Use of Ureasil gels to extract ions from aqueous solutions

Nanocomposite organic-inorganic gels synthesized through the sol-gel procedure by using Ureasil precursors can be employed as efficient sorbents for retaining metal cations and small anions from aqueous solutions. Sulfate or sulfonate as well as nitrate ions demonstrate a high affinity for Ureasils. High affinity was also demonstrated by trivalent metal cations. This affinity was explained by the presence of urea and of ether groups in Ureasils, which have the ability to complex many different types of ionic species.     

Implementation of physicochemical and sensory analysis in conjunction with multivariate analysis towards assessing olive oil authentication/adulteration

The authenticity of products labeled as olive oils, and in particular as virgin olive oils, stands for a very important issue both in terms of its health and commercial aspects. In view of the continuously increasing interest in virgin olive oil therapeutic properties, the traditional methods of characterization and physical and sensory analysis were further enriched with more advanced and sophisticated methods such as HPLC-MS, HPLC-GC/C/IRMS, RPLC-GC, DEPT, and CSIA among others. The results of both traditional and "novel" methods were treated both by means of classical multivariate analysis (cluster, principal component, correspondence, canonical, and discriminant) and artificial intelligence methods showing that nowadays the adulteration of virgin olive oil with seed oil is detectable at very low percentages, sometimes even at less than 1%. Furthermore, the detection of geographical origin of olive oil is equally feasible and much more accurate in countries like Italy and Spain where databases of physical/chemical properties exist. However, this geographical origin classification can also be accomplished in the absence of such databases provided that an adequate number of oil samples are used and the parameters studied have "discriminating power."     

Pneumatic Networks for Soft Robotics that Actuate Rapidly

Soft robots actuated by inflation of a pneumatic network (a “pneu‐net”) of small channels in elastomeric materials are appealing for producing sophisticated motions with simple controls. Although current designs of pneu‐nets achieve motion with large amplitudes, they do so relatively slowly (over seconds). This paper describes a new design for pneu‐nets that reduces the amount of gas needed for inflation of the pneu‐net, and thus increases its speed of actuation. A simple actuator can bend from a linear to a quasi‐circular shape in 50 ms when pressurized at ΔP = 345 kPa. At high rates of pressurization, the path along which the actuator bends depends on this rate. When inflated fully, the chambers of this new design experience only one‐tenth the change in volume of that required for the previous design. This small change in volume requires comparably low levels of strain in the material at maximum amplitudes of actuation, and commensurately low rates of fatigue and failure. This actuator can operate over a million cycles without significant degradation of performance. This design for soft robotic actuators combines high rates of actuation with high reliability of the actuator, and opens new areas of application for them.     

An Improved Computational Method for the Calculation of Mixture Liquid–Vapor Critical Points

Knowledge of critical points is important to determine the phase behavior of a mixture. This work proposes a reliable and accurate method in order to locate the liquid–vapor critical point of a given mixture. The theoretical model is developed from the rigorous definition of critical points, based on the SRK equation of state (SRK EoS) or alternatively, on the PR EoS. In order to solve the resulting system of \(C+2\) nonlinear equations, an improved method is introduced into an existing Newton–Raphson algorithm, which can calculate all the variables simultaneously in each iteration step. The improvements mainly focus on the derivatives of the Jacobian matrix, on the convergence criteria, and on the damping coefficient. As a result, all equations and related conditions required for the computation of the scheme are illustrated in this paper. Finally, experimental data for the critical points of 44 mixtures are adopted in order to validate the method. For the SRK EoS, average absolute errors of the predicted critical-pressure and critical-temperature values are 123.82 kPa and 3.11 K, respectively, whereas the commercial software package Calsep PVTSIM’s prediction errors are 131.02 kPa and 3.24 K. For the PR EoS, the two above mentioned average absolute errors are 129.32 kPa and 2.45 K, while the PVTSIM’s errors are 137.24 kPa and 2.55 K, respectively.     

Real‐time economic model predictive control of nonlinear process systems

Closed‐loop stability of nonlinear systems under real‐time Lyapunov‐based economic model predictive control (LEMPC) with potentially unknown and time‐varying computational delay is considered. To address guaranteed closed‐loop stability (in the sense of boundedness of the closed‐loop state in a compact state‐space set), an implementation strategy is proposed which features a triggered evaluation of the LEMPC optimization problem to compute an input trajectory over a finite‐time prediction horizon in advance. At each sampling period, stability conditions must be satisfied for the precomputed LEMPC control action to be applied to the closed‐loop system. If the stability conditions are not satisfied, a backup explicit stabilizing controller is applied over the sampling period. Closed‐loop stability under the real‐time LEMPC strategy is analyzed and specific stability conditions are derived. The real‐time LEMPC scheme is applied to a chemical process network example to demonstrate closed‐loop stability and closed‐loop economic performance improvement over that achieved for operation at the economically optimal steady state. © 2014 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 61: 555–571, 2015     

Analysis of the Thermomechanical Response of Structural Cables Subject to Fire

Fire Technology - Cable-supported structures such as bridges and stadia are critical for the surrounding community and the consequences arising from a major fire event can be substantial. Previous...     

The Enigmatic Role of TP53 in Germ Cell Tumours: Are We Missing Something?

The cure rate of germ cell tumours (GCTs) has significantly increased from the late 1970s since the introduction of cisplatin-based therapy, which to date remains the milestone for GCTs treatment. The exquisite cisplatin sensitivity has been mainly explained by the over-expression in GCTs of wild-type TP53 protein and the lack of TP53 somatic mutations; however, several other mechanisms seem to be involved, many of which remain still elusive. The findings about the role of TP53 in platinum-sensitivity and resistance, as well as the reported evidence of second cancers (SCs) in GCT patients treated only with surgery, suggesting a spectrum of cancer predisposing syndromes, highlight the need for a deepened understanding of the role of TP53 in GCTs. In the following report we explore the complex role of TP53 in GCTs cisplatin-sensitivity and resistance mechanisms, passing through several recent genomic studies, as well as its role in GCT patients with SCs, going through our experience of Center of reference for both GCTs and cancer predisposing syndromes.     

Effect of freeze–dried kefir culture on proteolysis in feta-type and whey-cheeses

The effect of freeze–dried kefir culture on the proteolysis of feta-type and whey-cheese was investigated. All nitrogen fractions increased during ripening. Although no significant differences were observed in total nitrogen (TN), the levels of water-soluble nitrogen (WSN), pH 4.4-soluble nitrogen (SN), 12% trichloroacetic acid-soluble nitrogen (TCA-SN) and phosphotungstic acid-soluble nitrogen (PTA-SN) were significantly higher in cheeses produced by freeze–dried kefir culture during the later stages of ripening. Content of total free amino acids (FAA) was significantly affected by freeze–dried kefir starter culture and it was continuously increased in kefir-cheese while, in rennet-cheese it was increased up to 30 days of ripening and then slightly decreased. On the other hand, FAA content continuously decreased in kefir-whey-cheese whereas it increased in whey-cheese. The cheese samples produced by freeze–dried kefir as starter culture were characterised as high-quality products during the preliminary sensory evaluation and they were accepted by the panel. Overall, the use of freeze–dried kefir suggested acceleration of cheese ripening and resulted in improved sensory characteristics.     

Developing New Treatments for COVID-19 through Dual-Action Antiviral/Anti-Inflammatory Small Molecules and Physiologically Based Pharmacokinetic Modeling

Broad-spectrum antiviral agents that are effective against many viruses are difficult to develop, as the key molecules, as well as the biochemical pathways by which they cause infection, differ largely from one virus to another. This was more strongly highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic, which found health systems all over the world largely unprepared and proved that the existing armamentarium of antiviral agents is not sufficient to address viral threats with pandemic potential. The clinical protocols for the treatment of COVID-19 are currently based on the use of inhibitors of the inflammatory cascade (dexamethasone, baricitinib), or inhibitors of the cytopathic effect of the virus (monoclonal antibodies, molnupiravir or nirmatrelvir/ritonavir), using different agents. There is a critical need for an expanded armamentarium of orally bioavailable small-molecular medicinal agents, including those that possess dual antiviral and anti-inflammatory (AAI) activity that would be readily available for the early treatment of mild to moderate COVID-19 in high-risk patients. A multidisciplinary approach that involves the use of in silico screening tools to identify potential drug targets of an emerging pathogen, as well as in vitro and in vivo models for the determination of a candidate drug’s efficacy and safety, are necessary for the rapid and successful development of antiviral agents with potentially dual AAI activity. Characterization of candidate AAI molecules with physiologically based pharmacokinetics (PBPK) modeling would provide critical data for the accurate dosing of new therapeutic agents against COVID-19. This review analyzes the dual mechanisms of AAI agents with potential anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity and discusses the principles of PBPK modeling as a conceptual guide to develop new pharmacological modalities for the treatment of COVID-19.