Abstract: A tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) for use in a method for the treatment of cancer in a patient, wherein the method comprises subjecting the patient to reduced caloric intake, i.e a daily caloric intake reduced by 10-100%, including starvation, for a period of 24-190 hours and administering the tyrosine kinase inhibitorto the patient during such period; the tyrosine kinase inhibitor is preferably selected among Lapatinib, Crizotinib, Gefitinib, Erlotinib, Afatinib and Regorafenib.

Abstract: Device (1) for checking the calibration of catching instruments measuring rainfall intensity, which comprises a plurality of containers (2a, 2b, 2c) having a predetermined internal volume (V1, V2, V3), the volume of at least two of said containers being different from each other, said containers being intended to contain respective amounts of a liquid, wherein each container (2a, 2b, 2c) is provided with a single exhaust nozzle (3a, 3b, 3c) intended to put the internal volume (V1, V2, V3) of said container (2a, 2b, 2c) in fluid communication with an outer environment such to allow said liquid discharged from said nozzle (3a, 3b, 3c) to flow out by gravity in a substantially horizontal direction, each one of said containers (2a, 2b, 2c) further comprising air intake means (4a, 4b, 4c) intended to put the internal volume (V1, V2, V3) in fluid communication with the outer environment in order to define a compensation of the air pressure inside the container, such to make piezometric head constant at the height o

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: Method for creating digital circuits of an MPC controller (2), which implements an approximation technique for Model Predictive Control (MPC), in which a quadratic programming (QP) or linear programming (LP) optimization problem is formulated by starting from a model defined over a set of states of a state (x), wherein the said set of states is partitioned into simplices identified by vertices (v), and wherein said method comprises the steps of a) compute a solution (w*) of the optimization problem and define a control law (u(x)); b) check the stability under the control law (u(x)); c) synthesize a digital circuit by starting from the control law (u(x)) and the vertices (vi).

Abstract: Method of extraction of information of interest to multi-dimensional, multi-parametric and/or multi-temporal datasets related to a same object under observation through data fusion, in which a plurality of different data sets are provided concerning a single object, with the data related to various parameters and/or different time acquisition instants of said parameters. The data set are subjected to a first processing step by principal component analysis generated by an identical number of datasets with transformed data; and each of the datasets is combined in non-linearly with the corresponding transformed data set to obtain a certain predetermined number of combinations of parameters by weighing using parameters determined empirically using training datasets which determine the values of the non-linear weighting parameters that maximize the value of the new features associated with the data of interest, as compared to those of other data.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a fusion polypeptide and compositions useful for treating autoimmune diseases and disorders. The fusion polypeptide comprises a first domain comprising a self antigen which is a conserved sequence found in T cell determinants in the FR1/CDR1 region of VH of human and murine IgG antibodies, particularly SEQ ID NO:2 or an antigenic fragment thereof; and a second domain comprising a heterologous polypeptide or small molecule.

Abstract: A method for the preparation of a bioadhesive compact matrix, which comprises the preparation of a uniform mixture of powders comprising one alkylcellulose or one hydroxy alkylcellulose and a non-water-soluble, water-swellable crosslinked polycarboxylic polymer; the preparation of compressed units starting from such powder mixture by direct compression and finally the heating of the compressed units thus obtained to a temperature in the range of 80-250° C. for a time of 1-60 minutes; the powder mixture can also comprise at least one active substance and the compressed units thus obtained are characterized by a prolonged release, and have a release kinetics of the active substance substantially of zero order in an aqueous solution at pH 4-8.

Abstract: Process for the preparation of a superhydrophobic film comprising the steps of applying a hydrophobic polymer in the liquid phase on a surface so as to form a layer of hydrophobic polymer, applying on said layer of hydrophobic polymer a membrane having a porosity of between 105 and 6×108 pores/cm2 in which the pores have a diameter smaller than or equal to 3 ?m, subjecting said layer of hydrophobic polymer to a thermal treatment so as to form a superhydrophobic film, and removing said membrane.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a device and a method of single-molecule analysis by detection of a target molecule on functionalized nanopores in such a way that it interacts with the target molecule and has an effective diameter smaller than the dimension of the target molecule.

Abstract: A method for destroying asbestos in mainly organic matrix asbestos-containing waste includes the steps of: preparing the asbestos-containing waste; preparing a supercritical aqueous phase; letting the asbestos and the primarily organic matrix of the asbestos-containing waste react with the aqueous phase for a time t in an appropriate reactor at a predetermined pressure P and temperature T to maintain the aqueous phase in supercritical condition; cooling and condensing the aqueous phase flowing out of the reactor; and separating the aqueous phase from any entrained solid products therein. The step of preparing the supercritical aqueous phase includes an additional step, in which an oxidizing compound is added in a predetermined concentration Cl, the pressure P is in a range from 25 to 27 MPa, and the temperature T is in a range from 600° C. to 650° C., causing the asbestos and the organic binder to be simultaneously destroyed.

Abstract: Device (1) for checking the calibration of catching instruments measuring rainfall intensity, which comprises a plurality of containers (2a, 2b, 2c) having a predetermined internal volume (V1, V2, V3), the volume of at least two of said containers being different from each other, said containers being intended to contain respective amounts of a liquid, wherein each container (2a, 2b, 2c) is provided with a single exhaust nozzle (3a, 3b, 3c) intended to put the internal volume (V1, V2, V3) of said container (2a, 2b, 2c) in fluid communication with an outer environment such to allow said liquid discharged from said nozzle (3a, 3b, 3c) to flow out by gravity in a substantially horizontal direction, each one of said containers (2a, 2b, 2c) further comprising air intake means (4a, 4b, 4c) intended to put the internal volume (V1, V2, V3) in fluid communication with the outer environment in order to define a compensation of the air pressure inside the container, such to make piezometric head constant at the height o

Abstract: A method is for the synthesis of an array of metal nanowires (w) capable of supporting localized plasmon resonances. A metal film (M) deposited on a planar substrate (D) is irradiated with a defocused beam of noble gas ions (IB) under high vacuum, so that, with increasing ion doses a corrugation is produced on the metal film surface, formed by a mutually parallel nanoscale self-organized corrugations (r). Subsequently, the height of the self-organized corrugations peaks is increased relative to the valleys (t) interposed therebetween. Then the whole the metal film is eroded so as to expose the substrate at the valleys, and to mutually disconnect the self-organized corrugations, thereby generating the array of metal nanowires. Finally, the transversal cross-section of the nanowires is reduced in a controlled manner so as to adjust the localized plasmon resonances wavelength which can be associated thereto. The nanowires array constitutes an electrode of an improved photonic device.

Abstract: Method of extraction of information of interest to multi-dimensional, multi-parametric and/or multi-temporal datasets related to a same object under observation through data fusion, in which a plurality of different data sets are provided concerning a single object, with the data related to various parameters and/or different time acquisition instants of said parameters. The data set are subjected to a first processing step by principal component analysis generated by an identical number of datasets with transformed data; and each of the datasets is combined in non-linearly with the corresponding transformed data set to obtain a certain predetermined number of combinations of parameters by weighing using parameters determined empirically using training datasets which determine the values of the non-linear weighting parameters that maximize the value of the new features associated with the data of interest, as compared to those of other data.

Abstract: A conjugate of human albumin (HA) and 2-(4-isothiocyanatobenzyl)-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7,10-tetraacetic acid (p-SCN-Bn-DOTA) insoluble in aqueous medium at a pH of 3-8.5 and whose IR spectrum shows an absorption at about 700 cm?1 is described; a complex is further described consisting of a conjugate of HA and p-SCN-Bn-DOTA (HAC) according to claim 1 or 2 and a radioactive isotope of an element selected among the group consisting of P, Sr, Rh, Pd, I, Sm, Er, Au, At Bi, In, Lu, Y, Re, Cu and Ag, as well as procedures for preparing said conjugate and said complex as well as the use of such conjugate in the identification of mammalian neoplastic lesions by the R.O.L.L. methodology (“Radioguided Occult Lesion Localization”).

Abstract: The present invention concerns a contact module (10) operating with three fluids, air, coolant fluid and desiccant solution, with hydrophobic tubular membranes for the dehumidification and/or cooling of process air, said contact module comprising plurality of conduits (1) for the refrigerant fluid, in particular typically frigorific evaporating fluid, the contact module being characterized in that:—the space between said plurality of conduits (1) is substantially filled with a plurality of capillary pipes (2) in hydrophobic micro-porous membrane whose lumen is suitable to be crossed by and whose main extension direction is perpendicular to said plurality of conduits (1);—on the two opposite surfaces of the contact module at the ends of said plurality of capillary pipes, one or more closing material layers, in particular of hardening resin, are disposed, for incorporating the end parts of said plurality of capillary pipes and sealing the thus created space between said plurality of capillary pipes, said space

Abstract: By a computer search for upstream promoter elements (DSE, PSE) typical of small nuclear RNA (snRNA) genes, we have identified a number of previously unrecognized, putative transcription units whose predicted products are novel noncoding RNAs with homology to protein-coding genes. By elucidating the function of one of them, we provide evidence for the existence of a sense/antisense-based gene regulation network where part of the Pol III transcriptome could control its Pol II counterpart.

Abstract: A nanoarray or microarray of antibodies includes a planar surface having an ultraflat surface, which has a planar substrate functionalized with a first monolayer of linking molecules, preferably APTES molecules, and a second monolayer of small peptides of the general formula (I) capable of binding the Fc region of antibodies. The nanoarray or microarray includes capture antibodies immobilized on the planar support, preferably in the form of a matrix of spots, and is suitable to be used for detecting antigens in a biological sample by AFM imaging.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a multilayer polymeric actuator includes the following steps: arranging a rotating winding core; winding a dielectric film of polymeric material around the winding core; during winding, applying a conductive material on the dielectric film exposed face, in which the application occurs intermittently according to a pre-established sequence, and according to a first and a second geometrical application pattern mutually alternated at each winding turn, so as to form a roll; radially cutting the roll at the ends of a circumferentially localized zone; and connecting a conductive material layers having the first geometrical application pattern one to the other and the conductive material layers having the second geometrical application pattern one to the other.

Abstract: Disclosed are bi-specific complexes aimed at inhibiting mast cells, eosinophils and/or basophils, and thus, at inhibiting allergy-type reactions. In particular, said complexes are best exemplified by bi-specific antibodies, which bind to two targets present in the same cell. One target is the inhibitory receptor IRp60. The second target is a cell-specific activator, e.g. IgE, cKIT, Fc?RI, IL5R or CCR3. Binding of the bi-specific antibody to its targets results in the induction of an inhibitory pathway, through the inhibition of the signaling from the activator. Compositions and uses of the bi-specific complexes are also described.

Abstract: The invention relates to novel adenyl dinucleotides which are isomers of the dinucleotide Ap2A, having formulae (I) and (II). The dinucleotides of the invention have antitumour activity, particularly against tumours of haematological origin, such as for example leukaemias and lymphomas. The invention further relates to the use of such dinucleotides as antitumour medicaments. Finally, the invention relates to an enzymatic method for preparing the dinucleotides of formulae (I) and (II) and to an enzymatic assay method for the dinucleotide of formula (I) which is based on its complete conversion to NAD+.