Co-production and the third sector: conceptualising different approaches to service user involvement

The centrality of the third sector in the co-production of public services is seemingly based on the assumption that it can act as an effective proxy for service users. However, the third sector encompasses a broad range of organisational forms, interests and governance arrangements, which all have implications for the type and nature of relationships between the sector and its constituencies. Through analysis of empirical data drawn from research on a prominent co-production model in Scotland, we construct and present a typology of different approaches to service user involvement

Exploring collaborative governance processes involving nonprofits

Nonprofits are increasingly involved in collaborative governance mechanisms, on the premise that their proximity to end users and better understanding of the local contexts can lead to better policy outcomes. Although government–nonprofit relations have been theorized and explored by several studies, few studies have examined specifically collaborative governance, instead focusing on other phases of policy development or service delivery. In this article, we present a realist evaluation of data gathered from in-depth semi-structured interviews (N = 41) and four focus groups with stakeholders involved in collaborative governance arrangements within “Strategic Public Social Partnerships” in Scotland. Our findings indicate that collaborative governance processes involving nonprofits can potentially lead to improved services through mechanisms such as the development of trust and the establishment of new learning dynamics, and when knowledgeable leadership and mutuality drive collaborations. However, this is only true if the long-term sustainability of these processes translates into the mainstreaming of both the resulting services and their underlying collaborative principles

Nanostructure-Based Electrochemical Immunosensors as Diagnostic Tools

Electrochemical immunosensors are affinity-based biosensors characterized by several useful features such as specificity, miniaturizability, low cost and simplicity, making them very interesting for many applications in several scientific fields. One of the significant issues in the design of electrochemical immunosensors is to increase the system’s sensitivity. Different strategies have been developed, one of the most common is the use of nanostructured materials as electrode materials, nanocarriers, electroactive or electrocatalytic nanotracers because of their abilities in signal amplification and biocompatibility. In this review, we will consider some of the most used nanostruc- tures employed in the development of electrochemical immunosensors (e.g., metallic nanoparticles, graphene, carbon nanotubes) and many other still uncommon nanomaterials. Furthermore, their diagnostic applications in the last decade will be discussed, referring to two relevant issues of present-day: the detection of tumor markers and viruses

Phenoloxidase activity and haemolymph cytology in honeybees challenged with a virus suspension (deformed wings virus DWV) or phosphate buffered suspension (PBS)

The innate immune system of honeybees mainly consists in antimicrobial peptides, cellular immunity and melanisation. In order to investigate the immune response of honeybees to immune stressors, three stress degrees were tested. Newly emerged bees naturally DWV-infected were collected from a Varroa mite free apiary and divided into three experimental groups: naturally DWV infected bees. PBS injected bees. and artificially DWV super infected bees. Phenoloxidase activity and haemolymph cellular subtype count were investigated. Phenoloxidase activity was highest (P<0.05) in DWV-superinfected bees. and the haemocyte population differed within the three observed groups. Although. immune responses following DWV infection have still not been completely clarified. this investigation sheds light on the relation between cell immunity and the phenoloxidase activity of DWV naturally infected honeybees exposed to additional stress such as injury and viral superinfection

Effect of dietary supplementation of a mix of chestnut and quebracho tannins on intestinal morphology, bacterial load, Eimeria spp oocyst excretion and immune response after vaccination in rabbits

Among plant products, tannins exhibited a strong antioxidant activity and their employment was studied as food or feed addictive with positive effects. Nevertheless, their health-enhancing properties remain to be completely clarified, particularly in rabbits. The aim of the present study was to investigate the influence of a mix of chestnut and quebracho tannins as supplementation in rabbit diet on intestinal morphology, as well as bacterial loads and Eimeria spp coccidial oocyst excretion and humoral immune response after vaccination. Rabbits were fed four different diets: basal diet (negative control, group CN), basal diet with anticoccidial supplementation (positive control, group CP) and basal diet with tannins mix 0.3% (group T0.3) or 0.6% (group T0.6). Samples of intestine, liver, spleen thymus, mesenteric lymph nodes, kidney and heart were submitted to histopathologic investigations. Morphometric analyses were performed on portion of duodenum, jejunum and ileum. Intestinal contents were analyzed by flotation test for Eimeria spp. oocysts excretion and by microbiological assays for Clostridium perfringens and Escherichia coli. Rabbits belonging to the four experimental groups were vaccinated by means of a live attenuated myxomatosis virus and sera were collected individually at three time points to determine antibody response.The obtained results demonstratedthe absence of toxic effects of the tannin mix on examined organs, particularly on liver and kidney and any negative influence on the growth performance. A relevant anti-inflammatory effect on the intestinal tract, a reduction of Eimeria spp. oocysts excretion and a positive immunomodulatory and antibacterial effects were also observed. Diets supplemented with the tannins mix affected also the morphology of examined intestinal tracts, particularly duodenum and ileum

The Wine: typicality or mere diversity? The effect of spontaneous fermentations and biotic factors on the characteristics of wine

Wine is probably one of the main fermented beverages for which the recognition of the \u201cterritoriality\u201d is fundamental for its appreciation. The sensory profile of wine is significantly affected by microbial activities, and indigenous microorganisms may significantly contribute to the expression of wine typicality. The microbial ecology of wines is complex and includes several species and strains of yeasts, bacteria and molds. Several works showed the positive effects of spontaneous fermentations on the quality of wine as a consequence of the growth of different species and/or strains together at high levels. Furthermore, a new style of \u201cnatural\u201d winemaking is gaining importance, since the resulting wines are obtained thanks to the action of spontaneous autochthonous agents and the use of chemical addition is not allowed. In this contest, natural winemaking could provide enhanced opportunities for products with unique characters and popularly recognized as typical. The present work reports on microbial ecology and molecular profile characterizing natural large-scale vinifications, and an innovative procedure, named \u201cfortified pied de cuve\u201d, to accelerate the alcoholic fermentation performed spontaneously is also reported. Furthermore, this work reports on how the biotic factors, such as migratory birds, contribute in disseminating of winerelated yeasts over long distances, opening up new fields of research that will allow to unravel connection between wine and environmental factors

In Vitro Antibacterial Activity of Manuka (Leptospermum scoparium J.R. et G. Forst) and winter Savory (Satureja montana L.) Essential Oils and Their Blends against Pathogenic E. coli Isolates from Pigs

Neonatal diarrhoea (ND), post-weaning diarrhoea (PWD) and oedema disease (OD) are among the most important diseases affecting pig farming due to economic losses. Among the main aetiological agents, strains of Escherichia coli are identified as the major responsible pathogens involved. Several strategies have been put in place to prevent these infections and, today, research is increasingly studying alternative methods to antibiotics to reduce the antibiotic resistance phenomenon. Essential oils (EOs) are among the alternative tools that are being investigated. In this study, the in vitro effectiveness of winter savory and manuka essential oils and their mixtures in different proportions against strains of E. coli isolated from episodes of disease in pigs was evaluated. The EOs alone demonstrated slight antibacterial effectiveness, whereas the blends, by virtue of their synergistic action, showed remarkable activity, especially the 70%–30% winter savory–manuka blend, showing itself as a potential tool for prevention and therapy

Effect of 1,3-1,6 β-Glucan on Natural and Experimental Deformed Wing Virus Infection in Newly Emerged Honeybees (Apis mellifera ligustica)

The Western Honeybee is a key pollinator for natural as well as agricultural ecosystems. In the last decade massive honeybee colony losses have been observed worldwide, the result of a complex syndrome triggered by multiple stress factors, with the RNA virus Deformed Wing Virus (DWV) and the mite Varroa destructor playing crucial roles. The mite supports replication of DWV to high titers, which exert an immunosuppressive action and correlate with the onset of the disease. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of 1,3-1,6 β-glucan, a natural innate immune system modulator, on honeybee response to low-titer natural and high-titer experimental DWV infection. As the effects exerted by ß-glucans can be remarkably different, depending on the target organism and the dose administered, two parallel experiments were performed, where 1,3-1,6 ß-glucan at a concentration of 0.5% and 2% respectively, was added to the diet of three cohorts of newly emerged honeybees, which were sampled from a Varroa-free apiary and harboured a low endogenous DWV viral titer. Each cohort was subjected to one of the following experimental treatments: no injection, injection of a high-copy number DWV suspension into the haemocel (experimental DWV infection) or injection of PBS into the haemocoel (physical injury). Control bees fed a ß-glucan-free diet were subjected to the same treatments. Viral load, survival rate, haemocyte populations and phenoloxidase activity of each experimental group were measured and compared. The results indicated that oral administration of 0.5% ß-glucan to naturally infected honeybees was associated with a significantly decrease of the number of infected bees and viral load they carried, and with a significant increase of the survival rate, suggesting that this natural immune modulator molecule might contribute to increase honeybee resistance to viral infection

Common polymorphisms in nitric oxide synthase (NOS) genes influence quality of aging and longevity in humans

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