Per un'antropologia dell'Unione europea. Istituzioni, politiche culturali e sviluppo identitario nel processo d'integrazione

Questa tesi, basata principalmente sulle ricerche di Cris Shore e Marc Abélès, esamina diversi approcci antropologici allo studio dell’Unione europea. L’Unione è vista dall’antropologia come un costrutto culturale e le sue istituzioni come un nuovo luogo in cui si manifesta il politico in era di globalizzazione, dove il tradizionale nesso tra potere, politica e territorialità perde centralità. Il metodo antropologico di ricerca sul campo è usato come punto di partenza sul quale elaborare delle conclusioni teoriche generali sulla natura del progetto europeo, le sue istituzioni e le sue politiche. La tesi si concentra poi sulla visione di identità e cultura europea che prende forma all’interno della Commissione e come questa tenta di diffondere la sua concezione d’Europa tramite iniziative simbolico-rituali e politiche mirate nel settore culturale per dare legittimità al progetto europeo. Particolare attenzione è rivolta alla concettualizzazione della cittadinanza europea, vista qui come strumento identiario essenziale per tracciare i confini di un’identità condivisa che possa trascendere quella nazionale. L’ideologia e la cultura organizzativa della Commissione europea sono quindi esaminate assieme a quei meccanismi cognitivi che operano tra i funzionari europei per creare quel “nuovo uomo europeo” auspicato dai padri fondatori e dai teorici del progetto d’integrazione. Infine, si traggono alcune conclusioni sull’importanza del contributo antropologico per la comprensione di questa nuova ed inedita entità politica post-moderna. This dissertation, mainly based on Cris Shore and Marc Abélès' research, explores the anthropological approaches to the study of the European Union. This is seen by anthropologists as a cultural construct and its institutions as a new place where politics manifests itself in a globalization era in which the relationship between power, politics and territory is losing centrality. The anthropological method of the fieldwork is used as a starting point to set a range of general theoretical conclusion about the nature of the European project, its institutions and policies. The dissertation also focuses on the vision of European identity and culture that takes form inside the European Commission, and how the latter try to spread this conception of Europe through ritual and symbolic initiatives and a systematic intervention in the cultural sector to gain legitimacy for the European project. Particular attention is paid to the construction of the European citizenship seen as an identity device, essential to draw the boundaries of a shared identity that can transcend the national one. The ideology and the cultural organization of the European Commission are then examined together with the cognitive mechanisms operating among the European civil service in order to create the new European man advocated by the founding fathers and the integrationist theorists. Finally, conclusions are drawn on how important the anthropological contribution is to the understanding of this new and unique post-modern polity

retrofitting and adaptability in urban areas

Abstract It is becoming more and more fundamental to develop a new approach to the dwelling in the contemporary world of architecture. If the Candilis revolution was based on humanism and regionalism, the current reaction should focus its attention on technology and a multicultural perspective. Technology has already occupied a main role in the design process, however it is not in the case of a multicultural approach. What the modernists started to call 'Habitat' was intrinsic to the society they were working for. The project was designed in regards to one singular habitat, with one use for society. We developed that approach and have continued to use this mono perspective. It is now necessary not to carry the analysis and the research from one singular point of view but to expand on this analysis and research to incorporate the voices of many [1]

A European Project for Safer and Energy Efficient Buildings: Pro-GET-onE (Proactive Synergy of inteGrated Efficient Technologies on Buildings\u2019 Envelopes)

The paper describes the progress of the four-year European project Pro-GET-onE currently under implementation. This research and innovation project is based on the assumption that greater efficiency, attractiveness, and marketable renovation can only be achieved through an integrated set of technologies where all the different requirements (energy, structural, functional) are optimally managed. Thus, the project focuses on the unprecedented integration of different technologies to achieve a multi-benefit approach that is provided by a closer integration between energy and non-energy related benefits. The project aims to combine different pre-fabricated elements in a unified and integrated system resulting in a higher performance in terms of energy requirements, structural safety, and social sustainability. The project attempts to achieve this goal through the introduction of innovative solutions for building envelopes to optimally combine the climatic, structural, and functional aspects through a significant architectural transformation and a substantial increase of the real estate value of the buildings. This augmented value obtained through the application of the inteGrated Efficient Technologies (GETs) is extremely important when considering the necessity of creating an innovative and attractive market in the energy renovation of existing buildings towards the target of nearly zero energy buildings (nZEBs)

An expeditious methodology for the seismic vulnerability assessment of building aggregates

An in-depth knowledge of the historical buildings allows us to predict the damage mechanisms that can be generated by an earthquake on a built fabric, thanks to the study of historical documents and to surveys carried out on site. An expeditious assessment procedure based on indicators related to the masonry behaviour of building aggregates has been developed. The method has a preventive purpose, as it allows to classify the building aggregates of a historical center before a seismic event occurs. The paper illustrates the protocol for the expeditous evaluation of seismic vulnerability of building aggregates in Italian historical centres, which is based on the determination of synthetic indicators to provide a preliminary assessment of their potential damage under the earthquake. The 2012 earthquake in Emilia-Romagna allowed to test the effectiveness of this method. Its application to the building aggregates of the historic center of Mirandola (MO) allowed to verify how it would have been possible to identify in advance the damage scenario recorded after the earthquakes

An Integrated System for Fa\ue7ade Additions Combining Safe, Energy Efficient and User-Orientated Solutions

This research work, as part of the Horizon H2020 project, Pro-GET-onE (Horizon 2020 GA No. 723747), aims to demonstrate the attractiveness of a renovation strategy based on new fa\ue7ade additions that combine integrated technologies (GET) to achieve high standards in terms of socio-economic, energy and seismic performance. This document investigates, in particular, the possible transformation of the existing building envelope with external reinforcement structures, which generate energy-efficient buffer zones and at the same time increase the volume of the building

Sex differences in cerebral venous sinus thrombosis after adenoviral vaccination against COVID-19

Introduction: Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis associated with vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia (CVST-VITT) is a severe disease with high mortality. There are few data on sex differences in CVST-VITT. The aim of our study was to investigate the differences in presentation, treatment, clinical course, complications, and outcome of CVST-VITT between women and men. Patients and methods: We used data from an ongoing international registry on CVST-VITT. VITT was diagnosed according to the Pavord criteria. We compared the characteristics of CVST-VITT in women and men. Results: Of 133 patients with possible, probable, or definite CVST-VITT, 102 (77%) were women. Women were slightly younger [median age 42 (IQR 28–54) vs 45 (28–56)], presented more often with coma (26% vs 10%) and had a lower platelet count at presentation [median (IQR) 50x109/L (28–79) vs 68 (30–125)] than men. The nadir platelet count was lower in women [median (IQR) 34 (19–62) vs 53 (20–92)]. More women received endovascular treatment than men (15% vs 6%). Rates of treatment with intravenous immunoglobulins were similar (63% vs 66%), as were new venous thromboembolic events (14% vs 14%) and major bleeding complications (30% vs 20%). Rates of good functional outcome (modified Rankin Scale 0-2, 42% vs 45%) and in-hospital death (39% vs 41%) did not differ. Discussion and conclusions: Three quarters of CVST-VITT patients in this study were women. Women were more severely affected at presentation, but clinical course and outcome did not differ between women and men. VITT-specific treatments were overall similar, but more women received endovascular treatment.</p

Sex differences in cerebral venous sinus thrombosis after adenoviral vaccination against COVID-19

Introduction: Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis associated with vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia (CVST-VITT) is a severe disease with high mortality. There are few data on sex differences in CVST-VITT. The aim of our study was to investigate the differences in presentation, treatment, clinical course, complications, and outcome of CVST-VITT between women and men. Patients and methods: We used data from an ongoing international registry on CVST-VITT. VITT was diagnosed according to the Pavord criteria. We compared the characteristics of CVST-VITT in women and men. Results: Of 133 patients with possible, probable, or definite CVST-VITT, 102 (77%) were women. Women were slightly younger [median age 42 (IQR 28–54) vs 45 (28–56)], presented more often with coma (26% vs 10%) and had a lower platelet count at presentation [median (IQR) 50x109/L (28–79) vs 68 (30–125)] than men. The nadir platelet count was lower in women [median (IQR) 34 (19–62) vs 53 (20–92)]. More women received endovascular treatment than men (15% vs 6%). Rates of treatment with intravenous immunoglobulins were similar (63% vs 66%), as were new venous thromboembolic events (14% vs 14%) and major bleeding complications (30% vs 20%). Rates of good functional outcome (modified Rankin Scale 0-2, 42% vs 45%) and in-hospital death (39% vs 41%) did not differ. Discussion and conclusions: Three quarters of CVST-VITT patients in this study were women. Women were more severely affected at presentation, but clinical course and outcome did not differ between women and men. VITT-specific treatments were overall similar, but more women received endovascular treatment.</p

Pianificazione integrata e razionalizzazione delle attività di Assemblaggio e di Service di una commessa: il caso IMA S.p.A.

Il seguente elaborato mira a presentare una panoramica generale sulla pianificazione di una commessa macchina, per poi entrare nel dettaglio di alcune piattaforme software utilizzare all'interno dell'azienda IMA S.p.A. per pianificare tale commessa. Il focus è sulla trasformazione digitale e sugli strumenti che mette a disposizione per ottimizzare i processi aziendali, in particolare, nell'elaborato seguente, i processi di pianificazione. Il software di riferimento, il quale viene spiegato nelle sfaccettature utili alla comprensione della trattazione, è Microsoft Project. Tale piattaforma permette di schedulare le attività della commessa definendo le date, assegnando risorse, valutando le sovra allocazioni e via dicendo. Il cuore di questa tesi si concentra nell'analizzare l'attuale contesto di pianificazione delle attività di Service (Post Vendita), mettendo in luce le criticità e i KPI più rilevanti della gestione AS-IS. Le problematiche emerse vengono studiate in dettaglio, per poi strutturare una soluzione TO-BE che automatizzi la schedulazione di queste attività. Più in particolare, viene strutturato uno script di importazione automatico che permette ai pianificatori di evitare tanto lavoro manuale e mnemonico, poiché, tramite funzioni personalizzate, si ha una scrittura e una modifica automatica. Con l'implementazione di questa soluzione, i tempi per le attività quotidiane dei pianificatori e dei capi squadra di montaggio vengono radicalmente ridotte, ottenendo un elevato guadagno temporale il quale si rispecchia poi in una diminuzione dei costi. La parte finale dell'elaborato presenta una valutazione economica proprio basata sulla marginalità derivante dal TO-BE e valutando quindi il Break Even Point dello scenario implementato. Si termina con un'analisi futura degli sviluppi a cui il progetto Enterprise Planning andrà incontro

Treatment of lipid disorders: targets and thresholds

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Febuxostat: a new drug for an old disease. Do we really need it?

BACKGROUND Febuxostat is a non-purine selective inhibitor of xanthine oxidase whose therapeutic effect is decreasing the serum uric acid concentration. Febuxostat has a marketing authorisation for the treatment of chronic hyperuricaemia in conditions where urate/uric acid deposition has already occurred. The recommended dose of febuxostat is 80 mg once daily. If the person’s serum uric acid concentration is above 6 mg/dL after 2-4 weeks, febuxostat 120 mg once daily may be considered. The most common side effects associated with febuxostat are diarrhoea, nausea, headache, liver function test abnormalities and rash. The evidence in support of the clinical effectiveness of febuxostat in comparison with allopurinol is not strong. DISCUSSION A meta-analysis showed that although the urate-lowering efficacy of febuxostat was statistically significantly higher than fixed-dose allopurinol (300 mg/day), a higher proportion of patients receiving febuxostat needed treatment for gout flares compared with those receiving fixed-dose allopurinol. For the febuxostat 80 mg/day group this difference was not statistically significant (p &gt; 0.18), but for the 120 mg/day febuxostat group it was. Moreover, guidelines recommend dose titration for allopurinol according to therapeutic targets. It is possible that dose-titrated allopurinol may be more effective than fixed-dose allopurinol. CONCLUSIONS Febuxostat is a plausible improvement on current second-line options. These options are considered where allopurinol is not appropriate, e.g. because of chronic kidney disease, intolerance or lack of response