171,084 research outputs found
The voice of emotions. Steps to semiosis of the vocal non-verbal communication of emotion
No full textThe object of this research is the vocal expression of emotions as flexible and culturally defined tools aiming at communicating. The emotional expressions can influence consistently the other behavior by participating the management of interactions and the negotiation of interpersonal relationships, as it emerge from the Behavioral Ecology approach, elaborated by Fridlund (1994), and the Minimal Universality approach, proposed by Russell (1995).
The existing literature about suprasegmental vocal traits and their functions within communicative exchange points out the role of voice in expressing emotions. Results found in the last few years show with consistency the value and the effectiveness of paralinguistic components in the emotional expressions, with an accuracy of recognition which is around 60% (Scherer 1999; Sobin & Alpert 1999).Within the scientific domain recalled here, the vocal non-verbal expressions, even if they are one of the most effective and common tools of emotional communication, were studied in a limited number of experiments. Even lower it is the number of the researches exploring simultaneously the production of emotional expressions (encoding) and their recognition (decoding) (Anolli & Ciceri 1997).
In particular, in accordance with the auditory scene approach, it is interesting to explore how patterns of acoustic variables can contribute as once in determining both auditory cognition and recognition of emotions, by which we think about sounds of emotions and not only we hear them (Bregman 1991; McAdams & Bigand 1994)
Biocatalytic synthesis of two pharmacologically active compounds: (S)-pramipexole and its enantiomer, dexpramipexole.
No full textBiocatalytic synthesis of two pharmacologically active compounds:
(S)-pramipexole and its enantiomer, dexpramipexole
Samuele Ciceri,a,* Patrizia Ferraboschi,a Paride Grisenti,b Matteo Moric and Fiorella Meneghettic
a Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, University of Milan, Via C. Saldini 50, 20133 Milano, Italy
b Chemical-Pharmaceutical Consulting and IP Management, Viale G. da Cermenate 58, 20141 Milano, Italy
c Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Milan, Via L. Mangiagalli 25, 20133 Milano, Italy
*[email protected]
Many pharmaceutically active compounds contain a chiral core inside their structure. Therefore, compounds formed highly selectively are valuable products. The chemo-, regio-, and stereo-selectivity required could be achieved using biocatalysts (enzymes or microorganisms), which can work on a wide range of substrates, in mild reaction conditions and not only in aqueous solutions, but also in organic solvents. Moreover, biocatalysis meets the green chemistry principles.
Our research work focuses on the biocatalytic synthesis of key building blocks affording to pharmaceutically active compounds, currently used in therapy [1, 2].
Following this approach, we were able to synthetize the enantiopure key intermediates of (S)-pramipexole, a synthetic dopaminergic agonist utilized as anti-Parkinson drug, and (R)-pramipexole, which has been studied as therapeutic agent against Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and now it has found new interest for the potential treatment of Eosinophilic Asthma and Hypereosinophilic Syndrome.
Two different biocatalytic approach allowed us to stereoselectively synthesize these compounds:
1) After the investigation of the activity and selectivity of different microorganisms (especially yeasts), we obtained the enantiomerically pure synthons for the preparation of (S)- and (R)-pramipexole by means of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the common baker’s yeast, a cheap and easy to handle microorganism.
2) The two enantiomerically pure synthons were achieved by means of a double kinetic resolution catalized by a commercially available purified enzyme, Lipase A from Candida antarctica, under irreversible transesterification conditions.
The definition of the stereochemistry of the two enantiomers was also carried out by means of single crystal X-ray analysis.
References
[1] Ciceri, S.; Ciuffreda, P.; Grisenti, P. and Ferraboschi, P. Synthesis of the antitumoral nucleoside capecitabine through a chemo-enzymatic approach Tetrahedron Lett. 2015, 56, 5909-5913.
[2] Ciceri, S.; Grisenti, P.; Reza Elahi, S. and Ferraboschi, P. A New Chemoenzymatic Synthesis of the Chiral Key Intermediate of the Antiepileptic Brivaracetam Molecules 2018, 23, 2206
Mesorhizobium ciceri biovar biserrulae, a novel biovar nodulating the pasture legume Biserrula pelecinus L
No full textBiserrula pelecinus L. is a pasture legume species that forms a highly specific nitrogen-fixing symbiotic interaction with a group of bacteria that belong to Mesorhizobium. These mesorhizobia have >98.8% sequence similarity to Mesorhizobium ciceri and Mesorhizobium loti for the 16S rRNA gene (1440 bp) and > 99.3% sequence similarity to M. ciceri for the dnaK gene (300 bp), and strain WSM1271 has 100% sequence similarity to M. ciceri for GSII (600 bp). Strain WSM1271 had 85% relatedness to M. ciceri LMG 14989T and 50% relatedness to M. loti LMG 6125T when DNA-DNA hybridization was performed. WSM1271 also had a similar cellular fatty acid profile to M. ciceri. These results are strong evidence that the Biserrula mesorhizobia and M. ciceri belong to the same group of bacteria. Significant differences were revealed between the Biserrula mesorhizobia and M. ciceri in growth conditions, antibiotic resistance and carbon source utilization. The G + C content of the DNA of WSM1271 was 62.7 mol%, compared to 63-64 mol% for M. ciceri. The Biserrula mesorhizobia contained a plasmid (∼500 bp), but the symbiotic genes were detected on a mobile symbiosis island and considerable variation was present in the symbiotic genes of Biserrula mesorhizobia and M. ciceri. There was < 78.6 % sequence similarity for nodA and < 66.9 % for nifH between Biserrula mesorhizobia and M. ciceri. Moreover, the Biserrula mesorhizobia did not nodulate the legume host of M. ciceri, Cicer arietinum, and M. ciceri did not nodulate B. pelecinus. These significant differences observed between Biserrula mesorhizobia and M. ciceri warrant the proposal of a novel biovar for Biserrula mesorhizobia within M. ciceri. The name Mesorhizobium ciceri biovar biserrulae is proposed, with strain WSM1271 (= LMG 23838 = HAMBI 2942) as the reference strain
RESPUESTA DEL CULTIVO GARBANZO (CICER ARIETINUM L.) A LA INOCULACIÓN CON MESORHIZOBIUM CICERI EN LA REGIÓN CENTRO DE CÓRDOBA
No full textEl garbanzo es una de las legumbres más importantes en el mundo. En Argentina, la provincia de Córdoba concentra el 50% de la producción nacional. Es conocido que la inoculación del cultivo con Mesorhizobium ciceri, es una alternativa sustentable para incrementar el rendimiento y la calidad del grano obtenido. El objetivo fue evaluar la respuesta del cultivo de garbanzo a la inoculación con M. ciceri en la región centro de Córdoba. El ensayo fue realizado en la Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias (UNC) utilizando el cultivar Norteño. Se realizaron dos tratamientos: a) semillas inoculadas con M. ciceri (In), y b) control sin inocular (C). Las plantas inoculadas presentaron mayor número, peso y porcentaje de nódulos funcionales. En las plantas inoculadas se alcanzó un rendimiento mayor (10,84 qq.ha-1 vs. 4,87 qq.ha-1) y los granos presentaron mayor calibre. La inoculación con M. ciceri incrementó el rendimiento y la calidad del grano cosechado.
 
Erratum: A roadmap to parathyroidectomy for kidney transplant candidates (Clinical Kidney Journal (2022) (sfac050) DOI: 10.1093/ckj/sfac050)
No full textThis is an erratum to: Giuseppe Cianciolo, Francesco Tondolo, Simona Barbuto, Andrea Angelini, Francesca Ferrara, Francesca Iacovella, Concettina Raimondi, Gaetano La Manna, Carla Serra, Chiara De Molo, Ottavio Cavicchi, Ottavio Piccin, Pasquale D'Alessio, Loredana De Pasquale, Giovanni Felisati, Paola Ciceri, Andrea Galassi, Mario Cozzolino, A roadmap to parathyroidectomy for kidney transplant candidates. In the originally published version of this manuscript, the images for Figures 2 and 3 were swapped in error. This error has been corrected
Elagolix and its derivatives: Analytical and theoretical investigations of their atropisomeric properties
No full textAmong the Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone (GnRH) modulators, elagolix represents a breakthrough being the first non-peptide orally active GnRH-antagonist approved for the treatment of sex-hormone dependent diseases such as endometriosis and uterine fibroids. Chemically, it is an uracil-based derivative having a stereocenter with (R)-configuration and an additional source of chirality, called atropisomerism, arising from a restricted rotation around a C-C bond due to steric hindrance involving the o-fluorine of the 5-aryl group with the methyl and the carbonyl oxygen at 6- and 4-position of the uracil moiety, respectively.
Since atropisomerism occurs via a time/temperature-dependent bond rotation causing a conformational instability, it is very important to be considered in drug discovery and development processes.
Herein, we will focus on the investigation of the elagolix conformational stability, through spectroscopic, analytical, and theoretical techniques, and of few new analogues differently substituted at the 6- or 4-position of the uracil moiety. These derivatives showed atropisomeric interconversion rates lower than elagolix, allowing their separation and the analyses as single atropisomers.
Overall, these outcomes contributed to clarify the structural determinants involved in the control of the spatial arrangement of the substituents within this molecular framework, useful for future development of single atropisomers with higher selectivity
La fisica nei licei dell'Ottocento. La collezione di antichi strumenti scientifici del Liceo Classico Gabriello Chiabrera di Savona
No full textHydration of aromatic terminal alkynes catalyzed by iron(III) sulfate hydrate under chlorine-free conditions
No full textThe hydration of aromatic terminal alkynes performed in acetic acid in the presence of catalytic hydrate ironIII sulfate, Fe2(SO 4)3·nH2O (4-9 mol %), yields the derived aryl methyl ketones with good to excellent yields. Under comparable conditions (18 mol %, 95 C, 24 h), bifunctional substrates were transformed into the monoacetyl or the diacetyl derivatives, depending on the structure of the aromatic diyne. The reaction is compatible with aryl substituents of different nature and ring positions, including hydroxyl, carbonyl groups, and cumulated hydrocarbons. The soft character of the non nucleophilic sulfate anion allows for activation of the triple bond toward carbonoxygen bond formation in the Brønsted acidic medium. The proposed protocol is based on readily available and non toxic materials, in the absence of chlorine atoms in either the solvent or the metal catalyst
Effect of Heterodera Ciceri On Yield of Chickpea and Lentil and Development of This Nematode On Chickpea in Syria
No full textExperiments were undertaken in 1984-1986 to assess losses caused by Heterodera ciceri to chickpea and lentil and to investigate the development of the nematode in Syria. Pots containing 5.5 dm 3 of soil were sown to spring chickpea in 1985 and microplots containing 34 dm 3 of soil sown to winter chickpea or lentil in 1985-1986. There were nine pots or ten microplots for each plant species and population density levels (0, 0.125, 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64 and 128 eggs of H. ciceri/cm 3 soil). Sixteen more microplots were sown to winter chickpea and 14 to spring chickpea, to investigate the development of the nematode. When plant size was considered, tolerance limits (T) to H. ciceri were 0.22 and 0.6 eggs/cm 3 soil and minimum relative plant sizes 0.6 and 0.47 for winter sown chickpea and lentil, respectively. Tolerance limits of 1, 1.15, and 2.51 eggs/cm 3 soil for spring and winter chickpea and lentil, respectively, and relative minimum yields of 0 for chickpea and 0.5 for lentil were instead estimated for grain and total plant weights. Seed protein content was also negatively affected by the nematode. Second stage juveniles of the nematode had invaded roots of both winter and spring chickpea by the time of emergence of the plants. Females appeared on 13 March and 10 April on the roots of winter and spring chickpea, and cysts 14 and 6 days later, respectively, when 212-227 day degrees had accumulated. Maximum reproduction rates of H. ciceri at very small initial population densities were large (249-297) and about the same on winter chickpea and lentil and 4.5 on spring chickpea
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