THE EUROPEAN PROJECT "VERSUS+ / HERITAGE FOR PEOPLE". OBJECTIVES AND METHODOLOGY

Abstract. The project "VerSus+ / Heritage for PEOPLE", founded by the European Commission as part of the Creative Europe Culture Programme (Ref. 607593-CREA-1-2019-1-ES-CULT-COOP1) during the period 2019–2023, focuses on the transmission of knowledge to all branches of society and the general public. Its aim is to raise awareness on what constitutes the basis for the conservation of the tangible and intangible heritage as well as for a more sustainable contemporary architecture. This in-depth transmission of the lessons from vernacular heritage to future society is to be carried out in specific defined contexts, such as islands and archipelagos (geographically limited territories that are accessible to collaborators and administrative, technical and social agents), where vernacular heritage is under pressure, subjected to the transformations of contemporary life, particularly mass tourism. These pilot experiences should serve as a real testing ground for the implementation of actions for social participation, dissemination, education, communication, and promotion in different contexts and through different media. This project aims to reach out to society in order to showcase the sustainable qualities of the examples identified, through the establishment of an operative approach that can be adjusted to different contexts. The experiences on each island are expected to have repercussions throughout the region and, in turn, throughout the country in question, improving the perspectives and opportunities starting from best practices, and promoting the development of local skills. In addition, promotion and support from partners and associate partners will allow these experiences to be applied in other similar European and international contexts

Inflatable structures and digital fabrication

The construction industry has changed drastically over the past several decades. In today’s age, engineers and architects aim to build bigger and lighter whilst remaining sustainable. Inflatable structures can be utilized to achieve these aims. This study investigates how to digitally manufacture inflatable structures to be more efficient. For this reason, digital manufacturing as well as casting and moulding are studied and compared. Firstly, software modelling was explored to evaluate the behaviour of elastomeric materials. 3D printing in Tango Plus FLX930 and silicone casting was compared. It was found that Tango Plus FLX930 was inadequate due to its low elasticity compared to the considered silicones. Under pneumatic loading, indeed, Tango Plus FLX930 would delaminate. Whereas, with casting and moulding silicone, the prototype could resist the required amount of internal pressures. This shows the feasibility of moulding and casting and the limitation of 3D printing fabrication techniques

Autonomic abnormalities in patients with primary Sjogren’s syndrome – Preliminary results

Primary Sjogren's syndrome (pSS) is an autoimmune disease affecting exocrine glands and extra-glandular organs. There are conflicting reports on the presence of autonomic dysfunction in pSS and no data are available on the functional status of sympathetic outflow to the vessels and baroreceptor [baroreflex sensitivity (BRS)] control mechanisms. We investigated the cardiac (cBRS) and sympathetic (sBRS) baroreceptor modulation in both time and frequency domains and the cardiovascular autonomic profile in pSS patients compared to healthy controls. Autonomic symptoms were quantified by the Composite Autonomic Symptom Scale (COMPASS31) three-item questionnaire. The EULAR Sjogren's syndrome patient reported index (ESSPRI) questionnaire evaluated the magnitude of pSS clinical symptoms, i.e., fatigue, pain, and sicca symptoms. Electrocardiogram, beat-by-beat arterial pressure (AP) and respiratory activity were continuously recorded in 17 pSS patients and 16 healthy controls, while supine and during 75 degrees head-up tilt. In seven patients and seven controls, muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) was measured. Spectrum analysis of RR variability provided markers of cardiac vagal modulation (HFRR nu) and sympatho-vagal balance [low frequency (LF)/high frequency (HF)]. The power of LF (0.1 Hz) oscillations of systolic arterial pressure (SAP) variability (LFSAP) evaluated the vasomotor response to sympathetic stimulation. Compared to controls, pSS patients scored higher in total COMPASS31 (p < 0.0001) and all ESSPRI subdomains (fatigue, p = 0.005; pain, p = 0.0057; dryness, p < 0.0001). Abnormal scialometry (<1.5 ml/15 min) and Schirmer tests (<5 mm/5 min) were found in pSS patients and salivary flow rate was negatively associated with ESSPRI dryness (p = 0.0014). While supine, pSS patients had lower SEQ(cBRs) index of cardiac baroreceptor sensitivity, higher HFRRnu (p = 0.021), lower LF/HF (p = 0.007), and greater MSNA (p = 0.038) than controls. No differences were observed in LFSAP between groups. During orthostatic challenge, although LFSAP increased similarly in both groups, MSNA was greater in pSS patients (p = 0.003). At rest pSS patients showed lower cBR control and greater parasympathetic modulation. Furthermore, greater sympathetic nerve activity was observed in pSS patients while supine and in response to gravitational challenge. We hypothesized that such enhanced sympathetic vasoconstrictor activity might reflect an attempt to maintain blood pressure in a setting of likely reduced vascular responsiveness

La diffusion et l’usage des briques crues en Italie

Il contributo contiene una sintesi della diffusione e dell'uso del mattone crudo nella tradizione edilizia italian

Elements for the definition of good practices for the conservation and the restoration of the historical urban fabric of a Moroccan pre-Saharan oasis

Except than for monuments and sites listed as world heritage, Morocco doesn’t yet have provided to state rules that define and guide the conservation and restoration processes for the historical town centres. The project “Conservation, rehabilitation and valorisation of the traditional earth built heritage” has provided the inspiration for the preparation of a collection of good local construction practices in the historical part of the oasis of Figuig, situated in the Moroccan Oriental Region. Figuig, important carrefour of sub- and trans-Saharian caravan routes since the Middle Ages, has preserved more or less intact the cores of its 7 ksours, Hammam Tahtani, Hammam Foukkani, Laâ Bidate, Loudaghir, Oulad Slimane, El Maïz and the oldest, Zénaga. Built with dense urban fabrics and courtyard houses that lean one on the other making empty spaces follow in a continuous sequence the built ones, Figuig represents like all oasis a system in perfect balance between water supply and land use, a urban aggregate in which man's work, construction and agriculture, profoundly affects the very existence of the settlement. The poor care or even abandonment of the buildings and of the maintenance of the palm grove is only partially the cause of the significant deterioration the oasis is facing today, where approximately one third of the original population has emigrated and the remaining inhabitants aspire to a modernization after a western style model, out of context and dangerously hybridizing historically tested constructive processes. This contribution aims to highlight what are the values of the built fabric of the oasis, of its building traditions, local materials and construction techniques, focusing on the problems that occur more frequently to the technicians responsible for their conservation and show an update on the reasearch that will lead to the definition of guidelines and best practices in order to have a correct conservation and renovation approach

Opportunità e limiti dell'integrazione edilizia del fotovoltaico

Le tecnologie fotovoltaiche sono oggetto, ormai da diversi anni di un interessante sviluppo in termini di qualità e di effi cienza, e sono off erte sul mercato in una enorme varietà di soluzioni tecniche ed estetiche. Questo contributo analizza le complesse relazioni tra le opportunità off erte dalle tecnologie fotovoltaiche in materia di riduzione dell’impatto energetico nel settore edilizio, ed i limiti persistenti rispetto ad una loro integrazione diff usa e di qualità negli edi ci