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From 14 to 17 December last, the 84th Congress of the Italian Society of Cardiology was held in Roma, a prestigious event that brought together top Italian experts to discuss and share the latest scientific advances in cardiology.     Dr. Ines Basso, representing the group of Nurses Researchers of University of Piemonte Orientale, led by Prof. Dal Molin, presented the protocol of the study relating to the Research Module 1 of the Flagship Project TINCARE.   The study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a new care model aimed at facilitating the transition from hospital to home for individual hospitalized following an episode of heart failure in reducing hospital readmissions. An experienced nurse will conduct a support intervention to help the patient and their family to improve their self-care and self-manage the disease, also thanks to the use of innovative technological devices to early detect any worsening conditions.  Given the progressive ageing of the population, it is important to design new treatment solutions that can ensure sustainability and effectiveness in responding to the health needs of a society that is changing the demographic structure of its population.   

Il monitoraggio della mobilità in ambulatorio e in condizioni di vita reale, la nuova frontiera della medicina personalizzata, è possibile attraverso un uso consapevole dei sensori inerziali.    I sensori indossabili di tipo inerziali essendo leggeri e miniaturizzati possono consentire una valutazione oggettiva e dettagliata del movimento umano ma allo stesso tempo anche più rapida, pratica e accessibile sia in un contesto ambulatoriale che di vita quotidiana. Tuttavia, è necessario che chi utilizza i sensori inerziali sia pienamente consapevole delle loro potenzialità e dei loro limiti.  Il workshop offerto dalla Società Italiana per l'Analisi del Movimento in Clinica (SIAMOC), comprendendo parte teorica e pratica, rappresenta un'occasione fondamentale, specialmente per i clinici, per prendere consapevolezza con l'uso di questi sensori.  Durante la parte teorica verranno descritti i sensori e forniti i metodi per estrarre i principali parametri di interesse dal punto di vista clinico.  Durante la parte pratica i partecipanti verranno coinvolti in modo interattivo e verranno analizzati i dati provenienti da cammini patologici di varia natura, oltre a fornire le linee guida per acquisizioni appropriate.  Questo workshop ha inoltre la peculiarità di fondere le competenza ingegneristiche a quelle cliniche grazie ad un corpo docente proveniente da entrambi i mondi.    L'evento, che si svolgerà giovedì 22 febbraio 2024, è organizzato secondo la struttura Hub & Spoke.  Sarà possibile partecipare esclusivamente in presenza in una delle otto sedi italiane: Torino (sede HUb), Ancora, Milano, Bologna, Roma, Padova, Catania e Sassari. Al seguente link sono disponibili tutte le informazioni e la locandina ufficiale.  Le iscrizioni al workshop sono aperte e ci si registra tramite Google Form entro il 18 febbraio.  La partecipazione è gratuita per i soci SIAMOC per l'anno solare 2024 (a parte per gli studenti di laurea triennale e magistrale per cui invece è gratuita e non viene richiesto di associarsi). Per maggiori informazioni sulle modalità di associazione consultare il seguente link.  Il numero di posti è limitato e conviene affrettarsi ad iscriversi.  La sede Hub è rappresentata dal Politecnico di Torino a cui fanno riferimento l'ing. Marco Caruso (direttore scientifico dell'evento) e dal prof. Andrea Cereatti, entrambi coinvolti nelle attività del progetto TINCARE all'interno dell'ecosistema NODES.  Il programma dettagliato dell'evento è disponibile nella locandina in allegato. Alla fine della giornata verrà fornito un attestato di partecipazione.    Chiunque necessitasse di maggiori informazioni può contattare l'ing. Marco Caruso al contatto marco.caruso@polito.it 

The National Energy Technology Cluster organized a dynamic meeting aimed at promoting collaboration and innovation in the energy sector. The event, which brought together industry leaders, experts and stakeholders, focused on experience and knowledge sharing, highlighted by a presentation that outlined the Cluster's technology and development roadmap. The event also brought to light the role of different NRP-related activities related to the sector. The NODES Ecosystem had the opportunity to present the different actions, partners, and collaborations of actors in the Northwest of Italy. Miriam Pirra, coordinator of activities dedicated to Ecosystem Engagement and Development actions for Spoke 1, highlighted the importance of regional collaboration and the work of the different Ecosystem Spokes in achieving sustainable energy goals. As a platform for dialogue, networking, and exchange of ideas, the event not only facilitated meaningful connections but also created an environment conducive to promoting positive changes in the energy sector. This collective effort represents a step forward in the shared pursuit, at all geographic levels, of a more sustainable and resilient energy future.

On 7 December 2023, Prof. Patrizia Gazzola, professor at the University of Insubria, leader of Spoke 3 - Tourism and Culture Industry, went to Scotland to participate in an event entitled: A Circular Scotland In Europe.   The conference, which is part of a cycle of 4 events coordinated by the University of Aberdee, was held at the P&J Live Aberdeen conference centre, bringing together various personalities from both the academic world and the world of institutions.   During the meeting, the NODES project and the activity carried out by Spoke 3 - Tourism and Culture Industry as an Italian best practice in research on sustainable and in particular circular tourism were presented. We talked about sustainability, both in terms of innovation in the production system of the tourism system, but also in the digitalisation of small and medium-sized businesses so that they can reduce costs and waste.   Prof. Gazzola, who spoke in the panel: "Unpacking circular economy capabilities: a comparison with advances in the countries of the European Union", illustrated the Italian experience of circular economy in general and linked to tourism in particular. He also specified that its application can contribute to increasing the competitiveness and sustainability of ecosystem companies through the implementation of innovation and digitalisation processes specific to the territory.   Finally, we talked about how to enhance cultural heritage with the creation of company museums. The various moments of discussion were useful and fruitful for exchanging different experiences, new circular economy ideas and new applications as well as new network relationships to share with the other Nodes participants.

On Monday 11 December 2023, an event dedicated to Sustainable Tourism students of the University of Insubria entitled: "Innovation Trekking" was held at COMONExT Innovation Hub, partner of Spoke 3 - Tourism and Culture Industry.   During the day the students had the opportunity to meet representatives of the GReD - Geomatics Research & Development srl company, who illustrated cutting-edge solutions for the precise monitoring of movements on structures and terrain, highlighting the relevant applications in the sector tourist. In particular, GNSS detection technologies, fundamental to understanding the HEMOC project, were explored in depth. The presentation focused on the generation of data relating to the measurement of microdisplacements of the monitored buildings, underlining the integration of monitoring, virtual reality and cultural heritage.   Subsequently, the company DkR srl introduced the concepts of Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR) and Mixed Reality (RM), highlighting how these technologies would be integrated into the HEMOC project. He explained how such tools would enable immersive and intuitive visualization of the data generated by the technologies provided by G-RED.   Finally, DkR representatives involved the students in the Marketing Lab laboratory, offering them the opportunity to directly experience Virtual Reality and Mixed Reality technologies via headsets. This practical session allowed students to experience firsthand the immersive experience offered by the technologies presented during the event.   The meeting proved to be a unique opportunity for the students to deepen their understanding of advanced technologies applied to monitoring and visualization, thus contributing to their study path in the field of sustainable tourism.  

The inauguration of the exhibition: "Nodes on display. Images of sustainability" was held on Friday 1 December at the GIOIN Space of the Municipality of Vercelli, which will be possible to visit until 20 December 2023. The event, organized by the University of Eastern Piedmont, partner of Spoke 3 - Tourism and Culture Industry, with the patronage of the Municipality and Province of Vercelli, had as its object the display of 32 international posters on environmental sustainability. Thirty-two posters divided into five sections: “Pollution”; “There's new air! Global warming"; “Living to live: the network of life”; “Biodiversity: the beating heart of the Earth”; “Care and reciprocity”; as well as an out-of-section manifesto that underlines the need and possibility of change (Sebastian Becerra Corral, “Let's change the pace of our economy', Mexico, 2020). The images selected by the curator Annalisa D'orsi, coming from the archives of the International Poster Biennial in Mexico, grouped into five categories, are innovatively used by the exhibition as tools for dialogue with the territory, to fuel a reflection on the relevance of culture and imaginary in the transition towards a more sustainable society. The idea is simple but the challenge is complex: if we want to think and practice a sustainable way of life, our culture must also change. After the institutional greetings of the Municipality, as requested by the curator, all the people who spoke spent part of their speech to describe a word that they consider crucial from the point of view of environmental sustainability. The words were: intersectionality, education, research, circularity, heritage, biodiversity, culture. During the meeting, the NODES ecosystem was also presented and, in particular, the work of the UPO Spoke 3 research group.   Among the people who spoke were: councilor Gianna Baucero of the Municipality of Vercelli, Prof. Roberta Lombardi, teacher and director of DISSTE UPO, Prof. Filippo Fassina, representing DISUM UPO, Prof. Stefania Cerutti, teacher and scientific director NODES Spoke 3 UPO research group, Prof. Davide Porporato, member professor NODES Spoke 3 UPO research group, Gabriele Varalda representative of the Ecomuseo delle Terre d'Acqua, Sara Ghirardi of the Atlantis Research Center (CRA) and the anthropologist cultural, NODES Spoke 3 Upo research fellow as well as curator of the exhibition and catalog Annalisa D'Orsi. Finally, during the inauguration, two seminars were presented which will take place on 6 and 14 December 2023 in the exhibition space, co-organised together with the Province of Vercelli and the Ecomuseo delle Terre d'Acqua. - Wednesday 6 December, from 5pm to 7.30pm: “Tourism, agriculture and biodiversity. Sustainable and complementary actions". - Thursday 16 December, from 5pm to 7.30pm: “Biodiversity in rice fields. Study and protection".  

Yesterday, a Spoke 3 – Tourism and Culture Industry conference was held entitled: Sustainable and Circular economy: The case of Textile Industry.   The first session was presented in the main hall of the University of Insubria of Como Sant'Abbondio and brought together illustrious scholars from abroad who spoke about: international law, fast fashion and circular economy also presenting several very interesting case studies.   Prof. Barbara Pozzo, scientific director of the Nodes Project for Uninsubria, held a speech entitled: The challenges of sustainability for companies in the textile-fashion sector: the NODES Project, through which she illustrated to those present the Nodes project and the positive implications it can have on companies operating in the textile and fashion sector that approach sustainability.   In the afternoon the event moved to the Como – Lecco Chamber of Commerce where important exponents of the Como textile sector reported their entrepreneurial experience. Virtuous examples of circular economy were presented; sustainability is the basis of a new way of doing business and the textile sector is working to ensure that there is an effective paradigm shift. Great attention to the environment, the use of recycled materials and thoughtful production are the basis of the change.

The first meeting of the cycle Sustainability in practice – Students meet best practices in sustainability will be held on Friday 24 November 2023 at the Eco fraction of Baggero and the Water mill, Merone (CO). The event is organized by the Department of Law, Economics and Cultures of the University of Insubria, leader of Spoke 3 and sees the involvement of Professor Roberta Minazzi and Doctors Daniele Grechi and Francesca Rizzi who will have the task to accompany the students on site and guide them along the learning path of the case study together with sector managers who operate in the field of sustainability. In fact, the project aims to promote a cycle of company visits on the topic of sustainability directly to places that represent interest and best practices. Students will be able to experience firsthand the sustainability practices implemented by the live testimony of managers and project leaders. Participants will be able to apply theory to practice and develop appropriate entrepreneurial skills by listening to the real experiences of managers and company directors in the public and private sector. The aim of the seminars is to offer an applied vision of the topic of sustainability as a driver for the development of the territory and the valorization of culture. The event on 24 November aims to integrate the skills of the students of the three-year and master's degrees from an entrepreneurial perspective by putting them in contact with the actors in the public and private sector in which they will be working; the mission of the project is to provide students with managerial skills aimed at training future managers of the tourist destination. The second meeting is scheduled for December 1, 2023 at the Silk Museum in Como.    

 Chronic inflammation is a common persistent immune response observed in various degenerative diseases that can promote chronic disease.   In this context, immunomodulation, which involves the ability to instruct immune cells to move from an inflammatory to a regeneate state, thus promoting the resolution of pathology, represents an intriguing solutions.  In regenerative medicine, various strategies can be used to achieve this effect, including exploiting the intrinsic regenerative potential of innovative biological materials: extracellular matrix-associated nanovescicles. These tiny structures, ranging in size from 50 to 400 nanometers, are secreted by cells in various tissues and released into the extracellular matrix and anchored firmly to it. Their presence has been identified in the extracellular matrix of different tissues, such as the skin, heart and intestinal submucosa.   

Su questo sito sono disponibili i bandi e relative documentazioni per partecipare alla seconda finestra dei PoC Accademici.   Dal 16 novembre i ricercatori in team potranno presentare le proprie proposte progettuali per i temi di ricerca e innovazione proposti dagli Spoke dell'Ecosistema:   - Spoke 1: Aerospazio e mobilità sostenibile - Spoke 2: Green technologies e industria sostenibile - Spoke 3: Industria del turismo e cultura - Spoke 5: Industria della salute e silver economy   I bandi chiudono il 09 gennaio 2024.   Bandi PoC Accademici - IIa finestra Spoke 1 - Spoke 2 - Spoke 3 - Spoke 5      

On November 9th, at the Piacenza campus of the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, as part of the dissemination activities of Spoke 6, a flagship project of Formidabilæ, the seminar "Digital Livestock" was held. The seminar was conducted by Joao Dorea, Assistant Professor in Precision Agriculture and Data Analytics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and his doctoral student Rafael Ferreira. The two researchers came to Piacenza to install special cameras at the CERZOO experimental farm capable of real-time recording of the body condition of dairy cattle.    The algorithm that yields the result was developed by Dorea's group and holds valuable information related to health, well-being, and productive performance. The cameras will be used at CERZOO to achieve an early diagnosis of any metabolic imbalances in peripartum dairy cows.    Dorea and Ferreira's visit also provided a valuable opportunity for training and scientific exchange, occurring during the seminar and primarily aimed at students, researchers, and professors at the university. Professor Dorea presented the advantages of precision livestock farming (PLF), which, thanks to various types of sensors, allows for large-scale, real-time, automated, and non-invasive data collection at the individual animal level, or related to management and the environment. In this context, Dorea's research focuses mainly on computer vision systems, which extract quantitative information from videos or digital images through artificial intelligence algorithms.    One advantage is that the video/image format can be used to extract much more information compared to a single sensor worn by the animal (e.g., on limbs, collars, or ear tags), which detects only one type of data. The images used can be of different types, such as RGB, infrared, thermal, or depth. During the seminar, some deep learning methods were presented to analyze images, identify animals, and monitor their condition or behavior.    The initial practical applications of image analysis mainly involved calculating body weight and fattening status based on biometric measurements in cattle and pigs, but quickly extended to various aspects of the livestock sector. For example, Dorea's group developed and tested algorithms for monitoring feeding behavior, calculating respiratory frequency in dairy cows subjected to heat stress, and estimating a locomotion score based on the analysis of the animal's gait and the angle of various joints to identify lameness problems. Additionally, through hyperspectral images, it is possible to estimate the particle size of forages and the diet of cattle. Among the applications is the ability to predict some of the typical peripartum pathologies. Images recorded by cameras were used to calculate the fattening status of animals before calving and predict the risk of subclinical ketosis at the onset of lactation.    All these techniques can have significant operational implications in farm management, also ensuring animal welfare. Precision livestock farming has great potential in various areas of the dairy industry to improve efficiency, sustainability, and traceability of animal-origin products.