Pigment analysis by Raman microscopy and portable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF) of thirteenth to fourteenth century illuminations and cuttings from Bologna

Non-destructive pigment analysis by Raman microscopy (RM) and portable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF) has been carried out on some Bolognese illuminations and cuttings chosen to represent the beginnings, evolution and height of Bolognese illuminated manuscript production. Dating to the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries and held in a private collection, the study provides evidence for the pigments generally used in this period. The results, which are compared with those obtained for other north Italian artwork, show the developments in usage of artistic materials and technique. Also addressed in this study is an examination of the respective roles of RM and pXRF analysis in this area of technical art history

La distribuzione del reddito e della ricchezza nelle regioni italiane

Information from the Survey of Italian Household Income and Wealth (SHIW) is not normally used as a basis for regional estimates on account of the small sample size. This paper presents an experimental estimation of regional aggregates for the period 1995-2000, obtained by combining several surveys. The variability of estimates is reduced not only by means of a wider sample but also through estimators that limit the impact of extreme values and merge survey data with external sources. The results confirm the traditional scenario: northern and central regions show greater average values for both income and wealth than their southern counterparts. Concentration of the two variables appears greater in the South, less in the North and even less in the Centre: therefore if measured with the Sen welfare index, which simultaneously considers average equivalent income and a distributional index, the gap between southern regions and northern and central ones grows even larger. The difference in the social and demographic composition of the population explains a significant share of the disparity in mean incomes between regions and helps to shed light on inequality within regions as well; the effects vary according to the region and the variable. However, these features appear to influence nation-wide inequality only to a moderate degree.Income, Wealth, Inequality

Forecasting Industrial Production in the Euro Area

The creation of the Euro area has increased the importance of obtaining timely information about short-term changes in the area's real activity. In this paper we propose a number of alternative short-term forecasting models, ranging from simple ARIMA models to more complex cointegrated VAR and conditional models, to forecast the index of industrial production in the euro area. A conditional error-correction model in which the aggregate index of industrial production for the area is explained by the US industrial production index and the business confidence index from the European Commission harmonised survey on manufacturing firms achieves the best score in terms of forecasting capacity.

Genetic diversity of castanea sativa Mill. accessions from the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines and Emilia Romagna region (italy)

This work investigated the genetic diversity of 134 Castanea sativa Mill. accessions present in the Italian region of Emilia-Romagna. Samples were taken from three collection fields (Granaglione, Zocca and Paloneta) in the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines. The accessions were analyzed by using 16 microsatellite markers (SSR). Genetic distances among accessions, calculated through the DICE coefficient, were used to construct an UPGMA cluster analysis. One major genotype (named "Marroni") was identified across the three investigated collection fields; this variety corresponds to a sweet chestnut cultivar that has been propagated and widely diffused in the Emilia-Romagna region. Other genotypes were represented by different varieties of Italian chestnuts. The results of this study will be used to define and share guidelines for the characterization and varietal certification of the chestnut varieties in the Emilia-Romagna region

A cytological study of four Sicilian Serapias (Orchidaceae)

Cytological analysis of four Serapias L. (Orchidaceae), of which two are Sicilian endemics, is carried out. In particular, the endemic S. intermedia subsp. hyblaea shows a triploid chromosome complement with 2n = 3x = 54, representing natural nothotaxa arising from a hybridization process between supposed parental S. vomeracea (2n = 2x = 36) and Serapias lingua (2n = 4x = 72). For each of them the C-heterochromatin distribution, using Giemsa C-banding and karyotypes, was examined. The other endemic taxon (S. orientalis subsp. siciliensis) is characterized by a diploid chromosome number 2n = 2x = 36, of which the C-heterochromatin distribution is examined as well. The taxonomical relationships among these taxa are discussed in relation to the literature data

Statistical Parameters of Steel Rebars of Reinforced Concrete Existing Structures

Historical and cognitive investigations supported by in-situ and/or laboratory tests are needed for a robust reliability assessment of existing structures. Indeed, an adequate knowledge of material properties and their statistical description is the basis for carrying out accurate reliability analyses and verifications on the investigated structures. In this paper, a procedure for the definition of pdfs of mechanical parameters of steel rebars is proposed based on secondary experimental test data. This information is very helpful for the reliability assessment of existing r.c. buildings, where estimation of statistical parameters of mechanical properties of steel reinforcement is very difficult. In fact. It must be highlighted on the one hand that direct information about the examined structure are commonly not sufficient, on the other hand that the number of rebar samples extracted from the structure, if available, is so limited that it does not allow a complete statistical analysis. The first step has been the collection of experimental acceptance tests carried out by Department of Civil and Industrial Engineering of University of Pisa on steel rebars of reinforced concrete (r.c.) structures during the 1960s. The yield strength and the tensile strength are extrapolated for each sample defining a significant database of experimental test results for existing r.c. structures. Then, probability distribution models for the mechanical properties of steel reinforcement have been defined as already done by the authors for concrete strength. A cluster analysis has been carried out based on the Gaussian Mixture Model applying the Expectation-Maximization algorithm to identify homogeneous material classes and their associated pdfs of material mechanical parameters. The main advantage of proposed procedure consists in its “blindness”, In fact, not requiring subjective information like pre-classification of data, the methodology is not sensitive to alterations caused by engineering judgement or by inexact identification of declared strength class of the tested samples, due for example to downgraded materials

Labour-Market Reforms and the Beveridge Curve. Some Macro Evidence for Italy

A matching theory approach is utilised to assess the impact on the Italian labour market of the 1997 legge Treu, which considerably eased the regulation of temporary work and favoured its growth in Italy. We re-parameterise the matching function as a Beveridge Curve and estimate it as a production frontier, finding huge differences in matching efficiency between the South and the rest of the country. The legge Treu appears to have improved matching efficiency in the North of the country, particularly for skilled workers, but also to have strengthened competition among skilled and unskilled workers, especially in the South.temporary contracts, matching efficiency, regional disparities