Targeting Microglia-Synapse Interactions in Alzheimer's Disease

In this review, we focus on the emerging roles of microglia in the brain, with particular attention to synaptic plasticity in health and disease. We present evidence that ramified microglia, classically believed to be "resting" (i.e., inactive), are instead strongly implicated in dynamic and plastic processes. Indeed, there is an intimate relationship between microglia and neurons at synapses which modulates activity-dependent functional and structural plasticity through the release of cytokines and growth factors. These roles are indispensable to brain development and cognitive function. Therefore, approaches aimed at maintaining the ramified state of microglia might be critical to ensure normal synaptic plasticity and cognition. On the other hand, inflammatory signals associated with Alzheimer's disease are able to modify the ramified morphology of microglia, thus leading to synapse loss and dysfunction, as well as cognitive impairment. In this context, we highlight microglial TREM2 and CSF1R as emerging targets for disease-modifying therapy in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other neurodegenerative disorders

A preliminary report for the design of mos (micro-olive-spreadsheet), a user-friendly spreadsheet for the evaluation of the microbiological quality of spanish-style bella di cerignola olives from apulia (Southern Italy)

A user friendly spreadsheet (Excel interface), designated MoS (Micro-Olive-Spreadsheet), is proposed in this paper as a tool to point out spoiling phenomena in Bella di Cerignola olive brines. The spreadsheet was designed as a protected Excel worksheet, where users input values for the microbiological criteria and pH of brines, and the output is a visual code, much like a traffic light: three red cells indicate a spoiling event, while two red cells indicate the possibility of a spoiling event. The input values are: (a) Total Aerobic Count (TAC); (b) Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB); (c) yeasts; (d) staphylococci; (e) pH. TAC, LAB, yeasts, and pH are the input values for the first section (quality), while staphylococci count is the input for the second section (technological history). The worksheet can bemodified by adding other indices or by setting different breakpoints; however, it is a simple tool for an effective application of hazard analysis and predictive microbiology in table olive production

Alginate- and Gelatin-Coated Apple Pieces as Carriers for Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis DSM 10140

Fruit and vegetables are considered good natural supports for microorganisms; however, probiotics could cause negative changes on some organoleptic and sensory traits. Thus, the main topic of this paper was the design of coated apple chips as carriers for probiotics with a high level of sensory traits. The research was divided into two steps. First, four functional strains (Limosilactobacillus reuteri DSM 20016, Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis DSM 10140, and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum c16 and c19) were immobilized on apple pieces through dipping of fruit chips in probiotic suspensions for different contact times (from 15 to 30 min) and stored at 4°C for 12 days. Periodically, the viable count was assessed. As a result of this step, a contact time of 15 min was chosen because it assured an optimal deposition of microorganisms. In the second step, apple pieces inoculated with B. animalis subsp. lactis DSM 10140 were coated with alginate and gelatin and stored at 4 and 8°C for 10 days; pH, microbiological counts, color (browning index), and sensory scores were evaluated. Bifidobacterium animalis DSM 10140 exerted a negative effect on apple chips and cause a significant browning; however, the use of coating counteracted this phenomenon. In fact, coated chips showed higher sensory scores and lower browning index. In addition, gelatin showed better performances in terms of probiotic viability, because at 8°C, a significant viability loss of B. animalis DSM 10140 (1.2 log cfu/g) was found on alginate-coated chips. Gelatin-coated apple pieces with B. animalis subsp. lactis DSM 10140 could be an attractive functional food for a wide audience, although further investigations are required on in vivo effects of this product after consumption

Ultrasound-attenuated microorganisms inoculated in vegetable beverages: Effect of strains, temperature, ultrasound and storage conditions on the performances of the treatment

Four microorganisms (Lactobacillus acidophilus LA5, Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis DSM 10140 and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum c16 and c19) were attenuated through ultrasound (US) treatments (40% of power for 2, 4 and 6 min; and 60% for 2 min; pulses were set at 2 s) inoculated in rice–oats–almond–soy-based beverages and stored at 4◦C for eight days. All strains were able to survive throughout the storage independently by the food matrix. Concerning the effect on acidification, the results were analyzed through multifactorial analysis of variance (MANOVA) and the key-findings of this were: (i) The treatment with 40% of power for 6 min was the most efficient at delaying acidification; (ii) Lb. acidophilus LA5 showed the best capacity to delay acidification; (iii) in the soy-based beverage a lower acidification was found. In a second step, L. plantarum c16 and c19 were attenuated, inoculated in rice beverage, stored under a thermal abuse (for 4 and 24 h) and then at 4, 15 and 20◦C. The results showed that only when US were combined with refrigeration temperatures were they efficient at delaying acidification. Thus, a perspective for attenuation could be the optimization of the treatment to design an effective way to counteract acidification also under a thermal abuse

Fluid dynamic-based Engineering design of a Full-Scale Device for the improvement of Extra Virgin Olive Oil Yield and Quality by means of Combined Acoustic Cavitation and Thermal Conditioning

After some hesitations, the scientific community is jointly converging on the benefits due to the ultrasound treatment by means of mechanical effects generated by acoustic cavitation phenomena occurring into the olive oil paste proposed initially by Amirante and Clodoveo. In recent works, many authors have now confirmed that this promising emerging technology produces relevant beneficial effects if applied to the extraction process under well-controlled conditions. In the last years, the industrial applications of ultrasound (US) in the Extra-Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO) extraction process are changing the paradigm of the knowledge in this field of interest due to a great effort of the research activity. In the present work, the design of the device by means a Three-Dimensional (3D) Multiphase Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) analysis was performed, which describes the ultrasound effects in the olive paste, necessary to control the US waves propagation. Thus, fluid dynamic analysis allowed to predict the flow path in the ultrasound devices, to evaluate the flow parameters of the olive paste inside the SHE and the cavitation phenomenon, with the aim to find an optimal design, capable to ensure the best ultrasounds and mixing effects. Moreover, experimental results demonstrated that the machine can guarantee an actual simultaneous improvement of the olive oil extraction yield, as well as of the product quality. Finally, the results from sensory evaluations are summarized confirming the goodness of EVOO obtained by means of US

Ultrasonic modulation of the technological and functional properties of yeast strains

This research was aimed at studying the effects of low intensity ultrasound (US) on some technological and functional properties of eight strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae; namely, growth patterns (growth at 2–5% of NaCl or at 37 °C), autoaggregation and tolerance to simulated gastrointestinal conditions were evaluated. A US treatment was applied at 20% of net power (130 W) by a modulating duration (2–10 min) and pulses (2–10 s). The viable count (4.81–6.33 log CFU/mL) was not affected by US, while in terms of technological traits the effect was strain specific; in particular, for some strains a positive effect of US was found with a significant growth enhancement (growth index >120%). The treatment was also able to increase the autoaggregation of some strains, thus suggesting that US could represent a promising way to treat and select nonconventional functional yeasts for food applications

Increase of acidification of synthetic brines by ultrasound-treated Lactiplantibacillus plantarum strains isolated from olives

This paper focused on the evaluation of Ultrasound effect on the growth patterns (3–6% of salt and 45 °C), acidification (pH-decrease), interactions with microorganisms, and membrane permeability of nine strains of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum. Ultrasound treatment was applied at 20% of net power by modulating duration (2–10 min) and pulses (2–10 s). Viable count (7.15–8.16 log CFU/mL) was never affected by Ultrasound, while the treatment increased the extent of pH decrease of at least three strains (109, 162 and c19). L. plantarum c19 was the best performer, as a low intensity treatment was able to increase its acidification, without affecting its growth. The effects could be attributed to an increased permeability of the cellular membrane, as suggested by the increase of released intracellular components. Other factors should be further assessed (e.g. possible changes in the metabolism) and the performances of Ultrasound-treated strains in real brines

Fish loss/waste and low-value fish challenges: State of art, advances, and perspectives

The sustainability of fishery is a global challenge due to overfishing and reduced stocks all over the world; one of the leading factors of this threat is fish loss/waste. As a contribution to the global efforts towards a sustainable world, this review addresses the topic from different sides and proposes an overview of biorefinery approaches by discussing bioactive compounds that could be produced from fish loss (nitrogen compounds, lipids, minerals and pigments, and fish-based compounds such as chitosan). The second part of this review reports on the possibility of using loss or unwanted fish to design products for human consumption or for animal feeding, with a focus on economic criteria, consumers’ segmentation, and some examples of products. The final focus is on Food and Agriculture Organization FAO guidelines as a roadmap for the future with respect to solving this threat by addressing the problem from different sides (technology, skills, market, policy, social and gender equity, and infrastructures)

Repeatability of the ISAAC video questionnaire and its accuracy against a clinical diagnosis of asthma

AbstractThe objective of the study was to evaluate the performance of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) video questionnaire in terms of repeatability and accuracy against a clinical diagnosis of asthma achieved according to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) algorithm.Two hundred and forty-one subjects, aged 13–14 years from two secondary schools in Rome, Italy, were enrolled. Video and written ISAAC questionnaires were completed twice, 3 months apart, by 194 and 190 adolescents, respectively. Two months later, 106 subjects were visited by two physicians blinded to the results of questionnaires.Sixteen subjects were classified as having clinical asthma (CA) at the clinical visit, and eight of them as having clinical active asthma (CAA) on the basis of at least one positive outcome of the NHLBI algorithm. The repeatability of video questionnaire was similar to that of the written questionnaire for items on exercise wheeze and nocturnal cough and, to a lesser degree, for items concerning any wheeze in the past. The video questionnaire showed a worse performance than the written questionnaire for items on asthma attack: K-value (95% CL)=0·59 (0·37–0·80) for video scene no. 5 and K-value (95% CL)=0·86 (0·74–0·98) for written question no. 6. The overall accuracy of the video questionnaire, estimated as a positive answer to any video scene, was lower in terms of sensitivity than that of any written question when CA was used as a gold standard (0·50 vs. 0·81, P=0·025) and increased with respect to CAA (0·75vs. 0·87, P=0·317). The specificity of any video scene was better than that of any written question, independently from the gold standard used.In conclusion, the video questionnaire showed a fairly good accuracy, although slightly lower than that of the written questionnaire and provided sufficiently reliable results. However, samples of subjects from different geographic areas and cultures should be studied in order to conclusively define the performance of the ISAAC video questionnaire

Network pathways of peripheral firm entry: Empirical evidence from the global airline industry

Previous research on interfirm collaboration indicates that networks tend to be structurally stable due to path dependence and embedded firms' incentives to preserve their positional advantages. As a result, industry networks often resemble a core-periphery structure where peripheral firms seem to have little or no opportunity to access the core. Yet, under certain conditions, peripheral firms do manage to cross over to the industry center. In this paper, we examine one such condition: a sudden and unexpected change in the external environment. More specifically, we examine the relationship between the occurrence of an industry-level disruptive event and the dynamics of tie formation/dissolution facilitating or inhibiting peripheral firms' progress toward the center of the industry network. We substantiate our investigation by using longitudinal data on the alliance activities of 258 airlines and applying Stochastic Actor-Oriented Models (SAOM). We integrate our statistical analysis with interview material and descriptive network analysis. The findings reveal a variety of patterns of network entry, contributing novel insights to theories on network dynamics, innovation, as well as policy and practice