The sound of actions: a mismatch negativity (MMN) study

The ability to derive the intentions of others from the sound produced by their actions is quintessential to effective social behaviour. Many neuroscientists believe that this ability depends on the brain’s mirror-neuron system, which provides a direct link between action and perception. Precisely how intentions can be inferred through actionperception, however, has provoked much debate. One challenge in inferring the cause of a perceived action, is the fact that the problem is ill-posed, because identical movements can be made to perform different actions with different goals. Here, we show how, in the auditory modality, identification of most likely cause of a human action-related sound is highly subject to inferences. Using multi-channel, event-related potentials (ERPs), we determined the temporal dynamics of the ability to decipher action sounds by recording the mismatch negativity (MMN) generated in response to multi-deviant stimuli consisting of 3 different human action-related sounds (click of the tongue, hand clapping, and footsteps) and a non-human action-related sound (water drop). Subjects listened to the original sound-stimulus and to sounds obtained by altering 1 (low degree of disguise) or more complex (high degree of disguise) acoustic parameters of the original sound

Modern attitudes towards vernacular architecture. Works by the Italians Luigi Angelini, Alberto Alpago Novello, Ottavio Cabiati, Alessandro Minali

[EN] Among the many architects practicing between the two world wars, some looked at the so-called vernacular architecture - then referred to as traditional or local, primitive, and spontaneous - as a model of genuine functionality. For some of them, its revival also stands for a solid and reliable solution for preserving the continuity between past and present, local communities and their traditions, society and its generations, a place, and its materials. Architectural historians have widely explored the theme, highlighting figures, subjects, and currents. Nevertheless, investigation of the role of history and historic culture is still far from exhausted, not only for Modernists but also among the Avantgardes and the International Style too. As a response to this conference’s topics, some of the architects working in and around Milan the 20th century focused on the relationships between tradition and modernity.  Here we look at some of their works to open a discussion on different scales: the landscape, the town, the building. We shall examine their proposals for a functionalist and modern design concept in traditional terms: the Mediterranean colonial house will illustrate the research by Alberto Alpago Novello and Ottavio Cabiati on local architecture; the modern pre-Alpine house proposed by the engineer Luigi Angelini for the Bergamo valleys and the building materials chosen by the architect Alessandro Minali show their respect for each place. The conclusions will – one hopes - lead to talking about typological and constructive building features, materials, and traditional techniques as a tool for preservation.Grisoni, M. (2022). Modern attitudes towards vernacular architecture. Works by the Italians Luigi Angelini, Alberto Alpago Novello, Ottavio Cabiati, Alessandro Minali. Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València. 103-110. https://doi.org/10.4995/HERITAGE2022.2022.1568710311

Galactic Archaeology in the Era of Large Surveys

In this Thesis, I study the formation and chemical evolution of the Milky Way by means of new and detailed chemical evolution models in the light of the most recent data from Galactic surveys and missions. Indeed, we are in a golden era for Galactic Archaeology thanks to the advent of several Galactic spectroscopic surveys and missions. In fact, in recent years, many spectroscopic surveys and projects have been developed in order to study the formation and evolution of our Galaxy. Moreover, Gaia mission is enhancing the value of these surveys. In this way, detailed stellar abundances of stars in the Milky Way can be measured. Then, by means of detailed chemical evolution models it is possible to predict the chemical abundances expected in the stars of each Galactic component: the halo, the thick disc and thin discs, and the bulge. From the comparison between data and model predictions, it is possible to reconstruct the history of star formation occurred in each component, and thus the history of formation and evolution of the entire Galaxy, to which this Thesis is devoted. In Chapter 1, I give a general introduction about the Milky Way and its main Galactic components, and then I present the goal and the structure of this Thesis. In Chapter 2, I describe in details the method used in this work, i.e. Galactic chemical evolution models with the fundamental ingredients and complete equations of chemical evolution. In successive Chapters, I show the original results of my work. In particular, in Chapter 3, I present the chemical evolution models that I developed for the Galactic thick and thin discs in the solar neighbourhood, both a revised two-infall model and the parallel one. In Chapter 4, I extend the study also to the other Galactocentric distances and explore abundance gradients along the Galactic thin disc, investigating the main physical processes affecting them. In Chapter 5, I present the chemical evolution models implemented for the Galactic bulge and discuss the origin of different stellar populations in this Galactic component from chemical abundances. In Chapter 6 and 7, I apply the reference models developed for the Galactic discs and bulge to study the chemical evolution from lithium to europium, respectively. Finally, in Chapter 8, I summarize the main conclusions of this Thesis and outline future prospects arising from them

The struggle for Stone-dry walling: the ambition to protect both processes and products

[EN] Quoting from the inscription into the Intangible Cultural Heritage List (2018), the art of dry-stone walling concerns “the know-how” related to making stone constructions that explains the interest towards the product process as well as the product itself. The protection of the ability in stones selection and their placement, without mortar or dry soil at most, has moved the attention from walls to walling too. As a result, the idea of authenticity should be rediscussed to preserve not only some existing monuments and amazing landscape, but a living heritage and a sustainable land use. A risk occurs in some coastal areas, both maritime or front lake, and in the valleys, of the Alps or the Apennines. These places are the most sensitive to residential and receptive exploitation; as a result, an aesthetic landscape perception is taking advantage against its structural conception and the authentic art construction for dwelling (buildings), farming (terraced arrangements) or husbandry (cow-walls). The awareness of the role of dry building for the consolidation of the slopes, the protection of the mountain and the harmonious relationship between environments and species the inscription would preserve, is misunderstood. In Italy some evident ambiguities are occurring into practice and local behaviours. Although the inscription has invited preservation program, the governance of the art of terraced arrangement seems often reduced to a picturesque disposal; misunderstood if not betrayed in its authenticity both as a product and as a process. Some case studies are proposed to point out this slipped issue, considering the Lake of Como as an elective observation area. By the presentation of some real examples, both virtuous and critical, a discussion and comparison with other contexts, both national and international, should eventually be favoured.Grisoni, M. (2022). The struggle for Stone-dry walling: the ambition to protect both processes and products. Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València. 737-744. https://doi.org/10.4995/HERITAGE2022.2022.1526473774

Predictions built upon belongings

Peer Reviewe

MICADO: Models of Interactive Constraints for the Assembling of 1D Deformable Objects

This paper introduces a set of Lagrangian constraints, allowing most needed interaction and combinations of one-dimensional deformable elements for creating complex structures. The proposed tools can potentially be used with a large set of available 1D-models. All constraints formulation are compatible with linear, displacement-based, integration schemes. The proposed constraints allow for real-time complex structure simulation, and also novel interactions between simulated objects. Various examples are provided, illustrating the benefit of the proposed numerical tools