Showing papers by "Libera! published in 2017"

The Relationship between Defense Patterns and DSM-5 Maladaptive Personality Domains.

Abstract: Aim: Research has extensively examined the relationship between defense mechanisms (DM) and personality traits. However, no study to date has explored if specific defenses (alone or in combination) are able to predict dysfunctional variants of personality domains, as conceived in the alternative DSM-5 model for personality disorders. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between DMs and DSM-5 maladaptive personality domains among adults. Materials and Methods: Three hundred and twenty-eight adults aged between 18 and 64 years old completed measures on DMs and maladapive personality domains. Regression analyses were performed to determine which DMs predicted the maladaptive personality domains of negative affectivity, detachment, antagonism, disinhibition, and psychoticism. Results: According to psychoanalytic literature, results showed that immature defenses positively predicted maladaptive personality domain scores, whereas mature defenses were generally related with better personality functioning. Moreover, different defense patterns emerged as significant predictors of the maladaptive personality domains comprised in the alternative DSM-5 model for personality disorder. Discussion: Our findings support the view that defense patterns represent core components of personality and its disorders, and suggest that an increased use of immature defenses and a reduced use of mature defenses have a negative impact on the development of personality.

Social Consumer Neuroscience: Neurophysiological Measures of Advertising Effectiveness in a Social Context

Abstract: The application of neurophysiological methods to study the effects of advertising on consumer purchase behavior has seen an enormous growth in recent years. However, little is known about the role ...

Design of a Mobile App for Nutrition Education (TreC-LifeStyle) and Formative Evaluation With Families of Overweight Children

Abstract: Background: Nutrition and diet apps represent today a popular area of mobile health (mHealth), offering the possibility of delivering behavior change (BC) interventions for healthy eating and weight management in a scalable and cost-effective way. However, if commercial apps for pediatric weight management fail to retain users because of a lack of theoretical background and evidence-based content, mHealth apps that are more evidence-based are found less engaging and popular among consumers. Approaching the apps development process from a multidisciplinary and user-centered design (UCD) perspective is likely to help overcome these limitations, raising the chances for an easier adoption and integration of nutrition education apps within primary care interventions. Objective: The aim of this study was to describe the design and development of the TreC-LifeStyle nutrition education app and the results of a formative evaluation with families. Methods: The design of the nutrition education intervention was based on a multidisciplinary UCD approach, involving a team of BC experts, working with 2 nutritionists and 3 pediatricians from a primary care center. The app content was derived from evidence-based knowledge founded on the Food Pyramid and Mediterranean Diet guidelines used by pediatricians in primary care. A formative evaluation of the TreC-LifeStyle app involved 6 families of overweight children (aged 7-12 years) self-reporting daily food intake of children for 6 weeks and providing feedback on the user experience with the mHealth intervention. Analysis of the app’s usage patterns during the intervention and of participants’ feedback informed the refinement of the app design and a tuning of the nutrition education strategies to improve user engagement and compliance with the intervention. Results: Design sessions with the contribution of pediatricians and nutritionists helped define the nutrition education app and intervention, providing an effective human and virtual coaching approach to raise parents’ awareness about children’s eating behavior and lifestyle. The 6 families participating in the pilot study found the app usable and showed high compliance with the intervention over the 6 weeks, but analysis of their interaction and feedback showed the need for improving some of the app features related to the BC techniques “monitoring of the behavior” and “information provision.” Conclusions: The UCD and formative evaluation of TreC-LifeStyle show that nutrition education apps are feasible and acceptable solutions to support health promotion interventions in primary care. [JMIR Mhealth Uhealth 2017;5(4):e48]

Evading the Boomerang Effect: Using the Grant-Back Clause to Further Generative Appropriability from Technology Licensing Deals

Abstract: Technology licensing agreements potentially can create future appropriability problems Drawing on the appropriability literature, we argue that the inclusion of a grant-back clause in technology licensing agreements is an attempt to balance the gains from and protection of the focal firms’ technologies We hypothesize that the closer the licensed technology is to the licensor’s core patented technologies, the more likely the licensing agreement will include a grant-back clause, while the closer the licensed technology is to the licensee’s core patent portfolio, the less likely the agreement will include a grant-back clause We hypothesize also that technological uncertainty is a positive moderator in the decision to include a grant-back clause, if the licensed technology is close to either the licensee’s or the licensor’s core technologies We employ a hierarchical nested decision model to test the hypotheses on a sample of 397 licensed technologies This method allows us to model the choice to include a

Alexithymia and psychological symptomatology: research conducted on a non-clinical group of Italian adolescents

Abstract: Alexithymia can be considered as a defense mechanism against emotions associated with traumatic experiences that are perceived as too severe and traumatic. Due to the overwhelming nature of a traumatic event, there might be a rapid regression of affect to a pre-conceptual level of organization: so, the capacity to tolerate affect and the capacity to identify and verbalize feelings decrease. The aim of this cross-sectional study is to evaluate the trend of the correlation between psychological effects of possible childhood trauma and alexithymia in a non-clinical group of 389 Sicilian students (192 males and 197 females), aged 11–16 (M = 12.87; SD = 0.80), attending middle and secondary schools. The following instruments were used: 20-Item Toronto Alexithymia Scale and Trauma Symptom Checklist for Children. Correlation analyses seem to support the hypothesis of a relation between age and the following scales: anger, overt dissociation, sexual concerns and preoccupation; and the presence of correlat...

The Interaction of Control Systems and Stakeholder Networks in Shaping the Identities of Self-Managed Teams:

Abstract: Interaction of control systems and stakeholder networks in shaping the identities of self-managed teams

Psychodynamics of the Sexual Assistance for Individuals with Disability

Abstract: This article aims at analyzing the issue of in individuals with disability (subjects with physical and/or mental disabilities) and the new professional figure of the sexual assistant, already accepted and adopted in some parts of Europe The sexual assistant as a professional figure has been raising many moral and practical dilemmas and additionally is a controversial figure A service, which can offer to these particular subjects, the possibility to explore their sexuality raises many questions concerning the social, legal and moral issues, which may or may not legitimize the adoption of this practice Moreover it can be difficult to disentangle all the complexities and issues that may be created by this professional figure Beyond the problems that such an approach undoubtedly raises, it is a fact that the sexuality of people with disabilities is often neglected or denied This new professional figure has the merit to underline and highlight the problem

The viable decision maker for CAS survival: how to change and adapt through fitting process

Abstract: Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the decision-making process in the management of the complex adaptive systems (CAS), particularly focusing on the dimensions that affect the individual decision maker (DM) when passing from decision to behavior in fitting processes. Although the importance of the general process of fitting in terms of organizational design has been highlighted in earlier studies, a closer focus on the DM perspective is required. Design/methodology/approach Starting from the theoretical frameworks of viable systems approach (vSa) and addressing the evolving concepts of change and adaptation in CAS, the work takes the DM perspective and investigates the dimensions involved in the paths that lead complex decisions into behaviors, when referring to fitting processes. The paper reviews the vSa and the concept of CAS, deepening the decision making in fitting processes. Then, the paper proceeds to discuss the schemes and the categories that affect, at different levels, the decision and behavioral choices by proposing an interpretative framework. Findings The paper proposes a general framework useful to recognize/identify which are the elements/dimensions that have to be considered when organizations change in pursuing survival. The findings of the paper also show how adopting a vSa as a meta-model can be insightful to the understanding of service systems and useful in fully comprehending decision-making processes and behavior in complex adaptive system. Originality/value The originality of this paper lies in exploring the decision making process in CAS, adopting a closer perspective on the single DM through the lens of the vSa.

The Administrative Board of Review of the European Central Bank: Experience After 2 Years

Abstract: This article examines the administrative remedy provided by the Administrative Board of Review (ABoR) of the European Central Bank (ECB), as part of the broader issue of the right of defence of natural and legal persons vis-a-vis ECB supervisory decisions within the Single Supervisory Mechanism (SSM). After presenting an overview of the review panels established in the financial sector in the EU, the article describes the experience with the ABoR by analysing its composition, its mandate and scope of review, the main procedural aspects and the relationship with judicial proceedings before the European Court of Justice. Particular attention is given to the substantial issues dealt with by the ABoR in its Opinions and to some of the major challenges faced in the first 2 years of practice. Among them is the assessment of the correct application of national laws implementing EU legislation by the ECB. The paper identifies two aspects giving particular cause for concern and requiring legislative reforms: (1) the assessment of the suitability of the members of management bodies (fit and proper assessment) and (2) the inclusion of bank holding companies within the scope of banking supervision.

Physiological effects of high-altitude trekking on gonadal, thyroid hormones and macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) responses in young lowlander women

Abstract: Altitude hypoxia is often associated with impairment of human reproduction. In this study, hormones and macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF, a proinflammatory cytokine with key roles in human reproduction) were determined in seven regularly menstruating, lowlander native women living at sea level participating in 14 days of trekking at moderate and high altitude. Blood and saliva samples were collected from each subject at high altitude (5050 m a.s.l. [above sea level]), and at sea level before and after the expedition. Testosterone level was lowered by high altitude and was restored after the end of the expedition, while progesterone decreased significantly in all participants at the end of the expedition, although most of the participants were in the luteal phase. The salivary concentration of MIF decreased greatly at altitude, but its levels were completely restored after the return to sea level. Our findings showed high sensitivity and rapid changes in the determined parameters in response to the high-altitude hypoxic environment, particularly MIF.

Entrepreneurial Crowdfunding without Private Claims

Abstract: For a wide class of crowdfunding approaches, we argue that the reward structure (for funders) is closer to that of charitable donations to public goods than it is to traditional entrepreneurial finance. Many features of the design of crowdfunding platforms can therefore be understood as attempts to deal with attendant “free-rider” problems in motivating contributions. Reviewing institutional features of today’s crowdfunding, we clarify that there are often limits in the extent to which tangible rewards can be used to motivate contributions. Drawing on analogies with charitable donations, we theorize that intangible sources of motivation — (i) direct psychological rewards, (ii) reciprocity and (iii) social interactions — can play a role in entrepreneurial crowdfunding. In our detailed empirical analysis of a representative project we find abundant evidence consistent with this characterization and we proceed to discuss implications for platform design and entrepreneurial funding and unique and defining characteristics of crowdfunding.

Does the General Strain Theory Explain Gambling and Substance Use

Abstract: General Strain Theory (GST: Agnew Criminology 30:47-87, 1992) posits that deviant behaviour results from adaptation to strain and the consequent negative emotions. Empirical research on GST has mainly focused on aggressive behaviours, while only few research studies have considered alternative manifestations of deviance, like substance use and gambling. The aim of the present study is to test the ability of GST to explain gambling behaviours and substance use. Also, the role of family in promoting the adoption of gambling and substance use as coping strategies was verified. Data from 266 families with in mean 8 observations for each group were collected. The multilevel nature of the data was verified before appropriate model construction. The clustered nature of gambling data was analysed by a two-level Hierarchical Linear Model while substance use was analysed by Multivariate Linear Model. Results confirmed the effect of strain on gambling and substance use while the positive effect of depressive emotions on these behaviours was not supported. Also, the impact of family on the individual tendency to engage in addictive behaviours was confirmed only for gambling.

Impact of time illiquidity in a mixed market without full observation

Abstract: We study a problem of optimal investment/consumption over an innite horizon in a market consisting of two possibly correlated assets: one liquid and one illiquid. The liquid asset is observed and can be traded continuously, while the illiquid one can be traded only at discrete random times corresponding to the jumps of a Poisson process with intensity , is observed at the trading dates, and is partially observed between two dierent trading dates. The problem is a nonstandard mixed discrete/continuous optimal control problem which we face by the dynamic programming approach. When the utility has a general form we prove that the value function is the unique viscosity solution of the HJB equation and, assuming sucient regularity of the value function, we give a verication theorem that describes the optimal investment strategies for the illiquid asset. In the case of power utility, we prove the regularity of the value function needed to apply the verication theorem, providing the complete theoretical solution of the problem. This allows us to perform numerical simulation, so to analyze the impact of time illiquidity in this mixed market and how this impact is aected by the degree

A matter of life and death: substance‐caused and substance‐related fatalities in Ibiza in 2015

Abstract: This is the pre-peer reviewed version of the following article: Rita Santacroce, et al, 'A matter of life and death: substance-caused and substance-related fatalities in Ibiza in 2015', Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical & Experimental, Vol 32 (3), e2592, May 2017, which has been published in final form at DOI: 101002/hup2592 This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Self-Archiving The Accepted Manuscript is under embargo Embargo end date: 18 May 2018

When is selfish routing bad? The price of anarchy in light and heavy traffic

Abstract: This paper examines the behavior of the price of anarchy as a function of the traffic inflow in nonatomic congestion games with multiple origin-destination (O/D) pairs. Empirical studies in real-world networks show that the price of anarchy is close to 1 in both light and heavy traffic, thus raising the question: can these observations be justified theoretically? We first show that this is not always the case: the price of anarchy may remain a positive distance away from 1 for all values of the traffic inflow, even in simple three-link networks with a single O/D pair and smooth, convex costs. On the other hand, for a large class of cost functions (including all polynomials), the price of anarchy does converge to 1 in both heavy and light traffic, irrespective of the network topology and the number of O/D pairs in the network. We also examine the rate of convergence of the price of anarchy, and we show that it follows a power law whose degree can be computed explicitly when the network's cost functions are polynomials.

European Company Law: Text, Cases and Materials

Abstract: Taking a text, cases and materials approach, this is the first and only student textbook on European company law, providing an insight into the subject and shedding light on its future development. Textboxes for explanatory commentary, cases and materials - such as EU legislation, official documents and excerpts from scholarly papers - are clearly differentiated from the text, allowing the student to quickly identify sources. Each chapter also includes suggestions for further reading. Structured in seven parts, the book explores a diversity of topics, from what European company law is, the common rules for establishing, financing and accounting a company, and corporate governance, to the structure of the Societas Europaeca Statute, EU company law directives, capital markets and takeover law, and insolvency. An essential resource for the growing number of graduate courses on European company law, European business law, and comparative corporate law.

The Celebrity Factory: New Modes of Fashion Entrepreneurship

Abstract: The aim of the paper is to analyze the contribution of celebrity culture to the re-shaping of the fashion industry, distancing from an oppositional view while embracing a systemic one, where celebrity is considered a fundamental engine of the contemporary cultural production of fashion and a global consumerist culture. The scope of our paper tries to overcome the endorsement point of view to address the relationship between celebrity and fashion as a two-way relationship which is re-wiring the fashion industry. The paper will explore the multiple manifestations of the so-called celebrity brand labels, from Kim Kardashian to Victoria Beckham.

From Abuse of Right to European Copyright Misuse: A New Doctrine for EU Copyright Law

Abstract: The great expansion of EU copyright law has paved the way for several rightholders’ abusive or dysfunctional conducts, without providing adequate solutions to prevent or remedy them. The answer from EU sources is characterized by extreme fragmentation, with tools mostly borrowed from external bodies of law. Paradoxically, the doctrine of abuse of right has long been neglected as a potential solution, mainly due to its flaws – difficult evidence-taking and weak remedies – and its incompatibility with the discretionary nature of continental authors’ rights. Yet, the notion emerges between the lines of several ECJ decisions and finds its way from civil codes to copyright in a number of national courts’ precedents. Due to the paradigm shift towards a market-oriented and industry-based inspiration, EU copyright seems now to be open to admitting the possibility of misuse. Starting from these premises, this article argues that a unitary doctrine of copyright misuse may constitute an effective balancing tool for most of the dysfunctional conducts that copyright law and other bodies of law are still unable to resolve. In addition, it may also act as a regulatory paradigm to ensure greater certainty and transparency in the judicial development of key principles and rules of EU copyright law. To this end, this paper (a) proposes a four-prong test of abusiveness, incorporating criteria of proportionality and reasonableness inspired by the normative function(s) of exclusive rights; and (b) offers new perspectives on potential remedies and on the positive impact of the doctrine on the systematization of the current legislative framework.

March 1861. The Challenging Myth of the Post-Imperial Legacy

Abstract: This chapter considers the process of Italian unification and discusses the nexus between domestic and international factors in the Italian foreign policymaking process The foreign policy of unified Italy is defined by two opposite forces: the legacy of the imperial past and the adjustment to the European and international system The tension between myth and adjustment is discussed though an overview on the years between the unification and the fall of Fascism The chapter also provides an insight on the strategy of the alliance of unified Italy, highlighting that for Italy, alliances always have a double role: not only to guarantee the security of the country but also to serve as a chain transferring best policies and practices into the country

Microfictions de Régis Jauffret: apothéose et perversions d’un genre / Microfictions de Régis Jauffret: apoteosis y perversión de un género

Abstract: Cet article s’interroge sur la mise en œuvre dans Microfictions de Jauffret (Gallimard, 2007) d’une serie de caracteristiques qui sont autant de contraintes du texte bref et des formes breves de la narration: forme du titre, effet de recueil, liste, unite, pointe ou chute, emplois de on , pour observer comment Jauffret y a recours tout en en pervertissant les mecanismes. Certains parmi ces aspects font partie des ressorts de la brievete en general. D’autres sont propres a la microfiction en particulier. Derriere les jeux sur les servitudes de ce ‘genre’ pointe la continuite de phenomenes enonciatifs dont on essaiera d’expliciter la visee ultime. En cassant un a un tous les ressorts de la microfiction, en renversant a dessein et en brisant les limites que la microfiction, cette “litterature a contrainte”, s’impose d’elle-meme, Jauffret nous force a nous laisser transpercer par des textes dont la brievete sert essentiellement a amplifier des phenomenes enonciatifs. En forcant l’identification, en suscitant des phenomenes de dialogisme, en brisant nos defenses, il incise notre peau du burin du moraliste. Les microfictions de Jauffret sont aussi des meta-microfictions. C’est d’ailleurs le destin de toute œuvre summa que d’avoir une portee fortement meta-litteraire, et d’etre a la fois l’apotheose d’une forme, sa remise en question et son depassement. Este trabajo estudia algunos rasgos caracteristicos de Microfictions de Regis Jauffret (Gallimard, 2007) que representan asimismo unas convenciones o vinculos tipicos de los textos breves: el titulo, el ‘efecto recopilacion’, el listado, la unidad, la pointe o chute (el final sorpresivo), el empleo del pronombre on, con el fin de analizar en que manera Jauffret ‘pervierte’ estas convenciones. Algunas son caracteristicas propias de los textos breves en general, mientras que otras son especificas del microrrelato. Detras de los juegos basados en las convenciones de este genero se detecta un rasgo constante: unos fenomenos de enunciacion que pretendemos describir. Rompiendo estas convenciones de la microficcion, sobrepasando y transgrediendo los limites que esta literatura a contrainte se impone a si misma, nos asombra con unos textos cuya brevedad sirve esencialmente a amplificar los fenomenos enunciativos. Obligandonos a identificarnos, suscitando unos fenomenos de dialogismos, abatiendo nuestras defensas, graba nuestra piel con el cincel del moralista. Sus microrrelatos son asimismo meta-microrrelatos. Por otra parte, el hecho de ser marcadamente metaliterario es el destino de cualquier obra summa y ser a la vez la apoteosis de una forma, su cuestionamiento y su superacion.

Multi-resolution for disparity estimation with convolutional neural networks

Abstract: Disparity estimation is the process of obtaining the depth information from the left and right views of a particular scene A recent work based on convolutional neural network (CNN) has achieved state-of-the-art performance for the disparity estimation task However, this network has some limitations for measuring small and large disparities, which compromises the accuracy of the obtained results In this paper, a multi-resolution framework with a three-phase strategy to generate high quality disparity maps is proposed, which handles both small and large displacements and retains the details of the scene The first phase up/down-samples the images to several different resolutions to improve the matching process between CNN feature maps where scaled information is obtained for objects with various sizes and distances The second phase uses a deep CNN to estimate the disparity maps using the resampled versions, and each version is suitable for a specific range of disparities Finally, the best fitting disparity map is adaptively selected To the best of our knowledge, our framework is the first to exploit multiple resolutions of the stereo pair with convolutional neural network for disparity estimation Significant performance gain is achieved with this proposed method, the mean absolute error is reduced to 340 from 566, the DispNetC performance for the Sintel dataset

The Geography of International Knowledge Sourcing: Looking Back and Moving Forward

Abstract: Multinational corporations (MNCs) have increasingly sourced knowledge across borders, and foreign subsidiaries operations have played a critical role in MNC international knowledge sourcing strategies. The growing responsibility of foreign subsidiaries has paralleled an interest on the geography of this phenomenon by international business and international management scholars. In this chapter, we review this research. In addition, based on recent research in economics and management drawing on economic geography and innovation studies, we highlight possible avenues of research to enrich our understanding of the geographical aspects of international knowledge sourcing. In particular, we suggest three lines of research opportunities. A first opportunity relates to the explicit consideration of distance and border effects. A further research opportunity arises from investigating the geographical distance of heterogeneous host country knowledge sources from the foreign subsidiary. A final research opportunity we discuss is about the contribution of heterogeneous host country knowledge sources to the variety of knowledge developed by the foreign subsidiary.

Microfictions de Régis Jauffret: apothéose et perversions d’un genre.

Abstract: Cet article s’interroge sur la mise en œuvre dans Microfictions de Jauffret (Gallimard, 2007) d’une serie de caracteristiques qui sont autant de contraintes du texte bref et des formes breves de la narration: forme du titre, effet de recueil, liste, unite, pointe ou chute, emplois de on, pour observer comment Jauffret y a recours tout en en pervertissant les mecanismes. Certains parmi ces aspects font partie des ressorts de la brievete en general. D’autres sont propres a la microfiction en particulier. Derriere les jeux sur les servitudes de ce ‘genre’ pointe la continuite de phenomenes enonciatifs dont on essaiera d’expliciter la visee ultime. En cassant un a un tous les ressorts de la microfiction, en renversant a dessein et en brisant les limites que la microfiction, cette “litterature a contrainte”, s’impose d’elle-meme, Jauffret nous force a nous laisser transpercer par des textes dont la brievete sert essentiellement a amplifier des phenomenes enonciatifs. En forcant l’identification, en suscitant des phenomenes de dialogisme, en brisant nos defenses, il incise notre peau du burin du moraliste. Les microfictions de Jauffret sont aussi des meta-microfictions. C’est d’ailleurs le destin de toute œuvre summa que d’avoir une portee fortement meta-litteraire, et d’etre a la fois l’apotheose d’une forme, sa remise en question et son depassement.

September 1943. Democratic Transition and International Adjustment

Abstract: This chapter examines the main features of Italian foreign policy from the fall of Fascism to the establishment of the European Union. It provides a critical assessment of the process of democratic transition, evaluating its impact on the foreign policymaking of the country. It analyses the contradiction between the alignment to the West and to the European Community and the search for a more independent standing in the international arena (especially in the Mediterranean). Finally, it discusses the reasons behind the incapacity of the country to act as a pure adaptive “middle power”, challenging the European order and searching a third way in the Mediterranean.

Tendencias Miasmáticas en las Patologías Autoinmunes

Abstract: A traves de un analisis estadistico tanto de los sintomas mentales registrados en 568 archivos clinicos resguardados en la base de datos de la Universidad Libre Internacional de Medicina Homeopatica (Libera Universita Internazionale di Medicina Omeopatica), como de los medicamentos que se prescribieron, pudo determinarse que la sycosis y la psora son los miasmas predominantes en los pacientes con enfermedad autoinmune. Esto significaria que, como han senalado algunos connotados medicos homeopatas, dicha afeccion no se debe a una perversion del sistema biologico (syphilis), sino a un estado hipo o hiper alterado de una funcion biologica normal. Ademas, de lo anterior se deduce que las sustancias implicadas en la respuesta autoinmune (auto-anticuerpos) no serian proteinas “extranas” o “pervertidas” en nuestro cuerpo, sino que son normales y se encuentran al servicio del sistema inmunologico, por ejemplo, para eliminar celulas viejas, reparar tejidos danados y destruir malignidades

Rendering Literary Proper Names in Another Language: The Works of Flann O’Brien as a Case in Point

Abstract: In fictional texts, personal names (and more generally proper nouns) are considered to be meaningful linguistic and cultural items since they often convey specific connotations to a literary text, and they constitute a challenge for translators since they are usually used to define the character itself, often from an ironic perspective. Translators can adopt different strategies (copy; naturalization; transcription; addition; phonological replacement; re-creation; cultural transplantation) but, as it often happens in translation, a significant part of specific connotations of the name is usually lost. Flann O’Brien resorts to a “creative” use of proper names, often comments them (De Selby, one of his characters, claims “to be in a position to state the physiological ‘group’ of any person merely from a brief study of the letters of his name”). This study analyses O’Brien’s use of proper nouns and the several solutions adopted by translators of his novels and short stories, suggesting some possible alternatives and highlighting the semantic potential of the examined proper names which is inevitably lost.