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Dopo una breve introduzione l'autore I tratta della natura giuridica dell'istituto. Si occupa poi del rapporto tra concessione del credito e costituzione della garanzia, dell'’assicurazione delle merci e le spese di custodia, .del ritiro dei titoli e delle merci date in garanzia.. Tratta infine degli effetti della diminuzione della garanzia e delle altre cause di estinzione del rapporto nonché del pegno irregolare a garanzia di anticipazione.

Cadmium (Cd), one of the most toxic contaminants in groundwater, can cause a severe threat to human health and ecological systems. In this study, alumina nanoparticles were synthesized and tested for high-efficiency Cd removal from simulated groundwater. Furthermore, the synthesized alumina nanoparticles were successfully modified using negatively charged glycerol, to alleviate the challenge of its low mobility in groundwater for the Cd removal. The maximum removal efficiency of both synthesized and glycerol-modified alumina nanoparticles were more than 99%. The sorption isotherm and kinetic data of both synthesized and glycerol-modified alumina nanoparticles were best fitted to the Freundlich model and the pseudo-second-order model, respectively, indicating that the sorption of Cd ions occurs on heterogeneous surfaces of both alumina nanoparticles via the chemisorption mechanism. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and energy dispersive X-ray analysis revealed the presence of Cd peak in both sorbents after contact with Cd. In addition, the FTIR analyses demonstrated that hydroxyl group participated in the sorption of Cd on both synthesized and glycerol-modified alumina nanoparticles, while other glycerol associated groups contributed to the removal of Cd ions by the glycerol-modified alumina nanoparticles. It was concluded that Cd removal by synthesized and glycerol-modified alumina nanoparticles were mainly due to ion exchange and electrostatic attraction, respectively. Desorption experiment suggested that both alumina nanoparticles are effective and practically significant sorbents to remediate Cd from contaminated groundwater. However, the stronger bond between Cd and glycerol-modified alumina, plus its potential of higher mobility due to the negative charge on the surface, warrant glycerol-modified alumina nanoparticles a better performance in remediating Cd contaminated groundwater than that of the synthesized alumina nanoparticles.

Objectives To analyze the effects of kinesio taping (KT) -applied with three different strains that induced or not the formation of skin creases (called convolutions)- on color intensity of post-surgical superficial hematomas. Design Single-blind paired study. Setting Rehabilitation clinic. Participants A convenience sample of 13 inpatients with post-surgical superficial hematomas. Interventions The tape was applied for 24 consecutive hours. Three tails of KT were randomly applied with different degrees of strain: none (SN); light (SL); and full longitudinal stretch (SF). We expected to obtain correct formation of convolutions with SL, some convolutions with SN, and no convolutions with SF. Main outcome measures The change in color intensity of hematomas, measured by means of polar coordinates CIE L*a*b* using a validated and standardized digital images system. Results Applying KT to hematomas did not significantly change the color intensity in the central area under the tape (p > 0.05). There was a significant treatment effect (p 0.05). Conclusions The changes observed along the edges of the tape could be related to the formation of a pressure gradient between the KT and the adjacent area, but were not dependent on the formation of skin convolutions.

Background and aims Cigarette smoking is a well established determinant of carotid atherosclerosis. The mechanisms potentially responsible for this effect, e.g., activation of extensive peroxidation processes leading to, among others, altered endothelial function, may involve changes of fatty acid (FA) levels. In this study, we evaluated the impact of cigarette smoking on FA profiles and interactions with circulating FAs in determining subclinical atherosclerosis. This was established by the parallel determination of the carotid intima-media thickness (C-IMT).

Volcanic soils show peculiar characteristics related to the presence of poorly ordered crystalline minerals. These minerals are highly sensitive to specific spectral bands in the visible and near-infrared (Vis-NIR) regions and could be used to establish important relationships between andic properties and soil classification. In order to overcome the expense of traditional soil laboratory analysis and the limitations of pedotransfer functions, this research was designed to test i) the possibility of using diffuse reflectance spectra (DRS) for a supervised chemometric classification of soils with different degrees of andicity, ii) the possibility of using diffuse reflectance spectra (DRS) to estimate the andic properties needed for soil classification (iron and aluminum forms, allophane, phosphate retention, vitric content etc.), and iii) the different multivariate statistical approaches for the analysis of spectra. Diffuse reflectance spectra were measured between 200 and 2500 nm in the laboratory with a Jasco spectrophotometer equipped with an integrated sphere. Chemometric analysis was carried out by discriminant analysis that correctly divided 86% of the horizon samples in 5 classes, representing different levels of expression of the andic properties. Chemometric calibration was obtained by pre-processing Vis-NIR spectra with the application of partial least-squares regression (PLSR). Andic soil attributes were then predicted using calibrated models through PLSR methods and compared with the findings from the Supported Vector Machine (SVM). SVM generally outperformed PLSR on predicting andic properties by Vis-NIR. The most accurate predictive models were obtained for Al and Fe dithionite extracted, both with PLSR (ratio of performance to deviation, RPD 1.9) and SVM (1.7

Atomic force microscopy in contact (AFM-C) mode was used to investigate the molecular dynamics of leonardite humic acid (HA) aggregate formed at different pH values. HA nanoparticles dispersed at pH values ranging from 2 to 12 were observed on a mica surface under dry conditions. The most clearly resolved and well-resulted AFM images of single particle were obtained at pH 5, where HA appeared as supramolecular particles with a conic shape and a hole in the centre. Those observations suggested that HA formed under these conditions exhibited a pseudo-amphiphilic nature, with secluded hydrophobic domains and polar subunits in direct contact with hydrophilic mica surface. Based on molecular simulation methods, a lignin–carbohydrate complex (LCC) model was proposed to explain the HA ring-like morphology. The LCC model optimized the parameters of b-O-4 linkages between 14 units of 1–4 phenyl propanoid, and resulted in an optimized structure comprising 45–50 linear helical molecules looped spirally around a central cavity. Those results added new insights on the adsorption mechanism of HA on polar surfaces as a function of pH, which was relevant from the point of view of natural aggregation in soil environment.

An integrated platform to assess the interaction between nanocarriers and biological matrices has been developed by our group using poly methyl-methacrylate nanoparticles. In this study, we exploited this platform to evaluate the behavior of two biodegradable formulations, poly-ε-caprolactone (PCL3) and poly lactic-acid (PLA8), respectively, in cellular and animal models of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Both NPs shared the main physicochemical parameters (size, shape, ζ-potential) and exclusively differentiated on the material on which they are composed. Our results showed that (1) PLA8 NPs, systemically injected in mice, underwent rapid degradation without penetration into tumors; (2) PLA8 NPs were not internalized in the human TNBC cell line (MDA-MB-231); (3) PCL3 NPs had a longer bioavailability, reached the tumor parenchyma, and efficiently penetrated in MDA-MB-231 cells. Our data highlight the relevance of the material selection to both improve bioavailability and target tropism, and make PCL3 NPs an interesting tool for the development of nanodrugs against TNBC.

Chemometric analysis applied to diffuse reflectance spectroscopy is increasingly proposed as an effective and accurate methodology to predict soil physical, chemical and biological properties. Its effectiveness, however, largely varies in relation to the calibration techniques and the specific soil properties. In addition, the calibration of UV-Vis-NIR spectra usually requires large datasets, and the identification of techniques suitable to deal with small sample sizes and high dimensionality problems is a primary challenge. In order to investigate the predictability of many soil chemical and biological properties from a small dataset and to identify the most suitable techniques to deal with this type of problems, we analysed 20 top soil samples of three different forests (Fagus sylvatica, Quercus cerris and Quercus ilex) in southern Apennines (Italy). Diffuse reflectance spectra were recorded in the UV-Vis-NIR range (200-2500 nm) and 22 chemical and biological properties were analysed. Three different calibration techniques were tested, namely the Partial Least Square Regression (PLSR), the combinations wavelet transformation/Elastic net and wavelet transformation/Supervised Principal Component (SPC) regression/ Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO), a kind of preconditioned LASSO. Calibration techniques were applied to both raw spectra and spectra subjected to wavelet shrinkage filtering, in order to evaluate the influence on predictions of spectra denoising. Overall, SPC/LASSO outperformed the other techniques with both raw and denoised spectra. Elastic net produced heterogeneous results, but outperformed SPC/LASSO for total organic carbon, whereas PLSR produced the worst results. Spectra denoising improved the prediction accuracy of many parameters, but worsen the predictions in some cases. Our approach highlighted that: (i) SPC/LASSO (and Elastic net in the case of total organic carbon) is especially suitable to calibrate spectra in the case of small, high dimensional datasets; and (ii) spectra denoising could be an effective technique to improve calibration results.

Many efforts have been performed in order to understand the role of recruited macrophages in the progression of spinal cord injury (SCI). Different studies revealed a pleiotropic effect played by these cells associated to distinct phenotypes (M1 and M2), showing a predictable spatial and temporal distribution in the injured site after SCI. Differently, the role of activated microglia in injury progression has been poorly investigated, mainly because of the challenges to target and selectively modulate them in situ. A delivery nanovector tool (poly-ε-caprolactone-based nanoparticles) able to selectively treat/target microglia has been developed and used here to clarify the temporal and spatial involvement of the pro-inflammatory response associated to microglial cells in SCI. We show that a treatment with nanoparticles loaded with minocycline, the latter a well-known anti-inflammatory drug, when administered acutely in a SCI mouse model is able to efficiently modulate the resident microglial cells reducing the pro-inflammatory response, maintaining a pro-regenerative milieu and ameliorating the behavioral outcome up to 63 days post injury. Furthermore, by using this selective delivery tool we demonstrate a mechanistic link between early microglia activation and M1 macrophages recruitment to the injured site via CCL2 chemokine, revealing a detrimental contribution of pro-inflammatory macrophages to injury progression after SCI.

Heavy metals provoke environmental pollution with potentially toxic effects on human and plants systems. Recently, investigations are conducted on plants that may play a relevant role on pollutants absorption or stabilization, focusing on fast growing tree species in agronomic conditions; little is known on the effects of contaminants on tree species colonizing abandoned fields to be used in restoration ecology. The effects of Cd on photosynthetic performance and metal accumulation were investigated in Quercus pubescens Willd. seedlings grown in pots containing a mixture of sand, clay, turf and Cd-treatments (0, 25 and 75 mg kg-1 dry soil). The studied photosynthetic parameters (Asat= net phytosynthesis; Rday= day respiration; Γcomp= CO2 compensation point; Vcmax= maximum carboxylation rate; Jmax = electron transport rate; TPU = triose phosphate use; Ci/Ca = ratio of intercellular (Ci) to ambient (Ca) [CO2] (Ci/Ca); Jmax/Vcmax = ratio; (gsmax) = maximum stomatal conductance; (lg) = stomatal conductance estimated relative to the photosynthetic rate; (Fv/Fm) = maximum quantum yield of PSII photochemistry; (ΔF/F’m) = effective photochemical efficiency) varied progressively with increasing Cd concentration in the soil, highlighting a negative impact on photosynthetic potential and PSII functioning. Approximately 10% of added Cd was found to be extractable from the substrate, at the maximum concentration applied, with about 12 and 0.75 as bioaccumulation and translocation factors, respectively. Analogously, Cd accumulated up to 34, 30 and 46 mg kg-1 in leaves, stem and roots, respectively. While it is not possible to extrapolate from the present study with seedlings to effects on mature pine trees, there are clear implications for regeneration in soils contaminated with heavy metals, which may lead to ecosystem deterioration.

The aim of this work was to investigate the surface structure of aqueous hematite dispersions characterized by a large variability of morphology and particle size combining structural investigations obtained from Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) techniques with in vitro particle size distributions and zeta potential measurements from Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) technique, and we achieved a self-consistent and detailed characterization of hematite particles whose sizes and morphologies could be correlated to the synthesis conditions (type of added anion, Al substitution and pH). Surface AFM characterization provided an accurate analysis of particle microstructure and also indicated that the growth of microcrystals followed different surface roughness. DLS, AFM, and TEM techniques furnished complementary information on the average particle dimensions, whose variation could be attributed to the morphological difference of hematites, ranging from platy to regular or irregular hexagonal or ellipsoidal shape. Finally, a correlation between the average particle dimensions and the measured zeta potential was also been found in aqueous dilute suspensions characterized by neither pH nor-ionic-strength-control, for which a drop of zeta potential from positive to negative values was detected for hematite particle dimensions larger than a threshold size of ~150 nm.

The maintenance of certain levels of old forest represents a cornerstone of the EU’s biodiversity management strategy. A consensus on a single general ecological definition of old‐growth is particularly difficult in Mediterranean Europe. The present paper deals with old‐growth forests and persistent woodlands in the Cilento and Vallo di Diano National Park (PNCVD) to give an ecological understanding of forest complexity and dynamics under a multiscale and multidisciplinary perspective. The multiscale approach ranged from the identification and mapping of potential old‐growth stands at landscape scale to a two‐level field review of forest stand features. Field sampling involved a multidisciplinary team of researchers in forest structure, pedologic environment, soil microbial activity, flora and vegetation and deadwood components. The research provided sound knowledge about old‐growthness features in the PNCVD that constitutes a unique case study in the whole Mediterranean basin. The integration of...

Background Statins enhance the synthesis of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs) from their precursors both in vitro and in vivo. In particular, an increased conversion of linoleic acid (LA) and of alpha-linolenic acid to their derivatives is observed in cultured cells. On the contrary, cigarette smoke (CS) negatively and dose-dependently affects the LC-PUFA production. Aim To evaluate the effects of CS alone or with simvastatin, on [1- 14 C] LA metabolism in THP-1 cells. Results CS inhibits LA conversion; after co-incubation, simvastatin nullifies the effects of CS, maintaining LA conversion comparable to controls. However, at the highest CS concentration, simvastatin is unable to counteract the effects of CS. Changes of LA conversion reflect the modulation of desaturase activities by simvastatin and CS. Conclusion CS decreases PUFA conversion and its effects are modulated by the opposite effect of statins. It can be speculated that statin treatments in smoking patients may provide some beneficial effects on PUFA metabolism in addition to lowering cholesterol levels.

Diffuse and bi-directional reflectance spectroscopy were applied in this research in order to characterize chemical and mineralogical properties in volcanic soils. The study was conducted on 77 volcanic soil profiles from several European countries. Diffuse reflectance spectroscopy was used in conjunction with parameterization using the second derivative of the Kubelka-Munk function and colour calculation. From derivative curves, one band of interest was characterized and identified around 450 nm. Using correlation analysis, significant relationships were observed between amplitude of this band and Fed (r = 0.6). In addition, the data showed that soil organic matter content, Ald and Fep were moderately correlated with reflectance values centered at 546, 579 and 2048 nm.

Background and aims Ingestion of alpha linolenic acid (ALA), with the richest source among dry fruits such as walnuts, is associated with cardiovascular prevention. The aim of this study was to selectively evaluate the effects of moderate walnut consumption on the levels of ALA and its metabolic derivatives in human blood. Methods and results After a 2-week run-in period, 10 volunteers consumed 4 walnuts per day (in addition to their habitual diet) for 3 weeks. Fatty acid profiles, with special attention to levels of ALA and long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA), were assessed in blood drops collected from fingertips. The data indicate that the administration of a few walnuts a day for 3 weeks significantly increases blood levels, not only of ALA (from 0.23 ± 0.07 SD to 0.47 ± 0.13 SD), but also of its longer chain derivative eicosapentaenoic acids (EPA) (from 0.23 ± 0.37 to 0.82 ± 0.41) with levels remaining elevated over basal values after washout. Conclusion The findings of this pilot study indicate that plant ALA in appropriate food items favourably affects the n-3 LC-PUFA status.

Polymer nanoparticles (NPs) represent a promising way to deliver poorly water-soluble anticancer drugs without the use of unwanted excipients, whose presence can be the cause of severe side effects. In this work, a Cremophor-free formulation for paclitaxel (PTX) has been developed by employing PEGylated polymer nanoparticles (NPs) as drug delivery carriers based on modified poly(Ε-caprolactone) macromonomers and synthesized through free radical emulsion polymerization. Paclitaxel was loaded in the NPs in a postsynthesis process which allowed to obtain a drug concentration suitable for in vivo use. In vivo experiments on drug biodistribution and therapeutic efficacy show comparable behavior between the NPs and the Cremophor formulation, also showing good tolerability of the new formulation proposed.

In this work, ring-opening polymerization and reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer polymerization (RAFT) have been employed for the production of block copolymers where the backbone is brushed with poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and polyester chains. Because of their amphiphilic properties, they are able to self-assemble in water, forming micelles. Molecular dynamics simulations have been accomplished to study the behavior of the copolymer single chain in water, and the self-assembly properties have been characterized and correlated to the copolymer structure in terms of critical micellar concentration and particle size. As a proof of their flexibility, these materials have been employed for the production of polymer–lipid hybrid nanoparticles with tunable dimensions (from 120 to 260 nm) adopted for the controlled release of anticancer compounds (paclitaxel and curcumin). © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016, 133, 43084.

Goethite and lepidocrocite are considered the stable species of Fe oxyhydroxides formed from Fe2 + oxidation in mildly acidic soil environments, while maghemite is formed in mildly alkaline conditions. Complexing ligands, especially humic acid (HA), can change the pathway formation of these iron oxyhydroxides from Fe2 + oxidation. This research aimed to assess the influence of HA on Fe2 + oxidation and its effect on crystalline Fe mineral products. Ferrous iron was added to HA at increasing initial COOH/Fe(II) charge ratios (R) at pHs of 5.0 and 8.0 and aged at 70 °C for 1 month and up to 8 years at room temperature. The precipitated products after aging were analysed using XRD, FT-IR, TEM and AFM. The results indicate that oxidation of Fe2 + at pH 5.0, in the presence of large amounts of HA (R = 0.1) promoted the formation of goethite together with ferrihydrite. Oxidation of Fe2 + in slightly alkaline conditions (pH 8.0) yielded maghemite with small amounts of goethite. Further, long-term aging of HA coprecipitated with Fe2 + perturbed the stacking of the Fe hydroxyl sheets at pH 5.0, favouring the formation of ferrihydrite. At pH 8.0 the presence of humic acid does not influence the crystallinity of the precipitation products and maghemite was still stable after 8 years of aging. This research confirms that the oxidation of Fe2 + in soil and its subsequent hydrolysis is a very common process of Fe hydroxides/oxide formation in acidic soil environments. The type of Fe oxide formed depends strictly on the pH and secondly on the rate of oxidation, especially on the presence and amount of organic compounds that inhibit crystal growth. Humic acid are the main organic molecules in soils, particularly in cool, humid weathering environments where they lead to a decrease in crystalline perfection and promote the formation of ferrihydrite instead of goethite or lepidocrocite. These results provide significant insights into the effect of the mobility of HA in association with Fe minerals.

The synthesis, morphological characterization, and colloidal properties of Hematite nanoparticles (hemNP) with different sizes and shapes were presented. To prepare hemNP we used hydrothermal synthesis with different combinations of reaction conditions. Various characterization techniques involving XRD, TEM, AFM and DLS were employed to describe the dependence of the hemNP size, charge and morphology on different synthesis conditions. Spheroidal Hematite nanoparticles from 20 to 60 nm were obtained by varying the rate of addition of iron precursor solutions and the aging time (Δt) at ca. 100∘C. The transformation from Ferrihydrite to Hematite (α-Fe2O3) started with a burst nucleation of nanosized crystallites, followed by a first-order kinetic growth of primary grains up to a final threshold size of ca 30 nm. Colloidal behavior was also checked at pH 4 and 7, finding interparticle aggregation at circumneutral pH only for hemNP obtained for Δt

This paper gives an overview on how Software Defined Networking (SDN) principles can be applied to existing optical networks, considering the requirements introduced by the last technology's improvement. A description of a proof of concept activity will be proposed. The demonstration shows how extending SDN to the metro area and wide area network (Transport SDN) can fully exploit the dynamism of an Agile Optical Network, with multi-tenant service management, virtual slicing of network resources for advanced services such as Encrypted and Secure Data Center connection, or Dynamic Bandwidth Allocation and even GMPLS restoration that are under Transport SDN control.

The Paleosol of Eboli is interbedded within an Early Pleistocene coarse alluvial succession, the Eboli Conglomerates, located in the Campanian Apennines (Southern Italy), infilling the morphostructural depression of the Sele River Plain. Quaternary climatic changes and related morphodynamic response were investigated using a multidisciplinary (geomorphological, sedimentological and pedological) approach. The alluvial sequence of the Eboli Conglomerates shows remarkable vertical changes, marked by clear erosional discontinuities that identify four stacked formations called, from the bottom, Fontana del Fico, Colle Mancuso, Castelluccia, and S. Anna formations. The clastic facies of these formations are mainly indicative of an alluvial fan environment, with most sediments emplaced by flooding of distributary streams. The Paleosol of Eboli is formed at the top of the Castelluccia formation. We investigated its morphological, physical, chemical, micromorphological, and mineralogical properties. Many discontinuities appear in the field due to various erosional events that are related to hillslope dynamics. Each of these events was followed by the emplacement of new and different colluvial deposits that were derived from upslope and were subsequently affected by pedogenesis. All the horizons of the Paleosol of Eboli have reddish and brown matrix colours, secondary carbonate, angular blocky structure, and clayey texture. On the basis of the field data and chemical and physical analysis, three different pedogenetic cycles can be distinguished in the Paleosol of Eboli. These cycles depict differing degrees of pedogenic expression depending on water regime and duration of pedogenesis. The micromorphology showed the presence of eluvial tongues, Fe dynamics (coatings, segregations), vertic features (optically anisotropic lines in the soil matrix), and pedorelicts. Kaolinite is the most abundant clay mineral, but vermiculite and illite are also present. The Fe minerals, especially the hematite/goethite ratio, have provided a new approach to understand the main paleoclimatic changes through the studied sequence. The overall pedogenetic scenario depicts a highly weathered environment (disordered kaolinite, Fe oxides, low Feo/Fed ratio, depletion zones), characterized by marked climatic seasonality (witnessed by vertic properties) and abundant rainfall (depletion zones). The general scenario is coherent with a highly weathered subtropical environment that probably occurred during MIS-25, based on age control. The widespread outcrop pattern, consistent stratigraphic position, thickness ranging from 1 to 5 m, and the uniformity of pedological features of the Paleosol of Eboli make it clearly recognizable in the field and allow us to consider the Paleosol of Eboli a reliable pedostratigraphic marker.

Three representative soil profiles developed during the Late Quaternary in Northern Cilento (South Italy) were studied by optical microscopy and SEM-EDS observation of thin sections to examine soil features as evidence for past climatic fluctuations. Two of the profiles are polygenetic and the third monogenetic. All these have a clear interglacial imprint, whereas the polygenetic profiles also contain other features, which can be related to periglacial conditions during the stadial glacial periods although in midlatitude coastal areas. All the paleosols show a strong marine influence during development, which probably resulted from windblown processes or submergence during past interglacial phases.

In THP-1 cells, simvastatin decreases, in a concentration-dependent manner, cholesterol synthesis and increases linoleic acid (LA) conversion to its long-chain derivatives, in particular to arachidonic acid, activating delta6 and delta5 fatty acid (FA) desaturases. The intermediates in cholesterol synthesis, mevalonate and geranylgeraniol, partially reverse the effects of simvastatin on the LA conversion. The aims of this work were to evaluate: (i) the correlation between cholesterol synthesis and desaturase activity and (ii) the possible involvement of protein isoprenylation in desaturase activity, assessed through pharmacological treatments. THP-1 cells were incubated with [1-14C]LA or with [1-14C]di-homo-gamma-linolenic acid (DHGLA) and treated with simvastatin or with curcumin and nicardipine, inhibitors of desaturases. Curcumin was more active than nicardipine in inhibiting LA and DHGLA conversion: 20 microM curcumin, alone or with simvastatin, totally inhibited delta6 and delta5 desaturation steps; 10 microM nicardipine only partially inhibited the enzymes, being more active on delta5 desaturase. Simvastatin treatment decreased the incorporation of acetate in cholesterol (-93.8%) and cholesterol esters (-70.2%), as expected. Curcumin and nicardipine also decreased cholesterol synthesis and potentiated simvastatin. Finally, the isoprenylation inhibitors (perillic acid and GGTI-286) neither affected the conversion of LA nor inhibited the delta5 desaturase activity. In conclusion, our results indicate that there is no direct relationship between cholesterol synthesis and desaturase activity. In fact, simvastatin decreased cholesterol synthesis and enhanced LA conversion (mainly delta5 desaturation), whereas curcumin and nicardipin decreased delta5 desaturation, with a limited effect on cholesterol synthesis.

This paper reports a contribution to the knowledge of the local morphodynamic and pedogenetic response to Late Quaternary climatic changes in Northern Cilento (Southern Italy). Three representative geomorphological units and associated paleosols have been characterised in detail by field work, chemical and mineralogical analyses, and micromorphological observations of thin sections. The data confirm an intense degree of weathering and a complex history of soil formation, often representing different environments in contrast with the present pedoclimatic regime. Two of the three profiles reveal a polygenetic character, recording typical interglacial conditions characterised by high temperatures and humidity with important soil development, followed by the occurrence of periglacial conditions possibly occurring during cold glacial stages (namely the Last Glacial) at mid-latitude coastal regions of Southern Italy. The third paleosol appears essentially monogenetic and developed under interglacial-like conditions.

summary Background & aims: The biological role of fatty acids (FA) in the perinatal period is under active investigation. We here describe the application of a simplified microanalytical procedure to compare the FA profile of maternal, umbilical cord and infant whole blood, inclusive of all circulating lipid fractions and cells. Methods: The FA composition has been analyzed with a micromethod in 16 triplets, including maternal blood, cord blood at delivery and infant blood at day 4, respectively. Results: As expected, the FA composition of blood samples withdrawn from the umbilical cord is more similar to the FA composition of blood from 4-day old infants than the FA pattern of maternal blood at delivery. Nevertheless, infant blood FA profile differed from cord for lower long-chain polyunsaturated FA and higher monounsaturated FA. Conclusions: Our explorative data using whole blood microanalysis confirm the progressive increase of long-chain polyunsaturated FA levels from the mothers towards cord and then infant blood.

One of the major drawbacks that limits the clinical application of nanoparticles is the lack of preliminary investigations related to their biocompatibility, biodegradability and biodistribution. In this work, biodegradable PEGylated polymer nanoparticles (NPs) have been synthesized by using macromonomers based on poly(ε-caprolaconte) oligomers. More in detail, NPs have been produced by adopting a surfactant-free semibatch emulsion polymerization process using PEG chains as a stabilizing agent. The NPs were also labeled with rhodamine B covalently bound to the NPs to quantitatively study their biodistribution in vivo. NPs were investigated in both in vitro and in vivo preclinical systems to study their biodistribution in mice bearing B16/F10 melanoma, as well as their biocompatibility and biodegradability. The NP concentration was evaluated in different tissues at several times after intravenous injection. The disappearance of the NPs from the plasma was biphasic, with distribution and elimination half-lives of 30 min and 15 h, respectively. NPs were retained in tumors and in filter organs for a long time, were still detectable after 7 d and maintained a steady concentration in the tumor for 120 h. 48 h after injection, 70± 15% of the inoculated NPs were excreted in the feces. The favorable tumor uptake, fast excretion and absence of cytotoxicity foster the further development of produced NPs as drug delivery carriers. © 2014 IOP Publishing Ltd.

The next generation of Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM) networks are likely to use Flexgrid arrangement, providing operators with additional flexibility when assigning spectrum compared to traditional DWDM networks using the 50GHz ITU grid. Flexgrid breaks the spectrum up into small (typically 12.5GHz) slots, but its key feature is that contiguous slots can be joined together to form arbitrary sized blocks of spectrum. This additional flexibility will allow faster transponders that utilize high spectral efficiency modulation techniques, like multi-level m-QAM schemes. From the use of these new spectrum efficient modulation formats and finer control over spectrum allocations, a key benefit that Flexgrid offers to the network operators is that their DWDM networks can carry more traffic with optimized spectral efficiency. High speed technology became essential for realizing greater network capacity and enabling network operators to meet the increasing bandwidth challenges from new generation superfast devices, services and applications. Coherent technologies beyond 100G are now focusing on higher level modulation formats and multiple sub-carriers/channels, using super-channels to achieve Terabit transmission.

The paper reviewed the recent progress in transmission of 400Gb/s wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) channels for optical networks based on flexible grid arrangement. High speed optical technology has become essential for realizing greater network capacity and enabling network operators to meet the increasing bandwidth challenges from new generation broadband, video and cloud related services and applications. Research efforts on coherent transponders software reconfigurable are now focusing on reducing the implementation penalties through improved equalization and exploring higher level modulation formats and multiple sub-carriers/channels (m-QAM, OFDM), using super-channels to achieve Terabit transmission. By joint optimization of modulation spectral efficiency and FEC code rate, and by using adaptive optical networking technologies and optimized digital pulse shaping with advanced DSP, we demonstrated the best way to improve network efficiency and to increase the total transmission capacity.

In this work a large number of polymer nanoparticles (NPs) with different features have been synthesized through emulsion polymerization-based methods. Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), poly-ɛ-caprolactone (PCL), and poly(lactic acid) (PLA) based NPs with different size, hydrophobicity, surface charge, PEGylation degree, type of emulsifier and ζ potential have been produced and characterized. All the different NPs have been adopted for cellular uptake studies, leading to a precise quantification of the number of internalized NPs into a selected tumor cell line. The experiments summarize, emphasize and improve the comprehension of the influence of NPs features on the uptake efficiency. In detail, a linear relationship between uptake and both size and NP concentration independently upon other NP characteristics was found. Moreover, it was confirmed that cells are able to internalize and retain for a long time preferentially positively charged NPs. Finally, by coupling results of uptake studies with cell viability measurements, an easy and fast check to control the effectiveness of a selected polymer as drug carrier has been proposed. In particular, we observed that biodegradable PLA-based NPs with high molecular weight, non-PEGylated and positively charged PCL NPs are the better choice to maximize the uptake and minimize side effect against cells.

In this work PEGylated polyester-based nanoparticles (NPs) for drug delivery applications were synthetized through emulsion free radical polymerization. These NPs are produced starting from functionalized macromonomers whose average chain length can be tuned in a controlled way. Since the degradation of these NPs occurs through the hydrolysis of side chains, by tuning their length it is possible to obtain NPs with a controllable degradation time, comparable to data obtained with NPs internalized into cells. The long-term colloidal stability of these NPs in isotonic environment has been assessed through dynamic light scattering measurements and their degradation rate in cell medium has been proved to be fast and controllable. The NP behavior in gastric and intestinal solution was also studied.

Humic acids (HA) have a colloidal character whose size and negative charge are strictly dependent on surface functional groups. They are able to complex large amount of poorly ordered iron (hydr)oxides in soil as a function of pH and other environmental conditions. Accordingly, with the present study we intend to assess the colloidal properties of Fe(II) coprecipitated with humic acids (HA) and their effect on Fe hydroxide crystallinity under abiotic oxidation and order of addition of both Fe(II) and HA. TEM, XRD and DRS experiments showed that Fe-HA consisted of Ferrihydrite with important structural variations. DLS data of Fe-HA at acidic pH showed a bimodal size distribution, while at very low pH a slow aggregation process was observed. Electrophoretic zeta-potential measurements revealed a negative surface charge for Fe-HA macromolecules, providing a strong electrostatic barrier against aggregation. Under alkaline conditions HA chains swelled, which resulted in an enhanced stabilization of the colloid particles. The increasing of zeta potential and size of the Fe-HA macromolecules, reflects a linear dependence of both with pH. The increase in the size and negative charge of the Fe-HA precipitate seems to be more affected by the ionization of the phenolic acid groups, than by the carboxylic acid groups. The main cause of negative charge generation of Fe/HA is due to increased dissociation of phenolic groups in more expanded structure. The increased net negative surface potential induced by coprecipitation with Ferrihydrite and the correspondent changes in configuration of the HA could trigger the inter-particle aggregation with the formation of new negative surface. The Fe-HA coprecipitation can reduce electrosteric repulsive forces, which in turn may inhibit the aggregation process at different pH. Therefore, coprecipitation of Ferrihydrite would be expected to play an important role in the carbon stabilization and persistence not only in organic soils, but also in waters containing dissolved organic matter.

Volcanic activity in Central-Southern Italy produced pyroclastic deposits that covered large areas of the Apennine Mountains. The major volcanic centres include Roccamonfina, Campi Flegrei (Phlegraean Fields), and Somma-Vesuvius. The properties of six soils formed in volcanic tephras in the Matese Massif were analysed to shed light on processes that lead to different expressions of andic properties in a mountain environment. Andosols at 1600 m a.s.l. at Campitello Matese are strongly acidic and rich in organic carbon, not only in the subsurface horizons but also in buried horizons. These pedons have horizons that meet all the criteria for non-allophanic Andosols and have modest contents of gibbsite and short-range ordered Fe minerals such as ferrihydrite. Pedons at lower altitudes of 830 m a.s.l at Colle Santa Croce developed on different pyroclastic materials and contain well-crystallized secondary minerals and have clay contents up to 30%. The general sequence of pyroclastic deposits and distribution of upland Andosols in the Matese Massif suggests that volcanic ash, and possibly Neapolitan Yellow Tuff, are the main soil parent materials in the upper Mountains. By contrast, the Andosols developed at lower-altitude at Colle Santa Croce were most likely influenced by geomorphologic deformation of a sequence of relict of lacustrine deposits related to old volcanic activity at Roccamonfina that occurred 437 ± 1.9 ka. Buried horizons of these pedons lack andic properties and contain sepiolite that originated from weathering in an alkaline lacustrine environment. Mineralogical and chemical data for the Colle Santa Croce pedons suggest that Andosols developed as non-allophanic aluandic Andosols and as a result contain mainly Al and Fe humus complexes, with poorly crystalline active Al and Fe phases. Buried soil horizons at Campitello Matese contain gibbsite, which suggests that these horizons weathered at the soil surface for relatively long periods before being buried by subsequent ash falls over the past 39 ka. Soils formed in volcanic ash may be more widespread in the Apennine Mountains than currently believed, and they may be more widespread in other mountainous areas of Italy as well.

Purpose The rationale of this paper is to review the state of the art regarding the biotic and abiotic reactions that can influence Fe availability in soils. In soil, the management-induced change from oxic to anoxic environment results in temporal and spatial variations of redox reactions, which, in turn, affect the Fe dynamics and Fe mineral constituents. Measuring the Fe forms in organic complexes and the interaction between bacteria and Fe is a major challenge in getting a better quantitative understanding of the dynamics of Fe in complex soil ecosystems.

The possibility to control the fate of the cells responsible for secondary mechanisms following spinal cord injury (SCI) is one of the most relevant challenges to reduce the post traumatic degeneration of the spinal cord. In particular, microglia/macrophages associated inflammation appears to be a self-propelling mechanism which leads to progressive neurodegeneration and development of persisting pain state. In this study we analyzed the interactions between poly(methyl methacrylate) nanoparticles (PMMA-NPs) and microglia/macrophages in vitro and in vivo, characterizing the features that influence their internalization and ability to deliver drugs. The uptake mechanisms of PMMA-NPs were in-depth investigated, together with their possible toxic effects on microglia/macrophages. In addition, the possibility to deliver a mimetic drug within microglia/macrophages was characterized in vitro and in vivo. Drug-loaded polymeric NPs resulted to be a promising tool for the selective administration of pharmacological compounds in activated microglia/macrophages and thus potentially able to counteract relevant secondary inflammatory events in SCI.

We successfully demonstrated, for the first time, 1.4Tb/s real-time Alien Superchannel over a 410km EDFA-only field fiber link using software reconfigurable DP-16QAM/QPSK production hardware, achieving spectral efficiency up to 5.7bit/s/Hz and long term error-free performance.

A study was carried out to examine the competition in adsorption of sulfate (SO4) and oxalate (OX) on goethite as affected by pH, concentration of the ligands, order of anion addition, and the presence of phosphate (PO4). The purpose was to obtain useful information about the factors that influence

A study concerning soil genesis was conducted on surface and buried volcanic soils of Sao Miguel island (Azores). Of eight soil profiles, three were selected for detailed study of pedogenesis. A series of techniques which include chemical, micromorphological, XRD and DXRD analysis, micropicking on impregnated soil blocks, TEM-EDS and IR spectroscopy analyses were used. The soils showed an incipient to moderate degree of weathering, as typically occurs in many young volcanic districts. Four different stages of soil development were clearly identified. The first stage of soil development was characterised by dominance of primary minerals and some allophane and ferrihydrite formation, with an Feo/Fed ratio of about 0.86 (LOM soil). The second stage of soil development was indicated by halloysite and ferrihydrite formation in the lower horizons along with an Feo/Fed ratio of about 0.62 (SAN surface soil). The third stage of soil development was characterized by halloysite and ferrihydrite formation in the lower horizon but also by clay illuviation and stronger pumice weathering, and an Feo/Fed ratio of about 0.51 (SAN buried soil). The fourth stage of soil development concerned the LIX soils (buried soils older than 5000 years BP) which had a much higher content in hydrated halloysite and considerable amounts of goethite and hematite. These soils exhibit the most expressed weathering features and an Feo/Fed ratio of about 0.25. The presence of young surface soils and well-developed buried soils can be explained by (i) the longer pedogenesis of buried soils or, possibly, by (ii) the presence of a climate more seasonal than that of the present day.

Hepatic lipid metabolism is extremely modified by excessive ethanol consumption, but the cellular mechanisms of such alterations are still largely unexplored. S-Adenosyl-L-methionine (SAMe) is known as an important methylating agent and as a precursor of glutathione and it has been shown to prevent some of the toxic effects of ethanol in the liver. We therefore studied the effects of ethanol on cholesterol synthesis in a human hepatomal cell line (HepG2), the kinetics of SAMe, and its putative protective effects on the alterations of lipid metabolism induced by toxic concentrations of alcohol. Incubation of HepG2 cells with [3H]SAMe resulted in a progressive increase in the labelling of phosphatidylcholine and of its two intermediates during synthesis starting from phosphatidylethanolamine. This process is enzymatic, since it does not take place in heat-inactivated cells. Also, ethanol induced an increase in cholesterol and triglycerides syntheses and a decrease in phospholipid labelling. These alterations were not prevented by SAMe 10(-4) M, indicating that the protective effects of the drug are related to other mechanisms of action such as reduced formation of collagen, restoration of glutathione levels, and normalization of membrane functions.

In the monocytic THP-1 cells, the 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitor simvastatin (5 microM) enhances the conversion of exogenous linoleic (18:2 n-6) and eicosapentaenoic (20:5 n-3) acids to their long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (LC-PUFA) derivatives, and this effect is associated with changes in the desaturation steps. In addition, formation of monounsaturated fatty acids from endogenously synthesized precursors is increased. These metabolic changes lead to elevated LC-PUFA and fatty acid (FA) unsaturation in cells. The effects of simvastatin on FA metabolism are associated with increased synthesis of triglycerides from glycerol. The dose-effect relationships for the activity of simvastatin on total linoleic acid (LA) conversion and cholesterol synthesis reveal that enhancement of PUFA metabolism is already maximal at 0.5 microM simvastatin, whereas cholesterol synthesis is further inhibited by concentrations of simvastatin up to 5 microM. The effects of 5 microM simvastatin on PUFA metabolism are partially prevented by mevalonate (1 mM) and geranylgeraniol (5 microM) but not by farnesol (10 microM). These data indicate that HMG-CoA inhibitors have profound effects on PUFA metabolism, and that the pathways for cholesterol and PUFA synthesis are mutually modulated.