Il paesaggio come strumento : il caso delle energie rinnovabili

L’articolo propone una rilettura dell’attuale transizione energetica come affermazione dei nuovi “paesaggi delle energie rinnovabili”. Le trasformazioni vengono osservate sul piano materiale quanto su quello immateriale, e sono occasione per riflettere sul concetto e sui possibili usi del paesaggio non tanto come oggetto di tutela, ma come strumento di indagine e di progetto

Aspects de la recherche paysagère en Italie

L’article propose une brève incursion dans la recherche paysagère actuelle en Italie. À partir d’une présentation du contexte historique, institutionnel et académique dans lequel celle-ci se construit, des points de repère sont proposés aux lecteurs sur les protagonistes, les approches et les thèmes de la recherche. Une réflexion finale est dédiée au concept même de « recherche paysagère ».This article proposes a brief incursion in the Italian contemporary landscape research. After a presentation of the historical, academic and institutional context, some points of reference for a first general orientation among its top protagonists, its various disciplinary approaches and its different themes are given to the reader. In conclusions some considerations on the very concept of research on landscape

À la redécouverte d’un paysage hydroélectrique stratifié, entre montagne et plaine

Le développement de l’énergie hydroélectrique tout au long du xxe siècle a souvent transformé les vallées alpines en territoires spécialisés dans la production et le transport de l’énergie. Ces « paysages électriques » se sont quelquefois superposés à d’autres, correspondant à des systèmes différents d’exploitation des ressources – en les remplaçant ou les faisant disparaître. En se spécialisant dans la production énergétique, ces territoires peuvent se trouver fragilisés. C’est le cas du Val Lapisina, transformé au xxe siècle en un véritable paysage-corridor infrastructurel et concerné aujourd’hui par un déclin socio-économique significatif. L’article propose une lecture de la stratification de son paysage hydroélectrique et des paysages associés, une meilleure compréhension de ce processus pouvant aider à imaginer un futur différent, où la patrimonialisation et la mise en tourisme des infrastructures hydroélectriques pourraient devenir l’un des aspects d’un nouveau projet de territoire.The development of hydro-electric energy during the whole of the 20th century often transformed alpine valleys into areas specialised in the generation and distribution of energy. These “electric landscapes” were sometimes layered upon landscapes resulting from other systems for exploiting resources. In other instances they replaced these systems or even caused their disappearance. By specialising in the generation of energy some of these territories became vulnerable. This was the case of the Val Lapisina. Literally transformed in the 20th century into an infrastructural corridor-landscape it is now experiencing significant social and economic decline. The article proposes an interpretation of the strata of the area’s hydro-electric landscape and of the outlying landscapes. The aim is to provide a better understanding of these landscapes and to make it possible to project a different future in which their assimilation as a heritage and the development of tourism around the hydro-electric infrastructures can provide new development opportunities

What is the future for agroforestry in Italy?

The successful promotion of agroforestry in Italy depends on both a recognition of tradition and the opportunities for innovation. In Italy, agroforestry has traditionally been a key component of landscape management. Complex systems, based on the integration among crops–livestock–fruit/forest trees, provided a wide variety of products (e.g. food, feed, fibers, fuelwood and timber) and other ecosystem services (e.g. soil erosion control and biodiversity preservation). Silvopastoral systems have been used for centuries and are still managed in marginal areas. The integration of fruits trees (in primis olive trees) with crops and grazing was widely practiced and is still profitable. Coltura promiscua was historically developed integrating fruit and forest trees and particularly multifunctional trees (e.g. Juglans regia L. and Prunus avium L.) to support vines and intercrops. Building on recent research, projects have also focused on innovation in agroforestry. The adoption of shade tolerant forage species and crops has been studied in silvopastoral and olive systems. Silvopastoral systems can significantly offset the greenhouse gas emissions produced by livestock and shield grazing animals from “heat waves”. Integration of fast growing timber trees (like Populus) in arable systems can help reverse the decline in plantation forestry in Italy. Finally, the constraints imposed by the EU agricultural policy, especially the prevalent provisions for monocrops severely limiting the introduction of innovative agroforestry approaches, are discussed. New political measures and certification actions are strongly required

Past, Present and Future of Hay-making Structures in Europe

Hay-making structures are part of the agricultural landscape of meadows and pastures. Hay meadows are still used and found all over Europe, but their distribution patterns as well as their characteristics and regional features depend on geographical area, climate, culture, and intensity of agriculture. Intensively used hay meadows are the most dominant, using heavy machinery to store hay mostly as rounded or square bales. Traditional hay-making structures represent structures or constructions, used to quickly dry freshly cut fodder and to protect it from humidity. The 'ancient' forms of traditional hay-making structures are becoming a relic, due to mechanisation and the use of new technologies. Both the need for drying hay and the traditional methods for doing so were similar across Europe. Our study of hay-making structures focuses on their current state, their development and history, current use and cultural values in various European countries. Regarding the construction and use of hay-making structures, we have distinguished three different types, which correlate to natural and regional conditions: (1) temporary hay racks of various shapes; (2) hay barracks, a special type of shelters for storing hay and (3) different types of permanent construction and buildings for drying and storing hay. Hay-making structures have been mostly preserved in connection with traditional agricultural landscapes, and particularly in the more remote regions or where associated with strong cultural identity

25th annual computational neuroscience meeting: CNS-2016

The same neuron may play different functional roles in the neural circuits to which it belongs. For example, neurons in the Tritonia pedal ganglia may participate in variable phases of the swim motor rhythms [1]. While such neuronal functional variability is likely to play a major role the delivery of the functionality of neural systems, it is difficult to study it in most nervous systems. We work on the pyloric rhythm network of the crustacean stomatogastric ganglion (STG) [2]. Typically network models of the STG treat neurons of the same functional type as a single model neuron (e.g. PD neurons), assuming the same conductance parameters for these neurons and implying their synchronous firing [3, 4]. However, simultaneous recording of PD neurons shows differences between the timings of spikes of these neurons. This may indicate functional variability of these neurons. Here we modelled separately the two PD neurons of the STG in a multi-neuron model of the pyloric network. Our neuron models comply with known correlations between conductance parameters of ionic currents. Our results reproduce the experimental finding of increasing spike time distance between spikes originating from the two model PD neurons during their synchronised burst phase. The PD neuron with the larger calcium conductance generates its spikes before the other PD neuron. Larger potassium conductance values in the follower neuron imply longer delays between spikes, see Fig. 17.Neuromodulators change the conductance parameters of neurons and maintain the ratios of these parameters [5]. Our results show that such changes may shift the individual contribution of two PD neurons to the PD-phase of the pyloric rhythm altering their functionality within this rhythm. Our work paves the way towards an accessible experimental and computational framework for the analysis of the mechanisms and impact of functional variability of neurons within the neural circuits to which they belong

Vitalit\ue0 culturale in contesti di declino demografico? Il caso del Comelico

Grazie ad una lettura ravvicinata alla scala di una valle alpina a minoranza linguistica, in questo saggio proponiamo un\u2019esplorazione delle modalit\ue0 con cui la vitalit\ue0 culturale e le trasformazioni demografiche si influenzano reciprocamente. L'indagine rivela che anche contesti in serio declino demografico possono essere caratterizzati da una vitalit\ue0 culturale significativa. Esaminando l\u2019attivit\ue0 delle associazioni culturali alla microscala, dove la lingua ladina occupa un luogo significativo e controverso, emergono i diversi ruoli dei montanari di nascita, dei nuovi abitanti e dei multilocal dwellers nell\u2019animare e rinnovare la vita culturale della valle

GIORGIO OSTI, Storage and scarsity. new practices for food, energy and water. Londra New-York Routledge, 2016, XVI + 202 pp.

Recensione alla monografia di G. Ost