1,070 research outputs found
The political economy of work security and flexibility : Italy in comparative perspective
No full textThe recent economic crisis has shown us the dark side of deregulating the labor market: rising unemployment, limited access to social security and, due to low wages, depleted savings to rely upon in bad times. An emphasis on flexibility has led to inequality and insecurity, Fabio Berton, Matteo Richiardi, and Stefano Sacchi reveal in this compelling study of Italy’s embrace of nonstandard work contracts. Analyzing outcomes at the individual level, the authors contrast Italy with Germany, Spain, and Japan as they demonstrate the social and economic fallout of pursuing flexibility merely as a tool to reduce costs
The mosquito microbiota: a new way to look at mosquito vectors and to investigate other insect pests
No full textI. Ricci, C. Damiani, P. Rossi, A. Capone, P. Scuppa, A. Cappelli, U. Ulissi, M. Mosca, M. Valzano, S. Epis, E. Crotti, D. Daffonchio, A. Alma, L. Sacchi, M. Mandrioli, C. Bandi & G. Favia, Mosquito symbioses: from basic research to the paratransgenic control of mosquito-borne diseases, J. Appl. Entomol. 135 (2011) 487–493\ud
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Guido Favia, Irene Ricci, Patrizia Scuppa, Claudia Damiani, Paolo Rossi, Aida Capone, Chenoa De Freece, Matteo Valzano, Alessia Cappelli, Michela Mosca and Ulisse Ulissi, Facing\ud
Malaria Parasite with Mosquito Symbionts\ud
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Irene Ricci, Matteo Valzano, Ulisse Ulissi, Sara Epis, Alessia Cappelli, Guido Favia, Symbiotic control of mosquito borne disease\ud
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M. Valzano, G. Achille, F. Burzacca, I. Ricci, C. Damiani, P. Scuppa, G. Favia, Deciphering microbiota associated to Rhynchophorus ferrugineus in Italian samples: a preliminary study, Journal of Entomological and Acarological Research 2012; volume 44:e16\u
recensione del volume Fabio Berton, Matteo Richiardi, Stefano Sacchi, Flex-insecurity. Perché in Italia la flessibilità diventa precarietà?, il Mulino, Bologna, 2009
No full textIl contributo costituisce una recensione del volume Fabio Berton, Matteo Richiardi, Stefano Sacchi, Flex-insecurity. Perché in Italia la flessibilità diventa precarietà?, il Mulino, Bologna, 2009. Ii meccanismi che n particolare la recensione approfondisce i meccanismi che portano in Italia la flessibilità del lavoro a trasformarsi in precarietà
Voltinism and larval population structure of Calopteryx splendens (Odonata: Calopterygidae) in the Po Valley
No full textAdaptation of life-history traits is an important factor for the success of insects. Voltinism is a feature that descends from several life-history traits and, given that the latter depend on the specific environment of growth, voltinism can vary between populations across latitudes or habitats. In addition, some insects, like many odonates, have developed different patterns of voltinism within the same population, due to mechanisms of cohort splitting. Calopteryx splendens (Odonata: Calopterygidae) is a widespread damselfly in Europe that has been extensively studied regarding its evolutionary ecology, but detailed studies about its voltinism are relatively scarce and confined to the central and northern areas of Europe. So we investigated the voltinism and larval development of a population of C. splendens both by captive rearing and in the field in Northern Italy, the southernmost area in which its voltinism has been studied so far. We found an earlier start of larval growth, with respect to previous studies. Additionally, the head-width of larvae of the same instar decreased with the cohort ageing. Finally, the results are consistent with a two-groups emerging pattern that may support partial semivoltinism or partial bivoltinism of C. splendens in Northern Italy
Make them work! In-work benefits after the pandemic in the reform of Italy’s minimum income scheme
No full textAs a consequence of the pandemic the linkage between in-work benefits (IWBs) and minimum income schemes (MIS) is likely to gain prominence, due to the potential impact of asymmetric employment shocks on low-income workers. Framing the characteristics of IWBs in the institutional setting and the functioning of the welfare state in a selected number of European countries, this article draws lessons for the Italian case on the role of these kinds of measures in avoiding poverty traps. Using EU-LFS data and INAPP Plus data, the article analyses, in the Italian case, the variation before and after the pandemic outbreak in the profiles of MIS beneficiaries close to the labour market and of those workers who have become unemployed. Evidence indicates that the variations in the profiles of MIS beneficiaries and those transitioning into unemployment after the pandemic outburst call for the introduction of a fully-fledged IWB. This should be properly linked with MIS to minimize the risks of a poverty trap, and encourage the take-up of regular employment. Rather than dismantling MIS support for the «employable» recipients, evidence suggests that reform should focus on making MIS compatible with work through the IWB schem
Layer Jamming for Variable Stiffness Shoes
No full textIn this work we presented the application of the layer jamming technology as variable stiffness mechanism for tech approach shoes. This scenario leads to the development of a novel kind of layer jamming system, with significant stiffness variation, yet minimized shape-locking effect. The system performances have been evaluated through subsequent experimental tests. This also allowed to better understand the behavior of shoes with different features. The results led to the identification of solutions with satisfactory performances with respect to target values and with the potential to be extended also to shoes with different requirements. The generality of the final considerations drawn for the examined application could lead to a novel way to exploit the layer jamming technology in different scenarios
Does wing shape of andromorph females of Calopteryx splendens (Harris, 1780) resemble that of males?
No full textFemale limited polymorphism consists in the coexistence of two or more female morphs in the same population and is widespread among odonates. Generally, one female morph, the andromorph, resembles males in colour or, sometimes, also in morphology and behaviour, while one or more other morphs, gynomorphs, differ from males. This phenomenon is probably promoted by advantages to females which arise from reduced sexual harassment. Andromorph females of Calopteryx splendens keep wing spots, like males (although these ornaments do not match exactly male wing spot colour), while gynomorphs have hyaline wings. Males and gynomorphs show a marked sexual dimorphism in wing shape, and this determines flight patterns which differ between sexes. If andromorphs mimic male wing spots to avoid harassment, they may also benefit from mimicking the male flight morphology, and consequently the male flight pattern. In this case wing shape of andromorph and gynomorph females would differ, as the wing shape of andromorphs resembles that of males. In this study we compared the wing morphology of males and of the two female morphs of C. splendens using geometric morphometrics. Our results revealed that andromorphs and gynomorphs of this species share the same wing shape, size, and static allometry, and this suggests that flight patterns should also be shared by the two morphs. Thus, females might avoid male harassment by mimicking exclusively male wing pigmentation (male mimicry hypothesis), or confound males through an uncommon appearance (learned mate recognition hypothesis)
Study on the effects of shoe cushioning on trail-running: perception, bench test and biomechanical approach
No full textThis work aimed to investigate the association between the perceived cushioning of a set of trail-running shoes with both their mechanical response to the impact test and the acceleration of lower limb segments while running indoors and outdoors. Earlier studies have typically focussed on the effect of road-running shoe cushioning, whereas very few have examined the perception of trail runners and outdoor trail-running conditions. Seven trail runners were trained to become reliable in evaluating the level of cushioning on a scale ranging from 0 to 100 and then asked to rate the cushioning of eight trail-running shoes while running. Shoe specimens were mechanically characterized through an impact test. In addition, the effect on running biomechanics was tested by wearing two accelerometers on the tibia and foot. The in-lab impact test revealed that the perceived cushioning was inversely associated with the force amplitude and directly associated with the impact duration. The running test showed that the median frequency of the tibial acceleration during the first 25% of the stance phase decreases with increasing cushioning during both indoor (p = 0.02, rs = −0.83) and outdoor conditions (p < 0.001, rs = −0.79). In conclusion, the perceived cushioning was quantitatively associated with the outcomes of impact and running tests
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