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The present study investigates different combinations and methods for estimating the extreme Total Water Level (TWL) and its implications for predicting flood extension caused by coastal storms. This study analyses various TWL components and approaches and assesses how different methodologies alter flood predictions, with implications for warning systems and emergency responses. Using different combinations of individual TWL components, flood extension simulations were conducted using a hydrodynamic model in the Volano Beach area (Emilia-Romagna, Italy). A real coastal storm event was used as a reference for comparison. The findings indicate that the selection of individual TWL components and calculation methods significantly impacts flood extension predictions. The approaches, which involve calculating extreme values from a combined time series or the water level time series plus the extreme value of wave setup, yield the most realistic results, excluding the runup component. In comparison, the other combinations overestimate the flood. Incorporating hydromorphological models like XBeach could enhance the accuracy of runup estimations and improve the overall method reliability. Despite limitations such as runup estimation and the use of generic regional parameters, this study underscores the importance of the TWL combination selection in accurately predicting flood extents, emphasising the need for context-specific adaptations in environmental contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper combines the documentation work of the Eneolithic stratigraphic and structural evidence of the site of Cava Gazzuoli, carried out by SAP archaeological company, and the master's thesis work of F. Barchiesi who subsequently studied the materials. In particular, the study refers to an extensive quarry complex located in the municipality of Modena, on the border with the municipality of Formigine (Emilia-Romagna, northern Italy). After the analysis of the pottery and lithic industry, we suggest that the site (most likely a settlement) belongs to an early phase of the Spilamberto Group (middle 4th-middle 3rd millennium BC), with clear references to the late Neolithic facies of Sant’Ilario.

In May 2023, the Italian region Emilia-Romagna was hit by intense rainfall, which caused extensive floods in densely populated areas. On May 4, 2023, a 12-month state of emergency was declared in the region with the activation of response and recovery plans. This field report provides an overview of the health response to the floods, paying particular attention to the measures put in place to ensure care for displaced populations and raising interesting points of discussion regarding the role of the health system during extreme weather events (EWEs). The considerations that emerge from this report underline the need for a primary care approach to disasters, especially when these occur in areas with a high prevalence of elderly resident population, and underscore the importance of integration of different levels of care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this work is to update the status of the Black Kite Milvus migrans in the Emilia-Romagna region, reporting new data about nesting attempts, winter observations and major summer gatherings collected during the period 2006-2022.

RESUMO Este artigo apresenta os resultados da pesquisa de doutorado sobre a educação da criança pequena na região da Emilia-Romagna, Itália, que, além de progressistas práticas pedagógicas, desenvolve políticas públicas que sustentam seu sistema de educação de 0 a 6 anos. Com o aporte teórico do materialismo histórico-dialético, a pesquisa é um estudo de caso de abordagem qualitativa com análise documental. Também foi realizado trabalho de campo de dez meses na Itália. Concluiu-se que a luta social e as administrações de esquerda foram importantes para os avanços da educação infantil na região, mas a não garantia do direito, do dever do Estado e da gratuidade no atendimento na faixa de 0 a 3 anos impede o acesso de todas as crianças à educação, sendo o principal desafio a ser superado pelo poder público.

The present study investigates different combinations and methods for estimating the extreme Total Water Level (TWL) and its implications for predicting flood extension caused by coastal storms. This study analyses various TWL components and approaches and assesses how different methodologies alter flood predictions, with implications for warning systems and emergency responses. Using different combinations of individual TWL components, flood extension simulations were conducted using a hydrodynamic model in the Volano Beach area (Emilia-Romagna, Italy). A real coastal storm event was used as a reference for comparison. The findings indicate that the selection of individual TWL components and calculation methods significantly impacts flood extension predictions. The approaches, which involve calculating extreme values from a combined time series or the water level time series plus the extreme value of wave setup, yield the most realistic results, excluding the runup component. In comparison, the other combinations overestimate the flood. Incorporating hydromorphological models like XBeach could enhance the accuracy of runup estimations and improve the overall method reliability. Despite limitations such as runup estimation and the use of generic regional parameters, this study underscores the importance of the TWL combination selection in accurately predicting flood extents, emphasising the need for context-specific adaptations in environmental contexts.

Community planning and civic engagement have a long and enduring tradition within the Emilia-Romagna region. This is particularly relevant when we examine the many connections between local government policies concerning social issues and the making of urban policies for most of the Post-war period. The paper is intended to describe how this Civic Culture has changed, from its early years to the recent times. The long period development of this political experience shows how a decision-centered approach to urban planning (led by the Communist Party), has recently turned into a more fragmented and uncertain profile, due to the rise of new and influencing actors that have deeply changed the public domain.

The study of deformation signals associated with seismicity in alluvial plain areas is a challenging topic that, however, is increasingly studied thanks to the great aid given by remote sensing techniques that exploit Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data. This study focuses on the determination of the deformation field within the Emilia-Romagna Region (northern Italy), in the area comprising Modena, Reggio Emilia, and Parma cities. SAR data acquired along both orbits during the Sentinel-1 and Cosmo-SkyMed satellite missions were processed with the Small Baseline Subset interferometric technique from June 2012, after the serious seismic swarm of May 2012, to January 2022, just before the two earthquakes occurred in February 2022. The results, validated with Global Navigation Satellite System measurements, do not highlight displacements correlated with the seismicity but, thanks to their high spatial resolution, it was possible to discriminate areas affected by noticeable subsidence phenomena: (i) the highly industrialized areas located north of the municipalities of Reggio Emilia and Modena cities and (ii) a sector of the high-speed railway sited north of the Reggio Emilia city centre, close to the Reggio Emilia AV Mediopadana station. Here we show that, at least since 2012, the latter area is affected by subsidence which can be related to the secondary consolidation process of the fine soils loaded by the railway embankment. The piezometric level analysis also suggests that the lowering of the groundwater table could accelerate the subsidence rate, affecting the stability of infrastructures in highly populated and industrialized areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The number of newly described sandfly-borne phleboviruses has been steadily growing in recent years. Some phleboviruses are human pathogens, but their health relevance is largely uncharacterized. We aimed to investigate the circulation of these viruses in the Emilia-Romagna region where several have already been described. A total of 482 sandflies were collected in a site in Reggio Emilia in 2019 and 2020. Sandflies collected in 2020 were grouped in 21 pools with a maximum of 25 sandflies per pool, submitted to real time PCR, and isolated in Vero cell culture. Complete genome sequencing showed the isolation of a strain of a Ponticelli III virus. This virus, which belongs to the species Adana phlebovirus, differed in the M segment from the Ponticelli I and Ponticelli II viruses. Analysis performed on the genomic segments of the newly isolated virus compared with other phleboviruses highlighted a strong purifying selection in the L segments, and different substitution saturation, highest in the M segments. Future research should address the ecological processes driving the occurrence of these novel phleboviruses and their possible impact on public health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the need to implement housing integration practices for migrants in Italy. Through an overview of the literature on housing, with an insight at the Emilia-Romagna region, the aim was to identify opportunities and obstacles that arise for refugees and holders of international protection once they leave the reception and integration services. As part of the H2020 MERGING project we introduce a first phase of the qualitative research conducted and the methodology adopted for the selection of the case study investigated. The selected project presents itself as a potential model to be implemented to address the housing issue as a right to be protected but also as a starting point for the integration process.

This paper is centred on the work of the famous doctor from Carpi (Modena) Bernardino Ramazzini. It pays particular attention to mining and the poor conditions of miners, who were subject to serious health problems. In addition, the mines that were active in past centuries in Emilia-Romagna are described. Whereas in Romagna the extraction of sulphur was a thriving industry, particularly along the River Savio, in Emilia mining resources were scarce, apart from a few areas concentrated in the provinces of Parma and Piacenza. In the second half of the 18th century, count Vincenzo Masini from Cesena wrote a poem entitled Il zolfo (The sulphur), in which he described the miners’ work with Arcadian emphasis. He also gave an account of the subsequent purification of the ore and organisation of the mineral trade, which took place mainly in the harbour of Cesenatico. Furthermore, the testimony of some doctors working in the mining district of Cesena in the 19th century are presented, with descriptions of the miners’ precarious life conditions. Notwithstanding this, when the mining industry closed down there were many protests by the miners who did not want to lose their jobs or be transferred elsewhere. This shows how important and dignified this work was considered, although today it seems to belong to the distant past. Finally, an excerpt from the famous work by Georg Bauer aka Agricola De Metallica is reported. This scientist describes the health problems that afflicted the German miners whom he had assisted for several decades a century and a half before Ramazzini. The latter had the great merit of pinpointing the damage to workers caused by over fifty unhealthy different jobs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the impact of implementing the pay-as-you-throw policy as a fiscal incentive mechanism for municipal waste management across municipalities in the Emilia-Romagna region, Italy. Utilizing panel data from 2010 to 2022 and employing a synthetic control with staggered treatment adoption, we evaluate the policy's effects on environmental and local public finance performances. Our findings reveal that treated municipalities witness an average 10% increase in separate waste collection alongside a parallel reduction in municipal waste production since the policy outset, equating to approximately 60 kg per capita annually. Furthermore, our analysis indicates that the policy enables local governments to reduce current energy and environmental expenditures by roughly €130 per capita annually in our optimal model. Notably, results hold robust across three recently developed estimators using difference-in-differences with staggered treatment adoption over time. The policy proves overall effectiveness in promoting circularity within municipal waste management systems, leading to better environmental performances, and decreased environmental management expenses. These implications underscore the potential value for local governments to adopt similar strategies where not yet envisaged. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study of deformation signals associated with seismicity in alluvial plain areas is a challenging topic that, however, is increasingly studied thanks to the great aid given by remote sensing techniques that exploit Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data. This study focuses on the determination of the deformation field within the Emilia-Romagna Region (northern Italy), in the area comprising Modena, Reggio Emilia, and Parma cities. SAR data acquired along both orbits during the Sentinel-1 and Cosmo-SkyMed satellite missions were processed with the Small Baseline Subset interferometric technique from June 2012, after the serious seismic swarm of May 2012, to January 2022, just before the two earthquakes occurred in February 2022. The results, validated with Global Navigation Satellite System measurements, do not highlight displacements correlated with the seismicity but, thanks to their high spatial resolution, it was possible to discriminate areas affected by noticeable subsidence phenomena: (i) the highly industrialized areas located north of the municipalities of Reggio Emilia and Modena cities and (ii) a sector of the high-speed railway sited north of the Reggio Emilia city centre, close to the Reggio Emilia AV Mediopadana station. Here we show that, at least since 2012, the latter area is affected by subsidence which can be related to the secondary consolidation process of the fine soils loaded by the railway embankment. The piezometric level analysis also suggests that the lowering of the groundwater table could accelerate the subsidence rate, affecting the stability of infrastructures in highly populated and industrialized areas.

The number of newly described sandfly-borne phleboviruses has been steadily growing in recent years. Some phleboviruses are human pathogens, but their health relevance is largely uncharacterized. We aimed to investigate the circulation of these viruses in the Emilia-Romagna region where several have already been described. A total of 482 sandflies were collected in a site in Reggio Emilia in 2019 and 2020. Sandflies collected in 2020 were grouped in 21 pools with a maximum of 25 sandflies per pool, submitted to real time PCR, and isolated in Vero cell culture. Complete genome sequencing showed the isolation of a strain of a Ponticelli III virus. This virus, which belongs to the species Adana phlebovirus, differed in the M segment from the Ponticelli I and Ponticelli II viruses. Analysis performed on the genomic segments of the newly isolated virus compared with other phleboviruses highlighted a strong purifying selection in the L segments, and different substitution saturation, highest in the M segments. Future research should address the ecological processes driving the occurrence of these novel phleboviruses and their possible impact on public health.

Abstract Background The subject of how the initial allocation of the primary mental health professional (PMHP) in community mental health services is made and the frequency and management of users’ requests to choose and/or change their allocated PMHPs has been scarcely investigated. The present paper is aimed at exploring the experiences and opinions of directors of community mental health centers (CMHC) on this topic. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted. Electronic ad hoc questionnaires with both multiple choice and open-ended questions were e-mailed to the institutional addresses of CMHC directors in the Emilia-Romagna Region (Northern Italy) with the consent of their heads of department and the Ethical Committee. Quantitative data were analysed by means of Microsoft Excel software and STATA 14.2 (College Station, TX), while the qualitative analysis was performed using the Nvivo12 software. Results Twenty-eight questionnaires were collected (response rate: 71.8%) that were equally distributed between males and females. For the initial PMHP allocation, casual allocation by “fixed-rota” was commonly performed (39.3%). Moreover, hope for a change of prescription by a different psychiatrist was the most frequent reason for users’ requests to change their PMHP. In two mental health departments only (Parma and Bologna), written guidelines to manage users’ requests of change of PMHP were available. In this context, most participants classified the explored topics as relevant and believed that written policies, especially if shared with users, could be useful. Conclusions In Emilia-Romagna CMHCs, neither users nor professionals were generally involved in the initial choice of the PMHP. Further national-level studies should be conducted in order to confirm this finding. Additionally, written and shared guidelines for managing users’ request to choose/change their PHMP may be useful.

A huge knowledge gap exists on riverine pioneer herbaceous vegetation. Despite its relevance in regulating the C metabolism at the catchment scale, and the triggering role in shrubs and trees establishment along riverbanks, little data is available on its environmental determinants. Indeed, most existing knowledge in this field refers to woody species or aquatic macrophytes neglecting the ecosystem relevance of ephemeral herbaceous vegetation. Focusing on three gravel bed rivers located in northern Italy (Baganza, Nure and Parma streams), the present study is aimed to evaluate the riverine ephemeral plant richness, considering both native and alien taxa, and the role of hydrogeomorphological disturbance and sediment quality in the observed richness patterns. At higher disturbance rates (e.g., larger river sizes), our data indicates a progressive decrease in overall plant richness, but also an increase in the coverage-abundance rates mainly due to alien species. This evidence confirms that variations in hydrology imply changes in pioneer plant species richness at in-stream periodically exposed sediments. More attention must be given to the vulnerability of pioneer vegetation to climate change and direct human impacts to fully understand the functioning of lotic ecosystems, especially the non-perennial ones.

This article offers an analysis of the encounter between the two natural environments of the Italian Po Plain and the Argentinian Pampa Gringa through the migration of Italian rural workers. Notably, we focus on the migration micro-histories of Emiliano-Romagnoli, who moved from Italy to Argentina during Italian Great Migration Era (1870–1955). Building on oral histories gathered in Italy and Argentina between 2005 and 2007, these micro-histories show how place-based landscapes of Italianness hybridised with the local landscape of the South American plains through Italian migrants' embodied memories, labour, and socio-environmental transformation practices. By focusing on Po Plain migrants' memories and experiences of the lowlands of northern Italy and the Argentinian pampas, we aim to offer a micro-historical perspective on the environmental history of migration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural and technological disasters and health emergencies are increasingly causing human and economic losses and disruptions. Disaster risk reduction can be effectively achieved only through a comprehensive approach aimed at connecting and integrating all the actors involved in forecasting, preventing, managing and mitigating disaster risk and its consequences. Furthermore, disaster risks can certainly be minimized by transferring to the relevant institutions and the general public valid and reliable knowledge on the nature, causes and effects of such disasters. A virtuous and effective approach to this matter is shown by the innovative Academic Upgrading Course on Territorial, Environmental and Health Emergencies (EmTASK) offered by the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia (Italy), which has proved to be a powerful tool for sharing experiences and raising attention and awareness on disaster risk reduction needs within both the workforce involved in disaster management and the general public. Before introducing the EmTASK Course, this paper provides an overview of the environmental, socio-economic and health issues related to the main natural and technological disasters recently occurred in Italy, focusing also on epidemics including the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Special attention is paid to the Emilia-Romagna region (northern Italy) that was hit by severe disasters in the last decade, caused by earthquakes, floods and landslides. The experience achieved in emergency and disaster management by local, regional and national institutions clearly shows that interdisciplinary policies and interventions, moving beyond traditional public health and emergency responses and activities, are needed to prevent or minimize the effects of disasters. New and innovative approaches, such as the EmTASK education and training initiative, should be pursued and enhanced, since they facilitate the integration of knowledge and experience achieved during past emergencies, and definitely raise preparedness to better cope with risks and related emergencies at different scales and levels.

Ecosystem services are the benefits for society deriving from ecosystems. The perception of ecosystem services by local residents is relevant to understand the extent to which such services contribute to society and regional development. The objective of this study is to assess the perception of ecosystem services associated to rural landscape by local residents and to use them to respond to two main questions: Are residents able to attribute flows of services from specific landscape elements to the different socioeconomic sectors? Are such perceptions affected by the different landscape features of the area of residency (e.g. rural vs. urban dwellers)? The analysis is carried out using data from a survey (n=295) in a rural area located in North Italy (Po Delta lowlands, Province of Ferrara). The results show that the urban population has a rather generic and positive consideration of ecosystem services associated to rural landscape elements and that perception is largely related to their recreational experience. The rural population has a more complex understanding of services and is more prone to acknowledge disservices associated to specific elements and/or specific socioeconomic sectors. Such differences are likely connected to a more direct experience and to the different spatial scales that affect the perception of ecosystem services. The results indicate that cultural services such as recreation and actions linked to the promotion of the territory are commonly acknowledged. On the other hand, initiatives to enhance the awareness of less visible services (e.g. regulation services) would be useful for improving the valorization of specific landscape elements.

In 2015, the Emilia‐Romagna Regional Government implemented a plan to reduce waiting times for elective outpatient procedures. The objective set by the regional government establishes that at least 90 per cent of specialist services are to be provided within the following maximum waiting times: 30 days for the first specialist consultation, and 60 days for diagnostic tests. The plan adopted by the Emilia‐Romagna Regional Government is of particular interest because it encompasses a combined strategy. Some of the interventions envisaged in the plan aim at increasing the supply of specialist services. Others address the demand side, seeking to reduce inadequate requests and discourage no‐shows by patients. And others focus on combining supply and demand and neutralizing the effects of some perverse incentives. The Emilia‐Romagna plan appears to have had a successful outcome. In the first 4 years of implementation, the 90 per cent target has not only been achieved but also widely exceeded. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The site and the initiative Mappe di memoria aims at conveying the memory of the terroristic massacres and the murderers in Emilia during the Years of Lead to the new generations. In spite of a sharable and clear purpose, it needs, as digital public history project, much commitment by the experts in order to improve not only the graphics, but also the contents and the whole structure.

Ecosystem services are the benefits for society deriving from ecosystems. The perception of ecosystem services by local residents is relevant to understand the extent to which such services contribute to society and regional development. The objective of this study is to assess the perception of ecosystem services associated to rural landscape by local residents and to use them to respond to two main questions: Are residents able to attribute flows of services from specific landscape elements to the different socioeconomic sectors? Are such perceptions affected by the different landscape features of the area of residency (e.g. rural vs. urban dwellers)? The analysis is carried out using data from a survey (n=295) in a rural area located in North Italy (Po Delta lowlands, Province of Ferrara). The results show that the urban population has a rather generic and positive consideration of ecosystem services associated to rural landscape elements and that perception is largely related to their recreational experience. The rural population has a more complex understanding of services and is more prone to acknowledge disservices associated to specific elements and/or specific socio-economic sectors. Such differences are likely connected to a more direct experience and to the different spatial scales that affect the perception of ecosystem services. The results indicate that cultural services such as recreation and actions linked to the promotion of the territory are commonly acknowledged. On the other hand, initiatives to enhance the awareness of less visible services (e.g. regulation services) would be useful for improving the valorization of specific landscape elements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The subject of how the initial allocation of the primary mental health professional (PMHP) in community mental health services is made and the frequency and management of users' requests to choose and/or change their allocated PMHPs has been scarcely investigated. The present paper is aimed at exploring the experiences and opinions of directors of community mental health centers (CMHC) on this topic. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted. Electronic ad hoc questionnaires with both multiple choice and open-ended questions were e-mailed to the institutional addresses of CMHC directors in the Emilia-Romagna Region (Northern Italy) with the consent of their heads of department and the Ethical Committee. Quantitative data were analysed by means of Microsoft Excel software and STATA 14.2 (College Station, TX), while the qualitative analysis was performed using the Nvivo12 software. Results: Twenty-eight questionnaires were collected (response rate: 71.8%) that were equally distributed between males and females. For the initial PMHP allocation, casual allocation by "fixed-rota" was commonly performed (39.3%). Moreover, hope for a change of prescription by a different psychiatrist was the most frequent reason for users' requests to change their PMHP. In two mental health departments only (Parma and Bologna), written guidelines to manage users' requests of change of PMHP were available. In this context, most participants classified the explored topics as relevant and believed that written policies, especially if shared with users, could be useful. Conclusions: In Emilia-Romagna CMHCs, neither users nor professionals were generally involved in the initial choice of the PMHP. Further national-level studies should be conducted in order to confirm this finding. Additionally, written and shared guidelines for managing users' request to choose/change their PHMP may be useful. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents an economic and financial analysis of the big wine companies in four of the sector's leading territories: Catalonia, La Rioja, Languedoc-Roussillon and Emilia Romagna. The different sectors are compared over a seven-year period from 2008–2016. Financial indicators are used which are supported by the literature and built using information from the SABI and AMADEUS databases. The article first characterizes the areas under study and provides a review of the literature before going on to present the empirical study with the appropriate constrasts to explain the economic and financial health of these companies representative of the sector and especially their profitability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a modified Budyko equation (Budyko DOWNSCALED) for assessing actual evapotranspiration (AET0). The approach is tested by using 100 controlled and homogeneous meteorological stations located in the Emilia-Romagna region from North of Italy. A period of 55 years, from 1961-1990 and 1991-2015, was analyzed as long-term datasets of monthly values of precipitations, maximum and minimum temperatures. These data have allowed AET0 to be computed both at the yearly and the monthly scale with the Budyko ORIGINAL and Budyko DOWNSCALED formula, respectively. Results of both methods have been compared at the yearly scale, demonstrating that the Budyko DOWNSCALED approach almost correctly reproduces the annual AET0 values (R2 equal to 0.77 and 0.73 for 1990s and 2015s, respectively) even if slightly underestimated (by 119 mm for 1990s and by 136 mm for 2015s). Further, monthly AET0 values were aggregated over a baseline period (between 1961 and 1990: 1990s) and a recent period (between 1991 and 2015: 2015s). In both baseline and recent periods, AET0 is higher in the summer months (May to September), while it is almost nil in winter season (January, February, and December). Monthly values of AET0 did not increase over the recent period as a result of increased temperatures. Further, this study contributes to the future management of water resources in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emilia-Romagna coast consists of 110 km of low and sandy beaches, which are particularly exposed to coastal erosion. Among different defence projects, the current trend is going towards soft interventions, such as beach nourishment. In 2016, the third intervention of "Security projects through submarine sand nourishment for critical areas of the regional coastline" was completed. This paper concerns the analysis of the eight coastal stretches involved by this project. A Monitoring Plan for the years 2017 and 2018 has been arranged to evaluate the evolution of each beach and the intervention effectiveness. Morphological variations in terms of shoreline, height, beach profiles and accumulated or eroded volumes have been evaluated by comparing surveys performed on each beach at different times. In the specific case of this project, the presence of a new geodetic infrastructure along Emilia-Romagna coast, the Coastal Geodetic Network (RGC), ensured advantages to surveys' realization. All the observed results show good evolutions from a general point of view, even if it is difficult to deduce a single trend for the eight beaches. On the other hand, the increasing availability and spatial coverage of data from monitoring surveys could provide powerful instruments for coastal studies. This paper confirms monitoring activities as an efficient way to evaluate beaches' morphological changes and coastal defence intervention effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this contribution, new chromosome data obtained on material collected in Italy are presented. It includes counts from six populations of three taxa within the genus Pulmonaria, two of which are endemic to Italy (P. vallarsae subsp. apennina and P. vallarsae subsp. vallarsae); the other is the widespread European P. officinalis. In addition, two counts from Potentilla detommasii and Stachys thirkei, two eastern Mediterranean species, are also reported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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In December 2016, Italy’s failed referendum highlighted the question of the place of regions in the Italian institutional landscape. Nearly twenty years ago, a series of changes to the country's Constitution marked a decisive turn toward federalism and regional level empowerment, with a President elected by direct universal suffrage. In their last political speeches, regional executives are allowed to develop a more personal and subjective vision of the region. This paper aims to understand how those political leaders are giving meaning to the regional scale, linking it in their discourses with others administrative levels, with a particular emphasis on the case of European Union. For this purpose, I applied lexical analysis and research for specific vocabulary to a corpus of 8 speeches pronounced by the newly elected presidents of the regions Emilia-Romagna and Lazio between 2000 and 2015. It appears that the necessity of positioning in the relations of power between scales of government varies according to time or political leader’s interests. The analysis also shows that discourses in Emilia-Romagna contain much more references to European Union than those in Lazio, which are more interested in the national scale. This could mean a difference in the Europeanness level of their political elites.

Crenosoma vulpis, the fox lungworm, is a nematode parasite of wild and domestic canids belonging to the super-family Metastrongyloidea. A survey of infection was carried out examining 88 red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) obtained during the regular hunting season (2014–2015) from the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy. Carcasses were stored frozen (− 21 °C) prior to necropsy. Lungs were examined for the presence of adult worms by dissection of the trachea, bronchi, and bronchioles, and then the lung tissue was examined for first-stage larvae (L1) by the Baermann method. No adult stages were detected, but L1, identified based on morphology as Crenosoma vulpis, were recovered from 28.4% (25/88) of the fox lungs. No significant differences in infection were found based on sex or geographical distribution. A brief review on C. vulpis report in red foxes in Italy and other European countries was also carried out. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The invasive Halyomorpha halys (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) is a key pest of fruits in the Emilia‐Romagna region of Italy. For the development of a sustainable management programme, knowledge of its native natural enemy community and its efficacy is essential. A three‐year field survey was conducted exposing H. halys egg masses in different types of habitats to investigate the efficacy of native natural enemies in reducing the H. halys populations in the Emilia‐Romagna region, where the stinkbug was first detected in 2012. Over the first year of the study, sentinel eggs from laboratory cultures were stapled to the underside of leaves in various host trees, whereas in following years H. halys adults were directly caged on branches in sleeve cages to allow natural oviposition. Over the examined years, low rates of parasitism (1%–3%) and predation (2%–5%) were observed. Parasitism was caused exclusively by the generalist parasitoid Anastatus bifasciatus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grape production is highly responsive to weather conditions and therefore very sensitive to climate change. To evaluate how viticulture in the traditional Italian wine region Emilia-Romagna could be affected by climate change, several bioclimatic indices describing the suitability for grapevine production were calculated for two future periods (2011-2040 and 2071-2100) using CORDEX (Coordinated Regional Climate Downscaling Experiment) high-resolution climate simulations under two Representative Concentration Pathways (RCP) scenarios—RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5. The projections for both of the RCP scenarios showed that most of the Emilia-Romagna region will remain suitable for grape production during the period 2011-2040. By the end of the twenty-first century, the suitability to produce grapes in Emilia-Romagna could be threatened to a greater or smaller extent, depending on the scenario. During the period 2071-2100, the entire Emilia-Romagna region will be too hot for grape production under the RCP 8.5 scenario. Under the RCP 4.5 scenario, changes will be milder, suggesting that the Emilia-Romagna region could still be suitable for grape cultivation by the end of the twenty-first century but would likely require certain adjustments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract In this paper, we focus on the most critical but low-studied Late Roman phase (3rd-6th century AD) of Mutina , an important Roman colony situated in Northern Italy. During this period, partly including the Late Antique, the seasonal variability with inconstant precipitation might have been responsible for devastating flood events. In the Po Plain, lying on four regions of Northern Italy (Piedmont, Lombardy, Emilia-Romagna and Veneto), an impressive set of flood events occurred that resulted in evident, sometimes thick sediment strata, in between the Roman archaeological layers, and after their full deposition. The research is a key example of integrated archaeobotanical analyses based on five archeological sites (on-site records) excavated within the modern city of Modena and studied for palaeoenvironmental reconstruction. Plant micro- and macro-remains were analysed in the framework of interdisciplinary archaeological studies, aiming at reconstructing the main floristic, vegetational and palaeoecological features of Mutina and its surroundings. Since early phases of the Roman age, there have been wetlands and thinly scattered mixed oakwoods that together with human environments, i.e. cereal fields and gardens, characterised the plant landscape of the area. Interestingly, during the Late Roman period, the woodland cover increased. Overall, the archaeobotany studies highlighted the effects of the floods on the city of Modena and its surroundings showing that subsequent episodes of floods favoured the expansion or spreading of wetlands with the development of hygrophilous woods in the later phases, after the flood of the 6th century AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Role of Theatre within Theatre and Mental Health Coordination in Emilia Romagna Starting from the paradigmatic change implemented by the psychiatric reform also known as “Basaglia’s Law”, the treatment perspective has undergone important transformations: the most superordinate may be considered the fact of overcoming a strictly clinical concept of psychical sufferance. In this article we reflect on how the theatre has helped cover this direction and triggered and accompanied the process of de-institutionalization of mental hospitals. Then we define the role it has played in the specific context of Emilia-Romagna, where a network has been established and called Coordinamento Teatro e Salute Mentale [Theatre and Mental Health Coordination]. We go back over the history of this experience, its significance, focusing on assessment and monitoring processes activated to support the project, tools which can be generalized to other similar experiences.

Since the approval of the regional landscape plan in 1993, the Emilia-Romagna legislative context has changed. The recent regional urban reform, which succeeds in time the Codice dei beni culturali e del paesaggio, confirms the arrangements for articulation and development of the landscape themes at the local scale, and the viability of the protection, recovery and development projects, which materialized on the territory by means of a multiplicity of planning forms. The numerous regional projects, as well as the adherence to international initiatives heterogeneously distributed in the territory, return a context of strong interest and ferment in landscape matter and act as the means by which to test new partnerships between local authorities.

As we prepare to emerge from an extensive and unprecedented lockdown period, due to the COVID-19 virus infection that hit the Northern regions of Italy with the Europe’s highest death toll, it becomes clear that what has gone wrong rests upon a combination of demographic, healthcare, political, business, organizational, and climatic factors that are out of our scientific scope. Nonetheless, looking at this problem from a patient’s perspective, it is indisputable that risk factors, considered as associated with the development of the virus disease, include older age, history of smoking, hypertension and heart disease. While several studies have already shown that many of these diseases can also be favored by a protracted exposure to air pollution, there has been recently an insurgence of negative commentary against authors who have correlated the fatal consequences of COVID-19 (also) to the exposition of specific air pollutants. Well aware that understanding the real connection between the spread of this fatal virus and air pollutants would require many other investigations at a level appropriate to the scale of this phenomenon (e.g., biological, chemical, and physical), we propose the results of a study, where a series of the measures of the daily values of PM2.5, PM10, and NO2 were considered over time, while the Granger causality statistical hypothesis test was used for determining the presence of a possible correlation with the series of the new daily COVID19 infections, in the period February–April 2020, in Emilia-Romagna. Results taken both before and after the governmental lockdown decisions show a clear correlation, although strictly seen from a Granger causality perspective. Moving beyond the relevance of our results towards the real extent of such a correlation, our scientific efforts aim at reinvigorating the debate on a relevant case, that should not remain unsolved or no longer investigated.

Several specimens of anomuran and brachyuran decapods are reported from the late Pliocene clays (Argille Azzurre Fm.) at localities nearby Faenza (Ravenna, Emilia-Romagna), located in the foothills of Romagna Apennines (NE Italy). The specimens were assigned to species already reported from the Pliocene of Italy, but never previously recorded in this area. This new report enlarges our knowledge on the composition and distribution of the brachyuran decapods along the Pliocene coastline of the Adriatic Gulf of the paleo- Mediterranean Sea.

L'attenzione del mondo accademico sulla storia dell'Università italiana si sposta sempre più verso il periodo repubblicano. Concentrandosi sull'Emilia-Romagna e i suoi atenei, in comparazione con il contesto nazionale, si è analizzato l'andamento degli iscritti sia nel dato generale che relativo alle matricole, alla popolazione studentesca femminile, quella straniera, le iscrizioni ai singoli settori disciplinari e i docenti, utilizzando i dati degli Annuari di statistica dell'istruzione.

All’indomani della Liberazione, le università emiliane qui prese in considerazione si ritrovarono in una condizione desolante, ma animate dal desiderio di riprendere il cammino in un’Italia finalmente democratica. Questo saggio si propone di analizzare come ciò sia avvenuto, quali rapporti siano stati stretti con i Comuni di riferimento e quali conseguenze abbiano avuto le politiche intraprese dai rettori, fino all’inizio di una nuova fase, quella della università di massa e della contestazione da parte del movimento studentesco.

In this paper, we discuss some aspects of the relationship between computer science and historical disciplines, with reference to teaching, dissemination and research on specific topics of urban history, highlighting the support provided by computing resources to study, analysis and presentation of themes of urban landscape history. We consider two case studies: some urban changes in Bologna from 1861 to the reconstruction after World War II, and the role of the tourism in urban history of Rimini from half of 19th century to the present day. This study is part of a larger research and educational project on urban history, with various levels of thematic and technical complexity.