Abstract: A method of measuring properties of particles includes generating a beam of radiation (IW); illuminating with the beam (IW) an observation region (MR) which is transited by a particle (B). A portion of the beam (IW) gives rise to radiation (SW) which is scattered by scattering interaction with the particle (B), and another portion (TW) is transmitted substantially undisturbed through the observation region (MR). In a detection plane (M), a plurality of radiation intensity values are detected which are determined by the interference between the scattered radiation (SW) and the transmitted radiation (TW). The detection of the radiation intensity values in the detection plane (M) is carried out according to a time sequence of acquisitions corresponding to successive transit positions of the particle through the observation region (MR).

Abstract: Novel melatonin ligands of Formula I: or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof wherein: n is 1 or 2; m is 0, 1 or 2; p is 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8; v is 2 or 3; A is aryl or heteroaryl; Z is O, S or NR8; Y is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, aryl, heteroaryl, C1-C6 alkyl, C3-C6 cycloalkyl, and R is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, hydroxyl, —OCF3, CF3, C1-C8 alkyl, C1-C8 alkyloxy, C1-C8 alkylthio, halogen and —Z—(CH2)p-A; R1 is selected from the group consisting of C1-C4 alkyl, C3-C6 cycloalkyl, CF3, hydroxy-substituted C1-C4 alkyl, hydroxy-substituted C3-C8 cycloalkyl, and NHR5, wherein R5 is C1-C3 alkyl or C3-C6 cycloalkyl; R2 is selected from the group consisting of: hydrogen, C1-C4 alkyl, C1-C4 alkyloxy, OCF3, CF3, hydroxyl, and halogen; R3 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C1-C4 alkyl, C1-C4 alkyloxy, OCF3, CF3, hydroxyl, and halogen; R and R3 may be connected together to form an —O—(CH2)v bridge representing with the carbon atoms to which the

Abstract: Procedure for the quantitative determination of interactions of ligands with receptors adsorbed or immobilized on the surface of a solid material which can be functionalized, transparent and with low refractive index, by direct measure of the reflection of light.

Abstract: A blood treatment method is described that is adapted to at least partially eliminate the carbon dioxide content of the type comprising a step of drawing a blood flow. Advantageously according to the invention, the method further comprises the steps of: acidifying the blood flow with transformation of the related blood bicarbonate content into gaseous carbon dioxide; and eliminating the gaseous carbon dioxide content by means of a pressure gradient.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the preparation of a novel hybrid electrochromic coating material with superior performance in terms of transparency, electrochromic contrast, colouration efficiency, and adhesion, for a use in electrochromic devices for applications where a high transparency is required in the bleached state.

Abstract: A method of measuring properties of particles comprises the steps of generating a beam of radiation (IW); illuminating with the beam (IW) an observation region (MR) which is transited by a particle (B), a portion of the beam (IW) giving rise to radiation (SW) which is scattered by scattering interaction with the particle (B), and another portion (TW) being transmitted substantially undisturbed through the observation region (MR); and detecting, in a detection plane (M), a plurality of radiation intensity values which are determined by the interference between the scattered radiation (SW) and the transmitted radiation (TW). The detection of the radiation intensity values in the detection plane (M) is carried out according to a time sequence of acquisitions corresponding to successive transit positions of the particle through the observation region (MR).

Abstract: The use of compounds is described which are capable of functionally blocking at least one of the genes chosen from the group composed of EphA1, EphA2, EphA8, EphB2, CSF1R, VEGFR2, RAMP2, RAMP3, CLRN1, MAPK4, PIK3C2A, PIK3CG, GSK3alpha, GSK3beta, IRAK3, DAPK1, JAK1, PIM1, TRB3, BTG1, LATS1, LIMK2, MYLK, PAK1, PAK2, CDC2, BTK, PNRC2, NCOA4, NR2C1, TPR, RBBP8, TRPC7, FXYD1, ERN1, PRSS16, RPS3, CCL23 and SERPINE1, for the manufacture of a medicament destined to diminish the resistance to chemotherapeutic drugs in the therapeutic treatment of epithelial tumour pathologies. Also described is a method for the determination of the drug resistance in tumour cells, as well as a method for the identification of tumour stem cells.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the expression of recombinant nucleic acids in plants. More specifically, the invention provides an Arabidopsis stomatal-specific promoter (AtMYB60 promoter—SEQ ID NO: l)for the selective expression of nucleic acids in stomatal guard cells, gene constructs containing the promoter, expression vectors carrying such and plants transfected therewith. The selective expression of nucleic acids in plant guard cells allows the regulation of stomatal opening/closing states thereby modulating, e. g. increasing, the plant ability to resist to adverse environmental or climatic conditions.

Abstract: The invention discloses compounds of formula I endowed with agonistic activity at the alpha7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (?7 nAChRs), a process for the preparation thereof, pharmaceutical compositions containing the same and the use thereof for the treatment of neurological and psychiatric disorders as well as inflammatory diseases.

Abstract: Herein is disclosed a method of generating ascorbic acid from yeast. In one embodiment, the yeast is a Zygosaccharomyces spp. or a Kluyveromyces spp. growing in a medium comprising an ascorbic acid precursor. In a second embodiment the yeast is a recombinant yeast growing in a medium comprising an ascorbic acid precursor. Preferably the recombinant yeast is transformed with a coding region encoding an enzyme selected from L-galactose dehydrogenase (LGDH), L-galactono-1,4-lactone dehydrogenase (AGD), D-arabinose dehydrogenase (ARA), D-arabinono-1,4-lactone oxidase (ALO) or L-gulono-1,4-lactone oxidase (RGLO). The ascorbic acid precursor is preferably D-glucose, L-galactose, L-galactono-1,4-lactone, or L-gulono-1,4-lactone. In another preferred embodiment the ascorbic acid is accumulated in the medium at levels greater than background. Preferably, the yield of the conversion of the precursor to ascorbic acid is preferably at least about 35%.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of raw glycerine as a cement additive in order to improve the compression strength thereof.

Abstract: The invention relates to the design of inhibitors of the HIV-1-PR homodimer which do not create resistance, by blocking the folding of single monomers with the help of peptides which attach to highly-conserved sites of the monomers.

Abstract: An apparatus and a related method for the deep brain stimulation have been invented wherein the parameters of the stimulation supplied at the human nervous system level are adjusted and optimized continuously by the analysis of the bioelectric signals coming from the tissue adjacent the stimulation electrode itself, adapting the therapy continuously and in line to the patient's clinical state. The apparatus is constituted at least by an electro-catheter (1) implantable in a patient's brain and equipped with four contacts (4, 5, 6, 7). Then, there is at least a stimulation module (9) which generates the stimulating signal (15) sent to the electro-catheter (1) and in particular to one of the contacts thereof (6). The electro-catheter (1) contemporarily sends a signal characterizing the brain activity coming from the tissue involved by the stimulating signal (15) to an acquisition module (8).

Abstract: Procedure for the quantitative determination of interactions of ligands with receptors adsorbed on the surface of particles, by direct measure of the scattering of light by Laser Light Scattering (LLS), with the usage of submicrometric polymeric particles with diameter between 5 and 200 nm.

Abstract: A new ionization source named Surface Activated Chemical Ionization (SACI) has been discovered and used to improve the sensitivity of the mass spectrometer. According to this invention the ionization chamber of a mass spectrometer is heated and contains a physical new surface to improve the ionization process. The analyte neutral molecules that are present in gas phase are ionized on this surface. The surface can be made of various materials and may also chemically modified so to bind different molecules. This new ionization source is able to generate ions with high molecular weight and low charge, an essential new key feature of the invention so to improve sensitivity and reduce noise. The new device can be especially used for the analysis of proteins, peptides and other macromolecules. The new invention overcomes some of the well known and critical limitations of the Electrospray (ESI) and Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometric techniques.

Abstract: A process for the production of surface-oxidized metallic wools or fibres involves dry scraping, with a set of grooved knives or equivalent tools, of a taut metallic wire which is made to slide between two rollers. The process includes regulation of the wire scraping temperature or subsequent heat treatment of the wire after cutting, to obtain controlled surface oxidation of the wool. The products obtained are useful as basic materials to prepare supports for catalysts and materials for various applications, such as sensors, catalysts or friction materials. Examples of coating of metallic wools and fibres with oxides, in particular ceramic oxides, for the creation of catalytic composite materials with a metallic core, are disclosed for this type of use.

Abstract: A method of measuring properties of particles comprises the steps of: generating a beam of radiation (IB) which is propagated along a principal axis (z), illuminating with the beam (IB) an observation region (MR) with particles (B), a portion of the beam (IB) giving rise to radiation (SW) which is scattered by interaction of the portion of the beam (IB) with the particles (B) and another portion (TB) being transmitted substantially undisturbed through the observation region (MR), and detecting, in a plane (M) disposed on the propagation axis (z), radiation intensity values which are determined by the interference between the scattered radiation (SW) and the transmitted radiation (TB).

Abstract: Process for the preparation of the facial isomer of tris(8-oxoquinoline) aluminum(III) (Alq3), comprising the step of heating ?-Alq3 in solid phase at a temperature equal to or higher than 350° C. but lower than 420° C., to obtain a mixture of ?-Alq3 and ?-Alq3.

Abstract: The invention relates to the design of inhibitors of the HIV-1-PR homodimer which do not create resistance, by blocking the folding of single monomers with the help of peptides which attach to highly-conserved sites of the monomers.

Abstract: The subject of the present invention are cyclic compounds, in particular having azabicycloalkane structures of the general formula (I) a process for their preparation, and their use as intermediates in the synthesis of biologically active peptidomimetic compounds containing the sequence RGD (Arg-Gly-Asp).