Origin of magnetism and quasiparticles properties in Cr-doped TiO2_2

Combining LSDA+$U$ and an analysis of superexchange interactions beyond DFT, we describe the magnetic ground states in rutile and anatase Cr-doped TiO$_2$. In parallel, we correct our LSDA+$U$ ground state through GW corrections ($GW$@LSDA+$U$) that reproduce the position of impurity states and the band gaps in satisfying agreement with experiments. Because of the different topological coordinations of Cr-Cr bonds in the ground states of rutile and anatase, superexchange interactions induce either ferromagnetic or antiferromagnetic couplings of Cr ions. In Cr-doped anatase, this interaction leads to a new mechanism which stabilizes a ferromagnetic ground state, in keeping with experimental evidence, without the need to invoke F-center exchange.Comment: 5<pages, 4 figure

A general [F-18]AlF radiochemistry procedure on two automated synthesis platforms

The first general [18F]AIF automated radiolabelling procedure developed on the GE Tracerlab FX FN (Left) and Trasis AllInOne (Right) platforms.</p

A nosocomial measles outbreak in Italy, February-April 2017

We describe a nosocomial outbreak of measles that occurred in an Italian hospital during the first months of 2017, involving 35 persons and including healthcare workers, support personnel working in the hospital, visitors and community contacts. Late diagnosis of the first case, support personnel not being promptly recognised as hospital workers and diffusion of the infection in the emergency department had a major role in sustaining this outbreak

Experimental analysis of a CO2 heat pump for instantaneous domestic hot water production

Abstract The performance of a CO2 (R744) heat pump (HP) depends strongly on the application and on the environmental operating conditions. In particular, the CO2 HP becomes competitive compared to traditional heat pumps using halogenated refrigerants in applications characterized by a high hot water demand (hospitals, sport centres, etc.). This paper deals with the experimental analysis of an air-to-water commercial R744 HP tested in ENEA laboratories for instantaneous production of domestic hot water (DHW). The results show that HP efficiency is strongly affected by the inlet water temperature at the gas cooler. A test equipment capable of maintaining the ambient temperature at a desired value (between -10 °C and +20 °C), and managing water flow and water temperature (between 15 °C and 45 °C) is used to evaluate the machine COP as a function of the boundary conditions (inlet gas cooler water temperature, water flow rate, external ambient temperature). The analysis shows the considerable potential of R744 heat pumps for the instantaneous production of DHW, combining a high performance and relevant energy saving. As well, it points out that, to maximize the COP it is necessary to combine the HP with a high stratification storage system, which ensures a suited inlet water temperature, and with a correct value of water flow

Evaluation of DFO-HOPO as an octadentate chelator for zirconium-89.

The future of 89Zr-based immuno-PET is reliant upon the development of new chelators with improved stability compared to the currently used deferoxamine (DFO). Herein, we report the evaluation of the octadentate molecule DFO-HOPO (3) as a suitable chelator for 89Zr and a more stable alternative to DFO. The molecule showed good potential for the future development of a DFO-HOPO-based bifunctional chelator (BFC) for the radiolabelling of biomolecules with 89Zr. This work broadens the selection of available chelators for 89Zr in search of improved successors to DFO for clinical 89Zr-immuno-PET

HER3-Mediated Resistance to Hsp90 Inhibition Detected in Breast Cancer Xenografts by Affibody-Based PET Imaging.

Purpose: Recent studies have highlighted a role of HER3 in HER2-driven cancers (e.g., breast cancer), implicating the upregulation of the receptor in resistance to HER-targeted therapies and Hsp90 inhibitors (e.g., AUY922). Therefore, we have developed an affibody-based PET radioconjugate that quantitatively assesses HER3 changes induced by Hsp90 inhibition in vivoExperimental Design: ZHER3:8698 affibody molecules were conjugated via the C-terminus cysteine to DFO-maleimide for 89Zr radiolabeling. The probe was characterized in vitro and in vivo in a panel of human breast cell lines and xenograft models with varying HER3 receptor levels. In addition, the radioconjugate was investigated as a tool to monitor the outcome of AUY922, an Hsp90 inhibitor, in an MCF-7 xenograft model.Results: We demonstrated that 89Zr-DFO-ZHER3:8698 can track changes in receptor expression in HER3-positive xenograft models and monitor the outcome of AUY922 treatment. Our in vitro findings showed that MCF-7 cells, which are phenotypically different from BT474, develop resistance to treatment with AUY922 through HER3/IGF-1Rβ-mediated signaling. Of note, the lack of response in vitro due to HER3 recovery was confirmed in vivo using 89Zr-DFO-ZHER3:8698-based imaging. Upon AUY922 treatment, higher radioconjugate uptake was detected in treated MCF-7 xenografts, correlating with an AUY922-induced HER3 upregulation concomitant with an increase in IGF-1Rβ expression.Conclusions: These data underline the potential of HER3-based PET imaging to noninvasively provide information about HER3 expression and to identify patients not responding to targeted therapies due to HER3 recovery. Clin Cancer Res; 24(8); 1853-65. ©2018 AACR

Radiosynthesis of the anticancer nucleoside analogue Trifluridine using an automated 18F-trifluoromethylation procedure.

Trifluoromethyl groups are widespread in medicinal chemistry, yet there are limited 18F-radiochemistry techniques available for the production of the complementary PET agents. Herein, we report the first radiosynthesis of the anticancer nucleoside analogue trifluridine, using a fully automated, clinically-applicable 18F-trifluoromethylation procedure. [18F]Trifluridine was obtained after two synthetic steps in 99%, and a molar activity of 0.4 GBq μmol-1 ± 0.05. Biodistribution and PET-imaging data using HCT116 tumour-bearing mice showed a 2.5 %ID g-1 tumour uptake of [18F]trifluridine at 60 minutes post-injection, with bone uptake becoming a prominent feature thereafter. In vivo metabolite analysis of selected tissues revealed the presence of the original radiolabelled nucleoside analogue, together with deglycosylated and phosphorylated [18F]trifluridine as the main metabolites. Our findings suggest a potential role for [18F]trifluridine as a PET radiotracer for elucidation of drug mechanism of action