Hygienic requirements of urban living environment in the Russian Federation and in Italy: a comparison

Introduzione/scopo. La pianificazione urbana tende a contenere e regolamentare la crescita urbana consentendo uno sviluppo sostenibile a livello ambientale, sociale e sanitario. Nel presente lavoro gli autori hanno confrontato i quadri normativi della Federazione Russ e dell’Italia ponendo particolare attenzione agli aspetti urbani degli spazi abitativi. Metodo. Considerando la ponderosa produzione normativa nei due paesi, il lavoro ha preso in esame le normative a livello nazionale per l’Italia e federale per la Russia, tenendo principalmente conto dei seguenti aspetti: strumenti di pianificazione urbana e protezione ambientale e sanitaria degli spazi abitativi. Risultati. I problemi relativi alla sicurezza igienico-sanitaria dell’ambiente di vita in Russia sono essenzialmente riconducibili a due sistemi normativi (SNiP e SanPiN), mentre in Italia rientrano nel D.M. 05/07/1975. I principi fondamentali della pianificazione urbana in Russia sono dettati da una norma federale, mentre in Italia sono recepiti nel Piano Regolatore Generale (PRG) comunale e nei diversi regolamenti locali, dove si riasriassume tutta la normativa sovraordinata. Gli aspetti legati alla qualità ambientale, infine, in entrambi i paesi sono disciplinati da varie leggi specifiche (federali e statali); un articolato sistema di norme che tengono conto dei potenziali impatti sulla salute e sull’ambiente Conclusioni. Gli autori ritengono che dovrebbero essere sviluppati, specialmente in Italia che si trova nettamente più indietro da questo punto di vista, strumenti normativi chiari e aggiornati aventi per oggetto l’igiene degli edifici e degli ambienti urbani, basati sulle più recenti acquisizioni di letteratura scientifica internazionale nell’intento di garantire i più alti standard in materia di tutela della Salute Pubblica.Aim. Urban planning tries to contain and regulate the uncontrolled growth of cities, encouraging their sustainable development at environmental, social and health levels. In the present work, the authors compare the regulatory frameworks of the Russian Federation and of Italy, with particular attention paid to the urban aspects of living spaces. Method. Considering the extant normative production in the two countries, the authors examine national legislation for Italy and federal legislation for Russia, mainly taking into account the following aspects: urban planning tools and environmental and sanitary protection of living spaces. Results. Hygienic-sanitary requirements regarding living environment in Russia are essentially expressed by two regulatory systems (SNiP and SanPiN), while in Italy they are regulated by the D.M. 07/05/1975. The main principles of urban planning in Russia are expressed by federal standards, while in Italy they are incorporated in the Municipal General Plan (PRG) and in the various local regulations, where all the superordinate regulations are summarized. Finally, aspects related to environmental quality in both countries are governed by various specific laws (federal and state); a complex system of rules that take into account potential impacts on health and the environment. Conclusions. The authors reckon that clear and updated regulatory tools should be developed, especially in Italy that lags behind, regarding the building and urban hygiene, relying on the most recent acquisitions of international scientific literature in order to guarantee the highest standards in Public Health safeguard

Quantum-Coherence-Enhanced Surface Plasmon Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation

We investigate surface plasmon amplification in a silver nanoparticle coupled to an externally driven three-level gain medium, and show that quantum coherence significantly enhances the generation of surface plasmons. Surface plasmon amplification by stimulated emission of radiation is achieved in the absence of population inversion on the spasing transition, which reduces the pump requirements. The coherent drive allows us to control the dynamics, and holds promise for quantum control of nanoplasmonic devices.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure

Experimental Study on a Laboratory Test Bench for Sea Wave Generation Systems

Abstract The paper presents a laboratory test bench specifically designed for sea wave generation systems. In particular a DC Micro Grid is realized to experimentally validate the energy performance of a PM Brushless ball screw actuator, during motor-regenerative operative conditions, which is representative of an oscillating body wave generation system. The proposed architecture is based on a DC bus, which features the integration of renewable energy sources and buffered storage systems, with the aim of smoothing the natural power fluctuations of wave energy generation systems. The wave generation is simulated in laboratory by controlling an electric motor, which is directly coupled with the PM brushless generator. The experimental validation phase is mainly devoted to verify the design criteria of the architecture scheme and the control strategies of the power fluxes related to power converters

Hybrid Storage System Control Strategy for All-Electric Powered Ships

Abstract In marine applications all-electric propulsion systems are employed on surface ships that are subjected to particular constraints, generally due to environmental restrictions. The technological advancement of electrochemical batteries, which are today characterized by higher capacity and efficiency, has widened their fields of application, although these storage systems require an accurate design to limit their initial and maintenance costs. In order to reduce battery charge and discharge peak currents, supercapacitor modules are generally adopted with the aim to extend batteries expected life. The proper management of energy fluxes within the hybrid architecture, and in particular among batteries, capacitors and loads requires a specific control, called EMS – Energy Management Strategy. In this paper, a novel EMS, based on constrained minimization problem, is proposed and verified with reference to a case study of a waterbus operating in restricted waterways on different routes. The procedure is based on a preliminary solution of an off-line optimization with respect to a known mission profile. Hence, a real-time control strategy is properly evaluated, in order to guarantee robustness against the unavoidable uncertainties, which occur during the operating conditions. In the last part of the paper, a numerical application is presented with the purpose to emphasize the feasibility of the proposal

Infrared generation in low-dimensional semiconductor heterostructures via quantum coherence

A new scheme for infrared generation without population inversion between subbands in quantum-well and quantum-dot lasers is presented and documented by detailed calculations. The scheme is based on the simultaneous generation at three frequencies: optical lasing at the two interband transitions which take place simultaneously, in the same active region, and serve as the coherent drive for the IR field. This mechanism for frequency down-conversion does not rely upon any ad hoc assumptions of long-lived coherences in the semiconductor active medium. And it should work efficiently at room temperature with injection current pumping. For optimized waveguide and cavity parameters, the intrinsic efficiency of the down-conversion process can reach the limiting quantum value corresponding to one infrared photon per one optical photon. Due to the parametric nature of IR generation, the proposed inversionless scheme is especially promising for long-wavelength (far- infrared) operation.Comment: 4 pages, 1 Postscript figure, Revtex style. Replacement corrects a printing error in the authors fiel

Fabrication technologies for quantum cascade photonic-crystal microlasers

In this paper we describe the technological and fabrication methods necessary to incorporate both photonic and electronic-band engineering in order to create novel surface-emitting quantum cascade microcavity laser sources. This technology offers the promise of several innovative applications such as the miniaturization of QC lasers, and multi-wavelength two-dimensional laser arrays for spectroscopy, gas-sensing and imaging. This approach is not limited to light-emitting devices, and may be efficiently applied to the development of mid- and far-infrared normal-incidence detectors

Fabrication methods for a quantum cascade photonic crystal surface emitting laser

Conventional quantum cascade (QC) lasers are intrinsically edge-emitting devices with mode confinement achieved via a standard mesa stripe configuration. Surface emission in edge emitting QC lasers has therefore necessitated redirecting the waveguided laser emission using a second order grating. This paper describes the methods used to fabricate a 2D photonic crystal (PC) structure with or without a central defect superimposed on an electrically pumped QC laser structure with the goal of achieving direct surface emission. A successful systematic study of PC hole radius and spacing was performed using e-beam lithography. This PC method offers the promise of a number of interesting applications, including miniaturization and integration of QC lasers

Quantum cascade photonic crystal surface emitting injection laser

A surface emitting quantum cascade injection laser is presented. Direct surface emission is obtained by using a 2D photonic-band-gap structure that simultaneously acts as a microcavity. The approach may allow miniaturization and on-chip-integration of the devices

The omnivorous Tyrolean Iceman: colon contents (meat, cereals, pollen, moss and whipworm) and stable isotope analyses

The contents of the colon of the Tyrolean Iceman who lived Ga. 5300 years ago include muscle fibres, cereal remains, a diversity of pollen, and most notably that of the hop hornbeam (Ostrya carpinifolia) retaining cellular contents, as well as a moss leaf (Neckera complanata) and eggs of the parasitic whipworm (Trichuris trichiura). Based almost solely on stable isotope analyses and ignoring the work on the colon contents, two recently published papers on the Iceman's diet draw ill- founded conclusions about vegetarianism and even veganism. Neither the pollen nor the moss is likely to have been deliberately consumed as food by the Iceman. All the available evidence concerning the Iceman's broad-based diet is reviewed and the significance of the colon contents for matters other than assessment of food intake is outlined