The effect of women’s participation in labour market on postponement of childbearing: a comparison between Italy and Hungary

This paper analyses the effect of the increasing female participation in the labour market onthe transition to first childbirth. In this analysis both the ge nerational and the regional perspective are taken into account to understand, how postponement behaviour is spreading from one region to the other and from one generation to the next. The analysis is based on the first wave of the Generations and Gender Survey of Italy and Hungary. It adopts a multilevel event history model to focus on the micro-level relationship between the transition to adulthood and reproductive behaviour, to understand the empirical importance of macro-level factors related to regional socio-economic and cultural differences and to indicate differences in micro-level relationships among people of different family, socio-economic, and educational backgrounds. The results of the model shows that the delayed entry into labour market has a significant negative effect on the probability of having a child. This effect remains significant also controlling for generations, regional heterogeneity and increasing of female participation

The contribution to poverty persistence of children, adults, and the elderly: some empirical evidences from eleven European countries

This paper aims to communicate a new conceptualization of persistent poverty used to build the class of longitudinal poverty indices by Mendola et al. (2011), and to show how these indices could be helpful in analyzing the characteristics of persistence of poverty in different age groups. The indices are based upon the idea that the longer the sequence of consecutive high poverty gaps is, the worse the situation experienced. An empirical application on European Community Household Panel data compares the contributions of age groups to the overall index in some European countries and allows to identify the strata of population more exposed to poverty persistence

K-Trek: A Peer-to-Peer Approach To Distribute Knowledge In Large Environments

In this paper, we explore an architecture, called K-Trek, that enables mobile users to travel across knowledge distributed over a large geographical area (ranging from large public buildings to a national park). Our aim is providing, dis-tributing, and enriching the environment with location-sensitive information for use by agents on board of mobile and static devices. Local interactions among K-Trek devices and the distribution of information in the larger environment adopt some typical peer-to-peer patterns and techniques. We introduce the architecture, discuss some of its potential knowledge management applications, and present a few experimental results obtained with simulation

Mutual Loan-Guarantee Societies, Small Firms and Banks: An Empirical Investigation

The paper analyzes the relationships between mutual loan-guarantee societies (MLGS), small firms and banks trying to evaluate the role played by the guarantees granted by MLGSs and by different banks on the availability and the cost of credit. We focus on a sample of firms member of a specific MLGS and we run different econometric exercises in order to identify the effects of the interaction between local firms, banks and MLGS on credit rationing, on the cost of credit, and on the time and the number of guarantees required to obtain a line of credit. Our findings suggest a critical relevance of the MLGS guarantees on the local firms’ credit access and conditions. Finally, while the existing evidence points out a reduction in the cost of credit due to MLGSs intermediation, our analysis stresses the heterogeneity of the benefits for local firms, which depends substantially by the guarantees provided by the MLGS and by the reference banks.Mutual Loan Guarantee Societies (MLGS), Guarantee, Small business lending, Local banks

Scientific objectives and first results from COMPTEL

The imaging Compton telescope (COMPTEL) is the first imaging telescope in space to explore the MeV gamma ray range. At present it is performing a complete sky survey. In later phases of the mission, selected celestial objects will be studied in more detail. Targets of special interest in the COMPTEL energy range are radio pulsars, X-ray binaries, novae, supernova remnants, molecular clouds, and the interstellar medium within the Milky Way, as well as the nuclei of active galaxies, supernovae, and the diffuse cosmic background radiation in extragalactic space. The first four months of operation demonstrated that COMPTEL basically performs as expected. The Crab is clearly seen at its proper position in the first images of the anticenter region of the Galaxy. The Crab pulsar lightcurve was measured with unprecedented accuracy. The quasar 3C273 was seen for the first time at MeV-energies. Several cosmic bursts within the COMPTEL field of view could be located to an accuracy of about 1 degree. On June 9, 11, and 15, 1991 COMPTEL observed gamma ray (continuum and line) emission from three solar flares. Neutrons were also detected from the June 9 flare. At the present state of analysis, COMPTEL achieves the prelaunch predictions of its sensitivity within a factor of 2. Based on the present performance of COMPTEL, the team is confident that COMPTEL will fulfill its primary mission of surveying and exploring the MeV sky

Neutron induced background in the COMPTEL detector on the Gamma Ray Observatory

Interactions of neutrons in a prototype of the Compton imaging telescope (COMPTEL) gamma ray detector for the Gamma Ray Observatory were studied to determine COMPTEL's sensitivity as a neutron telescope and to estimate the gamma ray background resulting from neutron interactions. The IUCF provided a pulsed neutron beam at five different energies between 18 and 120 MeV. These measurements showed that the gamma ray background from neutron interactions is greater than previously expected. It was thought that most such events would be due to interactions in the upper detector modules of COMPTEL and could be distinguished by pulse shape discrimination. Rather, the bulk of the gamma ray background appears to be due to interactions in passive material, primarily aluminum, surrounding the D1 modules. In a considerable fraction of these interactions, two or more gamma rays are produced simultaneously, with one interacting in the D1 module and the other interacting in the module of the lower (D2) detector. If the neutron interacts near the D1 module, the D1 D2 time of flight cannot distinguish such an event from a true gamma ray event. In order to assess the significance of this background, the flux of neutrons in orbit has been estimated based on observed events with neutron pulse shape signature in D1. The strength of this neutron induced background is estimated. This is compared with the rate expected from the isotropic cosmic gamma ray flux

COMPTEL: Instrument description and performance

The imaging Compton telescope (COMPTEL) is one of the four gamma ray detectors aboard the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory (GRO). COMPTEL is sensitive to gamma rays from 800 keV to 30 MeV with a field of view of approximately 1 sr. Its angular resolution ranges between 1 and 2 degrees depending on the energy and incidence angle. The energy resolution of better than 10 percent FWHM enables COMPTEL to provide spectral resolution in the regime of astrophysical nuclear lines. The effective area varies typically from 10 to 50 cm(exp 2) depending on the energy and event selections made. In its telescope mode, COMPTEL is able to study a wide variety of objects, pointlike as well as extended in space. With 0.125 msec timing resolution, pulsed emission can be studied. In the single detector mode, COMPTEL uses two of its detectors to study the temporal spectral evolution of strong gamma ray bursts or transients

Role of lactic acid bacteria associated to wooden equipment used in traditional dairy production

Le produzioni di formaggi tradizionali giocano un ruolo fondamentale nel salvaguardare il patrimonio culinario di molte regioni nel mondo. Esse contribuiscono fortemente allo sviluppo e alla sostenibilità delle aree rurali. Questi formaggi sono molto legati ai territori d’origine e ancora oggi sono ottenuti con latte di razze autoctone, trasformato attraverso processi tradizionali e facendo uso di attrezzature in legno. L’uso delle attrezzature in legno favorisce la formazione di biofilm microbici solitamente composti da microrganismi indigeni, prevalentemente batteri lattici, che giocano un ruolo determinante nello sviluppo di tratti sensoriali complessi che riflettono il patrimonio regionale tipico e tradizionale dei formaggi. A causa della sua natura porosa, l’utilizzo del legno è oggetto di numerose controversie, ma non vi è alcuna prova scientifica che attesti la diretta correlazione tra l’impiegno del legno e le malattie di origine alimentare. Ad oggi, in Italia l’impiego delle attrezzature in legno in caseificazione è possibile grazie al regolamento (CE) n. 2074/2005 che deroga l’applicazione del regolamento (CE) n. 852/2004 per gli alimenti con caratteristiche tradizionali “in relazione al tipo di materiale utilizzato per la fabbricazione delle attrezzature impiegate per la preparazione, imballaggio e confezionamento”. In realtà, la formazione dei biofilm microbici sulle attrezzature in legno rappresenta una delle fonti di biodiversità casearia più importanti. Infatti, i biofilm presenti sulle superifici delle attrezzature non solo influenzano lo sviluppo della comunità lattica, ma sono anche responsabili dell’inibizione di molti microrganismi patogeni di origine alimentare. Sulla base delle sopracitate motivazioni, l’obiettivo principale dell’attivita di ricerca condotta è stato quello di approfondire, caratterizzare e valorizzare diversi formaggi tradizionali prodotti con le attrezzature in legno e approfondire le conoscenze sul ruolo dei batteri lattici durante i processi di caseificazione. Per raggiungere questo obiettivo, inizialmente si è provveduto a caratterizzare i tini di legno (“tine”) utilizzati durante la produzione di due formaggi a pasta filata tipici del sud Italia e a valutare la loro influenza sulle caratteristiche sensoriali, chimiche e organolettiche dei prodotti trasformati. In un secondo momento, sono state caratterizzate le scaffalature in legno utilizzate per la stagionatura dei formaggi con particolare attenzione al potenziale inibitorio dei batteri lattici isolati nei confronti dei microrganismi patogeni di origine alimentare. Inoltre, in una terza fase e sempre nell’ottica di valorizzare i formaggi tradizionali, è stata applicata una strategia tecnologica per ridurre i tempi di cottura durante il processo di produzione di un formaggio tipico siciliano. Attraverso diversi articoli di ricerca, i risultati hanno costantemente dimostrato la sicurezza igienico-sanitaria delle attrezzature in legno e come queste agiscano da vero e proprio “serbatoio” di biodiversità microbica contribuendo alla qualità finale e alla sicurezza dei prodotti lattiero-caseari tradizionali. Attualmente, sono in corso lavori per la caratterizzazione dei batteri lattici che hanno mostrato proprietà antimicrobiche isolati da queste attrezzature in legno mediante applicazione su prototipi di scaffali per un futuro impiego nell’attivazione delle assi di stagionatura nei caseifici che esplicano il processo di stagionatura. In una prospettiva più ampia, questa ricerca ha fornito evidenze concrete sul ruolo che i formaggi tradizionali e tipici svolgono nel valorizzare il patrimonio culinario di alcune regioni e nel loro contributo reale alla sostenibilità e alla redditività economica.Traditional cheese production plays a key role in preserving the culinary heritage of many regions around the word. It significantly contributes to the development and sustainability of rural areas. These cheeses are deeply connected to their regions of origin, still made using milk from animals of indigenous breeds and traditional methods and wooden equipment. The use of wooden tools promotes the formation of microbial biofilms, primarily composed of indigenous microorganisms, especially lactic acid bacteria (LAB). These microorganisms are crucial for developing the complex sensory characteristics that reflect the traditional and regional cheese heritage. Although wood’s porous nature has sparked considerable debate, there is no scientific evidence linking it directly to foo-borne diseases. In Italy, the use of wooden equipment in cheese production is permitted under Regulation (EC) no. 2074/2005, which provides an exemption from Regulation (EC) no 852/2004 for foods with traditional characteristics related to the materials used in equipment manufacturing, packaging, and wrapping. In practice, microbial biofilms on wooden equipment represent one of the most vital reservoirs of dairy biodiversity. These biofilms not only influence the development of the LAB but also inhibit food-borne pathogens. The primary objective of the research was to investigate, characterize, and enhance various traditional cheeses produced with wooden equipment and to study the role of LAB during the cheesemaking process. To achieve this, the first step involved characterizing the wooden vats used in producing two pasta filata cheeses typical of southern Italy and their influence on sensory, chemical, and organoleptic characteristics. The second step focused on characterizing the wooden shelves used for ripening pressed cheese and the inhibitory potential of LAB against food-borne pathogens. Moreover, a third phase was initiated to further improve traditional cheeses by employing a technological strategy to reduce the cooking time during the production of a typical Sicilian cheese.Numerous research articles have consistently shown that the wooden equipment is hygienically safe and serves as a reservoir of microbial biodiversity, which enhances the final quality, safety, and flavour profile of traditional dairy products. Ongoing research is focused on characterizing LAB isolated from this wooden equipment, exploring their antimicrobial properties, and testing their potential application on wooden prototypes. These prototypes will then be used on ripening boards in cheese factories during the ripening processes. Broadly, this research highlights on how traditional cheeses contribute to the culinary heritage of specific regions and play a crucial role in sustainability and economic viability

COMPTEL observations of cosmic gamma‐ray bursts

The imaging γ‐ray telescope COMPTEL on board NASA’s Compton Gamma‐Ray Observatory (GRO) has observed many cosmic gamma‐ray bursts during the early mission phase of GRO. COMPTEL records time‐resolved burst spectra over 0.1 MeV to 10 MeV energies, and, for the first time, produces direct single‐telescope gamma‐ray images (0.8–30 MeV) of cosmic gamma‐ray bursts occurring in its 1 sr field of field