Translating Sustainability into Action : A Management Challenge in FabLabs

In recent years, the number of new organizations aiming to accomplish principles of sustainability has rapidly grown, leading analysts and scholars to announce almost a new industrial revolution. An example of this is the proliferation of the so-called fabrication laboratories (FabLabs) that nowadays are perceived as being forerunners in innovative and sustainable high-tech production through peer-to-peer collaborative practices and sharing. However, the challenges managers face in translating these promotional aims into organizational action is vastly understudied. To address this research gap, we have studied the management of two FabLabs, in Italy and Finland. In this study, we draw from a psycho-sociological framework applying cultural-historical activity theory, and especially from the concepts of activity system and contradiction. According to this perspective, a sustainable organization is based on promotion, enrichment, regeneration, and flexible change efforts, and it is related to the managerial and ability to bring internal and external stakeholders together to recognize and solve tensions and contradictions collectively. Through our case studies, we have provided new research knowledge on how managers make an effort to translate sustainability into action in the complex context of FabLabs, involving multiple, often competing stakeholders and activity systems. Our analysis reveals multiple tensions in the collective activity, stemming from system level contradictions, which represent a challenge for the daily work of the FabLab managers. In the paper we also suggest how an engaged management orientation towards sustainably can be promoted, and we discuss future research topics.Peer reviewe

Qualitative research in social and organizational psychology: the Italian way

Our paper provides a mapping of qualitative research in social and organizational psychology. This mapping was directed by the authors’ choices and this means that scholars from other perspectives are likely to offer different readings of the same topic. The first choice was to not consider the clinical and developmental psychological research, so to deepen our exploration of the two areas in which we work on, and on which we have a more articulated perspective. These two areas differ for some aspects, but they also present some relevant common elements, as it is demonstrated by the fact that scholars working in social and organizational psychology are part of the same academic recruitment field (“11/E3 Social psychology and work and organizational psychology”). The first section of the article consists of a short history of qualitative research in Italian psychology. To deepen the focus on the most recent developments, in the second section we present a review of the scientific articles published in the last five years

Unmasking Reflexivity in HR Managers During the COVID-19 Lockdown in Italy

This paper explores how some Italian HR managers narrate the changes imposed by the COVID-19 threat in the workplace. Events since December 2019 have presented exceptional circumstances to which HR managers have reacted in very different ways. This study explored how HR managers came to introduce organizational changes aimed at coping with the emergency, as well as how employees were involved in those organizational changes. The article is based on a thematic analysis of some interviews with Italian HR managers whose companies decided to switch working from home on a massive scale. We wanted to offer some reflections on the actions taken by a few HR managers and Italian companies to keep working at a time when most workers were forced to respect the lockdown

Trade unions in neo-liberal times: Discourse variations on emerging identities

This paper focuses on how trade unions are redefining their organisational identity in response to the neoliberal changes that have affected the labour market, mainly as a result of the Global Financial Crisis of 2008. Such changes brought about a profound crisis of representation among workers in various sectors. Trade unions have had to redesign their identities to meet new demands from workers. Based on 30 interviews with unionists from one of Italy’s major unions, the study identifies four discursive variations and as many potential evolutions in the identity of trade unions. The respective positionings generated by these four discourses for the union and its members are examined. The study also highlights certain contradictions in these discursive variations, which may either encourage a redefinition of the union’s strategic objectives or, on the contrary, act as regulating mechanism that hampers change

Detección del virus papiloma humano (HPV) y citología de Papanicolaou en mujeres de bajos recursos de la ciudad de Posadas, Misiones, Argentina

El objetivo de este estudio fue determinar la prevalencia de la infección por HPV y de lesiones cervicales en mujeres asistidas en un centro de salud situado en un área de bajos recursos de la ciudad de Posadas, Misiones, Argentina. Las muestras (n = 163) fueron examinadas mediante las pruebas de Papanicolaou y de PCR para HPV. Los factores socio-culturales de riesgo fueron identifcados mediante el cálculo de la odds ratio (OR, IC 95 %). Se detectaron lesiones cervicales en el 14,7 % de las mujeres. La prevalencia de infección por HPV fue de 38 %. Los tipos más frecuentes en la población total fueron HPV-16 (9,8 %) y HPV-33 (9,3 %). El HPV-16 se detectó asociado al 29,2 % y al 6,5 % de las mujeres con lesiones del cuello uterino y sin ellas, respectivamente, con un OR de 5,3 (1,8-15,8). Los factores de riesgo para la infección por HPV-16 fueron el hábito de fumar y el antecedente de enfermedades de transmisión sexual. Estos datos son importantes para la ejecución de los programas de prevención, incluyendo una introducción adecuada de la vacunación y la línea de base para la vigilancia virológica en la era de la vacuna.The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of HPV infection and cervical lesions present in women who attended a health center in a low-resource area of the city of Posadas, Misiones, Argentina. Cervical cell samples (n = 163) were processed for Papanicolaou cytology and HPV-PCR tests. Socio-cultural risk factors were estimated using the odds ratio (OR, CI 95 %). Cervical lesions were detected in 14.7 % of women. The general prevalence of HPV infection was of 38 %. The most common types among the total population were HPV-16 (9.8 %) and HPV-33 (9.3 %). HPV-16 was detected in association with 29.2 % and 6.5 % of women with and without cervical lesions, respectively, the OR being 5.3 (1.8-15.8). Risk factors for HPV-16 infection were a smoking habit and a history of previous sexually-transmitted diseases. These data are important for the implementation of prevention programs, including an appropriate introduction of vaccination and the baseline for virological surveillance in the vaccine era.Fil: Badano, Ines. Universidad Nacional de Misiones. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Químicas y Naturales. Laboratorio de Biología Molecular Aplicada; ArgentinaFil: Pedrozo, Rene W.. Provincia de Misiones. Ministerio de Salud de la Provincia de Misiones; ArgentinaFil: Ruiz Diaz, Laura S.. Provincia de Misiones. Ministerio de Salud de la Provincia de Misiones; ArgentinaFil: Galuppo, Juan A.. Universidad Nacional de Misiones. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Químicas y Naturales. Laboratorio de Biología Molecular Aplicada; ArgentinaFil: Picconi, María A.. Direccion Nacional de Instituto de Investigacion. Administración Nacional de Laboratorio e Instituto de Salud "Dr. C. G. Malbran". Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Infecciosas. Departamento de Virologia; ArgentinaFil: Campos, Rodolfo Hector. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica; ArgentinaFil: Liotta, Domingo Javier. Universidad Nacional de Misiones. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Químicas y Naturales. Laboratorio de Biología Molecular Aplicada; Argentin

Digital Onboarding: Facilitators and Barriers to Improve Worker Experience

The pandemic has forced organizations to find new ways of working. In fact, we are seeing an increase in remote working and this has inevitably impacted onboarding processes. In this respect, the aim of this study was to understand how young graduates under 30 experienced digital onboarding (in terms of emotions and cognitions) when joining organizations with structured Human Resources processes. An exploratory qualitative study was conducted in which participants were asked to fill in ethnographic sheets in order to understand the barriers and facilitators that organizations can implement to improve the digital onboarding experience. We used thematic analysis. What emerged from our study is that newcomers struggled, in digital contexts, to find the right information, to be proactive and to receive immediate feedback in order to understandthe context and to understand their fit with the company: it is important not to lose sight of the importance of socialization, but rather to find effective and structured practices that facilitate it and make it last over time. In our study, we argue that a structured digital onboarding program could be a relevant step in order to implement an effective transition towards remote working cultures and an attention to socialization processes

The movement analysis laboratory for the realization of predictive models of events and descriptives models of pathology

La valutazione osservazionale del cammino e della postura presenta un basso livello di riproducibilità inter ed intraesaminatore, per tale motivo sono state realizzate apparecchiature in grado di poter oggettivare il movimento e la postura. Mediante l’utilizzo di apparecchiature presenti all’interno del Laboratorio di Analisi del Movimento (LAM) di Parma, sono stati realizzati due progetti di ricerca. Il primo lavoro ha come obiettivo, attraverso l’integrazione di test e tecnologie clinico-strumentali, la realizzazione di un protocollo predittivo di caduta nel soggetto anziano. La caduta nell’anziano è il principale fattore di rischio di disabilità, ospedalizzazione e riduzione della qualità di vita. Le cause sono associate a fattori intrinseci (degenerazione dei meccanismi di controllo dell’equilibrio, deficit del cammino, condizioni cliniche) ed estrinseci. Lo studio, in collaborazione con la Clinica Geriatrica dell’AOU di Parma, prevedeva una valutazione geriatrica e una valutazione strumentale. Sono stati ricavati dati dall’esame stabilometrico ad occhi aperti (OA) ed occhi chiusi (OC) (lunghezza della traccia, area dell’ellisse e velocità di oscillazioni), test di performances con accelerometro, dal 10 metri walking test (10mwt), dal 6meter walking test (6mwt), dal time up and go test (TUG), dall’esame bioimpedenzometrico (BMI, massa magra e massa grassa corporea). Lo studio ha coinvolto 50 anziani (17M e 33F) di età media 76,9 anni. Dal mio studio ho potuto identificare quali siano i fattori predittori di caduta: il TUG (cut off: 14), il perimetro della traccia ad OA (cut off: 522), l’area dell’ellisse ad OA (cut off: 81) e la velocità di oscillazione ad OA (cut Off:118). Suddividendo la popolazione in fragili e non, si sono rilevati predittivi di condizione di fragilità: il TUG (cut off: 11) e il 6MWT (Cut off:384). Concludendo, se il TUG può essere considerato un test predittivo sia di cadute che di performance di condizione di fragilità, la stabilità può essere apprezzata dai parametri ricavati dalla stabilometria, mentre la condizione di fragilità dai test di performances. Il secondo progetto è stato realizzato in collaborazione con la Clinica Psichiatrica della AOU di Parma e con la dottoranda Dr.ssa Valentina Presta (35° ciclo-Medicina Molecolare). I pazienti schizofrenici presentano alterazioni motorie, da sempre attribuite ai trattamenti farmacologici con antipsicotici. Da recenti studi è emerso che il cervelletto è sede di alcune alterazioni strutturali che possono avere ricadute sull’equilibrio e sul cammino in soggetti drug-naive. L’obiettivo dello studio è stato quello di identificare un profilo motorio del paziente affetto da schizofrenia e le alterazioni della postura e del cammino, riscontrabili in fase precoce di malattia. Sono stati arruolati 30 pazienti affetti da schizofrenia (SG). Lo studio è strutturato in due fasi: la prima fase, di competenza dello specialista psichiatra, prevedeva la somministrazione di scale di valutazione; la seconda fase, all’interno del LAM, consisteva in analisi stabilometriche (lunghezza della traccia, area dell’ellisse ad OA e OC), e dei parametri spaziotemporali del passo con accelerometro (cadenza e velocità del cammino). Il gruppo SG è stato suddiviso in Early term disease (durata di malattia ≤5 anni), Middle term disease (6-14 anni), Long term disease ( ≥15 anni). Il gruppo di controllo (CG) coinvolgeva 25 soggetti volontari sani. Dal confronto dei dati tra SG ed CG è emerso che il valore dell’ellisse è significativamente più alto sia ad OA che OC nei SG. L’esame ad OC non induce un significativo incremento dell’area dell’ellisse nel SG (OAp=0.3; OCp=0.08); il gruppo SG mostra più basso valore di cadenza e velocità del cammino rispetto al CG. Le conclusioni principali dello studio mostrano che l’aumento dell’area dell’ellisse nei pazienti schizofrenici è indipendente dal tempo della diagnosi, inoltre è possibile evidenziare una riduzione della cadenza del passo nelle fasi precoci della malattia, mentre la velocità del cammino si riduce più tardivamenteThe observational gait and posture analysis has a low level of inter and intra-examiner reproducibility, and for this reason quantitative instrumetal measurements are needed. We used the devices of the Movement Analysis Lab (LAM) of Parma, in order to develop two research projects. The aim of the first project was to validate a predictive protocol of falls in the elderly. Falls represent the main risk for disability, hospitalization and reduction of quality of life. The causes are intrinsic (degeneration of balance gait control, clinical conditions) and extrinsic. This study was carried out in collaboration with the Geriatric Division of Parma University Hospital. The study involved 50 elderly (17M and 33F) aged 76.9. We used stabilometric platform with eyes open (EO) and eyes closed (EC) (data recorded: path length, sway area and speed oscillation), performance tests using accelerometers (10 meters walking test-10mwt, 6meters walking test-6mwt, time up and go test-TUG), and bioimpidenzometry. ROC curves identified predictive falling threshold values. Falls predictors were: TUG (cut off: 14), path of lenght EO (cut off: 522), sway area EO (cut off: 81), speed oscillations EO (cut Off : 118). Subjects were then grouped based on their fraility condition. The predictive data of condition of fraility were: TUG (cut off: 11), 6MWT (Cut off: 384). In conclusion, our study shows that falls can be predicted by stabilometric parameters while fragility by performance tests. TUG can be considered predictive of both (falls and fraility). The second project was carried out in collaboration with the Psychiatric Division of Parma University Hospital, and the PhD student Valentina Presta. Schizophrenic patients have motor disorders often attributed to antipsychotics drug. Recent studies have shown that the cerebellum has some structural alterations that could explain balance and walking features in drug-naive subjects. Motor alterations in schizophrenia are still unknown, particularly at the disease onset. The aim of this work was to identify a schizophrenic motor and posture profile and a motor profile in early stages of the disease. Thirty patients with schizophrenia (SG) (according to the DSM-IV) and 25 healty (CG) were enrolled. Patients tooke the same chlorpromazine dose. Subjects were submitted to the psychiatric and instrumental evaluation. Posture and gait were studied by stabilometric platform (data obtained: path length, sway area with EO and EC) and accelerometer analysis (spatio-temporal parameters-cadence and walking speed). The SG group was divided into 3 subgroups: Early (disease duration ≤5 years), Middle (6-14 years) and Long term disease (≥15 years). We found that sway area was significantly higher in SG than CG in both conditions (EO/EC). The EC condition does not induce a significant increase in the sway area in the SG. The increase of sway area is indipendent of time of diagnosis. The SG group shows lower cadence in the early phase of disease than CG. Gait speed decrease later. In conclusion, a reduction of the cadence and an increased sway area can be considered as a postural/gait early profile of schizophreni

Life Sustainability at Work as Product and Process: an Exploration Through Action Research

Il lavoro ha come obiettivo l'esplorazione di alcuni nodi significativi di un'esperienza di ricerca-azione sul tema della sostenibilità della vita sociolavorativa entro un servizio socio sanitario. In particolare esso procede attraverso tre studi qualitativi, il cui filo conduttore è rappresentato dal tema della valutazione dei prodotti e dei processi della ricerca-azione sulla sostenibilità della vita sociolavorativa. Il primo studio si pone come obiettivo specifico l'esplorazione dei risultati conoscitivi e trasformativi prodotti dalla ricerca-azione entro il servizio considerato. Il secondo studio si focalizza sulla valutazione degli esiti e dei processi di apprendimento messi in atto nell'esperienza di ricerca. Il terzo studio infine intende esplorare il processo di ricerca con particolare attenzione al tema della sostenibilità della ricerca-azione, focalizzandosi in particolare sul processo di costruzione della domanda.Aim of the work is to investigate a selection of significant aspects of an action-research experience on life sustainability at work promoted in an health and social service. The paper is composed by three qualitative studies. The first study aims to describe the outcomes of the action-research. The second study evaluates the learning process promoted by the action research, to find out what different efficacy action-research has, as a strategy to promote life sustainability at work. The second study explores the action-research process and its sustainability, particularly focussing on how partnership and participation are built during and around the work

Efficacy of mechano-acoustic vibration on strength, pain, and function in poststroke rehabilitation: A pilot study

Background: Vibration therapy may be used to help cortical reorganization after stroke as it can cause different adaptive metabolic and mechanical effects. Objective: This study examined whether the application of mechano-acoustic vibration on upper limb muscles could induce changes in range of motion (ROM), function, pain, and grip strength in individuals with chronic stroke. Methods: Out of 52 individuals post stroke with upper limb spasticity who were eligible,16 received mechano-acoustic vibration therapy (ViSS device) 3 times weekly for 12 sessions. The frequency of vibration was set to 300 Hz for 30 minutes. The treated muscles were the extensor carpi radialis longus and brevis and triceps brachii during voluntary contraction. All participants were evaluated in both upper limbs before (T0) and at the end (T1) of treatment with a dynamometer (hand grip strength), Modified Ashworth Scale, QuickDASH, FIM score, Fugl-Meyer scale, Verbal Numerical Rating Scale of pain, and Jebsen-Taylor Hand Function Test. Results: After 4 weeks, hand grip power had improved and pain and spasticity had decreased. Improvements were recorded for all parameters and were considered statistically significant. Conclusions: Application of vibratory stimuli to a muscle can increase the motor-evoked potential recorded from the muscle, suggesting an enhancement of corticospinal excitability. Low amplitude, high-frequency vibration treatment (300 Hz) can significantly decrease tone and pain and improve strength in upper limb of hemiplegic individuals, when applied for 30 minutes, 3 times a week over 4 weeks