Classification and class-modeling of "Riviera Ligure" extra-virgin olive oil using chemical-physical parameters

The Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) "Riviera Ligure" for extra-virgin olive oils from Liguria specifies three additional geographical mentions corresponding to three different geographical areas. To obtain a complete characterization of this typical Italian product, 217 samples of olive oils produced in this North Italian region during 1998/99 and 1999/2000 were analyzed. For each sample 31 variables were determined by chemical-physical analyses, and the data were subjected to a multivariate statistical analysis. For the 1998/99 crop, characterized by favorable climatic conditions, class-models of the three geographical areas were obtained with good predictive ability, also considering the influence of the month of olive harvesting. The oil samples from the 1999/2000 crop were similarly studied, but bad climatic conditions and a widespread Dacus oleae infestation leveled out the peculiar features of the oils produced in the three areas.     

Availability and speciation of cadmium added to a calcareous soil under various managements

Potential risks for human health and adverse effects on soil quality caused by accumulation of cadmium (Cd) in soil at concentrations around or exceeding current European Union (EU) permitted limits have long been recognized. We have assessed availability and partitioning of Cd in a Mediterranean calcareous soil under four management regimes. Cadmium was added as a single pulse of CdSO₄ at the maximum Cd concentration established by the EU for sludge‐amended agricultural soils and concentrations exceeding the mandatory limits. Soils were treated with 0, 3, 10 and 50 mg Cd kg^?1 soil, incubated moist and analysed at selected times up to 600 days. Cadmium availability and distribution in soil were studied by neutral electrolyte and sequential extractions. During the incubation, the availability of Cd was not strictly dependent on the amount of metal added as the exchangeable fractions were similar shortly after the additions of Cd regardless of its initial concentration. Sequential extractions showed that for concentrations of 3 and 10 mg Cd kg^?1 soil Cd was evenly distributed among the soil phases, and its mobility was reduced mainly by adsorption on carbonates. At Cd concentrations exceeding 10 mg Cd kg^?1 soil a residual fraction appeared, perhaps from precipitation of Cd. Most of the Cd was associated with carbonates; land management and organic matter content had no major effects on the Cd distribution among different soil phases. The extraction protocols were effective for studying the fate of Cd in this calcareous soil as almost all of the Cd added was recovered. However, the introduction of a preliminary step with buffered NH₄NO₃ improved the determination of the most labile pools. Availability of Cd in calcareous soils estimated with reference methods appeared to be very small even when its total concentration far exceeded the current EU limits.     

Monosodium glutamate: lack of effects on brain and reproductive function in rats

Monosodium glutamate was injected subcutaneously in infant rats of both sexes. The lateral preoptic and arcuate nuclei and median eminence were examined by light and electron microscopy for possible monosodium glutamate effects. As adults, treated animals showed no adverse monosodium glutamate effects on the reproductive system and neural morphology.     

A SNP mutation affects rhizomania-virus content of sugar beets grown on resistance-breaking soils

Rhizomania is one of the most devastating biotic stresses affecting sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.). It is caused by Beet necrotic yellow vein virus (BNYVV) vectored by the plasmodiophorid Polymyxa betae K. The only means available to control the disease is the use of genetically resistant varieties. “Rizor” or “Holly” (Rz1) and WB42 (Rz2) have been the most widely used resistance sources in the commercial varieties. Recently, naturally occurring resistance-breaking (RB) rhizomania strains have been identified causing major concerns. The aim of this study was to identify SNP mutations that show associations with resistance to rhizomania in sugar beet plants grown under resistance-breaking (RB)-BNYVV soils. Rhizomania virus content was evaluated by indirect triple-antibody sandwich-ELISA within two F ₂ segregating populations respectively grown on an AYPR and IV-BNYVV strain infected soils. Bulked segregant analysis (BSA) was performed. The resistant and susceptible plants were genotyped with a 384-SNPs panel. Of the 384 SNPs, SNP249 was found to associate with the resistance both to the AYPR strain (R ² = 0.37; P = 0.0004) and to the IV-BNYVV (R ² = 0.09; P = 0.0074). Our results suggested that the SNP249 could be readily applicable for marker-assisted breeding of resistance to AYPR strain of rhizomania.     

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.

     

Chlorophyll a fluorescence analysis along a vertical gradient of the crown in a poplar (Oxford clone) subjected to ozone and water stress

An experiment in open-top chambers was carried out in summer 2008 at Curno (Northern Italy) in order to study the effects of ozone and mild water stress on poplar cuttings (Oxford clone). In this experiment direct fluorescence parameters (JIP-test) were measured in leaves from different sections of the crown (L: lower; M: medium; U: upper parts of the crown). The parameters considered were calculated at the different steps of the fluorescence transient, and include maximum quantum yield efficiency in the dark-adapted state (F(v)/F(M)); the L-band, at 100?∝?s, that expresses the stability of the tripartite system reaction centre-harvesting light complex-core antenna; the K-band, at 300?∝?s, that expresses the efficiency of the oxygen-evolving complex; the J-phase, at 2 ms, that expresses the efficiency with which a trapped exciton can move an electron into the electron transport chain from Q(A)(-) to the intersystem electron acceptors; the IP-phase, which expresses the efficiency of electron transport around the photosystem 1 (PSI) to reduce the final acceptors of the electron transport chain, i.e., ferredoxin and NADP; and finally the performance index total (PItot) for energy conservation from photons absorbed by PSII to the reduction flux of PSI end acceptors. The main results are: (i) different dynamics were observed between leaves in the lower section, whose PItot decreased over time, and those in the upper sections in which it increased, with a dynamic connected to the leaf age; (ii) ozone depressed all the considered fluorescence parameters in basal leaves of well-watered plants, while it had little or no damaging effect on medium-level or upper-section leaves; (iii) PItot and IP-phase increased in upper leaves of plants subjected to ozone stress, as well as the net photosynthesis; (iv) water stress increased PItot of leaves in all levels of the crown. The results suggest that ozone-damaged poplar plants compensate, at least partially, for the loss of photosynthesis with higher photosynthetic rates in young leaves (in the upper section of the crown), more efficient to fix carbon.     

Degradation of dicarboximidic fungicides in wine. Part II: Isolation and identification of the major breakdown products of chlozolinate,vinclozolin and procymidone

The main degradation products formed from the dicarboximidic fungicides chlozolinate, vinclozolin and procymidone in wine have been isolated and identified using spectroscopic and chromatographic methods. The fungicides were added to wine after fermentation. Chlozolinate underwent a rapid hydrolytic loss of the ethoxy-carbonyl substituent, to give an oxazolidine that underwent hydrolytic cleavage to give 3′,5′-dichloro-2-hydroxypropanilide. The oxazolidine ring of vinclozolin underwent a similar hydrolysis to give the corresponding anilide 3′,5′-dichloro-2-hydroxy-2-methylbut-3-enanilide. Both these anilides were stable in wine for 150 days. A different degradation behaviour was observed with procymidone and led to the formation of 3,5-dichloroaniline (3,5-DCA), which, in turn, broke down but the derivatives could not be isolated. After consideration of the different behaviours of the fungicides on degradation in wine and in aqueous ethanol at pH4, together with their kinetic data, breakdown pathways are proposed.     

Phytate degradation,intestinal microbiota,microbial metabolites and immune values are changed in growing pigs fed diets with varying calcium–phosphorus concentration and fermentable substrates

The present study assessed effects of diets containing varying calcium–phosphorus (CaP) concentration and fermentable substrates on digestibility of diets, intestinal microbiota and immune system using 32 crossbred pigs (initial BW 54.7 kg). In a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement, pigs were fed either a corn–soybean meal (CSB) or corn–field pea (CFP) diet with either low [‐] (4.4 g Ca/kg; 4.2 g total P/kg) or high [+] (8.3 g Ca/kg; 7.5 g total P/kg; supplemented with monocalcium phosphate) CaP content for a period of 9 weeks. In week 8, blood samples were taken, and at the end of the trial, all pigs were euthanized to collect digesta and mesenteric lymphoid tissue. Apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of P was greater (p < 0.05) for pigs fed the CaP+ and CFP diets than CaP‐ and CSB diets. The myo‐inositol 1,2,3,4,5,6‐hexakis (dihydrogen phosphate) (InsP₆) concentration in jejunal digesta was higher (p < 0.05) for CaP+ than in CaP‐ fed pigs. In addition, caecal and faecal InsP₅ isomer concentration were greater (p < 0.05) for CSB than CFP diets. In the caecum, gene copy numbers of saccharolytic bacteria, such as Eubacterium rectale and Roseburia spp., as well as SCFA concentration were higher (p < 0.05) for CaP+ than CaP‐ diets. In particular, innate immune cell numbers, such as natural killer cells, dendritic cells, monocytes and neutrophils, were greater (p < 0.05) for CaP+ than CaP‐ fed pigs. Diets high in CaP resulted in higher abundance of potential beneficial bacteria and might promote the first line of defence enhancing the activation of the cellular adaptive immune response, thereby possibly decreasing the risk for intestinal disturbances. These results strongly suggest that both, CaP supply and dietary ingredients differing in fermentability, may beneficially affect gut health through increase in SCFA‐producing bacteria and/or bacteria with anti‐inflammatory properties.     

Ciclosporin use in multi-drug therapy for meningoencephalomyelitis of unknown aetiology in dogs

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of ciclosporin therapy alone or in combination with corticosteroids and/or ketoconazole in dogs with diagnosis of meningoencephalomyelitis of unknown aetiology. METHODS: Medical records of 10 dogs diagnosed with meningoencephalomyelitis of unknown aetiology and treated with ciclosporin therapy alone or in combination with corticosteroids and/or ketoconazole were reviewed at the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, University of Wisconsin-Madison. Laboratory abnormalities, side effects, clinical and cerebrospinal fluid responses to treatment and association between blood ciclosporin level and response to treatment were evaluated. Histopathological diagnosis was available in three patients. RESULTS: No significant abnormalities were detected on serial complete blood count and serum chemistry panel in any of the dogs. Side effects of ciclosporin therapy included excessive shedding, gingival hyperplasia and hypertrichosis. Overall median survival time for all dogs in the study was 930 days (range, 60 to more than 1290 days). In all dogs, serial cerebrospinal fluid analysis showed a marked improvement in the inflammation. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Results suggest that ciclosporin either alone or in combination with ketoconazole may be a safe and effective treatment for meningoencephalomyelitis of unknown aetiology in dogs.     

Using commercial tree nurseries to monitor visible ozone injury—An evaluation

Ozone damage on trees leaves no residue that can be detected analytically; therefore visible assessment is the only easily detectable method for collecting evidence. Here we present an evaluation of an assessment method using damaged detected on trees grown in commercial tree nurseries. The extent of visible ozone injury to susceptible species was investigated on a total of 95 species across 13 nurseries, over four European countries during the 2006 season. Commercial nurseries were chosen because nurseries stock a wide range of accessible, susceptible species which are irrigated when necessary and therefore represent the optimum conditions for assessment of potential risk. Ozone climate at each site was characterised using a combination of passive and active samplers to estimate the accumulated ozone exposure over a threshold of 40 ppb (AOT40). Meteorological and ozone monitoring data were used to calculate cumulative ozone flux using the DO₃SE model (Emberson et al., 2000). Ozone injury was observed in all countries demonstrating that the impacts of ozone are not restricted to countries with higher ozone concentrations; the longer day-length, higher moisture availability and cooler conditions in northern Europe resulted in a greater potential for ozone uptake. Further use of commercial nurseries as an important, unofficial, bioindicator network is warranted.