Social housing in Portugal and Italy: methodological issues and empirical inferences of a comparative study

This working paper aims to clarify some aspects of social housing in Portugal and Italy in order to start a comparative analysis of the interventions in social housing neighbourhood’s case studies in the two countries. Divided into three parts, the paper initially discloses an explanation of methodological issues for a housing comparative study, especially for the Southern Europe countries, continuing with the description of housing concepts used in Portugal and Italy and concluding with a preliminary comparison. Despite having the same percentage of social housing, Portugal and Italy are different in the way how to deal with it and this research longs to explain it. The study offers methodological directions on how to conduct a housing comparative research and displays a starting comparison on statistical data, political genealogies, normative concepts and historical frameworks. The purpose is to settle a theoretical basis and reveal some outcomes from the analysis of the social housing in the two countries. This work seeks to contribute to the general debate of comparative housing studies of Southern Europe

Housing & rehousing: Aprender com a habitação pública em Portugal e Itália

This doctoral thesis addresses the issue of housing in Portugal and Italy in order to obtain a learning process 'inspired by the South', which allows to know approaches in neighbouring contexts, consolidate the literature on Southern Europe and extract lessons from the processes studied. The subject of housing, which is so complex and multidisciplinary, was addressed in two parts for each of the countries: Housing, which includes welfare systems and regimes, vocabulary, data and policies; and Rehousing, which refers to a process, recurring in public housing neighbourhoods, characterized by the phases of demolition, rehousing and new construction, and developed to improve the habitability conditions of degraded urban areas. This process is analysed in two case studies: the free floor of Corviale in Rome and the masonry of Bairro Padre Cruz in Lisbon. The objective is to develop a framework for housing in Portugal and Italy and to analyse an intervention process that defines reflections and propositional lines to design and intervene in public housing. This investigation seeks to develop an interdisciplinary study, through a theoreticalmethodological approach that connects several disciplines of Urban Studies, considering that the biggest methodological challenge is to integrate the tools of architecture with those of urban anthropology. The thesis contributes to the theoretical deepening of housing studies in Southern Europe and interdisciplinary investigations in Urban Studies, in an attempt to formulate views, criticisms and more integrated responses to inhabiting the city.Esta tese de doutoramento aborda o tema da habitação em Portugal e Itália para obter um processo de aprendizagem ‘inspirada no Sul’, permitindo assim conhecer abordagens em contextos vizinhos, consolidar a literatura sobre o sul da Europa e extrair lições a partir dos processos estudados. O tema da habitação, tão complexo e multidisciplinar, foi abordado em duas partes para cada um dos países: Housing, que inclui os sistemas e os regimes de welfare, o vocabulário, os dados e as políticas; e Rehousing, que se refere a um processo, recorrente nos bairros de habitação pública, caraterizado pelas fases de demolição, realojamento e nova construção, desenvolvido para melhorar as condições de habitabilidade das áreas urbanas degradadas. Esse processo é analisado em dois casos de estudo: o andar livre do Corviale em Roma e as alvenarias do Bairro Padre Cruz em Lisboa. O objetivo é desenvolver um enquadramento da habitação em Portugal e Itália e analisar um processo de intervenção visando a definição de reflexões e linhas propositivas para projetar e intervir na habitação pública. Esta investigação procura desenvolver um estudo interdisciplinar, através de uma abordagem teórico-metodológica relacionando várias disciplinas dos Estudos Urbanos, tendo em conta que o desafio maior é o de integrar as ferramentas da arquitetura com as da antropologia urbana. A tese contribui para o aprofundamento teórico dos estudos da habitação no sul da Europa e de investigações interdisciplinares em Estudos Urbanos, na tentativa de formular olhares, críticas e respostas mais integradas para habitar a cidade

a center-periphery discussion?

UIDB/04647/2020 UIDP/04647/2020This study analyzes the housing policies enacted in the second half of the 20th century and the beginning of the 21st century in Portugal and Italy to understand whether the comparison between the two countries’ housing domains reflects a divide between the “center” and the “periphery,” or, on the contrary, can be observed as “between peripheries.” This article stems from a comprehensive literature review on the topic, which is divided into a theoretical discourse on housing, a general European housing scenario, and a historical and contemporary framework of housing policies in Portu-gal and Italy. The literature review seeks to identify the economic and sociocultural singularities of the two countries through official laws and statistical data. Within a fundamentally theoretical comparative observation, this work aims to identify whether Italy and Portugal are contrasting realities within the housing domain—that is, with housing characteristics typical of the center (Italy) or the periphery (Portugal)—or represent two similar realities that integrate the peripheral context of Europe. Este artigo analisa as políticas de habitação promulgadas na segunda metade do século XX e no início do século XXI em Portugal e na Itália, de modo a perceber se a comparação entre os domínios habitacionais dos dois países reflete uma divisão entre o “centro” e a “periferia” ou, pelo contrário, pode ser considerada como “entre periferias”. Este artigo resulta de uma ampla revisão da literatura sobre o tema, sobre o discurso teórico sobre a habitação, o panorama geral da habitação europeia e um quadro histórico e contemporâneo das políticas habitacionais em Portugal e na Itália. A revisão da literatura pretende identificar as singularidades económicas e socioculturais dos dois países por meio de legislações oficiais e dados estatísticos. Através de uma observação comparativa fundamentalmente teórica, este trabalho visa identificar se Itália e Portugal são realidades contrastantes no domínio da habitação, ou seja, com características habitacionais típicas do centro (Itália) ou da periferia (Portugal), ou se representam duas realidades semelhantes que integram o contexto periférico da Europa.publishersversionpublishe

Comparative planning and housing studies beyond taxonomy: A genealogy of the special programme for rehousing (Portugal)

Recent European comparative studies in the fields of housing policy and spatial planning have been dominated by taxonomical and linear approaches, and by normative calls for convergence toward systems considered more ‘mature’ or ‘advanced’. In this article, we adopt a genealogical perspective and consider those cultures that are central to the shaping of policy. We set out a long-term exploration of the intersection between spatial planning and housing policy in Portugal and focus on the Special Programme for Rehousing (Programa Especial de Realojamento, PER), a programme that has had changing roles (from a financial instrument to a core component of policies of urban regeneration) in connection with political and planning cultures changing in time and space. In this way, we provide evidence of the limited capacity of taxonomic and linear approaches to describe planning and housing systems undergoing processes of change and, conversely, show the potential of genealogical research

Turbulent blood dynamics in the left heart in the presence of mitral regurgitation: a computational study based on multi-series cine-MRI

In this work, we performed a computational image-based study of blood dynamics in the whole left heart, both in a healthy subject and in a patient with mitral valve regurgitation. We elaborated multi-series cine-MRI with the aim of reconstructing the geometry and the corresponding motion of left ventricle, left atrium, mitral and aortic valves, and aortic root of the subjects. This allowed us to prescribe such motion to computational blood dynamics simulations where, for the frst time, the whole left heart motion of the subject is considered, allowing us to obtain reliable subject-specifc information. The fnal aim is to investigate and compare between the subjects the occurrence of turbulence and the risk of hemolysis and of thrombi formation. In particular, we modeled blood with the Navier–Stokes equations in the arbitrary Lagrangian–Eulerian framework, with a large eddy simulation model to describe the transition to turbulence and a resistive method to manage the valve dynamics, and we used a fnite element discretization implemented in an in-house code for the numerical solution

Faecal calprotectin and ultrasonography as non-invasive screening tools for detecting colorectal polyps in children with sporadic rectal bleeding. a prospective study

Background: Colorectal polyps are reported in 6,1% of paediatric colonoscopies and in 12% of those performed for lower gastrointestinal bleeding. Although colonoscopy is widely used in paediatric patients, it requires bowel preparation and general anaesthesia or deep sedation, and in rare cases, it can cause complications. Non-invasive screening techniques able to predict polyps in children with isolated and sporadic rectal bleeding may play a key role in the selection of patients needing colonoscopy. Methods: We enrolled all children undergoing colonoscopy for isolated and sporadic rectal bleeding to determine the diagnostic accuracy of faecal calprotectin, ultrasonography (US) and digital rectal examination as diagnostic methods for screening colorectal polyps. Results: A total of 26 of 59 enrolled patients (44.1%) had colonic polyps, one patient had multiple polyps, and 23% of children had polyps proximal to the splenic flexure. The diagnostic accuracy of faecal calprotectin for detecting colorectal polyps was 96.6%, with a sensitivity of 100%. False-positive faecal calprotectin was shown in 2 patients with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug-related lesions. The diagnostic accuracy of ultrasound was 77.9%. Polyps not seen with ultrasound tended to be relatively smaller (1.5 vs 2.3, p = 0.001) and located in the rectum. The combined use of FC, US and digital rectal examination obtained a specificity and PPV of 100%. Conclusions: FC combined with US and digital rectal examination is a good and promising non-invasive screening test for detecting colorectal polyps in children with isolated and sporadic rectal bleeding

PPARγ Pro12Ala and ACE ID polymorphisms are associated with BMI and fat distribution, but not metabolic syndrome

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) results from the combined effect of environmental and genetic factors. We investigated the possible association of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ2 (PPARγ2) Pro12Ala and Angiotensin Converting Enzyme (ACE) I/D polymorphisms with MetS and interaction between these genetic variants.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Three hundred sixty four unrelated Caucasian subjects were enrolled. Waist circumference, blood pressure, and body mass index (BMI) were recorded. Body composition was estimated by impedance analysis; MetS was diagnosed by the NCEP-ATPIII criteria. A fasting blood sample was obtained for glucose, insulin, lipid profile determination, and DNA isolation for genotyping.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The prevalence of MetS did not differ across PPARγ2 or ACE polymorphisms. Carriers of PPARγ2 Ala allele had higher BMI and fat-mass but lower systolic blood pressure compared with Pro/Pro homozygotes. A significant PPARγ2 gene-gender interaction was observed in the modulation of BMI, fat mass, and blood pressure, with significant associations found in women only. A PPARγ2-ACE risk genotype combination for BMI and fat mass was found, with ACE DD/PPARγ2 Ala subjects having a higher BMI (p = 0.002) and Fat Mass (p = 0.002). Pro12Ala was independently associated with waist circumference independent of BMI and gender.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Carriers of PPARγ2 Ala allele had higher BMI and fat-mass but not a worse metabolic profile, possibly because of a more favorable adipose tissue distribution. A gene interaction exists between Pro12Ala and ACE I/D on BMI and fat mass. Further studies are needed to assess the contribution of Pro12Ala polymorphism in adiposity distribution.</p

Relazione tecnica sulle attività della campagna oceanografica “Evatir 2016”

La presente relazione tecnica descrive tutte le attività svolte nella Campagna oceanografica “Evatir 2017” condotta a bordo della N/O “G. Dallaporta” (dal 25 luglio al 21 agosto 2016). La Campagna “Evati 2016” è parte integrante del Progetto "Estensione della Campagna acustica Medias (Mediterranean International Acoustic Survey) nelle sub aree geografiche (GSA) 9 (Mar Ligure e Mar Tirreno settentrionale) e 10 (Mar Tirreno centrale e meridionale)", finanziato dal Ministero delle politiche agricole alimentari e forestali (Mipaaf) nell'ambito del Fondo Europeo per gli Affari Marittimi e la Pesca (FEAMP). E’ la sesta campagna rivolta alla valutazione acustica e alla distribuzione spaziale delle popolazioni di piccoli pelagici, insieme allo studio delle condizioni ambientali dell’area di studio. Le specie target del progetto sono state l’acciuga europea (Engraulis encrasicolus) e la sardina (Sardina pilchardus), specie chiave sia a livello commerciale che ecologico. La gestione di tali risorse è abbastanza complessa a causa del loro breve ciclo di vita e dall’ampia oscillazioni inter-annuali nell’abbondanza dello stock, legata al successo o al fallimento del reclutamento annuale. Insieme alle attività di acquisizione acustiche sono stati realizzati campionamenti bilogici, misurazioni, misurazioni di parametri fisico-chimici, rilevamenti di variabili oceanografiche e campionamento di acque (nei Golfi di Salerno, Napoli e Gaeta), monitoraggio della rete da pesca e campionamenti di fitoplancton, zooplancton, solidi sospesi e rilievo delle principali variabili oceanografiche (in prossimità dello stabilimento SOLVAY di Rosignano)

Relazione tecnica sulle attività della Campagna oceanografica “Ancheva 2016”

La presente relazione riporta le attività di ricerca della Campagna oceangrafica “Ancheva 2016”, svolte a bordo della N/O “G. Dallaporta” (nel periodo tra il 4 ed il 26 Luglio 2016) nello Stretto di Sicilia e nel mar Ionio occidentale (GSA 16 e 19) e nelle acque maltesi (GSA 15). Nello specifico, le attività svolte vengono sono di seguito descritte sinteticamente: - Rilevazioni acustiche degli stock di piccoli pelagici con echosounder scientifico Simrad EK60, con trasduttori split beam a scafo; - Campionamenti biologici (di piccoli pelagici) con rete pelagica (volante monobarca), dotata di sistema acustico Simrad ITI per il controllo della geometria della rete (apertura e posizione della rete nella colonna d’acqua); - Campionamenti di tessuti di pesci pelagici (gonadi, fegato e sangue); - Campionamento acqua, in specifiche stazioni, con sonda multiparametrica SEABIRD mod. 9/11 plus (per la misurazione dei parametri fisico-chimici della colonna d’acqua) dotata di bottiglie Niskin (per l’analisi di Nutrienti ed Isotopi di azoto e carbonio); - Campionamento ittioplantonico, mediante con “Bongo 40”, in specifiche stazioni, le cui bocche sono state fissate in alcool, per le analisi degli aminoacidi sulle larve di Engraulis encrasicolus

Relazione tecnica sulle attività della campagna oceanografica “Ancheva 2017”

La presente relazione tecnica descrive le attività svolte nella Campagna oceanografica “Ancheva 2017”, tra il 23 luglio ed il 7 agosto 2017, a bordo della N/O “G. Dallaporta”. Gli echosurvey acquisiti hanno permesso di valutare la biomassa e la distribuzione spaziale dei piccoli pelagici nella piattaforma meridionale della Sicilia, da Marsala a oltre Capo Passero, e nella piattaforma Maltese (GSA 16, FAO sub area 37.2.2). Parallelamente alle suddette attività sono state svolti il campionamento biologico (di piccoli pelagici) con rete pelagica (volante monobarca), il campionamento di tessuti di pesci pelagici (gonadi, fegato e sangue), il campionamento di acqua (per la misurazione dei parametri fisico-chimici della colonna d’acqua e per l’analisi di Nutrienti ed Isotopi di azoto e carbonio) ed, infine, il campionamento ittioplantonico (per le analisi degli aminoacidi sulle larve di Engraulis encrasicolus)