MISURA DA REMOTO DELLA TEMPERATURA SUPERFICIALE NELLA DIAGNOSTICA DEI BIENI CULTURALI: PROBLEMATICHE E NUOVI SVILUPPI

To conserve the work of arts (paintings, sculptures, etc..) in a preventive mode, a careful monitoring of the environment around these artifacts, as well as of their surface temperature, is necessary. The latter is the only physical variable which can be measured in a non-invasive way, following directly the thermal conditions and variations of the work of arts due to the dynamics of the microclimate. Considering that the works of art are often untouchable, an automated and accurate remote sensing could be very useful to prevent dangerous processes of deterioration. For these reasons a new sensor has been developed by a spin-off of the ISAC \u2013 CNR. This sensor allows to check in real-time the surface temperature changes of the artifacts both over time and at different predefined points. This automated sensor is a radiometer sensible to wavelengths ranging from 7,5 \ub5m to 13,4 \ub5m. A system rotating over three dimension \u201cpan and tilt\u201d allows to make multiple measures on a grid of points previously defined on the surface of the work of arts. The accuracy, obtained by means of a carefull calibration process, is \uf0b1 0,5 \ub0C, more precise than the usual remote sensing (thermal camera and commercial radiometers), characterized by an accuracy value of \uf0b1 2\ub0C. In order to obtain accurate measures of the surface temperature for a real body, the correct emissivity values need to be integrated in the calculation. Hence, an easy to use management software has been developed allowing to set the emissivity value in each point of the grid. For rejoinable points of the surface, the exact emissivity value could be determined comparing the measurements recorded by the new infrared sensor with the ones obtained by a very sensitive sensor (0,02 \u2013 0,03)\ub0C manually placed on the surface for a short time. In case of work of arts placed at great distance from the sersor, the emissivity values must be determined previously. The emissivity depends on a lot of variables and one of them is the surface roughness. Since the artifacts are often charaterized by a high surface roughness, such dependence has been studied in order to obtain accurate temperature measurements. The results obtained indicate an increase of the emissivity with increasing surface roughness. In conclusion, this study has allowed to develop a reliable, accurate and automatic control system, as well as a low cost sensor that, unlike the thermal camera, can also be used by less experienced operators. Besides, in order to support the museum managers in the preventive conservation of the artifacts, an alarm system is automatically activated, through the managent software, when dangerously large thermal variations - both spatial and overtime - are detected on the surface. In order to introduce in the software the temperature ranges tolerable for a good conservation of the wooden paintings, the dimensional variations of the poplar wood sample have been studied in function of the temperature changes. Poplar is the most used wood in Italy in the Cultural Heritage field. The results have shown an exponential trend of the deformation of the sample wood with the temperature, highlighting a non negligible thermal influence on the wood deformation. In fact a variation of 30 \ub5m has measured has been measured on the samples, having a initial size of 10,25 cm in radial direction, for a thermal excursion of 30\ub0C. These results have opened new prespectives in the Cultural Heritage field for a preventive conservation of the wooden paintings. In fact the thermal influence on the dimensional variation of the wood until now was considered negligible, and not much studied, in comparison to hygroscopic dimensional variations. Finally, in three case studies: Museo dell\u2019Opera di Santa Croce (Florence \u2013 Italy), Longobard temple (Cividale del friuli- Udine- Italy) and the Ratto delle Sabine clay model (Florence-Italy), the issues related to conservation of the work of arts have been assessed in the field. In addition it was possible to define, directly in the field, the applicability limits of the traditional remote sensing methods for a better conservation of the artifacts

Microclimatic monitoring for the assessment of the conservation conditions of the stucco statues in the UNESCO site of the Longobard Temple in Cividale del Friuli -Udine (Italy)

The Longobard Temple, built around the middle of the 8th century, is part of wider complex including the Saint Maria in Valley monastery edified in the following centuries, located in Cividale del Friuli - Udine (Italy). Both the temple and the monastery have been declared by UNESCO world heritage sites in 2011. The Temple constitute one of the few extraordinary testimonials preserved of the Longobard architecture, testify also by the six saints in high relief placed leaned to the west wall side by side in ternary groups, to the right and to the left of the blind lancet window. A microclimatic monitoring of the temple was performed between 2011 and 2012 by the Padova Unit of the Institute of Atmospheric Sciences and Climate, as part of the diagnostic project promoted by the City Council of Cividale del Friuli, in order to investigate the causes of the different damage features affecting the statues on the two sides of the west wall and to eventually identify suitable actions for the improvement of the current conservation conditions. In order to assess the microclimatic conditions, air temperature and relative humidity were recorded automatically for one year nearby the two central female figures. In addition, seasonal thermographic measurements were carried out to evaluate the thermal variations of the material and then they were compared to the microclimatic measurements. Furthermore some anemometers were installed in strategic points of the Temple for the automatic monitoring of the movement of the air masses to evaluate the impact of the air masses on the statues. The results of the microclimatic monitoring of the Longobard Temple showed that the different conservation conditions of the statues at the two sides of the west wall cannot be directly related to the actual microclimatic conditions. They could be more reasonably related to the history of the Temple (it seems that in the past they have been exposed to weather impact) and to past restoration works. In fact, according to the microclimatic results, the two sides of the west wall are subjected during the course of the year to similar daily thermal variations , even if in different seasons, due to the natural course of solar radiation during the whole year. Moreover, the movement of air masses observed and also simulated by means of a fluid-dynamic model resulted to have a different impact on the two wall sides. Nevertheless, this phenomenon can be more properly related to the risk of airborne particle deposition processes. In conclusions, the actual microclimatic conditions cannot be considered responsible for the different conservation conditions of the statues of the two sides of the west wall, but, if not improved, they could have a different impact on the statues that have different state of conservation

Protective Structures for the Conservation of Archaeological Sites : environmental considerations on the shelters over the Hagar Qim and Mnajdra temples of Malta

The Megalithic Temples of Hagar Qim and Mnajdra, constructed in Qrendi between the mid-fourth and mid-third millennia BC, are amongst the oldest free-standing stone buildings of such complexity in the world. They are of great local and international significance and they have been included since 1992 on the UNESCO's World Heritage List. These Temples are currently suffering from a series of severe structural problems as well as different forms of stone deterioration: the Globigerina Limestone shows powdering, flaking and scaling of the surface, as well as alveolar weathering, mainly due to salt crystallisation, in particular of chlorides acting on the very porous stone. Protective structures have long been considered the best in situ measures for preventive conservation of archaeological sites. However, the nature of problems in conserving sites under protective structures varies widely. The design of a new structure should improve the environmental conditions for the archaeological materials and structures themselves and it should also respond to the presentation requirements for visitors to the site. Between 2008 and 2009 the vulnerable prehistoric structures of Hagar Qim and Mnajdra were protected from the direct impact of environmental factors by means of a reversible, lightweight, open-sided shelter, conceived with minimal visual and physical impact. The main protective features of the shelter are its ability to eliminate the effects of water through rainfall, reducing water runoff and preventing the leaching of infills.The shelters also mitigate the effects of solar radiation by directly shading the Temples, thus reducing thermoclastic weathering. Finally they reduce wind impact and herbaceous growth. Several microclimatic campaigns have been performed in different locations and periods of times in the two Temples and their surroundings since 2005, before the sheltering, and they are still going on, to assess the impact of the shelters on the microclimatic conditions of the Temples. Air temperature and relative humidity are being recorded in different points inside and outside the Temples to investigate the effects of the shelters on thermo-hygrometric variations, wetting-and-drying cycles, as well as on the hygrometric levels and consequently on the risk of biological growth. At the same time, the thermal behaviour of the stone under the shelter is being investigated in the Hagar Qim Temple, by means of surface temperature measurements of differently oriented model stone pieces. Moreover, the wind funnelling phenomenon has been studied in the Hagar Qim temple complex. According to the results wind speed does not increase beneath the shelter except at certain points within the temple structure itself. The performance of the shelters is still currently being assessed by environmental monitoring which already indicates a general improvement of the conditions beneath the shelters to the ones on site before sheltering

Registro Italiano Fibrosi Cistica : Rapporto 2011-2014 = Italian Cystic Fibrosis Registry : Report 2011-2014

INTRODUCTION The Italian Cystic Fibrosis Registry (ICFR) is based on a new agreement about the data flow towards the Registry signed on October, 4th 2016 by the Centre for Rare Diseases of the Italian National Institute of Health (NIH), the clinicians of the Italian National Referral and Support Centres for Cystic Fibrosis, the Paediatric Hospital "Bambino Gesu" (Rome), the Italian Cystic Fibrosis Society, and the Italian League for Cystic Fibrosis. OBJECTIVES The aim of the present Report is to improve the knowledge on cystic fibrosis (CF) through the epidemiological description of Italian patients. The members of the Scientific and Technical Committee have to write a report on data collected by ICFR, in order to contribute to achieve the aims of ICFR itself, i.e., to improve the care of CF patients. In particular, the Report should contribute to the following objectives: to analyze the medium and long-term clinical and epidemiological trends of the disease; to identify the main healthcare needs at regional and national level in order to contribute to the healthcare programmes and to the distribution of resources; to compare Italian data with the international ones. DESIGN Analyses and results described in the present Report are referred to patients in charge to the Italian National Referral and Support Centres for Cystic Fibrosis in the period 2011-2014. Data were sent by Centres by means of a specific software (Camilla, Ibis Informatica) and has undergone a double quality control (QC): the first by NIH and the second at a European level (before the inclusion of the Italian data within the European Cystic Fibrosis Registry). These QCs assure the completeness and accuracy of data as well as their consistency with European core data. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS A total of 29 different CF centres (referral, support, and Paediatric Hospital "Bambino Gesu") sent their data to ICFR; data referred to the period 2011-2014. Data regarding Sardinia Region (Southern Italy) are missing; data from Molise (Southern Italy) CF centre refer only to 2014. RESULTS The present Report has been organized into 10 sections. 1. Demography: number of Italian patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) in 2014 was 4,981 and their median age was 20.4 years; estimated 2014 CF prevalence was 8.2/100,000 residents in Italy; on average, 52.1% of the patients were male and CF distribution showed higher frequency in patients aged from 7 to 35 years. On average, 53.7% of CF patients are aged more than 18 years. 2. Diagnoses: most of the CF patients were diagnosed before two years of age (around 66%); a significant proportion of patients (on average, 12%) was diagnosed in adult age. 3. New diagnoses: new diagnoses were 187 in 2011, 200 in 2012, 160 in 2013, and 135 in 2014. Estimated incidence was 1/4,052 live births in 2011; 1/4,313 in 2012; 1/5,189 in 2013 and 1/8,243 in 2014. 4. Genetics: 99.5% of patients was studied at the molecular level, with identification of 90.1% of Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Regulator CFTR mutations; [delta] 508F was the most frequent mutation (44.8% in 2014). 5. Lung function: FEV 1 (Forced Expiratory Volume in the first second) scores progressively decreased shortly before the start of adult age, in accordance with the natural history of the disease. Most of the patients between 6 and 17 years of age reported a FEV 1 % >= 70% of the predicted value, while the proportion of patients with severe lung disease (FEV 1 % < 40% of the predicted value) is < 2% over the period 2011-2014. 6. Nutrition: most critical periods come out during the first 6 months of life and during adolescence. Prevalence of malnourished male aged 12-17 years decreases over the period 20112014; an increasing percentage of patient (both male and female) with a suboptimal body mass index value is observed among patients aged more than 18 years 7. Complications: the presence of missing data represents an obstacle in the correct evaluation of prevalence value of complications related to Italian patients within ICFR. Nevertheless, it was estimated that, in 2014, the principal complication in patients aged < 18 years was hepatopathies (15%), while in patients aged more than 18 years the principal complications were due to hepatopathies (25%) and diabetes (22%). 8. Transplantation: during the period 2011-2014, 135 patients ageed between 7 and 53 years received a double lung transplant; median age at transplantation was 32.5 years. Median duration of waiting list for transplantation is estimated in 11 months. 9. Microbiology: analyses were referred to test performed in 2014. Prevalence of adult patients with Pseudomonas aeruginosa chronic infection is 49.4% compared to 14.5% of paediatric patients; Staphylococcus aureus chronic infection is present in 48% of adult patients and 45.6% of paediatric patients; Burkholderia Cepacia complex is present almost exclusively in adult patients (4.9%); Nontuberculous mycobacteria is present in 0.9% and 0.3% of adult and paediatric patients, respectively; Stenotrophomonas maltophilia infection is present in 4.6% of patients (both adults and paediatric). 10. Mortality: RIFC data show that 176 patients (median age 32 years; 81 males and 95 females) died in the period 2011-2014. CONCLUSIONS The present Report shows that CF population is growing (median age), so paediatric mortality is decreasing. A very low percentage of paediatric population is characterized by complication of pulmonary functions; adult patients are characterized by an increase of age at death (more than 30 years of age). ICFR Report may represent an important tool to analyze clinical and epidemiological trends of the disease as well as to identify the main healthcare needs at regional and national level to contribute to the healthcare programmes and to the distribution of the resources