Analisi e gestione della comunicazione: le nuove frontiere

Le difficoltà di comunicare per un’azienda di grandi dimensioni. La comunicazione di crisi, l’importanza delle fonti, la necessità di essere percepito dai giornalisti come un interlocutore credibile, affidabile e corretto. Una dialettica spesso non facile, nel rispetto del ruolo di ciascuno. Una professione bella, ma allo stesso tempo totalizzante e spesso faticosa. Negli ultimi anni una maggiore definizione e uno sviluppo del quadro normativo hanno rafforzato e delineato in maniera sempre più chiara gli obblighi delle società quotate nei confronti delle comunicazioni al mercato e agli stakeholders; dall’altro, è aumentata la consapevolezza che una buona comunicazione sia un’attività chiave dell’azienda che può essere strumento per la creazione di valore della società stessa. La legislazione vigente ha opportunamente distinto tra le attività di “comunicazione”, svolte in linea di massima dagli uffici di relazioni con il pubblico (URP) e quelle di “informazione”, assegnando queste ultime a uffici stampa retti da giornalisti. Proprio su quest’ultimo fronte, la nuova normativa ha dato impulso alla nascita di uffici espressamente dedicati alle relazioni con il mondo dei mass media, in particolare nelle amministrazioni territoriali o nei principali centri di ricerca, parchi scientifici e università italiani. Ciò vale, per esempio, per i parchi scientifici come AREA Science Park di Trieste, che, nel loro ruolo di ponte tra ricerca scientifica e mondo delle imprese, trovano nella comunicazione un fattore chiave di success

FdeSolver: A Julia Package for Solving Fractional Differential Equations

Implementing and executing numerical algorithms to solve fractional differential equations has been less straightforward than using their integer-order counterparts, posing challenges for practitioners who wish to incorporate fractional calculus in applied case studies. Hence, we created an open-source Julia package, FdeSolver, that provides numerical solutions for fractional-order differential equations based on product-integration rules, predictor-corrector algorithms, and the Newton-Raphson method. The package covers solutions for one-dimensional equations with orders of positive real numbers. For high-dimensional systems, the orders of positive real numbers are limited to less than (and equal to) one. Incommensurate derivatives are allowed and defined in the Caputo sense. Here, we summarize the implementation for a representative class of problems, provide comparisons with available alternatives in Julia and Matlab, describe our adherence to good practices in open research software development, and demonstrate the practical performance of the methods in two applications; we show how to simulate microbial community dynamics and model the spread of Covid-19 by fitting the order of derivatives based on epidemiological observations. Overall, these results highlight the efficiency, reliability, and practicality of the FdeSolver Julia package

A Review of Exposure Assessment Methods in Epidemiological Studies on Incinerators

Incineration is a common technology for waste disposal, and there is public concern for the health impact deriving from incinerators. Poor exposure assessment has been claimed as one of the main causes of inconsistency in the epidemiological literature. We reviewed 41 studies on incinerators published between 1984 and January 2013 and classified them on the basis of exposure assessment approach. Moreover, we performed a simulation study to explore how the different exposure metrics may influence the exposure levels used in epidemiological studies. 19 studies used linear distance as a measure of exposure to incinerators, 11 studies atmospheric dispersion models, and the remaining 11 studies a qualitative variable such as presence/absence of the source. All reviewed studies utilized residence as a proxy for population exposure, although residence location was evaluated with different precision (e.g., municipality, census block, or exact address). Only one study reconstructed temporal variability in exposure. Our simulation study showed a notable degree of exposure misclassification caused by the use of distance compared to dispersion modelling. We suggest that future studies (i) make full use of pollution dispersion models; (ii) localize population on a fine-scale; and (iii) explicitly account for the presence of potential environmental and socioeconomic confounding

Assessing agricultural eco-efficiency in Italian Regions

none5Agriculture plays a key role in providing a wide range of ecosystem services, such as food, feed, fiber and biofuel, thus taking part in the economic development of countries. On the other hand, this sector also gives rise to negative externalities. The eco-efficiency has been considered as a meaningful index for assessing how efficient economic activities are in terms of resource-use and environmental pressures: measuring eco-efficiency provides policy makers with important information for developing policies focused on sustainable management and ef- ficient use of natural resources in the agricultural sector. In this context, sustainable development is now one of the most important objectives of the European Union Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) that has a key role in facing the challenges of the new paradigm of sustainability of agriculture. In this direction, the aim of this paper is to evaluate the eco-efficiency of the Italian agricultural sector, as an index useful for emphasizing the dif- ferences among some national geographical areas. This paper tries to fill the lack of scientific studies on agri- cultural eco-efficiency in Italy, despite the strategic role played by Italy in Europe. For this purpose, the Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) methodology was used, focusing on the integration between agricultural pro- ductivity and resource conservation, in order to develop a support tool for policy makers and managers. The analysis had shown a better orientation in saving resources for the Southern Regions and a greater orientation in productivity for the Northern Regions. Overall, Italy seems to have a good capacity for sustainable management of agricultural resources although there is still space for improvement. In this regard, the measurement of eco- efficiency provides a useful index for policy makers to achieve better performances in terms of agricultural sustainability. This means that CAP subsidies should be granted in exchange for specific environmental ex- ternalities provided by farmers as a result of more ecologically friendly management with a land use planning avoiding the depleting of Ecosystem Services rich areas, allowing for the achievement of a balance between economic growth and ecosystem protection. Although the paper has expanded the literature on agricultural eco- efficiency, this work has some limitations that could serve as a reference for future studies that can include other ecological variables such as the provision of some ecosystem services that can be enhanced or impacted by agricultural development. Finally, the challenge to realize sustainable agriculture can represent a long-term guarantee of food security as well as societal well-being.openColuccia, Benedetta; Valente, Donatella; Fusco, Giulio; De Leo, Federica; Porrini, DonatellaColuccia, Benedetta; Valente, Donatella; Fusco, Giulio; De Leo, Federica; Porrini, Donatell

The Challenge of Planning Conservation Strategies in Threatened Seascapes: Understanding the Role of Fine Scale Assessments of Community Response to Cumulative Human Pressures

Assessing the distribution and intensity of human threats to biodiversity is a prerequisite for effective spatial planning, harmonizing conservation purposes with sustainable development. In the Mediterranean Sea, the management of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) is rarely based on explicit consideration of the distribution of multiple stressors, with direct assessment of their effects on ecosystems. This gap limits the effectiveness of protection and is conducive to conflicts among stakeholders. Here, a fine scale assessment of the potential effects of different combinations of stressors (both land- and marine-based) on vulnerable rocky habitats (i.e. lower midlittoral and shallow infralittoral) along 40 km of coast in the western Mediterranean (Ionian Sea) has been carried out. The study area is a paradigmatic example of socio-ecological interactions, where several human uses and conservation measures collide. Significant differences in the structure of assemblages according to different combinations of threats were observed, indicating distinct responses of marine habitats to different sets of human pressures. A more complex three-dimensional structure, higher taxon richness and \u3b2-diversity characterized assemblages subject to low versus high levels of human pressure, consistently across habitats. In addition, the main drivers of change were: closeness to the harbour, water quality, and the relative extension of beaches. Our findings suggest that, although efforts to assess cumulative impacts at large scale may help in individuating priority areas for conservation purposes, the fact that such evaluations are often based on expert opinions and not on actual studies limits their ability to represent real environmental conditions at local scale. Systematic evaluations of local scale effects of anthropogenic drivers of change on biological communities should complement broad scale management strategies to achieve effective sustainability of human exploitation of marine resources

Oral chemotherapy in advanced breast cancer: expert perspectives on its role in clinical practice

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Performance of bull bars in pedestrian impact tests

Thirteen bull bars and the five models of vehicle were tested to measure their performance in pedestrian impact tests. Three tests were used in the assessment: two tests using an impactor representing the upper leg of an adult pedestrian, and a test with an impactor representing the head of a child. The headform impact and one of the upper legform impacts were with the top rail of the bull bar, and the second upper legform impact was with the bumper section of the bull bar. Equivalent locations on the vehicle that the bull bars were attached to were also tested. The tests were conducted at 30 km/h. Two rating systems were developed to summarise the results. The first rates the performance of the bull bars and the fronts of the vehicles according to the New Car Assessment Program consumer rating system used in Europe and Australia. The second system rates the performance of the bull bars relative to the front of the vehicle to which they are attached. Overall, steel bull bars are significantly more hazardous for a pedestrian in the event of a collision than the front of the vehicle, as are the aluminium/alloy bull bars, but to a lesser extent than the steel bull bars. Overall, the polymer bull bars slightly improve the safety of the front of the vehicle.. This study demonstrates the practicability of reporting the performance of bull bars in pedestrian impact tests. The system developed herein could form the basis of a consumer-oriented bull bar testing program.R.W.G. Anderson, A.L. van den Berg, G. Ponte, L.D. Streeter and A.J. McLeanhttp://casr.adelaide.edu.au/publications/researchreports

No apparent genetic bottleneck in the demographically declining European eel using molecular genetics and forward-time simulations

No apparent genetic bottleneck in the demographically declining European eel using molecular genetics and forward-time simulations

Big-data-driven modeling unveils country-wide drivers of endemic schistosomiasis

Schistosomiasis is a parasitic infection that is widespread in sub-Saharan Africa, where it represents a major health problem. We study the drivers of its geographical distribution in Senegal via a spatially explicit network model accounting for epidemiological dynamics driven by local socioeconomic and environmental conditions, and human mobility. The model is parameterized by tapping several available geodatabases and a large dataset of mobile phone traces. It reliably reproduces the observed spatial patterns of regional schistosomiasis prevalence throughout the country, provided that spatial heterogeneity and human mobility are suitably accounted for. Specifically, a fine-grained description of the socioeconomic and environmental heterogeneities involved in local disease transmission is crucial to capturing the spatial variability of disease prevalence, while the inclusion of human mobility significantly improves the explanatory power of the model. Concerning human movement, we find that moderate mobility may reduce disease prevalence, whereas either high or low mobility may result in increased prevalence of infection. The effects of control strategies based on exposure and contamination reduction via improved access to safe water or educational campaigns are also analyzed. To our knowledge, this represents the first application of an integrative schistosomiasis transmission model at a whole-country scale

The spatial spread of schistosomiasis: A multidimensional network model applied to Saint-Louis region, Senegal

AbstractSchistosomiasis is a parasitic, water-related disease that is prevalent in tropical and subtropical areas of the world, causing severe and chronic consequences especially among children. Here we study the spatial spread of this disease within a network of connected villages in the endemic region of the Lower Basin of the Senegal River, in Senegal. The analysis is performed by means of a spatially explicit metapopulation model that couples local-scale eco-epidemiological dynamics with spatial mechanisms related to human mobility (estimated from anonymized mobile phone records), snail dispersal and hydrological transport of schistosome larvae along the main water bodies of the region. Results show that the model produces epidemiological patterns consistent with field observations, and point out the key role of spatial connectivity on the spread of the disease. These findings underline the importance of considering different transport pathways in order to elaborate disease control strategies that can be effective within a network of connected populations