Design as enabler of anticipatory systems: The MakeinProgress case study

In this paper we investigated the relationship between anticipation and design. Through a case study, we analysed the role Design plays among the anticipation processes in regards to the development of a territory. The functional structure of anticipation is based on a three-part scheme: a normal part, a model of the normal part, a steering device able to steer the normal part according to the outcomes of the model. The case study represented the model whereby the possible evolution of the normal part is experienced. The aim was to test whether design could enable anticipatory systems by operating as steering device and by supporting its action through processes of prefiguration, vision and realization. The case study ‘MakeinProgress’ (MiP) was born from an opportunity in the territory — the architectural recovery of a former “Filanda”, funded by local authorities with public financing. The MiP project started as an incubator and then converted with the intervention of design. To convert MiP we applied an action-research approach. In the case of MiP, the local community could be seen as an autopoietic system, whereas the tools, belonging to the Service Design and to the Design for Social Innovation, acted as steering device. The paper presents the process whereby people were enabled to define new job opportunities out of their passions, to exploit the available space to the best of its potential, linking the territory to the national and international circuits. MiP is a concrete demonstration of the possible role of Design among anticipation mechanisms, thanks to the application of Service Design tools. MiP also acts as support for the creation of models to be used to support the public system and governments and to support the community.Keywords: MakeinProgress, Anticipation, Service Design, Social Innovation

Design as enabler of anticipatory systems: The MakeinProgress case study

In this paper, we investigated the relationship between anticipation and design. Through a case study, we analysed the role Design plays among the anticipation processes in regards to the development of a territory. The functional structure of anticipation is based on a three-part scheme: a normal part, a model of the normal part, a steering device able to steer the normal part according to the outcomes of the model. The case study represented the model whereby the possible evolution of the normal part is experienced. The aim was to test whether design could enable anticipatory systems by operating a steering device and by supporting its action through processes of prefiguration, vision and realization. The case study ‘MakeinProgress’ (MiP) was born from an opportunity in the territory — the architectural recovery of a former “Filanda”, funded by local authorities with public financing. The MiP project started as an incubator and then converted with the intervention of design. To convert MiP we applied an action-research approach. In the case of MiP, the local community could be seen as an autopoietic system, whereas the tools, belonging to the Service Design and to the Design for Social Innovation, acted as a steering device. The paper presents the process whereby people were enabled to define new job opportunities out of their passions, to exploit the available space to the best of its potential, linking the territory to the national and international circuits. MiP is a concrete demonstration of the possible role of Design among anticipation mechanisms, thanks to the application of Service Design tools. MiP also acts as a support for the creation of models to be used to support the public system and governments and to support the community

From tissue invasion to glucose metabolism: the many aspects of Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 3 pro-oncogenic activities.

AbstractThe pro-oncogenic transcription factor STAT3 is constitutively active in tumours of many different origins, which often become addicted to its activity. STAT3 is believed to contribute to the initial survival of pre-cancerous cells as well as to hyper-proliferation and, later, metastasis.To evaluate the contribution of enhanced STAT3 activation in a controlled model system, we generated knock-in mice in which a mutant constitutively activeConstitutively active STAT3 could enhance the tumorigenic power of the ratSTAT3 can induce a metabolic switch that predisposes cells to aberrant survival, enhanced proliferation and, finally, tumour transformation. Later, enhanced Cten expression contributes to tissue infiltration and metastasis. While not excluding the contribution of many other tumour-specific STAT3 target genes, our data provide a unifying explanation of several pro-oncogenic STAT3 activities.</jats:p

Perfluorooctanesulfonate and perfluorooctanoic acid exposures of the Italian general population

The serum concentrations of perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) were determined in 230 subjects of the Italian general population. Participants were enrolled in 2008 in two Italian towns (Brescia, Northern Italy, and Rome, Central Italy) and belonged to the three age ranges: 20-35. years, 36-50. years, and 51-65. years.PFOS and PFOA were quantified by HPLC interfaced to a mass spectrometer operating in the electrospray negative mode. Data were acquired using multiple reaction monitoring (MRM). The isotope dilution technique was applied throughout.The median serum concentrations of all participants were 6.31ngg-1 and 3.59ngg-1 for PFOS and PFOA, respectively, and the pertinent 90th percentiles were 12.38 and 6.92.Men had higher concentrations of PFOS and PFOA than women, regardless of age. The differences were statistically significant in the 20-35 and 36-50. years groups, but not in the 51-65 group.An increase of PFOS and PFOA serum concentrations with age was observed. The Median test showed a statistically significant difference (p≪0.01) between the three age groups for both PFOS and PFOA when applied to the entire dataset (males and females). When the test was applied to the groups of males and females separately, a significant difference was observed for females (p≪0.005) but not for males (p&gt;0.1).The observed strong correlation between PFOS and PFOA concentrations suggests same or similar exposure routes. © 2010 Elsevier Ltd

“Innovative high pressure/high temperature, multi-sensing bioreactors system for microbial risk assessment in underground hydrogen storage”

This study addresses the microbial risks associated with Underground Hydrogen Storage (UHS), a critical component in the transition towards renewable energy systems, by employing an innovative multi-reactor system (Bio-xplorer) to simulate UHS conditions in two Italian reservoirs. The microbiological risk assessment (MRA) of Reservoir A and B was evaluated by subjecting them to gas mixtures of 10 % H2 and 90 % CH4, and 99 % H2 and 1 % CO2, respectively. In Reservoir A, the stability of pressure and temperature, the negligible optical density, and lack of microbial metabolites suggested a low risk of microbial activation. Molecular analyses confirmed the absence of sulphate- reducing bacteria (SRB) and limited growth of hydrogenotrophic methanogens (HM). Similarly, in Reservoir B, the absence of SRB and limited occurrence of HM indicated a low microbiological risk. Overall, the present work supports the safe and efficient implementation of UHS, a promising mitigation technique for climate change, using an innovative tool for MRA

Can facies act as a chronostratigraphical tool?

Results demonstrate that the Appalachian ironstones seem to reflect the same microbially-mediated iron mineralization already documented in the Carnic Alps

Modulation of the Akt/Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK pathway by A3 adenosine receptor

Downstream A3 receptor signalling plays an important role in the regulation of cell death and proliferation. Therefore, it is important to determine the molecular pathways involved through A3 receptor stimulation. The phosphatidylinositide-3-OH kinase (PI3K)/Akt and the Raf/mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK/ERK) kinase (MEK)/mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways have central roles in the regulation of cell survival and proliferation. The crosstalk between these two pathways has also been investigated. The focus of this review centres on downstream mediators of A3 adenosine receptor signalling

Prolonged higher dose methylprednisolone vs. conventional dexamethasone in COVID-19 pneumonia: a randomised controlled trial (MEDEAS)

Dysregulated systemic inflammation is the primary driver of mortality in severe COVID-19 pneumonia. Current guidelines favor a 7-10-day course of any glucocorticoid equivalent to dexamethasone 6 mg·day-1. A comparative RCT with a higher dose and a longer duration of intervention was lacking