7,869 research outputs found
Use of peas in organic buffalo farming: effects on nutrient digestibility and milk production
Twenty lactating buffalo cows, organically farmed, were used to examine the effects of including peas in total mixed ration. Two concentrates were formulated to contain, as the main protein sources, either 350 g/kg of soybean cake (CC) or 450 g/kg of peas (ExpC). Cows were blocked into two groups according to parity and previous milk yield and were assigned to one of two dietary treatments: one group was fed a diet with 6 kg/d of CC, whereas the treatment group was fed diet in which 3kg/d of CC were replaced by an equal quantity of ExpC. Digestibility of the diets and milk production of the cows were measured. The experimental period covered the whole lactation period. No differences were observed between groups for milk yield and composition, and for total tract apparent digestibility. The main hypothesis tested, that the replacement of soybean cake with peas in buffalo diet would not affect milk yield and composition, was confirmed. This suggested that the partial substitution of soybean cake with peas in diet for buffalo cows can be possible without affect performances
Lactoferrin's anti-cancer properties. Safety, selectivity, and wide range of action
Despite recent advances in cancer therapy, current treatments, including radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy, although beneficial, present attendant side effects and long-term sequelae, usually more or less affecting quality of life of the patients. Indeed, except for most of the immunotherapeutic agents, the complete lack of selectivity between normal and cancer cells for radio- and chemotherapy can make them potential antagonists of the host anti-cancer self-defense over time. Recently, the use of nutraceuticals as natural compounds corroborating anti-cancer standard therapy is emerging as a promising tool for their relative abundance, bioavailability, safety, low-cost effectiveness, and immuno-compatibility with the host. In this review, we outlined the anti-cancer properties of Lactoferrin (Lf), an iron-binding glycoprotein of the innate immune defense. Lf shows high bioavailability after oral administration, high selectivity toward cancer cells, and a wide range of molecular targets controlling tumor proliferation, survival, migration, invasion, and metastasization. Of note, Lf is able to promote or inhibit cell proliferation and migration depending on whether it acts upon normal or cancerous cells, respectively. Importantly, Lf administration is highly tolerated and does not present significant adverse effects. Moreover, Lf can prevent development or inhibit cancer growth by boosting adaptive immune response. Finally, Lf was recently found to be an ideal carrier for chemotherapeutics, even for the treatment of brain tumors due to its ability to cross the blood-brain barrier, thus globally appearing as a promising tool for cancer prevention and treatment, especially in combination therapies
Gravitational effects on a rigid Casimir cavity
Vacuum fluctuations produce a force acting on a rigid Casimir cavity in a
weak gravitational field. Such a force is here evaluated and is found to have
opposite direction with respect to the gravitational acceleration; the order of
magnitude for a multi-layer cavity configuration is analyzed and experimental
detection is discussed, bearing in mind the current technological resources.Comment: 7 pages, Latex. Talk given at the Fifth Leipzig Workshop on Quantum
Field Theory under the Influence of External Conditions, September 200
Use of peas in organic buffalo farming: effects on nutrient digestibility and milk production
Twenty lactating buffalo cows, organically farmed, were used to examine the effects of including peas in total mixed ration. Two concentrates were formulated to contain, as the main protein sources, either 350 g/kg of soybean cake (CC) or 450 g/kg of peas (ExpC). Cows were blocked into two groups according to parity and previous milk yield and were assigned to one of two dietary treatments: one group was fed a diet with 6 kg/d of CC, whereas the treatment group was fed diet in which 3 kg/d of CC were replaced by an equal quantity of ExpC. Digestibility of the diets and milk yield of the cows were measured. The experimental period covered the whole lactation period. No differences were observed between groups for milk yield and composition, and for digestibility. The main hypothesis tested, that the replacement of soybean cake with peas in buffalo diet would not affect milk yield and composition,was confirmed. This suggested that the partial substitution of soybean cake with peas in diet for buffalo cows can be possible without affect performances
Resonant electron heating and molecular phonon cooling in single C junctions
We study heating and heat dissipation of a single \c60 molecule in the
junction of a scanning tunneling microscope (STM) by measuring the electron
current required to thermally decompose the fullerene cage. The power for
decomposition varies with electron energy and reflects the molecular resonance
structure. When the STM tip contacts the fullerene the molecule can sustain
much larger currents. Transport simulations explain these effects by molecular
heating due to resonant electron-phonon coupling and molecular cooling by
vibrational decay into the tip upon contact formation.Comment: Accepted in Phys. Rev. Let
Hyaluronic Acid Inhibits Polycation Induced Cellular Responses
Positively charged macromolecules cause a variety of pathological
events through their electrostatic interaction with anionic sites
present on the membrane of target cells. In the present study we have
investigated the effect of hyaluronic acid, a negatively charged
molecule, on rat paw oedema induced by poly-L-lysine as well as on
histamine release from rat mast cells and nitric oxide formation
from rabbit aorta, both induced by this polycation. The results
indicate that hyaluronic acid is able to suppress these
poly-L-lysine induced effects with a mechanism which possibly
depends on its negative charges which may balance the effects of
positively charged polycations
A correlation between intestinal microbiota dysbiosis and osteoarthritis
© 2019 Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative disease of the articular cartilage, resulting in pain and total joint disability. Recent studies focused on the role of the metabolic syndrome in inducing or worsening joint damage suggest that chronic low-grade systemic inflammation may represent a possible linking factor. This finding supports the concept of a new phenotype of OA, a metabolic OA. The gut microbiome is fundamental for human physiology and immune system development, among the other important functions. Manipulation of the gut microbiome is considered an important topic for the individual health in different medical fields such as medical biology, nutrition, sports, preventive and rehabilitative medicine. Since intestinal microbiota dysbiosis is strongly associated with the pathogenesis of several metabolic and inflammatory diseases, it is conceivable that also the pathogenesis of OA might be related to it. However, the mechanisms and the contribution of intestinal microbiota metabolites in OA pathogenesis are still not clear. The aim of this narrative review is to review recent literature concerning the possible contribution of dysbiosis to OA onset and to discuss the importance of gut microbiome homeostasis maintenance for optimal general health preservation
Atmospheric Boundary Layer Height: Inter-Comparison of Different Estimation Approaches Using the Raman Lidar as Benchmark
This work stems from the idea of improving the capability to measure the atmospheric boundary layer height (ABLH) in variable or unstable weather conditions or in the presence of turbulence and precipitation events. A new approach based on the use of rotational and roto-vibrational Raman lidar signals is considered and tested. The traditional gradient approach based on the elastic signals at wavelength 532 nm is also considered. Lidar data collected by the University of Basilicata Raman lidar (BASIL) within the Special Observation Period 1 (SOP 1) in Cardillargues (Ceveninnes-CV supersite) during the Hydrological Cycle in the Mediterranean Experiment (HyMeX) were used. Our attention was specifically focused on the data collected during the period 16-21 October 2012. ABLH estimates from the Raman lidar were compared against other innovative methods, such as the recently established Morphological Image Processing Approach (MIPA) and the temperature gradient technique applied to potential temperature obtained from radio-sounding data. For each considered methodology, a statistical analysis was carried out. In general, the results from the different methodologies are in good agreement. Some deviations have been observed in correspondence with quite unstable weather conditions
Turismo e covid-19: l’innovazione digitale come leva per la competitività di una destinazione turistica
La diffusione del virus Covid-19 ha portato alla luce crepe e fratture del sistema socio-economico e politico in cui la pratica turistica si trova ad operare, probabilmente già da tempo sedimentate (Bozzato, 2020). Condizione che ha sostenuto la convinzione di revisionare e avviare processi di progettazione e pianificazione territoriale in una prospettiva turistica. Certo è che, l’attuale momento storico che stiamo vivendo e le necessarie misure restrittive di spostamento prese dai governi per arginare l’emergenza sanitaria da Covid-19, hanno indotto il settore del turismo ad accelerare il processo di digitalizzazione, in parte già avviato, attraverso le applicazioni e i servizi di delivery che durante il lockdown hanno preso il sopravvento.ourism and Covid-19: digital innovation as a lever for the competitiveness of a tourist destination. The Covid-19 outbreak has highlighted the weaknesses of the social and political contest in which the tourist practice has been operating for some time (Bozzato, 2020). A condition that supported the conviction of revising and starting planning about territorial planning processes in a tourist perspective. The current historical moment that we are experiencing and the necessary travel restrictive measures taken by the governments to stem the Covid-19 health emergency, have led tourism to accelerate the digitization process already started through delivery service that during lockdown period have taken over
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