A risk-based design of ammonia refrigeration systems in food manufacturing plants

This paper presents a risk-based design procedure of ammonia based refrigeration processes taking into account the allocation of the manufacturing plant and the surrounding environment vulnerability at early stages of process design. In addition, the proposed design framework allows the integration of a process simulator with vulnerability assessment packages. As a case study, the design of the refrigeration system for a surimi manufacturing plant is presented.Fil: Biscotti, Paola Silvina. Universidad Tecnológica Nacional. Regional Rosario. Centro de Aplicaciones Informáticas y Modelado en Ingeniería; ArgentinaFil: Reinheimer, Maria Agustina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Rosario; Argentina. Universidad Tecnológica Nacional. Regional Rosario. Centro de Aplicaciones Informáticas y Modelado en Ingeniería; ArgentinaFil: Scenna, Nicolas Jose. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Rosario; Argentina. Universidad Tecnológica Nacional. Regional Rosario. Centro de Aplicaciones Informáticas y Modelado en Ingeniería; Argentin

The small non-coding RNA processing machinery of two living fossil species, lungfish and coelacanth, gives new insights into the evolution of the Argonaute protein family

Argonaute (AGO) family proteins play many roles in epigenetic programming, genome rearrangement, mRNA breakdown, inhibition of translation, and transposon silencing. Despite being a hotspot in current scientific research, their evolutionary history is still poorly understood and consequently the identification of evolutionary conserved structural features should also generate useful information for better understanding their functions. We report here for the first time the transcript sets of the two subfamilies, Ago and Piwi, in the West African lungfish Protopterus annectens and in the Indonesian coelacanth Latimeria menadoensis, two key species in the evolutionary lineage leading to tetrapods. The phylogenetic analysis of 142 inferred protein sequences in 22 fully sequenced species and the analysis of microsynteny performed in the major vertebrate lineages indicate an intricate pattern for the evolution of both subfamilies that has been shaped by whole genome duplications and lineage specific gains and losses. The argonaute subfamily was additionally expanded by local gene duplications at the base of the jawed vertebrate lineage. The subfamily of Piwi proteins is involved in several processes such as spermatogenesis, piRNA biogenesis, and transposon repression. Expression assessment of AGO genes and genes coding for proteins involved in small RNA biogenesis suggests a limited activity of the Piwi pathway in lungfish in agreement with the lungfish genome containing mainly old and inactive transposons

A comparative view on sex differentiation and gametogenesis genes in lungfish and coelacanths

none8siGonadal sex differentiation andreproductionare the keys totheperpetuationof favorable gene combinations andpositively selected traits. In vertebrates, several gonad development features that differentiate tetrapods and fishes are likely to be, at least in part, related to the water-to-land transition. The collection of information from basal sarcopterygians, coelacanths, and lungfishes, is crucial to improve our understanding of the molecular evolution of pathways involved in reproductive functions, since these organisms are generally regarded as “living fossils” and as the direct ancestors of tetrapods. Here, we report for the first time the characterization of >50 genes related to sex differentiation and gametogenesis in Latimeria menadoensis and Protopterus annectens. Although the expression profiles of most genes is consistent with the intermediate position of basal sarcopterygians between actinopterygian fish and tetrapods, their phylogenetic placement and presence/absence patterns often reveal a closer affinity to the tetrapod orthologs. On the other hand, particular genes, for example, the male gonad factor gsdf (Gonadal Soma-Derived Factor), provide examples of ancestral traits sharedwith actinopterygians,which disappeared in the tetrapod lineage.openMaria Assunta Biscotti, Mateus Contar Adolfi, Marco Barucca, Mariko Forconi, Alberto Pallavicini, Marco Gerdol, Adriana Canapa, Manfred SchartlBiscotti, Maria Assunta; Contar Adolfi, Mateus; Barucca, Marco; Forconi, Mariko'; Pallavicini, Alberto; Gerdol, Marco; Canapa, Adriana; Schartl, Manfre

Effects of Dietary Fibers on Short-Chain Fatty Acids and Gut Microbiota Composition in Healthy Adults: A Systematic Review

Abstract There is an increasing interest in investigating dietary strategies able to modulate the gut microbial ecosystem which, in turn, may play a key role in human health. Dietary fibers (DFs) are widely recognized as molecules with prebiotic effects. The main objective of this systematic review was to: (i) analyze the results available on the impact of DF intervention on short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) production; (ii) evaluate the interplay between the type of DF intervention, the gut microbiota composition and its metabolic activities, and any other health associated outcome evaluated in the host. To this aim, initially, a comprehensive database of literature on human intervention studies assessing the effect of confirmed and candidate prebiotics on the microbial ecosystem was developed. Subsequently, studies performed on DFs and analyzing at least the impact on SCFA levels were extracted from the database. A total of 44 studies from 42 manuscripts were selected for the analysis. Among the different types of fiber, inulin was the DF investigated the most (n = 11). Regarding the results obtained on the ability of fiber to modulate total SCFAs, seven studies reported a significant increase, while no significant changes were reported in five studies, depending on the analytical methodology used. A total of 26 studies did not show significant differences in individual SCFAs, while the others reported significant differences for one or more SCFAs. The effect of DF interventions on the SCFA profile seemed to be strictly dependent on the dose and the type and structure of DFs. Overall, these results underline that, although affecting microbiota composition and derived metabolites, DFs do not produce univocal significant increase in SCFA levels in apparently healthy adults. In this regard, several factors (i.e., related to the study protocols and analytical methods) have been identified that could have affected the results obtained in the studies evaluated. Future studies are needed to better elucidate the relationship between DFs and gut microbiota in terms of SCFA production and impact on health-related marker

Relaxation of natural selection in the evolution of the giant lungfish genomes

Nonadaptive hypotheses on the evolution of eukaryotic genome size predict an expansion when the process of purifying selection becomes weak. Accordingly, species with huge genomes, such as lungfish, are expected to show a genome-wide relaxation signature of selection compared with other organisms. However, few studies have empirically tested this prediction using genomic data in a comparative framework. Here, we show that 1) the newly assembled transcriptome of the Australian lungfish, Neoceratodus forsteri, is characterized by an excess of pervasive transcription, or transcriptional leakage, possibly due to suboptimal transcriptional control, and 2) a significant relaxation signature in coding genes in lungfish species compared with other vertebrates. Based on these observations, we propose that the largest known animal genomes evolved in a nearly neutral scenario where genome expansion is less efficiently constraine

Preserving Mobility in Older Adults with Physical Frailty and Sarcopenia : Opportunities, Challenges, and Recommendations for Physical Activity Interventions

One of the most widely conserved hallmarks of aging is a decline in functional capabilities. Mobility loss is particularly burdensome due to its association with negative health outcomes, loss of independence and disability, and the heavy impact on quality of life. Recently, a new condition, physical frailty and sarcopenia, has been proposed to define a critical stage in the disabling cascade. Physical frailty and sarcopenia are characterized by weakness, slowness, and reduced muscle mass, yet with preserved ability to move independently. One of the strategies that have shown some benefits in combatting mobility loss and its consequences for older adults is physical activity. Here, we describe the opportunities and challenges for the development of physical activity interventions in people with physical frailty and sarcopenia. The aim of this article is to review age-related physio(patho)logical changes that impact mobility in old age and to provide recommendations and procedures in accordance with the available literature.Peer reviewe

Analysis of the African coelacanth genome sheds light on tetrapod evolution

It was a zoological sensation when a living specimen of the coelacanth was first discovered in 1938, as this lineage of lobe-finned fish was thought to have gone extinct 70 million years ago. The modern coelacanth looks remarkably similar to many of its ancient relatives, and its evolutionary proximity to our own fish ancestors provides a glimpse of the fish that first walked on land. Here we report the genome sequence of the African coelacanth, Latimeria chalumnae. Through a phylogenomic analysis, we conclude that the lungfish, and not the coelacanth, is the closest living relative of tetrapods. Coelacanth protein-coding genes are significantly more slowly evolving than those of tetrapods, unlike other genomic features . Analyses of changes in genes and regulatory elements during the vertebrate adaptation to land highlight genes involved in immunity, nitrogen excretion and the development of fins, tail, ear, eye, brain, and olfaction. Functional assays of enhancers involved in the fin-to-limb transition and in the emergence of extra-embryonic tissues demonstrate the importance of the coelacanth genome as a blueprint for understanding tetrapod evolution

Notulae to the Italian alien vascular flora: 11

In this contribution, new data concerning the distribution of vascular flora alien to Italy are presented. It includes new records, confirmations, exclusions, and status changes for Italy or for Italian administrative regions. Nomenclatural and distribution updates published elsewhere are provided as Suppl. material 1

Molecular and cytogenetic characterization of repetitive DNA in species belonging to Mollusca phylum

My thesis is focused on the identification and characterization of repetitive DNA sequences in two molluscan species, the bivalve Pecten maximus and the Antarctic polyplacophoran Nuttallochiton mirandus. Two recombinant DNA libraries were constructed after partial digestion of genomic DNA from Pecten maximus with PstI and ApaI restriction enzymes. Colonies showing strong hybridisation were selected for analysis and sequencing. Six non-homologous tandemly repeated sequences were identified in the sequences, and southern hybridisation with all repeat families to genomic DNA of scallop digested with six different restriction enzymes showed characteristic ladders. Three families had monomer lengths around 40 bp while three had repeats characteristic of the length wrapping around one (170 bp), or two (326 bp) nucleosomes. In situ hybridisation to interphase nuclei showed each family had characteristic numbers of clusters indicating contrasting arrangements. In Nuttallochiton mirandus clear bands indicating the presence of highly repeated DNA were detected in all three digestions carried out with HindIII, PstI, and EcoRV. Sequence analysis revealed four repeated DNAs (NmH, NmP, NmE250, and NmE700) showing no similarity between them with the exception of NmE700 and NmE250 families. In fact NmE700 family displayed an inserted sequence which might arise from a transposable element. Moreover subrepeat structures were identified in the monomers belonging to NmH and NmP families. Southern blotting analysis showed a ladder banding pattern in HindIII digest indicating a tandem organization of NmH family, while suggested a more complex arrangement for the other families identified. Finally, dot blot analyses carried out in several molluscan species revealed a different degree of conservation of the repeated DNAs isolated with EcoRV. Furthermore, fluorescent in situ hybridisation (FISH) on metaphase chromosomes revealed that NmE700 family is located mainly at centromeric regions on all chromosomes with the exception of the pair of macrochromosomes. The study of the structure and organization of repetitive DNAs may contribute to understanding not only the genetic diversity but also mechanisms of DNA sequence evolution