Clues to the genesis of a discontinuously distributed fragipan in the northern Apennines,Italy

At about 1000 m above sea level in the Vallombrosa Forest, northern Apennines, Central Italy, a dense pan that meets the diagnostic criteria for fragipans is discontinuously distributed. The unusual slope-parallel “digitate” distribution of the pan suggests that it could have formed on water-saturated soil material that moved as earthflows. Actually, several soils in the Vallombrosa Forest have buried or truncated horizons, indicating episodes of mass movement and deposition. However, the fragipan under study shows a homogeneous morphology throughout, hence not providing clues about the occurrence of episodes that have contributed to the emplacement of the parent material. Also, the physical, chemical, and mineralogical analyses of the fragipan do not reveal discontinuities that help to resolve distinct episodes of deposition. Nevertheless, discontinuities in features such as the degree of alteration of biotite grains and the amount of plasma, seen through the micromorphological investigation at 50–60 cm of the current depth, suggest the occurrence of at least two depositional events. Radiocarbon dating of large-size pieces of charcoal collected at three depths within the fragipan yielded three ages that may reflect different times of accumulation of the parent material during the last glacial period. Post-depositional micromorphological features, such as relatively undamaged clay coatings and a weak platy structure, indicate pedogenesis with the absence of intense pedoturbation.     

Determination of Ni (II) in beverages without any sample pretreatment by adsorptive stripping chronopotentiometry (AdSCP)

The purpose of this paper was to use adsorptive stripping chronopotentiometry for the determination of Ni (II) in worldwide consumed beverages without any sample pretreatment, using dimethilglyoxime (DMG) as complexing agent and a glassy carbon mercury film electrode as the working electrode. Ni (DMG)2 complex is adsorbed onto the mercury film at an electrolysis potential of -500 mV for 60 s and then reduced by a -5 microA constant cathodic current. The sensitivity of the method was studied for certified reference water and black tea in the pH range 6.5-11. At pH 9.5 in ammonia buffer, a detection limit of 0.2 microg L(-1) was achieved; the instrumental precision (expressed as rsd %) was 1.5%, and the accuracy, expressed as obtained recoveries both from certified and not certified matrixes, ranged from 93.0 to 95.5 %. The chronopotentiometric analysis executed on commercial beverages provided evidence that black tea samples were the richest source of Ni (II) (1500-3700 microg L(-1)), followed by coffee (100.0-300.5 microg L(-1)); bottled mineral water showed a Ni (II) concentration lower than 4.6 microg L(-1). Among alcoholic beverages, red wines presented the highest content of Ni (II) (55.5-105.0 microg L(-1)). Significant differences were noticed between Ni (II) levels of fermented and distillated alcoholic beverages; moreover, canned cola and beer did not show higher Ni (II) levels with respect to the glass-bottled products.     

Characterization of carrot root oil arising from supercritical fluid carbon dioxide extraction

Carrot root oil (SCO), obtained by supercritical fluid carbon dioxide (SC-CO2) extraction, was characterized and compared to a commercial carrot oil (MCO) and a virgin olive oil (VOO) (cv. Coratina). SCO showed much higher contents of carotenes, phenolics, waxes, phytosterols, and sesquiterpene and monoterpene volatiles. In SCO, the most prominent components present in the fully investigated analytical fractions (fatty acids, triglycerides, waxes, phytosterols, long-chain aliphatic alcohols, superior triterpene alcohols, and volatiles) were, respectively, linolenic acid, trilinolein, waxes C38, beta-sitosterol, campesterol and stigmasterol, 1-hexacosanol, 24-methylencycloartanol and cycloartenol, beta-caryophyllene, alpha-humulene, alpha-pinene, and sabinene. In VOO, the major constituents of the above analytical classes were, respectively, oleic acid, trilinolein, waxes C36, unsaturated volatile C6 aldehydes (trans-2-hexenal most markedly), and the same prominent sterols and superior alcohols found in SCO. In MCO, which also contained a proportion of unknown plant oil, several components showed magnitudes that were lower compared to SCO but higher with respect to VOO. The last had the aliphatic and triterpene alcohol concentration higher compared to that of both SCO and MCO. Several chemometric methods, applied to different analytical data sets, proved to be effective in grouping the three oil kinds.     

Adsorption of pure and dirty bacterial DNA on clay minerals and their transformation frequency

Several studies have investigated the adsorption of pure DNA on soil particles and its transformation ability. However, the presence of not purified (dirty) rather than pure DNA is more common in the extracellular soil environment. For this reason, we have investigated the adsorption and binding of dirty DNA on montmorillonite (M) and kaolinite (K) and their transforming ability in comparison to pure DNA. After lysis of Bacillus subtilis cells, induced by KCl, dirty DNA was characterized by the presence of cellular wall debris (cwd) and other constitutional organic components (coc). The dirty DNA was then divided into two fractions, one with cellular wall debris (DNA +cwd) and the other without cellular wall debris (DNA −cwd). B. subtilis BD 1512 (Cm^r) and BD 170 (Cm^s) were selected as donor and recipient bacteria, respectively, for adsorption and transformation studies. Both cwd and coc seem to facilitate the adsorption of DNA to clay minerals, whereas only cwd promote the DNA binding on clays, protecting also the DNA fragments below 400 bp against nucleases. Both dirty DNA fractions adsorbed and bound on clay minerals were able to transform competent cells.     

Effect of the disposal of sludge from olive processing on some soil characteristics: Laboratory experiments

A laboratory experiment was performed during a 40-day incubation period in order to evaluate changes in organic and inorganic compounds of soil amended with two doses of sludge obtained from olive-oil processing waste waters. Differences between the amounts of organic components of the amended soil and those of the control, although related to doses and sampling time, disappeared at the end of the experimental period. On the contrary, the inorganic anion contents were still different for the various treatments, which suggest, especially for NO₃ ^? and SO₄ ^2?, a transient inhibition in the soil-sludge system. A germination test, carried out on the soil amended with different doses of sludge, indicates that after about twenty days even the soil containing the highest dose of sludge did not show toxicity any longer.     

Distribution of microbial communities in a forest soil profile investigated by microbial biomass, soil respiration and DGGE of total and extracellular DNA

We studied the distribution of the indigenous bacterial and fungal communities in a forest soil profile. The composition of bacterial and fungal communities was assessed by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) of total and extracellular DNA extracted from all the soil horizons. Microbial biomass C and basal respiration were also measured to assess changes in both microbial biomass and activity throughout the soil profile. The 16S rDNA-DGGE revealed composite banding patterns reflecting the high bacterial diversity as expected for a forest soil, whereas 18S rDNA-DGGE analysis showed a certain stability and a lower diversity in the fungal communities. The banding patterns of the different horizons reflected changes in the microbial community structure with increasing depth. In particular, the DGGE analysis evidenced complex banding patterns for the upper A1 and A2 horizons, and a less diverse microflora in the deeper horizons. The low diversity and the presence of specific microbial communities in the B horizons, and in particular in the deeper ones, can be attributed to the selective environment represented by this portion of the soil profile. The eubacterial profiles obtained from the extracellular DNA revealed the presence of some bands not present in the total DNA patterns. This could be interpreted as the remainders of bacteria not any more present in the soil because of changes of edaphic conditions and consequent shifting in the microbial composition. These characteristic bands, present in all the horizons with the exception of the A1, should support the concept that the extracellular DNA is able to persist within the soil. Furthermore, the comparison between the total and extracellular 16S rDNA-DGGE profiles suggested a downwards movement of the extracellular DNA.     

Maximizing re-introduction success: Assessing the immediate cost of release in a threatened waterfowl

Translocations have become one of the most commonly used tools for biodiversity restoration worldwide, however one out of three re-introduction plans fails to create a viable population or to successfully reinforce the existing one. We used results from the analysis of individual-based information on the re-introduction of a threatened waterfowl species, the crested coots Fulica cristata, to provide guidelines to maximise re-introduction success. We found that about a third of the post-release mortality took place within the first month after release. This immediate ‘cost of release’ in terms of local survival or ‘release risk factor’ seems to be a common feature of re-introduction projects, and it is likely due to the inexperience of captive-born individuals to face the new environment. This hypothesis was supported by the positive association between survival and time spent in the wild Results suggested that coots released between February and May have a slightly higher survival. A joint measure of survival and breeding probabilities indicated that birds released in late winter (February-March) had a higher chance to survive and reproduce compared to birds released later in the year. From an applied perspective our results can be used within an adaptive management framework to determine the optimum period of release, providing substantial support for future decision-making in the management of waterfowl, and other long-term projects of re-introduction of threatened vertebrate species.     

COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHIC FEATURES OF INCISOR PSEUDO‐ODONTOMAS IN PRAIRIE DOGS (CYNOMYS LUDOVICIANUS)

Maxillary incisor pseudo‐odontomas are common in pet prairie dogs and can cause progressive respiratory obstruction, while mandibular pseudo‐odontomas are rarely clinically significant. The aim of this retrospective cross‐sectional study was to describe CT features of maxillary and mandibular incisor pseudo‐odontomas vs. normal incisors in a group of pet prairie dogs. All pet prairie dogs with head CT scans acquired during the period of 2013–2015 were included. A veterinary radiologist who was aware of final diagnosis reviewed CT scans and recorded qualitative features of affected and normal incisors. Mean density values for the pulp cavity and palatal and buccal dentin were also recorded. A total of 16 prairie dogs were sampled (12 normal maxillary incisors, 20 confirmed maxillary incisor pseudo‐odontomas, 20 normal mandibular incisors, 12 presumed mandibular incisor pseudo‐odontomas). Maxillary incisors with confirmed pseudo‐odontomas had a significantly hyperattenuating pulp and dentin in the reserve crown and apical zone, when compared to normal maxillary incisors. Pseudo‐odontomas appeared as enlargements of the apical zone with a globular/multilobular hyperattenuating mass formation haphazardly arranged, encroaching on midline and growing caudally and ventrally. Presumed mandibular incisor pseudo‐odontomas had similar CT characteristics. In 60% of prairie dogs with maxillary incisor pseudo‐odontomas, the hard palate was deformed and the mass bulged into the oral cavity causing loss of the palatine bone. The common nasal meatus was partially or totally obliterated in 81.8% of prairie dogs with maxillary pseudo‐odontomas. Findings supported the use of CT for characterizing extent of involvement and surgical planning in prairie dogs with pseudo‐odontomas.