Volatile Compound and Sensory Analysis for the Characterization of an Italian White Wine from “Inzolia” Grapes

The research evidences the importance of linking chemical and sensory data for the wine characterization; in particular, the Italian white wine made from Inzolia grapes has been considered. Inzolia is one of the most widespread native white grapes in Sicily (Italy), and wine samples from two different areas (Monreale and Sambuca di Sicilia) have been analyzed. A headspace solid-phase microextraction/gas chromatography–mass spectroscopy method has been developed, and 56 volatile components, esters, fatty acids, alcohols, and terpenes have been identified; the method allows also the quantification of the main components, namely, ethyl octanoate (banana, fruit, fat) (257.2–541.6 mg/l) and ethyl decanoate (fruity, oily, floral; 171.8–272.0 mg/l). A good repeatability in terms of retention times and peak areas resulted. Sensory analysis was performed by ten trained judges that evaluated eight attributes: two referring to appearance (yellow color and yellow reflex), four referring to aroma (fruity, banana, ripened apple, and floral), and two referring to oral perception (acid and pungent). The volatile constituents and the aroma sensory attributes were in agreement.     

Relativity theory of information and communication in natural language

The present paper is meant to summarise and enlighten the theoretical implications of the twin theories of text comprehension and of text compression. Compatibility and non-exclusiveness of particle-like analysis of language and wave-like analysis of intentionality are also demonstrated within the newly established quantum linguistics framework. The informative state of language is viewed as being relatively stable; once activated and subject to motion, therefore reaching a communicative state, different phenomena occur, which may be observed, analysed and visualised through CPP-TRS observational devices. Relativity theory may therefore be organised in terms of quanta with continuity and no contradiction.The present paper was presented at the Computation and Linguistic Colloquium Series, University of Maryland at College Park, in the Spring of 1997.     

Prevalence and distribution of Sarcocystis spp. cysts in several muscles of cattle slaughtered in Sicily,Southern Italy

The aim of this study was to analyse the Sarcocystis spp. infection rate in 22 muscles of cattle, also assessing the diagnostic performance (i.e., sensitivity and concordance) of some non-target muscles. Sarcocysts were detected in the 96% of animals. The 48% of subjects had from 6 to 12 infected muscles while only the 6% had up to 21 positive muscles. The highest rate of infection, 74%, was observed in the heart but the sensitivity registered for some non-target muscle was also acceptable, as in the case of the musculus urethralis with a sensitivity of 59.5%. For this reason, if this site (containing the disseminated prostate) is used for the histological screening of forbidden hormonal treatment, it can allow to find the parasitosis improving the related surveillance activity.     

Protein and non-protein (free and protein-bound) tryptophan in legume seeds

The contents of protein and non-protein (free and protein-bound) tryptophan and of proteins in the flours of nine legume seeds were determined. Lupins and soybeans showed the highest protein concentrations, followed by groundnuts, beans, broad beans, lentils, vetches, chick-peas, and peas. Protein tryptophan content is higher in soybeans and lower in peas (502 and 192 mg/100 g of dry flour, respectively) than in the other legumes, which also contain non-protein tryptophan. Chick-peas show the highest value of free tryptophan and groundnuts the lowest (58.2 and 2.24 mg/100 g of dry flour, respectively). Tryptophan appears to be bound to water-soluble proteins and to proteins soluble at pH 8.9. In particular, chick-peas contain a high amount of tryptophan bound to water-soluble proteins, followed by beans. The results are evaluated, considering the importance, not only of protein, but also non-protein tryptophan, for assessing the nutritive value of a protein in foods.     

IoT-based hydrological monitoring of water-induced landslides: a case study in central Norway

Bulletin of Engineering Geology and the Environment - Given the limited dissipating effect and high construction costs of traditional sand cushion in shed, this paper proposes to partially replace...     

Marble Processing for Future Uses of CaCO3-Microfine Dust: A Study on Wearing out of Tools and Consumable Materials in Stoneworking Factories

The demand for Limestone/Calcium Carbonate (LCC) has substantially grown up for the last three decades due to the widespread use of CaCO₃ in many industrial applications, not only in construction but also in other important sectors (e.g., environmental, food, pharmaceutical, paper, etc.). LCC is currently produced within the quarry and in laboratory (during crushing, milling, washing, etc.). In dimension stone industry, almost 30% of the block (squared or shapeless) is lost during sawing/cutting/processing. In the case of the Orosei Marble (East Sardinia, Italy), the sludge deriving from processing is mainly composed of Calcium carbonate and it has a great potential as secondary raw material or by-product as long as the chemical properties of the sludge meet the parameters required by current environmental laws. The research presented in this paper aims to explain how tools wear out and how consumables end up in the sludge.     

Praseodymium based high-k dielectrics grown on Si and SiC substrates

High-k polycrystalline Pr₂O₃ thin films have been deposited by metal organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) technique on Si(0 0 1) and 4H–SiC(0 0 0 1) substrates. MOCVD processes have been carried out from the Pr(tmhd)₃ (H-tmhd= 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-3,5-heptandione) precursor. Complete structural and morphological characterization of films has been carried out using several techniques (X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM)). Polycrystalline Pr₂O₃ films have been obtained and at the interface a praseodymium silicate amorphous layer has been observed on both substrates. The electrical properties of the dielectric praseodymium films have been evaluated.