Relationship between virgin olive oil phenolic compounds and acrylamide formation in fried crisps

In this paper the relationship between virgin olive oil (VOO) phenol compounds and the formation of acrylamide in potato crisps was investigated. The phenol compositions of 20 VOO samples were screened by LC-MS, and 4 oils, characterized by different phenol compound patterns, were selected for frying experiments. Slices of potatoes were fried at 180 degrees C for 5, 10, and 15 min, and acrylamide content was determined by LC-MS. Results demonstrated that VOO phenolic compounds are not degraded during frying, and crisp color was not significantly different among the four VOOs. Acrylamide concentration in crisps increased during frying time, but the formation was faster in the oil having the lowest concentration of phenolic compounds. Moreover, the VOO having the highest concentration of ortho-diphenolic compounds is able to efficiently inhibit acrylamide formation in crisps from mild to moderate frying conditions. It was concluded that the use of ortho-diphenolic-rich VOOs can be proposed as a reliable mitigation strategy to reduce acrylamide formation in domestic deep-frying.     

Synthesis of some new ether derivatives of hydroquinone and their ovicidal activity against the two-spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae Koch)

A new class of compounds derived from hydroquinone ethers showed high and predominantly ovicidal activity against the two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch. The sequence of compounds synthesised and the factors which appeared to have contributed most to the discovery of these promising acaricides are presented.     

Hymenoptera wasps associated with the Asian gall wasp of chestnut (Dryocosmus kuriphilus) in Calabria,Italy

The parasitoid complex of the Asian chestnut gall wasp Drycosmus kuriphilus Yasumatsu was studied in Calabria (Italy). A total of 14 different species of parasitoids were collected, of which three are recorded on the Asian gall wasp for the first time. The composition of the parasitoid complex collected in Calabria was compared with that reported from Italy and from Europe. The altitude of the sites of collection seemed to have an effect on the distribution and abundance of the single species of parasitoids.     

Synthesis and in-vitro antifungal activity of 6-trifluoromethyipyrazolo[3,4-6d]pyrimidin-4(5H)-thiones

Twelve 6-trifluoromethylpyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidin-4(5H)-thiones were prepared by the reaction between 4-thiocarbamoyl-5-aminopyrazoles and trifluoroacetic anhydride. They were tested in vitro for antifungal activity against a series of phytopathogenic fungi of different taxonomic classes. The EC50 and MIC values of four compounds were comparable or inferior to those of reference commercial fungicides in controlling Sclerotinia minor, Corticium solani and Phytium ultimum.     

Long-term Electrocardiography Recording with Holter Monitoring in 15 Donkeys

The heart rates (HR) and rhythms of 15 healthy donkeys of various ages, both sexes, and various breeds were analyzed throughout 24-hour Holter monitoring. The animals were evaluated at rest in their daily environment without the presence of investigators causing stress, using a three-channel digital Holter recorder. Analysis revealed a maximal HR range from 62.5 to 93.7 beats/min (mean, 72.50 ± 7.51 beats/min), whereas the minimal HR ranged from 29.7 to 42.2 beats/min (mean, 34.90 ± 4.22 beats/min). The daily mean HR was 47.55 ± 3.70 beats/min. The daytime mean HR was 49.39 ± 2.77 beats/min, whereas the night time rate was 46.22 ± 4.38 beats/min. Sinus bradycardia and sinus tachycardia were detected in 7 and 10 of 15 studied donkeys, respectively. Cardiac dysrhythmias due to high vagal tone such as sinoatrial heart block and second-degree atrioventricular heart block were occasionally recorded in 1 and 3 donkeys, respectively. A higher mean HR and fewer cardiac dysrhythmias were observed in donkeys than in horses and ponies at rest. These findings could be justified by differences in the autonomic nervous system tone.     

Chemical characterization and antioxidant properties of coffee melanoidins

Melanoidins, the brown polymers formed through Maillard reaction during coffee roasting, constitute up to 25% of the coffee beverages' dry matter. In this study chemical characterization of melanoidins obtained from light-, medium-, and dark-roasted coffee beans, manufactured from the same starting material, was performed. Melanoidins were separated by gel filtration chromatography and studied by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. Results showed that the amount of melanoidins present in the brews increased as the intensity of the thermal treatment increased, while their molecular weight decreased. The antioxidant activity of melanoidins isolated from the different brews was studied by using different methodologies. Melanoidins antiradical activity determined by ABTS(*)(+) and DMPD(*)(+) assays decreased as the intensity of roasting increased, but the ability to prevent linoleic acid peroxidation was higher in the dark-roasted samples. Data suggest that melanoidins must be carefully considered when the relevance of coffee intake in human health is studied.     

High levels of genetic differentiation between Wolbachia-infected and non-infected populations of Folsomia candida (Collembola, Isotomidae)

The Gram-negative -Proteobacterium Wolbachia pipientis has been described as an obligate endosymbiont in many arthropod species, where it induces a variety of reproductive alterations, including parthenogenesis. Recently, this microorganism has also been detected in the parthenogenetic collembolan Folsomia candida. Here, we confirm the occurrence of the endosymbiont also in two Italian parthenogenetic populations of F. candida using ultrastructural (electron microscopy) and molecular (PCR screening on two bacterial genes) evidence. The strain isolated in the Italian populations has almost-identical gene sequences compared to that previously isolated in other populations of F. candida. In addition, we discovered a population of Folsomia cf. candida, which showed the presence of both males and females. This population is not infected by Wolbachia. A screening of two mitochondrial genes (COI and COII) showed that the bisexual population has high levels of genetic divergence in comparison with the parthenogenetic ones, even suggesting the possibility that it belongs to a different species. Furthermore, the remarkably high levels of genetic divergence between the two parthenogenetic populations suggests a possible influence of Wolbachia on inducing such differentiation, and, in the long term, speciation.     

High molecular weight glutenin subunits in some durum wheat cultivars investigated by means of mass spectrometric techniques

The primary structures of high molecular weight glutenin subunits (HMW-GS) of 5 Triticum durum Desf. cultivars (Simeto, Svevo, Duilio, Bronte, and Sant'Agata), largely cultivated in the south of Italy, and of 13 populations of the old spring Sicilian durum wheat landrace Timilia (Triticum durum Desf.) (accession nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 13, 14, 15, SG1, SG2, and SG3) were investigated using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOFMS) and reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography/nanoelectrospray ionization mass spectrometry (RP-HPLC/nESI-MS/MS). M(r) of the intact proteins determined by MALDI mass spectrometry showed that all the 13 populations of Timilia contained the same two HMW-GS with 75.2 kDa and 86.4 kDa, whereas the other durum wheat cultivars showed the presence of the expected HMW-GS 1By8 and 1Bx7 at 75.1 kDa and 83.1 kDa, respectively. By MALDI mass spectrometry of the tryptic digestion peptides of the isolated HMW-GS of Timilia, the 1Bx and 1By subunits were identified as the NCBInr Acc. No AAQ93629, and AAQ93633, respectively. Sequence verification for HMW-GS 1Bx and 1By both in Simeto and Timilia was obtained by MALDI mass mapping and HPLC/nESI-MSMS of the tryptic peptides. The Bx subunit of Timila presents a sequence similarity of 96% with respect to Simeto, with differences in the insertion of 3 peptides of 5, 9, and 15 amino acids, for a total insertion of 29 amino acids and 25 amino acid substitutions. These differences in the amino acidic sequence account for the determined Δm of 3294 Da between the M(r) of the 1Bx subunits in Timilia and Simeto. Sequence alignment between the two By subunits shows 10 amino acid substitutions and is consistent with the Δm of 148 Da found in the MALDI mass spectra of the intact subunits.     

The effects of starter microbiota and the early life feeding of medium chain triglycerides on the gastric transcriptome profile of 2-or 3-week-old cesarean delivered piglets

Background: The stomach is an underestimated key interface between the ingesta and the digestive system, affecting the digestion and playing an important role in several endocrine functions. The quality of starter microbiota and the early life feeding of medium chain triglycerides may affect porcine gastric maturation. Two trials(T1, T2) were carried out on 12 and 24 cesarean-delivered piglets(birth, d0), divided over two microbiota treatments, but slaughtered and sampled at two or three weeks of age, respectively. All piglets were fed orally: sow serum(T1) or pasteurized sow colostrum(T2) on d0; simple starter microbiota(Lactobacillus amylovorus, Clostridium glycolicum and Parabacteroides spp.)(d1-d3); complex microbiota inoculum(sow diluted feces, CA) or a placebo(simple association, SA)(d3-d4) and milk replacer ad libitum(d0-d4). The The T1 piglets and half of the T2 piglets were then fed a moist diet(CTRL); the remaining half of the T2 piglets were fed the CTRL diet fortified with medium chain triglycerides and 7% coconut oil(MCT). Total m RNA from the oxyntic mucosa was analyzed using Affymetrix?Porcine Gene array strips. Exploratory functional analysis of the resulting values was carried out using Gene Set Enrichment Analysis.Results: Complex microbiota upregulated 11 gene sets in piglets of each age group vs. SA. Of these sets, 6 were upregulated at both ages, including the set of gene markers of oxyntic mucosa. In comparison with the piglets receiving SA, the CA enriched the genes in the sets related to interferon response when the CTRL diet was given while the same sets were impoverished by CA with the MCT diet.Conclusions: Early colonization with a complex starter microbiota promoted the functional maturation of the oxyntic mucosa in an age-dependent manner. The dietary fatty acid source may have affected the recruitment and the maturation of the immune cells, particularly when the piglets were early associated with a simplified starter microbiota.