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The topic of sustainability of reinforced concrete structures is strictly related with their durability in aggressive environments. In particular, at equal environmental impact, the higher the durability of construction materials, the higher the sustainability. The present review deals with the possible strategies aimed at producing sustainable and durable reinforced concrete structures in different environments. It focuses on the design methodologies as well as the use of unconventional corrosion-resistant reinforcements, alternative binders to Portland cement, and innovative or traditional solutions for reinforced concrete protection and prevention against rebars corrosion such as corrosion inhibitors, coatings, self-healing techniques, and waterproofing aggregates. Analysis of the scientific literature highlights that there is no preferential way for the production of "green" concrete but that the sustainability of the building materials can only be achieved by implementing simultaneous multiple strategies aimed at reducing environmental impact and improving both durability and performances.

The paper represents the "state of the art" on sustainability in construction materials. In Part 1 of the paper, issues related to production, microstructures, chemical nature, engineering properties, and durability of mixtures based on binders alternative to Portland cement were presented. This second part of the paper concerns the use of traditional and innovative Portland-free lime-based mortars in the conservation of cultural heritage, and the recycling and management of wastes to reduce consumption of natural resources in the production of construction materials. The latter is one of the main concerns in terms of sustainability since nowadays more than 75% of wastes are disposed of in landfills.

This review presents "a state of the art" report on sustainability in construction materials. The authors propose different solutions to make the concrete industry more environmentally friendly in order to reduce greenhouse gases emissions and consumption of non-renewable resources. Part 1-the present paper-focuses on the use of binders alternative to Portland cement, including sulfoaluminate cements, alkali-activated materials, and geopolymers. Part 2 will be dedicated to traditional Portland-free binders and waste management and recycling in mortar and concrete production.

A phase I clinical trial using autologous, IL-7 gene-modified tumor cells in patients with disseminated melanoma has been recently completed. Although no major clinical responses were observed, increased antitumor cytotoxicity was measured in postvaccine peripheral blood lymphocytes in a subset of treated patients. To analyze the in situ immune response, the T cell receptor beta-chain variable region (BV) repertoire of T cells infiltrating postvaccine lesions was studied in two patients, and compared with that of T cells present in prevaccine ones, in peripheral blood lymphocytes, and, in one patient, in delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) sites of autologous melanoma inoculum. A relative expansion of T cells expressing few BVs was observed in all postvaccine metastases, and their intratumoral presence was confirmed by immunohistochemistry. Length pattern analysis of the complementarity determining region 3 (CDR3) indicated that the repertoire of T cells expressing some of these BVs was heterogeneous. At difference, CDR3, beta-chain joining region usage, and sequence analysis enabled us to demonstrate, within a T-cell subpopulation commonly expanded at DTH sites and at the postvaccine lesion of patient 1, that both DTH sites contained identical dominant T-cell clonotypes. One of them was also expressed at increased relative frequency in the postvaccine lesion compared to prevaccine specimens. These results provide evidence for immunological changes, including in situ clonally expanded T cells, in metastases of patients vaccinated with IL-7 gene-transduced cells.

The role of endogenous NO on cell survival was investigated in human melanoma cells and melanocytes. Inducible NO synthase (iNOS) was always expressed in a panel of melanoma cell lines from metastatic lesions and in normal adult melanocytes. iNOS was also detected by immunohistochemistry in melanoma cells from metastases. Release of NO by tumor cells and melanocytes was inhibited by a specific iNOS inhibitor, aminoguanidine (AMG). Inhibition of endogenous NO synthesis did not affect cell cycle progression of melanoma cells but led to cell death by apoptosis, as indicated by Annexin V/propidium iodide and terminal deoxynucleotidyltransferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling assays. By contrast, iNOS inhibition by AMG did not promote apoptosis in normal adult melanocytes. A mitochondrial pathway was involved in melanoma apop tosis, as indicated by altered mitochondrial membrane potential (delta psi(m)) and down-regulation of Bcl-2 protein level after iNOS inhibition. AMG treatment triggered release of caspase-1, enzymatic activation of caspase-3, and degradation of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase, one of the main caspase-3 substrates. Melanoma cell apoptosis induced by iNOS inhibition was completely blocked by peptide inhibitors of caspase-1 and caspase-3 (Ac-DEVD-CHO and AC-YVAD-CHO) or by an exogenous NO donor, sodium nitroprusside, or by addition of serum. Finally, comparison of control and AMG-treated melanoma cells by pathway-specific gene array analysis indicated that inhibition of NO synthesis led, before induction of apoptosis, to up-regulation of mRNA levels of genes involved in the apoptosis pathway such as Bax, caspase-1, caspase-3, caspase-6, gadd45beta, mdm2, and TRAIL. Taken together, these results indicate that melanoma cell survival is regulated by endogenous NO resulting from iNOS activity.