Marker de proceso y marker de proyecto en la reconstrucción poscatástrofe

Post disaster reconstruction can be summarized as architecture as a process (Strappa 2014) because of its temporal nature involving changes and consecutive phases that directly influence the identity of the work itself and its context. The architectural and urban facts define the new image of the city (Lynch 1960), especially when the quality of public space is changed as an element of democracy and power management (Delgado 2011). Depending on how the processes of realization of these categories (architecture and urban design) are built, the social, institutional and physical distances (Porreca and Rocchio 2016), which invariably occur in a catastrophic event, can be increased or reduced. The paper analyzes the project and project categories (marker) proposed by a study of La Sapienza in Rome and the conceptual framework of regional UNDP models in Chile, Colombia and Ecuador. This research proposes procedural marker to be used during reconstruction to reduce the problems induced by the process itself and achieve more effective achievements.La reconstrucción posdesastre se puede resumir con la expresión de arquitectura como proceso (Strappa 2014), debido a su carácter temporal que involucra cambios y fases consecutivas que influyen directamente en la identidad de la obra misma y de su contexto. Los hechos arquitectónico y urbano definen la nueva imagen de la ciudad (Lynch 1960), sobre todo, cuando se cambia la calidad del espacio público como elemento de democracia y de gestión del poder (Delgado 2011). Dependiendo de cómo se arman los procesos de realización de estas categorías (arquitectura y diseño urbano), la distancias sociales, institucionales y físicas (Porreca y Rocchio, 2016), que invariablemente ocurren en un evento catastrófico, pueden aumentar o reducirse. El paper analiza las categorías (marker) de proceso y de proyecto propuestas por un estudio de La Sapienza de Roma y el marco conceptual de modelos PNUD regionales de Chile, Colombia y Ecuador. Esta investigación propone marker procesuales para usar durante la reconstrucción para reducir los problemas inducidos por el proceso mismo y alcanzar logros más eficaces

Identification of genetic network dynamics with unate structure

Motivation: Modern experimental techniques for time course measurement of gene expression enable the identification of dynamical models of genetic regulatory networks. In general, identification involves fitting appropriate network structures and parameters to the data. For a given set of genes, exploring all possible network structures is clearly prohibitive. Modelling and identification methods for the a priori selection of network structures compatible with biological knowledge and experimental data are necessary to make the identification problem tractable. Results: We propose a differential equation modelling framework where the regulatory interactions among genes are expressed in terms of unate functions, a class of gene activation rules commonly encountered in Boolean network modelling. We establish analytical properties of the models in the class and exploit them to devise a two-step procedure for gene network reconstruction from product concentration and synthesis rate time series. The first step isolates a family of model structures compatible with the data from a set of most relevant biological hypotheses. The second step explores this family and returns a pool of best fitting models along with estimates of their parameters. The method is tested on a simulated network and compared with state-of-the-art network inference methods on the benchmark synthetic network IRMA. Contact: [email protected] Supplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics onlin

Defining marginality in the periurban areas of Quito – A descriptive approach based on empirical and spatial data

In Latin America, marginality is a complex phenomenon involving various geographically significant factors, including the critical, physical, social, and human aspects. Bouldering areas of cities are often excluded from infrastructural interventions and social policies. In the case of Andean countries such as Ecuador, marginality affects not only rural lands but also in-transition areas between different geographical regions, as in the case of mountainous and coastal zones. These regions are characterized by a wide range of natural resources and climate conditions, and because of their diversity and relative proximity to the major cities, they offer potential for sustainable development. Nonetheless, the lack of infrastructure affects the accessibility of these periurban areas and critically limits their interaction. Drawing on these elements, the paper seeks to investigate whether periurban areas can be considered marginal and what tools can depict an encompassing image of local marginality, stressing its advantages for the local community. Following this idea, the paper focuses on the case of Lloa, a large rural parish in the Metropolitan District of Quito (DMQ), to determine which criteria can better capture its marginality, considering it as a periurban in-transition area. The paper suggests a cross-discipline methodology to push the limits of the field through the review of a significant body of literature and a thorough qualitative and quantitative analysis of the case study. Finally, the paper emphasizes the inadequacy of the current forms of planning to effectively define the marginality of periurban areas as a whole in the region by reflecting on the case study and through an analysis of the existing land use plans

Production of urban environment: an empiric approach toward the concept of adequate space in Quito

The production of urban environments in Latin America is a topic common to many disciplines and the core subject of several ongoing research projects. Academic publications on urban space have revealed a rich and solid understanding of the frequently disputed and contentious processes of the mechanisms that create urban environments.  Nevertheless, despite a rich and robust theoretical production on the Latin American spatial system, much research and debate remain regarding the physical effects that such mechanisms generate in the region, what spatial transformations are produced, and how much these generate spaces that are appropriate for inhabitants and coherent with their genius loci.  The paper analyzes a case study in the city of Quito and seeks to understand to what extent the urban-architectural elements contribute to producing an adequate urban environment or, conversely, generate weak spaces that are inadequate to the local socio-spatial dynamism. This empirical research presents a mixed methodological approach, using first and second-hand quantitative and spatial data, and further qualitative methods for processing and interpreting the information. The results reveal an urban scenario with discontinuous quality, and with evident spatial weakness on the human scale.    La producción del entorno urbano en América Latina es un tema común a muchas disciplinas y es objeto de continua investigación. La producción académica latinoamericana acerca del espacio urbano ha demostrado una profunda y sólida capacidad de reconstruir los procesos -a menudo disputados y conflictivos- de los mecanismos de producción de entornos urbanos. Sin embargo, no obstante una profunda producción teórica sobre el sistema de producción espacial latinoamericano, queda mucho por estudiar sobre los efectos físicos que tales mecanismos generan en el territorio, cuáles transformaciones se producen, y cuanto estas generan espacios adecuados para los habitantes y coherentes con su genius loci. El artículo analiza un caso estudio en la ciudad de Quito y pretende entender en qué medida los elementos urbano-arquitectónicos contribuyen a la producción de un entorno urbano apropiado o -al contrario- generan espacios débiles e inadecuados al dinamismo socio-espacial. Esta investigación presenta una abordaje empírico y se estructura a través de una metodología mixta, usando datos cuantitativos y espaciales de primera y segunda mano, y métodos cualitativos de procesamiento e interpretación de las informaciones levantadas. Los resultados revelan un escenario urbano con calidad discontinua, y con evidentes límites espaciales acerca de la escala humana.   &nbsp

Defining marginality in the periurban areas of Quito

In Latin America, marginality is a complex phenomenon involving various geographically significant factors, including the critical, physical, social, and human aspects. Bouldering areas of cities are often excluded from infrastructural interventions and social policies. In the case of Andean countries such as Ecuador, marginality affects not only rural lands but also in-transition areas between different geographical regions, as in the case of mountainous and coastal zones. These regions are characterized by a wide range of natural resources and climate conditions, and because of their diversity and relative proximity to the major cities, they offer potential for sustainable development. Nonetheless, the lack of infrastructure affects the accessibility of these periurban areas and critically limits their interaction. Drawing on these elements, the paper seeks to investigate whether periurban areas can be considered marginal and what tools can depict an encompassing image of local marginality, stressing its advantages for the local community. Following this idea, the paper focuses on the case of Lloa, a large rural parish in the Metropolitan District of Quito (DMQ), to determine which criteria can better capture its marginality, considering it as a periurban in-transition area. The paper suggests a cross-discipline methodology to push the limits of the field through the review of a significant body of literature and a thorough qualitative and quantitative analysis of the case study. Finally, the paper emphasizes the inadequacy of the current forms of planning to effectively define the marginality of periurban areas as a whole in the region by reflecting on the case study and through an analysis of the existing land use plans

Structural identification of unate-like genetic network models from time-lapse protein concentration measurements

We consider the problem of learning dynamical models of genetic regulatory networks from time-lapse measurements of gene expression. In our previous work [1], we described a method for the structural and parametric identification of ODE models that makes use of concurrent measurements of concentrations and synthesis rates of the gene products, and requires the knowledge of the noise statistics. In this paper we assume all these pieces of information are not simultaneously available. In particular we propose extensions of [1] that make the method applicable to protein concentration measurements only. We discuss the performance of the method on experimental data from the network IRMA, a benchmark synthetic network engineered in yeast Saccharomices cerevisiae

Actin remodeling driven by circLIMA1: sperm cell as an intriguing cellular model

CircRNA cargo in spermatozoa (SPZ) participates in setting cell quality, in terms of morphology and motility. Cannabinoid receptor CB1 activity is correlated with a proper spermatogenesis and epididymal sperm maturation. Despite CB1 promotes endogenous skill to circularize mRNAs in SPZ, few notions are reported regarding the functional link between endocannabinoids and spermatic circRNA cargo. In CB1 knock-out male mice, we performed a complete dataset of spermatic circRNA content by microarray strategy. Differentially expressed (DE)-circRNAs, as a function of genotype, were identified. Within DE-circRNAs, we focused the attention on circLIMA1, as putative actin-cytoskeleton architecture regulator. The validation of circLIMA1 dependent-competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network (ceRNET) in in vitro cell line confirmed its activity in the regulation of the cytoskeletal actin. Interestingly, a dynamic actin regulation in SPZ nuclei was found during their epididymal maturation. In this scenario, we showed for the first time an intriguing sperm nuclear actin remodeling, regulated via a ceRNET-independent pathway, consisting in the nuclear shuttling of circLIMA1-QKI interactome and downstream in Gelsolin regulation. In particular, the increased levels of circLIMA1 in CB1 knock-out SPZ, associated with an inefficient depolymerization of nuclear actin, specifically illustrate how endocannabinoids, by regulating circRNA cargo, may contribute to sperm morpho-cellular maturation

Pubis bone osteomyelitys after robotic radical cystectomy with continent intracorporeal urinary diversion: Multidisciplinary approach to a complex situation

Pubic bone osteomyelitis is a rare infectious condition which is characterized by a complex diagnostic and therapeutic workup, due to its various clinical manifestations. Among the many causes of this condition, urinary fistula is the most common in case of previous urological procedures. In order to solve this complication, it is crucial to treat both the fistula and (moreover) the infectious locus arising from it, because treating the fistula alone does not provide any control on the infectious noxa. We present the first case of pubic bone osteomyelitis arising from a urinary fistula after a robotic radical cystectomy with intra corporeal continent neobladder, which has been successfully treated through a multidisciplinary approach

Augmented Reality to Guide Selective Clamping and Tumor Dissection During Robot-assisted Partial Nephrectomy: A Preliminary Experience.

ABSTRACT Introduction to explore the feasibility of augmented reality (AR) to guide arterial clamping during robot-assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN). Patients and Methods 15 consecutive patients with T1 renal mass underwent RAPN guided by AR. The 3D virtual model derived by computed tomography was superimposed on the actual view provided by the Da Vinci video stream thought AR technology. Preoperative plan of arterial clamping based on 2D conventional imaging, on 3D model and the effective intraoperative surgical approach guided by AR were compared using the McNeamar test. Results The plan of arterial clamping based on 2D preoperative imaging was recorded as follows: no clamping in 3 (20%), clamping of the main artery in 10 (66.7%) and selective clamping in 1 (6.7%) and super-selective clamping in 1 (6.7%) cases. After revision of the 3D model, the plan of clamping was modified as follows: no clamping in 1 (6.7%), clamping of the main artery in 2 (13.3%), selective clamping in 8 (53.3%) and super-selective clamping in 4 (26.7%) cases (p=0.03). The effective intraoperative clamping approach guided by AR-guidance was performed as planned in 13 (86.7%) patients. Conclusion AR for 3D guided renal surgery is useful to increase the adoption of selective clamping during RAPN