34 research outputs found
The New Economics of Positioning: places as knowledge platforms
No full textThe first chapter reviews the traditional innovation literature dealing with the relationship between market structures, technological and geographic space in promoting innovation. A large body of literature has studied which form of market was best suited to promote innovation, with mixed results leading to the emergence of the so-called innovation puzzle. The literature on the evolutionary economics of innovation has helped solve the puzzle through the identification of different innovation regimes based on technological characteristics. Thanks to the concept of relatedness, it is possible to consider these properties of knowledge in relation to place. In fact, the relationship between localized externalities and innovation is mediated by the degree of relatedness between the two, which constrains the flow of knowledge. From this perspective, a framework is proposed that jointly analyzes the characteristics of knowledge and spatial dynamics. This framework can help provide new insights into the innovation puzzle by helping to disentangle four different patterns of innovation in geographic and technological space based on the characteristics of knowledge and its relationship to the knowledge bases of places.The second chapter analyzes the relational proximity of Italian local labor systems through their positioning in input-output flows at different spatial scale. By applying the methodologies of Economic Complexity, backward (input-related) and forward (output-related) complexity are defined and used to study their contribution to productivity and GDP level of Italian local labor systems. In addition, using the Leontief's procedure, value added activated by final demand localized at different geographic scales is decomposed to measure the contribution of multilevel regional linkages and Global Value Chain participation. The results show that: i. forward complexity has a similar ability to explain variance in GDP per capita and productivity levels as the employment complexity; ii. Intra-regional, inter-regional and international capabilities appear to contribute to GDP per capita and productivity levels in ways specific to the degree of development; iii. both forward and backward complexity contribute to productivity growth, and more markedly to the growth of knowledge-intensive sectors, for SLLs with sufficient absorptive capacity. From a policy perspective, it follows that anchoring and positioning on multiscalar networks must be aligned with local absorptive capacities and degree of development.The third chapter analyzes how knowledge flows in the hierarchical and symbolic space of Italian provinces and regions through the analysis of the externalities of place narratives. This work proposes a new interpretation of place brand as a Multilevel Threshold Public Good (MTPG) produced by the interaction of narratives from different geographical levels. Using an original dataset of Google trends and tweets from Italian provinces and regions, we test the hypothesis that place branding has a multilevel structure. We further test the MTPG framework applied to place branding, showing that place branding is influenced by different geographic levels which can trigger a spillover in terms of attractiveness if they contribute to crossing a threshold point. The results confirm the presence of a provision point in place branding, showing that the proposed MTPG framework fits the phenomenon. This article contributes to the literature on place branding and brands by providing a new lens for interpreting the phenomenon, which may be useful in better understanding and measuring the interaction of branding strategies operating at different spatial scales
A multilevel threshold public good perspective on place branding: evidence from Italy
No full textABSTRACTThis paper proposes a new interpretation of place brand as a multilevel threshold public good (MTPG) produced by the interaction of narratives from different geographical levels. Using an original dataset of Google trends and tweets from Italian provinces and regions, we test the hypothesis that place branding has a multilevel structure. We further test the MTPG framework applied to place branding, showing that place branding is influenced by different geographical levels which can trigger a spillover in terms of attractiveness if they contribute to crossing a threshold point. The results confirm the presence of a provision point in place branding, showing that the proposed MTPG framework fits the phenomenon. This article contributes to the literature on place branding and brands by providing a new lens through which to interpret the phenomenon, which may be useful for a better understanding and measuring of the interaction of branding strategies operating at different spatial scales
One-size-does-not-fit-all: The heterogeneous impact of BITs on regions participating in GPNs
No full textBilateral Investment Treaties (BITs) are vital for safeguarding and enhancing foreign investments, pivotal in Global Production Networks (GPNs). This study assesses the impact of BITs on GPNs driven by EU multinational enterprises, with a focus on regions hosting corporate headquarters due to their influence on the local economy. While considering the endogeneity of BITs and their diverse effects on GPN structures, our findings reveal a positive correlation between BITs and GPNs, notably stronger in less globally integrated regions. Additionally, the influence varies based on firms' network role (headquarters or subsidiaries) and the spatial distribution of headquarters. BITs stimulate GPNs in less internationalized regions but have minimal impact in headquarters-rich regions
Il progetto RHEA: robot autonomi per la difesa mirata delle colture agrarie.
No full textQuesto volume riporta gli atti della Giornata Studio dell’Accademia dei Georgofili “Il Progetto RHEA: risultati e acquisizioni” che ha avuto luogo il 18 Luglio 2014 presso il centro “Enrico Avanzi” dell’Università di Pisa che sono stati suddivisi in tre capitoli (2, 3 e 4), cui è stata aggiunto il primo capitolo che prende in considerazione lo stato dell’arte, le tecnologie disponibili e le applicazioni inerenti l’agricoltura di precisio- ne. Questa integrazione è apparsa necessaria tenendo in considerazione la natura prettamente divulgativa di quest’opera in modo da fornire a tutti i lettori, ivi com- presi quelli completamente neofiti o non molto informati sugli argomenti inerenti l’agricoltura di precisione, la possibilità di apprenderne le nozioni di base, necessarie per poter comprendere al meglio i risultati e le acquisizioni conseguiti nel progetto di Ricerca RHEA (“Robot Fleets for Higly Effective Agriculture and Forestry Mana- gement”) finanziato dall’UE nell’ambito di una call del Settimo Programma Quadro riservata a ricerche sull’utilizzo e sulle applicazioni delle nanotecnologie in agricol- tura, che è iniziato il 1 Agosto 2010 e terminato il 31 Luglio 2014
Optimality Theory and the Minimalist Program
No full textIn this paper I argue that an OT-approach to grammar is actually essential to minimalist investigations, because it dramatically widens the set of linguistic properties potentially reducible to interface conditions while at the same time dispensing with interface-external language specific provisos. The discussion will hopefully also dispel some common misconceptions about OT.The definitive version of this paper is published in Linguistics in Potsdam 25 (2006).Samek-Lodovici, V. (2006). Optimality Theory and the Minimalist Program. In H. Broekhuis & R. Vogel (Eds), Linguistics in Potsdam 25. Optimality Theory and Minimalism: A possible Convergence? Potsdam : Universitätsverlag PotsdamISBN: 9783939469544 (published book
On the ungrammaticality of remnant movement in the derivation of Greenberg's universal 20
No full textWe propose an OT analysis that derives the crosslinguistic typology described in Cinque (2005) concerning the grammatical and ungrammatical linear orders involving a demonstrative, a numeral, an adjective, and a noun. We show that the interaction of four simple constraints, respectively requiring leftward alignment of demonstratives, numerals, adjectives, and nouns, is sufficient to derive all the attested orders. The analysis also explains why, as Cinque pointed out, all unattested orders involve remnant movement. We show that remnant movement of the type considered in Cinque (2005) inevitably produces inherently suboptimal alignment configurations, which, in turn, are harmonically bounded by their remnant-movement-free counterparts. This result allows us to avoid stipulating conditions aimed at blocking remnant movement as proposed in Cinque (2005). Any movement is potentially possible, remnant movement included, but the resulting structures only surface as grammatical when instantiating the best possible alignment configuration for at least one constraint ranking. Indeed, we show that even remnant movement becomes grammatical when it determines optimal alignment. Finally, we show how Cinque’s original analysis closely records the structural derivations of the attested orders into the parametric values necessary to distinguish the attested languages from each other. In contrast, the proposed OT analysis need not stipulate the structural properties of any attested structure, letting them all emerge from the interaction of the proposed constraints.The publisher of the journal in which this article appears does not permit the archiving of this or any other version of the article in the Rutgers Optimality Archive. The authorized version is available here: http://www.jstor.org/stable/2301192
Galaxy Clusters in MOND: from Aether Theories to FEM in FEniCS
No full textModified Newtonian Dynamics (MOND) can account for a variety of phenomena on galactic scales without the need for dark matter, but it cannot fully explain the mass contained in galaxy clusters. We explore two possible solutions to this problem: relativistic extensions of MOND, and FEM simulations of the apparent matter distribution in clusters, utilising the non-linear AQUAL formulation to analyse non spherically symmetric systems. We consider Covariant Emergent Gravity, and we show that the theory is inconsistent with the original formulation of Emergent Gravity. Moreover, we show that either the theory is incompatible with observations, or it presents grave theoretical difficulties. We then suggest that a covariant formulation of EG can be obtained through a Generalised Einstein Aether (GEA) theory, which is capable of retrieving the MOND PDE, and is, at the same time, consistent with observational constraints. Regarding the FEM simulations of the apparent matter distribution in galaxy clusters, we construct a sample of 15 clusters from the catalogs of Reiprich and Abell for the baryonic mass distribution present in galaxy clusters. We choose FEM for its ability to treat the combination of continuous and discrete mass distributions without the need for smoothing. This is necessary, as in MOND we cannot apply the principle of superposition or the weak lensing formalism. We then utilise the FeniCS software package to study the properties of these clusters. We simulate each cluster with elements up to degree 3, thanks to a speedup by a factor of ∼ 100 obtained by the use of local mesh refinement for the serial case. In addition, we run the code in parallel on a single-threaded 8-core CPU, achieving near optimal weak scaling for the regime of interest. For the mass distribution in the galaxy clusters, we analyse the distribution of baryons, Phantom Dark Matter (PDM) and apparent mass both close to the core and around each galaxy. We find that the PDM tends to clump around the galaxies, regardless of the gas to galaxy mass ratio. Moreover, we show that both the apparent mass and the PDM can exhibit negative masses as predicted by Milgrom. Our observations on the density of PDM around the galaxies match recent observations of small scale weak lensing. In addition, our results for negative mass distributions provide an opportunity to test a prediction of MOND that can never be replicated in the dark-matter paradigm, and shed light on the properties of non-spherically symmetric mass distributions, that have, up to now, not been studied in the literature for the fully non-linear case.Double MSc: Applied Physics - Computer EngineeringComputer EngineeringApplied Physic
A multilevel threshold public good perspective on place branding: evidence from Italy
No full textThis paper proposes a new interpretation of place brand as a multilevel threshold public good (MTPG) produced by the interaction of narratives from different geographical levels. Using an original dataset of Google trends and tweets from Italian provinces and regions, we test the hypothesis that place branding has a multilevel structure. We further test the MTPG framework applied to place branding, showing that place branding is influenced by different geographical levels which can trigger a spillover in terms of attractiveness if they contribute to crossing a threshold point. The results confirm the presence of a provision point in place branding, showing that the proposed MTPG framework fits the phenomenon. This article contributes to the literature on place branding and brands by providing a new lens through which to interpret the phenomenon, which may be useful for a better understanding and measuring of the interaction of branding strategies operating at different spatial scales.</p
Western Balkans participation in GVCs and FDI potential in the context of Smart Specialisation
No full textThis study examines the position of Western Balkan economies within global value chains (GVCs) and their capacity to attract foreign direct investment (FDI), linking the analysis with the broader framework of Smart Specialisation as a key pillar of the EU accession process and a strategic instrument for strengthening regional innovation ecosystems and deepening integration into the European Research Area. The results point to a steady increase in FDI between 2007 and 2022, accompanied by a growing role for services and knowledge-intensive activities, alongside differentiated trajectories of functional upgrading. Across multiple econometric specifications, the analysis shows that: (i) economic size, institutional proximity, EU integration and social connectedness are key drivers of international investment; (ii) obtaining EU candidate status increases FDI from EU countries by approximately 25–35% compared with non-EU sources; and (iii) while overall alignment with Smart Specialisation domains remains limited, it is more strongly driven by EU investors and reinforced by host-country R&D intensity and social connectedness. From a policy perspective, these findings suggest that more sophisticated economies - those more deeply embedded institutionally and relationally - are better positioned to attract strategic investment and support processes of functional upgrading and leverage Smart Specialisation as a mechanism for convergence within the EU integration process.JRC.B.3 - Territorial Developmen
Accelerated partial breast irradiation using intensity modulated radiotherapy versus whole breast irradiation: Health-related quality of life final analysis from the Florence phase 3 trial
No full textBACKGROUND: Accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI) represents a valid option for selected early breast cancer (BC). We recently published the 5-year results of the APBI-IMRT-Florence phase 3 randomised trial (NCT02104895), showing a very low rate of disease failure, with acute and early-late toxicity in favour of APBI. We present the early and 2-year follow-up health-related quality of life (HRQoL) results.
METHODS: Eligible patients were women aged more than 40 years with early BC suitable for breast-conserving surgery. APBI consisted of 30 Gy in five fractions delivered with IMRT technique. Standard whole breast irradiation (WBI) consisted of 50 Gy in 25 fractions plus a 10 Gy in five fractions boost on tumour bed. A total of 520 patients were enrolled in the phase 3 trial. Overall, 205 patients (105 APBI and 100 WBI) fully completed all the given questionnaires and were therefore included in the present analysis. As HRQoL assessment, patients were asked to complete the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer QLQ-C30, and the BR23 questionnaires at the beginning (T0), at the end (T1) and after 2 years from radiation (T2).
FINDINGS: No significant difference between the two arms at QLQ-C30 and BR23 scores emerged at T0. Global health status (p = 0.0001), and most scores of the functional and symptom scales of QLQ-C30 at T1 showed significant differences in favour of the APBI arm. Concerning the BR23 functional and symptom scales, the body image perception, future perspective and breast and arm symptoms were significantly better in the APBI group. Similar significant results emerged at T2: significant differences in favour of APBI emerged for GHS (p = 0.0001), and most functional and symptom QLQ-C30 scales. According to QLQ-BR23 module, among the functional scales, the body image perception and the future perspective were significantly better in the APBI group (p = 0.0001), whereas among the symptom scales significant difference emerged by breast and arm symptoms with better outcomes in APBI arm (p < 0.01).
INTERPRETATION: Early BC treated with APBI showed an improved short-term, and 2-year follow-up HRQoL outcome as compared with WBI. Early BC treated with APBI showed an improved short-term, and 2-year follow-up HRQoL outcome as compared with WBI. APBI should be strongly considered in the treatment choice for selected low-risk patients. Mature local control results from ongoing adequately powered randomised trials are awaited
