Fatty acid composition of salami made by meat from different commercial categories of indigenous dairy cattle

In autochthonous dairy cattle farms, the production of salami could represent an alternative commercial opportunity. Therefore, a study was carried out to investigate the fatty acid (FA) composition of salami made using the meat from grazing (GB) or housed (HB) young bulls and grazing adult cows (AC) of Cinisara breed. The products were manufactured by adding 20% of pork lard. Animal category influenced the FA composition, although the addition of lard mitigated the differences found in fresh meat. The salami from GB showed higher polyunsaturated FA content (p ≤0.01) and, in particular, a higher level of linoleic acid (p ≤0.05), than from other animal categories. Salami made from AC meat showed lower polyunsaturated/saturated FA ratio (p ≤0.05), but a better n-6/n-3 ratio compared to HB (p ≤0.05), due to the lower content of linoleic acid. Multivariate analysis showed an important influence of animal category on FA composition due to age, feeding system and meat fat content of animals, despite the addition of lard

Fatty acids as biomarkers of the production season of caciocavallo palermitano cheese

This experiment aims to evaluate the potential of fatty acids (FA) of Caciocavallo Palermitano cheese as biomarkers of production season and pasture-based diet. A total of 48 cheeses were made in the four seasons with milk from two farms that raised cows of Cinisara breed. The animals were fed on pasture with supplementation of wheat bran and wheat straw in the barn, and in summer also with Opuntia ficus-indica cladodes. The chemical composition and FA profile of cheese were influenced by the season and not by the farm. In particular, cheeses produced in spring were characterized by higher protein and lower fat, and showed higher contents in trans-vaccenic acid, α-linolenic acid, rumenic acid, n-3 polyunsaturated FA (PUFA), and total PUFA. In winter, the lower availability of grazing forage, requiring a higher level of feeding integration, was responsible for an increase of saturated FA (SFA). The multivariate analysis distinguished clearly the cheeses made in winter and spring, while those produced in autumn and summer showed some overlapping points. Further investigations should be carried out to evaluate the effects of type and level of feeding integration on the presence of FA more suitable to be used as biomarkers of period and diet

Bresaola made from Cinisara cattle: effect of muscle type and animal category on physicochemical and sensory traits

The physicochemical characteristics and sensory traits of Cinisara bresaola were investigated, to explore a new commercial opportunity for autochthonous dairy cattle farms. Semimembranosus, Semitendinosus and Biceps brachii muscles, from adult cows (AC) and grazing (GB) or housed (HB) young bulls of Cinisara breed, were processed to made bresaola. Differences due to animal category and muscle type were observed. Bresaola from AC was richer in fat and volatile organic compounds. The bresaola from Semitendinosus showed higher colorimetric parameters, fat and, when from grazing animals, Warner-Bratzler shear force than those made from other muscles. In general, all bresaola were well appreciated. The principal component analysis performed using selected physicochemical and sensory traits was able to discriminate bresaola produced from different animal categories, effect of muscle type was relevant only for AC. These results evidenced the possibility to obtain bresaola from the meat of different animal categories, comparable for sensory properties and appreciable by consumers.El presente estudio se propuso investigar las características fisicoquímicas y los rasgos sensoriales de la bresaola de ganado Cinisara, con el propósito de explorar nuevas oportunidades comerciales para las granjas autóctonas de ganado lechero. Con el fin de elaborar la carne bresaola se procesaron los músculos Semimembranosus, Semitendinosus y Biceps brachii de vacas adultas (AC), de toros jóvenes que pastan (GB) y de toros jóvenes confinados (HB) de la raza Cinisara. El estudio constató la existencia de diferencias atribuibles a la categoría de los animales, así como al tipo de músculo empleado. La bresaola de AC resultó ser más rica en grasa y compuestos orgánicos volátiles. La bresaola de Semitendinosus mostró parámetros colorimétricos más intensos, mayor contenido de grasa y, cuando provenía de animales de pastoreo, [mayor] fuerza de cizallamiento de WarnerBratzler que las bresaolas elaboradas con otros músculos. En general, todas las bresaolas fueron bastante apreciadas. El análisis de los componentes principales, realizado utilizando rasgos fisicoquímicos y sensoriales seleccionados, fue capaz de discriminar la bresaola producida a partir de diferentes categorías de animales; el efecto del tipo de músculo sólo fue evidente en el caso de las AC. Estos resultados ponen de manifiesto la posibilidad de obtener varias bresaolas a partir de carne de diferentes categorías de animales, las cuales son comparables por sus propiedades sensoriales. Todas ellas son apreciadas por los consumidores

New Materials and Technologies for Durability and Conservation of Building Heritage

The increase in concrete structures’ durability is a milestone to improve the sustainability of buildings and infrastructures. In order to ensure a prolonged service life, it is necessary to detect the deterioration of materials by means of monitoring systems aimed at evaluating not only the penetration of aggressive substances into concrete but also the corrosion of carbon-steel reinforcement. Therefore, proper data collection makes it possible to plan suitable restoration works which can be carried out with traditional or innovative techniques and materials. This work focuses on building heritage and it highlights the most recent findings for the conservation and restoration of reinforced concrete structures and masonry buildings

Global Outcome Assessment Life-long after stroke in young adults initiative-the GOAL initiative : study protocol and rationale of a multicentre retrospective individual patient data meta-analysis

Introduction Worldwide, 2 million patients aged 18-50 years suffer a stroke each year, and this number is increasing. Knowledge about global distribution of risk factors and aetiologies, and information about prognosis and optimal secondary prevention in young stroke patients are limited. This limits evidence-based treatment and hampers the provision of appropriate information regarding the causes of stroke, risk factors and prognosis of young stroke patients. Methods and analysis The Global Outcome Assessment Life-long after stroke in young adults (GOAL) initiative aims to perform a global individual patient data meta-analysis with existing data from young stroke cohorts worldwide. All patients aged 18-50 years with ischaemic stroke or intracerebral haemorrhage will be included. Outcomes will be the distribution of stroke aetiology and (vascular) risk factors, functional outcome after stroke, risk of recurrent vascular events and death and finally the use of secondary prevention. Subgroup analyses will be made based on age, gender, aetiology, ethnicity and climate of residence.Peer reviewe

NOD2, RIP2 and IRF5 Play a Critical Role in the Type I Interferon Response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis

While the recognition of microbial infection often occurs at the cell surface via Toll-like receptors, the cytosol of the cell is also under surveillance for microbial products that breach the cell membrane. An important outcome of cytosolic recognition is the induction of IFNα and IFNβ, which are critical mediators of immunity against both bacteria and viruses. Like many intracellular pathogens, a significant fraction of the transcriptional response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection depends on these type I interferons, but the recognition pathways responsible remain elusive. In this work, we demonstrate that intraphagosomal M. tuberculosis stimulates the cytosolic Nod2 pathway that responds to bacterial peptidoglycan, and this event requires membrane damage that is actively inflicted by the bacterium. Unexpectedly, this recognition triggers the expression of type I interferons in a Tbk1- and Irf5-dependent manner. This response is only partially impaired by the loss of Irf3 and therefore, differs fundamentally from those stimulated by bacterial DNA, which depend entirely on this transcription factor. This difference appears to result from the unusual peptidoglycan produced by mycobacteria, which we show is a uniquely potent agonist of the Nod2/Rip2/Irf5 pathway. Thus, the Nod2 system is specialized to recognize bacteria that actively perturb host membranes and is remarkably sensitive to mycobacteria, perhaps reflecting the strong evolutionary pressure exerted by these pathogens on the mammalian immune system