Učinak različitih postupaka kuhanja na kvalitetu i integritet nuklearnih i mitohondrijskih sekvencija DNK iz govedine

The extraction of high quality DNA from processed meat can often represent the crucial step in an authentication process by PCR-based methods. In this study, the effect of three different domestic cooking methods (roasting, boiling, and microwave) on DNA isolated from two beef muscles has been investigated. The quality of extracted DNA was evaluated by amplifying target sequences from mitochondrial and nuclear genes, as well as by monitoring the yield, purity, and degradation of the extracted DNA. Large PCR fragments (length >900 bp) were successfully amplified from both genes in all samples. The cooking methods caused significant differences in terms of quality and quantity of DNA recovered from meat.Izdvajanje visokokvalitetne DNK iz prerađenoga mesa često je ključni korak u postupku utvrđivanja autentičnosti pomoću metoda zasnovanih na lančanoj reakciji polimeraze (PCR). U ovom je radu ispitan utjecaj pečenja, kuhanja i izlaganja mikrovalovima na DNK izoliranoj iz dva mišića goveda. Kvaliteta je izdvojene DNK ocijenjena amplifikacijom ciljanih sekvencija iz mitohondrijskih i nuklearnih gena, te praćenjem njezina prinosa, čistoće i degradacije. U svim su uzorcima iz oba gena uspješno amplificirani veliki fragmenti DNK (dužine veće od 900 bp) dobiveni lančanom reakcijom polimeraze. Različiti su postupci kuhanja mesa bitno utjecali na kvalitetu i količinu izdvojene DNK

Učinak različitih postupaka kuhanja na kvalitetu i integritet nuklearnih i mitohondrijskih sekvencija DNK iz govedine

The extraction of high quality DNA from processed meat can often represent the crucial step in an authentication process by PCR-based methods. In this study, the effect of three different domestic cooking methods (roasting, boiling, and microwave) on DNA isolated from two beef muscles has been investigated. The quality of extracted DNA was evaluated by amplifying target sequences from mitochondrial and nuclear genes, as well as by monitoring the yield, purity, and degradation of the extracted DNA. Large PCR fragments (length >900 bp) were successfully amplified from both genes in all samples. The cooking methods caused significant differences in terms of quality and quantity of DNA recovered from meat.Izdvajanje visokokvalitetne DNK iz prerađenoga mesa često je ključni korak u postupku utvrđivanja autentičnosti pomoću metoda zasnovanih na lančanoj reakciji polimeraze (PCR). U ovom je radu ispitan utjecaj pečenja, kuhanja i izlaganja mikrovalovima na DNK izoliranoj iz dva mišića goveda. Kvaliteta je izdvojene DNK ocijenjena amplifikacijom ciljanih sekvencija iz mitohondrijskih i nuklearnih gena, te praćenjem njezina prinosa, čistoće i degradacije. U svim su uzorcima iz oba gena uspješno amplificirani veliki fragmenti DNK (dužine veće od 900 bp) dobiveni lančanom reakcijom polimeraze. Različiti su postupci kuhanja mesa bitno utjecali na kvalitetu i količinu izdvojene DNK

Short communication: Sensory profile and acceptability of a cow milk cheese manufactured by adding jenny milk

The addition of jenny milk during cheesemaking has been recommended as a viable alternative to egg lysozyme for controlling late blowing defects. However, little is known on the sensory properties of the cheeses made with jenny milk. In this study, the effect of the addition of jenny milk during cheesemaking on sensory properties and consumer acceptability of cheese was evaluated. A sensory profile was carried out by 10 trained panelists on 4 cow milk cheese types. Two types of cheeses were made by adding jenny milk to cow milk during cheesemaking; the cheeses were then left to ripen for 45 and 120 d. The remaining 2 cheese types were made with only cow milk and were also left to ripen for 45 and 120 d. The attributes generated by a quantitative descriptive analysis sensory panel were effective for discriminating the 4 products. Among them, added jenny milk samples aged for 45 d had the highest intensity of some appearance descriptors (structure and color uniformity), as well as the highest intensity of sweetness. The analysis of acceptability data obtained from 89 consumers showed that added jenny milk aged for 45 d was the most preferred type of cheese, whereas no significant differences were found among the other products, which had higher intensity of bitter, salty, acid milk, and so on. © 2016 American Dairy Science Association

GIS system and livestock field survey as tools to manage the potential reducing of fuel load for fire prevention

This study would mark the potential role of grazing by Podolian cattle for reducing fuel load of fire prevention and propagation. The interconnection of Geographic Information System (GIS) and livestock field survey allowed to monitor different grazing and nograzing areas in Basilicata region. Fifteen grazing areas were monitored for five years during the summer pasture, when the Podolian cattle graze on green grazing areas. These areas were monitored by using GIS system and GPS application. The potential impact of Podolian cattle was monitored for the same time period. The cattle consistency allowed to calculate different parameters: livestock unit, dry matter intake and stocking estimation of potential amount of dry matter intake to understand the removal biomass in order to reduce the fuel load for fire prevention. The spatial analysis (GIS) showed that there were only four grazing areas burned during the time sampling, compared to the surrounding areas used as control (no-grazing area). Therefore an efficient management of grazing by Podolian cattle could be an important tool to prevent the fire propagation

Feeding Preferences of the Italian Roe Deer (Capreolus capreolus italicus Festa, 1925) in a Coastal Mediterranean Environment

The present study was aimed to deepen the knowledge on diet and on feeding preferences of the Italian roe deer. The research was carried on in the Castelporziano Presidential Estate, a protected area of Latium coast. Quadrat method was used to assess plant frequency, whereas diet composition was determined by fecal micro-histological analysis. A total of 143 plant species were identified in the site and 109 of them were found in the feces of the Capreolus capreolus italicus. All over the year, most of the taxa were ingested in low percentages (5%) and the most utilized plant species were Quercus suber, Prunus spinosa, Rubia peregrina, and Crateaegus monogyna. Fagaceae and Rosaceae plant families represented the bulk of the diet and were positively selected. In addition, a positive selection on Fabaceae and Oleaceae families was found in wet season but not in dry one. In both periods the Italian roe deer showed a positive selection for deciduous woody plants and evergreen woody plants, instead avoided wild forbs and wild graminoids. Our results confirmed that this subspecies behaved as a generalist highly selective feeder

Effect of different physical treatments on antioxidant activity of jenny milk

The shelf life of food can be extended by employing several physical treatments. Among them, pasteurization and condensation are widely adopted for prolonging the shelf-life of milk by reducing the microbial load. However, these treatmens could affect the antioxidant activity of the product. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of pasteurization and condensation on the Total Antioxidant Capacity (TAC) of raw and pasteurised jenny milk. Using 2,2’-azinobis (3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-acid) (ABTS) and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assays. TAC was also measured after condensation at 40 and at 20% of the initial volume. ABTS assay was found to be more accurate and reproducible than DPPH. Pasteurisation reduced significantly (P<0.05) the total antioxidant capacity from 84.15to 82.09% (ABTS test). The TAC decreased with the increase of condensation in raw and pasteurised milk. Overall, the TAC was reduced by only 3 and 4%, in pasteurised and in raw milk, respectively (ABTS test). Therefore, both pasteurization and condensation are recommended as physical treatments to prolong the shelf-life of jenny milk

Diet of the Italian hare ( Lepus corsicanus ) in a semi-natural landscape of southern Italy

The food habits of the endangered Italian hare have not received adequate attention from researchers. In this study, the diet composition of this species and its seasonal variation were assessed by analysing faecal pellets in a semi-natural landscape in the south of Italy. The results showed that hares feed on 62 species of plants during the year, with a conspicuous presence of herbaceous ones (e.g., Trifolium pratense , Brachypodium sylvaticum , Festuca arundinacea ) as these occurred at high frequencies in most of the faecal samples. In spring, diet composition was characterised by a high percentage of Graminaceae ( > 37%). In the other seasons, hares also included fruits (e.g., Prunus spinosa , Pyrus piraster , Malus sylvestris ), which, in autumn, accounted for > 27%. There were significant differences among seasons (p < 0.001) in terms of Margalef ’ s richness, Shannon diversity, and Buzas and Gibson ’ s evenness. The smallest values of richness and diversity were observed in spring. Dietary overlap was low between spring and the other seasons; conversely, there was substantial overlap ( > 70%) in the diets during the other seasons with a more pronounced similarity between summer and autumn (S ø rensen, C s = 0.80; Morisita-Horn, C MH = 0.73)

First results on the evaluation of the ground-cover biodiversity in an agroforestry poultry system

The first results on the impact of hen grazing on ground cover composition and biodiversity of two hazelnut orchards (sites A and B) in the southern Italy are presented. The selected sites were characterized by different size and environmental conditions that were, respectively for A and B: area, 4 and 5 ha; altitude, 525 and 660 m a.s.l.; annual mean temperature, +12°C and +13°C; annual precipitation: 730 and 780 mm. Besides, ground covers of the sites were different for plant species presence and distribution. In each site three 120 m2 areas were considered, each of which was provided with a mobile coop (5 hens/m2) to house during the night ten 25-week-old commercial egg-laying chickens. The trial started the first decade of May 2019. The use of hen grazing affected quantitatively and qualitatively the herbaceous stratum of the study sites, as the number of taxa composing the ground cover decreased in both sites, whereas the relative frequencies varied (increased or decreased) according to the taxon. By computing different indices of alpha diversity, we observed significant differences in species richness and diversity after hen grazing only in one site. However, the value of the qualitative Sørensen index showed a high overlap in the assemblage of ground cover before and after hen grazing in both sites. By comparing the sites, we found that, at the beginning of the trial, the ground cover of one site was richer and more diverse compared to the other site; however, the reverse situation occurred after hen grazing. Overall, our results indicate that integrating fruit trees with poultry may play a positive role in an agroforestry context, mainly in terms of control of vegetation growth

Shedding Plasma Membrane Vesicles Induced by Graphene Oxide Nanoflakes in Brain Cultured Astrocytes

Microvesicles (MVs) generated and released by astrocytes, the brain prevalent cells, crucially contribute to intercellular communication, representing key vectorized systems able to spread and actively transfer signaling molecules from astrocytes to neurons, ultimately modulating target cell functions. The increasing clinical relevance of these signaling systems requires a deeper understanding of MV features, currently limited by both their nanoscale dimensions and the low rate of their constituent release. Hence, to investigate the features of such glial signals, nanotechnology-based approaches and the applications of unconventional, cost-effective tools in generating MVs are needed. Here, small graphene oxide (s-GO) nanoflakes are used to boost MVs shedding from astrocytes in cultures and s-GO generated MVs are compared with those generated by a natural stimulant, namely ATP, by atomic force microscopy, light scattering, attenuated total reflection\u2013fourier transform infra-red and ultraviolet resonance Raman spectroscopy. We also report the ability of both types of MVs, upon acute and transient exposure of patch clamped cultured neurons, to modulate basal synaptic transmission, inducing a stable increase in synaptic activity accompanied by changes in neuronal plasma membrane elastic features

use of technical and economical parameters for evaluating dairy cow ration efficiency

The aim of this study was the development of a model for evaluating dairy cow ration efficiency. This model took into account technical, metabolic, and economic parameters, which were divided into two main categories: input and output. Feeding (food administered and its nutritional characteristics) was considered as the input parameter. The output indicators were directly or indirectly correlated with feeding, and included: quality and quantity of milk, body condition score, live weight, reproductive parameters, incidence of animal diseases (laminitis), undigested fraction, fecal consistency, feed efficiency (FE), and income over feed cost (IOFC). The model was validated using ten dairy farms located in the northwest of Basilicata. The farms were divided into two groups (A and B) as a function of the urea level in bulk milk. In Group A, the urea level was between 25 and 31 mg/100 mL milk, whereas, in Group B, the range was 21-22.5 mg/100 mL milk. The model showed that the values of reproductive parameters were worse in Group A than in Group B. However, the Group A showed better milk qualitative and quantitative characteristics, such as a high average production per head (28.15 vs 26.93 kg), and a high fat (3.92 vs 3.71%) and protein (3.53 vs 3.37%) content of bulk milk. Moreover, the highest values of FE (1.45 vs 1.35 kg milk/kg dry matter) and IOFC (6.07 vs 5.32 €) were found in Group A. The model clearly showed that the administration of unbalanced rations, based on the physiological stage of the animals, negatively affected both the qualitative and quantitative characteristics of milk, as well as the reproductive performances. The administration of unbalanced rations for the energy/protein content caused dysmetabolic syndromes, which led to a reduction of both FE and IOFC. This, ultimately, caused a fall in the overall farm profitability