44 research outputs found
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Does cultural distance affect online review ratings? Measuring international customers’ satisfaction with services leveraging digital platforms and big data
No full textThe advent and development of digital platforms has helped enhance the international visibility of brands, products and services, and has also introduced a proliferation of online reviews. This study develops a big data analysis of customer online reviews of hospitality services to gauge the extent to which the cultural distance among service providers and their customers influences online review ratings. By examining almost 715,000 online reviews written by hotel customers from more than 100 different nationalities, the effect of national cultural differences among service customers and providers (namely cultural distance) on online review ratings is innovatively scrutinized. The paper, by considering reviewers’ behavioral features, demographics, and trip-related factors, reveals that the effect of national cultural distance on online review ratings is negative. Several implications for practitioners are also discussed
Long-term outcome of male-limited gonadotropin-independent precocious puberty
No full textLong-term outcome of five new cases of male-limited precocious puberty (MPP) is reported. Three patients had positive family history. One patient was untreated; 2 boys received cyproterone acetate (2.0-3.6 mg/kg/daily) without clinical effects. Two patients were treated with ketoconazole (600 mg/daily); in 1, GnRH analogue therapy (Buserelin, 1,600 mu g/day) was added after 6 months of effective ketoconazole treatment for development of central precocious puberty. The other patient did not develop central puberty under ketoconazole treatment and improved his predicted adult height from 172.4 to 181.1 cm. Four patients reached final height [B.A. (therapy cyproterone acetate): age 22.0 years, -2.0 SDS; B.G. (untreated): age 15.5 years, -1.7 SDS; M.M. (therapy cyproterone acetate): age 19.5 years, -1.6 SDS; M.F. (therapy ketoconazole plus GnRH analogue): age 21.3 years, -2.2 SDS]; three had reduced testicular volume (B.A.: -1.6/-1.6 SDS; B.G.: -2.1/-2.1 SDS; M.F.: -2.4/-1.9 SDS); one (M.F.) showed oligospermia. We concluded that in MPP cyproterone acetate treatment did not improve final height; ketoconazole was effective in reducing testosterone secretion, but its real effect on final height cannot be determined; the timing of central puberty may be precocious, suggesting that an adjunctive GnRH analogue treatment may be needed. In some patients, testicular impairment may be present in young adulthood
Freight transport in the context of industrial ecology and sustainability: evaluation of uni- and multi-modality scenarios via life cycle assessment
No full textPurpose: This study aims at comparing, from an environmental point of view, four different scenarios of freight transport at the Italian level, on an equal base of route between supplier and customer. The first scenario included freight movements by truck and mainly ship, the second included track and mainly train, the third was the three-modal based scenario, whilst the fourth scenario was the only uni-modal, based only upon truck movement. The study was conducted to find the environmentally sustainable solution, or at least a sustainable trade-off, as well as the most environmentally burdening issues, associated with the geographic dimension of transport in Italy, towards sustainability. Methods: Using uni‐ and multi-modal freight movements by truck, rail and ship, a life cycle assessment (LCA) was developed to estimate the related environmental burdens both at the midpoint and at the endpoint levels from the consumption of primary energy and natural resources along with the emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs) and of other pollutants. Primary data were compiled as part of the inventory analysis and consisted in the transport flows associated with the system investigated: those were calculated from the distance travelled and the goods load transported. Primary data were then combined with secondary data that were modelled with the transport life cycle modules contained in Ecoinvent: from those modules, the fuel consumption amounts associated transport flows were extrapolated, and used for the assessment. Results: Results showed that the environmental impact of the multi-modal scenarios is lower compared with the uni-modal scenario. The best performing option was found to be the third scenario providing use of all the three freight means, namely ship, train and truck. However, this scenario is not being practiced for several reasons, mainly due to control and monitoring difficulties of each step and higher operational costs. The first and second scenarios showed a quite comparable environmental behaviour and so are to be considered as viable options. Conclusions: Apart from highlighting the most environmentally viable transport options, the study contributed to finding the indicators of environmental impact and damage that best describe the system investigated and are recommended by this author team to be accounted for in future assessments in the transport sector. Finally, although site-specific, the results of this study may be useful to logistics companies, policy and decision makers of other regions and countries towards identifying and promoting environmentally optimal freight transport solutions, contributing to sustainability of the transport sector
Freight transport in the context of industrial ecology and sustainability: evaluation of uni- and multi-modality scenarios via life cycle assessment
No full textPurpose This study aims at comparing, from an environmental point of view, four different scenarios of freight transport at
the Italian level, on an equal base of route between supplier and customer. The first scenario included freight movements by
truck and mainly ship, the second included track and mainly train, the third was the three-modal based scenario, whilst the
fourth scenario was the only uni-modal, based only upon truck movement.
The study was conducted to find the environmentally sustainable solution, or at least a sustainable trade-off, as well as the
most environmentally burdening issues, associated with the geographic dimension of transport in Italy, towards sustainability.
Methods Using uni‐ and multi-modal freight movements by truck, rail and ship, a life cycle assessment (LCA) was developed
to estimate the related environmental burdens both at the midpoint and at the endpoint levels from the consumption of primary
energy and natural resources along with the emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs) and of other pollutants. Primary data
were compiled as part of the inventory analysis and consisted in the transport flows associated with the system investigated:
those were calculated from the distance travelled and the goods load transported. Primary data were then combined with
secondary data that were modelled with the transport life cycle modules contained in Ecoinvent: from those modules, the
fuel consumption amounts associated transport flows were extrapolated, and used for the assessment.
Results Results showed that the environmental impact of the multi-modal scenarios is lower compared with the uni-modal
scenario. The best performing option was found to be the third scenario providing use of all the three freight means, namely
ship, train and truck. However, this scenario is not being practiced for several reasons, mainly due to control and monitoring
difficulties of each step and higher operational costs. The first and second scenarios showed a quite comparable environmental
behaviour and so are to be considered as viable options.
Conclusions Apart from highlighting the most environmentally viable transport options, the study contributed to finding
the indicators of environmental impact and damage that best describe the system investigated and are recommended by this
author team to be accounted for in future assessments in the transport sector. Finally, although site-specific, the results of
this study may be useful to logistics companies, policy and decision makers of other regions and countries towards identifying
and promoting environmentally optimal freight transport solutions, contributing to sustainability of the transport sector
Reply to Wostyn, P. Targeting the Cerebrospinal Fluid Compartment in Glaucoma: Still the Dark Side of the Moon? Comment on “Passaro et al. Glaucoma as a Tauopathy—Is It the Missing Piece in the Glaucoma Puzzle? J. Clin. Med. 2023, 12, 6900”
No full textWe are grateful to the author of the comment [...
Emilio Ghione and the Mask of Za La Mort
No full textThis study aims to examine the cultural impact of Emilio Ghione's Za La Mort films (1914-1924) on Italian culture. These films constitute a significant Italian combination of several early cinema genres and sub-genres, such as the apache film, the traces of which have almost entirely disappeared. More broadly, the changing interpretations of Za La Mort figure allow us to understand wider shifts in Italian and European popular culture.
The first chapter of the study considers the wealth of influences from European popular culture that Emilio Ghione merged into the apache films, such as the apache sub-culture in Paris. The second chapter of the study then reconstructs the Za La Mort filmography, most of which has now been lost, from film viewings and archival documents. The third chapter considers Emilio Ghione's Za La Mort novels and theatrical productions in the years 1922-1930, and Ghione's attempts to make Za La Mort a more Fascist and nationalistic figure. The fourth chapter considers the enduring figure of Za La Mort in Italian popular culture, especially in Raffaele Matarazzo's Fumeria D'Oppio and a 1940's fumetti series. The fifth chapter considers the audience reception of the Za La Mort films from the limited remaining evidence and, positioning the series between the Cinema of Attractions of the 1900s and the Classical Cinema of the mid-1920's, analyses how the Za La Mort films were constructed to please a predominantly working class audience that valued spectacular thrills and great acting performances over narrative consistency and stable characterisation.
This research re-establishes the importance of one of Italian cinema's most important film-makers of the silent period, and his enduring importance as a popular cultural figure in Italy
Depressão permanente e disritmia do lobo temporal Permanent depression and temporal lobe epilepsy
No full textApós revisão bibliográfica a respeito da depressão de origem epilética, a autora conclui que são citadas as formas pré-ictal, ictal, pós-ictal e inter-ictal. Esta última, denominada por Grecu e Kalman "depressão temporal episódica", é descrita como tendo duração de horas, dias ou semanas. No presente trabalho são analisados 2 casos com depressão episódica, 1 com depressão duradoura (3 anos) e posteriormente episódica, e um outro com depressão duradoura (13 anos). O estudo clínico comparativo dos 4 casos, o resultado eletrencefalográfico e a resposta ao tratamento antiepilético permitem concluir que tanto as manifestações episódicas como as duradouras tinham etiologia epilética, sendo a disritmia localizada na área temporal. Baseada no estudo fenomenológico dos casos, a autora admite a hipótese de que as depressões epiléticas tenham quadro clínico característico que permite distingui-las das depressões de outra etiologia e sugere para as formas duradouras a denominação "depressão temporal permanente".Making a bibliographic review about epileptic depression, the Author found that ictal, pre, post-ictal and inter-ictal forms are described. The last one, named by Grecu and Kalman "Episodic temporal depression", is accepted as lasting for hours, days or weeks. The present work analyses two patients with episodic depression, one with permanent (3 years) and later episodic form and another one with permanent depression only (13 years). The comparative study of the 4 patients, the EEG results and the effect of antiepileptic treatment permise to conclude that even the episodic and the permanent depression were of epileptic etiology, with temporal lobe localisation. Based on the symptomatology found in the 4 patients, the Author admits the hypothesis that the epileptic depression is characteristic and that it should be possible to distinghish it, clinically, from other depressions. It is suggested, for this permanent form, the name "permanent temporal depression"
Risorse Umane, pratiche di gestione ad alta prestazione e performance d’azienda
No full text2015 - 2016The aim of this thesis is to describe and explore the relationship between the presence of High
Performance Work Practices (HPWP) and the business context, this one intended both as structure
and workforce arrangement. For the purpose, the Eurofound database has been used, at its third
edition (data related to 2013). This dataset is composed by about 27000 firms representative of 32
counties.
The technique used is the one of a multiple linear regression model where, from the deviation of the
intercept (whose known values correspond to Italy as country and to the other variables lower score)
and the other values, it could be possible to see - the starting conditions being equal - which countries
and what characteristics – possibly and subsequently grouped in two macro areas referred to firm
structure and workforce arrangement - will facilitate the growth and development of HR systems.
The dependent variable, built by addition, is given by the sum of dichotomous variables – or
dichotomised according to the literature indications - of categorical type. The validity of the model
was examined through appropriate significance and robustness tests. The results, consistent with the
expectations, have shown, with regard to the structure, a strong impact not only from the number of
employees but also from the presence or absence of departments connected to development and
innovation.
Regarding the workforce, a well-defined relationship was found between the dissemination of HR
practices and the employee’s education level and between the dissemination of HR practices and the
presence of a highly skilled workforce.
The first chapter focuses on the content of HPWP: the attempt to define how many and which they
are, if there is a way to limit/circumbscribe them in a clear set or if their belonging to specific sets is
left to che choiche of the manager or, in this case, of the researcher. As regards the terminology and
acronyms, the chapter has been enriched with a business-oriented vocabulary useful to have a
common reference language for those topics already debated by the scientific research.
The second chapter opens to the sociological review. Here, too, there are two main purposes: to clarify
some of the concepts presented in chapter I and to continue to identify, where possible, sets of
concepts to be used in the econometric analysis. Particular attention has been paid to the various
possible perspectives of post-Fordism, flexibility and collective action. At least one paragraph has
been reserved for each of these three topics.
The third chapter presents the regression analysis produced, modeled on what has emerged from the
two previous chapters and following the metodological and policy indications given by the European
Union in terms of flexibility, specialization and education.
The conclusions are organized in a discursive chapter and they contain the commentary of the results
from the point of view of the policies implications; the comment on the results from the point of view
of the companies growth opportunities; the limit and the possible continuation and integration for
future research. [edited by Author]Lo scopo di questa tesi è quello di descrivere ed esplorare la relazione tra la presenza di pratiche di gestione
del lavoro ad alta prestazione ed il contesto aziendale, inteso sia come struttura che come composizione della
forza lavoro. Per farlo è stato utilizzato il database Eurofound sulle aziende europee alla sua terza edizione
(dati relativi all’annualità 2013), il cui campione è rappresentato da circa 27000 aziende rappresentative di 32
paesi. La tecnica utilizzata è quella di un modello di regressione lineare multipla in cui dagli scarti tra
l’intercetta (i cui valori noti corrispondono all’Italia per il paese ed al punteggio più basso delle altre variabili)
e le altre modalità fosse possibile vedere a parità di condizioni di partenza quali paesi e quali caratteristiche –
raggruppabili in due macro aree grazie a variabili di struttura e di composizione della forza lavoro – favorissero
la crescita e lo sviluppo di sistemi HR. La variabile dipendente, costruita per addizione, è data dalla somma di
variabili dicotomiche – o dicotomizzate secondo le indicazioni della letteratura – di tipo categoriale. La validità
del modello è stata testata con gli opportuni test di significatività e di robustezza. I risultati, coerenti con le
attese, hanno dimostrato per quel che riguarda la struttura un forte impatto non solo del numero di dipendenti
ma anche della presenza o meno di dipartimenti legati a sviluppo ed innovazione. Per quel che riguarda la
forza lavoro, è stato riscontrato un forte legame tra la diffusione di pratiche HR e livello di istruzione dei
dipendenti e tra la diffusione di pratiche HR e la presenza di una forza lavoro altamente specializzata. Il primo
capitolo si focalizza sul contenuto delle pratiche di lavoro ad alta prestazione: si prova a definire quante e quali
sono, se esiste un modo di circoscriverle ad un numero ben definito o se la loro appartenenza a determinati
“set” è demandata alla scelta del manager o, in questo caso, del ricercatore. Per quel che riguarda terminologia
ed acronimi, il capitolo è stato arricchito con un vocabolario business- oriented utile ad avere un linguaggio
comune di riferimento per quegli argomenti già trattati dalla ricerca scientifica. Il secondo capitolo apre alla
rassegna sociologica. Anche qui gli scopi principali sono due: chiarire alcuni concetti esposti nel capitolo I e
continuare ad individuare, laddove possibile, insiemi di concetti da operativizzare in fase di analisi. Particolare
attenzione è stata riservata alle varie possibili declinazioni di post-fordismo, flessibilità ed azione collettiva.
Ad ognuno di questi tre argomenti è stato riservato almeno un paragrafo. Il terzo capitolo presenta le analisi
di regressione svolte, modellate su quanto emerso dai due capitoli precedenti e sulle indicazioni provenienti
dall’Unione Europea in termini di flessibilità, specializzazione ed istruzione. Le conclusioni sono organizzate
in un capitolo discorsivo e contengono il commento dei risultati dal punto di vista delle implicazioni di policies;
il commento dei risultati dal punto di vista delle possibilità di crescita aziendali; il limite ed il possibile
prosieguo ed integrazioni per ricerche future. [a cura dell'Autore]XXIX cicl
Definition of price in circular raw materials from the process of incineration of hazardous industrial waste in sicilian a high risk area
No full textSynthesis and Photophysical Evaluation of New Fluorescent 7-Arylethynyl-7-Deazaadenosine Analogs
No full textThree new fluorescent 7-deaza-2´-deoxyadenosine analogs were synthesized via the Sonogashira cross-coupling reaction of 7-iodo-7-deaza-2´-deoxyadenosine with 1-ethynylpyrene, 2-ethynyl-6-methoxynaphthalene, and 9-ethynylphenanthrene. The spectral properties of these analogs were evaluated in dioxane, EtOH, and H2O to determine their potential for use as environmentally sensitive fluorescent probes. All three analogs displayed large solvatofluorochromicity in H2O, relative to their emission wavelengths in dioxane or EtOH. Moreover, all three analogs exhibited microenvironmental sensitivity of their fluorescence emission intensity, being moderate to high quantum yields in dioxane and EtOH and significantly lower in H2O. Various attempts to perform domino cross coupling/annuation reactions on 7-deaza-7-alkynyladenine derivatives to form a new fused tricyclic adenine analog were unsuccessful.The accepted manuscript in pdf format is listed with the files at the bottom of this page. The presentation of the authors' names and (or) special characters in the title of the manuscript may differ slightly between what is listed on this page and what is listed in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript; that in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript is what was submitted by the author
