La città di Bologna e la sua storia: diffusione e condivisione delle conoscenze attraverso Webgis open source e Web Mapping

To understand a city and its urban structure it is necessary to study its history. This is feasible through GIS (Geographical Information Systems) and its by-products on the web. Starting from a cartographic view they allow an initial understanding of, and a comparison between, present and past data together with an easy and intuitive access to database information. The research done led to the creation of a GIS for the city of Bologna. It is based on varied data such as historical map, vector and alphanumeric historical data, etc.. After providing information about GIS we thought of spreading and sharing the collected data on the Web after studying two solutions available on the market: Web Mapping and WebGIS. In this study we discuss the stages, beginning with the development of Historical GIS of Bologna, which led to the making of a WebGIS Open Source (MapServer and Chameleon) and the Web Mapping services (Google Earth, Google Maps and OpenLayers).

Open source intelligence applicata all'analisi criminologica del terrorismo

A partire dagli anni '70, si è assistito ad un progressivo riassetto geopolitico a livello mondiale Grazie anche all’evoluzione tecnologica ed alla sua diffusione di massa, il tempo e lo spazio si contraggono nel processo di globalizzazione che ha caratterizzato le società contemporanee ove l'informazione e la comunicazione assumono ormai un ruolo centrale nelle dinamiche di conoscenza. Il presente studio, intende far luce in primis sulla disciplina dell'intelligence, così come enunciata in ambito militare e "civile", in particolare nel contesto USA, NATO ed ONU, al fine quindi di evidenziare le peculiarità di una nuova disciplina di intelligence, cosiddetta Open Source Intelligence, che ha come elemento di innovazione l'utilizio delle informazioni non classificate. Dopo aver affrontato il problema della concettualizzazione ed evoluzione del fenomeno terroristico, sarà posto il focus sull’espressione criminale ad oggi maggiormente preoccupante, il terrorismo internazionale di matrice islamica, in prospettiva multidimensionale, grazie all’adozione di concetti criminologici interdisciplinari. Sotto il profilo della sperimentazione, si è, quindi, deciso di proporre, progettare e sviluppare l’architettura della piattaforma Open Source Intellicence Analysis Platform,un tool operativo di supporto per l’analista Open Source Intelligence, che si pone quale risorsa del’analisi criminologica, in grado di fornire un valido contributo, grazie al merge tra practice e research, nell’applicazione di tale approccio informativo al fenomeno terroristico.

Studio e sviluppo di un motore a 2 tempi diesel veloce di nuova concezione per applicazioni automobilistiche

The Department of Mechanical and Civil Engineering (DIMeC) of the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia is developing a new type of small capacity HSDI 2-Stroke Diesel engine (called HSD2), featuring a specifically designed combustion system, aimed to reduce weight, size and manufacturing costs, and improving pollutant emissions at partial load. The present work is focused on the analysis of the combustion and the scavenging process, investigated by means of a version of the KIVA-3V code customized by the University of Chalmers and modified by DIMeC. The customization of the KIVA-3V code includes a detailed combustion chemistry approach, coupled with a comprehensive oxidation mechanism for diesel oil surrogate and the modeling of turbulence/chemistry interaction through the PaSR (Partially Stirred Reactor) model. A four stroke automobile Diesel engine featuring a very close bore size is taken as a reference, for both the numerical models calibration and for a comparison with the 2-Stroke engine. Analysis is carried out trough a comparison between HSD2 and FIAT 1300 MultiJet in several operating conditions, at full and partial load. Such a comparison clearly demonstrates the effectiveness of the two stroke concept in terms of emissions reduction and high power density. However, HSD2 is still a virtual engine, and experimental results are needed to assume the reliability of numerical results.

Costruzione di un Sistema Informativo Geografico Digitale per analisi ambientali

Questo lavoro ha come obiettivo l’utilizzo del Geographical Information System (GIS) per effettuare analisi di sicurezza, monitoraggio e valutazioni di impatto ambientale. Oggi, la totalità delle operazioni GIS possono essere svolte con software open source e in questa sedi si è scelto di utilizzare il GIS GRASS (Geographic Resources Analysis Support System) disponibile nei termini della GNU public license (GPL), mostrando l’usabilità e le notevoli potenzialità di tale software, nonché la qualità dei prodotti ottenibili, mai inferiori ai prodotti e agli strumenti messi a disposizione dai più radicati e diffusi programmi proprietari. Nel capitolo 4, vedremo l’applicazione all’analisi delle conseguenze di ipotetici incidenti, durante le operazioni di dismissione dell’impianto di processamento del combustibile nucleare, di Bosco Marengo (AL). Nel capitolo 5, vedremo applicazioni nel campo del monitoraggio della qualità dell’aria tramite analisi di immagini satellitari.

Il linguaggio degli ambienti virtuali culturali: comunicare la storia di Bologna attraverso il progetto Nu.M.E.

The contemporary media landscape is characterized by the emergence of hybrid forms of digital communication that contribute to the ongoing redefinition of our societies cultural context. An incontrovertible consequence of this phenomenon is the new public dimension that characterizes the transmission of historical knowledge in the twenty-first century. Awareness of this new epistemic scenario has led us to reflect on the following methodological questions: what strategies should be created to establish a communication system, based on new technology, that is scientifically rigorous, but at the same time engaging for the visitors of museums and Internet users? How does a comparative analysis of ancient documentary sources form a solid base of information for the virtual reconstruction of thirteenth century Bologna in the Metaverse? What benefits can the phenomenon of cross-mediality give to the virtual heritage? The implementation of a new version of the Nu.M.E. project allowed for answering many of these instances. The investigation carried out between 2008 and 2010 has shown that, indeed, real-time 3D graphics and collaborative virtual environments can be feasible tools for representing philologically the urban medieval landscape and for communicating properly validated historical data to the general public. This research is focused on the study and implementation of a pipeline that permits mass communication of historical information about an area of vital importance in late medieval Bologna: Piazza di Porta Ravegnana. The originality of the developed project is not limited solely to the methodological dimension of historical research. Adopted technological perspective is an excellent example of innovation that digital technologies can bring to the cultural heritage. The main result of this research is the creation of Nu.ME 2010, a cross-media system of 3D real-time visualization based on some of the most advanced free software and open source technologies available today free of charge.

Fonti cartografiche di Toscana e Catalogna di Età Moderna e Contemporanea. Ricostruire con il GIS, comunicare con WebGIS

The aim of this study is the creation of a Historical GIS that spatially reference data retrieved from Italian and Catalan historical sources and records. The generation of locates these metasource was achieved through the integral acquisition of source-oriented records and the insertion of mark-up fields, yet maintaining, where possible, the original encoding of the source documents. In order to standardize the set of information contained in the original documents and thus allow queries to the database, additional fields were introduced. Once the initial phase of data research and analysis was concluded the new virtual source was published online within an open WebGIS source. As a conclusion we have created a dynamic and spatially referenced database of geo-historical information. The configuration of this new source is such to guarantee the best possible accessibility.

Sviluppo di un'applicazione bioinformatica per la gestione dei dati di antibiotico sensibilità di isolati clinici

Il problema dell'antibiotico-resistenza è un problema di sanità pubblica per affrontare il quale è necessario un sistema di sorveglianza basato sulla raccolta e l'analisi dei dati epidemiologici di laboratorio. Il progetto di dottorato è consistito nello sviluppo di una applicazione web per la gestione di tali dati di antibiotico sensibilità di isolati clinici utilizzabile a livello di ospedale. Si è creata una piattaforma web associata a un database relazionale per avere un’applicazione dinamica che potesse essere aggiornata facilmente inserendo nuovi dati senza dover manualmente modificare le pagine HTML che compongono l’applicazione stessa. E’ stato utilizzato il database open-source MySQL in quanto presenta numerosi vantaggi: estremamente stabile, elevate prestazioni, supportato da una grande comunità online ed inoltre gratuito. Il contenuto dinamico dell’applicazione web deve essere generato da un linguaggio di programmazione tipo “scripting” che automatizzi operazioni di inserimento, modifica, cancellazione, visualizzazione di larghe quantità di dati. E’ stato scelto il PHP, linguaggio open-source sviluppato appositamente per la realizzazione di pagine web dinamiche, perfettamente utilizzabile con il database MySQL. E’ stata definita l’architettura del database creando le tabelle contenenti i dati e le relazioni tra di esse: le anagrafiche, i dati relativi ai campioni, microrganismi isolati e agli antibiogrammi con le categorie interpretative relative al dato antibiotico. Definite tabelle e relazioni del database è stato scritto il codice associato alle funzioni principali: inserimento manuale di antibiogrammi, importazione di antibiogrammi multipli provenienti da file esportati da strumenti automatizzati, modifica/eliminazione degli antibiogrammi precedenti inseriti nel sistema, analisi dei dati presenti nel database con tendenze e andamenti relativi alla prevalenza di specie microbiche e alla chemioresistenza degli stessi, corredate da grafici. Lo sviluppo ha incluso continui test delle funzioni via via implementate usando reali dati clinici e sono stati introdotti appositi controlli e l’introduzione di una semplice e pulita veste grafica.

Cultura "Open" e nuovi modelli normativi per la gestione della conoscenza

L'obiettivo della ricerca è di compiere un'analisi dell'impatto della cosiddetta cultura "open" alla luce dell'attuale condizione del World Wide Web. Si prenderà in considerazione, in particolare, la genesi del movimento a partire dalle basi di cultura hacker e la relativa evoluzione nella filosofia del software libero, con il fine ultimo di identificare il ruolo attuale del modello open source nello scenario esistente. L'introduzione al concetto di Open Access completerà la ricerca anche considerando la recente riaffermazione della conoscenza come bene comune all'interno della Società dell'Informazione

Application-oriented Mixed Integer Non-Linear Programming

In the most recent years there is a renovate interest for Mixed Integer Non-Linear Programming (MINLP) problems. This can be explained for different reasons: (i) the performance of solvers handling non-linear constraints was largely improved; (ii) the awareness that most of the applications from the real-world can be modeled as an MINLP problem; (iii) the challenging nature of this very general class of problems. It is well-known that MINLP problems are NP-hard because they are the generalization of MILP problems, which are NP-hard themselves. However, MINLPs are, in general, also hard to solve in practice. We address to non-convex MINLPs, i.e. having non-convex continuous relaxations: the presence of non-convexities in the model makes these problems usually even harder to solve. The aim of this Ph.D. thesis is to give a flavor of different possible approaches that one can study to attack MINLP problems with non-convexities, with a special attention to real-world problems. In Part 1 of the thesis we introduce the problem and present three special cases of general MINLPs and the most common methods used to solve them. These techniques play a fundamental role in the resolution of general MINLP problems. Then we describe algorithms addressing general MINLPs. Parts 2 and 3 contain the main contributions of the Ph.D. thesis. In particular, in Part 2 four different methods aimed at solving different classes of MINLP problems are presented. Part 3 of the thesis is devoted to real-world applications: two different problems and approaches to MINLPs are presented, namely Scheduling and Unit Commitment for Hydro-Plants and Water Network Design problems. The results show that each of these different methods has advantages and disadvantages. Thus, typically the method to be adopted to solve a real-world problem should be tailored on the characteristics, structure and size of the problem. Part 4 of the thesis consists of a brief review on tools commonly used for general MINLP problems, constituted an integral part of the development of this Ph.D. thesis (especially the use and development of open-source software). We present the main characteristics of solvers for each special case of MINLP.

Body ares networks for human motor assessment

Healthcare, Human Computer Interfaces (HCI), Security and Biometry are the most promising application scenario directly involved in the Body Area Networks (BANs) evolution. Both wearable devices and sensors directly integrated in garments envision a word in which each of us is supervised by an invisible assistant monitoring our health and daily-life activities. New opportunities are enabled because improvements in sensors miniaturization and transmission efficiency of the wireless protocols, that achieved the integration of high computational power aboard independent, energy-autonomous, small form factor devices. Application’s purposes are various: (I) data collection to achieve off-line knowledge discovery; (II) user notification of his/her activities or in case a danger occurs; (III) biofeedback rehabilitation; (IV) remote alarm activation in case the subject need assistance; (V) introduction of a more natural interaction with the surrounding computerized environment; (VI) users identification by physiological or behavioral characteristics. Telemedicine and mHealth [1] are two of the leading concepts directly related to healthcare. The capability to borne unobtrusiveness objects supports users’ autonomy. A new sense of freedom is shown to the user, not only supported by a psychological help but a real safety improvement. Furthermore, medical community aims the introduction of new devices to innovate patient treatments. In particular, the extension of the ambulatory analysis in the real life scenario by proving continuous acquisition. The wide diffusion of emerging wellness portable equipment extended the usability of wearable devices also for fitness and training by monitoring user performance on the working task. The learning of the right execution techniques related to work, sport, music can be supported by an electronic trainer furnishing the adequate aid. HCIs made real the concept of Ubiquitous, Pervasive Computing and Calm Technology introduced in the 1988 by Marc Weiser and John Seeley Brown. They promotes the creation of pervasive environments, enhancing the human experience. Context aware, adaptive and proactive environments serve and help people by becoming sensitive and reactive to their presence, since electronics is ubiquitous and deployed everywhere. In this thesis we pay attention to the integration of all the aspects involved in a BAN development. Starting from the choice of sensors we design the node, configure the radio network, implement real-time data analysis and provide a feedback to the user. We present algorithms to be implemented in wearable assistant for posture and gait analysis and to provide assistance on different walking conditions, preventing falls. Our aim, expressed by the idea to contribute at the development of a non proprietary solutions, driven us to integrate commercial and standard solutions in our devices. We use sensors available on the market and avoided to design specialized sensors in ASIC technologies. We employ standard radio protocol and open source projects when it was achieved. The specific contributions of the PhD research activities are presented and discussed in the following. • We have designed and build several wireless sensor node providing both sensing and actuator capability making the focus on the flexibility, small form factor and low power consumption. The key idea was to develop a simple and general purpose architecture for rapid analysis, prototyping and deployment of BAN solutions. Two different sensing units are integrated: kinematic (3D accelerometer and 3D gyroscopes) and kinetic (foot-floor contact pressure forces). Two kind of feedbacks were implemented: audio and vibrotactile. • Since the system built is a suitable platform for testing and measuring the features and the constraints of a sensor network (radio communication, network protocols, power consumption and autonomy), we made a comparison between Bluetooth and ZigBee performance in terms of throughput and energy efficiency. Test in the field evaluate the usability in the fall detection scenario. • To prove the flexibility of the architecture designed, we have implemented a wearable system for human posture rehabilitation. The application was developed in conjunction with biomedical engineers who provided the audio-algorithms to furnish a biofeedback to the user about his/her stability. • We explored off-line gait analysis of collected data, developing an algorithm to detect foot inclination in the sagittal plane, during walk. • In collaboration with the Wearable Lab – ETH, Zurich, we developed an algorithm to monitor the user during several walking condition where the user carry a load. The remainder of the thesis is organized as follows. Chapter I gives an overview about Body Area Networks (BANs), illustrating the relevant features of this technology and the key challenges still open. It concludes with a short list of the real solutions and prototypes proposed by academic research and manufacturers. The domain of the posture and gait analysis, the methodologies, and the technologies used to provide real-time feedback on detected events, are illustrated in Chapter II. The Chapter III and IV, respectively, shown BANs developed with the purpose to detect fall and monitor the gait taking advantage by two inertial measurement unit and baropodometric insoles. Chapter V reports an audio-biofeedback system to improve balance on the information provided by the use centre of mass. A walking assistant based on the KNN classifier to detect walking alteration on load carriage, is described in Chapter VI.

«Präzise doch ungenau». Tradurre il saggio. Un approccio olistico al saggio poetico di Durs Grünbein

Il saggio, genere di confine (Grenzgänger-Textsorte) per eccellenza, la cui indefinibilità è topos, si profila tuttora come terra incognita nell’àmbito delle scienze della traduzione. La presente ricerca mira a enucleare un modello traduttologico olistico per la traduzione del saggio. In feconda alternativa alla dicotomia approccio ermeneutico-letterario vs. approccio linguistico, la prospettiva teorico-metodologica del lavoro integra linee di ricerca filologico-letterarie e linguistico-testuali. Tale sguardo multiprospettico, l’unico in grado di dar conto della complessità del genere, permette di collocare operativamente il saggio e le sue varianti testuali principali (Textsortenvarianten), dal saggio specialistico (fachlicher Essay) al saggio poetico (poetischer Essay) sul continuum delle forme testuali comprese entro le dimensioni (scientifica, pragmatica, estetica) del Denkhandeln. Dalla produttiva intersezione tra la riflessione dell’Essayforschung classica e contemporanea e le più recenti indagini linguistico-testuali sulle forme del saggismo scientifico, si perviene alla formulazione di una definitio per proprietates del saggio. Segue lo sviluppo di un modello traduttologico olistico, che tesaurizza il proprio paradigma antropologico, la riflessione filosofico-ermeneutica e le acquisizioni della linguistica testuale, articolandosi attraverso le fasi ricorsive e interagenti di ricezione olistica, analisi poetico-ermeneutica e retorico-stilistica, progettazione linguistico-cognitiva, formulazione e revisione. L’approccio olistico così delinatosi viene quindi vagliato nella sua proficuità in sede applicativa. Funge da banco di prova un vero e proprio “caso limite” per complessità e qualità letteraria, ovvero il «poetischer Essay» del poeta, saggista e traduttore Durs Grünbein, una delle voci più acclamate nel panorama contemporaneo. La sezione pratica presenta infine l’inedita traduzione italiana dei saggi grünbeiniani Den Körper zerbrechen e Die Bars von Atlantis.

The effect of osmolytes on protein fold stability at the single-molecule level

By pulling and releasing the tension on protein homomers with the Atomic Force Miscroscope (AFM) at different pulling speeds, dwell times and dwell distances, the observed force-response of the protein can be fitted with suitable theoretical models. In this respect we developed mathematical procedures and open-source computer codes for driving such experiments and fitting Bell’s model to experimental protein unfolding forces and protein folding frequencies. We applied the above techniques to the study of proteins GB1 (the B1 IgG-binding domain of protein G from Streptococcus) and I27 (a module of human cardiac titin) in aqueous solutions of protecting osmolytes such as dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), glycerol and trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO). In order to get a molecular understanding of the experimental results we developed an Ising-like model for proteins that incorporates the osmophobic nature of their backbone. The model benefits from analytical thermodynamics and kinetics amenable to Monte-Carlo simulation. The prevailing view used to be that small protecting osmolytes bridge the separating beta-strands of proteins with mechanical resistance, presumably shifting the transition state to significantly higher distances that correlate with the molecular size of the osmolyte molecules. Our experiments showed instead that protecting osmolytes slow down protein unfolding and speed-up protein folding at physiological pH without shifting the protein transition state on the mechanical reaction coordinate. Together with the theoretical results of the Ising-model, our results lend support to the osmophobic theory according to which osmolyte stabilisation is a result of the preferential exclusion of the osmolyte molecules from the protein backbone. The results obtained during this thesis work have markedly improved our understanding of the strategy selected by Nature to strengthen protein stability in hostile environments, shifting the focus from hypothetical protein-osmolyte interactions to the more general mechanism based on the osmophobicity of the protein backbone.