Individuazione del rischio di fallimento via panel analysis

Obiettivo del presente lavoro \ue8 la calibrazione di un metodo di stima della probabilit\ue0 di insolvenza per le imprese manifatturiere di dimensioni medio-grandi. Dopo aver verificato il grado di adeguatezza del modello Z-score di Altman su un particolare collettivo di riferimento, si affronteranno alcune note criticit\ue0 di tale approccio, dalla equipartizione della numerosit\ue0 dei sottocampioni fino alla selezione di nuove variabili esplicative dell\u2019insolvenza. Ai fini della definizione di un nuovo modello, un approccio di stima di tipo panel ad effetti fissi consentir\ue0 la identificazione di variabili esplicative della probabilit\ue0 di default diverse, e peraltro in numero inferiore, rispetto a quelle dei modelli \ue0 la Altman ed un considerevole abbattimento dell\u2019errore di previsione

Entangled symmetric states and copositive matrices

Entanglement in symmetric quantum states and the theory of copositive matrices are intimately related concepts. For the simplest symmetric states, i.e., the diagonal symmetric (DS) states, it has been shown that there exists a correspondence between exceptional (non-exceptional) copositive matrices and non-decomposable (decomposable) Entanglement Witnesses (EWs). Here we show that EWs of symmetric, but not DS, states can also be constructed from extended copositive matrices, providing new examples of bound entangled symmetric states, together with their corresponding EWs, in arbitrary odd dimensions

Compassion-Oriented Mindfulness-Based Program and Health Professionals : A Single-Centered Pilot Study on Burnout

This pre-post, single-centered study evaluates the effects of a compassion-oriented mindfulnessbased intervention on health professionals\u2019 quality of life. The intervention was conducted in an Italian general hospital in the province of Milan. Between 2014 and 2015, thirty-four health professionals operating in the territorial psychiatric services followed an 18-week Compassion-Oriented Mindfulness-based Program. The program involved the practice of mindfulness meditation combined with a psycho-educational training. This pilot study analysed the impact of the intervention on mood, quality of life, and burnout-related characteristics. Outcome measures included the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, the Beck Depression Inventory, the Maslach Burnout Inventory, the Five Facets of Mindfulness Questionnaire, and the Professional Quality of Life Scale. After the intervention, participants showed significantly decreased levels of depression, state anxiety, and emotional exhaustion. We found that an overall beneficial effect of the Compassion-Oriented Mindfulness-based Program existed in preventing burnout symptomatology. Non-evaluative and mindful attention was shown to improve stress resilience and coping strategies while simultan - eously reducing worry and rumination. These results suggest that a compassion-oriented mindfulness program could prevent the development of anxiety and depression traits

On-line separation and determination of trivalent and hexavalent chromium with a new liquid membrane annular contactor coupled to inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry

We describe a new on-line sensitive and selective procedure for the determination of trivalent and hexavalent chromium in liquid samples by a tailor-made contactor (TMC), specifically a liquid membrane annular TMC, coupled with inductively coupled plasma with optical detection. The TMC was designed and developed to integrate the extraction and stripping phases of the analyte in one module to minimize the membrane solvent’s consumption and maximize the speed of transport through the liquid membrane. Moreover, the particular geometry studied, which consists of two coaxial hollow fibers, allows the TMC to be used for both separating and preconcentrating purposes. Both (−)-N-dodecyl-N-methylephedrinium bromide (30 mM) in dichloroethane and HNO3 (0.75 M) were used as the liquid membrane and receiving solution, re-spectively. The proposed method’s performance was evaluated in terms of the hexavalent chro-mium extraction efficiency and the coefficient of variation percentages; these were higher than 85% and less than 5%, respectively. In addition, the proposed procedure was applied to two real sam-ples: a tap water sample and an eluate from solid urban waste. In both cases, the analytical per-formances were good and comparable to those obtained using synthetic standard solutions

Electrochemotherapy induces apoptotic death in melanoma metastases: A histologic and immunohistochemical investigation

Background: Electrochemotherapy (ECT) is increasingly used in the treatment of primary and secondary skin tumors, but little is known about the pathologic mechanism responsible for tumor cell destruction in humans. Knowledge of detailed mechanism of host response after ECT may improve the treatment efficacy related to patient selection and technique refinements. Aim: The aim of the study was to investigate the histopathology and mechanism of cell death after ECT in cutaneous melanoma metastases. Methods: Skin biopsy specimens were sequentially obtained after ECT of cutaneous melanoma metastases, during a follow-up period of 2 months. Results from histologic evaluation and immunohistochemical characterization of the inflammatory infiltrate (CD3, CD4, CD8, CD56, Granzyme-B) were compared with a panel of apoptosis-related markers. Main outcome measures: Evidence of the mechanism of tumor cell damage, identification of histological and immunohistochemical signs of apoptosis and/or necrosis underlining a possible time course of tumor destruction and inflammatory reaction after ECT. Results: Early signs of epidermal degeneration, an increase of the inflammatory infiltrate, and initial tumor cell morphological changes were already detected 10 min after ECT. The cell damage progression, as demonstrated by histological and immunohistochemical evidence using apoptotic markers (TUNEL and caspase-3 staining), reached a climax 3 days after treatment, to continue until 10 days after. Scarring fibrosis and complete absence of tumor cells were observed in the late biopsy specimens. A rich inflammatory infiltrate with a prevalence of T-cytotoxic CD3/CD8-positive cells was detected 3 h after ECT and was still appreciable 3 months later. Conclusion: This study attempts to define the time course and characteristics of tumor response to ECT. The observations suggest both a direct necrotic cell damage and a rapid activation of apoptotic mechanisms that occur in the early phases of the cutaneous reaction to ECT. A persistent immune response of T-cytotoxic lymphocytes could possibly explain the long-term local tumor control

Preoperative assessment of breast cancer: Multireader comparison of contrast-enhanced MRI versus the combination of unenhanced MRI and digital breast tomosynthesis

To compare the sensitivity for breast cancer (BC) and BC size estimation of preoperative contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (CEMRI) versus combined unenhanced magnetic resonance imaging (UMRI) and digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT)