Conceptualizing catalytic, sustainable development in Mexico's second tier

Thesis (M.C.P.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Urban Studies and Planning; and, (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Architecture, 2012.This electronic version was submitted by the student author. The certified thesis is available in the Institute Archives and Special Collections.Vita. Page 168 blank. Cataloged from student submitted PDF version of thesis.Includes bibliographical references (p. 139-149).What is the present role of technical change - particularly change in integrated Information-Communication Technology (ICT) - in facilitating sustainable urbanism in the developing world? Technological advancements are altering consumer demand and behavior, transforming the products, services, entertainment and information consumed as well processes related to consumption. Technical change is further altering the production processes of goods, services, entertainment and information, and therefore the spaces of those processes, allowing industry to be reintroduced into the city. As the first two points suggest, technical change thus alters the use of urban space, eroding traditionally suitable adjacencies or separations, public/private distinctions, and the conventions of the public realm. Collectively, these and other trends are most apparent in 'New Century City' (NCC) Projects, where technological innovation as industry, as method, as place-maker and as way of life are being fused to create a new type of urban experience. This project surveys current discourses in sustainable urbanism and international development, using lessons learned from several NCC projects to derive a flexible model for advanced industry cluster development in second tier Mexican cities. This prototype is demonstrated via a projective proposal for Ciudad del Diseño (the City of Design), a development initiative recently launched by the city of Puebla. The objective of this study is to use design to develop and demonstrate principles for catalytic, sustainable development in the mid-sized cities of Mexico, and Latin America more broadly.by Allison N. Albericci.S.M.M.C.P

Inhibition of Nitric Oxide (NO) Production in Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-Activated Murine Macrophage RAW 264.7 Cells by the Norsesterterpene Peroxide, Epimuqubilin A

Seven norsesterterpene peroxides: epimuqubilin A (1), muqubilone B (2), unnamed cyclic peroxide ester (3), epimuqubilin B (4), sigmosceptrellin A methyl ester (5), sigmosceptrellin A (6), and sigmosceptrellin B methyl ester (7), isolated from the marine sponge Latrunculia sp., were examined with regard to their effects on nitric oxide (NO) production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated murine macrophage RAW 264.7 cells. The results indicated epimuqubilin A (1) possessed potent NO inhibitory activity against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitric oxide release with an IC50 value of 7.4 μM, a level three times greater than the positive control, L-NG-monomethyl arginine citrate, followed by 6 (sigmosceptrellin A, IC50 = 9.9 μM), whereas other compounds exhibited only modest activity (Table 1). These compounds did not show appreciable cytotoxicity at their IC50 values for NO–inhibitory activity. The structure–activity upon NO inhibition could be summarized as follows: (1) a monocyclic carbon skeleton framework was essential for activity, (2) free acids gave higher activity, (3) the orientation of H3-22 with an equatorial position increased activity, and (4) a bicyclic structure reduced activity. This is the first report of a norsesterterpene peroxide with NO–inhibitory activity. In addition, compounds 1–7 were also evaluated for their inhibitory activities in the yeast glycogen synthase kinase-3β assay. In summary, several norsesterterpene peroxides showed novel biological activities of inhibition in NO production, suggesting that these might provide leads for anti-inflammatory or cancer chemopreventive agents

Prime note sulle collezioni botaniche nella Genova tardo Illuminista

Descrizione della fervida attivit\ue0 collezionistica delle famiglie nobilinella Genova agli inizi del secolo XI

Gli Orti Botanici a Genova

Storia ed evoluzione degli Orti Botanica a genova nel priodo Illuminista di inizio secolo XIX. L'amore delle famiglie nobili per il collezionismo botanico

Serre ottocentesche per la coltivazione delle specie esotiche negli Orti Botanici di Genova

Esame tecnico delle serre presenti negli Orti Botanic di Genova e soluzioni adottate per la coltivazione di specie esotiche rare