Abstract: The subject invention discloses a method for the preparation of a dual structure cellular ceramic object where a dispersion of a ceramic precursor a chain-growth or step-growth polymer precursor and a solvent is heated to a first temperature at a first rate followed by heating to a second temperature at a second rate and holding the temperature to form a sintered dual structure cellular ceramic object which is then cooled at a third rate to room temperature. The dual structure cellular ceramic object has a dense surface layer over at least a portion of the object that abruptly yet smoothly and continuously transitioning into a porous ceramic.

Abstract: The invention relates to sphingosine derivative compounds, like D-erythro-sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1 P), to be used as immunomodulators in a microbicidal treatment of infections derived from bacteria and specifically Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Such compounds are characterised in that they stimulate macrophagic Phospholipase D (PLD) (FIG. 1). The invention further relates to pharmaceutical compositions containing sphingosine derivative compounds and diagnostic methods for the preparation thereof. Further objects of the invention are methods of inducing or restoring the microbicidal activity in vitro of macrophages for monitoring the efficiency of phagocytosis and degradation processes performed by the same and assay methods suitable to evaluate therapeutic effectiveness of candidate microbicides.

Abstract: Derivatives of the heterocyclic compound known as 7-nitro-benzofurazan or 7-nitro-2,1,3-benzoxadiazole, are agents having a strong inhibiting activity towards members of the glutathione S-transferase (GST) superfamily that are hyperexpressed in cancer cells, and make them particularly resistant to many stress factors. These compounds are useful in the production of pharmaceutical drugs to be used in anticancer therapy, and may be employed either alone or in combination with other chemotherapeutic agents.

Abstract: The invention relates to sphingosine derivative compounds, like D-erythro-sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P), to be used as immunomodulators in a microbicidal treatment of infections derived from bacteria and specifically Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Such compounds are characterized in that they stimulate macrophagic Phospholipase D (PLD) (FIG. 1). The invention further relates to pharmaceutical compositions containing sphingosine derivative compounds and diagnostic methods for the preparation thereof. Further objects of the invention are methods of inducing or restoring the microbicidal activity in vitro of macrophages for monitoring the efficiency of phagocytosis and degradation processes performed by the same and assay methods suitable to evaluate therapeutic effectiveness of candidate microbicides.

Abstract: The invention concerns novel Salmonella enterica attenuated strains, characterized in that they are inactivated at the level of the znuABC operon through mutation in at least one of the znuA, znuB, znuC genes of such operon, for uses in medical or veterinary fields as vaccines.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the synthesis and characterization of biotinylated analogue of N-arachidonoylethanolamine (AEA) and its use as a tool to study AEA transport and trafficking through biochemical and morphological techniques. In particular biotinylated AEA (b-AEA, for which we propose the common name MM22) is suitable to design highly sensitive and simple methods for the non-radioactive detection and quantitation of AEA from complex samples, which would offer a useful alternative approach to the routinely used radiometric assays. The invention also relates to the use of b-AEA as a potential therapeutic and diagnostic agent.

Abstract: A system able to locate and identify aircraft and vehicles based on the reception and processing, with novel means and methods, of signals emitted by the transponder of the secondary surveillance radar, shortly SSR. The system has a number of fixed stations distributed in the area of interest, e.g. in the airport area; any signal (the well known SSR reply/squitter) transmitted by the on-board transponder is received by four or more stations and the measurement of three or more differences of times of arrival (TOA) permits the reconstruction of the position of the transponder in spite of the fact that the transmission time is unknown. Suitable algorithms based on optimal estimation enhance both the accuracy of TOA measurements and the accuracy of the reconstructed position. The effects of possible overlapping of signal in time are avoided or mitigated by multiple source separation techniques based on least squares algebraic processing.