Evolvability and organismal architecture:The blind watchmaker and the reminiscent architect

Organisms are constantly faced with the challenge of adapting to new circumstances. In this thesis, I argue that the ability to adapt to new circumstances, “evolvability”, is deeply ingrained in the genetic, developmental, morphological, and physiological architecture of organisms. Using a blend of conceptual research, theoretical modelling, and multidisciplinary studies, I demonstrate how organismal architecture can evolve so that organisms can cope better and better with future environmental challenges. As a first step, I systematically classify the many factors contributing to evolvability. Then I use a simulation approach to show how evolvability-enhancing structures can readily evolve in gene-regulatory networks. This happens via the evolution of "mutational transformers" - structural elements that convert random mutations at the genetic level into adaptation-enhancing mutations at the phenotypic level. In another thesis chapter, I demonstrate that even if selection acts only sporadically, complex adaptations can evolve and persist over long time periods. In other words, complex adaptations do not require constant selection pressure. In an interdisciplinary contribution, I apply biological insights regarding the properties of an evolvability-enhancing mutation structure to the design of algorithms used in Artificial Intelligence. The result is the “Facilitated Mutation” method which enhances the performance of the algorithms in various respects, highlighting the potential for leveraging biological principles in computational sciences. Finally, I embed my research findings in a philosophical context. I emphasise the importance of organismal architecture in retaining evolutionary memories and suggest future research directions to further enhance our understanding of evolvability

The Relationship between Language Development and Electronics in Children

In today’s world, electronics are an instrumental part of day-to-day living. Electronics are impacting the whole life span as the world is becoming more digital, meaning the world must adapt to this change. The topic chosen is how do electronics affect language development in children. At younger and younger ages, children are being exposed to electronics to either learn, grab their attention, or preoccupy them. Does this positively or negatively impact how they learn language during their critical years of word learning? The paper aims to show that electronics do negatively affect language development in children, as it inhibits them from interacting with adults to develop language skills, and it will be harder to retain to then reuse in other instances. The paper will address the effects electronics have on children when learning a language, the effects of long-term electronic use, and what other effects may arise from the constant use of electronics. Behavioral issues or physical issues can also be analyzed, maybe in terms of eye strain or hearing. Language is about receptive and expressive aspects, meaning spoken and heard, would staring at a device with headphones on constantly affect their language as well? By using electronics, children are drawn out of social situations, reducing their interaction either with adults, or other children their age. The paper is framed to show electronics in different ways and environments, such as in the educational setting, tablets and televisions

Evolvability and organismal architecture:The blind watchmaker and the reminiscent architect

Organisms are constantly faced with the challenge of adapting to new circumstances. In this thesis, I argue that the ability to adapt to new circumstances, “evolvability”, is deeply ingrained in the genetic, developmental, morphological, and physiological architecture of organisms. Using a blend of conceptual research, theoretical modelling, and multidisciplinary studies, I demonstrate how organismal architecture can evolve so that organisms can cope better and better with future environmental challenges. As a first step, I systematically classify the many factors contributing to evolvability. Then I use a simulation approach to show how evolvability-enhancing structures can readily evolve in gene-regulatory networks. This happens via the evolution of "mutational transformers" - structural elements that convert random mutations at the genetic level into adaptation-enhancing mutations at the phenotypic level. In another thesis chapter, I demonstrate that even if selection acts only sporadically, complex adaptations can evolve and persist over long time periods. In other words, complex adaptations do not require constant selection pressure. In an interdisciplinary contribution, I apply biological insights regarding the properties of an evolvability-enhancing mutation structure to the design of algorithms used in Artificial Intelligence. The result is the “Facilitated Mutation” method which enhances the performance of the algorithms in various respects, highlighting the potential for leveraging biological principles in computational sciences. Finally, I embed my research findings in a philosophical context. I emphasise the importance of organismal architecture in retaining evolutionary memories and suggest future research directions to further enhance our understanding of evolvability

Da James Joyce a John Assurbanipal Smith. La (de)legittimazione del comico Nell’opera di umberto eco

This essay explores the role of humour and the treatment of the comic in the works of Umberto Eco, and in charting their evolution – from the earnest beginnings of Opera Aperta to the confident use of wit and parody in the more mature works – it seeks to highlight a contradiction: even as on the one hand he is willing to regard the comic as a legitimate object of critical attention, and gives it a central thematic role in The Name of the Rose, Eco stops short of fully acknowledging its critical dimension and its potential to subvert traditional cultural hierarchies and roles

Evolvability and organismal architecture:The blind watchmaker and the reminiscent architect

Organisms are constantly faced with the challenge of adapting to new circumstances. In this thesis, I argue that the ability to adapt to new circumstances, “evolvability”, is deeply ingrained in the genetic, developmental, morphological, and physiological architecture of organisms. Using a blend of conceptual research, theoretical modelling, and multidisciplinary studies, I demonstrate how organismal architecture can evolve so that organisms can cope better and better with future environmental challenges. As a first step, I systematically classify the many factors contributing to evolvability. Then I use a simulation approach to show how evolvability-enhancing structures can readily evolve in gene-regulatory networks. This happens via the evolution of "mutational transformers" - structural elements that convert random mutations at the genetic level into adaptation-enhancing mutations at the phenotypic level. In another thesis chapter, I demonstrate that even if selection acts only sporadically, complex adaptations can evolve and persist over long time periods. In other words, complex adaptations do not require constant selection pressure. In an interdisciplinary contribution, I apply biological insights regarding the properties of an evolvability-enhancing mutation structure to the design of algorithms used in Artificial Intelligence. The result is the “Facilitated Mutation” method which enhances the performance of the algorithms in various respects, highlighting the potential for leveraging biological principles in computational sciences. Finally, I embed my research findings in a philosophical context. I emphasise the importance of organismal architecture in retaining evolutionary memories and suggest future research directions to further enhance our understanding of evolvability

Evolvability and organismal architecture:The blind watchmaker and the reminiscent architect

Organisms are constantly faced with the challenge of adapting to new circumstances. In this thesis, I argue that the ability to adapt to new circumstances, “evolvability”, is deeply ingrained in the genetic, developmental, morphological, and physiological architecture of organisms. Using a blend of conceptual research, theoretical modelling, and multidisciplinary studies, I demonstrate how organismal architecture can evolve so that organisms can cope better and better with future environmental challenges. As a first step, I systematically classify the many factors contributing to evolvability. Then I use a simulation approach to show how evolvability-enhancing structures can readily evolve in gene-regulatory networks. This happens via the evolution of "mutational transformers" - structural elements that convert random mutations at the genetic level into adaptation-enhancing mutations at the phenotypic level. In another thesis chapter, I demonstrate that even if selection acts only sporadically, complex adaptations can evolve and persist over long time periods. In other words, complex adaptations do not require constant selection pressure. In an interdisciplinary contribution, I apply biological insights regarding the properties of an evolvability-enhancing mutation structure to the design of algorithms used in Artificial Intelligence. The result is the “Facilitated Mutation” method which enhances the performance of the algorithms in various respects, highlighting the potential for leveraging biological principles in computational sciences. Finally, I embed my research findings in a philosophical context. I emphasise the importance of organismal architecture in retaining evolutionary memories and suggest future research directions to further enhance our understanding of evolvability

Hitchcock, Tati and Leone: style, narrative and directorial approaches in mainstream cinema and their relationship to contemporary screen-dance practice.

A thesis submitted to the University of Bedfordshire, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science by Research.This research recommends the style, narrative and directorial approaches of Alfred Hitchcock, Jaques Tati and Sergio Leone as a relevant point of reference for current screen-dance practice. Their specific cinematic authored models were tested in order to determine whether the framework could provide a flexible enough methodology for the making and producing of effective screen-dance, and in the hopes of providing new pathways for the researcher’s screen-dance practice. The cinematic authors selected for scrutiny were Alfred Hitchcock, Jaques Tati, and Sergio Leone. The criterion for this selection was determined by the directors’ stylistic and narrative preferences, and democratic approaches to sound and image making. Five screen-dances were produced for this research between 2004 and 2011 and a further two in 2014 and 2016: Vanishing point (Tiso, 2004), Tippi: Crying Fowl (Tiso, 2007) and Nil desperandum) (Tiso, 2012) were based on the Hitchcock oeuvre, Souvenir (Tiso, 2005) was based on the Tati opus and Crimes (Tiso, 2005) on Sergio Leone’s legacy. Flow (Tiso, 2014) and The big sofa (Tiso, 2016) were developed out of the findings of a completed directorial, stylistic, narrative listing. This thesis is largely a piece of self-enquiry. The researcher has been methodical in how she has approached her own work, so that the work is presented as a heuristic analysis interwoven woven into body of the practical components

Preliminary findings from a survey on the MD state of the practice

In the context of an Italian research project, this paper reports on an on-line survey, performed with 155 software professionals, with the aim of investigating about their opinions and experiences in modeling during software development and Model-driven engineering usage. The survey focused also on used modeling languages, processes and tools. A preliminary analysis of the results confirmed that Model-driven engineering, and more in general software modeling, are very relevant phenomena. Approximately 68% of the sample use models during software development. Among then, 44% generate code starting from models and 16% execute them directly. The preferred language for modeling is UML but DSLs are used as wel