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Mobile applications (hereafter, apps) collect a plethora of information regarding the user behavior and his device through third-party analytics libraries. However, the collection and usage of such data raised several privacy concerns, mainly because the end-user - i.e., the actual owner of the data - is out of the loop in this collection process. Also, the existing privacy-enhanced solutions that emerged in the last years follow an "all or nothing" approach, leaving the user the sole option to accept or completely deny the access to privacy-related data. This work has the two-fold objective of assessing the privacy implications on the usage of analytics libraries in mobile apps and proposing a data anonymization methodology that enables a trade-off between the utility and privacy of the collected data and gives the user complete control over the sharing process. To achieve that, we present an empirical privacy assessment on the analytics libraries contained in the 4500 most-used Android apps of the Google Play Store between November 2020 and January 2021. Then, we propose an empowered anonymization methodology, based on MobHide, that gives the end-user complete control over the collection and anonymization process. Finally, we empirically demonstrate the applicability and effectiveness of such anonymization methodology thanks to HideDroid, a fully-fledged anonymization app for the Android ecosystem.

Despite decades of research efforts, the automatic detection of vulnerabilities in mobile apps remains an open challenge. Among the possible solutions, SAST tools uncover source or compiled code security flaws without needing the app to be executed and tested in a controlled environment. However, SAST tools share several limitations, such as the detection of narrowed vulnerability classes, lack of updates, and no resiliency to obfuscation techniques. This paper presents SEBASTiAn, a black-box automatic static analysis tool for security vetting of Android and iOS apps. It relies on a modular approach to cope with new vulnerabilities. SEBASTiAn achieves better results than state-of-the-art tools and demonstrates resiliency to obfuscation techniques.

Background and aims: The need for intimacy and sexual expression is an essential dimension of quality of life. As patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) have to cope with essential changes in their global and sexual functioning, achieving a satisfying intimate and sexual relationship can be challenging. Sexual experience is a complex process that involves a dyadic relationship. In this study, we aimed to characterize the sexual experience of patients with Parkinson's disease and patients' vs caregivers' perceptions. Methods Twenty-seven PD patients and their caregivers were asked to complete the Arizona Sexual Experience Scale (ASEX) anonymously. They were instructed to refer to their sexual behavior over the past year and to consider behavioral changes that lasted for at least four consecutive weeks. Results Our data suggest that when considering sexual perceptions in PD, there is often agreement of judgment between patients and their partners. Overall, they have a rather good sex life, especially in the early stage of the disease, with similar behavior shown by men and women. Conclusions The effect of PD on the sexual and couple relationship challenges healthcare professionals to focus on the needs of both partners and to plan specific interventions in such a way as to prevent the deterioration of the couples' sexual wellbeing.

Introduction As an emerging infectious disease, the clinical and virologic course of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) require better investigation. The aim of the present study is to identify potential risk factors associated with persistent positive nasopharyngeal swab real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests in a large sample of patients who recovered from COVID-19. Methods After the acute phase of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) epidemic infection, the Fondazione Policlinico A. Gemelli IRCSS of Rome established a post-acute care service for patients discharged from the hospital and recovered from COVID-19. Between April 21 and May 21, 2020, a total of 137 individuals who officially recovered from COVID-19 were enrolled in the present study. All patients were tested for the SARS-CoV-2 virus with nucleic acid RT-PCR tests. Analysis was conducted in June 2020. Results Of the 131 patients who repeated the nasopharyngeal swab, 22 patients (16.7%) tested positive again. Some symptoms such as fatigue (51%), dyspnea (44%), and coughing (17%) were still present in a significant percentage of patients, with no difference between patients with a negative test compared to those who tested positive. The likelihood of testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 infection was significantly higher among participants with persistent sore throat (prevalence ratio=6.50, 95% CI=1.38, 30.6) and symptoms of rhinitis (prevalence ratio=3.72, 95% CI=1.10, 12.5). Conclusions This study is the first to provide a given rate of patients (16.7%) who test positive on RT-PCR test for SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid after recovering from COVID-19. These findings suggest that a significant proportion of recovered COVID-19 patients still could be potential carriers of the virus. In particular, if patients continue to have symptoms related to COVID-19, such as sore throat and rhinitis, it is reasonable to be cautious by avoiding close contact, wearing a face mask, and possibly repeating a nasopharyngeal swab.

Background Cell entry of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) depends on binding of the viral spike (S) proteins to angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 and on S protein priming by TMPRSS2. Inhibition of TMPRSS2 may work to block or decrease the severity of SARS-CoV-2 infections. Intriguingly, TMPRSS2 is an androgen-regulated gene that is up-regulated in prostate cancer where it supports tumor progression and is involved in a frequent genetic translocation with the ERG gene. First- or second-generation androgen-deprivation therapies (ADTs) decrease the levels of TMPRSS2. Here we put forward the hypothesis that ADTs may protect patients affected by prostate cancer from SARS-CoV-2 infections. Materials and methods We extracted data regarding 9280 patients (4532 males) with laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection from 68 hospitals in Veneto, one of the Italian regions that was most affected by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The parameters used for each COVID-19-positive patient were sex, hospitalization, admission to intensive care unit, death, tumor diagnosis, prostate cancer diagnosis, and ADT. Results There were evaluable 9280 SARS-CoV-2-positive patients in Veneto on 1 April 2020. Overall, males developed more severe complications, were more frequently hospitalized, and had a worse clinical outcome than females. Considering only the Veneto male population (2.4 million men), 0.2% and 0.3% of non-cancer and cancer patients, respectively, tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. Comparing the total number of SARS-CoV-2-positive cases, prostate cancer patients receiving ADT had a significantly lower risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection compared with patients who did not receive ADT (OR 4.05; 95% CI 1.55–10.59). A greater difference was found comparing prostate cancer patients receiving ADT with patients with any other type of cancer (OR 4.86; 95% CI 1.88–12.56). Conclusion Our data suggest that cancer patients have an increased risk of SARS-CoV-2 infections compared with non-cancer patients. However, prostate cancer patients receiving ADT appear to be partially protected from SARS-CoV-2 infections.

BACKGROUND: In East Asia, face masks are commonly worn to reduce viral spread. In Euope and North America, however, their use has been stigmatised for a long time, although this view has radically changed during the ongoing severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic. Notwithstanding this, it is still unclear whether face masks worn by COVID-19 carriers may indeed prevent viral transmission and environmental contamination. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of surgical face masks in filtering SARS-CoV-2. METHODS: Four male patients with COVID-19 were recruited for the study. Two patients wore a surgical mask for 5 h, while two others did not. The spread of the virus in the environment was evaluated through the approved Allplex 2019-nCoV assay. RESULTS: In the room with the two patients without surgical masks, the swab performed on the headboard and sides of the beds was positive for SARS-CoV-2 contamination. In the other room, where two patients were wearing surgical masks, all of the swabs obtained after 5 h tested negative. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the current study add to the growing body of literature supporting the use of face masks as a measure to contain the spread of SARS-CoV-2 by retaining potentially contagious droplets that can infect other people and/or contaminate surfaces. Based on the current evidence, face masks should therefore be considered a useful and low-cost device in addition to social distancing and hand hygiene during the postlockdown phase.

For survivors of severe COVID-19 disease, having defeated the virus is just the beginning of an uncharted recovery path. What follows after the acute phase of SARS-CoV-2 infection depends on the extension and severity of viral attacks in different cell types and organs. Despite the ridiculously large number of papers that have flooded scientific journals and preprint-hosting websites, a clear clinical picture of COVID-19 aftermath is vague at best. Without larger prospective observational studies that are only now being started, clinicians can retrieve information just from case reports and or small studies. This is the time to understand how COVID-19 goes forward and what consequences survivors may expect to experience. To this aim, a multidisciplinary post-acute care service involving several specialists has been established at the Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCSS (Rome, Italy). Although COVID-19 is an infectious disease primarily affecting the lung, its multi-organ involvement requires an interdisciplinary approach encompassing virtually all branches of internal medicine and geriatrics. In particular, during the post-acute phase, the geriatrician may serve as the case manager of a multidisciplinary team. The aim of this article is to describe the importance of the interdisciplinary approach––coordinated by geriatrician––to cope the potential post-acute care needs of recovered COVID-19 patients.

Cytarabine, the 4-amino-1-(β-D-arabinofuranosyl)-2(1H)-pyrimidinone, (ARA-C) is an antimetabolite cytidine analogue used worldwide as key drug in the management of leukaemia. As specified in the manufacturers' instructions, once the components-sterile water and cytarabine powder-are unpackaged and mixed, the solution begins to degrade after 6 hours at room temperature and 12 hours at 4°C. To evaluate how to avoid wasting the drug in short-term, low-dose treatment regimens, the reconstituted samples, stored at 25°C and 4°C, were analyzed every day of the test week by reversed-phase HPLC and high-field NMR spectroscopy. All the samples remained unchanged for the entire week, which corresponds to the time required to administer the entire commercial drug package during low-dose therapeutic regimens. The drug solution was stored in a glass container at 4°C in an ordinary freezer and drawn with sterile plastic syringes; during this period, no bacterial or fungal contamination was observed. Our findings show that an cytarabine solution prepared and stored in the original vials retains its efficacy and safety and can, therefore, be divided into small doses to be administered over more days, thus avoiding unnecessary expensive and harmful waste of the drug preparation. Moreover, patients who require daily administration of the drug could undergo the infusion at home without need to go to hospital. The stability of the aliquots would help decrease hospitalization costs.

On February 20, 2020, a man living in the north of Italy was admitted to the emergency room with an atypical pneumonia that later proved to be COVID-19. This was the trigger of one of the most serious clusters of COVID-19 in the world, outside of China. Despite aggressive restraint and inhibition efforts, COVID-19 continues to increase, and the total number of infected patients in Italy is growing daily. After 6 weeks, the total number of patients reached 128,948 cases (April 5, 2020), with the higher case-fatality rate (15,887 deaths) dominated by old and very old patients. This sudden health emergency severely challenged the Italian Health System, in particular acute care hospitals and intensive care units. In 1 hospital, geriatric observation units were created, the experience of which can be extremely useful for European countries, the United States, and all countries that in the coming days will face a similar situation.

The aim of this proof-of-concept, pilot study was the evaluation of the effects of steroid administration and suspension of an inhaled corticosteroid (ICS)-long-acting β2-agonist (LABA) extrafine fixed dose combination (FDC) on metabolomic fingerprints in subjects with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We hypothesized that a comprehensive metabolomics approach discriminates across inhaled pharmacotherapies and that their effects on metabolomic signatures depend on the biological fluids analyzed. We performed metabolomics via nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy in exhaled breath condensate (EBC), sputum supernatants, serum, and urine. Fourteen patients suffering from COPD who were on regular inhaled fluticasone propionate/salmeterol therapy (visit 1) were consecutively treated with 2-week beclomethasone dipropionate/formoterol (visit 2), 4-week formoterol alone (visit 3), and 4-week beclomethasone/formoterol (visit 4). The comprehensive NMR-based metabolomics approach showed differences across all pharmacotherapies and that different biofluids provided orthogonal information. Serum formate was lower at visits 1 versus 3 (P = 0.03), EBC formate was higher at visit 1 versus 4 (P = 0.03), and urinary 1-methyl-nicotinamide was lower at 3 versus 4 visit (P = 0.002). NMR-based metabolomics of different biofluids distinguishes across inhaled pharmacotherapies, provides complementary information on the effects of an extrafine ICS/LABA FDC on metabolic fingerprints in COPD patients, and might be useful for elucidating the ICS mechanism of action.

Objectives To assess 1-year incidence and factors related to deprescribing in nursing home (NH) residents in Europe. Design Longitudinal multicenter cohort study based on data from the Services and Health for Elderly in Long TERm care (SHELTER) study. Setting NHs in Europe and Israel. Participants 1843 NH residents on polypharmacy. Methods Polypharmacy was defined as the concurrent use of 5 or more medications. Deprescribing was defined as a reduction in the number of medications used over the study period. Residents were followed for 12 months. Results Residents in the study sample were using a mean number of 8.6 (standard deviation 2.9) medications at the baseline assessment. Deprescribing was observed in 658 residents (35.7%). Cognitive impairment (mild/moderate impairment vs intact, odds ratio [OR] 1.41, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.11-1.79; severe impairment vs intact, OR 1.60, 95% CI 1.23-2.09), presence of the geriatrician within the facility staff (OR 1.41, 95% CI 1.15-1.72), and number of medications used at baseline (OR 1.10, 95% CI 1.06-1.14) were associated with higher probabilities of deprescribing. In contrast, female gender (OR 0.76, 95% CI 0.61-0.96), heart failure (OR 0.69, 95% CI 0.53-0.89), and cancer (OR 0.64, 95% CI 0.45-0.90) were associated with a lower probability of deprescribing. Conclusions and Implications Deprescribing is common in NH residents on polypharmacy, and it is associated with individual and organizational factors. More evidence is needed on deprescribing, and clear strategies on how to withdraw medications should be defined in the future.

PVD coatings have been studied as candidates for erosion protection of carbon fibre reinforced polymers. Thus, multilayer Ti/TiN coating stacks with different thicknesses ranging from 1.5 to 11 μm have been deposited by pulsed DC magnetron sputtering on carbon fibre reinforced polymers. The coatings were tested under particle erosion and rain erosion conditions showing opposite trends with thickness. The results show how different mechanisms dominate depending on the conditions used and revealing how thickness, surface finishing of the CFRP substrates and adhesion affect the performance of the coatings under different erosive conditions. In the case of sand erosion, thin coatings fail due to delamination in the vicinity of carbon fibres due to substrate deformation under impacts, while thick coatings are able to avoid substrate driven erosion, even if the adhesion is lower, and smooth erosive behaviour is obtained until the failure appears at specific spots. On the contrary, thin coatings show better behaviour under rain erosion conditions, as high speed impacts induces larger substrate deformation, even on the thicker coatings, that delaminates faster than thinner ones due to their poorer adhesion.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is an age-related chronic disorder, characterized by the hyperproliferation of prostatic epithelial and stromal cells, which drives prostate enlargement. Since BPH aetiology and progression have been associated with the persistence of an inflammatory stimulus, induced both by Nuclear Factor-kappa B (NF-&kappa, B) activation and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, the inhibition of these pathways could result in a good tool for its clinical treatment. This study aimed to evaluate the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity of a combined formulation of Serenoa repens and Urtica dioica (SR/UD) in an in vitro human model of BPH. The results confirmed both the antioxidant and the anti-inflammatory effects of SR/UD. In fact, SR/UD simultaneously reduced ROS production, NF-&kappa, B translocation inside the nucleus, and, consequently, interleukin 6 (IL-6) and interleukin 8 (IL-8) production. Furthermore, the effect of SR/UD was also tested in a human androgen-independent prostate cell model, PC3. SR/UD did not show any significant antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effect, but was able to reduce NF-&kappa, B translocation. Taken together, these results suggested a promising role of SR/UD in BPH and BPH-linked disorder prevention.

Proper use of inhaler devices may be problematic in elderly patients due to age-related difficulties. A survey was administered to elderly patients to investigate the usability of the Genuair® device and patients' subjective viewpoint on the device. A representative sample of the Italian population aged ≥ 65 years was completed with a pre-defined sample of 89 patients with hand arthritis/arthrosis. Of 526 respondents, 88 were not self-sufficient. Only the replies of the 438 self-sufficient respondents were analyzed. A total of 107 participants (24%) reported having respiratory diseases, and 81 of these (76%) were users of inhaler devices. After the first test, the device was considered “practical/handy” by 90% of patients and “easy to use” by 89%. After the second test, in which patients received a demonstration of the correct inhalation maneuver, the percentage of patients scoring ≥ 7 increased to 93% for the first characteristic and was confirmed for the second, with no differences between the groups in terms of age, educational level, use of devices, and presence of arthritis/arthrosis. The mean time to explain the inhaler technique and to perform a correct inhalation was 1'38"± 1'37", and 70% of the respondents required less than 2 minutes, with no differences between the groups in terms of age, education level, use of devices, and presence of arthritis/arthrosis. In conclusion, Genuair® was well accepted and easy to use in a representative sample of the Italian population aged ≥ 65 years. These characteristics make it a valid choice in the elderly, thus enabling patients to better cope with the problems and difficulties that are common to this age group.

Humulus lupulus L. (hop) is highly interesting from a nutraceutical perspective. The hop phytocomplex contains a wide range of bioactive metabolites, and its characterization is challenging. To tackle such a task, for the first time we applied and compared a combined approach consisting of online comprehensive two-dimensional liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry and direct infusion Fourier transform ion cyclotron mass spectrometry. A reversed phase × reversed phase approach with a shifted gradient in the second dimension ensured selectivity and two-dimensional space coverage. Hyphenation with an ion trap time-of-flight analyzer led to the identification of 83 compounds in 70 min, comprising a novel quercetin derivative and six unknown bitter acids. On the other hand, the direct infusion method was able to identify 40 analytes (except isomers) with high mass accuracy (≤ 0.1 ppm) in less than 1 min analysis time. The developed approach can be used in a complementary way, combining the separation capability and high informative spectra of two-dimensional liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry with the ultra-high mass accuracy of direct infusion, for potential compound discovery or the accurate profiling of bioactive compounds in different hop cultivars as well as for monitoring processing and storage of hop-based products.

A series of eight new dicationic ionic liquids incorporating polyethylene glycol chains linking two N-alkylpyridinium moieties through rings position 2, were synthesized and investigated for their potential use as lubricants or lubricant additives. Alkylsulfate and bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide [NTf2] were selected as anions. Dicationic ionic liquids containing [NTf2] anion demonstrated good properties as neat lubricants showing low coefficient of friction and wear comparable with the reference lubricant (glycerol). Even more interesting could be their use as friction modifier additives since an important decrease in the coefficient of friction was achieved with a really low concentration of ionic liquid. The thermal analysis of all ionic liquids by thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) is also described.

We revisit the classical algorithms for searching over sorted sets to introduce an algorithm refinement, called Adaptive Search, that combines the good features of Interpolation search and those of Binary search. W.r.t. Interpolation search, only a constant number of extra comparisons is introduced. Yet, under diverse input data distributions our algorithm shows costs comparable to that of Interpolation search, i.e., O(log log n) while the worst-case cost is always in O(log n), as with Binary search. On benchmarks drawn from large datasets, both synthetic and real-life, Adaptive search scores better times and lesser memory accesses even than Santoro and Sidney's Interpolation-Binary search., Comment: 9 pages

The tribological performance of three types of amorphous carbon coatings was screened in search of potential candidates for solid lubricants suitable for working under both atmospheric and vacuum conditions. A coating obtained through ion assisted condensation of silicon oil vapours behaved well under atmosphere but failed in vacuum. Two types of hydrogenated amorphous carbon coatings, with and without Si doping, obtained by physical vapour deposition showed good performance in vacuum reaching superlow friction. The Si-doped amorphous carbon coatings were likewise good under atmospheric conditions with the coefficient of friction ranged between 0.1 and 0.15. The degradation of the coatings under vacuum was further studied using Mechanically Stimulated Gas Emission Mass-Spectrometry and Fourier-Transformed Infra-Red Spectrometry., The partners acknowledge funding received from the Basque Country (program EMAITEK >GENESUP>), the EUREKA Program Eurostars project E! 4653 financed by the Spanish National Agency CDTI, the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (project BIA2016-79582) and the project ADEC for the benefit of SME's (ref. 3152239).

In this study, an improved online comprehensive two-dimensional liquid chromatography platform coupled to tandem mass spectrometry was developed, for the analysis of complex polyphenolic samples. A narrowbore hydrophilic interaction chromatography column (150 × 2.0 mm, 3.0 μm, crosslinked diol) was employed in the first dimension, while a reversed-phase column based on monodisperse sub-2 μm fully porous particles (50 × 3.0 mm, 1.9 μm d.p.) with high surface area (410 m2/g) was employed in the second. The combination of a trapping column modulation interface with the high retentive fully porous monodisperse reversed-phase column in the second dimension resulted in higher peak capacity values (1146 vs. 867), increased sensitivity, sharper and more symmetrical peaks in comparison with a conventional loop-based method, with the same analysis time (70 min). The system was challenged against a complex polyphenolic extract of a typical Italian apple cultivar, enabling the simultaneous separation of multiple polyphenolic classes, including oligomeric procyanidins, up to degree of polymerization of 10. Hyphenation with an ion trap time-of-flight mass spectrometer led to the tentative identification of 121 analytes, showing how this platform could be a powerful analytical tool for the accurate profiling of complex polyphenolic samples. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved

Citrus plants contain large amounts of flavonoids with beneficial effects on human health. In the present study, the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential of bioavailable polyphenols from Citrus sinensis was evaluated in vitro and ex vivo, using the murine macrophages cell line J774A.1 and primary peritoneal macrophages. Following simulated gastro-intestinal digestion, the in vitro bioavailability of Citrus sinensis polyphenolic extract was assessed using the human cell line Caco-2 grown as monolayers on a transwell membrane. Data demonstrated a relative permeation of its compounds (8.3%). Thus, the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effect of polyphenolic Citrus sinensis fraction (Cs) was compared to the bioavailable one (CsB). Results revealed that Citrus extract were able to reduce macrophages pro-inflammatory mediators, including nitric oxide, iNOS, COX-2 and different cytokines. Moreover, the effect of Citrus sinensis polyphenols was associated with antioxidant effects, such as a reduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and heme-oxygenase-1 (HO-1) increased expression. Our results provide evidence that the bioavailable polyphenolic constituents of the Citrus sinensis extract accumulate prevalently at intestinal level and could reach systemic circulation exerting their effect. The bioavailable fraction showed a higher anti-inflammatory and antioxidant potential compared to the initial extract, thus highlighting its potential nutraceutical value.

Clonal selection and hybridisation are valid strategies to obtain fruits with enhanced sensorial and nutraceutical properties. Within Citrus sinensis varieties, Tarocco clone "Lempso" is a typical product of the Calabria region (Italy) characterised by its red pulp. This is the first report concerning its accurate profiling.To characterise in detail the flavonoid composition of Lempso clone and to compare its antioxidant potential with other Citrus varieties by a fast screening method.Extracts were subjected to solid phase extraction and the qualitative/quantitative profile was elucidated through ultra-high performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) coupled to photodiode array (PDA) and ion trap time-of-flight (IT-TOF) mass spectrometry detection, and compared to both Cleopatra mandarin (Citrus reticulata) and blood orange (Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck) Sanguinello varieties. The antioxidant activity was assessed by pre-column 2,2'-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) reaction coupled to UHPLC-PDA.Lempso is characterised by flavonoids (17) and anthocyanins (8). Flavanones content (Hesperidin: 57.19 ± 0.49, Vicenin-2: 4.59 ± 0.03, Narirutin: 5.78 ± 0.13 mg/100 mL) was considerably higher than Cleopatra and Sanguinello varieties. The developed DPPH-UHPLC-PDA method provides information regarding the single contributions to antioxidant activity, highlighting how Ferulic acid, Quercetin and Cyanidin derivatives possess considerable radical scavenging activity (50%). The total antioxidant activity was also evaluated and compared with positive controls, showing higher scavenging activity than Cleopatra and Sanguinello (ICThese data evidence the nutraceutical potential of Lempso variety, which could be an ingredient for functional beverages. Copyright © 2017 John WileySons, Ltd.

The structural impact of ionic liquids was systematically investigated by assessing their behaviour as lubricant additives in two different biodegradable esters (refined rapeseed oil and synthetic ester). Cations were mainly based on derivatives of the tetraalkyl ammonium structure; the anions were alkyl sulfate, methyl sulfonate or bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide. Miscibility experiments showed that ultrasound treatment yielded the most stable emulsions. X-ray fluorescence was employed to determine maximum concentrations, at which ionic liquids formed stable mixtures in the base oil, either dissolved or as self-stabilized emulsions. Steel/steel contacts lubricated with such saturated rapeseed oil blends were investigated in a reciprocating sliding tester at room temperature and at 100°C. For most anions, a significant reduction of friction and wear was found at ionic liquid concentrations of less than 0.1 weight%. At substantially higher concentrations, a destabilisation of the ionic liquid–ester mixtures was observed, which was accompanied by a loss of wear-preventive properties. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

We have developed a fast ultra HPLC with ion-trap TOF-MS method for the analysis of flavonoids in Citrus bergamia juice. With respect to the typical methods for the analysis of these matrices based on conventional HPLC techniques, a tenfold faster separation was attained. The use of a core-shell particle column ensured high resolution within the fast analysis time of only 5 min. Unambiguous determination of flavonoid identity was obtained by the employment of a hybrid ion-trap TOF mass spectrometer with high mass accuracy (average error 1.69 ppm). The system showed good retention time and peak area repeatability, with maximum RSD% values of 0.36 and 3.86, respectively, as well as good linearity (R(2) ≥ 0.99). Our results show that ultra HPLC can be a useful tool for ultra fast qualitative/quantitative analysis of flavonoid compounds in citrus fruit juices.

In this paper, a seismic sensor based on the combination of ionic polymer metal composite (IPMC) and ferrofluids is presented. The device consists of a vial, filled with ferrofluid, housing an IPMC cantilever beam sensor. Considering that the behavior (e.g., frequency response) of a beam immersed in a fluid changes with the fluid density, in this paper, a novel methodology is proposed to implement a mechanism allowing for the active tuning of the sensor specifications (such as operating range, frequency behavior, and responsivity). To such aim, the addressed methodology exploits external magnetic fields to modify the density of the ferrofluid in which the IPMC sensor is immersed. A description of the sensing methodology and the realization of the sensor prototype are given along with experimental results confirming the expected behavior of the device. Moreover, a model is presented which can be used to predict the IPMC behavior as a function of the fluid properties.

A tribological investigation of two ionic liquids (ILs) that could be used as potential lubricants for vacuum or space applications is presented. Their tribological behaviour was evaluated using a ball-on-flat oscillating reciprocating motion CaTri ultra-high vacuum (UHV) tribometer and the results were compared against those of a conventional perfluoropolyether (PFPE) vacuum lubricant. The thermal stability of the lubricants was investigated by thermogravimetric analysis before exposing them to UHV environment. The worn steel surfaces were studied by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, optical and confocal microscope as well as scanning electron microscope. The tribological evaluations showed that ILs exhibited better friction reduction and anti-wear properties than the PFPE lubricant. The excellent tribological properties were attributed to the formation of a surface protective film composed of iron fluoride and iron phosphate, respectively, on the lubricated metal surfaces by a tribochemical reaction with the ILs. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

“Scotta” is a liquid waste deriving from Ricotta cheese production, which is wrongly considered only a dairy by-product. In this work, with the aim to elucidate the presence of valuable bioactive compounds in Buffalo’s Scotta, a peptide fraction under 3000 Da was isolated by ultra-filtration, purified by solid-phase extraction, and, subsequently, characterized in detail by liquid chromatography coupled to Orbitrap mass spectrometry. Analytical results revealed a complex profile, leading to the identification of 226 peptides, belonging to alpha, beta, and kappa caseins. A database-driven search approach was used to assess the biological effects of some of the identified peptides. A wide range of healthy properties was ascribed to the encrypted peptides, comprising antihypertensive, antimicrobial, immunomodulating, opioid, antioxidant, and antithrombotic. The peptidomic profile of Scotta was highlighted in depth for the first time, and the results revealed that this matrix should not be considered only a mere by-product, but a source of potential health-promoting peptides, which can be recovered and employed in nutraceuticals and functional foods.

Grape is a rich source of bioactive compounds; among them anthocyanins are associated to many healthy properties, possessing a good antioxidant activity. In this work, we developed a fast and simple screening of antioxidant anthocyanins in six Sicilian Nero d'Avola autochthonous grape clones. The method was based on the pre-column reaction with 2,2?-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical followed by the rapid separation by ultra high-pressure liquid chromatography coupled with ultraviolet and tandem mass spectrometry detection. Peak areas of antioxidant anthocyanins significantly reduced or even disappeared. The entire method took only 45 min per sample, showing good retention time and peak area repeatability with maximum CV% values

Twelve dicationic ionic liquids have been investigated for their potential inlubricants. The dications selected were synthesized from oligoethylene glycols linking two cationic moieties based on either N-methylimidazolium or N-methylpyrrolidinium at the extremities. As anions, chloride, bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (Tf2N), methanesulfonate and butansulfonate were chosen. Thermal stability of the IL has been evaluated by thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry showing good properties up to 150 °C for all IL. SRV tribotests of neat IL using steel–steel contacts with ball-on-disc geometry were performed at 50 °C, 100 °C and 150 °C. Friction and wear were significantly influenced by both anion structure and chain length of the oligoethylene glycol moiety where longer chains yielded better tribological behavior. The tribological behavior improved with a mixture of different types of ILcontaining F, O, S in their anions. A large variation of ionic liquids corrosiveness and corrosion inhibition, respectively, was found attributed to structure variation. A general tendencyof improving the corrosion resistance when increasing the chain length of the neat ILshas been found. In addition to the neat dicationic ionic liquids, mixtures of 1% of the mostinteresting IL in polypropylene glycol base oil have been studied at 100 °C resulting in more favorable tribological properties for ionic liquids with Tf2N anion. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis showed that the structures with Tf2N anion create a tribofilm of inorganic fluorine that greatly improves the performance of the base oil.

The metabolic syndrome (MetS) is highly prevalent in Western older populations. MetS is an intriguing entity, because it includes potentially reversible risk factors. Some studies have suggested an inverse correlation between MetS and health-related quality of life (HRQoL), but data regarding older subjects are scanty and conflicting. The aim of this study was to assess the association between HRQoL and MetS in older, unselected community-dwelling subjects. We analyzed data of 356 subjects aged 75+ living in Tuscania (Italy). HRQoL was assessed using the Health Utilities Index, Mark 3. Diagnosis of MetS was defined according to the National Cholesterol Education Program’s ATP-III criteria. MetS was reported by 137 (38%) participants. According to linear regression analysis, MetS was associated with significantly better HRQoL in men (B = 0.19 95% CI = 0.06–0.32; p = 0.006), but not in women. Also, when the regression model was analyzed in men, MetS was associated with better HRQoL (B = 0.17, 95% CI = 0.01–0.32; p = 0.035) only among participants aged 80+. No significant associations were found in men between HRQoL and any of the single components of MetS. MetS is not associated with worse HRQoL among community-dwelling elderly; it is associated with significantly better HRQoL among the oldest men.

Summary Background & aims Cognitive impairment is a prevalent condition in older populations, independently associated with disability and mortality. Some studies have suggested a negative correlation between metabolic syndrome (MetS) and cognitive functioning, but results in older subjects are controversial. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of cognitive performance with MetS in an older unselected population. Methods We evaluated the association of the Hodkinson Abbreviated Mental Test (AMT) score with MetS, as defined by the National Cholesterol Education Program's ATP-III criteria, in all 353 subjects aged 75+ living in Tuscania (Italy). Results MetS was positively associated with the AMT score in multivariable linear regression analysis, after adjusting (B = 0.45, 95% CI = 0.04–0.90; p = 0.03). When the same regression model was analyzed after stratifying for sex, such an association was significant in women (B = 0.76, 95% CI = 0.16–1.36; p = 0.01), but not in men. Also, when the regression model was analyzed in women, MetS was associated with better cognition (B = 1.41, 95% CI = 0.51–2.30; p Conclusions MetS is associated with better cognitive performance in community-dwelling elderly; such an association seems to depend upon the oldest female subjects.

Objectives Micro-RNAs are a group of small noncoding RNAs with modulator activity of gene expression. Recently, micro-RNA genes were found abnormally expressed in several types of cancers. To study the role of the micro-RNAs in human kidney and bladder cancer, we analyzed the expression profile of 245 micro-RNAs in kidney and bladder primary tumors. Methods and materials A total of 27 kidney specimens (20 carcinomas, 4 benign renal tumors, and 3 normal parenchyma) and 27 bladder specimens (25 urothelial carcinomas and 2 normal mucosa) were included in the study. Total RNA was used for hybridization on an oligonucleotide microchip for micro-RNA profiling developed in our laboratories. This microchip contains 368 probes in triplicate, corresponding to 245 human and mouse micro-RNA genes. Results A set of 4 human micro-RNAs (miR-28, miR-185, miR-27, and let-7f-2) were found significantly up-regulated in renal cell carcinoma (P < 0.05) compared to normal kidney. Human micro-RNAs miR-223, miR-26b, miR-221, miR-103-1, miR-185, miR-23b, miR-203, miR-17-5p, miR-23a, and miR-205 were significantly up-regulated in bladder cancers (P < 0.05) compared to normal bladder mucosa. Of the kidney cancers studied, there was no differential micro-RNA expression across various stages, whereas with increasing tumor-nodes-metastasis staging in bladder cancer, miR-26b showed a moderate decreasing trend (P = 0.082). Conclusions Our results show that different micro-RNAs are deregulated in kidney and bladder cancer, suggesting the involvement of these genes in the development and progression of these malignancies. Further studies are needed to clarify the role of micro-RNAs in neoplastic transformation and to test the potential clinical usefulness of micro-RNAs microarrays as diagnostic and prognostic tool.