Cross-Disciplinary Approaches to the Regeneration of Minor Historical Centers: The Case of Mogoro in Sardinia

In Italy, the regeneration of historic centers is a relevant issue in the theoretical debate and practice of urban planning, a discourse which usually adopts strictly constraining approaches and tools directed almost exclusively at the preservation of the traditional characters of historic build- ings, neglecting social and economic processes. In particular, the redevelopment of minor historic centers becomes a priority action for the revitalisation of marginal territories affected by the phe- nomena of depopulation and weakening of the socio-economic structure. The paper focuses on the regional context of Sardinia to investigate methods and criteria for the drafting of planning tools for the redevelopment of minor historic centers, enabling the definition and implementation of strate- gies in accordance with the objectives and guidelines of the Regional Landscape Plan. With a case study methodology applied to the historic center of Mogoro, the research discusses an innovative and interdisciplinary approach to the definition of flexible regulations to manage the urban regen- eration process

Sensitivity projections for a dual-phase argon TPC optimized for light dark matter searches through the ionization channel

Dark matter lighter than 10  GeV/c2 encompasses a promising range of candidates. A conceptual design for a new detector, DarkSide-LowMass, is presented, based on the DarkSide-50 detector and progress toward DarkSide-20k, optimized for a low-threshold electron-counting measurement. Sensitivity to light dark matter is explored for various potential energy thresholds and background rates. These studies show that DarkSide-LowMass can achieve sensitivity to light dark matter down to the solar neutrino fog for GeV-scale masses and significant sensitivity down to 10  MeV/c2 considering the Migdal effect or interactions with electrons. Requirements for optimizing the detector’s sensitivity are explored, as are potential sensitivity gains from modeling and mitigating spurious electron backgrounds that may dominate the signal at the lowest energies

Acute Delta Hepatitis in Italy spanning three decades (1991–2019): Evidence for the effectiveness of the hepatitis B vaccination campaign

Updated incidence data of acute Delta virus hepatitis (HDV) are lacking worldwide. Our aim was to evaluate incidence of and risk factors for acute HDV in Italy after the introduction of the compulsory vaccination against hepatitis B virus (HBV) in 1991. Data were obtained from the National Surveillance System of acute viral hepatitis (SEIEVA). Independent predictors of HDV were assessed by logistic-regression analysis. The incidence of acute HDV per 1-million population declined from 3.2 cases in 1987 to 0.04 in 2019, parallel to that of acute HBV per 100,000 from 10.0 to 0.39 cases during the same period. The median age of cases increased from 27 years in the decade 1991-1999 to 44 years in the decade 2010-2019 (p < .001). Over the same period, the male/female ratio decreased from 3.8 to 2.1, the proportion of coinfections increased from 55% to 75% (p = .003) and that of HBsAg positive acute hepatitis tested for by IgM anti-HDV linearly decreased from 50.1% to 34.1% (p < .001). People born abroad accounted for 24.6% of cases in 2004-2010 and 32.1% in 2011-2019. In the period 2010-2019, risky sexual behaviour (O.R. 4.2; 95%CI: 1.4-12.8) was the sole independent predictor of acute HDV; conversely intravenous drug use was no longer associated (O.R. 1.25; 95%CI: 0.15-10.22) with this. In conclusion, HBV vaccination was an effective measure to control acute HDV. Intravenous drug use is no longer an efficient mode of HDV spread. Testing for IgM-anti HDV is a grey area requiring alert. Acute HDV in foreigners should be monitored in the years to come

Sensitivity projections for a dual-phase argon TPC optimized for light dark matter searches through the ionization channel

Dark matter lighter than 10 GeV/c$^2$ encompasses a promising range of candidates. A conceptual design for a new detector, DarkSide-LowMass, is presented, based on the DarkSide-50 detector and progress toward DarkSide-20k, optimized for a low-threshold electron-counting measurement. Sensitivity to light dark matter is explored for various potential energy thresholds and background rates. These studies show that DarkSide-LowMass can achieve sensitivity to light dark matter down to the solar neutrino floor for GeV-scale masses and significant sensitivity down to 10 MeV/c$^2$ considering the Migdal effect or interactions with electrons. Requirements for optimizing the detector's sensitivity are explored, as are potential sensitivity gains from modeling and mitigating spurious electron backgrounds that may dominate the signal at the lowest energies

Latest results of dark matter detection with the DarkSide experiment

In this contribution the latest results of dark matter direct detection obtained by the DarkSide Collaboration are discussed. New limits on the scattering cross-section between dark matter particles and baryonic matter have been set. The results have been reached using the DarkSide-50 detector, a double-phase Time Projection Chamber (TPC) filled with 40Ar and installed at Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso (LNGS). In 2018, the DarkSide Collaboration has performed three different types of analysis. The so-called high-mass analysis into the range between ∼ 10 GeV and ∼ 1000 GeV is discussed under the hypothesis of scattering between dark matter and Ar nuclei. The low-mass analysis, performed using the same hypothesis, extends the limit down to ∼1.8 GeV. Through a different hypothesis, that predicts dark matter scattering off the electrons inside of the Ar atom, it has been possible to set limits for sub-GeV dark matter masses

SiPM-matrix readout of two-phase argon detectors using electroluminescence in the visible and near infrared range

Proportional electroluminescence (EL) in noble gases is used in two-phase detectors for dark matter searches to record (in the gas phase) the ionization signal induced by particle scattering in the liquid phase. The “standard” EL mechanism is considered to be due to noble gas excimer emission in the vacuum ultraviolet (VUV). In addition, there are two alternative mechanisms, producing light in the visible and near infrared (NIR) ranges. The first is due to bremsstrahlung of electrons scattered on neutral atoms (“neutral bremsstrahlung”, NBrS). The second, responsible for electron avalanche scintillation in the NIR at higher electric fields, is due to transitions between excited atomic states. In this work, we have for the first time demonstrated two alternative techniques of the optical readout of two-phase argon detectors, in the visible and NIR range, using a silicon photomultiplier matrix and electroluminescence due to either neutral bremsstrahlung or avalanche scintillation. The amplitude yield and position resolution were measured for these readout techniques, which allowed to assess the detection threshold for electron and nuclear recoils in two-phase argon detectors for dark matter searches. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first practical application of the NBrS effect in detection science

Design and construction of a new detector to measure ultra-low radioactive-isotope contamination of argon

Large liquid argon detectors offer one of the best avenues for the detection of galactic weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs) via their scattering on atomic nuclei. The liquid argon target allows exquisite discrimination between nuclear and electron recoil signals via pulse-shape discrimination of the scintillation signals. Atmospheric argon (AAr), however, has a naturally occurring radioactive isotope, 39Ar, a β emitter of cosmogenic origin. For large detectors, the atmospheric 39Ar activity poses pile-up concerns. The use of argon extracted from underground wells, deprived of 39Ar, is key to the physics potential of these experiments. The DarkSide-20k dark matter search experiment will operate a dual-phase time projection chamber with 50 tonnes of radio-pure underground argon (UAr), that was shown to be depleted of 39Ar with respect to AAr by a factor larger than 1400. Assessing the 39Ar content of the UAr during extraction is crucial for the success of DarkSide-20k, as well as for future experiments of the Global Argon Dark Matter Collaboration (GADMC). This will be carried out by the DArT in ArDM experiment, a small chamber made with extremely radio-pure materials that will be placed at the centre of the ArDM detector, in the Canfranc Underground Laboratory (LSC) in Spain. The ArDM LAr volume acts as an active veto for background radioactivity, mostly γ-rays from the ArDM detector materials and the surrounding rock. This article describes the DArT in ArDM project, including the chamber design and construction, and reviews the background required to achieve the expected performance of the detector

La porta ai paesaggi gramsciani. Un progetto come processo

La Fondazione Casa Museo Gramsci di Ghilarza Onlus si accinge, nel corso del 2019, a dar vita ad importanti iniziative di riqualificazione e di sviluppo. I primi passi sono costituiti da un intervento rilevante di ristrutturazione e ampliamento degli spazi museali anche grazie a nuove ac- quisizioni. La base dell’intervento è stata costruita grazie al protocollo d’intesa tra la Fondazione e il DICAAR - Dipartimento di Ingegneria Civile, Ambientale e Architettura dell’Università di Cagliari che ha consentito la predisposizione di uno studio di fattibilità per la messa a sistema di alcuni immobili oltre alla Casa Gramsci. Partendo da tale progettazione è stata impostata un’iniziati- va del Comune di Ghilarza e delle Unioni dei Comuni del Guilcier e del Barigadu per inse- rire la Casa Museo nei programmi regionali di sviluppo del territorio finanziati dall’UE. L’intervento, che avrà anche il sostegno finanziario della Fondazione di Sardegna, consentirà la costruzione a Ghilarza di una “cittadella museale” per una più adeguata presentazione della personalità di Antonio Gramsci. Occorreva mettere in campo un ripensamento della struttura del Museo, quasi esclusivamente centrata, nella origi- naria configurazione, sul Gramsci dirigente politico di primo piano, su scala nazionale e internazionale. Occorreva comunicare, at- traverso un rinnovamento dell’esposizione, questo Gramsci e, insieme, approfondire e valorizzare le sue radici sarde e renderne esplicito il ruolo nella formazione del pen- siero maturo. Il nuovo Polo Museale darà la possibilità di ricostruire e valorizzare que- sto straordinario percorso di formazione intellettuale e il volume presenta, sia pure in sintesi, le strategie progettuali previste dallo studio di fattibilità del DICAAR per il recupero degli spazi che lo accoglieranno e le prime strategie museografiche

Casa Museo Antonio Gramsci. Un progetto a tempo

La Fondazione Casa Museo Gramsci di Ghilarza Onlus si accinge, nel corso del 2019, a dar vita ad importanti iniziative di riqualificazione e di sviluppo. I primi passi sono costituiti da un intervento rilevante di ristrutturazione e ampliamento degli spazi museali anche grazie a nuove ac- quisizioni. La base dell’intervento è stata costruita grazie al protocollo d’intesa tra la Fondazione e il DICAAR - Dipartimento di Ingegneria Civile, Ambientale e Architettura dell’Università di Cagliari che ha consentito la predisposizione di uno studio di fattibilità per la messa a sistema di alcuni immobili oltre alla Casa Gramsci. Partendo da tale progettazione è stata impostata un’iniziati- va del Comune di Ghilarza e delle Unioni dei Comuni del Guilcier e del Barigadu per inse- rire la Casa Museo nei programmi regionali di sviluppo del territorio finanziati dall’UE. L’intervento, che avrà anche il sostegno finanziario della Fondazione di Sardegna, consentirà la costruzione a Ghilarza di una “cittadella museale” per una più adeguata presentazione della personalità di Antonio Gramsci. Occorreva mettere in campo un ripensamento della struttura del Museo, quasi esclusivamente centrata, nella origi- naria configurazione, sul Gramsci dirigente politico di primo piano, su scala nazionale e internazionale. Occorreva comunicare, at- traverso un rinnovamento dell’esposizione, questo Gramsci e, insieme, approfondire e valorizzare le sue radici sarde e renderne esplicito il ruolo nella formazione del pen- siero maturo. Il nuovo Polo Museale darà la possibilità di ricostruire e valorizzare que- sto straordinario percorso di formazione intellettuale e il volume presenta, sia pure in sintesi, le strategie progettuali previste dallo studio di fattibilità del DICAAR per il recupero degli spazi che lo accoglieranno e le prime strategie museografiche