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Video Game and Application Software Localization: Case Study Analysis of Socio-technical and Linguistic Aspects Towards New Professional Profiles and Educational Pathways
Get PDFThe thesis focuses on linguistics applied to the computer field. On this area, in particular, the software localization process is relevant, as it describes the linguistic and cultural adaptation of an information technology product to a specific market scenario. This research, conducted from an interdisciplinary perspective, is related to the localization process in video games and, in a broader sense, to application software localization.
Software and video game localization is experiencing a period of strong growth due to high market demand and the current trend to make computers more human-like in the way they interact with users. In this scenario, the thesis focuses on “linguistic” localization by addressing the language translation process from the perspective of translation studies, with particular reference to the process of translating the language assets in digital products, making them linguistically and culturally appropriate for the target market. As these aspects also involve technological assessments, also the main reference technical methodologies and tools will be explored.
Starting by highlighting the main tools and methodologies currently used in software and video game localization, this study would focus on discussing the main issues and open challenges in this field, even considering the reference studies in comparative linguistics and culture related in video game localization.
In this direction, in order to obtain up-to-date quantitative and qualitative data, a hybrid methodology has been used to perform literature review and meta-analysis, combining the PRISMA statement with a focus group that see involved both academic and professional experts in software and videogame localization.
Furthermore, this research would investigate some peculiar linguistic and cultural aspects of videogames, also analysing selected products with a case study approach.
The main objective of the thesis would be to reduce the gap between the linguist and the programmer, by redefining the way in which they collaborate; in fact, versatile specialized professional figures in this field are not easy to find, since it would require competencies in both information technology, linguistic and also intercultural fields.
The obtained results allowed to define some useful competences for new or existing professional figures (perhaps also proposing some guidelines with the purpose to contribute in standardize specific educational paths), in the attempt to obtain an improved quality of the products
The interplay of epistemic trust, defensive mechanisms, interpersonal problems, and symptomatology: an empirical investigation
No full textEpistemic trust has emerged as a promising construct in understanding psycho(patho)logical functioning. However, its interplay with other dimensions that may contribute to developing specific symptom patterns remains underexplored. This study sought to investigate how epistemic trust, mistrust, and credulity relate to relational difficulties, defense mechanisms, and psychological symptoms to enrich the comprehension of their impact on mental health. A sample of 385 Italian individuals (60 % females and 40 % males, Mage = 28.2, SDage = 9.6, 18–65 years) completed an online survey including self-report questionnaires: Epistemic Trust, Mistrust, and Credulity Questionnaire, Defense Mechanisms Rating Scale-Self-Report-30, Inventory of Interpersonal Problems-32, and Brief Symptom Inventory. Results showed that epistemic disruptions were associated with severe interpersonal problems, more primitive defense mechanisms, and greater levels of psychopathology. Moreover, epistemic mistrust and lower defensive functioning strongly predicted higher levels of symptomatology, underscoring their detrimental effect on processes underlying mental health. These findings highlight the critical role of epistemic disruptions as risk factors for psychological distress, offering vital insights into the dynamic mechanisms underpinning mental health, as well as implications for intervention protocols and clinical practice
Climate change adaptation strategy of Greco grapevine
No full textClimate change is severely impacting viticulture in the southern Mediterranean, particularly in regions like Campania, Italy. This study investigated the effects of climate change on Greco, a native grape cultivar, by examining the relationship between water balance and grape quality to provide practical support to farmers.
A three-year field experiment was conducted in a vineyard owned by Feudi di San Gregorio winery in Santa Paolina (Avellino, Italy) employing various soil and canopy management practices. The data collected were used to calibrate and validate the SWAP agro-hydrological model, analyze the soil-plant-atmosphere system, and evaluate the impacts of climate change scenarios (RCP 4.5 and 8.5) on grape quality. Results showed that managing water stress is crucial for achieving the desired grape quality, with the required level of °Brix, in particular during veraison when crop water stress index (CWSI) reaches values below 20 %.
When the expected climate change is considered using a simulation modelling application, in the periods of 2010–2040, 2040–2070, and 2070–2100, significant rise in water stress is expected with an increase on average by 7 %, 9 %, and 8 % respectively in the RCP 4.5 scenario and 4 %, 9 %, and 14 % in the RCP 8.5 compared to the Reference Climate (RC).
This research provides practical support for farmers adapting to climate change and ensuring the resilience of Controlled and Guaranteed Designation of Origin areas. The study was part of the GREASE project funded by the Campania Region, focusing on sustainable cultivation practices for Greco
Unequal contributions to CO2 emissions along the income distribution within and between countries
No full textUbi , ibi supra-ius. La comunicazione social come officina di norme sull’asilo e l’immigrazione
No full textGrowth, education and sustainability: an overview
No full textThis paper aims to give a contribution to the body of literature on growth, education and sustainability. To date, this particular body is not firmly established but it is, nevertheless, growing. Indeed, the close link between sustainable development and human capital has only recently been analysed in depth, and mainly with empirical analyses. The contribution of this paper is threefold, viz.: 1) it reviews the related literature; 2) it develops a basic theoretical model for the empirical analysis; 3) it performs a panel-type empirical analysis that covers 81 countries and 11 time periods (2012–2022). The main result of this work is that generic human capital (education) is not solely the engine of economic growth because it is also, potentially, the architect of sustainable development, since human capital (education) is also necessary to increase awareness of environmental issues. Hence, the study result suggests that investment in education is the only policy that can achieve both growth and sustainability
Aristofane. Tesmoforiazuse. I Canti, a cura di Loredana Di Virgilio, Pisa-Roma, Fabrizio Serra Editore, 2025.
No full textBORDERLINE PERSONALITY DISORDER: MOLECULAR SIGNATURES LINKED TO PATHOLOGY AND PSYCHOTHERAPY EFFECTS
Get PDFBackground: Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is a severe mental disorder characterized by emotional dysregulation, impulsivity, and difficulties in interpersonal relationships. Despite its severity and prevalence, the underlying biological mechanisms that drive BPD pathophysiology remain poorly understood. Moreover, although it is known that psychotherapy is effective in symptom management, the biological effects of this type of treatment remain largely unexplored. This study builds upon the CLIMAMITHE project, a randomized clinical trial whose primary aim was to compare two psychotherapeutical approaches for BPD: Metacognitive Interpersonal Therapy (MIT) and Structured Clinical Management (SCM).
Methods: 50 BPD patients and 26 non affected controls were recruited and clinical assessments were conducted to evaluate core symptoms such as emotional regulation, metacognition, and symptom severity. Patients were randomly assigned to MIT or SCM, both covering a period of 1 year. Blood samples were collected at the baseline, 6 months, and 12 months for patients, and at the baseline for controls. We then quantified molecular markers associated with key features of BPD, including: Oxytocin (OXT), β-endorphin, Brain-derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF), and microRNAs (miRNAs). Neuroimaging data were also available for the patient group.
Results: Lower baseline OXT levels were found in BPD patients compared to controls. OXT levels increased during psychotherapy: this increment was correlated with clinical improvements in emotional regulation and BPD symptomatology. Also, OXT increase following psychotherapy negatively correlated with the decrease in the volume of the left anterior-inferior area of the hypothalamus. β-endorphin levels did not differ between patients and controls, nor any significant changes during psychotherapy were observed. Although non-significant, the T0-T12 increases of β-endorphin levels were positively correlated with the increase of the volume of the CA3 region of the hippocampus. BDNF levels were significantly higher in the group of patients, but psychotherapy was not able to modulate them. We also found a positive correlation between BDNF levels at T0 and the fractional anisotropy of the Ventral Default Mode Network and the Left Executive Control Network. Finally, eight miRNAs were differentially expressed between BPD patients and controls, and KEGG pathway analysis showed their involvement in pathways related to neuroplasticity and stress response.
Conclusion: This study explored the role of molecular markers potentially involved in BPD, investigating their relationship with the pathology and the psychotherapies effect, highlighting alterations between patients and controls and, regarding OXT, also modulations induced by psychotherapies. Overall, these findings contribute to gain insight into the biological underpinnings of BPD, also providing potential novel markers that may be useful for the improvement of the differential diagnosis and the optimization of the therapeutic treatments for this disease
Fast and interpretable prediction of seismic kinematics of flexible retaining walls in sand through explainable artificial intelligence
No full textAssessing the response of earth-retaining walls to seismic loading is key for safety. Nonlinear dynamic analyses using the finite element method (FEM) calculate the permanent displacements (PDs) the soil–wall system accumulates during an earthquake, but are computationally intensive. Simplified dynamic displacement-based methods that obtain PDs based on a failure mechanism (FM) and critical acceleration are faster. Still, they require geotechnical expertise, e.g., in strength, failure criteria, and stability under pseudo-static conditions. This paper presents a new method using eXplainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI) to predict the FM and kc (critical acceleration as a fraction of gravity) of flexible retaining walls in dry, coarse-grained soil, based on geometry and soil/wall properties. We created a large dataset (∼1000 samples) via FEM simulations based on plasticity limit theorems, with 7 types of FMs affecting 3 types of walls: propped, cantilever, and anchored. Each sample contained geometrical parameters, soil/wall properties, and FEM-derived FM and kc. Trained on these data, our system has a weighted F1-score of 97.28% and an R2 above 0.987 for FM and kc predictions, respectively. Shapley explanations (SHAP) and a new coherence model help experts interpret the results and check explanation consistency. Its high accuracy and millisecond-level inference make our method ideal when assessing the seismic response of numerous structures within short timeframes. Also, its interpretability promotes AI-expert collaboration, enhancing decision-making