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HORIZON-EIC-2025-PATHFINDEROPEN Briefing and evaluation proposal no. 1012581**
No full textContract number: CT-EX2002B071944-11
Impact of social stress on epigenetics: an updated narrative review
No full textBackground and Objective: Stress is associated with various responses depending on the kind and the intensity of exposure, the number of stressful events and the period of life (age of exposure). Stress modulates the epigenetic machinery, modulating gene expression and impacting health across life. The objective of this narrative review is to identify the impact of social stress on epigenetics and recognise the consequences on mental health.
Methods: This narrative review was performed using PubMed, MEDLINE, Cochrane Library and Google Scholar from January 2015 to June 2025; search terms used to identify relevant publications were: “stress AND epigenetics”, “stress and DNA methylation”, “stress AND early-life”, “stress AND Covid-19”, “stress AND work”. Language was restricted to English.
Key Content and Findings: This review aims to describe the impact of social stressors (i.e., trauma following abuse, crime, war, workplace stress) during early life, pregnancy and work-related stress on DNA methylation/demethylation at neonatal/child- and adult-age. Social stressors can perturb neuronal development, epigenetic age and adult health by modulation of DNA methylation at selected genes. Furthermore, maternal stress during pregnancy has been observed to perturb the child and mother epigenome, increasing the risk of epigenetic inheritance of these biomarkers in future generations. Work-related stress during coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), with high working hours and reduced sleep time, represents an additional factor that contributes to the development of non-communicable diseases. Conclusions: Social stressors, in early life and in adulthood age can perturb mental health with long-term effects later in life; preventive strategies to promote epigenetic reversibility at a young age should be considered to avoid stress-induced intergenerational epigenetic inheritance. Actions to counterbalance stress-associated work include scheduling work hours with breaks to improve physical and emotional well-being. Guidelines for training and clinical practice with clear and precise instructions can be helpful to manage stress in healthcare personnel; furthermore, an educational program for people could represent a useful tool for social support
Porosità rigenerative
No full textIl contributo pone l’attenzione sul concetto di “Green Room”, un dispositivo di rigenerazione dello spazio abitativo che agisce sul patrimonio edilizio attraverso una sottrazione di volume: la superficie utile lorda corrispondente ad una stanza della casa è detratta dalla cubatura del fabbricato divenendo “Stanza Verde”, spazio aperto non più incidente nel calcolo volumetrico dell’edificio. Il dispositivo “Green Room”, elaborato all’interno della ricerca PNRR Vitality, si pone in controtendenza rispetto alle ordinarie pratiche edilizie che producono incessanti incrementi volumetrici nei differenti contesti territoriali. Non aggiungendo ma sottraendo volume, tale dispositivo innesca un processo di riqualificazione architettonica e urbana, conducendo ad un innalzamento della qualità dello spazio privato con effetti anche sullo spazio pubblico
Programming IoT systems: A focused conceptual framework and survey of approaches
No full textAny software engineer of Internet of Things (IoT) systems deals with three macro issues: how to perceive the properties of interest through sensors (sensing facet), how to process such information to decide what to do to achieve the system goals (processing facet), and how to enact such decisions by affecting the IoT system itself and its deployment environment accordingly (actuation facet). For each, one can either develop ad-hoc solutions from scratch, with mainstream programming languages, or build on top of existing IoT-specific software libraries, frameworks, and platforms. Here, we survey the broad state of the art of “IoT programming”, with a focus on clarifying which and how programming paradigms and platforms deal with four key features demanded by modern IoT systems: scale-independence, situatedness, adaptiveness, and opportunistic deployment, along the aforementioned three facets. We motivate such needs by describing compelling contemporary and near future scenarios. Then, we propose a reference conceptual framework of programming IoT systems with the goal of (i) uncovering which research areas are mostly active in IoT programming, and (ii) placing the state of the art at the intersection between the appropriate features and facets, to both (iii) clarify which approaches are most suited for different kinds of tasks, and (iv) emphasising open challenges. This conceptual framework is a novel contribution in the landscape of IoT programming surveys, and is intended to be a practical aid for researchers and practitioners that are deciding which computational tools (e.g. languages and platforms) to adopt while building their own IoT systems
I salari reali in Italia: un declino di lungo periodo
No full textIl capitolo analizza il declino di lungo periodo dei salari in Italia interpretato come il risultato della combinazione (e coevoluzione) delle tendenze del capitalismo contemporaneo e di una somma di fragilità specifiche della struttura economica e occupazionale italiana. Si argomenta, in particolare, come queste ultime siano a loro volta riconducibili a debolezze storiche del tessuto produttivo e tecnologico italiano, ad un processo di progressivo indebolimento del suo nucleo manifatturiero, alla qualità del processo di terziarizzazione e al mantenimento di un modello competitivo basato sul contenimento del costo del lavoro
Research on the Branding of Museums' Cultural Heritage Communication Design with Digital Engagement
No full textThe development of museums has undergone a transformation from private collections to places of
public education. With the diversification of public needs and the increase of recreational facilities, museums have gradually transformed into commercialization, broadening their cultural
communication channels through merchandising and digitalization. Design, as the core of cultural
and creative industries, has an important impact on museum branding and product design. Design
can not only transform cultural elements into perceptible products, but also enhance brand
impression and form brand consensus through narratives. The goal of this study is to analyze the
current situation of museum branding and its commercialization measures in various countries and
to explore how to promote the communication and development of museum cultural heritage
through creative design and digital technology from a design perspective. The thesis makes
comprehensive use of qualitative and quantitative analysis methods to propose specific strategies
suitable for the development of museum branding, to provide reference for enhancing the influence
of museums, and to promote the development of the local culture and economy. This thesis adopts a variety of methods such as comparative literature analysis, case study, field
survey, observation method, qualitative research, questionnaire research, and quantitative data
analysis. By combining and summarizing a large amount of literature and incorporating practical
case studies, the problems encountered in the process of museum branding and the solution paths
are discussed in depth. At the same time, the interdisciplinary research method is used, integrating
theoretical knowledge from economics, management, musology, sociology and other fields, in order
to comprehensively and accurately analyze the design and communication strategy of museum
branding. The first chapter of the thesis introduces the background and purpose of the study and discusses the
importance of museum branding and the necessity of the research. Chapter 2 analyses the historical
development and current status of museum branding through literature analysis and case studies. Chapter 3 focuses on the research and case analysis of museum branding and cultural heritage
communication design to understand the approach and current status of museum branding cultural
heritage design today. Chapter 4 clarifies the key factors affecting museum cultural heritage
communication design by combing and analyzing the existing literature. Chapter 5 is based on
questionnaire data and empirically examines the research on museum branding and cultural heritage
design. Chapter 6 summarizes the full text of the research results, proposes a strategy of museum
branding and the future direction of development, and makes reflections and outlooks. The study concludes that museum branding and product design are key to cultural communication
and business value enhancement. Through innovative design and digital communication strategies, museums can better connect history and modernity and enhance the public's cultural experience. The research proposes a series of specific branding development strategies, including strengthening
the symbolic elements of the brand, expanding the brand narrative space, and expanding the brand's
impact through interactions and collaborations. These strategies aim to help museum branding
become sustainable and maximize cultural communication in the digital age
Strategie indoor e outdoor Una panoramica delle soluzioni tecnico-spaziali adattive
No full textIl presente contributo analizza le strategie di mitigazione dell’Isola di Calore Urbana (UHI) attraverso un approccio sistemico che integra soluzioni "verdi" (Nature-based Solutions), "blu" (sistemi di drenaggio sostenibile) e "grigie" (materiali riflettenti e involucri adattivi). Superando la logica del singolo intervento puntuale, il testo esplora le sinergie interscalari tra spazio indoor e outdoor, evidenziando come l'efficacia climatica dipenda dalla connettività ecologica e dalla coerenza morfologica. Vengono inoltre discussi criticamente i limiti tecnici e socio-economici di tali strategie, quali i "dis-servizi ecosistemici", il decadimento prestazionale dei materiali e il rischio di green gentrification. Infine, si propone l'adozione di metodologie di valutazione multicriteriale (MCDA) e del ciclo di vita (LCA) per guidare la progettazione verso soluzioni ibride, capaci di bilanciare performance ambientali ed equità sociale
MULTI-HAZARD SCENARIOS: Participatory processes for more resilient communities and territories
No full textThe thesis aims to understand how participatory urban planning can foster the transformative
resilience of territories and communities in response to natural disaster risks. This research is based
on the premise that the integrated use of participatory planning tools and decision-making support
systems, when capable of mediating dialogue between technical knowledge and citizen science,
represents a promising strategy for strengthening territorial resilience and positively contributing to
the enhancement of social capital. In this context, the goal is to promote greater preparedness of the
actors involved through knowledge sharing and shared responsibility across all phases of the disaster
management cycle. The innovation of this research lies in the adoption of a multidisciplinary
approach that integrates citizen science with design principles, geospatial sciences, geographic
information technologies (Geodesign), and the assessment of natural risks and specific vulnerabilities
— physical, social, and environmental — in urban projects and policies. Based on this integration, a
tool was developed to enable effective, rapid, and democratic collaboration among the various
stakeholders involved in strategic planning processes. The expected outcome is that the tool will guide
collaborative territorial and urban projects toward the development of scenarios focused on resilience
to natural disasters and climate change, grounded in informed and inclusive decision-making.
Additionally, it is expected to strengthen social capital by fostering the creation or reconnection of
community networks in the co-construction of norms, values, and spatial practices that reflect the
diversity of ideas, social conditions, and beliefs within a given society, thereby enhancing mutual
trust among citizens and with public institutions. The tool was applied to the case study of Camerino,
addressing its social, environmental, and economic vulnerabilities while recognizing crises as
opportunities for transformation, guiding long-term development scenarios from a more resilient
perspective. The results highlighted the development of context-sensitive proposals aligned with
disaster resilience objectives, as well as a more solid and democratic integration between local
knowledge and technical planning approaches, facilitated by the use of the tool. An increase in
community engagement was also observed, with new proposals for participatory projects based on
Geodesign emerging from the workshop participants. However, a key limitation of the study is that,
despite the professional diversity of participants, it remained confined to the university environment
and involved mostly individuals affiliated with the institution. Further development of the research
requires a reconfiguration of participant selection, including representatives from different sectors of
the community, the involvement of public administration, and a balanced representation in terms of
age, gender, social class, and educational level
Tax incentives provided by the Local Authorities to Businesses: A Comparative Study in the light of National Recovery and Resilience Plans
No full textTax incentives may be considered as part of state aid and have always been
among the most discussed legal topics. The emergency situations during the
Covid19 Pandemic and the invasion of Ukraine have required the European
Commission to adopt a State Aid Temporary Legal Framework and the State
Aid Temporary Crisis Framework respectively. By focusing on the fiscal
incentives provided by local authorities, this research aims at identifying the
interrelation between the EU state aid rules and tax incentives and analysing
existing practices and relevant CJEU decisions.
Tax incentives are classified among the regulatory taxes of which main purpose
is not raising the revenue to finance governments’ policies. 1
In this context,
local authorities and their fiscal incentives are of particular importance for the
delivery of the policy goals at local level. The question of whether tax incentives
provided by local authorities could be regarded as state aid or not should be
evaluated case by case, and this evaluation can be done not only by the
European courts, but also national courts. 2 Due to the Covid19 Pandemic,
some tax concessions granted by the local authorities can be justified under
the tax measures taken in response to the pandemic. In this sense, it is
necessary to focus on National Recovery and Resilience Plans (NNRPs), the
European Commission practices and the CJEU decisions on tax concessions.
In addition to the Italian practice, similar fiscal measures adopted by other EU
countries and non-EU countries will be comparatively evaluated as well.
To better explain the subject matter from the different angles, this thesis looks
at the intersection of the EU State aid mechanism, policy and law, focusing on
the aids provided by local authorities to the business. The intersection between these topics requires not only knowledge of economics, but also the knowledge
of the EU competition law and trade law.
The thesis also includes the analysis of tax incentives that can be provided by
local authorities and whether they could be justified under the Temporary Legal
Framework. In this sense, it is necessary to evaluate country specific
examples. This comparative study would contribute to existing literature thanks
to comparative analysis and the assessment of the relevant case law.
With these aims, the first chapter starts out with an introduction outlining key
points and findings of each chapter. The second chapter of this research
provides a detailed analysis of the European State aid mechanism, case law
and policy to emphasise the state aid criteria. State aid rules, which also
encompass local authorities, are explained considering the evolution of the
CJEU’s jurisprudence. Also, the concept of permitted aid, tax incentives as well
as the role of tax incentives in achieving EU policy goals are explained in this
chapter, considering existing regulations, the State aid Covid Temporary
Framework as well as the Temporary Crisis and Transition Framework.
In the third Chapter the role of local authorities in National Recovery and
Resilience Plans as well as the state aid assessment of RFF measures are
explained. Also, an analysis of the relevant judgements is provided. In addition
to these, the best practices for fiscal incentives are identified together with an
overall suggestion in the last chapter
Silver nanoparticles via olive pomace extract: a sustainable approach for cadmium detection in mineral water
No full textObjective
Heavy metals, such as cadmium, are among the most concerning pollutants due to their persistence, bioaccumulation, and
toxicity, posing severe risks to human health and ecosystems; as such there is a need to develop sensitive and cost-efficient
methods to detect these contaminants in water. In recent years, nanotechnology has emerged as a promising platform for
developing innovative sensors for environmental monitoring. With metal nanoparticles, particularly silver nanoparticles
(AgNPs), is possible to perform colorimetric detection of analytes through visible color changes, thanks to the surface
plasmon resonance (SPR) phoenomenon. In this study, is described a novel colorimetric approach for detecting Cd2+ ions
in aqueous environments, utilizing AgNPs synthesized through an eco-friendly method.
Methods
Dehydrated olive pomace was extracted using an ethanol:water (80:20, v/v) solvent mixture. The AgNPs’ synthesis was
optimized evaluating the effect of pH, temperature, and extract concentration. The AgNPs were characterized by scanning
transmission electron microscopy (STEM) coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), Dynamic light
scattering (DLS) and Fourier-transform infrared (FT–IR). For the application as colorimetric sensors various metal ion
solutions were tested, to which only Cd2+ was detectable. The colorimetric response to Cd2+ was evaluated by adding 1
mL of ultrapure water and 1 mL of AgNPs@PE suspension to a cuvette, followed by incremental additions of Cd2+
solution. The sensor was tested in natural drinking water samples spiked with 3 μM Cd2+. The ionic composition of the
water samples was analysed using ICP–MS.
Results
Optimal experimental conditions for the AgNPs’ synthesis were found at 70°C, with the addition of 20 μL of 1N NaOH,
20μL of pomace extract diluted 1:100 and 1.4mL of AgNO3 for 20 mL of water solution. The formation of the
nanoparticles was observed after 25 minutes by the typical SPR band of AgNPs at around 410nm in the UV-Vis spectra.
The STEM analysis revealed the presence of predominantly spherical nanoparticles; at higher magnifications the
nanoparticles appear surrounded by diffuse halos, which are likely attributable to the functionalization by phytochemicals
from the extract. EDX confirms the presence of Ag, additional signals, corresponding to C and O, are ascribed to organic
capping agents derived from the extract. The zeta potential and FT-IR spectrum of AgNPs@PE gave an ulterior
confirmation of the functionalization. DLS analysis of AgNPs confirmed the nanoparticle size, with a mean diameter of
37.5 nm. For the application as colorimetric sensor 100μL of various metal ions solutions were added to a cuvette
containing 1mL of AgNPs solution and 1mL of ultrapure water, from the spectra collected at various times only cadmium
showed the formation of a secondary band at 530nm. The linearity was determined between 1.00 and 2.90 μM with linear
regression coefficient of 0.994. Two mineral water samples were collected and spiked with Cd2+ ions, the recovery was
estimated between 110.35% and 98.97%, demonstrating a good reliability for the proposed method.
Conclusions
In this study AgNPs were synthesized using pomace extract as both capping and stabilizing agent; these nanoparticles
were then fully characterized via STEM, DLS, zeta potential and FT-IR. In addition, the AgNPs were successfully tested
as colorimetric sensors for the selective detection of Cd2+ ions in drinking water samples