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Demand and supply curve forecasting using a monotonic autoencoder for short-term day-ahead electricity market bid curves
No full textThis paper proposes a novel short-term modeling and forecasting framework for day-ahead electricity market demand and supply price/volume curves. These economically and financially important curves are obtained daily from data derived from the full set of the price/volume bids submitted to the market, and are computed preliminarily to the market price setting phase. They contain a wealth of market information, but are difficult to forecast due to the peculiarity of their data structure. They are intrinsically monotonic, and take values on an irregularly distributed set of volume values which change in location and number each day. Unlike in the case of electricity price forecasting, only a few research groups have addressed the curve forecasting problem so far. In addition, because it is difficult to preserve monotonicity when forecasting these curves, and although its violation can result in incoherent forecasts, the existing curve forecasting models usually don’t explicitly enforce this constraint. In this paper, a modeling and forecasting framework is proposed which decomposes each curve into three structurally meaningful and interpretable geometrical entities, corresponding to macroscopic features of the curves. At a given time , these geometrical entities are two special (price,volume) curve points and , and the price/volume vector between them. On the one hand, the and points are directly and individually forecast using a variant of the Echo State Network machine learning architecture. On the other hand, the dependency on time of the segment is simplified, and this simplified is forecast by forecasting its reduced representation as internal to a suitably developed monotonic autoencoder network. Curve comparison, necessary for curve fitting, for the quality assessment of the forecasts, and for benchmarking the proposed framework against other available models, is made by means of a suitably developed metric algorithm which we call ‘Heterogeneous Curves Mean Absolute Error’. The three components of the curves, , and , are hence optimally combined and glued together by means of optimization of this error. The framework is tested on data from the NORD zone of the Italian day-ahead IPEX zonal market. It is numerically shown that forecasting with the proposed framework outperforms forecasting with the few benchmarks available, including stochastic-functional and PCA-based models
Comparative Analysis of the Fecal Proteome in Two Canine Breeds: Dalmatians and Weimaraners
No full textGhrelin (GhRL) is an orexigenic hormone influenced by nutritional state. It plays a role in skin repair and diseases, though little information exists regarding its function in this organ. GhRL and its receptor were investigated in the skin of sheep under different feeding conditions to explore GhRL system presence and possible modifications due to diet. Three-year-old female sheep were free to graze from June to the pasture maximum flowering (MxF group) and from this period to maximum dryness addicted (Exp group) or not (MxD group) with 600 gr/die/head of barley and corn. Skin samples were processed for immunohistochemistry and real-time PCR. The immunostaining showed the presence of the GhRL system in skin appendages. Indeed, the ligand was localized in the hair follicles whereas the receptor was also observed in sweat glands and smooth muscle cells. The expression of both genes was significantly higher in the Exp group (3.6 and 2.9 folds respectively, p < 0.05) compared with the MxF group. These results suggest that the GhRL system is involved in the regulation of hair follicles and sweat glands. In addition, diet supplementation may positively modulate the expression of GhRL and its receptor in the skin
Moringa peregrina and their effect on proliferation of Staurogyne repens in tissue culture conditions
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Intelligenza artificiale e tutela dei diritti fondamentali nella prospettiva europea: il passaggio da Lex a Ius
No full textNella società contemporanea, ormai pervasa dall’ingresso dei sistemi IA che interessano tanto i rapporti privati, quanto i contesti istituzionali, le sfide che il giurista è chiamato ad affrontare investono, prima ancora che questioni tecnico-giuridiche, la necessità di garantire la tutela dei diritti fondamentali della persona umana. Fondamentale è la regolazione giuridica europea sull’intelligenza artificiale che afferma la centralità della persona e la necessità che i modelli che supportano il funzionamento dei sistemi di intelligenza artificiale siano conformi ai parametri di equità, antropocentrismo e solidarietà
Rescue of protein dyshomeostasis in hippocampal astrocytes from an Alzheimer’s disease mouse model by stabilizing ER-mitochondrial interactions at a 20 nm distance
Full text linkBackground: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the major age-related form of dementia in which dysfunctional ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) and autophagy represent primary mechanisms leading to accumulation of misfolded proteins, dysfunction of astroglial cells, neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration. Alterations of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-mitochondria contact sites (MERCS), specifically the shortening of the distance between the organelles, was proposed as a key mechanism of cell dysfunction in AD. However, its link to the impairment of the proteolytic system in AD remains unexplored. Methods: We used, as a model, hippocampal astrocytes from 3xTg-AD mice expressing either control plasmid or synthetic linkers stabilizing ER-mitochondrial interaction at 10 nm (10 nm-EML) or at 20 nm (20 nm-EML). Alternatively, astrocytes were treated with mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake inhibitor benzethonium chloride or activator amorolfine. We used Western blot to assess protein expression and specific enzymatic activity tests for the analysis of proteasomal, autophagic and lysosomal activities. Single cell fluorescent Ca2+ imaging, using 4mtD3cpv probe targeted to the mitochondrial matrix, was used to assess mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake. Results: Stabilization of MERCS at 20 nm (20 nm-MERCS), which promotes mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake, rescued protein ubiquitination, UPS composition and activity. Immunoproteasome components β2i and β5i, upregulated in AD astrocytes, and INFγ, a master-regulator of UPS remodelling in inflammatory conditions, were also rescued. Autophagic markers beclin 1, LC3II and p62, and lysosome-related marker cathepsin B, all upregulated in AD astrocytes, were significantly reduced, while autophagic flux was rescued, by stabilizing 20 nm-MERCS. Furthermore, stabilization of 20 nm-MERCS fully rescued previously reported deficit of mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake. Strikingly, application of a mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake positive modulator, amorolfine, partially rescued pathological remodelling of UPS and autophagy, suggesting that both mitochondrial Ca2+-related and Ca2+-unrelated mechanisms play a role in the beneficial effect of 20 nm-MERCS stabilization on protein dyshomeostasis. Conclusions: Our results suggest that disruption of ER-mitochondrial interaction is a key factor for AD-related dysregulation of protein degradation and provide a proof that stabilization of MERCS at a defined distance and/or pharmacological rescue of mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake represent valuable strategies for the development of future anti-AD therapy
Predicting individual treatment response in alcohol use disorders: a reverse translational proof-of-concept study
No full textThe development of medications for alcohol use disorders (AUD) faces stagnation, as promising drugs failed to translate in clinic. Screening on homogeneous groups of animals drugs later tested on heterogeneous clinical cohorts may contribute to the translational gap. We hypothesized that a preclinical model of AUD accounting for inter-individual heterogeneity would predict the lack of efficacy of a drug that failed clinical trials (Memantine) and the efficacy of an approved AUD medication (Naltrexone). Baseline alcohol drinking, motivation, and cued reinstatement were screened in NIH genetically heterogeneous-stock rats before testing the effect of Memantine and Naltrexone on alcohol (ASA) and saccharin self-administration (SSA). Based on the individual effect of Memantine and Naltrexone on ASA, rats were allocated into independent clusters of responders and non-responders to each drug. The same doses of Memantine reduced both ASA and SSA in both clusters, while Naltrexone selectively reduced ASA in responder rats. Naltrexone responders were in majority males, while non-responders were mostly females. Naltrexone responders and non-responders showed similar alcohol drinking and motivation, but non-responders did not show cued reinstatement of alcohol seeking. In line with clinical observations, in a model accounting for individual heterogeneity Memantine failed to selectively reduce ASA, the population could be unbiasedly clustered in responders and non-responders, and cued reactivity associated with Naltrexone response in males. These results advocate the use of inter-individual heterogeneity for preclinical prediction of drug efficacy in AUD before clinical trials. In addition, we observed sex differences in response to Naltrexone that can be back-translated in clinic
Fotografie di opere michelangiolesche. Rassegna Accademia di San Luca
No full textFotografie di opere michelangiolesche a Firenze.
Le immagini fotografiche sono le seguenti:
a) Sagrestia Nuova di San Lorenzo a Firenze (pag. 8);
b) Sagrestia Nuova di San Lorenzo a Firenze, vista dell'altare (pag. 112);
c) Ricetto della Biblioteca Laurenziana in San Lorenzo (pag. 123)
Elusive seismogenic sources of historical earthquakes: insights from the Mw 6.8, 1706 Maiella earthquake (central Italy)
No full textThe central Apennines are renowned for their active NW-SE striking and SW-dipping normal-fault systems responsible for significant seismic events. However, uncertainties persist in attributing some past destructive earthquakes to seismogenic sources, as in the case of the 1706 Maiella earthquake (Mw 6.8, Abruzzi region). This study comprehensively assesses competing source hypotheses derived from the literature and uses geological and geophysical data to constrain their possible fault geometry. Employing a 3D seismogenic source model approach, we rigorously analyze the earthquake-fault association, assessing the misfit between the simulated site intensities and the macroseismic values estimated from the historical accounts. Our findings highlight the complexities in determining a reliable source for the 1706 earthquake. Finally, the best-fit source model was adopted to produce ground motion predictions regarding Peak Ground Acceleration (PGA), Peak Ground Velocity (PGV), and macroseismic intensity, including site effects, coupling the ground motion model (GMM-ITA18; Lanzano et al. 2019) and the ground motion intensity conversion equation (GMICE; Gomez Capera et al., 2020). The presented outcomes possibly unveil the shaking scenario that occurred in the past and perhaps in the future. These results, shedding light on one of the most relevant unknowns of the Apennine seismicity, offer valuable insights to better constrain the seismic hazard of this region, with implications for seismic risk mitigation strategies
Environmental and Bio-Inspired Re-Design of Sebach's Topsan Notouch 2.0 Portable Toilet: Quantitative Assessment of the Environmental Benefits Obtained from the Biomimetic Approach to Product Design
No full textThe article presents and discusses the conclusive and unpublished results of the doctoral research 'Biomimetic re-design of sustainable products. Increasing the environmental sustainability of products through biomimetic criteria' (Balsamo, PhD Thesis, 2023) aimed at analysing and quantifying the contribution of the bio-inspired approach in the design of sustainable industrial products. Bio-inspiration, recognised by many experts as an important innovation factor, aims to improve the environmental sustainability of products. In order to quantitatively assess the real benefits of this approach, a bio-inspired re-design of the TopSan NoTouch 2.0 portable toilet from Sebach S.p.A., a product certified with an Enviromental Product Declaration, was carried out. Initially, a product analysis was conducted to define the environmental improvement goals to be achieved through bio-inspired design criteria. Bioinspired re-design involved the implementation of diverse methodological approaches and operational tools, involving experts from other disciplines, such as biology and engineering, in order to acquire complementary technical-scientific knowledge. Through the use of the standardised Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) methodology, it was possible to quantitatively assess the environmental impacts of both the original product and its re-designed version according to bio-inspired principles. The comparison between the two products showed positive results that validate the effectiveness of the bio-inspired approach in the design of industrial products in terms of increasing environmental sustainability
Note conclusive
No full textAttraversiamo un particolare momento storico, in cui eventi trasformativi dell’ambiente naturale e urbano e dinamiche sociali ed economiche si susseguono e si intrecciano introducendo a complessità non facilmente riducibili e, talora, a responsabilità non sempre derubricabili.
Le università e, più in generale, tutti i centri di ricerca scientifica, nel loro ruolo di terza missione, tentano di costruire percorsi di supporto ai processi decisionali di governo per mitigare e, quando possibile, annullare le tensioni ecologiche e sociali che gravano sugli assetti urbani e territoriali e sulle comunità interessate. La loro lettura presuppone un’interpretazione interdisciplinare che è anche generatrice di visioni innovative, olistiche e sistemiche, capaci di cogliere il senso e di tradurre in attività progettuali concrete le diverse strategie ormai ampiamente condivise in ambito europeo : dalla mitigazione e, comunque, la riduzione dei rischi che possono discendere dai cambiamenti climatici in atto alla riconciliazione tra le azioni per la tutela della biodiversità e quelle per l’accrescimento della qualità della vita e la sicurezza di tutti gli abitanti del pianeta. In questo senso, il dottorato in Sustainable Urban Planning, Cultural Heritage, Built Environment intende fare la sua parte formando ricercatori in grado di leggere la contemporaneità e di mettere in atto nuovi approcci progettuali alla transizione verso la sostenibilità.
Questo instant book offre, dunque, una panoramica dei percorsi di ricerca intrapresi dai dottorandi, favorendo un dialogo proficuo con altri contributi magistrali provenienti dall’esterno. Ne emerge un quadro molto nitido delle tematiche affrontate e dei relativi avanzamenti compiuti, in cui ogni ricercatore illustra, con rigore, i risultati ottenuti, talvolta prospettando possibili sviluppi futuri.
A questo punto, è opportuno non solo riassumere i temi affrontati, in modo diligente, nei percorsi di ricerca dei nostri dottorandi ma si ritiene utile anche mettere in luce come gli stessi approcci, già sviluppati, aprano a nuovi orizzonti di ricerca, ancora non chiari e circoscritti, ma sicuramente non trascurabili. È la grande sfida della ricerca cui non possiamo e non vogliamo sottrarci, anche quando non siamo certi dove ci condurrà esattamente il percorso intrapreso. L’antico metodo euristico è sempre sullo sfondo e può essere ancora un riferimento nell’avvicinarci alla ricerca purché lo convalidiamo con il monitoraggio e la valutazione degli esiti della ricerca. In questo senso, ho affiancato ai temi già affrontati dai giovani ricercatori, alcune prime prospettive su cui penso possa essere utile continuare a lavorare