Lentikat®-based Biocatalysts: Effective Tools for Inulin Hydrolysis

A commercial inulinase preparation from Aspergillus niger was immobilized into polyvinyl alcohol hydrogel lenticular particles (Lentikats®) and into hemispheric-shaped capsules, both based on the use of LentiKat® liquid. The characterization of the resulting biocatalysts, aiming at inulin hydrolysis to fructose, was performed, and the two methods of immobilization were compared. Temperature and pH profiles, as well as kinetic constants were determined, for both free and immobilized enzyme preparations. A broader-shaped curve was observed for the pH-activity profile when immobilized forms were compared to the free form. The apparent KM of inulinase increased roughly 2-fold upon immobilization in either form of the support particles, suggesting diffusion limitations of inulin inside the gel. Long-term operation with immobilized enzymes proved unfeasible above 55 °C, due to the lack of mechanical stability of the supports tested. When the temperature of incubation was lowered to 50 °C, the hemispheric form of the immobilized enzyme displayed considerable long-term operational stability, since it allowed 20 repeated, consecutive batch-mode runs, with a final decay in product yield of 20 %. When inulinase immobilized in Lentikats® particles was used, the final decay in product yield was roughly 70 %

Astrophysics with the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna

The Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) will be a transformative experiment for gravitational wave astronomy, and, as such, it will offer unique opportunities to address many key astrophysical questions in a completely novel way. The synergy with ground-based and space-born instruments in the electromagnetic domain, by enabling multi-messenger observations, will add further to the discovery potential of LISA. The next decade is crucial to prepare the astrophysical community for LISA’s first observations. This review outlines the extensive landscape of astrophysical theory, numerical simulations, and astronomical observations that are instrumental for modeling and interpreting the upcoming LISA datastream. To this aim, the current knowledge in three main source classes for LISA is reviewed; ultra-compact stellar-mass binaries, massive black hole binaries, and extreme or interme-diate mass ratio inspirals. The relevant astrophysical processes and the established modeling techniques are summarized. Likewise, open issues and gaps in our understanding of these sources are highlighted, along with an indication of how LISA could help making progress in the different areas. New research avenues that LISA itself, or its joint exploitation with upcoming studies in the electromagnetic domain, will enable, are also illustrated. Improvements in modeling and analysis approaches, such as the combination of numerical simulations and modern data science techniques, are discussed. This review is intended to be a starting point for using LISA as a new discovery tool for understanding our Universe

Corpo e diritto: tra oggettività e soggettività

Il volume raccoglie gli atti del Convegno “Il corpo distante; l’identità del paziente tra medicina specialistica ed aspettative di cura”, tenutosi a Varese il 22 settembre 2009. Il carattere interdisciplinare del convegno, con contributi di filosofi, medici, antropologi, psicologi, teologi e giuristi, ha permesso di valutare con uno sguardo ampio e approfondito una tematica estremamente attuale e ricca di implicazioni etiche, professionali e normative. La percezione del proprio corpo e di quello degli altri, infatti, in un’epoca in cui gli strumenti di indagine diagnostica e di intervento terapeutico sempre più sostituiscono le consuete modalità di incontro e relazione tra medico e paziente, si è gradualmente modificata, ponendo maggiormente l’accento su aspetti quali la funzione e l’efficienza lavorativa o di partecipazione alla vita sociale, a scapito di una visione più completa in cui il corpo, sano o malato, è parte integrante dell’identità della persona. Recuperare questa visione è quanto mai necessario, per riuscire a mantenere l’Uomo e la sua complessa natura al centro dell’interesse della ricerca scientifica e tecnologica e della relazione terapeutica

Corpo e diritto: tra oggettività e soggettività

Il volume raccoglie gli atti del Convegno “Il corpo distante; l’identità del paziente tra medicina specialistica ed aspettative di cura”, tenutosi a Varese il 22 settembre 2009. Il carattere interdisciplinare del convegno, con contributi di filosofi, medici, antropologi, psicologi, teologi e giuristi, ha permesso di valutare con uno sguardo ampio e approfondito una tematica estremamente attuale e ricca di implicazioni etiche, professionali e normative. La percezione del proprio corpo e di quello degli altri, infatti, in un’epoca in cui gli strumenti di indagine diagnostica e di intervento terapeutico sempre più sostituiscono le consuete modalità di incontro e relazione tra medico e paziente, si è gradualmente modificata, ponendo maggiormente l’accento su aspetti quali la funzione e l’efficienza lavorativa o di partecipazione alla vita sociale, a scapito di una visione più completa in cui il corpo, sano o malato, è parte integrante dell’identità della persona. Recuperare questa visione è quanto mai necessario, per riuscire a mantenere l’Uomo e la sua complessa natura al centro dell’interesse della ricerca scientifica e tecnologica e della relazione terapeutica

Experimental assessment of electron ionization cross sections

We report preliminary results of an extensive investigation of theoretical and semi-empirical calculations of electron impact ionization cross sections, detailed by individual shells: they encompass the well known tabulations of the EEDL data library (also distributed within ENDF/B-VII) used by Geant4, MCNP and other codes, recent calculations used in Penelope, as well as other models not yet used in general-purpose Monte Carlo transport codes. All models have been subject to a rigorous validation test against a wide collection of experimental measurements. Special attention has been devoted to possible sources of systematics affecting the validation process, both of physical and mathematical origin. As most of the data reported in the literature as experimental measurements of ionization cross sections actually derive from X-ray production measurements, the systematic effect of different compilations of fluorescence yields has been quantitatively assessed. The compatibility of calculated and experimental cross sections has been further examined with categorical analysis methods to determine whether the observed differences across the various models are statistically significant. The results of this validation process identify objectively and quantitatively the state of the art in modeling electron impact ionization; they are relevant for the improvement of ionization modeling in Monte Carlo codes

Bioethics in italian medical and healthcare education. A pilot study

Background and aim of the work: Bioethics is relevant in healthcare and medical schools. However, unlike other foreign countries, its teaching in Italy has only been recently introduced, it is less extensively offered and no academic standards for bioethics education have been established. This research aims at understanding whether university bioethics courses attendees appreciate and consider teaching strategies to be effective with the objective of validating a coherent didactic approach to the discipline and stimulate further discussion on ways to improve it. Methods: A standardized survey was administered to 1590 students attending undergraduate degree programs in medicine and healthcare at four Italian universities. Results: The majority of interviewees (92.5%) had an interest in bioethics, considered it to be important for any life-sciences-related program (73.5%) and most healthcare (77.2%) and medical students (69.2%) suggested its teaching should be included in their curricula and made mandatory (66.3%) and continuous (57.7%), given its usefulness in clinical practice. Students consider bioethics as a care-integrated practice and appreciate teaching methods where it is integrated into clinical cases. Conceptual specificity and interdisciplinarity may affect the learning process and contribute to enhance students\u2019 analytical skills. Conclusions: Italian bioethics education should be revised to meet students\u2019 expectations and preferences. Its complex, multi-disciplinary and transversal nature suggests bioethical education to be flexible and integrated among different disciplines, thus stimulating a broader critical capacity through cases studies and other interactive teaching methods for helping students better deal with bioethics-inherent difficulties and improve the learning process. (www.actabiomedica.it)

Astrophysics with the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna

The Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) will be a transformative experiment for gravitational wave astronomy, and, as such, it will offer unique opportunities to address many key astrophysical questions in a completely novel way. The synergy with ground-based and space-born instruments in the electromagnetic domain, by enabling multi-messenger observations, will add further to the discovery potential of LISA. The next decade is crucial to prepare the astrophysical community for LISA’s first observations. This review outlines the extensive landscape of astrophysical theory, numerical simulations, and astronomical observations that are instrumental for modeling and interpreting the upcoming LISA datastream. To this aim, the current knowledge in three main source classes for LISA is reviewed; ultra-compact stellar-mass binaries, massive black hole binaries, and extreme or interme-diate mass ratio inspirals. The relevant astrophysical processes and the established modeling techniques are summarized. Likewise, open issues and gaps in our understanding of these sources are highlighted, along with an indication of how LISA could help making progress in the different areas. New research avenues that LISA itself, or its joint exploitation with upcoming studies in the electromagnetic domain, will enable, are also illustrated. Improvements in modeling and analysis approaches, such as the combination of numerical simulations and modern data science techniques, are discussed. This review is intended to be a starting point for using LISA as a new discovery tool for understanding our Universe