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The intervention concerns an experience conducted in the north-east of Italy, in a highly seismic territory, with the involvement of people with Down syndrome and intellectual disabilities whom live independently in the city. With the involvement of Fire Brigade and Civil Protection, four residential groups were involved and accompanied in a training course on seismic risk, starting from how it can manifest an earthquake in their homes and the consequent behaviors to be adopted, up to paths to reach the external assembly point indicated in the Civil Protection Plan. The attention was also paid to the relationship between rescuers and people with intellectual disabilities, but also the ability of these people to be able to relate to rescuers during an emergency.

The possibility to reproduce in vitro the complex multiscale physical features present in the human tissues creates novel opportunities for biomedical advances and fundamental understanding of cell-environment interfaces and interactions. While stiffness has been recognized as a key property in influencing cell behavior, so far systematic studies on the role of stiffness have been limited to values in the KPa-MPa range, significantly below the stiffness of bone. Here, we report a platform enabling the tuning and control of the stiffness of a biocompatible polymeric interface up to values characteristic of the bone tissue, which are in the GPa range. The ability to fine tune the stiffness up to these large values is achieved by using extremely thin polymer films on glass and cross-linking the films using UV light irradiation. We show that a higher stiffness is related to better adhesion, proliferation, and osteogenic differentiation, and that it is also possible to switch on/off cell attachment and growth by solely tuning the stiffness of the interface, without any surface chemistry or topography modification. Since the stiffness is tuned directly by UV irradiation, this platform is ideal for rapid and simple stiffness patterning, and stiffness gradients fabrication. This materials platform represents an innovative tool for combinatorial studies of the synergistic effect of tissue environmental cues on cell behavior, and creates new opportunities for next generation biosensors, single-cell patterning, and lab-on-a-chip devices. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Silicon carbide (SiC) is one of the hardest known materials. Its exceptional mechanical properties combined with its high thermal conductivity make it a very attractive material for a variety of technological applications. Recently, it is discovered that two-layer epitaxial graphene films on SiC can undergo a pressure activated phase transition into a sp

ECL is luminescence generated by electrochemical reactions and for this reason it possesses better spatio-temporal control and low background in comparison with photoluminescence or other optical methods that rely on external light illumination.1–3 In the last 20 years ECL has proved to be a versatile and powerful analytical technique in different fields, ranging from fundamental research to commercial clinical and biological applications.4,5 The main reason behind its success is that ECL offers remarkable advantages in comparison to other transduction methods: high sensitivity, an extremely wide dynamic range, very low background signal, good temporal and spatial control, and insensitivity to matrix effects.6,7 Thanks to its simplified optical setup, ECL has been implemented as a powerful imaging technique to visualize electrochemical objects and entities bringing important insight in the ECL mechanism generation. Here we aim to incorporate all the work done in the field of ECL imaging mainly in the last three years with a particular focus on ECL generation mechanisms and their applications.

Detection of nucleic acids is crucial in many medical applications, and in particular for monitoring infectious diseases, as it has become perfectly clear after the pandemic infection of COVID-19. In this context, the development of innovative detection methods based on signal-amplification rather than analyte-amplification represents a significant breakthrough compared to existing PCR-based methodologies, allowing the development of new nucleic acid detection technologies suitable to be integrated in portable and low-cost sensor devices while keeping high sensitivities, thus enabling massive diagnostic screening. In this work, we present a novel molecular sensor for the ultrasensitive PCR-free detection of Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) based on electrochemiluminescence (ECL). Thanks to the combination of surface cooperative hybridization scheme with ECL detection strategy, our novel DNA sensor is able to detect HBV genome - both synthetic and extracted - with the unprecedented limit of detection (LoD) of 0.05 cps μL

Electrochemiluminescence (ECL) is a powerful transduction technique that has rapidly gained importance as a powerful analytical technique. Since ECL is a surface-confined process, a comprehensive understanding of the generation of ECL signal at a nanometric distance from the electrode could lead to several highly promising applications. In this work, we explored the mechanism underlying ECL signal generation on the nanoscale using luminophore-reporter-modified DNA-based nanoswitches (i.e., molecular beacon) with different stem stabilities. ECL is generated according to the "oxidative-reduction" strategy using tri-n-propylamine (TPrA) as a coreactant and Ru(bpy)32+ as a luminophore. Our findings suggest that by tuning the stem stability of DNA nanoswitches we can activate different ECL mechanisms (direct and remote) and, under specific conditions, a "digital-like" association curve, i.e., with an extremely steep transition after the addition of increasing concentrations of DNA target, a large signal variation, and low preliminary analytical performance (LOD 22 nM for 1GC DNA-nanoswtich and 16 nM for 5GC DNA-nanoswitch). In particular, we were able to achieve higher signal gain (i.e., 10 times) with respect to the standard "signal-off" electrochemical readout. We demonstrated the copresence of two different ECL generation mechanisms on the nanoscale that open the way for the design of customized DNA devices for highly efficient dual-signal-output ratiometric-like ECL systems.

Electrochemiluminescence (ECL) is a powerful transduction technique with a leading role in the biosensing field due to its high sensitivity and low background signal. Although the intrinsic analytical strength of ECL depends critically on the overall efficiency of the mechanisms of its generation, studies aimed at enhancing the ECL signal have mostly focused on the investigation of materials, either luminophores or coreactants, while fundamental mechanistic studies are relatively scarce. Here, we discover an unexpected but highly efficient mechanistic path for ECL generation close to the electrode surface (signal enhancement, 128%) using an innovative combination of ECL imaging techniques and electrochemical mapping of radical generation. Our findings, which are also supported by quantum chemical calculations and spin trapping methods, led to the identification of a family of alternative branched amine coreactants, which raises the analytical strength of ECL well beyond that of present state-of-the-art immunoassays, thus creating potential ECL applications in ultrasensitive bioanalysis., Electrochemiluminescence (ECL) is a leading technique in biosensing. Here the authors identify an ECL generation mechanism near the electrode surface, which they exploit in combination with the use of branched amine coreactants to improve the ECL signal beyond the state-of-the-art immunoassays.

IntroductionAs a result of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic the year 2020 brought major changes on the delivery of health care and face to face physician patient communication was significantly reduced and the practice of remote telehealth care using computer technology is assuming a standard of care, particularly, with COVID-19 patients with attempts to reduce viral spread.ObjectiveTo describe the clinical practice experience using telemedicine towards COVID-19 and the respective clinical outcomes.MethodsWe performed a pilot open-label non-randomized, controlled clinical trial. The patients were divided into four groups, according severity of symptoms: (1) asymptomatic, (2) mild symptoms, (3) moderate symptoms and (4) severe symptoms, and were followed up for five days, counted from the beginning of the symptoms. A drug intervention was performed in group 3, for which the protocol followed as suggested by the International Pulmonology Society’s consensus for adults with moderate symptoms: first day (attack phase) hydroxychloroquine sulfate 400 mg 12/12h; second to fifth day (maintenance phase) 200 mg (half pill) 12/12h. The medication was associated with azithromycin 500mg once a day for five days. For children with moderate symptoms were used: hydroxychloroquine sulfate 6.5 mg/kg/dose every 12 hours in the first day and 3.25 mg/kg/dose every 12 hours from day 2 to 5. The therapeutic response was telemonitored. Group 4 patients were directly oriented to seek hospital care. During the use of the drugs, the patients were telemonitored daily.ResultsOne hundred eighty-seven patients were seen with mean age of 37,6 years (±15,6). The most frequent symptom was cough (57,6%), followed by malaise (60,3%), fever (41,1%), headache (56,0%), muscle pain (51,1%). Of all the patients that sought telemedicine service in our center, 23% were asymptomatic despite contact with people with probable diagnostic of COVID-19; 29,4% reported mild symptoms, 43,9% moderate symptoms, and 3,7% severe symptoms. It was possible to observe in patients treated their symptoms of COVID-19 (group 3) with hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin for five days, presented statistically better improvement of the symptoms when compared to those that did not follow the protocol (p = 0.039). Three patients were hospitalized and discharged after recovery.ConclusionsOur study showed that patients with COVID-19 who had delivery of health care through telemedicine initiated in early stages of the disease presented satisfactory clinical response, reducing the need of face-to-face consultations and hospitalizations. Our results indicate that the use of telemedicine with diagnosis and drug treatment protocols is a safe and effective strategy to reduce overload of health services and the exposure of healthcare providers and the general population to infected patients in a pandemic situation.Trial registrationRBR-658khmHuman Research Ethics Committee number: 30246520.0.0000.0069

The impact of nanotechnology and nanosystems on analytical science is hardly overlooked. In the search for ever-increasing sensitivity in biomedical sensors, nanoparticles have been playing a unique role as, e.g., ultrabright labels in clinical analysis (markers, tumor cells, and pharmaceuticals) and in the detection of pathogenic microorganisms, toxic agents, and pesticides in the environmental field and food products. Coupling such nanosystems with electrochemiluminescence (ECL), which naturally brings improved signal-to-noise ratio compared to photoluminescence, with minimized effects due to light scattering and luminescence background, has brought about new systems and strategies for analytes determination, even in very complex matrices, such as urine, blood or lysate. Among the several nanosystems, dye-doped silica nanoparticles (DDSNs) have proved as very promising and versatile nanomaterials in ECL-based bioanalytical platforms. The increase of the number of complexes active in the generation of the ECL signals together with an even larger increase in the signal stability, represents in fact a promising strategy towards ultrasensitive ECL. Approaches based on ECL generation on the nanoscale using luminophore-reporter-modified DNA-based nanoswitches (i.e., molecular beacon) has been additionally investigated and, in this context, the development of innovative amplification-free detection methods represents a significant breakthrough compared to existing PCR-based methodologies, allowing the integration of nucleic acid detection on portable and low-cost sensor devices, and enabling the massive diagnostic screening.

Electrochemiluminescence (ECL) is a phenomenon that occurs in the proximity of the electrode surface, since the radicals involved in the formation of the light-emitting excited states are generated after an electrochemical stimulus. The choice of the electrode material is crucial for the light generation, because it influences the kinetic of the heterogeneous electron transfer reaction. For this reason, the deep understanding of the whole ECL system, of the relative target application under development, is of fundamental importance for the proper choice of the electrode material. In the present chapter, different electrode materials are reported for different ECL applications, ranging from noble gold electrodes, through transparent electrodes for ECL and microscopy techniques combination, to carbon-based electrodes, which present fast kinetics for coreactant oxidation. Their electrochemical behaviour and their ECL efficiencies have been reported mainly with [Ru(bpy)3]2+/TPrA coreactant system in “oxidative-reduction” mechanism, but other coreactants have been used, such as peroxydisulfate and benzoyl peroxide in “reductive-oxidation” mechanism. A comprehensive and exhaustive electrochemical study of the above-written materials will be presented in the next pages.

Electrochemiluminescence (ECL) is a leading technique in bioanalysis.[1] It is a luminescent phenomenon where the excited species are produced with an electrochemical stimulus rather than with a light excitation source. For this reason, ECL displays improved signal-to-noise ratio compared to photoluminescence, with minimized effects due to light scattering and luminescence background.[2] Chasing ever-increasing sensitivities, ECL can ideally be coupled to nanotechnology to develop new strategies for clinical applications and analyte determination also in real and complex matrices.[3] In particular, dye-doped silica nanoparticles (DDSNs) present many advantages: they can be easily synthesized, are hydrophilic and are prone to bioconjugation thanks to silica chemistry. With this approach we were able to achieve extremely bright systems and DDSNs allow the 8.5 fold increase of ECL intensity.[4] In DDSNs, light emission is influenced by the combination of several factors that make DDSNs complex multichromophoric structures. However, when ECL comes into play, the scenario is even more complicated due to the coreactant−NP interactions effect. Such complex scenario was approached at the theoretical level by developing suitable mechanistic models for ECL generation[5] while, at the same time, the influence of doping level on ECL efficiency was evaluated. Our results showed that the ECL intensity of a nanosized system cannot be merely incremented acting on doping, since other parameters come into play. These studies support the application in ECL microscopy providing valuable indications for the design of more efficient ECL nano- and micro-sized labels towards more sensitive ECL-based immunoassay for bioanalysis applications. [6] References [1] W. Miao, “Electrogenerated Chemiluminescence and Its Biorelated Applications”, Chem. Rev., 2008, vol. 108, pp. 2506–2553. [2] Z. Liu, W. Qi, G. Xu, “Recent advances in electrochemiluminescence”, Chem. Soc. Rev., 2015, vol. 44, pp. 3117–3142. [3] C. Ma, Y. Cao, X. Gou, J. J. Zhu, “Recent progress in electrochemiluminescence sensing and imaging”, Anal. Chem., 2015, vol. 92, pp. 431-454. [4] G. Valenti, E. Rampazzo, S. Bonacchi, L. Petrizza, M. Marcaccio, M. Montalti, L. Prodi, F. Paolucci, “Variable Doping Induces Mechanism Swapping in Electrogenerated Chemiluminescence of Ru(bpy) 3 2+ Core–Shell Silica Nanoparticles”, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2016, vol. 138, pp. 15935–15942. [5] E. Daviddi, A. Oleinick, I. Svir, G. Valenti, F. Paolucci, C. Amatore, “Theory and Simulation for Optimising Electrogenerated Chemiluminescence from Tris(2,2′-bipyridine)-ruthenium(II)-Doped Silica Nanoparticles and Tripropylamine”, ChemElectroChem, 2017, vol. 4, pp. 1719–1730. [6] A. Zanut, F. Palomba, M. Rossi Scota, S. Rebeccani, M. Marcaccio, D. Genovese, E. Rampazzo, G. Valenti, F. Paolucci, L. Prodi, "Dye‐Doped Silica Nanoparticles for Enhanced ECL‐Based Immunoassay Analytical Performance", Angew. Chemie Int. Ed., 2020, vol. 132, pp. 22042-22047 Figure 1

This paper shows the operation of solar-powered vehicles in a generic way, and by applying a case study through which it will be possible to perform an economic analysis in order to define the best type of solar cell to apply for the solution. This case study concerns a bus with an ICE engine from a company in Egypt. It will be identified that the solar cell with the most area coverage will not yield the most energy, and that the solar cell with the highest fill factor, a factor that measures the quality of the solar cell, will produce the most energy. It will also point out the challenges in developing the system, such as the integration of the inverters to the battery, as well as the benefits that this product will bring to the system, such as sustainability and increased durability of the battery Objectius de Desenvolupament Sostenible::9 - Indústria, Innovació i Infraestructura