Methylation of Phenol by Methanol on Acidic Zeolite H–Y Investigated by in situ CF MAS NMR Spectroscopy

In situ ¹³C MAS NMR spectroscopy under continuous-flow (CF) conditions was applied to study the mechanism of the methylation of phenol by methanol on acidic zeolite H–Y. Ex situ GC-MS was used as a complementary technique to confirm the nature of the chemical species remaining on the catalyst after the in situ MAS NMR investigations. Anisole and cresols were observed as the main reaction products in the initial step of the reaction. By use of the stopped-flow (SF) technique, the consecutive transformation of anisole to cresols was observed at the reaction temperature of 413K indicating that anisole is an unstable primary product and an important intermediate.     

SNPs of the FADS Gene Cluster are Associated with Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in a Cohort of Patients with Cardiovascular Disease

Polymorphisms of the human Δ-5 (FADS1) and Δ-6 (FADS2) desaturase genes have been recently described to be associated with the level of several long-chain n-3 and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in serum phospholipids. We have genotyped 13 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) located on the FADS1–FADS2–FADS3 gene cluster (chromosome 11q12–13.1) in 658 Italian adults (78% males; mean age 59.7 ± 11.1 years) participating in the Verona Heart Project. Polymorphisms and statistically inferred haplotypes showed a strong association with arachidonic acid (C20:4n-6) levels in serum phospholipids and in erythrocyte cell membranes (rs174545 adjusted P value for multiple tests, P < 0.0001 and P < 0.0001, respectively). Other significant associations were observed for linoleic (C18:2n-6), alpha-linolenic (C18:3n-3) and eicosadienoic (C20:2n-6) acids. Minor allele homozygotes and heterozygotes were associated to higher levels of linoleic, alpha-linolenic, eicosadienoic and lower levels of arachidonic acid. No significant association was observed for stearidonic (C18:4n-3), eicosapentaenoic (C20:5n-3) and docosahexaenoic (C22:6n-3) acids levels. The observed strong association of FADS gene polymorphisms with the levels of arachidonic acid, which is a precursor of molecules involved in inflammation and immunity processes, suggests that SNPs of the FADS1 and FADS2 gene region are worth studying in diseases related to inflammatory conditions or alterations in the concentration of PUFAs. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Isothiocyanates Are Promising Compounds against Oxidative Stress,Neuroinflammation and Cell Death that May Benefit Neurodegeneration in Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is recognized as the second most common neurodegenerative disorder and is characterized by a slow and progressive degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra. Despite intensive research, the mechanisms involved in neuronal loss are not completely understood yet; however, misfolded proteins, oxidative stress, excitotoxicity and inflammation play a pivotal role in the progression of the pathology. Neuroinflammation may have a greater function in PD pathogenesis than initially believed, taking part in the cascade of events that leads to neuronal death. To date, no efficient therapy, able to arrest or slow down PD, is available. In this context, the need to find novel strategies to counteract neurodegenerative progression by influencing diseases’ pathogenesis is becoming increasingly clear. Isothiocyanates (ITCs) have already shown interesting properties in detoxification, inflammation, apoptosis and cell cycle regulation through the induction of phase I and phase II enzyme systems. Moreover, ITCs may be able to modulate several key points in oxidative and inflammatory evolution. In view of these considerations, the aim of the present review is to describe ITCs as pleiotropic compounds capable of preventing and modulating the evolution of PD.     

Bioactive compounds from hazelnut skin (Corylus avellana L.): Effects on Lactobacillus plantarum P17630 and Lactobacillus crispatus P17631

Hazelnut skins are a good example of agro-food by-products, potentially source of natural antioxidants and functional food ingredients, rich in polyphenols and dietary fibre. The chemical characterization performed in our study confirmed that fibre is the main component of hazelnut skin. Moreover, four different polyphenols-rich extracts and two fibre fractions were obtained by the processing of the skins. The functional activity of these extracts was verified using them as ingredients in media employed for the growth of two probiotic strains (Lactobacillus plantarum P17630 and Lactobacillus crispatus P17631). Starting from 0.01% (w/v), both soluble (SDF) and insoluble dietary fibre (IDF) significantly improved the bacterial growth during fermentation toward control. Both SDF and IDF showed a considerable increase in cryoprotection during lyophilisation, showing a similar effect to the inulin at the same concentration. Finally, we suggest this matrix as source of new functional fibres both for foods and nutraceutical products containing probiotic bacteria.     

A mathematical model for the prediction of water vapour transmission rate at different temperature and relative humidity combinations

A simple mathematical procedure for the estimation of water vapour transmission rate under different conditions is presented and discussed. The ASTM dynamic and gravimetric methods were used for measuring the water vapour transmission rate of four thin plastic films (PET 19 μm, PVC 16 μm, EVA 15 μm and LDPE 23 μm) under 38 different conditions of temperature and relative humidity and the corresponding permeance values were drawn. On the basis of the Clausius Clapeyron's relationship between temperature and water vapour pressure, a simple equation was derived for a rapid transformation of water vapour transmission rate data. The mathematical procedure was applied to the data collected for the four thin films and good agreement was found between observed and predicted values for the PET and LDPE films, while for the PVC and EVA films the equation developed led to an overestimate of water vapour transmission at the lower temperatures.     

Daily Dialysis: Toward a New Standard in Well‐Being

Daily hemodialysis (DHD) is a promising option; however, logistic obstacles and clinical perplexities limit its dissemination. Understanding the mechanisms of, and the time until, the onset of improved well‐being may help to quantify clinical advantages and to define the minimum length of a “trial” of daily dialysis. By following 30 patients treated in 4 centers, this study aimed to determine how long a period of time is needed until a patient experiences subjective improvement. From November 1998 to November 2000, 30 patients tried at least 2 weeks of short daily dialysis in four Northern Italian centers of Piemonte and Valle d'Aosta. The DHD (2 – 3 hours; blood flow 270 – 350 mL/min; individual HCO₃, Na, K) was performed at home or in a center. Motivations to try DHD, fears and concerns regarding DHD, and changes in perceived well‐being were assessed by semi‐structured interview. The main clinical indications for a trial of DHD were poor tolerance of conventional treatment, cardiovascular disease, and hypertension or hypotension; only 6 patients had no comorbidity at start. The patients' main reasons for choosing DHD were related to job problems and the search for a better treatment. Most of the patients continued DHD because of improved well‐being; logistic reasons accounted for the drop‐outs (5 patients). The main fears were related to logistic aspects, vascular access problems, and excessive involvement of the partner on home dialysis. Improved well‐being was reported by 28 of 30 patients; 2 patients reported no difference. Subjective improvement was perceived within 2 weeks in 22 of 30 patients, and within 1 month in 28 of 30 patients. An offer of a 2 – 4 week trial of DHD may help patients and caregivers to determine whether subjective and objective benefits outweigh logistic problems and whether a permanent transfer to DHD is worthwhile.     

Trifluoroethanol Modulates Amyloid Formation by the All α-Helical URN1 FF Domain

Amyloid fibril formation is implicated in different human diseases. The transition between native α-helices and nonnative intermolecular β-sheets has been suggested to be a trigger of fibrillation in different conformational diseases. The FF domain of the URN1 splicing factor (URN1-FF) is a small all-α protein that populates a molten globule (MG) at low pH. Despite the fact that this conformation maintains most of the domain native secondary structure, it progressively converts into β-sheet enriched and highly ordered amyloid fibrils. In this study, we investigated if 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol (TFE) induced conformational changes that affect URN1-FF amyloid formation. Despite TFE having been shown to induce or increase the aggregation of both globular and disordered proteins at moderate concentrations, we demonstrate here that in the case of URN1-FF it reinforces its intrinsic α-helical structure, which competes the formation of aggregated assemblies. In addition, we show that TFE induces conformational diversity in URN1-FF fibrils, in such a way that the fibrils formed in the presence and absence of the cosolvent represent different polymorphs. It is suggested that the effect of TFE on both the soluble and aggregated states of URN1-FF depends on its ability to facilitate hydrogen bonding.     

Human-centred design methods: Developing scenarios for robot assisted play informed by user panels and field trials

This article describes the user-centred development of play scenarios for robot assisted play, as part of the multidisciplinary IROMEC¹ project that develops a novel robotic toy for children with special needs. The project investigates how robotic toys can become social mediators, encouraging children with special needs to discover a range of play styles, from solitary to collaborative play (with peers, carers/teachers, parents, etc.). This article explains the developmental process of constructing relevant play scenarios for children with different special needs. Results are presented from consultation with panel of experts (therapists, teachers, parents) who advised on the play needs for the various target user groups and who helped investigate how robotic toys could be used as a play tool to assist in the children’s development. Examples from experimental investigations are provided which have informed the development of scenarios throughout the design process. We conclude by pointing out the potential benefit of this work to a variety of research projects and applications involving human–robot interactions.     

Evaluating a modified Google user interface via screen reader

This paper describes the progress of a research project aimed at improving the usability of web search tools for blind users who interact via screen readers and voice synthesizers. In the first stage of research, specific guidelines were proposed for simplifying the interaction with search engines for the blind. To evaluate these criteria, they were applied to Google user interfaces, by re-implementing the search form as well as the results page. Finally, the redesigned interfaces were evaluated through remote testing with 12 totally blind users. The results highlighted how Google, although already accessible, may be further improved in order to simplify interaction for people with impaired vision.