Design prototyping for public technological solutions as a social learning practice for policymaking

This theoretical article explores how design prototyping for technological solutions with public and social dimensions (e.g., data-centric public services) might represent a practice that fosters social learning for policymaking. The paper contributes to two contemporary strands of design research: i) design prototyping in public service innovation processes as a means for designing with institutional arrangements; ii) the role and object of design prototyping in “design for policy”. The central thesis is that, through prototyping, the designing of public technological solutions could become a source of policy knowledge and a driver of policy learning. Therefore, the contribution of designers and design practice might go far beyond the prototyped solution and impact the policy dimension. The article develops an interdisciplinary review to support this perspective, connecting three blocks of theory: i) the enactivist framework, from cognitive science; ii) the social learning framework, from social studies of technology; and iii) the policy learning concept, from policy studies. The review highlights that an enactivist approach helps in appreciating the difference between professional design settings and other social settings in the context of technological innovation, essentially by conceiving cognition driven by the practice of design prototyping as deeply entangled within social and cultural dynamics. The article then attempts to connect theory with practice by discussing an example of service prototyping of a data-centric service for social purposes and its policy implications. In conclusion, authors propose open points for making prototyping meaningful for design for policy and designing with institutional arrangements, starting with the conscious role designers must assume toward institutional constraints during practice

Biocompatibility of chemically treated bovine pericardium in rats

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CALCIFICATION OF CHEMICALLY TREATED BOVINE PERICARDIUM

One of the most important problems arising in cardiac bioprostheses made with bovine pericardium and, more generally, with biologically-derived tissues is tissue calcification. The present study assessed four chemical treatments on patches of bovine pericardium, intended to avoid or minimize calcification. Pericardium specimens were treated with: A) 0.5% glutaraldehyde; B) 0.5% glutaraldehyde + 4% formaldehyde; C) same as A, but with a further neutralization treatment; D) acylation of fresh bovine pericardium. Circular samples of 1 cm diameter were subcutaneously implanted in the abdominal region of three groups of six rats. The explants were retrieved after 2, 4 and 8 weeks. The calcium content and the histological results showed better behaviour for C and D samples than with the commonly used fixation methods (A and B). The lowest calcification was observed with treatment D, even though its morphological structures were somewhat modified with homogenation of collagen bundles. Among the glutaraldehyde-based treatments, treatment C appears to be the most promising because the pericardium shows slower calcium accumulation with a diffusive pattern

Thromboresistance of Ti6Al4vm coated with a thin film of turbostratic carbon for cardiovascular applications.

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Development and in-vivo evaluation of a system for power transfer through intact skin for artificial hearth.

Purpose of the present study is to evaluate the possibility to transfer power from outside to inside of human body, in order to feed a long term implanted prosthesis as the artificial heart. The system adopted was the medium-low frequency electromagnetic coupling between a special primary coil to be placed on the patient's body for a relatively short period 8e.g 8 hours per night) and a permanent implanted coil for supplying an internal accumulator. The construction details of the implanted circuit are presented and the results about the in-vivo testing measurements, in particular the histological analyses of the skin after many energy transfer processes, are shown

Small diameter vascular graft evaluation by replacement of shee carotid artery: short term results with carbon coated prostheses.

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