Laura Benedan’s research while affiliated with Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca and other places

Summary of Background Data The term 'collectible design' is used to describe functional design objects that also hold symbolic value, making them highly sought after due to their particular assets such as rarity, uniqueness, or authenticity. These items are traded in both the art and commercial markets, with auction prices increasing and an expansion in the number of specialist trading platforms suggesting a growing demand. Collectible design may be considered a hybrid market and product category, which includes historical and contemporary design commodities. The functional and symbolic qualities of these items are valued by collectors for a multitude of reasons, including emotional and social identification. Objectives The present study aimed to gain a deeper understanding of the world of collectible design. This involved exploring the underlying principles that drive its appeal and market value, as well as analysing its evolving trends. Methods A literature review was conducted to explore the body of knowledge surrounding collectible design, focusing on its aesthetic, functional, symbolic, and market-driven attributes. Subsequently, three semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with experts in the fields of collecting, interior decoration, and the art market. This initial phase identified key themes and areas of uncertainty, indicating the necessity for a structured methodology to further examine collectible design. Accordingly, the Delphi approach was deemed an appropriate methodology for the systematic gathering of expert opinions and the achievement of consensus on critical aspects of collectible design. In the initial phase, a questionnaire was constructed based on the insights derived from the literature review and qualitative interviews. The questionnaire was distributed to a panel of experts, comprising designers, collectors, art and design professionals and academics, in order to elicit their perspectives. In the second phase, a shorter questionnaire was constructed, focusing on issues where consensus had not been reached in the initial round. Results Consensus was reached among experts on the term "collectible design", with a majority (91%) agreeing that it denotes a tangible entity. Furthermore, five images of collectible design were presented to experts, and for each item, participants identified key terms. The analysis revealed that the items were perceived as ‘distinctive’, often emphasising their originality or rarity. Additionally, functionality and craftsmanship were highlighted as important factors. Discussion/Conclusions The present study offers a comprehensive examination of collectible design, integrating theoretical knowledge with practical insights from industry experts. The use of the Delphi method yielded insights into current practices and future trends.

Background Migraine is a highly underestimated and burdensome disease. Real-world studies evidence that migraine is more frequent and severe in women than men. However, to this day, no diagnostic-therapeutic pathways exist to satisfy the specific needs of female patients. Methods In this study, migraine experts, specialists in women’s health, patient, and decision makers, analyzed the diagnostic and therapeutic options for women with migraine across various ages and health conditions within the Italian healthcare system. A Delphi approach was used to formulate statements and achieve a consensus. Results Gaps in clinical practice were identified, and strategies to accommodate women’s needs were proposed. The experts agreed that a socio-behavioral intervention should be planned before any pharmacological treatment in pediatric/adolescent female patients and that the assessment of migraine with aura is considered crucial for adult women requiring contraceptive therapy. Acupuncture emerged as an effective treatment for pregnant and breastfeeding women, and hormone-replacement therapy selection in menopausal patients requires careful consideration to mitigate safety risks. The experts highlighted the absence of literature and guidelines for the management of migraine in women undergoing assisted reproductive procedures or oncological treatment. In light of these observations, the experts advocated the establishment of multidisciplinary collaborations between neurologists/headache specialists and other healthcare professionals, including general practitioners, pediatricians, gynecologists, and oncologists. Comprehensive migraine education for all healthcare professionals potentially involved in managing the disease, including pharmacists, was emphasized. Efforts to increase migraine awareness among women should be prioritized. Conclusion The insights gained from this Italian consensus study should serve to develop an improved, female-specific pathway to diagnose and treat migraine.

Purpose First-line medical therapy for acromegaly management includes first-generation somatostatin receptor ligands (fgSRLs), but resistance limits their use. Despite international guidelines, the choice of second-line therapy is debated. Methods We aim to discuss resistance to fgSRLs, identify second-line therapy determinants and assess glycemia’s impact to provide valuable insights for acromegaly management in clinical practice. A group of Italian endocrinologists expert in the pituitary field participated in a two-round Delphi panel between July and September 2023. The Delphi questionnaire encompassed a total of 75 statements categorized into three sections: resistance to fgSRLs therapy and predictors of response; determinants for the selection of second-line therapy; the role of glycemia in the therapeutic management. The statements were rated on a 6-point Likert scale. Results Fifty-nine (79%) statements reached a consensus. IGF-1 levels resulted central for evaluating resistance to fgSRLs, that should be defined considering also symptomatic clinical response, degree of tumor shrinkage and complications, using clinician- and patient-reported outcome tools available. Factors to be evaluated for the choice of second-line medical therapy are hyperglycemia—that should be managed as in non-acromegalic patients—tumor remnant, resistant headache and compliance. Costs do not represent a main determinant in the choice of second-line medical treatment. Conclusion The experts agreed on a holistic management approach to acromegaly. It is therefore necessary to choose currently available highly effective second-line medical treatment (pegvisomant and pasireotide) based on the characteristics of the patients.

This volume collects the contributions presented at the conference “Data-driven Decision Making” organized by the Italian Association for Applied Statistics, held in Genoa from 12 to 14 September 2022. The papers cover a broad range of topics, with a common thread: the use of statistical methods to support decision-making both in public administrations and in private companies.

Researchers have demonstrated that interviewer supportive behaviors positively affect children's abilities to provide information about their experiences in many circumstances, but there is some evidence that supportiveness effects may be influenced by children's temperament. The associations among interviewer support, child temperament, and children's propensity to disclose adult transgressions during free recall remain unclear. Children (N = 132) 5 to 9 years old partook in an event where an adult confederate committed six transgressions. The children were interviewed a few days later; half by a supportive interviewer and half by a neutral interviewer. Within two to three months of their participation, the children's teachers completed a questionnaire to describe each child's temperament. While interviewer support did not predict these children's disclosure of transgressions, dimensions of child temperament and individual factors did. Specifically, children's disclosure tendencies were predicted by how socially flexible and task-oriented they were. Additionally, the interviewers' questioning behavior was impacted by children's level of reactivity. Taken together with other research, the results provide further evidence that behaviors of both the interviewers and the children in the interview process are relevant to facilitating children's disclosures of sensitive information.

This book includes 40 peer-reviewed short papers submitted to the Scientific Conference titled Statistics and Information Systems for Policy Evaluation, aimed at promoting new statistical methods and applications for the evaluation of policies and organized by the Association for Applied Statistics (ASA) and the Dept. of Statistics, Computer Science, Applications DiSIA “G. Parenti” of the University of Florence, jointly with the partners AICQ (Italian Association for Quality Culture), AICQ-CN (Italian Association for Quality Culture North and Centre of Italy), AISS (Italian Academy for Six Sigma), ASSIRM (Italian Association for Marketing, Social and Opinion Research), Comune di Firenze, the SIS – Italian Statistical Society, Regione Toscana and Valmon – Evaluation & Monitoring.

Adolescent gambling is internationally considered a serious public health concern, although this phenomenon is less explored than adult gambling. It is also well known that the early onset age of gambling is a risk factor for developing gambling problems in adulthood. This study examined 7818 adolescents enrolled in 16 public high schools in Lombardy, a Northwest Italy region, between March 2017 and April 2018 and it is part of a larger study aimed at investigating dysfunctional behaviours of adolescents, with the purpose of identifying the factors that increase the risk of vulnerability and the protection factors able to reduce the incidence of pathological phenomena. The objective of the present study was to investigate the susceptibility of adolescents in high school to develop gambling problems, explained by some individual and social factors, and by the association with the use of substances, such as alcohol and tobacco and other risk-taking behaviours. Various modelling methods were considered from an imbalanced learning perspective, as the prevalence rate of high school students in the sample with problem gambling is equal to 6.1%.

This book includes 40 peer-reviewed short papers submitted to the Scientific Conference titled Statistics and Information Systems for Policy Evaluation, aimed at promoting new statistical methods and applications for the evaluation of policies and organized by the Association for Applied Statistics (ASA) and the Dept. of Statistics, Computer Science, Applications DiSIA “G. Parenti” of the University of Florence, jointly with the partners AICQ (Italian Association for Quality Culture), AICQ-CN (Italian Association for Quality Culture North and Centre of Italy), AISS (Italian Academy for Six Sigma), ASSIRM (Italian Association for Marketing, Social and Opinion Research), Comune di Firenze, the SIS – Italian Statistical Society, Regione Toscana and Valmon – Evaluation & Monitoring.