Use of near infrared reflectance and transmittance coupled to robust calibration for the evaluation of nutritional value in naked oats

A rapid accurate and precise method for simultaneous determination of β-glucan and protein content in naked oat samples, based on the coupling of near-infrared spectroscopy and chemometrics, is presented. In particular, three different spectroscopic approaches [near infrared reflectance (NIR) and transmittance (NIT) on flour and NIT on whole grains] and various spectral pretreatments were considered. To account for the possibility of outlying samples, a robust version of the PLS algorithm (namely partial robust M-regression) was used. All the models resulted as accurate as the reference methods, reflectance spectroscopy being the technique providing the best outcomes. Variable reduction by inclusion of the most relevant predictors only (as evaluated by VIP scores) resulted in simpler and, in one case, more parsimonious models, without loss in accuracy.     

Storage life of field-grown garlic bulbs (Allium sativum L.) as influenced by nitrogen and sulfur fertilization

The most important active compound in garlic is alliin. Sulfur (S) fertilization was shown to significantly increase the alliin concentration in garlic cloves, while high nitrogen (N) levels had an adverse effect. The effect of graded N and S application on the storage life of garlic has been paid little attention so far. A bifactorial field trial with 4 levels of N and S was conducted in a randomized block design. At harvest, 40 bulbs per treatment were stored under terms comparable to the storage conditions in average households (20 °C, dry, and dim) for 83 days. Every 3 weeks, samples were analyzed for their alliin and water content. The alliin concentration in peeled garlic cloves increased during storage from on average 9.2 mg g(-1) dry weight at harvest to 21.4 mg g(-1) dry weight after 83 days of storage. S fertilization increased the alliin concentration by a factor of 2.3 from 11.4 mg g(-1) in the control treatment to 26.6 mg g(-1) dry weight at the highest S level of 45 kg ha(-1) after 83 days of storage. N fertilization decreased by a trend of the alliin content. Fertilizer rates had only a minor influence on water losses from bulbs at short-term storage. After 83 days of storage, water losses were by trend lower at higher S levels, and this relationship proved to be significant when no N was applied. Best quality in terms of high alliin contents was obtained during the entire storage time at an S level of at minimum 30 kg ha(-1) S if no N was applied. The results show that the physiological S demand of 15 kg ha(-1) S for optimum yield is lower than the S requirement of 30 kg ha(-1) S for a longer storage life.     

Use of Anguilla anguilla for Biomonitoring Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) in Brackish and Riverine Waters in Central and Southern Italy

One of the aims of the Water Framework Directive 2000/60/CE is to assess the ecological status of water bodies in Europe in relation to priority contaminants, including some persistent organic pollutants (POPs). Recognizing the benefits of measuring hydrophobic compounds in biota tissues rather than in water, we used the European eel Anguilla anguilla in the present study as a bioindicator species for monitoring POPs in freshwater/brackish environments. We present the results of a contamination analysis of eels carried out in three Italian sites representative of different pollution levels: the last part of Tevere River, which flows through a very urbanized and industrialized area, Caprolace Lake and Lesina Lagoon, inside two different protected national parks. A very high pollution variability was recorded within each group of eels, in particular for those caught at Caprolace Lake. Due to this high variability, inter-population comparisons were carried out only between eels collected in Tevere River and Lesina Lagoon. PCBs values in Lesina Lagoon were two orders of magnitude lower than those measured in Tevere River, while no significant differences were found for levels of DDT compounds. Our results confirm the suitability of the eel as an indicator of persistent bioaccumulative pollutants in brackish environments and rivers where it can be easily caught, but we are sceptical of its use in deep lakes where its capture might be problematic considering standard operation procedures for fish sampling.     

A Geochemical and Geophysical Characterization of Sulfide Mine Ponds at the Iberian Pyrite Belt (Spain)

This work presents the results of a geochemical and geophysical characterization of the Monte Romero and La Naya mine ponds, belonging to the Cueva de la Mora and Riotinto mine districts, respectively, based on mineralogical, geochemical and geophysical techniques. In order to obtain a representative environmental characterization, two deposits showing different mineralogies, physico-chemical parameters, chemical compositions of tailings and pond conditions were selected. Monte Romero mine tailings showed an upper level mainly composed of silicates and a deeper level mainly composed of sulfides and barite. The toxic metal content was different in both levels but high enough to exceed the regional legal concentration limits for agricultural soils. An electrical resistivity tomography survey revealed a homogeneous upper unit (3?m thickness), which displayed low resistivity values, corresponding to water-saturated silt and clay materials with an abundance of sulfides which was interpreted as the pond infilling. The La Naya mine pond presented a homogeneous mineralogical composition made up of quartz as the main mineral and chlorite-smectite and jarosite as accessory phases. The absence of sulfide phases and the low contents of metal elements are directly related to the reworking processes of the sludge dumped in this pond. The geophysical survey revealed that the pond infilling did not have a constant thickness, but ranged between 15 and 20?m. An inner groundwater flow in the infilling was recognized. The low resistivity values allowed the presence of acid waters and related subsurface flows to be identified in both mine ponds, but no acid water drainage occurred across their vessels. When compared to the Aznalc??llar tailings spill, the La Naya pond is large enough to release a similar amount of sludge, but of a very low metal content. The Monte Romero sludge displays a similar, potentially toxic metal content to the Aznalc??llar sludge, but its size is significantly smaller.     

Enhanced Tolerance to Mercury in a Streptomycin-Resistant Strain of Euglena gracilis

Toxicity of Hg²⁺ was determined in two strains of Euglena gracilis var. bacillaris: the wild-type (B) and a streptomycin-resistant strain (Sm^r). Cells were cultured under 12-h dark/12-h light regime or under continuous darkness. In the dark/light cultures, cellular growth was severely diminished in the B strain by Hg²⁺, whereas only a slight decrease was attained in the Sm^r strain; Hg²⁺ also affected the photosynthetic and respiratory activities of the B strain, but not those of Sm^r strain. Under continuous darkness, cellular growth of both strains was lower than under dark/light cycles, but it was inhibited by Hg²⁺ to a much lesser extent. Cell culture by 5 days under continuous dark or by 8 days of dark/light cycles resulted in a higher intracellular content of mercury in B strain than in Sm^r strain. In contrast, in both culture conditions, the fraction of mercury removed from medium by B strain was lower than that attained by Sm^r strain, whereas the ability to bio-transform (reduce) Hg²⁺ was two times higher in the mutant strain. The results suggested that Sm^r strain cells acquired an ability to remove Hg²⁺ from the medium, which was not associated to accumulation and which conferred protection against mercury.     

Effect of food on the pharmacokinetics of oral cefuroxime axetil in dogs

Cefuroxime axetil pharmacokinetic profile was investigated in 12 Beagle dogs after single intravenous and oral administration of tablets or suspension at a dose of 20 mg/kg, under both fasting and fed conditions. A three-period, three-treatment crossover study (IV, PO under fasting and fed condition) was applied. Blood samples were withdrawn at predetermined times over a 12-hr period. Cefuroxime plasma concentrations were determined by HPLC. Data were analyzed by compartmental analysis. No statistically significant differences were observed between formulations and feeding conditions on PK parameters. Independently of the feeding condition, absorption of cefuroxime axetil after tablet administration was low and erratic. The drug has been quantified in plasma in 3 out of 6 and 5 out of 6 dogs in the fasted and fed groups. For this formulation, the bioavailability (F), peak plasma concentration (C_max), and area under the concentration–time curve (AUC) of cefuroxime axetil were significantly enhanced (p < .05) by the concomitant ingestion of food (32.97 ± 13.47–14.08 ± 7.79%, 6.30 ± 2.62–2.74 ± 0.66 µg/ml, and 15.75 ± 3.98–7.82 ± 2.76 µg.hr/ml for F, C_max, and AUC in fed and fasted dogs, respectively), while for cefuroxime axetil suspension, feeding conditions affected only the rate of absorption, as reflected by the significantly shorter absorption half-life (T_½(a)) and time to peak concentration (T_max) (0.55 ± 0.27–1.15 ± 0.19 hr and 1.21 ± 0.22–1.70 ± 0.30 for T_½(a) and T_max in fed and fasted dogs, respectively). For cefuroxime axetil tablets, T > MIC (≤1 µg/ml) was <2 hr in fasted and ≈4 hr in fed animals, and for cefuroxime axetil suspension, T > MIC (≤1 µg/ml) was ≈5 hr and for T >MIC (≤4 µg/ml) was ≈2.5 hr for fasted and fed dogs, respectively. Cefuroxime axetil as a suspension formulation seems to be a better option than tablets. However, its short permanence in plasma could reduce its clinical usefulness in dogs.     

IMPACT OF SALT STRESS ON MICRONUTRIENTS IN CORDYLINE FRUTICOSA VAR. ‘RED EDGE'

This trial was carried out to study the influence of the nutrient solution on the microelements concentration and distribution in C. fruticosa var. ‘Red Edge' plants. Four treatments were tested: T₁ [control, 1.5 dS m^?1, 14.3 mmol L^?1 sodium chloride (NaCl)], T₂ (2.5 dS m^?1, 22.2 mmol L^?1 NaCl), T₃ (3.5 dS m^?1, 32.7 mmol L^?1 NaCl) and T₄ (4.5 dS m^?1, 38.2 mmol L^?1 NaCl). In roots and stems, iron (Fe) concentrations were lower in the no saline treatment. Stems accumulated more Fe with treatments T₃ and T₄. Copper concentration and extraction were not affected by salinity. The highest manganese (Mn) concentration in roots was observed in T₂, while in petioles was higher in T₃ and T₄. Manganese extraction reached higher levels in the saline treatments in roots and stems, while in petioles it was lower in T₁, T₂ and T₃. In roots, zinc (Zn) concentration was lower with the extreme treatments. Micronutrients concentration in leaves was unaffected by salinity, because an exclusion mechanism that consists on accumulation in roots and stems was developed.     

Microbial dynamics after adding bovine manure effluent together with a nitrification inhibitor (3,4 DMPP) in a microcosm experiment

The application of animal manure effluents in agriculture in combination with nitrification inhibitors should be beneficial for nutrient recycling, soil quality, plant productivity, and greenhouse gas emission and offer economic advantages to make them an alternative to conventional fertilizers. The present study aims to estimate the effects of the addition of bovine manure effluent alone or together with a nitrification inhibitor (3,4-dymethylpyrazol-phosphate (3,4 DMPP)) on the microbial community dynamics in a Mediterranean soil in an incubation experiment over 28 days. The application of the bovine manure effluent increased respiration, microbial biomass carbon, fungal and bacterial growth, and enzyme activities and changed the microbial community structure evaluated by the phospholipid fatty acid pattern. Adding the bovine manure effluent together with the nitrification inhibitor, although partly negating the positive effect of the effluent on soil microbial activity, still resulted in higher or similar growth and activity as in the control. Our results indicate that the addition of the nitrification inhibitor 3,4 DMPP together with a bovine manure effluent could be a promising solution to control the animal manure effluent application effects on soil microbiological properties and microbial dynamics, as well as counteracting direct inhibiting effects of 3,4 DMPP on the soil heterotrophic community.