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“Vision Making” in cross-boarder regions dominated by natural assets.
No full textThis article examines conceptual and procedural frameworks for ecologically oriented vision-making in cross-border territories characterised by strong natural assets and infrastructural fragility. The discussion draws on interdisciplinary references (environmental philosophy, economic geography, and planning) and on a field-based research process initiated through an exploratory journey (November 2023) combining data collection, visual documentation, and interviews with institutional actors and local experts. The paper argues for a shift away from growth-oriented planning paradigms towards evolutionary and cooperative approaches, in which transformative capacity relies primarily on endogenous resources and co-evolutionary relations between communities and territory rather than on exogenous economic boosters. The contribution alternates between a conceptual reconstruction of vision-making and its relationship to planning theory, and a set of operational notes and methodological protocols, framed as a transition from a “project paradigm” to a care-oriented process. delli Ponti, A. and Farinella, R. (2025) ‘“Vision Making” in cross-boarder regions dominated by natural assets’, in Aliaj, B. and Dhamo, S. (eds.) Intersecting Landscapes. Finding New Spatial Visions for the Cross-Border Region of Prespa Lakes and the case of Pustec Municipality – Albania (OMB Vol. 10 Issue 1 & 2 / 2025). Tirana: POLIS press, pp. 32–41. https://doi.org/10.37199/o41010102
Benchmarking in Neuro-Symbolic AI
No full textNeural-symbolic (NeSy) AI has gained a lot of popularity by enhancing learning models with explicit reasoning capabilities. Both new systems and new benchmarks are constantly introduced and used to evaluate learning and reasoning skills. The large variety of systems and benchmarks, however, makes it difficult to establish a fair comparison among the various frameworks, let alone a unifying set of benchmarking criteria. This paper analyzes the state-of-the-art in benchmarking NeSy systems, studies its limitations, and proposes ways to overcome them. We categorize popular neural-symbolic frameworks into three groups: model-theoretic, proof-theoretic fuzzy, and proof-theoretic probabilistic systems. We show how these three categories have distinct strengths and weaknesses, and how this is reflected in the type of tasks and benchmarks to which they are applied
A Cluster Based Genetic Algorithm for Product Allocation Across Multiple Warehouse
No full textIn recent years, the growth of e-commerce has driven a trend toward order fulfillment strategies that draw products from multiple dispersed warehouses. This evolution has heightened the need for optimal product allocation to warehouse locations to minimize inter-warehouse shipment flows and reduce order completion times and costs. Despite the practical significance of this allocation problem, there is a lack of heuristic approaches capable of addressing large-scale, real-world instances.
This paper proposes a novel genetic algorithm to solve the multi-warehouse product allocation problem, integrating tailored genetic operators and constraint-handling mechanisms to enhance solution quality. We evaluate the approach on an industrial case study drawn from an e-commerce company, comprising realistic demand and distribution scenarios. Computational experiments demonstrate that our genetic algorithm outperforms baseline methods in reducing total inter-warehouse flow, achieving significant improvements in logistical efficiency.
These results clearly confirm the proposed method’s practical applicability and robustness for complex e-commerce fulfillment networks
Cluster Analysis to Identify Distinct Asthma Phenotypes in the ATLANTIS Cohort
No full textBackground: Previous cluster analyses have identified subgroups of asthma. However, only a few studies included parameters of small airways dysfunction (SAD), or gene expression profiles reflecting underlying disease mechanisms. We aimed to identify clinically distinct asthma phenotypes, beyond GINA asthma severity, using available data from the ATLANTIS study which focused on identifying the prevalence of SAD in asthma and its role in asthma control, exacerbations and quality of life.
Methods: The ATLANTIS study included 773 asthma patients (mean age 44 years, 58% female, 76% never-smoker, GINA 1-5). Subjects were extensively characterized, including symptoms, parameters of large and small airways dysfunction, blood and sputum differential cell counts, and genome-wide gene expression profiling from nasal brushes. Clusters were generated using the Self-Organizing Map-Ward's method.
Results: Four distinct clusters were identified: A (N = 62; 8%) characterized by the most frequent exacerbations, lower post-bronchodilator FEV1 % predicted, more small airways dysfunction, higher sputum and blood eosinophils, and high expression of asthma-related genes. B (N = 206; 27%) consisting of atopic patients with early-onset asthma, uncontrolled symptoms, and normal lung function and bronchial hyperresponsiveness, along with a high expression of asthma-related genes in the nasal epithelium. C (N = 277; 36%), predominantly male former smokers, with well-controlled asthma, mild obstructive lung disease, and relatively high neutrophil levels. D (N = 228; 29%), with normal lung function and low blood and sputum eosinophils.
Conclusions: Four distinct clusters were identified, where the presence of SAD was associated with high type-2 inflammation, lower lung function, and frequent exacerbations. SAD may be a marker of poorly controlled asthma and should be considered as an important clinical trait
Environmental enrichment influences the relationship between lateralization and neophobia in zebrafish larvae
No full textNeophobia, the aversion to novelty, is a conserved survival trait that influences individuals’ decision-making. In many species, juveniles showed less avoidance of novelty than adults, likely due to their limited experience and their need to gather environmental information. A challenging question is how environmental factors shape sensory processing and behavioural responses. Due to the rapid development of their nervous system and high sensitivity to environmental conditions, zebrafish (Danio rerio) represent a valuable model for investigating the phenotypic plasticity of neophobia. Previous studies showed that two-week-old larvae are more inclined to explore novel stimuli, while older larvae exhibit neophobic responses, indicating an age-dependent shift in exploratory behaviour. Lateralization, i.e. the specialization of the left and right side of the brain to attend different sensory information, may modulate the neophobic response. Here, we investigated how environmental experience alters the relationship between neophobia response and asymmetrical visual inspection in zebrafish larvae throughout early development. After hatching, larvae were reared in either enriched or barren environments. Neophobic response was assessed at 7, 14, and 21 days post-fertilization (dpf) using a novel object test. Results showed that 21dpf larvae raised in enriched environments approached the novel stimulus more quickly and frequently than barren larvae. Enrichment also significantly influenced lateralization, with enriched larvae displaying stronger lateralization. Notably, in enriched larvae, individuals that inspected the novel object more frequently showed weaker and less consistent lateralization. Results suggest that early environmental enrichment affects not only neophobic behaviour, but also the development of lateralized cognitive processing
The Record of the Last Sturgeons Caught in the Po River (North Italy) Tells a Cautionary Tale of Reasons of Their Silent Disappearance
No full textThree sturgeon species—the common European (A. sturio), beluga (H. huso), and Adriatic sturgeon (A. naccarii)—coexisted in the Po River Basin until the mid-1970s, representing centuries of bio-cultural heritage for northern Italy's riverine communities. Despite their historical and cultural significance, the dynamics of their decline remain undocumented in scientific literature. This study reconstructs the final chapter of natural sturgeon populations in the Po River through systematic analysis of quantitative data from 1970 to 1990, including catch records obtained during scientific monitoring campaigns, fish market auction records, gray literature, and interviews with veteran fishermen. Our findings reveal distinct extinction trajectories: the beluga sturgeon disappeared by 1974, while the last common sturgeon was captured in 1984. The Adriatic sturgeon showed greater resilience, persisting longer in the Po Delta with low but stable populations. Overfishing emerges as the primary driver of decline. Historical fishing practices targeted spawning migrations along the entire river course, while mechanization from the 1960s—motorized boats and nylon nets—intensified fishing pressure. Coastal trawling in the northwestern Adriatic further impacted anadromous species throughout their life cycle. The 1987 ministerial decree establishing a 100 cm minimum catch size came too late to prevent extinctions. This research establishes the first comprehensive baseline of pristine sturgeon populations in the Po River system, revealing how intensive exploitation dismantled centuries-old ecological and cultural relationships. These findings provide crucial historical context for ongoing restoration efforts and highlight the interdependence between functional river ecosystems and human societies
Green knowledge production functions with latent group structures in the presence of human capital spillovers and fiscal policies
No full textThe paper analyses the green knowledge production function with human capital spillovers in the context of OECD countries by using a latent group structure methodology, to address cross-country heterogeneity, in order to enrich evidence-based policymaking. In fact, the number of groups and the group membership are often unknown features in a dataset. These ‘unknowns’ are determined using a penalized regression technique, in the presence of cross-sectional dependence and nonstationarity. Substantial heterogeneity is unveiled and classified into distinctive groups with significant macroeconomic features. Modelling the green knowledge production function with latent-group structures thus reveals heterogeneous trends over green technologies patterns, with in addition Human capital and expenditure on research and development playing an important part as drivers. In an era of radical technological change and in front of the necessity to form solid coalitions to manage international public goods, the heterogeneity of countries and groups of agents is of extreme importance to better understand economic development paths, possibly correcting technology-driven divergences by national and supranational policy actions on innovation, training, environmental domains
Insight Into the Cellular Activities of Tranexamic Acid as an Option for Melasma Treatment
No full textMelasma and other hyperpigmentation disorders represent a significant challenge in dermatology. Tranexamic acid (TXA), traditionally known for its antifibrinolytic activity via inhibition of plasminogen activation, has recently emerged as a promising depigmenting agent. However, its cellular effects on skin cells involved in melanogenesis remain poorly understood. In this study, we investigated TXA's impact on melanocytes, keratinocytes, and inflammatory cells. TXA directly inhibited melanin synthesis in B16 melanoma cells, with an additive effect when combined with α-arbutin. In keratinocytes and macrophages, TXA attenuated inflammatory responses triggered by the plasminogen/plasmin (Plg/Plm) pathway. Moreover, TXA reduced lipopolysaccharide-induced pro-inflammatory gene expression in mouse macrophages, suggesting interference with Toll-like receptor-mediated inflammation. These findings highlight TXA's multifaceted actions on skin cells involved in pigmentation and support its therapeutic potential in melasma and potentially other skin diseases
Diversity in Public Spaces A transformative Journey for regional revitalization
No full textIn the year 2000, the European Union adopted the motto “United in Diversity” to promote
cohesion through cultural and artistic richness. While the removal of internal borders has fostered
unprecedented exchange across member states, many rural and border regions remain excluded from
the benefits of integration. This paper focuses on the Pustec Region in southeastern Albania, located
along the borders of Greece and North Macedonia. Comprising nine small villages nestled along Lake
Prespa, the region is marked by extraordinary natural beauty, agricultural traditions, and deep cultural
layering. Yet despite these assets, Pustec faces demographic decline, geographic isolation, and limited
infrastructure—conditions that threaten its long-term viability. This study investigates how public space,
when shaped by participatory and artistic practices, can serve as both a symbol and tool for regional
revitalization. It argues that diversity in public space is not merely a reflection of demographic plurality
but a strategic resource for identity-building, social cohesion, and economic sustainability. Through a
mixed-methods approach and comparative analysis of three international case studies—Superkilen
in Denmark, the East Side Gallery in Germany, and Favela Painting in Brazil—the paper demonstrates
how art-led interventions can activate neglected spaces, support local agency, and reframe peripheral
regions as sites of resilience and cultural vitality. In the case of Pustec, creative placemaking offers
a pathway to preserve the region’s meditative atmosphere while introducing low-impact, high-value
cultural initiatives that engage both residents and visitors. Temporary artistic actions—such as
murals, outdoor exhibitions, and cross-border cultural events—can evolve into permanent spatial
transformations that reflect local narratives. Art becomes a lifeline: not only enhancing aesthetics but
reviving community bonds and symbolizing continuity across histories and identities. Ultimately, the
Pustec Region presents a replicable framework for rural regeneration rooted in respect for local identity,
inclusive participation, and cultural innovation. Its revitalization affirms the EU’s foundational ideal that
unity can be constructed through diversity, particularly when place-based creativity is positioned as a
driver of sustainable development
Passeggiate romane. Micro-architetture per l’accessibilità
No full textInterventi recenti, di Alvisi Kirimoto, STARTT e Stefano Boeri, disegnano nuove forme per la fruizione del patrimonio storic