The role of Internet of Things (IoT) technologies for individualisation and service quality of a PSS

Nowadays, product manufacturers are compelled to increasingly becoming Product Service System (PSS) providers for surviving and managing the increased global competition. 20% of the enterprises have already integrated services in their product offerings. Meanwhile, the Internet of Things (IoT) is expected to grow significantly in the next years. Smart products are growing fast and are expected to reach 212 billion entities at the end of 2020. From an economic point of view, it is estimated that the impact of IoT is in a range of $2.7 to$6.2 trillion by 2025. IoT is surely an enabler of PSSs, allowing the collection and sharing of vast quantities of information along the whole solution life. This article aims to evaluate the impact that IoT technologies can have on the PSS provision when aiming at the satisfaction of highly diverting customer needs. Particularly, the analysis considers three dimensions: the typology of services enabled, the customization approach enabled, and the service quality gaps disclosed by IoT. By means of multiple use cases, the authors found out that IoT technologies have a huge impact on the different phases of the whole PSS lifecycle. Several advantages were detected for the different stakeholders involved in terms of both service efficiency and effectiveness. Based on these results, the strategic contact points to cope with possible trade-offs between the PSS individualization approach and its service quality are proposed

The impact of IoT technologies on product-oriented PSS: The 'home delivery' service case

The contribution aims to evaluate the impact that IoT technologies can have on PSS and services. Particularly, the analysis considers two dimensions: the typology of services enabled by the IoT, and the PSS lifecycle phases of the home delivery. By means of multiple use cases, authors found out that IoT technologies have huge impacts both on order placement and delivery phases. Particularly, they have a two-fold advantage for the main stakeholders involved: on one side they speed up operations and on the other they reduce the number of activities for completing the overall home delivery process

The Focus-activity Framework for Evaluating PSS Cooperation Readiness of Manufacturing Firms

For manufacturing companies venturing the first steps on the Servitization roadmap, it may be difficult to imagine how an integrated approach of Product and Service elements could support the strategic goals efficiently. If Service tasks, roles, units and organizational structure are still developing and emerging from the Product business activities, the design of Product-Service cooperation as well is promising, as the way is unclear. For these companies, it seems to be important to understand their current status of Product-Service cooperation at first, before starting to design integration activities. Therefore, this paper presents a framework which is designed to help companies identify their current status – and strategic objectives later on – at two dimensions: a) the Structural Focus of Product and Service business within the company, and b) the Cooperation Activities which are undertaken by Product and Service representatives. By the means of a case study in the Italian luxury textile sector, a first validation of the model is conducted, assessing the static and dynamic characteristics of Product and Service business with involvement of an Italian textile company

Pitfalls in neuroendocrine tumor diagnosis

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An image-based method to synchronize cone-beam CT and optical surface tracking

open5siThe integration of in-room X-ray imaging and optical surface tracking has gained increasing importance in the field of image guided radiotherapy (IGRT). An essential step for this integration consists of temporally synchronizing the acquisition of X-ray projections and surface data. We present an image-based method for the synchronization of cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) and optical surface systems, which does not require the use of additional hardware. The method is based on optically tracking the motion of a component of the CBCT/gantry unit, which rotates during the acquisition of the CBCT scan. A calibration procedure was implemented to relate the position of the rotating component identified by the optical system with the time elapsed since the beginning of the CBCT scan, thus obtaining the temporal correspondence between the acquisition of X-ray projections and surface data. The accuracy of the proposed synchronization method was evaluated on a motorized moving phantom, performing eight simultaneous acquisitions with an Elekta Synergy CBCT machine and the AlignRT optical device. The median time difference between the sinusoidal peaks of phantom motion signals extracted from the synchronized CBCT and AlignRT systems ranged between -3.1 and 12.9 msec, with a maximum interquartile range of 14.4 msec. The method was also applied to clinical data acquired from seven lung cancer patients, demonstrating the potential of the proposed approach in estimating the individual and daily variations in respiratory parameters and motion correlation of internal and external structures. The presented synchronization method can be particularly useful for tumor tracking applications in extracranial radiation treatments, especially in the field of patient-specific breathing models, based on the correlation between internal tumor motion and external surface surrogates.Fassi, Aurora; Schaerer, Joël; Riboldi, Marco; Sarrut, David; Baroni, GuidoFassi, Aurora; Schaerer, Joël; Riboldi, Marco; Sarrut, David; Baroni, Guid

Association of Upfront Peptide Receptor Radionuclide Therapy With Progression-Free Survival Among Patients With Enteropancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors

open57noIMPORTANCE Data about the optimal timing for the initiation of peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) for advanced, well-differentiated enteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors are lacking. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the association of upfront PRRT vs upfront chemotherapy or targeted therapy with progression-free survival (PFS) among patients with advanced enteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors who experienced disease progression after treatment with somatostatin analogues (SSAs). DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This retrospective, multicenter cohort study analyzed the clinical records from 25 Italian oncology centers for patients aged 18 years or older who had unresectable, locally advanced or metastatic, well-differentiated, grades 1 to 3 enteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors and received either PRRT or chemotherapy or targeted therapy after experiencing disease progression after treatment with SSAs between January 24, 2000, and July 1, 2020. Propensity score matching was done to minimize the selection bias. EXPOSURES Upfront PRRT or upfront chemotherapy or targeted therapy. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES The main outcome was the difference in PFS among patients who received upfront PRRT vs among those who received upfront chemotherapy or targeted therapy. A secondary outcome was the difference in overall survival between these groups. Hazard ratios (HRs) were fitted in a multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression model to adjust for relevant factors associated with PFS and were corrected for interaction with these factors. RESULTS Of 508 evaluated patients (mean ([SD] age, 55.7 [0.5] years; 278 [54.7%] were male), 329 (64.8%) received upfront PRRT and 179 (35.2%) received upfront chemotherapy or targeted therapy. The matched group included 222 patients (124 [55.9%] male; mean [SD] age, 56.1 [0.8] years), with 111 in each treatment group. Median PFS was longer in the PRRT group than in the chemotherapy or targeted therapy group in the unmatched (2.5 years [95%CI, 2.3-3.0 years] vs 0.7 years [95%CI, 0.5-1.0 years]; HR, 0.35 [95%CI, 0.28-0.44; P &lt; .001]) and matched (2.2 years [95% CI, 1.8-2.8 years] vs 0.6 years [95%CI, 0.4-1.0 years]; HR, 0.37 [95%CI, 0.27-0.51; P &lt; .001]) populations. No significant differences were shown in median overall survival between the PRRT and chemotherapy or targeted therapy groups in the unmatched (12.0 years [95%CI, 10.7-14.1 years] vs 11.6 years [95%CI, 9.1-13.4 years]; HR, 0.81 [95%CI, 0.62-1.06; P = .11]) and matched (12.2 years [95% CI, 9.1-14.2 years] vs 11.5 years [95%CI, 9.2-17.9 years]; HR, 0.83 [95%CI, 0.56-1.24; P = .36]) populations. The use of upfront PRRT was independently associated with improved PFS (HR, 0.37; 95%CI, 0.26-0.51; P &lt; .001) in multivariable analysis. After adjustment of values for interaction, upfront PRRT was associated with longer PFS regardless of tumor functional status (functioning: adjusted HR [aHR], 0.39 [95%CI, 0.27-0.57]; nonfunctioning: aHR, 0.29 [95%CI, 0.16-0.56]), grade of 1 to 2 (grade 1: aHR, 0.21 [95%CI, 0.12-0.34]; grade 2: aHR, 0.52 [95%CI, 0.29-0.73]), and site of tumor origin (pancreatic: aHR, 0.41 [95%CI, 0.24-0.61]; intestinal: aHR, 0.19 [95%CI, 0.11-0.43]) (P &lt; .001 for all). Conversely, the advantage was not retained in grade 3 tumors (aHR, 0.31; 95%CI, 0.12-1.37; P = .13) or in tumors with a Ki-67 proliferation index greater than 10% (aHR, 0.73; 95%CI, 0.29-1.43; P = .31). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE In this cohort study, treatment with upfront PRRT in patients with enteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors who had experienced disease progression with SSA treatment was associated with significantly improved survival outcomes compared with upfront chemotherapy or targeted therapy. Further research is needed to investigate the correct strategy, timing, and optimal specific sequence of these therapeutic options.openPusceddu, Sara; Prinzi, Natalie; Tafuto, Salvatore; Ibrahim, Toni; Filice, Angelina; Brizzi, Maria Pia; Panzuto, Francesco; Baldari, Sergio; Grana, Chiara M.; Campana, Davide; Davì, Maria Vittoria; Giuffrida, Dario; Zatelli, Maria Chiara; Partelli, Stefano; Razzore, Paola; Marconcini, Riccardo; Massironi, Sara; Gelsomino, Fabio; Faggiano, Antongiulio; Giannetta, Elisa; Bajetta, Emilio; Grimaldi, Franco; Cives, Mauro; Cirillo, Fernando; Perfetti, Vittorio; Corti, Francesca; Ricci, Claudio; Giacomelli, Luca; Porcu, Luca; Di Maio, Massimo; Seregni, Ettore; Maccauro, Marco; Lastoria, Secondo; Bongiovanni, Alberto; Versari, Annibale; Persano, Irene; Rinzivillo, Maria; Pignata, Salvatore Antonio; Rocca, Paola Anna; Lamberti, Giuseppe; Cingarlini, Sara; Puliafito, Ivana; Ambrosio, Maria Rosaria; Zanata, Isabella; Bracigliano, Alessandra; Severi, Stefano; Spada, Francesca; Andreasi, Valentina; Modica, Roberta; Scalorbi, Federica; Milione, Massimo; Sabella, Giovanna; Coppa, Jorgelina; Casadei, Riccardo; Di Bartolomeo, Maria; Falconi, Massimo; de Braud, FilippoPusceddu, Sara; Prinzi, Natalie; Tafuto, Salvatore; Ibrahim, Toni; Filice, Angelina; Brizzi, Maria Pia; Panzuto, Francesco; Baldari, Sergio; Grana, Chiara M.; Campana, Davide; Davì, Maria Vittoria; Giuffrida, Dario; Zatelli, Maria Chiara; Partelli, Stefano; Razzore, Paola; Marconcini, Riccardo; Massironi, Sara; Gelsomino, Fabio; Faggiano, Antongiulio; Giannetta, Elisa; Bajetta, Emilio; Grimaldi, Franco; Cives, Mauro; Cirillo, Fernando; Perfetti, Vittorio; Corti, Francesca; Ricci, Claudio; Giacomelli, Luca; Porcu, Luca; Di Maio, Massimo; Seregni, Ettore; Maccauro, Marco; Lastoria, Secondo; Bongiovanni, Alberto; Versari, Annibale; Persano, Irene; Rinzivillo, Maria; Pignata, Salvatore Antonio; Rocca, Paola Anna; Lamberti, Giuseppe; Cingarlini, Sara; Puliafito, Ivana; Ambrosio, Maria Rosaria; Zanata, Isabella; Bracigliano, Alessandra; Severi, Stefano; Spada, Francesca; Andreasi, Valentina; Modica, Roberta; Scalorbi, Federica; Milione, Massimo; Sabella, Giovanna; Coppa, Jorgelina; Casadei, Riccardo; Di Bartolomeo, Maria; Falconi, Massimo; de Braud, Filipp

The problem of unity in Parmenides: a history of critical and textual analysis

Da sempre si è ritenuto che Parmenide affermasse l'unità dell'Essere. Nel corso del '900 si è però iniziato a dubitare di tale attributo. Nella prima parte della tesi ho analizzato le varie interpretazioni critiche che sono state date a tal proposito e ho cercato di mostrare come, col tempo, si sia sempre più abbandonata l'idea di un monismo assoluto per abbracciare l'idea di un'unità che fosse in rapporto con i molti. Questa revisione si è spesso accompagnata ad una rivalutazione della fisica Parmenidea esposta nella seconda parte del Poema. In particolar modo mi sono concentrato sulle letture di metà '900 (Verdenius, Calogero, Untersteiner), predicazioni (Kahn, Mourelatos, Curd) e fisiche più recenti (Ruggiu, Casertano, Cerri, Palmer). Nella seconda parte della tesi ho invece analizzato i frammenti in cui i vari storici della filosofia hanno intravisto la possibilità di argomentazioni pro o contro determinate concezioni di monismo. Mi sono dedicato quindi all'analisi critica del frammento 4 e del frammento 8 (versi 4, 5-6, 12-13, 22-25, 36-37, 38, 53-54). In questa analisi ho cercato di portare elementi a sostegno della teoria da me sostenuta per cui Parmenide affermerebbe l'uni-molteplicità, cioè che il soggetto parmenideo è il Cosmo, la Realtà intera, il Tutto che ingloba dentro di sé il molteplice sensibile. La tesi si chiude con un'appendice dedicata ai riferimenti platonici sul tema dell'unità in Parmenide.It has always been believed that Parmenides affirmed the unity of Being. During the 20th century, however, some scholars began to doubt this attribute. In the first part of the thesis I analyzed the various critical interpretations that have been given in this regard and I tried to show how, over time, the idea of ​​an absolute monism was increasingly abandoned to embrace the idea of ​​a unity that was in relationship with the many. This revision was often accompanied by a re-evaluation of the Parmenidea physics exposed in the second part of the Poem. In particular, I focused on the mid-1900s readings (Verdenius, Calogero, Untersteiner), predicational interpretations (Kahn, Mourelatos, Curd) and more recent physics readings (Ruggiu, Casertano, Cerri, Palmer). In the second part of the thesis I have analyzed the fragments in which the various historians of philosophy have seen the possibility of arguments for or against certain conceptions of monism. Then I made a critical analysis of the fragments 4 and 8 (verses 4, 5-6, 12-13, 22-25, 36-37, 38, 53-54). In this analysis I have tried to bring elements to support the theory supported by me for which Parmenides would affirm the uni-totality, i.e. that the Parmenides poem's subject is the Cosmos, the whole Reality, the Whole that incorporates the sensitive manifold. The thesis terminates with an appendix dedicated to the Platonic references on the theme of unity in Parmenides

A production system model for Mini-Factories and last mile production approach

Downsizing the production system model within a urban environment represents an opportunity for re-shoring the manufacturing industry. A strong involvement of End Users in product design and development, manufacturing and distribution is essential for traditional SMEs, which strive to find new business opportunities and to be as close as possible to their Customers. Manufacturing systems based on a Mini-Factory approach is one of the modern pervasive production models providing tailored products with low cost and short delivery time. After analyzing the definition and key characteristics of a Mini-Factory in literature, essentially based on contributions by Reichwald, Stotko & Piller [1], a new production system model is proposed. Indeed, due to its peculiarities, this model has been reviewed and updated, to better reflect the challenges in the European furniture sector and to eventually extend the results to further industries

That Dragon, Cancer: Narrative Techniques of the Gameful Experience

This paper explores the emotional relationship between game experi-ence and real experience in That Dragon, Cancer(Numinous Games 2016), a video game about Joel, a 4-year child,and his fight against cancer. The approach of this paper combines game studiesand phi-losophy. The first part introduces the procedural rhetoric of this video game, to understand how the game can influence reality through its game mechanics. Then, the paper presents some of these game ele-ments: the effects of video game language, the universalization of the experience through visual and spatial design choices, and the question of time. The aim is to discuss the game\u2019s effectiveness in the production of a possible change in real life, on a psychological, political and relational leve

Religion and Spirituality in NieR: Automata

Religion and spirituality in the video game NieR: Automat