Fuel to the Urban Debate or, at Last, an End to the Brussels Trauma?

In her article Isabelle Doucet discusses the recent exhibition ‘A Vision for Brussels: Imagining the Capital of Europe’, curated by Pier Vittorio Aureli and Joachim Declerck from the Berlage Institute in Rotterdam, at the BOZAR Centre of Fine Arts in Brussels. Rather than discussing the exhibition as such, she re-positions it within the broader context of recent as well as concurrent contributions to the Brussels debate. By doing so, she treats the exhibition and its accompanying publication as the departure point for a reflection on how Brussels reflects on Brussels. She relates the exhibition to some ‘brand new’ attempts to provide a strong vision for this European Capital: two new journals about ‘planning the capital’ and another Europe-in-Brussels exhibition. However, while she argues that ‘A Vision for Brussels’ aims to formulate a vision for the architectural discipline too, she questions whether ‘A Vision for Brussels’ produces a ‘vision’ for the city, a full-blown ‘project’ for Brussels and/or a ‘solution’ to the crisis of architecture and the city as well. In other words, who is leading the show in the exhibition: Brussels, Europe or the architecture and urban design disciplines

If We Are, Indeed, All ‘Embedded’, Then What to Do Next? A Review of BAVO’s Too Active to Act

This article reviews BAVO’s recent publication, Too Active to Act, Cultureel Activisme na het Einde van de Geschiedenis, which forms a critical analysis of cultural production and activism in The Netherlands. This publication is then used as an occasion to question, in more general terms, the possibility of a form of social engagement that is situated and embedded in the real, that is within the system [rather than processed through theory, ideology or oppositional critique]. It argues that, in order to address this question, one needs not just to question what practice can or should do (in order to guarantee criticality, for example), but one also needs to revise the meaning of being ‘marginal’ once we are within the system, and the role of theory in the ‘anti-theory setting’ described by BAVO

Agency in Architecture: Reframing Criticality in Theory and Practice

Whether critiquing the architect’s societal position and the role of the user, conceptualising the performative dimension of the architectural object, or considering the effects of theory for architecture at large, current debates in architecture intersect in the notion of agency. As fundamental as it is often taken for granted, this notion forms the keystone of this issue, inviting contributors to rethink architecture’s specificity, its performance, and its social and political relevance. Agency in architecture inevitably entails questioning the relation between theory and practice, and what it might mean to be critical – both inside and outside architecture – today. The main proposal is to rethink contemporary criticality in architecture, by explicating the notion of agency in three major directions: first, ‘the agency of what?’ or the question of multiplicity and relationality; second, ‘how does it work?’, a question referring to location, mode and vehicle; and third, ‘to what effect?’, bringing up the notion of intentionality

Agency in Architecture: Reframing Criticality in Theory and Practice

Whether critiquing the architect’s societal position and the role of the user, conceptualising the performative dimension of the architectural object, or considering the effects of theory for architecture at large, current debates in architecture intersect in the notion of agency. As fundamental as it is often taken for granted, this notion forms the keystone of this issue, inviting contributors to rethink architecture’s specificity, its performance, and its social and political relevance. Agency in architecture inevitably entails questioning the relation between theory and practice, and what it might mean to be critical – both inside and outside architecture – today. The main proposal is to rethink contemporary criticality in architecture, by explicating the notion of agency in three major directions: first, ‘the agency of what?’ or the question of multiplicity and relationality; second, ‘how does it work?’, a question referring to location, mode and vehicle; and third, ‘to what effect?’, bringing up the notion of intentionality

Learning from Brussels. An irreductive approach to architectural and urban problématiques ?

Informed by object-oriented and relational perspectives on space, this article argues for more complex accounts of architectural and urban problématiques. Starting from Isabelle Stengers’ distinction between la ville complexe and la ville compliquée, it discusses the 2010 exhibition “Building for Brussels. Architecture and Urban Transformation in Europe” (BOZAR, Centre of Fine Arts Brussels) as a showcase of how architects struggle to adopt a “complex” and “irreductive” approach. This article, as such, uses the discussion of this exhibition as a device to explore the methodological consequences of a relational approach to the city, namely the simultaneous need for more complex accounts of objects (e.g. a city, a building) and an appropriate modus operandi for making such accounts. It argues that, instead of choosing for complexity, the “Building for Brussels” exhibition has made the choix de la complication, and this largely because of a strong disciplinary belief in the all-encompassing force of architecture to “solve” the city.Zich baserend op objectgeoriënteerde en relationele perspectieven op de ruimte, verdedigt dit artikel meer complexe lezingen van architecturale en stedelijke problématiques. Dit artikel analyseert, vertrekkend van Isabelle Stengers’ onderscheid tussen la ville complexe en la ville compliquée, de 2010 tentoonstelling “Building for Brussels. Architecture and Urban Transformation in Europe” (BOZAR) en beschouwt het als een typisch voorbeeld van hoe architecten worstelen om een meer complexe en irreductieve houding aan te nemen vis-à-vis ruimtelijke vraagstukken. Als dusdanig wordt de discussie van deze tentoonstelling aangewend om de methodologische consequenties van een relationele kijk op de stad te onderzoeken : namelijk de nood aan een complexere lezing van objecten (een stad, een gebouw) alsook een gepaste modus operandi voor zulke complexe lezingen. Dit artikel argumenteert dat de “Building for Brussels” tentoonstelling, in plaats van te kiezen voor complexiteit, opteerde voor de choix de la complication, en dat dit grotendeels toe te wijzen is aan een sterk disciplinair geloof in de alomvattende kracht van de architectuur om de stad ‘op te lossen’

Combined effects of red pepper and caffeine consumption on 24 h energy balance in subjects given free access to foods

The effects of red pepper and caffeine ingestion on energy and macronutrient balances were examined in eight Caucasian male subjects. All subjects participated in two randomly assigned conditions: control and experimental (red pepper and caffeine). After ingesting a standardized breakfast, subjects ate three meals ad libitum (lunch, dinner and breakfast) and snacks which were served approximately 2 h after the lunch and dinner over a 24 h period. Two appetizers (2×322 kJ with or without 3 g red pepper) were given before lunch and dinner, and a drink (decaffeinated coffee with or without 200 mg caffeine) was served at all meals and snacks except for the after-dinner snack. It is also important to note that on the experimental day, 8.6 and 7.2 g red pepper were also added to lunch and dinner respectively. Red pepper and caffeine consumption significantly reduced the cumulative ad libitum energy intake and increased energy expenditure. The mean difference in energy balance between both conditions was 4000 kJ/d. Moreover, the power spectral analysis of heart rate suggested that this effect of red pepper was associated with an increase in sympathetic:parasympathetic nervous system activity ratio. These results indicate that the consumption of red pepper and caffeine can induce a considerable change in energy balance when individuals are given free access to foods

Effects of red pepper on appetite and energy intake

Two studies were conducted to investigate the effects of red pepper (capsaicin) on feeding behaviour and energy intake. In the first study, the effects of dietary red pepper added to high-fat (HF) and high-carbohydrate (HC) meals on subsequent energy and macronutrient intakes were examined in thirteen Japanese female subjects. After the ingestion of a standardized dinner on the previous evening, the subjects ate an experimental breakfast (1883 kJ) of one of the following four types: (1) HF; (2) HF and red pepper (10 g); (3) HC; (4) HC and red pepper. Ad libitum energy and macronutrient intakes were measured at lunch-time. The HC breakfast significantly reduced the desire to eat and hunger after breakfast. The addition of red pepper to the HC breakfast also significantly decreased the desire to eat and hunger before lunch. Differences in diet composition at breakfast time did not affect energy and macronutrient intakes at lunch-time. However, the addition of red pepper to the breakfast significantly decreased protein and fat intakes at lunch-time. In Study 2, the effects of a red-pepper appetizer on subsequent energy and macronutrient intakes were examined in ten Caucasian male subjects. After ingesting a standardized breakfast, the subjects took an experimental appetizer (644 kJ) at lunch-time of one of the following two types: (1) mixed diet and appetizer; (2) mixed diet and red-pepper (6 g) appetizer. The addition of red pepper to the appetizer significantly reduced the cumulative ad libitum energy and carbohydrate intakes during the rest of the lunch and in the snack served several hours later. Moreover, the power spectral analysis of heart rate revealed that this effect of red pepper was associated with an increase in the ratio sympathetic: parasympathetic nervous system activity. These results indicate that the ingestion of red pepper decreases appetite and subsequent protein and fat intakes in Japanese females and energy intake in Caucasian males. Moreover, this effect might be related to an increase in sympathetic nervous system activity in Caucasian males

Association between Abdominal Fat (DXA) and Its Subcomponents (CT Scan) before and after Weight Loss in Obese Postmenopausal Women: A MONET Study

Introduction. Subcutaneous fat (ScF) and visceral fat (VF) measurements using CT scan are expensive and may imply significant radiation doses. Cross-sectional studies using CT scan showed that ScF and VF are significantly correlated with abdominal fat measured by DXA (AF-DXA). The association has not been studied after a weight loss. Objective. To determine (1) the associations between AF-DXA and ScF and VF before and after weight loss and (2) the associations between their changes. Methods. 137 overweight/obese postmenopausal women were divided in two groups (1-caloric restriction or 2-caloric restriction + resistance training). AF was assessed using DXA and CT scan. Results. Correlations between AF-DXA and ScF (before: r = 0.87, after; r = 0.87; P < .01) and, AF-DXA and VF (before: r = 0.61, after; r = 0.69; P < .01) are not different before and after the weight loss. Correlations between delta AF-DXA and delta ScF (r = 0.72; P < .01) or delta VF (r = 0.51; P < .01) were found. Conclusion. The use of AF-DXA as a surrogate for VF after weight loss is questionable, but may be interesting for ScF

Benzylthiouracil-induced ANCA-associated Vasculitis: A Case Report and Literature Review

Iatrogenic antineutrophil cytoplasm antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV) is not exceptional. Many cases of small vessel vasculitis induced by anti-thyroid drugs (ATD), mainly propylthiouracil (PTU), have been reported. We present a case of AAV related to another ATD: benzylthiouracil (BTU) and review the literature. An 84-year-old man with a 4-year history of multinodular goitre with hyperthyroidism was treated with BTU. He presented an acute syndrome with weakness, fever, epigastric pain and abdominal distension. Lactate and lipase tests were normal. An abdominal scan showed a thrombosis of the splenic artery with splenic infarction. We excluded a hypothesis of associated embolic aetiology: atrial fibrillation, atrial myxoma, intraventricular thrombus or artery aneurysm. Exploration of a possible prothrombotic state (complete blood count, haemostasis tests, activated protein C resistance, factor V Leiden, protein C, S, antithrombin III) gave normal results. Tests for antinuclear antibodies (ANA) and antiphospholipid antibodies (APL) were negative. However, testing for p-ANCA, with antimyeloperoxidase (MPO) specificity, was positive: 120.6 CU (N<20.0). We did not find other systemic manifestations, except a non-specific kidney failure. BTU was discontinued without steroids or immune-modulating drugs. Subsequently, symptoms disappeared progressively and titres of ANCA fell until normalization, 4 months later. Many patients treated with BTU present a high prevalence of ANCA, mainly, but not exclusively, directed against MPO. Vasculitis, however, remains an uncommon complication. The mechanism of this anomaly remains to be elucidated. Some studies suggest the possibility of an autoimmune reaction initiated by drug bioactivation mediated by neutrophil-derived MPO. The present observation is particular because the involved drug was BTU and clinical expression was unusual