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The problem proposed by the Tecumseh company consists in applying the Topology Optimization (TO) methodology to improve the performance of an electromagnetic device. For convenience, this study focuses on modeling and developing numerical tools to optimize the core topology of an Electromagnetic Actuator (EA). The strategy is based on a TO framework that considers the magneto-static problem that governs the EA. The developed codes are written in Python and use the open-source library FEniCS to solve the Partial Differential Equations (PDEs), via the Finite Element Method (FEM), and the Method of Moving Asymptotes (MMA) algorithm as the optimizer.

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are polyesters produced by bacteria as intracellular carbon and energy reserves. Cheap and easy processes are needed to make PHAs really competitive respect to fossil-based plastic. B-PLAS DEMO project aims to produce PHAs by means of sewage sludge and mixed microbial cultures. This would permit to reduce the costs. The project includes the application of the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology to evaluate the environmental performances of the system. As first step of the environmental analysis, a review of 14 LCA studies on PHAs and PHB was performed. The review covered both methodological aspects and final results. The “Goal and Scope Definition” phase has been delineated in the light of the review outcomes. The final results of the reviewed papers show that both the choice of feedstock and the use of process residues and co-products for energy production can lower the environmental impacts of the production process. Climate change impact values generally are between 1 and 6 kg of CO2-eq. per kg of PHAs produced, whereas in most studies the energy requirement is higher than 29 MJ per kg of biopolymer., Proceedings of the 28th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition, 6-9 July 2020, Virtual, pp. 831-836

European Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) method allows the practitioner to calculate the environmental life cycle performance of products for several mandatory impact categories, which can be also combined with the use of additional environmental indicators included in the Product Environmental Footprint Category Rules (PEFCR). When applied to agricultural production, these additional criteria can highlight specific aspects of the investigated production process and therefore help to valorise organic agricultural supply chains, to which LCA studies may allocate higher environmental impacts if compared to conventional productions, because the yield strongly affects the results. In this study, after performing the PEF study of an Italian organic olive oil in the framework of the LIFE EFFIGE project (www.lifeeffige.eu), the RothC model was applied, as suggested by the current draft version of the PEFCR for olive oil production, for the calculation of organic carbon storage in the soil of olive groves, with the aim to both valorise the environmental performance of the organic olive oil and highlight the model strengths and weaknesses. RothC evaluates the turnover of organic carbon in topsoil according to the soil type, thetemperature and rainfall, the soil moisture and the soil cover of the studied area. A combination of site-specific data provided by the company and literature data were used for the application of the model. Climate data consist of the monthly average air temperature and total rainfall, obtained from regional specific databases and the monthly open pan evaporation, which was calculated by literature formulas and reference data for the studied area. The clay content of the soil, its organic carbon content and the monthly input of organic fertiliser were derived from primary data provided by the company. The input of plant residues was calculated by literature average data, whereas the depth of the soil layer was estimated according to the agricultural work processes in the olive grove in the reference years (2016 and 2017). The results of the annual return of organic carbon to the soil, calculated by the model, will be presented at the conference, as well as the results of different scenarios obtained by the variation of some main parameters, such as the quantity of organic fertilisers and the amount of plant residues. Finally, both the limits of the model and its integration with the PEF results will be discussed.

A survey was conducted to study the livestock system, feeding, farm size, main breeds reared, some production and reproduction parameters, and socioeconomic indicators, related in particular to farm viability, of 110 sheep and goat farms located in the wilayas of Bejaia and Tizi Ouzou in Algeria, from July 2016 to January 2018. The farms were of a mixed type, small-sized (less than 100 head) and meat-oriented. Feeding was based on silvopastoral resources, fodder, and supplementation with concentrates. A higher diversity of breeds was found in sheep than in goats. In addition, the Tazegzawt sheep breed (recently referenced and recognizable by its black spots with bluish hues, hence its Kabyle name) was little represented, although it would be important to preserve and improve it. Small ruminants were generally slaughtered before the age of one year, very rarely after two years. Two to four kids or lambs were born per year. The main constraints were the lack of fodder and the high cost of feed, fiber and concentrates.

The prevalence of Fasciola hepatica infection in the snail Galba truncatula was studied for the first time in Algeria using Multiplex PCR. A total of 722 individuals were collected from 11 typical habitats (temporary ponds, road ditches and puddles) distributed in five localities of the El Tarf province, known for endemicity of fascioliasis. Snails were divided in 75 groups and DNA extraction was performed using Chelex® (Biorad, Nazareth Eke). Two primers were used, the first is specific for 124 bp DNA fragment of Fasciola sp and the second one represents the ITS-2 lymnaeids sequence (500-600 bp). The prevalence of the infection was estimated to be 46.66% for pools (35/75 were positive). The bursting out of the pools show that 75 snails were carriers of F. hepatica which gives an overall infection rate of about 10.74%. The results of snails infection according to their sizes showed significant differences in the studied size classes, thus snails of big sizes were the most infected. Based on these data, epidemiological implication of Multiplex PCR as a fully reliable technique to highlight high risks periods of fasciolosis will be of a great interest.

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), as conceived in ISO 14040 series, is based on a steady state and linear model. Time dimension is not considered and changes in time are not foreseen. Therefore, the oversimplified ISO LCA structure could fail to capture complex dynamics evolving over time, which in some cases can be crucial in providing a proper environmental assessment. Several attempts to introduce time dimension in LCA modelling, with particular regard to Life Cycle Inventory (LCI), have been proposed in the past, but dynamic approaches to LCA are still pioneering. On the other hand, system dynamics represents a well-established method for analysing the interrelationships and feedbacks existing within complex systems, thus exploring the non-linear and time dependent causalities and consequences reflective of real world behaviour. Our research group is studying the way for combining system dynamics and LCA to implement a dynamic LCI. The methodology proposed would find application within the European projects Star-Pro-Bio, aimed at the development of sustainability assessment tools for bio-based products, and TO-SYN-FUEL, aimed to demonstrate the conversion of biomass into advanced biofuels. The present work represents an exercise where a system dynamics modelling framework is built in order to implement a dynamic LCI. The main objective is to provide an example case of generation of inventory data for life cycle environmental assessment, considering their interrelationship with a multiplicity of time-dependent and case-specific environmental and economic variables in a unique comprehensive framework. In this way, complex dynamics can be managed and made explicit, allowing the study to highlight how they affect the assessment of environmental impacts. Starting from a marginal demand for biomass feedstock (e.g. maize) generated by the production of a novel bio-based product, the aim of the developed system dynamics model is to quantify the increased use of fertilizers and the consequent change in their stock in agricultural land, which is also mutually linked to the quantity of chemical compounds emitted into the environmental compartments. This way, varying the production of the novel bio-based product will provide a dynamic inventory of the fertilizer-derived emissions. Emissions generated over time can ultimately be converted into environmental impacts through conventional characterisation factors.

Acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) is a new software-based technique that evaluates liver stiffness during B-mode ultrasonography. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of ARFI in distinguishing patients with chronic autoimmune liver disease from healthy subjects.We enrolled 9 adult patients (8 women, 1 man; age 48.1 ± 12.8 years) with chronic autoimmune disease (primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC, n = 3), autoimmune hepatitis (AIH, n = 2), primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC, n = 1) and overlap syndromes, (n = 3) who underwent a liver biopsy and 11 healthy volunteers (age 34.7 ± 10.4 years; 7 women, 4 men). Liver stiffness was evaluated and expressed as the shear wave velocity (SWV) in m/sec. We used a US scanner Siemens-Acuson S2000, evaluating the right liver lobe and the left liver lobe.THE SWV WAS SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER IN CASES (RIGHT LOBE: 1.51 ± 0.44; left lobe: 1.57 ± 0.40) than in controls (right lobe: 1.08 ± 0.10; left lobe: 1.12 ± 0.13) (right lobe: P = 0.002; left lobe: P = 0.013). We found no significant correlation between right and left lobe SWVs in cases (P = 0.779) or controls (P = 0.385). The SWV cut-off that best distinguished cases from controls was 1.25 m/sec (accuracy: AUC=0.885; sensitivity: 70.6%; specificity: 95.5%).ARFI elastography is a noninvasive ultrasonographic technique that can differentiate healthy subjects from patients with fibrotic stages of chronic liver disease.L'elastografia ARFI è una tecnologia integrata all'ultrasonografia convenzionale B-mode in grado di determinare la rigidità tissutale. L'obiettivo di questo studio è stato valutare se l'elastografia ARFI sia in grado di differenziare pazienti affetti da patologie epatiche croniche autoimmuni e soggetti normali.Sono stati arruolati 9 pazienti affetti da epatopatia cronica autoimmune sottoposti a biopsia epatica (età 48.1 ± 12.8 anni; femmine/maschi: 8/1; 3 PBC, 2 AIH, 1 PSC e 3 overlap) e 11 volontari sani (età 34.7 ± 10.4 anni; F/M: 7/4). La rigidità epatica è stata valutata mediante l'elastografia ARFI ed espressa come “shear wave velocity” (SWV) in m/sec. È stato utilizzato un ecografo Siemens-Acuson S2000 valutando entrambi i lobi epatici. Le misurazioni sono state eseguite a respiro bloccato, ad una profondità compresa tra 2 e 5 cm.La SWV è risultata significativamente più elevata nei casi (Dx: 1.51 ± 0.44; Sn: 1.57 ± 0.40) rispetto ai controlli (Dx: 1.08 ± 0.10; Sn: 1.12 ± 0.13) (Dx:L'elastografia ARFI è una metodica ultrasonografica utile nel differenziare soggetti sani da pazienti affetti da epatopatia cronica in evoluzione fibrotica.

Negli ultimi anni l'attenzione di molti gruppi di ricerca è stata rivolta allo studio delle microalghe come potenziale materia prima per la produzione di biocarburanti. Infatti l'ottimizzazione del processo produttivo a partire dalle microalghe potrebbe fornire una valida alternativa all'utilizzo dei combustibili fossili risultando al tempo stesso economica ed ecosostenibile. Nell'ottica di progettazione di un impianto dedicato allo sfruttamento di biomassa algale, devono essere necessariamente valutati gli impatti ambientali legati alle fasi di coltivazione, raccolta, trasformazione, distribuzione, impiego e smaltimento della biomassa stessa. In linea di massima la produzione di biodiesel da oli vegetali richiede grande dispendio di energia ed estese superfici agricole. Da ciò derivano costi molto elevati; infatti è stato calcolato che il costo delle materie prime inciderebbe per circa il 70 - 85% dell'intero costo di produzione (Miao & Wu, 2006). Nel caso dell'impianto di Marina di Gioiosa Jonica, gli impatti sono stati determinati in relazione alle effettive caratteristiche e condizioni operative del sistema prototipale stesso. I principali impatti analizzati sono riconducibili alle risorse idriche, all'uso del suolo, all'uso di fertilizzanti e nutrienti in genere, alla fertilizzazione carbonica, all'uso di combustibili fossili, all'eutrofizzazione, alla problematica delle alghe geneticamente modificate, ai fenomeni di tossicità delle alghe (Wijffels e Barbosa, 2010; Acquafuels, 2010) ed ai ceppi di microalghe utilizzate.

La radioterapia intraoperatoria (IORT) è una recente modalità di trattamento che prevede la somministrazione di una singola dose di elettroni in sede di intervento chirurgico. Le condizioni di irraggiamento prevedono ratei di dose e di dose per impulso molto più alti rispetto alle radioterapia convenzionale con LINAC (200 e 20 volte maggiori, rispettivamente), con nuovi problemi dosimetrici e radiobiologici da affrontare. Cellule di carcinoma mammario sono state irraggiate con elettroni prodotti dall???acceleratore per IORT dell???azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Pisa e con raggi X presso l???Università di Napoli Federico II per la misura della sopravvivenza clonogenica e la valutazione dell???efficacia biologica relativa.

A prototype for Positron Emission Mammography, the YAP-PEM, is under development within a collaboration of the Italian Universities of Pisa, Ferrara, and Bologna. The aim is to detect breast lesions, with dimensions of 5 mm in diameter, and with a specific activity ratio of 10:1 between the cancer and breast tissue. The YAP-PEM is composed of two stationary detection heads of 6 6c m 2 , composed of a matrix of 30 30 YAP:Ce finger crystals of 2 2 30 mm 3 each. The EGSnrc Monte Carlo code has been used to simulate several characteristics of the prototype. A fast EM algorithm has been adapted to reconstruct all of the collected lines of flight, also at large incidence angles, by achieving 3D positioning capability of the lesion in the FOV. The role of the breast compression has been studied. The performed study shows that a 5 mm diameter tumor of 37 kBq/cm 3 (1mCi/cm 3 ), embedded in active breast tissue with 10:1 tumor/ background specific activity ratio, is detected in 10 min with a Signal-to-Noise Ratio of 8.771.0. Two hot lesions in the active breast phantom are clearly visible in the reconstructed image.

A 78-year-old woman developed an early knee-prosthesis infection due to multiresistant Serratia marcescens that was successfully treated with high-dose meropenem, after failure of a long-term therapy combining imipenem and multiple surgical interventions. Because of its lower neurotoxicity, meropenem might be preferred to imipenem/cilastatin for the treatment of osteo-articular infections due to multiresistant Gram-negative bacilli in the elderly.

Real-time elastography (RTE) is a novel technique for measuring tissue elasticity. The aims of this study were to prospectively measure liver stiffness with RTE in patients with chronic viral hepatitis and to evaluate the possible correlation between RTE data and the extent of fibrosis based on liver biopsy findings (Ishak score).Between February and October 2011, 26 patients (18M, 8F, mean age 41 ± 13 [standard deviation], range 22-62) with chronic viral hepatitis were prospectively evaluated with ultrasonography (US) that included RTE. All patients then underwent US-guided percutaneous liver biopsy (right lobe) for evaluation of fibrosis. Examinations were performed with a iU22 scanner (Philips, Bothell, WA, USA); a convex transducer (C5-1) was used for the US examination, and a linear transducer (L12-5) for RTE. In the RTE images, relative tissue stiffness is expressed according to a color scale with soft areas represented in green/red and hard areas in blue. Patients were examined in the supine position in suspended normal respiration; three loops of 20 RTE frames were recorded for each case. For each patient, we calculated the mean strain ratio (MSR) for the 3 loops. The Spearman correlation coefficient was used to assess correlation between the ASR and fibrosis stage (F) reflected by the Ishak score.The Spearman coefficient showed significant correlation between the MSR and F (Rho = 0.470, p = 0.015).RTE appears to be a useful tool for noninvasive evaluation of fibrosis in patients with chronic viral hepatitis although these findings need to be confirmed in larger case series.L'elastosonografia real-time (ERT) è una nuova tecnologia integrata all’ultrasonografia convenzionale in grado di rappresentare la rigidità dei tessuti. Scopo dello studio è quantificare la rigidità epatica tramite ERT in pazienti con epatopatia cronica virale e ricercare una correlazione con lo staging istologico di malattia.Da Febbraio a Ottobre 2011, 26 pazienti (18M, 8F, età media 41 ± 13 [deviazione standard], range 22–62) sono stati valutati prospetticamente con ecografia addominale (US) ed ERT e sono stati sottoposti a biopsia epatica (lobo destro) secondo indicazione clinica. Gli esami sono stati eseguiti con l'ecografo iU22 (Philips, Bothell, WA, USA) usando per l'US una sonda convex (C5-1) e per l'ERT una lineare (L12-5). L'apparecchiatura rappresenta la rigidità relativa dei tessuti esplorati secondo una scala cromatica, mostrando le porzioni più rigide in blu e quelle più morbide in verde/rosso. Per tutti i pazienti, sono stati registrati 3 loop di 20 frame di ERT; è stata ottenuta la media delle medie degli strain ratio dei 3 loop (MSR) ed è stato calcolato l’indice di correlazione di Spearman (IS) tra la MSR e lo stadio di fibrosi (F) secondo Ishak.L’IS è risultato significativo (rho = 0.470,l'ERT potrebbe essere utile per la quantificazione non invasiva della fibrosi nei pazienti con epatopatia cronica su base virale, ma per confermare questa ipotesi è necessaria una casistica più ampia.

It is well known that polydispersity and branching have important and, at the same time, hardly predictable effects on the rheological and processing properties of industrial polymers. In the literature, many studies have been undertaken in order to predict the rheology of polydisperse linear polymers and monodisperse, well‐defined, branched polymers. Industrial polymers are usually, simultaneously polydisperse and branched, exhibiting a much more complex viscoelastic behaviour. When polydispersity and branching are both present, many different relaxation processes are indeed active and sometimes coupled. In order to understand the viscoelastic behaviour of such a class of complex materials, we investigated the rheology of several blends of polydisperse linear and stars polymers with the help of a coarse grained—tube model. A series of polydisperse star/linear polybutadiene blends characterized by different composition and arm average molecular weight was prepared. Linear “parent” polymers were synthesized via anionic polymerization. A coupling agent was introduced in a second stage in order to obtain the blends. In order to characterize the composition of the blends, light scattering data were performed for determining their molar mass distributions (MMD). Then, using an adequate statistical approach, MMD were divided into different categories of architectures. We obtained a full set of linear and non‐linear rheological data. Then, we extended our tube‐based model to predict their linear viscoelasticity. This requires several modifications of the initial model in order to deal with a very large number of different particles and star molecules having arms of different lengths. The non‐linear rheological response was analyzed with special attention to the time‐strain separability at short and long times, whereas the response to uniaxial extension was also investigated.

Very high dose per pulse (3-13 cGy/pulse) high energy electron beams are currently produced by special linear accelerators (linac) dedicated to Intra Operative Radiation Therapy (IORT). The electron beams produced by such linacs are collimated by special Perspex applicators of various size and cylindrically shaped. The biggest problems from the dosimetric point of view are caused by the high dose-per-pulse values and the use of inclined applicators. In this work measurements of absolute dose for the inclined applicators were done by using a small cylindrical ionization chamber, type CC01 (Wellhofer), a parallel plane ionization chamber type Markus (PTW 23343) and radiochromic films type EBT. We show a method which allows calculating the quality correction factors for CC01 chamber with an uncertainty of 1% and the absolute dose value for the inclined applicators using CC01 with an uncertainty of 3.1% for electron beams of energy of 6 and 7 MeV produced by the linac dedicated to IORT Novac7.

Summary At the University of Pisa we are building a PEM prototype, the YAP–PEM camera, consisting of two opposite 6×6×3 cm 3 detector heads of 30×30 YAP:Ce finger crystals, 2×2×30 mm 3 each. The camera will be equipped with breast compressors. The acquisition will be stationary. Compared with a whole body PET scanner, a planar Positron Emission Mammography (PEM) camera allows a better, easier and more flexible positioning around the breast in the vicinity of the tumor: this increases the sensitivity and solid angle coverage, and reduces cost. To avoid software rejection of data during the reconstruction, resulting in a reduced sensitivity, we adopted a 3D-EM reconstruction which uses all of the collected Lines Of Response (LORs). This skips the PSF distortion given by data rebinning procedures and/or Fourier methods. The traditional 3D-EM reconstruction requires several times the computation of the LOR-voxel correlation matrix, or probability matrix { p ij }; therefore is highly time-consuming . We use the sparse and symmetry properties of the matrix { p ij } to perform fast 3D-EM reconstruction. Geometrically, a 3D grid of cubic voxels (FOV) is crossed by several divergent 3D line sets (LORs). The symmetries occur when tracing different LORs produces the same p ij value. Parallel LORs of different sets cross the FOV in the same way, and the repetition of p ij values depends on the ratio between the tube and voxel sizes. By optimizing this ratio, the occurrence of symmetries is increased. We identify a nucleus of symmetry of LORs: for each set of symmetrical LORs we choose just one LOR to be put in the nucleus , while the others lie outside. All of the possible p ij values are obtainable by tracking only the LORs of this nucleus . The coordinates of the voxels of all of the other LORs are given by means of simple translation rules. Before making the reconstruction, we trace the LORs of the nucleus to find the intersecting voxels, whose p ij values are computed and stored with their voxel coordinates on a hard disk. Only the non-zero p ij are considered and their computation is performed just once. During the reconstruction, the stored values are loaded and are available in the random access memory for all of the operations of normalization, backprojection and projection: these are now performed rapidly, because the application of the translation rules is much faster than the probability computations. We tested the algorithm on Monte Carlo data fully simulating the typical YAP–PEM clinical condition. The adopted algorithm gives an excellent positioning capability for hot spots in the camera FOV. To use all of the possible skew LORs in the FOV avoids the software rejection of collected data. Reconstructed images indicate that a 5 mm diameter tumor of 37 kBq/cm 3 , in an active breast with a 10:1 Tissue to Background ratio (T/B), with a 10 min acquisition, for a head distance of 5 cm, can be detected by the YAP–PEM with a SNR of 8.7±1.0. The obtained SNR values depend linearly on the tumor volume. The algorithm allows one to discriminate between two hot sources of 5.0 mm diameter if they do not lie on the same axis. The YAP–PEM is now in the assembly stage.

A 78-year-old woman developed an early knee-prosthesis infection due to multiresistant Serratia marcescens that was successfully treated with high-dose meropenem, after failure of a long-term therapy combining imipenem and multiple surgical interventions. Because of its lower neurotoxicity, meropenem might be preferred to imipenem/cilastatin for the treatment of osteo-articular infections due to multiresistant Gram-negative bacilli in the elderly.

A PV (photovoltaic) pilot application has been set up to produce sufficient power to operate four sliding gates and a trash-rack rake at the intake of a hydroelectric power plant in Sicily (Ancipa). This photovoltaic unit, which has been set up in the Sicilian mountains, takes the place of a diesel generator and should prove to be a more reliable source of electric power. A description is provided of the plant subsystems, including the PV array and batteries, the hydraulic equipment, and the data acquisition system. >

In a previous paper, we showed inhibition of rat liver l -threonine dehydrogenase by a preparation obtained by dialysis and concentration from rat liver mitochondria stored at −20°C for 7–10 days (Pagani, R., Leoncini, R., Guerranti, R. and Marinello, E. (1990) It. J. Biochem. 39, 106–114). The chemical composition of the fraction containing the unknown ‘inhibitor’ has now been studied and identified as d -3-hydroxybutyrate (D3HB).

We describe a procedure for detecting and localizing cytomegalovirus DNA sequences based on in situ hybridization at the ultrastructural level. A digoxigenin-labelled probe, identified with an anti-digoxigenin colloidal gold-labelled antiserum, was employed on infected cells embedded in a new acrylic resin (Bioacryl). The silver enhancement method on the same specimen was used to more easily reveal the reaction also at low magnification. The immunolocalization was characterized by high specificity with virtually no background staining and a good maintenance of submicroscopic cell features.

The deuteron wave function is calculated integrating from outside the Schredinger equation using as input its asymptotic behaviour. Some potentials are tested and the one pion exchange potential (OPEP) is shown to be the main responsible of the wave function structure up to distances of about 1 fm. The relevance of the short range part of the potential is analyzed and it is shown that a substantial enhancement of the OPEP central part is needed in the deuteron channel.

A prototype for positron emission mammography is under development within a collaboration of the Italian Universities of Pisa, Ferrara, Bologna and Roma. The device is composed of two stationary detection heads, each with an active area of 6 cm /spl times/ 6 cm, made of 30/spl times/30 YAP:Ce finger crystals of 2 mm /spl times/ 2 mm /spl times/ 30 mm. The EGSnrc Monte Carlo code has been used to perform a complete simulation of this camera. We have used a fast three-dimensional iterative algorithm (30 s per iteration on a PC-Pentium III 800 MHz processor) for image reconstruction. The performed study indicates that tumors of 5 mm diameter, i.e., 0.065 cm/sup 3/ volume, with 37 kBq/cm/sup 3/ (1 /spl mu/Ci/cm/sup 3/) specific activity embedded in a breast active phantom, are detectable in 10 minutes for a 10:1 tumor/background ratio with an 8.7 Signal-to-Noise Ratio value. Experimental measurements with the small animal tomograph YAP-PET have validated the Monte Carlo predictions.

The calculation of emissions from the use of pesticides is a critical issue in LCA studies of agrifood products and only occasionally discussed in details in literature studies. The objective of this study is to assess the results of the application of PestLCI 2.0 model to the production ofmaize in Northern Italy using site-specific soil and climate data, which were added for this purpose in PestLCI database. In this way, the application of the tool and its database were tailored to that area. Moreover, the results were compared with those obtained assuming maizecultivation on other soil typologies in the surrounding areas. Results show that soil variation scarcely affects the emissions to air and surface water are whereas it affects significantly the emissions to groundwater. Finally, some features of PestLCI were highlighted and comments for a further improvement of the model were provided.

Il contributo ripercorre l'esperienza del seminario Villard:17 delineando un metodo di approccio al progetto delle nuove centralità urbane multiculturali. Un progetto sul già dato che rivisiti i presupposti teorici dell’«architettura come modificazione». Radicato in una continua ricognizione e restituzione dei paesaggi che viviamo, nutrito da strumenti mutuati da discipline altre e prime tra tutte le arti figurative.

Food Waste is problem related to all the actors of the Food Value Chain: producers, retailers and consumers. In this context, retail sector plays an important role in tackling the food waste problem. Food waste at the retail level can be reduced through the adoption of food waste reducing innovations. The authors investigate the most relevant factors that promote the adoption of those innovations among retailers.

Household food waste behaviour results from a complex interaction among economic factors, deep-rooted habits, and social norms. It can thus be considered a measure of a community’s social capital. We test this hypothesis using a 2016 dataset of Italian households’ food-related behaviours and opinions. We find food waste to be negatively related with social capital. This relationship is mediated by income. Status concerns with respect to food and lack of organisational abilities, more prevalent in low social capital areas, generate increased waste. Our results, captured by a modified public good game, allow to derive policy implications for food waste reduction.

The aim of the present study has been to assess the environmental profile of an experimental decentralized waste management system which is based on the anaerobic codigestion of the organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW) and dewatered sewage sludge in small plants (annual capacity: about 3000 t coupled at a 75 kW CHP unit) distributed over the territory. Two scenarios have been analysed: with and without aerobic composting post-treatment. In so far as an environmental point of view is concerned, such scenarios have been compared with the past and the current approaches occurring in the case study area (NE Italy) and characterized by a strong centralization. Environmental performances of the different scenarios have been assessed through Life Cycle Assessment methodology. Our results indicate that the anaerobic codigestion of dewatered sewage sludge and OFMSW in small plants combined with composting post-treatment may offer an environmentally sustainable option of waste management in small communities. This is achieved by (1) a strong reduction in the distances and volumes transported by road, (2) low energy requirement for the process itself, (3) energy saving from CHP unit and (4) energy/resources saving from the compost produced by the digested matter. Also social advantages may be gained, such as increased public acceptability of waste treatment facilities and increased awareness among citizen on waste management issue. To note that these advantages are closely related to some key assumptions like the use of digested matter as fertilizer. Assumptions and work limits are discussed in the final section of the paper.

Questo lavoro si propone di valutare l’applicabilità dello strumento OEF (Organization Environmental Footprint) ad una società di gestione aeroportuale. L’articolo presenta l’impostazione metodologica dello studio: la fase di raccolta dati, L’impostazione di un modello tramite il software di Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) GaBi ts ed i risultati ottenuti. L’aeroporto è considerato come una “black box” all’interno della quale è definito il portfolio di prodotti e servizi. Lo studio presenta una analisi di screening degli impatti provocati dall’organizzazione esaminata ed evidenzia le criticità riscontrate durante l’applicazione della metodologia. La metodologia utilizzata viene quindi proposta come possibile punto di partenza per la creazione delle Organization Environmental Footprint Sector Rules (OEFSR) per il calcolo dell’impronta ambientale di questo tipo di organizzazioni che servono per avviare uno studio comparativo.