Search

The aim of this paper is to examine the philosophical update of Late Antique Graeco-Roman Religion in the attitudes, theories and proposals of Neoplatonic thinkers such as Plotinus, Porphyry, Iamblichus and Proclus. In the framework of the Late Roman state and society two main aspects of this Neoplatonic redefinition of „paganism”are studied here: mysticism and magic, through the religious reading of the Platonic „ascent to the Good”and the practice of theurgy. Moreover, the emphasis of some Neoplatonists such as Porphyry upon the mantic tradition is also analysed, with special regard to the oracular poetry. To sum up, this contribution shows in brief how Neoplatonism represents a renewal of Late Antique Roman Religion upon the basis of tradition - both religious and philosophical - but also as a response and reaction to the new Christian ideas and milieu. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Class A FEM predictions of twin tunnel mechanised excavation in Rome are presented. • The main processes occurring during excavation with an EPB shield are modelled. • No assumptions about volume loss and shape of settlement trough are used. • The predictions agree very well with field data from similar cases. Abstract Contract T3 of Line C of Rome underground, currently under construction, crosses the archaeological area of the historical centre, with significant interferences with the existing monumental built environment. A fully instrumented green field control section was established at the beginning of this contract, in representative ground conditions. This paper presents a thorough Class A prediction of the passage of the tunnels through the control section, obtained using a recently developed advanced numerical procedure. The ground was modelled with a non-linear constitutive law, calibrated with all the available data from the geotechnical investigation. The main physical processes occurring around the shield, including cutter-head overcut, shield tapering and tail void grouting were modelled in detail. The numerical results agree qualitatively with the findings from well documented case histories and results from physical models. The installed instrumentation will provide an opportunity to test the ability of the adopted procedure to reproduce quantitatively the measured performance, once the tunnels will cross the control sections and the field data will become available. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional gastrointestinal syndrome consisting of different bowel pattern subtypes: diarrhea predominant (IBS-D), constipation predominant (IBS-C), and alternating (IBS-A). This paper aimed to identify whether (a) psychological factors implicated in the cognitive behavioral model of IBS were differentially associated with bowel pattern subtypes, (b) whether there were differences in symptom severity and work and social adjustment across the IBS-subtypes. Analysis was conducted on baseline data of 557 individuals with refractory IBS recruited into the Assessing Cognitive Therapy in Irritable Bowel (ACTIB) randomized controlled trial. Correlations assessed the associations between psychological factors, stool patterns, symptom severity, and work and social adjustment. Hierarchical regressions identified whether cognitive and behavioral factors were significantly associated with frequency of loose/watery stools, hard/lumpy stools and symptom severity while controlling for affective (anxiety and depression) and demographic factors (age, gender, symptom duration). One-way ANOVAs were conducted to assess differences across Rome III classified subtypes (IBS-A, D and C) in cognitive, behavioral, affective, symptom severity, and adjustment measures. Psychological factors were significantly associated with symptom severity and work and social adjustment. Increased avoidance behavior and unhelpful gastrointestinal (GI) cognitions were significantly associated with higher frequency of loose/watery stools. Increased control behaviors were associated with higher frequency of hard/lumpy stools. Cognitive and behavioral differences were significant across the Rome III classified IBS subtypes. There were no differences in anxiety, depression, overall symptom severity, or work and social adjustment. The results are discussed in terms of their utility in tailoring cognitive behavioral treatments to IBS subtypes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of heat pump technology in the tertiary sector can lead to a reduction in greenhouse emissions and enhanced exploitation of renewable energy sources, including solar energy. The present paper investigates the potentiality of an energy system equipped with photovoltaic thermal (PV) hybrid solar collectors, a storage tanks for the heat source and a heat pump for the space heating of a small office located in three different European cities. The behaviour of the heat pump according to the heat taken from the photovoltaic panels and stored in the tank has been analysed. An energy analysis was performed according to the efficiency of the heat pump and then the thermodynamic parameters of the system were evaluated. The analytical model of each subsystem of the thermal plant was developed in Matlab where hourly simulation during the period of heating season were performed. Therefore, a comparison between the results obtained for Rome, Milan and Cracow provided the heating energy demand covering rate for each of the cities in different subsystem efficiency conditions. When thermal and electrical efficiency of PVT are set respectively to 0.6 and 0.15 and the efficiency of storage unit heat exchanger is considered equal to 0.9 the heating demand covered for Rome is 70%, for Milan is 62%, while for Cracow is 47%. Those values show a good potential for supporting heat-pump based PV-T heating systems. • A novel combined PV-T heat pump system for supporting building heating is proposed. • A mathematical model of the system is developed. • The system performance is studied for three different locations: Cracow, Milan and Rome. • The system heating efficiency is the highest in Rome, while the lowest in Cracow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • The study deals with tunnelling-induced settlements and effects on a masonry building. • The developed 3D model simulates the main features of mechanized excavation. • Class A numerical predictions, measured and recalculated settlements are compared. • The influence of the soil stiffness and of the constitutive model is investigated. • The results confirm the effectiveness of the proposed numerical approach. Abstract This paper deals with the effects induced by the mechanized excavation of Rome metro line C in the area of an old masonry building, the Carducci school. Class A settlements predictions are obtained performing full 3D soil-tunnel-structure interaction numerical analyses, using a simple elastic perfectly plastic soil constitutive model. The developed model realistically simulates the main excavation and construction features influencing the induced settlements, such as tunnel advancement, front pressure, TBM-EPB design (shield's weight, overcut and conicity), tail void grouting and grout hardening over time. The measured settlements are reported and compared with the results of numerical analyses performed before (class A prediction) and after tunnelling; the latter carried out to implement in the model the front pressure and TBM conicity actual values, both higher than assumed in the design. Since before the excavation the foundations were reinforced with micropiles, and these were not modelled, the comparison between monitoring data and numerical predictions is limited to the settlements outside the building. Monitoring data are also compared with further analyses conducted using small-strain soil stiffness and using a constitutive model able to reproduce the non-linearity of soil behavior (Hardening Soil). The different predictions of the two models are investigated analyzing the vertical strains distributions and the stress paths around the tunnel. Finally, a reasonable interpretation for the remaining differences between numerical results and field data is proposed and used to back-analyze the settlements, obtaining a satisfactory agreement. The results confirm the effectiveness of the proposed 3D numerical approach, associated with relatively simple soil constitutive models, as a tool to predict tunnelling-induced settlements both in the design and the construction phase, independently of the geotechnical context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Honey was the main sweetening agent in the ancient world; it is mentioned in literary sources and archaeologically documented all over the Mediterranean basin. Its production extended throughout different parts of the Roman Empire, with important economic impacts on family economies, both as a foodstuff and as a commercial product. This paper focuses on the chromatographic analysis of Roman Iberian honeypots and ceramic beehives, identifying tracer characteristics from ancient honey in sherds from seven honeypots and three beehives. The obtained results present an important contribution to the knowledge of the local Roman Iberian economy, particularly relating to the production, transport and trade of honey in locally manufactured ceramic containers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • An efficient, parametric reduced-order model is proposed for large-scale dynamical systems. • The problem of crossing between dominant and residual modes is resolved by a new algorithm for the intermediate model. • The substructural mode selection criterion was employed, maintaining online capability of the PROM. • A high-dimensional parametric input space is efficiently handled by the proposed method. Abstract This paper presents a parametric reduced-order model (PROM) combined with component mode synthesis considering the interpolation and selection of substructural modes. For the interpolation-based PROM, mode crossing occurs depending on the change of parameter values. This problem is resolved by applying a congruence transformation to each mode. However, if there is a mode crossing between dominant and residual modes due to the mode selection following the frequency cut-off method, the interpolation of dominant substructural modes generates erroneous results, since there are missing modes at some operating points. In this study, we propose (i) to introduce an intermediate model in the offline stage of the ROM construction to decrease the interpolation error, and (ii) to select proper substructural modes by applying a mode selection criterion for the enhancement of the ROM accuracy, which is realized under the framework of dynamic substructuring. Since the intermediate model is used in the offline stage, there is little loss of efficiency in the online stage. Consequently, the characteristics of interpolation-based PROM is maintained, realizing a near real-time adaptation of the ROM. Various numerical examples, including dynamic response optimization with a high-dimensional parametric input space, are investigated to evaluate the performance of the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transonic control surface buzz is an obstacle in the designing and using processes of modern aircraft, which can cause damages or serious deformation of the control surface. The limitation of previous investigations on transonic buzz is that they failed to predict the instability boundaries, which are key parameters to aircraft designers. In this paper, towards the typical buzz cases (A/B/C types), the inducing flow and structure conditions as well as the physical meaning of these parameters are studied by using the ROM-based aeroelastic analysis model and CFD/CSD time domain simulation method. Relevant results show that these buzzes are all the result of the instability on the structural branch owing to the coupling effect between the least-stable fluid mode and the structural mode. The eigenvalue analysis further reveals that the occurrence of transonic buzz requires the followings: (i) the stability margin of the flow is low enough (often near transonic buffet onset and offset conditions); (ii) the structural frequency is between those of zero-pole points of the open-loop Bode graph. This study helps to understand the physics and to propose new suppression methods for transonic buzz. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The field of plastic surgery, and in particular facial reconstruction, advanced rapidly during the First World War, but the Italian contribution is little known.Methods: This paper explores wartime experience in Italy, with particular reference to the unit of Amedeo Perna in Rome, as illustrated by the diary and photographs taken by Emerin Keene, the daughter of the American Consul-General in Rome in 1918, who worked as a nurse in the Ospedale Stomatoiatrico, located in the Villa Massimo.Results: The diary of her nursing experience provides an insight into the workings and day-to-day life of the hospital.Conclusions: Whilst there has been interest in, and publication on developments in Great Britain, France and Germany, no significant review of the Italian experience has been undertaken. This article examines the clinical material described by Emerin Keene and the contributions of other Italian contributors to wartime facial surgery, setting these in the context of developments elsewhere in Europe, but further research on what appears to be extensive Italian work in the First World War seems merited.Level of Evidence: not ratable [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper proposes a methodology to assess water consumption in urban agriculture. Green and blue water footprints were calculated for five selected community gardens (CGs) in Rome (Italy) based on weather, crops, and yields. Then, the water requirement for all the CGs of the city, identified by means of a geodatabase, was estimated. For a cultivated area of 4.06 ha, an overall water requirement of 22,036 m3 (13,596 m3 green and 8,440 m3 blue) resulted from the assessment. Considering also the efficiency of the irrigation system, blue water consumption would reach 20,000 m3 in the worst scenario (furrow irrigation). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract At present, there is not any available accepted vaccine for prevention of Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) in human and animals. We conducted literature search through English (Google Scholar, PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus, EBSCO, ISI Web of Science) scientific paper databases to find the best vaccine candidates against toxoplasmosis among T. gondii antigens. Articles with information on infective stage, pathogenicity, immunogenicity and characterization of antigens were selected. We considered that the ideal and significant vaccines should include different antigens and been expressed in all infective stages of the parasite with a high pathogenicity and immunogenicity. Evaluation within this systematic review indicates that MIC 3, 4, 13, ROP 2, RON 5, GRA 1, 6, 8, 14 are expressed in all three infective stages and have pathogenicity and immunogenicity. MIC 5, ROM 4, GRA 2, 4, 15, ROP 5, 16, 17, 38, RON 4, MIC 1, GRA 10, 12, 16, SAG 3 are expressed in only tachyzoites and bradyzoites stages of T. gondii with pathogenicity/immunogenicity. Some antigens appeared to be expressed in a single stage (tachyzoites) but have high pathogenicity and induce immune response. They include enolase2 (ENO2), SAG 1, SAG5D, HSP 70, ROM 1, ROM 5, AMA 1, ROP 18, RON2 and GRA 24. In conclusion, current vaccination against T. gondii infection is not satisfactory, and with the increasing number of high-risk individuals, the development of an effective and safe specific vaccine is greatly valuable for toxoplasmosis prevention. This systematic review reveals prepare candidates for immunization studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lustration rituals in Rome have long been considered rituals of purification. In this paper the authors argue that lustration rituals may be considered foundational rites in which elements of the Indo-European cosmogonic myth is re-enacted. Several types of lustration rituals will be examined using textual evidence found in the works of ancient authors, the most important of which is the Suovetaurilia. Comparisons to the Vedic aśvamedha and reconstructed Slavic mythical texts are also included. Significant elements include animal sacrifice, the leading of animals in a circle and ritual dances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we analyze an excerpt from Book VIII of the Aeneid in which the Trojan hero visits the site of the future Rome, where he is welcomed by Evander, the Greek, founder of Palanteum, when the arcades celebrated the passage of Hercules through Lazio. From the banks of the Tiber to the Palatine Hill, Evander leads the Trojan guest through spaces that were familiar to the public of the epopee. Based on the hermeneutical historical procedure, we problematize the poet’s choices in compiling a number of foundational narratives that put forward, in turn, an aetiology of the monuments and religious spaces of the urbs: Ara Maxima, Lupercal, Porta Carmentalis, Capitoline Hill. Different from travel narratives, the poetic construction of Rome in book 8 assembles aspects of a variety of temporalities of the same city. In order to understand the topographical references of Aeneid, our study encompasses, in addition to the hermeneutic and exegetical analysis of the Latin text, sources contemporary to Virgil, such as the works of Livy, Dionysius of Halicarnassus, as well as data provided by archeology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Apocalypse of John is filled with monsters who threaten both spatial and cultural boundaries. They are generally understood as ciphers for the Roman Empire and its -rulers. Rather than seeking the ancient Near Eastern origins of the monstrous imagery, the intent of this paper is to use monster theory to better understand why John employs monsters throughout the apocalypse. I argue that the author's portrayal of the threat and punishment of hybrid monsters reveals his own insecurities and fears concerning his communities' assimilation with Roman culture. John uses monsters specifically to target rival prophets in his communities that espouse a different vision of living under Rome rule. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite being one of the most important conflicts of the ancient world, and a pivotal moment in Roman history, there are still misconceptions about the Second Punic War. Most notably, the fact that Hannibal was on the verge of victory following his success at Cannae (216), and that only the victory at the Metaurus (207) changed the course of the war in Rome's favour. This paper will emphasize the different strategic approach employed by both sides and that, ultimately, Hannibal's Hellenistic warfare doctrines were inadequate against Rome's war machine of the late third century. Next, it will examine four crucial factors that deeply influenced the course of the war well before the battle of the Metaurus due to their military, strategic and economic repercussions. Ultimately, it will be suggested that Rome altered the course of the war already from 215 and that, by 211, its victory was already determined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Development of an energy consumption model for Electric Freight Vehicles. • Real-world data collection during pickup/delivery operations of EFVs in Rome. • Calibration and validation of the energy consumption of EFVs using real-world data. • Impact evaluation of the instantaneous weight on-board on the energy consumption. • Flexible and reliable modeling of the energy consumption for an EFV fleet. Abstract Electric Freight Vehicles (EFVs) are a promising and increasingly popular alternative to conventional trucks in urban pickup/delivery operations. A key concerned research topic is to develop trip-based Tank-to-Wheel (TTW) analyses/models for EFVs energy consumption: notably, there are just a few studies in this area. Leveraging an earlier research on passenger electric vehicles, this paper aims at filling this gap by proposing a microscopic backward highly-resolved power-based EFVs energy consumption model (EFVs-ECM). The model is estimated and validated against real-world data, collected on a fleet of five EFVs in the city centre of Rome, for a total of 144 observed trips between subsequent pickup/delivery stops. Different model specifications are tested and contrasted, with promising results, in line with previous findings on electric passenger vehicles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper provides a comparison of political graffiti in Rome and Buenos Aires. It examines ten photographs in each city and explores their properties through a detailed and intensive process of descriptive coding. The comparative method reveals the specific, contextual elements essential for interpreting these graffiti. In a broader sense, these photographic images are seen not as signifying 'disorder,' but rather as an intrinsic part of the very ordering of the streets in contemporary metropolitan environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are striking gaps between Roma and non-Roma higher education (HE) participation rates, with less than 1% of Roma possessing a tertiary-level qualification [United Nations Development Programme, World Bank and European Commission. 2011a. "The Situation of Roma in 11 EU Member States." Accessed 3 April 2015. http://issuu.com/undp_in_europe_cis/docs/_roma_ at_a_glance_web/1#download]. As the Decade of Roma Inclusion (2005-2015) closes, this renders the present a salient moment to reflect on Roma students' HE experiences. Widening educational access for marginalised groups raises specific questions about where responsibility for doing so lies - with tensions between individualised articulations of raising aspiration and notions of collective responsibility framed in a social justice agenda. Drawing on interviews with five Roma women students, this paper unpacks the contradictions between desiring access to HE for individual self-betterment and concurrent pulls towards educating for the wider benefit of 'improving' Roma communities. Using Ahmed's [2012. On Being Included: Racism and Diversity in Institutional Life. Durham, North Carolina: Duke University Press] work on institutional belonging, we explore the specifically gendered nature of these narratives in how 'doubly' marginalised bodies are positioned as outsiders, in receipt of an educational gift. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper assesses to what extent the neo-Republican accounts of Quentin Skinner and Philip Pettit adequately capture the nature of political liberty at Rome by focusing on Cicero's analysis of the libera res publica. Cicero's analysis in De Republica suggests that the rule of law and a modest menu of individual citizens' rights guard against citizens being controlled by a master's arbitrary will, thereby ensuring the status of non-domination that constitutes freedom according to the neo-Republican view. He also shows the difficulty of anchoring an argument for citizens' full political participation in the value of non-domination. While Cicero believed such full participation (by elite citizens) was essential for a libera res publica, he, like other elite Romans, argued for participation on the basis of liberty conceived as the space to contend for and enhance one's social status. The sufficiency of the rule of law and citizens' rights for securing a status of non-domination taken together with their insufficiency for ensuring a libera res publica suggests that neo-Republican accounts of liberty do not fully capture the idea as articulated in Cicero's Republicanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A decade ago, the Syracuse Charter was promoted to suggest guidelines for the conservation, fruition, and management of the ancient theatrical architecture built during the Greek and Roman periods. Among other aspects, this charter outlined the role of the acoustics in the restoration of ancient theatres. However, it is often common to modify the acoustics of historical theaters according to the needs of modern performances. This paper focuses on the little theater of Pompeii, in the South of Italy, also known as “theatrum tectum” or “Odeon”. Pompeii, which became a Roman colony after being a Samnite city, underwent significant social and economic changes, including the construction of several performing spaces. The city was destroyed by the Vesuvius eructation in 79 A.D. This paper first describes the genesis of the “theatrum tectum” of Pompeii which had a truss wood roof. The results of acoustic measurements in the current state of the theater are used to create a virtual model of the building. Then, using archeological studies about the original architectural design of this theater, this paper presents a virtual reconstruction of the original acoustics during the Roman period. The aim of the present study is to compare the different acoustical characteristics that the “theatrum tectum” of Pompeii has had in its over 2000 year history and to discuss the most adequate performances in the actual theater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper offers a challenge to the conventional view of the lex sacrata which the Romans believed to have accompanied the establishment of the plebeian tribunate. According to most scholars, the lex sacrata was not technically a lex (law), but was rather an oath sworn by the plebs, enjoining them to protect the persons of the tribunes and to punish with death anyone who should harm the holders of this office. Originally it was only this oath that gave the tribunes their power, which developed into a true office of the Roman state only gradually. This interpretation serves as one of the major props in the widely-held interpretation of the early Roman Republic as being characterized by a "struggle of the orders" in which the plebeians formed a revolutionary "state within the state," separate and distinct from the legitimate state, which was controlled by the patricians. By reexamining the sources for the traditional interpretation of the lex sacrata, this paper shows that all of the evidence suggests that the lex sacrata which guaranteed the inviolability of the plebeian tribunes was, in fact, a law of the Roman community, and that there is little if any support for the "oath" interpretation. With this understanding, a major prop in the communis opinio about the early Republic is undermined. Finally, the paper offers an alternative hypothesis for the role of leges sacratae in the development of the Republic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The subterranean heritage includes both natural and built sites with a strong cultural and historical fingerprint, some of each being enriched with painted surfaces. These semi-confined environments shelter specific and fragile biodiversity. This paper is focused on the case of a Roman painting (2nd-3rd century AD) located in an underground archaeological site in Marino Laziale, near Rome, which was opened to the public for the first time in 2021. The painted Mithraic scene is in a good state of conservation. The methodological approach included on site and laboratory investigations aimed to screen the main biological components associated to this hypogeum monument. The observed biodiversity included heterotrophic and chemolithotrophic microorganisms, and a mesofauna composed of eutroglophile and subtroglophile species, characteristic for many subterranean environments. The ecological mechanisms and the conservation state of the work of art were analyzed for planning the best fruition practices. The aesthetic change, the possible mechanical damages induced by various organisms, and the presence of significant amounts of organic matter, represent the main risks for painting conservation. These aspects, beside the new possible risks associated with the presence of visitors, are under a constant and ongoing conservation surveillance program. • The Mithraeum of Marino fesco is one of the best-preserved scenes come down to our day. • Its microclimate and biological diversity is similar to that of caves. • Chemolithotrophs, heterotrophs and troglophiles are the main biocenosis components. • The site should be valorized by keeping its ecological equilibrium. • Its continuous monitoring supports decision policies for a sustainable fruition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The relative capabilities knowledge-based, machine learning-based, and mechanistic surrogate models are compared to estimate the life-cycle seismic loss of concrete frame buildings based on their geometry and design parameters. • Two scenarios of incomplete (early design) and complete (design development) design information are considered to evaluate the impact of design data availability on surrogate models' prediction. • A sequential framework is proposed to implement surrogate models with lower fidelity in earlier stages of design exploration, where each prior model guide parametrization of the posterior model. • Data-driven models are a versatile tool to demarcate seismic loss under incomplete design data. Mechanistic surrogate models can better extract the relationship between design parameters and seismic loss as the scale of analysis shrinks. A performance-based early design must assess the life cycle performance of a sizable design space at low computational cost and limited data. This paper evaluates the relative capabilities of three surrogate modeling approaches to estimate seismic loss under complete and incomplete design information scenarios. Three surrogate models of knowledge-based (i.e., from prior published assessments), data-driven (i.e., support vector machine trained on a simulation-based building inventory), and physics-based (i.e., equivalent single-degree-of-freedom systems) are systematically used to estimate bounds on direct seismic loss for four hypothetical concrete office construction projects in Charleston, South Carolina. Subsequently, a framework is presented that implements these surrogate models as a sequence to explore design alternatives consistent with divergence-convergence cycles of early design exploration. The results show that all different surrogate models provide reasonable accuracy for the complete design information case, whereas data-driven models provided higher accuracy than the other models. For incomplete design information, the data-driven models demarcated the performance space and estimated the same median loss values as detailed loss analysis. In contrast, physics-based surrogate models were more accurate in capturing the relationship between loss and design parameters for smaller sets of design alternatives. Nevertheless, all different surrogate modeling techniques were inadequate to capture loss variability between different designs of the same geometry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Divertor Tokamak Test (DTT) is a new experimental facility whose construction is starting in Frascati, Rome, Italy; its main goals are improving the understanding of plasma-wall interactions and supporting the development of ITER and DEMO. DTT will be equipped with a Neutral Beam Injector (NBI) based on negative deuterium ions, designed to inject 10 MW of power to the tokamak. A fundamental system for the good operations of the DTT NBI will be its Gas injection and Vacuum System (GVS). Indeed, the efficiency of the entire NBI strongly depends on the good performance of its GVS. The GVS for DTT NBI will be composed of two systems working in parallel: a grounded section connected to the main vacuum vessel, and a high voltage part connected to the ion source vessel and working at −510 kV voltage. The grounded part will feature a fore vacuum system (given by screw and roots pumps) plus a high vacuum system based on turbo-molecular pumps located on the side walls of the vessel and Non-Evaporable Getter (NEG) pumps located inside the vessel on the upper and lower surfaces. On the other hand, the high voltage part will feature a fore vacuum system (given by two compact screw pumps mounted on the external surface for the ion source vessel) plus a high vacuum system based on turbo-molecular pumps also located on the sidewalls of the ion source vessel. A dedicated deuterium gas injection will feed the process gas to the ion source and the neutralizer. This paper gives a description of the conceptual design of the GVS for DTT NBI, and of the procedure followed to optimize this system considering the operational requirements and the other constraints of the DTT NBI. • A conceptual design for a Gas injection and Vacuum System (GVS) has been developed for DTT NBI. • The current solution features two parts, one at ground potential and one at high voltage. • The design has been optimized in terms of the most relevant aspects. • With the design solution here presented, the main requirements of the vacuum pumping system are satisfied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Four Gerber half-joints specimens have been cast and tested up to failure. Two of them were artificially corroded. • The corrosion morphology and location are analysed in detailed. • The corrosion influence on the ultimate load and on the failure modes is underlined. • The suitability of the application of Strut and Tie models to existing corroded saddles is discussed. The assessment of the Gerber half-joints (or saddles), widespread in the infrastructure heritage of different countries, is nowadays a topical problem since they are often affected by chloride corrosion phenomena due to their positioning under the deck joint. In this paper, the influence of steel rebar corrosion on the experimental response of Gerber half-joints is experimentally analysed and discussed. In particular, four elements were cast in Laboratory of University of Rome "Tor Vergata" two of which subjected to accelerated corrosion, and then tested up to failure. The specimens were designed with typical strut and tie models, with the aim of achieving different failure modes governed by the concrete crush or by the tensile rebar breaking. Particular care was devoted to the corrosion process, in order to simulate decay scenarios typical of these structures. The experimental outcomes, expressed in terms of load–displacement curves, crack patterns and failure mechanisms show that also medium-slight degree of pitting corrosion can cause great reductions in capacity and ductility of the saddles, modifying, in addition, their failure mechanism. Finally, from the experimental outcomes, the sensitivity of these peculiar structures, not only to the corrosion amount, but also to its spatial distribution among the different steel rebars, and its morphology (pitting or uniform corrosion) is clearly underlined. As a consequence, the necessity to accurately and properly account for the corrosion phenomenon in the structural assessment is remarked. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The catacombs are underground places. This paper reports the results of acoustic measurements carried out inside the catacombs of 'San Gennaro' (Naples) and in those one of 'San Callisto' (Rome). Originally the catacombs were also used to perform sacred functions, although we don't know the type of these functions i.e. if they were spoken, sung or performed as psalms. This paper presents acoustic measurements carried out in catacombs using the impulse response method, and by the analysis of the monaural acoustic parameters, (T30, EDT, C80, D50 and STI), the authors intend to understand the type of religious ceremony performed in the catacombs. If the catacombs had been reverberant places, they could not have been used for prayers because the echoes would have created difficulties in concentration and meditation for the devotees due to the poor speech comprehension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper investigates how the economic crisis and austerity politics affect the strategies of pro-Roma non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and movements that fight for Roma access to housing in Rome. In the last 20 years, the main social housing policy for the Roma adopted by the City of Rome consisted of the so-called ‘equipped villages’, that is, equipped areas with Portakabins and basic facilities. Designed as a temporary housing solution to accommodate the Roma population living in the slums of the Italian capital, these villages nonetheless persist, hosting an increasing number of Roma evicted from informal settlements. As a result, these villages are now harshly criticised for being highly segregating, for being overcrowded with worsening sanitary conditions and for not enabling integration. Furthermore, the recent economic recession and austerity politics are putting a strain on Roma integration policies. The increase of social tensions and unrest, the rise of populist parties and of anti-immigration (and anti-Roma) attitudes do not facilitate the inclusion of the Roma minority, in Italy as in other European countries. What effects are these dynamics having on the capacity of pro-Roma associations arguing against the segregation of the equipped villages and for the development of alternative social housing for the Roma? Although it may seem that the crisis has mainly negative effects on the possibility of insisting on Roma integration, the pro-Roma NGOs and movements considered in this paper show how post-crisis austerity can be mobilised as a new resource for action. The paper focuses on two strategies using the crisis as a frame and base for contesting the segregation of the Roma: the first is to highlight the costs of segregation and the second is to mobilise a new form of solidarity based on the housing crisis. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper offers a reconstruction and analysis of the Herodian family as a presence in the city of Rome over more than three generations. The scholarly tendency to view the Herods as an aspect of a broader governmental system overlooks the workings of the particular relationships that elevated the Herods in their own land as well as at the centre of Roman power. Beginning with the foundation of a lasting connection between the Herods and the Julio-Claudians laid by Herod the Great and Augustus, this paper traces the legacy of that connection and its impact on affairs in both Judaea and Rome. The peculiar challenges of retaining status in both Roman and Jewish contexts are assessed and their importance as a vital aspect of our understanding of first-century Judaean politics is established. Examination, finally, of the development of their aspirations and their negotiation of dynastic change shows vividly the processes of 'Romanisation' in the context of an elite family. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses the use by late antique Christian historiographers of the classical topos of corrupting abundance. Roman historians had understood that excessive abundance in any society caused decadence and intemperance, which in turn led to moral and physical decline. I will examine the work of three writers who interpreted this classical topos according to their understanding of history and retributive providence. Orosius used the notion to explain the moral decline of Sodom, but did not deploy it in a contemporary setting. Salvian of Marseilles explicitly rejected the idea, arguing that the sinfulness of the Christian Roman population of his day was unrelated to abundance. Finally, Gildas incorporated the idea into his depiction of the Britons' corruption, for which they are punished by God. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article compares the reactions to the eviction of squatters in two very different neighbourhoods of Rome: the centrally located, former working-class and traditionally leftist San Lorenzo; and the peripheral, recently built, speculation and mortgage-driven Nuova Ponte di Nona. While the reaction of the San Lorenzo neighbourhood to the eviction of Communia (August 2013) was highly supportive of the squatters, the residents’ committee in Nuova Ponte di Nona promoted a strong public campaign for the eviction of squatters in a building in Cerruti Street (December 2013). This raised the question of how such different responses, taking place within the same metropolitan area in the same year, can be framed. Based on interviews and the collection of secondary data, the paper addresses this question by showing how the residents of these two neighbourhoods embody the two poles of the process of subjectification created by the singular asset-based Italian welfare regime, the ‘financialization of home’ and the increasingly precarious nature of living conditions. However, a dualistic and rigid account of the neighbourhood reactions is avoided by considering the ‘commoning’ dimension as central to the actions and campaigns of both. Indeed, it shows how the residents’ committees in both cases were engaged in (re)creating new urban commons challenging the increasing privatization and individualization of everyday life prompted by neoliberal/austerity-based urbanism. The case of Nuova Ponte di Nona, however, shows that urban commons are not intrinsically emancipatory, and that the material conditions shaping the community life can lead to viewing the ‘other’ (i.e. the squatters) as a threat to their lifestyle aspirations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The multi-temporal satellite-based differential interferometry (MTInSAR) is a well-known remote-sensing technique aimed at detecting displacements of persistent scatterers (PSs) on the terrestrial surface. Recent studies motivate research effort on developing efficient and automatic procedures for structural monitoring via MTInSAR. This paper proposes a methodology for the portfolio-scale detection of structural deformations of bridges via MTInSAR. The displacement time-series associated with persistent scatterers on the investigated bridges are used to supply a geoprocessing chain leading to the automatic interpretation of bridge-specific deformation scenarios and the definition of monitoring/assessment priority classes. The methodology is applied to two highway networks in Roma and Bari (Italy) by using Sentinel-1 (C-band) and COSMO-SkyMed (X-band) satellite datasets. Although most of the bridges can be assumed stable, a relevant number of bridges affected by ongoing deformation phenomena are associated with high inspection priority. The PSs and the deformation scenarios related to some specific test bridges subjected to subsidence phenomena are analysed and described in detail. Finally, the deformation scenarios detected through the proposed methodology for two collapsed bridges in Italy are illustrated. • state-of-the-art on MTInSAR for structural monitoring of bridges is presented. • a methodology (SABRI) for portfolio-scale bridge monitoring via MTInSAR is proposed. • MTInSAR detects several bridges subjected to relevant deformation scenario in Rome. • PS displacement time series on selected test bridges are shown and discussed. • the results of MTInSAR applied on two recently collapsed bridges are described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Radiative cooling allows to cool down surfaces in a renewable way. It can be combined with solar collection functionality to produce heat and cold in a single device known as Radiative Collector and Emitter (RCE). In this paper we propose to combine a RCE with compression heat pumps to improve its performance, producing both heat and cold. Two combined systems are studied: a peak load shifting configuration where radiative cooling and cold production for demand occur simultaneously, and a decoupled configuration with an intermediate tank. The research numerically simulates both systems in different cities and climates, and compares them to a reference system based on a conventional heat pump. The results reveal and improvement of the performance in both configurations: a greater performance of the heat pump is found in the intermediate tank configuration; but after considering the electrical consumptions of all components of the system, peak load shifting configurations exhibit the best performance in most of the cities. Denver, Lleida and Rome – cities with dry climate and moderate cooling requirements – are the top cities with the greatest improvement of the performance. In the solar heating mode, the facilities show an underutilization of the collection field. • Two combinations of radiative cooling and water-water heat pump are analyzed. • The two systems supply cooling and DHW demands in a single-family house. • Simulations of combined heat pump and radiative collector and emitter are performed. • An improvement of the COP of the heat pump in combined systems is obtained. • Electricity savings up to 33% in combined systems are achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Estimate the traffic demand integrating information provided by traditional and new technologies. Explore the inherent properties of extended coverage information. • Deal with splitting ratios of demand flows among paths identified by coupled Bluetooth sections. • Derivate the analytical solving procedure. • Increase of the intercepted path flows or spatial coverage leads to more accurate estimates. • Assess the effectiveness of the proposed method on a study network in Rome, Italy. Recent advances in technology have made available numerous new monitoring systems that collect updated traffic measurements both in fixed locations and over specific corridors or paths. Such recent technological developments point to challenging and promising opportunities for Origin-Destination (OD) traffic demand estimation and forecast. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to study how to exploit available information detected by new monitoring devices in the estimation of traffic demand. Starting from the formulation proposed by Spiess (1987, 1990), in this paper a new method to estimate the traffic demand by means of Bluetooth data is proposed. It explores inherent properties of this information in an off-line (and static) context, where mathematical formulation of the estimation problem can be derived. The effectiveness of the proposed method has been investigated in an extensive plan of experiments carried out both on test networks and on a study network consisting in a part of the city of Rome, Italy, obtaining promising results in both applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the prolonged aftermath of the economic crisis, urban citizenship is becoming nuanced with a multifarious array of quotidian grassroots organisational forms, aiming at re-appropriating essential right to the city, such as housing. In the case of the Italian capital city, Rome, squatting has become a widespread practice for both native and migrant dwellers for tackling with conditions of severe housing deprivation and lack of public housing, despite the punitive legislative context. This paper contends that their subjective composition, and the forms of organisation and life stemming from squatting nowadays, can contribute to updating Lefebvre’s definition of right to the city, and his critique of the citizen as the enfranchised subject for exerting a transformative power over the urban environment. In order to ground this argument, I will discuss the evidences collected in two big housing occupations located in the marginalised borough of Tor Sapienza, Metropoliz and four Stelle Occupato. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current paper aims to analyze the evolution of Dacia province after its Roman conquest, with emphasis on the complex process of Romanization, opposed and resisted by the Dacians. We will point out elements regarding the legal regime of its inhabitants, the Roman citizens, the Latins, the peregrines and also the slaves, as well as elements regarding the evolution of law in Dacia under the Roman conquest with emphasis on the legal regime of the people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

„Not without merit“. This is how Theodor Mommsen described the most important historical work by Ferdinand Gregorovius, the „History of Rome in the Middle Ages“ before going on to add critically „but he has too much imagination“. This paper reflects on the historian Gregorovius’s openly declared relationship with the imagination, the close affinity between history and poetry. It describes the peculiar role, which we could perhaps describe as that of an outsider, of an author forced to write his books as an independent scholar, funding them mainly with his work as a journalist. Using Gregorovius‘s direct experience of the enchanted gardens at Ninfa, which attracted him as an author of lyric poetry and as an explorer of the historical landscape, we examine some case studies of the genesis of the narrative form that he developed and discuss it as a challenge to historicism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper reveals the experimental procedure and thermo-physical characteristics of a coarse pyroclastic soil ( Pozzolana), from the neighborhoods of Rome, Italy. The tested samples are comprised of 70.7 % sand, 25.9 % silt, and 3.4 % clay. Their mineral composition contained 38 % pyroxene, 33 % analcime, 20 % leucite, 6 % illite/muscovite, 3 % magnetite, and no quartz content was noted. The effective thermal conductivity of minerals was assessed to be about $$2.14\,\hbox {W}{\cdot } \hbox {m}^{-1}{\cdot } \hbox {K}^{-1}$$ . A transient thermal probe method was applied to measure the thermal conductivity ( $$\lambda $$ ) over a full range of the degree of saturation $$(S_{\mathrm{r}})$$ , at two porosities ( n) of 0.44 and 0.50, and at room temperature of about $$25\,^{\circ }\hbox {C}$$ . The $$\lambda $$ data obtained were consistent between tests and showed an increasing trend with increasing $$S_{\mathrm{r}}$$ and decreasing n. At full saturation ( $$S_{\mathrm{r}}=1$$ ), a nearly quintuple $$\lambda $$ increase was observed with respect to full dryness ( $$S_{\mathrm{r}}=0$$ ). In general, the measured data closely followed the natural trend of $$\lambda $$ versus $$S_{\mathrm{r}}$$ exhibited by published data at room temperature for other unsaturated soils and sands. The measured $$\lambda $$ data had an average root-mean-squared error (RMSE) of $$0.007\,\hbox {W}{\cdot } \hbox {m}^{-1}{\cdot } \hbox {K}^{-1}$$ and $$0.008\,\hbox {W}{\cdot } \hbox {m}^{-1}{\cdot } \hbox {K}^{-1}$$ for n of 0.50 and 0.44, respectively, as well as an average relative standard deviation of the mean at the 95 % confidence level $$(\hbox {RSDM}_{0.95})$$ of 2.21 % and 2.72 % for n of 0.50 and 0.44, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The DYNAMAP project (Dynamic Acoustic Mapping – Development of low cost sensors networks for real time noise mapping) is a LIFE project aiming at developing a dynamic noise mapping system able to detect and represent in real time the acoustic impact due to road infrastructures. Scope of the project is the European Directive 2002/49/EC relating to the assessment and management of environmental noise (END). The main project idea is focused on the research of a technical solution able to ease and reduce the cost of noise mapping, through an automatic monitoring system, based on customized low-cost sensors and a software tool implemented on a general purpose GIS platform, performing the update of noise maps in real time (dynamic noise maps). The feasibility of this approach will be proved implementing the system in two pilot areas with different territorial and environmental characteristics: an agglomeration and a major road. The first pilot area will be located in Milan, in a significant portion of the town, while the second one will be situated along the motorway A90 surrounding the city of Rome. The two pilot areas show peculiar needs and characteristics, such as the presence of multiple noise sources, roads junctions, traffic and weather conditions, that require a different system’s implementation approach. In this paper the main issues related to the design of the system configuration in the pilot area of Rome are described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the evolution of the faculty salary system at medieval universities. Amid fierce competition for survival, the medieval universities, which served as academic guilds, developed many highly innovative systems, including a faculty salary system. These systems influenced the historical development of the university, and became the organizational and spiritual foundation of the modern university system. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The paper problematizes public housing privatization. It compares the trajectory of tenure change in two garden communities – Garbatella, Rome and Sunnyside Gardens, New York City – which privileged public and private ownership, respectively. The cases are currently dealing with tenure change. Sunnyside experienced the enclosure of gardens and citizens’ attempt to reclaim what was held in common in order to bring back the communal spaces. Garbatella is a place where growth over time of rights, powers, immunities, and privileges is manifested in long-lasting processes of appropriation of public housing goods. Despite their different stories, Sunnyside helps to problematize the process of public housing privatization in Garbatella which is further complicated by tenure complexity, State-induced rent gap and institutional displacement. The analysis of tenure change, done by using the ‘incidents of ownership’ notion developed by Marcuse, contributes to the understanding of what public housing privatization means in social and spatial terms. Housing privatization leads to an erosion of the in-between space where individual and collective aspiration meet as a precondition for the reproduction of what is held in common: spatial goods such as open spaces and housing – a fundamental aspect of our citizenship. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The devastating earthquake in Tohoku Region of Japan in 2011 caused many geotechnical problems and the recovery from them was an unforgettable experience. This paper describes first the seismological background of that extreme event whose return period was longer than 1000 years, producing unprepared situation among people. The geotechnical effect of this earthquake consists mainly of collapse of sea walls due to overtopping of tsunami water and liquefaction-induced damage of levees and residential lands, while landslide was fortunately of minor scale. Much efforts were made after the earthquake on establishing hazard assessment methodology for residential land and ground improvement under existing houses. The recovery from the nuclear incident is still going on. These issues were presented during the 2019 Ishihara Lecture during the seventh International Conference on Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering in Rome organized by the Technical Committee 203 of the International Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering and were published in the conference proceedings. However, there is a tradition that every Ishihara Lecture has been published in this International Journal of Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering. In view of this, the original publication was totally rewritten and new information was added so that a second publication might be possible as a follow-up. • Overall summary of my geotechnical efforts/contributions after the gigantic Tohoku earthquake of magnitude = 9 in 2011. • Historical review of gigantic earthquakes and devastating tsunami disasters in the Pacific Coast of Tohoku Region, Japan. • Time history of coseismic (tectonic) subsidence in the coastal area. • Effects of antecedent rainfalls on likelihood of coseismic landslides in 2011. • Liquefaction issues focusing on soil age effects and ground improvement for mitigation in future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Because of the growing need for efficient energy production systems, energy policies promoted in recent years have also involved complex structures, like airports. This paper proposes the implementation of an energy management system for a very energy-consuming structure, composed of different power plants and many energy consumers: the Leonardo da Vinci International Airport of Rome. In this study, the examination of historical data related to airport electric power, thermal energy and fuel consumption is discussed, starting with the analysis of the production energy plants, mainly based on a combined heat and power system. Furthermore, pioneering solutions are proposed, not only to cover airport energy requirements, but also to test the safety and reliability of innovative load management systems. For this reason, the choice of the Leonardo da Vinci management company, oriented to install a smart storage in order to manage the bidirectional energy flows by consumers and producers, is justified. Such innovative energy procurement systems are examined, with the goal of achieving greater penetration of renewable sources: mini and micro wind power plants and high concentrator photovoltaic plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy efficiency of cultural heritage is not only an engineer issue. Many professionals and Institutions have to be involved in the design process. Furthermore, the building survey plays a crucial role in providing opportunities to the designers to find the most compatible solution. This paper shows the “Galleria Borghese” case study, in Rome, which is one of the most important Italian museum. Recent literature defined the energy efficiency of listed buildings dedicated to museum as the most challenging environment. For this reason, this study explored the available rooms to guarantee Indoor Environmental Quality, architecture preservation and sustainability. The disruption caused by some plant breakdowns climate that have occurred in recent years provided stress to the visitors comfort and overall exhibited works unsuitable for their preservation. From an analysis of the current situation and the calculation of winter and summer thermal loads of the building and the ventilation air flow rates, the study shows some viable proposals having as objective: the reduction of the heat load of the building in summer, a better air exchange and overall a modernization of the plant expansion. A participatory process allowed to involve in the design architectural elements by converting them to a new role such as the chimney of fireplaces as part of the new HVAC system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The size, body conformation and skull shape of Roman dogs from the 'Vila de Madrid necropolis' site, where 1480 dog remains were recovered, are described in this paper to provide evidence of the morphometric variability of Roman dogs in Hispania Tarraconensis. The individualized and detailed morphometric analysis of 10 individuals shows that the proliferation and explosion of the morphological variability already documented in different regions of the Roman Empire (Italia, Gallia, Britannia, Pannonia) are also noted here. The presence of very different individuals in terms of their shape and size, similar to the differences that can at present be noted between Pekingese and Doberman dogs, has been documented at the site. The reasons for the appearance of this morphological variability within those territories that were part of the Roman Empire are also discussed. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• This study developed a procedure to rank urban roundabouts for safety improvement. • A Safety Index (SI) is assessed by scoring 5 general safety issues and 31 detailed safety issues. • The procedure was validated in a sample of 50 urban roundabouts in Rome, Italy. • The correlation between the SI scores and the Empirical Bayes estimates was highly significant (p-value < 0.001). • The rankings from the SI and the EB estimates agree at the 99.9% confidence level. Recently, there is a growing interest in road safety assessments based on the examination of the characteristics of the road aimed at identifying the presence of risk factors. This approach, named road assessment program or network wide road safety assessment, is required by the EU Directive 2019/1936 on road infrastructure safety management. Reliable procedures for assessing the inherent safety of all the elements of the road network are required to conduct roadway safety assessments. To provide a contribution toward the development of procedures for network wide road safety assessment, this paper develops and validates a Safety Index (SI) for evaluating urban roundabouts. The SI is assessed both at the roundabout level as well as at the roundabout approach level. This procedure detects the safety issues that are the largest contributors to crash risk in order to identify the safety measures that provide the greatest crash reduction at roundabouts. The SI is formulated by combining two components: the exposure of road users to road hazards (Exposure) and the risk factors which increase the probability of involvement in crashes (Risk Index). The procedure considers 33 detailed safety issues and 5 general safety issues to compute the Risk Index. Criteria for identifying and ranking the safety issues are defined. The SI procedure was validated in a sample of 50 urban roundabouts located in Rome, Italy. The sample consisted of 12 single-lane roundabouts and 38 two-lane roundabouts, with a total number of approaches equal to 179. In these roundabouts, the SI scores and the EB crash estimates were compared with reference both to the whole roundabouts as well as to the single roundabout approaches. The correlation between the SI scores and EB estimates was highly significant both at the roundabout level (R2 = 0.85, t = 16.49, p-value < 0.001) as well as at the approach level (R2 = 0.56, t = 14.88, p-value < 0.001). The results from Spearman's rank-correlation analysis provided further validation for the SI indicating that rankings from the SI and the EB estimates agree at the 99.9 % confidence level both at the roundabout level (ρ s = 0.80) as well as at the approach level (ρ s = 0.70). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heat pumps, an example of one of the most environmentally friendly technologies, can play a key role in the future of sustainable energy. Due to the European Union's ambitious goals to achieve climate neutrality by 2050, research is currently focused on finding solutions to increase the energy and economic efficiency of heating and cooling with heat pumps to benefit the environment. This paper presents the results of energy simulations for a single-family building located in selected cities—Warsaw (Poland), Madrid (Spain), Riga (Latvia), and Rome (Italy)—as a case study for different climate conditions and energy policy. In each variant, ground and air source heat pumps are considered for heating, cooling, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) purposes. Moreover, we conducted an economic estimation including investment and operating costs, as well as an ecological analysis of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. Results show that heat pumps as an energy source for HVAC systems seem to be much more beneficial for Mediterranean-type subtropical climates, than for continental-type climates. The lowest value of total energy demand was obtained in Rome (60 kWh/m2∙rok), while the highest values were recorded in Riga and Warsaw (more than 90 kWh/m2∙rok). In terms of economic and environmental aspects, the use of heat pumps was most advantageous when considering Rome. This paper provides a starting point for further research focusing on increasing the energy and economic efficiency of heat pumps, especially in cold climates, as well as a multi-parameter analysis taking into account national prices, policies regarding development of renewable energy sources, and technical and climatic conditions. It also shows how increasing the share of renewable energy sources (RESs) in the national energy mix contributes to the reduction of CO2 emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Editors of the Virtual Special Issue (VSI) "New Research on Water, Waste and Energy Management, with Special Focus on Antibiotics and Priority Pollutants" (VSI WWEM-20) here present details corresponding to papers that have been accepted, as well as further comments on the matter. It should be noted that the VSI should be associated to a Conference that had been initially programmed to be held in Rome during the summer of 2020, Unfortunately, it was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. That conference was one of those within the series called "International Congress on Water, Waste and Energy Management". Although the Conference was postponed, the Call for Papers for the VSI was maintained by this journal. As a result, a set of very interesting papers were accepted after a careful peer-review process. We hope that it will be complemented with additional VSIs associated to future conferences corresponding to the series, increasing the knowledge on the topic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a novel gas-liquid compressed air energy storage prototype, installed in the laboratory of DIAEE Department of Sapienza University of Rome, is studied. Similar to the Compressed-Air Energy Storage (CAES), the Gas-Liquid Energy Storage (GLES) technology is based on gas compression/expansion, where the liquid-piston compression and expansion are utilized. This paper reports on the experimental performance of the first GLES prototype and presents the results from a validated mathematical model. The results show that the proposed system has a high energy efficiency (indicated) over 90%, and then to achieve high values of round trip efficiency (RTE), it is important to improve and optimize the efficiency of the auxiliaries (Motor/Pump and Turbine/Generator). Two different Test, with two different speed of charging phase were done. From the results of the experimental measurements done with the prototype built in the laboratory of the DIAEE Department of Sapienza University of Rome, it can be seen that for slow compression the RTE of the system is around 72%, instead for the fast compression phase, the RTE is around 70%. A mathematical model was implemented and tested with the experimental measurements. From results it can be seen a good agreement between the experimental and numerical analysis, with a maximum error in the Test B (slow compression) equal to 2.5% and 1% respectively for charging and discharging phase. From the parametric analysis it can be seen that only the volume of the tank and the pressure ratio are needed to predict the round trip efficiency of the system. • A novel prototype of an energy storage system (CEAS) where the air is compressed by liquid is presented. • Energy storage (compression) achieved via liquid piston with hydraulic pump. • Energy recovery (expansion) achieved passing liquid through hydraulic turbine. • A validated mathematical model of the system is presented. • Experimental and simulated system performance are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

COVID-19 pandemic severely affected national health systems, altering the modality and the type of care of patients with acute and chronic diseases. To minimize the risk of exposure to SARS-CoV2 for patients and health professionals, face-to-face visits were cancelled or postponed and the use of telemedicine was strongly encouraged. This reorganization involved especially patients with rare diseases needing periodic comprehensive assessment, such as pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). The paper reports a proposal of strategy adopted for patients followed at our PAH center in Rome, where patients management was diversified based on clinical risk according to the European Society of Cardiology/European Respiratory Society PH guidelines-derived score and the REVEAL 2.0 score. A close monitoring and support of these patients were made possible by policy changes reducing barriers to telehealth access and promoting the use of telemedicine. Synchronous/asynchronous modalities and remote monitoring were used to collect and transfer medical data in order to guide physicians in therapeutic-decision making. Conversely, the use of implantable monitors providing hemodynamic information and echocardiography-mobile devices wirelessly connecting was limited by the poor experience existing in this setting. Large surveys and clinical trials are welcome to test the potential benefit of the optimal balance between traditional PAH management and telemedicine opportunities. Italy was found unprepared to manage the dramatic effects caused by COVID-19 on healthcare systems. In this emergency situation telemedicine represented a promising tool especially in rare diseases as PAH, but was limited by its scattered availability and legal and ethical issues. Cohesive partnership of health care providers with regional public health officials is needed to prioritize PAH patients for telemedicine by dedicated tools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]