Structural Change, Elite Capitalism, and the Emergence of Labour Emancipation

This study argues that the decline of coercive labour institutions over the course of industrialization was partly driven by complementarity between physical capital and effective labour in manufacturing. Given the difficulty of extracting labour effort in care-intensive industrial tasks through monitoring and punishment, capital-owning elites ultimately chose to emancipate workers to induce their supply of effective labour and, thus, boost the return to physical capital. This hypothesis is empirically examined in the context of serf emancipation in nineteenth-century Prussia. Exploiting variation in proto-industrialization across Prussian counties, the analysis finds that, consistent with the proposed hypothesis, the initial abundance of elite-owned physical capital is associated with a higher pace of serf emancipation and lower redemption payments to manorial lords

Collage and Migration

Collage incorporates reflexive, participatory and embodied ways of thinking and producing qualitative data for academic social research; when integrated into research on migration experiences and policies, collage proves capable of questioning categories that underpin representational discourse surrounding migration studies. Collage is mainly used as a process of eliciting participants’ thoughts and experiences, can be used to reflect on the research process as visual reflective memos, can be embraced as a way to reimagine, represent, and critically reflect on the research process, to support a thematic analysis, and for educational purposes

Multi-ANN approach for forecasting joint hardness and process variability in the friction stir welding process of AA2024-T3

Any process exhibits a certain intrinsic variability that cannot be completely eliminated. For this reason, it could be very useful to be able to estimate and, even more, to forecast this variability inherent to the process. This research aims to propose a prediction approach able to provide the exact value and its confidence interval. The investigation is based on the use of artificial neural networks (ANN), an essential tool in machine learning, by leveraging their ability to train slightly differently each time. For this reason, it is referred to as a multi-ANN approach. By exploiting their capability of generating variable predictions, it becomes possible to estimate the variability of the process. In other words, the authors developed a new prediction algorithm that employs multiple ANNs in parallel and integrates statistics to estimate confidence intervals. The developed approach is applied to the prediction of the joint hardness values and trend in the friction stir welding (FSW) process demonstrating good reproducibility of the predicted results and the confidence interval, thus verifying the ability of the approach to simulate the inherent variability of the processes. Specifically, the forecasted results exhibit an average percentage error of a mere 0.07% with minimum and maximum values of 0.01% and 3.13%, respectively

Arthurian Stories and the Latin East: Traces and Re-Enactments

This contribution is likely to disappoint the reader for at least two reasons. The first is that the materials presented here are interim findings of research that is still in progress. My initial aim was to offer a geochronological sketch by collecting Arthurian names, stories, texts, manuscripts and people, and more generally to reflect on the structure and content of narrative traditions, with reference to four main contexts: the Crusader states, the Latin Empire of Constantinople, the Principality of Morea, the Aegean Sea islands and Cyprus. Unfortunately, data I was able to collect are heterogeneous, scattered across time and space, and not plentiful. In earnest, I tend to exclude the possibility of speaking of Eastern Mediterranean Arthuriana in the terms in which Hugo Buchthal and Jaroslav Folda felt about the notion of ‘Crusader art’ (a notion that is now debated, too). The second reason is that the object of this research is itself but a fragment of the broader panorama of the dissemination of French and Western literary culture in the Mediterranean (see, for instance Fabris, Göschl, and Schneider 2023). The theme has attracted increasing attention as the Mediterranean provides an ideal setting to test the ideas of decentered history and global in the local, as well as of the sea as an agent of mediation and connectivity (Abulafia 2011 and subsequent works). Historians have pointed out the need to go beyond the history of Mediterranean as the history of lands and cultures converging in it, considering Mediterranean history as opposed to histories in the Mediterranean (Horden and Purcell 2000 and 2020, and the debate they originated). However, it is doubtful whether and how the meager evidence of Arthurian stories circulating in the Latin East can contribute to the former and not simply be included in the latter. Hence the title keeps the relation loose: Arthurian stories and the Latin East. What is the point, then? Incomplete data, unsatisfactory evidence and fragmented cultural landscape need to somehow be dealt with eventually. The dedicatee of the present volume masterfully did that in his work on francophone Arthurian attestations in Ireland and Germany (respectively Busby 2017a, 2019 and 2021; for an overview 2017b), which provide formidable models. And even when the picture appears fragmentary and haphazard, the Matter of Britain and the Mediterranean – each of the two being a stage of the world and a world in itself – can act as powerful synchronisers and grant colours and life to it

L’espressione linguistica della sostituzione: uno studio sull’italiano tra sincronia e diacronia

Questo studio esamina la relazione di sostituzione in italiano, un fenomeno linguistico che ha lo scopo di collegare due alternative, la prima delle quali viene rifiutata o presentata come non valida e viene sostituita in favore della seconda, più corretta o pragmaticamente più rilevante. L’indagine considera la sostituzione come un fenomeno complesso che opera non solo a livello testuale e monologico, ma anche a livello dialogico e interazionale, adempiendo a molteplici funzioni comunicative. L’analisi si sviluppa lungo due dimensioni: una sincronica, basata sull’osservazione dell’italiano parlato contemporaneo mediante un approccio bottom-up, e una diacronica, che esamina un campione di testi scritti dal XIII al XX secolo attraverso un approccio top-down. L’analisi sincronica mira a identificare le principali strategie di sostituzione e le motivazioni che spingono i parlanti a sostituire un’alternativa con un’altra, mentre l’analisi diacronica traccia l’evoluzione delle marche di sostituzione prototipiche dell’italiano, evidenziando i fattori che hanno contribuito al loro mutamento semantico. L’integrazione di queste due prospettive dimostra come un approccio multidimensionale sia fondamentale per comprendere pienamente il fenomeno della sostituzione, dal momento che ciascuna delle due analisi fornisce un supporto interpretativo complementare all’altra.This study examines the relation of substitution in Italian, a linguistic phenomenon aimed at linking two alternatives, the first of which is rejected or presented as invalid and is substituted in favour of the second, which is more correct or pragmatically more relevant. The research considers substitution as a complex phenomenon that operates not only at the textual and monological level, but also at the dialogical and interactional level, fulfilling multiple communicative functions. The analysis is developed along two dimensions: a synchronic one, based on the observation of contemporary spoken Italian through a bottom-up approach, and a diachronic one, which examines a sample of texts written from the 13th to the 20th century through a top-down approach. The synchronic analysis aims to identify the main substitutive strategies and the motivations that lead speakers to substitute one alternative for another, while the diachronic analysis traces the evolution of the prototypical substitutive markers of Italian, highlighting the factors that have contributed to their semantic change. The integration of these two perspectives shows how a multidimensional approach is crucial for a full understanding of the substitution phenomenon, as each analysis provides complementary interpretative support

The impact of AI on discourse analysis: Challenges and opportunities

This special issue of the International Journal of Language Studies offers a new approach to AI in the context of discourse analysis and uses case studies, sample analyses and practical examples to show how AI can be integrated with quantitative and qualitative approaches. It encourages critical engagement with the topic and invites the reader to consider different viewpoints, evaluate evidence and reflect on the impact of AI, technology and discourse analysis in different contexts. For this reason, the volume is an important resource for discourse analysts or for teaching applied linguistics, corpus linguistics and more generally language studies using AI and other tools, as students will understand the importance of critical thinking when using AI. The contributions included address the challenges and opportunities posed by AI-generated texts and cover topics such as bias, misinformation and the need for human oversight. In addition, the volume explores innovative methods, tools and approaches to language teaching and learning. Their insights will converge in a multidisciplinary effort to devise and build advanced networks of knowledge to facilitate the interpretation of data in the field. With such an interdisciplinary perspective, the volume integrates findings from applied linguistics & discourse analysis, pedagogy, and computer science. It encourages critical analysis and reflection on the ethical considerations associated with AI. The arrangement of contributions has been designed to create a logical progression of ideas that build on previous discussions. For example, papers dealing with theoretical frameworks or fundamental concepts precede studies dealing with practical applications or case studies. Given the diverse topics covered in this special issue, the interdisciplinary perspectives and cross-cutting themes are emphasized. This includes the integration of findings from different disciplines (i.e., applied linguistics & discourse analysis, pedagogy, and computer science) to provide a holistic understanding of the topi

The Nature of Algorithms and Their Relation to Accountability

This work carries out an analysis of algorithmic accountability from a computational perspective, that is, it tackles the question of how accountability relates to algorithms with a focus on the nature of the latter. The aim is to provide an analysis of what algorithms are and show that their abstract character sets them apart from the concrete problems of bias that have ignited many debates on accountabilty in recent years. This does not mean that algorithms are not part of these problems, but that what is achieved with algorithms is just one aspect of an articulated process that includes so much more, both within and outside the context of computer science. There is a fundamental distinction between an algorithm that is only described on paper and one that is actually executed. Moreover, whether the executor is a person or a computer and, in the latter case, whether the programming follows a top-down or a bottom-up approach can make a difference. All these variations around the execution of an algorithm are crucial when it comes to any attempt at defining accountability in this context, so any relevant discourse needs to take them into account

Are non‐economic goals and financial performance friends or foes in hybrid ventures? A duality perspective on academic spin‐offs

Research Summary: This study draws on the behavioral theory of the firm and a duality perspective to investigate the impact of founders' focus on academic goals on the financial performance of academic spin-offs (ASOs)—a specific type of hybrid venture. We theorize that such relationship follows an inverse U-shaped curve and is moderated by the degree of academic ownership. These hypotheses are tested using a sample of 179 Italian ASOs. Our findings indicate that when academic ownership is low, the relationship displays an inverted U-shape. Moreover, as academic ownership increases, the relationship flattens and eventually shifts to a U-shape. These results challenge the prevailing notion of inherent conflicts between economic and non-economic logics in hybrid ventures, demonstrating when focusing on non-economic (e.g., academic) goals enhances financial outcomes. Managerial Summary: Academic spin-offs (ASOs) play a pivotal role in science commercialization and often pursue academic goals due to their academic origins. However, the extent to which founders' focus on academic goals benefits or hinders ASOs' financial performance has remained largely underexamined. In this study of 179 Italian ASOs, we investigate the relationship between a focus on academic goals and firm performance. Our findings reveal that at lower levels of academic ownership, a moderate focus on academic goals is optimal for ASOs' financial performance. Conversely, at higher levels of academic ownership, either a low or high focus on academic goals proves optimal for financial performance. These insights can help practitioners improve ASO performance by aligning goal and ownership structures

Abnormally slow dynamics in occipital cortex of depression

Aim: Major depressive disorder (MDD) is characterized by altered activity in various higher-order regions like the anterior cingulate and prefrontal cortex. While some findings also show changes in lower-order sensory regions like the occipital cortex in MDD, the latter's exact neural and temporal, e.g., dynamic characterization and symptom severity remains yet unclear. Methods: We conducted resting state fMRI in MDD (N = 49) and healthy controls to investigate the global activity representation of the brain's spontaneous activity in occipital cortex including lower-order (V1) and higher-order (hMT+) regions in the hierarchy of the visual cortex. We further explored (i) these regions' functional connectivity to higher-order prefrontal and subcortical regions, (ii) global signal correlation differences between MDD and controls in different frequency bands, and (iii) their power spectrum's correlation (using median frequency/MF) with symptom severity. Results: Our findings in MDD show: (i) abnormally high functional connectivity of the occipital cortex to both subcortical and higher-order cortical regions; (ii) occipital global signal correlation is reduced mainly in the faster infraslow frequency range (slow 3: 0.073 to 0.198 Hz) as distinguished from the slower ones (slow 5 and 4: 0.01 to 0.027 Hz, and 0.027 to 0.073 Hz); (iii) the reduced neural dynamics in occipital cortex (MF) correlate with the severity of both overall depressive symptoms and psychomotor retardation scores. Conclusions: MDD shows reduced global activity with abnormally slow neural dynamics in occipital cortex that is functionally connected with higher-order regions like the anterior cingulate cortex. The slow dynamics in occipital cortex relates to overall symptom severity and psychomotor retardation.Aim: Major depressive disorder (MDD) is characterized by altered activity in various higher-order regions like the anterior cingulate and prefrontal cortex. While some findings also show changes in lower-order sensory regions like the occipital cortex in MDD, the latter's exact neural and temporal, e.g., dynamic characterization and symptom severity remains yet unclear. Methods: We conducted resting state fMRI in MDD (N = 49) and healthy controls to investigate the global activity representation of the brain's spontaneous activity in occipital cortex including lower-order (V1) and higher-order (hMT+) regions in the hierarchy of the visual cortex. We further explored (i) these regions' functional connectivity to higher-order prefrontal and subcortical regions, (ii) global signal correlation differences between MDD and controls in different frequency bands, and (iii) their power spectrum's correlation (using median frequency/MF) with symptom severity. Results: Our findings in MDD show: (..