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Chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans (CSPGs) are fundamental components of the extracellular matrix in the central nervous system (CNS). Among these, the Nerve- Glial antigen 2 (NG2) stands out as a transmembrane CSPG exclusively expressed in a different population of cells collectively termed NG2-expressing cells. These enigmatic cells, found throughout the developing and adult CNS, have been indicated with various names, including NG2 progenitor cells, polydendrocytes, synantocytes, NG2 cells, and NG2-Glia, but are more commonly referred to as oligodendrocyte progenitor cells. Characterized by high proliferation rates and unique morphology, NG2-expressing cells stand apart from neurons, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes. Intriguingly, some NG2-expressing cells form functional glutamatergic synapses with neurons, challenging the long-held belief that only neurons possess the intricate machinery required for neurotransmission. In the CNS, the complexity surrounding NG2-expressing cells extends to their classification. Additionally, NG2 expression has been documented in pericytes and immune cells, suggesting a role in regulating brain innate immunity and neuroimmune crosstalk in homeostasis. Ongoing debates revolve around their heterogeneity, potential as progenitors for various cell types, responses to neuroinflammation, and the role of NG2. Therefore, this review aims to shed light on the enigma of NG2-expressing cells by delving into their structure, functions, and signaling pathways. We will critically evaluate the literature on NG2 expression across the CNS, and address the contentious issues surrounding their classification and roles in neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration. By unraveling the intricacies of NG2-expressing cells, we hope to pave the way for a more comprehensive understanding of their contributions to CNS health and during neurological disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An effective way to promote energy transition while tackling climate change involves redefining cities from being part of the problem to integral parts of the solution. Positive energy districts and climate positive circular communities are excellent examples of how this is feasible. But how do we understand which are the multiple benefits that these projects can bring to the local territory and relative community? This article aims to answer this question by developing a specific engagement and evaluation methodology. Our approach involves consulting with project partners to explore the multiple benefits of each case study. Subsequently, it plans to engage the stakeholders through the submission of a questionnaire to gather information regarding the relative importance of different benefits as perceived by each stakeholder. The questionnaire is based on the best–worst scaling method, which is a survey technique for determining people's priorities. The preliminary findings of the study conducted on project partners of two European projects, ARV and ProLight, indicate a strong alignment with current European policy priorities. The involvement of other stakeholders in the study will serve to assess whether bottom-up priorities coincide with broader perspectives or whether adaptations to project strategies and dissemination approaches are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To achieve the ambitious CO2 emission reduction targets set by the Sustainable Development Goals, it is crucial to act on cities. Indeed, cities are responsible for 67% of the world's primary energy consumption and about 70% of energy-related CO2 emissions. To support the urban energy transition, a broad implementation of zero-emission districts or, even better, positive energy districts (PEDs) is expected. PEDs can be defined as energy-efficient and energy-flexible urban areas that aim to provide a surplus of clean energy to the city by using renewable energies. However, in developing the PEDs concept, it is necessary to consider not only the technical issue of energy systems but also the environmental, social, and economic spheres. To be effective, it is important to provide decision-makers with tools such as Urban Sustainability protocols for PEDs, which can effectively assess the complexity of the impacts a PED might have on other urban transformations from a multi-stakeholder perspective. LEED for Neighborhood Development, BREEAM Communities, and CASBEE for Cities are the most widely used and known protocols in the world for the evaluation of districts. These certification protocols were established before the concept of PEDs and, therefore, are not considered. However, they exhibit some shared characteristics which permit the evaluation of PEDs' sustainability. In fact, through this research, an attempt is made to analyze how the implementation of sustainability protocols in existing PED projects can improve sustainability, but also how PED projects can improve evaluation systems through interventions that have not been considered so far. To test a methodology that could be extended in future case studies, an analysis of three of the world's best-known certification systems, LEED-ND, BREEAM-CM, and CASBEE-UD, was conducted on two completed PEDs case studies, Tampere and Salzburg. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To achieve the ambitious CO2 emission reduction targets, set by the Sustainable Development Goals, it is crucial to act on cities. Cities are responsible for 67% of the world's primary energy consumption and about 70% of energy-related CO2 emissions. To support the urban energy transition, a broad implementation of zero-emission districts or positive energy districts (PEDs) is expected. PEDs can be defined as energyefficient and energy-flexible urban areas that aim to provide a surplus of clean energy to the city by using renewable energies. In developing the PEDs concept, it is necessary to consider not only the technical issue of energy systems but also the environmental, social, and economic spheres. To be effective, it is important to provide decision-makers with tools such as protocol certification for PEDs, which can effectively assess the complexity of the impacts a PEDs might have on other urban transformations from a multi-stakeholder perspective. LEED for neighborhood development, BREEAM communities, and CASBEE for cities are the most widely used and known protocols in the world for the evaluation of districts. Protocol certifications today do not consider PEDs because they are outdated, but some common characteristics can already be found within them, which allows for the possibility of reformulating scores and inserting new evaluation criteria. The aim of this research, through a review of the literature, is to analyze the current protocol certificates at the district level, identifying criteria and scores within the evaluation methods, with the aim of contributing to the definition of a PED certification protocol with effective criteria and scores to support design and development of PEDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper develops a model through a contingent valuation approach to support public authorities in the exploration and assessment of ecosystem services (ESs) generated by forest and woodlands (FOWLs). This approach is employed to the cork oak forests of the Sardinia region (Italy) due to their ability in the provision and regulation of cultural and recreational values to society. The paper describes the economic valuation of cultural ESs through the contingent valuation method (CVM) with the purpose to explore residents and tourists' willingness to pay (WTP) preferences towards conservation, valorisation, and the management of Goceano's cork oak forests in Sardinia. The approach may help retain suitable support for DMs, planners, technicians, and operators for a better understanding of the ESs' role in policy decisions, leading FOWLs towards a learning process between the environment, human beings, and landscape to promote and develop a proactive landscape and forest planning and management within the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The outdoor air pollution and the insufficient hygiene of HVAC systems often result in low indoor air quality. The World Health Organization estimated that 50% of indoor biological contamination comes from the air-handling system; the air filters are sources of pollution due to the accumulation and proliferation of bacteria on the surface. Furthermore, the presence of indoor contaminants can have a negative impact on the health and well-being of the occupants, who spend about 80% of their time indoors. To guarantee a better indoor air quality and a lower health risks, a new concept of biocidal filtration has been introduced. The present paper shows the results of a literature review aimed at exploring how to integrate the health effects on building occupants into the economic benefits of an antibacterial filter. The research focuses on costs and benefits produced by the application of an antibacterial filter, comparing it with a traditional one. Two methods were applied for the assessment; the Cost Benefit Analysis and the Monte Carlo Simulation. The results suggested the goodness of the economic investment on biocidal filter and showed how it allows to achieve benefits in term of energy savings and health for the different analysed case studies.

In the present-day society, people spend about 80% of their time inside buildings, and specifically 30-40% in workplaces. From this evidence, the indoor environmental quality needs to be investigated, and in particular, the possible sources of indoor-outdoor pollutants and their impact on the human health, comfort and productivity. First, through an examination of the indoor sources of pollution, the research analysed the main substances that affect indoor air quality in an office. Second, the pollution of external origin and its effects on the performance of employees were taken into consideration. Two scenarios were designed for a Heating Ventilation Air Conditioning (HVAC) system in an office building; one by the installation of a biocidal filter and the other by a traditional one. Two methods were applied to evaluate and compare those scenarios; the Cost Benefit Analysis and the Monte Carlo Simulation. From a financial point of view, the investment and management costs of the filters were considered. Instead, the annual benefits included increasing productivity and reducing days of absence from work due to illness. The results confirmed the energy and socio-economic efficiency of the antibacterial filter; it can be considered a solution to achieve the best income.

This article presents a decision-making model for assessing the sustainability of urban plans and programmes to envision long-term transformation scenarios through the development of consistency matrices. The tool was tested in a real case study, which is the Strategic Environmental Assessment for the Revision of the General Municipal Plan of the City of Turin (Italy). The changes that have taken place in recent years have highlighted the need for more flexible, dynamic, and streamlined tools that can help the revision of plans and programmes, which are capable also of considering the citizen's needs. The decision-making model provided in this paper was structured into five phases: normative framing of the environmental assessment procedures; spatial analysis by structures; consistency analysis of conformity between the objectives of the technical proposal of the preliminary draft and the superordinate and coordinated planning; monitoring of the technical proposal through the employment of key indicators; and the definition of guidelines for the General Regulatory Plan of the City of Turin. The tool presented in this work can support planners, municipal technicians, and general public administrations, both in the planning and assessment processes to design and implement sustainable policy recommendations capable of tackling the increasing complexity of urban transformations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The role of restaging before salvage radiotherapy (sRT) for prostate cancer is still controversial. The aim of the present retrospective study was to investigate the predictive value of dynamic contrast-enhanced-magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) findings, including the volume and the subsite of the presumed local failure. We found that DCE-MRI at restaging for biochemical failure after radical prostatectomy seems to provide both predictive and therapeutic information. Patients with small lesions at the vesico-urethral anastomosis have an excellent prognosis after sRT. Background: To investigate the predictive role of dynamic contrast-enhanced-magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) findings before salvage radiotherapy after radical prostatectomy (RP). Methods: This retrospective study selected patients with biochemical failure (BF) after RP restaged with DCE-MRI. Patients underwent sRT in 30 fractions delivering 66–69 Gy and 73.5 Gy to the prostatic fossa and to the local failure as per DCE-MRI, respectively. Pelvic nodes were treated to 54 Gy in selected patients. The endpoint was BF after sRT. Results: In total, 236 patients were analyzed and 146 (61.9%) had presumed local failure at DCE-MRI: 54.8%, 23.8% and 21.4% were found at the vesico-urethral anastomosis (VUA), the bladder neck and the retro-vesical space, respectively. The presence of a local failure at DCE-MRI halved the risk of BF; VUA-only location and lesion volume were independently correlated with survival without evidence of biochemical failure (bNED) at multivariable analysis. For patients with VUA-only disease up to 0.4 cc, the 4-year-bNED was 94.6% (95%CI: 80.2–98.6%) as opposed to 80.9% (95%CI: 71.6–87.4%) and 73.7% (95%CI: 63.1–81.8%) for other lesions and no macrodisease, respectively. Conclusions: DCE-MRI at restaging for BF after RP provides predictive and therapeutic information. Patients with small lesions at the VUA have an excellent prognosis after sRT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact of radiotherapy (RT) on immune cell status in prostate cancer (PCa) is only partially determined. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of different RT strategies on peripheral B, T, and Natural killer (NK) lymphocytes at precise longitudinal time-points in PCa. 18 patients treated with stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) (40 Gy/3FRX), definitive moderate-hypofractionation (62 Gy/20FRX), or post-operative conventional-fractionation RT (66–69 Gy/30FRX) were prospectively evaluated for the immune cell profile in terms of immune cell composition, differentiation stage, cytokine production and inhibitory receptor (IR) expression. The immune-monitoring of the 18 patients revealed that RT affects the balance of systemic immune cells, with the main differences observed between SBRT and conventionally fractionated RT. SBRT favorably impacts immune response in term of increased B cells, central-memory and effector-memory CD8+ T cells, along with decreased Treg cells after treatment. On the contrary, conventional fractionated RT had a long-term negative effect on the systemic immune profile, including a decrease of total lymphocyte counts accompanied by an increase of neutrophils-to-lymphocytes ratio. Total B and T cells decreased and Treg-to-CD8+ ratio increased. Functionality of T lymphocytes were not affected by any of the 3-fractionation schedules. Interestingly, SBRT significantly up-regulates the expression of V-domain immunoglobulin suppressor of T-cell activation (VISTA) in CD8+ T cells in the absence of other IRs. Our results indicate the relevance of systematic immunomonitoring during RT to identify novel immune-related target to design trials of combined radio-immunotherapy as a promising strategy in the clinical management of PCa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The role of different radiotherapy fractionation on immune cells is yet to be determined. Monitoring immune cells and understanding their quantity and quality changes during and after radiotherapy could have relevant implications on the development of novel therapeutic strategies. The aim of our review was to analyze the evidence of the literature regarding radiation-induced changes in immune cells in patients undergoing stereotactic body radiation therapy or hypofractionated radiation therapy and assess their potential impact on future combined systemic therapies. Preliminary studies seem to confirm a strong modification of the tumor immune environment and peripheral immune cell landscape after hypofractionated and stereotactic regimens. We investigated how hypofractionated radiotherapy (HFRT) and stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) may impact immune cells in different type of tumors. A systematic review was performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The PubMed, Embase and Cochrane databases were searched. Overall, 11 studies met the inclusion criteria and were eligible for the present analysis. Both HFRT and SBRT have different impact on lymphocyte subpopulations, confirming their immunomodulatory effect which may have a crucial role in future combined treatment with new emergent therapies such as immunotherapy. Further studies are needed to shed more light on this emerging topic to ultimately improve patient care, treatment and clinical benefits for cancer patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper addresses the paradigm of adaptive reuse with a specific focus on issues related to the evaluation and the decision-making processes in this context. In more detail, this paper aims at recognising the main gaps that concern the evaluation process associated with adaptive reuse and providing some points of reflection and a preliminary methodological proposal to evaluate transformation scenarios related to adaptive reuse, through a multidimensional and multi-objective perspective. According to these purposes, this paper describes the implementation of the pillars of adaptive reuse to re-think the Corktown District of the city of Detroit, underlying through a real case study the complexity, the multidimensionality, and the multi-objective challenges of this concept, when implemented in urban planning and the revitalization of historic buildings. According to this scenario, the present paper focuses on issues related to managing the complexity and the multidimensionality of the decision process, under the analysis and evaluation of alternative adaptive-reuse strategies. This research, thus, proposes the application of the Multi-Criteria Analysis (MCA) technique, based on the Multi-Attribute Value Theory (MAVT), to evaluate and compare different strategic scenarios to re-think the Corktown District of the city of Detroit, according to the principles of adaptive reuse. The final result is a multidimensional evaluation that provides a final ranking of the different proposed alternatives, in order to support the decision-making to select the most suitable transformative scenario, according to the initial purposes of the project. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tourism may be an important leverage for local development. At the same time, it may trigger unwanted effects, ranging from the congestion of services and infrastructures to the progressive deterioration of the assets that they plan to valorise. The article sheds light on this tension, discussing the multiple implications that increasing tourism fluxes generate in the vineyard landscape of Langhe-Roero and Monferrato, included in the UNESCO World Heritage List since 2014. The case study highlights the need to coordinate and enhance coherence among the existing planning and management instruments, towards the consolidation of a multi-level integrated territorial governance framework aimed at the sustainable spatial planning of tourism in the area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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A resilient, diversified, and efficient energy system, comprising multiple energy carriers and high-efficiency infrastructure, is the way to decarbonise the European economy in line with the Paris Agreement, the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and the various recovery plans after the COVID-19 pandemic period. To achieve these goals, a key role is played by the private construction sector, which can reduce economic and environmental impacts and accelerate the green transition. Nevertheless, while traditionally decision-making problems in large urban transformations were supported by economic assessment based on Life Cycle Thinking and Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA) approaches, these are now obsolete. Indeed, the sustainable neighbourhood paradigm requires the assessment of different aspects, considering both economic and extra-economic criteria, as well as different points of view, involving all stakeholders. In this context, the paper proposes a multi-stage assessment procedure that first investigates the energy performance, through a dynamic simulation model, and then the socio-economic performance of regeneration operations at the neighbourhood scale, through a Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA). The model based on the proposed Preference Ranking Organisation Method for Enrichment Evaluations II (PROMETHEE II) aims to support local decision makers (DMs) in choosing which retrofit operations to implement and finance. The methodology was applied to a real-world case study in Turin (Italy), where various sustainable measures were ranked using multiple criteria to determine the best transformation scenario. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Myeloid cells, including parenchymal microglia, perivascular and meningeal macrophages, and dendritic cells (DCs), are present in the central nervous system (CNS) and establish an intricate relationship with other cells, playing a crucial role both in health and in neurological diseases. In this context, DCs are critical to orchestrating the immune response linking the innate and adaptive immune systems. Under steady-state conditions, DCs patrol the CNS, sampling their local environment and acting as sentinels. During neuroinflammation, the resulting activation of DCs is a critical step that drives the inflammatory response or the resolution of inflammation with the participation of different cell types of the immune system (macrophages, mast cells, T and B lymphocytes), resident cells of the CNS and soluble factors. Although the importance of DCs is clearly recognized, their exact function in CNS disease is still debated. In this review, we will discuss modern concepts of DC biology in steady-state and during autoimmune neuroinflammation. Here, we will also address some key aspects involving DCs in CNS patrolling, highlighting the neuroprotective nature of DCs and emphasizing their therapeutic potential for the treatment of neurological conditions. Recently, inhibition of the NAD+-dependent deac(et)ylase sirtuin 6 was demonstrated to delay the onset of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, by dampening DC trafficking towards inflamed LNs. Thus, a special focus will be dedicated to sirtuins' role in DCs functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• An integrated evaluation model is proposed to assess an environmental system. • A set of indicators investigates the relations between landscape ecology and landscape economics. • A mathematical model evaluates the environmental system in term of states of ecological equilibrium. • The model enables to identify the most valuable and the most critical areas in ecological and economic terms. • The research provides a reliable support for the decision-making process The increasing attention on environmental problems is stimulating the development of integrated evaluation approaches to territorial transformations, where different facets have to be considered. The present paper focuses on the development of a novel integrated evaluation model for measuring the ecological states and the economic values of an environmental system employing both a system of indicators and a mathematical model of Lotka-Volterra. This integrated evaluation model aims at investigating the relations between the landscape ecology and economics, and at simulating possible and future transformation scenarios for the landscape planning and management. As case study, we consider an environmental system located in Piedmont (Italy), in the Monferrato Ovadese area. The present paper proposes a suitable support for local governments to visualize outcomes and possible future scenarios, aiding the decision-making process in the definition of territorial transformation policies and actions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]