Quanto vale il marchio bio? Un’indagine edonimetrica

In questo lavoro si presentano i risultati relativi ad una analisi dei prezzi di due prodotti biologici (pasta e olio extra vergine di oliva) rilevati in alcune città campione nel Nord, Centro e Sud Italia. Il lavoro fa parte di una più ampia rilevazione dei prezzi dei prodotti biologici effettuata in Europa. Utilizzando il modello dei prezzi edonici, si è tentato di verificare se il prezzo del prodotto biologico dipendesse in qualche modo dal tipo certificazione riportata in etichetta. Più specificamente sono stati analizzati il marchio bio europeo, il marchio delle associazioni dei produttori (es. AIAB), il marchio dei certificatori (es. ICEA) e altri marchi privati (in particolare quello Demeter). I risultati mostrano che l’influenza dei vari marchi sul prezzo finale del prodotto è trascurabile

Esperanto, graphic archetypes, biophilia. Esperanto, archetipi grafici, biofilia

Oggi è diffusa l’idea che il linguaggio iconico sia quello dell’era informatica, basato su un simbolo dal significato decifrabile con immediatezza a livello globale, tassello di un mondo virtuale che ha definitivamente traghettato l’umanità sulle rive di quel tanto atteso Esperanto voluto da Ludwik Lejzer Zamenhof, dagli effetti altamente benefici ma che nei giovani anche di medesimo idioma rende la parola parlata ormai quasi obsoleta, effetto collaterale questo ovviamente indesiderato. Tali tasselli iconico/informatici presenti nei nostri computer, tablet, cellulari ecc. vengono oggi percepiti in modo del tutto diverso da come lo erano i simboli fino agli anni ’70 e oltre. Sono degli enzimi o amminoacidi, degli agenti che svolgono svariate funzioni per noi. Ognuno di essi è un piccolo robot, un buon amico che ci tiene compagnia e che, all’occorrenza, ci viene in aiuto per trovare un’informazione, un’automobile in affitto, per effettuare una prenotazione, un piccolo divertimento, ecc. Ciò che qui interessa di questi potenti tasselli pro–attivi è, da un lato, il loro rapporto storico/ evolutivo significante–significato, cosa per la quale è necessario chiamare in campo l’Esperanto e gli archetipi grafici; dall’altro, capire se e come la città reale nel suo insieme possa trovarne giovamento, oltre quindi alla dimensione miope dei monitor small, large e x–large. In tal senso è utile operare un salto ontologico in direzione dell’ipotesi biofilica di Stephen Kellert, che possa aprire a possibili scenari di interazione tra simboli pro–attivi e territori non solo urbano/ambientali tout court, ma anche psicologico–comportamentali–percettivi, che stimolino a un uso fluido–dinamico della città e dei suoi spazi. Analizzare gli archetipi grafici − secondo una visione XYZ − ed usarne alcuni in tale chiave all’interno della biofilia, può rivelarsi utile a umanizzare la città trasformandola psicologicamente, con l’aiuto del verde, dell’arte e dell’architettura, in un organismo amico, nei cui tessuti resi vivi e non irritanti il fluido umano si senta protetto, avvolto e partecipe.Today we have the idea that the iconic language is that of the computer age, based on a symbol of decipherable meaning with a global immediacy, part of a virtual world that has definitively ferried humanity on the banks of that long–awaited Esperanto wanted by Ludwik Lejzer Zamenhof, with very beneficial effects, but that in young people even of the same language makes the spoken word almost obsolete, being this a collateral unwanted effect. These iconic/informatic dowels in our computers, tablets, mobile phones, etc. are perceived today in a completely different way from the symbols used until the 70s and beyond. They are enzymes or amino–acids, agents that perform various functions for us. Each of them is a small robot, a good friend who keeps us company and that, when necessary, helps us to find information, a rented car, to make a reservation, a little fun, etc. What is interesting here on these powerful proactive dowels is on the one hand their historical/evolutionary connection symbol–meaning, which is why it is necessary to call Esperanto and the graphic archetypes in the field, on the other to understand if and how the real city as a whole can find an advantage from them, out from the short–sighted dimension of small–large–xlarge monitors. In this sense it is useful to make an ontological leap towards the biophilic hypothesis of Stephen Kellert, that could open possible scenarios of interaction between proactive symbols and territories not only urban/environmental tout court, but also psychological–behavioral–perceptive, which stimulate a fluid–dynamic use of the city and its spaces. Analyzing graphic archetypes − according to an XYZ vision − and using some of them under this key within biophilia, can be useful to humanize the city, transforming it psychologically, with the help of green, art and architecture, into a friendly organism, in whose tissues rendered alive and not irritating, the human fluid feels protected, wrapped and participant

La tutela del personaggio di fantasia tra diritto d\u2019autore, diritto dei marchi e concorrenza sleale

mmario: Introduzione. I presupposti per la tutela del personaggio di fantasia ai sensi della legge sul diritto d' autore. Modalit\ue0 di sfruttamento del personaggio di fantasia: l' utilizzazione in nuove opere dell' ingegno e in opere derivate. Il coordinamento tra la disciplina del diritto d' autore e la nuova legge sui marchi. Il presupposto per la tutela del personaggio di fantasia come marchio: la rappresentazione in forma grafica. Il merchandising. Concorrenza sleale ed uso del personaggio come marchio di fatto. Problemi della "doppia protezione" del personaggio: la caduta in pubblico dominio. Una ratio comune per le differenti forme di tutela? Conclusione

Design and Construction of a Computer Controlled Astronomical Spectropolarimeter

A theoretical description of a simple optical train, modulated signal based spectropolarimeter is discussed. The design includes, after the telescope optical tube (in this case, a 9.25” Schmidt Cassegrain), a rotating quarter waveplate (compensator), a fixed linear polarizer (analyzer), and transmission grating of 100l/mm, with a ZWO ASI290mm astronomical camera. The practical constraints on implementing such an instrument are discussed, and the construction of the spectropolarimeter is detailed, including the necessary optics, optomechanics, and electromechanics. The rotation and recording of the rotating compensator is facilitated by a motorized connection with proportional feedback control, and the uncertainty in measuring the angle is discussed. Calibration data from measurements with linear and circular polarizations was collected and analyzed, and exhibited close to the expected theoretical performance. Full analysis of the light in terms of the 4 Stoke’s parameters was hindered by lack of knowledge of the relative angle between analyzer and compensator, leading to ambiguity in the S1 and S2 parameters; however, even with this ambiguity, degrees of polarization can be determined. Astronomical data was collected on the Moon, Arcturus, and Vega. The analyzed moonlight exhibited clear linear polarization, with a degree of polarization of 4.13%. The polarimetric analysis of Vega and Arcturus suggested potential for polarization, but more analysis is needed. Spectroscopic performance was confirmed by measuring the hydrogen Balmer lines in Vega, leading to a plate scale of 0.6434 nm px . In summary, a low cost, low complexity spectropolarimeter capable of measuring all 4 Stoke’s parameters of stellar spectra has been constructed and tested on known generated polarization signals and astronomical objects

Simulations of bulk and confined bubble nucleation

The present thesis investigates, with atomistic simulations, vapor nucleation and liquid dynamics under nanoscale confinement. The main objective of this work is to go beyond the quasi-static classical picture of liquid-vapor phase transition, including kinetic and inertial effects. The performed simulations provide an accurate description of the phenomenon and a framework to interpret experimental observations. The dynamics of vapor nucleation is investigated in the pure bulk liquid and in confined conditions. In the last case, also wetting transition is studied. Particular attention is devoted to surfaces that combine textured geometries with an hydrophobic chemistry. These are able to stabilize vapor phase within surfaces asperities, producing a state in which liquid is suspended above the entrapped vapor pockets. In these conditions, remarkable properties arise that are collectively known as superhydropobicity. In this suspended state, known also as Cassie-Baxter state, the contact area between solid and liquid is reduced with respect to a flat surface and with respect to the textured surface in which the corrugations are flooded with the liquid. Moreover, the liquid presents a higher contact angle (CA), with a lower CA hysteresis and a reduced liquid-solid friction. Due to these properties, superhydrophobic surfaces are suitable for applications such as self-cleaning glass, window, andwallpaint. Theypreventmoistureaccumulation, helpanti-icing, andallowdropwisecondensationtoincreasetheheattransferefficiencyandwaterharvesting. These are all in-air applications. However, the presence of a large shear free liquid/gas interface suggested that super-hydrophobic surfaces can be used in many submerged applications, e.g. drag reduction, anti-friction, anti-adhesive, anti-corrosion, and boiling heat transfer. Cassie-Baxter state can be destabilized by changes in pressure and temperature, that produce the intrusion of the liquid within surface defects. The corresponding state in which the surface is completely wetted is known as Wenzel state. The loss of super-hydrophobic properties (Cassie-Baxter to Wenzel transition) has proved to be experimentally irreversible. It is therefore crucial to characterize both wetting and recovery mechanisms in order understand how to design surfaces supporting a robust Cassie-Baxter state, i.e. a suspended state that can resist to temperature and pressure fluctuations. Wetting transition and recovery of superhydrophobic state take place via vapor/liquid and liquid/vapor phase transitions occurring under confinement at the nanoscale within geometric defects. Over the last decades, a significant amount of experimental and theoretical work has been devoted to the study of confined liquidvapor transition. In spite of this, not much is known yet about the kinetics of the process. The contribution to the topic obtained during the three years of my PhD is presented in this thesis. The first part of the work has been devoted to develop and test Molecular Dynamics and Monte Carlo methods able to properly simulate multiphase systems. Indeed, it has been demonstrated that serious issues arise when the standard global barostats, developed to simulate bulk systems, are straightforwardly applied to systems with subdomains at different pressures, e.g. liquid and vapor domains during nucleation. A solution to overcome these artifacts has been proposed, consisting in the implementation of a local barostat that imposes a local force balance between a piston and the contacting liquid. With this approach, a more accurate prediction of the vapor nucleation barrier in a super-heated liquid has been obtained. Secondly, the simulation techniques developed at the first stage of my PhD work have been employed to study homogeneous bubble nucleation. At the liquid pressure andtemperaturehereinvestigated, thisphenomenonisarareevent: thewaitingtime to observe the inception of vapor formation is order of magnitude longer than the typical time that can be explored by atomistic simulations. This issue, that causes waste of computational resources, has been tackled by carefully selecting special techniques able to preserve kinetic and inertial effects during bubbles growth. With this approach, “dynamical” quantities have been estimated, e.g. the nucleation rate. Other two essential aspects have been addressed: the limits of theoretical expressions routinely used to evaluate the kinetic prefactor in Eyring equation for vapor nucleation; the relation between successful nucleation events and relevant observables, such as temperature and liquid velocity, at beginning and during bubble expansion. The last section of this thesis is focused on heterogeneous nucleation and wetting of super-hydrophobic surfaces. Recent theoretical and experimental studies have produced conflicting results in the characterization of the pathways by which liquid intrudes in pores. The disagreement resides, specifically, in the symmetry properties expected for the advancing meniscus shape. Experiments show a symmetric pathways, in which the liquid penetrates in the surface pores with an essentially flat meniscus, while quasi-static theories predict that the asymmetric pathway is more probable, in which the liquid entering in the surface cavities bend forming a bubble in a corner. My simulations have proved that inertial effects change the wetting and recovery path with respect the predictions of quasi-static approaches. This reconcile theory and experiments: when the transition is barrierless, as expected in experimental conditions in which only nearly spontaneous processes can be addressed, the more complete theory developed here predicts a symmetric wetting as observed in the experiments

An Examination of Oral Fed Post-Trauma Patients for Calorie and Protein Consumption as a Percentage of Estimated Needs, and How it Impacts Length of Hospital Stay and Wound Healing

Due to rising costs of healthcare, clinicians are responsible for decreasing costs by providing care that moves the patient from injury, to recovery, to discharge within a matter of just a few days. The Registered Dietitian is responsible for the nutrition assessment and nutrition diagnosis, nutrition prescription and plan, and for monitoring the patient to achieve nutritional repletion within this short time frame. Concerns for patients who require nursing staff and caregivers for feeding are evident, especially when increased demands are being placed on the nursing staff. This study aims to determine whether or not “feeder patients” are at a higher risk for malnutrition, which could potentially result in delayed discharge, poor rate of wound healing, and increased costs to the institution