Permeable Pavements Efficiency Under Clogging and Pollutants Load Removal

Permeable pavement is used to reduce stormwater volume, peak flow and promote pollutant load removal (Scholz and Grabowiecki, 2007, Brunetti et al., 2016, Marchioni and Becciu, 2014). The volume reduction depends on the base depth, while peak flow and loads removal are dependent on the surface layer, that must present a hydraulic conductivity capable of significantly limiting runoff; while the pore structure acts as a filter retaining particulate matter (PM), deriving from erosive phenomena and anthropogenic activities. The infiltration capacity tends to decrease over time due to the PM accumulation. An adequate maintenance program guarantees that hydraulic conductivity remains above a threshold. The infiltration capacity is a function of the characteristics of the material used in the surface layer, normally permeable concrete (PC), porous asphalt (PA) or interlocking concrete blocks. For this research a series of a rainfall simulation tests were used to analyze the hydrological and load removal response of permeable pavement surface under clogging. Results confirm the permeable efficiency under clogging on stormwater runoff reduction and pollutants removal

Identification of metabolic biomarkers of chronic vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) in subjects with drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE)

Neuromodulation by means of vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) therapy, reduces seizure frequency and improves quality of life in subjects with drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE), yet its molecular mechanism remains unclear. This study investigates the impact of chronic VNS on lipid bioactive metabolites and fatty acids (FA) in the plasma and red blood cells of seven subjects with DRE. By measuring expression levels of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPAR alpha) and sirtuin1 (SIRT1) genes-key regulators in energy and lipid metabolism-and lipid profiles before and after various stages of VNS, this study identifies potential mechanisms by which VNS may reduce seizure frequency. Blood samples collected before VNS device implantation, after acute VNS stimulus, and following gradual intensity increments up to therapeutic levels revealed that VNS increases SIRT1 and PPAR alpha expression and erythrocyte concentrations of PPAR alpha ligands. Additionally, we observe reduced de novo lipogenesis biomarkers in erythrocytes, indicating that VNS may influence systemic lipid and energy metabolism. Our findings suggest that VNS could enhance neuronal function by modulating energy metabolism, thus potentially reducing seizure frequency in subjects with DRE. Future research targeting SIRT1 and PPAR alpha may provide innovative therapeutic strategies for managing DRE

Osservatorio territoriale droga e tossicodipendenze. Il Fenomeno delle dipendenze sul territorio della ASL MI 3. Anno 2007.

Report on the state of legal and illegal substances use in the territory of the Local Healthcare Service-Mi 3, Province of Milan.Il report analizza il fenomeno delle dipendenze nel territorio della ASL Milano 2. La descrizione del fenomeno si sviluppa intorno all\u27analisi degli indicatori individuati dall\u27Osservatorio Europeo delle Dipendenze di Lisbona (OEDT): 1-uso di sostanze nella popolazione generale (questo indicatore va a rilevare i comportamenti nei confronti di alcol e sostanze psicoattive da parte della popolazione generale); 2-prevalenza d\u27uso problematico delle sostanze psicoattive; 3-domanda di trattamento degli utilizzatori di sostanze; 4-mortalit? degli utilizzatori di sostanze; 5-malattie infettive. Altri due importanti indicatori che si stanno sviluppando, e che vengono qui illustrati, sono l\u27analisi delle Schede di Dimissione Ospedaliera (SDO) e gli indicatori relativi alle conseguenza sociali dell\u27uso di droghe (criminalit? droga correlata). Inoltre sono state applicate diverse metodologie standard di stima sia per quantificare la quota parte sconosciuta di utilizzatori di sostanze che non afferiscono ai servizi, sia per identificarne alcune caratteristiche

Breaking Molecular Symmetry through Biocatalytic Reactions to Gain Access to Valuable Chiral Synthons

In this review the recent reports of biocatalytic reactions applied to the desymmetrization of meso-compounds or symmetric prochiral molecules are summarized. The survey of literature from 2015 up to date reveals that lipases are still the most used enzymes for this goal, due to their large substrate tolerance, stability in different reaction conditions and commercial availability. However, a growing interest is focused on the use of other purified enzymes or microbial whole cells to expand the portfolio of exploitable reactions and the molecular diversity of substrates to be transformed. Biocatalyzed desymmetrization is nowadays recognized as a reliable and efficient approach for the preparation of pharmaceuticals or natural bioactive compounds and many processes have been scaled up for multigram preparative purposes, also in continuous-flow conditions

Stereoselective Promiscuous Reactions Catalyzed by Lipases

The ability of lipases to display activity beyond their physiological reactions, so-called “catalytic promiscuity”, has gained increasing interest in the last two decades as an important tool for expanding the application of these enzymes in organic synthesis. Some lipases have been shown to be effective in catalyzing a variety of C-C bond formation reactions and most of the investigations have been directed to the optimization of the products yield through a careful tuning of the experimental parameters. Despite the fact that new stereogenic carbons are formed in many of the tested reactions, the target products have been often obtained in racemic form and examples of an efficient asymmetric induction by the used lipases are quite limited. The aim of this review, mainly focused on those lipase-catalyzed promiscuous reactions in which optically active products have been obtained, is to offer a current state of art together with a perspective in this field of asymmetric synthesis

Stereoselective synthesis of 5,6-disubstituted 5,6-dihydro-1,10-phenanthrolines and a rare example of axially constrained 2,2′-bipyridines

The stereoselective synthesis of 5,6-disubstituted 5,6-dihydro-1,10-phenanthrolines and (5S,6S)-5,6-dihydroxy-5,6-dihydro-1,10-phenanthroline cyclic o-xylylene diether, a rare example of an axially constrained 2,2′-bipyridine is reported. The strategy to obtain such compounds is based on two highly efficient reactions, the Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation and the Ullmann intramolecular coupling

Expanding the Use of Peroxygenase from Oat Flour in Organic Synthesis: Enantioselective Oxidation of Sulfides

Biocatalyzed oxidations are an important target in sustainable synthesis since chemical oxidations often require harsh conditions and metal-based catalysts. A raw peroxygenase-containing enzymatic preparation from oat flour was tested as a biocatalyst for the enantioselective oxidation of sulfides to sulfoxides and the variations of some reaction parameters were evaluated. Under optimal conditions, thioanisole was fully converted into the corresponding (R)-sulfoxide with high optical purity (80% ee) and the same stereopreference was maintained in the oxidation of some other sulfides. Changes in the substituent on the sulfur atom affected the selectivity of the enzyme and the best results were obtained with phenyl methoxymethyl sulfide, which gave the corresponding sulfoxide in 92% ee as exclusive product. The over-oxidation of sulfides to sulfones was instead detected in all the other cases and preferential oxidation of the (S)-enantiomer of the sulfoxide intermediate was observed, albeit with low selectivity. Carrying out the oxidation of thioanisole up to the 29% formation of sulfone led to enhancement of the sulfoxide optical purity (89% ee). The activity in sulfoxidation reactions, in addition to that reported in the epoxidation of different substrates, makes this plant peroxygenase a promising and useful tool in organic synthesis

Stereospecific Epoxidation of Limonene Catalyzed by Peroxygenase from Oat Seeds

Limonene is one of the most abundant naturally occurring cyclic monoterpenes and has recently emerged as a sustainable alternative to petroleum-based solvents as well as a chemical platform for the production of value-added compounds. The biocatalytic epoxidation of both enantiomers of limonene was carried out in the presence of a peroxygenase-containing preparation from oat (Avena sativa) flour. Different reaction profiles were observed depending on the starting enantiomer of limonene, but in both cases the 1,2-monoepoxide was obtained as the main product with excellent diastereoselectivity. Trans-1,2-monoepoxide and cis-1,2-monoepoxide were isolated from the reaction of (R)-limonene and (S)-limonene, respectively, and the reactions were scaled-up to 0.17 M substrate concentration. The process is valuable for operational simplicity, lack of toxic metal catalysts, and cost-effectiveness of the enzymatic source. Pure stereoisomers of 1,2-monoepoxides of limonene constitute a useful starting material for biorenewable polymers, but can be also converted into other chiral derivatives by epoxide ring opening with nucleophiles. As a proof of concept, a tandem protocol for the preparation of enantiopure (1S,2S,4R)-1,2-diol from (R)-limonene and (1R,2R,4S)-1,2-diol from (S)-limonene was developed

Elemental Fractionation in Sabellariidae (Polychaeta) Biocement and Comparison with Seawater Pattern: A New Environmental Proxy in a High-Biodiversity Ecosystem?

The polychaete worm Sabellaria alveolata builds shallow-water aggregates of tubes by agglutinating sands using a secreted glue. Sabellarid bioconstructions represent fragile and dynamic habitats that host numerous associated organisms, playing a key ecological role. A two-year study on bioconstructions from three Sicilian sites (Simeto, Portopalo, and Falconara) investigated the balance between reef status and environmental parameters through a geochemical comparison of biocement tube portions and the surrounding waters. Water pollution by heavy metals, which is monitored in marine waters, is a result of river, domestic, and industrial discharges. The major constituents from the biocements of the three sites showed concentrations comparable to those in the seawater, while trace elements (Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, and As) showed concentrations significantly higher than the mean seawater composition. These similar trends confirm a close dependence between the presence of trace elements (metals) in the seawater and the subsequent bioaccumulation in the biocement produced by the worm. The results also showed that Ca and Mg are fractionated by biocement independent of their water concentrations, in contrast to the trace elements. Further studies addressing the biomineralization processes and the relative fractionation of trace elements in Sabellaria biocement will allow it to be validated as a valuable proxy for short- and long-term environmental studies