approaches in museum contexts; and practically by offering
replicable models for inclusive programming. The conclusion positions museums as
dynamic laboratories of cultural innovation and democratic participation, capable of
transforming heritage into a shared, lived resource that empowers diverse audiences to co-
create meaning in the 21st century
Resisting the Malls. Communication and Networking Practices of Solidarity Purchasing Groups (GAS) in Italy
No full textIn neoliberal governance, the space for addressing most issues, whether private or public, is market driven. Political consumerism movements have for decades promoted a set of values, proposals, and “narratives” that aim to combine concern for the environment and social justice with profound changes in everyday life and lifestyles. In Italy, the purchase of products made by adopting criteria of sustainability and social responsibility or from organic farming, made through the collective organization of GAS, the Solidarity Purchasing Groups, is a distinctive solution among the many ethical consumption practices implemented in different territories or countries. The research’s objective was a) to analyze the external communication tools of GAS; and b) to study, through a network analysis, the structure of the connections and relationships between the websites of the groups and social movement organizations. The websites, profiles on social network sites and visual identity of more than 300 GAS present in the Italian territory were analyzed. Despite the fact that network strategy remains central to the movement’s repertoire of action and is articulated in a plentiful and karstic flow of relationships or, even intense, local activities and community-purchasing initiatives, these still struggle to emerge in digital communication, this potential does not invariably result in the transformation of resistance into communicative communities
Synthesis study of evapotranspiration evolution in the Mekong Delta induced by land use and land cover changes in the decades of 1990-2020
No full textEvapotranspiration (ET) plays a key role in the water cycle and balance, and its estimation is of paramount importance in hydrological studies. This variable is also strongly influenced by the land use and land cover (LULC). This study use a synthesis approach to analyse the relationship between ET variation and LULC transformation in the period 1990-2020. The study area represents a major agricultural region in the Mekong Delta of Vietnam between the Mekong and Bassac rivers. The multivariate dataset was ingested into the hydrological model Soil and Water Assessment Tool to examine the multidecadal ET evolution across the study region. The ET evolution is investigated together with LULC changes to identify the primary drivers of the ET change. The results reveal an increase in landscape fragmentation together with a decrease in ET. The reduction in ET is associated with the decrease in water surfaces corresponding to upstream dam operations and with the construction of new urban areas. In the coastal area, a conversion from natural areas (i.e., mangroves cover) to aquaculture has been observed, leading to a slight increase in ET
Awareness of possible complications associated with direct composite restorations: a systematic review
No full textIntroduction: Resin-based composites (RBCs) are among the most widely used materials for direct dental restorations due to their aesthetics and conservative preparation requirements. However, their clinical application remains highly technique-sensitive, and long-term outcomes are frequently compromised by complications. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the most common clinical challenges associated with direct composite restorations and assess awareness of these complications among dentists, dental students, and patients. Evidence acquisition: A comprehensive search of PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Embase was conducted for studies published between January 2010 and August 2025, following PRISMA guidelines. Twenty eligible studies were included, encompassing survey-based research, clinical follow-ups, and cross-sectional analyses across diverse populations. Quality assessment revealed methodological heterogeneity, with most studies rated as intermediate quality. Evidence synthesis: The most frequently reported complications included secondary caries, restoration fractures, marginal defects, postoperative hypersensitivity, and food impaction. Factors contributing to these failures were multifactorial, encompassing operator technique, material properties such as polymerization shrinkage and moisture sensitivity, patient-related behaviors including poor oral hygiene and parafunctional habits, and inadequate pre- and postgraduate training. Evidence further indicated that repair, rather than replacement, is often a conservative and effective management strategy. Conclusions: The success of composite restorations depends not only on material advancements but also on clinician skill, adherence to evidence-based protocols, and patient cooperation. Continuous professional education and preventive measures remain critical for reducing complications and improving restoration longevity
Un seminario progettuale per i musei archeologici
No full textIl contributo illustra i risultati di seminario di Laurea in Allestimento e Museografia, svolto in collaborazione con il Polo Museale Sapienza, ha riguardato la riqualificazione architettonica e l’allestimento museografico dei musei archeologici di Sapienza. In particolare, i laureandi hanno portato avanti alcune proposte progettuali sul Museo delle Origini – MO e sul Museo delle Antichità Etrusche e Italiche - MAEI.
Il progetto di riqualificazione si è fondato sull’idea di ripensare il percorso di visita, prevedendo un continuum narrativo che va dal MO, attraversa il MAEI, fino a riconnettersi al piano superiore con il Museo dell’Arte Classica - MAC. Per questo si è pensato ad un unico atrio di ingresso, posto nel MO, che introduce alle collezioni, pur lasciando inalterato l’autonomia dell’accesso al MAC, indispensabile per la molteplicità delle funzioni che esso contiene e per il notevole numero di persone che accoglie ogni giorno. Il nuovo ingresso, oltre a costituire l’elemento soglia tra interno ed esterno, si configura come un ambiente nodale, che introduce e presenta i temi delle collezioni, orientando l’esperienza del visitatore in ingresso.This paper illustrates the results of the graduate seminar in Allestimento e Museografia, conducted in collaboration with the Polo Museale Sapienza, which focused on the architectural project and museographic design of Sapienza's archaeological museums. Specifically, the winners presented design proposals for the Museo delle Origini (MO) and the Museo delle Antichità Etrusche e Italiche (MAEI).
The redevelopment project was based on the idea of rethinking the visitor route, envisioning a narrative continuum that extends from the MO, through the MAEI, and reconnects on the upper floor with the Museo dell’ Arte Classica (MAC). For this reason, a single entrance hall was designed, located in the MO, leading to the collections, while maintaining independent access to the MAC, which is essential given the multiple functions it hosts and the significant number of visitors it welcomes each day. The new entrance, in addition to acting as a threshold between inside and outside, is configured as a nodal space, which introduces and presents the themes of the collections, orienting the visitor's experience upon entry