Studies on ESR Spectra of Some Polyamine-Cu(II) Complexes In Solution & Frozen Solution

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Solitary fibrous tumor of the omentum: Presentation of a case and literature review

Solitary fibrous tumor (SFT) and hemangiopericytoma (HPC) were considered, since their firsts description in the literature, as separate entities. The World Health Organization (WHO) classification of soft tissue tumors in 2013 declared the term HPC obsolete, and considered these lesions as features of the extrapleural SFT category. Herein we present a rare case of SFT originating from the great omentum. A 68 years old woman was admitted to our hospital with acute abdominal pain. Computed tomography revealed a 142 x 102 x 100 mm solid mass located in the pelvis, that simulated an adnexal lesion. An explorative laparotomy was performed, and a mass of the great omentum with a significant vascular pedicle arising from a branch of the left gastroepiploic artery was revealed. The tumor was completely resected. Microscopically it was composed by non-organized and spindle-shaped cells exhibiting atypical nuclei, arranged in short fascicles, and was diagnosed as. An extensive search was conducted in public scientific databases for published articles on the topic, with the aim to comprehensively describe the demographic, clinical, pathological and prognostic features of SFT; 60 previous cases have been identified and reviewed

Hydrogeological and multi-isotopic approach to define nitrate pollution and denitrification processes in a coastal aquifer (Sardinia, Italy)

Agricultural coastal areas are frequently affected by the superimposition of various processes, with a combination of anthropogenic and natural sources, which degrade groundwater quality. In the coastal multi-aquifer system of Arborea (Italy)¿a reclaimed morass area identified as a nitrate vulnerable zone, according to Nitrate Directive 91/676/EEC¿intensive agricultural and livestock activities contribute to substantial nitrate contamination. For this reason, the area can be considered a bench test for tuning an appropriate methodology aiming to trace the nitrate contamination in different conditions. An approach combining environmental isotopes, water quality and hydrogeological indicators was therefore used to understand the origins and attenuation mechanisms of nitrate pollution and to define the relationship between contaminant and groundwater flow dynamics through the multi-aquifer characterized by sandy (SHU), alluvial (AHU), and volcanic hydrogeological (VHU) units. Various groundwater chemical pathways were consistent with both different nitrogen sources and groundwater dynamics. Isotope composition suggests a mixed source for nitrate (organic and synthetic fertilizer), especially for the AHU and SHU groundwater. Moreover, marked heterotrophic denitrification and sulfate reduction processes were detected; although, for the contamination related to synthetic fertilizer, the attenuation was inefficient at removing NO3− to less than the human consumption threshold of 50 mg/L. Various factors contributed to control the distribution of the redox processes, such as the availability of carbon sources (organic fertilizer and the presence of lagoon-deposited aquitards), well depth, and groundwater flow paths. The characterization of these processes supports water-resource management plans, future actions, and regulations, particularly in nitrate vulnerable zones

Isolation of a novel flavanonol and an alkylresorcinol with highly potent anti-trypanosomal activity from Libyan propolis

Twelve propolis samples from different parts of Libya were investigated for their phytochemical constituents. Ethanol extracts of the samples and some purified compounds were tested against Trypanosoma brucei, Plasmodium falciparum and against two helminth species, Trichinella spiralis and Caenorhabditis elegans, showing various degrees of activity. Fourteen compounds were isolated from the propolis samples, including a novel compound Taxifolin-3-acetyl-4’-methyl ether (4), a flavanonol derivative. The crude extracts showed moderate activity against T. spiralis and C. elegans, while the purified compounds had low activity against P. falciparum. Anti-trypanosomal activity (EC50 = 0.7 µg/mL) was exhibited by a fraction containing a cardol identified as bilobol (10) and this fraction had no effect on Human Foreskin Fibroblasts (HFF), even at 2.0 mg/mL, thus demonstrating excellent selectivity. A metabolomics study was used to explore the mechanism of action of the fraction and it revealed significant disturbances in trypanosomal phospholipid metabolism, especially the formation of choline phospholipids. We conclude that a potent and highly selective new trypanocide may be present in the fraction

GRIDA3—a shared resources manager for environmental data analysis and applications

GRIDA3 (Shared Resources Manager for Environmental Data Analysis and Applications) is a multidisciplinary project designed to deliver an integrated system to forge solutions to some environmental challenges such as the constant increase of polluted sites, the sustainability of natural resources usage and the forecast of extreme meteorological events. The GRIDA3 portal is mainly based on Web 2.0 technologies and EnginFrame framework. The portal, now at an advanced stage of development, provides end-users with intuitive Web-interfaces and tools that simplify job submission to the underneath computing resources. The framework manages the user authentication and authorization, then controls the action and job execution into the grid computing environment, collects the results and transforms them into an useful format on the client side. The GRIDA3 Portal framework will provide a problem-solving platform allowing, through appropriate access policies, the integration and the sharing of skills, resources and tools located at multiple sites across federated domains

Depletion of a Toxoplasma porin leads to defects in mitochondrial morphology and contacts with the ER

The Voltage Dependent Anion channel (VDAC) is a ubiquitous channel in the outer membrane of the mitochondrion with multiple roles in protein, metabolite and small molecule transport. In mammalian cells, VDAC, as part of a larger complex including the inositol triphosphate receptor, has been shown to have a role in mediating contacts between the mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum (ER). We identify VDAC of the pathogenic apicomplexan Toxoplasma gondii and demonstrate its importance for parasite growth. We show that VDAC is involved in protein import and metabolite transfer to mitochondria. Further, depletion of VDAC resulted in significant morphological changes of the mitochondrion and ER, suggesting a role in mediating contacts between these organelles in T. gondii

Chemical and antimicrobial profiling of propolis from different regions within Libya.

Extracts from twelve samples of propolis collected from different regions of Libya were tested for their activity against Trypanosoma brucei, Leishmania donovani, Plasmodium falciparum, Crithidia fasciculata and Mycobacterium marinum and the cytotoxicity of the extracts was tested against mammalian cells. All the extracts were active to some degree against all of the protozoa and the mycobacterium, exhibiting a range of EC50 values between 1.65 and 53.6 μg/ml. The toxicity against mammalian cell lines was only moderate; the most active extract against the protozoan species, P2, displayed an IC50 value of 53.2 μg/ml. The extracts were profiled by using liquid chromatography coupled to high resolution mass spectrometry. The data sets were extracted using m/z Mine and the accurate masses of the features extracted were searched against the Dictionary of Natural Products (DNP). A principal component analysis (PCA) model was constructed which, in combination with hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA), divided the samples into five groups. The outlying groups had different sets of dominant compounds in the extracts, which could be characterised by their elemental composition. Orthogonal partial least squares (OPLS) analysis was used to link the activity of each extract against the different micro-organisms to particular components in the extracts

Indium on Cu(100) from first principles: Energetics, complex formation, and diffusion of adsorbates and vacancies on terraces and at steps

Indium (In) on the Cu (001) surface is a paradigmatic adsorption system exhibiting two important effects: first, In has been reported to foster the layer-by-layer growth of this surface; second, In diffuses anomalously and possibly in concert with surface vacancies, and has indeed been used as a tracer of vacancy surface diffusion. Detailed knowledge of the energetics and diffusion barriers of In on Cu (001), adsorbed, coadsorbed with Cu adatoms, or in the presence of surface vacancies, as can be extracted from first-principles calculations, is an important ingredient in the understanding of these effects. Surprisingly, only a very limited amount of theoretical work exists on this system, providing rather disparate results. Here we present ab initio calculations of the adsorption and clustering energetics, and diffusion and kinetic barriers for a large selection of possible systems and motions involving Cu vacancies and adatoms, In adsorbates, as well as clusters and complexes thereof. We address possible modes of vacancy creation and In incorporation involving kink sites at steps, as well as the interlayer diffusion of Cu with and without In at the step edge. Among the results shedding light on the diffusion mode of In:Cu(100) as well as on the surfactant action of In, we find that In diffuses via a concerted motion with vacancies, and that In at a step lowers drastically the exchange downstep diffusion barrier for Cu, thus favoring two-dimensional growth

Rebound at Pb-Zn mines hosted in carbonate aquifers: influence on the chemistry of groundwater

Closure of Pb-Zn mines in the Iglesiente district (SW Sardinia, Italy) caused the cessation of pumping in 1997 at Monteponi, and in 1998 at San Giovanni. Consequent flooding of underground workings occurred in the district and also involved Campo Pisano. In June 1998, as the water table rose from 160 to 20 m below sea level, the deep saline water mixed with the shallow ground water at Monteponi and nearby mines. In the same period, an increase in dissolved metals (especially Zn, Cd, and Pb) was observed under near-neutral pH conditions. Following peak concentrations, a marked decrease of Zn, Cd, and Hg occurred. Dissolved Pb showed fluctuating concentrations over the monitoring period (1996-2005). In January 2000, when the water table rose to 20 m above sea level, the salinity of ground water decreased significantly at all of the mines. Stratification caused the more saline water at depth to settle three years after rebound started. Depth profiles carried out in 2005 at Monteponi, San Giovanni, and Campo Pisano showed an increase in conductivity and dissolved metals in ground water at deeper levels, especially at depths below sea level. After eight years of rebound, a marine component was still present at depth in ground water at San Giovanni (about 2%), and to a lesser extent at Monteponi (about 0.4%)