This paper presents a qualitative investigation on user reactions, opinions, and sentiments about a TV-based technological solution developed within the EasyReach Project of the EU Ambient Assisted Living Joint Program to promote social interaction of less educated elderly people, that is, those individuals who, because of poor scholarization, low income, and, possibly, linguistic barriers, still find it difficult to use computers in order to improve their socialization. Experimental data were collected by extensive trials involving 40 real-end users. A methodology called "scenario engagement" was applied to get participants engaged in a live demonstration with the mediation of a facilitator who assisted elderly people to interact with the system. Results point out that the system can be effectively employed to foster social interaction, particularly when it is introduced in a collective use environment (e.g., Senior Center). Although the focus of the investigation was on information and communication technology-enabled social environments, the end users themselves strongly suggested to include in future system releases extra functions considered as essential opportunities for their potential digital lives: that is, medical or health services and bridges toward public administration.

This study applies a multidisciplinary approach to build scenarios on both digital television (DTV) adoption and use of T-government services by citizens. Usability and socio-economic aspects were investigated earlier by an Italian pilot study. Dataset derived from this study was later analysed using the UTAUT (Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology) model in order to identify those factors affecting the usage as statistically reliable variables for the next step. In fact, a micro-simulation model on the diffusion of DTV and T-government services was built in order to better understand the user behaviour at various stages in the adoption course of this new digital technology. Microsimulation is also capable of predicting the consequences of certain policies at different levels (i.e. business and governmental). The model shows how some DTV and T-government scenarios on the adoption by the citizens can be influenced by different policy strategies: switch-off date, public communication campaigns, taxes reduction

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Background: The main principle of abdominal incisional hernia repair is to restore the anatomical and physiological integrity of the abdominal wall by reconstructing the midline. Ideally, midline structural support is restored by midline approximation of local musculo-aponeurotic tissues. Approximation of these tissues without tension on the suture line will restore the elasticity and flexibility of the abdominal wall. However, 30% to 50% of defects larger than 6 cm recur after primary closure, because of the tension on the suture line. Insertion of an alloplastic material to decrease or eliminate tension on the suture line can reduce the incidence of recurrence to 10% or less. But inorganic prosthetic materials have been associated with a high risk of complications such as protrusion, extrusion, infection, and intestinal fistulization. With the availability of biological materials, surgeons are increasingly using these materials for effective surgical management of abdominal incisional hernia The aim of this study was to determine the feasibility and efficacy of repairing large abdominal incisional hernias by reconstructing the midline using bilateral abdominis rectus muscle sheath (ARS) relaxing incisions and a biological material onlay. Methods: Between January 2002 and December 2009, 104 patients underwent repair oflarge incisional hernias at 2 community hospitals. After replacement of hernia sac contents into the peritoneal cavity, a relaxing incision was made in the ARS bilaterally. Then the midline was closed primarily. The biological material was onlaid and sutured to the lateral edges of the relaxed ARS. Main outcome measures were postoperative complications and hernia recurrence. Results: Median age 61 years (range, 39-86) years. Body mass index was 34 (range, 23-44). Of the 104 patients, 37 had undergone I or more previous repairs. In 19 patients (18%), mesh had been used. In 14 patients the mesh had been placed as a sub lay, and in 5 patients the mesh had been placed laparoscopically. We removed the mesh in all 19 cases. Size of the defect was 195 (range, 150-420) cm 2 • Median operation time was 125 (range, 75-255) minutes. Four patients (3.8%) had a large wound hematoma that required operative drainage. Four (3.8%) patients developed skin necrosis at the edge of the wound, exposing the biological material; they were treated conservatively with dressings and oral antibiotics and discharged 9 days after surgery. Three (2.8%) developed urinary tract infection, which was treated successfully with appropriate oral antibiotics. One (0.9%) developed pneumonia postoperatively; this was successfully treated with appropriate antibiotics and the patient was discharged 10 days after surgery. Wound seroma occurred in 57 (55%) patients. In all cases, the seroma was suspected by physical examination and both confirmed and managed by fine needle aspiration, with or without sonography. The median time between surgery and diagnosis of seroma was 19 days (range, 12-42). The mean time to complete resolution was 52 days...

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This is an exploratory study about factors affecting the usage of Tgovernment services for payments through Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT). The widely known predicting model of ICT user acceptance UTAUT (Unified Theory of acceptance and Use of Technology) was applied to recognize those factors affecting usage, exploiting a pre-existing dataset coming from the Italian Tgovernment project named "Services for citizens via DTT". The key moderators of the model (i.e. age, gender, experience, voluntariness of use) were not included in this analysis. The dataset came from a semi-structured questionnaire administered to 189 users. The results suggest that perceived security of payment, considered as a comprehensive sense of security of the user, can be a significant variable in determining the behavioral intention in payments through DTT. Moreover the qualitative results of this exploratory study indicate that the "idea" of bill payment through DTT is appreciated by users, but the actual procedure for service use can be still cumbersome, in comparison to the other channels used for payments (e.g. the post office or the Internet).

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