Trisomic neural progenitor cells as novel pharmacological targets in Down Syndrome

Down syndrome (DS) is the main genetic cause of intellectual disability. Decreased proliferation of Neural Progenitor Cells (NPC), widespread neurogenesis impairment and increased astrogliogenesis are considered among the major determinants of brain atrophy and intellectual disability in DS individuals. The best characterized and studied animal model for DS is the Ts65Dn mouse line which recapitulates several features of the human pathology, including cognitive impairment. In the recent years studies suggested that perinatal pharmacotherapies targeting NPC alterations may represent potential interventions in DS. However, at present, no pharmacotherapies are suitable for clinical application. Thus, the need to identify new and safe pharmacotherapies to improve intellectual disability in DS patients. Based on these data, our overall goal was to unravel novel mechanisms underlying We generated and phenotypically characterized NPC from Ts65Dn and euploid pups (P1, 2). We then targeted NPC alterations using at first a phenotypic-based approach that identified 30 FDA/EMA approved drugs able to correct trisomic NPC defective proliferation. Importantly, among the potential hits we identified the immunosuppressant cyclosporine A (CSA). We showed that a neonatal treatment with CSA (P3-P15) corrected the whole triad of defects of DS brain. In parallel, we used a target based approach, exploiting the effect of an agonist of the tropomyosin receptor kinase B, 7,8-DHF, and corn oil on neurogenesis in vitro and in vivo, also evaluating the cognitive performances. In the last part of this thesis we identified new molecular mechanisms altered in trisomic NPC in response to the key astrocytic signal thrombospondin-1. Taken together these data showed that trisomic NPC dysfunctions are pharmacologically relevant targets in DS

Air Shelter House Technology and its Application to Shelter Units: the Case of Scaffold House and Cardboard Shelter Installations

AbstractLightweight insulations, as a Thermal Reflective Multi-layer System (TRMS), are a fast and useful answer for temporary shelter. Developed from a space suit and with a conductivity of 0,038 W/mK, this system can ensure high thermal performance in combination with an easy transport, assembly and modular design. The present paper highlight the potential of the use of this material in different experimental shelter, as building component: the case of the Scaffold House and Cardboard Shelters. The combination of TRMS building elements is a technological skin, which is constitute from modular panels made by TRM, polyester and vulcanized rubber, called Air Shelter House (ASH). The Scaffold House is made by scaffold, traditional TRMS and sandwich panels. It is a modular system easy to assembly thanks to the simple technology used, which can help the self-construction and maintenance by the users. To improve the processes of housing installation, ensuring thermal performance, the envelope is changing with a new composition of ASH system and sandwich panels. In this way, it is possible to increase the construction processes and deconstruction, in agreement with internal comfort, modularity of units, transport and possible reuse of the shelter in different contest. The plurality of plants functions (as a private house or as a public use), already studied for the internal disposition of the different modules, are still guaranteed from the small thickness of 65 mm of the ASH technology. The system, moreover, it is study in combination with cardboard shelter. This unit is designed with this economical materials used in an innovative way, assembling different layers of paper, compressed by steel bars and coated with gypsum plaster. This new envelope is closed on the top by ASH panel roof, which is lightweight, waterproof and thermal resistance in the same time. Modularity of wall and ASH panels guarantee the construction of flexible plants to adapt in different contest. The results are both a thermal, waterproof and resistance housing system which is optimized to have a faster assembly, disassembly, transport, and a large number of modularity combination, according with response phase after disaster, and shelter features

Outer facade retrofitting trough precast insulation panels: method and planning tool applied to an Italian residential building

Much of the required reduction in energy consumption needs to be achieved through the renovation of existing buildings. To this topic, the work presents all the research steps from the design process, through the experimental characterization in laboratory to the final on-site construction with respective monitoring campaign for the envelope retrofitting of an Italian residential building. The developed system, result of a European founded project EASEE is a prefabricated composite panel that integrate both thermal insulation and exterior finishing

Open Innovation for the Construction Sector: Concept Overview and Test Bed Development to Boost Energy-Efficient Solutions

Open innovation has recently emerged as an important concept in both academic research and industrial practice, and it is now also becoming increasingly important in the public policy field due to the innovation challenges in different domains, such as climate change, sustainability, and growth to name a few, but only in some value chains (i.e., automotive, manufacturing, aerospace). According to a report by McKinsey and Co., the construction industry lags behind others in adopting innovations; in fact, less than 1% of the construction industry’s revenue goes back into technology research and development. This work focuses on the current debate on the underdeveloped application of the open innovation (OI) approach to the construction sector. Namely, the foundational question is whether the OI model can be the answer to boosting innovation for the decarbonization of buildings. The research goal is to go a step further by analyzing its internal effectiveness, focusing on introducing and defining the Open Innovation Test Bed (OITB) concept. The study provides a systematic and bibliometric literature review of OI starting from a critical analysis of the concept definition and the evolution of the paradigm from the initial application to the first declination for the construction sector. All the steps analyzed allowed us to make an overall and comprehensive review of the OI concept, which is usually applied to other sectors, considering the ecosystem as the most effective declination of the OI paradigm for OITB development for building envelope solutions, thus providing answers to the two objectives identified in the introduction. Finally, the limitations of prior OI studies and the challenges for the OITB new construction paradigm are discussed, and we make recommendations for future opportunities and approach development to tackle and boost energy-efficient envelope solutions for the construction industries

Experimental analysis of different multilayer insulated façade

The presented work shows the results of the monitoring campaign conducted on two Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) test box equipped respectively with a micro ventilated facade and a thermal coat technology. Specifically, the experimental work was performed in order to compare the temperature levels of the Isotec® wall micro ventilated facade respect to traditional ETICS, with two different thermal mass, for facade insulation. The results showed that the micro ventilated façade, due to the shielding and air cavity comined effect contributes to reduce the summer heat stress with lower internal heat loads

Greenery as a mitigation strategy to urban heat and air pollution: a comparative simulation-based study in a densely built environment.

The urban heat island and the urban air pollution concentration are two major climate-change-related phenomena affecting the built environment worldwide. This paper aims to verify the potential effect of different mitigation measures through a simulation study. In detail the present study focuses on the analysis of the environmental impacts of urban vegetation, such as green facades, vertical greenery, and green pavements. After an extensive screening of the literature review, an investigation of the impact of the most common built environment design variables in a defined case study led to the definition of a typical urban canyon was tested. The results show that the presence of trees in a street canyon could reduce the air temperature peaks by 5-10 °C, while the high-level vegetation canopies can lead to a deterioration in air quality with a PM concentration increasing by 1.2-1.5%. Instead, using low-level green infrastructure improves the air quality conditions on the sidewalk, reducing the NOx in the range of 10-20%. The analyzed high-level greenery generated an air temperature reduction effect on a street level ranging from 8 to 12°C. The present work contributes to clarifying the potential mitigation effect of green infrastructure in a densely built environment, where the risk of increasing temperatures and air pollutants is foreseen to be more intense in the coming years

Digital Twin and Cloud BIM-XR Platform Development: From Scan-to-BIM-to-DT Process to a 4D Multi-User Live App to Improve Building Comfort, Efficiency and Costs

Digital twins (DTs) and building information modelling (BIM) are proving to be valuable tools for managing the entire life cycle of a building (LCB), from the early design stages to management and maintenance over time. On the other hand, BIM platforms cannot manage the geometric complexities of existing buildings and the large amount of information that sensors can collect. For this reason, this research proposes a scan-to-BIM process capable of managing high levels of detail (LODs) and information (LOIs) during the design, construction site management, and construction phases. Specific grades of generation (GOGs) were applied to create as-found, as-designed, and as-built models that interact with and support the rehabilitation project of a multi-level residential building. Furthermore, thanks to the sharing of specific APIs (Revit and Autodesk Forge APIs), it was possible to switch from static representations to novel levels of interoperability and interactivity for the user and more advanced forms of building management such as a DT, a BIM cloud, and an extended reality (XR) web platform. Finally, the development of a live app shows how different types of users (professionals and non-expert) can interact with the DT, in order to know the characteristics with which the environments have been designed, as well as the environmental parameters, increasing their degree of control, from the point of view of improving comfort, use, costs, behaviour, and good practices. Finally, the overall approach was verified through a real case study where the BIM-XR platform was built for energy improvements to existing buildings and facade renovations

LA RIQUALIFICAZIONE ENERGETICA DELL’INVOLUCRO EDILIZIO ATTRAVERSO UN SISTEMA ISOLANTE COMPOSITO. MESSA IN OPERA E MISURA DELLE PRESTAZIONI THE BUILDING ENVELOPE RENOVATION TROUGHT COMPOSITE INSULATION SYSTEM. INSTALLATION AND MEASUREMENT OF PERFORMANCE

More than 60% of the existing building stock in Lombardy Region has been built before the 70’s and it is among the main responsible causes of final energy absorption and corresponding CO2 emissions. In this view, the residential buildings represent the main relevant part with a mean overall performance index of 201.8 kWh/m2a. The promotion of renovation measures for such buildings, also through innovative solutions, is becoming increasingly important for both containing the greenhouse gas emissions and supporting the growth of the construction sector. To this topic, the work presents the energy renovation of a social housing building in the Province of Milan through the application of innovative prefabricated façade panels that integrate both thermal insulation and exterior finishing. In detail, the paper describes, on one hand, the relevant design strategies following the preliminary analysis and, on the other hand, the process of installation; besides, the final performance of the retrofitted envelope is documented by the results of the monitoring campaign