Value-change and self-reflective practice in ecologically sustainable design

Ecologically sustainable design is a transformative design paradigm based on the theory of interdependence. This theory requires that the transformative agenda of design is holistic in practice. In effect, the requirement is for value-change on the part of the designer along with transformation of the built environment. This paper, based on recently completed research into design practice, argues that value-change rests on certainties that are drawn on intuitively while designing, and that this intuitive process is characteristic of design as praxis. It is further argued that design, as praxis, requires a phenomenological approach for inculcating value-change. A phenomenological approach relies on self-reflective practices exemplified by meditation and yoga that can focus on the designer&rsquo;s ethical know-how. A model for this approach to value-change, the biopsychosocial approach, already exists within clinical medicine. This paper presents findings from interviews with key architects practising self-reflection and/or ecologically sustainable design. These highlight the premium placed by these architects on both certainty and empathy, and how these values influence design as praxis. Formalising techniques for closer scrutiny of these values will highlight design as praxis. Doing so will critically strengthen ecologically sustainable design as holistic, transformative practice.<br /

Architecture, ethics and sustainability - an exploration

Globally we are grappling with the concept of sustainability. What does it mean and how should we respond to ensure that the planet and its ecosystems survive? While the problem of living in a sustainable way must be addressed by all sectors of society, architects are arguably in the \u27front line\u27 because of the impact of buildings in terms of resource use and waste generation. Most definitions of sustainability are unhelpful because of their wordiness, lack of detail or ambiguity. Others distort the concept of sustainability to allow business-as-usual (i.e. unsustainable) activity to continue. Using one particular model of sustainability, this paper explores the apparent contradictions between architectural practice in the residential sector, \u27sustainable\u27 housing and the desire to behave ethically. The paper begins with definitions of sustainability and ethics, together with some guiding principles. The literature examining the ethics of sustainable architecture is then reviewed. Two indicators are suggested to make a broad-brush assessment of sustainability. Current practice in Australian residential architectural design, both mainstream and \u27green\u27, is then critiqued against these indicators. Finally, some practical options for a practising architect faced with a client, who wants an \u27unsustainable\u27 house, are briefly explored.<br /

A Landscape of Epigenetic Regulation by MicroRNAs to the Hallmarks of Cancer and Cachexia: Implications of Physical Activity to Tumor Regression

In the last decades, there has been a remarkable advance in the treatment of most types of cancer, improving the patient’s prognosis. During cancer progression, tumor cells develop several biological changes to support initiation, proliferation, and resistance to death. Nearly 50–80% of all oncologic patients experience rapid weight loss that is related to ~20% of cancer-related deaths. Cancer cachexia is a syndrome characterized by loss of skeletal muscle mass, anorexia, and anemia. A lot of effort in scientific investigation has contributed to the understanding of cancer processes, in which epigenetic changes, as microRNAs, can influence cancer progression. Therefore, useful strategies to control the cancer-induced epigenetic changes in the tumor cells can have a key role in a clinical perspective to decrease the cancer development and aggressiveness. Physical activity has been proposed as a suitable tool to manage tumor growth and cachexia and to improve the deleterious sequelae experienced during cancer treatment. Although the molecular mechanisms involved in these responses are poorly understood, this chapter aims to discuss the role of microRNAs in the cancer-induced epigenetic changes and how physical activity could influence the epigenetic control of tumor cells and cachexia and their potential role in clinical applications for cancer

On the duration of magnetochrons C24r and C25n and the timing of early Eocene global warming events: Implications from the Ocean Drilling Program Leg 208 Walvis Ridge depth transect

Five sections drilled in multiple holes over a depth transect of more than 2200 m at the Walvis Ridge (SE Atlantic) during Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) Leg 208 resulted in the first complete early Paleogene deep-sea record. Here we present high-resolution stratigraphic records spanning a ~4.3 million yearlong interval of the late Paleocene to early Eocene. This interval includes the Paleocene-Eocene thermal maximum (PETM) as well as the Eocene thermal maximum (ETM) 2 event. A detailed chronology was developed with nondestructive X-ray fluorescence (XRF) core scanning records and shipboard color data. These records were used to refine the shipboard-derived spliced composite depth for each site and with a record from ODP Site 1051 were then used to establish a continuous time series over this interval. Extensive spectral analysis reveals that the early Paleogene sedimentary cyclicity is dominated by precession modulated by the short (100 kyr) and long (405 kyr) eccentricity cycles. Counting of precession-related cycles at multiple sites results in revised estimates for the duration of magnetochrons C24r and C25n. Direct comparison between the amplitude modulation of the precession component derived from XRF data and recent models of Earth’s orbital eccentricity suggests that the onset of the PETM and ETM2 are related to a 100-kyr eccentricity maximum. Both events are approximately a quarter of a period offset from a maximum in the 405-kyr eccentricity cycle, with the major difference that the PETM is lagging and ETM2 is leading a 405-kyr eccentricity maximum. Absolute age estimates for the PETM, ETM2, and the magnetochron boundaries that are consistent with recalibrated radiometric ages and recent models of Earth’s orbital eccentricity cannot be precisely determined at present because of too large uncertainties in these methods. Nevertheless, we provide two possible tuning options, which demonstrate the potential for the development of a cyclostratigraphic framework based on the stable 405-kyr eccentricity cycle for the entire Paleogene

Análise do perfil lipídico de pacientes HIV-positivo com aterosclerose coronariana/ Analysis of the lipid profile in HIV-positive patients with coronary atherosclerosis

 Introdução: A infecção pelo Vírus da Imunodeficiência Humana (HIV) é uma doença crônica que, atualmente, acomete mais de 36 milhões de pessoas e possui alta morbidade e mortalidade quando não tratada de forma correta. Vários fatores contribuem para a aterosclerose precoce nesses pacientes, dentre eles o tratamento, que possui efeitos adversos importantes, incluindo a alteração do metabolismo lipídico que, associada a fatores de risco cardiovasculares clássicos do paciente HIV-positivo e à própria interação do vírus com o organismo hospedeiro comprovadamente favorecem o desenvolvimento de aterosclerose precocemente. Objetivos: Avaliar o perfil lipídico de pacientes HIV-positivo com aterosclerose coronariana. Métodos: Estudo observacional, transversal, analítico e prospectivo. Os pacientes foram submetidos a avaliação clínica com exame físico geral e aplicação de questionário, coleta de amostras sanguíneas para exame laboratorial e realização de Tomografia computadorizada de coronárias. Resultados: Foram analisados dados de 95 pacientes, sendo a maioria do sexo masculino (67,3%), com idade média de 46,9 anos (±11,4).  32,6% possuíam calcificação coronária e destes, 100% estavam com valores anormais de LDL. Dos pacientes sem calcificação, 71,8% possuíam valores adequados de HDL. Conclusão: Houve correlação das alterações lipídicas com a presença de aterosclerose coronariana no grupo de pacientes estudado e tal resultado pode ser de grande valia para implementação de medidas preventivas para esse grupo de pacientes

“The embodiment of pure thought”? Digital fabrication, disability and new possibilities for auto/biography

This essay draws on findings from a UK Arts and Humanities Research Council project: “In the Making” (AH/M006026/1) to argue that the digital turn in art therapy – particularly 3D printing – makes possible new forms of disability agency, engaging post-humanist theory to suggest re-conceptualizations of embodied person-hood. Keywords: digital fabrication; disability; auto/biography; embodimen

Obesity Downregulates MicroRNA-126 Inducing Capillary Rarefaction in Skeletal Muscle: Effects of Aerobic Exercise Training

Background. We investigated the effects of exercise training (ET) on miR-126 levels and skeletal muscle angiogenesis in obese Zucker rats. Results. Zucker rats were randomly assigned to sedentary and swimming-trained groups: lean sedentary (LS) and trained (LTR); obese sedentary (OB) and trained (OBTR). The OB group displayed capillary rarefaction compared with the LS group. In contrast, ET increased the capillary/fiber ratio by 38% in the LTR group and normalized capillary rarefaction in the OBTR group. VEGF, PI3K, and eNOS levels were reduced in the skeletal muscle of the OB group. ET normalized VEGF, PI3K, and eNOS levels in OBTR, contributing to vascular network homeostasis. PI3KR2 inhibits PI3K, a key mediator of the VEGF signaling pathway. Obesity decreased miR-126 and increased PI3KR2 levels compared with the LS group. However, ET normalized miR-126 levels in the OBTR group versus the LS group and decreased expression of PI3KR2. Conclusion. Our findings show that obesity leads to skeletal muscle capillary rarefaction, which is regulated by decreased miR-126 levels and increased PI3KR2. Inversely, ET normalizes miR-126 levels and VEGF signaling and should be considered an important therapeutic strategy for vascular disorders

Determining the pathogenicity of CFTR missense variants : multiple comparisons of in silico predictors and variant annotation databases

Pathogenic variants in the Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator gene (CFTR) are responsible for cystic fibrosis (CF), the commonest monogenic autosomal recessive disease, and CFTR-related disorders in infants and youth. Diagnosis of such diseases relies on clinical, functional, and molecular studies. To date, over 2,000 variants have been described on CFTR (~40% missense). Since few of them have confirmed pathogenicity, in silico analysis could help molecular diagnosis and genetic counseling. Here, the pathogenicity of 779 CFTR missense variants was predicted by consensus predictor PredictSNP and compared to annotations on CFTR2 and ClinVar. Sensitivity and specificity analysis was divided into modeling and validation phases using just variants annotated on CFTR2 and/or ClinVar that were not in the validation datasets of the analyzed predictors. After validation phase, MAPP and PhDSNP achieved maximum specificity but low sensitivity. Otherwise, SNAP had maximum sensitivity but null specificity. PredictSNP, PolyPhen-1, PolyPhen-2, SIFT, nsSNPAnalyzer had either low sensitivity or specificity, or both. Results showed that most predictors were not reliable when analyzing CFTR missense variants, ratifying the importance of clinical information when asserting the pathogenicity of CFTR missense variants. Our results should contribute to clarify decision making when classifying the pathogenicity of CFTR missense variants