Capillary electrophoresis determination,synthesis, and stability of resveratrol and related 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosides

Because of the health implications of resveratrol and piceid, which are widely present in foods, we focused our attention on the development of a highly efficient methodology for their characterization and measurement. On the basis of our experience in capillary electrophoresis for separation of polyphenolic compounds, we developed a general analytical method for piceid identification which was also applicable to complex natural mixtures such as red wine. In view of its very limited availability from natural sources, we first directed our attention to the development of a synthetic route suitable to produce an adequate amount of polydatin (piceid or resveratrol 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside). The latter was synthesized by a new one-step procedure which afforded the expected product in a good yield. The studied compounds were also investigated for their stability to UV irradiation.     

Evaluation of risk and vulnerability using a Disease Flow Centrality measure in dynamic cattle trade networks

A new method for the calculation of a centrality measure (Disease Flow Centrality, DFC), which takes into account temporal dynamics of livestock movement networks, is proposed. The method is based on a network traversal algorithm which represents an epidemic process more realistically compared with traditional graph traversal algorithms used in the calculation of centrality measures on static networks. The new approach was tested on networks generated from all the registered movements of cattle in Italy in the years 2007, 2008 and 2009 and the results were compared to those obtained by classical centrality measures. The results show that DFC values often differ substantially from those of other centrality measures and that these DFC values tend to be more unstable in time. The DFC offers several advantages for assessing risk and vulnerability of specific holdings and of an entire network, using recent movement data from national livestock databases. Some examples also indicate how the basic approach in the DFC calculation could be expanded into a more complex epidemic model by incorporating weights and how it could be combined with a geo-spatial perspective.     

Combining physiological host range,behavior and host characteristics for predictive risk analysis of Trissolcus japonicus

Halyomorpha halys is an Asian pentatomid that has recently invaded several countries worldwide, where it has become a severe pest. Classical biological control focused on the scelionid egg parasitoid Trissolcus japonicus appears to be the most promising long-term solution. However, non-target risks need to be included in cost/benefit analyses. Physiological host range tests were conducted by offering T. japonicus females a single hemipteran egg for short (2 h) and long (24 h) exposure periods, and recording the behavior and parasitization acceptance/success during the short exposures. Of the 16 different hemipteran species tested in no-choice experiments, 9 species were accepted and suitable for T. japonicus development. Among pentatomids, Palomena prasina and Rhaphigaster nebulosa were accepted at rates comparable to H. halys, while species accepted at lower rates included Acrosternum heegeri, Carpocoris mediterraneus, C. purpeiripennis, Dolycoris baccarum, Piezodorus lituratus and Peribalus strictus. The other 7 hemipterans tested, including two coreids and one reduviid, were never parasitized. The use of a short-term exposure of 2 h revealed no differences with the 24-h exposure that has been widely used in physiological host range testing. Thus, T. japonicus oligophagy observed in other studies was confirmed by using our extremely simplified laboratory protocol. Moreover, the host egg morphology was correlated with the acceptance rates, permitting us to propose a new predictive approach for non-target studies. However, further research with more complex experimental designs that account for environmental conditions is needed to confirm laboratory predictions of host specificity under actual field conditions.

     

Effect of organic-complexed superphosphates on microbial biomass and microbial activity of soil

Organic complexed super-phosphates (CSPs) are formed by the complexation of humic acid (HA) with calcium monophosphate. The aim of this study was to determine whether two CSPs, characterized by different HA concentrations, added to a calcareous soil at an agronomic dose, were able to maintain the phosphorus (P) in a soluble form longer than the superphosphate fertilizer. Another important goal was to verify if CSP could positively influence soil microbial biomass and soil microbiological activities. Organic complexed super-phosphates were capable of keeping a large portion of P in a soluble form under different soil water conditions. In particular, the CSP with the highest organic C content was the most effective product, capable of maintaining, in an available form, the 73 % of the initially added P at the end of the experiment. In addition, it was the most effective in increasing C–CO₂ soil emission, microbial biomass carbon (C) and nitrogen (N), fluoresceine diacetate hydrolysis and activities of alkaline phosphomonoesterase, β-glucosidase and urease. The addition of CSPs to soil probably produced a priming effect, increasing several times C–CO₂ release by the treated soil. The significant correlation (p?<?0.05) between C–CO₂ emission and the amount of C added to soil by CSP suggests that the added HA acted as trigger molecules.     

Two new planting systems for early ripening peaches (Prunus persica L. Batsch): Yield and fruit quality in four low-chill cultivars

Summary

Trees of peach cvs Flordastar, Flordaprince, Flordacrest and Maravilha, low in chill requirement (Flordaprince 150; Flordacrest 350 C.U.), with a short fruit development period (Flordaprince 90; Flordacrest 110 d) and a very early ripening time (Flordastar mid May; Flordacrest first week of June), were planted in Sicily (37° 30′ Lat. N) both in a medium (667 trees per ha) and a high density (2000 trees per ha) plantation system. In the medium density planting system, the trees were trained to a Fusetto, and in the high density to a Y-shape. Both in the Fusetto and Y, the size of the trees was controlled by severe pruning soon after harvest, consisting in the shortening of most of the one year old wood. From mid June to October, the trees of all four cultivars were able to recover a “fruiting canopy”; flower bud density, flower fertility, fruit set, fruit quality and crop efficiency were not affected by the severe summer pruning. Due to the planting density and the pruning, the tree growth was restricted: no platforms or ladders were required to perform the cultivation techniques at the top of the Fusetto nor was the wire-trellis necessary to sustain the Y-shaped trees. To distinguish these training systems from the original ones, Fusetto and Tatura trellis, we called them “dwarfed Fusetto” (dF) and “free standing Tatura” (fsT), respectively. Although production per tree was higher in the dF, due to planting density fsT yielded more per hectare.     

Addressing reproductive stochasticity and grazing impacts in the restoration of a canopy-forming brown alga by implementing mitigation solutions

1. The worldwide decline of marine forests, due to human impacts and climate change, emphasizes the need to develop and implement effective and sustainable solutions to restore these endangered habitats and to re-establish the services they provide.
2. In this study, the ex situ restoration of Gongolaria barbata (=Treptacantha barbata), a Mediterranean subtidal habitat-forming species of brown seaweed, was for the first time implemented in a marine protected area in the Adriatic Sea. Two restoration efforts were performed in 2019. The first was started in winter, after a marine heatwave that triggered early fertility, and the second in spring, when the species usually reproduces.
3. This study aimed to evaluate: (i) the disruptive effects of a thermal anomaly on the reproductive biology and performance in culture of G. barbata; and (ii) the impact of the grazing pressure on juveniles after the outplanting.
4. The first cultivation was more productive than the second, in terms of zygote release and germling growth. To mitigate the low efficiency of the second culture and to avoid prolonged highly demanding maintenance in the mesocosms, the cultivation period was extended outdoors using a structure suspended in the water column.
5. The modular frames conceived for outplanting G. barbata proved to be effective because of their easy operability and low cost. Controlling for herbivorous fish had significant positive effects on both juvenile survival and growth.
6. The outcomes highlighted that an unpredictable climatic event and fish grazing were major threats that impaired the restoration process of G. barbata. These stressors should be considered when developing plans to implement effective large-scale restoration of canopy-forming macroalgae.

     

Role of equine herpesviruses as co-infecting agents in cases of abortion, placental disease and neonatal foal mortality

Herpesviral infections frequently occur in horses. The objective of this study was to investigate the possible association of equine herpesviruses (EHV-1, EHV-2, EHV-3, EHV-4, EHV-5) with other causes of abortion, neonatal mortality or placental disorder. Sixty-seven abortions, 22 stillbirths, 14 cases of neonatal foal mortality and 3 cases of placental disease were investigated for infectious and non-infectious causes. Type-specific nested PCR assays and virus isolation were performed to detect EHV infections. A cause of fetal loss or placental disease was reached in 68 out 116 (58.7 %) cases. Twenty-seven cases were positive for EHV, and 22/27 (81.5 %) were positive for EHV-1 (16 neuropathogenic and 6 non-neuropathogenic strains), 4 (14.8 %) for EHV-2 and 3 (11.1 %) for EHV-5. The association between EHV infections and other etiological agents was statistically significant (two sided P?=?0.002). The odds ratio of EHV DNA associated with other diagnoses, especially with bacterial infection and premature placental separation, was 10.88 (95 % confidence interval: 2.15–55.16). EHV-1 was the main viral cause of pregnancy loss in this study, also associated with other etiological agents, including EHV-2 and EHV-5. The latter viruses in particular need to be more fully investigated to elucidate what role either or both may play as co-infecting agents with other established infectious causes of reproductive disease.     

Reliability evaluation of sampling plan fixed by Council Directive 91/68/EEC for the maintenance of officially brucellosis-free flock status

The European Union (EU) strategy with respect to sheep and goat brucellosis aims to eradicate the infection and achieve officially brucellosis-free (OBF) status in all EU holdings and territories. Council Directive 91/68/EEC of 28 January 1991 states that to maintain OBF status of ovine or caprine holdings located outside an OBF territory, only a representative number of animals need to be tested annually. However, depending on the number of animals in a holding, this testing method risks non-detection of the infection, thereby reducing the efficacy of the brucellosis control plan. The recommended sampling procedure has a low sensitivity for detecting infection in medium-sized flocks; furthermore, the risk of not detecting re-infection in OBF flocks, particularly in territories that have not yet gained OBF status, is also not acceptable. Moreover, in large-sized flocks, the Directive sampling procedure entails taking an excessive number of samples, which can be very expensive. The authors evaluated, by using statistical analyses and a simulation model based on field data, the possible consequences of the current EU strategy. It is suggested that the sampling criteria for the maintenance of OBF status in the EU should be modified and that a statistically based sampling method should be applied instead of the fixed percentage method that is currently in use.