Politecnio die Bari - Catalogo di prodotti della Ricerca
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Unveiling the trajectories of green energy technologies: the case of electrolysis
No full textThis paper aims to increase our understanding of the evolutionary dynamics that feature in the development of green energy technologies. Extant research has provided extensive evidence that these technologies tend to be more novel and complex than their non-green counterparts. However, our understanding of the origins and development of green energy technologies remains limited, also considering that these are also based on non-green technologies. Therefore, we examine the development trajectories of electrolysis technologies, a group of technologies that is expected to play a key role in the greening of the energy sector. We rely on a sample of 43,832 electrolysis-related Patent Families from 1987 to 2021 that we distinguish between green and non-green. We then use citation data and Main Path Analysis to delineate the major trajectories of development and adopt the Technology Life Cycle model to identify milestones in this development. Our analysis revealed that, in the different phases of the Technology Life Cycle model, four groups of inventions feature in the main development path of electrolysis technologies. We also found that fundamental contributions to the development path of electrolysis technologies are represented by both green and non-green inventions
Tutela dei cordoni dunali nell’ordinamento pugliese
No full textThe contradictions and limitations of the traditional public approach to landscape protection, well highlighted in the legal debate regarding the relationship between the economic system and territory, prompt reflec- tion on the prospects opened by ecological transition. Consideration is given to the possibility that the objectives of this transition, along with the areas, methodologies, and application measures, may lead to quali- tative improvements in territorial systems, while respecting the natural environment in its multiple material and immaterial components and biodiversity.
In addition to general aspects, current considerations are connect- ed to the intersection with the subject of “territorial governance”, whose disciplinary boundary with landscape protection has become increasing- ly hybrid. Territorial governance and landscape protection appear to as- sume a unitary dimension, without sacrificing the specificities and the merit of protecting individual public interests that justify the differenti- ated exercise of administrative functions.
The “landscape perspective” of urban planning law seems to gain fur- ther relevance when analyzed in relation to certain regional normative and planning experiences – among which that of the Puglia Region in terms of landscape protection through the Territorial Landscape Plan, partic- ularly concerning dunes and dune ridges – often oriented towards gain- ing maneuvering margins, sometimes “abusive” in relation to the lim- its imposed by sector regulations aimed at protecting and preserving the morphological structure and identity value of public assets of the high- est value. This orientation appears to lead to a substantial “subordina- tion” of landscape assets (and, in particular, of dunes) to the expanding needs of economic enterprises
Poison-RAG: Adversarial Data Poisoning Attacks on Retrieval-Augmented Generation in Recommender Systems
No full textThis study presents Poison-RAG, a framework for adversarial data poisoning attacks targeting retrieval-augmented generation (RAG)-based recommender systems. Poison-RAG manipulates item metadata, such as tags and descriptions, to influence recommendation outcomes. Using item metadata generated through a large language model (LLM) and embeddings derived via the OpenAI API, we explore the impact of adversarial poisoning attacks on provider-side, where attacks are designed to promote long-tail items and demote popular ones. Two attack strategies are proposed: local modifications, which personalize tags for each item using BERT embeddings, and global modifications, applying uniform tags across the dataset. Experiments conducted on the MovieLens dataset in a black-box setting reveal that local strategies improve manipulation effectiveness by up to 50%, while global strategies risk boosting already popular items. The results indicate that popular items are more susceptible to attacks, whereas long-tail items are harder to manipulate. Approximately 70% of items lack tags, presenting a cold-start challenge; data augmentation and synthesis are proposed as potential defense mechanisms to enhance RAG-based systems’ resilience. The findings emphasize the need for robust metadata management to safeguard recommendation frameworks. Code and data are available at https://github.com/atenanaz/Poison-RAG
Mussel shells powder as biogenic precursor of alkali activated binders for soil stabilisation
No full textAn experimental investigation on the mineralogical evolution and mechanical behaviour of Alkali Activated Binders (AABs) based on the activation of mussel shell powder (MSP) is developed. Two alkaline solutions of different chemical composition are considered for the activation (i.e., 12M NaOH solution and a mixture of 12M NaOH and Na2SiO3 solutions). Physical and mechanical behaviour of the binders are analysed by means of Ultrasonic Velocities (UV) measurements and Unconfined Compressive Strength (UCS) tests. The reactivity of the activated MSP is monitored over time using Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The mineralogical investigations are fundamental to support the interpretation of the mechanical performance of the binders. The alkaline environment induced by the activators affects the reactivity of MSP, promoting the precipitation of new crystalline carbonate hydrated phases. Moreover, the availability of silica species in the system favours the formation of silicate hydrated gels. From a macroscopic point of view, the binder activated with a mixture of NaOH and Na2SiO3 solution shows a relevant improvement of UCS consistent with the precipitation of stable cementitious compounds. An insight into the mechanical effects induced by AAB based on MSP on a dredged marine sediment is provided, highlighting the role of silicon availability on the effectiveness of the treatment
Exploring Augmented Reality Interaction Metaphors: Performance and Ergonomic Assessment using HoloLens 2 and RULA Method
No full textThe industrial revolutions driven by Industry 4.0 and 5.0 are transforming work practices with new tools like Augmented Reality (AR), which promise to boost productivity in industrial settings. This study introduces an AR application for the HoloLens 2 to evaluate three interaction metaphors - hand-ray, near, and gaze interaction - for moving virtual objects, focusing on accuracy and ergonomics. ErgoSentinel software provided real-time ergonomic analysis through RULA scores, and the NASA-TLX questionnaire assessed perceived workload. Results indicate that ray interaction is the most ergonomically favorable for long-distance tasks, reducing physical strain and enhancing comfort. Near interaction is precise for short-distance tasks but increases physical strain over long distances. Gaze interaction balances physical strain reduction with potential precision loss in long-distance tasks, imposing a higher cognitive load. This comprehensive analysis aids in optimizing AR applications for industrial use, promoting efficiency, safety, and worker well-being
The economic complexity in the age of disruptions: theory and tools
No full textModern economies are complex adaptive systems, shaped by the continuous interaction of interdependent industries, technologies, and knowledge bases. In such networks, innovation and disruption coexist: shocks rarely remain local but propagate through ripple effect embedded global supply chains, while new forms of value creation emerge from distributed capabilities. Traditional equilibrium-based economic models fail to capture these nonlinear dynamics. This dissertation adopts the lens of economic complexity to investigate how economies evolve under global disruptions and how complexity can inform strategies for resilience and the transition toward circularity.
The research addresses two interconnected domains. First, it explores the propagation of systemic shocks across global supply networks through the Gas Energy Branching (GEB) tool, a novel analytical tool developed to map and quantify direct and indirect interdependencies in the global natural gas sector. Using Multi-Regional Input–Output (MRIO) data from EXIOBASE3, the analysis reveals how disruptions originating in the major producers of natural gas, such as the United States or Russia, can generate ripple effects that reach countries and industries not directly engaged in gas trade, revealing structural vulnerabilities within global energy networks. The findings highlight the structural fragility of the global energy system and provide policymakers with a decision-support tool to identify critical nodes, actionable insights for designing diversification and resilience strategies in energy policy and supply chain management.
Second, the dissertation extends the tools of economic complexity to the circular economy by introducing the concept of Circular Economy Capabilities (CE capabilities), defined as the skills, knowledge, and organizational routines enabling circular transitions. Two tools are developed: the Country Circular Economy Capability Space and the Circular Economy Capability Proximity Matrix. These tools map the CE capabilities possessed by countries and suggest which CE strategies to adopt based on their capabilities possessed for supporting the effective CE transition.
Taken together, the two research components, on systemic disruptions and CE capabilities, offer complementary perspectives on the dual nature of economic complexity. On one hand, complexity can amplify vulnerabilities by transmitting shocks through dense interconnections; on the other, it provides the foundation for adaptation, innovation, and transformation.
Recognizing and managing this dual character is essential for understanding how modern economies evolve under pressure and how they can be governed more effectively. The research carries significant managerial, policy, and theoretical implications. From a managerial perspective, it provides tools to identify the most feasible CE strategies across industries, enhancing planning and the effectiveness of circular transitions. The GEB framework helps firms understand global supply chain interdependencies, detect indirect vulnerabilities, and design diversification and resilience strategies. From a policy standpoint, the Circular Economy Capability Space offers a quantitative tool to assess a country’s competitiveness in circular transitions, revealing existing and missing capabilities. This supports targeted investments, capability development, and innovation policy design. In the energy domain, the GEB framework clarifies how shocks spread through global gas networks, informing policies for diversification and energy security, especially relevant amid geopolitical crises such as the Russia–Ukraine conflict. At the theoretical level, the research bridges economic complexity theory, resilience thinking, and circular economy studies, offering an integrated lens to interpret and guide economic transformation. It highlights complexity as both a source of vulnerability and a driver of innovation and opportunity. It argues that complexity is not a problem to be reduced but a resource to be strategically managed, one that underpins resilience, circularity, and sustainable economic transformation in the twenty-first century
Where stability meets efficiency: A practical preventive control strategy for Microgrids
No full textThe energy transition, while undeniably offering countless advantages, has increasingly subjected electrical systems to stress conditions that may jeopardize their secure operation. To address this challenge, a wide range of control strategies has been developed. This work proposes a proactive and computationally efficient methodology, specifically designed to align with the capabilities of a smart MicroGrid (μG). The approach leverages the offline characterization of a feasibility region, defined as a convex structure in the operational space of the electrical system, to ensure secure operation within time frames compatible with real-time management for such a constrained system. The proposed method evaluates the stability and security of an operating point derived from an economic dispatch. When this point fails to meet predefined security requirements, the methodology identifies an alternative operating condition that ensures system security while minimizing deviations from the economically optimal state. The effectiveness of this approach has been validated through a case study replicating a subset of the experimental μG implemented in the PrInCE Lab at Polytechnic University of Bari
In vitro and in vivo characterization of novel magnesium alloy implants enhanced by hydrothermal and sol–gel treatments for bone regeneration
No full textMagnesium alloys are emerging as promising materials for biodegradable orthopedic implants due to their mechanical strength and biocompatibility. However, their clinical use is hindered by rapid degradation and hydrogen gas evolution, which can compromise implant stability and bone healing. This study investigates the biocompatibility, genotoxicity, and osteointegration of magnesium implants (AZ31) produced via Superplastic Forming and enhanced through Hydrothermal and Sol-Gel surface treatments. Both techniques produced uniform Mg(OH)2-based coatings, but only alloy with hydrothermal treatment exhibited a markedly slower in vitro degradation. Cytotoxicity and Ames mutagenicity assays confirmed the biocompatibility and non-mutagenic nature of all implant types. In vivo evaluation in a rat femoral defect model revealed successful bone formation around all implant types, with comparable trabecular bone area. However, surface-treated implants showed a significantly lower bone-to-implant contact compared to the control AZ31 alloy, with solgel-treated alloys exhibiting an accelerated degradation rate and higher hydrogen release, which may influence tissue integration. These results highlight the role of surface modification in tuning degradation behavior and bone interface characteristics, with solgel-treated alloys resorbing faster. The combination of superplastic forming processing with strategic surface treatments offers a promising approach to achieving controlled biodegradation, although further optimization is needed to improve bone-implant integration. This work supports the further development of surface-engineered Mg implants for safe and functional orthopedic applications
Rilievo integrato per l’interpretazione del sistema fortificato della città di Otranto: la Porta Alfonsina
No full textThe historic nucleus of the city of Otranto preserves the ancient city walls almost in their entirety, the result of transformations carried out over several centuries. Within the framework of the PRIN 2022
PNRR research project MAP_FORT, the unit of the Polytechnic University of Bari is working on the study of the city’s fortified system, which, starting from the instrumental survey of architectural
emergencies, attempts to systematise the large quantity of data from bibliographic and archival research. The contribution presents the partial results of the study on one of the three entrances that currently open in the city walls, the Porta Alfonsina, consisting of an archway flanked by two towers. Instrumental surveys, integrating laser scanning and photogrammetric technologies, are an essential phase of the research, which aims to study the gate, and the defensive system connected to it, consisting of the adjacent
walls, the auricle facing it and the hypothetical ravelin in front of it, attempting to reconstruct the chronological sequence of the construction phases
Unveiling the gaps in circular economy performance assessment: a research agenda
No full textThe circular economy (CE) paradigm has garnered significant attention in recent years as a response to escalating pollution, the unsustainable exploitation of natural resources, and the urgent imperative for sustainable development. These global challenges are largely intensified by industrial activities, prompting companies, particularly within the manufacturing sector, to adopt CE strategies such as recycling, reuse, remanufacturing, product-service systems, and disassembly. This sector-specific implementation of CE is commonly referred to as circular manufacturing. Despite the growing adoption of CE principles, substantial gaps remain in how CE performance assessment is conceptualized and measured, with limited guidance available to support future research. To address this issue, this paper conducts a systematic literature review aimed at identifying, categorizing, and prioritizing the main research gaps in CE performance assessment methods. The analysis reveals five key categories of gaps: Scalability and application, Indicator development, Methodological gaps, Social dimension, and Data limitations. Based on a criticality assessment of these categories, a research agenda has been developed to guide future investigations. This study contributes theoretically by systematizing existing knowledge, proposing a structured research agenda based on the relevance and frequency of the identified gaps, and highlighting the interdependencies among them that hinder the development of comprehensive CE assessment frameworks. In doing so, it offers actionable insights for researchers by identifying the most pressing areas for investigation, and for practitioners by highlighting challenges in data collection for performance evaluation. It also provides guidance for policymakers by suggesting directions to support CE performance evaluation at the macro level. Ultimately, this work underscores the need to develop effective and measurable CE performance assessment methods applicable across different levels of analysis in industrial contexts supporting practitioners in accelerating the transition to CE