Outdoor characterization of dye solar cells: first results

The Centre for Hybrid and Organic Solar Energy (CHOSE) at the University of Rome Tor Vergata is focusing its efforts in developing reliable and stable dye solar cells and modules. The CHOSE development program foresees that new cells and modules will be tested both indoor and outdoor in order to have an overview of the real performances of the devices. This is generally a key point for a correct evaluation of the actual performances of any photovoltaic technology. In October 2008 an outdoor measurement campaign on Dye Solar Cells has been started. Two different types of cells have been built in the laboratory, varying the characteristics of the TiO2 film, in order to evaluate their behaviour in real outdoor environment. Data collected during the two first month of outdoor cell exposure are presented in this paper. Daily trends of cell efficiency as a function of the environmental parameters and of the cell temperature have been investigated, focusing on the cell behaviour at low irradiance levels

Optimization of transgene action at the post-transcriptional level: high quality parthenocarpic fruits in industrial tomatoes

Background: Genetic engineering of parthenocarpy confers to horticultural plants the ability toproduce fruits under environmental conditions that curtail fruit productivity and quality. TheDefH9-iaaM transgene, whose predicted action is to confer auxin synthesis specifically in theplacenta, ovules and derived tissues, has been shown to confer parthenocarpy to several plantspecies (tobacco, eggplant, tomato) and varieties.Results: UC82 tomato plants, a typical cultivar used by the processing industry, transgenic for theDefH9-iaaM gene produce parthenocarpic fruits that are malformed. UC82 plants transgenic forthe DefH9-RI-iaaM, a DefH9-iaaM derivative gene modified in its 5'ULR by replacing 53 nucleotidesimmediately upstream of the AUG initiation codon with an 87 nucleotides-long sequence derivedfrom the rolA intron sequence, produce parthenocarpic fruits of high quality. In an in vitro translationsystem, the iaaM mRNA, modified in its 5'ULR is translated 3\u20134 times less efficiently than theoriginal transcript. An optimal expressivity of parthenocarpy correlates with a reduced transgenemRNA steady state level in DefH9-RI-iaaM flower buds in comparison to DefH9-iaaM flower buds.Consistent with the known function of the iaaM gene, flower buds transgenic for the DefH9-RI-iaaMgene contain ten times more IAA than control untransformed flower buds, but five times less thanDefH9-iaaM flower buds.Conclusions:: By using an auxin biosynthesis transgene downregulated at the post-transcriptionallevel, an optimal expressivity of parthenocarpy has been achieved in a genetic background notsuitable for the original transgene. Thus, the method allows the generation of a wider range ofexpressivity of the desired trait in transgenic plants

Genetic Polymorphisms of Functional Candidate Genes and Recurrent Acute Otitis Media With or Without Tympanic Membrane Perforation

Evaluation of the genetic contribution to the development of recurrent acute otitis media (rAOM) remains challenging. This study aimed to evaluate the potential association between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in selected genes and rAOM and to analyze whether genetic variations might predispose to the development of complicated recurrent cases, such as those with tympanic membrane perforation (TMP).A total of 33 candidate genes and 47 SNPs were genotyped in 200 children with rAOM (116 with a history of TMP) and in 200 healthy controls.INF\u3b3 rs 12369470CT was significantly less common in the children with rAOM than in healthy controls (odds ratio [OR] 0.5, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.25-1, P\u200a=\u200a0.04). Although not significant, interleukin (IL)-1\u3b2 rs 1143627G and toll-like receptor (TLR)-4 rs2737191AG were less frequently detected in the children with rAOM than in controls. The opposite was true for IL-8 rs2227306CT, which was found more frequently in the children with rAOM than in healthy controls. The IL-10 rs1800896TC SNP and the IL-1\u3b1 rs6746923A and AG SNPs were significantly more and less common, respectively, among children without a history of TMP than among those who suffered from this complication (OR 2.17, 95% CI 1.09-4.41, P\u200a=\u200a0.02, and OR 0.42, 95% CI 0.21-0.84, P\u200a=\u200a0.01).This study is the first report suggesting an association between variants in genes encoding for factors of innate or adaptive immunity and the occurrence of rAOM with or without TMP, which confirms the role of genetics in conditioning susceptibility to AOM

Effects of microalloying on an innovative quenched and tempered plastic mold steel

presentazione orale al TMS 2008 Annual Meeting & Exhibition (TMS2008), New Orleans, LA, USA, 9/3/2008 - 13/3/200

Epigenetic Matters: The Link between Early Nutrition, Microbiome, And Long-term Health Development

Epigenetic modifications are among the most important mechanisms by which environmental factors can influence early cellular differentiation and create new phenotypic traits during pregnancy and within the neonatal period without altering the deoxyribonucleic acid sequence. A number of antenatal and postnatal factors, such as maternal and neonatal nutrition, pollutant exposure, and the composition of microbiota, contribute to the establishment of epigenetic changes that can not only modulate the individual adaptation to the environment but also have an influence on lifelong health and disease by modifying inflammatory molecular pathways and the immune response. Postnatal intestinal colonization, in turn determined by maternal flora, mode of delivery, early skin-to-skin contact and neonatal diet, leads to specific epigenetic signatures that can affect the barrier properties of gut mucosa and their protective role against later insults, thus potentially predisposing to the development of late-onset inflammatory diseases. The aim of this review is to outline the epigenetic mechanisms of programming and development acting within early-life stages and to examine in detail the role of maternal and neonatal nutrition, microbiota composition, and other environmental factors in determining epigenetic changes and their short-and long-term effects

The Bulletin, School of Nursing Diploma Program Alumni Association, 1979

Alumni Calendar Recognition Plaque A Letter from the President Officers and Chairpersons The Future of Nursing Education at Jefferson Annual Reports Alumni Benefits Memo from Your President Resume of Alumni Association Meetings Committee Reports The Nursing Alumni Office Serves You Profiles in Courage Special Reports Ways and Means Committee Report 38th General Hospital Reunion College of Allied Health Sciences Achievement Award Class News Marriages Births In Memoriam Alumni Notices School of Nursing Notice

Impact of Circadian Desynchrony on Spermatogenesis: A Mini Review

The purpose of this mini review is to provide data about pre-clinical and clinical evidence exploring the impact of circadian desynchrony on spermatogenesis. Several lines of evidence exist demonstrating that disruption of circadian rhythms may interfere with male fertility. Experimental knock-out or knock-down of clock genes, physiologically involved in the regulation of circadian rhythms, are associated with impairments of fertility pathways in both animal and human models. Moreover, disruption of circadian rhythms, due to reduction of sleep duration and/or alteration of its architecture can negatively interfere in humans with circulating levels of male sexual hormones as well as with semen parameters. Unfortunately, current evidence remains low due to study heterogeneity

Plastic localization phenomena in a Mn-alloyed austenitic steel

A 0.5 wt pct C, 22 wt pct Mn austenitic steel, recently proposed for fabricating automotive body structures by cold sheet forming, exhibits plastic localizations (PLs) during uniaxial tensile tests, yet showing a favorable overall strength and ductility. No localization happens during biaxial Erichsen cupping tests. Full-thickness tensile and Erichsen specimens, cut from as-produced steel sheets, were polished and tested at different strain rates. During the tensile tests, the PL phenomena consist first of macroscopic deformation bands traveling along the tensile axis, and then of a series of successive stationary deformation bands, each adjacent to the preceding ones; both types of bands involve the full specimen width and yield a macroscopically observable surface relief. No comparable surface relief was observed during the standard Erichsen tests. Because the stress state is known to influence PL phenomena, reduced-width Erichsen tests were performed on polished sheet specimens, in order to explore the transition from biaxial to uniaxial loading; surface relief lines were observed on a 20-mm-wide specimen, but not on wider ones

The Role of Testosterone in the Elderly: What Do We Know?

Testosterone is the most important hormone in male health. Aging is characterized by testosterone deficiency due to decreasing testosterone levels associated with low testicular production, genetic factors, adiposity, and illness. Low testosterone levels in men are associated with sexual dysfunction (low sexual desire, erectile dysfunction), reduced skeletal muscle mass and strength, decreased bone mineral density, increased cardiovascular risk and alterations of the glycometabolic profile. Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) shows several therapeutic effects while maintaining a good safety profile in hypogonadal men. TRT restores normal levels of serum testosterone in men, increasing libido and energy level and producing beneficial effects on bone density, strength and muscle as well as yielding cardioprotective effects. Nevertheless, TRT could be contraindicated in men with untreated prostate cancer, although poor findings are reported in the literature. In addition, different potential side effects, such as polycythemia, cardiac events and obstructive sleep apnea, should be monitored. The aim of our review is to provide an updated background regarding the pros and cons of TRT, evaluating its role and its clinical applicability in different domains