Dimitri Gagliardi

Detection of HLA-B*57:01 by real-time PCR: implementation into routine clinical practice and additional validation data

AIM HLA-B*57:01 status needs to be determined before initiating abacavir therapy. We developed a pharmacogenetic real-time (Q)-PCR screening test using two sets of sequence specific primers. This test has been implemented into routine clinical practice. MATERIALS & METHODS HIV-infected patients admitted at our University Hospital were thus genotyped using the above mentioned test. A panel of 80 DNA samples with a known genotype were used to characterize Q-PCR conditions using different master mixes. RESULTS A total of 353 patients were genotyped, detecting 15 (4.25%) HLA-B*57:01 positive carriers. Among the negative patients, 17.2% were treated with abacavir without any hypersensitivity reaction. Using different Q-PCR master mixes, significantly lower cutoff Ct values were found, thus new analytical settings are provided. CONCLUSION The pharmacogenetic test developed in our laboratory for the fast screening of HLA-B*57:01 can be successfully implemented into routine clinical practice. All 16 sequences (including an additional six) currently known for the HLA-B*57:01 allele are detected by sequence specific primers used in this test. The Brilliant II SYBR(®) Green QPCR MM (Stratagene) can safely replace the master mix originally used to develop the test.

Next generation entrepreneur: innovation strategy through Web 2.0 technologies in SMEs

This essay studies the diffusion/adoption of Web 2.0 technologies in small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs)’ innovation strategies and particularly in research, development, design and other innovation activities. It looks at the effects of these technologies on the evolution and the dynamics of firms innovation capabilities and the implications of entrepreneurial turnover on the adoption of said technologies. The study is based on original fieldwork with some 130 SMEs. The author finds that a consistent share of SMEs is actively trying to fill the knowledge gap and integrate Web 2.0 technologies in their innovation strategies. SMEs are managing this integration by progressively adjusting their behaviour in reaction to the opportunities offered by the technology and balancing the dependence of the business from the web. Barriers to the adoption of such technologies are also discussed.

Information and Communication Technologies and Public Participation: interactive maps and value added for citizens

Abstract Cities are restless systems. Increasing urbanisation and the cumulative growth of urban management issues are pressing local governments to provide valuable services. Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) are established as drivers of this new wave of change in the redefinition of the relationship between the city and its citizens. Smart Cities rely strongly on strategies and solutions enabled by ICTs involving directly local governments, citizens and communities. Open data alone, though a relevant component of these strategies, cannot provide enough incentives for the engagement of citizens necessary to establish a collaborative and open governance system; data need to be appropriately elaborated, communicated and used. The main objective of this paper is to investigate how open data together with simple and standardised elaborations and innovative visualisation techniques may be used to provide new and updated services to citizens and communities: free and readily available services based on the wealth of information ‘owned’ by local governments. Adopting a design science research methodology we develop and test a collaborative ICT-based tool called UrbanSense. We use it to highlight how systemic connections between citizens and city-government may be devised. On this point, the focus is on the feedforwarding of open data integrated with basic elaborations and visualisations as a means for the local government to create new and open services for citizens and communities. The use of the services prompts citizens to feedback new information in real-time to the city government. These interactions may be used to foster an open innovation ecosystem.

Social engagement: towards a typology of social innovation

Social innovation has seen several different interpretations and definitions in recent years. Either considered as innovation with a ‘social twist’, or a facet of social entrepreneurship, or an innovation type that has to be distinguished from other types, social innovation has been central in academic and policy discourses especially in the context of dealing with societal challenges. Given this increasing importance, the aim of this paper is to identify the special features of social innovation and thus clarify the fuzziness around the multiple definitions, conceptualisations and interpretations. In particular the development of a typology of social innovation types is attempted largely based on the role of society in the innovation cycle. The paper concludes with reflections on the analysis and policy implications. Social engagement: towards a typology of social innovation 3