A nondestructive diagnostic method based on swept-frequencyultrasound transmission-reflection measurements

A nondestructive diagnostic technique is proposed to measure depth and thickness of unwanted inclusions inside laminate-type materials (gaps, delaminations, and cracks, for example). The method is based on the frequency-domain analysis of transmission and reflection coefficient measured on the material under test when it is irradiated by a CW ultrasound beam whose frequency varies over a suitable frequency range. By measuring the frequency distance between two adjacent minima in the attenuation and reflection coefficients the thickness and depth of the inclusion can be obtained. A practical implementation of the technique is suggested, and the first experimental results obtained by a laboratory setup are reported     

BRAF Gene and Melanoma: Back to the Future

As widely acknowledged, 40–50% of all melanoma patients harbour an activating BRAF mutation (mostly BRAF V600E). The identification of the RAS–RAF–MEK–ERK (MAP kinase) signalling pathway and its targeting has represented a valuable milestone for the advanced and, more recently, for the completely resected stage III and IV melanoma therapy management. However, despite progress in BRAF-mutant melanoma treatment, the two different approaches approved so far for metastatic disease, immunotherapy and BRAF+MEK inhibitors, allow a 5-year survival of no more than 60%, and most patients relapse during treatment due to acquired mechanisms of resistance. Deep insight into BRAF gene biology is fundamental to describe the acquired resistance mechanisms (primary and secondary) and to understand the molecular pathways that are now being investigated in preclinical and clinical studies with the aim of improving outcomes in BRAF-mutant patients.     

A State of the Art of Antioxidant Properties of Curcuminoids in Neurodegenerative Diseases

Neurodegenerative diseases represent a set of pathologies characterized by an irreversible and progressive, and a loss of neuronal cells in specific areas of the brain. Oxidative phosphorylation is a source of energy production by which many cells, such as the neuronal cells, meet their energy needs. Dysregulations of oxidative phosphorylation induce oxidative stress, which plays a key role in the onset of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). To date, for most neurodegenerative diseases, there are no resolute treatments, but only interventions capable of alleviating the symptoms or slowing the course of the disease. Therefore, effective neuroprotection strategies are needed. In recent years, natural products, such as curcuminoids, have been intensively explored and studied for their therapeutic potentials in several neurodegenerative diseases. Curcuminoids are, nutraceutical compouns, that owen several therapeutic properties such as anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects. In this context, the aim of this review was to provide an overview of preclinical and clinical evidence aimed to illustrate the antioxidant effects of curcuminoids in neurodegenerative diseases. Promising results from preclinical studies encourage the use of curcuminoids for neurodegeneration prevention and treatment.     

Analysis of the Electromagnetic Interaction Between a Resonator and a Lossy Dielectric Body as a First Theoretical Approach to Noninvasive Heart Movement Detection

In this paper the electromagnetic interaction between a resonator and a lossy dielectric body is examined by means of a simple model suitable for computer simulation; the body was assumed to have a revolution form and the resonator was electromagnetic coupled to the body by its inductive element constituted by a planar circular or spiral coil. On the basis of the model a computer program was derived which allows a simple numerical evaluation of the variation in the resonant frequency caused by the interaction mentioned above.     

A Procedure to Detect Flaws inside Large Sized Marble Blocks by Ultrasound

In the stone and marble industry there is considerable interest in the possibility of using ultrasound diagnostic techniques for non-destructive testing of large sized blocks in order to detect internal flaws such as faults, cracks, and fissures. In this paper we propose a specific diagnostic procedure for non-invasive, non-destructive quality control of marble blocks. Finally, the structure of a measuring set up specifically designed for in-field use is described and the experimental results are reported and discussed.     

A planar applicator for measuring surface dielectric constant ofmaterials

An applicator is described which allows the surface dielectric constant of a body to be measured simply by putting the device upon the body itself and by measuring the resulting capacitance value using a hand-held portable capacitance meter. The performances of the sensor were first verified by testing materials with known dielectric properties. Its particular use in measuring the dielectric constant of ceramic materials, plastic materials and of commonly used marbles and stones was then considered. Such application may be of interest in the case where the surface dielectric constant of marble and stone can be related to alterations of the external layer of these materials caused by atmospheric pollutants     

Serum concentrations of soluble human leukocyte class I antigens and of the soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 in endometriosis: relationship with stage and non-pigmented peritoneal lesions

Serum concentrations of soluble human leukocyte class I antigens (sHLA-I) and of the intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) are increased in the early inflammatory stages of several immune-related diseases. These soluble molecules also exert immunomodulatory activity, including regulation of natural killer (NK) cell cytotoxicity. The aim of this study was to verify whether sHLA-I and sICAM-1 serum concentrations are related to the various stages of pelvic endometriosis, which is an immune-related disorder associated with impaired in-vitro NK cell activity. Serum sHLA-I and sICAM-1 concentrations were similar in patients and in healthy donors. However, when evaluated according to disease stage, sHLA-I and sICAM-1 concentrations were higher in patients with endometriosis stage I-II (revised American Fertility Society classification), or with non-pigmented peritoneal lesions. In conclusion, studies on sHLA-I and sICAM-1 may help to clarify the pathogenic mechanisms of endometriosis, and their serum concentrations may serve as additional markers for the early detection of recurrence of the disease during the monitoring of treatment outcome.     

A high-power carbohydrate fuel cell

This paper reports the development of a fuel cell consisting of a vanadium flow battery in which the vanadium ions are reduced by sugar (from a carbohydrate) to oxidation state +3 on one side of a membrane, and are oxidized to state +5 on the other side by oxygen. The theoretical upper limit to the conversion efficiency of the energy in sugar by this method under standard conditions is 54%. We have obtained efficiencies up to 45% in our laboratory tests. This way of using biomass for electricity production avoids the Carnot cycle losses in heat engines.     

Influence of substrate rotation speed on the nanostructure of sculptured Cu thin films

Different rotation speeds of the substrate about its surface normal were used to produce sculptured copper thin films of ∼ 90 nm thickness. X-ray diffraction (XRD), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were employed to obtain nano-structure and morphology of these films. Their optical properties were measured by spectrophotometry in the spectral range of 340-850 nm. Real and imaginary refractive indices, film thickness and fraction of metal inclusion in the film structure were obtained from optical fitting of the spectrophotometer data.     

Microwave-assisted photochemical reactor for the online oxidative decomposition and determination of p-hydroxymercurybenzoate and its thiolic complexes by cold vapor generation atomic fluorescence detection

We developed a photochemical method for the online oxidation of p-hydroxymercurybenzoate (PHMB), an organic mercury species widely used for mercaptan and thiolic compound labeling. The method is based on a fully integrated online UV/microwave (MW) photochemical reactor for the digestion of PHMB, followed by cold vapor generation atomic fluorescence spectrometry (CVG-AFS) detection. The MW/UV process led to the quantitative conversion of PHMB and thiol-PHMB complexes to Hg(II), with a yield between 91% and 98%, without using chemical oxidizing reagents and avoiding the use of toxic carcinogenic compounds. This reaction was followed by the reduction of Hg(II) to Hg(0), performed in a knitted reaction coil with NaBH(4) solution, and AFS detection in an Ar/H(2) miniaturized flame. The low MW power applied (18 W) allowed us to keep constant the temperature of the photochemical reactor (21 ± 1 °C), using a flowing water bath. This avoided peak widening due to diffusion processes generally occurring at high temperatures and in the additional cooling coil. This method has been applied to the determination of thiols in human plasma, blood, and wine.