Impact of tunable oligophosphonates on barium sulfate crystallization

Calixarenes can be used as well-defined scaffolds for investigating structure–activity relationships of additives and their impact on crystallization. In this work, we present the crystal growth modification of barium sulfate by p-phosphonic acid calix[n]arenes that vary in size (n = 4, 5, 6, and 8) and thus vary in the size of the internal cavity for the same functionality in the upper rim. The tetrameric, hexameric, and octameric macrocycles induce nanoparticle formation with clear superstructure. In the case of the hexameric calix[6]arene, the initial mesocrystalline superstructure fuses over time to form almost hollow spheres, while the mesocrystals formed in the presence of the tetramer and octamer are stable over an extended period. The pentameric calix[5]arene forms more disordered aggregates of single crystals. Thermogravimetric data shows that a significant proportion of the mass of the barium sulfate-containing solid is the macrocycle, regardless of the choice of macrocycle

The impact of immunological factors on depression treatment – relation between antidepressants and immunomodulation agents

© 2019 Jovana Vojvodic, Goran Mihajlovic, Petar Vojvodic, Dusan Radomirovic, Aleksandra Vojvodic, Tatjana Vlaskovic-Jovicevic, Zorica Peric-Hajzler, Dusica Matovic, Sanja Dimitrijevic, Goran Sijan, Maria Grazia Roccia, Massimo Fioranelli, Torello Lotti. It is determined that 30% of patients with depression are resistant to antidepressant medication. The increased concentration of inflammation factors, such as C-reactive protein, and pro-inflammatory cytokines, have been detected in serum in these patients. It is necessary to establish new therapeutic possibilities and protocols that are created to overcome the difficulties caused by increased concentration of inflammatory biomarkers in depressive patients. The Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) are considered to be the most powerful antidepressants, increasing the level of serotonin in endogenous depression, as well as in that caused by immunological mechanisms. It is believed that agents that influence cytokines, immunological signal pathways and cytokine syntheses, like the inhibitors of cyclooxygenase enzyme and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), are very important in the potential treatment of residual symptoms of depression. Treatment with cytokine antagonists is one of the potential adjuvant therapies, along with antidepressants. Signal pathways blockers, such as the inhibitors of cyclooxygenase and other NSAIDs, are in the phase of research, in terms of their antidepressant effects. Also, it has been shown that the inhibition of indolamin-2,3 deoxygenase (IDO) and kynurenine (KYN) signal pathways in the synthesis of neurotransmitters, by application of IDO antagonists, are leading to suppression of pro-inflammatory cytokine effects. Antidepressants may have anti-inflammatory effects, depending on dose and type, and they achieve this effect through the decrease of pro-inflammatory cytokine production and increase of anti-inflammatory cytokines. Also, antidepressants modulate the humoral and cellular immune system. This work aims to summarise certain neurobiological and neuroimmunological specificities that have been observed in patients with depression, antidepressants and immunomodulation agents. The understanding of complex and heterogenic pathophysiology of depression through the prism of the altered immune system, is of major importance, in terms of better optimisation of pharmacotherapy, and options for a personalised approach in depressive disorder treatment

Effect of Solution Silicate on the Precipitation of Barium Sulfate

The presence of silicate during barium sulfate crystallization has different impacts depending on the pH of the solution. At pH 7 the dominance of the protonated form (H4SiO4) and possible polymerization of the silicate impacts mainly on the aggregation state and on twinning of the barium sulfate formed. At higher pH values (10), the silicate ion present is able to influence both morphology and partially substitute for sulfate in the lattice. Interesting fibrous particles are formed under these conditions, but this is not due to mesocrystal formation as the particles are observed to be single crystalline in nature. These fibrous sections are found to be dominant on the surface and are highly porous. These particles are different, however, to the biomorphs formed when crystallization of barium carbonate occurs in the presence of silicate. This is because the speciation of sulfate does not change over a large pH range. The impact of silicate on barium sulfate particles is similar to the impact on calcium carbonate and strontium sulfate crystallization

Extreme-city-territories. Coastal geographies in the Veneto region

Water urbanism and more in general climate change adaptation are an essential part of urban transition processes. While sea level rising demands a re-evaluation of the new geography of extreme-cities, it emerges a temporal and conceptual gap between climate prediction, policies, adaptation strategies, and factual interventions. Consequently, the very same method of urban analysis needs to be reconsidered in light of this new horizon. This paper addresses extreme-cities as spaces of transition, and analyses the case of the Veneto Region via a multi-scalar process of mapping entailing: (i) zoning transition; (ii) mapping microtopography; (iii) sampling urban-topographical patterns; (iv) re-designing a territorial transect. The resulting representations disclose two types of information: (a) they suggest a set of rules for transitioning urban landscape in coastal areas according to different SRL scenarios; (b), they indicate the specificities of the same study area, disclosing a taxonomy of past and potential future elements of modification