Architectural models: legacy and critical perspectives.

This article investigates the theoretical legacy of the notion of model in architectural and urban discourse. This concept is characterised by a bundle of meanings, sedimented during a longstanding evolution, and by a never interrupted debate around it. The contribution will retrace the roots of the concept of model and will outlines some highpoints of the discussion, in particular in the 1970s when model became crucial in the epistemological discourse on architecture, till the recent heterogeneous resurgence. In fact, nowadays the notion of model, with its longstanding heritage, may be an effective and still up to date device to study the contemporary conception and production of space in the global stage

Transnational Models. A Study on Tongzhou New Town.

L'abstract è presente nell'allegato / the abstract is in the attachmen

Leslie Sklair, The Icon Project: Architecture, Cities, and Capitalist Globalization | Davide Ponzini and Michele Nastasi, Starchitecture. Scenes, Actors, and Spectacles in Contemporary CitiesStarchitecture. Scenes, Actors, and Spectacles in Contemporary Cities

In the last fifteen years the debate on star-architects and their iconic productions has occupied thousands of pages, a multitude of publications with significant differences in contents and scopes: from glossy catalogues displaying trendy architectural images, to harsh criticism of star-architects and their works, up to critical thoughts on the success of star-architecture. The books recently published by Leslie Sklair, “The Icon Project: Architecture, Cities, and Capitalist Globalization” a..

Architectural models: legacy and critical perspectives

This article investigates the theoretical legacy of the notion of model in architectural and urban discourse. This concept is characterised by a bundle of meanings, sedimented during a longstanding evolution, and by a never interrupted debate around it. The contribution will retrace the roots of the concept of model and will outlines some highpoints of the discussion, in particular in the 1970s when model became crucial in the epistemological discourse on architecture, till the recent heterogeneous resurgence. In fact, nowadays the notion of model, with its longstanding heritage, may be an effective and still up to date device to study the contemporary conception and production of space in the global stage.Cet article vise à explorer l’héritage théorique de la notion de modèle dans le discours architectural et urbain. Ce concept est caractérisé par une accumulation de significations, sédimentées pendant une longue évolution, et par un débat qui ne s’est jamais interrompu. Cette contribution retrace les origines du concept de modèle, en soulignant quelques moments de majeure intensité de la discussion, en particulier dans les années 1970 quand le terme modèle était devenu central dans le discours sur l’épistémologie de l’architecture, et jusqu’à sa récente et hétérogène réapparition. A présent, la notion de modèle, forte d’un long héritage, peut être un instrument efficace pour étudier la conception et la production de l’espace au niveau global

La rete della città di sotto per la promessa urbana cinese. L’abnorme crescita delle megalopoli è legata alla realizzazione delle infrastrutture sotterranee.

Il processo di modernizzazione delle città cinesi ha richiesto rilevanti investimenti nella realizzazione di infrastrutture urbane, dopo che nel periodo socialista la gran parte delle risorse disponibili erano state allocate per il settore produttivo tralasciando quello dei servizi. Rendere economicamente e politicamente vantaggioso lo sviluppo di new towns offre la possibilità di aumentare consistentemente la quantità di patrimonio edilizio infrastrutturato tramite le tecniche più moderne. In questo schema, il progetto del sottosuolo diventa parte integrante del progetto urbano. L’infrastrutturazione del sottosuolo è la piattaforma rigida su cui gli oggetti urbani si innestano: la progettazione delle infrastrutture rappresenta la premessa necessaria per raggiungere un'efficacia di mercato, ma il rapporto fra il progetto di ciò che sta sotto e il progetto di ciò che sta sopra varia notevolmente a seconda delle condizioni specifiche

Implications of miRNA expression pattern in bovine oocytes and follicular fluids for developmental competence

Developmental competence determines the oocyte capacity to support initial embryo growth, but the molecular mechanisms underlying this phenomenon are still ill-defined. Changes in microRNA (miRNA) expression pattern have been described during follicular growth in several species. Therefore, aim of this study was to investigate whether miRNA expression pattern in cow oocyte and follicular fluid (FF) is associated with the acquisition of developmental competence. Samples were collected from ovaries with more than, or fewer than, 10 mid-antral follicles (H- and L-ovaries) because previous studies demonstrated that this parameter is a reliable predictor of oocyte competence. After miRNA deep sequencing and bioinformatic data analysis, we identified 58 miRNAs in FF and 6 in the oocyte that were differentially expressed between H- and L-ovaries. Overall, our results indicate that miRNA levels both in FF and in the ooplasm must remain within specific thresholds and that changes in either direction compromising oocyte competence. Some of the miRNAs found in FF (miR-769, miR-1343, miR-450a, miR-204, miR-1271 and miR-451) where already known to regulate follicle growth and their expression pattern indicate that they are also involved in the acquisition of developmental competence. Some miRNAs were differentially expressed in both compartments but with opposite patterns, suggesting that miRNAs do not flow freely between FF and oocyte. Gene Ontology analysis showed that the predicted gene targets of most differentially expressed miRNAs are part of a few signalling pathways. Regulation of maternal mRNA storage and mitochondrial activity seem to be the processes more functionally relevant in determining oocyte quality. In conclusion, our data identified a few miRNAs in the follicular fluid and in the ooplasm that modulate the oocyte developmental competence. This provides new insights that could help with the management of cattle reproductive efficiency