1,723,701 research outputs found
Reportaje Lisa Sartini
No full textReportaje a Lisa Sartini, al principio es programa y la entrevista empieza alrededor de los 15 minuto
Advanced Carbon-engineered Organs-on-a-Chip: Innovative Nanotools-based platforms for Brain Injury Repair
No full textAdvanced Carbon-engineered Organs-on-a-Chip: Innovative Nanotools-based platforms
for Brain Injury Repair
A. Sartini 1 , D. Lattanzi 1 , S. Sartini 1 , A. Turco 2 , R. Rauti 1
1Department of Biomolecular Sciences, University of Urbino
2 CNR Nanotec, Lecce
Disorders of the Central Nervous System (CNS) are one of the grand health challenges of this
century. Therapeutic development, however, remains limited by poor understanding of the brain.
The Neurovascular Unit (NVU) is a complex and specialized structure, composed of multiple
cell types: vascular endothelial cells, pericytes, astrocytes, and neurons. These cells are involved
in maintaining brain metabolic homeostasis and in its protection against toxins. Because of its
role as the gatekeeper of brain functionality, impairments to the NVU have recently been
associated with several CNS disorders, including traumatic brain injury. However, the precise
role of each NV component is not yet fully established. In modern neuroscience there is an
increasing interest in the development of nanotechnologies, as promising therapeutic tools. In
particular Carbon-based materials, such as Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs) and Graphene, have been
shown to modulate synapse formation and cell excitability, which suggests them as interesting
candidates for the amelioration of the NVU altered functionality. Here we describe how CNTs
impact primary neuronal networks through the use of electrophysiological and
immunofluorescent techniques. Furthermore, we developed an Organs-on-a-Chip (OoC)
platform which will allow us to study cell-cell interactions in a more human-relevant model. The
adaptability and excellent conductive properties of these nanotools, together with their ability to
modulate neuronal activity, might open the way to modern therapeutic strategies for several neurological conditions
Português em tempo real [entrevistado por Amália Safatle e Magali Cabral]
No full textO Museu da Língua Portuguesa, que mal pôde comemorar os 10 anos em março, está tão vivo quanto a própria língua que representa. Era 21 de dezembro quando uma forte variação termoelétrica teria gerado uma faísca que o pôs em chamas, comovendo o público. Sucesso de visitação, principalmente entre estudantes, o museu se prepara para renascer com uma linguagem em tempo real, conversando com pessoas de todo o Brasil e do mundo.Isso é um pouco do que nos adianta o diretor Antônio Carlos Sartini. Este advogado de formação brinca que foi salvo no meio do caminho quando enveredou pelas vias que de fato o interessavam – as da cultura, não as do mundo jurídico. Nesta entrevista, Sartini nos leva a viajar pela história da língua que já é a terceira mais usada nas redes sociais. Versátil, rico, dinâmico, o idioma ganhou estilo próprio na maior ex-colônia que ajudou a unificar – mas não sem a contribuição das línguas indígenas e africanas
Characterisation of brewpub beer carbohydrates using high performance anion exchange chromatography coupled with pulsed amperometric detection
No full textHigh performance anion exchange chromatography (HPAEC) coupled with pulsed amperometric detection (PAD) was optimised in order to quantify mannose, maltose, maltotriose, maltotetraose, maltopentaose, maltohexaose and maltoheptaose content of beer. The method allows the determination of above mentioned oligosaccharides, in a single chromatographic run, without any pre-treatment. Limit of detection and limit of quantification were suitable for beer. Accuracy and repeatability were good for the entire amount considered. Once optimised HPAEC PAD for the specific matrix, the second goal of this research was to verify the possibility to discriminate beers, depending on their style. The carbohydrates content of brewpub commercial beers was very variable, ranging from 19.3 to 1469 mg/L (mannose), 34.5 to 2882 mg/L (maltose), 141.9 to 20731 mg/L (maltotriose), 168.5 to 7650 mg/L (maltotetraose), 20.1 to 2537 mg/L (maltopentaose), 22.9 to 3295 mg/L (maltohexaose), 8.5 to 2492 mg/L (maltoeptaose), even in the same style of beer. However, the carbohydrates content was useful, jointed with other compounds amount, to discriminate different styles of beer. As a matter of fact, principal component analysis put in evidence beer differences considering some fermentation conditions and colour
The black coffins with yellow decoration: a typological and chronological study
No full textConcerning the black coffins with yellow decoration, which were in use from the reign of Hatshepsut- Tuthmosis III to, at least, the reign of Ramses II, I have carried out an iconographic analysis on lid, case, inner surface, head end and foot end. As a result of this investigation, I have identified several iconographic characteristics that have allowed to me to put forward a more precise dating to the part of the coffins that had been generally dated between the 18th and 19th dynasty so far, and an original classification proposal
Modello di hindcast del moto ondoso negli ultimi 10 anni: metodo statistico, probabilistico e stocastico applicato al Mar Ligure,
No full textPharmacokinetic studies of different drugs in geese
Get PDFThis PhD research is composed by different pharmacokinetic studies and tissue residue analysis
performed in geese, an underestimated species that in some countries have been domesticated since
long time for the production of meat, eggs, and feathers. One of the main objectives of veterinary
pharmacology is preserve food producing animals’ health, preventing potential diseases, increasing
the animals’ performances and, on the other hand, to guarantee an adequate amount of food with the
lowest economic losses. It is well known that for a good livestock production the use of drugs is
necessary. Pharmaceutical companies invest big budgets and efforts to elucidate the
pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and safety profile of drugs in major food producing species.
Unfortunately, the economic return of these studies is not positive when minor species are
accounted. Often even minor species require therapeutic treatments, and since no information is
available, doses and potential therapeutic effects are extrapolated by other animals. This dangerous
practice can lead to drug ineffectiveness or toxicity and since no MRL and withdrawal time are
available residues may be present in the animal’s products intended for human consumption. The
goose belongs to the minor species food producing animal class and very little information is
present about drugs in this bird. A deep knowledge of the pharmacokinetic characteristics and tissue
residue profile of a drug in geese is the starting point of the process that is essential for the rational
drug usage, ensuring an efficacious treatment in the goose as well as the consumers’ safety. 11 In
order to achieve this target, different drugs belonging to the most important classes of drugs used in
veterinary medicine have been studied. Five antimicrobial drugs (marbofloxacin, danofloxacin,
levofloxacin, doxycycline, amoxicillin), two painkiller drugs (meloxicam, acetaminophen) and one
antiparasitic drug (ivermectin). For each of these drugs an appropriate analytical method has been
validated for their quantification according to the European Medicines Agency guideline. The
selected drugs, and in some cases their metabolites, have been quantified in different matrices (e.g.
plasma, different animal tissues) using high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet or
fluorescence detector as well as liquid chromatography - tandem mass spectrometry. The
pharmacokinetic parameters have been carried out using a pharmacokinetic software and drug
plasma concentration profiles have been provided after different routes of administration. The
residues analysis has been performed to describe the accumulation of the drug in the edible tissues
and for the calculation of an appropriate withdrawal time, a crucial factor for ensuring food safety.
In some cases, an in silico pharmacokinetic simulation has been performed to reproduce the in-field
breeding condition. The PK/PD surrogates (when available) have been used to predict if the
achieved plasma concentrations might be therapeutic. In addition, under the same attitude to “bring
new knowledge in the veterinary pharmacology field” novel drugs have been tested in different
animal species and reviews published to facilitate the studies of other colleagues.This PhD research is composed by different pharmacokinetic studies and tissue residue analysis performed in geese, an underestimated species that in some countries have been domesticated since long time for the production of meat, eggs, and feathers.
One of the main objectives of veterinary pharmacology is preserve food producing animals’ health, preventing potential diseases, increasing the animals’ performances and, on the other hand, to guarantee an adequate amount of food with the lowest economic losses. It is well known that for a good livestock production the use of drugs is necessary. Pharmaceutical companies invest big budgets and efforts to elucidate the pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and safety profile of drugs in major food producing species. Unfortunately, the economic return of these studies is not positive when minor species are accounted. Often even minor species require therapeutic treatments, and since no information is available, doses and potential therapeutic effects are extrapolated by other animals. This dangerous practice can lead to drug ineffectiveness or toxicity and since no MRL and withdrawal time are available residues may be present in the animal’s products intended for human consumption.
The goose belongs to the minor species food producing animal class and very little information is present about drugs in this bird. A deep knowledge of the pharmacokinetic characteristics and tissue residue profile of a drug in geese is the starting point of the process that is essential for the rational drug usage, ensuring an efficacious treatment in the goose as well as the consumers’ safety.
In order to achieve this target, different drugs belonging to the most important classes of drugs used in veterinary medicine have been studied. Five antimicrobial drugs (marbofloxacin, danofloxacin, levofloxacin, doxycycline, amoxicillin), two painkiller drugs (meloxicam, acetaminophen) and one antiparasitic drug (ivermectin). For each of these drugs an appropriate analytical method has been validated for their quantification according to the European Medicines Agency guideline. The selected drugs, and in some cases their metabolites, have been quantified in different matrices (e.g. plasma, different animal tissues) using high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet or fluorescence detector as well as liquid chromatography - tandem mass spectrometry. The pharmacokinetic parameters have been carried out using a pharmacokinetic software and drug plasma concentration profiles have been provided after different routes of administration. The residues analysis has been performed to describe the accumulation of the drug in the edible tissues and for the calculation of an appropriate withdrawal time, a crucial factor for ensuring food safety. In some cases, an in silico pharmacokinetic simulation has been performed to reproduce the in-field breeding condition. The PK/PD surrogates (when available) have been used to predict if the achieved plasma concentrations might be therapeutic.
In addition, under the same attitude to “bring new knowledge in the veterinary pharmacology field” novel drugs have been tested in different animal species and reviews published to facilitate the studies of other colleagues
Connecting works of art within the semantic web of symbolic meanings
No full textMy doctoral research is about the modelling of symbolism in the cultural heritage domain, and on connecting artworks based on their symbolism through knowledge extraction and representation techniques. In particular, I participated in the design of two ontologies: one models the relationships between a symbol, its symbolic meaning, and the cultural context in which the symbol symbolizes the symbolic meaning; the second models artistic interpretations of a cultural heritage object from an iconographic and iconological (thus also symbolic) perspective. I also converted several sources of unstructured data, a dictionary of symbols and an encyclopaedia of symbolism, and semi-structured data, DBpedia and WordNet, to create HyperReal, the first knowledge graph dedicated to conventional cultural symbolism. By making use of HyperReal's content, I showed how linked open data about cultural symbolism could be utilized to initiate a series of quantitative studies that analyse (i) similarities between cultural contexts based on their symbologies, (ii) broad symbolic associations, (iii) specific case studies of symbolism such as the relationship between symbols, their colours, and their symbolic meanings. Moreover, I developed a system that can infer symbolic, cultural context-dependent interpretations from artworks according to what they depict, envisioning potential use cases for museum curation. I have then re-engineered the iconographic and iconological statements of Wikidata, a widely used general-domain knowledge base, creating ICONdata: an iconographic and iconological knowledge graph. ICONdata was then enriched with automatic symbolic interpretations. Subsequently, I demonstrated the significance of enhancing artwork information through alignment with linked open data related to symbolism, resulting in the discovery of novel connections between artworks. Finally, I contributed to the creation of a software application. This application leverages established connections, allowing users to investigate the symbolic expression of a concept across different cultural contexts through the generation of a three-dimensional exhibition of artefacts symbolising the chosen concept
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