181,001 research outputs found
Rheumatoid Factors
No full textRheumatoid factors (RFs) are autoantibodies reacting against the Fc region of immunoglobulin (Ig)G. RFs are the first autoantibodies described in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), although they are also present in several other autoimmune diseases, in infectious conditions, as well as in healthy subjects. They are currently detectable by standardized quantitative assays (enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay, nephelometry), which are more reliable than the original semiquantitative agglutination techniques. Whether RFs display a pathogenic role in RA is still unclear; however, in favor of such a hypothesis are: i) their ability to form immune complexes both locally – in the synovial space – and systemically; ii) their association with aggressive disease characterized by erosive arthritis and extra-articular manifestations; and iii) the decrease in RF titers after successful therapy with disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs and biologic agents. Although a strong effort has been made in the last decade to find new powerful biomarkers particularly for the early stage of RA, RFs are still one of the most reliable diagnostic/prognostic biomarkers for RA
Crossing the boundaries of participation, activism, paradigm change and incubation: On the edge of design for social innovation and sustainability
No full textThe discourse on the connection between design and social innovation is today rich and animated: after a decade since its beginning, we can detect signals of maturity that are also widely reflected in several research programs recently funded by the European Commission.
This chapter presents a conceptual framework, drawn from diverse applied research projects in design for social innovation, analysed through the lenses of some of the most debated theoretical approaches around design, innovation and social issues in the broadest sense.
The research projects here considered come from the experience of the POLIMI DESIS lab, the Politecnico di Milano based design team belonging to the international DESIS Network (Design for Social Innovation and Sustainability). This is a cultural association comprising several design universities and schools dealing with this topic, which has accumulated remarkable knowledge since its foundation in 2008, making it a privileged standing point from which to reflect on the intersection of design and social innovation
Appropriate Similarity Measures for Author Cocitation Analysis
No full textWe provide a number of new insights into the methodological discussion about author cocitation analysis. We first argue that the use of the Pearson correlation for measuring the similarity between authors’ cocitation profiles is not very satisfactory. We then discuss what kind of similarity measures may be used as an alternative to the Pearson correlation. We consider three similarity measures in particular. One is the well-known cosine. The other two similarity measures have not been used before in the bibliometric literature. Finally, we show by means of an example that our findings have a high practical relevance.information science;Pearson correlation;cosine;similarity measure;author cocitation analysis
Il presente di una professione del futuro: 10 banchi di prova per il service designer
No full textIl mestiere del service designer rientra a tutti gli effetti tra quelli “nuovissimi”, praticamente “futuri”, e pertanto richiede uno sforzo di spiegazione rivolto sia ad un pubblico di esperti e che di curiosi.
Per parlare di chi sia un service designer è innanzitutto necessario spiegare cosa sia un servizio, cioè, paradossalmente, uno dei concetti più vecchi del mondo, ma solo recentemente formalizzato come “oggetto” di progettazione nei suoi aspetti di senso, funzionali ed esperienziali. E di questi appunto, il designer si occupa
Inspection & NDT to verify structural realiability of historic wooden roofs in the ex-Meroni spinning-mill
No full textThe Meroni spinning-mill, an industrial archaeological complex of historic and cultural importance, is the only surviving testimonial - integral, although in decay - of former economic activity in the province. In view of its preservation, inspections and NDT have been carried out on the wooden roof structures to verify and quantify the material consistency, to determine the degree of decay and risk of collapse. The inspection phases involved: identification of wood species; determination of natural durability and class of biological risk; location and evaluation of defects, alterations, critical zones; pathologies; environmental and wood moisture condition; evaluation of residual bearing resistance, photographic survey. The data plotting and reporting has been organized in thematic maps, catalogue of all structural elements, considerations of reliability, assessment of residual resistant sections and initial intervention indications. Local decay has been identified and explained in terms of a prolonged lack of maintenance, responsible for partial loss of material
Neuroeconomia, neuromarketing e processi decisionali
No full textIl libro copre un settore, quello della applicazione delle moderne tecniche di neuroscienze ai settori dell'economia e del marketing, di recente nascita e di grande interesse per l'opinione pubblica, per gli addetti alla pubblicità nonché agli studiosi di neuroscienze. Il libro presenta, in un linguaggio piano e non per gli esperti della materia, la struttura ed il funzionamento cerebrale (così come si conosce ad oggi) durante i processi decisionali nell'uomo. Di interesse l'analisi di come i diversi sistemi neuronali all'interno del cervello possono cooperare fra loro nel generare delle decisioni. Tutta questa semplice trattazione fisiologica è inserita nel contesto dell'analisi dell'attività cerebrale durante la visione di clip commerciali. Nello studio originale presentato in questo libro, le variabili interessate sono state quelle relative al ricordo della pubblicità televisiva in un campione di soggetti normali giovani. Questo studio è semplicemente il primo che si effettua di tale tipo in Italia e sarà destinato ad essere un punto di riferimento per i successivi studi nel settor
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