Mapping sustainable development in a capability perspective

The importance of the notion of sustainable development has been advocated, among others, by Amartya Sen. In Sen’s view it is necessary to depart from the general strategy of defining sustainable development only in terms of fulfilment of needs and to use the broader perspective of enhancing human freedoms on a sustainable basis. The ultimate goal of this paper is to outline a possible operative map of sustainable development as intended in the capability approach. Our proposed operative outline concentrates on the role of instrumental freedoms and institutions, and it is based on the traditional themes – economic, environmental and social – of sustainability. For each considered theme we select a set of variables and frame them in the driving forces, response and state variables framework. State variables represent constitutive freedoms, the achieved functionings chosen from the capability set. Their variations are produced by driving forces variables. The latter are, in turn, influenced by response variables as triggered by institutional efficiency and effectiveness, upheld by instrumental freedoms. We eventually map each set of variables in order to point out how instrumental freedoms and institutions influence sustainable human development.capabilities, institutions, instrumental freedoms, sustainable development

Modelling sustainable human development in a capability perspective

In this paper we model sustainable human development as intended in Sen's capability approach in a system dynamic framework. Our purpose is to verify the variations over time of some achieved functionings, due to structural dynamics and to variations of the institutional setting and instrumental freedoms (IF Vortex). The model is composed of two sections. The 'Left Side' one points out the 'demand' for functionings in an ideal world situation. The real world one, on the 'Right Side' indicates the 'supply' of functionings that the socio-economic system is able to provide individuals with. The general model, specifically tailored for Italy, can be simulated over desired time horizons: for each time period, we carry out a comparison between ideal world and real world functionings. On the basis of their distances, the model simulates some responses of decision makers. These responses, in turn influenced by institutions and instrumental freedoms, ultimately affect the dynamics of real world functionings, i.e. of sustainable human development.Functionings, Capabilities, Institutions, Instrumental Freedoms, Sustainable Human Development

Evaluation of the influence of carbon sources on cellulases and xylanases production by microbacterium sp.

The lignocellulose is one of the main constituents of vegetable biomass. Besides being a renewable and abundant source of energy, it has a high potencial for bioconversion to value-added bioproducts. Among its components, the hemicellulose portions (mainly xylans) represent around 25% to 40% of their composition after cellulose that constitute the main component which represents between 50% and 70% of the total. In adition to the lignin, both the cellulose and hemicellulose, make its structure to be resistant to the enzymatic degradation. Thus, it is necessary the cooperative and synergistic effect of various enzymes, including cellulases and xylanases, to reach higher yields for its degadacion. In the present study Microbacterium sp. AR462-2, a cellulolytic and xylanolytic actinobacteria isolated from intestines of wood beetle larvae, was characterized. The effect of various carbon sources was evaluated on cellulases and xylanases production into Omeliansky mineral culture medium. The substrates assayed as sole carbon source were xylan, lactose, glucose, sucrose, fructose, maltose, carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) and filter paper. This strain was taxonomically identified as a member of Microbacterium spp. according to the sequence analysis of the 16S ribosomal gene. Microscopic observation of AR462-2 strain showed small yellow rods (RAL 1014). Physiological studies showed that this strain did not produce melanic nor soluble pigment. Growth was observed between 5.0 and 8.0 pH units and showed halotolerance and lysozyme resistance. It was able to grow in presence of various carbon sources. M. sp. AR462-2 secreted cellulases when glucose 1% (w/v) was used as a sole carbon source which activity measured was 0.1 U/ml. Also, this strain showed evidence of mild degradation of filter paper in liquid mineral medium. Xylanolytic activities were detected in all culture medias, but the highest xylanase production was recorded when lactose 1% (w/v) was added individually in Omeliansky´s medium. The highest xylanase activity measured was 1.03 U/ml within 7 days using lactose, while in presence of CMC was 1.14 U/ml but after 14 days of culture. Further assays were performed in order to improve both growth and production, by adding casein peptone. Production rates were similar although growth was significatively shortened to 3 days. These results suggest that lactose could be used for enzyme production by Microbacterium sp. AR462-2 as an inexpensive carbon source, since lactic whey is an abundant industrial by-product.Fil: Di Marco, Enzo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Planta Piloto de Procesos Industriales Microbiológicos; ArgentinaFil: Perotti, Nora Ines. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Planta Piloto de Procesos Industriales Microbiológicos; ArgentinaFil: Martinez, Maria Alejandra. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Planta Piloto de Procesos Industriales Microbiológicos; ArgentinaXI Congreso Argentino de Microbiología GeneralCórdobaArgentinaSociedad Argentina de Microbiología Genera

Operationalising Senian capability approach by modelling human development

Abstract: In this paper we model sustainable human development as intended in Sen’s capability approach in a system dynamic framework. Our purpose is to verify the variations over time of some achieved functionings, due to structural dynamics and to variations of the institutional setting and instrumental freedoms (IF Vortex). The model is composed of two sections. The ‘Left Side’ one points out the ‘demand’ for functionings in an ideal world situation. The real world one, on the ‘Right Side’ indicates the ‘supply’ of functionings that the socio-economic system is able to provide individuals with. The general model, specifically tailored for Italy, can be simulated over desired time horizons: for each time period, we carry out a comparison between ideal world and real world functionings. On the basis of their distances, the model simulates some responses of decision makers. These responses, in turn influenced by institutions and instrumental freedoms, ultimately affect the dynamics of real world functionings, i.e. of sustainable human development.Capabilities; Instrumental Freedoms; Sustainable Human Development

Enhancing behavioural changes: a narrative review on the effectiveness of a multifactorial APP-based intervention integrating physical activity

The rapid evolution of technologies is a key innovation in the organisation and management of physical activities (PA) and sports. The increase in benefits and opportunities related to the adoption of technologies for both the promotion of a healthy lifestyle and the management of chronic diseases is evident. In the field of telehealth, these devices provide personalised recommendations, workout monitoring and injury prevention. The study aimed to provide an overview of the landscape of technology application to PA organised to promote active lifestyles and improve chronic disease management. This review identified specific areas of focus for the selection of articles: the utilisation of mobile APPs and technological devices for enhancing weight loss, improving cardiovascular health, managing diabetes and cancer and preventing osteoporosis and cognitive decline. A multifactorial intervention delivered via mobile APPs, which integrates PA while managing diet or promoting social interaction, is unquestionably more effective than a singular intervention. The main finding related to promoting PA and a healthy lifestyle through app usage is associated with "behaviour change techniques". Even when individuals stop using the APP, they often maintain the structured or suggested lifestyle habits initially provided by the APP. Various concerns regarding the excessive use of APPs need to be addressed

Highly efficient human serum filtration with water-soluble nanoporous nanoparticles

Antonella Pujia1, Francesco De Angelis1,2, Domenica Scumaci3, Marco Gaspari3, Carlo Liberale1,2, Patrizio Candeloro1, Giovanni Cuda3, Enzo Di Fabrizio1,21BIONEM Laboratory, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Catanzaro “Magna Graecia”, Germaneto (CZ), Italy; 2IIT, Italian Institute of Technology, Genova, Italy; 3Proteomics and Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Catanzaro “Magna Graecia”, Germaneto (CZ), ItalyBackground: Human serum has the potential to become the most informative source of novel biomarkers, but its study is very difficult due to the incredible complexity of its molecular composition. We describe a novel tool based on biodegradable nanoporous nanoparticles (NPNPs) that allows the harvesting of low-molecular-weight fractions of crude human serum or other biofluids. NPNPs with a diameter of 200 nm and pore size of a few nm were obtained by ultrasonication of nanoporous silicon. When incubated with a solution, the NPNPs harvest only the molecules small enough to be absorbed into the nanopores. Then they can be recovered by centrifugation and dissolved in water, making the harvested molecules available for further analyses.Results: Fluorescence microscopy, gel electrophoresis, and mass spectrometry were used to show the enrichment of low-molecular-weight fraction of serum under physiological conditions, with a cut-off of 13 kDa and an enrichment factor >50.Conclusion: From these findings, we conclude that ability to tune pore size, combined with the availability of hundreds of biomolecule cross-linkers, opens up new perspectives on complex biofluid analysis, discovery of biomarkers, and in situ drug delivery.Keywords: nanoporous silicon, nanoparticle, biomarker discovery, human serum proteomics, harvestin

Educación y sentido. Aproximaciones a una revisión sistemática desde la logoterapia y el análisis existencial

The present paper aims to investigate, as a review of the background, the bibliography found in Spanish between the years 2000-2021 on education and meaning from the perspective provided by logotherapy and existential analysis. Given the lack of review studies on this topic, first, an expert consultation was held in order to identify main reference authors at the national—Argentina—and international level. Second, the literature review itself was carried out, following the guidelines of the PRISMA 2020 declaration. The following databases were consulted: Google Scholar, EBSCO, JSTOR, SciELO, Redalyc, DOAJ and Pubmed; then, based on the inclusion criteria, 60 publications were selected, which were systematized into four ordering categories. The results highlight an oversized category: the meaning of life in students.El presente trabajo posee como finalidad indagar la bibliografía que se halla en español entre los años 2000-2021 sobre educación y sentido desde la perspectiva que aporta la logoterapia y el análisis existencial. Dada la inexistencia de estudios de revisión en esta temática, primero, se realizó una consulta a expertos a fin de identificar sus principales referentes a nivel nacional—Argentina—e internacional. Segundo, se efectuó la revisión de la literatura propiamente dicha, siguiendo los lineamientos de la declaración PRISMA 2020. Se consultaron las siguientes bases: Google Académico, EBSCO, JSTOR, SciELO, Redalyc, DOAJ y Pubmed; luego, en función de los criterios de inclusión se seleccionaron 60 publicaciones, las que se sistematizaron en cuatro categorías ordenadoras. En los resultados se destaca una categoría sobredosificada: el sentido de la vida en estudiantes

Evaluation of telomerase activity in nasal polyps

Background: The objective of this study was to assess if nasal polyps express telomerase activity and whether a difference could be found between the polyp and the surrounding mucosa of the middle meatus and between different portions of the polyp itself. Methods: Nine patients affected by nasal polyposis were included in this study; four of these patients had recurring polyposis. Telomerase activity was measured by telomeric repeat amplification protocol assay. In six patients, the telomeric repeat amplification protocol assay was performed on the polyp and on the mucosa from the ipsilateral middle meatus. In a polyp, we were able to investigate telomerase activity of its different portions, corresponding to pedicle and fundus. Results: Telomerase activity observed in nasal polyps was higher than that observed in samples from the ipsilateral middle meatus mucosa. High or intermediate telomerase activity was found to be related to predominant recurring polyposis. Conclusions: Therefore, it could be postulated that telomerase activity could be related with the tendency of polyps to recur

Two-Stage Liver Transplantation with Temporary Porto-Middle Hepatic Vein Shunt

Two-stage liver transplantation (LT) has been reported for cases of fulminant liver failure that can lead to toxic hepatic syndrome, or massive hemorrhages resulting in uncontrollable bleeding. Technically, the first stage of the procedure consists of a total hepatectomy with preservation of the recipient's inferior vena cava (IVC), followed by the creation of a temporary end-to-side porto-caval shunt (TPCS). The second stage consists of removing the TPCS and implanting a liver graft when one becomes available. We report a case of a two-stage total hepatectomy and LT in which a temporary end-to-end anastomosis between the portal vein and the middle hepatic vein (TPMHV) was performed as an alternative to the classic end-to-end TPCS. The creation of a TPMHV proved technically feasible and showed some advantages compared to the standard TPCS. In cases in which a two-stage LT with side-to-side caval reconstruction is utilized, TPMHV can be considered as a safe and effective alternative to standard TPCS