Main Compositional Features Research Articles

Compositional Characteristics, Fatty Acid Profile, Phenolic Content and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) of Feta Cheese Made in Mountainous Grasslands and Plains of Greece

The study aimed to compare the physicochemical composition, fatty acid profile, phenolic content and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) of feta cheese produced in two regions in Greece (mountainous grasslands and plains). The VOC profiles of forage in the mountainous grasslands were also investigated in order to detect any relationship between the two profiles. Forbs were found to be the major functional group in the mountainous area and the most abundant VOCs were aldehydes, alcohols, and terpenes. Significant variations were observed between the main compositional features of the two types of cheeses, with the cheese produced from the milk of ewes and goats grazing in the mountainous region having a higher moisture content, lower fat content, and higher protein content. A total of 34 VOCs were identified and the most abundant groups in the cheese samples were esters, hydrocarbons, and alcohols. The fatty acid profile, phenolic content, and terpene profile of the cheese were also affected by the type of pasture. The cheese produced from the milk of ewes and goats grazing in the mountainous region also had a higher content of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) and a lower content of saturated fatty acids (SFAs). These findings suggest that the grasslands grazed by ewes and goats in the mountainous region have a positive impact on the nutritional quality of feta cheese.

An analytical characterization of different gilding techniques on artworks from the Royal Palace (Caserta, Italy)

An analytical study of the gilding techniques on thirty-eight artworks belonging to the museum collection and storeroom of the Royal Palace in Caserta (Italy) is reported. X-ray fluorescence technique (XRF) was successfully used to analyze the surface layer of the objects and to obtain the main compositional features. Results derived from detailed analyses of the XRF spectra were processed by dendrogram, k-means, graphical clustering, partial least squares regression and principal component analysis. Each gilding technique was characterized. Data on any preparatory layer, on the structure of the gilded object, and on the thickness of the gold foil or leaf used were also obtained. Mercury and oil gilding were identified on brass, copper and ceramic objects, gouache gilding on wood and lead, as well as the absence of gilding and the presence of porporina due to bad restorations. News also emerged on some brass or copper structures that were cataloged as bronze. Furthermore, the thickness of the gold on some objects was estimated using the PLS method. Conservators and restorers will be able to take advantage of these results to update their archives, for the preservation and proper restoration of the artworks.

Miocene Seep-Carbonates of the Northern Apennines (Emilia to Umbria, Italy): An Overview

The natural emission of methane-rich fluids from the seafloor, known as cold seepage, is a widespread process at modern continental margins. The studies on present-day cold seepages provide high-resolution datasets regarding the fluid plumbing system, biogeochemical processes in the sediment, seafloor seepage distribution and ecosystems. However, the long-term (hundreds of thousands to millions of years) evolution of cold seepage remains elusive. The identification and study of outcrop analogous now exposed on land represent a valuable method for better understanding the effects of geological processes and climate forcing on the development of cold seepage systems. Here, we provide an overview on Miocene seep-carbonate deposits of the northern Apennines (from Emilia to the Umbria-Marchean sector, Italy), based on decades of field research integrated with detailed sedimentological and geochemical investigations. We report a total of 13 seep-carbonate outcrops, which formed in three different structural settings of the paleo-accretionary wedge corresponding to wedge-top basins, outer slope and intrabasinal highs at the deformational front. We discuss the recurring lithostratigraphic occurrence of seep deposits and the main compositional features (carbonate facies, carbon and oxygen stable isotopes) in order to interpret the seepage dynamics, duration and infer the contribution of methane-rich fluids released by paleo-gas hydrates. The datasets presented in this study represent a valuable complete record of cold seepage spanning ~12 Myr, that can be used to better understand factors controlling the regional-scale spatial and temporal evolution of cold seepage systems at modern active continental margins.

Supervisory Board Composition and Firm Financial Performance: A Case of Companies Listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange

Purpose: This paper investigates the relationship between the internal governance structure and financial performance of Polish companies. Ensuring diversity of corporate boards has been on the agenda of various regulators on a national and international level as it is generally expected corporate boards that are more diverse will be more competent and more effective monitoring managerial actions, and therefore positively impact company performance. Methodology: This paper uses a sample of companies listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange and examines the two main compositional features of company supervisory boards (independence and experience) and their practices by companies. We also investigate the effect of diversity on company performance. As our empirical methodology, we use linear regression analysis. Findings: Our findings support the proposal that diversity matters, especially in terms of the presence of experienced members on supervisory boards, and that such diversity positively affects financial results. In addition to the main finding, the results of the study indicate also the importance of the ownership structure. Family firms and companies with a higher level of gearing are more likely to perform less effectively. Originality: To date, research on the association between supervisory board diversity and financial performance in either the Polish or Central and Eastern European capital markets has been limited. The paper also points to the importance of having experienced members on a company’s supervisory board. Independent members on supervisory boards do not seem to have a similar association.

Estimation of the main compositional features of grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese by a simple capacitive technique

The non-destructive assessment and control on and off-line of some quality parameters of the grated cheese is a goal of the dairy industries and distributors. The present research is addressed to explore the possibility of estimating the percentage of moisture, proteins, added rind, and the ripening time of this kind of cheese by a capacitive technique supported by basic statistical analysis and artificial neural networks (ANN). An instrumental chain composed by a parallel plate capacitor probe, for housing the cheese in a suitable container, and a LCR meter, were used to measure the capacitance of different product mixtures, in the frequency range from 100Hz to 10kHz. Samples were prepared by mixing cheeses ripened from 8months to 36months and rind percentage from 0% to 50%. The results show that moisture and protein percentages can be estimated in a quite good manner with a linear correlation (R2 up to 0.81) and ANN (R2 up to 0.83). The ripening time is well linearly assessed in the cheese without the addition of rind (R2=0.994) or if the rind percentage is known (R2 from 0.872 to 0.963). The rind percentage is very well linearly estimated if the ripening time is known (R2 from 0.914 to 0.987). Estimation of the rind percentage if the ripening time is unknown appears more difficult (max R2=0.658) because both ripening and addition of rind involve a decrease in capacitance. The frequency at which the capacitance is measured shows only a weak influence in the goodness of the parameters determination. On the whole and as a trend, the correlations improve increasing the frequency.The obtained results, the conformation of the probe and the minimal data treatments mean that this technique can be considered to be applied in the chains of the grated cheese packaging.

The amphoteric behavior of water in silicate melts from the point of view of their ionic-polymeric constitution

Dissociation of water into protons and hydroxyl ions is a fundamental feature of aqueous solutions. Although it exerts a profound influence on properties of magmas, this autoprotolysis reaction has been hitherto neglected for water dissolved in silicate melts. As made here with an acid–base model, in fact one has to deal with molecular water (H2Omol) and two kinds of hydroxyl groups, bonded or not to network-forming cations (OH and OH−, respectively) in hydrous silicate melts. By mixing cations and anions on distinct sublattices and quantifying the disproportionation of water dissolved in silicate melts into its ionic products, H+ and OH−, we reconcile spectroscopic determinations of water speciation, and highlight the main compositional features involving chemical exchanges between H2Omol, TOH and MOH groups (T and M being a former and a modifier, respectively). In particular, water addition to depolymerized systems, such as basalts, determine a relative predominance of OH− with respect to silicic systems, such that the increase of water concentration tends to immediately limit depolymerization rather than enhance it. This opens new perspectives to the understanding of the chemical control of hydrous magmas and their physical properties, as well as the attainment of saturation in hydrous minerals such as amphiboles or micas, particularly in depolymerized melts.

CpGislandEVO: A Database and Genome Browser for Comparative Evolutionary Genomics of CpG Islands

Hypomethylated, CpG-rich DNA segments (CpG islands, CGIs) are epigenome markers involved in key biological processes. Aberrant methylation is implicated in the appearance of several disorders as cancer, immunodeficiency, or centromere instability. Furthermore, methylation differences at promoter regions between human and chimpanzee strongly associate with genes involved in neurological/psychological disorders and cancers. Therefore, the evolutionary comparative analyses of CGIs can provide insights on the functional role of these epigenome markers in both health and disease. Given the lack of specific tools, we developed CpGislandEVO. Briefly, we first compile a database of statistically significant CGIs for the best assembled mammalian genome sequences available to date. Second, by means of a coupled browser front-end, we focus on the CGIs overlapping orthologous genes extracted from OrthoDB, thus ensuring the comparison between CGIs located on truly homologous genome segments. This allows comparing the main compositional features between homologous CGIs. Finally, to facilitate nucleotide comparisons, we lifted genome coordinates between assemblies from different species, which enables the analysis of sequence divergence by direct count of nucleotide substitutions and indels occurring between homologous CGIs. The resulting CpGislandEVO database, linking together CGIs and single-cytosine DNA methylation data from several mammalian species, is freely available at our website.

EXPERIMENTAL HYDROUS PARTIAL MELTING OF HARZBURGITE AT SHALLOW PRESSURES: IMPLICATIONS ON HYDROUS LATE-STAGE MAGMATIC PROCESSES WITHIN THE MANTLE/CRUST TRANSITION OF THE OCEANIC LITHOSPHERE

EXPERIMENTAL HYDROUS PARTIAL MELTING OF HARZBURGITE AT SHALLOW PRESSURES: IMPLICATIONS ON HYDROUS LATE-STAGE MAGMATIC PROCESSES WITHIN THE MANTLE/CRUST TRANSITION OF THE OCEANIC LITHOSPHERE