Proceedings

Evaluation of extraction methods for metabolite profiling of Apis mellifera using NMR spectroscopy

Metabolite profiling provides an insight into a situation in a cell as metabolites represent status of the cell, tissue or whole organism. NMR, despite its relatively low sensitivity, offers high reproducibility, short acquisition time, possibility of unknown metabolite identification, and quantitative information. Honeybees (Apis mellifera), the most important insect in the world regarding the food production, suffer from major unresolved phenomena, like colony collapse disorder and overwintering problems, which threaten their economic utilization and food production chain as such. In this...

NMR metabolomics and spectrophotometric studies to infusions and decoctions of plant species to assess and compare the metabolic and antioxidant profiles

NMR metabolomics and spectrophotometric studies (Folin–Ciocalteu, FRAP, ABTS) are implemented to infusions and decoctions of plant species to assess and compare the metabolic and antioxidant profiles for each botanical family. Multivariate and univariate data analyses highlighted the differences among the samples and pinpointed specific classes of compounds for each plant species as well as infusions and decoctions. The identified phenolic compounds by NMR, as well as the antioxidant profile, framed a trend of increased values in infusions compared to the decoctions. Furthermore, the...

NMR metabolomics in food authentication

NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance) represents the elective technique for structure elucidation of molecules and is particularly suited to analyze complex mixtures like foods. NMR provides the identification of a wide range of chemical compounds simultaneously, revealing potential markers or disclosing sophisticated frauds. The great economic values of high quality or guaranteed foods demands highly refined characterization tools. In this context metabolomics represents a privileged approach for modern analytical studies in the next decades.

Standardising Analytical Metabolomics. Focus in Food Analysis

Metabolomics represents an upcoming, interdisciplinary field in with applications spanning across biomedical, food and environmental sciences. In food sciences metabolomics can offer unique advantages by combing analyses, revealing trends in complex data, identifying new markers and creating new tools for quality control of foods. As the field is still rather new, practically its sub-disciplines are still evolving: biochemical pathway annotation, chemical analysis, data interpretation are all in the development phase. The analytical part for metabolomics is highly demanding due to complexity...

Foodomics: Last Advances in the Binomial Food & Health

Chemical analysis, monitoring of dynamic changes, metabolomics and "in cell" applications of NMR in natural products and food chemistry: Is the role of metrology underestimated?

A critical overview of recent developments of NMR spectroscopy in natural products and food chemistry will be provided with emphasis in the following applications: (i) chemical analysis of extracts without isolation or derivatization steps [1-5], (ii) ‘in situ’ direct monitoring of dynamic changes of metabolites as a function of solvent and temperature [6], (iii) aromatic C–H activation of flavonoids in aqueous solution at neutral pH and ambient temperatures [7], (iv) rapid ‘in situ’ analysis of enzymatic reaction products and enriching the biological space of natural products, through real...

Development of innovative knowledge frameworks for the protection and enhancement of rock habitat in a municipal planning experience

The knowledge produced during the process of urban planning and land-use planning is a source of information of great interest, useful for planning actions aimed at enhancing the cultural heritage, safeguarding autogenous resources and developing the territory. The uniqueness of the heritage of rock habitat, as a sign of the historical-settlement stratification of the anthropic cavities and of the churches conceived as testimonies of the VI and VII century AD, true symbols of pagan and Christian religiosity, represents a perspective of protection and development in a tourist key on a...

Global research patterns on Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR)

The paper deals with the analysis of worldwide research patterns concerning Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) during 1995-2014. To reach the fixed aim the Thomson Reuters' Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED) and the Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI) accessed via the Web of Science Core Collection were the two bibliographic databases taken as a reference. The authors pay attention to the document typology, the publication trend and citations, the subject categories and journals, the most cited articles, the countries and the institutions involved, and the hot issues. As concerns...

Structural vulnerability assessment of masonry churches supported by user-reported data

Ancient masonry churches represent a particularly vulnerable architectural typology, and the experience progressively acquired during post–earthquake surveys has pointed out that recurrent damage patterns and main failure mechanisms can be identified and studied by separately looking at the different architectural "macro–elements": façade, nave, aisle, transept, lateral chapel, dome, bell tower. In the last few years, the macro-element approach has been extensively and fruitfully applied to perform preliminary vulnerability assessments, by recognizing the correspondence between each...

Bond analysis of thermally conditioned FRCM-masonry joints

Results of an experimental investigation on bond between thermally conditioned FRCM-masonry joints is presented and discussed in the paper. Single lap shear tests were conducted on clay brick specimens strengthened with different FRCM systems (basalt, steel and PBO-FRCM systems). Before testing specimens were thermally conditioned by exposure to different temperature values: 20°C (ambient temperature), 100 °C, 150 °C and 200°C. The thermal treatment was developed in this way: strengthened specimens were kept in oven and exposed to constant temperature over a period of three hours, then, they...