Knowledge and Enhancement of Architectural and Archaeological Heritage: the Palace of GLA in Tirana

This study relates two research fields developed by the Faculty of Architecture of Bari: the first one began since 2006, focused on the knowledge and enhancement of modern Italian architecture in Albania, and the second one characterized by the synergy between the disciplines of interior design, museology and museography applied to the topic of the archaeological museum. The study-case is the Palazzo della Gioventù del Littorio Albanese (GLA), a building designed by the Florentine architect Gherardo Bosio in 1939 for the monumental centre of Tirana, which includes nowadays a variety of activities (Archaeological Museum, gym, library and Rector’s office of the Polytechnic of Tirana). A multidisciplinary Laboratory Degree carried out at the Faculty of Architecture of Bari during the a.y. 2012-2013, examined the original features, the transformations over time, and the potentiality of the Palace. The Laboratory developed a project of architectural requalification, partial re-functioning and expansion of this building, strengthening the cultural vocation and thereby contributing indirectly to the enhancement of the urban context. In particular, the Laboratory studied the existing Archaeological Museum, proposing a renewed ordering of the archaeological finds, and elaborated a project of enhancing the interior spaces, rationalization of the exhibition itinerary and renovation of the exhibition systems. It also developed a hypothesis of restriction in order to accommodate cultural activities annexed to the museum. The expansion of the museum has grown at the level of the basement of the building, with volumes not visible on the outside, preserving the original features of the architectural form. The possibility of requalification of the Palace of GLA as a museum centre fits into the framework of the development of the museum network, of which the Museum of Tirana could be a fulcrum able to offer a summary of the archaeological heritage of Albania

Celecoxib for the prevention of nonmuscle invasive bladder cancer: Results from a matched control study

New targets and approaches are under investigation for the treatment of nonmuscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). Preclinical data suggest cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) as a promising target. Celecoxib, a COX-2 selective inhibitor, inhibits tumor development and enhances survival, both in vitro and in vivo models of bladder cancer. Therefore, we conducted a pilot study of celecoxib to prevent recurrence in patients with intermediate risk NMIBC

Hexaminolevulinate hydrochloride in the detection of nonmuscle invasive cancer of the bladder

Clinical trials have shown that hexaminolevulinate (HAL) fluorescence cystoscopy improves the detection of bladder tumors compared with standard white-light cystoscopy, resulting in more efficacious treatment. However, some recent meta-analyses report controversially on recurrence-free rates with this procedure. A systematic review of literature was performed from December 2014 to January 2015 using the PubMed, Embase and Cochrane databases for controlled trials on photodynamic diagnosis (PDD) with HAL. A total of 154 publications were found up to January 2015. Three of the authors separately reviewed the records to evaluate eligibility and methodological quality of clinical trials. A total of 16 publications were considered eligible for analysis. HAL-PDD-guided cystoscopy increased overall tumor detection rate (proportion difference 19%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.152-0.236) although the benefit was particularly significant in patients with carcinoma in situ (CIS) lesion (proportion difference 15.7%, 95% CI 0.069-0.245) and was reduced in papillary lesions (Ta proportion difference 5.9%, 95% CI 0.014-0.103 and T1 proportion difference 1.2%, 95% CI 0.033-0.057). Moreover, there were 15% of patients (95% CI 0.098-0.211) with at least one additional tumor seen with PDD. With regard to recurrence rates, the data sample was insufficient for a statistical analysis, although the evaluation of raw data showed a trend in favor of HAL-PDD. This meta-analysis confirms the increased tumor detection rate by HAL-PDD with a most pronounced benefit for CIS lesion

Electron Beam Lithography patterning of superconducting and magnetic nanostructures for novel optical and spintronic devices

In this thesis novel, high-end superconducting and spintronic devices have been fabricated and characterized. In summary, the proposed work has been focused on the realization of nanowires, and more generally nanostructures, using the Electron Beam Lithography. Such a technology offers a powerful solution for nanofabrication able to conjugate spatial resolution, operation flexibility, and costs. Two main research fields has been explored: superconductive nanowires for advanced optical detection and nanostructures for magneto-resistance based devices

Synthesis and Characterisation of Complex Polymer Architectures based on Step-Growth Polymerisation

Block copolymers have been proposed previously as compatibilizers in blends of incompatible polymers, being able to improve the blend morphology and mechanical properties by obtaining a finer dispersion of the minor component. The main objective of this PhD project is the synthesis of complex polymer architectures, namely grafted block copolymers, in which the backbone is an aromatic polyester, with a view to being used as compatibilizers for blends of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) and polystyrene (PS). Given the variety of possible applications of PET PS blends, the design of a synthetic approach for PET PS branched block copolymers is pursued, as a promising strategy towards blend compatibilization. The proposed synthetic strategy comprises a first step in which macromonomers, functionalised at only one chain end with a bisphenol moiety, are obtained via living/controlled chain growth mechanisms. For the synthesis of PS macromonomers, two different approaches using anionic polymerisation – the so-called initiating and the end capping approach – have been compared by extensive characterisation, exploiting NMR, SEC, MALDI ToF and interaction chromatography. Moreover, the use of a bisphenol functionalised initiator for anionic polymerisation has been investigated. A second kind of macromonomer has been synthesised by the polymerisation of poly(poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate) (PolyPEGMEM), initially via anionic polymerisation, and subsequently developing an ATRP strategy, with the synthesis of a bisphenol functionalised ATRP initiator. The second step of the synthetic approach of graft copolymers is the incorporation of macromonomers (PS and PolyPEGMEM) into step growth polymerisation of polyesters, as a comonomer. The PET PS graft copolymers have been investigated as compatibilizers for PET/PS blends, testing the effect of different PS graft lengths and different structures of copolymer, by measuring PS domain size by SEM. Even if no significant differences were detected among the blends with different copolymers, their effectiveness proved to be superior than existing commercial compatibilizers. Finally, the versatility of the synthetic approach for graft copolymers with a step growth polymer backbone was successfully demonstrated by the incorporation of macromonomers (both PS and PolyPEGMEM) into a polysulfone backbone. For PS macromonomers in particular, the effect of different amounts of PS macromonomer and different reaction solution viscosity was also investigated

Basques in Stockton : a study of assimilation

In Stockton today there is a small number of persons who come under the category, Basque. As the origin of the Basques and their language is as yet undetermined, it lends a somewhat mysterious air to them. The purpose of this study is to determine whether the Basques, more particularly the younger generation, are becoming assimilated into the community. Are they the Basque in their manner of living, or are they American? WIthin the scope of this study fall some 219 individuals organized into eighty-seven family groups. They are the first and second generation families and their unmarried children living at home. Most of the material for this paper was gathered from them by personal interview. Very little was obtained from other sources, primarily because the author has no facility with French, Spanish, or Basque, in which languages most of the material is to be found. The study will cover two major phases. The first deals with an explanation of assimilation, historical background and other facts about the Basque people. The second section covers actual facts found in the survey made of the Basques in Stockton. The conclusion presents a brief summary of these findings. It will attempt to answer whether or not assimilation has taken place, and if it has, why

Notes on the function of Gothic -U

In this article the distribution of the Gothic enclitic particleu is examined in the light of speech act theor y. It is argued that the particle is optional in non-canonical questions but compulsory in canonical ones, therefore it should be regarded as a fully vital and not yet vestigial questionintroducing device in Gothic