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Teleoptometry and smartphone-associated visual habits across the lifespan
Get PDFThe spread of smartphones has seen an extraordinary growth in recent years, a condition that asks for detailed studies to identify visual habits and visual health associated with their use. In the present study, we measured viewing distance and character size across different age groups while participants read a simple text message. We also assessed the precision of a specific teleoptometry application in estimating smartphone usage distance. Our results showed that both reading distance and character size differed across age with non-presbyopes using closer distances and smaller character sizes as compared to presbyopes. We also found that a teleoptometry smartphone application exploiting the built-in front camera reliably assessed device usage distance with an average error lying below the value usually considered critical in clinical practice. In summary, our data reveal that visual habits in the use of smartphones can substantially vary across age, and suggest interesting future scenarios for teleoptometry to reliably predict visual health status
Lactoferrin as a biomarker of ocular diseases and contact lens discomfort
Get PDFLactoferrin (Lf) is frequently described as a diagnostic marker for different ocular diseases, such as dry eye (DE), Sjo ̈gren’s syndrome, and diabetic retinopathy. We therefore performed a meta-analysis on the average Lf concentra- tion in healthy subjects and those affected by ocular diseases. The results suggest that Lf level is a good candidate as a DE syndrome diagnostic biomarker, even though there is still a need for further development of standardized protocols of tear collection, processing, and storage. One of the risk factors for DE is con- tact lens (CL) wear and DE prevalence is known to be higher in CL wearers than non-wearers. To investigate Lf as a biomarker for CL discomfort, we developed a diagnostic method based on terbium fluorescence to detect Lf directly into human tears. Lf concentration was found to be unchanged after a period of CL wear and after a period of CL suspension. Instead, the results reveal a significant change in Lf affinity for terbium upon CL wear. It is known that an alteration of the protein conformational state or of its substrate-binding site leads to protein inactivation and triggers an inflammatory response. Indeed, high levels of protein denaturation have been found to be correlated with adverse effects, such as papillary conjunctivitis and CL discomfort
Photochromic contact lenses: Optical analysis and visual effects of their transition dynamics
Get PDFSince their introduction, the evolution of contact lenses has been mainly routed by criteria of wearing comfort, increased oxygen permeability, and correction of refractive errors, while less attention has been paid to the improve- ment of visual functions. More recently, a new type of contact lenses has been designed and marketed. This type of lenses contain photochromic additives that enable filtering in the visible range depending on the intensity and spectrum of en- vironmental light. In this work, we have characterized the dynamics over time of commercial photochromic contact lenses in order to quantify their filtering effect in the visible as a function of the input wavelength and estimate the transition time necessary for their activation and deactivation. In addition, we have investigated the influence of photochromic contact lenses on visual functions during specific indoor and outdoor activities. The present research encompasses an optical characteriza- tion of the constituent photosensitive material and a preliminary investigation of the expected visual benefits provided by the use of this new type of optical devices
The redesign of an introductory physics laboratory course
Get PDFIn this communication, I present the process of transforming the in- troductory laboratory course at the University of Potsdam from a “concept-based” to a “skill-based” type of course. I describe the new learning goals, the implementa- tion of new activities to reach these goals and the assessment of students’ learning in the new setting
Quantum mechanics at high school: An online laboratory on wave-particle duality
Get PDFThe interest in studying quantum mechanics is always increasing in our society and schools. Especially in the latter case, this leads researchers to implement suitable actions to meet social needs of knowledge of quantum physics. We present an online laboratory on wave-particle duality for high school students (17–19 years old). The activity was carried out in the period December 2021–May 2022 at the Physics Department of the University of Cagliari, and more than 100 students from different high schools in Sardinia were involved. We will show the design of the activity and the experiments performed. We will show and qualita- tively discuss results about a satisfaction questionnaire. A brief discussion about motivational issues will be presented
An intuitive introduction to the evolution of physical systems
Get PDFWe outline a unified introduction to the general problem of dynamics intended for a high-school students audience. The attempt consists in circumventing the lack of mathematical knowledge with the use of 1) geometric diagrams, 2) a discretized version of the equations of motion and 3) a simplified form of computation and analysis of their solutions. The aim is to allow students to approach theoretical features as well as computational aspects of the evolution equations through the use of spreadsheets, a work environment students are usually familiar with and an ideal tool for an intuitive approach to recursive algorithms. The proposal was presented to an audience composed of students of University courses of Physics teaching and to high-school Science teachers
Intrecciare mondi: l’architettura bio-informata come pratica indisciplinata per costruire habitat multispecie
Get PDFIn the age of entanglement, the process of unlearning disciplinary boundaries is seen as crucial to respond to pressing environmental challenges and to integrate different knowledge and perspectives. Indeed, one challenge is to support a heuristic perspective in which humans perceive themselves as part of nature and a knot intertwined in a global system of relations, deconstructing their anthropocentric role of superiority over other species. This paper explores the relevance of bio-informed architecture as an “undisciplined practice”, which aims to radicalise and transform our thinking about the socio-ecological conditions of human and non-human existence within the built environment. This practice aims to transform the traditional approach to architecture into a broader vision, challenging the ontological separation between human and non-human worlds, and ultimately disrupting and reimagining traditional architectural narratives
Presentazione del IV Piano di Azione Nazionale su Donne, Pace e Sicurezza (2020-2024): in attuazione della risoluzione del Consiglio di Sicurezza 1325 (2000)
Get PDFQuesta Relazione presenta il Piano di Azione Nazionale su “Donne, Pace e Sicurezza” (2020-2024) inquadrato
nell’ampio contesto del diritto internazionale, del diritto dell’Unione Europea e dell’ordinamento nazionale.
Da questo documento è stato estratto l’intervento da me presentato in occasione dell’evento “I diritti umani
nelle zone di guerra dove le libertà sono negate”, organizzato dall’Ordine degli Avvocati di Trapani il 14 marzo
2023.
Il Seminario è stato il terzo di una serie di eventi formativi che l’Ordine degli Avvocati di Trapani riserva al
tema di diritti umani, un ambito al quale questo Organismo è particolarmente attento ed al quale dedica
impegno e risorse affinché i diritti delle donne, la parità di genere e l’empowerment femminile possano
pienamente essere riconosciuti e effettivamente realizzati
Intelligenza Artificiale: distingue frequenter. Uno sguardo interdisciplinare
Get PDFIl volume “Intelligenza Artificiale: distingue frequenter”, edito da Cnr Edizioni e curato da Cinzia Caporale e Laura Palazzani, costituisce il frutto di un approfondimento che si è sviluppato all’interno della Consulta Scientifica del Cortile dei Gentili.
Il testo affronta il tema dell’Intelligenza Artificiale nella vita quotidiana con uno sguardo interdisciplinare. Giuliano Amato, nella prefazione, scrive: “In questo volumetto il lettore non troverà posizioni luddiste, e nessun vade retro, nei confronti dell’innovazione, e quindi della stessa Intelligenza Artificiale. Al contrario, di essa vedrà unanimemente condiviso il formidabile contributo ai nostri progressi nei campi più diversi. Ma vedrà anche indicate, sempre unanimemente, le aree di limiti possibili ed anzi necessari, con il chiarimento, non meno necessario, che alcuni di tali limiti tocca al diritto stabilirli, mentre altri non possono che stare nella coscienza dei ricercatori. Se tutto questo è sufficientemente condiviso, se da un lato la società con le sue leggi, dall’altro la ricerca con il suo codice morale sapranno tenere le barre loro affidate, potremo con tranquillità fidarci dell’IA: avvalerci dei suoi benefici, non drammatizzare le nostre difficoltà nel distinguere l’Incompiuta di Schubert da quella in parte compiuta dal computer, imparare a capire, parlandoci, quando uno studente ha scritto il suo paper, quando se lo è fatto scrivere da ChatGPT. Non sarà questo a portarci nelle acque dove, secondo padre Dante, finirebbe per richiudersi sovra di noi il mare. Quelle acque sono più avanti e tocca a noi, a tutti noi, evitare che l’umanità ci arrivi.”
C’è all’inizio un documento comune, introdotto da chi si è assunto il compito di estrarre dalle precedenti discussioni sul tema le posizioni condivise che si erano raggiunte (in questo, come in altri casi, Cinzia Caporale, a cui siamo gratissimi); ci sono poi contributi individuali, nei quali diversi di noi mettono a fuoco sia le angolature del tema più ri-levanti nelle rispettive discipline, sia le proprie, personali vedute, che accentuano ora l’una ora l’altra delle valutazioni emerse nel documento comune. Ecco, il Cortile è e vuole essere questo. Vuole raccogliere attor-no a questioni controverse persone che in comune non hanno le stesse idee né le stesse premesse culturali. Hanno piuttosto una caratteristica fondamentale, che vorremmo fosse sempre meno rara nelle società del nostro tempo, troppo propense a dividersi su posizioni incomponibili e intolleranti delle posizioni altrui. È la caratteristica di ascoltare l’altro, non con agnosticismo, ma con la disponibilità a capirne le ragioni, anche qualora non sia facile comporle con le proprie verità
Natural product extraction via hydrodynamic cavitation
Get PDFHydrodynamic cavitation applied to natural product extraction from biological resources is the enabling technology of the bioeconomy. The study identifies the main economic and technical advantages of this relatively new natural product extraction route. Economic benefits chiefly originate from the low cost of manufacturing, low capital expense and superior product quality. The main technical benefits originate from the lack of noxious emissions, ease of scale-up, and highly controllable conditions affording lot-to-lot product consistency. We conclude suggesting arguments for which cavitation technology will be used both by incumbent companies, as well as by new entrants in the natural product market