4,226 research outputs found
Nano-Immunomodulation: A New Strategy for Skeletal Muscle Diseases and Aging?
No full textThe skeletal muscle has a very remarkable ability to regenerate upon injury under physiological conditions; however, this regenerative capacity is strongly diminished in physio-pathological conditions, such as those present in diseased or aged muscles. Many muscular dystrophies (MDs) are characterized by aberrant inflammation due to the deregulation of both the lymphoid and myeloid cell populations and the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Pathological inflammation is also observed in old muscles due to a systemic change in the immune system, known as “inflammaging”. Immunomodulation represents, therefore, a promising therapeutic opportunity for different skeletal muscle conditions. However, the use of immunomodulatory drugs in the clinics presents several caveats, including their low stability in vivo, the need for high doses to obtain therapeutically relevant effects, and the presence of strong side effects. Within this context, the emerging field of nanomedicine provides the powerful tools needed to control the immune response. Nano-scale materials are currently being explored as biocarriers to release immunomodulatory agents in the damaged tissues, allowing therapeutic doses with limited off-target effects. In addition, the intrinsic immunomodulatory properties of some nanomaterials offer further opportunities for intervention that still need to be systematically explored. Here we exhaustively review the state-of-the-art regarding the use of nano-sized materials to modulate the aberrant immune response that characterizes some physio-pathological muscle conditions, such as MDs or sarcopenia (the age-dependent loss of muscle mass). Based on our learnings from cancer and immune tolerance induction, we also discuss further opportunities, challenges, and limitations of the emerging field of nano-immunomodulation
The Dikkowita Marina Project
No full textThe large fishery harbour of Dikkowita faces some problems with respect to revenues and conflicts between the users. To create a higher revenue and to avoid these conflicts, a marina will be implemented. This report discusses the different aspects implementing a marina in the harbour of Dikkowita.Civil Engineering and Geoscience
Marina Martín Garcia
No full textIsla Martín Garcia is founded on a rock outcrop in the Río de la Plata which is a natural protected area between Argentina and Uruguay. Due to the extension of the runway at the local airport, wetlands between Isla Timoteo Domínguez and Isla Martín Garcia developed during the last decades. The bay, where the old port was located, was loaded with sediment. After the waters between the two islands sedimented, Isla Hércules is formed and a channel is created. For the location of the marina, three possible options are selected: at the pier, south of Isla Hércules and in the sedimented bay north of Isla Martín Garcia. By using a multi criteria analysis, a marina at the pier is chosen as the best option because of its small dredging area and minor environmental impact. In consultation with the consultative authorities, a marina at the bay is chosen as the elaborated alternative. The recovery of the old situation in which the marina is located in the bay is the main reason for this choice.Implementation of the marina at Isla Martín Garcia involves cooperation between two parties: the government and a second investor. The government is responsible for the island, and a certain amount of liquidity is required to boost tourism on the island. A second party, like a private investor, is introduced for the maintenance and exploration of the project. This cooperation needs to invest 22.9 million dollars; this includes the 16.4 million dollars for the government and 6.5 million dollars for the second party. Without involving an external investor the internal rate of return (IRR) is 1.77% which is very low. When involving a private investor the IRR increases, the external investor receives an IRR of 7.71 % over the entire lifetime of the marina.Hydraulic EngineeringCivil Engineering and Geoscience
Developing a framework for an ecosystem-based approach to sustainable marina development: Including a framework application case study for a marina on the island of Mauritius, Indian Ocean
No full textThis thesis report considers the topic of sustainable marina development. This term can be understood to be a combination of two terms; “sustainable development” and “marina”. Sustainable development in this research study has been considered in relation to the coastal zone and basically entails an approach to ensure a balance between the environment and economic development. A marina, being a coastal (economic) development, interacts with the environmental conditions of the coastal zone and as such, affects the balance for sustainable development. Sustainable marina development is subsequently defined as the development of a marina in such a way and capacity, that the marina integrates its natural, social and economic environment. Additionally, a marina cannot be deemed sustainable by itself, as important principles for sustainable development like the cumulative impacts, multiple (long-term) objectives and sustainability need to be considered on the level of the larger coastal zone, or ecosystem. Currently, marina design is considered to lack an integrated development approach, and is inadequately represented in current marina development guidelines. Especially the initial stages of marina development, involving important development considerations like location selection and alternatives evaluation, lack the assessment of a marina’s integration in its natural, social and economic environment; a key element of sustainable development.Civil Engineering and GeosciencesHydraulic Engineerin
Feasibility study for a marina at Hook of Holland - Zeejachthaven Hoek van Holland: Haalbaarheidsstudie
No full textThe distance between marinas along the Dutch coast is large. By building marinas on strategic locations along the coast, sailing times can be reduced significantly. However, building marinas bordering the North Sea is expensive due to the lack of sheltering from waves. Hook of Holland is such a strategic location, located at a distance of 30 kilometers of Stellendam and 20 kilometers away from Scheveningen. The realization of a marina at Hook of Holland will lead to season lengthening, differentiation of the beach function and creates a boost for the local economy. In addition, it will be a stepping stone for creation of a network of marinas along the Dutch coast which will enable day trips from marina to marina, boosting the economy further. Waves in the marina basin will lead to damage to the yachts if the significant wave height Hs is higher than Hs =0.6 m. The design storm for the marina has a return period of 200 years and will lead to waves with a significant wave height up to Hs = 4.3 m at the project area. Also it will lead to a water level rise up to 4.2 m above NAP. To reduce the waves in the basin, a large breakwater is needed which is expensive. An entrance of the marina along the Nieuwe Waterweg is cheaper but politically unachievable. A previous study for a marina with the entrance along the Nieuwe Waterweg did not make it to realization due to this factor. A marina is mostly financed with real estate development and funding of the government. Real estate development at the project area is difficult to realize due to the nearby Natura 2000 area ‘Solleveld & Kapittel duinen’ and its associated strict nature legislation . Land reclamation is a possibility to make real estate development possible. However at the moment this is not attractive due to the prices for land reclamation are higher than inland development of these functions. Also the real estate market is in a downward state due to the economic crisis. A marina at Hook of Holland needs to be on a small scale and well integrated in the surroundings without a large land reclamation project, such a marina will cost around 50 million euro. A marina at Hook of Holland is technically feasible and has a positive effect on the required coastal maintenance. However the direct revenues are much lower than the construction costs. The indirect revenues are significant, however without a public investment there will be no marina realized at Hook of Holland.Hydraulic EngineeringCivil Engineering and Geoscience
Culture Takeaway
No full textThis keynote is mainly based on Wallace's research for Volume X of La Cultura Italiana published by UTET in 2010. The volume is in Italian and, by translating it, it can now be shared with colleagues, students and friends. The relationship that each citizen has with his/her own country and culture is mediated by personal experiences and matured during a lifetime. It is a delicate task to identify what motivates the consciousness of “insiders” of a culture whilst, at the same time, stimulating the interest of outsiders. To be able to observe the prodigious artistic production of one’s own country from the point of view of another culture and another genetic material offers fresh cues. Curiosity, prodded by geographical and physical distance, helps to identify in a schematic way those characteristics that define a country’s visual culture in a decisively distinctive way
The ship-surgeon in the navy of the Order of St. John in Malta
No full textBy the time the Knights came to Malta in 1530, they had evolved into a highly efficient naval force. In this article the author describes the training provided to the surgical students of the Order of St. John. It describes in detail the day to day tasks performed when on board of the galleys and describes also the dangers the surgical teams encountered whilst sailing.peer-reviewe
Effects of the additive "M" on selected microorganisms in culture broth and minced meat
No full textauthor: Marina Sprenger, BScZusammenfassung in deutscher SpracheMasterarbeit University Innsbruck 2019Arbeit gesperr
Effects of the additive "M" on selected microorganisms in culture broth and minced meat
No full textauthor: Marina Sprenger, BScZusammenfassung in deutscher SpracheMasterarbeit University Innsbruck 2019Arbeit gesperr
Effects of the additive "M" on selected microorganisms in culture broth and minced meat
No full textauthor: Marina Sprenger, BScZusammenfassung in deutscher SpracheMasterarbeit University Innsbruck 2019Arbeit gesperr
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