New Synthetic Endocannabinoid as Anti-Inflammaging Cosmetic Active: an In Vitro Study on a Reconstructed Skin Model

Endocannabinoids have been recently appointed as interesting cosmetic actives in regulating inflammaging, a state of chronic low-grade inflammation, known for being involved in many senescence\u2019s manifestations, included skin aging. The aim of this study was to assess the anti-inflammaging activity of a new synthetic endocannabinoid, Isopalmide\uae, on a reconstructed skin model, on which inflammaging has been reproduced through UVA radiation and light mechanical stress. We tested Isopalmide\uae both as a single active and conveyed in a cosmetic product, in comparison with Anandamide, a well-known natural endocannabinoid with anti-inflammatory action. The anti-inflammaging activity of topically applied products has been assessed, after 6 hours of treatment post-irradiation, through the transcriptional modification of genes involved in the NF-\u3baB pathway and the epigenetic pathway targeting miRs as potential biomarkers of inflammaging: miR-21, miR-126 and miR-146a. The results confirmed the anti-inflammatory action of Anandamide which inhibits NF-\u3baB, while Isopalmide\uae showed its anti-inflammaging activity through the establishment of an inflammatory/anti-inflammatory balance by maintaining NF-\u3baB inactive in the cytoplasm and active in the nucleus. The anti-inflammaging activity was shown also by the cosmetic product containing Isopalmide

Multiparametric Porous Silicon Sensors

We investigated the possibility of using several sensing parameters from porous silicon in order to improve gas selectivity. By fabricating porous silicon optical microcavities, three independent quantities can be measured, i.e. the electrical conductance, the photoluminescence intensity, and the wavelength of the optical resonance. We monitored the change of these three parameters as a function of NO2 (0.5-5 ppm), ethanol (300-15000 ppm) and relative humidity (0-100%). Preliminary results confirm that the examined species affect the parameters in a different way, both as a relative change and as dynamic

Investigation of dopant profiles in nanosized materials by scanning transmission electron microscopy

Scanning electron microscopy is capable to provide chemical information on specimens interesting for the field of materials science and nanotechnology. The spatial resolution and the chemical information provided by incoherent imaging and detection of transmitted, forward-scattered electrons can reveal useful information about the specimen composition and microstructure. This paper discusses the capability and potential of low-voltage Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy (STEM) for the characterization of multilayered structures and dopant profiles in crystalline materials

Caracterização para estudo de viabilidade de aplicação de resíduos agrícolas carbonizados (biochar) no solo.

Resumo

Characterization and Testing of the Passive Magnetic Attitude Control System for the 3U AstroBio CubeSat

AstroBio CubeSat is a mission funded by the Italian Space Agency aimed at validating novel lab-on-chip technology, that would enable the use of micro- and nanosatellites as autonomous orbiting laboratories for research in astrobiology. This 3U CubeSat is equipped with a passive magnetic attitude control system (PMACS), including permanent magnets and hysteresis strips, which allows for stabilizing the spacecraft with the longitudinal axis in the direction of the geomagnetic field vector. This work presents the process followed for the experimental characterization of the system, performed on the engineering unit of the satellite by using a Helmholtz cage facility and a spherical air-bearing to recreate environmental conditions similar to the ones experienced during the orbital motion. The hysteresis strips are characterized starting from the determination of the hysteresis loop, from which the energy dissipation per cycle and the apparent magnetic permeability are extracted. Tests performed by using the Helmholtz cage and the air-bearing facility allows for further investigating the damping torque produced by the PMACS and validating the abovementioned parameters. Numerical analysis is then used to select the number of permanent magnets which allows for achieving a pointing accuracy within an error of 10° within 24 h from the deployment. The analysis of the flight data supports the results obtained from the experimental test campaigns, confirming the effectiveness of the proposed methods and of the PMACS design

Optical limiting sensor based on multilayer optimization of Ag/VO2 phase changing material

An optical limiting sensor working in the infrared was developed to address the need for eye and sensor protection against laser threats. Metallic and dielectric photonic resonators (thin-film multilayers) incorporating phase-change-materials (PCM) like VO2 were simulated and experimentally realized, with optimization of the deposition procedure by RF magnetron sputtering at low temperature. For the first time, the silver is placed between the substrate and the VO2 , thus improving the device limiting performances. By maximizing the difference of transmittance between the ‘ON’ and the ‘OFF’ states at the standard light wavelength for telecom applications (1550 nm), we calculated optimum thickness for VO2 and Ag films. The deposited thin films were characterized by SEM and Raman spectroscopy, and VO2 transition temperature was investigated by measuring resistance changes. As a proof of concept of the device working principle, we calculated transmittance drop of 70% when the sensor is exposed to a laser pulse excitation (20ps, 500 MW/cm^2 ). Our results pave the way for multilayer with optical limiting properties

Physics Beyond Colliders:The Conventional Beams Working Group

The Physics Beyond Colliders initiative aims to exploit the full scientific potential of the CERN accelerator complex and its scientific infrastructure for particle physics studies, complementary to current and future collider experiments. Several experiments have been proposed to fully utilize and further advance the beam options for the existing fixed target experiments present in the North and East Experimental Areas of the CERN SPS and PS accelerators. We report on progress with the RF-separated beam option for the AMBER experiment, following a recent workshop on this topic. In addition we cover the status of studies for ion beams for the NA⁶⁰⁺ experiment, as well as of those for high intensity beams for Kaon physics and feebly interacting particle searches. With first beams available in 2021 after a CERN-wide long shutdown, several muon beam options were already tested for the NA64mu, MUonE and AMBER experiments

Upward Shift and Steepening of the Blood Pressure Response to Exercise in Hypertensive Subjects at High Altitude

BACKGROUND: Acute exposure to high-altitude hypobaric hypoxia induces a blood pressure rise in hypertensive humans, both at rest and during exercise. It is unclear whether this phenomenon reflects specific blood pressure hyperreactivity or rather an upward shift of blood pressure levels. We aimed at evaluating the extent and rate of blood pressure rise during exercise in hypertensive subjects acutely exposed to high altitude, and how these alterations can be counterbalanced by antihypertensive treatment. METHODS AND RESULTS: Fifty-five subjects with mild hypertension, double-blindly randomized to placebo or to a fixed-dose combination of an angiotensin-receptor blocker (telmisartan 80 mg) and a calcium-channel blocker (nifedipine slow release 30 mg), performed a cardiopulmonary exercise test at sea level and after the first night's stay at 3260 m altitude. High-altitude exposure caused both an 8 mm Hg upward shift (P<0.01) and a 0.4 mm Hg/mL/kg per minute steepening (P<0.05) of the systolic blood pressure/oxygen consumption relationship during exercise, independent of treatment. Telmisartan/nifedipine did not modify blood pressure reactivity to exercise (blood pressure/oxygen consumption slope), but downward shifted (P<0.001) the relationship between systolic blood pressure and oxygen consumption by 26 mm Hg, both at sea level and at altitude. Muscle oxygen delivery was not influenced by altitude exposure but was higher on telmisartan/nifedipine than on placebo (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: In hypertensive subjects exposed to high altitude, we observed a hypoxia-driven upward shift and steepening of the blood pressure response to exercise. The effect of the combination of telmisartan/nifedipine slow release outweighed these changes and was associated with better muscle oxygen delivery. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT01830530