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Il concetto di "Smart City" è sempre con maggiore enfasi indicato come una soluzione strategica alle problematiche associate al processo di agglomerazione urbana. L'espressione, nata a partire dagli anni Novanta in concomitanza con la liberalizzazione delle telecomunicazioni e lo sviluppo di servizi erogati attraverso Internet, rischia, tuttavia, di restare generica e priva di una definizione condivisa. Questo lavoro contribuisce alla letteratura esistente in due modi: 1. fornendo una trattazione sistematica dei problemi di definizione e misurazione relativi alle "Smart Cities" e 2. sottolineando le principali problematiche metodologiche.

A vinyl-terminated polycaprolactone has been developed for tissue engineering applications using a one-step synthesis and functionalization method based on ring opening polymerization (ROP) of ?-Caprolactone, with hydroxyl ethyl vinyl ether (HEVE) acting both as the initiator of ROP and as photo-curable functional group. The proposed method employs a catalyst based on aluminium, instead of the most popular Tin(II) 2-ethylhexanoate, to reduce the cytotoxicity. Following the synthesis of the vinyl-terminated polycaprolactone, its reaction with fumaryl chloride (FuCl) results in a divinyl-fumarate polycaprolactone (VPCLF). The polymers obtained were thoroughly characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and gel permeation chromatography (GPC) techniques. The polymer has been successfully employed, in combination with N-vinyl pyrrolidone (NVP), to fabricate films and computer-designed porous scaffolds by micro-stereolithography (?-SL) with gyroid and diamond architectures. Characterization of the networks indicated the influence of NVP content on the network properties. Human mesenchymal stem cells adhered and spread onto VPCLF/NVP networks showing good biological properties and no cytotoxic effect. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Introduction: The aim of the current study was to analyse the application of Reverse Engineering (RE) and Additive Manufacturing (AM) techniques to design an innovative low-cost insole recently produced by insole- makers. Taking into consideration all the modern developments in the shoe-manufacturing field, a polymer-based prototype of the insole was developed through the photogrammetric technique and a low-cost 3D Printer. Materials and methods: Agisoft PhotoScan, Geomagic Studio, Rhinoceros and ZSuite softwares were used to obtain the model fabricated by fused deposition modeling (FDM) using a Zortrax M200 printer and a thermoplastic polymer (Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene, ABS). Mechanical and thermal tests were carried ot to optimize the process conditions. The pressure distribution under the feet were analysed in different conditions using F-Scan 7.0 Research and MATLAB R2015b softwares. Results: Models of insole for footwear were developed taking into account the results obtained from calorimetric and mechanical analyses as well as those from pressure distribution. The instrument and process parameters were properly optimized. Shape and size were obtained by image capture and analysis techniques Discussion: The results confirmed the possibility to use RE/AM techniques for the development of an innovative insole for footwear.

Background. Disasters are increasingly more frequent events on our planet. During disaster the role of the occupational therapist will require a more specific operative framework within nongovernmental organizations and community health services. Design. Systematic review. Objective. The aim of this study is to evaluate the evidence that highlight occupational therapist’s role in disaster area through a systematic review. Materials and Methods. Research on MEDLINE was performed. All articles from 2005 to 2015 concerning rehabilitation and occupational therapy in disaster areas were included. Results. Ten studies were selected to be included in this review. Four interesting points emerged: the importance of having rehabilitation intervention in postdisaster situations, the necessity to include a rehabilitation team in the early phase of disaster response, the need to provide a method to address the difficult evacuation, and finding the safest method of transport of people with preexisting disabilities and new injuries. Conclusions. The amount of evidence with respect to specific intervention of the occupational therapist’s role in a disaster situation is limited. However some evidence suggests that it could be a good means for reducing the number of medical complications and deaths of persons with preexisting disabilities. The evidences found highlight the necessity to create a multidisciplinary team addressing needs in disasters situation, in which the occupational therapist could certainly contribute.

Piezoelectric bone surgery, also known as piezosurgery, is a technique which has been developed to overcome problems related to conventional surgery through rotating tools such as reamers and drills. Piezosurgery provides a cutting capability of mineralized tissues, however preventing soft tissue damage. Furthermore, it seems that piezosurgery also favors wound healing. Such technique is based on cutting tools (i.e., inserts) vibrating at ultrasonic frequencies. The tip of these inserts is generally covered by a diamond or titanium nitride deposition to enhance the tip hardness, thus improving cutting capability and avoiding instability due to wear. It is well known that efficiency of conventional rotating reamers and drills for bone surgery depends on wear. Anyway, little is known about the coating stability of piezoelectric inserts. Accordingly, the aim of the current work was to analyze the effect of cutting and sterilization processes on the properties of inserts for piezoelectric bone surgery. In particular, the degradation of titanium nitride coating as consequence of a repetitive and controlled 5-cycle cutting/sterilization was studied. SEM and AFM were used to analyze the morphology of the worn coating, while EDS analysis was performed to assess the chemical composition and the element distribution. Results suggested that the stability of titanium nitride coating depends on the quality of the insert. Basically, a poor quality coating negatively affects the cutting process also producing a marked wear of titanium nitride deposition. Bulk alloy was exposed, mainly consisting of iron, as well as alloying elements and impurities (i.e., manganese and sulfur) which may be dangerous for the health of the patient.

During the last decades, cities have become increasingly central in the economic, environmental, social and development-related processes, representing a real focal point of the political and economic strategies conducted by different bodies and international legislators. The coexistence of a high number of heterogeneous problems makes the city an ideal platform for testing new digital technologies. Within this framework, the strong correspondence between urban environment and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) becomes evident and is a necessary condition, even if not sufficient, to address local challenges, also in terms of smart sustainable development. The concept of Smart City, therefore, is increasingly referred to as a strategic solution to the problems associated with the irreversible process of urban agglomeration. Within this context, this study aims at providing a framework for such a varied and multidimensional reality, in order to obtain an appropriate and homogeneous definition taking into account all these different aspects, also in the light of current legislation and of European and international perspectives. All this also bearing in mind the main purpose of trying to clarify the Italian position, which is characterised by a significant diversity. Since 1990 the term Smart City has been spreading in conjunction with the liberalisation of telecommunications and the development of services provided through the Internet. However, its definition is likely to remain generic and unshared. The term Smart City has recently become synonymous with cities characterised by an extensive and intelligent use of digital technologies that enable an efficient use of information, even if, actually, intelligent cities imply much more than this, as clearly illustrated in the relevant literature. In particular, since the “Lisbon Strategy” (2000) to “Europe 2020”, the European Union has been investing in the promotion of smart, sustainable and inclusive growth, both through specific directives/guidelines/recommendations (from an environmental and technological point of view, but also in a social context) and through European projects dedicated to Smart City development and renewable energy. Within “Europe 2020”, one of the most relevant topic is the realisation of the European Digital Agenda (EDA) attributing a central role to ICT and also establishing clear actions, targets and indicators to monitor the progress of countries towards the achievement of the information society. In accordance with EDA principles, since 1st March 2012 the Italian Digital Agenda has also been established. Therefore, disseminating and improving Smart City experiences implemented at national level, in terms of a more systematic and coordinated vision, becomes urgent in order to better understand and address Italian strong heterogeneity.

Il trattamento del deficit osseo: metodi e procedure di ricostruzione

This chapter deals with recent and innovative approaches in the field of bone tissue regeneration. After a brief introduction on tissue engineering, bone biology and on the traditional strategies currently adopted in the field of bone repair, the chapter focuses on the applications of hybrid magnetic nanocomposite materials in bioengineering and regenerative medicine, as well as on the design, preparation and characterization of three-dimensional (3D) magnetic scaffolds obtained through innovative rapid prototyping technologies such as 3D fiber deposition technique, that offers the fascinating opportunity to develop morphologically-controlled structures with tailored mechanical and mass transport properties. Over the past years, the basic principles of magnetism and magnetic materials have been widely used in many interesting medical applications such as drug and gene delivery, hyperthermia treatment of tumors and radionuclide therapy, magneto-mechanical stimulation or activation of cell-constructs and mechanosensitive ion channels, magnetic cell-seeding procedures and controlled cell proliferation and differentiation. The possibility to extend these concepts to tissue engineering has opened an exciting wide research area of interest. Magnetic scaffolds should be considered as a potential alternative to bone graft substitutes with attractive new performances; they can be manipulated by means of magnetic force gradients in order to attract magnetized cells, increasing scaffold-cell loading efficiency, or bioaggregates (i.e., vascular endothelial growth factor, VEGF), stimulating angiogenesis and bone regeneration, they can also be employed as hyperthermia agents able to deliver thermal energy to targeted bodies (i.e., tumors) or as devices in chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Finally, the possibility to employ magnetic forces for achieving an efficient scaffold fixation is also briefly discussed.

3-(2-ethylphenyl)-5-(3-methoxyphenyl)-1H-1,2,4-triazole (ST1959) has shown therapeutic effects in several animal models of autoimmune diseases. In this study the effects of ST1959 were further investigated in a murine model of colitis. The evidence obtained indicates that the beneficial effects exerted by ST1959 rely upon a decreased local immunological response. The cellular effects of ST1959 were additionally investigated on human peripheral blood mononuclear cells and Jurkat T cells by measuring cytokine production, cell proliferation and activation of a set of transcription factors. ST1959 decreases human T cell proliferation and inhibits cytokine expression at the transcriptional level. Moreover, at doses inhibiting cytokine production, ST1959 blocks phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) and ionomycin-induced nuclear factor protein of activated T cell (NFAT1) activity, without impairing AP-1-and NF-κB-dependent transcription. Immunofluorescence data show that ST1959 inhibits the nuclear residency of NFAT1 in both Jurkat and human peripheral blood mononuclear cells activated with PMA/ionomycin. leptomycin B, an inhibitor of CRM1/exportinlα-dependent nuclear export, reverted the inhibitory effect of ST1959 on NFAT1 nuclear localization. This indicates that ST1959 may increase the nuclear export of NFAT1, downregulating NFAT1 activity via a mechanism different from that of cyclosporin A, since it does not affect NFAT phosporylation/dephosphorylation steps. These findings provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying the immunomodulatory activity of ST1959.

Bracket bonding procedures with composite photo-cured materials are commonly used in orthodontics to improve clinical performance and reduce treatment time. Ceramic brackets are frequently applied in combination with composite photo-cured materials to improve aesthetics. Since bond strength depends on the light curing process, in dentistry a new technology named Soft Light Energy Release (SLER®) has been introduced to allow thermal control of the curing process by softly decreasing light energy in the final step of the irradiation period. The aim of this study was to test the SLER® technology in orthodontics. Eighty ceramic brackets were bonded on the enamel facial surface of freshly extracted central lower bovine incisors with light cured composite materials. They were randomly divided into two groups: one using standard light curing (group A) and the other SLER® curing technology (group B), both providing the same energy dose. An Instron digital torsiometer determined the bonding strength. Statistical analysis showed a significant difference between the two groups. Group B with the SLER® showed a greater bonding strength compared to the Group A with standard light curing. The findings suggested that SLER® improves the bonding strength of orthodontic brackets when using light cured composite materials.