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Abstract: The paper manufacturing process remained unchanged for many centuries, until, in the nineteenth century, the crisis of rags led industrialized countries to patent new production processes with different raw materials. This study deals with this period of transition by analyzing four samples stored at the archives of Superintendency Beni Architettonici per il Paesaggio e per il Patrimonio Storico Artistico ed Etnoantropologico (BAPPDAD) of Venice Lagoon, based in the Palazzo Ducale. The samples were analyzed by FT-IR (ATR), SEM-EDS, HPLC-MS/MS and Py-GC/MS. These techniques allow the characterization of various raw materials and adhesives used in various stages of paper production. These analyses have found a gradual introduction of ground wood in the composition of papers from the mid-nineteenth century, and the use of rosin as glue only in more recent documents. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The main aim of this study was to define a procedure useful to evaluate the potential environmental, social and economic benefits contained in paper and cardboard (or other recyclables), which are wasted in the unsorted fraction of municipal solid waste (MSW). To give a practical example, the procedure was applied to the 550 municipalities of the Campania region, in Southern Italy, but the developed procedure is applicable in any context in an 'urban mining' perspective. The procedure consists of five phases and uses two methodologies: one for the estimation of the composition analysis of the unsorted residual waste and another for the calculation of sustainability indicators able to measure the benefits wasted in the unsorted residual MSW. Six indicators were defined: two for the environment (carbon footprint and ecological footprint), two for the society (health footprint and occupational benefits) and two for the economy (economic profit and economic saving). The first methodology was developed by the regional environmental protection agency to update the MSW regional management plan. The second methodology is based on the use of the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) through which it was possible to calculate the reference parameters useful for the calculation of the impacts (i.e., loss of benefits) for recycling, mechanical and biological treatment (MBT), incineration and landfilling of paper and cardboard contained in the unsorted residual waste. The obtained results confirmed the presence of such an enormous deposit of recyclable materials contained in the unsorted residual waste, which is a potential source, but not exploited, of environmental, social and economic benefits. For instance, the paper and cardboard 'urban mine' of Naples was greater than 16 million of euro (economic profit + economic saving), with a potential saving of around 11.4 million of kgCO 2 eq. (carbon footprint), 207 million of m2 (ecological footprint), 44 Disability Adjusted Life Years (health footprint), with a creation of 30 job positions in the waste management sector (occupational benefits). [Display omitted] • A procedure consisting of five phases was developed using two methodologies. • One methodology estimates the composition analysis of the unsorted residual waste. • Another methodology used a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) approach. • Two indicators for the environment, two for the society and two for the economy. • The paper and cardboard 'urban mine' of Naples was greater than 16 million of euro. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to discuss the development of modern nursing in Italy. Specifically, the paper aims to draw attention to the fact that while nursing in Italy has mirrored developments in Europe, in many respects the advancement of the profession is much less accelerated. The paper considers the reasons for this and the contributing factors and explores possible solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The conservation of historic libraries can be referred towards both the ancient book collections and the buildings themselves. Heritage collections made of paper are threaten by climate-induced deterioration risks such as cellulose hydrolysis. Several studies have investigated the microclimate inside historic libraries but comparisons are difficult due to the lack of long-term microclimate observations and uniformity in the use of standards and risk assessment methods. For the first time, the long-term microclimate observations collected in three historic libraries in Italy were comparatively studied to outline differences and similarities of their microclimates in terms of paper preservation. A multidisciplinary approach was applied to assess the building performance (a) and the deterioration risks for the collections (b). As for a), a common feature of the libraries was the high thermal inertia and low indoor-outdoor air exchanges. As for b), the Time Weighted Expected Lifetime (TWEL) was defined to account for an average chemical risk on a seasonal and yearly basis. TWEL allowed to highlight the impact of the most adverse conditions on the overall chemical risk for acidic paper preservation (e.g., temperatures above 20 °C reached naturally in summer/artificially in winter). It resulted that the measured microclimate conditions in the libraries would lead to the loss of their acidic collections in less than 300 years. Demographic plots were finally used to inform about the risk resulting from the synergy between handling and microclimate as well as to explore the effectiveness of possible preservation measures such as the deacidification of 10% of the collections. [Display omitted] • The long-term microclimate data in three historic libraries in Italy are comparatively studied. • The investigation includes microclimate characterisation and conservation risk assessment. • A multidisciplinary approach is used to evaluate building performance and paper deterioration. • The current microclimate in the libraries reduces the expected lifetime of acidic collections. • Restoration interventions might not be effective if the current microclimate is maintained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• In Italy, recent regulation has updated the post-mortem body disposition. • Body donation is admitted for study, training and scientific research purposes. • Unsolved issues concern the grantees of teaching and training activities. • The Italian College of Anatomists has made constructive criticisms to the law. • Suggestions are provided to manage the donation process and use of the body. In Italy, recent legislation (Law No. 10/2020) has tuned regulations concerning the donation of one's postmortem body and tissues for study, training, and scientific research purposes. This study discusses several specific issues to optimise the applicability and effectiveness of such an important, novel regulatory setting. Critical issues arise concerning the learners, the type of training and teaching activities that can be planned, the position of academic anatomy institutes, the role of family members in the donation process, the time frame of the donation process, the eligibility of partial donation, or the simultaneous donation of organs and tissues to patients awaiting transplantation. In particular, a universal time limit for donations (i.e., one year) makes it impossible to plan the long-term use of specific body parts, which could be effectively preserved for the advanced teaching and training of medical students and surgeons. The abovementioned conditions lead to the limited use of corpses, thus resulting in the inefficiency of the whole system of body donation. Overall, the donors' scope for the donation of their body could be best honoured by a more flexible and tuneable approach that can be used on a case-by-case basis. Furthermore, it is deemed necessary to closely monitor the events scheduled for corpses in public nonacademic institutions or private enterprises. This paper presents useful insights from Italian anatomists with the hope of providing inspiration for drafting the regulations. In conclusion, this paper focuses on the critical issues derived from the recently introduced Italian law on the donation and use of the body after death and provides suggestions to lawmakers for future implementations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In Italy, pancreatic cancer is the fifth leading cause of tumor related death with about 7000 new cases per year and a mortality rate of 95%. In a recent prospective epidemiological study on the Italian population, a family history was found in about 10% of patients suffering from a ductal adenocarcinoma of the pancreas (PDAC). A position paper from the Italian Registry for Familial Pancreatic Cancer was made to manage these high-risk individuals. Even though in the majority of high-risk individuals a genetic test to identify familial predisposition is not available, a screening protocol seems to be reasonable for subjects who have a >10-fold greater risk for the development of PDAC. However this kind of screening should be included in clinical trials, performed in centers with high expertise in pancreatic disease, using the least aggressive diagnostic modalities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Image quality metrics in the context of movie restoration. • Use and test of some metrics as tool for restorers. • A single metric is not sufficient to assess the quality of a frame. This paper describes the digital acquisition and restoration of a Super 8 documentary on the origins of citizens' awareness on paper recycling in the city of Brescia, Lombardy, northern Italy. This film is currently stored in Fondazione ASM archives, and its acquisition is part of a larger project of preservation of industrial memories in Italy. Here we describe the tools used for the acquisition and the post-processing with a Spatial Colour Algorithm (SCA) for unsupervised colour and contrast enhancement. This method provides a semi-automatic image restoration, whose quality has been tested through different evaluations. In this paper, some advantages of the use of SCAs in the restoration pipeline are presented, together with a preliminary discussion on the problem of assessing frame restoration results. To this aim, we present objective vs. subjective evaluation, and some issues associated with this complex task. The most used full-reference and no-reference metrics have been used, together with alternative low-level descriptors. Data and examples are presented and discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The incidence of Cholangiocellular carcinoma (CCA) is increasing, due to a sharp increase of the intra-hepatic form. Evidence-ascertained risk factors for CCA are primary sclerosing cholangitis, Opistorchis viverrini infection, Caroli disease, congenital choledocal cist, Vater ampulla adenoma, bile duct adenoma and intra-hepatic lithiasis. Obesity, diabetes, smoking, abnormal biliary-pancreatic junction, bilio-enteric surgery, and viral cirrhosis are emerging risk factors, but their role still needs to be validated. Patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis should undergo surveillance, even though a survival benefit has not been clearly demonstrated. CCA is most often diagnosed in an advanced stage, when therapeutic options are limited to palliation. Diagnosis of the tumor is often difficult and multiple imaging techniques should be used, particularly for staging. Surgery is the standard of care for resectable CCA, whilst liver transplantation should be considered only in experimental settings. Metal stenting is the standard of care in inoperable patients with an expected survival >4 months. Gemcitabine or platinum analogues are recommended in advanced CCA whilst there are no validated neo-adjuvant treatments or second-line chemotherapies. Even though promising results have been obtained in CCA with radiotherapy, further randomized controlled trials are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the study was to perform dimensional, morpho-structural, mechanical and chemical characterization of four materials based on paper currently in use in Romania (RO), Italy (IT), Spain (SP) and Slovenia (SLO) designed for the temporarily wrapping of meat. SEM-EDXS, FTIR and DSC showed that RO is laminated on one side with polyethylene, SP is waxed, IT is modified with a multilayered polyethylene film and SLO is coated with hydrophobized starch. RO, IT and SLO comply with the standards of determination of density, roughness, breaking length and bending resistance. The highest content of metals found in the SP explains the highest electrical conductivity and the poor quality of the recycled material used for manufacturing. The highest values of total dissolved solids (TDS) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) resulted for SP sample expressed its water solubility and availability of migration into foodstuff. RO, IT and SLO are suitable for food packaging. In contrast, SP do not meet the requirements for safety and mechanical resistance. [Display omitted] • Characterization of four types of materials based on paper. • RO, IT-single-face coated with PE, SP-double-side waxed, SLO-coated with starch. • RO, IT, SLO comply the standards of mechanical resistance and are suitable for food packaging. • SP do not meet the requirements for safety and mechanical resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gait analysis is recognized as a useful assessment tool in the field of human movement research. However, doubts remain on its real effectiveness as a clinical tool, i.e. on its capability to change the diagnostic-therapeutic practice. In particular, the conditions in which evidence of a favorable cost-benefit ratio is found and the methodology for properly conducting and interpreting the exam are not identified clearly. To provide guidelines for the use of Gait Analysis in the context of rehabilitation medicine, SIAMOC (the Italian Society of Clinical Movement Analysis) promoted a National Consensus Conference which was held in Bologna on September 14th, 2013. The resulting recommendations were the result of a three-stage process entailing i) the preparation of working documents on specific open issues, ii) the holding of the consensus meeting, and iii) the drafting of consensus statements by an external Jury. The statements were formulated based on scientific evidence or experts' opinion, when the quality/quantity of the relevant literature was deemed insufficient. The aim of this work is to disseminate the consensus statements. These are divided into 13 questions grouped in three areas of interest: 1) General requirements and management, 2) Methodological and instrumental issues, and 3) Scientific evidence and clinical appropriateness. SIAMOC hopes that this document will contribute to improve clinical practice and help promoting further research in the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cooperative, connected and automated mobility (CCAM) has a great potential to change drastically the mobility landscape and improve safety on the roads by assisting drivers to take the best decisions in given circumstances or by supporting autonomous driving features aboard the car, among other expected benefits. Yet, providing CCAM services poses not only technical but also business challenges, especially in cross-border environments. In this paper, we present a general techno-economic methodology intended first, to identify the cross-border ecosystem and the potential business models to enable CCAM services provision and second, to derive the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) of deploying the required Vehicle to Infrastructure (V2I) and Vehicle to Network (V2N) infrastructure. As an illustration, we then apply this methodology to a canonical Cooperative Lane Merging (CLM) scenario in a representative border environment (i.e., the Brenner pass between Italy and Austria). On this occasion, the impact of Multi-access Edge Computing (MEC) placement on the deployment cost is also discussed and finally, a cost allocation model is developed to link these deployment costs to the key stakeholders within the identified business models. Results aim to give insights into the different deployment strategies in typical cross-border environments and settings. • This paper presents a comprehensive techno-economic analysis of providing CCAM services in cross-border environment considering both technical and business challenges. • Proposed business models based on the adoption of new 5G technologies namely network slicing and MEC to ensure seamless service provision. • Collaborative business model is the most promising but needs review of regulations. • The collaborative business model is particularly attractive when considering the implementation of passive and active network sharing strategies. • Cost modelling results provide TCO insights for 5G network deployment scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On-orbit servicing and on-orbit assembly represent very appealing mission concepts that could facilitate the exploitation of the space environment. Autonomy is a critical requirement for systems aimed at the execution of these operations. The development of enabling technologies for this type of missions is a focal research topic for the global space community. The AUTOMA project (University of Padua, Italy) aims at the development of technologies to enable the on-orbit assembly of a standardized modular unit by means of a robotic arm. The goal is the development of a capture interface, composed of a gripper mechanism and a suite of close-range navigation sensors (a navcam, four time-of-flight sensors, two custom matrix sensors based on a set of phototransistors), and the mock-up of a modular assembly unit. The paper prevalently focuses on the conspicuous series of tests that has been performed at subsystem level for the characterization of the two custom matrix sensors, both in terms of their resolution and range of application. In particular, the test campaign has proven how the in-plane matrix sensor provides information about lateral misalignment and relative distance with a resolution of a few millimetres while the roll matrix sensor provides information about the angular roll misalignment with a resolution dependent on the distance between the two bodies. In addition, an analytical relation for the computation of the relative distance through the information provided by the in-plane matrix has been investigated. • Capture interface composed of a gripper mechanism and a suite of close-range navigation sensors. • Design of a standardized unit mock-up for modular assembly. • Custom sensors based on a matrix of phototransistors activated by an infrared LED beacon counterpart. • Testing campaign aimed at the characterization of the custom matrix sensors. • Analysis of a relation for the retrieval of the relative distance based on the number of phototransistors activated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Projectile implements are one of the most frequent transformed lithic blanks within the Upper Paleolithic assemblages. Since the first taxonomic studies, their morphological variability has been used as primary fossil director to define specific regional trends and diachronic phases. However, an exhaustive analysis of manufacturing methods and techniques applied to shape this gear category is extremely rare. In fact, during the Late Epigravettian, except for a certain typological variability, the lack of detailed studies resulted in an apparent homogeneity in armatures production. In this paper, a technological and traceological approach applied to reconstruct the whole chaîne opératoire of armatures manufacture in three Northern Italian sites dated between 17,000 and 12,000 cal BP demonstrates important variations in how projectile implements are fashioned, concerning shape, production methods and retouch techniques. Moreover, a large-scale comparison suggests how renewals in projectile implements production in North-Eastern Italy may result from long-distance connections between human groups over the western Late Epigravettian territory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we study the structural change in both central-northern and southern Italy, focusing on its implications for productivity dynamics and its micro-economic determinants. We document three main results. First, between 2001 and 2018, the deindustrialization process involved both areas; however, in the southern regions it mostly started after the financial crisis. In the South, the employment shares in low knowledge-intensive services increased more than in the central-northern area, whereas those in high knowledge-intensive services increased less markedly. Second, structural change slowed down productivity growth in the central and northern regions, but had no role in the productivity fall in the South. Finally, in central and northern Italy, employment growth was driven by the net creation of jobs among incumbents and larger firms. In contrast, employment dynamics in the southern regions largely reflected the process of firms entering and exiting the market, in particular in less knowledge-intensive service sectors, and in young and smaller enterprises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of new technological innovations for eco-friendly vehicles combined with the usage of renewable energy sources is essential for mitigating the environmental impact of freight transport. In this context, this paper investigates the opportunities for implementing the eHighway system, a novel recent technology designed to supply new hybrid trucks. This technology uses overhead catenary heavy-duty vehicles that are supplied with electric energy from overhead power lines through a pantograph that is positioned at the top of the truck. A novel bi-level multi-objective network electrification design (BM-NED) model is proposed to assess the environmental benefits and opportunities of adopting eHighways, considering the limited budgetary resources for road infrastructure electrification. Still, the implementation of eHighways requires collaboration between public and private stakeholder interests. The upper level considers multiple objectives aiming at minimizing the total travel cost, infrastructure, and environmental costs and maximizing the average traffic density of OC hybrid trucks on electrified arcs, whereas the lower level is the traffic assignment model. The Elitist multi-objective Genetic Algorithms are used as a solution approach for the multi-objective optimization and the Pareto front of the non-dominated solutions have been generated. Results of the model, tested on a part of a motorway network in the Veneto region in Italy, show that the implementation of the eHighway system can lead to an average emission reduction of about 66%, considering all Pareto-optimal solutions. Furthermore, a sensitivity analysis has been carried out by giving different weights to the objective functions that can be a basis for decision-makers regarding the adoption of this new technology. • The implementation of the eHighway system is investigated to evaluate its benefits. • A novel bi-level multi-objective network electrification design model is proposed. • The model is tested on a part of a motorway network in the Veneto region (Italy). • Sensitivity analysis evaluates different solutions for potential decision-makers. • The study gives insights for policy makers regarding eHighway adoption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Precision Agriculture (PA) has revolutionized crop management by leveraging information technology, satellite positioning data, and remote sensing. One crucial component in PA applications is the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), which offers valuable insights into crop vigor and health. However, discontinuity of optical satellite acquisitions related to cloud cover and the huge load of the required processing time pose challenges to real-time applications. NDVI prediction emerges as an innovative solution to address these limitations. It allows for proactive decision-making by providing accurate estimates, enabling farmers and land managers to plan essential agronomic activities such as irrigation, fertilization, and pest control, based on anticipated future conditions. This study introduces an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) model incorporating NDVI, Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI), temperatures, and precipitation as predictive variables. The model employs a novel time series slicing algorithm, Boosting Adaptive Time Series Slicer (BATS), to enhance the input training dataset's variability, presenting the model with a broader range of examples. A 2-Bidirectional Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) forecasting model was developed to predict future NDVI values over short and medium-term horizons. The study area used to train, test and validate the ANN corresponds to a diverse landscape of cultivated corn fields located in Piemonte (NW-Italy). Results showed that NDVI future estimates were accurate; considering three time horizons for predictions (5, 10, and 15 days) RMSE values resulted to be 0.028, 0.038 and 0.050, respectively. Additionally, ablation tests proved that the most important variable for enhancing the model's accuracy is the NDWI, and the most useful timesteps are the four most recent ones. To preliminary investigate the capability of the ANN to operate over a wider and different area it was applied over the entire Europe, using the LUCAS dataset as reference map to locate corn fields. Results show RMSE of 0.062, 0.083 and 0.105 for the 5, 10 and 15 days forecasting horizons, respectively. The methodology proposed in this paper can be a possible alternative to more ordinary approaches for NDVI forecasting that nowadays appears to be a fundamental step for a proactive precision agriculture where crop management can be significantly improved. Future developments should explore the use of sequence-to-sequence ANNs to predict the development of multiple spectral indices over multiple crop types simultaneously. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article focuses on the "Eighth International Symposium on Bioengineering and the Skin," that would is be held at Stresa, Italy on June 13-16, 1990. Invited speakers will present updates on current bioengineering issues. Dermatologists, pharmacologists, plastic surgeons, cosmetic chemists, and other scientists in the field will gather to discuss technologies and methods for the non-invasive evaluation of skin physiology, pathology, therapy, and skin product assessment.

A current topic that has surfaced among Public Transport Companies (PTCs) is the selection of alternative fuels for their bus fleets. Both European and Italian regulations are pushing toward abandoning diesel fuel and the consolidation of alternative traction power sources, such as battery-electric vehicles, fuel-cell electric vehicles, and hydrogen-electric vehicles. The literature has provided some approaches toward assessing this selection such as multicriteria-decision-methods in some countries in the world. However, not enough specific attention has been paid to cost criteria, experts involved, and the type of service required. This paper intends to address these gaps by applying an integrated method, which includes: (i) the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) to define the weights of criteria; (ii) the ELimination Et Choix Traduisant la REalitè I (ELECTRE I) to find a good compromise solution among the fuel alternatives and (iii) a simple Weighted Sum Model (WSM) to refine ranking. This integrated method was applied in Italy involving a panel of experts from whom the data was collected. Different fuel alternatives for both urban and interurban services and with and without funding are discussed. The results provide a useful tool supporting PTC policies, which aims to rationalise and prioritise bus fuel alternatives when deciding on fleet renewal. • Bus fuel selection studies lack cost criteria, experts involved, and service type. • The multicriteria-decision-methods (MCDM) considers the previous issues. • An integrated MCDM method selects fuel alternatives for urban/interurban bus services. • Results prioritise the economically advantageous fuels for with and without funding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Freedom of Information (FOI) is considered a crown jewel of reforms fostering public administration transparency and accountability. However, FOI's symbolic power alone cannot overcome the organizational barriers and obstacles to its effective implementation. This paper presents the results of a field experiment performed in Italy, a late FOI adopter, where an FOI request was sent to the 307 municipalities with more than 30k inhabitants. The experimental design exploits marginal wording variation in the requests to test whether municipalities discriminate between ordinary citizens and high-profile requesters. The experimental evidence suggests that most Italian municipalities reply to FOI requests. The results show two opposite types of discretionary bias: Northern municipalities tend to favor high-profile requesters, whereas Southern municipalities tend to respond to them with a higher degree of attrition. The study investigates the determinants of this difference. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A multimodal computational approach was used for the 3D survey of a panel painting. • Data from close-range photogrammetry and laser microprofilometry were fused. • The warping arrow before and after restoration was quantified on the 3D point cloud. • Multi-temporal monitoring of the painting is computed via Cloud-to-Cloud distance. • Micrometric roughness of paint layers is measured by laser microprofilometry. This paper reports the results obtained from the workflow designed for the 3D survey of a Renaissance panel painting using close-range photogrammetry and conoscopic laser microprofilometry, before and after its restoration. The artwork under examination is the central panel of a Renaissance polyptych realized by a late Gothic painter active in central Italy in the late 15th century. This painting has had a rather troubled conservation history following numerous adverse events that have severely damaged it structurally. In preparation for restoration work, the fusion of point cloud data derived from active and passive sensors served to create a single multi-resolution model on which to conduct advanced metrological analyses for multi-temporal monitoring of the changes undergone by the panel painting during and after structural restoration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Policymakers need electoral consensus to achieve sustainable structural transformation. • Structural change sustainability might be threatened by anti-system party consensus. • We analyze the local spending-electoral consensus nexus at municipal level in Italy. • We find that increasing local public spending reduces anti-system party consensus. • Heterogenous effects arise at different geographical areas and spending categories. This paper explores electoral consensus regarding local public spending as a way for policymakers, particularly in western democracies, to secure long-term electoral support to govern the sustainability of structural change. Public spending is perceived by local electoral constituencies as immediately affecting people's lives and thus strongly influences individual voting behaviour. Focusing on the case of Italy, this paper explores the electoral consensus–public spending nexus on the municipal level. The results show that, on average, an increase in local public spending is associated with a reduction in electoral consensus towards anti-system parties, whereas an increase in local public spending does not yield a significant raise in electoral consensus for pro-system parties. We find nevertheless heterogeneous effects across different geographical areas and spending categories for both anti-system and pro-system party consensus. The results yield insights for scholarly debate and implications for policymaking to garner the electoral consensus needed for sustainable structural change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a novel energy management strategy (EMS) to control a wind-hydrogen microgrid which includes a wind turbine paired with a hydrogen-based energy storage system (HESS), i.e., hydrogen production, storage and re-electrification facilities, and a local load. This complies with the mini-grid use case as per the IEA-HIA Task 24 Final Report, where three different use cases and configurations of wind farms paired with HESS are proposed in order to promote the integration of wind energy into the grid. Hydrogen production surpluses by wind generation are stored and used to provide a demand-side management solution for energy supply to the local and contractual loads, both in the grid-islanded and connected modes, with corresponding different control objectives. The EMS is based on a hierarchical model predictive control (MPC) in which long-term and short-term operations are addressed. The long-term operations are managed by a high-level MPC, in which power production by wind generation and load demand forecasts are considered in combination with day-ahead market participation. Accordingly, the hydrogen production and re-electrification are scheduled so as to jointly track the load demand, maximize the revenue through electricity market participation and minimize the HESS operating costs. Instead, the management of the short-term operations is entrusted to a low-level MPC, which compensates for any deviations of the actual conditions from the forecasts and refines the power production so as to address the real-time market participation and the short time-scale equipment dynamics and constraints. Both levels also take into account operation requirements and devices' operating ranges through appropriate constraints. The mathematical modeling relies on the mixed-logic dynamic (MLD) framework so that the various logic states and corresponding continuous dynamics of the HESS are considered. This results in a mixed-integer linear program which is solved numerically. The effectiveness of the controller is analyzed by simulations which are carried out using wind forecasts and spot prices of a wind farm in center-south of Italy. • Design of control algorithms for islanded and grid-connected microgrids. • Development of hierarchical MPCs to target long-term and short-term operations. • Tracking the load demand and maximizing the revenue via electricity markets. • Minimization of the HESS operational costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the agri-food supply chain, the perishable nature of the commodities opens a series of challenges at all decision levels: strategical, tactical and operational. This paper presents an age-based model for the inventory-routing problem of perishable commodities with stochastic demands. To deal with this source of uncertainty, the conditional value-at-risk (CVaR) has been adopted as a risk measure, and then the model has been applied to the agri-food supply chain under investigation. The model is the core of a dynamic approach for the optimal distribution and inventory planning over a short-medium horizon. To address a problem as realistic as possible, we assume that the demand for products of each age is unknown and we model this uncertainty by means of random variables with a probability distribution that can be estimated from historical data. Computational experiments on test cases based on a real-life agri-food company located in Italy show the effectiveness of the proposed approach for evaluating different risk attitudes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper takes advantage of the COVID-19 outbreak to explore the determinants of firms' R&D choices around an exogenous shock. We make use of unique panel data on 7,800 Italian companies between January –right before the pandemic– and March 2020 –amid lockdown policies. We exploit the short-run revision in firms' research plans to test the impact of deteriorating expectations and uncertainty on firms' R&D. In addition to the significant role played by firms' expectations, we find that preexisting innovative activities significantly shaped the reaction to the general uncertainty shock. • We explore the determinants of firms R&D choices around an exogenous shock. • We test the differential effect of deteriorating expectations and uncertainty on firms' R&D. • Expectations on future demand have a dramatic effect, especially for innovative companies. • Characteristics of the innovative process shape firms' reaction to the general uncertainty. • Newly innovative and transitioning companies are particularly affected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The shareholding state in Italy emerges following the partial privatizations of State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) in the 1990s. • The literature finds that states retaining minority stakes in their former SOEs are unlikely to influence corporate strategies. • This paper suggests that state minority stakes may serve state interests. • The decision to retain majority or minority stakes depends on sectoral specificities. • It also depends on the influence that private shareholders may exercise on the board. The shareholding state in Italy emerges following the partial privatizations of State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) in the 1990s. As today, it is still debated whether the Italian state is using its controlling stakes in former SOEs to pursue policy objectives, or if it is acting passively as other financial shareholders. The limited contributions in this field of study find that states retaining a minority stake are unlikely to influence corporate strategies, while the opposite occurs when a majority stake is held. This paper suggests that minority stakes may also serve state interests even if the company's statute does not envisage the state to play an active role. The issue is explored through a case study of the partial privatizations of CDP, in which the state retains a majority stake, and Eni, in which the state retains a minority (albeit predominant) stake, and that operate respectively in the banking and energy sectors. Their different level of financialization unveils the diversified strategies adopted by the Italian state to preserve national interests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Risk assessment was estimated starting from environmental hazard data and vulnerability and • exposure information of architectural buildings. • Three different risk levels can be assessed starting from air pollution and meteorological data measured by national monitoring station network. • Vulnerability and exposure describe the conservation condition based on damage intensity. • Risk assessment as a tool to plan maintenance and restoration activities according a priority scale. Limestone monuments are generally subjected to natural and anthropogenic environmental threats. This paper describes a methodology to assess the risk of surface recession damage, due to air pollution and meteorological factors, to architectural buildings in Italy. Through the elaboration of environmental data and information on conservation conditions of cultural heritage, three different risk models were identified: i) the territorial risk, obtained combining territorial hazard information with the density of historic buildings defined at municipal scale; ii) the individual risk, attained by overlapping territorial hazard data at municipal scale, with surface vulnerability and exposure information of a single monument; iii) the local risk, defined starting from the combination of territorial hazard at sub-municipal scale, with vulnerability and exposure information of a single monument. The first model refers to the risk of an aggregate of cultural assets located in a municipality, while the other two indicators identify the damage risk of a single monument at municipal and sub-municipal spatial scales. The proposed method was applied, using GIS (Geographical Information System) application, to identify the three risk models for Italian architectural buildings using environmental and monument conservation data updated to 2018. The territorial hazard was defined by assessing the material loss damage expressed as surface recession and quantified starting from air pollutant concentrations and meteorological data measured by the monitoring station network of Italy in 2018. The vulnerability and exposure information were extracted from the Italian Risk Map of Cultural Heritage system. The obtained results allowed to identify the potentially most aggressive areas from climatic and environmental point of view and the architectural buildings most exposed to surface recession risk. The methodology described in this paper can be therefore considered as a tool that can be used, by policy makers, to plan priority maintenance and conservation activities in order to reduce the progress and the intensity of decay on outdoor cultural properties. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• SeSAME system for collecting and analysing the behaviours of visitors inside a museum environment. • SeSAME is based on a multi-modal deep neural network architecture. • SeSAME uses re-identification techniques to perform visual profiling of visitor interest. • SeSAME aims at developing a tailored user experience in museum environment. Nowadays, understanding and analysing visitors activities and behaviours is becoming imperative for personalising and improving the user experience in a museum environment. Users' behaviour can provide important statistics, insights and objective information about their interactions, such as attraction, attention and action. These data represent a precious value for the museum curators, and they are one of the parameters that need to be assessed. These information are collected through manual approaches based on questionnaires or visual observations. This procedure is time consuming and can be affected by the subjective interpretation of the evaluator. From such premises, SeSAME (Senseable Self Adapting Museum Environment) a novel system for collecting and analysing the behaviours of visitors inside a museum environment is presented in this paper. SeSAME is based on a multi-modal deep neural network architecture able to extract anthropometric and appearance features from RGB-D videos acquired in crowded environments. Our approach has been tested on four different temporal modelling methods to aggregate a sequence of image-level features into clip-level features. This paper uses as a benchmark TVPR2, a public dataset of acquired videos with an RGB-D camera in a top-view configuration, in the presence of persistent and temporarily heavy occlusion. Moreover, a dataset specifically collected for this work has been acquired in a real museum environment, which is Palazzo Buonaccorsi, an important historical building in Macerata, in Marche Region in the center of Italy. During the experimental phase, the evaluation metrics show the effectiveness and the suitability of the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the first detailed analysis of cloud-to-ground (CG) and intra-cloud (IC) strokes characteristics from the Lightning Detection Network (LINET) over Italy and the Central Mediterranean area, a lightning active area in south Europe. We study the strokes over a 13-year period from 2010 to 2022, aiming to understand how it varies with different temporal scales (hourly, monthly, seasonally, and yearly), surface types (sea and land), and ground levels (0–100 m ; 100–200 m ; 200–400 m ; 400–800 m ; 800–1200 m ; 1200–2000 m and above 2000 m). We found that the stroke's maximum activity was observed in August; specifically, July has the maximum activity over the land with a maximum diurnal peak in the afternoon, while in September, the convection shifts over the sea with a secondary daily maximum in the morning. The largest current intensities are observed in January, over sea and during nighttime. Moreover we found that stroke current intensities, polarity and IC height emissions are influenced by ground altitude level. Our paper provides new insights into the spatio-temporal patterns and characteristics of lightning over Italy and the Central Mediterranean area, which can be useful for improving weather forecasting, climate modeling, risk assessment, and damage mitigation strategies in this area. • Orography has strong impact on lightning density, polarity, intensity and discharge height. • Vigorous convection develops over the land in summer and over the sea in autumn. • Overall stroke density reaches its peak in August. • Atmospheric instability decreases the breakdown threshold increasing weaker strokes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the underexplored impact of the procedures in public contracts on market allocation efficiency that are at risk of corruption. We integrated the GMM-SYS estimator with analyses of a balanced panel database of all the provinces in Italy between the period 2013–2021. The use of a high level of spatial granularity in an under-researched context revealed two distinct scenarios. In competitive markets, a more entrepreneurial and less widespread form of corruption emerged which may enhance market efficiency (bottom-up pattern). Conversely, in a context with limited market competition and low institutional quality, corruption indicators may be less useful due to potential pre-bribery behavior (top-down pattern). Our study underscores the capacity of corrupt suppliers to exploit market opportunities and secure selection. We found that corruption risk practices within public contracts have the potential to improve market efficiency, thus rendering them appealing to corrupt suppliers due to their capacity to deliver economic advantages. This also applies to provinces with high-quality governance. Additionally, the paper highlights the limitations of indicators in alternative contexts. The paper has significant implications for policymakers in defining assignation criteria in high-quality contexts, but also offers insights into the effectiveness of grand corruption indicators for academics. • Examines the impact of public contract procedures on market efficiency. • GMM-SYS estimator and innovative matching DID for panel analysis. • Bottom-up corruption in competitive markets, top-down in less competitive ones. • Corrupt suppliers exploit market opportunities, enhancing efficiency. • Offers insights in assignation criteria, and limitation of indicators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this "Data, Tools and Replication" paper we adapt the complexity algorithm by Hidalgo and Hausmann (2009) to the financial sector and compute a measure of financial development that is intrinsically linked to its diversity dimension. We then test the impact of financial development on financial stability, economic resilience and growth, focusing on Italy. By employing an index that levers on the diversity dimension of financial development, our findings reveal that higher degrees of financial development translate into a lower financial fragility and a more resilient real economy. Indeed, territories denoted by more diverse and developed financial systems show an increased firm natality rate, a reduced firm mortality rate, and a lower probability of experiencing employment and GDP drops. Finally, higher financial development also spurs economic growth. Results are confirmed at micro-level, and higher levels of financial development and diversity decrease the probability of firms' exit from the market and enhance their investment activity. Our findings unveil the importance of considering the diversity dimension of financial development when investigating its role on economic performance. • Drawing from network theory we calculate a measure of development of financial systems that levers on its diversity dimension. • Using Italian data we investigate whether financial development and diversity improve financial stability, the resilience of the real economy, and economic growth. • We find that more developed and diverse financial systems are more stable. • Benefits extend to the real economy, that shows greater resilience and growth. • Results emerge both in a micro and more aggregated setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper performs a macroeconomic quasi-experiment with individual data to study how the fixed exchange-rate policy implemented in Italy between 1997 and 2000, by itself or in combination with the institutional setting, affected the growth rate of real wages among resident workers. Accounting for both observed and unobserved individual characteristics through the Difference-in-Differences estimator, we find that the fixed exchange-rate policy reduced the growth rate of real wages in the private sector, relative to the counterfactual of a flexible exchange-rate policy, which is simulated through comparable micro data from the United Kingdom. Evidence of heterogeneous treatment effects across sectors and industries is also presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrogen supplying to industrial users is currently the major hydrogen business worldwide and the demand for hydrogen is almost entirely supplied from fossil fuels. In the last years a widespread interest on hydrogen has grown as energy vector for the decarbonization of multiple sectors, including industry, transport and buildings. Nevertheless, the impact of natural gas and other fossil fuels substitution with hydrogen is highly affected by the mix of different technologies and energy sources applied for hydrogen generation. The paper aims to investigate current CO 2 emissions related with hydrogen generation in Australia and Italy by means of PEM and alkaline technologies; and to evaluate the potential impact considering cell characteristics variation and 3 scenarios based on energy mix. A sensitivity analysis is performed to identify the critical parameters. Based on experimental data, the energy consumption for hydrogen production using PEM technology is more sensitive to cell voltage compared to current density, which indicates the importance of cell manufacturing and electrolyte resistance. In addition, by performing sensitivity analysis regarding energy sources scenarios it is found that carbon dioxide emission in Australia is more sensitive to renewable energy sources rather than Italy. [Display omitted] • Importance of manufacturing and electrolyte resistance because of high PEM energy consumption sensitivity to cell voltage. • Predicted emission in 2030 is 5–10 kg CO 2 using PEM/alkaline technology in Italy. • 18% reduction of national electricity grid CO 2 emission in Australia is predicted. (In 2030 in comparison to 2019). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Public infrastructure procurement is a crucial policy tool, a prerequisite for public and private investments and for economic and social capital growth. Low performance in execution severely hinders infrastructure provision and benefits delivery. One of the most sensitive phases in public infrastructure procurement is the design because of the strategic relationship that it potentially creates between procurers and contractors in the execution stage, affecting the costs and the duration of the contract. In this paper, using recent developments in non-parametric frontiers and propensity score matching, we evaluate the performance in the execution of public works in Italy. The analysis provides robust evidence of significant improvement of performance where procurers opt for design and build contracts, which lead to lower transaction costs, allowing contractors to better accommodate the project in the execution. Our findings bear considerable policy implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Management of organic fraction of MSW (OFMSW) and excess sludge is difficult. • Anaerobic codigestion of these two substrates in presence of bioplastic is analyzed. • Influence of bioplastics on methane production has not been evidenced. • Bioplastic biodegradation is very limited and the presence of fragments is evident. • A possible increase in phytotoxicity has been also signalized. Co-digestion of the organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW) and excess sludge has several benefits especially related to improved methane production and better process stability. In recent years, the presence of biodegradable plastics is increasingly common in OFMSW especially since, as in Italy, biodegradable bags are used for its collection. In this paper, the influence and the fate of biodegradable bags during anaerobic co-digestion of excess sludge and OFMSW are assessed. The best results in terms of methane yield (about 180 NmL/g VS) have been obtained with the 50:50 (VS basis) co-digestion of excess sludge and OFMSW with an organic loading rate of 2 kg VS /m3·d. Bioplastic degradation is very limited during the co-digestion but it does not influence methane production or digestate chemical characteristics. However, the feeding of bioplastic bags seems to induce a higher phytotoxicity and the presence of undigested fragments is anyway a problem for further treatment or direct utilization of digestate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Decision-making processes related to transportation systems are often very complex, belonging to the class of "wicked problems" in social studies. The literature and the media abound in examples of transportation planning "failures" including decisions made, delayed or withdrawn without any traceable motivations, public opposition, public opposition, extra costs/implementation times and outright cancellation, wrong traffic/revenue forecasts. Planning failures stem from several causes, including technical errors in forecasting predictable effects, lack of consensus, new governance cycles and inability to recognize the intrinsic uncertainty affecting some key variables. The underlying assumption of this paper is that the quality of the decision-making process critically depends on how the process is structured and managed. The paper proposes a conceptual model to represent and organize transport planning as a cognitive decision-making process with strong involvement of different stakeholders in various stages, accounting for different levels of uncertainty and including short- and long-term decisions options. The result is a planning process that allows for changes in objectives, strategies and decisions during different stages of the process itself, as is usually the case when different governance and socio-economic cycles succeed over time. However, the process maintains a form of procedural consistency and is intended to counteract the "Penelope syndrome", whereby decisions made under previous governance cycles are undone regardless of their merits and costs. The real-life implementation of the proposed model requires strong "political commitment" to an open and accountable decision-making process, a technical structure able to act as "process owner" coordinating technical and engagement activities, and a general societal attitude towards organized participation to public decision making. The proposed model was applied to the Regional Transportation Plan of Veneto in Italy where the above conditions applied. A number of lessons were learnt from that exercise: i) stakeholders' engagement revealed an important potential to manage uncertainty and increase consensus; ii) flexibility and robustness with respect to medium–to–high uncertainty levels already recognized at the time of the plan (immediately before the COVID-19 crisis) were an appreciated feature of the plan; iii) separation between mature decisions and those needing further analysis was a success strategy, reducing political "decision costs" (from naysaying) by delaying decisions still recognizing underlying needs; iv) reduced decision time (a largely bi-partisan vote in less than one year). • Transport-related decision-making process may lead to unsatisfactory results (failures). • The quality of the decision-making process is a key factor for a successful planning and design. • A novel cognitive participative decision-making model under uncertainty levels is proposed. • The application of the model to the Regional Transportation Plan of Veneto (Italy) is also discussed. • A number of lessons learned were derived. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the problem of evictions in Italy, focusing on their quantitative dimension on a national and regional level, from the 1980s to the present. In line with many western European countries, particularly those in southern Europe, Italy has historically emphasised homeownership as the central pillar of its housing policy, relegating tenants' housing problems to the background. In an attempt to shed light on tenants' housing hardship, the analysis addresses evictions as one of their most pressing problems, according to the following research questions: Why is the phenomenon of evictions under-investigated in Italy? What is the current scenario of evictions in Italy and what public policies are in place to tackle them? The paper points out the high rate of evictions in Italy compared to other European countries, the increase in evictions for arrears and the inadequate use of public resources allocated to answer the problem. The proposed analysis advocate for reframing evictions as a pressing social issue with far-reaching political implications. This study is a first contribution to a broader research agenda on evictions in Italy. • The lack of macro-level analysis of evictions is a serious gap in the understanding of the housing problem in Italy; • The paper argues that macro-analysis is essential to frame evictions as a social and political issue, rather than an individual failure; • The analysis shows that evictions for arrears have increased throughout Italy and that support for tenants is needed; • It highlights the need to counterbalance the policy bias towards home ownership by reshaping the rental market; [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A timber system is proposed for the seismic retrofit of URM buildings. • Analytical equations are derived for design against different failure modes. • Wall in-plane and out-of-plane responses, diaphragms and connections are addressed. • The proposed equations are applied to case-study buildings and structural members. • Good agreement between analytical calculations and experimental data is shown. An innovative timber retrofit was investigated at the EUCENTRE and at the University of Pavia, Italy, as part of a comprehensive research campaign on the seismic vulnerability of existing unreinforced masonry buildings subjected to induced seismicity in The Netherlands. The retrofit system consists of timber frames, connected to the masonry piers and to the floor diaphragms, and oriented-strand board sheathing nailed to the frames and to flexible timber diaphragms. Starting from the main critical aspects observed in experimental tests, the proposed solution was conceived to enhance the in-plane and out-of-plane capacities of masonry piers, improve the overall wall-to-diaphragm connections, increase the floor diaphragm stiffness and strength, and allow possible integration with energy efficiency upgrades. This paper, the first of a series of two, focuses on the conceptual bases of the seismic retrofit system and on the analytical equations that can be used for the design of its components. Moreover, a step-by-step design procedure is presented to guide the reader through the application of these equations. A companion paper [1] will discuss the validation of the analytical formulation with the experimental data from quasi-static cyclic and dynamic shake-table tests on building components and complete specimens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Hydrological digital twins (HDT) are essential tools to understand the hydrological cycle especially in a changing climate. • We present, test, and validate an open-source framework to implement HDT in the large anthropized alpine Adige catchment. • The HDT is calibrated/validated on a variety of hydrological processes and data sources providing satisfactory performances. Understanding and simulating the hydrological cycle, especially in a context of climate change, is crucial for quantitative water risk assessment and basin management. The hydrological cycle is complex as it is a combination of non-linear natural processes and anthropogenic influences that alter landforms and water flows. Human-induced changes of relevance, including changes in land uses, construction of dams and artificial reservoirs, and diversion of the river course, lead to changes in water flows throughout the basin. These should be explicitly accounted for a realistic representation of the anthropogenically altered hydrological cycle. Such a realistic representation of the hydrological cycle is a necessary input for the water risk assessment in a particular region. In this paper, we present a hydrological digital twin (HDT) model of a large anthropized alpine basin: the Adige basin located in the northeast of Italy. Most catchments model often overlook land-uses changes over time and forget to model reservoir operation and their influence over time on water flow. Yet, for example, the Adige basin has>30 reservoirs affecting the water flow. We therefore use the GEOframe modeling framework to demonstrate the ability to create a hydrological twin model accounting for these anthropogenic changes. Specifically, we model each component of the water cycle over 39 years (1980–2018) at daily timescale through calibration of the Adige HDT with a multi-site approach using discharge data of 33 stations, based on a high-resolution (1 km) temperature and precipitation dataset and a calculated crop potential evapotranspiration (PETc) dataset, which accounts for human-induced change of the land cover over time. The modeling system also includes the simulation of artificial reservoirs and dams by the dynamically zoned target release (DZTR) reservoir model. The Adige HDT is assessed/validated/compared through a variety of hydrological processes (i.e., river and reservoir discharges, PETc and actual evapotranspiration, snow, and soil moisture) and data sources (i.e., observations and remote sensing data). Overall, the HDT reproduces well the measured discharge in space and time with a Kling Gupta Efficiency (KGE) above 0.7 (0.8) for 30 (23) of the 33 gauge-stations. For 7 artificial reservoirs with available data, the reservoir turbinated discharges are successfully reproduced with an average KGE of 0.92. A comparison between modeled and MODIS remote sensing snow data showed an average error of < 10% across the entire basin; the model also presented a good spatio-temporal agreement both with GLEAMS potential (and actual evapotranspiration) with an average KGE of 0.63 (0.60) and a high-level of correlation (0.5 on average) with the ASCAT satellite retrieved soil moisture. The findings of this paper demonstrate the potential of the open-source, component-based, GEOframe system to build a HDT, to provide a reliable and long term (39 years) estimation of all the water cycle components in a complex anthropized river basin at high spatial resolution. Spatially detailed HDT models results of this type can be used to inform basin-wise adaptation policy decisions and better water management practices in a time of changing climate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The number and importance of renewable energy communities (RECs) are increasing in all European countries due to the support of EU and national policies in order to foster the energy transition through participatory strategies for distributed energy systems. However, their development is rather slow in some countries, including Italy. The paper addressed the issue of the emergence of these socio-technical configurations in Italy, after the related law which entered into force in 2020 allowing the possibility of creating them. Our study focused on the alliances among different actors (professionals, institutions, NGOs, citizens) highlighting possible trends or models for the future that need to be confirmed in further research. The approach proposed to analyse this current process is the Actor-Network Theory, aiming at drawing the assemblages of human and non-human actants at a general level. Accordingly, we selected three case studies in order to show their different ways of organising, the relevance of trust in establishing each REC and the influence of local context on the composition and features of the actor-networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the framework of the NWO project "What went into the melting pot? Land-use, agriculture, and craft production as indicators for the contributions of Greek migrants and local inhabitants to the so-called Greek colonization in Italy (ca. 850–550 BC)", science-based methods are employed to analyze and compare the organization of subsistence strategies in the Greek motherland and in the indigenous and colonial milieus of Italy (Crielaard et al. 2020). As a part of the subproject 'Flora & Fauna', which focuses on farming practices, subsistence strategies and surplus production, Iron Age material from the settlement of Krania in the Pieria region of Greece was analyzed. The site was excavated in 2001 and revealed occupation phases from the 3rd millennium BC to the Hellenistic period. The amount of ceramics recovered demonstrates the importance of trade with the rest of Greece, in particular Corinth, providing evidence for long-standing contacts and networks. Two pit structures contained a high concentration of material, notably charcoal and ceramics dating to the 9th-8th centuries BC. This material constitutes an interesting case study in itself but also as a regional comparandum with other Greek assemblages. This paper discusses how anthracological analysis can contribute to our understanding of human-environment interactions, anthropogenic practices and environmental management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The literature lacks a systematic analysis of HRS equipment and operating standards. Researchers, policymakers, and HRS operators could find this information relevant for planning the network's future expansion. This study is intended to address this information need by providing a comprehensive strategic overview of the regulations currently in place for the construction and maintenance of hydrogen fueling stations. A quick introduction to fundamental hydrogen precautions and hydrogen design is offered. The paper, therefore, provides a quick overview of hydrogen's safety to emphasize HRS standards, rules, and regulations. Both gaseous and liquid safety issues are detailed, including possible threats and installation and operating expertise. After the safety evaluation, layouts, equipment, and operating strategies for HRSs are presented, followed by a review of in-force regulations: internationally, by presenting ISO, IEC, and SAE standards, and Europeanly, by reviewing the CEN/CENELEC standards. A brief and concise analysis of Italy's HRS regulations is conducted, with the goal of identifying potential insights for strategic development and more convenient technology deployment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A new and efficient fractional model is explored for the investigation of COVID-19 dynamics. • The associated dynamical behaviors are discussed in terms of equilibrium points, invariant region, etc. • To implement the proposed model numerically, an efficient approximation scheme is also employed. • Simulation results are compared with a real case of COVID-19 pandemic in Italy. • As a result, the new fractional model simulates the reality more precisely than the other classical frameworks. Mathematical modelling is a rapidly expanding field that offers new and interesting opportunities for both mathematicians and biologists. Concerning COVID-19, this powerful tool may help humans to prevent the spread of this disease, which has affected the livelihood of all people badly. The main objective of this research is to explore an efficient mathematical model for the investigation of COVID-19 dynamics in a generalized fractional framework. The new model in this paper is formulated in the Caputo sense, employs a nonlinear time-varying transmission rate, and consists of ten population classes including susceptible, infected, diagnosed, ailing, recognized, infected real, threatened, diagnosed recovered, healed, and extinct people. The existence of a unique solution is explored for the new model, and the associated dynamical behaviours are discussed in terms of equilibrium points, invariant region, local and global stability, and basic reproduction number. To implement the proposed model numerically, an efficient approximation scheme is employed by the combination of Laplace transform and a successive substitution approach; besides, the corresponding convergence analysis is also investigated. Numerical simulations are reported for various fractional orders, and simulation results are compared with a real case of COVID-19 pandemic in Italy. By using these comparisons between the simulated and measured data, we find the best value of the fractional order with minimum absolute and relative errors. Also, the impact of different parameters on the spread of viral infection is analyzed and studied. According to the comparative results with real data, we justify the use of fractional concepts in the mathematical modelling, for the new non-integer formalism simulates the reality more precisely than the classical framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is beyond doubt that Solow's proposal for "an elementary way of segregating variations in output per head due to technical change from those due to the availability of capital per head" (Solow, 1957, p. 312) leading to the 'residual', and hence, TFP growth, has been a crucial development of Neoclassical economics. This notwithstanding, the critique of (and alternative to) Solow's proposal advanced by Pasinetti (1959) has not been equally acknowledged. The debate re-emerged when a posthumous note by Richard Stone (1998[1960]) triggered a further exchange between the authors. This paper aims at retracing the key conceptual aspects of the discussion, pointing to some limitations of Pasinetti's original implementation of his measure of productivity changes, and providing an Input–Output generalisation based on Pasinetti's notion of hyper-integrated labour. Seen in this light, Pasinetti's computable measure of technical change provides a theoretically sound alternative to perform productivity analyses from a Classical perspective. • Review of debate between Solow and Pasinetti on productivity measurement. • Pasinetti's 1959 index of technical change co-moves with K/W, rather than with K/Q. • Input–Output reformulation validates Pasinetti's original intuition. • Novel indicator of direction of technical change at aggregate and sectoral levels. • Illustrative empirical application to the case of Italy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Food categories most wasted in Italy are fruit, vegetables, bread, milk and yogurt. • Larger town areas, 1 member families, and who have a low income wasted more. • Retired people and families with children wasted less. • This assessment poses the basis for a surveillance system on food waste in Italy. • Educational campaigns for specific target groups should be developed. In the present paper, the results of the first comparative assessment of household food waste in Italy are reported with a timeframe of three years coupled with an evaluation of seasonality effects. To pursue the aim of Sustainable Development Goal 12.3 to halve consumer food waste by 2030, the Italian Observatory on Food Surplus, Recovery and Waste carried out two surveys in 2021 (July and November) to characterize household food waste and to evaluate the seasonality effects. Data were collected with a validated questionnaire. For monitoring purposes, data collected in July 2021 were compared with those collected in July 2018. In three years, waste increased from 187.2 to 203.8 g per capita per week (p = 0.00). Fresh foods such as fruits and vegetables, bread, milk, yogurt, and non-alcoholic beverages, were the most wasted. In July the level of waste was higher for fruit (p = 0.00) while in November was higher for potato products (p = 0.04), pasta (p = 0.00), rice (p = 0.04), legumes (p = 0.01), and soups (p = 0.04). Data collected in July 2021 showed that retired people (p = 0.04), families with children (p = 0.01), particularly young children (9–13 years old) (p = 0.02), wasted less while who live in large town areas (p = 0.00), people with self-perceived limited monetary resources (p = 0.01) and mono-component families (p = 0.00) wasted more. The findings of the present work showed that there are specific population groups that wasted more with a gap between the intentions and the actions. The present data have a particular value posing the roots for the establishment of a food waste surveillance system in Italy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of feed additives with antioxidant and immune response modulatory activity could be a useful strategy in suckling calves to reduce morbidity and mortality. This strategy is based on several feed additives tested for these purposes. The aim of the paper is the examination of a commercial feed additive for adult cows for use in calves, with and without nucleotide supplementation. Seventy-five Holstein Friesian male calves were divided in 3 groups, with each calf randomly assigned to a group according to birth order. All calves received 2 L of pooled colostrum within 2 h of birth. The commercial feed supplement group was orally administered with 5 g/head of Decosel (dried brewer's yeast lysate (Saccharomyces cerevisiae), brewer's yeast walls (Saccharomyces cerevisiae), diatoms, spirulina, barley flour, calcium carbonate; Agroteam srl, Torrimpietra, Italy) and the nucleotides + commercial feed supplement group was orally administered with 5 g/head of an additive containing 2.5 g of Decosel and 2.5 g of nucleotides once daily from birth to 25 d. The control group was orally administered 20 mL of fresh water/head once daily. Calves that received the supplement and the nucleotides showed lower rates of protein and metabolizable energy conversion, with longer villi and greater crypt depth in duodenum. Moreover, the commercial feed supplement alone increased antioxidant capacity [2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) and ferric-reducing antioxidant power] in plasma some activity of antioxidant liver enzymes, and peripheral blood mononuclear cell viability after in vitro concanavalin A and H 2 O 2 stimuli. Dietary supplementation with a commercial feed supplement containing yeast products (yeast cell walls and hydrolyzed yeast) and microalgae enhanced the redox balance and gut morphology in calves, allowing calves to improve their immune response, increasing resistance to stress. Moreover, these beneficial effects were strongly potentiated when dietary nucleotides were added to the supplement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrogen storage can help achieve climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This paper presents a first assessment of the suitability of northeastern Italy for underground hydrogen storage (UHS). The study focuses on the analysis of publicly available well data, which allowed identifying geological formations potentially suitable for UHS. The most promising area, known as the "Treviso Area" consists of both saline aquifers and depleted gas fields. One of the key petrophysical properties, i.e. porosity, was calculated for each of the five wells revealing conditions potentially suitable for UHS by applying empirical formulas to geophysical log data. For the two depleted gas fields, a hydrogen injection simulation was also performed. This work is a pioneer study and lays the foundation for hopeful further analyses, which could help implement the recently launched "North Adriatic Hydrogen Valley" initiative. [Display omitted] • A first assessment of underground hydrogen storage (UHS) in Italy is provided. • In NE Italy, saline aquifers and depleted gas fields are potentially suitable for UHS. • A key petrophysical property for UHS, porosity, is calculated from geophysical logs. • A simulation of hydrogen injection and production is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper concerns the role of e-leadership in organizations operating in crisis caused by COVID-19 pandemic. Based on the extensive literature review, it introduces a new model of organizational performance based on e-leadership, as a response for sudden growth of dependence of modern organizations on IT. The influence of e-leadership on organizational performance is assumed to be mediated by work engagement, employees' dynamic capabilities, work motivation, P-J fit and job performance. The theoretical model is verified by empirical research performed among 1160 organizations operating in Poland, Italy and USA during an active wave of COVID-19 pandemic. The obtained results confirmed the proposed hypotheses, allowing to conclude that e-leadership activates work engagement of employees, who are more willing to use their dynamic capabilities to shape work motivation and reestablish P-J fit, which in turn influences positively job and organizational performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Estimation of damping ratios on a short-span RC bridge with half-joints beam through AVTs in in-service conditions. • Minimum signal length to minimize the bias in the damping estimation. • Analysis of the damping with a fixed-length moving window over the entire vibration signatures. • Correlation between signals properties and estimated damping parameters. Experimental tests for dynamic identification of reinforced concrete (RC) bridges by means of Operational Modal Analysis (OMA) are increasingly used in common engineering practice. Nevertheless, especially when measurements are carried out under in-service conditions (i.e. under traffic induced vibrations), some drawbacks should be carefully considered, especially in the damping-ratio quantification. As a matter of fact, the estimation is affected by several factors: i) the length of the signals, ii) the non-stationarity of the input process, and iii) the dependence on the vibration amplitude. Even if the damping ratio is a key parameter in the bridge dynamics, a major part of these aspects has not been yet fully investigated to estimate reliable values. Starting from a dynamic test program on a short-span RC bridge with half-joints in Italy, this paper investigates the issues mentioned above for the damping ratio estimation of the first two modes focusing on: i) the influence of the signal length, ii) the effects of the signals properties, and iii) their correlation with the vibration amplitude. Both the Stochastic Subspace Identification technique fed with the signal covariance (SSI-cov) and the Random Decrement technique (RD) have been used to compute the damping ratios from the collected signals. This paper shows how a convergence of the results cannot be attained by simply increasing the sample size, suggesting that the nature of the vibration itself influences the damping values. A negative, although weak, correlation between the damping ratio and the power of the signals indicates that several factors play a crucial role in the damping estimation in the short span RC bridges with half-joints. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Italian coastal and marine space includes areas with remarkable differences in terms of oceanographic characteristics, maritime uses, natural habitats, species distribution, landscape and cultural heritage. In Italy, coastal and marine management competencies are shared among national, regional, and for some aspects even local authorities. This geographic heterogeneity and governance complexity required the adoption of a multi-scalar approach to Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP). Such an approach aims at implementing decision-making and spatial planning at multiple and nested scales. In the case of Italy, the multi-scalar approach included the definition of national guidelines and the development of three maritime spatial (MS) plans, one for each maritime area (Adriatic, Ionian and Central Mediterranean, and Tyrrhenian and Western Mediterranean), including subareas and nested planning units. The development of the MS plans involved competent Ministries, the coastal Regions and several researchers. Based on the description of the adopted six-phase methodology and the exemplification of results of the Italian MSP process, this paper discusses the most relevant features and common challenges of multi-scalar MSP (i.e. co-planning, vertical and horizontal integration, multi-level governance, scalability, flexibility, integration of data and knowledge with different resolution, multi-scalar stakeholder engagement). Finally, the paper reflects on some novel aspects of the adopted multi-scalar approach and identifies actions to grant efficacy to this approach during the next phases of the Italian MSP process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]