Chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of the essential oil from Ferula glauca L. (F. communis L. subsp. glauca) growing in Marche (central Italy)

The essential oil obtained from different parts of Ferula glauca L. (formerly considered as a subspecies of F. communis) growing in Marche (central Italy), was analyzed for the first time by GC-FID and GC-MS. The major volatiles were (E)-caryophyllene and caryophyllene oxide in leaves, alpha-pinene, myrcene and germacrene D in flowers, alpha- and beta-pinene in fruits, (E)-beta-farnesene, myristicin and elemicin in roots, respectively. The differences in composition detected with respect to F. communis, made the volatile fraction a reliable marker to distinguish between them, and confirm the botanical data at the base of their discrimination. Furthermore, the oil was assayed for its antimicrobial activity by the broth microdilution method. B. subtilis was found to be the most sensitive microorganism, with the lowest MIC values.     

Losses of sediment,organic matter,and nutrients in the Argentinean Pampas through rainfall simulation experiments

Journal of Soils and Sediments - Runoff caused by rainfall events contributes to the watercourses pollution through the export of OM, nutrients, and sediments from soils. This study aimed to assess...     

Flavonoid and carbohydrate contents in Tropea red onions: effects of homelike peeling and storage

The content of anthocyanins, flavonols, and carbohydrates of Tropea red onions (Allium cepa L.) was determined by HPLC and HPLC-MS. Cyanidin derivatives constitute >50% of total anthocyanins, but delphinidin and petunidin derivatives, which have not been reported in red onions thus far, were also detected. The flavonoid distribution in the different layers of the bulbs indicates that, after homelike peeling, the edible portion contains 79% of the total content of quercetin 4'-glucoside but only 27% of the anthocyanins. Storage of onions for 6 weeks in different conditions, all of them mimicking home storage habits, resulted in a decrease to 64-73% of total anthocyanins. The same trend was verified for the total antioxidant activity, which was reduced to 29-36%. A decrease in glucose and fructose content correlated with anthocyanin degradation was also observed. Storage at low temperature seems to better preserve the onion anthocyanins.     

Use of electronic nose technology to measure soil microbial activity through biogenic volatile organic compounds and gases release

Gas and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) release in soil is known to be linked to microbial activity and can differently affect the life of organisms in soil. Electronic noses (E-noses) are sensing devices composed of sensor arrays able to measure and monitor gases and VOCs in air. This is the first report on the use of such a sensing device to measure specifically microbial activity in soil. In the present study, γ-irradiated sterilised soil was inoculated with Pseudomonas fluorescens. To be sure for a rapid microbial growth and activity, two pulses of nutrient solution with organic and inorganic C, N, P and S sources were added to soil and the resulting microcosms were incubated for 23 d. During the incubation, respiration and enzyme activities of acid phosphatase, β-glucosidase, fluorescein diacetate hydrolase and protease, were measured, and microbial growth as global biomass of vital cells based on substrate-induced respiration (SIR-C_mic) and enumeration of viable and culturable cells by means of dilution plate counts (CFU) were also monitored. Concurrently, VOCs and/or gas evolution in the headspace of the soil microcosms were measured through the E-nose, upon their adsorption on quartz crystal microbalances (QCMs) comprising the sensory device. The E-nose typically generated an odorant image (olfactory fingerprint) representative of the analysed samples (soils) and resulting from the concurrent perception of all or most of the analytes in headspace, as it commonly happens when several selective but not specific sensors are used together (array). The basic hypothesis of this study was that different soil ecosystems expressing distinct microbial metabolic activities, tested through respiration and enzyme activities, might generate different olfactory fingerprints in headspace. Furthermore, the possibility to detect several substances at the same time, released from the soil ecosystems, possibly deriving from both abiotic and biotic (microbial metabolism) processes provides an “odorant image” representative of the whole ecosystem under study. The E-nose here used succeeded in discriminating between inoculated and non-inoculated ecosystems and in distinguishing different metabolic and growth phases of the inoculated bacteria during incubation. Specifically, E-nose responses were proved highly and significantly correlated with all hydrolytic activities linked to the mobilisation of nutrients from soil organic matter and their cycling, with CO₂ fluxes (respiration and presumed heterotrophic fixation) and with P. fluorescens population dynamics during exponential, stationary and starvation phases measured by SIR-C_mic and CFUs. Interestingly, the E-nose successfully detected soil microbial activity stimulated by nutrient supply, even though none of the catalytic activities tested directly produced VOCs and/or gases. The E-nose technology was then proved able to supply a real holistic image of microbial activity in the entire gnotobiotic and axenic soil ecosystems.     

Characterization of a new potential functional ingredient: coffee silverskin

Dietary fiber (DF) is one of the main dietary factors contributing to consumers' well-being. In this work the possibility of using the roasted coffee silverskin (CS), a byproduct of roasted coffee beans, as a DF-rich ingredient has been evaluated. The results of our investigation showed that this material has 60% total DF, with a relevant component (14%) of soluble DF. Although a small amount of free phenol compounds is present in CS, it has a marked antioxidative activity, which can be attributed to the huge amount of Maillard reaction products, the melanoidins. Static batch culture fermentation experiments showed that CS induces preferential growth of bifidobacteria rather than clostridia and Bacteroides spp. CS can be proposed as a new potential functional ingredient in consideration of the high content of soluble DF, the marked antioxidant activity, and the potential prebiotic activity.     

Biodegradation of the fungicide iprodione by Zygosaccharomyces rouxii strain DBVPG 6399

Iprodione is a contact fungicide used to control several pathogens such as Botrytis cinerea, Monilia, and Sclerotinia. This paper reports the ability of an iprodione-resistant strain of Zygosaccharomyces rouxii to degrade iprodione at a concentration of 1 mg L(-1). The yeast Z. rouxii was chosen also for its ability to grow at high osmolarity. Also of note is that in bioremediation situations and in the food industry such resistance could be important. The kinetic and metabolic behaviors of the fungicide in the media are described. The results show a new transformation pathway of iprodione by the yeast leading to the formation of N-(3,5-dichlorophenyl)-2,4-dioxoimidazoline, 3-isopropylhydantoin, and 3,5-dichloroaniline. These compounds were identified by 1H NMR, 13C NMR, and GC-MS analyses. This study provides a basis to employ yeast strains in biodegradation studies in relation to their ability in the disappearance and degradation of xenobiotics into simpler molecules.     

Metal ions restore the proteolytic resistance of denatured conglutin gamma, a lupin seed glycoprotein, by promoting its refolding

The susceptibility to trypsin of conglutin gamma, a lupin seed glycoprotein affected by this enzyme only when in a non-native conformation, was used to study the effect of Zn(2+) and other metal ions on the structural dynamics of the protein. When acid-treated trypsin-susceptible conglutin gamma was incubated at neutral pH in the presence of Zn(2+), it became resistant to tryptic attack, contrary to the protein treated in the absence of Zn(2+). The time course of this refolding event has been quantitatively evaluated by SDS-PAGE. Amino acid sequencing of the major polypeptide fragments, produced by trypsin before completion of the refolding process, indicated that only a few cleavable bonds were accessible to the enzyme. This suggested that the presence of metal ions affected the pathway of degradation of the protein, by inducing its folding. Among the other metal ions tested, Ni(2+) also promoted the adoption of a trypsin-resistant conformation of conglutin gamma, whereas Mn(2+) and Ca(2+) had only much lower effects. The relevance of these findings for a deeper understanding of the in vivo degradation of plant food proteins and how it is affected by metal ions are discussed.     

Environmental biogeochemistry of mercury in Antarctic ecosystems

Polar regions are recognized as important sinks for long-range transport and deposition of Hg derived from natural and anthropogenic sources at lower latitudes. In previous studies we found enhanced Hg accumulation in soils, mosses and lichens from ice-free areas of Victoria Land facing the Terra Nova Bay coastal polynya. This study extends research to the distribution of organic C, total N, S, Hg, Al and Fe in surface soils, cyanobacterial mats and short sediment cores from four lacustrine ecosystems, each with different environmental characteristics and varying distances from the polynya. Results show that planktonic and benthic mats from lakes, along with mosses in the watershed, are the main sinks for Hg in summer meltwater. The C-normalized Hg concentrations in short sediment cores were higher in samples from lakes more exposed to marine aerosols from the coastal polynya. Reactive halogens in the aerosol promote the oxidation and deposition of atmospheric Hg in coastal ecosystems. The analysis of sediment cores did not reveal increasing Hg concentrations in recent sediments, except in the Lake 14 at Edmonson Point. The latter ice-free area is unaffected by the polynya and the increase in Hg concentrations in surface sediments could be due to local changes in lake water level and S biogeochemistry. Although change in sea ice coverage may enhance the role of Antarctic coastal ecosystems as sink in the global Hg cycle, our results seem to exclude possible risks for Antarctic terrestrial and freshwater organisms.     

ULTRASONOGRAPHIC FINDINGS IN 38 HORSES WITH SEPTIC ARTHRITIS/TENOSYNOVITIS

Septic arthritis/tenosynovitis in the horse can have life‐threatening consequences. The purpose of this cross‐sectional retrospective study was to describe ultrasound characteristics of septic arthritis/tenosynovitis in a group of horses. Diagnosis of septic arthritis/tenosynovitis was based on historical and clinical findings as well as the results of the synovial fluid analysis and/or positive synovial culture. Ultrasonographic findings recorded were degree of joint/sheath effusion, degree of synovial membrane thickening, echogenicity of the synovial fluid, and presence of hyperechogenic spots and fibrinous loculations. Ultrasonographic findings were tested for dependence on the cause of sepsis, time between admission and beginning of clinical signs, and the white blood cell counts in the synovial fluid. Thirty‐eight horses with confirmed septic arthritis/tenosynovitis of 43 joints/sheaths were included. Degree of effusion was marked in 81.4% of cases, mild in 16.3%, and absent in 2.3%. Synovial thickening was mild in 30.9% of cases and moderate/severe in 69.1%. Synovial fluid was anechogenic in 45.2% of cases and echogenic in 54.8%. Hyperechogenic spots were identified in 32.5% of structures and fibrinous loculations in 64.3%. Relationships between the degree of synovial effusion, degree of the synovial thickening, presence of fibrinous loculations, and the time between admission and beginning of clinical signs were identified, as well as between the presence of fibrinous loculations and the cause of sepsis (P ≤ 0.05). Findings indicated that ultrasonographic findings of septic arthritis/tenosynovitis may vary in horses, and may be influenced by time between admission and beginning of clinical signs.     

Consumer Preferences for Farmed Seafood: An Italian Case Study

ABSTRACT

European consumers prefer wild over farmed aquatic food and consider it healthier and tastier. Consumers are increasingly paying attention to sustainability and welfare of farmed fish. Such expectations might be met by organic certification, but this represents a cost for the producer. It is crucial to know consumer habits about farmed aquatic food consumption and willingness to pay for certification. Data about Italian consumers’ preferences regarding farmed organic aquatic food were collected by an online questionnaire. A total of 8,657 answers were analyzed, patterns associated with demographics were investigated, and the degree of correlation among answers was calculated. The majority (75%) of family units buy less than 2 kg of farmed aquatic food per month, spending on average 20–50 €. About 40% never consume organic aquaculture products because of lack of knowledge, unavailability, and high price. Slightly over half (55%) of consumers, regardless of age, sex, and area, were willing to pay a premium price for organic-certified aquatic food, seen as antibiotic free, traceable, and sustainable. Organic food in general is well known, and distrust is the main reason that consumers avoid it, while organic aquatic food is still in its infancy, and lack of knowledge is associated with low consumption.