Visualizzare un territorio: il webgis visualversilia.com

Il presente contributo illustra la metodologia messa in atto durante la realizzazione del progetto di ricerca VisualVersilia, condotto dal centro e-GEA, per la creazione di una guida multimediale su WebGis (visualversilia.com), in grado di mappare, studiare, leggere e conoscere il territorio, ricostruirne la storia e le trasformazioni, restituire la complessità e la ricchezza del patrimonio culturale attraverso la documentazione scritta e archeologica, la cartografia storica e contemporanea, le fotografie d’archivio e moderne, le immagini satellitari, i progetti urbanistici, le pitture e i disegni di artisti che hanno ritratto il paesaggio versiliese. La metodologia di ricerca adottata e l’impiego delle nuove tecnologie hanno dunque consentito di creare una guida in grado di fornire un modo nuovo di visualizzare, raccontare, valorizzare il territorio della Versilia, di condurre l’utente alla scoperta di un territorio e delle sue realtà culturali attraverso il tempo e lo spazio; lo strumento del WebGis consente di localizzare, rappresentare e gestire i dati relativi agli elementi storico-culturali del territorio, attraverso una mappa interattiva che presenta una serie di livelli informativi divisi per temi ed epoche. Nello specifico il livello “Il paesaggio com’era”, a sua volta articolato in sottolivelli e caratterizzato da ricostruzioni della geografia e delle infrastrutture della Versilia in età preromana, romana, medievale, moderna e contemporanea, permette di muoversi in uno spazio/mappa, di immergersi in realtà temporali diverse e di contestualizzare i siti culturale presenti sul territorio nello spazio geografico relativo all’epoca alla quale appartengono

Image-based virtual tours and 3D modeling of past and current ages for the enhancement of archaeological parks: The VisualVersilia 3D project

The research project VisualVersilia 3D aims at offering a new way to promote the territory and its heritage by matching the traditional reading of the document and the potential use of modern communication technologies for the cultural tourism. Recently, the research on the use of new technologies applied to cultural heritage have turned their attention mainly to technologies to reconstruct and narrate the complexity of the territory and its heritage, including 3D scanning, 3D printing and augmented reality. Some museums and archaeological sites already exploit the potential of digital tools to preserve and spread their heritage but interactive services involving tourists in an immersive and more modern experience are still rare. The innovation of the project consists in the development of a methodology for documenting current and past historical ages and integrating their 3D visualizations with rendering capable of returning an immersive virtual reality for a successful enhancement of the heritage. The project implements the methodology in the archaeological complex of Massaciuccoli, one of the best preserved roman site of the Versilia Area (Tuscany, Italy). The activities of the project briefly consist in developing: 1. the virtual tour of the site in its current configuration on the basis of spherical images then enhanced by texts, graphics and audio guides in order to enable both an immersive and remote tourist experience; 2. 3D reconstruction of the evidences and buildings in their current condition for documentation and conservation purposes on the basis of a complete metric survey carried out through laser scanning; 3. 3D virtual reconstructions through the main historical periods on the basis of historical investigation and the analysis of data acquired

WebGIS, 3D modeling and virtual tours to map, record and visualize the cultural, archaeological and landscape heritage: the VisualVersilia project, 3D surveying

This article describes the methodologies and technologies developed during the realization of the WebGIS (Geographic Information System) visualversilia.com, namely a multimedia guide able to map, survey, visualize the rich cultural, archaeological and landscape heritage of Versilia (northwestern Tuscany). It enables users to delve into different temporal settings and to contextualize the local cultural sites within the geographic space of their specific historical periods. The immersive experience is also achieved thanks to the realization of virtual tours and navigable 3D models of archaeological complexes concerning the past and current appearance. This WebGIS is a digital platform, soon available online, for viewing and managing data relative to the cultural sites of Versilia, through their localization on an interactive map with several thematic layers, divided into chronological sub-layers. The aim of the research project is to provide useful information for knowledge, protection and enhancement of the cultural heritage of the area

Topografia urbana a Pistoia: la basilica episcopale paleocristiana

I quesiti che hanno guidato la ricerca alla base di questo libro riguardano il periodo e il luogo in cui fu edificata la prima basilica episcopale paleocristiana di Pistoia. Tali quesiti, fino ad ora irrisolti, vengono qui affrontati attraverso l'analisi e la comparazione delle fonti archeologiche, storiche e documentarie. Sono stati analizzati in particolare i risultati degli scavi avvenuti nel corso degli anni soprattutto in piazza del Duomo, allargando il campo d'indagine al contesto topografico in cui dovrebbe essere sorta la basilica episcopale paleocristiana. Grazie a queste ricerche si sono così potute formulare una serie di ipotesi ricostruttive circa la forma urbis di Pistoia dall'età tardoantica a quella altomedievale. Questo lavoro vuole anche rappresentare un contributo per una più completa e precisa ricostruzione della prima cristianizzazione della Toscana e dell'Italia centro-settentrionale

Critical issues and key points from the survey to the creation of the historical building information model: The case of Santo Stefano Basilica

The new era of designing in architecture and civil engineering applications lies in the Building Information Modeling (BIM) approach, based on a 3D geometric model including a 3D database. This is easier for new constructions whereas, when dealing with existing buildings, the creation of the BIM is based on the accurate knowledge of the as-built construction. Such a condition is allowed by a 3D survey, often carried out with laser scanning technology or modern photogrammetry, which are able to guarantee an adequate points cloud in terms of resolution and completeness by balancing both time consuming and costs with respect to the request of final accuracy. The BIM approach for existing buildings and even more for historical buildings is not yet a well known and deeply discussed process. There are still several choices to be addressed in the process from the survey to the model and critical issues to be discussed in the modeling step, particularly when dealing with unconventional elements such as deformed geometries or historical elements. The paper describes a comprehensive workflow that goes through the survey and the modeling, allowing to focus on critical issues and key points to obtain a reliable BIM of an existing monument. The case study employed to illustrate the workflow is the Basilica of St. Stefano in Bologna (Italy), a large monumental complex with great religious, historical and architectural assets

At the core of cyberaggression: A group-based explanation

In this study, prototypicality of the aggressor was tested as a group-level factor predicting social media users' active participation in cyberaggression. Participants were exposed to a fictitious conversation, in which either a prototypical versus non-prototypical user posted an aggressive comment as a reply to a provocative comment. In line with self-categorization theory, we hypothesized that bystander participants would post an aggressive comment and rate the aggression as acceptable to a greater extent in the prototypical than in the non-prototypical condition. Furthermore, we predicted that perceived normativity of aggression would mediate the effect of prototypicality. Results supported these predictions and showed that prototypical members affect the extent to which collective aggressive behaviors in online interactions are approved and enacted. These findings highlight the importance of group-level factors in the study of cyberaggression and provide important information for understanding the psychological underpinnings of collective forms of online aggression

Unexpected presence of Fagus orientalis complex in Italy as inferred from 45,000-year-old DNA pollen samples from Venice lagoon

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Phylogeographic analyses on the Western Euroasiatic <it>Fagus </it>taxa (<it>F. orientalis</it>, <it>F. sylvatica</it>, <it>F. taurica </it>and <it>F. moesiaca</it>) is available, however, the subdivision of <it>Fagus </it>spp. is unresolved and there is no consensus on the phylogeny and on the identification (both with morphological than molecular markers) of <it>Fagus </it>Eurasiatic taxa.</p> <p>For the first time molecular analyses of ancient pollen, dated at least 45,000 years ago, were used in combination with the phylogeny analysis on current species, to identify the <it>Fagus </it>spp. present during the Last Interglacial period in Italy.</p> <p>In this work we aim at testing if the <it>trn</it>L-<it>trn</it>F chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) region, that has been previously proved efficient in discriminating different <it>Quercus </it>taxa, can be employed in distinguishing the <it>Fagus </it>species and in identifying the ancient pollen.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>86 populations from 4 Western Euroasistic taxa were sampled, and sequenced for the <it>trn</it>L-<it>trn</it>F region to verify the efficiency of this cpDNA region in identifying the <it>Fagus </it>spp.. Furthermore, <it>Fagus crenata </it>(2 populations), <it>Fagus grandifolia </it>(2 populations), <it>Fagus japonica</it>, <it>Fagus hayatae</it>, <it>Quercus </it>species and <it>Castanea </it>species were analysed to better resolve the phylogenetic inference.</p> <p>Our results show that this cpDNA region harbour some informative sites that allow to infer relationships among the species within the Fagaceae family. In particular, few specific and fixed mutations were able to discriminate and identify all the different <it>Fagus </it>species.</p> <p>Considering a short fragment of 176 base pairs within the <it>trn</it>L intron, 2 transversions were found able in distinguishing the <it>F. orientalis </it>complex taxa (<it>F. orientalis</it>, <it>F. taurica </it>and <it>F. moesiaca</it>) from the remaining <it>Fagus </it>spp. (<it>F. sylvatica</it>, <it>F. japonica</it>, <it>F. hayataea</it>, <it>F. crenata </it>and <it>F. grandifolia</it>). This permits to analyse this fragment also in ancient samples, where DNA is usually highly degraded.</p> <p>The sequences data indicate that the DNA recovered from ancient pollen belongs to the <it>F. orientalis </it>complex since it displays the informative sites characteristic of this complex.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The ancient DNA sequences demonstrate for the first time that, in contrast to current knowledge based on palynological and macrofossil data, the <it>F. orientalis </it>complex was already present during the Tyrrhenian period in what is now the Venice lagoon (Italy).</p> <p>This is a new and important insight considering that nowadays West Europe is not the natural area of <it>Fagus orientalis </it>complex, and up to now nobody has hypothesized the presence during the Last Interglacial period of <it>F. orientalis </it>complex in Italy.</p

Tecnologie 3D e loro integrazione per la conoscenza e la rappresentazione dei beni culturali: il BIM di Santo Stefano a Bologna.

L’attività di ricerca affronta il tema della documentazione, della rappresentazione e della conoscenza approfondita dello stato di fatto di complessi storici monumentali finalizzata alla loro tutela e conservazione. Il caso in esame è la Basilica di Santo Stefano a Bologna (BO), insieme di strutture modificatisi nel tempo e integratesi l’una con l’altra fino a creare l’attuale bellezza e allo stesso tempo l’attuale complessità strutturale. La necessità di conoscere in modo accurato e completo la geometria dello stato di fatto con tutte le variazioni architettonico/strutturali subite nel tempo è cruciale per coloro che sono deputati alla tutela e conservazione del bene con il fine di monitorare l’evoluzione del monumento, progettare interventi di consolidamento e restauro nonché programmare e gestire correttamente la manutenzione. L’approccio ritenuto più efficace per tutti questi scopi è la creazione di un modello geometrico BIM, Building Information Model, del bene storico (H-BIM) in cui confluiscono le informazioni di natura geometrica e morfologica ottenute dai rilievi mentre i dati di natura qualitativa sono stati inseriti in un database online su piattaforma web interpellabile. L’aspetto unico e innovativo ricade principalmente nella metodologia che vede l’integrazione di molteplici tecnologie applicata alla straordinaria estensione e frammentarietà dell’intero complesso monumentale. Le attività, svolte nel 2012, hanno visto l’utilizzo di moderne tecniche di rilievo (laser scanning, livellazione di precisione, rilievo topografico e fotogrammetria da drone) e rappresentazione (modellazione BIM e restituzione grafica) nonché la creazione del primo esempio in Italia di H-BIM caratterizzato anche da tutte le anomalie geometriche tipiche di un edificio storico

Functional analysis finds differences on the muscle transcriptome of pigs fed an n-3 PUFA-enriched diet with or without antioxidant supplementations

Supplementing pig diets with n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) may produce meat products with an increased n-3 fatty acid content, and the combined antioxidants addition could prevent lipid oxidation in the feed. However, to date, the effects of these bioactive compounds at the molecular level in porcine skeletal muscle are mostly unknown. This study aimed to analyse changes in the Longissimus thoracis transcriptome of 35 pigs fed three diets supplemented with: linseed (L); linseed, vitamin E and Selenium (LES) or linseed and plant-derived polyphenols (LPE). Pigs were reared from 80.8 \ub1 5.6 kg to 151.8 \ub1 9.9 kg. After slaughter, RNA-Seq was performed and 1182 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were submitted to functional analysis. The L vs LES comparison did not show differences, while L vs LPE showed 1102 DEGs and LES vs LPE 80 DEGs. LPE compared to the other groups showed the highest number of up-regulated genes involved in preserving muscle metabolism and structure. Results enlighten that the combined supplementation of bioactive lipids (n-3 PUFA from linseed) with plant extracts as a source of polyphenols increases, compared to the only addition of linseed, the expression of genes involved in mRNA metabolic processes and transcriptional regulation, glucose uptake and, finally, in supporting muscle development and physiology. These results improve the knowledge of the biological effect of bioactive compounds in Longissimus thoracis muscle, and sustain the growing interest over their use in pig production

Nano-topography:Quicksand for cell cycle progression?

The 3-D spatial and mechanical features of nano-topography can create alternative environments, which influence cellular response. In this paper, murine fibroblast cells were grown on surfaces characterized by protruding nanotubes. Cells cultured on such nano-structured surface exhibit stronger cellular adhesion compared to control groups, but despite the fact that stronger adhesion is generally believed to promote cell cycle progression, the time cells spend in G1 phase is doubled. This apparent contradiction is solved by confocal microscopy analysis, which shows that the nano-topography inhibits actin stress fiber formation. In turn, this impairs RhoA activation, which is required to suppress the inhibition of cell cycle progression imposed by p21/p27. This finding suggests that the generation of stress fibers, required to impose the homeostatic intracellular tension, rather than cell adhesion/spreading is the limiting factor for cell cycle progression. Indeed, nano-topography could represent a unique tool to inhibit proliferation in adherent well-spread cells