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Heritage guidelines recognize odors as a value associated with a place. This study aims to clarify the connection between heritage and volatile organic compounds at the molecular level. At variance with previous studies, usually focused only on book‐related compounds from accelerated degradation tests, the whole air of one of the most significant historical libraries in Italy was studied. A sampling of the volatiles off‐gassing from the two most iconic rooms, respectively open and forbidden to visitors, was performed via a non‐invasive, nondestructive green method, solid‐phase‐micro‐extraction. The gas‐chromatographic analyses resulted in the appraisal of olfactory contributions from books, storage environment, and, for the first time, anthropic activities and pollution.Concerning the paper decay process, for the very first time, the presence of 2‐ethyl‐1‐hexanol in the chromatographic signature of the library air is rationalized according to the Guerbet reaction. The presence of all other compounds is explained by the paper decay process, anthropic sources, and pollution. Indoor air comprises analytes related to paper decay, identified by previous studies, and additional compounds never found before.Most volatile compounds are aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons, aldehydes, alcohols, terpenes, and terpenoids. Odor contributions from a selected number of analytes were pinpointed. Alkanes dominate the volatiles chromatographic signature, and impart a slight hydrocarbon smell. Aromatics supplement their characteristic aromatic odor. Aldehydes' very low odor threshold makes them strongly contribute to both fruity and fatty descriptors. Benzaldehyde, furfural, vanillin, and camphor add, respectively, an hint of almond, bread, vanilla, and camphor. Alcohols such as 2‐ethyl hexanol have a floral scent. Wood‐related terpenes and terpenoids contribute to the woody smell of the library.The digital molecular fingerprint of the "scent of knowledge" enables documentation, conservation, and future chemical reproduction of the historical library odor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is a list of contributions to a special issue titled "Molecules from Side Reactions II" in the journal Molbank. The special issue focuses on the synthesis and characterization of molecules obtained from unexpected and unpredictable synthetic routes. The research on side products is important as they can lead to new syntheses and provide insights into reaction mechanisms. The special issue includes 17 papers, with Italy contributing the most research. The topics covered in the special issue include the synthesis of heterocycles, carbohydrates, modified nucleosides, mechanisms of reactions, green chemistry, and chemistry of natural substances. The document also acknowledges the rigorous review process and the support of the editor-in-chief and editorial office staff. [Extracted from the article]

Information on several conference papers cited at the Infections, Rheumatisms and Autoimmunity held in Milan, Italy on March 6-8, 2008 is presented. Researchers found that structurally conserved molecules are sensed by Toll-like receptors (TLRs) and help in the early recognition of several infectious agents. TLRs was also found to induce an antipathogen immune response and avoid the induction of autoimmune diseases through transcription factors. TLR3 and TLR9 were linked to the development of lupus nephritis in mice.

The article presents a study which examines the content of N-nitrosamines in several cheeses in Italy. Researchers have applied a simultaneous distillation-extraction procedure, followed by high resolution gas chromatography-thermal energy analysis. The traces of nitrosamines N-nitrosodimethylamine could have been caused by the presence of formaldehyde, a nitrosation catalyst. It was found out that food contributes to the daily intake of mutagenic and carcinogenic molecules which have been detected in all food classes. In conclusion, researchers recommend the limitation of nitrosamines due to its mutagenic and carcinogenic agent on food.

Background Pollen-food syndrome ( PFS) is heterogeneous with regard to triggers, severity, natural history, comorbidities, and response to treatment. Our study aimed to classify different endotypes of PFS based on IgE sensitization to panallergens. Methods We examined 1271 Italian children (age 4-18 years) with seasonal allergic rhinoconjunctivitis ( SAR). Foods triggering PFS were acquired by questionnaire. Skin prick tests were performed with commercial pollen extracts. IgE to panallergens Phl p 12 (profilin), Bet v 1 ( PR-10), and Pru p 3 (ns LTP) were tested by Immuno CAP FEIA. An unsupervised hierarchical agglomerative clustering method was applied within PFS population. Results PFS was observed in 300/1271 children (24%). Cluster analysis identified five PFS endotypes linked to panallergen IgE sensitization: (i) cosensitization to ≥2 panallergens ('multi-panallergen PFS'); (ii-iv) sensitization to either profilin, or ns LTP, or PR-10 ('mono-panallergen PFS'); (v) no sensitization to panallergens ('no-panallergen PFS'). These endotypes showed peculiar characteristics: (i) 'multi-panallergen PFS': severe disease with frequent allergic comorbidities and multiple offending foods; (ii) 'profilin PFS': oral allergy syndrome ( OAS) triggered by Cucurbitaceae; (iii) ' LTP PFS': living in Southern Italy, OAS triggered by hazelnut and peanut; (iv) ' PR-10 PFS': OAS triggered by Rosaceae; and (v) 'no-panallergen PFS': mild disease and OAS triggered by kiwifruit. Conclusions In a Mediterranean country characterized by multiple pollen exposures, PFS is a complex and frequent complication of childhood SAR, with five distinct endotypes marked by peculiar profiles of IgE sensitization to panallergens. Prospective studies in cohorts of patients with PFS are now required to test whether this novel classification may be useful for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes in the clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]