BSA Fragmentation Specifically Induced by Added Electrolytes: an Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry Investigation

Biointerfaces are significantly affected by electrolytes according to the Hofmeister series. This work reports a systematic investigation on the effect of different metal chlorides, sodium and potassium bromides, iodides and thiocyanates, on the ESI/MS spectra of bovine serum albumin (BSA) in aqueous solution at pH = 2.7. The concentration of each salt was varied to maximize the quality of the ESI/MS spectrum, in terms of peak intensity and bell-shaped profile. The ESI/MS spectra of BSA in the absence and in the presence of salts showed a main protein pattern characterized by the expected mass of 66.5 kDa, except the case of BSA/RbCl (mass 65,3 kDa). In all systems we observed an additional pattern, characterized by at least three peaks with low intensity, whose deconvolution led to suggest the formation of a BSA fragment with a mass of 19.2 kDa. Only NaCl increased the intensity of the peaks of the main BSA pattern, while minimizing that of the fragment. NaCl addition seems to play a crucial role in stabilizing BSA ionized interface against hydrolysis of peptide bonds, through different synergistic mechanisms. To quantify the observed specific electrolyte effects, two “Hofmeister” parameters (Hs and Ps) are proposed. They are obtained using the ratio of (BSA-Salt)/BSA peak intensities for both the BSA main pattern and for its fragment

Groundwater flow and geochemical modeling of the Acque Albule thermal basin (Central Italy): a conceptual model for evaluating influences of human exploitation on flowpath and thermal resource availability

Although the Acque Albule Basin has been studied since the middle of the 19th century, a comprehensive geologic conceptual model of the area has not yet been developed. The natural setting has been heavily modified by anthropic activities. Rapid evolution during the last 25 years has caused many interferences, which have led to a drastic increase of the hazards and linked risks, mainly related to water resource overexploitation and subsidence. The implementation of an exhaustive framework has become mandatory for environmental and management purposes. Starting from a critical review of previous studies, hydrogeologic and hydrogeochemical surveys and related numerical modeling have been carried out in order to achieve a quantitative understanding of the active phenomena and processes. Several hydrogeologic issues have been addressed concerning aquifer recharge areas and the different flowpaths of groundwater in respect to their division into a shallow and a deep circuit. Account has been taken of the groundwater chemistry as a function of water—rock interactions and mixing processes with uprising fluids. Different scenarios of groundwater flow in the Acque Albule aquifer have been built, using previously available piezometric measurements and the hydrodynamic parameters determined by in situ tests. These results led to the formulation of an updated hydrogeologic conceptual model to be further implemented, in which past, present and future anthropic instances and the potential of natural resources of the area have been included and taken into account. A sound conceptual model must rely on the design and development of a logical geo-database in which information is stored, updated and processed. This operational framework can result in a useful tool for land management, surveys planning and design, hazard and risk evaluation, identification of best practices and economic development of the area

Ecosystem services and disservices associated with vultures : A systematic review and evidence assessment

Nature's contribution to people (i.e. ecosystem services) is becoming integral to conservation science and policy, yet our knowledge is restricted to only a few services and taxa. Vultures (family: Accipitridae and Cathartidae), most of which are threatened with extinction, have been touted for delivering regulation and maintenance services via their capacity to rapidly consume organic matter. As such, their appellation as "nature's clean-up crew" has become very popular. However, a comprehensive evaluation of the supporting evidence for such appellation was absent from the published literature. We performed a systematic review and evidence assessment to quantify the global contribution of vultures towards over 20 ecosystem services and disservices. Our analysis determined a critical imbalance in the scope and focus of published research. In contrast to the birds' popularised image as cleaners of the environment, we found only weak evidence to support any regulation and maintenance services for vultures. Moreover, studies on regulation and maintenance disservices were prominent. The only ecosystem services supported by strong evidence were cultural, although even these were evidenced by a limited number of studies. Finally, we unveil major knowledge gaps in the ecosystem service and disservice literature on a taxonomic and spatial scale related to vultures. Our analysis highlights the urgent need to quantify the net contribution of vultures to people.Peer reviewe

Developmental, hormone- and stress-modulated expression profiles of four members of the Arabidopsis copper-amine oxidase gene family

Copper-containing amine oxidases (CuAOs) catalyze polyamines (PAs) terminal oxidation producing ammonium, an aminoaldehyde and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Plant CuAOs are induced by stress-related hormones, methyl-jasmonate (MeJA), abscisic acid (ABA) and salicylic acid (SA). In the Arabidopsis genome, eight genes encoding CuAOs have been identified. Here, a comprehensive investigation of the expression pattern of four genes encoding AtCuAOs from the α and γ phylogenetic subfamilies, the two peroxisomal AtCuAOα2 (At1g31690) and AtCuAOα3 (At1g31710) and the two apoplastic AtCuAOγ1 (At1g62810) and AtCuAOγ2 (At3g43670), has been carried out by RT-qPCR and promoter::green fluorescent protein-β-glucuronidase fusion (GFP-GUS). Expression in hydathodes of new emerging leaves (AtCuAOγ1 and AtCuAOγ2) and/or cotyledons (AtCuAOα2, AtCuAOγ1 and AtCuAOγ2) as well as in vascular tissues of new emerging leaves and in cortical root cells at the division/elongation transition zone (AtCuAOγ1), columella cells (AtCuAOγ2) or hypocotyl and root (AtCuAOα3) was identified. Quantitative and tissue-specific gene expression analysis performed by RT-qPCR and GUS-staining in 5- and 7-day-old seedlings under stress conditions or after treatments with hormones or PAs, revealed that all four AtCuAOs were induced during dehydration recovery, wounding, treatment with indoleacetic acid (IAA) and putrescine (Put). AtCuAOα2, AtCuAOα3, AtCuAOγ1 and AtCuAOγ2 expression in vascular tissues and hydathodes involved in water supply and/or loss, along with a dehydration-recovery dependent gene expression, would suggest a role in water balance homeostasis. Moreover, occurrence in zones where an auxin maximum has been observed along with an IAA-induced alteration of expression profiles, support a role in tissue maturation and xylem differentiation events

Tuning Pluronic F127 phase transitions by adding physiological amounts of salts: A rheology, SAXS, and NMR investigation

Specific ion (Hofmeister) effects in colloid and biological systems represented a scientific challenge for more than 100 years. Recently, possible applications, based on their rationalization, are emerging. Here, Cl-, SO42-, SCN- anions and Na+, K+, Mg2+ cations are added at physiological concentration (∼0.15 mol/kg) to Pluronic F127 20 wt% aqueous solutions to suitably tune phase transitions for a smart drug delivery platform. Rheological measurements, along with SAXS and NMR self-diffusion experiments, are used to carefully characterize the prepared F127/salt-based formulations. The critical micellar temperature (cmt), the hard-gel formation temperature (Thg), liquid crystal structures, and self-diffusion coefficients are determined. The cmt and Thg values of F127/salt formulations are lower than that of F127 20 wt% sample, following an anionic Hofmeister series: SO42- < Cl- < SCN-. All added salts significantly increase storage modulus and complex viscosity with maximum values occurring at T around 40 °C. SAXS data confirm that added salts preserve cubic liquid crystal phases. NMR self-diffusion analysis highlights that the intermolecular interactions and mobility of F127 unimers/aggregates are ion specific at 16 °C but not at 40 °C. These findings suggest that F127/salt-based formulations may constitute a versatile thermosensitive platform for drug delivery able to assure sustained release in topical or surgery administrations, in the range of temperatures 30–45 °C

Archivio storico della provincia di Salerno. A.1, n.1/4(1921)

A.1,n.1(1921): Arnone N., Origine e avvenire della Società di Storia Patria per la Provincia di Salerno, P.3-6 ; Bilotti P.E., I doveri della nostra Società di Storia, P.7-28; Sinno A., Determinazione della sede della Scuola Medica di Salerno, P.29-61; Mazziotti M., L'insurrezione salernitana nel 1860 (parte I), P.62-70; De Angelis M., Lucerna fittile salernitana del III-IV secolo, P.71-73; Carucci C., Gli Ebrei in Salerno nei secoli 11. e 12., P.74-79; Martini E. M., Intorno a Pietro Capuano cardinale scrittore (sec. 12. e 13.) (parte 1.), P.80-90; Carucci P., La grotta dell'Angelo di Pertosa e la sua completa esplorazione speleologica, P.91-105; Torraca F., Per Giacinto Romano. Discorso commemorativo, P.106-117. -A.1,n.2/3(1921): Mazziotti M., L'insurrezione salernitana nel 1860 (parte II e ultima), P. 121-144; Solimena G., Origini, armi feudali e Giuspatronati dei Solimena di Salerno, P.145-151; Carucci C., L'ultimo cancelliere normanno: Matteo d'Aiello salernitano, P.152-186; Arnone N., Matteo Ripa e l'Istituto Orientale di Napoli, P.187-210; Sinno A., Diplomi di laurea dell'Almo Collegio Salernitano, P. 211-251; Martini E. M., Intorno a Pietro Capuano cardinale scrittore (sec. 12.e 13.) (parte 2.) P.252-257; Conforti R., Un patriottico articolo di . . ., P. 258-265; D'Alessio G., Un'epigrafe funeraria in Nocera Inferiore, P. 266-267; De Crescenzo A., Un'urna discoperta ed un sarcofago da scoprire, P. 267-269. -A.1,n.4(1921): Mazziotti M., La rivoluzione del 1820 in Provincia di Salerno (parte 1.), P.273-294; Martini E. M., Intorno a Pietro Capuano cardinale scrittore (sec. 12.-13.) (parte 3. ed ultima), P.295-311; Ravello (trad. di M. Zoccoletti), P.312-334 ; Carucci C., Le preoccupazioni di Carlo d'Angiò per Salerno dopo la battaglia di Tagliacozzo in tre documenti del tempo, P.335-339; De Crescenzo A., Il sepolcro dei due Romualdo, P.339-342; Salerno nella poesia inglese (R. Browning, C. Pearce Cranch, J.E. Reade), P.342- 348

Cost-effectiveness analysis of personalised versus standard dosimetry for selective internal radiation therapy with TheraSphere in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma

Aims: To perform a cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA) comparing personalised dosimetry with standard dosimetry in the context of selective internal radiation therapy (SIRT) with TheraSphere for the management of adult patients with locally advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) from the Italian Healthcare Service perspective. Materials and methods: A partition survival model was developed to project costs and the quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) over a lifetime horizon. Clinical inputs were retrieved from a published randomised controlled trial. Health resource utilisation inputs were extracted from the questionnaires administered to clinicians in three oncology centres in Italy, respectively. Cost parameters were based on Italian official tariffs. Results: Over a lifetime horizon, the model estimated the average QALYs of 1.292 and 0.578, respectively, for patients undergoing personalised and standard dosimetry approaches. The estimated mean costs per patient were €23,487 and €19,877, respectively. The incremental cost-utility ratio (ICUR) of personalised versus standard dosimetry approaches was €5,056/QALY. Conclusions: Personalised dosimetry may be considered a cost-effective option compared to standard dosimetry for patients undergoing SIRT for HCC in Italy. These findings provide evidence for clinicians and payers on the value of personalised dosimetry as a treatment option for patients with HCC