Real-world hypertension prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control in adult diabetic individuals: an italian nationwide epidemiological survey

INTRODUCTION: Hypertesion is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality, worldwide, and its prevalence has been increasing in several countries, including Italy.AIMS: To assess hypertension prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control in a real-world sample of adults with self-reported diabetes compared with nondiabetic individuals.METHODS: Following the 2018 World Hypertension Day, a nationwide, cross-sectional epidemiological survey on cardiovascular risk factors ("Abbasso la Pressione!") in 3956 Italian pharmacies enrolled 47217 self-presenting volunteers (≥18 years). Participants underwent standardized blood pressure (BP) measurements and answered a questionnaire on cardiovascular risk factors and lifestyle habits. Questions included if they had an established diagnosis of diabetes, hypertension or were on a BP medication. Hypertension prevalence was defined as systolic BP ≥140 and/or diastolic BP ≥90 mmHg. A double definition for hypertension control based on the recent European and US guidelines on hypertension was applied.RESULTS: Diabetic individuals (N=5695, 12%) had higher rates of hypertension prevalence (80% vs. 54.7%, p<0.001), awareness (85.6% vs 77.3%, p<0.001) and treatment (85.8% vs. 76.7%, p<0.001), but lower hypertension control rates (36.1% vs. 39.6% according to the 2018 European guidelines, p<0.001; 25.4% vs 30.8% according to the 2017 US guidelines, p<0.001) than nondiabetics. Diabetic participants tended to be older, sedentary, overweight/obese, dyslipidemic men, with higher 10-years cardiovascular risk than nondiabetics (p<0.001). Uncontrolled hypertension was associated with male gender, diabetes, body mass index, unhealthy lifestyle habits, and older age.CONCLUSIONS: Elevated hypertension awareness and treatment rates in diabetic adults do not translate into adequate BP control in the real world. Concomitant unfavorable metabolic features and unhealthy lifestyle habits might contribute to this observation

The territorial dimension of environmental sustainability in Italy along the urban\u2013rural continuum

Single territories contribute in different ways to the transition towards a more environmentally sustainable development (SD), according to their structural features. This study returns a multi-dimensional picture of the territorial divides of environmental sustainability across Italy, analysing how it correlates with rurality, with a focus on the urban\u2013rural continuum. Italy represents an interesting case study because of its peculiar territorial urban\u2013rural structure. We first assess the environmental sustainability targets across Italian NUTS 3 regions and their capital cities using two composite sustainability indexes, by referring to both standard values (i.e. conforming to legislation) and optimum values (i.e. desired values). Then, we investigate the relationship between environmental sustainability and rurality. Results suggest that a positive link between the two exists, being stronger at city level. Among major policy implications, the environmental dimensions of territorial cohesion should be integrated more strongly in key European policies to reach a more balanced SD

The territorial dimension of environmental sustainability in Italy along the urban–rural continuum

Single territories contribute in different ways to the transition towards a more environmentally sustainable development (SD), according to their structural features. This study returns a multi-dimensional picture of the territorial divides of environmental sustainability across Italy, analysing how it correlates with rurality, with a focus on the urban\u2013rural continuum. Italy represents an interesting case study because of its peculiar territorial urban\u2013rural structure. We first assess the environmental sustainability targets across Italian NUTS 3 regions and their capital cities using two composite sustainability indexes, by referring to both standard values (i.e. conforming to legislation) and optimum values (i.e. desired values). Then, we investigate the relationship between environmental sustainability and rurality. Results suggest that a positive link between the two exists, being stronger at city level. Among major policy implications, the environmental dimensions of territorial cohesion should be integrated more strongly in key European policies to reach a more balanced SD

I Psr a sostegno di formazione e assistenza tecnica: chi spende i (pochi) soldi a disposizione?

Obiettivo di questo lavoro è quello di evidenziare come le misure della Politica di Sviluppo Rurale (2007-2013) che hanno un impatto sul sistema della conoscenza e dell’innovazione (misure 111, 114, 115 e 124 dell’Asse 1) presentino, oltre ad un ammontare ridotto di fondi, anche un’allocazione territoriale particolarmente disomogenea all’interno dell’Unione Europea. Sia scelte di natura politica (ovvero, la diversa importanza attribuita alle politiche per la formazione dai singoli Programmi di Sviluppo Rurale, Psr) sia altri aspetti di carattere strutturale (la diversa capacità dei territori europei di attirare e spendere i fondi messi a disposizione dai rispettivi Psr) influenzano tale allocazione, con notevoli implicazioni di policy

Distribution and re-distribution of CAP expenditure throughout the EU

This paper is aimed at assessing distribution of Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) expenditure through the European Union (EU) space. Firstly, spatial distribution of past CAP expenditure is analysed, specifically 2007-2011 payments. Both overall expenditure and disentangled measures are investigated; major territorial patterns through the EU-27 are highlighted as well. Secondly, spatial distribution of future expenditure, according to latest 2014-2020 CAP reform, is analysed. In particular, we assess re-distributional effects connected with spatial spillovers that are due to regional economic integration. Assessment is made through the adoption of a multiregional I-O model. The analysis is carried out at a very high level of disaggregation, i.e. NUTS 3 level throughout the EU-27. Furthermore, a specific focus is devoted to rural-urban relationships

Real-World Hypertension Prevalence, Awareness, Treatment, and Control in Adult Diabetic Individuals: An Italian Nationwide Epidemiological Survey

Introduction Hypertesion is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality, worldwide, and its prevalence has been increasing in several countries, including Italy. Aims To assess hypertension prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control in a real-world sample of adults with self-reported diabetes compared with nondiabetic individuals. Methods Following the 2018 World Hypertension Day, a nationwide, cross-sectional epidemiological survey on cardiovascular risk factors ("Abbasso la Pressione!") in 3956 Italian pharmacies enrolled 47217 self-presenting volunteers (>= 18 years). Participants underwent standardized blood pressure (BP) measurements and answered a questionnaire on cardiovascular risk factors and lifestyle habits. Questions included if they had an established diagnosis of diabetes, hypertension or were on a BP medication. Hypertension prevalence was defined as systolic BP >= 140 and/or diastolic BP >= 90 mmHg. A double definition for hypertension control based on the recent European and US guidelines on hypertension was applied. Results Diabetic individuals (N = 5695, 12%) had higher rates of hypertension prevalence (80% vs. 54.7%, p < 0.001), awareness (85.6% vs 77.3%, p < 0.001) and treatment (85.8% vs. 76.7%, p < 0.001), but lower hypertension control rates (36.1% vs. 39.6% according to the 2018 European guidelines, p < 0.001; 25.4% vs 30.8% according to the 2017 US guidelines, p < 0.001) than nondiabetics. Diabetic participants tended to be older, sedentary, overweight/obese, dyslipidemic men, with higher 10-years cardiovascular risk than nondiabetics (p < 0.001). Uncontrolled hypertension was associated with male gender, diabetes, body mass index, unhealthy lifestyle habits, and older age. Conclusions Elevated hypertension awareness and treatment rates in diabetic adults do not translate into adequate BP control in the real world. Concomitant unfavorable metabolic features and unhealthy lifestyle habits might contribute to this observation

AI DO ETHICS

The AI DO ETHICS - Artificial Intelligence and Innovation in Economics and Business project. Developing skills by Ethics - coordinated by the University of Macerata, follows new research paths, inserting itself in a consolidated tradition of the University, which has always committed the different humanities to a dimension of application. The recent doctoral courses in "Innovation and law" and in "Humanism and Technology" testify to this. Furthermore, since 2013, the Research Enhancement Office - ILO (Industrial Liaison Office) within the Research and Internationalization Area, carries out research enhancement activities addressed both internally, having as reference the teaching staff, doctoral students and students, both externally, in relation to the local productive fabric and the social community in which the University is inserted, with a specific attention to cultural and creative industries and digital humanism. Artificial Intelligence will revolutionize our world. It will change how we work and how businesses succeed. We need to think about what AI should do and not simly about what it can do. We have to make sure that AI is ethically grounded, for ensuring that AI has a positive impact from a social perspective as well as from an economic one. Therefore, our tasks are to improve 1) skills to live in an AI-driven society, 2) skills to work with AI in business and marketplace. The project considers in an integrated way research, education and commitment for social and business objectives, and aims to promote ethically conscious uses of technologies. Ethics is not a merely containing or limiting point of view; moreover it is generative of new perspecives and of overall more efficient solutions, it is a driver of technological and social innovation and a resource for more cooperative, resilient, supportive societies. First of all the project addresses some critical issues to highlight and manage them: a) lack of synergies between humanities and technological disciplines; b) lack of synergies between universities and companies in order to share results of ethical research; c) lack of awareness about responsibility in innovation, d) increasing cultural diversity and plurality that makes traditional ethical codes of uncertain application. The project intends: 1) to promote a widespread ethical sensitivity towards AI; 2) to design a path of ethical awareness towards AI in particular for AI users and for young people that the university specifically trains on business; 3) to take a concrete step towards the elaboration of ethics- guidelines for AI users; 4) to improve the awareness that ethics fosters trustworthy innovation; -5) to promote a new and innovative education model in the AI sector, through the involvement, in experimentation, of two key dimensions such as the academic research and education and the business world. All the partners actively contribute to the development of the project: tasks, efforts and budget are distributed within the partnership to ensure balanced involvement. The project develops through several activities for a diverse audience: 1) research is carried out to acquire knowledge about good ethical practices already implemented by companies that work with AI in the economic field; 2) a panel of 80 (20 IT, 15 FR, 15 DE, 15 PL, 15 RO) students is involved in the experimentation of a training course based on the dimensions of knowing (learning by thinking), acting (learning by acting), and doing (learning by doing); 3) confrontations are organized between the academic world and the world of business; 4) a new interdisciplinary teaching format is designed for university teaching, centered on the ethical issues raised by AI, in particular in the economic and business fields; 5) workshops, open meetings and even a literary prize are organized to spread awareness of the ethical issues raised by AI. Project results are the following: 1) the asset and development of a new interdisciplinary teaching for university education, centered on the ethical issues opened by the AI, in particular in the economic and business fields; it can work as a pilot, built with mixed face2face and e-learning modules, that is adaptable and implementable for use in different degree courses and also in companies; 2) the creation of an adaptability manual of the new course for university curricula in which experimentation will take place; 3) the development of guidelines for an ethical attitude by AI users, particularly in the economic and business fields; 4) results of cultural and social impact, which mean: growth in awareness among stakeholders and citizens about the ethical issue emerging from the use of AI, particularly in enterprise and busines

Innovazioni e sviluppo dopo il sisma in Emilia

Quali sentieri di sviluppo si attivano nei territori colpiti da disastri naturali? Disastri naturali come quelli che si sono verificati in Italia nel secondo dopoguerra e in particolare eventi sismici, alluvioni, frane ed esondazioni richiamano in misura crescente l’attenzione, non solo quella degli studiosi, sulla fragilità del territorio e sulla necessità di interventi di prevenzione per mitigare gli effetti economici e sociali dei disastri naturali. Le riflessioni proposte in questo saggio si basano su una prima lettura dei risultati del progetto di ricerca “Energie Sisma Emilia”. Avviato nel settembre 2014 da un vasto gruppo di ricerca dell’Università di Modena e Reggio Emilia, il progetto ha una duplice finalità: contribuire, con l’analisi degli effetti del terremoto sull’assetto economico e sociale della regione, all’accumulo e condivisione della conoscenza necessaria per favorire la maturazione di decisioni strategiche informate. Il ruolo dell’università nel processo di ricostruzione è esso stesso un elemento di innovazione nella fase che segue un disastro naturale: si tratta di un attore centrale perché potenzialmente capace di creare nuove conoscenze necessarie per rispondere alle domande che accompagnano la ricostruzione