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The increase in irrigated crop areas, especially in countries such as Spain and Italy, has led to an increase in technological solutions for monitoring the irrigation. Furthermore, the centre pivot irrigation systems used in these crops have facilitated the daily work of farmers in recent years, however, the monitoring of these systems and the reporting of problems in their operation has become a key aspect during the growing season. For this reason, different monitoring solutions have been proposed from the area of Precision Agriculture and Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs). Nevertheless, it is necessary that these solutions take into account the digital divide their potential users may suffer and be low-cost solutions in order to be attractive to the end-users. This paper presents several low-cost solutions using novel user interfaces and wireless communication technologies for the monitoring of this type of irrigation systems. This paper presents the results obtained after the deployment of the proposed systems on a real environment and the main conclusions drawn after their use in irrigated maize crops. • LoRaWAN and GPS allow affordable monitoring systems for centre pivot irrigation. • Chatbots and voice assistants help to avoid the digital divide. • Edge Computing Devices and LPWANs enable new AMR solutions for water meters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fully-autonomous vehicles, both aerial and ground, could provide great benefits in the Agriculture 4.0 framework when operating within cooperative architectures, thanks to their ability to tackle difficult tasks, particularly within complex irregular and unstructured scenarios such as vineyards on sloped terrains. A decentralised multi-phase approach has been proposed as an alternative to more common cooperative schemes. When perennial crops are considered, it is advantageous to build a simplified geometrical (and georeferenced) crops model, which can be identified by using 3D point clouds acquired during a-priori explorative missions by unmanned aerial vehicles. This model can be used to plan the tasks to be performed within the crops by the in-field aerial and ground drones. In this companion paper, the proposed strategy is applied to a specific case study involving a vineyard on a sloped terrain, located in the Barolo region in Piedmont, Italy. Ad-hoc technologies and guidance, navigation and control algorithms were designed and implemented. The main objectives were to improve the autonomous driving capabilities of the drones involved and to automate the process of retrieving low-complexity maps from the data collected with preliminary remote sensing missions to make them available for the autonomous navigation by a quadrotor and an unmanned 4-wheel steering ground vehicle within the vine rows. Preliminary results highlight the benefits achievable by exploiting the tailored technologies selected and applied to improve each of the analysed mission phases. • Autonomous ground and aerial vehicles can lead to improve agriculture management. • A collaborative scheme based on a multi-phase approach is proposed. • A specific case study involving a vineyard located in the Barolo is presented. • Design of advanced GNC schemes are proposed for autonomous navigation of drones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Beaches can serve as a valuable asset to any community, which can gain a massive source of income from them; in fact, beach tourism is ever more frequently the essential target of countries, aimed at attracting foreign investment or exchange. In this frame, prediction of coastal evolution at large scales is very important for coastal management and first conceptual design. Management strategies, almost at the early stages of the projects, may likely involve numerical simulations, but they can be extremely laborious, computing demanding and intensely time-consuming especially when involving either wider coastal domain or longer time scales that basically encompasses the majority of coastal projects by now. Analytical solutions of the Diffusion Shoreline Equation (DSE) can be a valid alternative. I n these frames, given the surprisingly good predictive capabilities, they can isolate essential features of the processes, making them more readily comprehended, and can avoid cumulative errors associated with the accuracy of computational time-stepping models. Nevertheless, the rather complex mathematical form makes their use extremely challenging and confines them in the realm of high mathematic s. Ciccaglione et al. (2023) provided analytical solutions of the DSE for finite beaches bounded by outcrops of whatever length (bypassing or non-bypassing groin compartments). Differently from the other studies, the authors checked the applicability range of the solutions through the comparison with reliable numerical models; furthermore, using curve fitting analysis simple design tools were suggested to aid engineers in the practical applications. In this paper, a deep focus is given on the case of a bypassing groin compartment, and easy-to-use formulae are given to assess the lifetime of beach fill projects. A simple semi-theoretical solution is also given for the case of a compartment bounded by a very short groin, by introducing a "convective term" modelled via a Heavy-side function, H (x). The practical usefulness of this solution is proved through an application to the evolution of a real beach along Italy's Adriatic coast. • Long-term shoreline evolution is important for coastal management and planning. • Analytical solutions are valid tools for estimating shoreline change in a bypassed cell. • Simple formulae are derived for the response of a beach fill into bypassing cells. • The applicability range is limited by the shortness of the bypass groin. • "convective" correction is checked against a coastal segment of the Adriatic coast. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drawing upon an extensive body of valuation literature focused on water quality, this paper performs a meta-analysis benefit transfer exercise aimed at quantifying willingness to pay (WTP) for an enhancement in drinking water quality for households that have been directly exposed to Perfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) over recent decades in Italy. The analysis compiles metadata of 72 WTP estimates extracted from 40 previous valuation studies conducted in advanced economies. The benefit transfer is realized estimating a meta regression model (MRM) which includes both study design and socio-economic explanatory variables, according to the Weak Structural Utility Theoretic approach. To determine the most suitable MRM specification, a comparative evaluation of various model configurations is developed exploiting the Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) selection criterion, and assessing their predictive performances in terms of transfer error and explanatory power. The mean transfer error (MTE) and the adjusted R-squared of the preferred MRM are in line with past published meta-analyses (0.665 and 0.607, respectively). The parameters estimated in the model align with both economic theory and intuition. The benefit transfer process results in an estimated annual WTP of € 250.80 per household for improved drinking water quality in the PFAS-affected area and an aggregated value of social benefits from PFAS decontamination of around € 12 million. • First meta-analysis focused on drinking water quality valuation in developed economies. • WTP for PFAS decontamination of drinking water via benefit transfer. • LASSO selection criteria applied for the selection of variables in the meta-regression model. • New dataset for drinking water quality valuation around the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scholars in the history of geography have paid close attention to the way geographical research has contributed to the development of scientific and political concepts such as 'region' and 'nation'. This paper focuses on the life and writings of Cesare Battisti (1875–1916), a native of the city of Trento who became renowned in Italy and Austria-Hungary as a socialist and a geographer at the beginning of the twentieth century. To understand his thought, this paper collects and examines Battisti's scientific outputs and published political papers, along with previously unstudied private writings from his archive (1895-1914). The result is a portrait of Battisti as someone who was outside of national geographical traditions; an entangled intellectual who used different geographical, political, and philosophic tools and methods to legitimate his political claims. In particular, the paper suggests that the idea of Trentino as a region was construed through an anticolonial discourse aimed at supporting the region's claim for autonomy within the Austro-Hungarian empire. This study of Battisti, therefore, offers valuable insights into the emergence of left-wing nationalist and regional discourses, which arose from Italian and Central European socialist networks before the First World War. • Explores geographical, historical, and political thought in late nineteenth to early twentieth century Italy. • Reveals a strong link between political thought and scientific geographical approach. • Discusses the role of geography in constructing a specific, political concept of the region. • Identifies the emergence of a left-wing nationalist political project. • Suggests the existence of a political, 'entangled geography' outside of national traditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the link between organic and local food products purchasing as pro-environmental behaviours, and "other-regarding preferences", such as altruism, intrinsic motivation and self-image, which is measured through individuals' environmental concerns, volunteering, participation in ecological associations and pro-social behaviours. Using the Italian data from the Multipurpose survey on households "Aspects of daily life" conducted in 2019, and bivariate probit models, this paper shows that environmental egoistic and altruistic concerns, volunteering in formal organizations and participation in ecological associations are positively correlated with the purchase of more organic and local food products. Higher pro-social behaviours correlate positively with the purchase of more local products and negatively with the purchase of more organic products. Furthermore, higher education and better household economic conditions are strongly correlated with the purchase of more organic products, while participation in cultural activities is positively associated with the purchase of more organic and local food products. • We study the role of other-regarding preferences in the purchase of organic and local food products in Italy. • We use a bivariate probit model on a representative sample of Italian households. • Altruistic and intrinsic motivations matter in purchasing organic and local food products. • Self-image influences positively local food purchasing and negatively organic food consumption. • Budget constraints matter more for organic food consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a novel four-step methodology to achieve an extended-reality-based choice experiment in historic and touristic centers. The study exploits the case of Manfredonia (a seaside town in southern Italy) to apply the new approach and investigates public attitudes and preferences towards the installation of offshore wind turbines in the area. The novelty of the proposed work is twofold: i) for the first time, a structured methodological approach is defined for the development of a hybrid extended-reality-based choice experiment; ii) the perception of the visual impact of offshore wind turbines is assessed in a touristic and historic city in southern Italy exploiting the proposed approach. Our findings underscore the importance of continuously monitoring public perceptions to maintain and promote support for sustainable energy solutions, particularly in relation to the perception of wind energy's visual impact. In particular, 65% of respondents express their worries about wind power plants impact on the landscape. Moreover, the positive coefficient of the visual impact (0.011) suggests a positive utility of respondents from a higher off-shore turbines' density and a marginal willingness to accept a compensation of about 13€ for the visual impact and of about 33€ for the distance from the shore. In this context the use of extended reality technology in choice experiment scenarios significantly improves the results and enhances the understanding of the landscape impact of offshore wind farms. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the last decade, outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases have been reported in developed countries around the world. In particular, measles outbreaks have been ongoing in the European Union since 2017, with the majority of cases concentrated in Romania and Italy. Measles has been identified as a powerful indicator of the status of vaccination programs in a region, as outbreaks have been reported to quickly emerge as a result of underlying problems in the immunisation routine. This paper aims to report and critically comment on the factors underpinning the recent measles outbreaks in Italy, considering the psychological, cultural, social and political causes of vaccine hesitancy and refusal amongst the population. Data from government agencies including the Italian National Institute of Statistics (ISTAT) and the Italian National Institute of Health (ISS) are analysed to describe incidence and mortality trends from 1887 to the present day, including regional variations and the impact of measles vaccination coverage. The topic of compulsory vaccination is currently the object of heated debate in the Italian social and political panorama; this paper discusses the current state of the vaccination controversy in the Italian political discourse and its potential impact on immunisation policies and measles vaccine coverage amongst the population. A burgeoning body of evidence indicates that every effort should be made to bolster the existing legislation on mandatory vaccination through widespread health education campaigns aimed at improving scientific literacy amongst the Italian population with regards to the topic of immunisation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates core reduction intensity in the early Protoaurignacian lithic assemblage from Fumane Cave in northeastern Italy. Reduction intensity serves as a key tool to characterize blank selection strategies, raw material management, and the variability of knapping strategies throughout the reduction sequence by reconstructing the operatory field of core assemblages. Finally, it also aids in addressing the relationship between blades and bladelets, providing valuable insights into the behavioral and chrono-cultural significance of laminar productions within the Aurignacian technocomplex. To achieve these research goals, experimental work employing 3D scanning technology was conducted. This facilitated the comparison of different methods and variables for measuring reduction intensity, including the percentage of non-cortical surface, the Scar Density Index (SDI), and a novel adaptation of the Volumetric Reconstruction Method (VRM). Results demonstrate the effectiveness and potential of adapting the VRM for the study of reduction intensity in Upper Paleolithic laminar cores, and the provided R scripts and datasets will enable this method to be applied to other contexts with minimal need for modification to the workflow. Analysis of reduction intensity measures applied to the Protoaurignacian assemblage from Fumane Cave reveals slight variations based on factors such as the abundance and proximity of selected raw materials for blank production. Notably, the most prevalent raw material variety, the Maiolica, yields a higher number of less reduced cores, while reduction levels across all cores discarded at the site remain relatively high. The observed variability in the operatory field and the interrelation between blade and bladelet productions underscore the complexity and flexibility of Protoaurignacian behavior. This inherent complexity challenges any definitive separation between the operatory fields of blade and bladelet productions. These findings are particularly important to emphasize the importance of considering reduction intensity when examining technological variability and human behavior in Aurignacian studies. The proposed adaptation of the VRM and the effective combination with other measures of reduction, promises to allow future research to incorporate reduction intensity as a vital temporal component within studies on stone tool production. This integration offers a pathway to enhancing our understanding of the adaptive behaviors exhibited by Homo sapiens across diverse ecological settings and provides a clearer framework for better framing the development of the Upper Paleolithic. • Tested an adapted version of the VRM on blade & bladelet cores using experimental knapping and 3D scanning technology. • VRM effective with laminar core types, enhanced by methods like the SDI for comprehensive reduction intensity insights. • VRM & SDI used to explore raw material, core classification, and blank production in the Protoaurignacian from Fumane cave. • Results highlight challenges in separating the operatory fields of blade & bladelet productions in the Protoaurignacian. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coastal areas frequently face critical conditions due to the lack of adequate forms of land use planning, environmental management and inappropriate coastal risk management, sometimes leading to unexpected and undesired environmental effects. Risk management also involves cultural aspects, including perception. However, the acknowledgement of risk perception by stakeholders and local communities, as one of the social pillars of risk analysis, is often lacking. Starting from an overview of the risk concept and the related approaches to be addressed, the paper investigates the evolution of coastal risk management with a focus on the Italian case study. Despite the design and adoption of national policies to deal with coastal risks, coastal management still shows in Italy a fragmented and poorly coordinated approach, together with a general lack of attention to stakeholder involvement. Recent efforts in the design of plans aiming at reducing risks derived from climate change and mitigating their impacts (National Strategy on Climate Change Adaptation; National Climate Change Adaptation Plan; National Recovery and Resilience Plan activities) should be effective in updating knowledge about climate change risks and in supporting national adaptation policies. • Traditional coastal risk defense measures often lead to ineffective results. • Novel risk approaches are needed to manage the complexity of coastal issues. • Risk perception is a fundamental component in coastal risk management. • In Italy coastal management is fragmented and poor-coordinated. • It is important to involve stakeholder and society at large in management processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long multi-span bridges represent a broad section of the civil roadway infrastructure. Despite being so common, their condition-based maintenance through vibration-based Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) has been scarcely investigated in the literature. The dynamic identification of such structures through Operational Modal Analysis (OMA) is especially challenging due to of their quasi-periodic nature and the common existence of weak inter-span coupling. Even when designed following an isostatic scheme, there always exists a certain degree of coupling between spans due to the continuity of the deck, the pavement and imperfect expansion joints. Hence, the modal poles of the spans typically appear as dense clusters with closely spaced frequencies and mode shapes with similar wavelengths, which significantly hinders the identification of physical poles through stabilization diagrams. In this light, this paper proposes a model-based machine learning approach to conduct and interpret the OMA results of partially continuous multi-span bridges. The proposed method is a hierarchical clustering approach that leverages on the analytical solution of the vertical free vibration response of multi-span girders with weak inter-span rotational coupling, allowing the estimation of the modal features of any bridge configuration ranging from simply supported to perfectly continuous conditions. Detailed parametric analyses and discussions are presented to appraise the correlation between the inter-span rotational coupling and the clustering of the modal poles of multi-span bridges, as well as the influence of damage conditions of varying severity and extension. On this basis, a model-based cut-off distance threshold for hierarchical clustering of stable poles is proposed to assist the automation of the global OMA of multi-span bridges. The developed formulation is tested in a real-world in-operation seven-spans reinforced concrete girder bridge, the Trigno V Bridge in Italy. • New analytical solutions for free vibration of partially-continuous multi-span bridges are derived. • The effects of inter-span rotational coupling upon the modal properties is analysed. • An innovative model-assisted clustering method to conduct automated OMA is proposed. • The effects of damage with varying severity and extension are investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SARS-CoV-2 pandemic is continuing to spread. There are growing concerns on the impact of COVID-19 in cancer patients. Several papers reporting recommendations and guidelines are published. But few data on cancer patients affected by COVID-19 are available. This is a retrospective study including all consecutive patients affected by gynecological cancer who developed COVID-19. All patients were treated in an academic setting (in Milan, Lombardy, Italy) between February and March 2020. Overall, 355 patients had active treatment during the study period due to newly diagnosed or recurrent gynecological disease. Among those, 19 (5.3%) patients affected developed COVID-19. All patients were asymptomatic at the time of COVID-19 detection. Six patients were diagnosed before starting planned treatments; while the remaining 13 were diagnosed for COVID-19 after their started their treatments. Considering the first group of six patients, one patient died due to COVID-19 3 days after the diagnosis; while the other patients recovered from COVID-19 after a median of three weeks. The latter group of 13 patients (treatments started) included five patients who underwent surgery and eight patients who underwent chemotherapy. Focusing on five patients who were diagnosed after surgery, we observed that two patients died during postoperative course, while in other two cases prolonged hospitalization was needed. One patient had no issues. Chemotherapy was delayed for the remaining patents without sequelae. Our report highlights that COVID-19 impacts the quality of treatments for cancer patients. Mortality rate is high, especially after surgery. More important, patients under active treatment for cancer are at high risk of developing severe evolution of COVID-19. Prioritizing patients journey during COVID-19 is of paramount importance. • There are growing concerns on the impact of COVID-19 in cancer patients. • COVID-19 is impacting oncologic practice directly and indirectly. • Prioritizing patients journey during COVID-19 is of paramount importance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Idling is a status of tractors in which the engine is not subjected to any substantial load and the vehicle is stationary. Idling is detrimental for the environment and health of people and it is a frequent status for agricultural tractors. Indeed, agricultural tractors may idle from 10 to 43% of their entire operating time. Only in some conditions idling is necessary (e.g. implement hitching), otherwise it is a condition which wastes fuel. The aim of this paper is to report on an updated methodology to analyse the idling practice of agricultural tractors. Idling was monitored through a dash-cam and a CAN-Bus data logger installed on a tractor with a maximum engine power of 191 kW. The tractor ran on idle for 17% of its entire operating time with the most frequent stops occurring for the adjustment of the implement when the soil engaging tools become clogged by crop residuals. Moreover, during 67% of the idling duration, no tractor subsystem was used, so most of the idling was not caused by a real need. This idling was responsible for a waste of 1.6% of the fuel used. Considering that in Italy 8.3% of the tractors belong to the same class (in terms of mass) of that used in this study, 43 million of litres of fuel are supposed to be wasted per year. The results of this study could be used for developing anti-idling devices on agricultural tractors. • Tractors stop for idling more often and for a shorter time than heavy-duty trucks. • In 67% of idling, the three-point hitch or auxiliary valves were not used. • 1.6% of fuel used was wasted in idling stops where any subsystem was used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Articulated steering arrangements, wheeled or tracked, are commonly used on agricultural tractors and earth moving machines. In Continental Europe and Italy in particular, this configuration is typical of narrow track tractors. Despite their widespread use, there is little research that specifically investigates articulated tractor rollover protective structure (ROPS) in-field performance with respect to the ROPS test procedures. The aim was to investigate the relevance of the standardised ROPS test procedures regarding articulation joint mobility. The shortcomings of the procedures concerning the Clearance Zone and ROPS testing are evidenced and discussed. It is a recommendation of this work that an update of the international testing procedure be developed for articulated tractor types. The paper indicates how this may be accomplished and presents remedial measures that can be implemented in the interim until this latter goal is achieved. • Articulated tractor yaw and roll DOF affect front/rear two-post ROPS clearance zone. • Tractor in straight configuration may not reveal clearance zone intrusion/exposure. • An experimental CAD method is proposed for clearance zone checking and ROPS design. • A ROPS capable of maintaining the clearance zone in all articulations was designed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Although the molecular structure of β-keratins from the Archosaurs (birds, crocodiles), testudines (turtles) and squamates (lizards and snakes) has been studied for more than 50 years and the key parameters established by X-ray diffraction, infrared spectroscopy and sequence analysis, the research has lacked data on the Rhynchocephalia, the last branch of the lepidosaurs in the phylogenetic map. • This paper represents the culmination of the very considerable efforts that have been made over many years by a diverse group from New Zealand, Australia, Italy and the UK to collect and analyse the beta-keratin sequence data from tuatara, the sole representative of the Rhynchocephalia. • Also described is the X-ray diffraction pattern from tuatara claw and this is compared with those from other β-keratins. • In so doing this research advances the β-keratin story structure-wise for the sauropsids in general (birds and reptiles). • Now, at last, we have a totally consistent structural model across all members of the sauropsids. The birds and reptiles, collectively known as the sauropsids, can be subdivided phylogenetically into the archosaurs (birds, crocodiles), the testudines (turtles), the squamates (lizards, snakes) and the rhynchocephalia (tuatara). The structural framework of the epidermal appendages from the sauropsids, which include feathers, claws and scales, has previously been characterised by electron microscopy, infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction analyses, as well as by studies of the amino acid sequences of the constituent β-keratin proteins (also referred to as the corneous β-proteins). An important omission in this work, however, was the lack of sequence and structural data relating to the epidermal appendages of the rhynchocephalia (tuatara), one of the two branches of the lepidosaurs. Considerable effort has gone into sequencing the tuatara genome and while this is not yet complete, there are now sufficient sequence data for conclusions to be drawn on the similarity of the β-keratins from the tuatara to those of other members of the sauropsids. These results, together with a comparison of the X-ray diffraction pattern of tuatara claw with those from seagull feather and goanna claw, confirm that there is a common structural plan in the β-keratins of all of the sauropsids, and not just those that comprise the archosaurs (birds and crocodiles), the testudines (turtles) and the squamates (lizards and snakes). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transhumance routes mark the natural path followed by herds during their seasonal movements. These routes are disappearing in many European countries. In Italy, a few fragments survive in Molise, in southern Italy, called Tratturi and run along grassy paths. The Tratturi are considered to be of archaeological, economic and landscape interest, sources of cultural and environmental attraction, protected by a national law. However, the landscapes connected to the Tratturi are disappearing both as a consequence of non-use and as a consequence of the advancement of wooded areas, and this poses a problem related to the governance system that involves many stakeholders, both at international, national and local level. The study, through the use of the combined approach of Stakeholder Basic Analysis and Social Network Analysis, identifies the role of the stakeholders involved, their power, their interest and their ability to support the decision-making system. Furthermore, the paper uses multivariate statistical analysis to detect the key stakeholders. A new model of governance, allowing to preserve the Tratturi and to enhance the services they can provide, is introduced, and it is named Authority for the Conservation and Enhancement of Tratturi (ACET). This study can help to identify appropriate management models for ancient routes based on all stakeholders involved, and more generally to implement shared and co-responsible planning choices in socio-ecological systems. [Display omitted] • Tratturi are disappearing due to anthropic use and/or renaturation. • Stakeholders involvement is needed for the conservation of socio-ecological systems. • Main stakeholders are identified through Stakeholder and Social Network Analysis. • A new governance model for the management of Tratturi is identified. • The proposed system strengthens the role of Tratturi in regional development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The paper describes the results of a specific LCA based analysis of the production of olive oil in the region of Calabria, in southern Italy. The goal of the study is to assess the energy and environmental impacts of different scenarios involving conventional and organic cultivations, plains and hills cultivations and involving different operating techniques. The study also aims at assessing the share of each life cycle step on the total of energy and environmental impacts. The functional unit chosen for the comparative analysis is a glass bottle of 0.75 L of extra virgin olive oil. A "from cradle to gate" perspective was chosen. The analysis was developed according to the LCA standards of the ISO 14040 series. The analysis is based on a field analysis developed in the last years in the province of Reggio Calabria between more than 50 enterprises and stakeholders of the field, representative of the whole Calabria region and of most southern Italy. The data used for the development of mass and energy balances are related to the years 2013–2015. The results clarify that for all indicators that the first part of the life cycle – from the production, including the growth of the olive plant to the full production stage – is the most relevant, variable between 80.6% share in the case of the particulate matter indicator to the 99.64% in the case of land use (Hill – Biological agriculture scenario). Relevant differences can be also traced for each specific indicator among all scenarios; high impacts are traced for the agricultural stages among all scenarios (70% −90% in all indicators) with high impacts caused by fertilizers. Among the transformation stages the bottle production is one of the most relevant sources of life cycle energy uses and environmental impacts (80–90%). Highlights • A life cycle (LC) assessment for different olive oil production techniques in southern Italy is proposed. • The agricultural stages cause more than 70% of the life cycle environmental impacts. • Bottling is a critical step in terms of environmental impacts among the transformation stages. • Energy efficiency in the transformation stages has only moderate positive impacts in the LC perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Local transportation services are an essential component of urban infrastructures. The constantly growing requirements and expectations from several stakeholders, ranging from public authorities, operators and passengers, demand a deep rethinking of the entire system. Such services must be oriented towards sustainability in everyday life, requiring systemic approaches capable of fostering Quality of Service (QoS) improvements. This paper aims at highlighting the main facets of QoS from different perspectives (service providers', stakeholders', passengers' and commuters') and proposes a systemic modeling approach that supports the design, implementation and monitoring of a QoS system in smart mobility. The whole architectural framework is described and UCoMS, the platform for analyzing QoS, is proposed. The approach has been validated in the Apulia region in the South of Italy, using taxonomy of quality indicators and service levels on the basis of the European and Italian regulatory backgrounds. Highlights • Modeling the relationship of the transportation system as a chain of contracts. • Quality of Service vs. Quality of Experience. • Microservices architecture for analyzing QoS and QoE. • Pilot in Apulia where actors collaborate to design and deploy the platform. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a variety of crops that may be considered as potential biomass production crops. In order to select the best suitable for cultivation crop for a given area, a number of several factors should be taken into account. During the crop selection process, a common framework should be followed focussing on financial or energy performance. Combining multiple crops and multiple fields for the extraction of the best allocation requires a model to evaluate various and complex factors given a specific objective. This paper studies the maximisation of total energy gained from the biomass production by energy crops, reduced by the energy costs of the production process. The tool calculates the energy balance using multiple crops allocated to multiple fields. Both binary programming and linear programming methods are employed to solve the allocation problem. Each crop is assigned to a field (or a combination of crops are allocated to each field) with the aim of maximising the energy balance provided by the production system. For the demonstration of the tool, a hypothetical case study of three different crops cultivated for a decade (Miscanthus x giganteus , Arundo donax , and Panicum virgatum) and allocated to 40 dispersed fields around a biogas plant in Italy is presented. The objective of the best allocation is the maximisation of energy balance showing that the linear solution is slightly better than the binary one in the basic scenario while focussing on suggesting alternative scenarios that would have an optimal energy balance. • Energy balance estimation in multiple crops and multiple fields. • Multiple crops to fields spatial allocation. • Binary and linear programming solutions. • Optimization according to the optimal energy balance. • Alternative allocation scenarios and comparison with the basic scenario. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Highlights • Natural frequency tracking is newly applied for SHM of a stiff masonry Palace. • An effective tracking of natural frequencies and crack amplitudes is achieved. • Frequency-temperature correlations are negative in sign due to a major crack pattern. • Crack amplitudes as predictors enhance statistical modeling of natural frequencies. • Remarkable freezing effects on natural frequencies are highlighted. Abstract In recent years, the development of long-term structural health monitoring systems for preventive conservation of historic monumental buildings is receiving a growing trend of scientific interest. Nevertheless, the damage detection effectiveness of these systems is still debated, especially in respect to complex masonry palaces where both local and global failure mechanisms can be activated, whereby the majority of the documented successful applications are limited to masonry towers. In particular, one major issue that needs to be solved in order to derive damage sensitive features is associated to the removal of the effects of changes in environmental conditions and, primarily, of ambient temperature, from static and dynamic signatures. This paper aims to contribute to improving knowledge in this field, by investigating temperature effects on static and dynamic response of an iconic Italian monumental palace: the Consoli Palace in Gubbio. With the purpose of early detecting earthquake-induced damages, as well as damages caused by material degradation associated to awkward environmental conditions, a simple low-cost mixed static and dynamic long-term structural health monitoring system has been installed on the Palace by the authors in July 2017. After discussing surveys, ambient vibration tests, diagnostic investigations, numerical modeling and model calibration of the Palace, the analysis of the first year of monitoring data is presented. This analysis shows that, differently from what observed in other literature works on historic masonry towers, the natural frequencies of the Palace show a marked and sometimes non-linear decreasing trend with increasing ambient temperature, that can be effectively removed through linear statistical filtering provided that dynamic regression models, using past values of predictors, are used. On the other side, the evolution of the amplitudes of two major cracks monitored within the building also shows a marked linear decreasing trend with increasing ambient temperature. These results are meaningful towards the use of monitoring data for assessing the initial health conditions of a structure, as well as in a damage detection perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper outlines the results of a study aimed at charting the spread and development of the mathematical sciences in Sardinia over the period from 1720, the year in which the island was awarded to the Savoy dynasty following the Treaty of The Hague, to 1848, the year in which King Charles Albert of Sardinia placed Sardinia on a level political and administrative footing with the Kingdom's mainland territory. In particular, the paper analyses the role played in the transmission and spread of mathematics by the Savoy educational institutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to empirically test the dynamics of budget outcomes of Italian municipalities in the aftermath of floods by accounting for heterogeneous levels of resilience and vulnerability to natural disasters. Our findings are based on a dynamic difference-in-differences model after propensity score matching. They point to substantial impacts in terms of increased capital expenditure and revenues from transfers, which depend on the degree of resilience and vulnerability. Through our analysis, we account for multiple aspects of risk to support policy decisions related to both ex-ante and ex-post disaster occurrence management. • Dynamics of budget outcomes of Italian municipalities in the aftermath of floods. • Italian municipalities react to floods by increasing capital investments. • Results greatly depend on the degree of resilience and vulnerability of municipalities. • More resilient and less vulnerable municipalities better use available resources. • Less resilient and more vulnerable municipalities highly depend on transfers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

2019 Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) had a big impact in Italy, mainly concentrated in the northern part of the Country. All this was mainly due to similarities of this area with Wuhan in Hubei Province, according to geographical, environmental and socio-economic points of view. The basic hypothesis of this research was that the presence of atmospheric pollutants can generate stress on health conditions of the population and determine pre-conditions for the development of diseases of the respiratory system and complications related to them. In most cases the attention on environmental aspects is mainly concentrated on pollution, neglecting issues such as land management which, in some way, can contribute to reducing the impact of pollution. The reduction of land take and the decrease in the loss of ecosystem services can represent an important aspect in improving environmental quality. In order to integrate policies for environmental change and human health, the main factors analyzed in this paper can be summarized in environmental, climatic and land management. The main aim of this paper was to produce three different hazard scenarios respectively related to environmental, climatic and land management-related factors. A Spatial Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) method has been applied over thirteen informative layers grouped in aggregation classes of environmental, climatic and land management. The results of the health hazard maps show a disparity in the distribution of territorial responses to the pandemic in Italy. The environmental components play an extremely relevant role in the definition of the red zones of hazard, with a consequent urgent need to renew sustainable development strategies. The comparison of hazard maps related to different scenarios provides decision makers with tools to orient policy choices with a different degree of priority according to a place-based approach. In particular, the geospatial representation of risks could be a tool for legitimizing the measures chosen by decision-makers, proposing a renewed approach that highlights and takes account of the differences between the spatial contexts to be considered - Regions, Provinces, Municipalities - also in terms of climatic and environmental variables. • COVID-19 had a big impact in Italy, mainly in the northern part of the Country. • Reduction of land take and ecosystem services' loss improve environmental quality. • Environmental, climatic and land management can be leveraged for pandemic policies. • Geospatial representation of risks is a useful approach to support decision-makers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The eclectic twentieth-century Italian intellectual and militant Emilio Sereni (1907–1977) is well known for his works dealing with the history of the Italian agricultural landscape, which enjoyed widespread editorial success and were translated into English and French. Yet his intellectual influences, as well as his scientific personality, have generated little academic interest. This is partly the effect of the relative academic marginality of Sereni, who was an example of an intellectual who alternated political work and ‘pure’ research outside the university. Using the primary sources held in the extraordinary archives Sereni left behind, and which have only recently been opened to researchers, this paper addresses his connection to geography, a discipline that played a pivotal and little-known role in his interdisciplinary work. It also shows the importance of the international transfer and circulation of knowledge to that work. At the same time, by retracing Sereni's references, the paper analyses the complex and controversial relationship between science and political commitment which characterised both his career and his intellectual generation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the first quantitative assessment of labour productivity dynamics in Italy's industrial sector between 1911 and 1951 and explores their links with changes in competition policy. It relies on a newly compiled dataset and provides fresh labour productivity estimates, disaggregated by industrial branch. Its main finding is that the switch to a more interventionist industrial policy enacted by the Fascist regime circa 1926–7 caused a marked slowdown in productivity growth. Nor was the government's decision to relocate resources from the traditional to the more modern industrial branches successful in lifting productivity dynamics: our shift-share analysis shows that the contribution of (static and dynamic) structural change from old to new industries to productivity growth was negligible. Finally, we find that the increase in the levels and growth rates of concentration, induced by specific Fascist policies, were associated with lower productivity levels and growth rates. This paper thus casts a shadow on the optimist accounts of Fascist industrial policy and confirms the findings of a revisionist literature minimising the positive role played by the State in the earlier stages of Italian industrialization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a new interpretation of the historically controversial role of Italian latifundia. Relying on standard economic theory, the paper explores a simple though neglected mechanism linking land inequality and inefficiency: market power. In underdeveloped economies with serious constraints on labor mobility, high ownership concentration will endow landowners with market power in local labor markets. The resulting equilibrium explains many of the often criticized features of latifundia, without the need to factor in irrational behavior (the preferred explanation of Italian traditional historians) or social institutions and capital market imperfections (explanations advanced by economists in different contexts). According to the model here explored the main effects of inequality are of a distributive rather than of a productive nature. The market power hypothesis is strongly supported by the available quantitative evidence provided by an unexploited dataset on all local labor markets of Italy at the end of the 1930s. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dietary patterns play key roles in health promotion and in preserving the environment. A growing number of studies show the importance of individual factors on food consumption choices, such as socio-economic status, lifestyle variables and contextual and social factors that characterize the geographical area in which individuals reside. The Mediterranean Diet is a sustainable diet that respects the environment, thus reducing per capita emissions from food production in respect to less sustainable diet. The aim of this paper is to determine the Italians' prevailing food patterns using a composite indicator and to identify which factors determine a higher adherence to the Mediterranean Diet in Italy. By using 15 waves of the ISTAT "Aspect of Daily Life" survey, we constructed an original data set and referred to the multilevel approach which enabled us to distinguish between temporal and cross-sectional effects thus providing valuable insights to policy makers and stakeholders in order to promote the Mediterranean Diet and reap environmental and public health. The results show that education plays an important role in determining food consumption behavior while the tendency to practice sports on a regular basis and to have breakfast and lunch at home positively influence people's adherence to this diet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper uses a unique data set – comprising 125 years of individual bank balance sheets – to investigate the effect of regulatory changes on the evolution of bank competition in Italy. The historical depth of this data set makes it possible to assess the impact of infrequent regulatory reforms that drastically changed the banking sector in the 1930s and in the 1980s. We compare several indicators to analyze how bank competition evolves, and we find that its evolution exhibits a yo-yo pattern induced by the changes in regulatory regimes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Raw counts of archaeological sites, estimates of changing settlement size and summed radiocarbon probability distributions have all become popular ways to investigate long-term regional trends in human population. Nevertheless, these three archaeological proxies have rarely been compared. This paper therefore explores the strengths and weaknesses of different kinds of archaeological evidence for population patterns, as well as how they address related issues such as taphonomic loss, chronological uncertainty and uneven sampling. Our overall substantive goal is to reconstruct demographic fluctuations in central Italy from the Late Mesolithic to the fall of the Roman Empire (7500 BC-AD 500), and with this in mind, we bring to bear an unusually detailed and extensive dataset of published central Italian archaeological surveys, consisting of some 10,971 occupation phases at 7383 different sites. The comparative results demonstrate reassuring consistency in the suggested demographic patterns, and where such patterns diverge across different proxies (e.g. Late Bronze Age/Iron Age) they often do so in useful ways that suggest changes in population structure such as site nucleation or dispersal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The conservation of species and habitats is increasingly threatened by anthropogenic impacts, particularly land use change, from local to global scales. Although many efforts have been carried out so far to halt or at least reduce the biodiversity loss (e.g., the establishment of protected areas' networks), there are still both knowledge and policy gaps slowing the conservation of species and habitats in complex environments, such as the Mediterranean region. In particular, the human-driven impacts and threats on biodiversity need more careful analysis. Accordingly, this paper aims to assess the habitat quality and degradation in Italy in relation with the spatial pattern of the current protected areas' network, mainly to identify priority areas of intervention, thus supporting large-scale conservation strategies. A survey of experts was conducted to identify the main threats for biodiversity from different land uses at the national scale. The InVEST software was then applied to assess and map habitat quality and degradation with a high spatial resolution (20 m). The relationship between habitat quality and degradation as well as their hotspots, and alternative PA categories were also explored. Results indicate that: (i) habitat quality and degradation depend on the location and intensity of the anthropogenic impacts and are sensitive to different protection levels; (ii) the combination of the survey of experts and the spatially-explicit assessment of habitat quality and degradation is useful to highlight variations of the current conditions of biodiversity and habitats; and (iii) the identification of hotspots allows one to identify priority areas for conservation. Accordingly, the proposed approach may be used to strengthen the conservation efforts in similar contexts, and thus support the implementation of the biodiversity-related policies over the long term. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the results of a broad-scale survey of resource recovery implementation in Italian wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first survey comprising a large number of WWTPs done in Europe: more than 600 plants were investigated, representing a treated load of around 20 million population equivalent (≈25% of the total in Italy). Conventional and innovative options for both material and energy recovery along the water and sludge line were surveyed, in order to i) offer a real and complete picture of the current state of resource recovery in WWTPs, and ii) underline key aspects and potential areas for improvements, as a baseline for future developments in the direction of more sustainable plants. Survey outcomes showed that resource recovery is just in its infancy in sewage treatment: only 40% of plants perform at least one option for material/energy recovery. The action most often implemented is recovery of material from surplus sludge for agricultural purposes and the internal reuse of treated effluent as water for various types of plant maintenance. The production of energy from biogas also occurs frequently but only in large plants. On the other hand, some well-known options, such as external reuse of treated effluent or nutrients recovery, were implemented only in a minority of plants: this is likely due to limitations resulting either from strict regulation or difficulty placing recovered products on the market. In conclusion, an overall explanation of these driving forces within the system is explored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) is a well-established eco-hydrological model that has been extensively applied to watersheds across the globe. This work reviews over two decades (2002–2022) of SWAT studies conducted on Mediterranean watersheds. A total of 260 articles have been identified since the earliest documented use of the model in a Mediterranean catchment back in 2002; of which 62% were carried out in Greece, Italy, or Spain. SWAT applications increased significantly in recent years since 86% of the reviewed papers were published in the past decade. A major objective for most of the reviewed works was to check the applicability of SWAT to specific watersheds. A great number of publications included procedures of calibration and validation and reported performance results. SWAT applications in the Mediterranean region mainly cover water resources quantity and quality assessment and hydrologic and environmental impacts evaluation of land use and climate changes. Nevertheless, a tendency towards a multi-purpose use of SWAT is revealed. The numerous examples of SWAT combined with other tools and techniques outline the model's flexibility. Several studies performed constructive comparisons between Mediterranean watersheds' responses or compared SWAT to other models or methods. The effects of inputs on SWAT outputs and innovative model modifications and improvements were also the focus of some of the surveyed articles. However, a significant number of studies reported difficulties regarding data availability, as these are either scarce, have poor resolution or are not freely available. Therefore, it is highly recommended to identify and develop accurate model inputs and testing data to optimize the SWAT performance. [Display omitted] • SWAT review on Mediterranean hydro-climatic studies. • Lack of SWAT assessment on Mediterranean catchments. • A comparison of data from different Mediterranean basins. • Enhancing data availability for SWAT applications. • Developing a comprehensive knowledge of Mediterranean watersheds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper updates a previous cross-sectional study on the effectiveness of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) as an aid to quit smoking. In the 2014–2021 PASSI survey, the ongoing Italian behavioural risk factor surveillance system, on a total of 239,812 subjects representative of the Italian adult population respondents who smoked and made at least one quit attempt in the previous 12 months (i.e., 19,234 subjects) were categorized into four groups according to the method used in their most recent quit attempt: no aid, e-cigarettes, standard pharmacological support (medications) and/or smoking cessation services (SCSs), other unspecified methods. The primary outcome was self-reported abstinence for a period ≥6 months. Thirteen percent of participants used e-cigarettes to quit, 83% no aid, 2% medications/SCSs, 3% other unspecified methods. Smoking abstinence was reported among 10% of those using no aid; 11% among e-cigarette users; 16% among those using medications/SCSs; and 13% among those using other unspecified methods. No significant difference in abstinence was observed for those reporting no aid compared with e-cigarette users (adjusted Prevalence Ratio [aPR] = 0.93; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.79–1.10). Those using medications/SCSs were significantly more likely to report abstinence than e-cigarette users (aPR = 1.35; 95% CI = 1.01–1.81). E -cigarettes as consumer products are not associated with higher quitting rates than those recorded using no aid, therefore there is no health benefit for allowing them to be marketed to smokers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Burials show diversity of childhood, regionally, historically and over early life. • Subadult burials are highly indicative of past social and economic structures. • Integration into local communities started early, and before gender differentiation. • Specific rites and objects, and much care, are employed for subadult burials. • Burials tell as much about the deceased children as about the adults who buried them. The paper analyzes notions of childhood in pre-Roman south-east Italy based on more than 170 funerary features with subadult depositions at three sites, viz. Ascoli Satriano and Ordona in northern Apulia and Ripacandida in the Basilicata. In order to understand early age both in a regional view and in its local manifestations, we discuss this dataset in terms of spatial placement, equipment with grave-goods as well as funerary and post-burial practices of subadult burials. The paper employs a twofold theoretical approach: A life-course perspective allows to sketch how conceptions of social age shift over early life and dynamically intersect with other social categories such as gender and status. A relational approach positions childhood in wider social structures and is sensitive to how funerary assemblages and practices constitute the post-mortem identity of children, reconfigure the social identities of the bereaved and deploy strategies of coping with loss. In integrating these two strands, we investigate whether and how mortuary performances and assemblages represent age-based identities, relate to infant needs and development and reflect how subadult individuals were embedded in, but also contributed to, their communities in life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biological invasions are one of the major drivers of global environmental change and there is a need to develop integrated strategies to counteract this phenomenon. Eradication is an effective management option to mitigate the deleterious impacts of invasive alien species (IAS). Eradication can be achieved if all reproductive individuals are removed and population recovery is prevented. However, individuals may survive removal operations in private areas if interventions are not allowed. Here, we present 1) three case studies in which restricted private property access prevented the local eradication of invasive alien populations, and 2) a list of reasons for denying access to private properties and a list of actions implemented or suggested by managers to facilitate access and reported in 29 reviewed papers. The restricted access affected the local eradication of three Eastern grey squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) populations in Italy. In Lombardy region, in one area a planned eradication did not start and in another area the implemented eradication failed due to the refusal from the owner of a large private property to grant access to managers. In Umbria region, the lack of collaboration from an Italian financial institution produced a delay of 15 months in the removal. In our case studies, therefore, a single person or institution denied access for a personal gain or presumed internal security. The reasons behind landowner opposition may be diverse and individual attitudes towards IAS management will depend on interactions with owners. According to our review, in many cases the denial of access takes place in a general perception of mistrust or opposition to the project as the results of a limited engagement of local people. Such opposition often jeopardizes control activities, with profound negative consequences on eradication, expecially at landscape scale. Bottom-up approaches aiming at involving stakeholders can increase the possibility to achieve IAS eradication, however appropriate legislation remains pivotal to enforce eradication in case of non-cooperative behaviour. [Display omitted] • Eradication is effective to mitigate the impacts of invasive alien species. • Private owners could deny access to their land challenging eradications. • Eradication failures were reported in 25 papers and three case studies. • Landowners may be involved with bottom-up approaches. • Appropriate legislation is pivotal in the case of non-cooperative behaviour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compared to girls, boys are more at risk of early school leaving. However, it is unclear whether gender differences are driven by push factors, which alienate students from the school system, or pull factors, which attract them out of it. This paper examines gender differences in early school leaving, assessing the role of previous scholastic performance, parental education, and differential employment opportunities. By analyzing two nationally representative datasets, we focus on Italy, a country with high rates of early school leaving and pronounced gender inequalities in the labor market. Our results show that gender effects are partially mediated by scholastic performance, a crucial push factor, and are stronger among low-achieving students, pointing to a higher resilience of girls to academic failure; parental education is highly protective, especially for boys. Yet, boys' higher propensity to drop out is also, at least partly, explained by better employment opportunities in the formal and informal labor market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to contribute to the current debate on the inclusion of nutritional information and health warnings on wine labels, exploring consumers' interest and preferences. The results of a survey conducted on a sample of Italian wine consumers (N = 300) show the strong interest of respondents in the inclusion of such information on the label. Conjoint analysis reveals that consumers assign greater utility to health warnings, followed by nutritional information. Cluster analysis shows the existence of three different consumer segments. The first cluster, which included mainly female consumers (over 55) and those with high wine involvement, revealed greater awareness of the links between wine and health and better knowledge of wine nutritional properties, preferring a more detailed nutritional label, such as a panel with GDA%. By contrast, the other two clusters, consisting of individuals who generally find it more difficult to understand nutritional labels, preferred the less detailed label of a glass showing calories. The second and largest cluster comprising mainly younger men (under 44), showed the highest interest in health warnings while the third cluster - with a relatively low level of education - preferred the specification of the number of glasses not to exceed. Our results support the idea that the policy maker should consider introducing a mandatory nutritional label in the easier-to-implement and not-too-costly form of a glass with calories, rotating health warnings and the maximum number of glasses not to exceed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Foods consumed and dietary patterns are strong determinants of health status. Diet and nutrition have a key role in health promotion and maintenance during the entire lifetime, but what we choose to eat and drink greatly affects the environmental impact on ecosystems as well as monetary resources. Some studies suggest that a healthy diet with a low environmental impact is not necessarily more expensive. This paper aims to identify a healthy, greener and cheaper diet based on current consumption patterns. Dietary information was collected from 104 young adults in the last year of high school in Parma (Italy). Diet was monitored with 7-day dietary records. Subsequently, food items were decoded to obtain nutritional, economic and environmental impact data. An optimization tool based on mathematical programming (Multi-Objective Linear Programming) was used to identify sustainable diet. Three different 7-day diets were identified, based on nutrition recommendations for the healthy Italian adult population, characterized by different targets and optimizing different impacts: first the diet at the lowest cost (Minimum Cost Diet - MCD), then the Environmentally Sustainable Diet (ESD) obtained by minimizing the three environmental indicators (CO2e emissions, H2O consumption and amount of land to regenerate the resources - m(2)). Finally, the Sustainable Diet (SD) was identified by integrating environmental and economic sustainability objectives. Lastly, suggestions and recommendations for communication campaigns and other interventions to achieve sustainable diet are suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Sediments of the Marano and Grado Lagoon (Adriatic Sea, Italy) represent one of the world’s most major repositories of mercury (Hg). Its presence is a direct consequence of the historical mining activity in nearby Idrjia (Slovenia), as well as significant discharges from a chlor-alkali plant into the Aussa–Corno river system, which connects to the lagoon. Previous studies have shown that sediment acts as secondary source of Hg species to the overlying water column in natural conditions. However, evidence for the effects of resuspension on the dynamics of Hg species is still lacking. The work reported in this paper formed part of the multidisciplinary “MIRACLE” project, aimed at identifying areas at low risk of Hg bioaccumulation in commercial Manila Clams, an important part of the local economy in this region. The effect of resuspension on the cycling of inorganic mercury (IHg), reactive mercury (RHg) and methylmercury (MeHg) between the sediment and water column was investigated in a mesocosm study. Two experiments were conducted in October 2009 and September 2010 based on material collected from sites heavily impacted by Hg and periodically subjected to dredging activities. Designed to mimic the resuspension of particles, both experiments revealed that the release of Hg species from the solid to the dissolved phase became negligible quickly after the event. MeHg values did not change according to total mercury (THg), suggesting that the enhancement of methylation processes may occur. The findings reported in this paper may be useful for the local management of dredging and fishing activities, although mass balance calculations showed that the total flux of Hg species are trivial compared to lagoon-wide processes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Though many studies concern the agro-food sector in the EU and Italy, and its environmental impacts, literature is quite lacking in works regarding LCA application on citrus products. This paper represents one of the first studies on the environmental impacts of citrus products in order to suggest feasible strategies and actions to improve their environmental performance. In particular, it is part of a research aimed to estimate environmental burdens associated with the production of the following citrus-based products: essential oil, natural juice and concentrated juice from oranges and lemons. The life cycle assessment of these products, published in a previous paper, had highlighted significant environmental issues in terms of energy consumption, associated CO2 emissions, and water consumption. Starting from such results the authors carry out an improvement analysis of the assessed production system, whereby sustainable scenarios for saving water and energy are proposed to reduce environmental burdens of the examined production system. In addition, a sensitivity analysis to estimate the effects of the chosen methods will be performed, giving data on the outcome of the study. Uncertainty related to allocation methods, secondary data sources, and initial assumptions on cultivation, transport modes, and waste management is analysed. The results of the performed analyses allow stating that every assessed eco-profile is differently influenced by the uncertainty study. Different assumptions on initial data and methods showed very sensible variations in the energy and environmental performances of the final products. Besides, the results show energy and environmental benefits that clearly state the improvement of the products eco-profile, by reusing purified water use for irrigation, using the railway mode for the delivery of final products, when possible, and adopting efficient technologies, as the mechanical vapour recompression, in the pasteurisation and concentration of juice. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The paper describes the main phases and results of a study which is part of a broader research programme aimed at assessing the changes that have occurred in Italian rural landscapes since the Second World War. The research deals with the definition of a methodology suitable for analysing the changes in the rural built environment over wide areas. This methodology focuses on the definition of representative sample areas aimed to reduce survey costs while allowing results to be characterised by a known and provable degree of reliability and precision. Based on the results of a previous work (Tassinari, Carfagna, Benni, & Torreggiani (2008). Biosystems Engineering, 100, 435–447), where the authors defined the first phases of the sampling methodology and surveyed some building-density test variables on a pilot sample, this paper focuses on optimising both the criteria for the stratification of the sampling frame and the estimator used to assess the changes in the built area, as well as testing the method on a super-municipal study area in northern Italy for the 1975–2005 time span. The results contribute new knowledge within the broader field of the analysis and interpretation of trends in rural areas, which is fundamental to support proper land-use and landscape planning through accurate and efficient tools. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Initiatives of artisanal fisheries co-management and the construction of differentiated markets for seafood products have been emerging in different parts of the world, as an institutionalized way of coping with a global fishery crisis. This paper analyses some institutionalization processes of artisanal mollusc fisheries, considering the role of co-management in two Brazilian and Italian protected areas (Resex Pirajubaé and Conero Regional Park). Within a theoretical framework aiming at moving beyond the dualism between nature and society, the methodology of multiple-case-study has been used to carry on research about mollusc artisanal fisheries co-management networks in their constitution and development. The paper analyses how these networks are organised in the two contexts and the relations social actors have been developing for a sustainable fishery as a possible way to influence and increase their capacity to address environmental crisis. In the artisanal mollusc fishery co-management experiences, fishers' participation may favour institutional innovations and the co-management networks stability may be generated by the institutions legitimacy. Furthermore, the case studies offer complementary insights to better understand the linkage between artisanal fishery institutionalization processes, common natural resources co-management and value aggregation for traditional seafood. Artisanal mollusc fishery co-management experiences should be stimulated and investigated since they can help in diagnosing early climate and environmental changes in the oceans. • Artisanal mollusc fishery co-management helps to diagnose early oceans changes. • Fishers' participation favours institutional innovations in co-management. • Co-management networks stability is closely related to the institutions legitimacy. • Co-management can integrate environmental regulation and seafood value aggregation. • Sustainable co-management offers opportunities to address environmental crises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to evaluate two agroindustrial productive processes in their entirety (one organic and one semi-industrial), focusing on the comparison of impacts derived from the inputs and outputs of the system (life cycle assessment, LCA), integrated with a physical evaluation of the resources and natural services, on a common basis (emergy). Methods based on the joint use of LCA and emergy evaluation are useful, as they measure the contribution of environmental services and products to the productive process thus focusing primarily on the environmental impact of emissions and non-renewable energy inputs. The complementarity of the methods used in this paper contributes important elements and information useful for the comprehension of the organization of agriculture within Siena''s territory. The results show important elements and useful information: (1) for the comprehension of the two agroecosystems’ organization; (2) for the use of the energy flows that determine their development. Moreover, the combined use of emergy and LCA gives a comparative thermodynamic performance evaluation between organic and semi-industrial farming. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This paper examines the construction, architecture, planning and design of New Towns in the Pontine Marshes, south of Rome, in the 1930s, analysing the discourses which contributed to their shaping and settlement. It focuses specifically on the plans and architectural characteristics of the city of Sabaudia as the best example of fascist urban utopias in the area. The paper also moves beyond an analysis of architecture and planning to consider the human beings who were slated for occupying what were viewed as ideal, utopian fascist spaces. This is done through an investigation of Italy''s ruralization and internal colonization policies, which aimed to tackle a ‘demographic problem’ defined through recourse to statistics and sociological analysis. These policies were animated by colonists, and their families, chosen by the regime''s institutions to take part in the Pontine Marshes project. Italian fascism''s structuring of a new urban environment, which stretched from grand systemic designs to the measurement of mosquito net dimensions in colonial houses'' bedrooms, justified the attempted social and political control of fascism''s experimental urban subjects. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This paper reports a study of the field measurements and monitoring of wastewater discharge in sea water at Bari East (Italy). A wastewater sea outfall system is an integral and fundamental part of each wastewater treatment with ultimate sink in the sea water. The design of a water treatment plant and wastewater outfall must take into account the use of the environmental water, the values of physicochemical parameters to be respected in order to safeguard the use itself and the quality of the environmental water where wastewater is issued. In the present study measurements of sea current velocity components were carried out with a VM-ADP (Vessel-Mounted Acoustic Doppler Profiler). Salinity, wind directions and velocities were assessed with, for one survey, the total faecal coliforms and other biochemical parameters. It was emphasized that the measurements necessary for monitoring cannot be concentrated in the wastewater outfall pipe zone only, but should be extended to a neighbouring area of the outfall pipe, with an extension depending on the wastewater discharge, the polluting charge and the magnitude of the sea currents and the winds typical of the zone of interest. The analyses presented in this paper confirm that the sea zones close to the wastewater outfall pipe are particularly sensitive and vulnerable. Such results must be considered in the planning of a wastewater outfall pipe. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The early Italian “entomologists” Ulisse Aldrovandi (1522–1605), Francesco Redi (1626–1698) and Marcello Malpighi (1628–1694) played a very important role in the development of entomology, and all three depicted or wrote about insect parasitoids. However, they were not able to unravel the secret of insect parasitism. Antonio Vallisnieri (1661–1730) is credited for the first correct interpretation of insect parasitism in Italy. Usually, the year 1706 is incorrectly mentioned in the current literature as the year of the discovery of insect parasitism in Italy. During the preparation of this paper, we first found a publication by Vallisnieri dated 2 January 1700, which is almost completely devoted to entomophagous insects of different orders. We then found that this 1700 publication was similar to a book by Vallisnieri with the same title and published in 1696. In this work, Vallisnieri corrects the misinterpretations by Aldrovandi [De Anim. Insect. Libri Septem, 1602, 707 p] and Redi [Esperienze Intorno alla Generazione degl’Insetti, 1668, 228 p] who failed to recognize that the silky cocoons on the larvae of cabbage butterflies (Pieris spp.) were the result of earlier parasitism by the parasitoid Cotesia glomerata (L.). Thus, the year of the first correct interpretation of insect parasitism in Italy has to be put at 1696, which predates earlier statements by 10 years. As far as we understand from Vallisnieri’s (1696) descriptions, he had not yet observed actual egg laying by a parasitoid in 1696. Another important event in the history of insect parasitism in Italy summarized in this paper is the discovery of the peculiar polyembryonic development shown by some chalcidoid Hymenoptera, by Floriano Caldani (1772–1836) and, above all, Filippo Silvestri (1873–1949). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This paper considers the problem of joint change detection and identification assuming multiple composite post-change hypotheses. We propose a multihypothesis changepoint detection-identification procedure that controls the probabilities of false alarm and wrong identification. We show that the proposed procedure is asymptotically minimax and pointwise optimal, minimizing moments of the detection delay as probabilities of false alarm and wrong identification approach zero. The asymptotic optimality properties hold for general stochastic models with dependent and nonidentically distributed observations. We illustrate general results for detection-identification of changes in multistream Markov ergodic processes. We consider several examples, including an application to rapid detection-identification of COVID-19 in Italy. Our proposed sequential algorithm allows much faster detection of COVID-19 than standard methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food Composition Databases (FCDBs) are important tools for epidemiological research, public health nutrition and education, clinical practice and nutrition declaration on food labels. The aim of this paper is to describe the methodology used to compile a FCDB for the analysis on the dietary intake of an Italian cohort of infants, and to assess its strengths and weaknesses. Dietary data were collected using a 3-DD records compiled at 6, 9 and 12 months of age of the infants. We developed a FCDB that contains data from the Italian and the USDA food composition databases and other sources. Our FCDB includes 563 food derived from the analysis of 623 3-DD records. Non-commercial products are more consumed than commercial products (25.5% vs. 9.1% at 6 months, 58.4% vs. 18.1% at 9 months and 77.8% vs. 11.3% at 12 months) but the latter are the main source of missing data (>70% in each database, with the exception of the energy components), which is one of the major weaknesses of this tool. An integrated system of data collection (NUTRIRETE.lab) that brings together food composition data from public and private laboratories will allow us to build a more complete and representative food composition database. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Meat is expensive to produce, making it is essential to understand the importance consumers pay to different meat cuts. Previous research on consumers' meat choices has mainly focused on meat species, while consumer preferences for meat cuts has so far only received limited interest. The aim of this study is to shed some light into this relatively unexplored area by answering four research questions. First, this study intends to show the relative importance meat cuts play in relation to other extrinsic product attributes. Secondly, this paper looks into differences in choice criteria between regular and special occasions. Third, consumer segments that differ in their preferences and beef purchase are identified, and, finally, the meat purchase portfolios of these segments are revealed. A stated preference methodology of a discrete choice experiment with cut-specific prices covering several meat cuts simultaneously is proposed to answer the research questions. The sample consists of 1500 respondents representative of the Italian population in terms of age, gender and geographic location The results shows that meat cut is the most important factor when choosing bovine meat followed by quality certification (origin), production technique, the type of breed and price. In terms of consumption occasions, we observe significantly lower price sensitivity for marbled steaks and cutlets for special occasions compared to normal occasions. Segmentation analysis shows that while the choices of two segments (comprising about 40% of the sample) are mostly driven by extrinsic product attributes, the remaining segments are mostly driven by meat cuts. These varying preferences are also reflected in the purchase portfolios of the different segments, while less variability is detected from a socio-demographic perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the results of an environmental geochemical investigation of the Gulfs of Naples and Salerno, near the Campania plain (Southern Italy). Surface marine sediment samples were collected during three field campaigns: 96 from the Gulfs of Naples and Salerno (NaSa); 123 from the Bagnoli site coastal area (BaSi); and 11 from the ports around the Gulf of Naples (PoNa). Elemental concentrations were determined and their interpolated distribution maps were compiled. Three geochemical sources (or processes) were determined associating elemental distribution with the results obtained from a R-mode factor analysis: 1) geogenic, 2) water kinetics and 3) anthropogenic. The results are presented as raw data single element distributions of eight potential toxic elements (PTEs) (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Pb, Ni and Zn) in the forms of raw data and additive log-ratio transformed data. The latter showed advantages in revealing the actual distribution patterns. Geochemical background reference values of PTEs were determined from the median value of local background reference values. Based on these values, pollution impact analysis was carried out to both BaSi and PoNa samples, indicating most of BaSi and PoNa sediments were affected by moderate to strong Pb, Zn, Cd and Hg pollution. An ecological risk assessment was subsequently carried out on the entire database, pointing a toxic risk ranking in the order Pb > As > Ni > Cd > Hg > Cr. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]