405 research outputs found
Accessible Applications to Improve the Tourist Experience
No full textTraveling is known to improve a person's well-being and happiness, and tourism experiences should be offered to all types of tourists, including those with different disabilities. At the same time, technology is evolving and tourism applications are spreading. In this paper, we focus our attention on accessible mobile applications that can support a tourism experience. We first reviewed and classified a wide range of applications dedicated to users with visual, hearing, motor, cognitive impairments, and also others dedicated to the elderly. We have included this last category of users as they represent an interesting but at the same time specific target for the tourism industry. To understand how these dedicated apps could be better designed to improve accessibility we have then run a study collecting empirical data through questionnaires proposed to 210 users with diverse cognitive abilities, and to 50 elderly users, respectively. We have investigated and analyzed their approach to using tourist apps, also trying to understand the challenges they most commonly encounter when using them, and discussing possible improvements
Utility of ultra-portable ultrasound devices for the risk-stratification of thyroid dysfunctions in an emergency setting
No full textPurpose: We previously showed that the rapid TSH (rTSH) screening is able to detect a high prevalence of thyroid diseases in patients presenting to the Emergency department (ED), with a 7% prevalence of undiagnosed thyroid dysfunctions. The purpose of the present study is to implement our diagnostic flow-chart for thyroid dysfunctions in the ED with a rapid point-of-care thyroid ultrasound (rPOCUS). Methods: rPOCUS was performed by an app-based mobile ultrasound device (Lumify® by Philips Healthcare) in patients with suppressed rTSH undergoing urgent procedures requiring iodinate contrast media. Results: Our results suggest that rPOCUS is cost- and time-effective for the management of patients with a newly diagnosed hyperthyroidism requiring urgent iodinated contrast media or amiodarone administration. Moreover, this handled US scanner avoided rTSH measurement in patients found to have a normal thyroid gland, and detected some incidental findings (nodules, heterogeneous echotexture), which would lead to further diagnostic investigations. Conclusion: We demonstrate, for the first time, that rPOCUS greatly improves the management of patients attending the ED, including the prompt characterization and correct treatment of hyperthyroidism, and the prevention of iodine-induced thyrotoxicosis
Los Lugentes Campi de Virgilio (Aen. 6.439) en dos sonetos de Luigi Tansillo y Berardino Rota
No full textEl presente trabajo estudia los sonetos que
dos poetas italianos compusieron sobre la
reina Dido y la pintora Irene de Spelimbergo.
Luigi Tansilo dedicó el suyo a la reina
de Cartago, a quien sitúa en los “lugentes
campi”, siguiendo muy puntualmente un
episodio de la Eneida de Virgilio (los editores
no se percataron de esa deuda y creyeron
que el poeta italiano se refería una
dama muerta que deseaba volver a morir
por celos). Berardino Rota consagró su soneto
a la pintora Irene, a quien imagina en
los Campos Elíseos y descendiendo desde
ellos a la tierra (convertida en una especie
de arco Iris porque como pintora también
siembra el cielo de colores) para llevar un
mensaje de paz. En su soneto, Rota alude
también a su esposa muerta (en el mismo
año que Irene), por quien dice, en prueba
de su amor, estar recorriendo los “lugentes
campi” (él usa el singular).This paper studies the two poets Italian
sonnets composed about Queen Dido and
painter Irene Spelimbergo. Luigi Tansilo
devoted his to the Queen of Carthage,
who stands at the “lugentes campi” very
promptly following an episode of Virgil’s
Aeneid (the editors did not realize that debt
and believed the Italian poet meant a lady
wanted dead return to die out of jealousy).
Berardino Rota devoted his sonnet to the
painter Irene, who imagines the Champs
Elysees and descending from them to the
earth (made into an arch Iris because as a
painter also planting colorful sky) to bring
a message of peace. In his sonnet, Rota also
refers to his dead wife (in the same year as
Irene), of whom he says, to prove his love,
to be sweeping the “lugentes campi” (he
uses the singular)
NETO : Museo Antonia Campi e spazio per artisti nella ex colonia S.C.I. a Pietrasanta
No full textLAUREA MAGISTRALELa tesi in questione tratta della riqualificazione dell’ex colonia S.C.I. di Pietrasanta, un edificio sotto tutela dei beni culturali, ma attualmente in stato di abbandono, con lo scopo di trasformare lo spazio in un centro artistico volto alla promozione dell’arte contemporanea, con particolare attenzione alla ceramica.
Un ambiente dinamico che vuole omaggiare la figura di una designer e artista come quella di Antonia Campi, alla quale si ispira e da cui prende il nome NETO. Una nuova proposta culturale e artistica valida per la città di Pietrasanta, per tutti gli artisti che la abitano e non solo.
L’elaborato si compone di tre fascicoli: Ricerca, Analisi e Progetto.
La ricerca inizia con l’approfondimento della vita e dell’operato della designer in questione, cercando di inquadrare maggiormente il contesto storico, culturale e artistico in cui ha operato. In essa si è voluto analizzare nel dettaglio anche il quadro lavorativo all’interno di una fabbrica manufatturiera dell’epoca, attraverso l’introduzione del welfare aziendale e dei rispettivi benefit che aziende come la Società Ceramica Italiana, in cui Campi ha lavorato, potevano offrire ai loro dipendenti. Successivamente, si è passati ad un’analisi dettagliata del sito di progetto, ossia l’ex colonia, e del contesto storico e geografico in cui essa è situata, realizzando un preciso inquadramento che possa essere fonte di spunto per la proposta progettuale.
In conclusione, è possibile approfondire la proposta progettuale, volta ad offrire un centro con molteplici servizi, nel quale il fulcro vero e proprio è rappresentato dal Museo Antonia Campi, insieme al progetto di residenza artistica, pensato per ospitare per lunghi o brevi periodi di tempo cinque artisti appartenenti al panorama artistico contemporaneo, provenienti da tutto il mondo. Un centro che, oltre ad essere allettante dal punto di vista culturale, ospita anche un ristorante gastronomico per i gusti più raffinati.The thesis in question deals with the redevelopment of the former S.C.I. colony in Pietrasanta, a building under cultural heritage protection but currently in a state of disrepair, with the aim of transforming the space into an art centre aimed at promoting contemporary art, with a focus on ceramics. A dynamic environment that wants to pay homage to the figure of a designer and artist such as Antonia Campi, from whom it is inspired and from whom it takes its name NETO. A new cultural and artistic proposal valid for the city of Pietrasanta, for all the artists living there and beyond. The work is composed of three dossiers: Research, Analysis and Project.The research begins with an in-depth study of the life and work of the designer in question, attempting to better frame the historical, cultural and artistic context in which she operated. It also analysed in detail the working framework within a manufacturing factory of the time, through the introduction of corporate welfare and the respective benefits that companies such as the Società Ceramica Italiana, where Campi worked, could offer their employees.
Subsequently, we moved on to a detailed analysis of the project site, i.e. the former colony, and the historical and geographical context in which it is located, producing a precise framework that could be a source of inspiration for the project proposal. In conclusion, it is possible to elaborate on the project proposal, aimed at offering a centre with multiple services, in which the true fulcrum is represented by the Antonia Campi Museum, together with the artistic residency project, designed to host for long or short periods of time five artists belonging to the contemporary art scene, from all over the world. A centre that is not only attractive from a cultural point of view, but also houses a gastronomic restaurant for the most refined tastes
Sensitivity tests and risk evaluation for steelworks portal systems
No full textFourteen portal systems installed at the entrance of as many iron scrap recycling plants have been tested. The systems which
underwent the test were supplied bythree manufacturers: Bicron, Eberline and Exploranium. For the tests, a truck trailer loaded
with iron scrap was equipped with guide tubes for the introduction of radioactive sources. During the whole experimental
campaign, the truck trailer was not modified, to assure test reproducibility. Analyzing the collected data, it was determined the
lowest exposure intensityin air from a 137Cs source still able to cause an alarm when, centered in the load, passes through
anyportal. On the basis of this value it follows a risk evaluation for a steelworks equipped (in agreement with the rules of
Lombardia region) with a portal at the entrance, area monitors for critical sites and gamma spectrometer for steel specimen.
© 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Keywords: Orphan sources; Portal system; Smelting accident
1. Introduction
Several reports (Lubenau and Yusko, 1998) on accidental
smelting of radioactive sources in furnaces confirm the possibilitythat
radioactive material might be mixed with scrap.
In Italysome accidents took place in the past; the major
are here listed (Risica and Neccetelli, 2000):
• 1990 137Cs contamination of an aluminium refineryin
two facilities and the relevant waste dump;
• 1991 137Cs contamination of an unauthorized dump of
wastes from aluminium melting;
• 1991 241Am contamination of some copper alloymanufacturer
and melting firms;
• 1993 137Cs contamination of a part of the Brescia and
Montirone goods yard;
∗ Corresponding author. Tel.: +39-223996366; fax: +39-
223996309.
E-mail address: [email protected] (F. Campi).
1350-4487/$ - see front matter © 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
doi:10.1016/j.radmeas.2004.05.007
• 1995 137Cs contamination of dust from settled fumes in
a steel mill in the decommissioning phase;
• 1997 137Cs and 60Co contamination of the Alfa Acciai
steel mill;
• 1998 137Cs contamination of the soil in a scrap storage
depot.
The most severe accident was that happened at Alfa Acciai
steel mill, in which 7 GBq of 60Co and 150 GBq of 137Cs
were molten in furnace. The consequences of the accident
were rather limited. Indeed, part of the final product was
contaminated byCo-60, but the dust abatement plant had
been effective in avoiding release of 137Cs in the surrounding
environment. Nevertheless, the total cost of the accident
was more than 25 million Euros, including the decontamination
of the plant and the missed profits.
After this accident, the Lombardia Regional Council issued
an Ordinance (Regione Lombardia, 1997) to impose
different radiometric surveys on metal scrap to be recycled.
A first monitoring must be performed on the scrap container
at the entrance of the steel mill. The Ordinance does
not specifywha
On a recent Italian edition of Voltaire’s Essai sur les mœurs et l’esprit des nations
No full textMost readers at once associate Voltaire’s name with the noble figure of the
paladin of tolerance, author of the Traité sur la Tolérance, and with the image
of the brilliant narrator and inimitable stylist with his cutting irony, inventor
of that literary genre called conte philosophique and characters who have
become part of the pantheon of world literature, such as Candide and Zadig.
But all too often the average reader’s knowledge is reduced to this. The rest of
Voltaire’s immense production (which includes verse tragedies and comedies,
epic poems, poetry of all kinds, educational treatises on science, philosophical
texts, historical works, all sorts of pamphlets, and an immense correspondence)
remains a heritage open to a small coterie of experts on 18th-century French
literature. Voltaire’s posthumous fame has distorted his image or, at the very
least, has shed light only on some aspects of his complex personality and, what
is worse, his multifaceted work
Energy efficiency management in public university campi - a Brazilian case
No full textThe Brazilian pioneer experience in energy efficiency management in public university campi is the Permanent Program in Efficient Energy Use of the University of São Paulo (PURe), running since 1997. Total built area of the university totalizes above 1 million square meters throughout more than 20 cities in the state of São Paulo, which results in a very complex energy use network comprising several different end uses. Interaction between actions and appliance purchases throughout our campi under the scope of PURe, for the sake of energy management in the University, is described along this paper. Energy bills and contracting, retrofits, experiences in usage of renewables, education and diffusion of information on energy efficiency and rational energy use are some among the described instruments, and accruing savings are shown
Discussion on paper: "Why is resorting to fate wise? A critical look at randomized algorithms in systems and control" - Final comments by the author
No full textOn Venetian Campi Resilience to Climate Change
No full textVenice is known for its history and beauty and its fragility and potential demise. The city is experiencing an increase in yearly average temperatures affecting outdoor - indoor comfort and average energy expenditure. Owing to existing literature demonstrating how local microclimate depends on urban density, shape, and orientation of buildings and materials, the work studies the influence of changing Venice temperatures by targeting such issues, focusing on an urban fabric typical form, known as Campi. Based on IPCC's future weather predictions for 2050 scenario A1B, the work highlights how the urban fabric configuration affects the local microclimate and outdoor conditions to define how buildings will mitigate and adapt to environmental transitions. The method couples microclimate and outdoor comfort users' perception of Physiological Equivalent Temperature (PET), via ENVI-met. Preliminary results show that the compactness of the urban fabric in Venetian Campi significantly reduces outdoor temperatures due to the increased density of shadow areas in the courtyard or in narrow Venice streets. The role of water is also simulated via ENVI-met, as buildings' materials and indoor energy consumption are assumed as invariant to evaluate the historic urban fabric climate resilience. The results constitute a first step towards understanding to what extent a particular urban fabric type is thermally resilient.Environmental Technology and Desig
S/M, Splatter, and Body Modifications in the early Clive Barker. Birth of a Political Aesthetic
No full textThis paper deals with three components of the aesthetic framework elaborated by author, artist, and filmmaker Clive Barker in his first works during the first half of the 1980s, with a particular focus on the fictional creatures known as Cenobites featured in the novella The Hellbound Heart (1986): the references to S/M visuals and culture, the taste for gore/splatter and the aspect related to (self)induced body modifications. In the first part, these three elements will be discussed, and their origins tracked down in Barker’s biographical background and artistic career. In the final part I will try to contextualize this composite aesthetics in its historical setting to show how its elements combined to outline a coherent worldview, different and subversive with respect to the one imposed by the then hegemonic and heteronormative narrative, and how they became one of the main grounds for political criticism and contestation in the ultraconservative United Kingdom during the Thatcher era
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