The ultrasmoothness of diamond-like carbon surfaces

The ultrasmoothness of diamond-like carbon coatings is explained by an atomistic/continuum multiscale model. At the atomic scale, carbon ion impacts induce downhill currents in the top layer of a growing film. At the continuum scale, these currents cause a rapid smoothing of initially rough substrates by erosion of hills into neighboring hollows. The predicted surface evolution is in excellent agreement with atomic force microscopy measurements. This mechanism is general, as shown by similar simulations for amorphous silicon. It explains the recently reported smoothing of multilayers and amorphous transition metal oxide films and underlines the general importance of impact-induced downhill currents for ion deposition, polishing, and nanopattering.     

Heartworm genomics: unprecedented opportunities for fundamental molecular insights and new intervention strategies

Vector-borne diseases, including canine heartworm disease (CHWD), are of major socioeconomic and canine health importance worldwide. Although many studies have provided insights into CHWD, to date there has been limited study of fundamental molecular aspects of Dirofilaria immitis itself, its relationship with the canine host, its vectors, as well as the potential of drug resistance to emerge, using advanced -omic technologies. This article takes a prospective view of the benefits that advanced -omics technologies will have toward understanding D. immitis and CHWD. Tackling key biological questions using these technologies will provide a "systems biology" context and could lead to radically new intervention and management strategies against heartworm.     

sunTILL: a TILLING resource for gene function analysis in sunflower

Background

Cultivated sunflower (Helianthus annus L.) is a globally important oilseed crop, subjected to intensive genetic and genomic studies. Although classical mutagenesis has successfully been applied to Helianthus genus in the past, we have developed the first sunflower TILLING resource.

Results

To balance the maximum mutation density with an acceptable plant survival rate, a 'kill curve' analysis was first conducted with different ethylmethanesulfonate (EMS) dosages and different exposure times. According to the germination rate, a treatment with 0.7% EMS for 6 h was chosen. An M₂ progeny of 3,651 fertile plants was obtained. Totally, 4.79% of the whole population showed clear aberrant phenotypes. A microsatellite analysis on a representative sample of the original seed stock and mutant lines confirmed the uniformity of the genetic background of plant material. The TILLING procedure was successfully applied to sunflower genome, initially by a CelI-nuclease mismatch cleavage assay coupled with a DNA-pooling level test. To investigate the efficiency of the mutagenic treatment, a pilot screening was carried out on 1,152 M₂ lines focusing on four genes, three involved in the fatty acid biosynthetic pathway and one for downy mildew resistance. A total of 9 mutant lines were identified and confirmed by sequencing; thereby, the estimated overall mutation frequency for the pilot assay resulted to be 1/475 kb.

Conclusion

A first TILLING population for a high throughput identification of EMS-induced point mutations in sunflower genome has been successfully obtained. This represents a powerful tool to a better understanding of gene function in sunflower.     

One- and two-dimensional electrophoretic identification of IgE-binding polypeptides of Lupinus albus and other legume seeds

The prevalence of food allergies in the world population requires integrated approaches to identify new potential allergens, especially those of plant origin. The aim of this work was the allergen in vitro analysis of Lupinus albus seed proteome, a promising food protein source, and the assessment of IgE cross-reactivities with other more diffused legume species. A combination of one- and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and immunoblotting analyses with specific IgGs for band identification and lupin-sensitized patients' circulating IgEs for allergenicity studies has been used. Two lupin proteins, namely, conglutin gamma and 11S globulin basic subunits, strongly reacted with all patients' sera. Also, cross-reactivities with the homologous polypeptides of other legume species were observed. Otherwise, no reaction at all was detected with a 2S-type lupin protein. This global electrophoretic approach has allowed the identification of a new potential lupin allergen and confirmed the cross-reactivity among the legume 11S globulin basic subunits.     

Chemical characterization and antioxidant properties of coffee melanoidins

Melanoidins, the brown polymers formed through Maillard reaction during coffee roasting, constitute up to 25% of the coffee beverages' dry matter. In this study chemical characterization of melanoidins obtained from light-, medium-, and dark-roasted coffee beans, manufactured from the same starting material, was performed. Melanoidins were separated by gel filtration chromatography and studied by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. Results showed that the amount of melanoidins present in the brews increased as the intensity of the thermal treatment increased, while their molecular weight decreased. The antioxidant activity of melanoidins isolated from the different brews was studied by using different methodologies. Melanoidins antiradical activity determined by ABTS(*)(+) and DMPD(*)(+) assays decreased as the intensity of roasting increased, but the ability to prevent linoleic acid peroxidation was higher in the dark-roasted samples. Data suggest that melanoidins must be carefully considered when the relevance of coffee intake in human health is studied.     

Assay of aroma active components of virgin olive oils from southern Italian regions by SPME-GC/ion trap mass spectrometry

An SPME-GC/ion trap method was exploited to determine the chromatogram of volatile compounds of organic olive oils of southern Italian regions. The method is based on the assay of the terminal species of the "lipoxygenase pathway", which are present in the volatile fraction of the sampled compounds. Ethyl isobutanoate was used as internal standard in either the EI or CI ionization mode. The absolute concentration values of each analyte were evaluated through good-to-excellent calibration curves. Case studies on oils obtained from different cultivars or harvesting times are presented. The quantitative data for each compound were subjected to principal component analysis to characterize the different cultivars of this work.     

Acid–base balance in sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax L.) in relation to water oxygen concentration

The influence of water oxygen concentration on the acid–base balance of sea bass was evaluated. Fish weighing 200–250 g were cultured under different dissolved oxygen concentrations of 64%, 97%, 150% and 250% saturation (92.7, 140.5, 217.5 and 362.7 mmHg respectively) under mild hypoxia, normoxia, mild hyperoxia and high hyperoxia conditions. The results showed that high hyperoxia and mild hypoxia conditions modified some blood parameters significantly when compared with fish held under the normoxia condition, while no differences were shown with respect to the acid–base balance of fish cultured under normoxia and mild hyperoxia conditions. This testifies that the mild hyperoxia condition does not produce physiological disturbances in the acid–base status of sea bass and it could be considered a favourable condition in sea bass land‐based farming, mainly in comparison with the mild hypoxia condition, responsible for other physiological problems.     

Degradation of Progesterone in Zebu Blood Samples under Different Experimental Conditions

Contents: Different trials were performed on Zebu blood samples, kept under variable experimental conditions, to determine the extent of the degradation of measurable progesterone. Blood samples were collected and combined with different anticoagulants (heparin, EDTA or citrate) and kept 30 minutes, 3 h and 18 h at 20° C to determine if there was an anticoagulant effect. Progesterone concentrations declined rapidly (P <0.05) regardless of anticoagulant used. Different samples of uncentrifuged whole blood to which lithium heparine had been added and unseparated clotted blood were held at 3° C, 20° C, 35° C for 0, 3, 6, 12 and 18 h to determine the effect of time and temperature. Progesterone fell (P < 0.05) with time at all incubation temperatures in all cases. Lithium heparine whole blood (control) was kept for 0, 6, 18 h and for 3, 5, 7 days before centrifugation and compared to samples to which 5 mg/ml sodium azide was added, all kept at 22–25° C. The addition of sodium azide resulted in the maintainance of significantly greater (P < 0.001) progesterone concentrations than in the control although in both, progesterone declined significantly (P < 0.05) as early as 6 h. Three to 7 days after collection, however, there was a reappearance of progesterone to the point that no difference (P > 0.05) resulted with initial values in the sodium azide treated samples. Inhalt: Abnahme des Progesterongehalts in Zebu-Blutproben unter verschiedenen experimentellen Bedingungen In unterschiedlich vorbehandelten Blutproben des Zeburindes wurde die Abbaurate des meβbaren Progesterons bestimmt. Die Blutproben wurden mit verschiedenen Antikoagulantien (Heparin, EDTA, Citrat) versetzt und für 30 Minuten, 3 Stunden oder 18 Stunden bei 20° C inkubiert. DerProgesterongehalt nahm unabhangig vom jeweiligen Antikoagulans rapide ab (P<0.05). Heparinisiertes Vollblut und unbehandeltes Vollblut wurden 0, 3, 6, 12 und 18 Stunden bei 3° C, 20° C und 35° C aufbewahrt. Der Progesterongehalt nahm injedem Falle unabhängig volt der Temperatur mit der Zeit ab (P < 0.05). Heparinisiertes Vollblut (Kontrolle) und Vollblut, das mit 5 mglml Natrium Azid versetzt worden war, wurden vor dem Zentrifugieren 0, 6 und 18 Stunden, sowie 3, 5 und 7 Tage bei 22 -25° C aufbewahrt. In beiden Gruppen nahm der Progesterongehalt schon nach 6 Stunden signifikant ab (P < 0.05). Jedoch 3 bis 7 Tage nach der Blutentnahme war der gemessene Progesteronwert wieder auf ein höheres Niveau angestiegen, so daβ es sich in den mit Natrium Azid behandelten Blutproben nicht mehr significant von den Anfangswerten unterschied (P > 0.05).     

Use of a biological extract of Serratia marcescens to decrease doxorubicin-induced myelosuppression in dogs.

Fifteen dogs were given doxorubicin, IV, at a dosage of 30 mg/m2 of body surface. A commercially available biological extract of Serratia marcescens (BESM) was administered SC to 9 of these dogs (0.04 mg/kg of body weight every third day, n = 2; 0.08 mg/kg every other day, n = 2; and 0.08 mg/kg daily, n = 5), beginning the day after administration of doxorubicin, in an attempt to find an optimal dosage and schedule of administration of BESM to reduce the duration and severity of chemotherapy-induced myelosuppression. Nine additional dogs were randomized into 3 groups of 3 dogs to receive 1 of the following dosages of BESM SC: 0.08, 0.16, and 0.32 mg/kg. Serum was harvested immediately prior to treatment and at 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 24, 48, and 72 hours from this latter group of dogs for subsequent analysis of canine granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) by enzyme immunoassay. Increasing the dosage and schedule of administration of BESM reduced the duration and severity of doxorubicin-induced myelosuppression. Neutrophil counts of the group of dogs given BESM daily at a dosage of 0.08 mg/kg and the controls were evaluated statistically. The neutrophil count increased significantly (P < 0.05) above pretreatment values in BESM-treated dogs after day 7. Median neutrophil counts of the BESM-treated dogs were never significantly lower than pretreatment values, whereas the median counts of the dogs treated with doxorubicin alone were significantly below normal for 6 days (days 7-12).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Workers' safety in milking premises

Dairy cattle rearing techniques have evolved, and milking has moved from stalls to specialized premises. A survey was carried out on a representative sample of dairy farms in central Italy to investigate workers' safety in milking premises. Results indicated acceptable sound level and microclimatic conditions, whereas repetitive motion of the upper limbs should be carefully monitored for the possible effects it can induce on the milkers, who were devoid of adequate personal protective equipment (PPE). Floor antislipping characteristics represented a major deficiency in the building material, in spite of its strength and durability.