Circular Economy in the Agrifood Sector

The volume presents some of the primary outcomes of the SinCE-AFC projects. Its main aim was to provide horizontal mechanisms to improve circular economy practices among SMEs of the agrifood sector. After a brief introduction to the concept of circular economy applied to the agrifood chain, the book illustrates the policy framework that the EU has established to improve circular practices in this sector, discussing drivers and barriers to their implementation

Circular Economy in the Agrifood Sector

The volume presents some of the primary outcomes of the SinCE-AFC projects. Its main aim was to provide horizontal mechanisms to improve circular economy practices among SMEs of the agrifood sector. After a brief introduction to the concept of circular economy applied to the agrifood chain, the book illustrates the policy framework that the EU has established to improve circular practices in this sector, discussing drivers and barriers to their implementation

REINSER 2022 International Conference for Sharing Best Practices: Economic and Social Integration of Refugees and Asylum Seekers through Social Entrepreneurship. Book of abstracts

This book collects the proceedings of the Conference “Economic and Social Integration of Asylum Seekers and Refugees through Social Entrepreneurship – International Conference for Sharing Best Practices” held at the Forlì Campus of the Alma Mater Studiorum - University of Bologna on the 10th and 11th of March 2022. The organisation of the conference took place in the framework of the Interreg-ADRIONfunded project REInSER – Refugees’ Economic Integration through Social Entrepreneurship – which brings together partners from six countries of the ADRION area, namely, Slovenia, Italy, Greece, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, and Croatia. The project aims to improve the economic and social integration of refugees and asylum seekers in host societies of the ADRION programme area by using social economy approaches and, in particular, social entrepreneurship (SE). The long-term objective is to enhance the possibilities for refugees to become active economic actors and agents of their integration in a given host society, contributing to the local and regional sustainable economic development by generating employment and supporting the creation of new social and responsible businesses

Unilaterale ulzerationen der fingerspitzen [Unilateral finger tip ulcerations]

none5Eine 56-jährige Frau stellte sich vor mit seit 4 Monaten bestehenden chronisch-rezidivierenden bullösen nekrotischen Läsionen an den Endgliedern des Zeige- und Mittelfi ngers der linken Hand. An denselben Fingern litt sie unter Taubheitsgefühl, Lähmung, nachts verstärktem Schmerz sowie Verlust des Feingefühls. Die Behandlung mit topischen Antibiotika und Kortikosteroiden sowie systemischem Ibuprofen und Prednison führte nicht zur Besserung. Die Patientin hatte keine weiteren Erkrankungen, war Nichtraucherin und verneinte eine Verletzung bei der Arbeit oder im Haushalt [Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is caused by the compression of the median nerve throughout the carpal tunnel. CTS usually presents with the classic triad of nocturnal pain, thenar atrophy and hypoesthesia [1], but other common neurologic symptoms include numbness, unrelenting pins and needles paresthesia, loss of sensitivity and motor defi cits [2]. Moreover, CTS may show cutaneous involvement of the distal phalanges of the second and third fi ngers of the hand [1], as in our patient, who had no thenar atrophy. There are few reports that describe this cutaneous variant [2]]openSavoia F.; Tengattini V.; Valenti L.; Gaddoni G.; Patrizi A.Savoia F.; Tengattini V.; Valenti L.; Gaddoni G.; Patrizi A

Magnified imaging based on non-Hermitian nonlocal cylindrical metasurfaces

We show that a cylindrical lensing system composed of two metasurfaces with suitably tailored non-Hermitian (i.e., with distributed gain and loss) and nonlocal (i.e., spatially dispersive) properties can perform magnified imaging with reduced aberrations. More specifically, we analytically derive the idealized surface-impedance values that are required for “perfect” magnification and imaging and elucidate the role and implications of non- Hermiticity and nonlocality in terms of spatial resolution and practical implementation. For a basic demonstration, we explore some proof-of-principle quasilocal and multilayered implementations and independently validate the outcomes via full-wave numerical simulations. We also show that the metasurface frequency-dispersion laws can be chosen so as to ensure unconditional stability with respect to arbitrary temporal excitations. These results, which extend previous studies on planar configurations, may open intriguing venues in the design of metastructures for field imaging and processing

Magnified imaging based on non-Hermitian nonlocal cylindrical metasurfaces

We show that a cylindrical lensing system composed of two metasurfaces with suitably tailored non-Hermitian (i.e., with distributed gain and loss) and nonlocal (i.e., spatially dispersive) properties can perform magnified imaging with reduced aberrations. More specifically, we analytically derive the idealized surface-impedance values that are required for “perfect” magnification and imaging and elucidate the role and implications of non- Hermiticity and nonlocality in terms of spatial resolution and practical implementation. For a basic demonstration, we explore some proof-of-principle quasilocal and multilayered implementations and independently validate the outcomes via full-wave numerical simulations. We also show that the metasurface frequency-dispersion laws can be chosen so as to ensure unconditional stability with respect to arbitrary temporal excitations. These results, which extend previous studies on planar configurations, may open intriguing venues in the design of metastructures for field imaging and processing

The double life of cardiac mesenchymal cells: epimetabolic sensors and therapeutic assets for heart regeneration

Organ-specific mesenchymal cells naturally reside in the stroma, where they are exposed to some environmental variables affecting their biology and functions. Risk factors such as diabetes or aging influence their adaptive response. In these cases, permanent epigenetic modifications may be introduced in the cells with important consequences on their local homeostatic activity and therapeutic potential. Numerous results suggest that mesenchymal cells, virtually present in every organ, may contribute to tissue regeneration mostly by paracrine mechanisms. Intriguingly, the heart is emerging as a source of different cells, including pericytes, cardiac progenitors, and cardiac fibroblasts. According to phenotypic, functional, and molecular criteria, these should be classified as mesenchymal cells. Not surprisingly, in recent years, the attention on these cells as therapeutic tools has grown exponentially, although only very preliminary data have been obtained in clinical trials to date. In this review, we summarized the state of the art about the phenotypic features, functions, regenerative properties, and clinical applicability of mesenchymal cells, with a particular focus on those of cardiac origin

Teledermoscopy in the Diagnosis of Melanocytic and Non-Melanocytic Skin Lesions: NurugoTM Derma Smartphone Microscope as a Possible New Tool in Daily Clinical Practice

Background: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, teledermoscopy has been increasingly used in the remote diagnosis of skin cancers. In a study conducted in 2020, we demonstrated a potential role of an inexpensive device (NurugoTM Derma) as a first triage to select the skin lesions that require a face-to-face consultation with dermatologists. Herein, we report the results of a novel study that aimed to better investigate the performance of NurugoTM. Objectives: (i) verify whether the NurugoTM can be a communication tool between the general practitioner (GP) and dermatologist in the first assessment of skin lesions, (ii) analyze the degree of diagnostic–therapeutic agreement between dermatologists, (iii) estimate the number of potentially serious diagnostic errors. Methods: One hundred and forty-four images of skin lesions were collected at the Dermatology Outpatient Clinic in Novara using a conventional dermatoscope (instrument F), the NurugoTM (instrument N), and the latter with the interposition of a laboratory slide (instrument V). The images were evaluated in-blind by four dermatologists, and each was asked to make a diagnosis and to specify a possible treatment. Results: Our data show that F gave higher agreement values for all dermatologists, concerning the real clinical diagnosis. Nevertheless, a medium/moderate agreement value was obtained also for N and V instruments and that can be considered encouraging and indicate that all examined tools can potentially be used for the first screening of skin lesions. The total amount of misclassified lesions was limited (especially with the V tool), with up to nine malignant lesions wrongly classified as benign. Conclusions: NurugoTM, with adequate training, can be used to build a specific support network between GP and dermatologist or between dermatologists. Furthermore, its use could be extended to the diagnosis and follow-up of other skin diseases, especially for frail patients in emergencies, such as the current pandemic context