The Institutional Fan-Made Paratext: the Case of the Van Der Memes

This paper discusses the case of the Van Der Memes, internet memes based on close-ups of actor James Van Der Beek emoting feelings which, born as user-generated content (UGC), end up working as marketing tools for a rebranding campaign of the actor. Framing the case study into the complexity of contemporary mediascape, a digital environment where corporate branding strategies progress alongside remix culture, the analysis will unfold along two main directions: on the one hand, we will see how the same content undertakes constant reworks and repurposes, as the duration and circulation of the media objects involved gets inevitably altered. On the other, we shall see how the case of the Van Der Memes calls into question the conflict between bottom/up and top/down productions, as it exemplifies a profitable relation between the notoriously unruly world of UGC and the institutional environment of television industry

Straight-to-Series in Broadcast Television: Causes, Issues and Consequences

In the last few years, Netflix has set itself as a true player in U.S. television industry, fostering new competitive dynamics that have contributed to redefine television's production and distribution models. This paper aims to discuss one of the effects of this competition: the rethinking of the pilot process in favour of the straight-to-series commitment in broadcast television. The analysis will unfold along three main directions: 1. Causes: we will argue that Netflix, through its high financial commitments, has launched a speculative bubble that has shaken up the traditional structure of competitive forces, pushing competitors to outbid its offers to hit-producers. 2. Issues: we will see whether the straight-to-series model could prove economically viable for broadcast television. 3. Consequences: we will ultimately analyse the consequences on narrative forms of network series, focusing in particular on writing processes and modes of storytelling

Applicability of climate-based daylight modelling

This PhD thesis evaluated the applicability of Climate-Based Daylight Modelling (CBDM) as it is presently done. The objectives stated in this thesis aimed at broadly assessing applicability by looking at multiple aspects: (i) the way CBDM is used by expert researchers and practitioners; (ii) how state-of-the-art simulation techniques compare to each other and how they are affected by uncertainty in input factors; (iii) how the simulated results compare with data measured in real occupied spaces. The answers obtained from a web-based questionnaire portrayed a variety of workflows used by different people to perform similar, if not the same, evaluations. At the same time, the inter-model comparison performed to compare the existing simulation techniques revealed significant differences in the way the sky and the sun are recreated by each technique. The results also demonstrated that some of the annual daylight metrics commonly required in building guidelines are sensitive to the choice of simulation tool, as well as other input parameters, such as climate data, orientation and material optical properties. All the analyses were carried out on four case study spaces, remodelled from existing classrooms that were the subject of a concurrent research study that monitored their interior luminous conditions. A large database of High Dynamic Range images was collected for that study, and the luminance data derived from these images could be used in this work to explore a new methodology to calibrate climate-based daylight models. The results collected and presented in this dissertation illustrate how, at the time of writing, there is not a single established common framework to follow when performing CBDM evaluations. Several different techniques coexist but each of them is characterised by a specific domain of applicability

Dalla segregazione al diritto all’abitare

Questo capitolo introduce la quarta parte del volume, relativa a casi di politiche locali finalizzate a superare la formula del “campo nomadi” e aumentare la varietà delle misure di inserimento abitativo1. L’abitare è una dimensione cruciale della vita in società, e il fatto che a partire dagli anni Settanta i gruppi zigani siano stati forzati dentro un’unica tipologia abitativa, il campo nomadi, ha avuto grandi conseguenze non solo sulla qualità di vita delle persone lì residenti, ma anche sui rapporti fra questi gruppi e le società urbane in cui risiedono (...)

Evaluation of the patients with syncope during the first month after coronary artery bypass graft

Background: Syncope is a well-known risk factor for adverse cardiovascular event in patients with coronary artery disease, especially those with previous myocardial infarction (MI) or left ventricular dysfunction. The aim of this study was to assess electrophysiologic findings and results of head-up tilt test (HUTT) in patients with syncope and without orthostatic changes in blood pressure during the first month after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG). Materials and Methods: A total of 20 patients with syncope during the first month after CABG were prospectively enrolled in this study from June 2002 to April 2006. Electrophysiologic study (EPS) was performed in all of them. HUTT was performed in all of the patients regardless of the result of EPS. Results: The mean age of patients was 60.311 years. Twelve patients were males. EPS was negative in 18 patients. HUTT was positive in 10 patients. Six patients had old MI. Ischemic insult occurred in one patient after CABG. Left bundle branch was present in two patients. There was a significant relationship between the duration of bed rest after CABG and positive HUTT (P value = 0.021). All of the patients except one did not experience syncope during the follow-up period. Conclusion: In patients with syncope during the first month post CABG, in whom an arrhythmic cause is suspected, the other cause of syncope like orthostatic intolerance should be considered. Being bedridden for an extended period of time post CABG can be a predisposing factor

Applicability of climate-based daylight modelling

Applicability of climate-based daylight modellin

0049: Long-term follow- up of AV conduction disturbances after slow pathway ablation in patients with AV node reentrant tachycardia

AV block following radiofrequency (RF) ablation for the treatment of atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT) is a rare but well recognised complication of the procedure. The purpose of the study was to report the long-term follow-up of patients a first d (AVB1), second d (AVB2), or third d A V block (AVB3) occurred during ablation of AVNRT.Methods930 patients, 615 females, aged from 12 to 92 years, mean age 52±18, had AVNRT. RF energy, 65°, 40 watts was delivered on the slow pathway, until AVNRT was not induced.Results94 patients presented a transitory or permanent AVB1,2,3. In 8, mean age 53±21.5 years, AVB was of vagal origin generally occurring at femoral puncture (group I). In 26 patients, mean age 46±21, it was traumatic and regressive occurring either in young patients with a normal conduction system or in 3 patients with a left bundle branch block. In remaining 60 patients, AVB was directly related to the RF application; AVB was of first degree in 22 patients aged 56±17 years; it was of 2nd or third degree AVB in 38 patients: in 2 patients AVB3 remained permanent and in all other patients it was partially or totally regressive. After a follow-up of 2.1±2 years, pacemaker implantation was implanted in 15 patients, 1 patient with traumatic AVB3 aged 81 years, 5 patients with AVB3 during ablation, 2 with permanent AVB3 (0.2%) and 3 with transitory AVB3 and 9 patients without AVB during ablation. In these last patients, 2 had spontaneous long HV interval. Age of these patients differed from age of patients with RF-related AVB (73±14 vs 56±17) (p< 0.04). 5 patients with transitory AVB3 remained symptomatic with alternating slow junctional rhythm and sinus tachycardia.ConclusionsAVB remains frequent during AVNRT ablation (10%) but it is frequently benign and not directly related to the RF application. Permanent complete AVB is exceptional (0.2%). Patients with transitory complete AVB remain at high risk of later events as conduction disturbances or sinus tachycardia. Other AVB’s are age-related and probably without relation with ablation. Permanent or transitory 1 degree AVB seems without clinical significance

Is the Measurement of Accessory Pathway Refractory Period Reproducible?

AbstractIntroductionShort accessory pathway (AP) effective refractory period (ERP) is one of the risk factors in Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome (WPW). The purpose of study was to evaluate the reproducibility of APERP measurement during a same electrophysiological study (EPS).MethodsEPS consisted of 2 APERP measurements performed prospectively in 77 patients for a WPW in control state (CS) at a cycle length of 400ms (n=76) and after isoproterenol (n=56).ResultsIn CS, 18 patients (24 %) had the same APERP at both measurements; 41 (54.6 %) had differences from 10 to 40ms, 17 (22.4 %) had differences >40ms. Among 45 patients with initial APERP>240ms, 7 had an APERP≤240ms at 2nd study. Among 31 patients with initial APERP≤240ms, 5 had an APERP>240ms at 2nd study. Pearson’s productmoment correlation was 0.75. After isoproterenol, 5 patients (9 %) had the same APERPs; 37 (66 %) had differences from 10 to 40ms and 14 had differences >40ms. Among 38 patients with initial APERP>200ms, 12 had an AP ERP≤200ms at 2nd study. Among 18 patients with initial APERP≤200ms, 10 had still APERP≤200ms at 2nd study. Pearson’s productmoment correlation was 0.54.ConclusionsThere are important variations of APERPs during EPS mainly after isoproterenol infusion. Therefore the values of APERPs should be interpreted cautiously

Climate-Based Daylight Modelling for compliance verification: Benchmarking multiple state-of-the-art methods

Climate-Based Daylight Modelling (CBDM) gives designers the possibility to evaluate complex, long-term luminous environment dynamics. This complexity can be challenging to simulate, and even more challenging to communicate effectively through the use of performance metrics. A multiplicity of CBDM techniques and metrics has been developed over the last two decades, but these were rarely assessed against each other. This paper reviews four state-of-the-art techniques based on the Radiance raytracing engine and systematically compares them against a benchmark CBDM method. Four classroom spaces are used to carry out an inter-model comparison between performance metrics commonly used for compliance verification obtained from all analysed techniques. Additional sensitivity analyses assessed how changes in input variables influence such metrics. Results from the inter-model comparison showed that the representation of direct sunlight is markedly different between the various CBDM techniques, and that metrics based on horizontal direct sunlight are very sensitive to the choice of simulation method. This led to differences in predicted Annual Sunlight Exposure up to 39% points. Metrics that consider both direct and inter-reflected light were found to be more robust, with variations from benchmark results within 15%. The analysis of the input variables showed that sensor grid spacing and time-step interpolation do not significantly affect any of these metrics. Changes in orientation and sky discretisation scheme had different effects depending on the metric and technique considered. The need for authoritative benchmarking systems when introducing new performance metrics for compliance verification or new simulation methods is also discussed