The Effects of Polymerization on the Performance of Viologen-Based Electrochromic Devices.

In this work, electrochromic devices were prepared using the redox couple ethyl viologen diperchlorate and 1,1'-diethyl ferrocene in propylene carbonate as an aprotic solvent to facilitate ions separation and diffusion inside the devices. Electrochromic devices were made using electrochromic gel mixtures at the concentrations of 55%, 60% and 65% with respect to the bisphenol A polymer. In particular, two sets of gels were made: one set contained the bisphenol A not-polymerized while and the second one contained the polymerized polymer.

Raman Scattering Enhancement through Pseudo-Cavity Modes.

Raman spectroscopy plays a pivotal role in spectroscopic investigations. The small Raman scattering cross-section of numerous analytes, however, requires enhancement of the signal through specific structuring of the electromagnetic and morphological properties of the underlying surface. This enhancement technique is known as surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS).

Proposal of a new dermoscopic criterion for pigmented basal cell carcinoma: a multicentre retrospective study.

Dermoscopy is widely used for the diagnosis of skin cancer and it increases the accuracy of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) detection. BCC dermoscopic criteria have been updated and divided into vascular, pigment-related, and non-vascular/non-pigment-related. Our multicenter retrospective study tested a new dermoscopic pigment-related characteristic to detect pigmented BCC (pBCC) [brown homogeneous blotches (BHB)].

Thiol-functionalized cellulose for mercury polluted water remediation: Synthesis and study of the adsorption properties.

Mercury pollution poses a global health threat due to its high toxicity, especially in seafood where it accumulates through various pathways. Developing effective and affordable technologies for mercury removal from water is crucial. Adsorption stands out as a promising method, but creating low-cost materials with high selectivity and capacity for mercury adsorption is challenging.

Development of Electrochromic Devices, Based on Polymeric Gel, for Energy Saving Applications.

In this work, the implementation of an electrochromic device (10 cm × 10 cm in size) for energy saving applications has been presented. As electrochromic system has been used with an electrochromic solution (ECsol) made by ethyl viologen diperchlorate [EV(ClO)], 1,1'-diethyl ferrocene (DEFc) and propylene carbonate (PC), as solvent. The final system has been obtained by mixing the ECsol, described above, with a polymeric system made by Bisphenol-A glycerolate (1 glycerol/phenol) diacrylate (BPA) and 2,2-Dimethoxy-2-phenylacetophenone (Irgacure 651) in a weight percentage equal to 60:40% /, respectively.

Plasticizers and Salt Concentrations Effects on Polymer Gel Electrolytes Based on Poly (Methyl Methacrylate) for Electrochemical Applications.

This work describes the electrochemical properties of a type of PMMA-based gel polymer electrolytes (GPEs). The gel polymer electrolyte systems at a concentration of (20:80) % / were prepared from poly (methyl methacrylate), lithium perchlorate LiClO and single plasticizer propylene carbonate (PMMA-Li-PC) and a mixture of plasticizers made by propylene carbonate and ethylene carbonate in molar ratio 1:1, (PMMA-Li-PC-EC). Different salt concentrations (0.

Behavioral and demographic factors associated with occurrence of non-melanoma skin cancer in organ transplant recipients.

Background: Non-melanoma skin cancers (NMSC) are the most common epithelial malignancies in organ transplantation recipients (OTRs). In Italy, incidence rates of post-transplantation NMSC are approximately 5% after 5 years and 10% after 10 years since organ transplantation. The objective was to describe risk factors associated with NMSC in a cohort of renal and liver transplant recipients, in a single-center longitudinal study.

Thermal structural evolutions of DMPC-water biomimetic systems investigated by Raman Spectroscopy.

Many cell membranes of living organisms can be represented as phospholipid bilayers immersed into a water environment. The physical-chemical interactions at the membranes/water interface are responsible for the stabilization of the membranes. In addition, the drug efficiency, the pharmaceutical mechanism and the improvement of the drug design can be addressed to the interactions between the membranes-water interface with the drug and to the membrane-drug interface.

Complete clinical remission of psoriasis 6 months after renal transplantation.

Background: Psoriasis, one of the most common immune-mediated inflammatory diseases of the skin is mediated by activated effector T cells.

Case Report: We report a case of a 56-year-old white man with a 22-year history of severe psoriasis vulgaris with plaque and joint involvement, who experienced a complete clinical remission after renal transplantation. The patient had been on hemodialysis for 6 years because of chronic renal failure caused by an undetermined chronic nephropathy.

Erythema nodosum induced by kerion celsi of the scalp in a child: a case report and mini-review of literature.

A 9-year-old girl, presented with a 4-week history of an inflammatory suppurative plaque, 8 cm in diameter, localised in the occipital area of the scalp. Mycological direct examination showed ectoendothrix invasion of the hair and Trichophyton mentagrophytes was isolated. Oral therapy with griseofulvin 25 mg kg(-1)  day(-1) was prescribed, but after 2 weeks of treatment appeared multiple erythematous subcutaneous nodules localised in the legs.

In situ polarized micro-Raman investigation of periodic structures realized in liquid-crystalline composite materials.

In situ polarized micro-Raman Spectroscopy has been utilized to determine the liquid crystal configuration inside a periodic liquid crystalline composite structure made of polymer slices alternated to films of liquid crystal. Liquid crystal, Norland Optical Adhesive (NOA-61) monomer and its polymerized form have been investigated separately. The main Raman features, used as markers for the molecular orientation estimation, have been identified.

[HPV infection: comparison between morphological studies and molecular biology].

Human Papilloma Virus plays an essential role in the development of cervical cancer. We investigated the global prevalence of Human Papilloma Virus infection in a population of 699 women recruited at the Ospedali Riuniti in Foggia for gynaecological controls from September 2005 to March 2007, and compared with a group of 90 women, selected on clinical aspects for Human Papilloma Virus features. The observed prevalence was 27.

Polymorphism and phase control in titanyl phthalocyanine thin films grown by supersonic molecular beam deposition.

Polymorphism in the growth of titanyl phthalocyanine films on dielectric substrates has been systematically studied by UV absorption and micro-Raman analyses, correlating structure and optical properties. We explored different growth regimes as a function of substrate temperature and growth rate using hyperthermal seeded supersonic beams. We identify and discuss specific signatures in micro-Raman spectra specifically correlated to the different phases and demonstrate the unprecedented ability of growing crystalline films and controlling the relative abundance of the different phases (amorphous, phase I, and phase II) by the beam parameters.

Raman investigation of the ionic liquid N-methyl-N-propylpyrrolidinium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide and its mixture with LiN(SO2CF3)2.

A preliminary Raman investigation of the ionic liquid N-methyl-N-propylpyrrolidinium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (PYR(13)TFSI) and its 2/1 complex with the lithium salt LiN(SO(2)CF(3))(2) is reported. The study was performed over a temperature range extending from -100 to +60 degrees C, i.e.