Investigation on microbiology of olive oil extraction process

Several batches of approx. 200 kg olives from Frantoio and Moraiolo cultivars were processed in an oil mill at two dates of harvesting. Samples were collected in several steps of extraction process for sensory, chemical and microbial analyses.All extracted olive oil from the second olive harvesting date was affected by sensory defects and hence classified as being “non-extra virgin”. A distinction between extra virgin olive oil and nonextra virgin olive oil obtained from both harvesting dates was explained by the volatile compounds content of olive oil samples and by yeast and mould counts collected at different processing steps

Microbiological and chemical monitoring of Marsala base wine obtained by spontaneous fermentation during large-scale production

The present work was undertaken to evaluate the effect of the natural winemaking on the microbial and chemical composition of Marsala base wine. To this purpose, a large-scale vinification process of Grillo grape cultivar was monitored from harvesting to the final product. Total yeasts (TY) showed a rapid increase after must pressing and reached values almost superimposable to those registered during the conventional winemakings. Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) were registered at the highest levels simultaneously to yeast growth at the beginning of the process. Saccharomyces cerevisiae was the species found at the highest concentrations in all samples analysed. Several strains (n= 16) was registered at high levels during the alcoholic fermentation and/or aging of wine; only two of them were detected on the grape surface. Lactobacillus plantarum was the LAB species most frequently isolated during the entire vinification process. Ethanol content was approximately 14% (v/v) at the end of vinification. The value of pH did not greatly vary during the process and the volatile acidity (VA) was detected at low concentrations during the entire transformation. The concentration of malic acid rapidly decreased during the AF; on the other hand, lactic acid showed an irregular trend during the entire process. trans-caffeil tartaric acid was the most abundant hydroxycinnamoyl tartaric acid and volatile organic compounds (VOC) were mainly represented by isoamylic alcohol and isobutanol

Chemical vapour deposition synthetic diamond: materials, technology and applications

Substantial developments have been achieved in the synthesis of chemical vapour deposition (CVD) diamond in recent years, providing engineers and designers with access to a large range of new diamond materials. CVD diamond has a number of outstanding material properties that can enable exceptional performance in applications as diverse as medical diagnostics, water treatment, radiation detection, high power electronics, consumer audio, magnetometry and novel lasers. Often the material is synthesized in planar form, however non-planar geometries are also possible and enable a number of key applications. This article reviews the material properties and characteristics of single crystal and polycrystalline CVD diamond, and how these can be utilized, focusing particularly on optics, electronics and electrochemistry. It also summarizes how CVD diamond can be tailored for specific applications, based on the ability to synthesize a consistent and engineered high performance product.Comment: 51 pages, 16 figure

I rischi dell’attività di intermediazione nell’impresa di assicurazione

Nel presente capitolo si passano in rassegna le princiali fattispecie di rischio che caratterizzano la complessiva gestione di un'impresa assicurativaThis chapter aims to analyze the main risks of insurance undertakin

I progetti di riforma della vigilanza nel Sistema finanziario: i “suggerimenti organizzativi” di Basilea 2 e Solvency II

La regolamentazione ed i controlli sui mercati e sugli intermediari finanziari e la relazione sistema delle Authorities-Sistema finanziario rappresentano l’oggetto di interesse immediato di questo lavoro. In particolare, la necessità di porre in essere forme di controllo in considerazione della specificità delle funzioni svolte dai vari intermediari viene considerata in un’ottica sistemica, ove la gestione dei sistemi sfugge al concetto di controllo di tipo gerarchico, per utilizzare una sorta di manipolazione dei meccanismi di feedback, secondo un approccio cibernetico à la Maruyama. Alla luce di questa impostazione, un processo di regolamentazione e supervisione efficace viene a configurarsi, quindi, come un insieme di “suggerimenti organizzativi” coerenti all’identità del Sistema finanziario, finalizzati a correggere tutte quelle condizioni che provocano i c.d. “fallimenti del mercato”. Le stesse istituzioni preposte all’attività di vigilanza sono considerabili alla stregua di entità sistemiche chiuse sotto il profilo organizzativo. L’ambiente esterno, quindi lo stesso Sistema finanziario, è configurabile come una variabile interna alla loro organizzazione. In tale accezione, dunque, si intende considerare l’impatto delle nuove scelte operate in materia di regolamentazione sull’evoluzione degli intermediari e del Sistema finanziario nel suo complesso e, quindi, sulle interrelazioni col metasistema economico-sociale. In un certo senso, quindi, gli sforzi tesi a garantire una maggiore stabilità nell’attività di intermediazione bancaria ed assicurativa - e che si sono concretizzati, rispettivamente, nell’“International Convergence of Capital Measurement and Capital Standards: a Revised Framework” e nei lavori relativi al progetto “Solvency II” - sono il risultato di una analisi contestuale che evidenzia la struttura dei rapporti che concausano e comantengono certi fenomeni che avvengono nel Sistema finanziario. Di conseguenza, la ridefinizione dell’intero sistema sollecitato dagli interventi appena citati appare il prodotto di un modus operandi teso ad allestire ed a mantenere tutte quelle condizioni idonee a far emergere nuove forme organizzative. Il che è come dire che l’ottica di Basilea 2 e Solvency II è quella di cogliere le potenzialità organizzative di una realtà complessa come quella dell’intermediazione finanziaria e di fornire, pertanto, gli opportuni "suggerimenti" organizzativi.The objective of this work is to analyze the regulation and supervision of the financial system according to the requirements of the theory of complex systems. In particular, we consider the impact of Basel 2 and Solvency II in the banking and insurance markets and in the overall financial system

LA RIFORMA DELLE AUTHORITY FINANZIARIE SECONDO UN APPROCCIO COMUNICAZIONALE-SISTEMICO

The paper analyzes the reform if financial Authorities using the paradigms of the communicational and systemic Approac

Experimental characterization of natural fibre–soil interaction: lessons for earthen construction

Earthen construction materials are the subject of renewed interest due to the rising alarm about environmental pollution from the construction industry. Current research efforts are focused on improving the mechanical properties of earthen materials to make them modern and competitive. To increase strength and improve ductility fibres can be added to the soil mixture and if natural fibres are used one achieves stabilisation in an environmentally friendly way. Several previous studies have dealt with the behaviour of this composite material at a macroscopic level and on the general interaction between fibres and soil, but there is little published research on the interfacial mechanical interaction between natural fibre reinforcement and a soil matrix which is key to the former. This paper attempts to fill this gap by presenting and discussing laboratory results from a large campaign of pull-out tests conducted on composite earthen samples. The variables investigated here are the nature of the fibres (i.e. single or collections twisted together) and the use of fibre treatments such as PVA glue and baking soda. In the study both fibre–soil failure and soil-soil failure are investigated and the results lead to conclusions as to appropriate use of fibres to reinforce earthen construction materials