Staphylococcus aureus proteins differentially recognized by the ovine immune response in mastitis or nasal carriage

Staphylococcus aureus is an opportunistic pathogen in dairy ruminants where it is found in healthy carriage and can be a major cause of mastitis. A better knowledge of the host-pathogen interactions is needed to tackle this serious animal health problem. This study aimed at identifying S. aureus proteins differentially expressed by S. aureus in nasal colonization versus mastitis. Serological proteome analysis (SERPA) was used to examine protein samples prepared from culture supernatants of S. aureus strains originally isolated from gangrenous mastitis and nasal carriage (O11) or subclinical mastitis (O46) and to compare patterns of immune-reactive proteins. These staphylococcal proteins were revealed by sera obtained from ewes suffering from S. aureus mastitis and by sera obtained from healthy nulliparous ewes (i.e. no lactation and no mastitis or other symptoms) that were nasally colonized by S. aureus. Altogether 49 staphylococcal immune-reactive proteins were identified in this study. Patterns of proteins revealed by sera from infected- or healthy carrier- animals were comparable and analysis singled out one immune-reactive protein, N-acetylmuramyl-L-alanine amidase, which was recognized by each of the 6 sera from infected animals, when tested individually, and not by the sera of healthy carriers. This is the first study that compares the S. aureus seroproteome in colonization versus mastitis context in ruminants. These results open avenues for studies aiming at a better understanding of the balance between infection and commensal lifestyle in this opportunistic pathogen and at new prevention strategies.     

Adaptation of a modelling strategy to predict the NPP of even-aged forest stands

The assessment of net forest production is important for both scientific and practical purposes. The current paper presents the application of a recently developed strategy to estimate the net primary productivity of an even-aged Mediterranean pine forest (Natural Park of San Rossore, Central Italy). The strategy is based on the use of two models, C-Fix and BIOME-BGC, whose outputs are combined with forest volume data in order to describe the actual status of the ecosystems examined. The accuracy of the simulation is tested against measurements of current annual increment (CAI) derived from a recent forest inventory of the Park. The results of this test indicate that the methodology must be modified to account for the even-aged nature of the study stands. The modification is performed by the analysis of dendrochronological and tree density data, which characterize the temporal volume and CAI evolution of representative forest stands. The modified methodology is capable of taking into account the effect of stand ageing and yielding nearly unbiased estimates of forest CAI.     

Biceps femoris muscle transposition for treatment of cranial cruciate ligament rupture in small breed dogs

The purpose of this study was to evaluate a new extracapsular surgical technique for the treatment of cranial cruciate ligament rupture in small breed dogs. Nine small breed dogs (seven females and two males) weighing ≤ 15 kg were treated with biceps femoris muscle transposition (BFT). The duration of the BFT procedure was 20 min. Each patient underwent a standard clinical protocol and a questionnaire for the owners. Follow-up (at 1, 3, and 12 months postoperative) confirmed significant improvement in all patients, especially at 1 month postoperatively (p < 0.01) and again after complete stifle joint assessment at 3 months postoperatively. After 12 months, only two patients showed a slight increase in osteoarthritis. According to our results, BFT is a simple extracapsular surgical technique that can be used for the treatment of cranial cruciate ligament rupture in small breed dogs.     

Predictive equations of maintenance energy requirement for healthy and chronically ill adult dogs

Maintenance energy requirement (MER) is the energy amount necessary for dogs to maintain their weight and body condition. Some factors can influence the MER, such as gender, age, neutering status and also diseases. The present retrospective study aimed to evaluate MER of adult dogs with several diseases and compare with the MER of healthy adult dogs, observing the influence of parameters such as body condition score (BCS), neutering status, gender, age, diagnosis and type of food on MER of these dogs. A total of 165 adult dogs with weight changes of ≤5% were included and divided in groups according to diagnosis. Mean MER for healthy dogs was 86.09 kcal/BW^0.75, which differed from NRC and FEDIAF recommendations for inactive adult dogs (p = .047). Lowest MERs were of the endocrinopathies (78.52 ± 19.32 kcal/BW^0.75), orthopaedic diseases (59.71 ± 19.30 kcal/BW^0.75) and neurologic diseases (78.83 ± 32.66 kcal/BW^0.75) groups. Gastrointestinal diseases (99.59 ± 20.36 kcal/BW^0.75), orthopaedic diseases (59.71 ± 19.30 kcal/BW^0.75) and neoplasia (95.61 ± 21.02 kcal/BW^0.75) groups were the only groups that differed from the mean MER of healthy adult dogs. Regarding BCS, for each increasing point in a 9-point scale, there was a decrease of 9.8 kcal/BW^0.75 on MER, independent of diagnosis (p < .0001; r² = .55). There was no difference regarding breed size gender and age, but neutered dogs presented lower MER (p = .031). Based on data obtained from the present study, it can be concluded that it is necessary to consider BCS, age, neutering status and diagnosis when calculating MER, both in healthy dogs and chronically ill dogs.     

Radical scavenging activities of peels and pulps from cv. Golden Delicious apples as related to their phenolic composition

The relationship between phenolic composition and radical scavenging activity of apple peel and pulp was investigated in fruit produced according to both organic and integrated agricultural methods. Apple tissue extracts were subjected to high-performance liquid chromatography separation, which showed that as compared with pulps, peels are richer in almost all of the quantified phenolics. Flavonols, flavanols, procyanidins, dihydrochalcones, and hydroxycinnamates were the identified phenolic classes in peel tissue, and the most abundant compounds were epicatechin, procyanidin B2, and phloridzin. Pulps were poorer in phytochemicals. Their major phenolics were procyanidins and hydroxycinnamates. Flavonols in amounts <20 mg kg(-1) fresh weight (fw) were also found. In both peels and pulps, integrated production samples were richer in polyphenols. Among the 14 compounds identified, only phloridzin had a tendency to appear higher in organic peels. The total antioxidant capacities (TAC) of extracts were evaluated using the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical assay and were expressed as Trolox equivalents. Integrated peels gave the highest TAC (18.56 mM kg(-1) fw), followed by organic peels (TAC = 14.96), integrated pulps (TAC = 7.12), and organic pulps (TAC = 6.28). In peels, the top contributors to the antioxidant activity were found to be flavonols, flavanols, and procyanidins, which accounted for about 90% of the total calculated activity whereas in pulps, the TAC was primarily derived from flavanols (monomers and polymers) together with hydroxycinnamates. A good correlation between the sum of polyphenols and the radical scavenging activities was found. Among the single classes of compounds, procyanidins (in peels and pulps) and flavonols (in peels) were statistically correlated to the TAC.     

Influence of ethylene inhibition by 1-methylcyclopropene on apricot quality,volatile production,and glycosidase activity of low- and high-aroma varieties of apricots

Apricots of two varieties, Ceccona with strong aroma and San Castrese with low aroma but good firmness, were treated with 1 microL L(-)(1) 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) for 12 h at 20 degrees C and then kept for shelf life at 20 degrees C and 85% relative humidity. 1-MCP treatment strongly inhibited ethylene production in apricots of both varieties, and softening was delayed. Fruit softening started before the rise of ethylene in air-treated apricots, which softened even when the rise of ethylene production was inhibited by 1-MCP. The softening reduction was more significant in Ceccona apricots than in San Castrese. Pectinmethylesterase (PME) activity declined in Ceccona fruit regardless of the treatment; in San Castrese, PME of air-treated fruit slightly increased, whereas in 1-MCP-treated apricots the activity declined. alpha-d-Galactosidase (alpha-gal) and beta-d-galactosidase (beta-gal) activities in Ceccona apricot were significantly reduced by 1-MCP treatment, whereas in San Castrese apricot no difference in activities was observed between air- and 1-MCP-treated fruit. The pattern of beta-d-xylosidase (xyl) activity in San Castrese apricot was similar to that of beta-gal, showing a peak on day 4 without difference between treatments. alpha-d-Mannosidase (alpha-man) activity of air-treated apricots of both varieties rose slightly, and 1-MCP treatment decreased the enzyme activity in both varieties. alpha-d-Glucosidase (alpha-glu) decreased in air-treated apricots in both varieties, and 1-MCP maintained higher activity in Ceccona fruit but not in San Castrese. Acidity decreased during postharvest ripening regardless of the treatment, whereas soluble solids content (SSC) increased in Ceccona apricot and slightly diminished in San Castrese ones without any effect by 1-MCP treatment. 1-MCP did not show any effect on apricot color; in contrast, it affected the volatiles profile, especially in Ceccona apricot, reducing the synthesis of lactones and promoting the rise of terpenols.     

Fine thermal structure of a coronal active region

The determination of the fine thermal structure of the solar corona is fundamental to constraining the coronal heating mechanisms. The Hinode X-ray Telescope collected images of the solar corona in different passbands, thus providing temperature diagnostics through energy ratios. By combining different filters to optimize the signal-to-noise ratio, we observed a coronal active region in five filters, revealing a highly thermally structured corona: very fine structures in the core of the region and on a larger scale further away. We observed continuous thermal distribution along the coronal loops, as well as entangled structures, and variations of thermal structuring along the line of sight.     

Invertebrates and nutrients in a Mediterranean vineyard mulched with subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.)

Summary In the 25-year-old vineyard of a farm near the Maremma National Park (Central Italy), replicate plots were established with a mulch of Trifolium subterraneum L. or cultivation and two levels of fertilizer. The mai objective of this research was to analyse responses by soil invertebrates and nutrients after introducing a herbaceous component into the system; the yield was also considered. The greater availability of organic substrate and the reduced cultivation as a result of green mulching increased the soil mesofauna biomass, especially detritivores. With time, a significant difference became evident between the populations of invertebrates present in the mulched plots and those in the cultivated plots. Over 2 years, most nutrients (Ca, K, P, and N) were significantly increased in the mulched plots compared to the cultivated plots. Grape yields were consistently higher in the bare plots. No significant differences were found in fertilizer effects.     

A geochemical analytical approach for the evaluation of heavy metal distribution in lagoon sediments

Background, Aim, and Scope  Italian lagoon environments are of great importance due either to their frequency and distribution along the coasts or to their management. Agriculture, urban and industrial activities in lagoon catchments can be sources of heavy metal (HM) pollution by direct waste dumping, atmospheric deposition of fumes or, simply, as a consequence of a lack of natural water recharge. HM concentration in lagoon sediments is a tool of HM monitoring in the surrounding environment. Application of sequential extraction procedures (SEP) to sediments makes it possible to study the HM distribution among the main geochemical phases and to assess their potential mobilization as a consequence of environmental condition variations. In the present study, the three-step SEP (0.11 m HOAc; 0.1 m NH₂OH·HCl; 8.8 m H₂O₂ and then 1 m NH₄OAc), developed by the Measurement and Testing Programme of the European Commission (BCR), was combined with information on the chemical and mineralogical properties of the sediments in order to assess the level and risk of mobility of HM (Cu, Cr, Cd, Pb, Ni, Zn) in sediments from the Fusaro volcanic coastal lagoon of southern Italy. The effect of sediment air drying and physico-chemical properties on the metal distribution in various geochemical forms and fractions was considered. Materials and Methods  Surface (5 cm depth) sediment samples were collected from twenty-one sites on the Fusaro lagoon. Moisture, pH, organic carbon, carbonates, particle-size distribution and HM total content were determined on the dried sediment samples. The mineralogy of the clay fraction was determined at room temperature on random and oriented samples. The different forms of Al, Si and Fe in the bulk sediment (< 2 mm) were analyzed after oxalate, dithionite-citrate and pyrophosphate extractions. The BCR-SEP was used to fractionate trace element chemical forms in nine selected sediment samples. Effects of sediment air-drying on HM fractionation were analyzed. Results  Middle (Cu, Cr) and low (Cd, Pb, Zn) concentrations of heavy metals in sediment samples from the deeper central part of the lagoon were observed. Cadmium resulted in mainly being associated with carbonate forms (∼60%), whereas Cr and Ni occurred primarily as residual mineral phases (>50%). Zn appeared uniformly distributed among the main geochemical forms. Considerable presence of Cr, Cu and Pb was found in the oxidizable fraction (∼50%), indicating organic matter and/or sulphides major sinks for these metals. Differences of heavy metal distribution among sediment samples were observed, depending on the total metal content and on sediment properties. Modifications in metal speciation induced by sediment air drying mainly consist of a transfer of the actual and potentially mobile fractions towards immobile fractions (mineral residue) by oxidation and formation of Fe and Mn oxides. Discussion  Both total content and sequential extraction results did not show an environmental critical situation: the only possible risk, associated with heavy element mobility, could occur in consequence of a drastic pH and redox equilibria variation at the water-sediment interface. Conclusions  Despite all limitations, the BCR-SEP combined with information on the chemical and mineralogical properties of the sediment solid matrix provides a valuable approach to describe the risks related to the potentially toxic HM occurring in sediments (in this paper the case of the Fusaro lagoon is examined). HM distribution among the sequentially extracted geochemical forms is affected by sediment properties, such as pH (Zn), clay (Cd), Fe easily reducible oxides (Pb) and organic matter (Cu) content. Recommendations  Political managers, usually facing limitations of time and resources, have to optimize the cognitive phases, selecting the most useful information to make ‘effective and correct decisions’ in the environmental field. Therefore, although conscious of the limits of the adopted quality assessment, we believe it represents a good compromise between time and resource availability (i.e. type and quality of information). Outlook  The complementary use of the simple and rapid European fractionation scheme with information on the chemical and mineralogical properties of the sediments provides more awareness about the nature of the sediment components involved and offers a more reliable way for studying HM speciation in sediments.