Bibliometria e discipline bibliografico-biblioteconomiche in Italia: una questione di magnetismo

Negli ultimi anni si è assistito ad un aumento dell’interesse da parte delle discipline bibliografico-biblioteconomiche nei confronti dei temi della valutazione della ricerca e della bibliometria. Quest’ultima ha cominciato a ritagliarsi uno spazio sempre maggiore all’interno della letteratura di settore, tanto da poter vantare diversi esperti e gruppi di ricerca dediti allo studio e all’approfondimento di questo tema. Il presente contributo intende fornire una panoramica della letteratura biblioteconomica italiana focalizzata sui temi della bibliometria, nel tentativo di offrire uno strumento di sintesi e aggiornamento. La trattazione tocca i principali filoni di studio che sono emersi dall’analisi della letteratura: ruolo dei bibliotecari, valutazione della ricerca nelle scienze umane, copertura dei database e qualità dei dati, metriche alternative, uso consapevole degli indicatori.Over the last few years, Italian LIS field has produced more papers about Bibliometrics than before. This increasing attention is probably due to the research assessment exercises that have influenced Italian academic debate. Role of librarians, research assessment in the Humanities and Social Sciences, databases coverage and data quality, new metrics, awareness of the use of indicators: aim of this article is to show main topics through a literature review of the Italian LIS studies within the years 2010-2015, in order to offer an up-to-date outline of the situation

Bibliometrics and ‘core journals’ in the Humanities: an Italian case study

This paper analyses possible transformations in the publication behaviour of Italian humanistic researchers as a results of national research assessment exercises (VQR 2004-2010) and national habilitation exams for academic career (ASN 2012 and 2013). Case study is the humanists‟ community of Sapienza University of Rome, a representative sample of Italian context. In particular, this paper examines the use of scientific journals in the last ten years (2004-2014), before and after introduction of a journal rating system. Aim of this research is to verify, through experiment with Sapienza institutional database, if the number of journals selected as outputs by this scholarly community have been changed over the years, producing a more restricted set of “core” journals with a greater scientific strength

Bibliotecari, bibliometria e valutazione della ricerca: riscoprire una competenza per valorizzare una professione

Research assessment is a hot topic in academic debate, as in the immediate future research will become more and more dependent on assessment procedures – i.e. peer review process (qualitative method) and bibliometrics (quantitative method) – for the allocation of public funds. Since bibliometric indicators have been originally developed for hard sciences, they don't fit for humanities. Therefore librarians should rediscover their bibliometric skills – originally developed within libraries – to support the profession. The article insists on the connection between library science and bibliometrics, and on the role that librarians could play in research assessment: seen in this light, bibliometrics is an opportunity to lead the profession beyond the boundary of the traditional library services.Una delle questioni al centro del dibattito accademico degli ultimi anni è quella della valutazione della ricerca. Nel futuro prossimo infatti la ricerca sarà sempre più influenzata dalle procedure di valutazione, che decidono la ripartizione dei finanziamenti pubblici e si avvalgono di strumenti mutuati dal mondo della ricerca stessa: la peer review (metodo qualitativo) e la bibliometria (metodo quantitativo). Quest'ultima però è stata sviluppata sulla base delle cosiddette “scienze dure” ed è attualmente impossibile da applicare alle scienze umane. Per questa ragione, i bibliotecari dovrebbero riscoprire le loro competenze bibliometriche – originariamente sviluppate proprio all'interno delle biblioteche – per supportare la professione. Scopo dell’articolo è ribadire il legame esistente tra biblioteconomia, bibliografia e bibliometria, evidenziando il ruolo di supporto che i bibliotecari possono ricoprire anche nell’ambito della valutazione della ricerca. La bibliometria si presenta perciò come un’opportunità per arricchire e valorizzare la professione anche al di fuori dei servizi classici offerti dalle biblioteche

Chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency in multiple sclerosis: a highly prevalent age-dependent phenomenon

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and clinical relevance of chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency (CCSVI) in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients and healthy controls using extra- and intracranial colour Doppler sonography. METHODS: We examined 146 MS patients, presenting with a clinically isolated syndrome, relapsing-remitting, secondary progressive, or primary progressive MS, and 38 healthy controls. Sonographic examination was performed according to Zamboni’s protocol and was performed by three independent sonographers. The results of sonographic examination were compared with clinical and demographic characteristics of the patients. RESULTS: CCSVI, defined as the presence of at least two positive Zamboni’s criteria, was found in 76% of MS patients and 16% of control subjects. B-mode anomalies of internal jugular veins, such as stenosis, malformed valves, annuli, and septa were the most common lesions detected in MS patients (80.8%) and controls (47.4%). We observed a positive correlation between sonographic diagnosis of CCSVI and the patients’ age (p = 0.003). However, such a correlation was not found in controls (p = 0.635). Notably, no significant correlations were found between sonographic signs of CCSVI and clinical characteristics of MS, except for absent flow in the jugular veins, which was found more often in primary (p<0.005) and secondary (p<0.05) progressive patients compared with non-progressive patients. Absent flow in jugular veins was significantly correlated with patients’ age (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Sonographically defined CCSVI is common in MS patients. However, CCSVI appears to be primarily associated with the patient’s age, and poorly correlated with the clinical course of the disease

TAVI and Post Procedural Cardiac Conduction Abnormalities

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is a worldwide accepted alternative for treating patients at intermediate or high risk for surgery. In recent years, the rate of complications has markedly decreased except for new-onset atrioventricular and intraventricular conduction block that remains the most common complication after TAVI. Although procedural, clinical, and electrocardiographic predisposing factors have been identified as predictors of conduction disturbances, new strategies are needed to avoid such complications, particularly in the current TAVI era that is moving quickly toward the percutaneous treatment of low-risk patients. In this article, we will review the incidence, predictive factors, and clinical implications of conduction disturbances after TAVI

Determinants of early working impairments in multiple sclerosis

IntroductionUnemployment can directly affect social status and identity. Assessing and adjusting determinants of early working impairments in a chronic disease can thus reduce its long-term burden. Hereby, we aim to evaluate differences in occupational history and early working impairments between people with multiple sclerosis (MS) and healthy workers.MethodsThis is a cross-sectional study comparing 71 workers with MS [age 41.7 ± 9.4 years; females 59.1%; EDSS 2.0 (1.0–6.0)] and 71 controls (age 42.6 ± 11.9 years; females 33.8%). All participants filled in Work Ability Index (WAI), Work Productivity and Activity Impairment (WPAI), European Questionnaire for Quality of Life (EuroQoL), Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II), and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). In MS, we further collected expanded disability status scale (EDSS), MS Questionnaire for Job difficulties (MSQ-Job), Fatigue severity scale (FSS), and the Brief International Cognitive Assessment for MS (BICAMS).ResultsWorkers with MS were more working disabled (p &lt; 0.01), less exposed to workplace risks (p &lt; 0.01), and more limited in fitness to work (p = 0.01), compared with controls. On linear regression models adjusted by age, sex, education, and type of contract, people with MS had worse WAI (Coeff=−5.47; 95% CI = −7.41, −3.53; p &lt; 0.01), EuroQoL (Coeff = −4.24; 95% CI = −17.85, −6.50; p &lt; 0.01), BDI-II (Coeff = 3.99; 95% CI = 2.37, 7.01; p &lt; 0.01), and PSQI (Coeff = 4.74; 95% CI = 3.13, 7.61; p &lt; 0.01), compared with controls, but no differences in WPAI (p = 0.60). EuroQoL, BDI-II, and PSQI were equally associated with both WAI and WPAI in MS and controls (all p&lt; 0.01). In MS, worse MSQJob was associated with higher EDSS (Coeff = 5.22; 95% CI = 2.24, 7.95; p &lt; 0.01), progressive disease (Coeff = 14.62; 95% CI = 5.56, 23.69; p &lt; 0.01), EuroQoL (Coeff = 4.63; 95% CI = 2.92, 6.35; p &lt; 0.01), FSS (Coeff = 0.55; 95% CI = 0.38, 0.72; p &lt; 0.01), and cognitive impairment (Coeff = 4.42; 95% CI = 0.67, 8.22; p = 0.02).DiscussionEarly factors associated with working difficulties in MS include disability, fatigue, depression, and cognitive dysfunction. Early identification of clinical features potentially causing working difficulties should be considered to enhance job retention, along with targeted prevention and protection measures

Contact-force monitoring increases accuracy of right ventricular voltage mapping avoiding "false scar" detection in patients with no evidence of structural heart disease

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Contact-force monitoring increases accuracy of right ventricular voltage mapping avoiding “false scar” detection in patients with no evidence of structural heart disease

Purpose: Electroanatomical mapping (EAM) could increase cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) sensitivity in detecting ventricular scar. Possible bias may be scar over-estimation due to inadequate tissue contact. Aim of the study is to evaluate contact-force monitoring influence during EAM, in patients with idiopathic right ventricular arrhythmias. Methods: 20 pts (13 M; 43 ± 12 y) with idiopathic right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) arrhythmias and no structural abnormalities were submitted to Smarttouch catheter Carto3 EAM. Native maps included points collected without considering contact-force. EAM scar was defined as area ≥1 cm2 including at least 3 adjacent points with signal amplitude (bipolar &lt;0.5 mV, unipolar 3,5 mV), surrounded by low-voltage border zone. EAM were re-evaluated offline, removing points collected with contact force &lt;5 g. Finally, contact force-corrected maps were compared to the native ones. Results: An EAM was created for each patient (345 ± 85 points). After removing poor contact points, a mean of 149 ± 60 points was collected. The percentage of false scar, collected during contact force blinded mapping compared to total volume, was 6.0 ± 5.2% for bipolar scar and 7.1 ± 5.9% for unipolar scar, respectively. No EAM scar was present after poor contact points removal. Right ventricular areas analysis revealed a greater number of points with contact force &lt; 5 g acquired in free wall, where reduced mean bipolar and unipolar voltage were recorded. Conclusions: To date this is the first work conducted on structurally normal hearts in which contact-force significantly increases EAM accuracy, avoiding “false scar” related to non-adequate contact between catheter and tissue

SARS-CoV-2 vaccination and multiple sclerosis: a large multicentric study on relapse risk after the third booster dose

Background: COVID-19 vaccines have been recommended to people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS) and, to ensure durable immunity, a third booster dose has been administered in several countries. Data about potential risks associated with the third booster dose in pwMS, such as vaccine-triggered disease exacerbations, are still scarce. Objective: To investigate whether the administration of a third booster dose of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines was associated with an increased risk of short-term disease reactivation in a large cohort of pwMS. Methods: We retrospectively selected 1265 pwMS who received a third booster dose of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine. Demographic and clinical data were collected, including the presence, number and characteristics of relapses in the 60&nbsp;days prior to and after the third booster dose. Results: In the selected cohort, the relapse rate in the two months after administration of the third booster dose of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines did not increase when compared with the prior two months. Indeed, the percentage of pwMS experiencing relapses in the 60&nbsp;days following the administration of the third booster dose was 2.1%, similar to the percentage recorded in 60&nbsp;days prior to vaccination, which was 1.9%. Conclusions: The third booster dose of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines appeared to be safe for pwMS