276 research outputs found
Mass Spectrometric and Computational Study of SnPb in the Gas Phase
The SnPb molecule has been identified in a Knudsen effusion mass spectrometry experiment. The direct dissociation reaction and two isomolecular exchange reactions involving the Sn(2) and Pb(2) molecules have been studied, in the 1426-1705 K range of temperatures, using both second and third law procedures. The D(degree)0(SnPb,g) has been derived, for the first time, as (122.6+/-4.0) kJ mol(-1). Density functional and ab initio calculations up to the coupled clusters level of theory were also performed. In addition, the anion dissociation energy D(degree)0(SnPb(-),g) of (179.2+/-4.2) kJ mol(-1) was determined using the D(degree)0(SnPb,g) mass spectrometric value derived in this investigation and literature data
Dissociation Energies of the Ga2, In2, and GaIn Molecules
The group III metal dimers Ga2 and In2 and the newly identified intermetallic molecule GaIn were investigated in a Knudsen cell-mass spectrometric study of the vapors over gallium–indium alloys. From the all-gas equilibria analyzed by the second-law and third-law methods the following dissociation energies were derived; D00 (Ga2)=110.8±4.9 kJ mol−1, D00 (In2)=74.4±5.7 kJ mol−1, D00 (GaIn)=90.7±3.7 kJ mol−1. The value here measured for the dissociation energy of In2 is discussed and compared with a previous experimental determination and with the results of more recent theoretical investigations
Endocannabinoid-related compounds in gastrointestinal diseases
The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is an endogenous signalling pathway involved in the control of several gastrointestinal (GI) functions at
both peripheral and central levels. In recent years, it has become apparent that the ECS is pivotal in the regulation of GI motility, secretion and
sensitivity, but endocannabinoids (ECs) are also involved in the regulation of intestinal inflammation and mucosal barrier permeability, suggesting
their role in the pathophysiology of both functional and organic GI disorders. Genetic studies in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
or inflammatory bowel disease have indeed shown significant associations with polymorphisms or mutation in genes encoding for cannabinoid
receptor or enzyme responsible for their catabolism, respectively. Furthermore, ongoing clinical trials are testing EC agonists/antagonists in the
achievement of symptomatic relief from a number of GI symptoms. Despite this evidence, there is a lack of supportive RCTs and relevant data
in human beings, and hence, the possible therapeutic application of these compounds is raising ethical, political and economic concerns. More
recently, the identification of several EC-like compounds able to modulate ECS function without the typical central side effects of cannabinomimetics
has paved the way for emerging peripherally acting drugs. This review summarizes the possible mechanisms linking the ECS to GI
disorders and describes the most recent advances in the manipulation of the ECS in the treatment of GI diseases
Brief communication "Landslide Early Warning System: toolbox and general concepts"
We define landslide Early Warning Systems and present practical guidelines to assist end-users with limited experience in the design of landslide Early Warning Systems (EWSs). <br><br> In particular, two flow chart-based tools coming from the results of the SafeLand project (7th Framework Program) have been created to make them as simple and general as possible and in compliance with a variety of landslide types and settings at single slope scale. We point out that it is not possible to cover all the real landslide early warning situations that might occur, therefore it will be necessary for end-users to adapt the procedure to local peculiarities of the locations where the landslide EWS will be operated
Brief communication "Analysis of deformations in historic urban areas using terrestrial laser scanning"
The terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) technique has been used to accurately reconstruct the 3-D shape of the walls and bastions of the historic city of Mdina (Malta) and underlying terrain. By applying this technique it has also been possible to extract additional quantitative information regarding weathering and deformational processes affecting the structures. Thus, with the aim of identifying the main instability mechanisms, a detailed 3-D crack distribution map has been drawn and the main displacement vectors have been defined
Terrestrial laser scanner and geomechanical surveys for the rapid evaluation of rock fall susceptibility scenarios
Landslide intensity prediction for different typologies and at different scales: towards an upscaling paradigm
Room temperature Bloch surface wave polaritons
Polaritons are hybrid light-matter quasi-particles that have gathered a
significant attention for their capability to show room temperature and
out-of-equilibrium Bose-Einstein condensation. More recently, a novel class of
ultrafast optical devices have been realized by using flows of polariton
fluids, such as switches, interferometers and logical gates. However, polariton
lifetimes and propagation distance are strongly limited by photon losses and
accessible in-plane momenta in usual microcavity samples. In this work, we show
experimental evidence of the formation of room temperature propagating
polariton states arising from the strong coupling between organic excitons and
a Bloch surface wave. This result, which was only recently predicted, paves the
way for the realization of polariton devices that could allow lossless
propagation up to macroscopic distances
True 3D kinematic analysis for slope instability assessment in the Siq of Petra (Jordan), from high resolution TLS
Safety evaluation for the “Lodovica” road following rockfalls from Sesto di Moriano quarry (Lucca, Italy)
- …