How can working time analysis contribute to the production efficiency of dairy farms in mountain regions?

The aim of the present study was to (1) estimate the labour input on loose and tie stall housing dairy farms in South Tyrol; (2) to develop a tool for the extension service available to propose strategies for improving labour productivity. The study performed on 102 dairy farms, half of them with tie and half with loose housing. Daily and non-daily working activities surveyed with a questionnaire. Nine tie stall and 10 loose housing farms were selected for on-site measurements to determine the working time of each activity and validate questionnaire data. Average herd size was 16.3 and 23.2 cows for tie stall and loose housing farms, respectively. Effects of housing type and herd size category on total and single working time were examined. In tie stalls and herd size 21 cows required 82 MPh/cow/year. Labour costs were estimated as 34.9 and 19.2 Euro cents per kg of milk for tie and loose housing, while milk production per working hour determined as 56.9 and 86.7 kg/MPh, respectively. The required MPh/cow/year decreased as the herd size increased. Efficient organisation of working time with an increase in herd size might improve production efficiency and sustainability of mountain dairy farming. However, it has to be taken into consideration that because of limited space and the fact that most farmers are only working part time on farm, the improvement of labour management is of higher importance

Assessment of the chemical and genetic variability among accessions of Cicerbita alpina (L.) Wallr., an alpine plant with anthelmintic properties

Cicerbita alpina (L.) Wallr, is a perennial alpine plant and a member of the Asteraceae family, typically found at altitudes above 1000 meters in the Italian Alps. Although previously utilized primarily as a local delicacy, recent studies have revealed strong antiparasitic activity through in vitro experiments. In Europe, numerous chemical drugs employed to combat nematodes — helminths that infest the digestive tract of livestock — are banned due to their environmental harm or show only reduced efficiency because of the development of resistance. Consequently, there is a growing demand for new alternative anthelmintic treatments in agricultural practices. Specialized metabolites found in the extracts of C. alpina could offer a sustainable and biological alternative to chemical drugs, specifically for nematode control. For this purpose, a unique germplasm collection originating from eight distinct natural populations in the Italian Alps was analyzed for its chemical diversity using state-of-the-art targeted LC-MS/MS spectrometry, including quantification based on multiple reaction monitoring. The predominant metabolites identified from the species were the caffeic acid derivatives chicoric acid, chlorogenic acid, and 3. 5-dicaffeoylquinic acid, the sesquiterpene lactone derivative 8-O-acetyl-15-ß-D-glucopyranosyl lactucin and the flavone glycosides, apigenin-7-O-glucoside and luteolin-7-Oglucoside, alongside their precursors apigenin and luteolin, respectively. Additionally, the genetic diversity of eighty individual plants within the germplasm collection was evaluated using ten DNA molecular markers (Simple Sequence Repeats), successfully transferred from two closely related species (Cichorium intybus and Tanacetum parthenium). This investigation unveiled a significant range of genetic diversity within the examined populations, resulting in the establishment of three distinct genetic groups. The findings were further correlated with the original ecological environment and local climate conditions spanning a biennial period, indicating substantial variations among the different accessions and the intricate interplay between genetic background and environmental factors. These results could serve as a basis for future domestication of the species through plant breeding programs ensuring product quality, but also facilitating the cultivation of C. alpina in more diverse geographic region

A Portal Technology to support European Organic Animal Production

Organic Agriculture (OA) is a reply to Global Society‘s interest in food safety and enviromental conservation. Many European countries have significantly developed the OA sector, where Organic Animal Farming (OAF) systems hold a major part. Since, OA principles, methods and products are constantly evolving, an increasing number of agricultural agencies are using Web sites or portals to provide OA information to stakeholders. However, finding trustworthy information on OA is still time consuming, fragmented and associated with linguistic obstacles. This paper reports a new on-line service that provides (a) access to multilingual, specialized, updated and certified on-line information covering all OA plant and animal production aspects, (b) access to electronic commerce and mobile services to all participants of the OA chain and (c) user-friendly access via various communication channels. The on-line services are implemented via a central portal at the European level, aiming to provide a single point access to vari-ous OA agents. The portal presented is the result of a research programme in the context of the European Union e-content project 11293 “BIO@GRO”. The http://bioagro.aua.gr portal is ambitious to cover all the information needs of the OA stakeholders

Evaluation of plant biomarkers in the identification of animal products

Recently there has been an increasing consumer’s demand for products of specific quality and hence for certification of the origins of the food they consume. Terpenes have been proposed as biomarkers of a grass based diet. In a 20 days experiment, 8 adult sheep and 8 adult goats were divided in two equal groups, representing control (C) and treatment (T) group. In the treatment group oral administration of 1g of each terpene, α-pinene, limonene and b-caryophyllene, were applied daily. Milk production was recorded daily and blood plasma and milk samples were also collected. Blood plasma samples were extracted with organic solvents and the Solid Phase Micro-extraction Method using CAR/PDMS fiber was used for milk samples, before terpenes were identified on a GC-MS. Milk chemical properties and fatty acid profile were also determined. The results indicated terpenes not having an effect on milk production and milk chemical properties. Dosed terpenes were identified in blood plasma, milk and cheese of the treatment (T) group of animals in both species. Fatty acids analysis obtained from goats’ milk showed significant differences on C10 (P<0.05), C18 (P<0.05) and CLA (P<0.001) while sheep fatty acids profile differed significantly for C18 (P<0.05). Following that, terpenes degradation rates were evaluated in vitro in rumen fluid of adapted and non adapted animals in a 6 weeks trial. During the week 1 and 2 animals were receiving diet with no terpenes addition while on weeks 3 and 4 animals were orally dosed with 1g of each of the following terpenes, α-pinene, limonene and b-caryophyllene. Terpenes pooled mean degradation rate of α-pinene in rumen fluid showed a trend for higher degradation rate in the 5th week compared to the 2nd and 3rd week of the experiment, while for limonene degradation rate was significantly (P=0.032) higher in week 5 compared to the 1st experimental week. Regarding the degradation rate of β-caryophyllene during the 6 weeks of the experiment there were no significant differences. Finally, the potential cytotoxic effect of all three terpenes, α-pinene, limonene and β- caryophyllene was evaluated using the rabbit kidney cell line RK13. The results indicated that terpenes had a potential cytotoxic effect on concentrations above 50 μg/m. In conclusion, monoterpenes α-pinene and limonene can be integrated in certification schemes as biomarkers in animal products, but always used together with other indicators such as fatty acids.Η αναγνωρισιμότητα αποτελεί έναν από τους σημαντικότερους παράγοντες διασφάλισης της ποιότητας των ζωικών προϊόντων και η εργαστηριακή επιβεβαίωσή της είναι απαραίτητο εργαλείο στη διαδικασία. Για την αναγνώριση της προέλευσης έχει προταθεί η χρήση βιοδεικτών δηλαδή ενώσεων που δεν συντίθενται από τον οργανισμό του ζώου και η ανίχνευσή τους στο ζωικό προϊόν οφείλεται αναμφίβολα στο σιτηρέσιο που έχουν καταναλώσει. Σκοπός της παρούσας μελέτης ήταν η αξιολόγηση της χρήσης των τερπενίων ως βιοδεικτών για το γάλα και τα προϊόντα του. Κατά τον πρώτο πειραματισμό 8 ενήλικες υγιείς αίγες και 8 προβατίνες αντίστοιχα, χωρίστηκαν σε δύο ισοδύναμες ομάδες, του μάρτυρα (C) και της επέμβασης (T). Στα ζώα των ομάδων T χορηγήθηκε ημερησίως ποσότητα 1g από κάθε ένα από τα τερπένια: α-πινένιο, λεμονένιο και β-καρυοφυλλένιο, για χρονικό διάστημα 18 ημερών. Διερευνήθηκε η παρουσία τους στο πλάσμα του αίματος, το γάλα και το τυρί των δύο ειδών ζώων. Οι αιμοληψίες πραγματοποιήθηκαν κατά τη διάρκεια των πρώτων 24 ωρών και στη συνέχεια κάθε 2η ημέρα και από τις δύο ομάδες ζώων τόσο για τις αίγες όσο και για τα πρόβατα. Τα τερπένια εκχυλίστηκαν από το πλάσμα με τη χρήση πετρελαϊκού αιθέρα και προσδιορίστηκαν σε GC/MS. Η παραγωγή γάλακτος και η ποιότητά του, ως προς τις βασικές χημικές παραμέτρους, το προφίλ των λιπαρών οξέων και τις ιδιότητες πήξης, παρακολουθούνταν συστηματικά σε ατομικό επίπεδο στα ζώα. Για τον προσδιορισμό των τερπενίων στο γάλα χρησιμοποιήθηκε η μέθοδος της μικροεκχύλισης στερεάς φάσης (SPME) σε συνδυασμό με συσκευή GC/MS. Επιπλέον, πραγματοποιήθηκαν περιοδικά τυροκομήσεις και παρασκευάστηκε Κεφαλοτύρι το οποίο αφέθηκε να ωριμάσει πριν προσδιοριστούν τα βασικά χημικά χαρακτηριστικά, το προφίλ των λιπαρών οξέων και οι συγκεντρώσεις των τερπενίων που χρησιμοποιήθηκαν. Τα μονοτερπένια ανιχνεύτηκαν σε όλα τα δείγματα του πλάσματος, στο γάλα και στο τυρί των ομάδων T και στα δύο είδη ζώων, ενώ το β-καρυοφυλλένιο είτε δεν ανιχνεύτηκε καθόλου, είτε προσδιορίστηκε σε πολύ μικρές συγκεντρώσεις. Κανένα από τα παραπάνω τερπένια δεν ανιχνεύτηκε στο αίμα και στο γάλα των ζώων της ομάδας C και για τα δύο είδη ζώων. Η γαλακτοπαραγωγή και τα χημικά χαρακτηριστικά του γάλακτος δεν παρουσίασαν στατιστικώς σημαντικές διαφορές ανάμεσα στις ομάδες C και T και για τα δύο είδη ζώων, ενώ παρατηρήθηκαν ορισμένες διαφορές (P<0,05) ως προς τα χαρακτηριστικά πήξεως του γάλακτος. Παρατηρήθηκαν επίσης στατιστικώς σημαντικές διαφορές σε ορισμένα από τα λιπαρά οξέα (C10 (P<0,05) C18 (P<0,05) και 13 CLA (P<0,001) στις αίγες και στο C18 (P<0,05) στα πρόβατα) στο λίπος του γάλακτος μεταξύ των ομάδων C και T. Κατά το δεύτερο πειραματισμό διερευνήθηκε η δυνατότητα του υγρού της μεγάλης κοιλίας να αποδoμεί τα τερπένια in vitro κάτω από διαφορετικές συνθήκες (προσαρμογή των ζώων ή όχι). Δύο τράγοι και δύο κριοί διατράφηκαν με συμβατικό σιτηρέσιο επί δύο εβδομάδες. Στη συνέχεια κατά την 3η και 4η εβδομάδα τα ζώα ελάμβαναν 1g ημερησίως από κάθε ένα από τα υπό μελέτη τερπένια: α-πινένιο, λεμονένιο και β-καρυοφυλλένιο και τέλος τα ζώα παρέμειναν στο πείραμα για δύο ακόμη εβδομάδες χωρίς τη χορήγηση τερπενίων. Με τη χρήση οισοφαγικού καθετήρα πάρθηκαν δείγματα υγρού μεγάλης κοιλίας στο τέλος κάθε εβδομάδας. Τα δείγματα επωάστηκαν για 24 ώρες in vitro με την προσθήκη 100μg/ml των τερπενίων σε αυτά και προσδιορίστηκε ο ρυθμός αποδόμησής τους είτε με την παρουσία υγρού μεγάλης κοιλίας είτε με ρυθμιστικό διάλυμα. Τα αποτελέσματα έδειξαν ότι και τα τρία τερπένια αποδομούνται in vitro στατιστικά σημαντικά (P<0,05) περισσότερο από το υγρό της μεγάλης κοιλίας και ότι η προσθήκη εξωγενών τερπενίων στο σιτηρέσιο των ζώων δεν επηρέασε στατιστικά σημαντικά το ρυθμό αποδόμησής τους στο αντίστοιχο υγρό M.K in vitro. Τέλος διερευνήθηκε η κυτταροτοξική δράση των υπό μελέτη τερπενίων στη συνεχή κυτταρική σειρά RK-13 με τη χρήση της μεθόδου ΜΤΤ Η έκθεση των κυττάρων σε συγκεντρώσεις τερπενίων μεγαλύτερες από 50 μg/ml προκάλεσε σημαντική μείωση του αριθμού των μεταβολικά ενεργών κυττάρων. Το γεγονός αυτό παρατηρήθηκε τόσο στην περίπτωση που κάθε τερπένιο εφαρμόστηκε χωριστά όσο και στην περίπτωση της ταυτόχρονης εφαρμογής τους. Συνάγεται ότι τα τερπένια μεταφέρονται αυτούσια στο γάλα και τα προϊόντα του αν και όχι ποσοτικά, ενώ παρατηρούνται διαφορές μεταξύ τους (μονοτερπένια-σεσκιτερπένια) και μεταξύ των ειδών ζώων. Επιπλέον διαπιστώθηκε ότι τα τερπένια είναι βιολογικά δραστικές ενώσεις που παρουσιάζουν κυτταροτοξικότητα και μεταβολίζονται στο περιβάλλον της Μ.Κ. Τα μονοτερπένια α-πινένιο και λεμονένιο θα μπορούσαν να χρησιμοποιηθούν ως βιοδείκτες για την αναγνωρισιμότητα των ζωικών προϊόντων. Ωστόσο, η χρήση τους θα έδινε πιο ασφαλή συμπεράσματα για το γάλα και τα προϊόντα του στην περίπτωση που χρησιμοποιούνται συνδυαστικά με άλλα συστατικά όπως για παράδειγμα τα λιπαρά οξέα του λίπους του γάλακτο

Lead Exposure and Associated Risk Factors among New Migrant Children Arriving in Greece

Background: This study aims to assess lead exposure and associated risk factors among newly arrived migrant (M) (immigrant and refugees) children in Greece and a matched control of native (N) children. Methods: A prospective, cross-sectional study was performed in an outpatient clinic of a tertiary children&rsquo;s hospital. Results: From 2010 to 2014, 598 children (M/N: 349/249) with a mean age of 6.96 years old (range 1&ndash;14, SD 3.76) were enrolled. Blood lead levels (BLLs) ranged from 0.7 to 21 &mu;g/dL in migrant and from 0.4 to 10 &mu;g/dL in native Greek children. Elevated BLLs &ge; 5 &mu;g/dL were detected in 27.7% of migrants and 1.2% of natives (p &lt; 0.001). A significant association was found between EBLLs and childrens&rsquo; age (&le;5 years) (OR: 1.8, p-value 0.02) and EBLLs with Asian origin (OR: 3.63, p-value 0.023). Conclusion: New migrant children presented with increased BLLs when compared to their age- and sex-matched controls. Younger age and Asian origin were significant risk factors associated with elevated BLLs among children. Early screening, secondary prevention, and regular follow-up could prove useful in this vulnerable population

COVID-19-Associated Pulmonary Aspergillosis (CAPA) in Northern Greece during 2020–2022: A Comparative Study According to the Main Consensus Criteria and Definitions

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-associated pulmonary aspergillosis (CAPA) has emerged as an important complication among patients with acute respiratory failure due to SARS-CoV-2 infection. Almost 2.5 years since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, it continues to raise concerns as an extra factor that contributes to increased mortality, which is mostly because its diagnosis and management remain challenging. The present study utilises the cases of forty-three patients hospitalised between August 2020 and February 2022 whose information was gathered from ten ICUs and special care units based in northern Greece. The main aim was to describe the gained experience in diagnosing CAPA, according to the implementation of the main existing diagnostic consensus criteria and definitions, and present the different classification of the clinical cases due to the alternative algorithms

DataSheet_1_Assessment of the chemical and genetic variability among accessions of Cicerbita alpina (L.) Wallr., an alpine plant with anthelmintic properties.docx

Cicerbita alpina (L.) Wallr, is a perennial alpine plant and a member of the Asteraceae family, typically found at altitudes above 1000 meters in the Italian Alps. Although previously utilized primarily as a local delicacy, recent studies have revealed strong antiparasitic activity through in vitro experiments. In Europe, numerous chemical drugs employed to combat nematodes — helminths that infest the digestive tract of livestock — are banned due to their environmental harm or show only reduced efficiency because of the development of resistance. Consequently, there is a growing demand for new alternative anthelmintic treatments in agricultural practices. Specialized metabolites found in the extracts of C. alpina could offer a sustainable and biological alternative to chemical drugs, specifically for nematode control. For this purpose, a unique germplasm collection originating from eight distinct natural populations in the Italian Alps was analyzed for its chemical diversity using state-of-the-art targeted LC-MS/MS spectrometry, including quantification based on multiple reaction monitoring. The predominant metabolites identified from the species were the caffeic acid derivatives chicoric acid, chlorogenic acid, and 3. 5-dicaffeoylquinic acid, the sesquiterpene lactone derivative 8-O-acetyl-15-ß-D-glucopyranosyl lactucin and the flavone glycosides, apigenin-7-O-glucoside and luteolin-7-O-glucoside, alongside their precursors apigenin and luteolin, respectively. Additionally, the genetic diversity of eighty individual plants within the germplasm collection was evaluated using ten DNA molecular markers (Simple Sequence Repeats), successfully transferred from two closely related species (Cichorium intybus and Tanacetum parthenium). This investigation unveiled a significant range of genetic diversity within the examined populations, resulting in the establishment of three distinct genetic groups. The findings were further correlated with the original ecological environment and local climate conditions spanning a biennial period, indicating substantial variations among the different accessions and the intricate interplay between genetic background and environmental factors. These results could serve as a basis for future domestication of the species through plant breeding programs ensuring product quality, but also facilitating the cultivation of C. alpina in more diverse geographic regions.</p