A Systematic Review of the Existing Literature for the Evaluation of Sustainable Urban Projects

From the 21st century to the present(2021), a worldwide awareness that cities’ development must be based on projects for socio-economic growth and environmental protection is increasing. World governmental agencies and the European Union have suggested action strategies for the construction of «prototype cities» whose value must be founded on the inclusion and/or preservation of anthropic-natural elements and their effects on territories. In order to minimize the theoretical– practical gap between planning and project design with a view to sustainable development and the evaluation of their performance from economic, social and environmental points of view, the present contribution aims to outline a framework useful for systematizing the main scientific contributions concerning sustainability and the evaluation of urban transformation projects. The objective is pursued by analyzing bibliographic references with specific regard to the use of logical-operative methodologies used to rationalize the processes of interventions’ evaluation and selection. The task of examining the available literature is carried out with an investigation protocol of four sequential steps. From the implementation of the last one, the evidence expressing the heterogeneity of the examples in the literature is described. Accordingly, the theoretical-methodological framework for the project evaluation from an urban sustainability perspective is illustrated

A model to support the public administration decisions for the investments selection on historic buildings

The historical buildings can become an instrument for the growth of a territory in connection with the historic and artistic value, the ability to characterize environments and urban, rural and natural landscapesand on the basis of historical and documentary interest. This is confirmed in the numerous legislative measures that deal with urban planning at the international level. Most of the time, however, the interventions on the historical-architectural building heritage do not respond to logic capable of simultaneously ensuring the conservation and valorization. This problem is accentuated when the decision-making process is not supported by operating logical models capable of bringing into account the many effects of aninvestment, which are not only financial, but also social, cultural and environmental nature. The operational research, in particular discrete linear programming crossed with multicriteria analysis, can support the definition of useful models to the selection of investments on historical buildings. Intended for public authorities called to choose the projects to be financed, the model defined and tested in the presentwork can be easily adapted also to the case of resources allocation by private investor. The applicationof the model to a concrete case, concerning the definition of the projects portfolio for the valorization of buildings of historical-architectural value in a Municipality of South Italy, confirms the potential of the instrument in analysis

Two Remarks on Torsion-Point Attacks in Isogeny-Based Cryptography

We fix an omission in [Petit17] on torsion point attacks of isogeny-based cryptosystems akin to SIDH, also reprised in [dQuehen-etal21]. In these works, their authors represent certain integers using a norm equation to derive a secret isogeny. However, this derivation uses as a crucial ingredient ([Petit17] Section 4.3), which we show to be incorrect. We then state sufficient conditions allowing to prove a modified version this lemma. A further idea of parametrizing solutions of the norm equation will show that these conditions can be fulfilled under the same heuristics of these previous works. Our contribution is a theoretical one. It doesn\u27t invalidate the attack, which works as well in practice, but gives a correct mathematical justification for it. We also simplify the argument of Theorem 3 in [dQuehen-etal21] to show that the requirement that $m$ be small is unnecessary

Integrated Ecosystem Design: An Evaluation Model to Support the Choice of Eco-Compatible Technological Solutions for Residential Building

The technological components regarding building cladding are designed for ensuring thermo-hygrometric comfort conditions within habitable spaces and realising smart buildings. Often the solutions adopted are identified referring only to the characteristics of mechanical and energy materials without considering the ecological–environmental properties in an urban context. Thus, it is appropriate to choose technological components not only according to material type, but also ecological aspects pursued through presence and/or structured integration of natural elements. The technical-design forms based on “building–nature” integration allows, on one hand, the sustainable soil use with multiple benefits (ecosystem services) that natural systems produce, on the other hand, the identification of technological solutions sized referring environmental quality levels achieved through appropriate natural species use. In this way, it can be obtained lower buildings investment and maintenance costs, and greater energetic–environmental benefits. So, it is proposed an evaluation protocol for settlement transformation interventions structured considering environmental effects obtained with Nature-Based Solutions (NBSs) into the project. According to ecological–environmental quality level achieved with NBSs, the technological component is sized according to preliminary design parameters (noise reduction and solar irradiation degree) obtained through NBSs. The total performance level of technological solutions is expressed using Economic–Environmental Indicators. The protocol is tested on social housing case in Anagnina district of Rome (Italy)

Validation of the Italian Versions of the Flourishing Scale and of the Scale of Positive and Negative Experience

Researchers are divided between those who consider well-being as a single global construct and those who maintain the need to keep the hedonic and eudaimonic components of well-being separate. Diener et al. proposed two separate scales for measuring well-being: the Flourishing Scale (FS) for eudaimonic well-being and the Scale of Positive and Negative Experience (SPANE) for hedonic well-being. The aim of this article is to validate the Italian versions of the FS and SPANE, and to provide support for the usefulness of distinct measures of well-being components. In Study 1, we examined an Italian undergraduate student sample ( n = 684), whereas in Study 2 we considered two samples of unemployed ( n = 282) and healthy control individuals ( n = 426). Through multigroup confirmatory factor analysis, we demonstrated that the Italian FS and SPANE obtained strict measurement invariance across administration methods (paper-and-pencil and Internet) and strong measurement invariance across different groups (unemployed individuals seeking work and a healthy control group). In our data, we found a superior fit for a two-factor model over a one-factor model of well-being, which suggests the utility of separate measures of well-being components. Concurrent validity was verified with other well-being, depression, and anxiety measures. Furthermore, we showed that flourishing is more strongly related to the cognitive component of subjective well-being than hedonic affect. In summary, the Italian FS and SPANE are reliable and valid instruments, and may be beneficial in their applications in future Italian studies on well-being

Validation of the Italian Versions of the Flourishing Scale and of the Scale of Positive and Negative Experience

Researchers are divided between those who consider well-being as a single global construct and those who maintain the need to keep the hedonic and eudaimonic components of well-being separate. Diener et al. proposed two separate scales for measuring well-being: the Flourishing Scale (FS) for eudaimonic well-being and the Scale of Positive and Negative Experience (SPANE) for hedonic well-being. The aim of this article is to validate the Italian versions of the FS and SPANE, and to provide support for the usefulness of distinct measures of well-being components. In Study 1, we examined an Italian undergraduate student sample ( n = 684), whereas in Study 2 we considered two samples of unemployed ( n = 282) and healthy control individuals ( n = 426). Through multigroup confirmatory factor analysis, we demonstrated that the Italian FS and SPANE obtained strict measurement invariance across administration methods (paper-and-pencil and Internet) and strong measurement invariance across different groups (unemployed individuals seeking work and a healthy control group). In our data, we found a superior fit for a two-factor model over a one-factor model of well-being, which suggests the utility of separate measures of well-being components. Concurrent validity was verified with other well-being, depression, and anxiety measures. Furthermore, we showed that flourishing is more strongly related to the cognitive component of subjective well-being than hedonic affect. In summary, the Italian FS and SPANE are reliable and valid instruments, and may be beneficial in their applications in future Italian studies on well-being

Four-Dimensional Gallant-Lambert-Vanstone Scalar Multiplication

The GLV method of Gallant, Lambert and Vanstone~(CRYPTO 2001) computes any multiple $kP$ of a point $P$ of prime order $n$ lying on an elliptic curve with a low-degree endomorphism $\Phi$ (called GLV curve) over $\mathbb{F}_p$ as $kP = k_1P + k_2\Phi(P)$, with $\max\{|k_1|,|k_2|\}\leq C_1\sqrt n$ for some explicit constant $C_1>0$. Recently, Galbraith, Lin and Scott (EUROCRYPT 2009) extended this method to all curves over $\mathbb{F}_{p^2}$ which are twists of curves defined over $\mathbb{F}_p$. We show in this work how to merge the two approaches in order to get, for twists of any GLV curve over $\mathbb{F}_{p^2}$, a four-dimensional decomposition together with fast endomorphisms $\Phi, \Psi$ over $\mathbb{F}_{p^2}$ acting on the group generated by a point $P$ of prime order $n$, resulting in a proven decomposition for any scalar $k\in[1,n]$ given by $kP=k_1P+ k_2\Phi(P)+ k_3\Psi(P) + k_4\Psi\Phi(P)$, with $\max_i (|k_i|)0$. Remarkably, taking the best $C_1, C_2$, we obtain $C_2/C_1<412$, independently of the curve, ensuring in theory an almost constant relative speedup. In practice, our experiments reveal that the use of the merged GLV-GLS approach supports a scalar multiplication that runs up to 50\% faster than the original GLV method. We then improve this performance even further by exploiting the Twisted Edwards model and show that curves originally slower may become extremely efficient on this model. In addition, we analyze the performance of the method on a multicore setting and describe how to efficiently protect GLV-based scalar multiplication against several side-channel attacks. Our implementations improve the state-of-the-art performance of point multiplication for a variety of scenarios including side-channel protected and unprotected cases with sequential and multicore execution

LA VALUTAZIONE DELLA FATTIBILITA’ FINANZIARIA DEGLI INTERVENTI DI TRASFORMAZIONE URBANA: IL CASO DELLA CITTA’ DI PONTEDERA (ITALIA)

The sustainable development of cities is ruled by an effective and efficient management of urban renewal interventions at the local scale. With reference to three degraded urban areas in the city of Pontedera (Italy), the aim of the paper is to highlight the usefulness of the Cost-Volume Profit Analysis (CVPA) as a reference for supporting the decisions that public and private operators have to face in order to identify the most suitable initiative for each area. Two different scenarios which respectively refer to the provisions of the General Regulatory Plan (GRP) of the city and the projectual proposal are analyzed for each plot area. The achieved results prove the rigidity of the GRP forecasts can generate unfeasible interventions which, therefore, are not attractive for private entrepreneurs. The proposed methodology is a logical-operational reference that can be easily applied both by public and private subjects in order to i) quickly assess the stability of the financial structure, and ii) to provide the basis for a negotiation for improving the requested works

A case of diffuse persistent pulmonary emphysema: When is difficult the diagnosis?

AbstractPersistent pulmonary interstitial emphysema (PPIE) is a rare condition that occurs in both preterm and term infants. It is thought to arise from a disruption of the basement membrane of the alveolar wall allowing air entry into the interstitial space. The characteristic CT scan appearance of PPIE can be used to differentiate it from other congenital cystic lesions that may present similarly. The management of infants suffering from diffuse persistent interstitial pulmonary emphysema varies according to severity and stability of the patient, being either conservative treatment or aggressive surgical treatment by pneumonectomy. We report a case of an unstable patient with diffuse persistent interstitial pulmonary emphysema successfully treated by lobectomy as a form of conservative surgical approach

Congenital pouch colon associated with anorectal malformation: A rare anomaly of Asian Region-experience of Kurdish centre

Background: Congenital pouch colon (CPC) is an unusual malformation associated with anorectal malformations (ARMs) that are seen especially in Asia. The aim of this study was to analyse our series of CPC associated with ARM in our centre and report our experience based on the rarity of pathology. Materials and Methods: This is a retrospective study conducted at the Department of Paediatric Surgery in North Iraq. We identified patients from a prospectively kept database, including all patients managed between 1997 and 2014. Results: In total, 17 patients (3 females and 14 males) were included; all had CPC and high ARM; male:female ratio was 5.6:1. Two females had colo-vestibular fistula, 1 had a colo-cloacal fistula, all males had imperforate anus with colovesical fistula. Pre-operative diagnosis of CPC was made in eight patients (47%). Four patients (23.5%) had an incomplete pouch colon (Type III and IV), and 13 (76%) had complete pouch colon (Type I and II). All patients were managed with staged surgery. Mortality rate was 17.6% (3/17). Conclusions: CPC associated with ARM can be defined as 'Asian' complex malformation. Few cases are reported in Literature from Europe and USA. However, it is known that it is ever more frequent the collaboration between Asian and European surgeons (as in our study), so the suspicion should be considered in all patient high ARM who come from Asian region. We reviewed literature and report our experience of 15 years, after a retrospectively analysis, to share it and add our data to their reported