Roma Tre Research Articles

Strategy of user-driven re-design for inclusivity: Schuster Park in Rome

The paper presents the results of a research carried out by the Department of Architecture of Roma Tre University about user-driven re-design of public spaces, with the aim of transforming them into accessible and inclusive public spaces. Activities are related to the case of Schuster Park in Rome, whose re-functionalisation in terms of accessibility and inclusiveness is currently being planned. With this target, the research team, during the support phase for a preliminary feasibility study, experimented with a recursive participatory model, which can also be applied to other contexts related to public spaces.

Circular economy and twin transition in the cooperative movement: The case of Climate Circular Coop research project

The twin transition (TT) towards a circular economy (CE) and digital economy is vital for achieving the United Nations' Agenda 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. While research has predominantly focused on traditional enterprises, the role of cooperative enterprises in this transition remains underexplored. The Climate Circular Coop (CCC) project coordinated by the University of Ferrara in collaboration with research offices of the Italian Cooperatives Federation Area Studi Legacoop, and the University of Roma TRE, aims to address this gap by identifying the drivers and barriers cooperatives face in adopting CE and digital technologies. Through the development of a targeted survey, the project seeks to compare the efforts of cooperatives against other enterprise-forms to identify similarities and differences when implementing TT and environmental sustainability practices, such as circular economy (CE). Initial findings suggest that cooperatives and other enterprise-forms, such as SMEs, are influenced by similar barriers and drivers yet the intrinsic community-focused and democratic nature of cooperatives may position them as pivotal players. Comprehensive research is essential to enhance understanding and inform policies that support sustainability development through cooperatives exactly due to their specific business model (BM).

Digital Storytelling and Critical Thinking: A Comparative Analysis Across Physical, Virtual, and Hybrid Learning Environments

This research investigates the promotion of critical thinking skills and the dissemination of knowledge through digital storytelling experiences within three distinct learning environments: physical, virtual and hybrid. Using a comparative analysis, the research examines the impact of each modality on critical thinking, focusing on the evaluation of six macro-indicators presented in (Poce, 2017): basic language skills, relevance, importance, argumentation, critical processing and novelty. The study involved students from the universities of Roma TRE, Modena and Reggio Emilia and Tor Vergata through three experiences: in presence tour , a virtual tour made via FrameVR (https://learn.framevr.io/) and an augmented reality application to provide educational content. The results indicate that digital environments significantly improve some aspects of critical thinking, particularly in terms of argumentative quality and creative engagement. The study also observes a marked improvement in knowledge retention, as evidenced by end-of-course evaluations, suggesting that immersive digital storytelling can mitigate the tendency for last-minute hoarding and promote long-lasting educational engagement. This research contributes to the pedagogical discourse on the effectiveness of digital storytelling and object-based learning in promoting critical and reflective thinking processes in students.

Report on the international scientific conference Relevance and listening: communicating the Christian message in the plurality of contemporary voices, organised by the Department of Institutional Social Communication of the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross, Rome, May 2-4, 2023

From 2 to 4 May 2023 an international scientific conference entitled “Relevance and listening: communicating the Christian message in the plurality of contemporary voices” was held in Rome. The meeting was organised by the Department of Institutional Social Communication of the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross in Rome. The aim of the conference was to analyse the challenges related to the proper understanding and implementation of institutional communication processes of ecclesiastical institutions in the perspective of the contemporary socio-political and cultural context. The conference’s main speakers were, among others, Prof. Jim Macnamara (University of Technology of Sydney), Prof. José María La Porte (Pontificia Università della Santa Croce), Prof. Benedetto Ippolito (Università Roma Tre) and Prof. Lorenzo Cantoni (Università della Svizzera Italiana).

Minecraft: A Remote Laboratory for Game-Based Distance Learning

Immersive learning environments are some of the technological and cognitive artifacts that can support active teaching approaches, in which product and process evaluation can sustain significant learning even in remote contexts, if well designed and calibrated for the students in training. The paper delves into the experience of remote laboratory teaching conducted within the MineClass project between 2018 and 2021, during which the pandemic school saw a reduction at a national level of active and collaborative laboratory activities due to social distancing, both in-person and remotely. The study integrates results from case studies, qualitative and quantitative surveys, and semi-structured interviews directed at participants in the experimentation. Within the larger primary sample, a follow-up questionnaire was administered in 2022 with the aim of exploring the didactic use of the video game during the pandemic years; most respondents reported continuing laboratory teaching activities with Minecraft even to support distance learning after the conclusion of the MineClass project. The results show the positive impact of the experimentation in terms of perceived added value by teachers for the development of cross-cutting competences, increased motivation, involvement, and autonomy of their students. Conference organisers' note: This paper was granted the EDEN Best Research Paper Award, in cooperation with The UNESCO Chair in Education and Technology for Social Change. It is a traditional award of EDEN Annual Conferences and Research Workshops. The appointed honourable jury blind selects 8-10 finalists and appoints only 1 Best Research Paper Award that is officially announced during the Gala dinner of the Conference. EDEN Best Research Paper Award competition is based on evaluation results on submission of Full Papers presented to the Annual Conference that follow five standard evaluation criteria: The paper deals with a research question. Rigorous examination/research methods are applied. Findings, results and outcomes are convincingly presented and critically examined. Conclusions are thoroughly discussed (including applicability, transferability, and further research. Literature is reviewed against state of the art. The composition of the honourable jury for the EDEN Best Research Paper Award is composed in cooperation with The UNESCO Chair in Education and Technology for Social Change: Alfredo Soeiro, Chair, University of Porto, Portugal Orna Farrell, Dublin City University, Ireland Maria Rosaria Re, University of Roma Tre, Italy

A multi‐analytical approach to unmask two Etruscan‐Corinthian fake vases: A contribution to the illicit trafficking of cultural goods

AbstractThis work addresses the authenticity issue of fake potteries circulating in the illicit art market, imitating ancient artefacts, by an interdisciplinary and a multi‐analytical approach. In faking manufacture, unscrupulous forgers use increasingly advanced skills to mimic ancient materials and technologies and to produce artificial ageing. Despite the phenomenon of archaeological objects' forgery is considered a crime and a source of illicit earnings, there are not enough works in the literature to support the difficult unmasking of archaeological fake objects. In this work, a pair of ointment vases mimicking the “Etruscan‐Corinthian” style, seized thanks to the police activity of the Carabinieri Headquarters for the Protection of Cultural Heritage (Comando Carabinieri Tutela Patrimonio Culturale, TPC) and studied within “Laboratorio del Falso” at Roma Tre University, are analysed from the archaeological viewpoint, and then scientific investigations are carried out to understand materials and techniques used by the forger. The aim of this work is to provide useful tools for the study of similar fake objects by reconstructing the forger recipe and in particular identifying errors he committed with respect to the original manufactures, invisible to the eye. The characterization of raw materials is carried out by combining X‐ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF) and micro‐Raman spectroscopy techniques, in order to determine the composition of surface decoration, encrustations and surface deposits. By this simple protocol, it was possible to consistently clarify the aspects characterizing the modus operandi of the forger, through the identification of anachronisms, that is, materials and techniques incompatible with the hypothesized ancient manufacture. In particular, modern pigments of synthetic origin are found in decorations, such as cobalt‐based black pigment and Mars red pigments with the addition of a polymer to enhance the adhesion to the vases' body.

From Digital Restitution to Structural Analysis of a Historical Adobe Building: The Escuela José Mariano Méndez in El Salvador

Nowadays, the research in the fields of conservation and restoration is focusing on recording large amounts of data and information in order to obtain highly accurate surveys that include most details of constructions. Documenting and surveying are fundamental activities in achieving the successful preservation of cultural heritage, but also in implementing efficient strengthening interventions of structures. The applications of methods and techniques that link the disciplines of geometrical surveys and structural analyses are still fragmented, and further research is necessary to fully transfer site information into structural models. In this article, the authors propose a methodology with which to link different restoration fields, with the aim of highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of the interoperability between surveys (carried out through detailed restitution from point clouds), heritage building information modeling (HBIM), and structural analyses to connect three different disciplines. The goal is to find a synthesis model that brings together historical and geometric characteristics, but also physical–mechanical properties, for a structural evaluation through a finite element model (FEM). The case study of the Escuela José Mariano Méndez is analyzed, an extremely damaged historical adobe building in Santa Ana, the second largest city of El Salvador; it is considered fundamental to the national economy, particularly after the “coffee boom” in the late 1800s. The site, located near the historic center, is also known as “Antigua Escuela de Artes y Oficios” and embodies the architectural traditions of the region, being built in adobe and stone. Roma Tre University and the Secretaría de Cultura de la Presidencia (SECULTURA) are partners in this research project to document and restore the historical and cultural value of this site.

The deadly intersections of COVID‐19. Race, states, inequalities and global society. By SuneraThobani (Ed.), Bristol: Bristol University Press. 2022. 176 pages. £47.99 (hardcover); £16,99 (ePub). ISBN: 978‐1‐5292‐2467‐2

Sociology of Health & IllnessEarly View BOOK REVIEW The deadly intersections of COVID-19. Race, states, inequalities and global society. By Sunera Thobani (Ed.), Bristol: Bristol University Press. 2022. 176 pages. £47.99 (hardcover); £16,99 (ePub). ISBN: 978-1-5292-2467-2 Sara Vallerani, Corresponding Author Sara Vallerani [email protected] Roma Tre University, Rome, ItalySearch for more papers by this author Sara Vallerani, Corresponding Author Sara Vallerani [email protected] Roma Tre University, Rome, ItalySearch for more papers by this author First published: 28 April 2023 https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-9566.13648Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL No abstract is available for this article. Early ViewOnline Version of Record before inclusion in an issue RelatedInformation

Flyover noise evaluation of low-noise technologies applied to a blended wing body aircraft

In the frame of the European research project ARTEM (Aircraft noise Reduction Technologies and related Environmental iMpact), new aircraft architectures and alternative propulsion systems, e.g. Blended Wing Body (BWB) and geared turbofan engine concept, are investigated, as well as innovative noise reduction technologies such as metamaterials and low noise high-lift device systems. A noise impact assessment has been performed on a long-haul BWB concept developed by Roma Tre University, using the System Noise Prediction Tools of ONERA (CARMEN) and DLR (PANAM). First, shielding effects on the main noise sources are discussed, through installation effects hemi-spheres at chosen frequencies around the aircraft. Based on the shielding assessment, detailed take-off and landing procedures are simulated for several aircraft configurations. Two motorisations of the BWB are evaluated (BPR 8 and BPR 12), provided by RWTH Aachen. Finally, the most promising low noise technologies developed in the frame of ARTEM are applied, and their impact on noise levels on the ground is discussed. It can be demonstrated how the specific aircraft configuration, the engine type and the additional low-noise technology result in a significant overall noise reduction. A joint conference paper presents flyover auralisations based on these noise emission calculations.

A regional model for classifying, managing, evaluating, and monitoring the seismic safety of bridge structures: the MLAZIO project

The MLAZIO Project, developed at the Department of Engineering of Roma Tre University, intends to create a methodology for the construction of an efficient Bridge Management System (BMS) for Lazio Region. Inspired by the recently developed Italian guidelines, the project aims at classifying, managing, evaluating and monitoring the safety of bridges in the regional territory, by following a multi-level approach. Satellite monitoring, BIM, GIS and methods for risk assessment, both static and seismic, are some of the innovative techniques included in the methodology, validated through the application to several case studies. This paper describes the structure of MLAZIO project and its state of progress, from the creation of a relational database (used for cataloging structures and developing optimized GIS and BIM environments) to the development of an expeditious procedure for the quantitative evaluation of the seismic risk. The attention is focused on the seismic risk assessment procedure that, based on probabilistic approaches, provides a first overview of the state of the bridge network, starting from a restricted number of input data. It allows to identify the bridges in most critical conditions that will need more in-depth vulnerability analyses. Preliminary results coming from the application of this procedure to a case study are shown and critically discussed.

Il percorso di formazione iniziale dell’insegnante di sostegno: un’indagine esplorativa sui candidati al corso di specializzazione presso l’Università Roma Tre

This contribution offers an overview of the regulatory path that led to the establishment of the special needs teacher, and on the development, over time, of the training process. The training of the special needs teacher, once entrusted to schools or centres identified by the Ministry of Education, in the Nineties was definitively assigned to universities. This study illustrates the main characteristics of the candidates who applied for the specialization course for middle and secondary school at the University of Roma Tre in the academic year 2021/2022; and the results they achieved in pre-selective, written and oral tests. The educational, professional and identity information collected so far on would-be special needs teachers in secondary school shows a heterogeneous group in terms of age, education, previous experiences. This exploratory research represents the first phase of a broader longitudinal study, which will aim to highlight the characteristics of would-be special needs teachers in historical series, from the launch of the specialization course to today.

Performance of the SiPMs operated at low temperature for the JUNO - TAO detector

We report on the performance of commercial SiPM-based photo-detector Multi-Pixel Photon Counter (MPPC) S13360-6075CS by Hamamatsu Photonics from room temperature down to -50 °C at INFN - Sezione di Roma Tre. The work presented here is focused on the realization of 10 m2 SiPM surface for the Taishan Antineutrino Observatory (TAO) near detector in the framework of the Jiangmen Underground Neutrino Observatory (JUNO) neutrino experiment.

Does emotion affect distance learning students’ satisfaction during the COVID-19 lockdown?

Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, traditional teaching paradigms have been suffering a deep change set that will be completed once a new social balance will be reached. In this period, many students have been emotionally shocked due to the rude and fast passage from traditional to remote teaching. The main assumption of this study is that emotions may directly affect students’ learning capability and their satisfaction by possibly modifying relations between satisfaction and its drivers. This understanding is crucial since satisfaction also affects students’ learning performance. The paper aims at discussing the role of emotions in the relations between satisfaction and its drivers. The focus is on higher education. During the first Italian lockdown, an online survey was carried out, involving 178 students of a Roma Tre University master’s degree, identifying a model for exploring a new concept of students’ emotional satisfaction.

On the Wall Pressure Fluctuations induced by a Supersonic Jet over the Wing pressure side

Supersonic jet wing integrated configurations are expected to be relatively louder than subsonic installed configurations, increasing the wall pressure load transmitted inside the fuselage and stressing the wing/fuselage panels with very energetic and frequency localized supersonic effects. In this framework, a model-scale experimental investigation of an installed jet-wing configuration has been performed using a supersonic convergent-divergent nozzle interacting with a wing generated by a NACA4415 airfoil. The measurements have been carried out in the semi-anechoic chamber of the “G.Guj” Fluid Dynamic laboratory at the University Roma Tre. Wall pressure fluctuations are acquired at different axial locations in stream-wise and span-wise directions. Measurements are repeated for different wing radial positions and by varying the NPR between 2.2 and 2.6, thus exploring both over-expanded and under-expanded jet flow conditions. The flow features that characterize the different flow regimes were caught using the Background Oriented Schlieren (BOS) technique. Fluctuating pressure data, acquired with flush-mounted pressure transducers, were analysed in the frequency domain, considering a Fourier-based approach. A comparison of results obtained with an infinite flat plate has been used to highlight effects generated by the discontinuity related to the trailing edge.

Tools and models for distance teaching in an English Language and Culture university course: the flipped classroom and cooperative learning in a digital environment

The Covid-19 pandemic emergency has contributed to shift towards a more learner-centred teaching approach accelerating an ongoing trend in the university system. Re-arranging teaching materials and devices in different forms using digital tools and delivering online lessons, has been a complex challenge for academics. This necessity to re-adapt and possibly implement and re-shape traditional contents has contributed to consolidate teaching strategies as the flipped classroom (integration of pre-recorded lectures with online synchronous lessons) cooperative learning among peers (both in class and on online platforms with discussion groups), and small group teaching. These teaching strategies have also brought about a general re-thinking of learning strategies on the students’ part. To meet students’ needs in this emergency situation, materials have also been frequently developed by teachers themselves. Given such premises, this paper reports on the challenging attempt to adopt the afore-mentioned teaching strategies in an online course (English Language and Culture) held in 2020/21 at the Department of Education Science (Roma Tre University), also providing the students’ response to a questionnaire submitted after the completion of the course.

E-Learning and Arabic in the Age of Covid-19: Rethinking the Learning of Vocabulary

Since the beginning of the Covid-19 lockdown in March 2020, Italian universities have been faced with a completely new situation, generally marked by a certain backwardness as regards distance language teaching. This paper describes the impact that distance learning has had on language teaching, particularly on the teaching of lexis in the first year of a three-year degree course in Arabic at Roma Tre University, Italy. Learning vocabulary is a vital part of mastering a language, and experience has shown that students often do not work methodically on this aspect, which leads to problems with listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills. Online teaching has only aggravated this situation and, consequently, new approaches and methodologies are required. This case study presents solutions that have been found in adopting MOODLE, the open-source platform that provides students with a dynamic instrument aimed at facilitating learning. In particular, it describes and evaluates the use of the glossary in MOODLE to help first-year students learn Arabic vocabulary. The students had to add 20 vocabulary items to the glossary each week, and contributions had to follow a certain format that required morphological awareness of the main Arabic lexical structures. The monitoring system whereby the teacher could view student activities further bolstered the learner-centered methodology upon which the whole system is based. Results showed that all students contributed to creating an instrument that promoted independent learning. Overall, the MOODLE glossary was a useful tool for vocabulary learning and recommendations for its successful implementation are reported. This case study will be of interest to language teachers, as well as to learners and instructors dealing with specialized terminology.

Using Deep Learning for Collecting Data about Museum Visitor Behavior

Nowadays, technology makes it possible to admire objects and artworks exhibited all over the world remotely. We have been able to appreciate this convenience even more in the last period, in which the pandemic has forced us into our homes for a long time. However, visiting art sites in person remains a truly unique experience. Even during on-site visits, technology can help make them much more satisfactory, by assisting visitors during the fruition of cultural and artistic resources. To this aim, it is necessary to monitor the active user for acquiring information about their behavior. We, therefore, need systems able to monitor and analyze visitor behavior. The literature proposes several techniques for the timing and tracking of museum visitors. In this article, we propose a novel approach to indoor tracking that can represent a promising and non-expensive solution for some of the critical issues that remain. In particular, the system we propose relies on low-cost equipment (i.e., simple badges and off-the-shelf RGB cameras) and harnesses one of the most recent deep neural networks (i.e., Faster R-CNN) for detecting specific objects in an image or a video sequence with high accuracy. An experimental evaluation performed in a real scenario, namely, the “Exhibition of Fake Art” at Roma Tre University, allowed us to test our system on site. The collected data has proven to be accurate and helpful for gathering insightful information on visitor behavior.

The “Tran (s) missions“ Summer School at the Digital Humanities Lab in Roma Tre: how multimedia shapes and reforms interdisciplinary research in the field of Italian and visual culture

The “Tran (s) missions“ Summer School at the Digital Humanities Lab in Roma Tre: how multimedia shapes and reforms interdisciplinary research in the field of Italian and visual culture

Cultural Parent and Learning in the Knowledge Society: A Survey with Students of the Degree in Primary Education

This article describes a research study involving 132 students on a Primary Education Sciences degree course at Roma Tre University. A complexity paradigm was employed for the research, which used group activities to design a questionnaire that was subsequently analysed to provide 8 different perspectives. The underlying theoretical perspective involved investigation of the applicability of the transactional analysis concept of Cultural Parent (and the associated concepts of Frame of Reference, Script and Ego States) as a way of understanding how changes are needed in educational processes to reflect how family, school and societal cultures have changed, with particular reference to Generation App and the increasing impact of technology on virtual spaces, and the need to reflect cultural diversity.

Tommaso Jucker

Tommaso Jucker