Development of a sliding device for extended measurements in coastal waters

Extensive measurements of main sea water parameters (e.g. temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, nutrients, bacterial abundance...) are required to investigate marine environment, both to evaluate its state and to quickly detect possible perturbations (arrival of pollutants, anthropogenic contaminants...). Traditional observing methods cannot offer the flexibility and cost effectiveness needed for extensive monitoring and water quality assessment in coastal areas where important health and economic issues are involved (e.g. aquaculture, tourism). As a part of the MFSTEP program (EU FP5) a new device was designed and built for pelagic use, the SAVE (Sliding Advanced VEhicle), able to perform continuous profiles of physical and optical measurements on the upper 200 m of the water column. The original system consists mainly in a depressor, towed at a fixed depth, using a cable on which the main unit slides. Both the depressor and the sliding unit can be equipped with various kinds of sensors. The new goal was to obtain a coastal version, to be towed from small boats. A smaller prototype is now under development and test, able to be towed by a very small (8-10 m.) boat, like those commonly used in aquaculture plants, and also fitted with modular water samplers for bacterial or chemical determinations. The paper gives some first results of this development.L'articolo è disponibile sul sito dell'editore http://library.witpress.com

Development of a new expendable probe for the study of pelagic ecosystems from voluntary observing ships

Physical and biological processes of the marine ecosystem have a high spatial and temporal variability, whose study is possible only through high resolution and synoptic observations. The Temperature and Fluorescence Launchable Probe was charted in order to answer to the claim of a cost effective temperature and fluorescence expendable profiler, to be used in ships of opportunity. The development of the expendable fluorometer has followed similar concepts of the XBT (a wire conducting the signal to a computer card), but differently from the latter it was developed with an electronic system which can be improved and adapted to several variables measure channels. To reach the aim of a low-cost probe, were utilized commercial components:a glass bulb temperature resistor for the temperature measurement, blue LEDs, a photodiode and available selective glass filters, for the fluorescence measurement. The measurement principle employed to detect phytoplankton’s biomass is the active fluorescence. This method is an in vivo chlorophyll estimation, that can get the immediate biophysical reaction of phytoplankton inside the aquatic environment; it is a non-disruptive method which gives real time estimation and avoids the implicit errors due to the manipulation of samples. The possibility of using a continuous profiling probe, with an active fluorescence measurement, is very important in real time phytoplankton’s study; it is the best way to follow the variability of sea productivity. In fact, because of the high time and space variability of phytoplankton, due to its capability to answer in a relatively short time to ecological variations in its environment and because of its characteristic patchiness, there isn’t a precise quantitative estimation of the biomass present in the Mediterranean Sea.L'articolo è disponibile sul sito dell'editore http://publications.copernicus.org

Studio sull’impatto ambientale delle attività di maricoltura nel Golfo di Oristano

L’obiettivo del presente lavoro è stato di simulare la dispersione e il tempo di residenza delle sostanze organiche immesse nell’ambiente a seguito delle attività di acquacoltura all’interno del Golfo di Oristano (Sardegna, Italia). A questo scopo è stato implementato un modello numerico di circolazione, con moduli di dispersione e diffusione euleriana e lagrangiana. Il modello ha evidenziato il ruolo fondamentale della direzione e dell’intensità del vento sulla dispersione dei rifiuti organici. A parità d’intensità, la direzione del vento influenza in maniera decisiva la distanza alla quale i rifiuti organici vengono trasportati e depositati. In tutti gli scenari di vento, il mangime non consumato, indipendentemente dalla sua dimensione, si deposita in un’area direttamente sotto le gabbie ma con una distribuzione spaziale che dipende dalle correnti indotte. In tutti i casi, la materia organica disciolta si diluisce ed è trasportata al di fuori del golfo. Con i venti da Maestrale i rifiuti organici sono spinti verso, l’interno del golfo per poi uscirne in forma disciolta da sud. Negli scenari di Libeccio e Scirocco i rifiuti organici disciolti tendono a diluirsi ed essere trasportati al di fuori del golfo dalla parte nord. In tutti gli scenari, la capacità di ricambio delle acque interne al golfo risulta elevata, con la maggior parte delle sostanze organiche disciolte presenti in concentrazioni molto basse dopo dieci ore dalla loro produzione. Dal punto di vista del ricambio d’acqua e conseguentemente per la dispersone di agenti inquinanti, quasi tutti i 13 siti simulati, ad esclusione dei due in prossimità dei capi, hanno tempi di residenza idonei per il posizionamento delle gabbie. Sono comunque da preferire le regioni più a sud perché i tempi di transito sono più bassi creando un impatto minore. Infine considerando che il golfo è ricoperto quasi interamente da Posidonia, i siti meno impattanti sono quelli che si trovano su un fondale fangoso e in prossimità del fiume Tirso (Sito 3 e 4). L’utilizzo di modelli numerici ha permesso di portare a termine studi a priori (tempi di transito, zone di deposizione, dispersioni inquinanti) per la pianificazione della disposizione ottimale delle gabbie, avente come conseguenza una più proficua produzione (maggiore redditività) e un minore impatto ambientale. Si può infine affermare che nonostante l’assenza di studi antecedenti al presente, le gabbie all’interno del Golfo di Oristano siano state posizionate correttamente, in una regione ottimale per produzione e impatto ambientale

Evaluating Biophilic Design strategies in Immersive Virtual Indoor Environments: A systematic review on the implications for buildings occupants

Nowadays, investigating the impact of Biophilic Design (BD) on human health, well-being, and cognitive performance is at the forefront of concern in academia, particularly in the context of creating sustainable and comfortable buildings by fostering a deeper connection to nature. In parallel, the advancement and accessibility of Virtual Reality (VR) have facilitated the rise of immersive studies on BD, offering advantages in terms of flexibility, cost-effectiveness, and control over independent variables. However, despite the body of research is growing, it remains fragmented, with heterogenous design of experiments and methods across studies, particularly concerning the outcomes of BD impact on human dimension. This is due to the novelty of these topics which did not allow the systematical synthetisation of the potential benefits of VR-BD applications. As a result, the present paper addresses the need to consolidate an emerging and under-investigated field, offering a systematic and comprehensive overview of the current literature to advance research application. In particular, the review focuses on the applications, potentials, and constraints of the use of Immersive Virtual Reality to investigate the impact of indoor Biophilic Design on occupants’ dimension, in terms of environment perception, physiological and psychological indicators and cognitive functions. Although the first literature dates back to 2015 and most of it is concentrated in the last 5 years, enough information has been gathered to provide a systematic review of the methods used and the main results collected, which can serve as a guideline for future research on this emerging topic. The systematic review, based on the PRISMA method, provides a clear picture of the methodological design of the studies (e.g., VR technology and software employed, participants sample size, exposure time, ecological validity methods), on the considered independent variables (i.e., the BD patterns); and on collected dependent variables, related to perception domains (i.e., acoustic, visual and thermal perception, perceived restoration), physiological parameters, psychological and cognitive aspects. The review then reports and analyses the main outcomes from the research in terms of the impact of indoor biophilic strategies on dependent variables, outlining a rather fragmented picture and only partially supporting the theories of BD. Finally, the review presents the main shortcomings and limitations in the design and documentation of the reviewed studies, as well as potential future research developments, especially based on the exploitation of advantages of VR technologies in terms of a great number of randomized and multi-domain scenarios to be tested

Investigating the impact of greenery elements in office environments on cognitive performance, visual attention and distraction: An eye-tracking pilot-study in virtual reality

The human-nature connection is one of the main aspects determining supportive and comfortable office environments. In this context, the application of eye-tracking-equipped Virtual Reality (VR) devices to support an evaluation on the effect of greenery elements indoors on individuals’ efficiency and engagement is limited. A new approach to investigate visual attention, distraction, cognitive load and performance in this field is carried out via a pilot-study comparing three virtual office layouts (Indoor Green, Outdoor Green and Non-Biophilic). 63 participants completed cognitive tasks and surveys while measuring gaze behaviour. Sense of presence, immersivity and cybersickness results supported the ecological validity of VR. Visual attention was positively influenced by the proximity of users to the greenery element, while visual distraction from tasks was negatively influenced by the dimension of the greenery. In the presence of greenery elements, lower cognitive loads and more efficient information searching, resulting in improved performance, were also highlighted

Towards streamlined restoration of macroalgal forests: integrating suspended algaculture and ex situ outplanting

Ericaria amentacea, a key habitat-forming brown macroalga on Mediterranean rocky coasts, faces severe decline due to anthropogenic stressors and climate change. Natural recovery is hindered by its limited dispersal and connectivity potential, and active restoration is therefore critical to restocking lost populations. This study evaluates a two-phase restoration approach combining laboratory culture and suspended aquaculture to optimize E. amentacea restoration, enabling multiple culture cycles within a single fertility window. Three experimental conditions were tested: (A) 5 days in the laboratory followed by 12 days in suspended aquaculture, (B) 12 days in the laboratory followed by 5 days in suspended aquaculture, and (C) 17 days in the laboratory without suspended aquaculture. Culture performance was assessed in terms of coverage, length of individuals, and photosynthetic efficiency. Results outlined that condition C achieved the best performance at the final time point. Condition B showed intermediate outcomes, with length and photosynthetic efficiency comparable to condition C, but lower coverage, with significant recovery post-outplanting. Condition A exhibited poor resilience, with declining coverage and reduced photosynthetic efficiency. These findings suggest that a moderate reduction in laboratory culture (12 days) may represent an effective trade-off between resource efficiency and germling development. This approach is particularly relevant in the context of climate change, where shorter fertility periods and extreme events challenge restoration efforts. This study highlights the potential of integrated laboratoryaquaculture protocols to enhance the scalability and success of E. amentacea restoration, offering a promising strategy for marine habitat recovery

Computational modeling of immune system of the fish for a more effective vaccination in aquaculture

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