Discriminating Interactions Between Chiral Molecules In the Liquid-phase - Effect On Volumetric Properties

Volume changes on mixing for binary mixtures of optically active liquid compounds have been determined at 25 "C by using a vibrating tube densimeter. Six enantiomeric and six nonenantiomeric pairs of chiral molecules have been considered. In all the cases chiral discrimination appeared to produce small but significant effects (0.0024.016 cm3 mol-'). The excess molar volumes, p, of the (+) and (-) isomers of limonene, carvone, 2-methyl-1-butanol, and a-methylbenzylamine showed negative values, while VE of the enantiomers of a-pinene and 2-odanol gave positive results. Partial molar volumes, Po,fo r the investigated chiral solutes in chiral solvents have been obtained from p data. The effecta of chiral discrimination of Po have been compared with the prediction of a simple statistical approach in which discrimination arises from space-filling differences in contacts between hard surfaces

Quality analysis of critical control points within the whole food chain and their impact on food quality, safety and health (QACCP)

The overall objective of the project was to optimise organic production and processing in order to improve food quality and increase health promoting aspects in consumer products. The approach was a chain analysis approach which addressed the link between farm and fork and backwards from fork to farm. The objectives were to test food authenticity on farm level and food quality and health in processing. The carrot was chosen as the model vegetable since it is common for the involved partners from industry and is processed for baby food; hence the results are relevant for other vegetables and organic food in general as well. - Identify and define critical and essential product quality parameters useful to optimise organic food quality - Compare products from different farming practices (conventional and within organic) - Performance of QACCP (Quality Analysis Critical Control Point, similar to HACCP methodology) - Test the impact of the food chain (focusing on processing techniques) on the product quality and safety - Test the impact of organic food on healt

La scelta universitaria e la professione di insegnante

La scelta del corso universitario preliminare alla professione docente, per un gruppo di insegnanti in formazione, esaminata con un metodo misto, quantitativo e qualitativo, appare prevalentemente connessa a una motivazione intrinseca, rafforzata dai risultati conseguiti durante il percorso scolastico. Dal questionario strutturato, comprendente anche un resoconto narrativo, risulta che i partecipanti alla ricerca si dichiarano in larga maggioranza soddisfatti della scelta universitaria compiuta, ma circa un quarto dei partecipanti esprime rimpianto, e ciò conferma l'opportunità di realizzare percorsi di orientamento universitario e professionale nella scuola

Impact of organic and conventional carrots on intestinal and peripheral immunity

BACKGROUND: Studies on health effects of organic (ORG) products are still limited and often contradictory. We have investigated the impact of ORG and conventional (CV) carrots from two consecutive harvest years on mouse peripheral and intestinal immunity. RESULTS: Danish carrots (Bolero variety) were grown in three ORG (O1, O2 and O3) and one CV cropping system (D-CV). Italian carrots (Maestro and Excelso varieties) were grown in one ORG and one CV field for each variety. Immune phenotypes of blood, spleen and intestinal lymphocytes, and cytokine serum levels were analyzed in mice fed the different carrots for 30 days. Principal component analysis (PCA) was performed in mice fed the Danish carrots. The consumption of the 'more organic' O2 and O3 carrots induced some changes in lymphocyte populations, including an increase in regulatory T cells. In Italian carrots more differences between ORG and CV were observed in the first as compared to the second year. No relevant differences were observed in cytokine secretion. PCA showed a clear separation among mice fed the O1, O2, O3 and D-CV carrots. CONCLUSIONS: Although a great variability was observed between the two years, an immune stimulation was found after the ORG carrot consumption. (C) 2012 Society of Chemical Industr