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

Experience of acoustic FWI on seismic land data

After more then ten years of research and development, Full Waveform Inversion (FWI) still remains challenging and even now there are many topics that are open to debate. The solution of the inverse problem, the limitation of the computational costs and the estimation of a good initial models from where to start the inversion, are just some of these topics. On the other hand, FWI applicability and success is also very dependent on the characteristics of the input seismic data and in particular: the signal-to-noise ratio, the maximum recorded offset and the low frequency content. For this reasons, actual and successful examples found in the literature mainly refer to marine seismic applications (Sirgue et al., 2010, Guasch et al., 2015), while limited experiences refer to land data FWI (Brossier et al., 2009, Plessix et al., 2010, Al-Yaqoobi et al., 2013, Galuzzi et al., 2016). This is mainly due to the generally poor quality of the gathers recorded onshore, but also to the difficulty on the choice and estimation of the source wavelet from the actual data and finally to the topography and near surface effects that alter and contaminate with noise the gathers. Indeed, if the kinematic of the events is the main information that we want to invert, as it is discussed here, processing can be useful to partially circumvent this limitations and to recover the coherency of the events without taking into account the amplitude and phase behaviours. In this work, we present an experience of acoustic genetic algorithm (GA) driven FWI on a 2D seismic line acquired onshore, in the South Tuscany, aimed at estimating a low-frequency low-wavenumber P-wave velocity model, that could be used as starting model for a subsequent gradient based FWI. In the first part of this work, we discuss the processing steps applied to improve the signal-to-noise ratio of the gathers and finally to generate the observed data. In the second part, we describe the stochastic FWI employed that makes use of a two-grid approach, a coarse grid for the inversion and a fine grid for the modeling and the GA as the inversion engine. This methodology is discussed in Sajeva et al. (2014) and in Tognarelli et al. (2015) where is applied on synthetic and field marine data

Do phonologic and rapid automatized naming deficits differentially affect dyslexic children with and without a history of language delay? A study of Italian dyslexic children

Objective: The study aims to verify whether phonologic and rapid automatized naming (RAN) deficits are present and associated in Italian dyslexic children and whether they differentially affect dyslexics with and without a history of previous language delay (LD). Background: According to the phonologic core deficit hypothesis, dyslexia may stem from impairment of the representation and manipulation of phonemes and may be closely associated with oral language deficits. However, deficits in tasks not requiring fine-grained phonologic representations, such as RAN, have also been described in dyslexic children. Methods: Thirty-seven children were selected on the basis of a reading deficit and were assigned to 2 groups according to whether or not they had a history of early LD as determined retrospectively by parental report. A battery of reading and writing, verbal working memory, metaphonologic, RAN, and visual search tests were administered. Results: RAN deficits were shared by most dyslexics (with and without a history of LD), whereas phonologic deficits were mainly associated with a previous LD. This last condition did not result in a more profound impairment of reading and writing decoding skills. Conclusion: In a shallow orthography such as Italian, RAN, not phonologic deficits, may represent the main cognitive marker of developmental dyslexia

Luminescent methacrylic copolymers with side-chain cyclometalated iridium(III) complexes

A series of eight copolymers made of a poly (methyl methacrylate) backbone with a luminescent iridium(III)-based pendant is presented. These materials are obtained by radical copolymerization of different ratios of methyl methacrylate (MMA) with the reactive Ir-based MMA monomer [Ir(ppy)2(ptmma)]Cl (Hppy = 2-phenylpyridine, ptmma = 11-(4-pyridin-2-yltriazol-1-yl)undecyl 2-methylprop-2-enoate). The products are characterized by NMR, IR and DSC methods. The specific ratio among the two monomers, dictates the concentration of the emissive iridium-based centers along the polymer backbone, which affects the overall luminescence behavior of the material. The position of the absorption and emission maxima of the iridium-based monomer and of the related polymeric compounds are virtually identical, pinpointing the optically innocent character of the polymer matrix. Photophysical investigations show that the emission quantum yields (PLQYs) of the iridium-based emitters improve upon increasing the fraction of the inert MMA co-monomer, due to a progressive decrease in self-absorption and self-quenching, approaching the infinite-dilution limit at the relatively low [MMA]:[Ir] molar ratio of 500, with PLQY = 0.51 \ub1 0.05. The concentration-quenching rate process follows a power-law proportional to R\u2013(2.6\ub10.9), where R is the calculated average distance between the emitting units of the copolymers. Such a deviation from the expected dipole-dipole interaction (i.e., R 126 dependence) suggests the partial formation of aggregates leading to the occurrence of static self-quenching in the solid matrix, as the concentration of the iridium centers increases. These results offer valuable hints for the formulation of strongly emitting hybrid materials in which a high concentration of triplet luminophores is embedded in organic polymers solely serving as solid transparent scaffolds

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 activities

REINVENTARE LO STATO. RAPPORTO SULLE PUBBLICHE AMMINISTRAZIONI IN ITALIA

A venticinque anni dal primo atto del percorso di riforma delle Pubbliche Amministrazioni, questo Rapporto sulle Pubbliche Amministrazioni in Italia vuole ridisegnare il perimetro della amministrazione diretta anche alla luce delle innovazioni tecnologiche e dei vincoli imposti dalla normativa europea. L’auspicio di uno Stato più leggero ed efficace e la volontà di ridurre la spesa pubblica come il prelievo fiscale sono oggi obiettivi teoricamente condivisi anche se l’insicurezza della società incoraggia la ulteriore produzione normativa con le conseguenti esigenze di nuovi apparati per la sua applicazione.Twenty-five years after the first reform of Italian public administration, this Report on Public Administrations in Italy wants to redesign the perimeter of direct administration also in light of technological innovations and constraints imposed by European legislation. The need for a lighter and more effective state and for reducing public spending are today shared objectives but the uncertain social framework continues to generate a regulatory excess

DPYD*6 plays an important role in fluoropyrimidine toxicity in addition to DPYD*2A and c.2846A>T: a comprehensive analysis in 1254 patients

Dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPYD) is a highly polymorphic gene and classic deficient variants (i.e., c.1236G>A/HapB3, c.1679T>G, c.1905+1G>A and c.2846A>T) are characterized by impaired enzyme activity and risk of severe adverse drug reactions (ADRs) in patients treated with fluoropyrimidines. The identification of poor metabolizers by pre-emptive DPYD screening may reduce the rate of ADRs but many patients with wild-type genotype for classic variants may still display ADRs. Therefore, the search for additional DPYD polymorphisms associated with ADRs may improve the safety of treatment with fluoropyrimidines. This study included 1254 patients treated with fluoropyrimidine-containing regimens and divided into cohort 1, which included 982 subjects suffering from gastrointestinal G≥2 and/or hematological G≥3 ADRs, and cohort 2 (control group), which comprised 272 subjects not requiring dose reduction, delay or discontinuation of treatment. Both groups were screened for DPYD variants c.496A>G, c.1236G>A/HapB3, c.1601G>A (DPYD*4), c.1627A>G (DPYD*5), c.1679T>G (DPYD*13), c.1896T>C, c.1905 + 1G>A (DPYD*2A), c.2194G>A (DPYD*6), and c.2846A>T to assess their association with toxicity. Genetic analysis in the two cohorts were done by Real-Time PCR of DNA extracted from 3 ml of whole blood. DPYD c.496A>G, c.1601G>A, c.1627A>G, c.1896T>C, and c.2194G>A variants were found in both cohort 1 and 2, while c.1905+1G>A and c.2846A>T were present only in cohort 1. DPYD c.1679T>G and c.1236G>A/HapB3 were not found. Univariate analysis allowed the selection of c.1905+1G>A, c.2194G>A and c.2846A>T alleles as significantly associated with gastrointestinal and hematological ADRs (p < 0.05), while the c.496A>G variant showed a positive trend of association with neutropenia (p = 0.06). In conclusion, c.2194G>A is associated with clinically-relevant ADRs in addition to the already known c.1905+1G>A and c.2846A>T variants and should be evaluated pre-emptively to reduce the risk of fluoropyrimidine-associated ADRs

Assessing the status of amphibian breeding sites in Italy: a national survey

The ecological status of 203 amphibian aquatic breeding sites, selected from the national database of the Societas Herpetologica Italica (SHI), was surveyed in the period 2008-2009 to assess their ecological status. Sites were randomly extracted, after stratification by the three biogeographical regions present in Italy, besides Sardinia and Sicily. The field surveys, conducted by professionals, amateurs and volunteers, showed that since 1979 about 11% of the sites were destroyed or no more suitable for the reproduction of amphibians that bred in the same site in the past. The percentage of destroyed or altered sites was 8%, both in the Mediterranean and Alpine biogeographical regions, and 15% in the Continental one. However, there were no statistical significant differences among the regions, suggesting that the rate of amphibian site loss was similar in different parts of Italy. This nation-wide monitoring project demonstrated that in Italy, during the last thirty years, a relevant proportion of amphibian breeding habitats has been destroyed or altered. The main cause of site alteration were land reclamation and water extraction