New trends in platinum and palladium complexes as antineoplastic agents

The discovery of cisplatin (cis-Pt(NH3)2Cl2) as an antineoplastic agent has focused attention on the rational design of metal complexes that can be potentially used in cancer chemotherapy. Today, the pharmaceutical industry invests more than $1 billion each year in the development of new metal-based drugs to improve biological activities, in terms of cellular selectivity, therapeutic efficiency and minimization of side effects. Chemotherapies based on transition metals play a key role in cancer treatment, and among them platinum and palladium are the most fruitful. This article reviews the main recent advances in the design and synthesis of platinum- and palladium-based drugs, their structural features and biological studies of them. The rationale for the choice of the ligand, related to leaving groups, the geometry of the complex and the oxidation state of the metal ion, is discussed. An overview of the main biological techniques and approaches for testing the interaction of these molecules with the biological environment, mainly DNA, to validate the effect is also provided

Approximate Query Answering Based on Topological Neighborhood and Semantic Similarity in OpenStreetMap

In this paper we focus on a pictorial query language, referred to as Geographical Pictorial Query Language (GeoPQL), and we revise its formal semantics by considering the polygon-polyline, polyline-polyline, and polygon-polygon topological relationships. This work proposes the Approximate Answering Engine (AAE) within a Distributed System, referred to as GeoPQLJSON (GeoPQLJ). The AAE provides approximate answers to query with empty results by following two directions: the Operator Conceptual Neighborhood (OCN) graph, and the OpenStreetMap (OSM) attribute hierarchy, giving maximum flexibility to the user choices. According to the former, the geo-operators of the queries can be replaced with the ones labeling the adjacent nodes of the OCN graph. By following the latter, the system evaluates the OSM attribute semantic similarity according to the information content approach, and proposes possible attribute replacements to the user. Note that the presence of OSM attributes allows the quick and direct access to large amount of geographical data, without requiring in our case the use of the topological elements. The functionalities of the Distributed GeoPQLJ System are illustrated by several query examples

A Metal-Based Receptor for Selective Coordination and Fluorescent Sensing of Chloride

A scorpionate Zn2+ complex, constituted by a macrocyclic pyridinophane core attached to a pendant arm containing a fluorescent pyridyl-oxadiazole-phenyl unit (PyPD), has been shown to selectively recognize chloride anions, giving rise to changes in fluorescence emission that are clearly visible under a 365 nm UV lamp. This recognition event has been studied by means of absorption, fluorescence, and NMR spectroscopy, and it involves the intramolecular displacement of the PyPD unit by chloride anions. Moreover, since the chromophore is not removed from the system after the recognition event, the fluorescence can readily be restored by elimination of the bound chloride anion

Synthesis and biological characterization of a new fluorescent probe for vesicular trafficking based on polyazamacrocycle derivative

The fluorescent probes represent an important tool in the biological study, in fact characterization of cellular structures and organelles are an important tool-target for understanding the mechanisms regulating most biological processes. Recently, a series of polyamino-macrocycles based on 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane was synthesized, bearing one or two NBD units (AJ2NBD·4HCl) useful as sensors for metal cations and halides able to target and to detect apolar environment, as lipid membranes. In this paper, we firstly illustrate the chemical synthesis of the AJ2NBD probe, its electronic absorption spectra and its behavior regarding pH of the environment. Lack of any cellular toxicity and an efficient labelling on fresh, living cells was demonstrated, allowing the use of AJ2NBD in biological studies. In particular, this green fluorescent probe may represent a potential dye for the compartments involved in the endosomal/autophagic pathway. This research's field should benefit from the use of AJ2NBD as a vesicular tracer, however, to ensure the precise nature of vesicles/vacuoles traced by this new probe, other more specific tests are needed

The incidence of hip, forearm, humeral, ankle, and vertebral fragility fractures in Italy: results from a 3-year multicenter study

INTRODUCTION: We aimed to assess the incidence and hospitalization rate of hip and "minor" fragility fractures in the Italian population. METHODS: We carried out a 3-year survey at 10 major Italian emergency departments to evaluate the hospitalization rate of hip, forearm, humeral, ankle, and vertebral fragility fractures in people 45 years or older between 2004 and 2006, both men and women. These data were compared with those recorded in the national hospitalizations database (SDO) to assess the overall incidence of fragility fractures occurring at hip and other sites, including also those events not resulting in hospital admissions. RESULTS: We observed 29,017 fractures across 3 years, with hospitalization rates of 93.0% for hip fractures, 36.3% for humeral fractures, 31.3% for ankle fractures, 22.6% for forearm/wrist fractures, and 27.6% for clinical vertebral fractures. According to the analyses performed with the Italian hospitalization database in year 2006, we estimated an annual incidence of 87,000 hip, 48,000 humeral, 36,000 ankle, 85,000 wrist, and 155,000 vertebral fragility fractures in people aged 45 years or older (thus resulting in almost 410,000 new fractures per year). Clinical vertebral fractures were recorded in 47,000 events per year. CONCLUSIONS: The burden of fragility fractures in the Italian population is very high and calls for effective preventive strategies

Wet precipitation in northern Argentina: chemical characterization of soluble components in the Lerma Valley, Salta.

La depresión del valle de Lerma se ubica geográficamente en el centro sur de la Provincia de Salta y geológicamente en la Provincia Cordillera Oriental, en el noroeste de Argentina. Dentro de esta unidad geomorfológica,se ubicaron dos sitios para la colección de muestras de agua de lluvia en el período 2009 a 2012: uno en la localidad deVaqueros y otro en la Ciudad de Salta. El objetivo de este trabajo fue caracterizar la composición química del agua delluvia de la región e inferir las posibles fuentes que aportan a la misma. También este estudio propone evaluar la posibleinfluencia de las zonas con mineralizaciones polimetálicas, ubicadas al oeste del área de estudio, sobre la composicióndel agua de lluvia para cada muestra se analizó pH, conductividad eléctrica, concentración de aniones (Cl-, NO3- y SO42-),cationes (Na, Mg, K y Ca) y elementos traza (Al, Mn, Co, Cu, Zn, As, Sb, Ba y Pb). Para la interpretación de los resultadosse aplicaron técnicas estadísticas multivariadas y cálculos del factor de enriquecimiento, utilizando como valor dereferencia análisis químicos de polvo atmosférico recolectado en el área. El agua de lluvia local presenta enriquecimientosignificativo en las concentraciones de Ca, Cu, Zn, As, Sb y Pb y, de acuerdo con análisis estadísticos, una correlacióndirecta entre los mismos. La asociación de elementos encontrada es similar a las paragénesis de las mineralizacionespolimetálicas de la Puna-Altiplano, aflorantes al oeste del área de estudio. Imágenes satelitales y trabajos científicosdocumentan intensa deflación de la región Puna-Altiplano con componentes de transporte dominantemente hacia el E,donde se encuentra el Valle de Lerma. Se infiere que este fenómeno otorga una impronta particular a la química delagua de lluvia de este valle. Este trabajo corresponde al primer registro de la composición química del agua de lluviade esta región. Como la ciudad de Salta no registra una contaminación atmosférica significativa ni importantes fuentesde aporte antrópico, se define además el nivel de base del agua de lluvia del Valle de Lerma.Wet precipitation in northern Argentina: chemical characterization of soluble components in the Lerma Valley, Salta. Soluble components in rainwater were studied in Valle de Lerma (Salta-Argentina). The studied area is located in the central south area of Salta Province in the Cordillera Oriental region, Northwest Argentina. The largest urban area corresponds to Salta city, where sample collection and analysis of rainwater were performed between 2009 and 2012 periods. Conductivity and pH were measured on each sample, and major (Cl-, NO3-, SO42-, Na, Mg, K, Ca) and trace elements (Al, Mn, Co, Cu, Zn, As, Sb, Ba and Pb) were analyzed. Multivariate statistical calculation and enrichment factor were applied to the obtained data. Atmospheric dust collected on the same sampling stations were used as reference for enrichment factors calculations. The local rainwater presents significant enrichment in Ca, Cu, Zn, As, Sb and Pb while statistical analyses indicate a direct correlation between them. The association of elements in the rainwater is similar to those for the polymetallic ore deposits outcropping in the Puna-Altiplano region, which are located to west of the study area. Satellite images as well as previous research indicates transport of atmospheric dust from the Puna-Altiplano to the East, where Valle de Lerma is suited. We conclude that this phenomenon gives a particular print to the chemistry of the rainwater in this area. This work corresponds to the first study of the rainwater’s chemical composition in this region. As Salta city lacks of significant air pollution or major sources from anthropogenic activities, the data on this paper establish the background of the Valle de Lerma rainwater geochemistry.Fil: Romero Orué, María Angélica. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Salta. Instituto de Bio y Geociencias del NOA. Universidad Nacional de Salta. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales. Museo de Ciencias Naturales. Instituto de Bio y Geociencias del NOA; ArgentinaFil: Gaiero, Diego Marcelo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Centro de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Tierra. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Centro de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Tierra; ArgentinaFil: Paris, Marta del Carmen. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Ingeniería y Ciencias Hídricas; ArgentinaFil: Formica, Stella Maris. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Centro de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Tierra. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Centro de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Tierra; ArgentinaFil: Murray, Jesica María. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Salta. Instituto de Bio y Geociencias del NOA. Universidad Nacional de Salta. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales. Museo de Ciencias Naturales. Instituto de Bio y Geociencias del NOA; ArgentinaFil: de la Hoz, Gonzalo Mauro. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Salta. Instituto de Bio y Geociencias del NOA. Universidad Nacional de Salta. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales. Museo de Ciencias Naturales. Instituto de Bio y Geociencias del NOA; ArgentinaFil: López, Emilce de Las Mercedes. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Salta. Instituto de Bio y Geociencias del NOA. Universidad Nacional de Salta. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales. Museo de Ciencias Naturales. Instituto de Bio y Geociencias del NOA; ArgentinaFil: Kirschbaum, Alicia Matilde. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Salta. Instituto de Bio y Geociencias del NOA. Universidad Nacional de Salta. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales. Museo de Ciencias Naturales. Instituto de Bio y Geociencias del NOA; Argentin

Standalone vertex finding in the ATLAS muon spectrometer

A dedicated reconstruction algorithm to find decay vertices in the ATLAS muon spectrometer is presented. The algorithm searches the region just upstream of or inside the muon spectrometer volume for multi-particle vertices that originate from the decay of particles with long decay paths. The performance of the algorithm is evaluated using both a sample of simulated Higgs boson events, in which the Higgs boson decays to long-lived neutral particles that in turn decay to bbar b final states, and pp collision data at √s = 7 TeV collected with the ATLAS detector at the LHC during 2011

Measurements of Higgs boson production and couplings in diboson final states with the ATLAS detector at the LHC

Measurements are presented of production properties and couplings of the recently discovered Higgs boson using the decays into boson pairs, H →γ γ, H → Z Z∗ →4l and H →W W∗ →lνlν. The results are based on the complete pp collision data sample recorded by the ATLAS experiment at the CERN Large Hadron Collider at centre-of-mass energies of √s = 7 TeV and √s = 8 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of about 25 fb−1. Evidence for Higgs boson production through vector-boson fusion is reported. Results of combined fits probing Higgs boson couplings to fermions and bosons, as well as anomalous contributions to loop-induced production and decay modes, are presented. All measurements are consistent with expectations for the Standard Model Higgs boson

Measurement of the top quark-pair production cross section with ATLAS in pp collisions at \sqrt{s}=7\TeV

A measurement of the production cross-section for top quark pairs(\ttbar) in $pp$ collisions at \sqrt{s}=7 \TeV is presented using data recorded with the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider. Events are selected in two different topologies: single lepton (electron $e$ or muon $\mu$) with large missing transverse energy and at least four jets, and dilepton ($ee$, $\mu\mu$ or $e\mu$) with large missing transverse energy and at least two jets. In a data sample of 2.9 pb-1, 37 candidate events are observed in the single-lepton topology and 9 events in the dilepton topology. The corresponding expected backgrounds from non-\ttbar Standard Model processes are estimated using data-driven methods and determined to be $12.2 \pm 3.9$ events and $2.5 \pm 0.6$ events, respectively. The kinematic properties of the selected events are consistent with SM \ttbar production. The inclusive top quark pair production cross-section is measured to be \sigmattbar=145 \pm 31 ^{+42}_{-27} pb where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second systematic. The measurement agrees with perturbative QCD calculations.Comment: 30 pages plus author list (50 pages total), 9 figures, 11 tables, CERN-PH number and final journal adde