Chapter Il dialogo tra saperi per la comunicazione del patrimonio culturale

The 43rd UID conference, held in Genova, takes up the theme of ‘Dialogues’ as practice and debate on many fundamental topics in our social life, especially in these complex and not yet resolved times. The city of Genova offers the opportunity to ponder on the value of comparison and on the possibilities for the community, naturally focused on the aspects that concern us, as professors, researchers, disseminators of knowledge, or on all the possibile meanings of the discipline of representation and its dialogue with ‘others’, which we have broadly catalogued in three macro areas: History, Semiotics, Science / Technology. Therefore, “dialogue” as a profitable exchange based on a common language, without which it is impossible to comprehend and understand one another; and the graphic sign that connotes the conference is the precise transcription of this concept: the title ‘translated’ into signs, derived from the visual alphabet designed for the visual identity of the UID since 2017. There are many topics which refer to three macro sessions: - Witnessing (signs and history) - Communicating (signs and semiotics) - Experimenting (signs and sciences) Thanks to the different points of view, an exceptional resource of our disciplinary area, we want to try to outline the prevailing theoretical-operational synergies, the collaborative lines of an instrumental nature, the recent updates of the repertoires of images that attest and nourish the relations among representation, history, semiotics, sciences

Novel insights into the role of acetyl-CoA producing enzymes in epigenetic regulation

Inflammation-dependent changes in gene expression programs in innate immune cells, such as macrophages, involve extensive reprogramming of metabolism. This reprogramming is essential for the production of metabolites required for chromatin modifications, such as acetyl-CoA, and regulate their usage and availability impacting the macrophage epigenome. One of the most transcriptionally induced proinflammatory mediator is nitric oxide (NO), which has been shown to inhibit key metabolic enzymes involved in the production of these metabolites. Recent evidence indicates that NO inhibits mitochondrial enzymes such as pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) in macrophages induced by inflammatory stimulus. PDH is involved in the production of acetyl-CoA, which is essential for chromatin modifications in the nucleus, such as histone acetylation. In addition, acetyl-CoA levels in inflamed macrophages are regulated by ATP citrate lyase (ACLY) and citrate transporter SLC25A1. Interestingly, acetyl-CoA producing enzymes, such as PDH and ACLY, have also been reported to be present in the nucleus and to support the local generation of cofactors such as acetyl-CoA. Here, we will discuss the mechanisms involved in the regulation of acetyl-CoA production by metabolic enzymes, their inhibition by prolonged exposure to inflammation stimuli, their involvement in dynamic inflammatory expression changes and how these emerging findings could have significant implications for the design of novel therapeutic approaches

Spatial multiple criteria decision aiding approach to enhance cultural heritage in fragile vulnerable contexts

The introduction of the concept of sustainable development in the field of cultural heritage preservation has stressed the importance of a holistic approach. Achieving a balance among cultural significance retention and economic development is a challenging policy and design territorial issue, even more in fragile and vulnerable contexts with limited resources, low return expectations and a huge tangible and intangible cultural heritage. Given such a complexity, decisions require to be based on robust methodologies in order to address choices toward a balanced trade-off between conflictual goals. In this perspective, Spatial Multicriteria Decision Aiding methodologies can support decision makers along all the steps of the process, moving from intelligence to design and, finally, to choice phase. Within this approach, we have focused on the intelligence phase with the purpose of defining a multi- dimensional analytical framework aimed at mapping cultural heritage with a special attention to the territorial features. The proposed frame- work points out the challenge of structuring a decision problem related to cultural heritage widespread along slow mobility routes. The pi- lot case study is represented by an on-going cycle route that crosses Northern Italy transversely. The results obtained are value maps that provide recommendations for the definition of potential regeneration strategies to be transferred to similar territorial contexts

Spatial multiple criteria decision aiding approach to enhance cultural heritage in fragile vulnerable contexts

The introduction of the concept of sustainable development in the field of cultural heritage preservation has stressed the importance of a holistic approach. Achieving a balance among cultural significance retention and economic development is a challenging policy and design territorial issue, even more in fragile and vulnerable contexts with limited resources, low return expectations and a huge tangible and intangible cultural heritage. Given such a complexity, decisions require to be based on robust methodologies in order to address choices toward a balanced trade-off between conflictual goals. In this perspective, Spatial Multicriteria Decision Aiding methodologies can support decision makers along all the steps of the process, moving from intelligence to design and, finally, to choice phase. Within this approach, we have focused on the intelligence phase with the purpose of defining a multi- dimensional analytical framework aimed at mapping cultural heritage with a special attention to the territorial features. The proposed frame- work points out the challenge of structuring a decision problem related to cultural heritage widespread along slow mobility routes. The pi- lot case study is represented by an on-going cycle route that crosses Northern Italy transversely. The results obtained are value maps that provide recommendations for the definition of potential regeneration strategies to be transferred to similar territorial contexts

Il sistema del verde nel paesaggio urbano. Appunti di studio sulle piazze alberate della borgata Quarticciolo

This contribution presents the first results of a historical-critical study performed as part of the project for the regeneration of a public space in Borgata Quarticciolo; the study was carried out by the School of Specialisation in Architectural Heritage and the Landscape and an interdepartmental group of Sapienza University in collaboration with Municipality V - Roma Capitale. The study begins with a premise regarding the green policies implemented in Rome after the war and the transformation dynamics of its urban reality; it pieces together the historical sequence of changes in these areas by graphically illustrating the various phases of the evolution of the tree-lined squares in the Quarticciolo district from the late thirties to the present day. This is followed by an in-depth botanical review regarding the adaptability of Platanus x acerifolia in anthropised environments, with a particular focus on the damages to its roots

Long-term follow-up of idiotype vaccination in human myeloma as a maintenance therapy after high-dose chemotherapy

The aim of this work was to evaluate the long-term immunological and clinical impact of idiotype (Id) vaccination in multiple myeloma (MM) patients in first remission after high-dose chemotherapy. A total of 15 patients received a series of subcutaneous (s.c.) injections of autologous Id, conjugated to keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) and in association with low doses of GM-CSF. The median duration of follow-up was 110 months from diagnosis. The vaccine induced immune responses that lasted almost 2 years after the end of treatment. Antibody responses included anti-KLH IgM and IgG (90% of patients), anti-KLH IgE (30%), anti-GM-CSF IgG (20%), anti-Id IgG (20%), and anti-Id IgE (30%). Id-specific delayed type hypersensitivity skin tests were positive in 85% of tested patients. Following vaccination, a progressive recovery of T-cell receptor (TCR) diversity was observed and the loss of oligoclonality was significantly correlated with the remission duration. Although Id/KLH conjugates did not eliminate the residual tumor burden, the median progression-free survival, and overall survival were 40 and 82 months, respectively. A retrospective case-matched analysis showed similar results in patients treated with IFN-alpha alone or in association with steroids. This vaccine formulation can overcome Id-specific immune tolerance by inducing clinical responses that are worthy of further investigation