1,910 research outputs found
The Cartesian-Leibnizian Turing Test
No full textThe chapter examines the debate around the experimental validation of computer simulations of intelligent behavior. Under which conditions can we consider a machine intelligent? Since Turing’s original test, researchers have developed several criteria that have often generated lively debates about their adequacy. The author offers a new perspective. He recommends that we locate the evolution of Turing’s ideas in the historical development of the epistemology of ai. By showing that we might interpret contemporary criteria such as “behavior,” “formalism,” and “realism” as technical and pragmatical reformulations of philosophical conceptions of the mind that philosophers such as especially Descartes and Leibniz developed during the modern era, the author offers some reflections toward a hopefully fruitful new awareness and reemployment of those concepts
On the Euler-Lagrange equation for a variational problem: the general case II
No full textIn this paper we study the existence of a solution in Lloc() to the Euler–Lagrange equation for the variational problem infu+W01()(ID(u)+g(u))dx(01) with D convex closed subset of Rn with non empty interior. By means of a disintegration theorem, we next show that the Euler–Lagrange equation can be reduced to an ODE along characteristics, and we deduce that there exists a solution to Euler–Lagrange different from 0 a.e. and satisfies a uniqueness property. These results prove a conjecture on the existence of variations on vector fields stated in Bertone and Cellina (On the existence of variations)
New perspectives about the role of robot-assisted surgery for the treatment of endometriosis
No full textWe read with great interest the recently published article by Comptour et al. entitled “Patient Quality of Life and Symptoms after Surgical Treatment for Endometriosis”.
Painful gynecological and digestive symptoms of endometriosis have been shown to severely affect the patients’ quality of life (QoL), and various studies have described the benefits of surgery in the treatment of endometriosis, particularly in its worst presentation, namely, Deep Infiltrating Endometriosis (DIE). Comptour et al. have designed a prospective and multicenter cohort study to assess the impact of surgical treatment of endometriosis on quality of life and pain, and their results seem to confirm these benefits
Costs–benefits of robot-assisted colorectal surgery: a different perspective
No full textThe costs of robot-assisted surgery (RAS) still represent a critical issue. Kulaylat et al. reported a propensity-matched study to compare the outcomes of colorectal surgery between a robotic and a laparoscopic group, concluding that RAS was burdened by higher costs. However, authors did not mention what da Vinci system, Si or Xi, they used and this could be crucial, as recently data published by our group on rectal resections showed that the use of the da Vinci Xi and the surgeon’s increased experience could improve the results and significantly reduce the costs of RAS
Una gestione innovativa e circolare per imballaggi plastici alimentari più sostenibili
No full textL’attuale gestione del packaging alimentare plastico, soprattutto a fine-vita, risulta non sostenibile e diventa sempre più necessario passare ad un modello circolare. Il progetto proposto è incentrato sulla progettazione, l’implementazione e la quantificazione di un nuovo modello di gestione del packaging plastico lungo l’intero ciclo di vita, che coinvolge tutti gli attori della filiera, compreso il consumatore. La sua sostenibilità ambientale, rispetto allo scenario attuale, è stata dimostrata con un approccio quantitativo
From intrinsic to adaptive clusters in breast cancer
No full textThe heterogeneity of breast cancers and the availability of several therapeutic options requires prognostic and predictive tools for tailoring adjuvant treatments. In this issue of Cancer Cell, Denkert et al. analyze longitudinal gene-expression data from the Penelope-B trial and identify five adaptive clusters with independent prognostic value to established signatures
L’ascesa cinese e il regionalismo in Asia
No full textAnalizzare l’evoluzione dell’approccio cinese nei confronti dei proces-
si di regionalizzazione economica in Asia aiuta a comprendere l’enorme
cambiamento del ruolo di Pechino a livello regionale e globale. Sono pas-
sati quasi quattro decenni da quando Deng Xiaoping teorizzò la necessi-
tà per la Repubblica popolare di concentrarsi sulle riforme economiche
e sulla modernizzazione del paese, evitando qualsiasi iniziativa mirata a
esercitare un ruolo di leadership a livello regionale. La Cina contempo-
ranea, in particolare dall’ascesa al potere di Xi Jinping, ha proposto un
articolato progetto di integrazione regionale che include accordi com-
merciali multilaterali, progetti infrastrutturali su scala continentale, una
serie di nuove istituzioni e forme di governance regionale e globale. Que-
sto capitolo analizza l’evoluzione dalla strategia minimalista di Deng ai
progetti che accompagnano il “sogno cinese” di Xi, sottolineando il cam-
biamento del ruolo di Pechino, da Stato in via di sviluppo a grande po-
tenza in grado di immaginare e provare a realizzare un vasto progetto
di regionalizzazione basato sulla propria centralità, sui propri valori e le
proprie norme
Cogging torque reduction methods for internal permanent magnet motors: Review and comparison
No full textInternal permanent magnet synchronous machines are spreading in industrial production. High torque density and extended speed operation range are key issues in many fields of applications. Many methods and design guidelines for cogging torque reduction exist in literature and this paper compares them. To this aim, the different design guidelines are applied to a reference machine to assess their effectiveness. Computer FEA analysis are carried out for each case in order to compare the cogging torque reduction potential of the different techniques. Other side effects, such as b.e.m.f and torque quality will be taken into account. The paper contribution is to compare various techniques on a common ground (the reference machine) to identify the most effective ones. ©2010 IEEE
Design for Reliability: The Case of Fractional-Slot Surface Permanent-Magnet Machines
No full textSurface permanent-magnet machines are widely used in different applications, from industrial automation to home appliance and electrical traction. Among any possible machine topology, the fractional-slot surface permanent-magnet one has gained increasing importance, because of its high torque density, low cogging torque, extended flux weakening capability and high efficiency. In addition, fractional-slot machines are attractive for tooth concentrated windings, which allow some optimized manufacturing solutions such as modular stator tooth and high slot filling factor, which result in copper volume reduction; cost reduction, and lower stator parasitic resistances. The slot−pole combination is one of the most important design parameter and, as shown in this paper, it affects performances and the robustness of the machine with respect to the manufacturing imperfections. In the literature, slot−pole combinations are optimized at design phase by finite-element analysis relying on a healthy machine model. The original contribution of this paper is a design for reliability method that models manufacturing defects and includes them at design phase in the optimization process of slot−pole combinations. A method is presented that allows defining the optimal design parameters for maximum performances and robustness towards unavoidable imperfections caused by tolerances of the manufacturing process
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