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Quantum Artificial Intelligence: Some Strategies and Perspectives
No full textIn the twenty-first century, humanity is compelled to face global challenges. Such challenges involve complex systems. However, science has some cognitive and predictive limits in dealing with complex systems. Some of these limits are related to computational complexity and the recognition of variable patterns. To overcome these limits, artificial intelligence (AI) and quantum computing (QC) appear to be helpful. Even more promising is quantum AI (QAI), which emerged from the combination of AI and QC. The combination of AI and QC produces reciprocal, synergistic effects. This work describes some of these effects. It shows that QC offers new materials for implementing AI and innovative algorithms for solving optimisation problems and enhancing machine learning algorithms. Additionally, it demonstrates how AI algorithms can help overcome many of the experimental challenges associated with implementing QC. It also outlines several perspectives for the future development of quantum artificial intelligence. © 2025 by the authors
Il Progetto ILCIDAF per lo sviluppo di un database italiano di Life Cycle Inventory dei prodotti agroalimentari: la fase di panificazione
No full textThe Project of Relevant National Interest (PRIN,2017) entitled: “Italian Life Cycle Inventory Database of Agri-Food Products”(ILCIDAF), financed by the Ministry of University and Research, aims to promote the sustainability of the agri-food sector through the development of a database on a national and regional scale for some food chains that are significant for the Italian economy (bread and pasta, wine, olive oil and citrus fruits). The research project consists of four Scientific Units: respectively the University of Bari, Chieti-Pescara, Messina and Reggio Calabria, each of which develops a specific food chain indicated above. The database is constructed considering the entire supply chain of the indicated foodstuffs. The University of Bari has previously provided contributions relating to the agricultural phase of wheat, the milling phase and the milling phase and the pasta-making phase. In this paper, however, the phase of the bread-making process of hard and soft wheat bread. The data were acquired through information provided by the companies in the sector (field data) by means of appropriately drafted questionnaires and company reports. In addition, the same analysed and processed data were compared with data available in the literature selected using specific keywords in research platforms and from public data described in sector EPDs
External validation of ultrasound-based models for differentiating between benign and malignant adnexal masses: a nationwide prospective multicenter study (IOTA phase 6)
No full textBackground
The diagnostic performance of the IOTA methods, the O-RADS lexicon, and the RMI has been validated in prospective and retrospective studies, but most validation studies tested the performance in the hands of experienced ultrasound examiners.
Objective
To prospectively validate the performance of the Risk of Malignancy Index, the International Ovarian Tumor Analysis Simple Rules Risk Model, the International Ovarian Tumor Analysis Assessment of Different NEoplasias in the adneXa model, and the International Ovarian Tumor Analysis 2-step strategy across different types of ultrasound centers in Italy. A retrospective post hoc analysis estimates malignancy prevalence in Ovarian-Adnexal Reporting and Data System risk groups when using the 2-step strategy or the Ovarian-Adnexal Reporting and Data System lexicon.
Study design
This is a multicenter prospective observational study including regional referral centers and district hospitals in Italy.
Methods
Consecutive patients with an adnexal mass examined with ultrasound by an International Ovarian Tumor Analysis–certified gynecologist with different levels of expertise were included, provided they underwent surgery <180 days after the inclusion scan. Ultrasound examination was performed transvaginally or transrectally and was supplemented with an abdominal scan when necessary. Reference standard was the histology of the adnexal mass following surgical removal. Discrimination (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve), calibration, and clinical utility were assessed to illustrate the diagnostic performance of the methods. For the retrospective post hoc analysis, we report the prevalence of malignancy in the Ovarian-Adnexal Reporting and Data System risk groups (Ovarian-Adnexal Reporting and Data System 2: risk of malignancy <1%; Ovarian-Adnexal Reporting and Data System 3: risk of malignancy 1% to <10%; Ovarian-Adnexal Reporting and Data System 4: risk of malignancy 10% to <50%; Ovarian-Adnexal Reporting and Data System 5: risk of malignancy ≥50%), with the Ovarian-Adnexal Reporting and Data System risk group assigned using either the 2-step strategy or the Ovarian-Adnexal Reporting and Data System lexicon.
Results
Between May 2017 and March 2020, 1431 patients were enrolled from 21 Italian centers (10 oncological and 11 nononcological). Based on histology, 995 (69.5%) tumors were benign and 436 (30.5%) were malignant (115, 8.0% borderline; 263, 18.4% primary invasive; 58, 4.1% metastatic tumors).
For Risk of Malignancy Index, the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.85 (95% confidence interval, 0.81 to 0.87), whereas for all International Ovarian Tumor Analysis models (Simple Rules Risk Model, Assessment of Different NEoplasias in the adneXa with and without CA125, and 2-step strategy with and without CA125), the area under the receiver operating characteristic curves ranged from 0.91 (95% confidence interval, 0.88–0.93) to 0.92 (95% confidence interval, 0.89–0.94). All International Ovarian Tumor Analysis models demonstrated a higher net benefit than Risk of Malignancy Index across risk thresholds (exchange rates) from 1% to 50%. All International Ovarian Tumor Analysis models slightly underestimated the risk of malignancy, but Simple Rules Risk Model showed the least degree of underestimation.
The prevalence of malignancy and the corresponding 95% confidence interval in the 4 Ovarian-Adnexal Reporting and Data System risk categories, as calculated using the 2-step strategy and Ovarian-Adnexal Reporting and Data System lexicon, were 0.97% (95% confidence interval, 0.4–2.6) and 1.2% (95% confidence interval, 0.5–2.9) for Ovarian-Adnexal Reporting and Data System 2, 7.2% (95% confidence interval, 5.0–10.3) and 6.0% (95% confidence interval, 3.6–9.6) for Ovarian-Adnexal Reporting and Data System 3, 37.9% (95% confidence interval, 32.4–43.8) and 27.8% (95% confidence interval, 23.6–32.5) for Ovarian-Adnexal Reporting and Data System 4, and 84% (95% confidence interval, 79.8–87.4) and 83.1% (95% confidence interval, 79.0–86.6) for Ovarian-Adnexal Reporting and Data System 5.
Conclusion
Risk of Malignancy Index had lower ability than the International Ovarian Tumor Analysis models to distinguish between benign and malignant adnexal tumors in patients examined by either expert or nonexpert ultrasound operators in Italy. All the International Ovarian Tumor Analysis models—including Simple Rules Risk Model, Assessment of Different NEoplasias in the adneXa, and the 2-step strategy with or without CA125—had similar ability. The prevalence of malignancy in each of the 4 Ovarian-Adnexal Reporting and Data System risk categories closely matched the assigned malignancy risk regardless of whether the 2-step strategy or Ovarian-Adnexal Reporting and Data System lexicon was used
Dal governo dei magistrati al governo dei funzionari. Per una ricostruzione degli apparati amministrativi a Roma in età imperiale
No full textAll’avvio del principato di Augusto, dopo un secolo di guerre civili, l’organizzazione della res publica necessitava di riforme radicali. Fu allora che ai magistrati responsabili sino a quel momento dell’amministrazione, iniziarono ad affiancarsi nuove figure, appartenenti a gruppi sociali prima esclusi, i liberti e i cavalieri. Il sistema si strutturò sempre più nel corso dei principati successivi. La novità fu epocale: le competenze spettanti ai magistrati eletti dal popolo furono progressivamente trasferite a soggetti scelti dal principe, sulla base di criteri variabili, e retribuiti. Il processo di rinnovamento era, in effetti, già silenziosamente cominciato: il nuovo sistema poté funzionare poiché poggiava in parte su consuetudini già in atto nell’amministrazione domestica e su meccanismi ormai invalsi nel I a.C. Il volume esplora la storia di questo cambiamento, provando a definire, attraverso forme, metodi e strumenti, linee generali del funzionamento della macchina amministrativa di età imperiale
Assessing the reliability of 12 vs 24 hour esophageal pH-impedance monitoring for gastro-esophageal reflux in infants
No full textObjectives: The recommended duration of Esophageal Multichannel Intraluminal Impedance pH (MII-pH) monitoring to detect gastro-esophageal reflux (GER) is currently 24 hours. This prolonged recording can be challenging in certain circumstances. We aimed to assess the diagnostic reliability of 12h versus 24h MII-pH in infants. Methods: Retrospective multicenter study assessing MII-pH tracings from infants referred for suspect GERD. Each MII-pH was analyzed twice as full-time recording and in the first 12h, and data were compared. GERD was diagnosed if one of the following occurred: Number of GER episodes ≥100 in 24 hours; proximal GER episodes >44 (acid) or 57 (non-acid); Reflux index (percent time with pH <4) >7%; Bolus Exposure Index (BEI) >2.4%; Bolus Clearance Time (BCT) >18s; Symptom index (SI) ≥50%, Symptom Association Probability (SAP) ≥95%. Univariate analysis was performed to compare MII-pH data. Results: 127 infants were studied. Median age at MII-pH was 61 days (interquartile range-IQR 27-116), 49 were born preterm. There were no significant differences between the 12h and the 24h analysis regarding the number of total GER and proximal GER events/hour, reflux index, BEI, BCT, positive SI/SAP. GER events lasting >5 minutes/hour were 1.97±0.27 and 1.83±0.44 respectively (p<0.001). The 12h MII-pH recording showed 87.7% sensitivity, 75.6% specificity, 89.7% positive predictive value, 71.7% negative predictive value for GERD compared to 24h MII-pH. Conclusions: 12h MII-pH had a good diagnostic performance compared to 24h recording. Only GER events lasting >5 minutes were significantly different between the two, but the clinical significance of this observation is unclear
After the storm: Environmental tragedy and sustainable mobility
No full textDue to mounting environmental challenges, communities are increasingly prioritising resilience and sustainability. Environmental disasters can be seen as windows of opportunity for collective action, influencing pro-environmental attitudes and engagement. While personal experiences of catastrophe can increase environmental awareness, they can also affect social capital, impacting relationships with peers and institutions. Within this context, a post-disaster community might be encouraged to put more efforts in the local urban sustainable transformation to reduce the impact of climate-change related event. To this end, individuals' daily micro-mobility choices may offer insight into community engagement with sustainability initiatives, given the link between modes of transportation and long-term urban pollution. Through a survey of Italian citizens, we explored how disaster experiences shaped attitudes towards sustainable modes of mobility, as well as changes in individual and social factors. The analysis employed a structural equation model based on an extended version of the theory of planned behaviour. The results revealed that disaster experiences tended to heighten awareness of climate change risk while also reducing social interaction, thereby affecting pro-environmental behaviour. Trust in local government was not permanently affected, highlighting the difficulty in identifying the direct impacts of environmental disaster experiences on pro-environmental actions. Sustainable consumption choices and pro-environmental attitudes may be influenced by social and psychological factors, including personal experiences, personal well-being and civic engagement
La dimensione etica della utilitas nella interpretazione dei giuristi romani di età classica
No full textIl contributo affronta una lettura critica della monografia dal titolo "Utilitas in Roman Jurists' Legal interpretation" di J. Kulawiak- Cyrankowska (2025) cogliendone i passaggi più rilevanti e originali. L'autrice ravvisa nel richiamo alla utilitas come ragione determinante presente in molte pronunce dei giuristi di età classica, una convinta ispirazione agli ideali etici dell'honestum, del iustum, dell'aequuum e del bonum attinti dalla tradizione intellettuale filosofica e retorica, di cui riporta alcune fonti. L'espressione più eloquente di questa dimensione etica dell'utilitas sarebbe individuabile in alcuni noti passi di giuristi di età severiana, in particolare nel famosissimo Ulp. D.1.1.1.pr.-2 (lib. 1 Inst.)
On distributional symmetries on the CAR algebra
No full textSpreadable, exchangeable, and rotatable states on the CAR algebra are shown to be the sam
Identità e fondamento relazionale della comunicazione nella riflessione fenomenologica di Edmund Husserl
No full textCosa significa oggi essere in relazione con l’altro e sapersi riconoscere in questa relazione anche quando essa è mediata da dispositivi sempre più complessi e ‘artificialmente intelligenti’? È possibile recuperare il valore autentico della relazione interpersonale in contesti che troppo spesso privilegiano l’apparire piuttosto che l’essere? Quale ruolo occupa la comunicazione nella costruzione della nostra identità rispetto a quelle forme di tecnicismo ed efficientismo comunicativo in grado di promuovere connessioni rapide ma prive di profondità? Questo saggio prova a indagare questi interrogativi fondamentali a partire dal ruolo che la comunicazione assume quando si esplora il fondamento relazionale costitutivo dell’identità della persona. La chiave di lettura delle questioni che animano questo lavoro è l’analisi fenomenologica che Edmund Husserl delinea nei manoscritti inediti in lingua italiana e scritti dal 1905 al 1920 – raccolti e curati da Iso Kern nel primo dei tre volumi dal titolo Zur Phänomenologie der Intersubjektivitä
The social conditionality: its implementation and effects on supply chain sustainability
No full textThe essay deals with the aspects of social conditionality as a mechanism recently introduced in the CAP payment system. It outlines the relevance of the provision within the sustainable food system in the agri-food supply chain, for the issues related to the protection of labour, in EU and national law. Within the rules established by the new Common Agricultural Policy 2023-27, in line with the objectives of social sustainability, the essay addresses the legal mechanism of the social conditionality instrument, which provides for the reduction of financial support for failure to comply with the rules aimed at protecting workers, by retracing the stages of its establishment and implementation in European legislation and at the national level. The essay analyses the Italian rules aimed at implementing the EU provision, pointing out the problems related to the implementation of the payment administrative system, considering the violation of labour standards; as well as to the penalties system, to assess the adequacy of the national system, to establish dissuasive and proportionate sanctions. Finally, the authors offer an outlook on possible future developments at the EU level