Actuators based on intrinsic conductive polymers/carbon nanoparticles nanocompositesElectroactive Polymer Actuators and Devices (EAPAD) 2013

New polyaniline (PANi) synthesis was performed starting from non-toxic N-phenil-p-phenylenediamine (aniline dimer) using reverse addition of monomer to oxidizing agent, the synthesis allows to produce highly soluble PANi. Several types of doped PANi were prepared to be used on electromechanical active actuators. Different techniques were used to include carbon nanoparticles such as carbon nanotubes and graphene. Bimorph solid state ionic actuators were prepared with these novel nanocomposites using a variety of supporting polymer

Polymerized mixed aggregates containing gadolinium complex and CCK8 peptide.

Two novel amphiphilic unimers contg. an aliph. hydrophobic chain (PDA) with two C C triple bonds and hydrophilic heads presenting the chelating agent DTPAGlu and the CCK8 bioactive peptide, resp., have been prepd. by solid phase synthesis. Aggregates obtained by mixing together PDA-DTPAGlu, or its Gd(III) complex, and PDA-L2-CCK8 in 70/30 molar ratio before and after a polymn. process carried out by UV irradn. have been structurally characterized by means of small angle neutron scattering. The relaxivity properties of aggregates contg. Gadolinium complexes have also been investigated. Elongated mixed micelles have been obsd., in which the relaxivity value r1p for each Gadolinium complex, measured at 20 MHz and 298 K, is around 12 mM-1s-1

Pathological implications of Th1/Th2 cytokine genetic variants in Beh\ue7et's disease: Data from a pilot study in a Sicilian population

Cytokines act as pleiotropic polypeptides able to regulate inflammatory/immune responses and to provide important signals in physiological and pathological processes. Several cytokines (Th1, Th2, and Th17) seem to be involved in the pathophysiology of Beh\ue7et's disease, a chronic immune-mediated disease characterized by oral and genital lesions and ocular inflammation. Its individual susceptibility seems to be modulated by genetic variants in genes codifying these cytokines. Th1 and Th17 seem to be involved in the disease's active phases, and Th2 seems to affect the development or severity of the disease; however, contrasting data are reported. In this study, some genetic variants of the Th1/Th2 cytokine genes were investigated in Sicilian patients and age- and gender-matched controls. Three very significant associations with Beh\ue7et's disease were detected, and combined genotypes associated with increased disease risk were identified. Results obtained point to the key role of Th1/Th2 cytokine genetic variants in disease susceptibility

Gastrin and cholecystokinin peptide-based radiopharmaceuticals: an in vivo and in vitro comparison

The development of suitable radioligands for targeting CCK-2 receptor expressing tumors, such as medullary thyroid carcinoma, is of great clinical interest. In the search for the best CCK-2R binding peptides, we have synthesized, evaluated and compared the CCK8 peptide (Asp-Tyr-Met-Gly-Trp-Met-Asp-PheNH(2) ) and two gastrin analogs commonly referred to as MG0 (DGlu-Glu(5)-Ala-Tyr-Gly-Trp-Met-Asp-PheNH(2) ) and MG11 (DGlu(1)-Ala-Tyr-Gly-Trp-Met-Asp-PheNH(2) ). The N-terminal portion of the three peptide sequences was derivatized by introducing the DTPAGlu or DOTA chelators to allow radiolobeling with (111) In(III) and (68) Ga(III), respectively. Saturation binding and cellular internalization experiments were performed on A431 cells overexpressing CCK2R (A431-CCK2R). All compounds showed Kd values in the nM range and were internalized with similar rates in CCK2 receptor overexpressing cells. Biodistribution experiments showed higher specific uptake of both MG0-based compounds compared to conjugates containing the CCK8 and MG11 peptide sequences. The higher retention levels of MG0-based peptides were associated with markedly elevated and undesired kidney uptake compared to the other compounds. Current indications suggest that the 5 Glu N-terminal residues while improving peptide stability and receptor-mediated tumor uptake cause unacceptably high kidney retention. Although displaying lower absolute tumor uptake values, the DOTA-coupled CCK8 peptide provided the best tumor to kidney uptake ratio and appears more suitable as lead compound for improvement of radiopharmaceutical properties

The PRIMA fringe sensor unit

The Fringe Sensor Unit (FSU) is the central element of the Phase Referenced Imaging and Micro-arcsecond Astrometry (PRIMA) dual-feed facility and provides fringe sensing for all observation modes, comprising off-axis fringe tracking, phase referenced imaging, and high-accuracy narrow-angle astrometry. It is installed at the Very Large Telescope Interferometer (VLTI) and successfully servoed the fringe tracking loop during the initial commissioning phase. Unique among interferometric beam combiners, the FSU uses spatial phase modulation in bulk optics to retrieve real-time estimates of fringe phase after spatial filtering. A R=20 spectrometer across the K-band makes the retrieval of the group delay signal possible. The FSU was integrated and aligned at the VLTI in summer 2008. It yields phase and group delay measurements at sampling rates up to 2 kHz, which are used to drive the fringe tracking control loop. During the first commissioning runs, the FSU was used to track the fringes of stars with K-band magnitudes as faint as m_K=9.0, using two VLTI Auxiliary Telescopes (AT) and baselines of up to 96 m. Fringe tracking using two Very Large Telescope (VLT) Unit Telescopes (UT) was demonstrated. During initial commissioning and combining stellar light with two ATs, the FSU showed its ability to improve the VLTI sensitivity in K-band by more than one magnitude towards fainter objects, which is of fundamental importance to achieve the scientific objectives of PRIMA.Comment: 19 pages, 23 figures. minor changes and language editing. this version equals the published articl

LONG-TERM RESULTS AFTER ENDOSCOPIC DILATION OF POST-OPERATIVE COLO-COLONIC ANASTOMOTIC STENOSES. OUR EXPERIENCE IN 42 PATIENTS.

The aim of this study is to evaluate long-term complications and patient's quality of life after the endoscopic treatment of benign anastomotic colo-colonic strictures. From January 2000 to November 2008,, 42 patients who had undergone surgery for colorectal cancer were endoscopically treated for a postoperative symptomatic stricture. The dilation were performed using a 20-30 mm pneumatic dilator. The clinical results were classified in relation to the abdominal symptomatology reported by the patients, and were evaluated in the short-term (one-week) and long-term (mean follow-up.36 months)period. Results: 15 patients underwent a total of 22 dilating sessions; 9 patients had a single dilating session, 18 patients underwent 5 dilating sessions. Three bowel peforations at the site of dilation, 1 septic complications and a transient mucosal bleeding were registered. immediate symptomatic relief was achieved in all the cases; the symptoms caused by the strictures disappeared after the first session. Normal defecation was immediately restored after the treatment. satisfactory good long-term clinical results were achieved in thirty-seven patients (88%). Conclusion: This study confirms the assumption that dilation with balloon may be considered the first-line therapeutic approach safe and effective for symptomatic benign anastomotic strictures after colorectal resection surgery for adenocarcinoma. The treatment of benign anastomotic strictures by standard endoscopic dilation is an effective contribution against stricture-related gastrointestinal symptoms. The standard criterion used to define successful anastomoses (10-13 mm in diameter)is sufficient for an optimal result

A fast vertical trajectory prediction method for air traffic management, and relevant ATM system

The invention concerns a method and system for the prediction of aircrafts vertical trajectory, in particular for Air Traffic Management, comprising the following flight calculation modules: Take-off; Climb; Cruise; Descent; and Landing, corresponding to the relevant flight phases, wherein: the calculation of the predicted aircraft trajectory is effected by using a set of TEM equations comprising, as output variables, the vertical rate of climb or descent, the true air speed, the energy share factor, the thrust and the drag, the mass of the aircraft modeled as point-mass, and comprising, as inpu variables, the Mach number depending on true air speed and temperature and altitude, the gravity acceleration, and the fuel flow, and the flight path angle; the calculation of the predicted aircraft trajectory for Cruise phase, wherein only the mass is varying, is performed by using the following analytical solution to said set of TEM equations

O-sode no furiawase : the touching of sleeves : an original story based on the early life of a Japanese-American dancer for ages nine to eleven

Based on a true story, this fictionalized memoir is about a second generation Japanese-American girl growing up in a large family in California during the 1930\u27s and 1940\u27s. Set against the backdrop of the Depression and the internment of West Coast persons of Japanese ancestry during World War II, the story follows the protagonist\u27s childhood interest in dance as it blossoms into a true calling

Bombesin peptide antagonist for target-selective delivery of liposomal doxorubicin on cancer cells

Purpose: This study addresses novel peptide modified liposomal doxorubicin to specifically target tissues overexpressing bombesin (BN) receptors. Methods: DOTA-(AEEA)2-peptides containing the [7–14]bombesin and the new BN-AA1 sequence have been synthesized to compare their binding properties and in serum stabilities. The amphiphilic peptide derivative (MonYBN- AA1) containing BN-AA1, a hydrophobic moiety, polyethylenglycole (PEG), and diethylenetriaminepentaacetate (DTPA), has been synthesized. Liposomes have been obtained by mixing of MonY-BN-AA1 with 1,2-distearoylsn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DSPC). Results: Both 111In labeled peptide derivatives present nanomolar Kd to PC-3 cells. 177Lu labeled peptide DOTA- (AEEA)2-BN-AA1 is very stable (half-life 414.1 h), while DOTA-(AEEA)2-BN, shows a half-life of 15.5 h. In vivo studies on the therapeutic efficacy of DSPC/MonY-BN-AA1/Dox in comparison to DSPC/MonY-BN/Dox, were performed in PC-3 xenograft bearing mice. Both formulations showed similar tumor growth inhibition (TGI) compared to control animals treated with non-targeted DSPC/Dox liposomes or saline solution. For DSPC/MonY-BN-AA1/Dox the maximum effect was observed 19 days after treatment. Conclusions: DSPC/MonY-BN-AA1/Dox nanovectors confirm the ability to selectively target and provide therapeutic efficacy in mice. The lack of receptor activation and possible acute biological side effects provided by using the AA1 antagonist bombesin sequence should provide safe working conditions for further development of this class of drug delivery vehicles

How Much Do Parents Think They Talk to Their Child?

This study investigated whether parent perceptions of their own and their child’s levels of talkativeness were related to objective measures recorded via the LENA system. Parents of 258 children aged 7-60 months completed a questionnaire on which they rated how much they and their child talked. Six months previously they had recorded in their home language environment using the LENA system. Compared to recording measures, parents tended to overestimate how much they talk to their child, but were somewhat closer when estimating their child’s talkativeness. Results were similar for a smaller sample with concurrent recordings, indicating that calibration of talk volubility is challenging without a reference standard. An important implication is that parents’ motivation to participate in language-focused interventions may be reduced. That is, parents who overestimate how much they talk to their child may also underestimate what they could do to enhance their child’s home language environment