Italian open-end funds: performance of asset management companies

We empirically analyse the returns of both Italian and round-trip open-end funds managed by Italian asset management companies (SGRs) in the period 2003-2008. Taking into account a modified version of the capital asset pricing model (CAPM), we estimated a performance measure for each asset management company and for each fund, as is usually done in the relevant literature. The analysis shows that the performance of any asset management company, with reference to its managed funds, is on average no greater than that of the benchmark chosen by the managers. In addition, as expected, the funds’ systematic risk is close to that of the benchmarks. Finally, robust estimation techniques let us control for the heteroskedasticity due to the presence of outliers and also to the different excess returns of individual funds.open-end funds, asset management companies, panel data, robust estimators, normal inverse Gaussian distribution

Two novel brain proteins, CaBP33 and CaBP37, are calcium-dependent phospholipid- and membrane-binding proteins

AbstractTwo acidic Ca2+ -binding proteins (CaBP33 and CaBP37) purified from bovine brain have been characterized in terms of immunological properties, heat-sensitivity, electrophoretic mobility, and Ca2+-dependent binding to negatively charged phospholipids and to brain membranes. They were induced to bind to membranes by homogenization of brain tissue in the presence of CaCl2. The membrane-bound CaBP33/CaBP37 mixture resisted extraction with detergents and was solubilized with high concentrations of EGTA/KC1. However, apparent Ca2+-independent binding of the two proteins to membranes seemed to occur as well. This latter fraction of membrane-bound CaBP33 and CaBP37 could be solubilized with Triton X-100, indicating that brain membranes normally contain the two proteins as intrinsic components

La description géographique au XVIe siècle : entre histoire et enjeux politiques et religieux

La riche collection de manuscrits de Gian Vincenzo Pinelli (1535-1601), conservée à la Biblioteca Ambrosiana de Milan, possède un très grand nombre de manuscrits relatifs à l’actualité politique de l’Europe dans la seconde moitié du XVIe siècle. Cet article est consacré à l’étude de plusieurs manuscrits qui éclairent la complexité de la vie géopolitique et culturelle en Europe de l’Est au XVIe siècle (avec une attention particulière portée à la situation en Hongrie, en Transylvanie et en Bohême). Les descriptions géographiques et les relations des ambassadeurs vénitiens offrent un point de vue privilégié pour comprendre en quoi l’écriture de ce genre de textes dépend de raisons d’ordre historique, politique et religieux. L’examen des caractéristiques formelles des relazioni geografiche rédigées par les diplomates italiens montre que la représentation de l’espace géographique n’est pas neutre : la description du territoire et des populations est en effet élaborée suivant des règles rhétoriques et de composition bien précises qui sont l’expression d’un système de valeurs culturelles à l’époque du concile de Trente

Characterization of mammalian heart annexins with special reference to CaBP33 (annexin V)

AbstractPorcine heart was observed to express annexins V (CaBP33) and VI in large amounts, and annexins III and IV in much smaller amounts. Annexin V (CaBP33) in porcine heart was examined in detail by immunochemistry. Homogenization and further processing of heart in the presence of EGTA resulted in the recovery of annexin V (CaBP33) in the cytosolic fraction and in an EGTA-resistant, Triton X-100-soluble fraction from cardiac membranes. Including Ca2+ in the homogenization medium resulted in a significant decrease in the annexin V (CaBP33) content of the cytosolic fraction with concomitant increase in the content of this protein in myofibrils, mitochrondria, the sarcoplasmic reticulum and the sarcolemma. The amount of annexin V (CaBP33) in each of these subfractions depended on the free Ca2+ concentration in the homogenizing medium. At the lowest free Ca2+ concentration tested, 0.8 μM, only the sarcolemma appeared to contain bound annexin V (CaBP33). Membrane-bound annexins V (CaBP33) and VI partitioned in two fractions, one EGTA-resistant and Triton X-100-extractable, and one Triton X-100-resistant and EGTA-extractable. Altogether, these data suggest that annexins V and VI are involved in the regulation of membrane-related processes

Selective arterial embolization for a high-flow priapism following perineal trauma in a young gymnast

Introduction. High-flow priapism is a rare condition in children, usually due to a perineal trauma. Materials and methods. We present a case of traumatic highflow priapism investigated by Doppler ultrasound and managed by angiography and selective embolization of a branch of the internal pudendal artery. Results. A 13-year-old gymnast underwent perineal trauma during training and developed a high-flow priapism. The first ultrasound (immediately after the trauma) showed the presence of an inhomogeneous area of 3 x 2 cm associated with an anechoic vascularized area (pseudoaneurysm) in the right corpus cavernosum. On the left side there was a similar finding, but of smaller size. After 3 weeks the pseudoaneurysm on the left was completely obliterated while the right one was still present. Angiography and superselective catheterization of a branch of the left pudendal artery and its embolization with microspheres and with metal microcoils were performed. After the procedure, ultrasound showed that the right pseudoaneurysm was completely obliterated and there were no more branches reaching it. The cavernous arteries were both pervious. Conclusions. Selective arterial embolization is a safe treatment that can also be used in pediatric patients

NEW MOHO MAP OF ITALY

In complex tectonics regions, seismological, geophysical, and geodynamic modeling require accurate definition of the Moho geometry. Various active and passive seismic experiments performed in the central Mediterranean region revealed local information on the Moho depth, in some cases used to produce interpolated maps. In this paper, we present a new and original map of the 3-D Moho geometry obtained by integrating selected high-quality controlled source seismic and teleseismic receiver function data. The very small cell size makes the retrieved model suitable for detailed regional studies, crustal corrections in teleseismic tomography, advanced 3-D ray tracing in regional earthquake location, and local earthquake tomography. Our results show the geometry of three different Moho interfaces: the European, Adriatic-Ionian, and Tyrrhenian. The three distinct Moho are fashioned following the Alpine and Apennines subduction, collision, and back-arc spreading and show medium- to high-frequency topographic undulations reflecting the complexity of the geodynamic evolution

Sperimentazione di una tecnica naturale di decontaminazione di sedimenti marini di dragaggio per il riutilizzo come terreno agrario

The proposed technique is based on the use of natural plants (paspalum v., tamarix g.,spartium j.), and organic amendment, with the aim of reaching the following objectives: (1) sediment decontamination; (2) physical, chemical and biological amelioration of sediments. Good results were obtained in terms of adaptation of the plants used, decrease in contamination (about 20% for metals and 70% for hydrocarbons) and increase in nutrient content and microbial activity. Moreover, the proper monitoring of irrigation has permitted to reset the volume of leachate, ensuring, however, the field capacity and the decrease of salinity in the medium. The experiment was carried out at pilot-scale, treating 80 m3 of sediment with AGRIPORT technology

Association between female reproductive health and mancozeb: systematic review of experimental models

Abstract: Mancozeb is a widely used fungicide approved for use in agriculture in many countries with long persistence in the environment and consequent bioaccumulation in tissues and biological fluids. Despite the large amount of studies published in recent years, the relationship between mancozeb exposure and female reproductive health is not fully elucidated. In order to summarize current evidence on mancozeb exposure and female reproductive disease, we performed a systematic review of literature. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were used to make this review. An adapted version of the National Toxicology Program’s Office of Health and Assessment and Translation (OHAT) framework was used to evaluate the risk of bias. Electronic search on two databases (PubMed and Scopus) was used to find experimental studies (in vitro and in vivo) on mancozeb exposure. The database search identified 250 scientific articles, 20 of which met our inclusion criteria. Selected data were then reviewed and summarized in tables. Overall, mancozeb represents a hazard for female reproductive health, with different mechanisms of action. Undoubtedly more experimental and epidemiological studies are required to definitively validate mancozeb as reproductive toxicant

Percevejos-do-mato (Hemiptera, Heteroptera, Pentatomoidea) da Floresta Nacional de São Francisco de Paula, RS, Brasil

A list of species of Pentatomoidea from Floresta Nacional de São Francisco de Paula, state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, is provided. This list was based in the collections of the Laboratório de Entomologia Sistemática, Departamento de Zoologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRG) and Museu de Ciências Naturais, Fundação Zoobotânica do Rio Grande do Sul (MCNZ), as well as from expeditions from 17/dec/2005 to 06/jul/2011. In this first Pentatomoidea inventory 44 species were classified in four families (Acanthosomatidae, Pentatomidae, Scutelleridae and Thyreocoridae), seven subfamilies (Blaudinae, Asopinae, Discocephalinae, Edessinae, Pentatominae, Pachycorinae and Thyreocorinae), seven tribes and 21 genera. Pentatomidae was the largest group in number of species (37 spp.). Two species new to science were collected.É apresentada uma lista das espécies de Pentatomoidea da Floresta Nacional de São Francisco de Paula, estado do Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil,. Esta lista foi elaborada a partir do levantamento nas coleções entomológicas do Laboratório de Entomologia Sistemática, Departamento de Zoologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRG) e Museu de Ciências Naturais, Fundação Zoobotânica do Rio Grande do Sul (MCNZ), e por coletas realizadas no período de 17/dez/2005 a 06/jul/2011. Neste primeiro inventário de pentatomóideos foram registradas 44 espécies classificadas em quatro famílias (Acanthosomatidae, Pentatomidae, Scutelleridae e Thyreocoridae), sete subfamílias (Blaudinae, Asopinae, Discocephalinae, Edessinae, Pentatominae, Pachycorinae e Thyreocorinae), sete tribos e 21 gêneros. Pentatomidae foi o maior grupo em número de espécies (37 spp.). Duas espécies novas para a ciência foram coletadas