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The Italian National Pig Breeders Association (ANAS) manages the breeding programs of the Italian Large White (ILW), Landrace (IL), and Duroc (ID) breeds, mainly oriented to the production of PDO hams. ANAS evaluates the inclusion of genetic resistance in its breeding scheme. This study aimed to estimate variance components and breeding values (EBV) using threshold (TM) and linear (LM) models. During the sib test performed at the genetic station of ANAS from 1997 to 2021, 9,595 (respiratory diseases) and 12,046 (enteritis) diagnoses were collected by the veterinary. The trait was recorded as a dichotomous variable: affected animals with 1, whereas healthy with 2. A multi-breed model was applied with the breed, sex, and farm sector as fixed effects and litter, animal, and residual as random effects. The same model was also applied within each breed, removing the breed effect. The limited data size within single breed did not allow to estimate accurate variance components. With the multi-breed model, low heritabilities were estimated for respiratory (0.09) and enteritis (0.15), with TM and LM leading to the same values. The multibreed model led to more precise variance components estimation and to EBV very close to the ones from the single breed analyses. Pearson and Spearman rank correlations between EBV estimated with TM and LM in the multibreed scenario were ≥0.97. Results of this study demonstrated the feasibility of including disease resistance among the breeding goals of ANAS and that both TM and LM could be used to reach this objective. Genetic selection for disease resistance in heavy pigs is possible Low heritabilities estimated for enteritis and respiratory disorders Threshold and linear models gave similar results [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the thermal fluctuations of fluid in metastable conditions have been theoretically investigated. The fluid is described with a diffuse interface approach based on the Van der Waals squared-gradient theory (SGT), where the free energy is augmented by a density square gradient term to take into account capillary effects. By averaging physical observables on coarse-graining cells, it is found that capillarity strongly modifies the fluctuation statistics when increasing fluid metastability. A remarkable difference with respect to simple fluid description is also detected when approaching nanoscopic scales. Peculiarly, near spinodal loci, the classical theory envisages a divergent behavior of density fluctuations intensity, while the SGT provides a finite variance of the density field. The scaling behavior of density fluctuations near spinodal lines is analytically derived and discussed. Finally, the correlation length of the capillary system is identified for different metastabilities. Also in the latter case, the critical exponents are theoretically calculated. The theoretical results are corroborated by Landau–Lifshitz–Navier–Stokes fluctuating hydrodynamics simulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We tested whether CSD500 (Futura Medical; Guildford, UK), a novel condom containing erectogenic gel designed to increase penile firmness, penile size, and erection duration, results in greater sexual pleasure. In 2017–2020, we randomized heterosexual couples in Thanh Hoa, Vietnam to use CSD500 (N = 248) or standard condoms (N = 252) and followed them up for six months. Women completed the Quality of Sexual Experience (QSE) scale; men completed the QSE, Sexual Experience Questionnaire (SEX-Q), and 11 condom acceptability items. Female participants' mean age was 32.1 years (SD = 0.24; range 21–46). QSE scores were higher among women (B, 0.12; 95% CI, 0.03–0.21) and men (B, 0.21; 95% CI, 0.08–0.35) in the CSD500 relative to the control arm. SEX-Q scores were higher among men in the CSD500 compared to the control arm (B, 3.22; 95% CI, 1.53–4.91). Higher proportions of men in the CSD500 relative to the control arm reported the condom felt "natural" during sex (68.6% vs. 32.3%; p <.01) and that sex with the condom felt "a lot better" than condomless sex (15.5% vs. 5.3%; p <.01). Compared with standard condoms, CSD500 use was associated with higher reports of sexual pleasure and condom acceptability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nearly 60 – 80 % of intron-containing plant genes undergo alternative splicing in response to either stress or plant developmental cues. RNA splicing is performed by a large ribonucleoprotein complex called the spliceosome in conjunction with associated subunits such as serine arginine (SR) proteins, all of which undergo extensive phosphorylation. In plants, there are three main protein kinase families suggested to phosphorylate core spliceosome subunits and related splicing factors based on orthology to human splicing-related kinases: the SERINE/ARGININE PROTEIN KINASES (SRPK), ARABIDOPSIS FUS3 COMPLEMENT (AFC), and Pre-mRNA PROCESSING FACTOR 4 (PRP4K) protein kinases. To better define the conservation and role(s) of these kinases in plants, we performed a genome-scale analysis of the three families across photosynthetic eukaryotes, followed by extensive transcriptomic and bioinformatic analysis of all Arabidopsis thaliana SRPK, AFC, and PRP4K protein kinases to elucidate their biological functions. Unexpectedly, this revealed the existence of SRPK and AFC phylogenetic groups with distinct promoter elements and patterns of transcriptional response to abiotic stress, while PRP4Ks possess no phylogenetic sub-divisions, suggestive of functional redundancy. We also reveal splicing-related kinase families are both diel and photoperiod regulated, implicating different orthologs as discrete time-of-day RNA splicing regulators. This foundational work establishes a number of new hypotheses regarding how reversible spliceosome phosphorylation contributes to both diel plant cell regulation and abiotic stress adaptation in plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, a stochastic diffuse interface model coupled with the Navier–Stokes equations has been exploited to numerically investigate vapor nucleation in a non-equilibrium system (a flowing liquid). Both homogeneous and heterogeneous nucleation is addressed and the influence of macroscopic flows on nucleation observables is discussed. The extended mesoscale simulations allow us to infer the spatial distributions of the nucleated bubbles via Voronoi tessellation analysis and to represent the nucleation phenomenon as a stochastic Random Poisson Point process. The findings open the way to design multiscale fluid simulations experiencing phase change. [Display omitted] • Fluctuating Hydrodynamics and Diffuse Interface describe non-equilibrium homogeneous and heterogeneous nucleation. • The share rate enhances the nucleation process. • Voronoi Tessellation analysis on large-scale simulations identifies the probability density of the spatial distribution of nucleated bubbles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study existence of solutions for the fractional problem where N ⩾ 2, s ∈ (0, 1), m > 0, μ is an unknown Lagrange multiplier and satisfies Berestycki–Lions type conditions. Using a Lagrangian formulation of the problem (Pm), we prove the existence of a weak solution with prescribed mass when g has L2 subcritical growth. The approach relies on the construction of a minimax structure, by means of a Pohozaev's mountain in a product space and some deformation arguments under a new version of the Palais–Smale condition introduced in Hirata and Tanaka (2019 Adv. Nonlinear Stud. 19 263–90); Ikoma and Tanaka (2019 Adv. Differ. Equ. 24 609–46). A multiplicity result of infinitely many normalized solutions is also obtained if g is odd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During 2012-2015, the municipality of Guarulhos, inserted in the São Paulo Metropolitan Region (the 4th largest metropolitan region in the world), recorded about 7540 cases of dengue fever. Given this situation, the work presented a prediction of the geographical distribution of this disease, using dengue fever occurrence records and environmental variables, through the MaxEnt distribution modeling. As the main result, it was observed that about 10% of the territory of Guarulhos presented high suitability for the disease occurrence (> 0.7). Areas with around ~900 inhabitants/ha inserted in regions with a mean surface temperature between 18 ºC and 25 ºC, inadequate household water storage, irregular disposal, and absence of waste recycling services may increase the risk of dengue transmission in prolonged drought periods. Finally, the work contributes to the development of public health strategies indicating areas for mitigation and environmental education actions in Guarulhos. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Resorbable ceramics used as porous bone substitutes are designed to favor bone in-growth and to be gradually replaced by natural tissues after in vivo resorption. However, a lack of experimental techniques to quantitatively monitor the evolution of their mechanical properties during resorption is noted. In this paper, we propose to use spherical instrumented indentation to follow-up the resorption of microporous resorbable ceramics at a local scale. Tests were performed at the core and at the surface of samples immersed for different durations in model fluids. Instrumented indentation was found to be an efficient technique to characterize and to follow-up the resorption of microporous ceramics, in excellent agreement with microstructural changes observed with X-ray diffraction and X-ray tomography. Instrumented indentation has the ability to capture the presence of gradients in the samples, enables the direct testing of wet samples and appears as a superior technique to compression tests mostly used in the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Epidemiological data have shown that an increased body mass index (BMI) is associated with a higher risk of various cancers, especially in obese diabetic patients. However, oncologic patients often present nutritional alterations that can worsen their prognosis. The aim of this review is to propose the use of cheaper and easy to use tools to assess the nutritional status of patients with cancer with altered glucose metabolism. Based on a literature review, we propose anthropometric measures to classify the degree of malnutrition. Moreover, the Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) and the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group's performance index (ECOG) are useful to assess the functional status of the body; the achievement of nutritional needs can be analysed with the PG-SGA questionnaire, while the quality of life can be investigated using the DTSQ, SF36, EQ-5D questionnaires and the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System. Pre-albumin dosage and lymphocyte count are proposed as nutritional parameters. The degree of hydration can be evaluated through the Bio-Impedance Test (BIA), and energy intake through the dairy food diary, which considers the type of nutrition and the consistency of the meals. It is possible to use a score for each tool used, which is useful to plan an adequate nutritional intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report titania nanoheterostructures decorated with silver, exhibiting tuneable photochromic properties for the first time when stimulated only by visible white light (domestic indoor lamp), with no UV wavelengths. Photochromic materials show reversible color changes under light exposure. However, all inorganic photochromic nanoparticles (NPs) require UV light to operate. Conventionally, multicolor photochromism in Ag-TiO2 films involves a change in color to brownish-gray during UV-light irradiation (i.e., reduction of Ag+ to Ag0) and a (re)bleaching (i.e., (re)oxidation of Ag0 to colorless Ag+) upon visible-light exposure. In this work, on the contrary, we demonstrate visible-light-induced photochromism (ranging from yellow to violet) of 1-10 mol % Ag-modified titania NPs using both spectroscopic and colorimetric CIEL*a*b* analyses. This is not a bleaching of the UV-induced color but a change in color itself under exposure to visible light, and it is shown to be a completely different mechanism-driven by the interfacial charge transfer of an electron from the valence band of TiO2 to that of the AgxO clusters that surround the titania-to the usual UV-triggered photochromism reported in titania-based materials. The quantity of Ag or irradiation time dictated the magnitude and degree of tuneability of the color change, from pale yellow to dark blue, with a rapid change visible only after a few seconds, and the intensity and red shift of surface plasmon resonance induced under visible light also increased. This effect was reversible after annealing in the dark at 100 °C/15 min. Photocatalytic activity under visible light was also assessed against the abatement of nitrogen oxide pollutants, for interior use, therefore showing the coexistence of photochromism and photocatalysis-both triggered by the same wavelength-in the same material, making it a multifunctional material. Moreover, we also demonstrate and explain why X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy is an unreliable technique with such materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

References 1 Rodriguez Gallo MC, Li Q, Devang M. Genome-scale analysis of Arabidopsis splicing-related protein kinase families reveals roles in abiotic stress adaptation. The correct author name should be: Given name: D Family name: Mehta The author group has been updated above and the original article [[1]] has been corrected. [Extracted from the article]

Compositional data consist of vectors of positive values summing up to a unit or to some fixed constant. They find application in chemometrics, geology, economics, psychometrics and many other field of studies. In statistical analysis many theoretical efforts have been dedicated to identify procedures able to accomodate outliers included in the estimation of the model even in compositional data. The principal purpose of this work is to introduce an alternative robust procedure, defined as COMCoDa, capable to cope with compositional outliers and based on median absolute deviation (MAD) and correlation median. The new method is first evaluated in a simulation study and then on real data sets. The algorithm requires considerably less computational time than other procedures already existing in literature, it works well for huge compositional data sets at any level of contamination. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Background: American Indians and Alaskan Natives (AI/AN) are a highly diverse group in terms of culture and language, but share a history of oppression and attempted extermination that has left many with a legacy of poverty and poor health. Cultural and biological survival are important issues for many AI/AN groups. Methods: Using US criteria, AI/AN groups are more likely to be poor. The US National Center for Health Statistics reports that US AI/ANs have higher mortality and morbidity rates than the US population. While all groups racially defined by the US National Center for Health Statistics have been experiencing a decline in fertility since 1983, AI/ANs seem to be suffering a substantially greater and earlier decline in fertility. Given the importance of fertility in the survival of AI/AN communities, it is important to identify the source of this decline. Results: A recent study of one AI/AN group living along the St. Lawrence River found that obesity and exposure to a particular group of polychlorinated biphenyls were the factors most highly associated with indicators of impaired fertility. Economic factors are often cited as reasons for fertility declines, however in this situation these other factors may have either primary or contributing roles. Conclusions: If the associations with obesity and toxicant exposure are confirmed, intervening on these factors might be important steps in stemming continued declines in fertility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper documents the numerical investigation of the effects of non-uniform magnetic fields, i.e. magnetic-ribs, on a liquid–metal flowing through a two-dimensional channel. The magnetic ribs are physically represented by electric currents flowing underneath the channel walls. The Lorentz forces generated by the magnetic ribs alter the flow field and, as consequence, the convective heat transfer and wall shear stress. The dimensionless numbers characterizing a liquid–metal flow through a magnetic field are the Reynolds ( Re ) and the Stuart ( N ) numbers. The latter provides the ratio of the Lorentz forces and the inertial forces. A liquid–metal flow in a laminar regime has been simulated in the absence of a magnetic field ( Re H = 1000, N = 0), and in two different magnetic ribs configurations for increasing values of the Stuart number ( Re H = 1000, N equal to 0.5, 2 and 5). The analysis of the resulting velocity, temperature and force fields has revealed the heat transport phenomena governing these magneto-hydro-dynamic flows. Moreover, it has been noticed that, by increasing the strength of the magnetic field, the convective heat transfer increases with local Nusselt numbers that are as much 27.0% larger if compared to those evaluated in the absence of the magnetic field. Such a convective heat transfer enhancement has been obtained at expenses of the pressure drop, which increases more than twice with respect to the non-magnetic case. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to investigate sperm DNA damage induced by chemo- and radiotherapy in patients with testicular cancer to provide data on the extent and persistence of nuclear damage that might affect individual reproductive potential. We evaluated pre- and post-antineoplastic treatment sperm DNA integrity, expressed as DNA Fragmentation Index ( DFI), in a large caseload of testicular cancer patients by sperm chromatin structure assay. The mean total DFI for all patients at T0 was 18.0 ± 12.5%. Sperm chromatin profile was markedly impaired at T3 (27.7 ± 17.4%) and T6 (23.2 ± 15.3%), improving considerably at T12 and T24 (14.0 ± 8.9% and 14.4 ± 10.3%). After chemotherapy, we found a marked increase in DFI at T3 and T6 and a significant reduction at T12 and T24 in comparison with the baseline. In contrast, DFI increased at T3 and T6 after radiotherapy but the subsequent reduction was far less marked, reaching baseline values at T12 and T24. Finally, post-treatment DNA damage was not age or histotype dependent, but was more marked in the advanced stage of cancer. In this study, we showed that the chromatin profile may be affected in the months immediately following the end of the treatment, improving after 12-24 months. Our results thus indicate that post-treatment DNA damage is influenced both by the type and intensity of the therapy and by the pathological and clinical stage of the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food production significantly contributes to consumption of resources and presents remarkable environmental impacts to be evaluated through a life cycle approach. The present paper aims to present and discuss the results of a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) performed on 13 tomato based products (tomato purée, chopped tomatoes and peeled tomatoes in tomato juice) produced in Italy by a Group representing one of largest agri-food industry European companies. The environmental hotspots of the whole supply chains of the investigated products have been identified and technical and managerial solutions have been defined. Agricultural phase and packaging production resulted to be the life-cycle stages with the highest impact in all the considered categories. The identified improvement options related to packaging subsystem are the reduction of weight and the switch to different packaging materials. Other improvement options can be adopted in the cultivation phase, such as use of organic fertilizers or inorganic fertilizers with lower nitrogen and phosphorus content, crop rotation and use of efficient irrigation systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a patient with a lesion of the right amygdala and temporal pole who had the characteristics of the gourmand syndrome, sensory and hedonic testing was performed to examine the processing of taste, olfactory, and some emotional stimuli. The gourmand syndrome describes a preoccupation with food and a preference for fine eating and is associated with right anterior lesions. It was found that the taste thresholds for sweet, salt, bitter, and sour were normal; that the patient did not dislike the taste of salt (NaCl) at low and moderate concentrations as much as age-matched controls; that this also occurred for monosodium glutamate (MSG); that there were some olfactory differences from normal controls; and that there was a marked reduction in the ability to detect face expressions of disgust. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Infections with Trichuris trichiura and other trichurid nematodes have been reported to display protective effects against atopy, allergic and autoimmune diseases. The aims of the present study were to investigate the immunomodulatory properties of T. trichiura adult worm extract (Tt E) and its fractions (Tt EFs) on the production of cytokines by peripheral blood mononuclear cells and to identify their proteinaceous components. Fourteen Tt EFs were obtained by ion exchange chromatography and tested for effects on cytokine production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells. The molecular constituents of the six most active fractions were evaluated using nano- LC/mass spectrometry. The homology between T. trichiura and the related nematode Trichinella spiralis was used to identify 12 proteins in Tt EFs. Among those identified, fructose biphosphate aldolase, a homologue of macrophage migration inhibitory factor and heat-shock protein 70 may contribute to the immunomodulatory effects of Tt EFs. The identification of such proteins could lead to the development of novel drugs for the therapy of allergic and other inflammatory diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Infrared thermography has been employed to carry out a detailed convective heat transfer measurements at Re = 20,000 in a two-pass square channel both for the static case (absence of channel rotation) and for the rotating case ( Ro = 0.3). At the same time, the main and secondary flow fields have been measured by means of particle image velocimetry with the aim to investigate how the flow behavior affects the local distributions of the convective heat transfer coefficient for the two cases. The normal-to-wall velocity component ( w) and the turbulent kinetic energy, both measured close to the heat exchanging wall, have been used to formulate an empirical heat transfer correlation within an attempt to identify the role performed by these two quantities on the convective heat transfer coefficient distributions. The latter ones have been reported in terms of normalized Nusselt number ( Nu/Nu*) maps, where Nu* is the Nusselt number evaluated with the classical Dittus-Bölter correlation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Zoledronic acid (ZA) reduces locoregional and distant metastases in estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast cancer patients. Since ZA rapidly concentrates in the bone following i.v. administration, we hypothesized that this phenomenon involves the mechanism of action of ZA in bone tissue. Materials and methods: Migration assays were carried out in fibronectin-coated Boyden chambers. Activation of signaling proteins was analyzed with a phosphoprotein array. Chemokines and growth factors were measured by immunoassays and real-time PCR. Results: ZA significantly reduced in bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) the activation of AKT and mitogen-activated protein kinase and their ability to migrate. Conditioned medium (CM) from ZA-treated MSCs showed a reduced capacity to promote the migration of ER-positive MCF-7 breast cancer cells as compared with CM from untreated MSCs. The levels of the chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 5 (CCL5, also known as RANTES - Regulated upon Activation, Normal T-cell Expressed, and Secreted) and interleukin (IL)-6 were significantly reduced in MSC-CM following treatment with ZA. Anti-RANTES and anti-IL-6 antibodies almost completely abolished the migration of MCF-7 cells induced by MSC-CM. Recombinant RANTES and IL-6 significantly induced MCF-7 cell migration and their combination showed a cooperative effect. Similar results were observed in different breast cancer cell lines. Conclusion: ZA might exert its antitumor activity by inhibiting MSC migration and blocking MSCs’ secretion of factors involved in breast cancer progression. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Maintenance of adequate drug concentration at the site of infection is an important problem in mastitis antibiotic therapy, and the efficacy of intramammary β-lactams can be optimized by maintaining the drug concentration at the site of infection above the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) as long as possible. The most important pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic parameter for efficacy evaluation is time during which drug concentrations exceed the MIC (t > MIC). In this study, we assessed the pharmacokinetic profile of cefquinome (CFQ) after repeated intramammary administration in healthy cows and cows subclinically infected with Staphylococcus aureus as well as the MIC of Staph. aureus field strains. In addition, the degree of drug passage was investigated from udder to bloodstream by measuring systemic drug absorption in healthy and infected animals. Cefquinome concentrations were quantified by HPLC (UV-visible detection) in milk samples collected from quarters and from blood serum samples. The systemic drug absorption was negligible in healthy and subclinically infected animals (maximum concentration 0.09 ± 0.02 and 0.1 ± 0.01 µg/mL in healthy and subclinically infected animals, respectively). The MIC90 value for CFQ in Staph. aureus field strains (n = 20) was 0.24 µg/mL. The pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic evaluation, determined by t > MIC, showed an equal persistence of CFQ in all quarters, indicating an equivalent activity of the drug regardless of the pathological status of the udder. Moreover, with literature data regarding CFQ MIC, the t > MIC has been calculated for other bacterial species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This work deals with the aflatoxins M1 detoxification of bovine milk by adsorption processes. Several types of natural and industrial sorbents have been analyzed by considering their effects on the quality of the treated milk and their removal efficiencies. Treated milk characterization tests in terms of organic acids, lactose, chlorides, pH and protein contents show a moderate alteration of the milk properties proportionally with the sorbent dosage. On the other hand, experimental evidences reveal that the highest removal efficiencies (η >90% for AFMs=0.5μg/kg) have been obtained for the activated carbons due to the concurrent effects of high surface area, sufficiently wide micropore size and higher affinity between the AFM molecules and the aromatic structure of the carbons. Also the bentonite shows significant removal efficiency, combined with lower side effects on the treated milk. Therefore, this preliminary analysis shows that an optimization of sorbent dosage should be considered to account for both a reliable detoxification of the milk and for assuring the acceptability of the treated milk in light of its direct reuse for human consumption or as raw material for dairy products. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Chromogranin A (CGA), produced by human and rat myocardium, generates several biologically active peptides processed at specific proteolytic cleavage sites. A highly conserved cleavage N-terminal site is the bond 64-65 that reproduces the native rat CGA sequence (rCGA1-64), corresponding to human N-terminal CGA-derived vasostatin-1. rCGA1-64 cardiotropic activity has been explored in rat cardiac preparations. In Langendorff perfused rat heart, rCGA1-64 (from 33 nM) induced negative inotropism and lusitropism as well as coronary dilation, counteracting isoproterenol (Iso) - and endothelin-1 (ET-1) -induced positive inotropic effects and ET-l-dependent coronary constriction, rCGA1-64 also depressed basal and Iso-induced contractility on rat papillary muscles, without affecting calcium transients on isolated ventricular cells. Structure-function analysis using three modified peptides on both rat heart and papillary muscles revealed the disulfide bridge requirement for the cardiotropic action. A decline in Iso intrinsic activity in the presence of the peptides indicates a noncompetitive antagonistic action. Experiments on rat isolated cardiomyocytes and bovine aortic endothelial cells indicate that the negative inotropism observed in rat papillary muscle is probably due to an endothelial phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-dependent nitric oxide release, rather than to a direct action on cardiomyocytes. Taken together, our data strongly suggest that in the rat heart the homologous rCGA1-64 fragment exerts an autocrine/paracrine modulation of myocardial and coronary performance acting as stabilizer against intense excitatory stimuli. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Neophobia is an innate response that can be defined as the reluctance to consume novel-tasting substances. The differential effect of previous aversive and nonaversive taste memory on a subsequent neophobic response was studied in young-adult (Experiment 1) and aged rats (Experiment 2). Surprising, a previous nonaversive taste experience eliminated the subsequent neophobic response to a solution of 1% sodium chloride (NaCl) in young-adult and aged rats. This result is interpreted as a generalization of the previous safe taste memory and the emotional responses that might be induced when a new taste is presented. However, a differential effect associated with aging was found for a previous aversive taste memory induced with a low dose of lithium chloride (0.15 M; 1% b.w.). While in young-adult rats this aversive taste memory did not change the neophobic response to an NaCl solution, in aged rats this memory potentiated the subsequent neophobic response to NaCl. This result is interpreted as an increase in the generalization of aversive taste memory and the emotional responses associated with aging. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Peanut allergy is one of the most serious food allergies. The major peanut allergens are designated Ara h 1, Ara h 2 and Ara h 3. A previously unidentified ara h 3-related cDNA, ara h 3-im, was isolated and its corresponding protein product confirmed in peanut seed by N-terminal sequencing. Ara h 3-im is distinct from other related allergens in having a novel N-terminal sequence, lacking two potential N-glycosylation sites, missing most of the fourth IgE-binding epitope found in Ara h 3, and having a different predicted three-dimensional structure. Immunoblotting showed that the 36kDa Ara h 3-im polypeptide was not recognized by IgE from the sera of peanut sensitive patients that recognized other major peanut allergen polypeptides. ara h 3-im is a new peanut arachin gene that encodes an expressed protein in peanut seed, Ara h 3-im, that shares features with other 11S globulin genes. Initial results indicate that Ara h 3-im has potentially lower allergenic properties than previously characterized peanut allergens which may aid in the production of a hypoallergenic peanut. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The effects of atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition on organic matter decomposition vary with the biochemical characteristics of plant litter. At the ecosystem-scale, net effects are difficult to predict because various soil organic matter (SOM) fractions may respond differentially. We investigated the relationship between SOM chemistry and microbial activity in three northern deciduous forest ecosystems that have been subjected to experimental N addition for 2 years. Extractable dissolved organic carbon (DOC), DOC aromaticity, C : N ratio, and functional group distribution, measured by Fourier transform infrared spectra (FTIR), were analyzed for litter and SOM. The largest biochemical changes were found in the sugar maple–basswood (SMBW) and black oak–white oak (BOWO) ecosystems. SMBW litter from the N addition treatment had less aromaticity, higher C : N ratios, and lower saturated carbon, lower carbonyl carbon, and higher carboxylates than controls; BOWO litter showed opposite trends, except for carbonyl and carboxylate contents. Litter from the sugar maple–red oak (SMRO) ecosystem had a lower C : N ratio, but no change in DOC aromaticity. For SOM, the C : N ratio increased with N addition in SMBW and SMRO ecosystems, but decreased in BOWO; N addition did not affect the aromaticity of DOC extracted from mineral soil. All ecosystems showed increases in extractable DOC from both litter and soil in response to N treatment. The biochemical changes are consistent with the divergent microbial responses observed in these systems. Extracellular oxidative enzyme activity has declined in the BOWO and SMRO ecosystems while activity in the SMBW ecosystem, particularly in the litter horizon, has increased. In all systems, enzyme activities associated with the hydrolysis and oxidation of polysaccharides have increased. At the ecosystem scale, the biochemical characteristics of the dominant litter appear to modulate the effects of N deposition on organic matter dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two hundred and six samples of alpine marmot ( Mamota marmota ) hair (148 from adults and 58 from young subjects), 102 soil samples from the entrances to the burrows of the above individuals and 20 control specimens (obtained from adjoining areas away from the burrow systems where the rodents are not usually present) were examined from May 1994 to September 1997. Seventy-five isolates belonging to six species of dermatophytes were found in 69 of the 206 hair samples examined (33.5%). Two species were zoophilic, Microsporum canis (7.8%) and Trichophyton mentagrophytes (11.2.%), and four geophilic, Microsporum cookei (2%), M. gypseum (5.8%), Trichophyton ajelloi (3.9%) and T. terrestre (5.8%). The prevalence of each species in the hair samples did not change significantly according to year, season (chi-squared test [limit significance: P? 0.05] both in year and in season comparison) or age/sex (adult versus juvenile: P?=? 0.1; male versus female: P =0.8) of the marmot. Twenty-three of the 102 soil samples (22.5%) were positive for dermatophytes found in the hair of marmots from the same burrow systems. Five of the 20 control soil samples (25%) were positive for dermatophytes. One isolate of M. gypseum , three of T. terrestre and one of T. mentagrophytes were obtained. Compared with other free-ranging rodent hosts studied in Europe, this mycoflora is characterized by the presence and relatively high prevalence of M. canis , frequently reported in symptomatic and asymptomatic cats, dogs and fur animals. M. canis has not been isolated in other rodents in the wild. However, it has recently been reported in asymptomatic foxes ( Vulpes vulpes ) from northern Italy. The close link between V. vulpes and M. marmota , with the former representing the most important mammal predator of the latter in the Alps (only a fraction of the predator's attacks result in the death of the rodent) may have favoured the adaptation of M. canis to this rodent host. The stable character of the M. canis/M. marmota relationship (no seasonally or annually related difference in the prevalence of this dermatophyte has been found) suggests the inclusion of the alpine marmot in the reservoir of this zoophilic pathogenic agent. In this situation, hibernation in labyrinthine burrow systems, where temperature and moisture ranges are quite uniform the whole year round, may favour the viability of M. canis arthroconidia, whose survival in mountain habitat might otherwise be compromised. This seems to be confirmed by the fact that the fungus has never been found in the control samples collected at a distance of 300 m from the outer edge of the sampled burrow systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large regions of temperate forest are subject to elevated atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition which can affect soil organic matter dynamics by altering mass loss rates, soil respiration, and dissolved organic matter production. At present there is no general model that links these responses to changes in the organization and operation of microbial decomposer communities. Toward that end, we studied the response of litter and soil microbial communities to high levels of N amendment (30 and 80 kg ha-1 yr-1) in three types of northern temperate forest: sugar maple/basswood (SMBW), sugar maple/red oak (SMRO), and white oak/black oak (WOBO). We measured the activity of extracellular enzymes (EEA) involved directly in the oxidation of lignin and humus (phenol oxidase, peroxidase), and indirectly, through the production of hydrogen peroxide (glucose oxidase, glyoxal oxidase). Community composition was analyzed by extracting and quantifying phospholipid fatty acids (PLFA) from soils. Litter EEA responses at SMBW sites diverged from those at oak-bearing sites (SMRO, BOWO), but the changes were not statistically significant. For soil, EEA responses were consistent across forests types: phenol oxidase and peroxidase activities declined as a function of N dose (33-73% and 5-41%, respectively, depending on forest type); glucose oxidase and glyoxal oxidase activities increased (200-400% and 150-300%, respectively, depending on forest type). Principal component analysis (PCA) ordinated forest types and treatment responses along two axes; factor 1 (44% of variance) was associated with phenol oxidase and peroxidase activities, factor 2 (31%) with glucose oxidase. Microbial biomass did not respond to N treatment, but nine of the 23 PLFA that formed >1 mol% of total biomass showed statistically significant treatment responses. PCA ordinated forest types and treatment responses along three axes (36%, 26%, 12% of variance). EEA factors 1 and 2 correlated ne... [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present work describes the application of an antibody based biosensor for the determination of Escherichia coli cells in vegetable food. The presence of E. coli as a bioindicator of bacterial contamination—faecal one in particular—was detected using the potentiometric alternating biosensing (PAB) system based on a light addressable potentiometric sensor (LAPS) transducing element, detecting pH variations due to NH3 production by an urease–E. coli antibody conjugate.Commercial samples of vegetable—lettuce, sliced carrots, and rucola—were washed with peptone water at pH 6.8, blended either in a stomacher or in a sonicator, to detach bacterial cells and to recover them in the liquid medium. This liquid phase was analyzed both by PAB system and conventional colony forming units (CFUs) methods. The proposed PAB system appears to be very sensitive and fast, in comparison with conventional methods: concentration of 10 cells/ml were detected in an assay time of ca. 1.5 h, showing detection time from 10 to 20 times shorter than the conventional CFU procedure. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In the present paper, we describe a biosensor for the detection of bacterial contamination in drinking water based on an immunoassay test. The biological component was made by a rabbit polyclonal antibody obtained utilising an environmental strain of Escherichia coli, DH5α. This strain, showed a capsular protein pattern typical of this species. Cells present in water samples were detected by a complete potentiometric alternating biosensor (PAB). The PAB system consists of a measuring chamber, acquisition and driving electronics and the appropriate software: the apparatus is computer controlled in order to obtain on-line acquisitions and recording of data. The transducer principle is based on a light addressable potentiometric sensor (LAPS) technology which, in our case, reveals the production of NH3 by a urease–E. coli antibody conjugate. The proposed system appears to be very sensitive and fast, in comparison with conventional methods: concentrations of 10 cells per ml were detected in an assay time of ca. 1.5 h. No signals were detected from other potential water polluting bacteria, such as Pseudomonas marina and Sphaerotilus natans and also from bacteria such as Klebsiella oxytoca phyletically related to E. coli. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Compares the capacity of adult and young true parrots Amazona aestiva to digest seeds that are normally included in their diet in captivity, particularly soybean, sunflower and corn. Description of the populations, digestive physiology and nutritional necessities of the true parrot; Effect of age on the digestibility of nutrients; Difference in nutrient digestibility among diets.

Several authors have reported an association between mutations of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator gene (CFTR) and chronic pancreatitis. CFTR gene transcription and protein efficiency are influenced by two polymorphic loci, (TG)m and M470V, other than the T5 allele, whose role is already well-established. The TG11/T5 haplotype is commonly found in healthy subjects, while the TG12/T5/V470 and TG13/T5/V470 haplotypes are present in congenital bilateral absence of the vas deferens (CBAVD) patients. While the T5 allele is a mutation that is over-represented in patients with chronic pancreatitis, no data are available concerning the possible allelic preference at the other two polymorphic loci, (TG)m and M470V, in these patients. For this reason, we screened 39 patients with chronic pancreatitis for the most common CFTR mutations found so far in the Italian population; in addition, we examined the length of the polypyrimidine (poly-T) tract in intron 8, the (TG)m length and the M or V codon at position 470. CFTR mutations were found in 3 patients. Poly-T variant typing identified genotype T5/T7 in 5 patients and T5/T9 in 1 patient. Direct sequencing of intron 8 in patients with the T5 variant revealed the TG12/T5/V470∥TG11/T7/V470 genotype in 5 patients and TG10/T9∥TG11/T5 genotype in 1 patient. In patients with chronic pancreatitis, the T5 allele is frequently associated with TG12 and V470, a haplotype already reported in CBAVD cases and quite uncommon in healthy subjects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies the effect of nonselective electrolytic lesions of the rat dorsal hippocampus on the L.J. Kamin blocking effect and latent inhibition of taste aversion learning. Selective impairment of blocking induced by 1 saccharin-lithium chloride pairing previous to 1 serial compound-lithium pairing; Absence of effect on latent inhibition of saline aversion.

A dual-fed slot ring antenna with improved ultra-wideband behaviour for diversity applications is presented. The geometry of the antenna and its radiation parameters are given, and the diversity performance in a multipath propagation channel is investigated in terms of envelope correlation coefficient using measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Changes in the auditory contextual background affects taste learning similarly than physical properties of the environment. • The results demonstrate that this auditory context modulation of AN involves changes of the D1 dopamine receptors activity. • These results open research to explore the neural mechanisms of memory storage beyond spatial information processing. Taste recognition memory in rodents is evident as taste neophobia disappears upon repeated taste exposures without aversive consequences, thus increasing the consumption of familiar edibles. The attenuation of taste neophobia (AN) induced by taste familiarity is auditory context-dependent in mice since neophobia to a familiar taste reappears with a novel auditory background. This effect depends on the integrity of the dorsal hippocampus but the potential role of dopamine has remained unexplored. In order to explore the involvement of dopamine through D1 dopamine receptors in AN, C57BL/6 mice were exposed to a 3% vinegar taste solution for 10 min throughout several consecutive days. An experimentally-controlled auditory background was used to define a context, which could either change or remain constant throughout all the drinking sessions. Systemic administration of the D1 dopamine receptor antagonist SCH-23390 induced a similar effect to that of an auditory context change while it was kept constant and systemic administration of SKF-81297 prevented the contextual modulation of AN when the auditory context changed. Additionally, SCH-23390 injection on the following day to the auditory context change further impaired AN, thus suggesting the relevance of dopamine in the consolidation of the context dependency of taste recognition memory. We conclude that the context dependency of the AN involves dopaminergic activity mediated by D1 receptors which might be responsible for proper acquisition of safe taste recognition memory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report a large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma arising in the ampulla of Vater. The patient, a 74-year-old woman, presented with a 3-cm ulcerated mass located in the ampullary region. She died of disease 8 months after surgery. Microscopically, the tumor was extensively necrotic. It was composed of islands and trabeculae irregularly infiltrating the muscular wall of the duodenum. Neoplastic cells were large and had a high mitotic index. Immunohistochemically, they expressed cytokeratin, chromogranin, synaptophysin, and neuron-specific enolase. Large cell neuroen-docrine carcinoma is very rare in the ampulla of Vater, and it shares with its more common pulmonary counterpart same morphology and probably the same poor prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Distance-based techniques in detecting outliers appears to be an effective tool in both univariate and multivariate data. However, the effectiveness of the same is yet to be firmly established in categorical data as it poses challenges due to polarization of cell frequencies. The purpose of this paper is to evolve a new distance-based measure to detect outliers in two-dimensional contingency tables. The new distance measure based on pivotal element is evaluated through a comparison with other suitable distance measures from the literature for its performance. The consistency of the four distance measures is examined through a simulation study followed by the application to real datasets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • The PIV technique was used to study a low-speed rotating vapor flow of siloxane D 4. • The adopted seeding method resulted in a satisfactory particle distribution. • The ratio of particle peak intensity to the image noise level is acceptable. • High flow speeds warrant corrections for apparent shifts/blurring of particle images. Abstract This work assesses the feasibility of the planar PIV technique to study the characteristics of a siloxane vapor D 4. Titanium dioxide (TiO 2) seeding particles were used to track the motion around a rotating disk in a low speed flow. Vector fields of natural convection (NC) and a superposition of NC and rotating flow were selected as exemplary cases. The particles were capable of tracing the flow since the calculated Stokes number St is 6.5 × 10 - 5 . The quality of the experimental data is assessed by means of particle seeding density and particle image Signal to Noise ratio (S/N). The final results are deemed acceptable for an accurate assessment of the flow field. Rejected outliers are below 2.3% and the relative uncertainties corresponding to the average velocity fields are below 1%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report here a novel DRB1 allele identified during sequence-based HLA-DRB typing. This allele was detected during routine HLA typing of a patient and his family prior to bone marrow transplantation. The new allele, DRB1*0108, was found in the patient and in a brother. Molecular cloning and sequencing confirmed that the new DRB1 allele is identical to DRB1*0101 at exon 2 except for a single nucleotide substitution at codon 37 (ΤCC→ΤΑC), changing the encoded serine to tyrosine. This position of the β1 domain lies in the floor of the antigen-binding groove and shows the highest polymorphism among DRB1 alleles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compositional data are characterized by values containing relative information, and thus the ratios between the data values are of interest for the analysis. Due to specific features of compositional data, standard statistical methods should be applied to compositions expressed in a proper coordinate system with respect to an orthonormal basis. It is discussed how three-way compositional data can be analyzed with the Parafac model. When data are contaminated by outliers, robust estimates for the Parafac model parameters should be employed. It is demonstrated how robust estimation can be done in the context of compositional data andhowthe results can be interpreted. A real data example from macroeconomics underlines the usefulness of this approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recognition memory is based on the ability to assess the familiarity of a previously encountered stimulus. It can be approached using tests for different sensorial modalities. Excitotoxic lesions of the perirhinal cortex (Prh) were performed in order to assess the relevance of its integrity for object and flavor recognition memory. Object recognition memory was impaired with a 24 h retention interval. Flavor neophobia attenuation was prevented on a second encounter with the tastant. These results support a role of the perirhinal cortex in mediating the transition from novel to familiar, both in object and flavor recognition memory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Protected designation of origin dry-cured hams are the most important productions of the Italian heavy pig industry. Hams capable of minimal seasoning losses produce better quality dry-cured hams. Ham weight loss during the first 7 days in brine (first salting) is highly correlated with the total loss of weight up to the end of seasoning, and it has quite high heritability (0.30-0.61). For these reasons, ham weight loss at first salting has been included as a meat quality trait in the Italian heavy pig selection program. In this work, we carried out a genome-wide association study for this parameter in the Italian Large White pig breed by genotyping 1365 animals with the Illumina BeadChip Porcine SNP60 chip. A total of 44 single nucleotide polymorphisms ( SNPs) had a Pnominal value below 5.0E-04, five of which were below 5.0E-05 and one of them ( ALGA0057985 on chromosome 10) was associated with this trait at a PBonferroni threshold of 0.10. These SNPs identified a total of at least 29 putative QTLs that were located on most porcine autosomal chromosomes. This study provides genomic information that could be useful in dissecting this complex trait by identifying potential candidate genes whose function could contribute to understanding the biological mechanisms affecting meat quality for seasoning aptitude. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We aimed at evaluating extension listing under UNOS status 1 (VA ECMO) and 2 (IABP and percutaneous endovascular device (PED)) with temporary devices. The UNOS thoracic transplant database for adult patients (Age>17years) listed after October 2018 was queried to identify patients listed as status 1 or 2 at anytime during their waiting period. Patients listed with temporary device receiving extension were identified and their waiting list outcomes were evaluated. A total of 15112 patients were listed since October 2018 of which 6533 (43%) were listed as status 2 and 1376 (9%) as status 1 at anytime during their waiting period. Of the status 2 patients 59% had IABP, 15% had PED. Of the status 1 patients, 64% had VAECMO. At least one extension was allowed for 11% VAECMO, 24% IABP and 30% PED patients. The median waiting list duration for extension patients was significantly higher (Table 1). Higher creatinine, Non-ischemic cardiomyopathy and blood group O were major factors associated with extension of status (Table 1). 25% VAECMO, 15% IABP and 12% PED patients downgraded their status to 3 or below. Figure 2 shows waiting list outcomes status 1 and 2 patients with temporary devices. 8% ECMO, 5% IABP and 5% PED patients coverted a durable VAD beyond their allowed period. Irrespective of guidelines, new UNOS heart allocation system allows temporary device patients extension in higher listing statutes and is commonly used by programs and is associated blood group, kidney function and etiology. The temporary device extensions should be re-evaluated by the UNOS committee with more objective criteria for adherence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]