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Snow has a great importance in the Alpine region, affecting different aspects of human life and regulating the hydrological cycle. Snow can be considered as a natural freshwater reservoir, filling up in winter and emptying in spring as the melting season begins. Due to the importance of monitoring snow water equivalent (SWE) for hydropower energy production, the Italian National Electric Board (ENEL) started in 1966 a measurement campaign of snow depth (HS) and snow density. The campaign has been conducted continuously, with a homogeneous methodology, and consistently in time (from 1 February to 1 June and on 15 April) and location. Here, we use this comprehensive dataset to study the climatology of SWE in a wide portion of the Italian alps. We divided the measurement points in six macro-basins and four elevation classes of 500 m, from 1000 m to 3000 m asl. We applied a Moving Average and Running Trend Analysis (MARTA) combined with the Pettitt’s test, finding decreasing trends for both HS and SWE between 1967-2020 and change-points at the end of the 1980s, confirmed by the significant decrease of average HS and SWE in 1994-2020 compared to 1967-1993. The MARTA analysis applied to HISTALP meteorological data highlighted increasing trends for temperature, together with a change-point at the end of the 1980s. We also evaluated the correlation of maximum SWE with NAO and WeMO climatic indexes. Finally, we compared winter accumulation and summer water availability, quantifying the role of SWE in drought events in North Italy (e.g., 2022)., The 28th IUGG General Assembly (IUGG2023) (Berlin 2023)

none 8 no Stressful situations trigger several changes such as the secretion of cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) from the adrenal cortex, in response to ACTH. The aim of this study was to verify whether overstocking during the dry period (from 21±3 d to the expected calving until calving) affects DHEA and cortisol secretion and behavior in Holstein Friesian cows. Twenty-eight cows were randomly divided into 2 groups (14 animals each), balanced for the number of lactations, body condition score, and expected date of calving. Cows in the far-off phase of the dry period (from 60 to 21 d before the expected calving date) were housed together in a bedded pack. Then, animals from 21±3 d before the expected calving until calving were housed in pens with the same size but under different crowding conditions due to the introduction of heifers (interference animals) into the pen. The control condition (CTR) had 2 animals per pen with 12.0m2 each, whereas the overstocked condition (OS) had 3 interference animals in the same pen with 4.8m2 for each animal. On d −30±3, −21±3, −15±3, −10±3, and −5±3 before and 10, 20, and 30 after calving, blood samples were collected from each cow for the determination of plasma DHEA and cortisol concentrations by RIA. Rumination time (min/d), activity (steps/h), lying time (min/d), and lying bouts (bouts/d) were individually recorded daily. In both groups, DHEA increased before calving and the concentration declined rapidly after parturition. Overstocking significantly increased DHEA concentration compared with the CTR group at d −10 (1.79±0.09 vs. 1.24±0.14 pmol/mL), whereas an increase of cortisol was observed at d −15 (3.64±0.52 vs. 1.64±0.46ng/mL). The OS group showed significantly higher activity (steps/h) compared with the CTR group. Daily lying bouts tended to be higher for the OS group compared with CTR group in the first week of treatment. The overall results of this study documented that overstocking during the dry period was associated with a short-term changes in DHEA and cortisol but these hormonal modifications did not influence cow behavior. open Fustini, M.; Galeati, G; Gabai, G.; Mammi, L.E.; Bucci, D.; Baratta, M.; Accorsi, P.A.; Formigoni, A. Fustini, M.; Galeati, G; Gabai, G.; Mammi, L.E.; Bucci, D.; Baratta, M.; Accorsi, P.A.; Formigoni, A.

Oxidative stress caused from in vitro culture contributes to inadequate oocyte maturation which leads to a poor embryo development. Therefore, it is important to protect oocytes and embryos against oxidative stress. This study was aimed at evaluating the effect of Embelin (2,5-dihydroxy-3-undecyl-1,4-benzoquinone), an antioxidant with various pharmacologic activities, on nuclear and cytoplasmic maturation of pig oocytes as well as on steroidogenesis of cumulus cells (CCs). Another objective was to determine the influence of Embelin on developmental competence of pig oocytes as well as the expression levels of three key genes (Nanog, Sox2 and Oct4) involved in the control of pluripotency in parthenogenetically activated embryos. Embelin (0, 10, 20 and 40 μM) was added during in vitro maturation of cumulus oocyte complexes; media of both the first and the second day of culture were collected and assayed for progesterone and estradiol-17β. At the end of the maturation period, the oocytes were fixed (to determine nuclear maturation) or partenogenically activated to evaluate cytoplasmic maturation and genes expression. Embelin did not exert any effect on the proportion of MII oocytes, steroidogenesis of CCs, percentage of embryos that developed to blastocyst stage and the number of blastomeres/blastocyst. Moreover, no significant differences of Oct4, Nanog and Sox2 transcripts were detected in blastocyst stage embryos. In conclusion, Embelin did not influence the reproductive parameters assessed, confirming that it is not possible to predict whether the beneficial effect exerted by an antioxidant in a particular tissue could be present also in another one.

The aim of the study was to investigate the nature and extent of stress in service-dogs by evaluating behavioural stress responses during training. The results indicate that the frequency of stress behaviours shown by police dogs is influenced mainly by the discipline for which the dog is trained.