Households Food Expenditures Behaviours And Socioeconomic Welfare In Italy: A Microeconometric Analysis

The paper aims to investigate food expenditure behaviours and dynamics of Italian households, by identifying the main characteristics of different socioeconomic groups. In particular, the study focuses on relevant food categories in terms of healthy diet to investigate different food styles consumers. In this framework, the paper stresses the linkages between food demand behaviours and socioeconomic characteristics to give some insights on the difference between wealthy/not wealthy consumers. The analysis uses the 2000 and 2006 Consumption Expenditure Surveys at household level, implemented by the Italian National Statistical Institute (ISTAT), that provide useful data on households socioeconomic conditions and consumption expenditures dynamics on a cross-sectional population sample of about 24000 units. In a first step, the work analyses food expenditures characteristics and dynamics across different consumers classes in order to describe demand profiles. In a second step, the work directly investigates relations between socioeconomic characteristics (e.g. income, age, household size, education) and households food expenditures, by adopting advanced econometric methods, e.g. quantile regression methods, to identify existing differences across socioeconomic groups.Food expenditures determinants, econometric methods, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety,

A structure-based proposal for the catalytic mechanism of the bacterial acid phosphatase AphA belonging to the DDDD superfamily of phosphohydrolases

The Escherichia coli gene aphA codes for a periplasmic acid phosphatase called AphA, belonging to class B bacterial phosphatases, which is part of the DDDD superfamily of phosphohydrolases. After our first report about its crystal structure, we have started a series of crystallographic studies aimed at understanding of the catalytic mechanism of the enzyme. Here, we report three crystal structures of the AphA enzyme in complex with the hydrolysis products of nucleoside monophosphate substrates and a fourth with a proposed intermediate analogue that appears to be covalently bound to the enzyme. Comparison with the native enzyme structure and with the available X-ray structures of different phosphatases provides clues about the enzyme chemistry and allows us to propose a catalytic mechanism for AphA, and to discuss it with respect to the mechanism of other bacterial and human phosphatases. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

The tectonic puzzle of the Messina area (Southern Italy): Insights from new seismic reflection data

The Messina Strait, that separates peninsular Italy from Sicily, is one of the most seismically active areas of the Mediterranean. The structure and seismotectonic setting of the region are poorly understood, although the area is highly populated and important infrastructures are planned there. New seismic reflection data have identified a number of faults, as well as a crustal scale NE-trending anticline few km north of the strait. These features are interpreted as due to active right-lateral transpression along the north-eastern Sicilian offshore, coexisting with extensional and right-lateral transtensional tectonics in the southern Messina Strait. This complex tectonic network appears to be controlled by independent and overlapping tectonic settings, due to the presence of a diffuse transfer zone between the SE-ward retreating Calabria subduction zone relative to slab advance in the western Sicilian side

Experimental and theoretical investigation of ligand effects on the synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles

ZnO nanoparticles with highly controllable particle sizes(less than 10 nm) were synthesized using organic capping ligands in Zn(Ac)2 ethanolic solution. The molecular structure of the ligands was found to have significant influence on the particle size. The multi-functional molecule tris(hydroxymethyl)-aminomethane (THMA) favoured smaller particle distributions compared with ligands possessing long hydrocarbon chains that are more frequently employed. The adsorption of capping ligands on ZnnOn crystal nuclei (where n = 4 or 18 molecular clusters of(0001) ZnO surfaces) was modelled by ab initio methods at the density functional theory (DFT) level. For the molecules examined, chemisorption proceeded via the formation of Zn...O, Zn...N, or Zn...S chemical bonds between the ligands and active Zn2+ sites on ZnO surfaces. The DFT results indicated that THMA binds more strongly to the ZnO surface than other ligands, suggesting that this molecule is very effective at stabilizing ZnO nanoparticle surfaces. This study, therefore, provides new insight into the correlation between the molecular structure of capping ligands and the morphology of metal oxide nanostructures formed in their presence

Links Between Education and Crime: A Critical Perspective

In this paper, I will investigate the correlation between educational philosophy, educational attainment, the drop out rate and crime. I suggest that insufficiencies in funding and the current educational philosophy leads to practices that increase the likelihood of dropout, and that dropping out is related to the commission of crime. I understand that there is much more to this topic than I will be addressing here, for example, adult re-education and continuing education, correctional education, and other such types of post-adolescent educational programs. So to cover an area that deals with the greatest number of students, but does not get too broad in scope, I will focus this paper on public education

Decreased point prevalence of Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) oropharyngeal colonization by mass immunization of Brazilian children less than 5 years old with Hib polyribosylribitol phosphate polysaccharide-tetanus toroid conjugate vaccine in combination with diphtheria-tetanus toxoids-pertussis vaccine

A protective herd effect has been described after susceptible populations of children are vaccinated with conjugate Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), Hib carriage was studied in children aged 6-24 months attending day care centers in two cities in southern Brazil (Curitiba and Porto Alegre), in Curitiba, routine immunization with Hib polyribosylribitol phosphate polysaccharide-tetanus toroid conjugate vaccine (PRP-T) in combination with diphtheria-tetanus toxoids-pertussis vaccine (PRP-T/DTP) has been offered since September 1996; DTP vaccine alone is routinely given in Porto Alegre, Children in Porto Alegre (n = 643) were 8 times less likely to have received adequate Hib vaccination and 4 times more likely to be Hib carriers than children in Curitiba (n = 647; i.e., point prevalence of oropharyngeal colonization, 4.8% vs. 1.2%). Point prevalence of carriage with non-type b or other nontypeable Hi was similar in children of both cities, There was a vaccination effect on carriage rates in children who received a primary 3-dose series, independent of the booster dose, suggesting that a booster may be unnecessary to induce population protection.Pasteur Merieux Connaught Brasil, Dept Med, BR-04552905 São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Pediat, São Paulo, BrazilSecretaria Estado Saude São Paulo, Inst Adolfo Lutz, Seccao Bacteriol, São Paulo, BrazilSanta Casa Misericordia São Paulo, Fac Ciencias Med, Dept Patol, São Paulo, BrazilSecretaria Municipal Saude Curitiba, Dept Epidemiol, Curitiba, Parana, BrazilSecretaria Municipal Saude Porto Alegre, Dept Epidemiol, Porto Alegre, RS, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Pediat, São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Antigenic and genetic variability of human metapneumoviruses

Human metapneumovirus (HMPV) is a member of the subfamily Pneumovirinae within the family Paramyxo- viridae. Other members of this subfamily, respiratory syncytial virus and avian pneumovirus, can be divided into subgroups on the basis of genetic or antigenic differences or both. For HMPV, the existence of different genetic lineages has been described on the basis of variation in a limited set of available sequences. We address the antigenic relationship between genetic lineages in virus neutralization assays. In addition, we analyzed the genetic diversity of HMPV by phylogenetic analysis of sequences obtained for part of the fusion protein (n = 84) and the complete attachment protein open reading frames (n = 35). On the basis of sequence diversity between attachment protein genes and the differences in virus neutralization titers, two HMPV serotypes were defined. Each serotype could be divided into two genetic lineages, but these did not reflect major antigenic differences

Equity Council Student Sub-Committee 2009

The general purpose of this meeting was to continue the dialog we started on 11/18. A second major purpose is to explore the possibility of holding an Equity Council Student Leadership Conference at URI\u27s W. Alton Jones Campus in early February. The focus of the retreat was to gather data in order to have a sense of the current climate/culture present at URI. To conduct focus groups at Alton Jones. The forums/ focus groups addressed issues revolving around the following areas: Academics/Curricular issues/concerns, Housing and Residential Life, Student Leaders and Student Groups, Faculty Diversity Training/Interventions, and Campus Climate

What is the consciousness, literacy and behaviour of Italian Gen-Z towards the protection of the marine environment?

The study explores Italian Generation Z’s consciousness, literacy and behaviour towards marine environmental issues aimed at detecting whether different profiles of people exist. A survey was implemented with 778 students attending upper secondary schools. Descriptive statistics, significance tests for differences among groups, and cluster analysis were applied. Gen Z expresses concern and awareness about environmental issues, but not high levels of engagement in marine pro-environmental behaviours. Only about half of the sample solved six of the twelve objective knowledge questions correctly, and some misconceptions were observed. Gender, education, and area of living differentiate answers over several phenomena. Cluster results highlight four groups of young people with different sustainability profiles, two of which showed sensitiveness and awareness about the investigated topics, while the other groups are insensitive, unaware, and illiterate. The poor knowledge of Italian Generation Z about ocean sustainability topics highlighted the need to further educate young people to become literate individuals