This manuscript summarizes basic and applied research on phase equilibrium and mass transfer kinetics involved in high-pressure CO
2 extraction of solid substrates. Most examples relate to the ...extraction of lipids and essential oils from native Latin American plants. Extraction rates of vegetable matrices depend on the external mass transfer coefficient (
k
f), effective solute diffusivity in the solid substrate (
D
e), solute solubility in high-pressure CO
2, and solute binding to the solid matrix. The initial stages of the extraction process depend on an operational solubility that is close to the thermodynamic solubility (
c
sat) in the case of lipid extraction from oil-containing plant material, but lower than
c
sat in the case of essential oils, due probably to stronger interactions between essential oils than lipids and the solid matrix. Experimental values of
k
f exhibited considerable scattering and were several orders of magnitude smaller than corresponding values from literature correlations for the dissolution of solids or evaporation of liquids from films with supercritical fluids (SCFs), due to underestimation of the contribution of internal (solid phase) mechanisms to the total resistance to mass transfer and other aspects.
D
e values were 10–10
3 or 10
2–10
5 times smaller than binary diffusion coefficients of lipids and essential oils, respectively, in high-pressure CO
2, suggesting very pronounced limitations to mass transfer within the solid matrices in both cases. The integration of this information for the modeling, simulation, and scaling-up of laboratory data is thoroughly discussed. Finally, an example of economic feasibility is given for the installation of a SCF extraction plant for the recovery of lipids from wheat germ.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
Abstract
Green Public Procurement (GPP) is a policy instrument to decrease the environmental impact of products and services and create environmental value for society. A new method for assessing ...environmental award criteria in GPP processes was developed to integrate environmental and economic criteria into public tenders for External Thermal Insulation Composite Systems (ETICS). The main objective of this study was to identify the effect that the inclusion of environmental impacts can have on decision-making in public procurement. At this scope, an environmental benchmark for the main phases of the supply chain (production, installation and disposal) of ETICS that use different insulating materials, including EPS and mineral wool, was defined for different Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) impact categories after a detailed literature review. Then the monetisation method of the externalities was applied to combine the environmental impacts and the direct costs associated with the manufacture of the ETICS system by obtaining a single score for the selection of the best bid from the environmental and economic point of view. This methodology was implemented in a spreadsheet and a case study was analysed as a practical application of the tool developed for the determination of the global index. The case study simulated a tender in which three contractors provided their bid for an ETICS system. The overall investigation of the results obtained in the case study showed that the environmental externalities have a rather limited incidence compared to direct costs (between 0.8 and 10%). However, even if the lower direct costs were provided by contractor 1 (87.72 €/m
2
) in comparison to contractor 2 (87.80 €/m
2
) and contractor 3 (92.74 €/m
2
), the slightly higher environmental impacts caused the costs to rise. The most environmentally and economically advantageous bid was then provided by contractor 2, for which the global index was the lowest for each monetisation method applied. For all the impact categories considered, the production stage (A1-A3) represents the most significant contribution. The thermal insulation material and the finishing coat provide the greatest contribution to the environmental impact. The tool was designed to improve the knowledge of the economic and environmental performances of ETICS systems, which might be also used by public administrations to define minimum environmental requirements and maximum specific costs when preparing tenders for the energy requalification of buildings.
•The Dietary Inflammatory Index measures the potential for dietary inflammation.•This study assessed the association between the index and low-grade inflammation.•To our knowledge, this is the first ...study to examine this association in an Italian population.•Results showed that proinflammatory diet was associated with higher level of low-grade inflammation.
The association between diet and inflammation is well documented. Yet, no evidence exists on the relationship between the inflammatory potential of the diet and low-grade inflammation (LGI) as measured by a composite score of plasma and cellular biomarkers. The aim of this study was to assess the association between the Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII®) and LGI in a large population-based cohort.
Cross-sectional analyses were conducted on data from 20 823 adults (age ≥35 y; 48% male) without acute inflammation, who were recruited within the general population of the Moli-sani study from 2005 to 2010. LGI was measured by using a composite score (INFLA-score) including platelet and leukocyte counts, the granulocyte to lymphocyte ratio, and C-reactive protein. DII scores were computed based on dietary intake assessed by the EPIC food frequency questionnaire. Multivariable linear regression models were fit to produce adjusted regression coefficients and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).
Higher DII scores were associated with increased LGI (β = 0.131; 95% CI, 0.089–0.174 for the highest versus lowest quintile of DII) after adjusting for age, sex, lifestyle, prevalence of chronic diseases, and health conditions. A higher DII score also was positively associated with each single biomarker of inflammation included in the INFLA-score, unhealthy behaviors (smoking, sedentary lifestyle), and insulin.
Higher DII scores, indicating greater inflammatory potential of the diet, were directly associated with LGI, as measured by a composite score of plasma and cellular biomarkers of inflammation. These findings are consistent with the contributing role of diet-mediated inflammation in increasing risk for inflammation-related chronic diseases.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZRSKP
Purpose
The purpose of this study was to provide guidance on quality management for electronic brachytherapy.
Materials and Methods
The task group used the risk‐assessment approach of Task Group 100 ...of the American Association of Physicists in Medicine. Because the quality management program for a device is intimately tied to the procedure in which it is used, the task group first designed quality interventions for intracavitary brachytherapy for both commercial electronic brachytherapy units in the setting of accelerated partial‐breast irradiation. To demonstrate the methodology to extend an existing risk analysis for a different application, the task group modified the analysis for the case of post‐hysterectomy, vaginal cuff irradiation for one of the devices.
Results
The analysis illustrated how the TG‐100 methodology can lead to interventions to reduce risks and improve quality for each unit and procedure addressed.
Conclusion
This report provides a model to guide facilities establishing a quality management program for electronic brachytherapy.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Non-destructive characterization of bronze artefacts from archaeological finds of the 'Terramare' dwellings near Modena, Italy, was carried out by time-of-flight neutron scattering at the ISIS ...spallation neutron source of the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, UK. This provides information on ancient metal technology and its development through the Bronze Age in that region. Six pieces from three different classes as to use and manufacture, from the Middle to Late Bronze Age, were investigated on the ROTAX and GEM beam lines at ISIS, providing a comparison between results from the two instruments. A comparison is also made with three axes of the same area of provenance (Emilia, Terramare culture) from the Early, Middle and Late Bronze Age respectively, analysed previously.
We aimed to evaluate the usefulness of C-reactive protein (CRP) and procalcitonin (PCT) as markers of infection, sepsis and as predictors of antibiotic response after non-emergency major abdominal ...surgery. We enrolled, from June 2015 to June 2019, all patients who underwent surgery due to abdominal infection (peritoneal abscess, peritonitis) or having sepsis episode after surgical procedures (i.e. hepatectomy, bowel perforation, pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD), segmental resection of the duodenum (SRD) or biliary reconstruction in a Tertiary Care Hospital. Serum CRP (cut-off value < 5 mg/L) and PCT (cut-off value < 0.1mcg/L) were measured in the day when fever was present or within 24 h after abdominal surgery. Both markers were assessed every 48 h to follow-up antibiotic response and disease evolution up to disease resolution. We enrolled a total of 260 patients underwent non-emergency major abdominal surgery and being infected or developing infection after surgical procedure with one or more microbes (55% mixed Gram-negative infection including Klebsiella KPC, 35% Gram-positive infection, 10% with Candida infection), 58% of patients had ICU admission for at least 96 h, 42% of patients had fast track ICU (48 h). In our group of patients, we found that PCT had a trend to increase after surgical procedure; particularly, those undergoing liver surgery had higher PCT than those underwent different abdominal surgery (
U
Mann–Whitney
p
< 0.05). CRP rapidly increase after surgery in those developing infection and showed a statistical significant decrease within 48 h in those subject being responsive to antibiotic treatment and having a clinical response within 10 days independently form the pathogens (bacterial or fungal). Further we found that those having CRP higher than 250 mg/L had a reduced percentage of success treatment at 10 days compared to those < 250 mg/mL (
U
Mann–Whitney
p
< 0.05). PCT did not show any variation according to treatment response. CRP in our cohort seems to be a useful marker to predict antibiotic response in those undergoing non-emergency abdominal surgery, while PCT seem to be increased in those having major liver surgery, probably due to hepatic production of cytokines.
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EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
Hyperpolarizing GABAAR currents, the unitary events that underlie synaptic inhibition, are dependent upon efficient Cl− extrusion, a process that is facilitated by the neuronal specific K+/Cl− ...co-transporter KCC2. Its activity is also a determinant of the anticonvulsant efficacy of the canonical GABAAR-positive allosteric: benzodiazepines (BDZs). Compromised KCC2 activity is implicated in the pathophysiology of status epilepticus (SE), a medical emergency that rapidly becomes refractory to BDZ (BDZ-RSE). Here, we have identified small molecules that directly bind to and activate KCC2, which leads to reduced neuronal Cl− accumulation and excitability. KCC2 activation does not induce any overt effects on behavior but prevents the development of and terminates ongoing BDZ-RSE. In addition, KCC2 activation reduces neuronal cell death following BDZ-RSE. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that KCC2 activation is a promising strategy to terminate BDZ-resistant seizures and limit the associated neuronal injury.
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•Identification of small molecules that bind to and activate KCC2•Activation of KCC2 reduces neuronal Cl− accumulation•KCC2 activation restores the efficacy of benzodiazepine to arrest seizures•KCC2 activation reduces neuronal death following seizures
Impairments in KCC2-dependent neuronal Cl− extrusion are believed to contribute to the gross increases in excitability that lead to benzodiazepine-resistant seizures. Jarvis et al. demonstrate that pharmacological activation of KCC2 reduces neuronal excitability, restores the anticonvulsant efficacy of benzodiazepines, and reduces seizure-induced neuronal cell death.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Photoinduced hydrogen abstraction from aliphatic cyclic hydrocarbons (C5 to C7, C12, as well as adamantane) by triplet aromatic ketones in the presence of α,β-unsaturated (di)nitriles offers a ...straightforward entry to the corresponding alkylated (di)nitriles via the alkyl radicals. Yields are moderate to good depending on the olefins structure (substitution in β slows down the addition to mononitriles, but with α,α-dinitriles electronic activation allows efficient alkylation also of β,β-disubstituted substrates). A tandem alkylation−cyclization process has been obtained with (1-methylpent-4-enylidene)malononitrile.
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IJS, KILJ, NUK, PNG, UL, UM
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