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Recently, great attention has been directed towards the use of essential oils from aromatic plants as antimicrobials and antioxidant in food matrix. Fish is well known to be a high perishable food. Indeed, fish muscle is susceptible to suffer protein and lipid oxidation during frozen storage, which can lead to the development of softening and undesirable volatile molecules. However, the possible inclusion of essential oils in fish feed for preserving fish flesh quality during storage is still unclear. For this reason, the potential protective effects of the incorporation of a dietary essential oil constituted by eucalyptol, carvacrol and thymol, to rainbow trout's (Oncorhynchus mykiss) feed were here investigated. Frozen fish fillets resulting from trout fed the essential oil showed a significant protection of specific muscle proteins against the oxidation produced during frozen storage at –10ºC for 6 months. Essential oil-enriched feed decreased carbonylation of specific myofibrillar (α -actinins-1 and -3, myosin heavy chain, myomesin-1, pyruvate kinase, tropomyosin, troponin-T and actin) and sarcoplasmic proteins (glycogen phosphorylase, creatine kinase, fructose-bisphosphate aldolase A and phosphoglycerate mutase 2). Essential oils also increased actin stability and preserved muscle protein solubility and water holding capacity. In addition, essential oils inhibited the onset of lipid oxidation and rancidity, resulting in frozen fish with superior textural quality and sensory scores. As a final conclusion, the inclusion of essential oils in farmed rainbow trout feed is largely efficient for increasing fish quality and shelf life during frozen storage, mainly through a selective-antioxidant effect on muscle proteins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soya bean is the main protein source in poultry feed but rising prices make an alternative protein source necessary. Insects, such as the black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens), may be an attractive solution for hens, although little information is available on their effect on egg quality. The present study aims to fill this gap by testing the effect of 100% replacement of soya bean with H. illucens larva meal in the diet of Lohmann Brown Classic laying hens for 21 weeks. At the end of the trial, the eggs were characterized for parameters such as weight, colour, proximate composition of albumen and yolk, and content of carotenoids, tocopherols and cholesterol. The fatty acid profile of yolks was also determined. Hens fed the insect-based diet produced eggs (HIM group) with a higher proportion of yolk than the group fed the soya bean-based diet (SBM group). HIM was associated with redder yolks (red index 5.63 v. 1.36) than SBM. HIM yolks were richer in γ -tocopherol (4.0 against 2.4 mg/kg), lutein (8.6 against 4.9 mg/kg), β -carotene (0.33 against 0.19 mg/kg) and total carotenoids (15 against 10.5 mg/kg) than SBM yolks. The fatty acid composition of HIM yolks was almost identical to that of SBM yolks. Finally, HIM yolks contained 11% less cholesterol than SBM yolks. These results suggest that H. illucens larva meal is a suitable total substitute for soya bean meal in the diet of Lohmann Brown Classic laying hens. A sustainable alternative to the plant protein source therefore seems feasible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present research studied the effect of a dietary inclusion with Hermetia illucens larvae meal (Hi) on rainbow trout’s fillets chemical composition. The effect of Hi inclusion in diets on rainbow trout chemical characteristics was evaluated. Trout were fed three different diets: control (C, no Hi inclusion), 25% and 50% of substitution of fish meal with Hi (Hi25 and Hi50, respectively). Fillets were analysed to quantify proximate composition, carbohydrates percentage, colour parameters, nucleotides concentration, fatty acids profile, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and myofibrillar and sarcoplasmic concentrations. Diets did not affect proximate composition. Contrariwise, Hi50 diet decreased fillet yellowness and both substitution percentages affected negatively adenosine monophosphate concentration. Saturated fatty acids, mostly C12 : 0, increased their contents in relation with Hi inclusion at the expense of monounsaturated and polyunsaturated (both n-3 and n-6) fatty acids. Less modifications were reported in VOCs as only heptanal and octanal concentrations were affected, no new compounds appeared in relation with Hi inclusion. No modifications in proteins patterns were shown even if myofibrillar content decreased in trout fed Hi50. The results highlighted that chemical modifications occurred in fillets were related to the chemical composition of the H. illucens meal and to the percentage of inclusion in the diet. Substitution of fish meal with a precisely percentage of H. illucens meal could be a potential future solution in order to decrease the quantity of fish meal used in aquafeeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Telescope detectors have long been studied for their capability of discriminating the type of radiation detected. Silicon is the most widely used material for solid-state detectors. However, in many nuclear physics experiments and medical applications, diamond offers significant advantages due to its outstanding features, such as a near tissue equivalence, high radiation hardness and reliable operation in harsh environments. A monolithic ΔE–E diamond-based telescope was fabricated. The thicknesses of the two detection stages were 2.5 μm and 500 μm for the ΔE and E stage, respectively. The device was characterised by means of IBIC (Ion Beam Induced Charge) analysis at the Ruđer Bošković Institute ion microbeam. The detector, irradiated with different low energy ions ranging from helium to oxygen, showed good homogeneity of the response on a well-defined sensitive volume with a charge collection efficiency close to 100%. The ΔE stage showed a very good linear response on a wide range of LET values in diamond (170–3140 keV/μm). Due to its relatively low thickness, it can be successfully used as a microdosimeter. Time coincidence measurements have demonstrated the diamond telescope capability of discriminating and identifying the impinging ions. However, when the ratio between the energy deposited by the particle in the E stage and in the ΔE stage is small, the response of the E stage was observed to be affected by a cross-talk between the two stages of the device. A method to correct the E response for such effect was developed and successfully applied to the acquired data. • Development of a diamond-based ΔE-E telescope detector. • Detector characterisation by means of IBIC analysis using different low energy ions. • Thicknesses estimation by means of measurements at increasing tilt-angles. • Proof of concept for its simultaneous use as microdosimeter/particle discriminator. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The consequences of slaughter on the formation of lipid metabolites and oxidative stability of fish muscle during long term frozen storage (−10 °C) were evaluated using farmed rainbow trout killed by asphyxia in air or percussion. The level of major adenine nucleotides and their related compounds was determined in order to check the stress level during slaughter. Plasma lipid metabolites were studied through the determination of eicosanoids and docosanoids such as prostaglandins, leukotrienes, thromboxanes, isoprostanes, resolvins, hydroxides, hydroperoxides, coming from eicosapentaenoic (EPA), arachidonic (ARA), and docosahexaenoic (DHA) acids. In addition, lipid oxidative stability of fillets was monitored. Results revealed that stress during slaughter can greatly influence oxidative stress and oxidative stability of rainbow trout fillets. In fact, asphyxia, which was the most stressful, induced a higher production of some lipid mediators such as hydroperoxides and EPA-derived prostaglandins, such as 12-HpHEPE/15-HpHEPE and PGD 3 /PGE 3 . As a consequence, fillets derived from asphyxiated fish were less stable in terms of oxidative stability and showed lower shelf-life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Two, replica symmetry breaking specific, quantities of the Ising spin glass — the breakpoint of the order parameter function and the Almeida–Thouless line — are calculated in six dimensions (the upper critical dimension of the replicated field theory used), and also below and above it. The results confirm that replica symmetry breaking does exist below , and also the tendency of its escalation for decreasing dimension continues. As a new feature, has a nonzero and universal value for at criticality. Near six dimensions we have . A method to expand a generic theory with replica equivalence around the replica symmetric one is also demonstrated. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Aim: The aim of our pilot study is to report the efficacy of granulocytapheresis in patients with acute ulcerative colitis with respect to the use of conventional corticosteroids such as methylprednisolone. Methods: The activity of disease was evaluated by clinical activity index and endoscopic index. Forty patients with acute ulcerative colitis were randomly divided in two groups of 20 subjects each: one group was treated with five sessions of granulocytapheresis, the other one with methylprednisolone for 5 weeks. Complete response was defined as clinical activity index lower than 6 and endoscopic index lower than 4 after 6 weeks of follow-up. Partial response was defined as clinical activity index lower than 6 but endoscopic index more than 4 after 6 weeks of follow-up. All the conditions not included are classified as nonresponders. Results: All the patients completed the trial. Complete clinical response was observed in 70% of patients treated with granulocytapheresis versus 60% of patients treated with methylprednisolone. A partial response was observed in 20% of patients treated with granulocytapheresis versus 15% of patients treated with methylprednisolone. During the sessions of granulocytapheresis only a transient mild headache was recorded in 10% of patients, while side effects were more common (50%) in the patients treated with methylprednisolone. Conclusion: Granulocytapheresis represents a new and promising approach to active ulcerative colitis. In fact, even if more expensive than conventional corticosteroids, it seems slightly more effective and, above all, with side effects much less frequent and serious. Thus, granulocytapheresis cycles could be prolonged or repeated, if necessary, in more severe diseases without significant risks for the patients. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]