Abstract: An optical device including a primary fan-out waveguide; at least one secondary fan-out waveguide; a fan-out optical coupler for coupling a light beam between the primary fan-out waveguide and the secondary fan-out waveguide; at least one bus waveguide associated with the at least one secondary fan-out waveguide and different from each secondary fan-out waveguide; and a reflecting and coupling structure connecting the secondary fan-out waveguide and the bus waveguide.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a slow-releasing fertilizer composition and a composition for increasing plant growth and plant tolerance to salt stress which comprise, as an effective ingredient, hydroxyapatite or in mixture with a tricalcium phosphate obtained from chemical synthesis or thermal treatment of bones, coated with humic acid or a polymer of monomeric phenol.

Abstract: This invention relates to biodegradable films characterised by high resistance to processes of the photodegradative type, mainly activated by the ultraviolet component of sunlight, which are particularly suitable for use in the mulch film sector. These films comprise a composition containing at least one polyphenol of plant origin.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the preparation of a product comprising one or more nanoparticles of calcium phosphate (CaP-NP) with negative surface charge having a ?-potential in the range from ?41.0 mV to ?27.0 mV comprising the steps of: a) maintaining a mixture having a pH in the range from 7 to 10 and comprising an aqueous solution of calcium, an aqueous solution of phosphate and a solution of citrate ions at a temperature in the range from 20° C. to 40° C. for a time in the range from 30 seconds to 10 minutes; b) removing non-reacted ions from the solution of step a), thus obtaining a suspension of one or more nanoparticles of calcium phosphate (CaP-NP); c) recovering the product of one or more nanoparticles of calcium phosphate (CaP-NP) from the suspension of step b). In an advantageous embodiment, the process of the invention provides, in the mixture of step a), also an aqueous solution of one or more therapeutic/diagnostic compounds.

Abstract: A method, and corresponding apparatus, of fabricating a structure by chemical wet etching starting from a material rod of millimetric or sub-millemetric size, the method comprising: dipping an end portion (170) of the material rod (128,129) into a vessel (105) containing an etchant liquid (110) and a protective overlayer (175) floating on top of the etchant liquid, imparting a relative rotational movement of the etchant liquid with respect to the end portion (170) of the material rod immersed therein, wherein said imparting a relative rotational movement comprises imparting to the etchant liquid a rotational movement component with respect to a static reference system.

Abstract: The present invention concerns the field of ion channels, and in particular relates to peptides which are suitable for use in the treatment of conditions where the L-type calcium channel (LTCC) density and function is altered. LTCCs are located on the membrane of all excitable cells and control the small voltage gradient across the plasma membrane by allowing the flow of Ca2+ ions down their electrochemical gradient. This Ca2+ flux is critical for numerous processes including cardiac action potential propagation, muscle contraction, Ca2+-dependent gene expression, synaptic efficacy, and cell survival by contributing to various signaling cascades. Reduction of the inward calcium current (ICa) conducted through the LTCCs is seen in several diseases and medications to improve or restores impaired intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis are limited. The present invention reports mimetic peptides (MPs) that through a novel mechanism directly targets LTCCs and, by modulation of LTCC density and function, increases ICa.

Abstract: The present invention features recombinant adeno-associated vectors for delivery of genes to both skeletal and cardiac muscle and methods for treatment of muscle defects, including Duchenne's muscular dystrophy.

Abstract: Disclosed a system for reconstructing an image of an object hidden by a flame. The system comprises a laser source emitting an infrared radiation and a lensless, off-axis interferometric arrangement that divides the infrared radiation into an object beam and a reference beam. The object beam is enlarged and then irradiates the object, that scatters it. The reference beam is enlarged and then interferes with the scattered object beam, so as to create a hologram. The system comprises an infrared detector which detects the hologram and a processor that reconstructs the image of the object by numerically processing the hologram.

Abstract: Thermionic solar converter with a linear arrangement of the components, suitable for the direct conversion of solar energy into electrical energy and the combined generation of heat and energy, in the form of an elongated transparent vacuum tube comprising: a cathode (5) and at least one anode (6), said cathode and anode being arranged longitudinally alongside each other along the tube: grid electrodes (10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16) for generating electric fields; means (18) for directly cooling the at least one anode; means (7) for electrically connecting the electrodes from the inside to the outside; an optical access window (4) along the surface area of the tube; wherein: the cathode is made of conductive refractory material, is suspended centrally inside the tube with an elongated form and forms the element for capturing the solar energy, on which the sunlight is directly focused in order to perform the thermionic conversion, without any intermediate heat transfer means; the electrical connection means form a l

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device consisting of cross-linked nanofibrillary fibrin supported on and rooted to a microporous nonwoven fabric consisting of a biocompatible synthetic polymer material. An active ingredient is advantageously dispersed in the fibrin layer. The fibrin layer does not have a haemostatic function, but is suitable for retaining the active ingredient and releasing it with controlled kinetics. The device forming the object of the invention, preferably in the form of patches, is useful for in vitro cell cultures or for treating tissues damaged by wounds or necrosis, such as cardiac walls bearing the sequelae of infarction, or a tissue damaged by a diabetic ulcer.

Abstract: The present invention refers to the problem of the automatic detection of events in sport field, in particular Goal/NoGoal events by signalling to the mach management, which can autonomously take the final decision upon the event. The system is not invasive for the field structures, neither it requires to interrupt the game or to modify the rules thereof, but it only aims at detecting objectively the event occurrence and at providing support in the referees' decisions by means of specific signalling of the detected events.

Abstract: A method for constructing a building comprises the steps of: preparing a base (1); connecting a plurality of panels (2) to the base (1) to form a plurality of walls of the building, each panel (2) at least partly forming a wall of the building; the step of connecting the plurality of panels (2) to the base (1) comprising the preliminary step of connecting a plurality of corner panels (5) at the corners of the base (1).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for obtaining nucleic acid aptamers that bind to cancer cell-surface epitopes, to the aptamers generated using this method and their use for therapeutic, diagnostic and prognostic purposes.

Abstract: A connecting element for panels comprises at least one plate (2) which can be fixed to a first panel (3), a connecting body (4) connected to the plate (2) and which can be inserted in a cavity (6) in a second panel (5) to connect the second panel to the first panel (3); the connecting body (4) having a substantially ‘V’-shaped cross-section and having a top edge (9) which can be completely inserted in the cavity (6).

Abstract: A process with fusion pre-treatment for synthesizing geopolymers and zeolites from fly ash, in particular X-type zeolites with pores of large dimensions and high capacity that utilize sea water and low incubation temperatures. Fly ash is initially mixed with NaOH to obtain a mixture, which is pulverized and then melted at the temperature of 550° C. After cooling, the melted mass is pulverized, dispersed in sea water with fixed ratios and left under stirring at ambient temperature for 12 hours. The incubation of the ground material in sea water takes place at a temperature of between 25 and 70 degrees centigrade. Once the incubation period is ended, the solid part is separated from the liquid phase (sea water) through centrifugation and subsequently rinsed and oven dried.

Abstract: Avermectin and milbemycin compounds, particularly the substance ivermectin, for preparing an antiviral medicament for the treatment, prevention or amelioration of a Flavivirus infection, such as those caused by YFV (yellow fever virus), DENV (Dengue virus), JEV (Japanese encephalitis virus), TBEV (tick-borne encephalitis virus) or MODV (Modoc virus) are provided. The antiviral compositions of the present invention are suitable for oral administration to a Flavivirus-infected subject or a subject at risk of a Flavivirus infection, such as a human or other mammal.

Abstract: Description of a sequence peptide isolated in the domain II type-immunoglobulin (Type-Ig) of the Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor receptor 1 (VEGF-1) binding integrin ?5?1, usable for the preparation of pharmacological agents having proangiogenic activity.

Abstract: A scintigraphic device includes: a collimator for receiving and directing electromagnetic radiation from a source; a scintillation structure associated with the collimator for receiving the electromagnetic radiation from the collimator and converting it into visible radiation; an electro-optical converter combined with a suitable electronics and associated with the scintillation structure for receiving the visible radiation and converting it into electric signals; a processing unit connected to the electro-optical converter for receiving the electric signals and rebuilding, as a function of the electric signals, images of the source; an actuating system for mutually moving the source and the collimator to enable the collimator to detect the electromagnetic radiation at different mutual positioning locations of the source and the collimator, the processing unit being adapted to rebuild a plurality of auxiliary images representative of the source, each auxiliary image corresponding to a respective mutual positi

Abstract: A structure of calorimeter provides a calorimetric head (1) comprising a calorimetric cell (10) suitable for receiving a sample holding container (20) containing a sample (25) to examine. The cell (10) is arranged according to a first shield (3), or active shield. Outside the active shield (3) a second shield (4), or dynamical shield is present, which comprises a cylindrical hollow body arranged around the active shield (3) for all its length in order to provide a space (5) of determined size. Outside the active shield a thermal bath is present (not shown) at a temperature lower than the first and the second shield (3,4). The dynamic shield (4) allows an effective adjustment of the heat flux through the active shield (3) during calorimetric measures by limiting the heat flux same. In fact, in operative conditions the dynamic shield acts as thermal flywheel and keeps constant the heat flux coming from the active shield (3).

Abstract: This invention pertains to gaseous analytes sensor devices comprising organic thin film transistor and, in particular sensors able to perform the enantiomeric discrimination of gaseous analytes. The organic thin films are characterized by comprising a compound of formula (I).