Phytochemical profile of a blend of black chokeberry and lemon juice with cholinesterase inhibitory effect and antioxidant potential

In this study, black chokeberry concentrate was added (5% w/v) to lemon juice, since previous reports suggested potential health benefits of this blend. The phytochemical composition, antioxidant capacity (scavenging of DPPH, superoxide and hydroxyl radicals, and hypochlorous acid), and inhibitory activity against cholinesterase of the new blend were determined and compared with those of lemon juice and chokeberry in citric acid (5%). The chokeberry concentrate, rich in cyanidin-glycosides, quercetin derivatives, and 3-O-caffeoylquinic acid, and lemon juice, possessing flavones, flavanones, quercetin derivates, and hydroxycinnamic acids, were characterised. The new drink showed a higher antioxidant effect than the chokeberry or lemon controls for all the tested methods, except for hypochlorous acid, in which lemon juice displayed higher activity. Both the lemon juice and chokeberry controls inhibited acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase, and this effect was increased in the new mixtures. The results of the different radical scavenging assays indicate that the lemon–black chokeberry (5% w/v) mixture was more antioxidative than the respective controls separately. Moreover, their inhibition of cholinesterase is of interest regarding neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, or senile dementia.     

Enhancing IEEE 802.11p/WAVE to provide infotainment applications in VANETs

IEEE 802.11p/WAVE (Wireless Access for Vehicular Environment) is the emerging standard to enable wireless access in the vehicular environment. Most of the research contributions in this area has focused on safety-related applications, while comfort and information/entertainment applications (such as on board Internet access, point-of-interest notification, e-map download) have been considered only recently. Notwithstanding, the user interest in this kind of applications is expected to become a big market driver in a near future. In this paper, an extension to IEEE 802.11p is proposed that is compliant with the multi-channel operation of the WAVE architecture and targets at the support of non-safety applications, while preserving the delivery of safety services. The proposed W-HCF (WAVE-based Hybrid Coordination Function) protocol leverages controlled access capabilities on top of the basic contention-based access of the IEEE 802.11p; it exploits vehicles’ position information and coordination among WAVE providers in order to improve performances of delay-constrained and loss-sensitive non-safety applications.     

Thermodynamic analysis of ethanol/water system with the stoichiometric method

An analysis of the chemical equilibrium of ethanol/water system, using the stoichiometric method, has been performed. Intermediate compounds and coke formation are analyzed.     

Chemical and toxicological evolution of the antibiotic sulfamethoxazole under ozone treatment in water solution

This work studied the elimination paths of the sulfonamide antibiotic sulfamethoxazole by ozonation in fast kinetic regime. The ozonation runs were performed in conditions favouring either the direct attack of the ozone molecule or the indirect attack by ozone-generated radical species with initial concentration of 0.150 mM. When doses of ozone were transferred to the liquid phase 0.2 mM, in no case did sulfamethoxazole remain in solution. Two main transformation pathways were found involving the preferential attack of molecular ozone or radical pathway and leading to the formation of six intermediates, which were identified by LC-ESI-QTOF-MS. Both routes took place simultaneously in the different conditions tested, leading to a hydroxylation reaction of the benzene ring, oxidation of the amino group on the benzene ring, oxidation of the methyl group and the double bond in the isoxazole ring and S-N bond cleavage. The most abundant reaction intermediate was that resulting from S-N bond cleavage. The toxicity of partially ozonated samples for Daphnia magna and Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata revealed the formation of toxic by-products during the early stages of reaction and the persistence of considerable toxicity after the total depletion of sulfamethoxazole.     

Glycerol steam reforming over Ni/mg/γ-Al2O3 catalysts effect of Ni(II) content

The aim of the present work is to analyse the effect of the Ni(II) content for the Ni(II)-Mg(II)/γ-Al₂O₃ catalysts on the textural and structural characteristics of the solid, as well on the catalytic activity and selectivity to H₂ for the steam reforming of glycerol at atmospheric pressure.     

Degradation of sulfamethoxazole in water by solar photo-Fenton. Chemical and toxicological evaluation

In this work, the photocatalytic degradation of the antibiotic sulfamethoxazole (SMX) by solar photo-Fenton at pilot plant scale was evaluated in distilled water (DW) and in seawater (SW). Degradation and mineralization of SMX were strongly hindered in SW compared to DW. The influence of H₂O₂ and iron concentration on the efficiency of the photocatalytic process was evaluated. An increase in iron concentration from 2.6 to 10.4 mg L⁻¹ showed only a slight improvement in SMX degradation and mineralization. However, an increase in H₂O₂ concentration up to 120 mg L⁻¹ during photo-Fenton in DW decreased SMX solution toxicity from 85% to 20%, according to results of Daphnia magna bioassays. The same behaviour was not observed after photo-Fenton treatment in SW. Despite 45% mineralization in SW, toxicity increased from 16% to 86% as shown by Vibrio fischeri bioassays, which suggests that the intermediates generated in SW are different from those in DW. A SMX degradation pathway during the photo-Fenton treatment in DW is proposed.     

The Association between α-Synuclein and α-Tubulin in Brain Synapses

α-synuclein is a small protein that is mainly expressed in the synaptic terminals of nervous tissue. Although its implication in neurodegeneration is well established, the physiological role of α-synuclein remains elusive. Given its involvement in the modulation of synaptic transmission and the emerging role of microtubules at the synapse, the current study aimed at investigating whether α-synuclein becomes involved with this cytoskeletal component at the presynapse. We first analyzed the expression of α-synuclein and its colocalization with α-tubulin in murine brain. Differences were found between cortical and striatal/midbrain areas, with substantia nigra pars compacta and corpus striatum showing the lowest levels of colocalization. Using a proximity ligation assay, we revealed the direct interaction of α-synuclein with α-tubulin in murine and in human brain. Finally, the previously unexplored interaction of the two proteins in vivo at the synapse was disclosed in murine striatal presynaptic boutons through multiple approaches, from confocal spinning disk to electron microscopy. Collectively, our data strongly suggest that the association with tubulin/microtubules might actually be an important physiological function for α-synuclein in the synapse, thus suggesting its potential role in a neuropathological context.     

In situ modification of activated carbons developed from a native invasive wood on removal of trace toxic metals from wastewater

Activated carbons were developed by phosphoric acid activation of sawdust from Prosopis ruscifolia wood, an indigenous invasive species of degraded lands, at moderate conditions (acid/precursor ratio=2, 450 degrees C, 0.5h). For in situ modification of their characteristics, either a self-generated atmosphere or flowing air was used. The activated carbons developed in the self-generated atmosphere showed higher BET surface area (2281m2/g) and total pore volume (1.7cm3/g) than those obtained under flowing air (1638m2/g and 1.3cm3/g). Conversely, the latter possessed a higher total amount of surface acidic/polar oxygen groups (2.2meq/g) than the former (1.5meq/g). To evaluate their metal sorption capability, adsorption isotherms of Cu(II) ion from model solutions were determined and properly described by the Langmuir model. Maximum sorption capacity (Xm) for the air-derived carbons (Xm=0.44mmol/g) almost duplicated the value for those obtained in the self-generated atmosphere (Xm=0.24mmol/g), pointing to a predominant effect of the surface functionalities on metal sequestering behaviour. The air-derived carbons also demonstrated a superior effectiveness in removing Cd(II) ions as determined from additional assays in equilibrium conditions. Accordingly, effective phosphoric acid-activated carbons from Prosopis wood for toxic metals removal from wastewater may be developed by in situ modification of their characteristics operating under flowing air.     

A Gadolinium(III) Complex Based on the Thymine Nucleobase with Properties Suitable for Magnetic Resonance Imaging

The paramagnetic gadolinium(III) ion is used as contrast agent in magnetic resonance (MR) imaging to improve the lesion detection and characterization. It generates a signal by changing the relaxivity of protons from associated water molecules and creates a clearer physical distinction between the molecule and the surrounding tissues. New gadolinium-based contrast agents displaying larger relaxivity values and specifically targeted might provide higher resolution and better functional images. We have synthesized the gadolinium(III) complex of formula [Gd(thy)₂(H₂O)₆](ClO₄)₃·2H₂O (1) [thy = 5-methyl-1H-pyrimidine-2,4-dione or thymine], which is the first reported compound based on gadolinium and thymine nucleobase. 1 has been characterized through UV-vis, IR, SEM-EDAX, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction techniques, and its magnetic and relaxometric properties have been investigated by means of SQUID magnetometer and MR imaging phantom studies, respectively. On the basis of its high relaxivity values, this gadolinium(III) complex can be considered a suitable candidate for contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging.     

Thermodynamic analysis of hydrogen production by autothermal reforming of ethanol

Ethanol steam reforming (ESR) is a strong endothermic reaction and ideally it only produces hydrogen and carbon dioxide.