5,347 research outputs found
Salt Crystallization in Limestone: Materials Decay and Chemomechanical Approach
No full textSalt crystallization is a particularly relevant issue in the conservation of limestones used in Cultural Heritage sites. In this study, various facies of limestones were characterized through porosimetric and mechanical tests. The samples were subjected to experiments to determine their resistance to salt crystallization by verifying the number of cycles at which 50% of them began to lose weight. This number of experimental cycles was compared with the result calculated by the analytical procedure of a chemomechanical model found in the literature. The comparison showed a significant capability of the model to predict the experimental data
Monitoring and preservation of stone cultural heritage using a fuzzy model for predicting salt crystallisation damage
No full textIn this study, a fuzzy model is presented for predicting the possibility of degradation due to salt crystallisation cycles. The formalization of the proposed model has been based on the multivariable approach which considers environmental data (such as temperature, solar radiation, wind speed, rain quantity, relative humidity), characteristic inflection points of specific salts and stone features derived from laboratory characterizations (including mechanical properties, porosity, and mineralogical composition). Modeling results have been compared with experimental data elaborations acquired by monitoring a semi-confined archaeological site situated in the city of Cagliari (Munatius Irenaus cubicle), revealing substantial alignment in the degradation kinetics trends. Moreover, the achieved outcomes show the remarkable capability to identify salt crystallisation phenomenon type (efflorescence or subflorescence)
Differential damage in the semi-confined Munazio Ireneo cubicle in Cagliari (Sardinia): a correlation between damage and microclimate
No full textThe Early Christian Munazio Ireneo cubicle in Cagliari (Sardinia) is carved into the rock and is one of the rare monuments of Sardinia belonging to Early Christian Age. It is 166Â cm under the planking level and is a semi-confined chamber in which a gate allows exchange with the outside. In 1888, when it was discovered, it was completely painted, but over the years, it suffered a serious damage and all the paintings are nearly disappeared. Now the site shows a high moisture and a differential damage characterised by delamination, powdering, salt crystallisation and biological colonisation. The research offers a multidisciplinary approach to study the salt crystallisation damage, which is a phenomenon still not completely understood today. Studies and analyses highlight that different kinds of damage can be recognised. The cement mortar and the air pollution cause crystallisation of the sulphates. Constant capillary rising and the presence of water infiltration due to the rains, which travelled into the site from the vault, were detected during qualitative inspection. Although the microclimate did not change much in the site and the humidity was almost constant during the monitoring period, the variations in temperature allowed the phase transitions of sodium sulphate, especially in summer. The greatest damage of the porous stone is associated with the phase transitions and crystallisation inside the stone of sodium sulphate, one of the most harmful salts for porous materials because of its high crystallisation pressure
Methodology to investigate the microclimate of a cultural heritage inserted in a semi-confined environment
No full textThe aim of the research has been to analyse the decay observed in the semi-confined
archaeological site in Cagliari. A multidisciplinary approach has been purposed. Differential
decay with zones with great damage for the structures (pulverization, detachments,
efflorescences) and other zones with less damage (only efflorescences) appeared from the
survey conducted in the site. Diagnostics have been carried out to reveal the decay forms and
their distribution; microclimatic monitoring has been carried out to detect temperature and
relative humidity, eventually harmful values for the conservation and possible differential
values of them inside the site. Sodium sulphate results the main decay agent and it is diffuse
homogeneously inside the site. Microclimatic monitoring has detected a microclimatic zoning
originated by the semi-confined environment. The zones closest to the outside have a trend
very similar to it, instead the most confined one have a great thermal and hygrometric inertia.
The comparison between the hygrothermal conditions monitored in the site and those
thermodynamic favourable to salt crystallization has finally revealed the reason of the
differential decay in site: different microclimatic conditions allow the sodium sulphate
crystallisation as efflorescences in the zones most confined, and cryptoefflorescences in the
closest to the outside one
Stages for the More Sustainable Farm
No full textCurrently, agricultural farm units are faced with a double and most times contradictory challenge, in order to be successful: on the one hand the invested capital has to be profitable and the economic performance has to be maximised. On the other hand, given the socio-environmental situation, it is necessary to preserve and to protect the environment and natural resources. Given the potential conflict of the two aims, since the satisfaction of one implies the underperformance of the other (and vice versa), the question then is: which is the solution to choose? We intend, in this work, to formulate a farm plan with the purpose of reconciling the criteria of environmental sustainability with that of economic competitiveness. For this achievement we proceed to the comparative study of sustainability of different groups of farms identified in the study area (first evaluation cycle) through MESMIS (“Marco para la Evaluación de Sistemas de Manejo de Recursos Naturales Mediante Indicadores de Sustentabilidad” - Framework for Evaluation of Natural-Resource Systems Handling through Sustainability Indicators) methodology, that allowed to select the more sustainable group of farms. Based on the found potentialities and weakness on these production systems, we stepped to the planning of a production unit of bovine meat, which obeys simultaneously to economic and environmental objectives, using Multicriteria Decision. We finished the work with the sustainability evaluation between groups of farms identified previously and the planned farms (second evaluation cycle), based, again, in the MESMIS methodology, to confirm (or not) the greatest sustainability of the last ones. Analyses of the results allow us to confirm the greatest relative sustainability of the planned farm, for the diverse traced scenarios.Decision taking, planning, sustainability, Environmental Economics and Policy, Farm Management,
Nursing and Residential Care Facilities (RSA) and contagion-related fragilities in Italy
No full textAccording to the statements of the WHO Regional Director for Europe, as of April 23, 2020, nearly 50% global Covid-19 cases have occurred in the European region—over 1.2 million—and over 110,000 people have lost their lives. Of these, nearly half were residents of long-term residential care facilities. Data in Italy plot a similar trend, which highlights the severe strain placed on the health care system by the spread of the virus. This study investigates the distribution of RSAs (Nursing and Residential Care Facilities) in Italy relative to the elderly population. It surveys a range of care models to reflect on their effectiveness in times of epidemics using official statistical sources that are cross-referenced via reflexive cartography. During the first wave of the Covid-19 epidemic (February–June 2020), RSA facilities were especially vulnerable to viral diffusion. This leads us not only to reflect on the effectiveness of their setup, but to question the very model of elderly care they uphold. The aim is to adopt strategies that may improve the lives of RSA patients and provide viable preventative tools against other possible epidemics
Parole d'artiste : Marta Cuscunà
No full textInternational audienceModeration of the interview with Marta Cuscunà, an Italian performer, director, puppeteer and author. In 2009, she was awarded the Premio Scenario per Ustica for E bello vivere liberi!, first show of a trilogy on female resistance, followed by La semplicità ingannata (2012) and Sorry, boys (2015). These three texts are published in Resistenze femminili (Udine: Forum, 2019). In 2018 she created Il canto della caduta. Earthbound (2021) is her last devised show, which brings in the themes of ecofeminism, taking cues from the theories of Donna Haraway and Bruno Latour. In 2021 she became associate artist at the Piccolo Teatro in Milan. In 2023, she is guest of honor at the 11th Biennale internationale des arts de la marionette in Paris. She was awarded the prizes Rete Critica (2017), Premio della Critica – ANCT (2018) and Premio Hystrio - Altre Muse (2019).Animation de la discussion avec Marta Cuscunà, performeuse, metteuse en scène, marionnettiste et autrice italienne. En 2009, elle a remporté le prix Premio Scenario per Ustica pour È bello vivere liberi !, premier spectacle d’une trilogie sur les résistances féminines, suivi par La semplicità ingannata (2012) et Sorry, boys (2015). Ces trois textes ont été réunis dans Resistenze femminili (Udine : Forum, 2019). En 2018, elle a créé Il canto della caduta. Son dernier spectacle, Earthbound (2021), traite de l’écoféminisme en s’inspirant des théories de Donna Haraway et de Bruno Latour. En 2021, elle devient artiste associée au Piccolo Teatro de Milan. En 2023, elle est invitée d’honneur à la Biennale Internationale des Arts de la Marionnette à Paris. Elle a obtenu les prix Premio Rete Critica (2017), Premio della Critica – ANCT (2018) et Premio Hystrio - Altre Muse (2019)
The Italian health care system and swab testing
No full textThe Covid-19 epidemic has highlighted the fact that complex societies such as the one in Italy are able to maintain their balance only as long as all primary social needs are adequately met. Current living practices, in particular, have exposed the weaknesses of specific sectors, such as mobility, public spaces, the health care system and the welfare system. The present study reflects on the fragility of the health care system caused by an excessive fragmentation of policies and inconsistent regional setups, which have had repercussions on the administration of swab tests. We examine two regions, namely Lombardy and Veneto, where such differences stand out. In Lombardy, testing was limited and sluggish, which left the epidemic spread largely unchecked and forced Covid-19 testing to be carried out exclusively on patients with symptoms in hospitals. In addition to overburdening hospitals, this resulted in very limited swab-testing of the population: only the elderly. Veneto, on the other hand, adopted different swab-testing procedures, carried out not only among hospital patients but also on asymptomatic and non-hospitalized persons. This depends on the different organization and setup of the regional health care system. It follows that even a national-scale comparison of regional data in the three epidemic phases, which suggests an overall lowering of the average age for infected persons with great regional variations, ought to be taken with caution, given the dissimilar regional implementation of swab-testing
L’Emilia-Romagna, regione liminare tra la prima e la seconda Italia del contagio
No full textEmilia-Romagna. Liminal region between the first and second Italy of contagion
The paper analyzes the data of Covid-19 in Emilia-Romagna assuming the vision of the «Three Italies» and envisaging it as a liminal region between first and second Italy. The goal is to verify how the territorial fragilities identified for Lombardy – pollution, population density, commuting and the health and welfare system – may have influenced the infection intensity and development. These fragilities will be considered in future regional planning, as virus spread highlighted the need to review the way of inhabiting territories
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