Multivariate Statistical Models for the Authentication of Traditional Balsamic Vinegar of Modena and Balsamic Vinegar of Modena on 1H-NMR Data: Comparison of Targeted and Untargeted Approaches

This work aimed to compare targeted and untargeted approaches based on NMR data for the construction of classification models for Traditional Balsamic Vinegar of Modena (TBVM) and Balsamic Vinegar of Modena (BVM). Their complexity in terms of composition makes the authentication of these products difficult, which requires the employment of several time-consuming analytical methods. Here, 1H-NMR spectroscopy was selected as the analytical method for the analysis of TVBM and BVM due to its rapidity and efficacy in food authentication. 1H-NMR spectra of old (>12 years) and extra-old (>25 years) TVBM and BVM (>60 days) and aged (>3 years) BVM were acquired, and targeted and untargeted approaches were used for building unsupervised and supervised multivariate statistical modes. Targeted and untargeted approaches were based on quantitative results of peculiar compounds present in vinegar obtained through qNMR, and all spectral variables, respectively. Several classification models were employed, and linear discriminant analysis (LDA) demonstrated sensitivity and specificity percentages higher than 85% for both approaches. The most important discriminating variables were glucose, fructose, and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural. The untargeted approach proved to be the most promising strategy for the construction of LDA models of authentication for TVBM and BVM due to its easier applicability, rapidity, and slightly higher predictive performance. The proposed method for authenticating TBVM and BVM could be employed by Italian producers for safeguarding their valuable products

Exogenous phospholipids specifically affect transmembrane potential of brain mitochondria and cytochrome C release.

Release of cytochrome c, a decrease of membrane potential (Deltapsi(m)), and a reduction of cardiolipin (CL) of rat brain mitochondria occurred upon incubation in the absence of respiratory substrates. Since CL is critical for mitochondrial functioning, CL enrichment of mitochondria was achieved by fusion with CL liposomes. Fusion was triggered by potassium phosphate at concentrations producing mitochondrial permeability transition pore opening but not cytochrome c release, which was observed only at10 mm. Cyclosporin A inhibited phosphate-induced CL fusion, whereas Pronase pretreatment of mitochondria abolished it, suggesting that mitochondrial permeability transition pore and protein(s) are involved in the fusion process. Phosphate-dependent fusion was enhanced in respiratory state 3 and influenced by phospholipid classes in the order CLphosphatidylglycerol (PG)phosphatidylserine. The probe 10-nonylacridine orange indicated that fused CL had migrated to the inner mitochondrial membrane. In state 3, CL enrichment of mitochondria resulted in a pH decrease in the intermembrane space. Cytofluorimetric analysis of mitochondria stained with 3,3'-diexyloxacarbocyanine iodide and 5,5',6,6'-tetrachloro-1,1',3,3'-tetraethylbenzymidazolylcarbocyanine iodide showed Deltapsi(m) increase upon fusion with CL or PG. In contrast, phosphatidylserine fusion required Deltapsi(m) consumption, suggesting that Deltapsi(m) is the driving force in mitochondrial phospholipid importation. Moreover, enrichment with CL and PG brought the low energy mitochondrial population to high Deltapsi(m) values and prevented phosphate-dependent cytochrome c release

Determinazione dei residui di Deltametrina nelle ciliegie

This paper describes the determination of residues of the insecticide Deltamethrin in cherries growing in the Bonnanaro area near Sassari (Sardinia - Italy). The analytical procedure for the isolation of the insecticide was developed. The quantitative determinations were carried out by HPLC, with UV detector at 220 nm, on a Perkin-Elmer C18-HS3 column with acetonitrile - water (75: 25) as the mobile phase. A rapid decrease of the concentration of the insecticide with ti me was ascertained; three days after from the treatment the values were significantly lower than those required by the italian law

Application of data fusion techniques to direct geographical traceability indicators

A hierarchical data fusion approach has been developed proposing multivariate curve resolution (MCR) as a variable reduction tool. The case study presented concerns the characterization of soil samples of the Modena District. It was performed in order to understand, at a pilot study stage, the geographical variability of the zone prior to planning a representative soils sampling to derive geographical traceability models for Lambrusco Wines. Soils samples were collected from four producers of Lambrusco Wines, located in in-plane and hill areas. Depending on the extension of the sampled fields the number of points collected varies from three to five and, for each point, five depth levels were considered. The different data blocks consisted of X-ray powder diffraction (XRDP) spectra, metals concentrations relative to thirty-four elements and the 87Sr/86Sr isotopic abundance ratio, a very promising geographical traceability marker. A multi steps data fusion strategy has been adopted. Firstly, the metals concentrations dataset was weighted and concatenated with the values of strontium isotopic ratio and compressed. The resolved components described common patterns of variation of metals content and strontium isotopic ratio. The X-ray powder spectra profiles were resolved in three main components that can be referred to calcite, quartz and clays contributions. Then, a high-level data fusion approach was applied by combining the components arising from the previous data sets. The results show interesting links among the different components arising from XRDP, the metals pattern and to which of these 87Sr/86Sr Isotopic Ratio variation is closer. The combined information allowed capturing the variability of the analyzed soil samples

Infrared luminosity functions and dust mass functions in the EAGLE simulation

We present infrared luminosity functions and dust mass functions for the EAGLE cosmological simulation, based on synthetic multiwavelength observations generated with the SKIRT radiative transfer code. In the local Universe, we reproduce the observed infrared luminosity and dust mass functions very well. Some minor discrepancies are encountered, mainly in the high luminosity regime, where the EAGLE-SKIRT luminosity functions mildly but systematically underestimate the observed ones

Investigations using Csiro Hi triaxal cells for measuring the stress state of rock masses subject to mining extraction: numerical modelling of in-situ extracted core samples

The measurement of the stress state of rock, carried out in-situ using the overcoring CSIro hI Cell technique, provides valuable information about the rock mass geo-structural and stress conditions. this is particularly useful for calibrating the numerical model of natural slopes and excavations fronts and for assessing their static conditions. thus, it allows to improve workplace safety conditions in both open-pit and underground quarries. During an in-situ CSIro test, the stress release strains are measured by 12 strain gauges differently oriented in the space and the stress tensor and the material elastic parameters are then computed. the classic interpretative procedure of stress release test refers to analytical formulations that assume an extracted sample of regular cylindrical shape. however, during overcoring, it may happen that a discontinuity is intercepted, causing the extracted core to break and to assume an irregular shape. to address this challenge, in this work, a Finite Element numerical simulation of stress release was conducted basing on a 3D digital model of the irregular sample resulting from a Photogrammetric Survey. this allowed for the computation of the stress tensor for both irregularly shaped and ideal cylindrical samples. the research proceeded as it follows: i) three-dimensional modelling of the irregularly shaped core using Photogrammetric techniques and mesh Editing, which enabled the accurate representation of complex geometries; ii) numerical modelling of the irregularly shaped core containing the CSIro hI Cell through Finite Element Analysis, providing insights about stress and deformation distributions; iii) stress State of the rock calculation using a multiple Linear regression Procedure by using the coefficient matrix as determined by the core numerical modelling. the implementation of this procedure may facilitate the determination of stress state for irregularly shaped cores, and it enhances to understand how shape and rock elastic properties may influence the stress release behaviour. this comprehensive approach could allow to address challenges associated to stress assessment for irregular shaped rock cores and to improve the accuracy and applicability of geotechnical engineering methods

Mitochondria of a human multidrug-resistant hepatocellular carcinoma cell line constitutively express inducible nitric oxide synthase in the inner membrane

Mitochondria play a crucial role in pathways of stress conditions. They can be transported from one cell to another, bringing their features to the cell where they are transported. It has been shown in cancer cells overexpressing multidrug resistance (MDR) that mitochondria express proteins involved in drug resistance such as P-glycoprotein (P-gp), breast cancer resistant protein and multiple resistance protein-1. The MDR phenotype is associated with the constitutive expression of COX-2 and iNOS, whereas celecoxib, a specific inhibitor of COX-2 activity, reverses drug resistance of MDR cells by releasing cytochrome c from mitochondria. It is possible that COX-2 and iNOS are also expressed in mitochondria of cancer cells overexpressing the MDR phenotype. This study involved experiments using the human HCC PLC/PRF/5 cell line with and without MDR phenotype and melanoma A375 cells that do not express the MDR1 phenotype but they do iNOS. Western blot analysis, confocal immunofluorescence and immune electron microscopy showed that iNOS is localized in mitochondria of MDR1-positive cells, whereas COX-2 is not. Low and moderate concentrations of celecoxib modulate the expression of iNOS and P-gp in mitochondria of MDR cancer cells independently from inhibition of COX-2 activity. However, A375 cells that express iNOS also in mitochondria, were not MDR1 positive. In conclusion, iNOS can be localized in mitochondria of HCC cells overexpressing MDR1 phenotype, however this phenomenon appears independent from the MDR1 phenotype occurrence. The presence of iNOS in mitochondria of human HCC cells phenotype probably concurs to a more aggressive behaviour of cancer cells

Late aortic lymphocele and residual ovary syndrome after gynecological surgery

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Gynecological surgery, as radical hysterectomy or pelvic and aortic lymphadenectomy, accounts for more than 50% of iatrogenic injuries. In premenopausal women, an hysterectomy with ovarian sparing and concomitant lateral ovarian transposition is frequently performed. However, the fate of the retained ovary is complicated by the residual ovarian syndrome (ROS) and one of the most common postoperative complications of the lymphadenectomy procedure is the lymphocele, with an average incidence of 22–48.5%. The differential diagnosis of a postoperative fluid collection includes, in addition to a lymphocele, urinoma, hematoma, seroma or abscess and the computed tomography (CT) findings alone is not enough.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>We describe a patient, affected by ROS concomitant with a asymptomatic lymphocele, initially confused with an aortic lymph nodes relapse, after abdominal radical hysterectomy. The patient was subjected to a surgical approach, included a diagnostic open laparoscopy and laparotomy with sovraombelico-pubic incision, wide opening of the pelvic peritoneum and retroperitoneum. Examination of the mass revealed, macroscopically, a ovary with multiloculated cystic masses filled with clear or yellow serous fluid and the layers were composed by flat or cuboidal mesothelial cells.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The tribute of this case illustrates the atypical appearance with uncertain aetiology after complex imaging. Gynecologist and radiologist should acquaint with the appearance of fluid collection (urinoma, lymphocele, seroma, hematoma, abscess) in gynecologic oncology follow-up to properly differentiated from tumor recurrence.</p