Synthesis of 8-hydroxyquinoline functionalised DO3A ligand and Eu(III) and Er(III) complexes: Luminescence properties

The synthesis of a new DO3A-based macrocyclic ligand bearing a 8-hydroxyquinoline residue together with the preparation of its Eu³⁺ and Er³⁺ neutral complexes are described. In a previous report [F. Rizzo, A. Papagni, F. Meinardi, R. Tubino, M. Ottonelli, G.F. Musso, G. Dellepiane, Synth. Met. 147 (2004) 143], we have shown that lanthanide complexes display very high stability combined with a good luminescence in aqueous solution under UV radiation, which indicate an energy transfer process from the excited 8-hydroxyquinoline moiety to the metal. In this work, we correlate the ability to transfer the energy from the sensitizer to lanthanide ion with pH behaviour of the antenna. Furthermore, the variation of pH in Eu³⁺ complex supports the hypothesis of presence of charge-transfer transitions. The good solubility and sensitized emission in different solvents (organic and water) are very important aspects for their technologic applications as luminescent probes or NIR-emitting devices.     

Fluorinated membranes as interfaces for application in catalysis

In this work the use of poly(vinylidene) fluoride based membrane as interfaces for the biphasic oxidation of benzyl alcohol to benzaldheyde has been reported. The membranes have been prepared by means of dry-wet phase inversion. Membranes with different surface characteristics have been selected for the oxidation reaction.     

Ketoprofen Spray-dried Microspheres Based on Eudragit® RS and RL: Study of the Manufacturing Parameters

The preparation of ketoprofen spray-dried microspheres can be affected by the long drug recrystallization time. Polymer type and drug–polymer ratio as well as manufacturing parameters affect the preparation. The purpose of this work was to evaluate the possibility to obtain ketoprofen spray-dried microspheres using the Eudragit® RS and RL; the influence of the spray-drying parameters on morphology, dimension, and physical stability of microspheres was studied. Ketoprofen microspheres based on Eudragit® blend can be prepared by spray-drying and the nebulization parameters do not influence significantly particle properties; nevertheless, they can be affected by drying and storage methods. No effect of the container material is found.     

Identification of new epidemiological molecular markers by comparative proteomics of serogroup A meningococcal isolates from three pandemic waves

We previously described the first reference map for the proteome of one strain of serogroup A Neisseria meningitidis (MenA), a major cause of epidemic meningitis in humans. As a preliminary finding, in that work we noted that 2‐DE protein maps of closely related MenA isolates from different epidemics spreads could be easily compared to detect minor differences and that 2‐DE phenotypes attributable to the well‐known epidemiological marker tbpB agreed with the genoclouds model of MenA epidemiological variation during pandemic waves. We explored here the possibility that an extended comparative study of 2‐DE maps of isolates representative of the nine genoclouds described by Achtman and collaborators could be used to discriminate between strains otherwise undistinguishable. We showed the example of 14 proteins with different 2‐DE spot patterns in different genoclouds that could be considered as putative tracers for alike‐strains discrimination. We introduce the novel concept that comparative proteomics can be useful in identifying new epidemiological markers for N. meningitidis.     

Liquid-crystallization induced reactions. Microstructure and morphology of copolyesters synthesized by transesterification of PET with some LCP monomers

The transesterification of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) with a mixture of sebacic acid (S), 4,4′-diacetoxybiphenyl (B) and 4-acetoxybenzoic acid (H), carried out under conditions expectedly favoring the formation of a p(ET-SBH) random copolyester, produces biphasic materials with an isotropic matrix and a highly fibrous, liquid-crystalline dispersed phase. Spectroscopic, calorimetric, microscopic and diffractometric characterization of the fractions separated by solvent extraction has shown that the two phases consist of practically random copolyesters having different average composition. Interestingly, the degree of aromaticity of the matrix is even lower than that of PET, whereas that of the minor phase is appreciably higher than that calculated for the SBH copolyester that would be produced from the monomer mixture in the absence of PET. This unexpected result is interpreted on the basis of an enthalpy-driven progressive diffusion of aromatic-rich material toward the mesophase which segregates at an early stage of the polycondensation within the isotropic mixture of low molar mass oligomers initially produced by the PET acidolysis. Thus, an increasing differentiation, rather than an equilibration, of the composition of the two phases takes place. It is noteworthy that, despite the strong compositional difference, the two phases of these products show fairly good compatibility and interfacial adhesion.     

Effects of milk high pressure homogenization on biogenic amine accumulation during ripening of ovine and bovine Italian cheeses

The aim of this work was to evaluate the biogenic amine (BA) content during the ripening of both bovine and ovine cheeses obtained using milk subjected to a homogenization treatment at 100 MPa before cheese-making. The data obtained were compared with those from cheeses produced by the same milks without any treatment or thermized. The results showed that both microbial ecology and BA concentrations of cheeses during ripening were significantly influenced by the type of milk used for cheese-making and by the treatment applied to the raw materials. In particular, the microbial counts found in Caciotta indicated that the high pressure homogenization (HPH) of milk significantly reduced the presence of the yeasts, Micrococcaceae and lactobacilli at the end of ripening. On the other hand, the HPH treatment of milk favoured the proliferation of yeasts in ovine cheese. Moreover, the ovine cheeses were characterized by a remarkably higher accumulation of BA than bovine cheeses. However, the HPH treatment of milk was able to drastically reduce the biogenic amine concentrations in both cheese typologies at the end of ripening.     

Isolation of a hydroxytyrosol-rich extract from olive leaves (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Olea Europaea</Emphasis> L.) and evaluation of its antioxidant properties and bioactivity

In this research, a phenol extract of high hydroxytyrosol (OLPE) content was obtained from olive leaves (Olea europaea L.), and subsequently tested under different contexts. The method used to obtain the OLPE basically involved two steps: the use of strongly-acid aqueous steam, generated from 10% HCl (v/v) at 100°C, to directly hydrolyse the native complex phenols from integral olive leaves, and OLPE recovery by liquid–liquid extraction with ethyl acetate. Hydrolysis time was 1 h. Finally, the dried extract was dissolved in distilled water. The OLPE total phenols were determined by Folin–Ciocalteu’s method and by HPLC analysis. Hydroxytyrosol was about 92% of the total phenols present in OLPE, and the yield was about 0.2% on fresh leaves. OLPE showed antioxidant effects on different food lipids and did not inhibit lactic acid bacteria growth; however, it showed cytotoxicity on NIH/3T3 fibroblasts and human umbilical vein endothelial cells at concentrations higher than 0.32 mM (as hydroxytyrosol).     

Stage 6 object concept in nonhuman primate cognition: A comparison between gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) and Japanese macaque (Macaca fuscata).

Several investigators have reported the achievement of Stage 6 object concept in a number of species of nonhuman primates. Because Stage 6 object concept implies a capacity for mental representation, such an achievement would demonstrate the presence of a crucial capacity in nonhuman primate cognition. There are, it is suggested, problems in the way nonhuman primates have been tested for Stage 6 object concept (i.e., that the tasks employed could be solved in nonrepresentational ways). The present study attempted to differentiate between representational and nonrepresentational responses in the typical task used for testing Stage 6 object concept (following the invisible displacements of an object). The performance of 2 22-mo-old Ss, a Japanese macaque and a gorilla, was compared. It was found that only the gorilla solved the task with the use of mental representation. The macaque consistently tried to solve the task by employing practical, nonrepresentational strategies. (12 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The effect of mechanical recycling on the microstructure and properties of PA66 composites reinforced with carbon fibers

This article aims to prepare by injection molding recycled polymeric composites based on PA66 reinforced with short carbon fibers after artificial aging for applications in the automotive field. The aging cycles involves the combined action of UV radiation, moisture, and temperature in order to simulate the common outdoor conditions. The 100% recycled composites are obtained by the regranulation of the aged specimens followed by the remelting and re‐injection molding. The study is focused on the comparison between the mechanical behavior and the microstructure of the composites before and after mechanical recycling. The results of mechanical, thermal, and morphological investigations reveal that the recycling process had no significant effect on the final properties and microstructure of the recycled composites. Therefore the recycled PA66CF30 composites could be successfully used for structural or semi‐structural automotive applications guaranteeing good final performances and advantages from the environmental point of view. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 42275.