Archivio Istituzionale della Ricerca- Università del Piemonte Orientale
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Habitat selection of the threatened northern lapwing (Vanellus vanellus) breeding in an intensive agroecosystem
Get PDFLand use changes induced by agricultural intensification and wetland reclamation are negatively impacting farmland biodiversity. In this context, information on habitat selection of wildlife can be fundamental to developing effective conservation actions targeting biodiversity conservation, shedding light on fine-scale species-habitat relationships. We studied nesting and foraging habitat selection in a declining shorebird, the northern lapwing ( Vanellus vanellus ), in the intensive agroecosystem of the Po Plain, Italy. Out of 67 nests we found, 94% were in wetlands and summer crops, wetlands being the only habitat actively selected. The likelihood that a pair of lapwings nested in a cropland patch was inversely proportional to plant height and ground cover, which likely explains why summer crops were more favourable than winter and hay crops to the species nest settlement. Tracking data showed that GPS tagged lapwings ( n = 14) stayed close (207 ± 153 m) to their nests throughout the entire breeding period, and they selected the same habitat types for foraging as for nesting. Home ranges averged 56 ha (range = 3–161 ha), and were on average larger than previously reported from elsewhere, probably because the overall low quality of the habitat in the Po Plain. Home ranges of lapwings breeding in croplands were larger and significantly more cohesive than those of birds breeding in wetlands, suggesting a need to explore larger areas to find suitable foraging patches. The dual nesting and feeding strategy highlighted the crucial importance of both wetlands and, unexpectedly, summer crops for this species of conservation concern. To provide suitable habitat for breeding lapwings, restored wetlands must be well managed and attention should be given to intrafield heterogeneity, possibly increasing bare ground patches
Croplands proximity is associated with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis incidence and age at onset
No full textBackground: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease resulting from an intricate interplay between genetics and environmental factors. Many studies have explored living in rural areas as a possible risk factor for ALS, without focusing simultaneously on incidence, age at onset and phenotypic features. Objective: To evaluate the effect of croplands residential proximity on ALS incidence and phenotype, focusing on age of onset, site of onset and progression rate. Methods: The address history of ALS patients belonging to the population-based Piemonte and Valle d'Aosta registry (PARALS), diagnosed between 2007 and 2014, was obtained for the 20 years prior to the onset date. The smoothed ALS incidence per year (im) was compared with the percentage of area covered by each crop for each municipality. A proximity score was calculated for each cropland by geolocation, measuring the percentage of area surrounding patients’ residence for variable radii, and was used to compare croplands exposure and phenotype. Results: We observed an increased ALS incidence in the municipalities with a higher percentage of area covered by arable crops (R = 0.191, p < 0.001). Age at onset was significantly lower in those patients who lived near arable crops, with a median anticipation ranging from 1.8 to 3.4 years; using historical data, a significant anticipation was found also for patients living near vineyards. Discussion: Our study proved a direct association between arable crops and ALS risk and an inverse association between arable crops and vineyards proximity and age at onset, suggesting the possible causative role of specific environmental contaminants
L'Ora, il giornalismo a schiena dritta
No full textRecensione al libro di Ciro Dovizio. L'Ora, l'alba dell'antimafia, Donzelli 202
Concessione abusiva di credito “aggravata” dal rilascio di garanzie pubbliche: cuius commoda, eius et incommoda
No full textIl trittico di decreti del foro partenopeo offre l’occasione per tornare sul tema, di grande attualità ed
interesse, della concessione abusiva di credito “aggravata” dall’improprio sfruttamento delle garanzie
pubbliche a sostegno dei finanziamenti erogati alle imprese danneggiate dalla pandemia in base
alla normativa emergenziale. Si tratta di un profilo delicato, che interseca il diritto concorsuale e quello
bancario, e richiede un equo contemperamento tra interessi pubblicistici e privatistici. Nel commento
si ripercorrerà il ragionamento sillogistico sfociato nella declaratoria di nullità del contratto di finanziamento,
le cui premesse, lette con la dovuta attenzione, consentono di ricavare un utile vademecum
sia per l’accorto banchiere nell’istruttoria sul merito creditizio, sia per il legale delle banche nell’impostazione
della domanda di insinuazione allo stato passivo
Vitamin D: A Nutraceutical Supplement at the Crossroad Between Respiratory Infections and COVID-19
Get PDFEven though in mid-2023 the World Health Organization declared the end of the public health emergency of international concern status for COVID-19, many areas of uncertainty about SARS-CoV-2 infection pathophysiology remain. Although in the last 4 years pharmaceutical industries widely invested in the development of effective antiviral treatments and vaccines, large disparities in their availability worldwide still exist, thus fostering the investigation of nutritional supplements as adjuvant therapeutic approaches for disease management, especially in resource-limited settings. During the COVID-19 pandemic, vitamin D has been widely used as an over-the-counter solution to improve disease evolution, thanks to its known immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory actions. Ecological and observational studies support a relationship between hypovitaminosis D and COVID-19 negative outcomes and, according to this evidence, several research groups investigated the role of vitamin D supplementation in protecting from SARS-CoV-2 infection and/or improving disease evolution. This narrative review is intended to offer insights into the existing data on vitamin D’s biological effects in respiratory infections, especially in COVID-19. Furthermore, it will also offer a brief overview of the complex interplay between vitamin D and vaccine-elicited immune response, with special attention to anti-COVID-19 vaccines
The complementarity between automation and flexible labour contracts: firm-level evidence from Italy
Get PDFThis study examines the association between firm-level investments in automation technologies and employment outcomes, drawing on a panel dataset of approximately 10,450 Italian firms. We focus on the proliferation of non-standard labour contracts introduced by labour market reforms in the 2000s, which facilitated external labour flexibility. Our findings reveal a positive relationship between automation investments and the adoption of these flexible labour arrangements. Guided by a conceptual framework, we interpret this result as evidence of complementarity between automation technologies – viewed as flexible capital – and non-standard contractual arrangements – viewed as flexible labour. This complementarity is essential for enhancing operational flexibility, a critical driver of firm performance in competitive market environments. From a policy perspective, our analysis highlights the importance of measures that protect labour without undermining the efficiency gains enabled by automation
Non-invasive analyses of a gold pectoral, with a pair of bird-shaped fibulae and pendants, from the collection of the Archaeological Museum in Zagreb
No full textThis paper discusses the results of XRF measurements taken on the gold pectoral acquired by the Archaeological Museum in Zagreb in 1933 from Bosnia and Herzegovina. The analysis shows that the pectoral is a pastiche of sorts, consisting of newer components specifically produced for the pectoral (fibulae, chain and central pendant), and older ones (two-part pendants and associated beads) probably recycled from pre-existing necklaces. The production centre, hypothetically located in the eastern
Adriatic or the western Balkans, had access to various qualities of gold alloys, Asian and Portuguese garnets, and HIMT glass. Despite the similarities to the finds from the 1890 sarcophagus in Potoci, it remains inconclusive whether this pectoral is directly related to the discoveries from the 1882 sarcophagus in the same location
Capital Allocation Rules and Generalized Collapse to the Mean: Theory and Practice
Get PDFIn this paper, we focus on capital allocation methods based on marginal contributions. In particular, concerning the relation between linear capital allocation rules and the
well-known Gradient (or Euler) allocation, we investigate an extension to the convex and non-differentiable case of the result above and its link with the “generalized collapse to the mean” problem. This preliminary result goes in the direction of applying the popular marginal contribution method, which fosters the diversification of risk, to the case of more general risk measures. In this context, we will also discuss and point out some numerical issues linked to marginal methods and some future research directions
A case report of long COVID-19 and chronic active myocarditis
No full textBackground Post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC), commonly known as ‘Long COVID-19’, are progressively emerging in the population. While it was clear from the pandemic outbreak that pre-existing cardiac conditions were exacerbated by the infection even after its resolution, little is known about the rare cases of de novo heart failure onset, whose mechanisms are still not fully understood. Case summary A 74-year-old man was admitted to the emergency department with SARS-CoV-2 bilateral interstitial pneumonia at the computed tomography scan. A few months after, he developed acute myocarditis that slowly led to progressive myocardial fibrosis, systolic dysfunction, and a pro-arrhythmic state. Furthermore, these manifestations were associated with growing ‘mental dullness’ and chronic psychophysical asthenia. The patient underwent two cardiac MRI over 3 years witnessing the worsening of cardiac involvement and started full pharmacological therapy for heart failure. We report here the initial presentation, medical care, and clinical course of this patient. Discussion In SARS-CoV-2 patients, long COVID-19-related myocarditis is one of the more severe complications. A thorough multimodal evaluation of these patients should be conducted, as presentation symptoms can appear subtle or misleading. Early identification of a chronic process of myocardial damage is crucial to implement early therapeutic strategies and prevent the potential worsening of heart failure
ESG performance, institutional factors, and the cost of debt
No full textInstitutional factors play a critical role in shaping the relationship between companies’ environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices and their financial performance. This paper investigates how institutional factors influence the relationship between ESG practices and the cost of debt for non-financial firms globally, focusing on seven dimensions of governance quality and environmental resilience. Findings show that companies with superior ESG ratings operating in countries with high institutional quality benefit from a reduction in their cost of debt. Conversely, firms in countries with lower institutional quality do not experience the same advantage, underscoring the importance of effective governance and environmental resilience in fostering sustainable business practices. Results are robust to tests addressing endogeneity concerns and possible confounding factors, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. These findings provide insights for practitioners, financial institutions, and policymakers, highlighting the need to consider the institutional context when assessing the impact of ESG factors on financial outcomes