Potential of cycloaddition reactions to generate cytotoxic metal drugs in vitro

Severe general toxicity issues blight many chemotherapeutics utilized in the treatment of cancers, resulting in the need for more selective drugs able to exert their biological activity at only the required location(s). Toward this aim, we report the development of an organometallic ruthenium compound, functionalized through a η6-bound arene ligand with a bicyclononyne derivative, able to participate in strain-promoted cycloaddition reactions with tetrazines. We show that combination of the ruthenium compound with a ditetrazine in biological media results in the in situ formation of a dinuclear molecule that is more cytotoxic toward cancer cells than the starting mononuclear ruthenium compound and tetrazine components. Such an approach may be extended to in vivo applications to construct a cytotoxic metallodrug at a tumor site, providing a novel approach toward the turn-on cytotoxicity of metallodrugs in the treatment of cancer

What differences exist between Lavaux’s perception and its promoted image, and how can the promotion be adjusted to ensure consistency and improve the knowledge of the area?

Lavaux, the Swiss vineyard which has been part of the UNESCO World Heritage List since 2007, is renowned for its terrace vineyards, its traditions, its breath-taking views on the Geneva Lake, and its unique landscape configuration. The purpose of this report is to provide an in-depth analysis of the perception and behaviour of the public towards Lavaux, and to compare them with the promotion of the area. The field research, which is based on a survey and interviews, aims at analysing the mental representation of the public, the places visited and activities performed, the wine-consumption habits and the public’s UNESCO’s definition. In parallel, the interviews of different economic actors in the vineyard allow a deep understanding of the promotion done for Lavaux. The findings suggest that the public’s perception and behaviour are aligned with the promotion of the area. Wine, landscape and UNESCO are shared values and are fully part of the promotion. Though, more implicit values, such as traditions, culture, local products are not enough highlighted. Also, no influence on Lavaux’s wine consumption has happened after the UNESCO’s nomination as far as the opinion of the public and of economic actors is concerned. Globally, the current strategy is relevant and adapts to the market needs to some extent. In order to improve the efficiency of the promotion and fill the existing gaps, recommendations include four main dimensions that can be developed. Firstly, the traditions and local products should be fully part of the promotion strategy, through quality products, service and wide opening hours. Then, the visit of the vineyard in winter could be promoted, with the creation of events to attract visitors at that period of the year. Also, the creation of a Vine and Wine Museum would enable the education of visitors about the heritage, traditions and the cultural background, while being a family activity. Finally, the creation of a global image through branding could improve the consistency of the promotion strategy. The branding should be decided amongst the promotion actors and should represent a first image to attract visitors in the area. The individualities and diversity of the economic activity should be kept within the vineyard, as they are part of the richness of the area. To summarize, unity and coordination amongst actors, the sustainability of traditions and heritage, the orientation towards preferred tourism and the promotion of experiences are key to the development of the promotion of Lavaux in the coming years

Design Methods for Miniature Underwater Soft Robots

A robotic fish accepted by animals as conspecifics is a very powerful tool in behavioral biology. To obtain the acceptance of the device towards the animals, it should generate some visual stimuli that can be perceived by a living fish as attractive signals. In this paper we introduce a novel design of a robotic fish lure based on a Rigid-Flex Printed Circuit Board (PCB) for experiments on the fish collective behavior. The 3D scan of a zebrafish Danio Rerio, a model animal for fish behavior studies, was used to mimick the main visual features of the zebrafish on the design. The robot can generate different stimuli thanks to its actuated caudal peduncle and two Light- Emitting Diodes (LEDs) placed near its eyes. The prototype has a total length of 63 mm and is only 1.5 times bigger than a zebrafish. The final prototype is waterproof and functional and thus satisfies the necessary conditions for the next steps that will be interaction experiments between the device and living zebrafish

Critical Success Factors of Implementing Building Information Modelling and Sustainability Practices in Construction Projects: A Delphi Survey

The research study aims to explore and assess the critical success factors (CSFs) that can amplify the integration of building information modeling (BIM) and sustainability practices in construction projects. Delphi survey technique was employed to solicit the perceptions of experts on the 30 identified CSFs by means of a two-round Delphi survey. The expert panel responses were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistical tools. The key drivers identified in the study are related to people-centric, and data and technology-centric interventions in the built environment. Crucial deductions were formed on the basis of a comparative analysis of the expert groups. The study's findings have provided valuable lessons for local authorities, policymakers, and project stakeholders to strengthen the drive for achieving full adoption of green BIM initiatives. The study has also provided effective recommendations for increasing the uptake of BIM and sustainability practices in the construction industry, and has contributed to the existing body of knowledge about smart urbanization and hands-on practice in the built environment

Dynamics of globalization: mobility, space and regulation

Les recherches actuelles conduites à l’Institut de Géographie de l’Université de Neuchâtel se concentrent sur l’importance cruciale de la mobilité dans les dynamiques de la mondialisation. En s’appuyant sur les études de la mobilité, cet article présente un cadre analytique susceptible d’étudier la «construction mobile de la société». L’article montre que la relation entre la mobilité, l’espace et la régulation fournit un angle d’approche particulièrement approprié à l’exploration des enjeux contemporains de la mondialisation, considérée à travers le prisme de la mobilité. Il décrit les recherches actuelles conduites à l’Institut, qui s’articulent autour de trois thèmes: migrations; changement urbain; et pouvoir, espace et mobilité dans la société de l’information. L’article montre que la mondialisation peut être appréhendée comme un processus de constitution de la société par la mobilité. Ce processus conduit à certaines tensions, notamment entre fluidité et turbulence, standardisation et diversité, et pouvoir et résistance.Recent research at the Institute of Geography in Neu-châtel emphasises the pivotal status of mobility in the dynamics of globalization. Drawing on work in mobil-ity studies, the article presents a basic analytical frame-work suitable for studying the «mobile constitution of society». It argues more specifically that the relation-ship between mobility, space and regulation offers a worthwhile analytical focus for exploring current issues of globalization from the viewpoint of mobility. The article presents current research at the Institute that explores this interrelation, focusing on three main fields: «human migration», «urban change» and «power, space and mobility in the information age». It argues that globalization can be seen as a process of constitution of society through mobility, and as such a field of tensions: between fluidity and turbulence, standardisation and diversity, power and resistance.Das Geographische Institut der Universität Neuenburg untersucht und versteht Mobilität als zentrale Dimension aktueller Globalisierungsprozesse. Der vorliegende Artikel entwickelt einleitend, in Anlehnung an die Mobility Studies, ein allgemeines Analyseraster zum Studium der «mobilen Konstitution der Gesellschaft». Darauf aufbauend wird speziell der analytische Nutzen der Begriffe Mobilität, Raum und Regulation hervorgehoben, um aktuelle Entwicklungs- tendenzen der Globalisierung aus einer Mobilitäts-Perspektive zu behandeln. Auf dieser theoretischen Grundlage lässt sich die aktuelle Arbeit des Instituts in drei Forschungsrichtungen einteilen: «Migration», «Stadtentwicklung» sowie «Raum und Macht im Informationszeitalter». Abschliessend wird die Rolle der Begriffe Mobilität, Raum und Regulation in allen drei Forschungsrichtungen dargelegt

Une fromagerie coopérative à Chermignon (VS)

Depuis plusieurs années, le développement du tourisme estival en montagne exacerbe les tensions entre les sphères agricoles et touristiques, affaiblissant l’agriculture de montagne déjà en difficulté. Dans ce contexte de déclin, le projet a pour but de redynamiser l’agropastoralisme et de revaloriser la production fromagère de la région, par le biais d’une fromagerie coopérative. Le bâtiment s’inscrit sur la commune de Chermignon, dans une zone artisanale à mi-chemin sur la route principale qui relie Sierre et la station de Crans-Montana. Il se situe proche des étables où le bétail réside durant l’hiver, et s’expose également aux habitants et aux touristes qui montent en station. Les espaces programmatiques « vivants », c’est-à-dire la production et la vente, sont distingués des espaces « dormants », la cave d’affinage, par la création de deux volumes distincts. Un premier volume en béton armé contenant la cave d’affinage s’inscrit dans la pente et sert de socle à un second volume en bois et béton armé, contenant la production et la distribution. Rythmés par la topographie et par la grille structurelle, les différents espaces programmatiques du volume supérieur se succèdent. Les premières travées, au niveau du sol, servent à l’arrivage du lait. Puis, une séquence d’espaces de production se suivent, jusqu’à l’espace de vente et dégustation, qui offre une vue panoramique sur la vallée du Rhône

Pérou 2001 : vers une démocratie sans adjectifs ?

The author seeks to provide an account of the main characteristics of the process of democratic disintegration which took place in Peru throughout the last decade. Since Alberto Fujimori took office in 1990, the Peruvian society, while hoping for a more egalitarian repartition of political power, has been relentlessly deprived of the mechanisms of popular governance which constitute the very foundations of a democratic society and its political participation: deliberation, representation, and the guarantee of constitutional freedoms. The democratic transition and the 2001 elections carry with them the hope that the new government will be willing and able to endow Peru with the necessary institutions to ensure the true rule of law

Planning for Sustainability in Non-democratic Polities: The Case of Masdar City

This paper addresses the pursuit of environmental sustainability by an autocratic, neo-patrimonial regime and examines the implications of such a political environment for sustainable initiatives. The city of Abu Dhabi has recently adopted planning schemes aimed at forging a new path towards urban sustainability. Among these, Masdar City—a flagship development portrayed as ‘the world’s first sustainable city’—has become the paragon of Abu Dhabi’s new urban vision. The findings presented here, however, reveal that on-the-ground implementation has so far failed to live up to Masdar’s initial ambitions. To account for these diminished expectations and the prospects for sustainable urbanisation in Abu Dhabi, the author draws on an analytical framework borrowed from the political science literature on neo-patrimonial societies in the Middle East. The analysis suggests that the social contract between Abu Dhabi’s rulers and the local population constitutes a challenging context for the pursuit of environmental sustainability. </jats:p