Biological effects of exposure to magnetic resonance imaging: an overview

The literature on biological effects of magnetic and electromagnetic fields commonly utilized in magnetic resonance imaging systems is surveyed here. After an introduction on the basic principles of magnetic resonance imaging and the electric and magnetic properties of biological tissues, the basic phenomena to understand the bio-effects are described in classical terms. Values of field strengths and frequencies commonly utilized in these diagnostic systems are reported in order to allow the integration of the specific literature on the bio-effects produced by magnetic resonance systems with the vast literature concerning the bio-effects produced by electromagnetic fields. This work gives an overview of the findings about the safety concerns of exposure to static magnetic fields, radio-frequency fields, and time varying magnetic field gradients, focusing primarily on the physics of the interactions between these electromagnetic fields and biological matter. The scientific literature is summarized, integrated, and critically analyzed with the help of authoritative reviews by recognized experts, international safety guidelines are also cited

Evidence from crater ages for periodic impacts on the Earth

Recent evidence has indicated that the impact of a comet or asteroid may have been responsible for mass extinction at the ends of both the Cretaceous and the Eocene. Quantitative analysis by Raup and Sepkoski showed that mass extinctions occur with a 26-Myr period, similar to the period seen in qualitative pelagic records by Fischer and Arthur. To account for the possibility of periodic comet showers, Davis et al. proposed that such showers could be triggered by an unseen solar companion star as it passes through perihelion on a moderately eccentric orbit. To test a prediction implicit in this model we examined records of large impact craters on the Earth. We report here that most of the craters occur in a 28.4-Myr cycle. Within measurement errors, this period and its phase are the same as those found in the fossil mass extinctions. The probability that such agreement is accidental is 1 in 10

The Artification of Luxury: How Art can affect Perceived Durability and Purchase Intention of Luxury Products

Luxury brands are currently addressing the issues arising from the \u201cdemocratization\u201d of luxury consumption by looking for new ways to reinforce their aesthetic, moral and symbolic value. Along with this challenge, luxury brands are facing the growing consumers\u2019 concern about the social and environmental impact that luxury brands\u2019 activities bring forth. In this chapter, we propose that associating luxury products and brands with the concept of art and artworks might help luxury companies tackle these issues. We start from the definition of luxury and the analysis of the motives behind luxury consumption, and then discuss the role played by sustainability in luxury through an overview of the main characteristics of luxury goods, such as scarcity and durability, that make them be considerable as sustainable in nature. Next, we discuss the idea that luxury and art share some important elements, such as the inherent strong emotional value, the relevance of craftmanship and savoir-faire, and, above all, the idea of durability (defined as the ability of a product to maintain its quality and value over time), which characterizes both luxury products and artworks. In particular, building on this premise as well as on previous studies documenting the existence of the so-called art infusion effect \u2013 defined as the general positive effect that the presence of art in product advertising has on product evaluation and perception \u2013 we propose that the relevance of the artist\u2019s craftmanship in the process of the artwork creation positively influences consumers\u2019 perceived durability of the product advertised, which, in turn, positively affects consumers\u2019 purchase intention. Results of an experimental study discussed next support our hypothesis. Theoretical contributions of our study and managerial implications of our findings are finally discussed in the chapter

The Artification of Luxury: How Art Can Affect Perceived Durability and Purchase Intention of Luxury Products

Luxury brands are currently addressing the issues arising from the “democratization” of luxury consumption by looking for new ways to reinforce their aesthetic, moral and symbolic value. Along with this challenge, luxury brands are facing the growing consumers’ concern about the social and environmental impact that luxury brands’ activities bring forth. In this chapter, we propose that associating luxury products and brands with the concept of art and artworks might help luxury companies tackle these issues. We start from the definition of luxury and the analysis of the motives behind luxury consumption and then discuss the role played by sustainability in luxury through an overview of the main characteristics of luxury goods, such as scarcity and durability, that make them be considerable as sustainable in nature. Next, we discuss the idea that luxury and art share some important elements, such as the inherent strong emotional value, the relevance of craftmanship and savoir faire, and, above all, the idea of durability (defined as the ability of a product to maintain its quality and value over time), which characterizes both luxury products and artworks. In particular, building on this premise as well as on previous studies documenting the existence of the so-called art infusion effect—defined as the general positive effect that the presence of art in product advertising has on product evaluation and perception—we propose that the relevance of the artist’s craftmanship in the process of the artwork creation positively influences consumers’ perceived durability of the product advertised, which, in turn, positively affects consumers’ purchase intention. Results of an experimental study discussed next support for our hypothesis. Theoretical contributions of our study and managerial implications of our findings are finally discussed in the chapter