Psychological Functions of Semiotic Borders in Sense-Making:Liminality of Narrative Processes

In this paper we discuss the semiotic functions of the psychological borders that structure the flow of narrative processes. Each narration is always a contextual, situated and contingent process of sensemaking, made possible by the creation of borders, such as dynamic semiotic devices that are capable of connecting the past and the future, the inside and the outside, and the me with the non-me. Borders enable us to narratively construct one’s own experiences using three inherent processes: contextualization, intersubjective positioning and setting of pertinence. The narrative process – as a subjective articulation of signs in a contingent social context – involves several functions of semiotic borders: separation, differentiation, distinction-making, connection, articulation and relation-enabling. The relevant psychological aspect highlighted here is that a border is a semiotic device which is required for both maintaining stability and inducing transformation at the same time. The peculiar dynamics and the semiotic structure of borders generate a liminal space, which is characterized by instability, by a blurred space-time distinction and by ambiguities in the semantic and syntactic processes of sensemaking. The psychological processes that occur in liminal space are strongly affectively loaded, yet it is exactly the setting and activation of liminality processes that lead to novelty and creativity and enable the creation of new narrative forms

Layered patterns in reaction-diffusion models with Perona-Malik diffusions

In this paper we deal with a reaction-diffusion equation in a bounded interval of the real line with a nonlinear diffusion of Perona-Malik's type and a balanced bistable reaction term. Under very general assumptions, we study the persistence of layered solutions, showing that it strongly depends on the behavior of the reaction term close to the stable equilibria $\pm1$, described by a parameter $\theta>1$. If $\theta\in(1,2)$, we prove existence of steady states oscillating (and touching) $\pm1$, called $compactons$, while in the case $\theta=2$ we prove the presence of $metastable$ $solutions$, namely solutions with a transition layer structure which is maintained for an exponentially long time. Finally, for $\theta>2$, solutions with an unstable transition layer structure persist only for an algebraically long time.Comment: 40 pages,7 figure

Dal lavoro parasubordinato al lavoro “a progetto” = From parasubordinate work to project work. WP C.S.D.L.E. "Massimo D'Antona" .IT - 9/2003

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Motorway Speed Management in Southern Italy

AbstractComparing operating speed (V85) with the theoretical design speeds makes many of the assessments fundamental to correct design more effective. In technical literature various models for estimatingV85 are present but they cannot be extended to motorways without risking substantial approximation. This study proposes a model for estimating V85 on motorways. In addition, it proposes a second model making it possible to estimate free flow speed (FFS) in various traffic conditions. This could be very useful for Level of Service studies on motorways

Insufficient control of blood pressure and incident diabetes

OBJECTIVE: Incidence of type 2 diabetes might be associated with preexisting hypertension. There is no information on whether incident diabetes is predicted by blood pressure control. We evaluated the hazard of diabetes in relation to blood pressure control in treated hypertensive patients. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Nondiabetic, otherwise healthy, hypertensive patients (N = 1,754, mean +/- SD age 52 +/- 11 years, 43% women) participated in a network over 3.4 +/- 1 years of follow-up. Blood pressure was considered uncontrolled if systolic was >or=140 mmHg and/or diastolic was >or=90 mmHg at the last outpatient visit. Diabetes was defined according to American Diabetes Association guidelines. RESULTS: Uncontrolled blood pressure despite antihypertensive treatment was found in 712 patients (41%). At baseline, patients with uncontrolledblood pressure were slightly younger than patients with controlled blood pressure (51 +/- 11 vs. 53 +/- 12 years, P < 0.001), with no differences in sex distribution, BMI, duration of hypertension, baseline blood pressure, fasting glucose, serum creatinine and potassium, lipid profile, or prevalence of metabolic syndrome. During follow-up, 109 subjects developed diabetes. Incidence of diabetes was significantly higher in patients with uncontrolled (8%) than in those with controlled blood pressure (4%, odds ratio 2.08, P < 0.0001). In Cox regression analysis controlling for baseline systolic blood pressure and BMI, family history of diabetes, and physical activity, uncontrolled blood pressure doubled the risk of incident diabetes (hazard ratio [HR] 2.10, P < 0.001), independently of significant effects of age (HR 1.02 per year, P = 0.03) and baseline fasting glucose (HR 1.10 per mg/dl, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In a large sample of treated nondiabetic hypertensive subjects, uncontrolled blood pressure is associated with twofold increased risk of incident diabetes independently of age, BMI, baseline blood pressure, or fasting glucose

Chapter Valori e tecniche in tema di disciplina dei poteri datoriali

The article deals with the controversial topic of the limits in which the immanent "values" in the legal system and especially in the Italian Constitution can affect the operations of interpretation of the norms of positive law. The thesis is that it is not allowed to use a hierarchy of values dictated by the ideological heritage of the interpreter, but only to draw inspiration from the graduation and mediation of interests emerging from the positive legal order, albeit by resorting to the instrument of interpretation in accordance with the Italian Constitution and the European union law