1,721,040 research outputs found
Optical remote sensing of sea water quality through a multi-sensor data-driven approach
No full textThis thesis explores advanced methodologies for coastal water quality assessment using remote sensing techniques, with a particular focus on chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) concentrations and the detection of Escherichia coli (E. coli) pollution. With respect to Chl-a detection, this study employs Sentinel-2 multispectral data, in-situ observations, and neural networks to enhance the accuracy of Chl-a estimation in coastal regions. The results reinforced the significance of satellite data for large-scale environmental monitoring, despite challenges in data validation. In addition to that, indeed, a comparison between available in-situ datasets (ISPRA and ARPA) has been realised. In parallel, the research pioneers the development of a novel algorithm to detect E. coli pollution from satellite-derived parameters, an area largely unexplored in existing literature. By analysing bio-optical properties, sea surface temperature, and additional satellite-based indicators such as turbidity and suspended particulate matter, a neural network model was designed to classify coastal waters into categories of pollution, ranging from not polluted to highly polluted. Validation using in-situ data demonstrated promising results, achieving 95% accuracy in detecting highly polluted waters. This research highlights the potential of satellite remote sensing as a non-invasive, cost-effective tool for environmental monitoring, particularly for coastal waters. Future work should focus on expanding the in-situ dataset to further refine the model and strengthen its applicability across diverse geographical areas
Shared Values in Practice: a Multi-Methodological Approach for River Landscapes
No full textLandscapes are visible and integrative social-ecological systems with variable spatial and temporal dimensions.
They have expressive aesthetic, natural, and cultural qualities, are perceived and valued by people in multiple
ways, and invite actions resulting in landscape change. Multiple disciplines and perspectives are required to
understand landscapes and align cultural, social and ecological values to ensure their sustainability. Fluvial
landscapes follow complex temporal trajectories because they result from the combination of physical
drivers, biological interactions and human influences. For this reason, river landscapes are dynamic and
resilient territories, and so their identity is strictly linked to the theme of change. Indeed, issues concerning
the conservation of river landscapes must include the continuous transformations to which they are
subjected. The study case, namely the blue-green system around the city of Pisticci (Basilicata Region, Italy),
returns a complex landscape made up of different patterns, where natural values intersect cultural values.
Understanding the spatial-temporal distribution characteristic and evolution tendency of the river system
is important in integrated river basin management; thus, when it comes to the Pisticci blue-green system
management, it is fundamental to connect the dynamism of rivers and coastal areas to the static nature of
the badlands context and the old town, both of which are symbols of transformation and conservation, of
changing dynamics and resilient values. The present paper introduces the evaluative multi-methodological
process implemented in the Green Lucania research project (DiARC, Unina) in order to identify situated
synergic actions that are able to build a network of shared values through an adaptive evaluation process
which uses the approaches and tools of Collaborative Spatial Decision-Making and Geo-Design interplay
Family involvement in the Board of Directors: Implications for Board Effectiveness
No full textBoard effectiveness hinges on both functional attributes—such as size, independence, activity and
CEO duality—and interpersonal dynamics like cohesion and trust. In family business, the structural
and dynamic perspectives of the board become intricately linked to family heterogeneity, shaped by
the different levels of family involvement in boardrooms. This study examines the effect of family
involvement on board effectiveness within 385 Italian listed family firms (2014–2018), employing a
fixed-effect panel regression. Findings reveal a U-shaped relationship, where moderate family
involvement disrupts cohesion, but higher family or non-family directors’ prevalence enhances
effectiveness. By integrating socio-emotional wealth and upper echelon theories, this research
advances family business and governance literature, offering practical insights for corporate boards
Early adoption of non-financial disclosure in family firms
No full textThis study investigates when the reputation enhancing signals of family firms include early adoption of non-financial disclosure. Drawing on signalling theory, we examine the effect of family ownership on the early adoption of non-financial disclosure and the moderating role of contingency signals: founder chief executive officer (CEO) leadership and employee degrowth rate. We test our hypotheses with panel regressions on a dataset of Italian listed family firms over the period 2013-2017, years before the introduction of mandatory non-financial reporting. The results reveal an inverted U-shaped relationship between family ownership and early adoption of non-financial disclosure, negatively moderated by the presence of a founder CEO and positively moderated by employee degrowth. We discuss the implications of our findings for theory and practice.</p
Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
Get PDFThe present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
What use of proceeds do family IPOs signal? The influence of family generational stage and family CEO
No full textPurpose: This study investigates the relationship between the family generational stage and the intended use of the Initial Public Offering (IPO) proceeds disclosed in the prospectus. With the aim to explore family business heterogeneity, it also explores the moderating role of the family CEO. Design/methodology/approach: We draw on signaling theory and hand-collected data on Italian family IPOs that occurred in the period 2000-2020, disentangling the intended use of IPO proceeds as distinguished into three categories. We employ logit regression to test our hypotheses. Findings: According to our theoretical predictions, we find that the family generational stage positively affects the disclosure of the investment reason as the intended use of IPO proceeds, while it negatively influences the use for recapitalization and general corporate purposes. The first relationship is moderated by the presence of a family CEO. Our results remain robust with different family business definitions and a different empirical method.
Originality: The paper is the first to address the topic of the intended use of IPO proceeds in family
businesses. In doing so, it opens avenues for future research by enriching an underdeveloped, albeit growing, area of research, that of preparing for the market scrutiny in family IPOs
Variations on the Author
Get PDF“Variations on the Author” discusses two of Eduardo Coutinho’s recent films (Um Dia na Vida, from 2010, and Últimas Conversas, posthumously released in 2015) and their contribution to the general question of documentary authorship. The director’s filmography is characterized by a consistent yet self-effacing form of authorial self-inscription: Coutinho often features as an interviewer that rather than express opinions propels discourses; an interviewer that is good at listening. This mode of self-inscription characterizes him as an author who is not expressive but who is nonetheless markedly present on the screen. In Um Dia na Vida, however, Coutinho is completely absent form the image, while Últimas Conversas, on the contrary, includes a confessional prologue that moves the director from the margins to the center of his films. This article examines the ways in which these works stand out in the filmography of a director who offers new insights into the notion of cinematic authorship
Non-Family Board Compensation: Exploring Drivers and Effects of Family-Business Nexus
No full textThe unique characteristics differentiating board compensation structures for family
directors and their non-family counterparts pose a distinctive governance challenge in family
firms. However, the factors influencing non-family board compensation and its consequences
remain largely overlooked. Thus, this paper scrutinizes the potential non-linear relationship
between family board involvement and the compensation of non-family directors,
incorporating the mixed gamble logic perspective. Additionally, the study seeks to unveil the
effects of non-family board compensation on firm performance. Relying on a sample of Italian
listed family firms during the period 2014-2018 and employing a dynamic panel generalized
method of moment (GMM), the findings reveal a U-shaped relationship between family board
involvement and non-family directors' compensation levels. Furthermore, the results prove that
non-family directors’ compensation positively influences firm performance. Delving into this
evidence, the research contributes to both theory and practice by shedding light on the complex
dynamics of family boards, non-family board compensation strategies and their effect on
performance
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