Comunità virtuali e senso di appartenenza: il caso Dominopoint.it.

Per poter continuare a creare e distribuire ricchezza le imprese devono innovare, ed il marketing è una risorsa chiave per guidare e sostenere questo vitale processo evolutivo. E’ fondamentale, quindi, che anche, e soprattutto, il marketing si rinnovi e si adatti ai grandi cambiamenti che stanno caratterizzando la nostra epoca. Oggi siamo spettatori e attori del passaggio da un’economia “materiale”, basata cioè sulla produzione di beni tangibili, ad un’economia immateriale in cui il bene più prezioso è rappresentato dalle informazioni e dalle idee; ciò equivale a dire che la “ricchezza culturale”, cioè le conoscenze, le competenze e i mezzi per poterle trasferire e condividere, hanno assunto un ruolo di primo piano nell’ambito delle scelte strategiche delle imprese. Le nuove tecnologie della comunicazione e dell’informazione sono caratterizzate, in particolar modo, da un elevatissimo potenziale interattivo: è possibile, pertanto, delineare uno scenario in cui le relazioni, fondate sul dialogo e sullo scambio di conoscenze, rappresenteranno lo strumento fondamentale per potenziare i processi di innovazione dell’azienda e di fidelizzazione con il cliente. Partendo da una riflessione sulle dinamiche sociali ed economiche emergenti nella rete , sulla sua diffusione capillare e facilità d’uso, appare evidente la possibilità di dar vita, attraverso il web, a flussi di informazioni centrate non più sul binomio impresa-consumatore, ma piuttosto su una fitta trama di relazioni che i consumatori instaurano fra loro . E’ chiaro il riferimento al fenomeno delle comunità virtuali, un nuovo e interessante modello di business che si sta affermando negli ultimi anni. L’evoluzione del consumo da esperienza individuale a sociale, ha determinato una forte propensione fra i consumatori a riunirsi in tribù e a creare, intorno ad un prodotto/servizio, comunità sociali intese come comunità emozionali, in cui si condividono passioni e interessi comuni. E’ il caso, ad esempio, di Dominopoint.it, una comunità virtuale nata grazie alla passione condivisa dei suoi membri per tutto ciò che gravita intorno al mondo di IBM Lotus Domino. Questa tesi ha come obiettivo principale l’analisi e la verifica dell’esistenza, in Dominopoint.it, degli elementi cardine di una virtual community, e cioè il senso di appartenenza e la partecipazione attiva dei suoi membri. Affinché si possa parlare di comunità, infatti, è fondamentale che le interazioni tra i membri siano frequenti e stabili, profonde e soprattutto attive: è lo scambio relazionale, l’interazione sociale non solo di tipo informativo, che crea la comunità, che fa sì che avvenga un continuo scambio di significati e sensi e che contribuisce pian piano alla formazione di una visione ed una cultura condivise. Senza un’interazione ricca di contenuti sociali e di aspettative di future relazioni, tutto ciò non può sicuramente avvenire. In pratica si tratta di verificare se coloro i quali condividono, più o meno frequentemente, un determinato spazio virtuale, hanno sviluppato al proprio interno un forte senso di identità e di appartenenza, ovvero, se considerano la comunità un semplice “luogo” in cui chiedere e raccogliere informazioni. Il lavoro svolto può essere scomposto in tre parti: la prima tratta degli aspetti teorici che sono alla base della ricerca empirica. Partendo dalla definizione di comunità virtuale, ci soffermiamo sulle caratteristiche peculiari di tale fenomeno, sulle varie forme in cui si può manifestare e, soprattutto, sull’impatto, in termini economici, che esso può avere sul business delle aziende. La seconda parte si concentra sulla spiegazione di come è stata ideata e portata avanti la ricerca. I principali step sono i seguenti: la determinazione del campione di soggetti da analizzare, la costruzione del questionario da somministrare, l’elaborazione e l’analisi dei dati raccolti. La terza parte, infine, ha il compito di ricavare, tramite analisi statistiche di tipo descrittivo, risultati validi e significativi per quanto riguarda l’obiettivo del nostro lavoro. Verrà analizzata, infatti, la presenza e lo sviluppo, all’interno dello spazio comunitario, della dimensione relazionale, sia in termini di scambio di conoscenze che di identificazione con il gruppo. Cercheremo, inoltre, di delineare il profilo dei membri di Dominopoint.it, analizzando anche l’eventuale crescita e sostegno che i singoli soggetti hanno ricevuto e/o continuano a ricevere attraverso la partecipazione al “progetto comunitario”

The effect of regulated deficit irrigation on growth, yield, and berry quality of grapevines (cv. Sangiovese) grafted on rootstocks with different resistance to water deficit

The aim of this work was to investigate the effect of full irrigation (FI), pre-veraison water deficit (RDI 1), or post-veraison water deficit (RDI 2) on growth, yield, and berry quality in container-grown, mature vines of cv. Sangiovese grafted onto either 1103P or SO4 rootstock over two consecutive growing seasons. Deficit irrigation regimes significantly affected vine water status of both rootstocks before and after veraison. Trunk diameter (TD) increment was markedly affected when water was restricted early, but not in the post-veraison period. Deficit irrigation from fruit set to veraison inhibited vegetative growth (TD, canopy volume, and weight of pruned wood) more than that applied from veraison to harvest. Yield was unaffected by either irrigation or rootstock in both years. Irrigation had a marked effect on berry and juice quality: the RDI 1 treatment induced the highest berry anthocyanin concentration, and the lowest titratable acidity (TA), which, instead, increased in the RDI 2 treatment. RDI treatments did not modify berry dry weight, soluble solid content, TA, anthocyanins, and epicarp total phenols in vines on both rootstocks

Structural Features of Antitumor Titanium Agents and Related Compounds

Previous studies established some Ti compounds as having marked activity against tumors of the gastrointestinal tract and lack of side effects common to widely used cytostatic agents. We describe pertinent structural features of known antitumor Ti agents and other potentially active compounds. Particularly noteworthy features are that Ti-O bonds are short and Ti-O-Ti bond angles are large, demonstrating that in these compounds the O binding has high s-character approaching sp hybridization

Synthesis of hyperbranched low molecular weight polyethylene oils by an iminopyridine nickel(II) catalyst

A 6-(2,6-dimethylphenyl)-2-(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)iminopyridine dibromo nickel(II) complex was synthesized, characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis and tested in ethylene polymerization using diethylaluminumchloride as the cocatalyst. Low molecular weight (Mn ∼ 103 g mol−1) polyethylene oils were obtained under a variety of reaction conditions. Detailed NMR analysis showed the formation of hyperbranched macromolecules (branching density >100 branches per 1000 carbons) with a high fraction of “branches on branch” and one unsaturation per chain, resulting in polymer features comparable to those of polymers produced by α-diimine Pd(II) catalysts. The DFT model of the catalytic species showed that the ortho-2,6-dimethylphenyl substituent of the pyridine group destabilizes the ethylene coordination to the metal centre but does not encumber both axial coordination site. So the polymerization performance of 1 can be addressed to the catalytic pocket generated by the coordinated ligand that favors both chain transfer and chain walking over propagatio

Innovative approach for the in vitro research on biomedical scaffolds designed and customized with CAD-CAM technology

Studies on biomaterials involve assays aimed to assess the interactions between the biomaterial and the cells seeded on its surface. However, the morphology of biomaterials is heterogeneous and it could be tricky to standardize the results among different biomaterials and the classic plastic plates. In this light, we decided to create, by means of computer-aided design (CAD) technology, a standardized sample model, with equal shape and sizes, able to fit into a classic shape of a 96-wells tissue culture plate (TCP)

Efficient isolation on Vero.DogSLAMtag cells and full genome characterization of Dolphin Morbillivirus (DMV) by next generation sequencing

The Dolphin Morbillivirus (DMV) genome from the frst Mediterranean epidemic (1990-\u201992) is the only cetacean Morbillivirus that has been completely sequenced. Here, we report the frst application of next generation sequencing (NGS) to morbillivirus infection of aquatic mammals. A viral isolate, representative of the 2006-\u201908 Mediterranean epidemic (DMV_IZSPLV_2008), efciently grew on Vero.DogSLAMtag cells and was submitted to whole genome characterization by NGS. The fnal genome length was 15,673 nucleotides, covering 99.82% of the DMV reference genome. Comparison of DMV_IZSPLV_2008 and 1990-\u201992 DMV strain sequences revealed 157 nucleotide mutations and 47 amino acid changes. The sequence similarity was 98.7% at the full genome level. Whole-genome phylogeny suggested that the DMV strain circulating during the 2006-\u201908 epidemics emerged from the 1990-\u201992 DMV strain. Viral isolation is considered the \u201cgold standard\u201d for morbillivirus diagnostics but efcient propagation of infectious virus is difcult to achieve. The successful cell replication of this strain allowed performing NGS directly from the viral RNA, without prior PCR amplifcation. We therefore provide to the scientifc community a second DMV genome, representative of another major outbreak. Interestingly, genome comparison revealed that the neglected L gene encompasses 74% of the genetic diversity and might serve as \u201chypervariable\u201d target for strain characterization

Autophagy processes are dependent on EGF receptor signaling

Autophagy is a not well-understood conserved mechanism activated during nutritional deprivation in order to maintain cellular homeostasis. In the present study, we investigated the correlations between autophagy, apoptosis and the MAPK pathways in melanoma cell lines. We demonstrated that during starvation the EGF receptor mediated signaling activates many proteins involved in the MAPK pathway. Our data also suggest a previously unidentified link between the EGFR and Beclin-1 in melanoma cell line. We demonstrated that, following starvation, EGFR binds and tyrosine-phosphorylates Beclin-1, suggesting that it may play a key inhibitory role in the early stage of starvation, possibly through the Beclin-1 sequestration. Furthermore, EGFR releases Beclin-1 and allows initiating steps of the autophagic process. Interestingly enough, when the EGFR pathway was blocked by anti-EGF antibodies, immunoprecipitated Beclin-1 did not bind the phospho-EGFR. In addition, an extended binding of p-Bcl2 either with Beclin-1 or with Bax was observed with a decreased activation of the stress-induced JNK kinase, thus avoiding the transduction pathways that activate autophagy and apoptosis, respectively. For this reason, we advance the hypothesis that the activation of the EGFR is a necessary event that allows the ignition and progression of the autophagic process, at least in melanoma cells

Smoking, health and ageing

On March 19, 2008 a Symposium on Pathophysiology of Ageing and Age-Related diseases was held in Palermo, Italy. Here, the lecture of V. Nicita-Mauro on Smoking, health and ageing is summarized. Smoking represents an important ageing accelerator, both directly by triggering an inflammatory responses, and indirectly by favoring the occurrence of several diseases where smoking is a recognized risk factor. Hence, non-smokers can delay the appearance of diseases and of ageing process, so attaining longevity

Effect of rootstock on growth, yield and fruit characteristics in cv 'Bianca' pistachio (Pistacia vera L.) trees

This paper, following preliminary field evaluation trials started in 1993, reports a study on the effect of eight different in vitro-propagated clonal rootstocks (P. atlantica and P. integerrima) and one seedling rootstock (P. terebinthus) on the vegetative and productive behaviour of pistachio cultivar 'Bianca'. The trees, budded in 1991, were grown using standard cultural practices for dry-land farming in a sandy clay loam soil, located inland in Sicily. On average, clones of P. integerrima (I-6 and I-2) were the most vigorous rootstocks. Clones of P. atlantica had intermediate vigour. Rootstock significantly affect yield but not fruit weight, kernel to nut ratio, splitting and blanking percentages. The highest yield efficiencies were observed with I-4 and A-3 and A-5, whereas the lowest were obtained with I-6 and I-2 and A-8. Nut shape was significantly affected by the rootstock. Slight differences in leaf mineral content were observed among the tested graft combinations

Vitamin D, homocysteine, and folate in subcortical vascular dementia and alzheimer dementia

Dementia is a worldwide health problem which affects millions of patients; Alzheimer's disease (AD) and subcortical vascular dementia (sVAD) are the two most frequent forms of its presentation. As no definite therapeutic options have been discovered, different risk factors for cognitive impairment have been searched for potential therapies. This report focuses on the possible evidence that vitamin D deficiency and hyper-homocysteinemia can be considered as two important factors for the development or the progression of neurodegenerative or vascular pathologies. To this end, we assessed: the difference in vascular risk factors and vitamin D-OH25 levels among groups of sVAD, AD, and healthy age-matched controls; the association of folate, B12, homocysteine, and vitamin D with sVAD/AD and whether a deficiency of vitamin D and an increment in homocysteine levels may be related to neurodegenerative or vessel damages. The commonly-considered vascular risk factors were collected in 543 patients and compared with those obtained from a healthy old volunteer population. ANOVA group comparison showed that vitamin D deficiency was present in demented cases, as well as low levels of folate and high levels of homocysteine, more pronounced in sVAD cases. The statistical models we employed, with regression models built, and adjustments for biochemical, demographic and neuropsychiatric scores, confirmed the association between the three measures (folate decrease, hyperhomocysteinemia and vitamin D decrease) and dementia, more pronounced in sVAD than in AD