CASES AND ISSUES OF THE RIGHT TO ERASURE (RIGHT TO BE FORGOTTEN) UNDER THE ARTICLE 17 OF REGULATION (EU) 2016/679

The subject of the research is the right to erasure (or the right to be forgotten) and its practical application. This right has now taken on great relevance in the European landscape thanks to Regulation (EU) 2016/679 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data, and repealing Directive 95/46/EC (General Data Protection Regulation). Therefore, the study will be characterized by: (i) the analysis of the legislative frame of reference, represented by art. 17 of Regulation; (ii) the verification of the law in action , conducted through the study of five cases resolved out of court, which will allow us to identify the concrete operational rules adopted for their resolution: 1) the case of the online article about the collapse of well-known Italian company; 2) the case of the online article about rigged tenders; 3) the case of the website of the political party; 4) the case of the “Panama Papers†; 5) the case of the website of an Italian region. In this way, it will be possible to identify the legal problem characterizing the five cases in order to identify the concrete operational rules adopted for their solution

Measurement of respiratory rate with cardiac belt: metrological characterization

The rapid growth of available wearable technologies, particularly in the healthcare sector, has ushered in a new era of digital health. This progress has introduced new possibilities for the monitoring of vital signs, including breathing rate (BR). BR is a crucial health parameter used to assess an individual's overall well-being; specifically, it can be considered a precise indicator of pathological conditions and stressors. The aim of this study is to conduct a metrological characterization of one of the most widely used BR sensors for the measurement of BR (i.e., Zephyr BioHarness 3.0), comparing it to a BR gold standard monitor (i.e., a spirometer), in determined test conditions, including both natural and defined BR patterns. Additionally, the Monte Carlo method (MCM) was applied to evaluate the propagation of the measurement uncertainty in the identification of the peaks of respiratory signal, used to calculate BR. Results reveal that the Zephyr BioHarness 3.0 sensor provides highly accurate BR measurements, with a precision of ±1 bpm. Bland-Altman analysis indicates a 95 % confidence interval of [-2; 3] bpm, demonstrating a close agreement with the reference instrument. The Pearson's correlation coefficient of 0.95 further validates the linear correlation between the reference/test measurements. The simulation based on MCM provides an expanded uncertainty of ±2 bpm (coverage factor k = 2) in BR estimation due to the uncertainty in the peaks identification (compatible with the accuracy provided by the manufacturer). These results highlight the Zephyr BioHarness 3.0 sensor reliability for BR monitoring while emphasizing the significance of accounting for different disturbing factors, e.g., uncertainty in peak detection during data analysis, also to provide a rigorous level of confidence in the measurement results, hence being able to properly interpret them in biomedical applications

Revolutionizing Healthcare: Unveiling the Transformative Power of Chatbots Through a Systematic Literature Review

The healthcare industry is changing, with a greater dependence on technology, as seen by the incorporation of chatbots powered by artificial intelligence. Chatbots serve as virtual assistants, improving patient assistance, education, and engagement by providing information on medical issues and easing administrative procedures. Chatbots are particularly useful in symptom evaluation and telemedicine, allowing for virtual consultations and remote patient monitoring. Although chatbot technology is highly innovative and useful for medical and management professionals, the literature is still scarce and highly fragmented among different research areas. This chapter aims to analyze the power of chatbots in healthcare through scientific literature, providing a holistic understanding of the state of the art and future applications of chatbots. Despite acknowledged limitations, the substantial advantages hint at a positive outlook for their ongoing growth and integration into the healthcare ecosystem

The work-related well-being of social service workers post COVID-19 pandemic: The psychosocial impact of remote vs in-person work

Introduction: The COVID-19 emergency and the subsequent restrictive measures forced an internal reorganization of social services, including a remote working model. These changes forced Social Service Workers (SSW) to change their work using new technologies, which might have affected their job satisfaction and general well-being. Therefore, the current research aims to compare the remote working situation during the pandemic with the return to in-person work to evaluate how these two models affected the SSW’s job satisfaction and well-being. Methods: SSW working in social service delivery organizations were recruited to participate in an online semi-structured survey comprising the Job Satisfaction Scale, Psychological General Well-Being Index-S, Work-Related Stress Indicator Tool, Organizational Identification Scale, and Positive and Negative Affect Schedule. The survey tool had several open-ended questions to examine participants' views about the existing interventions in their workplace and what could be improved and implemented on a permanent basis to enhance their well-being at work. Results: A total of 119 social workers accepted to complete the survey. 77 experienced both in-person and remote working. Comparing working in-person with remote working, the quality of life and satisfaction with one's health do not change. Whereas the perception of the risk of contracting COVID-19 increases when working in-person (M=3.88) than in remote working (M=1.96; p<.05), and the levels of anxiety increase in remote conditions (M=4.51) if compared to in-person working (M=4.06; p<.05). Job satisfaction about the relationship with the superior is better when working in-person than in remote working (M=4.87 vs 4.61; p<.05) and job satisfaction about the relations between the service and the workers is better when working in-person than in remote working (M=4.87 vs M=4.61; p<.05). Significant differences emerge also from the "in-person vs. remote working" comparison regarding all the dimensions of work-related stress. Discussion: Results lead to useful reflections regarding the management of relations with users and colleagues, the psycho-physical well-being of operators, and, more generally, the quality of the services provided about the mode of service delivery and whether they work in-person vs. remote working

Mortgage market, wages, and homeownership

This study deals with the outstanding issues regarding the interplay between homeownership and labour market outcomes. By focussing on the mortgage market and wages, the theoretical model clearly explains why homeowners are more likely to be employed than tenants, while, at the aggregate level, a negative relationship between homeownership and better job opportunities can emerge. Higher wages increase the probability of buying a home, while an increase in the probability of finding a job increases the competition on the demand side of the mortgage market. Also, a positive effect of homeownership on wages is hard to rationalise. Indeed, the regional panel analysis in Italy finds that homeownership is not, by itself, a condition for receiving higher wages. Eventually, wages cause homeownership, but the reverse may not be true

Smart Grid implementation in China: A Cost-Benefit Analysis

The Chinese government’s net zero plan targets climate neutrality by 2060, emphasizing a shift in power generation from coal to variable renewable energy sources (VRES), reaching 29% in 2020. Integrating VRES necessitates a Smart Grid, managing energy flow bidirectionally and mitigating source variability. This study evaluates Smart Grid investment’s economic gains in China via a cost-benefit analysis. Forecasting from 2020 to 2050, the analysis predicts a 6.1:1 Benefit-to-Cost ratio, akin to EPRI findings. However, data limitations warrant acknowledgment. This paper seeks to explore the potential financial merits of deploying Smart Grids in China amidst transitioning to sustainable energy sources

Simplified Procedure to Determine the Cohesive Material Law of Fiber-Reinforced Cementitious Matrix (FRCM)–Substrate Joints

: Fiber-reinforced cementitious matrix (FRCM) composites have been largely used to strengthen existing concrete and masonry structures in the last decade. To design FRCM-strengthened members, the provisions of the Italian CNR-DT 215 (2018) or the American ACI 549.4R and 6R (2020) guidelines can be adopted. According to the former, the FRCM effective strain, i.e., the composite strain associated with the loss of composite action, can be obtained by combining the results of direct shear tests on FRCM-substrate joints and of tensile tests on the bare reinforcing textile. According to the latter, the effective strain can be obtained by testing FRCM coupons in tension, using the so-called clevis-grip test set-up. However, the complex bond behavior of the FRCM cannot be fully captured by considering only the effective strain. Thus, a cohesive approach has been used to describe the stress transfer between the composite and the substrate and cohesive material laws (CMLs) with different shapes have been proposed. The determination of the CML associated with a specific FRCM-substrate joint is fundamental to capture the behavior of the FRCM-strengthened member and should be determined based on the results of experimental bond tests. In this paper, a procedure previously proposed by the authors to calibrate the CML from the load response obtained by direct shear tests of FRCM-substrate joints is applied to different FRCM composites. Namely, carbon, AR glass, and PBO FRCMs are considered. The results obtained prove that the procedure allows to estimate the CML and to associate the idealized load response of a specific type of FRCM to the corresponding CML. The estimated CML can be used to determine the onset of debonding in FRCM-substrate joints, the crack number and spacing in FRCM coupons, and the locations where debonding occurs in FRCM-strengthened members

Digital image correlation and cracked hinge model applied to notched beams reinforced with GFRP bars

In this study, three-point bending fracture tests of notched beams reinforced with a glass fiber reinforced polymer bar are conducted. Plain concrete beams are also tested for comparison. Two different widths are considered for the beams. Digital image correlation (DIC) is used on the lateral surface of the beam to study the fracture process zone (FPZ) and neutral axis depths at different load stages. A non-linear analytical model named cracked hinge model and cross-sectional analysis are used to obtain the force in the bar and the interfacial slip between bar and concrete, which are compared to the results from pull-out tests