Analysis of the state of the art of the biofabrication strategies for the regeneration of the myotendinous junction

La giunzione miotendinea (MTJ) è una struttura anatomica specializzata che collega il muscolo al tendine. La sua funzione è quella di permettere la trasmissione della forza generata dal muscolo al tendine, permettendo il movimento. Essendo una struttura di interfaccia che funge da raccordo tra due tipi di tessuti molto differenti, tende a risentire di una forte concentrazione di tensione, questo la rende fortemente suscettibile a rottura. Le tecniche ad oggi utilizzare per riparare lesioni alla MTJ risultano inadatte ad una completa ed ottimale ripresa meccanica. Al fine di trovare una soluzione a questo problema, l’ingegneria tissutale sta lavorando alla fabbricazione di strutture tridimensionali che siano in grado di imitare al meglio la struttura nativa della MTJ. Le tecniche utilizzate per la produzione di tali strutture sono, principalmente, stampa 3D ed elettrofilatura. Il vantaggio di queste tecniche è la loro elevata risoluzione, che permette di controllare finemente l’architettura di tali strutture artificiali. Nella seguente tesi verrà presentato lo stato dell’arte sulle tecniche utilizzate per la fabbricazione di scaffolds per la rigenerazione della MTJ, soffermandosi in particolare sui metodi di fabbricazione e sulle prestazioni morfologiche, meccaniche e cellulari effettuando un confronto tra i diversi studi che se ne sono occupati, individuandone punti di forza, debolezze e possibili studi futuri che potranno essere effettuati su tali scaffolds. In questo modo, sarà possibile rendersi conto di quale di queste tecniche risulti essere più promettente per il futuro.

State of the art and future perspectives on security metrics and their applications

In modern society, security issues of IT Systems are intertwined with interdisciplinary aspects, from social life to sustainability, and threats endanger many aspects of every- one’s daily life. To address the problem, it’s important that the systems that we use guarantee a certain degree of security, but to achieve this, it is necessary to be able to give a measure to the amount of security. Measuring security is not an easy task, but many initiatives, including European regulations, want to make this possible. One method of measuring security is based on the use of security metrics: those are a way of assessing, from various aspects, vulnera- bilities, methods of defense, risks and impacts of successful attacks then also efficacy of reactions, giving precise results using mathematical and statistical techniques. I have done literature research to provide an overview on the meaning, the effects, the problems, the applications and the overall current situation over security metrics, with particular emphasis in giving practical examples. This thesis starts with a summary of the state of the art in the field of security met- rics and application examples to outline the gaps in current literature, the difficulties found in the change of application context, to then advance research questions aimed at fostering the discussion towards the definition of a more complete and applicable view of the subject. Finally, it stresses the lack of security metrics that consider interdisciplinary aspects, giving some potential starting point to develop security metrics that cover all as- pects involved, taking the field to a new level of formal soundness and practical usability.

Robotic grasping: State of the art and modular real-world implementation

Robotic Grasping is an important research topic in robotics since for robots to attain more general-purpose utility, grasping is a necessary skill, but very challenging to master. In general the robots may use their perception abilities like an image from a camera to identify grasps for a given object usually unknown. A grasp describes how a robotic end-effector need to be positioned to securely grab an object and successfully lift it without lost it, at the moment state of the arts solutions are still far behind humans. In the last 5–10 years, deep learning methods take the scene to overcome classical problem like the arduous and time-consuming approach to form a task-specific algorithm analytically. In this thesis are present the progress and the approaches in the robotic grasping field and the potential of the deep learning methods in robotic grasping. Based on that, an implementation of a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) as a starting point for generation of a grasp pose from camera view has been implemented inside a ROS environment. The developed technologies have been integrated into a pick-and-place application for a Panda robot from Franka Emika. The application includes various features related to object detection and selection. Additionally, the features have been kept as generic as possible to allow for easy replacement or removal if needed, without losing time for improvement or new testing.

A Write-Based Solver for SAT Modulo the Theory of Arrays

The extensional theory of arrays is one of the most important ones for applications of SAT Modulo Theories (SMT) to hardware and software verification. Here we present a new T-solver for arrays in the context of the DPLL(T) approach to SMT. The main characteristics of our solver are: (i) no translation of writes into reads is needed, (ii) there is no axiom instantiation, and (iii) the T-solver interacts with the Boolean engine by asking to split on equality literals between indices. As far as we know, this is the first accurate description of an array solver integrated in a state-of-the-art SMT solver and, unlike most state-of-the-art solvers, it is not based on a lazy instantiation of the array axioms. Moreover, it is very competitive in practice, specially on problems that require heavy reasoning on array literals

Accurate prediction of the Si/SiO(2) interface band offset using the self-consistent ab initio DFT/LDA-1/2 method

We use the density functional theory/local-density approximation (DFT/LDA)-1/2 method [L. G. Ferreira , Phys. Rev. B 78, 125116 (2008)], which attempts to fix the electron self-energy deficiency of DFT/LDA by half-ionizing the whole Bloch band of the crystal, to calculate the band offsets of two Si/SiO(2) interface models. Our results are similar to those obtained with a ""state-of-the-art"" GW approach [R. Shaltaf , Phys. Rev. Lett. 100, 186401 (2008)], with the advantage of being as computationally inexpensive as the usual DFT/LDA. Our band gap and band offset predictions are in excellent agreement with experiments.

Comparative study of the adsorption and dissociation of vinylacetic acid and acrylic acid on silicon (001)

In this work, we employ the state of the art pseudopotential method, within a generalized gradient approximation to the density functional theory, to investigate the adsorption process of acrylic acid (AAc) and vinylacetic acid (VAA) on the silicon surface. Our total energy calculations support the proposed experimental process, as it indicates that the chemisorption of the molecule is as follows: The gas phase VAA (AAc) adsorbs molecularly to the electrophilic surface Si atom and then dissociates into H(2)C = CH - COO and H, bonded to the electrophilic and nucleophilic surface silicon dimer atoms, respectively. The activation energy for both processes correspond to thermal activations that are smaller than the usual growth temperature. In addition, the electronic structure, calculated vibrational modes, and theoretical scanning tunneling microscopy images are discussed, with a view to contribute to further experimental investigations.

Social cognition, language acquisition and the development of the theory of mind

Theory of Mind (ToM) is the cognitive achievement that enables us to report our propositional attitudes, to attribute such attitudes to others, and to use such postulated or observed mental states in the prediction and explanation of behavior. Most normally developing children acquire ToM between the ages of 3 and 5 years, but serious delays beyond this chronological and mental age have been observed in children with autism, as well is in those with severe sensory impairments. We examine data from Studies of ToM in normally developing children and those with deafness, blindness, autism and Williams syndrome, as well as data from lower primates, in a search for answers to key theoretical questions concerning the origins, nature and representation of knowledge about the mind. In answer to these, we offer a framework according to which ToM is jointly dependent upon language and social experience, and is produced by a conjunction of language acquisition with children's growing social understanding, acquired through conversation and interaction with others. We argue that adequate language and adequate social skills are jointly causally sufficient, and individually causally necessary, for producing ToM. Thus our account supports a social developmental theory of the genesis of human cognition, inspired by the work of Sellars and Vygotsky.

On the development of a test-bed application for the ART-WiSe architecture

The ART-WiSe (Architecture for Real-Time communications in Wireless Sensor Networks) framework aims at the design of new communication architectures and mechanisms for time-sensitive Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs). We adopted a two-tiered architecture where an overlay Wireless Local Area Network (Tier 2) serves as a backbone for a WSN (Tier 1), relying on existing standard communication protocols and commercial-off-the-shell (COTS) technologies – IEEE 802.15.4/ZigBee for Tier 1 and IEEE 802.11 for Tier 2. In this line, a test-bed application is being developed for assessing, validating and demonstrating the ART-WiSe architecture. A pursuit-evasion application was chosen since it fulfils a number of requirements, namely it is feasible and appealing and imposes some stress to the architecture in terms of timeliness. To develop the testbed based on the previously referred technologies, an implementation of the IEEE 8021.5.4/ZigBee protocols is being carried out, since there is no open source available to the community. This paper highlights some relevant aspects of the ART-WiSe architecture, provides some intuition on the protocol stack implementation and presents a general view over the envisaged test-bed application.

Institutional support of the firm: A theory of business registries

Registering originative business contracts allows entrepreneurs and creditors to choose, andcourts to enforce market-friendly contract rules that protect innocent third parties whenadjudicating disputes on subsequent contracts. This reduces information asymmetry for thirdparties, which enhances impersonal trade. It does so without seriously weakening property rights,because it is rightholders who choose or activate the legal rules and can, therefore, minimize thecost of any possible weakening. Registries are essential not only to make the chosen rules publicbut to ensure rightholders commitment and avoid rule-gaming, because independent registriesmake rightholders choices verifiable by courts. The theory is supported by comparative andhistorical analyses.

Defining the art of grammar: Ancient perceptions of γραμματική and grammatical

The subject of this dissertation, which belongs to the field of Classical Philology, are the definitions of the art of grammar found in Greek and Latin sources from the Classical era to the second century CE. Definitions survive from grammarians, philosophers, and general scholars. I have examined these definitions from two main points of view: how they are formed, and how they reflect the development of the art itself. Defining formed part of dialectic, in practice also of rhetoric, and was perceived as important from the Classical era onwards. Definitions of grammar seem to have become established as part of preliminary discussions, located at the beginning of grammatical manuals (tékhnai, artes). These discussions included certain principal notions of the art; in addition to the definition, a list of the parts of the art was also typically included. These lists were formed by two different methods: division (diaíresis, divisio) and partition (merismós, partitio). Many of the grammarians may actually have been unfamiliar with these methods, unlike the two most important scholars of the Late Republic, Varro and Cicero. Significant attention was devoted to the question whether the art of grammar is based on lógos or empeiría. This epistemological question had its roots in medical theories, which were prominent in Alexandria. In the history of the concept of grammatiké or grammatica, three stages become evident. In the Classical era, the Greek term is used to refer to a very concrete art of letters (grámmata); from the Hellenistic era onwards it refers to the art developed by the Alexandrian scholars, a matter of textual and literary criticism. Towards the end of the Hellenistic era, the grammarian also becomes involved with the question of correct language, which gradually begins to appear in the definitions as well.

Explaining the intention to play and behavior of playing sports betting games of young Finnish adults : an application of the theory of planned behavior

The aim of this Master’s Thesis was to examine the determinants of intention and behavior of playing sports betting games in order to explain the intention to play in a more precise way and to be able to understand the behavior of playing. The theory of planned behavior was applied in explaining the intention of young Finnish adults aged 18 to 34. A quantitative research method was applied and an online survey was sent to the students of Lappeenranta University of Technology and to the subscribers of Urheilulehti in order to reach a sample that present the young population of Finland. The theory of the study focused on the theory of planned behavior and its antecedents, attitude towards behavior, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control as well as motivation. By analyzing the data, causal relationships were found through which the explanation of intention was possible. The results showed that attitude towards playing, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control and motivation impact the formation of intention significantly. The results also indicated that intention impacts significantly to the playing frequency.

Has social justice any legitimacy in Kant's theory of right? The empirical conditions of the legal state as a civil union

This paper aims at shedding light on an obscure point in Kant's theory of the state. It discusses whether Kant's rational theory of the state recognises the fact that certain exceptional social situations, such as the extreme poverty of some parts of the population, could request institutional state support in order to guarantee the attainment of a minimum threshold of civil independence. It has three aims: 1) to show that Kant's Doctrine of Right can offer solutions for the complex relation between economics and politics in our present time; 2) to demonstrate the claim that Kant embraces a pragmatic standpoint when he tackles the social concerns of the state, and so to refute the idea that he argues for an abstract conception of politics; and 3) to suggest that a non-paternalistic theory of rights is not necessarily incompatible with the basic tenets of a welfare state.

Properties and algorithms of the (n, k)-arrangement graphs

The (n, k)-arrangement interconnection topology was first introduced in 1992. The (n, k )-arrangement graph is a class of generalized star graphs. Compared with the well known n-star, the (n, k )-arrangement graph is more flexible in degree and diameter. However, there are few algorithms designed for the (n, k)-arrangement graph up to present. In this thesis, we will focus on finding graph theoretical properties of the (n, k)- arrangement graph and developing parallel algorithms that run on this network. The topological properties of the arrangement graph are first studied. They include the cyclic properties. We then study the problems of communication: broadcasting and routing. Embedding problems are also studied later on. These are very useful to develop efficient algorithms on this network. We then study the (n, k )-arrangement network from the algorithmic point of view. Specifically, we will investigate both fundamental and application algorithms such as prefix sums computation, sorting, merging and basic geometry computation: finding convex hull on the (n, k )-arrangement graph. A literature review of the state-of-the-art in relation to the (n, k)-arrangement network is also provided, as well as some open problems in this area.

Ab initio study of the EFG at the N sites in imidazole

We study the nuclear quadrupole interaction at the nitrogen sites in the molecular and crystalline phases of the imidazole compound. We use PAW which is a state-of-the-art method to calculate the electronic structure and electric field gradient at the nucleus in the framework of the density functional theory. The quadrupole frequencies at both imino and amino N sites are in excellent agreement with measurements. This is the first time that the electric field gradient at crystalline imidazole is correctly treated by an ab initio theoretical approach.

Study of the Influence of Localized Vibrational Modes in Charge Transport Properties at Nanoscale Systems.

In molecular and atomic devices the interaction between electrons and ionic vibrations has an important role in electronic transport. The electron-phonon coupling can cause the loss of the electron's phase coherence, the opening of new conductance channels and the suppression of purely elastic ones. From the technological viewpoint phonons might restrict the efficiency of electronic devices by energy dissipation, causing heating, power loss and instability. The state of the art in electron transport calculations consists in combining ab initio calculations via Density Functional Theory (DFT) with Non-Equilibrium Green's Function formalism (NEGF). In order to include electron-phonon interactions, one needs in principle to include a self-energy scattering term in the open system Hamiltonian which takes into account the effect of the phonons over the electrons and vice versa. Nevertheless this term could be obtained approximately by perturbative methods. In the First Born Approximation one considers only the first order terms of the electronic Green's function expansion. In the Self-Consistent Born Approximation, the interaction self-energy is calculated with the perturbed electronic Green's function in a self-consistent way. In this work we describe how to incorporate the electron-phonon interaction to the SMEAGOL program (Spin and Molecular Electronics in Atomically Generated Orbital Landscapes), an ab initio code for electronic transport based on the combination of DFT + NEGF. This provides a tool for calculating the transport properties of materials' specific system, particularly in molecular electronics. Preliminary results will be presented, showing the effects produced by considering the electron-phonon interaction in nanoscale devices.