2,933 research outputs found
Gli affreschi della cripta di Aquileia
Analisi iconografica e stilistica, con proposta di datazione legata anche alla committenza patriarcale, del ciclo di pitture murali del XII secolo nella cripta della basilica di Aquilei
Uncertainty Averse Bank Runners
Bank runs are relatively rare events characterized by highly pessimistic depositor’s expectations. How would pessimistic depositors expect to be treated in a bank run? How will this affect their behaviour? How can Banks handle this kind of risk? In the framework of a Diamond-Dybvig- Peck-Shell banking model, in which a broad class of feasible contractual arrangements (including .suspension schemes.) is allowed and which admits a run equilibrium, we analyze a scenario in which depositors are uncertain of their treatment should a run occur. We check whether bank runs are more likely or less likely to happen, in particular, if depositors are maxmin decision makers. We assess the utility of suspension schemes in the presence of pessimistic bank runners.Bank runs are relatively rare events characterized by highly pessimistic depositor’s expectations. How would pessimistic depositors expect to be treated in a bank run? How will this affect their behaviour? How can Banks handle this kind of risk? In the framework of a Diamond-Dybvig- Peck-Shell banking model, in which a broad class of feasible contractual arrangements (including .suspension schemes.) is allowed and which admits a run equilibrium, we analyze a scenario in which depositors are uncertain of their treatment should a run occur. We check whether bank runs are more likely or less likely to happen, in particular, if depositors are maxmin decision makers. We assess the utility of suspension schemes in the presence of pessimistic bank runners.Non-Refereed Working Papers / of national relevance onl
Welfare assessment: correlations and integration between a Qualitative Behavioural Assessment and a clinical/health protocol applied in veal calves farms
This study is aimed at finding correlations and possible integration among Qualitative Behavioural Assessment (QBA) and a specific protocol of clinical/health evaluation. Both welfare assessment methods were based on direct animal observation and were applied in 24 Italian veal calves farms at 3 weeks (wks) of rearing. Principal component analysis (PCA) summarized 20 QBA descriptors on two main components (PC1 and PC2) with eigenvalues above 4 and explaining 29.6 and 20.3% of the variation respectively. PCA on residuals obtained after correcting for housing condition yielded highly similar results, indicating that the rearing environment of the calves was not an important determinant of the observer reliability of QBA. A relationship was found between QBA PC2 and the presence of signs of cross-sucking recorded during the clinical visit (presence PC2=1.11 vs. absence PC2=-1.55,
Clinicians need to be careful that they do not confuse mental health issues and long COVID in children and adolescents
No abstract available
An Uncertainty-Based Explanation of Symmetric
We provide a re-foundation of the symmetric growth equilibrium characterizing the research sector of all vertical R&D-driven growth models. This result does not rely on the usual assumption of a symmetric expectation on the future per-sector R&D expenditure. Indeed, with this structure of expectations, returns in R&D are equalized, and agents turn out to be indifferent as to where targeting research: hence, the problem of the allocation of R&D investments across sectors is indeterminate. In line with the ’true’ Schumpeterian perspective, we solve this indeterminacy by allowing for decision makers strictly uncertain about the future per-sector distribution of R&D efforts. By using the Gilboa-Schmeidler’s MEU decision rule, we prove that the symmetric structure of R&D investment is the unique rational expectations (RE) equilibrium compatible with uncertainty-averse agents adopting a maximin strategy.We provide a re-foundation of the symmetric growth equilibrium characterizing the research sector of all vertical R&D-driven growth models. This result does not rely on the usual assumption of a symmetric expectation on the future per-sector R&D expenditure. Indeed, with this structure of expectations, returns in R&D are equalized, and agents turn out to be indifferent as to where targeting research: hence, the problem of the allocation of R&D investments across sectors is indeterminate. In line with the ’true’ Schumpeterian perspective, we solve this indeterminacy by allowing for decision makers strictly uncertain about the future per-sector distribution of R&D efforts. By using the Gilboa-Schmeidler’s MEU decision rule, we prove that the symmetric structure of R&D investment is the unique rational expectations (RE) equilibrium compatible with uncertainty-averse agents adopting a maximin strategy.Non-Refereed Working Papers / of national relevance onl
Hypovitaminosis D in an hospitalized old population of Western Friuli.
Objectives Hypovitaminosis D is very common in the elderly in Italy and generally in the world, contributing to bone fractures and muscle weakness. The aim of the study was to evaluate bone metabolism in an old population of patients hospitalized not for musculo-skeletal complaints. Methods The clinical records of 175 patients, 98 female and 77 male, aged >65 years, hospitalized in a Department of Internal Medicine (Sacile, Western Friuli) were retrospectively reviewed. Serum levels of calcium, phosphorous, alkaline phosphatase, parathyroid hormone (PTH) and 25-OH vitamin D were evaluated. Correlations between these parameters were investigate. Results Abnormalities of bone metabolism parameters were frequently founded, particularly hypocalcemia, increased PTH and reduced 25-OH vitamin D. Hypovitaminosis D were detected in 88% of patients, low levels in 30.28% and very low levels in 57.72%. Hypovitaminosis D was related to female sex, old age of patients and high levels of PTH. Conclusions Our data confirm that hypovitaminosis D is very common in elderly population. The study has been performed in an Italian Region where the supplementation of vitamin D in the elderly is not performed, suggesting that a awareness campaign of the doctors could be very useful to prevent bone metabolism abnormalities.Objectives: Hypovitaminosis D is very common in the elderly in Italy and generally in the world, contributing to bone fractures and muscle weakness. The aim of the study was to evaluate bone metabolism in an old population of patients hospitalized not for musculo-skeletal complaints. Methods: The clinical records of 175 patients, 98 female and 77 male, aged >65 years, hospitalized in a Department of Internal Medicine (Sacile, Western Friuli) were retrospectively reviewed. Serum levels of calcium, phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase, parathyroid hormone (PTH) and 25-OH vitamin D were evaluated. Correlations between these parameters were investigate. Results: Abnormalities of bone metabolism parameters were frequently founded, particularly hypocalcemia, increased PTH and reduced 25-OH vitamin D. Hypovitaminosis D were detected in 88% of patients, low levels in 30.28% and very low levels in 57.72%. Hypovitaminosis D was related to female sex, old age of patients and high levels of PTH. Conclusions: Our data confirm that hypovitaminosis D is very common in elderly population. The study has been performed in an Italian Region where the supplementation of vitamin D in the elderly is not performed, suggesting that a awareness campaign of the doctors could be very useful to prevent bone metabolism abnormalities
Evaluation of right ventricular function performed by 3d-echocardiography in scleroderma patients
The impairment of the right ventricle (RV) in systemic sclerosis (SSc) is usually related to pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). New echocardiographic techniques, such as 3-dimensional echocardiography (3DE) and 2-dimensional speckle tracking (2DSTE), allow an accurate evaluation of the RV function. The aim of this study was to evaluate the RV function using 3DE and 2DSTE in SSc patients with no history of heart disease and no PAH. Forty-five SSc patients, 42 females and 3 males, 28 with limited cutaneous SSc (lcSSc) and 17 with diffuse cutaneous SSc (dcSSc), were studied. Forty-three age- and gender-matched healthy subjects were enrolled as controls. All of them underwent a 3DE and 2DSTE ecocardiographic evaluation of the RV function. Systolic pulmonary arterial pressure (sPAP) and total pulmonary vascular resistance (tPVR) were also estimated by power doppler. RV echocardiographic parameters were compared in the different subsets of SSc patients. A statistical analysis was performed by t-test, ANOVA and multiple logistic regression. RV areas in 2DSTE and volumes in 3DE were higher and RV function parameters were reduced in SSc patients compared with controls. Also sPAP and tVPR were higher, but they did not reach pathological values. Echocardiographic alterations were more pronounced in patients with lcSSc. 3DE and 2DSTE echocardiography allowed us to detect morphological and functional alterations of the RV in a group of SSc patients with no clinical signs of heart disease and no PAH. These patients had significantly higher sPAP and tPVR than healthy controls without reporting values compatible with PAH. These data suggest that RV alterations are related to a pressure overload rather than to an intrinsic myocardial involvement in SSc
Acute and long-term effects of ACE inhibition on renal haemodynamics in glomerular and interstitial nephropathies
Background Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors are the drugs of choice for the treatment of hypertension in patients with non-diabetic nephropathies. However, not every trial has reported better results with ACE inhibitors (ACE-I) than with other drugs. This study investigates whether the acute and chronic effects of ACE inhibition on renal and glomerular haemodynamics are similar in glomerular and interstitial nephropathies. Methods We studied 20 hypertensive patients, on their usual diet, with mild-to-moderate chronic renal failure secondary to non-diabetic nephropathy. After a three-week wash out period, we determined plasma clearances of para-amino-hippurate and inulin before, and after acute oral administration of either enalapril or ramipril. This same test was carried out after one and two years of treatment with the same drug. Results Acute ACE inhibition causes a decrease of renal perfusion, glomerular filtration and pressure with an increase of afferent resistances. Long-term ACE inhibition is associated only with a decrease in renal perfusion, with a non-significant tendency to higher filtration fraction and lower afferent resistances. All the renal haemodynamic modifications mentioned above are present only in patients with glomerular diseases. Conclusions Renal and glomerular haemodynamic responses are not similar after acute and chronic ACE inhibition. Only patients with glomerular diseases show acute or long-term responses to ACE inhibition
Effectiveness of a commercial lure to attract red fox
In camera trap studies, attractants may be used to increase detection probabilities of wildlife, which may help to improve estimates of abundance and occupancy. Using a semi-experimental approach, we investigated if a commercial, strawberry scented lure increased detection probability and visiting time duration in red fox Vulpes vulpes, and the potential reasons for variation in these parameters. In September 2020, within the Stelvio National Park, central Italian Alps, 32 camera sites were randomly assigned to 4 different treatments: 8 to commercial lure, the target of our investigation; 8 to orange aroma, to test for the "curiosity" effect; 8 to cat kibble, to test for the "likability" effect; 8 to camera trap only, the control test. Detection probability and duration of visiting time were estimated using hurdle negative binomial regression models. Daily detection probability was significantly higher with lure (0.078), orange aroma (0.086), kibble (0.075) than with camera trap only (0.031); in the first day after treatment, the time an animal spent in front of the cameras significantly increased with orange aroma (16.61 s) and kibble (33.78 s) compared to lure (9.97 s) and camera trap only (0.38 s). Our results support the use of lures to improve detection probability and visit duration in red fox, but we could not disentangle the drivers of increased parameter estimates. When consumable costs are considered, the use of the commercial strawberry scented lure does not appear justified for both detection probability and visit duration, and cheaper alternatives may be preferable
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