Automatic focusing in digital holography and its application to stretched holograms

The searching and recovering of the correct reconstruction distance in digital holography (DH) can be a cumbersome and subjective procedure. Here we report on an algorithm for automatically estimating the in-focus image and recovering the correct reconstruction distance for speckle holograms. We have tested the approach in determining the reconstruction distances of stretched digital holograms. Stretching a hologram with a variable elongation parameter makes it possible to change the in-focus distance of the reconstructed image. In this way, the proposed algorithm can be verified at different distances by dispensing the recording of different holograms. Experimental results are shown with the aim of demonstrating the usefulness of the proposed method, and a comparative analysis has been performed with respect to other existing algorithms developed for DH.     

Electronic nose screening of limonene release from multicomponent essential oils encapsulated in pectin gels

Multicomponent essential oils Tagetes Minuta and Poleo as well as pure limonene were encapsulated in Tween doped-high methoxylated pectin gels. Optical microscopy reveals that the obtained gels containing limonene consisted in a highly heterogeneous oil-in-water emulsion stabilised by the gelled medium. The influence of limonene encapsulation in pectin gelation kinetics and the gel structural properties were followed by dynamic rheological measurements. An electronic nose device developed in our laboratory was used to follow the flavour release of the three systems in order to discriminate the samples according to the main components released to the headspace. PCA and Neural Network Analysis allowed us to discriminate Tagetes Minuta from Poleo due to the difference in their limonene content. It is remarkable that the fingerprints of encapsulated complex mixtures differ from those obtained for the non-encapsulated oils, showing a preferential release of some components. In the case of limonene, the effect of the encapsulated concentration on the detected odour was also studied.     

Elemental labelling combined with liquid chromatography inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry for quantification of biomolecules: A review

This article reviews novel quantification concepts where elemental labelling is combined with flow injection inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (FI-ICP-MS) or liquid chromatography inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LC–ICP-MS), and employed for quantification of biomolecules such as proteins, peptides and related molecules in challenging sample matrices. In the first sections an overview on general aspects of biomolecule quantification, as well as of labelling will be presented emphasizing the potential, which lies in such methodological approaches. In this context, ICP-MS as detector provides high sensitivity, selectivity and robustness in biological samples and offers the capability for multiplexing and isotope dilution mass spectrometry (IDMS). Fundamental methodology of elemental labelling will be highlighted and analytical, as well as biomedical applications will be presented. A special focus will lie on established applications underlining benefits and bottlenecks of such approaches for the implementation in real life analysis. Key research made in this field will be summarized and a perspective for future developments including sophisticated and innovative applications will given.     

Multitarget Drug Discovery for Alzheimer's Disease: Triazinones as BACE‐1 and GSK‐3β Inhibitors

Cumulative evidence strongly supports that the amyloid and tau hypotheses are not mutually exclusive, but concomitantly contribute to neurodegeneration in Alzheimer′s disease (AD). Thus, the development of multitarget drugs which are involved in both pathways might represent a promising therapeutic strategy. Accordingly, reported here in is the discovery of 6‐amino‐4‐phenyl‐3,4‐dihydro‐1,3,5‐triazin‐2(1H)‐ones as the first class of molecules able to simultaneously modulate BACE‐1 and GSK‐3β. Notably, one triazinone showed well‐balanced in vitro potencies against the two enzymes (IC₅₀ of (18.03±0.01) μM and (14.67±0.78) μM for BACE‐1 and GSK‐3β, respectively). In cell‐based assays, it displayed effective neuroprotective and neurogenic activities and no neurotoxicity. It also showed good brain permeability in a preliminary pharmacokinetic assessment in mice. Overall, triazinones might represent a promising starting point towards high quality lead compounds with an AD‐modifying potential.     

Thermal analysis of two types of dextran-coated magnetite

The thermal stability of two kinds of dextran-coated magnetite (dextran with molecular weight of 40,000 (Dex40) and 70,000 (Dex70)), obtained by dextran adsorption onto the magnetite surface is investigated in comparison with free dextran in air and argon atmosphere. The thermal behavior of the two free dextran types and corresponding coated magnetites is similar, but atmosphere dependent. The magnetite catalyzes the thermal decomposition of dextran, the adsorbed dextran displaying lower initial decomposition temperatures comparative with the free one in both working atmospheres. The dextran adsorbed onto the magnetite surface decomposes in air through a strong sharp exothermic process up to ~450 °C while in argon atmosphere two endothermic stages are identified, one in the temperature range 160–450 °C and the other at 530–800 °C.     

Encapsulation of cationic ruthenium complexes into a chiral self-assembled cage

A chiral supramolecular assembly encapsulates the two cationic ruthenium sandwich complexes [CpRu(eta(6)-C(6)H(6))](+) and [CpRu(p-cymene)](+). The host-guest complexes K(11)[CpRu(eta(6)-C(6)H(6)) subset Ga(4)L(6)] (2) and K(11)[CpRu(p-cymene) subset Ga(4)L(6)] (3) were characterized by one- and two-dimensional NMR techniques as well as by electrospray mass spectrometry. Encapsulation of the prochiral complex [CpRu(p-cymene)](+) by the chiral host renders enantiotopic protons diastereotopic as evidenced by (1)H NMR spectroscopy.     

Sea level oscillations in the gulf of Trieste, the role of the atmospheric-pressure forcing and the tidal effect in the pressure and wind behaviour

Summary This paper is divided into three parts. The first one takes some cases of sea level perturbation (the tides being removed) at Trieste into account. The spectral analysis shows the occurring of the principal seiches of the Adriatic Sea together with oscillations believed as forced oscillations. In the second part the pressure oscillations have been examined and the same periods forcing the sea level have been found. Such oscillations appear very evident and stable, mostly in the summer months. In the third part of the work the tidal effect on the wind, derived from the atmospheric pressure, is tested. In the summer situations prevailing breezes are present and the spectral analysis of the records points out clearly the occurrence of some ?wind tides? both in the diurnal and semi-diurnal range.

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Riassunto Questo lavoro si articola in tre parti. Nella prima parte sono mostrati alcuni casi in cui il livello del mare a Trieste è perturbato da forti oscillazioni extramareali. I grafici della marea meteorologica registrati negli intervalli temporalit(1)…t(14) possono tipicizzare queste situazioni, essi riportano l'evoluzione del livello dopo che le maree sono state eliminate con calcoli di filtraggio dei dati osservati. Da queste serie temporali sono stati eseguiti gli spettri di ampiezza col metodo dei minimi quadrati. In questi si vedono due picchi, sempre presenti sui periodi di circa 11 e 21 ore che sono, mediamente e arrotondando, i periodi delle sesse principali (longitudinali) dell'Adriatico. Quando il livello è perturbato queste ultime sono sempre presenti, pur con ampiezza diversa, assieme ad altre di origine locale. Si rilevano anche onde forzate da oscillazioni barometriche. La seconda parte del lavoro esamina alcune onde barometriche forzanti. Si trova che le piú stabili onde barometriche presenti nell'evoluzione della pressione atmosferica a Trieste sono le cosiddette maree atmosferiche. Alcune considerazioni sono presentate su questo fenomeno. Data la persistenza delle maree atmosferiche nella pressione, un sincrono effetto viene cercato nel vento. Nella terza parte del lavoro si esamina questo effetto trovando che effettivamente, in regime di brezza, periodicità ?mareali? si trovano anche nell'evoluzione del vento. In altri regimi ?le maree del vento? sono completamente mascherate da altri effetti, come le maree marine quando si sovrappongono forti perturbazioni di carattere extramareale.

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Резюме Эта статья делится на три части. В первой части рассматриваются некоторые случаи колебания уровня моря (влияние прилива исключается) в заливе Триеста. Спектральный анализ показывает существование главных сейшей Адриатического моря вместе с другими осцилляциями, которые рассматриваются как вынужденные колебания. Во второй части исследуются осцилляции давления и обнаружены колебания уровня моря с такими же периодами. Такие осцилляции являются заметными и устойчивыми, особенно в летние месяцы. В третьей части работы исследуется влияние приливов на ветер, порожденный атмосферным давлением. В летний период превалируют бризы и спектральный анализ показывает в явном виде существование некоторых ?ветровых приливов? в суточных и полусуточных диапазонах измерений.

     

Monitoring the synthetic procedures of commercial drugs by 2H NMR spectroscopy: the case of ibuprofen and naproxen

We determined the D/H isotope ratios of some ibuprofen and naproxen samples by (2)H NMR spectroscopy. Some of these values were found to be useful for collecting hints on the synthetic procedures employed to prepare these drugs. Site-specific isotope ratio analysis shows great potentials in the fight against patent infringement.     

Hollow-fiber flow field-flow fractionation: a gentle separation method for mass spectrometry of native proteins

Low-impact ionization sources like electrospray ionization (ESI) and matrix-assisted, laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) equipped with time-of-flight (TOF) mass analyzers provide intact protein analysis over a very wide molar mass range. ESI/TOFMS provides also indications on the higher-order structure of intact proteins and non-covalent protein complexes. However, direct analysis of intact proteins mixtures in real samples shows limited success, mainly because spectra become very complex to interpret. This is also due to sample contaminants, and to the mechanism of competitive ionization in ESI or MALDI. Rapid and efficient sample clean-up and separation methods can significantly enhance the power of TOFMS for intact protein analysis. However, if protein native conditions want to be maintained, the methods should affect neither the three-dimensional structure nor the non-covalent chemistry of the proteins. Reversed-phase (RP) HPLC, size-exclusion chromatography (SEC), and capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) are on-line or off-line coupled to ESI/TOFMS or MALDI/TOFMS. In fact, these separation methods often show limitations when applied to the analysis of native proteins. Organic modifiers and saline buffers are required in the case of RP HPLC or CZE. They can induce protein degradation or affect ionization when MS is performed after separation. High voltages used in CZE can contribute to alter proteins from their native form. In the case of high molar mass proteins, SEC is scarcely selective, and barely able to detect protein aggregates. Sample entanglement/adsorption on the stationary phase can also occur.     

Formation of collisionless high-beta plasmas by odd-parity rotating magnetic fields

Odd-parity rotating magnetic fields (RMFo) applied to mirror-configuration plasmas have produced average electron energies exceeding 200 eV at line-averaged electron densities of approximately 10(12) cm-3. These plasmas, sustained for over 10(3)tauAlfven, have low Coulomb collisionality, vc* triple bond L/lambdaC approximately 10(-3), where lambdaC is the Coulomb scattering mean free path and L is the plasma's characteristic half length. Divertors allow reduction of the electron-neutral collision frequency to values where the RMFo coupling indicates full penetration of the RMFo to the major axis.