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25th European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition / 5th World Conference on Photovoltaic Energy Conversion, 6-10 September 2010, Valencia, Spain; 3525-3528, In this paper we present the results of first year activity of a project funded by the local government of Lombardia (Italy) whose target is the development of a new roll-to-roll method for CIGS deposition on flexible substrates there the modules are laser structured. This project is an example of collaboration between University and small-size industries founded by the local government which offer opportunities to new and small entrepreneurs to enter in the photovoltaic field. The CIGS layer is deposited by sputtering on stainless steel substrate covered by molybdenum. The module is completed with a CdS buffer layer deposited by chemical bath deposition and ZnO + ZnO(Al) deposited by sputtering. The sequence of scribing to prepare CIGS thin-film solar cell strips and to interconnect them monolithically has been developed using only lasers. A new procedure for P2 scribing step has been proposed.

In this consecutive series, 14 patients with severe intrabony defects and pathologic tooth migration were treated with guided tissue regeneration (GTR) and subsequent orthodontic therapy in an attempt to evaluate the validity of this multidisciplinary approach. Probing pocket depths (PPD), clinical attachment levels (CAL), and gingival recessions were assessed at baseline, 1 year after GTR, and at the end of orthodontic therapy. Radiographs were obtained at all time points. Esthetic parameters were recorded with the papilla presence index (PPI). Statistical analyses were carried out to compare the data at each time point. From baseline to 1 year after GTR, the mean PPD reduction was 5.57 mm, with a residual mean PPD of 2.71 mm; mean CAL gain was 5.86 mm. Both differences were statistically significant. There were no statistically significant differences between 1 year after GTR and the end of orthodontic therapy (mean PPD reduction 0.07 mm; mean CAL gain 0.43 mm). The reduction in PPI reflected the enhancement of papilla height that was observed in 9 of the 14 patients. Within the limits of this research, this study affirms the possibility of a combined orthodontic-periodontal approach that prevents damaging the regenerated periodontal apparatus and produces esthetic improvements as a result of realignments and enhancement of papilla height.

Human transthyretin (TTR) is an amyloidogenic protein whose mild amyloidogenicity is enhanced by many point mutations affecting considerably the amyloid disease phenotype. To ascertain whether the high amyloidogenic potential of TTR variants may be explained on the basis of the conformational change hypothesis, an aim of this work was to determine structural alterations for five amyloidogenic TTR variants crystallized under native and/or destabilizing (moderately acidic pH) conditions. While at acidic pH structural changes may be more significant because of a higher local protein flexibility, only limited alterations, possibly representing early events associated with protein destabilization, are generally induced by mutations. This study was also aimed at establishing to what extent wildtype TTR and its amyloidogenic variants are intrinsically prone to beta-aggregation. We report the results of a computational analysis predicting that wild-type TTR possesses a very high intrinsic beta-aggregation propensity which is on average not enhanced by amyloidogenic mutations. However, when located in beta-strands, most of these mutations are predicted to destabilize the native beta-structure. The analysis also shows that rat and murine TTR have a lower intrinsic beta-aggregation propensity and a similar native beta-structure stability compared with human TTR. This result is consistent with the lack of in vitro amyloidogenicity found for both murine and rat TTR. Collectively, the results of this study support the notion that the high amyloidogenic potential of human pathogenic TTR variants is determined by the destabilization of their native structures, rather than by a higher intrinsic v-aggregation propensity.

A solid state and solution conformation analyses of the cyclopentapetide has been carried out by X-ray and NMR techniques. The structre is compared with literature data on cyclic pentapetides.

We reported a complete conformational study, carried out by a combination of physicochemical tecniques, such us x-ray diffraction, nmr, and molecular dynamic simulation on the synthetic decapeptide related to cyclolinoppetide A showing a remarkable cholate uptake inhibition in the hepatocytes.

The paper reports the results of conformational analysis of cyclo[Pro-Phe-Phe-Ala-Glu(OtBu)]2 performed by X-ray and NMR spectroscopy. The biological activity of cyclodecapeptide are reported and compared to the parent compound.

The conformational analysis of the disulphide cyclopentapeptide related Cyclolinopeptide A has been carried out by solid state methods using X-ray diffraction techniques, in solution by NMR, CD, IR spectroscopies and by molecular dynamic simulation analisis. The structure of the monoclinic form, presents two transannular H bonds and an intramolecular H bond between the C=O of urethane group and The Phe4 NH. MD studies carried out in vacuo shows that the structure determined by crystal state represents a energy minimum. All H bond found in solid state are correctly reproduced in vacuo and in solution simulations.

Este artículo es un intento de comunicación entre dos paradigmas. Por un lado, explicamos la visión liberal clásica sobre la justicia y la distribución de la riqueza. Por otro, resumimos la teoría social-demócrata sobre la misma cuestión. Se toman dos autores como modelos: Nozick y Rawls; Hayek y Buchanan, por su parte, se consideran como una especie de solución al problema. Santo Tomás de Aquino, por último, es la base de ley natural que podría ser el fundamento último de la solución propuesta.

The disulphide bridged heptapeptides has been synthesized by classical solution methods. An ion binding study showed the peptide's ability to complex calcium ions with definite stoichiometry.