MODEL TREE: AN APPLICATION IN REAL ESTATE APPRAISAL

In the last twenty years in real estate appraisal there has been a growing interest for new and reliable assessment techniques essentially through the introduction of pluriparametric estimate, in particular of linear regression. However, also these techniques seem having not a great deal of adherence to very complex markets, for which the detection of best suited techniques to investigate market segments is necessary. The aim of the research is to test the applicative possibilities of model tree to land market, in order to highlight possible market segments in the original data set not detectable a priori.data mining, model tree, multiple regression analysis, land market appraisal, Research Methods/ Statistical Methods, C01,

Model tree: An application in Real Estate Appraisal

In the last twenty years in real estate appraisal there has been a growing interest for new and reliable assessment techniques essentially through the introduction of pluriparametric estimate, in particular of linear regression. However, also these techniques seem having not a great deal of adherence to very complex markets, for which the detection of best suited techniques to investigate market segments is necessary. The aim of the research is to test the applicative possibilities of model tree to land market, in order to highlight possible market segments in the original data set not detectable a priori

Data mining in real estate appraisal: a model tree and multivariate adaptive regression spline approach

In this paper we adopt two exploratory modelling techniques: Model Trees and Multivariate Adaptive Regression Splines. The objective is the building of two sale price prediction models in order to highlight possible market segments not detectable a priori. We show how these novel procedures can help to understand complex patterns and interactions among predictors in real estate appraisal

Targeting TLR/IL-1R Signalling in Human Diseases

The members of Toll-like receptor/Interleukin (IL)-1 receptor (TLR/IL-1R) superfamily play a fundamental role in the immune response. These receptors detect microbial components and trigger complex signalling pathways that result in increased expression of multiple inflammatory genes. On the other hand, an aberrant activation of TLR/IL-1R signalling can promote the onset of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, raising the interest in the development of therapeutic strategies for the control of their function. In this review, we illustrate the structural and functional features of TLR/IL-1R proteins and discuss some recent advances in the approaches undertaken to develop anti-inflammatory therapeutic drugs. In particular, we will focus on inhibitors, such as decoy peptides and synthetic mimetics, that interfere with protein-protein interactions between signalling molecules of the TLR/IL-1R superfamily. Given their central role in innate and adaptive immune responses, it is foreseen that pharmaceutical modulation of TLR/IL-1R signalling pathways by these drugs might yield clinical benefits in the treatment of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases

A Shared-Control Teleoperation Architecture for Nonprehensile Object Transportation

This article proposes a shared-control teleoperation architecture for robot manipulators transporting an object on a tray. Differently from many existing studies about remotely operated robots with firm grasping capabilities, we consider the case in which, in principle, the object can break its contact with the robot end-effector. The proposed shared-control approach automatically regulates the remote robot motion commanded by the user and the end-effector orientation to prevent the object from sliding over the tray. Furthermore, the human operator is provided with haptic cues informing about the discrepancy between the commanded and executed robot motion, which assist the operator throughout the task execution. We carried out trajectory tracking experiments employing an autonomous 7-degree-of-freedom (DoF) manipulator and compared the results obtained using the proposed approach with two different control schemes (i.e., constant tray orientation and no motion adjustment). We also carried out a human-subjects study involving 18 participants in which a 3-DoF haptic device was used to teleoperate the robot linear motion and display haptic cues to the operator. In all experiments, the results clearly show that our control approach outperforms the other solutions in terms of sliding prevention, robustness, commands tracking, and user’s preference

Agro-biodiversity: an economic evaluation of benefits provided to regional community by the Apulian olive landraces

The most important anthropogenic cause of the loss of agricultural biodiversity is the rapid change in land use and the subsequent transformation of habitats, a process stemming from the economic decisions of sector agents, with significant implications for biodiversity conservation strategies in agro-ecosystems. The paper focuses on the olive sector of Apulia, Italy, one of the most important in the regional agriculture in terms of added value. In particular, it concerns the conservation of the local olive landraces based on the socioeconomic characteristics of regional citizens. Recognition of the social, economic and structural heterogeneity in community is important for estimating accurately predicting benefits and costs of agro-biodiversity management in the Mediterranean area. The paper allows studying these aspects by measuring, through a random parameter logit model, the monetary willingness of citizens of Apulia to participate in an on-farm agro-biodiversity conservation programme and by exploring how some programme attributes influence their willingness. This information can then be gathered in order to verify the suitability of the conservation strategy in force and to provide tailored references for future programmes

Agro-biodiversity of Mediterranean crops: farmers' preferences in support of a conservation programme for olive landraces

The study focused on the willingness to participate in a conservation programme for olive landraces by farmers in Apulia, Italy. The choice experiment approach through a latent class model was carried out in order to investigate different characteristics of farmers which could increase the effectiveness and efficiency of conservation strategies by policy makers. The analysis identified three groups of respondents, each of which with very different characteristics: capitalist farms with high profit level managed by farmers unwilling to take part in a conservation programme; small and fragmented family farms managed by older farmers fully in favour of the programme; young farmers with low capital input, but willing to engage with a minimum participation in the programme. Policy implications suggest the need to develop markets able to appreciate the characteristics of the local olive oils, to involve farmers in marketing training programmes for a better placing of local products in the market, to support the young farmers and family farming, to set suitable policies which are able to trigger a more incisive involvement of women in conservation programmes. Such a holistic approach could generate welfare for all agents of the supply chain, in terms of profit, environment, food security and nutritional aspects

Agritourism and territorial framework in the northern Salento (Apulia region, Italy)

The Territory Landscape Plan of the Apulia Region (PPTR)focuses on rural areas and agricultural sector, putting them in a holistic local and socio-economic context. This strategy isimplemented through the town-country pact, one of the five local projects proposed by the PPTR. The aim of the research is the study of the context and specificity of agritourism in Ostuni and Fasanocoastal areas (northern Salento), in which natural beauties, such as rural and coastal landscapes, coexist, characterized by ancient olive groves, historical rural houses and charming towns. In particular, the study analyses this rural context by means of the relationship between agritourism and territorial framework in order to check the sustainability of the development processes and their consistency with the programmatic guidelines of the PPTR. Qualitative approacheshas been used, such as semi-structured interviews and photographic material

Distretti industriali e Istituzioni Locali

Nascita ed evoluzione dei distretti industriali Rapporto tra istituzioni e distretti industriali Fattori istituzionali e contesto socio-economico Due casi a confronto: Solofra e Mirandol