The impact of COVID-19 on Piedmont Circular Economy policy roadmap

The outbreak of COVID-19 in the Italian and international scenario has produced diversified responses to an unknown and unexpected event, rooted in the governance characteristics of each Country. Governments need to overcome established legislative practices and procedures, proposing new legislative and financial frameworks to address endemic or unexpected crises while pursuing sustainable development goals (Capano, 2020). The following contribution explores the emerging results from the new activities implemented by the RETRACE project to investigate how the pandemic has influenced the processes of Circular Economy (CE) that it had stimulated in four different regions considered: Piedmont (Italy), New Aquitaine (France), Biscay (Spain), North-East (Romania). Therefore, this paper delves into the situation in the Piedmont Region

Speculative Fabulation to Reclaim the Verbal Dimension of Co-design

Man has always been a narrating animal. In 2009, the literary critic Brian Boyd offered the first comprehensive account of the evolutionary origins of storytelling. According to his theoretical framework, humans respond to the selective pressures of their environment by expanding their repertoire of social behavioral responses through storytelling. This article, as part of an ongoing doctoral research, advocates speculative fabulation as an understudied explorative approach to co-design accessing stakeholders experience, enabling feedback loops, subsequently facilitates a “worlding” activity toward societal cultural transitions. The aim of this study is to investigate and conceptualize speculative fabulation, within the co-design process, as an analysis (i.e., problematizing) method to societal transitions. The qualitative research builds on (i) the work of philosophers Donna Haraway, Gilles Deleuze and Félix Guattari on speculative fabulation, (ii) Elizabeth Sanders on generative research, (iii) Mitrovic and Šuran, Dunne and Raby on speculative design, (iv) Göbel's work on systems model to story analysis and (v) Greimas semiotics. Bridging these bodies of literature is novel and allowed us to envision implications for further strands of design research. The suggested framework contributes to conceptualizing speculative co-fabulation within systemic design and may be useful for future implementations in academia and practice toward societal transitions

Il danno alla persona nel rapporto di lavoro.

La tesi è incentrata sulla tematica del danno alla persona nel rapporto di lavoro. Partendo da una analisi delle fonti di tutela presenti nel nostro ordinamento, il lavoro proseguirà nell'analisi della generale tematica del danno alla persona con riferimento specifico all'evoluzione giurisprudenziale che ha interessato questo istituto; passeremo poi ad analizzare tutta una di una serie di problematiche connesse al tema principale quali: la configurabilità del danno non patrimoniale in seguito a condotte lesive del datore di lavoro,l'analisi delle diverse situazioni lesive che possono verificarsi nel corso del rapporto di lavoro e l'analisi di tutte le questioni legate al risarcimento del danno non patrimoniale, senza dimenticare di tracciare nel corso del lavoro i profili essenziali del sistema assicurativo Inail

Gigamaps as enabling tools for envisioning futures

Entrepreneurial ecosystems have gained attention for fostering innovation and sustainable transition. However, their complexity poses challenges, especially when different companies co-design for future making toward sustainable transition strategies implementation. Systemic Design (SD) offers potential solutions, employing system mapping tools like Gigamaps, that use visual synthesis to support effectively the participatory processes. This article aims to present a formalized protocol for the use of Gigamaps as a co-design tool to trigger dialogues among industrial stakeholders, facilitating entrepreneurial ecosystem transition. Through a case study from the master’s degree SD course at Politecnico di Torino, the article will present a Gigamaps-driven co-design experience in an entrepreneurial ecosystem. Finally, the study limitation and the need for systems-thinking and complex science-based methods to support the implementation of those envisioned scenarios are stated

Association of blood pressure with anxiety and depression in a sample of primary care patients

Introduction According to international scientific literature, and as summarized in the guidelines of the International Society of Hypertension, lowering of blood pressure can prevent cardiovascular accidents. Some studies suggest that hypertension, anxiety, and depression might be inversely correlated. Objective To investigate whether blood pressure is associated with anxiety and depression. Methods Cross-sectional design. Male and female primary care patients were enrolled, aged 40–80. Criteria of exclusion adopted: use of antidepressants or antipsychotics; previous major cardiovascular event; psychosis or major depression; Type 1-DM; pregnancy and hereditary disease associated to obesity. Anxiety and depression symptoms were assessed using HADS. Waist circumference, hip circumference, blood pressure, HDL, triglycerides, blood sugar, hypertension, albumin concentrations and serum iron were also assessed. Results Of the 210 subjects, 84 were men (40%), mean age was 60.88 (SD ± 10.88). Hypertension was found to correlate significantly to anxiety (OR = 0.38; 95% CI = 0.17–0.84), older age (OR = 3.96; 95% CI = 1.88–8.32), cigarette smoking (OR = 0.35; 95%CI = 0.13–0.94), high Body Mass Index (OR = 2.50; 95% CI = 1.24–5.01), Waist-hip ratio (OR = 0.09; 95% CI = 0.02–0.46) and the Index of comorbidity (OR = 16.93; 95% CI = 3.71–77.29). Conclusions An inverse association was found between anxiety and hypertension, suggesting the need to clinically manage these two dimensions in a coordinated way. Other findings are well known and already included in prevention campaigns. Further research is needed, also to better understand and explain the causative pathways of this correlation

Association between anxiety and depressive symptoms with metabolic syndrome in primary care: Results of an Italian cross-sectional study involving outpatients

Background: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a heterogeneous entity represented by the coexistence of multiple alterations: abdominal adiposity, impaired glucose tolerance, hypertriglyceridemia, HDL hypocolesterolemia and hypertension. Symptoms of anxiety and depression are frequently comorbid with MetS. Aim of the present study was to measure the association between symptoms of anxiety and depression with the five criteria of MetS in outpatients attending GPs' practices. Method: This is a cross-sectional study, involving male and female patients aged 40–80 attending five GPs' practices within one month in Modena, Northern Italy approved by the local Ethical Committee. All patients were screened for the presence of MetS and depressive/ anxiety symptoms, using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Exclusion criteria: age b40 or N80; use of antidepressants or antipsychotics; previous stroke, heart attack or cardiovascular disease; diagnosed psychotic or mood disorder (according to the DSM-IV-TR); diabetes; pregnancy; hereditary disease linked to obesity. All data were adjusted for socio-demographic confounders. Multiple logistic analysis performed with STATA 13.0. Results: 128 subjects were enrolled in the study (55 men and 73 women), 48 presented with MetS (ATP-III-Revised criteria). MetS was associated with depression only in the female group (OR =6.33, p= 0.01), also when adjusting for age (OR =5.13, p= 0.02). MetS was not associated with anxiety in both males and females, and with depression in men. Among the individual components of MetS, only waist circumference was associated with anxiety in the female group (OR=4.40, p=0.04) also when adjusting for age (OR=4.34, p=0.04). Conclusion: Women aged between 40 and 60, presenting with MetS and attending the primary care services should been regularly screened for the presence of depression. Chronic systemic inflammation could represent the biological link between MetS and psychological symptoms. Further researches are needed to better clarify this possible relation

Cardioprotection after acute exposure to simulated high altitude in rats: Role of nitric oxide

Aim In previous studies, upregulation of NOS during acclimatization of rats to sustained hypobaric hypoxia was associated to cardioprotection, evaluated as an increased tolerance of myocardium to hypoxia/reoxygenation. The objective of the present work was to investigate the effect of acute hypobaric hypoxia and the role of endogenous NO concerning cardiac tolerance to hypoxia/reoxygenation under β-adrenergic stimulation. Methods Rats were submitted to 58.7 kPa in a hypopressure chamber for 48 h whereas their normoxic controls remained at 101.3 kPa. By adding NOS substrate L-arg, or blocker L-NNA, isometric mechanical activity of papillary muscles isolated from left ventricle was evaluated at maximal or minimal production of NO, respectively, under β-adrenergic stimulation by isoproterenol, followed by 60/30 min of hypoxia/reoxygenation. Activities of NOS and cytochrome oxidase were evaluated by spectrophotometric methods and expression of HIF1-α and NOS isoforms by western blot. Eosin and hematoxiline staining were used for histological studies. Results Cytosolic expression of HIF1-α nNOS and eNOS, and NO production were higher in left ventricle of hypoxic rats. Mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase activity was decreased by hypobaric hypoxia and this effect was reversed by L-NNA. After H/R, recovery of developed tension in papillary muscles from normoxic rats was 51–60% (regardless NO modulation) while in hypobaric hypoxia was 70% ± 3 (L-arg) and 54% ± 1 (L-NNA). Other mechanical parameters showed similar results. Preserved histological architecture was observed only in L-arg papillary muscles of hypoxic rats. Conclusion Exposure of rats to hypobaric hypoxia for only 2 days increased NO synthesis leading to cardioprotection.Fil: la Padula, Pablo Hugo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Cardiológicas. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones Cardiológicas; ArgentinaFil: Etchegoyen, Melisa. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Cardiológicas. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones Cardiológicas; ArgentinaFil: Czerniczyniec, Analia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Bioquímica y Medicina Molecular. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad Medicina. Instituto de Bioquímica y Medicina Molecular; ArgentinaFil: Piotrkowski, Barbara. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Bioquímica y Medicina Molecular. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad Medicina. Instituto de Bioquímica y Medicina Molecular; ArgentinaFil: Silvia LoresArnaiz. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Bioquímica y Medicina Molecular. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad Medicina. Instituto de Bioquímica y Medicina Molecular; ArgentinaFil: Milei, Jose. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Cardiológicas. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones Cardiológicas; ArgentinaFil: Costa, Lidia Esther. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Cardiológicas. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones Cardiológicas; Argentin

Acute hypobaric hypoxia and cardiac energetic response in prepubertal rats: role of nitric oxide

New Findings: What is the central question of this study? In adult rat hearts, exposure to hypobaric hypoxia increases tolerance to hypoxia–reoxygenation, termed endogenous cardioprotection. The mechanism involves the nitric oxide system and modulation of mitochondrial oxygen consumption. What is the cardiac energetic response in prepubertal rats exposed to hypobaric hypoxia? What is the main finding and its importance? Prepubertal rats, unlike adult rats, did not increase tolerance to hypoxia–reoxygenation in response acute exposure to hypobaric hypoxia, which impaired cardiac contractile economy. This finding could be related to a failure to increase nitric oxide synthase expression, hence modulation of mitochondrial oxygen consumption and ATP production. Abstract: Studies in our laboratory showed that exposure of rats to hypobaric hypoxia (HH) increased the tolerance of the heart to hypoxia–reoxygenation (H/R), involving mitochondrial and cytosolic nitric oxide synthase (NOS) systems. The objective of the present study was to evaluate how the degree of somatic maturation could alter this healthy response. Prepubertal male rats were exposed for 48 h to a simulated altitude of 4400 m in a hypobaric chamber. The mechanical energetic activity in perfused hearts and the contractile functional capacity of NOS in isolated left ventricular papillary muscles were evaluated during H/R. Cytosolic nitric oxide (NO), production of nitrites/nitrates (Nx), expression of NOS isoforms, mitochondrial O2 consumption and ATP production were also evaluated. The left ventricular pressure during H/R was not improved by HH. However, the energetic activity was increased. Thus, the contractile economy (left ventricular pressure/energetic activity) decreased in HH. Nitric oxide did not modify papillary muscle contractility after H/R. Cytosolic p-eNOS-Ser1177 and inducible NOS expression were decreased by HH, but no changes were observed in NO production. Interestingly, HH increased Nx levels, but O2 consumption and ATP production in mitochondria were not affected by HH. Prepubertal rats exposed to HH preserved cardiac contractile function, but with a high energetic cost, modifying contractile economy. Although this could be related to the decreased NOS expression detected, cytosolic NO production was preserved, maybe through the Nx metabolic pathway, without modification of mitochondrial ATP production and O2 consumption. In this scenario, the treatment was unable to increase tolerance to H/R as observed in adult animals.Fil: la Padula, Pablo Hugo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Oficina de Coordinacion Administrativa Houssay. Instituto Alberto C. Taquini de Investigaciones En Medicina Traslacional. - Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones Cardiologicas "prof. Dr. Alberto C. Taquini". Instituto Alberto C. Taquini de Investigaciones En Medicina Traslacional.; ArgentinaFil: Czerniczyniec, Analia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Bioquímica y Medicina Molecular. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad Medicina. Instituto de Bioquímica y Medicina Molecular; ArgentinaFil: Bonazzola, Patricia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Oficina de Coordinacion Administrativa Houssay. Instituto Alberto C. Taquini de Investigaciones En Medicina Traslacional. - Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones Cardiologicas "prof. Dr. Alberto C. Taquini". Instituto Alberto C. Taquini de Investigaciones En Medicina Traslacional.; ArgentinaFil: Piotrkowski, Barbara. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Bioquímica y Medicina Molecular. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad Medicina. Instituto de Bioquímica y Medicina Molecular; ArgentinaFil: Vanasco, Virginia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Bioquímica y Medicina Molecular. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad Medicina. Instituto de Bioquímica y Medicina Molecular; ArgentinaFil: Lores Arnaiz, Silvia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Bioquímica y Medicina Molecular. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad Medicina. Instituto de Bioquímica y Medicina Molecular; ArgentinaFil: Costa, Lidia Esther. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Oficina de Coordinacion Administrativa Houssay. Instituto Alberto C. Taquini de Investigaciones En Medicina Traslacional. - Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones Cardiologicas "prof. Dr. Alberto C. Taquini". Instituto Alberto C. Taquini de Investigaciones En Medicina Traslacional.; Argentin

Hantavirosis en pediatría : ¿Impacto por cambio climático?

El sindrome cardiopulmonar por hantavirus (hantavirosis) es una enfermedad emergente en niños. El primer caso pediátrico en la provincia de Buenos Aires ocurrió en Olavarría (1997) y desde 1998 en La Plata. La frecuencia oscila entre 6-14% del total de casos. Se presentan los datos epidemiológicos descriptivos de 21 pacientes internados en el Servicio de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Hospital de Niños Sor M. Ludovica, La Plata, Argentina. El 85,7% residía en área rural/transición urbano-rural. Todos estuvieron en contacto con pastizales y el 57,1% con roedores en el domicilio/peridomicilio. La distribución fue asimétrica por sexo, 57,1% masculino. La distribución de los casos por grupo de edad (años) fue: 0-4, 1; 5-9, 5; 10-14, 14; >15, 1. La forma clínica predominante fue la cardiopulmonar. El diagnóstico se realizó por reacción en cadena de la polimerasa. La letalidad global fue del 19% y se registró sólo en el grupo de edad 5-9 años. En las mujeres la letalidad alcanzó el 33,3%. En el control de foco, la tasa global de infección en las especies de roedores capturados fue 4%. La enfermedad predominó en los meses templados/cálidos, en períodos con alerta por hiperpoblación de roedores.Universidad Nacional de La Plat

Hantavirosis en pediatría : ¿Impacto por cambio climático?

El sindrome cardiopulmonar por hantavirus (hantavirosis) es una enfermedad emergente en niños. El primer caso pediátrico en la provincia de Buenos Aires ocurrió en Olavarría (1997) y desde 1998 en La Plata. La frecuencia oscila entre 6-14% del total de casos. Se presentan los datos epidemiológicos descriptivos de 21 pacientes internados en el Servicio de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Hospital de Niños Sor M. Ludovica, La Plata, Argentina. El 85,7% residía en área rural/transición urbano-rural. Todos estuvieron en contacto con pastizales y el 57,1% con roedores en el domicilio/peridomicilio. La distribución fue asimétrica por sexo, 57,1% masculino. La distribución de los casos por grupo de edad (años) fue: 0-4, 1; 5-9, 5; 10-14, 14; >15, 1. La forma clínica predominante fue la cardiopulmonar. El diagnóstico se realizó por reacción en cadena de la polimerasa. La letalidad global fue del 19% y se registró sólo en el grupo de edad 5-9 años. En las mujeres la letalidad alcanzó el 33,3%. En el control de foco, la tasa global de infección en las especies de roedores capturados fue 4%. La enfermedad predominó en los meses templados/cálidos, en períodos con alerta por hiperpoblación de roedores.Universidad Nacional de La Plat