Heart Failure and PAHs,OHPAHs, and Trace Elements Levels in Human Serum: Results from a Preliminary Pilot Study in Greek Population and the Possible Impact of Air Pollution

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) have been associated with environmental pollutants. The scope of this study is to assess any potential relation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), their hydroxylated derivatives, and trace elements with heart failure via their direct determination in human serum of Greek citizens residing in different areas. Therefore, we analyzed 131 samples including cases (heart failure patients) and controls (healthy donors), and the respective demographic data were collected. Significantly higher concentrations (p < 0.05) were observed in cases’ serum regarding most of the examined PAHs and their derivatives with phenanthrene, fluorene, and fluoranthene being the most abundant (median of >50 μg L⁻¹). Among the examined trace elements, As, Cd, Cu, Hg, Ni, and Pb were measured at statistically higher concentrations (p < 0.05) in cases’ samples, with only Cr being significantly higher in controls. The potential impact of environmental factors such as smoking and area of residence has been evaluated. Specific PAHs and trace elements could be possibly related with heart failure development. Atmospheric degradation and smoking habit appeared to have a significant impact on the analytes’ serum concentrations. PCA–logistic regression analysis could possibly reveal common mechanisms among the analytes enhancing the hypothesis that they may pose a significant risk for CVD development.     

Optimization of Vacuum-Microwave-Assisted Extraction of Natural Polyphenols and Flavonoids from Raw Solid Waste of the Orange Juice Producing Industry at Industrial Scale

Orange pomace (OP) is a solid waste produced in bulk as a byproduct of the orange juice industry and accounts for approximately 50% of the quantity of the fruits processed into juice. In numerous literature references there is information about diverse uses of orange pomace for the production of high-added-value products including production of natural antioxidant and antimicrobial extracts rich in polyphenols and flavonoids which can substitute the hazardous chemical antioxidants/antimicrobials used in agro-food and cosmetics sectors. In this work and for the first time, according to our knowledge, the eco-friendly aqueous vacuum microwave assisted extraction of orange pomace was investigated and optimized at real industrial scale in order to produce aqueous antioxidant/antimicrobial extracts. A Response Surface Optimization methodology with a multipoint historical data experimental design was employed to obtain the optimal values of the process parameters in order to achieve the maximum rates of extraction of OP total polyphenols and/or total flavonoids for economically optimum production at industrial scale. The three factors used for the optimization were: (a) microwave power (b) water to raw pomace ratio and (c) extraction time. Moreover, the effectiveness and statistical soundness of the derived cubic polynomial predictive models were verified by ANOVA.     

The fully deprotonated anion of 1,3,5-benzene-triphosphonic acid: 1H, 31P,and 13C{1H} NMR and some comments on corresponding [AX]3 and AXX′2 spin systems and spectra

Abstract

The fully deprotonated anion of 1,3,5-benzene-triphosphonic acid 1,3,5-C₆H₃[PO₃^2?]₃ gives rise to deceptively simple ¹H and ³¹P NMR spectra due to a corresponding [AX]₃ spin system. The ¹³C{¹H} NMR spectrum reveals two ¹³C isotopomers which are identified via AXX′₂ systems. Results from analysis and iteration are described.     

A proposal for a convertible stadium roof structure derived from Watt-I linkage

In this paper, a novel convertible stadium roof structure is introduced, which has been derived from a special geometric configuration of Watt-I linkage, a 1-DoF mechanism used in robot technologies as anthropomorphic fingers. The proposed structure can offer a wide range of different shape configurations according to the environmental conditions and spatial needs, thus offering several aesthetic and functional advantages over existing solutions. This paper serves as a feasibility investigation of this concept, mainly from geometric and structural point of view. To that affect, first kinematic analysis and geometric design of this linkage are introduced. Then, structural analyses of the proposed structure with realistic dimensions and loading conditions are performed in three different geometric configurations, in order to discuss strength and stiffness limitations. Finally, potential cover materials and actuators are briefly discussed.     

Synthesis of 2D Germanane (GeH): a New,Fast, and Facile Approach

Germanane (GeH), a germanium analogue of graphane, has recently attracted considerable interest because its remarkable combination of properties makes it an extremely suitable candidate to be used as 2D material for field effect devices, photovoltaics, and photocatalysis. Up to now, the synthesis of GeH has been conducted by substituting Ca by H in a β‐CaGe₂ layered Zintl phase through topochemical deintercalation in aqueous HCl. This reaction is generally slow and takes place over 6 to 14 days. The new and facile protocol presented here allows to synthesize GeH at room temperature in a significantly shorter time (a few minutes), which renders this method highly attractive for technological applications. The GeH produced with this method is highly pure and has a band gap (E_g) close to 1.4 eV, a lower value than that reported for germanane synthesized using HCl, which is promising for incorporation of GeH in solar cells.     

Analysis of an FRW cosmological model

The Einstein field equations for the Friedmann universe reduce to a system of three first-order equations for the space-like components and a constraint from the temporal component. We analyse the system from the viewpoints of symmetry and singularity analyses. The solutions of particular relevance to Cosmology are highlighted.      

Stereochemical variations on the colchicine motif. Peracid oxidation of thiocolchicone. Synthesis, conformation and inhibition of microtubule assembly

When 7-oxodesacetamidothiocolchicine (1) was treated with various peroxides in order to afford a Baeyer-Villiger rearrangement, a complex mixture of products was formed, which included the sulfoxide, (2) and sulfone, (3). When peracetic acid was used two additional products were formed; a C-ring lactone (4) and a ring-contracted allocolchicine derivative (5). The sulfoxide (2) was semi-preparatively resolved into enantiomers by chromatography on microcrystalline triacetylcellulose. Rotational barriers around the A-C pivot bond of, and were determined by dynamic 1H NMR analysis. The compounds, and exhibit moderate inhibition of tubulin polymerization, according to in vitro turbidity studies, whereas was inactive.     

Lattice collapse in mixed-valence samarium fulleride Sm(2.75)C(60) at high pressure

Sm(2.75)C(60) displays large negative thermal expansion behaviour in the temperature range 4.2-32 K at ambient pressure as a result of a quasi-continuous valence change from the larger Sm(2+) towards the smaller Sm(2.3+) ion. Here we use the powder synchrotron X-ray diffraction technique at ambient temperature and elevated pressures to study the compression behaviour in the pressure range 0-6 GPa. An abrupt hysteretic phase transition, accompanied by a dramatic volume decrease (approximately =6.0%) and a change in colour from black to golden was found at approximately =4 GPa induced by a sudden Sm valence transition from +2.3 towards +3. Such behaviour is typical of highly correlated Kondo insulators like SmS and makes Sm(2.75)C(60) the first known molecular-based member of this fascinating class of materials.     

Endogenous matching in a market with heterogeneous principals and agents

We employ the assignment game of Shapley and Shubik (Int J Game Theory 1:111–130, 1972) to study the endogenous matching patterns in a market that consists of heterogenous principals and agents. We show that, in general, the equilibrium matching is non-assortative. We then characterize the equilibrium relationship between risk and performance pay and risk and fixed compensation. This is the first paper that characterizes the equilibrium matching, to its fullest possible extent, building on the Holmstrom and Milgrom (Econometrica 55:303–328, 1987) principal-agent model. This model has been used extensively in the empirical literature and therefore we hope that our results will be of value to empirical researchers who wish to study a principal-agent market.