An enhanced model for Rosenkranz’s logic of justification

Rosenkranz (2021) devised two bimodal epistemic logics: an idealized one and a realistic one. The former is shown to be sound with respect to a class of neighborhood frames called i-frames. Rosenkranz designed a specific i-frame able to invalidate a series of undesired formulas, proving that these are not theorems of the idealized logic. Nonetheless, an unwanted formula and an unwanted rule of inference are not invalidated. Invalidating the former guarantees the distinction between the two modal operators characteristic of the logic, while invalidating the latter is crucial in order to deal with the problem of logical omniscience. In this paper, I present an i-frame able to invalidate all the undesired formulas already invalidated by Rosenkranz, together with the missing formula and rule of inference

L'ontologia della logica immaginaria. Aristotele e Vasil'ev a confronto

The aim of this paper is to show how the invention of imaginary logic by Nikolaj A. Vasil’ev, forerunner of various logical and metaphysical theories appeared in the 20th century, is grounded on a revaluation of Aristotelian ontology. I shall introduce the reason why Aristotle believes that the study of the principle of contradiction is part of ontology (§ 2); I shall explain why Vasil’ev considers the law of contradiction an empirical law, and not a logical one (§ 3.1). I will show his conception of contradiction (§ 3.2) and I will discuss how he believes that it’s possible to renounce this law; (§ 3.3). I shall then explain the fundamental features of imaginary logic (§ 4.1 and § 4.2); and, finally I shall claim how, in spite of a convergence from the logical point of view (§ 5.1), the incompatibility of the two authors takes place on an ontological level (§ 5.2). In order to do so, I shall implement the analysis of the Aristotelian syllogistic conducted by the Polish logician and philosopher Jan Łukasiewicz, together with a crucial distinction between two concepts: the one of ‘law’ and the one of ‘principle’

The most luminous AGN do not produce the majority of the detected stellar-mass black hole binary mergers in the local Universe

Despite the increasing number of Gravitational Wave (GW) detections, the astrophysical origin of Binary Black Hole (BBH) mergers remains elusive. A promising formation channel for BBHs is inside accretion discs around supermassive black holes, that power Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN). In this paper, we test for the first time the spatial correlation between observed GW events and AGN. To this end, we assemble all sky catalogues with 1,412 (242) AGN with a bolometric luminosity greater than $10^{45.5} {\rm erg\ s}^{-1}$ ($10^{46}\,{\rm erg\,s}^{-1}$) with spectroscopic redshift of $z\leq0.3$ from the Milliquas catalogue, version 7.7b. These AGN are cross-matched with localisation volumes of BBH mergers observed in the same redshift range by the LIGO and Virgo interferometers during their first three observing runs. We find that the fraction of the detected mergers originated in AGN brighter than $10^{45.5}\,{\rm erg\,s}^{-1}$ ($10^{46}\,{\rm erg\,s}^{-1}$) cannot be higher than $0.49$ ($0.17$) at a 95 per cent credibility level. Our upper limits imply a limited BBH merger production efficiency of the brightest AGN, while most or all GW events may still come from lower luminosity ones. Alternatively, the AGN formation path for merging stellar-mass BBHs may be actually overall subdominant in the local Universe. To our knowledge, ours are the first observational constraints on the fractional contribution of the AGN channel to the observed BBH mergers.Comment: 11 pages, 5 figures, 2 table

How real will the metaverse be? Exploring the spatial impact of virtual worlds

Published online: 07 Jun 2023In this paper, we perform a preliminary analysis of the technologies, firms and industries that may be affected by the possible futures of the metaverse, attempting to derive some hypotheses on the spatial effects of this process. We distinguish between two possible evolutive scenarios – the ‘metaverse shaped by reality view’ and the ‘metaverse shaping reality view’ – and factors affecting them, deriving implications for public policy planning. The first scenario presents relatively traditional core policy challenges: ensuring homogeneous availability of network infrastructures as well as the skills indispensable to catch the new technological opportunities at the local level, accompanying the reallocation of factors of production associated to disruption and addressing inequalities. In the second, the main challenge is more radical: to ensure that desirable features are incorporated in the emerging virtual worlds from the start

Position statement on the European commission’s call for evidence for an impact assessment on standard-essential patents

On 14th February 2022, the European Commission published a ‘Call for evidence for an impact assessment’ (Call for Evidence) and Public Consultation related to a new framework for standard essential patents (SEPs). The Florence School of Regulation: Area Communications & Media (FSR C&M) of the European University Institute (EUI) is thankful for the opportunity to provide its feedback. Our team of researchers has significant research, policy and training experience in the areas of telecommunications regulation, standardisation and EU competition policy. In this paper, we focus on four specific points raised by the Call for Evidence: 1) the necessity and proportionalityof any SEP licensing policy measure; 2) the measures that increase the transparency of the SEP landscape; 3) the optimal level of licensing in the production chain; 4) the alternative dispute resolution mechanisms for Fair, Reasonable and Non-Discriminatory (FRAND) licenses. Our contribution aims to be a catalyst for the debate about the appropriate SEP licensing framework

Role of TGF-\u3b21/miR-382-5p/SOD2 axis in the induction of oxidative stress in CD34+ cells from primary myelofibrosis

Primary myelofibrosis (PMF) is a myeloproliferative neoplasm characterized by an excessive production of pro-inflammatory cytokines resulting in chronic inflammation and genomic instability. Besides the driver mutations in JAK2, MPL, and CALR genes, the deregulation of miRNA expression may also contribute to the pathogenesis of PMF. To this end, we recently reported the upregulation of miR-382-5p in PMF CD34+ cells. In order to unveil the mechanistic details of the role of miR-382-5p in pathogenesis of PMF, we performed gene expression profiling of CD34+ cells overexpressing miR-382-5p. Among the downregulated genes, we identified superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2), which is a predicted target of miR-382-5p. Subsequently, we confirmed miR-382-5p/SOD2 interaction by luciferase assay and we showed that miR-382-5p overexpression in CD34+ cells causes the decrease in SOD2 activity leading to reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation and oxidative DNA damage. In addition, our data indicate that inhibition of miR-382-5p in PMF CD34+ cells restores SOD2 function, induces ROS disposal, and reduces DNA oxidation. Since the pro-inflammatory cytokine transforming growth factor-\u3b21 (TGF-\u3b21) is a key player in PMF pathogenesis, we further investigated the effect of TGF-\u3b21 on ROS and miR-382-5p levels. Our data showed that TGF-\u3b21 treatment enhances miR-382-5p expression and reduces SOD2 activity leading to ROS accumulation. Finally, inhibition of TGF-\u3b21 signaling in PMF CD34+ cells by galunisertib significantly reduced miR-382-5p expression and ROS accumulation and restored SOD2 activity. As a whole, this study reports that TGF-\u3b21/miR-382-5p/SOD2 axis deregulation in PMF cells is linked to ROS overproduction that may contribute to enhanced oxidative stress and inflammation. Our results suggest that galunisertib may represent an effective drug reducing abnormal oxidative stress induced by TGF-\u3b21 in PMF patients. Database linking: GEO: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/geo/query/acc.cgi?acc=GSE103464

Position statement on the Joint ITA–NIST–USPTO collaboration initiative regarding standards : notice of public listening and request for comments

On 11th September 2023, the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), the International Trade Administration (ITA), and the National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST) called for stakeholder input on the current state of U.S. firm participation in standard-setting, and the ability of U.S. industry to readily adopt standards to grow and compete, especially as they relate to the standardisation of critical and emerging technologies. The Centre for a Digital Society (CDS) of the European University Institute (EUI) is thankful for the opportunity to offer its comments. We would like to express our view on the legislative proposal of the European Commission (EC) for a Regulation on Standard Essential Patents (hereinafter, the Regulation) as it relates to question no. 1 of the Request for Comments on the impact of foreign IPR policies on US leadership and participation in international standard setting. Furthermore, concerning question no. 9 on possible standard-essential patents (SEP) transparency measures, we highlight the possibility of improving the USPTO patent register already in place

Position statement on the European Commission’s proposal for a SEPs regulation

On 27th April 2023, the European Commission published a proposal for a Regulation on Standard Essential Patents (hereinafter, SEPs Regulation) and allowed the public to provide feedback. The Centre for a Digital Society (CDS) of the European University Institute (EUI) is thankful for the opportunity to offer its comments and make suggestions on the proposed Regulation. Our team of researchers has significant research, policy and training experience in the areas of intellectual property, telecommunications regulation, standardisation and EU competition policy. In this Position Statement, we caution against adopting the proposed SEPs Regulation in its current form and suggest adopting guidance under Arts. 101 and 102 TFEU to clarify how SEP licensing should occur not to breach EU competition law. In the sub-optimal scenario where EU institutions would continue to pursue an immediate regulatory intervention, we provide substantial suggestions in an attempt to improve the current proposal of SEPs Regulation and limit certain negative consequences. Our constructive criticism aims to be a catalyst for the debate in the legislative process about the appropriate SEP licensing framework