North-Western Uruk period pottery assemblages

The topic was suggested by the discovery of the classical Uruk sites in the Meskene area, which seemed to reflect the unexpected phenomenon of the transfer of a fully fledged material culture in an area widely separated from those where the same culture formed and developed. Nothing of what was previously known made one suspect the possibility of such a phenomenon, although a classical Uruk phase or horizon was recognized in northern Mesopotamia, western Syria and the upper Euphrates basin both before and after the aforementioned discoveries. However, while the Meskene sites are new foundations, the ones in the last areas are mostly old mounds, which were inhabited before the appearance of the "Uruk" settlements. This paper is devoted to the study of a particular class of finds, namely pottery. The pottery yielded by the Meskene sites is presented first, that from the last mounds is described subsequently and includes all the IVth millennium B. C. material retrieved at the site itself. The pottery derived from the IVth millennium B. C. neighbouring sites is examined next. The Late Uruk horizon pottery assemblages of the northwestern regions consist of two main components, local ones dating to the formative Terminal Ubaid horizon, and new ones, which include what is called Uruk material in the literature. There are no obvious local antecedents for the Habuba Kabira South assemblage. In fact, in the north-western regions, new ceramic elements for which southern Mesopotamian affinities have been recognized appear in selected numbers at selected locations in the context of continuing older traditions of shaping, finishing and making pottery

Lighting in the shackling area: conciliating broiler welfare with labor comfort

The objective of this study was to investigate if blue lighting could reduce broiler stress and comply with legal labor comfort requirements in a new shackling area of a middle-size processing plant. In this study, the old shackling area was compared with the new area, where a blue lighting system was designed and implemented according to the regulations. The old and new areas were video- and audio-recorded during the shackling of 33,850 broilers in each area. Data were statistically analyzed using the non-parametric test of Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney (w test).The results indicated 56% reduction in wing-flapping and 3.2% noise reduction in the new area. These results were obtained by increasing 119% lighting at the work stations in the shackling area, allowing workers to handle the birds more carefully, which may improve processing plant productivity. The study demonstrated that it is possible to conciliate better animal welfare with visual comfort for workers in the shackling area

Lighting in the shackling area: conciliating broiler welfare with labor comfort

The objective of this study was to investigate if blue lighting could reduce broiler stress and comply with legal labor comfort requirements in a new shackling area of a middle-size processing plant. In this study, the old shackling area was compared with the new area, where a blue lighting system was designed and implemented according to the regulations. The old and new areas were video- and audio-recorded during the shackling of 33,850 broilers in each area. Data were statistically analyzed using the non-parametric test of Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney (w test).The results indicated 56% reduction in wing-flapping and 3.2% noise reduction in the new area. These results were obtained by increasing 119% lighting at the work stations in the shackling area, allowing workers to handle the birds more carefully, which may improve processing plant productivity. The study demonstrated that it is possible to conciliate better animal welfare with visual comfort for workers in the shackling area

Efficiency of Electrical Stunning by Electronarcosis: Current Situation and Perspective of Improvement in a Medium-Size Processing Plant

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of electrical stunning by electronarcosis in a medium-size poultry processing plant located in southern Brazil. The current measurement of this type of stunning is presented, and then improvements to this method are proposed. Data were collected for 90 days. A quality indicator was proposed: the Stunning Severity Index (SSI), which includes elements of Statistical Process Control (SPC) using a p-chart (proportion chart) and measures. This index comprises the variables "wing-flapping," "arched head," and "rhythmic breathing." Using the proposed index, 5% of the birds, on average, presented inefficient stunning symptoms

Cluster of travel-associated Legionnaires disease in Lazise, Italy, July to August 2011

Since 18 August 2011, 17 cases of travel-associated Legionnaires' disease have been reported. They were tourists from five European countries who had stayed in five accommodation sites in Lazise, Italy. The dates of symptom onset ranged from 18 July to 25 August 2011. Control measures were implemented and no further cases associated with stays at the sites have been reported after disinfection. Timely notification of any further cases potentially associated with stay in Lazise is recommended

Territories and Landscapes: Place Identity, Quality of Life and Psychological Well-Being in Rural Areas

Various authors in the psychological field deal with the relationship between environment and wellbeing and particularly the impact of the environmental setting on quality of life (Bonnes, Secchiaroli, 1992; Twigger-Ross, Uzzell, 1996) and the importance of living in suitable environments, fitting needs and expectations (Zani, Cicognani, 2004). Geographically speaking, the significance of landscape is evident, as far as personal and territorial identities are concerned (Castiglioni, 2011). Nowadays, in traditionally rural extra-urban areas, where people feel attachment and sense of belonging, (Hidalgo, Hernàndez, 2001; Giuliani, 2004), rural depopulation is associated with processes of environmental changes. Presently, many non places (Augé, 1993) and hyperspace (Jameson, 1989) surround urban areas so that mountain and countryside areas risk to become “new” places of uncertain destiny, if transformation does not respect valuable landscape elements and is not carried out bearing in mind sustainability and social sharing. In these places, people and communities risk not to feel a sense of belonging due to the environmental, historical and cultural setting which becomes less familiar (Mazza, Minozzi, 2011). This multidisciplinary and multiterritorial research aims to highlight the inhabitants’ bonds not only with their historical and geographical territory (Rombai, 2001) but also with territorial elements, which can affect context and quality of life perception: elements of value, decay and environmental menace. The research was carried out in extra-urban rural areas in Tuscany and Lazio: Lunigiana, Media Valle Serchio, Maremma Grossetana, Maremma Viterbese and Crete Senesi. The authors’ contribution concentrated on territory comparisons for some of the examined variables, while different contributions propose specific focuses on single territories: Piana di Lucca, Area Pisana, Crete Senesi and Alta Tuscia. A questionnaire was prepared “Territories, landscapes and quality of life” (cf. Ferrari, Bocci, Bianchi, Cavallero, Mazza and Rombai, 2014) to investigate the following aspects related to the inhabitants’ area: 1 – territorial sense of belonging and motivation; 2 – perception, knowledge and evaluation of value, decay and risk elements; 3 – attachment, interest and residential motivation; 4 – social representation of the territory. The represented sample was made up of 366 subjects, divided in three age groups: young, adult and elderly people. Descriptive and correlational analysis have been carried out, along with comparisons among groups and explorative factorial analysis, as well as text analysis. The results highlight differences in the sense of belonging, knowledge perception, territorial elements evaluation, attachment to the place and future residency intentions and motivations, both as regards areas and age group