The politics of scaling Pfotenhauer, Sebastian; Laurent, Brice; Papageorgiou, Kyriaki ...
Social studies of science,
02/2022, Volume:
52, Issue:
1
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
Open access
A fixation on ‘scaling up’ has captured current innovation discourses and, with it, political and economic life at large. Perhaps most visible in the rise of platform technologies, big data and ...concerns about a new era of monopolies, scalability thinking has also permeated public policy in the search for solutions to ‘grand societal challenges’, ‘mission-oriented innovation’ or transformations through experimental ‘living labs’. In this paper, we explore this scalability zeitgeist as a key ordering logic of current initiatives in innovation and public policy. We are interested in how the explicit preoccupation with scalability reconfigures political and economic power by invading problem diagnoses and normative understandings of how society and social change function. The paper explores three empirical sites – platform technologies, living labs and experimental development economics – to analyze how scalability thinking is rationalized and operationalized. We suggest that social analysis of science and technology needs to come to terms with the ‘politics of scaling’ as a powerful corollary of the ‘politics of technology’, lest we accept the permanent absence from key sites where decisions about the future are made. We focus in on three constitutive elements of the politics of scaling: solutionism, experimentalism and future-oriented valuation. Our analysis seeks to expand our vocabulary for understanding and questioning current modes of innovation that increasingly value scaling as an end in itself, and to open up new spaces for alternative trajectories of social transformation.
Full text
Available for:
NUK, OILJ, SAZU, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
How can educators, teachers and trainers stay current and address the dynamic opportunities of creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship teaching and training? This book offers an overview of the ...VISION research project, which provides an understanding of the future of education in these areas and describes the approach taken by the VISION team, including the findings of interviews with more than 130 global stakeholders.
One of the most widely used types of assisted reproduction technology is the
fertilization (IVF), in which women undergo controlled ovarian stimulation through the administration of the appropriate ...hormones to produce as many mature follicles, as possible. The most common hormone combination is the co-administration of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analogues with recombinant or urinary-derived follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). In the last few years, scientists have begun to explore the effect that different gonadotropin preparations have on granulosa cells' maturation and apoptosis, aiming to identify new predictive markers of oocyte quality and successful fertilization. Two major pathways that control the ovarian development, as well as the oocyte-granulosa cell communication and the follicular growth, are the PI3K/Akt/mTOR and the Hippo signaling. The purpose of this article is to briefly review the current knowledge about the effects that the different gonadotropins, used for ovulation induction, may exert in the biology of granulosa cells, focusing on the importance of these two pathways, which are crucial for follicular maturation. We believe that a better understanding of the influence that the various ovarian stimulation protocols have on these critical molecular cascades will be invaluable in choosing the best approach for a given patient, thereby avoiding cancelled cycles, reducing frustration and potential treatment-related complications, and increasing the pregnancy rate. Moreover, individualizing the treatment plan will help clinicians to better coordinate assisted reproductive technology (ART) programs, discuss the specific options with the couples undergoing IVF, and alleviate stress, thus making the IVF experience easier.
The aim of the present study was to test whether inhibition of ovarian primordial follicles and subsequent activation can be achieved by transient mTOR inhibition. In this preclinical investigation, ...forty-five female immature Wistar rats were randomized in 5 groups. The control group received subcutaneous saline injections. The other groups received Everolimus, Everolimus plus Verapamil, Everolimus plus Fisetin, and Fisetin alone. Primary and secondary outcomes were measured in the left ovary after a treatment period of 8 weeks. Ten days later, animals received 35 IU FSH for 4 days and 35 IU of hCG on the 5th day. The same parameters were examined in the right ovary. AMH, estradiol, and progesterone levels were assessed at the end of both interventions. Significantly, more primordial and less atretic follicles were observed in the Everolimus plus Verapamil group. AMH and progesterone levels were substantially lower in the Everolimus group. Interestingly, after ovarian stimulation higher levels of AMH and progesterone were observed in the Everolimus plus Verapamil group. Immunoblot analysis of ovarian extracts revealed that the administration of Everolimus led to a significant reduction in the mTORC1-mediated phosphorylation of the 70-kDa ribosomal protein S6 kinase 1. This decrease was reversed in the presence of FSH after stopping drug administration. The expression of the anti-apoptotic molecule Bcl2 as well as of LC3-II and ATG12 was increased after removal of the Everolimus plus Verapamil combination, indicating reduced apoptosis and increased autophagy, whereas the levels of the proliferation marker PCNA in the granulosa cells were elevated, consistent with initiation of follicular growth.Thus, the combination of Everolimus plus Verapamil is capable of increasing the number of competent primordial follicles while reducing atresia.
Full text
Available for:
EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OBVAL, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
Age-related mitochondrial markers may facilitate the prognosis of artificial reproductive technology outcomes. In this report, we present our study concerning the ratio of cf-mtDNA/cf-nDNA, namely ...the amount of cell-free mitochondrial DNA relative to cell-free nuclear DNA, in the follicular fluid (FF) of women undergoing IVF, aiming to generate a molecular fingerprint of oocyte quality. The values of this ratio were measured and compared among three groups of women (101 in total): (A) 31 women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), (B) 34 women younger than 36 years, and (C) 36 women older than 35 years of age. Real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) was performed to quantify the ratio by using nuclear- and mitochondrial-specific primers and analyzed for potential correlation with age and pregnancy rate. Our analysis showed that the level of FF-cf-mtDNA was lower in the group of advanced-age women than in the groups of PCOS and non-PCOS women. Moreover, a significant positive correlation between FF-cf-mtDNA and the number of mature (MII) oocytes was observed. Collectively, the data show that the relative ratio of cf- mtDNA to cf-nDNA content in human FF can be an effective predictor for assessing the corresponding oocyte's age-related performance in IVF.
Developmental Dyslexia (DD) is a multi-system disorder, combining influences of susceptibility genes and environmental factors. The causative interaction between specific genetic factors, brain ...regions and personality/mental disorders, as well as specific learning disabilities, has been thoroughly investigated with regards to the approach of developing a multifaceted diagnostic procedure with an intervention strategy potential. In an attempt to add new translational evidence to the interconnection of the above factors in the occurrence of DD, we performed a combinatorial analysis of brain asymmetries, personality traits, cognitive and learning skills, and expression profiles of selected genes in an adult, early diagnosed with DD, and in his son of typical development. We focused on the expression of genes, based on the assumption that the regulation of transcription may be affected by genetic and epigenetic factors. The results highlighted a potential chain-link between neuroplasticity-related as well as stress-related genes, such as BDNF, Sox4, MR and GILZ, leftward asymmetries in the amygdala and selective cerebellum lobules, and tendencies for personality disorders and dyslexia. This correlation may reflect the presence of a specific neuro-epigenetic component of developmental dyslexia, ensuing from the continuous, multifaceted difficulties in the acquisition of cognitive and learning skills, which in turn may act as a fostering mechanism for the onset of long-term disorders. This is in line with recent findings demonstrating a dysfunction in processes supported by rapid neural adaptation in children and adults with dyslexia. Accordingly, the co-evaluation of all the above parameters may indicate a stress-related dyslexia endophenotype which should be carefully considered for a more integrated diagnosis and effective intervention.
This article presents the reflections of a multidisciplinary team working on CERN’s Challenge-Based Innovation (CBI) since 2014. These reflections on pedagogy and innovation are positioned at the ...intersection of experiential learning, design thinking and challenge-driven education. Drawing from seven editions of what has become “CBI Fusion Point,” we present our story as an ongoing journey of experimentation with various formats and methods in response to broader shifts in education. Our article contributes to a better understanding of the characteristics and challenges that CBI-like programs pose and the infrastructure and support that they require.
Hemocholecyst: Is Surgery Required? Perysinakis, Iraklis; Siligardou, Mikela-Rafaella; Savvides, Maria ...
Indian journal of surgery,
02/2021, Volume:
83, Issue:
1
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
Hemocholecyst is defined as the presence of blood inside the gallbladder lumen. The gallbladder may be filled with blood by retrograde flow in the setting of hemobilia, but primary hemocholecyst ...represents a rare cause of hemobilia. Spontaneous hemorrhage inside the gallbladder has been reported in literature in patients with renal failure, bleeding diathesis, or critical illness, but it can also occur secondary to gallbladder tumors, cholelithiasis, cholecystitis, trauma, and vascular disorders. We present the case of a 77-year-old male patient with significant comorbidities who presented to our Department with epigastric pain and decreased hematocrit level. The patient was diagnosed with spontaneous primary hemocholecyst and was treated conservatively with success avoiding the unnecessary operative risk. No significant causative factors were identified in this patient apart from chronic low-dose aspirin use. In carefully selected patients with spontaneous hemocholecyst, in whom cholecystectomy is not otherwise indicated, effort should be made to manage the condition nonoperatively.
Full text
Available for:
EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
Retroelements are genetic mobile elements, expressed during male and female gamete differentiation. Retrotransposons are normally regulated by the methylation machinery, chromatin modifications, ...non-coding RNAs, and transcription factors, while retrotransposition control is of vital importance in cellular proliferation and differentiation process. Retrotransposition requires a transcription step, by a cellular RNA polymerase, followed by reverse transcription of an RNA intermediate to cDNA and its integration into a new genomic locus. Long interspersed elements (LINEs), human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs), short interspersed elements (SINEs) and SINE-VNTR-Alu elements (SVAs) constitute about half of the human genome, play a crucial role in genome organization, structure and function and interfere with several biological procedures. In this mini review, we discuss recent data regarding retroelement expression (LINE-1, HERVK-10, SVA and VL30) and retrotransposition events in mammalian oocytes and spermatozoa, as well as the importance of their impact on human and mouse preimplantation embryo development.
The gap between industry needs and engineering graduates' competences is being tackled by project-based courses, which also help to develop key innovation competences to address current societal ...challenges. Nevertheless, there is limited understanding about what innovation competences are developed through the different types of project-based courses. This study discusses innovation competences development in these courses with the aim of understanding how to better design educational strategies to improve them. Through content analysis, we compare the outcomes of two groups of Telecom Engineering students undergoing a capstone course following a classical product development project approach and a challenge-based course using Design Thinking. Results show that both course types contribute to developing innovation competences. Nevertheless, depending on the chosen pedagogy some competences are developed further. The traditional project-based course demonstrates better results in Planning and Managing Projects. Creativity, Leadership, and Entrepreneurship are more developed through a challenge-based approach combined with Design Thinking.
Full text
Available for:
BFBNIB, GIS, IJS, KISLJ, NUK, PNG, UL, UM, UPUK
PDF
