Editorial

[EN] Editorial VITRUVIO - International Journal of Architectural Technology and Sustainability, Volume 8, Issue 2 (2023)De Gregorio, S.; De Vita, M. (2023). Editorial. VITRUVIO - International Journal of Architectural Technology and Sustainability. 8(2):2-3. http://hdl.handle.net/10251/201374238

Editorial

Editorial VITRUVIO - International Journal of Architectural Technology and Sustainability, Volume 8, Issue 2 (2023

CITTÀ INCLUSIVE PER COMUNITÀ INTERCULTURALI. ESPERIENZE EUROPEE

The multicultural city is one of the major issues within the political Agenda as well as one of the prominent research topics, also due to the recent increasing of migratory flows throughout Europe. Within this framework, urban policies have been included in decisionmaking processes regarding cultural inclusion and social cohesion: cities have been considered the outpost of cultural diversities and dialogues. According to this scenario, the research focuses on European initiatives at urban level oriented at increasing the cultural inclusiveness. Challenges, issues and opportunities have been explored from a specific perspective: how local authorities and communities deal with this challenge in terms of spatial and social equity. By applying a case study approach, bottom up experiences, social innovation practices, community-led initiatives as well as traditional top down projects dedicated to the multicultural city have been collected and analyzed. The results of the survey show a scenario in which both bottom up initiatives and community engagement processes can be catalyst of a self-sustaining intercultural development.DOI: http://dx.medra.org/10.19254/LaborEst.14.0

Natural Commercial Centers: Regeneration Opportunities and Urban Challenges

In the history of European cities, public spaces always played a pivotal role, representing key places for developing social interactions and for enhancing the sense of community. Squares, commercial streets, market places as well as traditional retail and art-and-crafts areas can be considered the core of the city. The social, economic and demographic crisis and the loss of cultural identity has affected the capacity of attraction of local small retailers, giving the floor to the aggressive strategies of suburban shopping malls, centers, arcades or precinct, forming a complex of shops, movie theaters, restaurants and food courts with interconnecting walkways [. Typical expressions of a globalized economy, the different categories of suburban shopping mall have transformed behaviors and paths at a large scale [. One consequences can be identified in the loss of traditional commercial activities within the city centre, producing a situation of urban decline, mirrored by the impoverishment of public spaces [[. This paper suggests that, by activating the existing cultural and socio-economic capital it is possible to undertake a successful regeneration process based on a participative approach and on public and private integrated tools. By focussing on the experience of the Centri Commerciali Naturali (Natural Commercial Centres) established in Italy as partnership between Municipalities, cultural operators, public services providers and associations of shops owners to exploit the commercial activities in the historical centers the ongoing research is oriented to explore successful experiences of private-public partnership to be implemented in a regeneration process of areas traditionally dedicated to retail and art-and-craft small enterprises. The paper discusses the potentiality and the criticism of the NCC as engine for the redevelopment and regeneration of the inner city abandoned retail areas. In so doing, the experience developed in Campania (Southern Italy) will be analyzed in order to show how the activation of the social capital within the framework of the CCN could contribute in renovating the traditional commercial identity of the area, supporting the public spaces regeneration process. This paper aspires to offer useful insights to all those policy makers, city managers and planners who seek to revitalise traditional market areas in European city centres

Designing the Sustainable Adaptive Reuse of Industrial Heritage to Enhance the Local Context

[EN] Since the European Year of Cultural Heritage, adaptive reuse is considered a strategy for intervention on historical buildings and territories to preserve and enhance artifacts, cities, and communities. Adaptive reuse can also generate social and economic benefits. This work looks at adaptive reuse in the context of industrial heritage, which represents an excellent test benchmark because of its intrinsic architectural characteristics and its localization in the city suburbs. The paper puts forward a methodological approach, verified through the application to a case study, which analyzes both the local context and the building. This study concludes using the data obtained to define an adaptive reuse project with positive repercussions for the community, the environment, and the local economy.This research was funded by "Fondazione Filauro" University of L'Aquila and by the Short Term Mobility program of the Italian National Research Council.De Gregorio, S.; De Vita, M.; De Berardinis, P.; Palmero Iglesias, LM.; Risdonne, A. (2020). Designing the Sustainable Adaptive Reuse of Industrial Heritage to Enhance the Local Context. Sustainability. 12(21):1-20. https://doi.org/10.3390/su122190591201221Orientamenti Europei per Sostenere il Riutilizzo Adattivo Degli Edifici Storici nel 2019–2020https://www.archeomatica.it/editoriali/orientamenti-europei-per-sostenere-il-riutilizzo-adattivo-degli-edifici-storici-nel-2019-2020Leeuwarden Declaration 2018https://www.ace-cae.eu/activities/events/2018/built-heritage-conference/Trizio, I., De Vita, M., Ruggieri, A., & Giannangeli, A. (2020). THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL PARK OF NAVELLI (ITALY) IN THE RECONSTRUCTION PLAN: HYPOTHESIS OF ADAPTIVE REUSE. The International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences, XLIV-M-1-2020, 929-936. doi:10.5194/isprs-archives-xliv-m-1-2020-929-2020Romeo, E., Morezzi, E., & Rudiero, R. (2015). Industrial Heritage: Reflections on the Use Compatibility of Cultural Sustainability and Energy Efficiency. Energy Procedia, 78, 1305-1310. doi:10.1016/j.egypro.2015.11.145Blagojević, M. R., & Tufegdžić, A. (2016). The new technology era requirements and sustainable approach to industrial heritage renewal. Energy and Buildings, 115, 148-153. doi:10.1016/j.enbuild.2015.07.062Ifko, S. (2016). Comprehensive Management of Industrial Heritage Sites as A Basis for Sustainable Regeneration. Procedia Engineering, 161, 2040-2045. doi:10.1016/j.proeng.2016.08.800Liu, F., Zhao, Q., & Yang, Y. (2018). An approach to assess the value of industrial heritage based on Dempster–Shafer theory. Journal of Cultural Heritage, 32, 210-220. doi:10.1016/j.culher.2018.01.011Xie, P. F. (2015). A life cycle model of industrial heritage development. Annals of Tourism Research, 55, 141-154. doi:10.1016/j.annals.2015.09.012Florentina-Cristina, M., George-Laurenţiu, M., Andreea-Loreta, C., & Constantin, D. C. (2014). Conversion of Industrial Heritage as a Vector of Cultural Regeneration. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 122, 162-166. doi:10.1016/j.sbspro.2014.01.1320Martínez Pino, J. (2018). The New Holistic Paradigm and the Sustainability of Historic Cities in Spain: An Approach Based on the World Heritage Cities. Sustainability, 10(7), 2301. doi:10.3390/su10072301Foster, G. (2020). Circular economy strategies for adaptive reuse of cultural heritage buildings to reduce environmental impacts. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 152, 104507. doi:10.1016/j.resconrec.2019.104507https://itaca.org/valutazione_sostenibilita.asp#Adams, K. T., Osmani, M., Thorpe, T., & Thornback, J. (2017). Circular economy in construction: current awareness, challenges and enablers. Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Waste and Resource Management, 170(1), 15-24. doi:10.1680/jwarm.16.00011Ayres, R. U. (1999). The second law, the fourth law, recycling and limits to growth. Ecological Economics, 29(3), 473-483. doi:10.1016/s0921-8009(98)00098-6Bullen, P. A., & Love, P. E. D. (2011). Adaptive reuse of heritage buildings. Structural Survey, 29(5), 411-421. doi:10.1108/02630801111182439https://ec.europa.eu/jrc/en/pvgisFrosch, R. A., & Gallopoulos, N. E. (1989). Strategies for Manufacturing. Scientific American, 261(3), 144-152. doi:10.1038/scientificamerican0989-144https://www.worldgbc.org/news-media/2019-global-status-report-buildings-and-constructionBaker, H., Moncaster, A., & Al-Tabbaa, A. (2017). Decision-making for the demolition or adaptation of buildings. Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Forensic Engineering, 170(3), 144-156. doi:10.1680/jfoen.16.00026Ghisellini, P., Ripa, M., & Ulgiati, S. (2018). Exploring environmental and economic costs and benefits of a circular economy approach to the construction and demolition sector. A literature review. Journal of Cleaner Production, 178, 618-643. doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.11.207Keeble, B. R. (1988). The Brundtland report: ‘Our common future’. Medicine and War, 4(1), 17-25. doi:10.1080/0748800880840878

The silencing of TdIPK1 genes enhances micronutrient concentration in durum wheat grain

Phytic acid (PA) is the main storage form of phosphorus in kernel and is considered an anti-nutritional compound because of its ability to bind to essential minerals such as iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), potassium (K), calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg), thus limiting their availability, especially for populations whose diet is largely based on staple crops. This study reports a promising nutrient biofortification approach of durum wheat. The approach was based on the silencing of the gene encoding the inositol pentakisphosphate 2- kinase 1 (IPK1), involved in the last step of the PA biosynthetic pathway, through a Targeting Induced Local Lesions IN Genomes (TILLING) approach. Single knockout mutants for the IPK1 homeoalleles were identified and crossed to pyramid the two mutations. Although an elevated number of plants (F2 and F3 progenies) were analysed, no genotypes lacking both the homeoalleles were recovered, suggesting that the expression of IPK1 is crucial for seed formation in the spike and/or for plant germination and development. The characterization of the single null genotypes highlighted that the partial TdIPK1-B1- mutants showed a lower accumulation of PA in the kernel along with a higher content of essential microelements (Fe, Mn, Zn) compared to the control wild-type. The pattern of mineral accumulation was different for the TdIPK1-A1- mutants which only presented a greater accumulation of K

The suppression of TdMRP3 genes reduces the phytic acid and increases the nutrient accumulation in durum wheat grain

Micronutrient malnutrition affects more than half of the world population. Reduced bioavailability of microelements in the raw materials is considered one of the main causes of mineral deficiency in populations whose diet is largely based on the consumption of staple crops. In this context, the production of low phytic acid (lpa) cereals is a main goal of the breeding programs, as phytic acid (PA) binds essential mineral cations such as iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), potassium (K), calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) precipitating in the form of phytate salts poorly digested by monogastric animals, including humans, due to the lack of phytases in the digestive tract. Since PA limits the bioavailability of microelements, it is widely recognized as an anti-nutritional compound. A Targeting Induced Local Lesions IN Genomes (TILLING) approach has been undertaken to silence the genes encoding the TdABCC13 proteins, known as Multidrug-Resistance associated Proteins 3 (TdMRP3), transporters involved in the accumulation of PA inside the vacuole in durum wheat. The TdMRP3 complete null genotypes showed a significant reduction in the content of PA and were able to accumulate a higher amount of essential micronutrients (Fe, Zn, Mn) compared to the control. The number of spikelets and seeds per spike, traits associated with the agronomic performances, were reduced compared to the control, but the negative effect was in part balanced by the increased grain weight. The TdMRP3 mutant lines showed morphological differences in the root apparatus such as a significant decrease in the number of root tips, root length, volume and surface area and an increase in root average diameter compared to the control plants. These materials represent a promising basis for obtaining new commercial durum wheats with higher nutritional value

Phenotypic evolution in durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.) based on SNPs, morphological traits, UPOV descriptors and kernel-related traits

Durum wheat is a worldwide staple crop cultivated mainly in the Mediterranean basin. Progress in durum wheat breeding requires the exploitation of genetic variation among the gene pool enclosed in landraces, old cultivars and modern cultivars. The aim of this study was to provide a more comprehensive view of the genetic architecture evolution among 123 durum wheat accessions (41 landraces, 41 old cultivars and 41 modern cultivars), grown in replicated randomized complete block in two areas, Metaponto (Basilicata) and Foggia (Apulia), using the Illumina iSelect 15K wheat SNP array and 33 plant and kernel traits including the International Union for the Protection of new Varieties of Plants (UPOV) descriptors. Through DAPC and Bayesian population structure five groups were identified according to type of material data and reflecting the genetic basis and breeding strategies involved in their development. Phenotypic and genotypic coefficient of variation were low for kernel width (6.43%) and for grain protein content (1.03%). Highly significant differences between environments, genotypes and GEI (Genotype x Environment Interaction) were detected by mixed ANOVAs for agro-morphological-quality traits. Number of kernels per spike (h2 = 0.02) and grain protein content (h2 = 0.03) were not a heritability character and highly influenced by the environment. Nested ANOVAs revealed highly significant differences between DAPC clusters within environments for all traits except kernel roundness. Ten UPOV traits showed significant diversity for their frequencies in the two environments. By PCAmix multivariate analysis, plant height, heading time, spike length, weight of kernels per spike, thousand kernel weight, and the seed related traits had heavy weight on the differentiation of the groups, while UPOV traits discriminated moderately or to a little extent. The data collected in this study provide useful resources to facilitate management and use of wheat genetic diversity that has been lost due to selection in the last decades

Investigation of Commiphora myrrha (Nees) Engl. oil and its main components for antiviral activity

The resinous exudate produced by Commiphora myrrha (Nees) Engl. is commonly known as true myrrh and has been used since antiquity for several medicinal applications. Hundreds of metabolites have been identified in the volatile component of myrrh so far, mainly sesquiterpenes. Although several efforts have been devoted to identifying these sesquiterpenes, the phytochemical analyses have been performed by gas-chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC–MS) where the high temperature employed can promote degradation of the components. In this work, we report the extraction of C. myrrha by supercritical CO2, an extraction method known for the mild extraction conditions that allow avoiding undesired chemical reactions during the process. In addition, the analyses of myrrh oil and of its metabolites were performed by HPLC and GC–MS. Moreover, we evaluated the antiviral activity against influenza A virus of the myrrh extracts, that was possible to appreciate after the addition of vitamin E acetate (α-tocopheryl acetate) to the extract. Further, the single main bioactive components of the oil of C. myrrha commercially available were tested. Interestingly, we found that both furanodienone and curzerene affect viral replication by acting on different steps of the virus life cycle

Esketamine in treatment-resistant depression patients comorbid with substance-use disorder: A viewpoint on its safety and effectiveness in a subsample of patients from the REAL-ESK study

: Esketamine, the S-enantiomer of ketamine, has recently emerged as a therapy for treatment-resistant depression (TRD), showing both rapid antidepressant action and good efficacy and high safety. It is also indicated for the acute short-term treatment of psychiatric emergency due to major depressive disorder (MDD) and for depressive symptoms in adults with MDD with acute suicidal thoughts/behavior. We here provide preliminary insights on esketamine nasal spray (ESK-NS) effectiveness and safety among patients with a substance use disorder (SUD) within the sample of patients with TRD collected for the observational, retrospective, multicentre REAL-ESK study. Twenty-six subjects were retrospectively selected according to the presence of a SUD in comorbidity. Subjects enrolled completed the three different follow-up phases (T0/baseline, T1/after one month, and T2/after three months) and there were no dropouts. A decrease in Montgomery-Asberg depression rating scale (MADRS) scores was recorded, thus highlighting the antidepressant efficacy of ESK-NS (MADRS decreased from T0 to T1, t = 6.533, df=23, p<0.001, and from T1 to T2, t = 2.029, df=20, p = 0.056). Considering tolerability and safety issues, one or more side effects were reported by 19/26 subjects (73%) after treatment administration. All reported side effects were time-dependent and did not cause significant sequelae; among them, dissociative symptoms (38%) and sedation (26%) were the most frequently reported. Finally, no cases of abuse or misuse of ESK-NS were reported. Despite study limitations related to the inherent nature of the study, a limited number of patients, and a short follow-up period, ESK-NS showed to be effective and safe in patients diagnosed with TRD comorbid with a SUD