The role of cognitive frames towards circular economy practices in SMEs

Frame of the research: The paper explores how organizations are able to manage potential competing logics in the HORECA and Hospitality sectors. In such sectors, mainly characterized by SMEs and where the effect of brand and corporate reputation is not comparable with some manufacturing sectors operating in the B2B market, finding an equilibrium between the economic and environmental need is crucial in order to truly embrace environmental sustainability. Purpose of the paper: The development of an integrative cognitive framework in management where environmental and economic views are strictly enwound, is crucial for supporting the transition towards a more circular economy. The paper explores the drivers for developing such integrative view for the managers of SMEs operating in the hospitality sectors. Methodology: The research is grounded on original data collected by a survey of 252 Italian SMEs operating in the hospitality sector. Adopting a structural equation model, we tested the drivers that can contribute to create respectively an environmental and economic logic in managers, whether the co-presence of these logics is able to generate an integrative view and, as a consequence, the influence of such view on the adoption of pro-environmental practices. Findings: The results confirm the environmental concern being a driver of environmental logic, the importance of the environmental logic and the economic one as determinants of the integrative view and the importance of such view in adopting pro-environmental practices. Research limits: The study is focused on a specific geographical context. The number of drivers of environmental internalization could be expanded. Practical implications: The study contributes to the steam of research on sustainability among SMEs by stressing how intangible factors are crucial for reaching environmental embeddedness. Originality of the paper: Understanding how organizations are able to manage potential competing logics in an integrative cognitive framework is still unexplored, mainly in the Hospitality sectors. In such sectors finding an equilibrium between the economic and the environmental need is crucial for really embracing environmental sustainability

Post Feed-in Scheme Photovoltaic System Feasibility Evaluation in Italy: Sicilian Case Studies

Thanks to national energy policies, over recent years the Italian photovoltaic (PV) sector has undergone an extraordinary growth, also affecting the primary sector. In this context, Mediterranean greenhouses are well-adapted to photovoltaic systems because they represent one of the most energy-intensive sectors in agriculture. The Italian feed-in scheme ended at the beginning of 2013, making it necessary to investigate the feasibility of photovoltaic systems devoid of any electricity production-related incentives. In this paper, production cost and profitability analyses of photovoltaic electricity have been conducted, considering Mediterranean solar greenhouses in which, thanks to net metering, all the electricity produced by photovoltaic panels is self-consumed. Our results showed that grid parity is already reached for Sicilian PV systems with a capacity greater than 50 kW. Moreover, net present value, internal rate of return and discounted payback time all demonstrate the high economic convenience of all the photovoltaic investments analyzed, due to the huge savings on energy expenditures

Delayed recurrent nerve paralysis following post-traumatic aortic pseudoaneurysm

Blunt trauma to the neck or to the chest are increasingly observed in the emergency clinical practice. They usually follow motor vehicle accidents or may be work or sports related. A wide pattern of clinical presentation can be potentially encountered. We report the uncommon case of a patient who was referred to our observation presenting with hoarseness and disphagia. Twenty days before he had sustained a car accident with trauma to the chest, neck and the mandible. Laryngoscopy showed a left recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy. Further otolaryngo-logical examination showed no other abnormality. At CT and MR imaging a post-traumatic aortic pseudoaneurysm was revealed. The aortic pseudoaneurysm was consequently repaired by implantation of an endovascular stent graft under local anesthesia. The patient was discharged 10 days later. At 30-days follow-up laryngoscopy the left vocal cord palsy was completely resolved. Hoarseness associated with a dilated left atrium in a patient with mitral valve stenosis was initially described by Ortner more than a century ago. Since then several non malignant, cardiovascular, intrathoracic disease that results in embarrassment from recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy usually by stretching, pulling or compression; thus, the correlations of these pathologies was termed as cardiovocal syndrome or Ortner's syndrome. The reported case illustrates that life-threatening cardiovascular comorbidities can cause hoarseness and that an impaired recurrent laryngeal nerve might be correctable

Rate-control vs. rhythm-control in patients with atrial fibrillation: a meta-analysis

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Adverse food reactions in dogs due to antibiotic residues in pet food: a preliminary study

In the last decades, adverse food reactions have increased considerably in dogs and cats. In this study we report on the possible onset of food intolerances symptoms, including otitis, diarrhoea, generalised anxiety, and dermatitis in a cohort of 8 dogs consuming commercial diets. All dogs received an organic chicken-based diet for 15 days. We performed analysis of blood biochemical parameters, kibble composition, and oxytetracycline (OTC) serum concentration before and after 15 days of organic chicken-based diet supplementation. We hypothesised that a chronic intake of contaminated food enhanced by the presence of nanoparticle aggregates might be at the base of the onset of pharmacologic or idiopathic food intolerances. At the end of the evaluation period, an overall significant reduction of otitis, diarrhoea, generalised anxiety, and dermatitis was observed. Biochemical analyses indicate a significant increase in the alkaline phosphatase, from 41 to 52.5 U/L, after 15 days (\u2022\u2022p <0.01), while a significant decrease in Gamma-glutamyl transferase and urea, from 9.37 to 6.25 U/L and from 32.13 \ub1 8.72 to 22.13 \ub1 7.8 mg/dL, respectively, was observed (\u2022p <0.05). A significant decrease, from 0.22 to 0.02 \u3bcg/mL, in mean OTC serum concentration was also observed (\u2022\u2022p <0.01). Composition analysis revealed the presence of OTC, calcium, aluminium, silicon, and phosphorous nanoparticle aggregates. Further research on a wider sample size would help to confirm the hypothesis proposed here

Bridging Gaps in the Demand and Supply for Circular Economy: Empirical Insights into the Symbiotic Roles of Consumers and Manufacturing Companies

Given the systemic nature of the circular economy (CE), its successful implementation necessitates a holistic approach involving all the relevant stakeholders across the production and consumption processes. This study focuses on the gap between the demand and supply of circularity by investigating transitioning profiles of consumers and manufacturing companies and examining their symbiotic roles in shaping a systemic circular transition. Using two extensive surveys involving 1,000 consumers and 1,443 manufacturing companies in Italy, and employing a cluster analysis methodology, we examined pro-environmental purchasing profiles among consumers and varying levels of circular practice integration among companies. The cluster analysis reveals four different consumer cluster based on their attitudes towards CE during the purchasing and post-purchasing phases. While the majority focused only on a single purchasing aspect, approximately one-third consistently optimized, preserved, and enhanced product value throughout the purchase phase and post-purchase use. Conversely, companies were grouped into five clusters according to their varying levels of circularity integration across the product life cycle. Only a small subset of companies fully embraced circularity throughout their entire product life cycle, with most concentrating their efforts on specific phases of the value chain. The findings highlight a significant gap between circular demand and supply: while the biggest cluster of companies comprises linear manufacturers, linear consumers represent the smallest segments. This underscores the need for comprehensive engagement from both manufacturers and consumers in shaping circular production and consumption. Based on a stakeholder perspective, the study opens up a discussion on how to bridge this gap, emphasizing the role of consumers with pro-circular behaviors in pushing companies to integrate circularity principles more thoroughly, and the role of companies in raising the awareness of linear consumers about the impact of their purchasing choices. By profiling circular companies and consumers and unveiling their behavioral tendencies, this research provides actionable insights for policymakers and managers navigating the circular transition

economic sustainability of early potato production in the mediterranean area

The interactions between a given commercial enterprise, its territory and development, have become a key issue in recent years. Theories of economic development tell us that a territory may undergo development provided viable, economically sustainable commercial activities exist. Based on the latter postulate, the present paper analyzes the economic sustainability of farming enterprises growing early potatoes in a Mediterranean setting. In particular, the study was conducted in south-eastern Sicily, island in the centre of the Mediterranean. The results underscore their modest profitability, mainly due to a lack of entrepreneurial strategies aimed at enhancing production. This situation leads to shortcomings in terms of economic viability of the considered activities, which according to economic theory underlie an ultimate impoverishment of the territory

economic analysis of process innovations in the management of olive farms

Within a business enterprise, process innovations l ead to reduced production costs and to increased profit margins. In this study, we shall examine an olive farm that operates in a perfectly competitive market that has introduced a process innovation so as to contain labour costs and therefore production costs. So, the paper aimed at comparing economic co mpetitiveness of an olive farm that introduced mechanical olive pickers (process innovation) for h arvest respect to manual harvest. In the case under scrutiny, for the same price, the reduced productio n cost determined a shift from a situation of being at a loss to one of profit for the business. Economic analysis showed that introduction of mechanical olive pickers can determine a competitive advantage in small and medium-sized olive farms of Mediterranean areas which decide to mechanize the harvest

economic evaluation of aquaculture investments under conditions of risk and uncertainty in the mediterranean sea

This study aims to analyze, from a technical and ec onomic point of view, the choice between alternative investments in aquaculture under condit ions of risk and uncertainty. In particular, a comparative analysis has been conducted between an inshore and an offshore farm producing European sea bass in the Mediterranean Sea. The app lied model refers to the theory of subjective probability, assigning a different probability to e xpected incomes during the investment period. Resul ts show an economic convenience of inshore with respect to offshore farming

Geographical differences in the perspective of osteoarthritis care management: A cross-sectional study in Italy, Sweden and Russia

Background: This study aimed to explore the awareness, experiences, and beliefs of individuals with osteoarthritis (OA) regarding their healthcare management, along with assessing their overall satisfaction levels. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted in Italy, Sweden, and Russia, rigorously developed based on OA international guidelines in collaboration with healthcare professionals and individuals with OA. Participants over 40 years of age with self-reported hip and/or knee OA were eligible. The analytical framework included descriptive analysis (assessment of awareness levels for 'recommended', 'optional', and 'not recommended' treatments), analysis of suggested treatments and taken treatments, exploration of beliefs, barriers and satisfaction analysis (0-100 scale). Results: A total of 401 participants (mean age: 59.7, 78.3% female, 28% Italian, 49% Swedish, 23% Russian) contributed to the study. In Sweden, 57%-72% accurately identified recommended treatments, while in Russia, the range was 34%-91%, and in Italy, it was 35%-73%. The predominant suggested and taken treatments were oral anti-inflammatory drugs in Italy (87/81%) and Russia (97/97%) and specific exercise in Sweden (84/79%). Notably, only Sweden reached a consensus on the effectiveness of exercise for everyone, while Russia and Italy insisted on radiographic findings as a prerequisite for exercise. Mean satisfaction levels were 59.7 (Italy), 47.4 (Sweden), and 35.2 (Russia). Conclusions: This study uncovered variations in awareness, treatment preferences, and beliefs among the three countries, underscoring the necessity for tailored education on OA management that accounts for regional differences across Europe