Fengshui:A Moral Technique-Art (jiyi 技藝) for Contemporary Environmental Awareness

In this article, we will define fengshui as a contemporary hybrid way of thinking with a long history that unfolds from ancient Chinese philosophy and the art of ruling, through Song Neo-Confucianism, to modern Western ecologic interpretations. We will particu-larly highlight the cosmological and moral ratio of this art in the philosophical thought of Zhu Xi and Cai Yuanding, which we will propose as the possible source of a reno-vated moral fengshui. After this historical framework, we will present the process of the scientifization of fengshui as a building technology. Therefore, we will put into question this enframing of fengshui as a modern technology through both Heidegger's lens and Li Zehou's definition of "proper measure" (du (sic)). Following this hermeneutical analysis, we will propose jiyi (sic) (technique-art) as the most suitable definition of fengshui and we will present the ethical dimension behind it (i.e., filial piety towards nature). In the conclusions, we will argue that fengshui is not, properly speaking, an environmental phi-losophy or an ecologism, since these two concepts are too rooted in Western philosophi-cal culture (i.e., transcendence and the separateness of humans and nature). However, we are convinced that fengshui could fruitfully contribute to a deeper ecological awareness with a Chinese character on both the local and global scales

G.I.S. technologies for data collection, management and visualization of large slope instabilities: two applications in the Western Italian Alps

International audienceLarge slope instabilities are gravitational phenomena whose main characteristics are the multi-km2 area extension and the complex geometrical, geomorphological and geomechanical settings. Several studies outlined their importance in spatial and temporal occurrence of natural hazards on wide mountain areas and their possible interaction in human activities. For the study of large slope instability and deep seated slope gravitational deformations in the Susa and Aosta Valleys (Western Italian Alps) a complete multiscale program (spatial and temporal) analysis has been performed, giving contributions to the reconstruction and settings of their possible evolution. A complex geodatabase has been created, including thematic elements from field-data collection (geomorphology, hydrology, lithology, structural geology) and instability events analysis from data archives and remote sensing images. To facilitate the management of a large amount of collected data a G.I.S. (Geographical Information System) has been developed, including two main levels of information: local and regional. Local information is mainly devoted to detailed geothematic mapping of single instability phenomena. Clot Brun case study is presented, where original and derived landslide features have been elaborated through arithmetical and statistical operations, in order to identify different instability zones and to assess displacements and state of activity through-time. Regional information collected for a landslide inventory of Aosta Valley (IFFI project) summarizes historical and remote sensing data, combined with metadata from local analysis, in order to assess spatial and temporal hazards. To avoid problems of data accuracy (quality and positioning) due to different source archives, a semi-automatic system for selection and validation of data has been created, based on their spatial characteristics (buffer analysis and control). G.I.S. technologies have been used to archive, manage and visualize collected data through 2-D and 3-D models of single case studies and regional distribution of large slope instabilities

Esperimento RTK1: verifica delle prestazioni del posizionamento NRTK (Cap. 4 app. 1)

Un libro bianco su: "I servizi di posizionamento satellitare per l'e-government

A complex flow phantom for medical imaging : ring vortex phantom design and technical specification

Cardiovascular fluid dynamics exhibit complex flow patterns, such as recirculation and vortices. Quantitative analysis of these complexities supports diagnosis, leading to early prediction of pathologies. Quality assurance of technologies that image such flows is challenging but essential, and to this end, a novel, cost-effective, portable, complex flow phantom is proposed and the design specifications are provided. The vortex ring is the flow of choice because it offers patterns comparable to physiological flows and is stable, predictable, reproducible and controllable. This design employs a piston/cylinder system for vortex ring generation, coupled to an imaging tank full of fluid, for vortex propagation. The phantom is motor-driven and by varying piston speed, piston displacement and orifice size, vortex rings with different characteristics can be produced. Two measurement methods, namely Laser-PIV and an optical/video technique, were used to test the phantom under a combination of configurations. Vortex rings with a range of travelling velocities (approximately 1–80 cm/s) and different output-orifice diameters (10–25 mm) were produced with reproducibility typically better than ±10%. Although ultrasound compatibility has been demonstrated, longer-term ambitions include adapting the design to support comparative studies with different modalities, such as MRA and X-ray-CTA

The Down syndrome critical region protein TTC3 inhibits neuronal differentiation via RhoA and Citron kinase.

The Down syndrome critical region (DSCR) on Chromosome 21 contains many genes whose duplication may lead to the major phenotypic features of Down syndrome and especially the associated mental retardation. However, the functions of DSCR genes are mostly unknown and their possible involvement in key brain developmental events still largely unexplored. In this report we show that the protein TTC3, encoded by one of the main DSCR candidate genes, physically interacts with Citron kinase (CIT-K) and Citron N (CIT-N), two effectors of the RhoA small GTPase that have previously been involved in neuronal proliferation and differentiation. More importantly, we found that TTC3 levels can strongly affect the NGF-induced differentiation of PC12 cells, by a CIT-K-dependent mechanism. Indeed, TTC3 overexpression leads to strong inhibition of neurite extension, which can be reverted by CIT-K RNAi. Conversely, TTC3 knockdown stimulates neurite extension in the same cells. Finally, we find that Rho, but not Rho kinase, is required for TTC3 differentiation-inhibiting activity. Our results suggest that the TTC3–RhoA–CIT-K pathway could be a crucial determinant of in vivo neuronal development, whose hyperactivity may result in detrimental effects on the normal differentiation program

Analisi dei costi dell\u2019assistenza domiciliare integrata : l\u2019esperienza della Regione Calabria

The need to contain healthcare expenditure, looking at quality of assistance as well, has lead recently to the implementation of new assistance paradigms. Home hospitalization is intended to improve quality of assistance, because it ensure the patients to remain in their own environment, assisted by their families. The relevance of such issues is even higher when the assistance is directed towards cancer patients. The purpose of the paper is analyzing level of costs for alternative assistance programs for cancer patients. The analysis has been carried out for Regione Calabria (Italy). Patients in the sample have been distinguished into several groups according to their health conditions as inferred by a multidimensional evaluation: patients\u2019 multidimensional evaluation has been correlated with the level of costs

Expression and Functional Role of Urotensin-II and Its Receptor in the Adrenal Cortex and Medulla: Novel Insights for the Pathophysiology of Primary Aldosteronism

Abstract Context: The involvement of urotensin II, a vasoactive peptide acting via the G protein-coupled urotensin II receptor, in arterial hypertension remains contentious. Objective: We investigated the expression of urotensin II and urotensin II receptor in adrenocortical and adrenomedullary tumors and the functional effects of urotensin II receptor activation. Design: The expression of urotensin II and urotensin II receptor was measured by real time RT-PCR in aldosterone-producing adenoma (n = 22) and pheochromocytoma (n = 10), using histologically normal adrenocortical (n = 6) and normal adrenomedullary (n = 5) tissue as control. Urotensin II peptide and urotensin II receptor protein were investigated with immunohistochemistry and immunoblotting. To identify urotensin II-related and urotensin II receptor-related pathways, a whole transcriptome analysis was used. The adrenocortical effects of urotensin II receptor activation were also assessed by urotensin II infusion with/without the urotensin II receptor antagonist palosuran in rats. Results: Urotensin II was more expressed in pheochromocytoma than in aldosterone-producing adenoma tissue; the opposite was seen for the urotensin II receptor expression. Urotensin II receptor activation in vivo in rats enhanced (by 182 ± 9%; P < 0.007) the adrenocortical expression of immunoreactive aldosterone synthase. Conclusions: Urotensin II is a putative mediator of the effects of the adrenal medulla and pheochromocytoma on the adrenocortical zona glomerulosa. This pathophysiological link might account for the reported causal relationship between pheochromocytoma and primary aldosteronism

Esperimento RTK1: verifica delle prestazioni del posizionamento NRTK (Cap. 4 app. 1)

Un libro bianco su: "I servizi di posizionamento satellitare per l'e-government