Concentrations of some toxic and trace elements in wild boar (Sus scrofa) organs and tissues in different areas of the Province of Viterbo, Central Italy

The aim of the present study was to determine heavy metal reference levels for exposure and risk assessment studies on a local scale. We measured lead (Pb), chromium (Cr), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu) and cadmium (Cd) content in edible tissues and organs of wild boars harvested in dif- ferent areas of the Province of Viterbo, Central Italy. The average levels of cadmium recorded in 75 wild boars were 0.085, 0.079 and 1.052 mg Cd kg–1 wet weight (w.w.) in the liver, muscle and kidney, respectively. The majority of the muscle samples and some of the liver samples contained levels of heavy metal that were over the legal limit [EU Maximum Residue Levels (MRLs)] for pigs. Our data are similar to or lower than the val- ues reported in most of the available literature. For Pb concentration, the average values record- ed were 0.318, 0.126 and 0.298 mg kg–1 w.w. in the liver, muscle and kidney, respectively. The sam- ples that were non-compliant with regulatory limits (MRLs) for pigs were registered only for muscle. Available data on the presence of Pb con- tent in game meat report lower values than ours, most likely because the area around the bullet path was avoided while sampling. The average values of total Cr were 0.141, 0.139 and 0.097 mg kg–1 w.w. in the liver, muscle and kidney, respec- tively. For Zn, the mean values were 49.76, 53.21 and 32.46 mg kg–1 w.w. in the liver, muscle and kidney, respectively. Cu content was 46.12, 12.20 and 5.64 mg Cu kg–1 w.w. in the liver, muscle and kidney, respectively. The results obtained have been validated on the basis of the scarce and inconsistent Italian literature available and on international studies

Space-Time Block Preconditioning for Incompressible Resistive Magnetohydrodynamics

This work develops a novel all-at-once space-time preconditioning approach for resistive magnetohydrodynamics (MHD), with a focus on model problems targeting fusion reactor design. We consider parallel-in-time due to the long time domains required to capture the physics of interest, as well as the complexity of the underlying system and thereby computational cost of long-time integration. To ameliorate this cost by using many processors, we thus develop a novel approach to solving the whole space-time system that is parallelizable in both space and time. We develop a space-time block preconditioning for resistive MHD, following the space-time block preconditioning concept first introduced by Danieli et al. in 2022 for incompressible flow, where an effective preconditioner for classic sequential time-stepping is extended to the space-time setting. The starting point for our derivation is the continuous Schur complement preconditioner by Cyr et al. in 2021, which we proceed to generalise in order to produce, to our knowledge, the first space-time block preconditioning approach for the challenging equations governing incompressible resistive MHD. The numerical results are promising for the model problems of island coalescence and tearing mode, with the overhead computational cost associated with space-time preconditioning versus sequential time-stepping being modest and primarily in the range of 2x-5x, which is low for parallel-in-time schemes in general. Additionally, the scaling results for inner (linear) and outer (nonlinear) iterations are flat in the case of fixed time-step size and only grow very slowly in the case of time-step refinement.Comment: 25 pages, 4 figures, 3 table

particle size evaluation of total mixed rations in intensive beef production systems

AbstractSamples of total mixed ration (TMR) were collected periodically in 15 beef cattle farms and submitted to a nutritional and particle size evaluation. Samples of faeces were taken and analysed for pH, consistency, colour and visually ranked for corn residues (Corn Residue Index) from 4 (totally digested) to 0 (very high presence of maize residues). Dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), and ash content of TMR for Limousine were higher than that for Charolaise while an opposite situation was observed for crude fiber (CF). Particle size analysis of TMR showed an higher content of small ( 19.0 mm) particles in Charolaise than in Limousine TMR. From May to September a general increase of larger fractions and a reduction of the smaller ones were observed, as a consequence of empirical practices of TMR formulation during summer. Faeces characteristics did not show any difference between breeds (overall mean pH: 6.00 vs 6.13; Corn Residue Index: 2.90 vs 3.24, respectively for Charolaise a..

Histone Deacetylase and Microtubules as Targets for the Synthesis of Releasable Conjugate Compounds

Design and synthesis of an HDAC inhibitor and its merger with three tubulin binders to create releasable conjugate compounds is described. The biological evaluation includes: a) in vitro reactivity with glutathione, b) antiproliferative activity, c) cell cycle analysis and d) quantification of protein acetylation. The cellular pharmacology study indicated that the HDAC-inhibitor-drug conjugates retained antimitotic and proapoptotic activity with a reduced potenc

In vitro fermentation patterns and methane production of sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia Scop.) hay with different condensed tannin contents.

Sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia Scop.) is a perennial legume recently reappraised for some positive charac- teristics leading to highly satisfactory animal perfor- mance. Sainfoin’s characteristics may be partly explained by the presence of moderate levels of condensed tannins (CTs) able to protect dietary protein from microbial degradation in the rumen. Decreased CH4 emissions have been reported for ruminants consuming CT-containing forage. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of CT content on the in vitro fermentation characteristics and kinetics and methane production of four samples of O. viciifolia cut at different phenological stages. Sainfoin hays and one sample of alfalfa hay were incubated at 39C in anaerobiosis using the in vitro gas production technique. The chemical composition, tannin content and fermentation charac- teristics and kinetics of sainfoin samples were signifi- cantly affected by phenological stage. After 48 h, the CH4 production in sainfoin hays showed a tendency to increase with the advancement of phenological stage [from 38Æ6 to 49 Æ8 mL g )1 of degraded organic matter (OM)]. The best period to cut sainfoin for hay making is between early and late flowering, when the forage combines high OM digestibility, low CH4 production and more efficient microbial fermentation

The development of the British Red Cross' psychosocial framework: 'calmer'

This paper presents the history, development and approach of the new psychosocial framework which in 2008 was adopted by the British Red Cross, and a piece of research designed to review its fitness for purpose as an educational tool. The framework CALMER is a single, overarching approach for considering and delivering psychosocial services across all of the British Red Cross. It is being included in all relevant training programmes, such as within first aid and psychosocial support and within services in emergency response, event first aid, health and social care, international tracing and message and refugee services and across human resources. The framework includes six prompts which should be followed sequentially, with guidance on facilitative behaviours within each. The research considered the levels of confidence and worry of participants on one day training programmes delivered to three different groups of personnel in three different countries. While finding support for the CALMER framework, further recommendations are made for future research