Las Casas de Chahuaytire : expectativas sobre el turismo, nociones de progreso y jerarquías sociales en una comunidad campesina cusqueña.

La presente investigación se centra en las maneras en que los comuneros de la comunidad campesina de Chahuaytire, ubicada a 50 minutos en transporte colectivo del centro del distrito de Pisaq sobre los 3800 msnm en Cusco, negocian su estatus social dentro de la comunidad a través de las formas en que construyen y modifican sus casas. Chahuaytire está inmerso en el contexto turístico cusqueño que implica la relación e interacción entre promotores de desarrollo, empleados de turismo, turistas y campesinos. Hace treinta años aproximadamente los miembros de la comunidad vieron el potencial monetario del turismo a través de la producción y venta de tejidos gracias al apoyo de algunos promotores de desarrollo primero y de turismo después; sin embargo, en los últimos años las iniciativas para implementar nuevas actividades turísticas en la comunidad se han incrementado. El reconocimiento social dentro de Chahuaytire se da desde su posición como campesinos quechua-hablantes y sus nociones de progreso que están relacionadas a las formas de estratificación étnica social regional y está influido por las aspiraciones urbanas de los comuneros y sus expectativas por articularse cada vez más al turismo como un actividad económica remunerada, en particular al turismo vivencial, que supone hospedar a turistas en sus hogares. Por ello, las formas de construcción o modificación de sus casas se realizan siguiendo modelos urbanos para mejorar o en función de que sean atractivas y aptas para los turistas. De este modo, el estatus social dentro de Chahuaytire se ancla en las diferencias entre las casas, los materiales, la ubicación, acabados y diseños de las mismas. Estas diferencias están en diálogo con narrativas de modernidad estableciendo contraste temporales y valorativos entre lo que es proyectado al pasado y lo que es considerado contemporáneo y reciente. Esta investigación es una etnografía de las formas en que un contexto turístico se articula y engrana con las dinámicas cotidianas y de expectativas de futuro de una comunidad rural cusqueña.Tesi

On the Synergy between Elemental Carbon and Inorganic Ions in the Determination of the Electrical Conductance Properties of Deposited Aerosols: Implications for Energy Applications

The role of the elemental carbon (EC), in synergy with hygroscopic ionic species, was investigated to study the formation of electrical bridging phenomena once the aerosol deliquescence is achieved. Ambient aerosol samples were collected on hydrophobic surfaces in urban and rural sites in Northern Italy; their conductance was measured in an Aerosol Exposure Chamber (AEC) while varying the relative humidity. An electric signal was detected on 64% of the collected samples with conductance values (11.20 ± 7.43 μS) above the failure threshold (1 μS) of printed circuit boards. The ionic content was higher for non-electrically conductive samples (43.7 ± 5.6%) than for electrically conductive ones (37.1 ± 5.6%). Conversely, EC was two times higher for electrically conductive samples (26.4 ± 4.1 μg cm−2; 8.4 ± 1.7%) than for non-electrical ones (12.0 ± 4.1 μg cm−2; 5.2 ± 1.9%) suggesting that the synergy between the ionic and carbonaceous fractions is necessary to promote a bridging phenomenon. Synthetic aerosols (EC only, saline only, mixed saline and EC) were generated in laboratory and their conductance was measured in the AEC to verify the ambient results. Only in case of a contemporary presence of both EC and ionic components the bridging phenomenon occurred in keeping with the theoretical deliquescence values of each salt (R2 = 0.996)

Chemically and size-resolved particulate matter dry deposition on stone and surrogate surfaces inside and outside the low emission zone of Milan:application of a newly developed “Deposition Box”

The collection of atmospheric particles on not-filtering substrates via dry deposition, and the subsequent study of the particle-induced material decay, is trivial due to the high number of variables simultaneously acting on the investigated surface. This work reports seasonally resolved data of chemical composition and size distribution of particulate matter deposed on stone and surrogate surfaces obtained using a new method, especially developed at this purpose. A “Deposition Box” was designed allowing the particulate matter dry deposition to occur selectively removing, at the same time, variables that can mask the effect of airborne particles on material decay. A pitched roof avoided rainfall and wind variability; a standardised gentle air exchange rate ensured a continuous “sampling” of ambient air leaving unchanged the sampled particle size distribution and, at the same time, leaving quite calm condition inside the box, allowing the deposition to occur. Thus, the “Deposition Box” represents an affordable tool that can be used complementary to traditional exposure systems. With this system, several exposure campaigns, involving investigated stone materials (ISMs) (Carrara Marble, Botticino limestone, Noto calcarenite and Granite) and surrogate (Quartz, PTFE, and Aluminium) substrates, have been performed in two different sites placed in Milan (Italy) inside and outside the low emission zone. Deposition rates (30–90 μg cm−2 month−1) showed significant differences between sites and seasons, becoming less evident considering long-period exposures due to a positive feedback on the deposition induced by the deposited particles. Similarly, different stone substrates influenced the deposition rates too. The collected deposits have been observed with optical and scanning electron microscopes and analysed by ion chromatography. Ion deposition rates were similar in the two sites during winter, whereas it was greater outside the low emission zone during summer and considering the long-period exposure. The dimensional distribution of the collected deposits showed a significant presence of fine particles in agreement with deposition rate of the ionic fraction. The obtained results allowed to point out the role of the fine particles fraction and the importance of making seasonal studies

Aerosol Corrosion Prevention and Energy-Saving Strategies in the Design of Green Data Centers

The energy demands of data centers (DCs) worldwide are rapidly increasing, as are their environmental and economic costs. This paper presents a study conducted at Sannazzaro de’ Burgondi (Po Valley), Italy, specifically aimed at optimizing the operating conditions of a DC designed for the Italian Oil and Gas Company (Eni) (5200 m² of Information Technology installed, 30 MW) and based on a direct free cooling (DFC) system. The aim of the study was to save the largest possible quantity of energy, while at the same time preventing aerosol corrosion. The aerosol properties (number size distribution, chemical composition, deliquescence relative humidity (DRH), acidity) and meteorological parameters were monitored and utilized to determine the potential levels of aerosol entering the DC (equivalent ISO class), together with its DRH. These data enabled us both to select the DC’s filtering system (MERV13 filters) and to optimize the cooling cycle through calculation of the most reliable humidity cycle (60% of maximum allowed RH) applicable to the DFC. A potential energy saving of 81%, compared to a traditional air conditioning cooling system, was estimated: in one year, for 1 kW of installed information technology, the estimated energy saving is 7.4 MWh, resulting in 2.7 fewer tons of CO₂ being emitted, and a financial saving of € 1100