Measuring the Impact of a State\u2019s Legal and Organizational Framework on Social Capital through System Dynamics Modeling

The scientific community recognizes the critical effect of social capital on economic development; social capital benefits society with lower transaction costs and less opportunistic behavior among institutions, thus representing a key factor contributing to the quality of a country\u2019s global competitiveness. At a macro level of analysis, social capital arises through formalized institutional relationships, structures and public policies constituting a state\u2019s organizational and legal framework. Good public management, services and transparency foster in individuals their social commitment, honesty and a solid trust toward public institutions \u2013 all proxies of social capital. In contrast, bad public administration depletes social capital. The literature has heretofore been more successful at documenting the beneficial impact of social capital than at developing management tools for devising policies. The present research, tailored on the Italian state, may help fill this gap in literature through the design of a management tool to help policy makers assess the social capital created or depleted by public policies. The system dynamics model provided in this study, which includes such information in policy design, may also lead policy makers to select policy alternatives that produce the best results for social capital growth

Nature-inspired next generation nanosorters for protein purification

Creating a new class of synthetic membranes with the high selectivity of biological membranes while maintaining large permeation fluxes is the holy grail of membrane science and technology. In Nature, cells have evolved many separators (machines) to select, concentrate and purify water, ions and proteins. In particular, the Nuclear Pore Complex (NPC) is a macromolecular complex that efficiently fractionates proteins between the cell nucleus and cytoplasm in all eukaryotic cells1. Its architecture is well understood and described in the literature,2-5 yet the molecular transport mechanism remains unclear. Transport across the NPC is fast, energy-dependent (to give directionality) and often receptor-mediated. While small molecules pass through the NPCs unchallenged, large macromolecules (\u3e40 kDa) are excluded unless assisted by transport factors collectively termed Karyopherins (Kaps). The translocation of proteins/RNAs occurs through the specific affinity and binding between Kaps and particular nuclear pore complex proteins (nucleoporins) called FG-Nups, which share a degenerate multiple-repeated “Phe-Gly” motif. Because FG-Nups are the major component of the selective gating mechanism, we first investigated the nanomechanical properties of cysteine-modified Nsp1 using the volume force mapping technique of atomic force microscopy (AFM). From single molecule AFM on a sparse Nsp1 surface, we estimated structural parameter as persistence length and contour length. In an attempt to better understand the transport and the selective process under crowding conditions, we then used quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCM-D). Nsp1 and truncated variations of it were immobilized on QCM-D sensors. The binding and unbinding of Kap95, other binding proteins, as well as control proteins, was studied in order to investigate specificity and effect of competitive binding. Finally, we coupled Nsp1 to maleimide functionalized PS-b-PEO membranes and characterized them through X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Inspired by Nature, we aim to gain sufficient understanding of the molecular scale engineering principles behind nuclear transport to allow us to design the next generation of synthetic selective nanosorters capable of purifying any protein that we desire. References 1. Grünwald D, Singer RH and Rout M, Nature (2011) 475:333-41 2. Alber F et al., Nature (2007) 450:683-94 3. Alber F et al., Nature (2007) 450:695-701 4. Stuwe T et al., Science (2016) 6226:1148-52 5. Kosinski J et al., Science (2016) 352: 363-6

La fallibilità delle società a partecipazione pubblica

Lo studio ripercorre i nodi interpretativi legati alla suscettibilità delle società in mano pubblica esercenti attività d'impresa commerciale di essere soggette al fallimento in caso d'insolvenza. L'analisi critica degli orientamenti dottrinali e giurisprudenziali sul tema consente l'emersione di interrogativi rimasti irrisolti cui l'autrice tenta di dare una risposta attraverso una ricostruzione della disorganica normativa di riferimento

Il progetto di restyling delle societ\ue0 tra avvocati

Reflections of systematic order on the project to redesign the company among the lawyers. The study addresses the issue of social reform among lawyers stressing the urgency in view of the lack of legislation in relation to its articulation in the form of corporations determined by the lapse of the period prescribed by art. 5 l. 247/12 for its implementation. The author offers insight on the problematic issues of the current regulations (Legislative Decree no. 96/2001), namely: i) the extension of the types of company that can be used and its impact on the nature of the problem is and the relationship between the relevant regulations and that of the selected type; ii) the boundaries of the social, iii) the status of lawyer as a requirement for entry into the social structure and the possible presence of members (lawyers) of mere capital, iv) is and the group of companies, v) strict liability of the shareholders, the tax treatment of income is produced by the and discipline of the crisis

Building a State\u2019s Global Competitive Advantage by Improving Its Finances: A System Dynamic Model Tailored for the Italian State

The present study analyzes and tests a new way to recover economy and public finances in time of crisis. An exclusive focus on State financial short-term stability risks to undermine the economic growth and to erode the social environment, thus it depletes the sources of State finances on the long-term. While a sustainable strategizing focuses on performance drivers that generate these last. Such approach in public strategizing is based on the assumption that State could increase its budgets by improving the organizational and legal framework in which private firms operate, in order to reduce their overhead costs for compliance of rules, and public facilities\u2019 inefficiencies. This improvement margin enables the national economic environment to be more globally competitive, and, consequently, to take advantage of new national and foreign investors and of existing firm\u2019s retention. By quantitatively linking a state organization\u2019s performance to that of private firms, the system dynamics model demonstrates how this eventually leads to an increase in financial resources for a government organization. In absence of such improvement, the model shows how delocalization would create a huge financial loss for the government: losses that public officials seem to ignore

Food availability and competition do not modulate the costs of Plasmodium infection in dominant male canaries

Understanding the different factors that may influence parasite virulence is of fundamental interest to ecologists and evolutionary biologists. It has recently been demonstrated that parasite virulence may occur partly through manipulation of host competitive ability. Differences in competitive ability associated with the social status (dominant or subordinate) of a host may determine the extent of this competition-mediated parasite virulence. We proposed that differences between subordinate and dominant birds in the physiological costs of infection may change depending on the level of competition in social groups. We observed flocks of domestic canaries to determine dominant or subordinate birds, and modified competition by providing restricted (high competition) or ad libitum food (low competition). Entire flocks were then infected with either the avian malaria parasite, Plasmodium relictum or a control. Contrary to our predictions we found that the level of competition had no effect on the outcome of infection for dominant or subordinate birds. We found that dominant birds appeared to suffer greater infection mediated morbidity in both dietary treatments, with a higher and more sustained reduction in haematocrit, and higher parasitaemia, than subordinates. Our results show that dominance status in birds can certainly alter parasite virulence, though the links between food availability, competition, nutrition and virulence are likely to be complex and multifaceted

A Study of Grapevine Growth and Performance in Vineyard and Non-Agricultural Portuguese Soils

Mestrado em Engenharia de Viticultura e Enologia. Universidade de Lisboa, Instituto Superior de AgronomiaStudies of vineyard soil show a deterioration of its nutrient content, structure, and microorganism communities. This study’s objective was to compare physical-chemical and biological properties of conventionally managed vineyard soils and surrounding non-agricultural soils in three Portuguese winegrowing locations and to evaluate the performance of Aragónez cv. x 110 Richter and Aragónez cv. x 1103 Paulsen grapevines planted in soils from different land uses, in a controlled greenhouse experiment. Soil physical-chemical analysis (pH, electrical conductivity, nutrients in the available fraction, organic C, total N, cation exchangeable capacity), and soil biological analysis (enzyme activities, density of mycorrhizal infective propagules) were measured. Ten Aragónez cv. x 110 Richter and 1103 Paulsen were planted in each soil sample. Grapevine performance was monitored via Photochemical Reflectance Index (PRI) and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) for three months. Root biomass, shoot length, root mycorrhizal colonization was analyzed. Conventionally managed vineyards on average had 55% lower concentrations of organic C and 46% lower concentrations of total N. ß-glucosidase activity in Lisbon was 76% higher in non-agricultural soil. Soil mycorrhizal infective propagule density of non-agricultural soils in Bombarral and Lisbon were over 22 and 10 times greater than the corresponding vineyard soil. Grapevines grown in vineyard soils from Lisbon and Pegões showed the lowest NDVI values. Aragónez x 110 Richter had higher shoot length (44.5, 53, 56, 62 cm) in Bombarral and Lisbon compared to Aragónez x 1103 Paulsen (35.5, 48, 45, 58 cm). In Lisbon and Pegões, Aragónez x 1103 Paulsen had higher root mycorrhizal colonization. This work indicates that agricultural practices conducted in vineyard soils can contribute to a negative effect on some soil physical-chemical and biological parameters, which leads to differences in grapevine performance when compared to non-agricultural soils. Thus, it seems important to include more sustainable soil management practices in these vineyards to obtain a better plant fitness.Estudos de solos de vinhas mostram uma deterioração dos seus conteúdo de nutrientes, estrutura e comunidades microbianas superior a solos não agrícolas. O objetivo deste estudo foi comparar propriedades físico-químicas e biológicas de solos em diferentes vinhas em modo de produção convencional e solos não agrícolas nas proximidades destas mesmas vinhas. O estudo foi feito em três diferentes regiões Portuguesas produtoras de vinho. Neste trabalho foi avaliado, em condições controladas, o desempenho de videiras da casta Aragonês, enxertada com o porta enxerto 110 Richter (110 R) e a mesma variedade enxertada com o porta enxerto 1103 Paulsen (1103 P). Foram realizadas análises físico-químicas às varias amostras de solo (pH, condutividade elétrica, nutrientes na fração disponível, C orgânico, N total, capacidade de troca catiónica) e análises biológicas do solo (atividades enzimáticas, densidade de propágulos micorrízicos infetados). Em cada amostra de solo foram plantadas dez videiras da casta Aragonês enxertadas com o porta enxerto 110 R e dez videiras da mesma casta com o porta-enxerto 1103 P. O desempenho da videira foi monitorizado através do Índice de Refletância Fotoquímica (PRI) e Índice de Vegetação por Diferença Normalizada (NDVI) durante três meses. Foi analisada a biomassa radicular, comprimento da parte aérea e a colonização micorrízica radicular. As vinhas em modo de produção convencional apresentavam em média 55% menos concentrações de C orgânico e uma concentração total de N inferior em 46%. A atividade ß-glucosidase em Lisboa foi 76% mais elevada em solo não agrícola comparativamente com solo de uma vinha. A densidade de propagação de micorrizas do solo em Bombarral e Lisboa com ocupação não agrícola foi respetivamente 22 e 10 vezes superior comparativamente com o solo com ocupação agrícola correspondente. As vinhas do solo com vinhas em Lisboa e Pegões apresentava os valores mais baixos de NDVI. Relativamente ao desenvolvimento vegetativo, a casta Aragonês x 110 R apresentou o a maior comprimento de sarmento (44,5, 53, 56, 62 cm) em Bombarral e Lisboa, em comparação com Aragonês x 1103 P (35,5, 48, 45, 58 cm). Por outro lado, em Lisboa e Pegões, as videiras Aragonês x 1103 P apresentaram uma colonização micorrízica da raiz mais elevada. Este trabalho mostra que as práticas agrícolas conduzidas em solos de vinha podem contribuir para um efeito negativo em alguns dos parâmetros físico-químicos e biológicos do solo, o que terá um efeito negativo e consequentemente levará a diferenças no desempenho da videira quando comparada com solos não agrícolas. Assim, tendo em conta os resultados seria relevante implementar medidas mais sustentáveis de gestão do solo em vinhas, de forma a obter um melhor desenvolvimento vegetativo por parte da videira.N/

The evolution of sperm morphometry in pheasants

Postcopulatory sexual selection is thought to be a potent evolutionary force driving the diversification of sperm shape and function across species. In birds, insemination and fertilisation are separated in time and sperm storage increases the duration of sperm female interaction and hence the opportunity for sperm competition and cryptic female choice. We performed a comparative study of 24 pheasant species (Phasianidae, Galliformes) to establish the relative importance of sperm competition and the duration of sperm storage for the evolution of sperm morphometry (i.e. size of different sperm traits). We found that sperm size traits were negatively associated with the duration of sperm storage but were independent of the risk of sperm competition estimated from relative testis mass. Our study emphasises the importance of female reproductive biology for the evolution of sperm morphometry particularly in sperm storing taxa