Archaeometric characterization of prehistoric pottery from Baħrija, Malta

The end of prehistory in the Maltese archipelago is characterized by the production of a problematic class of pottery, until now attested just at the site of Baħrija, on the western coast of Malta. Such a production represents a break with the tradition in terms of repertoire of shapes, style and technology and it has been interpreted as the result of contact between locals and foreign immigrants. The recent overall reappraisal of the unpublished ceramic assemblage collected during the excavations carried out at Baħrija, represents a unique opportunity to focus on the technological aspects of the production, trying to shed light on the issue of the break with the tradition and the impact of external influxes. Petrographic analysis on thin sections and chemical analyses via X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF) and laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy (LA-ICP-MS) have been carried out to characterize the Baħrija pottery production in order to interpret from a different angle the issue of the possible arrival of newcomers and establishment of a foreign enclave in Malta, which until now has been hypothesized only on the basis of the sudden emergence of the Baħrija pottery

Comparing algorithms for aggressive driving event detection based on vehicle motion data

Aggressive driving is one of the main causes of fatal crashes. Correctly identifying aggressive driving events still represents a challenge in the literature. Furthermore, datasets available for testing the proposed approaches have some limitations since they generally (a) include only a few types of events, (b) contain data collected with only one device, and (c) are generated in drives that did not fully consider the variety of road characteristics and/or driving conditions. The main objective of this work is to compare the performance of several state-of-the-art algorithms for aggressive driving event detection (belonging to anomaly detection-, threshold- and machine learning-based categories) on multiple datasets containing sensors data collected with different devices (black-boxes and smartphones), on different vehicles and in different locations. A secondary objective is to verify whether smartphones could replace black-boxes in aggressive/non-aggressive classification tasks. To this aim, we propose the AD 2 (Aggressive Driving Detection) dataset, which contains (i) data collected using multiple devices to evaluate their influence on the algorithm performance, (ii) geographical data useful to analyze the context in which the events occurred, (iii) events recorded in different situations, and (iv) events generated by traveling the same path with aggressive and non-aggressive driving styles, in order to possibly separate the effects of driving style from those of road characteristics. Our experimental results highlighted the superiority of machine learning-based approaches and underlined the ability of smartphones to ensure a level of performance similar to that of black-boxes

An evaluation testbed for locomotion in virtual reality

A common operation performed in Virtual Reality (VR) environments is locomotion. Although real walking can represent a natural and intuitive way to manage displacements in such environments, its use is generally limited by the size of the area tracked by the VR system (typically, the size of a room) or requires expensive technologies to cover particularly extended settings. A number of approaches have been proposed to enable effective explorations in VR, each characterized by different hardware requirements and costs, and capable to provide different levels of usability and performance. However, the lack of a well-defined methodology for assessing and comparing available approaches makes it difficult to identify, among the various alternatives, the best solutions for selected application domains. To deal with this issue, this paper introduces a novel evaluation testbed which, by building on the outcomes of many separate works reported in the literature, aims to support a comprehensive analysis of the considered design space. An experimental protocol for collecting objective and subjective measures is proposed, together with a scoring system able to rank locomotion approaches based on a weighted set of requirements. Testbed usage is illustrated in a use case requesting to select the technique to adopt in a given application scenario

Quality Productions, Protection and Recovery of the Internal Areas of Aspromonte: the Role of Truffles

The purpose of this article is to examine the potential of truffle production and  its market in the Aspromonte area. Through interviews with leading operators, collectors, transformers, retailers and restaurateurs, the strengths and weaknesses of the sector, the risks to the external environment and the opportunities offered by the economic system, as well as the needs raised by the operators who in various ways deal with truffles in the Calabria Region was considered. The results show that truffles are natural biological products and play an important role in the management of woodlands: if they are present they are a formidable indicator of environmental health. The results showed that the truffle supply chain can contribute to the promotion of growth strategies for Calabria as indicated among the objectives of the 2030 Strategy Agenda in Goal 11.a Session 1, point 1 which aims at the conservation, redevelopment and promotion of poor or fragile areas with qualitatively significant cultural and environmental heritage. The truffle sector's ability to attract new economic flows generated by production activities, from territorial marketing, from fresh or processed product marketing and from services capable of guaranteeing additional income for farmers and supply chain operators was also highlighted. The results finally showed that the use of SWOT analysis in niche food products provides useful indications for regional development planning actions, for marketing activities, for the promotion of sustainable tourism, for the recovery and enhancement of rural buildings and for the food and wine routes that revolve around the production of truffles and the gastronomy based on fresh and / or processed truffles. Produzioni di pregio, tutela e recupero delle aree interne aspromontane: il ruolo del tartufoScopo di questo articolo è esaminare le potenzialità della produzione e del mercato del tartufo nell’area aspromontana. Attraverso interviste ad opinioni leader, operatori, raccoglitori, trasformatori, rivenditori e ristoratori, sono stati messi in luce i punti di forza e di debolezza del comparto, i rischi dell’ambiente esterno e le opportunità offerte dal sistema economico, nonché le necessità sollevate dagli operatori che a vario titolo si occupano di tartufo nella Regione Calabria.  I risultati mostrano che i tartufi sono prodotti biologici naturali e che svolgono un ruolo importante nella gestione dei terreni boschivi: se sono presenti rappresentano un formidabile indicatore di salubrità ambientale. I risultati hanno evidenziato, altresì che la filiera del tartufo può contribuire alla promozione di strategie di crescita per la Calabria come indicato tra gli obiettivi della Strategia Agenda 2030, Goal 11.a Sessione 1, punto 1, che punta alla conservazione, riqualificazione e promozione di aree disagiate o fragili con patrimoni culturali e ambientali qualitativamente significativi. Si è inoltre evidenziata la capacità del settore tartuficolo di attrarre nuovi flussi economici generati dalle attività di produzione, dal marketing territoriale, dal marketing del prodotto fresco o trasformato e dai servizi idonei a garantire reddito supplementare aggiuntivo per gli agricoltori e per gli operatori della filiera.  I risultati hanno infine mostrato che l'uso dell'analisi SWOT in prodotti alimentari di nicchia fornisce indicazioni utili per le azioni di pianificazione dello sviluppo regionale, per le attività di marketing, per la promozione del turismo sostenibile, per il recupero e la valorizzazione dei fabbricati rurali e per i percorsi enogastronomici che ruotano intorno alla produzione di tartufi e alla gastronomia a base di tartufi freschi e/o trasformati.The purpose of this article is to examine the potential of truffle production and  its market in the Aspromonte area. Through interviews with leading operators, collectors, transformers, retailers and restaurateurs, the strengths and weaknesses of the sector, the risks to the external environment and the opportunities offered by the economic system, as well as the needs raised by the operators who in various ways deal with truffles in the Calabria Region was considered. The results show that truffles are natural biological products and play an important role in the management of woodlands: if they are present they are a formidable indicator of environmental health. The results showed that the truffle supply chain can contribute to the promotion of growth strategies for Calabria as indicated among the objectives of the 2030 Strategy Agenda in Goal 11.a Session 1, point 1 which aims at the conservation, redevelopment and promotion of poor or fragile areas with qualitatively significant cultural and environmental heritage. The truffle sector's ability to attract new economic flows generated by production activities, from territorial marketing, from fresh or processed product marketing and from services capable of guaranteeing additional income for farmers and supply chain operators was also highlighted. The results finally showed that the use of SWOT analysis in niche food products provides useful indications for regional development planning actions, for marketing activities, for the promotion of sustainable tourism, for the recovery and enhancement of rural buildings and for the food and wine routes that revolve around the production of truffles and the gastronomy based on fresh and / or processed truffles. Produzioni di pregio, tutela e recupero delle aree interne aspromontane: il ruolo del tartufoScopo di questo articolo è esaminare le potenzialità della produzione e del mercato del tartufo nell’area aspromontana. Attraverso interviste ad opinioni leader, operatori, raccoglitori, trasformatori, rivenditori e ristoratori, sono stati messi in luce i punti di forza e di debolezza del comparto, i rischi dell’ambiente esterno e le opportunità offerte dal sistema economico, nonché le necessità sollevate dagli operatori che a vario titolo si occupano di tartufo nella Regione Calabria.  I risultati mostrano che i tartufi sono prodotti biologici naturali e che svolgono un ruolo importante nella gestione dei terreni boschivi: se sono presenti rappresentano un formidabile indicatore di salubrità ambientale. I risultati hanno evidenziato, altresì che la filiera del tartufo può contribuire alla promozione di strategie di crescita per la Calabria come indicato tra gli obiettivi della Strategia Agenda 2030, Goal 11.a Sessione 1, punto 1, che punta alla conservazione, riqualificazione e promozione di aree disagiate o fragili con patrimoni culturali e ambientali qualitativamente significativi. Si è inoltre evidenziata la capacità del settore tartuficolo di attrarre nuovi flussi economici generati dalle attività di produzione, dal marketing territoriale, dal marketing del prodotto fresco o trasformato e dai servizi idonei a garantire reddito supplementare aggiuntivo per gli agricoltori e per gli operatori della filiera.  I risultati hanno infine mostrato che l'uso dell'analisi SWOT in prodotti alimentari di nicchia fornisce indicazioni utili per le azioni di pianificazione dello sviluppo regionale, per le attività di marketing, per la promozione del turismo sostenibile, per il recupero e la valorizzazione dei fabbricati rurali e per i percorsi enogastronomici che ruotano intorno alla produzione di tartufi e alla gastronomia a base di tartufi freschi e/o trasformati

Eventos agroalimentarios y de productos típicos: instrumentos de promoción para un territorio del sur de Italia

For most of the hilly, mountainous and inland areas, local and typical agri-food products represent an important tool for producing income, guaranteeing food and nutritional security, providing an answer to basic human needs and the desire to improve the quality of life. The survival of these areas is strongly linked to the persistence of these products, which, in addition to having to be profitable for the communities that produce them and who live from them, must also impose themselves within the framework of the competitiveness imposed by the markets. In fact, it happens that, for many of them, although the production conditions guarantee quality and food safety, the same cannot be said about their ability to compete with most of the semi-industrial productions. Thanks to consumers survey the study proposes a reading of the relationships between food and wine events / manifestations of an internal area in Southern Italy and some local food products offered in the stalls and food stands on occasion of such events. From a methodological point of view, it was decided to apply the “Social Network Analysis” (SNA), comparing gastronomic, folkloristic and cultural events that were detected in the area and with some local food products present in the stalls and stands. The area considered is very interesting with reference to the typical and traditional products, among which the less known and widespread truffle has only recently begun to establish itself. The results showed that some of the products taken into consideration are recurrent, that is, always present in the various events in the area, others less so. The data shows the attractiveness that these events and gastronomic events are able to trigger in consumers and the interest and propensity to buy that the food of local tradition. In particular, tourists seek the experience of local gastronomy and the culture and identity of the destination visited. Reading these data provides some information on the competitive strength that food and wine events and local productions are able to arouse. Events and demonstrations such as those highlighted in the work help to preserve the identity and authenticity of local traditions.Para la mayor parte de las zonas serranas, montañosas y del interior, los productos agroalimentarios locales y típicos representan una importante herramienta para generar ingresos, garantizar la seguridad alimentaria y nutricional, dando respuesta a las necesidades humanas básicas y al deseo de mejorar la calidad de vida. La supervivencia de estas áreas está fuertemente ligada a la persistencia de estos productos, que, además de tener que ser rentables para las comunidades que los producen y que viven de ellos, también deben imponerse en el marco de la competitividad que imponen los mercados. De hecho, sucede que, para muchos de ellos, si bien las condiciones de producción garantizan la calidad y la seguridad alimentaria, no se puede decir lo mismo de su capacidad para competir con la mayoría de las producciones semi-industriales. Gracias a una encuesta a los consumidores, este estudio propone una evaluación de las relaciones entre los eventos / manifestaciones gastronómicas y vinícolas de un área de interior del sur de Italia y algunos productos alimenticios locales que se ofrecen en los puestos de comida con motivo de tales eventos. Desde el punto de vista metodológico, se optó por aplicar el “Análisis de Redes Sociales” (ARS), comparando los eventos gastronómicos, folclóricos y culturales que se detectaron en la zona y con algunos productos alimenticios locales presentes en los puestos. El área considerada es muy interesante en cuanto a los productos típicos y tradicionales, entre los que la trufa es la menos conocida y extendida, y sólo ha comenzado a consolidarse recientemente. Los resultados mostraron que algunos de los productos tomados en consideración son recurrentes, es decir, siempre presentes en los diversos eventos de la zona, otros menos. Los datos muestran el atractivo que estos eventos y jornadas gastronómicas son capaces de suscitar en los consumidores y el interés y propensión a comprar los alimentos de tradición local. En particular, los turistas buscan la experiencia de la gastronomía local y la cultura e identidad del destino visitado. El análisis de estos datos proporciona información sobre la fuerza competitiva que pueden suscitar los eventos enogastronómicos y las producciones locales. Eventos y manifestaciones como los destacados en el trabajo ayudan a preservar la identidad y la autenticidad de las tradiciones locales

Italo-Mycenaean and other Aegean-influenced pottery in Late Bronze Age Italy: the case for regional production

Decorated Italo-Mycenaean (IM) pottery, a high-status class found and made over three centuries from the Italian Late Middle Bronze Age onwards, was the subject of a large archaeological and archaeometric enquiry published by the present authors in 2014. The present paper focuses on identifying IM’s centres of production. The results of chemical analysis of IM using mainly ICP-ES make a strong case for regional production, irrespective of findspots in several parts of Italy. This accords well with the relative stylistic individuality of IM observed among the finds of IM across many parts of Italy, suggesting that IM is a powerful archaeological indicator of the way local communities were constructing and negotiating their identities at this crucial time of social and economic change at the end of the Bronze Age. A picture of more dispersed intra-regional production emerges from the combined chemical and petrographic analysis of two other pottery classes displaying Aegean influence: wheel-made Grey ware and decorated Final Bronze Age/Early Iron Age (FBA/EIA) pottery from sites in present-day Apulia and from Broglio di Trebisacce in Calabria. Potters manufacturing the former applied their knowledge of the wheel and kiln firing to handmade impasto shapes which were largely shared by local communities within a region. The results obtained for the latter reflect demands of the new elites of the emerging FBA/EIA in southern Italy to create symbols expressing a new cultural identity: this pottery’s style, especially of Protogeometric, was uniform but its production was localised

Automatic generation of 3D animations from text and images

The understanding of information in a text description can be improved by visually accompanying it with images or videos. This opportunity is particularly relevant for books and other traditional instructional material. Videos or, more in general, (interactive) graphics contents, can help to increase the effectiveness of this material, by providing, e.g., an animated representation of the steps to be performed to carry out a given procedure. The generation of 3D animated contents, however, is still very labor-intensive and time-consuming. Systems able to speed up this process offering flexible and easy-to-use interfaces are becoming of paramount importance. Hence, this paper describes a system designed to automatically generate a computer graphics video by processing a text description and a set of associated images. The system combines Natural Language Processing and image analysis for extract- ing information needed to visually represent the procedure depicted in an instruction manual using 3D animations. It relies on a database of 3D models and preconfigured animations that are activated according to the information extracted from the said input. Moreover, by analyzing the images, the system can also generate new animations from scratch. Promising results have been obtained assessing the system performance in a specific use case focused on printers maintenance