Pietro Pantano
University of Calabria
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Publication
Featured researches published by Pietro Pantano.
International Journal of Bifurcation and Chaos | 2010
Eleonora Bilotta; Eugenia Bossio; Pietro Pantano
Chuas circuit is a nonlinear dynamic circuit that has assumed a paradigmatic role in mathematical, physical and experimental demonstrations of chaos. Yet even today, complexity and chaos are seen as challenging topics reserved for specialists. Is it possible for young people in junior and senior high school to acquire a difficult concept such as chaos? In order to study this issue, we developed a four-step teaching/learning method in which two groups of students (one from junior and one from senior high school) manually built Chuas circuit and used it as a source for extraordinary images and music. All this allowed students to interact with strange attractors, discovering their fascination and beauty. Both groups of students created 3-D models of attractors, modified the control parameters, explored the sound and music of chaos and, during the process, discovered the connection between science and art. Briefly, they learned through engaging activities, which allowed them to acquire physical and mathematical knowledge of chaos through various modalities. The results show that manipulation of the circuit and related artistic activities can provide a new, creative and enjoyable approach to science learning.
Journal of Neuroscience Methods | 2012
Antonio Cerasa; Eleonora Bilotta; Antonio Augimeri; Andrea Cherubini; Pietro Pantano; Giancarlo Zito; Pierluigi Lanza; Paola Valentino; Maria Cecilia Gioia; Aldo Quattrone
We present a new application based on genetic algorithms (GAs) that evolves a Cellular Neural Network (CNN) capable of automatically determining the lesion load in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In particular, it seeks to identify brain areas affected by lesions, whose presence is revealed by areas of higher intensity if compared to healthy tissue. The performance of the CNN algorithm has been quantitatively evaluated by comparing the CNN output with the experts manual delineation of MS lesions. The CNN algorithm was run on a data set of 11 MS patients; for each one a single dataset of MRI images (matrix resolution of 256×256 pixels) was acquired. Our automated approach gives satisfactory results showing that after the learning process the CNN is capable of detecting MS lesions with different shapes and intensities (mean DICE coefficient=0.64). The system could provide a useful support tool for the evaluation of lesions in MS patients, although it needs to be evolved and developed in the future.
Artificial Life | 2005
Eleonora Bilotta; Pietro Pantano
This article discusses mechanisms of pattern formation in 2D, self-replicating cellular automata (CAs). In particular, we present mechanisms for structure replication that provide insight into analogous processes in the biological world. After examining self-replicating structures and the way they reproduce, we consider their fractal properties and scale invariance. We explore the space of all possible mutations, showing that despite their apparent differences, many patterns produced by CAs are based on universal models of development and that mutations may lead either to stable or to unstable development dynamics. An example of this process for all possible one-step mutations of one specific CA is given. We have demonstrated that a self-replicating system can carry out many slightly different but related entities, realizing new different growth models. We infer that self-replicating systems exist in an intermediate regime between order and chaos, showing that these models degrade into chaotic configurations, passing through a series of transition stages. This process is quantified by measuring the Hamming distances between the pattern produced by the original self-replicator and those produced by mutated systems. The analysis shows that many different mechanisms may be involved in patterning phenomena. These include changes in the external or internal layers of the structure, substitution of elements, differential rates of growth in different parts of the structure, structural modifications, changes in the original model, the emergence of different structures governed by different CA rules, and changes in the self-replication process.
international world wide web conferences | 1995
Eleonora Bilotta; Mariano Fiorito; Dario Iovane; Pietro Pantano
Abstract Developments in computer networks offer not only a wide range of possibilities in terms of spreading knowledge, but also many problems about retrieving and obtaining stored informative contents, in which users are interested. It seems that such a networking environment could play an important role from an informative and educational point of view. Actually, by using computer networks, it is feasible to realize a virtual classroom to offer remote students full and interactive participation in a class that would previously have been restricted to students who were attending locally [2]. In this paper the authors present a WWW student-centered educational environment that has been realized using a particular methodology which allows students to be inside an informative area. In this area they are able to focus on the topics they prefer, to satisfy their particular instructional needs and also to create an educational and engaging path, through a specific set of tools. A Mosaic sensitive map makes it possible to start the navigation in the organized cyberspace, by choosing one of the displayed topics. After choosing the topic in which the students are interested, they have a set of tools by which it is possible to access the following functionalities: 1. (a) virtual classroom; 2. (b) digital libraries and museums; 3. (c) attending to seminars and conferences; 4. (d) doing cooperative work. This set of tools can be different according to the chosen topic.
Leonardo | 2010
Adolfo Adamo; Pier Augusto Bertacchini; Eleonora Bilotta; Pietro Pantano
ABSTRACT The authors present an innovative virtual theater in which the language of performance joins advanced technologies for educational goals. On the stage of this pioneering theatrical environment human actors interact with 3D faces (talking heads) on a wide screen. These synthetic characters are endowed with emotional expressions and voices and resemble famous personalities such as Pythagoras and Einstein. The performance aims at the exposition of difficult subjects in various fields and making learning enjoyable and entertaining.
Proceedings of the 2007 EvoWorkshops 2007 on EvoCoMnet, EvoFIN, EvoIASP,EvoINTERACTION, EvoMUSART, EvoSTOC and EvoTransLog: Applications of Evolutionary Computing | 2009
Eleonora Bilotta; Pietro Pantano; Enrico Cupellini; Costantino Rizzuti
The work concerns using evolutionary methods to evolve melodic sequences, obtained through a music generative approach from Chuas circuit, a non-linear dynamic system, universal paradigm for studying chaos. The main idea was to investigate how to turn potential aesthetical musical forms, generated by chaotic attractors, in melodic patterns, according to the western musical tradition. A single attractor was chosen from the extended gallery of the Chuas dynamical systems. A specific codification scheme was used to map the attractors space of phases into the musical pitch domain. A genetic algorithm was used to search throughout all possible solutions in the space of the attractors parameters. Musical patterns were selected by a suitable fitness function. Experimental data show a progressive increase of the fitness values.
International Journal of Bifurcation and Chaos | 2011
Eleonora Bilotta; Pietro Pantano; Stefano Vena
In this paper, we present the k-totalistic class of Cellular Automata (CA), which we generate from evolutionary processes, giving rise to Artificial Micro-Worlds (AMW). Within these micro-worlds, we observe a huge range of self-replicators and an equally huge range of models of self-replicating structures that behave like biological species. On the basis of empirical observations, we propose a new way for studying artificial life-like phenomena through which we can apply methods similar to those used in Zoology, observing and classifying different species and investigating their population dynamics.
Computers & Graphics | 2006
Eleonora Bilotta; Pietro Pantano; Fausto Stranges
In this paper, we present some of the problems we have faced in visualizing patterns coming from Chuas circuit, with the main aim of sharing these investigations with researchers in Computer Graphics. Furthermore, the paper deals about advanced Computers Graphics techniques for managing complexity in representing chaotic and hyperchaotic systems. The problems we have faced deal about the nature of these configurations, their shapes and dimensions, the granularity of these objects, since the output could be made of different elements such as cubes, cylinders and so on. Instead, cognitive issues related to perception of forms in 3D spaces and their recognition are still unexplored.
International Journal of Bifurcation and Chaos | 2005
Eleonora Bilotta; Stefania Gervasi; Pietro Pantano
Modern Science is finding new methods of looking at biological, physical or social phenomena. Traditional methods of quantification are no longer sufficient and new approaches are emerging. These approaches make it apparent that the phenomena the observer is looking at are not classifiable by conventional methods. These phenomena are complex. A complex system, as Chuas oscillator, is a nonlinear configuration whose dynamical behavior is chaotic. Chuas oscillator equations allow to define the basic behavior of a dynamical system and to detect the changes in the qualitative behavior of a system when bifurcation occurs, as parameters are varied. The typical set of behavior of a dynamical system can be detailed as equilibrium points, limit cycles, strange attractors. The concepts, methods and paradigms of Dynamical Systems Theory can be applied to understand human behavior. Human behavior is emergent and behavior patterns emerge thanks to the way the parts or the processes are coordinated among themselves. In fact, the listening process in humans is complex and it develops over time as well. Sound and music can be both inside and outside humans. This tutorial concerns the translation of Chuas oscillators into music, in order to find a new way of understanding complexity by using music. By building up many computational models which allow the translation of some quantitative features of Chuas oscillator into sound and music, we have created many acoustical and musical compositions, which in turn present the characteristics of dynamical systems from a perceptual point of view. We have found interesting relationships between dynamical systems behavior and their musical translation since, in the process of listening, human subjects perceive many of the structures as possible to perceive in the behavior of Chuas oscillator. In other words, human cognitive abilities can analyze the large and complicated patterns produced by Chuas systems translated into music, achieving the cognitive economy and the coordination and synthesis of countless data at our disposal that occur in the perception of dynamic events in the real world. Music can be considered the semantics of dynamical systems, which gives us a powerful method for interpreting complexity.
pervasive computing and communications | 2006
Giuseppe Alì; Eleonora Bilotta; Lorella Gabriele; Pietro Pantano
The European project COMSON (coupled multiscale simulation and optimization in nanoelectronics) is a Marie Curie RTN project that involves five partners from academia and three from industry world, with the main objective of realising an experimental demonstrator platform (DP) in software code, which comprises coupled simulation of devices, interconnects, circuits, EM fields and thermal effects in one single framework. The DP is the basis for a lifelong e-learning system, devoted to the training and transfer of knowledge within COMSON, in order to promote exchange of resources and to share knowledge. In this paper we give a brief description of COMSON and summarize the characteristics and functionality of MODMAT.net, a prototype e-learning platform realized for the management of information and didactics online. In our intention, this platform is used as the starting point for developing an e-learning platform with high levels of portability and reusability