ARUd’A (Università “G. d’Annunzio CHIETI -PESCARA)
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From Vision to Collective Imaginary:A Historical Analysis of Olivettian Entrepreneurial Imagination
No full textEntrepreneurial action is both motivated by and organized around visions—narratives of desirable future states of the world. Despite our growing understanding of the dynamics of entrepreneurial imagination, we know very little about how, why, and with what effects entrepreneurial visions are extended, mobilized, and transmitted over long time horizons. Accordingly, in this study we ask: after a vision leads to the initial achievement of entrepreneurial success, how can it be carried forward to become part of the collectively imagined future of an entrepreneurial ecosystem? Through a micro-historical case study of one of the most prominent Italian entrepreneurs of the twentieth century, Adriano Olivetti, we seek to identify the narrative mechanisms by which entrepreneurial visions are elevated to shape the collective imagination of entrepreneurs who today refer to themselves as “Olivettian entrepreneurs.” Our core contribution is a theoretical framework of the cultural impact of entrepreneurship that describes the processes by which entrepreneurial imagination is transmitted within a society over time
Eternal dilemma between percutaneous nephrostomy and double J stenting in the management of patients with ureteral obstruction: A single center study
No full textUreteral obstruction is one of the most common urological emergencies, the etiology of which can be benign (in case of ureteral stones or strictures secondary to surgery) or malign (when a urothelial cancer affects the ureteral lumen or when an abdominal advanced neoplastic disease compresses the ureter ‘ab estrinseco’). To date, the most commonly used existing surgical methods for ureteral obstruction include percutaneous nephrostomy (PCN) and Double J stenting (DJS). The choose of the drainage method is multifactorial and, currently, no existing guidelines suggest to the urologist the ideal treatment for ureteral obstruction. Therefore, it was assessed which of the two main methods is superior in patients with ureteral obstruction according to normalization of renal function indices, post-operative complication and the perception of the quality of life (QoL) by the patient's point of view. In a period between 2019 and 2023, a total of 317 consecutive patients (198 males and 119 females) presenting to the emergency room of our hospital with a ureteral obstruction, which was resolved surgically by DJS or nephrostomy tube, were enrolled in the present study. All the patients signed written informed consent. Patients underwent surgical drainage when definitive treatment was not possible immediately or when a two-stage procedure was considered a safer approach. Inclusion criteria were: ureteral obstruction with fever (>38 ̊C), acute renal failure (indicated by an increase in creatinine and urea nitrogen blood values), risk of sepsis [suspected based on an increase in white blood cell (WBC) count] or intractable pain. Diagnosis of the ureteral obstruction was made by either a non-contrast CT and/or renal ultrasound. Specifically, 155 patients of the study sample were treated with nephrostomy, whereas 217 individuals underwent to stenting procedure. For each participant, data concerning the creatinine (mg/dl), azotemia (mg/dl), potassium (mEq/l), WBC count (103/mm3), core temperature ( ̊C), pain in the side (yes or not), anti-inflammatory therapy (yes or not) and ASA score were evaluated. A Chi-square test was used to evaluate the difference in the incidence of complications according to sex and to the type of intervention. Moreover, 2-way ANOVA, considering the time (that is, pre-intervention, 2, 3, and 4 days after the intervention) as within factor and the groups as between factor, was implemented separately for the creatinine, azotemia, WBC, and body temperature values to assess differences between the PCN and DJS groups. Multiple comparisons were performed through t-tests comparing the values pre-operation and the values at two, three and four days after the intervention for each group. Moreover, independent samples t-tests were computed to identify differences between the two groups. Importantly, the multiple comparisons results were Bonferroni corrected. Finally, in order to assess a possible effect of the age on the variations of the creatinine, azotemia, WBC and body temperature for the two groups considered, a MANCOVA was performed, considering the age as a covariate. Finally, an independent sample t-test was performed between the hospitalization time of the two groups. According to our results, PCN is an improved method compared with DJS for management of ureteral obstruction in terms of renal function preservation, also ensuring an improved QoL. Moreover, PCN patients have a higher rate of post-operative complications. Then, concerning the prediction of the hospitalization time (according to the two-class classification: hospitalization time lower or higher than 3 days), the accuracy of the prediction was 61.9% for DJS and 60.2 for PCN. These results demonstrate the feasibility of predicting the hospitalization time for the patients based on their pre-drained condition. Although the results are preliminary and the accuracies are not high, this approach could help the surgeon choose the right kind of intervention for each patient
Mapping fault architecture from depth to surface: integrating microseismicity and structural geology in low-strain Apennine regions
No full textHigh-resolution microearthquake data provide a powerful window into active fault architecture from depth to surface in slowly deforming regions with sparse instrumental seismicity. We integrate microseismic clusters from enhanced catalogs with detailed structural mapping to reconstruct the 3D geometry of seismogenic extensional faults in the Latium-Abruzzi sector of central Italy. Investigated earthquake clusters align geometrically and kinematically with known and newly mapped normal faults showing evidence of Late Quaternary activity. The 3D model depicts a set of SW-to-SSW-dipping, non-planar faults with an average dip of ∼55° (Sora, San Donato Val di Comino, Villavallelonga, and Pescasseroli). Their cut-off depths deepen NNE-ward, from ∼7 to ∼14 km, suggesting an underlying basal discontinuity dipping∼30–35°. Microseismic patches at the roots of these faults are mostly elongated along dip rather than along strike. This unusual geometry suggests a stress release pattern governed by iso-oriented anisotropic roughness and corrugations on the basal discontinuity, which may focus upward fluid migration and trigger earthquakes along hangingwall splays. Stress inversion reveals a persistent NE–SW tensional stress field consistent across geological and instrumental timescales. An empirical magnitude-area relationship, accounting for both epistemic uncertainty in scaling laws and areal variability of fault surfaces, yields maximum magnitudes between 6.0 and 6.5, consistent with the regional seismotectonic framework. These findings provide new constraints on fault connectivity, stress distribution, and fluid-fault interactions, and help identifying potentially seismogenic sources that may remain unrecognized when geological and seismic data are considered separately
An Ambivalent Interpretation of the dictum de omni in Prior Analytics B, 22, 68a16-68a25
No full textPrognostic impact of the immune microenvironment in multiple myeloma: a meta-analysis of current studies
No full textWhen neuromodulation met control theory
Get PDFThe brain is a highly complex physical system made of assemblies of neurons that work together to accomplish elaborate tasks such as motor control, memory and perception. How these parts work together has been studied for decades by neuroscientists using neuroimaging, psychological manipulations, and neurostimulation. Neurostimulation has gained particular interest, given the possibility to perturb the brain and elicit a specific response. This response depends on different parameters such as the intensity, the location and the timing of the stimulation. However, most of the studies performed so far used previously established protocols without considering the ongoing brain activity and, thus, without adaptively targeting the stimulation. In control theory, this approach is called open-loop control, and it is always paired with a different form of control called closed-loop, in which the current activity of the brain is used to establish the next stimulation. Recently, neuroscientists are beginning to shift from classical fixed neuromodulation studies to closed-loop experiments. This new approach allows the control of brain activity based on responses to stimulation and thus to personalize individual treatment in clinical conditions. Here, we review this new approach by introducing control theory and focusing on how these aspects are applied in brain studies. We also present the different stimulation techniques and the control approaches used to steer the brain. Finally, we explore how the closed-loop framework will revolutionize the way the human brain can be studied, including a discussion on open questions and an outlook on future advances
THE HIDDEN RISKS OF USING AI IN BUSINESS PROCESSES: WHEN TECHNOLOGICAL PROGRESS REINFORCES OUTDATED BIASES
No full textRole of Quantitative CEUS in the Diagnosis of Peripheral Pulmonary Lesions: A Systematic Review
No full textBackground/Objectives: This systematic review describes a largely descriptive synthesis of studies investigating the diagnostic performance of quantitative contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in differentiating benign from malignant peripheral pulmonary lesions. Methods: Formal quantitative pooling of effect sizes was not feasible due to variability in outcome measurements and reporting. Results: Combining CEUS parameters with real-time on-site evaluation (ROSE) substantially improved percutaneous biopsy success rates. In one comparative study, biopsy yield reached 97.62% with CEUS, versus 84% using conventional ultrasound, while complications remained minimal. Other investigations focused on the discriminatory value of specific time-based indices (e.g., AT ≥ 10 s, lesion-lung AT difference ≥ 2.5 s) or complex multi-parameter models. A notable large study demonstrated that a six-parameter logistic regression model achieved near-excellent discrimination, with C-statistics exceeding 0.97 for both development and validation cohorts, outperforming single-threshold approaches. Nevertheless, certain findings emphasize that no single indicator—particularly arrival time alone—reliably distinguishes benign from malignant lesions, given the diverse vascular patterns and histological subtypes involved. TDOA-based analyses proved more promising, as malignant lesions generally exhibit a delayed but robust bronchial arterial supply and rapid washout. Heterogeneity in ultrasound systems, operator experience, and patient populations further underscores the need for standardized protocols. Conclusions: Overall, these data suggest that CEUS, particularly when combined with additional sonographic or cytological tools, significantly enhances diagnostic precision for peripheral pulmonary lesions