On the Modeling of the Diffraction Pattern from Metal Nanocrystals

The powder diffraction patterns of spherical nanocrystals made of five different fcc metals were generated using atomistic models within a Molecular Dynamics simulation. Static and dynamic effects are interpreted and discussed within the framework of two different approaches, respectively, based on (1) a Reciprocal Space and (2) a Direct Space representation of diffraction. Chosen elements display a wide range of properties, especially related to material stiffness and elastic anisotropy, so to deeply challenge interpretation paradigms. The effect of the shape on static and dynamic features is also addressed.     

Designing a personal informatics system for users without experience in self-tracking: a case study

Thanks to the advancements in ubiquitous and wearable technologies, Personal Informatics (PI) systems can now reach a larger audience of users. However, it is not still clear whether this kind of tool can fit the needs of their daily lives. Our research aims at identifying specific barriers that may prevent the widespread adoption of PI and finding solutions to overcome them. We requested users without competence in self-tracking to use different PI instruments during their daily practices, identifying five user requirements by which to design novel PI tools. On such requirements, we developed a new system that can stimulate the use of these technologies, by enhancing the perceived benefits of collecting personal data. Then, we explored how naïve and experienced users differently explore their personal data in our system through a user trial. Results showed that the system was successful at helping individuals manage and interpret their own data, validated the usefulness of the requirements found and inspired three further design opportunities that could orient the design of future PI systems.     

The value of quality clues in the wine market: evidences from Lazio,Italy

The purpose of the paper is to contribute to understanding the role and effectiveness of different quality clues in the creation of value for the main wines of the Lazio region. The study presents a hedonic price model. An ordinary least squares and a quantile regression models were estimated. The latter is able to detect additional patterns related to the effects of the covariates. Prices are regressed on wine color, sub-regional area of origin, the type of certification of origin, and on experts' evaluation. The analysis is based on data released by three major Italian wine guides: Gambero Rosso, l'Espresso, and AIS (Italian Sommelier Association). Results show that: (i) white and red wines follow two different price patterns; (ii) prices are correlated with experts' evaluation; (iii) the impact of the latter is higher when other quality clues, such as geographical indications, are less effective; (iv) the role of different quality clues varies at different price levels and it is different for red and white wines; overall, wines from the Lazio region are associated with poor to mediocre quality levels. This may explain the decline in reputation and in market share that these wines are experiencing after centuries of popularity.     

Direct Application of Rep‐PCR on Type I Sourdough Matrix to Monitor the Dominance and Persistence of a Lactobacillus plantarum Starter Throughout Back‐Slopping

This study describes the optimization and application of repetitive element‐PCR (rep‐PCR) technique directly on microbial DNA extracted from type I sourdoughs for fast monitoring of a Lb. plantarum starter strain (P1FMC) throughout daily back‐slopping. The challenge was to follow and study the performance of a starter culture directly in sourdoughs without cultivation on selective media. The extraction of good quality microbial DNA suitable for amplification from a complex matrix such as dough was the first target. In addition, the objective to obtain a clear rep‐PCR profile referable to a specific starter strain among a microbial community was pursued. Co‐inoculum trials, in flour matrix, with Lb. plantarum P1FMC and L. lactis LC71 strains and, subsequently, type I sourdough back‐slopping trials were performed. The rep‐PCR amplification profiles obtained were clearly referable to that of Lb. plantarum P1FMC starter in both co‐inoculum trials (also when it was present with one order of magnitude less with respect to L. lactis LC71) and back‐slopping trials where it dominated the fermentation process with loads of 10⁸ cfu g^?1 and prevailed on the autochthonous microbiota. Thus, the approach proposed in this paper could be considered a methodological advancement, based on a culture‐independent one‐step rep‐PCR, suitable for fast monitoring of starter performance.     

A Lyapunov method for stability analysis of piecewise-affine systems over non-invariant domains

This paper analyses stability of discrete-time piecewise-affine systems, defined on possibly non-invariant domains, taking into account the possible presence of multiple dynamics in each of the polytopic regions of the system. An algorithm based on linear programming is proposed, in order to prove exponential stability of the origin and to find a positively invariant estimate of its region of attraction. The results are based on the definition of a piecewise-affine Lyapunov function, which is in general discontinuous on the boundaries of the regions. The proposed method is proven to lead to feasible solutions in a broader range of cases as compared to a previously proposed approach. Two numerical examples are shown, among which a case where the proposed method is applied to a closed-loop system, to which model predictive control was applied without a-priori guarantee of stability.     

Evaluation of 4-(4-Fluorobenzyl)piperazin-1-yl]-Based Compounds as Competitive Tyrosinase Inhibitors Endowed with Antimelanogenic Effects

There is a considerable attention for the development of inhibitors of tyrosinase (TYR) as therapeutic strategy for the treatment of hyperpigmentation disorders in humans. Continuing in our efforts to identify TYR inhibitors, we describe the design, synthesis and pharmacophore exploration of new small molecules structurally characterized by the presence of the 4-fluorobenzylpiperazine moiety as key pharmacophoric feature for the inhibition of TYR from Agaricus bisporus (AbTYR). Our investigations resulted in the discovery of the competitive inhibitor [4-(4-fluorobenzyl)piperazin-1-yl]-(3-chloro-2-nitro-phenyl)methanone 26 (IC₅₀=0.18 μM) that proved to be ∼100-fold more active than reference compound kojic acid (IC₅₀=17.76 μM). Notably, compound 26 exerted antimelanogenic effect on B16F10 cells in absence of cytotoxicity. Docking analysis suggested its binding mode into AbTYR and into modelled human TYR.     

A comprehensive meta-analysis on evidence of Mediterranean diet and cardiovascular disease: Are individual components equal?

Many studies have reported that higher adherence to Mediterranean diet may decrease cardiovascular disease (CVD) incidence and mortality. We performed a meta-analysis to explore the association in prospective studies and randomized control trials (RCTs) between Mediterranean diet adherence and CVD incidence and mortality. The PubMed database was searched up to June 2014. A total of 17 studies were extracted and 11 qualified for the quantitative analysis. Individuals in the highest quantile of adherence to the diet had lower incidence [relative risk (RR): 0.76, 95% confidence intervals (CI): 0.68, 0.83] and mortality (RR: 0.76, 95% CI: 0.68, 0.83) from CVD compared to those least adherent. A significant reduction of risk was found also for coronary heart disease (CHD) (RR: 0.72, 95% CI: 0.60, 0.86), myocardial infarction (MI) (RR: 0.67; 95% CI: 0.54, 0.83), and stroke (RR: 0.76; 95% CI: 0.60, 0.96) incidence. Pooled analyses of individual components of the diet revealed that the protective effects of the diet appear to be most attributable to olive oil, fruits, vegetables, and legumes. An average reduced risk of 40% for the aforementioned outcomes has been retrieved when pooling results of RCTs. A Mediterranean dietary pattern is associated with lower risks of CVD incidence and mortality, including CHD and MI. The relative effects of specific food groups should be further investigated.