5,322 research outputs found
Insider and outsider views in early modern correspondence involving patrons and musicians
No full textIn this chapter Dinko Fabris proposes a reassessment of the heuristic value of correspondence in the light of a cognate-theory sensitivity toward the body of private letters preserved in the Archivio Bentivoglio, a complex type of historical source in demand of a respectful interpretation as a communicational device between past insiders, now in the hands of present outsiders; that is, those scholars aiming to reconstruct a past artistic and cultural milieu as a whole. For this purpose, the author draws on the distinction between “outsider” and “insider” made by cultural historians and moves within the framework of “urban musicology,” discussing the figure of Enzo Bentivoglio as a case study
Antiviral treatment of hepatitis C
No full textTherapy of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection may prevent progression to cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma and end-stage liver disease. The cornerstone of treatment has long been standard IFN-alpha, the use of which was associated with a sustained biochemical and viral response in only a small proportion of patients. More recently, the success of interferon-based regimens has substantially improved due to the combination with the guanosine analogue ribavirin and to the advent of pegylated interferon formulations. However, even the most up-to-date regimens fail to cure the infection in many cases and are limited by side effects and high costs. A better understanding of the HCV genomic organisation, the elucidation of the three-dimensional structures of virally encoded enzymes and the recent development of a HCV-replicon system in human hepatoma (Huh-7) cells have led to significant advances in the development of new antiviral compounds, many of which are under evaluation in clinical trials. The aim of this review is to trace a brief overview of the progress made by interferon-based treatments for hepatitis C since their introduction in the early 1990s, and to highlight the results of recent clinical studies concerning new and emerging drugs
ECOHOTEL
No full textL’hotel ecologico nasce dalla domanda di compiere soggiorni, per vacanza, per turismo o per lavoro, in spazi che abbiano un rapporto non soltanto sostenibile con l’ambiente naturale, ma anche equo con il tessuto sociale sul quale insistono. L’ecohotel è perciò un laboratorio, un centro di sperimentazione dove convivono, in anteprima rispetto alle soluzioni architettoniche riservate agli altri settori, il meglio delle strategie e delle politiche ambientali unite all’intelligenza imprenditoriale.
Questo saggio, attraverso un ampio panorama di progetti recenti e di casi studio, ne presenta e illustra i nuovi prototipi (LMF. Fabris), il loro rapporto tra locale e globale (L. Daglio), il loro porsi tra natura e artificio (OE. Bellini), la nuova certificazione ClimaHotel (G. Tavasci), l’attualità dell’Albergo Diffuso (M. Morena) e le potenzialità dei B&B (C. Nicli)
Innovative green methodologies for C-C, C-N and C-O bond forming reactions
No full textIn this PhD thesis it is presented the use of some Green Chemistry Tools (supercritical carbon dioxide, ionic liquids and dialkylcarbonates) for the set up of new green methodologies for C-C, C-N and C-O bond forming reactions. The following reactions have been investigated: the self-metathesis of 1-octene catalysed by supported Re oxide systems, carried out using dense CO2 as solvent; the Michael addition of nitroalkanes and beta-diketones to alpha,beta-unsaturated ketons catalyzed by task specific phosphonium based ionic liquids; the selective mono-hydroxyalkylation of anilines with glycerol carbonate catalysed by alkali metal exchanged faujasites; the selective bis-N-methylation of anilines carried by dimethylcarbonate prepared in situ via the transesterification of alkylene carbonate with methanol catalysed by alkali metal exchanged faujasites; the alkylation of primary aromatic amines with alkylene carbonates, catalysed by phosphonium based ionic liquids; the decarboxylation reaction of dialkyl carbonates catalyzed by different heterogeneous systems; the reaction of glycerol carbonate with phenol, in the presence of faujasites as catalysts.In questo lavoro di tesi è riportato l'impiego di alcuni strumenti della Green Chemistry (come la CO2, i liquidi ionici e i dialchilcarbonati) per la messa a punto di metodologie innovative a ridotto impatto ambientale per la formazione di legami C-C, C-N e C-O. Sono state investigate le seguenti reazioni: la metatesi dell'1-ottene catalizzata da sistemi a base di Re ossido, in presenza di CO2 densa come solvente; l'addizione di Michael di nitroalcani e beta-dichetoni a chetoni alfa,beta-insaturi catalizzata da liquidi ionici; la selettiva mono-idrossialchilazione di aniline con la glicerina carbonato, catalizzata da faujasiti; la selettiva bis-N-alchilazione di aniline da parte del dimetilcarbonato prodotto in situ via transesterificazione di carbonati ciclici con metanolo, catalizzata da faujasiti; l'alchilazione di aniline con carbonati ciclici catalizzata da liquidi ionici; la reazione di decarbossilazione dei dialchilcarbonati in presenza di diversi catalizzatori eterogenei; la reazione tra fenolo e glicerina carbonato catalizzata da faujasiti
Combinatorial use of single nucleotide polymorphisms to help predict liver fibrosis in patients with hepatitis C infections
No full textBackground: Owing to a highly variable natural course, the benefits of a successful treatment may be marginal for many hepatitis C patients. Therefore, the ability to discriminate patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection at risk of severe consequences, to whom more aggressive treatment strategies should be directed, would be important for clinicians. Objective: To review the status of medical research in this area and its transferability to today's medical diagnostics. Methods: A Medline search was conducted with the keywords hepatitis C, fibrosis, cirrhosis, polymorphism(s) and outcome. Other papers were identified from personal knowledge by the authors or reviewing the references of articles otherwise selected. Results/conclusion: The vast majority of data were generated by a candidate-gene strategy, ending in conflicting or irreproducible results. Lack of consistent associations between specific single nucleotide polymorphisms and fibrosis severity in hepatitis C has many reasons, including small sample size, mixed ethnicity of the populations studied, and heterogeneity of outcome measures. Recently, assaying tens of thousands of single nucleotide polymorphisms in a multistage research strategy and using a combination of several different single nucleotide polymorphisms have set the stage for future, high-quality studies. This will hopefully close the gap between research and clinical applications in this area. © 2009 Informa UK Ltd. All rights reserved
First-principles analysis of cation segregation at grain boundaries in alpha-Al2O3
No full textThe modifications in atomistic structure, chemical bonding, and energetics induced by substitutional cation impurities isolated in the bulk volume and segregated at grain boundaries of alpha-Al2O3 were investigated by combining empirical ionic-model and first-principles electronic-structure calculations. The dependency of these modifications on the boundary type, species and concentration of impurities, was studied by selecting the following variety of systems: three twin boundaries (the prismatic Sigma3 (10 (1) over bar0), the rhombohedral Sigma7 (10 (1) over bar2), and the pyramidal Sigma13 (10 (1) over bar4) twins), three impurities X (X = Se, Y, and La), and two concentrations for the segregant ( approximate to3 and approximate to6 atoms/nm(2)). A partial covalent character is found to be a distinctive feature of the X-O bonds in both bulk and interfacial atomic environments, and to drive the structural distortions of the octahedral XO6 clusters. The energetics of segregation reveals a linear relationship between segregation energy and impurity size. This is interpreted as resulting from a stress field localized at the interface. (C) 2002 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd on behalf of Acta Materialia Inc
Constraints on unified models for dark matter and dark energy using H(z)
No full textFabris JC, de Oliveira PLC, Velten H. Constraints on unified models for dark matter and dark energy using H(z). European Physical Journal C. 2011;71(10): 1773.The differential age data of astrophysical objects that have evolved passively during the history of the universe (e. g. red galaxies) allows us to test theoretical cosmological models through the predicted Hubble function expressed in terms of the redshift z, H(z). We use the observational data for H(z) to test unified scenarios for dark matter and dark energy. Specifically, we focus our analysis on the Generalized Chaplygin Gas (GCG) and the viscous fluid (VF) models. For the GCG model, it is shown that the unified scenario for dark energy and dark matter requires some priors. For the VF model we obtain estimations for the free parameters, which may be compared with further analysis mainly at perturbative level
Low fibrosis progression of recurrent hepatitis C in apolipoprotein E e4 carriers: relationship with the blood lipid profile
No full textBACKGROUND:
The histological outcome of chronic hepatitis C is better among carriers of the apolipoprotein E (ApoE) epsilon4 allele, for reasons unknown. The orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) setting allows to separate the role played by liver-derived ApoE (graft) from ApoE of different origin (recipient). Patients and
METHODS:
Forty-six OLT recipients with recurrent hepatitis C were studied. Grafts and recipients were genotyped for ApoE. In a follow-up extending up to 4 years, the serum triglycerides-to-cholesterol ratio (T/C ratio) was measured 1 year after OLT, whereas fibrosis progression was assessed yearly and expressed as fibrosis units/month (FU/mo).
RESULTS:
A T/C ratio < or =0.75 was observed in 13/15 cases in which both donor and recipient were epsilon4 carriers, 10/19 cases in which epsilon4 alleles were of exclusive recipient's origin and 5/12 cases in which epsilon4 alleles were of exclusive donor's origin or absent (P<0.02). One year after OLT, a fibrosis progression < or =0.100 FU/mo was associated with a low T/C ratio (24/34 vs. 4/12, P<0.05). An Ishak staging score >2 was reached later by male recipients who were epsilon4 carriers (P<0.002).
CONCLUSIONS:
Recipient's carriage of ApoE epsilon4 affects fibrosis progression of recurrent hepatitis C through gender-specific mechanisms, associated with a peculiar, ApoE-associated, lipid profile
Updates on antiviral therapy for chronic hepatitis C.
No full textHepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a major public health problem around the world and it is estimated that there are about 200 million infections globally. The majority of HCV infected patients develop chronic infection, which can progress to liver cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, and liver failure. Since the discovery of the virus in 1989, impressive progress has been made in the treatment of HCV hepatitis. However, the actual standard of care in treating HCV infection, represented by the combination therapy of pegylated interferon alpha 2a or 2b with ribavirin, fails to cure near half of treated patients. This paper aimed to trace a brief overview of the progress made by interferon-based treatments for HCV hepatitis since their introduction in the early 1990s, and to highlight the results of recent clinical studies concerning new and emerging drugs
- …
