Learning from Circularity Manifestos. Crafting designerly circular approaches for the upholstered furniture sector

Product innovation progressively embraces a sustainable and systemic approach, known as Design for Sustainability, driven by economic, environmental, socio-cultural, and behavioral insights. Nevertheless, transitioning to circularity within upholstered furniture Product-Service Systems and fostering cultural awareness remains a complex endeavor. The paper focuses on the role of Circularity Manifestos as cultural drivers in creating public awareness and behavioral change. It begins by analyzing existing cases to uncover the manifestos' underlying meaning, logic, and communication strategies for promoting and implementing circular innovation practices. These findings are subsequently compared with established theories and approaches through a comprehensive literature review and case analysis, revealing potential links between conceptual frameworks and practical circular strategies. This investigation targets the upholstered furniture sector, characterized by significant circularity challenges. It demands a comprehensive design approach guided by designers' expertise in balancing proactive behavioral change with a systemic Design for Sustainability approach

Multifractal analysis of vertical total electron content (VTEC) at equatorial region and low latitude, during low solar activity

This paper analyses the multifractal aspects of the GPS data (measured during a period of low solar activity) obtained from two Brazilian stations: Belém (01.3° S, 48.3° W) and São José dos Campos (SJC) (23.2° S, 45.9° W). The results show that the respective geographic sites show important scaling differences as well as similarities when their multifractal signatures for vertical total electron content (VTEC) are compared. The <I>f</I>(&alpha;) spectra have a narrow shape for great scales, which indicates the predominance of deterministic phenomena, such as solar rotation (27 days) over intermittent phenomena. Furthermore, the <I>f</I>(&alpha;) spectra for both sites have a strong multifractality degree at small scales. This strong multifractality degree observed at small scales (1 to 12 h) at both sites is because the ionosphere over Brazil is a non-equilibrium system. The differences found were that Belém presented a stronger multifractality at small scales (1 h to 12 h) compared with SJC, particularly in 2006. The reason for this behaviour may be associated with the location of Belém, near the geomagnetic equator, where at this location the actions of X-rays, ultraviolet, and another wavelength from the Sun are more direct, strong, and constant throughout the whole year. Although the SJC site is near ionospheric equatorial anomaly (IEA) peaks, this interpretation could explain the higher values found for the intermittent parameter μ for Belém compared with SJC. Belém also showed the presence of one or two flattening regions for <I>f</I>(&alpha;) spectra at the same scales mentioned before. These differences and similarities also were interpreted in terms of the IEA content, where this phenomenon is an important source of intermittence due the presence of the VTEC peaks at ±20° geomagnetic latitudes

A novel educational model based on "knowing how to do" paradigm implemented in an academic makerspace

The design discipline is faced with radical changes related to new technologies and to an increasingly globalized world with more and more competitive markets. These factors are profoundly influencing methods and processes of design, and the knowledge and skills related to the designer's role. Consequently, the design educational models are radically changing. Today, one of the most impacting evolutions is related to rapid prototyping techniques, which are bringing design practice closer to the auto-production. This emerging trend cannot be anymore supported with traditional didactic approaches, but it is necessary to create spaces for allowing students to learn, design and experiment in a shared way. This paper presents the Polifactory Lab at Politecnico di Milano, an innovative makerspace established with the aim of creating a new research and teaching space. In this paper, the authors present the Polifactory Lab, its theoretical purposes, and some examples of didactic activities carried out in the lab

Main competencies to manage complex defence projects

This research adds a comprehensive way of assessing competencies, contrasting with the usual reductionist approach that uses off-the-shelf instruments. The study reveals 27 competencies to manage complex projects based upon a comprehensive analysis of 22 interviews with senior practitioners associated with the most strategic projects from the Brazilian Army. These competencies were divided into 10 groups, namely influencing, communication, team working, cognitive, management, contextual skills, professionalism, project management knowledge, and personal skills and attributes. Surprisingly, both emotional skills and social competencies were not prominent. The results contribute to advance our knowledge by revealing that practitioners involved in complex defence projects value more technical and individual competencies. This study analyses competencies across several complex projects in the defence sector, providing insights to practitioners and expanding the academic debate focused on other industries and single cases. Organisations might use the competencies to recruit, select, and develop human resources involved in complex defence initiatives

Características físico-químicas de meis produzidos por espécies de meliponíneos.

Além da abelhas Africanizadas (Apis mellifera L.), as abelhas indígenas sem ferrão ou meliponíneos (Meliponinae) são potenciais produtoras de mel. Esse produto apresenta carcterísticas distintas do mel produzido pelas abelhas do gênero Apis, sendo muito apreciado pelos consumidores. Entretanto, são escassos os dados científicos a respeito da composição desse mel na literatura nacional e internacional. A proposta deste trabalho é avaliar as características físico-químicas do mel produzido por meliponíneos. As análises físico-químico foram realizadas de acordo com as técnicas descritas pela AOAC (Association of Official Analytical Chemists), e pela European Honey Comission, conforme recomendado pela CAC (Codex Alimentarius Comission). Os resultados obtidos reforçam a necessidade do desenvolvimento de um padrão próprio para os méis de abelhas sem ferrão, incluindo critérios microbiológicos.Disponível também em: Cadernos de Agroecologia, V. 5, n.1, 2010

Características da carcaça e dos componentes não carcaça de cordeiros oriundos de parto simples ou duplo.

Resumo: Um experimento foi conduzido com o objetivo de avaliar as características da carcaça e dos componentes não carcaça de cordeiros nascidos de parto simples ou duplo. Dezesseis cordeiros mestiços Texel × Ile de France, machos não castrados, foram desmamados aos 56 dias de idade e abatidos com aproximadamente 28kg de peso corporal. Imediatamente após o abate, cada componente corporal foi pesado separadamente, sendo as carcaças avaliadas após 24 horas de refrigeração a 2°C. Os cordeiros oriundos de parto simples apresentaram superioridade no peso e nos rendimentos da carcaça, além de maior área de olho de lombo. Por outro lado, proporcionalmente ao peso de corpo vazio, o rúmen é maior em cordeiros nascidos de parto duplo, o que resulta incremento da proporção de conteúdo gastrintestinal ao abate. Os resultados deste estudo indicam que, quando abatidos a um mesmo peso, cordeiros oriundos de parto simples possuem carcaças de melhor qualidade, em comparação a cordeiros nascidos de parto gemelar. [Carcass and non-carcass traits of single and twin lambs]. Abstract: An experiment was conducted to evaluate the carcass and non-carcass traits of single and twin lambs. Sixteen Texel × Ile de France crossbred, non-castrated male lambs were weaned at 56 days of age and slaughtered at 28kg of body weight. Immediately after the slaughter each body component was individually weighed, while carcasses were evaluated after a 24h period of refrigeration at 2°C. Single lambs presented higher values of carcass weight and carcass dressing percentage. Moreover, the Longissimus muscle area was also greater for single lambs. On the other hand, as a proportion of empty body weight, rumen was greater for twin lambs, increasing their gastrointestinal content at slaughter. The results of this study indicated that at a same slaughter weight single lambs have better quality carcasses in comparison with those from twin lambs

CHARACTERIZATION AND ANTIFUNGAL ACTIVITY OF THE ESSENTIAL OIL OF TAGETES MINUTA FRONT OF THE CRYPTOCOCCUS SPP. ISOLATES FROM THE ENVIRONMENT

Objective: This study evaluated the chemical composition and antifungal activity of the essential oil of inflorescences of Tagetes minuta (EOTM) belonging to the Asteraceae family against Cryptococcus spp. This microorganism is the encapsulated yeast-like and is recognized as an opportunistic fungal pathogen of great clinical importance.Methods: The inflorescences of T. minuta were collected in Itaara/RS, Brazil, in April 2013, and identification of the components was performed by GC-MS. The species of fungi are environmental isolates of Cryptococcus spp. identified by direct examination with India ink, urease test, culture and agar Niger medium canavanine glycine bromothymol blue, and all fungi isolates were confirmed by the use of automated panel MicroScan® Rapid Yeast ID (SIEMENS®). ATCC strains of C. gattii, C. neoformans and C. grubii belonging to the Microbiology Laboratory of the Centro Universitário Franciscano of Santa Maria/RS, Brazil were also used. The antifungal activity of the EOTM was evaluated by microdilution.Results: Most strains of Cryptococcus spp. were sensitive to EOTM even at low concentrations, except when the microorganism in question was Cryptococcus grubii which the essential oil showed a weak antifungal action.Conclusion: The EOTM appears as promising in prospecting for new drugs for the treatment of cryptococcosis.Keywords: Cryptococcosis, Natural products, Antifungal, Marigol

Toxicological and pharmacological evaluation of Discaria americana Gillies & Hook (Rhamnaceae) in mice

Medicinal plants (e.g. Discaria americana) have been used by populations for centuries. However, popular use is not enough to validate these plants as safe and effective medicinal products. The present study sought to evaluate the acute and subacute toxicity as well as the anxiolytic and antinociceptive effects of D. americana root bark and aerial parts extracts in mice. In acute toxicity studies, mice were treated with single intraperitoneal doses of the aforementioned extracts. Subacute toxicity studies were performed by oral administration of the extracts over 14 days. Anxiolytic studies consisted of the elevated plus maze method, and antinociceptive studies were based on the hot plate test. The LD50 value for D. americana aerial parts extract was established at >500 mg/kg, and for the root bark extract, 400 mg/kg. D. americana aerial parts extract produced anxiolytic (250 mg/kg) and antinociceptive effects (125, 200 and 250 mg/kg). Conversely, D. americana root bark extract showed neither anxiolytic nor antinociceptive effects in mice.As plantas medicinais (i. e. Discaria americana) têm sido utilizadas pela população por séculos, entretanto, o conhecimento popular não é suficiente para validá-las como medicamentos seguros e/ou efetivos. Assim, o presente estudo teve por objetivo avaliar a toxicidade aguda e subaguda, bem como o efeito ansiolítico e antinociceptivo dos extratos da casca da raiz e das partes aéreas da D. americana em camundongos. A toxicidade aguda foi avaliada pela administração dos extratos, via intraperitoneal. Para o estudo da toxicidade subaguda os animais foram tratados oralmente com os extratos por 14 dias. O efeito ansiolítico dos extratos foi determinado através do modelo do labirinto em cruz elevado e o efeito antinociceptivo, mediante o teste da placa quente. O valor da DL50 para o extrato das partes aéreas da D. americana foi definido como > 500 mg/kg, enquanto que para o extrato da casca da raiz foi estabelecido em 400 mg/kg. O extrato das partes aéreas da D. americana apresentou atividade ansiolítica (250 mg/kg) e antinociceptiva (125, 200 e 250 mg/kg). O extrato da casca da raiz da D. americana não apresentou efeito ansiolítico nem antinociceptivo