Effetti degli accordi Euro-Mediterrani sul comparto dell'ortofrutta fresca

In 1995, the European Union (EU) Member States and 12 Mediterranean countries launched in Barcelona a liberalization process that aims at establishing a free trade area (to be realized by 2010) and at promoting a sustainable and balanced economic development by the adoption of a new generation of Agreements: the Euro-Mediterranean Agreements (EMA). For the Mediterranean partner countries, the main concern is a better access for their fruit and vegetable exports to the European market. These products represent the main exports of these countries, and the EU is their first trading partner. On the other side, for the EU the main issue is not only the promotion of its products, but also the protection of its fruit and vegetables producers. Moreover, the trade with third countries is the key element of the Common Market Organization of the sector. Fruit and vegetables represent a very sensitive sector since their high seasonality, high perishability, and especially since the production of the Mediterranean countries is often similar to the European Mediterranean’s countries one. In fact, the agreements define preferences at the entrance of the EU market providing limited concessions for each partner, for specific products, limited quantities and calendars. This research tries to analyze the bilateral trade volume for fresh fruit and vegetables in the European and Italian markets in order to assess the effects of Mediterranean liberalization on this sector. Free trade of agricultural products represents a very actual topic in international trade and the Mediterranean countries, recognised as big producers of fruit and vegetables, as big exporters of their crops and actually significantly present on the European market, could be high competitors with the inward production because the outlet could be the same. The goal of this study is to provide some considerations about the competitiveness of mediterranean fruit and vegetables productions after Barcelona Process, in a first step for the European market and then also for the Italian one. The aim is to discuss the influence of the euro-mediterranean agreements on the fruit and vegetables trade between 10 foreign Mediterranean countries (Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Libya, Lebanon, Morocco, Tunisia, Syria, and Turkey) and 15 EU countries in the period 1995-2007, by means of a gravity model, which is a widespread methodology in international trade analysis. The basic idea of gravity models is that bilateral trade from one country to another (as the dependent variable) can be explained by a set of factors: - factors that capture the potential of a country to export goods and services; - factors that capture the propensity of a country to imports goods and services; - any other forces that either attract or inhibit bilateral trade. This analysis compares only imports’ flows by Europe and by Italy (in volumes) from Mediterranean countries, since the exports’ flows toward those foreign countries are not significant, especially for Italy. The market of fruit and vegetables appears as a high heterogeneous group so it is very difficult to show a synthesis of the analysis performed and the related results. In fact, this sector includes the so called “poor products” (such as potatoes and legumes), and the “rich product”, such as nuts or exotic fruit, and there are a lot of different goods that arouse a dissimilar consumer demand which directly influence the import requirements. Fruit and vegetables sector includes products with extremely different biological cycles, leading to a very unlike seasonality. Moreover, the Mediterranean area appears as a highly heterogeneous bloc, including countries which differ from the others for economic size, production potential, capability to export and for the relationships with the EU. The econometric estimation includes 68 analyses, 34 of which considering the European import and 34 the Italian import and the products are examined in their aggregated form and in their disaggregated level. The analysis obtains a very high R2 coefficient, which means that the methodology is able to assess the import effects on fruit and vegetables associated to the Association Agreements, preferential tariffs, regional integration, and others information involved in the equation. The empirical analysis suggests that fruits and vegetables trade flows are well explained by some parameters: size of the involved countries (especially GDP and population of the Mediterranean countries); distances; prices of imported products; local production for the aggregated products; preferential expressed tariffs like duty free; sub-regional agreements that enforce the export capability. The euro-mediterranean agreements are significant in some of the performed analysis, confirming the slow and gradual evolution of euro- Mediterranean liberalization. The euro-mediterranean liberalization provides opportunities from one side, and imposes a new important challenge from the other side. For the EU the chance is that fruit and vegetables imported from the mediterranean area represent a support for local supply and a possibility to increase the range of products existing on the market. The challenge regards the competition of foreign products with the local ones since the types of productions are similar and markets coincide, especially in the Italian issue. We need to apply a strategy based not on a trade antagonism, but on the realization of a common plane market with the Mediterranean countries. This goal could be achieved enhancing the industrial cooperation in addition to commercial relationships, and increasing investments’ flows in the Mediterranean countries aiming at transforming those countries from potential competitors to trade partners and creating new commercial policies to export towards extra European countries.

A hybrid technology for parallel recording of single ion channels

Hybrid technologies, thanks to the convergence of integrated microelectronic devices and new class of microfluidic structures could open new perspectives to the way how nanoscale events are discovered, monitored and controlled. The key point of this thesis is to evaluate the impact of such an approach into applications of ion-channel High Throughput Screening (HTS)platforms. This approach offers promising opportunities for the development of new classes of sensitive, reliable and cheap sensors. There are numerous advantages of embedding microelectronic readout structures strictly coupled to sensing elements. On the one hand the signal-to-noise-ratio is increased as a result of scaling. On the other, the readout miniaturization allows organization of sensors into arrays, increasing the capability of the platform in terms of number of acquired data, as required in the HTS approach, to improve sensing accuracy and reliabiity. However, accurate interface design is required to establish efficient communication between ionic-based and electronic-based signals. The work made in this thesis will show a first example of a complete parallel readout system with single ion channel resolution, using a compact and scalable hybrid architecture suitable to be interfaced to large array of sensors, ensuring simultaneous signal recording and smart control of the signal-to-noise ratio and bandwidth trade off. More specifically, an array of microfluidic polymer structures, hosting artificial lipid bilayers blocks where single ion channel pores are embededed, is coupled with an array of ultra-low noise current amplifiers for signal amplification and data processing. As demonstrating working example, the platform was used to acquire ultra small currents derived by single non-covalent molecular binding between alpha-hemolysin pores and beta-cyclodextrin molecules in artificial lipid membranes.

Impact Assessment: Organic Cotton in Jalalabad, Oblast, Kyrgyztan

The aim of the study was to examine the economic performance as well as perceived social and environmental impacts of organic cotton in Southern Kyrgyzstan on the basis of a comparative field study (44 certified organic farmers and 33 conventional farmers) carried out in 2009. It also investigated farmers’ motivation for and assessment of conversion to organic farming. Cotton yields on organic farms were found to be 10% lower whereby input costs per unit were 42% lower, which resulted in organic farmers having a 20% higher revenue from cotton. Due to lower input costs and organic and fair trade price premiums the average gross margin from organic cotton was 27%. In addition to direct economic benefits organic farmers enjoy a number of additional benefits such as easy access to credits on favourable terms, provision with uncontaminated cotton cooking oil and seed cake as animal feed, marketing support as well as extension and training, services provided by the newly established organic service provider. A big majority of organic farmers perceives an improvement of soil qualities, improved health conditions, and positively assesses their previous decision to convert to organic farming. The major disadvantage of organic farming is the high manual labour input required. In the study area, where manual farm work is mainly women’s work and male labour migration widespread, women are most affected by this negative aspect of organic farming. Altogether, the results suggest that despite the inconvenience of higher work load the advantages of organic farming outweigh the disadvantages and that conversion to organic farming can improve the livelihoods of small-scale farmers.

Hierarchical Approach for Survivable Network Design

A central design challenge facing network planners is how to select a cost-effective network configuration that can provide uninterrupted service despite edge failures. In this paper, we study the Survivable Network Design (SND) problem, a core model underlying the design of such resilient networks that incorporates complex cost and connectivity trade-offs. Given an undirected graph with specified edge costs and (integer) connectivity requirements between pairs of nodes, the SND problem seeks the minimum cost set of edges that interconnects each node pair with at least as many edge-disjoint paths as the connectivity requirement of the nodes. We develop a hierarchical approach for solving the problem that integrates ideas from decomposition, tabu search, randomization, and optimization. The approach decomposes the SND problem into two subproblems, Backbone design and Access design, and uses an iterative multi-stage method for solving the SND problem in a hierarchical fashion. Since both subproblems are NP-hard, we develop effective optimization-based tabu search strategies that balance intensification and diversification to identify near-optimal solutions. To initiate this method, we develop two heuristic procedures that can yield good starting points. We test the combined approach on large-scale SND instances, and empirically assess the quality of the solutions vis-à-vis optimal values or lower bounds. On average, our hierarchical solution approach generates solutions within 2.7% of optimality even for very large problems (that cannot be solved using exact methods), and our results demonstrate that the performance of the method is robust for a variety of problems with different size and connectivity characteristics.

A critical appraisal of the legal framework governing the approval in microfinance Establishments within CEMAC

During the mid 80 19s and the early 90 19s the Banking sector of the CEMAC sub-region experienced crisis. This could be seen from the numerous liquidation of Banks within the sub-region during this period, microfinance establishments found a place as an alternative financial institution involved in the provision of savings and loans to the masses. The exercise of the activities of microfinance necessitates an application for approval form the monetary authority. Their potential managers and auditors must equally apply and obtain a license before functioning. After this approval has been obtained the microfinance establishment must register with the National Credit Council and the Trade and Personal Property Credit Register. // Durant les années 80 et au début des années 90 le secteur Bancaire de la sous-région CEMAC on vécue une crise, ceci pouvait ce voit par de nombreuse liquidation des Banques au sein de la sous-région pendant cette période. Les Etablissement de Micro finance ont trouve une place comme une institution financière alternative s’impliquant dans la fourniture de l’épargne et des prêts pour la masses. Mais l'exercice de l'activité de microfinance exige une demande d'agrément remise par l'autorité monétaire après confirmation de la commission bancaire. Mais avant que cet agrément soit remis, ils doivent fournir certain documents et informations. Les microfinances sont également oblige de fournir certaines documents et information s'il veut offrir un agence dans un du état membre de la CEMAC. Quand cette agrément est remise il sont les obligations administrative et professionnelle a remplir. Ceci consiste de s’inscrire auprès du Conseil National du Crédit et le Registre du Commerce et du Crédit Mobilier, adhérer a une Association Professionnelle, mais ils sont le choix adhérer à un réseau ou de poursuivre les activités indépendamment. L'autorité monétaire peut unilatéralement retrait la décision d'agrément pour un raison ou l'autre. Cependant, la décision de retrait de l'agrément est assujettir à un appel devant le conseil d'administration de la BEAC. La commission bancaire a prévu un ensemble de sanctions pour s'assurer que une personne ou établissement en défaut soit appelle en ordre. // Cameroon, Micro-finance, CEMAC, COBAC, Legislation

The new licencing examination for human medicine: from concept to implementation

A new Swiss federal licencing examination for human medicine (FLE) was developed and released in 2011. This paper describes the process from concept design to the first results obtained on implementation of the new examination. The development process was based on the Federal Act on University Medical Professions and involved all national stakeholders in this venture. During this process questions relating to the assessment aims, the assessment formats, the assessment dimensions, the examination content and necessary trade-offs were clarified. The aims were to create a feasible, fair, valid and psychometrically sound examination in accordance with international standards, thereby indicating the expected knowledge and skills level at the end of undergraduate medical education. Finally, a centrally managed and locally administered examination comprising a written multiple-choice element and a practical “clinical skills” test in the objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) format was developed. The first two administrations of the new FLE show that the examination concept could be implemented as intended. The anticipated psychometric indices were achieved and the results support the validity of the examination. Possible changes to the format or content in the future are discussed.

The origin of the 'Mycoplasma mycoides cluster' coincides with domestication of ruminants.

The 'Mycoplasma mycoides cluster' comprises the ruminant pathogens Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides the causative agent of contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP), Mycoplasma capricolum subsp. capripneumoniae the agent of contagious caprine pleuropneumonia (CCPP), Mycoplasma capricolum subsp. capricolum, Mycoplasma leachii and Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. capri. CBPP and CCPP are major livestock diseases and impact the agricultural sector especially in developing countries through reduced food-supply and international trade restrictions. In addition, these diseases are a threat to disease-free countries. We used a multilocus sequence typing (MLST) approach to gain insights into the demographic history of and phylogenetic relationships among the members of the 'M. mycoides cluster'. We collected partial sequences from seven housekeeping genes representing a total of 3,816 base pairs from 118 strains within this cluster, and five strains isolated from wild Caprinae. Strikingly, the origin of the 'M. mycoides cluster' dates to about 10,000 years ago, suggesting that the establishment and spread of the cluster coincided with livestock domestication. In addition, we show that hybridization and recombination may be important factors in the evolutionary history of the cluster.

Luxurious Merovingian Textiles Excavated from Burials in the Saint Denis Basilica, France, 6th-7th century

A new examination of the textile fragments found in the Merovingian burials in the basilica of Saint Denis, near Paris, has recently underscored the diversity of fabrics used to make garments in which members of the royal court were buried. Among them, some woolens of fine quality had been dyed with indigotin. The most astonishing fibre found belongs to a mixed textile (not skin) with beaver fibers and wool. Silks contained shellfish purple and in one case kermes? Two dyestuffs associated with royalty and privilege. Along with this was large number of gold threads, probably produced locally and that were used in tablet-woven borders or for embroideries. In addition, several figured silks, of oriental origin, testify to the importance of this "foreign" material and the taste for textiles woven with complex techniques and probably what had originally had beautiful designs. Although none of these designs have been preserved and many colors have been greatly damaged, the technical characteristics of the remnants indicate proveniences as far as Byzantium, Sassanid Persia and the Chinese court. Such precious textiles show the high social status and political power of the Merovingian court, a testament to their ability to access such luxurious and costly textiles through diplomacy and/or trade with other powerful empires. The examination of these rare textiles along with other fine silks and luxury objects from the same period found in France expand our view of the fundamental role of textiles in the political sphere of this early period of European history.

A Generic Model of Financial Repression

The paper develops a growth model in an overlapping generations framework of a financially repressed small open economy, and analyzes the effects of financial liberalization. The following observations are made: An increase (decrease) of interest rate (reserve requirements) reduces (increases) the steady-state stock of capital and the trade balance, but improves (deteriorates) the level of foreign exchange reserves. However, financial liberalization, in any form, is always welfare-improving. The paper, thus, advocates financial liberalization policies to be oriented towards reduction of reserve requirements rather than interest rate deregulation, if foreign reserve holding is not in a critical position.

Análisis de los factores explicativos de la rentabilidad de las empresas vinícolas de Castilla-La Mancha

El sector del vino experimenta, en las últimas décadas, un vertiginoso proceso de cambio y nuevas dinámicas, que están afectando el desempeño y estrategias de las empresas del sector: internacionalización creciente, caída de los mercados internos de los países tradicionalmente productores, entrada de capital exógeno, etc. La pericia que muestre la organización para adecuarse a la nueva situación se reflejará en la rentabilidad, indicador básico para juzgar la eficiencia en la gestión empresarial. En este estudio, a partir de una muestra representativa de empresas de Castilla-La Mancha, región española con la mayor dimensión vinícola mundial, se ha planteado un modelo econométrico novedoso integrado por variables de desempeño, definidas con la técnica de componentes principales. De los resultados obtenidos se infiere que la rentabilidad de las empresas proviene de: a) su estructura societaria (mayor si son empresas capitalistas que sociedades cooperativas), b) de su tamaño (mejor desempeño a mayor tamaño, aprovechando economías de escala), y c) estructura financiera (mayor rentabilidad si en la composición de la misma priman los recursos propios y liquidez). Por el contrario, la falta de financiación permanente para hacer frente al activo fijo y una dinámica comercial más orientada hacia las ventas de vino a granel a bajo precio, reducen significativamente los ratios de rentabilidad.

Los tres cuerpos del boxeador profesional

Basado en tres años de observación participante y aprendizaje en un gimnasio de boxeo para negros de la parte sur de Chicago, este artículo reconstruye las sensaciones vividas por los luchadores profesionales y la experimentación de la instrumentalidad corporal, belleza y ética - los "tres cuerpos" que juntos definen la distintiva "aisthesis" de la práctica pugilística como habilidad corporal y negocio en los barrios pobres. Esto sirve para sostener que el boxeo profesional ofrece no muchas posibilidades de crecimiento económico, como la promesa de diferenciación social y más aún trascendencia: la ética profesional del sacrificio posibilita a los boxeadores escapar del mundo cotidiano y crear un universo sensual y moral "sui generis" donde un trascendente ser masculino puede ser construido.

Gobierno provincial, empresarios y CGT frente a la apertura del juego corporativo durante el primer peronismo : Santa Fe, 1952-1955

Este artículo describe los conflictos suscitados durante el primer peronismo entre el Poder Ejecutivo de Santa Fe, la Federación Económica que agrupó a los empresarios del distrito y los diputados sindicales pertenecientes a la CGT a causa de la inclusión de la mencionada Federación en la gestión de gobierno. Tales conflictos se desarrollaron en un proceso de creciente corporativización de la política. Se reconstruyen brevemente dos movimientos paralelos que fomentaron dicha corporativización: la agremiación de los empresarios radicados en la provincia, quienes lograron conformar una central única; y la acción de los diputados sindicales dentro de la Cámara Legislativa provincial

Los tres cuerpos del boxeador profesional

Basado en tres años de observación participante y aprendizaje en un gimnasio de boxeo para negros de la parte sur de Chicago, este artículo reconstruye las sensaciones vividas por los luchadores profesionales y la experimentación de la instrumentalidad corporal, belleza y ética - los "tres cuerpos" que juntos definen la distintiva "aisthesis" de la práctica pugilística como habilidad corporal y negocio en los barrios pobres. Esto sirve para sostener que el boxeo profesional ofrece no muchas posibilidades de crecimiento económico, como la promesa de diferenciación social y más aún trascendencia: la ética profesional del sacrificio posibilita a los boxeadores escapar del mundo cotidiano y crear un universo sensual y moral "sui generis" donde un trascendente ser masculino puede ser construido.