Deposition of few layer graphene nanowalls at the electrodes during electric field-assisted laser ablation of carbon in water

We have observed the nucleation and growth of carbon nanowalls at the electrode surface during laser ablation experiments conducted in water under the presence of an electric field. The nanowalls consist graphene sheets (2–6 layers) in a flower-like arrangement which uniformly cover the whole electrode surface. The deposition mechanism and the role of the plasma-produced carbon species are discussed.     

Chiral nano-liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry applied to amino acids analysis for orange juice profiling

Determination of amino acid enantiomers is a very important topic in food analysis, since the presence of d-isomers may indicate, e.g., adulteration, microbiological contamination, uncontrolled fermentation processes, etc. In fact, the d- and l-enantiomers contents can be a useful marker for several elements such as quality control, contamination detection, processing monitoring, etc. Here we studied the potentiality of nano-liquid chromatography (nano-LC) coupled with mass spectrometry for the enantiomeric separation of several d- and l-amino acids that can be found in food products. Analytes were derivatized with fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC). The mixture was injected and compounds focused on a C18 cartridge, then nano-LC analysis was carried out in a capillary column (75 μm i.d.) packed with vancomycin-modified silica–diol particles. The effect of some experimental parameters, such as pH and buffer concentration on enantioresolution and retention factors, was studied for method optimization. The chromatographic separation system was coupled with an ion-trap mass spectrometer through a nano spray interface. It provided a final evaluation on analytes detected in all investigated samples with LOD values as low as 8 ng/mL. That method was applied to the comparative analysis of two different orange juice samples (fresh natural vs. commercial one). Obtained profiles confirmed expected high quality standards. In fact, they mainly contained l-amino acids forms and not their antipodes.     

A fully automatic method for biological target volume segmentation of brain metastases

Leksell Gamma Knife is a mini‐invasive technique to obtain a complete destruction of cerebral lesions delivering a single high dose radiation beam. Positron Emission Tomography (PET) imaging is increasingly utilized for radiation treatment planning. Nevertheless, lesion volume delineation in PET datasets is challenging because of the low spatial resolution and high noise level of PET images. Nowadays, the biological target volume (BTV) is manually contoured on PET studies. This procedure is time expensive and operator‐dependent. In this article, a fully automatic algorithm for the BTV delineation based on random walks (RW) on graphs is proposed. The results are compared with the outcomes of the original RW method, 40% thresholding method, region growing method, and fuzzy c‐means clustering method. To validate the effectiveness of the proposed approach in a clinical environment, BTV segmentation on 18 patients with cerebral metastases is performed. Experimental results show that the segmentation algorithm is accurate and has real‐time performance satisfying the physician requirements in a radiotherapy environment.     

Training and assessing numerical abilities across the lifespan with intelligent systems: The example of Baldo

Baldo is an intelligent system that can be used to assess and train numerical abilities across the lifespan, especially for children and elderly. Baldo includes digital and tangible materials to propose activities, built on the game-based learning approach, strongly grounded on well-known and experimentally supported theories about numerical and mathematical cognition. Moreover, Baldo has a special module devoted to motivational and affective dimensions related to mathematic cognition and a tutoring system to select specific activities that are adequate to the actual and potential level of the people involved in the training pathway.     

Moisture buffering capacity of highly absorbing materials

This research investigates the possibility to use highly absorbing materials to dampen indoor RH% variations. The practical MBV of sodium polyacrylate, cellulose-based material, perlite and gypsum is evaluated for a daily cyclic exposure that alternates high (75%) and low (33%) RH% levels for 8 h and 16 h, respectively. The adjustment velocity to RH% variations and the presence of hysteretic phenomena are also presented. The cellulose-based material proves to be the most suitable for moisture buffering applications. Starting from this material’s properties, the effect of thickness, vapour resistance factor (μ) and mass surface exchange coefficient (Z_v) on sorption capacity is evaluated by the use of a numerical model.     

Chitosan–Quercetin Bioconjugate as Multi‐Functional Component of Antioxidants and Dual‐Responsive Hydrogel Networks

Multifunctional hydrogels based on chitosan–quercetin (CHITQ) conjugate are prepared by a thermo‐induced radical procedure in the presence of N‐isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAm), acrylamide (AAm), and N,N′‐methylenebis(acrylamide) (MEBA). At first, quercetin (Q) is grafted onto chitosan backbone with a functionalization degree of 275 mg of Q per gram of conjugate, as calculated by ¹H‐NMR analyses to impart antioxidant properties to the polysaccharide. Then, a pH and temperature sensitive hydrogel was obtained by involving CHITQ and NIPAAm in the polymerization reaction. The accessibility of phenolic moieties is modified in response to the hydrogel swelling/deswelling, as confirmed by antioxidant tests performed at different temperatures. Dual stimuli‐responsive hydrogels are proposed for the delivery of caffeine as model drug. The release profiles of caffeine depict a system particularly performing as on/off device at acidic pH with excellent applicability prospects.     

Performance Evaluation of the Standard Proway Network for Process Control

A sort of informal and formal standardization process is now under development so as to obtain ``standard' technologies which can be efficiently used for the networking of given distributed applications. An example of this trend in the Proway architecture that is developed by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) to obtain a Local Area Network (LAN) for industrial process control. The aim of this paper is to present a performance evaluation of the Proway network by using a simulation approach. By this we determine the field of applicability of such a standard to obtain a distributed system for process control. The paper shows not only the service quality offered by the Proway, but also an automated method to study the performances of a wide class of distributed systems. The results show that low service time and high throughput are not consistent, so that, during the design of the network, it is necessary to choose what feature is more important for the considered application. A simulator is a powerful tool that can help the designer to choose the best compromise among various parameters and might be used to obtain the parameter variability range which provides the expected performances.     

Copper: An Intracellular Achilles’ Heel Allowing the Targeting of Epigenetics,Kinase Pathways,and Cell Metabolism in Cancer Therapeutics

Copper is an essential transition metal frequently increased in cancer known to strongly influence essential cellular processes. Targeted therapy protocols utilizing both novel and repurposed drug agents initially demonstrate strong efficacy, before failing in advanced cancers as drug resistance develops and relapse occurs. Overcoming this limitation involves the development of strategies and protocols aimed at a wider targeting of the underlying molecular changes. Receptor Tyrosine Kinase signaling pathways, epigenetic mechanisms and cell metabolism are among the most common therapeutic targets, with molecular investigations increasingly demonstrating the strong influence each mechanism exerts on the others. Interestingly, all these mechanisms can be influenced by intracellular copper. We propose that copper chelating agents, already in clinical trial for multiple cancers, may simultaneously target these mechanisms across a wide variety of cancers, serving as an excellent candidate for targeted combination therapy. This review summarizes the known links between these mechanisms, copper, and copper chelation therapy.     

Design,Synthesis, and Biological Evaluation of Tetrahydro‐β‐carboline Derivatives as Selective Sub‐Nanomolar Gelatinase Inhibitors

Targeting matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) is a pursued strategy for treating several pathological conditions, such as multiple sclerosis and cancer. Herein, a series of novel tetrahydro‐β‐carboline derivatives with outstanding inhibitory activity toward MMPs are present. In particular, compounds 9 f , 9 g , 9 h and 9 i show sub‐nanomolar IC₅₀ values. Interestingly, compounds 9 g and 9 i also provide remarkable selectivity toward gelatinases; IC₅₀=0.15 nm for both toward MMP‐2 and IC₅₀=0.63 and 0.58 nm , respectively, toward MMP‐9. Molecular docking simulations, performed by employing quantum mechanics based partial charges, shed light on the rationale behind binding involving specific interactions with key residues of S1′ and S3′ domains. Taken together, these studies indicate that tetrahydro‐β‐carboline represents a promising scaffold for the design of novel inhibitors able to target MMPs and selectively bias gelatinases, over the desirable range of the pharmacokinetics spectrum.     

Influence of the Salt Concentration on the Properties of Salt‐Free Polyelectrolyte Complex Membranes

Polyelectrolyte complexes (PECs) prepared by solution mixing of cationic poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) and anionic poly(sodium 4‐styrene sulfonate) with various NaCl content are processed into films. Salt‐free (SF‐PEC) membranes are produced by rinsing the PEC in water overnight. The main finding of this paper is that SF‐PEC films have different properties depending on the NaCl concentration used during the processing step. Dynamic mechanical analysis measurement confirms that hydrated SF‐PEC film processed from higher salt content has a higher modulus than when processed without salt and the glass transition temperature appears to shift to higher values. Processing the PECs films in the presence of salt also has an interesting effect on their shape memory characteristics. SF‐PEC films prepared with high‐salt concentration are shown to maintain a programmed temporary shape better than materials prepared with low salt, while recovery is possible within a short period of time when immersed in hot water.