Education, Cultural Change, Territory. The Third Sector's Innovation. An Italian Case Study

This contribution proposes a theoretical-empirical reflection on the relationship among the three sociological concepts identified by the authors as essential dimensions of the innovation: cultural change, education, and territory. The aim is to illustrate the complex relationship among these dimensions and the implications involved in terms of s oci ologi cal perspectives and research tools, on the basis of the analysis of an emblematic case study: “FQTS”, Italian acronym of the project of Education of Executives and Leaders of the Third Sector in the Southern Italy. In particular, this investigation will be aimed at: (re)defining sociological concepts considered fundamental for the study of innovation; reconstructing the main empirical evidence emerging from the analysis of the case study; and summarizing the relevance of the research results, in terms of new themes and sociological perspectives, as well as of methodological questions

Exploring human capital: discrimination factors and group-specific performance in the football industry

The aim of the study is to investigate whether discrimination factors exist within professional football clubs, concerning the management of their human capital, by analysing the correlation between the footballers’ wages and their performance. An analysis was conducted to show that discrimination, based both on nationality and race, can affect the strategies adopted by football club managers and in the professional footballer labour market, where players are considered to be the human capital of football enterprises. The research framework consists of an analysis of the existing literature on discrimination in sports and of a quantitative analysis based on an exploratory approach, where the wage differences among Italian Serie A league footballers are compared to the performance of each group of players (organised by race or nationality). The results of the analysis of data for all Italian Serie A clubs show that discrimination (in pay) exists against Italian and white players. In contrast, when small and big clubs are considered separately, the findings relating to small clubs highlight that foreign and black players face such discrimination. The results suggest that managers of professional football clubs apply a discrimination strategy. In addition, the results provide practical implications on the types of discrimination errors that are committed by the management of big and small football clubs. Big clubs tend to overrate the contributions of foreign and/or black players compared to those of Italian and white players, while small clubs tend to overrate the contributions of Italian and white players compared to those of foreign and black players. To reduce discrimination, clubs have to correlate how much players are paid with their performance. Further research is recommended to identify the impact of wage inequality on the football labour market and on professional team management

Dagli emblemi araldici al brand universitario

L’uso di simboli identificativi, che contraddistingue le organizzazioni più antiche, costituisce da sempre un tratto pregnante della cultura e comunicazione universitarie. Sul piano visivo, l’identità degli atenei è espressa da emblemi araldici e, in misura crescente, veri e propri brand che aggiornano e semplificano i segni della tradizione. In continuità con i principali studi internazionali sul tema, il contributo presenta i risultati di un’indagine sul simbolismo visivo delle università italiane. La ricerca ha preso in esame la visual identity degli atenei, statali e non , per analizzarne stili ed elementi caratterizzanti: in particolare, le componenti figurative e verbali del marchio istituzionale; il richiamo al territorio e ai simboli della tradizione; il restyling dell’iconografia storica e le strategie identitarie privilegiate dalle università di recente fondazione

Gender influence on professional satisfaction and gender issue perception among young oncologists. A survey of the Young Oncologists Working Group of the Italian Association of Medical Oncology (AIOM)

Background: The professional gender gap is increasingly recognised in oncology. We explored gender issues perception and gender influence on professional satisfaction/gratification among young Italian oncologists. Methods: Italian oncologists aged 6440 years and members of the Italian Association of Medical Oncology were invited to participate in an online survey addressing workload/burnout, satisfaction in professional abilities and relations, relevant factors for professional gratification, and gender barriers. \u3c72 test for general association or \u3c72 test for trend was used to analyse the data. Results: 201 young oncologists participated in the survey: 67% female, 71% aged 30-40 years, 41% still in training and 82% without children. Women and men were equally poorly satisfied by the relations with people occupying superior hierarchical positions. There was heterogeneity between women and men in current (p=0.011) and expected future (p=0.007) satisfaction in professional abilities: women were more satisfied by current empathy and relations with colleagues and were more confident in their future managerial and team leader skills. The most important elements for professional gratification indicated by all participants were, in general, work-life balance (36%) and intellectual stimulation/research (32%); specifically for women, work-life balance (48%) and intellectual stimulation/research (20%); and specifically for men, career (29%) and social prestige/recognition (26%). Heterogeneity within the same gender emerged. For example, the elements indicated by men as the most important were intellectual stimulation/research (39%) and work-life balance (21%) in general, versus social prestige/recognition (24%) and career (24%), respectively, specifically for men (p<0.0001). More women versus men perceived gender issue as an actual problem (60% vs 38%, p=0.03); men underestimated gender barriers to women's career (p=0.011). Conclusions: Satisfaction in professional abilities varied by gender. Work-life balance is important for both women and men. Stereotypes about gender issues may be present. Gender issue is an actual problem for young oncologists, mostly perceived by women

Biodiversity of Lactobacillus plantarum from traditional Italian wines

In this study, 23 samples of traditional wines produced in Southern Italy were subjected to microbiological analyses with the aim to identify and biotype the predominant species of lactic acid bacilli. For this purpose, a multiple approach, consisting in the application of both phenotypic (API 50CHL test) and biomolecular methods (polymerase chain reaction-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis and 16S rRNA gene sequencing) was used. The results showed that Lactobacillus plantarum was the predominant species, whereas Lb. brevis was detected in lower amount. In detail, out of 80 isolates 58 were ascribable to Lb. plantarum and 22 to Lb. brevis. Randomly amplified polymorphic DNA-polymerase chain reaction was used to highlight intraspecific variability among Lb. plantarum strains. Interestingly, the cluster analysis evidenced a relationship between different biotypes of Lb. plantarum and their origin, in terms of wine variety. Data acquired in this work show the possibility to obtain several malolactic fermentation starter cultures, composed by different Lb. plantarum biotypes, for their proper use in winemaking processes which are distinctive for each wine

High-level HIV-1 Nef transient expression in using the P19 gene silencing suppressor protein of Artichoke Mottled Crinckle Virus

Abstract Background In recent years, different HIV antigens have been successfully expressed in plants by either stable transformation or transient expression systems. Among HIV proteins, Nef is considered a promising target for the formulation of a multi-component vaccine due to its implication in the first steps of viral infection. Attempts to express Nef as a single protein product (not fused to a stabilizing protein) in transgenic plants resulted in disappointingly low yields (about 0.5% of total soluble protein). In this work we describe a transient expression system based on co-agroinfiltration of plant virus gene silencing suppressor proteins in Nicotiana benthamiana, followed by a two-step affinity purification protocol of plant-derived Nef. Results The effect of three gene silencing viral suppressor proteins (P25 of Potato Virus X, P19 of either Artichoke Mottled Crinckle virus and Tomato Bushy Stunt virus) on Nef transient expression yield was evaluated. The P19 protein of Artichoke Mottled Crinckle virus (AMCV-P19) gave the highest expression yield in vacuum co-agroinfiltration experiments reaching 1.3% of total soluble protein, a level almost three times higher than that previously reported in stable transgenic plants. The high yield observed in the co-agroinfiltrated plants was correlated to a remarkable decrease of Nef-specific small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) indicating an effective modulation of RNA silencing mechanisms by AMCV-P19. Interestingly, we also showed that expression levels in top leaves of vacuum co-agroinfiltrated plants were noticeably reduced compared to bottom leaves. Moreover, purification of Nef from agroinfiltrated tissue was achieved by a two-step immobilized metal ion affinity chromatography protocol with yields of 250 ng/g of fresh tissue. Conclusion We demonstrated that expression level of HIV-1 Nef in plant can be improved using a transient expression system enhanced by the AMCV-P19 gene silencing suppressor protein. Moreover, plant-derived Nef was purified, with enhanced yield, exploiting a two-step purification protocol. These results represent a first step towards the development of a plant-derived HIV vaccine.</p

Heritage University. Comunicazione e memoria degli atenei

L’intensa storicizzazione che investe oggi la cultura delle organizzazioni pubbliche e private individua, nel ricorso al passato, un bacino di opportunità espressive e relazionali per le università, che spiccano fra le istituzioni più longeve, custodi di una straordinaria eredità scientifica e culturale. È così che, in tempi di crisi e cambiamento, la memoria e la storia si affermano come rinnovata risorsa per la reputazione istituzionale degli atenei, la cui antica tradizione è custodita in una pluralità di espressioni e istituzioni culturali. A partire da una preliminare analisi di scenario, volta a ripercorrere le tendenze in atto nella comunicazione universitaria, il lavoro offre una ricognizione delle esperienze di storicizzazione promosse da atenei sia italiani che esteri. Alla luce della funzione di simboli, cerimonie e altri contesti di trasmissione dell’heritage (archivi storici, collezioni e musei, identità visiva, web etc.), è stato possibile scattare un’istantanea del fenomeno ascrivibile sotto l’etichetta di Heritage of Italian University, restituendo uno spaccato delle opportunità comunicative che un simile investimento può offrire a livello operativo, con particolare riferimento alla valorizzazione del patrimonio nella comunicazione on line. Ripensare le strategie di relazione con i pubblici, oggi quanto mai eterogenei, e stimolare la continua innovazione dei linguaggi e delle forme di comunicazione, divengono la posta in gioco per il successo e la sopravvivenza di qualsiasi istituzione e, soprattutto, la scommessa sul futuro che dall’Università, in particolar modo, deriva

Ambiti e temi di azione del Terzo Settore

Il quarto capitolo della ricerca condotta sulle Reti del Terzo Settore presenta i risultati di uno speciale approfondimento dell’indagine che ha riguardato gli ambiti di attività delle organizzazioni aderenti al Forum. Il primo dato interessante è l’ingente ricorso ad attività di formazione che, auspicabilmente, contribuiscono anche alla promozione di valori e cultura nella comunità di riferimento. Infatti, la diffusione e condivisione di valori e cultura è stata riconosciuta la finalità principale da quasi tutte le organizzazioni rispondenti e il settore di maggiore impegno è quello relativo alle attività ricreative e di socializzazione. Le fasce di età maggiormente coinvolte sono quelle dei giovani (18-34 anni) e degli adulti (35-64 anni) e per lo più le attività sono rivolte a destinatari con specifici disagi: in particolare, al primo posto troviamo le persone con disabilità fisica/intellettiva, seguite da persone con disagio psico-sociale

Nuove tecnologie per garantire il benessere fisico: strategie didattiche e motivazionali

The introductory part of this paper will discuss the importance of the use of new technologies, analysing their typologies and benefits, in the context of prevention and treatment of chronic and degenerative diseases, with the aim of guaranteeing physical well-being and the consequent improvement of the quality of life in modern society. In the second section, the contribution, using a narrative theoretical method, will deal with the methodologies applied in the pursuit of the&nbsp; aforementioned aim. In the final section, the benefits found in the population will be highlighted, underlining how the linkbetween new technologies and physical well-being will make them inextricably complementary in the future.La parte introduttiva di questo contributo discuterà l’importanza dell’utilizzo delle nuove tecnologie, analizzandone le tipologie e i benefici, nell’ambito della prevenzione e cura delle malattie croniche e degenerative, con l’obiettivo di garantire il benessere fisico e il conseguente miglioramento della la qualità della vita nella società moderna. Nella seconda sezione, il contributo,utilizzando un metodo teorico narrativo, tratterà le metodologie applicate nel perseguimento del suddetto obiettivo. Nella sezione finale verranno evidenziati i benefici riscontrati nella popolazione, sottolineando come il legame tra le nuove tecnologie e il benessere fisico le renderà indissolubilmente complementari in futuro