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We exploit the natural experimental setting provided by the Covid-19 lockdown to analyse how performance is affected by a friendly audience. Specifically, we use data on all football matches in the top-level competitions across France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom over the 2019/2020 season. We compare the difference between the number of points gained by teams playing at home and teams competing away before the Covid-19 outbreak, when supporters could attend any match, with the same difference after the lockdown, when all matches took place behind closed doors. We find that the performance of the home team is halved when stadiums are empty. Further analyses indicate that offensive (defensive) actions taken by the home team are drastically reduced (increased) once games are played behind closed doors. Referees are affected too, as they change their behaviour in games without spectators. Finally, the home advantage is entirely driven by teams that do not have international experience. Taken together, our findings corroborate the hypothesis that social pressure influences individual behaviour.

We rely on a periodic public opinion poll indicator of the performance of mayors collected for 103 large cities in Italy and in three waves (2015, 2017, and 2020) to examine whether and to what extent the exogenous shift in policy-making decisions induced by the COVID-19 pandemic has affected citizens' perceptions regarding attributions of responsibility. We leverage the variation in political alignment between central and local governments and implement a difference-in-differences research design, finding that when decisions are fully centralised (during the lockdown), voter approval for the mayor of an aligned city decreases by around 7%. Further analyses suggest that our results are more marked (i) during pre-electoral years and (ii) in cities with a lower level of social capital. Lastly, we document that the decrease in the approval ratings of aligned mayors is entirely guided by cities not severely hit by the pandemic, thereby reflecting a sense of ‘discontent’ in these areas for the policy decisions adopted by the central government to tackle the pandemic.

We explore the relation between immigration, crime, and local government spending on security in Italian municipalities. We find that immigration increases the share of public resources devoted to police protection, particularly when migrants are culturally distant from the native population. We uncover a misalignment between perception and reality, as immigration is associated to fear of future crimes rather than the actual probability of being victim of a crime. We also demonstrate that immigration from culturally distant societies corresponds to a deterioration in civic cooperation and interpersonal trust, which can affect perceptions of safety and the demand for police services.

We use hand-collected data on penalty kicks in the top-level football competitions across France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom over the 2019/2020 season to analyse how social environment affects the performance of individuals. We exploit the Covid-19 outbreak to induce a plausible source of variation in the supporters’ attendance. We find that for home teams the probability of missing a penalty increases when matches are forced to be played behind closed doors, while visiting teams are less likely to choke on a penalty kick, with these effects being more pronounced when the level of attendance (measured before the pandemic) was high. Taken together, these findings indicate that not only a supportive audience, but also the size of the support plays a key role for success of skill tasks.

Background: Exposure to hypothermia is somehow unavoidable when a baby comes to life. This is the reason why any possible effort should be made by every caregiver involved during birth, from labour to transfer into the maternity ward, to reduce it. Hypothermia has widely shown to be related to several neonatal problems, and the risks are more relevant when the babies are born prematurely. Method: An observational study was conducted in April 2016 to assess the current practises to avoid hypothermia at birth in 20 Italian neonatal units. Each unit introduced local improvements in clinical practice and the same observational study was repeated 1 year later. Results: A total of 4722 babies were analysed. An overall increase in adherence to local and international recommendations emerged from our study. Significant differences between 2016 and 2017 were found in regard to neonatal temperature at nursery entry (36.3 °C vs 36.5 °C, respectively, p < 0.0001), delayed cord clamping practice > 60′′ (48.1% vs 68.1%, respectively, p < 0.0001) and skin-to-skin practice > 60′ (56.3% vs 60.9, respectively, p = 0.03). Statistical correlations with the risk of hypothermia were found for delivery room (OR 0.88 (CI 95%0.83-0.94), p < 0.0001) and maternal temperature (OR 0.57 (CI 95% 0.48-0.67), p < 0.0001). Conclusion: Periodical assessment of the delivery room practice has shown to be effective in improving adherence to the international recommendations. Relationship between neonatal hypothermia and several other variables including the delivery room and mother temperature underlines how neonatal thermoregulation starts immediately after birth. Hence, a multi-disciplinary approach is needed to provide the optimal environment for a safe birth.

This study investigated the long-term outcomes of patients treated with open surgical repair for complex abdominal aortic aneurysms (c-AAAs). A total of 119 patients with c-AAAs undergoing repair between January 2010 and June 2016 in a high-volume aortic center were included. The long-term imaging follow-up consisted of yearly abdominal ultrasound examinations and 5-year computed tomography angiography. At a median follow-up of 76 months (IQR 38 months), forty-three deaths (37%) and three (2.5%) aortic-related deaths were observed. Long-term chronic renal decline was observed in fifty (43.8%) patients, significantly correlated with post-operative acute kidney injury. During the follow-up, five reinterventions (4.3%) were performed. The present study suggests that open c-AAA repair can be performed with acceptable operative risk with durable results. To achieve the best possible long-term outcome, the open surgery repair of complex AAA should be performed in high-volume aortic centers and tailored to the patient.

To control the reproduction rate, R, and therefore to fight against the Covid-19 pandemic, countries have announced several measures. We rely on a quasi-natural experimental approach and provide graphical evidence of the effectiveness of the widespread use of swabs testing in reducing the Covid infection rate among Italian provinces.

Outstanding payments in commercial transactions, if delayed beyond the agreed period of time, can engender a range of negative externalities and expose firms to severe liquidity risks. In this study we examine to what extent stricter regulations addressing payment backlogs, brought about by the EU directive on late payments, have affected firms’ performance. We focus on government-to-business activities and on the firms’ responses to the introduction of these regulations. Our evidence suggests that firms’ exit rates fall relatively more in sectors that sell a larger fraction of their output to the government. We document more pronounced effects in sectors with a large share of small firms, for countries characterized by longer payment delays, and for countries with high levels of perceived corruption. Taken together, our findings indicate that more discipline in gov-ernments’ payment terms can have considerable effects on economic activity.

We show that the introduction of the procurement centralization within the regional healthcare systems in Italy reduced per capita health expenditure approximatelyt by 2–8%, without affecting the level of health-related public services. Our results also indicate that the effect is persistent after six years, and is not influenced by the coexistence of other organizational models, such as amalgamation and hybrid systems. Finally, we document that the reduction in public expenditure is effective only in areas characterized by poor quality of institutions, indicating that procurement centralization might be an effective tool to reduce corruption-related inefficiencies in the health sector.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate early and late results of hybrid repair techniques for Kommerell's diverticulum (KD). Methods: All patients who underwent hybrid repair (thoracic endovascular aortic repair + supra-aortic debranching) for KD between 2009 and 2018 were included in this retrospective multicenter study (three Italian centers). A proximal landing zone (PLZ) of at least 2 cm of healthy aorta was considered adequate for the deployment of a standard thoracic stent graft. The early end points were technical success, in-hospital mortality, and cerebrovascular events. Late outcomes included survival, reintervention, and patency of supra-aortic debranching. We used an embryogenetic anomaly based aortic arch classification for PLZ evaluation to identify the most appropriate hybrid adjunct. Results: Sixteen patients with KD were included. According to the aforementioned classification, stent graft deployment was required in six patients (37.5%) in PLZ 0, nine patients (56.3%) in PLZ 1, and one patient (6.3%) in PLZ 2. Technical success was achieved in all patients. One patient (6.3%) died in the hospital because of posterior cerebral hemorrhage after total debranching (PLZ 0). No further cerebrovascular events were observed. One patient (6.3%) had an asymptomatic left subclavian artery-right left subclavian artery bypass occlusion and required early reintervention. The 30-day secondary patency of supra-aortic debranching was 100%. Two type II endoleaks (12.5%) were detected at 1 month through computed tomography angiography. Further transient complications were found in three cases: hemidiaphragm paralysis in one patient and recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis in two patients. At a mean follow-up of 48 months, four patients had died because of nonaortic reasons, and one RCCA-right subclavian artery bypass had lost its patency. None of the patients reported any growth of KD after hybrid repair. Ten patients (62.5%) showed aneurysmal sac shrinkage o

We explore the relation between immigration, crime and local government spending on security in Italian municipalities. We find that immigration increases the share of public resources devoted to police protection, particularly when migrants are culturally distant from the native population. We uncover a misalignment between perception and reality, as immigration increases fear of future crimes rather than the actual probability of being victim of a crime. We also demonstrate that immigration from culturally distant societies is associated with a deterioration in civic cooperation and interpersonal trust, which can affect perceptions of safety and the demand for police services.

Questo articolo vuole essere una riflessione, un’analisi e una restituzione al lettore del percorso di ideazione e realizzazione di una campagna di comunicazione contro la violenza di genere. Il progetto è maturato nel Centro di ricerca interuniversitario “Culture di Genere” di Milano e ha impiegato una metodologia innovativa. Un gruppo di studenti universitari, precedentemente formato, ha svolto il lavo- ro creativo per le campagne di sensibilizzazione strutturando una campagna in cui il linguaggio è risultato completamente interno alla subcultura di riferimento. Non solo poiché il segmento sociale a cui appartenevano i produttori della comunicazione era infatti omogeneo per stili di vita, credenze e/o visione del mondo al segmento sociale e culturale del target della campagna, bensì anche perché si sono ispirati a racconti di violenze esperite da altri studenti e studentesse degli atenei milanesi. Un ulteriore elemento di solida novità riguarda la ricerca field effettuata con le tecniche del neuromarketing su un campione rappresentativo dell’universo di riferimento.

Connective tissue disease (CTD) represents a group of genetic conditions characterized by disruptive matrix remodeling. When this process involves aortic and vascular wall, patients with CTD have a high risk of developing arterial aneurysms, dissections and ruptures. Open surgical repair is still the gold standard therapy for patients with CTD with reasonable morbidity and mortality risk. The surgical treatment of CTD often requires multiple operations. In the endovascular era, fenestrated and branched stent grafts may play a role in reducing the complications of multiple open operations. Although the long-term results of endovascular treatment in the setting of CTD are unknown, it is generally accepted that endovascular treatment is restricted to selected patients with high surgical risk. In an emergency setting, endovascular intervention can serve as a lifesaving bridge to elective open aortic repair. Aortic centers performing a large volume of complex open and endovascular aortic repairs have started to combine these two techniques in a staged fashion. The goal is to reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with extensive aortic repairs in CTD patients. For this reason, recommend endovascular therapy when a “graft-to-graft” approach is possible. In this scenario, the surgeon who performs the open repair must take into consideration future interventions. Surgical repair in any aortic segment should allow creation of proximal and distal landing zones over 4 cm to secure the sealing of a future stent graft. Connective tissue disease should be treated with a multidisciplinary approach, in high volume centers. Endovascular treatment represents a potential option in patients at high risk for open repair. Staged hybrid procedures have emerged as a way to reduce spinal cord ischemia and avoid multiple open surgeries. The aim of this article is to discuss the management of aortic diseases in CTD, focusing on to the role of standard open surgery and emerging endovascu

Chronic aortic dissecting aneurysms (TAAD) presenting after acute Stanford type A or B dissection includes both arch and/or thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms (TAAA). Approximately 60% of patients who survive surgical treatment of acute type A aortic dissections will require another aortic procedure. Similarly, more than 70% of patients with chronic type B aortic dissections will experience false lumen dilation at 5-year follow- up, often requiring intervention. Open or hybrid aortic repairs of complex TAAD involving the arch and the TAAA are very demanding procedures for both patients and clinicians. Open surgery remains the first line therapy in fit patients. Recent development of branched arch devices has offered an alternative option for high-risk patients. Technical challenges associated with the endovascular management of these complex aneurysms include proximal sealing zone often located in the aortic arch or the ascending aorta, narrow true lumen working space, and aortic branch perfusion by either the true or false lumen, or both. Recent studies have reported encouraging results with endovascular treatment of these complex dissecting aneurysms, especially following open ascending aortic repair. The aim of this review was to describe the available strategies for arch repair in the setting of a chronic TAAD and to determine the subset of patients that can benefit from of a totally endovascular approach.

Il saggio analizza l'evoluzione della normativa in tema di reddito minimo garantito, illustrando le sperimentazioni che da ormai un ventennio il legislatore ha posto in essere nel nostro ordinamento, fino ad arrivare all'approfondimento delle proposte di legge, presentate nel corso della XVII legislatura in tema di cd. reddito di cittadinanza

Una teoria delle merci simboliche con analisi di casi

Il rapporto di ricerca raccoglie le elaborazioni prodotte ed i documenti di rendicontazione delle attività svolte come richiesto dall’incarico affidato ad Éupolis da parte di Regione Lombardia, DG Semplificazione e Digitalizzazione, DG Protezione Civile, Polizia Locale e Sicurezza e Funzione Specialistica Promozione del Territorio e Montagna. La parte introduttiva descrive il contesto normativo nazionale che ha introdotto l’obbligatorietà della gestione associata tra Comuni per l’esercizio delle funzioni fondamentali con approfondimento comparato sulle Regioni che hanno avviato un percorso normativo specifico. Le singole parti trattano i seguenti argomenti: Relazione di sintesi e di valutazione, relativa al triennio 2009/2011, sugli esiti delle gestioni associate incentivate ai sensi della L.r. 19/2008. I casi pilota: format di intervento, metodologia e strumenti. I casi pilota: modello analitico unitario per l’analisi preliminare e formulazione di proposte riorganizzative riutilizzabili dal complesso dei Comuni lombardi. Modello quantitativo di valutazione del valore prodotto dai processi aggregativi Elementi fondamentali di una convenzione tipo Proposta di mappatura del territorio regionale in ambiti territoriali omogenei per la definizione di GAO lombarde. Affiancamento tecnico operativo per la stesura di una relazione statistica della rilevazione SECoLo. Formazione dei funzionari dei Comuni in obbligo di gestione associata. Documento di sintesi sui vantaggi GAO. Le Comunità montane lombarde: impatti sulla GAO e analisi dei costi standard delle attività erogate. Documenti di analisi specifica dell’impatto delle GAO sui servizi di Polizia Locale.

Analisi critica dei processi di valorizzazione nell'economia postindustriale

Analisi dell'evoluzione dell'economia postindustriale verso i processi di valorizzazione simbolici delle merci, e delle conseguenze sul pianoe stetico