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Il destino delle foreste è legato in modo imprescindibile da come esse saranno in grado di rispondere al cambiamento climatico in atto. Non a caso, quindi, questo è un tema che negli ultimi anni ha ricevuto e sta ricevendo molte attenzioni da parte del mondo scientifico. Sebbene le foreste abbiano risposto al cambiamento climatico per tutta la loro storia evolutiva, una forte preoccupazione per gli ecosistemi forestali è data dalla rapidità del cambiamento. Esso avrà un forte impatto sulle utilizzazioni del territorio, sulla salute e sulla vitalità delle foreste, nonché sulla fornitura sostenibile di beni e servizi per la popolazione. Resta da chiarire quale sarà la risposta delle foreste ai cambiamenti climatici in atto, ed in particolare all’aumento di CO2 atmosferica e di temperatura nonché alle modifiche del regime idrico. Secondo quanto previsto dagli scenari dell’IPCC, il surriscaldamento climatico in atto tenderà a spostare verso latitudini maggiori e ad altitudini più elevate gli ambienti tipici dell’area mediterranea. A ciò vanno aggiunti, il rapido cambiamento dell’uso del suolo, la frammentazione degli habitat, lo sfruttamento delle risorse ambientali e la mancanza di un’adeguata pianificazione delle azioni antropiche, quali fattori che maggiormente degradano questi ambienti. L’importanza degli ecosistemi forestali nel mitigare gli effetti dei cambiamenti globali, mediante la fissazione e lo stoccaggio di grandi quantità di carbonio, è ormai ampiamente riconosciuta. Al fine di predire la produttività forestale a larga scala occorre disporre di un modello affidabile che richieda in ingresso pochi parametri di facile misurabilità. L’obiettivo del lavoro, quindi, è stato quello di predire per tre specie che caratterizzano il panorama forestale italiano: Fagus sylvatica, Quercus cerris e Quercus ilex, la magnitudine e l’impatto del cambiamento climatico sulla Produttività Primaria Netta (NPP), associata alla distribuzione potenziale attuale e futura delle specie, in funzione di scenari climatici. Attraverso l’utilizzo del modello semi-empirico Mo.C.A. è stato possibile stimare e spazializzare su tutto il territorio italiano, mediante l’uso di un GIS, gli output di NPP. Tale studio ha considerato sia il clima attuale secondo il trentennio di riferimento 1961-1990 stabilito dal WMO (World Metorological Organization), che due finestre temporali differenti, quali quella del 2031-2060 e quella del 2071-2100, secondo due scenari climatici realizzati dall’Hadley Centre: il B1 e l’A1Fi. Per avere una maggiore accuratezza nelle stime, gli output sono stati validati mettendoli a confronto con dati misurati attraverso la tecnica dell’eddy covariance, delle stazioni di misura presenti in popolamenti forestali uguali a quelli studiati. Inoltre, tale approccio ha consentito di dedurre alcuni aspetti relativi all’efficienza nell’utilizzo della risorsa idrica in relazione ad un gradiente latitudinale Sud-Nord e ai due diversi scenari climatici, grazie all’uso dell’indice WUE (Water Use Efficiency). Entrambi questi aspetti saranno utili per la definizione di protocolli e linee guida atti al mantenimento degli attuali popolamenti forestali e alla mitigazione/minimizzazione degli effetti del cambiamento climatico. The future of forests is bound to be so essential as they will be able to respond to climate change in progress. Not surprisingly, this is an issue that in recent years has received and is receiving much attention from the scientific world. Although forests have responded to climate change during their evolutionary history, a strong concern for forest ecosystems is given by the rapidity of change. It will have a strong impact on land use, health and vitality of forests and the sustainable provision of goods and services for the population. It remains unclear which will be the response of forests to climate changes, particularly the increase in atmospheric CO2 and temperature as well as changes of water regime. According to the IPCC scenarios, the ongoing climate warming will tend to move toward higher latitudes and altitude the typical Mediterranean environments. In addition, we have to consider the rapid change of land use, habitat fragmentation, exploitation of natural resources and the lack of proper planning of human actions, as factors that further degrade these environments. It is now widely accepted the importance of forest ecosystems in mitigating the effects of global change, through the establishment and the storage of large quantities of carbon. In order to predict forest productivity in a large scale we must have a reliable model that requires few input parameters easily measurable. The aim of this study was to predict for three species that characterize the Italian forest landscape: Fagus sylvatica, Quercus cerris and Quercus ilex, the magnitude and impact of climate change on net primary production (NPP), associated with current and future potential distribution of species, according to climatic scenarios. It has been possible to estimate, through the use of semi-empirical model Mo.C.A, and spatialise throughout the Italian territory, using a GIS, the outputs of NPP. The study considered both the current climate over the period 1961-1990 established by the WMO (World Metorological Organization), and the potential one of other two temporal ranges, such as that of 2031-2060 and 2071-2100, according to two climatic scenarios produced by Hadley Centre: the B1 and the A1Fi. To get more accuracy in the estimates, the outputs have been validated by comparing them with data calculated in forest measuring stations located in areas with the same studied species, by the eddy covariance technique. Furthermore this approach has been useful to deduce some aspects of efficiency in the use of water resources in relation to a latitudinal gradient from south to north and two different climate scenarios, through the use of WUE index. Both these aspects will be necessary to define protocols and guidelines aimed to maintain the existing actual forest stands and to mitigate / minimize the climate change effects. Dottorato di ricerca in Ecologia forestale

L'ENERGIA FOTOVOLTAICA è PROBABILMENTE QUELLA A MINOR IMPATTO AMBIENTALE. LA COMPETITIVITÀ' ECONOMICA NON PUO' ESSERE RAGGIUNTA SE LA DIFFUZIONE DELLE APPLICAZIONI FOTOVOLTAICHE NON ' ARRIVERA' COPRIRE LA COMPETITIVITA' ATTESA PER LE VARIE FASCE DI MERCATO SOSTENUTE DALLO SVILUPPO DI NUOVE TECNOLOGIE.

Dottorato di ricerca in Ecologia forestale ; L’accelerazione dei cambiamenti climatici, unita alle previsioni di scarsità dei combustibili fossili, ha portato, tanto a livello internazionale, quanto nella dimensione locale, a dare un forte impulso alla produzione ed al consumo delle fonti energetiche rinnovabili. La biomassa rappresenta la prima fonte di energia rinnovabile in Europa, e la seconda in Italia. Importanti aspettative sono legate all’impiego energetico delle biomasse di origine agro-forestale in virtù dei potenziali vantaggi che ne derivano, non solo da un punto di vista ambientale ma anche per le positive ricadute sul tessuto socio-economico locale. Al fine di garantirne un uso razionale delle biomasse e permettere di programmare azioni concrete volte al loro sfruttamento in armonia con il territorio, si rendono fondamentali studi e ricerche puntali che tengano conto delle peculiari caratteristiche locali. Alla luce delle considerazioni fatte, l’obiettivo di questo lavoro è quello di individuare e quantificare le principali risorse presenti nel territorio del Parco Naturale Regionale di Bracciano-Martignano. Lo studio si rivolge a un’area protetta proprio in virtù delle finalità stesse per cui il Parco è stato istituito: garantire e incentivare lo sviluppo sociale e economico locale attraverso la promozione di attività compatibili in grado comunque di garantire la conservazione e la valorizzazione del territorio (L.R. n° 36 del 25/11/1999). In particolare l’attenzione è stata rivolta a quelle biomasse di natura residuale che al momento non presentano altri impieghi e che allo stesso tempo sia tecnicamente ed economicamente conveniente utilizzare per produrre energia. Quindi è stata formulata una stima di tutti gli scarti di matrice lignocellulosica (paglie, steli, potature, cimali ecc.) che derivano dalla coltivazione di piante erbacee ed arboree e dalle utilizzazioni forestali. Tale risultato è stato ottenuto attraverso la rivisitazione e l’aggiornamento della metodologia AIGR-ENEA usata negli anni ’90 per la stima a livello nazionale con dettaglio provinciale delle biomasse solide combustibili. Nel corso del lavoro sono stati realizzati dei campionamenti e sopralluoghi sul territorio allo scopo di valutare l’effettiva attendibilità dei parametri di stima proposti nella metodologia di base e valutare il grado di rappresentazione delle reali condizioni presenti sul territorio. A conclusione del lavoro di stima si è cercato di valutare e dimensionare un possibile impianto alimentato da biomasse locali e di fornire indicazioni il migliore utilizzo energetico dei sottoprodotti. Parallelamente alla stima delle biomasse locali per uso energetico, è stata condotta una prima analisi circa la produzione di biomassa nelle aree forestali del Parco ed il relativo stock di carbonio. La quantificazione del carbonio immagazzinato nei castagneti del Parco è stata realizzata grazie all’impiego di un modulo implementato nell’ambito del progetto KEI-EXTENSION e basato sul modello previsionale 3-PG. Le stime pur se preliminari, introdotte in questo lavoro, forniscono importanti informazioni sulla base delle quali sarà possibile proseguire la ricerca e ottenere valori di stock e previsioni di accumulo di carbonio nei vari comparti forestali dell’area protetta. ; In few years the production and consumption of renewable energy sources is strongly increased at international level and this is related to the policies to fight climate changes and promote fossil fuels substitution. Biomass is the primary source of renewable energy in Europe, and the second one in Italy. Most expectations to agro-forestry biomass as energy sources are connected to their environmental benefits and the potential positive impact in the local social-economic development. In order to promote a rationale use of locally available biomass, there is a strong need to promote studies and researches about specific areas taking into account their physical and socioeconomic characteristics. The aim of this study is to identify and assess the agro-forestry resources of the Regional Natural Park of Bracciano-Martignano territory. The study and its reasults have an important implication on the Natural Park goals by indirectly helping the promotion of the economic and social development of the Park, compatibly with the conservation of the territory (LR n. 36 of 11.25.1999). Therefore, this study would like to provide a clear assessment of the biomass potential from the agro-forestry sectors that can be exploited to produce energy. In particular, it has been paid attention to the biomass which currently do not have any other technically and economically more convenient use: residues from woodland and agricultural residues (pruning, straw). The AIGR-ENEA methodology, reviewed and updated, has been used to estimate local gross and net biomass potential. To improve results reliability local surveys and inspections on site have been carried out with the aim to define local parameters for residues calculation. Globally in the park area we estimated that, on an average year, we could exploit about 17 kilotons of biomass (dry matter) and that a local thermal use seems to be the best option. This study could help to raise the awareness of the public opinion and decision makers about the possibilities offered by the agro-forestry sector as a source of biomass for energy use and provide a better knowledge of biomass availability to support local policies to enhance local development. Furthermore, in this study it was performed a preliminary analysis on total forest biomass and the carbon stocks. Indeed, it was possible to make a first step towards the quantification of biomass in the chestnut forest of the park by using a module implemented within the project KEI-EXTENSION, based on model 3-PG. The first stage of the biomass estimation, introduced in this study provide important information on the basis of which it could be possible to evaluate current and future carbon stocks and better evaluate the exploitation level of local forests for energy uses that do not compromise the carbon stock.

In questa tesi viene illustrato il progetto di un sistema di controllo per uno shaker elettrodinamico. L'architettura è basata su sistemi a microcontrollore Microchip PIC e implementa un controllo in retroazione al fine di ottenere una elevata precisione nell'ampiezza dell'oscillazione. Un prototipo del sistema è stato implementato con componenti commerciali. Vengono presentati i risultati del test funzionale dei sotto-circuiti realizzati.

The limited scientific knowledge on relationship between exposure and health effects in relation to geothermal activity motivated an epidemiologic investigation in Tuscan geothermal area. The study aims to describe the health status of populations living in Tuscany municipalities where concessions for exploitation of geothermal resources were granted.This is an ecological study, so it is not useful to produce evidence to sustain a judgment on the cause-effect link. The major limits of this type of study are the use of the residence at municipal level as a proxy of exposure to both environmental and socioeconomic factors and the use of aggregated data of health outcomes that can lead to the well-known ecological fallacy.Sixteen municipalities were included in the study area: eight are part of the so-called "traditional" geothermal area, defined as Northern Geothermal Area (NGA) and eight located in the Amiata Mountain defined as Southern Geothermal Area (SGA). In 2000-2006, the average resident population in the overall area was approximately 43,000 inhabitants. Thirty-one geothermal power plants were active, with a production capacity of 811 MW, 5 of them with 88 MW located in the SGA. Statistical analyses on the entire geothermal area, NGA and SGA subareas, and the sixteen municipalities were performed.Mortality data were obtained from Tuscany Regional Mortality Registry for the 1971-2006 period, analysing 60 causes of death, of interest for population health status or consistent with "Project SENTIERI" criteria. Hospital discharge records of residents in Tuscany Region in 2004-2006, anywhere admitted to hospital, were analyzed considering only the main diagnosis, excluding repeated admissions for the same cause. The causes taken into account are the same analysed for mortality were considered. Age-standardized mortality rates (TSDM) and the temporal trends of TSDM for four periods (1971-1979, 1980-1989, 1990-1999, 2000-2006) were computed. Age-standardized mortality/hospitalization ratios (SMR/SHR), with and without adjustment for the deprivation index based on 2001 census data, were calculated: mortality in the years 2000-2006 and hospitalization in 2004-2006. The expected number of events were computed using rates of residents in neighbouring municipalities (municipalities included in 50 km radius circle centred on the study area). Bayesian estimates of mortality/hospitalization ratios (BMR/BHR) at municipal level only and relating maps of the Bayesian risk estimators were elaborated. Congenital malformations (MC) were analysed using data from Tuscan Registry of Birth Defect in 1992-2006 period, relative to outcomes of pregnancies in women resident in the municipalities of study area, wherever the birth or termination of pregnancy occurred. The ratio between observed and expected cases (O/A), with expected defined according to regional rate, were calculated and O/A Bayesian estimates (BMR) are showed only at municipal level. The low weight and the males/females ratio at birth were analysed using data from Tuscany Birth Certificates, covering period 2001-2007, excluding births occurred in facilities outside Tuscany Region. For Low birth weight ( 64 years). Among females resident in SGA a mortality excess from digestive system diseases was observed (72 observed, 55 expected). The hospitalization in the overall Geothermal Area did not show any excess for all causes and all tumours in both genders. Statistically significant excesses for hospital admission from stomach cancer among males (49 observed, 38 expected) and females (42 observed, 28 expected), and from lymphohematopoietic tumours among females, particularly from lymphatic leukaemia (15 observed, 5 expected), were observed. As mortality analysis highlighted, also hospital admissions by geothermal areas and gender showed a worst picture in SGA than in NGA. In the latter, a significant excess of hospital admissions from all causes among females (1,357 observed, 1,284 expected) but not among males (1,193 observed, 1,141 expected) and an excess - close to statistical significance - from all tumours only among females (297 observed; 272 expected) were observed. Furthermore, statistically significant excesses of hospital admissions from digestive system diseases in both genders (M: 392 observed, 350 expected; F: 300 observed, 268 expected), from dementias (16 observed, 8 expected) and from lympho hematopoietic cancers among females, particularly from lymphatic leukaemia (9 observed, 2 expected), were observed. In the SGA, statistically significant excesses of hospital admissions for stomach cancer (M: 32 observed, 21 expected, not significant after adjusting by DI; F: 29 observed, 18 expected), for respiratory diseases (M: 408 observed, 351 expected; F: 339 observed, 277 expected) and for renal failure (M: 61 observed, 41 expected; F: 52 observed, 34 expected) were observed in both genders. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED)

Bioelectric prosthesis are those mechatronical devices able to substitute the total or partial loss of a limb or a system, and controlled by the patient thanks to wilful bioelectric signals, such as muscular contractions (electromyographic signals, EMG) or activation of specific encephalic areas (which can be revealed by encephalogram, EEG). At the end of an analysis of the devices currently in literature and on the market, the present paper collects and synthesize the possible classification strategies of these prosthetic devices, paying particular attention also to the classification obtained by possible control strategies of the prosthesis. This summary aims to support and sustain physicians and patients along the identification of the most appropriate prosthesis, for the specific subject, the choice of the "optimal" device, must consider also patient needs and expectations, possible pathological constraints and technological complexity of the system. This paper presents, after a brief theoretical introduction about the background, a short description of materials and methods implemented in order to identify classification typologies; the main results, collected in 2 tables, will be then described, and commented highlighting advantages and limbs of the proposed classifications.

In the past economics ignored the limits of natural resources. In the last few years a new methodological approach comes into economics improving the comprehension of the economic phenomena linked to the satisfaction of the needs of modern man that basic considers the quality of life. The objective of this research is to define the theoretical and methodological aspects of a sustainable economy pointing out the reasons and the grounds on which to build an environmental policy. This one has to consider either the economic matters or the environmental sensitivity of people. This research is divided into three parts. The first one defines the outlines of the sustainable economy and its characteristic features. The second one emphasizes the necessity of replacing the concept of sustainable development instead of development and growth. At last, the third part identifies the basic lines into which the environmental policy has to be realized defining its reasons, its foundations and its valuation systems. Aestimum, Aestimum 47 (2005)

Los escenarios urbanos creados a partir de un posible cambio climático sugieren situaciones adversas para la habitabilidad humana y destacan el papel de los espacios libres urbanos y su potencial para ampliar la resiliencia a corto plazo. Aplicado a través de directrices urbanas, la infraestructura verde y azul aumenta la resiliencia urbana y, a la vez, reconfigura de forma importante el paisaje cultural de nuestras ciudades. El objetivo de la autora es hacer una prospección y discutir los impactos de esta estrategia en el paisaje urbano de Porto Alegre. Para ilustrar el debate de la mejor manera, la autora se apoya en proyectos y reglamentos urbanos. Gli scenari urbani creati a partire dalle possibili alterazioni climatiche suggeriscono situazioni avverse all'abitabilità umana ed evidenziano il ruolo degli spazi liberi urbani e il loro potenziale nell'incremento della resilienza nel breve periodo. Applicata attraverso direttrici urbane, la infrastruttura verde-blu incrementa la resilienza urbana e, nello stesso tempo, riconfigura in modo rilevante il paesaggio culturale delle città. L'interesse dell'autrice è discutere sull'impatto esercitato da questa strategia sul paesaggio urbano di Porto Alegre. Per presentare il dibattito al meglio l'autrice si basa su progetti e regolamenti urbani. Os cenários urbanos criados a partir das possíveis alterações climáticas sugerem situações adversas à habitabilidade humana e destacam o papel dos espaços livres urbanos e seu potencial no incremento da resiliência a curto prazo. Aplicada por meio de diretrizes urbanas, a infraestrutura verde-azul incrementa a resiliência urbana e ao mesmo tempo reconfigura de forma importante a paisagem cultural das nossas cidades. O interesse da autora é prospectar e discutir os impactos desta estratégia na paisagem urbana porto-alegrense. Como forma melhor para ilustrar o debate, a autora conta com projetos e regramentos urbanos. Urban scenarios created from climate change suggest adverse situations for human habitability and highlight the role of urban open spaces and their potential in enhancing the short-term resilience. Applied through urban guidelines, the blue-green infrastructure increases urban resilience while reconfiguring the cultural landscape of our cities. The author's interest is to explore and discuss the impacts of this strategy on the urban landscape of Porto Alegre, relying on urban projects and regulations.