Abstract interpretation based verification of temporal properties for BioAmbients

This paper concerns the application of formal methods to biological systems, modeled specifically in BioAmbients, a variant of the Mobile Ambients calculus. Following the semantic-based approach of abstract interpretation, we define a new static analysis that computes an abstract transition system. Our analysis has two main advantages with respect to the analyses appearing in the literature: (i) it is able to address temporal properties which are more general than invariant properties; (ii) it supports, by means of a particular labeling discipline, the validation of systems where several copies of an ambient may appear.We also design new weaker and more efficient analyses by means of simple widening operators.     

Açai pulp addition improves fatty acid profile and probiotic viability in yoghurt

The effects of açai pulp addition and different probiotic bacteria on the fatty acid profile of stirred yoghurt were examined. Skim milk was divided into two groups: one containing açai pulp and another without the fruit. Batches were inoculated with yoghurt starter culture and divided into five groups according to probiotic addition. Counts of viable microorganisms were measured at days 1, 14 and 28 of cold storage. Fatty acid profile was determined by gas chromatography at day 1. Açai pulp favoured an increase in Lactobacillus acidophilus L10, Bifidobacterium animalis ssp. lactis Bl04 and Bifidobacterium longum Bl05 counts at the end of 4 weeks of cold storage. This study demonstrated that açai pulp addition increased monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acid contents in probiotic yoghurt and enhanced the production of α-linolenic and conjugated linoleic acids during fermentation of skim milk prepared with B. animalis ssp. lactis Bl04 and B94 strains.     

Molecularly imprinted polymer for solid phase extraction of nicotinamide in pork liver samples

Aromatic polyamides and polythioamides with pendent chlorobenzylidine rings were synthesized through direct polycondenzation of 2‐(p‐chlorobenzalimino) terephthalic acid with the diamines 4,4′‐oxidianiline (1a), 4,4′‐methylenediamide (1b), 4,4′‐diaminodiphenyl sulfone (1c), and thioamines 4,4′‐(bisthiourea) diphenyl ether (3a), 4,4′‐(bisthiourea) diphenyl methane (3b), 4,4′‐(bisthiourea) diphenyl sulfone (3c), respectively, in DMF using P(OPh)₃/pyridine. The polymers were precipitated using water as nonsolvent. FTIR and ¹H‐NMR spectroscopic analysis was used to characterize the monomers and polymers. Representative polyamides and polythioamides were used for the removal of heavy metal ions such as Pb(II), Cd(II), Cu(II), and Cr(III) from aqueous solutions. The effects of pH, contact time, and initial concentration on the uptake of metal ions have been investigated. The adsorption capacities under competitive conditions were in the order Pb (II) > Cu (II) > Cr (III) > Cd (II). The adsorbed ions were eluted by treatment with 2N HCl, and the activities of the polymers are retained after fourth regeneration. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011     

Variable bacterial load of Legionella spp. in a hospital water system

Several approved protocols for the prevention of Legionella pneumonia base the type of intervention (to disinfect or not) on the level of contamination found (cfu/L). However, if the level of contamination by Legionella spp. of a water system fluctuates in a short period of time, inadequate sampling could lead to different decisions being made. To determine if there are significant variations in the bacterial count of Legionella spp., water samples were taken at different times from the same sites. Eight wards were selected from a large hospital in Southern Italy and a water sample was taken from 21 taps in each ward at the same time each day for 5 consecutive days.A Freidman test detected statistically significant differences in average Legionella spp. load over the 5 sampling days (p value < 0.001).This fluctuating load can have practical implications: the Italian Guidelines recommend disinfection only for a Legionella count > 10,000 cfu/L in hospitals without documented cases of disease. In the present study, the daily average loads varied, during the 5-day sampling period, above and below this cut-off (10,000 cfu/L). This means that the decision to disinfect or not would be different depending on which day the sampling was carried out. Our data suggest that, especially in health-care facilities, a single sampling would not give a realistic estimation of risk; therefore, even at lower levels of bacterial load, measures should be taken to reduce it further.     

A multidimensional approach for CSR assessment: The importance of the stakeholder perception

“If a tree falls in the forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?” and, paraphrasing the proverbial philosophy question, if a company has a strong CSR commitment but nobody recognizes it, does it produce any benefits? Business returns from corporate social responsibility (CSR) practices, such as customers loyalty and company reputation, depend heavily on how stakeholders perceive the company social behavior, making the measure of stakeholder perception a key issue in the process of CSR assessment. In this paper the analysis of CSR activities, as perceived by stakeholders, is realized utilizing global reporting initiative (GRI) indicators structured under balanced scorecard (BSC) perspectives and sustainability dimensions. We utilize a multi-criteria approach combined with fuzzy linguistic variables, in the variation of the 2-tuple, creating a hierarchy of CSR components with the purpose of integrating financial and non-financial sustainability dimensions and strategic perspectives. The hierarchy provides a multidimensional model that allows to evaluate the multifaceted social behavior of a company: the same company can be perceived simultaneously as responsible or irresponsible depending on the considered dimension and perspective.     

Characterization of Oil Extracted from Buriti Fruit (Mauritia flexuosa) Grown in the Brazilian Amazon Region

Five samples of buriti oil from industrial and artisanal suppliers were characterized in terms of nutritional quality parameters (nutraceutical levels) and acidity. As a first screening, each sample was analyzed by titration, spectrophotometry and an HPLC method, and the results were compared. As expected, artisanal samples showed lower acidity and higher levels of carotenes and tocols (tocopherols and tocotrienols). A blend of industrial and artisanal samples in suitable proportions was completely characterized in terms of analytical and physico-chemical properties, i.e., fatty acid composition, iodine value, partial and total acylglycerol contents, refractive index (40 °C), saponification value, unsaponifiable matter, acidity (expressed as % of oleic acid), peroxide value, phosphorus content, oil stability index, tocol and carotene concentrations. The results of the present study showed that buriti oil is a valuable source of monounsaturated fatty acids, and vitamins A and E. No previous work in the literature has analyzed buriti oil to this extent. The chromatographic method using HPLC was effective in qualifying and quantifying tocopherols, tocotrienols and carotenes.     

“Life is short, art is long”: the persistent wage gap between Bohemian and non-Bohemian graduates

In recent years, there has been a widespread interest in the economic development role played by ??Bohemian?? occupations and the ??creative class??. It is believed that creative people and occupations generate external effects which foster economic growth. However, the degree to which these externalities affect production and consumption is as yet not clear. As part of this debate, we investigate the ability of creative individuals to internalize the rents accruing from creative occupations in comparison with other types of activities. In order to do this, the paper analyzes the employment opportunities and wages earned by graduates in artistic occupations (Bohemians) and compares them with those of non-Bohemians. Using a uniquely longitudinal dataset of UK university graduates, we examine these issues using a Mincer-type framework, both in the short and in medium term after graduation. Our findings suggest that there is a persistent gap between Bohemian and non-Bohemians in terms of both the wages earned and employment status. This observation sharpens the need to better understanding the nature and extent of the externalities associated with the creative class which remains an unresolved issue.     

Is the university model an organizational necessity? Scale and agglomeration effects in science

In this paper we argue that the emergence of the dominant model of university organization, which is characterized by a large agglomeration of many (often loosely affiliated) small research groups, might have an economic explanation that relates to the features of the scientific production process. In particular, we argue that there are decreasing returns to scale on the level of the individual research groups, which prevent them from becoming to large, while we argue for positive agglomeration effects on the supra-research-group-level inside the university. As a consequence an efficient university organization would precisely consist of tying together many small individual research groups without merging them. Basing our empirical analysis on a multilevel dataset for German research institutes from four disciplines we are able to find strong support for the presence of these effects. This suggests that the emergence of the dominant model of university organization may also be the result of these particular features of the production process, where the least we can say is that this model is under the given circumstances highly efficient.     

Antioxidant activity of Annona crassiflora: Characterization of major components by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry

The polar components of Annona crassiflora pulp, peel and seeds ethanolic extracts were investigated by direct infusion electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) both in the negative ion mode. Characteristic ESI mass spectra with many diagnostic ions were obtained for the extracts, serving for fast and reliable information. The technique provided information of component structures revealing the presence of important bioactive components widely reported as potent antioxidants such as ascorbic acid, caffeic acid, quinic acid, ferulic acid, xanthoxylin, rutin, caffeoyltartaric acid, caffeoyl glucose and [quercetin+hexose+pentose−H]⁻¹ This is the first report on the composition by ESI-MS of araticum peel and seed ethanolic extracts demonstrating excellent antioxidant activity.     

Ultramicronized Palmitoylethanolamide in the Management of Sepsis-Induced Coagulopathy and Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation

Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is a severe condition characterized by the systemic formation of microthrombi complicated with bleeding tendency and organ dysfunction. In the last years, it represents one of the most frequent consequences of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The pathogenesis of DIC is complex, with cross-talk between the coagulant and inflammatory pathways. The objective of this study is to investigate the anti-inflammatory action of ultramicronized palmitoylethanolamide (um-PEA) in a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced DIC model in rats. Experimental DIC was induced by continual infusion of LPS (30 mg/kg) for 4 h through the tail vein. Um-PEA (30 mg/kg) was given orally 30 min before and 1 h after the start of intravenous infusion of LPS. Results showed that um-PEA reduced alteration of coagulation markers, as well as proinflammatory cytokine release in plasma and lung samples, induced by LPS infusion. Furthermore, um-PEA also has the effect of preventing the formation of fibrin deposition and lung damage. Moreover, um-PEA was able to reduce the number of mast cells (MCs) and the release of its serine proteases, which are also necessary for SARS-CoV-2 infection. These results suggest that um-PEA could be considered as a potential therapeutic approach in the management of DIC and in clinical implications associated to coagulopathy and lung dysfunction, such as COVID-19.