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The immunity/community plexus has found an extraordinary and tragic bench test in the recent years of the pandemic. The idea that the community can only survive if it activates a problematic dispositive of immunisation touches, in these years more than ever, the question of democracy. The latter struggles between identity as immediacy and representation as transcendence. Roberto Esposito has tried to envisage a mediation between these two principles by means of the idea of 'institution', which serves to counter the furious identification of all in one. But does this idea of immanence and horizontality not risk evoking other forms of spontaneous morphogenesis of political-legal orders? Doesn't the critique of sovereignty end up resolving itself in the vitalistic exaltation of the unbridledness of those powers that underlie it? Does the institution succeed in standing between these two perspectives (Weberian formalism and Foucauldian biopolitics)? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The digital turn, or specifically the second Digital Turn, was at disposal of the architectural and urban project sophisticated morphogenic tools. These tools have been used mainly to create new forms with non-Euclidean geometries and their integration with building systems, also dynamic. This paper investigates the possibility of using parametric tools to handle urban transformations based on formal parameters and not merely quantitative ones, coming from the morphological analysis of the existent city. To this purpose, three tools have been identified and analysed (type, diagram and model), to translate the morphologic urban characteristics in elements embeddable into parametric processes, investigating their potential and possible limits also with two practical experimentations.

Copyright of Agathon: International Journal of Architecture, Art & Design is the property of DEMETRA CE.RI.MED and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The evolution of modelling techniques has made possible to connect in a more efficient way what is physical and what is virtually designed, using simulation processes that have allowed the evolution of conditions of use and material production of the model. This contribution aims to discuss, by presenting emblematic case studies, how the implementation of new virtual technologies of generative parametric modelling has allowed to evolve and improve, in terms of efficiency and innovation, the development of industrial products. Thus, the designer assumes a central role in the experimentation of new design methodologies aimed at the use of virtual models not as a simple formal expression, but as an optimisation process from multiple points of view.

Generally men and women bind themselves driven by what they call love. Creative and identity renewing exaltation, revolutionary force which suddenly makes the insipidness of one's life visible, love is a profound emotion. The transition from love to loving, from love as pure emotion to active love in relationship, marks the difference between lovers of yesterday and lovers of today, over time and societies, highlighting the social form of intimacy. What, then, is the "form" of contemporary love? Do the risks that characterize today's intimate life mean that love has now become emptied of meaning, sucked into the semantic code of a 'light' and 'inconsistent' love, as Bauman seems to want? Or is there another interpretative possibility, on the line that runs from Luhmann to Giddens to Beck? Paradoxically, is it perhaps that love seems to have no meaning because it has 'too much' meaning? In the framework of the relationship between Systems Theory and Intimacy Sociology, the paper addresses these questions, revisiting to this purpose the morphogenesis of love in the transition from solidarity without choice to solidarity without sharing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Agathon: International Journal of Architecture, Art & Design is the property of DEMETRA CE.RI.MED and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In present cultural debate, the theme of biodiversity is considered one of the most important topic because it does not treat only the variety of living forms but it includes also the value of itself and its preservation. Analysing a lot of its peculiar aspects we take conscious about uniqueness of life and relationship with other fields of knowledge: science, epistemology, aesthetics, ethics, politics. This essay focus especially on the origin of life, the processes of morphogenesis in living forms and appearing of “aesthetics” qualities in biological world. The relation between biodiversity and aesthetic can help to understand the origin of human aesthetic sense.

The essay focuses, through the use of a specific epistemological approach related to complexity theory in its extended version, on issues of border regarding the close relationship that exists between cognition and life, such as the idea of memory as a multisystemic and distributed natural process, the genesis of meaning in the context of the deep processes of self-organization, and the relationship - at the level of higher cognitive activity proper to man - between perception, learning (assimilation of information) and thought (morphogenesis in action). With respect to the possible delineation of new models for what concerns the process of knowledge development, the text shows the recent results of research regarding an unprecedented frontier closely linked with the emergence of a real conceptual revolution at the level of the analysis of that particular entanglement of information, meaningful complexity, memory, causality, teleology and intentionality that characterizes the unfolding of the natural forms of human cognition. In such a context, the mnemonic function is set up as a dynamic and deep process of reconstruction and a connection of internal self-reflection operations, rather than as a mere "storage" of data in a static mental space. Just as the world of the first monadic order, on which stands the classical measure of Shannon information, appears related to the existence of specific forms of invariance and the definition of unique areas of measurement, in terms of higher orders, however, we have the presence of specific dichotomies, of different potentials that are given simultaneously, an evolutionary bricolage which is realized by successive interlocking states and yet tied together in a holistic manner within a process of dialectical synthesis between form, function and meaning.

Narrative of the I Abstract: Barbieri’s text deploys the entire range of last century’s theories in dynamic psychology to build a new perspective on the morphogenesis of identity. Nevertheless, there is significant diversity among the conceptual and symbolic contexts, within which the quoted authors worked. On the other hand, the idea of an intersection between the “narrative” and “paradigmatic” in speaking conduits, which are coexistent with the constitution of identity is interesting and valuable. This idea reminds us of Ernesto Grassi’s studies on the concurrence of “assertive” and “narrative” in the age of Greek civilization, which brought culture from myth to the beginnings of philosophy.

Stem/progenitor cells in the adult liver are able to differentiate both into hepatocyte and cholangiocyte lineage. The identification and the role of human liver stem/progenitor cells has been a challenge topic in the recent scientific literature. The existence of stem/progenitor cells in the liver was first claimed in experimental animal models. CD34, c-kit, cytokeratin 7, cytokeratin 19, α-fetoprotein, OV6 and CD90 were the first markers shown. The major support for the existence of hepatic stem/progenitor cells has come from studies on liver carcinogenesis, human liver disease and cirrhosis. Where exactly the putative stem/progenitor cells reside in the normal liver is still controversial and their specific anatomical location is still unclear. Preliminary data from our lab indicate the portal tracts as the preferential site of the stem cell niches thanks to the expression of biliary-type cytokeratin 19, SOX9 and c-kit. Small undifferentiated cells were easily identified in H&E as well. Like in other organs, hepatic stem/progenitor cell niche was hypothesized and described as composed of numerous cell types that interact and cross-talk with hepatic stem/progenitor cells. Hepatic stem/progenitor cells represent a heterogeneous population with a spectrum of morphological and immunohistochemical features ranging from bile duct cells to hepatocytes, including the multipotent hepatic stem/progenitor cells, the hepatoblasts, the committed progenitors and the diploid adult cells. Inside this complex and articulate spectrum, cells without hepatobiliary markers and hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells can be identified. The hepatic stem/progenitor cells exhibit specific population functions and can be identified by specific population immunohistochemical markers, including CD133, CXCR4, SOX9, SOX17, cytokeratins, Hedgehog proteins, MDR1 and many others. In conclusion, this study represents the basis for further studies, aimed at better characterizing these stem/progenitor cells and at identifying possible subtypes of hepatic stem progenitor cells. Proceedings of the 2nd International Course on Perinatal Pathology (part of the 11th International Workshop on Neonatology · October 26th-31st, 2015) · Cagliari (Italy) · October 31st, 2015 · Stem cells: present and future Guest Editors: Gavino Faa, Vassilios Fanos, Antonio Giordano

Early pancreas development, given its complexity, is generally considered as a paradigm for branching morphogenesis and for the development of two organs in one: the Langherans islets, programmed to secrete hormones into the bloodstream, and the exocrine pancreas compartment, composed of two major cell types, acinar and ductal cells, devoid to secrete digestive enzymes into the duodenum through a branched network of ducts. Exocrine and endocrine pancreas are generally presumed to originate from a common multi-lineage progenitor cell (MPC), emerging within the definitive endoderm surrounding the posterior foregut. Bipotential precursors committed to the pancreatic fate originate the MPC, that are considered the progenitors of all pancreatic cells operating in the mature pancreas, including acinar, ductal, endocrine and stromal cell types. Pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) are able to differentiate into several cell types, including acinary cells, duct cells and islet cells, depending on certain transcription factors, which function in a coordinated way during pancreas development. The epidemiological entity of pancreatic diseases such as diabetes mellitus and issues regarding the management of the diabetic patient have constantly stimulated the great current interest aimed at regenerative pancreatic medicine. Several studies in rats have demonstrated the existence of stem/progenitor cells in the adult pancreas and have clarified the mechanism by which pancreatic stem cells differentiate into acinar, ductal and endocrine cells. In this context, the cellular microenvironment called “niche” plays a major role in inducing differentiation of stem/progenitor cells by adequate cellular signals. Within the niche, undifferentiated pluripotent cells give rise to asymmetrically dividing daughter cells. The main purpose of this work was to identify stem cells and progenitor cells in the human pancreas during intrauterine development in relation to what is already known in the adult pancreas and in experimental models. Proceedings of the 2nd International Course on Perinatal Pathology (part of the 11th International Workshop on Neonatology · October 26th-31st, 2015) · Cagliari (Italy) · October 31st, 2015 · Stem cells: present and future Guest Editors: Gavino Faa, Vassilios Fanos, Antonio Giordano

Fractal dimension is useful to characterize the structure of spatial objects such as urban structures or river networks. However, fractal analysis is underutilized for point processes. This study aims at suggesting a method to generate fractal point processes. The procedure consists in a reverse box-counting method that is quite efficient since the relative error between the theoretical and produced fractal dimensions does not exceed 2% when the structure of the object is quite small. Beyond its goal to create point processes, this method provides also a way to explore the relationship between the fractal dimension and the classical methods of spatial analysis in geography.

The essay deals with socialization processes in late modernity. First, it is argued that within the societal frame of "unbound morphogenesis" socialization theory is most adequately articulated into a realist-morphogenetic approach, which conceives of socialization as concern oriented, relational reflexivity. However, the so-called morphogenic society involves profound cultural change, also impinging upon the idea of the self. When such changes are integrated within socialization theory, it becomes clear that different identity building processes are co-existing, including ones which would bring about deep transformations of human reflexivity. The latter may be examined along the dimensions of personal ontology, time, and sociality. Finally, some conclusions are drawn concerning the possible developmental paths of human personhood depending on these dynamic factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The reflection on parenthood comes back today with unique characteristics that seem to overshadow the underlying relational dimension, focusing more on individual constitutive dimensions: maternal or paternal. What do we mean when we talk about parenthood? What does it mean then to grapple with this issue from a sociological point of view? We will discuss the topic, framing it within some dynamics about being adults today and the morphogenesis of the family. So, we will analyze the different forms of parenthood (deferred; assisted, shared, social) and, finally, paradoxically the placement of "non-parenting" within this framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this essay, the Author introduces the readers inside the semantic labyrinth of constitutionalism. In the first part of the article, he describes the fundamental features of the Modern Constitutions, based on the sovereignty of a territorial bounded Nation-State. In the second part he analyses the conceptual emergences of societal constitutionalism and its critics, underlining the pro and cons of these new phenomena. In the next chapter the author examines the morphogenetic cycle of global normative regulation linking it to the spheres of "living-law" and the "latent-law". Finally he describes inside the morphogenesis of Global law, the more specific process of constitutionalization of global social spheres. Constitutionalization occurs only when the double reflexivity ol' law links itself with the double reflexivity of a peculiar polity. If the "problem of the polity" structurally couples with the "problem of its self-limitation", then it is possible to observe the emergence of a societal constitution. Societal constitutions are by the way conceptualized as an emergent property of the structural coupling between reflexive law and reflexive polities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After reviewing Peirce's replacement of introspection by the inner conversation, the role of extended reflexivity is reviewed in Beck, Giddens and Lash and compared with Bourdieu's view about its limited nature, and with recent attempts to defend a "reflexive habitus". Conversely, this article argues that reflexivity mediates between the objective structural and cultural contexts confronting agents, who activate their properties as constraints and enablements as they pursue reflexively defined "projects" based on their concerns. The increased scope, range and changing mode with which reflexivity is practised are linked to premodernity, modernity and trans-modernity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human reflexivity works through internal conversations and has a long history and a future of increasing importance for social institutions, citizenship and civil society. In the course of this article, Archer advances three propositions. Firstly, that different socio-historical periods are associated with the dominance of a particular mode of reflexivity (the pre-modern generating Communicative Reflexivity; modernity favouring Autonomous Reflexivity; and the nascent morphogenetic society encouraging Meta-reflexivity). These are generated from the contextual 'continuity', 'discontinuity' and 'incongruity' that respectively characterise the situations shaped for social subjects in the three periods. Secondly, she maintains that the predominance of different modes has entirely different (aggregate) macroscopic consequences for society. Thirdly, she will ventured that each dominant mode has a particular and differential impact upon the component institutions of civil society. The analysis also documents the connections between the modes of reflexivity practised and the proclivity or reluctance of their practitioners to engage in political involvement, participate in social movements and associations, albeit at the individual level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Atti della Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei. Rendiconti Lincei: Scienze Fisiche e Naturali is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Progress in molecular biology in recent years has enormously increased interest in tooth generation. The enamel knot has been discovered, in consequence. This is a transient structure acting as molecular signaling center, responsible for controlling cusp formation, stimulating growth of surrounding epithelium, and generating new knots or their disappearance through apoptosis. Both tooth development and enamel knots are regulated by a cascade of gene activity where Fgf4, Shh, BMP4, Lef1 and p21 are the prime movers of the processes. Homeobox genes (Msx, Dlx) are the orchestrators of the framing and a series of proteins (adhesion molecules, extracellular matrix components) are the executors of "tooth framing". An important concept has emerged from developmental biology through the identification of the basic mechanisms involved in tooth development: the molecular basis of structure framing shares common rules. Thus similar genetic programs are involved in body structure generation (limb bud, tooth, branching morphogenesis). A deeper understanding of developmental rules regulating tooth formation will make it possible in the near future: a) to modify in vivo homeobox gene expression and restore tooth generation hampered by tooth agenesia due to homeobox gene deregulation; b) to induce complete tooth formation, in case of tooth loss due to trauma or diseases, through implantation in the patient's oral cavity of a synthetic ball containing morphogens and growth factors to stimulate, in the right spatio-temporal sequence, the entire tooth genetic cascade. These concepts will certainly enforce cultural and practical interaction between biology and dentistry.

Background: Many authors have observed that reduction of the posterior vertical dimension after the loss of teeth during cranio-facial growth can lead to alterations not only of occlusion but also of cranio-facial skull structure. The alteration differs according to whether the absence of teeth is mono- or bilateral. In this paper, the authors present the skeletal alterations after monolateral tooth loss., Methods: An experiment was performed on 25 rabbits, all having undergone monolateral tooth extraction. The experiment followed two rules of procedure: in a group of rabbits we extrasted the upper teeth only (experiment A), in another group of rabbits the extractions were performed both in the upper and in the lower jaw (experiment B), the third group of rabbits was used as a control group. At regular intervals, the authors examined skeletal alterations by means of Engstrom's cephalometric analysis (the asymmetries, the vertical posterior dimension)., Results: It was thus possible to observe some alterations of the cranio-facial bones and to compare the data with those of the control group.

Morphogenesis and cell differentiation in the developing tooth are controlled by a series of reciprocal interactions between the epithelial and mesenchymal tissues. The exact molecular mechanisms operating in these interactions are unknown at present, but both structural components of the extracellular matrix and cellular receptors have been suggested to be involved. In this review we resume our knowledge about tenascin and syndecan distribution and activity.

The cell property of processing the environmental information is called sensitivity and referred to a "sensitive" cell system in which physical signals and specialized molecules work in relation to peculiar cell structures. It is suggested that, in addition to its role in cell behaviour, the sensitive system performs a basic role in morphogenesis in all cells. It interacts with the genetic system in gene expression and regulation directly or indirectly through epigenetic processes. Epigenetic inheritance, adaptive mutations and genetic assimilation allow environmental information to be embodied in new traits, thereby becoming relevant in evolution. This is consistent with an evolutionary mechanism with two alternate and recurrent phases: the first, epigenetic and Lamarckian at cell and organism levels and the second, selective and Darwinian, at population level.

Developmental self-organization is usually considered as a matter of reaction-diffusion systems. These systems, however, require a specification that can arise only from natural selection. Meanwhile, in the evolutionary context, self-organization is equivalent to the origination of evolutionary novelties: this implies that new structural patterns emerge before they acquire a definite biological function, so that selection is of no relevance in this case. It follows that self-organization should be inherent to the macroscopic (morphological) level of the developing system. Our idea is that the morphogenetic process can emerge on the macroscopic scale only provided that the temporal sequence of events is realized as a spatial sequence of morphological states, and vice versa.

Transformations of metabolic organization are considered as a ground of structure generation during ontogenesis and evolution. The emergence of non-linearity in metabolic pathways which leads to the formation of biochemical cycles is caused by the separation between the direct and reverse enzymatic reactions, one of them being coupled with the pool of macroergs, whereas the other--non-coupled. The absence of couplings in one of the halves of such primary cycle can lead to the increase of metabolic flow and to the generation of bifurcations resulting in the formation of new metabolic pathway. For their internalization the genetic reconstructions are necessary. Deposition of compounds from the cycles leads to the generation of internal rhythms and to morphogenetic processes. Morphology is formed by stable trajectories of the formation and deposition of certain compounds according to the principles of curvilinear symmetry.

The paper reports a study of the relationship between the upper head of the pterygoid muscle and the temporomandibular joint disc. Using optical microscopy, TMJ serial sections of 10 human embryos and fetuses aged from 6 to 22 weeks were examined. From the observation of serial sections, it appears that from the start of histogenesis the lateral pterygoid muscle is in contact with the condylar blastema and later with the disc and the condyle. A fibrous attachment was detected between the muscle tendon and the meniscus, and oxytalan and elastic fibres were observed near this attachment.

Morphogenesis of vertebrate limb, specifically that of the chick wing, has been recognized as a suitable model to study the cellular and molecular mechanisms of pattern formation. The importance of cellular inductive phenomena and the relevance of the processes such as cell division and cell death in the above model are discussed. These studies have revealed the retinoic acid (RA) and retinols as convincing candidates for vertebrate morphogens. The recent discovery that the RA receptors belong to the steroid hormone receptor superfamily might indicate the universality of the RA morphogen and might enlighten the possible mode of its action. Identification and characterization of the 1d locus genes associated with the mouse limb morphogenesis and the possible involvement of the homeobox proteins in chick wing development have opened new prospects in understanding the molecular mechanisms of vertebrate morphogenesis.

Each part of a living organism contains a concealed totality which can eventually express itself partially or totally. The extent of the expression is spatially and temporally defined by the morphogenetic field and the environment. Neither the field nor the genome are evolving units. Evolution is produced by the boundary conditions and results in progressive losses, to which the organisms responds. Genetic losses can stabilize the new balance. A living system can be fruitfully compared to a semiotic system.

The initial phases of the embryogenetic process are evaluated in order to define its mesenchymal matrix. The influence of cephalic neural crests on mesenchymal derivatives is also underlined. Finally paraxial and lateral mesodermal function on cranial development and brachial arches composition are described. A correlation is established between head and neck, neural crests, mixed and sensorial cranial nerves. Tongue and orbital cavity muscles are identified as paraxial matrix derivative organs.

Detection and quantification of allometry is a crucial problem in understanding morphological changes, both for systematic and morphogenetic purposes. A section of S.A.M. (Shape Analytical Morphometry) software system was used for this attempt. It consists of the following steps: a) boundary detection; b) starting point detection; c) size normalization; d) extraction of the fundamental shape by Kth order polynomials; e) finding of symmetry evaluator (S.A.E.) by means of a second degree equation. This last procedure gives an arc-chord complex that expresses a vector for allometry where intercept value was for application point, first degree coefficient was for direction and second degree coefficient was for modulus and versus. The main parameters, isometry fraction and allometry fraction may be understood referring them to morphogenetic models.

Morphogenetic movements are active processes created by forces located within the moving cells themselves. As a rule, these forces are generated by cytoskeleton structures (contraction of actin microfilaments organized as subcortical bundles or actine gel) and by the membranes and vacuole mediated processes of osmotic water transport. The intercellular forces lead to contraction and thus give rise to long-range mechanical stresses, mostly tensile ones. Tensile stresses create the regularly space/time arranged fields which remain topologically invariable within certain developmental periods, which then change drastically. The model of epithelial morphogenesis is discussed which postulates the segregation of an initially homogeneous cell sheet to the proportional domains of polarized and tangentially stretched cells as a result of self-organization. Some other models which tend to explain the different kinds of fold formation are also suggested. One of the models implies a simple "curvature increasing rule" which derives a common trefoiled archetype as a fundamental trend of development of an epithelial rudiment.

The study of morphological figures and morphometrical data observed in lung buds from ETAS, cultured in Agar and OPEP medium, with or without SCAPEP, at different concentrations, in order to detect its influence on the morphogenesis, has shown that: OPEP (5:0) supports gradual morphogenesis for a limited time; OPEP + SCAPEP (5:2) supports gradual morphogenesis for a prolonged time; OPEP+SCAPEP (5:5) supports fast and deep morphogenesis for a short time; OPEP+SCAPEP (5:7,5) causes early inhibition of morphogenesis and survival; SCAPEP (5:0) stops instantly morphogenesis and survival.

The aim of the present research is to study the development of spinal ganglia implanted onto chorio-allantoic membrane (CAM), where they are supplied by 'foreign', extraembryonic vessels. Small blocks including a segment of the neural tube and 4 pairs of somites were isolated from the brachial or thoracic or lumbar region (neuromeres C13 - T1 or T3 - T6 or L1 - L4) of thirty 3-day donor chick embryos and grafted on the CAM of as many 10-day host chick embryos. At regular time intervals after grafting, the implants were fixed, embedded in paraffin, serially cross-sectioned and stained. The preliminary results are similar for the ganglia from the 3 regions: they seem to indicate that in the spinal ganglia grafted on the CAM the developing blood vessels do not exert any morphogenetic influence on the substratum; this corroborates results from previous researches (2) on the normally 'in situ' developing ganglia. It is now the author purpose to submit to a careful analysis a datum from the present research: namely, the earlier appearance of the endoganglionic vessels in the brachial and lumbar grafted ganglia than in the thoracic ones.