Exploring consumer’s preferences for farmed sea bream

Sea bream (Sparus aurata) production plays a significant part in Italian aquaculture, contributing to almost 18% of national pisciculture sales revenue. In recent years, Italian firms faced higher competition from countries with lower production costs. This prompted responses toward both cost reduction and product differentiation. The objective of this study was to investigate the preferences of Italian consumers for sea bream from fish farms, with a focus on aspects of product differentiation as gleaned from the analysis of the market situation: price, product origin, type and place of fish farming, and, in particular, type of feed. Data were collected with a consumers’ survey using personal interviews conducted on a questionnaire that included a choice experiment. Consumer preferences were analyzed with choice models based on stated preference data. The models made it possible to evaluate the potential of products with different combinations of attributes for which there is currently no market information available. In particular, the country of origin emerged as an important element of consumer choice, and to a lesser degree, organic certification and fish farming in marine cages also play a relevant role and may command a price premium.     

Human outbreak of trichinellosis in the Mediterranean island of Sardinia, Italy

Trichinella sp. infection has been documented in both humans and animals in most Mediterranean countries, yet in the past 60 years no infections have been reported on the Mediterranean islands. We describe the first outbreak of Trichinella sp. infection to have been reported on the island of Sardinia. The outbreak occurred in two villages in 2005 and involved 11 persons who had eaten raw sausages made from the same free-ranging sow. All 11 persons developed signs and symptoms of trichinellosis and seroconverted within 48 days of consuming the infected meat. The etiological agent was Trichinella britovi. Sardinia, like all Mediterranean islands, had been considered to be Trichinella-free. The present report, together with a recent report of T. britovi infection in animals on the nearby island of Corsica (France), raises questions as to the validity of the concept of Trichinella-free areas or regions.     

Approaches for Modification of Starch Composition in Durum Wheat

Manipulation of starch composition in cereals and particularly in wheat is receiving increasing attention due to recognition of its important role in food and nonfood applications. The amylose/ amylopectin ratio influences the physicochemical properties of starches and nutritional value of derived end products. Identification of the key enzymes involved in the starch biosynthetic pathway has opened new avenues for altering the amylose and amylopectin content in durum and bread wheat. The granule bound starch synthases (GBSSI), or waxy proteins, are the enzymes responsible for amylose synthesis in storage tissues; amylopectin is produced by the concerted action of different enzymes, including starch synthases (SS), branching (SBE), and debranching enzymes (DBE). By altering the level of key enzymes involved in the regulation of starch synthesis, it is possible to generate novel starches with unique functional properties. In this respect, both low and high amylose starches are particularly interesting because they are associated with industrial and processing properties as well as with human health and nutrition. So far, major attention has addressed the manipulation of starch composition in bread wheat, whereas durum wheat has been investigated to a much lesser extent. Approaches currently available to alter amylose/amylopectin ratio and tailor starch composition in durum wheat are presented.     

Plant response to biowaste soluble hydrolysates in hibiscus grown under limiting nutrient availability

Biostimulants are substances promoting plant growth, quality and stress resistance. The present work aimed to investigate whether soluble hydrolysates from biowaste performed as biostimulants. Hibiscus (Hibiscus moscheutos L. subsp. palustris) plants were subjected to four treatments: standard fertilization, low fertilization (LF), and LF with added soluble digestate or soluble compost. Plant performance indicators were biomass accumulation, biometric parameters, leaf gaseous exchanges and elemental composition, and nitrogen (N)-use efficiency. LF negatively affected most of the investigated parameters. However, plants treated with biowaste-derived products performed better than untreated low-fertilized plants (+21 to 145% for biomass accumulation and biometric parameters, and carbon assimilation rate) and for many parameters reached values comparable to those showed by standard-fertilized plants or even higher, as in the case of Potassium (K), Silicon (Si), and Molybdenum (Mo) leaf content, and N use efficiency. Therefore, the tested soluble hydrolysates demonstrated to have biostimulant properties in hibiscus grown under nutritional stress.     

Tannin-caprolactam and Tannin-PEG formulations as outdoor wood preservatives: weathering properties

Key message

This article presents the leaching, fire and weathering resistance improvements of samples treated with tannin-based wood preservatives added of caprolactam. PEG-added formulations show limited applicability. The FT-IR and ¹³ C-NMR analyses of the caprolactam-added formulations show some evidences of copolymerization.

Context

Tannin-boron wood preservatives are known for their high resistance against leaching, biological attacks, fire as well as for the good mechanical properties that they impart to wood. These properties promoted these formulations for being a candidate for the protection of green buildings. However, the low elasticity of these polymers and their dark colour implied limited weathering resistances.

Aims

The aim of the study is to find suitable additives for tannin-based formulations to overcome their limited weathering resistances, without compromising the other properties.

Methods

Treatment, leaching and fire tests, dimensional stability as well as artificial and natural weathering of the timber treated with caprolactam-added and PEG-added formulations were performed. FT-IR and ¹³C-NMR of the formulations were presented.

Results

The presence of caprolactam improved the properties of the formulation with particularly significant results in terms of resistance against leaching and dimensional stability. These enhancements were imparted also to the weathering resistance of the tannin-caprolactam formulations. Indeed, the colour changes during the artificial and natural exposures were stable for longer periods. FT-IR and ¹³C-NMR investigations of the advanced formulations were led, and covalent copolymerization of the caprolactam with the tannin-hexamine polymer was observed.

Conclusion

The tannin formulations with caprolactam improved the durability of the wood specimens, while the PEG-tannin presented strong application drawbacks.

     

Tannin-caprolactam and Tannin-PEG formulations as outdoor wood preservatives: biological properties

Key Message

This article presents the enhancement in boron fixation as well as the improved biological resistance against fungi and termites for wood samples treated with tannin-caprolactam and tannin-PEG formulations.

Context

Although the recently developed tannin-boron wood preservatives have shown high biological protection, they presented also average resistance against weathering. The tannin-caprolactam formulations have shown improved weathering resistances and dimensional stability.

Aims

For this reason, more detailed biological tests were performed to evaluate the influence of the caprolactam and PEG on the biological resistance.

Methods

In this paper, the boron leaching of the tannin-caprolactam and tannin-PEG impregnated Scots pine specimens was observed and the biocidal effect against fungi (Antrodia spp. and Coniophora puteana) and insects (Reticulitermes flavipes and Hylotrupes bajulus) were determined according to the guidelines of EN 113, EN 117, and EN 47.

Results

The advanced formulations containing PEG have shown interesting resistance against fungal decay, but very low penetration and weak resistance against larvae while the tannin-caprolactam preservatives have shown overall improved biological performances and higher boron fixations.

Conclusion

The biocidal activity of the caprolactam-added formulations was overall enhanced and therefore these formulations are confirmed to be an interesting alternative for the wood preservation in outdoor environment.

     

Soil porosity in physically separated fractions and its role in SOC protection

Purpose

Processes that lead to soil organic carbon (SOC) protection depend on both soil porosity and structure organization, as well as chemical and biological properties. In particular, the soil micro-nano porosity (<30 μm) regulates microorganism accessibility to the soil pore system and offers surfaces for organic carbon adsorption and intercalation into soil minerals. The aim of this work was to investigate how pore size distribution can selectively protect specific carbon pools in different aggregate size fractions, by considering the effects of long-term application of farmyard manure (FYM) and mineral (Min) fertilization.

Materials and methods

Macroaggregates (250–2000 μm), microaggregates (53–250 μm), and silt–clay (<53 μm) fractions of three different soils (clayey, peaty, and sandy) were separated by wet sieving technique and then subjected to chemical and physical analysis. Sample porosity and pore size distribution were analyzed using mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP), while SOC chemical structure was characterized by means of nuclear magnetic resonance (¹³C cross-polarization–magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (CP MAS ¹³C NMR)) and diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform (DRIFT) spectroscopies.

Results and discussion

Results showed that FYM increased organic (OC) and humic carbon (HC) content compared to the Min fertilization and unfertilized soils. However, it caused a gradual decrease in O,N-alkyl C, and alkyl C of humic C from macroaggregate to silt–clay fractions, suggesting an advanced state of humic component degradation as revealed by CP MAS ¹³C NMR, DRIFT analyses. MIP analysis showed a clear increase of micropores (5–30 μm) and cryptopores (0.0035–0.1 μm) from macroaggregate to silt–clay fractions, while minor differences were observed among the treatments. The application of principal component analysis to mineral soil fractions identified the formation of three main clusters, where (i) macroaggregates of clayey soil were mainly associated to cryptopores and OC and (ii) microaggregates and silt–clay fraction were mainly isolated by carbonyl C, ultramicropores, and total porosity. The third cluster was associated with medium and fine sand of the sand soil fraction as coupled with O,N-alkyl C, anomeric C, mesopores, and HC/OC ratio.

Conclusions

Overall, this study indicates that pore size distribution may be a valuable indicator of soil capacity to sequester carbon, due to its direct influence on SOC linkages with soil aggregates and the positive effects against SOC decomposition phenomena. In this context, micropore- to nanopore-dominated structures (e.g., clayey soil) were able to protect OC compounds by interacting with mineral surfaces and intercalation with phyllosilicates, while meso/macropore-dominated structures (i.e., sandy soil) exhibited their low ability to protect the organic components.

     

Insights for the Development of a Functional Fish Product: Drivers and Barriers,Acceptance, and Communication of Health Benefits

This study aims to explore consumer acceptance of a new functional fish burger using a qualitative approach based on four focus group discussions conducted in selected major Italian cities. Results show that the development of functional fish products may bypass fish consumption barriers, combining convenience and health benefits delivered by functional ingredients. The acceptance of new functional fish products seems to be influenced positively by the enrichment of functional ingredients naturally present in fish, particularly omega-3 fatty acids. Consumer acceptance of this new product is also influenced by the use of different nutritional and health claims. Implications for marketers and policy makers and insights for further research are discussed in the conclusions.