24663 research outputs found
Sort by
Exploring bare soil digital mapping: identifying alternative variables to replace ECa via remote sensing, a case study on two Italian fields at different latitude
No full textSite-specific management in agriculture, which accounts for variability within a field, is a cornerstone of sustainable agronomic practices. However, despite the availability of numerous methods to measure spatial variability,
their limitations hinder large-scale adoption, posing challenges to the broader implementation of precision agriculture. This study aims to identify spectral indices derived from bare-soil analysis as potential substitutes for electrical conductivity (ECa) in mapping spatial variability. The approach aligns with the need for cost-effective, scalable, and less labor-intensive solutions to manage field variability. Using multi-temporal baresoil
imagery spanning five years across two fields under intermittent cultivation in Italy, we applied principal component analysis to evaluate correlations between spectral indices and ECa. Both fields demonstrated strong
correlations between ECa and the first principal component (PC1). Key variables identified as highly correlated with ECa included the Brightness Index (0.66), Near-Infrared (0.53), and Red reflectance (0.58). The percentage variance explained by PC1 was 75.4 % for Field 1 and 79.0 % for Field 2. Finally, PC1 is correlated with ECa in the two areas in the measure of 0.73 and 0.53, respectively. This work addresses the problem of substituting ECa with covariates derived from bare-soil analysis from a purely statistical perspective as a first necessary step aiming at identifying the most promising covariates. A subsequent study will address this issue from a pedological standpoint. These findings highlight the potential of remote sensing data and spectral indices from multitemporal imagery to replace direct ECa measurements, enabling rapid and accurate mapping of spatial variability in annual croplands
Development of an integrated data system for regional tourism analysis in Italy: A microdata perspective
No full textThis paper presents the development of an integrated data system tailored for the Italian regions, combining
microdata from the Bank of Italy’s and ISTAT’s surveys. These datasets offer an in-depth analysis of both domestic and international aspects of tourism, framed within the theoretical context of the tourism determinants.
By merging this integrated dataset with additional data from other statistical sources, this study offers a
queryable relational database enabling granular regional analysis. Currently, tourism statistics in Italy are
fragmented and do not provide a unified picture of tourism in its many aspects. The relational model’s interoperability addresses Italy’s fragmented tourism data landscape, and its data definition language represents an
important step towards the creation of a unified tourism archive. Micro-data allows for different statistical analyses than those usually carried out with aggregated data, increasing knowledge of the dynamics of the sector
La geografia come strumento di pace: riconfigurare lo spazio tra conflitto e armonizzazione
No full textNel contesto degli attuali conflitti globali, emerge la necessità di riflettere sulle discipline che possono aiutare a comprendere e ad affrontare le dinamiche di guerra e pace. La geografia, per la sua intrinseca relazione con lo spazio e il territorio, si pone come strumento chiave in questo dibattito. Pertanto, questa presentazione esplora il ruolo della geografia nella gestione dei conflitti e nella promozione della pace, partendo dalle intuizioni del geografo francese Yves Lacoste, il quale nel suo testo del 1976 "La geografia: serve innanzitutto a fare la guerra", denuncia l'uso strategico e militare della geografia. Lacoste, infatti, riferendosi alla guerra del Vietnam, evidenzia come la geografia sia stata utilizzata per scopi bellici, attraverso la distruzione sistematica di infrastrutture strategiche come le dighe del Nord-Vietnam. Questo è un esempio di come l'analisi geografica possa influenzare significativamente gli esiti dei conflitti.
Oggi, a cinquant'anni dalle osservazioni di Lacoste, appare necessario recuperare una comprensione collettiva della geografia che permetta di affrontare le sfide globali contemporanee e future. Un approccio geografico strutturato, che analizzi le spazialità differenziali e consideri i molteplici insiemi spaziali in cui si vive, può fornire soluzioni efficaci per la gestione dei conflitti e la promozione della pace. La geografia culturale, per esempio, può promuovere la comprensione reciproca tra diverse culture, riducendo le tensioni e prevenendo i conflitti. Inoltre, l'utilizzo di strumenti geospaziali come i Sistemi Informativi Geografici (GIS) può monitorare le aree di crisi e informare le strategie di mediazione.
Pertanto, questa presentazione si propone di rispondere alla domanda: la geografia può servire a fare la pace? Attraverso un'analisi critica e l'esplorazione di casi di studio, infatti, intende dimostrare come la geografia non solo possa, ma debba essere utilizzata come strumento per costruire un mondo più pacifico. A tal fine, verranno discussi esempi di come la geografia abbia facilitato accordi di pace e promosso lo sviluppo sostenibile, contribuendo alla gestione equa delle risorse naturali e alla pianificazione di città resilienti.
Inoltre, il contributo esaminerà come la geografia possa supportare la diplomazia preventiva.
Attualmente, attraverso l'analisi geospaziale, è possibile identificare potenziali conflitti prima che si manifestino e intervenire tempestivamente per mitigare le tensioni. Strumenti come la mappatura delle risorse e la modellazione predittiva possono, di conseguenza, fornire informazioni critiche ai decisori politici per adottare misure preventive.
D'altro canto, un altro aspetto cruciale che si intende trattare è l'educazione geografica come mezzo per costruire società più inclusive e comprensive. Integrando la geografia nei curricula scolastici, infatti, si può educare le nuove generazioni alla diversità culturale e alla cooperazione internazionale. Progetti educativi che collegano studenti di diverse nazioni attraverso piattaforme digitali possono creare una maggiore consapevolezza globale e un impegno verso la pace.
Infine, la trattazione verterà sull'importanza delle partnership internazionali nella promozione della pace attraverso la geografia. Organizzazioni non governative, enti governativi e istituzioni accademiche possono collaborare per sviluppare e implementare progetti geograficamente informati che mirano alla risoluzione dei conflitti e alla costruzione della pace
Consumption of the Prebiotic-Rich Chicory Taproot Contrasts the Cognitive and Motivational Consequences of Chronic Corticosterone Exposure and Modulates Gut Microbiota Composition in Mice
No full textBackground: The human gastrointestinal tract harbors trillions of microbes that act in synergy with the brain to regulate its homeostasis and function. This interplay holds promise for innovative dietary-based interventions to support cognitive and motivational processes or contrast their decline in disease. While probiotics have traditionally been used for such interventions, several limitations have hampered their suitability and incited interest in prebiotics. Fructans represent a valid prebiotic whereby they are abundant in several vegetables (e.g., chicory taproots) and increase short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) production via fermentation by gut microbes. SCFAs have been reported to modulate gene expression in the brain via epigenetic mechanisms. Here, we investigated whether chicory taproots may represent a strategy to contrast cognitive and motivational impairments induced by chronic corticosterone administration. Methods: To test our hypothesis, we exposed C57BL/6 male mice (n = 18 per group) to corticosterone supplementation in drinking water and provided them with a fructan-rich diet (regular diet enriched with dried chicory taproots). Results: Consistent with our hypothesis, chicory taproot consumption promoted the growth of selected microbial species and increased SCFA concentrations. To verify the functional role of these modulations, using a comprehensive behavioral test battery, we observed that chicory taproots contrasted the cognitive and motivational consequences of chronic corticosterone exposure. These behavioral modifications were associated with a modulation of gene expression and its epigenetic regulators in brain regions relevant for cognition and motivation. Conclusions: These results highlight the role of prebiotics in preserving higher-order brain functions and offer insights into their therapeutic potential
The Transition in Accounting Paradigms from the Tuscan School to the Venetian School in Italy: A Study of the Contribution of Vincenzo Gitti under the Kuhnian Epistemological Model
No full textThis study analyzes the evolution of paradigms in scienti c accounting related to innovative actions
taken in Italy between 1840 and 1900. Speci cally, it investigates the transition between two opposing schools of
thought during this period: the Tuscan School (antecedent-concomitant paradigm) and the Venetian School
(concomitant-next paradigm). To explore this transition, the Kuhnian epistemological model is applied to examine
Vincenzo Gitti’s contributions to accounting. Gitti, a scholar associated with both the Tuscan and Venetian Schools,
played a signi cant role in shaping their respective paradigms. The ndings reveal a complex transition process
in uenced by a company’s Gestalt perspective, its components, and accounting methods, which are divided between
the old and new paradigms. Nonetheless, there is a discernible tendency toward the new paradigm of the Venetian
School
Fray Sebastián de Aparicio, a Saint for Puebla de los Ángeles
No full textThis book reveals the importance of saints in New Spain, a viceroyalty that was part of the Spanish Empire from 1521–1821, covering modern-day Mexico, Central America, and the US Southwest. In the late sixteenth century, Rome’s attempts to manage sanctity as an official process had a profound impact throughout Spain and the Spanish viceroyalties. Saintly devotions traveled to Mexico, and circulated within the vast territory as images or print, then to be transformed by New Spain’s own communities