The Diffusion of New Institutions: Evidence from Renaissance Venice's Patent System

What factors affect the diffusion of new economic institutions? This paper examines this question exploiting the introduction of the first regularized patent system which appeared in the Venetian Republic in 1474. We begin by developing a model which links patenting activity of craft guilds with provisions in their statutes. The model predicts that guild statutes that are more effective at preventing outsider's entry and at mitigating price competition lead to less patenting. We test this prediction on a new dataset which combines detailed information on craft guilds and patents in the Venetian Republic during the Renaissance. We find a negative association between patenting activity and guild statutory norms which strongly restrict entry and price competition. We show that guilds which originated from medieval religious confraternities were more likely to regulate entry and competition, and that the effect on patenting is robust to instrumenting guild statutes with their quasi-exogenous religious origin. We also find that patenting was more widespread among guilds geographically distant from Venice, and among guilds in cities with lower political connection which we measure exploiting a new database on noble families and their marriages with members of the great council. Our analysis suggests that local economic and political conditions may have a substantial impact on the diffusion of new economic institutions

Estudio y comparativa de Salesforce frente a otras tecnologías

Hoy en día una de las tecnologías con mayor éxito y de las más demandadas son los CRM (Customer Relationship Management) de tipo Cloud. Este tipo de propuesta tecnológica dirigida tanto a empresas relativamente pequeñas como a grandes empresas internacionales, permite ofrecer servicios a través de internet. Con el sistema de “la nube” se aumenta el número de servicios basado en la red. Esto beneficia tanto a los proveedores que pueden ofrecer servicios rápidos y eficientes, como a los usuarios, que disfrutarán de servicios que pagarán según sus necesidades de consumo que podrán aumentar o disminuir en función de los recursos que en ese momento requieran. Por todo ello, otra ventaja importante para el usuario que se debe señalar es que la externalización de la infraestructura tecnológica le supone un ahorro económico y una flexibilidad de adaptación rápida a los recursos que necesite en cada momento. Se establecen de manera inmediata y fiable recursos de almacenamiento, ancho de banda, memoria, máquinas virtuales y capacidad de procesamiento para múltiples usuarios que podrán acceder desde cualquier dispositivo y además con mayor protección de ataques externos. El concepto de CRM más que una tecnología concreta es una manera de entender lo mejor posible al cliente para poder anticiparse a sus necesidades. Esto se consigue creando una serie de procesos automatizados que recogen y almacenan una gran cantidad de datos para su posterior análisis. En este trabajo se va a estudiar la plataforma multiusuario Salesforce, como ejemplo de tecnología Cloud. Partiendo de la experiencia adquirida por el alumno en el manejo de Salesforce durante las prácticas realizadas en una empresa privada, y comparando esta tecnología con otras utilizadas durante el Grado en Ingeniería Informática, se mostrarán las ventajas que supone utilizar la tecnología Cloud de Salesforce frente a otras de otro tipo. Para ello, a lo largo del trabajo se utilizará como referencia uno de los proyectos que se han desarrollado en Salesforce para que el lector comprenda de manera más clara, práctica y directa la potencia y las ventajas de la tecnología Cloud.At the present time the most successful technologies and the most popular are the CRM (Customer Relationship Management) Cloud type. This type of technological proposal aimed at both relatively small and large international businesses, can offer services through Internet. With the cloud system the number of network-based services increases. This benefits both the suppliers that can offer fast and efficient services to users, who will enjoy services will that pay according to their consumption needs that may increase or decrease depending on the resources required at that time. Therefore, another important user advantage is that we must note that the technology infrastructure outsourcing will saves money and flexibility fast to the resources you need at every moment adaptation. Immediately they established and reliable storage resources, bandwidth, memory, virtual machines and processing capacity for multiple users can access from any device and also greater protection from external attacks. The concept of CRM rather than a particular technology is a way to understand their best customers to anticipate their needs. This is accomplished by creating a series of automated processes that collect and store large amounts of data for later analysis. This paper will examine the multi Salesforce platform as an example of Cloud technology. Based on the experience gained by the student in managing Salesforce during the practices in a private company, and comparing this with other technology used for the Degree in Computer Engineering, the advantages of using Cloud technology will be displayed against Salesforce other otherwise. Throughout the work is used as a reference one of the projects that have been developed in Salesforce for the reader to understand more clearly, practical, direct power and the benefits of Cloud technology

Messi all’Indice: gli effetti della censura sull’industria editoriale

Nel XVI secolo, Venezia accolse la richiesta papale di non pubblicare i libri messi all’Indice. La censura finì per ridurre il numero delle pubblicazioni e l’attività creativa. Gli stessi problemi si ripropongono ora, al tempo delle fake news

Material constant sensitivity boundary integral equation for anisotropic solids

SUMMARY In this paper, the material constant sensitivity boundary integral equation is presented, and its numerical solution proposed, based on boundary element techniques. The formulation deals with plane problems with general rectilinear anisotropy. Expressions for the computation of sensitivities for displacements, tractions, strains and stresses are derived, both for boundary and interior points. The sensitivities can be computed with respect to the bulk material properties or to the properties of part of the domain (inclusions, coatings, etc.). To assess the accuracy of the proposed approach, the computed results are compared to analytical ones derived from exact solutions obtained by complex potential theory, when possible, or finite difference derivatives otherwise

Identification of DNA methyltransferases and demethylases in Solanum melongena L., and their transcription dynamics during fruit development and after salt and drought stresses

DNA methylation through the activity of cytosine-5-methyltransferases (C5-MTases) and DNA demethylases plays important roles in genome protection as well as in regulating gene expression during plant development and plant response to environmental stresses. In this study, we report on a genome-wide identification of six C5-MTases (SmelMET1, SmelCMT2, SmelCMT3a, SmelCMT3b, SmelDRM2, SmelDRM3) and five demethylases (SmelDemethylase_1, SmelDemethylase_2, SmelDemethylase_3, SmelDemethylase_4, SmelDemethylase_5) in eggplant. Gene structural characteristics, chromosomal localization and phylogenetic analyses are also described. The transcript profiling of both C5-MTases and demethylases was assessed at three stages of fruit development in three eggplant commercial F1 hybrids: i.e. 'Clara', 'Nite Lady' and 'Bella Roma', representative of the eggplant berry phenotypic variation. The trend of activation of C5-MTases and demethylase genes varied in function of the stage of fruit development and was genotype dependent. The transcription pattern of C5MTAses and demethylases was also assessed in leaves of the F1 hybrid 'Nite Lady' subjected to salt and drought stresses. A marked up-regulation and down-regulation of some C5-MTases and demethylases was detected, while others did not vary in their expression profile. Our results suggest a role for both C5-MTases and demethylases during fruit development, as well as in response to abiotic stresses in eggplant, and provide a starting framework for supporting future epigenetic studies in the species

Isolation and functional characterization of a cDNA coding a hydroxycinnamoyltransferase involved in phenylpropanoid biosynthesis in Cynara cardunculus L

BACKGROUND: Cynara cardunculus L. is an edible plant of pharmaceutical interest, in particular with respect to the polyphenolic content of its leaves. It includes three taxa: globe artichoke, cultivated cardoon, and wild cardoon. The dominating phenolics are the di-caffeoylquinic acids (such as cynarin), which are largely restricted to Cynara species, along with their precursor, chlorogenic acid (CGA). The scope of this study is to better understand CGA synthesis in this plant. RESULTS: A gene sequence encoding a hydroxycinnamoyltransferase (HCT) involved in the synthesis of CGA, was identified. Isolation of the gene sequence was achieved by using a PCR strategy with degenerated primers targeted to conserved regions of orthologous HCT sequences available. We have isolated a 717 bp cDNA which shares 84% aminoacid identity and 92% similarity with a tobacco gene responsible for the biosynthesis of CGA from p-coumaroyl-CoA and quinic acid. In silico studies revealed the globe artichoke HCT sequence clustering with one of the main acyltransferase groups (i.e. anthranilate N-hydroxycinnamoyl/benzoyltransferase). Heterologous expression of the full length HCT (GenBank accession DQ104740) cDNA in E. coli demonstrated that the recombinant enzyme efficiently synthesizes both chlorogenic acid and p-coumaroyl quinate from quinic acid and caffeoyl-CoA or p-coumaroyl-CoA, respectively, confirming its identity as a hydroxycinnamoyl-CoA: quinate HCT. Variable levels of HCT expression were shown among wild and cultivated forms of C. cardunculus subspecies. The level of expression was correlated with CGA content. CONCLUSION: The data support the predicted involvement of the Cynara cardunculus HCT in the biosynthesis of CGA before and/or after the hydroxylation step of hydroxycinnamoyl esters

Monitoring of gluten-free diet compliance in celiac patients by assessment of gliadin 33-mer equivalent epitopes in feces123

Background: Certain immunotoxic peptides from gluten are resistant to gastrointestinal digestion and can interact with celiac-patient factors to trigger an immunologic response. A gluten-free diet (GFD) is the only effective treatment for celiac disease (CD), and its compliance should be monitored to avoid cumulative damage. However, practical methods to monitor diet compliance and to detect the origin of an outbreak of celiac clinical symptoms are not available