Unravelling the health effects of fasting : a long road from obesity treatment to healthy life span increase and improved cognition

In recent years a revival of interest has emerged in the health benefits of intermittent fasting and long-term fasting, as well as of other related nutritional strategies. In addition to meal size and composition a new focus on time and frequency of meals has gained attention. The present review will investigate the effects of the main forms of fasting, activating the metabolic switch from glucose to fat and ketones (G-to-K), starting 12-16 h after cessation or strong reduction of food intake. During fasting the deactivation of mTOR regulated nutrient signalling pathways and activation of the AMP protein kinase trigger cell repair and inhibit anabolic processes. Clinical and animal studies have clearly indicated that modulating diet and meal frequency, as well as application of fasting patterns, e.g. intermittent fasting, periodic fasting, or long-term fasting are part of a new lifestyle approach leading to increased life and health span, enhanced intrinsic defences against oxidative and metabolic stresses, improved cognition, as well as a decrease in cardiovascular risk in both obese and non-obese subjects. Finally, in order to better understand the mechanisms beyond fasting-related changes, human studies as well as non-human models closer to human physiology may offer useful clue

Effects of pasture on carcass composition in Cinta Senese pig

The trial was performed to investigate on the effects of different periods of grass pasture in fattening Cinta Senese pigs; growth performances, carcass characteristics and meat quality were studied. Control group was reared in paddock and fed concentrate, while experimental group grazed on grass pasture with an integration of 1.4 kg/pig/d of concentrate. Initial live weight was not different between the two groups and individual weights were periodically recorded. Animals were slaughtered from 36 to 160 days from the trial beginning. Carcass weight, body measures, backfat thickness, pH45 and pH24 were recorded. After 24 hours of refrigeration, each carcass was dissected into lean, fat and bone cuts. Results didn't show differences between the two groups, revealing that Cinta Senese pigs can profitably utilize pasture on grass even in fattening period

Blood management in fast-track orthopedic surgery: An evidence-based narrative review

Background and purpose: Innovations able to maintain patient safety while reducing the amount of transfusion add value to orthopedic procedures. Opportunities for improvement arise especially in elective procedures, as long as room for planning is available. Although many strategies have been proposed, there is no consensus about the most successful combination. The purpose of this investigation is to identify information to support blood management strategies in fast-track total joint arthroplasty (TJA) pathway, to (i) support clinical decision making according to current evidence and best practices, and (ii) identify critical issues which need further research. Methods and materials: We identified conventional blood management strategies in elective orthopedic procedures. We performed an electronic search about blood management strategies in fast-track TJA. We designed tables to match every step of the former with the latter. We submitted the findings to clinicians who operate using fast-track surgery protocols in TJA at our research hospital. Results: Preoperative anemia detection and treatment, blood anticoagulants/aggregants consumption, transfusion trigger, anesthetic technique, local infiltration analgesia, drainage clamping and removals, and postoperative multimodal thromboprophylaxis are the factors which can add best value to a fast-track pathway, since they provide significant room for planning and prediction. Conclusion: The difference between conventional and fast-track pathways does not lie in the contents of blood management, which are related to surgeons/surgeries, materials used and patients, but in the way these contents are integrated into each other, since elective orthopedic procedures offer significant room for planning. Further studies are needed to identify optimal regimens

Characteristics of cured lard of Cinta Senese pig fed acorn and chestnut

Cured lard is a typical Tuscan dry-cured product, generally obtained from pigs of improved breeds intensively reared. The employment of extensive system in pig rearing could represent a concrete possibility to increase the added value of lard, as well as of the other cured products. Moreover, the general belief of a greater quality of products derived from unimproved pigs, particularly when reared outdoors, has been experimentally supported particularly in Iberian (Carrapiso et al., 2003; Cava et al., 2000) and Corsican pig (Coutron-Gambotti et al., 1998)

In vita performance and slaughter characteristics of Suffolk and Bergamasca lambs at 90 days of age

The objective of the present study was to compare in vita performance and carcass characteristics of Bergamasca and Suffolk lambs of 90 days of age. Bergamasca (15) and Suffolk (15) male lambs, originated from single and twin births equally represented, were weighed twice a month. Lambs were slaughtered to evaluate post-mortem characteristics and EUROP conformation score. Suffolk and Bergamasca lambs of 90 days of age produced carcasses with good quality; Suffolk had more compact carcasses than Bergamasca lambs whereas they showed higher percentage of intermuscular fat deposit. The results suggested that the two breeds raised with the forage-based feeding system could produce carcasses of good quality

Evaluating business support measures : the Bayesian network approach

Traditional methods to the evaluation of business support consider the firm as a \u2018black box\u2019 and the main interest is to see to what extent a policy has produced the intended effects. The causal mechanisms that explain how certain effects are generated are not discovered. In this article we show the applicability of Bayesian Network Analysis in combination with theory-based evaluation as a new mixed-method approach to reveal the mechanisms, both expected and unknown, which explain the changes in a firm\u2019s behaviour and economic performance due to public support. By combining graphical map analysis with statistical analysis, Bayesian Network Analysis reveals the interdependences between different drivers of change in firms so as to either confirm, deny or better qualify the theory of change of the policy

Cardoon meal as alternative protein source to soybean meal for limousine bulls fattening period: Effects on growth performances and meat quality traits

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Beef cattle feeding strategies are commonly based on soybean meal utilization as a fundamental protein source. This feed, though, might have negative environmental impacts on the major areas of production and is becoming very expensive. Cardoon (Cynara cardunculus L.) is a resilient crop which represents a good opportunity in reclaiming and remediating unutilized lands. Cardoon seeds are rich in oil, which is extracted for industrial purposes, and the related by-products (press cake and meal) are characterized by high protein content and essential fatty acids. The aim of this study was to evaluate cardoon meal as a protein source during the Limousine bulls’ fattening period, in order to study a suitable alternative to develop and create low-input and low-emission feeding strategies. The results obtained in terms of growth performances showed no statistical difference between bulls fed the by control diet (containing soybean meal as main protein source) and animals fed by the experimental diet, where soybean meal was partially replaced by one containing cardoon meal. Meat quality traits were measured, and no differences between the groups were found. Hence, these by-products could be considered as a valuable solution in Limousine bulls’ fattening periods and could be used to represent a key factor to improve cattle-feeding sustainability. ABSTRACT: Soybean meal is the most important protein source in beef cattle feeding. The research of alternative protein sources to replace soy use, avoiding negative effects on in vivo performance and on the product’s quality, is an important issue. In this context, cardoon represents a non-OGM resilient crop that can be cultivated in marginal lands for extracting its seed oil (utilized for biodiesel and biodegradable bioplastic production) and whose and the residual meal from its seed oil (utilized for biodiesel and biodegradable bioplastic production) could be a suitable by-product for animal feeding, due to its fairly high protein content. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of using cardoon meal as an innovative protein source during the Limousine bulls’ fattening period. Thirty-two bulls were divided into two groups and fed with a diet containing soybean meal (SG) or partially replacing soybean meal with cardoon meal as a protein source (CG), respectively. The feeding trial lasted about 11 months. Growth performances and meat physical–chemical traits were evaluated. No statistical differences in feed efficiency, average daily gain, or in the main meat quality indicators, as well as in fatty acid profiles were found among the groups. Therefore, cardoon meal could be considered as an alternative to soybean meal in fattening Limousine bulls in order to enhance the sustainability of the farming system

Gain without inversion in a biased superlattice

Intersubband transitions in a superlattice under homogeneous electric field is studied within the tight-binding approximation. Since the levels are equi-populated, the non-zero response appears beyond the Born approximation. Calculations are performed in the resonant approximation with scattering processes exactly taken into account. The absorption coefficient is equal zero for the resonant excitation while a negative absorption (gain without inversion) takes place below the resonance. A detectable gain in the THz spectral region is obtained for the low-doped $GaAs$-based superlattice and spectral dependencies are analyzed taking into account the interplay between homogeneous and inhomogeneous mechanisms of broadening.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figure