49 research outputs found
Mapping sustainable development in a capability perspective
The importance of the notion of sustainable development has been advocated, among others, by Amartya Sen. In Senâs view it is necessary to depart from the general strategy of defining sustainable development only in terms of fulfilment of needs and to use the broader perspective of enhancing human freedoms on a sustainable basis. The ultimate goal of this paper is to outline a possible operative map of sustainable development as intended in the capability approach. Our proposed operative outline concentrates on the role of instrumental freedoms and institutions, and it is based on the traditional themes â economic, environmental and social â of sustainability. For each considered theme we select a set of variables and frame them in the driving forces, response and state variables framework. State variables represent constitutive freedoms, the achieved functionings chosen from the capability set. Their variations are produced by driving forces variables. The latter are, in turn, influenced by response variables as triggered by institutional efficiency and effectiveness, upheld by instrumental freedoms. We eventually map each set of variables in order to point out how instrumental freedoms and institutions influence sustainable human development.capabilities, institutions, instrumental freedoms, sustainable development
Modelling sustainable human development in a capability perspective
In this paper we model sustainable human development as intended in Sen's capability approach in a system dynamic framework. Our purpose is to verify the variations over time of some achieved functionings, due to structural dynamics and to variations of the institutional setting and instrumental freedoms (IF Vortex). The model is composed of two sections. The 'Left Side' one points out the 'demand' for functionings in an ideal world situation. The real world one, on the 'Right Side' indicates the 'supply' of functionings that the socio-economic system is able to provide individuals with. The general model, specifically tailored for Italy, can be simulated over desired time horizons: for each time period, we carry out a comparison between ideal world and real world functionings. On the basis of their distances, the model simulates some responses of decision makers. These responses, in turn influenced by institutions and instrumental freedoms, ultimately affect the dynamics of real world functionings, i.e. of sustainable human development.Functionings, Capabilities, Institutions, Instrumental Freedoms, Sustainable Human Development
A markov-model-based framework for supporting real-time generation of synthetic memory references effectively and efficiently
Driven by several real-life case studies and in-lab developments,
synthetic memory reference generation has a
long tradition in computer science research. The goal is
that of reproducing the running of an arbitrary program,
whose generated traces can later be used for simulations
and experiments. In this paper we investigate this research
context and provide principles and algorithms of a
Markov-Model-based framework for supporting real-time
generation of synthetic memory references effectively and
efficiently. Specifically, our approach is based on a novel
Machine Learning algorithm we called Hierarchical Hidden/
non Hidden Markov Model (HHnHMM). Experimental
results conclude this paper
Operationalising Senian capability approach by modelling human development
Abstract: In this paper we model sustainable human development as intended in Senâs capability approach in a system dynamic framework. Our purpose is to verify the variations over time of some achieved functionings, due to structural dynamics and to variations of the institutional setting and instrumental freedoms (IF Vortex). The model is composed of two sections. The âLeft Sideâ one points out the âdemandâ for functionings in an ideal world situation. The real world one, on the âRight Sideâ indicates the âsupplyâ of functionings that the socio-economic system is able to provide individuals with. The general model, specifically tailored for Italy, can be simulated over desired time horizons: for each time period, we carry out a comparison between ideal world and real world functionings. On the basis of their distances, the model simulates some responses of decision makers. These responses, in turn influenced by institutions and instrumental freedoms, ultimately affect the dynamics of real world functionings, i.e. of sustainable human development.Capabilities; Instrumental Freedoms; Sustainable Human Development
Operationalising Senian capability approach by modelling human development
Abstract: In this paper we model sustainable human development as intended in
Senâs capability approach in a system dynamic framework. Our purpose is to
verify the variations over time of some achieved functionings, due to structural
dynamics and to variations of the institutional setting and instrumental freedoms
(IF Vortex).
The model is composed of two sections. The âLeft Sideâ one points out the
âdemandâ for functionings in an ideal world situation. The real world one, on the
âRight Sideâ indicates the âsupplyâ of functionings that the socio-economic
system is able to provide individuals with.
The general model, specifically tailored for Italy, can be simulated over desired
time horizons: for each time period, we carry out a comparison between ideal
world and real world functionings. On the basis of their distances, the model
simulates some responses of decision makers. These responses, in turn
influenced by institutions and instrumental freedoms, ultimately affect the
dynamics of real world functionings, i.e. of sustainable human development
Operationalising Senian capability approach by modelling human development
Abstract: In this paper we model sustainable human development as intended in
Senâs capability approach in a system dynamic framework. Our purpose is to
verify the variations over time of some achieved functionings, due to structural
dynamics and to variations of the institutional setting and instrumental freedoms
(IF Vortex).
The model is composed of two sections. The âLeft Sideâ one points out the
âdemandâ for functionings in an ideal world situation. The real world one, on the
âRight Sideâ indicates the âsupplyâ of functionings that the socio-economic
system is able to provide individuals with.
The general model, specifically tailored for Italy, can be simulated over desired
time horizons: for each time period, we carry out a comparison between ideal
world and real world functionings. On the basis of their distances, the model
simulates some responses of decision makers. These responses, in turn
influenced by institutions and instrumental freedoms, ultimately affect the
dynamics of real world functionings, i.e. of sustainable human development
Aluminium blunts the proliferative response and increases apoptosis of cultured human cells: putative relationship to alzheimer's disease
Aluminium (Al) has been investigated as a neurotoxic substance. Al ranks among the potential environmental risk factors for Alzheimer's disease (AD).
Epidemiological studies tested the relationship between Al in drinking water and AD, showing a significant correlation between elevated levels of monomeric
Al in water and AD, although data to date remain inconclusive with respect to total Al. The aim of this study was to test whether or not Al exacerbates cellular
toxicity mediated by the amyloid β (Aβ) peptide. We evaluated the role of Al in modulating programmed cell death (apoptosis) in human cell cultures. We used
the osteosarcoma cell line monolayer (SaOs-2) to demonstrate that treatment of SaOs-2 cultures with the Aβ peptide mid-fragment (25 to 35) at nano M, followed by
co-incubation with physiological concentrations of aluminium chloride, which release monomeric Al in solution, led to marked expression of caspase 3, but not caspase
9, key markers of the apoptotic process. The same experimental conditions were shown to blunt significantly the proliferative response of normal human peripheral blood
mononuclear cells (PBMC) to phytohemagglutinin (PHA) stimulation. Our observations support the hypothesis that Al significantly impairs certain cellular immune responses,
and confirm that Al-mediated cell toxicity may play an important role in AD
Physiologic modulation of natural killer cell activity as an index of Alzheimer's disease progression
Patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) are characterized by an altered sensitivity to cortisol-mediated modulation of circulating
lymphocytes. Longitudinal studies are needed to address the clinical applicability of these abnormalities as prognostic factors. Therefore, we
designed a longitudinal study to address the clinical applicability of physiologic modulation of Natural Killer (NK) cell activity as a
prognostic factor in AD. NK activity was assessed as baseline measurement and in response to modulation by cortisol at 10-6M. To verify
the immunophysiological integrity of the NK cell population, we tested augmentation of NK cytotoxicity by human recombinant interleukin
(IL)-2 (100 IU/ml) as control. The response to modulation by cortisol or by IL-2 was significantly greater in patients with AD. Based on
change in the Mini-Mental State score at entry and at 18 months, patients with AD could be assigned to a âfast progressionâ (Î > 2 points) or
to a âslow progressionâ group (Π⤠2 points). The change in the response of NK cytotoxic activity to cortisol, and the strength of the
association of this parameter with circulating activated T cells in time was greater in patients with Fast Progression vs. Slow Progression AD.
These results suggest that changes in the response of NK cells to negative (e.g., cortisol) or positive modifiers (e.g., IL-2) follow progression
of AD
Neuroendocrine immunity in patients with Alzheimer's disease: toward translational epigenetics
The emerging domain of epigenetics in molecular medicine finds application for a variety of patient populations. Here, we present fundamental
neuroendocrine immune evidence obtained in patients with senile dementia of the Alzheimer's type (sDAT), and discuss the implications of these
data from the viewpoint of translational epigenetics of Alzheimer's disease. We followed 18 subjects with mild sDAT treated with acetylcholinesterase
inhibitors, and 10 control subjects matched for age in a repeated measure design every six months for 18 months. We monitored psychosocial profile
(Mini-Mental State Examination, Functional Assessment Staging, Independence in Activities of Daily Living, Depression, Profile of Moods States)
in parallel to immunophenotypic parameters of T cell subpopulations by flow cytometry. Based on change in the mini-mental state score at entry and
at 18 months, patients with sDAT were assigned to a âfast progressionâ (delta greater than 2 points) or to a âslow progressionâ group (delta less than
or equal to 2 points). The change in circulating activated T cells (CD3+Dr+) with time in patients with sDAT was significantly inversely correlated with
the change in time in natural killer (NK) cytotoxic activity to cortisol modulation in these patients, which was greater in patients with fast progression,
compared to slow progression sDAT. These data indicate underlying neuroendocrine immune processes during progression of sDAT. Our observations suggest
that psychoimmune measures such as those we have monitored in this study provide relevant information about the evolving physiological modulation in
patients with sDAT during progression of Alzheimer's disease, and point to new or improved translational epigenetic treatment interventions
An Effective and Efficient Genetic-Fuzzy Algorithm for Supporting Advanced Human-Machine Interfaces in Big Data Settings
In this paper we describe a novel algorithm, inspired by the mirror neuron discovery,
to support automatic learning oriented to advanced man-machine interfaces. The algorithm
introduces several points of innovation, based on complex metrics of similarity that involve different
characteristics of the entire learning process. In more detail, the proposed approach deals with
an humanoid robot algorithm suited for automatic vocalization acquisition from a human tutor.
The learned vocalization can be used to multi-modal reproduction of speech, as the articulatory and
acoustic parameters that compose the vocalization database can be used to synthesize unrestricted
speech utterances and reproduce the articulatory and facial movements of the humanoid talking
face automatically synchronized. The algorithm uses fuzzy articulatory rules, which describe
transitions between phonemes derived from the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA), to allow
simpler adaptation to different languages, and genetic optimization of the membership degrees.
Large experimental evaluation and analysis of the proposed algorithm on synthetic and real data
sets confirms the benefits of our proposal. Indeed, experimental results show that the vocalization
acquired respects the basic phonetic rules of Italian languages and that subjective results show
the effectiveness of multi-modal speech production with automatic synchronization between facial
movements and speech emissions. The algorithm has been applied to a virtual speaking face but it
may also be used in mechanical vocalization systems as well