(In)soliti luoghi: Progetti condivisi di riattivazione locale

Capacità di muoversi o mutare velocemente, variabilità, instabilità, incostanza, ma anche vivacità e versatilità, hanno assunto un’importanza particolare nelle pratiche artistiche attuali, e hanno dato vita a un insieme estremamente mutevole e fluttuante di eventi temporanei e reti di relazioni. Se è sempre più vero, come afferma Jacqueline Ceresoli, che “siamo nomadi camaleontici che diventano la città in cui vivono” , il bisogno di radicamento, o quantomeno il tentativo di appropriarsi anche temporaneamente di un luogo, rendendolo più accogliente e reinterpretandolo secondo un’idea personale del dimorare, sono aspetti che la contemporaneità non ha del tutto cancellato. La vita relazionale che un individuo conduce e il suo essere parte di un gruppo ne segnano profondamente l’identità e assumono particolare rilevanza in luoghi, spesso interstiziali, in cui vengono attuate forme di progettazione artistica o architettonica partecipata. L’arte, in particolare, ha la capacità di catalizzare l’attenzione, coinvolgere in modo empatico, svelare energie nascoste. Irrompe in territori pubblici suscitando impressioni, reazioni, costringendo a riflettere sull’uso e l’appropriatezza degli spazi, e invitando a riscoprire il piacere e i vantaggi di una dimensione comunitaria del vivere la città, fatta di dialoghi, incontri, esperienze fisiche e percettive autentiche. L’articolo svilupperà questi temi a partire da una serie di chiavi di lettura – “Sguardi: lo spirito in moto”, “Alto voltaggio, bassa frequenza: impatti variabili”, “Trame reattive” – illustrate con esempi che rivelano in modo evidente come arte, architettura del paesaggio e degli interni, design, si possano alleare per favorire il recupero di una socialità che si sta perdendo, attraverso azioni di progettazione partecipata. L’autorialità diviene condivisa, si perde la possibilità di discernere in modo chiaro il contributo individuale, ma è la natura stessa di questi progetti che sposta l’attenzione su mire diverse dalla visibilità personale; punta a stimolare l’emergere di un’identità collettiva fiera della propria capacità creativa e dell’esser parte di un progetto di trasformazione che si erge a voce di una tipicità culturale. Ad artisti e progettisti viene affidato il ruolo, non semplice, di provocatori e mediatori

Secondary Traumatic Stress: Relationship With Symptoms, Exhaustion, and Emotions Among Cemetery Workers

Background: Cemeteries workers are deserving of attention because they are exposed to various psychosocial risks: these workers are subject to painful contacts and daily exposed to a work content linked to death experiences and the emotions associated with them. Secondary trauma develops from this continuous contact with others’ suffering; operators working with this type of traumatic content and dynamic could suffer from emotional disorders (Figley, 1995). Therefore, the secondary traumatic stress (STS) is seen as an occupational risk factor (Bride et al., 2004) and cemetery workers are subject to this risk. Studies on this topic have focused on the operators of emergencies, social, and health sectors; little attention has been given to cemetery workers.Aim: The present study considers the relations between the dimensions composing the STS and the psychological and physical symptoms, the perception of exhaustion, and the positive and negative emotions at work in a group of cemetery workers. Moreover, differences among occupational tasks are explored considering the different possibilities of contact with clients and trauma contagion.Methods: The study included a qualitative phase (interviews and focus groups) and subsequently a quantitative phase (self-report questionnaire) and involved 114 participants in a cemetery organization in northern Italy, divided into technicians employees (TE), technicians and specialists of decoration and garden (TS), gravediggers (GR) administrative and front office employees (AFO). Levels of secondary trauma and psychophysical symptoms were assessed, and correlations were calculated in the total sample and for the different job categories of employees.Results: AFO and TS showed the highest levels of STS and psychophysical symptoms, in particular for symptoms related to anxiety, sadness, insomnia, and gastric and musculoskeletal disorders.Conclusion: This study highlights the importance of considering the STS among also this category of workers, since they are exposed daily not only with death, but also with suffering people; grief and emotional skills are important to cope with these job characteristics cemetery workers are not trained on this. It is important to monitor symptomatic levels not only to avoid chronicity, but also to provide employees with psychological support and training about secondary trauma and its consequences

Europe and Contentious Cultural Heritages

This second issue of TRACES Journal has been designed as a dialogue among the scientific coordinators of some of the most recent European Union’s flagship research projects focusing on museums and heritage studies, including some recently concluded programmes as well as some newer researches launched under the H2020 umbrella. We called upon them to question what roles heritage can and should play to address social division and crisis in Europe. We asked them about the focus and the scope of their projects and their relevance in view of contemporary social, political and economic issues affecting Europe and its inhabitants; the expected impact of their research as well as the influence of EU political and funding agendas on the framing of their programme, its lines of enquiry and methods

An unusual cutaneous infection caused by Mycobacterium marinum

Introduction. Mycobacterium marinum is a non-tubercular mycobacterium residing in fresh or salt water (in tropical or temperate areas); it is a fish and human pathogen, and in immunocompromised patients can cause severe cutaneous and subcutaneous infections.Case presentation.A 46-year-old white man who underwent immunosuppressive therapy was admitted to our department in May 2016 for skin lesions previously diagnosed as 'unusual erysipelas'. We rejected the hypothesis of erysipelas, due to the clinical features, and our diagnostic hypotheses were oriented towards sporotrichosis, atypical mycobacteriosis, cutaneous tuberculosis and cutaneous sarcoidosis. Histological examination performed after a skin biopsy was compatible with a diagnosis of sporotrichosis. However, PCR performed on fresh tissue demonstrated the presence ofM. marinum.Conclusion.The case reported is interesting for the unusual clinical localization and modality of infection. The patient became infected by contact with contaminated remains or in the sea, in a geographical area not endemic forM.marinum. The previous state of immunosuppression favoured infection; however, the presence ofM. marinumin this area suggests a possible tropicalization of the water of the Mediterranean Sea. To our knowledge, this case is the only one reported in the literature with this modality of infection and in that geographical area

The oncogenic role of circPVT1 in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma is mediated through the mutant p53/YAP/TEAD transcription-competent complex

Background: Circular RNAs are a class of endogenous RNAs with various functions in eukaryotic cells. Worthy of note, circular RNAs play a critical role in cancer. Currently, nothing is known about their role in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). The identification of circular RNAs in HNSCC might become useful for diagnostic and therapeutic strategies in HNSCC. Results: Using samples from 115 HNSCC patients, we find that circPVT1 is over-expressed in tumors compared to matched non-tumoral tissues, with particular enrichment in patients with TP53 mutations. circPVT1 up-and down-regulation determine, respectively, an increase and a reduction of the malignant phenotype in HNSCC cell lines. We show that circPVT1 expression is transcriptionally enhanced by the mut-p53/YAP/TEAD complex. circPVT1 acts as an oncogene modulating the expression of miR-497-5p and genes involved in the control of cell proliferation. Conclusions: This study shows the oncogenic role of circPVT1 in HNSCC, extending current knowledge about the role of circular RNAs in cancer

Wildflowers in urban design: an exploratory research of preference in Italian adults

Wildflowers are plants rich in diversity that can be used in many different ways; nevertheless they are not widely used in Italian urban settings. This exploratory study aims to verify preference for wildflowers. To this end, seventy-six adults answered a questionnaire developed to assess a series of wildflower pictures for preference (pictures depicted wildflowers in natural and urban environments, showing pro and cons of this cultivation), and a series of questions concerning wildflowers and their use (questions served as a control of preference ratings). To verify a secondary hypothesis - how preference for wildflowers may be affected by the way the issue is presented - the questionnaire was presented with or without the title explaining the nature of the study, and each question presented with or without a picture. Finally, it was verified whether an individual’s connection to Nature affects preference for wildflowers. Results showed our participants liked wildflowers (no differences between genders and ages emerged) and this correlated with participants’ connection to Nature. However questions concerning the actual use of wildflowers in urban settings still remain, e.g. concerning the fauna that comes with them, and people being more used to ornamental vegetation that challenges preference and use of wildflowers

Single-step deposition of hexamethyldisiloxane surface gradient coatings with a high amplitude of water contact angles over a polyethylene foil

AbstractOne interesting category of nano‐ and micro‐engineered surfaces is surface gradients, which allow the controlled optimization of biointerfaces at a small scale in an extended area length. Plasma coatings offer a large diversity of functionalities at the nanoscale, accompanied by high chemical stability and adhesion on a variety of substrates at ambient temperature. Atmospheric‐pressure plasma‐assisted deposition could be employed for the generation of surface gradients on thermosensitive materials. In this study, a corona plasma jet is used to deposit polydimethylsiloxane/SiO2‐like surface gradients on polyethylene foil by varying the O2 concentration in the discharge during the movement of the plasma source. We obtained, in a single‐step approach, gradient coatings along a length of ∼10 cm, with a gradual variation of both chemistry and surface energy