Giovan Battista Pigna, Gli Heroici

Scomparso dagli interessi di letterati e studiosi per quasi cinque secoli, il trattato Gli Heroici di Giovan Battista Pigna torna ora in edizione critica, per le cure di Marco De Masi e Stefano Jossa, per rimettere in circolazione una riflessione sulla poesia narrativa e una modalità di costruzione dell'egemonia culturale che segnò il passaggio dallo scrittore di corte al segretario del principe ed ebbe un'influenza decisiva sulla formazione di Torquato Tasso

A point process approach for the classification of noisy calcium imaging data

We study noisy calcium imaging data, with a focus on the classification of spike traces. As raw traces obscure the true temporal structure of neuron’s activity, we performed a tuned filtering of the calcium concentration using two methods: a biophysical model and a kernel mapping. The former characterizes spike trains related to a particular triggering event, while the latter filters out the signal and refines the selection of the underlying neuronal response. Transitioning from traditional time series analysis to point process theory, the study explores spike-time distance metrics and point pattern prototypes to describe repeated observations. We assume that the analyzed neuron’s firing events, i.e. spike occurrences, are temporal point process events. In particular, the study aims to categorize 47 point patterns by depth, assuming the similarity of spike occurrences within specific depth categories. The results highlight the pivotal roles of depth and stimuli in discerning diverse temporal structures of neuron firing events, confirming the point process approach based on prototype analysis is largely useful in the classification of spike traces

Poly(lactic acid) (PLA)/micro-fibrillated cellulose (MFC) biocomposites for film blowing applications

Film blowing is one of the most widely used structuring processes to produce thin polymer films. During this process, unique morphologies are induced in polymer-filled composites by elongational flow. In this work, the effect of the presence of micro fibrillated cellulose (MFC) on the morphology and mechanical properties of poly (lactic acid) (PLA)/MFC biocomposites subjected to non-isothermal elongation flow in a melt spinning operation was evaluated to assess the filmability of the proposed formulations and the final morphology achieved during film blowing. The produced films were characterized to determine how the achieved morphology affected the thermal, optical, barrier, and mechanical properties of the films, paying particular attention on the improvements achieved thanks to the MFC addition

Shaping the emission directivity of single quantum dots in dielectric nanodisks exploiting Mie resonances

Manipulating the optical landscape of single quantum dots (QDs) is essential to increase the emitted photon output, enhancing their performance as chemical sensors and single-photon sources. Micro-optical structures are typically used for this task, with the drawback of a large size compared to the embedded single emitters. Nanophotonic architectures hold the promise to modify dramatically the emission properties of QDs, boosting light−matter interactions at the nanoscale, in ultracompact devices. Here, we investigate the interplay between gallium arsenide (GaAs) single QDs and aluminum gallium arsenide (AlGaAs) nanostructures, capitalizing on the Kerker condition for precise control of the QD emission directivity. An extensive analysis of the photo- luminescence spectra of several QDs embedded in nanodisks revealed a pronounced directivity enhancement due to the Kerker effect, confirmed by theoretical simulations, resulting in a 14-fold increase of emitted intensity. Angle-resolved spectroscopy experiments also proved that the integration of GaAs QDs within nanostructures determines a precise angled emission, offering a distinctive avenue for manipulating the spatial characteristics of emitted light by exploiting Mie resonances. This work contributes to the optimization of QD integration in nanostructures and suggests potential improvements for applications in optical communications

A comprehensive computational analysis of NR2F2/6 receptors for drug repurposing

Nuclear Receptors (ORFs) are a small family of transcription factors (15 members) playing a crucial role in regulating various physiological and developmental processes. Within this superfamily, NR2Fs, also known as Chicken Ovalbumin Upstream Promoter Transcription Factor (COUP-TF), is a family of nuclear orphan receptors, due to the lack of endogenous ligands. The NR2Fs are composed of three members: NR2F1 (COUP-TFI, EAR- 3), NR2F2 (COUP-TFII, ARP-1) and NR2F6 (COUP-TFIII, EAR-2). Due to the pivotal functions of NR2Fs in cell growth, they are regarded as promising candidates for the development of novel therapeutic targets in cancer treatment [1]. In the context of the PNRR project, "HEAL ITALIA", a comprehensive computational analysis was conducted on the X-ray crystal structures of the human ligand binding domain of NR2F2 (PDB ID: 3CJW) and the NR2F6 (PDB ID: 8C5L). To date, only compound CIA1 has been identified as an inhibitor of NR2F2 in prostate cancer cell lines (IC50 1.2-7.6 μM). To this aim, the ligand binding domain was mapped identifying potential binding sites, designated as site 1 and site 2. Followed by classic docking with CIA1, molecular dynamics (MD), Binding Pose Metadynamics (BPMD), and Molecular Mechanics-Generalized Born Surface Area continuum solvation (MM-GBSA) were conducted to assess the stability of the complexes NR2F2-CIA in the two sites. For NR2F6 no inhibitor has been identified in the literature. Potential hotspot binding sites were identified and their potential for drug use was predicted. Subsequently, the identified binding sites for NR2F2 and NR2F6 were then used to perform a virtual screening protocol involving pharmacophore models and docking studies on extensive libraries, such as Drugbank, FDA and commercial libraries for drug repurposing

Just Digital Public Service Design: Designers' role in shaping a fairer public sector digital transformation.

Negli ultimi trent’anni il processo di trasformazione digitale a livello globale ha imposto al settore pubblico di ottimizzare i suoi processi, migliorare i suoi servizi e, in generale, di performare meglio in termini di usabilità e accessibilità delle proprie piattaforme, seguendo la scia del settore privato e mirando al raggiungimento degli standard di qualità dello stesso. L’evoluzione del digitale ha fatto da cavallo di Troia per introdurre i designer all’interno della Pubblica Amministrazione, per supportare l’esigenza sempre più avvertita di innovazione e cavalcando l’onda dell’interesse verso l’applicazione del design thinking ai processi di progettazione delle politiche e sviluppo di servizi. A partire dai primi anni 2000, la proliferazione di Innovation Lab e la progressiva istituzionalizzazione di veri e propri team di progettazione, interni ed esterni, hanno fatto gradualmente emergere la distanza tra l’approccio orientato al mercato e l’approccio orientato al benessere pubblico e alla giustizia sociale. Ciò ha generato una fiducia sempre maggiore nell’applicazione del metodo scientifico all’ambito della gestione della cosa pubblica, facendo sorgere però contestualmente anche una legittima preoccupazione sull’evoluzione del rapporto tra democrazia e tecnocrazia. Negli ultimi anni i discorsi sul progresso illuminato e l’innovazione disruptive hanno perso gran parte della loro iniziale spinta entusiastica, poiché minati dai sempre più evidenti effetti concreti della transizione digitale sulla sostenibilità ambientale, la giustizia sociale e la crisi delle democrazie. Con il progetto di ricerca qui proposto è stata ricostruita l’evoluzione della disciplina del design dei servizi, dagli albori nel mondo dell’industria fino alla sua graduale applicazione al mondo dell’e-government. Sono state analizzate e destrutturate le principali narrative, i principali discorsi e i principali metadiscorsi dominanti sia in ambito commerciale che pubblico e sono stati individuati diversi fattori di limitazione che rendono non del tutto espresso ed esprimibile il valore trasformativo e innovativo del design dei servizi nell’ambito della trasformazione digitale del settore pubblico. Partendo dal caso studio del miglioramento dell’esperienza di studio universitario in carcere, è stato sviluppato e testato un framework di progettazione - definito antiframework - utile ad hackerare gli strumenti del service design tradizionale, in modo da renderli maggiormente riflessivi, politici, e per espanderne il potenziale di trasformazione sistemica e strutturale. L’antiframework lavora altresì sull’individuazione e il ridirezionamento dei fenomeni di discriminazione e diseguaglianza sistemica, di cui il designer, spesso in modo inconsapevole, permette la riproduzione all’interno dei prodotti, servizi, sistemi e istituzioni che progetta o contribuisce a sviluppare. Riconoscendo nel diritto, nella giustizia e nella democrazia i valori fondanti del design pubblico, la tesi si conclude proponendo un manifesto - definito antimanifesto - di principi generali e generativi, utili per formulare, analizzare criticamente, rivedere e integrare l’elenco di principi guida di ogni gruppo di lavoro che intende progettare servizi pubblici digitali - giusti - e che non vede il proprio lavoro come quello di un tecnocrate, ma più come quello di un avivocrate (Hudson, 2018) che sa affrontare l'incertezza ed esercitare la propria libertà di coscienza. Viene inoltre affrontato il tema della formazione di figure professionali specializzate nella progettazione di politiche e servizi pubblici, con l’indicazione di alcuni ambiti di conoscenza cross-disciplinari, indispensabili per espandere le conoscenze dei futuri designer e prepararli ad affrontare le sfide sistemiche e strutturali della contemporaneità, con una rinnovata postura etica e politica.Over the past three decades, the global digital transformation process has forced the public sector to optimize its processes, improve its services and, in general, perform better in terms of usability and accessibility of its platforms, following in the wake of the private sector and aiming to achieve its quality standards. The evolution of digital technologies has acted as a Trojan horse to introduce designers within public administration, to support the increasingly felt need for innovation and riding the wave of interest in the application of design thinking to policymaking and service delivery processes. Beginning in the early 2000s, the proliferation of Innovation Labs and the gradual institutionalization of full-fledged design teams, internal and external, have gradually bridged the gap between the market-oriented approach and the public welfare and social justice-oriented approach. This has generated increasing confidence in the application of the scientific method to the realm of public affairs management, while also simultaneously raising legitimate concern about the evolving relationship between democracy and technocracy. In recent years, discourses of enlightened progress and disruptive innovation have lost much of their initial enthusiastic momentum as they have been undermined by the increasingly evident concrete effects of the digital transition on environmental sustainability, social justice and the crisis of democracies. With the research project proposed here, the evolution of the discipline of service design was reconstructed, from its beginnings in the world of industry to its gradual application to the world of e-government. The main dominant narratives, discourses, and metadiscourses in both the commercial and public spheres were analyzed and deconstructed, and several limiting factors were identified that make the transformative and innovative value of service design in the digital transformation of the public sector not fully expressed and expressible. Building on the case study of improving the university prison experience, a design framework - termed the antiframework - was developed and tested for hacking traditional service design tools to make them more reflective, political, and to expand their potential for systemic and structural transformation. The antiframework also works on identifying and redirecting the phenomena of systemic discrimination and inequality, which the designer, often unconsciously, allows to be reproduced within the products, services, systems, and institutions he or she designs or helps to develop. Recognizing law, justice, and democracy as the founding values of public design, the thesis concludes by proposing a manifesto - referred to as an antimanifesto - of general and generative principles, useful for formulating, critically analyzing, revising, and supplementing the list of guiding principles of any team that intends to design - just - digital public services and that does not see its work as that of a technocrat, but more like that of an avivocrat (Hudson, 2018) who knows how to face uncertainty and exercise the freedom of conscience. The issue of training professionals who specialize in the design of public policies and services is also addressed, with the indication of some cross-disciplinary areas that are indispensable to expand the knowledge of future designers and prepare them to face the systemic and structural challenges of the contemporary world with a renewed ethical and political posture

Innovative Control and Energy Management of DC Microgrids with Hybrid Storage: Enabling E-Mobility and Hydrogen Energy Solutions

The present work is mainly divided into two major parts. The first part deals with the basic overview of MGs, advanced power converter topologies for ESSs integration with MGs, and three case studies of DC MGs aiming to power the e-mobility sector. Similarly, in the second part, HESS applications for EV electrification are presented using advanced control algorithms and market analysis of EV fast-charging products. The present work is structured into chapters organized as follows.Chapter One: presents a general overview of the DC MG structure and the current state of the art regarding the focus of the thesis (energy management system and controls). The chapter summarizes the general perspective and existing work in the field of EMS and control of DC MGs.Chapter Two: presents advanced control strategies for four-switch single inductor buck-boost converters (FSIBB) and FSIBB DC-DC interleaving converters advised for energy storage systems for e-mobility and MGs. A dual-loop non-linear control design is proposed to enhance voltage regulation, current control, and stability. Real-time performance is validated through simulation (Simulink, PLECS) and controller hardware-in-loop (C-HIL) testing, demonstrating the effectiveness of these converters and controllers in practical applications.In Chapter Three, a two-layer control system designed for efficient power sharing and stability in DC microgrids for EV charging, incorporating energy storage systems and bidirectional converters. The upper layer employs an improved droop control for load distribution, while a nonlinear barrier-based sliding mode control provides robust voltage and current tracking for converters. Real-time validation through hardware-in-loop (HIL) testing and MATLAB simulations confirm the effectiveness of the system in various load scenarios.In Chapter Four an advanced control strategy for a DC microgrid based on photovoltaic batteries is designed to power an electrolyzer-based hydrogen production system. Employing a three-phase interleaved topology and a cascaded hybrid non-linear controller, the chapter addresses efficient power sharing, maximum power extraction from PV, and robust voltage regulation. Stability and performance are confirmed through MATLAB simulations and real-time experimental testing, ensuring reliable power delivery for hydrogen generation.Chapter Five presents a neurofuzzy energy management system designed to integrate renewable sources (PV and fuel cells) with battery supercapacitor storage in microgrids to charge electric vehicles. The system ensures a balanced bidirectional power flow with the grid, adapting dynamically to variable load demands and generation levels. Through simulation testing, the approach demonstrates effective energy distribution, optimizing grid interaction by drawing or supplying power as needed to maintain stability in the microgrid.Chapter Six deals with managing and controlling a hybrid energy storage system (HESS) using a master-slave control strategy. A fuzzy rule-based algorithm optimizes power sharing, with the master control guiding a synergetic terminal slave controller for precise tracking. Stability is validated through Lyapunov analysis, and the proposed method is rigorously tested in MATLAB/Simulink under the World-wide Harmonized Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP), ensuring its effectiveness in real-world scenarios.In Chapter Seven work carried out during the industrial period is summarized. The technical aspects and workings of the different products, such as "OMHERO" and "PRY-CAM," are explained. A detailed study of electric vehicle charging systems and a benchmark market analysis of electric vehicle chargers is discussed, which can be used for further product development. Finally, real-time data of a domestic home load are considered to study the impact of EV wallbox and photovoltaics on energy communities

Il costituzionalismo in ostaggio dell’economia? Considerazioni a partire dalla ricchezza di Elon Musk

Elon Musk’s enormous economic and media power has been the subject of extensive public discussion for months, appearing across all forms of media, which attests to the significant role he now plays in shaping public opinion. In the 'Musk question,' control over modern technologies and wealth are inextricably linked: we are confronted with a power that extends beyond the economic realm into non-economic spheres—such as politics, security, and justice. Politicians and legal experts argue that the concentration of vast capital and technological power in the hands of a few undermines the foundations of pluralistic democracy. In defending freedoms and rights, are constitutions and the principles of constitutionalism enough? This analysis aims to show that, in the era of globalization, it is illusory to think that cultural, political, and socio-economic conflicts have been alleviated or that class differences have disappeared or diminishe

Derivative-based spatial mediation with INLA-SPDE

In many applied fields, it may be of interest to evaluate mediational mechanisms occurring in spatial domains. The approaches proposed so far in the literature to address this issue deal with areal data and often consider linear models. In this paper, we propose an approach to assess mediation in the presence of geostatistical data by combining the integrated nested Laplace approximation (INLA) with a derivative-based approach for mediation analysis, which allows one to estimate indirect effects also in the case of nonlinear models. We investigate the effect of ignoring spatial processes in the mediator and the outcome models through a simulation study, focusing also on the case of correlated processes. To show the usefulness of our approach, we also provided an ecological application