Evaluation of Glutamatergic Treatment in Reducing Nicotine Seeking Behavior in Rats

Although pharmacotherapy and psychosocial support can help smokers to quit, the high relapse rates indicate a high unmet need for more effective treatment. Recent studies have highlighted changes in glutamate (GLU) homeostasis in the circuitry from the prefrontal cortex (PFC) to the nucleus accumbens (Nacc) as vital in the reinstatement of drug-seeking behavior. Restoring basal concentrations of extracellular GLU, thereby increasing tonic activation of the presynaptic group II metabotropic GLU receptors (mGluR2/3) by a single injection of N- acetylcysteine (N-AC) prevented cues-induced cocaine- and heroin-seeking behavior in rats. Although nicotine-associated cues reinstate drug-seeking by acting on GLU transmission in the Nacc it is still not clear whether N-AC can inhibit cue-induced reinstatement in abstinent rats after nicotine self-administration. It is also not clear whether chronic N-AC treatment could elicit an enduring reduction in cue-induced reinstatement. Rats were trained to associate discriminative stimuli (SDs) with intravenous nicotine vs. saline in two-lever operant cages. Reinforced response was followed by cue (CSs). Re-exposure to nicotine SD+/CS+, but not saline SD-/CS-, revived responding at the previously reinforced lever. A single dose of N-AC (100 mg/kg i.p.) increased extracellular GLU in the Nacc only in rats with an history of nicotine self-administration. Moreover, the same dose of N-AC induced a short-term reduction of cue-induced nicotine-seeking behavior that was completely prevented by pre-treatment with the selective mGluR2/3 antagonist LY341495 (1 mg/kg i.p.). Chronic treatment with N-AC (100 mg/kg) during 14 days of cues exposure therapy, induced long- lasting anti-relapse activity that was still present 50 days after the end of the treatment. To investigate the molecular mechanism in the Nacc underlying chronic N-AC effect, rats were killed at different time points. Western blot analysis revealed that 7 days after treatment, chronic N-AC restored the expression of proteins crucial for GLU homeostasis, while 51 days after treatment the expression of mGluR2 was increased only in chronic N-AC treated rats. Overall, the results of the Thesis suggest a potential therapeutic use of N-AC for cue-controlled nicotine-seeking behavior

Bionanocomposite Membranes Based on Cellulose Nanofibrils: Effects of Graphene Oxide and Calcium Ions

Tale lavoro riguarda la caratterizzazione (DLS, UV-VIS spectroscopy, reologia, tensile test, WVTR, Raman, SEM) di materiali a base di nanofibre di cellulosa (NFC)e ossido di grafene, valutando gli effetti di ioni calcio come possibile crosslinker per le fibre. Le nanofibre sono disperse in un sistema acquoso e permettono di ottenere membrane trasparenti che possono avere diverse applicazioni, in particolare nel food packagingope

Informatica e retorica forense

In questo scritto, affronteremo alcune questioni relative al rapporto fra informatica e retorica forense, assumendo la centralità dell’esperienza processuale e della retorica, che è la logica sua propria. Ci occuperemo pertanto della topica – con riferimento all’informatica giuridica documentaria e alle possibile prospettive di sviluppo aperte dalla logica fuzzy –, interrogandoci nel contempo sulla struttura dialettica del processo – con riferimento al processo penale ed alle problematiche della computer forensic science. In tal modo, cercheremo di evidenziare, in modo critico e problematico, i nuovi orizzonti dischiusi dall’utilizzo di strumenti informatici all’interno dell’esperienza processuale

Multiphysics Finite\u2013Element Modelling of an All\u2013Vanadium Redox Flow Battery for Stationary Energy Storage

All-Vanadium Redox Flow Batteries (VRFBs) are emerging as a novel technology for stationary energy storage. Numerical models are useful for exploring the potential performance of such devices, optimizing the structure and operating condition of cell stacks, and studying its interfacing to the electrical grid. A one-dimensional steady-state multiphysics model of a single VRFB, including mass, charge and momentum transport and conservation, and coupled to a kinetic model for electrochemical reactions, is first presented. This model is then extended, including reservoir equations, in order to simulate the VRFB charge and discharge dynamics. These multiphysics models are discretized by the finite element method in a commercial software package (COMSOL). Numerical results of both static and dynamic 1D models are compared to those from 2D models, with the same parameters, showing good agreement. This motivates the use of reduced models for a more efficient system simulation

Development of piezoelectric harvesters with integrated trimming devices

Piezoelectric cantilever harvesters have a large power output at their natural frequency, but in some applications the frequency of ambient vibrations is different fromthe harvester\u2019s frequency and/or ambient vibrations are periodicwith some harmonic components. To copewith these operating conditions harvesters with integrated trimming devices (ITDs) are proposed. Some prototypes are developed with the aid of an analytical model and tested with an impulsive method. Results show that a small trimming device can lower the main resonance frequency of a piezoelectric harvester of the same extent as a larger tip mass and, moreover, it generates at high frequency a second resonance peak. A multi-physics numerical finite element (FE) model is developed for predicting the generated power and for performing a stress-strain analysis of harvesters with ITDs. The numerical model is validated on the basis of the experimental results. Several configurations of ITDs are conceived and studied. Numerical results show that the harvesters with ITDs are able to generate relevant power at two frequencies, owing to the particular shape of the modes of vibration. The stress in the harvesters with ITDs is smaller than the stress in the harvester with a tip mass trimmed to the same frequency

Distributed and Lumped Parameter Models for Fuel Cells

The chapter presents a review of modeling techniques for three types of fuel cells that are gaining industrial importance, namely, polymer electrolyte membrane (PEMFC), direct methanol (DMFC), and solid oxide (SOFC) fuel cells (FCs). The models presented are both multidimensional, suitable for investigating distributions, gradients, and inhomogeneities inside the cells, and zero-dimensional, which allows for fast analyses of overall performance and can be easily interfaced with or embedded in other numerical tools, for example, for studying the interaction with static converters needed to control the electric power flow. Thermal dependence is considered in all models. Some special numerical approaches are presented, which allow facing specific problems. An example is the Proper Generalized Decomposition (PDG) that allows overcoming the challenges arising from the extreme aspect ratio of the thin electrolyte separating anode and cathode. The use of numerical modeling as part of identification techniques, particularly by means of stochastic optimization approaches, for extracting the material parameters from multiple in situ measurements is also discussed and examples are given. Merits and demerits of the different models are discussed

An Impedimetric Biosensing Strategy Based on Bicyclic Peptides as Bioreceptors for Monitoring huPA Cancer Biomarker

In the era of liquid biopsies, the reliable and cost-effective detection and screening of cancer biomarkers has become of fundamental importance, thus paving the way for the advancement of research in the field of point-of-care testing and the development of new methodologies and technologies. Indeed, the latter ones can help designing advanced diagnostic tools that can offer portability, ease of use with affordable production and operating costs. In this respect, impedance-based biosensing platforms might represent an attractive alternative. In this work, we describe a proof-of-concept study aimed at designing portable impedimetric biosensors for the monitoring of human urokinase-type plasminogen activator (h-uPA) cancer biomarker by employing small synthetic receptors. Aberrant levels of h-uPA were correlated with different types of cancers. Herein, we report the use of two bicyclic peptides (P2 and P3) which have been engineered to bind h-uPA with high affinity and exquisite specificity. The synthetic receptors were immobilized via biotin-streptavidin chemistry on the surface of commercial screen-printed electrodes. The impedimetric changes in the electrode/solution interface upon incubation of spiked h-uPA samples in the presence of a redox probe were followed via electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The P3-based impedimetric assay showed the best outcomes in terms of dynamic range and linearity (0.01–1 μg mL−1) and sensitivity (LOD = 9 ng mL−1). To fully assess the performances of P3 over P2, and to compare the label-free architecture vs. labelled architecture, a voltammetric assay was also developed

An Alternative Test Method for Determining Hardened Air Void Parameters for Concrete Pavement

This research has developed an alternative test method for determining hardened air void parameters that follows ASTM C457 Procedure C, but does not require image analysis software or the required training and skills to develop or use one. Instead, the alternative technique uses a sophisticated microscope that has on-board counting and measuring capabilities, that are easy to use and easy to repeat. The technique was developed and tested on concrete mixtures with four target air void percentages (control at 2%, low at 3 – 5%, medium at 5 – 7%, and high at >8%) and compared to ASTM C457 Procedure A and B. The concrete produced was a conventional pavement mixture, which was a straight cement mixture with a target 3” slump. The results show that the alternative technique is not only just as accurate as the other methods, but it reduces the analysis time, human judgment calls, and the development and maintenance of a sophisticated image analysis program, which are all typical issues with any of the three procedures described in ASTM C457. Additionally, the alternative technique produces all hardened air void parameters that ASTM C457 provides. This study also demonstrates new potential issues that could result in erroneous hardened air void results when following ASTM C457. Lastly, this study provides a detailed description of the equipment necessary to produce the alternative method including a very detailed list of steps required to obtained the hardened air void parameters

Assessing the Degree of Polish on Hardened Concrete Air Void Parameters

This study provides much needed insight regarding how the degree of polish on a concrete sample affects the hardened air void parameters. As required by ASTM C457, each hardened concrete sample assessed by any of its three procedures needs to be polished until light reflects off of the surface. However, there is currently little to no insight as to how various degrees of polish will affect the concrete air void parameters. This research aims to fill the gap in the literature by providing a step-by-step procedure, materials necessary, and most importantly, the effect of the degree of polish on the hardened air void system parameters. Four target air void percentages (control at 2%, low at 3 – 5%, medium at 5 – 7%, and high at >8%) were investigated. Two different polishing mediums (silicon carbide and diamond) were investigated at six different polishing pad grit sizes. The results show that the most economical and preferred polishing method uses diamond polish pads. The results also indicate that the first polishing step is crucial in producing a suitable surface for further analysis, which requires using the coarsest polishing medium. Therefore, the results indicate that any further polishing (at finer degrees of polish) is negligible in obtaining the hardened air void parameters following ASTM C457 procedures. The average percent difference across each polish pad grit size investigates was 3.8%. This value amounted to an average hardened air void difference of only 0.1 across all samples. Comparing the average hardened air void percentage across all polish pad grit sizes to the ASTM C231 fresh air percentage reveals an average difference of 6.7%, which constituded a difference of 0.3. Therefore, the results show non-statistically significant variations between any of the degrees of polish investigated, especially between the coarsest polishing medium and the finest polishing medium, which produces the reflective surface as stipulated in ASTM C457