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We investigate the relationship between family management and innovation investment propensity in family firms through analyzing the effect of two innovation impulses: demand-pull and technology-push. Extending the technology-push/demand-pull framework to the context of family firms, and adopting a direct measure of firms’ innovation investment propensity, we test our hypotheses on a sample of 1093 Italian small and medium-sized family firms. Our results show that both the demand-pull and technology-push innovation impulses moderate the relationship between family management and the firms’ propensity to invest in innovation, reducing the negative effect exerted by family management on family firms’ innovation investment propensity. Moreover, our evidence shows that family firms’ innovation investments are more sensitive to the demand-pull than the technology-push impulse. Overall, our findings suggest to practitioners and policymakers that family firm innovation impulses are important contingencies that need to be taken into account when making innovation investment decisions.

We investigate the relationship between family management and innovation investment propensity in family firms through analyzing the effect of two innovation impulses: demand-pull and technology-push. Extending the technology-push/demand-pull framework to the context of family firms, and adopting a direct measure of firms’ innovation investment propensity, we test our hypotheses on a sample of 1093 Italian small and medium-sized family firms. Our results show that both the demand-pull and technology-push innovation impulses moderate the relationship between family management and the firms’ propensity to invest in innovation, reducing the negative effect exerted by family management on family firms’ innovation investment propensity. Moreover, our evidence shows that family firms’ innovation investments are more sensitive to the demand-pull than the technology-push impulse. Overall, our findings suggest to practitioners and policymakers that family firm innovation impulses are important contingencies that need to be taken into account when making innovation investment decisions.

The rupture of a vulnerable plaque, known as ulceration, is the most common cause of myocardial infarction. It can be recognized by angiographic features, such as prolonged intraluminal filling and delayed clearance of the contrast liquid. The diagnosis of such an event is an open challenge due to the limited angiographic resolution and acquisition frequency. The treatment of ulcerated plaques is an open discussion, due to the high heterogeneity and the lack of evidences that support particular strategies. Therefore, the therapeutic decision should follow a detailed investigation with angiography and intravascular imaging, such as optical coherence tomography (OCT), to locate the lesion, besides its geometric features and the lumen occlusion severity. The aim of this study is the application of a framework for the in-silico analysis of the disrupted hemodynamics due to an ulcerated lesion. The study employed a validated OCT-based reconstruction methodology and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations for the computation of local hemodynamic quantities, such as wall shear stress. The reported findings, such as disrupted pre-operative flow conditions, proved the applicability of the developed framework for CFD analyses on complicated patient-specific anatomies that feature ulcerated plaques. The prediction of lesion expansion and the clinical decision making can benefit from a reliable computation of wall shear stress distributions that result from the peculiar anatomy of the lesion. The application of intravascular OCT imaging, high fidelity 3D reconstructions and CFD simulations might guide the treatment of such pathology.

Purpose. The study examines the role of accounting in the enactment of the Napoleonic imperial project in Tuscany and the Kingdom of Naples in the early 19th century. Design/methodology/approach. The study adopts the Foucauldian theoretical framework of governmentality and a comparative approach to highlight similarities and differences between the two regions. Findings. The presence of different cultural understandings and structures of power meant that in Tuscany accounting mirrored and reinforced the existing power structure, whereas in the Kingdom of Naples accounting practices were constitutive of power relations and acted as a compensatory mechanism. In the Kingdom of Naples, where local elites had been traditionally involved in ruling municipalities, control of accounting information and the use of resources ‘re-adjusted’ the balance of power in favour of the French whilst letting local population believe that Napoleon was respectful of local customs. Research implications. The ability of accounting technologies to act as compensatory mechanisms within governmentality systems paves the way to further investigations about the relationships between accounting and other governmentality technologies as well as the adjustment mechanisms leading to accounting resilience in different contexts. Social implications. By identifying accounting as an adaptive instrument supporting less obvious practices of domination the study helps unmask a hidden mechanism underlying attempts to know, govern and control populations which still characterises modern forms of imperialism. Originality/value. The comparative perspective leads to a new specification of the multifaceted roles that accounting plays in different cultural and political contexts in the achievement of the same set of imperial goals and enhances understanding of the translation of politics, rhetoric and power into a set of administrative tasks and calculative practices.

We present an application of a validated reconstruction methodology for the comparison between patient-specific hemodynamics and neo-intimal thickening at nine months from the intervention. (1) Background: Coronary bifurcation stenting alters the vessel geometry, influencing the local hemodynamics. The evaluation of wall shear stress (WSS) relies on the application of computational fluid dynamics to model its distribution along the coronary tree. The endothelium actively responds to WSS, which triggers eventual cell proliferation to cover the stent struts. (2) Methods: Baseline optical coherence tomography and angiographic data were combined to reconstruct a patient-specific coronary bifurcation with an implanted bioresorbable scaffold and to simulate the hemodynamics. Results were linked with the neo-intimal thickening after nine months from the intervention. (3) Results: Blood velocity patterns were disrupted at the bifurcation due to the presence of the stent. It was observed that 55.6% of the scaffolded lumen surface was exposed to values of time-averaged WSS lower than 0.4 Pa. Follow-up images showed a luminal narrowing of 19% in the main branch. There was also a complete coverage in 99% of struts. (4) Conclusions: This approach provided valuable complementary information that might improve the clinical outcomes in this subset of coronary diseases.

ENEA and Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) are collaborating on the development of a four barrel, two-stage pneumatic injector for the Ignitor experiment, featuring two innovative concepts: (i) the proper shaping of the propellant pressure pulse to improve pellet acceleration, and (ii) the use of fast closing (< 10 ms) valves to drastically reduce the expansion volumes of the propellant gas removal system. Two independent sub-systems have been built and tested separately by ENEA and ORNL. The ENEA equipment has then been shipped to Oak Ridge, where testing of the two coupled systems have started during the last year. The results of the first two short experimental campaigns, jointly carried out by ENEA and ORNL teams (May 12-16 and December 15-19 2008), as well as the latest advancement of this project will be reported.

ENEA and Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) are collaborating on the development of a four barrel, two-stage pneumatic injector for the Ignitor experiment, featuring two innovative concepts: (i) the proper shaping of the propellant pressure pulse to improve pellet acceleration, and (ii) the use of fast closing (< 10 ms) valves to drastically reduce the expansion volumes of the propellant gas removal system. Two independent sub-systems have been built and tested separately by ENEA and ORNL. The ENEA equipment has then been shipped to Oak Ridge, where testing of the two coupled systems have started during the last year. The results of the first two short experimental campaigns, jointly carried out by ENEA and ORNL teams (May 12-16 and December 15-19 2008), as well as the latest advancement of this project will be reported.