A computational platform for the virtual unfolding of Herculaneum Papyri

Ancient Herculaneum papyrus scrolls, hopelessly charred in the 79 A.D. Vesuvius eruption, contain valuable writings of the Greek philosophers of the day, including works of the Epicurean Philodemus. X-ray phase contrast tomography has recently begun unlocking their secrets. However, only small portions of the text hidden inside the scroll have been recover. One of the challenging tasks in Herculaneum papyri investigation is their virtual unfolding because of their highly complicated structure and three-dimensional arrangement. Although this procedure is feasible, problems in segmentation and flattening hinder the unrolling of a large portion of papyrus. We propose a computational platform for the virtual unfolding procedure, and we show the results of its application on two Herculaneum papyrus fragments. This work paves the way to a comprehensive survey and to further interpretation of larger portions of text hidden inside the carbonized Herculaneum papyri

Zinc(II) tetraphenylporphyrin on Au(111) investigated by scanning tunnelling microscopy and photoemission spectroscopy measurements

Porphyrins are a versatile class of molecules, which have attracted attention over the years due to their electronic, optical and biological properties. Self-assembled monolayers of porphyrins were widely studied on metal surfaces in order to understand the supramolecular organization of these molecules, which is a crucial step towards the development of devices starting from thebottom-upapproach. This perspective could lead to tailor the interfacial properties of the surface, depending on the specific interaction between the molecular assembly and the metal surface. In this study, we revisit the investigation of the assembly of zinc-tetraphenylporphyrins on Au(111) in order to explore the adsorption of the molecular network on the noble metal substrate. The combined analysis of scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) imaging and core levels photoemission spectroscopy measurements support a peculiar arrangement of the ZnTPP molecular network, with Zn atoms occupying the bridge sites of the Au surface atoms. Furthermore, we prove that, at few-layers coverage, the interaction between the deposited layers allows a relevant molecular mobility of the adlayer, as observed by STM and supported by core levels photoemission analysis

Influence of Organic and Conventional Agricultural Practices on Chemical Profile, In Vitro Antioxidant and Anti-Obesity Properties of Zingiber officinale Roscoe

Zingiber officinale Roscoe (Zingiberaceae), common known as ginger, is extensively used as spice worldwide in cooking and to prepare beverage. Moreover, it was used to treat a wide range of diseases including metabolic syndrome (MetS). Mets is a group of risk factors, including insulin resistance and consequently impaired glucose tolerance, dyslipidaemia, obesity, and hypertension. It is estimated that that MetS affects 25% of the population [1]. The efficacy of natural products especially derived from vegetables and spice largely consumed worldwide is a topic of great interest not only to cure but also to prevent the onset of the disease. In this study the influence of organic (OR) and conventional (CONV) agricultural practices on chemical profile and nutraceutical properties of Zingiber officinale Roscoe spice was evaluated. A multi-target approach was used to test the antioxidant activity by using DPPH, ABTS, β-carotene bleaching, and FRAP assays. The anti-obesity effect was investigated through inhibition of lipase and carbohydrate hydrolyzing enzymes a-amylase and a-glucosidase [2]. Ginger bioactive compounds were extracted by ultrasound assisted maceration process with ethanol. OR Ginger (Z5) showed the highest TPC and TFC with values of 39.27 and 15.38 ug/g DW. This sample resulted the most active in all applied antioxidant test with particular reference to ABTS test where Z5 showed a stronger activity with IC50 value of 0.81 ug/mL in comparison to the positive control ascorbic acid (1.70 mg/mL). RACI and GAS statistical approach confirmed the Z5 highest antioxidant potency. Moreover, Z5 exhibited a promising lipase inhibitory activity with IC50 value quite similar to the positive control orlistat (IC50 values of 34.48 vs 37.42 ug/mL). Collectively, our results demonstrated the impact of agricultural practices on ginger health properties. However, further in vivo studies will be needed to confirm the potential in humans and prove the safety of the products. [1] Rochlani, Y.; Pothineni, N.V.; Kovelamudi, S.; Mehta, J.L. Metabolic syndrome: Pathophysiology, management, and modulation by natural compounds. Ther. Adv. Cardiovasc. Dis. 2017, 11, 215–225. [2] Leporini, M.; Loizzo, M.R.; Sicari, V.; Pellicano, T.M.; Reitano, A.; Dugay, A.; Deguin, B.; Tundis, R. Citrus × Clementina Hort. Juice Enriched with Its By-Products (Peels and Leaves): Chemical composition, in vitro bioactivity, and impact of processing. Antioxidants 2020, 9, 298

Morphological evolution of the fivefold surface of i-AlPdMn quasicrystals

Morphology of the fivefold symmetric quasicrystal surface of AlPdMn was investigated by x-ray reflectivity and by x-ray diffraction. X-ray experiments revealed two different morphologies depending on the surface preparation. Sputtering and annealing up to 900 K, under UHV conditions, produced a rough and facetted quasicrystal surface. These features were confirmed by atomic force microscopy and scanning tunnel microscopy measurements. We also observed that an annealing above 900 K induces a rapid and irreversible transition toward a flat surface

Influence of Chemical Composition and Microvesiculation on the Chromatic Features of the Obsidian of Sierra de las Navajas (Hidalgo, Mexico)

The obsidian of Sierra de las Navajas is well known for its green color and gold hue. In order to relate these features with compositional and microtextural characteristics, we have carried out a microanalytical study by Wave Dispersion System associated to Electron Probe Micro-Analyzer, Scanning Electron Microscope observation, and X-rays micro-tomographic analyses of samples showing different colors (dark to light green, sometimes with bands of different color intensity) and hues (changing, uniform, no hue). In accordance with previous studies, the green color of the obsidian seems to be related to a high iron content, probably in its reduced state. However, no significant difference in composition occurs between dark and light green samples. The SEM observation and microtomographic study revealed the absence of microcrystals and the occurrence of vesicles of different size, shape, and orientation. Lighter green colors are shown by highly vesiculated surfaces, whereas non-vesiculated samples are darker. On the surfaces with a high concentration of coarse vesicles, a uniform golden hue is observed. Decreasing vesiculation gives a hue changing with the angle of incident light. However, when the vesicularity approaches zero, no hue is visible. The iso-orientation of vesicles along preferential directions and their distribution in bands determine the variation in color intensity and hue on differently oriented surfaces. Microvesiculation also influences other characteristics that were important features for the use of obsidian in the past, such as fracture, transparency, and roughness

Characterization And Properties Of The AIPdMn 5 Surface

The surface of the AlPdMn quasicrystal perpendicular to a fivefold axis has been probed by LEED, XPS, Auger spectroscopy and surface EXAFS.This article is from MRS Proceedings 553 (1998): 243–250, doi:10.1557/PROC-553-243.</p

Z.06 Il quartiere ZEN e la Piana dei Colli. Un parco attorno al quartiere

L’intervento progettuale si inserisce in un fragile contesto territoriale (al centro della Piana dei Colli), che si configura come un enclave isolato, in cui pesanti interventi di trasformazione urbana continuano a sovrapporsi ai segni della storia. Tali trasformazioni, nel tempo, hanno determinato gravi fenomeni di degrado fisico e sociale. Dalla rilettura della stratificazione delle permanenze storiche (beni architettonici, borgate, viabilità, aree agricole di pregio) e del rapporto con il sistema insediativo urbano e naturale extraurbano, il progetto propone la ri-significazione delle diverse tipologie di aree libere che circondano lo ZEN 2 come un sistema di parchi – Parco agricolo della Biodiversità e Giardino della Sostenibilità – dal valore evocativo, culturale ed etico

TRIB3 r84 variant is associated with impaired insulin-mediated nitric oxide production in human endothelial cells

Background-In the endothelium, insulin promotes nitric oxide (NO) production, through the insulin receptor/IRS-1/PI3-Kinase/Akt/eNOS signaling pathway. An inhibitor of insulin action, TRIB3, has recently been identified which affects insulin action by binding to and inhibiting Akt phosphorylation. We have recently described a Q84R gain-of-function polymorphism of TRIB3 with the R84 variant being associated with insulin resistance and an earlier age at myocardial infarction. Methods and Results-To investigate the TRIB3 R84 variant impact on endothelial insulin action, we cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) naturally carrying different TRIB3 genotypes (QQ-, QR-, or RR-HUVECs). TRIB3 inhibitory activity on insulin-stimulated Akt phosphorylation and the amount of protein which was coimmunoprecipitable with Akt were significantly greater in QR- and RR- as compared to QQ- HUVECs. After insulin stimulation, Akt and eNOS activation as well as NO production were markedly decreased in QR- and RR- as compared to QQ- HUVECs. TRIB3 molecular modeling analysis provided insights into the structural changes related to the polymorphisms potentially determining differences in protein-protein interaction with Akt. Conclusions-Our data demonstrate that the TRIB3 R84 variant impairs insulin signaling and NO production in human endothelial cells. This finding provides a plausible biological background for the deleterious role of TRIB3 R84 on genetic susceptibility to coronary artery disease