From trans-disciplinary to "undisciplined" design learning: educating through/to disruption

The paper is fruit of a coordinated work, however the author of paragraphs 1 and 4 is Flaviano Celaschi, the author of paragraph 2 is Elena Formia and the author of paragraphs 3 and 5 is Eleonora Lup

On the classical capacity of quantum Gaussian channels

The set of quantum Gaussian channels acting on one bosonic mode can be classified according to the action of the group of Gaussian unitaries. We look for bounds on the classical capacity for channels belonging to such a classification. Lower bounds can be efficiently calculated by restricting to Gaussian encodings, for which we provide analytical expressions.Comment: 10 pages, IOP style. v2: minor corrections, close to the published versio

"From Trans-disciplinary to Undisciplined Design Learning: Educating through/to Disruption"

This document testifies the attempt at critically interpreting certain formative models of the designer from an evolutionary point of view. The criteria used to draw up a historical mapping and perform a reading of some interesting contemporary case histories concern the comparison between the subjective approach (the unveiling of the author's personality and different identity, considered as a subject under formation), on one hand, and the objective reproducibility of a process (project methodology), on the other. We have offset this line of interpretation with the relationship between the concept of trans-disciplinary (an encoded approach of transferring methods and tools from other disciplines), and that of non-disciplinary or "undisciplined" (in the sense of transcending the disciplines and therefore looking for innovation "outside the rules"). This analysis comprises profiles resulted from specifically disciplinary educational traditions (artistic and polytechnic); however, a profile that is not formable within modern schools and which generates "out-of-context" designers also emerges. Lastly, a new profile is outlined that insists on learning rules and methodologies, but makes the disobedience of said rules and methods the margin of originality and distinction (which depends on the qualities of the designer and his/her subjective capacity and creativity). The underlying assumption is that, through a shift towards the objective (therefore methodologically transmissible and encodable) and non-disciplinary dimensions, it is possible to educate highly "disruptive" profiles, inducing a certain attitude in students to tackling the design project through a method which can continually challenge its rules into question, in order to innovate them.The essay ends with a list of some contemporary challenges of education processes that seem to interpret surrounding conditions of profession and research in the sector and that, as aresult, have still to determine changes in the official education models. Key words: subjectivity, objectivity, trans-disciplinary, undisciplined,disruptive designer

Tangibile/Intangibile. Dialoghi sul Design per i Territori 02

Il Network di Ricerca "D4T - Design for Territories" del Dipartimento di Design del Politecnico di Milano ha condotto un ciclo di focus group con l’obiettivo di attivare la discussione e il confronto sulla tematica del Design per i Territori. I focus group sono concepiti come momenti informali di impostazione critico-problematica, con l’obiettivo che diventino attivatori di un successivo dibattito allargato e condiviso. Il secondo focus group, tenutosi presso il Dipartimento di Design del Politecnico di Milano il 18 ottobre 2016, ha affrontato il tema del rapporto tra Tangibile e Intangibile cercando di rispondere ai seguenti interrogativi: in che modo il design si occupa del patrimonio e delle risorse tangibili e intangibili dei territori? In che modo il design è in grado di svelare le capacità di un territorio? Quali sono le azioni, gli strumenti e le strategie messe in atto? Gli ospiti invitati al second focus group sono stati: Daniela Calabi (Politecnico di Milano); Marco Ferreri (designer); Martha Friel (Centro Studi Silva Santagata; Università IULM); Lia Krucken (IPB Brasile); Federica Olivares (City Innovation Lab), Francesca Piredda (Politecnico di Milano); Raffaella Trocchianesi (Politecnico di Milano)

Gene-Gene Interactions in the Folate Metabolic Pathway and the Risk of Conotruncal Heart Defects

Conotruncal and related heart defects (CTRD) are common, complex malformations. Although there are few established risk factors, there is evidence that genetic variation in the folate metabolic pathway influences CTRD risk. This study was undertaken to assess the association between inherited (i.e., case) and maternal gene-gene interactions in this pathway and the risk of CTRD. Case-parent triads (n = 727), ascertained from the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, were genotyped for ten functional variants of nine folate metabolic genes. Analyses of inherited genotypes were consistent with the previously reported association between MTHFR A1298C and CTRD (adjusted P = .02), but provided no evidence that CTRD was associated with inherited gene-gene interactions. Analyses of the maternal genotypes provided evidence of a MTHFR C677T/CBS 844ins68 interaction and CTRD risk (unadjusted P = .02). This association is consistent with the effects of this genotype combination on folate-homocysteine biochemistry but remains to be confirmed in independent study populations

Connector systems for structures

A releasable coupling device for connecting two members to one another where a collet type fastener has normally retracted latching fingers insertable into a latching recess and a longitudinally movable expander for activating the fastener is described. The longitudinal movement is retained with a paraffin actuated system which can reset. The longitudinal movement of the expander in one direction is through a one way threaded ratchet system which provides an automatic locking action and the expander is movable in either direction by an independently operated threaded action

Partial scaling transform of multiqubit states as a criterion of separability

The partial scaling transform of the density matrix for multiqubit states is introduced to detect entanglement of quantum states. The transform contains partial transposition as a special case. The scaling transform corresponds to partial time scaling of subsystem (or partial Planck's constant scaling) which was used to formulate recently separability criterion for continous variables.A measure of entanglement which is a generalization of negativity measure is introduced being based on tomographic probability description of spin states.Comment: 16 pages, 5 figures, submitted to J. Phys. A: Math. Ge

Diversity of the Ganoderma species in Uruguay

Ganoderma is a cosmopolitan genus that includes a great diversity of species. Many of them have been historically described based only on morphological characteristics; however, due to their morphological plasticity, there is no complete understanding about their relationship and taxonomic status. Commonly applied names, particularly in the southern Neotropics, come from species of North Hemisphere distribution (e.g. G. lucidum, G. resinaceum and G. applanatum). The objective of the present work was to perform a survey of Ganoderma species thriving in Uruguay. We aimed to identify and characterize them through molecular, morphological and ecological analysis. The results confirm the presence of four reddish laccate species first registered for Uruguay (G. dorsale, G. platense, G. martinicense and G. mexicanum), and one non-laccate species (G. australe s.l.) composed of two clades. The species are morphologically differentiated mainly by its stipe, pilear surface, context, pores, basidiospores and cutis cells. Regarding the ecological data, the species present differences in substrate preferences. In addition, a taxonomic discussion regarding phylogenetic relationships and taxonomic status of Uruguayan Ganoderma species is presented