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PROBLEM/CONDITION: Cigarette smoking is the leading preventable cause of death in the United States, accounting for approximately 440,000 deaths each year. The prevalence of cigarette smoking nationwide among high school students (grades 9-12) increased during the 1990s, peaking during 1996-1997, and then declined. Approximately 80% of tobacco users initiate use before age 18 years. An estimated 6.4 million children aged <18 years who are living today will die prematurely as adults because they began to smoke cigarettes during adolescence. The annual health-related economic cost associated with tobacco use exceeds 167 billion dollars. Because of these health and economic consequences, CDC has recommended that states establish and maintain comprehensive tobacco-control programs to reduce tobacco use among youth. REPORTING PERIOD: This report covers data collected during January 2001-December 2002. DESCRIPTION OF THE SYSTEM: The National Youth Tobacco Survey (NYTS) and state youth tobacco surveys (YTS) were developed to provide states with data to support the design, implementation, and evaluation of comprehensive tobacco-control programs. NYTS is representative of middle and high school students in the 50 states and the District of Columbia. During spring 2002, a total of 26,149 students in 246 schools completed NYTS questionnaires. Weighted data for the YTS were achieved by 13 states in 2001 and by 20 states in 2002; state sample sizes varied (range: 982-38,934). This report summarizes data from the 2002 NYTS and the 2001 and 2002 YTS. RESULTS AND INTERPRETATION: Findings from the 2002 NYTS indicate that current use of any tobacco product ranged from 13.3% among middle school students to 28.2% among high school students. Cigarette smoking was the most prevalent form of tobacco use, with 9.8% of middle school students and 22.5% of high school students reporting that they currently smoke cigarettes. Cigar smoking was the second most prevalent form of tobacco use, with 6.0% of middle school students and 11.6% of high school students reporting that they currently smoke cigars. Among current cigarette smokers, 41.8% of middle school students and 52.0% of high school students reported that they usually smoke Marlboro cigarettes. Black middle school and high school students who smoke were more likely to smoke Newport cigarettes than any other brand (58.3% and 66.8%, respectively). Among middle school students aged <18 years, 75.9% were not asked to show proof of age when they bought or tried to buy cigarettes, and 63.4% were not refused purchase because of their age. Among high school students aged <18 years, 58.5% were not asked to show proof of age when they bought or tried to buy cigarettes, and 60.6% were not refused purchase because of their age. Nearly half (49.6%) of middle school students and 62.1% of high school students who smoke reported a desire to stop smoking cigarettes, with 55.4% of middle school students and 53.1% of high school students reported having made at least one cessation attempt during the 12 months preceding the survey. Among students who have never smoked cigarettes, 21.3% of middle school students and 22.9% of high school students were susceptible to initiating cigarette smoking in the next year. Exposure to secondhand smoke (i.e., environmental tobacco smoke) was high. During the week before the survey, 1) 88.3% of middle school students and 91.4% of high school students who currently smoke cigarettes and 47.1% of middle school students and 53.3% of high school students who have never smoked cigarettes were in the same room with someone who was smoking cigarettes; 2) 81.7% of middle school students and 83.7% of high school students who currently smoke cigarettes and 31.5% of middle school students and 29.1% of high school students who have never smoked cigarettes rode in a car with someone who was smoking cigarettes; and 3) 71.5% of middle school students and 57.5% of high school students who currently smoke cigarettes and 33.3% of middle school students and 29.9% of high school students who have never smoked cigarettes lived in a home in which someone else smoked cigarettes. Media and advertising influence was also noted, with 58.1% of middle school students and 54.9% of high school students who currently use tobacco and 11.0% of middle school students and 13.7% of high school students who have never used tobacco reporting that they would wear or use an item with a tobacco company name or logo on it. Although 84.6% of middle school students and 91.2% of high school students had seen or heard antismoking commercials on television or radio, 89.9% of middle school students and 91.3% of high school students also had seen actors using tobacco on television or in the movies. PUBLIC HEALTH ACTIONS: Health and education officials use YTS and NYTS data to plan, evaluate, and improve national and state programs to prevent and control youth tobacco use. States can use these data in presentations to their state legislators to demonstrate the need for funding comprehensive tobacco-control programs, including tobacco cessation and prevention programs for youth. ; LaTisha Marshall, Michael Schooley, Heather Ryan, Patrick Cox, Alyssa Easton, Cheryl Healton, Kat Jackson, Kevin C. Davis, Ghada Homsi ; Caption title. ; Also available via the World Wide Web. ; Includes bibliographical references (p. 24).

Background Familial hypobetalipoproteinemia is a genetic disorder caused by rare protein-truncating variants (PTV) in the gene encoding APOB (apolipoprotein B), the major protein component of LDL (low-density lipoprotein) and triglyceride-rich lipoprotein particles. Whether heterozygous APOB deficiency is associated with decreased risk for coronary heart disease (CHD) is uncertain. We combined family-based and large scale gene-sequencing to characterize the association of rare PTVs in APOB with circulating LDL-C (LDL cholesterol), triglycerides, and risk for CHD. Methods We sequenced the APOB gene in 29 Japanese hypobetalipoproteinemia families, as well as 57 973 individuals derived from 12 CHD case-control studies-18 442 with early-onset CHD and 39 531 controls. We defined PTVs as variants that lead to a premature stop, disrupt canonical splice-sites, or lead to insertions/deletions that shift reading frame. We tested the association of rare APOB PTV carrier status with blood lipid levels and CHD. Results Among 29 familial hypobetalipoproteinemia families, 8 families harbored APOB PTVs. Carrying 1 APOB PTV was associated with 55 mg/dL lower LDL-C ( P=3×10-5) and 53% lower triglyceride level ( P=2×10-4). Among 12 case-control studies, an APOB PTV was present in 0.038% of CHD cases as compared to 0.092% of controls. APOB PTV carrier status was associated with a 43 mg/dL lower LDL-C ( P=2×10-7), a 30% decrease in triglycerides ( P=5×10-4), and a 72% lower risk for CHD (odds ratio, 0.28; 95% CI, 0.12-0.64; P=0.002). Conclusions Rare PTV mutations in APOB which are associated with lower LDL-C and reduced triglycerides also confer protection against CHD. ; Dr Peloso is supported by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number K01HL125751. Dr Nomura was supported by the Yoshida Scholarship Foundation. Dr Khera is supported by an institutional grant from the Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard (BroadIgnite), a K08 from the National Human Genome Research Institute (K08HG010155), and a Junior Faculty Award from the National Lipid Association. Dr Kathiresan is supported by a research scholar award from the Massachusetts General Hospital, the Donovan Family Foundation, and grant R01 HL127564 from the NHLBI. Funding for the EOMI study (Exome Sequencing Project Early-Onset Myocardial Infarction) was provided by grants RC2 HL103010 (HeartGO, Heart Grand Opportunity), RC2 HL102923 (LungGO, Lung Grand Opportunity), and RC2 HL102924 (WHISP) from the NHLBI. Exome sequencing was performed through grants RC2 HL102925 (BroadGO, Broad Grand Opportunity) and RC2 HL102926 (SeattleGO, Seattle Grand Opportunity) from the NHLBI. Exome sequencing in ATVB (Italian Atherosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology), the PROCARDIS study (Precocious Coronary Artery Disease), the OHS (Ottawa Heart Study), PROMIS (Pakistan Risk of Myocardial Infarction Study), South German MI study (South German Myocardial Infarction), and the JHS (Jackson Heart Study) was supported by grant 5U54HG003067 from the National Institutes of Health. Fieldwork, genotyping, and standard clinical chemistry assays in PROMIS were principally supported by grants awarded to the University of Cambridge from the British Heart Foundation, UK Medical Research Council, Wellcome Trust, European Union (EU) Framework 6–funded Bloodomics Integrated Project, Pfizer, Novartis, and Merck. Additional support for PROMIS was provided by the UK Medical Research Council (MR/L003120/1), British Heart Foundation (RG/13/13/30194), UK National Institute for Health Research Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, European Research Council (268834), and European Commission Framework Programme 7 (HEALTH-F2-2012–279233). The Jackson Heart Study is supported by contracts HHSN268201300046C, HHSN268201300047C, HHSN268201300048C, HHSN268201300049C, and HHSN268201300050C from the NHLBI and the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities. Dr Wilson is supported by U54GM115428 from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences. REGICOR study (Registre Gironí del COR [Gerona Heart Registry]) was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Innovation through the Carlos III Health Institute (Red Investigación Cardiovascular RD12/0042, PI09/90506), European Funds for Development (ERDF-FEDER), and by the Catalan Research and Technology Innovation Interdepartmental Commission (2014SGR240). Samples for the Leicester (Leicester Myocardial Infarction) cohort were collected as part of projects funded by the British Heart Foundation (British Heart Foundation Family Heart Study, RG2000010; UK Aneurysm Growth Study, CS/14/2/30841) and the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR Leicester Cardiovascular Biomedical Research Unit Biomedical Research Informatics Centre for Cardiovascular Science, IS_BRU_0211_20033). The South MI Study is supported by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) in the context of the e:Med program (e:AtheroSysMed) and the FP7 European Union project CVgenes@target (261123). Additional grants were received from the Fondation Leducq (CADgenomics: Understanding Coronary Artery Disease Genes, 12CVD02). This study was also supported through the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft cluster of excellence Inflammation at Interfaces and SFB 1123. The ATVB study was supported by a grant from RFPS-2007-3-644382 and Programma di ricerca Regione-Università 2010–2012 Area 1–Strategic Programmes–Regione Emilia-Romagna. The authors would like to thank the MyCode Community Health Initiative participants for their permission to utilize their health and genomics information in the DiscovEHR (DiscovEHR partnership of the Regeneron Genetics Center and Geisinger Health System) collaboration. The DiscovEHR study was funded, in part, by the Regeneron Genetics Center.

The purpose of this study was (1) to determine the feasibility of organizing and adopting shared time programs to secure additional instruction and services for individual students of public and nonpublic schools; (2) to determine the procedures and factors necessary for successful programs; and (J) to suggest recommendations and possible approaches in the areas of financial burdens, administrative practices, and the continued experimentations of this plan . Current periodicals dealing with the development of existing shared time programs were reviewed from the Forsyth Library of Fort Hays Kansas State College and the following college libraries in Wichita: Mt. St. Mary's Convent, Wichita University, and Sacred Heart College. Questionnaires were sent out to administrators or principals of schools which were known to be engaged in sharing time for instruction. These questionnaires were sent to seven states: Kansas, Connecticut, Ohio, Iowa, Michigan, Missouri, and Pennsylvania. A total of twenty-eight or 84 per cent of the questionnaires were returned. Some administrators and principals reported more than one school sharing, thus the questionnaires represented a total of fifty schools. Replies from the questionnaires were divided into these categories: length of time in operation, administrative procedures, academic area, financial factors, and community aspects. Principals or administrators reported the schools engaging in shared time vary from many years, eighteen years, fifteen years to one year. The greatest growth has taken place in the past three years with 56 per cent of all respondents giving this time as the adoption of this plan. Administrative policies determined by cooperative efforts show that a high rate of correlation existed in the areas of disciplinary action, reporting practices, record keeping, and transportation with 16.4 per cent for each area. Guidance services represented 13 .9 per cent of all the factors and scheduling practices were represented by 13 .9 per cent of all jointly planned policies of sharing schools. Common aspects of scheduling which often create difficulties to all schools were noted by the respondents. Only in four cases did the public school administrators do all the planning of the schedules. Time conflicts between teacher and pupil schedules remained the greatest problem in scheduling practices. The traditional time schedule of fifty- five minutes was most widely used, however, four schools reported using the block while one mentioned the modular-flexible type of schedule which was thought to be more satisfactory. Academic areas which were most frequently mentioned were courses in the industrial arts field. The fifty- four times industrial arts was mentioned represented almost 33 1/3 per cent of the total sharing found in public schools. The courses in mathematics figured about 16 per cent of the programs. The home economics courses were mentioned by twenty respondents as an area of sharing. In the field of Science, Physics was listed with the greatest frequency or 3.9 per cent of the total program. Other courses were: Chemistry, General Science, and Biology. It was also revealed that fewer students selected courses in the fine arts or in the field of foreign languages. Financial factors common to these schools were found to be in the areas of burden which was assumed by the local school district in 46.9 per cent of all the responses. Only eight respondents received any remuneration for their district while extending their services and facilities to more students of the non-public schools. Also included were the various areas in which shared time programs alleviated burdens to non-public schools. Leading in these responses was the area of equipment with a 29.6 per cent. The correlations of the remaining factors was high, namely, maintenance 27.9 per cent; staff 22.1 per cent; and construction 20.4 per cent. The strengths of this program as reported included: (1) relief of the financial load of non-public schools; (2) included full use of the facilities , personnel, and maintenance in order to benefit all children of a community; (3) little, if any, additional costs to school districts; (4) acceptance of shared time without any revision of school board policies; and (5) transportation did not seem to be an added bur den . The weakness of the programs were found to be in these areas: (1) public relations programs; (2) evaluation procedures and practices; and (3) lack of financial reimbursements to local schools by the majority of states. It was found that interest on the part of legislators is evident from the fact that three times proposals have been submitted to the Senate Subcommittee on Education of the Committee on Labor and Public welfare for their study or upon their request for evidence of these programs. Finally, shared time will only be desirable to all if it protects the framework of the public school, as well as, its dignity and quality. All funds or any aid received could be handled by the public schools for administration of such programs and insuring the separation of Church and state. This, then, could well be the means of breaking the stalemate of Federal aid to education with all school children benefitting from the resources, facilities, and faculties of our American Public School System. This abstract is about 1, 200 words in length.

Books reviewed in this article:GREAT BRITAINJ. M. Holden. The History of Negotiable Instruments in English Law.W. G. Hoskins. The Midland Peasant: The Economic and Social History of a Leicestershire Village.H. R. Schubert. History of the British Iron and Steel Industry from c. 450 B.C. to A.D. 1775.N. J. M. Kerling. Commercial Relations of Holland and Zeeland with England from the late Thirteenth Century to the close of the Middle Ages.G. R. Elton. England Under the Tudors.Joan Thirsk. English Peasant Farming. The Agrarian History of Lincolnshire from Tudor to Recent Times.M. W. Beresford. History on the Ground.G. D. Ramsay. English Foreign Trade During the Centuries of Emergence.L. Stone. An Elizabethan: Sir Horatio Palavicino.M. E. Finch. The Wealth of Five Northamptonshire Families 1540–1640.StephenB. Baxter. The Development of the Treasury 1660–1702.K. G. Davies. The Royal African Company.Hudson's Bay Copy Booke of Letters Commissions Instructions Outward 1688–1696. Edited by E. E. Rich, assisted by Miss A. M. Johnson, with an introduction by K. G. Davies.Joseph Stassert. Malthus et la Population.L. Radzinowicz. A History of English Criminal Law and its Administration from 1750.Leslie Jones. Shipbuilding in Britain, Mainly Between the two World Wars.A History of the County of Oxford. Ed. Mary D. Lobel. Vol. V, Bullingdon Hundred.B. Wilkinson. Constitutional History of Medieval England 1216–1399, vol. III, The Development of the Constitution 1216–1399.J. Conway Davies (Ed.). Studies presented to Sir Hilary Jenkinson.Frank W. Jessup. A History of Kent.H. P. R. Finberg (Ed.). Gloucestershire Studies.E. W. W. Veale (Ed.). The Great Red Book of Bristol. Text (Part III).Calendar of Kent Feet of Fines to the end of Henry III's reign. Prepared by Irene J. Churchill, R. Griffin and F. W. Hardman, with an introduction by F. W. Tessup.H. J. Hewitt. The Black Prince's Expedition of 1355–1357.A. F. Cirket (Ed.). English Wills, 1408–1526; and Bette Stitt (Ed.). Diana Astry's Recipe Book, c. 1700.K. L. Wood‐Legh (Ed.). A Small Household of the XVth Century.W. G. Hoskins (Ed.). Exeter in the Seventeenth Century: Tax and Rate Assessments, 1602–1699.J. P. M. Fowle (Ed.). Wiltshire Quarter Sessions and Assizes, 1736.F. H. Maud. The Hockerill Highway: the story of the origin and growth of a stretch of the Norwich road.T. Balston. James Whatman, Father and Son.Kurt Samuelsson. Ekonomi och religion.Birgitta Odén. Rikets uppbörd och utgift. Statsfinanser och finansjorvaltning under senate 1500‐talet.Ingrid Hammarstrom. Finansförvaltning och varuhandel 1504–1540. Studier i de yngre Sturarnas och Gustav Vasas statshushdllning.Gunnar Fridlizius. Swedish Corn Export in the Free Trade Area. Patterns in the Oats Trade 1850–1880.H. van der Linden. De Cope, Bijdrage tot de Rechtsgesckiedenis van de openlegging der Hollands‐Utrecktse Laagvlakte.Christiane Pierard. Les douaires de Jeanne de Brabant en Hainaut.Lewis Hanke. The imperial city of Potosi. An unwritten chapter in the history of Spanish America.The short but excellent study by L. Hanke on Potosi, which has already become a classic in the Spanish edition (Sucre, 1954), has at last been published in English with all the desirable wealth of illustrations.Rudolf Rezsohazy. Histoire du Mouvement Mutualiste Chrétien en Belgique.J. A. P. G. Boot and A. Blonk. Van smiet‐ tot snelspoel. De opkomst van de Twents‐Gelderse textielindusirie in het begin van de negentiende eeuw.Gedenkboek 150 jaren Hollandsche Sociëteit van Levensverztkeringen, N.V., 1807–1957.E. A. B. J. Ten Brink. De Rotterdamsche Telegraafmaatschappij 1854–1884. Een episode uit de begintijd van de electrische telegrqfie in Nederland.Ger. H. Knap. Gekroonde Koopvaart. Reisresultaat van honderd jaar zeevaart door de Koninklijke Nederlandsche Stoombootmaatschappij, 1856–1956.Compagnie du Ckemin de Far du Bas–Congo au Katanga, 1906–1956.R. B. Harteveld and H. R. Wortman under the editorial supervision of Prof. H. J. Keuning. Gedenkboek De Vries Robbé, N.V., Gorimhem, 1881–1956.Jean Stengers. Combien le Congo a‐t‐il coûtéà la Belgique? (Académie royale des Sciences coloniales. Classe des Sciences morales et politiques. Mémoires in‐8o, nouvelle série, t.XI, fasc. 1. Brussels, 1957. Pp. 394. B.frs. 525.)J. A. Sporck. Ľactivité industrielle dans la région liegeoise. Étude de géographic économique.W. Kloosterboer. Bibliografie van Nederlandse publicaties over Portugal en zijn overzeese gebiedsdelen. Taal, Literatuur, Geschiedenis, Land en Volk.Donald Creighton. Harold Adam Innis. Portrait of a Scholar.E. C. Kirkiand. Dream and Thought in the Business Community 186–1900.Samuel P. Hays. The Response to Industrialism: 1885–1914.T. C. Cochran. The American Business System: A Historical Perspective 1900–1955.M. R. Benedict. Can We Solve the Farm Problem? An Analysis of Federal Aid to Agriculture with the Report and Recommendations of the Committee on Agricultural Policy.W. J. Easterbrook and H. J. G. Aitken. Canadian Economic History.John H. Dales. Hydroelectricity and Industrial Development–Quebec 1898–1940.E. P. Neufeld. Bank of Canada Operations, 1935–54.David C. Corbett. Canada's Immigration Policy, a critique.R. F. Willetts. Aristocratic Society in Ancient Crete.R. S. Lopez and I. W. Raymond (Eds.). Medieval Trade in the Mediterranean World. Illustrative Documents Translated with Introductions and Notes.Michel Mollat and Olivier de Prat (Eds.). Le Ntwire et ľEconomie Maritime du XVe au XVlIIe siécles.J. M. Wallace‐Hadrill and J. McManners (Eds.). France, Government and Society.L. F. Haber. The Chemical Industry in the Nineteenth Century. A Study of the Economic Aspects of Applied Chemistry in Europe and North America.S. L. Sharma. Some Trends of Capitalist Concentration in India.B. H. Farmer. Pioneer Peasant Colonization in Ceylon.

Described are diff's in the US & GB approach to election studies before describing French electoral sociol. While US studies are influenced by soc psychol'ts & in GB by pol'al sci'ts, the French have been most influenced by geographers, & the terms `electoral geography' & `electoral sociol' are used synonymously. Andre Siegfried is the earliest writer in the field & posited direct & simple explanations such as division of property, pop groupings, occup, submission to the priest, & racial character, & simple causation. The main portion of the work in electoral sociology (ES) has been done since WWII. There are 2 monographs in the field: (1) by Francois Goguel INITIATION AUX RECHERCHES DE GEOGRAPIRE ELECTORALE gives a synoptic account of the theory & practice. 6 main factors are to be considered in a sci'fic study of the elections: SC's; econ systems; religion; spatial configuration of the pop; influence of groups such as masons, unions, & parties; & auto-determination of the electoral evolution (the elections determine the meaning of the elections). (2) SOCIOLOGIE ELECTORALE, in which Goguel has written in the first portion he doubts whether generalization is possible. The rest of the book by George Dupeux is a guidebook for res under 4 headings: res in PO-to him, election returns, professions of faith by the deputies, dep'tal documents, & press reports; religious geography; soc structure, including pop, movement, age, sex, occup, & some econ data; & local history. E. Labrousse's work, LA REVUE SOCIALISTE, is almost the only work on a national level outside of Goguel's. He also believes that the permanence of the tendencies still holds and changes are due to changes in econ structure. Since industrial property is the primary effect on pol'al behavior, the progress of Socialism is assured. Goguel's geography of elections from 1870-1951 considers the Right & the Extreme-Left to the exclusion of the intermediate Left. One of his conclusions is that the ExtremeLeft is made up of both Ur WC & Ru peasant. This ExtremeLeft stems from the anti-clerical 'Extreme-Left'. Another conclusion is that in modern industrialized France, the CenterRight & Center-Left finds little favor in comparison to France as a whole, but the 2 extremes have their greatest strength there. He also concludes that the parties of the Center have a majority in France which can only be maintained if it considers the needs & problems of industrialized France. The methods & techniques of ES may be classified as: those that deal with map construction, &, those that reject maps for some other methods of presentation. Goguel considers questions of map construction: what shadings & hatchings to use, whether to map delegates or votes, etc. Claude Leleu advocates the use of indices in analysis for cartographic representation using fewer maps. Pierre George studied soc & econ conditions in a commuter town near Paris using road maps & semi-circles. His conclusions include a relationship of occup's to voting for pol'al parties. Guttman scales have been used by Sauerwein & de Vulpian. Roger de Smet has used is in a study of Belgian workers, & concluded that the Socialist & Communist Parties in each region of Belgium group almost exclusively workers & employees. Charles Moraze criticized ES primarily on the basis that studies have sacrificed accuracy for simplicity, & sees the need for better tools in soc sci. Arambourou criticizes similarly & wishes to study small regions intensively in order to identify components. Neither of these authors discuss interviewing as a method. Goguel called for studies of abstentionism using a temporary schema which divides abstentionism into 2 causes: where nonvoting is evidence of perplexity or deliberate att, &, where nonvoting is due to such factors as illness, not knowing of the campaign, living too far from the polls, etc. Jean Pataut distinguishes 3 sorts of abstentions: (a) necessary as a result of illness, change of address, etc: estimated at about 10%; (b) as a result of communication, pop characteristics, tradition, & other local characteristics. This is influenced by choice & will vary from place to place; & (c) pol'al factors may bring a rash of nonvoting. Roger Girod's study (N=50, based on interviews) of abstention in Switzerland postulates that both personal & collective factors are operating. Since abstaining is relatively stable in various Cantons, he concludes that abstention is primarily a function of the group. There are 3 studies of the feminine vote using Leleu's indices. Comparisons show that women abstain more than men & vote for most parties less than men with the exception of the MRP & some right-wing Cath groups. The greatest part of the women vote like the men of their class. It is concluded that work in French ES has been in spite of the methods employed,& the better short studies have used r techniques & detailed interviews. It is believed that the limitations are in the method. Working with gross data, the experimenter is unable to perform simultaneous breakdowns because he does not know how these variables actually _E among individuals. The facts of the French party system do not make his task easier. If French ES could add the soc psychol'al approach used in the US & GB to their studies of environmental forces, they could give a better picture of elections. In return, French studies have substance & methods which we in the. US could use. J. D. Twight.

Broadside describing the course of study offered at Alden Partridge's Military-Collegiate Institution in Norwich, Vermont, with a fall term to open 13 September 1848. ; CAPT. PARTRIDGE'S MILITARY-COLLEGIATE INSTITUTION, AT NORWICH, VERMONT. THE FALL TERM, at this Institution, will commence on WEDNESDAY, the 13th of SEPTEMBER. The departments of In-struction are as follows, viz.: 1. DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL AND MILITARY ENGINEERING. This department embraces all those branches of theoretical and practical Mathematics, Topography, Military Science, and such other branches as are necessary to form a good Scientific and practical Civil and Military Engineer. The practical use of the Barometer, in calculating the Heights of Mountains, and which is highly useful in all practical Scientific Operations, and which is not taught at any other Institution in the United States, will be particularly attended to. The charge (for tui-tion) for carrying a student through the full course, in this department, including the use of Instruments, will be forty dollars. The time necessary for a diligent student to complete a full course, will be from four to five Quarters, of eleven weeks each. Should a longer time be necessary, no addition will be made to the charge. Each Student will be allowed to complete the course as soon as he can. 2. THE FULL ENGLISH COLLEGIATE COURSE. The full course in this department will embrace all of the preceding, with the addition of the Laws of Nations; Natural and Political Law; Logic; Rhetoric ; Moral Science; Mental Philosophy; History; Geography; Natural Philosophy and Astronomy; Belles Lettres, &c., &c. Composition, Declamation, and a correct Grammatical knowledge of the English Lan-guage will be required of all. The time necessary for a diligent student to complete the course in this department, will be from eight to ten Quarters, and the charge for tuition eighty dollais. Should a longer time be necessary, no additional charge will be made. Blackstone's Commentaries will be added for those who wish to attend to them. 3. The Latin and Greek Languages will be taught to those who may wish to attend to them, and to such extent as they may require; and the charge on this account will be in proportion to the increase of time. 4. Those students who prefer to pay a Quarterly tuition to accepting of the terms proposed in the 1st and 2d articles, will be charged as follows, viz.: Tuition per Quarter, of eleven weeks, - $8,00 Incidental expenses, " " 1,00 Board, in respectable private families, from one dollar fifty, to one dollar seventy-five cents per week. Private study-rooms from one dollar fifty to two dollars per Quarter. Washing not to exceed twenty cents per week Fuel from $1,50 to $1,75 per cord. 5. Capt. P. will receive, not to exceed twenty, Students as Boarders in his family, for forty dollars per Quarter, or one hun-dred and sixty dollars for the Collegiate year of forty-four weeks, which will include Board, Tuition, Room-rent, Washing, Lights, Fuel, and the usual Incidentals. 6. Capt. P. will receive a Class, not to exceed fifteen, to be instructed in all the branches necessary to teach a Select English School, including Practical Surveying, and the use of the Barometer. Tuition $6,00 per Quarter. 7. THE NORWICH INSTITUTE. This Institution, formerly so flourishing under the Instruction of Messrs. Shedd, Ilurlbutt, &c., will be re-opened, under the superintendence of Capt. P., on the 13th of September. The Instruction will include all the branches necessary to prepare a student to enter on the higher branches in the Collegiate department, or to teach a good District School. The charge for tui-tion will be four dollars per Quarter, or five dollars, if the Languages are included. The student in this, and all the other departments will have the privilege of attending Capt. P.'s lectures, and the Military Exercises without additional charge. 8. LECTURES. Capt. P. delivers an annual Course of Lectures on the Science of Government, the Constitution of the United States, Po-litical Economy, the several branches of Military Science, and other branches of useful knowledge, which are open to all the students. 9- Students are admitted at any time, and charged tuition from the time of joining. 10. The Commencement will be on Monday, the 4th of September. Also, the celebration of the 28th Anniversary, since the establishment of the Institution at Norwich, under the name of the A. L. S. M. Academy. Several interesting addresses will be delivered. The public generally, and all of Capt, P.'s former pupils, particularly, are urgently invited to attend. 11. A Literary Convention will meet at Norwich on the 4th of September, for the purpose of adopting measures to establish on a permanent basis, at Norwich, or some other convenient place, in New England, a Literary, Scientific and Military Institu-tion, of a high order. Addresses may be expected from Joseph C. Wright, Esq., of New York, and Major Simeon Wheeler of Virginia,"former Graduates under Capt. P. All the friends of a truly American System of Education, are urgently invited to attend. Norwich, Vermont, June 12, 1848. NOTE. Those who wish a more extended Literary and Scientific course than the foregoing, can be carried forward to any extent they really require. Payments for board and tuition to be made quarterly or half-yearly in advance.

STIELER'S HAND-ATLAS ÜBER ALLE THEILE DER ERDE NACH DEM NEUESTEN ZUSTANDE UND ÜBER DAS WELTGEBÄUDE Stieler's Hand-Atlas über alle Theile der Erde nach dem neuesten Zustande und über das Weltgebäude ( - ) Einband ( - ) [Inhaltsverzeichnis]: ( - ) [Abb.]: Gotha und Umgebung 1845 ( - ) [Karte]: Die sichtbare Seite der Mondoberfläche bei voller Beleuchtung. (No. 2. u. 3.) [Karte]: Das Planeten-System (No. 4.) [Karte]: Der nördliche gestirnte Himmel. (No. 5.) [Karte]: Der südliche gestirnte Himmel. (No. 5b.) [Karte]: Westliche Halbkugel (No. 6.) [Karte]: Oestliche Halbkugel (No. 7.) [Karte]: Planiglob der Antipoden oder der größten Entfernungen auf der Erde nach eigener Idee entw. u. gez. (No. 8.) [Karte]: Planiglob in Mercators Projection, zur Uebersicht der Erdfläche und der Seereisen (No. 9.) [Karte]: Die bekannten Höhen über der Meeresfläche in transparenten Profilen. (No. 10.) [Karte]: Europa zur Uebersicht der Flussgebiete und Höhenzüge (No. 11.) [Karte]: Europa mit politischer Begränzung der einzelnen Staaten (No. 12.) [Karte]: Spanien und Portugal (No. 13a.) [Karte]: [Galicia, Asturias, Leon, Castilla, Beira] (No. 13b.) [Karte]: [Cataluna, Aragon, Navarra] (No. 13c.) [4 Karten]: (1)Granada, Sevilla, Alentejo, Algarve (2)Cadiz (3)Lissabon (4)Plan von Madrid (No. 13d.) [Karte]: Spanien und Portugal in IV Blättern. (No. 13e.) [2 Karten]: (1)Frankreich und Umgebungen von Paris (2)Umgebung von Paris (No. 14a.) [Karte]: Der nordöstliche Theil von Frankreich (No. 14b.) [Karte]: Der nord-westliche Theil von Frankreich (No. 14c.) [Karte]: Der südliche Theil von Frankreich nebst einem Theile von Spanien (No. 14d.) [4 Karten]: (1)Die Britischen Inseln und die Nord-See (2)Umgebungen von London. (3)Hafen von Portsmouth. (4)Hafen von Plymouth. (No. 15a.) [2 Karten]: (1)England (2)Die Nordspitze von England (No. 15b.) [Karte]: Schottland mit der nördlichen Spitze von England, den Shires: Northumberland, Durham u. e. Th. v. Cumberland (No. 15c.) [Karte]: Ireland (No. 15d.) [Karte]: Schweden und Norwegen, Dänemark, Island u. Faer-Öer. (No. 16a.) [5 Karten]: (1)Daenemartk und Schleswig, Holstein und Lauenburg auch südl. Theil v. Schweden. (2)Island (3)Die Faer-Öer. (4)Hamburg u. Umgebungen. (5)Plan von Kopenhagen. (No. 16b.) [3 Karten]: (1)Schweden und Norwegen (2)Stockholm (3)Umgebung von Stockholm (No. 17.) [Karte]: Fluss- u. Berg-Karte von Deutschland und den anlieg. Ländern (No. 18.) [Karte]: Deutschland, Niederlande, Belgien und Schweiz. (No. 19.) [Karte]: Deutschland und anliegende Länder, zur Übersicht der Hauptstrassen und Entfernungen. (No. 20.) [Karte]: Nordwestliches Deutschland (Preuss. Rheinprovinz u. Westphalen, Kgr. Hannover, Oldenburg, Braunschweig, Lippe, Waldeck, die Hessischen Lande, Nassau) Kgr. Niederlande. Kgr. Belgien. (No. 21.) [Karte]: Nord-östliches Deutschland enthält: sämmtliche Saechsische Lande, die Preussischen Provinzen: Sachsen, Brandenburg, Pommern. Mecklenburg, Holstein, Braunschweig u. a. L. (No. 22a.) [Karte]: Die Preussischen Provinzen Preussen und Posen. Dabei Uebersicht des Preussischen Staats, auch Umgeb. v. Königsberg u. v. Danzig. (No. 22b.) [Karte]: Mittel-östliches Deutschland oder Böhmen, Mähren und Schlesien (No. 23.) [Karte]: Südwestliches Deutschland, enth. Bayern, Würtemberg, Baden Hohenzollern und Schweiz. (No. 24.) [2 Karten]: (1)Der Oesterreichische Kaiser-Staat (2)Wien (No. 26.) [Karte]: Sachsen, THüringen und benachtbarte Laender (No. 27. u. 28.) [Karte]: Niederlande, Belgien, Luxemburg (No. 29.) [2 Karte]: (1)Der Rhein vom Boden-See bis Köln, zugleich Specialkarte von Württemberg, Baden u. der Bayerischen Pfalz. (2)Nördliche Fortsetzung des Rhein von Oppenheim bis Köln (No. 30. u. 31.) [Karte]: Die Schweiz. (No. 32.) [Karte]: Italien (No. 33.) [Karte]: Das Adriatische Meer nach der in Mailand in 24 Blatt erschienen Carta di Cabottagio del Mare Adriatico; nebst weiterer Ausführung von Dalmatien, Croatien & etc. nach der Karte d. Oesterr. Gen. Quartiermeister-Stabs; Hydrographisch-Orographischer Uebersicht von Italien. (No. 33b.) [Karte]: Noerdliches Italien (No. 34a.) [2 Karten]: (1)Südliches Italien enthält Neapel und Sicilien nbest dem südlichen Theile des Kirchenstaates. (2)Die Inseln Malta, Gozzo u. Comino. (No. 34b.) [Karte]: Galizien, Ungarn und Slavonien und Croatien, Siebenbürgen und Dalmatien, Moldau, Wallachey (No. 35a.) [Karte]: Ungarn und ein Theil von Siebenbürgen (No. 35b.) [2 Karten]: (1)Ostsee-Laender und inneres Russland bis Moskau. (2)St. Petersburg u. Umgebungen (No. 36.) [Karte]: Europaeisches Russland auch Schweden u. Norwegen. Dabei Uebersicht des Oesterreichischen u. Preussischen Staats. (No. 37a.) [Karte]: Europäisches Russland (No. 37b.) [Karte]: Südliches Blatt vom Europ. Russland. (No. 37c.) [Karte]: Des Osmanisches Reichs europäischer Theil, Griechenland und die Ionischen Inseln (No. 38a.) [Karte]: Die Europäische Türkei von der Gränze Griechenlands bis zu den Mündungen der Donau (No. 38b.) [3 Karten]: (1)Griechenland und die Ionischen Inseln mit Beachtung der Klassischen Zeit. (2)Plan der Gegend zwischen Athen und dem Piräus (3)Plan von Athen (No. 38c.) [Karte]: Asia (No. 39.) [2 Karten]: (1)Afrika (2)Algier (No. 40.) [Karte]: America (No. 41a.) [Karte]: Polar-Karte enthaltend: die Länder u. Meere vom Nord-Pol bis 50° N. Br. u. weiter, mit der Übersicht des Russischen Reichs in Europa, Asia u. America. (No. 41b.) [Karte]: Der Atlantische Ocean (No. 41c.) [8 Karten]: (1)Das Mittellaendische und Schwarze Meer. Auch als Generalkarte des Osmanischen Reichs. (2)Die Canarischen Inseln mit Madeira (3)Cadiz (4)Gibraltar (5)Meerenge von Constantinopel (6)Constantinopel (7)Alexandria (8)Nildelta / Palaestina (No. 42a.) [6 Karte]: (1)Palaestina (2)Jerusalem zur Zeit der Zerstörung durch Titus (3)Jerusalem zur jetzigen Zeit (4)Die Länder der heiligen Schrift (5)Umgebung von Jerusalem (6)Zug der Israeliten aus Aegypten nach Kanaan. (No. 42b.) [Karte]: Das Osmanische Reich in Asien. (Klein-Asien, Armenien, Kurdistan, Mesopotamien, Syrien.) (No. 43a.) [Karte]: Iran und Turan, Persien, Afghanistan, Beludschistan, Turkestan. (No. 43b.) [Karte]: Das Chinesische Reich mit seinen Schutzstaaten, nebst dem Japanischen Inselreiche. (No. 43c.) [Karte]: Ost-Indien mit den Inseln. (No. 44a.) [Karte]: Vorder-Indien oder das Indo-Britische Reich. (No. 44b.) [Karte]: Die Ostindischen Inseln (No. 44c.) [Karte]: Mittel- und Nord-Africa. Westl. Theil. (No. 45a.) [2 Karten]: (1)Mittel- und Nord-Africa (östl. Theil) und Arabien. (2)Habesch. (No. 45b.) [Karte]: Süd-Africa mit Madagascar. (No. 45c.) [2 Karten]: (1)Karte von Süd-Afrika. (2)Umgebung Kapstadt (No. 45d.) [Karte]: Nord-America. (No. 46a.) [Karte]: Vereinigte Staaten von Nord-America (No. 46b.) [2 Karten]: (1)Mexico und Centro-America (2)Umgebung von Mexico (No. 47b.) [4 Karten]: (1)West-Indien mit Florida, d. Landenge v. Panama u. s. w. (2)Havana u. Hafen (3)Guadeloupe mit Marie-Galante u. a. (4)Martinique (No. 48.) [Karte]: Süd-America (No. 49a.) [Karte]: Süd-America in zwei Blättern. (No. 49b.) Einband ( - )

STRATEGISCHE BELEUCHTUNG MEHRERER FELDZÜGE VON SOBIESKI, MÜNICH, FRIEDRICH DEM GROSSEN UND DEM HERZOG CARL WILHELM FERDINAND VON BRAUNSCHWEIG UND ANDERE HISTORISCHE MATERIALIEN ZUR STRATEGIE Hinterlassene Werke über Krieg und Kriegführung des Generals Carl von Clausewitz (-) Strategische Beleuchtung mehrerer Feldzüge von Sobieski, Münich, Friedrich dem Großen und dem Herzog Carl Wilhelm Ferdinand von Braunschweig und andere historische Materialien zur Strategie (10 ; / 1837) ( - ) Einband ( - ) Titelseite ([II]) Inhalt. ([V]) Sobiesky. ([1]) §. 1. Einleitung. ([3]) §. 2. Sobiesky's Hauptsiege. Die Schlacht bei Sloboditza (Slobodysza) in Wolhinien am 17. Oktober 1660. (7) §. 3. Die Schlacht bei Podhaycie in Gallizien am 15. Oktober 1667. (8) §. 4. Treffen bei Kalusz in dem Gebirge von Strye in Gallizien im Oktober 1672. (8) §. 5. Treffen bei Buczacz (Butschatsch) an der Grenze von Podolien und Gallizien im Oktober 1672. (9) §. 6. Schlacht bei Chotzin am 11. November 1673. (9) §. 7. Schlacht bei Lemberg am 30. August 1675. (11) §. 8. Schlacht bei Zuranow in Gallizien am 8. oktober 1676. (12) Feldmarschall Münich. Krieg der Russen gegen die Türken von 1736 - 1739. ([15]) §. 1. Der Feldzug von 1736. ([17]) §. 2. Der Feldzug von 1737. (20) §. 3. Der Feldzug von 1738. (24) §. 4. Der Feldzug von 1739. (26) Friedrich der Große. Die Feldzüge Friedrich des Großen von 1741 bis 1762. ([29]) Erster Abschnitt. Bemerkungen aus den österreichischen Successionskriegen. ([31]) §. 1. Überfall in den Quartieren. ([31]) §. 2. Vertheidigung großer Flüsse. (32) §. 3. Politische Natur der damaligen Kriege. (32) §. 4. Besatzungen in unwichtigen Orten. (33) §. 5. Charakteristische Aufstellung der Kräfte. (33) §. 6. Charakter der vier ersten Schlachten. (34) §. 7. Feldzugspläne Friedrich des Großen in den ersten Schlesischen Kriegen. (35) §. 8. Deckung der seitwärts gelegenen Provinzen. (44) §. 9. Überlegenheit der Österreicher an leichten Truppen. (45) Zweiter Abschnitt. Bemerkungen über den siebenjährigen Krieg. (45) Der Feldzug von 1756. (45) §. 10. Der General Lloyd und ähnliche Strategen. (45) §. 11. Der Operationsplan Friedrich des Großen. (48) §. 12. Das Betragen Feldmarschalls Brown. (49) Der Feldzug von 1757. (50) §. 13. Der Feldzugsplan Friedrich des Großen und das Benehmen der Österreicher; Hakenaufstellung gegen Umgehungen. (50) §. 14. Über das Aufreiben der einzelnen Colonnen des Königs. (53) §. 15. Die Vertheidigung der Streitkräfte vor Prag und gegen Daun. (54) §. 16. Die Stärke Österreichs im Vergleich zu den Mitteln des Angriffs. (56) §. 17. Die Stellung Keiths vor Prag. (57) §. 18. Die Nothwendigkeit fortdauernd Reserven zu organisieren. (60) §. 19. Die Zahl bei dem frühern taktischen System weniger entscheidend als bei dem neuern. (61) §. 20. Die Belagerung einer Festung wird dem ernstlichen Verfolgen eines Sieges vorgezogen. (64) §. 21. Friedrich der Große nach der Schlacht von Collin. (66) §. 22. Angriff des verschanzten Lagers von Breslau. §. 23. Friedrich der große in der Schlacht von Leuthen. (67) §. 24. Die Österreicher in der Schlacht von Leuthen. (67) §. 25. Die Besetzung von Liegnitz. (68) §. 26. Die Folgen der Schlacht von Leuthen. (68) §. 27. Die Schlacht von Jägerndorf mit ihren Folgen. (69) §. 28. Friedrich der große giebt die Provinz Preußen auf. (71) §. 29. Die Streitkräfte der österreichischen Armee sind in diesem Feldzuge für den Zweck und die Verhältnisse gering. §. 30. Die Stärke der preußischen Armee zu Anfang und zu Ende dieses Feldzugs. (73) §. 31. Ansichten der damaligen Zeit über die Schlacht von Prag. (73) Der Feldzug von 1758. (74) §. 32. Beide Theile vermeiden eine Schlacht. (74) §. 33. Deckung des Trains im Rückzuge ohne ernstlichen Angriff. - Deckung von Zufuhr fast allein Gegenstand des ersten Theils dieses Feldzugs. (77) §. 34. Folgen einer Belagerung ohne vorhergegangene siegreiche Schlacht. (82) §. 35. Die Schlacht bei Zorndorf. (83) §. 36. Die schiefe Schlachtordnung ist Schuld an vorkommender Verwirrung. (90) §. 37. Friedrichs des Großen Feldzugsplan. (92) §. 38. Dauns Feldzugsplan. (97) §. 39. Verhältniß der Kräfte. (101) §. 40. Österreich setzt zu geringe Streitkräfte in Bewegung. (103) §. 41. Der Postensieg zwischen Friedrich dem Großen und Daun. (103) §. 42. Des Prinzen Heinrich Feldzug in Sachsen gegen die Reichsarmee. (105) §. 43. Die russische Armee. (110) Der Feldzug von 1759. (110) §. 44. Übersicht der Stärke. (110) §. 45. Unternehmungen Friedrich des Großen auf feindliche Magazine. (111) §. 46. Der Prinz Heinrich thut ähnliche Schritte. (112) §. 47. Über das Vorlegen auf der feindlichen Marschlinie ohne schlagen zu wollen. (113) §. 48. Die Schlacht bei Kay. (115) §. 49. Die Schlacht bei Kunersdorf. (116) §. 50. Fouquè manövrirt de Wille aus Schlesien hinaus. (121) §. 51. Das Lager von Landshut. (122) §. 52. Das Lager von Schmotseifen. (123) §. 53. Friedrich des Großen Feldzug. (123) §. 54. Dauns Feldzug. (126) §. 55. Die Russen und Österreicher suchen die Vereinigung. (134) §. 56. Normalstärke einer Armee. (135) §. 57. Flankenmanöver. (137) §. 58. General Dierike bei Meissen. (140) §. 59. Angriff der feindlichen Armee auf dem Marsch. (140) §. 60. Der König deckt Glogau gegen die Russen. (141) §. 61. Die Reichsarmee stellt sich hinter Daun. (143) Der Feldzug von 1760. (143) §. 62. Übersicht der Stärke. (143) §. 63. Friedrichs des Großen Feldzug. (144) §. 64. Dauns Feldzug. (153) §. 65. Die Schlacht von Liegnitz. (165) §. 66. Die Schlacht von Torgau. (166) §. 67. Die Stellung von Landshut. (172) §. 68. Manöver und Märsche des Königs. (176) §. 69. Vereinigung der Russen mit Daun. (180) Der Feldzug von 1761. (181) §. 70. Übersicht und Stärke. (181) §. 71. Des Königs Feldzug. (182) §. 72. Der österreichische Feldzug. (199) §. 73. Die festen Stellungen. (205) §. 74. Strategisches Manövriren. (208) Der Feldzug von 1762. (215) §. 75. Übersicht der Stärke. (215) §. 76. Strategisches Manöver des Königs gegen Daun. (217) §. 77. Des Königs Feldzug. (221) §. 78. Dauns Feldzug. (230) §. 79. Des Prinzen Heinrich Feldzug in Sachsen. (232) §. 80. Gebirgsstellungen. (244) §. 81. Diversionen. (251) §. 82. Die Schlacht von Freiberg. (252) Der Feldzug des Herzogs Carl Wilhelm Ferdinand von Braunschweig ([255]) Erster Abschnitt. Einleitung. ([257]) §. 1. Politisches Verhältniß. ([257]) §. 2. Vertheidigungszustand der Holländer. (267) 1. Das erste war der Mangel an Einheit im Befehl. (279) 2. Die politische Spaltung. (279) 3. Das moralische Übergewicht des Gegners. (280) §. 3. Entscheidung des preußischen Kabinets durch die Gewalt der Waffen. (281) Zweiter Abschnitt. Der Verlauf des Feldzuges. (285) §. 4. Vorbereitung in der preußischen Armee vom 6. Juli bis 12. September. (285) §. 5. Erste Hälfte des Feldzuges vom 13. bis 22. September. (293) §. 6. Zweite Hälfte des Feldzuges vom 23. September bis zum 10. Oktober. (300) Dritter Abschnitt. Betrachtungen über den Feldzug. §. 7. (313) Historische Materialien zur Strategie. (Der Krieg in der Vendée 1793). ([321]) Feldzug von 1793 auf dem rechten Ufer der Loire. (326) Erster allgemeiner Aufstand. Die Royalisten schlagen einzelne Corps der schwachen Republikaner und bemächtigen sich einzelner Orte. Monat März. (326) Die Republikaner verstärken sich auf 20,000 Mann. Die Royalisten greifen ihre mitten im Lande stationirten Corps mit Überlegenheit an und zerstreuen eins nach dem anderen. - April und Mai. (328) Die Royalisten gehen aus ihrem Kriegstheater gegen die republikanischen Generale heraus, schlagen mehrere republikanische Armeen total, unternehmen aber nichts gegen Niort, la Rochelle u. s. w. und sind nicht glücklich vor Nantes. Mai und Juni. (330) Die Republikaner greifen die Vendéer von der mittäglichen Seite her an, schlagen sie einige Male, werden aber endlich besiegt. Die Vendéer behaupten sich im Besitz ihres eigentlichen Kriegstheaters. (Das Innere von Ober- und Nieder-Poitou und Anjou.) Juni und Juli. (335) Die Republikaner verstärken sich; die Gefechte werden im Norden und Süden erneuert; der Erfolg ist abwechselnd, doch dringen die Republikaner nirgend vor. Juli und August. (336) Bemerkung des Herausgebers. (347) Wegen Abwesenheit des Herausgebers eingeschlichene Druckfehler. ([uncounted]) Einband ([uncounted]) Einband ([uncounted])

La popolazione mondiale è in continua espansione e la crescita demografica ed economica inducono allo sfruttamento progressivo dell'ambiente ed al depauperamento delle risorse naturali (acqua ed energia in particolare), con conseguenti impatti potenzialmente importanti sul cambiamento globale. Si rende, pertanto, necessaria ed urgente una più efficiente gestione delle risorse basata sulla rielaborazione di obiettivi sostenibili di politiche e strategie ambientali e sulla riduzione del consumo delle risorse, promuovendo la transizione da un modello di economia lineare ad uno circolare, costituito da un ciclo continuo di sviluppo positivo che preserva e migliora il capitale naturale, ottimizzando l'utilizzo delle risorse a tutte le scale. Come noto, l'Ingegneria Naturalistica (IN) utilizza le piante come materiale da costruzione nelle opere per la riqualificazione ambientale e paesaggistica del territorio. Le opere di IN sono infatti a basso impatto ambientale ed in grado di innescare processi di rinaturalizzazione che favoriscono la biodiversità, offrendo una promettente strategia di mitigazione e adattamento ai cambiamenti climatici. Fondamentale per il raggiungimento di questi obiettivi, risulta essere quindi l'uso di materiali adeguati, sostenibili, di facile reperimento e basso costo. Tenuto conto della grande disponibilità dei residui derivanti dalla potatura annuale delle viti (sarmenti) e dallo spiaggiamento annuale delle foglie di Posidonia oceanica (banquette) in Sicilia, la presente tesi ha come obiettivo principale la descrizione e l'analisi di questi nuovi materiali organici di scarto in relazione alla possibilità di uso degli stessi in opere di Ingegneria Naturalistica. Ogni anno infatti la potatura dei vigneti produce un elevato quantitativo di residui (sarmenti), che rappresentano una biomassa da smaltire; nel contempo, il fenomeno dello spiaggiamento dei residui di P. oceanica è percepito come un disagio dai cittadini, entrando in conflitto con alcune attività economiche (turismo, stabilimenti balneari, ecc). Nonostante il fondamentale ruolo ecologico che rivestono le fanerogame marine sia per limitare l'erosione della costa che per favorire la formazione del sistema dunale costiero, la presenza di residui di P. oceanica lungo la costa può comportare la riduzione del valore turistico delle spiagge; conseguentemente è richiesta alle amministrazioni locali la rimozione delle banquette ed il loro conferimento in discarica. L'utilizzo della biomassa prodotta comporta quindi un duplice vantaggio: la risoluzione del problema dello smaltimento dei residui prodotti e la creazione di nuovi prodotti, locali ed a basso costo, riutilizzabili anche nel campo del risanamento ambientale. La biomassa residuale viene vista in questo modo come una risorsa e non più un rifiuto, acquisendo un valore sia dal punto di vista ecologico che dal punto di vista economico Nell'ottica dell'economia circolare, i sarmenti sono stati assemblati in forma di fascina per costituire l'elemento base per realizzare il modulo di una fascinata, opera lineare di IN con funzioni antierosive, consolidanti e di stabilizzazione, mentre, i residui di P. oceanica sono stati utilizzati come substrato di coltivazione per rendere "viva" l'opera dopo la messa a dimora di specie autoctone al suo interno. Nella tesi sono state eseguite una serie di analisi e sperimentazioni volte: i) a caratterizzare i due materiali per valutarne l'idoneità come costituenti della fascina, ii) ad individuare le specie vegetali biotecnicamente più idonee a rendere viva l'opera, iii) ad eseguire una prima valutazione sulla funzionalità dell'opera nel suo insieme utilizzando osservazioni fatte su un piccolo prototipo di fascinata messa in opera nei campi sperimentali dell'Università di Palermo. Viene infine presentata una tecnica costruttiva innovativa delle fascinate oggetto di brevettazione da parte dell'Università degli Studi di Palermo e sviluppata nel corso delle attività di questo dottorato di ricerca. Con l'obiettivo di stimare indicatori di resistenza e durabilità delle fascine sperimentali sono state, in primo luogo, individuate quattro aziende vitivinicole che operano nel territorio siciliano, disponibili a fornire a titolo gratuito i sarmenti appena potati. Le prove meccaniche di resistenza a flessione (valutazione di tensioni di rottura e modulo di elasticità) sono state quindi eseguite su 122 provini di 8 differenti cultivar di sarmento (Cabernet, Inzolia, Nero d'Avola, Grecanico, Grillo, Chardonnay, Sirah e Catarratto). I provini di sarmento, di lunghezza L=10 cm ed umidità "normale" (12%), sono stati selezionati con criterio di assenza di nodi ed imperfezioni, uniformità di diametro ed asse longitudinale rettilineo (cilindricità). Sotto l'ipotesi di validità della legge di Hook, le prove di resistenza a flessione eseguite secondo lo schema a tre punti (3 point bending test) sino alla rottura delle fibre inferiori dei provini, hanno permesso di ricavare il modulo di elasticità longitudinale (lungo le fibre), E, e la tensione di rottura sulla base dei diagrammi sforzo/deformazione e della forza a rottura. Dai primi risultati si rileva come i vitigni Cabernet, Grillo e Sirah presentino le migliori caratteristiche di resistenza flessionale (maggiore rigidità) con netta prevalenza del Sirah (4878.6 MPa), mentre più deformabili risultano essere i sarmenti di Grecanico, Chardonnay, Catarratto e Nero d'Avola (1200 - 2000 MPa). I valori maggiori di tensioni di rottura si riscontrano invece per il Cabernet (70 MPa). Nel complesso, mettendo in relazione le tensioni di rottura campionarie ai corrispondenti moduli di elasticità, le migliori caratteristiche di resistenza e di maggiore durabilità riscontrate sono quelle del Cabernet e dello Chardonnay, che possono quindi trovare potenziale impiego come materiale da costruzione nelle opere di Ingegneria Naturalistica. Pertanto, i sarmenti di Cabernet sono stati utilizzati per il confezionamento delle fascine nell'installazione sperimentale, insieme al Catarratto che è la cultivar maggiormente coltivata nella regione e che, conseguentemente, produce il maggior quantitativo di biomassa annuale. L'area di prelievo dei residui di P. oceanica è stata individuata nella costa prospicente l'abitato di Custonaci in provincia di Trapani. La banquette dalla quale sono stati prelevati i residui presenta un'altezza di 4 m e si estende per centinaia di metri lungo la costa rocciosa alle spalle di Monte Cofano. I residui di P. oceanica spiaggiata sono stati rimossi meccanicamente e depositati in un'area di stoccaggio appositamente realizzata nel vicino Parco Sub urbano di Custonaci. Allo scopo di valutare l'abbattimento della salinità a mezzo dilavamento naturale è stato studiato il processo di infiltrazione che si attua nei residui di P. oceanica accumulata nei siti di stoccaggio. Un contributo alla caratterizzazione idrologica dei residui di P. oceanica è stato fornito eseguendo una sperimentazione su campioni di residui sottoposti ad una pioggia di fissata intensità, al fine di mettere a punto un modello semplificato di infiltrazione, valido per ammassi porosi altamente permeabili. Più precisamente il modello di infiltrazione a base fisica adottato stima il tempo di ritardo, (o di primo gocciolamento) ovvero il tempo necessario affinchè il fronte di umidità, a partire dall'inizio dell'evento piovoso, raggiunga la base dell'ammasso. Il protocollo di sperimentazione è stato studiato in modo da variare progressivamente le condizioni iniziali di umidità sullo stesso campione così da non alterare le caratteristiche fisiche del campione stesso rendendo omogenei i risultati. I campioni di residui di P. oceanica, preparati in laboratorio con una densità apparente, pari a quella misurata su campioni indisturbati nel sito di stoccaggio, sono stati posti in anelli metallici di diametro, D = 200 mm liberamente drenanti al fondo, chiusi con tessuto non tessuto e rete metallica di contenimento. Le prove di infiltrazione sono state condotte con un simulatore di pioggia di diametro pari a quello degli anelli, alimentato con una bottiglia di Mariotte (pressione costante). Nella sequenza delle prove le condizioni iniziali di umidità sono variate da 0.030 a 0.197, mentre il volume drenato, si è incrementato da 0.030 a 0.32. La condizione iniziale di umidità ha influenzato i tempi di ritardo che sono passati dai 3.87 minuti della prima prova ai 13.62 minuti dell'ultima prova. La densità apparente, stimata empiricamente in funzione dell'altezza H del campione, ha mostrato una variazione, da 0.130 a 0.140 g/cm3 che ha comportato una riduzione della porosità. Dalle prove eseguite è emerso come la compattazione dei residui di Posidonia abbia giocato un ruolo determinante durante il processo di infiltrazione. Sulla base di questa osservazione il modello teorico di infiltrazione adottato, valido su mezzi altamente porosi ma a porosità costante, è stato modificato introducendo sia l'effetto della compattazione che quello della parzializzazione della superficie effettivamente interessata dal processo di infiltrazione. La legge di infiltrazione tarata sui dati sperimentali per valori dell'intensità di pioggia variabili da i=20 a i=100 mm/h, per un ammasso di P. oceanica, messa a confronto con l'analoga legge di infiltrazione relativa ad un terreno con stesse caratteristiche idrologiche della P. oceanica, ha evidenziato in definitiva la differenza di comportamento dei due media. I residui di P. oceanica mostrano rispetto al terreno, tempi di ritardo molto brevi (infiltrazione veloce), poco variabili sia con l'intensità che con le condizioni iniziali di umidità. Per condizioni di umidità iniziale superiori a 0.15 i tempi di ritardo per il campione dei residui di P. oceanica tendono a crescere all'aumentare dell'umidità indicando, in questo campo, una lieve riduzione della permeabilità del mezzo. L'abbattimento della salinità nei residui di P. oceanica è stato valutato in laboratorio simulando in un campione un processo di lavaggio a pressione costante. I campioni di residui di P. oceanica appena spiaggiati mostrano un elevato valore di conducibilità elettrica (CE) iniziale nell'acqua di drenaggio ( 20 mS/cm) ed un rapido abbattimento del contenuto in sali già con i primi tre lavaggi unitari (di peso pari al peso del materiale dilavato). Gli ulteriori sei lavaggi hanno affinato la riduzione di CE fino al raggiungimento di valori accettabili all'utilizzo agricolo ( 2 mS/cm). Assunta una densità della P. oceanica pari a 0,1 g/cm3 un lavaggio unitario di un ammasso alto un metro corrisponde allora ad un volume d'acqua specifico di 100 mm. I valori estremi del processo di lavaggio dei residui appena spiaggiati sono stati confermati da analisi di salinità svolte secondo metodo standard con diluizione 1:20. L'abbattimento del contenuto salino dei residui di P. oceanica accumulati nel deposito all'aperto di Custonaci è avvenuto, in modo sostenibile, a mezzo di un dilavamento naturale durato poco più di un anno che ha ridotto il valore di CE a 2,8 mS/cm. Tale riduzione concorda con le sperimentazioni fatte, infatti, tenuto conto che la precipitazione media annua alla stazione pluviografica di S. Vito Lo Capo vale 474 mm e che lo spessore medio dell'ammasso è di 1 m, il deposito è stato soggetto a circa 6 lavaggi unitari che sono bastati per abbattere significativamente il valore di CE. Ulteriori lavaggi unitari applicati ad un campione di P. oceanica prelevato dal deposito hanno portato ad un CE pari a 1,8 mS/cm, dopo il primo lavaggio, che si è ridotto ulteriormente del 33,3% (CE=1,2 mS/cm) al terzo lavaggio unitario. L'individuazione delle specie vegetali biotecnicamente più idonee a rendere viva l'opera è stata condotta a mezzo di prove di resistenza a trazione, Tr, delle radici. Il prelievo delle specie vegetali autoctone da utilizzare per rendere vive le fascine è stato eseguito in 5 differenti stazioni nella provincia di Palermo. Gli elevati valori di tensioni di rottura delle radici delle specie vegetali prese in esame nello studio (A. mauritanicus, O. miliaceum, H. coronarium. M. lupulina, L. spartum, B. distachyon, R. officinalis, R. coriaria e S. junceum) confermano la loro adeguatezza nel campo del ripristino ambientale, della stabilizzazione dei versanti e nella prevenzione delle frane. In particolare S. junceum ha mostrato le migliori caratteristiche biotecniche in termini di legge tensioni/diametri e quindi è stato individuato come materiale da utilizzare preferibilmente per rendere vive le fascine. Da un'analisi più approfondita delle radici di S. junceum che crescono nelle due differenti giaciture di piano e di pendenza (22°- 28°- 40°), è stato possibile evidenziare come la giacitura in pendenza influenzi significativamente sia l'architettura complessiva del sistema radicale che lo stato tensionale dello stesso. L'indagine è stata eseguita in tre siti di prelievo (A, B e C) tutti in provincia di Palermo Nelle prove di trazione effettuate, in accordo con il maggiore sviluppo e la differente architettura radicale, i campioni di S. junceum prelevati in giacitura di pendenza hanno presentato i valori di tensione a rottura mediamente più alti. In corrispondenza dei diametri più bassi (0,5 mm) i valori di tensione a rottura sono risultati molto simili (61-70 MPa) nelle due giaciture mentre in corrispondenza dei diametri maggiori (>1 mm) la tensione a rottura dei campioni in piano risulta minore rispetto ai campioni in pendenza. Il test di covarianza (ANCOVA) applicato al campione delle tensioni di rottura con covariata il Diametro e variabili indipendenti il sito (A, B, C) e la giacitura (piano, pendenza) ha permesso di considerare non significativa la differenza tra i siti (suoli) e significativa la differenza tra le due giaciture. Nell'installazione delle fascine sperimentali si è stimata la crescita delle piantine in fitocella di S. junceum messe a dimora in diversi substrati. Dalle prime evidenze le piante cresciute sul substrato costituito dai residui di P. oceanica hanno presentato la maggior percentuale di attecchimento e la maggiore crescita epigea. Tale risultato può essere, con buona probabilità, attribuito alle proprietà fisiche ed alla capacità isolante dei residui. Difatti, la maggiore capacità drenante del substrato costituito dai residui di P. oceanica, rilevato durante le prove di infiltrazione, sembra aver giocato un ruolo positivo nell'attecchimento e sviluppo della pianta. Il controllo del microclima all'interno delle fascine è stato eseguito con misure di temperatura rilevate ad intervalli di 30 minuti da sensori hobo data logger inseriti ad una profondità di 5 cm, lasciati indisturbati per tutta la durata delle misure (dal 14.07.2017 al 20.11.2017). I dati sono stati misurati: a) nell'ambiente atmosferico, b) all'interno dei residui di P. oceanica contenuti nelle fascine e c) nel terreno contiguo all'istallazione. In totale sono stati raccolti 6201 valori di temperatura per ognuno dei tre sensori. Le misure di temperatura hanno evidenziato l'elevata capacità isolante dei residui di P. oceanica che si è manifestata con una significativa attenuazione, a livello dell'apparato radicale, delle temperature massime (36.6°C) nei residui di Posidonia e minime giornaliere (9.7°C), rispetto alle temperature massime (55.1°C) e minime (5.6°C) misurate nell'ambiente esterno nei due periodi considerati (estate e autunno). Le temperature medie più basse si sono registrate nei residui di Posidonia all'interno delle fascine, sia nel periodo estivo (25.7±3.6) che nell'arco temporale delle misure (21.8±5.2). È interessante osservare come il ruolo che tale materiale ha nel campo dell'edilizia come isolante termico possa risultare di interesse anche nel campo della coltivazione di specie vegetali. Infine, la ricerca svolta nei tre anni di dottorato ed i risultati conseguiti hanno portato al miglioramento della tecnica di realizzazione della fascinata le cui metodologie sono oggetto di una domanda di brevetto depositata dall'Università di Palermo. I vantaggi della nuova metodologia rispetto alle tecnologie attuali, possono sintetizzarsi come segue: • Riutilizzo sostenibile di materiali organici di scarto (sarmenti e P. oceanica spiaggiata e dilavata) con conseguente economia di realizzazione di una fascinata (opera I.N. lineare di consolidamento e protezione idrogeologica). • Meccanizzazione della produzione dei manufatti modulari (fascina) costituenti l'opera, che nell'attuale pratica prevede un assemblaggio solo di tipo manuale, con conseguente riduzione dei tempi di costruzione e dei costi ad esso associati. • Il prodotto proposto rende "strutturale", con un sistema di collegamento dei moduli, un'opera che staticamente non è resistente alle azioni di spinta delle terre. • Riduzione dei tempi di messa in opera del manufatto lineare. Con la tecnica innovativa avanzata, grazie alla caratteristica strutturale del manufatto, si potranno realizzare opere su più piani (non più di tre) o opere chiuse. I residui di potatura della vite ed i residui di P. oceanica sono stati utilizzati anche nell'ambito di un progetto, finanziato dalla Comunità Europea, al Comune di Custonaci dal titolo "Primi interventi finalizzati a contenere il fenomeno della desertificazione del territorio Comunale Parco sub-urbano Portella del Cerriolo". Recenti controlli di qualità dell'Unione Europea sulle opere realizzate con i suddetti materiali di scarto nel Parco sub-urbano Portella del Cerriolo a Custonaci, hanno evidenziato gli ottimi risultati raggiunti dal progetto. Per tale motivazione, La UE ha proposto la candidatura del suddetto progetto come best practices nell'area mediterranea per la lotta al fenomeno della desertificazione. L'uso dei due materiali, che rappresentano uno scarto di produzione agricola ed un rifiuto solido, ampiamente presenti sia in Sicilia che nella maggior parte dell'area mediterranea, si inquadra in un uso efficiente delle risorse (riuso sostenibile), nel risparmio economico ed energetico e nel pieno rispetto dell'ambiente. ; The world population is expanding continuously, and economic and demographic growth are leading to the exploitation of the environment and the reduction of natural resources (water and energy in particular), with potentially important impacts on global climate change. Therefore, more efficient management of resources is necessary, based on the reworking of sustainable objectives of environmental policies and strategies and lower consumption of resources, thus promoting the transition from a linear economy model to a circular one, consisting of a continuous positive development cycle that preserves and improves natural capital, optimizing the use of resources. Soil and Water Bioengineering uses plants as living building material in environmental and landscape development works. Such works with low environmental impact, promote biodiversity and, in addition, offer a promising strategy for mitigation and adaptation to climate change. Thus, the use of adequate, sustainable, easy to find and low-cost materials are essential for the achievement of these objectives. Considering the great availability of residues resulting from the annual pruning of vines and the annual cleaning of beaches from the leaves of Posidonia oceanica in Sicily, the aim of this thesis is to describe and apply innovative Soil and Water Bioengineering techniques that involve the construction of modular structures made with organic waste materials, namely, the residues of vine pruning (vine shoots) and beachside P. oceanica (banquette). In fact, every year, the pruning of vines produces high quantity residues (vine shoots), which represent a biomass to be disposed. At the same time, the beaching of P. oceanica residues is considered a problem by the population. It conflicts with a number of economic activities (tourism, bathing establishments, etc.). Even though seagrasses have a fundamental ecological role to play in limiting coastal erosion and promoting the formation of the coastal dune system, the presence of P. oceanica residues along the coast can reduce the tourism value of beaches. As a result, local authorities are required to remove banquette and dispose of them in landfills. Therefore, the use of this biomass has a double beneficial effect. It constitutes a solution to the problem of waste disposal and an opportunity for the creation of local and low-cost new products. Moreover, this waste can also be used in the field of environmental restoration. Therefore, the residual biomass considered a resource and no longer as waste, and has ecological and economic value. From the viewpoint of the circular economy, vine shoots were assembled in the form of fascines to constitute the basic element used to create a fascinate module, a linear Soil and Water Bioengineering work with anti-erosive, consolidation and stabilization functions, while the residues of P. oceanica were used as a growing medium to render the work "alive" after planting with native species. A series of analyses and experiments were carried within the framework of the thesis, in order to i) characterize both materials and evaluate their suitability as constituents of fascines, ii) identify the most biotechnically suitable plant species for rendering the work "alive", and iii) evaluate the functionality of the work as a whole using observations made on a small prototype of fascinate set up in experimental fields at the University of Palermo. Finally, an innovative fascinates construction technique is presented, which is the object of patenting by the University of Palermo and was developed during the activities of this research doctorate. First of all, we identified four wine-producing companies operating in Sicily and available to provide vine shoots just after pruning and free of charge. In order to estimate the durability of the experimental fascines, mechanical tests were carried out in the laboratory (tensile strength and modulus of elasticity) on 122 samples of 8 different vine shoot cultivars (Cabernet, Inzolia, Nero d' Avola, Grecanico, Grillo, Chardonnay, Sirah and Catarratto). The vine shoot samples, L=10 cm long and "normal" humidity (12%), were selected based on the criteria of absence of knots and imperfections, uniformity of diameter and straight longitudinal axis (cylindricality). The abiotic (mechanical) durability of the vine shoots was then estimated by means of flexural strength tests and measurement of tensile strength. Under the hypothesis of validity of Hook's law, flexural strength tests were carried out according to the three-point scheme up to the rupture of the lower fibres of the samples, which allowed to obtain the longitudinal elasticity modulus E (along the fibres) and the tensile strengthon the basis of the force/deformation diagram and tensile strength. The first results show that Cabernet, Grillo and Sirah vine shoots have the best flexural strength characteristics (greater rigidity) with a clear prevalence of Sirah (4878.6 MPa), while the vine shoots of Grecanico, Chardonnay, Catarratto and Nero d' Avola (1200 - 2000 MPa) are the most deformable. The highest values of tensile strength were found for the Cabernet (70 MPa). Consequently, by linking sample tensile strength to the corresponding elasticity modules, Cabernet and Chardonnay display the best resistance and durability characteristics, and could be used potentially as a building material in Soil and Water Bioengineering works. Therefore, Cabernet vine shoots have been suggested and used for the packaging of fascines in the experimental installation, together with Catarratto, which is the variety most cultivated in the region and, consequently, produces the largest quantity of annual biomass. P. oceanica residues were collected on the coast of Custonaci, Trapani (Southern of Italy). The "banquette" from which the residues were obtained is 4 metres high and extends hundreds of metres along the rocky coast behind Monte Cofano. P. oceanica residues were removed mechanically and deposited in a storage area created in the nearby Custonaci Park. In order to evaluate the reduction of salinity by natural runoff, the infiltration process that takes place in the residues of P. oceanica accumulated at the storage sites was studied. The investigation carried out on samples of P. oceanica residues subjected to rain of fixed intensity, allowed the development of a simplified theoretical model, valid for highly permeable porous storage. Furthermore, an analysis was performed in order to characterise P. oceanica residues from a physical and hydrological point of view and verify the applicability of a physical infiltration model for the estimation of delay time, starting from the beginning of the rainy event and ending with the storage site. The experimental protocol was studied in order to modify gradually the initial humidity conditions of the same sample and not modify the physical characteristics of the sample for the results to be homogeneous. The samples of P. oceanica residues, prepared in the laboratory with an apparent density equal to that measured on undisturbed samples at the storage site, were placed in metal rings, D = 200 mm, with free draining at the bottom, closed with non-textile and metal mesh containment. The infiltration tests were conducted with a rain simulator equal in diameter to that of the rings, and connected to a Mariotte bottle. In the test sequence, the initial humidity conditions varied from 0.030 to 0.197, while the drained volume increased from 0.030 to 0.32. Modification of the initial humidity condition had an effect on delay times. In particular, the times, with certain dispersion, increased by initial humidity conditions from the initial values of 3.87 minutes for the first test to 13.62 minutes for the last test. The apparent density empirically estimated as a function of the height H of the sample, showed a variation from 0.130g/cm3 to 0.140 g/cm3 which resulted in a reduction of porosity. The tests carried out showed that the compaction of P. oceanica residues played a decisive role during the infiltration process. Following this observation, the infiltration model on highly porous media was modified by introducing the effect of both compaction and that of the surface actually affected by the infiltration process. The infiltration law calibrated on the experimental data for rain intensity values varying from i=20 to i=100 mm/h, for P. oceanica storage, compared with the analogous infiltration law relative to soil with the same hydrological characteristics as stored P. oceanica. The difference in behaviour of the two media was revealed. P. oceanica residues show very short delay times in relation to soil (fast filtration); small differences are measured in the intensity and the initial humidity conditions. While the soil shows a typical monotonous reduction in delay times, for P. oceanica there is a slight increase in time after a given initial humidity condition, which indicates a slight reduction in permeability of the medium in this field. The reduction of salinity in P. oceanica residues was evaluated in the laboratory by means of a constant pressure washing process. P. oceanica residue samples show a high initial electrical conductivity (EC) value in drainage water (20 mS/cm) and a rapid reduction of the salt content with the first three unit washes. The six additional washings refined EC reduction to an acceptable level for agricultural use (2 mS/cm). The extreme values of the residue washing process were confirmed by salinity analysis using the standard method with dilution 1:20. The reduction of the salt content of P. oceanica residues was also achieved in a sustainable way by means of natural runoff in open storage for more than one year (≈ 500 mm/year of rain). The measurements taken at the first unit wash showed an EC of 1.8 mS/cm, which was reduced by 33.3% (CE=1.2 mS/cm) after the second unit wash. The most biotechnically suitable plant species were then identified to make the work "alive" by means of laboratory tests of Tr tensile strength of the roots. The native plant species used to make the fascine "alive" were collected at 5 different stations in the province of Palermo. The high tensile strength values of the roots of the plants considered in the study (A. mauritanicus, O. miliaceum, H. coronarium. M. lupulina, L. spartum, B. distachyon, R. officinalis, R. Coriaria and S. junceum) confirm their suitability in the field of environmental restoration, slope stabilization and landslide prevention. In particular, S. junceum displayed the best biotechnological characteristics in relation to the tension/diameter law and has therefore been identified as a material to be used for making fascine "alive". A more detailed analysis of the morphological parameters of S. junceum roots, growing at two different positions (plane and slope of 22°- 28°- 40°), showed that the position on the slope significantly influences the root system of the plant and the overall architecture of the root system at the three sampling sites (A, B and C). In the tensile strength tests carried out, in accordance with the greater development and the different radical architecture, the samples of break strength values taken in a slope position showed the highest break strength values. As regards the lowest diameters (0.5 mm), the break strength values are similar (61-70 MPa) in the two positions, while for larger diameters (2 mm) the break strength values of plane samples are lower than those of slope samples. In fact, they range from 20 MPa to almost 80 MPa at site A, 20 MPa to 50 MPa at site B, and 20 MPa to 40 MPa at site C. In the experimental installation, we estimated the growth of S. junceum planted in different substrates. The first evidence shows that the plants grown on the substrate consisting of P. oceanica residues showed the highest percentage of rooting and the greatest aerial growth (121.3 cm). This result can, most probably, be attributed to the physical properties and insulating capacity of the residues. In fact, the increased draining capacity of the substrate of P. oceanica residues, detected during infiltration tests, may have played a positive role in plant rooting and development. The micro-climate inside the fascines was estimated with temperature measurements using hobo data logger sensors inserted at a depth of 5 cm from 14.07.2017 to 20.11.2017, carried out continuously and with a time interval of 30 minutes. The data were recorded: a) in the external environment, b) inside the P. oceanica residues contained in fascines and c) in the land adjacent to the installation. A total of 6201 temperature values were collected by each of the three sensors. The temperature measurements showed the high insulating capacity of the P. oceanica residues, which manifested itself with a significant attenuation, at root level, of the maximum temperatures (36.6°C) in P. oceanica residues and daily minimum temperatures (9.7°C), compared to the maximum temperatures (55.1°C) and minimum temperatures (5.6°C) measured in the external environment during the two periods considered (summer and autumn). The lowest average temperatures were recorded in P. oceanica residues inside fascines, both in the summer period (25.7±3.6) and throughout the measurement period (21.8±5.2). It is interesting to note that the thermal insulation role of this material in the building industry also applies to agriculture. Finally, the research carried out during the three years of doctoral studies has led to the improvement of the fascinate production technique, and this methodology is subject to a patent application filed by the University of Palermo. The benefits of the new methodology compared to current technologies can be summarised as follows: • The proposed product makes "structural", with a module connection system, a work frequently used in Soil and Water Bioengineering that is not statically resistant to the actions of soil thrust. • Sustainable reuse of organic waste materials with consequent economy of construction. • Mechanisation of modular manufactured products, which in current practice provides for assembly only by hand with consequent reduction of construction time and costs. • Reduction of installation time for hydrogeological protection structures. The advanced innovative technique, to be developed with future experimental installations, has provided for the construction of a modular building made with eco-compatible materials at low cost; vine pruning residues (vine shoots) and Posidonia oceanica beaches (banquette). Vine pruning residues and P. oceanica residues were also used in a project, funded by the European Community, to the Municipality of Custonaci entitled " Primi interventi finalizzati a contenere il fenomeno della desertificazione del territorio Comunale Parco sub-urbano Portella del Cerriolo". European Union quality controls on these works has shown the excellent results achieved with the waste materials. For this reason, the EU has suggested project application as "best practices" in the mediterranean area for combating desertification. The use of these two materials, namely agricultural production waste and solid waste which are widely available in both in Sicily and most of the Mediterranean area, constitutes an efficient use of resources (sustainable use) that is low-cost, energy efficient and totally respects the environment.

CAPITOLO 1 Caratteristiche delle schede Le schede utilizzate oltre a mettere a disposizione un numero di risorse di elaborazione congruo all'applicazione, devono essere dotate di bus ad elevato parallelismo e devono poter operare ad alte frequenze. L'architettura del sistema di comunicazione per lo scambio dei dati entro la scheda assume un'importanza fondamentale. Oltre l'esigenza di garantire elevati bit rate, al sistema di comunicazione si richiede di occupare un numero di risorse accettabile. Le applicazioni in tempo reale richiedono che i sottosistemi di input mantengano il ritmo del flusso di dati dagli output dei sensori. In funzione dell'applicazione, un singolo FPGA può sostituire dieci o più processori RISC. In generale, date le notevoli varietà di ambiti di applicazione, la distinzione tra DSP in virgola mobile ("floating-point", in genere a 32 bits) e DSP in virgola fissa ("fixed-point", in genere a 16 bits) risulta fondamentale. . Per implementare le funzioni DSP, le due tecniche più diffuse sfruttano i DSP general-purpose oppure gli FPGA. I dispositivi Virtex II Pro di Xilinx si interfacciano con varie interfacce di sensori consentendo al flusso dati di entrare e uscire dall'FPGA a velocità elevate. CAPITOLO 2 Le schede 2.1 C6713Compact La C6713Compact della Orsys monta un DSP della Texas Instruments TMS320C6713 del tipo floating point che lavora a 225MHz arrivando ad una potenza di calcolo di 1350MFLOPS appoggiato da una RAM interna di 256kB. Connettore JTAG Il connettore JTAG viene usato durante lo sviluppo delle applicazioni, ed è associato alle interfacce JTAG di DSP e FPGA; pertanto è usato sia nella fase di debugging, sia per il download di applicazioni nel DSP, sia per il salvataggio nella memoria flash di codice per il DSP o per la programmazione dell'FPGA. Esso diventa uno strumento molto versatile grazie alla flessibilità delle connessioni permesse dalla scheda: in particolare esiste la possibilità di legare molti dei pin di ingresso/uscita dell'FPGA a quelli del connettore micro-line e all'interfaccia del DSP. Memoria esterna SDRAM La C6713Compact utilizza una memoria esterna SDRAM da 64Mbyte, organizzata a 32 bit. L'accesso alla memoria esterna avviene tramite l'EMIF clock, a 90MHz. Il PLD, tramite i suoi registri, permette di accedere alle varie parti hardware della scheda e di configurarne alcune opzioni. EEPROM seriale E' presente sulla scheda anche una memoria EEPROM seriale di 256 byte, integrata col sensore di temperatura della board. Il Watchdog Timer è di default disabilitato: per attivarlo basterà porre ad 1 il bit numero 4 del registro di configurazione WDG_PHRST del PLD. Periferiche del DSP Il DSP montato sulla C6713Compact possiede un gran numero di periferiche integrate. • Connettore micro-line attraverso bus driver. Di default, i segnali delle porte McBSP sono connessi al bus micro-line. Timers Il DSP TMS320C6713 contiene 2 timer indipendenti, a 32 bit. L'host processor e il DSP possono così scambiare dati sia attraverso la memoria interna del DSP, sia attraverso la memoria montata sulla board. La connessione tra l'host e lo spazio di memoria del DSP è assicurata da un meccanismo DMA. Interrupts Quattro interrupt non mascherabili ed uno mascherabile permettono ai dispositivi della scheda o ad eventuali periferiche esterne di interrompere il programma corrente del DSP e saltare ad una routine di servizio dedicata all'interruzione. A queste risorse fisse vanno aggiunte dei moduli inseribili dall'utente che contengono elementi di elaborazione vari: memorie RAM, FIFO (First-In First-Out), FPGA, DSP (Digital Signal Processor). Nallatech Ballynuey2 Il connettore PCI si interfaccia dal lato interno della scheda con un FPGA Xilinx 4000XLA, preprogrammato tramite una memoria PROM; questo FPGA, detto PCI FPGA, ha il compito principale di controllore per il connettore PCI. I dati scambiati con il PC host vengono trasferiti dal PCI FPGA ad un'altro FPGA detto User FPGA o On Board FPGA. Lo User FPGA presente sulla scheda in dotazione è uno Xilinx Virtex-E XCV600. Il Backplate IO connector può essere usato per collegare la scheda ad altri dispositivi hardware esterni; il connettore è del tipo a 68 piedini. Il clock della memoria ZBT viene fornito dallo User FPGA, e deriva da uno dei tre clock della scheda entranti nell' On Board FPGA. Moduli DIME e struttura dei Bus I moduli DIME (DSP and Image Processing Module for Enhanced FPGA), sono i principali elementi di elaborazione a disposizione della Ballynuey. Il SYS Bus è adibito al trasporto esclusivo di segnali di dato, non può essere usato ad esempio per portare segnali di clock da un punto all'altro del sistema. Generalmente questo Bus viene diviso in due bus a 32 bit: Il bus SYSVIN (System Video In) e il bus SYSVOUT (System Video Out). Il GEN IO Bus (Generic Input Output Bus) ha caratteristiche molto simili al SYS Bus. Il bus ADJ (Adjacent bus) connette ogni modulo DIME con gli altri due moduli DIME adiacenti. Si divide in due bus, entrambi con parallelismo 32, detti ADJVIN (Adjacent Video In Bus) e ADJVOUT (Adjacent Video Out Bus). Il Bus ADJVIN di un modulo DIME corrisponde al bus ADJVOUT del modulo DIME precedente; ovviamente il bus ADJVOUT di un modulo DIME corrisponde al bus ADJVIN del modulo DIME successivo. La scheda Ballynuey2 è dotata di tre diverse reti di clock, chiamate SYS CLK, PIX CLK e DSP CLK. La programmazione della frequenza avviene tramite il DIME Configuration Software GUI oppure tramite la funzione DIME Set-Oscillator-Frequency della DIME Software Library. Le reti di reset sono comandate a livello hardware dal PCI FPGA, mentre a livello software dal DIME Configuration Software oppure da funzioni apposite della DIME Software Library. Il modulo BallySharc2 Modulo BallySharc2. Sono presenti tre memorie RAM di dimensioni medio-alte, collegate come periferiche ai DSP e all'FPGA. I DSP ricevono il clock dalla rete del DSP CLK, oppure da un oscillatore al quarzo. Oltre i due bus sopraccitati gli Sharc hanno ognuno sei canali di comunicazione di tipo parallelo a 10 bit, detti Link Port, e due canali di tipo seriale a 6 bit. Un primo canale parallelo si connette ad un header , consentendo la comunicazione fra gli Sharc e dispositivi hardware esterni alla scheda. Il Link Port sul DIME bus del DSP0 si connette allo User FPGA, mentre quello del DSP1 ad un altro modulo DIME. Dei collegamenti seriali, uno connette i DSP fra loro, mentre l'altro è diretto alla DIME FPGA. Il reset agli Sharc arriva direttamente dal CPLD e come si può notare è distinto dal segnale di reset della DIME FPGA, collegato al system reset della scheda, e comandabile via software. Alcuni segnali di controllo dei DSP sono connessi direttamente al BallySharc FPGA. Il primo metodo sfrutta la catena JTAG dei DSP; i segnali μP TDI (Test Data In) e μP TDO (Test Data Out) sono infatti connessi al μP JTAG Connector della scheda Ballynuey2. La DIME FPGA si interfaccia al resto del sistema: oltre il SYS BUS verso lo User FPGA, i bus ADJVIN e ADJVOUT ad altri moduli DIME si hanno 2 SLink, uno diretto allo User FPGA(SLink0) e uno ad un modulo DIME(SLink1), e altri due PLink, diretti a due moduli DIME diversi. La DIME FPGA può connettersi ad un dispositivo esterno tramite il J1 I/O Header. La memoria, divisa in due banchi, è comandata esclusivamente dalla DIME FPGA. Il modulo BallyBlue Oltre il modulo BallySharc sulla scheda Ballynuey2 sono presenti due moduli DIME BallyBlue. Come si può notare solo uno degli FPGA ha accesso ai DIME bus, questo FPGA viene pertanto definito DIME FPGA o primary FPGA, mentre l'altro è detto secondary FPGA. I bus cui ha accesso il DIME FPGA sono quelli più volte citati : SYS BUS, ADJ BUS, GEN IO BUS, 4 PLink e 2 SLink. Diversamente dal modulo BallySharc, tutti i 20 bit del GEN IO BUS sono disponibili per applicazioni utente. I due FPGA sono connessi tramite un bus a 101 bit, completamente programmabile. Il modulo BallyBlue fornisce un segnale di clock indipendente ad entrambe le SDRAM, tramite il secondary FPGA, tuttavia non è conveniente usare regimi di clock diversi, soprattutto ad alte frequenze. Il secondary FPGA può scambiare dati con dispositivi esterni alla scheda tramite un connettore a 49 bit; il collegamento è completamente programmabile dall'utente. La configurazione e la gestione della scheda Ballynuey2 avviene tramite l'uso di pacchetti software eseguiti dal PC host, il quale dialoga con la scheda tramite l'interfaccia PCI. ORUGA Scheda Oruga. La scheda possiede un set molto completo di periferiche per una veloce integrazione del sistema compresi ingressi e uscite digitali, porte dati esterne e sincronismi per più schede. Una modalità di decimazione supporta anche 2 stream concorrenti, uno a bassa velocità e l'altro ad alta velocità per un utilizzo ottimizzato del bus e della banda del CPU così come della CPU host. Oruga è una scheda a 64 bit/33MHz PCI che supporta operazioni burst da 254 Mbyte/s da e per la memoria del PC host, ed è anche compatibile con un bus PCI a 32 bit. La scheda presenta anche numerose caratteristiche per una facile integrazione del sistema: 64 bit di ingresso e uscita digitale d'uso generale, una porta veloce e bidirezionale FIFO esterna per i dati e una porta SyncLink/ClockLink per una facile sincronizzazione di più schede o hardware esterno. Il controllore DMA pilota 16 canali indipendenti che alleggeriscono il carico dati della CPU. Sul chip sono presenti inoltre 2 timer da 32 bit. Le risorse sulla scheda includono una Sdram a 32 Mbyte, 3 timer a 24 bit, una DDS base dei tempi da 0 a 25 MHz, un'interfaccia PCI a 33 MHz con buffer FIFO. Un chip logico della Xilinx controlla i convertitori analogici, i segnali di trigger start-stop e i 32 bit di ingresso-uscita digitali. Il firmware include il buffering FIFO dei dati A/D, la correzione digitale del guadagno e dell'offset e la decimazione dei canali a bassa velocità. Un secondo dispositivo Xilinx pilota l'interfaccia PCI, la matrice di selezione della base dei tempi, l'interfaccia della porta FIFO e gli altri 32 bit di I/O digitali. Per i dati ad alta velocità i segnali di trigger per la base dei tempi possono essere scelti fra molte sorgenti di clock: DDS su scheda, i timer del DSP, i timer logici, clock esterno, un pin SyncLink/ClockLink o da comando software. Il campionamento dei dati è definito con segnali di start e stop che di base applicano una maschera o una finestra sul segnale di clock della base dei tempi. Scheda MVE. L'architettura della scheda è costituita da vari moduli: DSP, FPGA, Memoria, Video input, Video output, I/O analogico, Periferiche. Il DSP è il componente su cui si basa la scheda. Oltre ad una ragguardevole potenza di calcolo, il TMS320C6415 possiede anche abbondanti risorse per l'interfacciamento fra cui: un bus a 64 bit, un bus a 16 bit, un bus PCI a 32 bit, tre seriali sincrone multicanale. Per ultimo, un evoluto controllore DMA a 64 canali permette una complessa gestione del flusso dei dati. Un banco da 4MB, 64-bit, 133MHz di memoria SBSRAM. Un banco da 512MB, 64-bit, 133MHz, di memoria SDRAM, costituita da un modulo DIMM opzionale. Il dispositivo permette inoltre di interfacciare la scheda ad un modulo di pre-processing. Entrambi i buffer sono collocati nella memoria interna del DSP. Infine, i dati sono spostati nel buffer di playback sul processore grafico attraverso il bus PCI. Scheda Quadia. Le altre risorse on chip includono un'interfaccia PCI a 32 bit, due porte McBSP, 64 canali DMA, 3 timer e la porta HPI. Ogni DSP ha una propria SDRAM da 133 Mhz 64 Mb mappata sul bus a 64 bit EMIF-A. Questo ampio bus è la scelta migliore per l'utilizzo della memoria dedicata e per ottimizzare l'andamento dei task. La maggiore innovazione della architettura della Quadia risiede nell'alta connettività fra i DSP, gli FPGA, l'host e l'hardware esterno. DMDK Il nuovo DSP DM642 della Texas Instruments appartiene alla famiglia DigitalMedia che è basata sul potente C64. Si nota al centro della scheda il DSP TMS320DM642 della Texas Instruments con frequenza 600 MHz Una Sdram da 32 Mb con frequenza di lavoro di 133 MHz affiancata a una flash da 4 Mb. Interfaccia seriale per i dati: McASP, I2C. DMCK La scheda DMCK è una scheda completa che usa sia l' FPGA che il DSP, per una vasta gamma di applicazioni, incluse, quelle nel campo video e audio, e applicazioni a banda larga, radiodiffusione, video-sicurezza, campo medico, militare,del trasporto, industriale, ecc. La scheda sfrutta un DSP della Texas Instruments, il DM642, che lavora a 600 MHz, con 32 Mb di Sdram e 4 Mb di memoria Flash. La piattaforma hardware include delle entrate e uscite audio e video, connesse sia al DSP che all'FPGA, così il trattamento dei dati può essere sviluppato su DSP e successivamente portati su FPGA. Quixote. Quixote è una scheda a 64 bit per rilevare, generare e coprocessare segnali; combina un DSP C6416 con un Virtex 2 FPGA, utilizzando il meglio dei due mondi nella tecnologia del processamento del segnale per avere un'estrema flessibilità e efficienza. Quixote 1 è dotato del nuovo DSP TMS320C6416 della Texas Instruments che utilizza l'ultima architettura a virgola fissa a 32 bit nel C6000 series. Lavorando a 1 GHz, questo DSP offre un processamento del segnale a 8000 MIPS. L'interfaccia a 32 bit sul chip PCI è interfacciata all'host bus tramite un ponte PCI e connesso allo SPARTAN 2 e al PMC. L'FPGA è caricato con tutte le funzioni che controllano le sue interfacce come il set up della conversione della base dei tempi, la regolazione digitale del guadagno e dell'offset, l'interpolazione dei dati, il controllo delle FIFO, il controllo della base dei tempi PLL, e il controllo del trigger. Il range della frequenza di uscita è 50-105 MHz. La scheda monta un DSP TMS320C6713 che lavora a 225MHz appoggiato da una memoria di 32 Mb a 100Mhz. Il DSP comunica con un FPGA XC2V3000. La scheda monta un DSP della Texas Instruments, il TMS320C6701, che lavora a 150 MHz arrivando a 1 GFlops. L'FPGA è un VirtexII della Xilinx, con connettore Jtag e 16 Mb di memoria Sdram. CAPITOLO 3 Analisi sistemi ibridi Dsp-Fpga Tutte le schede, descritte si sono dimostrate uno strumento flessibile e potente per la realizzazione di sistemi di elaborazione per applicazioni sia di tipo intrachip che di tipo SoC (System On a Chip), che utilizzano dispositivi DSP e FPGA. Fra le caratteristiche positive delle schede si possono citare: Il numero elevato di risorse di elaborazione programmabili, sia hardware che software. Il numero elevato di risorse di comunicazione (bus) fra i vari dispositivi di tipo FPGA e DSP e la loro disposizione funzionale entro la scheda. La possibilità di trasferire i dati su bus ad elevate frequenze e utilizzando dei protocolli di comunicazione sincroni. La disponibilità di reti di clock indipendenti e programmabili in vari modi, sia per la sorgente del segnale di clock, sia per la frequenza di tale segnale, specialmente nella Nallatech Ballynuey2. La possibilità di gestire le schede da PC host tramite un'ampia libreria di funzioni software. La disponibilità di un ampio numero di connettori su scheda, per l'interfacciamento con dispositivi esterni. Un aspetto negativo che bisogna considerare per quasi tutte le schede è la banda ridotta sul canale di comunicazione fra PC host e scheda (User FPGA), a causa dell'interfaccia PCI a 33 MHz DSP-FPGA L'approccio DSP e quello FPGA si differenziano fortemente; il DSP è un processore specializzato programmato tipicamente in C ma viene usato talvolta anche l'Assembler, specialmente quando non vengono soddisfatte le specifiche di real time. Si adatta molto bene a compiti estremamente complessi ma è limitato nelle prestazioni dalla frequenza di clock e dal numero di operazioni utili che può svolgere ad ogni clock. Come esempio si può prendere in considerazione un TMS320C6201, che ha due moltiplicatori e una frequenza di funzionamento di 200 MHz, così si possono raggiungere 400M moltiplicazioni al secondo. Al contrario un FPGA è un "sea of gates", che viene programmato connettendo i vari gates tra loro per formare multiplexer, registri, sommatori ecc… Tutto questo è svolto a livello di diagramma a blocchi, e molti di questi possono essere di alto livello, si parte da un singolo gate fino ad arrivare a un FIR o FFT. Le prestazioni in questo caso sono limitate dal numero di gates che possiede ciascun FPGA e dalla frequenza di clock, così, per esempio un 200K gate della Virtex con una frequenza di 200 MHz può implementare dieci moltiplicatori da 16 bit. Quando si hanno alte frequenze di campionamento, oltre qualche MHz, un DSP può eseguire solo operazioni molto semplici sui dati mentre un FPGA non ha nessun problema. Con basse frequenze di campionamento la situazione si inverte, il DSP può implementare in maniera massiccia programmi complessi che sarebbero difficili da far eseguire all'FPGA. Infatti a basse frequenze il DSP risulta essere più funzionale, può mettere in coda i vari dati, assicurando che tutti quanti vengano elaborati, anche se sarebbero presenti delle latenze prima di venire trattati. Al contrario l'FPGA non può gestire così tanti dati, ciascuno di essi deve avere un hardware a lui dedicato anche se ogni singolo dato può essere trattato allo stesso tempo degli altri. Se è richiesto un "context swith" il DSP può implementarlo diramandolo a una nuova parte del programma, mentre un FPGA ha bisogno di costruire risorse dedicate per ciascuna configurazione. Se le configurazioni sono piccole allora possono coesistere allo stesso tempo nello stesso FPGA. Configurazioni più grandi fanno sì che l'FPGA abbia bisogno di essere riconfigurato, processo che necessita di molto tempo. Un DSP può prendere un programma standard in C ed eseguirlo. Questo codice C può avere un alto livello di complessità, cosa invece difficile da implementare con un FPGA. Infine un FPGA è programmato come diagrammi a blocchi, dove il flusso dei dati è facilmente osservabile. Un DSP invece è programmato con un flusso sequenziale di istruzioni. Molti sistemi di "signal processing" infatti nascono come diagramma a blocchi. Attualmente riportando il diagramma a blocchi ad un FPGA può risultare più semplice che convertirlo in codice C per il DSP. Quindi quando si deve compiere una scelta fra DSP e FPGA la prima cosa da chiedersi è la frequenza di campionamento della parte del sistema interessata. Se è maggiore di qualche MHz l'FPGA è la scelta naturale. Si analizza se il sistema è già in codice C. Se così è un DSP può implementarlo direttamente; certo non sarà la soluzione con prestazioni migliori ma sarà molto più veloce a svilupparsi. Un'altra cosa importante prima di effettuare una scelta è vedere la frequenza dei dati del sistema. Se è maggiore di 20-30 Mbyte per secondo allora l'FPGA sarà in grado di trattarli nel migliore dei modi. Un aspetto importante che rende bene l'idea della differenza tra i due dispositivi è la presenza o meno di operazioni condizionate. Se non è presente nessuna di queste operazioni allora l'FPGA risulta perfetto. Se invece se ne riscontrano parecchie di queste operazioni un'implementazione software può essere l'ideale. L'FPGA quindi viene usato quando abbiamo di fronte algoritmi ripetitivi mentre algoritmi più irregolari e meno standard vengono trattati con il DSP. Un ulteriore analisi può essere fatta a seconda che il sistema usi o meno floating point. Infatti se così è questo fattore gioca in favore al DSP, nessun "core" della Xilinx ad esempio supporta floating point al giorno d'oggi, sebbene possa essere progettato personalmente. Molti componenti complessi potrebbero non essere disponibili; sia i DSP che gli FPGA offrono librerie con blocchi base a disposizione come blocchi FIR e FFT,e questo può influenzare la decisione su un approccio anziché su un altro. In realtà molti sistemi sono composti da tanti blocchi e, alcuni di questi sono meglio implementati nell'FPGA altri nel DSP. CAPITOLO 4 Tendenze FPGA per applicazioni DSP Un paio d'anni fa era stato scritto che gli FPGA sarebbero entrati prepotentemente nelle applicazioni DSP. Infatti al giorno d'oggi si possono trovare blocchi DSP embedded negli FPGA , ad esempio Stratix di prima generazione dell'Altera. Ora gli FPGA sono divenuti i protagonisti del mercato DSP. Al posto di una matrice di processori DSP, vengono utilizzati in misura sempre maggiore un singolo DSP con un coprocessore FPGA per realizzare le applicazioni di elaborazione del segnale più impegnative. [1] La tendenza appena descritta trova una conferma tangibile nei recenti seminari relativi a Code: DSP focalizzati sui coprocessori basati su FPGA per applicazioni di elaborazione dell'immagine e dei segnali video. DSP Builder, infine, mette a disposizione dei progettisti DSP un flusso di progetto semplice e intuitivo che permette di risolvere i problemi di integrazione e ridurre il time to market.

Open Peer Review reports Background Perinatal mental health problems affect up to one in five women worldwide [1, 2]. Stress, anxiety and depression in pregnancy affect not only the mother but can also have long-term adverse effects on her child via biological mechanisms in utero [3]. Along with the impact on the mother and her developing infant, antenatal depression and anxiety are the most common predictors of postnatal depression [4, 5]. Postnatal depression can reduce her ability to provide sensitive and responsive caregiving that can potentially impair child development [6]. Mental health problems in the perinatal period are a particular challenge in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) where they can be at least twice as frequent as in higher-income countries [1]. Our geographical context for this work will be The Gambia, in West Africa, where mental health services are minimal, services for perinatal mental health are non-existent and high levels of stigma associated with mental health issues, as well as specific local attitudes and beliefs, impede recognition and prevent help-seeking behaviour. It is thus of high priority to develop new low-cost, low-resource, non-stigmatising and culturally appropriate approaches to reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression perinatally, for the benefit of both the mother and child. The current project will test the hypothesis that the creative arts—in particular group-singing—will show special promise in alleviating perinatal mental distress in The Gambia. In high-income countries, such as the UK and the USA, singing in groups has been shown to be a powerful modulator of mood and emotion, evoking positive effects on mental health, well-being and social affiliation [7] via mechanisms involving synchrony and entrainment [8], the saliency of relational communicative features in musical interaction [9] and significant effects on the endocrine system [10]. In addition, the mother's voice is a key channel through which meaningful, sensitive and contingent interactions between the caregiver and infant can take place [11]. Recent studies have found that music and its use specifically during the perinatal period can reduce women's stress levels and depressive symptoms and increase women's attachment to their infant [12,13,14,15]. Music-centred approaches may be particularly fruitful in The Gambia as there are already a range of musical practices that specifically engage pregnant women and new mothers [16]. For instance, infant naming ceremonies occur 7 days after birth and are musical celebrations to recognise the new mother and her family [16]. Performances by Kanyeleng groups are closely associated with pregnancy and motherhood and are important in health communication [17]. These pre-existing cultural and creative practices provide an excellent context from which to explore, co-design and ultimately evaluate culturally situated, music-centred interventions that aim to reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression perinatally and facilitate mother-infant caregiving. Study aims This is a feasibility study which aims to inform the design of a larger trial to investigate a Community Health Intervention through Musical Engagement (CHIME) to help reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression in pregnant women compared to standard care. This article describes the trial protocol (version 1.0, 11/11/18). The protocol was prepared in accordance with the Standard Protocol Items: Recommendations for Interventional Trials (SPIRIT) guidance. The trial SPIRIT checklist can be viewed in Additional file 1. Objectives Our primary objective is to test (a) the feasibility of delivering a group-singing intervention to a sample of pregnant women in The Gambia using a stepped wedge design and (b) the feasibility of using standardised tools to measure the impact of this intervention on anxiety and depression symptoms, before and after the intervention. This objective can be broken down into five specific feasibility objectives: 1) To obtain demographic information on the eligible population 2) To determine if our measurement tools, the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and the Self-Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ-20), are useable 3) To determine if the intervention is deliverable 4) To determine if the stepped wedge trial design is deliverable and obtain information that will inform the definitive study. Specifically to: a. Assess recruitment and acceptability of randomising clinics b. Assess the recruitment rate of women to control and intervention groups c. Assess participants' adherence to the intervention group and follow-up in both arms d. Test the feasibility of data collection 5) To determine if this type of intervention is culturally appropriate and well received by the community and health workers. Methods/design We will be testing the feasibility of a stepped wedge cluster design, which differs from a parallel arm cluster design in that all clinics involved in the study receive the intervention [18]. Advantages over a parallel arm cluster trial include the requirement of a smaller sample size due to the availability of a within group comparison and prevention of potential disappointment for health clinics who are not randomised into the intervention. Study setting This multi-site study will recruit from four antenatal clinics in western Gambia. Study population All participants will be Mandinka or Wolof Gambian women who are pregnant. Inclusion criteria Pregnant (14–24 weeks gestation) Speak Wolof or Mandinka fluently Exclusion criteria At least one previous late term miscarriage Current psychosis or history of psychosis Withdrawal criteria If the participant develops any serious medical condition or the participant's mental health significantly declines (as assessed by the care team), and the care team deem it necessary, then she may be withdrawn from the study. Intervention The intervention will be delivered on the community level, meaning that it will include women with a range of anxiety and depression symptoms. Our primary aim is to reduce symptoms in those experiencing them (whether these are at a high level or a medium or low level). We anticipate this may also help to reduce their symptoms into the postnatal period. By including those with low and high levels of symptoms, rather than screening and including only those with high levels of symptoms, we will aim to avoid stigma and increase acceptability. The intervention has been developed following focus groups with various stakeholders including health professionals (midwives and community birth companions), pregnant women and musicians (griots and Kanyeleng groups). Four groups of 20 women between 14 and 24 weeks gestation will attend six 60-min group-singing sessions at their local antenatal clinic. This will take place in the morning as this is the time deemed to best suit the majority of women and clinics. Local Kanyeleng groups who specialise in musical practices to support women's health will lead the sessions. The content of the six sessions will be co-designed with the Kanyeleng groups via two extended workshops with the research team. All sessions will begin with a welcome song and end with a closing song. Some of the songs used during the main body of the session will cover topics including the (a) importance of the singing group in supporting each other, (b) importance of other positive relationships in their lives, (c) resilience to challenges and empowerment and (d) importance of being open, removing stigma to discuss challenges. One lullaby will be introduced at each session. Kanyeleng leaders will also be encouraged to ensure that all the women feel comfortable and are participating when they can. The nature of the intervention will necessarily vary somewhat across the four settings, especially as Wolof speaking groups and Mandinka groups have different and distinct cultural beliefs, practices and language. By using the Kanyeleng groups local to each of the four clinics involved, the sessions will be contextually appropriate, while the workshop with all four Kanyeleng groups before the intervention begins will ensure that the overarching goals, content and approach to session delivery are broadly standardised. Over the course of the 6-week intervention period, a research assistant will observe and video and audio record two singing sessions (the first and the fourth sessions) from each of the four clinics to ascertain, using a checklist, the extent to which the sessions conform to our articulated goals. A community health nurse at each clinic will be engaged to take attendance data and report any issues of concern to the research team. The control group will consist of four groups of 20 women between 14 and 24 weeks gestation from the same four clinics. These women will receive only standard care without any additional intervention. Randomisation and blinding As we will be testing the feasibility of delivering a stepped wedge cluster design, the four different antenatal clinics will be randomised with two sites starting first (creating the first sequence) and two starting 6 weeks later (the second sequence). Randomisation will be performed by the study statistician who will generate a randomisation list using software and apply it to the pre-concealed list of clinics. The researchers and participants will not be blinded to whether they are in the intervention or the control cohort. Outcome measurements Two local research assistants (RAs) will collect all measures orally as there is a high rate of illiteracy among the target population. All scales have been translated into Mandinka and Wolof. The translation method used was based on suggestions by the World Health Organisation, Hanlon et al. [19] and Cox, Holden and Henshaw [20]. First, the scales were translated into Mandinka and Wolof. An expert panel discussion then refined the translation before back translating it into English. The expert panel came together once more to resolve any remaining issues before finalising the translation. Two questionnaires will measure antenatal anxiety and depression symptoms. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) [21] is a ten-item scale that was developed to screen for postnatal depression. It has subsequently been validated to be used during pregnancy [22]. This measurement tool has been used and validated in other African contexts; however, there is no avaliable validated version of the EPDS in Mandinka or Wolof even though it has been used in The Gambia before [23]. The Self-report Questionnaire (SRQ-20) [24] is a 20-item scale developed by the World Health Organization to measure anxiety and depression symptoms in a variety of cultural contexts. It has been used in many different African contexts such as Ethiopia [19], South Africa [25] and Rwanda [26] and as a way to measure perinatal mental health [23]. However, the SRQ-20 has never been used in the Gambian context nor has it been translated into Wolof or Mandinka. Demographic outcomes We will collect demographic information about all participants. The data we will collect is as follows: date of birth, gestational age, time taken to get to the health centre, parity, gravida, place of birth, current place of residence, ethnic group, history of serious illness, occupation, husband's occupation, marital status, educational background and amount of regular musical engagement. Feasibility outcomes The feasibility outcomes are as follows: Recruitment rate Retention and attrition rates of participants Clinics' adherence to stepped wedge schedule Completeness of data by site and over time Video and audio recording of sessions to determine fidelity of the intervention at each site, i.e. whether key content emphasised in training workshops was being delivered at each site. Qualitative interviews with participants after the intervention to capture enjoyment and perceived benefit. Recruitment Four antenatal clinics will be chosen to take part in the study based on three criteria: (1) availability of a local Kanyeleng group to deliver the intervention, (2) the language group predominantly spoken in the area (with at least one clinic being in a predominantly Wolof speaking area) and (3) the type of community the clinic serves (with at least one within an urban area). The health professionals working at the health centre will first approach participants for the study. If they meet the criteria, they will be given information about the study and asked if they would like to be referred to the RAs. They will then be put in contact with one of the RAs who will meet them privately face to face. The information sheet will be read out in their native language verbatim to ensure participants' ability to give informed consent. Consent will be taken orally by the RAs and recorded by signature or thumbprint. If participants do not choose to take part we will record their reason, if it is given, to help understand why women might not want or be able to participate. Incentive and participant retention Participants in both groups will be offered a total of 600 Dalasi (about 12 USD) for their time, 200 Dalasi for each of the three data collection time points (baseline, post, follow-up). All participants will be reminded of the data collection and the group-singing sessions by phone call. Calls will be made by the RAs 3 days and 1 day before as well as on the day of these appointments. Where possible, a record will be kept of the reasons women give for failing to join the intervention or data collection session. Sample size As this is a feasibility study, it is not designed to assess the efficacy of the intervention, although pilot data on this will be collected. We will evaluate the feasibility of study design, data collection and whether the intervention is deliverable and acceptable to the participants. In the study, we will gather information to be used in the design of the future definitive study including an estimate of the standard deviation of potential primary outcomes to inform the sample size. We aim to collect data from a total of 120 pregnant women, 60 in the control condition and 60 in the intervention condition [27]. This number will be sufficient to provide estimates of binary feasibility outcomes with precision of at least ± 9 percentage points for the 95% confidence interval. Trial schedule This trial design involves a sequential crossover of clusters whereby each cluster (antenatal clinic) receives the control condition followed by the intervention condition. The four chosen clinics will be randomised to two sequences of a 12-week phase. A separate cohort of participants will be recruited to the control group and the intervention (singing) group. Each cohort will be recruited around 4–6 months into their pregnancy. The 12-week phase for both the control and intervention cohort will include data collection at week 1 ("baseline") and week 7 ("post") after either group-singing (intervention) or standard care (control) as well as at week 11 ("follow-up"), 4 weeks after the intervention finished. Contamination will be avoided by having data for the control group collected before the intervention groups start at each clinic. See Fig. 1 for a schematic for the study. Fig. 1 figure1 Schematic of the study Full size image Assessment and management of risk There are no high risks within our study compared to standard care. We have identified three areas of ethical concern and have outlined how each of these issues will be managed. 1. Mothers may experience an adverse effect such as a miscarriage, difficult birth, still birth, a sudden drastic change in physical or mental health, infant health problems or even a serious adverse effect such as death during the intervention. It is possible that a participant experiencing such an adverse event may attribute a causal link between the adverse event and their involvement in the study. We will mitigate this association being made, firstly, by clearly explaining the nature of the intervention and any possible risks to the women when they are recruited into the study. If, despite this, an association of this nature was still made, we would enlist the help of the Ministry of Health & Social Welfare (our partner on the project) to disseminate information to the women and the community concerning the incidence of such events occurring in the general population in an attempt to reassure those concerned that such adverse events should not be attributed to involvement in the study. 2. It is possible that some of the themes involved in questionnaires could lead to the women revealing episodes of self-harm. If this is the case, the woman will receive in the moment front-line counselling to talk through these issues with the RAs who are trained psychiatric nurses. Then, if needed, she will be referred on to the community mental health team (CMHT) for further management. If the CMHT deems it appropriate, they may then refer her on to the psychiatric team. 3. It is possible that some of the themes involved in questionnaires may also lead the women to reveal domestic abuse. If this is the case, the woman will receive in the moment front-line counselling to talk through these issues with the RAs. For emergencies and cases that require immediate intervention, the RAs will connect with the Gender-Based Violence focal person. For other cases, the RAs will refer the woman to the One Stop Center at Serekunda General Hospital or Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital. 4. Women throughout the study will be monitored by the RAs, both trained psychiatric nurses. If the RAs feel that at any point a woman's score indicates a high level of symptoms and/or the women reveal that they are particularly struggling, the RAs will refer the woman on to the Community Mental Health Team (CMHT) for further management. If the CMHT deems it appropriate, they may then refer her on to the psychiatric team. Data management All consent forms will be stored in a master file, which will be kept in a locked drawer where only members of the research team have access. All case report forms will not be linked to names, just a participant number, and kept in a separate locked cabinet where only the research team has access. All data, including video and audio recordings, will be held on an encrypted hard drive only members of the research team can access. Data will be stored for 5 years after the study and will then be deleted or destroyed. Analysis All data will be entered into a database by an RA and verified by the second RA using double data entry to ensure data quality. As this is a feasibility study, we will examine missing data as an outcome. Descriptive statistics will be summarised to understand the demographic variables relating to the recruited population. Descriptive statistics and plots will be used to assess the distribution of the measurement tools, repeated at baseline and follow-up and by each arm. We will also examine the distributions of scores in the different language groups to see to what extent item scores and overall distributions differ or are similar. Correlations between our two measurement tools will be calculated. To determine if the intervention is deliverable, we will record the number of sessions that the Kanyeleng groups delivered, aiming to deliver two thirds of the sessions, and the duration of each session, aiming to last between 45 and 75 min. We will also perform a qualitative evaluation, using the video and audio recordings, to determine intervention fidelity at the four sites. Both RAs will watch the video and audio recordings of the first and fourth group-singing sessions at each clinic and complete a checklist to determine if all the necessary elements—as outlined in the training workshops—were included in the intervention. Reliability of the fidelity measure will be ascertained by measuring inter-rater consistency. We will also calculate the proportion of clinics approached that consented, aiming to reach over 50% recruitment rate, and record any scheduling problems in keeping with the stepped wedge timeline. Recruitment, adherence and completeness of data will be calculated for both groups. We aim to achieve a 60% recruitment rate and no more than 30% attrition in both arms. To determine if the intervention was culturally appropriate and well received by the community and health workers, we will collect qualitative data from post-intervention interviews and perform a thematic analysis. Discussion The absence of mental health services in The Gambia, coupled with the stigma associated with mental illness in general, results in high levels of unmet need for pregnant women dealing with mental distress in The Gambia. The development of a low-cost, low-resource intervention, which is rooted in local health and cultural practices, is of high priority, and the feasibility study we intend to carry out will inform a full-scale trial to investigate efficacy of such an approach. By employing local research assistants and creating a partnership with governmental agencies, such as The Ministry of Health & Social Welfare and The National Centre for Arts and Culture, this study brings the understanding of existing health services and access to a network of primary healthcare workers throughout the country as well as the diversity of local musical practices and the meanings attached to them. This valuable knowledge will help us cope with the practical and operational issues that may arise. We hope to disseminate our findings within various scientific publications, during field days in various areas in The Gambia, and during a meeting in London which will bring together the researchers as well community members, academic colleagues and health professionals interested in hearing about this work. Trial status This article describes the protocol for a Community Health Intervention through Musical Engagement (CHIME) for perinatal mental health in The Gambia (version 1.0, 11/11/18). The sponsor for this trial is Goldsmiths, University of London. The project is funded by the MRC and the AHRC. Ethical approval was obtained from the Goldsmiths University Ethics Committee, the Research and Publication Committee (RePubliC) from the University of The Gambia and the Australian National University ethics committee. 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Funding The funders (MRC and AHRC) and sponsor (Goldsmiths) have no roles or responsibilities in the design, conduct, data analysis and interpretation, manuscript writing and dissemination of results. Author information Author notes Katie Rose M. Sanfilippo and Bonnie McConnell are joint first authors. Affiliations Goldsmiths, University of London, London, UK Katie Rose M. Sanfilippo & Lauren Stewart The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia Bonnie McConnell Imperial College London, London, UK Victoria Cornelius & Vivette Glover The Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Banjul, The Gambia Buba Darboe, Hajara B. Huma & Malick Gaye The National Centre for Arts and Culture, Banjul, The Gambia Hajara B. Huma, Malick Gaye & Hassoum Ceesay University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK Paul Ramchandani & Ian Cross Contributions LS is the principal investigator and obtained grant funding and conceived of the study. KRMS wrote the first draft of this publication manuscript, helped with the ethics and grant application, the intervention design, and the data monitoring and data collection plan. BM helped with the ethics and grant applications, translations of questionnaires, administration of focus groups and design of the intervention. VC obtained study funding, designed the study and statistical analysis plan, contributed to writing the manuscript. BD helped with the grant and ethics application, translations of questionnaires, administration of focus groups and design of the intervention. HBH and MG helped with the translation of the questionnaires, administration of the focus groups and design of the intervention. HC helped with planning the logistics for running the study as well as with the translation of the questionnaires. IC, VG and PR all helped with the grant application and advised on research and intervention design. All authors reviewed and had input into the final submission. All authors read and approved the final manuscript. Corresponding author Correspondence to Katie Rose M. Sanfilippo. Ethics declarations Ethics approval and consent to participate Ethical approval was obtained from the Goldsmiths University Ethics Committee, the Research and Publication Committee (RePubliC) from the University of The Gambia and the Australian National University ethics committee. Members of the research team will carry out the consenting and conduct of this study orally. It will be emphasised that any participant is able to withdraw from the study at any point without any consequences. Consent for publication Not applicable. Competing interests The authors declare that they have no competing interests. Additional information Publisher's Note Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. Supplementary information Additional file 1. SPIRIT Checklist. Rights and permissions Open Access This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made. The Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication waiver (http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/) applies to the data made available in this article, unless otherwise stated. Reprints and Permissions About this article Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark Cite this article Sanfilippo, K.R.M., McConnell, B., Cornelius, V. et al. A study protocol for testing the feasibility of a randomised stepped wedge cluster design to investigate a Community Health Intervention through Musical Engagement (CHIME) for perinatal mental health in The Gambia. Pilot Feasibility Stud 5, 124 (2019) doi:10.1186/s40814-019-0515-5 Download citation Received 22 February 2019 Accepted 15 October 2019 Published 07 November 2019 DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/s40814-019-0515-5 Share this article Anyone you share the following link with will be able to read this content: Get shareable link Keywords Perinatal mental health Feasibility trial The Gambia Music Singing group Kanyeleng Comments By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate. Please note that comments may be removed without notice if they are flagged by another user or do not comply with our community guidelines.

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