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Chemical Speciation and Coordination Behavior of 8-Hydroxyquinoline-2-carboxylic Acid with Divalent Cations in Aqueous Solution: An Irving–Williams Series Study
No full textIn this work, the coordination properties of 8-hydroxyquinoline-2-carboxylic acid (8-HQA, LH2) toward Mn2+, Fe2+, Co2+, Ni2+, Cu2+, and Zn2+ are discussed. Stability constants for Mn2+, Co2+, and Ni2+/8-HQA systems were determined by ISE-H+ (glass electrode) potentiometry, and those of Cu2+ and Zn2+/8-HQA by ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) spectrophotometry, in KCl(aq) at I = 0.2 mol dm(-3) and T = 298.2 K. For all systems, three species are formed: MLH+, ML, and ML22-. 8-HQA proved a good sequestering agent of M2+ over a wide pH range, as also shown by the calculated pL(0.5) values. The stability of the formed metal complexes follows the expected Irving-Williams trend, especially concerning the ML22- species, with log beta(120): 12.45 +/- 0.01 (Mn2+) 18.78 +/- 0.02 (Zn2+). This trend is inversely correlated to the M-N bond length determined by quantum mechanical calculations. These studies, together with voltammetry and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy, allowed us to derive information about the coordination modes, structure, and nature of the formed species. Results support the formation of ML22- complexes over possible ML(OH)(-), with 8-HQA acting as tridentate in all formed species, including the protonated MLH+
Rivel-Azione. Poetry and Politics in Modern Italy
No full textThe book explores the intimate connection between poetry and politics in modernity and, in particular, in liberal and fascist Italy. Through a historical and interdisciplinary approach, the essays focus on various fundamental passages of liberal system crisis: political poetry as an act of rebellion against the social and economic system; as a tool of disintegration of bourgeois morality and civilization; as a pillar of the building and consolidation of the fascist regime; as a central instrument of the myth of the 'new man'. What emerges is a mosaic capable of enlightening the values and disvalues and the transformation of Italian radical and nationalist mindset, through the elimination of the boundaries between ‘matter’ and ‘spirit’ and between di erent disciplines: as in the liberal period, political poetry deals with new issues such as Time, Space, an
Start-ups as suppliers: Toward a new framework for understanding the role of innovative firms in supply chains
No full textSodium Dodecylbenzenesulfonate-Induced Oxidative Stress and Tissue Damage in Tubifex tubifex: A Comprehensive Toxicological Study
No full text: In this study, the acute and sublethal toxicity of SDBS was assessed using Tubifex tubifex. In an acute toxicity bioassay, the 96-hour LC50 value for SDBS was determined to be 13.358mg/L. The survival probability of the test organism under elevated SDBS concentrations was further assessed using General Unified Threshold models of Survival (GUTS), where the GUTS-Individual Tolerance (IT) model was applied over the GUTS-Stochastic Death (SD) model. T. tubifex was exposed for 14 days to concentrations equivalent to 10% and 20% of the 96-hour LC50 value (1.33mg/L and 2.67mg/L). Significant alterations were observed in total protein content, antioxidant enzyme activities, and histopathological markers. Specifically, levels of proteins, superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) decreased, while glutathione S-transferase (GST), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and malondialdehyde (MDA) increased, indicating oxidative stress. These findings suggest exposure to sublethal levels of SDBS may compromise physiological integrity and antioxidative defense mechanisms in invertebrates
Timing matters! Academic assessment changes throughout the day
No full textThe influence of timing on decision-making processes has garnered significant attention across various domains, yet its impact on academic assessment remains under investigated. While previous research has suggested time-of-day effects on judicial decisions, methodological limitations have restricted the generalizability of these findings. Here, we present a comprehensive analysis of 104.552 oral exams conducted at an Italian university, revealing a robust relationship between exam timing and academic outcomes. Our results demonstrate a Gaussian distribution of passing rates throughout the day, with a significant peak at midday. This pattern persists after controlling for exam difficulty and other potential confounding factors, suggesting an intrinsic time-dependent bias in the evaluation process. Our findings not only corroborate previous research on the influence of timing on decision-making but also extend it to the realm of academic assessment. These results have profound implications for educational policy and practice, highlighting the need for strategic exam scheduling to optimize student performance and ensure equitable evaluation
New from Research on the Riace Bronzes
No full textIn recent years, research on the Riace Bronzes has yielded fascinating insights that remain largely unfamiliar to the international scholarly community. Collaboration with Greek archaeologists Ch. Piteròs and
K.Tziampasis has enabled the key findings like that of a bronze statue unearthed in excavations at Argos, and special studies like the reconstruction of the helmet crest on Bronze B’s head. The Argos discovery of a statue, which is similar in size and construction technique to the Riace Warriors and is made from the same casting material, prompt that it might have belonged to the same sculptural group. New investigations into Bronze B have revealed the evidence of two pins at the top of the head for securing a helmet, markings at the nape for attaching a headband, and signs of a fastening gear around the neck of the statue, confirming the presence of the korinthie kynê on it — a symbol of absolute power. Collaborative work also led to the discovery of a base, still in situ, in the Agora of Argos, showing clear impressions of footprints and a hole designed to fix the spear and matching the Bronze A, which proves that the statue originated in that city. The search for ancient copies of the Riace Warriors has led to the identification of a Roman-origin 30 cm bronze statuette found in Rome in 1906, and now housed in an American museum in Connecticut, that reproduces the features of Bronze A, providing further evidence of the Bronzes’ transportation and display in Rome and representing the earliest known ancient copy of Bronze A. The study of the iconography of Polynices and Eteocles, as depicted in the Riace Bronzes, has resulted in the
recognition of the scene on an Etruscan sarcophagus in the Copenhagen Museum portraying the episode of the two brothers shaking hands in a pact to alternate ruling Thebes for one year each. However, behind them stand two demons, signaling that the pact is cursed and will be broken by Eteocles. The art-piece is recognized as the earliest depiction of the fraudulent pact between the sons of Oedipus
Bio-Fortification of fish fillets with artichoke by-product extract: impact of nutritional value, antioxidant capacity, and shelf-life. 10th Edition of Innovations in food science and human nutrition (IFHN) July 14 - 15, 2025 at Vienna, Austria Oral Communication.
No full textThe increasing demand for functional foods is driving interest in novel fortification strategies. This study proposes
an effective approach for the bio-fortification of farmed sea bream fillets using a mix of bioactive compounds with
antioxidant properties, in order to meet the nutritional and health needs of consumers with neurodegenerative diseases.
Bio-fortification was achieved using an artichoke by-product extract obtained via ultrasound-assisted enzymatic
extraction. A 1:10 (w/v) suspension of artichoke leaves and stems was treated with pectinase (50 U/g) and cellulase (30
U/g), incubated at 40°C for 8 hours, exposed to ultrasound (20 kHz, 0.4 W/mL, 20 min), filtered, and freeze-dried. Two
techniques of fortification were used: vacuum immersion (VI) and spray coating combined with electroporation (SC).
The effectiveness of the two approaches was assessed by evaluation of the polyphenol profiles, antioxidant capacity,
shelf-life, sensory quality, and impact. Non-fortified fillets were used as control (CTR). The fortified fillets showed a
significant post-cooking polyphenols’ retention rate of 65.3% and 58.7% for VI and SC, respectively. Notably, HPLCDAD
analysis highlighted the prevalence in the polyphenols profiles of chlorogenic acid (1.65 ± 0.12 g-1 d.w. in VI and
1.02 ± 0.08 mg·g-1 d.w. in SC) against 0.12± 0.06 g-1 d.w. in CTR. Luteolin derivatives, cynarin and caffeic acid were
also identified in the cooked fortified fillets. The antioxidant capacity was evaluated through DPPH scavenging activity
reaching 42.5% ± 3.2% in VI and 38.9% ± 2.8% in SC, compared to 19.6% ± 1.5% in CTR. Shelf-life assessments
indicated an extension of 4 and 3 days in VI and SC raw fillets, respectively. Sensory analysis revealed improved texture
and flavor in SC cooked fillets, with an acceptability score of 7.8 ± 0.6 on a 9-point hedonic scale, making them the most
preferred by consumers. These findings highlight the good impact of both fortification approaches on nutritional value,
antioxidant capacity, and shelf-life of farmed sea bream fillets
Hydrodynamic Analysis of a Stepped Planing Hull Through Sea Trials and CFD Simulations
No full textThis study examines the hydrodynamic behaviour of a 15-meter stepped planing hull through full-scale sea trials and numerical simulations. The sea trials, conducted in calm water conditions, provided key performance data, including pressure resistance, shear resistance and heave. A simplified procedure for conducting the sea trials was developed and implemented and these experimental results served as a baseline for a comparison with the results of a multiphase Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) model. This procedure enabled efficient testing while maintaining the accuracy of the results. The CFD simulation focused on understanding the natural ventilation process beneath the hull, a crucial factor in improving performance. Detailed studies were carried out on the wave profiles and resistance distribution under various flow conditions. The analysis explored the behaviour of natural ventilation in relation to resistance reduction, offering critical insights into optimizing hull performance through natural air flow mechanisms. This study underscores the potential of combining full-scale trials with advanced numerical modelling to enhance the design and performance evaluation of planing vessels. The findings contribute to the development of more efficient ships, with implications for improved energy efficiency and sustainability in recreational marine applications
Efficacy and safety of intrathecal adjuvants for perioperative management of cesarean delivery: a systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
No full textBackground: Cesarean section (CS) rates have increased globally, necessitating effective anesthesia management. Single-shot spinal anesthesia has limitations due to its duration and the dose-limiting adverse effects of local anesthetics. Objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of intrathecal adjuvants combined with local anesthetics in the perioperative management of CS pain. Design: Systematic review with network meta-analysis. Data sources: PubMed, Cochrane Library for Clinical Trials, and Embase. Eligibility criteria: We included women undergoing CS under single-shot spinal anesthesia with any intrathecal drug or placebo added to a long-acting local anesthetic. We selected single- or double-blind, parallel-group, randomized controlled trials (RCTs) reported in English. We excluded crossover, non-randomized, up-and-down dose-finding studies and clinical trials comparing the same drugs in all study arms. Results: We included 166 RCTs with 14 925 patients assigned to 32 interventions. Buprenorphine and diamorphine were the highest-ranked treatments for reducing pain intensity at 24 hours, though not statistically significant. Morphine alone or in combination with meperidine, neostigmine, epinephrine, or nalbuphine significantly increased the duration of effective analgesia and reduced opioid consumption. Dexmedetomidine and morphine significantly prolonged the motor block duration. The safety profile of intrathecal adjuvants was generally adequate. Conclusions: While the strength of evidence, overall, was very low to low, our study suggests that while none of the interventions significantly reduced pain intensity at 24 hours, several significantly prolonged effective analgesia and reduced postoperative opioid consumption. Dexmedetomidine and morphine prolonged the duration of motor block. None of the intrathecal adjuvants evaluated significantly increased the occurrence of severe adverse events. Future large-scale RCTs are essential to provide more robust evidence