1,721,032 research outputs found
The Evolutionary Dimension of Pandemic Management: An Italian Historical Case
No full textThe authors, considering accounting practice as a technology rather than a technique, attribute to accounting an interpretative paradigm focused on the variables of the theory of technology-acceptance, highlighting how this can generate strategic-responses. The case-study of the Naples plague in 1656 is studied at both synchronic and diachronic levels, analysing at documental level primary and secondary sources, in order to identify the breaking points of institutional social practice, as represented by the adverse reaction to the imposition of lazarettos accounting, which, due to urgent needs, was requested by law but was not implemented in practice. These conditions allowed the organisational dimension to prevail over the accounting one, although the latter was already widespread at the mercantile level. The main character of the rituals in burial activities related to the accounting of the dead appears (1656) to have transformed transiently from a numerical dimension into physical accounting (bones in mass graves)
Organising the Smart Future of Living and Mobility: A Welfare Paradox
No full textThe research aims to critically examine the renewed Italian regulations on fringe benefits for mixed-use company cars, which came into force in 2025, with a specific focus on the implications for social equity and the transition to electric mobility. The main objective is to highlight the potential disparities in treatment between electric, hybrid and combustion vehicles, as well as the existence of welfare paradoxes. In fact, the primary aim is to analyse the potential paradox of an incentive policy for sustainable mobility that, through the reduction of taxation on company electric vehicles, may inadvertently exacerbate social and economic inequalities. The research is based on a critical perspective of social functionalism, highlighting how the persistence of paradigms of unequal distribution of benefits can be legitimised by policies that incentivise logics of position and social status. The research adopts a mixed methodological approach, based on a field analysis managed by questionnaires and interviews (181 respondents). The authors offer policymakers insights into the dynamics that condition the electric transition, implemented through regulatory incentives, highlighting the risk of generating social frictions and welfare paradoxes.
The results of the analysis highlight an unequal treatment that considerably favours electric vehicles, potentially creating a double advantage for high-income individuals and organisations. This could lead to a regulatory imbalance that manipulates the situation in the automotive market, also hindering a fair requalification of company car fleets
Photosynthesis in Ranunculus asiaticus L.: The influence of the hybrid and the preparation procedure of tuberous roots
Full text linkRanunculus asiaticus L. is a quantitative long-day geophyte, grown in a cold greenhouse for cut flowers and potted plants. Flowering in ranunculus is a complex process, strongly steered by temperature and photoperiodism. Vernalization of rehydrated tuberous roots anticipate sprouting and leaf rosette formation and flowering. It is known that the time for flowering and the sensitivity to cold treatment, in terms of flowering anticipation, varies in numerous hybrids, while no information seems to be available on the influence of hybrids and on the vernalization on the photosynthetic process and primary metabolite profiling. We investigated the influence of two ranunculus hybrids, MDR and MBO, and two preparation procedures of tuberous roots, only rehydration (Control, C) and rehydration followed by vernalization (V), on the photosynthesis and photochemistry of plants grown in a climatic chamber, under a controlled environment. In addition, in MBO plants, in which the vernalization showed the main effects, carbohydrate, amino acid and protein levels were also investigated. In control plants, the response of leaf photosynthesis, to increasing white light, revealed higher photosynthetic activity in MDR than in MBO. The quantum yield of PSII (φPSII), electron transport rate (ETR) and non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) did not differ between the two hybrids. The maximal photochemical efficiency (Fv/Fm) was higher in MBO than in MDR and showed a decrease in both hybrids after vernalization. The preparation treatment of propagation material affected the light response of photosynthesis in the two hybrids differently, which increased in plants from vernalized tuberous roots, compared to those from only rehydrated in MBO and decreased in MDR, in accordance to the effects of vernalization observed in leaf photosynthetic pigments. In MBO vernalized tuberous roots, starch was rapidly degraded, and the carbon skeletons used to synthesize amino acids. Control plants of MBO, developed more leaves than those of MDR and a consequent larger plant leaf area. Compared to only rehydration, vernalization of rehydrated tuberous roots increased the plant leaf area in both the hybrids. Compared to the control, vernalized tuberous roots of MBO showed higher concentrations of sucrose and free amino acids, which could act as a long-distance signal promoting floral transition in young leaf primordia
Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
Full text linkThe present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
Variations on the Author
Full text link“Variations on the Author” discusses two of Eduardo Coutinho’s recent films (Um Dia na Vida, from 2010, and Últimas Conversas, posthumously released in 2015) and their contribution to the general question of documentary authorship. The director’s filmography is characterized by a consistent yet self-effacing form of authorial self-inscription: Coutinho often features as an interviewer that rather than express opinions propels discourses; an interviewer that is good at listening. This mode of self-inscription characterizes him as an author who is not expressive but who is nonetheless markedly present on the screen. In Um Dia na Vida, however, Coutinho is completely absent form the image, while Últimas Conversas, on the contrary, includes a confessional prologue that moves the director from the margins to the center of his films. This article examines the ways in which these works stand out in the filmography of a director who offers new insights into the notion of cinematic authorship
Light spectral composition affects metabolic response and flowering in non-vernalized Ranunculus asiaticus L
No full textWe investigated the influence of photoperiodic light spectrum, inducing different phytochrome photoequilibria (PPE) at plant level, on photosynthesis, metabolic profiling, plant growth and flowering of Ranunculus asiaticus L. hybrids, MBO and MDR with different flowering earliness, grown in glasshouse from rehydrated dry tuberous roots. Plants were exposed to three photoperiodic treatments (day extension to 14 h), compared to natural day length (NL): white fluorescent light (PPE 0.84), and LEDs Red:Far Red light at 3:1 ratio (PPE 0.84) and 1:3 ratio (PPE 0.63). We discuss the results also compared to data on plants from rehydrated and vernalized roots previously reported in Modarelli et al., 2000a.
Leaf gas exchanges and quantum yield of PSII electron transport were higher in MDR than in MBO, whereas non-photochemical quenching showed the opposite behaviour. In MDR, R:FR 3:1 light was the most effective in promoting stomatal conductance, while it reduced photochemistry and increased heat dissipation compared to other treatments. Under NL, leaf area was greater in MBO while flowering earliness and flower stems were similar in the hybrids. Photoperiodic treatments did not influence the plant growth while anticipated flowering in both the hybrids.
In both the hybrids, lighting did not change the content of chlorophylls, carotenoids, glucose and sucrose. The greater number and expansion of leaves in MBO, except under R:FR 3:1, was accompanied by a lower photosynthetic capacity per leaf area. Conversely, in MDR, with lower leaf number, area and DW, an interesting increase of N-containing metabolites (i.e. chlorophylls and amino acids) occurred, thus exerting a positive effect on photosynthetic rate
Appropriate Similarity Measures for Author Cocitation Analysis
Full text linkWe provide a number of new insights into the methodological discussion about author cocitation analysis. We first argue that the use of the Pearson correlation for measuring the similarity between authors’ cocitation profiles is not very satisfactory. We then discuss what kind of similarity measures may be used as an alternative to the Pearson correlation. We consider three similarity measures in particular. One is the well-known cosine. The other two similarity measures have not been used before in the bibliometric literature. Finally, we show by means of an example that our findings have a high practical relevance.information science;Pearson correlation;cosine;similarity measure;author cocitation analysis
Photosynthesis in Ranunculus asiaticus L.: The Influence of the Hybrid and the Preparation Procedure of Tuberous Roots
Full text linkRanunculus asiaticus L. is a quantitative long-day geophyte, grown in a cold greenhouse for cut flowers and potted plants. Flowering in ranunculus is a complex process, strongly steered by temperature and photoperiodism. Vernalization of rehydrated tuberous roots anticipate sprouting and leaf rosette formation and flowering. It is known that the time for flowering and the sensitivity to cold treatment, in terms of flowering anticipation, varies in numerous hybrids, while no information seems to be available on the influence of hybrids and on the vernalization on the photosynthetic process and primary metabolite profiling. We investigated the influence of two ranunculus hybrids, MDR and MBO, and two preparation procedures of tuberous roots, only rehydration (Control, C) and rehydration followed by vernalization (V), on the photosynthesis and photochemistry of plants grown in a climatic chamber, under a controlled environment. In addition, in MBO plants, in which the vernalization showed the main effects, carbohydrate, amino acid and protein levels were also investigated. In control plants, the response of leaf photosynthesis, to increasing white light, revealed higher photosynthetic activity in MDR than in MBO. The quantum yield of PSII (phi(PSII)), electron transport rate (ETR) and non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) did not differ between the two hybrids. The maximal photochemical efficiency (Fv/Fm) was higher in MBO than in MDR and showed a decrease in both hybrids after vernalization. The preparation treatment of propagation material affected the light response of photosynthesis in the two hybrids differently, which increased in plants from vernalized tuberous roots, compared to those from only rehydrated in MBO and decreased in MDR, in accordance to the effects of vernalization observed in leaf photosynthetic pigments. In MBO vernalized tuberous roots, starch was rapidly degraded, and the carbon skeletons used to synthesize amino acids. Control plants of MBO, developed more leaves than those of MDR and a consequent larger plant leaf area. Compared to only rehydration, vernalization of rehydrated tuberous roots increased the plant leaf area in both the hybrids. Compared to the control, vernalized tuberous roots of MBO showed higher concentrations of sucrose and free amino acids, which could act as a long-distance signal promoting floral transition in young leaf primordia
High light intensity from blue-red LEDs enhance photosynthetic performance, plant growth, and optical properties of red lettuce in controlled environment
Full text linkPlant factories using artificial light to produce vegetables have high energy costs due to the high demand for electricity for lighting. Compared to conventional light sources, light-emitting diodes (LEDs) offer the possibility of tailoring the light spectrum and regulating light intensity and are more energy-efficient in terms of energy conversion regardless of the levels of lighting intensity. Optimal light intensity and daily light integral (DLI) requirements are key factors for plant growth; however, their values vary among species and varieties. Our experiment aimed to identify the best light intensity to produce lettuce plants in controlled environment. Lettuce plants of the type Batavia cv ‘Blackhawk’ were grown in plastic pots filled with perlite and peat (20:80 v/v) for 33 days in a growth chamber under blue (B, 20%) and red (R, 80%) LED light at a photosynthetic flux density of 130 µmol m−2 s−1 (BR 130, DLI 7.49 mol m−2 d−1), 259 µmol m−2 s−1 (BR 259, DLI 14.92 mol m−2 d−1), and 389 µmol m−2 s−1 (BR 389, DLI 22.41 mol m−2 d−1). Our results showed that increasing light intensity and DLI promotes net photosynthesis, sustains the electron transport rate (ETR), and stimulates the synthesis of anthocyanins and carotenoids, with positive results for plant photoprotection. Furthermore, the decreases in vegetation indexes (photochemical reflectance index (PRI), greenness, and modified chlorophyll absorption in reflectance index (MCARI1)) also indicate changes in photosynthetic pigment content in response to plant acclimation to different DLIs. Among the three light intensities, 389 µmol m−2 s−1 (DLI 22.41 mol m−2 d−1) gave the best results for growing Batavia red lettuce cv ‘Blackhawk’, since it enhances both production and qualitative traits. These results highlight the importance of a proper light intensity to promote plant growth and qualitative traits and to reach high production targets. Hence, preliminary screening of plant performance under different light treatments is recommended to optimise plant response to artificial lighting
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