The identification of allergen proteins in two different varieties of strawberry by two different approaches: Proteomic and western blotting method

Strawberry (Fragaria ananassa Duch.) is one of most important fruit crops cultivated widely in world. In the present study, we have investigated the proteome variation to different commercially available red strawberry varieties, to gain better insight into the variation in allergen content between the different varieties, as well as their proteome variation. In fact, a combination of proteomic tools have been used to build a complete allergen map of strawberry. The water-soluble fraction of a strawberry extract was precipitated using a phenol-based procedure and separated by 2-DE. Further, all known strawberry allergens were localized on a 2-DE map and they were matched with spots recognized by sera of patients with different allergic patterns. A number of constitutive or differentially accumulated proteins were found. The role of the identified proteins, in particular of the allergen proteins, is discussed in relation to the different variety of strawberry. Keywords: Proteomics, 2-DE, Fragaria ananassa, Mass spectrometry, Allergen protein

Critical currents and pinning forces in Nd2−xCexCuO4− thin films

Critical current density, Jc, and flux-pinning force density, Fp, have been investigated at different temperatures in electron-doped Nd2−xCexCuO4− thin films for magnetic fields, H, applied parallel to the c axis. The reduced pinning force density fFp /Fp max shows a clear scaling behavior when H is normalized to the irreversibility field H, indicating the presence of the same pinning mechanism in the investigated temperature range. Moreover the maximum of Fp as function of the field at each temperature depends linearly on H. The experimental data, interpreted using a modified Anderson-Kim description of the flux-creep theory, imply a magnetic field dependence of the activation energy UHH− with =0.8. This value indicates that in Nd2−xCexCuO4− a quasi-two-dimensional vortex system is present, intermediate between Bi-based and Y-based hole-doped compounds

Analysis of touch gestures for online child protection

AbstractThe growth of Internet and the pervasiveness of ICT have led to a radical change in social relationships. One of the drawbacks of this change is the exposure of individuals to threats during online activities. In this context, thetechno-regulationparadigm is inspiring new ways to safeguard legally interests by means of tools allowing to hamper breaches of law. In this paper, we focus on the exposure of individuals to specific online threats when interacting with smartphones. We propose a novel techno-regulatory approach exploiting machine learning techniques to provide safeguards against threats online. Specifically, we study a set of touch-based gestures to distinguish between underages or adults who is accessing a smartphone, and so to guarantee protection. To evaluate the proposed approach's effectiveness, we developed an Android app to build a dataset consisting of more than 9000 touch-gestures from 147 participants. We experimented bothsingle-viewandmulti-viewlearning techniques to find the best combination of touch-gestures able of distinguishing between adults and underages. Results show that the multi-view learning combining scrolls, swipes, and pinch-to-zoom gestures, achieves the best ROC AUC (0.92) and accuracy (88%) scores

Enhancing phytoextraction of HMs at real scale, by combining salicaceae trees with microbial consortia

We applied an integrated phytoremediation system by inoculation of rhizosphere microbes on an area of 2,000 m2 that was contaminated by heavy metals. Hybrid poplar (Populus deltoids × Populus nigra) and willow (Salix purpurea subsp. lambertiana) were planted on four parcels of 500 m2. Of these, two parcels were inoculated with an autochthonous consortium specially selected and the other two were not inoculated. The analyses were carried out on plant and soil samples collected at different times: month 0 (T0), 12 (T1), 24 (T2), and 36 (Tf). Total concentrations of HMs in the roots of Populus and Salix showed significant increase in the plants with rhizosphere microflora consortium. The plants treated with the consortium have an increased enzymatic activity of antioxidants and of stress markers. All enzymes showed an important contribution in enzymatic thiol-dependent ROS scavening mechanisms, through its over-expression at time T1 and T2 and a consequent stabilization at Tf which results in adaptive mechanisms. The plant-fungi-bacterium system was a valid candidate for the implementation of phytoremediation systems in the field, since the plants showed a greater capacity for adaptation and accumulation

High Performance Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry Measurement of Bimatoprost, Latanoprost and Travoprost in Eyelash Enhancing Cosmetic Serums

Most common prostaglandin analogs, bimatoprost, latanoprost and travoprost, are licensed for the reduction of elevated intraocular pressure in patients with open angle glaucoma and ocular hypertension, but their non approved use as eyelash enhancers is becoming popular, especially in patients with eyelashes hypotrichosis. A fast and sensitive high performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry method was developed for the measurement of bimatoprost, latanoprost and travoprost in cosmetic serums freely web-sold to increase eyelash length, thickness and darkness. The analytes and the internal standard (reserpine) were separated by reversed phase chromatography with 5 mM ammonium acetate with 0.02% formic acid (mobile phase A) and 5 mM ammonium acetate in acetonitrile/water (95/5; v/v) with 0.02% formic acid (mobile phase B) by gradient elution and detected with tandem mass spectrometry operated in multiple reaction monitoring mode. Linearity between 1 and 500 μg/g shows good correlation coefficients (r2 = 0.99) for all substances. Analytical recovery of analytes under investigation were always higher than 90% and intra-assay and inter-assay precision and accuracy always better than 11%. This method was successfully applied to analyze cosmetic serums freely sold on the Internet websites

Implementation of European Council resolution ResAP(2008)1 in Italy. National and regional regulation of tattoo practices: diversity and challenges.

In Italy, tattoos and permanent make-up have become increasingly popular in recent years. The number of tattoo parlours has increased from 257 in 2009 to 2,055 in 2014, wich is a eight-fold increase over the last 6 years. Although there is no specific legislation, the Italian Ministry of Health issued a document containing the 'Guidelines for the implementation of procedures for tattooing and piercing in safe conditions'. This document has not been adopted by all Italian regions, principally regarding training course requirements for tattoo professionals, creating a highly fragmented situation that resembles the European scene in miniature. ResAP(2008)1, which is not mandatory in Italy but was made binding by Italian Decree n. 206/2005, has been applied uniformly throughout the country. Thus, as far as the safety of inks is concerned, the surveillance system appears to be working well. However, surveillance has highlighted the presence of non-compliant inks and potentially unsafe preparations for tattoo removal in the market. Updating and rebalancing the situation will be the goal in order to face the challenge of combining well-being with the on-going social demand of looking after and beautifying the body. This would include the growing fashion of tattoos, provided that the products that are used are safe and that tattooing is performed in controlled hygienic conditions that fully guarantee the health of consumers

The rootstock shape microbial diversity and functionality in the rhizosphere of Vitis vinifera L. cultivar Falanghina

The rhizosphere effect occurring at the root-soil interface has increasingly been shown to play a key role in plant fitness and soil functionality, influencing plants resilience. Here, for the first time, we investigated whether the rootstock genotype on which Vitis vinifera L. cultivar Falanghina is grafted can influence the rhizosphere microbiome. Specifically, we evaluated to which extent the 5BB and 1103P rootstocks are able to shape microbial diversity of rhizosphere environment. Moreover, we explored the potential function of microbial community and its shift under plant genotype influence. We investigated seven vineyards subjected to the same pedo-climatic conditions, similar age, training system and management and collected twelve rhizosphere soil samples for metagenomic analyses and composite soil samples for physical-chemical properties. In this study, we used 16S rRNA gene-based metagenomic analysis to investigate the rhizosphere bacterial diversity and composition. Liner discriminant analysis effect size (LEFSe) was conducted for metagenomic biomarker discovery. The functional composition of sampled communities was determined using PICRUSt, which is based on marker gene sequencing profiles. Soil analyses involved the determination of texture, pH, Cation Exchange Capacity (CSC), Organic Carbon (OC), electrical conductivity (EC), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), potassium (K) content, Phosphorous (P), nitrogen (N). The latter revealed that soil features were quite homogenous. The metagenomic data showed that the bacterial alpha-diversity (Observed OTUs) significantly increased in 1103P rhizosphere microbiota. Irrespective of cultivar, Pseudomonadota was the dominant phylum, followed by Actinomycetota > Bacteroidota > Thermoproteota. However, Actinomycetota was the major marker phyla differentiating the rhizosphere microbial communities associated with the different rootstock types. At the genus level, several taxa belonging to Actinomycetota and Alphaproteobacteria classes were enriched in 1103P genotype rhizosphere. Investigating the potential functional profile, we found that most key enzyme-encoding genes involved in N cycling were significantly more abundant in 5BB rootstock rhizosphere soil. However, we found that 1103P rhizosphere was enriched in genes involved in C cycle and Plant Growth Promotion (PGP) functionality. Our results suggest that the different rootstocks not only recruit specific bacterial communities, but also specific functional traits within the same environment

Diagnostic yield of rapid on-site evaluation transbronchial needle aspiration versus conventional transbronchial needle aspiration: a single center experience

Trans-bronchial needle aspiration allows lymph node sampling in several thoracic conditions; the ability of Rapid On-Site Evaluation (ROSE) to predict the final diagnosis in this setting has not been well characterized. We performed a retrospective study to establish the utility of ROSE in the diagnosis of thoracic diseases with mediastinal lymph node involvement. We retrospectively reviewed 297 patients with hilar-mediastinal lymph node enlargement detected at CT scan from January 2013 to April 2016. 201 patients underwent conventional TBNA; in 96 patients, TBNA procedure was performed by on-site presence of a team of pathologists and research morphologists. Lung neoplasms, sarcoidosis, infections and lymphoma were the most common diseases diagnosed with TBNA samples. TBNA simultaneously performed in combination with ROSE produced an increase in percentage of appropriate samples compared to single cTBNA (adequate samples cTBNA vs ROSE-TBNA: 73% vs 81%; p<0.05). Our observations indicate an increase in adequacy of fine needle aspirations and increased diagnostic yield in the ROSE group. In conclusions, ROSE may serve to reduce procedure time and enhance sample triaging therefore limiting the need for further invasive diagnostic testing

Ethnobotanical Study of the Sannio Area, Campania, Southern Italy

researchEthnobotanical study of the Sannio area, in the province of Benevento (SE-Italy) has been carried out on the basis of both bibliographic sources and interviews in the field. In total 365 species in 59 families were identified. Of these species, 361 are medicinal plants, 82 for anthropic use and 35 for veterinary use