The one-dimensional Lennard-Jones system: collective fluctuations and breakdown of hydrodynamics

The dynamical correlations of a model consisting of particles constrained on the line and interacting with a nearest--neighbour Lennard--Jones potential are computed by molecular--dynamics simulations. A drastic qualitative change of the spectral shape, from a phonon--like to a diffusive form, is observed upon reducing the particle density even ad moderate temperatures. The latter scenario is due to the spontaneus fragmentation of the crystal--like structure into an ensemble of "clusters" colliding among themselves. In both cases, the spectral linewidths do not follow the usual q^2 behaviour for small wavenumbers q, thus signalling a breakdown of linearized hydrodynamics. This anomaly is traced back by the presence of correlations due to the reduced dimensionality.Comment: To be published in European Physical Journal

Pattern of antibiotic consumption in two Italian production chains differing by the endemic status for Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome

The aim of this case study was to quantify antibiotic (AB) use in Italian weaning (W) and fattening (F) units differentiated for porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) occurrence. Farms were classified as either PRRS negative (–) or PRRS positive (+) based on the circulation of the virus among the animals. In all the farms, the modified live PRRS virus (PRRSV) vaccine was provided to all the animals. In the PRRS– farms, the level of circulating antibodies was low, and the disease, in its clinical form, did not occur. In the PRRS+ farms, the level of circulating antibodies against the virus was high, and the disease was recurrent. Data regarding AB consumption were collected from 2017 to 2020, and the active compounds (ACs) were expressed as milligrams of AC/total kilogram of body weight (BW) produced. Each AC was classified into one of four categories according to the EuropeanMedicines Agency classification of ABs for prudent and responsible use in animals: Avoid, Restrict, Caution, and Prudence. Data regarding the ACs in each category were analyzed using a linear model that included production phase, PRRS status, and their interaction as factors. Performance parameters, average age of the pigs at the end of each phase, daily live weight gain, feed-to-gain ratio, total losses, cost index, and medication costs were significantly influenced by the PRRS chain. The use of class B ABs was not affected by production phase or PRRS status. Conversely, for class C ABs, interaction between the two factors (p = 0.02) was observed; W/PRRS+ and F/PRRS+ showed the greatest AB use for this class (p = 0.003). For class D ABs, the interaction was significant (p = 0.01); class C and D ABs were used more in the weaning (p = 0.07) than in the fattening phase (p = 0.003). For the weaning phase, the use of class C and D ABs was greater in the PRRS+ than in the PRRS– chain (p < 0.01). In conclusion, PRRS status affected the growth of pigs and economic performance. Moreover, PRRS status significantly influenced the use of ABs during all the growing periods with the greatest impact being on the weaning phase

Effects of somatic cell count on the gross composition, protein fractions and mineral content of individual ewe’s milk

The aim of the research was to evaluate the effect of two somatic cell content (SCC) levels (<265,000 and >265,000 cells/ml) on ewe milk composition, protein fractions and mineral content. Samples were collected during two years, from three different ewe herds. Each herd was surveyed four times per year, one per season. For each survey more than 10 individual milk samples were collected during morning milking and analysed for SCC. On the basis of the results, two individual milk samples were selected: one from a sheep with low milk SCC (up to 265.000 cells/mL; LCC) and one from a sheep with high milk SCC (over 265,000 and less than 1,000,000 cells/mL; HCC). In one herd, it was not possible to collect the milk samples in summer. So, a total of 44 ewe milk samples (22 comparative pairs) were collected. On each milk sample, crude protein, crude whey protein, casein, casein number, non protein nitrogen x 6.38, true protein, true whey protein, fat, lactose, dry matter, ash, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium and chloride were determined. Average SCC in LCC was 170,000 and 466,000 cells/ml in HCC milk. HCC milk had lower lactose (4.05 vs. 4.60 g/100 g), casein (3.91 vs. 4.28 g/100 g), phosphorus (131.31 vs. 138.81 mg/100 g), calcium (157.28 vs. 170.48 mg/100 g) and magnesium (14.59 vs. 15.30 mg/100 g) contents than LCC milk. Additionally, HCC milk had lower casein number (76.53 vs. 79.03%) and higher contents of true whey protein (1.00 vs. 0.92 g/100 g), ash (0.90 vs. 0.87 g/100 g) and chloride (103.57 vs. 93.17 mg/100 g) than LCC milk. Somatic cell content significantly affected ewe milk quality. As a result of the higher lactose, casein, phosphorus, calcium and magnesium contents, LCC milk was more suitable for cheese making than HCC milk.Key words: Ewe milk, milk quality, chemical composition, somatic cell content

Endothelial Dysfunction in Acute Hepatic Porphyrias

Background Acute hepatic porphyrias (AHPs) are a group of rare diseases caused by dysfunctions in the pathway of heme biosynthesis. Although acute neurovisceral attacks are the most dramatic manifestations, patients are at risk of developing long-term complications, several of which are of a vascular nature. The accumulation of non-porphyrin heme precursors is deemed to cause most clinical symptoms. AimWe measured the serum levels of endothelin-1 (ET-1) and nitric oxide (NO) to assess the presence of endothelial dysfunction (ED) in patients with AHPs. Forty-six patients were classified, according to their clinical phenotype, as symptomatic (AP-SP), asymptomatic with biochemical alterations (AP-BA), and asymptomatic without biochemical alterations (AP-AC). Results Even excluding those under hemin treatment, AP-SP patients had the lowest NO and highest ET-1 levels, whereas no significant differences were found between AP-BA and AP-AC patients. AP-SP patients had significantly more often abnormal levels of ED markers. Patients with the highest heme precursor urinary levels had the greatest alterations in ED markers, although no significant correlation was detected. Conclusions ED is more closely related to the clinical phenotype of AHPs than to their classical biochemical alterations. Some still undefined disease modifiers may possibly determine the clinical picture of AHPs through an effect on endothelial functions

When size matters: changing opinion in the management of pleural space-the rise of small-bore pleural catheters

Tube thoracostomy is usually the first step to treat several thoracic/pleural conditions such as pneumothorax, pleural effusions, haemothorax, haemo-pneumothorax and empyema. Today, a wide range of drains is available, ranging from small to large bore ones. Indications for an appropriate selection remains yet matter of debate, especially regarding the use of small bore catheters. Through this paper, we aimed to retrace the improvements of drains through the years and to review the current clinical indications for chest drain placement in pleural/thoracic diseases, comparing the effectiveness of small-bore drains vs. large-bore ones

Faecal Microbiota Characterisation of Potamochoerus porcus Living in a Controlled Environment

Intestinal bacteria establish a specific relationship with the host animal, which causes the acquisition of gut microbiota with a unique composition classified as the enterotype. As the name suggests, the Red River Hog is a wild member of the pig family living in Africa, in particular through the West and Central African rainforest. To date, very few studies have analysed the gut microbiota of Red River Hogs (RRHs) both housed under controlled conditions and in wild habitats. This study analysed the intestinal microbiota and the distribution of Bifidobacterium species in five Red River Hog (RRH) individuals (four adults and one juvenile), hosted in two different modern zoological gardens (Parco Natura Viva, Verona, and Bioparco, Rome) with the aim of disentangling the possible effects of captive different lifestyle and host genetics. Faecal samples were collected and studied both for bifidobacterial counts and isolation by means of culture-dependent method and for total microbiota analysis through the high-quality sequences of the V3-V4 region of bacterial 16S rRNA. Results showed a host-specific bifidobacterial species distribution. Indeed, B. boum and B. thermoacidophilum were found only in Verona RRHs, whereas B. porcinum species were isolated only in Rome RRHs. These bifidobacterial species are also typical of pigs. Bifidobacterial counts were about 106 CFU/g in faecal samples of all the individuals, with the only exception for the juvenile subject, showing 107 CFU/g. As in human beings, in RRHs a higher count of bifidobacteria was also found in the young subject compared with adults. Furthermore, the microbiota of RRHs showed qualitative differences. Indeed, Firmicutes was found to be the dominant phylum in Verona RRHs whereas Bacteroidetes was the most represented in Roma RRHs. At order level, Oscillospirales and Spirochaetales were the most represented in Verona RRHs compared with Rome RRHs, where Bacteroidales dominated over the other taxa. Finally, at the family level, RRHs from the two sites showed the presence of the same families, but with different levels of abundance. Our results highlight that the intestinal microbiota seems to reflect the lifestyle (i.e., the diet), whereas age and host genetics are the driving factors for the bifidobacterial population

Early Antiangiogenic Activity of SU11248 Evaluated <i>In vivo</i> by Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging in an Experimental Model of Colon Carcinoma

Abstract Purpose: To compare two dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) techniques in terms of their ability in assessing the early antiangiogenic effect of SU11248, a novel selective multitargeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor, that exhibits direct antitumor and antiangiogenic activity via inhibition of the receptor tyrosine kinases platelet-derived growth factor receptor, vascular endothelial growth factor receptor, KIT, and FLT3. Experimental Design: A s.c. tumor model of HT29 human colon carcinoma in athymic mice was used. Two DCE-MRI techniques were used based, respectively, on macromolecular [Gd-diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA)-albumin] and low molecular weight (Gd-DTPA) contrast agents. The first technique provided a quantitative measurement of transendothelial permeability and fractional plasma volume, accepted surrogate markers of tumor angiogenesis. With the second technique, we quantified the initial area under the concentration-time curve, which gives information related to tumor perfusion and vascular permeability. Experiments were done before and 24 hours after a single dose administration of SU11248. Results: The early antiangiogenic effect of SU11248 was detected by DCE-MRI with macromolecular contrast agent as a 42% decrease in vascular permeability measured in the tumor rim. The effect was also detected by DCE-MRI done with Gd-DTPA as a 31% decrease in the initial area under the concentration-time curve. Histologic slices showed a statistically significant difference in mean vessel density between the treated and control groups. Conclusions: The early antiangiogenic activity of SU11248 was detected in vivo by DCE-MRI techniques using either macromolecular or low molecular weight contrast agents. Because DCE-MRI techniques with low molecular weight contrast agents can be used in clinical studies, these results could be relevant for the design of clinical trials based on new paradigms

Dissecting the effect of soil on plant phenology and berry transcriptional plasticity in two Italian grapevine varieties (Vitis vinifera L.)

Grapevine embodies a fascinating species as regards phenotypic plasticity and genotype-per-environment interactions. The terroir, namely the set of agri-environmental factors to which a variety is subjected, can influence the phenotype at the physiological, molecular, and biochemical level, representing an important phenomenon connected to the typicality of productions. We investigated the determinants of plasticity by conducting a field-experiment where all terroir variables, except soil, were kept as constant as possible. We isolated the effect of soils collected from different areas, on phenology, physiology, and transcriptional responses of skin and flesh of a red and a white variety of great economic value: Corvina and Glera. Molecular results, together with physio-phenological parameters, suggest a specific effect of soil on grapevine plastic response, highlighting a higher transcriptional plasticity of Glera in respect to Corvina and a marked response of skin compared to flesh. Using a novel statistical approach, we identified clusters of plastic genes subjected to the specific influence of soil. These findings could represent an issue of applicative value, posing the basis for targeted agricultural practices to enhance the desired characteristics for any soil/cultivar combination, to improve vineyards management for a better resource usage and to valorize vineyards uniqueness maximizing the terroir-effect