Synthetic sustainability index (SSI) based on life cycle assessment approach of low impact development in the Mediterranean area

AbstractClimate change and the processes of urbanization alter the hydrologic and hydraulic regime of runoffs formation in urban areas. Low impact infrastructure development (LID) contributes to achieving conditions of invariance hydrological and hydraulics. The purpose of this work is to identify an index of synthetic sustainability (SSI) based on life cycle assessment (LCA). Such LCA evaluates design alternatives through the comparison of the different values of the SSI. The proposed methodology allows the evaluation of the SSI attributing to the individual layers of the LIDs different weights and taking into account both of the influence that each of them perform on invariance hydrologic and hydraulic both of the LCA normalized output. In this paper is showed a methodological implementation obtained by the analysis of a green roof and a permeable pavement. This green roof has been realized, on real scale, in the Urban Hydrology Experimental Park in University of Calabria (Italy)

Optical properties of highly n-doped germanium obtained by in situ doping and laser annealing

High n-type doping in germanium is essential for many electronic and optoelectronic applications especially for high performance Ohmic contacts, lasing and mid-infrared plasmonics. We report on the combination of in situ doping and excimer laser annealing to improve the activation of phosphorous in germanium. An activated n-doping concentration of 8.8  ×  1019 cm−3 has been achieved starting from an incorporated phosphorous concentration of 1.1  ×  1020 cm−3. Infrared reflectivity data fitted with a multi-layer Drude model indicate good uniformity over a 350 nm thick layer. Photoluminescence demonstrates clear bandgap narrowing and an increased ratio of direct to indirect bandgap emission confirming the high doping densities achieved

Nanoliter contact angle probes tumor angiogenic ligand-receptor protein interactions

Any molecular recognition reaction supported by a solid-phase drives a specific change of the solid-solution interfacial tension. Sessile Contact Angle (CA) experiments can be readily used to track this thermodynamic parameter, prompting this well-known technique to be reinvented as an alternative, easy-access and label-free way to probe and study molecular recognition events. Here we deploy this technique, renamed for this application CONAMORE (CONtact Angle MOlecular REcognition), to study the interaction of the tumor-derived pro-angiogenic vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A) with the extracellular domain of its receptor VEGFR2. We show that CONAMORE recognizes the high affinity binding of VEGF-A at nanomolar concentrations to surface-immobilized VEGFR2 regardless of the presence of a ten folds excess of a non specific interacting protein, and that it further proofs its specificity and reliability on competitive binding experiments involving neutralizing anti-VEGF-A antibodies. Finally, CONAMORE shows the outstanding capability to detect the specific interaction between VEGFR2 and low molecular weight ligands, such as Cyclo-VEGI, a VEGFR2 antagonist cyclo-peptide, that weights about 2 kDa

22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome. Impact of Genetics in the Treatment of Conotruncal Heart Defects

Congenital heart diseases represent one of the hallmarks of 22q11.2 deletion syndrome. In particular, conotruncal heart defects are the most frequent cardiac malformations and are often associated with other specific additional cardiovascular anomalies. These findings, together with extracardiac manifestations, may affect perioperative management and influence clinical and surgical outcome. Over the past decades, advances in genetic and clinical diagnosis and surgical treatment have led to increased survival of these patients and to progressive improvements in postoperative outcome. Several studies have investigated long-term follow-up and results of cardiac surgery in this syndrome. The aim of our review is to examine the current literature data regarding cardiac outcome and surgical prognosis of patients with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome. We thoroughly evaluate the most frequent conotruncal heart defects associated with this syndrome, such as tetralogy of Fallot, pulmonary atresia with major aortopulmonary collateral arteries, aortic arch interruption, and truncus arteriosus, highlighting the impact of genetic aspects, comorbidities, and anatomical features on cardiac surgical treatment

Entanglement of electrons in interacting molecules

Quantum entanglement is a concept commonly used with reference to the existence of certain correlations in quantum systems that have no classical interpretation. It is a useful resource to enhance the mutual information of memory channels or to accelerate some quantum processes as, for example, the factorization in Shor's Algorithm. Moreover, entanglement is a physical observable directly measured by the von Neumann entropy of the system. We have used this concept in order to give a physical meaning to the electron correlation energy in systems of interacting electrons. The electronic correlation is not directly observable, since it is defined as the difference between the exact ground state energy of the many--electrons Schroedinger equation and the Hartree--Fock energy. We have calculated the correlation energy and compared with the entanglement, as functions of the nucleus--nucleus separation using, for the hydrogen molecule, the Configuration Interaction method. Then, in the same spirit, we have analyzed a dimer of ethylene, which represents the simplest organic conjugate system, changing the relative orientation and distance of the molecules, in order to obtain the configuration corresponding to maximum entanglement.Comment: 15 pages, 7 figures, standard late

Constitutive expression of lymphoma-associated NFKB-2/Lyt-10 proteins is tumorigenic in murine fibroblasts

The NFKB-2 (Lyt-10) gene codes for an NF-kappa B-related transcription factor containing rel-polyG-ankyrin domains. Rearrangements of the NFKB-2 locus leading to the production of 3' truncated NFKB-2 proteins are recurrently found in lymphoid neoplasms, particularly cutaneous lymphomas, Such mutant NFKB-2 proteins have lost the ability to repress transcription that is typical of NFKB-2 subunit p52, and function as constitutive transcriptional activators. To verify whether the expression of abnormal NFKB-2 proteins can lead to malignant transformations in mammalian cells, we transfected human lymphoblastoid cell lines and murine fibroblasts (Balb/3T3) with expression vectors carrying the cDNAs coding far normal NFKB-2p52, Lyt-10C alpha or LB40 proteins, which are representative of the abnormal types found in lymphoma cases. The expression of both normal and mutant NFKB-2 proteins has a lethal effect on lymphoblastoid cells and a cytotoxic effect was also observed in murine fibroblasts. The fibroblast cell lines expressing Lyt-10C alpha or LB40, but not those expressing normal MFKB-2p52, were capable of forming colonies in soft agar. The analysis of individual clones revealed that cloning efficiency correlated with the expression levels of the abnormal proteins, Injection of the Lyt-10C alpha-transfected Balb cells in SCID mice led to tumor formation in all of the animals, whereas no tumors were observed in the mice injected with control or NFKB-2p52-transfected cells, thus indicating that abnormal NFKB-2 protein expression is tumorigenic in vivo. Our results show that mutant NFKB-2 proteins can lead to the transformed phenotype, and support the hypothesis that alterations in NFKB-2 genes may play a role in lymphomagenesis

STRUCTURAL AND FUNCTIONAL-CHARACTERIZATION OF THE PROMOTER REGIONS OF THE NFKB2 GENE

In order to clarify the transcriptional regulation of the NFKB2 gene (lyt-10, NF-kappa Bp100), we have characterized the structure and function of its promoter regions. Based on the nucleotide sequence of cDNA clones and the 5' flanking genomic region of the NFKB2 gene, RT-PCR analysis in a number of human cell lines demonstrated the presence of two alternative noncoding first exons (Ia and Ib). Two distinct promoter regions, P1 and P2, were identified upstream of each exon, containing multiple sites of transcription initiation, as shown by RNase protection analysis. Sequence analysis of these regions showed a CAAT box upstream of exon Ia and high G-C content regions within both P1 and P2. Consensus binding sites for transcription factors, including SP1, API and putative NF-kappa B (kappa B sites), were found upstream of each exon. In particular, six kappa B sites were identified, all but one of them capable of binding NF-kappa B complexes in vitro. Transfection in HeLa cells of plasmids containing PI and P2 sequences linked to a chloramphenicol acetyltransferase reporter gene indicated that both P1 and P2 can act independently as promoters. Co-transfection of NF-kappa B effector plasmids (NF-kappa Bp5a and RelA) with a reporter gene linked to P1 and P2 showed that the NFKB2 promoter regions are regulated by NF-kappa B factors. RelA transactivates the NFKB2 promoter in a dose-dependent manner, whereas NF-kappa Bp52 acts as a repressor, indicating that the NFKB2 gene may be under the control of a negative feedback regulatory circuit

Optical coherence tomography angiography in pediatric choroidal neovascularization

Purpose To report two cases of pediatric choroidal neovascularization (CNV) and the associated neo-vascular and retinal findings identified on Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography (OCTA) imaging. Methods: A 14-year-old boy with handheld laser-induced maculopathy-related CNV and a 13-year-old boy with idiopathic CNV were evaluated with visual acuity testing, slit-lamp exam, fundus photography, fluorescein angiography, indocyanine green angiography, spectral domain optical coherence tomography, and OCTA. Results: Macular CNV were identified in both pediatric patients using OCTA imaging. The first case demonstrated a classic pediatric type II CNV with a “tree-like” pattern and a single vessel in-growth site, while the second case demonstrated a type I CNV with a “glomerular” pattern. Conclusion: Distinct choroidal neovascular patterns were visualized in these two cases of pediatric CNV when compared to adult subtypes. OCTA is a noninvasive imaging modality capable of evaluating and characterizing pediatric CNV and their associated vascular patterns