Polytechnic University of Turin

About: Polytechnic University of Turin is a education organization based out in Turin, Piemonte, Italy. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Finite element method & Computer science. The organization has 11553 authors who have published 41395 publications receiving 789320 citations. The organization is also known as: POLITO & Politecnico di Torino.

Bioactive glasses: special applications outside the skeletal system

Abstract: Bioactive glasses were invented 45 years ago and have been in clinical use since the 1980s in otology, orthopaedics and dentistry. Initially born as bioactive materials to fill bone defects, bioactive glasses expanded their biomedical suitability towards a broad spectrum of tissue engineering and therapeutic applications, and research evolution seems to witness that their potential is far from being fully exploited. Classical applications of bioactive glasses involve bone filling materials and dental implants; however, the fascinating question to be answered in the next few years is: how can bioactive glasses be useful in soft tissue regeneration and to treat diseases, such as tumours, that may affect internal organs? This review paper focuses on research that demonstrates the suitability of bioactive glasses in contact with tissues outside the skeletal system, including muscle and nerve tissue regeneration, treatment of diseases affecting sense organs (eye and ear), embolization of neoplastic tissues, cancer radiotherapy via injectable microspheres, and wound dressing. A prospect for future research is also provided, highlighting the potential associated to targeted therapy via local ion release, angiogenesis stimulation and in situ drug release, as well as the promise of biofabrication for the development of bioactive glass-containing composite constructs for organ regeneration.

Nanostructured ceria-based catalysts for soot combustion: Investigations on the surface sensitivity

Abstract: A set of ceria nanomaterials with different topological and textural properties has been prepared to investigate the shape-dependency activity of ceria towards soot combustion under different reaction conditions (namely in “loose” and “tight” contact). The physico-chemical properties of the prepared catalysts have been studied using complementary techniques. The best performances, in terms of the total oxidation of soot, have been achieved for the CeO 2 -nanocubes, due to the abundance of coordinative unsaturated atomic sites on the (1 0 0) and (1 1 0) exposed surfaces (namely truncated nanocubes). However, better results, in terms of the onset of soot oxidation, have been obtained for high-surface-area materials, thus reflecting the key role of surface area at low temperatures. Activity tests have suggested the surface-sensitivity of soot oxidation over the prepared ceria-based materials, when the reaction temperature was above 410 °C or 370 °C (in “loose” or “tight” conditions, respectively). On the other hand, the reaction has appeared surface-insensitive at a lower temperature. Hence, soot oxidation over these ceria compounds can be considered a reaction that displays both surface-sensitive and surface-insensitive behaviour, which depend on the experimental conditions.

Analytical formulas for coplanar lines in hybrid and monolithic MICs

Abstract: Some analytical formulas for the parameters of coplanar lines are discussed and validated; a chart is given for the design of coplanar waveguides on GaAs. The formulas discussed here, together with those presented previously by us (1983) represent a suitable set for the design of coplanar lines for hybrid and monolithic MICs (microwave integrated circuits).

Theory of polarization shift keying modulation

Abstract: A rigorous analysis of digital coherent optical modulation schemes using the state of polarization as the modulating parameter is presented. The analysis obtains the exact performance of all the polarization-based modulation schemes proposed in the literature so far, including a differential demodulation scheme, named DPOLSK, which does not require either electrooptic or electronic polarization tracking. Preliminary results involving multilevel transmission schemes based on the state of polarization are introduced. A spectral analysis of POLSK signals is also proposed. >