PRIMUS/Informed Cities: Making research work for local sustainability

The final report of a three year European Commission FP7 project

Efficacy of radioembolization according to tumor morphology and portal vein thrombosis in intermediate–advanced hepatocellular carcinoma

Purpose: We analyzed overall survival (OS) following radioembolization according to macroscopic growth pattern (nodular vs infiltrative) and vascular invasion in intermediate-advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods: Between September 2005 and November 2013, 104 patients (50.0% portal vein thrombosis [PVT], 29.8% infiltrative morphology) were treated. Results: Median OS differed significantly between patients with segmental and lobar or main PVT (p = 0.031), but was 17 months in both those with patent vessels and segmental PVT. Median OS did not differ for infiltrative and nodular HCC. Median OS was prolonged in patients with a treatment response at 3 months (p = 0.023). Prior TACE was also a significant predictor of improved OS. Conclusion: A further indication for radioembolization might be infiltrative HCC, since OS was similar to nodular types

Artistic and Curatorial Power in Cities’ Historic Spaces

This article analyses and compares three neighbourhood/site projects in Athens, Salerno and Sunderland. Despite being on a small scale, they trigger vitality and revive spaces that invite creative uses. These examples have the aim to involve local residents and artists in creating public places and claim their right to oppose top-down impositions and globalization of cultural consumption returning decision-making power to the local communities. The ambition is that small artwork interventions can gradually propose meaningful transformations in a wider perspective

Creative connectivity between research and policy-making to support implementation of urban sustainability

It has been widely acknowledged that urban areas play a vital role in creating a Europe that is both sustainable and competitive, providing high environmental and social quality while at the same time being a pioneer region for economic and scientific innovation and creativity. Local governments therefore need to have access to latest technology and techniques developed through research, and in turn, research has to respond to the needs of local governments. During the past decade, numerous research projects, many of which have been funded through EU programmes, have produced a wealth of tools and instruments with a focus on sustainability. However, the potential of this wealth is not fully used, as many of these tools are hardly known by their target group, and thus not employed. This paper subscribes to integration between research and practice as not just a worthwhile aspiration but as a possible way of effectively implementing local sustainability.creative connectivity, creative exchange, urban sustainability, peer review, research, policy making, sustainable development, local government, local sustainability, urban management,

Pipe Dreams: Cities Get Creative With Water

A photo and sound essay to demonstrate creative ways in which cities are using water to increase resilience, and bring comfort and stability to the lives of residents