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The book provides a cross sectoral assessment of the most relevant environmental challenges in the Mediterranean region, including land and water degradation, water and food security, and solution opportunities for these. It also discusses main change drivers, such as changes in climate, land use, population, demographics and technology. Additionally, the book explores improved management, participatory planning, and nature-based strategies and measures for meeting the key environmental challenges, e.g. restoring degraded areas and improving land management in different land uses (e.g. forest, coastal and urban areas). Finally, the book addresses needs and opportunities to improve governance and partnerships for assuring sustainable development in the Mediterranean region.

This book underlines the importance of establishing, in the planning and urban policies oriented towards sustainability, a relationship between the urban expansion – observed in its different forms and dynamics – and the ability of soil and landscape to support agricultural productivity and interface processes. This is the development of a specific investigation theme linked to the problem of soil degradation and peri-urban lands allows a valuable re-interpretation in the field of landscape studies. This book queries the value of the'rural'around a city, in a multidisciplinary perspective encompassing land transformations, good practices, and urban planning trends.Land transformations are at the center of analysis and discussions on the management, planning, and design of the landscape everywhere. This topic is particularly appropriate for European landscapes where land changes are often associated with the degradation of rural and natural areas. This issue represents a crucial point within the framework of the ecological transition towards a truly sustainable society and economy, as established by the European Union.This book is the result of detailed bibliographic research, of in-depth historical research on the most recent challenges and topics of greatest interest in the field of urban studies. Original landscape transformations analyses were performed, introducing also some practical cases, considered relevant contributions in spatial planning.

The open access book aims to show the readers novel, relevant and reproducible power of synergistic collaborations between European research groups and stakeholders with the objective to synthesize the existing knowledge and expertise about fire management and hazard and defining a concerted research agenda that promotes an integrated approach to create fire-resilient landscapes, taking into account biological, biochemical and physical, but also socio-economic, historical, geographical, sociological, perception and policy constraints. This is an urgent societal need due to the expected further intensification and geographical spreading of wildfire regimes under Global Change. Fire has been part of the Earth's System for the last 400 million years, and humans are the sole species that controls and manages fire. We have used fire for over a million years, both, as hunter-gatherers managing the landscape with fire and as farmers using fire as a low-cost, efficient and ecological tool for clearing and maintaining the productivity of the land. Fire has been highlighted as the most influential element in the development of human societies. The increase in prolonged dry and hot periods observed in many regions of the world is exacerbating the risk of fire. The causes of increased fire risk are not only linked to climate change but are also a consequence of economic and social changes and political decisions. Over the past few decades, many countries'rural areas have seen significant depopulation and a reduction in land management as residents moved to cities or even other countries in search of work. The resulting rural depopulation has led to revegetation of the abandoned agricultural land, which favors fire spread. The enhanced risk of fires is moving beyond the capacity of even the best-funded wildland firefighting teams and therefore calls for the development of new approaches to fire management that are key nowadays at different scales. Instead of focusing primarily on increasing firefighting capabilities, a more effective approach is needed that focuses on long-term fire prevention through vegetation management by reducing fuel load or managing fuel type and fuel continuity at a landscape level. FIRElinks (COST Action CA18135) is developing the EU-spanning network of scientists and practitioners involved in forest fire research and land management with backgrounds such as fire dynamics, fire risk management, fire effects on vegetation, fauna, soil and water and socio-economic, historical, geographical, political perception and land management approaches. Among the different Working Groups, number 5 is aimed to connect communities from different scientific and geographic backgrounds, allowing the discussion of different experiences and the emergence of new approaches to fire research, human management, regional issues and socio-economic aspects.

Environmental Sustainability and Global Change: Forests, Agriculture, and Soils vis à vis Human Disturbance offers an integrated approach to the socio-environmental dynamics of the ecological-economic nexus characteristic of Mediterranean landscapes. Evidencing the role of policies targeting sustainable development goals in Southern Europe, case studies from Italy, Spain, and Greece confirm the need of place-specific approaches to socio-ecological complexity and the partial effectiveness of generalized, top-down measures. Authored by leading scholars in Southern Europe – with eminent contributions from Eastern Europe – the book identifies the intrinsic peculiarity of the environmental-economic nexus characteristic of the Northern Mediterranean basin, along with important regional differences.Stimulating a spatial planning for rural areas, the book proposes a dynamic image of Mediterranean rural landscapes, providing novel interpretations, conceptual definitions, and operational tools designed to reduce ecological fragility and economic vulnerability. - Offers a holistic, multidisciplinary approach to ecological and economic issues, including studies spanning agronomy, demography, ecology, and economics - Contains unique case studies from comparative cases and quali-quantitative studies with extensive geographical coverage - Includes updated ecological issues of complex rural systems in the Mediterranean region and provides specialized strategies for sustainable development in these less studied areas

This book collates a wide spectrum of topics relevant to contemporary research achievement in sustainable utilization of plant genetic resources and conservation of plant genetic diversity within the framework of different crop systems. It introduces the status of crop genetic diversity and provides prospects for conservation of crop genetic diversity for sustainable agriculture. Plant genetic diversity is crucial for food security and agro-ecosystem maintenance paving ways to achieve sustainable agriculture development. This necessitates, consciously and judiciously, the conservation of all existing plant genetic resources for sustainable use in a variety of applications for human welfare. The wild and traditional landraces have generated an increased interest as a repertoire of valuable traits for breeding and improvement of cultivated germplasm. Internationally, concerted actions and policies toward for the conservation and management of plant genetic diversity are mounting, fromthe organization levels to national policies as deemed appropriate for the sustainable development goals. This needs an understanding of genetic diversity of different crops, ecological drivers and the structural changes within genetic diversity due to climate change. It is also equally important to evolve knowledge on what, how and where to conserve the existing plant genetic resources for present and future use. Assessment of the genetic diversity presents in a wild and traditional agro-ecosystem is another step towards effective utilization. In the past few years, advanced breeding tools have been developed which have offered great promise for efficient modification of targeted traits. This book consolidates current knowledge in the above core areas of plant genetic diversity and conservation. It is an essential reference for professionals, researchers, policy makers and commercial entrepreneurs concerned with plant genetic diversity and breeding to achieve enhanced agricultural productivity and sustainability of food resources to ensure food security. The book is also invaluable for graduate students involved in agriculture research.

History is generally defined as “the study of past events, particularly in human affairs” and is mostly understood when presented chronologically. That's why someone also defined it as the ‘chronological record of the past'. Knowing the past is extremely important for any society and human being. Past gives us insights into our evolving behavior in many matters of life. The book is seen as a unique opportunity to preserve the memory of the Italian history of soil science. It represents a milestone and a cultural heritage. Moreover, the book is a sort of ideal bridge between the pioneers of soil science in Italy and the young generation of researchers, contributing to spreading awareness of the importance of soil as a fundamental resource.

The edited volume deals with the origin, evolution, genetic diversity, commercial, and cultural aspects of selected tree species such as Rubber, Pine, Poplar, Almond, Cashew, Teak, Olive, Eucalyptus, Mango, Jack, Fig, Sandalwood and Ashoka. It covers major aspects of the altered gene pool of each tree species, its impact on biodiversity, the current scenario, and the strategies to protect and conserve the wild progenitors of these trees. Human interventions in the evolution and development of these economically important trees began at least four thousand years ago. Over these years, significant improvements in the traits of economic value were achieved for most of these tree species. However, the long history of domestication and the selective breeding pressure applied to their wild progenitors accelerated the loss of biodiversity, resulting in reduced genetic diversity and shrunken germplasm resources of these domesticated species. The book portrays the novel dimensions of the propitiousness of tree domestication and the interesting history behind it, which is interlaced with the development of civilizations, religions, local traditions, medicine and cuisine. This book is of interest to teachers, researchers, biodiversity experts, and policymakers. It can be used as additional reading material for undergraduate and graduate students of forestry, ecology, genetics, and environmental sciences. The book also serves as an interesting and useful read for national and international agricultural scientists, as well as historians and the general public.

This collection contains 95 peer-reviewed papers on health and safety, workforce, and education in construction presented at the Construction Research Congress 2024, held in Des Moines, Iowa, March 20–23, 2024.

Geographic Information Systems: Case Studies in Environmental Monitoring provides detailed remote sensing and GIS methods, algorithms and technology comparisons focusing on a wide range of environmental applications. The geoinformation technologies are demonstrated through templated case studies detailing real world use of the techniques and clarifying methods, tools and practical solutions to environmental mapping and monitoring. The book utilizes remote sensing and geospatial data from the most recently launched satellites,and applies the latest geospatial data approaches and analysis software tools (both commercial and open source). Geographic Information Systems: Case Studies in Environmental Monitoring is a comprehensive reference for researchers, academics and technicians in the fields of geospatial science & technology, remote sensing, and environmental science; or those processing and analyzing geospatial data for monitoring and modelling. - Focuses on global, templated case studies of GIS applications to environmental monitoring - Includes methodologies allowing readers to recreate techniques and models and workflows that can be used in their own work - Covers a plethora of topics in applied geosciences, providing environmental and geographical applications of practical interest

This open access book focuses on cutting-edge construction techniques for deep-sea tunnels. A world leader in construction technology for deep-sea tunnels and large undersea engineering structures, China has in these years completed several world-renowned undersea tunnel projects, such as the undersea tunnel connecting Shenzhen and Zhongshan, and the Shantou Bay undersea tunnel. The nation also boasts mature technology and enviable scientific research achievements in large-scale shield technology and deep-sea soil hydrostatic surveying. This book intends to provide a review of relevant studies on deep-sea tunnel construction for civil engineers around the globe and equip scholars in related fields of research with a deeper insight into this domain through comprehensive analyses of real-world engineering cases and the most up-to-date research results. The topics of this book include but are not limited to the following:1. Deep-sea survey technology and equipment.2. Complex load characteristics and numerical simulation technology in the marine environment.3. Key technology of immersed tube and shield tunnel construction.4. Deep-sea construction equipment and safety assessment methods.5. Deep-sea positioning, measurement and control technology.

This volume provides comprehensive overviews of the primate's and each lagomorph species'biology including palaeontology, physiology, genetics, reproduction and development, ecology, habitat, diet, mortality and age determination. Their economic significance and management, as well as future challenges for research and management are also addressed. Each chapter includes a distribution map, a photograph of the animal and key literature. This authoritative volume of the Handbook of the Mammals of Europe is a timely and detailed compilation of all European primates and lagomorphs and will appeal to academics and students in mammal research, as well as to professionals dealing with mammal management, including control, use and conservation.

Mit Hilfe des Waldmonitoring können die Zusammensetzung unserer Wälder artspezifisch kartiert und deren Zustand bzw. Vitalität beobachtet werden. Auf bundesweiten Stichprobenflächen werden regelmäßig Erhebungen zur Artenzusammensetzung und Vitalität des Waldes durchgeführt. Sturmereignisse, Trockenstress und Angriffe durch Insekten führen zu Veränderungen des Waldes und beinträchtigen somit auch die Ökosystemleistungen (ÖSL) des Waldes, wie z.B. die Kohlenstoffspeicherung oder die Wasserspeicherung im Waldboden. Das aktuelle Waldmonitoring ist nicht mehr adäquat, es fehlt an einer hohen zeitlichen und räumlichen Auflösung. Es muss zu einem transparenten und aussagefähigen Instrument der Risikoanalyse weiterentwickelt werden, um den Herausforderungen des Klimawandels entgegenzuwirken. Neben den derzeitigen Stichproben sind moderne Methoden der Fernerkundung geeignet, um Informationen zu Risiken in Bezug auf Waldbrandgefahr, Sturmereignisse, Insekten- und Trockenstress bundesweit bereitstellen zu können. Auch Waldbaumaßnahmen könnten auf ihre Wirkungen überprüft werden. Weiterhin könnten Konzepte zur Quantifizierung der ÖSL und deren Honorierung daraus abgeleitet werden. Waldmonitoring wird eine Schlüsselstellung bei der Entwicklung von Anpassungsstrategien einnehmen, da zukünftige Waldbaumaßnahmen, Förderungen, Forschungsthemen und Gesetzesänderungen auf der Basis von Waldmonitoring getroffen werden können. Das vorliegende Buch zeigt anhand von zwei Fallstudien, wie auf Basis von frei zugänglichen Geodaten (Satellitenbilder, Luftbilder, Geländemodelle, Klimadaten etc.) und nachvollziehbaren Analyseschritten ein Waldmonitoring durchgeführt werden kann.

Sensor Technologies for Civil Infrastructure, Volume 2: Applications in Structural Health Monitoring, Second Edition, provides an overview of sensor applications and a new section on future and emerging technologies. Part one is made up of case studies in assessing and monitoring specific structures such as bridges, towers, buildings, dams, tunnels, pipelines, and roads. The new edition also includes sensing solutions for assessing and monitoring of naval systems. Part two reviews emerging technologies for sensing and data analysis including diagnostic solutions for assessing and monitoring sensors, unmanned aerial systems, and UAV application in post-hazard event reconnaissance and site assessment. - Includes case studies in assessing structures such as bridges, buildings, super-tall towers, dams, tunnels, wind turbines, railroad tracks, nuclear power plants, offshore structures, naval systems, levees, and pipelines - Reviews future and emerging technologies and techniques including unmanned aerial systems, LIDAR, and ultrasonic and infrared sensing - Describes latest emerging techniques in data analysis such as diagnostic solutions for assessing and monitoring sensors and big data analysis

Urban Soil and Water Degration, Volume Seven explores a wide breadth of emerging and state-of-the-art technologies, including comprehensive coverage of topics such as Urban sprawl, Soil degradation, Hydrological challenges in urban areas, Soil and water quality – pollutant sources and pathways, Ecosystem services in urban areas, Freshwater-related nature-based solutions in cities, Property Rights and Climate Change - land use under changing environmental conditions, Municipal planning to prevent soil and water degradation: The case of Vilnius, In between water and fires: soil degradation in a new Mediterranean peri-urban landscape, and more. Additional chapters in this release include Groundwater in Venetian area, Soil protection and hydrogeological risk assessment. A strategic planning experience in Franciacorta, Data driven approach for assessing surface runoff in separated sewage systems: Israeli Case Study, Ecological status of urban streams and riparian habitats in the Czech Republic, Soil and water degradation in urban areas from western Romania, Mapping water ecosystem services: supply and demand in Stockholm, Land degradation and water availability in Ethiopia, and The study of land use and land cover changes in the Bekéscsaba area, Hungary. - Covers a wide breadth of emerging and state-of-the-art technologies - Includes contributions from an international board of authors - Provides a comprehensive set of reviews

This two-volume set discusses the importance of linking the decision making concept to damage identification and structural modeling. It examines the process of addressing and maintaining structural health, including measurements, structural identification, and damage identification and discusses the theoretical and practical issues involved for each aspect. Emphasizing state-of-the-art practice as well as future directions, this text also features numerous practical case studies and covers the latest techniques in sensing and sensor utilization.

This handbook focuses specifically on biomarkers in diabetes and provides a comprehensive understanding of this field. Readers will gain deep insights into bioinformatics and network analysis of biomarkers in diabetes, and will learn about circulating biomarkers in body fluids and specific pathological features of diabetes. Various animal models in diabetes research are also presented.In addition, like the previous volumes in this large reference series, the book provides a comprehensive look at genetics, cellular, and histological variables. The goal of this handbook is to provide information on markers of this disease to facilitate diagnosis, introduce new technologies, and ultimately improve health.It is a must for researchers as well as advanced students and physicians in the field of diabetes and biomarker research and application.

This reference work provides an authoritative and comprehensive review of the latest developments in orchids'biology, biotechnology and phytochemistry, and it also explores the applications of orchids in medicinal chemistry, nutrition and cosmetics industry. Chapters from expert contributors are organised into six sections and cover the entire gamut of orchid research and uses. In this work, readers will learn about topics such as biogeography and diversity of orchids, their biology and environmental factors, their horticulture and phytochemistry, and their use in agri-food, medicinal and perfumery industries. This book will appeal to graduate students, scholars, researchers interested in botany, agriculture, pharmacy, biotechnology and phytochemistry. Industrial scientists and those involved in marketing flowers and phytochemicals, plants and their extracts will also understand the importance of this reference work.

Urban expansion and the preservation of fringe landscapes are clearly interconnected issues. This book discusses the relationship between landscape and peri-urban agriculture and the possible implications of sustainable land management for fringe land quality, proposing a framework to evaluate the latent nexus between agro-forest systems and human settlements in Southern Europe. Eco-sustainable planning integrated with multi-faceted policy actions (social, economic, cultural and political dimensions) is a relevant approach to reinforce sustainability of fringe landscapes. Permanent assessment of these factors allows for the implementation of different development scenarios. The present work definitely contributes to systemic and multi-scale approaches informing environmental policies, with the aim of achieving an integrated management of peri-urban agricultural landscapes.

Climate Change and Crop Stress: Molecules to Ecosystems expounds on the transitional period where science has progressed to'post-genomics'and the gene editing era, putting field performance of crops to the forefront and challenging the production of practical applicability vs. theoretical possibility. Researchers have concentrated efforts on the effects of environmental stress conditions such as drought, heat, salinity, cold, or pathogen infection which can have a devastating impact on plant growth and yield. Designed to deliver information to combat stress both in isolation and through simultaneous crop stresses, this edited compilation provides a comprehensive view on the challenges and impacts of simultaneous stresses. - Presents a multidisciplinary view of crop stresses, empowering readers to quickly align their individual experience and perspective with the broader context - Combines the mechanistic aspects of stresses with the strategic aspects - Presents both abiotic and biotic stresses in a single volume

Trinacria, the ancient name for Sicily extending back to Homeric Greek, has understandably been the focus of decades of archaeological research. Recognizing Sicily's rich prehistory and pivotal role in the history of the Mediterranean, Sebastiano Tusa - professor, head of heritage agencies and councillor for Cultural Heritage for the Sicilian Region - promoted the exploration of the island's heritage through international collaboration. His decades of fostering research initiatives not only produced rich archaeological results spanning the Palaeolithic to the modern era but brought scholars from a range of schools and disciplines to work together in Sicily. Through his efforts, uniquely productive methodological, theoretical and interpretative networks were created. Their impact extends far beyond Sicily and Italy.To highlight these networks and their results, the Institutum Romanum Finlandiae, the Swedish Institute in Rome, the Norwegian Institute in Rome, the British School at Rome and the Assessorato dei Beni Culturali of Sicily, with generous support from the Swedish Riksbankens Jubileumsfond, assembled this anthology of papers. The aim is to present a selection of the work of and results from contemporary, multi-national research projects in Sicily.The collaboration between the Sicilian and international partners, often in an interdisciplinary framework, has generated important results and perspectives. The articles in this volume present research projects from throughout the island. The core of the articles is concerned with the Archaic through to the Roman period, but diachronic studies also trace lines back to the Stone Age and up to the contemporary era. A range of methods and sources are explored, thus creating an up-to-date volume that is a referential gateway to contemporary Sicilian archaeology.

The Bosco della Mesola represents one of the few remnants of coastal woodlands in Italy. A nature reserve was established in this area in 1977. No detailed checklists of the vascular flora of the nature reserve have been compiled since then. So, there was an urgent need to fill this gap. This book contains a critical updated checklist of the vascular flora in the Bosco della Mesola Nature Reserve. It also allows quantitative comparisons with a previous checklist dating back to the 1960s in order to detect temporal changes in the vascular flora over 60 years. We believe that this book represents a milestone for scientists and all people involved in nature conservation and management in this area and in similar territories in other countries. The readerships can also include high-school students and non-professional botany amateurs.

Vibration problems are commonly encountered in a wide range of scientific and technological domains. Covering the most recent computational and theoretical trends in the field, these books provide a state-of-the-art treatment of different mathematical theories of vibration, numerical simulations, machine intelligence techniques and physical experiments with computational investigations, as well as their various engineering, biological and science applications. The second of two volumes, this book covers soft computing, including machine intelligence techniques and uncertainty scenarios. It is an invaluable guide for graduate and postgraduate students, teachers and researchers in colleges, universities and industries in fields such as applied mathematics, physics, mechanical, civil, aerospace, electrical, nuclear, robotics, and other sciences.Key Features: Presents a self-contained, up-to-date review of the topicModels real life vibration problemsIntroduces new concepts of various computing techniques to handle different vibration problemsUses examples to illustrate concepts and algorithms

Fungi are an understudied, biotechnologically valuable group of organisms. Due to their immense range of habitats, and the consequent need to compete against a diverse array of other fungi, bacteria, and animals, fungi have developed numerous survival mechanisms. However, besides their major basic positive role in the cycling of minerals, organic matter and mobilizing insoluble nutrients, fungi have other beneficial impacts: they are considered good sources of food and active agents for a number of industrial processes involving fermentation mechanisms as in the bread, wine and beer industry. A number of fungi also produce biologically important metabolites such as enzymes, vitamins, antibiotics and several products of important pharmaceutical use; still others are involved in the production of single cell proteins. The economic value of these marked positive activities has been estimated as approximating to trillions of US dollars. The unique attributes of fungi thus herald greatpromise for their application in biotechnology and industry. Since ancient Egyptians mentioned in their medical prescriptions how they can use green molds in curing wounds as the obvious historical uses of penicillin, fungi can be grown with relative ease, making production at scale viable. The search for fungal biodiversity, and the construction of a living fungi collection, both have incredible economic potential in locating organisms with novel industrial uses that will lead to novel products. Fungi have provided the world with penicillin, lovastatin, and other globally significant medicines, and they remain an untapped resource with enormous industrial potential.Volume 1 of Industrially Important Fungi for Sustainable Development provides an overview to understanding fungal diversity from diverse habitats and their industrial application for future sustainability. It encompasses current advanced knowledge of fungal communities and their potential biotechnological applications in industry and allied sectors. The book will be useful to scientists, researchers, and students of microbiology, biotechnology, agriculture, molecular biology, and environmental biology.

The Solanum genus is the largest and most representative from the Solanaceae family, which includes approximately 2000 species distributed throughout the world in tropical and subtropical regions. The genus is recognized for its applications in traditional medicine since ancient times due to its phytochemical content and nutritional composition. This compilation extensively examines important aspects of Solanum elaeagnifolium and S. nigrum including their growth dynamics, distribution, impact, and the management techniques that are currently available for the control of these two troublesome weeds. The authors summarize the genetic approaches that have been applied to improve different agronomic traits of potato varieties, as well as the potential applications of genome editing. The sustainable production of potato is hampered by different factors, including abiotic and biotic stresses, which reduces crop yield. The evolutionary dynamics and structural variations between numerous organelle genomes within the genus Solanum are compared and analyzed. In addition, the organelle genome size and gene content were determined and compared across Solanum, and within the broader Solanaceae family. The closing study evaluates the allelopathic activities of Solanum lycocarpum leaf ethanol extract and its fractions on Lactuca sativa and Allium cepa seeds. S. lycocarpum is a tree species of the Solanaceae family and is popularly known as “lobeira.”

This volume constitutes the proceedings of the 15th International Conference on Sustainable Digital Communities, iConference 2020, held in Boras, Sweden, in March 2020. The 27 full papers and the 48 short papers presented in this volume were carefully reviewed and selected from 178 submissions. They cover topics such as: sustainable communities; social media; information behavior; information literacy; user experience; inclusion; education; public libraries; archives and records; future of work; open data; scientometrics; AI and machine learning; methodological innovation.

Topics in Modal Analysis & Testing, Volume 8: Proceedings of the 37th IMAC, A Conference and Exposition on Structural Dynamics, 2019, the eighth volume of eight from the Conference brings together contributions to this important area of research and engineering. The collection presents early findings and case studies on fundamental and applied aspects of Modal Analysis, including papers on: Analytical MethodsModal ApplicationsBasics of Modal AnalysisExperimental TechniquesMulti Degree of Freedom TestingBoundary Conditions in Environmental TestingOperational Modal AnalysisModal Parameter IdentificationNovel Techniques

The area corresponding to the modern city of Rome is usually known for the magnificent remains of the Roman civilization and the myths of its foundation in 753 BC. Less known is evidence of the prehistoric occupation occurring until the Bronze Age along the territory corresponding to the city of Rome and the surrounding area, called'Campagna Romana'. Indeed, until a few years ago, the archaeological evidence relating to the phases of recent prehistory, from the Neolithic to the beginning of the Bronze Age, were completely, or almost completely, unknown. Recent excavations, mainly related to preventive archaeology, led to the identification of settlements and necropolises associated with a complex cultural scenario and shed light on the social and cultural aspects of daily life of the human groups who occupied this territory before the Latium civilization.

Since the 1970s and particularly the works of Tüxen (1978) and Géhu & Rivas-Martínez (1981), dynamico-catenal phytosociology has facilitated the integration of vegetation dynamics by more precisely describing the trajectories of vegetation series. A national habitat mapping program (CarHAB), launched by France's Ministry of Ecology, aims to map the vegetation and vegetation series of metropolitan France at a scale of 1: 25,000 by 2025. In this context, Corsica has been selected as a pilot region, due to its unique characteristics regarding Mediterranean and alticole vegetation. This book describes in detail the vegetation series and geoseries (ecology, structure, dynamic trajectories, effects of anthropogenic factors on vegetation dynamics, catenal positioning in the landscape) of two Corsican sectors: Cap Corse and Biguglia pond. These two study sites were selected using two methods: • For Cap Corse, the typology and mapping are based on an inductive approach, which seeks to understand the dynamics of vegetation by drawing on the mature, substitutional, pioneering and anthropogenic associations likely to exist within a tessellar envelope. These various dynamic stages characterize “the vegetation series” (sigmetum or synassociation), the fundamental unit of symphytosociology (Géhu 2006; Biondi 2011). The aim of symphytosociology is, therefore, to define the vegetation series; in other words, it seeks to identify the repetitive combinations of syntaxa under homogeneous ecological conditions. • For Biguglia pond, the typology and mapping are based on a deductive approach, which combines (under SIG) the ecological descriptor maps with the vegetation mapping, in order to reveal the tesselas and the natural potential vegetation that underlies them. Thanks to the improvement of GIS techniques, this approach has been frequently used to characterize plant landscapes from vegetation to vegetation geoseries since the 2000s, with applications to the conservation management of natural and semi-natural environments.

​This book presents the outcomes of the symposium “NEW METROPOLITAN PERSPECTIVES,” held at Mediterranea University, Reggio Calabria, Italy on May 26–28, 2020.Addressing the challenge of Knowledge Dynamics and Innovation-driven Policies Towards Urban and Regional Transition, the book presents a multi-disciplinary debate on the new frontiers of strategic and spatial planning, economic programs and decision support tools in connection with urban–rural area networks and metropolitan centers. The respective papers focus on six major tracks: Innovation dynamics, smart cities and ICT; Urban regeneration, community-led practices and PPP; Local development, inland and urban areas in territorial cohesion strategies; Mobility, accessibility and infrastructures; Heritage, landscape and identity;and Risk management,environment and energy. The book also includes a Special Section on Rhegion United Nations 2020-2030. Given its scope, the book will benefit all researchers, practitioners and policymakers interested in issues concerning metropolitan and marginal areas.

Model Validation and Uncertainty Quantification, Volume 3: Proceedings of the 37th IMAC, A Conference and Exposition on Structural Dynamics, 2019, the third volume of eight from the Conference brings together contributions to this important area of research and engineering. The collection presents early findings and case studies on fundamental and applied aspects of Model Validation and Uncertainty Quantification, including papers on: Inverse Problems and Uncertainty Quantification Controlling Uncertainty Validation of Models for Operating Environments Model Validation & Uncertainty Quantification: Decision Making Uncertainty Quantification in Structural Dynamics Uncertainty in Early Stage Design Computational and Uncertainty Quantification Tools

Natural ecosystems provide the basic conditions without which humanity could not survive. Goods and services provided by ecosystems include, for example, provision of food, fibre and fuel, purification of water and air, cultural and aesthetic benefits, stabilization and moderation of the Earth's climate, generation and renewal of soil fertility, including nutrient cycling or maintenance of genetic resources as key inputs to crop varieties and livestock breeds, medicines, and other products. However, the ability of natural ecosystems to continue performing these services is seriously threatened because plant species diversity or soil are being seriously deteriorated, and in some cases destroyed. While loss of species has always occurred as a natural phenomenon, the pace of extinction has accelerated dramatically as a result of human activity. Ecosystems are being fragmented or eliminated, and innumerable species are in decline or already extinct. At the same time, various studies worldwide have shown that soils do not support intensive annual plant cultivation without fertilizer applications and even these may not maintain sustainability. Inappropriate silvicultural operations or the use of land for intensive agricultural purposes is one of the main causes of soil degradation, and there is therefore worldwide interest in quantifying the loss of soil quality generated by incorrect agricultural operations or forest management practises. This can only happen if people have the right information, skills, and organizations for understanding and dealing with soil and plant diversity issues. This books deals with soil management and restoration strategies in order to maintain soil quality avoiding soil deterioration. Throughout the book, different authors present very interesting works related to the nitrogen status of containerized Australian blackwood (Acacia Melanoxylon) seedings, soil carbon stocks in different vegetation types, biological soil crusts distribution in China sandy soils, ash soil fertilizers, the watershed management of badland areas, effects of pipeline construction-related disturbances on soil properties, soil quality indicators and soil hydrology in dry areas and aggregate characteristics within the soil active layer.

Environment and Society in the Long Late Antiquity brings together scientific, archaeological and historical evidence on the interplay of social change and environmental phenomena at the end of Antiquity and the dawn of the Middle Ages, covering the period ca. 300-800 AD. It gives a new impetus to the study of the environmental history of this crucial period of transition between two major epochs in premodern history. The volume contains both systematic overviews of the previous scholarship and available data, as well as a number of interdisciplinary case studies. It covers a wide range of topics, including the histories of landscape, climate, disease and earthquakes, all intertwined with social, cultural, economic and political developments. Contributors are Daniel Abel-Schaad, Francesca Alba-Sánchez, Flavio Anselmetti, José Antonio López-Sáez, Daniel Ariztegui, Brunhilda Brushulli, Yolanda Carrión Marco, Alexandra Chavarría, Petra Dark, Carmen Fernández Ochoa, Martin Finné, Asuunta Florenzano, Ralph Fyfe,Didier Galop, Benjamin Graham, John Haldon, Kyle Harper, Richard Hodges, Adam Izdebski, Katarina Kouli, Inga Labuhn, Tamara Lewit, Anna Maria Mercuri, Alessia Masi, Lucas McMahon, Lee Mordechai, Mario Morellón, Timothy Newfield, Almudena Orejas Saco del Valle, Leonor Peña-Chocarro, Sebastián Pérez-Díaz, Eleonora Regattieri, Stephen Rippon, Neil Roberts, Laura Sadori, Abigail Sargent, Gaia Sinopoli, Paolo Squatriti, Giovanni Stranieri, Raymond van Dam, Bernd Wagner, Mark Whittow, Penelope Wilson, Jessie Woodbridge. See inside the book.

GPP 11 contains 37 peer-reviewed papers on recent developments in geotechnical engineering practice presented at the International Foundation Congress and Equipment Expo 2018, held in Orlando, Florida, March 5–10, 2018.

This volume gathers case studies on plant diversity from selected, representative mountain systems of Italy (Mediterranean and temperate zones), while also addressing the biodiversity of avian fauna. For the Alps, Wilhalm and Prosser examine the species biodiversity (also with the help of highly detailed location maps) of the sector of the central Alps that corresponds to the basin of the Adige, including some nearby valleys, between the watershed to the north and the Prealps to the south (Alto Adige and Trentino). In turn, Pedrotti investigates the vegetation series of the same territory in relation to the three climatic sectors identified: prealpine, alpine and endoalpine. Aleffi then explores the relationships between the distribution of a number of species of bryophytes and the main mesoclimatic gradients along a transect through the Valle dell'Adige between 46°40'N and 45°42'N. Lastly, Siniscalco studies the ways in which alien species are now invading the western Alps, whichto date have remained largely unaffected by this phenomenon, unlike the plains and hills. For the Apennines, Ferrari studies the tree line and the biodiversity of the vegetation of the northern Apennines; for the mountains of Sicily, Bazan conducts a diachronic analysis of the beech forests of the Monti Nebrodi. The contribution by Venanzoni interprets the chorology of associations of the Magnocaricetalia order throughout Italy, relating it to the climatic and geographic gradients. He describes a total of 55 associations, reporting on the distribution in the temperate zone (differentiating between the alpine and continental) and the Mediterranean zone for each of them. Cianfaglione presents the Signal Project Italian site. This project investigates the effects of extreme weather events on secondary grassland and the role of selected alien species, mowing, biodiversity, productivity and functional traits, in Italy and along a European gradient. Forthe Marches Region, Forconi describes the biodiversity of the avian fauna in relation to the altitudinal gradient and the potential vegetation.

This edited volume presents selected contributions from the International Conference on Experimental Vibration Analysis of Civil Engineering Structures held in San Diego, California in 2017 (EVACES2017). The event brought together engineers, scientists, researchers, and practitioners, providing a forum for discussing and disseminating the latest developments and achievements in all major aspects of dynamic testing for civil engineering structures, including instrumentation, sources of excitation, data analysis, system identification, monitoring and condition assessment, in-situ and laboratory experiments, codes and standards, and vibration mitigation.

This book constitutes the proceedings of the Third International Conference on Technologies and Innovation, CITI 2017, held in Guayaquil, Ecuador, in October 2017. The 24 papers presented in this volume were carefully reviewed and selected from 68 submissions. They were organized in topical sections named: cloud and mobile computing; knowledge based and expert systems; applications in healthcare and wellness; e-learning; and ICT in agronomy.

Modern Trends in Civil Engineering (EBUILT-2016)Selected, peer reviewed papers from the International Conference - Towards a Sustainable Urban Environment EBUILT-2016, November 16-19, 2016, Iasi, Romania

This is the fourth updated and revised edition of a well-received book that emphasises on fungal diversity, plant productivity and sustainability. It contains new chapters written by leading experts in the field.This book is an up-to-date overview of current progress in mycorrhiza and association with plant productivity and environmental sustainability. The result is a must hands-on guide, ideally suited for agri-biotechnology, soil biology, fungal biology including mycorrhiza and stress management, academia and researchers. The topic of this book is particularly relevant to researchers involved in mycorrhiza, especially to food security and environmental protection.Mycorrhizas are symbioses between fungi and the roots of higher plants. As more than 90% of all known species of plants have the potential to form mycorrhizal associations, the productivity and species composition and the diversity of natural ecosystems are frequently dependent upon the presenceand activity of mycorrhizas. The biotechnological application of mycorrhizas is expected to promote the production of food while maintaining ecologically and economically sustainable production systems.

Sicuramente, e con estrema suggestione, Maratea entra nell'immaginario dei luoghi dove la bellezza si coniuga con le valenze della natura. Spesso, e più frequentemente di quanto si possa pensare, la bellezza di un territorio e di un paesaggio esprimono anche connotati di una grande rilevanza su fronti che non sono solo di tipo estetico, ma anche naturalistico, storico, e quindi turistico, per la presenza di peculiarità che ne sottolineano valori fuori dall'ordinario. Caratterizzare questo tratto tirrenico della Basilicata ponendone l'accento solo sui caratteri prettamente costieri, risulterebbe un'angolazione parziale per la ricchezza dei valori naturalistici, paesaggistici e culturali che esso presenta. Questo territorio è, infatti, il risultato di un equilibrio basato sull'interazione di una pastorizia tradizionale, praticata da tempi immemorabili nell'entroterra, di una cerealicoltura prevalentemente a carattere familiare, e di uno sviluppo turistico rispettoso. Tutto questo giustifica la limitata presenza di insediamenti umani, elemento che ha favorito il mantenimento di un paesaggio vegetale naturale estremamente diversificato ed interessante, caratterizzato da entità endemiche e di particolare rilievo. Ulteriore elemento degno di nota è la perfetta commistione di flora e vegetazione mediterranea e temperata, in un mirabile equilibrio che si diversifica in senso fisionomico e strutturale partendo dalla fascia costiera fino alle quote più elevate, risultato anche dell'effetto dell'abbandono di alcune pratiche tradizionali e della trasformazione di uso del suolo avvenuto negli ultimi decenni. In tutto questo si inserisce l'ennesima grande valenza di questo territorio, ad elevato valore conservativo in senso culturale, come evidenziato dalla notevole conoscenza delle specie vegetali da parte della popolazione locale ed il loro utilizzo in farmacopea, nelle pratiche tradizionali di tipo religioso. Su queste diverse specificità si snoda il percorso ideale proposto nel presente volume, con l'intento di esaltare alcuni dei tratti più caratteristici della cultura e della natura locale.

Selected, peer reviewed papers from the ACE 2015 - Advances in Civil and Infrastructure Engineering, June 12-13, 2015, Vietri sul Mare, Italy

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are hazardous highly toxic pollutants that cause a number of environmental and human health problems. They are released during a wide range of industrial, transportation and commercial activities and their emissions have reached high levels. This book provides a review of the occurrence, behavior and ecological implications of VOCs. Chapter One evaluates the biogeneration of volatile organic compounds produced by microalgae. Chapter Two investigates VOC pollution from industrial complexes and wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Chapter Three illustrates the current knowledge of intra- and inter- organismal Microbial Volatile Organic Compounds (mVOCs)-based interactions, volatile perception, signal transduction and phenotypical responses in the receiver organisms. Chapter Four summarizes the current state of knowledge regarding the impact of emissions from gasoline powered vehicles on historical ambient VOC concentration trends, and on the current ambient urban atmosphere of the South Coast Air Basin. Chapter Five discusses the oxidation of VOCs over cyptomelane catalysts. Chapter Six studies VOCs from truffles and false truffles from Basilicata in Southern Italy. Chapter Seven discusses the removal of VOCs in the air by total catalytic oxidation promoted by catalysts.

This book presents a collection of original research papers focused on the relationship between information technology and accounting and control models. The book discusses the importance of establishing a synergetic relationship between new information technologies (ERP, BI, web-based technology, data mining, XBRL, etc.) and new or renewed accounting models and tools (performance indicators, prevision and simulation models, accounting models for public administration, etc.) in order to enhance an organization's capability to manage information and make valuable decisions. The search for these synergies takes place at all organizational levels: at a strategic level, in order to simulate and forecast behaviors and financial results at a management level, in order to innovate performance measurement and improve value creation at the operational level, in order to improve information qualityand the efficiency of the information process. This book is particularly useful for IS and CFO managers and scholars, as it is based on a selection of the best papers – original, double blind reviewed contributions - presented to the Annual Conference of the Italian Chapter of AIS under the category “Accounting Information Systems”.

Scour and Erosion includes four keynote lectures from world leading researchers cutting across the themes of scour and erosion, together with 132 peer-reviewed papers from 34 countries, covering the principal themes of: - internal erosion- sediment transport- grain scale to continuum scale- advanced numerical modelling of scour and erosion- terrestrial scour and erosion- river and estuarine erosion including scour around structures, and- management of scour/erosion and sediment, including hazard management and sedimentation in dams and reservoirs.Scour and Erosion is ideal for researchers and industry working at the forefront of scour and erosion, and has applications in both the freshwater and marine environments.

This book is focused on the challenges to implement sustainability in diverse contexts such as agribusiness, natural resource systems and new technologies.The experiences made by the researchers of the School of Agricultural, Forestry, Food and Environmental Science (SAFE) of the University of Basilicata offer a wide and multidisciplinary approach to the identification and testing of different solutions tailored to the economic, social and environmental characteristics of the region and the surrounding areas.Basilicata's productive system is mainly based on activities related to the agricultural sector and exploitation of natural resources but it has seen, in recent years, an industrial development driven by the discovery of oil fields. SAFE research took up the challenge posed by market competition to create value through the sustainable use of renewable and non-renewable resources of the territory. Moreover, due to its unique geographical position in the middle of the Mediterranean basin, Basilicata is an excellent “open sky” laboratory for testing sustainable solutions adaptable to other Mediterranean areas. This collection of multidisciplinary case studies and research experiences from SAFE researchers and their scientific partners is a stimulating contribution to the debate on the development of sustainable techniques, methods and applications for the Mediterranean regions.

Warm-temperate deciduous forests are'southern', mainly oak-dominated deciduous forests, as found over the warmer southern parts of the temperate deciduous forest regions of East Asia, Europe and eastern North America. Climatic analysis has shown that these forests extend from typical temperate climates to well into the warm-temperate zone, in areas where winters are a bit too cold for the ‘zonal'evergreen broad-leaved forests normally expected in that climatic zone. This book is the first to recognize and describe these southern deciduous forests as an alternative to the evergreen forests of the warm-temperate zone. This warm-temperate zone will become more important under global warming, since it represents the contested transition between deciduous and evergreen forests and between tropical and temperate floristic elements. This book is dedicated to the memory of Tatsuō Kira, the imaginative Japanese ecologist who first noticed and described this general zonation exception and who proposed the name warm-temperate deciduous forest.

Research on nutrition has grown into one of the most challenging and innovative health-related scientific disciplines during the past decade. New advances in basic and applied nutritional research help to emphasize several health challenges of the global population. In this book, authors present current research in the study of nutrition and human health. Topics discussed here include the correlation between obesity and iron deficiency anemia; the role of exercise, inflammation and chronic disease in zinc transport; protein supplementation in an athletic environment; efficacy and safety of dietary guanidinoacetic acid and methyl donor loading; the utilization of new creatine formulations in human nutrition; the evaluation of medicinal plant antioxidants and anti-inflammatory activities; the role of edible wild plants in human nutrition; factors influencing fruit and vegetable consumption in adolescents; and novel perspectives in physical inactivity-related mechanisms of sarcopenia.

Nutrition and Disease Management for Veterinary Technicians and Nurses, Second Edition offers a thorough update and significant expansion of this easy-to-use introduction to veterinary nutrition and diet, with broader species coverage, a new section on nutritional management of disease, and many new chapters. • Provides a complete reference to veterinary nutrition, from the fundamentals to feeding companion animals of any age and health status • Adds information on nutrition in birds, small mammals, and horses to the existing dog and cat coverage • • Presents a new section on managing disease through nutrition, with 10 new disease chapters • Offers additional new chapters on nutritional calculations, types of pet foods, raw food diets, additives and preservatives, nutrition myths, nutritional support, and assisted feeding • Includes access to a companion website with case studies, review questions and answers, and the figures from the book in PowerPoint

As the climate and environment continue to fluctuate, researchers are urgently looking for new ways to preserve our limited resources and prevent further environmental degradation. The answer can be found through computer science, a field that is evolving at precisely the time it is needed most. Soft Computing Applications for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency brings together the latest technological research in computational intelligence and fuzzy logic as a way to care for our environment. This reference work highlights current advances and future trends in environmental sustainability using the principles of soft computing, making it an essential resource for students, researchers, engineers, and practitioners in the fields of project engineering and energy science.

This fifth volume of eight from the IMAC - XXXII Conference, brings together contributions to this important area of research and engineering. The collection presents early findings and case studies on fundamental and applied aspects of Structural Dynamics, including papers on:Linear SystemsSubstructure ModellingAdaptive StructuresExperimental TechniquesAnalytical MethodsDamage DetectionDamping of Materials & MembersModal Parameter IdentificationModal Testing MethodsSystem IdentificationActive ControlModal Parameter EstimationProcessing Modal Data

This third volume of eight from the IMAC - XXXII Conference, brings together contributions to this important area of research and engineering. The collection presents early findings and case studies on fundamental and applied aspects of Structural Dynamics, including papers on:Linear SystemsSubstructure ModellingAdaptive StructuresExperimental TechniquesAnalytical MethodsDamage DetectionDamping of Materials & MembersModal Parameter IdentificationModal Testing MethodsSystem IdentificationActive ControlModal Parameter EstimationProcessing Modal Data