Regional Patterns in the Achievement of the Lisbon Strategy: a Comparison Between Polycentric Regions and Monocentric Ones

Polycentrism is a common feature of European urban systems. Lately, the concept has assumed a more normative relevance and it has been often considered as a pre?requisite for a more sustainable and balanced development across Europe. However, the effects of polycentrism on other main European Strategies (such as the Lisbon Strategy, aimed at increasing European competitiveness and social cohesion) are not so clear. Therefore, the paper tries to highlight the relationships between a regional polycentric development and the achievement of the Lisbon Strategy’s targets. Referring to a sample of 75 regions belonging to France, Germany, Italy and Spain, we have first measured the extent of polycentrism, by estimating through OLS the slope of the rank-size distribution of cities within each region. Then, we have performed a principal component analysis (PCA) in order to highlight the main features characterising the performance of each region according to Lisbon Strategy’s targets. Looking at the correlations between the extent of polycentrism and the achievement of the Lisbon Strategy’s targets, we have found that the former is significantly correlated both with the spread of manufacture and with low investments in human capital and innovationthe Lisbon Strategy, polycentrism, rank-size distribution, PCA

Ecoprofit environmental certification as a public good: SWOT analysis of a relationship network

The present work aims at carrying out an analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of the Ecoprofit certification through an institutionalist framework capable of incorporating the role of enterprises, institutions and relationship networks. Through the analysis of case studies on cooperation and on the food farming industry it is possible to subdivide the possible markets into 4 stages of maturity, according to the different degree of interaction among the agents, and to investigate the present and future role of environmental certifications seen as social capital increase vectors, thanks to their capability of recognizing and producing a culture of quality and, therefore, of sustainable development.

Regional patterns in the achievement of the Lisbon Strategy: a comparison between polycentric regions and monocentric ones

Polycentrism is a common feature of European urban systems. Lately, the concept has assumed a more normative relevance and it has been often considered as a pre-requisite for a more sustainable and balanced development across Europe. However, the effects of polycentrism on other main European Strategies (such as the Lisbon Strategy, aimed at increasing European competitiveness and social cohesion) are not so clear. Therefore, the paper tries to highlight the relationships between a regional polycentric development and the achievement of the Lisbon Strategy’s targets. Referring to a sample of 75 regions belonging to France, Germany, Italy and Spain, we have first measured the extent of polycentrism, by estimating through OLS the slope of the rank-size distribution of cities within each region. Then, we have performed a principal component analysis (PCA) in order to highlight the main features characterising the performance of each region according to Lisbon Strategy’s targets. Looking at the correlations between the extent of polycentrism and the achievement of the Lisbon Strategy’s targets, we have found that the former is significantly correlated both with the spread of manufacture and with low investments in human capital and innovation.the Lisbon Strategy, polycentrism, rank-size distribution, PCA

The Effect of Cryogenic Cooling and Drill Bit on the Hole Quality when Drilling Magnesium-based Fiber Metal Laminates

Abstract The interest on fiber metal laminates has increased significantly in recent years as a consequence of the request of lighter and more functional aerospace and automotive components. In such parts, drilling is essential for assembly purposes. Nevertheless, drillability of fiber metal laminates is a critical issue due to the heterogeneous mechanical and thermal properties of metals and composites. The current research work aims at understanding how to improve the hole quality after drilling of magnesium-based fiber metal laminates. To this aim, dry and cryogenic cooling was applied as well as the adoption of three different drill bits, namely uncoated drill bits, coated drill bits and spur drills. Hole size, cylindricity, roughness, entry burr height, exit delamination and fiber pull-out are considered as experimental outcomes to characterize the hole surface quality. Results show that both spur drills and cryogenic cooling can significantly improve hole quality. The process parameters combination capable to guarantee the highest surface quality is finally provided

Analysis of mechanical behaviour of AA6082-T6 sheets deformed at low temperatures

High-resistant 6xxx series aluminium alloy sheets are more and more used in the automotive industry thanks to their high strength-to-density ratio, which allows the vehicles weight reduction; however, they can be hardly deformed at room temperature due to their reduced formability, while forming at elevated temperature usually leads to a reduction of the sheet strength, making necessary post-forming heat treatments. The present research study aims at evaluating the mechanical behaviour of AA6082-T6 sheets deformed in the temperature range between 300\ub0C and -100\ub0C, to assess the possible increase of both ductility and strength when deforming below room temperature. Uniaxial tensile tests were carried out at different temperature regimes and then, ductility, strength and failure mode were evaluated. Surface integrity after mechanical processing was investigated in terms of microstructures and nano-hardness measurements. Results confirmed that the strength and ductility of aluminium alloys improved at temperature decrease. Additionally, sheets deformed at low temperature were characterized by enhanced nano-hardness

Identification and characterization of abundant repetitive sequences in Eragrostis tef cv. Enatite genome

Multiple alignment of Ty1-copia RT paralog sequences identified in teff cv Enantite and Tsedey. (MSF 51 kb

Regulation of ob gene expression: evidence for epinephrine-induced suppression in human obesity

Leptin acts as satiety factor and increases energy expenditure. Studies conducted on animals and in vitro on adipocytes culture have shown that infusion of catecholamines leads to a significant reduction of ob gene expression; it appears of interest to evaluate the in vivo effects of adrenergic activation on the expression of the ob gene in humans. We studied ob gene expression in adipose tissue samples from 13 obese subjects before and after epinephrine (25 ng/min x kg ideal body weight for 3 h) and 6 obese patients during saline infusion. Hormonal infusion led to a significant increase in epinephrine plasma levels (from 27 +/- 4 to 339 +/- 75 pg/mL; P < 0.001), plasma free fatty acids (from 0.73 +/- 0.05 to 0.98 +/- 0.07; P < 0.05), heart rate (13.5 +/- 3.1 beats/min; F = 2.9; P < 0.03), and systolic blood pressure (F = 2.7; P < 0.05), whereas diastolic blood pressure did not show significant variation. Plasma leptin levels decreased by the end of the infusion (from 63 +/- 13 to 49 +/- 11 ng/mL; P < 0.05), and ob messenger ribonucleic acid levels were significantly reduced (decrease amounting to 47 +/- 5% of basal values). Our study shows that adrenergic activation contributes to regulate ob messenger ribonucleic acid levels in humans. The interaction between epinephrine and leptin may operate during metabolic and psychological stress to regulate energy expenditure and food intake

Biochemical and immunochemical similarities among mammalian bilitranslocase and a plant flavonoid translocator

Flavonoids are a large class of plant secondary metabolites, belonging to polyphenol family, which possess pharmacological and nutritional properties. Their synthesis takes place only in plants, while mammals can acquire them only with diet. It has been demonstrated that flavonoid uptake occurs in rat also by the activity of bilitranslocase, a carrier that is involved in anion transport in liver cell, vascular endothelium and gastric mucosa. A sequence of bilitranslocase interacting with flavonoid moieties is already known and characterized. Antibody raised against such protein epitope were shown to exhibit cross-reactivity against plant membrane proteins in tissues involved in flavonoid transport and accumulation, such as teguments of carnation petals and skin of grape berries. Further immunolocalization studies allowed to demonstrate the presence of cross-reacting protein not only at the level of tegumental tissues, but also associated to sieve elements and seed teguments in grape berries

Revisiting pollen-pistil interaction and cross incompatibility in maize

The review addressed aspects of plant fertilisation and the phenomenon of genetic cross-incompatibility in maize controlled by the Gametophyte1 locus. This phenomenon determines the failure to accomplish successful fertilisation and a full seed set when pollen grains carrying the ga1 allele pollinate female inflorescences carrying the Ga1-strong (Ga-1s) allele in the homozygous state (Ga1-s/Ga1-s). We divided the review work into several topics — first, the introduction of sexual plant reproduction. Second, pollen-pistil interactions in plants. Third, reproductive barriers during plant reproduction. Third, Incompatibility in plants. Fourth, fine mapping of the Ga1 locus in maize. Fifth, recent researches on Ga1-related cross-incompatibility in maize