Valorization of indigenous dairy cattle breed through salami production

The aim of the research was to produce salami manufactured with meat of three different commercial categories of bovine breed: cow on retirement, beef and young bull. A total of six experimental productions, at small-scale plant, were carried out with and without starter culture inoculums. The evolution of physico-chemical parameters in all trials followed the trend already registered for other fermented meat products. Several LAB species were found during process with different levels of species diversity and frequency of isolation among inoculated (mainly Pediococcus pentosaceus and Staphylococcus xylosus) and uninoculated (mainly Enterococcus devriesei, Lactobacillus curvatus and Lactobacillus sakei) trials. Enterobacteriaceae were found at very low levels during the entire ripening period and no pathogenic bacteria were found in any samples. The multivariate analysis showed that starter inoculums and meat affected significantly the physico-chemical and the microbiological composition of salami. The sensory analysis evidenced the highest overall acceptability was displayed by salami produced with meat from cow on retirement

Assessment of air pollutant sources in the deposit on monuments by multivariate analysis

A proper recognition of the pollutant sources in atmospheric deposit is a key problem for any action aiming at reducing their emission, being this an important issue with implications both on human health safeguard and on the cultural heritage conservation in urban sites. This work presents the results of a statistical approach application for the identification of pollutant sources in deposits and damage layers on monuments located in different European sites: Santa Maria del Fiore, Florence (Italy), Cologne Cathedral, Cologne (Germany), Ancient ramparts, Sale (Morocco), National Museum, Cracow (Poland) and National Gallery, Oslo (Norway). For this aim, the surface damage layers on monuments and historical buildings of the selected sites were collected and analyzed, in terms of ionic and elemental composition, through application of ion chromatography and induced coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy. The achieved results were processed by multivariate analyses such as correlation matrix and principal component analysis in order to identify the possible origin of pollutants affecting the state of conservation of the monuments. This allowed us to assume that in all case studies the traffic emission is the main pollutant source. In the case of Ancient ramparts, Sale (Morocco), and National Gallery, Oslo (Norway), the surfaces are also under influence of marine aerosols. Moreover, concerning the Cologne Cathedral, the strong impact of the pollutants emitted by railway station was also revealed

Are people willing to pay for eco-labeled wild seafood? An overview

In the last two decades, eco-labeled seafood has been becoming an instrument of sustainability directed towards consumers, addressing a market-based incentive for better management of fisheries. In this context, several studies across the countries have been conducted about how much consumers are willing to pay for fish caught by certifiably sustainable fishing activities. In this direction, the aim of this study was to systematize the available information about the willingness-to- pay (rTP) more for eco-labeled wild seafood. Therefore, only papers published on ISI journals were searched on "Web of Knowledge" and "SciVerse Scopus" platforms, using the combinations the following key words: seafood, ecolabel, willingness, WTP and premium. The results were organized considering the following variables: taxa, species' family, English name of the species, survey's country, data collection, brand and the WTP. A worldwide increasing interest on ecolabel seafood emerged clearly, empathizing the progressive affirmation of an eco-centrism vision, mainly in the developed countries

The production of typical cured meats from cattle of Cinisara breed

In recent years consumers prefer genuine, tasty, protein-rich, low in fat and cholesterol products. The Cinisara cow is a dairy Sicilian autochthonous breed, reared in the western part of the isle according to the traditional livestock system, based on grazing natural pastures. The meat of Cinisara cattle could be used to obtain also processed products, among which salami and bresaola, as commercial alternatives to fresh meat, in order to increase the economic profitability of farms. The aim of this research was to produce bresaola and salami with meat from adult cows (AC) and grazing (GB) or housed (HB) young bulls of Cinisara breed, evaluating their physico-chemical and sensory traits. In the last 3 months, all animals were fed with hay ad libitum and concentrate; moreover AC and GB were continuously grazing pasture until slaughtering. After a week maturation phase in cold room, the carcasses were dissected to separate semimembranosus (SM), semitendinosus (ST) and biceps brachii (BB) muscles for bresaola production, and using the rest of meat for salami production. The muscles, after removing fat and external tendons, were salted in 2 steps for a total of 14 days at 4\ub0C. After they were placed to drain for 8 days at 4\ub0C and subsequently stuffed into natural casing and transferred to drying cells. For the preparation of the salami, the meat of the three animal categories was minced separately and added with 20% of lard from pigs of \u201cNero dei Nebrodi\u201d breed cut into cubes, and a mixture of salt and spices. Each mixture was separately stuffed into natural casings of straight type (35 cm in length and 7 cm in diameter). During the phases of dripping, fermentation and maturation, the salami and bresaola were stored in rooms with controlled temperature and relative humidity for 45 and 35 days, respectively. The fat content (% DM) was higher in AC both for bresaola (9.68 vs 4.78 in HB and 3.52 in GB; P 640.001) and salami (41.46 vs 36.96 in HB and 32.62 in GB; P 640.01) due to the higher fat content of meat. Also the total fatty acid (FA) content (%DM) was higher in AC both for bresaola (8.90 vs 4.37 in HB and 3.13 in GB; P 640.001) and salami (37.20 vs 33.47 in HB and 29.62 in GB; P 640.01). The content in saturated, monounsaturated (MUFA) and polyunsaturated (PUFA) FA (% on total FA) of bresaola showed differences between animals (45.24, 42.51 and 10.79 in AC; 41.73, 23.33 and 34.80 in GB; 45.20, 32.32 and 21.72 in HB; P 640.001), in accordance with the different fat content and the proportions of FA which, as is known, vary with the age of the animal and its diet. In bresaola, oleic acid (% on total FA) was equal to 32.25 in AC, 23.70 in HB and 15.45 in GB, (P 640.01), due to the different distribution and location of MUFA and PUFA in animal tissues. In salami, the differences between the animals were minor, although significant, probably due to the lower lipid contribution of meat compared to the lard added. The evaluation of the sensory analysis of ripened salami showed a better overall acceptability for AC, with higher scores for color uniformity, fat/lean connection, flavor intensity and chewiness. A good general acceptability emerged also for bresaola, even if those of AC were less appreciated for chewiness and tenderness. ST bresaola showed higher colorimetric parameters, higher fat and MUFA percentages, while those obtained from grazing animals (AC and GB) showed higher shear force at Warner-Bratzler test. In both products the volatile organic compounds were higher in AC than in GB and HB which had a similar content. From multivariate statistical approaches, a good discrimination was obtained among animal categories for both bresaola and salami. The results evidenced the possibility to obtain bresaola and salami with appreciable sensory properties for consumers from different animal categories and muscle cuts, thus to improve the economic performance of autochthonous cattle

Toilet paper recovery from municipal wastewater and application in building sector

One of the most innovative applications for a circular economy approach is the recovery of cellulose fibres from municipal wastewater. Recovered cellulose fibres from the wastewater could bring benefits to the construction industry in terms of reducing the amount of non-renewable raw materials and increasing sustainability. Rotating belt filter was used to obtain cellulose fibre-rich sludge from real urban influent. Recovered cellulosic material reached values up to 26.59 g m-3 when the solids removal efficiency was higher than 70%. Treated cellulosic sludge had an average of 87% content of cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin. The recovered cellulose fibres were analysed and used in mortar mix to understand their possible impact in the building sector and the effect on the properties of hydraulic lime-based mortars. Properties of fibre addition were investigated in terms of microstructure and mechanical strength. Cellulose fibres were added by mix volume up to 20%. The overall results with the maximum content of cellulose fibres indicated the improvement of mortars performance in terms of increased lightness, flexural strength and hygrometric properties

Interaction between saquinavir and antimycotic drugs on C-albicans and C-neoformans strains

Candidiasis and cryptococcosis are the most common fungal diseases among patients suffering from HIV infection. In the present work we assess whether the combined therapies, proteinase inhibitors and antimycotic drugs, could modify the therapeutic effect of antimycotics. An in vitro study to evaluate the antifungal effect of saquinavir and antimycotic drugs combination on yeast growth was performed. Strains of C. albicans and C. neoformans from HIV-seropositive patients were used. Susceptibility tests of yeasts to amphotericin B, 5-fluorocytosine, miconazole and fluconazole, singly and in combination with saquinavir, were performed in two different media. In the combinations the antimycotic agents and saquinavir were tested at sub-inhibitory concentrations: 0.1-10 mug ml(-1) and 12.50 mug ml(-1), respectively. The fractionary inhibitory concentration (FIC) index was also calculated. The results show that the interaction between saquinavir and all the antimycotic drugs never resulted in antagonism. Fluconazole acts in more synergistic way, no matter which medium is used. The combined therapy miconazole/saquinavir results in synergism, especially in Sabouraud. The total absence of antagonism and the presence of synergism suggest that a combined therapy could be proposed in the treatment of HIV-seropositive patients to reduce side effects, thanks to the use of lower doses of antimycotic drugs