Knowledge and innovation: The strings between global and local dimensions of sustainable growth

The modern growth literature pays much attention to innovation and knowledge as drivers of endogenous developments in a competitive open economic system. This paper reviews concisely the literature in this field and addresses in particular micro- and macro-economic interactions at local or regional levels, based on clustering and networking principles, in which sustainability conditions also play a core role. The paper then develops a so-called knowledge circuit model comprising the relevant stakeholders, which aims to offer a novel framework for applied policy research at the meso-economic level

Pro-inflammatory cytokines and structural biomarkers are effective to categorize osteoarthritis phenotype and progression in Standardbred racehorses over five years of racing career

BACKGROUND: Joint impact injuries initiate a progressive articular damage finally leading to post-traumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA). Racehorses represent an ideal, naturally available, animal model of the disease. Standardbred racehorses developing traumatic osteoarthritis of the fetlock joint during the first year of their career were enrolled in our study. Age-matched controls were contemporarily included. Biomarker levels of equine osteoarthritis were measured in serum and synovial fluid (SF) at baseline, and repeated yearly over the next 4 years of training (from T1 to T4). The effect of time and disease on the biomarker concentrations were analysed, and their relationship with clinical and radiographic parameters were assessed. We hypothesized that the kinetics of pro-inflammatory cytokines and structural biomarkers of joint disease would demonstrate progression of degenerative joint status during post-traumatic osteoarthritis and clarify the effect of early joint trauma. RESULTS: The concentrations of IL1-ß, IL-6, TNF-α in the SF of PTOA group peaked at T0, decreased at T1, and then progressively increased with time, reaching levels higher than those observed at baseline starting from T3. CTXII and COMP levels were similar in PTOA and control horses at baseline, and increased in serum and synovial fluid of PTOA horses starting from T2 (serum and synovial CTXII, and serum COMP) or T3 (synovial COMP). The percentual change of TNF-α in the SF of the affected joints independently contributed to explaining the radiological changes at T3 vs T2 and T4 vs T3. CONCLUSIONS: Temporal changes of selected biomarkers in STBRs with an acute episode of traumatic fetlock OA demonstrated that long-term increased concentrations of inflammatory cytokines, type II collagen fragments and COMP, in the SF and serum, are related to PTOA. Based on the observed decrease in inflammatory merkers at T1, we hypothesize that the progression of PTOA could be effectively modulated by proper treatment strategies. Annual variations of synovial concentration of TNF-α can reliably predict radiographic progression of PTOA

Digital Technologies for the Fruition of Archaeological Heritage. The Visualisation of the Temple C Metopes Polychrome in Selinunte

Through the tools of the representation this paper investigates a hypothetical virtual re-presentation of the metopes original polychromies. The reconstructive interpretative process was carried out through a critical reading of historical and iconographic sources. Starting from the reading of drawings made by Angell and Harris at the time of the archaeological finds, of Hittorff’s studies and watercolors, and of some coloured fragments still observable in the original metopes, the graphic elaborations that simulate the original polychromes have been prepared. The purpose of this study and of the analysis here described is the experimentation of an interactive visualisation application (augmented reality) designed for the “Antonino Salinas” Regional Archaeological Museum of Palermo. The study is part of the repertoire of virtual reconstructions, through the use of light, of lost colour configurations. The project aims to propose a new modality for the use of archaeological finds, thanks to an inedited teaching and immersive experience of the metopes and to the experimentation of a new visual environment that overlaps the real one leading to rethink the relationship between reality and its representation

Strumenti per la valutazione della performance di sistemi territoriali

relazione presentata alle Giornate AIRO 1989 su "Innovazione tecnologica nelle imprese e nel governo del terrritorio", Udine, 4-6 Ottobre e pubblicata nei preprint delle Giornat

Sperimentazione di una metodologia di gerarchizzazione del territorio, basata sulla teoria dei grafi, ed analisi di sensibilit\ue0 dei risultati

relazione tenuta da S. Fabbro alla IX Conferenza Italiana di Scienze Regionali, 7-9 Novembre, Torino e pubblicata nel preprint della Conferenz