Oxidative transformation of aqueous phenolic mixtures by birnessite-mediated catalysis

The catalytic efficiency of birnessite in the removal of catechol, hydroxytyrosol, methylcatechol and m-tyrosol, four phenols commonly present in polluted wastewaters, was studied in mono-substrate solutions or in mixtures of two, three, and four substrates. In single phenolic solutions the transformation order of phenols was catechol>hydroxytyrosol>methylcatechol>m-tyrosol. With phenolic mixtures different responses were observed and the amount of each phenol transformed and the crossing effects among the various phenols depended on the type and number of phenols present in the mixture. In particular, general inhibitory effects were observed for hydroxytyrosol and m-tyrosol that were transformed less when present in combination with the other phenols. By contrast the effects by the presence of more than one phenol were basically annulled for catechol and methylcatechol at 24 h incubation in all the mixtures. A simultaneous, but often no stoichiometric, release of soluble Mn2+ in the reaction mixtures occurred. The multi-substrate systems were designed to mimic birnessite-mediated oxidative processes that could occur under field conditions. Therefore they could be of great interest to environmental and soil science. The use of birnessite as a potential tool for an effective detoxification and recovery of phenol-polluted systems could be also envisaged.     

Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors: binding of indanesulfonamides to the human isoform II

Indanesulfonamides are interesting lead compounds for designing selective inhibitors of the different isoforms of the zinc enzyme Carbonic Anhydrase (CA). Herein, we report for the first time the X-ray crystal structure of two such derivatives, namely indane-5-sulfonamide and indane-2-valproylamido-5-sulfonamide, in complex with the physiologically dominant human isoform II. The structural analysis reveals that, although these two inhibitors have quite similar chemical structures, the arrangement of their indane ring within the enzyme active site is significantly diverse. Thus, our findings suggest that the introduction of bulky substituents on the indane-sulfonamide ring may alter the binding mode of this potent class of CA inhibitors, although retaining good inhibitory properties. Accordingly, the introduction of bulky tail moieties on the indane-sulfonamide scaffold may represent a powerful strategy to induce a desired physicochemical property to an aromatic sulfonamide or to obtain inhibitors with diverse inhibition profiles and selectivity for various mammalian CAs.     

Morphostructural and immunohistochemical study on the role of metallothionein in the detoxification of heavy metals in Apis mellifera L., 1758

Honey is a valuable food produced by bees from sugary substances that they gather in nature. The transformation the nectar into honey, by bees, is long and complex. Except for honey, where heavy metals are absent or are found only in traces, the bees and their products have always been considered excellent biomarkers of such contaminants. We have assumed that the absence of heavy metals in honey is due to the presence of a detoxification system in the digestive system of bees, which involves metallothioneins, proteins that have a role in the homeostatic control of essential and non‐essential metals. We have placed the beehives in three different zones: industrial, urban and rural. Investigations were carried out with ICP‐MS method for the detection of heavy metals in the guts of honey bees and honey. The metallothioneins have been identified by Immunohistochemical and Western‐blotting analisys. The investigations have shown the presence of heavy metals only in bees guts but not in honey, while the presence of metallothionein has been highlighted only in epithelium of the honey sac, demonstrating the existence of an efficient system of detoxification of heavy metals.     

Mixed Nanosized Polymeric Micelles as Promoter of Doxorubicin and miRNA‐34a Co‐Delivery Triggered by Dual Stimuli in Tumor Tissue

Dual stimuli‐sensitive mixed polymeric micelles (MM) are developed for co‐delivery of the endogenous tumor suppressor miRNA‐34a and the chemotherapeutic agent doxorubicin (Dox) into cancer cells. The novelty of the system resides in two stimuli‐sensitive prodrugs, a matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP2)‐sensitive Dox conjugate and a reducing agent (glutathione, GSH)‐sensitive miRNA‐34a conjugate, self‐assembled in a single particle decorated with a polyethylene glycol corona for longevity, and a cell‐penetrating peptide (TATp) for enhanced intracellular delivery. The MMP2‐sensitivity of the system results in threefold higher cytotoxicity in MMP2‐overexpressing HT1080 cells compared to low MMP2‐expressing MCF7 cells. Cellular internalization of Dox increases by more than 70% after inclusion of TATp to the formulation. MMP2‐sensitive MM also inhibits proliferation and migration of HT1080 cells. Moreover, GSH‐sensitive MM allows for an efficient downregulation of Bcl2, survivin, and notch1 (65%, 55%, and 46%, respectively) in HT1080 cells. Combination of both conjugates in dual sensitive MM reduces HT1080 cell viability to 40% and expression of Bcl2 and survivin. Finally, 50% cell death is observed in 3D models of tumor mass. The results confirm the potential of the MM to codeliver miRNA‐34a and doxorubicin triggered by dual stimuli inherent of tumor tissues.     

A Multi-Modal Haptic Interface for Virtual Reality and Robotics

In this paper we present an innovative haptic device that combines the electro-tactile stimulation with the force and visual feedbacks in order to improve the perception of a virtual world. We discuss the sensation evoked in a user by the haptic, force, and the visual interface as provided by this device, implemented as a special glove, equipped with sensors and actuators connected to a PC. The techniques used to recreate tactile and kinesthetic sensations are based on an innovative use of cutaneous stimulation integrated with actuators and 3D modelling techniques. We discuss about the specificity of haptic interfaces, their controllers, their open problems. We present results about generating the sensation of touching virtual objects with our device. Experiments show also that, using a multi-modal sensorial pattern of stimulation, the subject perceives more realistically the virtual object. We discuss the possible use of the same technique as a way to interface intelligent robots.     

DAISY: a new software tool to test global identifiability of biological and physiological systems

A priori global identifiability is a structural property of biological and physiological models. It is considered a prerequisite for well-posed estimation, since it concerns the possibility of recovering uniquely the unknown model parameters from measured input-output data, under ideal conditions (noise-free observations and error-free model structure). Of course, determining if the parameters can be uniquely recovered from observed data is essential before investing resources, time and effort in performing actual biomedical experiments. Many interesting biological models are nonlinear but identifiability analysis for nonlinear system turns out to be a difficult mathematical problem. Different methods have been proposed in the literature to test identifiability of nonlinear models but, to the best of our knowledge, so far no software tools have been proposed for automatically checking identifiability of nonlinear models. In this paper, we describe a software tool implementing a differential algebra algorithm to perform parameter identifiability analysis for (linear and) nonlinear dynamic models described by polynomial or rational equations. Our goal is to provide the biological investigator a completely automatized software, requiring minimum prior knowledge of mathematical modelling and no in-depth understanding of the mathematical tools. The DAISY (Differential Algebra for Identifiability of SYstems) software will potentially be useful in biological modelling studies, especially in physiology and clinical medicine, where research experiments are particularly expensive and/or difficult to perform. Practical examples of use of the software tool DAISY are presented. DAISY is available at the web site http://www.dei.unipd.it/~pia/.     

High‐Mobility Naphthalene Diimide and Selenophene‐Vinylene‐Selenophene‐Based Conjugated Polymer: n‐Channel Organic Field‐Effect Transistors and Structure–Property Relationship

Interdependence of chemical structure, thin‐film morphology, and transport properties is a key, yet often elusive aspect characterizing the design and development of high‐mobility, solution‐processed polymers for large‐area and flexible electronics applications. There is a specific need to achieve >1 cm² V^?1 s^?1 field‐effect mobilities (μ) at low processing temperatures in combination with environmental stability, especially in the case of electron‐transporting polymers, which are still lagging behind hole transporting materials. Here, the synthesis of a naphthalene‐diimide based donor–acceptor copolymer characterized by a selenophene vinylene selenophene donor moiety is reported. Optimized field‐effect transistors show maximum μ of 2.4 cm² V^?1 s^?1 and promising ambient stability. A very marked film structural evolution is revealed with increasing annealing temperature, with evidence of a remarkable 3D crystallinity above 180 °C. Conversely, transport properties are found to be substantially optimized at 150 °C, with limited gain at higher temperature. This discrepancy is rationalized by the presence of a surface‐segregated prevalently edge‐on packed polymer phase, dominating the device accumulated channel. This study therefore serves the purpose of presenting a promising, high‐electron‐mobility copolymer that is processable at relatively low temperatures, and of clearly highlighting the necessity of specifically investigating channel morphology in assessing the structure–property nexus in semiconducting polymer thin films.     

Mitochondria as Key Targets of Cardioprotection in Cardiac Ischemic Disease: Role of Thyroid Hormone Triiodothyronine

Ischemic heart disease is the major cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. Early reperfusion after acute myocardial ischemia has reduced short-term mortality, but it is also responsible for additional myocardial damage, which in the long run favors adverse cardiac remodeling and heart failure evolution. A growing body of experimental and clinical evidence show that the mitochondrion is an essential end effector of ischemia/reperfusion injury and a major trigger of cell death in the acute ischemic phase (up to 48–72 h after the insult), the subacute phase (from 72 h to 7–10 days) and chronic stage (from 10–14 days to one month after the insult). As such, in recent years scientific efforts have focused on mitochondria as a target for cardioprotective strategies in ischemic heart disease and cardiomyopathy. The present review discusses recent advances in this field, with special emphasis on the emerging role of the biologically active thyroid hormone triiodothyronine (T3).     

Tomato peel drying and carotenoids stability of the extracts

Tomato peels were firstly dried by different methods (hot air, freeze‐drying, and fluidized bed drying) to evaluate the recovery of lycopene, β‐carotene and DPPH radical scavenging activity. Comparison of the results showed that hot air drying at 50 °C was a suitable method and alternative to freeze‐drying to preserve carotenoids compounds and antioxidant activity in tomato peels. Then, ethanol/ethyl acetate (1:1) extracts from tomato peel, previously dried at 50 °C by hot air, were submitted to heat (100 °C) and light treatment (1000 lumen) to evaluate their stability as natural food dyes. Heating of the extracts caused a progressive reduction of total carotenoids, up to about 30% after 250 min of treatment, whereas the colour at the end of heat treatment showed small changes, with an overall colour difference (?E) equal to 7. Fluorescent lighting treatment showed an almost total degradation of carotenoids in the extracts after 48 h combined with a fading colour.     

A study on some effects of a drag-reducing agent on the performance of a stirred vessel

The influence of the addition of a drag reducing agent (100 ppm PAA) to a pure liquid (water) in a stirred vessel has been studied. The vessel was stirred with two types of agitators, a Rushton turbine and an axial A310 impeller.This study was meant to implement previous findings with new data and various types of measurements were performed to determine a number of parameters. It is confirmed that the drag-reducing agent decreases power draw and increases mixing time. Mean flow and the fluctuating velocities were determined (with the PIV technique) and notable reduction in turbulence intensity was detected. The mechanism of tracer dispersion (followed by the PLIF technique) was also documented qualitatively. Finally, the influence of the drag-reducing agent on the particle size distribution of the solid product of a precipitation reaction (reaction of barium chloride and sodium sulphate) was shown.