Archivio Istituzionale della Ricerca- Università del Salento
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Digital Transformation in International Education
No full textThe chapter starts with a reflection on the nature and effects of the digital acceleration of higher education imposed by the Covid-19 pandemic outbreak. The first part examines the various forms and experiences of virtual internationalisation brought to the fore by the health emergency. This is done using an illustrative case of the experience of the Department of Engineering for Innovation at the University of Salento (Lecce, Italy). Then the reflection shifts to the need to distinguish between the short-term and long-term effects of the ongoing digital transformation in higher education. This distinction cannot and will not be addressed in isolation from the effects on the entire higher education sector.
From this perspective, the final part of the chapter will be devoted to considering whether and to what extent this transition responds to the objectives of the new European planning in terms of international education mobility: specifically, con
cerning the potential benefits and challenges of the massive diffusion of digital tech
nologies regarding inclusion (of both individuals and territories) and the effects in terms of the environment and sustainability
Systematic Review: Does Exercise Training Influence Ghrelin Levels?
Full text linkGhrelin, a gastric-derived peptide, regulates appetite, food intake, and energy homeostasis. Body weight plays a crucial role in modulating circulating ghrelin levels. Since exercise training is one of the most valuable tools for controlling body weight, it is relevant to consider whether exercise can influence total ghrelin secretion. This study aims to perform a systematic review of the effect of acute/chronic exercise on plasma ghrelin levels. Anextensive literature search was carried out on various databases, including PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar. The search was conducted using English keywords such as acute-exercise, transient-exercise, exercise, chronic-exercise, training, physical-activity, physical-training, exercise training, and total-ghrelin, ghrelin, appetite-related-peptides, gastrointestinal-peptides, gastrointestinal-hormones, and appetite-regulating-hormone. Initially, 2104 studies were identified. After evaluating study quality, data from 61 relevant studies were extracted for inclusion in this review. Most studies indicated that short-term acute aerobic exercise did not affect total ghrelin levels regardless of exercise intensity, characteristics, or growth hormone (GH) secretion. However, long and very-long aerobic/chronic exercise increased total ghrelin levels, mainly in overweight/obese individuals. Acute/chronic exercise may differentially influence total ghrelin secretion. Short-term acute aerobic exercise induces stable plasma ghrelin concentrations, independent of GH secretion. Long-term aerobic training increased its levels mainly in overweight/obese individuals through body composition and oxidative stress reduction. Additionally, total ghrelin secretion is more sensitive to exercise/training duration than exercise/training intensity
Il giudice sullo schermo: a classic in the study of popular legal culture, finally reborn
No full textThis essay explores some of the key features of Vincenzo Tomeo’s Il giudice sullo schermo. This book can be regarded as a classic in the study of popular legal culture and, arguably, in the sociology of law more broadly. The essay begins with a brief overview of the historical and theoretical context that framed the research, particularly the crisis of the judiciary in 1960s Italy and the contribution of sociology of law to addressing it. It then examines the original methodology employed by Tomeo. Finally, it highlights what are considered to be the work’s most significant findings—insights that continue to resonate today and render its rediscovery particularly worthwhile
L’amore e la bellezza
No full textCapitolo all'interno di un'antologia della letteratura barocca, organizzata attraverso percorsi tematici
Traditional Prediction Techniques and Machine Learning Approaches for Financial Time Series Analysis
Full text linkAccurate financial time series forecasting is critical for effective decision making in areas such as risk management, portfolio optimization, and trading. Given the complexity and volatility of financial markets, traditional forecasting methods often fail to capture the underlying dynamics. Recent advances in artificial neural network (ANN) forecasting research indicate that ANNs present a valuable alternative to traditional linear methods, such as autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA). However, time series are typically influenced by a combination of factors which require to consider both linear and non-linear characteristics. This paper proposes a new hybrid model that integrates ARIMA and ANN models such as long short-term memory and gated recurrent unit neural network to leverage the distinct strengths of both linear and non-linear modeling. Moreover, the goodness of the proposed model is evaluated through a comparative analysis of the ARIMA, ANN and Zhang hybrid model, using three financial datasets (i.e., Unicredit SpA stock price, EUR/USD exchange rate and Bitcoin closing price). Various absolute and relative error metrics, computed to evaluate the performance of models, can support the use of the proposed approach. The Diebold–Mariano (DM) test is also implemented to asses the significance of the obtained differences of the hybrid model with respect to the other competing models
Laplacian Controllability and Observability of Multi-Agent Systems: Recent Advances in Tree Graphs
Full text linkLaplacian controllability and observability of a consensus network is a widely considered topic in the area of multi-agent systems, complex networks, and large-scale systems. In this paper, this problem is addressed when the communication among nodes is described through a starlike tree topology. After a brief description of the mathematical setting of the problem adopted in a wide number of multi-agent systems engineering applications, some novel results are drawn based on node positions within the network only. The resulting methods are graphical and thus effective and exempt from numerical errors, and the final algorithm is provided to perform the analysis by machine computation. Several examples are provided to show the effectiveness of the algorithm proposed
Hidden Hydrosocial Imbalances in Virtual Water Trade: A Bilateral Resource Integrated Diagnostic for Governance Equity (BRIDGE) Framework with Standardized Indices Applied to Italy–Vietnam Case
Full text linkWaste Brick as Partial Replacement of Gypsum in Mortars: Mechanical Performance and Environmental Benefits for Sustainable Construction
Full text linkReplacing virgin raw materials with recycled waste in construction products is a key strategy for advancing sustainable development. This study explores the partial substitution of commercial gypsum with powdered waste brick (WB) in gypsum mortars, assessing its impact on mechanical performance, water absorption, and environmental footprint. Mortars were prepared with 0%, 5%, 10%, 20%, and 30% WB by weight. Results indicate that a 20% replacement level enhances flexural strength by 56% and compressive strength by 33% at 28 days, compared to the reference mix. SEM and XRD analyses revealed no formation of new crystalline phases, suggesting that the performance improvement is primarily due to physical interactions and microstructural effects. However, at 30% WB, a significant reduction in adhesion strength was observed, falling below the typical threshold for gypsum-based coatings, which may constrain practical application at higher replacement levels. Environmental assessment showed that both CO2 emissions and energy consumption decreased by up to 20% with a 30% substitution. A 20% WB content is therefore proposed as the optimal compromise between mechanical performance and environmental benefit. This approach supports circular economy principles by promoting the reuse of ceramic construction waste in the development of new sustainable materials
CO2 emission changes in two Italian regions: progress toward 2050 climate neutrality under the Covenant of Mayors
No full textIn 2008, the European Commission established the Covenant of Mayors (CoM), a voluntary initiative to involve and support local authorities in pursuing the European Union's climate change mitigation and adaptation goals. This study proposes a methodology to evaluate the effectiveness of Sustainable Energy Action Plans (SEAPs) and Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plans (SECAPs) in terms of reducing carbon dioxide emissions in the regions of Apulia and Sicily. The CO2 emissions are analyzed at the provincial level, before and after the approval of the plans by the municipal council, using homogeneous consumption data from national sources, rather than from data declared by the CoM signatories themselves. The methodology adopted combines the analysis of variance and compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of emissions, both total and per capita, with an assessment of the level of involvement of municipalities and the population in CoM plans. Through Pearson's coefficient, the correlation between the spread of plans and emissions at the provincial level was also assessed. The main results show that Apulia and Sicily, with a share of approved plans of 45.5% and 87.7%, respectively, experienced a reduction in total emissions of 12.1% and 21.2%, and per capita of 9.3% and 18.7%, in the period after municipalities submitted their SEAPs or SECAPs. A greater effectiveness of the plans is denoted in Sicilian provinces than in Apulian ones. These findings underscore the importance of emissions monitoring by signatory local governments, particularly through a uniform methodology, as well as monitoring at the provincial and regional levels, implemented by the Covenant Territorial Coordinators (CTCs), to assess the implementation of the action plans and ensure that regional and national emission reduction targets are met