Passive house optimization for Southern Italy based on the “New Passivhaus Standard”

The IEE Passive-On project has drafted a proposal to adapt that Standard to the conditions that characterize Southern Europe, which is described in this paper together with its rationale. Compared with the original definition, one of the main changes is the introduction of explicit requirements on internal comfort during summer, in parallel to a limit to energy needs for cooling. The dynamic simulations conducted to test the new definition of the Standard in the context of Southern Italy (e.g. Palermo) show that the requirements identified by the Passivhaus Standard can be met by simplifying the envelope technologies (e.g. relaxing air-tightness design value) used in the context of Central Europe and adopting passive cooling strategies appropriately adjusted. Some simplifications of the ventilation system can be compensated by an increased role of thermal insulation of the building envelope and some of the choices can make energy needs tend to zero. In accordance with EN15251, thermal comfort is characterized according to Fanger’s PMV in cases where mechanical cooling is still required for peak situations, and according to the adaptive model where no mechanical cooling is required

DEBITUS ORDO. TRADIZIONE E ORIGINALIT\uc0 NEL METODO DI SPINOZA.

Debitus ordo. Tradition and originality of method in Spinoza. This research explores the philosophical significance of the ordo geometricus in Spinoza, focusing on the following three points: the controversial question of the rapport between form and content in his Ethica; the relationship between ordo and methodus in Spinoza; and the origin and tradition of ordo geometricus relative to Spinozian application. Concordant with the interpretation that there is a profound connection in Spinoza between form and content and the coincidence of ordo and methodus, the thesis follows three paths of inquiry: the first concerns the identification of the origin and history of the geometric method; the second is a detailed analysis of Spinoza\u2019s works intended to demonstrate how the peculiar articulation of his philosophy presupposes this convergence of form and content and of ordo and methodus; the third concerns the ethical implications of the ordo geometricus. For the first part, which considers the intersection of logic and mathematics as constituent elements of the modern geometric method, both traditions are traced from their ancient origins to their physiognomy in the late sixteenth century. With regard to logic the predominant figures of reference are Aristotle and Zabarella for their hypothetical influence upon Spinoza; while for mathematics our point of departure is Euclid and his commentators Pappo and Proclo, up to the reform introduced by mathematicians at the end of the sixteenth century, particularly Clavio. This overview of the confluence of logic and mathematics also subsumes the positions of Hobbes and Descartes, especially the concepts of analysis and synthesis and the doctrine of definition. Our second path of inquiry, which deals principally with textual investigation, focuses particularly on those aspects of Spinoza\u2019s philosophy that may be considered fundamental with respect to the intrinsic use of the ordo geometricus: the idea of truth as index sui, the doctrine of parallelism, the doctrine of definition, and the concept of God. In conclusion we turn to another, ulterior aspect of the significance of geometric order in Spinoza, specifically the ethical implications of the ordo geometricus: the scientific approach to affects, the relationship between affectus and passio, the deduction of passions from the concept of conatus, the debitus ordo of the intellect as order of action and liberation from the oppression of passions. The entire work aims at showing how in Spinoza\u2019s thought the geometric order of the Ethica is the necessary consequence of the coincidence between the order of being, order of knowing and order of joy, and of the identification of methodus and ordo

Electromechanical tuning of vertically-coupled photonic crystal nanobeams

We present the design, the fabrication and the characterization of a tunable one-dimensional (1D) photonic crystal cavity (PCC) etched on two vertically-coupled GaAs nanobeams. A novel fabrication method which prevents their adhesion under capillary forces is introduced. We discuss a design to increase the flexibility of the structure and we demonstrate a large reversible and controllable electromechanical wavelength tuning (> 15 nm) of the cavity modes.Comment: 11 pages, 4 figure

Exploring the Potential of Urban Coastal Interfaces for Socio-Environmental Connections: The Cases of Marseille and Naples

Contemporary coastal cities intertwine variegated stakes, linked to the economic, productive and social functions of the seashore, and need a correct management aimed at balancing the different needs and at maintaining a high ecological status of the coasts themselves. A fracture emerges between the urban development of coastal areas and the social desire and expectations of the 'urban coastal society', a community intimately connected to the coast and sea elements. Port and productive evolution has often neglected the socio-recreational component inherent in coastal areas, related to its attractiveness for citizens, the presence of natural qualities and an undeniable visual and perceptual value that influence the use of these places, influencing the conformation of coastal public spaces. The integrity of the urban coasts appears fragmented by the juxtaposition of variegated elements which can however be considered as pieces of a potential green-blue infrastructure, with a view to recomposing the city-sea interface. The contribution aims to investigate the management and design criticalities that affect urban blue spaces, mainly in relation to the implications related to leisure and sociality, proposing a historical, spatial and socio-perceptive comparison between Naples and Marseille

Why orthotic devices could be of help in the management of Movement Disorders in the young

BACKGROUND: Movement Disorders (MD) are a class of disease that impair the daily activities of patients, conditioning their sensorimotor, cognitive and behavioural capabilities. Nowadays, the general management of patients with MD is based on rehabilitation, pharmacological treatments, surgery, and traditional splints. Although some attempts have been made to devise specific orthoses for the rehabilitation of patients affected by MD, especially the younger ones, those devices have received limited attention. MAIN BODY: This paper will principally discuss the case of upper limb rehabilitation in Childhood Dyskinesia (CD), a complex motor disease that affects paediatric patients. Through a critical review of the present solutions and a discussion about the neurophysiological characteristics of the disease, the study will lead to the formulation of desirable features of a possible new upper-limb orthosis. CONCLUSIONS: Design principles will be derived to provide specialised orthoses for the dynamic control of posture and the stabilisation of voluntary movements: those include using biomechanical actions and enhanced proprioception to support the sensorimotor rehabilitation of the children affected by CD. A similar approach could be advantageously applied in other MD-related conditions, especially with hyperkinetic and/or hypertonic traits

Protection and disinfection policies against SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19)

In late December 2019, reports from China of the incidence of pneumonia with unknown etiology were sent to the World Health Organization (WHO). Shortly afterwards, the cause of this disease was identified as the novel beta-coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, and its genetic sequence was published on January 12, 2020. Human-to-human transmission via respiratory droplets and contact with aerosol infected surfaces are the major ways of transmitting this virus. Here we attempted to collect information on virus stability in the air and on surfaces and ways of preventing of SARS-CoV-2 spreading

Impact of therapeutic choices on outcome of osteomyelitis caused by MRSA

Fifty-four patients with chronic osteomyelitis sustained by methicillin-resistant staphylococcus were treated with daptomycin, linezolid, or teicoplanin and observed over time. Median time to CRP normalization was 7 weeks for daptomycin, 8 weeks for linezolid, and 12 weeks for teicoplanin (X2 =14.1; p < 0.001). Cure rate (intention to treat analysis) was 83% for the cases receiving teicoplanin, 77% for those receiving linezolid and 92% for those receiving daptomycin. We conclude that daptomycin and linezolid have to be considered at least equivalent to teicoplanin for the treatment of MRSA osteomyelitis

Isolation of novel PSII-LHCII megacomplexes from pea plants characterized by a combination of proteomics and electron microscopy

This work was supported by the Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research, “Futuro in Ricerca 2013” program RBFR1334SB to CP