Mappe del passato per il governo del presente. La cartografia storica su CA.STO.RE-Regione Toscana

Il progetto che si presenta, già concluso, è stato realizzato in collaborazione tra la Regione Toscana (Servizio Informativo Territoriale ed Ambientale) e il Centro Interuniversitario di Scienze del Territorio che riunisce gli atenei toscani, con il coordinamento scientifico di Anna Guarducci, docente dell’Università di Siena. Oggetto del lavoro è stato selezionare, riprodurre e studiare circa 10.000 mappe storiche relative al territorio della Toscana (secoli XV-XIX) conservate negli archivi di stato e in alcune biblioteche della regione, per implementare sia un precedente progetto denominato Imago Tusciae (www.imagotusciae.it) relativo alle mappe degli archivi di stato di Siena e di Grosseto, sia il progetto regionale CA.STO.RE relativo alle mappe dei catasti toscani preunitari. Il fine è quello di mettere a disposizione di una vasta utenza, specialmente amministratori, tecnici, scuole e studiosi del territorio, tali mappe storiche attraverso strumenti di diffusione in rete, ad arricchimento del patrimonio cartografico regionale funzionale alla conoscenza, alla fruizione e alla gestione del territorio e del paesaggio toscano. E’ evidente, in questo senso, il ruolo fondamentale di supporto alla pianificazione di una fonte primaria quale la cartografia del passato, che può essere agevolmente confrontata con quella del presente per mettere a fuoco le permanenze storiche e le trasformazioni intervenute nel tempo nei quadri ambientali e paesistici attuali. Ogni mappa è stata riprodotta digitalmente ad alta risoluzione e valorizzata in modo adeguato: la fruizione del dato cartografico è contestuale ad ampie schede descrittive sui medesimi documenti, sulle pratiche amministrative e sui contesti storici e spaziali di riferimento, in modo da evidenziare le caratteristiche formali e il contenuto territoriale delle figure e le altre informazioni che ogni mappa può offrire (caratteristiche del disegno, toponomastica, quadro storico-topografico, ecc.). Riproduzioni digitali e schede sono inserite in un DB elettronico, insieme a elenchi di cartografi e relative biografie, riferimenti bibliografici, inventari di fondi archivistici, di atlanti o raccolte di mappe con loro descrizione. Trattandosi quasi esclusivamente di rappresentazioni non geometriche né geodetiche, ogni mappa è stata geolocalizzata attraverso il riconoscimento di toponimi principali e secondari, con le coordinate geografiche di riferimento, per stabilire un dialogo tra il territorio del passato e quello del presente. La ricerca nel DB può svolgersi in base ad un criterio geografico-topografico, al fine di ottenere risultati ordinati topograficamente sfruttando i toponimi delle singole carte per visualizzare le “zone di interesse” sulla cartografia attuale. Il DB è predisposto in maniera tale da poter essere implementato e utilizzato nelle infrastrutture web di pubblicazione e diffusione di Università e Regione Toscana

Paesaggio e territorio, il possibile contributo della geografia. Concetti e metodi

La geografia contribuisce alla conoscenza dell'intreccio territorio-paesaggio – vero “archivio complesso” (Lucio Gambi), “documento storico” composto da “tante storie contemporaneamente” (Paola Sereno), “una sorta di memoria in cui si registra e si sintetizza la storia dei disegni territoriali degli uomini” (Massimo Quaini) – con la linea di ricerca strutturalista/oggettuale. Questa è orientata sulla costruzione di rappresentazioni/interpretazioni, per quanto possibile generali, di forme e contenuti territoriali, con appoggio dell’analisi su base regionale. L'orientamento è confacente alle normative e pianificazioni istituzionali sul territorio-paesaggio, che riattualizzano la valenza descrittiva-interpretativa della geografia, con la tradizione rinnovata – per concetti e metodi – da Gambi, Quaini e Sereno, con riaggregazione della geografia paesistica a quella regionale alle scale sub-regionali e locali. Per la conoscenza strutturale di territorio-paesaggio, il ruolo della geografia diventa fondamentale, purché l’analisi metta a fuoco gli specifici processi storici che lo hanno generato, abbinando lo studio dei luoghi e del patrimonio (intere categorie e singoli beni culturali), con la geografia regionale. Tale analisi deve avere uno svolgimento di tipo temporale e deve utilizzare metodologie, tecniche, strumenti e fonti – sul terreno, in biblioteca, in archivio e in laboratorio – adatte di volta in volta alla trattazione dell’argomento.Geography can help knowing the territory-landscape nexus – a true “complex archive”(Lucio Gambi), a “historic document” made of “many stories at the same time” (Paola Sereno), “a sort of memoir recording and summarising the history of the territorial designs of humans” (Massimo Quaini) – thanks to a structuralist-objectivist line of research. This is focused on the construction of representations/interpretations, as general as possible, of territorial forms and contents, supported by a regional scale analysis. Such orientation is appropriate to the new Italian regulatory and planning framework for territory and landscape, reviving the traditional descriptive and interpretive value of geography renewed – in concepts and methods – by Gambi, Quaini and Sereno, and re-aggregating landscape and regional geography, at the sub-regional and local scale. For a structural knowledge of territory-landscape, in fact, Geography becomes crucial, provided that its analysis outlines the specific historical processes that generated it, coupling the study of places and heritage (whole categories and single cultural assets) to regional geography. This requires a diachronic approach and methods, techniques, tools and sources – on field as well as in libraries, archives and laboratories – strictly adequate to the topic each time addressed

Development of materials with increasing structural complexity: from chiral stationary phases to covalent organic polymers and metal-organic frameworks

The engineering of artificial functional materials is one of the most dynamic scientific fields of the contemporary era. It is considered a multidisciplinary area that combines chemistry, physics, materials and computational science to design and synthesize new materials with properties optimized for specific assets and function. One of the first materials to be discovered was zeolites in the mid-1700s. Zeolites are microporous, generally crystalline minerals composed mainly of aluminosilicates of alkali or alkaline earth metals, such as sodium, potassium or calcium. They are characterized by a regular three-dimensional composed of silica (SiO4) and alumina (AlO4), which form cavities and channels at the molecular level. This class of microporous silicates is mainly used in catalysis, adsorption-separation, and ion exchange. The final structure of zeolites is highly unpredictable since it depends on several variables, such as the synthesis solvents, the direction agents in the structure, and the mineralizers. The true revolution in materials occurred in the 20th century with the advent of polymers, including groundbreaking like plastics and nylon. The 21st century has seen growing attention to nanometric-sized materials, such as carbon nanotubes, graphene and nanoparticles. These materials have unique physical and chemical properties, such as greater mechanical resistance and superior electrical conductivity. Graphene is a two-dimensional material composed of a single layer of carbon atoms arranged in a honeycomb (hexagonal) structure. Among its various properties, high electrical and thermal conductivity, mechanical resistance and flexibility stand out. It is a material used mainly in electrochemistry, for example, for the construction of supercapacitors and batteries. Another category of nanomaterials includes by carbon nanotubes (CNTs), which are cylindrical structures composed of one or more layers of graphene rolled into a tubular shape. They can be classified into single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs), depending on the number of graphene layers present. These exhibit properties and applications like graphene. Nanomaterials are also crucial for applications as separation phases, where their porosity plays a key role in enhancing performance and efficiency. Starting from separation techniques, the most widespread one is liquid chromatography, which involves the use of a solid stationary phase. The principal material used as the solid support for synthesizing stationary phases is silica, which consists of particles exhibiting permanent mesoporosity. The silica surface is covered with silanol groups (Si–OH) which are responsible for polar interactions and can act as acidic active sites. The silica surface can be chemically modified through derivatization processes to introduce various functionalities, thus broadening its applications. A classic example is silica modified with alkyl chains, such as C18 silica (octadecylsilane), widely used in reversed-phase chromatography (RP-HPLC). Moreover, silica can be efficiently derivatized with a wide array of specifically designed chiral molecules for separating enantiomers. Based on these modifications, the characteristics of chiral stationary phases are determined by the presence of chiral selectors and can be predicted with reasonable accuracy. Many stationary phases are currently available commercially, with one of the most notable being Pirkle's Whelk-O1, composed of silica derivatized with (1-(3,5-dinitrobenzamide)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydrophenanthrene). This stationary phase has proven to be one of the most commercially promising, as it can resolve various enantiomers under different experimental conditions. In recent years, research has focused on the study of covalent organic materials, which represent a very broad class that includes Covalent Organic Polymers (or COP), materials whose complexity varies depending on the precursors and can also present porous or non-porous structures. Their complexity relies on various factors, one above all the synthetic approach. The kinetic aspect of bond formation plays a crucial role in determining the material's structural organization. A higher rate of bond formation tends to increase the likelihood of irregularities or defects in the atomic arrangement, thereby promoting the formation of an amorphous structure. This is because rapid kinetics limit the time available for atoms to arrange into an ordered, crystalline structure, resulting in a disordered or amorphous state. For this reason, compounds that act as reaction modulators are frequently and voluntarily used in their synthesis. These materials are used primarily in the field of metal-heterogeneous organic catalysis; this is due to their insoluble nature in common organic solvents, their strong affinity for metals that allows them to be used as reaction catalysts, but above all, to be quickly recovered from the reaction environment and reused, thus advancing the entire process towards a more sustainable chemistry. The frameworks materials can be classified in Covalent Organic Frameworks (COFs) and Metal Organic Frameworks (MOFs). MOFs and COFs are crystalline porous materials, and they can be readily self-assembled from different molecular building pieces that interact with one another through covalent bonds or coordinated interactions. They have high porosity and large surface area that led to a wide range of applications. The main difference between MOFs and COFs lies in the constituents: in the first case there is an organic molecule that acts as a linker and a metal ion that act as nodes. These elements establish coordination interactions between them; in the second case, at least two organic molecules are present in the structure that establish covalent bonds, giving greater stability to the entire system compared to MOFs. Both materials can serve as carriers, due to their porosity, making them for electrochemical applications, purification, chromatographic separation, as well as catalysis, storage and gas adsorption. Although there are numerous synthetic methods to obtain these materials, current research focuses on developing approaches to reduce the environmental impact of often harmful organic solvents. However, the use of aqueous solvents as an alternative is often limited due to the poor insolubility of the organic precursors in water. This thesis presents the development of various materials described in three parts, each reflecting progressive increase in structural complexity. In the first part, the synthesis of two chiral selectors is described, their structure was designed starting from the commercially available Whelk-O1 selector. A preliminary study on their chiral discrimination capabilities was conducted by NMR, using one of selector as chiral solvating agent (CSA) towards ibuprofen. Once synthesized and characterized, the chiral selectors were anchored on silica. The CSPs obtained were packed in chromatographic columns tested on different racemic mixtures in specific experimental conditions. Finally, based on the obtained chromatographic data, molecular docking studies were conducted in presence of the best resolved racemate to analyse the significant interactions between the selectors and the selectands. Therefore, in this first part of the thesis we focused on preparation of a material that does not present a high intrinsic structural complexity, but this is only due to the structure of the anchored selector, which determines its properties. In the second part of the thesis a Covalent Organic Polymer (COP) based on amide bonds is presented. This is a material that is structurally more complex than the case of the CSP presented in the first part. This has been characterized from a chemical-morphological point of view and its amorphous and non-porous structure has been revealed. As mentioned above, a fundamental aspect to consider in the synthesis of covalent organic materials is the kinetics of bond formation; in this case, the amide bond formation occurs so quickly that it does not allow an ordered and crystalline structure. Due to the potential good coordination capacity, the prepared COPs were modified with different metals including copper and the resulting doped COPs have been tested. Initially, Cu2+@COP was obtained, which was reduced in the presence of ascorbic acid, obtaining Cu+@COP. In both cases, a chemical-morphological characterization was carried out, in addition to a careful analysis of the oxidation state of copper to confirm the reduction of the metal. The metal-organic supports obtained were used as potential catalysts in the CuAAC “click” reaction. After optimization of reaction conditions, product yields of Cu+@COP were compared with those obtained in homogeneous phase conditions, by using copper sulphate, and in addition, with those in heterogeneous phase but in presence of Cu2+@COP and ascorbic acid, as a reducing agent. As for all heterogeneous solid catalysts, Cu+@COP is removed by simple filtration, while the final product is purified through a crystallization process. Although it has not reached the optimal characteristics of crystallinity, surface area and porosity, this material has shown promising results as heterogeneous catalyst working in water media. In the third part of this thesis, a micellar approach has been employed to synthesize nanoscale porous crystalline materials, as previously documented in literature, resulting in MOFs with potential applications in supercapacitors and drug delivery. In short, the micellar approach employs two surfactants, SDS and CTAB, that form a micellar medium within which the MOFs grow. In particular, copper and manganese-based MOF nanoparticles (Cu-CAT-1 and Mn-BTC respectively) were synthesized and were chemically and morphologically characterized. Data obtained were compared with those reported in the literature using conventional synthetic methods. Morphological analysis demonstrates that nanoparticles were produced through the micellar approach, whereas conventional methods yielded fibrous structures serval micrometres in length. Given the well-established conductivity properties of Cu-CAT-1, these materials are currently being investigated for supercapacitor applications due to their favourable electrochemical characteristics and their enhanced processability due to their nanoscale dimension. If results will be promising, they will be used for the construction of asymmetric supercapacitors. The same approach has been used and optimized for synthesising iron-based MOFs (MIL-53 (Fe) and MIL-100 (Fe) respectively) at the nanometric scale. Also in this case, materials were fully characterized and results compared with those reported in the literature. Furthermore, a synthetic protocol has been developed and optimized to dope these systems with a biocompatible metal ion, magnesium. We have generated two MOF systems, i.e. magnesium-doped MIL-100 (Fe) and magnesium-doped MIL-53 (Fe)). Looking to the applicability, MIL-100 (Fe) and MIL-53 (Fe) are already known in the literature to have good properties as drug-carriers due to their excellent structural properties and low toxicity. This project aims to evaluate the potential toxicity and biocompatibility of these materials when shaped into nanoparticles at the nanoscale. Special attention will be given to magnesium doped systems, focusing on how the presence of magnesium influences these properties. In this case, synthesizing MOFs in nanoparticles form offers a significant advantage for in vivo applications, as these materials can more easily penetrate cells. On the contrary, conventional approaches, often produce microsized MOF crystals with polyhedral shapes, limiting their in vivo applicability. In this last part, we can highlight how, compared to the previous sections, prepared materials show a greater intrinsic structural complexity together with high crystallinity, porosity and surface area

Torri e fortezze del Mediterraneo nella cartografia nautica della Marina militare francese (seconda metà XVII-metà XVIII secolo)

This work comes from an accurate research in the archives of Paris. It aims to underline the importance of Mediterranean Marine Atlases realized by the “hydrograph engineers” of French Navy since 1679. These atlases (especially handmade) are very different from traditional small scale nautical maps of medieval and modern age. French atlases characterize themself as original and exact surveys, made always from the sea; they were characterized by drawings and maps about specific subjects, like: harbors and coves, fortified cities and single towers (overall, perspective or plan views). Among all, the first “Portolano-Map of Mediterranean Sea” stands out: six handmade atlases drown by the engineers Pierre De Pène and Jacques Pétré in 1679-1685, on clear information from minister Colbert and from the king Louis XIV himself. At the time France was at war against Spain, England and Netherlands and she needed the most exact maps of “Mediterranean theatre”; therefore these atlases are real geo-political and military instruments

Cartografie per il governo del territorio nell'Italia preunitaria. Considerazioni su pratiche, linguaggi e caratteri

RIASSUNTO-Lo scritto attua una riflessione sulla storiografia cartografica e cartografico-storica prodotta in Italia a partire dagli anni Settanta del secolo scorso, facendo in particolar modo perno sulle innovative considerazioni di Lucio Gambi e Massimo Quaini pubblicate negli atti del celebre convegno ligure del 1986. In particolare, si pone l’attenzione sulla cartografia moderna, specialmente quella manoscritta originale a grande e grandissima scala, legata strettamente ai bisogni di fruizione e governo del territorio; i caratteri di fondo di queste mappe (a differenza di tante rappresentazioni prodotte per ragioni culturali ed editoriali) derivano proprio da questa precisa funzione utilitaristica. Entrambi gli studiosi offrono riflessioni fondamentali sulla necessaria contestualizzazione del documento cartografico, sul rifiuto della concezione evoluzionistica della storia della cartografia, sull'importanza dello studio biografico dei cartografi e sull'utilizzazione dei documenti cartografici per lo studio delle dinamiche territoriali. Le loro considerazioni, valide ancora oggi, affrontano temi ancora oggi al centro dell’interesse, come: la figura, la formazione e l'operosità del cartografo (metodi, tecniche di rilevamento, strumenti di misurazione, simbolismo ed estetica del disegno e dell'apparato ornamentale), le caratteristiche contenutistiche (ovvero topografiche) della cartografia, con il relativo valore documentario per i geografi e gli altri studiosi del territorio dei nostri giorni. ABSTRACT-The paper develops an examination of the cartographic and cartographic-historical historiography produced in Italy since the Seventies of the last century, with emphasis on the pioneering considerations of Lucio Gambi and Massimo Quaini published in the proceedings of the famous Ligurian convention of 1986. The focus of their study was on modern cartography, and more specifically original manuscript on large and very large scale, closely linked to the needs of use and government of the territory; the basic characteristics of these maps (unlike many representations produced for cultural and editorial reasons) derive precisely from this specific utilitarian function. Both scholars offer fundamental considerations on the necessary contextualization of the cartographic document, on the rejection of the evolutionary conception of the history of cartography, on the importance of the biographical study of cartographers and on the use of cartographic documents for the study of territorial dynamics. These elements, still valid today, address issues at the center of interest, such as: the figure, the training and the industriousness of the cartographer (methods, detection techniques, measuring instruments, symbolism and aesthetics of design and ornamental apparatus), the content (or topographical) features of the cartography, with the relative documentary value for the geographers and other scholars of the territory of our days

Le fortificazioni della Toscana tirrenica: evoluzione geo-storica e condizioni attuali

[EN] The fortifications system of Tyrrhenian Tuscany – covers a timespan from Medieval Age to 19th century. It is composed by more than 150 structures. This system remained substantially intact until the unification of Italy. From 1863-66 most part of these fortifications was demilitarised and forsaken or were sell to privates. The research evaluates the fortifications geo-historical evolution and also their present conditions, like present property, preservation and scope. The geo-historical analysis showed in this conference focus the attention on three very important periods for training of the fortifications system: Medieval Age until 1500; 16th-17th centuries; 18th-19th centuries. The second part of my study concerns present conditions of the fortifications. In fact, several buildings are unfortunately disappeared or not identifiable, and others are inaccessible because they are located on private ownerships precluded to the public. However, in Tyrrhenian Tuscany there is a remarkable architectural and cultural heritage, that it isn’t always known and appreciated by local administrations, by protection authorities, by citizens and tourists.Guarducci, A. (2015). Le fortificazioni della Toscana tirrenica: evoluzione geo-storica e condizioni attuali. En Defensive architecture of the mediterranean: XV to XVIII centuries. Vol. I. Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València. 97-104. https://doi.org/10.4995/FORTMED2015.2015.1676OCS9710

Overview of case definitions and contact tracing indications in the 2022 monkeypox outbreak

Background: In 2022, a new outbreak of the Mpox virus occurred outside of Africa, its usual endemic area. The virus was detected in European, American, Asian, and Oceanian countries where Mpox is uncommon or had not been reported previously and where the spread was rapid. The study aims to compare the case definition and the indications for contact tracing in case of Mpox infection among the World Health Organization (WHO), the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), and four European Countries. Methods: From August 2022 to November 2022, we conducted research, first on the WHO and ECDC official websites and then on the official websites of the Ministry of Health or National Health Agencies of four European Countries (Italy, France, Spain, and Portu-gal). All reports found were compared to enlighten the differences in the definition of the case and indications for contact tracing. Results: The WHO divides the case definition into four categories: suspected, probable, confirmed, and dis-carded, while the ECDC divides cases into confirmed and probable. The ECDC defines contact as close and others, while the WHO divides it into high, medium, and minimal risk. The four countries analyzed show heterogeneity in both the case definitions and the indications for contact tracing. Conclusions: Our analysis revealed heterogeneity in the case definition between the WHO and ECDC. Different countries followed different indications or have given their indications for both the case definition and contact tracing indications. Harmonization strengthens public health preparedness and response and creates unified communication