1,693 research outputs found
Exploring genetic diversity in an Italian horse native breed to develop strategies for preservation and management
No full textGenetic diversity is a key factor for both adaptation and response to selection.
The loss of genetic diversity causes a decrease in individual fitness, and it has a
dramatically negative effect on population lifespan in the long term. This study
aimed at exploring the genetic diversity at pedigree level of the Bardigiano horse
breed, which is a native breed from Italy shaped for living in rural areas. In 1977,
the Bardigiano studbook was founded to preserve the breed and for improving
its use for riding and draft purposes. Pedigree data contained 9,469 horses, of
which 3,416 were alive. Demographic and genetic parameters were estimated on
subpopulations to evaluate potential genetic diversity differences among breeding
and nonbreeding animals, and animals showing different breeding values (EBVs)
for an index combining 18 conformation traits. Throughout the studied period,
inbreeding steadily increased, reaching in the last birth year cohort a mean value
equal to 0.10. The rate of inbreeding per generation, assuming a mean generation
interval of 8.74 years, was equal to 1.64%. Moreover, significant differences on
both average relatedness and inbreeding among horses with high and low EBVs
were shown. Our study unravelled the state of genetic diversity in the Bardigiano
breed, highlighting that breeding strategies for optimizing the contribution of
breeding animals in the coming generations are needed to ensure long‐term survival
of the Bardigiano horse breed
Genetic parameters estimation in an Italian horse native breed to support the conversion from agricultural uses to riding purposes
No full textHorses are nowadays mainly used for sport and leisure purposes, and several local breeds, traditionally used in agriculture, are exposed to the risk of extinction. The long-term survival of local horse breeds depends on strategies to both monitor their genetic diversity and to find their sustainable role in the equine market. Thus, several local horse breeds need to adapt their breeding objective to allow a modernization process. The Bardigiano is an example of such horse breeds; we, therefore, studied the existing evaluation protocol from a genetic standpoint to assess the protocol's suitability to convert the Bardigiano from an agricultural to a riding horse. To this end, we estimated genetic parameters for four conformation measurements, ten grading traits and 23 linear traits. For conformation measurements, the heritabilities ranged from 0.31 for cannon bone circumference to 0.63 for height at withers. For conformation and attitude grading traits, the highest heritability (0.34) was estimated for development and the lowest (0.09) for gaits. The heritabilities for linear traits ranged from 0.05 for the leg straightness to 0.32 for the coat colour. Genetic correlations between linear traits and corresponding grading traits varied considerably, ranging from −0.42 to 0.98. This study showed that the current evaluation protocol in the Bardigiano horse is appropriate for genetic evaluation. Genetic parameters estimation can, in turn, be used to develop novel breeding values to help this conversion. Our study paves the way to optimize the Bardigiano horse breeding programme, and it may help several other local horse breeds experiencing similar issues
EXPLORE GENETIC DIVERSITY AT PEDIGREE LEVEL IN AN ITALIAN NATIVE MOUNTAIN HORSE BREED TO DEVELOP STRATEGIES FOR BREED PRESERVATION AND MANAGEMENT
No full textGenetic diversity is a key factor for both adaptation and response to selection. The loss of genetic diversity not only causes a decrease in individual fitness, but it also has a dramatic negative effect on the population survivability in the long term. Bottlenecks, limited introgression and limited number of individuals that build the population can radically affect the rate of genetic diversity. This study aimed to explore the genetic diversity at pedigree level of the Bardigiano horse breed, which is a native breed from the Province of Parma, shaped for living in the mountain areas. The Bardigiano has excellent resilience, being well adapted to roughage diet, harsh climate and pasture conditions. In the 1977 the Bardigiano studbook was founded with the goal of improving the use of the Bardigiano for riding and draft purposes. Pedigree data contained 9,469 horses (3,416 alive) which were used to estimate population parameters using the software Endog 4.8. The completeness of pedigree information was investigated by using the complete generation equivalent (CGE) which was equal to 4.0 when considering all the animals in the pedigree and 5.2 when analysing only alive horses. Eight ancestors explained 50% of the genetic variability observed in the Bardigiano population, and the most influent one had an inbreeding coefficient of 0.25. The average inbreeding coefficient in the living population was 0.08. When considering only the last generation, the coefficient rose to 0.102. The effective population size (Ne) of the current population was 2,535. By contrast, when Ne was calculated including only animals that produced offspring, it decreased considerably to more than three times less than previously calculated. The Bardigiano still shows the pool of genetic diversity necessary to respond to selective pressures in the coming years. However, due to the observed increase in the inbreeding and the reduction of Ne when considering only breeding animals, we believe that breeding strategies to monitor genetic diversity are required. We thus suggest the use of Optimal Contribution Selection to control the rate of inbreeding while allowing response to selection
TUTELA DEL LAVORO E LIBERTA' D'IMPRESA NEI PROCESSI DI ESTERNALIZZAZIONE
No full textL’elaborato analizza le conseguenze lavoristiche della successione fra imprenditori, muovendo da una ricognizione delle varie tipologie di esternalizzazione con le relative esigenze e principali criticità.
L’indagine si concentra in primo luogo sul trasferimento d’azienda, esaminando la normativa e la giurisprudenza europee per passare poi alla disciplina di diritto interno, alle procedure sindacali e a uno specifico focus sul trasferimento delle aziende in crisi.
Successivamente l’autore si sofferma sull’appalto, prendendone in particolare considerazione gli indici di genuinità, i criteri di distinzione dalla somministrazione illecita di manodopera e la tutela delle maestranze in caso di avvicendamento fra imprese.
Da ultimo, la ricerca approfondisce le c.d. “clausole sociali”, sia di prima che di seconda generazione, valutandone la compatibilità con il diritto eurounitario e con la costituzione nonché riflettendo sui possibili rimedi in caso di loro violazione.The author analyzes the labour consequences of the succession between entrepreneurs, starting from a recognition of the various types of outsourcing with the related needs and main critical issues.
The survey focuses primarily on the transfer of businesses, examining European legislation and case-law and then moving on to internal legislation, trade union procedures and a specific focus on the transfer of companies in crisis.
The author then dwells on the contract, taking into account in particular the indications of authenticity, the criteria of distinction from the illicit administration of labour and the protection of workers in the event of turnover between companies.
Finally, the research deepens the "social clauses", both first and second generation, assessing their compatibility with European law and with the constitution and reflecting on possible remedies in case of their violation
Ultra Low Carbon Vehicles: New Parameters for Automotive Design
No full textAs the influence of vehicle emissions on our environment has become better understood, the UK government has recently placed urgent emphasis on the implementation of low carbon
technologies in the automotive industry through: the UK Low Carbon Industrial Strategy. The overall objective is to offer big incentives to consumers and support for the development of infrastructure and engineering solutions. This scheme however does not consider how the development of functional and experiential user value might drive consumer demand, contributing to the adoption of low carbon vehicles (LCVs) in the mass market.
With the emergence of the North East of England as the UK’s first specialised region for the development of ultra-low carbon vehicles (ULCVs), ONE North East, as a development agency for the region's economic and business development, and Northumbria University Ideas-lab have supported a project to facilitate innovation through the collaboration of technology, research and development (R&D) and business. The High Value Low Carbon (HVLC) project aims to envisage
new user value made possible by the integration of low carbon vehicle platforms with new process and network technologies. The HVLC consortium represents vehicle manufacturers and their suppliers as well as technology based companies and through an ongoing process of design concept generation the project offers a hub for innovation led enterprise.
Whilst new technological developments in areas such as power generation, nano materials, hydrogen fuel cells, printed electronics and networked communications will all impact on future automotive design, the mass adoption of low carbon technologies represents a paradigm shift for the motorist. This paper aims to describe how the mapping of new parameters will lead to new transport scenarios that will create the space for new collaborative research on user experiences supported by innovative technologies and related services
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Matteo Maria Boiardo (1441-1494)
No full textMatteo Maria Boiardo – contemporary of Sir Thomas Malory and forerunner of Shakespeare, Spenser, Milton, Cervantes, Tolkien, and C.S. Lewis – is best known as the author of the Orlando Innamorato [Orlando in Love], a poem in ottava rima organically merging Carolingian epic and Arthurian romance. He was also a lyric and pastoral poet, playwright, and translator of classical texts into the Italian vernacular. Matteo was active in Italy during the years of 1463 throughout 1494, the year of his death
Uno sguardo all'Est. Lavoro e diritti fondamentali in Russia e negli altri Paesi della Comunità di Stati indipendenti
No full textNel contributo l'autore, dopo aver esaminato i diritti fondamentali del lavoro presenti nelle Costituzioni dei Paesi della Comunità di Stati indipendenti, si sofferma sul diritto del lavoro russo. La trattazione, a carattere diacronico, abbraccia i rami principali del diritto del lavoro: il rapporto individuale, le relazioni collettive, il mercato del lavoro. L'autore rileva una sorprendente continuità nelle linee essenziali del diritto del lavoro russo, pur nel susseguirsi di sistemi socioeconomici completamente diversi. Egli conclude che il diritto del lavoro russo appartiene saldamente alla matrice europea della materia.The contribution of the author starts by examining fundamental labour rights recognised by the Constitutions of the Countries of the Community of Independent States. Then the author focuses upon Russian Labour Law, going through the history of the main branches of the discipline: the individual relationship, industrial relations, the labour market. The article finds a surprising continuity in the essential lines of Russian Labour Law, in spite of the completely different socio-economic systems that were experimented in Russia during the twentieth century. The author concludes that Russian Labour Law clearly belongs to the European matrix of the discipline
Corpo, spazio, architettura. Fenomenologia dell’esperienza spaziale Matteo Vegetti, Fabrizia Bandi (eds.), Editrice Morcelliana, Brescia 2024
No full textThe author reviews "Corpo, spazio, architettura: Fenomenologia dell’esperienza spaziale," edited by Matteo Vegetti and Fabrizia Bandi. The book examines the philosophical underpinnings of spatial experience through a phenomenological lens, engaging with both traditional and contemporary notions of how space, body, and architecture interconnect. The author highlights the text\u27s exploration of how architects and designers might integrate phenomenological insights into their work, transforming space from mere physical dimensions into lived, experienced reality. The review appreciates the book’s thematic organization, which starts with foundational theories from Merleau-Ponty and expands through discussions on virtual spaces and the future of architecture in the digital age. Through this anthology, readers gain a comprehensive view of the architectural implications of phenomenological thought, making it a critical resource for anyone involved in the conceptualization and design of space
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