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Stress, inflammatory response, and their relationship were investigated in Simmental cows during the transition period (N = 8; 5 multiparous and 3 primiparous) and in their calves (N = 8; 5 heifers and 3 bulls). From cows, blood was collected at days -21 (±4), 0, +1, +7, and +21 days relative to calving. From calves, blood was collected after birth before colostrum intake (0) and then at 1, 7, and 15 days of age. Cortisol, Interleukin 6 (IL-6) and haptoglobin concentration was assessed by ELISA technique; white blood cells (WBC) were assessed using an ADVIA 2120 Hematology System machine. One-way ANOVA showed an effect of time for all the investigated parameters (P 0.001) except for lymphocytes in peripartal cows. At calving and 1 d after, cortisol concentration was negatively correlated with levels of IL-6, WBC, and monocytes, whereas levels of IL-6 were positively correlated with WBC, neutrophils, and monocytes count. Cortisol, IL-6, haptoglobin, WBC and all leukocyte populations were affected by the age of neonatal calves (P 0.001) except for neutrophils. A negative correlation between cortisol and IL-6, neutrophils, monocytes and haptoglobin was found at 15 days of age. A positive correlation between IL-6 and haptoglobin at day 15 of age, and with neutrophils and monocytes at days 7 and 15 of age was found. A positive correlation was obtained between cortisol levels measured in cows around calving and those obtained in calves after birth before colostrum intake (r = 0.83), and between IL-6 concentrations obtained from cows at calving and 1 d after and those obtained in calves at day 1 of age, after the colostrum intake (r = 0.93 and 0.79, respectively). The study suggests that immune function of peripartal cows is in an active state and that, in addition to other well-known factors driving the changes of parameters herein investigated, cortisol could have a role in the immune-modulatory adjustment during peripartum in cows. Furthermore, it can be hypothesized that cortisol is transferred from the cow to newborn calf through the placenta only and not through colostrum, whereas IL-6 levels in calves during the 24 h after birth seem to be influenced by IL-6 values measured in cows around calving due to its transfer through colostrum.

The aim of the present work was to evaluate the influence of exercise on serum homocysteine and oxidative stress in Thoroughbreds during official races. For our study, ten Thoroughbred mares, 5 years old and clinically healthy, were used. The horses were trained to take part in an official 2100 meter race. Reactive oxygen species (dROMs), antioxidant barrier (Oxy-adsorbent), thiol antioxidant barrier (SHp) and homocysteine (sHcy) were investigated. Blood samples, collected from each horse at rest, immediately after the race, and 30 and 180 min after the end of the race, were collected by jugular venipuncture using vacutainer tubes with no additive for the assessment of dROMs, Oxy-adsorbent and SHp by means of a UV spectrophotometer, while serum total Hcy values were determined by high performance liquid chromatography with fluorimetric detection and isocratic elution. Statistical analysis, one way repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA), followed by Bonferroni's test, showed statistical differences (P0.05 was considered statistically significant) for all parameters studied. Moreover, a coefficient of linear correlation (r) was computed for values of dROMs and sHcy for all sampling times but a significant linear regression (r = 0.94) was found only after the race. The variations of sHcy, dROMs, Oxy-adsorbent and SHp during the experimental period considered suggest the important role of oxidative status in the athletic horse. The systematic analysis of oxidative stress and its influence on homocysteine levels contribute to the clinical evaluation and assessment of the athletic performance of the horse.

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the platelet response to different workload in athletic horse and the influence of hydrocortisone on this response. For this purpose, six Sella Italiana gelding athletic horses, ranging in age from 8 to 10 years and clinically healthy, were subjected to four different exercises: horse-walker, treadmill, obstacle course of 1.00 m and obstacle course of 1.25 m. From all the horses, citrated plasma samples were collected at rest, immediately after exercise and 30 min after the end of the exercise to assess the maximum degree of platelet aggregation and the initial velocity of aggregation (slope) after platelet activation with 10 microM ADP and 20 microM ADP. Successively, the effect of 20 minutes pre-incubation with hydrocortisone in ADP-induced aggregation was determined. One-way repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) was applied to determine significant differences due to experimental conditions (P0.05) and, for each sampling time, one-way analysis of variance was applied to determine significant differences due to workload (P0.05). Bonferroni's test was applied for post-hoc comparison. Our results revealed a statistically significant effect of experimental conditions only after obstacle course of 1.00 m and 1.25 m. These findings showed an inhibition of platelet aggregation during different workload in athletic horses that probably represents a protective endothelial mechanism through the production of nitrix oxide, and a kinetic measurement of the reaction that changes in relation to percentage of aggregation. The mechanism of hydrocortisone had no effect on platelet receptor expression in vitro in athletic horses, so it might be useful to evaluate the effect of different anti-inflammatory steroids in order to confirm, or note any differences, with drugs that have the same mechanism of action.

This paper intends to explore the application of Qualitative Risk Analysis in evaluating the risk level associated with several public projects based on urban and peri-urban agriculture as a model of sustainable development of a territory. Therefore, urban agriculture is seen as an experimental model through which we can analyze the interaction between local institutions and citizens, as well as being a marketing tool to promote sustainability aspects linked to the territory. To this end, after a bibliographic review on the Qualitative Risk Analysis and the involvement of stakeholders in decisions relating to the public sector, a valuation of certain projects on the theme of urban and peri-urban agriculture, advanced by the local public Administration will be shown. The analysis proceeds with the classification of projects according to defined risk categories and their graphical representation through probability-impact matrix. The matrix shows that the data scores and the ranking vary significantly for each of the different projects involved. In this respect, the main purpose of this paper is to reveal how the success of a marketing policy based on the concept of sustainable marketing for promoting the territory depends, in many cases, not only on the characteristics of the territory analyzed, but also on the level of "riskiness" associated with the projects. Consequently, the empirical results of the paper can be a guide for public organizations, dealing with a plurality of projects but with limited resources, to assess and to prioritize projects using the level of "riskiness" as a criterion. Furthermore, economic resources could be directed to manage projects after taking into account the relevant risk ranking.

Photoperiodic treatments have been of practical interest in controlling seasonal reproduction in sheep, goats and horses. Melatonin is the principal mediator of the environmental photoperiodic message. To investigate the intra- and inter-subject variability of melatonin 24 h rhythm, ten female Italian Saddle horses (8–10yrs old, mean body weight 525±30 kg), ten female Sarda breed sheep (2–3yrs old, mean body weight 40.5±2.8 kg) and ten female Sarda breed goats (3–4yrs old, mean body weight 38.9±4.1 kg), housed individually in a 4×4 m soundproof box equipped with 50×100 cm opening windows, were subjected to a natural photoperiod of the vernal equinox (sunrise 06:00h; sunset 18:00h). Blood samples were collected from each animal, every 3 h over a 48h period starting at 00:00h of day 1 and ending at 00:00h of day 3. Plasma melatonin concentrations were determined by direct radioimmunoassay (MelatoninDirect RIA, Labor Diagnostika Nord GmbH, Nordhorn, Germany). The application of single cosinor method substantiated a circadian rhythm of melatonin with a nocturnal peak in all studied species. The application of two-way ANOVA on the rhythmic parameters indicated statistically significant differences between the three species in all of the cosinor analysis-derived parameters of MESOR, amplitude, acrophase and robustness of rhythm. Analyses of intra- and inter-subject variability indicate that organization of the melatonin 24h rhythm is characterized by great accuracy of control within and between the individuals of a breed. In conclusion, features of the 24h rhythm of melatonin among species; however, the 24h rhythmicity of melatonin each species showed high stability within the various subjects and within the same subject. These findings must be taken into consideration when applying photoperiod and melatonin treatments for breeding purposes.

The growing presence of Sicilian sustainable wine has pushed the research group to investigate and analyse the consumers' behaviour and their potential willingness to pay a premium price for the wine obtained through sustainable production processes. The analysis of the consumer's behaviour towards the wine made with sustainable production methods is carried out in order to provide potentially useful indications to Italian and in particular Sicilian wine enterprises regarding the production and marketing strategies to undertake in a future perspective. This study shows the result of an empirical investigation on the consumption of sustainable wine in Sicily. Through the Ordered (demographic profile, preference and attitudes), which influence the consumers' choices regarding sustainable wine. The assessment, based on the submission of a questionnaire, has highlighted the willingness to pay a premium price on the part of the 546 consumers interviewed. The study points out that the knowledge of sustainable production methods significantly influences the decision to support a premium price for wine consumption. This attests to the fact that a more attentive and informed consumer is ready to pay more for products obtained according to the principles of environmental sustainability. Keywords: Wine, Willingness to pay, Sustainability, Price

The aim of this study was to evaluate the circadian rhythm of melatonin in horses, sheep, and goats, and to compare this rhythmicity under the same conditions. Five female thoroughbred, five female Sarda sheep, and five female Sarda goats were housed in boxes equipped with an opening window. Animals were kept under a natural photoperiod and indoor ambient temperature (16–20 °C). Blood samples were collected every 2 h over 48 h period. Results showed a circadian melatonin rhythm with a nocturnal acrophase in the three species studied. In sheep and goats, acrophase was observed at about 2 h before respect to horses. All species studied showed a high robustness between rhythm 61.20 ± 7.57 and 83.60 ± 7.26, denoting a high percentage of stationarity of melatonin circadian rhythm. However, we can claim that each species has its own characteristics in melatonin secretion that must be considered in the exploration of circadian clock in different species.