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Two-phase modelling of debris flow over composite topography: theoretical and numerical aspects
No full textIn the mountain territory the majority of the population and of the productive activities are concentrated in the proximity of torrents or over alluvial fans. Here, when intense rainfall occurs, debris flow or hyper-concentrated flow events can produce serious problems to the population with possible casualties. On the other hand, the majority of these problems could be overcome with accurate hazard mapping, disaster prevention planning and mitigation structures (e.g. silt check dams, paved channels, weirs ...). Good and reliable mathematical and numerical models, able to accurately describe these phenomena are therefore necessary.
Debris flows and hyper-concentrated flows can be adequately represented by means of a mixture of a fluid (usually water) and a solid phase (granular sediment, e.g. sand, gravel ...), flowing over complex and composite topography. Complex topography is related to complicated bed elevation variety inasmuch as there are slopes, channels, human artifacts and so on. On the other hand, topography is composite because every type of flow can encounter two different bed behaviors: the mobile bed and the fixed bed. In the first case, mass can be exchanged between the bed and the flow, so the bottom elevation can change in time. In the second case (fixed bed case), this mass transfer is inhibited, due to the presence of a rigid bottom, such as bedrock or concrete, and the bottom cannot change in time. The first objective of the work presented in this thesis concerns the development of a new type of hyperbolic mathematical model for free-surface two-phase hyper-concentrated flows able to describe in a single way the fixed bed, the mobile bed and also the transition between them. The second objective, strictly connected with the first, is the development of a numerical scheme that implements this mathematical model in an accurate and efficient way. In the framework of finite-volume methods with Godunov approach, the fluxes are evaluated solving a Riemann Problem (RP). A RP is an initial value problem related to a set of PDEs equations wherein, in a certain point, there is a discontinuity separating different left and right initial constant states. However, if the topography is composite, a new type of Riemann problem, called Composite Riemann Problem (CRP), occurs. In a CRP, not only the initial constant states, but also the relevant PDEs systems change across the discontinuity. This additional complexity makes the general solution of the CRP quite challenging to obtain. The first part of the work is devoted to the derivation of the PDEs systems describing the fixed- and mobile-bed behaviors. Starting from the 3D discrete equations valid for each phase (continuous fluid and solid granular) and using suitable average processes the 3D continuous equations (continuous fluid and solid) are obtained. Introducing the shallow water approximation and performing the depth average process, the 2D fully two-phase models for free-surface flow over fixed- and mobile-bed are derived. The isokinetic approximation, which states the equality between the velocity of the solid phase and the liquid phase, is then used, ending up with the so-called two-phase isokinetic models. Finally, an exhaustive comparison between the fixed- and the mobile-bed fully two-phase models, the two-phase isokinetic models and others models proposed in the literature is presented.
The second part of the work concerns the definition and, mainly, the solution of the CRP from a mathematical point of view. Firstly, a general strategy for the CRP solution is developed. It allows to couple different hyperbolic systems that are physically compatible (e.g. fixed-bed with mobile-bed systems, free-surface flow with pressurized flow), also if they have a different number of equations. The resulting CRP solution is composed of a single PDEs system, called Composite PDEs system, whose properties, under some assumptions, degenerate to the properties of the original PDEs systems. The general strategy is developed using the simplest 1D isokinetic models for the fixed bed and the mobile bed (i.e. PDEs systems valid only for low concentration). Coherently with the generality of the CRP solution method, the low concentration constraint is then relaxed, ending up with a Composite PDEs system describing also high concentrated flows. From the numerical point of view, all the developed Composite systems are integrated using the finite-volume method with Godunov fluxes. These fluxes are evaluated using three different approximated Riemann solvers: the Generalized Roe solver, the LHLL solver and the Universal Osher solver. All the solvers are analyzed and an exhaustive comparison between them is performed, highlighting pros and cons. The schemes are second order accurate in space and time, and this has been achieved by means of the MUSCL approach. Finally numerical schemes have been parallelized using OpenMP standard. All the models are then tested comparing analytical and numerical solutions. The results are satisfactory, with an accurate agreement between the two solutions in the majority of the physically-based test cases. There is only some small issue when the simulations are performed in a few resonant cases. However, these problems arise in not realistic situations, so it is impossible to encounter them in real situations. Also a realistic application is presented (i.e. the evolution of a trench over partially paved channel), proving the capabilities of both the mathematical approach and the numerical scheme
Mechanisms of post-transcriptional regulation of genes involved in FTDP-17
No full textMicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non coding RNAs of 18-25 nt, capable of regulating mRNA translation and gene expression at post-transcriptional level. Alteration of miRNAs expression is often associated with human diseases, such as cancers and neurodegenerative pathologies. The main objective of this study is an analysis of the post-transcriptional regulation played by miRNAs of two important genes, MAPT and GRN, involved in Frontotemporal Dementia with Parkinsonism linked to chromosome 17 (FTDP-17). This is one of the major degenerative dementia syndromes, characterized by atrophy of the prefrontal and anterior temporal lobes. Several studies identified 44 pathogenic mutations in MAPT, which encodes for microtubule associated tau protein. In the brain tau has important functions in the assembly and stability of microtubules, that are fundamental for neuronal integrity and function. Disruption of tau role due to tau aggregations cause devastating effects that trigger neurodegeneration. To date 69 different mutations were found in GRN in the presence of FTD. GRN encodes a secreted precursor protein called progranulin that is expressed in neurons, microglia and represents an important growth factor involved in the regulation of multiple processes. The study identified miRNAs that can bind to GRN and MAPT mRNAs, affecting the translation efficiency of these transcripts, with a consequently reduction of the protein production. The project combined standard bioinformatic tools with a novel capture affinity assay, called miR-CATCH, in order to identify the best putative miRNAs. The assay was performed with specific biotinylated anti-sense oligonucleotides for the pull-down of GRN and MAPT mRNAs in different neuroblastoma cell lines. The binding of selected miRNAs on the 3’UTR regions of these genes, was validated using over-expressing vectors and reporter constructs to perform luciferase assays. Regulation of selected miRNAs over-expression on progranulin and tau proteins was investigated in a neuroblastoma cell line, using western blot. This effect was further analyzed with Real Time PCR reactions and polysomal analysis to understand if the selected miRNAs control progranulin and tau expression through a mechanism of translational repression or transcripts degradation. Two of the analyzed candidates, miR-659-3p and miR-608 were found important for the regulation of both genes, GRN and MAPT implicated in the disease, with a subsequent control on the endogenous progranulin and tau production in neuroblastoma cell line. Whereas miR-939-5p and miR-615-5p are only involved in the regulation of GRN expression. In addition we identified several SNPs located on miRNAs binding sites that are predicted to increase or decrease miRNAs binding. Since neurological disorders are strongly influenced by common genetic variability, SNPs or variations that overlapped miRNA-binding sites, could represent potential and important risks factors for generation of FTD
A comparative analysis of the metabolomes of different berry tissues between Vitis vinifera and wild American Vitis species, supported by a computer-assisted identification strategy
No full textGrape (Vitis vinifera L.) is among the most cultivated plants in the world. Its origin traces back to the Neolithic era, when the first human communities started to domesticate wild Vitis sylvestris L. grapes to produce wines. Domestication modified Vitis vinifera to assume characteristics imparted from the humans, selecting desired traits (e.g. specific aromas), and excluding the undesired ones. This process made this species very different from all the other wild grape species existing around the world, including its progenitor, Vitis sylvestris.
Metabolomics is a field of the sciences that comparatively studies the whole metabolite set of two (or more) groups of samples, to point out the chemical diversity and infer on the variability in the metabolic pathways between the groups. Crude metabolomics observation can be often used for hypotheses generation, which need to be confirmed by further experiments. In my case, starting from the grape metabolome project (Mattivi et al. unpublished data), I had the opportunity to put hands on a huge dataset built on the berries of over 100 Vitis vinifera grape varieties, tens of grape interspecific hybrids and few wild grape species analyzed per four years; all included in a single experiment. Starting from this data handling, I designed specific experiments to confirm the hypotheses generated from the observation of the data, to improve compound identification, to give statistical meaning to the differences, to localize the metabolites in the berries and extrapolate further information on the variability existing among the grape genus. The hypotheses formulated were two: 1) several glyco-conjugated volatiles can be detected, identified and quantified in untargeted reverses-phase liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry; 2) The chemical difference between Vitis vinifera and wild grape berries is wider than reported in literature. Furthermore, handling a huge dataset of chemical standards injected under the same conditions of the sample set, I also formulated a third hypothesis: 3) metabolites with similar chemical structures are more likely to generate similar signals in LC-MS, therefore the combined use of the signals can predict the more likely chemical structure of unknown markers.
In the first study (chapter 5), the signals putatively corresponding to glycoconjugated volatiles have been first enclosed in a specific portion of the temporal and spectrometric space of the LC-HRMS chromatograms, then they have been subjected to MS/MS analysis and lastly their putative identity have been confirmed through peak intensity correlation between the signals measured in LC-HRMS and GC-MS. In the second study (chapter 6), a multivariate regression model has been built between LC-HRMS signals and the substructures composing the molecular structure of the compounds and its accuracy and efficacy in substructure prediction have been demonstrated. In the third study (chapter 7), I comparatively studied some wild grapes versus some Vitis vinifera varieties separating the basic components of the grape berry (skin, flesh and seeds), with the aim to identify all the detected metabolites that differentiate the two groups, which determine a difference in quality between the wild versus domesticated grapes, especially regarding wine production
Parents of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders: Well-being of Parents, and Emotional & Physiological Responses to Infant Crying
Get PDFAutism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is characterized by difficulties in social communication and restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior and interests (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). These key characteristics of autism each create a number of difficulties for individuals with autism and also their parents. It is well established that parenting a child with ASD is stressful, impacting on mental health and overall quality of life (Baker-Ericzn, Brookman-Frazee, & Stahmer, 2005; Davis & Carter, 2008; Eisenhower, Baker, & Blacher, 2005; McStay, Dissanayake, Scheeren, Koot, & Begeer, 2013). However, there are some doubts or gaps in the literature of parenting children with ASD which we addressed in this thesis.
Two main goals of this thesis were: a) examining well-being of parents of children with ASD, b) focusing on the parents’ responses to cries of infants with ASD and typical development, considering two types of responses: emotional and physiological. Therefore, this thesis is composed of two parts. The first part in which we aimed to examine well-being of parents of children with ASD has been divided into two sections. The first one dealt with similarities and differences between mothers and fathers in terms of parenting stress, parental mental health and attitude (Chapter 2). Results indicated that mothers of children with ASD reported higher level of depression than fathers and considerable percentages of both mothers and fathers had scores above the clinical cut-points of stress showing that they experience clinically significant levels of parenting stress. Moreover, in terms of parental attitude, mothers engaged with their children in more social exchange than fathers do.
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The final chapter in Part 1 (Chapter 3) evaluated whether maternal well-being and sense of competence are affected by the outcomes of children receiving intervention. The results suggested that child and family factors, including mothers’ age, were linked to maternal well-being. However treatment-related changes in children’s communication, and parenting satisfaction contributed to well-being above and beyond other factors. A mediation analysis indicated that mothers whose children make treatment gains in communication skills experience a reduction in their level of negative well-being as a consequence of increased parental sense of competence with regards to parenting satisfaction.
The second part of the thesis aimed to evaluate emotional and physiological responses of parents of children with ASD during infant crying. This part begins by laying out the theoretical dimensions of the research, and then proceeds as follows: a) the first experiment was concerned with the preparation and validation the cry episodes as unpleasant acoustic stimuli (Chapter 4); b) the second one examined emotional and physiological responses of non-parents adults while listening of infant crying (Chapter 5); c) the last experiment focused on parents of children with ASD and parents of typically developing children, examining their emotional and physiological responses during the listening of crying of children with ASD and of typically developing (TD) children (Chapter 6).
Findings from Chapter 4 indicated that all cry episodes, regardless of the types (e.g., cries of children with ASD or cries of typically developing children) were perceived as unpleasant by non-parents adults. The following study in Chapter 5 showed that cries of children with ASD (ASD cry) were reported more stressed, aroused and less pleasant compare to cries of typically developing children (TD cry) by non-parents adults; however, similar pattern was not seen in the physiological responses of listeners. Results
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from the final experiment (Chapter 6) showed that parents of children with ASD and parents of TD children were not differentiated in their self-reports of stress, arousal and valence levels for ASD cry and TD cry. However, their physiological responses showed that parents of children with ASD have higher heart rate than parents of TD children during ASD cry and TD cry. Moreover, the analysis on the comparisons between ASD cry and TD cry suggested both parents perceived ASD cry more stressful, aroused and less pleasant, but physiological responses of parents of children with ASD did not show the differences between ASD cry and TD cry. The overall structure of the thesis takes the form of seven chapters, including a general introduction (Chapter 1). The importance of those findings for future theoretical and clinical work is considered in detail in the end of related chapters and in the general discussion chapter (Chapter 7)
Controls on and Morphodynamic Effects of Width Variations in Bed-load Dominated Alluvial Channels: Experimental and Numerical Study
No full textUnderstanding and predicting the effects of width variability and the controls on width adjustment in rivers has a key role in developing management approaches able to account for the physical, ecological and socio-economical dimensions of a river system. Width adaptation in a river occurs due to erosion and accretion of banks, within various geomorphic, environmental and anthropogenic contexts, which set the most relevant factors controlling the morphological dynamics of the river corridor. In turn, changes in channel width imply alterations of the river channel morphodynamics at a variety of space and time scales, implying, for instance, modifications of important controlling parameters, like the width-to-depth ratio, which is closely related to the planform morphology of alluvial rivers. Width adaptation bears crucial implications for river management: on one hand, channel widening may result in loss of valuable land and in the increase of the damage risk of infrastructures in surrounding areas, which are often subjected to increasing pressures related to human settlements and economic activities. On the other hand, several approaches to river restoration are based on the concept of “giving more room to the river”, and thus allow the banks to erode and widen, to increase morphological and physical habitat diversity. In view of these implications, the prediction of width adaptation, understanding of its main causes and controlling factors, and quantification of the riverbed morphodynamic response to width variability is of crucial importance to support effective river management.
The practical and engineering interest on stable cross-sections of alluvial channels has attracted a considerable amount of scientific research since late 19th century. Much of the research has focused in developing width prediction tools mostly based on empirical approaches and methods based on extremal hypothesis and to lesser extent on mechanistic methods. In the past two decades, research has advanced in developing numerical models including geotechnical as well as fluvial processes to simulate bank failure mechanism more accurately. Despite significant development on the width predictors, research in controls on width evolution of river channels cannot still be considered a fully settled issue.
The study of the morphodynamic response of the riverbed to width variability in space and time is somehow more recent, and has focussed on the dynamics of large-scale bedforms (river bars) that produce a variety of riverbed configurations and planform morphologies. The effect of spatial width variability on river bars has mainly been based on assessing the role of such planform forcing effects to the bed topography, both in case of straight and meandering river channels. The amplitude of width variability has been related to fundamental questions as those behind the transition between single- and multi-thread river morphologies, and most studies consider regular spatial variations of the channel width. Research on the response of channel bed to spatial width variability has mostly consisted of modelling and theoretical approaches, which point out the limit cases of a purely “free” system response, associated with morphodynamic instability, an of purely “forced” bedform pattern by spatial planform non-homogeneity. The large spectrum of mixed configurations between those two theoretical limits has been so far seldom investigated, despite its strong relevance for real river systems. The limits of what can actually be considered a “planform forcing” effect, or has instead a too small variability have never been clarified, a well as its role on the resulting channel morphodynamics. For instance, the effects of small amplitude width variations on straight channels, which may be due to imperfect bank lines or protrusion due to vegetations, on morphodynamics of river bed has been neglected so far.
This study has two main scientific goals. The first goal is to quantitatively investigate the role of potentially controlling factors on the width evolution of bedload-dominated straight river channels, including the initial channel width, the flow regime and the sediment supply regime. The major question driving the research is whether a river would attain the same width independently of the initial conditions and whether this would be true for all types of discharge regimes of water and sediment supply. The study is carried out using both laboratory experiments (Chapter 3), analytical model (Chapter 4) and numerical model (Chapter 5) tested with reference to real river data. Integrating the results of the experiments with those of analytical and numerical models allows deriving a more robust and complete understanding of the processes involved, including transient width evolution, time scales to morphodynamic equilibrium, equilibrium conditions and role of each controlling factor. In Chapter 3 a set of controlled laboratory experiments have been performed to study channel adjustments in a movable-bed, erodible-bank channel under different flow and sediment regimes and different initial widths. The long-term width evolution is observed to be independent of initial channel width under uniform formative discharge without upstream sediment supply. Width evolution rate is observed to depend on the initial channel width when the sediment is supplied from upstream with the narrowest initial channel evolving at the highest widening rate and resulting into the widest channel. A physics based analytical model of channel adjustment (Chapter 4) has been applied to some of the experiments described in Chapter 3. Furthermore, in Chapter 5 a field scale numerical model was setup using the flow and topographic data of gravel bed reach of Upper Severn River near Abermule (UK). The trend of width evolution computed by analytical model is also qualitatively in agreement with the observations in the experiments. The results of numerical modeling have further supported the observations in the experiments which reinforce the findings in agreement with laws of physics.
The second goal of the present PhD research is to analyze the morphodynamic response of the riverbed to small-scale spatial variability of the channel width, focusing on alternate bars. The main question driving the investigation (Chapter 6) is to which extent small-amplitude, irregular width variations in space affect the morphodynamics of river bars, the fundamental riverbed patterns at the scale of the channel width. The key theoretical question behind this investigation is to which extent “small amplitude” width variations can be considered as a planform forcing, for the channel bed morphodynamic response, and whether it is possible to establish a threshold amplitude below which they may act as a near bank-roughness element. The study is based on hydraulic conditions typical of bedload-dominated piedmont streams, often having flows with Froude numbers around 1 or higher at bar-forming or channel-forming conditions. The study is developed through a numerical modeling approach. Because of the considered hydraulic conditions (close to critical-Froude number) first, a comparison is made between one semi-coupled numerical morphodynamic model, expected to be most suitable for sub critical flows, and one fully-coupled numerical morphodynamic model which can handle Froude-critical flows to assess the potential shortcomings of applying a semi-coupled model under close-to-critial Froude conditions. Such test, (Appendix B) supports the use of both models, and the semi-coupled model is eventually preferred for the advantages in computational speed. Such model is used for the numerical investigations performed in Chapter 6 and to some extent also in Chapter 5. The comparison is based on the reproduction of alternate bars morphodynamics observed in existing sets of flume experiments with fixed banks and super-critical flow conditions. The results of numerical modeling have shown that the small width variations have accelerated the development of the steady bars suppressing the free bar instability. Further investigations reveal that the effects of small width variations to a certain extent can be captured by parameterizing them in the form of increased roughness close to the banks or as small obstructions along the banks
Co-sintering of a metal injection overmolded bi-metallic part
No full textA metal injected component was produced by overmolding technique. To reach a good result differebnt powder matching were studied. The final mechanical properties and corrosion resistance of the interface microstructure were investigated
Statebuilding versus state formation: the political economy of transition in Iraq and Libya
No full textThe international interventions in Iraq and Libya are exemplary of a decline in the expectations that statebuilding fervour can contribute to the full-fledged transformation of societies intervened upon. From the intervention in Iraq under the banner of “armed liberalism” to the “post-interventionist” approach that guided the intervention in Libya, international actors have renounced the grand transformative narrative traditionally sustaining post-conflict initiatives. This study investigates the impact of this changing statebuilding paradigm on state formation in Iraq and Libya. Bridging scholarship on post-conflict transitions as well as on the Middle East and North Africa region, this study addresses the question of the interplay between statebuilding and state formation from a political economy perspective: the emerging forms of economic governance of Iraq and Libya are illustrative of the broader problems affecting these countries. Through a process-oriented approach, this study moves beyond a narrowly-conceived institutional analysis and brings into focus actors in transition. Based on the theoretical discussion and the empirical findings, the study shows that an actor-oriented analysis has far more explanatory power than an institutionalist analysis. From a political economy perspective, the study focuses on the role of the private sector as an agent for change in transition: the emergence and consolidation of the policy prescription of developing the private sector has heralded a re-definition of the statebuilding agenda. Relying on a broad range of sources and data including interviews, policy papers, programmes’ reports, and evaluations, the analysis contends that this novel approach adds to the contradictory character of statebuilding: private sector development remains trapped between internationally held normative models and domestic power dynamics. Most importantly, private sector development entails a more interventionist approach that contradicts the principles of the self-regulating capacity of the market. The thesis’ main argument is that by building parallel agencies and mechanisms, statebuilding deviates from the process of building states. In other words, statebuilding creates a mode of governance that undermines Weberian notions of statehood in post-conflict countries: while it penetrates deeply into society, statebuilding fails to generate state authority. Rather, it favours a dispersion of authority across levels of governance and different types of actors. The dispersion of authority in post-conflict transitions generates hybrid forms of political economy: adaptation and resistance to neoliberal norms, institutions, and models are continuously negotiated by competing actors. At the same time, the dispersion of authority contributes to undermining the distinction between the public and the private spheres: alternative forms of authority consolidate informal institutions and repertoires, and increasingly come to exercise state authority and functions. The disjuncture between state and stateness––the exercise of state authority and functions––shows the limits of analysing post-conflict transitions through the narrow lens of Weberian interpretation of the state and points to a re-evaluation of institutional analyses in light of notions of authority and legitimacy
"La forma del fatato Achille". La scultura di Innocenzo Fraccaroli (1805-1882)
No full textLa tesi si configura come il primo studio sistematico dedicato allo scultore Innocenzo Fraccaroli, artista del quale è stato ricostruito il catalogo, in gran parte inedit
Self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery systems (SNEDDS) for the oral delivery of lipophilic drugs
No full textThe increasing number of lipophilic drug candidates in development in the pharmaceutical industry calls for advanced drug delivery systems with increased bioavailability less day-to-day and food-intake-dependent. Many of these drug candidates possess poor water solubility, so that their dissolution rate in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) limits their absorption following oral administration.
In the past few decades, various lipid-based formulations have been investigated to enhance the bioavailability of such challenging drug candidates and to increase their clinical efficacy when administered orally.
Recently, self-emulsifying drug delivery systems (SEDDS) have attracted increasing interests and, in particular, self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery systems (SNEDDS). SEDDS and SNEDDS consist in micro- or nano-emulsions of oil containing the drug that spontaneously form in aqueous media on mild agitation. Usually, they use high amounts of surfactant that may cause degradation and instability of the drugs, being moreover toxic for the gastrointestinal tract.
The aim of the present thesis was the preparation of novel self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery systems to overcome the shortages of conventional SEDDS or SNEDDS.
To reduce the amount of surfactant, we formulated first a self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery system containing high proportion of essential lemon oil, that was characterized in terms of drug solubility, formulation stability, viscosity, emulsion droplet size, ζ-potential and in vitro drug release. Then, a pH-sensitive SNEDDS was developed that emulsify only at basic pHs. The goal was to protect the lipophilic drugs from the harsh acidic environment in stomach and render it available in the enteric tract where the bioactive compound should be absorbed
Hydropeaking in Alpine rivers: an ecosystem services approach
No full textRivers provide to society many important goods and benefits. Some of these ecosystem services depend on the river flow regime, which has been deeply modified by human structures and activities. These alterations have a direct influence on biodiversity, natural habitat and on the supply of river ecosystem services. The release of water from storage hydropower plants generates rapid flow and stage fluctuations (hydropeaking) in the receiving water bodies at a variety of sub-daily time-scales. In this thesis, we describe an approach to quantify such variations, which is easy to apply, requires stream flow data at a readily available resolution, and allows for the comparison of hydropeaking flow alteration amongst several gauged stations. Hydropeaking flow alteration is quantified by adopting a rigorous statistical approach and using two indicators related to flow magnitude and rate of change. We utilised a comprehensive stream-flow dataset of 105 gauging stations from Italy, Switzerland and Norway to develop and test our method. Next, we introduce a modelling approach to evaluate the spatial and temporal variations of a discharge-related ecosystem service, the rafting. The application of hydraulic and habitat models allowed to define spatially thresholds of suitability in each river reach and the application of an hydrological model allowed to assess temporally the suitability for the rafting navigability in different discharge conditions. We applied the method to the Noce River, an Alpine River in Northern Italy affected by hydropeaking. Our analysis showed that in this river, the water releases are fundamental to maintain high flow conditions required for rafting, which can be granted only by hydropower production especially in summer months. Together with present discharge conditions, our approach allows to analyse also the effects of an additional withdrawal which locally has a negative impact on river suitability. Finally, the application of the methodology was extended to include in the analysis the fish habitat and the small hydropower production, along with the rafting. The effects of hydropeaking on these ecosystem services were assessed in space and time. Hydropeaking has a strong influence on rafting navigability and less obvious consequences on the other services. Different management scenarios of the water releases from the hydropower plants were produce, with the aim to evaluate spatially the reciprocal effects of optimizing each ecosystem services. Only the scenario of rafting optimization will significantly increase rafting navigability, while the effects of other scenarios are less evident. Moreover, two additional increasing withdrawals have been simulated to evaluate their impacts on the services. The small hydropower withdrawals will have a negative impact on rafting and fish habitat, while the preservation of requirements for rafting will greatly affect the small hydropower production. This ecosystems-services based approach can be integrated in the decision-making process to evaluate river management alternatives