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Paspalum fasciculatum Willd. ex Flüggé grows in mining soils which are Cd- and Pb-contaminated where it exhibits tolerance to Pb and the ability to extract Pb from these soils. To elucidate tolerance mechanisms to Pb-stress, liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was used to quantify changes in the accumulation of proteins in leaves. We identified 323 proteins involved in primary metabolism and response to biotic or abiotic stresses. Although proteins involved in the processes of photosynthesis and saccharide and energy metabolism presented the greatest amount of down-regulated proteins, the plant was able to maintain photosynthetic functions and obtain energy to sustain the vital balance. P. fasciculatum based their tolerance on increased antioxidant defenses, improving the protection and repair of proteins and transduction signals to coordinate physiological response to Pb-stress. Our results provide important information to understand the tolerance mechanisms in P. fasciculatum and could be important in future molecular studies on the resistance and accumulation of Pb in plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paspalum fasciculatum Willd. ex Flüggé grows in mining soils which are Cd- and Pb-contaminated where it exhibits tolerance to Pb and the ability to extract Pb from these soils. To elucidate tolerance mechanisms to Pb-stress, liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was used to quantify changes in the accumulation of proteins in leaves. We identified 323 proteins involved in primary metabolism and response to biotic or abiotic stresses. Although proteins involved in the processes of photosynthesis and saccharide and energy metabolism presented the greatest amount of down-regulated proteins, the plant was able to maintain photosynthetic functions and obtain energy to sustain the vital balance. P. fasciculatum based their tolerance on increased antioxidant defenses, improving the protection and repair of proteins and transduction signals to coordinate physiological response to Pb-stress. Our results provide important information to understand the tolerance mechanisms in P. fasciculatum and could be important in future molecular studies on the resistance and accumulation of Pb in plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the last decades, cellulose nanoparticles have been widely used to reinforce polymeric materials due to their strength and their wide availability in nature. Cellulose nanoparticles are entirely compatible to reinforce natural polymers, as performed in this study. The effect of rice husk cellulose nanofibers (RHCNF) and bacterial nanocellulose (BNC) on water vapor transfer and mechanical properties was studied in yeast biomass films, made from dispersions at pH 6 and 11. Water vapor permeability was reduced at 5 wt% in both reinforcements in films prepared at pH 11, although their influence was negligible at pH 6. Despite both cellulose nanofibres have similar aspect ratios, Young's modulus, tensile strength, elongation and tensile toughness of films reinforced with BNC were significantly increased with respect to RHCNF films, and both were better than the pure matrix. In this way, the present study provides an interesting contribution regarding the effect of the mentioned nanocellulosic reinforcements on yeast biomass films used for packaging purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leaf cutter ants are one of the most important pests to agriculture and forestry in the Neotropics. One environmentally friendly solution to control them is biological control with the use of conidia of some fungi, such as Beauveria bassiana. We tested several isolates of this fungus (obtained from leaf cutter ants) by inoculating ants from seven colonies of Acromyrmex lundii with 5 × 106 conidia ml-1 suspensions. All the isolates proved to be good controllers, but isolate 5 (B5) was found to be the best performing option, because it caused the death of 92.3% of the ants in 4-5 days. Isolate 7 (B7) was the second-best option and used for comparative purposes. Further assays were performed with the isolate B5 to optimise yield production. Three types of rice (brown, parboiled and white rice), soybean hull and yerba mate (Ilex paraguariensis leaves) were tested as substrates, and following that, different conditions of solid-state fermentation (SSF) were changed so as to select the most productive combination. Among treatments, we selected brown rice as substrate and a temperature of 28°C and 75-85% relative humidity in the SSF chamber because this allowed a production of 6.4 × 108 and 1.2 × 109 conidia of B5 and B7 per gram of final substrate with a 98% and 97.5% of germination, in 10 days, respectively. The differences in yield obtained under the same conditions for both isolates show that yield is isolate-dependent. A description of the customised design of the SSF chamber used is included. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Amyloid beta (Aβ) aggregation and oxidative stress are two of the central events in Alzheimer's Disease (AD). Both these phenomena can be caused by the interaction of Aβ with metal ions. In the last years the interaction between ZnII, CuII, and Aβ was much studied, but between iron and Aβ it is still little known. In this work we determine how three Aβ peptides, present in AD, interact with FeIII‐citrate. The three Aβ peptides are: full length Aβ1‐42, an isoform truncated at Glutamic acid in position three, Aβ3‐42, and its pyroglutamated form AβpE3‐42. Conformation and morphology of the three peptides, aggregated with and without FeIII‐citrate were studied. Besides, we have determined the strength of the interactions Aβ/FeIII‐citrate studying the effect of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid as chelator. Results reported here demonstrate that FeIII‐citrate promotes the aggregation in all the three peptides. Moreover, Aspartic acid 1, Glutamic acid 3, and Tyrosine 10 have an important role in the coordination with iron, generating a more stable complex for Aβ1‐42 compared to that for the truncated peptides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amyloid beta (Ab) aggregation and oxidative stress are two of the central events in Alzheimer's Disease (AD). Both these phenomena can be caused by the interaction of Ab with metal ions. In the last years the interaction between ZnII, CuII, and Ab was much studied, but between iron and Ab it is still little known. In this work we determine how three Ab peptides, present in AD, interact with FeIII-citrate. The three Ab peptides are: full length Ab1-42, an isoform truncated at Glutamic acid in position three, Ab3-42, and its pyroglutamated form AbpE3-42. Conformation and morphology of the three peptides, aggregated with and without FeIII-citrate were studied. Besides, we have determined the strength of the interactions Ab/FeIII-citrate studying the effect of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid as chelator. Results reported here demonstrate that FeIII-citrate promotes the aggregation in all the three peptides. Moreover, Aspartic acid 1, Glutamic acid 3, and Tyrosine 10 have an important role in the coordination with iron, generating a more stable complex for Ab1-42 compared to that for the truncated peptides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conversion of pig slurry to pellets is a desirable fertilizer option for farmers who want to mitigate environmental pollution from slurry accumulation. The goals of the current investigation were to determine the fertilizer properties of pig slurry solid fraction (SF) pellets and to assess its potential to enhance soil properties in order to reduce ammonia (NH3) volatilization and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Various parameters influence SF-based pellet fertilizer effectiveness: bulking agent use during composting, pellet diameter sizing and soil application type (superficially or incorporated into the soil). Two composts from the same pig slurry SF obtained from a screw press separator were prepared: pig SF compost without a bulking agent (SSFC) and pig SF compost with wood chips as the bulking agent (wood chip compost (WCC)). For each compost type, pellets of two different diameters (6 and 8 mm) were produced. A mesocosm experiment, conducted with maize plants, was used to test the fertilizer value of the considered pellets. In total, three compost fertilizers - SSFC, WCC and nitrogen: phosphorus: potassium mineral fertilizer 15:15:15, plus one unfertilized control treatment - were applied at the same N rate (equivalent to 200 kg/ha) using two different methods (surface and soil incorporation). After 65 days, above-ground biomass, roots and soil samples were collected and analysed. Subsequently, a second mesocosm study was undertaken to measure NH3 and GHG emissions released from pellet fertilization. Ammonia volatilization was determined immediately after pellet application, while carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions were monitored for 57 days. Study results indicated that both pellet types were effective slow-release fertilizers for maize. Additionally, three actions seemed to make the nutrients contained in pig SF compost pellets more available to plants: addition of a bulking agent before composting, use of small diameter pellets and soil incorporation of the fertilizer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Technological innovations in agricultural tractors have revolutionised farming, increased labour productivity and reduced operator's hazards. The purpose of this paper is to analyse the relation between agricultural tractors’ technological innovations and farm size, as well as users’ attitude on environmental impact of agricultural tractors according to their age and years of activity in the farm. Results, concerning Italy, highlight that high technological innovations of tractors are associated to larger farms, which are managed professionally by more efficient and sophisticated agricultural machineries. Empirical evidence also shows that the older the tractor adopters are and the longer they have been working in agriculture, the higher is their commitment to environment protection and safe working conditions. These results could be important for critical strategic management implications to spur technological innovation in agricultural tractors that better satisfy farmer's needs and to support the fruitful adoption of innovations for an efficient and safe modern agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article estimates the impact of financial development on industry-level Total Factor Productivity (TFP) growth using a largely unexploited panel of 77 countries with data for 26 manufacturing industries for the years 1965 to 2003. A significant relationship is found between financial development and industry-level TFP growth when controlling for country-time and industry-time fixed effects. The results are both statistically and economically significant. TFP growth can accelerate up to 0.6% per year, depending on the external finance requirement of industries, following a one SD increase in financial development. The results are robust to different samples and specifications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study investigating the comfort aspects of the agricultural tractor workspace interior and presents the views of several operators about the comfort level. It was found that layout of the seat, accessories and controls can affect the operator's perceived comfort. It also provides several guidance for improving the comfort of tractor workspace interiors.

Background: Although depression has been widely studied in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), there is little information on anxiety. Objective: To detect anxiety in patients with ALS and their caregivers, comparing the diagnostic and the follow-up phases of the disease and assessing its impact on quality of life (QoL). Methods: Anxiety has been evaluated with the State and Trait Anxiety Inventory in a series of 75 consecutive ALS patients and their primary caregivers. Anxiety has been related to depression, QoL, and satisfaction with life. Results: In patients, state anxiety was significantly higher during the diagnostic phase, whilst in caregivers it was similar in the two phases. Patients’ state anxiety was related to depression, shorter disease duration and lower satisfaction with life. Caregivers’ state anxiety was related to their trait anxiety. Whilst in patients QoL and satisfaction with life were similar in the two phases, in caregivers there was a significant decrease of satisfaction with life in the follow-up phase. Conclusions: Treating neurologists should recognize that the diagnostic phase and the earlier period after the diagnosis is characterized by a high level of anxiety both in ALS patients and in their caregivers, and should propose pharmacological and psychological interventions to relieve this highly distressing disturbance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To evaluate information preferences and information seeking behaviour in ALS patients and caregivers. Sixty ALS patients and caregivers couples were interviewed using a structured questionnaire about the content of diagnosis communication and their information seeking behaviour. The patients (35 men and 25 women) had a mean age of 63.4 years (SD 9.5). The caregivers (21 men and 39 women) had a mean age of 53.3 years (SD 14.9). The overall satisfaction with bad news communication and the impression that the physician had understood their feelings were higher amongst patients. Both parties indicated that the most important aspects to be informed were current researches, disease-modifying therapies and ALS outcome. Approximately 55% of patients and 83.3% of caregivers searched for information from sources outside the healthcare system. The most frequently checked source was internet, although its reliability was rated low. The caring neurologist should better attune the content of communication to patients’ and caregivers’ preferences, trying to understand what they want to know and encouraging them to make precise questions. Health professionals should be aware that ALS patients and caregivers often use internet to obtain information and should help them to better sort-out and interpret the news they found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The involvement of the synovium is common in phlogistic processes of various joint diseases. A part from synoviocytes and the other cells in the synovial tissue, circulating cells recruited from peripheral blood also participate in the phlogistic process. The increased expression of adhesion molecules on both circulating and endothelial cell surface may further this recruitment. We studied 15 patients affected by serious gonarthrosis requiring a prosthetic implant (GPI) and 7 with knee prosthesis aseptic loosening (KPL) to evaluate adhesion molecule expression and phlogistic infiltration in the synovium using immunohistochemistry and microscopic analysis. As control we studied 10 subjects affected by degenerative meniscopathies undergoing a selective arthroscopic surgical meniscectomy. Analysis with Kruskal-Wallis test showed no statistical significant differences in the expression of CD54, CD11a, CD11b and CD18 in three groups examined. The model of variance analysis (Friedman test), showed that CD54 expression is greater in patients with GPI and KPL in comparison with the other molecules. Adhesion molecules and their functions are important in arthropathies not only because their evaluation can allow us to identify the degree of inflammation and to predict its evolution, but also because pharmacological control of their expression could have important therapeutic implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic Idiopathic Urticaria (CIU) is a cutaneous disorder for which there is no identifiable specific etiologic agent. Some recent evidences suggest that CIU might be an autoimmune disease. We analyzed immunological features occurring in CIU and evaluated effectiveness and tolerance of Cyclospotin A (CsA) treatment in patients unresponsive to antihistaminic treatment. Twenty patients with CIU were recruited after a selective diagnostic protocol and were divided into two groups. CsA was prescribed for group 1 and Prednisone for group 2 as control, for 8 weeks. Before and after the therapy we performed on all patients immunological studies. For all patients symptoms disappeared after a few days of therapy. Before therapy all patients showed activated B cells (CD19+CD23+ cells) and among B CD19+ cells, about 20% were CD5+ (cells that synthesize natural autoantibodies). After treatment with Prednisone in group 2, a significant reduction of CD4+ lymphocytes (p = 0,01) was observed. Our findings might support the CIU autoimmune pathogenetic hypothesis. The clinical remission in the CsA-treated group confirmed the therapeutic effectiveness of this therapy in antihistaminic unresponsive CIU and, at dosage used, side effects were rare, mild and reversible. Thus, CsA might be a good therapeutic alternative in CIU patients unresponsive to conventional treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rainfall is the key factor to understand soil erosion processes, mechanisms, and rates. Most research was conducted to determine rainfall characteristics and their relationship with soil erosion (erosivity) but there is little information about how atmospheric patterns control soil losses, and this is important to enable sustainable environmental planning and risk prevention. We investigated the temporal and spatial variability of the relationships of rainfall, runoff, and sediment yield with atmospheric patterns (weather types, WTs) in the western Mediterranean basin. For this purpose, we analyzed a large database of rainfall events collected between 1985 and 2015 in 46 experimental plots and catchments with the aim to: (i) evaluate seasonal differences in the contribution of rainfall, runoff, and sediment yield produced by the WTs; and (ii) to analyze the seasonal efficiency of the different WTs (relation frequency and magnitude) related to rainfall, runoff, and sediment yield. The results indicate two different temporal patterns: the first weather type exhibits (during the cold period: autumn and winter) westerly flows that produce the highest rainfall, runoff, and sediment yield values throughout the territory; the second weather type exhibits easterly flows that predominate during the warm period (spring and summer) and it is located on the Mediterranean coast of the Iberian Peninsula. However, the cyclonic situations present high frequency throughout the whole year with a large influence extended around the western Mediterranean basin. Contrary, the anticyclonic situations, despite of its high frequency, do not contribute significantly to the total rainfall, runoff, and sediment (showing the lowest efficiency) because of atmospheric stability that currently characterize this atmospheric pattern. Our approach helps to better understand the relationship of WTs on the seasonal and spatial variability of rainfall, runoff and sediment yield with a regional scale based on the large dataset and number of soil erosion experimental stations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary The autologous-serum skin test (ASST) can cause a wheal-and-flare response in some cases of chronic idiopathic urticaria. We subjected 102 patients affected by chronic idiopathic urticaria to this test and studied some clinical parameters to detect any significant differences between ASST-positive and ASST-negative patients. The only significant difference we noted between the two groups was the incidence of angioedema (P = 0.01). We suggest that the ASST cannot be used alone either to predict the severity of urticaria or to define it as ‘autoimmune’. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]