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

Intelligent Human–Computer Interaction: Combined Wrist and Forearm Myoelectric Signals for Handwriting Recognition

Recent studies have highlighted the possibility of using surface electromyographic (EMG) signals to develop human–computer interfaces that are also able to recognize complex motor tasks involving the hand as the handwriting of digits. However, the automatic recognition of words from EMG information has not yet been studied. The aim of this study is to investigate the feasibility of using combined forearm and wrist EMG probes for solving the handwriting recognition problem of 30 words with consolidated machine-learning techniques and aggregating state-of-the-art features extracted in the time and frequency domains. Six healthy subjects, three females and three males aged between 25 and 40 years, were recruited for the study. Two tests in pattern recognition were conducted to assess the possibility of classifying fine hand movements through EMG signals. The first test was designed to assess the feasibility of using consolidated myoelectric control technology with shallow machine-learning methods in the field of handwriting detection. The second test was implemented to assess if specific feature extraction schemes can guarantee high performances with limited complexity of the processing pipeline. Among support vector machine, linear discriminant analysis, and K-nearest neighbours (KNN), the last one showed the best classification performances in the 30-word classification problem, with a mean accuracy of 95% and 85% when using all the features and a specific feature set known as TDAR, respectively. The obtained results confirmed the validity of using combined wrist and forearm EMG data for intelligent handwriting recognition through pattern recognition approaches in real scenarios

Level of carbon dioxide diffuse degassing from the ground of Vesuvio: comparison between extensive surveys and inferences on the gas source

An extensive campaign of diffuse CO2 soil flux was carried out at the cone of Vesuvio in October 2006 with two main objectives: 1) to provide an estimation of CO2 diffusely discharged through the soils in the summit area and 2) to evidence those sectors of the volcano where structural and morphological conditions could favour the gas output. The survey consisted of 502 measurements of soil CO2 flux homogenously distributed over an area of about 1.8 km2. Results of this survey were compared with those obtained during a similar campaign carried out by Frondini et al. in 2000, from which we have taken and reinterpreted a subset of data belonging to the common investigated area. Graphical statistical analysis showed three overlapping populations in both surveys, evidencing the contribution of three different sources feeding the soil CO2 degassing process. The overall CO2 emission pattern of 2006 is coherent with that observed in 2000 and suggests that a value between 120 and 140 t/day of CO2 is representative of the total CO2 discharged by diffuse degassing from the summit area of Vesuvio. The preferential exhaling area lies in the inner crater, whose contribution resulted in 45.3% of the total CO2 emission in 2006 (with 62.8 t/day) and in 57.4% (with 70.3 t/day) in 2000, although its extension is only 13% of the investigated area. This highly emissive area correlated closely with the structural discontinuities of Vesuvio cone, mainly suggesting that the NW-SE trending tectonic line is actually an active fault leaking deep gas to the bottom of the crater. The drainage action of the fault could be enhanced by the “aspiration” effect of the volcanic conduit

Environmental pre-exploitation monitoring of Torre Alfina geothermal system (Central Italy)

An interesting project of geothermal pilot plant, with no-gas emission in atmosphere, has been submitted for approval in the medium-enthalpy geothermal field of Torre Alfina. This prompted us to develop a geochemical and geophysical monitoring of the area with the aim of establishing a background information to reco-gnize anomalous gas emission, induced seismicity and subsidence, possibly related to the field exploitation. The exploration conducted by Enel in the years ‘70 - '80, including the drilling of 9 deep wells, has shown the existence of a medium-enthalpy geothermal field in the Torre Alfina zone, in central Italy. The area has been affected by a very complex geological evolution during the Neogene. It was affected by the Quaternary volcanism of the Tyrrhenian margin which, reached its climax between 0.6 and 0.3 Ma. The present stress field around Quaternary volcanoes of central Italy has a NE to ENE direction of extension, in agreement with the alignment of Quaternary volcanoes and earthquake fault plane solutions, with T axes preferentially oriented between NE and ENE.PublishedPrague, Czech Republic, June 22 to July 2, 20156T. Sismicità indotta e caratterizzazione sismica dei sistemi naturaliope

Environmental pre-exploitation monitoring of Torre Alfina geothermal system (Central Italy)

An interesting project of geothermal pilot plant, with no-gas emission in atmosphere, has been submitted for approval in the medium-enthalpy geothermal field of Torre Alfina. This prompted us to develop a geochemical and geophysical monitoring of the area with the aim of establishing a background information to reco-gnize anomalous gas emission, induced seismicity and subsidence, possibly related to the field exploitation. The exploration conducted by Enel in the years ‘70 - '80, including the drilling of 9 deep wells, has shown the existence of a medium-enthalpy geothermal field in the Torre Alfina zone, in central Italy. The area has been affected by a very complex geological evolution during the Neogene. It was affected by the Quaternary volcanism of the Tyrrhenian margin which, reached its climax between 0.6 and 0.3 Ma. The present stress field around Quaternary volcanoes of central Italy has a NE to ENE direction of extension, in agreement with the alignment of Quaternary volcanoes and earthquake fault plane solutions, with T axes preferentially oriented between NE and ENE

Effect of ochratoxin A on the intestinal mucosa and mucosa-associated lymphoid tissues in broiler chickens

The immunotoxic effect of ochratoxin A (OTA) on the intestinal mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue and its cytotoxic action on the intestinal epithelium were studied in broiler chickens experimentally treated with the toxin. From the 7th day of life, 80 male broiler chickens (Ross 308) were randomly divided into four groups of 20 birds each. The three experimental groups (E1-3) were treated with OTA for 28 days (E1: 50 μg/kg body weight [bw]/day; E2: 20 μg/kg bw/day; E3: 1 μg/kg bw/day) and the fourth group served as control. Histological examination of the intestinal mucosa and immunohistochemical staining for identification of CD4+, CD8+, TCR1 and TCR2 lymphocytes in the duodenum, jejunum and ileocaecal junction were performed, and CD4+/CD8+ and TCR1/TCR2 ratios were calculated. OTA toxicity resulted in decreased body weight gain, poorer feed conversion ratio, lower leukocyte and lymphocyte count, and altered intestinal mucosa architecture. After 14 days of exposure to OTA, immunohistochemistry showed a significant reduction of the lymphocyte population in the intestinal epithelium and the lamina propria. After 28 days of exposure, an increase in the CD4+ and CD8+ values in both the duodenum and jejunum of chickens in Groups E1 and E2 was observed, but the TCR1 and TCR2 lymphocyte counts showed a significant reduction. No significant changes were observed in Group E3. The results indicate that OTA induced a decrease in leukocyte and lymphocyte counts and was cytotoxic to the intestinal epithelium and the mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue, altering the intestinal barrier and increasing susceptibility to various associated diseases

Baclofen for maintenance treatment of opioid dependence: A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial [ISRCTN32121581]

BACKGROUND: Results of preclinical studies suggest that the GABA(B )receptor agonist baclofen may be useful in treatment of opioid dependence. This study was aimed at assessing the possible efficacy of baclofen for maintenance treatment of opioid dependence. METHODS: A total of 40 opioid-dependent patients were detoxified and randomly assigned to receive baclofen (60 mg/day) or placebo in a 12-week, double blind, parallel-group trial. Primary outcome measure was retention in treatment. Secondary outcome measures included opioids and alcohol use according to urinalysis and self-report ratings, intensity of opioid craving assessed with a visual analogue scale, opioid withdrawal symptoms as measured by the Short Opiate Withdrawal Scale and depression scores on the Hamilton inventory. RESULTS: Treatment retention was significantly higher in the baclofen group. Baclofen also showed a significant superiority over placebo in terms of opiate withdrawal syndrome and depressive symptoms. Non-significant, but generally favorable responses were seen in the baclofen group with other outcome measures including intensity of opioid craving and self-reported opioid and alcohol use. However, no significant difference was seen in the rates of opioid-positive urine tests. Additionally, the drug side effects of the two groups were not significantly different. CONCLUSION: The results support further study of baclofen in the maintenance treatment of opioid dependence

Formulation and Bioequivalence Testing of Fixed-Dose Combination Orally Disintegrating Tablets for the Treatment of Tuberculosis in the Paediatric Population

Tuberculosis (TB) is believed to affect around 10 million people worldwide. Treatment for TB includes isoniazid and rifampicin, with fixed-dose combination (FDC) recommended for improved patient compliance. Similarly, orally disintegrating tablets (ODTs) are an increasingly popular dosage form that aid compliance since they do not require swallowing. In this study ODTs of isoniazid and rifampicin, either as discrete or FDC doses, were formulated and bioequivalence between single and combination doses compared using in vitro and in silico approaches. Dissolution profiles were compared using FDA advised difference (f 1) and similarity (f 2) testing in biorelevant media. Rifampicin release from FDCs decreased by approximately 15% in fed-state media (failed f 1 and f 2), which was attributed to enhanced rifampicin degradation in the presence of isoniazid at lower pH. Apparent permeability (P app) values derived from Caco-2 transport studies were included alongside dissolution results into a physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model, to simulate in vivo bioavailability in healthy subjects. Models showed no difference in bioavailability between formulations or dosing (fasted or fed) state, despite the failures in dissolution-based bioequivalence testing, highlighting shortcomings in f 1 and f 2 assessment and the strength of PBPK models