Atomic contributions to the valence band photoelectron spectra of metal-free, iron and manganese phthalocyanines

The present work reports a photoelectron spectroscopy study of the low-energy region of the valence band of metal-free phthalocyanine (H2Pc) compared with those of iron phthalocyanine (FePc) and manganese phthalocyanine (MnPc). Density Functional Theory calculations have been used to resolve the atomic orbital composition of the valence spectra of all the phthalocyanines (Pcs) analyzed in this study. Moreover we show how the atomic character of the Highest Occupied Molecular Orbital (HOMO) is reflected on the outermost valence band binding energy region. The intensity related to the C 2p contributions, resulting in the HOMO for H2Pc and FePc and in the HOMO-1 for MnPc as described by the theoretical predictions is in very good agreement with the experimental results. The DFT simulations, discerning the atomic contribution to the density of states, indicate how the central metal atom interacts with the C and N atoms of the molecule, giving rise to different partial and total density of states for these three different Pc molecules

Antibiotic prophylaxis for ophthalmia neonatorum in Italy: results from a national survey and the Italian intersociety new position statements

Background: Ophthalmia neonatorum is an acute conjunctivitis that occurs in newborns within the first month of life. The most serious infections are due to Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae, that may cause permanent damages. The use of ophthalmic prophylaxis varies widely around the world, according to the different health and socio-economic contexts. To date in Italy there is no a clear legislation regarding ophthalmia neonatorum prophylaxis at birth. Methods: We invited all birth centers in Italy to carry out a retrospective survey relating the last three years. We collected data regarding demographics of neonates, drugs used for ophthalmic prophylaxis and results of the screening of pregnant women for Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae vaginal infections. Results: Among 419 birth centers, 302 (72,1%) responded to the survey. Overall 1041384 neonates, 82,3% of those born in the three years considered, received ophthalmic prophylaxis. Only 4,585 (0,4%) of them received one of the drugs recommended by the WHO. The Centers that participated to the survey reported 12 episodes of Chlamydial conjunctivitis and no Gonococcal infection in the three years. Only 38% of the Centers performed vaginal swabs to pregnant women: 2,6% screened only for Neisseria, 9,6% only for Chlamydia and 25,8% for both germs. Conclusions: The data obtained from the survey showed a low incidence of neonatal conjunctivitis due to either Neisseria gonorrhoeae or Chlamydia trachomatis in Italy. Due to the lack of legislation regulating the prophylaxis of ophthalmia neonatorum in newborns, the Italian Society of Neonatology, the Italian Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the Italian Society of Perinatal Medicine have recently issued new recommendations on this topic

A window into the mind-brain-body interplay: Development of diagnostic, prognostic biomarkers, and rehabilitation strategies in functional motor disorders

Background and aims: Functional motor disorders (FMD) present a prevalent, yet misunderstood spectrum of neurological conditions characterized by abnormal movements (i.e., functional limb weakness, tremor, dystonia, gait impairments), leading to substantial disability and diminished quality of life. Despite their high prevalence, FMD often face delayed diagnosis and inadequate treatment, resulting in significant social and economic burdens. The old concept of psychological factors as the primary cause (conversion disorder) has been abandoned due to the need for more evidence about their causal role. According to a predictive coding account, the emerging idea is that symptoms and disability may depend on dysfunctions of a specific neural system integrating interoception, exteroception, and motor control. Consequently, symptoms are construed as perceptions of the body's state. Besides the main pathophysiological features (abnormal attentional focus, beliefs/expectations, and sense of agency), the lived experience of symptoms and their resulting disability may depend on an altered integration at the neural level of interoception, exteroception, and motor control. Methods and materials: Our proposal aims to elucidate the pathophysiological mechanisms of FMD through a three-stage research approach. Initially, a large cohort study will collect behavioral, neurophysiological, and MRI biomarkers from patients with FMD and healthy controls, employing eXplainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI) to develop a diagnostic algorithm. Subsequently, validation will occur using patients with organic motor disorders. Finally, the algorithm's prognostic value will be explored post-rehabilitation in one subgroup of patients with FMD. Results: Data collection for the present study started in May 2023, and by May 2025, data collection will conclude. Discussion: Our approach seeks to enhance early diagnosis and prognostication, improve FMD management, and reduce associated disability and socio-economic costs by identifying disease-specific biomarkers. Trial registration: This trial was registered in clinicaltrials.gov (NCT06328790)

The Lantern, 2021-2022

No More Buses through El Paso • A Woman\u27s World • The Angel of Tragedy • A Victim of Circumstance • Ace of Hearts • Ghost Light • Missing Diamonds • The Upside-Down House: A Dialogue with the Self • What is Chronic Pain? • A Sunny Day in Sinkhole • Extra Marshmallows • Fourth Wall Broken • Hemlock • In the Comfort of Others • Lasting Impressions • Let\u27s Do the Time Warp Again • One Last Afternoon • Space Invaders • The Dogwood Tree • An Ode to Poppies • Charlotte\u27s Web • Crab • Crossing • Dandelions • Dandelion Sandwich • Grizzly Hood • Help Wanted • I Gave Way • I\u27m not who you wanted but maybe one day I can be • Kneeling • Lemon Cookies • Lies • Method Acting • Moment of Tranquility • Our Home • Overthinking • Sea Glass • Seasonal • Thirty-Two (No Spares) • The Autumn Beast • The Miller\u27s Daughter • Theodore • To the Earring I Left Behind in Your Carpet • Virginia • Waltzing • Yellow House • 1/25 British Monarch • Cracked • In the Shadows • Jewelwing • Life on the Wing • O\u27 Captain my Captain • Stars Above the Bay • The Common Fall • Tom • Cats + Crowshttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/lantern/1190/thumbnail.jp

The Lantern, 2019-2020

Cochlea, Greek for Snail • That Light in the Sky • Overview Effect • The Running Man • Sunset • Rabbits • What Happened While You Were Drunk Last Saturday Night • 21st Century Frankenstein • Passing • I Saw the Veil • Star Crossed • Subtle Hints • Hungry • Basement High • The Night Who Lost Its Stars • Remnants • Nostalgia • I Want to Go to Bed • Wooden Car Blues • Silver Honey • The Breakup • Here\u27s to Losing You • Marfa • Cold Wind Blows • Last Week • 6/12/2019 • These Feather Earrings • Every Piece of White Trash Comes from Somewhere • Color Motion Blur • Song of the Kauai O\u27o • You/Me/Him • Girl in Three Parts • With Anxiety • Foreigner • Eating Your Own Field • Mary Cassatt Sits for a Self Portrait • Thanatourism • Lost in Transportation • Chicken Pot Pie Picture Show • Curses, Foiled Again • From Amelia Goldstein\u27s Movement in Your Words 2019 • At the Altar • More Than Words • Show Me Your Eyes • Ears • The Deflowering • Space • The Tea Bags • Make No Mistake • What Does He Do With the Body?: Four Possibilities • The Story of How I Died, or What the Witches Gave Me • Fortune-Teller • No Thanks • Winter Words • Fluorescent Adolescent • Etiquettical Triptych • Curls and Flower Petals • Being or Falling • Fond Memories • You • All to My City • The Shoreline • Tranquility • Eggs • Burnt • Anthony • Targets • Looking Up • Nebula • Eastern State • Beachhttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/lantern/1188/thumbnail.jp

A parathyroid-hormone-related-protein (PTH-rP)-specific cytotoxic T cell response induced by in vitro stimulation of tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes derived from prostate cancer metastases, with epitope peptide-loaded autologous dendritic cells and low-dose IL-2

Bone metastases are one of the most common events in patients with prostate carcinoma. PTH-rP, a protein produced by prostate carcinoma and other epithelial cancers, is a key agent for the development of bone metastases. A PTH-rP-derived peptide, designated PTR-4 was identified, which is capable to bind HLA-A2.1 molecules and to generate PTH-rP-specific cytotoxic T cell (CTL) lines from healthy HLA-A2.1+ individual peripheral-blood-mononuclear-cells (PBMC). In this model, we investigated the in vitro possibility of generating an efficient PTH-rP specific CTL response by cyclical stimulations with IL-2 and PTR-4 peptide-pulsed autologous dendritic cells (DC), of HLA-A2.1+ tumour infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) derived from a patient with metastatic prostate carcinoma. A T cell line generated in this way (called TM-PTR-4) had a CD3+, CD5+, CD4−, CD8+, CD45Ro+, CD56− immunophenotype and a HLA-A2.1 restricted cytotoxic activity to PTR-4-peptide pulsed CIR-A2 (HLA-A2.1+) target cells, PTH-rP+/HLA-A2.1+ CIR-A2 transfected with PTH-rP gene, prostate carcinoma LNCaP cells, and autologous metastatic prostate cancer cells (M-CaP). These lymphocytes were not cytotoxic to HLA-A2.1+ targets not producing PTH-rP, such as peptide-unpulsed CIR-A2 and colon carcinoma SW-1463, cell lines. Our results provide evidence that PTR-4 peptide-pulsed autologous DC may break the tolerance of human TIL against the autologous tumour by inducing a PTH-rP-specific CTL immune reaction. In conclusion PTR-4 peptide-pulsed autologous DC may be a promising approach for vaccine-therapy and antigen-specific CTL adoptive immunotherapy of hormone-resistant prostrate cancer. © 2001 Cancer Research Campaign http://www.bjcancer.co

Edge Detection in Segmented Non-convex Space Polygon

Survey data in use in Civil Engineering consists of points described with XYZ coordinates. Closed shapes, like lakes described with a number of such points are immediately recognizable to humans although points are grouped in unconnected and unrelated lines. Automatic processing of those closed shapes is required if computer analysis is to be performed, i.e. we would like to produce a finite element mesh of the lake. In order to perform meshing one has to be able to determine whether a point is inside or outside of the space polygon, i.e. polygon edges have to be detected. Special computer procedures have been developed for edge detection. The most challenging part is detection of overlaps of edge lines which has been solved with specially modified Fourier transform procedure. Above procedures are applied on a real-life example for creating a finite element mesh of lake "Botonega" in Istria

Vorwort: Ingeborg Bachmannn in aktueller Sicht: Perspektiven der Forschung

Introduzione alla curatel

N-Doped TiO2-Coated Ceramic Membrane for Carbamazepine Degradation in Different Water Qualities

The photocatalytic degradation of the model pollutant carbamazepine (CBZ) was investigated under simulated solar irradiation with an N-doped TiO2-coated Al2O3 photocatalytic membrane, using different water types. The photocatalytic membrane combines photocatalysis and membrane filtration in a single step. The impact of each individual constituent such as acidity, alkalinity, dissolved organic matter (DOM), divalent cations (Mg2+ and Ca2+), and C