178,765 research outputs found
The Impact of Regional R&D Subsidy in a Computable General Equilibrium Model
No full textThis article presents a computable general equilibrium model for the region of
Sardinia (Italy) with the purpose of investigating the macroeconomic impact of
research and development (R&D) policies. The model incorporates induced technical
change obtained through knowledge accumulation and external knowledge
spillovers. It turns out that the cost of R&D policies may change according to wage
setting in the region. Indeed, the likely size of the optimal subsidy that is required to
reach a given target growth is lower when wages are bargained locally compared to
the case where wages are bargained nationally. Furthermore, the capacity of such a
policy to generate knowledge spillovers from international and interregional trade is
quite modest. Indeed, the capacity of the regional system to internalize innovations
embedded in imported goods is partially offset by an increase in internal efficiency
that lowers the spillover intensity through a reduction in the share of imports
Descartes’ Physics in 'Le Monde' and the Late-Scholastic Idea of Contingency
Full text linkAfter reconstructing some fetures of the Scholastic treatment of contingency in natural philosophy, this paper draws a comparison between Descartes’ treatments of the issue of the laws of nature in Le Monde (1629-1633) and in the Principles of Philosophy (1644). On the basis of this comparison, it argues that elements of the Scholastic understanding of contingency as due to the impediment provided by matter are still present in the former. While in the Principles Descartes appears to equate contingency with an epistemological limitation in our understanding of the complexity of natural phenomena, in the conclusion I argue that some elements of his previous approach to the issue remains in his treatment of curvilinear motion
From Territory to Smartphone: Smart Fruition of Cultural Heritage for Dynamic Tourism Development
No full textAugmented reality is a new technology that merges the virtual and the real worlds and offers important support in all planning processes. Using mobile devices, planning information can be implemented with smart and participative solutions for a dynamic fruition of cultural heritage [Brondi, R., Carrozzino, M., Tecchia, F., & Bergamasco, M. (2012) Mobile augmented reality for cultural dissemination, in: P. Nesi & R. Santucci (Eds), ECLAP 2012 Conference on Information Technologies for Performing Arts, Media and Entertainment, pp. 113–118 (Firenze: Firenze University Press); Hatzelhoffer, L., et al. (2012) Smart City in Practice: Innovation Lab Between Vision and Reality (Jovis). Technologies are important tools because they make a city smart by making concrete contributions to trigger dynamic processes of place-based development. Three important factors improve urban planning fruition: participation in the early stages of listening and co-design; enlightened governance and new technology. This paper (1) presents the actual possibilities and challenges of augmented reality in the field of cultural heritage, (2) describes a simulation of one case study in a neighbourhood in Cagliari (Italy), by proposing customized paths with the aim of promoting cultural tourism and (3) explains the benefits of using augmented reality in touristic and place-based processes based on the case study
Evaluating Geometric and Structured Fractal Analysis Methods to Determine the Optimal Approach for Urban Road Network Assessment
No full textUrban networks are often classified as complex elements that influence the growth of cities beyond their boundaries. These networks are analysed using numerous approaches, tools, where fractal dimensions provide quantitative assessment of the spatial organisation. This study applies geometric and structured (network-based) fractal analysis techniques to the road network of Metropolitan City of Cagliari (MCC). It highlights the methodological differences and their implications across diverse fields. The geometric fractal analysis was conducted using Fractalyse, whereas the structured fractal analysis was performed using R programming. The findings derived from the structured approach (the latter) demonstrated a greater fractal dimension than those from the geometric approach (the former). This discrepancy suggests that the structured analysis approach provides a more accurate representation of the complexity in urban road network within the research area under study. Therefore, it captures the nuanced distinctions of connectivity and hierarchy which are sometimes omitted in geometric approaches. The analysis also reveals the importance of selecting appropriate methodologies to achieve higher accuracy in urban form assessments, especially when investigating spatial criteria such as accessibility and resilience. The findings highlight the potential of using structured fractal techniques in urban accessibility and planning applications. They can accurately assess complicated network behaviour and guide future research by integrating them with spatial analytic methods and tools. This study aids urban planners and researchers in evaluating urban infrastructure according to developing spatial demands using this robust framework
The Transformation of Final Causation. Telesio's Theories of Self-Preservation and Motion
Full text linkThis paper focuses on a notion that is strictly connected to that of sentient highlighted, as seen, by Giglioni as the more original trait of Telesio’s philosophy – that of self-preservation. In the De rerum natura iuxta propria principia, Telesio argues for the existence of two antithetical active principles, heat and cold, in turn corresponding to the Sun and heaven, and the earth respectively, and yielding motion and change, and rest and immutability. Heath and cold, rather than actively producing the matter on which they act, are the principles of its change, while the “mass or body” (moles vero corpus) on which the two active natures acts remain, though changing their natures and forms (I, 5, 17). Telesio conferred a crucial role to self-preservation, arguing that both principles are essentially antithetical and act tend to fight each other and seek their own preservation.
The aim of this paper is not that of offering a genealogical reconstruction of Telesio’s notion of self-preservation (as Martin Muslow has already remarkably done) but rather to analyse its concept, its use within Telesio’s natural philosophy – with special regard to Telesio’s doctrine of motion –, and suggests, providing a working-hypothesis rather than as a solid Wirkungsgeschichte, that this doctrine might likely have had crucial bearings on seventeenth century developments of natural philosophy. I argue that it Telesio’s notion of self-preservation represents not only another element of critique of Aristotelianism, but also a crucial turn in the way Scholastic physics had understood activity in nature. Second, I show that Telesio’s notion of self-preservation was likely motivated by the need of providing an alternative to the Aristotelian theory of motion, and in particular roots on some crucial inconsistencies within Aristotle’s theory of falling objects. In conclusion of my paper, I hint to some possible bearing of Telesio’s doctrine of self-preservation on early modern proto-inertial natural philosophy, and in particular in authors such as Descartes, and Spinoza. While it is not possible to establish a direct influence of Telesio’s natural philosophers on these authors, and while I reject the narratives of Telesio as of a “forerunner” or “anticipator” of modern mechanics, I argue that Telesio’s critique of the Aristotelian doctrine of motion and activity and its explanation in terms of self-preserving tendencies contributed to create the intellectual atmosphere from which early modern mechanism stemmed.
This paper is divided in four sections. I first offer a short reconstruction of the theme of self-preservation in Western philosophy, focusing in particular on its reception within Scholasticism. Second, I reconstruct Telesio’s notion of self-preservation. Third, through a comparison with the Scholastic (and even pre-Scholastic) notion of self-preservation, it shall show that Telesio’s detachment from the Scholastic tradition consisted of three traits: (1) the claim that this tendency to self-preservation is teleologically oriented but not intrinsically definite in time (that is, does not have a terminus ad quem). Then (2), I shall show that while the Thomists grounded the drive to self-preservation within a structured theological framework — in which the instinct to self-preservation stems from the love of God for his creation —, Telesio’s project of a study of nature “within its own principles” excludes such theological structure from the picture. Finally (3) strictly connected to the two points above — that these solution brings about a decisive passage from a teleology conceived as the passage between different states and having goals extrinsic to the subject to one that I will rather define “autotelic,” in which the subject itself — its persistence into existence and increase in power — becomes the goal of activity. Fourth, it shall show how the notion of self-preservation contributes to provide, and was likely motivated by the search of, an alternative explanation to Aristotle’s theory of motion, which was rooted on the dualism between natural and violent motion. In Telesio’s mind, self-preservation replaces the idea that the tendency to motion is brought about by the form of things. The conclusion is admittedly the most hypothetical part of my paper. Indeed, the autotelic drive to self-preservation characterizes many (proto)inertial natural philosophies of the seventeenth century, such as that of Descartes, and Spinoza. While it is uncertain to what extent Telesio’s philosophy influenced these authors, I argue that Telesio’s notion of self-preservation contributed to create the intellectual environment that lead to further development of seventeenth century-mechanics
Impact analysis of regional knowledge subsidy: a CGE approach
No full textIn this paper we present a computable general equilibrium model for the region
of Sardinia for the purpose of evaluating the capacity of R&D policies to affect the
long run rate of growth. The model incorporates induced technical change and allow
for external knowledge spillovers. We find that the cost of R&D policies may
change according to the wage setting prevailing into the region. Furthermore, the
capacity of such a policy to generate knowledge spillovers from the international and
interregional trade are quite modest. Indeed, the capacity of the regional system to
internalize the technological level embody in the imported good is partially offset by
an increase in internal efficiency lowering the share of import but increasing
competitiveness
Fluvalinate content of Apistan(R) strips during treatment and efficacy in colonies containing sealed worker brood
No full textOver the last few years, some studies were carried out in Sardinia (Italy) on improving varroosis management in colonies containing sealed worker brood using Apistan. The fluvalinate content in plastic strips remained almost constant during the 10 weeks of treatment. No significant differences between initial (11.5 + 0.6%) and terminal (10.7 + 0.3%) fluvalinate concentration were observed, indicating that removal by the bees was very small and the active ingredient strip dosage more than sufficient to control the varroosis. Apistan application in apiary confirmed an efficacy of over 99%. Most of the mire mortality (> 97%) occurred during the first 4 weeks
The responses of people to virtual humans in an immersive virtual environment
No full textThis paper presents an experiment investigating the impact of behavior and responsiveness
on social responses to virtual humans in an immersive virtual environment
(IVE). A number of responses are investigated, including presence, copresence, and
two physiological responses—heart rate and electrodermal activity (EDA). Our
findings suggest that increasing agents’ responsiveness even on a simple level can
have a significant impact on certain aspects of people’s social responses to humanoid
agents.
Despite being aware that the agents were computer-generated, participants with
higher levels of social anxiety were significantly more likely to avoid “disturbing”
them. This suggests that on some level people can respond to virtual humans as
social actors even in the absence of complex interaction.
Responses appear to be shaped both by the agents’ behaviors and by people’s expectations
of the technology. Participants experienced a significantly higher sense of
personal contact when the agents were visually responsive to them, as opposed to
static or simply moving. However, this effect diminished with experienced computer
users. Our preliminary analysis of objective heart-rate data reveals an identical pattern
of responses
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