A molecular mechanism for the water-hydroxyl balance during wetting of TiO2

We show that the formation of the wetting layer and the experimentally observed continuous shift of the H2O-OH balance towards molecular water at increasing coverage on a TiO2(110) surface can be rationalized on a molecular level. The mechanism is based on the initial formation of stable hydroxyl pairs, a repulsive interaction between these pairs and an attractive interaction with respect to water molecules. The experimental data are obtained by synchrotron radiation photoelectron spectroscopy and interpreted with the aid of density functional theory calculations and Monte Carlo simulations

Multiparton interactions and production of minijets in high energy hadronic collisions

We discuss the inclusive cross section to produce two minijets with a large separation in rapidity in high energy hadronic collisions. The contribution to the inclusive cross section from the exchange of a BFKL Pomeron is compared with the contribution from the exchange of two BFKL Pomerons, which is induced by the unitarization of the semi-hard interaction. The effect of the multiple exchange is studied both as a function of the azimuthal correlation and as a function of the transverse momentum of the observed minijets.Comment: TeX file, 20 pages, 4 figures available on reques

Dibenzoyl-methane derivatives as potential and exciting new therapy for the treatment of childhood bone cancer

Abstract. Childhood bone cancer though rare, has very limited treatment choices, with poor survival rates and often involving amputation. We have developed a novel molecule, 2', 4'-dihydroxy-dithion-dibenzoyl-methane and tested it on hepatic, colon, lung and osteoblasts cancer cell lines. Thionylation of 2', 4'- dihydroxydibenzoylmethane led to selective targeting of bone cancer cells, stopping their growth and leading to their death without affecting non-cancerous cells within the bone marrow or other non-malignant cells

Effective Regge QCD

A new framework for a high energy limit of quantum gauge field theories is introduced. Its potency is illustrated on a new derivation of the reggeization of the gluon.Comment: Latex, 9 pages + 2 figures as PS-file, extended version, to appear in Phys. Rev. Let

Rapidity gaps and production of minijets in high-energy hadronic collisions

High energy hadronic interactions can produce a final state characterized by minijets separated by a large gap in the rapidity distribution of the produced secondary particles. We discuss the process by keeping into account the possibility of having multiple parton collisions in the hadronic interaction. At Tevatron energy the correction to the single scattering term induced by the presence of multiparton interactions is large for transverse momenta smaller than 6 GeV.Comment: 29 pages, TeX file, 2 figures which are now include

Energy consumption in chemical fuel-driven self-assembly

Nature extensively exploits high-energy transient self-assembly structures that are able to perform work through a dissipative process. Often, self-assembly relies on the use of molecules as fuel that is consumed to drive thermodynamically unfavourable reactions away from equilibrium. Implementing this kind of non-equilibrium self-assembly process in synthetic systems is bound to profoundly impact the fields of chemistry, materials science and synthetic biology, leading to innovative dissipative structures able to convert and store chemical energy. Yet, despite increasing efforts, the basic principles underlying chemical fuel-driven dissipative self-assembly are often overlooked, generating confusion around the meaning and definition of scientific terms, which does not favour progress in the field. The scope of this Perspective is to bring closer together current experimental approaches and conceptual frameworks. From our analysis it also emerges that chemically fuelled dissipative processes may have played a crucial role in evolutionary processes

Teaching Story without Struggle: Using Graded Readers and Their Audio Packs in the EFL Classroom

In recent years the support for extensive reading (ER) in English as a second or foreign language (ESL/EFL) programs has been compelling. When practicing extensive reading, the learner reads a wide variety of texts for pleasure and achieves a general understanding of the content while deciphering unknown words through context. This approach contrasts with intensive reading, a more traditional approach based on a slow, careful reading of a text, with goals of complete comprehension and the identification of specific details and information

Aldo Keto Reductase 1B7 and Prostaglandin F2α Are Regulators of Adrenal Endocrine Functions

Prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α), represses ovarian steroidogenesis and initiates parturition in mammals but its impact on adrenal gland is unknown. Prostaglandins biosynthesis depends on the sequential action of upstream cyclooxygenases (COX) and terminal synthases but no PGF2α synthases (PGFS) were functionally identified in mammalian cells. In vitro, the most efficient mammalian PGFS belong to aldo-keto reductase 1B (AKR1B) family. The adrenal gland is a major site of AKR1B expression in both human (AKR1B1) and mouse (AKR1B3, AKR1B7). Thus, we examined the PGF2α biosynthetic pathway and its functional impact on both cortical and medullary zones. Both compartments produced PGF2α but expressed different biosynthetic isozymes. In chromaffin cells, PGF2α secretion appeared constitutive and correlated to continuous expression of COX1 and AKR1B3. In steroidogenic cells, PGF2α secretion was stimulated by adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and correlated to ACTH-responsiveness of both COX2 and AKR1B7/B1. The pivotal role of AKR1B7 in ACTH-induced PGF2α release and functional coupling with COX2 was demonstrated using over- and down-expression in cell lines. PGF2α receptor was only detected in chromaffin cells, making medulla the primary target of PGF2α action. By comparing PGF2α-responsiveness of isolated cells and whole adrenal cultures, we demonstrated that PGF2α repressed glucocorticoid secretion by an indirect mechanism involving a decrease in catecholamine release which in turn decreased adrenal steroidogenesis. PGF2α may be regarded as a negative autocrine/paracrine regulator within a novel intra-adrenal feedback loop. The coordinated cell-specific regulation of COX2 and AKR1B7 ensures the generation of this stress-induced corticostatic signal

L'abuso sessuale nei bambini prepuberi. Requisiti e raccomandazioni per una valutazione appropriata

Il testo, in assenza di una specifica formazione universitaria, ha lo scopo di fornire un aiuto ai professionisti medici che si trovano a valutare un soggetto prepubere con sospetto di abuso sessuale. Esso non costituisce una linea-guida per la diagnosi di abuso sessuale, ma definisce alcuni requisiti essenziali e diffonde alcune conoscenze per evitare errori che possano ripercuotersi negativamente sulla valutazione. Sovente il professionista che si trova ad effettuare la prima valutazione pu\uf2 non avere le sufficienti competenze ed \ue8 quindi necessario acquisire le conoscenze che permettano di minimizzare il rischio di errori in un settore di particolare complessit\ue0