Phenol compounds for Electron Spin Resonance dosimetry in gamma and neutron field

The use of neutrons for cancer treatments has stimulated the research for beam characterization in order to optimize the therapy procedures in Neutron Capture Therapy (Altieri, 2008). Several research laboratories have shown an increasing interest aimed at extending the applicability of Electron Spin Resonance (ESR) dosimetry to radiotherapy with different types of radiation beams. In particular, ESR spectrometry provides absorbed dose measurements through the detection of the stable free radicals produced by ionizing radiations. The ESR dosimetric method has many advantages such as simple and rapid dose evaluation, the readout procedure is non-destructive, linear response of many organic and inorganic compounds (Baffa 2014). In this work we study the response of phenolic compounds with and without gadolinium addition for electron spin resonance (ESR) dosimetry exposed to a gamma and mixed (n, gamma) field mainly composed of thermal neutrons. The compound IRGANOX 1076 phenol gives a phenoxy radical stabilized by the presence of two bulky groups [3]. Moreover, its high molecular weight, the low volatility and the compatibility with the dosimeter binding material (paraffin) are advantages with respect to lower molecular weight phenols. In this work we report the ESR investigation of phenols pellets and thin films with and without Gd2O3 (5% by weight) exposed in the thermal column of the Triga Mark II reactor of LENA of Pavia. Thanks to their size, the phenolic films here presented are good devices for the dosimetry of beams with high dose gradient and which require accurate knowledge of the precise dose delivered. The choice of Gd as the additive nucleus has been made because we are interested in applications for mixed field (neutrons/photons) Gd-ESR dosimetry has an high neutron capture cross section and, furthermore, the high LET secondary particles release their energy entirely in the dosimeter. The low content of gadolinium guarantees a good tradeoff between the sensitivity to thermal neutrons. However, the use of gadolinium reduces or abolishes tissue equivalence because of its high atomic number (Marrale, 2015). The dosimetric features of these ESR dosimeters have been investigated. In particular, we analyzed the ESR spectra of these compounds and their dependence on microwave power and modulation amplitude, their response after gamma and neutron irradiations, the detection limits for both beam typologies, signal stability after irradiation. The results of ESR experiments are compared with Monte Carlo simulations aimed at obtaining information about the total dose measured by means of ESR dosimeters

Short communication: The effect of an exogenous enzyme with amylolytic activity on gas production and in vitro rumen starch degradability of small and large particles of corn or barley meals

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of exogenous amylase supplementation on gas production and on in vitro rumen starch degradability (IVSD) of different sized particles of corn and barley meals (Cm and Bm, respectively). An aqueous liquid amylase formulation from Bacillus licheniformis was tested at 3 enzyme doses (EnzD; 0, 300 and 1,500 kilo novo units/kg of dry matter) on small (<750 µm) and large (≥750 µm) particle size (PS) of Cm and Bm. Data were analyzed according to a randomized complete block design with a factorial arrangement of treatments; the main tested effects were PS, EnzD, and their interaction. Fermentation run entered in the model as random effect. The mixed rumen fluid was collected from 2 rumen-fistulated Holstein dry dairy cows fed at maintenance (forage:concentrate ratio of 80:20; 12% crude protein; 55% amylase-treated neutral detergent fiber). Small particles of both Cm and Bm had a greater rate of fermentation and shorter lag time than large particles. The rate of starch degradation was greater for small than for large particles of Bm, being 0.187 and 0.125 1/h, respectively. Conversely, the rate of starch degradation of Cm averaged 0.063 1/h and was similar among treatments. Enzyme supplementation tended to reduce lag time and to increase rate of fermentation for both PS of Cm and Bm, with a more pronounced effect for small PS. A limited EnzD effect was measured for IVSD data and rate of starch degradation; PS influenced fermentation parameters and the magnitude of starch degradation more than EnzD. Supplementation with exogenous amylase influenced the rumen fermentation pattern of small and large PS of Cm and Bm, even if the effect of the enzyme supplementation differed according to the PS of cereal meals

Livestock systems and farming styles in Eastern Italian Alps: an on-farm survey

This research aimed to study the relationships between livestock systems, landscape maintenance and farming styles in the Belluno Province, a mountainous area of the Eastern Italian Alps. A total of 65 farms were sampled on the basis of livestock category farmed and herd size. Farms were visited to collect information on technical and productive aspects, on landscape features of land managed, which was identified by aerial photographs and digitised in a GIS environment, and on the farmers' background, attitudes and approach to farming. Six different livestock systems were identified: intensive beef cattle (2 farms); extensive beef cattle (12 farms); large sheep/goat farms (9 farms); small sheep/goat farms (6 farms); intensive dairy cattle (14 farms) and extensive dairy cattle (22 farms). The intensive systems had larger herds, modern structures and equipment, and were strongly production oriented, whereas the extensive systems had smaller herds and productivity, with often traditional or obsolete structures and equipment, but showed a tendency to diversify production by means of on-farm cheese making and/or mixed farming of different livestock categories. The ability to maintain meadows and pastures was greater for the extensive systems, especially in steep areas, while the annual nitrogen output, estimated as kg N/ha, was lower. Data on the farmers' background and attitudes were analysed with a non-hierarchical cluster procedure that clustered the farmers into 4 farming styles widely different in motivations to farming, innovative capability, and ability to diversify income sources and ensure farm economic viability. The farming styles were distributed across all livestock systems, indicating the lack of a linkage between the assignment of a farm to a livestock system and the way the farm is managed. This study demonstrates that in mountain areas variability of livestock systems may be high, and that they differ not only in production practices but also in the ability to maintain landscape, which is generally higher in the extensive or even marginal systems. Within a given livestock system, farms may be managed with different styles, which implies that informative knowledge to address policy decisions needs to integrate the definition of livestock systems with the assessment of farming styles

Sustainability of intensive beef production system in North-East Italy: relationships between phosphorus supply and productive performance

The beef sector of the Veneto Region is based on young bulls imported mainly from France and reared intensively using total mixed rations based on maize silage and concentrates. While nitrogen excretion of the sector is regulated by Nitrate Directive, the excretion of phosphorus (P) is less studied, despite of its potentially great impact on environment. This study aims at analysing the relationships between productive and economic performances and P content of the diet in 14 farms of the region. For a whole productive year feed consumption, ingredients and chemical composition of diets were monthly collected. Average Daily Gain (ADG), Feed conversion ratio (FCR), daily gross profit (DGP), and P balance were calculated. ADG, FCR, and DGP were analysed with a mixed model using arrival season, arrival weight, class of dietary content of P, protein and starch as fixed effects and farm as random effect. Average daily gain was 1.39±0.08 kg/d, FCR was 0.14±0.01 kg/kg, and DGP 2.5±0.40 €/d. The P dietary content was on average high (0.38±0.04, % DM), which resulted in P intakes and excretions of 13.49±1.94 and 9.85±1.92 kg/head/place, respectively. None of the productive and economic traits was affected by phosphorus content of the diet. As a consequence, the phosphorus supplementation can be reduced without the risk of weakening productive and economic performances.The beef sector of the Veneto Region is based on young bulls imported mainly from France and reared intensively using total mixed rations based on maize silage and concentrates. While nitrogen excretion of the sector is regulated by Nitrate Directive, the excretion of phosphorus (P) is less studied, despite of its potentially great impact on environment. This study aims at analysing the relationships between productive and economic performances and P content of the diet in 14 farms of the region. For a whole productive year feed consumption, ingredients and chemical composition of diets were monthly collected. Average Daily Gain (ADG), Feed conversion ratio (FCR), daily gross profit (DGP), and P balance were calculated. ADG, FCR, and DGP were analysed with a mixed model using arrival season, arrival weight, class of dietary content of P, protein and starch as fixed effects and farm as random effect. Average daily gain was 1.39±0.08 kg/d, FCR was 0.14±0.01 kg/kg, and DGP 2.5±0.40 €/d. The P dietary content was on average high (0.38±0.04, % DM), which resulted in P intakes and excretions of 13.49±1.94 and 9.85±1.92 kg/head/place, respectively. None of the productive and economic traits was affected by phosphorus content of the diet. As a consequence, the phosphorus supplementation can be reduced without the risk of weakening productive and economic performances

Mora Romagnola Pig

Mora Romagnola breed, one of the Italian local pig breeds, owes its name to its colour, dark brown tending to black. Currently 31 farms are registered in the herdbook started in 2001 with about 270 breeding females and 67 boars. During the 1990s, only 18 animals were left, all concentrated in one single farm. The breed was investigated within the H2020 project TREASURE, and a collection and review of available literature data on reproductive and productive traits of Mora Romagnola pig breed were carried out. The average age of sows at first parturition was 22 months, whereas age at culling was 58 months. On average, Mora Romagnola pig breed has 8.0 piglets per parity with 1.4 parities per year. Slaughter weight was on average 163 kg with a dressing yield of 80%. Few information is available for meat quality traits. Although studies on Mora Romagnola pig are scarce, the current review gives the first insight into this local pig breed

Nero Siciliano Pig

Origins of Nero Siciliano pig date to Carthaginian domination and its rearing, after a setback during the Arab period, was rather diffused throughout Sicily. Breed rearing is nowadays limited from the farmed area to the wooded hills of north-eastern Sicily. The latest available status (2015) reported 87 registered farms with about 1100 breeding sows and 124 boars enrolled in the herdbook started in 2001, as well as the conservation programme. Coat colour is mainly black but white face and wattles are accepted. Nero Siciliano pigs have on average 7.6 piglets of 1.4 kg live body weight and the average daily gain during fattening period was on average 346 g/day for the overall fattening stage. Slaughter age of Nero Siciliano breed was on average 390 days, at an average live weight of 95 kg. Average intramuscular fat content was 4.6% and as regards fatty acid composition, average values obtained for SFA, MUFA and PUFA were 37.5, 54.2 and 8.3% in longissimus muscle and 39.0, 49.4 and 11.7% in back fat tissue, respectively. This review gives an exhaustive review of the information available for this local Italian breed

Sarda Pig

Sarda pig breed (a.k.a. Suino Sardo) is a local breed from Sardinia Island (Italy) with its ancestors dating back to the Nuragic period. It is the most recent breed interested by a conservation programme among the six Italian autochthonous pig breeds investigated by the H2020 project TREASURE and could be considered untapped in terms of information on its performances and products. Thirteen farms were registered at the last census (2015) including sixty-one breeding sows and twenty boars. It is a small size breed with black, grey, tawny or spotted coat colour. On average, age at parturition is 15.7 months, with 1.6 litters per year and 7.8 piglets per parity. Average piglet mortality is rather high in the considered studies (16.1%). The average daily gain for Sarda pig within the considered studies was 423 g/day. On average, daily feed intake in the overall fattening stage was 2.3 kg/day. Sarda pigs were slaughtered at approximately 686 days of age, at an average live weight of 193 kg. Sporadic information is available for meat quality traits. Although studies on Sarda pig are scarce, the current review gives the first insight into this local pig breed

Nero Casertano Pig

The present chapter aims to present the history, current status and information of Nero Casertano pig breed investigated in the project TREASURE. As for most of the other Italian local pig breed conservation program started in 2001 and in 2015, 20 farms of Nero Casertano pigs with about 545 breeding sows and 20 boars were registered. The average age of sows at the first parturition is 16 months, whereas age at culling is 59 months. On average Nero Casertano pigs have 1.2 litters per year with 7.6 piglets. The farrowing interval (305 days on average) is prolonged compared to modern pig breeds. The fattening phase of Nero Casertano pigs is generally characterised by slower growth, and the animals were slaughtered at around 375 days of age, with an average live weight of 154 kg and a dressing yield of 81%. The breed is characterised by a high level of backfat thickness. The breed is traditionally raised with the semi-extensive system, and the most recognised trait of the Nero Casertano pig is the ‘marbling’ of the meat. This current review provides a comprehensive insight into the information for this local pig breed