1,016 research outputs found
On-site monitoring of the performance of innovative treatments for marble conservation in architectural heritage
No full textAbstract
Innovative nanostructured treatments for stone conservation, based on dispersions of photoactive TiO
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nanoparticles, recently studied in our research group, provided interesting results after laboratory testing. Unfortunately, it is almost impossible to accurately reproduce in the lab the complexity of field exposure conditions. It is then of crucial importance to evaluate the behaviour and durability of new treatments in situ, once they are applied to real deteriorated surfaces of the architectural heritage exposed in outdoor. In the present research, the effectiveness of a TEOS-nano-TiO
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treatment and of two nanocomposites based on nano-TiO
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dispersion in organosiloxane and functionalized SiO
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for the protection of two specific marbles\u2014Candoglia and Crevoladossola\u2014has been evaluated on-site. The effect of the introduction of innovative titania nanoparticles in selected commercial products has been examined focusing on compatibility and protection efficacy in real exposure condition. An on-site testing protocol has been defined and carried out for 12\ua0months after the application, considering colour and morphology changes and water absorption by capillarity. The nano-TiO
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addition does not hinder the performance of the protective treatments while it provides a positive contribution in soiling reduction. The results will be implemented in the operative framework of the ongoing conservation project of the considered historical fa\ue7ade.
Graphical abstract
Summary of the monitoring protocol of the Candoglia marble surfac
Particles for Self-cleaning Treatments of Historic Architecture and Sculptures Restoration of Buildings and Monuments
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Innovative nano‐TiO2 particles for the preparation of self‐cleaning treatments of historic architecture and sculptures
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The fifth subunit in α3β4 nicotinic receptor is more than an accessory subunit
No full textThe α3β4 subtype is the predominant neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor present in the sensory and autonomic ganglia and in a subpopulation of brain neurons. This subtype can form pentameric receptors with either 2 or 3 β4 subunits that have different pharmacologic and functional properties. To further investigate the role of the fifth subunit, we coexpressed a dimeric construct coding for a single polypeptide containing the β4 and α3 subunit sequences, with different monomeric subunits. With this strategy, which allowed the formation of single populations of receptors with unique stoichiometry, we demonstrated with immunofluorescence and biochemical and functional assays that only the receptors with 3 β4 subunits are efficiently expressed at the plasma membrane. Moreover, the LFM export motif of β4 subunit in the fifth position exerts a unique function in the regulation of the intracellular trafficking of the receptors, their exposure at the cell surface, and consequently, their function, whereas the same export motif present in the β4 subunits forming the acetylcholine binding site is dispensable.-Crespi, A., Plutino, S., Sciaccaluga, M., Righi, M., Borgese, N., Fucile, S., Gotti, C., Colombo, S. F. The fifth subunit in α3β4 nicotinic receptor is more than an accessory subunit
Cities transformations, social innovation and service design
No full textCities are nowadays facing disruptive challenges calling for smarter solutions and creating pressure for the public and the private sectors to deliver innovative services better responding to the needs of citizens. Great expectations are put in the Smart City paradigm, but most of the solutions just rely on technologies and are thus far from the urban functioning, people and their daily life. In this framework design is orienting its theories and practices towards a different paradigm, putting people at the centre of the smartness of cities by recognizing the need of developing sustainable, micro and contextualized solutions that can be subsequently scaled up to achieve larger social impacts (Murray, Caulier-Grice and Mulgan, 2010).
The Human Smart City paradigm (Concilio, Deserti and Rizzo, 2014) relies on the capability of the city to realize and scale up intangible infrastructures based human and non human assemplies (Enh, 2008); on new typologies of partnerships for the development of services. The paper presents this vision by discussing the results of MyNeighborhood, a European project that is experimenting the HSC paradigm in 4 different European neighbourhoods
Media e generazioni nella società italiana
No full textIl volume dà conto dei risultati di una progetto PRIN di cui Fausto Colombo è stato coordinatore nazionale. Vi sono raccolti tre tipi di materaili: una contestualizzazione teorica del rapporto fra generazioni e media; una prima analisi dei risultati della ricerca sul campo, condotta attraverso focus group e interviste su tutto il territorio nazionale e infine alcuni carotaggi su problemi specifici
VAPB depletion alters neuritogenesis and phosphoinositide balance in motoneuron-like cells: relevance to VAPB-linked ALS
No full textVAPB and VAPA are ubiquitously expressed ER membrane proteins that play key roles in lipid exchange at membrane contact sites. A mutant, aggregation-prone, form of VAPB (P56S) is linked to a dominantly inherited form of ALS, however, it has been unclear whether its pathogenicity is due to toxic gain of function, to negative dominance, or simply to insufficient levels of the wild-type protein produced from a single allele (haploinsufficiency). To investigate whether reduced levels of functional VAPB, independently from the presence of the mutant form, affect the physiology of mammalian motoneuron-like cells, we generated NSC34 clones, from which VAPB was partially or nearly completely depleted. VAPA levels, determined to be four fold higher than those of VAPB in untransfected cells, were unaffected. Nonetheless, cells with even partially depleted VAPB showed an increase in Golgi- and acidic vesicle-localized phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate (PI4P) and reduced neurite extension when induced to differentiate. Conversely, the PI4 kinase inhibitors, PIK93 and IN-10, increased neurite elongation. Thus, for long-term survival, motoneurons may require the full dose of functional VAPB, which may have unique function(s) that VAPA cannot perform
Morpholine Scaffolds’ Preparation for Foldamers’ Design and Construction
No full textThis review highlights the advances in the synthesis of morpholine building blocks useful for artificial oligomers synthesis and peptide foldamers or biopolymers. Both morpholino nucleosides and morpholine derived from amino acids have been considered focusing on the preparation of antisense strands, peptides and bio-based materials.This review highlights the advances in the synthesis of morpholine building blocks useful for artificial foldamers synthesis. Both morpholino nucleosides and morpholine derived from amino acids have been considered focusing on the preparation of antisense strands, peptides and bio-based materials
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