Search

Currently, the scientific community has spent a lot of effort in developing “green” and environmentally friendly processes and products, due the contemporary problems connected to pollution and climate change. Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) are at the forefront of current research due to their multifunctional characteristics of biocompatibility, high mechanical properties, specific surface area, tunable surface chemistry and renewability. However, despite these many advantages, their inherent hydrophilicity poses a substantial challenge for the application of CNCs as a reinforcing filler in polymers, as it complicates their dispersion in hydrophobic polymeric matrices, such as polyurethane foams, often resulting in aggregate structures that compromise their properties. The manipulation and fine-tuning of the interfacial properties of CNCs is a crucial step to exploit their full potential in the development of new materials. In this respect, starting from an aqueous dispersion of CNCs, two different strategies were used to properly functionalize fillers: (i) freeze drying, solubilization in DMA/LiCl media and subsequent grafting with bio-based polyols; (ii) solvent exchange and subsequent grafting with bio-based polyols. The influence of the two functionalization methods on the chemical and thermal properties of CNCs was examined. In both cases, the role of the two bio-based polyols on filler functionalization was elucidated. Afterwards, the functionalized CNCs were used at 5 wt% to produce bio-based composite polyurethane foams and their effect on the morphological, thermal and mechanical properties was examined. It was found that CNCs modified through freeze drying, solubilization and bio-polyols grafting exhibited remarkably higher thermal stability (i.e., degradation stages > 100 °C) with respect to the unmodified freeze dried-CNCs. In addition, the use of the two grafting bio-polyols influenced the functionalization process, corresponding to different amount o

Air pollution is associated with an increased health risk and estimated to cause millions of premature deaths worldwide every year. Moreover, it represents a risk factor for the entire ecosystem and materials of anthropogenic origin (such as cultural heritage and high-tech artifacts). The characterization of air pollution is strongly tied to the diversity between indoor and outdoor environments, which may seem distinct from each other, but are in fact strongly interconnected; in addition, the indoor environment has its own and strong spatial heterogeneity, with great variability of pollutants between different spaces. Nowadays, air quality monitoring activities are carried out mainly for scientific research purposes or the assessment of compliance with legislation. The chemical and optical analysers needed to monitor air pollution, while providing accurate measurements, require a considerable investment, constant calibration and maintenance and are thus restricted to a limited number of applications, resulting in an inadequate spatial and temporal coverage. The development of low-cost sensors can enable the acquisition of high-resolution air quality data and the creation of a larger network, thus helping the characterization of pollutant emissions and the assessment of real-time exposure, facilitating the search for emission mitigation strategies. In this context, a measuring campaign was conducted at the National Research Council (CNR) site in Portici (Naples, Italy), where a pilot facility of the BIOMAT project, a highly innovative European project aiming to enable, accelerate and facilitate the uptake of innovative bio-based materials, was installed. This monitoring campaign was aimed to assess the potential occupational exposure to harmful particulate matter (PM), during the production process of nano-enabled PUR foams. For this purpose, four low-cost optical particle counters (Alphasense, OPC-N3) were deployed alongside two reference instruments (OPC Grimm 1.10

Air pollution is associated with an increased health risk and estimated to cause millions of premature deaths worldwide every year. The chemical and optical analysers needed to monitor air pollution, while providing accurate measurements, require a considerable investment, constant calibration and maintenance and are thus restricted to a limited number of applications, resulting in an inadequate spatial and temporal coverage. The development of low-cost sensors can enable the acquisition of high-resolution air quality data and the creation of a larger network, thus helping the characterization of pollutant emissions and the assessment of real-time exposure. In this context, a measuring campaign was conducted at the National Research Council (CNR) site in Portici (Naples, Italy), a pilot facility of the BIOMAT project, aimed to assess the potential occupational exposure to harmful particulate matter (PM), during the production process of nano-enabled PUR foams. For this purpose, four low-cost optical particle counters (Alphasense, OPC-N3) were deployed alongside two reference instruments (OPC Grimm 1.107). The data obtained shows good agreement between the overall trends for the OPC-N3 and the reference instrument, while highlighting the inability of the low-cost sensors to correctly estimate the absolute value of PM10 concentrations. This first campaign showed how the exposure of the facility workers was mainly attributable to the coarse fraction of particulate matter.

In glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), cancer stem cells (CSCs) are thought to be responsible for gliomagenesis, resistance to treatment and recurrence. Unfortunately, the prognosis for GBM remains poor and recurrence frequently occurs in the peritumoral tissue within 2 cm from the tumor edge. In this area, a population of CSCs has been demonstrated which may recapitulate the tumor after surgical resection. In the present study, we aimed to characterize CSCs derived from both peritumoral tissue (PCSCs) and GBM (GCSCs) in order to deepen their significance in GBM development and progression. The stemness of PCSC/GCSC pairs obtained from four human GBM surgical specimens was investigated by comparing the expression of specific stem cell markers such as Nestin, Musashi-1 and SOX2. In addition, the growth rate, the ultrastructural features and the expression of other molecules such as c-Met, pMet and MAP kinases, involved in cell migration/invasion, maintenance of tumor stemness and/or resistance to treatments were evaluated. Since it has been recently demonstrated the involvement of the long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in the progression of gliomas, the expression of H19 lncRNA, as well as of one of its two mature products miR-675-5p was evaluated in neurospheres. Our results show significant differences between GCSCs and PCSCs in terms of proliferation, ultrastructural peculiarities and, at a lower extent, stemness profile. These differences might be important in view of their potential role as a therapeutic target.

Animal welfare has become an important subject of public, economic and political concern, leading to the need to validate indicators that are feasible to use at abattoirs. A systematic review was carried out, which identified 72 cattle welfare indicators (CWI) that were classified into four categories (physiological, morphometric, behavioral and meat quality). Their validity and feasibility for use in abattoirs were evaluated as potential measures of cattle welfare during transportation to the abattoir and at the abattoir itself. Several highly valid indicators were identified that are useful to assess welfare at abattoirs, including body condition score, humananimal interactions, vocalizations, falling, carcass bruising, and meat pH. In addition, some intermediate valid indicators are useful and should be investigated further. Information along the food chain could be used systematically to provide a basis for a more-risk-based meat inspection. An integrated system based on the use of key indicators defined for each inspection step with the setting of alarm thresholds could be implemented.

In glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), cancer stem cells (CSCs) are thought to be responsible for gliomagenesis, resistance to treatment and recurrence. Unfortunately, the prognosis for GBM remains poor and recurrence frequently occurs in the peritumoral tissue within 2 cm from the tumor edge. In this area, a population of CSCs has been demonstrated which may recapitulate the tumor after surgical resection. In the present study, we aimed to characterize CSCs derived from both peritumoral tissue (PCSCs) and GBM (GCSCs) in order to deepen their significance in GBM development and progression. The stemness of PCSC/GCSC pairs obtained from four human GBM surgical specimens was investigated by comparing the expression of specific stem cell markers such as Nestin, Musashi-1 and SOX2. In addition, the growth rate, the ultrastructural features and the expression of other molecules such as c-Met, pMet and MAP kinases, involved in cell migration/invasion, maintenance of tumor stemness and/or resistance to treatments were evaluated. Since it has been recently demonstrated the involvement of the long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in the progression of gliomas, the expression of H19 lncRNA, as well as of one of its two mature products miR-675-5p was evaluated in neurospheres. Our results show significant differences between GCSCs and PCSCs in terms of proliferation, ultrastructural peculiarities and, at a lower extent, stemness profile. These differences might be important in view of their potential role as a therapeutic target.

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the frequency and the distribution of inflammatory cell infiltrate in two sets of cutaneous biopsies derived from clinically involved and uninvolved skin of patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) and to find correlations between the cell infiltrate and the progression of skin involvement. Methods: Immunohistochemistry was carried out to identify CD68, CD3, CD20 and CD138-positive (+) cells in clinically involved and uninvolved skin of 28 SSc patients. Patients were followed for 6 months and the characteristics of the infiltrate were analyzed according to disease duration, clinical features and skin involvement progression. Results: In all SSc cutaneous specimens, cellular infiltrates were found in a perivascular location predominantly in the mid and deeper portions of the dermis. All the analysed biopsies showed a CD3+ and CD68+ cell infiltrate and the mean number of CD3+, as well as CD68+ cells, was higher in clinically involved skin (CD3+: 71.7±34.6 and CD68+: 26.3±8.4) than in clinically uninvolved skin (CD3+: 45.7±36.0; CD68+: 13.6±6.1), (p<0.001 for both comparisons). CD20+ cells were found in 17 (60.7%) patients and in these patients the mean number of CD20+ cells was higher in involved (4.7±5.9) than in uninvolved skin (1.9±2.9), (p=0.04). Early SSc had a greater number of CD20+ cells compared with patients with long-standing disease. CD138+ cells were found in 100% of involved skin biopsies and in 89.3% of uninvolved skin samples. The mean number of CD138+ cells was higher in clinically involved skin (3.6±2.3) than in clinically uninvolved skin (1.9±1.7), (p<0.001). Considering the 7 patients that experienced a worsening of skin score higher than 20% after 6-month of follow-up, all of them had presented a CD20+ skin infiltrate in the involved skin biopsy. Conclusions: Our results confirm that mononuclear cells are present in the skin of all SSc patients underlining the role of inflammatory cell i

© 2018 IOP Publishing Ltd. In this work, free-standing shape-memory thermally triggered actuators are developed by laminating 'thiol-epoxy'-based glassy thermoset (GT) and stretched liquid-crystalline network (LCN) films. A sequential curing process was used to obtain GTs with tailored thermomechanical properties and network relaxation dynamics, and also to assemble the final actuator. The actuation extent, rate and time were studied by varying the GT and the heating rate in thermo-actuation with an experimental approach. The results demonstrate that it is possible to tailor the actuation rate and time by designing GT materials with a glass transition temperature close to that of the liquid-crystalline-to-isotropic phase transition of the LCN, thus making it possible to couple the two processes. Such coupling is also possible in rapid heating processes even when the glass transition temperature of the GT is clearly lower than the isotropization temperature of the LCN, depending on the network relaxation dynamics of the GT and the presence of thermal gradients within the actuators. Interestingly, varying the GT network relaxation dynamics does not affect the actuation extent. As predicted by the analytical model developed in our previous work, the modulus of the GT layer is mainly responsible for the actuation extent. Finally, to demonstrate the enhanced control of the actuation, specifically designed actuators were assembled in a three-dimensional actuating device able to make complex motions (including 'S-type' bending). This approach makes it possible to engineer advanced functional materials for application in self-adaptable structures and soft robotics.

The study was conducted to evaluate the thermophysiological, haematological, biochemical and behavioural stress responses of sheep transported on road. A total of 44 Chamarita breed adult ewes were randomly allotted to one of two groups, one control group (untransported) and transported group (journey of 4 h), and blood stress indicators were measured 1 day before transport and at four time points post-transport (0, 4 and 24 h). Thermophysiological profiles of ewes were measured by temperature buttons (iButton Thermochron®) and placed in intravaginal sponges. Direct observations, with a combination of scan and behaviour sampling, were carried out to collect information on individual behaviour and the time it took the ewes to drink water, eat and rest after returning to their pen respectively. Transported ewes lost approximately 1 kg live weight compared to controls and had higher body temperatures until 12 h post-transport. Cortisol, glucose, non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) concentrations as well as the neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio (N/L) and other physiological indicators were higher immediately after unloading in transported ewes but mostly returned to normal after 4 h, with complete recovery after 24 h. Behavioural analysis post-transport demonstrated that transported ewes chose to eat before drinking and spent less time resting than controls in the first 3 h after unloading. The study demonstrates that transportation even under short-journey conditions induced behavioural, physiological and thermophysiological responses indicative of the induction of significant stress, leading to live weight shrinkage that may jeopardize farmer's incomes. Finally, results of this study validated the use of iButton Thermochron® data loggers for monitoring the stress response during transport.

Background: The aim of this study was to examine the expressions of the bcl-2, bax, fas and c-myc apoptosis-related genes in benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and prostate carcinoma (CaP) to determine whether significant differences exist within each disease and between the two groups of patients. The correlation between gene expression and tumour diameter, stage, Gleason score and serum PSA was also investigated. Patients and methods: Tissue specimens from 51 cases of BPH and 27 cases of CaP were examined for bcl-2, bax, fas and c-myc expression by reverse transcriptase-PCR (RT-PCR). Results: In BPH, bcl-2 and bax gave the weakest signals (p < 0.001). In CaP, bcl-2 was the least expressed gene (p < 0.001). In both patient groups, fas and c-myc were the most highly expressed genes (p < 0.05). Both bcl-2 and bax were expressed at higher levels in CaP than in BPH (p < 0.02). The bcl-2/bax ratio was lower in CaP than in BPH (p < 0.001). Bcl-2 was more highly expressed in high Gleason grade (> 7) tumours (p < 0.05). In the BPH group, bax showed a positive relationship with fas (p < 0.01), while the bcl-2 level inversely correlated with that of c-myc (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Our data showed that all the apoptosis-related genes were expressed in both BPH and CaP. The stronger expression of bax and the lower bcl-2/bax ratio observed in CaP may suggest a pro-apoptotic stimulus, while the higher bcl-2 levels appear to counterbalance the tendency to cell death.