Spread of levan-positive populations of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pseudomonas savastanoi</Emphasis> pv. <Emphasis Type="Italic">savastanoi</Emphasis>, the causal agent of olive knot,in central Italy

Mixtures of wet vegetable wastes (Brassica, carrot or onion) and dry onion waste were composted at 50 °C for 7 days. The incorporation of the raw or composted vegetable waste mixtures into sandy loam, silt and peat soils reduced the viability of sclerotia of S. cepivorum in glasshouse pot bioassays. The reduction in viability was dependent on waste type, rate of incorporation, duration of exposure and soil type. Onion waste was the most effective waste type in reducing sclerotia viability in all three soils. The Brassica and carrot wastes were as effective as the onion waste in silt soil but less effective in sandy loam and peat soil. A 50% w/w incorporation rate of the wastes gave the largest reduction in viability, with an increase in reduction over time. Composted onion waste reduced sclerotia viability under glasshouse and field conditions although the effect was smaller in the field. Composted onion waste incorporated into soil at 50% w/w reduced the incidence of Allium white rot on onion seedlings in glasshouse pot tests. Incidence and control of the disease differed with soil type. The most consistent control was achieved in peat soil whereas no control was observed in silt soil. Incorporation of the waste 2 months prior to sowing or transplanting reduced seedling emergence in sandy loam soil and growth in all three soil types. The potential for field application of composted vegetable wastes as a sustainable method for control of Allium white rot and waste disposal is discussed.     

Influence of time of food administration on daily rhythm of total locomotor activity in ponies

The activity rhythm can be entrained by nonphotic cues, especially food availability. Daily feeding schedules can act as “Zeitgeber” to synchronize the circadian system. In this study, the authors evaluated the influence of different feeding schedules on the daily rhythm of total locomotor activity in ponies. Six clinically healthy Shetland ponies were kept under natural 12/12-h light/dark cycle and monitored during 4 different feeding schedules: fed twice (at 8 am and 8 pm), fasted, fed at 8 pm, fed at 8 am, and fed twice a day again. Water was available ad libitum. To record total activity, we equipped the animals with actigraphy-based data loggers (Actiwatch-Mini). Two-way analysis of variance revealed a significant main effect of the time of day and no effect of feeding schedules on the amount of total locomotor activity. Locomotor activity showed daily rhythmicity in all experimental conditions, with diurnal acrophase. The amplitude of the rhythms and their robustness statistically changed across all experimental conditions. Our findings support the theory that when given essentially free choice hay, the time of feeding did not entrain activity, and suggest that feeding behavior can influence the distribution of locomotor activity during a 24-hour period in ponies, with changes in the amplitude and robustness of the rhythm.     

Effect of calcium on the oxidation of linoleic acid by potato (Solanum tuberosum var. Desiree) tuber 5-lipoxygenase

When the effect of calcium on the oxidation of linoleic acid by potato tuber 5-lipoxygenase (LOX) was investigated, it was seen to promote the enzyme's activity at pH values higher than the optimum pH of 6.3, resulting in an enzyme activation at alkaline pH. Kinetic analysis of calcium activation at different pH values revealed that the cation abolished the inhibition by high substrate concentration, which occurs in the absence of Ca(2+), thus leading to activation at high substrate concentration. Studies were conducted to investigate the influence of Ca(2+) on the physicochemical nature of the substrate and its effect on the LOX activity expression. It was concluded that the aggregation mode rather than the aggregation state of linoleic acid is responsible for potato 5-LOX changes.     

Manufacture and characterization of pasta made with wheat flour rendered gluten-free using fungal proteases and selected sourdough lactic acid bacteria

Wheat flour, which was rendered gluten-free by sourdough lactic acid bacteria fermentation and fungal proteases, was used for manufacturing experimental gluten-free pasta (E-GFp), according to a traditional process with low temperature drying cycle. Chemical, technological, structural, nutritional and sensory features were characterized and compared with those of commercial gluten-free (C-GFp) and durum wheat pasta (C-DWp). As shown through immunological analyses, the residual concentration of gluten of the hydrolyzed wheat flour was below 10 ppm. E-GFp showed rapid water uptake and shorter optimal cooking time compared to the other pastas. Despite the absence of the gluten network, the supplementation with pre-gelatinized rice flour allowed structural properties of E-GFp, which were comparable to those of C-GFp. The in vitro protein digestibility of E-GFp resulted the highest. Probably due to proteolysis during sourdough fermentation; chemical scores, essential amino acid profile, biological value and nutritional index of E-GFp were higher than those of C-DWp. The hydrolysis index (HI) of E-GFp was ca. 30% lower than that found for C-GFp. As shown by sensory analysis, the characteristic of E-GFp were acceptable. The manufacture of E-GFp should be promising to expand the choice of gluten-free foods, which combine sensory and nutritional properties.     

Water absorption of freeze-dried meat at different water activities: a multianalytical approach using sorption isotherm, differential scanning calorimetry, and nuclear magnetic resonance

Hydration of freeze-dried chicken breast meat was followed in the water activity range of aw=0.12-0.99 by a multianalytical approach comprising of sorption isotherm, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). The amount of frozen water and the shape of the T2-relaxogram were evaluated at each water content by DSC and NMR, respectively. Data revealed an agreement between sorption isotherm and DSC experiments about the onset of bulk water (aw=0.83-0.86), and NMR detected mobile water starting at aw=0.75. The origin of the short-transverse relaxation time part of the meat NMR signal was also reinvestigated through deuteration experiments and proposed to arise from protons belonging to plasticized matrix structures. It is proved both by D2O experiments and by gravimetry that the extra protons not contributing to the water content in the NMR experiments are about 6.4% of the total proton NMR CPMG signal of meat.     

Relationship between serum cortisol levels and some physiological parameters following reining training session in horse

The changes of cortisol, red blood cells (RBC), hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrit (Hct), heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR) and rectal temperature (RT) were evaluated after a reining training session in eight Quarter Horses. All parameters were measured before exercise (T0), immediately after exercise (T1), 1 h after exercise (T2), 2 h after exercise (T3) and 24 h after exercise (T4). One‐way analysis of variance (ANOVA) for repeated measures, followed Bonferroni's post hoc test, showed a significant effect of the reining training session (P < 0.0001) on cortisol, RBC, Hb, Hct, HR, RR and RT. Simple linear regression analysis showed the positive correlation (P < 0.05) between cortisol changes and variations of studied parameters in T1, T3 and T4. Exercise‐induced cortisol concentrations reflect the physiological response of reining training, suggesting that the changes observed are useful to assess the performance in reining horses and their reining training adaptability.     

Weak effects of habitat type on susceptibility to invasive freshwater species: an Italian case study

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Evaluation of different protein sources in fingerling grey mullet <Emphasis Type="Italic">Mugil cephalus</Emphasis> practical diets

An eight-week experiment was carried out to evaluate the effects of different protein sources (fish and haemoglobin meal, soybean meal and torula yeast), in practical diets, on growth, body composition and gut morphology of fingerling grey mullet (Mugil cephalus). Weight gain (%), SGR, FCR, N retention, PER, PGR, FDR and carcass composition of fish were not significantly affected by the dietary protein source. Fish fed the torula yeast based diet showed reduction in growth performance. Histological examinations performed on the alimentary tract of the fish showed a normal structural pattern in the experimental groups, as fundamental histological and histochemical aspects were similar if compared to the control group. The lower growth performance observed in fish fed a torula yeast based diet may be tentatively correlated with the presence of some detrimental morpho-functional aspects in the gut of these fish if compared to fish fed the other diets. Further studies are necessary to confirm this hypothesis.