43 research outputs found
White-to-brown transdifferentiation of omental adipocytes in patients affected by pheochromocytoma
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WAT to BAT transdifferentiation of omental fat in adult humans affected by pheochromocytomas
In small mammals and to some extent also in humans, White Adipose Tissue (WAT) and Brown Adipose Tissue (BAT) are contained together in discrete locations at subcutaneous or visceral level forming a multi-depots organ [1]. We have recently described paucilocular cells immunoreactive for uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1-ir) as morphological marker of WAT-BAT transformation in the adipose organ of cold-exposed mice (hyper-adrenergic stimulation) [2]. In this study, we examined biopsies of omental WAT depot, in 20 controls and in 12 patients affected by pheochromocytomas used as model of adrenergic stimulation in humans. Histological examination was performed by light microscopy, immunohistochemistry and Electron Microscopy. qPCR was carried out to asses relative expression of âbrownâ genes. Control tissues were all formed by unilocular UCP1-negative adipocytes. Half of the omental fat samples from pheochromocytomas showed UCP1-ir multilocular cells forming BAT-islands among WAT. Several UCP1-ir paucilocular cells were also detected. Higher density of TH-ir fibres and capillaries were found in the transformed tissues. Ultrastructural examination, highlighted poorly differentiated cells in pericapillary position with features similar to those identified in supraclavicular human BAT [3]. In light of the protective role exerted by BAT against the development of obesity and other metabolic diseases, WAT to BAT plasticity could be an important target for the development of therapeutic strategies in the treatment of obesity and type II diabetes in humans
Exploring Institutional and Socio-Economic Settings for the Development of Energy Communities in Europe
Energy communities (ECs), intended as collective action initiatives in the energy field involving citizensâ participation, have been gaining relevance for the past decades as an alternative way to organize the energy chain to challenge the incumbent system. With Europeâs recently adopted Clean Energy Package, ECs found a formal recognition by the European Union as potential actors of the transition of the energy system towards a wider and more decentralized use of renewable sources. Although the potential role of ECs in the transition is therefore hardly questionable, a thorough comprehension of the enabling factors that might foster their diffusion and scaling up is still lacking. Through a comparative analysis of the evolutionary trajectories in six EU countries regarding their energy systems, their regulatory frameworks and their historical evolution of ECs, namely through the example of cooperative models, this paper aims at providing some preliminary evidence about the factors and dynamics that seem to have played, and may play, a role in hampering or facilitating EC model diffusion. Attention is therefore specifically paid to three dimensions of analysis referring to: the energy mix and market structure; the institutional and policy landscape; the wider social attitudes towards environmental issues and cooperation among citizens. In addition to providing a wide comparison of different EU countries, the paper shows that the historical evolution pathways have to be carefully taken into account to understand what might trigger ECs exploitation in the EU
Exploring Institutional and Socio-Economic Settings for the Development of Energy Communities in Europe
Energy communities (ECs), intended as collective action initiatives in the energy field involving citizensâ participation, have been gaining relevance for the past decades as an alternative way to organize the energy chain to challenge the incumbent system. With Europeâs recently adopted Clean Energy Package, ECs found a formal recognition by the European Union as potential actors of the transition of the energy system towards a wider and more decentralized use of renewable sources. Although the potential role of ECs in the transition is therefore hardly questionable, a thorough comprehension of the enabling factors that might foster their diffusion and scaling up is still lacking. Through a comparative analysis of the evolutionary trajectories in six EU countries regarding their energy systems, their regulatory frameworks and their historical evolution of ECs, namely through the example of cooperative models, this paper aims at providing some preliminary evidence about the factors and dynamics that seem to have played, and may play, a role in hampering or facilitating EC model diffusion. Attention is therefore specifically paid to three dimensions of analysis referring to: the energy mix and market structure; the institutional and policy landscape; the wider social attitudes towards environmental issues and cooperation among citizens. In addition to providing a wide comparison of different EU countries, the paper shows that the historical evolution pathways have to be carefully taken into account to understand what might trigger ECs exploitation in the EU.This research has received funding from the H2020 project COMETSâCollective Action Models for Energy Transition and Social Innovation (GA 837722
Exploring Institutional and Socio-Economic Settings for the Development of Energy Communities in Europe
Energy communities (ECs), intended as collective action initiatives in the energy field involving citizensâ participation, have been gaining relevance for the past decades as an alternative way to organize the energy chain to challenge the incumbent system. With Europeâs recently adopted Clean Energy Package, ECs found a formal recognition by the European Union as potential actors of the transition of the energy system towards a wider and more decentralized use of renewable sources. Although the potential role of ECs in the transition is therefore hardly questionable, a thorough comprehension of the enabling factors that might foster their diffusion and scaling up is still lacking. Through a comparative analysis of the evolutionary trajectories in six EU countries regarding their energy systems, their regulatory frameworks and their historical evolution of ECs, namely through the example of cooperative models, this paper aims at providing some preliminary evidence about the factors and dynamics that seem to have played, and may play, a role in hampering or facilitating EC model diffusion. Attention is therefore specifically paid to three dimensions of analysis referring to: the energy mix and market structure; the institutional and policy landscape; the wider social attitudes towards environmental issues and cooperation among citizens. In addition to providing a wide comparison of different EU countries, the paper shows that the historical evolution pathways have to be carefully taken into account to understand what might trigger ECs exploitation in the EU
Impresa e territorio nel capitalismo italiano: il distretto ceramico di Sassuolo
I distretti industriali hanno rappresentato storicamente uno tra i maggiori punti di forza del sistema produttivo italiano e un importante fattore di sviluppo socioeconomico. Negli ultimi decenni i distretti hanno attraversato profonde e radicali trasformazioni, connesse ai processi di globalizzazione. Il distretto ceramico del Sassolese appare particolarmente adatto a indagare le questioni sottese allâevoluzione dei sistemi distrettuali. Il parere degli Autori di questo contributo Ăš che le metamorfosi dei distretti possono essere comprese se non riduciamo il distretto a un modello stilizzato, corrispondente a una visione rassicurante e assertiva della realtĂ sociale ed economica di un territorio e ne osserviamo invece lâevoluzione con sufficiente profonditĂ storica, che permette di coglierne la complessitĂ e di ricostruirne le traiettorie di trasformazione
Le relazioni fra industria e distribuzione in Italia. Il caso Lavazza (1950-2000)
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