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Marine sediment contamination was evaluated in a set of sediment specimens collected from Izmir Bay (Turkey) and from Mytilene Harbor (Greece) in the Aegean Sea. Eight sediment specimens from Izmir (#IZ to #IZ8) and seven sediment specimens from Mytilene (#MYT1 to #MYT7) were analyzed for their content in different classes of contaminants, i.e. inorganics, organic carbon (OC), and seven polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Significantly higher levels of inorganic contaminants were detected in Izmir vs. Mytilene sediment, and the highest inorganic contamination was detected in the innermost sampling sites in Izmir Bay, namely sites #IZ1 to #IZ4. This was the case for Al, As, Cr, Cu, Fe, Li, Mn, Pb, Ti and Zn. Granulometric analysis, OC and individual PAH congeners failed to show any significant differences between total Mytilene and total Izmir Bay sediment samples. Nevertheless, the sum of PAHs in sites #IZ2 to #IZ4 displayed significantly higher levels both vs. the other Izmir sites and vs. all Mytilene sediment samples. The overall results point to higher pollution status in Izmir Bay, especially in the innermost sampling sites, compared to Mytilene harbor, detected as inorganic contamination and as PAH contamination in some Izmir sampling sites.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate marine contamination and toxicity in sediment and pore water from the areas of Izmir Bay (Turkey) and Mytilene Harbor (Greece). The evaluation was performed in terms of selected toxic metals, polycyclic aromatic compounds (PAH) and toxicity to sea urchin (Paracentrotus lividus) early development and fertilization. Significantly higher levels of metals and total PAH were detected in Izmir vs. Mytilene sediment, and the highest contamination was detected in Izmir Bay innermost sites. Bioassays were carried out in P. lividus embryos and sperm, by evaluating developmental defects and changes in fertilization success by exposing sea urchin embryos or sperm to sediment/seawater suspensions. Whole sediment (WS) showed a higher toxicity of Izmir vs. Mytilene samples both in terms of developmental defects and of spermiotoxicity. Pore water (PW) and solid phase (SP) were separated by WS centrifugation and tested on embryos or sperm. The induction of developmental defects showed a significantly higher toxicity of WS compared to SP and, even more so, to PW. A significant decrease in fertilization success was observed following sperm suspension in SP from both Izmir and Mytilene sediment samples, whereas PW-exposed sperm failed to display any decrease of fertilization success vs. controls. The use of WS bioassays is suggested as a default procedure in sediment toxicity testing, especially in a topographic characterization of polluted sediments.

Sono stati studiati, a mezzo HPLC-MS, alcuni dei prodotti di reazione a cui sono sottoposti tannini condensati ed antociani con i fenoli del legno di rovere durante l'invecchiamento di vini rossi

The study have dimostrated the evolution of c-glucisidic ellagitannins during wine aging occurred in presence of oak wood. HPLC-MS was used to characterizise these compounds. After 24 days of maceration with oak, the wine showed a similar concentration of the same wine ageing for 1 year in barrique.

Durate la fase di invecchiamento il vino trattato con listelli di rovere subisce una serie di modificazioni simili a quelle evidenziate in un vino invecchiato in barrique. Sono state identificate e quantificate, via HPLC_MS, le acutissimine sia in soluzioni modello sia nel vino invecchiato rapidamente con trucioli.

E' riportato un metodo HRGC per il rilevamento, nel grasso del latte bufalino, di grassi estranei.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate marine contamination and toxicity in sediment and pore water from the areas of Izmir Bay (Turkey) and Mytilene Harbor (Greece). The evaluation was performed in terms of selected toxic metals, polycyclic aromatic compounds (PAH) and toxicity to sea urchin (Paracentrotus lividus) early development and fertilization. Significantly higher levels of metals and total PAH were detected in Izmir vs. Mytilene sediment, and the highest contamination was detected in Izmir Bay innermost sites. Bioassays were carried out in P. lividus embryos and sperm, by evaluating developmental defects and changes in fertilization success by exposing sea urchin embryos or sperm to sediment/seawater suspensions. Whole sediment (WS) showed a higher toxicity of Izmir vs. Mytilene samples both in terms of developmental defects and of spermiotoxicity. Pore water (PW) and solid phase (SP) were separated by WS centrifugation and tested on embryos or sperm. The induction of developmental defects showed a significantly higher toxicity of WS compared to SP and, even more so, to PW. A significant decrease in fertilization success was observed following sperm suspension in SP from both Izmir and Mytilene sediment samples, whereas PW-exposed sperm failed to display any decrease of fertilization success vs. controls. The use of WS bioassays is suggested as a default procedure in sediment toxicity testing, especially in a topographic characterization of polluted sediments. © Published by Central Fisheries Research Institute (CFRI) Trabzon, Turkey.

Well-oriented thin films of methyl-ammonium trihalogenostannates CH3NH3SnX3 compounds (X=Cl,Br) are grown by the single source thermal ablation technique. Optical absorption and structural analysis of CH3NH3SnX3 thin films are combined with ab initio calculations in order to clarify their electronic properties and the role of the organic cation. The structural calculations reproduce well the measured lattice parameters, and optical measurements reveal a direct gap absorption onset for both compounds, in agreement with the calculated band structures. It turns out from projected density of states analysis that the valence and conduction bands take negligible contribution from the methylammonium. It is inferred that the band gap mainly depends on the ionicity and size of the inorganic cage SnX3.

A study was carried out at an organic buffalo dairy farm in order to investigate the effect of feeding protein peas (Pisum sativum L.) as an alternative protein source for buffalo cow diets. Two concentrates were formulated to contain (as fed basis) either 350 g/kg of soybean cake (SC) or 450 g/kg of peas (PC) as the main protein sources. The two concentrates were formulated to be almost isonitrogenous (on average crude protein 240 g/kg DM). Two groups of 10 buffalo cows were used in a 100-day lactation study (from 10 days in milk onwards). Cows were blocked into two groups according to lactation number and previous milk yield and were assigned to one of two dietary treatments: control group was offered in the milking parlour 3 kg of SC, while treatment group was offered the same quantity of PC. All cows were fed a total mixed ration containing 3 kg of SC. Daily milk yield was not affected by treatment, as well as, milk fat and protein percentages, somatic cell count, urea content and fatty acid composition.

We analyze from a computational viewpoint the conformational and dynamical properties of the interesting oligopeptide that is reported to bind specifically to titania surfaces. First-principles simulations based on Density Functional Theory (DFT) and classical Molecular Dynamics (MD) are carried out to investigate both the structure and the stability of single amino acids and of the full peptide on the (101) surface of TiO2 in the anatase crystalline structure. Moreover the strength of the adhesion is estimated by pulling the peptide away from the surface. Our results shed light on the role played by some amino acids that are known to be essential in selective adsorption on TiO2, as well as on the peptide structural conformation upon the surface.Copyright © 2013 American Scientific Publishers.