Nanotechnology makes biomass electrolysis more energy efficient than water electrolysis.

The energetic convenience of electrolytic water splitting is limited by thermodynamics. Consequently, significant levels of hydrogen production can only be obtained with an electrical energy consumption exceeding 45 kWh kg(-1)H2. Electrochemical reforming allows the overcoming of such thermodynamic limitations by replacing oxygen evolution with the oxidation of biomass-derived alcohols. Here we show that the use of an original anode material consisting of palladium nanoparticles deposited on to a three-dimensional architecture of titania nanotubes allows electrical energy savings up to 26.5 kWh kg(-1)H2 as compared with proton electrolyte membrane water electrolysis. A net energy analysis shows that for bio-ethanol with energy return of the invested energy larger than 5.1 (for example, cellulose), the electrochemical reforming energy balance is advantageous over proton electrolyte membrane water electrolysis.

Measurement of numicro and nue events in an off-axis horn-focused neutrino beam.

We report the first observation of off-axis neutrino interactions in the MiniBooNE detector from the NuMI beam line at Fermilab. The MiniBooNE detector is located 745 m from the NuMI production target, at 110 mrad angle (6.3 degrees) with respect to the NuMI beam axis. Samples of charged-current quasielastic numicro and nue interactions are analyzed and found to be in agreement with expectation. This provides a direct verification of the expected pion and kaon contributions to the neutrino flux and validates the modeling of the NuMI off-axis beam.

L-acetylcarnitine as a new therapeutic approach for peripheral neuropathies with pain.

With ST200 as the commercial source of L-acetylcarnitine hydrochloride, 94 patients were enrolled in this study; 31 were assigned to placebo, 31 to ST200 at 0.5 g/die and 32 to ST200 at 1 g/die, the i.m. treatments being injected daily for 15 consecutive days. In general, concerning the efficacy assessment, the administration of ST200 at 1 g/die appeared to be better than ST200 at 0.5 g/die when compared with the placebo administration. Statistically significant differences were revealed by the comparison of ST200 at 1 g/die to placebo, for the following variables: a) total motility as rated at the end of the 15-day study and confirmed by intention-to-treat analysis, b) visual analogue scale for all the patients having observation at day 15, and c) the objective and subjective judgements on efficacy. Safety and tolerability were good over the entire course of the study.

Idiopathic facial paralysis: new therapeutic prospects with acetyl-L-carnitine.

The study population was composed of 43 patients affected by idiopathic facial paralysis (20 males and 23 females), aged between 11 and 67. The study was carried out in a double-blind, randomized, placebo controlled manner. Acetyl-L-carnitine was given in an oral dose of 3 x 1 g daily for 1 month, along with a daily oral administration of 50 mg of methylprednisolone for 14 days. The evaluation was made by means of electromyograms (EMG) of the orbicularis oculi and oris muscles, by the Schirmes lacrimation test, by stapedial reflex test and a score scale for clinical assessment of paralysis. Results so far obtained have shown an earlier functional recovery of the nerve in those patients treated with acetyl-L-carnitine. Comparison between the affected and unaffected sides of the face revealed a statistical significance in the treated group (p < 0.05) as well as the amplitudes of the muscle action potentials (MAP) between the affected sides (p < 0.01).

Influence of acetyl-carnitine on some mitochondrial enzymic activities in the human cerebral tissue in conditions of acute hypoxia.

Following previous research on human tissue in conditions of acute and massive hypoxia, in the present work the authors compared the cellular enzymic response to oxidative stress in normoxic (perifocal) and hypoxic (focal) areas in human brain affected by regional acute vasculopathies. Two homogeneous groups of patients were selected following strict clinical inclusion/exclusion criteria. The groups of patients were treated with a placebo or acetyl-carnitine at same doses and following randomized, double-blind procedures. The focal areas showed a significant functional damage in lactate, pyruvate and succinate dehydrogenases and in the cytochrome oxidase activity when compared with the enzymic capacities of perifocal areas (normoxic as controls). The pretreatment with acetyl-carnitine antagonized the above-mentioned enzymic damage by a protective action linked to the endocellular energy restoration. In accordance with these data, the therapeutic role played by acetyl-carnitine in the cerebral focal hypoxia appeared to be a determinant for the cell survival mainly in the reversible phase of oxidative damage.

Metabolic aspects of acute cerebral hypoxia during extracorporeal circulation and their modification induced by acetyl-carnitine treatment.

Following their previous research experiences in human tissue hypoxia, in the present study the authors. investigated the metabolic effects of acute brain hypoxia in a group of patients in course of extracorporeal circulation for aorto-pulmonary bypass. One hundred subjects were treated, half with a placebo and half with acetyl-carnitine to evaluate the effects of oxidative stress in some brain plasmatic metabolites and to verify the effect of acetyl-carnitine on the tissue energy capacity. The levels of lactate, pyruvate, succinate and fumarate showed a significant imbalance due to hypoxia, while the acetyl-carnitine treatment confined the metabolic gradients within physiological limits. This means that during the course of extracorporeal circulation brain hypoxia plays a pathological role assuming the typical picture of cellular oxidative damage and the acetyl-carnitine antagonizes these deleterious effects of hypoxia by a protective mechanism on the energy processes and then on the cellular enzymic activities. In this regard, the d-tyrosine levels, considered as a proteolytic index, confirm the action of acetyl-carnitine on the cell morpho-functional integrity.

Spatial-frequency-dependent changes in the human pattern electroretinogram after acute acetyl-L-carnitine administration.

Acetyl-L-carnitine (LAC) is a neuroactive compound that is thought to be involved in cholinergic transmission. The effects of acute intravenous LAC administration (30 mg/kg) on pattern-evoked electroretinograms (P-ERGs) were evaluated in nine healthy volunteers ranging in age between 21 and 27 years. Nine age-matched, normal subjects treated with a placebo served as controls. Steady-state (8 Hz) P-ERGs recorded in response to counterphased sinusoidal gratings of variable spatial frequency (0.6-4.8 cycles/degree) were obtained before and at 20, 50 and 80 min after LAC or placebo administration. The amplitude and phase of the Fourier-analysed P-ERG second harmonic were measured. As compared with placebo-treated controls, LAC-treated subjects showed a selective P-ERG amplitude increase (Mann-Whitney rank test: P less than 0.05), which was found 80 min posttreatment at a spatial frequency of 4.8 cycles/degree. For the same stimulus a significant (P less than 0.05) P-ERG phase shortening (at 50 min after drug administration) was also found. The spatial frequencies of other stimuli did not show a significant difference between the LAC- and placebo-treated groups. These results indicate that acute LAC administration induces a spatial-frequency-dependent enhancement of the human P-ERG. This is compatible with a cholinergic excitatory effect and suggests a therapeutic role for this compound in retinal dysfunctions with selective vulnerability to medium-high spatial frequencies.

Effects of cold stimulus of the chest wall on bronchial resistance.

We studied the possibility of inducing a bronchospasm by a cold stimulus (0 degrees C) on the chest wall of normal subjects and those with bronchial lability. The stimulus is applied on areas in metameric connection with the bronchial tree. Modifications of MEF25, MEF50 and FEV1.0 before and after stimulation are surveyed. Positive bronchospasm indexes are pointed out in a large number of subjects with bronchial lability, while no obstructive bronchial response is found in normal subjects. The cold stimulus on the chest wall can therefore be considered as an aspecific stimulus producing bronchospasm. Some physiopathogenetic interpretations are suggested.