Collaborative planning for post-disaster reconstruction in Italy

Community participation after a disaster is widely acknowledged to be crucial in both mitigation and reconstruction planning; however, to date very little research has been done on collaborative planning in a post-disaster context. This paper addresses the issue of collaborative planning for post-disaster reconstruction to effectively facilitate community participatory processes. First, we surveyed the characteristics of community participation for post-disaster reconstruction in Italy. Second, we studied the regional legislative regulations for reconstruction in Emilia-Romagna. Third, we compared the community participation and formulation processes of reconstruction planning tools used by communities. Lastly, we verified the dynamic mechanism of the town of Novi di Modena’s reconstruction planning process by using an evaluation framework with two axes: stage of planning process and community participation level. As a conclusion, we identified three key factors that encourage collaborative planning for reconstruction. The first key factor is the timing of the participatory process must be well managed. The second is a participatory proposal shared with citizens, which must be considered the guiding document for local development. The third key factor is regeneration scenarios for the whole territory considering the different periods must be defined, as well as the implementation strategies and tactics for each urban core

RECONSTRUCTION GOVERNANCE AFTER THE FOUR HUGE EARTHQUAKE DISASTERS AND ITS HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT PROCESS IN ITALY

The purpose of this study is to disclose the characteristics of establishment process of reconstruction governance (RG) at L'Aquila City after the Abruzzo earthquake in Italy. In addition, the mutual relationship between establishment process of RG and implementation process of reconstruction project (RP) are identified. The results reveal that this mutual relationship leads to diversifying RG, furthermore extending type and range of RP. As a conclusion, we finds two knowledges as follows: 1) Need for early establishment of an intermediary support organization playing a role of platform, 2) Importance of expansion of public offering project for civic association participation

Discovery of Tetrasubstituted Imidazolines as Potent and Selective Neuropeptide Y Y5 Receptor Antagonists: Reduced Human Ether-a-go-go Related Gene Potassium Channel Binding Affinity and Potent Antiobesity Effect

A series of novel imidazoline derivatives was synthesized and evaluated as neuropeptide Y (NPY) Y5 receptor antagonists. Optimization of previously reported imidazoline leads, <b>1a</b> and <b>1b</b>, was attempted by introduction of substituents at the 5-position on the imidazoline ring and modification of the bis(4-fluorphenyl) moiety. A number of potent derivatives without human ether-a-go-go related gene potassium channel (hERG) activity were identified. Selected compounds, including <b>2a</b>, were shown to have excellent brain and CSF permeability. Compound <b>2a</b> displayed a suitable pharmacokinetic profile for chronic in vivo studies and potently inhibited d-Trp³⁴NPY-induced acute food intake in rats. Oral administration of <b>2a</b> resulted in a potent reduction of body weight in a diet-induced obese mouse model