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The Botanic Garden of Pisa was established in 1543 as a teaching tool and research facility. As with the vast majority of its sister institutions, it focuses on plant collections. However, for a short time in the first half of the XIX century, the Botanic Garden exhibited a living giraffe, a cow, and a calf. Due to the transient nature of the exhibition, it could have easily gone unnoticed but for the fortuitous representation of the animals in a drawing of the same period and for sparse notes archived in the libraries of Pisa University. Furthermore, a XIX-century publication on the morphological and behavioural traits of three antelopes indirectly suggests that those animals had been kept in the Botanic Garden for research purposes. This paper presents the evidence of the living animal display in the Botanic Garden of Pisa and the context in which it was collected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Management scholars investigated the motivational aspects of volunteers, mainly focusing on their positive reciprocity – individuals feel obligated to reciprocate whenever they receive benefits from others – but neglected the possible role of negative reciprocity, the tendency to retaliate in case of mistreatments. Based on motivational functions theory and the norm of reciprocity, this paper proposes a framework assessing other-oriented and self-oriented motives as the main antecedents of volunteers' intention to stay in non-profit organizations (NPOs). Design/methodology/approach: Covariance-based structural equation modeling (CB-SEM) and the PROCESS macro were used to empirically validate and test the hypothesized conceptual model on a sample of 379 volunteers actively involved in Italian NPOs. Findings: Positive reciprocity partially mediated the relationships between volunteers' other-oriented motives and self-oriented motives and their intention to stay. Instead, negative reciprocity fully mediated the relationship between self-oriented motives and intention to stay but not the relationship between other-oriented motives and intention to stay. Practical implications: Managers and marketers of NPOs should pay more attention to volunteers' attitudinal and behavioral signals to encourage within-organization positive reciprocal attitudes and discourage negative reciprocal attitudes. This represents a strategic lever to prevent volunteers from quitting the organization – which is one of the most critical challenges for NPOs' management – and improve their intention to stay. Originality/value: This is one of the first studies that simultaneously investigate the mediating role of both positive and negative reciprocity of volunteers actively involved in NPOs. Moreover, the constructs of other-oriented and self-oriented motivations are statistically validated as two separate psychological dimensions impacting on volunteers' turnover. Finally, the study has been conducted in the Region of Tuscany (Italy) which, despite its centuries-old tradition of volunteerism, has received scant attention by non-profit scholars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the social work literature, as well as in social work practices, great attention is paid to the role of the environment in defining models and intervention strategies to promote social change, development, cohesion, social emancipation and liberation of individuals. When we talk about the environment, we refer both to a social context in which people live and to the physical environment, made up of the natural world. These are two dimensions that interact constantly and contribute to determining the level of bio‑psycho‑social wellbeing of each of us. In this regard, environmental social work represents an approach and a perspective within social work focused on the joint promotion of social and environmental justice: human rights, the fight against environmental inequalities, environmental protection and sustainable development. This paper reports the results of research conducted on two ecosocial work projects, based on the re‑use of discarded objects and on organic and sustainable agricultural production, activated in a local organisation in Italy’s Tuscany Region. They aim to combat poverty and social exclusion of the most vulnerable people living in those regions and, at the same time, to promote more inclusive and environmentally sustainable communities. The research, carried out through the use of a qualitative approach, is configured as a pilot study for the national development of forms of social work inspired by a specific multidimensional approach, capable of producing assessments, planning and implementing social interventions at the nexus between the economic, social and natural environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This data set collects capture–mark–recapture data, biometric data, and stomach contents of seven populations of the Italian cave salamander (Speleomantes italicus), one of the strictly protected European plethodontid species endemic to mainland Italy. We monitored six subterranean populations inside caves, and one fully epigean population living in a forest, surveying a total area of >5200 m2. Data collection was performed 24 times throughout a year for each of the subterranean populations, and seven times in late winter‐early spring for the epigean population. Salamanders were individually identified using two different marking methods: subcutaneous injection of visual implant elastomers (VIE) and photographic recognition of the dorsal pattern. Overall, the data set contains information on 1283 captured salamanders, corresponding to 783 different individuals and 500 recapture events. This type of data can be used to assess the species detection probability and to estimate the size of the populations, which are fundamental parameters for the assessment of its conservation status. Captured salamanders were weighed using a digital scale and photographed next to a reference ruler to perform post hoc measurements. This allows to assess the potential variation of the body condition of individuals through the time, and the potential divergences between conspecific populations. Furthermore, repeated measurements of recaptured individuals can allow to evaluate the seasonal growth rates of Speleomantes. Before their release, the salamanders underwent stomach flushing, a non‐invasive technique that allows us to investigate the food residues in the salamanders' stomach. In 951 salamanders, we were able to recognize a total of 7077 consumed prey items belonging to 37 different prey categories (i.e., order level or lower), completing the information on the consumed prey for the entire Speleomantes genus. Data on consumed prey can be used to assess potential divergences between populations or between individuals of different ages/sexes, but also to assess the potential trophic specialization of individuals. The distinctiveness of this data set is that, by combining the capture–mark–recapture data with those on the diet of individuals, it allows to perform detailed studies on the consistency of individuals' food preference over time, an analysis that has never been performed on these salamanders. We release the data set into the public domain under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license (CC‐BY). When you use this data in your publication, we request that you cite this data paper; if you are using the whole data set related to the entire project, please cite all the related papers. If this data set will be an important part of the data analyzed in your study, you should consider discussing a collaboration with the data set contact person. If you plan to use data from the European plethodontid salamanders trophic niche project, please contact the contact person to find out if similar analyses are already underway or if unpublished updates are available. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we analyse the evolution of tourist flows in Tuscany from 2000 to 2013, in order to detect the presence of a common trend in the arrival rate across the municipalities. In particular, two methodologies are used: the Harberger diagram to highlight the size and heterogeneity of the individual contribution to the overall change in arrivals, and the Moran correlation index, based on a queen grid, to detect the existence of different kinds of spatial dependence. The local Moran correlation index (LISA) is used to identify the presence of any territorial clusters in the period of interest. The aim of the study is to find some instruments to investigate the level of territorial similarities and/or complementarity that can be useful for the private and public policies to improve tourism and to evaluate the impacts of the interventions. The approach used in this paper seems useful, also if further assessments are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to highlight some key issues and challenges in the analysis of poverty at the local level using survey data. In the last years there was a worldwide increase in the demand for poverty and living conditions estimates at the local level, since these quantities can help in planning local policies aimed at decreasing poverty and social exclusion. In many countries various sample surveys on income and living conditions are currently conducted, but their sample size is not enough to obtain reliable estimates at local level. When this happens, small area estimation (SAE) methods can be used. In this paper, a SAE model is used to compute the mean household equivalised income and the head count ratio for the 57 Labor Local Systems of the Tuscany region in Italy for the year 2011. The caveats of the analysis of poverty at the local level using small area methods are many, and some are still not so well explored in the literature, starting from the definition of the target indicators to the relevant dimensions of their measurement. We suggest in this paper that together with the universally recognized multidimensional, longitudinal and local dimensions of poverty, a new dimension must be considered: the price dimension, which should take into account local purchasing power parities to correctly compare the poverty indicators based on income measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The marketization of public healthcare has brought about organizational transformations, affecting health professionals' ways of working in hospitals and outpatient organizations. As a result of the reforms in the 1990s, the principle of business-like healthcare has been introduced in the Italian health system. This paper presents the main findings of a study of specialist doctors working in two local health organizations in the Tuscany region. Drawing on semi-structured interviews with specialist doctors working in an outpatient setting, the article examines the manifold reactions to changes of the medical profession within outpatient settings. In particular, the combination of professional and organizational dimensions has been taken into consideration. The results show that a change is involving outpatient specialist doctors' identity: organizational change affects several dimensions of the medical professional ethos. The change has been understood by categorizing three major types of approaches to medical professionalism, which are aimed to understand the complexity of the domain and to summarize professionals' reactions: the first is linked to a traditional model of professionalism; the second accepts partially business-like organizational issues, while trying to create individual spaces of autonomy in daily tasks; the third co-opts new organizational issues, which become part of the medical professional ethos. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Serpentinite is a low-grade metamorphic rock derived from the transformation of ultramafic rocks. Mainly because of its aesthetic characteristics it has been widely used as a building and ornamental stone. "Verde di Prato" is the most common local name used in Tuscany to refer to this type of rock, historically quarried in this area and used for many centuries in a large number of monuments of this region. In this paper, we report the results of a study carried out on the serpentinite from the pavement of the Florence baptistery, to properly characterize it from a physical point of view, describe the rock conservation state, and understand the phenomena responsible for its decay. The studied rock displays numerous forms of decay including fractures, loss of material, erosion, discolouration and efflorescence. X-ray diffractometer analyses of the efflorescence revealed the presence of numerous salts whose formation can be imputed to multiple, possibly concomitant, causes such as the high relative humidity and the variation of inside temperature, the presence of concrete and/or cementitious mortars in the subsoil, atmospheric pollution and the burial ground existing close the baptistery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Rivista Italiana di Educazione Familiare is the property of Firenze University Press and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The Garfagnana region of Tuscany has witnessed a resurgence in the small-scale farming sector. Rooted in a historical practice of multifunctional agriculture, over the last decade family farmers and local institutions have increasingly focused on place-based development initiatives, such as revalorizing native livestock breeds and promoting agroecological practices, as ways to strengthen small-scale agriculture and the local rural economy. This place-based turn is now reshaping the development trajectories of many family farms and communities in Garfagnana. Drawing on qualitative field research conducted in 2015, this paper utilizes the sociological conceptual lenses of multifunctional agriculture and place-based development to analyze three casestudy farms, each with different production systems and territorial relations. Multifunctional agriculture theory is used to analyze how farming practices in the three case-studies represent a range of adaptive shifts away from productionist trends and toward a more diversified farming approach. Then place-based theory is used to demonstrate how these multifunctional agriculture practices relate to the distinct socio-ecological landscape of Garfagnana, uniquely rooting these farms in the territory. This article ultimately examines how new forms of multifunctional agriculture are fostering a place-based food and agriculture system in central Italy and how this approach can strengthen family farming and rural communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Masonry churches represent a significant construction typology at risk from earthquakes, as clearly shown by recent seismic events. For a quick assessment of the vulnerability of historical churches, a very effective method is the well-known form for the evaluation of damage and vulnerability based the macro-element approach. Anyway, in the calculation of the vulnerability index of the method intangible aspects related to architectural, historical and artistic value are not included. This paper proposes a procedure that combines the above-mentioned vulnerability analysis with the evaluation of architectural and artistic assets such as frescoes, statues and paintings, by applying the Analytic Hierarchy Process. A site test, involving eight churches in Valencia (Spain) and Tuscany (Italy) regions, shows how important it is to provide a complete overview of a church's structural condition that includes its artworks in order to create a priority scale for the assessment, retrofitting and protection of existing masonry churches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of International Forestry Review is the property of Commonwealth Forestry Association and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Reti Medievali is the property of Firenze University Press and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This paper analyses entrepreneurship adopting the concept of 'emergence', defined in the literature on entrepreneurship and complexity, as the creation of a new order, arising from the interactions between its elements. We hypothesise that the recent evolution of (and interaction between) i) entrepreneurial figures and their functions, (ii) firms' structures and strategies and (iii) external environment has defined a set of properties, characteristic of a new emergent entrepreneurial order. A case study conducted on 24 entrepreneurs based on a traditional manufacturing region is used to support the theoretical building process and demonstrate the phenomenon beyond the Silicon Valley storytelling. The results categorise the entrepreneurial properties around three spheres (Cognition, Coordination, Cooperation) and explain (in the discussion part) their dynamic generative process, underlining the necessity to embrace a holistic unit of analysis, to fully understand the entrepreneurial emergent order. Finally, some implications for managerial models and policy strategies are proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research contributes to the debate on the determining factors that support access to global value chains by companies belonging to emerging clusters in transition economies. The role of these economies is becoming increasingly relevant in a global world, where discovering new opportunities is focused on increasing market knowledge in order to offer the appropriate products. From a geographical approach, managing both the knowledge flows circulating within the cluster and those coming from external sources can have a positive effect on the companies' international presence. To analyse these research questions, the wine industry cluster in the Muntenia-Oltenia region of Romania was studied. This wine-growing territory is also known as Romanian Tuscany due to its geographical location. In this area, the wineries have different characteristics depending whether or not they have international projection. The results suggest that local knowledge of the cluster, managed through the network of connections, is necessary for the international presence of the cluster. Moreover, there is a multiplier effect in those wineries where there is foreign ownership, due to their international entrepreneurial character. In summary, this paper contributes to a better understanding of how companies in an emerging cluster work in order to access global value chains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How are devices changing our relationship with food? Do they help us to orient ourselves in a world where the production and circulation of commodities bring our certainties into question? In this paper I discuss food insecurity and develop on ethnographic research conducted in Tuscany (Italy) in a period running from 2016 to 2017. The aim of this research is to reflect on two aspects: first, the growing fear, insecurity and diffidence with regard to food in Italian society determined by the rise of global agribusiness, and the role devices play in mediating this relationship through self-tracking; and second, the analysis of these devices stemming from the idea of the orthorexic society, signs of which have been found in beliefs and policies regarding food throughout Italy for more than 30 years, often summarized in the famous Slow Food slogan "good, clean and fair." I studied how relationships with food are changing via the use of devices and digital technologies, and I assert that apparatuses and devices have become mediators between us and food. My research paints a picture in which people are produced as subjects through a series of devices that determine choices and behaviors, changing their perception of food. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Chiesa e Storia is the property of Associazione Italiana dei Professori di Storia della Chiesa and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of InTRAlinea: Online Translation Journal is the property of Department Interpreting & Translation (DIT) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This paper presents the results of the first phase of an academic research project focusing on the creation of an embedded system of repertoires on Tuscany photographic history, from its origins to 1947. The applied methodology is based on the redefinition of information’s value and the photographic concepts of agent, event, and culture. The system is devised for the semantic web and is compatible with linked open data ontologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Archeologia dell'Architettura is the property of Edizioni all'Insegna del Giglio and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The application of protective coatings can significantly influence the essential physical properties of rocks used in building and decorative industries. This paper presents the results of laboratory tests demonstrating the positive effect of the protective coating Antipluviol S applied on a tuff from Tuscany in Italy, which is a weak volcanic rock of a very low strength and very high porosity. The efficiency of the coating was measured by absorption tests, standard uniaxial compressive strength tests and cyclic frost resistance tests. After the coating application, the water absorption decreased from 39.1% to 31.3% by total rock immersion at atmospheric pressure conditions. The water absorption only by capillary suction showed much higher efficiency of the coating. The change in the rock strength, resulting from the coating application, was less pronounced; the mean values rose from 5.8 to 6.8 MPa (17.2% increase). For all strength values are quite similar in both treated and untreated groups, as well as scattered within the groups, no relevance to the coating impact could be confirmed. But, even such a slight improvement of the monitored physical parameters has the effect of slowing down the rock’s weathering. This was proven by the results of the frost resistance test. Coated samples withstood all the standard 25 freeze-thaw cycles, whereas untreated samples began to disintegrate after the 17th test cycle. These findings can help the maintenance of the famous historic architecture of picturesque tuff towns of Tuscany suffering from weathering, and contribute to the preservation of the cultural heritage. On the other hand, they showed how important such tests are when considering building stone import. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work aims to analyze the impact of technological eco-innovation on the modernization and development of a local area. The role of eco-innovation would be to stimulate an innovative environment and spur a development of the territory and economic districts, and the diffusion of said particularities among wider geographic contexts, hence allowing a globalization model more observant of local specificities, and thus an open system able to develop economic and cultural exchange respecting local particularities. In recent years, smart city has asserted itself as a general model for the city of tomorrow, and sustainability has become a focal point in urban development policies. In this paper, we investigate how an integrated and intermodal methodology for the development of smart mobility systems—the European project "Life for Silver Coast"—is impacting the modernization and development of an Italian coastal area in Tuscany. The main focus of our paper is to understand how an integrated mobility network allows a transition toward a sustainable form of social relationship and a new economic pattern and could represent the starting point for a spatial, relational and institutional reorganization process that would lead to a change in the production and management dynamics of the local ecosystem concerning cultural, social and economic issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In many regions of Europe, semi-natural grasslands not properly utilized face different threats, concerning changes in botanical composition and structural evolution, which can lead to a reduction of the qualitative value of forage biomass or, in the mid-long term, forest recovery. The present paper assesses various semi-natural grasslands within a mountain public property located in Tuscany (North Apennines, Italy) subjected to different types of utilization. Some of them are managed through cattle grazing during summer, whereas some others are only periodically mowed and utilization is performed only by wildlife occurring in the area. The paper analyses the importance of resource management and its impact on botanical composition and on qualitative value of forage production. Data collection of studied areas was conducted by means of vegetation assessment performed with a fast procedure that simplifies the botanical composition sampling. Results show the relevance of some environmental factors on grasslands evolution and on their composition (such as altitude and slope) and the importance of management on grassland quality and on level of shrub encroachment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to provide an economic valuation of the Pisa Charterhouse, a renowned monastic complex built in the fourteenth century, located in the Tuscany region of central Italy. Quantitative analysis offers an estimate of the use value of the good that is obtained through the application of the Travel Cost method and by relying on original survey data collected in 2017 by interviewing a sample of Charterhouse Museum visitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we study the stationary configurations of a vapor-dominated geothermal system. We propose a general mathematical model, which turns out to be a free boundary problem, and we focus on the stationary solutions. The analysis, developed considering the data of the geothermal field in Larderello, Tuscany (Italy), shows that steady-stable states may exist both when the re-injection takes place in depth and when the natural recharge is distributed both in the area occupied by vapor and in the one occupied by liquid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information on a research paper related to the analysis of cost management process of a surgery technique. It reports that the paper aimed at conducting an economic analysis on a surgical technique for determining the changes to be introduced to the traditional costing model, which represents the work flow of the organization and additional information required for decision makers at different levels. It informs that the study developed by interviewing the employees of a Tuscan hospital in Italy, to collect data.

In this paper litho-sedimentological and morphodynamic maps of the coastal sector belonging to the Pisa Province are presented as an example of how increasing the accessibility to data on lithology, sedimentology, and morphodynamics may lead to a better approach to coastal management. The database used to build the maps includes an original rendering of remote sensing data (aerial imagery) and new field data (geologic survey), as well as data retrieved from the scientific literature (grain-size and past coastline positions). The maps show that the geometry of beach ridges is an indication of the evolution of the Arno River delta in the last 3000 years, highlighting the relationships between geological aspects and morphodynamic features. The maps represent the synthesis of different data available in the database, and they may be a useful support to coastal management as they are more easily understandable and straightforward than the database from which are created. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Study of the climate in the Mediterranean basin during different historical periods has taken on a particular importance, particularly regarding its role (together with other factors) in the evolution of human settlement patterns. Although the Roman age is traditionally considered a period with a favourable climate, recent studies have revealed considerable complexity in terms of regional climate variations. In this paper, we compare the hydrological change from speleothem proxy records with flood reconstructions from archaeological sites for Northern Tuscany (central Italy). We identify a period of oscillating climatic conditions culminating in a multidecadal dry event during the 1st century bc, followed by a century of increased precipitation at the beginning of the Roman Empire and subsequently a return to drier conditions in the 2nd century ad. The period of rainfall increase documented by the speleothems agrees with both the archaeological flood record as well as historical flood data available for the Tiber River, ca. 300 km to the south. These data also suggest a return to wetter conditions following the 3nd and 4rd centuries ad. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Tuscany region of Italy is at the top of the preferences of Romanian immigrants. In this area, there were registered, in 2018, 84,621 Romanians representing 20.72% of the total foreign population, according to the data provided by ISTAT. Starting from the theory of social representations (Moscovici, 1978), the paper attempts to investigate how Romanian immigrants are represented in the mass media in Tuscany. Mass media contributes to a great extent to the formation of a positive or negative perception towards immigrants among the indigenous population, to the crystallization of the collective and individual image regarding immigrants, and the construction of new social representations. Therefore, the main objective of this paper is to establish the elements that lead to the creation of a positive or negative symbolic capital of Romanian immigrants, according to the most important online newspapers in the region. The premise from which we start is that the elements that shape the symbolic image of the Romanian immigrants from Tuscany are rather negative, as the isolated actions of some immigrants lead to stereotypes and prejudices towards the entire minority group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Etruscan control in Italy was not constrained distinctly by the well-known region of Etruscan culture (Tuscany and northern Lazio). The Etruscan power also extended toward the southwestern areas (Campania) as well as to the northern parts of Italy (Po valley). The impact of Etruscan culture spread over the entire land. The essential wellsprings of the paper are represented by the ancient sources in Latin and Greek from different periods treating Etruscan culture and society. The ancient authors portrayed the high class of society intentionally. They planned to define Etruscans as pleasure-seekers that participated in the spectacular banquets. The truth of the matter, from an archaeological perspective, is that it was not completely real. Archaeobotanical and anthropological investigation demonstrates that the way of life of the vast majority of the Etruscan population was standardly modest. Comparison of ancient written sources with archaeological data proves that the ancient writers were one-sided, sometimes without a critical approach to the sources, which could cause the misconception of certain components of Etruscan culture. There could be several reasons why it was so. The main focus of this paper is the examination of these reasons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to examine the role of accounting in the enactment of the Napoleonic imperial project in Tuscany and the Kingdom of Naples in the early nineteenth century. Design/methodology/approach: The study adopts the Foucauldian theoretical framework of governmentality and a comparative approach to highlight similarities and differences between the two regions. Findings: The presence of different cultural understandings and structures of power meant that in Tuscany accounting mirrored and reinforced the existing power structure, whereas in the Kingdom of Naples accounting practices were constitutive of power relations and acted as a compensatory mechanism. In the Kingdom of Naples, where local elites had been traditionally involved in ruling municipalities, control of accounting information and the use of resources "re-adjusted" the balance of power in favour of the French whilst letting local population believe that Napoleon was respectful of local customs. Research limitations/implications: The ability of accounting technologies to act as compensatory mechanisms within governmentality systems paves the way to further investigations about the relationships between accounting and other governmentality technologies as well as the adjustment mechanisms leading to accounting resilience in different contexts. Social implications: By identifying accounting as an adaptive instrument supporting less obvious practices of domination the study helps unmask a hidden mechanism underlying attempts to know, govern and control populations which still characterises modern forms of imperialism. Originality/value: The comparative perspective leads to a new specification of the multifaceted roles that accounting plays in different cultural and political contexts in the achievement of the same set of imperial goals and enhances understanding of the translation of politics, rhetoric and power into a set of administrative tasks and calculative practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of the different drivers of the establishment of innovation relationships in an aerospace cluster. In particular, the work investigates the impact of the various forms of proximity in the formation of inter-organisational collaborations for innovation. Design/methodology/approach: The analysis is based on primary data collected through interviews and questionnaires on innovation collaborations, administered to all the firms operating in the aerospace cluster in Tuscany. The work applies social network analysis and Exponential Random Graph Models to analyse the forces that drive inter-organisational collaborations for innovation. Findings: Results confirm the importance of geographical proximity in the formation of ties in the cluster, but social proximity is one of the main drivers for tie formation. Reciprocity shows that companies develop innovations in a reciprocal way and that most relationships are bidirectional. Triadic closure is also relevant, where the role played by trust and previous relationships is evident. Finally, hierarchy network processes are underlined, where the most central actors of the network are the most popular confirming a processes of preferential attachment. The central organisations gradually are more important, whereas the marginal ones are left in the periphery. Originality/value: The work presents some novelties. First, it measures the different impacts of the various forms of proximity together with more advanced measures of network analysis. It allows pointing out the relevance of a firm's network position in clusters and the fact that clusters assume hierarchical structures similar to centre-periphery networks, where most relevant nodes are in the inner core and marginal organisations are relegated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper discusses results of an interdisciplinary research project integrating lead isotope, chemical, and archaeological analysis of 20 early metal objects from central Italy. The aim of the research was to develop robust provenance hypotheses for 4th and 3rd millennia BC metals from an important, yet hitherto neglected, metallurgical district in prehistoric Europe, displaying precocious copper mining and smelting, as well as socially significant uses of metals in 'Rinaldone-style' burials. All major (and most minor) ore bodies from Tuscany and neighbouring regions were characterised chemically and isotopically, and 20 Copper Age axe-heads, daggers and halberds were sampled and analysed. The objects were also reassessed archaeologically, paying special attention to find context, typology, and chronology. This multi-pronged approach has allowed us to challenge received wisdom concerning the local character of early metal production and exchange in the region. The research has shown that most objects were likely manufactured in west-central Italy using copper from Southern Tuscany and, quite possibly, the Apuanian Alps. A few objects, however, display isotopic and chemical signatures compatible with the Western Alpine and, in one case, French ore deposits. This shows that the Copper Age communities of west-central Italy participated in superregional exchange networks tying together the middle/upper Tyrrhenian region, the western Alps, and perhaps the French Midi. These networks were largely independent from other metal displacement circuits in operation at the time, which embraced the north-Alpine region and the south-eastern Alps, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marginal rural areas are undergoing major pressures from the effects of globalization, especially when no alternative has been found to conventional extensive agriculture and a lack of investments and vision squeezes the income of farmers. The objective of the paper is to show how Integrated Supply Chain Projects (Progetti Integrati di Filiera (PIF)), Italian rural policy tools funded in the framework of EU's Rural Development Policy, can integrate supply chain innovation and territorial integrated strategies, fostering a multifunctional development of marginal rural areas towards a newly discovered identity. The case study is the PIF "Flora Aromatica Santa Luce" funded by the Tuscany Regional Administration RDP in 2016. The project aims at creating a new supply chain of organic aromatic plants in the Santa Luce Valley (PI). The integration is based, on the one side, on the creation and valorization of the new supply chain product, represented by an organic cosmetic line made with lavender essential oil, and, on the other side, on the territorial development of the Valley, in an economic, social, environmental and touristic perspective. From a theoretical point of view, the approach used was based on the new rural development paradigm, assuming that the processes of broadening, deepening and regrounding, together compose the main axis of rural development. The canvas model was used in order to identify a business model for the new supply chain and the territorial development of the area, while, at the methodological level, a participatory action research (PAR) approach was adopted. Results show how a supply chain project (like a PIF) can enhance innovation and stable commercial relationships within the supply chain and support processes of vertical and horizontal coordination, but also stimulate extended territorial strategies supporting the integration processes between agriculture, processing and other economic activities following a territorial multifunctional development logic. At the same time, key benefits for the policymaker and local administrations can also be identified in particular for marginal rural areas where farmers and other local actors are weaker and collective action is more difficult. Thanks to the PAR approach, a PIF can stimulate participation of farmers to relevant RDP measures but also allow convergence of individual actions towards wider regional and local strategic objectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nature-based solutions, such as ConstructedWetlands (CWs), for the treatment of industrial wastewater can be more efficiently operated making use of online monitored parameters as inlet/outlet flows and concentrations for specific substances. The present study compares different datasets acquired in a two-and-a-half-year-long period by normal laboratory methods and also from a specific COD/BOD sensor installed at a winery CWs wastewater treatment plant in Tuscany, Italy. The CW wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) is composed of: equalization tank (70 m³); French Reed Bed (1200 M²); horizontal subsurface flow (HF) CW (960 M²): free water system (850 M²); optional post-treatment sand filter (50 M²); and emergency recirculation. The obtained average performances for this last period are for COD 97.5%, for MBAS 93.1%, for N-NO2-84.7%, for NO3-39.9%, and for TP 45.5%. The online sensor has shown excellent performance in following the COD concentration patterns along the observed period. The qualitative and quantitative validity of the online sensor measurements has been assessed by statistical analysis (t-test) and reported in the paper. Online data, acquired every 30 min, availability is of extreme importance for the CW system performance optimization, for understanding the behavior of theWWTPin different operative scenarios, and finally for driving the powering on or off eventual process enhancement tools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes an in-depth study on an unprecedented reproduction of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem dated to the end of the 17th century and located in central Tuscany, within the complex of the Orgia Castle, in the province of Siena. This model of the Holy Sepulcher was initially the subject of an accurate integrated digital survey which involved the use of advanced instrumentation and methodologies such as laser-scanner and SfM photogrammetry by UAV, which led to the development of 3D models and graphic elaborations describing the current architectural state. The results of the digital survey have laid the foundations for historical investigations relating to the comparison between the numerous reproductions and representations traceable throughout Europe, in relation to the original one in Jerusalem and its transformations over the centuries. The research also deals with the phases, the techniques adopted, and the results obtained from the restoration of the building of the Orgia aedicule, carefully describing each of the architectural elements that compose it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Small farms' contribution to food and nutrition security (FNS) is widely acknowledged; however, the diversity of context-specific characteristics of small farms is still barely documented in terms of farm strategies and household dynamics. The paper analyses this contribution in connection with the strategies related to the destination of the produce, with specific attention to the balance between food self-provisioning and economic integration. The analysis of self-provisioning relies on the assumptions that (i) production and consumption decisions cannot be analysed separately when they are attributed to the same entity and that (ii) family farm strategic choices are influenced by both business outcomes and household''s welfare. The analysis of economic integration hinges on Polanyi''s categories of market, reciprocity and redistribution as the three main modes of economic integration of a farm within its environment. We have collected information from a range of farmers in the Lucca province (northern Tuscany, Italy) and key stakeholders, through interviews, focus groups and field visits. The results of our analysis highlight the different ways small farms' contribution to FNS in relation to each mode of economic integration adopted by the small farms. The different forms of this contribution can be identified at two levels: (i) internal to the farming household and (ii) external (i.e. referred to the community and broader society). A concept of food quality encompassing local sustainability, cultural heritage and social cohesion, is crucial to valorise, through appropriate policies, the specificities of small farms' contribution to FNS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the first experimental results of a study on the ingestion in the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model, of Sentinel satellites and Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) derived products. The experiments concern a flash-floodevent occurred in Tuscany (Central Italy) in September 2017. The rationale is that numerical weather prediction (NWP) models are presently able to produce forecasts with a km scale spatial resolution, but the poor knowledge of the initial state of the atmosphere may imply an inaccurate simulation of the weather phenomena. Hence, to fully exploit the advances in numerical weather modelling, it is necessary to feed them with high spatiotemporal resolution information over the surface boundary and the atmospheric column. In this context, the Copernicus Sentinel satellites represent an important source of data, because they can provide a set of high-resolution observations of physical variables (e.g. soil moisture, land/sea surface temperature, wind speed) used in NWP models runs. The possible availability of a spatially dense network of GNSS stations is also exploited to assimilate water vapour content. Results show that the assimilation of Sentinel-1 derived wind field and GNSS-derivedwater vapour data produce the most positive effects on the performance of the forecast. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the new global economy, intensive production models based on high-yield varieties of wheat have become a central issue for the fight against hunger, undernourishment, and poverty. Nonetheless, this intensive model - and the related globalized processing and marketing system – poses a challenge to the conservation of biodiversity and to environmental sustainability. In addition, volatility on world cereal markets is threatening farmers' income, triggering diversification patterns. One of this pattern is the creation of alternative food chains intended as supply chains that are territorially embedded and able to reconnect producers with consumers. In this context, this paper aims to explore the diversity of alternative bread chains and valorisation practices, in order to identify organizational models, assess their economic performance in terms of creating added value distributing it along the stages of the chain and to understand the role played by ancient wheat varieties in differentiating the product. In order to do this, the paper develops a comparative case study analysis of several locally-based alternative bread supply chains in Tuscany (Italy). Semi-structured interviews were conducted with key actors, selected considering all the steps in the supply chain: from growing the wheat and milling the grain through to the end product. From these interviews differences emerged between locally-based bread supply chains in terms of the valorisation system followed and the institutional arrangements. While the locally-based chains featuring modern wheat varieties have more conventional characteristics and pursue differentiation strategies based on certification, chains based on ancient wheat follow a more informal route, and product quality is mainly guaranteed by the reputation of the network. Furthermore, in the bread supply chains featuring ancient varieties, the methods for reducing transaction costs are linked to a bottom-up collective action, embeddedness strategies among stakeholders (that include also consumers), and are built on a relational approach based on trust, knowledge exchange and social networks. Results provide an assessment of the performances of different locally-based bread supply chains, identify critical aspects and suggest some policy implications for all types of chains. • Alternative food chains interpret localness in very different ways and intensities. • Bread chains using modern varieties of wheat adopt mainstream mechanisms of coordination. • Bread chains using ancient varieties of wheat are more embedded within the territory. • Bread chains using modern germplasm adopt bureaucratic mechanisms of governance. • Bread chains using ancient germplasm adopt mainly network mechanisms of governance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A rationalized model of clinical and therapeutic management of hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) should place the patients at the heart of the process, facilitating their access to diagnostic tests and treatments, providing the appropriate care for each grade of disease severity and optimizing the use of healthcare resources, both in economic and human terms. Material and methods: This paper reports the results of a Consensus of the Tuscany HS working group for a rationalized model of diagnosis and management of HS. Results: The diagnostic and therapeutic protocols, the available technological equipments and the management models, are presented in the light of today's scientific evidence. Conclusion: The goal of the Consensus is to bring the issue of HS management to the attention of the Tuscan regional government, in order to create unanimously accepted diagnostic and therapeutic protocols. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Il Capitale Culturale: Studies on the Value of Cultural Heritage is the property of Il Capitale Culturale Studies on the Value of Cultural Heritage and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The adoption of new territorial approaches based on biocultural identity is increasingly valued for the activation and enhancement of processes of inclusive and sustainable rural development. These processes are often hindered by the presence of conflicts, rather than collective action and collaboration among stakeholders, at different institutional levels. This negatively affects the preservation and sustainable valorization of local biocultural heritage towards a synergic integration and balanced satisfaction of the interests at stake. Consequently, capacity building is increasingly taken into consideration by both researchers and policy makers to respond to an emerging need of territorial dynamization, requiring the mobilization of local actors, as well as enhanced decision-making and action-taking powers. Our paper aims to provide a systemic comprehension and enhancement of territorial development paths based on biocultural identity and to foster their enhancement through the adoption of a capacity building approach. A novel holistic conceptual model is designed and operationalized supporting the analysis of the key processes of biocultural heritage valorization for rural territorial development. A participatory action-research (PAR) approach was developed in eight territories, in both Europe and Latin America, illustrative of biocultural heritage valorization dynamics. The latter represented case studies and worked as laboratories for the model application. The paper presents the case of the Garfagnana territory, an inner mountain area of the Tuscany Region (Italy), which stands out for its capacity to comprehensively illustrate the applicability of the conceptual model and its expected results as a typical case study. The findings prove the model to be supportive in the identification of the virtuous aspects, criticalities, and needs for improvement that characterize processes of biocultural heritage valorization for rural territorial development, the detection of related dynamization needs, and a shared demand for capacity building, which made it possible to highlight and describe a new interdisciplinary profile of territorial enhancer (TE). The results support the adaption of education and training to align with territorial specificities and the valorization of the local diversity of resources and knowledge. As an outcome, we expect to foster processes of both educational transformation and social innovation through empowerment, thus generating concrete change in rural territories and communities, aiming at a long-lasting impact on social wellbeing, sustainability, and cohesion. [Display omitted] • Identity, cultural heritage, and biodiversity can be the very center of territorial development dynamics in rural and marginal areas • The paper presents and applies a novel holistic model for conceptualizing biocultural heritage valorization processes • The paper outlines territorial dynamization needs to identify the relevant demand for capacity building • A new interdisciplinary profile of Territorial Enhancer is highlighted and described • Results support the adaption of education and training to territorial specificities [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increase in wildfires has changed parts of the landscape and ecosystems of the Mediterranean region. By using the firecapes approach, this paper aims to establish a connection between wildfires as a natural phenomenon and the political dynamics surrounding land ownership, knowledge, and mitigation. Theoretically, we apply political ecology to contextualize firescapes by examining the historical processes that have shaped different uses of landscape which in turn has made land areas susceptible to wildfires. Empirical evidence is derived from literature review, semi-structured interviews, and focus groups with local municipal actors in wildfire mitigation in Tuscany, Italy. Results demonstrate that while Tuscany is climatically predisposed to wildfire activity, historical processes of industrialization and commercialization have rendered the land more vulnerable to destruction by wildfire. Historically-informed and community-based approaches are recommended for sustainable wildfire prevention and mitigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Big-data mining approaches based on Artificial Intelligence models can help forecast biodiversity changes before they happen. These approaches can predict macroscopic species distribution patterns and trends that can inform preventive measures to avoid the loss of ecosystem functions and services. They can, therefore, help study and mitigate climate change implications on biodiversity conservation in fragile ecosystems. Wetlands are particularly fragile ecosystems where climate change poses severe risks and has dramatically reduced their size over the past century, with profound consequences on biodiversity and ecosystem services. Through big-data mining approaches, we can predict future wetland biodiversity trends in the context of climate change. This paper proposes such predictive analysis for a specific wetland: The Massaciuccoli Lake basin in Tuscany, Italy. This basin is a critical tourist attraction due to its rich biodiversity, making it an area of interest for citizens, tourists, and scientists. However, the region's suitability for native and non-native species is at risk due to climate and land-use change. Using machine-learning models, we predict the potential effects of climate change on animal spatial distribution in the basin under different greenhouse gas emission scenarios. The results suggest that habitat suitability has generally improved from 1950 to today, presumably owing to the targeted conservation strategies adopted in the area, but climate change will severely reduce bird biodiversity by 2050 while favouring several insect species' proliferation and other species' habitat change, even under a medium-emission scenario. This will lead to significant changes in the basin's biodiversity. Our methodology is adaptable to other wetland basins, being fully based on open data and models. The spatially explicit modelling used in this research provides valuable information for policymakers and spatial planners, complementing traditional biodiversity trend analyses. [Display omitted] • Bayesian Open Science ecological niche models for 180 species in an Italian wetland • Environmental change in the last 70 years has benefited animal biodiversity • Climate change will disadvantage birds even under medium greenhouse gas emission • Climate change will alter other species' richness and habitat distribution [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Value-based healthcare suggested using patient-reported information to complement the information available in the medical records and administrative healthcare data to provide insights into patients' perceptions of satisfaction, experience and self-reported outcomes. However, little attention has been devoted to questions about factors fostering the use of patient-reported information to create value at the system level. Design/methodology/approach: Action research design is carried out to elicit possible triggers using the case of patient-reported experience and outcome data for breast cancer women along their clinical pathway in the clinical breast network of Tuscany (Italy). Findings: The case shows that communication and engagement of multi-stakeholder representation are needed for making information actionable in a multi-level, multispecialty care pathway organized in a clinical network; moreover, political and managerial support from higher level governance is a stimulus for legitimizing the use for quality improvement. At the organizational level, an external facilitator disclosing and discussing real-world uses of collected data is a trigger to link measures to action. Also, clinical champion(s) and clear goals are key success factors. Nonetheless, resource munificent and dedicated information support tools together with education and learning routines are enabling factors. Originality/value: Current literature focuses on key factors that impact performance information use often considering unidimensional performance and internal sources of information. The use of patient/user-reported information is not yet well-studied especially in supporting quality improvement in multi-stakeholder governance. The work appears relevant for the implications it carries, especially for policymakers and public sector managers when confronting the gap in patient-reported measures for quality improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flatbreads are particularly prevalent in the Mediterranean region, including Italy, where each community has its unique traditional recipe, preparation method, and baking system. This traditional narrative review provides an overview of the Italian flatbreads that have achieved national or international quality recognitions. The aims of this study are, firstly, to scientifically evaluate these flatbreads and establishing a catalog that includes both technical and cultural information, which are currently missing in the international scientific literature and, secondly, to conduct a comparative analysis of the technical and cultural diversity of traditional Italian flatbreads, outlining areas for future research development. The examined flatbreads were found to be characterized by considerable diversity, reflecting the Italian region's diverse culinary heritage. The formulation is generally simple and includes flour, water, possibly yeast, and salt. Additional ingredients are region dependent, reflecting local availability, and include fats of animal origin, or ham, mostly found in flatbreads from Northern Italy, while olive oil or EVOO is common in flatbreads of Tuscany, Liguria, and Sardinia. The types of flour also differ regionally: Besides soft wheat flour, durum wheat semolina is used in southern Italy and Sardinia, chestnut flour in Tuscany, rye flour in Alto Adige, chickpea flour in Liguria, and corn flour in central Italy. Historically, high-extraction flour and sourdough were largely used but have been replaced by refined flour and commercial baker's yeast over time. Flash baking (short time, high temperature) is generally adopted, and some flatbreads, typical of Sardinia, are baked twice, resulting in complete dryness and long shelf-life. In contrast, quickly prepared unleavened bread is a staple in the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines, Lunigiana, and the Po Valley. Overall, these results suggest encouraging the revival of the ancient baking tradition of using high-extraction flours and sourdough fermentation, which today are almost lost. Reintroducing these methods could increase the fiber, mineral and, vitamin content and ensure a rich sensory profile. Further research could focus on improving the nutritional quality, particularly, through salt reduction, acrylamide levels mitigation, and protein content increase. The lack of historical information highlights the need to perform historical research to gain a deeper understanding of origins, evolution and characteristics of Italian flatbreads. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Virtual Archaeology Review is the property of Virtual Archaeology Review and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

ABSTRACT This paper describes the emergence of a post-modern circuit of food and addresses the rise of a new culture of consumption. The assessment of the diffusion of organic products in terms of the emergence of a new culture of food consumption springs from two principle considerations. The first is the much-discussed question of the globalization of the agri-food system that has been a focus of attention in the debate in sociology of agriculture and in agricultural economics. The second is the new relevance that the study of culture and consumption has assumed in analyses of social relations and cultural forms. Combining insights from these two bodies of work, the paper illustrates how strategies of food selling/shopping for lifestyle reasons coalesce with particular forms of production. The main theme of the paper is therefore that the cultural change around food consumption has been a vital factor in the constitution of the networks of products, producers, distributors, public authorities, and consumers which constitute post-modern circuits of food. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quartz luminescence finds applications on many fields, but much work still needs to be done to precisely characterize it. In this work, we made further developments on the study of luminescence of quartz from La Sassa, Tuscany: a sample with unique properties in this regard. Photoluminescence (PL) measurements allowed study of the excitation profile of the previously reported luminescence, showing an excitation maximum at around 4.3 eV, among other minor ones. This kind of luminescence has also been studied as a function of X-ray irradiation, showing that ionizing radiation desensitizes the photoluminescence emissions. New radioluminescence (RL) measurements have been done to study the effect of thermal annealing at 1000 °C, showing a more complex emission picture in the red region (1.8–2.0 eV), with multiple emissions. The data presented here allow more precise assumptions regarding the assignment of the centers responsible for each emission. The assignment has been confirmed by chemical profiles measured by laser-ablation inductively coupled plasma (ICP) mass spectrometry. The previously tentative assignment of non-bridging oxygen hole centers (NBOHCs) has been disproved for the PL and LIF emissions and confirmed for the RL ones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to understand the enduring, fundamental contributions of accounting practices in the pursuit of decentralization by governments, with an examination of Peter Leopold's reform of the municipalities in the late eighteenth century in Italy. Design/methodology/approach: An extensive textual analysis of the very comprehensive collection of primary sources of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany during the de' Medici and Hapsburg-Lorraine's rule identified the reasons for Peter Leopold's decision to decentralize his government's authority and responsibilities. A systemic comparison of the 1765–1766 and 1775–1776 financial reports of the Municipality of Castrocaro and Terra del Sole disclosed the importance of the micro-practices of accounting and reporting for the reform. Findings: In the context of the eighteenth century enlightenment, Peter Leopold legitimized his reform by the introduction of a modern style of government based on the rationalization of the municipal administrative system and decentralization of central authority and responsibility. The reform was made feasible by the substitution of a birth right principle with an economic discourse which linked tax payments to property ownership. This had the unintended consequence of increased taxes, higher municipal expenditures and possible inequalities between municipalities. Research limitations/implications: The findings of the study are dependent on the resources which have survived and are now preserved in the official archives of Galeata and Florence. This work contributes to the extant literature on administrative reforms in a crucial period for the redefinition of sovereignty by the ruling classes, with the rise of the modern State. It extends historical understanding of the public sector with a focus on local government in the eighteenth century in a non-Anglo-Saxon context. Practical implications: The examination of the reform of Peter Leopold contributes to an enhanced understanding of present-day decentralization by governments in the context of the new public management (NPM). It provides to NPM advocates a broader temporal and contextual understanding of the impact of current decentralization reforms. Originality/value: Few accounting studies have considered the micro-aspects of decentralization reforms at the municipal level and tried to identify their impact on the wealth of the population. Moreover, Peter Leopold's reform is considered one of the most innovative and enlightened of the eighteenth century, while the remainder of Europe was still overwhelmingly committed to the centralization of administrative apparatuses. Finally, this study relates to the multi-disciplinary debate about the recognition, qualification and accountization of the impact of decentralization of responsibility for the delivery of government services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]