Business continuity and planning effectiveness: An empirical analysis of Italian manufacturing SMEs

For decades many researchers have studied companies’ crisis and insolvency forecasting based on economic and financial indexes. However, little attention has been devoted to companies’ organisational structure in setting up favourable conditions in which firms can continue their activities without having to initiate an alert procedure as well as effectively achieve the objectivesforecasted. This is even more important when considering the introduction of Legislative Decree N. 14/2019, which underlines the importance of implementing a structure suitable for guaranteeing a company’s development. This study aims to investigate whether organisational, administrative and accounting structures affect business continuity and planning effectiveness. To this end, the study has adopted a quantitative approach. This paper provides insights into a new management control approach. SMEs should adopt a more structured management approach, driven by an effective company information system able to timely detect the emergence of a crisis and the uncertainty of business continuity

Effects of nutritional intake on disease severity in children with sickle cell disease.

BACKGROUND: Children with Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) may show growth failure in comparison to healthy peers. Many factors as hematological status, endocrine and/or metabolic dysfunction, and nutritional status, may play an important role in growth failure. The aim of this study was to assess whether impaired growth and nutritional intake can affect SCD severity during childhood. METHODS: We conducted an observational study on children with SCD referring to our clinic for routine follow-up visits in a 6-month period. We collected information on weight, height and body mass index (BMI) and calculated their respective standardized scores (z). The nutritional intake was assessed through the last 24-h recall intake of total calories, macro- (proteins, lipids, carbohydrates) and micronutrients (calcium, iron, phosphorus, vitamins B1, PP, A, C, B2). Disease severity was assessed through total hemoglobin (Hb) and fetal hemoglobin (HbF), and lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) levels, and through the total number and days of hospitalizations, as well as the lifetime episodes of acute chest syndrome (ACS). RESULTS: Twenty nine children (14 males, 15 females) with SCD were enrolled; their mean age was 9.95 years (SD 3.50, min 3.72, max 17.18). Z-weight and z-BMI were significantly directly related to total Hb. Food intake resulted significantly unbalanced in terms of total calorie intake, macro- and micronutrients, especially calcium, iron, vitamin B1 and C. Low intake of calcium and vitamin B1 were significantly inversely correlated with number and days of hospitalizations per year. Protein, lipid, phosphorus, and vitamin PP intakes resulted adequate but were inversely correlated with number and days of hospitalizations. Carbohydrate, lipid, iron, phosphorus, vitamins B1 and B2 intakes were significantly inversely correlated to HbF levels. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that, in our population, inadequate nutritional intake, weight and BMI have a significant impact on SCD severity indices

Heat Exchanger Network (HEN) costs and performances estimation for multi-period operation

This paper addresses the problem of modeling and estimating the cost of the heat exchanger network (HEN) in multi-period operation using pinch technique concepts. The developed method improves the vertical heat exchanges technique originally proposed by Ahmad et al., by estimating the contribution of each stream to the overall HEN area instead of equally distributing the area between the computed minimum number of exchangers. This method allows to consider the available area for each stream and to manage the fact that some streams may not be active during some particular periods of operation. The method proposed computes the near-optimal DTmin/2 contribution, associated to the streams in each of the periods, from one single reference value. This allows to reduce the number of decision variables to one, when computing the energy saving/investment trade-off in thermo-economic optimisation models

The 2010 Pakistan floods: high-resolution simulations with the WRF model

Abstract HKT-ISTP 2013 B

Redefining the technical and organizationalcompetences of children vaccination clinics in order to improve performance. A practical experience at the ULSS 12 Venetian Public Health and Hygiene Service

Introduction. Since Regione Veneto suspended compulsory vaccination for children in 2008, and because of an increasing disaffection of parents to the vaccine practice, the vaccination rates have been slowly but steadily decreasing. The aim of this study was to analyze internal and external factors of immuniza- tion reduction and to implement potential solutions of the prob- lem. Methods. Servizio Igiene e Sanita? Pubblica of ULSS 12 Venezi- ana (SISP ? Hygiene and Public Health Service) analyzed and addressed both, the reasons of parents who do not vaccinate their children and the internal problems regarding vaccination clinics management, information to families, procedures and guidelines and, in general, the communication skills of the vaccination staff. Results. A positive trend in vaccination rates was observed, espe- cially in Venice historical centre. Moreover the staff reported a better working atmosphere and benefit from sharing common goals and procedures, even though the workforce was reduced of about 30% in terms of equivalent unit (EU). Discussion. The continuous quality improvement method fol- lowed in this experience led to a steady increase in vaccination coverage in all territorial clinics, to a better adhesion of guide- lines and standard operating procedures and to a general pro- fessional empowerment of SISP staff. The service now offered to the population is better and more efficient, since the workforce has been reduced. Future goals are to improve information about vaccinations among the population

A methodology for thermo-economic modeling and optimization of solid oxide fuel cell systems

In the context of stationary power generation, fuel cell-based systems are being foreseen as a valuable alternative to thermodynamic cycle-based power plants, especially in small scale applications. As the technology is not yet established, many aspects of fuel cell devel- opment are currently investigated worldwide. Part of the research focuses on integrating the fuel cell in a system that is both efficient and economically attractive. To address this problem, we present in this paper a thermo-economic optimization method that systematically generates the most attractive configurations of an integrated system. In the developed methodology, the energy flows are computed using conventional process simulation software. The system is integrated using the pinch based methods that rely on optimization techniques. This defines the minimum of energy required and sets the basis to design the ideal heat exchanger network. A thermo-economic method is then used to compute the integrated system performances, sizes and costs. This allows performing the optimization of the system with regard to two objectives: minimize the specific cost and maximize the efficiency. A solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) system of 50 kW integrat- ing a planar SOFC is modeled and optimized leading to designs with efficiencies ranging from 34% to 44%. The multi-objective optimi- zation strategy identifies interesting system configurations and their performance for the developed SOFC system model. The methods proves to be an attractive tool to be used both as an advanced analysis tool and as support to decision makers when designing new systems

Thermo-economic Optimization of a Solid Oxide Fuel Cell, Gas Turbine Hybrid System

Background: The electricity production market benefits from combined cycles with their high efficiency. In the lower power range, Fuel Cells are a good candidate to combine with gas turbines. Such systems can achieve efficiencies of 60\% and more. High temperature Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFC) offer good opportunities for this coupling. A systematic method to select a design according to user specifications is presented. Method of approach: The most attracting configurations of this technology coupling are identified using a thermo-economic multi-objective optimization approach. The SOFC model includes detailed computation of losses of the electrodes and thermal management. The system is integrated using pinch based methods. A thermo-economic method is then used to compute the integrated system performances, size and cost. This allows to perform the optimization of the system with regard to two objectives: minimize the specific cost and maximize the efficiency. Results: Optimization results prove the existence of designs with costs from 2400 $/kW for a 44\% efficiency to 6700$/kW for a 70\% efficiency. Several design options are analysed regarding fuel processing, pressure ratio or turbine inlet temperature among others. Conclusions: A pressurized SOFC-$\mu$GT hybrid cycle has been modeled for design purposes. Combining state-of-the-art planar SOFC with high speed micro gas turbine sustained by air bearings. The proposed optimization method allows to identify the most interesting design configurations to reach high efficiencies for a given cost

Lunar Gravitational-Wave Antenna

Monitoring of vibrational eigenmodes of an elastic body excited by gravitational waves was one of the first concepts proposed for the detection of gravitational waves. At laboratory scale, these experiments became known as resonant-bar detectors first developed by Joseph Weber in the 1960s. Due to the dimensions of these bars, the targeted signal frequencies were in the kHz range. Weber also pointed out that monitoring of vibrations of Earth or Moon could reveal gravitational waves in the mHz band. His Lunar Surface Gravimeter experiment deployed on the Moon by the Apollo 17 crew had a technical failure rendering the data useless. In this article, we revisit the idea and propose a Lunar Gravitational-Wave Antenna (LGWA). We find that LGWA could become an important partner observatory for joint observations with the space-borne, laser-interferometric detector LISA, and at the same time contribute an independent science case due to LGWA's unique features. Technical challenges need to be overcome for the deployment of the experiment, and development of inertial vibration sensor technology lays out a future path for this exciting detector concept.Comment: 29 pages, 17 figure

The characteristics and activities of child and adolescent mental health services in Italy: a regional survey

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>To date, no studies have assessed in detail the characteristics, organisation, and functioning of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS). This information gap represents a major limitation for researchers and clinicians because most mental disorders have their onset in childhood or adolescence, and effective interventions can therefore represent a major factor in avoiding chronicity. Interventions and mental health care are delivered by and through services, and not by individual, private clinicians, and drawbacks or limitations of services generally translate in inappropriateness and ineffectiveness of treatments and interventions: therefore information about services is essential to improve the quality of care and ultimately the course and outcome of mental disorders in childhood and adolescence.</p> <p>The present paper reports the results of the first study aimed at providing detailed, updated and comprehensive data on CAMHS of a densely populated Italian region (over 4 million inhabitants) with a target population of 633,725 subjects aged 0-17 years.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Unit Chiefs of all the CAMHS filled in a structured 'Facility Form', with activity data referring to 2008 (data for inpatient facilities referred to 2009), which were then analysed in detail.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Eleven CAMHS were operative, including 110 outpatient units, with a ratio of approximately 20 child psychiatrists and 23 psychologists per 100,000 inhabitants aged 0-17 years. All outpatient units were well equipped and organized and all granted free service access. In 2008, approximately 6% of the target population was in contact with outpatient CAMHS, showing substantial homogeneity across the eleven areas thereby. Most patients in contact in 2008 received a language disorder- or learning disability diagnosis (41%). First-ever contacts accounted for 30% of annual visits across all units. Hospital bed availability was 5 per 100,000 inhabitants aged 0-17 years.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The percentage of young people in contact with CAMHS for mental disorders is in line with those observed in previous epidemiological studies. The overall number of child psychiatrists per 100,000 inhabitants is one of the highest in Europe and it is comparable with the most well equipped areas in the US. This comparison should be interpreted with caution, however, because in Italy, child psychiatrists also treat neurological disorders. Critical areas requiring improvement are: the uneven utilisation of standardised assessment procedures and the limited availability of dedicated emergency services during non-office hours (e.g., nights and holidays).</p