EBV changes due to different age adjustment factors in the Italian Friesian

Mature equivalent productions are often used as input for breeding values estimation. Adjustment factors can affect genetic trend, thus efforts should be put in order to verily projected production. Adjustment factors used in different countries refer to various ages. EBV changes with adjustment factors projecting lactations to primiparous vs. adjustment factors projecting production to pluriparous were compared. No evident difference was found both in genetic trend and in ranking of sire and cows by changing reference age except for some re-ranking for top 10,000 cows. Effect on genetic trend and EBV variability was found when base parameters of heterogeneity of herd variance were differen

Effect of parity in age adjustment factors in the Italian Holstein Friesian cattle breed

Inclusion of parity in multiplicative adjustment factors for age at calving was investigated for the Italian Holstein Friesian cattle breed. Separated age adjustment factors for first, second, third and later parities are necessary because cows of the same age but different parity have different production. Differences in production were particularly evident for first and second parity cows of same age. If parity is not accounted for, first lactation mature equivalent production can be underestimated. Because progeny testing is based on first lactation production, underestimation of a fraction of mature equivalent records may be reflected in genetic indexes

A new rating system for hydrogeological risk management along railway infrastructures in Prealpine zone (northern Italy)

AbstractRailway infrastructures in mountain areas often develop along hillslopes affected by geomorphological and hydrogeological processes which might lead hazardous events. Therefore, specific tools for risk analysis and management are required. This paper develops a new rating system (Railway Hydrogeological Management System, RHMS), based on a heuristic method which considers the susceptibility to different types of slope instabilities, as well as the peculiar features affecting the railway vulnerability. The proposed method introduces an iterative approach for the risk assessment, based on the definition of acceptability thresholds for the residual risk. The application of this method to a test area pointed out its feasibility, as well as its operational capability to identify the critical sections of the infrastructure, in which protection or mitigation measures are needed in order to reduce the risk

Compared patterns of arm regeneration in different taxa of armed echinoderms

Regeneration is a post-embryonic developmental process common in Metazoa, although it tends to be less widespread in the more complex-bodied phyla. An exception to this rule are echinoderms, which are known for phylum-wide and extremely advanced regenerative abilities, being able to regrow all appendages, and often large parts of the central body and viscera (CANDIA CARNEVALI, 2006). Armed echinoderms (Crinoidea, Asteroidea, and Ophiuroidea) are especially practical models as their arms are easy to amputate, and their proximo-distal extension provides a useful reference point to describe the regenerative processes. Samples of four species from these taxa \u2013 the crinoid Antedon mediterranea, the asteroids Echinaster sepositus and Coscinasterias tenuispina, and the ophiuroid Amphipholis squamata \u2013 were subjected to arm amputation to study the progression of arm regeneration from a morphological point of view by means of different microscopy analyses. Particular attention was given to the \u201caxial structures\u201d, defined as the continuous elements running along the proximo-distal axis of each arm, namely the radial water canal, the radial nerve cord, and the arm coelom, as they are believed to be fundamental for the re-organization of the regenerating arm. The comparison highlighted commonalities and differences of arm regeneration in the different taxa. Distal structures, represented in crinoids by the apical blastema and in asteroids and ophiuroids by the terminal ossicle and tube foot, form very quickly, whereas the proximal region develops later, in proximal-to-distal direction. This is in accordance with previously published models of echinoderm regeneration (MOOI et al., 2005; BEN KHADRA et al., 2018). These similarities suggest that the mechanism of regeneration has ancient origins and is extremely conserved through echinoderm evolution. Within the proximal region, the axial structures themselves develop earlier than the nearby discrete structures (e.g. ossicles and tube feet), and seem to have a crucial role in their organization, providing material and possible signalling molecules for the growing tissue. The cellular component of the nerve grows before any other structure, including its own fibres, thus confirming a primary role of the nervous system in the whole process. Molecular analyses must be combined to morphology data to improve our understanding of similarities and differences of the regenerative process as it occurs in the different echinoderm taxa, as well as in different animal phyla, and to identify related processes in both regeneration-competent and non-competent species. References Ben Khadra Y, Sugni M, Ferrario C, Bonasoro F, Oliveri P, Martinez P, Candia Carnevali MD. 2018. Regeneration in Stellate Echinoderms: Crinoidea, Asteroidea and Ophiuroidea. M. Kloc, J. Z. Kubiak (eds.) Marine Organisms as Model Systems in Biology and Medicine. \ua9Springer International Publishing AG, part of Springer Nature 2018. Chapter 14 Candia Carnevali MD. 2006. Regeneration in Echinoderms: repair, regrowth, cloning. Invertebrate Survival Journal, 3 (1): 64-76 Mooi R, David B, Wray GA. 2005. Arrays in rays: terminal addition in echinoderms and its correlation with gene expression. Evolution & Development, 7 (6): 542-55

Genetic parameters and selection for casein content in Italian Holstein and Brown Swiss.

A total of more than 2,000,000 records on casein contents were collected in Lombardia (Italy) during routine milk recording of Italian Holstein and Brown Swiss dairy cows. Variance components for casein were estimated as well as all the genetic correlations of casein with production and type traits considered in selection. According to the heritabilities estimated (12.4% for Brown and 9.36% for Holstein), breeding values were calculated for bulls and compared to the breeding values for total protein. The results of two different selection scenarios were compared for each breed when including protein or casein as selection criterion. Genetic progress expected for all traits selected were compared after 10 years of selection. The genetic variability of casein allows the use of this trait as selection criterion with the estimation of breeding values and its inclusion in selection indexes. Ranking of breeding values for casein and protein are very similar in both breeds. But some differences in genetic values for casein exist for the same level of breeding value for protein. Nevertheless results in genetic gain differ between breeds depending mainly on genetic correlations with the other traits selected. The positive results in selection response estimated for several traits suggest to the Brown Swiss Association the replacement of protein selection with casein. In contrast the smaller effects estimated for the Italian Holstein suggest to wait for more casein data collected before any change in selection program

Quando o movimento tece o Estado: as ações públicas em Sergipe na construção de uma agricultura do plantar, colher e comer sem agredir a natureza.

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The new calcium antagonist lercanidipine and its enantiomers affect major processes of atherogenesis in vitro: is calcium entry involved?

Atherosclerosis results from multiple factors and involves several mechanisms, including endothelial monocyte and smooth muscle cell (SMC) changes, cholesterol accumulation, plaque rupture and thromboembolism. Calcium ions play a role in the initial and chronic development of atherosclerotic lesions. Several studies in experimental animal models have demonstrated the potential direct antiatherosclerotic effects of calcium antagonists. In this study the antiatherogenic activity of lercanidipine, a new lipophilic, second-generation calcium antagonist, was investigated. Lercanidipine and its enantiomers inhibited the replication and migration of arterial myocytes in concentrations ranging from 10 to 50 microM. The antiproliferative effect of lercanidipine was dose dependent, with a potency similar to that of lacidipine and nifedipine, and was unrelated to the stereoselectivity of enantiomers to bind L-type calcium channels. Lercanidipine and its enantiomers (25 microM) decreased the serum-induced elevation of [Ca2+]i in SMC, with the (S)-enantiomer (69% inhibition) being 2.4-fold more active than the (R)-counterpart (29% inhibition). The studies performed with enantiomers of lercanidipine suggest that the observed effects are not related to the blockade of voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels and confirm, at least in vitro, the pharmacological potential of the compound to influence negatively the process of atherogenesis

In vitro inhibitory effect of lercanidipine on cholesterol accumulation and matrix metalloproteinases secretion by macrophages

Plaque rupture and thromboembolism play a major role in atherosclerotic acute syndrome. Experimental studies have demonstrated the potential direct anti-atherosclerotic effects of calcium antagonists. We investigated the in vitro effect of lercanidipine (REC 15/2375), a third-generation, highly lipophilic calcium antagonist on cholesterol metabolism and matrix metalloproteinases secretion in macrophages, two functions that predispose plaques to rupture. Lercanidipine (10 126\u201310 125 M) inhibited cholesterol esterification in macrophagesand reduced cellular free and esterified cholesterol accumulation from acetylated LDL (63%, 62% of control P < 0.05, respectively). In addition, lercanidipine inhibited the release of metalloproteinases in the extracellular medium (50% and 95% inhibition at 10 125 M for MMP-9 and MMP-2, respectively). Experiments performed with lercanidipine enantiomers or other dihydropyridine derivatives, endowed with different lipophilicity and affinity for calcium channels, indicated that the above effects could be related to the lipophilic, but not to the calcium channel blocking properties of these molecules. When cells, after exposure to the drug, were allowed to equilibrate, lercanidipine inhibitory action could be observed at initial concentrations as low as 10 129 M, which is the actual concentration range observed in plasma in clinical settings. In conclusion, our data indicate that lercanidipine may exert potent anti-atherosclerotic effects by inhibiting macrophage functions involved in plaque stability