Headspace solid‐phase micro extraction coupled to comprehensive two‐dimensional with time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry applied to the evaluation of Nebbiolo‐based wine volatile aroma during ageing

This study presents the application of a headspace solid‐phase microextraction (HS‐SPME) method on the analysis of Nebbiolo‐based wine volatiles by comprehensive two‐dimensional gas chromatography (GC×GC) and time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry (TOF‐MS). The aroma patterns were established for different samples of Nebbiolo‐based wines, aged in oak wood barrels for 18 months at constant temperature. The methodology allowed for the simultaneous analysis of over 130 different volatile compounds detected in the headspace. The odour activity values (OAVs) were assessed to identify potentially important odorants of Nebbiolo‐based wine during ageing. The highest OAVs were obtained for several compounds such as ethyl octanoate, ethyl hexanoate, isoamyl acetate, β‐damascenone, ethyl cinnamate, ethyl 3‐methylbutanate and acetaldehyde. Ethyl butanoate, octanoic acid, ethyl dihydrocinnamate and γ‐nonalactone were also at concentrations higher than their corresponding threshold. Also vanillin, (E)‐whisky lactone, (Z)‐whisky lactone, guaiacol and 4‐ethyl guaiacol seem to be important odorants after oak wood ageing period.     

Father participation in behavioral parent training for ADHD: Review and recommendations for increasing inclusion and engagement.

Research on parenting has generally focused on mothers, with fathers' parenting approaches and interventions for fathers being relatively less studied. To investigate the involvement of fathers in behavioral parent training (BPT), the literature on BPT for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) was reviewed. A systematic review of this literature (N = 32) indicated that the majority of research studies are composed of mothers as participants in treatment and raters of outcome (87% of reviewed studies did not include information on father-related outcomes). Present barriers to father participation in BPT (e.g., content of classes, characteristics of fathers) are discussed. Strategies for increasing father participation are offered and include establishing the expectation that fathers will be involved in treatment at initial clinical contacts, collecting treatment-related information from both parents, conducting BPT classes that focus on issues of direct relevance to fathers, and integrating parent-child interactions in recreational settings into BPT programs. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Numerical Study of Minority Carrier Induced Diffusion Capacitance in VCSELs Using Minilase

Our numerical simulations of vertical cavity surface emitting lasers with Minilase demonstrate that a diffusion capacitance is induced by the minority carriers accumulated in the separate confinement regions. This diffusion capacitance is shown to be responsible for the over-damping of the modulation response and the reduction of the modulation bandwidth. It is also demonstrated that this diffusion capacitance is significantly suppressed by grading the separate confinement hetero-junctions (SCHs) or reducing the thickness of the SCHs.     

Stable carbon isotope content in ethanol of EC data bank wines from Italy, France and Germany

In the present work we discuss the usefulness of carbon isotope analysis of wine ethanol for the assignment of origin and the proof of adulteration of Italian, French and German wines. At first the comparability of the results from three laboratories is demonstrated by the results of inter-laboratory comparison measurement and by tests of the distillation procedures applied to the same samples. Furthermore, a close correlation of carbon isotope content in sugars from must and ethanol from the related wine could be found for samples from all countries. Using the ¹³C values of EC data bank wines from 1991 to 1993 for Italy, France and Germany, we describe and discuss the main factors of influence which are responsible for the variation of those values. By examination of spiked samples, the usefulness of the ¹³C analysis in the detection of certain types of wine enrichment is demonstrated; especially if the carbon isotope analysis by¹³C-8 isotope ratio mass spectrometry is employed as an additional tool for improving the security of the already officially performed determination of the site-specific hydrogen isotope content in wine ethanol by²H-NMR.     

Operator Performance in Exploration Robotics

Mobile robots can accomplish high-risk tasks without exposing humans to danger: robots go where humans fear to tread. Until the time in which completely autonomous robots are fully deployed, remote operators will be required in order to fulfill desired missions. Remotely controlling a robot requires that the operator receives the information about the robot??s surroundings, as well as its location in the scenario. Based on a set of experiments conducted with users, we evaluate the performance of operators when they are provided with a hand-held-based interface or a desktop-based interface. Results show how performance depends on the task asked of the operator and the scenario in which the robot is moving. The conclusions prove that the operator??s intra-scenario mobility when carrying a hand-held device can counterbalance the limitations of the device. By contrast, the experiments show that if the operator cannot move inside of the scenario, his performance is significantly better when using a desktop-based interface. These results set the basis for a transfer of control policy in missions involving a team of operators, some equipped with hand-held devices and others working remotely with desktop-based computers.     

Modeling and optimization of Fischer–Tropsch products hydrocracking

The hydrocracking behavior the product of a Fischer–Tropsch synthesis consisting of a C₄–C₃₀ mixture of paraffins and olefins on a platinum/amorphous silica–alumina catalyst has been analyzed and optimized. The influence of temperature on the selectiveness of the hydrocracking has been investigated. Time and temperature optimization was performed in order to obtain the best operating conditions for the enhancement of gasoline and diesel cuts. This work presents a mathematical model of the tubular reactor used in hydrocracking the heavy hydrocarbon fraction produced by the Fischer–Tropsch synthesis. The system was studied to optimize the operating conditions as to produce the highest amounts of diesel and/or gasoline. The hydrocarbon product distribution changes during hydrocracking were modeled considering a commercial bifunctional catalyst. The model was validated with data reported in the literature and has presented a satisfactory fitting to the experimental data with a confidence level of 95%. The production of specific cuts such as diesel and gasoline was optimized after the model has been validated. The results showed that lower temperatures (550 K) favor the cracking of heavy hydrocarbons chains into diesel and higher temperatures (650 K) favor a more effective cracking generating higher amounts of gasoline.     

Relationships between organic carbon and microbial components in a Tyrrhenian area (Isola del Giglio) affected by mucilages

The chemical and biological properties of the water column at a Tyrrhenian site (Isola del Giglio) were studied during a 3-year period. The results highlighted the oligotrophic features of the site, characterised by quite low concentrations of organic carbon (on average DOC 102 micromol/L and POC 9 micromol/L). Relevant bacterial biomass (on average 42.1 microg C/L) and a notable activity (in terms of frequency of dividing cells, on average more than 5%) were observed. However, remarkable changes for these parameters were seasonally recorded. The cyclic occurrence, generally during the late spring-summer period, of benthic mucilage indicated that localised distrophic processes may occur. In particular, the benthic mucilage events of 2000 and 2001 were investigated, although some comparative information was available also for 1999 and 2002. The mucilage aggregates generally showed high bacterial colonisation, which have remarkable effects on the organic matter cycle both inside the aggregates and in the surrounding seawater. During the benthic mucilage development, an increase of DOC and POC concentrations was observed (up to 129 and 18 micromol/L, respectively, in June 2000 and up to 145 and 10 micromol/L, respectively, in May and June 2001) in the water column adjacent to the bottom. However, a general decrease of the trophic value of particulate matter (in terms of C/N ratio) was also observed, especially in 2000 after the disappearance of the mucilage. The available energy and organic matter during the mucilage events led to an increased presence of bacteria in the bottom waters of the Isola del Giglio, with maximum biomass values in 2001. Similarly, the replicative activity of bacteria was higher in 2001 (frequency of dividing cells about 5% vs. 3% of 2000). The lower activity of 2000, in addition to the lower trophic value of organic matter and different environmental conditions (namely lower temperature), might be involved in the persistence of mucilage in 2000 with respect to the rapid disappearance observed in 2001.     

Zeolites-containing geopolymers obtained from biomass fly ash: Influence of temperature,composition, and porosity

In this research, compositional and processing parameters were varied to obtain zeolites-containing geopolymers using mainly biomass fly ash wastes. In addition to curing temperatures, another primary factor affecting the typologies of the resulting zeolites was composition. The mixture composition used in the synthesis crucially affects the nature of the zeolitic crystalline phases in the geopolymeric matrix. Using 10 mol/L NaOH solution, faujasite-type zeolites produced in geopolymers show a surface area of ~100 m²/g (BET), while those prepared by 8 mol/L NaOH solution have a much lower surface area of ~19 m²/g.     

Dietary Micronutrient Management to Treat Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Diet-Induced Obese Mice

Obesity and associated metabolic disturbances, which have been increasing worldwide in recent years, are the consequences of unhealthy diets and physical inactivity and are the main factors underlying non-communicable diseases (NCD). These diseases are now responsible for about three out of five deaths worldwide, and it has been shown that they depend on mitochondrial dysfunction, systemic inflammation and oxidative stress. It was also demonstrated that several nutritional components modulating these processes are able to influence metabolic homeostasis and, consequently, to prevent or delay the onset of NCD. An interesting combination of nutraceutical substances, named DMG-gold, has been shown to promote metabolic and physical wellness. The aim of this research was to investigate the metabolic, inflammatory and oxidative pathways modulated by DMG-gold in an animal model with diet-induced obesity. Our data indicate that DMG-gold decreases the metabolic efficiency and inflammatory state and acts as an antioxidant and detoxifying agent, modulating mitochondrial functions. Therefore, DMG-gold is a promising candidate in the prevention/treatment of NCD.