137262 research outputs found
Sort by
Arnold Toynbee, Civilization on Trial (1948, 1960) https://www.academia.edu/152161922/Arnold_Toynbee_Civilization_on_Trial_1948_1960_
No full textADDITIONS, INTEGRATIONS, CORRECTIONS AND SUPPLEMENTS TO THE BIBLIOGRAPHY OF ARNOLD JOSEPH TOYNBEE, Nos. 613-615, Additions to Part I, Works by Arnold J. Toynbe
Innovative approaches to flavoring Chétoui olive oil: impact on quality, oxidative stability, chemical composition, and sensory properties using dried fruits and seeds
No full textfig [FG], prune [PR], black grape [RN], and yellow grape [RJ]) and seeds (Nigella [NG] and linseed [LN]) at concentrations of 5% (C1) and 15% (C2), to evaluate their impact on the quality and organoleptic properties of flavored olive oil (FOO) extracted from the Chétoui variety. Key quality parameters, including sensory attributes, oxidative stability, phenolic content, and volatile compounds, were evaluated. Flavoring decreased peroxide values but increased chlorophyll and carotenoid content. The addition of flavorings notably enhanced the stability of FOO, particularly AP and DT. This improvement is attributed to the higher phenolic content, with DT-C2 exhibiting the highest value of 859.377 mg/kg. This stability is further supported by an increased resistance to fatty acid oxidation, likely due to elevated levels of monounsaturated fatty acids, as evidenced by the rise in oleic acid from 63.10% in the control to 68.34% in AP-C2. The flavoring process introduced volatile organic compounds, such as aldehydes, terpenes, phenols, and ketones, to extra virgin olive oil, significantly enhancing sensory attributes, especially at a 15% concentration
Incremental dose-response effect of age on mortality in non-seminoma testis cancer patients
No full textBackground: Age ≥ 40 predisposes to higher testis cancer-specific mortality (CSM) in non-seminoma. However, it is unknown, whether an incremental dose-response effect applies to subgroups of testis cancer patients (tertiles aged ≥ 40). We tested this hypothesis in contemporary non-seminoma patients. Methods: The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database (2004-2018) was used. Kaplan-Meier plots and multivariable Cox regression models tested the effect of age on CSM after stratification for stage (I vs. II vs. III). Results: Of 13,679 non-seminoma patients, 11,034 (81%) were aged < 40 vs. 2,645 (19%) were aged ≥ 40. Of patients aged ≥ 40, 943 were aged 40 to 44 (young age tertile) vs. 855 were aged 45 to 52 (intermediate age tertile) vs. 847 were aged ≥ 53 (old age tertile). In overall multivariable analyses relative to patients aged < 40, young age tertile (Hazard ratio [HR] 1.4, P < 0.01), intermediate age tertile (HR 1.9, P < 0.001) and old age tertile (HR 3.6, P < 0.001) were associated with higher CSM. In stage-specific multivariable analyses relative to patients aged < 40, old age tertile predicted higher CSM in stage I (HR 4.7, P < 0.001), stage II (HR 9.9, P < 0.001) and stage III (HR 3.0, P < 0.001). In stage III, intermediate age tertile (HR 1.9, P < 0.001) and young age tertile (HR 1.5, P = 0.007) also predicted higher CSM. Conclusions: We identified a dose-response effect of increasing age in non-seminoma patients aged ≥ 40, in the overall analysis as well as in stage-specific analyses
Rank-metric codes over arbitrary fields: Bounds and constructions
No full textRank-metric codes, defined as sets of matrices over a finite field with the rank distance, have gained significant attention due to their applications in network coding and connections to diverse mathematical areas. Initially studied by Delsarte in 1978 and later rediscovered by Gabidulin, these codes have become a central topic in coding theory. This paper surveys the development and mathematical foundations, in particular, regarding bounds and constructions of rank-metric codes, emphasizing their extension beyond finite fields to more general settings. We examine Singleton-like bounds on code parameters, demonstrating their sharpness in finite field cases and contrasting this with contexts where the bounds are not tight. Furthermore, we discuss constructions of Maximum Rank Distance (MRD) codes over fields with cyclic Galois extensions and the relationship between linear rank-metric codes with systems and evasive subspaces. The paper also reviews results for algebraically closed fields and real numbers, previously appearing in the context of topology and measure theory. We conclude by proposing future research directions, including conjectures on MRD code existence and the exploration of rank-metric codes over various field extensions
Urban Regeneration Through System Planning and a Multiscalar Approach for a Self-sufficient City: The Case of Santa Maria Capua Vetere in Italy
No full textThe contemporary citySelf-sufficient cities is characterisedSanta Maria Capua VeterebyUrban regeneration a high degree of complexity in its environmental and socio-economic processes. Its recent evolution has faced problems related to spatial fragmentation and functional transformations: disused industrial and military areas now form large dross landscapes, while urban degradation and illegal neighbourhoods are common in the outskirts. Urban planning should address these fragilities through the design of inclusive community spaces, taking into account environmental aspects and new social needs. The aim of this paper is to explore local regenerative approaches to create an efficient network of services and public spaces, aimed at restoring the peripheral margins of the urban core, implementing the overall ecological quality and community assets. Indeed, sustainable planningSustainable planning can reveal the latent potential of forgotten urban spaces, laying the foundations for the progressive development of new areas for social use to revitalise their spatial context. Multiscalarity thus becomes a possible approach in urban planning to control the structural, long-term and relevant use of territorial resources, also by means of local-scale planning to verify the coherence of choices at the municipal level. In accordance with these theoretical premises, it is proposed the case of Santa Maria Capua VetereSanta Maria Capua Vetere, a medium-sized town with an ancient cultural heritage that suffers from several socio-environmental criticalities. In order to address these challenges, the planning structure of the city has been calibrated on the definition of multiscalar actions that will be able to adapt flexibly to the new situations generated by the socio-economic dynamics, taking into account the need to protect the urban centre and the surrounding rural areas, and conceiving transformations based exclusively on urban regenerationUrban regeneration. Recent trends in territorial management identify for Santa Maria Capua VetereSanta Maria Capua Vetere a development scenario in which the city becomes a tertiary metropolitan pole, pursuing a compact city model through the definition of a provincial ecological network that develops at the local scale into a capillary pattern of open spaces of various sizes. This paper delves into Santa Maria’s planning journey, highlighting its potential for resilienceUrban resilience and functional self-sufficiencySelf-sufficiency, despite ongoing developmental hurdles: the contribution describes various research activities in which the definition of a sustainable and smart approach arise through planningEcological planning application
Impact of construction-derived substrates on seed germination and early development of Borago officinalis: insight for sustainable management of urban green spaces
No full textUrban vegetation is exposed to intense environmental stress and anthropogenic disturbance, which can strongly constrain plant growth and development. Urban soils differ from natural soils in structure and functionality, being characterized by high compaction and elevated levels of pollutants. They frequently contain anthropogenic materials such as construction and demolition waste (CDW) and asphalt residues (AS), which further alter soil features. Due to their abundance and inert nature, the reuse of these materials as alternative substrates for urban green infrastructure warrants experimental investigation. This study assessed the effects of asphalt and two types of sands frequently used in pavement construction, namely standard sand (SS) and recycled sand (RS), on the germination and early development of Borago officinalis. Seeds were sown in trays filled with the test substrates, while potting soil (SO) served as control treatment. We monitored seed germination success, seedling emergence, mortality, biomass accumulation, and evaluated morpho-anatomical and physiological traits such as leaf area, shoot and root dry weight, stomatal density, stomatal conductance, and photochemical efficiency. Seedling emergence and survival were significantly reduced in AS, where mortality reached 60% and leaf development was strongly delayed. As expected, SO plants exhibited the highest biomass and physiological performance, with greater transpiration and lower stomatal density, indicating favourable water use efficiency. Overall, our findings suggest that while AS is unsuitable for early plant development, recycled CDW materials may serve as alternative, though suboptimal, components in the construction of urban Technosols. Their reuse could ease landfill pressure, limit the environmental costs of natural soil exploitation, and support key ecosystem services, thus aligning with circular economy goals and fostering more sustainable urban greening
Product vs process innovation under budget constraint
No full textThis paper develops a theoretical model of strategic R&D investment under a hard budget constraint. Two symmetric firms must choose between product and process innovation, where the former increases product quality and the latter reduces marginal costs. We show that the equilibrium depends on the effectiveness of product innovation. When quality improvements are sufficiently effective, both firms converge on product innovation; when they are weaker, no dominant strategies exist and the game admits mixed-strategy equilibria as well as asymmetric pure-strategy equilibria. In contrast, social welfare is always maximized under an asymmetric allocation, with one firm innovating in product and the other in process. This divergence highlights a coordination failure that justifies policy intervention. To address this inefficiency, we propose a targeted ex-ante subsidy scheme that restores the socially optimal asymmetric outcome as a unique pure-strategy Nash equilibrium. We also compare welfare maximization with total R&D investment as alternative policy objectives and show that the two may diverge, particularly when product innovation becomes highly effective. These findings offer important insights for the design of innovation policies in environments characterized by strategic interaction and resource constraints
