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My PhD project was intended, throughout the selection of probiotics from human milk and healthy vaginal environment, for the development of tailored fermented foods. According to this aim, several activities were carried out. The first one, concerning the isolation of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium strains from human milk to find new probiotic candidates to be included in food products showed promising results. Probiotics have been also proposed to improve female genital health and microbial strains isolated and connected with healthy vaginal ecosystem could be used to prevent or treat vaginal dysbiosis. In this context vaginal lactobacilli previously characterized for their technological features and antagonistic activity against several female uro-genital pathogens were investigated for their metabolic aptitude and additional probiotic features, showing interesting results hypothesizing their inclusion in foods. In addition, in order to preserve vaginal strains viability during food processing/digestion it was also evaluated the potential of microencapsulation by spray-drying. In this framework the results obtained were highly promising from the perspective of using encapsulated powders in food formulations. Another activity connected with the main idea to develop a food strategy for the administration of these vaginal strains was carried out. Lactobacillus crispatus BC4, was supplemented in a Squacquerone cheese, and its digestive fate was evaluated adopting SHIME® system. The results showed that during colonic fermentation, L. crispatus BC4 was metabolically active. Additionally, although probiotic delivery to humans has traditionally been associated with fermented dairy foods, recently the demand for non-dairy-alternatives as potential probiotics carrier is increasing. In this framework, my latest activity was connected with the development of fermented soy milks with encapsulated and non-encapsulated L. crispatus BC4 and L. gasseri BC9. The same fermented soy milks were also investigated for their nutritional qualities and after in vitro digestion for their specific functionality on post-menopausal fecal microbiota and protein bioaccessibility.

BACKGROUND: HEV-3 and HEV-4 are emerging cause of zoonotic acute hepatitis in high-income countries. In Europe the disease is underdiagnosed but hyperendemic areas have been identified. We describe a population with acute non-ABC (n-ABC) hepatitis in Abruzzo, the Italian region with the highest seroprevalence reported. The study was included in the surveillance of acute hepatitis E by the Italian Institute of Public Health started in 2004 and implemented in 2015. METHODS: Patients with n-ABC hepatitis during 2004–2018 in all Abruzzo Infectious Disease Departments were tested for HEV-IgM (Wantai(®)) and HEV-RNA (ORF3). Positive samples were sequenced (Beckman Coulter(®)) and phylogenetic tree (MEGA 6.06 software) obtained. Clinical data were retrospectively collected and an alimentary risk factors-questionnaire was administered. Categorical and quantitative variables were compared (Chi square test or Fisher test and Wilcoxon test). RESULTS: 97 hospitalized patients were tested, most cases (91.7%) after 2015. Overall, HEV-IgM resulted positive in 36% and HEV-RNA detectable in 33.3%. All 24 sequences obtained were HEV-3, with two small groups of closely related strands. L’Aquila was the Province with higher positivity rate (44%). Retrospective clinical data were acquired in 86.5% of patients, no one having liver failure. Higher ALT-levels (1282.34 vs 893.25, p=0.0139) and extrahepatic symptoms (OR 16.69, p=0.0018) were strongly associated with HEV-IgM presence. Two small outbreaks are described. CONCLUSIONS: More than one third of n-ABC hepatitis in all Abruzzo are HEV-related. Extrahepatic symptoms correlate with HEV aetiology. Implementing surveillance is mandatory to really understand the extent of the disease.

PurposeFactors such as stakeholder requirements, emergence of exponential technologies, global business operations and pressures for sustainability increase the complexity of modern projects. This article aims to contribute by developing a systems view of project elements and relations among the same.Design/methodology/approachThe article is based on a design science process and uses business management, project management and the system dynamics literature to support the construction of a conceptual framework, which is preliminary validated using practitioner feedback.FindingsThe project management model includes: (a) a systems view of a project in terms of 5 subsystems, 9 components and 27 dimensions; (b) a flow diagram showing 11 key relations among project attributes and (c) a discussion of ten system archetypes which can be identified in the management of a project.Research limitations/implicationsWhereas the application of systems thinking in project management has been mostly addressed to build system dynamics tools, this article advances the discussion by providing a framework useful to support theory development and contextual knowledge construction in project management activities.Practical implicationsThe article provides (project) managers with an articulated project management model and insights to address the complexity of modern project activities.Originality/valueThe main value of the research stays in the integrative nature of the presented framework, along with its twofold focus on components and flows (dynamic view).

The affirmation of open innovation and collaborative systems is enabling unprecedented opportunities to create business value while facilitating multistakeholder conversation on sustainability issues. In particular, platform-based models are emerging as organization archetypes able to facilitate cooperative dynamics among industrial actors, policy makers, academicians, scientists, and citizens. In this article, we use interdisciplinary business management and collaborative innovation literature to build the conceptual framework of a multisided platform as a collaboration environment gathering actors willing to define responses to sustainable development challenges. We present five dimensions or “genes,” that is, the focus and strategic intent or orientation of the platform (what), the participating sides, actors and groups (who), the actions, flows and coordination mechanisms (how), and the value drivers, benefits and externalities (why), and the rules regulating the affiliation and interaction processes (governance). We also present and discuss 30 subtopics or management items that are associated with the five dimensions defined. We then apply the conceptual model to analyze a case in the climate change endeavor and to show how competitive and cooperative dynamics can be virtuously integrated to provide individual- and company-driven responses to a timely socioenvironmental issue. The article provides a new perspective on collaboration to enhance social development, and it offers theoretical and practitioner insights for a broad interdisciplinary audience including scholars, practitioners, business, and platform managers.

The execution of effective responses during a large-scale emergency requires gathering appropriate information and implementing priority assessment processes. In particular, the design of comprehensive and multi-dimensional evaluation methods is crucial, especially in countries characterized by the presence of multiple levels of authority and regional governance. In this article, we illustrate the development of a structured method that was used to support emergency decisions during the COVID-19 emergency in Brazil. We applied a design science roadmap in order to produce an artifact development process, based on extensive expert involvement and multiple sources, to identify the core requirements and information needs at healthcare management and governance levels. This study provides an assessment matrix and measurement scale based on twenty indicators and five key criteria (i.e., gravity, urgency, trend, amplitude, and impact). The study provides an evidence-based method for assessing the emergency status of, and defining recommendations for, operators and policymakers. This method can be adopted for other emergency management scenarios and contexts in order to support the analysis and implementation of responses; this has a specific relevance for multi-level governance contexts.

Total cost management (TCM) has developed as a systematic approach to managing resources, costs, profitability, and risks throughout the lifecycle of any enterprise, program, facility, project, product or service. However, a number of trends are today creating a new socio-technical scenario, characterized by increasing volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity (VUCA), which is affecting the strategic scope and applicative dimensions of TCM. A logic of sustainability and multi-stakeholder value is increasingly required to account for the competing and multi-dimensional needs of customers, employees, partners, and large stakeholder ecosystems. This article presents a review of cross-disciplinary literature and the use of authors’ engagement and consolidated expertise in the field to drive a group model building process aimed to design a conceptual framework and a research manifesto for the evolving TCM discipline. The study provides a classification of nine major trends and evaluates the impact of those trends on a number of TCM dimensions. Next, a research agenda is showed, including nine trajectories for scholars and practitioners engaged to support the evolution of TCM towards a new idea of systemic value management (SVM). The study advances the current knowledge on value-based and sustainable approaches to management and offers to experts and practitioners a basis to implement innovative development projects in the field of TCM.

The strategic relevance of innovation and scientific research has amplified the attention towards the definition of quality in research practice. However, despite the proliferation of evaluation metrics and procedures, there is a need to go beyond bibliometric approaches and to identify, more explicitly, what constitutes good research and which are its driving factors or determinants. This article reviews specialized research policy, science policy and scientometrics literature to extract critical dimensions associated with research quality as presented in a vast although fragmented theory background. A literature-derived framework of research quality attributes is, thus, obtained, which is subject to an expert feedback process, involving scholars and practitioners in the fields of research policy and evaluation. The results are represented by a structured taxonomy of 66 quality attributes providing a systemic definition of research quality. The attributes are aggregated into a three-dimensional framework encompassing research design (ex ante), research process (in-process) and research impact (ex post) perspectives. The main value of the study is to propose a literature-derived and comprehensive inventory of quality attributes and perspectives of evaluation. The findings can support further theoretical developments and research policy discussions on the ultimate drivers of quality and impact of scientific research. The framework can be also useful to design new exercises or procedures of research evaluation based on a multidimensional view of quality.

Purpose Crowdfunding (CF) is a fast-developing and multifaceted phenomenon at the intersection of entrepreneurship, technology, finance and sociology. Although it is an alternative way to fund innovative projects using the internet, CF can provide great value other than money. Nevertheless, only few studies have been conducted to shed light on such additional benefits. The purpose of this paper is to present an integrative model of benefits of CF for the successful undertaking and sustainability of an entrepreneurial initiative. Design/methodology/approach Based on a systematic review of literature, a preliminary taxonomy is first identified. Industry experts, campaign creators and the analysis of real cases are then used to progressively build a model of 11 areas and 85 categories of benefits deriving from CF. Findings The paper presents a comprehensive model of benefits of CF for the project, the start-up and the creator related to the following aspects: viability, costs, customer, demand, distribution, employees, fund, strategy, market, partners, personal, product. Research limitations/implications The study does not distinguish among different forms of CF. Besides, only benefits are studied whereas potential drawbacks and challenges are not considered. Further research is thus needed to complement the framework along such two additional areas of investigation. Originality/value The theoretical framework is an exhaustive snapshot of the benefits of a CF campaign and it can thus be assumed as a starting point for future and empirical studies. Moreover, the paper can support platforms managers in the design of values-added tools aimed to improve attractiveness and project creators in campaign design and management.

Agility is today a key dimension of organisational excellence as it encompasses the aptitude to successfully respond to changes in the surrounding environment. Although existing research has investigated specific perspectives of organisational agility, an integrative framework is yet to be introduced in literature. This article aims to address this gap by presenting a conceptual model that encapsulates various dimensions critical to the development of agility within organisations. An extended review of literature is used to identify agility-related concepts, and a design science approach is adopted to build the framework. Three macro-areas are described in terms of 7 propositions and dimensions and 30 items concerned with an agility development initiative. The main value of the article is to provide a holistic view of agility and a number of interdisciplinary perspectives into a single representation framework. The model can also support managers involved into the execution of agility development initiatives.

The management of human resources is today significantly impacted by the emergence of the global workforce and the increasing relevance of business analytics as a strategic organizational capability. Whereas human resources analytics has been largely discussed in literature in the last decade, a systematic identification and classification of key topics is yet to be introduced. In particular, there is room for conceptual contributions aiming to provide a comprehensive definition of concepts and investigation areas related to HR analytics. Using a systematic literature review process, we deconstruct the concept of human resources analytics as presented in a vast although fragmented literature, and we identify 106 key research topics associated to three major areas, i.e. enablers of HR analytics (technological and organizational), applications (descriptive and diagnostic/prescriptive), and value (employee value and organizational value). We also speculate on an “exponential” view of HR analytics enabled by the affirmation of artificial intelligence and cognitive technologies. The article provides a large systematization effort and a research agenda for developing further studies in the field of HR analytics. By a practitioner perspective, the study offers insights to support the design of innovative analytics projects within organizations.

Highlights • COVID-19 emergency forced the Italian Universities to reorganize teaching in entrepreneurship education. • Digital technologies can support the development of entrepreneurial mindset. • Building an entrepreneurship education curriculum through distance learning technologies is critical. • Digital technologies can enhance successfully education ‘about’ entrepreneurship. • Digital technologies present some critical issue when used in educating students ‘for’ entrepreneurship. • CLab@Salento offered a favourable environment to experiment the use of digital tools for the creation of entrepreneurial mindset using a blended learning approach., The COVID-19 crisis has forced universities worldwide to seek urgent solutions to reconfigure traditional education programs for distance learning. The transformation process faces a number of complexities deriving from both institutional and contextual factors. It may generate threats and as well as opportunities to enhance the education system and prepare for potential future emergencies. In this article, we adopted a combined research approach to describe the experience of the Contamination Lab of the University of Salento (CLab@Salento), an entrepreneurship education program focused on innovative and technology-based entrepreneurship for university students. Moving from the analysis of the main challenges the pandemic generated for the institution, students and faculty, we illustrate the process of redesigning the entrepreneurial learning program by leveraging digital technologies. We show a new approach to entrepreneurial storytelling, pitching and business planning and development through digital technologies. We also report the outcomes of a student survey to highlight the strengths of the redesigned program and some weaknesses, especially associated with digital technologies’ limitations in education, which represent areas for future improvement. The study contributes at theory level with a new discussion on digital-supported entrepreneurship education. At practitioner level, it offers insights on redesigning traditional university programs to effectively address emergencies.

Although exponential technologies promise to bring unprecedented value at the socio-economic and policy levels, the social acceptability and preparedness for the technological “singularity” should be carefully considered. In particular, whereas digital innovation is able to drive an extraordinary development of entrepreneurial ventures, a number of challenging issues and the ongoing pandemic crisis have increased the need to investigate how technological breakthrough and human capital can be effectively combined in order to build resilient socio-technical and entrepreneurial ecosystems. This paper offers a synopsis of the major investigation areas and a reflection on the themes associated with the emergence of a digital society and the affirmation of digital entrepreneurship ecosystems. The research process follows a systematic literature review and a conceptual development approach aimed to introduce both the concept and a model of the digital society “incubator”. The proposed model identifies the actors, values, flows, and processes that are required to support the construction of a resilient entrepreneurial ecosystem. In this perspective, the study proposes a new focus by hybridizing and integrating both entrepreneurial and technology-related dimensions into a single unifying model. The study also lays the groundwork for further studies aimed at identifying the environmental and institutional factors required to support a smooth and effective transition towards a resilient entrepreneurial and technology-driven society.

Digital transformation is driving the emergence of a new breed of organisations able to scale quickly, innovate throughout their processes, and lead industries and markets. In particular, the increasing adoption of cognitive technologies, like artificial intelligence, advanced analytics, high-performing computing and cyber-physical systems, allow organisations to create new value based on increased reactivity and resilience, situational awareness, agility and operational excellence. Although the idea of cognitive enterprise is rapidly emerging in the practitioner discussion, a theoretical framing of the concept is still not present in literature. We conduct a systematic review of extant contributions and we extract elements related to two key dimensions represented by the cognitive technological infrastructure (i.e. technologies and data) and the cognitive organizational architecture (i.e. processes and capabilities). We use the outcomes of the review work to define: (a) the pillars of the cognitive enterprise; (b) a framework of cognitive maturity stages; and (c) the enhanced value creation capabilities of the cognitive enterprise. The article provides a literature-derived definition of the cognitive enterprise and guidelines to support managers in the cognitive transformation of their organisations.

Purpose The generation of new ventures within established companies, also known as corporate entrepreneurship (CE), is a process influenced by a set of individual and organizational factors. This paper aims to focus on creativity and human resource management enablers of CE, with the purpose to define an integrative framework and draw a set of related research propositions. Design/methodology/approach The paper relies on a multidisciplinary literature review in the fields of CE, creativity and organizational innovation. Findings The effectiveness of CE depends on a set of individual factors, distinguished into professional and psychological characteristics, and organizational factors, which include the system of values of the organization and the management practices applied in the same. Research limitations/implications From a theoretical point of view, the paper develops an integrative framework of conditions that impact on CE and outlines a set of propositions and alternative research methods to test. Practical/implications From a practitioner perspective, the study provides managers with a comprehensive set of factors enabling CE by leveraging the creativity of individuals and make it flourish through consistent human resource management practices. Originality/value The value of the paper stays in the integration of individual-related and organizational-related determinants of entrepreneurial performance.

Digital technologies have nowadays a significant impact on how new business ventures are imagined and created. The arising technology paradigm is leveraging the potential of collaboration and collective intelligence to design and launch more robust and sustainable entrepreneurial initiatives. However, although the topic of digital entrepreneurship is relevant and timely, there is a limited literature discussion on the real impact of digital technologies and collaboration on the entrepreneurial process. Further research is needed to describe the nature and characteristics of the entrepreneurial ecosystem enabled by the new socio-technical paradigm. Based on extant literature, this article proposes a definition of digital entrepreneurship ecosystem by highlighting the integrated digital-output and digital-environment perspectives. A collective intelligence approach is then adopted to define a descriptive framework and identify the distinguishing genes of a digital entrepreneurship ecosystem. Four dimensions associated to digital actors (who), digital activities (what), digital motivations (why), and digital organization (how) are defined and discussed. The framework was also applied to describe 9 real cases of companies and initiatives, which are analyzed as digital entrepreneurship ecosystems along the four key dimensions presented. The article ends with a discussion about the results and a research agenda for future studies.