\u201cYou talkin' to me?\u201d The Italian Taxi drivers rhetoric as strategy of institutional resistance

The study deals with the institutional resistance dynamics, trying to enlighten the actors, contents and modes of the "institutional battle" around the liberalization of Italian Taxi Drivers' license. The article highlights that the main field of the struggle regards the discourse about the legitimacy of what is perceived as privilege of the Taxi Drivers' category. It also tries to delineate the rhetorical patterns that can act as successful strategies of institutional resistance

Organizational life cycle models: a design perspective

New competitive and environmental challenges have fostered renewed attention towards organizational design. This scenario calls for a significant return to organizational design studies that embrace a holistic approach, especially those focusing on the simultaneous interaction of multiple design elements. Organizational life cycle (OLC) models provide a fitting response to this call. In this paper, we review the organizational design characteristics of five seminal OLC models. We show that according to these OLC models, growth in size—which is described as unavoidable—generates business issues that firms are forced to solve by adopting only one possible organizational configuration, here following a deterministic organizational approach. We challenge this approach and propose conceiving of OLC as an evolutionary process, which calls for a variety of equifinal organizational solutions. We conclude by proposing future research avenues

3 Essays on organizational development and design

The aim of this doctoral dissertation is to analyze the organizational design elements of young firms. The thesis consists of three chapters. The first chapter reviews the literature on Organizational Life Cycle (OLC), and discusses the why, when, who, what, and how of such models. Adding to the extant literature review, I focus on the organizational design characteristics identifying each stage. Results demonstrate that OLC models suggest that size growth – considered as obligatory – generates business issues that firms are forced to solve by adopting only one possible organizational configuration, following the deterministic organizational approach. The second chapter adopts the fsQCA approach to analyse organizational configurations of a sample of 96 Italian young firms (4 to 7 years old) operating in the middle and high tech industries. The analysis shows that in order to obtain high performance, organizational structure is a more relevant condition than strategy, and that in low turbulent environment young firms can adopt a greater variety of organizational combination than in high turbulent environment. The third chapter focuses on business model configurations of young technology firms. In particular, the analysis is based on the configurations of business models themes, firms product strategies, and environmental elements. The findings show that young firms adopt efficiency and novelty centered business model associated to either niche or differentiation strategies, in low turbulent environment. Whereas, in high turbulent environment an efficiency centered business model is combined to niche and differentiation product strategies

Multi-year prevalence and macrolide resistance of Mycoplasma genitalium in clinical samples from a southern Italian hospital

The use of azithromycin for the treatment of Mycoplasma genitalium infections has led to resistance to macrolides. From July 2014 to July 2020, 7150 samples were analysed for the detection of sexually transmitted infections at the Policlinico of Bari. A total of 67/7150 samples (0.93%) were positive for MG DNA and 47 samples were analysed for the evaluation of six azithromycin resistance-associated mutations. In 5/47 samples, the A2058G mutation was detected (10.63%). Although the cases of positive MG samples and mutations are low in our reality, diagnostic tests to detect azithromycin resistant-associated genes may provide a convenient way to monitor resistance rate

A correlational analysis of the relationships among intolerance of uncertainty, anxiety sensitivity, subjective sleep quality, and insomnia symptoms

In this study, we used structural equation modeling to investigate the interplay among Intolerance of Uncertainty (IU), Anxiety Sensitivity (AS), and sleep problems. Three hundred undergraduate students completed the Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale, the Intolerance of Uncertainty Inventory, the Anxiety Sensitivity Index, the Beck Depression Inventory, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and the Insomnia Severity Index. 68% and 40% of the students reported poor sleep quality or sub-threshold insomnia problems, respectively. Depression and anxiety levels were above the cut-off for about one-fourth of the participants. Structural equation modeling revealed that IU was strongly associated with AS, in turn influencing both insomnia severity and sleep quality via depression and anxiety. Significant indirect effects revealed that an anxious pathway was more strongly associated with insomnia severity, while a depression pathway was more relevant for worsening the quality of sleep. We discussed the results in the frameworks of cognitive models of insomnia. Viewing AS and IU as antecedents of sleep problems and assigning to AS a pivotal role, our study suggested indications for clinical interventions on a population at risk for sleep disorders

Organizational design configurations in the early stages of firm’s life cycle

http://ocs.editorial.upv.es/index.php/CARMA/CARMA2016Mosca, L.; Gianecchini, M.; Campagnolo, D. (2017). Organizational design configurations in the early stages of firm’s life cycle. Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/CARMA2016.2015.3104OC

Molecular and electronic structure investigation of encapsulated polytiophenes

Insulated molecular wires (IMWs) are expected to be applied to various optoelectronic applications due to their unique photophysical, electronic, and mechanical properties which originate from the absence of -stacking.[1] Kazunori et al have succeeded in the synthesis of a self-threading polythiophene with a polyrotaxane-like 3D architecture (PSTB, see Figure 1a), for which an intrawire hole mobility of 0.9 cm2 V−1 s−1 has been measured.[2] In this study we aim to evaluate for the first time the extension of the -conjugation in encapsulated polythiophenes. A comparison between the experimental Raman spectra of the self-threading PSTB polymer with their correspondent oligomers (i.e. 2STB-5STB) suggests that the effective conjugation length in the polymer is longer than five monomer units. Whether the effective conjugation length of the polymer is better described by using the long oligomer extrapolation approach or periodic DFT calculations of the polymer is discussed in detailed by exploiting the very recent potentialities of state-of-the-art quantum chemical simulations of vibrational properties for crystalline solids.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tec

To be assertive or not to be assertive: that is the question! Students' reactions to sexual harassment in academia

Introduction: In the literature, no integrated definition of sexual harassment (SH) occurs but there is clear unanimity about SH being offensive, humiliating, and intimidating behavior. Within academic settings, SH has severe negative effects on students' physical or emotional wellbeing as well as on their ability to succeed academically. Methods: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between sex, gender roles, and the ways to manage SH (assertive and nonassertive reactions) in university students. It was hypothesized that female students would report more nonassertive reactions compared to male students. In addition, following the Bem theory on gender roles and using the self-report tool by the same author, it is hypothesized that female and male students, who are classified as feminine, will report more nonassertive responses, whereas male and female students, who are classified as masculine, will report more assertive responses. Our hypothesis was tested with a sample of 1,415 university students (593 men, 41.9%, and 822 women, 58.1%) who completed a questionnaire approved by the local ethical review board for research from the end of January 2019 to the first half of February 2019. Results: Contrary to our hypothesis, results showed that women react more than men in both assertive and nonassertive modalities. In addition, our results confirmed the main effect of both sex and gender roles on students' assertive and nonassertive reactions to SH in academia. Conclusion: Educational programs about SH may prove useful in preventing its occurrence. Gender equality plans in academia can improve a nonsexist and safe environment for students. It is urgent to improve transparency and accountability of policies on the management of SH: academic institutions need to formulate a procedure to facilitate SH reporting, considering the sensitive balance of confidentiality and transparency issues. Support for the victims (social services, healthcare, legal representation, and advice concerning career/professional development) must be included

Laparoscopic treatment of splenic artery aneurysms

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to report a series of 16 consecutive patients who underwent laparoscopic treatment of splenic artery aneurysms. METHODS: Over a period of 8 years, patients were selected for the laparoscopic option by a team of specialists that included the vascular surgeon, the interventional radiologist, and the laparoscopic surgeon. The mean size of the aneurysm was 32 mm and most was located at the splenic hilum. They were twice as common in females as in males. Ultrasonography with color Doppler function was used to define intraoperative strategy. RESULTS: The laparoscopic treatment entailed excision of the aneurysm or its exclusion, usually reserved for distally located lesions. In one patient, laparoscopic resection and robotic anastomosis of the splenic artery was performed to re-establish flow to the spleen. In two patients, the intraoperative decision was added to combine a laparoscopic splenectomy due to insufficient residual arterial flow to the spleen. There was no conversion, or need for re-operation or related mortality. Analysis of intraoperative arterial flow data avoided unnecessary splenectomy following noncritical reduction of flow to the spleen. CONCLUSIONS: The use of intraoperative color Doppler ultrasonography is essential in deciding the appropriate procedure and whether the spleen should be removed or saved. Early control of the splenic artery proximal to the aneurysm can limit the risk of conversion due to intraoperative bleeding. Distally located aneurysms are more difficult to manage and entail a higher risk of associated splenectomy. The laparoscopic option offers some advantages over the endovascular treatment in selected patients. A multidisciplinary approach is the key to a successful treatment of this uncommon disease