Environmental Friendly Wines: A Consumer Segmentation Study☆

Abstract Our study examines wine consumers stated interest toward eco-friendly wines. A convenience sample of 301 Italian wine drinkers (i.e. over 18 years old and consumers of wine at least once a month) were interviewed by computer aided telephonic interviews (CATI), by a professional agency. Questions investigated respondents shopping patterns, attitude toward environment and general socio-demographic characteristics. Cluster analysis findings reveal that the majority of consumers are poorly interested in environmental-friendly wines (68%). However, the other segment - which includes higher spenders and wine experts - seems a promising target for wineries oriented towards sustainability

Insects as food: a cross-cultural comparison of consumers' intention and behaviour

Albeit the benefits of switching to an insects’ based diet are set up on nutritional, environmental, economic and ecological benefits, the potential growth of insects as everyday food is still unclear. This work relies on three different papers who share the main objective of exploring consumer behavior towards edible insects, using both direct and indirect methods (computer questionnaires and more daring techniques such as IAT), while linking two European countries that share little in terms of eating habits, Denmark and Italy. - In “The effect of communication and implicit associations on consuming insects: an experiment in Denmark and Italy.” it was examined the influence of the type and message of communication upon the behavior and intention to perform the behavior of eating insects, while exploring the role of implicit associations. - In the second work instead, “Understanding Westerners’ disgust for the eating of insects: the role of food neophobia and implicit associations.” it was investigated the impact of food neo-phobia and disgust on the intention to eat insect-based food, and how disgust is related to implicit attitude towards insects. - In the third study, lastly, “Assessing the role of Food Related Lifestyle in predicting intention towards edible insects: a case study” a tentative of market segmentation was performed via lifestyles in order to predict consumers’ behaviour towards edible insects. Furthermore, the role of perceived behavioural control was analysed

Measuring the economic sustainability of Italian farms using FADN data

In recent literature, the issue of sustainability and its measure has been addressed with different approaches that depend on the multidimensional nature of the concept and the specific sector and context to which it applies. The present work focuses on the economic sustainability component and suggests an operative measure at the farm level. The measure of economic sustainability has been applied to Italian family farms using Farm Accountancy Data Network (FADN). Based on this data, an efficiency indicator (EI) and two income indicators [a factor profitability indicator (FPI) and a comparable income indicator (CII)] expressing the ability to remunerate the entrepreneur's production factors at their opportunity cost and the farm's income capacity have been used in a principal component analysis (PCA) to build an economic sustainability index (SI). The index was used to describe Italian farms' economic sustainability levels but was also the cue to discuss problems related to identifying economic sustainability thresholds and the trade-off between efficiency and income components

Domestic food waste and covid-19 concern: An application of the theory of planned behaviour

The ongoing Covid-19 pandemic rapidly and dramatically disrupted household behaviours in almost all areas and, among these, eating behaviours and daily food patterns have also been radically altered. All reported changes have potential effects in terms of food waste, which is a global problem that mainly occurs at household level. Many scholars attempted to understand the antecedents of food waste in the framework of Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB). In this paper we follow this strain of research by focussing on two different behaviours, suggested by the Waste Framework Directive of the EU, namely (a) reducing servings and (b) using leftovers, which may be predicted by the intention to reduce food waste. An online questionnaire containing the key constructs of the TPB and the concern towards the pandemic was administered to a sample of 201 Italian consumers. Results show that the TPB model was confirmed for both behaviours while the Covid-19 concern had no direct effect. However, in the case of portion reduction, there is a significant interaction between concern and intention not to waste food. That is, the effect of intention on reducing servings is increasing as the level of concern increases. Therefore, some indications on how to address food waste policies are drawn

An edge colouring of multigraphs

We consider a strict k-colouring of a multigraph G as a surjection f from the vertex set of G into a set of colours {1,2,…,k} such that, for every non-pendant vertex χ of G, there exist at least two edges incident to χ and coloured by the same colour. The maximum number of colours in a strict edge colouring of G is called the upper chromatic index of G and is denoted by χ(G). In this paper we prove some results about it

Mending Termini Station

Mending Termini Station es el título de una experimentación académica que ha sido tratada y profundizada entre 2017 y 2018 en el contexto de un Master en finanzas inmobiliarias (en la LUISS Business School en Roma), un Taller internacional de planificación urbana y arquitectura (con la participación de las universidades de Roma Tre y Sapienza, de Roma, ETSAB/UPC, de Barcelona, UFRGS, de Porto Alegre – Brasil, y UNR, de Rosario - Argentina) y varios cursos de Urbanismo en el Departamento de Arquitectura de la Universidad Roma Tre.La experimentación se funda sobre la anomalía genética de las ciudades italianas, ligadas al transporte por carretera (auto particulares, buses y camiones), que muestra progresivamente y dramáticamente sus consecuencias, especialmente en la ciudad de Roma - que tiene el territorio municipal más amplio de Europa. El "cuidado del hierro," prometido por el Plan Regulador municipal de 2008, que contemplaba nuevas líneas de metro, tranvías, ferroviarias, corredores preferenciales de transporte público y el cierre del cinturón ferroviario en la parte norte de Roma, lamentablemente sigue apareciendo en las crónicas debido a quiebras y interrupciones.La congestión del tráfico vehicular, debido a la estructura radial de la red vial romana (que sigue la estructura de las antiguas carreteras consulares), la ineficiencia del transporte público y el flujo monodireccional de viajeros diarios a y del centro de la ciudad, involucra a toda el área metropolitana y paraliza todos los días a los ciudadanos.En particular, la estructura de los ferrocarriles parece penalizada por el cinturón que todavia nunca se ha completado, por una nueva estación para los trenes de Alta Velocidad, la Estación Tiburtina, subutilizada debido a la presencia dominante de la Estación Termini, la estación principal de Roma, donde llegan la mayoría de los trenes regionales y Alta Velocidad. Por su ubicación, a caballo entre las Murallas Antigua del Emperador Aureliano, que rodean el centro histórico de Roma, la Estación Termini se carateriza como un corte en el medio del corazon de la ciudad, un fragmento urbano que separa los barrios Esquilino, Castro Pretorio, San Lorenzo, y que atrae fenómenos al mismo tiempo de degradación y turistificación masiva.El proyecto Mending Termini Station está inspirado en una hipótesis del Plan Regulador de 1931 (por el arquitecto Marcello Piacentini). Este Plan, al final de un largo debate que duró más de cincuenta años, propuso la eliminación de la estación de Termini, construida en el cuadrante oriental del centro histórico de Roma, reemplazándola con un ferrocarril subterráneo y una nueva estación ferroviaria, también esta subterránea, y el cierre simultáneo del anillo ferroviario hacia el norte. La zona de Termini, una vez liberada de la infraestructura ferroviaria, estaba destinada a convertirse en un nuevo centro direccional con características monumentales, en línea con lo que se logró en otras capitales europeas.Mending Termini Station actualiza las ideas de planificación de 1931: la eliminación de la actual estación de Termini, reemplazada por un nuevo trazado ferroviario subterráneo y una nueva estación, también subterranea, únicamente para el Alta Velocidad; la reutilización y valorización de la Estación del 1949 y de su gran área central, liberada de los rieles; el cierre del cinturón ferroviario con la reorganización de la movilidad y del transporte público de toda el área metropolitana de Roma. Todo esto, en total conformidad con las regulaciones europeas sobre la liberalización del mercado ferroviario.El ensayo ilustrará los estudios preparatorios, los análisis históricos, el modelo actual, las evaluaciones críticas y los métodos de construcción de las propuestas. La metodología de implementación ha previsto un juego de rol, donde estuvieron representados los tres actores principales de la transformación urbana: el Municipio, la empresa que gestiona la red ferroviaria y los edificios ferroviarios, RFI Rete Ferroviaria Italiana (Grupo Ferrovie dello Stato) y finalmente los ciudadanos mismos.Las soluciones propuestas se caracterizan por su factibilidad urbana, de transporte y movilidad y también socioeconómica. Por lo tanto, constituyen una propuesta sostenible para la ciudad de Roma y su sistema de transporte público.Mending Termini Station és el títol d'una experimentació acadèmica que ha estat tractada i aprofundida entre 2017 i 2018 en el context d'un Màster en finances immobiliàries (a la LUISS Business School a Roma), un Taller internacional de planificació urbana i arquitectura (amb la participació de les universitats de Roma Tre i Sapienza, de Roma, ETSAB / UPC, de Barcelona, UFRGS, de Porto Alegre - Brasil, i UNR, de Rosario - Argentina) i diversos cursos d'Urbanisme al Departament d'Arquitectura de la Universitat Roma Tre.L'experimentació es funda sobre l'anomalia genètica de les ciutats italianes, lligades al transport per carretera (acte particulars, busos i camions), que mostra progressivament i dramàticament les seves conseqüències, especialment a la ciutat de Roma - que té el territori municipal més ampli de Europa. El "cura del ferro," promès pel Pla Regulador municipal de 2008, que contemplava noves línies de metro, tramvies, ferroviàries, corredors preferencials de transport públic i el tancament del cinturó ferroviari a la part nord de Roma, lamentablement segueix apareixent en les cròniques causa de fallides i interrupcions.La congestió del trànsit vehicular, a causa de l'estructura radial de la xarxa viària romana (que segueix l'estructura de les antigues carreteres consulars), la ineficiència del transport públic i el flux mono direccional de viatgers diaris ai del centre de la ciutat, involucra tota l'àrea metropolitana i paralitza tots els dies als ciutadans.En particular, l'estructura dels ferrocarrils sembla penalitzada pel cinturó que encara no s'ha completat, per una nova estació per als trens d'Alta Velocitat, l'Estació Tiburtina, subutilizada causa de la presència dominant de l'Estació Termini, l'estació principal de Roma, on arriben la majoria dels trens regionals i Alta Velocitat.Per la seva ubicació, a cavall entre les Muralles Antiga de l'Emperador Aureliano, que envolten el centre històric de Roma, l'Estació Termini es caracteritza com un tall al mig del cor de la ciutat, un fragment urbà que separa els barris Esquilino, Castro Pretorio , Sant Llorenç, i que atreu fenòmens al mateix temps de degradació i turistificació massiva.El projecte Mending Termini Station està inspirat en una hipòtesi del Pla Regulador de 1931 (per l'arquitecte Marcello Piacentini). Aquest Pla, al final d'un llarg debat que va durar més de cinquanta anys, va proposar l'eliminació de l'estació de Termini, construïda al quadrant oriental del centre històric de Roma, reemplaçant-amb un ferrocarril subterrani i una nova estació ferroviària, també aquesta subterrània , i el tancament simultani de l'anell ferroviari cap al nord. La zona de Termini, un cop alliberada de la infraestructura ferroviària, estava destinada a convertir-se en un nou centre direccional amb característiques monumentals, en línia amb el que es va aconseguir en altres capitals europees.Mending Termini Station actualitza les idees de planificació de 1931: l'eliminació de l'actual estació de Termini, reemplaçada per un nou traçat ferroviari subterrani i una nova estació, també subterrània, únicament per al Alta Velocitat; la reutilització i valorització de l'Estació del 1949 i de la seva gran àrea central, alliberada dels rails; el tancament del cinturó ferroviari amb la reorganització de la mobilitat i del transport públic de tota l'àrea metropolitana de Roma. Tot això, en total conformitat amb les regulacions europees sobre la liberalització del mercat ferroviari.L'assaig il·lustrarà els estudis preparatoris, les anàlisis històrics, el model actual, les avaluacions crítiques i els mètodes de construcció de les propostes. La metodologia d'implementació ha previst un joc de rol, on van estar representats els tres actors principals de la transformació urbana: el Municipi, l'empresa que gestiona la xarxa ferroviària i els edificis ferroviaris, RFI Rete Ferroviaria Italiana (Grup Ferrovie dello Stato) i finalment els ciutadans mateixos.Les solucions proposades es caracteritzen per la seva factibilitat urbana, de transport i mobilitat i també socioeconòmica. Per tant, constitueixen una proposta sostenible per a la ciutat de Roma i el seu sistema de transport públic.Mending Termini Station is the title of an academic experimentation that has been treated and deepened between 2017 and 2018 in the context of a Master in Real Estate Finance (at the LUISS Business School in Rome), an international workshop on urban planning and architecture (with the participation of the universities Roma Tre and Sapienza, of Rome, ETSAB / UPC, of Barcelona, UFRGS, of Porto Alegre - Brazil, and UNR, of Rosario - Argentina) and Urban Planning Laboratories at the Department of Architecture of the University “Rome Tre”.The experimentation is based on the genetic anomaly of the Italian cities, linked to road transport (private cars, buses and trucks), that progressively and dramatically shows its consequences, especially in the city of Rome - which has the broadest municipal territory of Europe. The "care of iron", promised by the Municipal Regulatory Plan of 2008, which contemplated new subway lines, trams, railways, preferential corridors of public transport and the closure of the railway belt in the northern part of Rome, unfortunately continues to appear in the chronicles due to bankruptcies and interruptions.The congestion of vehicular traffic, due to the radial structure of the Roman road network (which follows the structure of the ancient consular roads), the inefficiency of public transport and the monodirectional flow of commuters to and from the center of the city, involves the entire area metropolitan and paralyzes citizens every day.In particular, the structure of the railways seems to be penalized by the belt that has not yet been completed, by a new station for high-speed trains, the Tiburtina station, underutilized due to the dominant presence of the Termini station, the main station of Rome, where most of the regional and high-speed trains arrive.Because of its location, halfway between the Ancient Walls of Emperor Aureliano, which surround the historical centre of Rome, Termini Station is characterized as a cut in the middle of the heart of the city, an urban fragment that separates the Esquilino, Castro Pretorio and San Lorenzo neighborhoods, and that attracts phenomena at the same time of degradation and massive touristification.The Mending Termini Station project is inspired by a hypothesis of the 1931 Regulatory Plan (by architect Marcello Piacentini). The Plan, at the end of a long debate that lasted more than fifty years, proposed the elimination of the Termini station, built in the eastern quadrant of the historic center of Rome, replacing it with an underground railway and a new railway station, also underground, and the simultaneous closure of the railway ring to the north. The area of Termini, once freed from the railway infrastructure, was destined to become a new directional center with monumental characteristics, in line with what was achieved in other European capitals.Mending Termini Station updates the planning ideas of 1931: the elimination of the current Termini Station, replaced by a new underground railway line and a new station, also underground, only for High Speed Trains; the reuse and recovery of the 1949 Station and its large central area, freed from the rails; the closure of the railway belt, with the reorganization of mobility and public transport throughout the metropolitan area of Rome. All this, in full compliance with European regulations on the liberalization of the rail market.This essay will illustrate the preparatory studies, the historical studies, the current model, the critical evaluations and the methods of construction of the proposals. The implementation methodology has planned a role-play, where the three main actors of the urban transformation were represented: The Municipality, the company that manages the railway network and the railway buildings, RFI Rete Ferroviaria Italiana (Gruppo Ferrovie dello Stato) and finally the citizens themselves.The proposed solutions are characterized by their urban, transport and mobility and also socioeconomic feasibility. Therefore, they constitute a sustainable proposal for the city of Rome and its public transport system.Peer Reviewe

Evaluating italian attitude and behaviour toward Fair Trade products

In the context of food consumption, several issues have been widely discussed in reference to a large array of attributes and product types used as evidence of growing consumer feeling toward ethical issues linked to moral and social consciousness. Animal welfare, fair prices for farmers, social aspects of production, and preservation of cultural features, are some of the product attributes for which consumer behaviour has been analyzed in the context of ethical consumerism. This paper aims at providing insights into consumer motivational systems and their relations with fair trade product purchasing behaviour. In order to pursue this goal, the effectiveness of two alternative approaches, proposed in the literature and tested in Belgium and Germany, were formally assessed in Italy. The two sets of scales were tested for predicting purchasing behaviour by using a sample of Italian consumers

Fair Trade Attitudes and Consumer Behavior in Italy: a comparative analysis of two attitudinal scales

This paper aims to provide insights into consumer motivational systems and their relations with fair trade product purchasing behavior. In order to pursue this goal, the effectiveness of two alternative approaches, proposed in the literature and tested in Belgium and Germany, were formally assessed in Italy. The two sets of scales were tested for predicting purchasing behavior by using a sample of Italian consumers. Although both sets of scales showed good internal reliability and statistical evidence of behavioral predictive validity, one of the two sets under assessment is able to depict actual behavior in much greater depth than the other

Surgical mistake causing an high recto-vaginal fistula. A case report with combined surgical and endoscopic approach: therapeutic considerations

BACKGROUND: Rectovaginal fistulas (RVFs) have multiple causes, size and location on which the surgical treatment depends. DESCRIPTION: The Authors consider different approaches to RVFs and describe a clinical case of recurrent high RVF. CONCLUSIONS: Most RVFs can be successfully repaired, although many interventions may be necessary. A colostomy with delayed repair may improve RVFs outcome. Moreover, several authors indicate Mucosal Advancement Flap and Babcock-Bacon technique as the treatments of choice respectively for low and high RVFs (complex and recurrent) and emphasize the placement of endoscopic prothesis in cases of difficult healing of the anastomosis

Information in a network of neuronal cells: Effect of cell density and short-term depression

Neurons are specialized, electrically excitable cells which use electrical to chemical signals to transmit and elaborate information. Understanding how the cooperation of a great many of neurons in a grid may modify and perhaps improve the information quality, in contrast to few neurons in isolation, is critical for the rational design of cell-materials interfaces for applications in regenerative medicine, tissue engineering, and personalized lab-on-a-chips. In the present paper, we couple an integrate-and-fire model with information theory variables to analyse the extent of information in a network of nerve cells. We provide an estimate of the information in the network in bits as a function of cell density and short-term depression time. In the model, neurons are connected through a Delaunay triangulation of not-intersecting edges; in doing so, the number of connecting synapses per neuron is approximately constant to reproduce the early time of network development in planar neural cell cultures. In simulations where the number of nodes is varied, we observe an optimal value of cell density for which information in the grid is maximized. In simulations in which the posttransmission latency time is varied, we observe that information increases as the latency time decreases and, for specific configurations of the grid, it is largely enhanced in a resonance effect