Improved photocatalytic properties of doped titanium-based nanometric oxides

Photocatalysis is considered one of the most promising technologies for applications in the environmental field especially in the abatement of water-soluble organic pollutants. In this field, titanium dioxide nanoparticles have drawn much attention recently; however, the use of this oxide presents some limitation since it allows to obtain high photoresponse and degradation efficiency only under UV light irradiation, that represents the 3 to 4% of the solar radiation, so preventing its environmental large-scale applications under diffuse daylight. In this work the photocatalytic efficiencyoftitanium-based oxides systems containing alkaline earth metals such as barium and strontium, prepared by a simple sol-gel method was investigated, evaluating the degradation of methylene blue as model compound under UV and visible light irradiation. The results were compared with those obtained with Degussa P25 titanium dioxide. The achieved degradation percentage of methylene blue are very promising showing that under visible light irradiation it is possible to obtain a maximum dye removal percentage ~ 50 % higher than that obtained with the Degussa P25

Developmental responses to early-life adversity: Evolutionary and mechanistic perspectives

Adverse ecological and social conditions during early life are known to influence development, with rippling effects that may explain variation in adult health and fitness. The adaptive function of such developmental plasticity, however, remains relatively untested in long-lived animals, resulting in much debate over which evolutionary models are most applicable. Furthermore, despite the promise of clinical interventions that might alleviate the health consequences of early-life adversity, research on the proximate mechanisms governing phenotypic responses to adversity have been largely limited to studies on glucocorticoids. Here, we synthesize the current state of research on developmental plasticity, discussing both ultimate and proximate mechanisms. First, we evaluate the utility of adaptive models proposed to explain developmental responses to early-life adversity, particularly for long-lived mammals such as humans. In doing so, we highlight how parent-offspring conflict complicates our understanding of whether mothers or offspring benefit from these responses. Second, we discuss the role of glucocorticoids and a second physiological system-the gut microbiome-that has emerged as an additional, clinically relevant mechanism by which early-life adversity can influence development. Finally, we suggest ways in which nonhuman primates can serve as models to study the effects of early-life adversity, both from evolutionary and clinical perspectives.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/152003/1/evan21791_am.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/152003/2/evan21791.pd

A case of human pulmonary dirofilariosis attributed to D.repens in Italy

Dirofilaria repens, which occurs only in the Old World, is one the species more frequently involved in human dirofilariosis. The worm is usually detected in superficial locations (subcutaneous or submucosal tissue, derma, exceptionally muscles), and rarely in internal ones (lung, gastro-splenic ligament, omentum, peritoneal cavity, mesocolon, pancreas, perirectal region) (Gabrielli et al., 2008, Parassitologia, 50: 47). Pulmonary lesions detected and non mis-diagnosed as a lung tumour, have been mostly attributed to D. immitis, and only few to D.repens. Aim of this communication is to report a human case of pulmonary infection due to D.repens in Italy, where the parasite has been rarely observed in this location. In 2010 a 17 year-old man was admitted to the Cotugno Hospital (Naples, Italy) with a diagnosis of pneumothorax. During the surgical intervention, a solitary nodule was evidenced, therefore an incisional biopsy was performed to assess the origin of the lesion in haematoxylin-eosin stained sections. Microscopic analysis evidenced transversal and longitudinal sections of a worm whose morphological features (parasite diameter, cuticle thickness, cuticular ridges, number and distribution of the fibres in the muscular layer, lateral cordae) can be ascribed to a female specimen belonging to genus Dirofilaria, subgenus Nochtiella, very probably D. repens. Unfortunately, molecular analysis of the worm in order to support morphological identification was not possible, as the entire nodule was been submitted to the histological analysis. As suggested by Pampiglione and co-workers in 2009, most pulmonary cases of dirofilariosis have been attributed to D.immitis by analogy with human infections from America and with the location usually reached in the dogs. The present observation provides further evidence that also D. repens can reach the lung in humans, as previously demonstrated and assessed by means of morphological and biomolecular tecniques (Pampliglione et al., 2008, Annals of Tropical Medicine & Parasitology, 102 (6): 499–507). Such pulmonary infections are important because they are frequently mistaken for primary or metastatic lung tumours, leading to major surgery that is often, if not always, unnecessary (Ro et al., 1989, Human Pathology, 20: 69–76)