Soil organic matter content and chemical composition under two rotation management systems in a Mediterranean climate

The crop rotation system in organic farming is a determinant factor to accumulate and preserve soil organic matter (SOM), and in depth knowledge on its effects is still lacking. Tillage intensity in particular is crucial to maintain soil aggregates and protect SOM from degradation. The evolution of SOM was tested in two adjacent fields under two different rotation cropping systems (low-intensity tillage and high-intensity tillage), and the effect of a further cultivation of legume in both fields was evaluated using ¹³carbon (C)-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and elemental analysis of samples isolated through combined aggregate size and density fractionation. The two adjacent fields had been managed using the following organic farming methods for 13 seasons since 1998: i) alfalfa-based, with nitrogen (N) enrichment and low-frequency tillage with alfalfa (Medicago sativa) (9 seasons), winter wheat (Triticum durum) (3 seasons), and broad bean (Vicia faba) (1 season) and ii) cereal-based, with N depletion and annual tillage with barley (Hordeum vulgare) (7 seasons), sunflower (Helianthus annuus) (2 seasons), broad bean (Vicia faba) (3 seasons), and bare fallow (1 season). Soil sampling was carried out at the end of the 13-year rotation (T0, November 2011) and after winter wheat and chickpea cultivation in both fields over two subsequent years (T1, July 2013). Bulk organic C was significantly higher in the alfalfa-based system than in the cereal-based system at both T0 and T1, with SOM occluded in soil aggregates and associated with mineral particles. In terms of the macroaggregates heavy fraction at T0, the alfalfa-based field contained twice the organic C of that in the cereal-based field, as well as three times the organic C in the occluded particulate organic matter (POM). The occluded POM (oPOM) had a lower aryl/O-alkyl C ratio in the alfalfa-based system than in the cereal-based system, suggesting that oPOM undergoes a lower degree of decomposition during low-intensity management. The aryl/O-alkyl C ratios of the macro-and microaggregate oPOM decreased from T0 to T1 in the cereal-based system, suggesting increased protection of these fractions by soil aggregates. Thus, including legumes in crop rotation appears to positively affect the accumulation of SOM associated with mineral particles and within soil aggregates.     

Ecological classification of land and conservation of biodiversity at the national level: The case of Italy

The aims of this study are to describe the ecological classification of land in Italy and to show how the resulting land units can act as reliable frameworks for coarse scale environmental analyses that can be used to implement national conservation strategies. We first collected, homogenised and drew physical thematic maps, which were then linked to biological and human features. We then performed a gap analysis of land heterogeneity compared with Natural Protected Areas and Natura2000 network on the basis of three categories: Total gaps, Partial gaps, and Protected. Moreover, we assessed the conservation status of the land units by summarising the environmental quality using the Index of Landscape Conservation. We identified and mapped 3 Land Regions, 24 Land Systems, and 149 Land Facets. Total gaps account for 28% of the country, Partial gaps for 38% and Protected for 34%. The Natura2000 network is more representative than the system of National Protected Areas of the overall land heterogeneity as regards both the types (18 out of 24) and extent (72%) of the Land Systems. Low conservation status prevails in the Land Facets of the Mediterranean Region located along the coasts and plains on sedimentary deposits, whereas high and very high conservation status is found along the higher belts of the Alpine and Apennine chains. These results highlight the potential use of ecological land classification for biodiversity monitoring and conservation purposes, e.g. when identifying land units that need to be recovered or targeted for enhanced biodiversity and ecosystem services protection.     

Integrated Evaluation of Scrotal Temperature and Testosteronemia after GnRH Administration in Young Bulls with Low Semen Production

The aim of this study was to determine the suitability of thermographic monitoring of scrotal surface temperature (SST) as a method to monitor testicular function. Yearling bulls (n = 23) with low semen production were selected. Scrotal surface temperature and serum testosterone (T) concentrations were evaluated before and after administration of 10.5 μg buserelin acetate IV. Thermographic images of scrotum were recorded at 0, 15, 30, 45 and 60 min post‐GnRH, while blood sampling was only performed at 60 min post‐GnRH. Bulls were divided in two groups: LowTemp bulls (n = 10) had a decreased SST at 60 min; HighTemp bulls (n = 13) had an increased SST. After 60 min, LowTemp bulls had higher T concentrations compared to HighTemp bulls: 14.32 ng/ml ± 0.53 vs 10.30 ± 1.37 ng/ml (mean ± SEM; p < 0.05), respectively. Reproductive performances in both groups improved after GnRH administration, resulting in an increased number of inseminating doses from each collection, which was higher in LowTemp bulls. Pearson correlation test showed a negative relationship between T and SST (r = ?0.554). In conclusion, a decreased scrotal surface temperature 60 min after GnRH treatment was associated with improved semen production.     

Pharmacokinetics of Tramadol and Its Metabolites M1, M2, and M5 in Donkeys after Intravenous and Oral Immediate Release Single-Dose Administration

Tramadol (T) is a centrally acting analgesic structurally related to codeine and morphine. Recently, T has been reported to be metabolized faster to inactive metabolites in goats, dogs, and horses than in cats. Clinical effectiveness of T has been questioned in species that mainly metabolize this molecule to inactive metabolites, suggesting that this drug could be not suitable as effective and safe treatment for pain as in humans. The purpose of the study is to determine the pharmacokinetics of T and its main metabolites in donkeys to evaluate its prospective use in clinical practice. The subjects were 12 male donkeys, 6 to 9 years old and weighing 300 to 380 kg. Each subject received a single dose of 2.5 mg/kg T either orally or intravenously. Plasma T, O-desmethyltramadol (M1), N-desmethyltramadol (M2), and N-,O-didesmethyltramadol (M5) concentrations were evaluated by high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). Pharmacokinetic parameters in both administrations were calculated according to a non-compartmental model. After intravenous administration, T was detectable up to 10 hours, whereas M1, M2, and M5 were detectable from 15 minutes up to 6 hours. The total amount of M2 was greater than M1, which was greater than M5. The T area under the concentration/time curve (AUC), T_1/2 λz (terminal half-life), and Cl/F (Clearance/F where F is the fraction of the drug absorbed) were 14,522 ± 2,554 h/ng/mL, 1.55 ± 0.74 hours, and 167 ± 22.3 mL/h/kg, respectively. After oral administration, T was detectable up to 8 hours to a lower extent than after the intravenous route. The total amount of M2 was greater than M5, which was greater than M1. The T AUC, T_1/2 λz, and Cl/F were 4,624 ± 2,002 h/ng/mL, 4.22 ± 2.32 hours, and 495 ± 170 mL/h/kg, respectively. The bioavailability of the oral formulation was 11.7 ± 5.1%. In conclusion, despite the effectiveness of intravenous administration of T, oral administration did not reach the minimum plasma concentration of both M1 and parental drug reported in humans as needed to achieve analgesia in donkeys.     

Use of Oil Red O stain in the cytologic diagnosis of canine liposarcoma

BACKGROUND: Oil Red O, a stain commonly used to demonstrate lipid in frozen tissue, also may be used to stain air-dried cytologic specimens. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to prospectively evaluate the value of Oil Red O in identifying lipid to aid in the differentiation of liposarcomas from other types of sarcoma. METHODS: Twelve tumor specimens from dogs were evaluated. The tumors were included in the study if initial cytologic evaluation indicated a sarcoma, and if histologic confirmation was available. Oil Red O was applied to all cytologic specimens. RESULTS: Tumor specimens were diagnosed histologically as liposarcoma (3 well-differentiated, 1 pleomorphic), hemangiopericytoma (n = 3), fibrosarcoma (n = 3), malignant fibrous histiocytoma (n = 1), and undifferentiated sarcoma (n = 1). Cytologic specimens from all liposarcomas showed strong positive staining of cytoplasmic vacuoles for lipid. Specimens from other sarcomas stained negative for Oil Red O, with the exception of weak, irregular positive staining in 1 hemangiopericytoma. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that Oil Red O staining may be an easy, inexpensive, and useful diagnostic tool for the differentiation of liposarcoma from other mesenchymal neoplasms.     

Analytical discrimination of poisonous and nonpoisonous chemotypes of giant fennel (Ferula communis L.) through their biologically active and volatile fractions

Giant fennel (Ferula communis L.) from Sardinia is characterized by two chemotypes with different biological activities. One chemotype is poisonous, due to prenylcoumarins, and responsible for ferulosis, which mainly affects sheep and goats, cattle, and horses; the other chemotype is nonpoisonous and contains daucane esters. The two chemotypes cannot be distinguished botanically. High-performance liquid chromatography-diode array-ultraviolet detection-mass spectrometry (HPLC-DAD-UV-MS) analysis of the composition of the fractions containing the biologically active metabolites and of the volatile fractions, by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), of both essential oil and headspace sampled by headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) are here shown to be effective in discriminating the poisonous and nonpoisonous chemotypes. HS-SPME with CAR/PDMS/DVB in combination with GC-MS has also been found to be a successful, fully automated one-step method for rapid and unequivocal discrimination of the two chemotypes, using aristolene and allohedycaryol as markers of the poisonous and nonpoisonous chemotypes, respectively.     

Chemical composition of volatiles in Sardinian myrtle (Myrtus communis L.) alcoholic extracts and essential oils

The chemical composition of the volatile fraction of myrtle (Myrtus communis L.) alcoholic extracts and essential oils from leaves and berries collected in different places in Sardinia (Italy) was studied. A simple and rapid liquid-liquid extraction method was used to isolate volatile compounds from myrtle alcoholic extracts followed by GC and GC-MS analysis allowing the detection of 24 compounds. The volatile fraction was characterized by the terpenes fraction corresponding to that of the essential oils and by a fatty acid ethyl esters fraction. The variation during extraction of the volatile fraction in alcoholic extracts of berries and leaves was evaluated. Essential oils were obtained by hydrodistillation, and the yields were on average 0.52 +/- 0.03% (v/w dried weight) and 0.02 +/- 0.00% for leaves and berries, respectively. The essential oils were analyzed by GC and GC-MS, and a total of 27 components were detected, accounting for 90.6-98.7% of the total essential oil composition. Strong chemical variability depending on the origin of the samples was observed. The major compounds in the essential oils were alpha-pinene (30.0 and 28.5%), 1,8-cineole (28.8 and 15.3%), and limonene (17.5 and 24.1%) in leaves and berries, respectively, and were characterized by the lack of myrtenyl acetate.