10,635 research outputs found
Novel Insulating Material from Renewable Resouerces : Silicate-Lignin Foam Composite
No full textSilicate-Lignin Foam Composites as eco-friendly insulating materials
Silvia Bordoni, Inorganic and Physical Chemistry Dept, University of Bologna
Laura Genovese, ICIE Architecture Lab for technology transfer in Constructions, Bologna
Organic-inorganic composite materials have been extensively studied for a long time, since they combine advantages of the inorganic material (i.e. rigidity, thermal stability) and of the organic phase, which is, in most of cases, a polymer (i.e. flexibility, ductility and processability (1).
Among several organic/inorganic hybrid materials, the polymer/silica nano- and meso-composites are the most commonly reported in literature and have attracted both academic and industrial interests. Besides the common applications, including coating, catalysts, devices and sensors, this type of composites can be also employed to realize innovative construction materials (2).
Here we report a formulation from renewable sources of a novel thermal- insulating material, able to offer an eco-friendly alternative to the conventional light-weighed synthetic products. The designed material is an organic-inorganic composite of lignosulfonate, as the main waste product of cellulose-production, dispersed into a silicate matrix with the addition of non-food corn starch, acting as gluing agent. The further addition of esterification promoters, foaming and coupling agents, polyol acids as pH-regulators, fungi preservatives and Kenaf fibers as reinforcing agents, confers the tailored targeted features. Addition of a suitable coupling agent (APTES) promotes linkage between the polyol groups of glycerol or the surfactant lignosulfonate with silanol and siloxane moieties of the silicate substrate. The resulting blended biopolymers-microporous silica material (40m) appears as a single phase rigid foam, which conjugates low-density (0.25-0.35g/cm3), low conductivity (λ= 52-61mW/m2K) and acceptable mechanical properties (3). These features make the obtained composite useful for bored-brick filler or as small insulating panels in building applications. Recent efforts to enhance hydrophobicity to reduce biodegradability by starch acetylation and to introduce benign polycarboxylic acids as alternative expanding promoters, more efficient plasticizers (sorbitol) or foam stabilizers and rheology modifiers (xanthane), will be also presented.
1. H.Zou, S. Wu, J.Shen; Chem. Rev. 2008, 108, 3893-3957
2. Common Strategic Framework for Research and Innovation ,“Horizon 2020”.
3. S. Bordoni; An eco-friendly challenge; Festival della scienza, Genova, 201
Novel Insulating Material from renewable resources
No full textSilicate-Lignin Foam Composites as eco-friendly insulating materials
Silvia Bordoni, Inorganic and Physical Chemistry Dept, University of Bologna
Laura Genovese, ICIE Architecture Lab for technology transfer in Constructions, Bologna
Organic-inorganic composite materials have been extensively studied for a long time, since they combine advantages of the inorganic material (i.e. rigidity, thermal stability) and of the organic phase, which is, in most of cases, a polymer (i.e. flexibility, ductility and processability (1).
Among several organic/inorganic hybrid materials, the polymer/silica nano- and meso-composites are the most commonly reported in literature and have attracted both academic and industrial interests. Besides the common applications, including coating, catalysts, devices and sensors, this type of composites can be also employed to realize innovative construction materials (2).
Here we report a formulation from renewable sources of a novel thermal- insulating material, able to offer an eco-friendly alternative to the conventional light-weighed synthetic products. The designed material is an organic-inorganic composite of lignosulfonate, as the main waste product of cellulose-production, dispersed into a silicate matrix with the addition of non-food corn starch, acting as gluing agent. The further addition of esterification promoters, foaming and coupling agents, polyol acids as pH-regulators, fungi preservatives and Kenaf fibers as reinforcing agents, confers the tailored targeted features. Addition of a suitable coupling agent (APTES) promotes linkage between the polyol groups of glycerol or the surfactant lignosulfonate with silanol and siloxane moieties of the silicate substrate. The resulting blended biopolymers-microporous silica material (40m) appears as a single phase rigid foam, which conjugates low-density (0.25-0.35g/cm3), low conductivity (λ= 0.02-0.05 W/m2K) and acceptable mechanical properties (3). These features make the composite useful for bored-brick filler or as small insulating panels in building applications. Recent efforts to reduce hydrophilicity and then biodegradability by starch acetylation and to introduce benign polycarboxylic acids as alternative expanding promoters, more efficient plasticizers or foam stabilizers and rheology modifiers, will be also presented.
1. H.Zou, S. Wu, J.Shen; Chem. Rev. 2008, 108, 3893-3957
2. Common Strategic Framework for Research and Innovation ,“Horizon 2020”.
3. S. Bordoni; An eco-friendly challenge; Festival della scienza, Genova, 2011
University of Bologna
Laura Genovese, ICIE Architecture Lab for technology transfer in Constructions, Bologna
Organic-inorganic composite materials have been extensively studied for a long time, since they combine advantages of the inorganic material (i.e. rigidity, thermal stability) and of the organic phase, which is, in most of cases, a polymer (i.e. flexibility, ductility and processability (1).
Among several organic/inorganic hybrid materials, the polymer/silica nano- and meso-composites are the most commonly reported in literature and have attracted both academic and industrial interests. Besides the common applications, including coating, catalysts, devices and sensors, this type of composites can be also employed to realize innovative construction materials (2).
Here we report a formulation from renewable sources of a novel thermal- insulating material, able to offer an eco-friendly alternative to the conventional light-weighed synthetic products. The designed material is an organic-inorganic composite of lignosulfonate, as the main waste product of cellulose-production, dispersed into a silicate matrix with the addition of non-food corn starch, acting as gluing agent. The further addition of esterification promoters, foaming and coupling agents, polyol acids as pH-regulators, fungi preservatives and Kenaf fibers as reinforcing agents, confers the tailored targeted features. Addition of a suitable coupling agent (APTES) promotes linkage between the polyol groups of glycerol or the surfactant lignosulfonate with silanol and siloxane moieties of the silicate substrate. The resulting blended biopolymers-microporous silica material (40m) appears as a single phase rigid foam, which conjugates low-density (0.25-0.35g/cm3), low conductivity (λ= 0.02-0.05 W/m2K) and acceptable mechanical properties (3). These features make the composite useful for bored-brick filler or as small insulating panels in building applications. Recent efforts to reduce hydrophilicity and then biodegradability by starch acetylation and to introduce benign polycarboxylic acids as alternative expanding promoters, more efficient plasticizers or foam stabilizers and rheology modifiers, will be also presented.
1. H.Zou, S. Wu, J.Shen; Chem. Rev. 2008, 108, 3893-3957
2. Common Strategic Framework for Research and Innovation ,“Horizon 2020”.
3. S. Bordoni; An eco-friendly challenge; Festival della scienza, Genova, 201
PREVENTIVE STRATEGIES TO COUNTERBALANCE FOOD PESTICIDE EFFECT ON EPIGENOME AND GUT MICROBIOTA
No full textFood pesticide residues have been identified in food as well as in people’s urine [1]. Studies on early life exposure to the food pesticide permethrin demonstrate its ability to modulate gene expression, epigenome and gut microbiota leading to long term effects later in life [2-4].
In particular, permethrin pesticide, binding to sodium channels, induces neuron depolarization which modulate DNMTs activities responsible for DNA methylation [5].
Previously, we demonstrated changes in the DNMTs in striatum of animals exposed to permethrin during brain development [2]. Besides, we observed that permethrin is able to decrease global DNA methylation and dopamine level in mothers exposed to food pesticide during early life as well as in their untreated offspring, underlining the intergenerational effect of the food pesticide [6]. Of particular interest is the evidence that permethrin exposure can also promote significantly changes in gut microbiota.
With the aim to propose strategies for prevention, bioactive supplements have been studied and positive nutrigenomic effects able to counterbalance the brain and gut microbiota alterations will be discussed.
References
1. Tang W, Wang D, Wang J, Wu Z, Li L, Huang M, Xu S, Yan D. Pyrethroid pesticide residues in the global environment: An overview. Chemosphere. 2018;191:990-1007.
2. Fedeli D, Montani M, Bordoni L, Galeazzi R, Nasuti C, Correia-Sá L, Domingues VF, Jayant M, Brahmachari V, Massaccesi L, Laudadio E, Gabbianelli R. In vivo and in silico studies to identify mechanisms associated with Nurr1 modulation following early life exposure to permethrin in rats. Neuroscience. 2017 Jan 6;340:411-423.
3. Nasuti C, Brunori G, Eusepi P, Marinelli L, Ciccocioppo R, Gabbianelli R. Early life exposure to permethrin: a progressive animal model of Parkinson's disease.
J Pharmacol Toxicol Methods. 2017;83:80-86.
4. Nasuti C, Coman MM, Olek RA, Fiorini D, Verdenelli MC, Cecchini C, Silvi S, Fedeli D, Gabbianelli R. Changes on fecal microbiota in rats exposed to permethrin during postnatal development.
Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2016; 23(11):10930-7.
5. Sharma RP, Tun N, Grayson DR (2008) Depolarization induces downregulation of DNMT1 and DNMT3a in primary cortical cultures. Epigenetics 3:74–80
6. Bordoni L, Nasuti C, Mirto M, Caradonna F, Gabbianelli R. Intergenerational Effect of Early Life Exposure to Permethrin: Changes in Global DNA Methylation and in Nurr1 Gene Expression.
Toxics. 2015;3(4):451-46
La "giustizia in transizione" in Italia: l'esperienza delle Corti d'Assise Straordinarie lombarde (1945-'50)
No full textSulla spinta delle riflessioni maturate in ambito internazionale rispetto alla categoria della Transitional Justice, anche nel nostro Paese il problema della giustizia verso il fascismo si è imposto al centro della discussione storiografica. La recente apertura dei fondi archivistici delle CAS, tribunali preposti alla punizione del collaborazionismo secondo quanto previsto dal decreto 142/45, ha consentito lavvio di una nuova e feconda stagione di studi sul tema, allinsegna di un ulteriore approfondimento della dialettica continuità/discontinuità che ha contrassegnato la transizione italiana dal fascismo alla democrazia. La presente tesi ha come obiettivo quello di esplorare e valutare lesperienza delle CAS nella regione lombarda, che, sebbene tra i territori con il più alto numero di processi per collaborazionismo, risulta tuttavia ancora non a sufficienza indagata dalla storiografia. A questo proposito, la domanda che muove la ricerca è la seguente: è vero che in Lombardia e, quindi, in Italia, non cè mai stata, in assoluto, una resa dei conti con quanti avevano aderito alla RSI e perpetrato crimini in nome di questultima? Avvalendosi principalmente delle carte del Commissariato alla Giustizia del Cln lombardo e dei documenti giudiziari prodotti dalle CAS lombarde, il lavoro prova a rispondere a questa domanda prendendo in esame un punto di vista in parte nuovo e originale quello del commissario alla giustizia Aurelio Becca e focalizzando lattenzione su due casi politico-giudiziari particolarmente significativi e finora mai approfonditi: quello del capo della provincia di Genova Carlo Emanuele Basile e quello del presidente della Montecatini Guido Donegani. Partendo dal resoconto delle rispettive vicende processuali e ricorrendo ad una pluralità di fonti quali i fascicoli personali dei magistrati e la stampa coeva, si sviscerano una serie di tematiche e aspetti cruciali per la comprensione delle dinamiche della giustizia in transizione, come la mentalità della magistratura e le reazioni dell'opinione pubblica rispetto alle sentenze. La tesi mette in luce il contesto complesso in cui le CAS lombarde si trovarono ad operare, tra carenze umane e materiali, fragilità legislative, mancata epurazione della magistratura e delle forze di Pubblica Sicurezza, debole coesione del fronte ciellenista, pressioni politiche internazionali. È però soprattutto nella tensione tra giustizia legale e giustizia politica che si ravvisa limpedimento maggiore alloperato di questi tribunali, stretti nella morsa tra lesigenza di normalizzare e ricostruire il Paese, da un lato, e la necessità di soddisfare lansia di vendetta proveniente dalle vittime dei crimini fascisti, dallaltro. In questo senso, la dialettica quasi schizofrenica tra CAS e Suprema Corte di Cassazione che anima la curiosa vicenda processuale di Basile, mostra, meglio di ogni altra cosa, la difficile impresa di conciliare le istanze profondamente diverse che sorgono allinterno di una società in transizione. Nel giro di pochi anni dalla fine della guerra, la stragrande maggioranza dei collaborazionisti imputati (Basile e Donegani inclusi) potè tornare in libertà. Eppure, soffermando lo sguardo sul contenuto delle sentenze pronunciate dalle CAS, si scopre che in più di un caso i giudici avevano espresso una condanna nei confronti dei crimini compiuti tra il 43 e il 45, dando così un apporto prezioso al riconoscimento delle responsabilità della RSI. Ciò, unito alle vivaci iniziative in materia legislativa in seno al Commissariato alla Giustizia, suggerisce lopportunità di formulare rispetto ai percorsi della giustizia italiana del secondo dopoguerra un giudizio un po' più articolato e sfumato di quello finora elaborato
Editorial: Molecular nutrition as preventive tool in non-communicable diseases: Mechanistic insights and risk biomarkers
No full textNutrition has a crucial role in modulating aging trajectories. Diet is not a mere source of energy, but it also affects immune functions, inflammatory status, epigenetic regulations, and gene expression. Also, diet affect the gut microbiome composition, thus modulating the metabolites produced by the microorganisms, which can have both positive and negative effects on health.
Due to their action at the level of several biochemical and molecular pathways, dietary habits have a major role in the development and progression of complex non-communicable diseases (NCD) (e.g., obesity, cardio-metabolic disorders, neurodegeneration), which represent a major burden for the modern society. A plethora of bioactive compounds, nutrients and dietary patterns have been described as potential discriminants of the health status. Some metabolites have been also proposed as risk biomarkers for non-communicable diseases (e.g., trimethylamine n-oxide), thus opening interesting possibilities for prevention interventions and population risk stratification. Nevertheless, elucidating the exact molecular mechanism underpinning the effects of each dietary factor remains an ambitious goal of modern nutrition. This special issue aims at gathering new findings that might contribute to fill the gaps in this still marginally explored area
Mitochondrion at the crossroads between nutrients and the epigenome
No full textThe modulation of gene expression is a pivotal regulatory mechanism by which cells adapt to endogenous and exogenous stimuli, including nutrition. In this context, the epigenome (i.e., the collection of biochemical modifications to the genome that do not affect the DNA sequence but determine whether genes are switched on or off) represents a crucial modulator of gene expression, with epigenetic modifications being finely tuned by extracellular and intracellular signals. At the same time, cellular responses to environmental cues are mediated, at least in part, by the mitochondria, that regulate both energetic and redox homeostasis. Recently, a tight link between epigenetic and mitochondrial metabolism has been described. This relationship is further supported by the fact that mitochondria contain their own DNA, which is a circular double-stranded molecule, present in multiple copies in each mitochondrion and that also undergo epigenetic modifications. Moreover, a pivotal role of nutrition in affecting both epigenetic and mitochondrial dynamics and function has been highlighted. While the role of nutrition in modulating mitochondrial functions is extensively discussed in other sections of this book, this chapter will focus on the impact of nutrition in boosting epigenetic regulations and on the role of the mitochondria in mediating this complex relationship
Feed Your Mitochondria and Shape Your Body!
No full textIf your body were a train, what would give it the power to move? The food you eat, which is burned by the train’s engine. Do you know how many engines your body has? Thousands of millions! They are called mitochondria. Mitochondria are tiny structures contained within the cells of your body that burn food, providing energy. The power of each mitochondrion is due to its own gearwheel: the circular mitochondrial DNA. There are many gears in each mitochondrion. Together, they regulate the mitochondrion’s ability to produce energy. Obesity modifies both the abundance and the function of the mitochondrial DNA, altering the ability of the body to efficiently produce energy, with some differences between males and females. Eating healthy foods not only makes you slim, but also boosts your mitochondria and makes you powerful
“Primers in omic data analysis: genomics and transcriptomics to boost your research in molecular nutrition” 3-5 Settembre 2023, Senigallia, Italy.
No full textPrimers in omic data analysis: genomics and transcriptomics to boost your research in molecular nutritio
Trimethylamine N-Oxide (TMAO) as a Biomarker
No full textThe interaction between diet, microbiome, and noncommunicable disease onset is gaining growing attention. The trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) is a gut microbiota derivative that has been suggested as a potential regulator of human health, especially (but not exclusively) for its association with cardiovascular diseases. It derives from the trimethylamine (TMA), which is produced by the gut microbiome from dietary precursors, such as choline, betaine, and L-carnitine. Due to the potentially harmful effects of TMAO, strategies aimed to reduce circulating TMAO levels (ranging from dietary restrictions or supplementation to pharmacological treatments) have been proposed. Moreover, TMAO has been suggested as a biomarker of disease onset and prognosis. Nevertheless, contrasting evidence can be found in the literature, and mechanistic explanations or causal demonstrations of the association between the TMA/TMAO metabolism and diseases are still missing. Thus, despite promising findings, the history of TMAO might be more complex than initially hypothesized, and further studies are necessary to promote their translation into clinical practice
Epigenetics of pesticide-induced neurodegeneration
No full textEarly life represents a key window of plasticity important for the programming of development through the cellular differentiation. During this period exogenous and endogenous factors (ie, nutrition, xenobiotics, stress, hypoxia, infections, hormones, etc.) can induce epigenetic changes leading to the development of diseases in adult age. Transgenerational studies on animal models show that epigenetic changes, such as DNA methylation and histone modifications, may be transferred to next generations.
Early life exposure to permethrin pyrethroid pesticide, during brain development is associated with dopaminergic neuron degeneration leading to the Parkinson-like disease (PD) in an animal model [1-3]. Pyrethroids represent a real risk for population as demonstrated by the detection of pyrethroid metabolites in the urine of world wide population, depending on the their presence in all vegetables and fruits [4-6].
Data from the PD animal model demonstrated that genetic and epigenetic changes are associated to permethrin-induced neurodegeneration [7]. Nurr1, the transcription factor responsible for the development and the maintenance of dopaminergic neurons, was significantly increased in early-life permethrin exposed rats. 33% of their untreated offspring showed the same Nurr1 increase as their parents. Furthermore, both mothers and untreated offspring (F1 generation) demonstrated a decrease in global DNA methylation.
It should be underlined that permethrin can cross the blood brain barrier, storing in the brain after the end of treatment. Furthermore, several sites of binding between Nurr1 and permethrin have been identified by in silico studies highlighting that the direct interaction between permethrin and Nurr1 might be suggested in early-life exposed rats [1]. Epigenetic modifications have been hypothesized to explain the intergenerational effect of Nurr1 in F1 generation.
References
[1] Fedeli D, Montani M, Bordoni L, Galeazzi R, Nasuti C, Correia-Sá L, Domingues VF, Jayant M, Brahmachari V, Massaccesi L, Laudadio E, Gabbianelli R. In vivo and in silico studies to identify mechanisms associated with Nurr1 modulation following early life exposure to permethrin in rats. Neuroscience. 2017, 340, 411.
[2] Nasuti C, Brunori G, Eusepi P, Marinelli L, Ciccocioppo R, Gabbianelli R.Early life exposure to permethrin: a progressive animal model of Parkinson's disease. J Pharmacol Toxicol Methods. 2017, 83, 80.
[3] Carloni M, Nasuti C, Fedeli D, Montani M, Vadhana MS, Amici A, Gabbianelli R. Early life permethrin exposure induces long-term brain changes in Nurr1, NF-kB and Nrf-2. Brain Res. 2013, 17, 1515.
[4] Marsha K. Morgan. Children’s Exposures to Pyrethroid Insecticides at Home: A Review of Data Collected in Published Exposure Measurement Studies Conducted in the United States. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2012, 9, 296.
[5] Dana Boyd Barr, Anders O. Olsson, Lee-Yang Wong, Simeon Udunka, Samuel E. Baker, Ralph D. Whitehead, Jr., Melina S. Magsumbol, Bryan L. Williams, Larry L. Needham. Urinary Concentrations of Metabolites of Pyrethroid Insecticides in the General U.S. Population: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999–2002. Environ Health Perspect. 2010, 118, 742.
[6] W. Li, M.K. Morgan, S.E. Graham, J.M. Starr. Measurement of pyrethroids and their environmental degradation products in fresh fruits and vegetables using a modification of the quick easy cheap effective rugged safe (QuEChERS) method. Talanta 2016, 151, 42.
[7] Bordoni L, Nasuti C, Mirto M, Caradonna F and Gabbianelli R. Intergenerational effect of early life exposure to permethrin: changes in global DNA methylation and in Nurr1 gene expression.
Toxics, 2015, 3(4), 451
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