Introduction to Challenge Test and Microbiological Characterisation of Local Products

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M1 AFLATOXIN, TOTAL BACTERIAL COUNT AND SOMATIC CELL COUNT IN ORGANIC AND CONVENTIONAL MILK

Comparative quality evaluation of organic and conventional milk produced in similar environmental condition was performed. Bulk-tank milk was sampled once a week during 30 weeks from 10 organic and 10 conventional dairy farms where aflatoxin M1 level was previous tested during 11 months on bulk-tank milk from tanker at the processing plant. Somatic Cells and Total Microbial Counts did not show differences that can be related to the organic production system, suggesting an effect induced by farm size and technical factors. Higher level of Aflatoxin M1 was found in organic than conventional milk

Challenge-based learning as a practice for engineering education to develop students' entrepreneurial mindset

This paper aims to investigate the implications of Challenge Based Learning programs on entrepreneurial skills, mindset and intentions of university students using a quantitative approach. Using an original database, we analyzed pre and post levels of entrepreneurial skills, mindset and intention of 127 students who attended a Challenge Based Learning program. Results show a positive and significant effect of Challenge Based Learning programs on entrepreneurial mindset and skills – such as financial literacy, creativity and planning – of the students. Moreover, results show a positive but non-significative effect on entrepreneurial intention

Entrepreneurship education: the effects of challenge-based learning on the entrepreneurial mindset of university students

The aim of this paper is to investigate the implications of Challenge-Based Learning programs on entrepreneurial skills, and on the mindset and intentions of university students, through a quantitative approach. Resorting to an original database, we analyzed the pre-and post-levels of entrepreneurial skills, mindset and intention of 127 students who attended a Challenge-Based Learning program. Results show a positive and significant effect of Challenge-Based Learning programs on the entrepreneurial mindset and skills—that is, financial literacy, creativity, and planning—of the students

Pre-packaged food products business to consumer (B2C) distance selling and information obligations in Italian mass market retailers

The supply and sale of food online are on the rise. The value of e-commerce in Europe has been estimated in 602 billion euros in 2017, 324 million people in the old continent purchase online. In the European area, the Netherlands and Italy are the countries where the e-commerce market grew faster in the last five years. Nevertheless, in Italy the spread of online shopping has reached the 89.9% of the population between 11 and 74 years old. The access to the Internet, as declared by 43 million Italians, it is carried out from fixed or mobile locations. In terms of revenues the food sector recorded a +24% among the different sectors facing one of the higher grows in terms of percentages. The regulatory framework that disciplines the food products distance selling can be traced back to two fundamental pillars: the European legislation on e-commerce on the one side and the food information to consumers on the other side. Under article 14 of the Regulation (EU) No. 1169/2011, the European legislator states that the mandatory information, as indicated in article 9, shall be available to the consumer before the purchase is concluded and when the product is delivered. The study aims at verifying: the level of compliance by Italians MMR with the information regulation about food products distance selling in relation to (a) the fulfillment of the obligation concerning mandatory provisions and (b) the fulfillment of the obligations concerning availability and readability of the information provided. The research has been conducted analyzing the websites of the ten largest Italian MMR and in particular: if the mandatory information were provided, the availability of the information according to the Regulation (EU) 1169/2011; the number of clicks needed to identify the food product in the website and the number of clicks Non required to obtain all the information. The observation testified a substantial compliance with the information obligations according to the European regulation. Differently, when considering the availability and readability of the information, from the analysis emerged that consumers have to follow a path that is not immediate and intuitive. Conclusions are provided in relation to the presented research

Prevalence of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis in milk and dairy cattle in Southern Italy; preliminary results

Paratuberculosis affects all ruminants worldwide. Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis could have a role in human diseases like Crohn\u2019s. Some extra EU countries request importation of MAP-free products. Italy has not yet actualized a control program and the diffusion of the infection is still unknown in Southern Italy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of the infection in five regions of Southern Italy. Bulk tank milk and in-line milk filters were sampled in 780 dairy cattle herds and respectively analyzed by ELISA and real time PCR. One hundred and fifty-five out of 780 herds (19.9%) were found positive by ELISA and/or real time PCR. Individual milk samples were then collected from all the producing animals of positive herds and from a selection of negative herds. The estimated prevalence varies from region to region between 2.8% and 5.5%. Our results indicate that the disease is widespread in the five regions. The observed prevalence could be underestimated

Survey on antimicrobial residues in raw milk and antimicrobial use in dairy farms in the Emilia-Romagna Region, Italy

This survey investigated the antimicrobials most commonly used in dairy herds and t antimicrobial residues most frequently detected in milk to evaluate the suitability of rapid screening tests to determine antimicrobial residues in milk. The investigation was carried out in 45 dairy herds consulting the farm administration records and in a national dairy industry collecting milk from almost all the dairy farms studied. Data were recorded on: i) treatments with drugs containing antimicrobials during the 12 months prior to the visit; ii) antimicrobial active substances present in the drugs; iii) data from routine controls to detect antimicrobial residues (52,771 samples). The antimicrobial classes most commonly used were penicillins, cephalosporins, fluoroquinolones, macrolides, sulphonamides, tetracyclines, aminoglycosides and lyncosamides; the most frequently used antimicrobial not belonging to any of the previous groups was riphaximin. Sixty-four samples collected from milk trucks yielded antimicrobial residues exceeding the detection limit of the screening test used: sulphonamide residues were the most prevalent (3.4%), followed by tetracycline (0.3%) and penicillins and cephalosporins (0.03%). The antimicrobial classes most commonly used on dairy farms are the same as the residues most frequently detected in milk. The association of several commercially available rapid test kits proved satisfactory for determination of the veterinary antimicrobial drugs most used on dairy farms but at least five kits are required. Therefore knowledge of the most frequently used veterinary drugs and periodic monitoring are required for the dairy industry to develop a targeted and effective control pla

BACTERICIDAL ACTIVITY OF ELECTROLYZED OXIDIZING WATER ON MEAT AND POULTRY

Electrolyzed oxidizing water (EOW) has potential application as a residue free sanitizing agent for food of animal origin. Meat and poultry were contaminated with microorganism, pathogens or not, and different types of electrolyzed oxidizing water treatement were investigated to evaluate the activity of each of these method. In detail, this study is aiming at evaluating the effectiveness of EOW in reducing microbial count, including total bacterial count, Salmonella Typhimurium, Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes and Escherichia coli on meat and poultry. EOW has a very strong disinfectant activity which, along with its easy and safe use, makes a good alternative to many other more widely used disinfectants

The predictive role of pelvic magnetic resonance in the follow up of spontaneous or induced puberty in turner syndrome

Puberty is a critical age for patients with Turner syndrome (TS): infertility is reported to be linked to karyotype and spontaneous puberty and menarche occur in approximately 30% of patients, especially in mosaicism. However, it is not always predictable considering hormonal pattern and pelvic transabdominal ultrasound scan (US). The aim of the study is to compare the accuracy of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and US to evaluate uterine and gonads volume, to visualize the presence of follicles and to predict spontaneous puberty and menarche in girls with TS. In a retrospective study, we evaluated 19 TS patients (age: 9-16 years), who underwent transabdominal pelvic US and pelvic MRI as required by parents. We correlated pelvic imaging with karyotype, hormonal data and pubertal outcome, and we compared US resolution to MRI. MRI revealed a higher accuracy in the study of uterus and ovaries, and permitted to measure ovaries not visualized by US. Ovarian volume, the presence of follicles and the occurrence of spontaneous puberty were not related to the karyotype; spontaneous puberty started in one patient with a karyotype 45,X and in two patients with mosaicism (45,X/46,XX; 47,XXX/45, X). Ovarian follicles were relieved by MRI in patients with a spontaneous menarche and the persistence of menstrual cycles correlated with an ovarian volume corresponding to Tanner stage 3-4. We stress the role of MRI in the follow-up of TS adolescents, guide in the choice of the timing of treatment

Dietary intake of branched-chain amino acids and colorectal cancer risk

ABSTACTAn adequate intake of branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) is required for protein synthesis and metabolic functions, including insulin metabolism. Emerging studies found positive associations between BCAAs and the risk of various diseases sharing etiological aspects with colorectal cancer (CRC), including type 2 diabetes, obesity, and pancreatic cancer.We investigated the relation between dietary BCAAs and CRC using data from a multicentric Italian case-control study, including 1953 cases of CRC (of these, 442 of sigmoid colon) and 4154 hospital controls with acute, non-neoplastic diseases. A validated food-frequency questionnaire was used to estimate the participants' usual diet and to assess dietary intakes of various nutrients, including energy, BCAAs and calcium. Odds ratio (ORs) and corresponding confidence intervals (CI) were computed by multiple logistic regression models adjusted for age, sex and other confounding factors, including total energy intake.BCAA intake was inversely related to CRC risk (OR for the highest versus the lowest quintile, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.55-0.97), but the association was attenuated after adjustment for calcium intake (OR, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.65-1.25). A linear inverse association with sigmoid colon cancer risk remained also after adjustment for other dietary factors, including calcium intake (OR, 0.49; 95% CI, 0.27-0.87).This study provides supporting evidence that higher levels of dietary BCAA intake are not associated with an increase of CRC risk, but confirms that they may be related to a reduced risk of sigmoid colon cancer