Chemical pretreatment of olive oil mill wastewater using a metal-organic framework catalyst

Olive oil mill wastewaters (OOMW) are not suited for direct biological treatment because of their nonbiodegradable and phytotoxic compound (such as polyphenols) content. Advanced technologies for treatment of OOMW consider mainly the use of solid catalysts in processes that can be operated at room conditions. A system based on combined actions of catalytic oxidations and microbial technologies was studied. The wet hydrogen peroxide catalytic oxidation (WHPCO) process is one of the new emerging oxidation processes particularly attractive for the pretreatment of highly polluted OOMW containing polyphenols that are not suited for classical treatments. In this work, the biodegradability of OOMW was evaluated before and after treating the wastewater samples by the WHPCO process using a metal-organic framework (MOF) as a catalyst. This material, containing Cu and prepared with benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxylic acid (BTC), is a robust metal-organic polymer with a microporous structure that is reminiscent of the topology of zeolite frameworks.     

Soft tissue sarcoma in dogs: A treatment review and a novel approach using electrochemotherapy in a case series

Canine soft tissue sarcomas (STSs) are locally invasive mesenchymal neoplasms. Electrochemotherapy (ECT) is an antitumour local ablative treatment that uses electric pulses to enhance the intracellular delivery of cytotoxic drugs. The aim of this retrospective study was to review the current treatment for STSs and to evaluate the efficacy and safety of ECT with bleomycin in canine STSs. Fifty‐two dogs with 54 STSs were included. Three groups were arranged: (a) ECT alone, (b) intra‐operative ECT and (c) adjuvant ECT. Signalment, tumour size, location, histological grade and margins and ECT parameters were collected. Recurrence rate (RR) and disease‐free interval (DFI) were calculated. Treatment toxicity was assessed using a 6‐point scale. STSs were mostly located on limbs (77.8%). Median tumour size was 4.3 cm (range 0.4‐17.0 cm). Most STSs were grade I (47.7%) and II (50.0%), and histological margins were incomplete in 94.5% of cases. Two complete remissions, one partial remission and one stable disease were recorded in group 1. Group 2 and 3 were similar for tumour location, size and grade, histological margins, treatment toxicity, pulse frequency and voltage. Moreover, RR and DFI were similar between group 2 and 3 (23% and 25%, 81.5 and 243 days, respectively). Local toxicity post ECT was mild (score ≤ 2) in 66.7% of cases. Higher toxicity score was associated with higher pulse voltage (1200 vs 1000 V/cm) (P = 0.0473). ECT coupled with bleomycin resulted safe and efficient in tumour local control and should be considered as an option for treatment of canine STSs.     

Duplex real-time polymerase chain reaction for simultaneous detection and quantification of Anaplasma marginale and Anaplasma centrale

Anaplasma marginale and Anaplasma centrale are rickettsial pathogens responsible for acute disease and mild infections, respectively, in cattle herds. A duplex real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay with probes labeled with different fluorophores was developed for simultaneous detection and quantification of A. marginale and A. centrale DNA in bovine blood samples. The assay was able to detect as few as 10(1) and 10(2) DNA copies for A. marginale and A. centrale, respectively, with optimal specificity and reproducibility. Analysis by real-time and nested PCR carried out on 54 samples previously tested by reverse line blot hybridization showed that the established duplex real-time PCR assay can detect and quantify the 2 Anaplasma spp., even if present simultaneously in the same blood samples. Such an assay could be used in pathogenesis studies on bovine acute anaplasmosis.     

Electrically conductive and hydrophobic cotton fabrics by polypyrrole-oleic acid coating

Hydrophobic polypyrrole-coated fabrics with improved electrical conductivity were produced embedding oleic acid as counter-ion. Hydrophobisation of polypyrrole was carried out by means of an ion exchange process after deposition of polypyrrole on cotton fabrics. The fabrics coated with oleic acid-doped polypyrrole showed contact angle of 111°, drop absorption time of 7 minutes and high water repellence, while electrical conductivity increased of ～2 times and heat generation improved, too. Moreover, oleic acid demonstrated a great stability as counter-ion in polypyrrole matrix being present also after washing.     

Isotopic carbon discrimination and leaf nitrogen content of Erica arborea L. along a CO(2) concentration gradient in a CO(2) spring in Italy

We studied a Mediterranean species (Erica arborea L.) growing in a CO(2) spring in Italy that was naturally exposed for generations to a gradient of atmospheric CO(2) concentrations. The CO(2) concentration gradient to which different individual plants were exposed was determined by an indirect method based on radioisotope analysis. The stable carbon isotope ratio of sampled leaves was determined by mass spectrometry, and isotopic discrimination was then calculated. Leaf nitrogen, specific leaf area, total soil nitrogen, soil organic matter content and soil pH were also measured. In one group of plants, grown on a homogeneous soil and exposed to moderate CO(2) enrichment, isotopic discrimination was significantly reduced in response to increasing CO(2) concentrations, whereas the intercellular CO(2) concentration and leaf nitrogen content were almost unaffected. In a second group of plants, grown along a gradient of CO(2) concentration and soil nitrogen content, leaf nitrogen content was reduced when nitrogen availability was limiting. However, when soil nitrogen was available in excess, even very high CO(2) concentrations did not result in increased discrimination or reduced leaf nitrogen content in the long term. The results are discussed with respect to current theories about the long-term CO(2) response of plants based on several years of experimentation with elevated atmospheric CO(2) concentrations under controlled conditions.     

Localized ozone fumigation system for studying ozone effects on photosynthesis, respiration, electron transport rate and isoprene emission in field-grown Mediterranean oak species

We used a localized ozone (O3) fumigation (LOF) system to study acute and short-term O(3) effects on physiological leaf traits. The LOF system enabled investigation of primary and secondary metabolic responses of similarly and differently aged leaves on the same plant to three different O3 concentrations ([O3]), unconfounded by other influences on O3 sensitivity, such as genetic, meteorological and soil factors. To simulate the diurnal cycle of O3 formation, current-year and 1-year-old Quercus ilex (L.) and Quercus pubescens (L.) leaves were fumigated with O3 at different positions (and hence, different leaf ages) on the same branch over three consecutive days. The LOF system supplied a high [O3] (300+/-50 ppb) on leaves appressed to the vents, and an intermediate, super-ambient [O3] (varying between 120 and 280 ppb) on leaves less than 30 cm from the vent. Leaves more than 60 cm from the O3 vent were exposed to an [O3] comparable with the ambient concentration, with a 100 ppb peak during the hottest hours of the day. Only leaves exposed to the high [O3] were affected by the 3-day treatment, confirming that Mediterranean oak are tolerant to ambient and super-ambient [O3], but may be damaged by acute exposure to high [O3]. Stomatal and mesophyll conductance and photosynthesis were all reduced immediately after fumigation with high [O3], but recovered to control values within 72 h. Both the intercellular and chloroplast CO2 concentrations ([CO2]) remained constant throughout the experiment. Thus, although treatment with a high [O3] may have induced stomatal closure and consequent down-regulation of photosynthesis, we found no evidence that photosynthesis was limited by low [CO2] at the site of fixation. One-year-old leaves of Q. ilex were much less sensitive to O3 than current-year leaves, suggesting that the low stomatal conductance observed in aging leaves limited O3 uptake. No similar effect of leaf age was found in Q. pubescens. Dark respiration decreased during the treatment period, but a similar decrease was observed in leaves exposed to low [O3], and therefore may not be an effect of O3 treatment. Light respiration, on the other hand, was mostly constant in ozone-treated leaves and increased only in leaves in which photosynthesis was temporarily inhibited by high [O3], preventing them from acting as strong sinks that recycle respiratory CO2 in the leaves. There was no evidence of photochemical damage in Q. ilex leaves, whereas Q. pubescens leaves exposed to a high [O3] showed limited photochemical damage, but recovered rapidly. Biochemical markers were affected by the high [O3], indicating accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and increased denaturation of lipid membranes, followed by activation of isoprene biosynthesis in Q. pubescens leaves. We speculate that the high isoprene emissions helped quench ROS and normalize membrane stability in leaves recovering from O3 stress.     

Expression of the Antimicrobial Peptide Piscidin 1 and Neuropeptides in Fish Gill and Skin: A Potential Participation in Neuro-Immune Interaction

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are found widespread in nature and possess antimicrobial and immunomodulatory activities. Due to their multifunctional properties, these peptides are a focus of growing body of interest and have been characterized in several fish species. Due to their similarities in amino-acid composition and amphipathic design, it has been suggested that neuropeptides may be directly involved in the innate immune response against pathogen intruders. In this review, we report the molecular characterization of the fish-specific AMP piscidin1, the production of an antibody raised against this peptide and the immunohistochemical identification of this peptide and enkephalins in the neuroepithelial cells (NECs) in the gill of several teleost fish species living in different habitats. In spite of the abundant literature on Piscidin1, the biological role of this peptide in fish visceral organs remains poorly explored, as well as the role of the neuropeptides in neuroimmune interaction in fish. The NECs, by their role as sensors of hypoxia changes in the external environments, in combination with their endocrine nature and secretion of immunomodulatory substances would influence various types of immune cells that contain piscidin, such as mast cells and eosinophils, both showing interaction with the nervous system. The discovery of piscidins in the gill and skin, their diversity and their role in the regulation of immune response will lead to better selection of these immunomodulatory molecules as drug targets to retain antimicrobial barrier function and for aquaculture therapy in the future.     

A broad-band leaf chlorophyll vegetation index at the canopy scale

An assessment of the sensitivity at the canopy scale to leaf chlorophyll concentration of the broad-band chlorophyll vegetation index (CVI) is carried out for a wide range of soils and crops conditions and for different sun zenith angles by the analysis of a large synthetic dataset obtained by using in the direct mode the coupled PROSPECT + SAILH leaf and canopy reflectance model. An optimized version (OCVI) of the CVI is proposed. A single correction factor is incorporated in the OCVI algorithm to take into account the different spectral behaviors due to crop and soil types, sensor spectral resolution and scene sun zenith angle. An estimate of the value of the correction factor and of the minimum leaf area index (LAI) value of applicability are given for each considered condition. The results of the analysis of the synthetic dataset indicated that the broad-band CVI index could be used as a leaf chlorophyll estimator for planophile crops in most soil conditions. Results indicated as well that, in principle, a single correction factor incorporated in the OCVI could take into account the different spectral behaviors due to crop and soil types, sensor spectral resolution and scene sun zenith angle.