Could the Bass model be applied to Italian emigration?

Objectives. Our work is a first attempt at verifying whether the diffusionist theory - a framework extensively employed in the demographic literature to interpret the spread of new ideas and practices - can adequately and meaningfully explain migration decisions and related migration data. Methods. We test whether the Bass model can properly fit the new Italian emigration when working with absolute values. In this sense, we propose interpolation applications for the different Italian macro-areas, separately. Results. The Bass model detects geographic differences in the underlying dynamics governing the new emigration flows. In Bass terms, the diffusion of the new emigratory behaviour travels at two different speeds in the Northern-Central Italy and in the South. The forces governing the pace of diffusion also reveal a geographic heterogeneity, presenting North-South divergences

Development of a multifunctional panel for aerospace use through SLM additive manufacturing

Lattice materials can overcome the need of light and stiff structures in the aerospace industry. The wing leading edge is one of the most critical parts for both on-board subsystem and structure features: it must withstand to the aerodynamic loads and bird-strike, integrating also the anti-ice system functions. Nowadays, this part is made by different components bonded together such as external skin, internal passageways, and feeding tubes. In the present work, a single-piece multifunctional panel made by additive manufacturing will be developed. Optimal design and manufacturing are discussed according to technological constraints, aeronautical performances and sustainability

Creative intelligence and giftedness compared: measurement methods and applications in schools

openLo scopo del seguente elaborato scritto è di andare ad analizzare e confrontare due costrutti complessi: l’intelligenza creativa e la plus-dotazione, con uno sguardo particolare verso l’ambiente scolastico. Nel corso degli anni, molti studiosi hanno analizzato il rapporto che intercorre tra intelligenza e creatività, cercando di capire se esistano effettive connessioni, e, attraverso l’elaborazione del tema dell’intelligenza creativa, la risposta è parsa, nella maggior parte dei casi, affermativa. Il tema della plus dotazione è, invece, più recente, ma ugualmente affascinante. Ho operato il confronto tra questi due temi attraverso un’analisi dei modelli e dei metodi di misurazione. L’elaborato si conclude con uno sguardo alle prospettive future, principalmente inerenti al mondo scolastico. In particolare, per quanto riguarda l’intelligenza creativa, l’obiettivo è che possa venire valorizzata maggiormente nelle scuole, con l’adozione di metodi di valutazione non inflessibili; mentre, per quanto riguarda la plus dotazione, l’obiettivo è quello di un riconoscimento precoce, per far si che, le persone con questa capacità cognitiva fuori dalla norma, possano esprimerla al meglio

A 3-week feed restriction after weaning as an alternative to a medicated diet: effects on growth, health, carcass and meat traits of rabbits of two genotypes

Feed restriction after weaning is widely used in meat rabbit farms to promote health and reduce mortality, but this practice impacts negatively on rabbit growth and slaughter performance. This study compared a 3-week post-weaning feed restriction with ad libitum medicated feeding, evaluating effects on feed intake, growth, health, carcass and meat quality of rabbits of two genotypes: Italian White pure breed and Hycole hybrid×Italian White crossbred. A total of 512 rabbits at 36 days of age, of both sexes and two genotypes, were divided into four homogeneous groups assigned, from 36 to 57 days of age, to different feeding programmes (FP): restricted non-medicated (R-N), ad libitum non-medicated (L-N), restricted medicated (R-M) and ad libitum medicated (L-M). The diets were medicated with oxytetracycline (1540 mg/kg) and colistin sulphate (240 mg/kg). The restriction, performed by giving 70, 80 and 90 g/day of feed for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd week, was followed by ad libitum feeding in the successive 5 weeks, up to slaughter at 92 days of age. Restricted feeds were ingested at a level of 64% of the feed intake recorded in the ad libitum fed rabbits; it was significantly associated, regardless of medication and rabbit genotype, with a lower feed intake (−22 to −24 g dry matter/day) during the entire experiment, compensatory growth and a lower feed conversion ratio in the ad libitum period, and a lower final live weight (−150 g) than ad libitum feeding (P<0.001). During restriction, mortality was lower in the restricted rabbits (6.25%, 5.47% v. 12.5%, 14.8% for R-N, R-M, L-N and L-M; P<0.05), whereas in the ad libitum period mortality did not differ among the groups (9.23%, 9.90%, 11.0% and 4.59% for R-N, R-M, L-N and L-M). Dressing out percentage was not affected by FP or genotype; heavier carcasses were produced by rabbits fed ad libitum (+100 g; P<0.001) and crossbred rabbits (+122 g; P<0.001). Restriction did not alter meat quality, except for a tendency towards a higher cooking loss and less fat; crossbred meat was higher in L* (+1.3; P<0.01) and b* (+0.51; P<0.05) colour indexes and tenderness (−0.14 kg/cm2; P<0.05) than pure breed meat. Under the conditions of this study, a 3-week restricted feeding after weaning resulted to be a suitable alternative, also for high growth potential genotypes, to the antibiotics to preserve rabbit health. The production of lighter carcasses could be compensated partly by the lower feed conversion ratio showed by restricted rabbits

Legume grain-based supplements in dairy sheep diet: Effects on milk yield, composition and fatty acid profile

With the aim to find protein sources that are free of genetically modified organisms, the effects of legume grain-based concentrates, used as alternatives of a mixed concentrate feed containing soybean, were evaluated on sheep milk production. Twelve lactating ewes were divided into four groups, fed hay and, according to a 4 × 4 Latin square design, supplied with 800 g/day of a commercial mixed concentrate feed (MCF) containing maize and soybean, or the same amount of isoprotein concentrates consisting of chickpea (CH), faba bean (FB), or pea (PE) mixed with barley. The ewes ingested more of the concentrates with legume grains than the MCF (702, 702, 678 vs 587 g/day DM for CH, FB, PE and MCF; P ≤ 0.001). Compared with CH, FB and PE resulted in greater (P ≤ 0.05) milk yield (710, 718 vs 654 g/day for FB, PE and CH, respectively), and led to a greater (P ≤ 0.05) efficiency of dietary protein utilisation for milk casein synthesis (94, 97 vs 87 g casein/kg crude protein intake for FB, PE and CH, respectively), whereas MCF resulted in intermediate levels of milk yield (677 g/day) and milk casein/crude protein intake (88 g/kg). Chickpea increased the milk content of trans-vaccenic and rumenic acids in comparison with FB and PE and, similarly to MCF, increased the milk content of linoleic acid, as well as total unsaturated fatty acids (24.3, 23.9 vs 17.2, 16.8 g/100 g fatty acid methyl esters for MCF, CH, FB and PE; P ≤ 0.001), thereby improving the potential health-promoting index. Legume grains can replace soybean in diets of dairy ewes, as they do not adversely affect milk yield and composition

Effects of ewes grazing sulla or ryegrass pasture for different daily durations on forage intake, milk production and fatty acid composition of cheese

Sulla (Sulla coronarium L.) forage is valued for its positive impact on ruminant production, in part due to its moderate content of condensed tannin (CT). The duration of daily grazing is a factor affecting the feed intake and milk production of ewes. In this study, the effects of grazing sulla pasture compared with annual ryegrass, and the extension of grazing from 8 to 22 h/day, were evaluated with regard to ewe forage intake and milk production, as well as the physicochemical properties and fatty acid (FA) composition of cheese. During 42 days in the spring, 28 ewes of the Comisana breed were divided into four groups (S8, S22, R8 and R22) that grazed sulla (S) or ryegrass (R) for 8 (0800 to 1600 h) or 22 h/day, and received no feeding supplement. In six cheese-making sessions, cheeses were manufactured from the 48 h bulk milk of each group. Compared with ewes grazing ryegrass, those grazing sulla had higher dry matter (DM) intake, intake rate and milk yield, and produced milk that was lower in fat and higher in casein. Ewes grazing for 22 h spent more time eating, which reduced the intake rate, increased DM and nutrient intake and milk yield, and reduced milk fat. Due to the ability of CT to inhibit the complete ruminal biohydrogenation of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), the FA composition of sulla cheese was more beneficial for consumer health compared with ryegrass cheese, having lower levels of saturated fatty acids and higher levels of PUFA and n-3 FA. The FA profile of S8 cheese was better than that of S22 cheese, as it was higher in branched-chain FA, monounsaturated FA, PUFA, rumenic acid (c9,t11-C18:2), and had a greater health-promoting index. The effect of short grazing time on sulla was attributed to major inhibition of PUFA biohydrogenating ruminal bacteria, presumably stimulated by the higher accumulation of sulla CT in the rumen, which is related to a higher intake rate over a shorter eating time. Thus, grazing sulla improved the performance of ewes, thereby increasing, especially with short grazing time, the nutritional properties of cheese fat

Two-dimensional numerical modelling of the Roccamonfina volcanic aquifer to constrain the recharge from deep reservoir

2D model, hydrogeological properties, multilayered volcanic aquifer, inverse modelling calibration, FePest (PEST code)

Effects of diet on casein and fatty acid profiles of milk from goats differing in genotype for αS1-casein synthesis

This study investigated the interactions between nutrition and the genotype at αS1-CN loci (CSN1S1) in goats, evaluating the impact of fresh forage-based diets and an energy supplement on the casein and fatty acid (FA) profiles of milk from Girgentana goats. Twelve goats were selected for having the same genotype at the αS2-CN, β- CN, and κ-CN loci and differing in the CSN1S1 genotype: homozygous for strong alleles (AA) or heterozygous for strong and weak alleles (AF). Goats of each genotype were divided into three groups and, according to a 3 × 3 Latin square design, fed ad libitum three diets: sulla fresh forage (SFF), SFF plus 800 g/day of barley (SFB), and mixed hay plus 800 g/day of barley (MHB). The SFB diet led to higher-energy intake and milk yield. The energy-supplemented diets (SFB, MHB) reduced milk fat and urea and increased coagulation time. The fresh forage diets (SFF, SFB) increased dry matter (DM) and crude protein (CP) intake and milk β-CN. Diet had a more pronounced effect than CSN1S1 genotype on milk FA profile, which was healthier from goats fed the SFF diet, due to the higher content of rumenic acid, polyunsaturated, and omega-3 FAs. The AA milk had longer coagulation time and higher curd firmness, higher short- and medium-chain FAs (SMFA), and lower oleic acid than AF milk. Significant diet by genotype interactions indicated the higher milk yield of AA goats than AF goats with the higher-energy SFB diet and the lower synthesis of SMFA in AF than in AA goats with the SFF diet

Literacy trainer, course instructor, basic education coach? A comparison of official job titles in basic education

Seit das Thema "Analphabetismus" und der Bedarf an Angeboten zu nachholendem Schriftsprachenerwerb in den 1970er Jahren erstmals in den Blick gerieten, erfolgte einiges an Professionalisierung und Institutionalisierung in diesem Feld. Trotz eines breiten Spektrums an Fortbildungen für in diesem Bereich Tätige fehlen dennoch weiterhin eine Standardisierung und verpflichtende Voraussetzungen in Deutschland sowie eine einheitliche Berufsbezeichnung, ganz abgesehen von den vielfach prekären Arbeitsbedingungen, die in diesem Feld vorherrschen. Im Rahmen einer Pilotstudie des Projekts WiBeG, angesiedelt an der Pädagogischen Hochschule Weingarten, wurde eine qualitative Erhebung mit Kursleiterinnen aus Deutschland und Österreich zur Entwicklung ihres Arbeitsfeldes und ihrer Berufsbezeichnung durchgeführt. Ergebnisse sind: Akteurinnen in der Grund- und Basisbildung wünschen sich bessere Rahmenbedingungen und Anerkennung auch von außen. Sie sehen viele Dimensionen in ihrem Tätigkeitsspektrum und identifizieren sich mit sehr unterschiedlichen Berufsbezeichnungen - von Basisbildnerin über Erwachsenenbildnerin und Grundbildungspädagogin bis Lernbegleiterin. (DIPF/Orig.)Since the topic of illiteracy and the need for courses allowing participants to catch up on written language acquisition first emerged in the 1970s, this field has become more professional and institutionalized. Despite a broad spectrum of advanced training for people active in this area, there is still a lack of standardization and mandatory requirements in Germany as well as a uniform job title, not to mention the frequently precarious working conditions that prevail in this field. In a pilot study by the WiBeG project established at the University College of Teacher Education Weingarten, a qualitative survey was conducted of course instructors from Germany and Austria on the development of their field of work and their job title. The results are: Those active in basic education would like better boundary conditions and recognition from the outside as well. They see many dimensions in their range of activities and identify with very different job titles - from basic educator to adult educator and basic education teacher to learning companion. (DIPF/Orig.