Sustainable reuse of modern movement heritage buildings : problems and solutions in Scotland and Italy

Many buildings which were built in the 20th century, and due to their exceptional architectural value included in the lists of built heritage, are sometimes standing vacant for different reasons. This paper investigates the problems that need to be resolved to enable a sustainable reuse of various types of modern heritage buildings. The investigation is undertaken through case studies of some modern heritage buildings in Scotland and Italy in order to identify common problems and regional differences in enabling the reuse of those buildings. In addition, some examples of the reuse of modern built heritage are presented to highlight what has contributed to the reuse, and whether and how that meets the current environmental requirements, and the local social and economic needs. The research indicates how public and private organisations have contributed to the successful reuse of modern built heritage and what problems they encounter in the efforts to provide new uses for the remaining vacant buildings. The investigation examines how economic, social, environmental, functional, structural and design aspects impact on defining new uses for modern heritage buildings. The analysis of the above requirements through the selected case studies leads to the recommendations on the key issues, strategies and tactics that should be considered to enable an appropriate and timely reuse of the 20th century built heritage

A multifrequency and multisensor approach for the study and the restoration of monuments: the case of the Cathedral of Matera

Abstract. In this paper we propose an integrated approach to diagnostic prospecting applied to the cathedral of Matera, in Southern Italy. In particular, we have performed both an ultrasonic tomography and a high frequency GPR prospecting on some pillars of the Church to investigate about possible structural yielding and a GPR prospecting at lower frequencies on the floor, where also a linear inversion algorithm has been applied to the data

School climate and academic performance of Italian students: the role of disciplinary behaviour and parental involvement

Educational researchers have increasingly recognised the importance of school climate as a malleable factor for improving academic performance. In this perspective, we exploit the data collected by the Italian Institute for the Evaluation of the Education System (INVALSI) to assess the effect of some school climate related factors on academic performance of tenth-grade Italian students. A Multilevel Bayesian Structural Equation Model (MBSEM) is adopted to highlight the effect of some relevant dimensions of school climate (students’ disciplinary behaviour and parents’ involvement) on academic performance and their role on the relationships between student socioeconomic status and achievement. The main findings show that disciplinary behaviour, on the one hand, directly influences the level of competence of the students, and, on the other hand, it partly mediates the effect of socioeconomic background whereas parents’ involvement does not appear to exert any significant effect on students’ performance

“Sustainable” energy recovery and rehabilitation. The Capuchin Convent - Altamura (Italy)

The issues related to sustainability and recovery of built heritage are related to anthropogenic transformation activities of the environment; it generates the idea of “sustainable recovery” that is a suitable combination between energy saving, environment conservation and cultural heritage restoration. The aim of the research is to address the functional/technological adaptation of historical buildings as well as the equipment adaptation, using technological interventions that can improve both the living comfort that energy efficiency of the building, respecting its historical and architectural characteristics. Nowadays, to reduce the pollutants emission, the built heritage requires a significant technological adaptation, in terms of energy and equipments; in fact the potential energy saving in the construction sector is enormous. The built heritage represents 40% of energy consumption and 36% of greenhouse gas emissions in Europe. If it considers that in Italy 80% of the building has more than 30 years, it is clear that is necessary to find solutions that enable historical centers and monuments in a position to actively contribute to climate change. The topics of adaptation and functional/technological transformation, through an adequate energy regeneration, finds an experimental application in a case study: the recovery of the Capuchin Convent in Altamura (Italy). In order to recover the whole structure, it has been designed a recovery intervention that aims to improve energy performance of building, in accordance with its characteristics and values. Analyzing the structure, it has been highlighted energy criticalities of the building. This has led to the design interventions aimed at upgrading the energy efficiency of building, using high performance materials and a suitable selection of equipments. The obtained energy performance is the one required by the current standards. This leads to reinforce the concept of “sustainable recovery” as a process of integrated conservation of the building; the process can ensure the survival of historic buildings values, designing functions that aims to meet the current living conditions and to respect the character and values of the built heritag

Validation of a single liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry approach for oxytetracycline determination in bull plasma, seminal plasma and urine

Oxytetracycline is a broad-spectrum antibiotic, which inhibits protein synthesis and is generally used for the treatment of pneumonia, shipping fever, leptospirosis and wound infections in cattle and swine. The present work proposes a novel liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) method for oxytetracycline quantification in bull plasma, seminal plasma and urine, requiring limited sample treatment before analysis. Extraction with trichloroacetic acid followed by dilution of the supernatant in mobile phase proved to be effective in all three matrices, allowing to rapidly process large batches of samples. Sharp and symmetrical peak shape was obtained using a BEH C18 reversed-phase column in a chromatographic run of just 3.5 min. The mass spectrometer operated in positive electrospray ionization mode and monitored specific transitions for oxytetracycline (461.1 → 425.8) and the internal standard demeclocycline (465.0 → 447.6). The method was validated over concentration ranges suitable for field concentrations of oxytetracycline found in each matrix, showing good linearity during each day of testing (R2 always >0.99), as also confirmed by analysis of variance (ANOVA) and lack-of-fit tests. Excellent accuracy and precision were demonstrated by calculated bias always within ±15% and CV% below 10% at all quality control (QC) levels in the three matrices. Matrix effect and recovery were investigated for both analytes, which showed consistent and comparable behaviour in each matrix. To our knowledge, this is the first validated approach for mass spectrometric determination of oxytetracycline in seminal plasma and urine. The method was successfully applied to samples collected during a pharmacokinetic study in bulls, allowing to assess the oxytetracycline concentration–time profile in plasma, seminal plasma and urine

PRELIMINARY DATA ON FUMONISINS PRESENCE IN PIG LIVER

Mycotoxins are heterogeneous chemical compounds characterized by a low molecular weight and synthesized by the secondary metabolism of different molds. Fumonisins are water-soluble mycotoxins produced by Fusarium species spoiling corn and derived products. These mycotoxins can enter the food chain also through the consumption of meat of exposed animals. Fumonisins and their metabolites have been associated with several animal and human diseases. They are suspected risk factors for esophageal and liver cancers, neural tube defects and cardiovascular problems. Improved methods are needed to accurately assess fumonisin concentrations in food from vegetable and animal origin to prevent acute and chronic human exposure. The aim of the present work was to develop a sensitive and selective method for quantification and unambiguous identification of fumonisin B1 (FB1), fumonisin B2 (FB2) and their complete hydrolyzed products (HFB1 and HFB2), in order to determine their presence in pig liver. Furthermore, the developed method was applied, in order to test its efficacy, on liver samples of weaned piglets fed a diet in compliance with the FB1 and FB2 contamination limits set by EU. All the samples showed the presence of at least one of the analytes. In particular FB1 was found in 5 out of 7 samples and the average level of contamination found was 28 ppb

Laryngotracheal stenosis treated with multiple surgeries: experience, results and prognostic factors in 70 patients

Laryngotracheal stenosis is a complex condition that usually requires multiple procedures to restore physiological respiration. The aim of this study was to evaluate the percentage of decannulation compared to different or multiple surgical treatments. We retrospectively reviewed the charts of 70 patients treated between 1990 and 2005 for laryngotracheal stenosis of various aetiology: iatrogenic stenosis (n = 55), post-traumatic stenosis (n = 11) or other causes (autoimmune disease, n = 3; diphtheria, n = 1). In order to maintain laryngotracheal patency, a Montgomery Safe-T tube was used in all patients as a single dilation treatment or associated with endoscopic and/or open-neck surgery. Fifty-four of the 70 patients (77.1%) were eventually decannulated; 39 of these (72.2%) underwent 3 or fewer surgical procedures, showing a significant difference compared to patients who underwent more than 3 surgeries (p = 0.00002). A total of 257 surgeries were performed. Only seven of 54 patients (13%) were decannulated after more than 5 surgical procedures. Patients over 60 years of age and with a higher grade of stenosis showed a significantly lower success rate (p = 0.0017 and p = 0.007, respectively). There was no significant correlation between the rate of decannulation and gender, aetiology, site of stenosis or surgery. Patients undergoing dilation for laryngotracheal stenosis usually require multiple procedures. The T tube plays an important role in the treatment of this pathology. However, if the tracheostomy is not removed within 3 surgical interventions, the odds of decannulating the patient decrease significantly, and additional surgeries may be of questionable therapeutic benefit

Il decoro in architettura. Le riggiole napoletane

To the knowledge of architecture becomes a valid area of research, also for Fixed protection Policies and original recovery of Image Building, analyzing coatings and decorations What characterized Especially the noble building. It ranks in this research conducted on the use of riggiole Neapolitan with in the Cutinelli-Rendina Palace a Campomaggiore in Basilicata

Perfluoroalkyl substances in human milk: A first survey in Italy

Due to their widespread diffusion, perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) have been frequently found in the environment and in several animal species. It has been demonstrated that they can easily reach also humans, mainly through diet. Being lactation a major route of elimination of these contaminants, their occurrence in human milk is of particular interest, especially considering that it generally represents the unique food source for newborns. Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), the two most important compounds of this family, have been frequently found in human milk at variable concentrations, but still limited data are available. The present study, the first conducted in Italy capable to detect these pollutants at ultra-trace levels by UPLC-MS/MS, confirmed the role of lactation as a relevant source of exposure for breastfed children. The measured concentrations ranged between 15 and 288 ng/L for PFOS and between 24 and 241 ng/L for PFOA. Moreover, mean concentrations and frequencies of both analytes resulted higher in milk samples provided by primiparous women, suggesting that the risk of intake might be higher for first-borns. Finally, comparing these results with previous data, PFOS gradual decrease over time since year 2000 was confirmed