Dinamica e aspetti biologici della pesca artigianale del litorale di Barcellona (Spagna)

Memoria de tesis doctoral presentada por Arianna Bucci para obtener el título de Doctora por la Università degli Studi dell'Insubria, realizada bajo la dirección de la Dra. Montserrat Demestre Alted del Institut de Ciències del Mar (ICM-CSIC)[EN] Small-scale fishery is a very variable activity, with highly multispecific catches and multiple strategies, which in many cases interact in the exploitation of the same resource. A feature of this activity is the alternation of gears, target species and fishing grounds throughout the year. The dynamic pattern of fisheries is bounded up with spatio-temporal dynamics of the resource. The aim of this research, carried out between October 2002 and December 2003, is to identify the existing dynamics, to analyse biological aspects of some case study species and to determine the interactions among fisheries. During the sampled year, total catches showed low values compared to 1992-2003 statistics. Sampling was carried out on a quarterly basis using the main artisanal fishing gears of Barcelona harbour fleet (North-Western Mediterranean). A total of 121 hauls were analysed, comprising a total of 305 taxa. Cluster analysis of catch composition individualized each fishing gear, identified by target species which vary depending on season, depth and sediment. [...][IT] Il presente studio è stato realizzato tra Ottobre 2002 e Dicembre 2003 presso l'Istitut de Ciències del Mar di Barcellona (Spagna), del Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, all'interno di un progetto che ha l'obiettivo di valutare l'impatto delle opere di ampliamento del Porto di Barcellona sulle risorse di pesca tradizionalmente sfruttate. In tale contesto, la presente ricerca svolge un'analisi dell'attivitá di pesca della flotta artigianale di Barcellona e delle sue risorse. La "piccola pesca" è una pesca multispecifica e comporta l'impiego di svariati attrezzi e metodi di cattura (artes), che in molti casi interagiscono tra loro nello sfruttamento di una stessa risorsa. Si caratterizza per una notevole variabilità nel corso dell'anno, che consiste nell'alternanza dei metodi di pesca, delle specie catturate e delle aree visitate. Le dinamiche di questa attività sono strettamente correlate a quelle spazio-temporali delle specie di interesse commerciale. Il progetto di ricerca portato a termine ha permesso di descrivere tali dinamiche, la cui comprensione potrà trovare applicazione a fini gestionali e permettere lo sviluppo sostenibile dell'attivitá di pesca artigianale, che da sempre rappresenta un settore di grande valore socio-economico in ambito mediterraneo. [...]Peer Reviewe

New data on the spread of the crab Percnon gibbesi (Brachyura: Grapsidae) in the western Mediterranean

Abstract not availabl

Relation between climatic condition, temperature and moisture in the subsoil of Turin Plain

Unconfined aquifer, unsaturated zone, satured zone, Po River, temperatur

Urban groundwater warming in Turin area (NW Italy)

Low enthalpy, geothermal systems, alluvial, temperatur

Presumptive taxation and firms’ efficiency: an integrated approach for tax compliance analysis

Presumptive taxation methods are policy tools widespread adopted by fiscal authorities with the aim to improve voluntary tax compliance and to fight tax evasion. Such methods allow authorities to uncover firms’ under-reporting, but face several limits. In particular, presumptive taxation methods do not allow to disentangle when the presence of under-reporting is ascribable to tax evasion behaviour or to the lack of managerial skills and inefficiency. To overcome the main presumptive taxation weakness, we propose combining presumptive frameworks with a measure of technical efficiency, thus developing an integrated approach for tax evasion analysis able to support the audit activities of fiscal authorities. Further, we provide some considerations in terms of tax compliance and support our approach with evidence obtained from an empirical application based on Italian firms

Similar reduction of cholesterol-adjusted Vitamin E serum levels in simple steatosis and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis

OBJECTIVES: Reduced vitamin E levels have been reported in patients with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), but no conclusive data on patients with simple steatosis (SS) are available. Aim of this study was to investigate the association betweenserum vitamin E levels and SS. METHODS: A cohort of 312 patients with cardio-metabolic risk factors was screened for liver steatosis by ultrasonography (US). We reasonably classified as SS patients with US-fatty liver, normal liver function tests (LFTs) and with Cytokeratin 18 o246 mIU/ml. Liver biopsy was performed in 41 patients with US-fatty liver and persistent elevation of LFTs (46 months). Serum cholesterol-adjusted vitamin E (Vit E/chol) levels were measured. RESULTS: Mean age was 53.9±12.5 years and 38.4% were women. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) was detected at US in 244 patients; of those 39 had biopsy-proven NASH and 2 borderline NASH. Vit E/chol was reduced in both SS (3.4±2.0, Po0.001), and NASH (3.5±2.1, P=0.006) compared with non-NAFLD patients (4.8±2.0 μmol/mmol chol). No difference was found between SS and NASH (P=0.785). After excluding patients with NASH, a multivariable logistic regression analysis found that Vit E/chol (odds ratio (OR): 0.716, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.602–0.851, Po0.001), alanine aminotransferase (ALT, OR: 1.093, 95% CI 1.029–1.161, P=0.004), body mass index (OR: 1.162, 95% CI 1.055–1.279, P=0.002) and metabolic syndrome (OR: 5.725, 95% CI 2.247–14.591, Po0.001) were factors independently associated with the presence of SS. CONCLUSIONS: Reduced vitamin E serum levels are associated with SS, with a similar reduction between patients with SS and NASH, compared with non-NAFLD patients. Our findings suggest that the potential benefit of vitamin E supplementation should be investigated also in patients with SS

Environmental concerns of borehole heat exchangers (BHE): the role of heat-carrier fluid and grouting

Green renewable technology,  chemical riskiness, propylene glycol,  Po Plai