Permian high-temperature metamorphism in the Western Alps (NW Italy)

During the late Palaeozoic, lithospheric thinning in part of the Alpine realm caused high-temperature low-to-medium pressure metamorphism and partial melting in the lower crust. Permian metamorphism and magmatism has extensively been recorded and dated in the Central, Eastern, and Southern Alps. However, Permian metamorphic ages in the Western Alps so far are constrained by very few and sparsely distributed data. The present study fills this gap. We present U/Pb ages of metamorphic zircon from several Adria-derived continental units now situated in the Western Alps, defining a range between 286 and 266 Ma. Trace element thermometry yields temperatures of 580-890°C from Ti-in-zircon and 630-850°C from Zr-in-rutile for Permian metamorphic rims. These temperature estimates, together with preserved mineral assemblages (garnet-prismatic sillimanite-biotite-plagioclase-quartz-K-feldspar-rutile), define pervasive upper-amphibolite to granulite facies conditions for Permian metamorphism. U/Pb ages from this study are similar to Permian ages reported for the Ivrea Zone in the Southern Alps and Austroalpine units in the Central and Eastern Alps. Regional comparison across the former Adriatic and European margin reveals a complex pattern of ages reported from late Palaeozoic magmatic and metamorphic rocks (and relics thereof): two late Variscan age groups (~330 and ~300 Ma) are followed seamlessly by a broad range of Permian ages (300-250 Ma). The former are associated with late-orogenic collapse; in samples from this study these are weakly represented. Clearly, dominant is the Permian group, which is related to crustal thinning, hinting to a possible initiation of continental rifting along a passive margin

Determination of the Deep Inelastic Contribution to the Generalised Gerasimov-Drell-Hearn Integral for the Proton and Neutron

The virtual photon absorption cross section differences [sigma_1/2-sigma_3/2] for the proton and neutron have been determined from measurements of polarised cross section asymmetries in deep inelastic scattering of 27.5 GeV longitudinally polarised positrons from polarised 1H and 3He internal gas targets. The data were collected in the region above the nucleon resonances in the kinematic range nu < 23.5 GeV and 0.8 GeV**2 < Q**2 < 12 GeV**2. For the proton the contribution to the generalised Gerasimov-Drell-Hearn integral was found to be substantial and must be included for an accurate determination of the full integral. Furthermore the data are consistent with a QCD next-to-leading order fit based on previous deep inelastic scattering data. Therefore higher twist effects do not appear significant.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figures, 1 table, revte

From cylindrical to non‐cylindrical foreland basin: Pliocene–Pleistocene evolution of the Po Plain–Northern Adriatic basin (Italy)

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Food matrices affect the peptides produced during the digestion of arthrospira platensis-based functional aliments

Arthrospira platensis (Spirulina) has been credited with multiple beneficial effects, many of which are attributed to bioactive peptides produced during the gastrointestinal digestion of this micro-alga. Many Spirulina-based nutraceuticals have been produced, and numerous functional foods enriched with Spirulina are available on the market. These are subjected to checks aimed at verifying the amount of algae actually present, but few studies relating to the bioavailability of the bioactive compounds in these products have been carried out. However, such investigations could be very important to elucidate the possible critical effects exerted by food matrices on protein digestion and bioactive peptide production. Here, in order to assess the suitability of Spirulina-enriched foods as a source of potentially bioactive peptides, a simulated digestion protocol was used in combination with mass spectrometry quantitative analysis to analyze functionalized pasta and sorbets. In the case of the pasta enriched with Spirulina, the production of peptides was quite similar to that of the Spirulina powder. On the other hand, the type of fruit present in the food matrix influenced the digestion of Spirulina inside the sorbets. In particular, the high concentration of protease inhibitors in kiwifruit drastically reduced the production of peptides from Spirulina in kiwi sorbet

4,5-Functionalized 6-phenyl-3(2H)pyridazinones: synthesis and evaluation of antinociceptive activity

A series of 2-substituted 4,5-functionalized 6-phenyl-3(2H)-pyridazinones were synthesized and their antinociceptive activities were evaluated in the mouse abdominal constriction model. Single dose studies showed that compounds 11, 18a and 23 were more active than the reference drug, Emorfazone, in inhibiting the effects of the noxious chemical stimulus, p-phenylquinone. Subsequent dose-response studies revealed 18a to be almost seven-fold more potent than Emorfazone