Electric‐Field‐Controlled Alignment of Rod‐Shaped Fluorescent Nanocrystals in Smectic Liquid Crystal Defect Arrays

Periodic micro‐arrays of straight linear defects containing nanoparticles can be created over large surface areas at the transition from the nematic to smectic‐A phase in a nanoparticle–liquid crystal (LC) composite material confined under the effect of conflicting anchoring conditions (unidirectional planar vs normal) and electric fields. Anisomeric dichroic dye molecules and rod‐shaped fluorescent semiconductor nanocrystals (dot‐in‐rods) with large permanent electric dipole and high linearly polarized photoluminescence quantum yield align parallel to the local LC molecular director and follow its reorientation under application of the electric field. In the nano‐sized core regions of linear defects, where the director is undefined, anisotropic particles align parallel to the defect whereas spherical quantum dots do not show any particular interaction with the defect. Under application of an electric field, ferroelectric semiconductor nanoparticles in the core region align along the field, perpendicular to the defect direction, whereas dichroic dyes remain parallel to the defect. This study provides useful insights into the complex interaction of anisotropic nanoparticles and anisotropic soft materials such as LCs in the presence of external fields, which may help the development of field‐responsive nanoparticle‐based functional materials.     

Simulation of retronasal aroma of white and red wine in a model mouth system. Investigating the influence of saliva on volatile compound concentrations

The influence of saliva on aroma release from white and red wines was studied in a model mouth system. Aroma compounds were analysed in the dynamic headspace of wines by solid phase micro extraction/gas chromatography with flame ionization detection. Volatile compounds were identified by solid phase micro extraction/gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, resulting in a total of 43 compounds in white wine and 41 in red wine. The results showed a greater influence of saliva on aroma release in white wine than red wine. In white wine treated with human saliva, esters and fusel alcohols, responsible for fruity and fusel oil odours, were reduced of 32–80%; by contrast, the concentration of 2-phenylethanol and furfural, responsible for rose and toasted almond notes, increased by 27% and by 155%, respectively. In red wine, treated with human saliva, only a few esters decrease, with a reduction of 22–51% due to protein-binding ability of polyphenols that are able to inhibit the activity of the saliva. C-13 norisoprenoids, vitispirane (eucalyptol) and TDN (kerosene), decreased both in white and red wine, showing a comparable variation while, for β-damascenone, the variation was insignificant.     

A taxonomic-based joint species distribution model for presence-only data

Species distribution models (SDMs) are an important class of model for mapping taxa spatially and are a key tool for tackling biodiversity loss. However, most common SDMs depend on presence–absence data and, despite the accumulation and exponential growth of biological occurrence data across the globe, the available data are predominantly presence-only (i.e. they lack real absences). Although presence-only SDMs do exist, they inevitably require assumptions about absences of the considered taxa and they are specified mostly for single species and, thus, do not exploit fully the information in related taxa. This greatly limits the utility of global biodiversity databases such as GBIF. Here, we present a Bayesian-based SDM for multiple species that operates directly on presence-only data by exploiting the joint distribution between the multiple ecological processes and, crucially, identifies the sampling effort per taxa which allows inference on absences. The model was applied to two case studies. One, focusing on taxonomically diverse taxa over central Mexico and another focusing on the monophyletic family Cactacea over continental Mexico. In both cases, the model was able to identify the ecological and sampling effort processes for each taxon using only the presence observations, environmental and anthropological data.     

Macrophage-Mediated Melanoma Reduction after HP-NAP Treatment in a Zebrafish Xenograft Model

The Helicobacter pylori Neutrophil Activating Protein (HP-NAP) is endowed with immunomodulatory properties that make it a potential candidate for anticancer therapeutic applications. By activating cytotoxic Th1 responses, HP-NAP inhibits the growth of bladder cancer and enhances the anti-tumor activity of oncolytic viruses in the treatment of metastatic breast cancer and neuroendocrine tumors. The possibility that HP-NAP exerts its anti-tumor effect also by modulating the activity of innate immune cells has not yet been explored. Taking advantage of the zebrafish model, we examined the therapeutic efficacy of HP-NAP against metastatic human melanoma, limiting the observational window to 9 days post-fertilization, well before the maturation of the adaptive immunity. Human melanoma cells were xenotransplanted into zebrafish embryos and tracked in the presence or absence of HP-NAP. The behavior and phenotype of macrophages and the impact of their drug-induced depletion were analyzed exploiting macrophage-expressed transgenes. HP-NAP administration efficiently inhibited tumor growth and metastasis and this was accompanied by strong recruitment of macrophages with a pro-inflammatory profile at the tumor site. The depletion of macrophages almost completely abrogated the ability of HP-NAP to counteract tumor growth. Our findings highlight the pivotal role of activated macrophages in counteracting melanoma growth and support the notion that HP-NAP might become a new biological therapeutic agent for the treatment of metastatic melanomas.     

Immunotherapy for Biliary Tract Cancer in the Era of Precision Medicine: Current Knowledge and Future Perspectives

Biliary tract cancers (BTC) represent a heterogeneous and aggressive group of tumors with dismal prognosis. For a long time, BTC has been considered an orphan disease with very limited therapeutic options. In recent years a better understanding of the complex molecular landscape of biology is rapidly changing the therapeutic armamentarium. However, while 40–50% of patients there are molecular drivers susceptible to target therapy, for the remaining population new therapeutic options represent an unsatisfied clinical need. The role of immunotherapy in the continuum of treatment of patients with BTC is still debated. Despite initial signs of antitumor-activity, single-agent immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) demonstrated limited efficacy in an unselected population. Therefore, identifying the best partner to combine ICIs and predictive biomarkers represents a key challenge to optimize the efficacy of immunotherapy. This review provides a critical analysis of completed trials, with an eye on future perspectives and possible biomarkers of response.     

Modeling of the dynamic mechanical properties of semicrystalline thermoplastic matrix composites

The modeling of the viscoelastic properties of semicrystalline polymeric matrix composites is discussed. Different mathematical models are applied to describe the development of the storage modulus, measured by dynamic mechanical analysis, as a function of the crystalline content during isothermal crystallization experiments. Best results are obtained with an empirical power law model developed in this work. The application of the Halpin-Tsai equation and of a theoretical model, based on a combination of parallel-series arrangements of viscoelastic elements representing the crystalline and amorphous phases, is also discussed. The main objective of this research is the comparison between experimental results obtained by differential scanning calorimetry and dynamic mechanical analysis during crystallization processes.     

The Role of Testosterone in the Elderly: What Do We Know?

Testosterone is the most important hormone in male health. Aging is characterized by testosterone deficiency due to decreasing testosterone levels associated with low testicular production, genetic factors, adiposity, and illness. Low testosterone levels in men are associated with sexual dysfunction (low sexual desire, erectile dysfunction), reduced skeletal muscle mass and strength, decreased bone mineral density, increased cardiovascular risk and alterations of the glycometabolic profile. Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) shows several therapeutic effects while maintaining a good safety profile in hypogonadal men. TRT restores normal levels of serum testosterone in men, increasing libido and energy level and producing beneficial effects on bone density, strength and muscle as well as yielding cardioprotective effects. Nevertheless, TRT could be contraindicated in men with untreated prostate cancer, although poor findings are reported in the literature. In addition, different potential side effects, such as polycythemia, cardiac events and obstructive sleep apnea, should be monitored. The aim of our review is to provide an updated background regarding the pros and cons of TRT, evaluating its role and its clinical applicability in different domains.     

Porcine Small Intestinal Submucosa (SIS) as a Suitable Scaffold for the Creation of a Tissue-Engineered Urinary Conduit: Decellularization,Biomechanical and Biocompatibility Characterization Using New Approaches

Bladder cancer (BC) is among the most common malignancies in the world and a relevant cause of cancer mortality. BC is one of the most frequent causes for bladder removal through radical cystectomy, the gold-standard treatment for localized muscle-invasive and some cases of high-risk, non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer. In order to restore urinary functionality, an autologous intestinal segment has to be used to create a urinary diversion. However, several complications are associated with bowel-tract removal, affecting patients’ quality of life. The present study project aims to develop a bio-engineered material to simplify this surgical procedure, avoiding related surgical complications and improving patients’ quality of life. The main novelty of such a therapeutic approach is the decellularization of a porcine small intestinal submucosa (SIS) conduit to replace the autologous intestinal segment currently used as urinary diversion after radical cystectomy, while avoiding an immune rejection. Here, we performed a preliminary evaluation of this acellular product by developing a novel decellularization process based on an environmentally friendly, mild detergent, i.e., Tergitol, to replace the recently declared toxic Triton X-100. Treatment efficacy was evaluated through histology, DNA, hydroxyproline and elastin quantification, mechanical and insufflation tests, two-photon microscopy, FTIR analysis, and cytocompatibility tests. The optimized decellularization protocol is effective in removing cells, including DNA content, from the porcine SIS, while preserving the integrity of the extracellular matrix despite an increase in stiffness. An effective sterilization protocol was found, and cytocompatibility of treated SIS was demonstrated from day 1 to day 7, during which human fibroblasts were able to increase in number and strongly organize along tissue fibres. Taken together, this in vitro study suggests that SIS is a suitable candidate for use in urinary diversions in place of autologous intestinal segments, considering the optimal results of decellularization and cell proliferation. Further efforts should be undertaken in order to improve SIS conduit patency and impermeability to realize a future viable substitute.     

Effects of reinforcing fibers on the crystallization of polypropylene

The effects of the incorporation of different types of fibers on the crystallization kinetics and thermodynamics of isotactic polypropylene (iPP) are investigated. The study is mainly performed by thermal analysis, both in isothermal and constant cooling rate conditions, utilizing differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The crystallization kinetics of the studied composites is successfully described by the Avrami model. Moreover, the effects of different kind of fibers are studied comparing the values of kinetics parameters such as the Avrami exponent n, the kinetic constant of the crystallization rate, Kn and the half‐time of crystallization, T 1/2. The results of the investigation show that the fibers behave as effective nucleant agents for the crystallization of polypropylene. In fact, a dramatic decrease of the half‐time of crystallization, T1/2, as well as a sensible increase of the overall crystallization rate, Kn, are observed in the presence of all the fibers analyzed. These effects are more marked in the presence of aramid fibers. The Avrami model is successfully applied to describe the crystallization kinetics of the composites. The kinetic curves obtained under non‐isothermal conditions confirm the results obtained under isothermal conditions and demonstrate the nucleating action of the fibers on the PP crystallization. Furthermore, the spherulite growth and the transcrystallinity on the surface of the fibers are investigated by optical polarizing microscopy. It is observed that transcrystallinity takes place in all kind of fibers studied, but also in this case, aramid fibers are the most effective in promoting transcrystallinity.     

Chemical characterisation of Thymus populations belonging from Southern Italy

The genus Thymus L. consists of many species of herbaceous perennials and sub-shrubs. A chemical characterisation of a collection of Thymus spp. originated from regions of Southern Italy was performed using GC and GC/MS. The accessions were collected from various natural habitats of the Basilicata and Puglia Regions and transferred into a new uniform environment. The study showed that amongst the 22 components of the oils the most recurrent ones were geraniol, thymol and α-terpinene followed by linalool, citral and trans-caryophillene. Cluster analysis led to the identification of two chemotypes: geraniol and thymol/α-terpinene; only a biotype remained separate from all others, probably because of its high content linalool (58%).