Abstract: The present invention relates to compounds of Formula (I) or pharmaceutically acceptable salts or solvates thereof: It further discloses a pharmaceutical composition comprising the compounds of Formula (I) and their uses as anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic agents for cancer therapy.

Abstract: Methods for obtaining composites of polyaniline and reduced graphene oxide are disclosed. The methods include dispersing graphene oxide in an acid aqueous solution containing an anionic emulsifying agent to obtain a dispersion of the graphene oxide, dissolving an aniline oligomer in an organic solvent to obtain a solution of the oligomer, and mixing the solution of the oligomer with the dispersion of graphene oxide to obtain a composite of polyaniline and reduced graphene oxide. The methods may also include recovering a precipitate of the polyaniline/reduced graphene oxide composite, and dissolving the precipitate in an organic solvent to form a conductive ink or an ink for electronic devices.

Abstract: A method for the self-calibration of the position of a set of sensors of acoustic signals includes a set of sources of acoustic events provided for generating acoustic waves; measuring times of flight of the acoustic events between each source of acoustic events and each microphone; and reconstructing the positions of the set of sensors and the positions of the sources of acoustic events through a maximum-likelihood estimation procedure executed on the basis of the measured times of flight. Times of emission of the acoustic events are acquired and times of flight are obtained. Distances are calculated between the sources and the sensors. A matrix of estimated positions of the sensor microphones and a matrix of estimated positions of the sources of events are calculated.

Abstract: There is described a method for making an array of micro-needles, comprising the steps of: depositing a plurality of drops of a liquid substance comprising a polymer on a surface of a starting substrate; positioning a pyroelectric substrate at a certain distance from the starting substrate in such a way that the drops deposited are positioned between said surface of the starting substrate and a surface of the pyroelectric substrate; varying the temperature of the pyroelectric substrate or a part thereof to induce on said surface of the pyroelectric substrate a charge density such that starting from the drops deposited, under the effect of an electrodynamic force, respective cones are formed having a tip facing towards the pyroelectric substrate; determining a consolidation of the cones, to form said micro-needles, preventing the tip of said cones from contacting said surfaces of the pyroelectric substrate.

Abstract: Process for treating a fibrous material, to make said material hydrophobic and/or water-repellent, comprising the operation of impregnating said material with a suspension comprising nanoparticles of a hydrophobic material and a cyanoacrylate in an organic solvent and causing the crosslinking of said cyanoacrylate; the process uses an amount of cyanoacrylate and a weight ratio with the nanoparticles such as to produce complete or partial coating of the fibrous material with a matrix of crosslinked cyanoacrylate in which said nanoparticles are dispersed.

Abstract: Globular microstructures comprising a liquid core and a solid shell that envelops the core comprising polymeric micro- or nanofibres, preferably obtained by electrospinning, comprising a hydrophobic polymer or a mixture of hydrophobic polymer with polymers derived from cellulose or with polyacrylates; the microstructures may have a further coating of nanoparticles or polymeric coating. The microstructures have applications similar to those of “liquid marbles” with improved mechanical properties.

Abstract: Modulators of intracellular chloride concentration for treating down syndrome The present invention relates to a modulator of a chloride transporter for use in the treatment of Down syndrome.

Abstract: Optical scanning system, comprising an optical system for guiding a first and a second light beam, and deflector devices for deflecting first and second light beams in a directionally variable manner. The deflector devices comprise at least one acousto-optic deflector, and the optical system is arranged in such a way that the first and second light beams are counter-propagating through the acousto-optic deflector, which is controllable for deflecting the first and second light beams simultaneously or in pulse sequence. STED microscopy apparatus comprising an optical scanning system based on acousto-optic deflectors.

Abstract: Methods for producing lithium iron phosphate or lithium manganese phosphate or lithium iron manganese phosphate, by colloidal synthesis are provided. Such methods include the operation of reacting a lithium salt, an iron(II) halide (and/or a manganese(II) halide) and a phosphorus compound, which, under the reaction conditions, is capable of releasing the phosphate ion, in the presence of an organic surfactant or a mixture of organic surfactants including an alkylamine or alkenylamine, in which the surfactant or mixture of surfactants is capable of dissolving the lithium salt and the iron halide (and/or the manganese halide), where used, in an organic solvent, which is liquid at room temperature, in which the surfactant or mixture of surfactants is soluble, the reaction being performed at a temperature not lower than 250° C.

Abstract: Method of optical microscopy by scanning a sample containing an excitable species, the method comprising: directing a first and a second light beam onto respective, partially overlapped areas of the sample, wherein the first light beam is provided for exciting members of the excitable species, and the second light beam is provided for reducing the number of excited members; detecting an optical signal coming from the sample, comprising a main component and a spurious component, during consecutive first and second time gates, the first time gate being provided for detecting the optical signal for a time interval during which the main component and the spurious component are both present, and the second time gate being provided for detecting the optical signal for a time interval during which the main component tends to or is zero; processing the detected optical signal to separate its main component.

Abstract: Methods of making iron-based ferrite nanocrystals are provided. In such methods the ferrite may include iron oxides and iron/cobalt or iron/manganese mixed salts. The method may include thermal decomposition of one or more precursors of the ferrite, consisting of an organic salt of the metal or metals constituting the ferrite of interest, comprising the operation of heating a solution comprising said precursor(s) in the presence of a surfactant and of a non-aqueous organic solvent comprising an ether, at temperature sufficient to cause thermal decomposition of said precursor, wherein the solvent may further comprise a saturated or unsaturated, linear or branched aliphatic hydrocarbon, liquid at temperatures above 45° C. and having a boiling point above the boiling point of the ethereal solvent.

Abstract: Devices are provided for inhibiting the electrical activity of an excitable cell through the application of a pulse of light which includes a substrate and a photoreactive film both of non-conducting material and laid directly on one another, in which the photoreactive film includes a layer of semiconductor polymer material and has an interface surface which can be placed in contact with an excitable cell and an electrolyte solution. After absorbing light, when placed in contact with the excitable cell and the electrolyte solution, the photoreactive film produces a potential difference across this interface surface which is capable of giving rise to hyperpolarisation of the membrane of the excitable cell. Methods of inhibiting the electrical activity of excitable cells using such devices are also provided.

Abstract: A three-dimensional nanoresonator structure has a stack of laterally confined layers including at least a first layer and a second layer of different conductive materials between which a dielectric layer is interposed. The layers have at least a respective accessible surface area exposed to an environment in which the structure is immersed. Multiple three-dimensional nanoresonators that can be dispersed in an environment are formed from an array of nanoresonators fixed to a sacrificial substrate. The nanoresonators are subsequently separated from the substrate and conjugated with a chemical agent adapted to promote the formation of a stable colloidal suspension of nanoresonators in a liquid medium.

Abstract: A tactile control arrangement (10) for at least one electronic device (W, P) including a touch control interface (12) based on a capacitive sensor matrix (S) and a electronic processing module (16) associated to the sensor matrix (S) and arranged to receive therefrom a plurality of electrical signals indicative of the touch or the pressure of an external body on at least one sensor (S) of the matrix and consequent commands to be transmitted towards the above-mentioned electronic device (W, P) is described. The sensor matrix (S) comprises a plurality of active sensor electrodes (E) and a corresponding plurality of conductive tracks (T) for the connection of the active electrodes (E) with the processing module (16).

Abstract: A sensory system for a robot comprises a plurality of tactile sensor arrangements (10), each of which includes a flexible planar substrate (12) adapted to form the coating of a robot body, carrying a plurality of pressure sensing devices (14), and an associated signal acquisition microcircuit (16), so arranged as to acquire electrical signals indicative of the contact with an external object (O) or environment from the plurality of sensing devices (14). The microcircuit (16) faces a serial communication bus (B) shared by a plurality of associated arrangements, so as to provide the signals acquired by the plurality of arrangements to an external microcontroller processing unit (40). The sensor arrangement comprises a single input connection port (18?) of the communication bus, and at least one output connection port (18?) of the communication bus, adapted to define a branched path of the bus (B) through said plurality of associated arrangements.

Abstract: A method of configuring planar transducer arrays for broadband signal processing by 3D beamforming, wherein a superdirective beamforming technique for low-frequency signal components is combined with a sparse and aperiodic array pattern for high-frequency components in a predetermined frequency range, and wherein the positions of the individual transducers at the aperture of the array and the FIR filter coefficients are further optimized in parallel, by a hybrid iterative process including an analytical calculus for determining the FIR filter coefficients and a stochastic calculus for determining the transducer positions at the aperture of the planar transducer arrays, by minimization of a cost function.

Abstract: A tactile control arrangement (10) for at least one electronic device (W, P) including a touch control interface (12) based on a capacitive sensor matrix (S) and a electronic processing module (16) associated to the sensor matrix (S) and arranged to receive therefrom a plurality of electrical signals indicative of the touch or the pressure of an external body on at least one sensor (S) of the matrix and consequent commands to be transmitted towards the above-mentioned electronic device (W, P) is described. The sensor matrix (S) comprises a plurality of active sensor electrodes (E) and a corresponding plurality of conductive tracks (T) for the connection of the active electrodes (E) with the processing module (16).

Abstract: A rotary joint (10; 110) includes an output member (12; 112) rotatable about a first axis of rotation (x1), a first actuator device (14) arranged to generate a rotary motion about the first axis (x1), an input member (16; 116) driven by the first actuator device (14; 114) about the first axis (x1), elastic elements (20, 64; 120) between the input member (16; 116) and the output member (12; 112) and configured such that the transmission of the torque takes place via the elastic elements (20, 64; 120). A second actuator device (22; 122) is arranged to change the stiffness of the rotary joint (10; 110).

Abstract: The present invention relates to anodic porous alumina (APA) in the form of microparticles, characterized in that it contains interconnected through nanopores, and to its use in the preparation of a new composite material, which is useful for example in the field of conservative dentistry. The invention further relates to a process for preparing the nanoporous alumina of the invention in microparticles.

Abstract: Methods are provided for obtaining hollow nano-structures which include the steps of providing a suspended film starting layer on a support substrate, depositing on the starting layer a sacrificial layer, performing, in progressive sequence, a complete erosion phase of said support substrate and starting layer and performing an at least partial erosion phase of the sacrificial layer previously deposited on the starting layer so as to obtain holes passing through the starting layer and passing or non passing through the sacrificial layer, depositing, on the side of the support substrate opposite to that where the starting layer is put, at least one covering layer arranged to internally cover the holes created by the progressive erosion. Hollow nano-structures formed by such methods are also provided.