Effects of foliar and fruit addition of sodium selenate on selenium accumulation and fruit quality

BACKGROUND: We investigated the effects of the foliar and fruit application of sodium selenate on selenium (Se) accumulation, fruit growth and ripening in peach and pear. Trials were conducted in two growing seasons. In 2008 selenate was applied at a rate of 0.1 and 1.0 mg Se L^?1 to the leaves of peach. In 2009 selenate was applied at a rate of 1 mg Se L^?1 via foliar (LT) or fruit (FT) application to peach and pear. RESULTS: The foliar addition of selenate to peach resulted in an increase in Se concentration both in leaves and fruit. The higher Se content in fruit resulted in an increase in flesh firmness and a decrease in soluble solid content. LT significantly increased the Se content in the leaves and fruit of peach and pear, and leaves showed the highest Se concentrations. FT increased the fruit Se concentration in both crops, and it was more effective than LT in increasing Se content. After storage, flesh firmness decreased in all treatments, but it was significantly higher in FT compared to LT and control samples. CONCLUSION: Foliar and fruit selenium spraying appeared effective in increasing the Se content of fruit in peach and pear. The enhanced Se concentration affected the shelf life of fruit, delaying the reduction in flesh firmness and fruit ripening, thus positively affecting fruit storage. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry     

DNA barcoding reveals fraudulent substitutions in shark seafood products: The Italian case of “palombo” (Mustelus spp.)

In food safety and traceability, consumers are more and more demanding about composition and provenance of processed seafood products. In the trade of many species, manufacturing alterations usually bring to the loss of any morphological diagnostic features of the species, enhancing the possibility of fraudulent substitutions and incorrect product labeling. In this study, we used a DNA barcoding approach to identify species substitutions cases in shark slices sold in Italy under the vernacular name of “palombo” (that is referred to the triakiids Mustelus mustelus and Mustelus asterias for the Italian regulation). We produced the coxI barcode sequence (550 bp long) for all the analysed specimens, and we compared them with reference sequences from different databases (GenBank and BOLD), using two bioinformatic identification methods, one of them developed in our laboratory. Results showed a high amount of commercial frauds rising the 80% of analysed “palombo” slices and highlighting a relevant economical impact for consumers.     

Preliminary characterisation of peach cultivars for their antioxidant capacity

Eleven peach cultivars (white‐ and yellow‐flesh peaches, nectarines and canning clingstone peaches) were assayed for their antioxidant capacity and their content of some important organic compounds as well as vitamin C, carotenoids and phenols. Antioxidant capacity, determined by FRAP assay, varied between genotypes. Those with the highest value of Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP) were Federica and Springcrest. Antioxidant capacity was correlated to the amount of organic components with significant differences among the cultivars. In some case, antioxidant capacity was related to phenol content, as in yellow–flesh peaches. These results suggest the importance of genotype for determining antioxidant capacity, which, in turn, is related to the organic constituents, such as phenols, vitamin C and carotenoids.     

Machine Vision for Size Distribution Determination of Spherically Shaped Particles in Dense-Granular Beds,Oriented to Pelletizing Process Automation

A machine vision has been devised for determination of the size distribution of spherically shaped pellets in granular beds under static and dynamic conditions. This machine vision involved establishing the optimal distance between the illumination source and the top layer of the granular bed, as well as the development of the data image acquisition software and control systems, I/O interface hardware, and electromechanical system. The size distribution of pellets given by the whole system gives an error lower than 5% for pellets. The size distribution histogram or the Sauter diameter of the pellets given by the vision system is used as the input signal for controlling an electromechanical scanning device, which can be reliably used for automation tasks. The system software was developed for open access on a commercially widely used platform. As the machine vision is robust, it can be used in industrial environments and it has the potential to contribute in improving and optimizing pelletizing industrial processes. This machine vision is reliable, flexible, user friendly, inexpensive, and easy to implement.     

Alpha-interferon treatment of chronic hepatitis C after bone marrow transplantation for homozygous beta-thalassemia

The standard modality of the treatment for the patients with T4 esophageal cancer, whose prognosis still remains quite poor, is not established yet. Salvage surgery for the T4 esophageal cancer following downstaging by neoadjuvant chemo-radiotherapy has become to be available. During the period from 1992 to 96, 30 patients with the suspected T4 esophageal cancer underwent chemoradiotherapy, which consisted of two courses of CDDP/5-FU with-sequential or concurrent 50-60Gy radiotherapy. Among them eleven patients became to be resectable by means of thoracotomy and laparotomy and pathological CRs were obtained in either primary lesions or lymph nodes. The longest survival term following surgery is 36 months. Three patients died of cancer recurrence including the organ metastasis and one died from pyothorax without cancer due to severe immunosuppression attributable to chemoradiation. Our results warrants further studies of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy for the patients with T4 esophageal cancer.     

Computer-algebra systems and electromagnetic problems

This paper presents some computer-algebra systems, and explains how these systems are likely to be relevant in addressing electromagnetic problems. After a historical survey, we discuss the various systems and their features. Some examples are given, with an important bibliography. A listing of Web sites (of interest to the antennas and propagation community) is also given. Finally, we outline how a given problem can be formalized and analyzed using symbolic-algebra systems, and show an example calculation for a conformal-microstrip antenna     

The superiority of pinacidil over adenosine cardioplegia in blood-perfused isolated hearts

BACKGROUND: Our laboratory has shown that the potassium-channel opener pinacidil is an effective cardioplegic agent. A theoretical benefit of cardioplegia with potassium-channel openers is that it arrests the heart at hyperpolarized membrane potentials, a state of minimal metabolic requirement. This study was designed to examine another nondepolarizing agent, adenosine, and to test the hypothesis that it could provide comparable cardioprotection or augment potassium-channel opener cardioplegia. METHODS: Using the blood-perfused Langendorff technique, isolated rabbit hearts were arrested for 30 minutes of global normothermic ischemia. Cardioplegia consisted of either Krebs-Henseleit solution alone (control) or with pinacidil (50 micromol/L), adenosine (200 micromol/L to 1 mmol/ L), or pinacidil + adenosine (200 micromol/L). Recovery of developed pressure and coronary flow were recorded. RESULTS: Postischemic functional recovery for control, pinacidil, adenosine, and adenosine + pinacidil groups was 44.1%+/-3.4%, 59.5%+/-5.2% (p < 0.05 versus control), 37.0%+/-4.5%, and 56.0%+/-2.9%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Adenosine, alone or as adjunct to pinacidil cardioplegia, was not an effective cardioplegic agent, despite shorter times to electromechanical arrest than control. The ineffectiveness of adenosine suggests that the cardioprotective properties of potassium-channel openers involve mechanisms other than the avoidance of membrane depolarization.     

Pharmacogenetics of BCR/ABL Inhibitors in Chronic Myeloid Leukemia

Chronic myeloid leukemia was the first haematological neoplasia that benefited from a targeted therapy with imatinib nearly 15 years ago. Since then, several studies have investigated the role of genes, their variants (i.e., polymorphisms) and their encoded proteins in the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of BCR-ABL1 tyrosine kinase activity inhibitors (TKIs). Transmembrane transporters seem to influence in a significant manner the disposition of TKIs, especially that of imatinib at both cellular and systemic levels. In particular, members of the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) family (namely ABCB1 and ABCG2) together with solute carrier (SLC) transporters (i.e., SLC22A1) are responsible for the differences in drug pharmacokinetics. In the case of the newer TKIs, such as nilotinib and dasatinib, the substrate affinity of these drugs for transporters is variable but lower than that measured for imatinib. In this scenario, the investigation of genetic variants as possible predictive markers has led to some discordant results. With the partial exception of imatinib, these discrepancies seem to limit the application of discovered biomarkers in the clinical settings. In order to overcome these issues, larger prospective confirmative trials are needed.     

Studying and designing emotions in live interactions with the audience

Multimedia Tools and Applications - In the last decade, a number of projects have investigated the use of digital technologies to increase the engagement of the audience in live interactive...