Search results for "Conservation"

Evaluating the protecting effects of two consolidants applied on Pietra di Lecce limestone: A neutronographic study

2020

Abstract In this work a combined laboratory-based and neutronographic investigation was carried out on a type of limestone, known as Pietra di Lecce stone, widely used in Italian Baroque as construction material. The limestone was treated with two different commercially-available coatings, namely nanosilica and nanolime, and artificially weathered by salt crystallization and temperature/relative humidity jumps. The aim was to provide an experimental evidence of the protective and consolidating effectiveness of the two treatments by looking at the water absorption process occurring inside the pore network of the analyzed stones. The analysis of the wetting front position revealed significant…

Resource consumption and environmental impacts of the agrofood sector: life cycle assessment of italian citrus-based products

2009

Though many studies concern the agro-food sector in the EU and Italy, and its environmental impacts, literature is quite lacking in works regarding LCA application on citrus products. This paper represents one of the first studies on the environmental impacts of citrus products in order to suggest feasible strategies and actions to improve their environmental performance. In particular, it is part of a research aimed to estimate environmental burdens associated with the production of the following citrus-based products: essential oil, natural juice and concentrated juice from oranges and lemons. The life cycle assessment of these products, published in a previous paper, had highlighted sign…

The role of the building sector for reducing energy consumption and greenhouse gases: An Italian case study

2013

The paper presents one of the first Italian experiences assessing the effectiveness of sustainable production and consumption strategies. The authors developed an energy and environmental extended input–output model, combined with the life cycle assessment, to analyse the role of the building sector in the reduction of Italian energy consumption and CO2 emissions. In detail, the model allows to assess the energy and environmental benefits arising from the Italian tax deduction policy for energy retrofit actions of buildings. Moreover, the authors defined an original model to assess the indirect rebound effect caused by the energy retrofit actions. The outcomes of the research point out that…

Ecological restoration in contaminated soils of Kokdzhon phosphate mining area (Zhambyl region, Kazakhstan)

2016

Abstract This study provides results of an ecological restoration activity performed in the Kokdzhon phosphate mining of the Zhambyl region (a semi-desert mining area of Kazakhstan). The test area was made by a quarry-hole, about 1.25 hectares wide, that was preliminarily filled with the earthy material of a dump and, subsequently, levelled. The total volume of human transported material (HTM) used was 700 tonnes. Soil samples were taken from 0 to 30 cm depth at 23 sampling sites and several soil quality parameters were determined. In the test area 750 tree species were planted in suitable dug holes: (150 seedlings of Russian Olive; 150 seedlings of Black Saxaul); 150 seedlings of Androsov …

The social benefits of restoring water quality in the context of the Water Framework Directive: A comparison of willingness to pay and willingness to…

2009

The Water Framework Directive (WFD) is by far the most important piece of water legislation in Europe for the coming decades. Its main aim is to achieve "good ecological status" for all water resources by 2015. The economic valuation of the non-market benefits derived from improving water quality is an important input in assisting the design and implementation of efficient and effective water management policies. In this study, the contingent valuation method has been applied with a double purpose. On the one hand, we have estimated the value of a hypothetical improvement in water quality of a river asking individuals about their willingness to pay, and on the other hand, the issue of exemp…

Estimating the non-market benefits of an urban park: Does proximity matter?

2007

Abstract There is increasing and widespread public support for public park provision in urban areas given that they provide an array of different recreational activities enhancing the citizen's quality of life. A contingent valuation survey of 900 randomly chosen inhabitants was undertaken in Valencia (Spain) to estimate the non-market benefits derived from the provision of a new urban park where there is currently an old train station. In conducting our study we distinguished between the districts of the city more and less affected by the project according to the proximity to the future park. Our main finding is that the mean willingness to pay (WTP) is considerably higher for people who l…

An Environmental Analysis of the Effect of Energy Saving, Production and Recovery Measures on Water Supply Systems under Scarcity Conditions

2015

Water is one of the primary resources provided for maintaining quality of life and social status in urban areas. As potable water is considered to be a primary need, water service has usually been managed without examining the economic and environmental sustainability of supply processes. Currently, due to increases in energy costs and the growth of environment preservation policies, reducing water leakage, energy consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) production have become primary objectives in reducing the environmental footprint of water service. The present paper suggests the implementation of some performance indicators that show the interdependence of water loss, energy consumption and…

Conservation et réquisition des données relatives aux communications électroniques : un débat serein est-il enfin possible ?

2022

Approximate Closed-Form Solutions for the Shift Mechanics of Rubber Belt Variators

2009

The mechanical behavior of V-belt variators during the speed ratio shift is different from the steady operation as a gross radial motion of the belt is superimposed to the circumferential motion. The theoretical analysis involves equilibrium equations similar to the steady case, but requires a re-formulation of the mass conservation condition making use of the Reynolds transport theorem. The mathematical model of the belt-pulley coupling implies the repeated numerical solution of a strongly non-linear differential system. Nevertheless, an attentive observation of the numerical diagrams suggests simple and useful closed-form approximations for the four possible working modes of any pulley, o…

In situ behavior of wild long-snouted seahorse Hippocampus guttulatus Cuvier, 1829

2021

The study of behavior is one of the fundamental aspects of conservation biology. While for animals such as mammals there are well-defined protocols that have been applied for a long time, for marine animals, and fish in particular, studies are available for a limited number of species. The behavior of seahorses, for example, is poorly studied and in this work, we made a first attempt of using video recordings to analyze behavior of these endangered species in Mar Piccolo of Taranto (Southern Italy). The study presents preliminary data on behavioral activities and their comparisons among different life stages of Hippocampus guttulatus, namely females, males, and juveniles. Juveniles and fema…