A survey on the milk chemical and microbiological quality in dairy donkey farms located in NorthWestern Italy

There is a growing interest in donkey's milk as food for sensitive consumers, such as infants with cow's milk protein allergy and elderly people. The aim of this study was to carry out a survey on the dairy donkeys farming in Piedmont, Italy. The research was conducted in order to analyze the farm characteristics as well as the chemical and microbiological quality of milk. All the farms were small-sized, family-run, and, in most cases, animals were farmed semi-extensively. The donkey milk from Piedmont farms was characterized by a protein content around 1.5 g/100 mL and a fat content lower than 0.1 g/100 mL. Lysozyme activity was considerably higher than that reported in raw cow milk. The milk microbiological profile greatly differed among the farms. Milk sampled in the farm that performed hand milking showed total viable counts significantly lower than milk collected in the farms equipped with automatic milking. Samples were tested for several pathogens and negative results were observed, except for the detection of Bacillus cereus in one sample. The survey provided useful data for the laying down of recent regional regulation for the production and commercialization of donkey's milk. The results of the survey indicate that further research is needed in order to define the best management and nutritional strategies for the improvement of the quali-quantitative production of dairy donkeys.     

Co-occurrence and evaluation of mycotoxins in organic and conventional rye grain and products

A study on the co-occurrence of Fusarium toxins in conventional and organic grain and derived products was carried out. A total of 117 samples were collected during the period 2009–2012. Eight mycotoxins were determined using the LC-MS/MS method. Among the investigated mycotoxins, four were of major importance: DON, ZEN, T-2 and HT-2. DON was present at the highest concentration in both the agricultural systems, with its maximum level of 254 ± 23 μg kg⁻¹ being present in conventional rye grain. The co-occurrence of two or more mycotoxins was observed in more than 50% of samples, with the most frequent combination being DON + ZEN. The correlation between the concentrations of T-2 and HT-2, DON and ZEN, as well as T-2 and ZEN was confirmed statistically. The concentration of DON, HT-2 and T-2 was significantly higher in conventional products. Also the higher level of ZEN in organic grain in comparison to derived products was significant. None of the samples contained DAS, while NlV, MAS and 3ADON concentrations were close to the detection limits.     

驱油微生物及其代谢产物对固体润湿性和原油物性的影响

从宋芳屯油田筛选到了3株驱油微生物,将其复合培养后具有产表活剂、产酸、产气活性.运用检测接触角的方法,研究了细菌的代谢作用及产物对固体润湿性的影响.结果表明,微生物具有剥离油膜的作用,并能使固体表面的润湿性向水湿方向改变,其中微生物代谢产生的表活剂发挥了重要作用.从糖和液体石蜡含菌培养体系的不同实验结果来看,虽然大体趋势是相同的,但液蜡的作用结果要好于糖.这是由于石英片的亲油性使它的表面覆盖一层液蜡,细菌因以液蜡为碳源而在其表面富集,进行在位繁殖产生局部高浓度表活剂所致.微生物的代谢作用和产物能显著改善原油粘度,但其代谢产物对蜡含量无影响.     

Spatio-temporal patterns of birch regrowth in a Western Norwegian treeline ecotone

The study investigates spatio-temporal patterns of birch regrowth in a mountain valley in which intensive livestock grazing was formerly practised. Vegetation changes were identified through analysis of three sets of aerial photographs. The results of GIS analyses, one-way ANOVA and PCA showed that regrowth patterns are complex. In the early phase of succession, grazing history has a strong impact on where new forest establishes, both at a distance from the seasonal farmsteads where grazing intensity prior to abandonment was highest, and close to previously existing forest. Sprouting is most likely to be the dominating regeneration strategy in this early phase. In a later phase of succession, the impact of grazing history on forest distribution patterns decreases, as exemplified by the increasing distance from existing forest. The largest amounts of birch forest then establish in warm locations with moderate moisture. Protection against wind appears to be important for birch establishment.     

Nanoporous Gold Catalyst for the Oxidative N-Dealkylation of Drug Molecules: A Method for Synthesis of N-Dealkylated Metabolites

A novel method for the selective catalytic N-dealkylation of drug molecules on a nanoporous gold (NPG) catalyst producing valuable N-dealkylated metabolites and intermediates is described. Drug metabolites are important chemical entities at every stage of drug discovery and development, from exploratory discovery to clinical development, providing the safety profiles and the ADME (adsorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination) of new drug candidates. Synthesis was carried out in aqueous solution at 80 °C using air (oxygen source) as oxidant, in single step with good isolated yields. Different examples examined in this study showed that aerobic catalytic N-dealkylation of drug molecules on NPG has a broad scope supporting N-deethylation, N-deisopropylation and N-demethylation, converting either 3° amines to 2° amines, or 2° amines to 1° amines.     

Relative importance of price in forming individuals’ decisions toward sustainable food: A calibrated auction-conjoint experiment

This paper explores the importance of pricing information in dealing with sustainable food preferences. It employs the Calibrated Auction-Conjoint Valuation Method (CACM), by comparing non-adjusted values from a self-explicated (hypothetical) conjoint method to the final calibrated values entered into an adjusted (real) auction. We found consumers significantly reduced their WTP when moving from the initial stage of the CACM (hypothetical self-explicated conjoint method) to the final stage (real auction), primarily by placing more importance on product prices, implying that WTP values from a self-explicated conjoint method used alone would likely lead to overstated estimates of WTP.     

Evaluation of the Impact of Ruminant Trans Fatty Acids on Human Health: Important Aspects to Consider

The definition and evaluation of trans fatty acids (TFA) with regard to foodstuffs and health hazard are not consistent. Based on the current situation, the term should be restricted only to TFA with isolated double bonds in trans-configuration. Conjugated linoleic acids (CLA) should be separately assessed. Ideally, the origin of the consumed fat should be declared, i.e., ruminant TFA (R-TFA) and industrial TFA (non-ruminant; I-TFA). In ruminant fat, more than 50% of R-TFA consists of vaccenic acid (C18:1 t11). In addition, natural CLA, i.e., c9,t11 CLA is also present. Both are elevated in products from organic farming. In contrast to elaidic acid (t9) and t10, which occur mainly in partially hydrogenated industrial fat, t11 is partially metabolized into c9,t11 CLA via Δ9-desaturation. This is the major metabolic criterion used to differentiate between t11 and other trans C18:1. t11 indicates health beneficial effects in several studies. Moreover, CLA in milk fat is associated with the prevention of allergy and asthma. An analysis of the few studies relating to R-TFA alone makes clear that no convincing adverse physiological effect can be attributed to R-TFA. Only extremely high R-TFA intakes cause negative change in blood lipids. In conclusion, in most European countries, the intake of R-TFA is assessed as being low to moderate. Restriction of R-TFA would unjustifiably represent a disadvantage for organic farming of milk.     

在表面活性剂存在下铬铁矿表土中镍的微生物萃取(英文)

加入表面活性剂吐温20,用Aspergillus niger对预处理过的印度Sukinda铬铁矿表土在摇瓶中生物浸取镍。考察添加表面活性剂吐温20对黑曲霉菌Aspergillus niger生长及浸镍效果的影响。结果表明,添加低浓度的表面活性剂吐温20对黑曲霉菌从预处理过的铬铁矿表土中提取镍是有利的。通常,Aspergillus niger利用培养基中的碳源来进行细胞代谢,产生有机代谢物,从而生物浸出矿。添加表面活性剂吐温20加速了黑曲霉菌对碳源的消耗,从而改善了镍浸出效果。在预处理矿浆浓度为2%和温度为30°C的条件下,添加表面活性剂吐温20的镍浸取率能达到39%,没有表面活性剂的镍浸取率只有24%。     

Molecular Characterisation of Flavanone O-methylation in Eucalyptus

Flavonoids are ubiquitous polyphenolic compounds in plants, long recognised for their health-promoting properties in humans. Methylated flavonoids have received increasing attention due to the potential of methylation to enhance medicinal efficacy. Recently, Eucalyptus species with high levels of the O-methylated flavanone pinostrobin have been identified. Pinostrobin has potential commercial value due to its numerous pharmacological and functional food benefits. Little is known about the identity or mode of action of the enzymes involved in methylating flavanones. This study aimed to identify and characterise the methyltransferase(s) involved in the regiospecific methylation of pinostrobin in Eucalyptus and thereby add to our limited understanding of flavanone biosynthesis in plants. RNA-seq analysis of leaf tips enabled the isolation of a gene encoding a flavanone 7-O-methyltransferase (EnOMT1) in Eucalyptus. Biochemical characterisation of its in vitro activity revealed a range of substrates upon which EnOMT1 acts in a regiospecific manner. Comparison to a homologous sequence from a Eucalyptus species lacking O-methylated flavonoids identified critical catalytic amino acid residues within EnOMT1 responsible for its activity. This detailed molecular characterisation identified a methyltransferase responsible for chemical ornamentation of the core flavanone structure of pinocembrin and helps shed light on the mechanism of flavanone biosynthesis in Eucalyptus.