640 research outputs found
A Literature Review on the Adoption of Precision Agriculture Technologies : a Step-by-Step Process?
No full textA review of the recent literature on determinants and factors that influence intention to adopt and adoption of Precision Agriculture technologies was performed. The analysis covers both ex-ante and ex-post approaches to behavior modeling. Results suggest that some constructs are relevant both ex-ante and ex-post, while others are presented differently in the two situations. A discussion of adoption as a process, and, the need to include the consideration of this process in the analysis of new technologies is also provided
Il profilo filosofico e culturale di un metafisico neoclassico. A proposito di "Il filosofo e la fede. Il cristianesimo ‘moderno’ di Gustavo Bontadini" di Leonardo Messinese
No full textThis paper examines Leonardo Messinese’s volume, Il filosofo e la fede. Il cristianesimo ‘moderno’ di Gustavo Bon-tadini. From the book emerges a philosophical portrait of the Milanese thinker useful to understand the fun-damental points of his theoretical proposal: neoclassical metaphysics, brought out by the Author in relation to the dispute with Emanuele Severino. Some lesser-known cultural, civil and political aspects of Bontadini’s intellectual biography are also exposed. The intent of the volume is to spread a greater knowledge of the fig-ure of Bontadini within Italian philosophical culture, particularly that of Catholic inspiration
Gestione dell’energia radiante nelle piante da frutto: utilizzazione, foto-protezione e foto-danno. Quali implicazioni per la produttività?
No full textThe energetic basis of orchard productivity lies in the interaction between the tree and sunlight. The light intercepted by a plant is linearly related to the amount of dry matter it produces. This concept drew the evolution of the new, intensive orchard planting systems, although this dependence seems to be more subordinate to planting system rather than light intensity. At whole plant level not always the increase of irradiance determines productivity improvement. One of the reasons can be the plant intrinsic un-efficiency in using energy. Generally in full light only the 5–10% of the total incoming photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) is allocated to net photosynthesis. Therefore preserving or improving this efficiency becomes pivotal for scientist and fruit growers. Net photosynthesis increases with light until the saturation point and additional PPFD doesn’t improve carboxylation. In several parts of the world, under clear sky the PPFD reaches commonly 2000 μmol photons m-2 s-1 or above, and about 50% of the incoming light is enough for reaching the saturating point in most plant species. On the other hand, about half of the available light may be in excess. Even tough a conspicuous energy amount is reflected or transmitted, plants can not avoid to absorb photons in excess. The chlorophyll over-excitation promotes the reactive oxygen species (ROS) production increasing the photoinhibition (photo-damage) risks. The dangerous consequences of photoinhibition forced plants to evolve a complex and multilevel machine able to dissipate the energy excess quenching heat (Non Photochemical Quenching), moving electrons (water-water cycle, cyclic transport around PSI, glutathione-ascorbate cycle and photorespiration) and scavenging the generated ROS. The price plants must pay for this equipment is the use of CO2 and reducing power with a consequent decrease of the photosynthetic efficiency, both because some photons are not used for carboxylation and an effective CO2 and reducing power loss occurs. The wide photo-protective apparatus, although is not able to cope with the excessive incoming energy, therefore photo-damage occurs. Each event increasing the photon pressure and/or decreasing the efficiency of the described photo-protective mechanisms (i.e. thermal stress, water and nutritional deficiency) can emphasize the photoinhibition. Likely in nature a small amount of not damaged photo-systems is found because of the effective, efficient and energy consuming recovery system. Since the damaged PSII is quickly repaired with energy expense, it would be interesting to investigate how much PSII recovery costs to plant productivity.
This review purposes to improve the knowledge about the several strategies accomplished for managing the incoming energy and the light excess implication on photo-damage in plants. Furthermore the chlorophyll fluorescence measure technique is described. This is the most useful method, particularly because it can be used in vivo as well and it is possible to quantify and discriminate the contribution of pathways in which the incoming photon pressure is engaged. Finally some cases of light excess linked with abiotic stresses and particular physiological condition on fruit species are reported
Shading decreases the growth rate of young apple fruit by reducing their phloem import
No full textThis study investigates the effects of shading on the biophysical mechanisms of apple (Malus Domestica Bork.) fruit growth by assessing how vascular and transpiration flows to/from the fruit are affected by shading. At 30 days after full bloom, a 90% neutral shading net was applied to four trees of the cv. Gala, for seven days, while four more trees, chemically thinned, were used as control. Fruit vascular and transpiration flows were assessed from two days before, to the end of shading. The daily patterns of fruit relative growth rate (RGR) and of phloem, xylem and transpiration flows were determined by continuous monitoring of fruit diameter by automatic fruit gauges. Before shading application, no differences between the two groups of trees selected were found for any of the parameters measured. Despite shading induced an immediate drop in canopy photosynthesis, both fruit daily RGR and phloem flow decreased gradually, until reaching 20% of the before treatment values after 7 days of shading. Differences in RGR and phloem flow appeared especially during the afternoon and night, i.e. post carbon assimilation by the tree, and fruit growth rates were higher in control trees. In the same period no, or very small differences were found between treatments for transpiration rates, while xylem flow was affected later than phloem and only at specific times during the day. These results suggest that the decrease in fruit growth rate under shading should be attributed to the reduction of canopy photosynthesis, rather than to a direct effect of shading on fruit sink strength
Short-period changes in weather conditions affect xylem, but not phloem flows to young kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa) berries
No full textWeather conditions are known to affect many physiological parameters like canopy gas exchanges, tree
water relations and fruit growth. However, their effects may be different depending on plant species
and developmental stage. This study investigates the effects of sudden weather worsening on the daily
dynamics of kiwifruit berry growth, at different times during the season. Phloem, xylem and transpiration
flows to/from the berry were continuously monitored for several days at about 5, 9, 11 and 15 weeks after
full bloom (WAFB), on two consecutive years, while air temperature, relative humidity, solar radiation and
rain were simultaneously recorded. From these data vapour pressure deficit (VPD) was also calculated.
For each period considered, the daily amounts and the daily patterns of kiwifruit berry relative growth
rate (RGR) and vascular flows were compared between two subsequent days having high (HVPD) and
low (LVPD) mean VPDs, respectively. During all periods, daily water exchanges were linearly related to
VPD although these relationships showed decreasing slopes during the season. At 5 and 9 WAFB daily
and hourly rates of xylem and transpiration flows were highly reduced by LVPD conditions, while phloem
flow was not affected by such changes during the whole season. Also, LVPD conditions affected the typical
daily fluctuations in the berry RGR by reducing its morning shrinkage and slowing down its afternoon
growth rates. This study shows how in the early stages of kiwifruit berry growth, weather worsening
highly reduces the berry water exchanges by xylem and transpiration, but does not affect its phloem
imports in the short-period
AI-aesthetics and the artificial author
No full textConsider this scenario: you discover that an artwork you greatly admire, or a captivating novel that deeply moved you, is in fact the product of artificial intelligence, not a human’s work. Would your aesthetic judgment shift? Would you perceive the work differently? If so, why? The advent of artificial intelligence (AI) in the realm of art has sparked numerous philosophical questions related to the authorship and artistic intent behind AI-generated works. This paper explores the debate between viewing AI as a tool employed by human artists and perceiving AI as a new form of artistic expression with minimal human involvement. While we often seek a human mind behind certain artworks, we may still appreciate and engage with works that lack this element but have aesthetic value nonetheless. The paper also considers the traditional concept of “implied author”, suggesting that readers or artwork viewers might construct an authorial presence from the work itself, regardless of its actual origin. It will be finally suggested how AI-generated art might change our perceptions of human authorship itself
A SICILIAN AUTHOR OF ACCOUNTING: EMANUELE PISANI AND HIS "STATHMOGRAPHY"
No full textThe paper intends to present the accounting method 'invented' by Emanuele Pisani,
the most relevant Sicilian author of the second half of the XIX century. His method was called "Stathmography" and it can be considered the "middle point" between the
"personalistic" approach to accounts - that dominated the scene with Cerboni's work and the "materialistic" approach - that was introduced by Crippa and continued by Besta.
Although its premises originated with previous authors, his idea was founded upon a new theoretical basis that was the first step to the greater development of the following accounting thought. Considering the importance of the context. A cross-fertilisation will be made within the contents of accounting and the context in which it operated, so a "cross-disciplinary" perspective will be adopted. In pursuing this aim, this paper seeks to explain how this method worked, what kind of implications it had and how the context
influenced its ideas. The author will also be considered in his local mainstream of
thought: the "Scuola Palermitana" from past times (Flori, 1636) up until contemporary
and present day developments
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