Fiat Chrysler Automobiles: una valutazione sulla coerenza delle human resource practices

La fusione tra Fiat e Chrysler del gennaio 2014 ha determinato una totale riorganizzazione del lavoro su scala internazionale per le due aziende. In questo elaborato viene esaminato sia il nuovo contesto aziendale creatosi sia il modello di gestione del personale e alcuni fattori ad esso collegati come le strutture operative, le caratteristiche della forza lavoro e il rapporto con le rappresentanze sindacali. L’obiettivo dello studio è fornire una valutazione della coerenza esterna ed interna delle human resource practices del gruppo, seguendo l’approccio metodologico proposto da Baron & Kreps in “Strategic Human Resources – Framework for General Managers” (1999). L’analisi della coerenza esterna esamina il grado di compatibilità tra il sistema delle R.U. e gli altri elementi del contesto aziendale, come strategia, cultura, tecnologia, ambiente esterno e forza lavoro. L’analisi della coerenza interna si concentra invece sul grado di compatibilità reciproca delle politiche di gestione del personale messe in atto dall’azienda stessa. Dalle conclusioni emerge un adeguato grado di coerenza delle politiche applicate, con alcuni limiti presenti in entrambi gli ambiti considerati. Nell’analisi della coerenza esterna il sistema di gestione delle R.U. risulta compatibile con ognuno dei 5 fattori, nonostante il cambiamento di strategia, necessario per fronteggiare i cambiamenti ambientali globali, abbia portato a scontri con le rappresentaze italiane intaccando in questa zona la coerenza nei confronti della forza lavoro. Riguardo l’analisi interna, l’unico limite si presenta come incoerenza nell’arco del tempo, in quanto il cambiamento radicale delle pratiche viene associato ad un peggioramento dello status da parte di lavoratori che subiscono un ridimensionamento dei precedenti benefici. In entrambi i casi le forme di parziale incoerenza sono giudicate inevitabili per evitare situazioni più sfavorevoli

Anomalous Nernst effect in the topological and magnetic material MnBi₄Te₇

The recently discovered magnetic topological insulators (MnBi2Te4)(Bi2Te3)n, n = 0–4, are an ideal playground to study the influence of magnetic properties on band topology, giving access to diverse quantum states in a single compound. In the low temperature-antiferromagnetic state and vanishing magnetic field, the n = 1 system is a topological insulator protected by a combination of time reversal and a translation symmetries. It has been argued that, when the antiferromagnetic phase is forced to a the fully spin polarized state by the application of an external magnetic field, this system develops Weyl cones in the conduction band, which become accessible in presence of an intrinsic electronic doping. In this work, we experimentally prove the raising of field-induced Weyl state through the detection of an intrinsic anomalous Nernst effect in a bulk single crystal of MnBi4Te7.</p

Smart Bandaid Integrated with Fully Textile OECT for Uric Acid Real-Time Monitoring in Wound Exudate

: Hard-to-heal wounds (i.e., severe and/or chronic) are typically associated with particular pathologies or afflictions such as diabetes, immunodeficiencies, compression traumas in bedridden people, skin grafts, or third-degree burns. In this situation, it is critical to constantly monitor the healing stages and the overall wound conditions to allow for better-targeted therapies and faster patient recovery. At the moment, this operation is performed by removing the bandages and visually inspecting the wound, putting the patient at risk of infection and disturbing the healing stages. Recently, new devices have been developed to address these issues by monitoring important biomarkers related to the wound health status, such as pH, moisture, etc. In this contribution, we present a novel textile chemical sensor exploiting an organic electrochemical transistor (OECT) configuration based on poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) for uric acid (UA)-selective monitoring in wound exudate. The combination of special medical-grade textile materials provides a passive sampling system that enables the real-time and non-invasive analysis of wound fluid: UA was detected as a benchmark analyte to monitor the health status of wounds since it represents a relevant biomarker associated with infections or necrotization processes in human tissues. The sensors proved to reliably and reversibly detect UA concentration in synthetic wound exudate in the biologically relevant range of 220-750 μM, operating in flow conditions for better mimicking the real wound bed. This forerunner device paves the way for smart bandages integrated with real-time monitoring OECT-based sensors for wound-healing evaluation

Photophobia and migraine outcome during treatment with galcanezumab

BackgroundCalcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) plays a pivotal role in migraine physiology, not only regarding migraine pain but also associated symptoms such as photophobia. The aim of the present study was to assess monoclonal antibodies targeting CGRP efficacy not only in terms of headache and migraine frequency and disability but also in reducing ictal photophobia.Material and methodsThis is a retrospective observational study, conducted at the Headache Center–ASST Spedali Civili Brescia. All patients in monthly treatment with galcanezumab with at least a 6-month follow-up in September 2022 with reported severe photophobia during migraine attacks were included. Data regarding headache frequency, analgesics consumption, and migraine disability were collected quarterly. Moreover, patients were asked the following information regarding photophobia: (1) whether they noticed an improvement in photophobia during migraine attacks since galcanezumab introduction; (2) the degree of photophobia improvement (low, moderate, and high); and (3) timing photophobia improvement.ResultsForty-seven patients were enrolled in the present study as they met the inclusion criteria. Seventeen patients had a diagnosis of high-frequency episodic migraine and 30 of chronic migraine. From baseline to T3 and T6, a significant improvement in terms of headache days (19.2 ± 7.6 vs. 8.6 ± 6.8 vs. 7.7 ± 5.7; p &lt; 0.0001), migraine days (10.4 ± 6.7 vs. 2.9 ± 4.3 vs. 3.6 ± 2.8; p &lt; 0.0001), analgesics consumption (25.1 ± 28.2 vs. 7.6 ± 7.5 vs. 7.6 ± 8.1; p &lt; 0.0001), MIDAS score (82.1 ± 48.4 vs. 21.6 ± 17.6 vs. 18.1 ± 20.5; p &lt; 0.0001), and HIT-6 score (66.2 ± 6.2 vs. 57.2 ± 8.6 vs. 56.6 ± 7.6; p &lt; 0.0001) was found. Thirty-two patients (68.1%) reported a significant improvement in ictal photophobia, with over half of the patients reporting it within the first month of treatment. Photophobia improvement was more frequent in patients with episodic migraine (p = 0.02) and triptans responders (p = 0.03).ConclusionsThe present study confirms previous reports regarding galcanezumab efficacy beyond migraine frequency. In particular, over 60% of patients, in our cohort, documented a significant improvement also in reducing ictal photophobia. This improvement was, in most patients, moderate to high, and within the first 6 months of treatment, regardless of the clinical response on migraine frequency

An efficient and high-throughput approach for experimental validation of novel human gene predictions

AbstractA highly automated RT-PCR-based approach has been established to validate novel human gene predictions with no prior experimental evidence of mRNA splicing (ab initio predictions). Ab initio gene predictions were selected for high-throughput validation using predicted protein classification, sequence similarity to other genomes, colocalization with an MPSS tag, or microarray expression. Initial microarray prioritization followed by RT-PCR validation was the most efficient combination, resulting in approximately 35% of the ab initio predictions being validated by RT-PCR. Of the 7252 novel genes that were prioritized and processed, 796 constituted real transcripts. In addition, high-throughput RACE successfully extended the 5′ and/or 3′ ends of >60% of RT-PCR-validated genes. Reevaluation of these transcripts produced 574 novel transcripts using RefSeq as a reference. RT-PCR sequencing in combination with RACE on ab initio gene predictions could be used to define the transcriptome across all species

A tomato xylem sap protein represents a new family of small cysteine-rich proteins with structural similarity to lipid transfer proteins

AbstractThe coding sequence of a major xylem sap protein of tomato was identified with the aid of mass spectrometry. The protein, XSP10, represents a novel family of extracellular plant proteins with structural similarity to plant lipid transfer proteins. The XSP10 gene is constitutively expressed in roots and lower stems. The decline of XSP10 protein levels in tomato infected with a fungal vascular pathogen may reflect breakdown or modification by the pathogen

Antigenic Proteins Involved in Occupational Rhinitis 1 and Asthma Caused by Obeche Wood (Triplochiton Scleroxylon)

Background Obeche wood dust is a known cause of occupational asthma where an IgE-mediated mechanism has been demonstrated. Objective To characterize the allergenic profile of obeche wood dust and evaluate the reactivity of the proteins by in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo assays in carpenters with confirmed rhinitis and/or asthma Materials and methods An in-house obeche extract was obtained, and two IgE binding bands were purified (24 and 12 kDa) and sequenced by N-terminal identity. Specific IgE and IgG, basophil activation tests and skin prick tests (SPTs) were performed with whole extract and purified proteins. CCD binding was analyzed by ELISA inhibition studies. Results Sixty-two subjects participated: 12 with confirmed occupational asthma/rhinitis (ORA+), 40 asymptomatic exposed (ORA−), and 10 controls. Of the confirmed subjects, 83% had a positive SPT to obeche. There was a 100% recognition by ELISA in symptomatic subjects vs. 30% and 10% in asymptomatic exposed subjects and controls respectively (p<0.05). Two new proteins were purified, a 24 kDa protein identified as a putative thaumatin-like protein and a 12 kDa gamma-expansin. Both showed allergenic activity in vitro, with the putative thaumatin being the most active, with 92% recognition by ELISA and 100% by basophil activation test in ORA+ subjects. Cross-reactivity due to CCD was ruled out in 82% of cases. Conclusions Two proteins of obeche wood were identified and were recognized by a high percentage of symptomatic subjects and by a small proportion of asymptomatic exposed subjects. Further studies are required to evaluate cross reactivity with other plant allergens

Determinazione gascromatografica di composti organici volatili (VOCs) in materiali per packaging sostenibile

Negli ultimi anni si osserva una richiesta sempre maggiore da parte del mercato di materiali più sostenibili dal punto di vista ambientale. Le aziende hanno quindi iniziato a studiare soluzioni alternative, tra queste l’impiego di materiali riciclati e biodegradabili. Nell’ambito degli imballaggi a contatto con alimenti risulta importante utilizzare materiali che non rilascino composti nel prodotto contenuto ed è quindi necessario poter controllare la presenza di sostanze volatili (VOCs) e semivolatili (SVOCs) legate alla materia prima e al processo produttivo. Per questo motivo, si è messo a punto un metodo di analisi dei composti volatili presenti in matrici di polietilene ad alta densità riciclato (r-HDPE) e polidrossialcanoati (PHA) tramite GC-MS preceduta da estrazione di VOCs in spazio di testa. Si sono poi confrontati i risultati ottenuti dalle analisi dei materiali di partenza con quelli ottenuti sui prodotti stampati a compressione, con lo scopo di capire se e come il processo produttivo potesse influire sul contenuto di analiti presenti nel campione. I risultati evidenziano come il profilo di volatili dell’HDPE riciclato sia strettamente collegato a quello dell’HDPE vergine (alcani lineari e ramificati) ma presenti composti aggiuntivi soltanto nei materiali riciclati. I VOCs caratteristici dei PHA sono invece aldeidi, alcoli e strutture ramificate con atomi di ossigeno sulla catena e risultano molto diversi a seconda della struttura del materiale considerato. È stato inoltre studiato per i PHA se, imponendo stress termico e meccanico a un campione, si formino nuovi composti in seguito a degradazione