131 research outputs found
A New Destination for âThe Flying Busâ? The Implications of Orlando-Rican Migration for Luis Rafael SĂĄnchezâs âLa guagua aĂ©reaâ
Puerto Rican author Luis Rafael SĂĄnchezâs âLa guagua aĂ©reaâ explores the duality, hybridity, and fluidity of US-Puerto Rican identity through the frequent travel of migrants between New York City (the traditional destination city for Puerto Rican migrants) and the island. In recent years, however, the âflying busâ has adopted a new number one destination: Central Florida. The Orlando metropolitan area has surpassed New York as the primary locus of Puerto Rican migration on the US mainland. Given that migrants on the âflying busâ have a new primary destination and now tend to remain settled in Central Florida versus returning to the island, this essay will use an interdisciplinary approach to SĂĄnchezâs fiction in order to demonstrate that the authorâs metaphor for a fluid Puerto Rican identity no longer adequately explains the realities presented by the demographic and migratory shift to the Orlando area. This study also explores the differences between the recent Puerto RicoâOrlando migration and the previous waves of migration, calling into question the traditional revolving door migratory paradigm illustrated by SĂĄnchez
From the Intersection of Food-Borne Zoonoses and EU Green Policies to an In-Embryo One Health Financial Model
The European Union (EU) adopts the One Health (OH) approach, based on the relationships between human, animal, and environmental health. OH concerns a multitude of aspects, some of which are discussed here. OH overlaps the European Green Deal plan and its relaunched Farm to Fork Strategy, which aims at spreading organic farms adopting the circular economy, in order to improve human health through both better environmental conditions and healthier food. Nevertheless, zoonoses cause sanitary cost in terms of infected farm personnel, lower productivity, and lower fertility of infected farm animals. In such scenarios, the decreased breeding yield and the lower income induce higher cost of farm products, meaning that the market price rises, becoming uncompetitive when compared to the prices of industrial products. Consequently, lower revenues can hinder the farm growth expected in the framework of the EU Green Deal. Since zoonosis control is a key element in aligning EU policies aimed at achieving the EU Green Deal goal of “ZERO environmental impact” by 2050, the authors suggest the inclusion of the parameter economic health in the OH approach, in order to individuate EU Member States (MSs) economically unable to conduct eradication programmes and to finance them. Economic health is here considered as a starting point of the new ethical and science-based One Health Financial Model that the authors suggest as an in-embryo model, in which specific rules should regulate public funds, private investments, and trading, which should exclusively concern public services and private enterprises complying with most of the OH parameters. In this way, economic losses due to collateral negative effects deriving from human activities can be progressively decreased, and the entire planet will benefit from the process. Despite the considerable efforts being carried out in the context of the OH approach, war causes tragic and devastating effects on the physical and mental health of human beings, on their lives, on pandemic and zoonotic threats, on animals, on plants and, last but not least, on the environment. War is incompatible with OH. Enormous efforts for peace are therefore urgently needed
Modulation of the One Health Approach to Tackle Brucellosis in Buffaloes and Cattle in Two Italian Territories with Different Characteristics
The new European Union animal health law and its rule concerning brucellosis in cattle and buffaloes
The authors examine the latest European Union (EU) rules concerning eradication and surveillance of brucellosis and animal infectious diseases of EU concern.
The Italian rules concerning brucellosis in cattle and buffaloes
Italy is included in the EU co-financed compulsory eradication and surveillance programmes for brucellosis in cattle and in buffaloes in the frame of the EU and the related Italian laws, which allowed reaching the Brucellosis Free status without vaccination (former "Officially Brucellosis Free - OBF" status) in the majority of the northern and middle Italian Regions and in some middle and southern Provinces included in Regions where the infection persists.
Epidemiology of brucellosis in the EU and in Italy
In the Italian Province of Caserta, the highest prevalence of brucellosis in buffaloes is reported; in 2017-2021, a total of 314 outbreaks occurred, in which 39,163 heads tested positive. Here, brucellosis is threatening not only human health and the widespread buffaloes breeding but also the important satellite activities concerning the Protected Designation of Origin (P.O.D.) cheese âMozzarella di Bufala Campana". The authors also discuss the reemerged brucellosis in cattle in the Molise Region, which despite bordering the Province of Caserta, shows different hydrographic, orographic, and breeding characteristics. In Molise, the reemerged brucellosis had a very different epidemiological course, which allowed it to limit the adoption of One Health measures.
The One Health approach to tackle brucellosis in buffaloes
In order to tackle brucellosis in Campania Region and in its Province of Caserta, the One Health approach has been predisposed through strict control of animal health, human health, and the environment. The adopted model could be exportable to territories having similar characteristics
The Spatial, Ionization, and Kinematic Conditions of the z=1.39 Damped Ly-alpha Absorber in Q0957+561 A,B
We examined the sizes of the absorption clouds in a z=1.3911 damped Ly-alpha
absorber (DLA) in the double image lensed quasar Q0957+561 A,B (separation 135
pc at the absorber redshift). Using HIRES/Keck spectra, we studied the MgII
2796,2803 doublet, FeII multiplet, and MgI 2853 transition in absorption. We
defined six "clouds" in the system of sightline A and seven clouds in the
system of sightline B. An examination of the N(v) profiles, using the apparent
optical depth method, reveals no clear physical connection between the clouds
in A and those in B. The observed column density ratios of all clouds is
log[N(MgI)/N(FeII)] ~ -2 across the full velocity range in both systems and
also spatially (in both sightlines). This is a remarkable uniformity not seen
in Lyman limit systems. The uniformity of the cloud properties suggests that
the multiple clouds are not part of a "halo". Based upon photoionization
modeling, we constrain the ionization parameters in the range -6.2 < log(U) <
-5.1, where the range brackets known abundance ratio and dust depletion
patterns. The inferred cloud properties are densities of 2 < n_H < 20 cm^-3,
and line of sight sizes of 1 < D < 25 pc. The masses of the clouds in system A
are 10 < M/M_sun < 1000 and in system B are 1 < M/M_sun < 60 for spherical
clouds. For planar clouds, the upper limits are 400 M_sun and 160 M_sun for A
and B, respectively. We favor a model of the absorber in which the DLA region
itself is a single cloud in thiscomplex, which could be a parcel of gas in a
galactic ISM. A spherical cloud of ~10 pc would be limited to one of the
sightlines (A) and imply a covering factor less than 0.1 for the DLA complex.
We infer that the DLA cloud properties are consistent with those of lower
density, cold clouds in the Galactic interstellar medium.Comment: Accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journal; final versio
Biodiversity of Lactobacillus plantarum from traditional Italian wines
In this study, 23 samples of traditional wines produced in Southern Italy were subjected to microbiological analyses with the aim to identify and biotype the predominant species of lactic acid bacilli. For this purpose, a multiple approach, consisting in the application of both phenotypic (API 50CHL test) and biomolecular methods (polymerase chain reaction-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis and 16S rRNA gene sequencing) was used. The results showed that Lactobacillus plantarum was the predominant species, whereas Lb. brevis was detected in lower amount. In detail, out of 80 isolates 58 were ascribable to Lb. plantarum and 22 to Lb. brevis. Randomly amplified polymorphic DNA-polymerase chain reaction was used to highlight intraspecific variability among Lb. plantarum strains. Interestingly, the cluster analysis evidenced a relationship between different biotypes of Lb. plantarum and their origin, in terms of wine variety. Data acquired in this work show the possibility to obtain several malolactic fermentation starter cultures, composed by different Lb. plantarum biotypes, for their proper use in winemaking processes which are distinctive for each wine
Technological Potential of Lactobacillus Strains Isolated from Fermented Green Olives: In Vitro Studies with Emphasis on Oleuropein-Degrading Capability
Technological properties of two strains of Lactobacillus plantarum (B3 and B11) and one of Lactobacillus pentosus (B4), previously isolated from natural fermented green olives, have been studied in vitro. Acidifying ability, salt, temperature, and pH tolerances of all strains were found in the range reported for similar strains produced in Italy and optimal growth conditions were found to be 6.0-8.0 pH, 15-30 â C temperature, and less than 6% NaCl. Moreover, all strains showed very good tolerance to common olive phenol content (0.3% total phenol) and high oleuropein-degrading capability. It was found that medium composition affected the bacterial oleuropein degradation. B11 strain grown in a nutrient-rich medium showed a lower oleuropein-degrading action than when it was cultivated in nutrient-poor medium. Furthermore, enzymatic activity assays revealed that oleuropein depletion did not correspond to an increase of hydroxytyrosol, evidencing that bacterial strains could efficiently degrade oleuropein via a mechanism different from hydrolysis
Technological Potential of Lactobacillus
Technological properties of two strains of Lactobacillus plantarum (B3 and B11) and one of Lactobacillus pentosus (B4), previously isolated from natural fermented green olives, have been studied in vitro. Acidifying ability, salt, temperature, and pH tolerances of all strains were found in the range reported for similar strains produced in Italy and optimal growth conditions were found to be 6.0â8.0 pH, 15â30°C temperature, and less than 6% NaCl. Moreover, all strains showed very good tolerance to common olive phenol content (0.3% total phenol) and high oleuropein-degrading capability. It was found that medium composition affected the bacterial oleuropein degradation. B11 strain grown in a nutrient-rich medium showed a lower oleuropein-degrading action than when it was cultivated in nutrient-poor medium. Furthermore, enzymatic activity assays revealed that oleuropein depletion did not correspond to an increase of hydroxytyrosol, evidencing that bacterial strains could efficiently degrade oleuropein via a mechanism different from hydrolysis
In Vitro Assessment of Bio-Functional Properties from Lactiplantibacillus plantarum Strains
In recent years, alongside the conventional screening procedures for the evaluation of probiotics for human usage, the pharmaceutical and food industries have encouraged scientific research towards the selection of new probiotic bacterial strains with particular functional features. Therefore, this study intended to explore novel functional properties of five Lactiplantibacillus plantarum strains isolated from bee bread. Specifically, antioxidant, antimicrobial and ÎČ-glucosidase activities, exopolysaccharides (EPS) production and the ability to synthesize Îł-aminobutyric acid (GABA) were evaluated. The results demonstrated that the investigated L. plantarum strains were effective in inhibiting the growth of some human opportunistic pathogens in vitro (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis, Enterococcus faecalis and Staphylococcus aureus). Moreover, the evaluation of antioxidant and ÎČ-glucosidase activity and of EPS and GABA production, revealed a different behavior among the strains, testifying how these properties are strongly strain-dependent. This suggests that a careful selection within a given species is important in order to identify appropriate strains for specific biotechnological applications. The results highlighted that the five strains of L. plantarum are promising candidates for application as dietary supplements in the human diet and as microbial cultures in specific food productions
Detection of Antilisterial Activity of 3-Phenyllactic Acid Using Listeria innocua as a Model
The 3-Phenyllactic acid (PLA) produced by various lactic acid bacteria (LAB) possesses a broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity. In this study, the effect of PLA against Listeria innocua was studied with the aim to obtain additional information about its mechanism of action. The effect of pH on the antilisterial activity of PLA was investigated and a pH-dependent behavior, typical of weak acid, was detected. The antilisterial effect of PLA was firstly compared to that produced by lactic acid (LA) and than to that expressed by phenolic acids (gallic, caffeic, and ferulic acids) evaluating minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), MBC, and survival kinetic parameters. PLA showed MIC values and death kinetic parameters significantly different from those exhibited by LA and by tested phenolic acids. In particular, the MIC value observed for PLA vs L. innocua resulted lower than that of the other preservative compounds studied herein, and consistent with the quantity generally produced by LAB. Moreover, the effect of PLA and phenolic acids on bacterial surface charge and loss of cellular content resulted different. The overall results highlighted strong differences in the antilisterial mechanism of action among PLA and other compounds such as LA and phenols. Specifically, it is possible to hypothesize that the antilisterial mechanism of action due to PLA is associated with the affinity to cell surface, which contributes to the cellular damage
Heterose em sorgo-sacarino
The objective of this work was to evaluate the potential per se of male-sterile and fertility-restorer lines of sweet sorghum (Sorghum bicolor), as well as to detail the heterosis manifested for some traits directly or indirectly related to ethanol production, accumulation rate, and predictability. Evaluations were performed for 20 genotypes, of which 4 are fertility-restorer lines (R), 3 are male-sterile lines (A), and 12 are experimental hybrids (H) resulting from the partial diallel cross between lines A and R, besides a commercial hybrid CV198 used as a check, in four harvest seasons. The experiments were carried out in the municipalities of Lavras and Sete Lagoas, in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. The measured traits were plant height, green mass production, juice extraction, total soluble solids content, and megagrams of Brix per hectare. The male-sterile A1 and the fertility-restorer R1 and R3 lines show the best potential per se, considering all traits and their accumulation rate and predictability over harvest times. Heterosis is significant for all traits. The H11, H13, H14, H21, H22, and H33 hybrids are promising because of their better performance per se and higher heterosis.O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o potencial per se de linhagens macho-estĂ©reis e restauradoras de sorgo-sacarino (Sorghum bicolor), bem como detalhar a heterose manifestada quanto a algumas caracterĂsticas relacionadas direta ou indiretamente Ă produção de etanol, Ă taxa de acĂșmulo e Ă previsibilidade. As avaliaçÔes foram realizadas com 20 genĂłtipos, dos quais 4 linhagens restauradoras de fertilidade (R), 3 linhagens macho-estĂ©reis (A) e 12 hĂbridos experimentais (H) resultantes do cruzamento dialelo parcial entre as linhagens A e R, alĂ©m de um hĂbrido comercial CV198 como testemunha, em quatro Ă©pocas de colheita. Os experimentos foram realizados nos municĂpios de Lavras e Sete Lagoas, no Estado de Minas Gerais. As caracterĂsticas mensuradas foram altura de planta, produção de massa verde, extração de caldo, conteĂșdo de sĂłlidos solĂșveis totais e megagramas de Brix por hectare. As linhagens macho-estĂ©reis A1 e as restauradoras R1 e R2 apresentam melhor potencial per se, ao se considerar todos os caracteres e a sua taxa de acĂșmulo e a previsibilidade de comportamento, nas diferentes Ă©pocas de colheitas. A heterose Ă© significativa para todos os caracteres. Os hĂbridos H11, H13, H14, H21, H22 e H33 sĂŁo promissores por seu maior desempenho per se e maior heterose
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