Epidemiological survey of Border disease virus among sheep from northern districts of Japan

The first epidemiological survey of Border disease virus (BDV) was undertaken in small ruminants in Japan. Ovine sera, collected from the northern prefectures of Hokkaido, Aomori and Iwate, were examined for the presence of antibodies against BDV using the neutralization peroxidase-linked antibody test. Twenty-nine (17.6%) of one hundred and sixty-five samples were seropositive for BDV. Results were specific, excluding cross-reactions with bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV). Only one sample (0.6%) was positive for BVDV, and was negative for BDV. Despite serological evidence of virus circulation, there have been no clinical cases of border disease in sheep in Japan. Although no diagnostic measures were performed, the infection did not appear to be associated with a reduction in ewe fertility nor with lamb mortality.     

Evaluation of the membrane approach to solid-phase extractions of pesticide residues in drinking water

The purpose of this work was to compare the method and analytical results obtained by liquid/liquid extraction with those of solid-phase extraction, in particular with the use of an Empore disc, in the investigation of pesticide residues in drinking water.     

Contrast-enhanced fluid-attenuated inversion recovery vs. contrast-enhanced spin echo T1-weighted brain imaging

In humans, contrast-enhanced fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) imaging plays an important role in detecting brain disease. The aim of this study was to define the clinical utility of contrast-enhanced FLAIR imaging by comparing the results with those with contrast-enhanced spin echo T1-weighted images (SE T1WI) in animals with different brain disorders. Forty-one dogs and five cats with a clinical suspicion of brain disease and 30 normal animals (25 dogs and five cats) were evaluated using a 0.2 T permanent magnet. Before contrast medium injection, spin echo T1-weighted, SE T1WI, and FLAIR sequences were acquired in three planes. SE T1WI and FLAIR images were also acquired after gadolinium injection. Sensitivity in detecting the number, location, margin, and enhancement pattern and rate were evaluated. No lesions were found in a normal animal. In affected animals, 48 lesions in 34 patients were detected in contrast-enhanced SE T1WI whereas 81 lesions in 44 patients were detected in contrast-enhanced FLAIR images. There was no difference in the characteristics of the margins or enhancement pattern of the detected lesions. The objective enhancement rate, the mean value between lesion-to-white matter ratio and lesion-to-gray matter ratio, although representing an overlap of T1 and T2 effects and not pure contrast medium shortening of T1 relaxation, was better in contrast-enhanced FLAIR images. These results suggest a superiority of contrast-enhanced FLAIR images as compared with contrast-enhanced SE T1WI in detecting enhancing brain lesions.     

Effect of Phaeomoniella chlamydospora and Phaeoacremonium sp. on in vitro grapevine plants

Artificial inoculation with fungal species involved in the Petri disease was performed on in vitro grapevine shoots. After 2 months, plantlets were observed and the presence of any leaf chlorosis or necrosis, considered as symptoms of the disease, were recorded. The fungal inoculation caused an increase in the number of symptomatic in vitro plants and in the incidence of external symptoms. Recovery of the fungal species was obtained after incubation of excised tissue fragments from the inoculated in vitro plants while some fertile fragments were collected also from plants without external symptoms. Higher levels of symptoms were observed in the rootstock varieties inoculated with Phaeomoniella chlamydospora while the lowest incidence was observed in the Aglianico cultivar. The possibility to correlate the visual assessment of in vitro plants with the data obtained by the analysis of digital images was confirmed.     

Identification of a universal Group B streptococcus vaccine by multiple genome screen

Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is a multiserotype bacterial pathogen representing a major cause of life-threatening infections in newborns. To develop a broadly protective vaccine, we analyzed the genome sequences of eight GBS isolates and cloned and tested 312 surface proteins as vaccines. Four proteins elicited protection in mice, and their combination proved highly protective against a large panel of strains, including all circulating serotypes. Protection also correlated with antigen accessibility on the bacterial surface and with the induction of opsonophagocytic antibodies. Multigenome analysis and screening described here represent a powerful strategy for identifying potential vaccine candidates against highly variable pathogens.     

Sustainable sediment management in coastal infrastructures through an innovative technology: preliminary results of the MARINAPLAN PLUS LIFE project

Journal of Soils and Sediments - The paper aims to show the preliminary monitoring and field test results of the innovative technology tested in the framework of the MARINAPLAN PLUS LIFE project...     

Fast field cycling NMR relaxometry characterization of biochars obtained from an industrial thermochemical process

Purpose

Biochar has unique properties which make it a powerful tool to increase soil fertility and to contribute to the decrease of the amount of atmospheric carbon dioxide through the mechanisms of C sequestration in soils. Chemical and physical biochar characteristics depend upon the technique used for its production and the biomass nature. For this reason, biochar characterization is very important in order to address its use either for agricultural or environmental purposes.

Materials and methods

Three different biochars obtained from an industrial gasification process were selected in order to establish their chemical and physical peculiarities for a possible use in agronomical practices. They were obtained by charring residues from the wine-making industry (marc) and from poplar and conifer forests. Routine analyses such as pH measurements, elemental composition, and ash and metal contents were performed together with the evaluation of the cross-polarization magic angle spinning (CPMAS) ¹³C NMR spectra of all the biochar samples. Finally, relaxometry properties of water-saturated biochars were retrieved in order to obtain information on pore size distribution.

Results and discussion

All the biochars revealed basic pH values due to their large content of alkaline metals. The quality of CPMAS ¹³C NMR spectra, which showed the typical signal pattern for charred systems, was not affected by the presence of paramagnetic centers. Although paramagnetism was negligible for the acquisition of solid state spectra, it was effective in some of the relaxometry experiments. For this reason, no useful information could be retrieved about water dynamics in marc char. Conversely, both relaxograms and nuclear magnetic resonance dispersion profiles of poplar and conifer chars indicated that poplar char is richer in small-sized pores, while larger pores appear to be characteristic for the conifer char.

Conclusions

This study showed the potential of relaxometry in revealing chemical?Cphysical information on industrially produced biochar. This knowledge is of paramount importance to properly direct biochar agronomical uses.     

Monitoring Yield Loss from Ozone Pollution in a Mediterranean Environment: A Comparison of Methods

Yield losses from ozone pollution can be estimated by two methods: one involves the use of sensitive (S) and resistant (R) biotypes of white clover (Trifolium repens L., cv. Regal) exposed in ambient air, the other is based on the use of open-top chambers (OTC) supplied either with charcoal-filtered (CF) or non-filtered (NF) air. In southern Italy the two methods have been compared using the clover biotypes. The aim was (1) to compare the extent of ozone-induced yield reductions estimated by the two methods, (2) to evaluate the effect of the chamber enclosure on the growth of both biotypes, and (3) to compare plant water consumption in the different environments. On the average, the yield reduction was 23% when derived from the S/R yield ratio in ambient air, and 18% obtained by the CF/NF yield ratio of the S-type, without a significant difference between the two values. The slightly lower value for the OTC-based system may be due to the lower ozone levels in NF chambers due to losses in the ventilation system. Thus, both methods yielded equivalent yield reductions of about 20% due to ozone at this Mediterranean site. However, the higher air temperature inside OTCs influenced the plant growth, and this effect was stronger in the case of the R type. Therefore, R/S yield ratios in NF chambers differed from ambient air. Also, plant water consumption was higher in OTCs than in ambient air. The results suggest that the OTC-based method enables yield loss estimates at this Mediterranean site, in spite of chamber effects on plant growth and water use.     

A framework for the integrated assessment and management of dredged materials in Italy: a case study based on the application of Local Sediment Quality Guidelines

Purpose

In order to assess sediment quality and to account for the great geochemical heterogeneity of Italian coasts, Local Sediment Quality Guidelines (LSQGs) have to be defined for specific portions of the coastline based on the approach developed by ICRAM–APAT (2007). This paper describes the application of LSQGs to the harbour of Fiumicino (Rome, Italy). The aims were to evaluate the quality of dredging sediments through an integrated chemical–ecotoxicological approach and to define suitable management options.

Materials and methods

Thirty-eight sediment cores, covering the planned dredging depth, were collected in the study area and sliced into 92 sediment samples. Chemical analyses, including inorganic and organic contaminants as well as microbiological parameters, were carried out for all the samples. A bioassay battery composed by the bacterium Vibrio fischeri, the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus and the alga Dunaliella tertiolecta was applied on one third of the samples. LSQGs were derived from chemical and ecotoxicological data of the harbour area, and were integrated with those from the identified dumping site. The Baseline Chemical Level, corresponding to an absent or unlikely ecotoxicological hazard, and the Limit Chemical Level, corresponding to a probable ecotoxicological hazard, were the LSQGs derived for each chemical.

Results and discussion

A gradient of increasing contamination, moving inland due to urban and agricultural effluents, was observed. Ecotoxicological analyses, similar to microbiological ones, confirmed the poor sediment quality, with the exception of a sample located at the port entrance, where hydrodynamics flush sediment away from the site. Principal component analysis allowed a clear discrimination of three areas, each affected by a different contamination degree and influenced by many sources related to industrial, commercial and/or urban activities. Using LSQGs and the results of bioassays, it was possible to classify the sediment quality of the whole harbour area and to define the most suitable management options. It was found that Fiumicino harbour sediment was not suitable for either beach nourishment or for offshore dumping, with the exception of a negligible amount located at the port entrance. In turn, most sediment seemed to be suitable for disposal in a properly sealed confined disposal facility or for mechanical/chemical treatment.

Conclusions

This case study provided useful insights for implementing the development of LSQGs for more realistic sediment management and will assist in promoting its application to harbour dredging at the local level.