Search results for "MACRO"

Prostaglandin E(2)-loaded microspheres as strategy to inhibit phagocytosis and modulate inflammatory mediators release.

2008

PGE(2), an arachidonic acid metabolite produced by various type of cells regulates a broad range of physiological activities in the endocrine, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, and immune systems, and is involved in maintaining the local homeostasis. In the immune system, PGE(2) is mainly produced by APCs and it can suppress the Th1-mediated immune responses. The aim of this study was to develop PGE(2)-loaded biodegradable MS that prolong and sustain the in vivo release of this mediator. An o/w emulsion solvent extraction-evaporation method was chosen to prepare the MS. We determined their diameters, evaluated the in vitro release of PGE(2), using enzyme immunoassay and MS uptake by periton…

Efficient H2 production by photocatalytic water splitting under UV or solar light over variously modified TiO2-based catalysts

2019

Abstract This paper focused for the first time on the comparison between three different approach to modify the chemico-physical properties of TiO2-based photocatalysts and their effect in the H2 production by photocatalytic water splitting both under UV and solar light irradiation, under the same experimental conditions. The application of pulsed laser irradiation to aqueous TiO2 suspensions (first approach) induced structural transformations both on the bulk and on the surface of TiO2, boosting the H2 production, under UV light irradiation, of almost three times (20.9 mmol/gcat·h) compared to bare TiO2 (7.7 mmol/gcat·h). The second strategy was based on a templating method to obtain TiO2 …

Inverse opal TiO2 as visible-light driven photocatalysts

2017

Semiconductor photocatalysts have attracted a great deal of attention due to their potential application in environmental remediation. Titanium dioxide has been extensively investigated as the most promising photocatalyst. To improve the optical response of TiO2 in the visible region, Inverse Opal TiO2 has been recognized as an efficient photocatalyst due to its unique properties in terms of uniformly ordered and interconnected macroporous architecture.

The total social costs of constructing and operating a high-speed rail line using a case study of the Riyadh-Dammam Corridor, Saudi Arabia

2019

Introducing a High-Speed Rail technology between the Saudi Arabian cities starts raising many challenging issues of different nature ranging from technical to operational, which require huge investments in infrastructure, operations and maintenance. Background information about the development of HSR worldwide to date is included. However, the main aim of this paper is to determine a methodology to estimate the full cost of travel and provide insights into the working model developed to include the calculations of the total social costs of building a new HSR line for the Riyadh-Dammam corridor in Saudi Arabia and understand in what circumstances it is a suitable technology to use. The Sprea…

Pedogenesis and carbon sequestration in transformed agricultural soils of Sicily

2021

The increasing atmospheric CO2 concentration is a consequence of human activities leading to severe environmental deteriorations. Techniques are thus needed to sequester and reduce atmospheric carbon. One of the proposed techniques is the transformation or construction of new soils into which more organic carbon can be sequestered and CO2 be consumed by increased weathering. By using a chronosequence of new and transformed soils on crushed limestone (0–48 years) in a Mediterranean area (Sicily), we tried to quantify the amount of organic carbon that could be additionally sequestered and to derive the corresponding rates. A further aim was to trace chemical weathering and related CO2 consump…

Biomimetic composites with enhanced toughening using silk-inspired triblock proteins and aligned nanocellulose reinforcements

2019

Silk-like proteins produced in bacteria are used as adhesives for cellulose nanofibrils to make a new biological material.

Macro and trace elements in oat cultivars bred in Latvia

2019

Are tariffs bad for growth? Yes, say five decades of data from 150 countries☆

2020

Abstract The empirical evidence on the growth effects of import tariffs is sparse in the literature, notwithstanding strong views held by the public and politicians. Using an annual panel of macroeconomic data for 151 countries over 1963–2014, we find that tariff increases are associated with an economically and statistically sizeable and persistent decline in output growth. Thus, fears that the ongoing trade war may be costly for the world economy in terms of foregone output growth are justified.

Development of New Antiasthmatic Drugs from Traditional Medicine?

1991

Several plants are used in traditional medicine in the treatment of bronchial asthma. We are trying to identify the active compound(s) and their mode of action.

Urban Traffic Analysis through an UAV

2014

Abstract In order to realize a precise and accurate traffic study, a method to evaluate the real traffic flow conditions in urban areas based on videos acquired by an UAV, Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, is proposed. In this way it does not require additional equipment to earth and, not being invasive, does not influence the driver behavior. This paper presents the results obtained in terms of vehicular traffic flow along a way in the city of Palermo. The results have been compared to experiments using macroscopic simulation models and the eventually differences have been discussed.