The Evolution of Income Composition Inequality in Italy, 1989–2016

We study the evolution of inequality in income composition in terms of capital and labor income in Italy between 1989 and 2016. We document a rise in the share of capital income accruing to the bottom of the distribution, while the top of the distribution increases its share of labor income. This implies a falling degree of income composition inequality in the period considered and a weaker relationship between the functional and personal distribution of income in Italy. This result is robust to various specifications of self-employment income; nonetheless, it hinges crucially on the treatment of rental incomes. While the dynamics of imputed rents has brought about a more equitable distribution of capital incomes across the income distribution, that of actual rents has led to higher concentration of capital incomes at the top in the decade preceding the outbreak of the financial crisis. Finally, we conceptualize a rule of thumb for policy makers seeking to reduce income inequality in the long run

Rethinking the Concept of Competencies for Public Managers

This chapter will go deeper in analyzing the concept of competency according to a managerial perspective, and will then clarify the relation with the Public Sector both from a theoretical and from a practical view

Riccati-parameter solutions of nonlinear second-order ODEs

It has been proven by Rosu and Cornejo-Perez in 2005 that for some nonlinear second-order ODEs it is a very simple task to find one particular solution once the nonlinear equation is factorized with the use of two first-order differential operators. Here, it is shown that an interesting class of parametric solutions is easy to obtain if the proposed factorization has a particular form, which happily turns out to be the case in many problems of physical interest. The method that we exemplify with a few explicitly solved cases consists in using the general solution of the Riccati equation, which contributes with one parameter to this class of parametric solutions. For these nonlinear cases, the Riccati parameter serves as a `growth' parameter from the trivial null solution up to the particular solution found through the factorization procedureComment: 5 pages, 3 figures, change of title and more tex

Lime-induced chlorosis and physiological responses in grapevine (Vitis vinifera L. cv. Pinot blanc) leaves

Research Note

Luteal Blood Flow and progesterone concentration during first and second postpartum estrous cycle in lactating dairy cows

The aim of the present study was to determine the differences in corpus luteum (CL) functionality between the first postpartum estrous cycle and the following cycle in lactating dairy cows. Luteal blood flow (LBF), luteal size and blood progesterone (P4) concentration were monitored during the first and second postpartum estrous cycle. During the first and second postpartum estrous cycle, the mean LBF value increased (p < .05) from early to late dioestrus, while it decreased rapidly in proestrus, resulting statistically lower (p < .05) than those registered in all previous phases. Statistically significant differences were not observed between overall LBF during first and second postpartum estrous cycle (p > .05). During the first postpartum estrous cycle, P4 blood concentrations showed a significant reduction (p < .05) from dioestrus to proestrus. A different trend of P4 concentrations was observed during the second postpartum estrous cycle, where mean P4 value registered in proestrus resulted statistically lower than those registered in the previous cycle phases (p < .05). The mean P4 concentration registered over the first postpartum estrous cycle resulted statistically lower (p < .05) than that registered during the second one. A significant correlation between P4 concentrations and LBF was registered only during the second postpartum estrous cycle. Results indicate that during the first postpartum estrous cycle, P4 concentration was independent of luteal blood flow and luteal size

Invasions of the non-indigenous red alga Lophocladia lallemandii (Montagne) F. Schmitz off the Island of Ischia (Tyrrhenian Sea, Italy)

This paper describes the distribution and spread of the non-indigenous red alga Lophocladia lallemandii (Montagne) F. Schmitz along the coast of the Island of Ischia (Tyrrhenian Sea, Italy). Lophocladia lallemandii was monitored through surveys from July 2019 to January 2020 at the Capo Sant’Angelo (Ischia), where L. lallemandii was observed, but not reported, in the years preceding the invasion of the upper rocky infralittoral shore reported here. It is noteworthy that a large portion of the study area is included within one of the two “B no-take” zones of the Marine Protected Area of the “Regno di Nettuno” (“Neptune’s Realm”). During the surveys, the alga was first observed in the middle of July 2019 and totally disappeared by the middle of January 2020. Algal cover showed two peaks in August (55%) and November (58.5%). Fertile thalli (tetrasporophytes) of L. lallemandii were observed in all of the analysed samples. Thalli were not always strongly attached to the substrate or other algae and could often be easily detached by strong hydrodynamic conditions. These detached thalli were found laying on the bottom in dense turfs or floating or stranding on the beach. Noteworthy were the macroflora and fauna, the latter essentially composed by mollusks and amphipods, living among the branches of the alga, and various fishes hiding within the thick algal turf. These observations indicate that this alga may be a source of food and refuge for the native animal community of the upper rocky infralittoral zone

Carbonatite Melts and Electrical Conductivity in the Asthenosphere

Electrically conductive regions in the Earth mantle have been interpreted to reflect the presence of either silicate melt or water dissolved in olivine. On the basis of laboratory measurements we show that molten carbonates have electrical conductivities that are 3 orders of magnitude higher than those of molten silicate and 5 orders of magnitude higher than those of hydrated olivine. High conductivities in the asthenosphere probably indicate the presence of small amounts of carbonate melt in peridotite and can therefore be interpreted in terms of carbon concentration in the upper mantle. We show that the conductivity of the Oceanic asthenosphere can be explained by 0.1 volume % of carbonatite melts on average, which agrees with the CO2 content of Mid Ocean Ridge Basalts

La competitività e lo sviluppo dell'industria ferrotranviaria europea. Il ruolo della domanda pubblica

Nei principali paesi europei, anche in coerenza con le indicazioni e raccomandazioni della Commissione Europea (si veda il Libro Bianco, marzo 2011) sono programmati nel lungo periodo significativi investimenti in progetti di sviluppo dei sistemi ferroviari nazionali, regionali e urbani. Il Cesit ha monitorato e stimato tali progetti