Globalizzazione e Convergenza dei Sistemi Agro-Alimentari delle economie industriali

Questo saggio propone un’analisi empirica dell’evoluzione di lungo periodo dei sistemi agro-alimentari mondiali. Con una prospettiva più ampia rispetto agli studi esistenti, che focalizzano prevalentemente il processo di convergenza in termini di produttività, ci si propone di valutare l’evoluzione di un ampio set di variabili strutturali in grado di cogliere la dimensione sistemica del processo produttivo agro-alimentare. In particolare, partendo da un’analisi dei processi di lungo di periodo in atto nei sistemi agro-alimentari si applicheranno, sotto il vincolo della disponibilità di informazioni statistiche, alcune metodologie quantitative per l’analisi dei processi di convergenza economica. Ciò al fine di testare empiricamente l’ipotesi che negli ultimi quattro decenni si sia assistito ad un processo di convergenza dei caratteri strutturali dei sistemi agroalimentari delle economie industriali avanzate (Paesi OECD ad alto reddito). Dinamica che si contrappone alla sostanziale stabilità nei caratteri strutturali dell’insieme dei 108 paesi del mondo per cui sono disponibili informazioni quantitative. In questo senso è possibile parlare di una tendenza di lungo periodo alla formazione di un “convergence club” dei sistemi agro-alimentari dei paesi avanzati. L’utilizzo dell’analisi in componenti principali relativa a diversi intervalli di tempo consente, inoltre, di tracciare una “mappa” dei paesi che via via sono entrati nel “convergence club” e di costruire un “indice del grado di arretratezza” di ciascun sistema agro-alimentare. Tali risultati forniscono importanti indicazioni in merito all’evoluzione dei sistemi agroalimentari all’avanzare del processo di sviluppo dell’economia fornendo utili spunti per l’interpretazione delle dinamiche di lungo periodo in atto sia nei paesi industriali avanzati che in quelli che si avviano a diventarlo.Sistemi agricoli, Sviluppo Agricolo, Analisi di convergenza, Analisi in componenti principali.

Um ciclo comum na evolução dos sistemas agrícolas contemporâneos

The purpose of this article is to show that, as part of a unique system, the agricultural policies of all developed countries went through a "cycle" which initiated in the twenties and extended to the present decade, but that several facts seem to indicate that this cycle is coining to an end. Four phases can be distinguished within the cycle. During the first phase there occured a wide reorganization of the primary sector of the industrialized countries by means of a strong State intervention. During the second phase, and under the leadership of the United States, the primary sector went through a wide process of modernization. Then carne a phase of disruption of the hegemonic model, with the gradual loss of the unipolar character of the world's agricultural alimentary system. The last phase, not yet entirely over, shows a tendency to a multipolar configuration of the world's agricultural alimentary system.The purpose of this article is to show that, as part of a unique system, the agricultural policies of all developed countries went through a "cycle" which initiated in the twenties and extended to the present decade, but that several facts seem to indicate that this cycle is coining to an end. Four phases can be distinguished within the cycle. During the first phase there occured a wide reorganization of the primary sector of the industrialized countries by means of a strong State intervention. During the second phase, and under the leadership of the United States, the primary sector went through a wide process of modernization. Then carne a phase of disruption of the hegemonic model, with the gradual loss of the unipolar character of the world's agricultural alimentary system. The last phase, not yet entirely over, shows a tendency to a multipolar configuration of the world's agricultural alimentary system

Simultaneous Contralateral Vestibular Schwannoma and Middle Ear Paraganglioma Tumor

To the best of our knowledge, only 2 cases of a simultaneous contralateral vestibular schwannoma (VS) and middle ear paraganglioma (MEP) have previously been reported in literature. We report the third case observed in a 43-year-old male, who presented with an 11-year history of right-sided hearing loss and a 1-year history of left-sided pulsatile tinnitus. A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a VS on the right side and computer tomography (CT) identified a Fisch type A1 paraganglioma on the left side. The VS was treated using a translabyrinthine approach and the MEP was kept under radiological observation for 1 year. Due to the growth of the MEP (Fisch type A2), it was treated with excision via a retroauricular approach. Our case was very challenging because there was a different and important pathology on each side, both carrying a risk of deafness as a consequence of the disease and/or the treatments

Tracking-based distributed equilibrium seeking for aggregative games

We propose fully-distributed algorithms for Nash equilibrium seeking in aggregative games over networks. We first consider the case where local constraints are present and we design an algorithm combining, for each agent, (i) the projected pseudo-gradient descent and (ii) a tracking mechanism to locally reconstruct the aggregative variable. To handle coupling constraints arising in generalized settings, we propose another distributed algorithm based on (i) a recently emerged augmented primal-dual scheme and (ii) two tracking mechanisms to reconstruct, for each agent, both the aggregative variable and the coupling constraint satisfaction. Leveraging tools from singular perturbations analysis, we prove linear convergence to the Nash equilibrium for both schemes. Finally, we run extensive numerical simulations to confirm the effectiveness of our methods and compare them with state-of-the-art distributed equilibrium-seeking algorithms

Tracking-based distributed equilibrium seeking for aggregative games

We propose fully-distributed algorithms for Nash equilibrium seeking in aggregative games over networks. We first consider the case where local constraints are present and we design an algorithm combining, for each agent, (i) the projected pseudo-gradient descent and (ii) a tracking mechanism to locally reconstruct the aggregative variable. To handle coupling constraints arising in generalized settings, we propose another distributed algorithm based on (i) a recently emerged augmented primal-dual scheme and (ii) two tracking mechanisms to reconstruct, for each agent, both the aggregative variable and the coupling constraint satisfaction. Leveraging tools from singular perturbations analysis, we prove linear convergence to the Nash equilibrium for both schemes. Finally, we run extensive numerical simulations to confirm the effectiveness of our methods and compare them with state-of-the-art distributed equilibrium-seeking algorithms

Distributed equilibrium seeking in aggregative games: linear convergence under singular perturbations lens

We present a fully-distributed algorithm for Nash equilibrium seeking in aggregative games over networks. The proposed scheme endows each agent with a gradient-based scheme equipped with a tracking mechanism to locally reconstruct the aggregative variable, which is not available to the agents. We show that our method falls into the framework of singularly perturbed systems, as it involves the interconnection between a fast subsystem – the global information reconstruction dynamics – with a slow one concerning the optimization of the local strategies. This perspective plays a key role in analyzing the scheme with a constant stepsize, and in proving its linear convergence to the Nash equilibrium in strongly monotone games with local constraints. By exploiting the flexibility of our aggregative variable definition (not necessarily the arithmetic average of the agents’ strategy), we show the efficacy of our algorithm on a realistic voltage support case study for the smart grid

COMO SE APRENDE FUTEBOL: EVIDÊNCIAS DA PEDAGOGIA DA RUA NA HISTÓRIA DE VIDA DE EX-JOGADORES PROFISSIONAIS

How do professional soccer players learn to play soccer well? The new trends in Sport Pedagogy have been demonstrating that skill is closely linked to the richness of experiences and interactions of individuals with the environments in which they are inserted, since childhood. Therefore, the study interviewed former players, in order to find out what their experiences were like during this period and, through the reports, sought to identify elements that allow reflections on the subject of learning in football. Based on the methodology of Oral History, semi-structured interviews were carried out with former professional soccer players. The analysis of the reports was carried out using Content Analysis by Data Reduction. It was noticed that the interviewees had many experiences in informal learning environments (such as the street, the 'little fields' and any spaces in the school, before and after classes), in addition to having the ball as their main way of playing throughout childhood, through games with family and friends. The learning of football by these former players is closely linked to a ludic culture, played by ball games with feet, co-constructed mainly in informal learning environments. The frequent and intense relationship of these former players with the ball and their games explains the development of such skill to the point of later becoming professional athletes.¿Cómo aprenden los futbolistas profesionales a jugar bien al fútbol? Las nuevas tendencias en la Pedagogía del Deporte vienen demostrando que la habilidad está íntimamente ligada a la riqueza de experiencias e interacciones de los individuos con los ambientes en los que se insertan, desde la infancia. Por lo tanto, el estudio entrevistó a exjugadores, con el fin de conocer cómo fueron sus experiencias durante este período y, a través de los relatos, buscó identificar elementos que permitan reflexionar sobre el tema del aprendizaje en el fútbol. Con base en la metodología de la Historia Oral, se realizaron entrevistas semiestructuradas a ex futbolistas profesionales. “El análisis de los informes se realizo mediante Análisis de Contenido por Reducción de Datos. Se percibió que los entrevistados tuvieron muchas experiencias en ambientes informales de aprendizaje (como la calle, las 'canchitas' y cualquier espacio de la escuela, antes y después de las clases), además de tener la pelota como principal forma de jugando durante toda la infancia, a través de juegos con familiares y amigos. El aprendizaje del fútbol por parte de estos exjugadores está íntimamente ligado a una cultura lúdica, practicada por juegos de pelota con los pies, co-construida principalmente en ambientes informales de aprendizaje. La frecuente e intensa relación de estos exjugadores con el balón y sus juegos explica el desarrollo de dicha habilidad hasta el punto de convertirse posteriormente en deportistas profesionales.Como é que os jogadores de futebol profissional aprendem a jogar bem futebol? As novas tendências em Pedagogia do Esporte vêm demonstrando que a habilidade está intimamente ligada à riqueza das vivências e das interações dos indivíduos com os ambientes os quais estão inseridos, desde a infância. Diante disso, o estudo buscou identificar na história de vida de ex-jogadores profissionais de futebol, elementos que possibilitem reflexões acerca do tema da aprendizagem no futebol. A partir da metodologia da História Oral realizaram-se entrevistas semiestruturadas com ex-jogadores de futebol profissional. A análise dos relatos foi feita a partir da Análise de Conteúdo por Redução dos Dados. Percebeu-se que os entrevistados tiveram muitas vivências em ambientes informais de aprendizagem (como a rua, os ‘campinhos’ e espaços quaisquer da escola, antes e depois das aulas), além de terem a bola como principal forma de brincar durante toda a infância, através de jogos-brincadeiras com familiares e amigos. O aprendizado do futebol por esses ex-jogadores está intimamente ligado à uma cultura lúdica protagonizada por jogos-brincadeiras de bola com pés, co-construída principalmente em ambientes informais de aprendizagem. A frequente e intensa relação desses ex-jogadores com a bola e suas brincadeiras, explica, ao menos em parte, o desenvolvimento de tamanha habilidade a ponto de, posteriormente, tornarem-se atletas profissionais

Non-pegylated liposomal doxorubicin in older adjuvant early breast cancer patients: cardiac safety analysis and final results of the COLTONE study

Aims: To explore the cardiac safety of adjuvant Non-Pegylated Liposomal Doxorubicin (NPL-DOX) plus Cyclophosphamide (CTX) followed by weekly Paclitaxel, in elderly women (≥ 65 years) with high-risk breast cancer. Previously, we described no symptomatic cardiac events within the first 12 months from starting treatment. We now reported the updated results after a median follow-up 76 months. Methods: The cardiac activity was evaluated with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) echocardiograms assessments, before starting chemotherapy and every 6 months, until 30 months from baseline, then yearly for at least 5 years. Results: Forty-seven women were recruited by two Units of Medical Oncology (Ethics Committee authorization CESM-AOUP, 3203/2011; EudraCT identification number: 2010-024067-41, for Pisa and Pontedera Hospitals). An episode of grade 3 CHF (NCI-CTCAE, version 3.0) occurred after 18 months the beginning of chemotherapy. The echocardiograms assessments were performed comparing the LVEF values of each patient evaluated at fixed period of time, compared to baseline. We observed a slight changed in terms of mean values at 48, 60, 72 and 84 months. At these time points, a statistically significant reduction of - 3.2%, - 4.6%, - 6.4% and - 7.1%, respectively, was observed. However, LVEF remained above 50% without translation in any relevant clinical signs. No other cardiac significant episodes were reported. To this analysis, in 13 patients (28%) occurred disease relapse and,  of them, 11 (23%) died due to metastatic disease. Eight patients died of cancer-unrelated causes. Conclusions: The combination including NPL-DOX in elderly patients revealed low rate of cardiac toxic effects. Comparative trials are encouraged

Scientific report of the project COMpton Polarimeter with Avalanche Silicon readout (COMPASS)

Rendicontazione scientifica mandata all'INAF alla conclusione del progetto COMpton Polarimeter with Avalanche Silicon readout (COMPASS), finanziato dal bando TECNO INAF 2014COMpton Polarimeter with Avalanche Silicon readout (COMPASS) is a research and development project that aims to measure the polarization of X-ray photons through Compton Scattering. The measurement is obtained by using a set of small rods of fast scintillation materials with both low-Z (as active scatterer) and high-Z (as absorber), all read-out with Silicon Photomultipliers. By this method we can operate scattering and absorbing elements in coincidence, in order to reduce the background. This is the scientific report submitted to INAF at the end of the COMPASS project, funded through the grant TECNO INAF 201