Spatially: Resolved heterogeneous dynamics in a strong colloidal gel

We re-examine the classical problem of irreversible colloid aggregation, showing that the application of Digital Fourier Imaging (DFI), a class of optical correlation methods that combine the power of light scattering and imaging, allows one to pick out novel useful evidence concerning the restructuring processes taking place in a strong colloidal gel. In particular, the spatially-resolved displacement fields provided by DFI strongly suggest that the temporally-intermittent local rearrangements taking place in the course of gel ageing are characterized by very long-ranged spatial correlations

Biopolymer gels with "physical" cross-links: gelation kinetics, aging, heterogeneous dynamics, and macroscopic mechanical properties

Alginate is a natural biopolymer that forms, in the presence of divalent cations, ionic-bound gels typifying a large class of biological gels stabilized by non-covalent cross-links, and displaying a consistent restructuring kinetics. We investigate the kinetics of formation and aging of alginate gels by slow permeation of a curing CaCl2 agent by means of photon correlation imaging, a novel optical technique that allows obtaining the microscopic dynamics of the sample, while retaining at the same time the spatial resolution of imaging techniques. Specifically, the gelling kinetics displays a peculiar non-diffusive behavior, and the subsequent restructuring of the gel structure shares several features in common with the aging of colloidal gels, in particular for what concerns the occurrence of heterogeneous dynamics effects. A comparative analysis of the gel macroscopic mechanical properties at different aging stages further highlights distinctive effects arising from the non-permanent nature of the bonds

REPENSANDO 1983-2022

La historia de este proyecto surge al repensarlo. Pocas ciudades en el mundo se pueden jactar de la permanencia en el tiempo de su patrimonio edificado, de la estratificación de las huellas de su pasado - presentes en superficie o en profundidad-, del arraigo de sus estructuras, desde las más antiguas a las más modernas, como lo puede hacer Roma

IL PRESENTE DEL PASSATO

Non molte città al mondo presentano una stratificazione storica tanto densa quanto Roma. Il fatto è che essa dalle sue origini - 741 a.c. - ad oggi non ha conosciuto le catastrofi che hanno segnato la vita di molte altre città. Una continuità pressoché ininterrotta ne ha caratterizzato la costruzione a partire dal XVI secolo, dall’ultimo saccheggio nel 1527; ma anche le devastazioni barbariche in età medievale di ciò che restava della città romana e dei nuovi insediamenti costruiti sulle sue rovine, costituitisi intorno ai presidi della Cristianità, non sono valse a cancellare l’immensa forza dei tracciati, la configurazione dei grandi recinti dei complessi imperiali, la miriade di ville e casali rurali che popolavano il territorio entro e fuori delle mura Aureliane

Orizzonti di senso del progetto contemporaneo. Progettare per chi e in nome di cosa

Detrás de todo encargo arquitectónico, como detrás de cualquier tema de proyecto, se observa la existencia de una dimensión mayor a la inmediatez de las circunstancias. A esta dimensión el proyecto debe referirse para poder desplegar su propia potencialidad y encontrar, al mismo tiempo, el sentido de su propia acción

Sobre las ruinas de la modernidad: El caso del edificio de la Juventud Italiana del Littorio (GIL) en Campobasso

Las circunstancias históricas que rodean este edificio son paradójicas; por un lado ha estado en el centro de disputas entre instituciones y sus respectivas líneas culturales y además, bajo la acción de las contradicciones; demolido en forma parcial y sólo después protegido, al reconocerse su valor tanto histórico, como arquitectónico. El proyecto que exponemos interviene sobre este edificio; una ruina de la modernidad italiana

Near Normalization of Metabolic and Functional Features of the Central Nervous System in Type 1 Diabetic Patients With End-Stage Renal Disease After Kidney-Pancreas Transplantation

OBJECTIVE The pathogenesis of brain disorders in type 1 diabetes (T1D) is multifactorial and involves the adverse effects of chronic hyperglycemia and of recurrent hypoglycemia. Kidney-pancreas (KP), but not kidney alone (KD), transplantation is associated with sustained normoglycemia, improvement in quality of life, and reduction of morbidity/mortality in diabetic patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS The aim of our study was to evaluate with magnetic resonance imaging and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H MRS) the cerebral morphology and metabolism of 15 ESRD plus T1D patients, 23 patients with ESRD plus T1D after KD (n = 9) and KP (n = 14) transplantation, and 8 age-matched control subjects. RESULTS Magnetic resonance imaging showed a higher prevalence of cerebrovascular disease in ESRD plus T1D patients (53% [95% CI 36–69]) compared with healthy subjects (25% [3–6], P = 0.04). Brain 1H MRS showed lower levels of N-acetyl aspartate (NAA)-to-choline ratio in ESRD plus T1D, KD, and KP patients compared with control subjects (control subjects vs. all, P < 0.05) and of NAA-to-creatine ratio in ESRD plus T1D compared with KP and control subjects (ESRD plus T1D vs. control and KP subjects, P ≤ 0.01). The evaluation of the most common scores of psychological and neuropsychological function showed a generally better intellectual profile in control and KP subjects compared with ESRD plus T1D and KD patients. CONCLUSIONS Diabetes and ESRD are associated with a precocious form of brain impairment, chronic cerebrovascular disease, and cognitive decline. In KP-transplanted patients, most of these features appeared to be near normalized after a 5-year follow-up period of sustained normoglycemia

Effect of the Purinergic Inhibitor Oxidized ATP in a Model of Islet Allograft Rejection

The lymphocytic ionotropic purinergic P2X receptors (P2X1R-P2X7R, or P2XRs) sense ATP released during cell damage-activation, thus regulating T-cell activation. We aim to define the role of P2XRs during islet allograft rejection and to establish a novel anti-P2XRs strategy to achieve long-term islet allograft function. Our data demonstrate that P2X1R and P2X7R are induced in islet allograft-infiltrating cells, that only P2X7R is increasingly expressed during alloimmune response, and that P2X1R is augmented in both allogeneic and syngeneic transplantation. In vivo short-term P2X7R targeting (using periodate-oxidized ATP [oATP]) delays islet allograft rejection, reduces the frequency of Th1/Th17 cells, and induces hyporesponsiveness toward donor antigens. oATP-treated mice displayed preserved islet grafts with reduced Th1 transcripts. P2X7R targeting and rapamycin synergized in inducing long-term islet function in 80% of transplanted mice and resulted in reshaping of the recipient immune system. In vitro P2X7R targeting using oATP reduced T-cell activation and diminished Th1/Th17 cytokine production. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells obtained from long-term islet-transplanted patients showed an increased percentage of P2X7R+CD4+ T cells compared with controls. The beneficial effects of oATP treatment revealed a role for the purinergic system in islet allograft rejection, and the targeting of P2X7R is a novel strategy to induce long-term islet allograft function

Effect of the Purinergic Inhibitor Oxidized ATP in a Model of Islet Allograft Rejection

The lymphocytic ionotropic purinergic P2X receptors (P2X1R-P2X7R, or P2XRs) sense ATP released during cell damage-activation, thus regulating T-cell activation. We aim to define the role of P2XRs during islet allograft rejection and to establish a novel anti-P2XRs strategy to achieve long-term islet allograft function. Our data demonstrate that P2X1R and P2X7R are induced in islet allograft-infiltrating cells, that only P2X7R is increasingly expressed during alloimmune response, and that P2X1R is augmented in both allogeneic and syngeneic transplantation. In vivo short-term P2X7R targeting (using periodate-oxidized ATP [oATP]) delays islet allograft rejection, reduces the frequency of Th1/Th17 cells, and induces hyporesponsiveness toward donor antigens. oATP-treated mice displayed preserved islet grafts with reduced Th1 transcripts. P2X7R targeting and rapamycin synergized in inducing long-term islet function in 80% of transplanted mice and resulted in reshaping of the recipient immune system. In vitro P2X7R targeting using oATP reduced T-cell activation and diminished Th1/Th17 cytokine production. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells obtained from long-term islet-transplanted patients showed an increased percentage of P2X7R+CD4+ T cells compared with controls. The beneficial effects of oATP treatment revealed a role for the purinergic system in islet allograft rejection, and the targeting of P2X7R is a novel strategy to induce long-term islet allograft function

Una strada parco per la "Città Pontina"

Nel volume è presentato un progetto di parco lineare innervato sulla realizzazione di una pista ciclabile che sfrutta il tracciato ferroviario dismesso della tratta Velletri Terracina. Il parco include aree agricole, siti archeologici e di interesse storico e naturalistico ed una serie di cave dismesse di cui si progetta la rinaturalizzazioned il riuso per servizi del parco. Il progetto prevede inoltre risalite meccaniche ai centri antichi sulla Pedemontana Setina.In this volume is presented a draft innervated linear park on the creation of a bike path that takes advantage of the disused railway line is of Velletri Terracina. The park includes agricultural areas, and archaeological sites of historical and natural interest and a series of disused quarries where you plan to reuse the rinaturalizzazioned for park services. The project also includes the ski lifts to the ancient centers on the foothills Setina