Mitigating cellular aging and enhancing cognitive functionality: visual arts-mediated Cognitive Activation Therapy in neurocognitive disorders.

The growing phenomenon of population aging is redefining demographic dynamics, intensifying age-related conditions, especially dementia, projected to triple by 2050 with an enormous global economic burden. This study investigates visual arts-mediated Cognitive Activation Therapy (CAT) as a non-pharmacological CAT intervention targets both biological aging [leukocyte telomere length (LTL), DNA methylation age (DNAmAge)] and cognitive functionality. Aligning with a broader trend of integrating non-pharmacological approaches into dementia care. The longitudinal study involved 20 patients with mild to moderate neurocognitive disorders. Cognitive and functional assessments, and biological aging markers -i.e., LTL and DNAmAge- were analyzed before and after CAT intervention. Change in LTL was positively correlated with days of treatment (p =0.0518). LTL significantly elongated after intervention (p =0.0269), especially in men (p =0.0142), correlating with younger age (p =0.0357), and higher education (p =0.0008). DNAmAge remained instead stable post-treatment. Cognitive and functional improvements were observed for Copy of complex geometric figure, Progressive Silhouettes, Position Discrimination, Communication Activities of Daily Living-Second edition, Direct Functional Status (p < 0.0001) and Object decision (p =0.0594), but no correlations were found between LTL and cognitive gains. Visual arts-mediated CAT effectively mitigates cellular aging, especially in men, by elongating LTL. These findings underscore the potential of non-pharmacological interventions in enhancing cognitive and functional status and general well-being in dementia care. Further research with larger and longer-term studies is essential for validation.

Functionality screening to help design effective materials for radioiodine abatement.

This paper is part of a growing body of research work looking at the synthesis of an optimal adsorbent for the capture and containment of aqueous radioiodine from nuclear fuel reprocessing waste. 32 metalated commercial ion exchange resins were subjected to a two-tier screening assessment for their capabilities in the uptake of iodide from aqueous solutions. The first stage determined that there was appreciable iodide capacity across the adsorbent range (12-220 mg·g-1). Candidates with loading capacities above 40 mg·g-1 were progressed to the second stage of testing, which was a fractional factorial experimental approach. The different adsorbents were treated as discrete variables and concentrations of iodide, co-contaminants and protons (pH) as continuous variables. This gave rise to a range of extreme conditions, which were representative of the industrial challenges of radioiodine abatement. Results were fitted to linear regression models, both for the whole dataset (R 2 = 59%) and for individual materials (R 2 = 18-82%). The overall model determined that iodide concentration, nitrate concentration, pH and interactions between these factors had significant influences on the uptake. From these results, the top six materials were selected for project progression, with others discounted due to either poor uptake or noticeable iodide salt precipitation behaviour. These candidates exhibited reasonable iodide uptake in most experimental conditions (average of >20 mg·g-1 hydrated mass), comparing favourably with literature values for metallated adsorbents. Ag-loaded Purolite S914 (thiourea functionality) was the overall best-performing material, although some salt precipitation was observed in basic conditions. Matrix effects not withstanding it is recommended that metalated thiourea, bispicolylamine, and aminomethylphosphonic acid functionalized silicas warrant further exploration.

Synthesis of Ca(OH)2 and Na2CO3 through anion exchange between CaCO3 and NaOH: effect of reaction temperature.

The CO2 released upon calcination of limestone accounts for the largest portion of the emissions from the cement, lime, and slaked lime manufacturing industries. Our previous works highlighted the possibility for a no-combustion decarbonisation of CaCO3 through reaction with NaOH solutions to produce Ca(OH)2 at ambient conditions, while sequestrating the process CO2 in a stable mineral Na2CO3·H2O/Na2CO3. In this study, the effect of temperature was assessed within the range of 45-80 °C, suggesting that the process is robust and only slightly sensitive to temperature fluctuations. The proportioning of the precipitated phases Na2CO3·H2O/Na2CO3 was also assessed at increasing NaOH molalities and temperatures, with the activity of water playing a crucial role in phase equilibrium. The activation energy (E a) of different CaCO3 : NaOH : H2O systems was assessed between 7.8 kJ·mol-1 and 32.1 kJ·mol-1, which is much lower than the conventional calcination route. A preliminary energy balance revealed that the chemical decarbonisation route might be ∼4 times less intensive with respect to the thermal one. The present work offers a further understanding of the effect of temperature on the process with the potential to minimise the emissions from several energy-intensive manufacturing processes, and correctly assess eventual industrial applicability.

Effect of Impurities on the Decarbonization of Calcium Carbonate Using Aqueous Sodium Hydroxide.

Decarbonizing calcium carbonate (CaCO3) is a crucial step for a wide range of major industrial processes and materials, including Portland cement (PC) production. Apart from the carbon footprint linked to fuel combustion, the process CO2 embodied within CaCO3 represents the main concern for the sustainability of production. Our recent works demonstrated that it is possible to avoid both the fuel and process CO2 by reacting CaCO3 with aqueous NaOH and obtain Ca(OH)2 and Na2CO3·xH2O (x = 0 and 1). This present study provides a further understanding of the process by testing different raw calcareous sources. A high decarbonization (∼80%) of CaCO3 was achieved for silica-rich chalk, whereas a lower extent was obtained (∼50%) for limestone. To understand the difference in their reaction behavior, the effect of impurities was studied. The effects of the major impurities (Si, Al, and Fe) were found to be marginal, which is advantageous to process industrial grade materials, while the morphology of the raw materials presents a significant impact. The applicability of our decarbonization technology was also demonstrated on magnesite (MgCO3).

Decarbonisation of calcium carbonate in sodium hydroxide solutions under ambient conditions: effect of residence time and mixing rates.

The decarbonisation of CaCO3 is essential for the production of lime (Ca(OH)2 and CaO), which is a commodity required in several large industries and the main precursor for cement production. CaCO3 is usually decarbonised at high temperatures, generating gaseous CO2 which will require post-process capture to minimise its release into the environment. We have developed a new process that can decarbonise CaCO3 under ambient conditions, while sequestering the CO2 as Na2CO3·H2O or Na2CO3 in the same stage. Here, the effects of increasing stirring rates and residence times on reaction efficiency of the key reaction occurring between CaCO3 and NaOH solution are studied. It is shown that the reaction is enhanced at lower stirring rates and longer residence times up to 300 seconds of contact between the reactants. The mass balance performed for Ca and CO2 revealed that up to the 95% of the process CO2 embodied in CaCO3 was sequestered, with maximum capture rate assessed at nn moles CO2 captured per second of reaction progress. A deeper insight into the precipitation of Na2CO3·H2O or Na2CO3 under different reaction conditions was gained, and SEM-EDX analysis enabled the observation of the reaction front by detection of Na migrating towards inner regions of partially-reacted limestone chalk particles.

Influence of Fermentation Water on Stable Isotopic D/H Ratios of Alcohol Obtained from Concentrated Grape Must.

According to Organisation Internationale de la vigne et du vin (OIV) standards, when analysing the stable isotope ratio of deuterium to hydrogen D/H at the methyl (I) and methylene (II) site of ethanol from concentrated must, a dilution with tap water is needed in order to carry out the alcoholic fermentation. This dilution causes a partial transfer of water hydrogens to the sugar, and this affects the (D/H)I and (D/H)II isotopic values of ethanol, which need to be normalised through specific equations based on the analysis of water δ18O or δ2H. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and correctness of these equations experimentally. Grape, cane, and beet sugar, as well as grape must were diluted with water with increasing H and O stable isotope ratios, fermented, and analysed. SNIF-NMR and IRMS techniques were applied following the respective OIV methods. The equations based on the δ2H analysis of the diluted sugar/must solutions proved to be reliable in all the cases, although it is not an OIV standard. When using the equations based on the values of δ18O of the diluted solution, data normalisation was reliable only in cases where the water used for dilution had not undergone isotopic fractionation due, for example, to evaporation. In these cases, δ2H should be analysed.

Validation of the 2H-SNIF NMR and IRMS Methods for Vinegar and Vinegar Analysis: An International Collaborative Study.

This paper presents the results of a collaborative study involving seven laboratories and concerning two samples of wine vinegar, one of apple vinegar and four of balsamic vinegar. The aim of the study was to define standard deviations of repeatability (sr) and reproducibility (sR) for vinegar and balsamic vinegar stable isotope ratios of H (D/H), C (δ13C) and O (δ18O), in order to establish them as fully recognized official standards. Acetic acid was extracted and subjected to (D/H)CH3 and δ13C analysis. δ18O analysis was performed on whole samples. The grape must solution remained after distillation of balsamic vinegar was fermented and the resulting ethanol was subjected to (D/H)I, (D/H)II, R and δ13C analysis. The sr and sR were 0.6 ppm and 1.1 ppm for (D/H)CH3, 0.14‱ and 0.25‱ for δ13C of acetic acid, 0.1‱ and 0.17‱ for δ18O of water, 0.19 ppm and 0.64 ppm for ethanol (D/H)I, 1.14 and 1.31 ppm for (D/H)II, 0.09 and 0.11‱ for δ13C of ethanol. These data are in line with those in the literature or reported in corresponding official methods, and sr and sR of balsamic vinegar are in line with those of vinegar and must.

H, C, and O Stable Isotope Ratios of Passito Wine.

In this study we investigated the effect of the grape withering process occurring during the production of Italian passito wines on the variability of the (D/H)I, (D/H)II, δ(13)C, and δ(18)O of wine ethanol and the δ(18)O of wine water. The production of PDO Erbaluce di Caluso Passito in five different cellars in Piedmont (Italy) was considered in two successive years. Moreover, samples of 17 different traditional Italian passito wines taken at different stages of maturation were taken into account. We found that the δ(18)O of must and wine water and the δ(18)O of ethanol decrease in the case of passito wines produced in northern and central Italy using postharvest drying of the grapes in dedicated ventilated or unventilated fruit drying rooms (fruttaio), during autumn-winter. For passito wines produced in southern Italy, where the main technique involves withering on the plant (en plein air), δ(18)O tends to increase. The (DH)I of wine ethanol did not change during withering, whereas the (DH)II and δ(13)C values changed slightly, but without any clear trend. Particular attention must be therefore paid in the evaluation of the δ(18)O data of passito wines for fraud detection.

Chemical and sensory characterisation of Sangiovese red wines: comparison between biodynamic and organic management.

The effects of biodynamic production practices on composition and sensory attributes of Sangiovese wines were examined for 2 years (2009 and 2010) in a vineyard that was converted from organic (ORG) to biodynamic (BDN) viticulture. During the first year (2009), the BDN wines were characterised by low alcohol strength, colour intensity, total polyphenols, monomeric anthocyanins and catechin. Conversely, the second year BDN wines differed from the organic wines in terms of total polyphenols and phenolic compounds, including polymeric pigments, co-pigmentation, tannins and iron-reactive polyphenols. The effect of management practices, harvest and their interaction was analysed for each compound. Positive interaction was observed for total acidity, volatile acidity, cyanidin-3-glucoside, protocatechuic acid, (+)-catechin, quercetin and trans-resveratrol. ORG wine initially showed a more complex aroma profile; however, the differences were almost indistinguishable during the second year. Trained panellists highlighted differences in colour intensity between ORG and BDN wines although no preference was found by consumers. The concentrations of ochratoxin A and biogenic amines were far below the health-hazardous threshold.