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Diversity at the top: leveraging language for inclusion
Full text linkThis study explores how gendered job titles in Italian, particularly feminine forms used for leadership positions, are represented and perceived on social media like Twitter. While feminine titles align with Italian grammatical norms, they are often resisted in public discourse, especially in prestigious domains like firms and management. Drawing on feminist theories of language and institutional theory, we analysed Italian-language tweets from 2006 to 2022 to examine the prevalence and sentiment associated with gendered job titles. Our findings show that although masculine forms remain dominant, the use of feminine titles has grown over time, particularly for the role of entrepreneur. Sentiment analysis reveals that tweets using feminine titles, especially for women on Boards of Directors, are associated with more positive sentiment than their masculine counterparts. These results suggest that gender-fair language may contribute to more inclusive perceptions of leadership, though its adoption remains uneven across roles and regions
Exploring the Links Among Risky Substance Use, Problematic Internet Use, and Academic Outcomes in University Freshmen: The Role of Mediating Factors
No full textBackground: Alcohol and substance use among young people is a well documented public health concern, and is particularly prevalent in college populations. Problematic internet use is also an emerging issue, with potential negative effects on academic achievement. University dropout remains a critical challenge, especially among freshmen, with research highlighting the role of academic engagement factors such as motivation, self-efficacy, and university connectedness in students’ academic trajectories.
Methods: This study explored the relationships among risky substance use, problematic internet use, academic engagement factors, and academic outcomes, identifying potential mediators. Freshmen from an Italian university were invited to complete an online survey assessing these variables. The study defined two academic outcomes: (i) academic performance (Grade Point Average, GPA) and (ii) dropout intentions. Spearman’s rho coefficients and multiple linear regression models examined the associations among risky substance/internet use, academic engagement factors, and academic outcomes. Mediation analyses assessed whether academic engagement variables mediated the relationship between risky substance/internet use and academic outcomes. Results: The results showed that only problematic internet use was significantly associated with GPA, with self-efficacy and lack of motivation fully mediating this relationship. Regarding dropout intentions, problematic internet use and the risky use of alcohol, cannabis, and sedatives were directly
and positively associated with dropout intentions. Several motivation subscales, self-efficacy, and university connectedness mediated these relationships. Conclusions: These findings highlight the role of academic engagement factors in mitigating the impact of risky behaviors on students’ academic trajectories, emphasizing the need for targeted prevention and intervention strategies
SIGNED-PERTURBED SUMS ESTIMATION OF ARX SYSTEMS: EXACT COVERAGE AND STRONG CONSISTENCY
No full textSign-perturbed sums (SPS) is an identification method that constructs confidence regions for the unknown parameters of a system. In this paper, we consider a new version of SPS for application to autoregressive exogenous systems and establish that the ensuing confidence regions include the true parameters with exact, user-chosen, probability under mild statistical assumptions. This property holds true for any finite number of observed input-output data. Furthermore, the confidence regions are proven to be strongly consistent, that is, they shrink around the true parameters as the number of data points increases and, asymptotically, parameters different from the true ones are almost surely excluded from the regions
Corrosion Resistance of 3D-Printed and Conventional Die Steels in Contact with Molten Aluminum Alloys
No full textThis study investigates the corrosion resistance of maraging steel produced via additive manufacturing and conventional forging when exposed to molten aluminum alloys used in high-pressure die casting (HPDC). The H11 tool steel, typically used in such applications, was also studied for comparison. Static immersion tests were conducted in three different aluminum alloys for HPDC (AlSi7Mg, AlSi10Mg, AlSi10MgFe). SEM-EDS analysis revealed differences in the formation of intermetallic layers on the metallic surfaces, mainly depending on the material considered. The laser-power bed fused maraging steel, often used for conformal cooling inserts, exhibited the formation of a stable high Fe intermetallic layer without a liquid phase, contributing to superior corrosion resistance compared to the forged maraging steel. The H11 tool steel demonstrated the highest corrosion resistance, especially due to its composition free from Ni and the presence of Cr and Cr-carbide. Thermo-Calc equilibrium simulations identified the phases present in the intermetallic layers at the test temperature, highlighting the effects of different steel compositions on interfacial intermetallic layers. These findings underline the critical role of manufacturing processes and alloy composition on the performance of steels in contact with molten aluminum alloys, with implications for die casting applications
Right Ventricular-Pulmonary Artery Coupling in Tricuspid Regurgitation: Prognostic Value and Impact of Treatment Strategy
No full textBackground: Right ventricular–pulmonary artery coupling (RVPAC) predicts outcomes after transcatheter tricuspid valve edge-to-edge repair (T-TEER), but its role in patient selection remains unclear. Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic implications of RVPAC in a European registry of patients with tricuspid regurgitation undergoing either T-TEER or medical management. Methods: Among 1,885 patients with tricuspid regurgitation (n = 585 medical, n = 1,300 T-TEER), 946 were propensity matched (1:1). RVPAC, assessed as the ratio of tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion to systolic pulmonary artery pressure was analyzed for its association with 1-year mortality. Results: RVPAC was significantly associated with mortality (HR: 0.11; 95% CI: 0.04-0.29; P 0.46 mm/mm Hg), tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion increased (14 mm [Q1-Q3: 12-17 mm] vs 18 mm [Q1-Q3: 15-20 mm] vs 21 mm [Q1-Q3: 18-24 mm]; P < 0.01), while systolic pulmonary artery pressure (60 mm Hg [Q1-Q3: 50-70 mm Hg] vs 45 mm Hg [Q1-Q3: 40-52 mm Hg] vs 34 mm Hg [Q1-Q3: 29-41 mm Hg]; P = 0.30) and kidney function (43 mL/min/m2 [Q1-Q3: 30-57 mL/min/m2] vs 49 mL/min/m2 [Q1-Q3: 38-67 mL/min/m2] vs 53 mL/min/m2 [Q1-Q3: 40-69 mL/min/m2]; P = 0.03) declined. Mortality was highest in the low RVPAC tertile, with no difference between treatment modalities (HR: 1.04; 95% CI: 0.68-1.61; P = 0.85). T-TEER was associated with better survival than medical management in the intermediate RVPAC tertile (HR: 0.54; 95% CI: 0.31-0.94; P = 0.03). This difference persisted but weakened in the high RVPAC tertile, with the overall most favorable outcomes (HR: 0.69; 95% CI: 0.35-1.36; P = 0.27). Conclusions: Poorer RVPAC reflects higher baseline risk and mortality, regardless of treatment. T-TEER is associated with better survival across a range of RVPAC values, including those less than previously suggested thresholds
Legal profiles of the agricultural production: Subjects, natural resources, supply chain contracts
No full textThe chapter provides a comprehensive overview of the themes characterizing the legal framework governing the agricultural sector. It examines the characteristics of law regulating agriculture and its study, and the key sources of the regulatory field, by focusing on international law treaties, national constitutions and international guidance instruments. It also illustrates the principles and concepts shaping agricultural law, including the recognition and protection of certain subjects (family farmers and smallholders, women and young farmers, rural workers); the emerging principles for responsible governance of tenure of land and other natural resources; the standards for sustainable farming practices, and the guidance on a specific typology of contractual relation used in the sector: contract farming
The interplay among nonsuicidal self-injury, depression, loneliness, resilience, and family relationships in youth: A path analysis
Full text linkBackground: Recent research has increasingly highlighted the complex interplay among depression, loneliness, and non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI). Resilience and family relationships have emerged as potential protective factors in mitigating these mental health challenges.
Methods: This study investigated the associations among depression, loneliness, NSSI, resilience, and family relationships in a sample of 7146 Italian high school and university students. Participants completed a multidimensional online survey featuring standardized instruments to assess depressive symptoms, loneliness and resilience. Spearman correlations and path analysis were employed to examine the interrelationships among
these variables.
Results: A substantial proportion of participants reported clinically significant depressive symptoms (42.8 %) and NSSI behaviours (28.4 %). Path analysis revealed a strong positive effect of depressive symptoms on both loneliness and NSSI, alongside a pronounced negative effect on satisfaction with family relationships and resilience. Loneliness significantly reduced satisfaction with family relationships and resilience, while the impact on NSSI was significant, but minimal. Family relationships exhibited a significant but modest negative effect on NSSI behaviours.
Limitations: The generalizability of the sample and the potential biases inherent in self-report measures are addressed.
Conclusions: This study highlights the intricate interplay between depressive symptoms, loneliness, NSSI, resilience, and family relationships in a large sample of Italian adolescents and young adults. The findings emphasize the need for comprehensive interventions targeting these factors to enhance mental health and well-being
Talent Management in SMEs: Unraveling the Role of Contextual Factors
Full text linkEmploying a multiple case study analysis, this paper explores the contextual factors—internal, external, and relational—that affect small and medium- sized enterprises (SMEs) in designing their approaches to talent management (TM). Results underscore the significance of two prominent internal variables—namely, organizational size and ownership structure—alongside an external determinant represented by the industry/sector within which the company operates. The study also revealed that the economic and social context in which the company is situated is not only a geographical characteristic (thus constituting an external factor) but also furnishes valuable relational resources subsequently influencing the approaches to TM. Additionally, we found that while industry/sector simply dictates competency needs (hard or soft), the size of the company (affecting TM resource availability) combined with the ownership structure (affecting TM scope and level of formalization) generates specificities in TM practices. Relational factors—namely “local embeddedness”—appear to assume a pervasive role
Borrowing in a pre-industrial city: financial behaviour and economic rationality in eighteenth-century Venice
Full text linkIn early modern Venice, credit was ubiquitous, with various lenders offering long- and short- term loans. This article traces the structure of the Venetian credit market in the eighteenth century and examines the borrowing opportunities available to the local population, focusing in particular on consumer credit. The research studies how people approached credit in a pre-industrial society, and what factors may have shaped the ways through which they accessed borrowing. More broadly, how did Venetian households cope with uncertainty? Was the local credit market able to offer borrowers multiple, equally viable options? The article explores the interaction between the supply and demand for credit, emphasising the organised nature of the Venetian market. Ultimately, it argues that even loans that appeared to have unfavourable conditions could, in practice, be quite attractive to borrowers