Investigation on the Adsorption and Photooxidation of Glycerol at TiO2 Nanotubular Arrays

A study is presented on the adsorption of glycerol at TiO2as well as on its oxidative process during the contemporary water Photoelectro-splitting for hydrogen production. A deepening in the understanding on the working mechanism of the TiO2nanotubular photoanodes and on the interactions between glycerol and these structures has been gained through photocurrent tests, voltammetric scans, and EIS analysis. A range of wavelength of the incident radiation is investigated from 340 to 400 nm at which the effect of glycerol on the photocurrent is measured. Quantitative analysis of the EIS results is performed by the equivalent circuit approach

Alu-element insertion in an OPA1 intron sequence associated with autosomal dominant optic atrophy

Abstract PURPOSE: Autosomal dominant optic atrophy (ADOA) is the most common form of hereditary optic neuropathy caused by mutations in the optic atrophy 1 (OPA1) gene. It is characterized by insidious onset with a selective degeneration of retinal ganglion cells, variable loss of visual acuity, temporal optic nerve pallor, tritanopia, and development of central, paracentral, or cecocentral scotomas. Here we describe the clinical and molecular findings in a large Italian family with ADOA. METHODS: Routine ophthalmologic examination and direct sequencing of all coding regions of the OPA1 gene were performed. Further characterization of a new OPA1 gene insertion was performed by reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) of RNA from patients and control subjects. RESULTS: We identified an Alu-element insertion located in intron 7 of OPA1 causing an in-frame deletion of exon 8 in 18 family members. CONCLUSIONS: The predicted consequence of this mutation is the loss of the guanosine triphosphatase (GTPase) activity of OPA1. Alu insertions have been reported in the literature as causing human genetic disease. However, this is the first report of a pathogenic OPA1 gene mutation resulting from an Alu insertion

New Indole Tubulin Assembly Inhibitors Cause Stable Arrest of Mitotic Progression, Enhanced Stimulation of Natural Killer Cell Cytotoxic Activity, and Repression of Hedgehog-Dependent Cancer

We designed 39 new 2-phenylindole derivatives as potential anticancer agents bearing the 3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl moiety with a sulfur, ketone, or methylene bridging group at position 3 of the indole and with halogen or methoxy substituent(s) at positions 4-7. Compounds 33 and 44 strongly inhibited the growth of the P-glycoprotein-overexpressing multi-drug-resistant cell lines NCI/ADR-RES and Messa/Dx5. At 10 nM, 33 and 44 stimulated the cytotoxic activity of NK cells. At 20-50 nM, 33 and 44 arrested >80% of HeLa cells in the G2/M phase of the cell cycle, with stable arrest of mitotic progression. Cell cycle arrest was followed by cell death. Indoles 33, 44, and 81 showed strong inhibition of the SAG-induced Hedgehog signaling activation in NIH3T3 Shh-Light II cells with IC50 values of 19, 72, and 38 nM, respectively. Compounds of this class potently inhibited tubulin polymerization and cancer cell growth, including stimulation of natural killer cell cytotoxic activity and repression of Hedgehog-dependent cancer

Aldo Rossi, oficio y continuidad

Hemos vivido por quince años el trabajo desarrollado en la bottega de Aldo Rossi, como él amaba llamarla. Bottega porque Aldo había siempre renegado de las estructuras de gran estudio profesional, aun cuando, en los últimos años, los numerosos encargos recibidos y los muchos proyectos que entraban en obra en distintas partes del mundo habían exigido la apertura de diversos estudios de apoyo in loco. Y sin embargo, no obstante todo esto, había logrado transformar cada uno de estos estudios diseminados por el mundo en una escuela donde algunas afortunadas y privilegiadas personas seguían directamente y en estrecho contacto con él los proyectos. «Creo en la individualidad y en mi estudio como un taller» escribe en la bellísima introducción al tercer volumen de Electa dedicado a su obra, donde afirma «me siento más semejante a un director cinematográfico y me parece transmitir a los otros esa ignota sabiduría y esa oscura inocencia que siempre me ha seguido ... ». Acompañábamos directamente el nacimiento de cada proyecto y de él hemos aprendido el mestiere de Arquitecto, porque Aldo era un gran profesional. Y nos ha transmitido sobre todo un método, es decir, cómo plantear el trabajo, el modo de tratar con el comitente, cómo afrontar las diversas situaciones que se presentan cada vez sin descuidar el aspecto cultural y técnico-constructivo.Studio di Architettura Aldo Rossi Associat

Investigation on the Adsorption and Photooxidation of Glycerol at TiO 2 Nanotubular Arrays

A study is presented on the adsorption of glycerol at TiO 2 as well as on its oxidative process during the contemporary water Photoelectro-splitting for hydrogen production. A deepening in the understanding on the working mechanism of the TiO 2 nanotubular photoanodes and on the interactions between glycerol and these structures has been gained through photocurrent tests, voltammetric scans, and EIS analysis. A range of wavelength of the incident radiation is investigated from 340 to 400 nm at which the effect of glycerol on the photocurrent is measured. Quantitative analysis of the EIS results is performed by the equivalent circuit approach