Government failure, opposition success? Electoral performance in Portugal and Italy at the time of the crisis. Jean Monnet Occasional Paper 05/2014

The costs of the crisis in Southern European countries have not been only economic but political. Economic crises tend to lead to government instability and termination while political challengers are expected to exploit this contingent window of opportunity to gain an advantage over incumbents in national elections. The current crisis seems to make no exception, looking at the results of the general elections recently held in Southern Europe. However, this did not always lead to a clear victory of the main opposition parties. In most of the elections, in fact, the incumbent parties’ loss did not coincide with the official opposition’s gain. The extreme case is represented by Italy, where both the outgoing government coalition led by Silvio Berlusconi – setting aside for the moment the technocratic phase – and its main challenger, the centre left coalition, ended up losing millions of voters and a new political force, the Five Star Movement, obtained about 25 per cent of votes. On the opposite side there is Portugal. Only in Portugal did the vote increase for the centre right PSD, in fact, exceed the incumbent socialists’ loss. The present work aims at exploring the factors which might account for this significant divergence between the two cases

Heritage and cultural accessibility: the role of design in the creation of an intercultural dialogue

The contribution intends to present a reflection in the field of design for the enhancement of cultural heritage in terms of cultural accessibility, and the implications related to the reception and integration of communities and social groups nowadays excluded. Within this context, design skills can be made available as tools to generate mediation processes between these cultural multiplicities, encouraging actions to enhance diversity and activating a dialogue between people and cultures. Design can devise strategies, services and integrated communication systems to facilitate meeting and exchange between the heritage and the multicultural community that lives in a territory. By mapping certain virtuous design actions (at different scales, such as graphic, product and strategic design), we aim to highlight new possible approaches in the design for the fruition of cultural heritage, according to which the design act presents itself as a “translation” of values and identities for new and existing communities that cohabit in a territory

Severe and polytraumatic injuries among recreational skiers and snowboarders: incidence, demographics and injury patterns in South Tyrol

Background Alpine skiing and snowboarding are popular winter sports. The practice of these sports is related to traumatic injuries, some of which are severe and/or life threatening. Objectives To identify the incidence, injury patterns and associated risk factors of severe and polytraumatic injuries in South Tyrol. Materials and methods During four consecutive winter seasons (2001-2005), data of every patient referred to our emergency department (Bolzano-Bozen) after a skiing or snowboarding accident were collected. One hundred and five patients with an Injury Severity Score of 16 or higher were identified (90 skiers, 15 snowboarders). Statistical descriptive analyses were carried out by producing frequency tables. Chi-square test was performed to verify possible association between injury severity and type of sport. Risk factors for severe injuries were evaluated using logistic regression with robust variance estimators. Results Traumatic brain injury was the most common injury observed (51 cases), followed by vertebral injury (45 cases); 63% of the patients reported two or more associated injuries. We observed significant associations between severe spine injuries and the following risk factors: snowboarders who reported more severe injuries than skiers [odds ratio = 5.89, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.31, 26.44], age classes of 40-50 years and over 60 years showed an OR of 8.10 (95% CI = 1.87, 35.06) and 5.16 (95% CI = 1.27, 21.01), respectively, with respect to age class (20-40 years). Conclusion Severe traumatic injuries occur among skiers and snowboarders, and preventive measures such as the use of helmets and educational programs, are necessary. European Journal of Emergency Medicine 19: 69-72 (C) 2012 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

Room temperature Bloch surface wave polaritons

Polaritons are hybrid light-matter quasi-particles that have gathered a significant attention for their capability to show room temperature and out-of-equilibrium Bose-Einstein condensation. More recently, a novel class of ultrafast optical devices have been realized by using flows of polariton fluids, such as switches, interferometers and logical gates. However, polariton lifetimes and propagation distance are strongly limited by photon losses and accessible in-plane momenta in usual microcavity samples. In this work, we show experimental evidence of the formation of room temperature propagating polariton states arising from the strong coupling between organic excitons and a Bloch surface wave. This result, which was only recently predicted, paves the way for the realization of polariton devices that could allow lossless propagation up to macroscopic distances

Environment-Induced Reversible Modulation of Optical and Electronic Properties of Lead Halide Perovskites and Possible Applications to Sensor Development: A Review

none4siLead halide perovskites are currently widely investigated as active materials in photonic and optoelectronic devices. While the lack of long term stability actually limits their application to commercial devices, several experiments demonstrated that beyond the irreversible variation of the material properties due to degradation, several possibilities exist to reversibly modulate the perovskite characteristics by acting on the environmental conditions. These results clear the way to possible applications of lead halide perovskites to resistive and optical sensors. In this review we will describe the current state of the art of the comprehension of the environmental effects on the optical and electronic properties of lead halide perovskites, and of the exploitation of these results for the development of perovskite-based sensors.openDe Giorgi, ML; Milanese, S; Klini, A; Anni, MDe Giorgi, Ml; Milanese, S; Klini, A; Anni,

Action and non-action oriented body representations. insight from behavioural and grey matter modifications in individuals with lower limb amputation

Following current model of body representations, we aimed to systematically investigate the association between brain modifications, in terms of grey matter loss, and body representation deficits, in terms of alterations of the body schema (BS) and of non-action oriented body representations (NA), in individuals with lower limb amputation (LLA)

Packaging reconditioned household appliances

This article aims to present a research and design work that focuses on exploring new possible approaches to packaging design as applied to the field of reconditioning and reintroducing old household appliances to the market. The work developed by the research group from the Politecnico di Torino – Design, in particular, is part of a research agreement signed with Astelav, a Piedmontese company based in Nichelino (Turin) and a leading distributor of components and spare parts for household appliances, in partnership with Turin-based Sermig, a non-profit organisation that aims to provide people marginalised by unemployment, social and financial problems with hospitality and both social and job support. The company recently launched the Ri-Generation project alongside Sermig. This involves reconditioning used white goods (washing machines, dishwashers, fridges, ovens, etc.) by intercepting the WEEE (Waste Electrical & Electronic Equipment) supply chain as well as encouraging socially marginalised people to gain new skills whilst assisting specialised technicians in reconditioning appliances. The work involves the replacement of damaged or broken parts, a cleaning process, followed by the product’s placement on the market. It is an example of a circular economy that helps prevent the accumulation of waste in landfills, offers old products a new lease of life and new added value and, at the same time, creates new economies and new employment and social rehabilitation opportunities for people in difficult socio-economic circumstances. In such a scenario, the design work carried out attempts to develop new systems for the protection, transportation, presentation and sale of these used, salvaged and reconditioned products, so as to allow them to be distributed on the market, as well as to communicate their own particular image during the sales process. It is a very unusual packaging project because, apart from anything else, every product sold is different from the other, even if they share common characteristics. The design challenge was tackled both in terms of its functional and marketing aspects, but also in line with a wider cultural paradigm that envisages the fine-tuning of a veritable system of activities and relationships that, in keeping with the characteristics of the Ri-Generation project, can generate innovation and sustainability at different levels: at a social level, by involving disadvantaged people and social cooperatives in packaging assembly; at an environmental level, by salvaging old clothes to create the padding; at a production level, by specially training and organising personnel; and at a linguistic level, by applying new modes and registers of expression that stem from experimentation, particularly in the artistic field. The new packaging design takes its cue from the use of the waste materials that Sermig receives on a daily basis through private donations, particularly second-hand clothes that are sorted, selected and then redistributed to people who are experiencing social and financial difficulties. The items of clothing that are damaged, ripped or worn out can be salvaged and, if properly processed, can be turned into efficient packaging systems. Garments are cut up and put together following clear procedural guidelines, and then positioned and sewn inside polyethylene tubes, creating a sort of “padded fabric” that is both waterproof and resistant and can wrap up and protect an appliance during the transport, storage and sales phases. The final product makes a strong impression: patches of clothing in different fabrics and colours surround the appliance, creating what looks like a cloth cube. Whilst it surprises and intrigues the viewer, it also expresses a narrative at different levels: an item of clothing that symbolises a product (a washing machine) declares its function at an emotive level whilst at the same time expressing the salvaging of a waste product, which is the principle that underpins the Ri-Generation project. Since the most significant environmental problem for packaging systems is indeed related to the need to prevent waste before its production, the value of this salvaging process is further stressed by the reusability once it has finished transporting the appliance after sale. The information sheets included and the packaging’s own graphics suggest a “catalogue” of possible alternative uses (the protection of accessories and furnishings during house moves or for storing items in attics and warehouses, garage wall padding, informal poufs, pet cushions, picnic blanket undersheets, etc.). The product’s fine-tuning has involved Sermig personnel (supervisors and guests) and Astelav employees and some social cooperatives during a number of workshops coordinated by the Polito research group, designed to test the production methods and skills of people both joining and leaving the packaging production process. The packaging is assembled by social cooperatives, who are suitably trained using the above-mentioned direct experimentation and partial co-designing phases. To date – having completed the production development, prototype and trial phases – the project is now preparing a pre-series of dozens of items that will be tested during their transportation and sale to consumers. The resulting feedback from these activities will allow the project’s organisers to streamline packaging production methods and the entire sales supply chain. Among the possible outcomes foreseen, action designed to divulge this project in order to turn it into a repeatable or reinterpretable example of best practices is envisaged, as well as the promotion of the project’s cultural merits. Such action includes: • The declinations of the semi-finished product: the defined packaging system, could be considered as a new semi-finished product which, when suitably reshaped, that means it could also be used as packaging in other product sectors; • The curatorship and creation of an exhibition to be put on display: the design of possible display concepts that could be shown at exhibitions and sustainable packaging trade fairs or used for creating a tailor-made event dedicated to Ri-Generation’s case history; • The creation of a special section on the Ri-Generation website: creating text, images, animation, etc. that can present the partnership with the Politecnico di Torino, the design process and the scientific and cultural value of the packaging design process; • The creation of a narrative: a sustainable packaging case history could be the focus of a story told by a lively, abridged publication that could be distributed at particular events designed to promote the initiative and the Ri-Generation project’s work

Ri-Pack. Sistemi di confezionamento per elettrodomestici rigenerati

Il contributo propone un'operazione di ricerca e progetto sviluppata in collaborazione da tre soggetti attivi in campo accademico, commerciale e sociale che, hanno creato le condizioni per produrre nuovi sistemi di imballaggio per elettrodomestici rigenerati, al fine di reintrodurli sul mercato. L’attività è sviluppata all'interno del progetto Ri-Generation, avviato da Astelav e Sermig (Torino, Italia), che ha come obiettivo il recupero di apparecchi dismessi al fine di prevenire la formazione di rifiuti nelle discariche, valorizzando i prodotti usati ancora in buone condizioni e garantendo al contempo opportunità di impiego lavorativo per persone socialmente emarginate. Obiettivo del progetto di packaging, oltre a quello di fornire risposte funzionali per il trasporto e lo stoccaggio, è quello di comunicare il contenuto di innovazione e sostenibilità dell’operazione Ri-Generation, mantenendo il medesimo spirito dell’iniziativa: il sistema è infatti prodotto trasformando e assemblando gli abiti usati recuperati quotidianamente dal Sermig. Il materassino morbido risultante può essere facilmente utilizzato per avvolgere la lavatrice rigenerata e proteggerla durante il trasporto e la vendita

Il design dell'esperienza. Percorsi di visita presso l'Ecomuseo delle Miniere e della Valle Germanasca

Tra le dimensioni del design la scala del progetto del servizio si occupa di sviluppare esperienze e azioni in grado di coinvolgere attivamente l’utente, finalizzate alla comunicazione di valori, significati e funzioni di sistemi territoriali. In tale ambito un caso interessante è rappresentato dal progetto dei percorsi di visita ScopriMiniera e ScopriAlpi presso l’Ecomuseo delle Miniere e della Valle Germanasca in Piemonte: sistemi organizzati per la fruizione volti a valorizzare il patrimonio territoriale e ambientale incentivando, con esperienze coinvolgenti, un turismo colto e curioso delle testimonianze culturali locali