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The work presents the results of the anthropological and paleopathological analysis carried out on human skeletal remains of an individual (T-173) found in a burial from the necropolis “sector 96”, Messina, Sicily, dating back to the Roman Empire (1st century BCE – 1st century CE). The study aimed to acquire the information necessary for the reconstruction of the biological profi le. In fact, T173 is an adult male which is particularly interesting from a paleopathological point of view, showing skeletal anomalies from the cranial to the post-cranial skeleton probably caused by variations of genetic, neoplastic, articular and dental nature. Furthermore, the analyses have highlighted the possible cause of death, related to two perimortem traumatic lesions on parietal bones.

Riassunto ― Il lavoro presenta i risultati delle analisi bio-archeologiche effettuate su resti scheletrici umani rinvenuti in quattordici sepolture di epoca medioevale rinvenute nel Parco Archeologico della Valle dei Templi di Agrigento (Sicilia). L’obiettivo è stato l’acquisizione delle informazioni necessarie per la ricostruzione del profilo biologico di ciascun individuo, al fine di determinarne il sesso, la stima dell’età biologica alla morte, la stima della statura e la valutazione delle patologie e degli indicatori di stress occupazionale mediante le correnti metodologie e tecniche diagnostiche di tipo antropologico. Sebbene il cattivo stato di conservazione di alcuni individui non ne abbia consentito la caratterizzazione antropologica, le indagini hanno messo in luce l’eterogeneità relativa alle classi d’età e hanno permesso di constatare la manifestazione di alterazioni di natura patologica nei soggetti di età matura, talvolta di eziologia non ancora accertata, come la DISH (Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal Hyperostosis). La dimensione del campione non è rappresentativa dell’intera popolazione, ma approfondimenti successivi forniranno una migliore comprensione delle dinamiche popolazionistiche di Agrigento medievale.

Nel momento in cui l’attenzione si concentra sul Made in Italy, è possibile guardare agli artefatti del design di comuni-cazione delle imprese storiche italiane nel loro complesso; rintracciando, così, nel confronto tra le singole narrazioni d’impresa, modalità e temi comuni che – in un processo di indagine in cui la sequenzialità cronologica viene sospesa a favore di una lettura tematica – compongono l’eloquio ita-liano; ovvero un linguaggio, caratterizzato dalla longevità e dalla ricorsività di segni e contenuti.

In the Nile Delta, a complex network of canals collects drainage water from surface-irrigated fields, but also municipal wastewater. The goal of this work was to assess the technical, environmental and financial feasibility of the upgrade of a drainage canal (DC) into either an in-stream constructed wetland (ICW) or a canalized facultative lagoon (CFL), in order to produce a water re-usable in agriculture according to the Egyptian law. The model-based design of the proposed technologies was derived from field experimental data for the ICW and laboratory data for the CFL. Both technologies, integrated by a sedimentation pond and a disinfection canal, led to the attainment of the water quality standards imposed by Egyptian Law 92/2013 for the reuse of drainage water. The life cycle assessment indicated that the upgrade of an existing DC to either an ICW or a CFL results in an extremely small environmental burden, ≤ 0.3% of that of a traditional activated sludge process. The cost/benefit analysis (CBA) was based on the assumptions that (i) farmers currently irrigate a non-food crop (cotton) with the low-quality drainage water present in the DC, and (ii) thanks to the upgrade to a ICW or CFL, farmers will irrigate a food crop characterized by a higher market price (rice). The CBA indicated that the DC upgrade to an ICW represents an attractive investment, as it leads to a financial rate of return > 10% over a wide range of cotton market prices. Conversely, the upgrade to a CFL is less attractive due to high investment costs. In conclusion, the upgrade of DCs to ICWs appears a promising option for the treatment of drainage canal water in the Nile Delta, thanks to the high pollutant removal performances, low cost and negligible environmental burden. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

The increasing interest on natural wastewater treatment systems implementation for large flow rates involves to study in detail the process features. Recently, the full scale implementation of horizontal sub-surface flow (SFS-H) phytotreatment systems in irrigation channels is studied. Biological processes in SFS-H phytotreatment systems for wastewater treatment are regulated by vertical profiles of dissolved oxygen which balance and distribute the aerobic/anoxic/anaerobic conditions in filtration bed. Nitrification in horizontal flow systems is strongly influenced by the limited oxygen transfer capability so hybrid systems (vertical and horizontal flow) are frequently implemented to improve the nitrification/denitrification rates. Consequently, the oxygen transfer capability in SFS-H natural ponds is a key point for their efficient implementation. Thus, a monitoring study has been carried on the Engineering-UNIBO pilot plant in order to measure and improve the oxygen transfer capability in SFS-H natural pond. The pilot plant consists of two tanks with the same sand bed and one of them also contain plants (Phragmites Australis). The pilot plant was alternatively fed by clean water and wastewater from the University sewage system. Consequently, four work conditions were studied and compared: 1) clean water and tank without plants 2) clean water and tank with plants 3) wastewater and tank without plants 4) wastewater and tank with plants. The Dissolved Oxygen (DO) and Temperature (T) were measured at two levels corresponding to surface and bottom of the tank in order to evaluate the horizontal and vertical variations. As expected, the monitoring results show that in case of clean water inlet the DO variations are very low even if an increase was observed when the hydraulic retention time was 30 h, while in case of wastewater inlet DO increase reach around 30%.

"The paper seeks to offer some observations about the relationship between the complex connectivity of contemporary reality and communications strategies by seeking a field for reflecting on issues of the representation of the city within the general theme. . Representing the city has always meant ‘presenting it’’ using visual systems that can capture its identity and transform it into an image. The state of the contemporary city makes this work more complex and suggests new forms of representation that take account of change and represent the complexity of experiencing a situation in constant flux. It is therefore crucial to abandon ‘assertive’ approaches towards viewing the city, and put forward new and multiple ‘perspectives’ which can create narrative schemes by weaving together individual stories, urban tactics, temporary uses and descriptions of places. Like modern-day flaneurs, these new perspectives should focus on experience rather than interpretation. They involve creating dynamic maps of a discontinuous present created through forms of listening and the production of communicative artifacts which are not always conventional but are capable of re-orienting the exploration of places and promoting strategies of signification and possible future uses. . "