Physical, Hematological, and Biochemical Responses to Acute Intense Exercise in Polo Horses

The aim of this study was to evaluate the response of physical, hematological, and biochemical parameters after acute intense exercise in polo horses playing in an outdoor international competition. The game consisted of four periods (chukkas) and each period consisted a playing time of 7 minutes. Two matches were played everyday for a week. A total of 12 horses were examined. Each “high-goal” polo horse played one chukka a day for 4 days. Horses were clinically examined the day before the games started and then daily during the 4 days of their participation in the games. During these days, physical examination was performed and blood sample was collected at rest (T0), immediately (T1) after exercise, and after 30 minutes of exercise (T2). Blood samples were analyzed for total cell counts and for determination of creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), aspartate aminotransferase, lactate, total proteins, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus , and cortisol. Data were evaluated using two-way analysis of variance. Exercise caused significant dehydration (P < .01), mucous membranes congestion, increased heart rate (P < .001), and capillary refill time (P < .001). It also caused increased value of the following parameters: hematocrit (P < .001), red blood cells (P < .001), hemoglobin (P < .001), white blood cells (P < .05), lymphocyte (P < .001), total proteins (P < .001), creatine kinase (P < .05), LDH (P < .01), lactate (P < .001), and cortisol (P < .01), and a decrease in the platelet count (P < .001), calcium (P < .01), phosphorus (P < .001), and magnesium (P < .001). All parameters returned within or near the reference range by 30 minutes postexercise. On the basis of these observations, data were considered indicative of a good response to an acute intense exercise. Moreover statistical results obtained were typical of a mixed aerobic/anaerobic metabolic pathway that is prevailing in this sport.     

Expression of verocytotoxic Escherichia coli antigens in tobacco seeds and evaluation of gut immunity after oral administration in mouse model

Verocytotoxic Escherichia (E.) coli strains are responsible for swine oedema disease, which is an enterotoxaemia that causes economic losses in the pig industry. The production of a vaccine for oral administration in transgenic seeds could be an efficient system to stimulate local immunity. This study was conducted to transform tobacco plants for the seed-specific expression of antigenic proteins from a porcine verocytotoxic E. coli strain. Parameters related to an immunological response and possible adverse effects on the oral administration of obtained tobacco seeds were evaluated in a mouse model. Tobacco was transformed via Agrobacteium tumefaciens with chimeric constructs containing structural parts of the major subunit FedA of the F18 adhesive fimbriae and VT2e B-subunit genes under control of a seed specific GLOB promoter. We showed that the foreign Vt2e-B and F18 genes were stably accumulated in storage tissue by the immunostaining method. In addition, Balb-C mice receiving transgenic tobacco seeds via the oral route showed a significant increase in IgA-positive plasma cell presence in tunica propria when compared to the control group with no observed adverse effects. Our findings encourage future studies focusing on swine for evaluation of the protective effects of transformed tobacco seeds against E. coli infection.     

Genetic diversity among olive varieties of Southern Italy and the traceability of olive oil using SSR markers

Summary

To evaluate germplasm variability and to identify DNA profiles useful for tracing the genetic identity of olive oil, we used six Simple Sequence Repeats (SSRs) in 47 cultivated olive varieties from Central and Southern Italy. A total of 80 polymorphic SSR markers were scored and both the observed heterozygosity and the polymorphic index content were, on average, high. Genetic similarities were investigated by agglomerative hierarchical clustering and principal component analysis. The results implied that most of the olive accessions from the Campania region were genetically different from those of other Italian regions. This finding was further supported by partitioning the genetic variability using analysis of molecular variance. Furthermore, we analysed the DNA isolated from the fruit and mono-varietal oils of three cultivars. Comparative analysis of the SSR profiles revealed that these were conserved in the agro-food chain, although our data also suggested that some issues, such as the sensitivity and performance of the assay in complex mixtures, may pose limitations. Our findings extend current knowledge of Italian olive germplasm and highlight the richness and specificity of the genetic resource of olives in some regions of Southern Italy. They also provide molecular information that can be exploited for the protection of genetic material and mono-varietal oils.     

Application of non-invasive techniques to differentiate sea bass (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Dicentrarchus labrax</Emphasis>, L. 1758) quality cultured under different conditions

European sea bass, Dicentrarchus labrax, is one of the main species cultured in Europe. In this study, non-invasive techniques such as visible-near infrared spectroscopy and dynamometric analysis were used to discriminate concrete tank–cultured sea bass from sea cage–cultured sea bass. A total of 198 samples were collected at six time points from 3 Italian fish farms. A partial least squares analysis was conducted on individual animals at 48 and 96 h post-mortem to determine whether textural and spectral parameters can discriminate between concrete tank– and sea cage–reared sea bass. The results of this analysis demonstrated that spectral measurements better discriminate individual animals at 48 h post-mortem (87% in the independent test) with respect to 96 h post-mortem (66.7% in the independent test). Differences in texture were observed between the two groups of fish, but the texture changed in the time. The texture in sea cage–cultured fish showed higher values of measured force (N) with respect to fish reared in concrete tanks at 48 h post-mortem. Instead, opposite results were observed at 96 h post-mortem. Fillet colour were influenced by both farm and rearing condition.     

Volatile organic compound emission and biochemical properties of degraded Ultisols ameliorated by no tillage and liming

The Ultisols in the Raña de Cañamero area in Southwest Spain showed aluminum (Al) phytotoxicity, and the clearance of natural vegetation and decades of intensive conventional agriculture caused the deplation of soil organic matter (SOM). Therefore, we studied the long-term effects of no tillage and liming using sugar beet foam (SF) and red gypsum (RG), alone or in combination, on the restoration of Ultisols affected by acidification, Al phytotoxicity, and SOM depletion. We measured the main soil chemical properties, soil microbial biomass, soil enzyme activities involved in carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulfur mineralization, and the emission of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The results indicated that liming effectively neutralized the soil acidity in the long term and, in combination with no tillage, significantly increased soil microbial biomass and enzyme activities. Twenty-three VOCs were detected using the proton transfer reaction-time of flight (PTR-ToF) technique, and both liming and tillage changed the VOC emission patterns. The greatest difference in VOC emission pattern was observed between no-tilled un-amended soils and tilled lime-amended soils, suggesting the activation of different metabolic pathways within the microbial communities of soils under different management. Differences in VOC emission patterns could be attributed to the decomposition of carbohydrates, which were also sustained by the higher enzyme activities in the lime-amended soils.     

Stocking density and its influence on shape of Senegalese sole adults

Morphological changes in Senegalese sole adults (Solea senegalensis Kaup, 1858) reared at two stocking density conditions (low stocking density, 60% of bottom occupation and high stocking density, 180% of bottom occupation) were investigated using geometric morphometrics. Canonical variate analysis on weight matrix scores, including the uniform component (W′), at the end of the experiment revealed differences in body shape between experimental groups. The low density group presented a similar change pattern as that of the high density group but was less intense. Differences were discussed in terms of the effect of a high stocking density on the shape of soles which were very close to commercialization. Results did not indicate a significant size-related shape, likely due to fish age. Our results provide the first promising look at environment-related shape changes in reared sole.     

Isolation and identification of two lipid transfer proteins in pomegranate (Punica granatum)

Lipid transfer proteins (LTPs) are a family of low molecular mass (7-9 kDa) polypeptides, the members of which share 35-95% sequence homology. These proteins are widely distributed throughout the plant kingdom and are receiving attention for their biochemical characteristics and biological activity. LTPs are indeed studied in different research fields varying from allergy to food technology, and numerous molecules belonging to this class are progressively being identified and investigated. Proteins from pomegranate juice were fractioned by cation exchange chromatography and analyzed by SDS-PAGE. Two proteins were identified as putative LTPs on the basis of their molecular weights and their electrophoretic behaviors under reducing and nonreducing conditions. Finally, proteins were purified and characterized by mass spectrometry. This analysis confirmed that the two polypeptides are LTPs on the basis of an amino acid sequence common to LTPs from other plant sources and cysteine content. The two proteins, named LTP1a and LTP1b, showed similar molecular masses but different immunological profiles when immunodetected with rabbit antibodies specific for Pru p 3 and human IgE from a patient suffering from pomegranate allergy. The demonstration of the existence of two immunologically unrelated LTPs in pomegranate confirms the variability and the complexity of the plant LTP family. This should be taken into account when the role of these proteins as elicitors of allergies to fruits is investigated and could help to explain the contradictory literature data on pomegranate allergy.     

Matching behavior and the representation of value in the parietal cortex

Psychologists and economists have long appreciated the contribution of reward history and expectation to decision-making. Yet we know little about how specific histories of choice and reward lead to an internal representation of the "value" of possible actions. We approached this problem through an integrated application of behavioral, computational, and physiological techniques. Monkeys were placed in a dynamic foraging environment in which they had to track the changing values of alternative choices through time. In this context, the monkeys' foraging behavior provided a window into their subjective valuation. We found that a simple model based on reward history can duplicate this behavior and that neurons in the parietal cortex represent the relative value of competing actions predicted by this model.     

Development of a seven-target multiplex PCR for the simultaneous detection of transgenic soybean and maize in feeds and foods

The detection of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in food and feed is an important issue for all the subjects involved in raw material control, food industry, and distribution. Because the number of GMOs authorized in the EU increased during the past few years, there is a need for methods that allow a rapid screening of products. In this paper, we propose a method for the simultaneous detection of four transgenic maize (MON810, Bt11, Bt 176, and GA21) and one transgenic soybean (Roundup Ready), which allows routine control analyses to be sped up. DNA was extracted either from maize and soybean seeds and leaves or reference materials, and the recombinant DNA target sequences were detected with 7 primer pairs, accurately designed to be highly specific for each investigated transgene. Cross and negative controls were performed to ensure the specificity of each primer pair. The method was validated on an interlaboratory ring test and good analytical parameters were obtained (LOD = 0.25%, Repeatability, (r) = 1; Reproducibility, (R) = 0.9). The method was then applied to a model biscuit made of transgenic materials baked for the purpose and to real samples such as feed and foodstuffs. On account of the high recognition specificity and the good detection limits, this multiplex PCR represents a fast and reliable screening method directly applicable in all the laboratories involved in raw material and food control.     

Yield and Performance and Soil Properties of Organically Fertilized Fodder Crops

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of experimental amendments on yields of Trifolium subterraneum L., Pisum arvense L., and Lolium multiflorum Lam., and on soil characteristics. A two-year research was carried out comparing anaerobic digestate (AD) and olive-pomace compost (OPC) with mineral fertilizer (Min), commercial organic-mineral fertilizer (Org-min), and unfertilized control (Cont). Anaerobic digestate and OPC were firstly analyzed for their chemical characteristics. The most important parameters were recorded and soil properties were investigated. Anaerobic digestate showed the highest dry weight for ryegrass, the best yield in pea, and good level of dry matter in clover. Good responses were achieved by OPC. Anaerobic digestate increased total soil organic carbon by 14.4, 8.1 and 7.6% than Min, Org-min and Cont, respectively. Olive-pomace compost increased the same parameter by 16.3, 10.0, and 9.5%. The findings indicated the possibility to substitute mineral fertilizers with organic ones without decreasing yields and support soil fertility.