Deamidation at Asparagine and Glutamine As a Major Modification upon Deterioration/Aging of Proteinaceous Binders in MuralPaintings

Proteomic strategies are herein proved to be a complementary approach to the well established amino acid composition analysis for the characterization of the aging and deterioration phenomena occurring to proteinaceous materials in works-of-art. Amino acid analyses on several samples demonstrated that proteins in the frescoes from the Camposanto Monumentale in Pisa are deteriorated as revealed by the decrease in Met, Lys, and Tyr content and by the presence in all the samples of amino malonic acid as a result of Ser, Phe, and Cys oxidation. Proteomic analysis identified deamidation at Asn and Gln as a further major event occurred. This work paves the way to the exploitation of proteomic strategies for the investigation of the molecular effects of aging and deterioration in historical objects. Results show that proteomic searches for deamidation by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) could constitute a routine analysis for paintings or any artistic and historic objects where proteins are present. Peptides that can be used as molecular markers when casein is present were identified

Near Infrared Spectroscopy to Assess Feeding Value and Antinutritional Compounds in Legume Species

There is an increasing demand for information on the quality characteristics and chemical composition of forages in order to meet the demands of dietary specifications for feeding animals. Near Infrared (NIR) spectroscopy provides a tool for rapid and non-destructive analysis in agronomic and breeding programs of a number of chemical components of forages and grains. NIR spectroscopy in particular has the advantage of being able to simultaneously evaluate the samples for a number of qualitative traits of whole plants and seeds. In two experiments here presented, NIR Spectroscopy was used to predict: i) qualitative characteristics of field pea seeds and, as regards secondary metabolites responsible of detrimental or beneficial effects on animal nutrition ii) condensed tannins in legume forages, based on calibration sets of samples previously chemically analysed

Tannin treated lucerne silage in dairy cow feeding

The effects of the addition of tannins to lucerne silage were investigated. At ensiling, chestnut hydrolyzable tannins were added to lucerne forage (T=tannins treated lucerne silage vs C=control lucerne silage). Fifty lactating Holstein cows, fed two diets different for lucerne silage treatment (C or T), were used in a cross-over design. In situ rumen soluble protein fraction (%CP) was higher for C (67.9 vs 59.4; P<0.01), whereas potentially rumen degradable protein (%CP) was lower (24.5 vs 32.1 for C and T; P<0.01). Intestinal rumen escape protein digestibility (%) was numerically higher for T (48.3 vs 54.3). Dry matter intake (21.5 kg/d for both diets) and milk yield (29.8 and 30.2 kg/d for C and T) were not affected by dietary treatment, whereas FCM was slightly higher for T diet (27.5 vs 27.9 kg/d for C and T; P<0.10). Adding tannins to lucerne silage is effective in shifting part of N utilization from the rumen to the intestine, leading to similar productive performance in lactating cows

Effects of constant vs variable dietary protein content on milk production and N utilization in dairy cows.

Forty-two lactating Holstein cows were divided into two groups, control (C) and test (T), and used in a cross-over design. In each group cows were also divided in three subgroups on the basis of milk yield: low (L), medium (M) and high (H). C cows were fed a diet with 15.4% CP on DM. T cows were fed three diets with the CP content (% DM) adjusted to milk yield (13.6, 15.2 and 17.2 for diets TL, TM and TH). At the highest level of production TH diet improved milk yield (kg/d) (38.9 C vs 41.0 TH) and FCM (kg/d) (39.6 C vs 40.6 TH) (P<0.05). No differences were detected for TL and TM diets compared to C. For L and H subgroups milk urea (mg/dl) was increased by the higher CP diets (28 C vs 24 TL; 30 C vs 36 TH; P<0.05). N efficiency (milk N, %N intake) was higher with lower CP diets (22 C vs 25 TL; 32 C vs 29 TH) and for increased milk yield. An adequate CP content of the diet enhances milk production in high yielding dairy cows, but an excessive amount of dietary N increases milk urea and N excretion

Laser hardening of steel sintered parts

The possibility of applying rapid and localized laser hardening to near-net shape parts, like the ones deriving from powder metallurgy (P/M) is investigated, demonstrating that even low alloyed steels (Fe + 2% Cu + 0,7% C) can be successfully heat treated with minimal or no dimensional variations. Laser hardening conditions have been selected on the basis of the results of the previous research, carried out by means of an Nd-YAG high power system [1]. To avoid some carbon loss, observed on previous activities, the samples have been protected by neutral atmosphere. The microstructural features of the laser hardened steels have been analyzed by optical microscopy, whereas the surface micro-geometry has been characterized by scanning electron microscope. Hardened depth (HD), hardened width (HW) and hardened area (HA) have been measured as well. As expected, the micro-hardness profiles present a sharp drop at low distance from the hardened surface. The typical splitting between hardened zone and heat-Affected zone (HAZ), well known from laser hardened fully dense steels, has been observed also on low-Alloy sintered steels. The use of a protective atmosphere has been helpful to control surface decarburization and to prevent oxidation. The research confirm that Laser transformation Hardening (LTH) is a suitable hardening process of P/M components, through the action of a scanning laser beam. The short heating time and the modest volume fraction structurally modified can contribute to avoid part distortion, in comparison with other hardening methods

Bone and Energy Metabolism Parameters in Professional Cyclists during the Giro d&#8217;Italia 3-Weeks Stage Race

Cycling is a not weight-bearing activity and is known to induce bone resorption. Stage races are really strenuous endurance performances affecting the energy homeostasis. The recently highlighted link, in the co-regulation of bone and energy metabolism, demonstrates a central role for the equilibrium between carboxylated and undercarboxylated forms of osteocalcin. Aim of this study was to understand the acute physiological responses to a cycling stage race in terms of bone turnover and energy metabolism and the possible co-regulative mechanisms underlying their relationship. We studied nine professional cyclists engaged in 2011 Giro d'Italia stage race. Pre-analytical and analytical phases tightly followed academic and anti-doping authority's recommendations. Bone and energy metabolism markers (bone alkaline phosphatase, tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase 5b, total and undercarboxylated osteocalcin, leptin and adiponectin) and related hormones (cortisol and testosterone) were measured, by Sandwich Enzyme Immunoassays, at days -1 (pre-race), 12 and 22 during the race. The power output and the energy expenditure (mean and accumulated) were derived and correlated with the biochemical indexes. During the race, bone metabolism showed that an unbalance in behalf of resorption, which is enhanced, occurred along with a relative increase in the concentration of the undercarboxylated form of osteocalcin that was indirectly related to the enhanced energy expenditure, through adipokines modifications, with leptin decrease (high energy consumption) and adiponectin increase (optimization of energy expenditure). The exertion due to heavy effort induced a decrease of cortisol, while testosterone levels resulted unchanged. In conclusion, during a 3-weeks stage race, bone metabolism is pushed towards resorption. A possible relationship between the bone and the energy metabolisms is suggested by the relative correlations among absolute and relative concentrations trends of undercarboxylated OC, adipokines concentrations, BMI, fat mass (%), power output and the derived energy expenditure

Compliance alla terapia dietetica

La terapia nutrizionale è uno dei cardini della terapia conservativa dell'Insufficienza Renale Cronica (IRC). È in grado di contrastare segni, sintomi e complicanze dell'insufficienza renale, di procrastinare l'inizio della dialisi e di mantenere lo stato nutrizionale. La dieta deve essere ridotta in proteine perché molte delle tossine e dei cataboliti ritenuti derivano dalle proteine esogene, e perché la restrizione proteica rappresenta una condizione necessaria, anche se non sufficiente, per la contestuale riduzione dell'apporto di sodio e fosforo che contribuisce agli effetti terapeutici. Altra caratteristica fondamentale della terapia dietetica è l'adeguatezza energetica. I due casi descritti rappresentano quello che spesso accade nella pratica clinica nel paziente con IRC cui viene prescritta una dieta ipoproteica, e sottolineano l'importanza del counselling dietetico per la sicurezza e l'efficacia della terapia nutrizionale nel paziente renale con o senza diabete mellito

Effects of wilting and lactic acid bacteria inoculation on fermentation quality of white lupin and fababean silages

Fababeans and lupins are short-term catch crops with a high crude protein content, which provide a high forage yield in a short growing period. Legumes are difficult to conserve as silages because of their low water soluble carbohydrates content (WSC) and high buffer capacity. To our knowledge, little information is available on the ensiling of fababeans and lupins in Southern Europe. The research was carried out in Lodi (Italy) in order to evaluate the effects of wilting and inoculation with lactic acid bacteria (LAB) on fermentation characteristics of the resulting silages. The data show that both wilting and LAB inoculant significantly improved fermentation quality of the legumes silages