Olfactometric approach for the evaluation of citizens' exposure to industrial emissions in the city of Terni, Italy

Since several years odour nuisance is a serious environmental concern in the city of Terni, whose citizens are repeatedly lamenting the presence of malodours. This paper describes the olfactometric approach adopted for assessing the odour impact on the city of Terni, caused by the co-presence of three important industrial poles: the steel industry pole, the chemical pole and a third industrial pole, comprising different activities for the treatment of wastewaters and solid waste. The combination of analyses by dynamic olfactometry and dispersion modelling allowed the evaluation of the citizens' exposure to the industrial odours, resulting in both the quantification of emissions and the assessment of their impact on the territory. The overall odour emissions were estimated to be equal to 218,000 ou_E s^− 1: 51% from the steel industry pole, 29% from the chemical pole and 20% from the other plants, respectively. The simulation of the emission dispersion shows that the odour impact relevant to all three studied industrial poles is considerable, actually investing almost the whole city of Terni. The study results also enabled the identification of the most problematic odour sources, which turned out to be the primary emissions from the furnace for the steel industry pole, Treofan and the wastewater treatment plant for the chemical pole and the municipal wastewater treatment plant and the pulper incinerator as far as the other plants are concerned.     

Trans Isomers of EPA and DHA in Omega-3 Products on the European Market

The levels of trans isomers of eicosapentaenoic (EPA) acid and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in 77 omega-3 products on the European market have been studied. Fatty acids were analyzed as fatty acid methyl esters by gas chromatography with a flame ionization detector, using a cyanopropyl coated stationary phase. The amount of mono-trans EPA isomers relative to the corresponding all-cis isomer ranged from 0.19 to 4.5?%. The corresponding values for mono-trans DHA relative to the all-cis isomer ranged from 0.25 to 5.9?%. There was a strong correlation between the degree of isomerization of EPA and DHA, showing that DHA was 1.26 times more isomerized than EPA. Division of the samples into different product groups showed that samples with a low degree of isomerization were found in all groups, except one. This shows that a high degree of isomerization is avoidable, and also points to deodorization of the oils as the main source of trans isomers.     

Evaluation of the behaviour of fluorine-containing bioactive glasses: reactivity in a simulated body fluid solution assisted by multivariate data analysis

Potentially bioactive fluorine-containing glasses of formula 46.2SiO₂·24.3Na₂O·(26.9?x)CaO·2.6P₂O₅·xCaF₂ [x = (0), 5, 10, 15] have been studied: the study was carried out as a function of fluorine percentage, dimensions and time of soaking in SBF. The results are compared to those obtained in the same conditions for Bioglass^® 45S5. Due to the high number and different kind of variables/conditions explored by this set of data, the results are rationalized for the first time by means of multivariate data analysis (MDA); in this way it is possible to classify the behaviour of bioglasses toward bioactivity. The presence of fluorine does not inhibit the formation of HA; in particular, for a fast bioactivity (in term of HA crystallization) it will be better to have large particle size or slabs, while for a fast dissolution fine particle sizes should be preferred.     

Efficient selection, storage, and retrieval of irregularly distributed elevation data

The advantages and disadvantages of various digital terrain models are discussed briefly and a new model for triangulating a set of nonuniformly distributed three-dimensional surface observations is described. An algorithm for hierarchical subdivision of a set of data points into nested triangles is proposed. The algorithm selects a subset of the data points which reduce the maximum error between a piecewise linear approximation of the surface using only the selected points and the elevations of the points not selected. The data structure used is such that for any given degree of approximation (in the maximum-error sense) only the necessary points need to be stored. Furthermore, an efficient method is available to approximate the elevation of the surface at any point not included in the original data. The performance of the algorithm is demonstrated experimentally.     

Social learning in pig-tailed macaques (Macaca nemestrina) and adult humans (Homo sapiens) on a two-action artificial fruit.

An artificial fruit (AF) was used to test for social learning in pig-tailed macaques (Macaca nemestrina) and adult humans (Homo sapiens). A monkey demonstrator opened the AF, showing alternative methods to 2 groups of cage mates. Video films of the monkey demonstrations were presented to adult humans. Compared with chimpanzees and children, the macaques watched the demonstrations significantly less and in a much more sporadic manner. They also produced only very weak and transitory evidence of social learning. In contrast, the adult humans performed as one might expect of optimum imitators, even producing evidence of components of a "ratchet effect." (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Prediction of grape polyphenol astringency by means of a fluorimetric micro-plate assay

Previous works have demonstrated that astringency can be predicted on the basis of turbidity developed by polyphenol/mucin mixes. In the present study, a micro-plate assay, based on the ability of haze particles to screen the radiation emitted by a fluorescent compound (I%), is proposed for polyphenol/mucin reactivity estimation. Grape seed extract (GSE) solutions prepared in a range of physiochemical active concentrations (0.0–2.9 g/L) were reacted with mucin. A significant linear relationship (r = 0.99; p = 0.000) was found between turbidity (NTU) and I% values of GSE/mucin samples. Within the experimental range of phenolic samples, the CV value of I% determinations was always lower than 10%. The relationship between sensory and instrumental responses, as a function of phenolic solution characteristics, was investigated. Variations in phenol concentration and pH induce similar modifications of both the intensity of perceived astringency and I% values. A significant linear relationship (r = 0.98; p = 0.000) was found by relating sensory ratings to the relevant I% values.     

Characterization of surface layers formed under natural environmental conditions on medieval glass from Siponto (Southern Italy)

In this paper a low-vacuum scanning electron microscope (SEM) coupled with an energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDX) was used to investigate the alteration processes that occur on silica–soda–lime glass exposed to soil materials and dated from XI to second half of XIII sec. The chemical data were collected for altered glass gel and fresh glass. In order to study the influence of chemical composition on weathering process, 16 glasses have been selected on the basis of the chemical characterization and on the basis of the different corrosion processes present on the fragments. Six selected samples had been produced with the use of natron as fluxer and 10 samples with the use of plant ash as fluxer. The analysed pieces come from Siponto excavations (Foggia, Italy) and they include feet and rims of chalices, fragments of lamps and of globular bottles.     

Involvement of Alarmins in the Pathogenesis and Progression of Multiple Myeloma

Objective: Multiple Myeloma (MM) is a haematological disease resulting from the neoplastic transformation of plasma cells. The uncontrolled growth of plasma cells in the bone marrow and the delivery of several cytokines causes bone erosion that often does not regress, even in the event of disease remission. MM is characterised by a multi-step evolutionary path, which starts with an early asymptomatic stage defined as monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) evolving to overt disease. Data Sources and Study Selection: We have selected scientific publications on the specific topics “alarmis, MGUS, and MM”, drawing from PubMed. The keywords we used were alarmines, MGUS, MM, and immune system. Results: The analysis confirms the pivotal role of molecules such as high-mobility group box-1, heat shock proteins, and S100 proteins in the induction of neoangiogenesis, which represents a milestone in the negative evolution of MM as well as other haematological and non-haematological tumours. Conclusions: Modulation of the host immune system and the inhibition of neoangiogenesis may represent the therapeutic target for the treatment of MM that is capable of promoting better survival and reducing the risk of RRMM.     

Phytoestrogen content of fruits and vegetables commonly consumed in the UK based on LC–MS and C-labelled standards

Phytoestrogens are a group of non-steroidal secondary plant metabolites with structural and functional similarity to 17β-oestradiol. Urinary and plasma phytoestrogens have been used as biomarkers for dietary intake, however, this is often not possible in large epidemiological studies or to assess general exposure in free-living individuals. Accurate information about dietary phytoestrogens is therefore important but there is very limited data concerning food contents. In this study, we analysed the phytoestrogen (isoflavone, lignan and coumestrol) content in more than 240 different foods based on fresh and processed fruits and vegetables using a newly developed sensitive method based on LC–MS incorporating ¹³C₃-labelled standards. Phytoestrogens were detected in all foods analysed with a median content of 20 μg/100 g wet weight (isoflavones: 2 μg/100 g; lignans 12 μg/100 g). Most foods contained less than 100 μg/100 g, however, 5% of foods analysed contained more than 400 μg/100 g, in particular soya-based foods and other legumes. The results published here will contribute to databases of dietary phytoestrogen content and allow the more accurate determination of phytoestrogen exposure in free-living individuals.