An experimental comparison of a graphite electrode and a gas diffusion electrode for the cathodic production of hydrogen peroxide

This work studies the production of hydrogen peroxide through the cathodic reduction of oxygen in acidic medium, by comparing the results obtained using a commercial graphite and a gas diffusion electrode. A low pH was required to allow the application of hydrogen peroxide generation to an electro-Fenton process. The influence of applied potential and the gas flow composition were investigated. The gas diffusion electrode demonstrates a higher selectivity for hydrogen peroxide production, without significantly compromising the iron regeneration, thus making its successful application to a cathodic Fenton-like treatment, possible. Unlike the graphite cathode, the gas diffusion cathode also proved to be effective in the air flow.     

Dietary krill oil increases docosahexaenoic acid and reduces 2-arachidonoylglycerol but not N-acylethanolamine levels in the brain of obese Zucker rats

Evidence suggests that dietary long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs), and particularly those belonging to the n-3 family, may influence the brain fatty acid profile and, thereby, the biosynthesis of endocannabinoids in rodents. However, the doses used are usually quite high and not comparable with human intake. Recently, we have shown that relatively low doses of dietary n-3 LCPUFAs (4 weeks), in the form of either fish or krill oil, balanced for EPA and DHA content, and against a control diet with no EPA and DHA and similar contents of oleic, linoleic and α-linolenic acids, lower the concentrations of the endocannabinoids, anandamide (AEA) and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG), in the visceral adipose tissue, and of AEA in the liver and heart, of obese Zucker rats. This, in turn, is associated with lower levels of arachidonic acid in membrane phospholipids and with amelioration of some metabolic syndrome parameters. We investigated here whether in Zucker rats, under the same conditions, fish and krill oil are also able to influence LCPUFA and endocannabinoid profiles in brain. Only krill oil was able to increase significantly DHA levels in brain phospholipids, with no changes in arachidonic acid. DHA increase was associated with lower levels of 2-AG in the brain, whereas AEA and its congeners, N-palmitoylethanolamine and N-oleoylethanolamine, were unchanged. We conclude that, despite the strong impact of dietary n-3 fatty acid on endocannabinoid levels previously observed in peripheral tissues, in the brain only 2-AG is affected by dietary krill oil, suggesting that the beneficial effect of the latter on the metabolic syndrome is mostly exerted by modifying peripheral endocannabinoids. Nevertheless, possible effects of dietary krill oil in the brain through modification of 2-AG levels deserve further investigation.     

Ultraviolet B (UVB) Irradiation-Induced Apoptosis in Various Cell Lineages in Vitro

Ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation acts as a strong apoptotic trigger in many cell types, in tumor and normal cells. Several studies have demonstrated that UVB-induced cell death occurs through the generation of reactive oxygen species. The consequent oxidative stress includes the impairment of cellular antioxidants, the induction of DNA damage and the occurrence of apoptosis. In this review, we investigated UVB apoptotic action in various cell models by using ultrastructural, molecular and cytofluorimetric techniques. Myeloid leukemia HL-60, T-lymphoblastoid Molt-4 and myelomonocytic U937 human cells, generally affected by apoptotic stimuli, were studied. Human chondrocytes and C2C12 skeletal muscle cells, known to be more resistant to damage, were also considered. All of them, when exposed to UVB radiation, revealed a number of characteristic apoptotic markers. Membrane blebbing, cytoplasm shrinkage and chromatin condensation were detected by means of electron microscopy. DNA cleavage, investigated by using agarose gel electrophoresis and TUNEL reaction, was observed in suspended cells. Differently, in chondrocytes and in skeletal muscle cells, oligonucleosomic DNA fragmentation did not appear, even if a certain TUNEL positivity was detected. These findings demonstrate that UVB radiation appears to be an ideal tool to study the apoptotic behavior.     

Pulsed laser deposition of organic and biological materials

We report on the deposition of soft matter thin films by Matrix Assisted Pulsed Laser Evaporation (MAPLE). In particular, thin layers of biological material (Bovine Serum Albumin) and polymers (polyfluorene) for medical and optoelectronic applications, were realized by laser irradiating a frozen solution containing a low amount of material diluted in a laser absorbing volatile solvent. The depositions were carried out varying different parameters as solvent–solute concentration, solvent nature, laser fluencies, etc. The optical, morphological, structural and spectroscopical properties were detected by means of different analyses as FTIR, photoluminescence, AFM and SDS.     

Persistent organic pollutants in farmed European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax,Linnaeus, 1758) from Sicily (Italy)

Farmed European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax, Linnaeus, 1758) were collected during 2016 from one Sicilian fish farm that uses two different rearing systems – sea cage and concrete tank – for determination of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB), organochlorine pesticides (OCP) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) residues by HRGC-MS/MS. Moreover, commercial feed was analysed. This study aimed to determine whether the different rearing systems affect the concentration of these compounds, and to assess the safety of cultured fish. PCBs represent the pollutants with the highest concentration; in particular, PCB138 and 153 have the highest concentration in almost all samples. Among OCPs, only 4,4′-DDE, 4,4′-DDD and 4,4′-DDT residues have been detected. Concerning PAHs, only fluorene and phenanthrene were detected, in both rearing systems. Although some residues of organic pollutants were found in the analysed samples, they were always below the MRLs, so the results suggest that farmed sea bass are safe for human consumption.     

Synthesis, Molecular Characterization and Preliminary Antioxidant Activity Evaluation of Quercetin Fatty Esters

Quercetin shows interesting pharmacological effects, but its use in topical applications is limited by its low skin permeability and solubility. In this work, the synthesis of highly lipophilic quercetin esters with oleic, linoleic and linolenic acid useful as topical quercetin prodrugs is reported. Partial OH esterification is advisable to maintain the antioxidant activity of these compounds; tetraesters and triesters can be achieved by modulating the reaction conditions utilized for the total esterification of quercetin. The chemical structures of the esters were proven by spectroscopic techniques; quantum chemical NMR calculation were mandatory to unequivocally assign the free position in triesters. Finally, the antioxidant activity of all the synthesized compounds was determined by the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl method and by 2,2-azinobis(3-ethyl-benzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) assay.     

Synthesis of Indole Derivatives from 2-Alkynylanilines by Means of Gold Catalysis

The peculiar features of gold(III) and gold(I) species include exceptional carbophilicity and, at the same time, lone pair affinity. Such a combination offers many advantages for the development of more sustainable approaches to the synthesis of indole derivatives from readily available 2-alkynylanilines. This mini-review critically summarizes the literature reports in this field, with the aim to encourage further research activities in this promising area.     

Co and Ni supported on CeO2 as selective bimetallic catalyst for dry reforming of methane

Co/CeO₂ (Co 7.5 wt.%), Ni/CeO₂ (Ni 7.5 wt.%) and Co–Ni/CeO₂ (Co 3.75 wt.%, Ni 3.75 wt.%) catalysts were prepared by surfactant assisted co-precipitation method. Samples were characterized by X-Ray diffraction, BET surface areas measurements, temperature programmed reduction and tested for the dry reforming of methane CH₄ + CO₂ → 2CO + 2H₂ in the temperature range 600–800 °C with a CH₄:CO₂:Ar 20:20:60 vol.% feed mixture and a total flow rate of 50 cm³ min⁻¹ (GHSW = 30,000 mL g⁻¹ h⁻¹). The bimetallic Co–Ni/CeO₂ catalyst showed higher CH₄ conversion in comparison with monometallic systems in the whole temperature range, being 50% at 600 °C and 97% at 800 °C. H₂/CO selectivity decreased in the following order: Co–Ni/CeO₂ > Ni/CeO₂ > Co/CeO₂. Carbon deposition on spent catalysts was analyzed by thermal analysis (TG-DTA). After 20 h under stream at 750 °C, cobalt-containing catalysts, Co/CeO₂ and Co–Ni/CeO₂, showed a stable operation in presence of a deposited amorphous carbon of 6 wt.%, whereas Ni/CeO₂ showed an 8% decrease of catalytic activity due to a massive presence of amorphous and graphitic carbon (25 wt.%).     

Growth/no growth interfaces of Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella enteritidis in model systems based on water activity, pH, temperature and ethanol concentration

This study focuses its attention on the boundary between the growth and no growth of three strains ofSalmonella enteritidis , Bacillus cereus and Staphylococcus aureus in the presence of growth controlling factors such as temperature, pH, water activity (A_w) and ethanol concentration. Preliminarly, the minimal values of pH, A_wand temperature, and the maximum ethanol concentrations allowing the growth of the considered micro-organisms were determined. The calculation of these values enabled the use of logistic model to evaluate the growth/no growth boundary for the bacteria in relation to the considered independent variables. The location of the growth/no-growth boundaries for S. enteritidis and Staph. aureus were strongly affected, at the same ethanol concentration, by temperature, pH and A_w. Among the considered species, Staph. aureus was endowed with the highest sensitivity to low pH values whileB. cereus's growth/no growth interface, was quite unaffected by the combination of the stresses, when the physico–chemical conditions were above the minimum for growth. The effects of temperature, A_wand ethanol on the limitation of growth of the considered species were not merely additive. It was possible to identify the combinations of such factors preventing the growth of Salmonella enteritidis, Staph. aureus and B. cereus.