Observation of the Early Structural Changes Leading to the Formation of Protein Superstructures.

Formation of superstructures in protein aggregation processes has been indicated as a general pathway for several proteins, possibly playing a role in human pathologies. There is a severe lack of knowledge on the origin of such species in terms of both mechanisms of formation and structural features. We use equine lysozyme as a model protein, and by combining spectroscopic techniques and microscopy with X-ray fiber diffraction and ab initio modeling of Small Angle X-ray Scattering data, we isolate the partially unfolded state from which one of these superstructures (i.e., particulate) originates. We reveal the low-resolution structure of the unfolded state and its mechanism of formation, highlighting the physicochemical features and the possible pathway of formation of the particulate structure. Our findings provide a novel detailed knowledge of such a general and alternative aggregation pathway for proteins, this being crucial for a basic and broader understanding of the aggregation phenomena.This is the author's accepted manuscript and will be under embargo until the 3rd of September 2015. The final version is published by ACS in The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters here: http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/jz501614e

Analisi quantitativa dell'area del Golfo di Castellammare

Analisi demografica, del mercato del lavoro, delle specializzazioni produttive e del dinamismo economico dell'area territoriale del Golgo di Castellammare

Economic and Financial Comparison between Organic and Conventional Farming in Sicilian Lemon Orchards

Sicily has a long tradition in citrus fruit cultivations that with vineyard and olive tree represent the main Mediterranean tree crops. In this paper we have evaluated the economic and financial sustainability of lemon production, both in organic farming and in conventional farming; the two systems differing just for inputs utilized in production process. Economic analysis has been carried out in a representative case study located in the Sicilian northwestern coast, considering an orchard economic life equal to 50 years. Results, which referred to one hectare area, showed both a higher economic and financial sustainability of organic farming respect to conventional farming. The higher profitability of organic farming was due to minor labor requirement and to greater market appreciation for organic products that granted a premium price respect to conventional prices. Moreover, greater profitability of organic farming and use of environmentally friendly inputs in production process make farms competitive and eco-friendly

Imprese che esportano e imprese che vorrebbero esportare: un confronto

Sulla base di un'indagine diretta presso un campione rappresentativo di imprese esportatrici e non esportatrici, si procede a una stima dei differenziali di produttività e a un confronto relativo a variabili economiche e relazioni fra imprese esportatrici, imprese non esportatrici e imprese potenzialmente esportatric

Profitability of artichoke growing in the mediterranean area

Cultivation of artichokes for production is significant in the Mediterranean Basin. Italy represents an important productive hub and in this context, Sicily has been one of the foremost production areas. Artichoke production is a stable element of either specialized or mixed production systems in the region. However, due to the economic recession and increasing imports of artichokes from North African countries, many companies are undergoing crisis, with concerns for the negative impact on the socioeconomic fabric, in terms of the rising unemployment an eventual collapse of this specific activity would determine. According to the theory of economic development, a prerequisite of a territory’s development is that its economic enterprises be competitive. Ensuing from this hypothesis, this article analyzes the profitability of artichoke production in the Mediterranean. The study was conducted in Sicily, an island in the heart of the Mediterranean, where its cultivation is a long-standing tradition. Our results showed a low profitability for artichoke cultivation in relation to the unfavorably high production costs, whereas the low market prices also reflect the competition from countries of North Africa

Giant reedasenergycropforSouthernItaly: An economicfeasibilitystudy

Among renewablesourcesgiantreedhasattractedagrowinginterestasenergycropespeciallyin Southern Europe,thankstoitslowagronomicinputrequirements.Thispaperaimedatevaluatingthe economic feasibilityofintroductionofgiantreedplantationasenergycropintheSouthernItaly.In particular,aneconomicand financial analysiswasperformedbycomparinggiantreed(bothfor woodchip andchoppedforageproduction)withtraditionalcrops(pluriannualandannual)thatare currentlycultivatedinthesamearea,suchaswinegrape,melonandtomato.Resultsshowedthehighest profitability ofgiantreedrespecttoothercropswithcurrentmarketprices.Inparticular,giantreed destined towoodchipproductiondenotedthehighestannualgrossmarginwithavalueof647.10 € ha1, followedbygiantreedforsilageproduction(617.04 € ha1), winegrape(477.52 € ha1), melon(310.00 € ha1) andtomato(280.00 € ha1). However,itshouldbeconsideredthat,asthecultivationofenergycropssubtractsinevitablysurface to theagriculturalland,itwouldbedesirablethatthegiantreeddoesnotconflict withagri-foodpro- duction, butvalorizesmarginaland/orunproductiveareas

Economic evaluation of biogas plant size utilizing giant reed

Amongst energy crops for the production of biomass feedstock for biogas plants, giant reed (Arundo donax L) has been attracting attention in recent years in Italy. Undoubtedly, this is due to its potentially high yield in terms of biomass, low agronomic inputs, as well as for being eligible for European Union energy crop incentives. The aim of this study was to perform an analysis of plant costs considering three macro-categories (biomass, plant installation and transport). Also, we aimed to describe the economic performances of biogas plants, while progressively altering two key variables. Specifically, we considered electrical power capacity (in the 100-999 kW range) and several combinations of feeding mixtures of livestock waste and giant reed silage, so as to determine the most economically advantageous option for a given power capacity. The results showed, on the one hand, that plants having diverse power capacities entail costs that vary as a function of the feedstock used and, on the other, that the entrepreneur's options mainly revolve around two variables, i.e. biomass supply costs and plant size

Abitudini e stili di vita dei ragazzi e delle ragazze di Palermo

Il volume riporta i risultati della ricerca “Abitudini e stili di vita dei ragazzi e delle ragazze a Palermo”. La ricerca, tenendo sullo sfondo il tema della povertà educativa, si è mossa sostenendo l’ipotesi che analizzando gli stili di consumo culturale e mediale, di fruizione del tempo libero, e altri indicatori specifici, sia possibile fornire una definizione più ampia e complessa di povertà educativa, come molta della più recente letteratura sull’argomento sta peraltro già sostenendo

Economic assessment of Eucalyptus (spp.) for biomass production as alternative crop in Southern Italy

The increase in energy prices and the stagnation of sales prices of the main agricultural commodities required a rethinking of farm production strategies. Since during the last years, thanks to a series of policies aimed at promoting renewable sources it has been a rapid diffusion of lignocellulosic biomass species, this paper aimed at evaluating the economic feasibility of the introduction of eucalyptus (Eucalyptus spp.) as energy crop for farmers of Southern Italy, by comparing it with traditional crop rotations. In particular, economic analysis has been carried out in a representative case study located in the Sicilian hilly hinterland where, in 2013, it has been built a biomass plant for energy production. However, results showed that introduction of eucalyptus for biomass production is less profitable for farmers than traditional crops, considering the incompressibility of production costs and the actual market price of woodchips

Economic performance of biogas plants using giant reed silage biomass feedstock

With regard to energy crops for the production of raw materials to biomass for biogas plants, has developed a study to determine the optimal minimum size of a biogas plant powered by giant reed (Arundo donax L.) and utilizing livestock waste. In particular, all costs items relating to biomass supply, plant installation and transport costs were analyzed, by changing progressively two main variables: the electrical power capacity and the feedstock utilized (in the range from 100 to 999. kW) and the feedstock utilized, by substituting livestock waste with giant reed silage so as to determine the more economically advantageous option for the entrepreneur in proportion to power capacity generated. Furthermore, we calculated the revenues from the sale of electricity, according to the new incentive policies. The study results showed that, depending on current market conditions, the plants are more favorable results than size equal to 400 and 450. kW. In according to the current economic policies, the best results in terms of economic performance have occurred in plants of 300. kW. The study has highlighted how small-size plants can represent a possible strategy to improve the enterprise and territorial competitiveness