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Analytical Decision Support Systems for Sustainable Urban Regeneration
No full textThe rapid urbanization of contemporary cities represents one of the most complex challenges of the 21st century, with profound implications for the environmental, social, and economic sustainability of territories. In this context, urban regeneration emerges as a strategic approach to territorial transformation. The complexity of urban dynamics requires the adoption of innovative paradigms and systemic approaches capable of guiding decision-making processes toward eco-sustainable and resilient solutions. This research develops advanced decision support tools for urban regeneration, using the city of Potenza (Italy) as a case study. The main objective is to identify key indicators to evaluate the effectiveness of urban regeneration interventions in advance (ex-ante). The methodology develops a composite economic-financial risk index capable of providing an accurate picture of existing conditions while adapting to the territorial specificities of the analyzed area. This index, which uses the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) technique to integrate elementary economic-financial indicators in order to assess the sustainability level of urban redevelopment projects, is able to synthesize complex economic variables into a single parameter of immediate comprehension, strategically guiding investments toward a sustainable urban development model. The analysis of results highlights a peculiar territorial configuration: semi-central areas present the greatest criticalities, while there is a progressive decrease in risk both toward the central core and toward peripheral and extra-urban areas. The study represents a significant methodological contribution to future urban regeneration initiatives at the local level, promoting an integrated vision of sustainable urban development for the benefit of current and future generations
EXPEDITIOUS SEISMIC RISK ASSESSMENT OF THE SARACENA AREA OF TRICARICO CITY (SOUTHERN ITALY)
No full textIn the present paper the expeditious seismic risk assessment at territorial level of “Saracena” area of Tricarico city is presented, according to the simplified methodology suggested by Tuscany region (Italy) and developed in 2019. Tricarico is a village located in Southern Italy, in Basilicata Region, divided in different areas, such as Saracena, Rabatana, Civita, etc. Each of these areas is characterized by a specific historical development, reflected in a peculiar urban fabric, however mainly represented by historical masonry.
Specifically, “Saracena” is one of the most ancient areas of the village, characterized by lowrise masonry buildings and historic ones, some of which are abandoned also due to the deteriorated conditions of them. In this regard, with the aim of re-evaluating Tricarico from a touristic point of view and mitigating its seismic risk, it has been chosen as a case study within the Italian Project GENESIS “Seismic risk manaGEmeNt for the touristic valorization of thE hiStorIcal centers of Southern Italy”, within which it is analyzed at different detail levels, of which the territorial one is presented in this work. Therefore, the simplified methodology mentioned above has been adopted, investigating a multilevel approach which implies the use of census data but also of the in-situ surveys carried out, depending on the detail level to be achieved. This methodology allows obtaining a Risk Class R as a function of the Indicator of Risk IR, given by the sum of the classes of Hazard (H), Vulnerability (V) and Exposure (E)
A Child-Aware Setup for Automatic Evaluation of Interaction with Robots in NAO Autism Therapy
No full textVictor Egger e la visione panoramica del morente.
No full textIn questo articolo si fa luce sulle origini storiche del dibattito sulle esperienze di premorte, focalizzando l’attenzione sulle indagini pionieristiche condotte dallo psicologo e filosofo francese Victor Egger (1848-1909) che, ancora oggi, rappresenta un interlocutore obbligato per gli studi sia in ambito psicologico-psichiatrico che filosofico-epistemologico. Dall’analisi dei due articoli di Egger sull’«Io dei morenti» usciti sulla "Revue philosophique de la France et de l’étranger" nel 1896, emerge un dato morale inaggirabile. Se consideriamo la morte come un’esperienza qualitativa in
prima persona, non possiamo non prendere atto del sorgere dell’«io vivo», inteso da Egger come la reazione spontanea dell’organismo alla minaccia della morte biologica. Ed è a questo livello che assume un’importanza decisiva l’esercizio spirituale tramandato dai classici
Impact of temperature dependency of ice scattering properties on spectrally resolved radiance at far infrared wavelengths
No full textThe ability to estimate the longwave radiative effects of ice clouds relies on the accuracy in modelling their
physical and radiative properties at mid and far infrared (MIR and FIR) wavelengths. In the FIR part of the spectrum
(15-100 μm), the optical constants of water ice depend on temperature. This spectral dependency affects the scattering
properties of ice clouds and consequently, the radiation measured both at the surface and at the top of the atmosphere.
Recently, advances in modelling of cloud radiative properties resulted also in the assembly of single scattering single
particle dataset with temperature dependency. Ren et al.1 set-up a new dataset of optical properties for severely
surface-roughened 8-piece hexagonal column aggregate ice particles in the far infrared and for temperature ranging
from 160 K to 270 K. The assumed particle shape is the same included in a popular database of ice crystal radiative
properties (Yang et al.2) computed for a single temperature (266 K) and adopted in many retrieval algorithms such
as the one for the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) Collection 6. In this work, we perform
multiple scattering line by line computations to evaluate the impact of the temperature on high-resolution upwelling (at
the top of the atmosphere) and downwelling (at the surface) radiances in the presence of ice clouds. To assess the level
of accuracy of the simulated radiance fields, in the assumption that no temperature dependency is needed, simulations
are run in the far infrared part of the spectrum for multiple scenarios provided by the Numerical Weather Prediction
Satellite Facility (NWP SAF) model profile d ata t hat a re r epresentative o f t he t ypical v ariability a nd e xtremes of
atmospheric conditions. The impact of the new ice temperature dependent dataset on outgoing and surface radiation
at FIR, are analysed for multiple ice cloud cases and related to the assumed cloud and atmospheric properties of the
observational conditions. It is found that in about one third of the analysed cases the differences are remarkable in
comparison to the noise level of the future Far-infrared Outgoing Radiation Understanding and Monitoring (FORUM)
satellite mission which will be able to spectrally resolve the FIR band. The ice cloud altitude (i.e. temperature) and
the water vapor content between the observer and the cloud, play a major role in the significance of the difference
between using a temperature dependent or independent cloud properties dataset
Pier Nicolò Berardi, costruttore di un paesaggio
No full textAt the turn of the twentieth century, Italian architectural culture confronted the dialectic between historic and modern cities, reinterpreting classical canons to shape a renewed national identity. Within this context, Pier Niccolò Berardi (1904–1989) emerged as a key figure: after his participation in the S. M. Novella station competition (1932–35), he redefined his role as architect, painter, and photographer. The rise of Neorealism, particularly in Basilicata, promoted the rediscovery of rural traditions and the identification of modernity with “social time”1. In Maratea, together with Stefano Rivetti, Berardi integrated villas, hotels, and farmhouses into the landscape2, mobilizing an iconographic repertoire to construct a new cultural landscape. This process transformed Maratea into the “Pearl of the Tyrrhenian,” attracting capital and tourism while curbing migration. The investigation of these heterogeneous architectures not only outlines a specifically Italian path to Rationalism, but also interrogates their long-term socio-cultural, environmental, and economic repercussions, raising the question of whether a “Maratea model” exists as a framework for future territorial strategie
Impact of irrigation with fipronil-contaminated waters on zucchini plants and their main insect pest, Aphis gossypii
No full text: Fipronil is an insecticide with low residual activity and high efficacy at low concentrations. Due to its widespread use and long half-life, fipronil can persist during wastewater treatment and is found even in surface waters. When released into the environment, it can accumulate over time and can lead to concentrations in soil and plant tissues that are harmful to both target and non-target organisms. As the reuse of treated wastewater and sewage sludge presents challenges and opportunities for farmers, this study investigates the effects of irrigation with environmentally relevant doses of fipronil on zucchini plants and their main insect pest, Aphis gossypii. Traces of fipronil were found in the zucchini leaves, but not in the flowers, after 35-days of cumulative exposure. A decrease in nymph-to-adult survival and a dose-dependent reduction in the fecundity of A. gossypii feeding on contaminated host plants was observed. Also, aphids feeding on contaminated host plants exhibited the same mortality rate as the control group when exposed to an acute dose of fipronil. However, when natural pyrethrins were used, there was a significant increase in resistance to this insecticide. Our results demonstrate the potential for fipronil to accumulate in plant tissues and highlight the risk of changes in insecticide susceptibility in insect pests. This suggests a need for a holistic approach to the complex dynamics of wastewater reuse in agriculture
