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Sixty-six dairy farms (as average, 167.0 ± 106.5 milking cows and milk yield of 31.4 ± 5.1) were visited to identify different nutritional approaches adopted in dairy cows diet formulation. Forage, TMR, faecal, and milk samples from lactating herds were collected and diet composition, in vitro methane production, in vivo nutrient digestibility, faecal fermentation profile and milk yield and milk quality were characterised. A hierarchical cluster analysis was applied and six nutritional approaches in diet formulation corresponding with six different clusters (CL) were identified. The CL discriminated the farm feeding choices in the following nutritional strategies, based on high use of: (i) high moisture corn (HMC) and legume silage, (ii) compound feed, (iii) corn and soy meals, (iv) HMC and soy meal, (v) corn meal and protein compound feeds, or (vi) HMC and protein compound feed strategies, respectively for CL1 to CL6. The milk yield tended (p =.061) to differ among CL. The greatest (>1.60) feed efficiency was calculated for CL1 and 5, whereas the lowest (<1.45) for CL 2. The CL2 and 5 had the highest feed costs (i.e. 0.24 or 0.22 €/kg of milk, respectively). Interestingly, the high use of HMC or steam flaked corn resulted associated to higher farm performances. Particularly, HMC and legume silage (CL1), HCM and soy meal (CL4) and HCM and protein compound feed (CL6) nutritional strategies resulted more efficient and profitable, having the greatest feed efficiency, protein and starch degradability as well as income over feed costs. Differentiate carbohydrates in dairy cow diets seems highly convenient. Six different nutritional strategies were identified based on use of single ingredients and a great variability in both economic and feed efficiency was observed for dairy farms clustering into different groups The use of high moisture ear corn in substitution of corn meal increased dry matter intake, feed efficiency, milk yield and lactose content of milk, whereas the use of steam flaked corn reduced the faecal fermentations The in vitro methane emission potential of diets did not differ among clustered nutritional strategies [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many of the metrics used to evaluate farm performance are only partial indicators of farm operations, which are assumed to be best predictors of the whole farm efficiency. The main objective of this work was to identify aggregated multiple indexes of profitability using common partial indicators that are routinely available from individual farms to better support the short-term decision-making processes of the cattle-feeding process. Data were collected from face-to-face interviews with farmers from 90 dairy farms in Italy and used to calculate 16 partial indicators that covered almost all indicators currently used to target feeding and economic efficiency in dairy farms. These partial indicators described feed efficiency, energy utilization, feed costs, milk-to-feed price ratio, income over feed costs, income equal feed cost, money-corrected milk, and bargaining power for feed costs. Calculations of feeding costs were based on lactating cows or the whole herd, and income from milk deliveries was determined with or without considering the milk quality payment. Multivariate factor analysis was then applied to the 16 partial indicators to determine simplified and latent structures. The results indicated that 5 factors explained 70% of the variability. Each of the original partial indicator was associated with all factors in different proportions, as indicated by loading scores from the multivariate factor analysis. Based on the loading scores, we labeled these 5 factors as "economic efficiency," "energy utilization," "break-even point," "milk-to-feed price," and "bargaining power of the farm," in decreasing order of explained communality. The first 3 factors shared 83% of the total communality. Feed efficiency was similarly associated with factor 1 (53% loading) and factor 2 (66% loading). Only factor 4 was significantly affected by farm location. Milk production and herd size had significant effects on factor 1 and factor 2. Our multivariate approach eliminated the problem of multicollinearity of partial indicators, providing simple and effective descriptions of farm feeding economics. The proposed method allowed the evaluation, benchmarking, and ranking of dairy herd performance at the level of single farms and at territorial level with high opportunity to be used or replicated in other areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work aims to relate Young's experiment with an experimental technique for periodic structures fabrication known as two-beam interference lithography. The relationship between the experiments was made in terms of intensity distribution, considering a vectorial approach, where the superposition of two plane waves was used as a starting point. Within the limits considered in Young's experiment, the results show that the intensity distribution of both experiments coincide. In addition, this study provides a broader discussion on light interference, particularly the use of this phenomenon in technological applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Molecular dynamic simulations were carried out to analyze the structure of contact ion pairs containing the imidazolate anion and a variety of methyl substituted 1,3-dimethyl-imidazolium cations in chloroform solution. These ionic liquids were studied under the condition of infinite dilution. The study focused on determining the importance and the effect of different methylations at the cation's imidazolium ring. The structural analysis by radial and spatial distribution functions demonstrated that a stable contact pair is formed in chloroform along the entire simulation period. The cations are localized preferentially above or below the anion's plane ring, reflecting contributions of π + - π − stacking interaction between the two aromatic planar ions. The most acidic hydrogen at position C 2 of the imidazolium cation exhibits the strongest structural correlations, at distances within the range of hydrogen bonding, with the imidazolate anion. Methylations at all the cation's ring positions in general weakened the structural correlations. For the methylation at the cation's C 2 , the difference in the free energy of association has been determined from potential of mean-force calculations in the order of 13 kJ/mol favoring the ion pair containing the protonated C 2 atom. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Most studies on probiotics have described their effects on the human immune system after ingestion of LAB, but little is known about their effect on in vitro stimulation of human immune cells. Aim of the study: Evaluate the "in vitro" activity of Lactobacillus paracasei (I 1688), Lactobacillus salivarius (I 1794), and a commercial mix of the two (PSMIX, Proge Farm), on immune cells from healthy individuals. Materials: Two probiotic strains, Lactobacillus salivarius (I 1794; Proge Farm, Italy) and Lactobacillus paracasei (I 1688; Proge Farm, Italy), which are contained in the functional food ENTEROBACILLI, were evaluated for their ability to stimulate peripheral blood mononuclear cells and modulate surface phenotype and cytokine production. Results: All subjects responded to the bacteria, with different levels of response. The cell populations that showed a significant percent increase were CD4+/CD25+ cells (T-helper activated regulatory cells), CD8+/CD25+ (T-suppressor/cytotoxic activated cells), and CD16+/CD56+ (NK cells) (p<0.05). IL-12 and IFN-γ in vitro production significantly increased with exposure to probiotics (p<0.05 for both). Conclusions: This study provides the first evidence that Lactobacillus paracasei and Lactobacillus salivarius are capable of inducing a specific immune response that may be useful in the clinical setting for improving innate and adaptive immune responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In the Southwestern Alps, the summer heat wave in 2003 was associated with unusually large wildfires in European beech forests, a tree species lacking from fire-specific traits and commonly considered as fire sensitive. Although knowledge regarding post-fire dynamics is a prerequisite for restoration measures, there is a considerable lack of studies on post-fire beech regeneration. We assessed the combined effect of fire, masting and salvage logging on natural beech regeneration after a mixed-severity fire in the summer of 2003 in the Italian Alps. The survey took place in 2010 in unmanaged stands and sites logged at different times after the fire. In unmanaged sites with steep and south-exposed terrain fire was severe, tree mortality was prompt and beech failed to resprout or regenerate from seeds. In moderate severity patches, mortality was delayed, permitting abundant beech seedling emergence as the effect of a masting in 2006. The progressive canopy opening provided intermediate light conditions which favoured sapling establishment. In managed sites, the time-lag between salvage logging and the masting affected beech regeneration. Sites logged in winter 2007 soon after the masting displayed higher beech regeneration in comparison to delayed cut or unmanaged stands. Post-fire pioneer species appeared to facilitate beech regeneration. Beech fire traits are discussed and ecologically-based silvicultural guidelines are provided for post-fire management in European beech stands. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Purpose: Lysozyme, obtained from egg white, is a potential food allergen used in the dairy industry to prevent late blowing of the loaf caused by the outgrowth of clostridial spores ( Cl. butyricum and Cl. tyrobutyricum) during cheese aging. The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible correlation between egg protein allergy in pediatric age and sensitization to egg lysozyme, used for the preparation of Grana Padano cheese. Methods: The tolerability of Grana Padano cheese has been evaluated in pediatric patients allergic to egg proteins through an oral provocation test with increasing amounts of cheese containing, or not, lysozyme at 12 and 24 months of aging. Results: When lysozyme-sensitized children received 12-months aged and lysozyme-containing cheese, several immediate and late adverse reactions such as itching, abdominal pain, vomiting, nausea, dermatitis, rhinitis, bronchial asthma, urticaria, and angioedema were seen in 5 out of 21 subjects; only 1 out of 21 children showed an adverse reaction after challenge with 24-months-ripened lysozyme-containing cheese. Conclusions: There is a possible relationship between the severity of allergic reactions and the lysozyme-specific IgE level in blood. In particular vomiting, hypotension, and abdominal pain were present when IgE level was higher than 7 kU/L. A ripening time of 24 months may reduce allergy problems when lysozyme-containing cheese is given to sensitized subjects, probably due to the hydrolysis of antigenic epitopes during aging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Interaction between 5.0 wt.% (Q5) and 20 wt.% (Q20) Yb3+ doped phosphate glasses substrates. • with single layer (1L) and bilayer (2L) graphene by raman spectroscopy. • The interaction is studied in terms of the shifting of the G, 2D and 2D' bands of graphene. • Interaction is higher in 1L than in 2L graphene on more doped substrate (Q20). • Higher quantity of Yb3+ ions increases the interaction. We report the interaction between 5.0 wt.% and 20 wt.% Yb3+ doped phosphate glasses substrates with graphene single layer (1L) and bilayer (2L) by Raman spectroscopy. This interaction is studied in terms of shifting of the G, 2D and 2D' bands of graphene, which is higher in 1L than in 2L graphene on the 20% Yb3+ substrate, in respect to the 5.0 wt.% substrate. Furthermore, changes in the full width at half maximum of the G, 2D and 2D' bands, together with the I 2D /I G ratio, for doped and undoped substrates, reveal this interaction. Additionally, when a single layer graphene is found on the surface of both substrates, some Raman peaks on the less doped sample are absent, whereas they are present on the more doped sample, indicating that the presence of Yb3+ ions increases the interaction between the substrate and the single layer graphene. The reported results give insights about graphene interaction with doped rare earth substrates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the present study is to evaluate the effects of 60-day artichoke leaf extract (ALE) supplementation (250mg, twice daily) on cytokines levels, natural killer cell (NK) response, and lipo-metabolic profile (HDL, LDL, and total-cholesterol, triglycerides (TG), ApoB, ApoA, lipid accumulation product (LAP), glucose, insulin, and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR)) in twenty adults (9/11 males/females, age=49.10 ± 13.74 years, and BMI=33.12 ± 5.14 kg/m2) with low HDL-C and mild hypercholesterolemia. Hierarchical generalized linear model, adjusted for sex, BMI, and age, has been used to evaluate pre-post treatment changes. A significant increase for HDL-C (β=0.14, p=0.0008) and MCP-1 (β=144.77, p=0.004) and a significant decrease for ApoB/ApoA (β=-0.07, p=0.03), total-C/HDL-C ratio (β=-0.58, p<0.001), and NK response at stimulus low (β=0.43, p=0.04), medium (β=0.40, p<0.001), and high (β=0.42, p=0.001) have been found. These results support the benefits of ALE supplementation on metabolic profile. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]