“Simultaneous and integrated neutron-based techniques for material analysis of a metallic ancient flute“

A metallic 19th century flute was studied by means of integrated and simultaneous neutron-based techniques: neutron diffraction, neutron radiative capture analysis and neutron radiography. This experiment follows benchmark measurements devoted to assessing the effectiveness of a multitask beamline concept for neutron-based investigation on materials. The aim of this study is to show the potential application of the approach using multiple and integrated neutron-based techniques for musical instruments. Such samples, in the broad scenario of cultural heritage, represent an exciting research field. They may represent an interesting link between different disciplines such as nuclear physics, metallurgy and acoustics

The reform of local public utilities in Italy

The Italian system of local public utilities has recently undergone an important reform process. The first round of reforms, introduced in the 1990s, represented a remarkable change in the social welfare function with regard to the management of local public utilities. The legislation was specifically designed to cut costs and reduce deficits. A second round of reforms, required by European directives, started around the mid-1990s. Several laws were passed introducing important innovations and regulating specific sectors: public transport; electricity; and gas. Article 35 of the 2002 Financial Law was the final step in a comprehensive reform of the whole local public utility sector. The main innovations of the Financial Law concerns liberalization. Article 35 states that the general rule for awarding service provision contracts is competitive tendering; the rationale is obviously that of competition for the market. The general rule as expressed by Article 35 is nevertheless limited during the transition period. In the long run, competitive tendering will become the normal way of awarding contracts for local public utility provision. Even if there are doubts that full competition will be introduced into the sector, liberalization does appear to be having an effect, forcing many local public utilities to become more efficient. The changes introduced have brought about a better and a more efficient system with a greater number of large size enterprises and on the average a more active management. In the future, the liberalization process may come to a standstill due to an insufficient number of competitors. Strong public administrations are therefore needed to prevent opportunistic behaviour by private firms

THE PROVISION OF LOCAL PUBLIC SERVICES THROUGH MIXED ENTERPRISES: THE ITALIAN CASE

The rules regulating the creation of mixed enterprises companies (public-private companies) for the provision of local public services have been subjected, in Italy, to a rather complex evolution over time. The new rules introduced allow the creation of a mixed private public enterprise, with either public or private majority; in any case the private shareholder must be selected through a public tender procedure. The data seems to show that mixed enterprises have been used by municipalities as a tool that allows the exploitation of economies of scale and of scope, without necessarily losing control of the leadership and direction of the local utility. Better flexibility of mixed enterprises is also shown by the proportion of mixed enterprises acting outside the territory which is higher than the proportion of public enterprises similarly engaged. Moreover the presence of multi-service units is proportionally higher in mixed enterprises

DNS di flussi turbolenti reagenti

Como (italia

The provision of local public services through mixed enterprises : the Italian case

The rules regulating the creation of mixed enterprises companies (public-private companies) for the provision of local public services have been subjected, in Italy, to a rather complex evolution over time. The new rules introduced allow the creation of a mixed private public enterprise, with either public or private majority; in any case the private shareholder must be selected through a public tender procedure. The data seems to show that mixed enterprises have been used by municipalities as a tool that allows the exploitation of economies of scale and of scope, without necessarily losing control of the leadership and direction of the local utility. Better flexibility of mixed enterprises is also shown by the proportion of mixed enterprises acting outside the territory which is higher than the proportion of public enterprises similarly engaged. Moreover the presence of multi-service units is proportionally higher in mixed enterprises

A-posteriori test of les closure models for free-surface flows

Barcellona (spagna

Insulin sensitivity of protein and glucose metabolism in obese female adolescents with type-1 diabetes mellitus : positive modulation by physical exercise

Impairment of insulin sensitivity of glucose metabolism, a prominent feature of type 1 diabetes (DM), is also well documented in adolescence and obesity. Overweight is frequently present during adolescence in females. Spurt in growth is significantly reduced during puberty in females with type 1 DM, while it is normal in males. In this study we assessed the effect of the coexistence of type 1 DM, adolescence, overweight, and their possible interference with growth. Moreover, we evaluated whether dietetic control associated with physical exercise improved insulin sensitivity in adolescence. The study enrolled 11 female adolescents and young adults (aged 18.5±0.6 years), affected by type 1 DM for 8.3±0.9 years, who were overweight (BMI, 27.3±0.8 kg/m2) and receiving conventional insulin therapy (0.78±0.10 U/kg day). We used the euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp technique coupled to [2H2]glucose and [13C]leucine infusion. The results show a striking increase in insulin resistance of glucose metabolism: the suppression of endogenous glucose production (EGP) was 59% in comparison to 90%–100% recorded by others at similar insulin levels in subjects at different periods of life. Insulin resistance in type 1 DM overweight adolescents was also present on protein metabolism: the postabsorptive plasma leucine (146.9±10.1 μM) and the endogenous leucine flux (ELF, 88.8±4.5 µmol/kg min) were higher than in healthy controls. The suppression of ELF during hyperinsulinemia was defective in diabetic adolescents (27%, p<0.001) with respect to controls (36%). Only three of the 11 overweight diabetic subjects completed the 6-month physical exercise and diet program, and showed improvement of insulin sensitivity at the final evaluation. The EGP suppression by insulin shifted from 41% to 79%; ELF suppression increased from 26% to 34%. All the parameters of glucose metabolism correlated with the weight loss (BMI reduction from 27.8±1.9 to 25.6±1.2 kg/m2). In conclusion, overweight female adolescents with type 1 DM have an impaired insulin action on glucose and protein metabolism. Physical exercise and correct dietary regimen positively influence insulin sensitivity. The present preliminary data are relevant for an improved control of glucose homeostasis and a normal growth in adolescence