Catalytic production of oxygenated additives by glycerol etherification

Abstract In this work the etherification reaction of glycerol with isobutene (IB) and tert-butyl alcohol (TBA) has been studied with the aim of preparing mixtures with high content of poly-substituted ethers. The results obtained using solid acid catalysts have shown that the reaction with IB proceeds at a high rate but the formation of undesired di-isobutene (DIB) represents a serious problem when catalysts with high density of acid sites, such as Amberlyst, are used. When using TBA as a reactant, the main problem is the formation of water that, due to thermodynamic reasons, prevents the formation of poly-substituted ethers regardless of the catalyst used. Some preliminary experiments carried out with a water permselective tubular membrane have demonstrated that the yield of poly-substituted ethers significantly increases once water was selectively removed from the reaction medium by recirculation of the gas phase

About the eastern limit of distribution of Phlebotomus ariasi (Diptera: Psychodidae)

Cette note fait part des resultats des enquetes entomologiques menees en 1995 dans les provinces de la region de Ligurie (Italie) pendant la periode d'activite des phlebotomes Un total de 2 216 phlebotomes a ete recolte dans quatre provinces en l'espace de 3 mois. Les especes suivantes ont ete identifiees : Phlebotomus perniciosus (31,8 %), P. ariasi (0,8 %) et Sergentomyia minuta (67,4 %). P. perniciosus, vecteur de leishmaniose viscerale en Italie, a ete recolte dans toutes les stations positives. Au contraire, P. ariasi a ete capture seulement dans les provinces d'Imperia et de Savona. La repartition geographique orientale de P. ariasi fait l'objet d'une discussion

Wacker-oxidation of Ethylene over Pillared Layered Material Catalysts

This paper concerns the Wacker oxidation of ethylene by oxygen in the presence of water over supported Pd/VOx catalysts. High surface area porous supports were obtained from layer-structured materials, such as, montmorillonite (MT), laponite (LT) (smectites), and hydrotalcite (layered double hydroxide, LDH) by pillaring. Before introduction of Pd, supports MT and LDH were pillared by vanadia. The laponite was used in titania-pillared form (TiO2-LAP) as support of Pd/VOx active component. Acetaldehyde (AcH), acetic acid (AcOH) and CO2 were the products with yields and selectivities, depending on the reaction conditions and the properties of the applied catalyst. Under comparable conditions the pillared smectite catalysts gave higher AcH yield than the pillared LDH catalyst. UV vis spectroscopic examination suggested that the pillared smectites contained polymeric chains of VO4, whereas only isolated monomeric VO4 species were present in the pillared LDH. The higher catalytic activity in the Wacker oxidation was attributed to the more favorable redox property of the polymeric than of the monomeric vanadia. The V3+ ions in the polymeric species can reduce O2 to O2- ions, whereas the obtained V5+ ions are ready to pass over O to Pd0 to generate PdO whereon the oxidation of the ethylene proceeds

Fatal cytokine release syndrome by an aberrant FLIP/STAT3 axis

Inflammatory responses rapidly detect pathogen invasion and mount a regulated reaction. However, dysregulated anti-pathogen immune responses can provoke life-threatening inflammatory pathologies collectively known as cytokine release syndrome (CRS), exemplified by key clinical phenotypes unearthed during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. The underlying pathophysiology of CRS remains elusive. We found that FLIP, a protein that controls caspase-8 death pathways, was highly expressed in myeloid cells of COVID-19 lungs. FLIP controlled CRS by fueling a STAT3-dependent inflammatory program. Indeed, constitutive expression of a viral FLIP homolog in myeloid cells triggered a STAT3-linked, progressive, and fatal inflammatory syndrome in mice, characterized by elevated cytokine output, lymphopenia, lung injury, and multiple organ dysfunctions that mimicked human CRS. As STAT3-targeting approaches relieved inflammation, immune disorders, and organ failures in these mice, targeted intervention towards this pathway could suppress the lethal CRS inflammatory state

EMERGENCY PLANNING IN CASE OF CBRN EVENTS: AN INNOVATIVE METHODOLOGY TO IMPROVE THE SAFETY KNOWLEDGE OF ADVISORS AND FIRST RESPONDERS BY A MULTIDISCIPLINARY TABLE TOP EXERCISE.

ABSTRACT Nowadays Chemical-Biological-Radiological-Nuclear (CRBN) risks are one of the main safety concern. The radiological disasters of Fukushima and Chernobyl, the chemical events of Seveso or the release of Sarin in the Tokio Subway,and the biological emergencies such as the H1N1 flue represent few examples of a dreadful evidence: : CBRNe risks are a real and global threat around us. A CBRNe event can be either of an intentional and un-intentional nature and it is important to have highly specialized advisors that can support decision makers and first responders to face this threat. The University of Rome Tor Vergata, in collaboration with the most important Italian and International Bodies that work in the field of CBRN safety and security and supported by NATO and OPCW, organized two International Master Courses in Protection against CBRN events. In this context, a Table Top Exercise (TTX) was organized, in collaboration with the Ministry of Interior and Ministry of Defence, taking into account that, in each country, the system response to CBRNe events strongly depends also on law and procedures, that enforce the advisors and first responders to rely with different skills and roles in function of the administration of origin. The organized TTX was aimed to test the level preparation of the Master students and experts working in Italy in the field of CBRN events and to test the emergency planning preparation. In particular, a radiological release was simulated in a Harbour facility in Urban Area. The students were divided in multidisciplinary groups with heterogeneous competences. Each group was supported by CBRNì experts and was stressed by the injects from a Command and Operative Centre. Responsiveness to the injects and to the stress together with the ability to organize and manage safety and security operations, but also to interpret each role in the team according to according to national laws, were evaluated for each group. The scenario, the logistic organization, on-going adjustments during the exercise and the outcomes will be presented and analyzed by the authors in this paper. PRELIMINARY INDEX 1. Abstract 2. Introduction 3. Table Top Exercise (TTX) 3.1 What is a TTX 3.2 How the TTX is organized 3.3 Scenario and injects 3.4 Organizational and technical solutions 4. Dat

About the eastern limit of distribution of

The note reports the data of a sandfly investigation carried out in the provinces of Liguria region (Italy) during the sandfly season of 1995. A total of 2,216 sandflies was collected in the four provinces during 3 months. The following species were identified : P. pernicious (31.8 %), P. ariasi (0.8 %) and Sergentomyia minuta (67.4 %). P. perniciosus, the proven vector of visceral leishmaniasis in Italy was present in all the positive sites sampled. On the contrary, P. ariasi was collected only in the provinces of Imperia and Savona. The eastern geographical distribution of P. ariosi is discussed

DFT and kinetic evidences of the preferential CO oxidation pattern of manganese dioxide catalysts in hydrogen stream (PROX)

The oxidation functionality of Mn(IV) sites has been assessed by density functional theory (DFT) analysis of adsorption and activation energies of CO, H2 and O2 on a model Mn4O8 cluster. DFT calculations indicate that Mn(IV) atoms prompt an easy CO conversion to CO2 via a reaction path involving both catalyst and gas-phase oxygen species, while much greater energy barriers hinder H2 oxidation. Accordingly, a MnCeOx catalyst (Mnat/Ceat, 5) with large exposure of Mn(IV) sites shows a remarkable CO oxidation performance at T ≥ 293 K and no H2 oxidation activity below 393 K. Empiric kinetics disclose that the catalyst-oxygen abstraction step determines both CO and H2 oxidation rate, although different activation energies favor the preferential oxidation (PROX) pattern of the studied catalyst (353–423 K). Conversion-selectivity of 100%, high stability during 72 h reaction time and moderate inhibiting effects of water and CO2 feeding reveal the potential of MnO2 materials as efficient, low-cost and robust PROX catalysts

Biological Emergency Management: The Case of Ebola 2014 and the Air Transportation Involvement

The putative spread after the outbreak of the haemorrhagic fever epidemic caused by Ebola virus in West Africa, in the early months of 2014, puts the spotlight on the management of biological risks involving air transportation. Ebola virus is a highly pathogenic agent, causing a haemorrhagic fever defined Ebola HF, characterized by a high fatality. This virus is generally considered to be self-limiting in terms of diffusion; its lethality is in fact so high as to prevent the exit from rural areas where outbreaks generally occur. However, when the virus comes from rural areas and reaches urban places, it is important to assess the risk of spreading even in areas far from the outbreak of origin. Therefore, the development or strengthening of strategies and plans to take action with timely and effective response in order to reduce the consequences of public health emergencies is paramount. During Ebola virus outbreak in West Africa in 2014, World Health Organization focused attention on many airports, stops of main flights coming from Africa; the aviation, due to its nature, has the potential to help boost the global spread of transmissible diseases, since air travel allow to reach the most remote locations in hours. The management of biological emergencies during ordinary operations of airlines and airports represents a real constraint in the event of contrast epidemic situations or endemic outbreaks. An effective response plan should include a careful assessment of the risks and the establishment of procedures to carry on board of aircrafts or on the ground. To ensure that this complex system works correctly, a broad and effective cooperation between the different actors involved is required. On the international level, several documents and recommendations relating to the management of contagious diseases in aeronautical environment have been produced by authoritative agencies. In this paper, after an overview on the international response to public health emergencies in the aviation environment, the attention is focused on emergency response to the Ebola virus crisis in 2014, including an evaluation of the potential dispersion of the pathogen

Activity pattern of low-loaded FeOx/SiO2 catalysts in the selective oxidation of C1 and C3 alkanes with oxygen

The structure and redox properties of low-loaded (0.015\u20130.73 wt% Fe) FeOx/SiO2 catalysts obtained by adsorption\u2013precipitation of Fe2+ were probed by Mo\ua8ssbasuer and TPR techniques. Oxide dispersion data, obtained by deconvolution of Mo\ua8ssbasuer and TPR spectra, signal the speciation of the active phase into \u2018\u2018isolated\u2019\u2019 FeOx sites, \u2018\u20182-d FeOx patches\u2019\u2019 and \u2018\u20183-d Fe2O3 clusters\u2019\u2019. The reactivity of FeOx/SiO2 catalysts in the selective oxidation of CH4 and C3H8 in the range 475\u2013650 8C has been assessed. Basic relationships amongst dispersion, specific rate of alkane conversion and product formation signal that the selective oxidation functionality depends upon local environment and oxygen bond strength of active sites, their distribution being closely related to the efficiency of synthesis route