Antioxidant activity,color chromaticity coordinates,and chemical characterization of monofloral honeys from Morocco

The bioprospecting of several monofloral Moroccan honeys was carried out. The antiradical activity expressed as mmol Trolox equivalents/kg of honey and evaluated by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl assay, ranged from 0.15 for euphorb honey to 1.08 for citrus honey. The antioxidant activity expressed as mmol Fe²⁺/kg and evaluated by ferric ion reducing antioxidant power assay, ranged from 0.96 for euphorb honey to 4.74 for orange honey. The total phenol content was evaluated by colorimetric assay, while the color attributes were evaluated as transmittance data. Significant Pearson correlation factors were found between total polyphenol amount and antioxidant activity and between color attributes and antioxidant activity. Furthermore the chemical composition of volatile organic compounds was determined. The volatile organic compounds chemical composition of the studied honeys was mainly represented by terpene and benzene derivatives, Maillard reaction products, isoprenoids, and hydrocarbons. The volatiles fingerprint, as well as a targeted high-performance liquid chromatography analysis of the polar components, was used to tentatively confirm the declared botanical origin of the samples studied.     

Potent,Metabolically Stable 2‐Alkyl‐8‐(2H‐1,2,3‐triazol‐2‐yl)‐9H‐adenines as Adenosine A2A Receptor Ligands

Inhibition of adenosine A_2A receptors has been shown to elicit a therapeutic response in preclinical animal models of Parkinson’s disease (PD). We previously identified the triazolo‐9H‐purine, ST1535, as a potent A_2AR antagonist. Studies revealed that ST1535 is extensively hydroxylated at the ω‐1 position of the butyl side chain. Here, we describe the synthesis and evaluation of derivatives in which the ω‐1 position has been substituted (F, Me, OH) in order to block metabolism. The stability of the compounds was evaluated in human liver microsomes (HLM), and the affinity for A_2AR was determined. Two compounds, (2‐(3,3‐dimethylbutyl)‐9‐methyl‐8‐(2H‐1,2,3‐triazol‐2‐yl)‐9H‐purin‐6‐amine ( 3 b ) and 4‐(6‐amino‐9‐methyl‐8‐(2H‐1,2,3‐triazol‐2‐yl)‐9H‐purin‐2‐yl)‐2‐methylbutan‐2‐ol ( 3 c ), exhibited good affinity against A_2AR (K_i=0.4 nM and 2 nM , respectively) and high in vitro metabolic stability (89.5 % and 95.3 % recovery, respectively, after incubation with HLM for two hours).     

Geochemical study of fluids on Lesbos island, Greece

Sixty-five water samples and seven associated gas samples have been collected on Lesbos island. The lithology and structural setting have resulted in two main types of hydrological circulation: a shallow circulation hosting low-salinity cold waters and a deeper one, hosting high-salinity hot waters that often emerge in thermal springs near the coast. The cold waters are characterized by Ca(Mg)-HCO₃(SO₄) composition, while the thermal waters generally have an Na-Cl composition. The chemical features of the former can be explained by their circulation in the ophiolite-bearing phyllitic basement and volcanic rocks. Waters circulating in the ultramafic layers of the basement are richer in Mg than the waters whose circulation is mainly within marble levels or volcanic rocks. The Na-Cl thermal waters are characterized by salinities ranging from 1910 to 35,700 mg/kg. As indicated by previous hydrogeochemical and isotopic studies, the Na-Cl composition of the thermal waters on Lesbos is the result of mixing between shallow meteoric waters and marine waters. While interacting with the minerals of the geothermal reservoir, the saline waters retain the Na/Cl sea water ratio but become enriched in Ca²⁺ and depleted in Mg²⁺ with respect to sea water.Processes of hydrothermal alteration at depth are activated by a gas phase enriched in CO₂, which reaches the geothermal reservoir by rising along the deep fractures of the basement. Thermodynamic calculations based on hydrothermal alteration processes occurring at the estimated temperatures of the geothermal reservoir (about 120 °C) indicate that the thermal waters of Lesbos are in equilibrium with talc and dolomite.     

Biosurfactants from Urban Wastes for Detergent Formulation: Surface Activity and Washing Performance

To promote biobased products for industry, six biosurfactants (BS) isolated from green and food urban residues aged under aerobic digestion for 0–60 days were investigated for their chemical composition, surface activity properties and detergent performance in fabric washing in comparison with commercial anionic and nonionic surfactants (CS). The BS exhibited a range of chemical composition and surface activity properties presumably related to their different biomass sources. Surface tension data for these substances correlated meaningfully with performance data in fabric washing. It was found that BS have similar performances as CS when used neat, but the 1:1 w/w BS–CS mixes are characterized by significant synergy. High sensitivity to water hardness and fabric yellowing were found to be the main deficiencies for the BS. However, both effects are minimized or are not critically evident when the BS are used together with CS and/or in common detergents formulations. The results indicate that when used above critical micellar concentration, no significant or critical performance differences are evident within the whole group of BS or between BS and CS. These facts encourage expectations for industrial production and real commercialization of BS as components of detergents formulations.     

模拟嵌入式FRP条增强钢筋混凝土梁抗剪的三维力学模型

嵌入式FRP增强钢筋混凝土梁抗剪是进行结构修复的新技术,由于嵌入式FRP所具有的一些优势,使其成为较好的外贴加固技术,越来越受到重视。嵌入式FRP主要优势在于材料开发、对结构完整性的保护以及相对较快的适用性。由于FRP条复杂的几何尺寸,粘结后的非线性力学性能,混凝土受拉性能的离散性,使得嵌入式FRP条加固的性能十分复杂,一般通过试验来获得其性能。为更好地掌握表面嵌贴FRP带的性能,提出三维力学模型,用于模拟在相似加载过程中,嵌入式FRP条体系对钢筋混凝土梁抗剪强度的贡献。模型很好地解释了试验结果,并在模型中考虑了粘结滑移力和混凝土破坏之间的相互作用以及相邻FRP条之间的相互作用等复杂现象。     

New Insights in the Control of Fat Homeostasis: The Role of Neurotensin

Neurotensin (NT) is a small peptide with pleiotropic functions, exerting its primary actions by controlling food intake and energy balance. The first evidence of an involvement of NT in metabolism came from studies on the central nervous system and brain circuits, where NT acts as a neurotransmitter, producing different effects in relation to the specific region involved. Moreover, newer interesting chapters on peripheral NT and metabolism have emerged since the first studies on the NT-mediated regulation of gut lipid absorption and fat homeostasis. Intriguingly, NT enhances fat absorption from the gut lumen in the presence of food with a high fat content, and this action may explain the strong association between high circulating levels of pro-NT, the NT stable precursor, and the increased incidence of metabolic disorders, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer observed in large population studies. This review aims to provide a synthetic overview of the main regulatory effects of NT on several biological pathways, particularly those involving energy balance, and will focus on new evidence on the role of NT in controlling fat homeostasis, thus influencing the risk of unfavorable cardio–metabolic outcomes and overall mortality in humans.     

In Vivo Metabolic Responses to Different Formulations of Amino Acid Mixtures for the Treatment of Phenylketonuria (PKU)

Phenylketonuria (PKU) is a rare autosomal recessive inborn error of metabolism where the mainstay of treatment is a Phe restricted diet consisting of a combination of limited amounts of natural protein with supplementation of Phe-free or low-Phe protein substitutes and special low protein foods. Suboptimal outcomes may be related to the different absorption kinetics of free AAs, which have lower biological efficacy than natural proteins. Physiomimic Technology^TM is a technology engineered to prolong AA (AA-PT) release allowing physiological absorption and masking the odor and taste of free AAs. The aim of these studies was to assess the impact of AA-PT formulation on selected functional and metabolic parameters both in acute and long-term experimental studies. Adult rats in fasting conditions were randomized in different groups and treated by oral gavage. Acute AA-PT administration resulted in significantly lower BUN at 90 min versus baseline. Both BUN and glycemia were modulated in the same direction as intact casein protein. Long-term treatment with AA-PT significantly reduces the protein expression of the muscle degradation marker Bnip3L (−46%) while significantly increasing the proliferation of market myostatin (+58%). Animals dosed for 15 days with AA-PT had significantly stronger grip strength (+30%) versus baseline. In conclusion, the results suggest that the AA-PT formulation may have beneficial effects on both AA oxidation and catabolism with a direct impact on muscle as well as on other metabolic pathways.     

Molecular Mechanisms and Physiological Changes behind Benign Tracheal and Subglottic Stenosis in Adults

Laryngotracheal stenosis (LTS) is a complex and heterogeneous disease whose pathogenesis remains unclear. LTS is considered to be the result of aberrant wound-healing process that leads to fibrotic scarring, originating from different aetiology. Although iatrogenic aetiology is the main cause of subglottic or tracheal stenosis, also autoimmune and infectious diseases may be involved in causing LTS. Furthermore, fibrotic obstruction in the anatomic region under the glottis can also be diagnosed without apparent aetiology after a comprehensive workup; in this case, the pathological process is called idiopathic subglottic stenosis (iSGS). So far, the laryngotracheal scar resulting from airway injury due to different diseases was considered as inert tissue requiring surgical removal to restore airway patency. However, this assumption has recently been revised by regarding the tracheal scarring process as a fibroinflammatory event due to immunological alteration, similar to other fibrotic diseases. Recent acquisitions suggest that different factors, such as growth factors, cytokines, altered fibroblast function and genetic susceptibility, can all interact in a complex way leading to aberrant and fibrotic wound healing after an insult that acts as a trigger. However, also physiological derangement due to LTS could play a role in promoting dysregulated response to laryngo-tracheal mucosal injury, through biomechanical stress and mechanotransduction activation. The aim of this narrative review is to present the state-of-the-art knowledge regarding molecular mechanisms, as well as mechanical and physio-pathological features behind LTS.     

MicroRNA Cross-Involvement in Acne Vulgaris and Hidradenitis Suppurativa: A Literature Review

Acne Vulgaris (AV) and Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) are common chronic inflammatory skin conditions that affect the follicular units that often coexist or are involved in differential diagnoses. Inflammation in both these diseases may result from shared pathways, which may partially explain their frequent coexistence. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of endogenous, short, non-protein coding, gene-silencing or promoting RNAs that may promote various inflammatory diseases. This narrative review investigates the current knowledge regarding miRNAs and their link to AV and HS. The aim is to examine the role of these molecules in the pathogenesis of AV and HS and to identify possible common miRNAs that could explain the similar characteristics of these two diseases. Five miRNA (miR-155 miR-223-, miR-21, and miRNA-146a) levels were found to be altered in both HS and AV. These miRNAs are related to pathogenetic aspects common to both pathologies, such as the regulation of the innate immune response, regulation of the Th1/Th17 axis, and fibrosis processes that induce scar formation. This review provides a starting point for further studies aimed at investigating the role of miRNAs in AV and HS for their possible use as diagnostic-therapeutic targets.     

Efficient inclusion for a class of XML types with interleaving and counting

Inclusion between XML types is important but expensive, and is much more expensive when unordered types are considered. We prove here that inclusion for XML types with interleaving and counting can be decided in polynomial time in the presence of two important restrictions: no element appears twice in the same content model, and Kleene star is only applied to disjunctions of single elements.