Archivio istituzionale della Ricerca - Università degli Studi di Parma
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The impact of vertical vegetation on outdoor thermal perception during current and future heatwaves in a temperate climate
No full textVertical vegetation systems offer a sustainable solution for enhancing building energy efficiency and indoor comfort while also providing essential urban ecosystem services. However, research on their thermal effects during heat waves is still limited, particularly in the context of climate change. Mitigating overheating during hot seasons is crucial for both
ecosystems and human health, especially in temperate regions.
The present study aims to investigate and compare the benefits of two types of vertical green walls, applied to the facades of an existing building, in mitigating the effects of heat waves, relative to a baseline wall. Using the ENVI-met software, this research analyzes the external thermal response in 2024 and during a hypothetical heat wave for 2050, with the University of Parma’s Engineering Headquarter serving as a case study. To address the research aims, the absolute differences between the Mean Radiant Temperature (MRT) values and the Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI) will be evaluated for each façade and scenario across the three cases. The results will help to understand the microclimatic benefits of vertical greenery, thereby supporting future urban adaptation strategies for climate change
Semantic distances of WAIS Similarities word pairs in non-demented adults: An item-level index of semantic memory granularity
No full textInnovative approaches to test scoring can help neuropsychologists detect subtle semantic memory alterations. We focussed on the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale Similarities (SIM) test and calculated an item-level score based on the ‘Leacock & Chodorow ‘(LCH) semantic distance expressed by each SIM item. We hypothesised that LCH would predict 1) performance on standard semantic memory tests; 2) an Alzheimer aetiology; 3) transentorhinal grey-matter integrity. Six hundred sixty-nine non-demented participants completed a neuropsychological battery inclusive of SIM and consolidated tests of semantic memory and executive functioning. Hierarchical linear regressions were designed to test the association between LCH and semantic memory performance after controlling for major confounders. A hierarchical logistic regression was then designed to test the association between LCH and underlying aetiology (Alzheimer/cerebrovascular) in a mild cognitive impairment sub-cohort. Finally, we tested the association between LCH and both whole-brain grey-matter density and transentorhinal thickness using voxel-based-morphometry and region-of-interest models. LCH predicted semantic memory performance but not on a test significantly supported by executive resources. LCH also predicted clinical aetiology and grey-matter density in the transentorhinal cortex and in other regions involved in linguistic-semantic processing. No significant association was found with regional thickness. Post-hoc LCH scoring in 89 people with dementia revealed the presence of a gradient of diagnostic severity, i.e., healthy adults < mild cognitive impairment < dementia. Item-level scores of SIM performance are associated with neurocognitive constituents of semantic memory. LCH is a valuable construct that could help clinicians detect semantic memory decline in ageing adults with suspected neurodegeneration
CHARACTERIZATION OF PRECIPITATION EXTREMES, FLOW RATES AND FLOOD VOLUMES, IN THE CONTEXT OF CLIMATE CHANGE FOR THE PO RIVER BASIN DISTRICT
No full textLa presente memoria riassume una parte dei risultati di una ricerca svolta, negli anni 2020- 2023, grazie a una colla-borazione tra l’Autorità di Bacino Distrettuale del Fiume Po (ADBPO), le Università di Brescia, Parma e Bologna e i Politecnici di Torino e Milano. Il progetto dal titolo “Caratterizzazione del regime di frequenza degli estremi idrologi-ci nel distretto Po, anche considerando scenari di cambiamento climatico” ha avuto come obiettivo principale l’approfondimento della conoscenza del regime di frequenza degli estremi idro-pluviometrici nel Distretto del Fiume Po, sulla base dei dati idro-pluviometrici più recenti e delle tecniche più avanzate ad oggi disponibili. Obiettivo del Workpackage 5 del progetto, i cui risultati vengono qui riassunti, è stato quello di valutare gli effetti del cambiamento climatico e territoriale sulle precipitazioni estreme, le portate di piena e gli idrogrammi di piena. Le ricerche condotte si sono basate sulla analisi dei risultati dei modelli climatici sviluppati sotto la supervisione dell’IPCC che forniscono stime di diverse variabili climatiche quali le precipitazioni e le temperature negli anni futuri, al momento limitate all’anno 2100. Le variabili sono calcolate nell’ipotesi che, globalmente, si verifichino diversi scenari di emissioni di gas climalteranti o si realizzino cambiamenti di carattere socio-economico e/o politico. L’analisi delle precipitazioni estreme ha fornito risultati che indicano, in generale, una intensificazione delle precipitazioni di durata giornaliera e subgiornaliera con variazioni non uniformi sul distretto del Po, anche tenendo conto, nelle aree montane, del sommar-si delle piogge intense ai volumi di fusione nivale. Per la valutazione degli impatti del cambiamento climatico sui valori delle portate al colmo si sono eseguite analisi idrologiche chiuse ad alcune sezioni fluviali di interesse, dati i costi e tempi di realizzazione per aree di estensione quali quelle del distretto del Po. Lo studio ha fornito risultati per il caso del bacino del Fiume Panaro che indicano aumenti delle portate al colmo (tempo di ritorno di circa 20 anni) pari al 20-30% per scenari futuri a medio termine, e decisamente superiori per quelli a lungo termine. È stata inoltre deli-neata una metodologia semplificata di calcolo potenzialmente applicabile a tutto il distretto che si avvale del concetto di “elasticità idro-climatica” a partire dalla quantificazione della relazione tra le distribuzioni di probabilità di preci-pitazione e portata al colmo. I risultati ottenuti sui territori del Piemonte e della Valle d’Aosta indicano che sono pre-vedibili, in relazione agli aumenti delle intensità di precipitazione, aumenti delle portate al colmo in estese porzioni del territorio considerato, in genere percentualmente maggiori degli aumenti di precipitazione intensa. Per quanto riguarda una valutazione degli impatti sugli idrogrammi di piena, al momento non si ritiene possibile derogare dalla valutazione idrologica chiusa alla sezione fluviale di interesse: l’individualità degli idrogrammi è, infatti, ancora più marcata delle portate al colmo. Le simulazioni continuative di afflussi e deflussi per il bacino del Panaro a Spilamber-to hanno mostrato che, in scenari climatici futuri, gli idrogrammi di piena diventerebbero più impulsivi e ripidi. Tut-tavia, l’impatto delle variazioni climatiche future sui volumi di piena è limitato, con curve di riduzione dei volumi poco variate e leggermente più basse rispetto al periodo di riferimento. Sebbene i risultati possano ritenersi rappresen-tativi del comportamento idraulico di bacini simili nei territori appenninici, ulteriori studi più approfonditi e su più casi potrebbero migliorare l’accuratezza e la generalizzabilità di queste conclusioni.This paper presents a summary of selected findings from a research project conducted between 2020 and 2023, in collaboration with the Po River Basin Authority (ADBPO), the Universities of Brescia, Parma, and Bologna, and the Polytechnics of Turin and Milan. The project, titled Characterization of the Frequency Regime of Hydrological Extremes in the Po River District, Also Considering Climate Change Scenarios, aimed to enhance understanding of the frequency and intensity of hydrological and rainfall extremes within the Po River Dis-trict. This was achieved using the latest available data and state-of-the-art methodologies.
The focus of Work Package 5, whose results are summarized in this paper, was to evaluate the effects of climate and land-use changes on extreme precipitation, flood peaks, and flood hydrographs. The research relied on outputs from climate models developed under the guidance of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which estimate future changes in key variables such as temperature and precipita-tion up to the year 2100. These projections are based on different global greenhouse gas emission pathways and various socioeconomic and policy scenarios.
The analysis of extreme precipitation trends generally revealed an intensification of both daily and sub-daily rainfall events, with spatially uneven patterns across the Po River District. In mountainous regions, snowmelt contributions were also considered, compounding the effects of heavy rainfall. To evaluate the impact of climate change on peak flows, hydrological modeling was carried out at selected river sections, given the logistical and financial constraints of analyzing the entire basin. Results from the Panaro River basin indicated projected increases in peak discharge of 20–30% for medium-term scenarios (return period about 20 years), with significantly larger increases expected in long-term projections.
A simplified methodology was proposed for broader application across the district, based on the concept of hydro-climatic elasticity, which quantifies the relationship between the probability distributions of precipi-tation and flood peaks. In the Piedmont and Aosta Valley regions, findings suggest that increases in pre-cipitation intensity are likely to lead to even greater relative increases in peak flows across substantial parts of the study area.
As for flood hydrographs, the assessment remains inherently localized due to their unique characteristics, which are even more variable than peak discharges. Continuous simulations of rainfall and runoff in the Panaro basin at Spilamberto indicate that future flood hydrographs may become more rapid and steep under climate change scenarios. However, changes in total flood volumes appear minimal, with volume-duration curves remaining largely consistent with those of the reference period.
While the results are considered indicative of hydrologic behavior in similar Apennine basins, further de-tailed studies across additional case studies are recommended to refine and broaden the applicability of these conclusions
Upgrading existing façades by integrating seismic interventions with vertical green solutions: the undergoing project at the University of Parma
No full textUpgrading existing buildings to enhance seismic safety and provide climate
adaptation presents significant challenges both today and in the near future. The
issue of how to effectively integrate seismic interventions with sustainable solutions
to improve the microclimatic performance of existing buildings remains largely
underestimated. The present study investigates the role of various vegetated green
solutions applied to the metallic framework utilized for seismic enhancements at the teaching headquarters of the Department of Engineering and Architecture at the University of Parma. In this context, in addition to the essential seismic interventions aimed at improving the building's earthquake resistance, a microclimatic assessment has been conducted, focusing on green solutions, orientations, and stages of plant growth. The paper aims to examine the extent to which three distinct green solutions can be implemented during the installation phase of seismic measures to provide
shade for the building envelope and enhance outdoor thermal comfort near green
façades. These solutions include a green wall supported by vertical metal mesh
anchored to the existing façades, a green-covered wooden pergola aligned with the St. Andrew's cross bracings, and a green wall that grows directly on the existing walls. Each solution, which must avoid interfering with the metal framework, has been climatically evaluated using ENVI-met in both current and projected future scenarios, taking into account the Leaf Area Index (LAI) of Parthenocissus tricuspidata. The findings indicate that incorporating vegetation into seismic structures from the initial stages can provide significant cooling benefits by lowering the Mean Radiant Temperature and the Universal Thermal Climate Index, depending on orientation, leaf density, and outdoor temperature
Incentive pay, managerial skills and span of control
No full textThe use of incentive pay to elicit worker effort is a hallmark of agency theory. Although an extensive literature has investigated the effects of these incentives on both firm and worker performance, less attention has been paid to their heterogeneous use across firms. We document that incentive contracts are more likely adopted in firms with better educated managers and with hierarchies where the span of control is larger. This result is robust to different specification models that account for selectivity effects, measurement errors, heterogeneity in the type of incentive pay and the incidence of teamwork. We rationalize this empirical evidence through a simple principal-(multi)-agent model where a manager optimally allocates her time across two tasks: coordination and supervision. The model hinges on two assumptions: first, the marginal benefit of coordination is assumed increasing in the managers’ skills. Second, the marginal benefit of supervision is assumed decreasing in the manager's span of control. With these ingredients the model suggests that managers who are more skilled and having larger span of control should focus more on coordination and less on supervision, and thus, pay higher bonuses to elicit labour effort. Taken together, these results help to extend the debate about the drivers of incentive pay beyond standard worker and industry-level characteristics, and to focus more explicitly on firm and manager features instead
Vacuum extraction is successful in 95% of cases with an occiput posterior position: the results of a prospective, multicenter study
No full textBackground: Occiput posterior position is associated with labor arrest, need for operative delivery, and failed instrumental vaginal delivery, with resulting adverse peripartum outcomes. Vacuum extraction is the most commonly performed type of instrumental delivery worldwide. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the outcome of vacuum extraction in fetuses with sonographically confirmed occiput posterior position before the procedure. Study Design: Singleton pregnancies at term with sonographically confirmed fetal occiput posterior position before the vacuum extraction were enrolled in 3 academic maternity units. Fetal head station was assessed using transperineal sonography measuring the angle of progression and the head–perineum distance. The primary outcome was failed vacuum extraction, defined as the need for cesarean delivery. Secondary outcomes included adverse maternal and/or adverse neonatal outcomes and complicated vacuum extraction, with the latter defined as failed vacuum extraction or at least 3 out of the following 6 parameters: 5-minute Apgar score <7, neonatal acidemia, admission to the neonatal intensive care unit, neonatal trauma, postpartum hemorrhage, and obstetrical anal sphincter injuries. Results: Among the 98 patients included in the study, vacuum extraction was successful in 94 (96%). Logistic regression analysis showed that the measurement of the head–perineum distance was the only factor independently associated with failed vacuum extraction (odds ratio, 1.25; 95% confidence interval, 1.02–1.55; P=.03), with an area under the curve of 0.79 (P=.04). A head–perineum distance cutoff value of 38.5 mm discriminated between successful and failed vacuum extraction, yielding a sensitivity of 75.0% (3/4), specificity of 84.0% (79/94), positive likelihood ratio of 4.7, and negative likelihood ratio of 0.3. Conclusion: Vacuum extraction is successful in 95% of fetuses with occiput posterior position confirmed at ultrasound. The head–perineum distance measured at transperineal ultrasound has a significant albeit weak association with the outcome of vacuum extraction
Expert consensus on cancer treatment-related lung injury
No full textBackground: Although advancements in cancer therapies have substantially improved the survival of cancer patients, these treatments may also result in acute or chronic lung injury. Cancer treatment-related lung injury (CTLI) presents with a diverse array of clinical manifestations and can involve multiple sites. Due to the lack of specific diagnostic protocols, CTLI can deteriorate rapidly and may be life-threatening if not promptly addressed. Unfortunately, there is no universally accepted consensus document on the diagnosis and management of CTLI. Methods: A multidisciplinary panel comprising experts from respiratory and critical care medicine, oncology, radiation oncology, thoracic surgery, radiology, pathology, infectious diseases, pharmacy, and rehabilitation medicine participated in this consensus development. Through a systematic literature review and detailed panel discussions, the team formulated nine key recommendations. Results: This consensus document addresses the concept, epidemiology, pathogenesis, risk factors, diagnostic approach, evaluation workflow, management strategies, differential diagnosis, type-specific management and clinical staging of CTLI. Emphasis is placed on raising awareness among clinicians and therapeutic practices through comprehensive guidelines. Conclusions: The consensus provides a detailed diagnostic protocol for CTLI and introduces a structured management framework based on grading, typing, and staging. It highlights the critical role of multidisciplinary team (MDT) collaboration and emphasizes the need for individualized, whole-process patient care strategies to optimize clinical outcomes
The BioSUD Biobank as a genomic resource for substance use disorders in Italy
No full textSubstance Use Disorders (SUDs) are a significant public health concern with complex etiologies involving genetic, environmental, and psychological factors. Here, we present BioSUD, a biobank that, by integrating genomic data with comprehensive phenotypic assessments, including sociodemographic, psychosocial, and addiction-related variables, was designed to investigate the etiology of SUDs within the Southern Italian population. We assessed a cohort of 1,806 participants (1,508 controls and 298 individuals with SUD diagnosis). Genomic analyses of the newly generated genotypes showed a predominantly Southern Italian ancestry for the BioSUD cohort. Admixture analysis reveals a complex history of genetic admixture in Southern Italian populations, exhibiting Southern European, African, and other ancestries. This results in significant genetic variation, potentially limiting the applicability of translational studies primarily based on Northern European ancestries. From a social and psychological perspective, individuals with SUDs exhibited lower socioeconomic status, increased exposure to adverse experiences, and compromised familial and peer relationships relative to controls. These results show that the BioSUD cohort is valuable for studying SUD-associated complex behavioral traits