Electronic spectra of C6H+ and C6H 3 + in the gas phase

Measurement of the 3Π-3Π transition of C6H+ in the gas phase near 19486 cm−1 is reported. The experiment was carried out with a supersonic slit-jet expansion discharge using cavity ringdown absorption spectroscopy. Partly resolved P lines and observation of band heads permitted a rotational contour fit. Spectroscopic constants in the ground and excited-state were determined. The density of ions being sampled is merely 2×108 cm−3. Broadening of the spectral lines indicates the excited-state lifetime to be ≈100 ps. The electronic transition of HC6H 2 + at 26402 cm−1 assumed to be 1A1-X1A1 in C2v symmetry could not be rotationally resolve

Electronic spectra of C6H+ and C6H 3 + in the gas phase

Measurement of the 3Π-3Π transition of C6H+ in the gas phase near 19486 cm−1 is reported. The experiment was carried out with a supersonic slit-jet expansion discharge using cavity ringdown absorption spectroscopy. Partly resolved P lines and observation of band heads permitted a rotational contour fit. Spectroscopic constants in the ground and excited-state were determined. The density of ions being sampled is merely 2×108 cm−3. Broadening of the spectral lines indicates the excited-state lifetime to be ≈100 ps. The electronic transition of HC6H 2 + at 26402 cm−1 assumed to be 1A1-X1A1 in C2v symmetry could not be rotationally resolve

Efficient assessment of combined crystallization, milling, and dissolution cycles for crystal size and shape manipulation

A 3-stage process, consisting of a combination of crystallization, milling, and dissolution stages for the selective manipulation of the size and shape of crystals, is investigated to characterize its performance when applied to different substances. To this aim, simulations are used to screen, via a parametric analysis, the effect of different compound properties and operating conditions on the size and shape of the final products. Through this analysis, characteristic trends of general validity are identified, thus allowing to define families of compounds with similar behavior and features. Based on these results, a set consisting of a small number of experiments is devised to fully characterize the outcome of the 3-stage process for a specific substance. An experimental validation is carried out by performing this set of experiments with two compounds, namely l-Glutamic acid and d-Mannitol, thus assessing the suitability of this method for a comprehensive characterization of the process and its outcome. The information collected at the end of the different stages throughout all the experiments is further exploited to estimate the growth rates of d-Mannitol, in order to validate the observations made through simulations regarding the effect of growth kinetics on the process outcome. Finally, the model, fitted to the experimental evidence collected, has been used to further investigate and characterize the design space

Probabilistic estimation of reservoir properties by means of wide-angle AVA inversion and a petrophysical reformulation of the Zoeppritz equations

We apply a target-oriented amplitude versus angle (AVA) inversion to estimate the petrophysical properties of a gas-saturated reservoir in offshore Nile Delta. A linear empirical rock-physics model derived from well log data provides the link between the petrophysical properties (porosity, shaliness and saturation) and the P-wave, S-wave velocities and density. This rock-physics model, properly calibrated for the investigated reservoir, is used to re-parameterize the exact Zoeppritz equations. The so derived equations are the forward model engine of a linearized Bayesian AVA-petrophysical inversion that, for each data gather, inverts the AVA of the target reflections to estimate the petrophysical properties of the reservoir layer, keeping fixed the cap-rock properties. We make use of the iterative Gauss-Newton method to solve the inversion problem. For each petrophysical property of interest, we discuss the benefits introduced by wide-angle reflections in constraining the inversion and we compare the posterior probability distributions (PPDs) analytically obtained via a local linearization of the inversion with the PPDs numerically computed with a Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) method. It results that the porosity is the best resolved parameter and that wide-angle reflections effectively constrain the shaliness estimates but do not guarantee reliable saturation estimates. It also results that the local linearization returns accurate PPDs in good agreement with the MCMC estimates

Selective manipulation of crystal shape by combined crystallization, milling, and dissolution stages - An approach for robust process design

Solid formulations are nowadays extremely important in everyday life, especially concerning food and pharmaceutical products. Particularly in the latter case, the size and shape of the active pharmaceutical ingredients play a major role in determining their properties, both in terms of processability and bioavailability. For this reason, the interest in the crystallization community is driven nowadays more and more towards the identification of solutions to control the morphology of the particles during crystallization processes. Currently, the use of additives and antisolvents, as well as milling the particles after crystallization, are techniques commonly applied in industry. In order to avoid chemical impurities and fines in the final products, processes involving temperature cycles, eventually combined with a feedback controller, have also proved to be an interesting alternative. In this work, a new technique based on the combination of crystallization, milling and dissolution is proposed to control the shape of crystals. The crystallization stage is used to recover the solute from solution, while milling is used to break particles lengthwise, therefore reducing their length and leading to more equant shaped crystals. The fines formed during rupture are subsequently removed by dissolving them and the three stages are repeated for the desired number of cycles. The approach used for a successful process design is thoroughly explained. First of all, it is necessary to develop devices to reliably and accurately measure multidimensional particle size and shape distributions. This is fundamental for a precise characterization of the basic phenomena occurring during the different stages. To this aim, the flow-through cell, an in-house built device, is used to monitor and measure populations of crystals and characterize them in terms of length and width; on top of that, a hot-stage microscope is used to investigate phenomena at the single particle scale. The experimental observation is used to develop a mathematical model, based on population balance equations. This model allows to describe phenomena typically occurring during crystallization processes, such as breakage and nucleation, hence allowing for an accurate prediction of experimental outcomes. The mathematical model developed proves to be a reliable tool for the investigation of the feasibility of the proposed process. After the identification of process variables, particular focus is placed on the effect of the amount of mass dissolved, the milling intensity and the number of cycles performed, by considering and comparing both average properties and the whole particle size and shape distributions. A parametric analysis is used to identify general process trends and possible tradeoffs, as well as close-to-optimality conditions. To conclude, a comparison with a single crystallization stage and cooling crystallization followed by milling is carried out, highlighting benefits and limitations of the new process on the alternatives proposed

The role inflammatory response genes in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome: a review

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) has a negative impact on health and behavior of millions of individuals worldwide. The pathogenesis of this disorder is a multifactorial process related to a variety of mechanisms, including selective activation of inflammatory response pathways. A number of inflammatory factors, such as IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-alpha, can be found in high concentrations in subjects with OSAS and may serve as biological markers of this disease. The concentration of these cytokines contributes to weight gain in patients with OSAS and can also modify the risk of obesity-related metabolic disorders, especially insulin resistance. Nevertheless, the mechanisms by which specific genes are associated with these processes are still poorly known. In addition to gene expression studies, investigations aiming at the identification of epigenetic factors associated with OSAS are still scarce in the literature. The documented data support the hypothesis that the molecular changes that mediate inflammatory response are important mechanisms in the pathogenesis of OSAS, sleepiness, insulin resistance, visceral obesity, and cardiovascular disease, perhaps by leading to a more severe OSAS. Often, systemic changes may not be detected in mild OSA; however, molecular changes, which are much more sensitive to the mechanisms of intermittent hypoxia and oxidative stress, may be present. This review aimed to show an updated view on the studies evaluating the genetic basis of inflammatory response in many aspects of OSAS and to highlight potential research areas not fully explored to date in this field.Associacao Fundo de Incentivo a Pesquisa (AFIP)Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Sao PauloCoordenacao de Aperfeicoamento de Pessoal de Ensino Superior (CAPES)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnologico (CNPq)Univ Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Psicobiol, Rua Napoleao Barros,925 Vila Clementino, BR-04024002 Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Psicobiol, Rua Napoleao Barros,925 Vila Clementino, BR-04024002 Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Protein Extraction, Enrichment and MALDI MS and MS/MS Analysis from Bitter Orange Leaves (Citrus aurantium)

: Citrus aurantium is a widespread tree in the Mediterranean area, and it is mainly used as rootstock for other citrus. In the present study, a vacuum infiltration centrifugation procedure, followed by solid phase extraction matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization tandem mass spectrometry (SPE MALDI MS/MS) analysis, was adopted to isolate proteins from leaves. The results of mass spectrometry (MS) profiling, combined with the top-down proteomics approach, allowed the identification of 78 proteins. The bioinformatic databases TargetP, SignalP, ChloroP, WallProtDB, and mGOASVM-Loc were used to predict the subcellular localization of the identified proteins. Among 78 identified proteins, 20 were targeted as secretory pathway proteins and 36 were predicted to be in cellular compartments including cytoplasm, nucleus, and cell membrane. The largest subcellular fraction was the secretory pathway, accounting for 25% of total proteins. Gene Ontology (GO) of Citrus sinensis was used to simplify the functional annotation of the proteins that were identified in the leaves. The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) showed the enrichment of metabolic pathways including glutathione metabolism and biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, suggesting that the response to a range of environmental factors is the key processes in citrus leaves. Finally, the Lipase GDSL domain-containing protein GDSL esterase/lipase, which is involved in plant development and defense response, was for the first time identified and characterized in Citrus aurantium

Edible Insects an Alternative Nutritional Source of Bioactive Compounds: A Review

Edible insects have the potential to become one of the major future foods. In fact, they can be considered cheap, highly nutritious, and healthy food sources. International agencies, such as the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), have focused their attention on the consumption of edible insects, in particular, regarding their nutritional value and possible biological, toxicological, and allergenic risks, wishing the development of analytical methods to verify the authenticity, quality, and safety of insect-based products. Edible insects are rich in proteins, fats, fiber, vitamins, and minerals but also seem to contain large amounts of polyphenols able to have a key role in specific bioactivities. Therefore, this review is an overview of the potential of edible insects as a source of bioactive compounds, such as polyphenols, that can be a function of diet but also related to insect chemical defense. Currently, insect phenolic compounds have mostly been assayed for their antioxidant bioactivity; however, they also exert other activities, such as anti-inflammatory and anticancer activity, antityrosinase, antigenotoxic, and pancreatic lipase inhibitory activitie